Chapter 4

I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Just a reminder that the chapters are being updated as I go. (Hopefully improving them) Thanks for reading though and feel free to review and tell me where I can improve.

Beth gave Leland and me a few days off before we had to fly over to the big island which was known as Kona to most people. It had been decided that Duane Lee would still come with us but Eric and Wesley would fly over to replace him and Leland while they were gone. I know it seems silly but nobody knew the islands like Leland and he was better at getting information out of people than anyone I've ever met, even Dog.

While staying on Kona we would be living in Leland's old house. To say I wasn't too thrilled was an understatement. I don't think anyone would have been happy living in your other halves old marital home but I didn't really have a choice. While we were away I wouldn't be left alone at any point. I would either be at the office or have Leland or DL with me at all times. It was one of Leland's many demands before he'd agreed that we would go. It came along with me learning how to use a gun, agreeing to carry a mace can at the very least and wearing a bullet proof vest whenever we were out in public. I thought he was being paranoid but at least he was letting me go.

We spent our few days of rest on the beach or shopping. We'd go out in the morning and buy baby clothes, prams, car seats, new clothes for me etc. Basically anything I wanted he bought. He refused to let me pay for anything. In the afternoons we'd walk along the beach talking about baby names and how excited his sons were about the baby. It felt like heaven. Sometimes I could tell his thoughts weren't fully with me but I allowed him those moments. I'd had years to accept everything and he'd only had a few days.

I'd quit my job after I'd been shot because Leland didn't like not being able to look after me so I was a lady of leisure officially. Even though I spent my time doing paperwork, chasing leads and even going on bounties I wasn't actually part of their team. I didn't have a badge or a set of cuffs but I was one of them in every other sense. Leland didn't like me going out on hunts but he was out voted. Besides he hadn't had a problem with Baby Lyssa being out with them when she was 8 months pregnant so his arguments weren't valid. She had been climbing fences and dragging people out of cars just weeks before she gave birth and her kids were all perfectly healthy.

When we flew out it was nerve racking for me. I'd never been to Kona before and if I'm honest it was hard knowing the things that Leland used to do in the past were all linked to this island. I didn't let him see that though. I was trying to make him happy. He'd been withdrawn since I'd told him what had happened to me. He didn't touch me as much or kiss me. He'd even gone off sex a little. He said he was just tired but I wasn't sure. I tried not to dwell on it but I have to admit that it stung. As we drove up to our temporary home I was absolutely speechless!

The house was absolutely stunning. It was in the middle of nowhere and set in its own 3 acres of land. There was forests and fields all around and it even had its own road to access it and an electronic gate to keep strangers away. The house itself was 3 stories tall, it had huge floor to ceiling windows and a gorgeous front porch with a swing. All of the bedrooms upstairs had their own private balcony. I understood instantly why he didn't want to sell. I was in love with it before I even stepped foot inside.

"It's all just been decorated and had brand new furniture and new solid wood flooring. My bedroom used to be at the front but thats where DL will be from now on. Our bedroom is the whole top floor. It used to be my study but I like the views from up there so I juggled it around and had an en suite put in up there and new windows." He kept chatting as I looked around in awe. He'd knew that one day I'd come here so he'd changed everything. He'd wiped away every inch of her and started again. When you opened the front door you were stood in a massive entrance hall with a wide, winding staircase directly opposite. Through the door way on the left you could see the main living area. It was decorated in browns and teal with a huge, comfy corner couch and a 50 inch TV hung on the wall. It looked like I'd decorated. It was so me. To the right was the kitchen. I headed that way.

"It's OK guys, I'll get the bags. Don't you worry about a thing!" I could hear DL shouting from outside and couldn't help but giggle. We had just abandoned him but I knew he didn't really mind. He was the family pack horse according to Dog. Duane Lee could carry his own body weight in stuff comfortably.

The kitchen ran the entire length of the house. It had a range cooker and an old fashioned double sink. Even the work tops were solid marble in the exact color I liked. There was an island with all kinds of pots, pans and gadgets hanging above it. even in the kitchen Leland had to have all the latest gadgets. There was a large dining table and chairs at the far end by the patio doors that looked over the land.

"I love it Lee! I can't believe you did all this." I squealed as I dived into his arms. He caught me with ease.

"It was nothing. It needed doing anyway. Just wait until you see our room. That's the room I did just for you." Leland stepped away from me and went to grab some of the bags from by the door. When I tried to pick one up both him and DL shouted at me. I shook my head and walked up the stairs instead. The two of them were going to to hell to live with if they kept that up I thought to myself.

I was drawn to the room at the front of the house and I'm not sure why. I didn't need to be there. I shouldn't even want to be there but I couldn't help it. I stood looking at the bed and couldn't help wondering if Leland had had sex with her there. I don't know why, maybe it was hormones but I just stood there staring at the bed. That's how DL found me, standing in the middle of his room staring at the bed.

"What are you doing little miss?" he walked around me and dumped his bags on the bed. It was then that he looked at me. "What's wrong?" I'm not sure what he saw in my face but he certainly didn't like it.

"I don't know. I just came in here without thinking and then I couldn't stop myself wondering whether he'd... that they'd... oh you know DL. I was thinking is that their bed? I don't even know why I keep doing it to myself." I sat down on chair next to the window and stared out over the breath taking view. After being surrounded by sea and sand for so long it felt weird to see so much greenery. I was angry with myself then. I'd promised that I wouldn't do this. I had said I would just let it go and enjoy hanging out with him and Duane Lee.

