We're Home – Part 18

There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Lexie snuck down the stairs the next morning and walked into the library. She sighed as she saw Archie lying on the lounge chair, fast asleep.
Kneeling down she positioned herself in front of him and watched as his even breathing continued oblivious to being joined by hers.
Finally she reached out and placed her hand on his cheek, he opened his eyes and took in her face. Neither said a word, but merely stared at each other in solace and remorse.
Archie heaved a sigh and with a whispered invitation invited her to join him on the lounge as he moved over and made to share the meager blanket and pillow with her. She agreed silently and moved closer to him, feeling uncomfortable and yet calmed at the same time.
" You gonna talk to me now?" Archie asked softly, no sarcasm accompanied the request but rather a composed craving for understanding
Lexie lowered her eyes and decided to begin, "Archie, you have no idea what it's like for me to see her turn up every so often. I was there through all your trials and tribulations with Katrina, I stood at the window and watched you race after her when she was going to go to New Zealand, I saw you pine for her, never able to tell her how you felt- I saw her do the same thing. I experienced you choosing her over me right in front of me when I'd laid my feelings on the line. I know the effect that she can have on you."
Here she stopped and looked up into his eyes " Arch, old flames don't just die like everyone likes to pretend they do. They still burn inside- when you have loved someone very much that just doesn't disappear and never reappear when you see that person again."
Archie gazed back at her, taking in every word and every emotion that she was offering him. Trying to understand, trying desperately to make it all right.
" The past is not a package one can lay away," Lexie continued softly, " I know that, so do you. Not just with Katrina, but with everything- my parents and their shortcomings, your father, Jamie….. I worry about you and the grasp that the past has over you, because you just pretend it didn't happen a lot of the time, and other times you are consumed by it."
He went to interrupt but she silenced him with a look, not quite finished
" There is nothing going on between me and Paul, I don't care how he looks at me, what matters is how I look at him. To me he is my brother-in-law, nothing less, and nothing more. He helped me through some rough times when you weren't around; he looked after me, comforted me - but that is all. I haven't loved anyone but you for a very long time."
Archie blinked, trying to take in the revelations that he had just been handed; he had had no idea about a lot of them, no real understanding of why his wife had suddenly been so upset.
Now some of it startlingly made sense, perhaps she wasn't over reacting quite as much as he had thought. He hadn't liked the thought of her being fancied by or having feelings for another man- why should she be any different? The anger he had felt last night slowly began to ebb away, there was just no way that he could stay upset at her. Looking closer he saw that her usually bright eyes were red rimmed from crying, and cringed inwardly at being the cause of it.
" Lex?"
" Hmmm" She answered wearily
" Have you ever heard the song 'Old flames can't hold a candle to you'?"
" Yeh, when I was a girl"
He smiled for the first time in what seems like ages
" Sing it for me?"
She rolled over in the already tight space to glance at him, her expression showing that she'd clearly thought he'd gone mad. It took her a minute to read his expression and suddenly understand what he was getting at
" Oh you are a bampot," she muttered inconsequentially
His eyes glinted in a familiar way and he wrapped his arms around her
" I'm sorry sweetheart, I shouldn't have accused you of carrying on with Paul, it was stupid."
Lexie thought over his apology and remembered an old saying she had once heard 'Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.'
" I don't like fighting with you" Lexie admitted
" I don't like being kicked out of my room" Archie added
Lexie smiled, his tone was one of irony not spite
" I said some horrible things to you" Lexie whispered ruefully
" I wasn't exactly pleasant to you either" Archie recapped
Lexie shrugged and rolled back over, an involuntary giggle escaping her spirit as they characteristically fought for the limited room on the chair
" I'm sorry Katrina is such a sore spot with me, I know that you don't plan it- it just seems like she has a tendency to pop up everywhere, and I've been feeling a bit out of sorts lately"
" Lex" he reminded, " This is Katrina's home, and if we come back here we're bound to see her periodically- she'll never leave this place completely."
" Mores the pity" Lexie commented lightly, " What time has Mel got to be picked up?"
" Not til lunch time" Archie answered, " Am I forgiven?"
Lexie glanced up at his to die for smile and puppy dog eyes and shook her head, feeling much lighter then a few hours ago now she had talked about her feelings " You're on report" she settled
Archie's lips turned into a wide grin, " I missed you"
" No you didn't" Lexie denied
" Yes I did! Even with you yelling your heart out at me while throwing clothing and bed wear out the door I still loved you." Archie confessed
" Really?"
" Yes" His smile turned sheepish, " I was furious, absolutely filled with rage, and yet the minute I laid out my bed down here all I wanted was for you to be lying next to me. That sounds really stupid...."
Lexie shook her head, her dark hair spreading out over the pillow " No it doesn't, it's sweet, and it's mutual"
He searched her eyes and melted, " Next time we discuss instead of yell"
" Agreed" Lexie answered, looking slightly sheepish herself
" We're still going to yell aren't we" Archie rationalised
" Yeah probably" Lexie grinned, her eyes sparkling
" But we'll try not to?"
" Okay"
Archie laughed and wrapped his arms tighter around her, delighted that she wasn't as angry with him anymore. It was in times when they nearly lost each other that they realised just how much they loved each other. Lexie snuggled into him and smiled, thinking exactly the same thoughts as he whispered softly in her ear
" Old flames can't hold a candle to you, no one can light up the night like you do- flickering embers of love I've known one or two, but old flames can't hold a candle to you."
Lexie giggled at his slightly off key, warbled serenade and instead placed her own lips on his
" Don't give up your day job honey."

Her lips on his could tell him better than all her stumbling words Margaret Mitchell