The Owl and the Angel

Chapter 6

Things progressed for the Parker twins and their fiances. Lyle and Eloise bought a house. Cox and Parker spent their time trying to find common ground with each other. Eloise was relatively normal, by Centre standards, and insisted that they all get together and have a barbecue at their new house. Lyle rolled his eyes but went along with it to make her happy.

Miss Parker found the barbecue dreadful. She was constantly cornered by some random neighbor talking about nonsense. Lawn decorations, the food, look how cute my baby is. Parker wanted to leave, but her fiance seemed to be really enjoying himself. Especially when he stared at the neighbor boy and scared him off from talking to Eloise's daughter. She had to admit, it was amusing to watch.

Parker wandered through the sparsely furnished house. They were quickly moving in but still had to set up everything. And apparently Lyle was making El take care of all of it because he had no interest in any of it. She really was not surprised - her brother was a real ass sometimes.

She found her evil twin in the room that would apparently be his study once he moved in. She had noticed he was getting agitated and it worried her. She had never seen him that antsy and wanted to check on him before she left. He was sitting on the sofa trying to figure out exactly where to place it which would probably be easier when he had all his furniture there.

"Where's Cox?" Lyle glanced at his sister. She still wasn't happy about her situation but she was coming around. Cox was pleased with Lyle's progress with his sister. Lyle just hoped he was doing the right thing - he never did seem to make the right decisions about anything.

She sat beside him and slipped off her strappy sandals. Her feet hurt. "He's creeping out the neighbor kid, talking about his little friends. It's hilarious."

Lyle stood and paced the room for a moment before sitting back down. He looked distracted. "What the hell are we doing, sis? We should just…" Lyle shook his head but didn't finish his sentence. It was treason in the new regime and she wasn't supposed to know what was about to happen with Raines. Not yet.

Parker knew what her brother wanted to say. She thought about it constantly herself, but they couldn't speak about it. Not here. Not at her house. Not at work. She sighed softly and whispered harshly to him. "I know, Lyle, but what else can we do? Do you want to start over again?"

Lyle shook his head. He had reinvented himself quite a few times in the past. He was tired. He wanted to settle down. "I already feel like I am. Might as well call me Robert Raines and I can have another rebirth."

"Don't even joke about that. I will not change my name."

Lyle raised a curious eyebrow at his sister. "Aren't you taking hubby's name? He seems old fashioned like that. Mrs. Cox has a nice ring to it." He handed her his glass. She knew it wasn't poisoned because he had just taken a sip from it.

She swallowed the liquid down in one gulp and glared at her brother. "Over my dead body." She says that now, but she knew she would probably give in if he asked her to change her name. At this point the hostility with Cox was a reflex, a habit even, just as it was with Lyle.

He poured them each a glass of the same alcohol and handed her a new glass. "That's the idea, sis. At least you aren't getting a grumpy step-kid in the deal too. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to be a hands-on stepfather but Eloise wants Megan to live with us so she can make up for lost time or something. Personally, I was hoping our marriage would just be a continuation of our arrangement in Africa. No attachments. Just sex." Lyle slumped back into the sofa and nursed the whiskey in his hand. To Raines' dismay, the twins had grown closer since Mr. Parker vanished. There was little Raines could do to make them compete to get Jarod back because Jarod seemed to have dropped off the planet so the chase had been stagnant for quite some time.

Parker put her aching feet onto Lyle's lap. He raised an eyebrow at her but began to rub them. They were in this together, the Parker twins wouldn't go down without a fight and they were realizing now that they needed to stick together. Miss Parker didn't know this, but Raines' days were numbered and things were about to change.

"I may not be getting a stepchild, but at least you aren't repulsed by the thought of sex with your future spouse."

Lyle raised an eyebrow at that comment. "Hmm. I wondered if you slept with him yet." She rolled her eyes.

"Still fantasizing about me, little brother?"

Lyle smirked, "Always, sis. We're not married yet. There's still time to make up for some lost time before you're off the market."

Lyle's heart skipped a beat when it looked like she was considering it. "You know, that's less repulsive than the thought of my wedding night."

He stopped rubbing her feet and took her hand. "Parker, you still have time to leave. I can help you. I don't want to get married but I love Eloise as much as I am capable of loving someone. You don't even like Cox. I don't want you to be miserable like our mother was, stuck in a marriage she didn't want to be in."

