On past and future
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights is meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter II
Chapter III
Life was just sucked out of him. She could see that, they all could. Proud Lord John Roxton was just standing there as if someone had beaten him, cut his veins, destroyed his soul. He was looking right at her, a demanding look, a pleading stare. Marguerite wanted to kill Keith for that. Why did he tell John? Obviously Keith had wanted revenge for his wounded ego, but he had gone way, *way* too far.
"Marguerite...?" Roxton looked straight into her eyes. He wasn't even able to ask... so, she wasn't able to answer. That was all the response he needed.
"John..." she whispered as he just turned his back to the crowd and left her room. No one knew what to say, so they just quietly exited her room. After a few moments, Marguerite heard the elevator go down, John couldn't resist staying in the same house with Marguerite and Keith. She was about to follow him, it wasn't safe to be alone in the jungle, and it was dark by now. He had given that same speech to her one too many times. Still, she was afraid... afraid of what would happen if she followed him, what would he say... Luckily, she saw as Malone took a rifle and went right after Roxton. It was probably the best for him at the moment, to stay away from her...
"Why?" she asked. She knew Keith was still there, so she didn't even turn to face him.
"I wanted to hit him hard, so I said the one thing I knew would hurt him, maybe even more than our sleeping together."
"You had no right Keith."
"I know... I'm sorry, I certainly never meant to cause you any pain, but I wanted to get him back for the vase he had cracked on my head."
"You let emotions get the better of you, Keith. We both know that's one hell of a way to get yourself killed."
"Well Maggie... isn't that what you're doing right now?" she kept avoiding his face, she didn't want him to notice the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"You can't go to that Lost World!! You'll get yourself killed out there!"
"What is that to you?"
"Don't ask things you already know the answer for Marguerite."
"How many more times do I have to ask you to leave Greg? Go home to your pregnant wife... What? You thought I wouldn't hear? I guess congratulations are in order!"
"You know damn well she is not the woman I wanted to marry!"
"Yet you did anyway." Marguerite tried to get pass him, back to her room, but he caught her by the arm. She was still in her robe and she had some packing to deal with before the day when she had to embark with the Challenger Expedition.
"Marguerite..."
"Greg, you're missing too many facts here, so don't try to tell me if I should leave London or not."
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"Because I'm not your problem anymore!"
"But I still l..."
"Don't! Please, just leave Greg."
"I can't!"
"You heard the lady." Both turned around to see Keith Lawrence came down the stairs, also in a robe. Greg just wanted to punch him.
"Keith, you're here. That figures."
"Hello there Gregory. I think Marguerite wanted you out."
"Stay out of it." Greg warned.
"Make me." Keith was ready for a fight if necessary.
"Shut up you two!" Marguerite interrupted "Greg, leave. Keith, get dressed and follow him."
"Answer this Marguerite," Greg asked with fire in his eyes. "Why do you always come back to him? You don't love him and he doesn't love you, so why do you keep coming back to his bed? Because he's known territory? Because you're both so afraid of the real thing?"
"Because I want to Greg. Look, I appreciate your coming here and being worried about me, but I'm telling you: I'm going to this Lost World and that's final. So, can't you just leave me alone?" Marguerite was already getting tired of the whole conversation, it all was hard enough.
Greg knew those words were the end of any appealing. Still, he had to make the last attempt to change her mind. He looked directly at Keith, he was serious. He considered Keith his friend, he always did and he always knew about his relationship with Marguerite. He also knew that Marguerite slept with him even when she was dating... more like playing with other men. He knew they had some secret besides the jewel contraband they all shared. He also knew she had stopped sleeping with Keith Lawrence while she was in a relationship with him.
"Can't you talk some sense into her?" Greg asked the other man.
"Already tried Greg." Greg just sighed, he knew Keith wasn't lying and he also knew that he was not going to change her mind either.
"Please Marguerite, take care of yourself. Then again, you're awfully good at that." And then, he was gone.
"He's not coming home for the night you know." Keith said softly, trying not to scare the woman in the balcony. Still, she gasped at the sound of his voice.
"I know." Marguerite answered.
"Yet you're still here."
"I wanted to be alone."
"In other words you don't want to see my face anytime soon."
"Can you honestly blame me?" she turned to him, rage flaming in her eyes.
