Disclaimer: The usual.
A/N: To understand where this fic is starting form read Home Sweet…Home? Or at least the last chapter which is where Richard makes his first appearance.
A/N 2: I was checking through some old stories when I realised I left it hanging with Marguerite's ex hitching a ride back to plateau with Tribune, I remembered I'd started the sequel and didn't finish it. So after a long search I finally found it and here it is. Enjoy
Chapter One
The sun was just beginning to set but Roxton still continued to push the group on, he took point with Challanger behind him, Veronica and Malone then Marguerite and Richard bringing up the rear. Roxton glanced back at the couple and could not help but notice Marguerite's happy smile as she speaks to Richard -- her husband. What he didn't notice was the haunted look in her eyes and the secret glances she threw him every now and then. Roxton still could not believe it. Feelings of anger and jealousy began to stir up and he forced it back down. He could hear the couple some distance behind him but could not discern the words.
"How could you not tell me you were alive?" Marguerite demanded. She spoke quietly, all too conscious of the people around them that would no doubt want to listen in on the conversation.
"You didn't leave me much of a choice, you just disappeared" Richard answered, the reason sounded feeble even to him.
She shook her head as she thought back; old memories pushed themselves to the front of her mind. I saw you on the floor, you were dead…I saw Mr. Bradley shoot you" Marguerite had no idea what to think of this, one of the only reason she even liked the Plateau was because it was completely apart from her old life. It appeared that was about to change.
"Indeed he did but by some miracle I survived and when I woke I found you gone and Bradley dead…your handiwork no doubt" he chuckled.
Marguerite looked up at him and smiled slightly. "I stayed until Aiden was arrested and then I left; when I returned a few months later I had a price on my head" she explained simply.
A worried expression appeared on Richard's face. "What happened?"
"Oh this and that -- I came here and started a new life" she may have been married to the man but there were things she wouldn't let him find out. She generally kept him out of the business part.
"And with a new family…" Richard glanced around him, he wanted to get an idea on these people that his wife appeared to be so friendly with. He was terribly curious.
"Until three years ago you were the only family I ever had."
Richard abruptly stopped walking and turned Marguerite to face him.
"I'm sorry I caused you so much pain," he told her sincerely.
Marguerite shrugged it off and moved away. "It wasn't your fault" out of the corner of her eye she caught Roxton watching her. Their eyes met and he looked the other way quickly and continued on. "I'll be back in a minute." She started to walk faster to catch up with Roxton and match his long, purposeful strides. He kept his eyes front, staring straight ahead in deep concentration to keep from looking at her as she walked beside him. "If we keep walking at this pace we'll be back at the treehouse in no time."
"No point in hanging around" he replied in a detached manner.
Marguerite knew that at some point his distant attitude would frustrate her to the point of insanity. Knowing he would have to reply properly at some time, and that her continued presence would annoy him, as it was what Roxton did not want, she stayed by him and carried on speaking. "It's getting dark we should make camp," she pointed out.
"It's a waste of time; we'll reach the treehouse within the hour" Roxton did want to talk, despite the fact that he was acting otherwise. He just wanted to be out of earshot of the others, away from Richard. His stomach churned.
Once they were back at the treehouse it would be way too crowded to speak in private so Marguerite grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side, effectively halting his march. "We should talk."
"Well there's nothing to talk about – you're married and your husband is here. You'll want to continue your life…with him" he turned his back on her then and moved quickly away.
Marguerite just watched as he departed. "It's not that easy" she muttered. She turned upon hearing footsteps behind her. She was relieved to see it was Challenger and not Richard with his many prying questions.
The scientist laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Give him some time, he just needs to adjust to the fact that your married…He's surprised to see Richard" as they all were.
"And I'm not!" the whole situation was infuriating. She cursed the day they ever found that damn cave. She cursed all the situations that led to them being there. Challenger and Marguerite walked side by side and presently Richard joined them. The jungle was unnerving him.
Veronica and Malone watched Marguerite and Challenger as they walked in deep conversation; unable to hear what was being said. "I just can't believe it; Marguerite – married" Malone shook his head.
"Poor Roxton. They were actually starting to talk without insulting each other when he comes along. He doesn't seem like Marguerite's type" Veronica mused. She planned on watching the newcomer like a hawk. The people that Marguerite was acquainted with that landed on the Plateau never seemed to be decent folk. She did not see why this man should be any different. It didn't make any difference to her that he was Marguerite's husband. A bad guy was a bad guy.
"You don't like him" Malone stated and followed her gaze.
"I don't trust him," she corrected.
Later that night in the treehouse Veronica, Malone and Challanger were sat at the table watching Marguerite and Richard. They were trying very hard not to eavesdrop on their conversation but it was a loosing battle. The group was bored and not tired enough to sleep and this new situation interested them.
Though Challenger tried not to show it. "What they are discussing is none of our concern," he pointed out.
"Aren't you in the least bit curious?" Malone questioned.