"T, no. Once he fell for you he threw everything out. I mean everything! He even got rid of the god damn floor boards and knocked down a few walls! He didn't want any memories except for the ones he has of you. He decorated every room in a way he thought you'd like. Have you been upstairs yet?" I shook my head. "Just go up there T and then you'll know how he truly feels. You'll see what you've done to him. OK, I can't tell you he hasn't had sex in this house but I can tell you that he has never felt about anyone the way he feels about you. Now get up those stairs young lady!" He pulled me to my feet and started pushing me out of his bedroom door. The stairs going up to what was to be our room was right along the corridor in front of me. When I reached the top I hesitated for a second before opening the door.

The room was absolutely stunning. There was a giant 4 post bed against the far wall so that it was opposite the window. It had a gorgeous white and pink canopy over it. The walls were decorated with what looked like thousands of hand painted roses on a pale pink background. The floor was solid oak with some gorgeous pink rugs scattered around. One wall was covered in wardrobes with mirrored doors making the room look even bigger. There was another door at the far end of the room. As I started walking towards the door it opened and I jumped! Leland came walking out with our empty toiletry bag in his hand.

"Do you like it?" He looked nervous. He wasn't sure what to expect. He had tried to fill this space with everything that she loved. The photos dotted around were copies of her favorites from their apartment. They were pictures of them with his boys, the beach, him asleep on their couch and every single member of the Chapman clan featured in their own portrait picture. Above the bed was an 8ft by 8ft canvas of him watching her sleep. Dakota had captured the moment during their last visit and Leland had instantly loved it.

"I love it. It's not exactly your style though lover." I couldn't help at laugh at the thought of Leland sleeping in here by himself. He was a rock and roll kind of guy not a hearts and flowers type.

"I love it, it made me feel even closer to you, knowing that you love roses and 4 post beds. It's weird but it made me feel better almost like a part of you was here." He smiled sheepishly. "If you tell DL what I just said I'm going to have to beat him into a vow of silence otherwise my rep will be in tatters." He laughed.

"She doesn't have to little bro!" DL snickered as he carried on down the stairs. That's when I realized that I could hear water running.

"What's that?" I headed around him towards what I knew would be our bathroom. He walked with me.

"That, Sugar, is the bubble bath I'm running for you. You can have a soak while DL and I cook. Just give me a shout when your ready and I'll come wash your back and help you out the tub." He spoke as we walked into the bathroom.

"I'll be able to get myself out you know, I'm not... OH!" I spotted the bath which was bigger than our whole bathroom at home and had steps climbing up to it. "Maybe I will need that help." I laughed. I looked around the room which was huge. It had a separate shower cubical and an armchair in it. The chair was angled to look out over the view. You could see the mountains from here. "You spoil me Lee. Are you sure you don't fancy joining me in that tub?"

"I'd love to but I've got to finish unloading the car and cook and then make some calls. I'll take a rain check though." He helped me undress and them lowered me into the tub. It was lovely and hot. It smelt like roses. Once I was settled he jogged out the room and down the stairs. I decided to indulge in my guilty pleasure and put Taylor Swift on my iPod. I tried not to think about him refusal to join her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the music.

Downstairs Leland and DL were cooking pasta and homemade pesto. "She's so insecure right now, bro. I've never seen her like this before. Sometimes I forget how young she is." Duane Lee looked at his brother waiting for his reply. It took a while to come.

"Wouldn't you be insecure? I shared this house with my wife and countless other women that she's only just found out about dude. She's pregnant so her hormones are in overdrive anyway. She's had to relive some pretty major shit recently and she thinks my whole family are suddenly against us. I think she's got a right to be a little insecure." He was getting defensive. He needed Duane Lee's support right then but it felt like he was about to start scraping at the fragile calm that they had built the last few days.

"Yeah but are you sure there isn't more to it? I mean, you haven't done anything to, you know, make her worry." Duane Lee didn't know how else to word his question. He was trying not to offend Leland but at the same time he wanted to protect T.

"Are you asking me if I've cheated on her?" When DL nodded he continued "No, I haven't. I wouldn't do that. I can't believe you even had to ask!" Leland was getting angry and he took a deep breath to try and control it.

"HEY! It's not like you don't have previous for that sort of shit. You should be glad that I'm looking out for her. Doesn't that show you that I actually like this one? Anyway, she kind of said something that made me think that you might have been doing something you shouldn't have been." Duane Lee wasn't sure if he should have said anything but T was worrying about it and he knew she wouldn't have mentioned it because she didn't want to upset Leland. The stress of it couldn't be doing the baby any good though.

"Oh yeah? And what was that." Leland was genuinely curious. He thought they were getting back to normal so what could be worrying T? He thought about it but kept coming up blank.

"Well, she said that you'd gone off her and that you were behaving oddly. She said you've been distant and haven't wanted to touch her." He felt weird mentioning it but he cared about them both and if she was too embarrassed to talk about it to Leland then he'd suck up that embarrassment for her. "Is it the baby? I know that can be a bit weird but she thinks you've gone off her man. If you don't like having sex while she's pregnant then at least touch her. She needs to know you still want her." He could feel the heat in his face. Leland was way too old to be needing this type of talk.

Leland laughed. "Seriously, she thinks that?" DL nodded. "That's hysterical! I've been torturing myself by keeping away and she thinks its because I'm not into her anymore?" He was laughing harder now but DL was just confused.

"Well if it's not that then why?" He wasn't sure he really wanted to know but he'd already asked the question.

"I was trying to show her that it's not all about the sex. I wanted her to know that I love her for more than her sexy ass. She's been so paranoid that I'm going to leave her if I get bored that I was trying to make her see that she doesn't even have to touch me to keep me hooked." He shook his head then and carried on laughing. He'd been trying to make things better between them but apparently he'd only succeeded in making it worse.