Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1-8.

Heading South - Chapter 9

x

Anna twirled around showing off the nightdress. Much to John's distress, he was flooded with overwhelming feelings, those feelings one only knows of when it's there, right before one's eyes.

The ribbons on the gown shimmered in the dim light of the fireplace, now burning low and constant; so warm. And against that same light, the fabric became translucent. To his surprise, Anna appeared oblivious of this. He lowered his eyes.

'What do you think?'

'I think…' he swallowed hard, cursing himself for hiding yet another thing from her. '...it couldn't fit any better.' His eyes found her figure again, fast and sure, finding her face at once, but not entirely forgetting what he had already seen. 'It's very pretty.'

'Will you braid my hair now? I found a brush on the vanity,' she said, her naivety making him ache. Little did he know that some of her actions were thought through. She would tell him that one day.

'Of course! Sit down.'

Anna sat down between his legs on the mattress, the fire hitting her face like a gentle caress. His hands found her hair, taking the brush and running it languidly along her golden locks, savouring every second of this interaction, but fearing that too much would come of it. Hoping it would, anyway.

She closed her eyes to his touch, feeling his fingers separating her blonde strands, undoing every twist and damp knot, until the right moment, when he rested the brush aside and began to braid her hair with surprising ease.

'Isn't it rare for a man to know how to braid?' she asked him.

'Only one who lacks experience.'

His words made her think, remembering a conversation they had not long ago. 'Did you use to braid your daughter's hair?'

He stopped, only to return to his task a second later. 'How do you know I had a daughter?'

'You said you had children, and, well, if you know how to braid, then one had to be a girl. No?'

'A girl, yes, and a boy.'

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.' Anna shook her head, regretting her questions already. She didn't have the right to cause him pain because of her curiosity. 'I shouldn't have.'

'Don't worry about it. I know way more about you than you know about me. It's only natural you're curious.' John reassured her, taking a deep breath before daring to continue. 'Martha and Anthony were their names.' He finished the braid, brushing its end.

She smiled, turning around to face him. 'Beautiful names.'

It was not only Anna's eyes that glistened in the firelight. It was everything, her expression and even his need to open up to her. He found himself wanting to share everything with this woman. He had been alone for so long, tied to a past he could not change, to memories that would never be more than just that. Surprisingly enough, only now, when he was no longer alone, did he understand that life was more than merely surviving.

'Martha was five and Anthony three. They were…' He stopped for a moment, trying not to choke on his own words. '... beautiful children, but unfortunately, they were also victims of all this chaos.'

'I'm so sorry,' she offered, placing her hand on his shoulder for support. John smiled at that. 'We've all lost someone; I know how you feel.'

'I know you do.'

'Although...losing a child must be one of the most terrible things.'

'It is,' he nodded, looking down at his hands; he still held the brush, and his heart ached as he remembered his children's faces. 'More terrible than losing your own life. I would trade gladly. I would have.'

'I know. But there's no such thing as trading places. We're given only one chance, and we have to live with that. Doing better every time. Even if we are not the ones to blame.'

John shook his head sadly. 'But, in this case, it was my fault.'

'I'm sure that's not true.'

'It is true. I should have been there. I knew it was bound to happen...she warned me more than once…'

'She? Who's she?'

'Nevermind.' John stood, placing the brush atop the hearth and bringing the folded blankets to the mattress. 'I...I don't want to talk about it now.'

'You don't have to. But, I'll be here whenever you do need to.'

'Thank you, Anna. You…' There was so much he wanted to tell her, but his courage failed him, especially knowing how much he could disappoint her. How much he had disappointed others, never intending to. He couldn't bear to see that look in her eyes.

'You should sleep.' He handed one of the thick blankets. 'You must be tired.'

'And you too.'

'Yes. Me too.'

xxx

When dawn broke, they still slept. Sometime during the night, they had rolled toward each other, and arms had found bodies. In their sleep, they embraced; her head against his chest, his breathing soothing her, his nose nuzzling the top of her head, holding her to him tight and sure. Maybe in dreams, they had known their state, but because they were dreaming it it didn't matter.

He woke up first, and daren't to break the spell, pretending to be dreaming still. He wanted only to take advantage of this stillness, of this peace, while they could.

And they wouldn't be able to for very long.

Precisely two days.

Thank you for reading :)

Let us know what you think of this story. Hope you all have a great week!

Terrie & Handy