By: SnowWhite
The next morning Paul walked into the room deeply engrossed by something in the paper and asked without looking up
"Lexie have you read this?"
"Maybe you should start knocking again" Archie's voice rang out
Paul looked up startled "Archie! You're home!"
Archie smiled "Well at least I know I've been missed"
Lexie moved next to him, rubbing her eyes with her hand she murmured, "What's going on?"
" Hmm, nothing darling go back to sleep" Archie commented
Lexie nodded sleepily and rested her head back on his chest.
"Sorry to just walk in..." Paul remarked "If I'd had know.."
Archie chuckled "It's okay, just knock from now on"
They regarded each other for a minute before Paul revealed, "I missed you brother"
"Me too" Archie answered, then tilting his head towards Lexie said " Give us a minute would you?"
Paul snapped out of his reverie very suddenly and exclaimed "Oh yeah, sorry" before heading for the door "I won't tell anyone you're home until you come down"
"Thanks Paul" Archie replied
"Bye Paul" Lexie's voice echoed as he closed the door behind him.
Paul looked back at the door and sighed. He wasn't sure what he was feeling right now.
He was happy to have Archie back, but he also knew that he would now go back to second place in everyone's eyes- especially Lexie's.
Now that Archie was back she would be a totally different person. She was married.
She had been all the time that Archie had been away, but now it was all so much clearer and in your face. Paul had found himself forgetting that fact. He knew that Archie and Lexie were together. Friends, lovers, a couple.... but the whole "Married" thing took it up to that next level.
Paul shook his head to clear his thoughts. He wondered how long Archie would be around for, he knew he was planning to quit Glenbogle and take himself and his wife to a new life somewhere else.
But he felt like he himself needed a break before any of this happened. He had been thrown into the role of Laird, especially since Archie's resolve to leave had been made public by Lexie. He needed some time to get his thoughts together, 'dispose' of his old life and connections. Get accustomed to being the laird and the responsibility, which that title held.
He would talk about it later that day with his brother, and maybe even his sister-in-law. See if they could come up with some sort of compromise between them.
Back in Archie and Lexie's bedroom-"You awake?" Archie smiled, running his fingers through his wife's hair
"No" Lexie replied
"I know that trick" He whispered
"I just want to stay like this" Lexie remarked, moving so she could see his face
"I know Lex," he answered "But we can't"
"Yes we can" she insisted wrapping her arms around him. Archie raised his eyebrows and kissed her forehead. They sat in silence for a minute before Archie asked, "Does Paul normally just walk in like that?"
"Hmmm, yeah- they all do. There's been no real reason why they shouldn't "
"Suppose so"
"They won't as much anymore.... Hopefully" Lexie's voice trailed off as she closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat
"Lex?"
"Uh huh"
"Are you going to hate me for making you leave this place?"
Lexie opened her eyes again "What? No Arch, of course not"
He placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to look at him
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Archie. You're more important to me. It'll take some adjustment, I mean Glenbogle is the only stability I've ever had in my life, it's been my home for years."
She glanced at him "But I have you now, you're stable.... well most days"
Archie raised his eyebrows and she smiled
"As long as I have you I'll be okay," she concluded
Archie nodded in understanding "Come on" he announced "Time to meet the family."
"No! Come on Arch, come back to bed," Lexie whined. She reached out her hand and pulled the little girl face that she knew he couldn't resist.
He leaned in and kissed her softly before whispering, "I love you."
Lexie sighed; she loved the way her husband said that. It was like it was a new revelation every time. He said it like the very first time he had ever revealed his feelings to her. Every syllable was pronounced individually as if with those three words he was trying to express the depth of his feelings for her, to let her know that he truly meant it every time he said it.
"I love you too," she answered
"Come on then, before someone else bursts in on us."
Finally she rolled out of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her body to keep warm while trying to find something to wear.
Part 6 - missing you
Lexie lay in the bath wondering. She was trying to imagine herself and Archie living in an average house in Glasgow or somewhere else.
It was hard to do; she had lived at Glenbogle for nearly half her life. She had met Archie at Glenbogle; they'd never known each other away from this place. Living in a normal house after spending so many years in a castle, and going from being Laird and Lady of a castle and village to being unknown in a new city would be a huge adjustment. They would be just your average married couple, the same as everyone else around them.
Still, Archie had lived in London before, and she had been brought up in Glasgow- so at least they were streetwise. In fact her running away from home and living on the streets before coming to Glenbogle had made her very streetwise.
A slight smile crossed her face; she found if she didn't think about how scary it all was it could actually be fun. An adventure, a new home to make their own, new people to meet and friends to make, new places to go- and most of all Archie would be there with her.
These thoughts were slightly liberating, which surprised her. The idea of no one depending on them, no one knowing them, or their backgrounds, they could re-invent themselves and start anew.
A knock on the door interrupted her contemplation
"Lex?" Archie's voice asked, muffled by the door
"Yep" Lexie replied
The bathroom door opened and Archie peeped around
"You almost ready? We're going down to the pub for some lunch"
"Who's we?" Lexie asked
"You, me and Paul" Archie replied, "He has something he wants to talk to us about"
Lexie's brow furrowed as she wondered what it could be "Okay, just give me another ten minutes"
Archie nodded, and then asked, "What were you smiling about when I came in?"
"Nothing" Lexie covered
He grinned knowingly and walked over to perch on the side of the bathtub waiting for her to elaborate
"I was just thinking about everything. About leaving here, living somewhere else- it just being me and you...."
"And this was making you smile?" Archie commented, "That's a relief"
Lexie considered him with a gaze "We'll work it all out- we can do anything together."
"Hmm, I agree" Archie replied
"Now," Lexie ordered "Away and let me get ready."
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" Archie asked, a twinkle in his eyes "You know we can do anything together...."
Lexie laughed and gave him a push towards the door "Get out of here."
Archie obeyed reluctantly, closing the door behind him with a coy smile.