"I can't leave, Lyle. Where would I go? What would I do?"

Lyle let go of her hand and slumped back again. He didn't look at her but he told her what he knew would happen. "I'm sure Jarod is keeping tabs on all of us. He'll come and rescue you if you leave."

Parker smiled sardonically, "So you can find us and bring both of us back for re-education? No thanks. I'm staying here where I'm going to be a thorn in your ass. Besides, Cox isn't so bad." She muttered the last part into her glass before she drank the remaining liquid down.

Lyle smirked. "No, he isn't." He knew she wouldn't leave. She swung her legs off of his lap and he knelt beside her to put her shoes back on her feet. He ran a hand up her calf and smirked when she shivered. They both stood and he stepped closer to her as she turned away. He ran a hand down her back as his other hand snaked around to her front to pull her close and he whispered in her ear, "Eloise won't mind. She'd probably like to watch… she'd probably want to participate." He kissed her cheek and held onto her tightly. Parker rolled her eyes and tried to pull away but he held her against his body. She could feel how turned on he was, just thinking about it.

"Cox doesn't share. He'd kill you." She whispered back, not wanting to break the spell between them.

"All the more fun, beautiful." She shook her head and he let her go. "Seriously, it isn't too late to disappear, sis. Just say the word." She knew he was serious, but she couldn't imagine leaving. She could but she didn't like what the future may hold for her.

She uttered a quiet "Thank you" and left him in his study as he called out, "see you at brunch next week, sis!" She went to find her fiance so they could leave. This was her life now. Barbecues at her brother's house with the neighbors. Hosting brunch at her house on Sundays. Soon she'll be the suburban housewife she had never wanted to become who drives a minivan full of screaming children to soccer practice. The horror.

Lyle watched his sister speak with Eloise and Megan from an upstairs window. Parker seemed to be saying goodbye. She went and collected Cox who walked beside her with the ever present hand on her back. She allowed it and managed to look only slightly annoyed. Lyle had heard Cox tell Eloise earlier that they were going over to Parker's house to get things ready for him to move in. Lyle was sure his sister was just thrilled.

Miss Parker watched her fiance through the kitchen window, overlooking the backyard. Cox was kicking over rocks and wandering the grounds of her property. His bland expression made it impossible to know what he was thinking. What plans he was concocting in his mind for her house. He looked over to the house and spotted her in the window and waved, smirking slightly, that annoying half smile he gave her when he was amused.

The looks that Cox gave her… she did not know how she felt about them. He had watched her from across the yard at her brother's new house for the better part of that afternoon. He often watched her from across the concourse at the Centre whenever she left her office. He breathed in her scent any time he was near her. She knew he wanted to touch her, to consume her. But she had managed to keep him at arm's length for three weeks, only allowing a guiding hand on her back or kisses on her hand. He never asked for more, and he managed to only look slightly discouraged when she pulled away from him. But he never raised an eyebrow, and he never said a word. He would smile politely and leave her alone. She hadn't even allowed an actual kiss at this point.

But Miss Parker knew that sooner or later she would have to let Cox… have his way with her. She wasn't looking forward to it but she knew there really wasn't any way around it. She had told Lyle that the thought of sleeping with her twin was less repulsive than thinking of her wedding night and she had not been joking.

She was still furious about the whole situation, but she had accepted it and was slowly getting over her anger. She had hoped Lyle would have killed Raines over this by now but Lyle actually liked his fiancee. They had been close in Africa apparently and Lyle had told her he loved her. Maybe it was all just a lie to convince her to go along with the marriage, Parker had no idea at this point. With each passing day, each passing hour, she was unsure what was real and what was a facade, and it was exhausting.

After they arrived back at her house that day after the barbecue at Lyle's, she was tired but Cox insisted that they needed to start preparing the house for when he moves in. They really had put this off for long enough.

She was unnerved as he unbuttoned the top buttons of his short-sleeved shirt and untucked it. Today was the first time she had seen Cox wear anything other than a suit. He made himself comfortable in her house looking around the different spaces: the kitchen, the garage, the bedrooms, the backyard. The only thing she absolutely would not allow him to touch was her mother's studio. Everything else was negotiable. She was never home anyway.