"I didn't lie."
"That's a hell of an excuse Keith! You know our marriage was... is a fraud, a scheme so we wouldn't get killed! The way you said it, when we were... you wanted him to think there was something going on between us!"
"Fine. So I wanted him to think we were a happy couple celebrating our reunion. I wanted him to think that you loved me. Why is that so bad? I think it's because you want him to think he's winning your heart. And truth be told my darling, I think he is."
"Don't be stupid Lawrence!"
"Don't lie now Marguerite. You're here, scared to hell that he won't want you now that he knows that you are married, specially since your husband is in town. You're afraid to lose him."
"You are right Keith, I don't want to see your face anytime soon." She started to leave towards her room but his strong arms stopped her. He wasn't going to let her go, so she decided to face him "What if I care about him? You said it yourself, the nazis think I'm dead!" she whispered this part, so no one but Keith would hear her "Happily ever after with Roxton or any other man? I know it won't happen, alright? I have too much baggage for it to ever happen, but I'm having fun with him. Is that so bad?"
"It's not real. 'Fun' you have with me. 'Feelings' you had for Greg. What about Roxton? Who is he in your life Marguerite?"
"Look Keith, this is the way this goes, so you'd better get this into that stubborn head of yours: We're trapped in here, we don't know a way out, I've been in this plateau for two years now! Roxton is my friend, and I do care for him, more that I care for the others, so I don't want you to cause him anymore pain. Who I was before coming here, who I still am, I can't be in front of them, so I recommend an change of attitude for you as well. Remember that Roxton may very well save your butt a dozen times while we are in here, so don't get on his bad side."
"And don't mess with his woman?"
"Think whatever you want Keith, I'm going to bed." And with that she was gone, and he could just smile. Why was she so complicated? She wanted this guy, Keith knew it. She knew it. But, she was scared, like before, like always. He understood how their previous lives affected their future, he knew trust wasn't an easy thing for her. He knew her, he just wanted her to face some facts. Then again, maybe she wasn't ready to, and he had made it harder for her anyway. Because he knew deep down himself that she would use him as a shield, as she did whenever she noticed that she was starting to feel again...
"You wanted him to catch us." Keith stated simply after Greg was out of the house.
"What?" she asked feigning innocence.
"Come on Marguerite! You knew he would come! I assumed you were hoping I would come down the stairs, so I did."
"Alright Sherlock, why would I want Greg to see you?"
"So it would be easier for him to forget you, and easier for you to tell him good-bye."
"Get dressed Keith." She said, walking towards the stairs.
"You love him don't you?" he didn't know if she would answer. He hoped that, even if she didn't answer him, she would answer to herself.
"Love is overvalued Keith, and loving me... that's just a nightmare." Keith just sighed and started making his way towards the room they had just shared. Suddenly, she cut him short.
"Keith?"
"Yes?"
"You forgot to bring the divorce papers with you." She turned to face him.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were so eager to get rid of me, your loving husband."
"Cute. Still, I wanted to be over with this issue as soon as possible."
"I know darling, so did I. I can bring them in later, sorry I forgot."
"Never mind Keith, I probably won't be here later, so maybe we should just settle this when I come back from the Lost World and you come back from India."
"Fine." Keith started his way up again, but felt obliged to break the tense mood that had grown between them. "Does that mean we can't sleep around until we get the divorced?" he saw her smile, that was good.
"Just get dressed Lawrence..."
Roxton was just walking through the jungle, half hoping a raptor would appear so he would get to shoot something. Damn it! He knew she had been married! *Had been* being the most important part of the sentence. Then again, she had never said that she was single. He had been the one who had assumed she was, who had assumed that they could have a future together. She had never given any indication of another man being in the picture either. Maybe because of the distance she had assumed that her marriage was over. It was like Challenger, he had done his share of sleeping around in the plateau, and Roxton knew Challenger's wife was waiting for him at home. Still, he couldn't erase her eyes from his mind.
He could hear over an over Keith's voice destroying his plans and hopes. Clearly, her marriage was doing quite well. Although he had told Marguerite that he had thought Keith was attacking her, he had known well enough what was going on in her room, he had just allowed wishful thinking to win him over.
