We would lie awake on Sunday mornings, just letting the sun tell us how late it was getting. I remember Lila would always lay her cheek against my chest, since she said it was cooler than her pillow, and just as comfortable. We didn't talk too much while we lied there. Sometimes we would just converse with a few sentences, wait for a while, and then start again. It was nice at the time. The silence felt more peaceful than awkward, and we had simply enjoyed each other's company. I can't get Lila's scent out of my head… She always smelled so damn good, like she bathed in rose petals or something. The feel of her skin is what I really miss. It was softer than anything I had felt before. Soft like a peach's skin, or a baby's freshly-washed cheek. I would sometimes just run my fingers over her arm, enjoying the way she sometimes got goose bumps under my touch. She would always pretend to snap at my fingers and tell me to quit teasing. Me teasing her, feh. She would purposely lie in bed without any covers on, and barely any (if any at all) clothes on.

A sigh brings me back to the present, as Briefs clears his throat audibly. I look around and notice that I have been thinking to myself for the good part of our session. I forgot the last question he asked me, but it had to do with Lila, triggering these memories.

"Why do you think your wife was unpleased with the marriage, Piccolo?" Briefs had taken off his glasses and was currently wiping the lenses with a fold in his shirt. So glad to have an adapt audience, I shrugged and exhaled harshly.

"Could have been a number of things. Maybe I was pressing too hard for a baby. I hinted at it a lot, and suggested…" I stopped gradually, noticing that Briefs was paying attention again.

"Suggested what?" He asked quietly, and I swear I could see a smile forming on those mockingly-understanding lips. I felt blood rush to my cheeks and ears as I mumbled a quiet reply. That wasn't good enough for the bastard, though, and he leaned in closer to make sure he heard right. "Come again?" He asked, and I thought I heard a trace of laughter behind his seemingly-polite voice.

"I said, I suggested that she stop taking…the pill."

Briefs nodded and made some notes on his pad again. The man is a complete douche, and words alone cannot express my loathing.

"And how did she react to this…this suggestion? Do you mind if I smoke?" Asshole. He asks me that every time…

"Yes, I do. Anyway, Lila just said… that it was her body, and that she wasn't ready to…" I felt the words form bitterly on my tongue as I spat out the last phrase. "Wasn't ready to ruin it." I could feel my cheeks burning, but this time from sheer anger. I couldn't believe my ears when my wife had first said that. I reminded her that we had agreed that we both wanted children. I also reminded her that neither of us were getting any younger. The last statement sent me straight to the guest room, where I remained for several nights. Lila wouldn't even look me in the face when we ate breakfast together. I couldn't take the way she had just avoided me, like I wasn't there. I decided to make it up to her, thinking that perhaps I was being a little too pushy. We had time, after all. That night I took her to dinner at her favourite place, and then to a concert… She thought it was very romantic, and she forgot she was upset with me. Well, after the…marital activities were over with (much, much later), she looked at me and smiled. No words, just a tiny little grin. Her eyes were still bright and teasing, her breathing still coming out in small, quiet gasps… Her hair was still slightly damp around her face from the light sweat, and clung to her cheeks and forehead. Her whole visage was so flushed, so alive looking… I remember telling her that I thought she looked more beautiful then than when she had her hair and makeup done. She had smiled again, and kissed me very softly on the cheek. I'll never forget the way she said 'I love you'… Partly because I know now that falser words have never been uttered.

"I bet that made you angry." I was slightly startled to hear Brief's voice again after the last pause. I gathered my senses and shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

"It didn't make me giggle." I said dully, rubbing the back of my head. "We made up after that."

Briefs nodded and took a pull on his cigarette. "Mhmm. How?"

I just looked at him and raised a brow. "Why does it matter?"

The man stubbed out his cig and looked like he just snapped out of a dream. "Uh, sorry. It's probably a sensitive subject." I think even that dickless jerk realized that the question held no value whatsoever.

The important thing was that things went completely downhill from there.

Sure, for a few days (and nights), Lila was back to her old self. I allowed myself to be a little more romantic than usual (candles, wine, ect.), and Lila was just as well…frisky as she was in the beginning. I figured that we had gone through that obligatory bump in the road that all couples go through. I thought that things would be so much better, now that we had weathered our first storm.

As usual, I was wrong.

Two weeks later, Lila was on permanent PMS. She didn't want to do anything because she was either tired, or had a headache, or just plain pissed off. She would be agitated by slightest things. Once when we were heading to bed, I asked if she could turn the light out, since she hadn't gotten in yet. She just flipped out and told me that she wasn't my slave, and to do it myself. She raged on, telling me how she always did my laundry and cooked and everything, and how I thought that she would always be at my beck and call.

I asked if she was on her period for the third time that month.

Three and a half minutes later I was staring at the ceiling of the guest bedroom, lying on top of the small bed with a blanket around me. I remember wondering what went wrong. We had done the holding together thing so well! Everything had been so normal again… I just couldn't help but wonder what had triggered this state of agitation.

"How did Lila perform intimately the next few weeks?"

This guy is such a pervert. I'm finding someone else, I am FINDING someone else.

"Well, like…normal." I knew my cheeks were growing a little red, and I rolled my eyes for acting like an innocent virgin taking off her clothes. "Everything about her was normal. We had fun together, just like before. We talked and enjoyed each other…Just like before."

"But…?"

"…But then she just started nagging, and picking at any little detail she could. She actually accused me of not appreciating her and all she did for me."

"Well, did you?"

Whose side is this guy on, anyway? No wait, better yet: Who is PAYING this guy to be on his side?

"Of course I appreciated her. I told her so every day! I said 'Baby, I love you! Thanks for being such a wonderful wife, I must be the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. Why, if only every wife was so sweet and beautiful as you, I would still be the happiest bastard on earth!'" I realized I was slightly panting, and cooled down. I had said the last few sentences in a breath of air, so I'm sure I sounded almost frantic. I am not frantic, certainly. Just… confused and very agitated.

Briefs' eyebrows had risen a good inch as he looked at me in wonder, his pencil dangling from his fingertips. I coughed slightly and turned my now very flushed face away. Something tells me that this session didn't go well. Not well at all.

-

Great, another chapter out and rolling. Stay tuned, kids. I plan to add some flavour to the mix soon… Bwahaha. I appreciate the support, everyone, and will continue to work hard for you!

-Ace