freedom, part 2/?
Title: Freedom 2/?
Pairing: Ana y Teresa, AETR
Rating: still 15
Spoilers: To the end of Series 5 (Temporada 5˚)
Summary: Well, that would give it all away, wouldn't it? This chapter is short and sweet, but keep with me and you'll be rewarded.
Links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or claim to own them. I make no profit or claim to make any profit, no infringement intended, this is all just for fun, etc., etc. standard disclaimer stuff.
Please ask before archiving elsewhere. Thank you! :)
If you're not overly familiar with the series, read this previous short entry and watch the video.
Even if you are, watch anyway. It's the perfect mixture of cute and angsty. :)
Freedom 2/?
(Teresa)
Waking up that first morning in Santander was something that I knew would never leave my memory. We’d forgotten to close the thick velvet draperies that covered the large windows and were meant to block drafts and hold the heat in old stone rooms like this one. But despite it being late January, the room wasn’t cold, and the warmth of the sun flooding over the bed’s thick feathery duvet made it a cosy haven, a nest, one made even more comfortable by the warmth of the body beneath the sheets and blankets alongside me. I yawned and stretched and turned toward Ana, who was still deeply asleep, her back toward me.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t reached the bed the night before even in time to get a good night kiss because Ana had indeed been fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She’d taken the time to turn the bedding down on my side of the bed though, and after I slipped in beside her, I watched her sleep for a while, her side rising and falling gently with her slow, even breathing. Her cream coloured silky nightdress dipped low beneath her shoulder blades, and I reached out a hand and placed it flat against the smooth skin of her bare back. She was slightly paler, with less of an olive tone than me, and I loved the contrast of the colours of our skin. The only light in the room was the wintery pale glow of the moon, but I could see her in my mind as if it were bright as day. We’d only made love twice but every centimetre of her body was etched in my mind like a brand. If we weren't so tired from the drive, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep my hands off her.
Alone with her here in this room far from Madrid, without the pressure of a confusing marriage, or what seemed like the need to hold up appearances, I wondered how I’d ever spent so much time wavering over my love for her. Maybe I hadn’t recognised it for what it was in the beginning, but even before our first kiss, I knew there was more to us than the tie of friendship, or after she’d married Alfonso, of family. I knew before the moment Doña Encarna had not at all subtly accused me of a love for her that rivalled my brother’s. I knew in the times I had walked away, when I was confused, furious at perceived deception, or angry at my own inability to control my emotion.
I knew in those all latter moments especially because only love could have caused a reaction so intense. It terrified me, but I knew.
I thought of the day a few days after our frantic kiss in my shop, our second kiss, when my anger over Alfonso had turned to passion. Was it the anger that made me lose my inhibition and grab her? I thought of the next day, when she’d returned wanting to talk sense into me, and I’d thrown her out, insisting that there was and never had been anything between us, that the idea we loved each other was insane.
A few days later when, as promised, she’d show up at our flat to tell my mother and I about Alfonso’s progress, she and I were nervous, jittery around each other. From the moment she walked in the door, the tension was palpable. Ana could barely look at me when she talked. I was so self-absorbed at that point I didn’t even think of what pain she might be carrying over the emotional turmoil between us, or even over Alfonso. But the tension was there.
When I spilt the tea and my mother left the room to mop up the mess I’d made of Ana’s skirt, I was so flustered I alternated between inability to speak and inability to stop speaking. In an attempt to break it, Ana admired the pastries and began to talk about wanting to learn to cook. It was a clear attempt at small talk. I could never imagine Ana cooking.
The chit chat about recipes did nothing to quell my nerves. Ana’s fingers closing slowly around my wrist as she bit into the pastry I proffered sent chills down my spine, my heart leapt in my chest, and those few seconds when our eyes had met I could think of nothing else but bending forward and catching up the perfect curve of her bottom lip between my own. Had my mother not called out from the kitchen that very moment, I might even have done it, but the interruption broke the spell, and we turned guiltily from each other.
That night, I threw myself at Héctor, but the only person whose touch I felt or truly wanted was hers.
Now that was in the past. There was no question, no confusion. It felt a lifetime ago and I didn’t even feel like the same person. I looked again at my hand on Ana’s lovely back, moved closer, leant forward and kissed her shoulder, then reached around to cradle the still barely discernible swell of her belly. She sighed and covered my hand with hers. Here in this different place, in this different world, I hoped with all my heart I could now show her enough love to make up for some of the hurt I must have caused with my shameful behaviour. Curled in the soft bed with my arm wrapped around her, I fell asleep more content than I’d been in ages.
(Ana)
The sun hit my eyes like fire when I woke, and I grimaced, annoyed with myself for forgetting to close the drapes the night before. I threw an arm across my face and groaned. I wondered what time it was. I felt like I’d been asleep for a year, but I was still tired, though not as exhausted as the day before. I rolled over and was surprised to find the other side of the bed empty. I had only a few seconds to wallow in disappointment, however, before the door opened and Teresa came in, a sweet smile on her face and a tray of pastries and juice in her hands.
“Cariño, we have someone to do that.” I teased, “And frankly, I pay them very well for it.”
Teresa came over and sat beside me, balancing the tray on the bedside table. “I wanted to be back before you were awake. I was sure you’d sleep all day!”
“Ugh,” I groaned again, “What time is it?”
“Nearly noon.”
“Really? Has Dionisio already left?” I asked. We’d sent trunks on the train and Dionisio was to run into the city and collect them in the afternoon.
“Yes and returned with the trunks, and María and Martín asked what time we’d like dinner. María said they’re leaving for the city tonight after all.”
“That’s good.” I smiled. Teresa looked confused. She didn’t know I’d arranged for us to have the house to ourselves this evening and most of the weekend. “There’s a wedding for their niece. They’ll take the train to Bilbao and go to her Martín’s village from there,” I explained.
“Maria mentioned the wedding,” Teresa said. “She said they’ll be away until Monday. She was worried. She said we shouldn’t be alone with Dionisio gone too.”
I smirked. “You’ve discovered my plan then. Dionisio will be with relatives in Bilbao.” I reached out to touch her hand. “I thought we might unpack the trunks and get to know to the house together alone. Is it all right?” I was suddenly worried. Would Teresa think this was too forward? Too soon?
Teresa didn't answer, simply carrying on with her previous line of thought, which I took as a subtle acceptance of my proposal.
“How are you feeling?” Teresa asked me.
“Tired, but much better.”
“You should eat something,” Teresa said, “but I think I’d like a proper good morning first.”
“Proper?” The words had barely left my lips before Teresa’s mouth was on mine. It was a sweet kiss, soft and gentle, and when she pulled away, I didn’t see even a glimmer of confusion or conflict in her eyes. There was nothing but love.
“Let’s eat. You need some energy. My nephew is probably starving too.”
“Okay, I’ll eat, but only if you promise me something.”
“Yes?”
“After, I’m going to shower, and then I want to take you somewhere special.”
“On the property?”
“Yes, here.”
“Eat.” She held out a croissant. “I ate in the kitchen earlier. I’ll wash and dress while you’re eating. When I’m back I want these plates empty. Don’t forget you’re eating for two.”
*
End of Part Two
this way to part 3