Fictions and Truths
Squire Rockwell’s isn’t upscale, it isn’t downtown, and it isn’t flashy. It’s just a little steak place set up like an English hunt club. They don’t usually get customers on Italian street bikes, or with long white hair, but they took it in stride and gave Aimee and me a little booth in the back corner. The dark green of the leather chair, and the purple of her shirt made Aimee’s eyes shine in the low candlelight. She smiled as we sat, and thought for a minute. "You know, we've known each other about a year now, haven't we?"
I nodded. "I think about that. How much of a hand do you think She had in that first date?"
She laughed softly. "I'm not sure. It certainly felt like a lot at the time. Seems bittersweet though, doesn't it? I mean, how has your life been since?"
"Some good, some bad. More sweet than bitter, though. And yours?"
"Well, which part? Us together or us apart?"
I nodded. "Yes."
She sighed, and pulled her long braid around, stalling while she found the words. "Together, Reilly, you and I were a real force to be reckoned with, both inside ourselves and with everyone else. Apart? Well, let's just say that everything is like a bloody chocolate teapot."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Chocolate teapot?"
“Useless.” She almost smiled, but couldn’t quite make it work. “Everything seems like its falling down around my ears.”
I put out my hand for hers. "You know something, Aimee?" As she took my hand, I looked deep into her eyes. "Even when everything else is falling down, you know that you can count on me, right?"
"Thank God. Because otherwise I would just be a raving nutter, instead of a raving nutter with a handsome man in front of me." She grinned. Her life was going insane, and she was flattering me.
"What can I do to make your world better, beloved?"
She sighed again- distressing habit, that- and she ran her free hand through the top of her hair. "I don't know, Steven. I'm insane and feeling lost right now.”
"Tell me why."
“The boys won't be back into this timeline against until May 10th, I can't act against the Seers until then or else they'll kill the twins, and...well, let's just say that I'm glad that my marriage isn't legal." She paused. "Things are getting....physical. I haven't talked to him outside of work in a month, and I'm just fine with that."
Too much all at once, and vague, too. Aimee was distracted, because she was usually pretty plain-spoken, at least with me. "Wait... slowly. The Seers sent the boys forward until May... got that. They know where they'll be when they come back, and can kill them then if you hit them- got that. But the marriage part?"
"I signed a different name. I just, felt wrong about the whole thing." Part of me was thrilled, and if I wasn’t so worried about her, I’d have burst out laughing. As it was, I just nodded, slowly, cautiously... I suspected what she meant, and that it might mean I’d have to kill someone. "All right. Now what did you mean about 'physical'?"
She said what I was afraid she’d say. "He's violent. He says it’s my fault because I'm a Fate master that the boys got taken. In fact, ever since I signed that paper, which he doesn't know isn't legal, he's been like that. Brooding, emo....a real wanker."
I felt my jaw lock. It’d be a damn shame to have to beat Noel to death. Wouldn’t be the first man I’d killed, though. "Has he... hurt you?"
"Nothing that I didn't get over, love. Its just flesh, and I've endured worse, in different ways."
"Why didn't you leave then?" Then, I realized that she was already in D.C., and not just to see me. I blinked. "Is that why you're here?"
“I haven't been back since then, love. Although not just here. I've kept myself busy.”
"Is there any reason, other than the boys, that you can think of that I oughtn’t kill him?"
She shook her head, her eyes more tired than hurt, or even sad. "No, love, I can't. Except maybe that you trust me to fight my own battles. I don't know what I'm going to do with the fucker right now except forget that he exists."
She didn’t hear the table crumble where I had my other hand on it. Everything else was completely still as I tried to fight the urge to fly to Florida and simply break him. Some part of me was unhappy that I was planning to kill another human being. Another part of me was figuring out how to do it, and how many of the rest of his cabal I’d have to kill after that before they let it go. Another part of me- part that loves Aimee- told me to let her do it. I quieted the rest, promising that if she didn’t handle it, then I could always kill him later. So, I took a deep breath, and nodded, once. "I do trust you. You sure you want this one?"
"I'm not sure of anything right now." If I’d said one wrong word, I think she’d have lost it. I’ve never seen her that fragile. I kept my voice quiet, and tried it anyway. "I'll wait. You make up your mind, then if you don't want to handle it, I will." I squeezed her hand to bring her back to here, to now. "But for tonight, it's enough to just be here, with you." She went with it, locking everything else down, back to lighthearted. This was the part that anyone could see, the part that never worried. Fiction, rather than Aimee.
