Disclaimer: "I do not own the Count of Monte Cristo, any of the characters, or any part of that franchise. Alexandre Dumas is the one who wrote the story, and all credit for that should be his. Any quotes from the 2002 movie version of this book belong to the producers, editors, writers, and so forth. I only own Hadlee, and any original content I make her do or say."

Chapter 9

Hadlee woke to the feeling of fingers tracing out aimless patterns across her bare back. Smiling, she pushes herself closer into Edmond's body and whispers, "Morning." He kisses her throat, "Morning. And what a lovely morning it is indeed." Laughing, Hadlee asks, "And why is that?" "I've awakened with you in my bed, in my arms. That will forever be the best a morning can get."

She turns in his arms finally, facing him. Snuggling closer, she asks, "Did you sleep well?" "Surprisingly, yes." When she gives him a confused look at his answer, he explains, "I spent a great many years sleeping on stone floors or wooden planks. The softness of this mattress hasn't really suited me since I've returned to civilization."

A mischievous grin overcomes his face, and as he rolls so Hadlee is beneath him again, he adds, "But with your softness to hold and keep close? Well, that I could fall asleep with in any location." As he nibbles at her throat, Hadlee giggles, "Edmond! Quit!" "Hmm… no, I don't think I will." "Edmond!"

But as one hand slides up her smooth back, and his mouth drops down to begin admiring her chest again, Hadlee bites her lip to try and hide her whimper of desire. She fails miserably, only succeeding in spurring Edmond on to continue waking her up in his own special way.

It's as breakfast is being served in bed, Hadlee having hid beneath the covers when his servants brought all the food, that she asks, "What happened to your back?"

Her head was now resting on his chest, and she opened her mouth as he held up a grape to feed to her. His other hand smoothing down her hair, he sighs and finally answers, "In the Chateu D'if, they developed a tradition of their own to mark when a year of imprisonment had passed. They beat the inmates on the anniversary of their arrival. A great majority of what you see on my back, is because of that."

As she tenses in her anger, Edmond kisses the top of her head and says, "Do not become so riled, my love. The man in charge of that place is already dead." "Good." He pops another grape into her mouth, and then explains, "On my journeys with Luigi Vampa, I was a part of a few fights and tussles here and there. Most were harmless, as the priest had trained me by then to hold my own. There is very little that can touch me nowadays. But on occasion, some lucky bloke would strike a blow or two. Those are the remainder of what you've seen."

Nodding, Hadlee then says, "I'm so sorry I couldn't find you. I tried…" Edmond touches the bottom of her chin, so she'll lean back to look up at him. Kissing the end of her nose, he says, "I know you did. And you've no idea the amount of joy and adoration it filled within me, when I first saw the great lengths you went to while trying to find me." Hadlee smiles up at him, and then nestles her head back onto his chest.

He feeds her a piece of cheese, and then she asks, "How is Fernand going to pay today?" "That depends on him. He must be quickly realizing that he's lost everything now. I've driven him to bankruptcy, his business will no longer be able to function, and when he realizes that the crates of gold he thinks he stole from me are actually empty… well, then he will either agree to disappear into poverty. Or…"

He pauses for a moment, trying to think about how Hadlee will react to the other option. But before he can say it, she says for him, "Or he will die by the sword." Edmond looks down at the top of her head, but she doesn't lift hers to look at him. She simply snuggles closer to him, and then adds, "If you let him harm a single hair on your head, there will be hell to pay when you return home."

Chuckling beneath her, he kisses her head, "I will see what I can do." "Good. Now, can I have another grape?" "You may have everything your heart desires." "My stomach desires the grape. My heart only desires you."

And as he runs a hand down her body towards her most sensitive places, she laughs while saying, "Not right this second! You'll spoil me and I'll be no good for the rest of the day. I won't even bother leaving the bed." "That would most certainly be my preference." "Edmond!"

The tray of food fell to the floor, and Edmond was hovering over her again. He couldn't help smiling down at her laughing face, right up until he kissed her into silence again. And he would've, again, made love to her once more.

Except a knock came at the door, followed by Jacopo opening it and coming inside. Hadlee would've reached for the covers that were at Edmond's waist. But he grips her wrists in his hands, a devilish smile on his face as he pins her where she is.

