I wake up, gasping for breath and sweating. Draco turns on the light. "Bell, you okay?" I can't help it, I break down into tears.
"No, I'm not okay." He takes me in his arms.
"Another dream?" I nod my head, tears leaking out. "Do you want to talk about it?" I shake my head.
"No. I'm just going to get a drink, clear my head a little."
"Want me to come with?" I shake my head again.
"No. I'll be back soon." Instead of turning off the light and laying back down he grabs a book and opens to a marked page. I give him an odd look.
"I'll wait up." I smile, but it fades as soon as I exit the bedroom. I look down the hall toward Keera's room. I just need to check and then I can go back to sleep. I'm just going to check. Everything's fine. I walk slowly down the hall and open Keera's door. I feel myself falling before someone catches me and walks me back to my bedroom. I'm set on my bed.
"Why.. Why is Jasmine here?" Draco sits beside me.
"She's spending the night remember?"
"So.. Gabe and Phoebe are okay?"
"Yeah, they're fine." I go to pick up the phone but Draco stops me. "I'm assuming that's what your dream was about." I nod. "But it's too early to call them, love." I look at the clock and it is indeed too early to call. "Why don't we just lay down, hmm?" I nod and soon I'm laying against Draco's chest, his arms wrapped securely around me. It doesn't take long for me to fall back to sleep.
**
"Jasmine, your mom's here!" I let Phoebe in and lead her to the kitchen. To everyone's surprise, her pregnancy has stuck and she's now almost 6 months pregnant. None of her other pregnancies made it this far, so I can only imagine how relieved she must feel.
"Oh, let the girl's play. They don't get together much these days." I nod and open the fridge, asking what she'd like. "Just water, please." She pats her belly. "Still can't keep much down." I grab two bottles of water and open hers, setting it in front of her.
"So how are you and baby doing?" She takes a sip of her water and sits on the kitchen stool.
"Well, I'll be 20 weeks on Wednesday and so far it's been terrific. The only downfall is the constant nausea, but if it means I'm still pregnant, then I really can't complain." I smile and sit on the other side of the kitchen island. "You look like crap, Bell."
"I feel like crap. Actually, I want to talk to you about something." Her teasing smile leaves her face, replaced with a worried frown. "You know those dreams I keep having?" She nods. "Well, I had one about you and Gabe last night." She immediately looks down at her belly, wrapping a hand around it.
"What happened?"
"Something happened with the pregnancy and on the way to the hospital you got into an accident. Both you and Gabe died."
"Jazz?"
"She was at your parents for the night." She sighs with relief.
"The baby?" I can only shake my head, but she understands. She reaches across the island and takes my hand, squeezing it. "We'll all be fine, you know that right?" I just stare at my water, which remains unopened. "Hey." She makes me look up at her. "We will be fine. You think I came all this way to die now?" I shake my head. "Well there you go. So stop worrying." A few minutes go by where nothing is said. "I'm curious. Do you know when?" I turn and look at the calendar.
"Uhh.. Draco's away for the weekend on business, so the end of the month."
"Well that makes sense. It's my parents' anniversary that weekend so that's why Jazz will be there. So, what do we do?" I turn back to her.
"I was kind of thinking about that. It, uh, the accident happens on Highway 23, just off that one intersection. From here, you can get to the hospital without having to go that way."
"So you want us to stay here for the whole weekend?" I shrug.
"I don't know what else to suggest."
"Okay, then that's what we'll do. My parents will be here until later on the Friday evening so we'll head over after?" I nod and give Phoeb's a small smile. "Think you could have one of these dreams for when Cambria is supposed to come?" I actually laugh at this and shake my head.
"You're nuts." Just then both girls come skidding into the kitchen.
"Mommy!" Jasmine gives her mom a hug and kisses her belly. I don't know who's more excited about the baby, Phoebe and Gabe or Jasmine.
"Mama, when am I going to have a little sister?" Phoeb and I both start cracking up.
"I don't think that's going to happen honey. I think mommy and daddy are done having babies." The look on Keera's face is priceless.
"But Jazz is having a baby sister! I want one too!" Jasmine takes Keera's hand.
"I know, we can share!" I smile.
"There see, you can share Cambria when she comes." Keera's face lights up and she nods.
"Well Jazz, you ready to go?" Instead of answering Phoebe the girls giggle then run from the room. Phoeb's laughs and gets up from the stool. I want to feel relieved that the dream let me save my best friend, but I can't help but feel terrified I intervened with fate and it will find another way to take them.
10 December 2011
07 December 2011
The Impossibility Of Sensibility, Chapter 5
I grip Emmett's hand tighter in my own, sure that I'm working my way to a full scale panic attack. "My father's going to shoot you, you know. He does have guns. And Greg's probably going to get a few hits in with a baseball bat. I wouldn't put it past my mother to get in a few swipes either. I can't believe I agreed to this." Emmett rubs his thumb on the back on my hand. Usually it calms me, but I'm too far anxious for it to have any effect now.
"Calm, love. Don't worry." I look up at him like he's crazy.
"Don't worry? Are you insane?" He just chuckles before opening the door to my house and leading me inside. It's been exactly one hour and 17 minutes since Emmett proposed, not that I'm counting, and I foolishly let him talk me into letting my parents and brother know. I can only imagine the types of horrible things they're going to do to him when I'm locked away in a tower somewhere, never to be seen again.
