Cualli Tonalli!!!!!!!!

Mi first history in english.

Chapter 7

Encounter

She opened her eyes slowly, totally confused… Had it been a dream? It had seemed so real, so glorious. She heard someone breathing against her and turned to see who it was.

Her eyes met with the face of a child, a beautiful child who watched her intently while she slept.

"Bonjour" the child whispered, while his round face illuminated with the biggest of smiles; the kind of smile full with joy and innocence that only children possess.

Mercedes looked at him intently, and unsure she raised her hand to caress the child's face; it was soft. His hair was brown and curled, and his eyes had a tone similar to honey. He was simply beautiful; he should have 5 years, no more.

"Bonjour" she answered with soft voice, as if the dream could disappear and that angel could go away. The child smiled even more and, placing his hands on the Catalan's cheeks, leaned and kissed the tip of her nose, and then he went out running and laughing.

Mercedes looked the door for which he'd left, with the strange feeling that it was all her imagination. Then she observed carefully the room she was in: it was simple, comfortable… unknown.

She was lying on a little bed and, to her right, there was a window that let in the salty scent of the sea. She tried to organize her ideas to discover the place where she was, but was unable to remember anything. She turned her face towards the entrance when she heard someone approaching.

"What happen, my dear?" a woman appeared at the other side of the door, dragged by the child that signaled the room without stopping smiling.

The boy let go of her hand and, laughing, ran to the bed where Mercedes laid. The long brown haired woman opened her mouth, amazed, when she understood her son's insistency.

"You've awoken" she approached with slow steps, and a sweet smile on her lips. "How do you feel?"

Mercedes looked at her with absent expression, and examined her face without answering; the beautiful woman's smile tensed and, blushing, evaded the Catalan's eyes.

"You must be confused" she said calmly, while intertwining her hands in the apron she wore. "I better go search for him; he'll explain"

"It won't be necessary, Julia my dear" someone said from the door; both women turned, and Mercedes stopped breathing.

"Oh, Mr. Dantes!" the woman exclaimed with a big smile, while approaching the place where he was. "I was about to go look for you!"

Monte Cristo smiled and, after caressing the woman's cheek, shook his head.

"I thank you, dear, but…" Dantes fixed his eyes on Mercedes, who was still in the bed. "… would you mind leaving me alone for some minutes with the lady?"

Mercedes saw as the beautiful woman shook her head and, after smiling, looked at her face. "Please, don't doubt calling me if you need something. Anything"

Mercedes nodded softly, and watched the fair lady turn to leave.

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"Come on, honey" said Julia while stretching her hand to her son. Monte Cristo was surprised to see reluctance in his honey stare; the boy looked at his mother's hand from Mercedes' bed, where he was sitting. "Come on"

The child turned and looked at Mercedes for some seconds while frowning; it was funny to see that the boy had grown fond of the Catalan just by watching her sleep.

"Go on, my dear, go with your mom" the brunette gave him a beautiful motherly smile. The boy smiled and left the room running, with his mother behind him.

Both watched the door close, just after the boy said goodbye with a gesture of his hand. And the room was filled with absolute silence.

Monte Cristo turned to face the woman in the bed; the look she gave him was full of questions and fear. However, she didn't evaded him for a single second, as if fearing he could disappear if she did.

He walked slowly to the bed, and clumsily sat on the chair at its side. They both looked at each other in silence.

There was no discomfort or pain… they just stared intently, as if communicating with their eyes. He saw her tilt her head, and her hair spread over the pillow; he intertwined his hands on his lap.

"Is this really happening?" she asked softly. Monte Cristo nodded. They looked at each other for some more seconds while she sat slowly over the white sheets.

"How can it be possible?" she asked again but, this time, her voice broke.

"I came back to Marseille… for you" Edmund answered while looking at her intently. Mercedes evaded his eyes, turning her head.

"Why?" the Catalan wanted to escape the man's stare; her voice sounded hurt, detached.

Forgetting any logic, Monte Cristo took her hand. And she turned back with surprised expression.

"I came back…" he whispered, while holding her hand with sweetness. "… to ask your forgiveness"

Dantes saw as the words stuck in Mercedes' mouth, as she looked at him without understanding and her eyes filled with tears.

"Forgiveness?" she repeated almost without voice. "Why should you ask for my forgiveness?"

Monte Cristo raised their intertwined hands and kissed hers softly. From the eyes of the woman, a pair of tears came out.

"Forgive me…" he continued, without taking his eyes away from her. "… for condemning you to this torture"

"Forgive me for hurting you" he continued, feeling the pain of her look and hearing her stop breathing.

"Forgive me for…" his heart beat strongly in his chest, and he could feel the Catalan's pulse in his hands; both were fast and painfully pleasant.

"Forgive me for loving you, even after hurting you so much"

The room was filled for the first time in an uncomfortable silence, and Mercedes' hand trembled slightly. Suddenly, the sobs started on the Catalan's chest and, letting go of Monte Cristo's hand, covered her face.

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She cried. She cried because what was happening couldn't be true and because it was what she desired the most in the whole world. She cried because Edmund being there was impossible and, however, it was true.

"Mercedes…" Edmund whispered at her side, and she refused to look at him. She was still hiding her face in her hands, and her sobs were stuck in her throat. "… please…"

She shook her head, and looked at him gathering the last remains of her courage. In those few seconds, she memorized his face, to remember him always.

"Why should I forgive you for something I deserved?" she answered, and saw the light of pain in her beloved's eyes. "You can't take responsibility of my punishment, because I've earned it"

"You accepted a punishment you didn't even deserve!" he exclaimed, with furious eyes and tensed jaw. "Something that was unfair!"

"No, it is not unfair" she answered, while watching him with an empty look. "Is what a sinner like me deserves"

"Sinner?" he jumped, while traversing her with his dark stare. "That you're human doesn't make you a sinner!"

"To feel don't makes you a demon!" he continued with fury and passion. "And I, finally, have understood it"

Monte Cristo's voice became sweet, and Mercedes felt as he dragged her closer, how he pressed her against his chest, how his breath was lost in her hair.

"Finally… I understand you, my love"

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They remained in that room for hours; he talked about his life in that year of absence and how he'd decided to return after realizing his mistake. How he'd tracked her for a while and the things he'd discovered while following her.

Mercedes listened without saying a word, trying to assimilate that he'd come for her, and that he still loved her.

"When I saw you jump…" said Monte Cristo at last, lowering his eyes. "… I thought it was all over"

Silence returned again, caressing the man's final confession, a man that for the first time felt released from his past. Because now he wanted to see the future, and wanted Mercedes to be in it.

"I've told you all this, because I want you to be with me…" he continued, intertwining his hands. "… just as it should have been some time ago"

Edmund looked at Mercedes, and saw great confusion in her eyes. He kissed her hand again and, placing it against his cheek, sighed.

"I'm not asking for an immediate answer… I just want you to think about it" they both looked at each other for some time. He could feel Mercedes' soft skin against his face.

"Give me a couple of days, Edmund" asked the woman, lowering her head. "Then I'll give you my answer"

"So be it, my love!" he answered, while caressing her face, and then leaved the room. "And come what may"

Continue….

Tlazohcamati huel miac!!!!