Alternate Universe FanFic. Borrowing the characters from ADOW to create my own new story with a completely different plot, and events. Canon couples and always Matthew/Diana HEA.
Summary: Diana lives in New York and works at her local hot spot Diner, and after numerous failed first dates, decides to forgo the dating scene for a while. That is until a rather attractive construction worker named Matthew Clairmont walks into The Diner and catches her eye. He becomes a welcome regular among all the staff, especially Diana.
NOTE: Thanks to Shawna for her editing help, suggestions and ideas!
DISCLAIMER: All rights to Deborah Harkness. Just borrowing the characters.
THE DINER
By Goode Girl
CHAPTER TWENTY
~TD~Matthew~TD~
I was awoken from a deep sleep buy a buzzing noise. Gently extracting myself from Diana's embrace, I crawled from the bed and pulled on my sleep pants before I headed down the hall. The front door intercom was still going off, and I pressed the call button to notify Frank I heard.
"What is it Frank?" I posed.
"Sorry to disturb you Mr. Clairmont, but a Mr. Hamish Osborne is here to see you sir. Should I send him up?" He informed.
"It's the middle of the night." Matthew yawned, running a hand through his hair.
"He looks quite dishevelled, sir." He added.
"Alright, yes, of course. Send him up." I replied, unlocking the front door and cracking it open. I noted the time on the oven display read 3:35AM as I grabbed two glasses and my aged whiskey. I poured a few fingers into each glass, then waited for Hamish.
There had to be a good reason for Hamish to come by this late.
"Matt?" Hamish whispered, pushing open the door.
"Hey, what's going on?" I posed as Hamish closed and locked the door behind him. He looked a little dark, and there seemed to be something on his face. Handing him one of the glasses, I signalled to the couch. We each took a seat before he explained his presence.
"The hotel, someone's set a fire to it." He stated. Well that explained the black soot on him.
"What?" I retorted in astonishment.
"I got a call at 1:30AM, then I called Gerbert before I rushed over to the site." He explained, downing the whiskey. "It's all ruined, and nothing can be salvaged." He finished. I got up to retrieve the bottle, pouring him more whiskey.
"What did Gerbert say?" I posed, setting the bottle on the coffee table.
"Thank you for this," He added, signalling to his whiskey before speaking once more. "He said they need to start over and I know he's going to call you in the morning." He relayed.
"And?" I urged.
"Don't let on that you know, but he's going to ask you to design a brand-new hotel. Since everything we'd done do far is gone or needs to be removed due to the fire damage, he wants to scrap Peter's design altogether and start fresh." He informed.
"Are you serious?" I remarked in disbelief.
He nodded, sipping from the whiskey this time. "It's going to take at least a month to get the site back to a level where we can begin again. So, that's your time frame to design a new thirty floor hotel."
I nodded in understanding. "Hamish, is there anyone suspected? For the arson I mean." I posed and he shook his head in the negative.
"I would say it was Peter, but he's so arrogant, he'd still get credit for the design. So, I don't think he'd do it, in my opinion." He rationalized.
"I think I know who could be behind it." I offered.
"Really, who?" He queried.
I relayed the interaction that happened between myself, Diana and Kit at the diner, the previous evening and Hamish seemed to really be thinking things over.
"That little shite actually thought he was going to be asked to design?" Hamish commented in disbelief, laughing at the idea.
"He did, until Diana informed him otherwise." I smiled, drinking back the whiskey in my glass. "I'll suggest him as a person of interest to the police." Hamish finalized.
"Matt, there's something more I need to share." Hamish divulged cryptically.
"Alright," I prodded.
"Normally, I would just call you but I thought that this required an in-person visit." He went on and I kept quiet, to allow him to go on. "When they finally got the fire out, they found something under the debris." He explained, sadly.
"What?"
"A body." He finalized. "They're going through the security camera footage as we speak to see if we can identify who it could be." He simplified.
"Maybe the victim is the arsonist." I reasoned.
"What's going on?" Diana murmured, hiding a yawn behind her hand as she wandered down the hall.