We stop in front of my father's study. Emmett goes to knock on the door but I stop him. "Do we really have to tell everyone? Can't we just run off and elope somewhere far away from guns and baseball bats?" He full out laughs at me now as he knocks on the door. I hear a mumbled 'come in' from my father. "Maybe we shouldn't bother him. He's probably busy.." I ramble on as Emmett opens the door, traitor that he is, and pulls me into the room.
"Hello, Mr Marion. Jillian and I have something we'd like to announce." I shoot a panicked look in Emmett's direction before looking at my father. He sets his glasses down and folds his hands over the book he was reading.
"And that would be?" I look down at my left hand, currently clutching Emmett's for dear life, and look back up at my father. He follows my eye line and then looks back at me. I look up at Emmett and he just smiles. He's going to make me say it. Damn him. I take in a shaky breath, Emmett squeezes my hand.
"Um, well, Emmett proposed this afternoon..." I trail off, bracing myself.
"Yes, and?" This I had not expected.
"And.. we're getting married?" My father smiles at me.
"I'm happy for you, Jillian. Emmett's turned into a fine young man." What?
"So you have no plans to take Emmett hunting?" Both men laugh at me.
"Jillian, what ever gave you that impression? Emmett's a good boy. I told him as much when he asked for your hand." I narrow my eyes up at Emmett, whose face is turning pink.
"He asked you? When?" My father glances at Emmett.
"I think perhaps that's something you two should discuss. Now if you'll excuse me, I have something I need to attend to." Not needing another word, I spin around and drag Emmett out of the study and down the hall to my room. I shove him in and close the door behind me.
"You already asked him? When?" Emmett sits on the arm of his favourite chair and smiles up at me sheepishly.
"A few weeks ago, give or take." I narrow my eyes. Nice try.
"Exactly how many weeks ago?"
"Uhm, five?"
"Five weeks! Are you kidding me?" He shakes his head and I sigh. "Well, how long have you had the ring?"
"Longer than that."
"Emmett McCarty, I swear. You better not have spent much on that."
"I didn't spend anything, honestly. My mother gave it to me before she passed." I look down at my hand. How had I not noticed it looks exactly like hers? I sit on the chair beside Emmett and he wraps an arm around my shoulders.
"Well, good. Better not have."
"Don't worry, love. Not a cent." I smile up at him and trace patterns on his knee.
"So who else did you tell?" He chuckles and leans so his arm is on the other armrest.
"My father knows, and so does Anthony. I'm pretty sure your brother and mother know."
"Not Robert?" He shakes his head and leans over to press his lips against my temple.
"No, not Robert." They're not exactly on the best of speaking terms. I confessed to Emmett that Robert had threatened me all those years ago and they haven't been the same since. Secretly I'm kind of grateful. Robert's not someone I want hanging around.
"Do we have to formally tell everyone? I assume Greg's okay with it since you're still alive." Emmett chuckles in my ear.
"He's the happiest one of the bunch. He said as long as I don't corrupt your innocent little mind, he's fine." I laugh. Typical Gregory.
"That can't be comfortable." He shrugs.
"Not really." I roll my eyes and get up.
"Sit." When he's sitting on the chair I sit on his lap and rest my head against his chest. He snakes his arms around my waist and presses his face to my head. I look up at him. "Emmett, were you just smelling my hair?" He smiles, embarrassed that I caught him.
"Maybe. You do smell good." I blush and lay my head back down.
"Well you don't smell so bad yourself." We lay like this for a few minutes when his stomach suddenly grumbles. "Hungry, are we?"
"Starving. I didn't eat breakfast."
"Why not?" He shrugs.
"Don't know. Can we go down and eat? I'm afraid I might waste away if I don't eat something." I laugh as I stand up and stretch. I pat his stomach once he's standing.
"We wouldn't want that to happen. Come on then." Emmett grins and takes my hand, leading me down to the kitchen.
"Calm, love. Don't worry." I look up at him like he's crazy.
"Don't worry? Are you insane?" He just chuckles before opening the door to my house and leading me inside. It's been exactly one hour and 17 minutes since Emmett proposed, not that I'm counting, and I foolishly let him talk me into letting my parents and brother know. I can only imagine the types of horrible things they're going to do to him when I'm locked away in a tower somewhere, never to be seen again.
We stop in front of my father's study. Emmett goes to knock on the door but I stop him. "Do we really have to tell everyone? Can't we just run off and elope somewhere far away from guns and baseball bats?" He full out laughs at me now as he knocks on the door. I hear a mumbled 'come in' from my father. "Maybe we shouldn't bother him. He's probably busy.." I ramble on as Emmett opens the door, traitor that he is, and pulls me into the room.
"Hello, Mr Marion. Jillian and I have something we'd like to announce." I shoot a panicked look in Emmett's direction before looking at my father. He sets his glasses down and folds his hands over the book he was reading.
"And that would be?" I look down at my left hand, currently clutching Emmett's for dear life, and look back up at my father. He follows my eye line and then looks back at me. I look up at Emmett and he just smiles. He's going to make me say it. Damn him. I take in a shaky breath, Emmett squeezes my hand.
"Um, well, Emmett proposed this afternoon..." I trail off, bracing myself.
"Yes, and?" This I had not expected.
"And.. we're getting married?" My father smiles at me.
"I'm happy for you, Jillian. Emmett's turned into a fine young man." What?
"So you have no plans to take Emmett hunting?" Both men laugh at me.
"Jillian, what ever gave you that impression? Emmett's a good boy. I told him as much when he asked for your hand." I narrow my eyes up at Emmett, whose face is turning pink.
"He asked you? When?" My father glances at Emmett.
