My eyes were still closed but the heavy scent of dark, fertile soil mixed with pine and fir filled every breath I took. There were birds twittering in the crisp and cool morning air. I could feel the light on my eyelids as they fluttered open. I look up and I'm in a tent next to John who's easy breathing tells me he's still asleep.
Smiling I roll over and cuddle next to his side, stretching my body out along the length of his. He's still sleeping deeply.... So I start to stretch out like a cat on my knees with my back curved down, rear in the air, and my hands out as far as I can.
'Oh that actually feels really good.' I feel my back pop and release the breath I had been holding doing the stretch. He's still sleeping like a baby....
"Hmph." I pout and climb out of the sleeping bag to go do my morning routine. Finishing up with that and using some mouthwash, I go back inside the tent and start to get dressed. While I'm putting my shirt on I catch him out of the corner of my eye peeking and quickly returning back to acting like he's sleeping.
I turn so he can't see the smile on my face as he's been caught. I put on my pants, then lace up my boots to go get some coffee water started. I make eggs and bacon over the the hot coals and our camping grill with the coffee pot next to the skillet.
I step back in the tent and notice he's still trying to play like he's sleeping. I sit down and eat the eggs and bacon on my plate and drink my coffee down.
'Is he really still going to act like he is sleeping?'
I mentally roll my eyes and get up and wash my dishes. I fill my coffee cup with ice cold creek water and head back inside the tent.
I'm smiling as I take the cover off him and splash the ice cold water on him.
..... \(@o@)/ .....
He jumped up gasping and squealed out a 'HEY!' as I double up in a fit of laughter.
The wide eyed, shocked expression as his face contorted and moved made me almost cry, I was laughing so hard.
"What the hell was that for?!" John was only trying to act like he was offended but his smile kept cracking through his stern expression.
"Shouldn't act like you're still sleeping then huh?" I get out between little giggles and deep breaths as I start to calm myself down.
"Well then... here I was just trying to play with you and you pour water on me trying to turn me into woman again. My last diva debut was it that good?" He puts his hands on his hips and start to strut around inside the tent humming a little tune to emphasize it.
My giggles begin again as I stand and grab a towel, when he stops and pops a hip out to look at me and pose. I toss the towel onto him and walk right by him.
"Keep dreaming darlin' you're not getting far with that walk." I laugh and head outside to get his coffee and breakfast.
When I come back in he's getting dressed.
"Thanks babe, you ready to do some hiking in the Alaskan wilderness?" He starts in on his breakfast as I start to pack up our campsite.
"Of course. We're not going to get to those hot springs sitting here looking pretty now are we?" I strap the blankets together and take care of the other things before we take the tent down.
We had a 20 mile hike to get to where we wanted to go and we wanted to take our time and hike in and enjoy the adventure there together and not just the destination.
We're halfway through our hike when we get a text on my phone that was satellite capable.
-Elena finally agreed to move into the country house with me. We are moving her stuff in and using the other bedroom for the baby. Where would you like your boxes of stuff that are in there?-
"John you'll never guess what." I say excitedly.
"What? She's having twins?" John throws out.
"Nope, well actually I don't know that for sure, but no. She is moving in to the house!" I say excitedly as I send him a note back telling him to just put them in my room and I'd handle them later.
"Wow, what did he say to change her mind?" John asked.
"I'm not sure. Whatever it is is worked." I tell him.
......Cass's POV......
*The day prior*
"Well congratulations on your healthy baby boy. Here you see this? That's a boy." The ob/gyn said showing us the ultrasound.
'A boy.... that's my son...' is all I could think of as I look at Elena smiling gripping her hand. Words failed me at that moment as she beamed back at me.
After we were finished at the doctors appointment we went back to the apartment.
"So you're a boy." Elena said to her belly. "What should we call you?"
A name pops up into my head but she never knew him so I'm not sure how she'll like it. "What about Marcus?" I can't help but throw it out there.
"Oh wow! He really moved at that." Elena exclaimed. "In Italian it would be Marco."
"I'm okay with Marco." I'm still beaming at her, joy and excitement just bubbling up and out of me.
"What should be his middle name?" I gently caress her stomach as we lay back in the bed.
"Marco ...Johnathan? No, that doesn't sound right..." She starts to say looking at me trying to gauge my reaction.
"Johnathan, huh?" I give her light questioning look.
"He's moving again." She presses my hand where he's moving around.
"Hey son, do you like the name Johnathan too?" I ask.
I feel a flurry of movement under my palm, making my eyes go wide with amazement.
Elena giggles. "How about Johnathan Marco?"We pause and are both shocked by the new amount of movement under my hand.
"That must feel so weird but neat at the same time." I exclaim to her feeling the movement.
"That it does." She laughed.
"So Johnathan Marco..." I get a little bump against my hand, and ask my next question. "Do you want to be a De Luca or Ducade-Crain?"
"hmmm.. seems pretty quiet in there now." I say.
"Maybe he's thinking about it." Elena says quietly.
'Or maybe he's of the Mab bloodline?' Thietian mutters hopefully in my mind.
'Well he's not moving for that either.' I retort.
'I could tell...' Thietian says sounding defeated.
"It's fine. We have time for that later." I tell Elena. "I don't mind waiting on that answer."
I scoot up and wrap her up in my arms holding her close. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for this conversation that I am about to bring up.
"Elena.... Your lease contract is up in a few weeks. Have you thought about moving in with me at Sin and my house in the country? You can still come see your doctor and have the baby at the hospital if that's what you want."
"I have thought about it, amore. I still don't care that I'll be forced to see Thietian. What if something happens and I need You, Cass, when Thietian is making use of your body? What should I do?" She asks seriously, a subtle trace of venom is laced in with her words although she seems to be calm.
"Call Sin or John, even Lar will come if you call." I gesture with my hands and realize I should probably be looking at her. I gently let go of her and turn to face her.
"I said YOU, Cass, not them. What if I need you?" She emphasizes saying you, by pointing directly at my chest,
"Then tell Thietian that, I will hear you when you tell him that." I'm starting to feel annoyed how she is avoiding that little fact. "Is it so hard to just say a few things to him?"
She hmmpphs and turn to face away from me. "I can't help it that he scares me. The way he's so possessive of me, how he assumed that this relationship involved him too."
'Cass I won't morph but let me say a few things.'
....'Fine....'
I let him say what he wants to.
"Look, Elena, I'm sorry that you're intimidated by Thietian, he couldn't help falling in love with you. He got to see all the reasons, I, fell in love with you. IF you were to experience things the same way we did, you'd understand, we couldn't help it. The whole reason I, Thietian, is fighting against his father, is for YOU. We could not live with ourselves if you and the baby were killed or made into slaves for m .. the Erlkings plans. We will do everything in our power to keep you safe and happy."
She turns back around while Thietian is talking giving her attention back to us with a slight frown on her face.
"Thietian understands, I understand, how you feel about me and him. I will, we will, do our best to make sure any interaction you may have to have with him will be as minimal as possible. I promise. Just give us a chance to be a family." Thietian releases my body back to me and I still give Elena imploring eyes full of hope.
"As long as Thietian knows and doesn't try to force anything...." She started off, "Alright. We can start packing up my stuff. My landlord wants to sell the building anyways."
Shocked and somewhat in disbelief I stare at her and ask myself
'holy shit did she just say yes? Without an argument? Maybe I should ask her if we can do....'
Thietian popped in his two cents, 'Don't push your luck Cass.'