It took Melaina a long time to let Alexander touch her again. When his parents left after the third day, Alexander automatically went to her side and tried to wrap her in his arms, but she wasn't having any of it. Struggling out of his embrace, she walked up the stairs to their room and got ready for bed.

"Melaina.." She heard his voice as he closed the door behind him as Melaina slipped the nightgown over her head. She turned towards him and saw his eyes were filled with worry and concern as he tugged his shirt over his head to change into his nightclothes.

"I'm fine, Alexander."

"It's obvious that you're not. Listen, Melaina, I know it's hard... but talk to me. I don't like being left in the dark."

"I'm not trying to leave you in the dark, Alexander. I just... don't want to talk." She said as a shrug passed over her shoulders. Her eyes watched as her husband chewed on his cheek before he walked towards her and took her hand. Melaina slipped hers out of his grip, but he kept persisting. Melaina moved back until she felt her back brush up against the wall and his hands gripped hers gently. Melaina moved her head to the side and a whine slipped out of her lips as his grip tightened on her hands. Why wasn't he understanding that she didn't want his touch? Not after what happened.

"This isn't so bad, is it Melaina?" He said in her ear and she shook her head while her hands pushed out against his chest.

"Let go of me, please Alexander. Let. Go."

"Why Melaina? I'm not going to hurt you."

"Just leave me alone!" She said as she struggled to get her hands out of his. He seemed to have finally gotten the hint and as he let go of her hands, Melaina felt her chin be lifted up by his fingers as his lips brushed against her forehead gently.

"I will for however long it takes, Melaina." He whispered before leaving her and settling down in their bed. He made no movement nor word and Melaina looked over at him to see his eyes closed and breathing steady. Tiptoeing across their room, Melaina opened the door at the desk they shared and took out a leather bound journal. On the cover engraved in gold lettering was Melaina Clara Enjolras. Just reading her name made her blush and peek over her shoulder to look at her husband. Inside, Melaina had written her story. From the time she met Gavroche and on. Her last entry was during that afternoon and she didn't think she had any more to include. Placing the journal back in the drawer before walking back and slipping under the covers and laid next to her husband.

She tried to fall asleep, but Melaina did miss the strong embrace that he had whenever he held her. She hadn't been able to sleep for the past few days after her little incident happened. The dress was burned and Melaina could still smell the blood and herbs that she had to ingest with her tea. Turning over on her other side, she looked at her husband's back and shoulders before she slowly moved over and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry, Alexander. I'm going to be okay." She whispered and closed her eyes to finally sleep.

"I know you will be." was the response that she got and it startled her before she heard his husky laugh and they both fell into a dreamless sleep.

Melaina promised that she would be okay and she kept to her promise. It took her a few more days until she could let her husband wrap his arms around her and rest his head on her shoulder. She could tell that he wanted to be intimate, but waited until she was ready to start again and that Melaina was thankful for. During the first day that she felt one hundred percent better, Melaina put the herbs back in the cabinet where they belonged and took out a few things that she could prepare for dinner.

"Don't take anything out, Melaina. We're going over my parents to eat tonight." She heard Alexander say as he walked into the kitchen and kissed her on a cheek.

"But it's Friday, Alexander. Doesn't your father stay at work late on Friday's?"

"He's coming home early today. He told my mother before he left for work. Come on, we can go over there now."

"It's noon! Surely your mother's busy. Leilla also has school." She said as he took her hand and helped her put the ingredients away.

"Leilla will join us when she's done and my mother said she's free. Everything's planned, Melaina, stop trying to fight it.

"I'm not trying to fight it it's just a sudden announcement." She retorted back and Alexander's lips twitched back up into a smile.

"You'll like it, I promise." He said before kissing her forehead lightly.

"If I don't, you're going to pay." She said as she playfully pushed him away with a hip and grinned.

Once Melaina and Alexander entered the Enjolras household, everything seemed to work again. The maids and butler curtsied or bowed while Alexander kissed their hands and bowed back. Melaina curtsied in response to which the butler smiled gently at her. Realizing she never met the three, she raised her eyes towards her husband who motioned his hand in a 'later' motion.

As the three disappeared in the back of the kitchens, Melaina turned back to the man and he looked at her. "That was Elaine, Aileen, and Stephen. They've been with us since I was young."

