Note: A big thank you for my first fav, Reahah2001!
Diana and Matthew meet at Oxford as Diana returns to teach history and research manuscripts at the Bodleian for a new book. Jealousy and mystery hinder their romance but their desire is made real. (All Human) NO VAMPIRES/NO WITCHES/NO DAEMONS. First story in a few years. Keeping it simpler by not adding the supernatural aspect.
Desire Made Real
By Goode Girl
DISCLAIMER: All rights to Deborah Harkness. Just borrowing the characters.
Chapter | SEVEN
My go to therapy. Running. I don't know how long I'd been out, but I think I'd ran six miles already. I called Sarah and Emily when I first returned and told them the news about the DNA correlations, and to say they were ecstatic was an understatement. I came to a stumbling stop near the bridge along the river. My hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. The sun was just setting and I knew I should get home.
I couldn't stop my thoughts from moving to Matthew and I cried in frustration. We'd been back from France for four days, and I haven't seen him in the flesh, since that afternoon he'd dropped me off at my rooms upon our return. My reply to his request was not what I really wanted but, looking back, I knew it's what I thought I wanted. Although I declined, thinking it was too soon. We'd had our first real fight, and I seemed to be concerned with how it would look, had I said yes right then. We'd only known each other for six weeks at most. It was the end of October now and Halloween was approaching. I was interrupted on my walk back to my rooms by a figure stepping into my path along the bridge. I stopped short at her obvious beauty and menacing stance.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the famous Dr. Diana Bishop." She addressed, tauntingly. "Who are you?" I pushed, my defences up. I couldn't even call for help, I had a habit of leaving my phone in my rooms when I went running. "Detective Baldwin ran the wrong passport. Just saying." She teased. "Juliette?" I clued in. "Ding, ding! Give the girl a prize." She laughed. "What do you want?" Juliette circled me, as if she was predator and I was prey. I kept turning my body so she wasn't behind me at any time. She began telling me how she has Dual Nationality and the passport that the detective ran in France, was her Venetian one. "So, you managed to fool police, you're still not answering my question. What do you fucking want!" I pushed. "What I've always wanted, little girl…Matthew, of course." She taunted once more. "It's really pathetic how you and Gillian both keep going after a man who doesn't want anything to do with you." I spat. "You do know the pathetic reason why she is going after him don't you?" She pressed. "No, I don't" I harrumphed. "She saw some fucking psychic who told her that her soul mate had a link to science and his name would start with 'M'," She explained before adding. "She thought it was Marcus at first." She spat. "So, she's in jail now. He will never want you." I replied angrily. "Is that what you think? She intoned, finally stopping her circling. "No, it's not what I think actually. It's what I KNOW." I stated as clear as possible. Matthew knew I'd want the truth and he'd told me already on our weekend away at his house in Oxfordshire. "I also KNOW, about the text messages you sent Matthew when you 'heard' about his car accident." I clarified. "He wouldn't show you those." She replied arrogantly. "Oh, but he did. He forwarded them to me so I could read them myself. We had a good laugh about it too. How you said you would, 'comfort him', or 'take care of him.' So sad," I knew I was only angering her with a comment like that, but she was really that obtuse. "Then why did I get a call, informing me that he missed me!" She thought she had the upper hand for some reason as her stance read nothing but arrogance.