He spent some time acquainting himself with the layout of the house and then he finally came back into the living room where Parker had dozed off waiting for him, finally giving into her exhaustion from a long day of socializing.

He knelt beside her and took a moment to look at her, praying to whoever was listening that she would warm up to him. She was being coerced into their marriage but he was truly looking forward to it. He had been fascinated with her since he first met her. Any man with eyes would be and he suspected that there was some deeper destiny that they, including Lyle and Baby Parker, shared. He brushed a lock of hair away from her eyes and admired her perfect cheekbones and full lips. In two weeks she would be his wife and he would never let her go. Not without a fight.

Parker stirred as she felt him run a finger across her cheek. She kept her eyes closed, waiting for him to do something else or say something. He ran the same finger along her lower lip and back up her cheek. He leaned down to lightly kiss her. She was surprised but only because she actually liked it. She must really be lonely these days. What was happening to her?

Parker opened her eyes and he was still hovering over her. His gaze was intense and she tried to look away but he stopped her with the finger still on her cheek. He cupped the cheek with his hand and ran his thumb along her cheekbone. Cox murmured softly to her, not wanting to startle her. "Look at me, Miss Parker. Did you have a good nap, my dear? I know it's been a long day." His fingers grazed the pulse point in her neck and he felt the rhythm change as she became more awake.

She nodded at him, still trying to wake up. She was still nervous around him and she was surprised she had fallen asleep with him snooping around her house. She still didn't know what he wanted, or what he expected from her. In general and specifically with this marriage. She blinked sleepily and moved to lean up a bit on her elbow. She felt too vulnerable laying there on the sofa with him hovering over her. The hand that had been on her cheek fell behind her and landed on the couch. Not exactly what she had in mind. "So, what's the verdict? Do you want to talk about moving anything around or getting rid of anything?"

He shook his head. "The house is in wonderful condition. There is a lot of unused space that I'd like to utilize if that's acceptable to you but I really only require somewhere to work on my creations. I can part with my furniture."

She knew he needed a space for his "hobby." She just didn't want to think about it. "How do you feel about a workshop in the backyard?" She didn't want him working on his "creations" in her house.

Pleased with the suggestion, Cox gently smiled at her while still kneeling beside her with an arm on each side of her, boxing her in. "That would be perfect, my dear. I know my little hobby can be a bit off putting to some, but that would be more than suitable." He held his hand out to her and she raised an eyebrow but she took it. He pulled her up into a sitting position and sat next to her, still holding her hand. "Miss Parker, I can make you happy if you allow me. We can have a good life together. I want you to have the life you deserve."

She wasn't so sure but she would play along. "I know. This is all just very sudden and I'm still wrapping my head around it all. I'm getting there, Cox." He raised their joined hands and kissed her hand softly, breathing in her perfume.

"Take all the time you need, my dear. I'm not in any hurry." He meant it, he wasn't part of the Parker bloodline, with their need for control and power. His wife would be cherished and adored. Of course, they were under a deadline to produce offspring if things didn't go as planned in the next few days, but they can worry about that later. Now, he wanted her trust. The rest would come in time.

"Thank you, Cox." He smiled at her, a real smile, and she smiled back weakly. He leaned in for a proper kiss and she didn't push him away or resist. He thought she even kissed him back. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I want to love you, Miss Parker. You don't have to love me but I want you to be happy with me. I will always treat you with respect." She knew happiness is not in the Centre vocabulary. And respect? How exactly did he plan to respect her? By making sure her father was actually dead and not just missing? He opened his eyes again and looked at her with his intense, blue eyes. "We can be happy together." He kissed her again and he could feel her resolve breaking as she returned the kiss. He deepened the kiss and brought his free hand to her shoulder and slid down her back. Her grip on his hand tightened and she moaned into his mouth as he rolled his tongue along hers.

He pulled her closer to him and let go of her hand and slipped it under her shirt to trail up her side. She shivered as he ran his warm hand along the bottom of her bra. Her hand rested on his lap where he had left it and she raised it to his chest. He briefly worried she would push him away but he felt her unbuttoning his shirt and sliding her hand across his bare chest.

