Missing You – Part 8

Archie went out later that day and left Lexie with Paul. He knew that his wife would be able to get a lot of information out of his half brother, and then report it to him that night. He also thought it best that he take some time out himself in order to get his head around the idea of possibly staying on at Glenbogle for another year. He'd go for a walk and visit some of his contacts and friends, see how they were going, and work out how things had been going since he had been away.

Back at the house:
Paul sat across from Lexie in the library, sharing a cup of tea. He glanced at her expectantly- knowing what the main topic would be
"Do you want to stay on the extra time?' Paul asked Lexie
Lexie lifted her eyes to his "I'll do whatever Archie wants to do, It doesn't bother me anymore."
"You trust Archie that much?" Paul questioned
"I'm getting there" Lexie answered, placing the cup at her feet "I trust him more then I used to, I think you have to if your married."
Paul nodded " I suppose so" then prompted "What's it like to be married?"
" I suppose it depends on who you're married to and how happy you are" Lexie answered mindfully
"Just go from yours, before Archie went away" Paul commented
"Arch is a good man, I love him a lot. I am in love with him constantly, well almost constantly." She betrayed with a smile "Of course we have our moments"
" Doesn't everyone" Paul remarked, draining his mug
Lexie shrugged "I suppose so. It's hard work sometimes, you fight, and you get annoyed... you just want some time to yourself. But that doesn't change how much we love each other, and I guess that's what counts in the long run. That that love is unconditional. All I know is a never want to go back to life without Archie in it, and if that means moving then so be it."
"How come it was hard to trust him at the start?" Paul asked softly, not wanting to probe too far into private territory
"Arch had all the girls after him" Lexie laughed, "Nearly every woman that came to Glenbogle, feel in love with him. It was hard for me to think that he would ever choose me over them. When he could have his pick of anyone."
" Yeah, but surely so could you? I mean look at you. As if Archie wouldn't pick you if he had the option"
Lexie raised an eyebrow, and Paul looked down suddenly intently drawn to the patterning on his mug
"I didn't trust him in that area, because I knew him so well. Archie generally means well, doesn't mean to hurt anyone...but he also has a habit of falling into things. Katrina, Justine- it was all a bit of a shamozzle. Even with Stella our old bank advisor, Archie doesn't have very good 'women skills'."
Paul laughed "Well then he's lucky he's got you"
"Yes he is." Lexie agreed, then leant forward and smiled disarmingly, "Now, Archie will be expecting me to have more information about your proposition when we talk tonight so you better tell me anything that will help make the decision easier."
Paul gazed at her "So you do want to stay?"
Lexie smiled, determined not to give too much away "We'll see how it goes. Who knows what will happens from here to then."

Later in Archie and Lexie's Bedroom:

Archie wrapped his arms around his wife and lent into her warmth
"What do you want to do?"
"I don't know." Lexie replied simply
"Do you want to stay another year?"
"I don't mind" she responded, turning around to face him, "I truly don't, as long as you're there."
He smiled and kissed her deeply, then pulled back to look at her
"Did you learn anything from Paul this afternoon?"
"Not really. I think he just doesn't want to be forced into it like you were, he thinks that he'll be more committed if he has made the choice to do it and doesn't have any loose ends floating around."
"Hmm, that makes sense. Although if I'd had that choice could you imagine how different things would be?"
"It worked in our favour eventually, but you still ended up disheartened with Glenbogle in the end didn't you."
" Only with parts of it" He smiled, kissing her neck. Lexie knew where this was leading
"I thought you wanted to talk about Paul tonight" She whispered, a smile escaping in her voice
"Yeah I do" Archie answered, straightening up reluctantly and glancing a her
"So hurry up and talk"
Lexie laughed and hit him disapprovingly, to which he gave her a cheeky grin
"He was talking about marriage a bit later." She reported "Asking about us, what it was like. Then later he asked how we had known that the other was 'the one'"
"How could I not know" Archie replied sweetly
Lexie looked at him indignantly "You bampot, it took you years!"
He shrugged and looked slightly sheepish "At least I knew for sure."
"Hmm" Lexie murmured
" Anyway" Archie commented, taking her in his arms again "It might not take Paul as long a he thinks. It may only be half a year, not a whole one."
"Do you think we can last that long at Glenbogle?" Lexie asked, unsure of whether Archie was willingly to put back his plans
"If something's going to be done Lex, it has to be done properly. If I left Glenbogle with Paul and wasn't sure that he would stay with it and persist through everything then I would worry."
"You think we should stay?"
"I think that even though its not exactly what we had in mind, or I had in mind. It might work out okay, and if we really want to go or something comes up- then we can negotiate with Paul."
"I agree" Lexie smiled,
Archie grinned back "So we have a joint decision?"
"Yes" Lexie answered
"We'll stay on for the extra time that Paul needs and then move when he comes back for good"
Lexie nodded, Archie grinned and kissed her
"We done talking about Paul now?" He asked suggestively
"Spose so" She answered
Archie's grin widened....