Of course, his own body and arms were hiding enough of her that Jacopo couldn't see anything. But her face still blushed a beautiful shade of red, to which Edmond chuckles before suckling against the curve of her neck.

He would've continued to do so, her breathless pants in his ears a beautiful sound in his mind. But Jacopo cleared his throat, reminding the Count of his presence. Sighing a bit, he then leans up slightly and asks, "Yes, Jacopo?" "Forgive me, your Grace. But it's time."

Edmond blinks for a moment in confusion. But then remembers that he does still have to go and meet Fernand to end this once and for all. Nodding, he says, "I will be right out." "Yes, your Grace."

As soon as Jacopo is gone, Edmond leans up to look down at Hadlee. Her eyes flit between his for a moment. Then she smiles gently in understanding before saying, "Just come back to me." "I give you my word."

He kisses her one more time, and then slides out of bed to get dressed. He picks up his shirt from the other night, raising an eyebrow at Hadlee, "I would've thought you'd have more patience." She blushes, but replies all the same, "Not last night. Tonight, maybe." His answering smirk to her already having plans for them in bed tonight makes her laugh.

After he's finished, he comes back to the bed. Taking her hands in his, he kisses them both, and then says, "Please go to your brother's house and collect Albert and anything he wishes to bring. After this night, we will need to leave the country for a while." At Hadlee's frown, Edmond kisses it away and says, "I have made arrangements for your shop to continue running and functioning while you are not there. We will not have to stay away forever. Only long enough for all that has transpired these last few months to be forgotten."

Hadlee finally nods, and then says, "Or you can just help me open another flower shop in whatever city we end up in. I'm not picky about where. I just want my flowers." He smiles and kisses her again before saying, "You will have all the flowers you could ever want and more, my love." "Don't exaggerate." "I'm not."

Thinking about Albert again, Hadlee says, "Edmond… about Albert. There is something you should…" But Jacopo knocks again, enters the room, and says, "I'm sorry, your Grace. But you really must go."

Sighing, Edmond turns back to Hadlee and says, "When I return, we will talk about everything. About the future, about Albert… everything. Is that alright?" Hadlee smiles, nods her head, and then says again, "Just come back to me." "Of course, my love." He kisses her one last time, and then says, "Jacopo will drive you and Albert to meet me after Fernand is taken care of." "Okay."

As he leaves, Hadlee flops down onto the mattress. And after waiting a few minutes for Edmond to definitely be gone, she can't help giggling giddily. Her body felt used and spent, but all in the best of ways. And she couldn't wipe the ridiculous smile on her face away, no matter how many times she put a hand over her mouth to hide it.

Finally, she rises to dress, finding that sometime in the night, someone had already procured and left another dress for her to wear.

When she was ready and at the main door, Bertuccio bowed his head to her. Gesturing to the carriage behind him, he asks, "Whereto, mademoiselle?" Smiling at him, she says, "To my brother's house, please. I must see about getting Albert." "Of course. Right away."

Of course, she didn't realize when she got there what a state of disarray the house would be in. Or how angry Mercedes would be that she hadn't managed to seduce Edmond, yet again, for herself.

She also wasn't ready for the note that Albert had left, explaining that he had gone after his father to face off with the Count of Monte Cristo, who he now knew had only befriended him to get to his father.

Eyes widening, her body paralyzed by fear for a moment, Hadlee then turned and sprinted back down the stairs. Past a fuming Mercedes, Hadlee didn't even give her a second glance. She simply ran back out to the carriage, and shouted to Jacopo, "You must take me to wherever Edmond is!" "Milady! That isn't…" "Please Jacopo! Albert is already on his way there, and I cannot be too late! There is something he must know! There is something they must all know!"

"NO!"

Edmond had no intention of dying. He'd let Albert have the upper hand, allowing the boy to hold him at sword point, rather than disarm him. He would not harm Albert. Hadlee may love him, but she still loved this boy with all her heart as well.

He would've simply sidestepped the strike that Albert was intending to give him. He was faster and stronger than people could understand, and it would've been easy.

But Hadlee's horrified cry brought everyone to a screeching halt. Albert stares at her in shock and surprise. Fernand stares at her in aggravation. Edmond…

Well, he doesn't look all that surprised. He simply turns to her calmly, smiles gently, and then raises his hand in a peaceful gesture, "I would not have harmed him." Her eyes glare at him, "I know that! And instead, you would've let him run you through?!" "No, I would not."