"I'm sorry I ran out on you before."
"Why did you, then?"
“Something blew up in Orlando and Fate needed me there.” She smiled. "That and I wanted you all to myself." I paused, a little surprised at that. She saw it. I should’ve known that she would. "Was that something that I shouldn't have said?"
I shook my head. "It's okay." She didn’t need my heartbreak, not now. No need to tell her that hearing her say that she wanted me all to herself carried a weight with it that I could hardly bear to keep quiet. I settled for "I just... I miss you, that's all."
She looked sad now, but not entirely. I held onto her hand a little tighter when she said “I miss you too. An unbelievable amount. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish that I hadn't been so foolish as to walk away from you.”
"You didn't go so far that you can't get back, you know." I gave her a smile- one that had something to do with what she needed, but more to do with how I felt right then.
“Is that an invitation?”
"An open one- tonight and in general." I ran my thumb along the back of her hand "I never stopped loving you, Aimee."
“Nor I you, Steven. I was just hurt, that's all.” I nodded. "I know. I'm sorry for that."
“It’s not your fault, Steven. I was just being childish.” Lord and Lady, would she take all the blame in the world onto her own little shoulders? Abusive husband, children kidnapped by ruthless enemies, awful childhood, and now she was going to blame herself for things not working just so with me? I shook my head. "No. You offered me something precious within you. That's not childish, and neither is feeing hurt after."
"You still have that place, Steven. That hasn't been taken."
"I can't be a proper husband to you. Is it enough to just love you?" Just not round two. I didn’t think that either of us could take it.
"I didn't mean a husband. That's the last thing on this earth that I want." She frowned at the thought. "Sorry, love, but that door is thankfully slammed shut. I'm never getting married. I don't think there's anyone that could possibly deal with everything of me. Nor do I think that I want someone like that." I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah....I've done some changing.”
It was enough, for tonight. We’d find some comfort with each other tonight, and she’d know that I love her. She needed that, but that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that it was simply true. We were in the parking lot when she stood up on her toes, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed me with as much heat as I’ve ever known her to offer. She felt right in my arms, as if we’d never been apart. She whispered against my lips "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, Aimee. I haven't been to the jazz club since you. Just couldn't go."
She ran a hand through her hair as she stood flat again, still looking at me, but distracted. "I haven't danced..." You haven’t danced since I took you that last time in Florida, love. I knew it without her having to say it. Instead, I said "Dancing tomorrow? I may have to go to the U.K. after that..."
"I'd love to. That is, if you aren't too sore." I smirked. "I heal." She giggled in return. “That you do.”
I let the magic ripple through my fingertips, and felt the talons emerge. I grinned at her and showed them. "You fond of those clothes?" She bit her lip, her eyes blazing as she shook her head. "Not one bit."
"Good. Get on the bike."
Some hours later, she lay on my chest, listening to my heartbeat. She sighed- this time, happily. "I love you, Steven." I was enjoying feeling her weight on me as I breathed. "I love you, Aimee." I winked. "And now I think you have an idea how much I've missed you."
She smiled, starting to get sleepy. "I've missed you too. Far more than anyone else."
"Tomorrow, we'll worry about the world. Tonight, you are my world."
She relaxed then, finally. Really relaxed, letting me take the burden. "I feel so safe with you. Like I can really be myself. I missed that. I missed everything about you."
"You are safe with me, and if there's any place where you can be you... it's here in my arms." She curled sleepily on me. I murmured "Sleep in my arms, love. I'll think of a way to wake you that you'll enjoy."
She giggled, her eyes closing. "I know that you will. Sorry, love, I've not been sleeping well again."
"Then let me give you that- sweet dreams as well as a warm wake-up."
She looked up and kissed me softly, a thank you and a promise. "You'll spoil me." We kissed for a bit before I answered. "Good. You could stand to be spoiled a little. And if you get too spoiled, don't doubt that I'll spank you." She grinned. "Spoiling and spankings. Cor, I've been a good girl, haven't I?"
"So far. See how much you like things if you keep going this way."
She laughed, then, and it was good. "Is that a challenge?"
"Only if I'm very, very lucky." I placed light kisses on her face as I continued. "Fortunately, I happen to be... very... very... lucky."
"Well then, Mr. Luckiest Man Alive, I think we've found out that our luck doesn't tend to cancel each other out, so that's a plus. Also, I've been learning a few of your tricks..." She grinned with pure mischief.
