A/N: It's the next chapter - finally…
Haven't changed much… it's particularly the same as last time…
A short warning before you read this chapter: This chapter is really, really fluffy and cheesy… so, if you can't stand fluff and cheesy scenes, I would advice you to not read this chapter…
Thanks and kudos to my awesome, wonderful and great beta and friend Cherry Jade…
Dedicated to: Cherry Jade and Daybreak25 and Mind Shadow and SweetNCrazieSugarmuffinand Raven of the Night676and Kikiksand Tecna… because they are all so awesome and wonderful and supportive and great… and so much more…
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Chapter Nine:
Fallen Through
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Knock, knock
Bolting up on the couch, Richard awoke. There was something. He was sure he heard something.
Knock, knock
There – there was it again.
The door.
Someone was at the door.
He could ignore whoever was on the door and continue sleeping. After last night that was exactly what he needed. He wasn't in the mood to see anybody.
Knock, knock.
Richard growled. Whoever was at the door, it was sure that the person wouldn't give up. If this is what the person wanted. Richard marched to the door. He would make sure that whoever dared to disturb would get all of his anger. He opened the door rather violently. Ready to scream his lungs off, he opened his mouth as he actually saw who standing in front of him.
His eyes wandered over the body of the figure. He saw shapely legs clad in a blue-jeans and a slender yet voluptuous body in a dark-green tank-top. Lastly, Richard's eyes rested on beautiful face with enchanting amethyst eyes and matching long, dark-violet hair.
"Raven?" He asked hoarsely, unsure why his voice was quivering.
Maybe it was the fact that she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen or the fact that he truly loved her no matter what it was, but he had the sudden urge to hold her in his arms forever and never let her go.
"Uh, hey …" Raven nervously said, bending one leg at the knee and trying to hide behind herself.
Richard could hear her voice wavering, he couldn't hold on any longer. He pulled her small form towards himself. Throwing his arms around her, he closed the door and held her close for a moment. He could feel her stiffen for a mere second before completely melting in his embrace.
Bending his head towards hers, he kissed her lightly.
He was glad to have her in his arms where she was safe. At least for now. But he would do everything to make sure that she would stay safe. Everything!
"Hey," He smiled at her and placed a small kiss on her nose.
Nose wrinkled and face flushed, she looked up at him. "What was that for?" she questioned as he led her to the kitchen where she perched herself on an island stool.
Turning her back to her to put a kettle on the stove, he answered. "For nothing," he turned to her. "Do I need a reason to show affection for my girlfriend?"
Raven shook her head shyly. "No, I don't think so."
Richard smiled and took a place next to her. "So, why are you here?" He asked.
She looked at him with mischief shinning in her eyes. "Do I need a reason to visit my boyfriend?" She said mockingly.
"No, I don't think so." He said echoing her words from earlier.
Raven just shook her head. "You know, actually there is a reason why…" Raven trailed off as Richard's hand gently creased her cheek. It was not the caressing which left her speechless. She grabbed his hand, staring at it concerned.
"Richard, you-"
Realizing why Raven acted so strangely, he quickly withdrew his hand from her gentle grip.
"It's nothing," he said as nonchalantly as possible.
"You've got blood on your hand. How can you say it's nothing?" She asked, worry clearly evident in her voice.
"I … just hurt myself. That's all nothing to be worried about." He spoke as he wet a cloth at the sink and wiped away the blood on his hand.
Mentally he cursed himself for his stupidity. How could he forget such a thing? How could he let her see that? He did not change, nor clean up since the encounter with …
"It was dry!" Raven's voice pierced through his unpleasant thoughts.
He looked, unsure about what she was talking. "The blood, it was dry." Her amethyst eyes were locked with his azure orbs, searching for an answer in them.
"I cut myself last night when I came home. I didn't pay attention and I dropped a glass. After cleaning up, I was too tried to clean up myself, I think," he lied eloquently without blinking.
But he could still see and feel her worry and doubt. "Last night was just too straining, you know." He added teasingly and winked at her. And the comment brought the aimed affect: Raven blushed profusely, pinching him lightly on his arm.
He grinned wickedly and ruffled her hair playfully. "What? Is my little Raven blushing?"
Raven's response was a light growl with another pinch. Laughing loudly, he took her in his arms and rested his chin on top of her head. "This relationship is getting too abusive. I don't think you're healthy for me." He teased her and felt her face burying deep into his chest.
It almost frightened him how perfect she fitted in his arms.
And as he held her close, he asked himself if this was what everybody called "true love". Was this overwhelming feeling what his mother had prophesied him when he was a small child?
Could it be that he – as cliché as it may sound – had found his soul mate?
Deep down in his heart, Richard knew the answer to all of this.
He loved her.
He loved Raven.
'And because you love her, you are lying to her.'
'I have no other choice. I have to.'
'There is always another choice: Tell her the truth.'
'She won't understand. She will get hurt.'
'That's not what you fear the most.'
'She will leave me if I tell her everything and then I'm alone again.'
