A/N: So here's the chapter of this week but before you get to that I just want to thank all of you for being such a great audience and for all the support that you have been showing for the story. Also, this story has already received a hundred reviews, which I think is quite awesome, so I want to credit the reviewers, silver scropion, Xaori, FuegosFiyerd, Adela, the guest reviewer, Shirahane Aikawa, KenLalaLaura, Clueless1229, Lua-Blue, Mercenary Nemesis, selmass2002, mlivingston1432 and all the anonymous reviewers, because without you I would probably lost the confidence to keep putting on the chapters . Thanks a lot for your feedback! Now I hope you all enjoy the following chapter as well.

Chapter 25: Monsters in the Closet

(Leon's POV)

I watched Kate make a public speech about building an agricultural institute with the processing plant in the town. She clearly explained that it would take some time considering the fact they still have to go through all the legal formalities and make a plan about the institute, among other things. She asked people to have patience and trust her company to hold out these commitments. The reporters asked her a few things, which she had already mentioned in her announcement, but she still answered them with a professional smile. She closed the conference by thanking the reporters, audience and her employees alike.

I smiled watching Kate say something to her PA and then she turned to look at me. She gave me a beautiful smile, as she walked towards me. The only person, who didn't get proper sleep last night, spent most of the morning perfecting the presentation and almost whole day convincing the board of directors over a video conference call, address the public and reporters about those developments, and still manage to flash a billion dollar smile and look perfect as ever, was her.

"I am so tired", Kate complained and let her whole body fall into my arms, much like those weird trust exercises.
"That's dangerous, you know", I told her, since I barely caught her at the right moment, "You could have hurt yourself pretty badly."
"I knew you'd catch me", she said to me smiling and placed a kiss on my cheek.
"I could have gotten hurt as well", I said reasoning with her.
"Still I knew I wouldn't get hurt, since you would have broken my fall", she smiled and pulled herself away.
I let out a laugh, and she pulled herself away, "So you're fine with me getting hurt?", I questioned her; the last time I checked she was making such a fuss about me getting hurt, when I was just protecting her.
"Noooo", she replied somewhat thoughtfully looking sideways, "I know you're too strong to get hurt from that."

"You just made it up", I couldn't help but say shaking my head a little.
"I did not!", Kate acted offended and we both laughed at the animated way she spoke.
"It's really good to see you laugh", I told her, complimenting her sincerely, "I mean your smile is really worth a billion dollars!"
"Oh so you really meant that?!", she asked totally surprised and for a moment I didn't understand what she was referring to, and then I remembered that I said the same thing at the press conference after we got married.
I smiled and gave her a nod, "Yeah I did", I answered her and her color changed rapidly once again.
"And… um… about…", she stuttered a little which was amusing to watch, "About me being heavenly beautiful?", she asked me blushing red like a tomato.
"I did think that you looked like an angel that night", I told her the truth, "Mrs. Kennedy", I added giving her a final push.

I watched her eyes widen with shock and as if it was even possible, Kate turned an even deeper shade of red. I smiled at her, admiring the completely flustered look on her face. She was really cute when she was just her true self, and her charm and appeal increased exponentially. It was more than enough to make anyone's heart race and, unfortunately, mine was no exception. She turned her face sideways, probably to avoid my gaze because it might have been making her feel uncomfortable, but it was hard for me not to adore her graceful beauty.

A moment later, Kate's PA walked over to us and informed us that we were ready to leave for the airport. We were flying back to Kate's home tonight, since things were pretty much settled here. She gave her PA a nod and told him to head out as well. We both gave each other a smile and started walking, as her PA went on ahead. I looked on ahead not wanting to make her feel any more uncomfortable but I couldn't hold myself for too long and turned my head to look at her, which startled her a little since she had been looking at me.

We both looked away immediately and from the corners of my eyes, I noticed her lips curving up in a beautiful smile. She turned her head the other way, as I turned my head to look at her. Her smile turned to a laugh, which turned to a mutual laugh. She grabbed my arm and laughed leaning her head on my shoulder. We didn't really know why we were laughing and then we laughed a little more on our silliness for literally laughing for no particular reason. It was just then that Kate didn't see where she was going and a miscalculated step, made her stumble and she began to fall.

(Kate's POV)

My laughs died down and for a fraction of a moment I was scared, bracing myself for the fall but it never came. I was saved by Leon's strong arms. I turned to look at him as he steadied me. He asked if I was alright and I felt captivated by the caring look reflected in his sky blue eyes. I hummed in response and nodded to let him know I was fine. We both looked in each other's eyes, caught in a moment. I could spend all my life being next to him. He smiled and I mirrored him, and before I knew it I was kissing him.