My explanation to her, on how I was in the same café when I overheard Gillian telling Peter to contact her, went ignored. I reached for my phone, to play her the proof when I remembered it was back in my rooms. "I swear, I have that conversation on my phone and I'd play it for you but I never take it running with me." I explained. "He really, he doesn't miss me?" She stumbled over her words. "I'm sorry, but no. That was all Peter and Gillian." She seemed to lose her composure for a moment before she collected herself. "You expect me to believe you? I think not. I will hear it from him first." She spoke angrily. "You can do what you want. Clearly you will anyway. Just like when you cheated on him to begin with." I added before trying to walk away. I was barely two steps away from her when I felt her grab my pony-tail, hard. I stumbled as she twisted, causing me to fall on my hands and knees. I could tell the skin was broken as blood seeped through the knees of my pants. I turned over and shouted at her, "What the fuck is your problem!". I moved to push myself up off the ground, but she beat me to it, and stepped on my abdomen, the heel of her stiletto shoe causing me to stop for fear she'd actually puncture me. "You really don't know my involvement, do you?" She taunted. "No, I don't." I mumbled. "Who do you think left the envelopes for you, bitch." Her long-nailed-manicured hand gripping my throat hard. "You're hurting me. Please" I cried. "Good. I've been hurting long enough. He was mine first, and he will be again." She threatened. "No, he won't. It doesn't matter if it's me with him or someone else, Juliette. He's not in love with you, and hurting me, is only going to make him angry. He will never trust you again. You did that when you cheated, you know you did." I explained, her hand tightening just a little more. It was starting to cut off my air and my hands gripped at her wrist, trying to pry her hand away. She suddenly lifted her foot and kicked at my head and I fell back before she walked off. My hands went to my eyebrow and came away with blood.
It took me much longer to get back to my dorms. I was shaking too hard and couldn't even undress myself. I was in a lot of pain. My knees, my throat, my head, all aching and bleeding. I grabbed my phone and called Matthew. "Diana," He answered after the first ring. "Matthew," I cried. I felt pathetic and weak as sobs wracked my body. "I was attacked." I added. "I'm leaving the lab now, I'm coming over." He soothed. I nodded my head until I realized he couldn't see me. "Mon Coeur, are you okay?" He called down the line when I didn't answer him, and I felt relieved at hearing him call me by his term of endearment. "Juliette," Was the only word I could get out. "What happened? Diana?" He pressed as I heard his car start in the background. "I was running, she stopped me on the bridge, attacked me." I began. "I can't even get my clothes off to clean up, I'm bruised and I hurt. There's blood." I added somberly. "I'm almost there. Get your medical kit from the bathroom, Love." He instructed. "Is your door unlocked?" He added. "Yes." I confirmed. I heard his car shut off and the door slam. "I'm here, I'll see you in a minute." He reassured.
Matthew found me on the bathroom floor, the medical kit between my knees and my body racked in sobs. I thought this was over, that we had Peter and Gillian and it was done. Now Juliette is here, making things worse. I looked up and Matthew stood in the door way. He picked me up gently, taking me to my bedroom and sitting me on the bed. He grabbed a chair and sat it in front of me, taking in the gash on my head. My mind went back to how I hadn't seen him in four days and how we'd only communicated through text messages. "Were you ignoring me?" I stated quietly, as his eyes met mine. "I've barely seen you since we've been back and I know we fought, Matthew." I cried. "No, no, no, not at all, Love, I'm sorry if you felt that way." He stated, before adding, "I was contacted by Detective Baldwin and they wanted us to run the DNA evidence against Knox and his father, one more time to be sure it was conclusive. So, I've been busting my ass in the lab to do so." He assured. "You're not mad at me?" I asked almost childlike. "I could never be mad at you; you've been through so much." He comforted. "Ma Lionne," he finished. "Will you…will you hold me, just for a minute?" I asked lamely. I had barely finished my request when I was off the bed and in his arms. "I'm so sorry love. I know me being stuck in the lab right after our first fight, probably came across as me ignoring you, but I wasn't. Just busy." I nodded, moving closer into his arms. We sat for a few minutes before he pulled back and kissed me lightly. "Let's get you cleaned up, that gash over your eyebrow doesn't look too pretty right now." He stated.
