Chapter One

A/N: The sequel to my fic "A Teacher or a Leader". This fic is dedicated to kissofdeath and KristaMarie. Please read and review!

The morning after Teddy returned, Jean woke up first. She looked down at her sleeping husband, overwhelmed with love for him. She gently pushed a lock of hair off his forehead, tucking it behind his ear. She placed a light kiss on his forehead, and he stirred slightly, opening his eyes.

"Good morning, Teddy," she said.

"Good morning, Jean," he said, and she leaned down to kiss him. He pulled back from her a few moments later, and she looked down at him, confused.

"What's wrong?" she asked. He avoided her gaze.

"Nothing's wrong," he lied.

She didn't believe him, but did not push him for an answer. She knew that he would tell her in his own time.

"I'll get dressed and wake Duncan," she said.

"All right," he replied, getting out of bed. Jean turned to the wardrobe and dressed quickly, turning back to her husband.

"I'll get Duncan now; when you're dressed, will you come down for breakfast?" she asked him tentatively. He nodded. "I'm glad you're home, Teddy," she said.

"As am I," he said. Jean gave him a brief smile before exiting their bedroom. She walked down the hallway to their son's room. He was awake, sitting up in bed.

"Good morning, Mummy," he said.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"

"Yes, I did," he replied.

"Let's get dressed, hmm? It's almost time for breakfast," she told him, turning to his dresser and taking out a short-sleeved oxford shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. Jean helped Duncan to dress, and then they walked hand-in-hand downstairs.

"Good morning, Duncan," Teddy said when they entered the dining room. Duncan buried his face in his mother's skirts. Jean knelt down to look in her son's eyes.

"Duncan, what's wrong?" she asked. "It's your father."

"I know," he whispered.

"Then what's wrong?" she whispered back.

"I don't know," he said.

"It'll be fine, darling," she said, straightening up. "Ready for breakfast?"

He nodded, and Jean picked him up, settling him in his highchair.

"What do you want for breakfast, sweetheart?"

"Eggs and bacon, please, Mummy," he replied. Jean smiled at him and prepared his plate. She set it in front of him and prepared her own breakfast.

"Duncan began learning to read a few months ago, Teddy," Jean said.

"Really?" Teddy said. "I am so proud of you, Duncan," he told his son, who blushed and looked down.

"Duncan, why don't you tell your father about our trip to the beach?"

"We went swimming in the ocean," Duncan replied. "And we went on a boat ride too."

"That's wonderful," Teddy said. "When did you go?" he asked, turning to Jean.

Two months ago," she replied.

Jean continued to prompt Duncan into speaking with his father throughout breakfast. Poor Duncan was so nervous around his father, not used to any man but Edward being in his life. Teddy tried to engage him in conversation, but Duncan was too uncomfortable to really say anything.

Breakfast was finally over, and Jean rang the bell. Cornelia entered and began to clear away the dishes, while Teddy, Jean, and Duncan retired to the living room.

"What would you like to do today, Teddy?" Jean asked, their son on her lap.

"Duncan, why don't you decide?" Teddy suggested.

"I want to go to the park," Duncan decided.

"All right," Jean said. "Teddy, will you get the stroller from the hall closet?" she asked him, and he nodded. "I'll be right back, darling," she said, kissing her son's forehead lightly. Going upstairs, she packed up a bag with a few of Duncan's books, a blanket, and a few pillows. She went downstairs and rejoined her husband and son.

"Ready?" she asked, and her husband nodded. Jean set the bag down and picked Duncan up, settling him in his stroller. "Will you carry the bag, please?" she asked her husband, and he nodded, picking it up. She opened the door and pushed the stroller outside. Teddy followed her, and closed the door behind him.

They walked the two blocks to the park, and when they arrived, Jean and Teddy spread out the blanket near the pond. Once the blanket was laid out, Jean took Duncan out of his stroller.

"Do you want to show your daddy how well you can read, Duncan?" Jean asked, and Duncan looked up at her nervously. "Go on, dear," she said. "I'll help you."

"Okay," Duncan agreed.

"Why don't you pick out a book?" Jean suggested. She stacked up the pillows and patted the space on the blanket next to her; Teddy joined her, wrapping his arm around his shoulder as he leaned back against the pillows. Duncan walked back to them, holding a copy of "The Story of Babar".

"It's my favourite book," Duncan told his father, handing him the book so that he could settle himself on Jean's lap. He took the book back when he was seated with his mother. Jean held one side of the book and Teddy held the other side.

Duncan began to read. "In the great forest, an ele-elephant is born. His n-name is Babar. His mother loves him very much. She rocks him to sleep with her trunk wh-whylie," Duncan stopped, looking up at his mother.

"While," she said.

"While singing softly to him," he finished the first page.

"Very good, Duncan!" Teddy said, very proud of his son.

"Thank you, Daddy," Duncan replied, blushing.

Duncan read the next two pages, then stopped.

"Mummy, can you finish the book please?" he asked.

"Of course, Duncan. You are doing so well," she said. She took up the story, and they finished the book. After finishing the book, Jean and Teddy packed up their things. They walked back to their house.

"I've got to run to the post office, Jean," Teddy said when they arrived back at the house.

"All right," she said, a bit confused to why he would need to go to the post office so soon after his return to Australia. What could he possibly have to mail?

"I'll see you in a bit, then, dear," he said, kissing her cheek lightly. He walked down the street to the post office.

