A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Eighty
A cool breeze sweeps over them and with a slight shiver, Cassie moves closer to Richard. "This is what I think we need to do." Richard says, feeling her shiver.
"What's that?"
"We need to go back downstairs to our cabin. I'll have the kitchen fix us some hot chocolate and we can curl up for the rest of the night."
"If we go downstairs, we'll have to get dressed again."
"Not totally, I'll put my pants on, you can wear my shirt."
"You want me to go downstairs in only your shirt, what if the crew…?"
"We won't meet any of the crew." Richard says, releasing her and moving to get up. He turns to her. She's lying on her side, her arms squeezing her breasts together and up. He moves his gaze down her body, over the cover of her hip and down her leg. Holding his hand out, he waits for her.
She slips her hand in his and he helps her up. Wrapping one arm around her, he pulls her to him once she's standing. He leans in, kissing her. He steps back after a few moments. "Let's go downstairs." He says, releasing her and reaching for his boxers and pants, slipping them on as she picks his shirt up and slips it on.
They gather up the rest of their clothes. He takes her hand and leads the way down the stairs to the lower decks. He was right they didn't meet any of the crew on the way downstairs. He holds the door to their stateroom open, letting her walk in first before he closes the door behind them. "Why don't you get in the bed and I call the galley for the hot chocolate?" Richard suggests as she shivers again.
She walks over to the bed, pulling the covers back she slips inside, pulling them up to her chin as she turns to watch him. He picks up the phone, dialing an extension. He waits a few moments before someone picks up. "Yes, could you bring us both a cup of hot chocolate?"
"Of course Sir, will that be all?"
"Yes."
"We'll have it to you shortly."
"Thank you." Richard says, hanging up the phone before he turns to Cassie.
She is lying in the bed and slowly he walks over to her. Pulling his covers back after taking the pants and leaving the boxers, he slips in behind her. She moves over to him, as he lifts his arm as she moves to lay her head on his chest. "The hot chocolate will be here shortly." He says, settling in beside her.
About ten minutes later, someone knocks on their door. Richard gets up and goes over to the door. "You're hot chocolate, Sir." A crewman says, holding a tray.
"Thank you." Richard says, taking the tray. "And can you tell the Captain that he can return to port?"
"Yes Sir."
"Thank you." Richard says backing up as the crewman pulls the door closed.
"You're returning to port, why?" Cassie asks, sitting up.
"Since we're through up on deck, there's no reason for them to sail around the lake all night." He says, walking over to the bed. He sits the tray on the nightstand and then gets back into bed. He picks up a cup of hot chocolate and hands it to her before he takes the other one and settles back, taking a sip. She moves over beside him. He lifts his arms and she lays her head on his shoulder after taking a sip.
Sam rolls to her side, reaching for Jeffrey she finds his side of the bed empty. Sitting up, she looks around the room before she pushes the covers back. Grabbing his shirt she slips it on as she leave the bedroom. He's sitting on the couch, holding the phone. "What's going on?" She asks, walking over to him.
"I'm trying to figure out how I can persuade Ava to come back with Emma." He says, looking at her.
"You believe she's going to fight you."
"I don't know what she'll do. I understand why she went down there. Olivia's done a lot of things to her and to me. I think Ava wants to protect Emma, but I'm not sure this is the way to do that."
"Maybe you should explain that to her."
"That's what I'm trying to do. Is figure out a way to explain that to her."
"What if you explained that keeping Emma from her mother will hurt her just as much?"
"That's the thing. I don't know that keeping Emma from Olivia will hurt her as much. Olivia planned to kill Ava when Emma was hurt. She planned to have me kidnapped. We've both done things that didn't go along with what Olivia thought we should do. So what will she do when Emma does the same thing, when she goes against Olivia?"
"You're not going to be able to answer those questions now. And you won't know what Ava's going to say without calling her." Sam says, moving to get up. "I'm going to go get a shower." She says, as he nods. She walks into the bathroom as he dials the number for the palace.
Ava walks into the nursery the next morning. Emma is watching cartoons when she walks in with the nanny there. "Can you give a moment?" Ava says, turning to her.
"Sure." The lady says, leaving the room as Ava walks over and sits down by Emma.