'You will hurt her more with your lies. Tell her everything. She won't leave you.'
'How..?'
'Tell her the truth!'
Richard shook his head and slowly pulled Raven's body away from him.
Finally, they said simultaneously.
"Raven …"
"Richard …"
They stopped.
Then they tried again, once more speaking at the same time, "You first—" They shared a nervous laugh
"You go first," Richard offered with a smile.
"Richard … I … just wanted to thank you." She said and he looked at her astonished but she silenced him with a soft glance. "I don't know how to explain it, but … you changed me. And not only me. You changed my whole family. Yesterday, was the first time … since … since the death of my father that I felt truly happy. Yesterday, was the first time I saw my mother smiling – smiling sincerely, not her fake laughs. You made Josh happy, you made Mira happy and you made me happy. There is so much I want to tell you, so much I can't put into words." She titled her head to have a better look on him. "But Richard, there is still this fear. This fear that I … I will lose you. The fear that you will leave me just like … like … my father." At the last part, she intertwined her fingers with his. "Richard, I … I love you."
'But Richard, there is still this fear. This fear that I … I will lose you. The fear that you will leave me just like … like … my father.' Her words kept spinning in Richard's head and everything he wanted to say was stuck in his throat.
How could he tell her the truth when it would break her heart? He closed his eyes leaning to her, kissing her.
Pulling back he whispered to her slightly parted lips. "Raven, I will never leave you,"
'Liar, liar!' His mind yelled at him. Blocking out the unwanted voice, he continued. "I love you Raven. I … I love you and I will do everything to make you happy. I … I will be always there for you."
Kissing her again, he buried his hand in her violet locks before pulling away from her.
And what he saw made his heart ache in mixture of love and pain: Her delicate lips were curled into one of her rare, sweet and serene smile. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that her smile wasn't as rare as they used to be. At least when she was with him, and he knew that her smile was the most beautiful gift, she could give him.
"I love you!" He declared again in all honesty and with all the love he felt for her.
"Good to know," she smirked. "You know, Garfield invited me to his place to have breakfast. Uhm … do you maybe … want to come along?" She asked, nervously chewing on her lower lip. She didn't know why, but she felt really self-conscious asking him to come with her – although he was her boyfriend. She just wasn't used to such things.
"Sure," he flashed her one of his heart-melting smiles. "Just let me change my clothes." Grinning slyly, he said. "You can come and watch me if you want to." And before Raven could pinch him, he was off to his room, but he could hear such words as "pervert" and "jerk" haling behind him.
He proceeded to ascend the stairs to his room as his eyes fell onto a file, lying on the floor. His eyes darkened and Richard felt every muscle and every fibre of his body tense.
'I knew you couldn't resist my offer.' The mysterious man smirked and from seemingly nowhere he let appear a file and threw it at Richard's feet. "This is your first mission. I want it to be fulfilled within a week. If not, I have to cut a Raven's wings." '
He had completely forgotten about the file. He just hadn't thought about it anymore. He thought he could find a way out of it. But now that he promised Raven to never leave her side anymore, how was he supposed to find a way out of it?
Richard struggled with himself as he picked up the file. He had to do it. He couldn't risk Raven's life. He couldn't live without her.
He let his eyes wander over the super scribed paper.
The temperature of Richard's body dropped, cold sweat erupted over the entirety of his skin. Swallowing hard, he felt panic stirring in his gut. "No," he whispered to himself. "This can't be. This …" The file in his hand fell to the floor again.
His first mission – it was ….
… Garfield Logan.
A/N: Hey, I told you it would be fluffy and chessy… I warned you…
Anyway, leave me a little review and tell me how you liked the chapter… or what you thought wasn't that good… or what I can improve… just review… okay…? (Yep, I'm a review whore…)
Before saying goodbye for now, I wanted to tell you about two challenges…
The first challenge is from the wonderful and talented authoress Daybreak25 and it's called 'The Wings of Flight Challenge'… and I'm one of the judges who will decided who'll win…
Second challenge is from a wonderful and talented authoress as well, EmaniaHilel…
If you want to know more about these two challenges PM the authoresses who are provinding the challenge OR PM me OR tell me in your reviews that you want to know more about the challenge/challenges and I'll send you a PM and give you the information OR visit the following forum: http / www . / fr / 380118/7592/75682/1/ Of course without the spaces and scroll down until you find the post where the information about the challenges are…
I would be really, really happy if you would take up the challenges, bcause not only is it fun and helps you to improve your writing skills, but it would make the authoresses who are provinding the challenge happy…
So, c'mon just let your creativity flow and write something… I'm sure it will be awesome… and jhust for you to know, I'll take up the EmaniaHilel's challenge as well.
Since I'm a judge for Daybreak25's challenge, I can't really take up the challenge, but I will still write a story with the given rules… as a encouragment for you to join as well…
Just think about it… okay…?
Anyway, that was it from me… for now…
Take care and be safe…!
Love, Alena