Cox pulled away just enough to look at her. Cox knew what he wanted, but he needed to make sure she knew it too. "Are you sure? We don't have to do this now." She nodded and leaned toward him to kiss him. She ran a hand along his back and up into his hair. It was just long enough for her to grab and pull as she kissed him. He worked his way down her neck and pushed the loose collar of her shirt aside as he grazed his teeth along her exposed shoulder and collarbone. She moaned as he sank his teeth into the soft flesh and he sucked an angry bruise on her shoulder where no one else would see it.

She finished unbuttoning his shirt and pushed it off of his shoulders. Cox was looking at her again with the same intensity as when she first woke up. She stared back, wondering what he would do next.

"We don't have to do this. We can stop if you want." Parker shook her head. Cox was worried that she wasn't ready, and he wouldn't push her.

"No, stay. I… just stay. Please." She was tired of being alone. Cox was not her first choice to be here in her house or in her life, but here they were. She should make an effort to be less… frigid toward him. This was going to happen sooner or later, it may as well be on her terms, without him forcing himself on her. But from what she had seen, he would not actually do that.

He could really be much less understanding with her and her reluctance. It was past time for her to get over herself and meet him halfway. Raines may be ordering this union, but no one was holding a gun to her head and forcing her into this - she knew her options, limited though they may be.

Parker stood and held a hand out to him and led him to her bedroom. She pulled the bedding back and climbed into bed and watched as he did the same. He sighed happily as she leaned her head against his chest. He ran a warm hand along her back. Her skin was cold and he hoped his body heat would soothe her. "That's better, isn't it? I'm here for you." He whispered softly to her.

Parker looked up at him. He was so warm and solid. She hadn't been with anyone since Thomas died and she had missed having someone in her bed. She kissed him again and he readily returned the kiss and held her tightly. She kissed down his neck and chest. Cox groaned as she grazed his nipples with her teeth. His hand slid down to grope her ass and pull her closer. She panted into his ear as he rolled on top of her and looked at her lovingly.

"I want you, Parker. Can I make love to you, my dear?" He pleaded with her. She nodded and he kissed her again.

Parker was surprised at how gentle it all was. He never pressured her, he only spoke to ask if he could do something. The bruises were a surprise but not unwelcome. She liked it a little rough sometimes. After they finished she looked up at him. His eyes were closed. After a moment he turned toward her again and watched her. He took her hand and kissed it. He looked back at her and smiled. He looked tired now, but content.

They went to take a shower and he held her close as they let the water wash over them. She raised an eyebrow as he tilted her head back to wet her hair. He worked the shampoo into her hair and let her rinse it out and then did the same for her conditioner. He found her loofah and her body wash and ran the soap all over her body. He stood up after washing her legs and kissed her roughly. He wanted her again. Now that he had touched her, he couldn't get enough. He rested his forehead against hers. "You are incredible."

Parker smiled up at him and closed her eyes. "I should let you finish in here. I'll leave a towel and some clothes for you. And there's a toothbrush on the sink for you." She pulled away from him with a wink and Cox let her go.

He quickly finished in the shower and found the clothes that Parker had left for him. He wouldn't ask where the clothes had come from but they fit him well enough. Cox dressed in the pajama pants and t-shirt and found Parker in bed, reading a book. "I forgot to pick you up underwear. Sorry." She didn't look up but she pushed the covers away so he could join her.

"I appreciate that you thought of me." She shrugged. Cox didn't know what to think of that. He was worried she wouldn't make an effort, but this gave him a sliver of hope.

"Do they fit? Obviously, I don't buy a lot of men's clothing but I figured that you would need clothes at some point. I didn't know if you planned to stay the night or if you sleep naked. I know I can't stand to wear the same clothes again after I shower." She winked at him again over her book and he smiled.

"They are perfect. Thank you." He kissed her cheek and laid beside her. Cox knew that she was not entirely thrilled with this situation but apparently she was not going to fight it. She was even trying to fulfill her role as a wife by buying him clothes. However antiquated that sounded.

Parker put away her book and turned out her light. Cox turned to her and pulled her to him. She rested her head on his chest and she quickly drifted off to sleep as he hummed a sweet song to her. She couldn't remember the title but she had always loved it. She wondered if he knew that, but how could he?

Cox lay beside Parker, humming to her as she dreamed. He was certainly surprised at how the day had ended. He wouldn't complain though. He could honestly say that he was happy. He wanted her to enjoy this as much as he did. He wouldn't share her with anyone. He had already told her, once they are married, there wouldn't be anyone else. For either of them. And he would keep that promise.