"I'll tell her about that later." I murmured to Hamish, before looking to Diana. "Hey, Love. We didn't wake you, did we?" I posed. She took in Hamish and his rather dishevelled appearance.
"No, I just woke up, and you weren't there." She explained.
"Something's happened." Hamish interjected as I reached out my hand to her.
She took it willingly and I pulled her over to sit on my lap. "What do you mean?" She posed, waiting for Hamish to explain.
He described the fire and how nothing was salvageable. She gasped in surprise as my hand ran along her back.
"It will work out, but the project is pushed back for now." He added.
He said his farewells and thanked me one more time for the whiskey before leaving. Diana and I walked back to the bedroom and she pulled off my plush, green robe, leaving herself nude. Discarding my sleep pants, I joined her in bed, propping my good arm behind my head.
"How will this affect your design work?" She murmured into the dark of the room. I could hear a faint trace of worry laced with her words.
"Hamish told me I'd be asked to design a brand-new hotel." I relayed. "But, I'm not to know that yet, Gerbert will tell me himself." I smiled reassuringly.
"That's exciting. I'm sure you already have a tonne of ideas." She smiled as she straddled my lap. Her actions were leading to something more intimate, and now was not the time to tell her about the body they'd found.
"I have a few. I'll start on some plans and we'll see how it goes." I added, pressing my lips to hers enticingly.
She returned the kiss with enthusiasm, as her hands moved over my shoulders, before threading through my hair. "So, you'll still have a job as the architect then?" She posed, her lips kissing along my jawline.
"Yes," I mumbled, my right hand squeezing her hip, before trailing to her ass. We made love in the early morning hours before finally succumbing to sleep once more.
Three Weeks Later
~TD~
Matthew stretched his arms over his head, and yawned. He glanced at the clock on his office desk across the room and noted the time as 3:23AM.
"Fuck." He mumbled to himself before climbing from his stool and turning to the new addition to his office.
He'd ordered a desk for Diana, knowing she would need a space to do her school work. Now that she was moving in, he wanted to be able to share the space with her. The desk had arrived this afternoon when he knew she was likely at work. He put it together and set it up, along with a comfortable desk chair, much like his own. Turning off the light, he trekked to the kitchen for a snack. He was so engrossed in this new design, that he was forgetting to eat. Tampering down a yawn, he pulled open the fridge door, and pulled out a few things to make a quick sandwich. Once his hunger was appeased, he walked down the hall, through his bedroom and into the ensuite bathroom. Closing the door quietly, so as not to wake Diana, he turned on the light before stripping down to take a shower.
His wounds had healed rather nicely, but his arm would take longer. The doctor initially thought six weeks would be enough time to heal, but it was looking like it would take ten. So, when he showered, he had to pull a plastic bag over his forearm to protect the cast. After drying off, he hung the towel to dry, and crept into bed. His arms reached out for Diana, to find nothing but cold air.
He jumped from the bed and after a search of the apartment, he realized she wasn't there. Jogging back to the bedroom, he retrieved his cell phone and dialled her number.
~TD~Diana~TD~
The morning after Hamish's middle-of-the-night visit, Gerbert came by the apartment and informed Matthew that he would like him to design a new hotel. It was during Gerbert's visit that I learned they'd found a body in the rubble. Matthew didn't want to tell me after Hamish had visited because he was afraid it would just keep me up. Plus, they still didn't know who it was. The video surveillance footage only showed the back of the person, and their face was not clear enough to make any sort of identification.
Since that impromptu meeting, Matthew had been immersed in his office day after day, working long hours.
It started normal enough where he'd begin the work day at 8:00AM and I'd bring him some coffee, and then he'd take a break for lunch. If I was working at the diner, he'd come by to eat with Gallowglass as usual, who would update him on their progress with the work site and the investigation into the arson. Then he'd go home to work for the afternoon. During that first week, he'd sometimes bring his blueprints, and work on them in a booth; and then walk with me back to his apartment after I was finished work, where we'd cook dinner together.