It wasn't fair... he had lost so much in his life. First William, then his father, then there was forever the sad expression in his mother's eyes... those eyes that had made him stay each time for longer periods of time away from home, hunting. And now, he was losing Marguerite. She was alive, but he had lost her to her husband's arms.
Would she rather have Keith than him? He knew something had started to grow between Marguerite and him, he had not dreamt of it. Her eyes when she looked at him, although she tried to disguise it as much as he did. The way they laughed together, the way her kisses felt again his lips... it was all real. Something had been going on between them, and he intended to get this back. Even if he had been a coward before, implying the things he felt and never been able to make it explicit, this time he would.
That is, if she had not already chosen Keith.
Lawrence was her husband. She obviously trusted him and there were bound to be some feelings between them if she had actually married him. He had to know the truth. He needed her to tell him the truth. He wanted to hear from her mouth if she wanted Keith, or if she wanted him. And then, it was anyone's game what would happen. She could destroy him with just one word.
"Roxton! Wait up!" he was startled when he realized that Ned Malone had come after him. Still, he thought, he should have known.
"Ned, what are you doing here?"
"Are you kidding? I couldn't allow you to wander the jungle on your own at night!" There was an uncomfortable silence between both men before Ned spoke again "Look John, about what happened with Marguerite..."
"Malone! I just... I can't talk about that, okay?"
"Okay. Can you come home with me?"
"Like someone's waiting there for me."
"We all are."
"Except the happy couple right?" he asked, sarcastically.
"I thought you didn't want to talk about it."
"I don't. I just can't help thinking about it..." Roxton looked as if he was a hundred miles away. Ned said nothing, he couldn't put himself in the other man's place. Learning like that that the woman he had obviously fallen in love with was married... and now having her husband living in the same house... it took a man to take all that and still be standing. And Lord John Roxton was a man. And if there was justice in the world, Marguerite Krux would see that, and admit that she loved him back. Though Marguerite was a difficult woman, Roxton had chosen her, and as far as Ned was concerned, there was a real chemistry between them. Maybe even a potential for happiness...
"I guess. Don't worry, everything will turn out for the best. Trust me." Roxton looked thankfully at the younger man and smiled sincerely.
"I know. And I do. Let's go home."
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights is meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter II
Chapter III
Life was just sucked out of him. She could see that, they all could. Proud Lord John Roxton was just standing there as if someone had beaten him, cut his veins, destroyed his soul. He was looking right at her, a demanding look, a pleading stare. Marguerite wanted to kill Keith for that. Why did he tell John? Obviously Keith had wanted revenge for his wounded ego, but he had gone way, *way* too far.
"Marguerite...?" Roxton looked straight into her eyes. He wasn't even able to ask... so, she wasn't able to answer. That was all the response he needed.
"John..." she whispered as he just turned his back to the crowd and left her room. No one knew what to say, so they just quietly exited her room. After a few moments, Marguerite heard the elevator go down, John couldn't resist staying in the same house with Marguerite and Keith. She was about to follow him, it wasn't safe to be alone in the jungle, and it was dark by now. He had given that same speech to her one too many times. Still, she was afraid... afraid of what would happen if she followed him, what would he say... Luckily, she saw as Malone took a rifle and went right after Roxton. It was probably the best for him at the moment, to stay away from her...
"Why?" she asked. She knew Keith was still there, so she didn't even turn to face him.
"I wanted to hit him hard, so I said the one thing I knew would hurt him, maybe even more than our sleeping together."
"You had no right Keith."
"I know... I'm sorry, I certainly never meant to cause you any pain, but I wanted to get him back for the vase he had cracked on my head."
"You let emotions get the better of you, Keith. We both know that's one hell of a way to get yourself killed."
"Well Maggie... isn't that what you're doing right now?" she kept avoiding his face, she didn't want him to notice the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"You can't go to that Lost World!! You'll get yourself killed out there!"
"What is that to you?"
"Don't ask things you already know the answer for Marguerite."
"How many more times do I have to ask you to leave Greg? Go home to your pregnant wife... What? You thought I wouldn't hear? I guess congratulations are in order!"
"You know damn well she is not the woman I wanted to marry!"
"Yet you did anyway." Marguerite tried to get pass him, back to her room, but he caught her by the arm. She was still in her robe and she had some packing to deal with before the day when she had to embark with the Challenger Expedition.