I sat quietly as he cleaned up my wound. It didn't require any stitches, thankfully. He kissed my palms sweetly after cleaning the small gashes from the pavement when I initially fell. "Let's have a look at that neck of yours," He stated, and I pulled my running top off so he could see it without any obstacles in the way. "It's pretty bruised, what did she do?" He asked worriedly. His hands caressing my arms, lovingly. "She wrapped her hand around my throat and squeezed, her nails dug in pretty hard too." He nodded in understanding, before asking, "What about that eyebrow?" My eyes met his before replying, "Kicked me in the head with her stiletto shoe." Matthew looked at me in shock. "Okay, let's get those pants off and have a look at those knees." He instructed. Matthew finished assessing all my injuries, and bandaging them. They were mostly minor, although I was bruised pretty bad too from the fall. "You should take a shower, wash away the dirt." He suggested.
I was wobbly on my knees but took a quick shower and when I came out, Matthew was sat on my bed, a cup of tea on the bedside table. He stood up when he saw me and helped me put some clean yoga pants on and a t-shirt. "What time is it?" I questioned. "Just past 7:00PM." He stated. "Come here, Love. Give me a cuddle on the bed for a bit and tell me everything." He added, tugging me to his chest as he leaned against the headboard. "Matthew?" I posed, as his lips rested against my forehead, his arms holding me close but not too tight. "Yes, sweetheart?" he replied as his cheek now rested on my head. "I want to move in with you. If it's still something you want." I admitted, looking up at him. The smile on his face was answer enough. "What about what you said before?" He posed, referring to our argument. "I was just scared, and after thinking it over, I realized I was more concerned with how other people would see things." I admitted. "We can wait you know, until the new year at least." He offered. "I think that would be nice. But," I trailed off, turning to look at him. "But what?" He pressed. "We can still have adult sleepover's, right?" I smiled cheekily. He laughed in reply. "Of course, Mon Coeur. I wouldn't have it any other way." He returned, kissing my cheek once more.
After telling Matthew exactly what happened with Juliette, he pulled out his phone to show me a text from a number that wasn't in his phone. "What's this?" I posed, taking the phone from him. "I expect it's Juliette. I deleted her from my phone after we broke up, yet she sent this, moments before you called me earlier." I nodded in understanding before reading the text. My eyes scanned the lines, taking in what she wrote. 'You were mine first, Matthew. I want that chance again. But your little girlfriend tells me that it will never happen because you don't trust me. I want the truth. If she wasn't in the picture, would I have had a shot?' The first message ended and she sent a second. 'She says she has some recording of this being all on that other bitch and Knox. I want to know if you honestly ever missed me' I read as a third was below, and I scrolled. 'By the way, sorry I messed up her face.' I handed him back his phone. "You haven't replied." I stated, sipping from my tea. "Of course not. You called, and you are always going to be more important. Besides my not replying should be answer enough." He stated simply, kissing my cheek. "That night, Diana, at Sept-Tours. When I asked about moving in together, that wasn't what I was going to ask you." He stated. "What are you talking about? You looked so tense, almost scared." I posed as he slipped from the bed and kneeled beside it, pulling something from his jacket pocket. My hands fumbled to put my tea cup down before they raised to my mouth as a shocked, 'Oh!' expression transformed my face. "What are you doing?" I mumbled as he took hold of my hand. "Diana, Mon Coeur, you know how in love with you I am, and I realize that we might not have been ready to move in together when I first brought it up. But an engagement changes that." He stated. "Is there a question in there somewhere?" I smiled. He laughed lightly before moving closer to the bed. "I love you, Diana. I believe in you, in us. You are my soul mate, and my reason for life, and I can't imagine a life without you in it. I want to grow old with you. Will you marry me?" He asked, hope filling his features as tears filled my eyes at his words. I started nodding emphatically. "Yes," I finally mumbled as he rose to kiss me. I held on to that kiss, as it was our first true kiss since we had returned from France. "Wait, here, put the ring on." He smiled. "When did you get this?" I asked admiring the beautifully crafted ring. "It's what I was doing that morning when I left Sept-Tours, the morning of the accident. We have a box in the bank vault and it holds some precious jewellery from my mother's family." He began as he slipped it on my finger. "Matthew, how old is this?" I asked in shock. "It's been appraised and the antique dealer we brought it to confirmed it's a 'gold and diamond renaissance ring', circa 1600." He smiled. "I can't wear this, what if I lose it!" I cried worriedly. "No, this is yours, to wear. Maman insisted. Besides, if something happens and it gets lost, then let's hope it brings someone else the same result. A ring can be replaced Diana, but you can't. You're more precious than this ring." He crooned, cupping my cheeks as my eyes met his. I nodded in agreement. "Why this ring?" I asked. "I figured a piece of history for the historian." He smiled cheekily. "I love you Matthew." I cried, latching on to him.