"They look so young.." Melaina said as she sighed softly.

"Elaine and Aileen are sisters and their uncle is Stephen. The girls were here when they were in their teens and never left. I guess my parents are good to them." Your parents aren't the only ones... Melaina thought to herself as she nodded along. Melaina was going to reply when Julia's head peeked around the corner announcing dinner was ready. Taking her arm, Alexander brought Melaina inside and she saw her father-in-law and sister already seated.

During the dinner, Melaina didn't talk unless she was directly spoken to or Leilla said that she needed some advice on an art painting or project. Melaina said that Leilla could paint her for her next sketch that she had to do and Leilla was delighted. They made an arrangement that it would be after dessert.. maybe with Melaina gazing out the window longingly or sitting at the piano, her fingers idly grazing the keys.

But, when her father-in-law and husband were talking Melaina had to listen to their conversations. When they bantered, it grew so quickly that Julia had to step in in case it would've came to harsh words. She always reassured Melaina that it never came to that or blows, but she was still surprised with how much... guard they had on each other. As Melaina listened she realized one thing. Her husband was such a charming young man, she could see it on the maids' faces when he looked at them. Their eyes had the quality of being starry-eyed while a faint pink blush rose to their cheeks. Melaina didn't know if that happened to her, but it was nice to see the other's reactions.

Men and women loved her husband which made her feel oddly excited. Women would coo over his manners or the way he held himself, but wouldn't throw themselves at him like her cousin did. The men would always come up and ask Melaina where he got his knowledge, skills of public speaking, and the way he presented himself. She just answered that he was very gifted which was around the time Alexander would notice, walk over towards them and take her hand while asking her if anything was the matter. The fierce gleam in his eyes seemed to tell the men to back off or else there would be problems and they never questioned his authority.

Melaina once asked him why he never let her talk to men alone and the look she got made her afraid for a second. His reply was that he never wanted a man he didn't know to take advantage of her or else he could get very nasty. His friends would never do that, but how did she know about the other men?

Women used to come up to her as well and ask all about him. 'Such a woman's face he has. So smooth like a girl's.' was the statement most said to her. Melaina, herself, couldn't see her husband with scruff or a beard so she shrugged off their words. She did notice when Alexander got into his arguments/speeches that his eyes would go downcast and when they looked at you that there was such a ferocity in them, you'd probably have to back down just because of that. His nostrils were flared whenever he wanted to make a point as well and that's what his features were.

"Alright, you two. Enough. Your coffee's getting cold." Julia snapped and their words stopped, but only for a few minutes while the girl's brought the dishes to the sink where Aileen was waiting with soapy water.

"Are you sure you don't want me to help you, Aileen?" Melaina asked as she placed her saucer down and she watched the girl's black curls bob around her face as she shook her head.

"It's alright, miss. I'll be fine." The girl replied with a gentle smile and Melaina slowly left the kitchen to join the rest in the retiring room. Maximus had a cigarette dangling from his lips as he heard his son state his argument and why he was right. Melaina slowly sat on the small footstool that was in front of her husband's chair and she took his hand to let him know that she was here. The anger and wrath was known in the way he spoke his words before Melaina looked over at her sister who was curled next to the arm of the couch, the pencil scratching against the paper as Melaina realized she was drawing her. Her eyes lifted back to her husband's face whose jaw was clenched as his father thought against his statement.

Leilla brought Melaina over to the piano and the girl's fingers trailed over the keys lightly as Leilla drew her profile. Melaina decided to play a piece that she had been teaching herself and the notes floated in the air as the men's conversation dulled as they listened to her playing. Her fingers slowed down as the piece came to an end and the last note echoed before she heard soft applause.

"That was beautiful, Melaina dear." Julia cooed as Leilla grinned at her. The men finally finished their conversation and Leilla quickly sat at Melaina's feet, her blue eyes looking up expectantly.

"Can you play another piece?"

"Not right now, sweetheart. How about we get something to nibble on?" Melaina asked as she got up and walked towards the kitchen and asked Elaine where the strawberries were. As the maid asked if Melaina would like her to wash them, the girl refused and said she can do it herself.

"Mela.. I was wondering if I could stay over for the weekend."