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Chapter twenty-five
As it turned out, it was a week and a half before the baby was allowed out of the incubator and he was good and healthy by the time Piper and Mark were given permission to leave. Piper had recovered well, although she found the wound on her stomach pulled a bit. There were so many big changes for her that she found it hard to take in. Mark loved her, and he told her every day, sometimes several times. But despite that, he still hadn't sat down and spoken to her as he said he was going to and she was starting to worry because every now and then he would sit silently, brooding about something. She was starting to gain some confidence in their relationship and she kept wanting to ask him what was wrong, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. What if what he had to say ruined the wonderful marriage it looked like they were beginning to have?
She glanced up at him as he held their son, his face the picture of pride. A smile tilted her lips as she saw that expression and he caught the smile. "Yeah, I know, I'm staring at him with a soppy look on my face," Mark drawled, grinning as he stared at the tiny baby again.
"You're allowed to look soppy. You made him," Piper said, moving closer to him and touching the baby's soft cheek.
"You did more than me, honey. And you suffered for it as well. You'd better get used to only having one child, because there's no way I'm putting you through that again."
Piper frowned. "I want to have lots of babies."
"You do?" he asked, looking surprised. "After what you went through, you'd really do it all again?"
She nodded. "I'd do it a dozen times if I could. I mean, look what I got at the end of it all."
Mark stared at the small face that resembled his own. "You're right, he's beautiful. Are you sure about his name?"
"Lucas? Yes, I'm certain. You don't still hate the idea do you?" she asked, moving even closer and putting her hand on his arm.
Mark smiled down at her and enjoyed the way she touched him freely now. "I don't hate the idea. It's perfect."
"Good! Now, do you think we can take him home? I don't want to stay in here any longer than I have to," she said, taking a deep breath as he put his spare arm around her. She loved every single show of affection he made and it was clear on her face.
"Come on, baby, let's go. I think the proud Grandfather and Aunt will be visiting shortly after we get there, but that's okay. I'll have you all to myself later on."
She looked at him suspiciously. "But....you know we can't do anything yet, not for some weeks...."
"I know that. I just want to hold you darlin', that's all. I need to be close to you again," he said, guiding her out of the hospital and into the waiting car. "I missed you sweetheart."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. But everything will be fine now," he said, feeling a frisson of alarm crawl up his spine as he thought of her reaction to what he would tell her later that day. He stared down at the small baby he held while the driver carried them home in the limousine. Everything had to work out okay, or Mark didn't know what he'd do with himself. he couldn't lose Piper; not now.
After they'd arrived home, Piper fed Lucas and Mark sat watching them. He was as fascinated now as he'd been the first time she'd done it. It was endlessly amazing to him that her body could not only carry the child and protect it, but then also nurture it once it had been born. When he'd laid the child down in the crib and watched him go to sleep, he took Piper's hand and led her to his study. Sitting in the big leather chair behind the desk, he pulled her down onto his lap and cuddled her.
"We need to talk, baby," he murmured, his voice quiet and faintly worried.
Piper looked at him and felt a chill go through her. So he was finally going to have this 'talk' he'd been going on about. She couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. "Okay," she whispered through numb lips.
"It's about your father," he said.
Piper's eyes widened. "You....you haven't...his business is still okay isn't it?"
He grimaced. "It's fine, Piper. It always has been."
She frowned and stared at him as if he had just sprouted wings. "I don't understand.....you said you paid the mortgage, that the business was...."
"I did and it was," he agreed before she could finish and he gave a deep sigh. "I paid everything off and handed over everything to your father the same week." He stared at her and waited for that information to sink in.
"You gave him....I don't......but that would mean that you never had any sort of hold over him," she burst out, her jaw dropping. "Or me!"
"That's right."
Piper took a deep breath, feeling hurt flood through her that he had never said anything. She struggled to get off his lap and then she planted her hands on her hips. "How could you do that and not tell me?" she demanded, her lip trembling before she could get it under control.
"I had my reasons," Mark said on a sigh. He leaned forward and looked up at her. "I didn't plan to do what I did, it just happened."
"It just happened? You just happened to blackmail me into a marriage I never wanted?" she asked, her voice very nearly loud enough to classify as a yell. "You said you loved me! But if you did, you would have told me about this a long time ago!"
"I didn't know how....."
"You should have tried! I was so scared about my father, and you knew that!" she accused, blinking away tears. She looked at him with her misery clear on her face and Mark winced.
"I'm sorry," he said inadequately, about to continue when she turned and started to walk out of the room. "Where are you going?"
"Upstairs! I can't look at you right now," she snapped, starting to run and disappearing up the long staircase.
Mark stood at the bottom and watched her go, his heart dropping to land somewhere near his feet. His eyes closed on the wave of pain that followed and he went back into the study so he could pour himself a drink.