It was as if my whole body moved on its own to kiss him. For a second I was shocked myself for doing what I did, and maybe Leon was as well, but he was the first one to overcome that surprise and returned the kiss. My heart paced up and I felt myself lost in the ecstasy of that tender kiss. His lips gently touched my own, making me feel a million of emotions in a mere fraction of seconds. No one ever kissed me like this before, no one ever made me feel like this before and no one ever loved me like this before. It was like a drop of water in hot desert. The more he kissed me the more I wanted to be kissed by him, to be loved by him.

Leon never expressed anything towards me but when we kissed, I felt he was expressing his feelings. How I wished these feelings, these expressions of affection to be true, but in the back of the mind I knew it was heat of the moment. He wasn't taking advantage of me, and his kisses were sincere, without the intent of wanting anything more, but they were born from the sudden rush of emotions. But even so I didn't want it to end, not even when I was falling short of breath to sustain the kiss any longer, after all our kiss was just starting to heat up.

One bright flash after made me open my eyes and we broke away from the kiss abruptly, as we became aware of our surrounding. We always lost a sense of time and space, when we kissed. It totally slipped my mind that we were in public, with a bunch of reporters around us. When we were probably busy kissing they were probably busy taking our pictures. I felt both extremely flustered and awkward to be in this sort of situation. I felt hot blood rushing to my face, seeing the reporters grinning at us, and I couldn't help but bury my face in Leon's shoulder pulling on his jacket, in a miserable attempt to hide myself.

"What?!", I heard Leon say, "Can't a man kiss his wife in this country?", he spoke to the reporters. I inwardly cursed my stupidity to forget my surroundings and kiss Leon, "You can't hide in my jacket you know", he spoke to me.
"I wish I could", I mumbled to no one in particular.
"You're a tad bit too big for that", he reminded me.
"Are you saying I am fat?", I asked him offended pulling away from him.

Leon gave me a confused look, "What?", he asked me a little perplexed, "How does it even relate to that?"
"You said I was big, which means huge, which in turn is synonymous to fat!", I explained it out to him, as we walked towards the car.
He stared at me blankly for a minute, before shaking his head in disbelief saying, "Women!", and again gave me a somewhat amused look, "For your information you're alright", and before I could say anything, "Not too slim, and not too fat. Alright!", he added in a monotone but the look in his eyes was somewhat appreciative.
We were again caught in the moment and his blue eyes once again hypnotized me. I quickly covered his eyes not wanting to repeat what just happened, "If you look at me like that I'll kiss you again", I couldn't help but say to him, as we reached the car.
"Then kiss me again", he said pulling my hand off his eyes and leaning close to my face.

I was taken aback by Leon's words and wasn't really sure if he was serious, but one look in his eyes was enough to tell me. His lips curved up in a smile and he winked at me, totally welcoming the idea of another kiss. I couldn't help but let out a laugh and kissed his cheek lovingly. He acted a little disappointed and pulled open the car door for me, and I got inside. He quickly rounded off to join me on the back seat and driver started the car to head to the airport.

(Leon's POV)

It was already dusk when we left the small farm town and including the flight time as well as all the formalities, it was already night time when we reached Richardson Mansion. When the car stopped at the front of the house as always the menservants came to get the car door for Kate and our luggage. We made our way inside the house and as usual the butler was standing at the door to welcome us back. We greeted him back as he helped Kate out of her coat.

"Thank you, Francis!", Kate thanked him with a heartwarming smile.
The butler looked at her in a slight surprise before saying, "It's my duty, milady", he replied with a slight smile as well.
"I know", she said in a obvious tone, "But still thanks for everything!", she added in a sincere tone, "Where is Maria?", she asked noticing the head maid's absence, as we moved further inside the house.
"I am sorry, milady, but I don't know", the butler apologized to her.
"You don't have to apologize or be so formal", she said to him in a carefree tone, "Anyways what about the dinner?"
"It would be set by the time you freshen up, my dear", the butler replied in a casual manner with a genuine smile on his face.
"That's great! I'm really hungry", she commented reaching the foot of the stairs, "And I'll take this to my room", she took her coat off his hands and headed her way.

"Did something good happen, sir?", Francis asked me staring after Kate, still smiling.
"Not really", I replied and he turned to look at me.
"Then maybe it's just you", the old man spoke somewhat conclusively and I couldn't help but give him a puzzled look, "Thank you!", he added and his voice was filled with gratefulness.
I couldn't help but be quite taken aback by such a gesture, "Why are you thanking me?", I asked letting out a small laugh.
"Kate had stopped being like this after Keith's death", he answered in a slightly sad tone, "But she started regaining herself after your arrival. So it has to be you, who she found solace in after her father's death."
"I see", I didn't really know how to respond to that detail.
"Now if you'll excuse me", the butler said formally.

I gave him a nod and he walked away to the kitchen. I made my way up the stairs towards Kate's bedroom. As I neared the bedroom, I saw the menservants who carried our luggage exiting the bedroom. As they walked away, they too seemed to be discussing the change in Kate's attitude. The atmosphere in this house had definitely changed and it was warmer than before. I let out an amused laugh, closing the bedroom door behind me. Kate was sitting on the bed and talking to someone on the phone. She spared me a look, as I entered, and smiled in acknowledgement, which I returned.