"I think perhaps that's something you two should discuss. Now if you'll excuse me, I have something I need to attend to." Not needing another word, I spin around and drag Emmett out of the study and down the hall to my room. I shove him in and close the door behind me.
"You already asked him? When?" Emmett sits on the arm of his favourite chair and smiles up at me sheepishly.
"A few weeks ago, give or take." I narrow my eyes. Nice try.
"Exactly how many weeks ago?"
"Uhm, five?"
"Five weeks! Are you kidding me?" He shakes his head and I sigh. "Well, how long have you had the ring?"
"Longer than that."
"Emmett McCarty, I swear. You better not have spent much on that."
"I didn't spend anything, honestly. My mother gave it to me before she passed." I look down at my hand. How had I not noticed it looks exactly like hers? I sit on the chair beside Emmett and he wraps an arm around my shoulders.
"Well, good. Better not have."
"Don't worry, love. Not a cent." I smile up at him and trace patterns on his knee.
"So who else did you tell?" He chuckles and leans so his arm is on the other armrest.
"My father knows, and so does Anthony. I'm pretty sure your brother and mother know."
"Not Robert?" He shakes his head and leans over to press his lips against my temple.
"No, not Robert." They're not exactly on the best of speaking terms. I confessed to Emmett that Robert had threatened me all those years ago and they haven't been the same since. Secretly I'm kind of grateful. Robert's not someone I want hanging around.
"Do we have to formally tell everyone? I assume Greg's okay with it since you're still alive." Emmett chuckles in my ear.
"He's the happiest one of the bunch. He said as long as I don't corrupt your innocent little mind, he's fine." I laugh. Typical Gregory.
"That can't be comfortable." He shrugs.
"Not really." I roll my eyes and get up.
"Sit." When he's sitting on the chair I sit on his lap and rest my head against his chest. He snakes his arms around my waist and presses his face to my head. I look up at him. "Emmett, were you just smelling my hair?" He smiles, embarrassed that I caught him.
"Maybe. You do smell good." I blush and lay my head back down.
"Well you don't smell so bad yourself." We lay like this for a few minutes when his stomach suddenly grumbles. "Hungry, are we?"
"Starving. I didn't eat breakfast."
"Why not?" He shrugs.
"Don't know. Can we go down and eat? I'm afraid I might waste away if I don't eat something." I laugh as I stand up and stretch. I pat his stomach once he's standing.
"We wouldn't want that to happen. Come on then." Emmett grins and takes my hand, leading me down to the kitchen.
Forever More, Chapter 7
"You sure you kids are going to be all right?"
"We'll be fine mom, now let us go already." I let them go and look at the 3 of them. It's the end of Christmas holidays and we're back at Platform 9 3/4.
"Promise to write me as soon as you have the time." All three kids roll their eyes.
"We gotta go mom, the train's gonna leave soon and we need to get good seats."
"All right, all right. One more hug each and you can go." After hugging me they all flee to the train, probably glad to get away from me. They don't need me anymore. The thought makes me sad. Draco puts his arm around my shoulders and I smile up at him.
Things have been much better between us since we've talked about everything. I'm still hiding the liquor key from him until I'm sure he's got enough self control. He's had trouble with alcohol abuse since his dad died, so it's very easy for him to relapse and go way overboard. Hopefully soon I can put it back and we won't have any more problems.
"What time are we picking Keera up?"
"She's staying the night, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Wait, does this mean a whole night to ourselves?" I roll my eyes.
"Yes, that's what it means."
"Hmm, that's interesting." I laugh as we make our way through the train station.
"Only you would be thinking about that." Draco grins as he gets in the passenger side of the car. He still doesn't drive very often, preferring to let me do it. I'd rather do it too as his driving frightens me a little.
"Come on Bella. We're hardly ever alone." I roll my eyes again.
"Keera sleeps like the dead. We get plenty of time alone."
"You know what I mean." He does have a point. Being entirely alone and with a child that sleeps 12 hours through is different, but not by much. Keera has always been my best sleeper. She slept straight through the night from 2 months on. I always had to wake her up to feed her. Quite a difference from my twins, who never slept more than two hours and always at different times. Cheyenne was just like the twins, except there was only one of her so when she slept for two hours at a time I also got to sleep along with her. I look down at my knee as Draco puts his hand on it.
"Please?"
"Begging now? Since when have you had to beg?" He chuckles and brings his lips over to my ear. "If you don't stop that you're gonna make me drive off the road. And I don't really feel like making a side trip to the ER today." He laughs again and sits back in his seat, although he keeps his hand on my knee. I have to work quite hard to keep my attention on the road.
**
I smile lazily and turn so I'm facing Draco, and am surprised to see he's not here. I sit up and glance at the clock, seeing that it's only 6 in the morning. I look around the room, not noticing anything out of the ordinary, but I have this peculiar feeling in my chest.
I stand up and slide my feet into my slippers, walking slowly to the door. I pause before opening it, somehow afraid that there's something I don't want to see on the other side. Before I can change my mind, I wrench it open, sighing with relief when I see that the hall is empty, save for a few of Keera's clothes that she needs to pick up. Instead of going back to bed I walk down the stairs and through the main floor of the house. Everything seems to be just as I left it.
As I walk into the kitchen I notice a note left on the counter. I pick it up and almost laugh out loud. Draco's away for the weekend on business, so of course he's not going to be home. I shake my head and ball up the paper, tossing it into the garbage can. I chuckle quietly to myself as I leave the kitchen, but stop when I hear a knock at the door.
