A/N This is just a peaceful breather for both parties involved. I am NO WHERE NEAR DONE with this one so no one panic.
I've actually had this Christmas scene planned for a while, but this is no where near over.
Chapter 7
He woke on Christmas morning, almost as excited as he'd been for Mandy's Christmas. He'd wrapped her presents last night, and slipped them under the expensive tree after she went to bed. He just used old brown paper and twine. After he went to bed, he thought he'd heard her up and moving around, but controlled his surge of hope, he doubted she'd even remember the holiday.
He heard her moving around in her room and climbed out of bed. He could smell anticipation, and felt that tiny surge of hope again. Maybe it would be a good Christmas.
He pulled on a robe and opened his door. She was standing, uncertainly at hers.
"Race ya." He said like an excited cub, and she grinned, not a guarded smile but a real, honest grin, and took off running for the living room. He took off after her, and in their enthusiasm, he hard things crashing off shelves, and even pieces of furniture collapsing. He didn't care, it could all be replaced, and was worth it for that smile.
She skidded to a stop in front of the tree, her toe claws digging up splinters from the hardwood floor. He laughed and stopped just short of running into her. Then he just stared.
Was that a boomerang? And the spear, carved with aboriginal protection carvings. He'd spent some time down under himself, between one war and another, but before world war one, then he saw the didgeridoo. He hadn't seen one in years, it was also hand carved.
He was speechless.
"I hope you like them." She said softly.
"So that's what you've been up to." He smiled at her. "I can't find words, they are perfect." He was rewarded with another of those smiles, and sat down on the floor to watch her open hers.
The chess set was first and he was surprised by the tears in her eyes. The box, which he'd filled with a few things, she just sat and stroked like it was a treasure itself.
"Open it." He said, and she looked at him, then slowly opened the box.
Nestled inside were smaller boxes, and she opened each one slowly, as if it had a snake inside.
Most of them were small trinkets he'd picked up for her or the baby, booties, mittens, stocking caps for the hospital after she gave birth, a silver charm bracelet for her, with a selection of charms she could put on it, and last, but by no means least, the ring.
"I can't." She whispered.
"Read it first." He said.
She pulled the thick gold band out of the box. She turned it so she could read the inscription.
"Bound and mated Aug, 2011, this celebrates the beginning, but by no means the end."
"I know you are scared of marriage, I will never ask you, unless you want me to. You are my mate, and I am yours.". He pulled the corresponding ring from his robe pocket and slipped it on his right ring finger. He took the one from her hand and mirrored his actions.
"Right hand, not married, agreed."
"Yes." It was soft, but he was glad he hadn't missed it.
"I've got one more, but only if you want it." She nodded slowly as if thinking about it.
"It was 1919 and I was trapping in the Canadian rockies. I met her when she wandered off from town and her father forced us to marry, said I'd compromised her honor.". He started. He knew this was going to be hard. He hadn't even told Jimmy what happened, just that they were dead.
He heard her scream and dropped the traps in his hand. Jimmy had left just three days ago, and he didn't want to get very far from the cabin. He wanted to get the traps closest to the cabin out, he'd seen beaver sign just last week. He ran as fast as he could,it was only a few hundred yards, but they were waiting for him. There were sixteen, he'd find out later, after dragging the bodies away, but it seemed like more. Joe and Conrad and two others had her on the table, the door to the cabin was open, he watched, as the others held him down as Joe cut the skirt from her dress, and then plunged the knife into her swollen belly. She was due any day now. He heard the tiny cry, and watched as his father in law lifted a bloody form in the air. He could hear what was being said, but didn't understand over the roar of pain and rage in his ears. He wouldn't remember what he heard for years. "A freak like its father. The bitch should thank me." Joe said, as he snapped the newborn's neck. "And as for the whore that bore it, better she die too." Victor broke free and rushed the cabin, her face was turned so she could see him, and she screamed his name as the bloody knife came down, silencing her forever with a single thrust to the heart. Victor didn't stop his rush, and ripped Joe's throat out with the same swipe that took Conrad's arm off. The other two men tried to flee, but he killed them both with practiced ease. By the time he was done twenty-one men were dead, and dragged into the forest for the wolves, he spent two days digging their graves and building their coffins, alone. He didn't even stop to eat, drink or sleep. He laid her out in her best dress, and put the christening gown on Lissa. The stones were small, just what he could find. "Mandy Creed, beloved wife and mother, born 1900, died 1920. "Lissa Creed, beloved daughter, born April 16, 1920, died April 16, 1920." He destroyed the table, then sealed the cabin, and never looked back.
She stood up, and walked over to where he was sitting on the floor. She wrapped her arms around him, and held him to her belly. He felt the movement of the child growing there, and wrapped his arms around her, giving in to something he never had before. She held him as he sobbed, without judgment, or pity.
"I don't know how to love, not the way you do. I'm trying; you just have to give me time." She whispered.
"Take all you need. At least we have one thing both of us love." He placed his hand over the distention of her belly and was rewarded with another movement.
It wasn't perfect, but it was a beginning.
