The Spin off 2 – Part 7
Lexie came and dropped down on the sofa beside Archie. "Well, there finally off to sleep" she sighed exhausted.
"Here you go" Archie replied handing her a glass of wine.
Lexie laughed, "Thanks, I think I need it" She put her head down on Archie's shoulder as they relaxed.
Archie reached across and switched the stereo on. Gabrielle came on with 'Out of Reach', Lexie smiled this was one of her favourites. Archie lent down and kissed her on top of her head.
"It's nice to have some time to ourselves for once isn't it?" Lexie questioned.
"Yeah, I must admit we haven't done since the twins really" Archie answered,
"Well that's what children do to you" Lexie chuckled.
Archie grinned "Well we have time now" he suggested
"Oh aye" Lexie laughed leaning in to kiss him. She was just about to reach his lips when the doorbell went, she sighed, "Who can that be at this time?"
Archie went to get up. "No don't worry, I'll get it" she insisted, pulling herself up to go get the door.
It was raining outside and Lexie felt the draft from the door as she entered the narrow hall. She peered out the window as she reached to the side for the keys, but it was pitch black outside so she couldn't make out whom it was. Unlocking the door, she pulled it open to be shocked as before her stood Duncan, shocking wet through, hair down on his face and shivering.
"Duncan" Lexie said surprised. He didn't say anything back just stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Lexie put her arms around his wet clothing and whispered to him "What's wrong?"
"Everything" Duncan replied.
Archie by this time had got curious and got up as he heard his wife mention 'Duncan'. Duncan looked over Lexie's shoulder at Archie standing looking confused; eventually he let go off Lexie and stood back.
"Well come away in, you must be freezing" Lexie replied taking Duncan's hand and leading him past her.
"I'm sorry about all this, I just didn't know what to do" Duncan mentioned looking down at his feet.
"Hey its no problem" Archie answered walking up to him. "Come on Dunc, let's go through and you can tell us what's up"
They sat down in the living room, Duncan in the armchair and Lexie and Archie back on the sofa, they waited for Duncan to speak and tell them why he was here.
"You know, in one single moment, your whole life can turn around" Duncan started.
"I Stood there for a minute Starin' straight into the ground"
Archie and Lexie gave a worried look to each other, but continued to listen.
"I looked to the left slightly, then looked back down, my world felt like it had caved in. I told her to Let me show her how it could be for us, I said I could change and adjust" Duncan looked up at Archie and Lexie to see if they were still following.
Lexie nodded her head as if to say carry on.
"You see the wicked thing about us was that we had trust, I said we could have an open relationship if we must. Then I looked at her and she stared straight back at me, but her eyes glazed over like she was looking straight through me," Duncan told as a tear rolled down his face.
Archie's hand found Lexie's as they clung on tight to each other, as they listened to there friend upset.
"Then…then her eyes closed for what…what seemed like an eternity and then when she opened them she was looking down at her feet. So then I moved my hand up from down by my side, I was shaking as I saw my life crushing before my eyes. I turned my palm up to face the skies, then touched her chin and let out a sigh. I just cant imagine my life without her and me, there's things I cant imagine doing, things I cant imagine seeing, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I begged her" Duncan's hand started to shake as he clutched it into a grip.
"Then she bought her hands up to where mine rested, she wrapped her fingers round mine, she peeled away my fingers and looked at me and gestured by pushing my hand away to my chest from hers." He sighed with more tears rolling down his face.
"And I just stood there, I couldn't say a word, cause everything was gone, I had nothin' absolutely nothin'. So I pulled her close out of bare desperation, I put my arms around her trying to change what she was saying. I pull my head level with hers so she might engage in, look into her eyes to make her listen again." Duncan buried his head in his hands and whispered.
"Cos I wasn't just going to leave it there, she told me it could be forever and now she was just letting things crash and fall down. Then she pulled away, my arms still tightly clamped round her waist, so she gently pushed me back and looked at me straight, then she turned around so she's had her back to my face. She took one step forward, looked back at me then she walked away" Duncan finished in tears.
Lexie looked at Archie and let go of his head and walked across and sat on the arm of the chair.
She wrapped her arms around Duncan's neck "Come on dry your eyes mate" she whispered into his ear as she comforted him.
Archie got up and walked over "What was it all about then?" he asked carefully.
"It's Jess, she doesn't think this relationship is going anywhere" Duncan replied wiping away the tears from his eyes. "So what it's over just like that?" Lexie remarked.
"Yeh, yeh I guess so" Duncan mused
"Aw ma wee man, don't worry look you can stay here as long as you need until you sort yourself out again, then maybe you can go back to Glenbogle" Lexie replied looking up at Archie for confirmation. Archie nodded silently in agreement.
Lexie wrapped her arms round Duncan from behind, he gripped her back and held her tight, comfort from a friend was what he was looking for right now.
After a while Lexie looked up at Archie, he looked a bit awkward standing there, he responded to her by mouthing the words "I'm just going to ring home" and using his hands to indicate a telephone to his ear.
Lexie nodded, still hugging Duncan.