My brows knit together as I walk toward the door, dread suddenly filling me up. I almost collapse right there when I open the door to see two police officers standing on the step. "Mrs Malfoy?" I can only nod. "May we come in?" I nod again and open the door to let them in. I shut the door and turn on a light, leading them to the living room.
"Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee?" I don't know why I'm offering them a drink when they're here to tell me something I don't want to hear.
"No, thank you." They glance at eachother before speaking. Suddenly I just can't take it anymore.
"Draco's dead, isn't he?"
"No, Mrs Malfoy, he's fine, so far as we know. No, it's about Phoebe and Gabriel Wyse." I'm caught between relief that Draco's fine and dread about Phoebe and Gabe.
"What about them?"
"Uhm, I'm sorry Mrs Malfoy, but they're dead."
"We'll be fine mom, now let us go already." I let them go and look at the 3 of them. It's the end of Christmas holidays and we're back at Platform 9 3/4.
"Promise to write me as soon as you have the time." All three kids roll their eyes.
"We gotta go mom, the train's gonna leave soon and we need to get good seats."
"All right, all right. One more hug each and you can go." After hugging me they all flee to the train, probably glad to get away from me. They don't need me anymore. The thought makes me sad. Draco puts his arm around my shoulders and I smile up at him.
Things have been much better between us since we've talked about everything. I'm still hiding the liquor key from him until I'm sure he's got enough self control. He's had trouble with alcohol abuse since his dad died, so it's very easy for him to relapse and go way overboard. Hopefully soon I can put it back and we won't have any more problems.
"What time are we picking Keera up?"
"She's staying the night, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Wait, does this mean a whole night to ourselves?" I roll my eyes.
"Yes, that's what it means."
"Hmm, that's interesting." I laugh as we make our way through the train station.
"Only you would be thinking about that." Draco grins as he gets in the passenger side of the car. He still doesn't drive very often, preferring to let me do it. I'd rather do it too as his driving frightens me a little.
"Come on Bella. We're hardly ever alone." I roll my eyes again.
"Keera sleeps like the dead. We get plenty of time alone."
"You know what I mean." He does have a point. Being entirely alone and with a child that sleeps 12 hours through is different, but not by much. Keera has always been my best sleeper. She slept straight through the night from 2 months on. I always had to wake her up to feed her. Quite a difference from my twins, who never slept more than two hours and always at different times. Cheyenne was just like the twins, except there was only one of her so when she slept for two hours at a time I also got to sleep along with her. I look down at my knee as Draco puts his hand on it.
"Please?"
"Begging now? Since when have you had to beg?" He chuckles and brings his lips over to my ear. "If you don't stop that you're gonna make me drive off the road. And I don't really feel like making a side trip to the ER today." He laughs again and sits back in his seat, although he keeps his hand on my knee. I have to work quite hard to keep my attention on the road.
**
I smile lazily and turn so I'm facing Draco, and am surprised to see he's not here. I sit up and glance at the clock, seeing that it's only 6 in the morning. I look around the room, not noticing anything out of the ordinary, but I have this peculiar feeling in my chest.
I stand up and slide my feet into my slippers, walking slowly to the door. I pause before opening it, somehow afraid that there's something I don't want to see on the other side. Before I can change my mind, I wrench it open, sighing with relief when I see that the hall is empty, save for a few of Keera's clothes that she needs to pick up. Instead of going back to bed I walk down the stairs and through the main floor of the house. Everything seems to be just as I left it.
As I walk into the kitchen I notice a note left on the counter. I pick it up and almost laugh out loud. Draco's away for the weekend on business, so of course he's not going to be home. I shake my head and ball up the paper, tossing it into the garbage can. I chuckle quietly to myself as I leave the kitchen, but stop when I hear a knock at the door.
My brows knit together as I walk toward the door, dread suddenly filling me up. I almost collapse right there when I open the door to see two police officers standing on the step. "Mrs Malfoy?" I can only nod. "May we come in?" I nod again and open the door to let them in. I shut the door and turn on a light, leading them to the living room.
"Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee?" I don't know why I'm offering them a drink when they're here to tell me something I don't want to hear.
"No, thank you." They glance at eachother before speaking. Suddenly I just can't take it anymore.
"Draco's dead, isn't he?"
"No, Mrs Malfoy, he's fine, so far as we know. No, it's about Phoebe and Gabriel Wyse." I'm caught between relief that Draco's fine and dread about Phoebe and Gabe.
"What about them?"
"Uhm, I'm sorry Mrs Malfoy, but they're dead."
03 December 2011
The Impossibility Of Sensibility, Chapter 4
I smile up at the sun and lay down on the soft grass. It's one of those perfect late August days and I'm not going to waste it inside. I sigh contently as I wonder what to get Emmett for his birthday in a couple weeks. He's going to be 20, so it's a big deal. He refuses to let me get him anything but I'm not listening to him. He'll just have to deal with whatever I get him. I quiet my breathing as I notice slow footsteps coming toward me. Somehow I already know it's Emmett.
He stops about 2 feet from my head and I can feel his shadow over me, blocking the warm sun. "I know you're not sleeping, love." I fight to control my face. It's always impossible for me to not smile while around Emmett. He plunks down beside my head and I keep my eyes closed, a smile fighting it's way into my face. After a few minutes when Emmett hasn't said anything I open my eyes to see his face an inch from mine.
"Emmett! Get away." He pulls his head back and laughs, showing off that dimpled smile I love so much. I sit up and look over at him. He's wearing swimming trunks and an old shirt. I see a small bag beside him and raise my eyebrows. He tosses it to me.
