"Its all going to be okay James." Jennifer said as she rushed in to hug James. She couldn't even think of how much pain he would be going through right now. James looked at Jennifer with teary eyes and mouthed the words, "When?" this melted Jennifer's heart fully and she hugged him tighter than before as she felt Adrian's arms wrap around her and James making it a group hug.
After so much that happened today, Adrian couldn't help but think of how much anguish he would have to go through if someday they would break up or one of them die. He was also fully aware of the fact that in the mafia world things like death, kidnapping, torture and murder are very common. He knew that if Jennifer was to experience any of it he would fly off his handle of sanity. When Adrian, Jennifer and James were leaving the house, Adrian felt more scared then he was when he entered the house.
Scared of what might befall on their love. Scared of the future. He was also aware that the time of punishment was coming closer. The moment they landed in the den, Jennifer would tell everyone what happened and would accept the punishment openly. She was such a rule follower and being the leader himself, Adrian couldn't encourage her to cheat the rules. Adrian was tied up between love and responsibilities. With a troubled mind and an even troubled heart, Adrian drove them back to the den.
As they entered the den, everyone present there at that moment gathered around them to see what happened. James was still not able to walk without support so he was leaning on Adrian as Jennifer walked in with the locker in her hand. "What happened to him?" Hannah was the first one to approach them and she shouldered James' weight until they got him on a bed in Kaleb's room as it was the nearest. Others also followed. Joseph was out on some business that is why none of them there knew what to do. He was the only one who knew how to react to medical emergencies. He always did that kind of work. Growing up in front of a hospital got him into all kinds of medical knowledge.
James fell asleep the very moment his head hit the pillow so everyone decided to let him be. Maybe he would feel better after he woke up. Anyways, they didn't know what to do. The moment everyone left the room, they thought that Adrian and Jennifer would explain the cause of James' current situation but instead Adrian just grabbed Jennifer's hand and dragged her into his room. Jennifer wanted to explain everyone what happened but Adrian was so quick that she didn't even get the chance to say a single word.
Inside their room, Jennifer looked at Adrian all confused at his sudden behavior. "What happened babe?" she asked as she noticed traces of sadness on his face. Adrian didn't speak anything. How could he? What was left to say? Cheat them because I love you? Or betray the world I led you in? Damn it! Adrian, can you take one decision, one single decision after thinking everything out? Jennifer cupped his face and then lifted his cheeks so that Adrian's eyes met Jennifer's eyes.
"What it troubling you?" she asked in her sweetest honey like voice. Adrian still didn't reply. He didn't know how to put his emotions into words. Whatever he was thinking how could he express it to Jennifer? With the conversation so far, Jennifer had a fair idea of what troubled Adrian but she wanted him to express it. Break out his cocoon and push his limits. If this was the only thing that he wasn't good at, then Jennifer would make every possible efforts to solve this.
According to what Jennifer inferred, his best friend's trouble coupled with his guilt for Abby's death and the fear of upcoming punishment was eating Adrian and he didn't know how to tell her that he was scared and feeling guilty because he led her into this situation. Fair enough! One can always feel that they are responsible for the troubles their partner has to face but the relationship that stands all this is the one that grows beyond these limitations into a beautiful butterfly that flies high in the sky.
When Adrian didn't speak anything, Jennifer held his hand and brought him to the bed. She laid on one side and asked him lay on another one. She pulled up the covers and scooted closer to him so that she could cuddle him. Arms around his neck and eyes piercing his soul, Jennifer spoke again in her same soothing voice, "Talk to me." To Adrian that sounded like a lullaby. He snuggled closer to her and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent. Her warmth making him feel comfortable even in this horrible situation.
"I'm scared." Adrian managed to say something. "about what?" Jennifer prompted him into voicing his problem. One needs to tell his problems. Others around you can't read your mind. You need to speak up about what is troubling you. Slowly and steadily, Adrian talked to Jennifer about everything that he was feeling. His insecurities. His fears. His anxiety. Everything. Present and future. This was the first deep conservation they had.
Adrian talked about how the future was uncertain and that scared him. He talked about his dreams and aspirations. For an hour, Adrian kept on talking, emptying the pot filled inside and Jennifer listened to him patiently. She understood him already but now she understood him in his words. How good it that?
After talking to each other and emptying their emotionally filled hearts, Adrian and Jennifer cuddled each other and played with the other person's hairs. They were having the time of their lives, the perfect soft date in a bed anyone could wish for until someone knocked on their door. Jennifer went to answer it. She saw Sarah standing there. She told him that Joseph had come back sometime ago and now James had also woken up. Joseph talked to James and James is now feeling better. She said that they could go down and meet him if they wanted to see him. Hidden meaning : explain whatever got him this way.
Jennifer said that they both would be down in a minute and then closed the door again. She walked aback to Adrian who was already out of the bed and kissed him oh his cheek as she said, "Don't worry babe. We have talked about it. Whatever goes down this evening is not your mistake. I made my choice. You didn't force me into this. I wanted to join it and I had already weighed my advantages and disadvantages before I agreed to this. So-"
"It's going to be okay." Adrian and Jennifer said together.