Title: Resisting Danger
Author: Angel LeeAnn
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Marguerite had known her fate would come crashing down upon her, but how will it affect Roxton and their children?
Disclaimer: This is based off the creation of the brilliant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Over the Hill Gang.
NOTES: This is the third installment of a story, but you don't have to read the other two parts (Trusting Danger and Unexpected Danger) to understand this.
Chapter One
Come Away With Me
She was tired. Not the kind of tired in which a few hour nap, or even a long restful night, would care. It wasn't even really sleepiness or exhaustion. It was just a sense of being utterly drained and indifferent to everything around her. She was passive, subdued, and just plain tired.
Roxton noticed; the whole tree house noticed. Her dispassion didn't even escape the curious eyes of the children. Lillian Veronica and William George Malone were perceptive of their mother's mood – or lack thereof. They watched Marguerite drift further and further into herself, but at the tender age of one they didn't understand. Yet, their father did. Roxton recognized the symptoms. His wife was depressed. The next step was figuring out 'why?'
Marguerite wandered silently into the airy kitchen, her face hollow and blank; her eyes dim and sunken. She wordlessly prepared the babies' bottles, sighing as she screwed on the lids.
Roxton looked on, worried as hell. He was perched on a stool at the table cleaning the weaponry. However, the chore suddenly seemed less important than it had just moments ago.
"Marguerite," he finally ventured. "Is everything all right? The last few days you've seemed kind of…down."
She shrugged, humming an offhand "mmm." She tested the milk on her wrist, satisfied that it wasn't too hot. "I don't know what you mean. I've just been a little tired. Having one-year-old twins can do that, you know."
"Is that what this is? The babies are wearing you out?" Roxton rose from his seat, abandoning the rifles in exchange for his wife. "Why didn't you say so?" He gently rubbed her upper arms. "Maybe we can have the others watch them for a couple days. And we'll go do whatever you want to, darling."
"No," she exclaimed more frantically than she had meant to. Shaking her head she mumbled: "No. I don't want to."
"Marguerite, you need to take care of yourself every once in awhile. I know that you're trying very hard to be a wonderful mother. And you are one." He whirled her around, wrapping his muscular arms around her slender waist. Nestling his nose into her black hair, he murmured suggestively: "It's ok to take a break and spend some "quality" time with your husband."
Marguerite rolled her eyes and gently shoved him away. "Forget it, John. I'm not leaving the twins here while we tipsy off for a weekend of…"
"Luxury? Peace?" He leaned down into her space, his mouth lingering over her ear. "Sex," he whispered.
"John!" Marguerite glanced around, relieved that no one else was around. "We can do that here, you know," she hissed. "We don't have to leave in order to have sex. If you were getting antsy then you should've just said so. We'll do it tonight if you want."
Roxton sighed, a debonair grin spreading across his lips. "It's not about the sex, my love. I'm just trying to make a point."
"Point taken. But I'm not going anywhere." Marguerite slipped off towards the twins' bedroom.
Roxton gave a lighthearted growl and followed. "Marguerite, the others would guard these children with their lives. They would be in perfectly safe hands." He leaned against the doorframe, watching as Marguerite leaned into their daughter's crib, offering the bottle to the silent little girl. "How about just for one night."
"No," Marguerite insisted, smoothing back Lillian's dark hair.
William began to fuss, seeking attention. Roxton pushed himself away from the door and strolled towards his son's crib. "Hey, little lad, what's with the sour face?" He scooped the baby into his arms, peering down into a matching set of hazel eyes. "I bet you want fed." He gestured for Marguerite to hand him the other bottle. She wordlessly complied. Roxton tenderly placed the nipple into William's mouth. "There you go, all better."
Marguerite snatched up Lillian and cradled her to her bosom. She gingerly traced the back of her finger along the baby's soft cheek. "See, how could we possibly leave them behind?"
Roxton chuckled, stepping over to his wife. "We're not "leaving them behind". We're just…going on a date."
"A date?"
"Yeah. A man, a woman, food, conversation…you know…a date."
Marguerite stared down at the little child in her arms, contemplating her options. "I don't know, John. They'll still so young and…"
"They'll be fine." Roxton pecked her forehead affectionately. "Come away with me, darling. Just for one night."
Marguerite sighed. "All right. But only one night."
End Chapter One
AHHH!!!