At her now confused look, he says, "Later." Nodding, Hadlee then turns to Albert. Still pointing his sword at Edmond, he says to Hadlee, "He is not who he says he is." "I know who he is, Albert." "No, Aunt Hadee. He's not…" "No, he didn't used to be a Count. He is now, but I know he didn't used to be. He used to be a sailor, who was once friends with your father, and engaged to your mother, Mercedes."

Albert glances to Edmond, then back to Hadlee. Confusion on his face, he asks, "How… how do you know who he is?" "Because he was my friend too, Albert." Stepping closer to him, reading the hurt on his face, Hadlee says, "I am not your enemy, Albert. Nor is he. You know I would never hurt you." "But he…" "Will never hurt you, lest he wants to test my very limited patience where you're concerned."

Edmond raises an eyebrow, but doesn't contest Hadlee's words. Stepping up to Albert, she says, "There is something I must tell you. Something you have to know." Nodding, lowering his sword slightly, he asks, "What is it?" "Albert… you are not the son of Fernand Mondego."

Fernand glares and asks, "Stay out of this. He is still my…" "He is not your son." Hadlee glares back at him, and then looks to Albert again. Gently cupping his face, she explains, "Before your mother married Fernand, she was engaged to a man named Edmond Dantes. You have heard me mention his name before. Do you remember?"

Albert nods. The name Edmond Dantes was a name said with much reverence whenever Hadlee chose to mention the man. The name was also the reason Hadlee was seen in such poor light in society. It was the name of a man that was innocent, and that Hadlee had never given up on.

Smiling gently at Albert, Hadlee says, "The night before he was betrayed, your mother and Edmond… well… they created you." Tracing his beautiful face in her hands, Hadlee finishes, "You are the son of Edmond Dantes." Glancing back at Edmond, whose eyes have widened in surprise, she then adds to Albert, "The man you now know as the Count of Monte Cristo."

For a moment, silence reigns. Then Albert swiftly turns to face Fernand. "You… you knew?" Fernand glares again, but then says with disdain, "Yes, I'm afraid it is true. You are the walking proof that your mother was as much of a whore in her younger years as she is today." Hadlee grabs Albert's arm to prevent him from doing anything rash. He gently removes her hand from his elbow though, and then demands of the man he'd thought was his father, "And you… you let me fight him?"

Aggravated beyond comprehension, for reasons so crass that it makes Hadlee want to throw up, Fernand then steps closer to Albert and says, "It didn't do any good though, did it?"

He shoves Albert to the ground and out of the way. And as he raises his gun, the first person he aims at is Hadlee. But as soon as she blinks, Edmond is suddenly in front of her, pushing her behind him and out of the way. "No!"

Glaring at her brother as she tries to come closer again, still blocked by Edmond's strong arm, she adds, "No more of this Fernand. It is over. Just leave!"

Albert rises to his feet, coming to standing behind Hadlee, putting a hand on her shoulder to try and help hold her back. Edmond nods to the boy, knowing Hadlee will stay back to try and protect him if need be. Turning back to Fernand, he says, "I want no more of this. Just go, Fernand. Call it mercy. Mercy, Fernand."

As her brother begins lowers his gun, Hadlee places a firm hand to Edmond's back and says, "No. He will not…" But Edmond simply nods, already having expected that Fernand wouldn't actually simply leave quietly. And as the gun is leveled at him again, he glares and says, "You've only got one shot, Fernand. And it will take more than that to kill me."

Fernand smirks, "Well, then I'd best put it where it will do the most damage." The gun shifts right, towards Albert and Hadlee.

Edmond was quick, this we know. But Hadlee, in her own right from the experience she'd obtained while searching for Edmond, had earned faster reflexes as well. Nothing compared to the reflexes Edmond had… but fast enough for this. Not to mention with Jacopo's help, his throwing a dagger at Fernand's hand to further throw off the shot... she knew she was fast enough for this.

She shoves Albert back and down behind her, hears the loud bang of the gun going off, and then feels the sharp pain enter her left shoulder as the bullet rips through her flesh. Her body jerks from the impact, and then slams backwards hard onto the ground.