"Marguerite..."
"Greg, you're missing too many facts here, so don't try to tell me if I should leave London or not."
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"Because I'm not your problem anymore!"
"But I still l..."
"Don't! Please, just leave Greg."
"I can't!"
"You heard the lady." Both turned around to see Keith Lawrence came down the stairs, also in a robe. Greg just wanted to punch him.
"Keith, you're here. That figures."
"Hello there Gregory. I think Marguerite wanted you out."
"Stay out of it." Greg warned.
"Make me." Keith was ready for a fight if necessary.
"Shut up you two!" Marguerite interrupted "Greg, leave. Keith, get dressed and follow him."
"Answer this Marguerite," Greg asked with fire in his eyes. "Why do you always come back to him? You don't love him and he doesn't love you, so why do you keep coming back to his bed? Because he's known territory? Because you're both so afraid of the real thing?"
"Because I want to Greg. Look, I appreciate your coming here and being worried about me, but I'm telling you: I'm going to this Lost World and that's final. So, can't you just leave me alone?" Marguerite was already getting tired of the whole conversation, it all was hard enough.
Greg knew those words were the end of any appealing. Still, he had to make the last attempt to change her mind. He looked directly at Keith, he was serious. He considered Keith his friend, he always did and he always knew about his relationship with Marguerite. He also knew that Marguerite slept with him even when she was dating... more like playing with other men. He knew they had some secret besides the jewel contraband they all shared. He also knew she had stopped sleeping with Keith Lawrence while she was in a relationship with him.
"Can't you talk some sense into her?" Greg asked the other man.
"Already tried Greg." Greg just sighed, he knew Keith wasn't lying and he also knew that he was not going to change her mind either.
"Please Marguerite, take care of yourself. Then again, you're awfully good at that." And then, he was gone.
"He's not coming home for the night you know." Keith said softly, trying not to scare the woman in the balcony. Still, she gasped at the sound of his voice.
"I know." Marguerite answered.
"Yet you're still here."
"I wanted to be alone."
"In other words you don't want to see my face anytime soon."
"Can you honestly blame me?" she turned to him, rage flaming in her eyes.
"I didn't lie."
"That's a hell of an excuse Keith! You know our marriage was... is a fraud, a scheme so we wouldn't get killed! The way you said it, when we were... you wanted him to think there was something going on between us!"
"Fine. So I wanted him to think we were a happy couple celebrating our reunion. I wanted him to think that you loved me. Why is that so bad? I think it's because you want him to think he's winning your heart. And truth be told my darling, I think he is."
"Don't be stupid Lawrence!"
"Don't lie now Marguerite. You're here, scared to hell that he won't want you now that he knows that you are married, specially since your husband is in town. You're afraid to lose him."
"You are right Keith, I don't want to see your face anytime soon." She started to leave towards her room but his strong arms stopped her. He wasn't going to let her go, so she decided to face him "What if I care about him? You said it yourself, the nazis think I'm dead!" she whispered this part, so no one but Keith would hear her "Happily ever after with Roxton or any other man? I know it won't happen, alright? I have too much baggage for it to ever happen, but I'm having fun with him. Is that so bad?"
"It's not real. 'Fun' you have with me. 'Feelings' you had for Greg. What about Roxton? Who is he in your life Marguerite?"
"Look Keith, this is the way this goes, so you'd better get this into that stubborn head of yours: We're trapped in here, we don't know a way out, I've been in this plateau for two years now! Roxton is my friend, and I do care for him, more that I care for the others, so I don't want you to cause him anymore pain. Who I was before coming here, who I still am, I can't be in front of them, so I recommend an change of attitude for you as well. Remember that Roxton may very well save your butt a dozen times while we are in here, so don't get on his bad side."
"And don't mess with his woman?"
"Think whatever you want Keith, I'm going to bed." And with that she was gone, and he could just smile. Why was she so complicated? She wanted this guy, Keith knew it. She knew it. But, she was scared, like before, like always. He understood how their previous lives affected their future, he knew trust wasn't an easy thing for her. He knew her, he just wanted her to face some facts. Then again, maybe she wasn't ready to, and he had made it harder for her anyway. Because he knew deep down himself that she would use him as a shield, as she did whenever she noticed that she was starting to feel again...