In the middle of the second week, his nights started getting later and later, until I'd wake up at 3:00AM to an empty bed. A quick investigation would find him asleep in his office propped over his drafting table, and I would have to coax him to bed. Now, at the end of the third week, and leading into the fourth, I'd be lucky if he said two words to me throughout the day.
It was becoming worrisome to me, how he was wearing himself down. I tried to invite him to bed at reasonable times, and he'd tell me he'd be there in a few minutes. I would try to wait up but would end up falling asleep and was still alone in bed the next morning. Even getting him to eat at a proper time was a chore. I'd make him dinner as I was cooking for myself anyway. Sometimes he'd eat, his appetite ravenous, and other times when I would wake in the morning, I'd see the plate I'd set aside from him ignored; while he was fast asleep in his office once again. Communication was failing me at this point as he was so immersed in his work, he didn't notice when I would leave.
For the past two days, I've been at my apartment. I was packing for my move into Matthew's, but instead of going back to his place, I was staying here. I know this design job is important to him, but he didn't seem to have time right now to talk much as he was so absorbed by his work. I also didn't feel like being alone in bed, so I figured I'd get some headway with the packing. The sad part is, I don't think he's noticed yet that I didn't stay the night last night. We needed to talk, and he definitely needed to set some boundaries for his work, or he was going to run himself ragged. He was sleep deprived as it was. I didn't want to fight with him, but he needed to step back and take a look at how he was working and make a proper routine to follow. These were things we needed to discuss, and I made a mental checklist to go over them later.
I'd just finished packing up my living room and after talking to my landlord earlier that day, they agreed to allow me to leave any furniture I did not want. Then they could rent the apartment as semi-furnished. Thankfully, I was on a month to month lease and could break it at any time. Setting the kettle on the stove and turning the burner on, I grabbed a tea bag and the one mug I'd not packed, to prep it for my tea.
By 10:00PM I was secure in my bed, and once again missing Matthew's arms around me. I was woken some time later when I heard my cell phone going off. I'd left it in the living room, and crawled from my bed to answer it.
"Hello." I murmured, half asleep. Plopping myself down on the couch.
"Diana!? Are you okay?" Matthew's frantic voice trailed through the line.
"Yes, of course." I replied, stifling a yawn.
"Where are you?" He posed, and I realized I didn't even leave a note on my whereabouts, so his worry was beginning to feel palpable.
"At my apartment." I relayed. "I've been here for two days Matthew, packing." I explained.
I could hear him take a deep breath. "I've fucked up, haven't I?" He posed, rhetorically.
"Can we talk later. Get some sleep for now." I urged.
"I'm sorry." He offered. I could tell he was likely running his hand through his hair. It was something he did often when stressed, or nervous.
"I know. But you're working yourself too hard." I retorted. "I'll be by tomorrow, it's Saturday, no work." I ordered. "For you or for me!" I added firmly.
It felt like he was smiling at that comment. "I love you, Mon Coeur." He stated, although it sounded a little like a whine.
"Matthew. I love you; this doesn't change that or my moving in. This is just a hiccup and we will talk. Please don't worry too much." I proclaimed.
After cajoling him to bed, we ended our call, and I went back to bed myself. Later that morning, I woke to a noise coming from my kitchen. I sprang from my bed, more alert at the intruder and crept slowly from my bedroom to investigate.
"I brought coffee and breakfast." I heard, and my hand clutched at my chest in surprise.
"Matthew! Jesus, you scared me." I smiled.
"I know we need to talk, but I missed you and I couldn't wait." He rattled off. I nodded as I walked towards him.
"Look at me, please." I posed, my eyes searching his. When his gaze met mine, I cupped his cheeks in my hands and leaned up, pressing my lips firmly to his.
His shoulders sagged in relief. "I've been such an ass. I'm so sorry." He offered once more.
"I know you are. Let's go sit, and bring that coffee." I smiled, as he grabbed the tray, and the bag he'd brought with him.