Our quiet solitude was interrupted as Matthew's phone began blaring. He picked it up and checked the call display. "It's Marcus," He explained, answering the call. "Marcus." He stated flatly, smiling sweetly at me and kissing my hand softly. "Does it have to be now?" He replied, irritated. "I know, okay, I'm on my way." He succumbed, hanging up his phone. "You have to go, now?" I questioned, sadly. "I do, I'm sorry. I did rush out of the lab. I was worried about you." He added, reaching for his suit jacket, that was tossed on my bed. "Then I'm coming with you." I replied, reaching for socks and shoes. "You should rest." He tried to coax. "And Juliette is the one who delivered that fucking envelope to my rooms, I'm not staying here, alone, please don't make me." I broke down. "Fuck, of course, I said it at Sept-Tours, we don't go anywhere alone." He replied, holding my cheeks in his hands as I nodded. "Come on then love, bring a change of clothes for the morning, we'll go to All Souls. Have you had anything for dinner?" He tacked on at the end. "No, I went for my run after class-," He interrupted me, "Wait, how long did you run? You called me at 6:30PM, that's almost three hours." He finished. "I was upset, thinking you were ignoring me." I admitted. "Oh, love, fuck me." He mumbled hugging me closer. "It's okay, I know different now." I replied. "But it's my fault, if you hadn't been out there, then Juliette-," I stopped him, putting my finger over his lips as I shook my head. "No, Matthew, if not now, she would have eventually." He seemed to agree unwillingly.
Matthew led me into his lab, my hand securely in his. "Diana! Hi!" Marcus called excitedly when he saw me, "Jesus, what happened?" He added, taking stock of my injuries. "We need to call the authorities and report Diana's attack at the bridge on the river." Matthew stated simply. "Do you want them to come here?" Marcus queried as Matthew released my hand, and pulled a zip-lock baggie from his jacket pocket with what looked like swabs. "What is that?" I asked in shock, reaching for it. "What is that!" Marcus interjected pointing at my left hand. "One thing at a time please." Matthew tried to calm, although his smile was infectious. "I tended to Diana's injuries from the attack. It was Juliette." He stated simply. "Juliette Durand? No fucking way!" Marcus replied in shock. "So, these are from her injuries and will likely have DNA from Juliette on them?" Marcus confirmed. "Yes. Juliette all but admitted it in a text message to me, but I want irrefutable proof." Matthew exclaimed. "Of, course. I'll run them now. But first, what is that on the lovely Diana's finger, Matthew." He posed cheekily. Matthew couldn't stop the smile as he looked to me. His arm came around my shoulders. "Well, as you're being so insistent, I would like to introduce you to my fiancée." He smiled, leaning down to kiss me. "Congratulations! That's fantastic news." Marcus intoned, giving Matthew a man style hug. "Shit, now I feel like an ass for having to call you in." He added. "It's alright, mate. Now, please call the police so they can come take Diana's report."