"Ava, this place is really cool." Emma says, turning to her.
"I'm glad you like it, but we need to talk." Ava says, turning the TV off.
"Okay."
"We need to talk about Mom and you."
"We need to talk about whether I stay with you or go with her and Mr. Marshall."
"Yes."
"She has to leave Springfield so I have to leave too but I have friends in Springfield."
"I know you do. Do you want to stay in Springfield?"
Emma looks at Ava for a moment. "I don't know. I've never lived anywhere but Springfield."
"Would you want to live with me?"
"With you, what about Mommy, will I get to see her too?"
"I don't know. We would have to discuss it."
"Do you want me to stay with you?"
"I want you to be safe and happy."
"And you don't think that Mommy will do that?"
"I can't say what Olivia will do. She's been hurting a long time and up until a few days ago, she felt betrayed by Jeffrey. Maybe Mr. Marshall is helping her but I'm worried that she what she will do if he left or did something to her and I don't want you to be there to watch her unravel again."
"Does Mommy know that we're down here?"
"I'm sure she knows now."
"Did you call and tell her?"
"No, but William called Jeffrey and I'm sure he felt like it was his responsibility to tell Mom where we are."
"So she could be on her way down here."
"She could be, yes." Ava replies, as the nanny comes in with the phone. "Yes." Ava says, looking up.
"Ma'am, you have a phone call." She says, holding the phone out to her.
"Thank you." Ava says, taking the phone. The nanny leaves as Ava answers the call. "Hello."
"Ava." Jeffrey says, sitting up.
"Hi, Dad." Ava says, getting up. Emma looks up. "Can you hold on?" Ava asks, taking the phone away from her ear. "We'll talk about this some more." She says to Emma. "But I need to take this."
"Okay." Emma says, as Ava leaves the room.
"Dad." She says when she gets out of the nursery.
"You know why I'm calling?"
"Yes."
"William called me last night and told me that you took Emma down there."
"I know."
"He also said that you're not planning on coming back until Olivia's left."
"If that's what it takes to protect my sister, then no I won't come back until she's left Springfield."
"I understand what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure keeping Emma away from Olivia is right."
"She's unstable, we both know it."
"Maybe a little bit, but she's still Emma's mother and do you have any proof she will do something to hurt her."
"She's already done stuff to hurt her. Mental abuse is as destructive as physical abuse. Emma told me that she's angry all the time and I know for a fact that she punished her for simply talking to you when you and Sam were there at the Beacon after the wedding."
Jeffrey sighs, before he says. "I know what you're mother has done, to me and to you. But I've never seen her do anything towards Emma."
"And what happens when Emma decides to do something she doesn't agree with, or James leaves her. He may leave because of something that has nothing to do with Emma, but my Mother is unstable enough to turn against her. I'm not coming back as long as that could happen."
"I was afraid you were going to say that." Jeffrey says, sighing.
"If you knew that was what I was going to say, why did you call?"
"Because I told Olivia I would try to convince you to come back."
"Well, I'm not." Ava says, as she turns and see Emma standing in the doorway. "Dad, I need to go." She says, watching Emma.
"Okay, we'll talk later."
"Bye."
"Good-bye." Jeffrey says, hanging up the phone.
"How much of that did you hear?" Ava asks Emma.
"Enough, we're not going back to Springfield."
"No, we're not."
"Ever, we're not going back ever."
"No, this is only temporary. We'll stay in San Cristobel until Mom has left and then we'll go back."
"What if she comes down here?"
"Then we'll go back to Springfield or some place else." Ava says, walking over to her and kneeling down. "I'm doing this to protect you."
"You think Mom will hurt me like she tried to hurt Jeffrey."
"I don't know if she will or not, but I think you're safer with me." Ava says, reaching for her. "Let's go see if we can find William, okay."
"Okay." Emma says taking Ava's outstretched hand.
Jeffrey is still sitting on the couch when Sam comes out of the bathroom. She walks over to him. "What did she say?" She asks, sitting down beside him.
"She's not coming back until Olivia leaves Springfield."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I understand why she took Emma down there. I'm just not sure it's for Emma's best interest."
"You think she's using Emma to hurt Olivia."