"Oh, have you?"
"Certainly. I need to stay sharp, right? I will surprise you."
And we slept. She slept peacefully, letting me hold her for just one night- enough to be ready to take on the world later. Sometimes, one night is enough.
I nodded. "I think about that. How much of a hand do you think She had in that first date?"
She laughed softly. "I'm not sure. It certainly felt like a lot at the time. Seems bittersweet though, doesn't it? I mean, how has your life been since?"
"Some good, some bad. More sweet than bitter, though. And yours?"
"Well, which part? Us together or us apart?"
I nodded. "Yes."
She sighed, and pulled her long braid around, stalling while she found the words. "Together, Reilly, you and I were a real force to be reckoned with, both inside ourselves and with everyone else. Apart? Well, let's just say that everything is like a bloody chocolate teapot."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Chocolate teapot?"
“Useless.” She almost smiled, but couldn’t quite make it work. “Everything seems like its falling down around my ears.”
I put out my hand for hers. "You know something, Aimee?" As she took my hand, I looked deep into her eyes. "Even when everything else is falling down, you know that you can count on me, right?"
"Thank God. Because otherwise I would just be a raving nutter, instead of a raving nutter with a handsome man in front of me." She grinned. Her life was going insane, and she was flattering me.
"What can I do to make your world better, beloved?"
She sighed again- distressing habit, that- and she ran her free hand through the top of her hair. "I don't know, Steven. I'm insane and feeling lost right now.”
"Tell me why."
“The boys won't be back into this timeline against until May 10th, I can't act against the Seers until then or else they'll kill the twins, and...well, let's just say that I'm glad that my marriage isn't legal." She paused. "Things are getting....physical. I haven't talked to him outside of work in a month, and I'm just fine with that."
Too much all at once, and vague, too. Aimee was distracted, because she was usually pretty plain-spoken, at least with me. "Wait... slowly. The Seers sent the boys forward until May... got that. They know where they'll be when they come back, and can kill them then if you hit them- got that. But the marriage part?"
"I signed a different name. I just, felt wrong about the whole thing." Part of me was thrilled, and if I wasn’t so worried about her, I’d have burst out laughing. As it was, I just nodded, slowly, cautiously... I suspected what she meant, and that it might mean I’d have to kill someone. "All right. Now what did you mean about 'physical'?"
She said what I was afraid she’d say. "He's violent. He says it’s my fault because I'm a Fate master that the boys got taken. In fact, ever since I signed that paper, which he doesn't know isn't legal, he's been like that. Brooding, emo....a real wanker."
I felt my jaw lock. It’d be a damn shame to have to beat Noel to death. Wouldn’t be the first man I’d killed, though. "Has he... hurt you?"
"Nothing that I didn't get over, love. Its just flesh, and I've endured worse, in different ways."
"Why didn't you leave then?" Then, I realized that she was already in D.C., and not just to see me. I blinked. "Is that why you're here?"
“I haven't been back since then, love. Although not just here. I've kept myself busy.”
"Is there any reason, other than the boys, that you can think of that I oughtn’t kill him?"
She shook her head, her eyes more tired than hurt, or even sad. "No, love, I can't. Except maybe that you trust me to fight my own battles. I don't know what I'm going to do with the fucker right now except forget that he exists."
She didn’t hear the table crumble where I had my other hand on it. Everything else was completely still as I tried to fight the urge to fly to Florida and simply break him. Some part of me was unhappy that I was planning to kill another human being. Another part of me was figuring out how to do it, and how many of the rest of his cabal I’d have to kill after that before they let it go. Another part of me- part that loves Aimee- told me to let her do it. I quieted the rest, promising that if she didn’t handle it, then I could always kill him later. So, I took a deep breath, and nodded, once. "I do trust you. You sure you want this one?"
"I'm not sure of anything right now." If I’d said one wrong word, I think she’d have lost it. I’ve never seen her that fragile. I kept my voice quiet, and tried it anyway. "I'll wait. You make up your mind, then if you don't want to handle it, I will." I squeezed her hand to bring her back to here, to now. "But for tonight, it's enough to just be here, with you." She went with it, locking everything else down, back to lighthearted. This was the part that anyone could see, the part that never worried. Fiction, rather than Aimee.
"I'm sorry I ran out on you before."
"Why did you, then?"
“Something blew up in Orlando and Fate needed me there.” She smiled. "That and I wanted you all to myself." I paused, a little surprised at that. She saw it. I should’ve known that she would. "Was that something that I shouldn't have said?"
