*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
Della was finishing up feeding Leah while Roman was doing some packing. It wouldn't be long until they began their voyage to America where everything would be different, everything would be better and they didn't need to hide. If they were caught before they left Europe they would be punished for their crimes but Della would be sentenced to death. The crown was looking for her and Roman while Seth was looking for her and Roman. They couldn't wait much longer to leave. Time was running out. "There are my two favorite girls," said Roman as he came into the sitting room where Della and Leah were. He had a smile on his face as he watched his wife feed their daughter.
"Leah is eating again," said Della with a smile. "I thought you were packing?"
"I decided to take a break," he said as he took a seat. "I wanted to take a walk with you," he said with a smile.
"We can take a walk," she smiled. "She's almost finished with her feeding."
"Wonderful," he said.
"When will Dean and Adelle be arriving? They should have arrived days ago," she said with concern. "I'm beginning to worry about Adelle what if Seth found them?"
"As far as I know Seth is still searching England for us as for Dean and Adelle they were delayed due to a medical emergency," he said. "They should be arriving by dusk this evening," he said with a smile. "It won't be long before you are reunited with your sister."
"I owe her an apology," she said. "It is my fault she is going through this."
"She doesn't blame you, Della, you didn't kidnap her from your childhood home, Seth did and he will pay for his crimes."
"Like I will pay for mine?" she asked. "What if we are caught before we go to America? The crown is searching for me and if they find me you know what will happen to me."
"The crown isn't going to find you," he said. "You need not to be worried about the crown. They are in England we're in Italy. We will be on a ship to America in two days' time we will be free," he promised, "and you'll be safe and we can be happy although I am already happy and blessed to have you as my wife and to have Leah for my daughter. Life can't get much better," he said as Della finished feeding their daughter. Roman took Leah while his wife fixed herself and covered her breast. "Isn't that right, Leah," he said talking to his beautiful daughter. "Aren't we happy and aren't we going to be happier when we get to America?" he asked with a smile hoping to get a smile from their precious daughter but she just stared at him with her blue eyes that she inherited from her mother, it was the only thing of Della's she inherited everything else was Roman. "You're going to grow up on a nice farm and you're going to go to the best schools America has to offer. You're going to be happy and healthy. And we're going to give you a baby brother or a baby sister maybe both. I'm going to marry your mama and we're going to have a happy life together." Della smiled at Roman and their daughter. "She's the most perfect thing," he said with a smile. "If I have done one thing right in my life it was making her with you."
"She is perfect," said Della with a smile. "You're a great father," she said with a smile. "I love watching you with her." Della enjoyed seeing Roman with Leah most fathers played a small role in their children's lives leaving the child rearing and child caring for the mother or the nurse to take care of. A father barely held their child the way Roman was holding Leah. Roman helped Della with everything. He helped dress Leah, he held her numerous times throughout the day, he bathed her and took care of her while Della rested. He was a great father and Della loved it.
"She's my favorite," he smiled, "just like you. Thank-you for giving me something so wonderful and precious."
"It wasn't just me, it was our love that created her," she smiled. "You mentioned going for a walk. Do you still want to go for a walk?"
"That would be lovely," he said with a smile. He stood up with Leah as she stood up with him.
Roman, Della and Leah began to take a walk around their estate in Italy for probably the last time before they abandoned it to start their new life in America. "I'm going to miss Italy," said Della as Roman pushed the carriage with Leah sleeping peacefully inside of it while he held Della's hand. "Italy is so beautiful, I'm just going to miss everything about it."
"Me too," he said with a smile as they walked.
"I'm going to miss this house," she said. "It was such a beautiful house and the farm and the animals."
"We'll have a new house in America and a new farm with new animals," he said. "I'm sorry if I'm ever only going to be a farmer and you'll be a farmer's wife," he said. "I wanted so much more for you, for us but going to America that's how it's going to be."
"Roman," she said looking at her husband, "you could be dirt poor living out on the streets and it would still be everything I ever wanted because it is with you. You don't have to be a Lord or have coin to your name I would love you despite the fact you were poor. You chose to love me and I am nothing but a farmer's daughter."