"I'm saying that maybe Olivia needs to consider letting Ava keep Emma for a while. She has to realize that she's hurt a lot of people, not just me."
"She's hurt Ava too. So, what are you going to do?"
"I'll have to go talk to Olivia." Jeffrey says, getting up with Sam following him.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, I'll handle this and maybe in a few days our lives will be simple." Jeffrey says, turning to her.
"Our lives are simple. Everyone else is complicated."
"What are we doing tonight?"
"What do you want to do tonight?"
"How about dinner at Towers and then we'll go to a movie or something?"
"That sounds like fun." Sam says, leaning back to look at him.
"I love you both."
"We love you." She says, leaning up to kiss him. "Go talk to Olivia and deal with the situation with Ava."
"I'll see you later." He says, headed for the door. She follows him into the entryway, smiling when he turns to her and winks before he closes the door. She heads upstairs.
William is in the courtyard when Ava and Emma finally find him. "We've been looking all over for you." Ava says, walking up to him
"I've been right here. We're preparing for the election tomorrow."
"It's finally happening."
"Yes, all of the kinks and hang ups have been worked out. All the monitors and precincts are ready, so tomorrow San Cristobel will make its final decision on what type of government it wants to have." William says, noticing that Ava wasn't alone. "How are you Ms. Emma?" He asks, kneeling down to her.
"I'm fine, your Highness." Emma says.
"You can call me Will or William."
"I think I'll call you William because I call Will, Will."
"That's fine. Are you enjoying your stay here in San Cristobel?"
"Yes sir, this palace is totally cool."
"I'll have to make sure that Natalie knows to put that on the tourist pamphlets. How much have you seen of the island?"
"Umm, only the palace."
"Then I think I need to take you on a tour of the island. We can go sailing, if your sister doesn't mind?" William says, looking up at Ava.
"Not at all, if it's not a problem for you."
"No, I'm totally free this afternoon. I can't do anything until after the results of the election anyway."
"Then let's go sailing." Ava says with a smile as William stands up.
They leave the palace after William informs the staff where he will be. The royal yacht is waiting when they reach the harbor and William gives them a tour before Ava agrees to let Emma play in the pool on the upper deck. They are sitting in lounge chairs watching her play when Ava says. "I talked to Jeffrey this morning?"
"What did he say?"
"He understands what I'm trying to do, but he's not sure that this is the way to do it. He admits that she's unstable. And he pointed out that I don't have any proof that Olivia has done anything to hurt Emma. I reminded him that mental abuse is destructive as physical abuse." Ava says, as William looks at her. "You saw for yourself how she reacted when Emma told her about talking to Jeffrey in elevator after the wedding. And we both know that she only grounded her because of her obsession with Dad."
"It is probable that there were other reasons for Olivia grounding her. We have to admit that."
"William."
"Ava, I'm only pointing out the truth."
"The truth is she took her anger out on Emma about talking to Jeffrey in the elevator that morning and that was the only reason she grounded her. Look at how she's treated me. She's slapped me. I don't know how many arguments we've gotten into about you and the baby and the stress that's put on me. She tried to kill me."
"A fact you seem to have ignored up until now."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm only stating that you seem to have forgotten or forgiven her for the attempt she made on your life. And it wasn't until she admitted to planning to kidnap Jeffrey and was given a suspended sentence that you decided to keep Emma."
"You think I'm doing this to get back at her."
"Are you?"
"How can you even think that?"
"Because this comes from out of the blue, you've never once expressed concern over the way Olivia treated Emma, except for the incident at school."
"I thought you said you would support me in this?"
"I do support you, but if this is what you want to happen, I want you to make the decision because it's truly what you believe is the right thing to do and it's no something you want to do to get back at your mother for attempting to kidnap your father. Has Emma said she wants to stay with you?"
"No, she hasn't. She's confused and scared. I don't think she want to be forced to make a decision between us."
"Then maybe that's what you should follow." William says, looking at Emma.
"You've seen what she's capable of, William. The way she's gone after us about the baby and getting married. She wants to control everything. So, what happens when Emma does something that goes against her?" William looks back at Emma. "Maybe you don't want me to keep her because you don't want to be responsible for two kids."