"It's for you. I thought we could go swimming before lunch." I grin and open the bag to see one of my swimming suits. I wonder how he got it, considering all of that stuff is in my locked room at the house, but mentally shrug and look around for a place to change into it. "Don't worry, I won't peek."
"Yeah right you won't. I'll go change behind that tree."
"Whatever you say." He chuckles as I get up and jog over to the trees lining the river. I hide behind a larger tree and take the suit out of my bag. I look at it and roll my eyes. It's one of my smaller suits. One my mother definitely wouldn't approve of if she saw me wearing it. It happens to be Emmett's favourite, no surprise there. I strip down and shimmy myself into the suit, stuffing my dress into the bag and emerging from behind the tree. I look around for Emmett, but he's nowhere to be seen. "Emmett, come on." I sigh and walk over to the water. He's probably just waiting behind a tree or something to scare me.
I dip my toes into the water and sigh happily. It's perfectly warm. Almost like bath water. I walk in while looking around for Emmett. When the water is up to my waist I feel a hand on my ankle that suddenly pulls me under. I get a breath just before my face is submerged and I see none other than Emmett himself. I roll my eyes and break the surface, getting another deep breath. I splash Emmett just as he resurfaces, getting him full in the face. "You're so funny, Emmett, truly." He grins and splashes me back. I narrow my eyes playfully. "Oh, you're in for it now."
We spend most of the morning playing around in the water, acting like little kids. After we're too tired to stand up we head back to land and lay on the shore, our legs in the water. We just lie there for a while, content in each other's company. Emmett rolls onto his side, facing me, so I roll onto mine, facing him. He looks like he has something important to say. Which is odd, because he never keeps anything from me. "What is it?"
"How do you always know?" I touch the tip of my finger to his nose.
"You've got this look on your face. So tell me, what's going on?" His nose scrunches up in the cutest way when he's thinking hard about something. The way he looks at me makes me sit up a little straighter. This is big, I can just tell.
"Don't interrupt, just listen, okay? I need to get this out." I smile and take his hand. "You know how I'm done school and working at my father's law firm with my brothers. He wants me to join them soon. I've never questioned it, it's just something I've always thought I would do. I didn't really start to think about it until a couple months ago. And I realized it's not what I want to do with my life. I don't like the thought of sitting indoors all day long, reading about the innocent and the guilty. It doesn't appeal to me in the same way it did when I was younger."
"So what are you going to do?" This is news to me. I always thought he'd follow along, just like his brother's before him.
"I told you not to interrupt, remember?" I lock my lips closed and smile. "Anyway, I've really thought about it and I've found that I want something more in my life. I want to go places and I want to see things. I want to sleep in tents and travel by foot. I want to do all of this, and I want you to do it with me." It takes me a minute, but I finally get what he's telling me.
"You... want me to.. marry you?" He reaches behind him to his shirt I hadn't realized was there and pulls out a box. My heart starts beating triple time as I realize what's inside that box. Emmett gets up on one knee in front of me and takes my left hand.
"Jillian Elizabeth Marion. Would you do me the honour and the pleasure of accepting me as your husband?" When he says the word husband he opens the box to reveal a gold diamond ring. I look up into his eyes to see something I hadn't noticed was there before. Love. Lots of it. All for me. My breath catches in my chest as I look down at the ring again. It must have cost him a small fortune.
"I'm only 18, Emmett. I can't possibly.." He cuts me off my pressing his lips against mine. My hands fly up to his curly hair, running my fingers through it. He leans me back onto the grass and he lays beside me, never breaking the kiss. We've kissed before, sometimes going farther than this, but this somehow feels different. It takes me a few minutes to realize that the kiss isn't different, I'm different, we're different. I've always liked Emmett, but not until this moment had I realized that I love him.
With this new found realization I pull Emmett on top of me and wrap my legs around his waist. He responds by rolling us over so that I'm on top of him. I finally break the kiss when I'm in need of air and look down at him. All the things I never saw before are suddenly right there in plain sight on his face. I give him another long deep kiss before pulling back again.
"Yes, Emmett. I'll marry you."
He stops about 2 feet from my head and I can feel his shadow over me, blocking the warm sun. "I know you're not sleeping, love." I fight to control my face. It's always impossible for me to not smile while around Emmett. He plunks down beside my head and I keep my eyes closed, a smile fighting it's way into my face. After a few minutes when Emmett hasn't said anything I open my eyes to see his face an inch from mine.
"Emmett! Get away." He pulls his head back and laughs, showing off that dimpled smile I love so much. I sit up and look over at him. He's wearing swimming trunks and an old shirt. I see a small bag beside him and raise my eyebrows. He tosses it to me.
"It's for you. I thought we could go swimming before lunch." I grin and open the bag to see one of my swimming suits. I wonder how he got it, considering all of that stuff is in my locked room at the house, but mentally shrug and look around for a place to change into it. "Don't worry, I won't peek."
"Yeah right you won't. I'll go change behind that tree."
"Whatever you say." He chuckles as I get up and jog over to the trees lining the river. I hide behind a larger tree and take the suit out of my bag. I look at it and roll my eyes. It's one of my smaller suits. One my mother definitely wouldn't approve of if she saw me wearing it. It happens to be Emmett's favourite, no surprise there. I strip down and shimmy myself into the suit, stuffing my dress into the bag and emerging from behind the tree. I look around for Emmett, but he's nowhere to be seen. "Emmett, come on." I sigh and walk over to the water. He's probably just waiting behind a tree or something to scare me.