I walked to the loveseats in the room, not really wanting to disturb her conversation, since it seemed she was talking something about the business. She raised herself off the bed and walked to her closet, as I began untying my shoes. Midway between that my phone buzzed and I retrieved it from my pocket. Hunnigan had once again sent some paperwork my way. I was going through the contents of the mail, when suddenly the lights went out, and my cell phone's light was the only source of light in the entire room.

I heard some thumping sounds from the direction of the closet, so I made my way towards it, wondering what exactly was Kate doing in there, "Leon, turn on the light and get me out!", Kate yelled from the other side of the closed closet door, "This is not funny!"
"I didn't do anything", I told her moving to unlock the door but it seemed to be jammed, as she constantly beat it in attempts to open it.
"Get me out! Please, get me out!", she said from the other side, frantically beating on the door, "It's dark here, I can't see anything. I am scared!", she seemed to be crying.
"Yeah just relax and step back, away from the door", I told her.
"No", she said from the other side, "I am scared… I… I can't!"
"Kate, listen to me", I tried to calm her down "The door is stuck. I'll have to bust it open, if you are close to the door you might get hurt, so trust me and move back. I promise it would just take a second", I said to her.
"Okay", she said in a weak tone, "I am away", she told me after sometime.

I kicked the door once and it swung open easily. I had just taken a step inside the closet, when Kate rushed to me. I wrapped an arm around her body to comfort her, as she shivered in fear in my arms, and as I had suspected she had been crying on the other side of the door. It was more than obvious that she was actually scared of complete darkness. She sobbed a little, but it didn't take too much time for her to calm down, and she pulled away from me on her own.

"You're alright?", I asked, wiping a tear off her face.
"Yeah thanks!", she answered with a couple of nods, "Just don't leave me in the dark", she spoke still holding onto my jacket.
"I won't", I assured her shaking my head, "You could have used your phone as a source of light you know", I added remembering she was talking on the phone when she went inside.
"I dropped it when the lights went out and I couldn't find it in the darkness", she told me speaking in a weak tone, as if it was the worst thing ever.
"Ah… should have figured", I said it more to myself in a tone of realization.

There was a hurried knock on the bedroom door and we both turned to look at it, as we heard a feminine yet a raspy voice of an old woman, "Kate!", it was the head maid, Maria.
"It's open", Kate said and the woman let herself inside the room. She was carrying a huge flash light in her hand.
"Are you alright? Were you scared", she asked her in a concerned tone, hurriedly moving towards Kate.
"No, Leon was here", Kate told her with a shake of her head and the older woman sighed in relief.
"I am sorry dear, the food processor short circuited and blew the fuse of the entire house. Francis is looking at it though", Maria told us with a smile on her face. And as soon as she said it the power came back, "Oh looks like he fixed it."

Kate thanked the heavens under her breath and seemed relieved that the lights were back on. She then told Maria about the faulty closet door and asked her to get it fixed as soon as possible. The head maid assured her that she'll get it fixed first thing in the morning and told us that the dinner was almost ready. Kate said that we will change our clothes and freshen up before coming down for the dinner. The old lady just gave a nod, kept the flash light on the coffee table and left without saying anything.

I watched Kate moving back to the closet to get her home clothes, when she turned and looked at me from its door. She still seemed a little troubled and maybe scared to go in there. I read hesitation in her body language before she very reluctantly asked me, "Can you watch the door for me?"
"What?", I asked her slightly confused.
"I don't want it closing on me again", she looked at the door, "If you could make sure it stays open then I'd really be grateful", she said it in a very serious tone.
"Don't tell me you are still scared of the monsters in the closet", I joked moving to the door to keep it open for her.
"There are worse things in real world than the monsters in closets", she said in a serious tone walking further inside her walk-in closet.
"I can't agree more", I said leaning against the door, as she picked up her cell phone off the floor.

Kate looked at back at me and smiled, before getting back to choosing her clothes. I waited by the door as she picked her clothes and kept my word. Although she was much calmer now but I couldn't miss to notice that she still seemed a little nervous and kept dropping her clothes. As she stepped out of the closet, she was much more composed than when she was inside. She both thanked and apologized to me for asking such a silly thing, before heading inside the bathroom to change. As I let the closet door close, I couldn't help but wonder if she was just scared of the darkness or was it being in the closet or both.

A/N: Thanks again for reading the chapter and I hope you had fun reading it. I apologize for all the grammatical mistakes or typos in the text, which might have been confusing. Let me know whether you enjoyed the fluffy chapter or not, and if you are willing to read more of it because there are a couple of what I call relationship building chapters lined up now and I don't know if it would be like side tracking. I might not be able to cut all of it but if you don't want to read elaborate romance in the mystery plot then I'll axe whatever I can. I will see you with the next chapter, so until then take care and have a great time! :D