"Now you're just the farmer's wife," he smiled. "I love you, Della."
"I love you too," she said as they walked in the warm sunshine. "What do you think it will be like in America? Do you think it's as beautiful as Italy?"
"I think it will be beautiful of course I heard they endure tough winters but nothing too severe. We can worship freely to any religion we desire and we get choices in life that we don't get here. We'll have beautiful land and a beautiful farm. I promised I would make you happy and give you everything you desire. It's going to be a new adventure for us and a new way of living but we'll be doing it together. I wouldn't want to make this new adventure or take this adventure with anyone but you and Leah," he said making her smile.
"Can we get a dog when we get to America?" she asked.
"You want a dog?" he smiled.
"Yes," she answered. "I would love to have a dog. I could never have one with my parents but I would love to have a dog with you and Leah."
"I think I can make that happen. Baby, you're going to have cows, pigs, horses and sheep maybe even some goats but you're going to have a new world to explore."
"Can I write to my parents from America?"
"We'll see what we can do," he said, "but I want to keep us safe in America."
"Do you think the crown would come after us in America if they knew that's where we were?"
"They'd have to find us," he said. "America is a big place and new land is being discovered every day. It would be nearly impossible for them to find us."
"Good," she said with a smile. "Do you miss your mom?" she asked as they stopped under a tree on their property. Roman had a picnic lunch set up for them to share on a blanket.
"I do," he said, "my mom and I may not have seen eye to eye on many things but I do miss her. I wish she would come with us to America but she's made her choice," he said. "Maybe one day she will change her mind and we will see her again but I don't expect that to happen. She enjoys her life of luxury and the life she leads even if she's not happy. She chooses to live a life she despises because the riches mean too much to her I on the other hand would rather be penniless and love the owner of my heart," he said with a smile, "but she's still a great woman despite some of her flaws. She was a good mother to me I cannot complain. She did everything to give me a good life but I'm glad that she's happy for us. I would love for Leah to meet her namesake but sometimes it doesn't work that way."
"Maybe one day," she said with a comforting smile. "You did all this for us?"
"I wanted to make today special," he said with a smile as they took a seat on the blanket. He handed out the food from the picnic basket as Leah slept in her carriage. They enjoyed a nice lunch together in the warm afternoon before Roman packed everything up and they made their way back to their home.
As the evening sky gave way into the night sky Roman and Della had just finished dinner while Leah was feeling fussy. She wouldn't stop crying as if she knew something was amiss. She was picking up on vibes neither Roman and Della could understand. She was foreshadowing their evening as there was a knock on the door. "Roman," said Della as she tried to calm a crying Leah as she cradled her in her arms. "Can you get the door?"
"Yes," he said as he handed Leah's blanket to Della before he got up to answer the door. He made his way to the door and opened it slowly. A smile grew on his face when he saw that Dean and Adelle had arrived. "Hello," he said before giving Dean a hug. "I'm glad you finally arrived."
"It was a wild trip," said Dean with a smile. "We stopped due to Adelle going into labor," he explained.
"Labor?" asked Roman. "Adelle had her child?"
"Our child," he corrected, "and yes she had her child and travel has been rough on her we needed to take longer than expected."
"Please come in," said Roman with a smile, "Hello, Adelle," he said as Adelle walked into his home he shared with Della. Adelle greeted him with a smile as Leah's cries were audible from the sitting room and Della worked to calm her down it was as if as soon as Adelle, Samuel and Dean made their presence felt that she got fussier and harder to calm. Della and Adelle were the complete opposites when it came to looks. Della had brown hair, blue eyes and the most beautiful freckles and favored her mother while Adelle favored their father with blonde hair but their mother's blue eyes. "I'm sorry," he said shutting the door. "Leah is quite fussy tonight she's not usually this fussy."
"It's okay," said Adelle, "Samuel has been rather fussy too this is the calmest he has been since we began our travel."