Jean and Duncan settled in the parlour, Duncan snuggled in her lap. She began to read "The Tale of Peter Rabbit." They finished "Peter Rabbit" and then started on "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny". Lunch was served just after they had finished the second book, and still Teddy had not returned. After lunch, she brought Duncan upstairs for his nap, and Teddy was still out. Jean sat in the window seat of the front room and waited for her husband to come back.

Three hours later, her son had woken up, and Teddy had not reappeared. Jean and Duncan were sitting at the coffee table in the parlour when Teddy finally returned, five hours after he had left.

"Duncan, sweetheart, stay here and practice your writing while your father and I talk for a moment, all right?" she asked, and he nodded, utterly absorbed in practising his name. Jean stood up and led Teddy upstairs to their room.

"Where were you, Teddy?" she asked him.

"I got lost," he lied. In reality, he had gone to meet up with one of the women who had been on the ship with him, a woman named Isabelle Coleman. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and large grey eyes. She was tall and slender, though she had more than ample curves. She had seen his exhibition in London when she was there on holiday, and, when she discovered that he was on board the same ship coming back to Australia, she seduced him. When they returned to Australia and to their real life, they had made arrangements to meet once a week at her house.

He could see that she did not believe him, but she dropped the subject.

"It's time for tea," she said, and walked downstairs.

Later that night, after Jean and Teddy had tucked their son in to bed, they went to bed themselves. While Jean went to the bathroom to brush her hair, Teddy crawled between the covers. Though they had made love last night, he had not had the time to think over her confession. Now, though, he had time to think it over, and he could not bear to be near his wife, knowing that his cousin had slept with her. He could not bear the thought of his cousin and his wife sleeping together.

Jean entered the bedroom and sat down on the bed next to Teddy.

"I've missed you, Teddy," she said, stroking his chest.

"I've missed you too, Jean," he said, kissing her forehead lightly. "Good night."

"Good night?" she asked him confusedly. "Don't you want to...?"

"I'm exhausted, Jean," he told her.

"Oh," she replied, hurt. "Good night, then."

He rolled over on his side and fell asleep immediately. For Jean, however, sleep was elusive. Finally, she got out of bed and walked down the hall to check on her son. He was sleeping peacefully, and, not wanting to disturb him, she went downstairs to the parlour. Sitting on the couch, she began to cry. She knew in her heart that Teddy had not accepted the fact that she had begun an affair with Edward. She suspected, too, that he had not been at the post office, but with a woman. If this was how it was going to be, then she did not know if she wanted Teddy back. She finally cried herself to sleep.

Things were even more strained between Teddy and Jean when Edward returned from Canberra. Teddy was barely civil to his cousin. Things were also on edge between Teddy and Duncan, as Duncan wanted to spend all of his free time with Edward, not Teddy. Teddy was hurt, but knew that it was his fault for abandoning his family for nearly three years. Despite his guilt, he made no real effort to integrate himself into his son's life, and he continued to sleep with various women.

Four months after Teddy returned, it was Duncan's third birthday. Jean had planned an outing to the zoo for them, and then a picnic lunch at the park. Teddy only stayed for their trip to the zoo, excusing himself before they went to the park for lunch. Jean was bitterly disappointed in her husband, but tried not to show it. Duncan did not mind his father's absence so much, as Edward was there. After lunch, Jean and Edward brought Duncan back to the house so that he could open his presents.

Duncan received several plush animals from Edward; a train set from Teddy (Jean had bought it and wrapped it; Teddy had forgotten to buy a present); and Jean had bought him several books. The cook had baked a special cake for his birthday, and Edward, Jean, and the maids sang to him before he blew out the candles.

"Happy birthday, darling," Jean said. "I love you."

"Happy birthday, Duncan," Edward added.

After the cake, Jean brought Duncan up to bed and read him one of his new books before he settled down for a nap. Jean went downstairs and joined Edward in the parlour.

"Jean, I saw Teddy kissing another woman yesterday," he said.

"I suspected that he was cheating on me," she said. "He has been sleeping with hordes of women – all over Europe, and now in Australia too. Oh, God, Edward, if it's going to be like this, then I don't want him here!" she began to cry, leaning against his chest.

"I'll always be here for you, Jean," he said soothingly, stroking her hair as she cried. She composed herself and pulled back.

"I don't think that it would help matters with Teddy if he walked in and found me in your arms," she chuckled weakly.

"I'd best go, then," he said. "But remember, Jean – I'll always be here for you. Let me know if you need anything at all."

She shot him a faint, yet grateful, smile. "Thank you, Edward."

He kissed her lightly on the forehead and, turning around when he reached the front door, blew her a kiss. She blew one back, and then he left.

Turning back to the table, she saw a letter propped up on the table, addressed to her. She opened it with trembling fingers.

My dearest, most darling Jean,

My time in Canberra has allowed me the opportunity to think about our relationship. It is very clear to me that you are the one true love of my life, and I know in my heart that I will never love anyone else. I know that you are still in love with Teddy, but know that I will wait for you. And even if you decide never to come back to me, I will always love you and will always be there for you. I love you so much, Jean – and I love Duncan, too. I don't think that I could love him more if he was my own son. I would do anything to help the two of you. Never hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can do.

I love you, Jean.

Edward

She set the letter down and burst into tears once more. Her heart ached for her Edward, her rock, her strength. She loved him, but she loved Teddy more.