"No Ava, of course not, I'm looking out for you. I want you to look at this and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it and if you seriously think she's in danger staying with Olivia, then I'm there. But if there is any part of you that is doing this to get back at Olivia for what she's done to Jeffrey then I'm asking you to let Emma go with her mother, that's all I'm saying." William says, getting up. He goes to the side of the pool, diving in while Ava watches him.
Gentle rays of sunlight filter through the windows beside the bed as Richard rolls to his side. Cassie is beside him, watching him as he wakes up. "What are you doing?" He asks, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
"I was watching you sleep."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to, this is our last day."
"I know."
"I've been thinking about something while I was laying here watching you."
"You have. What were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about your brother and his family in Chicago. You said you wanted to contact them after the wedding, do you still want to do that?"
"I hadn't thought about that, but yes, I want to contact them. I would like to know about my mother and brother."
"Then maybe we should call Noah and see if he can work something out."
"I can do that from the cabin. Are you ready to go back to the cabin?" He asks, turning to her.
"Umm, I think we need to do one more thing."
"What's that?" He asks, as she moves over to him. Kissing him as she moves over to him. Lying down as he wraps his arms around her holding her on top of him, after a few moments, she leans back, looking down into his eyes. "You're thinking one more time before we have to leave."
"Umm hmm." She says, nodding.
He lifts his head again, catching her mouth with his, kissing her as he holds her to him. She pulls back after a moment or two, smiling as he looks up at her. "You know we ended like this the last time we were on this yacht." He says, watching her.
"No, we didn't. We ended the last time by being interrupted by Colonel Dax and Jenny. And then we had every reporter in the country waiting for us when we walked up on deck."
"Should I call the Springfield Journal, I'm sure they could spare a couple of reporters to cover us leave the royal yacht one more time." Richard says, reaching for the phone.
"Don't you dare, I want this time to be just you and me leaving and if the press shows up, I'm pretty sure the captain would feel compelled to interrupt us."
"I suppose your right." He says, lying back down.
"Now what were we… oh that's right." She says, lying across his chest.
"Did you have something specific in mind?"
"I like having you here."
He puts his arms around her and running his finger through her hair, brushing it back from her face. He feels the first tear splash against his chest. Pulling back, he asks. "What's wrong, why are you crying?"
"I'm happy." She says, with a smile through the tears.
"You're happy, and you're crying?"
"I never thought I would be here again, you and me, like this."
He kisses her, wrapping his arms around her, he refuses to let go until they absolutely have to and then it is only long enough for a couple of quick gulps of air, and they settle into another kiss.
After a few seconds he leans back and reaches up to lightly caress her face. Closing her eyes, as his fingers brushes over them she lightly kisses his fingers when he reaches her lips, watching him. Reaching for him she presses her mouth against his. They kiss until she moves away from him. "Where are you going?"
"I've got to go to the bathroom." She says softly, kissing him lightly before she steps back and walks into the bathroom.
When she returns, he watches her walking towards him. As she reaches the last few steps, he holds his hand out and she reaches for it. When their hands touch, he slowly draws her to him. Kneeling on the bed, she crawls to him. She kisses him as she moves to straddle him. She looks down into his eyes. After a few seconds, he whispers. "Do what you want to do?" Slowly, she moves her hand down his chest lightly caressing him, staying completely in tune to him. When she reaches his nipples, she lightly runs her thumb nails across them, lightly scratching him. "Cassie." He groans, closing his eyes while sparks of electricity flash through him.
He leans up, kissing her. Leaning back after a few minutes, he whispers again. "Do what you want to do?" he whispers.
She caresses him, running her hands down his chest to his stomach, scratching him, pausing a moment to play with his belly button. The more she caresses him the more shallow his breathing becomes and the sound turns her on completely. After a couple minutes, he lays his hand on the mattress, clinging to the sheet beneath them.
Moving up, she kneels over him, she kisses him softly for a couple seconds before she moves across his jaw to his ear, nibbling as she moves along the side of his neck. She smiles when she feels him swallow a couple times. Slowly she moves away, stopping to lightly kiss the pulse pounding at the base of his throat before she moves on to his upper chest. Stopping for a couple seconds, she glances up; watching him through her eyelashes as she lightly kisses one of his nipples. Cassie." He groans a little louder than before.