"You wanted him to catch us." Keith stated simply after Greg was out of the house.
"What?" she asked feigning innocence.
"Come on Marguerite! You knew he would come! I assumed you were hoping I would come down the stairs, so I did."
"Alright Sherlock, why would I want Greg to see you?"
"So it would be easier for him to forget you, and easier for you to tell him good-bye."
"Get dressed Keith." She said, walking towards the stairs.
"You love him don't you?" he didn't know if she would answer. He hoped that, even if she didn't answer him, she would answer to herself.
"Love is overvalued Keith, and loving me... that's just a nightmare." Keith just sighed and started making his way towards the room they had just shared. Suddenly, she cut him short.
"Keith?"
"Yes?"
"You forgot to bring the divorce papers with you." She turned to face him.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were so eager to get rid of me, your loving husband."
"Cute. Still, I wanted to be over with this issue as soon as possible."
"I know darling, so did I. I can bring them in later, sorry I forgot."
"Never mind Keith, I probably won't be here later, so maybe we should just settle this when I come back from the Lost World and you come back from India."
"Fine." Keith started his way up again, but felt obliged to break the tense mood that had grown between them. "Does that mean we can't sleep around until we get the divorced?" he saw her smile, that was good.
"Just get dressed Lawrence..."
Roxton was just walking through the jungle, half hoping a raptor would appear so he would get to shoot something. Damn it! He knew she had been married! *Had been* being the most important part of the sentence. Then again, she had never said that she was single. He had been the one who had assumed she was, who had assumed that they could have a future together. She had never given any indication of another man being in the picture either. Maybe because of the distance she had assumed that her marriage was over. It was like Challenger, he had done his share of sleeping around in the plateau, and Roxton knew Challenger's wife was waiting for him at home. Still, he couldn't erase her eyes from his mind.
He could hear over an over Keith's voice destroying his plans and hopes. Clearly, her marriage was doing quite well. Although he had told Marguerite that he had thought Keith was attacking her, he had known well enough what was going on in her room, he had just allowed wishful thinking to win him over.
It wasn't fair... he had lost so much in his life. First William, then his father, then there was forever the sad expression in his mother's eyes... those eyes that had made him stay each time for longer periods of time away from home, hunting. And now, he was losing Marguerite. She was alive, but he had lost her to her husband's arms.
Would she rather have Keith than him? He knew something had started to grow between Marguerite and him, he had not dreamt of it. Her eyes when she looked at him, although she tried to disguise it as much as he did. The way they laughed together, the way her kisses felt again his lips... it was all real. Something had been going on between them, and he intended to get this back. Even if he had been a coward before, implying the things he felt and never been able to make it explicit, this time he would.
That is, if she had not already chosen Keith.
Lawrence was her husband. She obviously trusted him and there were bound to be some feelings between them if she had actually married him. He had to know the truth. He needed her to tell him the truth. He wanted to hear from her mouth if she wanted Keith, or if she wanted him. And then, it was anyone's game what would happen. She could destroy him with just one word.
"Roxton! Wait up!" he was startled when he realized that Ned Malone had come after him. Still, he thought, he should have known.
"Ned, what are you doing here?"
"Are you kidding? I couldn't allow you to wander the jungle on your own at night!" There was an uncomfortable silence between both men before Ned spoke again "Look John, about what happened with Marguerite..."
"Malone! I just... I can't talk about that, okay?"
"Okay. Can you come home with me?"
"Like someone's waiting there for me."
"We all are."
"Except the happy couple right?" he asked, sarcastically.
"I thought you didn't want to talk about it."
"I don't. I just can't help thinking about it..." Roxton looked as if he was a hundred miles away. Ned said nothing, he couldn't put himself in the other man's place. Learning like that that the woman he had obviously fallen in love with was married... and now having her husband living in the same house... it took a man to take all that and still be standing. And Lord John Roxton was a man. And if there was justice in the world, Marguerite Krux would see that, and admit that she loved him back. Though Marguerite was a difficult woman, Roxton had chosen her, and as far as Ned was concerned, there was a real chemistry between them. Maybe even a potential for happiness...
"I guess. Don't worry, everything will turn out for the best. Trust me." Roxton looked thankfully at the younger man and smiled sincerely.
"I know. And I do. Let's go home."