Archie walked quietly upstairs to his bedroom, so he could call home. He took a deep breath as he picked up the phone and dialled the number. He was a bit surprised when Golly answered the phone.
"Hello Glenbogle house"
"Golly, its me Archie" Archie replied
"Laddie how are you?"
"Me…oh I'm fine, its just its Duncan, he's well here"
There was silence on the other end of the phone and Archie could hear muffled crying in the background.
"Golly?" Archie asked
"Sorry son"
"Is that Jess?" Archie questioned
"Hmmm…yeh she hasn't stopped since Duncan left, he scared us all, didn't tell no one he was leaving, just upped and left. I guessed he would be going to yours, him and Lex are still best friends no matter what, he would always go back to her in times of need"
"Yeh, she's with him now, he's going to stay with us for a while, does Jess wanna speak to him?"
There was another silence, and then Golly came back to the phone.
"I think she's too upset at the moment"
"Ok then, well I expect Lex has spoke with Duncan, I'll ring again tomorrow, hope everyone's well bye"
"Hope you all are ok too, bye"
Archie hang up the phone, he sighed to himself. It seemed they could never escape Glenbogle or its people. Not that he was bothered much Duncan was here, because he was their friend. But yet again it bought himself and his wife and kids back with Glenbogle, they were trying to start a new life, yet being in London still seemed a bit too close to home.
He had mixed feelings, he still felt a bit of guilt with running away from his responsibilities as Laird, and not wanting to be near Glenbogle.
First it was Lexie being homesick, then Justine and her becoming friends, and being linked back with his past.
Then Lex running away again to Glenbogle, which forced him to go back sooner than he would of liked too.
Now, just as life was starting to look up for them, they had the burden of this situation. What next? Archie wondered.
Words from Duncans speech from the song 'Dry your eyes mate' by The Streets
The Spin Off 2 – Part 8
The alarm clock went off and a moan came from Lexie as she pulled the covers over her head. She had been up late talking to Duncan and hadn't had much sleep.
Archie reached across and hit the clock to stop the alarm. Then there was a cry from the room next door.
"You go" Lexie nudged Archie with her elbow.
"No you" he nudged her back putting his pillow over his head.
"Archie…" Lexie wined back
"Do I have too?" He mumbled
"Yes" she replied sharpish.
He turned over and crept under the duvet cuddling her and kissing her on her neck.
"But I want to stay here with you" he replied
Lexie giggled, "Fine, Fine, I'll go" Suddenly the door opened wide.
"Um…" Duncan announced, making Archie and Lexie jump. "Oh Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt anything, I just wanted to say thanks for letting me stay" he continued
"That's ok Dunc" Archie replied
"Ok then" Duncan answered closing the door.
Archie looked at Lexie, and she burst out laughing. He then continued to kiss her when the door flew open again.
"Tea or Coffee?" Duncan questioned smiling, Lexie laughed
"Coffee" she replied
"Arch?" Duncan asked
"Tea for me thanks" Archie replied
"Okie Dokie" Duncan confirmed shutting the door again.
Lexie pulled herself up out of bed, moaning as she did. She walked across to the door, as she went to reach for the handle it opened infront of her.
"Oh she was crying" Duncan said handing Kyla to Lexie and then shutting the door again. Lexie looked down at her daughter, bright blue eyes sparkling from the tears.
"What's up toots" Lexie asked her and she bought her back to the bed, and put her down on the bed next to Archie.
Kyla chuckled and threw her little hand down on Archie's head.
"Owww" Archie wined
"Get up then you bampot" Lexie giggled
"Hey look after her while I go get washed please"
"Hmm" Archie agreed
Lexie went through to the nursery and checked in on Ellie, she was asleep. That was a miracle, Lexie thought, no wait it seemed weird, it wasn't right.
She quietly went across to Ellie's cot and put her hand on her head. She felt warm, Lexie didn't want to wake her, but she needed to take her temperature.
She picked her up and took her through to the bedroom. She opened the door, and Archie was finally up and playing with Kyla. He looked up and immediately saw Lexie's worried expression.
"What's the matter?" he asked
"She feels a bit hot, I'm just going to take her temperature." Lexie explained walking over and placing Ellie down on the bed.
Archie stroked Ellie's soft black hair as her eyes fluttered open and shut.
Lexie came back and put the thermometer under Ellie's arm. After a minute Lexie took the thermometer away and read it.
"What is it?" Archie asked
"Hmmm… 37.6 'C, looks like she has a fever" Lexie replied
"What' going on?" Duncan asked, holding two cups in his hands as he stood in the door.
"Ellie's ill" Lexie announced to him
"Oh… is she gonna be ok?" Duncan questioned
"Should be, its just a fever" Lexie answered, picking her up. Ellie cried and held her hands over her eyes.
"Do you want me to ring in and say I can't make it to work today?" Archie asked
"No don't worry, I'll be ok, I have Duncan here with me" Lexie replied, looking at Duncan.
"Um…aye" Duncan replied.
"Ok then, well I better get ready for work, Dunc do you mind taking Ky?" Archie asked
"No problem" Duncan stepped forward, taking the one year old awkwardly.