I took a few tentative sips from the cup, testing its temperature while Matthew seemed nervous as he sat beside me.
"Bagel?" He offered, holding open the bag.
"Thank you." I smiled, reaching in to grab the proffered breakfast.
We sat in a somewhat awkward silence as we ate, and drank our coffee's. I don't think his gaze left me once. When I was finished, I took in his appearance. It was clear he hadn't slept much, probably worrying over the fact that I was here and not at his place. As my gaze travelled over him, I noted he was still in his sleep pants.
"Did you walk here in pyjamas?" I giggled. A long slow smirk crossed his features and he shook his head.
"No, I drove and used a drive-thru when getting the coffee and bagels." He explained, his smile getting larger.
Standing, I pushed him against the back of the couch and straddled his lap. I wanted what I had to say to be clear, and knew I needed to take control.
"First of all," I began. "No matter what we go through, it doesn't mean I love you any less. But I'm worried about you." I explained, pulling his arms around me in return.
"I know I've been distracted, but it's like I can't get the ideas down fast enough, and each time I think I need to finish for the day, a new idea hits." He prattled. "I want the schematics to be complete before they break ground a second time." He added in explanation.
"I understand that. But you're not sleeping Matthew. At least not properly. And when you are, it's at your draft table thingy." I explained, stumbling over the proper word for his work table.
"Drafting table." He corrected, a small smile on his lips.
"Drafting table. Whatever." I dismissed. "You need to take better care of yourself." I pleaded as the light moisture began in my eyes. "I'm worried you're working too hard." I reasoned. My worry for him was making me a little emotional.
"Shit," He mumbled. "I know I said 'I'm sorry', already, but it doesn't seem like it's enough." He offered.
"Do you agree that you have been somewhat neglectful? Of normal things." I finished, my hands playing with the hair at the back of his neck.
"If you've been here for two days, then clearly, I'm being neglectful." He relayed, sorrowfully, tugging me closer. "You are the most important part of my life and I've treated you terribly." He confessed.
"You got lost in your work, that's not as dreadful as you're making it out to be." I tried to alleviate, as I pushed his hair back off his face. "Can you make me a promise?" I posed.
"Anything." He replied quickly.
"You need to take better care of yourself, and while I realize this hotel is important, you need to set some parameters." I declared.
"What sort of parameters?" He posed.
My hands rested on his shoulders and I pulled back so my eyes met his. "You stick to a solid work day. You break for lunch, break for dinner and you finish by no later than 8:00PM." I stated persistently. "And you're in bed with me every night at a reasonable time. This is non-negotiable." I added firmly.
He smiled gently, pushing my unbrushed hair from my face. "I can't sleep without you next to me." He admitted.
"Well, you've been managing to do so on your 'drafting table'," I enunciated clearly.
"Out of pure exhaustion." He defined.
My gaze left his, and I looked down at the t-shirt he wore. I smiled inwardly to myself as a plan formed in my mind on how to tease him. It could seem a little mean, but I was feeling hurt; I would make it up to him, of course. "You haven't touched me, or kissed me in almost two weeks, Matthew." I related sadly. "That's just not us." I added, sticking my bottom lip out in a pout, while looking up at him though my eyelashes, coquettishly. "We couldn't seem to go a few hours without a kiss or a touch, and it's been too long." I added, heaving an overdramatic sigh, while shaking my shoulders for good measure.
I missed him. Missed his touch, the way his lips felt against mine and the way his hands moved over my skin as he pushed and pulled me over him. It wouldn't take much to remind him of what we both had been missing these last few weeks, but I kept up the charade of sadness for just a few more minutes.
"I can't apologize enough, other than to say I will do better." He promised, pulling me flush against him, and cradling me against his chest.
After a few moments, he pulled back slightly and placed his hand under my chin, lifting it up so my yes met his once more. The guilt in his eyes was palpable as he punished himself inwardly for his actions. I couldn't take the tortured look in his eyes, and knew I needed to relieve him of this self-incrimination. With one last deep, shuddering sigh, I laced my hands behind his neck and allowed my pout to transform into the grin I'd been concealing.
