Chapter twenty

Two days later,

Regina smiled as her mother took Lovejoy Angelica Cartwright from her. "Hello." The new grandmother cooed. "Aren't you an angel?" She laughed. "I guess that's why you called her angelica?"

Regina glanced at Adam, who didn't respond from where he sat. In fact, Adam was acting rather strangely, as if he were avoiding her. Everything had been fine until her father had seen Lovejoy after the birthing. Her father never really showed his emotions, but she could see the love in his eyes for his granddaughter. There were strange looks at Adam from time to time and it showed.

"Why don't you and Adam take a walk?" Her mother suggested. "A good little walk will do you well."

Adam frowned. "I don't know. She just had a baby two days ago."

"She's fine Adam."

"Who'll watch Lovejoy?"

"I will. Go on you two."

Adam looked unconvinced so she spoke up. "Please? Just a small walk down by the creek?"

Adam exhaled and stood up. "All right. But if you start feeling tired, tell me." Regina nodded and they walked down to the creek. Adam was quiet and he didn't take her hand when they reached the stream. After ten minutes of silence, she sat down at the edge of the rushing stream.

No words were exchanged, Adam stared off into the distance in deep thought. Regina decided to voice her worries. "Adam…what's wrong with us?"

Adam sat down beside her. "Nothing."

"I-I just feel like…you're keeping me at bay. Like…now the baby's born…I've mended things with my parents and….you don't love me anymore. Like…you're expecting me to just leave you and go back with them to that lifestyle."

Adam sighed. "I am trying to put distance between us."

Tears filled her eyes as she covered her mouth. "I knew it."

"You don't know anything. I've been trying to figure out...how to tell you this." He said taking a hold of her arm and pulling her close. Regina wanted to fight, slap his face, and pull away from him. But her heart had long ago told her that fighting with Adam was useless. "It's your father Regina."

"He's…still forbidding it?" She was stunned. "After all that?"

"No. He hasn't said anything. I cannot be anything less than a gentleman with you. If one thing goes wrong...we could loose sight of the future we want. You understand."

She lay on her back and looked up at the sky that had seemed so bright a few moments ago. "I do."

He rubbed her shoulder. "We should go back now."

"Adam…will you do something for me?"

He nodded. "What is it?"

"Kiss me," he looked down at her, as if unsure he'd heard that request. "hold me, please. As if…there's nothing to worry about and it's just the two of us here."

Adam exhaled and brought her arms up around his shoulders. She closed her eyes as Adam leaned down and kissed her, gently at first. But…something grew inside them and she recognized it as the desired part of love. It's name…'Need' or 'Want'. She clutched at Adam and pulled him closer to her. Adam let out a groan and he held her tight. Her hands explored his chest as Adam ran his hands through her hair. She broke the kiss and turned her head; allowing him better access to trail soft kisses down her neck.

Somehow, reality entered their minds and slowly, they regained control. As they pulled away, it dawned on Regina that she hadn't been scared with Adam hovering above her. Her heart was pounding like Indian drums, but, no ugly thoughts or fear. Adam got up off the ground, breathing heavily as he helped her up from the ground. Regina inhaled deeply and rested her head against his shoulder.

"Regina…we can't." He breathed against her hair. "We need to wait."

"I love you. I want to marry you." She inhaled and looked deep into those dark brown eyes. "I want to belong to you. I-I want to know, what it feels like with someone I love…and not with someone who wants to ruin your soul. I want….I just want you."

"I want you too Regina." He exhaled and rested his head against hers. "I love you so much…my heart aches at the thought we might never be together. That's why we must be careful, I don't want to jeopardize that."

She pressed her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "I understand."

"Interesting." At the sound of her father's voice, they both spun around. Regina gasped and Adam's arm tightened protectively around her waist. Her father walked towards them slowly. "A very interesting display."

"Sir, I meant no disrespect. It was all my fault."

"Ridiculous. I've been following you two the entire time." Regina's face grew red when she realized that her father must have seen that passionate scene between them. "And it was her fault as well as yours."

"Father."

"Regina," for the first time she noted he sounded tired. "this will be the last time I'm going to tell you this, so pay attention. Shut up!" Regina blinked and drew back. Her father studied Adam. "You win. You have her, my blessing, her inheritance everything that comes with the package."

Regina gasped and she was grateful for Adam's arm around her waist, for he kept her upright. She felt shock run through Adam's body, but he didn't embrace her. "Sir…I've got what I wanted. Your blessing, Regina and Lovejoy; if Regina doesn't want her inheritance I couldn't care less. I don't need it…out here…we invest in a different kind of fortune and I'm richer than anything you have to offer."

Her father folded his arms across his chest. "Listen…I don't like you…yet." Regina smiled faintly. Maybe, there was hope for them yet. "You're an impudent young man and what my daughter's sees in you, I don't know. But I suppose in time I'll have to find out." He turned to Regina. "Well…don't I even get a word? A hug? After all…you're getting to marry your young man."

Regina smiled uneasily and released Adam long enough to give her father a hug. "Thank you." She whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't thank me." He said. "Thank your mother. If it weren't for several incidents, I wouldn't have reconsidered at all. However, I cannot fight the obvious any longer. It's obvious that God meant for you two find each other and to be together. And I'm not going to fight anymore. I don't approve." She exhaled. "But I promise that I will not disapprove for much longer. You must understand that, this is not the way I was brought up. There are also several personal issues that I've been forced to overcome during this adventure. But after almost loosing you, I'm not going to loose you again." He kissed her forehead. "Be happy."

Her father turned and walked away leaving Regina standing there, trembling. She turned to Adam, who was standing there waiting until her father was out of sight. It was then that the tears fully overcame her and a multitude of emotions swamped her. Adam caught her around the waist and pulled her close as she cried.

Adam set her down and cupped her face in his hands as he shook his head in disbelief. "I remember the first time I saw you. A beautiful, disheveled princess in distress. One thing in the back of my minds was…"You haven't got a chance with someone like that. But there's no harm in looking." I fell in love with you right then and there. But never, ever, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine that you would be mine. But," his dark eyes danced. "when…do I get to make you mine?"

"Three months. Do you mind me holding Lovejoy during the ceremony? After all…you're taking both of us."

He laughed. "Why not?"

"Adam…this is the last time I'll ask." She studied him carefully. "Do you really want us? Both of us?"

Adam tenderly caressed her face with the back of his hand. "I told you once…I didn't win your heart just to hand you over to another man. I certainly didn't win your trust by handing our daughter over to some other man to be her father."

"People will talk."

"Let them. We're lost in our own little world, remember? The world of 'you and me' and I let no one invade it."

HossIsBoss: Thank you for leaving the review, no matter how short. I know how troublesome phones are and I understand completely! Fortunately, this was a minor cold and I'm recovering slowly. It wasn't laryngitis, which I catch every year about this time. Still sniffling and coughing, but today was the first day I felt like writing so I decided not keep everyone waiting. So here it is!