I dip my toes into the water and sigh happily. It's perfectly warm. Almost like bath water. I walk in while looking around for Emmett. When the water is up to my waist I feel a hand on my ankle that suddenly pulls me under. I get a breath just before my face is submerged and I see none other than Emmett himself. I roll my eyes and break the surface, getting another deep breath. I splash Emmett just as he resurfaces, getting him full in the face. "You're so funny, Emmett, truly." He grins and splashes me back. I narrow my eyes playfully. "Oh, you're in for it now."
We spend most of the morning playing around in the water, acting like little kids. After we're too tired to stand up we head back to land and lay on the shore, our legs in the water. We just lie there for a while, content in each other's company. Emmett rolls onto his side, facing me, so I roll onto mine, facing him. He looks like he has something important to say. Which is odd, because he never keeps anything from me. "What is it?"
"How do you always know?" I touch the tip of my finger to his nose.
"You've got this look on your face. So tell me, what's going on?" His nose scrunches up in the cutest way when he's thinking hard about something. The way he looks at me makes me sit up a little straighter. This is big, I can just tell.
"Don't interrupt, just listen, okay? I need to get this out." I smile and take his hand. "You know how I'm done school and working at my father's law firm with my brothers. He wants me to join them soon. I've never questioned it, it's just something I've always thought I would do. I didn't really start to think about it until a couple months ago. And I realized it's not what I want to do with my life. I don't like the thought of sitting indoors all day long, reading about the innocent and the guilty. It doesn't appeal to me in the same way it did when I was younger."
"So what are you going to do?" This is news to me. I always thought he'd follow along, just like his brother's before him.
"I told you not to interrupt, remember?" I lock my lips closed and smile. "Anyway, I've really thought about it and I've found that I want something more in my life. I want to go places and I want to see things. I want to sleep in tents and travel by foot. I want to do all of this, and I want you to do it with me." It takes me a minute, but I finally get what he's telling me.
"You... want me to.. marry you?" He reaches behind him to his shirt I hadn't realized was there and pulls out a box. My heart starts beating triple time as I realize what's inside that box. Emmett gets up on one knee in front of me and takes my left hand.
"Jillian Elizabeth Marion. Would you do me the honour and the pleasure of accepting me as your husband?" When he says the word husband he opens the box to reveal a gold diamond ring. I look up into his eyes to see something I hadn't noticed was there before. Love. Lots of it. All for me. My breath catches in my chest as I look down at the ring again. It must have cost him a small fortune.
"I'm only 18, Emmett. I can't possibly.." He cuts me off my pressing his lips against mine. My hands fly up to his curly hair, running my fingers through it. He leans me back onto the grass and he lays beside me, never breaking the kiss. We've kissed before, sometimes going farther than this, but this somehow feels different. It takes me a few minutes to realize that the kiss isn't different, I'm different, we're different. I've always liked Emmett, but not until this moment had I realized that I love him.
With this new found realization I pull Emmett on top of me and wrap my legs around his waist. He responds by rolling us over so that I'm on top of him. I finally break the kiss when I'm in need of air and look down at him. All the things I never saw before are suddenly right there in plain sight on his face. I give him another long deep kiss before pulling back again.
"Yes, Emmett. I'll marry you."
Forever More, Chapter 6
I set two glasses of wine on the coffee table and sit down beside Draco. "So.." The look that he was wearing at lunch comes back to his face.
"I asked her why she seemed so skittish and quiet. She didn't want to tell me at first, but with a few well worded threats I finally got it out of her." He sighs and drains the entire glass of wine.
"And what was that?" He looks over at me, pain evident on his face.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and not heard you out. I just had no idea that what you were telling me was what was actually going on. She told me that Alex was planning to drop in, in the middle of the night, she just didn't know when. I told her she can tell him to forget it, he's not coming, especially in the middle of the night."
"Did she know what he was coming here for?" Draco shakes his head. I shove my glass over to him and he downs it.
"No, she didn't seem to have any idea. I didn't ask her outright, but kinda hinted. You know, I never did like Alex much, and now I'm liking him less and less." I nod.
"When I was talking to Bridget earlier she told me that Cheyenne never talks to anyone anymore, that she spends all her time with Alex. She doesn't even talk to Bridget anymore." Draco's eyebrows raise, just as surprised to hear that as I was. He gets up and goes into the kitchen, coming back with the bottle of wine. I frown and give him a disapproving look. "Since when do you drink so much?" He shrugs.
"I dunno. Anyway, so what do we do?"
"I don't know. We can't forbid her from seeing him, they're in the same house. But maybe we can talk some sense into her." Instead of pouring the wine into one of the glasses he takes a drink right from the bottle. I narrow my eyes at him but he doesn't seem to notice. He's usually so careful with how much he drinks. I make a mental note to talk to him about it when he's sober. He burps and I wrinkle my nose in distaste. "I think that's enough. Time for you to go to bed."
I take the bottle from him and go into the kitchen, pouring what's left of it down the drain. After locking the liquor cabinet and hiding the key somewhere Draco can't find it, I go back to the living room and roll my eyes. He's asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. I wonder if I should move him, but decide against it. I won't get any sleep if he's snoring beside me like that.
I head up the stairs and check in on the kids. All 4 are sleeping despite Draco's snoring downstairs. I decide to have a shower before going to sleep, hoping it'll calm me down so I can actually get some sleep. I have a theory that since Cheyenne knows about Alex sneaking here in the middle of the night, it won't happen, so the dreams will stop.