Piper rushed into the bedroom, wiping away the tears as she went. He had known all along that he had no hold over her, and he had never said a word. Why would he do that? And she'd just gone along with the whole harebrained scheme like a prize schmuck! He'd actually managed to make her fall in love with him, the bastard, and she still did. Despite everything he'd done, she loved him more than she would have thought possible. She debated whether or not to pack her things, but instead slumped onto the bed and curled up into a ball to cry out the hurt she felt. She had no idea how long she lay there, but eventually she went into the bathroom and washed her face before she went to check on Lucas.
As she went towards the nursery, she could hear a deep voice and she frowned when she realized Mark was in there already. But his voice sounded strange, deeper somehow. As she neared the door and got a look inside the room, she was shocked to see him kneeling on the floor holding the baby and crying. It was so unlike the strong man she knew him to be, that she almost started crying herself. She kept back enough so she could hear what he was saying and just see him, but she didn't make her presence known yet.
Mark was holding the baby and one big hand was stroking the tiny face. "I screwed it up, Lucas. You deserve so much more than this, and I went and screwed it all up. She's gonna leave me now, and she'll take you away with her. All because I was too scared to tell her the truth."
Piper's eyes filled with tears and she had to put one hand over her mouth so she didn't make any noise. It was the most heartbreaking thing she had ever seen in her life.
"And I don't know what I'll do without her, without both of you. She made me live again, and she gave me you, and I lost it all. Don't you grow up like me, son, don't you ever grow up like this. Don't waste your life thinking everyone is untrustworthy." Mark bent his head over his son and Piper saw his shoulders shake slightly as he gave vent to his emotions.
She couldn't bear to watch anymore without giving him some sort of comfort and she walked hesitantly into the room and touched his shoulder. Mark reacted as if he'd been shot, jerking at the gentle touch and looking up at her in surprise. His eyes were wet and he looked so miserable that her heart turned over in her chest.
"I think....I think we should talk some more," she said softly, lifting Lucas from his arms and waiting for him to stand up.
Mark stood and swiped quickly at his eyes, frowning. "I'm not sure I can, Piper."
"Not sure you can what? Talk?"
"I know what you're going to say and I don't think I can listen to it," he admitted.
"You have no idea what I'm going to say," she said, lifting a hand and stroking his cheek. The movement surprised him into looking into her eyes again. He looked down at the baby she held in her other arm and tried to shake off the anguish he felt that they would soon be gone. "Let's go into the bedroom."
She took his hand and Mark let her lead him quietly along the corridor. When they reached the bedroom, she pushed him to sit down on the bed and then shocked the life out of him by sitting down on his lap so he was cradling both her and Lucas.
"Piper...."
"I need to know why you did it."
"And then you'll just leave, so what does it matter?"
"I'm not leaving, and it does matter," she said, staring into his eyes. He looked guilty, she decided as she studied his face. Guilty, but now there was hope shining in his eyes too. "You never told me about my father," she said.
"No."
"Why not?"
"You would have left. I didn't want to lose you," he stated simply.
"But why did you use it to blackmail me in the first place?" she asked.
He sighed again and shrugged uncomfortably. "I hadn't ever met anyone like you before. I was used to fawning idiots, not people who tried to attack me. I liked it.....I liked you. And then, after we made love, I fell for you as fast as an adolescent with his first crush." He looked at her and gave her a hesitant smile. "You would never have accepted me if I'd just come out and asked you to marry me."
"I might have..."
"No, you wouldn't. You were too mad at me to see me as husband material. It isn't something I planned, the idea just fell out of my mouth when I had you in front of me again."
"So you lied to me?"
"I wouldn't call it lying, I'd say I just stretched the truth a little. I'm not sorry either," he said, his smile getting more confident when he realized she wasn't attempting to get off his lap.
"You should be sorry!" she said, frowning as she took it all in.
"Maybe I should, but I'm not. I love you Piper," he told her, turning her face to his with one big hand. "I love you so much that if you want your freedom now.....then I'll give it to you."
"You will?"
He nodded. "It would kill me, but I'd do it if it proved how I felt." He watched her digest that and felt his chest clench tightly as he waited for her to tell him she was leaving. "Do you want your freedom?"
Her eyes shot to his. "No!"
"No?" he asked, his eyebrows arching at the vehemence with which she'd said it. "Why not?"
"Because I love you, you big idiot!" she said, prodding him in the ribs hard. "You made me fall in love with you, despite the fact that you're a horrible person, that you beat me all the time, that you're bossy and overbearing and....."
"Better stop while you're ahead, sweetheart," he said, cutting her off. His heart started beating twice as fast. "And maybe I'll change now I know you love me."
"Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly!" she snorted, glaring at him.
"Darlin', if you want me to kiss your feet everyday and bathe you in milk and honey, I will. You're my soul, don't you know that?"
Her breath caught at the sincerity on his face. "That's how I feel about you," she whispered.
"Good," he murmured, pulling her closer and kissing her passionately. When he drew back her eyes were glazed. "Whatever you want from now on, it's yours. If you don't like this house, we'll move. Or redecorate if you prefer. I can quit working and spend more time with you....anything. Piper, I'll do anything to show you how much I love you. I am sorry I didn't go about things differently, but I don't want to change anything."
