Author's notes: I am really, really, really, REALLY sorry for how late this is. I had writer's block for a bit, followed by my computer freaking out if I even dared get near the internet (I hate spyware). Thanks for the reviews, and again, my apologies!
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Chapter Four: Starting the Day Off Right
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As sunlight from the room's only window began pouring over the bed, a groggy Leo groaned and rolled onto his other side. His arm flopped across the bed and landed on a strange form. Puzzled, he traced the object with his hand and came to the conclusion that someone was laying in bed next to him.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." a smiling Greenlee greeted quietly as Leo's eyes began to open. The smile was instantly repeated on du Pres' face.
"When did you get in?" the still half-asleep Leo asked.
"A few hours ago." Greenlee replied, gently brushing Leo's hair with her hand. "I told Ryan about your situation. He asked if I was crazy, and demanded that I get to you as fast as I could."
"Remind me to thank him." Leo smiled, slowly rubbing a hand up and down his wife's hip. Upon feeling what he guessed was some sort of silk dress or nightgown, he let out a slight groan of disappointment. "Did you have to keep your clothes on?"
"I didn't think that you'd be up to that kind of thing," a grinning Greenlee admitted, rubbing her husband's chest under the covers. "Considering what's going on with your father and the fact that we're in his house."
"As well as the fact that someone is standing right outside your door." an older woman with brown hair and a British accent commented as she walked in. She shrugged her shoulders as she closed the door behind her. "That is unless voyeurism turns you on."
"Anna!" the pajama bottom-clad Leo greeted as he got out of bed and hugged his ex-sister-in-law. "This is a surprise."
"Shouldn't really be." Anna replied, hugging Leo back. "After all, someone had to pick up Greenlee from the airport." As the two broke apart, Anna kept her hands on the younger man's shoulders. "Anyway, the Countess sent me up here to wake you two up for breakfast." She smiled over at Greenlee. "Apparently, she's really looking forward to meeting you, Greenlee."
"We'll be down the minute I get dressed." Leo promised, walking over to the dresser to get some clothes. "Don't worry. I'm pretty sure that I know the way down."
"I would hope so." Anna laughed, leaving the room to give Leo privacy.
"I hope she has to wake David up." Leo chuckled, crossing the room over to the closet to retrieve a pair of black leather pants. "Give him the shock of his life."
"Yeah." Greenlee agreed with a nod. "So, what's the Countess like?"
"She seems really nice and sincere. She took me better than I thought she would." Leo smiled as he changed from his pajama bottoms to his pants. "She's like the exact opposite of Vanessa."
"So, she won't try to kill me?" Greenlee laughed before suddenly stopping and putting a hand to her stomach. Leo's brow furrowed in worry and he immediately sat down next to his wife.
"Greens?" he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Greenlee assured, crossing her arms over her stomach. "But breakfast isn't sounding too good right now."
"Morning sickness." Leo quietly sympathized, putting an arm around his wife and gently rubbing her back. As a smile crossed her face, the tall man bent down and kissed the top of his wife's head. However, it wasn't long before Greenlee gently pushed him away and headed straight into the nearby bathroom.
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"Is something wrong?" Madeline asked as Leo and Greenlee descended the last of the white marble steps into the main hall. Worry was clear in her blue eyes, and she brushed a strand of white hair behind her ear. "You two are late for breakfast."
"There's something that I didn't tell you last night." Leo replied, keep his arm around Greenlee. "I was going to, but I thought it would be best to wait until Greenlee was here, so we could share the news together." A smile crossed Leo's face as he noticed that a curious Anna had also wandered into the hall. "She's pregnant."
"That's fantastic!" a happy Madeline exclaimed, hugging Leo tightly. "Oh, your father is going to be thrilled when he finds out."
"Congratulations!" Anna added as she walked over to the trio.
"And it is simply wonderful to finally meet you, my dear." Madeline smiled as she turned to hug Greenlee. "Guy has told me so much about you and your deep passion for Leo."
"It's nice to meet you too, Countess." the petite, brown-haired woman nodded in agreement as she hugged the older woman back.
"Oh, please call me Madeline." the white-haired woman said, "Countess is far too formal for family." She turned back to Leo. "I've spoken with your father via the phone this morning."
"How is he?" a curious Leo inquired, elated that Guy was apparently feeling well enough to use the telephone.
"Better than he has been in days." Madeline replied before chuckling. "Although, I think that seeing Dr. Hayward tipped him off that you were here, because the first question he asked me this morning was how you were. I told him that you were fine, and that you would visit him this morning after breakfast."
"You don't want to go?" a surprised Leo asked.
"I've got to make sure that the chateau is ready for another guest." Madeline replied with a smile. "Your half-sister, Zoe, is coming in."
"I have a sister?" an amazed Leo asked, suddenly feeling the butterflies in his stomach again. While he had gotten lucky that the Countess had taken to him so well, he deeply questioned whether his half-siblings would feel the same way.
"And another brother." Madeline replied, "Guy and I have two children: Jean and Zoe." She sighed. "However, I don't expect that Jean will take to you, Leo. He argues with his father quite frequently, and, sadly, I expect that you will just be another thing that they argue about."
"Don't worry, Madeline." David said from behind Leo. "Leo's used to brothers not accepting him right away." A chuckle escaped the dark-haired doctor. "Trey didn't exactly treat him too well when they first met."
"Hey, Trey wasn't the only one guilty of that." Leo reminded, turning around. "I seem to remember that a certain doctor didn't exactly take to me too well at first, either."
"With the way you acted back then, who could blame me?" David laughed, slapping Leo on the back as they headed into the dining room.
To be continued...