Parker awoke the next morning to the sound of breathing next to her. She had forgotten that Cox had been here and that she had asked him to stay.

He was already awake and looking at her intensely. Parker wondered if that was how she would wake up every day for the rest of her life. "Good morning, my dear. I hope you slept well." She nodded. She leaned up slightly to glance at the clock behind Cox. It was 8 am. She was glad it was Sunday and she didn't have to go to work.

She leaned back into the pillows. Cox sat up and took her hand, kissing it while silently noting the rhythm of her pulse. She noticed that Cox had developed a fascination with taking her pulse. Whenever he would take her hand to kiss it, he would find the pulse point instantly and hold it for just a few seconds to feel her blood pumping in her wrist or through her fingers.

Parker watched him as he held her wrist, wary of what he may do. Cox spoke about love and happiness but what would he do to obtain it? What would he do to her if she resisted him? She did not want to find out.

He kissed up her arm and across her shoulder. Her loose shirt made it easy to push aside so he could lovingly kiss the bruises he had left the night before. He laid beside her again on his side, watching her every move. She rolled onto her side and hooked a leg across his to pull him closer. She could see in his eyes what he wanted as he watched her closely and kissed her.

"What would you like me to do, my dear?" He grazed his fingers along her skin but she didn't answer him. Her eyes were closed. Cox needed her to be in the moment with him. He leaned up to kiss her lips, "Look at me, my dear. I want you to keep your eyes on me." She blinked up at him. "Tell me what you want me to do. I'll do anything you want." Cox was practically begging her to talk to him, to tell him how to love her, what she wanted.

Parker didn't know how to answer him. She didn't know what she wanted so she couldn't exactly tell him. She wanted him to touch her, to make her feel good, and he was doing a great job. But she couldn't put that into words. It was too much like giving in. Why did he want her to tell him? He seemed to understand that she was still processing and wasn't ready to put this into words. "That's okay, my dear. I will figure something out."

Cox smirked as she moaned as he kissed along her neck. He was intoxicated by her.

Parker sat up to kiss him, running a hand across his chest, pushing him down onto the bed after pulling his shirt over his head, slightly messing up his perfect hair. She idly thought he must have combed it before she had woken up.

She leaned down to kiss him as she moved her hips against his. He threaded his fingers in her hair and held her close. "Open your eyes, Parker. Look at me." She leaned her forehead against his and looked at him. She didn't know what she saw in those eyes but it scared her. She knew this would be it for her. He would be the last man she would sleep with. But it was oddly comforting to have at least one bit of her life planned out, especially when everything else was so uncertain.

He pushed her onto her back again and watched her. She shivered at his touch and closed her eyes again and lost herself in the sensations of him showing her his love for her.

After, he held himself above her for a moment while they both caught their breath. Parker opened her eyes and looked at him and his eyes were fixed on hers. Cox looked like he was staring into her soul, trying to read her mind. He lay down beside her and took her hand, kissing it gently. He held their clasped hands to his chest and turned to face her.

"Well, that was unexpected, Cox." Parker was staring at the ceiling, but she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Hmm, yes, but I won't lie, I quite enjoyed it." Cox stroked her cheekbone and she turned toward him. "You are exquisite."

Parker never knew what to say when people complimented her like that. Usually a man just wanted to get up her skirt but she knew that Cox never said anything he didn't mean. "I'm really not. I'm not special. But thank you."

Cox leaned up on his elbow and his clear eyes bore into hers. "Listen to me, Miss Parker. You are special, you are beautiful, you are exquisite. There is no one in the world like you. Don't ever forget that. "

Parker looked away. His gaze was so intense, she felt like it was burning into her soul. Cox kissed her forehead and lay down beside her again. It was still early but he had work to do at his condo to prepare for the move to her house. But for now he wanted to lay with her. She took his hand again and put her head on his shoulder. That was progress and he would take whatever he could get.

A/N: Any feedback is welcome! [there is a more explicit version of this if anyone is interested...] Also, I may do a Hannibal/Pretender crossover including future Parker-Cox children and Dr. Lecter himself.

Coming up: Parker and Cox have breakfast and Parker meets the parents.