She smiled. "I love this house, and I love the decor. And I love you. I wouldn't change a single thing about you," she said, stroking his face with her fingertips. She frowned suddenly. "Well, except maybe one thing."
His eyebrow arched. "Like what?"
"Well, the way you treat me when you get mad...."
"Ah. The ass whupping."
"Yes, that. I'd prefer that didn't happen again."
He chuckled. "I can't promise anything, but I will try. How's that?"
"That's........okay, I guess."
"But then you'd have to try not to drive me mad by doing everything wrong," he pointed out with a grin.
She fiddled with his collar with one finger. "I kind of have a confession about that," she murmured.
"A confession? What did you do?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"I sort of did a lot of things wrong because I knew they'd drive you mad," she admitted.
"Did you want me to spank you?" he asked her.
"No, not that. I just enjoyed driving you crazy."
He laughed. "But you got punished every time!"
"I know," she said, smiling. "It seemed worth it when I saw your face go purple with rage."
"You're a holy terror, has anyone ever told you that?" he asked, feeling emotions start to clog his throat again.
"Only you, and I don't mind all that much. Mark, I love you so much. Don't you ever keep anything like that from me again!"
"I won't, baby. From now on I'll only be honest with you, okay?" he asked, one hand stroking his son's face. He looked down at the small baby Piper held and smiled. "You deserve nothing less. You've given me the whole world."
"Mark, could we do one thing?" she asked, staring at his lips and managing to stop herself from kissing him for a second.
"What's that darlin'?"
"Could we get married again....properly this time?"
"Properly?"
"I mean......so we really mean the vows this time," she clarified.
"I'd love to marry you again Piper. Properly. Maybe this time we can give genuine smiles to the camera?"
"Yes we can. And Lucas can be there with my sister and Glenn," she said, looking down at the baby with such love in her eyes that Mark's breath caught. "And maybe we could have a honeymoon too?"
"With the baby?" he asked.
"Well........maybe Paige could look after him for one or two nights? When he's a little older?" she suggested, smiling. "Maybe we should leave it until he's been weaned?"
"What are you suggesting, Mrs. Calloway?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"Just a nice, quiet, romantic weekend away.....just the two of us. Somewhere hot and sunny."
"It sounds perfect," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her gently. "Perhaps we could make a start on baby number two?"
"Perhaps we could," she agreed, kissing him back.
"Just promise me you'll never leave me," he asked her when they parted again, and she could see the urgency of the question in his eyes.
"I won't, not ever. You'd have to throw me out to get rid of me now, and even then I'd find some way back in. What I feel for you will last for eternity, Mark."
His eyes closed with relief. As light-hearted as he could act, this was how he really felt and it humbled her. She reached around his neck and pulled his head into the crook of her neck, giving him comfort. "I'll never leave you," she whispered fiercely.
His arms closed tighter around both her and Lucas and he sighed with relief. "I can't tell you how happy that makes me, darlin'. There's just one thing."
"What's that?" she asked him as he raised his head and his eyes twinkled at her.
"I'll always be the boss in this marriage," he told her, sounding unbelievably arrogant.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," she said.
A few weeks later..........
Piper looked up at Mark and grinned at the way he calmly accepted Lucas sticking his chubby fingers into his ears. At three months old, he was becoming curious about everything around him, and that mostly meant his father. Mark doted on the baby, and Piper knew she would have her work cut out to stop him from spoiling the child as he grew up. She had decided the best way to avoid it was to give him lots more children, and she intended to start as soon as Lucas was a year old. She smiled again as Mark looked at her and leaned down carefully to kiss her before their attention was drawn back to the front of the church.
There were lots of things Piper had never expected to see in her lifetime, and one of them was her sister getting married. But there Paige stood, radiant in a flowing silk wedding dress, with Glenn tying to put the wedding band on her finger. The ring looked tiny in his big hands and he fumbled slightly, giving Paige a sheepish smile. His hair had grown back over the months and was now in a short style that softened him slightly, but the enormous smile he wore on his face softened him even more and Piper knew her sister was going to be very happy. Finally the couple kissed for the first time as husband and wife and Piper felt her eyes fill with tears that her sister was now as happy as she was.
"You owe me ten bucks, sweetheart," Mark murmured, managing to look cocky even though Lucas was now trying to jam his entire hand up his left nostril. Piper had bet Mark she wouldn't cry at the wedding, but he had known better.
"I haven't got any money on me," she told him with a smug smile. "I guess you'll just have to wait."
"How about you pay me back some other way.....later on, when everyone has left?" he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.
Since they were holding the reception at their house, Piper knew they wouldn't get to bed until the early hours of the morning. "It won't be until much, much later on though," she said.
"I can wait," he told her. With another small kiss he led her out of the church behind the other guests, his lips curving into a smile of sheer bliss. For once in his life, everything was right with the world, and this time he knew it was going to last.
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The End
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Hope you liked it, and thanks again for sticking with it! And for anyone waiting patiently for me to put Rockstar by Kliqgirl and myself on my website....I will get round to it, I promise! It's just that stupid life keeps interfering! Dammit!