Matthew settled me in his office with a cup of tea while we waited for an officer to come by to take my report. We didn't have to wait long as there was a flag on mine and Matthew's names to address things quickly, what with the news of Peter Knox and Gillian Chamberlain's arrests making its circulation in the news. I did get emotional recounting what happened, but Matthew was my comfort. They assured us that there would be a broadcast out for her arrest. It was late when we were finally finished, almost 9:15PM, and Matthew finished up what he had been called in to do in the first place. "Why don't we go get a late dinner, and then head to my rooms." He offered, taking my hand in his. After saying our goodbye's to Marcus, we left the lab and headed to an Italian restaurant, Gino's Spaghetti House. We were seated in a far corner table and I admired the simple décor. Green and white checked table cloths covered each table and a long bar ran the length of the restaurant. I settled myself across from Matthew as he sat in the corner. "No, no, come sit next to me, Love." He called, reaching for my hand. "How are you feeling? After everything?" He asked, tucking me into his side. It was clear he was feeling guilty about my admittance to thinking he had been ignoring me. He was being extra affectionate, but I didn't mind one bit. When the server approached our table, it was clear she was eyeing me, while taking in Matthew's appearance with great appreciation. "May I offer you the wine list?" She began, settling two menus down for us to look at. "Yes, please." Matthew replied, his eyes on the menu. She nodded before stepping away. It didn't take long to choose what we wanted, and when the server returned with the wine list, she handed it to Matthew. "What look's good, love?" He asked, putting it in front of me. "Ohhh, this one looks good." I stated, pointing out the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. Matthew smiled and turned to the server. "A bottle of the Motepulciano D'Abruzzo, please." He ordered. "Are you sure, sir?" She posed, side-eyeing me. I felt like I needed to say something, but Matthew did before I had the chance. "What my fiancée wants, she gets." He stated simply, kissing my cheek. "Very well, do you need more time with the menus?" She added. We ordered our dishes and the server put them in before she returned with our wine. Even with the obvious envy from the server, we had a pleasant dinner, and it was quiet. At some point, I'd swivelled in my chair to face Matthew, and he lifted my legs over his left, which was concealed by the table cloth. His right hand moved firmly up my thigh until his hand was cupped over my sex. His lips found mine and although he was kissing me chastely above the table cloth, he was being completely scandalous below. "Matthew," I giggled. He smiled, as he kissed my neck. "You know," He began. "We haven't properly celebrated our engagement." He finished, his lips on mine again. "Let's get out of here please." I whimpered. Matthew had to help me from the table, and he left more than enough cash on the table for the bill before helping me to the car.
"You're terrible." I teased, as he shifted the car into gear, tearing off to All Souls. It was only about ten minutes away, but he teased me at the table, and it was my turn to return the favour. I slipped my right hand over his thigh, not being suggestive at first, and his eyes looked to me quickly. I kept my head turned out the window, away from him. When I felt that he decided I was going to play nice, I moved my hand before I could think twice about it. Shifting closer, I moved my hand over his hard length, and boy was he hard. He jerked the car suddenly. "Bloody hell, love, I almost had an accident." He laughed, moving his hand over mine. "Well, at least it really would have been an accident this time." I smiled. He shook his head slightly. "Too soon?" I posed as he parked the car. He shut off the engine before turning to me. "I love you, but I really want to have celebratory sex now." He teased. "I agree, but," I started, slipping from the car. He was quick to follow, and took my hand in his, pulling me flush against him. "But, what?" He urged. "We did kinda have our first fight, so…" I trailed off. The smile on his face was massive as he snuggled his lips into my neck, kissing and sucking firmly. "You want make up sex first don't you." He whispered, starting to walk backwards towards the door to the building. I giggled as his walk turned into a jog, and he tugged me after him. Running up the stairs, he stopped abruptly, and I crashed into him. "What are you doing here?" He snarled and I peeked around him to see Juliette Durand outside his door. "You haven't answered my messages, so I came to get answers." She replied, as if she was talking about putting laundry on. "My not responding should have been answer enough!" He shouted. She went to move and he shouted at her one more time. "Stay the fuck where you are!" He ordered, keeping me behind him in a protective stance. "Diana? Call the police." He asked me sweetly, handing me his phone.