Challenger looked to where the couple was standing by the balcony.Not at all" he stood up and headed in the direction of the Lab; walking close to where Marguerite and Richard were chatting.
"They've been standing there for over two hours, what are they discussing that takes that long?"
"Their life" the reporter suggested. "They've been apart for so long, they have a lot to catch up on."
Marguerite shifted away from Richard not that their conversation was over, and walked to the elevator. She had so much to get her head around; she wanted to be far away from anyone and anything that could distract her.
Richard joined Veronica and Malone, smiling politely at them. Veronica merely nodded. "Where's Marguerite going?"
"I believe she mentioned taking a walk" he took an apple from the wooden bowl on the table and rubbed it against his shirt before taking a bite out of it, and leaning back in the chair.
"It isn't safe" Malone replied.
"I assure you she'll be fine" Richard shrugged nonchalantly. He knew Marguerite well enough to know she could take care of herself. He thought it amusing that the reporter apparently thought otherwise. He gave them a beaming smile.
"And I assure you it's too dangerous out there to be walking alone" Veronica contradicted him in a cool tone. There was just something about him that rubbed her up the wrong way. She stood up to go after Marguerite; the elevator had already descended whilst they debated.
Richard didn't want to cause an argument; he decided to agree with them, figuring that they should know this area a whole lot better than he. He wanted to change that as soon as possible, whenever entering a new place he found out as much about it as he could in able to get around easily. Richard would find that a lot harder at the Plateau – there were not travel books telling him everything. Then I shall get her."
"I'll go" a deep quiet voice interrupted them and the three turned to see Roxton standing silently by the stairs. They had not even noticed him there. He collected his rifle and exited the treehouse.
"Man of few words isn't he?" Richard commented uncertainly.
Marguerite was stood by the moonlit water; savoring the peaceful night. She turned, startled at the sound of twigs breaking and calmed when she noticed Roxton standing before her "Now you decide you want to talk" she rolled her eyes.
He spoke gruffly. He cared but now he was not allowed to, Marguerite was taken – literally right from under his nose. "You shouldn't be out her alone."
"Well now you're here to protect me" she smiled sweetly. The heiress didn't want things to change, but it already had before she could stop it. She hated not having any control.
"I'm here to take you back to the treehouse" Roxton didn't take the bait.
She took a step towards him. "I'd rather stay here for a while."
They stood in silence for the next few minutes neither one wanting to start a conversation first. Tired of the games and wanting to get to the bottom of things Roxton started, "…Why didn't you tell me you were still married? Why continue this pretence between --." He shook his head angrily and glared at her, he grabbed the rifle he had set beside a tree and turned to leave.
"I thought he was dead Roxton." He stopped in mid-step, he was prepared to listen, for now."I saw him die, I held him in my arms as he stopped breathing…you of all people know what its like to watch a loved one die." Not wanting to see the upcoming look of sympathy or sadness Marguerite looked away as he slowly turned to face her.
"I didn't know I…" Roxton sounded regretful, guilty even.
"You couldn't have, nobody knew. When I saw him walk out of that cave I couldn't believe it. I didn't stop to think how anyof you might feel about him."
"Do you still love him?" he dreaded the answer but a part of him needed to know.
Marguerite appeared blown by his bluntness; that was her thing. "I…I'll let you know as soon as I've found out myself." An understanding passed between them and, maintaining a safe distance between each other, started back toward the treehouse.
Marguerite and Roxton walked out of the elevator looking happier than they were when they left. Out of need to see her, out of jealousy for the man she was with, Richard went to greet his wife while Roxton made his way into the kitchen area.
"How are you darling?"
"I'm fine" she shrugged. He went to kiss her and out of the corner of her eye Marguerite could Roxton watching them, saw but tried to ignore the flicker of pain. She moved her head and stepped back from Richard. "Goodnight" she said pleasantly. She glanced in Roxton's direction before going to her room and he smiled, almost sadly He couldn't describe how pleased he was that Marguerite was distancing herself from Richard – but it was for him and not what she wanted, and Roxton couldn't do that to her. It wasn't fair to any of them
Richard turned to the man across the room. They were the only ones remaining now. "You don't like me much do you?"
"I can't say that I do" he responded honestly.
Quite curious about his open dislike Richard pressed on for answers. And why is that?"
"I don't know you, the only reason I'm tolerating you is because Marguerite knows you."
Richard smiled, amused by this, Roxton made to leave the room. Suddenly Richard got it, he understood. "You love her don't you?"
He smiled faintly. "I'd be a fool not to."
"I'll fight for her."
"You wouldn't deserve her if you didn't"
He left, leaving Richard standing in the middle of the darkened room to contemplate everything that had happened, to wonder on what lay ahead.
A/N: It's been so long since I wrote a LW story, before I start any new ones I'm finishing the ones that were never finished, starting with "Past is Prologue", a new chapter will be up soon but first I want to alter the format and add more, this is what I have so far and the rest will be finished tomorrow.
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