After my very hot and relaxing shower I climb into bed and sigh. It seems like my family is coming apart at the seams and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Except for today Draco and I have barely talked in a week. I suspect he's been drinking behind my back. I'm afraid that Cheyenne is in an abusive relationship. I wonder if 14 is too young for that. I feel like crying. Before I can wonder what I'm going to do about it, I fall asleep, completely exhausted.
**
I wake up, look at the clock, and groan mentally. Not again! It's been almost a week. I thought these dreams were over with. I get up and walk to the bedroom door, opening it and walking down the hall. This is different. I stop in front of Cheyenne's room. There's no light at the bottom of the door. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. I open the door not knowing what to expect anymore when I'm hit with cold air. It's freezing in here! I look around and suddenly realize why. Cheyenne snuck out and left her window open. I run to the window, trying to see past the trees that run along the side of the house. Nothing. No!
"No!" I jerk awake and run to the bathroom, getting there just in time to throw up.
"Bell? What's wrong?" I feel Draco kneel beside me. He pulls my hair back from my face as I wipe my forehead.
"Another dream. Cheyenne's gone."
"Gone? Gone where?" I shake my head.
"I don't know. I went into her room and she was just gone."
"Mommy?" I look behind me and almost cry with relief when I see all 4 of my children standing behind Draco. They're all looking at me with worried, sleepy faces. All except Cheyenne. Her eyes are wide and I notice she's wearing clothes and not pyjamas. Draco notices this too because his eyes narrow. I grab his hand and shake my head.
"Later." He nods reluctantly and gets up.
"Okay you kids, you can go back to bed. Mom's fine, she's just feeling a little sick." I smile reassuringly at Keera, who looks the most worried.
"I'm fine, honey. You go back to bed, okay?" She finally nods and follows her brother and sisters out of the bedroom. I get up and brush my teeth, climbing back into bed, and flopping down on my back. Why me? Why these dreams? It's only now that I notice Draco's not in the room. I'm about to call out to him when he appears at the door, dragging Cheyenne behind him.
"I think Cheyenne has a few things to say to you." She looks up at her dad and he nods toward me. She walks slowly over to the bed and sits at my feet. "Go on." She sighs and looks down at her hands then looks over at me. "We don't have all night, Cheyenne." She gets that defiant look on her face and I look at Draco, giving him my shut-up-and-let-her-talk look.
"Um, well.." She pauses.
"Were you planning to sneak out tonight?" She nods slowly. "Did you not think that I'd catch you?" She doesn't answer but I can tell by the look on her face that she hadn't thought about that. "Well I did catch you and you know you're in trouble, right?" She nods again. I sigh and look over at Draco. I assume he's already thought about a few punishments.
"Your mother and I need to talk about what your punishment is going to be. But for the time being you can expect to be cut off from everything. No owl, no t.v, no phone, no internet. If you so much as touch a pen you'll be hearing about it. Understand?" Cheyenne nods again. "Now go to bed." She looks at me as if she thinks I'll help her, but I just shake my head.
"You heard your dad." She gets up and leaves the room. A few seconds later I hear her door slam. I sigh as Draco shuts our door and comes back to lay beside me. "Think we should lock her window?" He chuckles and scoots over so he's laying right beside me. I turn the bedside lamp off and lay back down, resting my forehead against his. "Casper's still in her room."
"We'll let her have tonight. Let her warn Alex not to step 100 feet near the house." I sigh again. I'm exhausted and all I wanna do is go back to sleep.
"You're in trouble too, you know." He looks at me, confused. "The drinking. I locked the cabinet and hid the key." I feel his forehead get hot and assume he's blushing.
"I know. I looked for it the next morning."
"Did you not think I was going to catch you?" Unknowingly, I said the same words to him that I'd said to Cheyenne not 5 minutes ago.
"I was hoping you would. After our fight I'd drink after you went to bed every night." I shake my head.
"Why didn't you just talk to me?" I feel him shrug.
"Didn't think you'd listen."
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. You've got forever and then some to make it up to me." He laughs and his hand traces down my arm.
"Speaking of making up." I roll my eyes but smile.
"Oh you men, is that all you think about?" Even in the dark I can see him smile. He takes my chin in his hand and leads my lips to his. I'm hesitant at first, afraid that anything I let myself feel for him will just be because of that dream. But as things progress I realize that everything I'm feeling right now are because of right now. With that realization I give myself over to him entirely.
"I asked her why she seemed so skittish and quiet. She didn't want to tell me at first, but with a few well worded threats I finally got it out of her." He sighs and drains the entire glass of wine.
"And what was that?" He looks over at me, pain evident on his face.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and not heard you out. I just had no idea that what you were telling me was what was actually going on. She told me that Alex was planning to drop in, in the middle of the night, she just didn't know when. I told her she can tell him to forget it, he's not coming, especially in the middle of the night."
"Did she know what he was coming here for?" Draco shakes his head. I shove my glass over to him and he downs it.
"No, she didn't seem to have any idea. I didn't ask her outright, but kinda hinted. You know, I never did like Alex much, and now I'm liking him less and less." I nod.
"When I was talking to Bridget earlier she told me that Cheyenne never talks to anyone anymore, that she spends all her time with Alex. She doesn't even talk to Bridget anymore." Draco's eyebrows raise, just as surprised to hear that as I was. He gets up and goes into the kitchen, coming back with the bottle of wine. I frown and give him a disapproving look. "Since when do you drink so much?" He shrugs.