"Interesting," said Roman as he led them to the sitting room. "Della," he said with a smile, "they arrived," he said before he took a crying Leah from her as she stood up.
"ADELLE!" she cried out as she wrapped her arms around her sister and Adelle hugged her back. Tears streamed from their eyes as they embraced and sobs of happiness at being reunited. "I missed you," she said through her tears as she pulled away from her sister, "and you're alive."
"I know," she said. "I missed you too. I didn't think I was going to get out alive he's horrible, he's a horrible man."
"He truly is," agreed Della. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that you're safe now, we're safe now," she said hugging her again.
"Thank-you," Roman said to Dean as he worked to calm Leah down. "Shh, it's okay," he said as he used his soothing voice to calm her but it wasn't working she was getting more irritable by the second. "I don't know what's wrong with her," he said as Samuel started to cry the same way as Leah.
"Samuel," said Dean as he tried to comfort him but to no avail.
"You're a mother," said Della.
"I am," said Adelle, "as are you, is she Seth's?" she asked.
"No," Della shook her head. "I miscarried our child she is Roman's. Her name is Leah Grace," she said with a smile.
"She's beautiful," said Adelle with a smile, "she is Roman's twin."
"She is," said Della with a proud smile, "and your son, is he?"
"He is Seth's," said Adelle, "but the world will never know it," she explained. "Dean is the only father the world will know and the only father he will know. His name is Samuel," she explained.
"Are you and Dean together?" asked Della with curiosity as she and Adelle took their babies from their fathers to comfort them. "I'm sorry she's not usually like this."
"I'm sorry too, Samuel is usually quiet and content. I don't know what has gotten into him today."
"Same with Leah," explained Della.
"And Dean and I are to be wed when we arrive in America," she said with a smile. "I love him."
"Wonderful," said Della with a smile. "Roman and I will be wed when we arrive in America as well."
"Congratulations," said Adelle with a smile as they heard the horses of Dean's carriage squeal out as if someone had provoked them. They heard the hooves in the dirt as the carriage took off into the night.
"What is going on out there?" asked Della with concern, "it's never this noisy. NO one knows where we live."
"I'll go check," said Roman.
"No," said Della picking up on Leah's vibes. "It doesn't feel right something is wrong."
"Everything is fine," he said, "It was probably just a coyote that spooked the horses. I'm going to make sure everything is all right."
"Please no," she begged but Roman grabbed his sword as did Dean.
"I'll be right back. I promise no need to worry," he said.
"All right," said Della reluctantly as their daughter squealed out louder and more distressed. "I love you," she said.
"I love you too," he said before he kissed her lips softly. Dean kissed Adelle before he and Roman went to check things out outside.
While Dean and Roman searched around the property Della asked the maid to get her and Adelle a cup of tea. Della and Adelle sat in the sitting room trying to calm their children as the maid made her way back to the sitting room with the tea as the door opened. She dropped the tray of tea and the glasses shattered catching Della's attention as she saw the look of horror on her face. Della laid Leah down in her basinet and stood up to see what had caught the maid's eye. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Seth standing face to face with her. "S-S-Seth," she stuttered, "what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be in England?"
He smiled and said, "You thought I was dumb enough to go to England? Do I look like a fool to you?" he asked. "Why would a woman that has crimes against her be willing to take the chance of capture by taking residence there?"
"I, I, I don't know," she said.
"I knew I couldn't trust Dean, he and Adelle were too close, way too close," he explained. "I knew something was amiss so I had my men watching both Adelle and Seth," he said as Adelle came to see what was happening. "Hello, Love," he said to Adelle making her feel sick to her stomach. "I believe this little guy is mine," he said taking Samuel from her arms. "Where was I? Right, I had my men watching Dean every night he took bed with my wife and I knew they were up to something when I departed to England. I watched as they departed on their own journey," he said as Samuel cried in his arms. Even Samuel picked up on the evil vibe Seth was giving off. "I knew they would lead me right where I wanted to be," he said with a smile before handing Samuel back to Adelle, "and here I am to take back my wives," he said.
