Sorry for such a long time between updates. Things will be coming to head in the coming chapters.
1 Week Later
They'd settled into his buddy's ranch and Mellie was shocked that Fitz was still here. She thought he'd have taken off by now. He spent a lot of time with his friend Randy and she knew that they were formulating a plan, a plan that she was not at all privy too. Randy's wife had taken a liking to Mellie and she became somewhat of a big sister. She tended to Mellie's wounds when she first arrived and they'd all but disappeared.
Mellie sat out on the patio looking out into the small pool that they'd installed. She sighed and shook her head.
"What's wrong?" He said from the doorway. She didn't turn to look at him.
"What isn't?" Fitz pushed away and walked out onto the patio, taking a seat next to hers. "Why did you do this? Why did you come back and risk your life for me?"
"Do you really have to ask me that?" He sat back in the chair and his gaze bore into her. She swallowed hard.
"Fitz…."
"I love you Mellie. I'm madly in love with you and I would not and I could not sit back and continue to watch you suffer."
"I love you too Fitz." She said softly. "And I appreciate you risking all this for me."
"I would lay my life down for you." She reached across the table and grabbed his hand.
"I pray it doesn't come to that."
1 Week Later
Mellie was going stir crazy. Now that she was free she truly wanted to be free, but Fitz didn't think that was a good idea. She'd begged him to let her go into town with Denise, but he wouldn't hear of it. She knew in her heart that he was trying to keep her safe, but she couldn't stop thinking that he was trying to control her like his father. Maybe the apple didn't fall too far from the tree and she was just a pawn in the fight he was having with his father. Mellie closed her eyes trying to tamp down her anxieties. When she opened them he was standing in the room's arch staring at her. She refused to meet his gaze and he knew something was wrong.
Fitz pushed away from the wall and walked over to where she sat. He'd noticed in the last few days that she seemed to withdraw from him. Prior to two days ago they'd shared a bed. It was nothing romantic, just comforting. She liked to fall asleep wrapped in his arms, but now she didn't want to share a bed with him. She'd started going to bed early and locking the door so he couldn't enter.
"Everything ok?" He asked as he pulled out a chair. She still wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Yeah." She looked out at the expansive backyard.
"Did I do something wrong?" She remained silent. "Please talk to me. I don't want to fight."
"We're not fighting."
"Because you won't talk to me. Tell me what's going on." He reached over and covered her hand with his, but she immediately moved it. He sighed. "Mels please." His voice broke and she looked at him.
"I feel like I've been played." He scrunched his face, confused. "You're just like him aren't you? You just wanted to control me. This is some kind of game with the two of you isn't it?" Pain lanced through him and he dropped his head. She noticed the change in his demeanor.
"I'm not trying to hurt you." He said lifting his head, his eyes glistening with tears. "I love you so much Mellie."
"Yeah I know you told me that."
"No I don't think you do know. I've loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. I just wanted you to be safe that's my only ulterior motive. I'm sorry if I've been too over bearing, but it's not safe and if he finds you." He stopped talking and blew out of his nose. She nodded knowing that Big Gerry would kill them if he found them.
"So we're supposed to just run for the rest of our lives?"
"No, but what I have planned is going to take more time."
"Fine I guess." She stood from the table and made a move to walk back to the backyard when she came back and bent down. Mellie kissed Fitz passionately, her arms wrapping around his neck. He was stunned momentarily before he caught up with her and pulled her onto his lap without breaking the kiss. Their tongues dueled and they both began to feel heated. They pulled away when they heard someone clear their throats. Mellie looked up and saw Randy and Denise. They both had grins on their face and she was immensely embarrassed. Mellie disengaged from Fitz's embrace and stood, quickly mumbling her apologies to Denise and Randy.
Fitz looked after her confused. He was about to go after her when Denise stopped him. "I'll go talk to her." She left Fitz and Randy and went in search of Mellie. Mellie looked up at her when she heard her.
"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what you must think of me." She dropped her head as shame and embarrassment washed over. Denise walked to her and took her hand.
"Come sit. You don't need to apologize to me and I don't think anything but amazing things about you Melody. Why are you so upset?"
"Because I look like a slut. I'm married to his father."
"I know all about you being married to Big Gerry and why you're married to him. I don't think you're a slut at all, I think you're a young lady in love. You shouldn't be ashamed of any of this."
"I just hate all of this."
"Let me tell you a story. I know very well what you are going through. When my mother was just a little older than you and Big Gerry just a little older than Fitz, he raped my mother. I am the product of that rape." Mellie's mouth dropped open. "Yes Fitz is my half-brother. Big Gerry isn't aware that we are in touch. He met Randy when they were both in the Navy and through a series of coincidences and fate we reconnected about ten years ago. My mother let what happened to her eat her alive until she couldn't live anymore." Denise's voice choked up. "She killed herself when I was five. Don't let him kill your spirit he doesn't deserve to have that type of control over you." Mellie broke down and began to sob. Denise pulled her into her arms and held her.
Mellie cried for about five minutes until she was able to get her emotions under control She pulled away from Denise. "What if I can't love him right?"
"You have an inner beauty and a good heart I know you will love him right." Mellie looked nervous and embarrassed. "Is there something else you wanted to talk to me about?" She looked over at the sliding door that was slightly open and shook her head no. Denise stood and closed the door. "You can tell me anything and it stays between you and I."
"Did you ever meet Olivia?" Denise rolled her eyes.
"Yeah I met her." She said dryly.
"Well.. I can't compete with her. She was so put together and fashionable, worldly. I am none of those things."
"She was a conniving manipulative bitch and no you aren't any of those things and that's a good thing. He doesn't want that. That's why he's not with her anymore."
"Denise I'm…" She swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. "I was a virgin when I married Big Gerry and …." Denise knew what she was struggling with.
"He won't pressure you to do something you aren't ready to do and when you are ready I know my little brother well enough to know he'll take care of you. Fitz will not hold against you the sins of your fathers. Don't hold it against him." Fitz slowly slide the door open so that he could check on her. She looked over her shoulders at Mellie who gave her a nod. Denise patted Fitz on the shoulder as she left.
"Close the door Fitz." He did as he was asked. "We need to talk."
"What did you want to talk about?"
"What do you see happening here?"
"I want a relationship with you." Mellie's head dropped she was afraid of that answer.
"I'm tainted…" He titled her face up so that he could look into her deep blue eyes.
"You're perfection." He said leaning in and kissing her. Mellie sat back.
"Do you understand what things I had to do?"
"That doesn't matter to me. I still love you, nothing will change that." He ran his finger down her cheek.
"I'm not going to pressure you, but I want a life with you, I want one day for you to be my wife and the mother of my children, when we've put all this behind us." Mellie wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"I'm scared."
"Don't be, this will work out for us. I will protect you at all costs."