"I dunno. Anyway, so what do we do?"
"I don't know. We can't forbid her from seeing him, they're in the same house. But maybe we can talk some sense into her." Instead of pouring the wine into one of the glasses he takes a drink right from the bottle. I narrow my eyes at him but he doesn't seem to notice. He's usually so careful with how much he drinks. I make a mental note to talk to him about it when he's sober. He burps and I wrinkle my nose in distaste. "I think that's enough. Time for you to go to bed."
I take the bottle from him and go into the kitchen, pouring what's left of it down the drain. After locking the liquor cabinet and hiding the key somewhere Draco can't find it, I go back to the living room and roll my eyes. He's asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. I wonder if I should move him, but decide against it. I won't get any sleep if he's snoring beside me like that.
I head up the stairs and check in on the kids. All 4 are sleeping despite Draco's snoring downstairs. I decide to have a shower before going to sleep, hoping it'll calm me down so I can actually get some sleep. I have a theory that since Cheyenne knows about Alex sneaking here in the middle of the night, it won't happen, so the dreams will stop.
After my very hot and relaxing shower I climb into bed and sigh. It seems like my family is coming apart at the seams and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Except for today Draco and I have barely talked in a week. I suspect he's been drinking behind my back. I'm afraid that Cheyenne is in an abusive relationship. I wonder if 14 is too young for that. I feel like crying. Before I can wonder what I'm going to do about it, I fall asleep, completely exhausted.
**
I wake up, look at the clock, and groan mentally. Not again! It's been almost a week. I thought these dreams were over with. I get up and walk to the bedroom door, opening it and walking down the hall. This is different. I stop in front of Cheyenne's room. There's no light at the bottom of the door. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. I open the door not knowing what to expect anymore when I'm hit with cold air. It's freezing in here! I look around and suddenly realize why. Cheyenne snuck out and left her window open. I run to the window, trying to see past the trees that run along the side of the house. Nothing. No!
"No!" I jerk awake and run to the bathroom, getting there just in time to throw up.
"Bell? What's wrong?" I feel Draco kneel beside me. He pulls my hair back from my face as I wipe my forehead.
"Another dream. Cheyenne's gone."
"Gone? Gone where?" I shake my head.
"I don't know. I went into her room and she was just gone."
"Mommy?" I look behind me and almost cry with relief when I see all 4 of my children standing behind Draco. They're all looking at me with worried, sleepy faces. All except Cheyenne. Her eyes are wide and I notice she's wearing clothes and not pyjamas. Draco notices this too because his eyes narrow. I grab his hand and shake my head.
"Later." He nods reluctantly and gets up.
"Okay you kids, you can go back to bed. Mom's fine, she's just feeling a little sick." I smile reassuringly at Keera, who looks the most worried.
"I'm fine, honey. You go back to bed, okay?" She finally nods and follows her brother and sisters out of the bedroom. I get up and brush my teeth, climbing back into bed, and flopping down on my back. Why me? Why these dreams? It's only now that I notice Draco's not in the room. I'm about to call out to him when he appears at the door, dragging Cheyenne behind him.
"I think Cheyenne has a few things to say to you." She looks up at her dad and he nods toward me. She walks slowly over to the bed and sits at my feet. "Go on." She sighs and looks down at her hands then looks over at me. "We don't have all night, Cheyenne." She gets that defiant look on her face and I look at Draco, giving him my shut-up-and-let-her-talk look.
"Um, well.." She pauses.
"Were you planning to sneak out tonight?" She nods slowly. "Did you not think that I'd catch you?" She doesn't answer but I can tell by the look on her face that she hadn't thought about that. "Well I did catch you and you know you're in trouble, right?" She nods again. I sigh and look over at Draco. I assume he's already thought about a few punishments.
"Your mother and I need to talk about what your punishment is going to be. But for the time being you can expect to be cut off from everything. No owl, no t.v, no phone, no internet. If you so much as touch a pen you'll be hearing about it. Understand?" Cheyenne nods again. "Now go to bed." She looks at me as if she thinks I'll help her, but I just shake my head.
"You heard your dad." She gets up and leaves the room. A few seconds later I hear her door slam. I sigh as Draco shuts our door and comes back to lay beside me. "Think we should lock her window?" He chuckles and scoots over so he's laying right beside me. I turn the bedside lamp off and lay back down, resting my forehead against his. "Casper's still in her room."
"We'll let her have tonight. Let her warn Alex not to step 100 feet near the house." I sigh again. I'm exhausted and all I wanna do is go back to sleep.
"You're in trouble too, you know." He looks at me, confused. "The drinking. I locked the cabinet and hid the key." I feel his forehead get hot and assume he's blushing.
"I know. I looked for it the next morning."
"Did you not think I was going to catch you?" Unknowingly, I said the same words to him that I'd said to Cheyenne not 5 minutes ago.
"I was hoping you would. After our fight I'd drink after you went to bed every night." I shake my head.
"Why didn't you just talk to me?" I feel him shrug.
"Didn't think you'd listen."
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. You've got forever and then some to make it up to me." He laughs and his hand traces down my arm.
"Speaking of making up." I roll my eyes but smile.
"Oh you men, is that all you think about?" Even in the dark I can see him smile. He takes my chin in his hand and leads my lips to his. I'm hesitant at first, afraid that anything I let myself feel for him will just be because of that dream. But as things progress I realize that everything I'm feeling right now are because of right now. With that realization I give myself over to him entirely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)