Sunlight filtered in the room and Melaina opened her eyes slowly. Turning over, the girl felt the sunlight on her face and the space next to her was empty. Sitting up quickly, the blanket falling away from her semi-naked body, her green eyes roamed around the room for her husband.
"Alexander?" She almost screeched; if it wasn't for the cottony taste that her mouth had. There was also a pounding pain in between her eyes and Melaina fell back against her pillow with her fists shoved over her eyes.
"You should relax, Melaina," The girl heard his voice say and she opened her eyes to look at him. His eyes were cold and serious, with his mouth set in a firm line. "You're probably hungover from last night. All that wine..." He trailed off and Melaina lowered her eyes, her tongue rolling around her cheeks as she tried to wet her mouth to get words out.
"I'm... Alexander, I'm so sorry-"
"Don't worry about it." He interrupted her and she shook her head. He was trying to get her off the subject. To forgive and forget. But she couldn't forget. She didn't kiss him at the stroke of midnight like she was supposed to. She kissed Courferyac instead. That was the worst thing she could've done to Alexander. Even though he loved her on some degree; they were still married. She worked her words around her dry mouth again.
"No, I want to talk. I'm sorry, Alexander. I really really am. I didn't mean to kiss Courferyac."
"Melaina, I really don't want to talk about it."
"But, I do." She looked up at him and found that he was only half dressed. His shirt was still hanging on the back of his chair and his golden curls on his chest looked brighter in the sunlight.
"Please, please forgive me, Alexander."
"Melaina..." Not listening, she sat up and made her way towards him, trying to ignore the not so subtle pounding in her head. Cupping his face in her hands, Melaina kissed his open and unresponsive lips. She pulled away before kissing him again, trying to make her apology known through her lips. He finally responded the third time, yet it was tentative, hesitant, like he wasn't sure if this was right or not. He pulled away and gave Melaina a sad smile before pushing her down against the pillows.
"You need to rest and eat something." He muttered before leaving. Melaina closed her eyes and tried to focus on the pounding in her head, but she heard the door open a few minutes later. He carried a tray that had a glass of water, milk and a bowl of oatmeal on it. Her face screwed up at the sight of the bland, pasty breakfast as he handed it to her.
"Just try to eat it. Eat as much as you can."
"I don't like oatmeal."
"Just.. try." She made a face at him before she took the spoon and putting back down in the mushy substance. Reaching for the glass of water, she took a few sips before coughing lightly. She too the spoon in her hand again and chewed it slowly, her mouth turning down at the corners in disgust.
"You're fine, keep eating." He told her gently.
"Alexander, I didn't ruin your friendship with Courfeyrac, did I?"
"No. Courfeyrac didn't realize what had happened. You kissed him quickly before you realized your mistake and ran up here." The way his voice became detached... Melaina wanted to apologize again, but knew it wouldn't do her any good. She looked down and pushed the food away, her hands circling the cold glass of water before she finished it. She could feel his eyes on her, but didn't say anything. The girl didn't know if she should laugh, cry, or ignore it. The prickling in her eyes seem to be that the second option was the correct answer.
"Melaina?" His question sent Melaina pushing the tray farther away from her and reaching for him, for her angel, the one that she couldn't bear live without. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, so she made her way towards him and laid her head gently on his lap, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"Don't... don't cry." She heard his voice, trying to make her feel better. His hands in her hair, moving slowly down her back, she choked out another apology.
"I'm, hic, so sorry, Alexander. I'm the worst wife. You shouldn't have married me."
"Where did this come from?" He asked her quietly and she didn't reply. She wasn't sure why he did marry her, after all, he wasn't interested in what a woman had to offer a man. Their intimacy was only for their marriage, even though she knew he would've kept it chaste if he could've. Melaina wondered if he did truly love her or not and her mind kept going back to their last conversation. She felt his fingers through her hair and her thoughts strayed back to reality. She sniffled lightly and heard his next words.
"Shhh, I told you I forgive you. Just, don't drink that much again. Promise me that." She nodded as the tears streaked silently down her cheeks and she mumbled something.
"I didn't catch that."
"I promise."
"Good, come here." He said as he helped her back to a sitting position and he kissed her gently. Her lips responded with a ferocity that she didn't know she possessed. As they pulled away, she could tell that something else was on his mind.
"You cry... so much... why?"
"My Papa said it wasn't good to bury your emotions." She looked into his eyes and could almost see the ice chipping away. Almost.
"I forgot to tell you. My parents left us gifts last night before they left."
"Oh? Can I see?"
"Are you feeling better?"
"I still have a headache, but I think I'll be alright."
