Mandie was awakened slightly, by some light. She moved her body slightly, opening one eye. She sighed, and snuggled closer.
'Wait, what's holding me?!' Mandie thought suddenly. Wasn't she in Ireland, held forcefully in Adrian's house?
Mandie opened both eyes and actually looked.
There was Joe, sleeping, his brow furrowed, and his unruly hair fell over his forehead. His arm was stretched out across her. Upon further examination, she found some sparse bristles arounds his chin, and above his lips, because he hadn't been able to shave the past week.
Mandie's heart fluttered. Although they had been married a year now, she still got 'butterflies in her stomach,' feeling whenever Joe was close to her. It was a good feeling.
'Poor Joe, who knows when was the last time he got a good night's sleep!' Mandie thought. She reached up and pushed his hair out of his face, out of motherly instinct.
Joe inhaled suddenly, and stretched. He opened his eyes.
Mandie smiled, her heart giving another quick flutter.
Joe sheepishly smiled back, and rubbed his face.
"Well, I figure you now know what I look like sleeping," Joe said, draping his arm back over her, and closing his eyes again.
"Not much difference, except your frowning," Mandie replied.
"Do I, now? Makes sense. I concentrate on sleeping very much." Joe said, in a serious voice.
Mandie laughed.
"By the by, do you intend to grow a beard?" Mandie asked, in a equally serious voice.
Joe frowned.
"No, why?" Joe asked.
"Because you are growing one." Mandie noted.
Joe seemed even more puzzled, and reached to rub his cheek.
"Oh. I see what you mean now. The gracious gentlemen must have forgotten to give me a razor." Joe said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course, they must have." Mandie replied, also sarcastic.
Joe sat up, and peered over the bed to see baby Ned.
Mandie also sat up, and picked him up.
Ned opened his eyes and whimpered.
"Hello my little Ned! Good morning! Good morning!" Mandie said, in a sweet voice she always used for the baby.
Ned blinked sleepily and yawned.
"How has he been without his pa, eh?" Joe asked, in a certain tone he used for the baby.
Joe took the baby, and gave him his hand to play with.
Ned gurgled, as he was always fascinated by hands, especially big ones.
"Well, I've got to get a move on, if I'm to go and get breakfast for you." Mandie said, slipping out of the bed, and going to the restroom.
Once she was dressed, she got Ned and was about to go downstairs.
"I'll come right back after breakfast, and bring you some too, okay?" Mandie said, giving her husband a smile.
"And I'll shave, meanwhile. I found a razor in the suitcase pocket. I forgot I left it there," Joe replied, holding up a razor with a grin.
"Alright then, Ned and I will soon be back." Mandie said, bouncing the baby on her hip.
Joe gave the baby a kiss on the head, and then exchanged a glance with Mandie, that spoke a thousand words. He kissed her lips, and then walked her to the door.
Joe watched her walk down the hallway, and then he closed the door.
Joe went to the restroom, and rubbing soap on his face, began to shave. When he was finished, he decided to take a bath.
Joe changed clothes, and then relaxed on a chair.
"What's taking Mandie so long? Did Adrian make her stay down there?" Joe wondered.
Mandie quietly poked at her food, and thought of what excuse to make for going upstairs to eat, and taking another plate with her.
Two men, one blonde and one redhead, burst into the room, the red head huffing.
"Adrian! Have you seen Woodard around here? Tall, brown haired fellow?" The redhead asked.
Adrian looked at him, puzzled.
"Sullivan, calm down, I haven't seen anyone of the like around here." Adrian said, glaring at him.
Mandie stared at her food. They had found out Joe escaped. Little Ned whimpered.
"And her? Have you happened to see him around, Amanda?" Sullivan changed his tone to a more gentle, almost mocking tone.
Mandie's heart pounded. She glanced into his eyes, his icy stare chilling her. Mandie glared back at him defiantly.
Ned began to fuss loudly, sensing the tension in the room.
"No. No I haven't. If you will stop shouting, maybe Ned will stop fussing." Mandie replied coldly, pinching Ned slightly to make him cry.
Sullivan huffed, and began to question Sean, the blonde man, loudly.
Ned began to cry, not knowing what touched him, and the tension made him anxious.
"Now there! You made him cry, see! If you'd be so kind as to send a tray of food up to my room, I'd be most obliged." Mandie retorted, picking up Ned, and leaving the room in one smooth motion.
Adrian glared at his cousins.
"I will thank you to leave me alone to have my breakfast. You've ruined enough already without ruining my appetite." Adrian said hotly, and began to saw through his eggs viciously.
Elizabeth, Mrs. Woodard, and Mrs. Morton, and Morning Star waved off their husbands, as they left for Ireland. John, , , and Uncle Ned were leaving for Ireland, to go find Mandie, Joe, and baby Ned.
Elizabeth sighed, her brows knitted together with worry, her face haggard.
"Dear God, bring my family back safely." Elizabeth prayed in a whisper.
"Amen," Mrs. Woodard whispered in agreement.
Mandie looked behind her, and then began to run up the stairs and to her room, opening and closing the door behind her.
Joe jumped out of his chair, startled.
Mandie panted, out of breath.
Joe took the baby from her and led her to the chair, and made her sit down.
"Are you alright? What happened?" Joe asked, kneeling next to her, and grasping her hand.
Mandie nodded.
"I'm fine. Two men, one blonde and a redhead went into the dining room, and asked if we had seen you. One of them was called Sullivan. I left the room, and told them to bring up a tray. Then I just ran back here." Mandie explained.
Joe frowned.
"We're escaping. Tonight!" Joe said, his eyes blazing.