His eyes widened in surprise when he noticed my smile and I giggled. "I know you'll do better." I reassured, leaning in and kissing his cheek. "I know this is important to you." I added, kissing his other cheek. "I know you didn't mean to neglect me!" I mock glared at him, before kissing his forehead. "But remember this, my Matthew," I winked, before my lips within a hairsbreadth of his, "I can't sleep without you next to me either. So, don't," I quickly kissed his top lip, "do it," then his bottom lip, "again." I finalized, sealing my mouth to his.
He returned my kiss thoroughly, then he pulled back, his eyes full of love. "And positively, absolutely no working on the weekends." I added and he smiled adoringly at me; a few happy tears escaping my eyes.
~TD~
"It's still early." Diana began, running her fingers through his hair. "Come to bed for a few hours." She murmured. "Just hold me, please." She pleaded, her hand cupping his cheek.
Matthew leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers firmly.
"I love you." He declared, leaning his forehead to hers.
"I love you, too." She murmured in reply, kissing at the scruff on his cheek.
Holding her in his arms, and as well as he could with the cast still a hinderance, he stood and walked them to her bedroom. She crawled under the covers and he slipped in beside her after pulling off his t-shirt. She cuddled into her usual place against his left side once more. The wound had healed well, and a scar was in its place. Her fingers traced over it idly, before her arm pulled him into her embrace, more securely.
It was almost as if she couldn't get close enough to him. "Come here." He murmured, lifting her so she lay over him.
They were chest to chest as she tucked her head into his neck, and his arms wound around her. He trailed his right hand down her back and then up again, repeatedly. After the tenth or eleventh pass of his hand, he lifted the t-shirt of his she was wearing and his palm pressed against her heated skin. Diana placed her hands near his head and pushed herself up slightly, her eyes meeting his. Lowering her head, she moulded her lips to his, her tongue peeking out tentatively as if to test his resolve. He accepted her kiss enthusiastically, as his hand bunched the shirt up at her neck. She broke the kiss to pull the t-shirt from her body and tossed it to the floor before melding her lips to his once more.
This wasn't just a simple kiss. It was a kiss full of promise and apology and expectations for the future. "I'm sorry," He murmured once more as her hands pushed through his hair.
"I know. You're forgiven." She relayed, kissing him once more. When they finally broke apart, it was because the need to breathe won out.
Matthew rolled them, so Diana lay beneath him, naked and waiting. "Matthew." She murmured.
"What, Love?" He posed, as he pushed off his pyjama pants before settling between her spread legs.
"Make love to me, please." She requested, her arms going around his shoulders and pulling him down to her so they were chest to chest once more.
"I'm sorry -," Diana was about to cut him off, but he pressed on. "No, please, let me say this." He urged, cupping her cheek.
"I'm sorry," He began again. "That I took you for granted. Expecting you to just be there when I finally woke the fuck up." He formed and she smiled at him sweetly.
"Technically," She teased. "I was waiting, just here and not at your place." She smiled, raising her hips up to press into his erection.
"Our place." He corrected, forming his lips over hers once more.
"Our place." She mumbled against his lips.
"Oww, fuck," He called suddenly, breaking their kiss and rolling off of her.
"What's wrong?" She asked, worriedly, her eyes and hands surveying him closely.
"My arm, I was leaning too much weight on it." He explained as his casted arm lay by his head.
"Well then, I guess it's up to me to take charge." She wheedled, climbing over him.
He sat up to meet her, and wound his arms around her, as their lips met once more. Diana raised herself up slightly, before lowering herself over his hard cock. She started moving her hips over him quickly, but he gripped her with his right hand.
"Slow, go slow, Love." He purred, pressing his lips against her neck and kissing up to her ear. "I want this to last." He added, moving his left, casted arm around her as well.
Their bodies surged and their actions were heightened as they moved as one. A slick sheen of sweat appeared over their skin as the slow rotation of Diana's hips over his kept the pace.