"Leilla found this red jacket for me. I think it fits nicely." He said as he got up off of the bed and went to their closet. He pulled out a dark red jacket that reached his waist and put it on. Melaina cooed over it. It fit him perfectly and it seemed to bring out the power and energy that he possessed.
"I love it! What about me?"
"Think you can go downstairs?"
"Yes.. why?"
"Oh, you'll see." He said as he handed her one of his shirts. Slipping it on, Melaina could smell the musk, his soap, and stale smoke. Taking her hand, Alexander led her slowly down the stairs and placed his hands over her eyes.
"Tell me when you're ready."
"I'm ready, Alexander." He chuckled under his breath before he took his hands away and Melaina saw the sleek black baby grand piano that always sat in Maximus and Julia's living room.
"Where did our piano go?"
"Father decided it was a good idea to give away the little piano we had and give us theirs as a gift. They know how much you love it. Plus, Leilla could stop by more often."
"I... I love it."
"You don't sound so sure."
"No, no, I am."
"You still don't sound sure."
"But, if they were going to give away their piano... why did we have ours in the first place?"
"Father didn't know that the baby piano would take up too much space until now. No one plays it over there either." He said as his hands skimmed over her shoulders. Melaina's gaze tore from the piano to her husband's face which seemed to hold the same sharpness as it did before, but his eyes were calmer.
"I would like it if you could play a piece for me after dinner."
"After dinner? Why then?" She heard his chuckle as he dipped his head and his lips skimmed over the back of her neck.
"Oh, Melaina.. so naive."
Melaina's headache receded after a few hours of herbal tea and rest. She promised Alexander once more that she wouldn't drink as much as she did the night before. He nodded solemnly and responded with that she didn't need to cook for them last night. Apparently, Julia and Melaina's mother had made something and put it away for them the next day. The girl figured out that something was missing.
"Where's Adelia?" She asked her husband as she took her third glass of water.
"Leilla wanted to bring her home for a day or two. I thought it would be.. necessary." Melaina's lips opened in a small 'o' before nodding, unsure. She missed the little dog and how she would curl up next to her, the dog's back pressing against her stomach.
"Alexander.."
"What is it?" Melaina chewed on her lip, trying to figure out how to ask.
"Did our parents ask about...us?"
"Us in what way?" He asked as he lifted her legs and sat down, placing her legs over his and he squeezed her ankle gently. Only for this day, Melaina was dressed in Alexander's old clothes. A pair of old grey pants and a white shirt that was large on her was her outfit for the day and she didn't care.
"Us in the way of ever having children." She heard his impatient sigh and his hands squeezed her ankles again.
"We are trying, Melaina. You and I both know that."
"Yes, but in a few weeks we'll be married a year. A whole year and no child."
"We've had this talk many times. When it happens it happens." He told her sternly and Melaina had a sudden thought, but knew not to say it. They slipped out anyway.
"But, what if you die?" The words tumbled out and she gasped loudly.
"We'll talk about that in a few months. It's too early for that conversation."
"Alright." She said and the topic of discussion was closed.
Dinner was a silent affair with Melaina trying to get a conversation going and Alexander picking at his food.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, Alexander?" She asked as she gathered the plates to put them in the sink to soak.
"Yes, black-"
"With very little cream and no sugar. I know!" She interrupted him and she heard his laugh. Walking into the kitchen, she boiled water for her tea before she prepared for his coffee. Dropping only a splash of cream in his cup, she brought it out to him and was met with a "thank you." before she prepared her cup of tea and sat across from him. The two talked for over an hour and it seemed that it made them closer. Melaina finally understood why he was so aloof with his family, so serious with the work that he did and why he acted the way he did towards her. They cleaned the dishes together and Melaina asked if he still wanted to listen to her play, to which Alexander responded with a simple 'yes.'
Melaina took his hand and they walked over to the piano where she sighed softly in awe at how pretty the little instrument was. Placing her singers on the keys, she tapped out a few notes and played a song that had no meaning or importance. Once she was done, Melaina turned to the man next to her and he pressed her hand against his lips.
"They better have music ability like their mother or else I don't know what we're going to do." Melaina smiled and nudged him.
"Well, they better be as passionate about something as their father."
"Oh, they will." He replied before kissing her.
Melaina sighed softly as she felt Alexander's fingers skim over the skin of her back. Rolling over, she gripped his hands in hers and pulled herself closer.
"Good morning." She mumbled and saw him smile.
"Oh, you're awake now?"
"You woke me up." She mumbled sleepily as she blinked a few times.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Good." He said before kissing her forehead gently.
