Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Homeless Bella, Tissue Warning!
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Prompt: Limp

Marie's face went ashen white at Tanya's question. "He's not my father," she protested, but the fear in her eyes was palpable and her voice was thin and shaking. It was obvious she was lying, but it was also obvious that she was very afraid of us drawing the connection between this Charles Swan and her. I couldn't imagine what had happened that would make her deny her own father, especially if the man was already dead.

I was about to call her out on her lie but once again Tanya was ahead of me, understanding the girl far more than I did. "Okay, he not father, just close friend?" she asked and I could see a glimmer of hope light in the girl's eyes, as if she had been handed a life-line.

"Yes, yes," Marie agreed, the fact that it pained her to agree to this even showing in her face. "He, uhm, helped me when I got into trouble. He was, uhm, like a father in many ways," she said, creating the story as she went but the pain in her face gave her away as she spoke. "He helped me with school, and gave me advice, and he died to save me," she whispered at the end, her eyes now running with tears. My desire to confront her vanished in the wake of her grief, replaced instead with a need to wrap my arms around her to give her comfort, but Tanya was already there, once again.

"Is all right, Marie, we no more ask painful questions," she said, pulling her head down on her shoulder and stroking her hair as one might do with a child as she rocked her slightly back and forth. I could see Marie's arms go around Tanya's waist as a sob escaped her throat. Tanya looked up to me and rolled her eyes. "Why men so useless when woman emotional? Go get tissues, Edvard. We have girl time now," she said, dismissing me.

Grumbling that I wanted to know why Marie was so upset I went and found a box of tissues and brought them back. The girls were still in the same position as before, with Marie hanging limp on Tanya's shoulder, and there didn't seem to be any reduction in the water works so I took Tanya's wave of the hand as a chance to escape and allow her to deal with the problem.

Unfortunately, my computer was in the library. I wanted to look up who this Charles Swan was, and how he had died to see if I could figure more of the mystery that was my housekeeper, but it would have to wait until the room no longer had other inhabitants. I supposed I could use my phone, but it was given to me by the firm for company use. While the partners had said I could use it for personal calls and surfing of the internet as well, I had caught a subtle shake of one of the more junior's partners head, letting me know it wasn't a good idea.

And so left to my own devices I slumped in front of the television. I knew Tanya wanted to see the movie we had planned on watching before going to invite Marie to join us, so I flipped through the channels looking for something to hold my attention instead. Fifteen minutes later I gave that up and just closed my eyes.

I awoke to a heavenly combination of smells. Nachos, popcorn, pizza and cookies all filled the air with their scents, pulling me into the kitchen with my stomach rumbling in appreciation. The girls were in there, working and smiling, and I just leaned against the arch that went from the living room to the kitchen and watched them laugh as Marie tried to instruct Tanya in basic cooking.

Marie saw me first and gave me a watery smile, which I returned with a small wave and half of a smile. Tanya was asking Marie something and lifted out the rotary beaters from whatever she was mixing, sending the mixture flying all over the kitchen. "Tanya, no!" Marie cried, rushing in to turn off the hand mixer before the entire kitchen was coated.

"What I do wrong?" Tanya asked as a dollop of what appeared to be chocolate cake batter dripped off of her nose. There were other bits all through her strawberry blonde hair, and I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight.

"You have to turn it off before you take it out, or you make a huge mess," Marie giggled while indicating the spatter that now coated them both, as well as the cabinets, walls, counters and floor.

Tanya didn't appreciate my laughing at her. "You, Edvard, you help by cleaning up. We cook, you clean. Is fair," she said with a huff.

"I'm not the one who made the huge mess, Tanya," I pointed out, my accusation softened by the laughter that was now coming from my stomach as some batter dripped from her hair on to her nose. She got a look in her eye that told me I was in trouble, but more told me that she was continuing this fight because it was making Marie laugh.

"I vill give you something to clean, da? You think cake in my hair funny?" she asked as she started to advance on me. Marie had gone for a washcloth and was wetting it down to wash off the mess, but had her laughing eyes on us. "I will show you how funny is to have cake in hair," Tanya said right as she launched herself at me.

I managed to dance out the way and run to the sink. Marie gave a small squeak and ran in the other direction, but luckily left the water going in the sink. I picked up the spray nozzle and pointed it at Tanya. "I think you're the one who needs to be cleaned," I taunted Tanya. "I'll even help you, starting with your hair, but keep away from mine!"

She laughed and relaxed her posture, her eyes glancing toward Marie for just a second before returning to me. "Okay, Edvard, I not attack you," she said and I instantly went on alert. Tanya never backed down from a fight until she had given at least as good as she had gotten.

"What are you up to?" I asked, my eyes now on her alone, watching as she casually leaned against the counter.

"I not know what you mean," she replied, and that's when I felt it. I turned suddenly just as Marie upended a pitcher of ice water over my head with a small giggle.

Sputtering from the cold and wet I reached out and grabbed the girl, my arms going instantly around her waist and lifting her up. "Oh, no you don't! You can't do that and just walk away without punishment!"

"No! Tanya made me do it!" she cried, kicking and play-hitting while squealing with laughter. She weighed next to nothing so I just lifted her higher and put her into the sink, amazed she was small enough to fit, and squeezed the sprayer over her head, drenching her immediately.

"Stop!" she shouted with laughter as I got her wet and she thrashed around, trying to grab the sprayer out of my hands. Somehow she managed to get it turned around so it was now pointing at me, soaking me with water, so I threw it to the side and reached up and grabbed her hands. Pinning them behind her so she couldn't wreak even more havoc I pulled her close to my chest, locking her in place.

She gazed up at me with her big, brown eyes and I watched as the laughter died and was replaced with something else. It wasn't fear, an emotion I was used to from her, but she seemed almost dazed. That's when I realized her shirt had soaked through, outlining her body as the material clung tightly to her. I could feel her breasts pressed against my chest, her warmth seeped into me, in spite of the chill of the water. Never had I wanted to kiss someone as much as I wanted to kiss her right then. For a moment it seemed she felt the same way.

Suddenly she took in a deep breath and I realized both of us had stopped breathing at one point. "I'm going to go dry off and change," she said timidly, and I nodded but didn't relinquish my hold on her. "You'll need to help me down," she said as she squirmed a bit in the sink. I noticed she was stuck, and that pulled me out of my haze with a snort of laughter.

I picked her up and set her on her feet, only to pull her close to me again. "Edward?" she said, obviously wondering what I was doing.

That's when how she saw her situation hit me. "Marie, I want to protect you," I whispered. "I don't know who or what you're afraid of, but let me help you, please."

"You already have, more than you'll ever know," she whispered back. With that she stepped out of my arms and walked off to her room. I rubbed my face, missing her and not knowing how to get her back in my grasp. My eyes trailed around the mess of the kitchen. There was cake batter and water everywhere. There was also Tanya, who was looking at me with a sad smile.

"Ah, Edvard, I think, now, you begin to love," she said. Then she walked from the room as well and I heard her bedroom door close behind her. Even though I was soaking wet as well, I needed to move. Grabbing a towel I set to work cleaning.

Poor Tanya. Edward is rather oblivious, like most men. After all, he doesn't feel the same way as she does, but Tanya's eagle eyes miss nothing.

Happy Memorial Day to all who are in the states! And, a heartfelt thanks to all who have served, suffered and died to protect the freedoms we all enjoy.