MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT

::

A Teslen story about marriage, I know I'm late for the GW challenge ^^ I wanted to write this story since a long time now, but never found the time to, because English isn't my first language, I never wrote a non OS story in English ^^ Hope you'll enjoy this one.

Disclaimers : I don't own Sanctuary or any of the characters in this following story.

AND A THOUSAND THANKS TO RACHEL! MY BETA-R! 3

::

Preface: Proposal

::

Helen couldn't look away from the window. She always loved staring out at the garden brightened by the sun in the morning. She loved watching the city waking up, innocent people unaware of the world around them. Helen always secretly hoped, one day, abnormal and humans will live peacefully together.

But she won't be there to see it.

She will have to leave her old manor tomorrow. The heads had decided that, not only could she not be the head of the Sanctuary Network, she now wouldn't be allowed to be lead her own Sanctuary.

For the first time in her life, Helen couldn't imagine where she would be the following week, what she would be doing. She hated that, to be so unprepared, she used to plan for everything. But she never for saw this happening. And now she couldn't imagine what she was going to do in two days.

Helen was happy she had enough time to help Will. The young man almost died, but she and Declan MacRae saved him before the worst could have happened.

She hadn't killed Big Bertha, and that simple choice was taking away everything she had left. In one year she had lost her oldest friends, James, Jimmy and John. Nikola was no longer immortal. The five were dying. She lost her only daughter who she was still grieving for.

And now her Sanctuary.

She hadn't found a cure for her longevity, was she going to be alone for centuries again? The simple question was torturing her, she always hated loneliness and the thought of facing this alone was more terrifying than death.

Light knocking on the door made her jump and turn around. She was surprised to find Olaf Van Ausberg standing in the doorway of her office.

"Olaf, please come in." She said inviting him inside the room with a wave of her arm. "What a surprise, what brings you here?"

The bald-headed man came closer to her with a sincere expression of compassion on his face. "I heard about your situation, I came as fast as I could."

"Oh, well… thank you Olaf." Helen replied as she dropped her eyes to the floor. "I know you were chosen to be the head of the network… with Declan and Wexford… and you probably know I've been given the choice to decide who would take the job between you three."

He made one more step to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "That's right… but that's not the main reason why I'm here."

Helen moved her shoulder away from his hand and turned her back to him as she stared again through the window. She didn't believe him.

"I'm here to help you." Olaf continued. "I know you'll have to leave the Sanctuary tomorrow."

"I don't see how it could be any of your business." She spoke coldly.

"Marry me."

She turned back to him, sure she hadn't heard correctly. "Excuse me?"

"Marry me Helen. I'm serious. If I am the head and if you are my wife, you'll be able to stay here, continue your researches… and keep in touch with the Sanctuary movements."

"There is a lot of 'if'." Helen looked deeply in his eyes. He was right. That was maybe the only thing she could do.

"I have been talking with Doctor Ark-Fong Li, it should work."

Helen didn't speak immediately; trying to think as fast as she could, she moved her weight from one foot to another and massaged her temples a few second. "Are you sure?"

"I am, Helen… let me help you. The head isn't as much important for me as you think..." Olaf dived his hand in his jacket and took a little velvet box from his pocket. He opened it. Helen froze as she discovered a wonderful diamond ring.

"It's a little too big for a marriage arrangement, don't you think?"

"I know all is going very fast for you, but I wasn't thinking about it as an arranged marriage."

"What do you mean?" She asked unsure.

"You a very attractive woman, Helen… I can't deny I have feelings toward you that are not just professional… I would be surprised you hadn't noticed it." He responded with a smirk before stepped closer to Helen to take her hand into his own. "You have all the rights to refuse… I would understand."

Helen took the little box as she dropped a long sigh. She smiled, but her heart wasn't with her. Olaf leaned forward and laid his lips on her cheekbone. When he drew back, he noticed tears coming in her eyes, and knew she was fighting them to fall. He put a finger under her chin and made her look into his eyes.

"You have until tomorrow to think about all of this… if you decide to accept my proposal… we'll have to do this as soon as possible…" He whispered.

"Something like the months coming?"

"Something like next week…"

With those last words he walked out of the room. Helen eyes moved from the ring in her hand to the door where Olaf just went out.

She knew it was the only way, she hadn't the choice. Helen took several deep breaths and ran toward the corridor.

"Olaf! Wait!"

The man stopped and turned around to face her as she approached him. He couldn't surpress a disappointed sigh as she handled him the velvet box. He took it but was surprised when he noticed Helen had kept her left hand up, in front of him.

"I decided… I will marry you." She whimpered softly and a single, thin tear slipped from her eye to fall along her cheek.

Olaf smiled and dried her cheek with a soft stroke of his knuckles. He took the ring out of the little box and caught her hand. Helen shivered when she felt the cold silver slide along the skin of her finger.

::