"I missed this. I missed you." She revealed, her hands pushing through his hair when their lips finally separated.
"I was being so selfish." He relayed, his eyes meeting hers.
"Stop, you know better now and will change." She admonished, slipping from his lap.
"I want to feel you on top, driving into me." She posed, moving to the edge of the bed.
Matthew climbed from the mattress as she wiggled closer to him. He stood at the edge of the bed, before he pressed into her warm sex. She clenched her Kegel muscles as he thrust, and the grunts and growls that emanated from his lips, turned her on. He moved his right hand along her hip before reaching up to cup her breast before pinching at her nipple, brining it to a harder peak.
"Matthew," She panted, pressing into him with each drive of his hips. "Harder." She urged, meeting him, thrust for thrust. He trailed his hand between her breasts and down her abdomen before pressing into her clit.
"Bloody hell, I can't believe I haven't had this in over two weeks." He confessed, as he pounded into her more steadfastly.
"Almost…three…weeks." She corrected between pants of breath. "I'm coming." She added, tossing her head back as the orgasm flowed through her. His thrusts slowed as she came down from her high. "Wait," She called, and he pulled out of her reluctantly.
"Why?" he posed in confusion as she reached for a few pillows and placed them under her ass as she turned back to him.
Her hips were elevated, as she placed her feet at the edge of the bed; her torso and head lay at an angle, away from him on the bed.
"What are you waiting for?" She giggled. "Fuck me." She added.
"Just taking in the view, sweetheart." He chortled, moving closer once more. He ran his hand along her thigh before pushing his thumb between her folds momentarily then moving it over her clit.
Matthew removed his hand from her sex as he stroked along his cock a few more times, before pressing the head between her folds. He teased her by pushing the head of his cock into her, before pulling out again and pressing the head into her clit, rubbing himself over her nub. She moaned and lifted her hips, rotating herself against him wantonly, and he smiled at the effect he was having on her.
"Matthew, please." She pleaded, biting at her lip, her eyes rolling back at the feel of his hardness moving against her over-sensitive flesh.
"Alright, Love." He surrendered, bending forward to kiss her before finally sinking into her moist centre. His hips were flush against hers, and he kept still for a moment, relishing in the feeling of her surrounding him.
"Fuck, that feels amazing." He called, as his hips started a slow pace while he tilted his head back.
Diana's eyes were focused on his neck and the way his Adam's apple bobbed when he took a deep breath. Her own hands moved along her torso as she cupped her breasts, pulling at her nipples as she watched him fuck her. Matthew suddenly leaned forward, pressing his torso flush with hers. He pulled the pillows out from under her, and supported his weight on his elbows this time, so as not to hurt his arm.
"I love you." He crooned, his lips latching onto hers.
"I love you, too." She warbled against his kiss, raising her hips to meet his. "I'm coming, again." She panted, her arms moving around his shoulders, as her hands scratched through his hair and scalp.
"Come for me, Love." He murmured, kissing along her collarbone, before moving down to kiss at her breast. His lips suctioned over a nipple and his tongue toyed with the aroused peak.
Diana's back arched into him as her second orgasm washed over her. "Yes." She called as the waves of pleasure rolled through her.
A few moments later, Matthew stilled his hips as he growled through his release, pressing into her in a few more long, firm strokes. As they came down from their highs, they re-ordered the bed's pillows and blankets and crawled back under them. Diana tucked firmly into his side.
There was a new unspoken agreement between them. To be more aware of the other and what they were doing, although mostly from his standpoint. Matthew knew he needed to take better care of himself and not work so hard that he wasn't aware of his surroundings, or the girl he was unintentionally neglecting. Diana knew this job was important to him and she wouldn't fault him for that, but her concern was for his overall health. Working eighteen to twenty hours a day, hunched over a drafting table, while also forgetting to eat if she wasn't there, was not good for him.
Diana was content in his embrace, as they dozed in her bed, when she felt the rumble of his voice reverberate through his chest.
"So, while I've been busy with the hotel design, have you looked into your schooling yet?"