This time she doesn't stop, but continues playing with him. Slipping his hand through her hair, he holds her against him as he fights for control. After awhile, he tries to move her down his stomach, but she resists. Sitting up, she watches him for a couple seconds. "Darling." He sighs.
"Touch me." She whispers. Reaching up, his hands settle at her hips while he leans up to kiss her. Slowly running his hands up her sides he lightly caresses her. Reaching for her breasts, he holds each of them in his hands, almost like he's weighing them. Squeezing them together, he leans over and lightly caresses her nipples, nibbling at them before sucking them into his mouth, caressing them with his tongue until they become harden tips pressing against the roof of his mouth. "Richard." She groans, burying her fingers in his hair, holding him against her.
After a few minutes she moves down settling in her hips over his waist. "Cassie." He groans when he feels her hips cradling his.
The vibrations make her desire increase tenfold. She pushes against his chest, until he leans back and looks up at her. Reading the expression on her face, he lays back and holds her against him as he kisses her, pressing her lower body against his until she pulls away.
Looking up, he reads the desperate desire flowing through her. "Do it, darling." He whispers, laying his hand on her hips
Moving back, she slowly runs her eyes down him. Watching his chest rise and fall with each shallow breath, slowly running her hands down his body, lightly scratching him. Closing her hand around him, she feels him shiver, as he arches his back. "Please darling, I want…."
"I know what you want." Cassie whispers, leaning over to kiss him as she moved to hover over him. "You want what I want." She whispers, lowering her hips and guiding him inside her.
"Cassie." He groans, holding tightly to her hips as he slips inside her, filling her. Slowly she rocks her hips. "Oh, Cassie!" Bracing her hands against his chest and taking him deep inside her. "You feel good, darlin!" Richard groans, closing his eyes as she leans over him, kissing him as she continues to rock and he moves with her.
"Richard." She cries, feeling him brush against her soft warmth. "Oh, please!" She sighs, loosing control.
"That's it darlin." Richard whispers, as she arches her back and he feels her muscles quiver deep inside her.
"Oh, oh, oh, Richard!" She cries, as the passion inside her snaps, pulling him deep inside her, holding him tightly as waves of desire washes over her. As the last wave washes over her, he feels the first throbbing pulse of his release roll over him, thrusting once he fills her with all the desire burning through him as she collapses in his arms.
Wrapping his arms around her, he holds her tightly against him until they are able to move away without feeling disconnected from each other. Turning on her side and leaning up, she looks up and says. "I love you."
"I love you too, so much." He says, leaning in to kiss her.
He lies back down and she moves over to him, laying her head on his chest. "I have to say, I like this ending better than I like the other ending."
"The other ending wasn't so bad." She says with a smile.
"Who are you and what did you do with my wife?"
"Your wife is right here, thank you very much."
"Let's stay like this forever." He says, playing with her hair.
"I'm not too sure the owners would like to come back next season to us being here on their yacht."
"That's not what I meant. I want us to be this close twenty five years from now. When our kids are grown and have kids of their own. Do you remember that dream I told you about when we first came to Springfield?"
"You told me about a lot of dreams."
"The one about the old man and lady and how the spent their days laughing and talking and writing letters to their kids and grandkids and in the end the man turns to the woman and says. "I love you Cassie and she replied back…."
"I love you Richard. Yes I remember that dream. I thought about it a lot after the accident?"
"That's what I want us to be in twenty five or fifty years. I want us to have all these wrinkles and lines on our faces from smiling all the time."
"Well, you may want the wrinkles, but I intend to fight every one of them I can. Grow old gracefully, like hell." She says, as he laughs.
"I can't wait to see what you do to fight them." He says, turning his head to kiss her.
They lay there for a few moments before she leans back and says. "Maybe we need to get up and get ready to go." He sighs softly before he releases her. He kisses her once more before they pull away from each other and he gets out of the bed, going to the bathroom. Richard comes back to the door after he does his business in the bathroom. "Do you want to join me?" He asks, smiling a crooked smile.
"It might take us longer." She says, as he shrugs his shoulders. She pushes the covers back and walks over to him.