Thanks to my Beta Reader Americanchick, I could not do it without her help.
I do not own almost nothing here, and I do this only for fun.
I hope you enjoy it.
It all started in Greece
Chapter 1
"It all started in Greece, Mac..."
It had been Stella's favourite sentence since he had found her, after follow her half the world away until that land which turned to be her native country.
"The civilization, as we understand it, the political, the science, the philosophy... Everything! It all started in Greece." The harmonious movement of her hands accompanied Stella's words, as usual.
And you do not know to what extent, Mac Taylor thought to himself. Since he had come to Greece and had seen her, he felt that something new had begun between them. The surprise in Stella's eyes when she saw him, the spark of joy in her pupils, made his heart melt.
But without having time to talk about themselves, events had happened very fast. When everything ended with the death of Professor Papakota, the only reference that Stella had from her childhood, Mac felt that then he had to be in charge. Stella had known, finally, where she was born and who her mother was, and now she also knew exactly what she had lost. When she hugged Mac in crying, he knew he had to be there for her. The cold and rational Mac Taylor was never so glad about the hasty decision he took when he decided to follow her to Greece, surprising the entire laboratory.
Stella was in such a state of shock that she could not think clearly, so she let Mac make the arrangements to get the first flight to leave Thessaloniki as soon as possible. But they had no reason to leave Greece. After all he had taken ten days off, and Stella was theoretically in an indefinite leave because he had not handled her resignation.
The day after Professor Papakota's death they had to resolve the police paperwork. Stella also ensured that the professor and his brother were buried in their family grave, near the place where the two had died, in these lands that were once theirs. Stella was summoned to meet within a few weeks with Papakota's lawyers in New York, because apparently he had deposited with them his will and his brother and Stella were the only ones that the document rested. One of the attorneys phoned Stella when they received communication from the professor's death and announced to her that, with his brother death and in the absence of more relatives, Stella was the only heir. He himself had helped write the will and knew that the professor had amassed a not inconsiderable wealth, including the ownership of his home in New York and another house in Greece, on the island of Paros. He gave Stella the address of the house and encouraged her to go and visit it, considering she was in the country. She will be the owner after all, once the execution of the will took place, in a short space of time.
That's how in four hectic days Stella knew that she was actually born Greek, and she had just become the master of a house in Naoussa on Paros Island. Naoussa was precisely where she was born. It could not be a mere coincidence.
The flight from Thessaloniki to Athens was short, just over an hour, but when she finally sat in her place, Stella felt the fatigue accumulated in the past two days, and from last night in which the nerves of all events did not allow her to sleep; so little she supported her head in the back of her seat she was already asleep. She slid sideways to be supported on Mac's shoulder, and then on his chest. Scattered curls tickled Mac's neck, and he could smell her scent, always fresh. The sunset was beautiful, the clouds taking on a pink tint, and the Aegean Sea glowed silver-painted and still. Mac placed a protective arm over the side of the sleeping woman beside him, and she snuggled closer against him.
The flight went smoothly. When the stewardess came to ask what they wanted for dinner from a menu of pasta or salad Mac chose pasta.
"And your wife will want something?" Mac looked surprised at the kind lady.
"She..." He would say that she was not his wife, but he thought it better, after all who cared... "She is tired, I do not want to wake her up, but in case she woke up bring her a salad, please."
Stella stretched gently waking up with the noise of plates and silverware that were being served. The stewardess came at that moment.
"Pasta menu for the gentleman..." She said and put the tray on the little table that Mac had prepared when Stella regained her position in the seat. "And salad menu for the lady, your husband asked for one for you ... But we can change if desired."
Still not very aware Stella nodded.
"Salad is good." And looking at Mac suddenly realizing what the girl had said ... "My husband asked?" A sudden laugh encouraged her, making a happy look appear on Mac's face. She had not laughed far too long. The attendant nodded. "He knows me too well!" Stella continued, passing a hand across his cheek. Mac dropped a soft kiss on her fingers. The stewardess looked at them smiling. She had noticed them upon entering. They fit perfectly together, and it was evident he was very attentive to her and all her movements. The "chemistry" between the two could be seen from afar. Seeing them leave the plane once they arrive safely to the capital, the stewardess thought that maybe someday she could find someone who cares about her like the man with blue eyes did about the slender woman with the curly hair...
Stella did not want Mac occupy a different room, from Tassos' attack she felt safer with him around so a twin bed room seemed perfect. Mac had not enjoyed vacations in the past eight years, so he had decided that their stay in Greece would be something as special as eight times beyond the normal expectations of a holiday, to be worth for eight holidays not taken. He had gone directly to the Hotel Grande Bretagne, in Syntagma Square. The luxury of the lobby had left Stella gaping, and the room assigned to them was impressive. The fall in U.S. tourism since the events of the Twin Towers had been felt in Greece, particularly in luxury hotels, so when an American passport was showed all employees were attentive... trying to recover their best customers.
Mac felt a bit uneasy at the prospect of sharing a room... because every time it was more and more difficult for him to stay away from Stella, and not to touch her... When the only thing he wanted was to hug her, and make all her troubles disappear so she could return to be the woman of the eternal smile and laughter, as she always used to be. Seeing her sad broke his heart, and he was willing to do anything to change that.
But that first night there was no problem. As soon as Stella left the bathroom with her nightgown and robe and lay on the bed she fell deep asleep, finally quiet. When Mac left the bathroom at his turn, wearing only his boxers, she no longer saw him, which gave him some relief. Stella had not had time to cover herself, so he took charge of the sheets on her, and even dared to kiss her on the head.
"Good night, sweetheart, sweet dreams." She replied with a sigh, sound asleep but... Somehow she knew she was safe because he was there.
In the next two days they had planned to visit the monuments of Athens, and then Mac had already decided they would make a four-day cruise around the Aegean Sea, departing from Piraeus to reach the Turkish coast and to also see the jewel of Ephesus. At that time, he hoped to convince Stella that they should visit Paros and the house soon to be hers, something she was reluctant to do. Mac knew it was for fear of what they might find there about her past, but he also knew they could not leave Greece leaving behind many loose ends, when they had finally some clues. To convince Stella was his next task.