"Never," said Della. "I hate you."
"So I have heard," he said, "you would rather be a farmer's wife and raise a bastard than be a physician's wife?" he asked. "You're dumber than I ever believed."
"I love him, Seth, I don't love you, I never have and I never will, you married me because of my father's debt not because you loved me or because I love you. You did it out of selfish ambition. Just like your first move after I left was to take my sister as your wife. You're selfish."
"SILENCE!" he said before slapping her across the face. "You will not speak to your husband that way," he said as she held her face. "Fetch your things and your bastard child and we will be on our way."
"I'm not leaving with you," she said with disdain. "And Adelle isn't leaving with you either," she said. "Roman and Dean will be back and find you here."
"Will they?" he asked with a smirk, "or maybe they are already dead," he said with a smile as tears filled Della's eyes at the thought of her love being dead and the father of her child as Leah cried in the basinet. "Let's go," he said as he grabbed her by the arm.
"Get off of me," she yelled as Roman and Dean appeared in the house. He threw Della to the ground as he turned around drawing his sword.
"Ahh," he said, "the two men I have wanted to see," he said as Roman and Dean drew their swords. "Do you want me to kill you now or wait?"
"What are you doing here?" asked Roman.
"I came for what belongs to me, Reigns," he said, "Della is my wife and I guess I will raise your bastard child."
"My child isn't a bastard and you'll have to kill me before you take Della from me she is MY wife."
"You see," he said, "that's where you're wrong Della is MY wife I married her," he said as Della reached into her boot to pull out the dagger she had been kept hidden away in case a moment like this arrived. Roman looked at her and winked as she winked back at him. He kept Seth's attention on him as Della backed away from the situation to remove Samuel and Leah from the sitting room. "I guess we're going to do this the hard way," he said as he charged at Roman and Dean.
Their swords clank together, sparks of fury coming from the hit as they fight each other in the house Della shared with Roman. She watched carefully waiting for her time and her moment to attack Seth. Seth was too street wise, too skilled and took the upper hand he knocked Dean's sword from his hand and his sword pierced Dean's skin causing Dean to cry out in pain, Roman took the opportunity to pierce Seth's skin with his sword before pulling the sword out only infuriating Seth further, Seth was inhuman he attacked back with Roman. Roman and Seth fought their swords clanging together in fury as they blocked hits from one another Seth held his side as the blood trickled out and stopped Roman from piercing his skin again. Seth was getting weaker and his guard was down as he struggled to fight Roman. Della took her opportunity and took her dagger to Seth's skin, piercing him in the other side and he cried out in pain as he dropped his sword falling to his knees as Della pulled the dagger out from his side. "I HATE YOU!" she said before she grabbed his hair forcing him to look back at her as Roman held him from attacking his wife. "Everything you put me through, everything you put Adelle through, no one deserves this more than you," she said with vindication in her voice and an evil in her eyes Roman had never seen. He was scared of his wife in that moment as she took her dagger to Seth's throat ending his life in seconds. She allowed him to fall to the ground as she threw her dagger to the ground and spit on him in angst. Roman stood up and ran to his wife taking her in his arms, holding her as she cried. "I hate him, Roman," she sobbed, "I hate him."
"I know you do," he said holding her. "He's gone now, he's gone we have to go," he said, "we have to go."
"What about Dean?" she asked.
"I'll take care of him in the carriage. You and Adelle will ride with the babies while Dean and I ride together."
"I'm not leaving you," she said. "I'm not."
"Della," he said looking into her blue eyes. "Everything will be all right please get Adelle and the babies. We have to go," he said, "we can't wait around. He took off his overcoat and wrapped it around Dean's wounds as Della did what he asked after kissing him senseless. Roman requested bandages and warm water for their voyage in the carriage. Della loaded up their things on each carriage while Roman moved Dean to their carriage. They separated that night to get to where they needed to be to start their voyage to America. The carriages took off in the darkness of night as the home Della and Roman once shared went up in flames.
*A/N: What did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.