I shook my head. "It's okay." She didn’t need my heartbreak, not now. No need to tell her that hearing her say that she wanted me all to herself carried a weight with it that I could hardly bear to keep quiet. I settled for "I just... I miss you, that's all."
She looked sad now, but not entirely. I held onto her hand a little tighter when she said “I miss you too. An unbelievable amount. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish that I hadn't been so foolish as to walk away from you.”
"You didn't go so far that you can't get back, you know." I gave her a smile- one that had something to do with what she needed, but more to do with how I felt right then.
“Is that an invitation?”
"An open one- tonight and in general." I ran my thumb along the back of her hand "I never stopped loving you, Aimee."
“Nor I you, Steven. I was just hurt, that's all.” I nodded. "I know. I'm sorry for that."
“It’s not your fault, Steven. I was just being childish.” Lord and Lady, would she take all the blame in the world onto her own little shoulders? Abusive husband, children kidnapped by ruthless enemies, awful childhood, and now she was going to blame herself for things not working just so with me? I shook my head. "No. You offered me something precious within you. That's not childish, and neither is feeing hurt after."
"You still have that place, Steven. That hasn't been taken."
"I can't be a proper husband to you. Is it enough to just love you?" Just not round two. I didn’t think that either of us could take it.
"I didn't mean a husband. That's the last thing on this earth that I want." She frowned at the thought. "Sorry, love, but that door is thankfully slammed shut. I'm never getting married. I don't think there's anyone that could possibly deal with everything of me. Nor do I think that I want someone like that." I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah....I've done some changing.”
It was enough, for tonight. We’d find some comfort with each other tonight, and she’d know that I love her. She needed that, but that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that it was simply true. We were in the parking lot when she stood up on her toes, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed me with as much heat as I’ve ever known her to offer. She felt right in my arms, as if we’d never been apart. She whispered against my lips "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, Aimee. I haven't been to the jazz club since you. Just couldn't go."
She ran a hand through her hair as she stood flat again, still looking at me, but distracted. "I haven't danced..." You haven’t danced since I took you that last time in Florida, love. I knew it without her having to say it. Instead, I said "Dancing tomorrow? I may have to go to the U.K. after that..."
"I'd love to. That is, if you aren't too sore." I smirked. "I heal." She giggled in return. “That you do.”
I let the magic ripple through my fingertips, and felt the talons emerge. I grinned at her and showed them. "You fond of those clothes?" She bit her lip, her eyes blazing as she shook her head. "Not one bit."
"Good. Get on the bike."
Some hours later, she lay on my chest, listening to my heartbeat. She sighed- this time, happily. "I love you, Steven." I was enjoying feeling her weight on me as I breathed. "I love you, Aimee." I winked. "And now I think you have an idea how much I've missed you."
She smiled, starting to get sleepy. "I've missed you too. Far more than anyone else."
"Tomorrow, we'll worry about the world. Tonight, you are my world."
She relaxed then, finally. Really relaxed, letting me take the burden. "I feel so safe with you. Like I can really be myself. I missed that. I missed everything about you."
"You are safe with me, and if there's any place where you can be you... it's here in my arms." She curled sleepily on me. I murmured "Sleep in my arms, love. I'll think of a way to wake you that you'll enjoy."
She giggled, her eyes closing. "I know that you will. Sorry, love, I've not been sleeping well again."
"Then let me give you that- sweet dreams as well as a warm wake-up."
She looked up and kissed me softly, a thank you and a promise. "You'll spoil me." We kissed for a bit before I answered. "Good. You could stand to be spoiled a little. And if you get too spoiled, don't doubt that I'll spank you." She grinned. "Spoiling and spankings. Cor, I've been a good girl, haven't I?"
"So far. See how much you like things if you keep going this way."
She laughed, then, and it was good. "Is that a challenge?"
"Only if I'm very, very lucky." I placed light kisses on her face as I continued. "Fortunately, I happen to be... very... very... lucky."
"Well then, Mr. Luckiest Man Alive, I think we've found out that our luck doesn't tend to cancel each other out, so that's a plus. Also, I've been learning a few of your tricks..." She grinned with pure mischief.
"Oh, have you?"
"Certainly. I need to stay sharp, right? I will surprise you."
And we slept. She slept peacefully, letting me hold her for just one night- enough to be ready to take on the world later. Sometimes, one night is enough.