Okay... so maybe not as fast as she would've liked. But fast enough not to die. That has to count for something.

She knows she must've blacked out for a moment. Perhaps her head hit something, if the headache she felt coming on was anything to go by. In any case, when she opens her eyes, three heads are above her. Jacopo, who is pressing a cloth to her wound. Albert, who is in tears at the thought of losing her. And Edmond, who is cupping her face and begging her quietly to wake up.

Reaching up for her head, she groans a little at the pain. But then to their eternal relief, she complains, "Everybody get off of me. I'm fine." Jacopo grins and says to Edmond, "Once again, Zatarra. God sees you out the corner of his eye. She'll live." "Of course I'll live. I'm fine!"

Looking to Edmond, she asks, "Where is he?" "Gone, we think. He took off and…" But before he can finish, Fernand's voice shouts from outside, "Edmond! Edmond!"

He glances out to where Fernand had disappeared, and then Edmond turns back when Hadlee grips his shoulder in her hand. She winces as she tries to sit up, her head hurting more than her shoulder at this point. Then she asks, "You can beat him?" "Yes." She gives him a hard look, to which he cups her face and says, "I would not lie to you about this. I can beat him. He will die if he chooses to fight."

She stares at him hard a moment more, and then jerks him closer. Kissing him for a moment, she then leans back and says, "Then finish this, and come back to me." "Yes, my love."

He drapes his cloak around Hadlee's shoulders, and then turns to Albert. Gripping the young man's shoulder, he says, "Watch over your aunt." Then he takes his sword from Jacopo, and heads outside to face Fernand.

Albert helps Hadlee slide back so she can lean against one of the columns holding up what's left of this building. And for a moment after that, he appears to not know what to do, or what to say.

Then he looks up at Hadlee, and asks, "Is he the only reason why you love me so?" Hadlee tilts her head at him, but then widens her eyes and says, "Albert! That is ridiculous!" Pulling him closer, she kisses his forehead and says, "Edmond is the reason I agreed to tutor you. He is the reason your mother gave to me to help convince me to teach you, because though she is far from perfect, she did know that it would not end well for you to end up like Fernand. Edmond is the reason I chose to get to know you."

Cupping his face gently in her hand, she smiles, "But you, the man I've watched you become… that is the reason I love you so much, Albert. You are nothing like the man Fernand became. And you are everything your true father is, and so much more. I love you, for you."

Albert nods after a moment, and then kisses her temple and asks, "And… he is the man? The one who…" Hadlee nods, and says, "We have so much to discuss, Albert. So much to explain. But he is the man your father betrayed. He is the reason I have never liked your father, and never will. He is the man I love, and who I have always believed was innocent."

Sighing as she leans back against the column again, she says, "You have nothing more to worry about, Albert. He will take care of us from now on." "Me? Are you sure? I just tried to…" "He understands that. More to the point, he understands what you mean to me. Where I go, you go, until you are ready to make your own way in the world."

They sit there in silence for a moment. Then, finally, Edmond comes back inside. Hadlee offers him a small smile, but then looks over to Albert. Though she had never liked his father… and even Albert didn't like Fernand all the time… Fernand was still the man that, for sixteen years, Albert had thought of as father.

The tears welling up in his eyes were evidence of that. Hadlee drew him closer so his head rests on her shoulder. "It's alright, Albert. It's going to be alright."

He nods, and then stands up and moves outside so he can see for himself that Fernand is dead.

Edmond watches the boy, his son, as he walks away. Then he can't help grinning as Hadlee says, "You're bleeding." Turning back to her, he nods, "I am." Her eyes narrow, "I told you not to let him hurt you." "It was unavoidable." She raises an eyebrow, "Unacceptable." "Mm… I see."

Bending down to where she is, glancing at her shoulder, he says, "I'll have to see what I can do to make it up to you. After we've had your shoulder tended to, that is." "I'm fine." "So you've said." She pretends to glare at him, but then smiles gently before asking, "Are you alright?" "Yes, my love. They are flesh wounds, nothing more. You are our more pressing concern at the moment."

Turning to Jacopo, Edmond says, "Please bring the carriage around, my friend. We will leave as soon as Albert is ready." "Yes, your Grace."

And as Jacopo leaves, Edmond can't help laughing when Hadlee says, "And that's another thing. He calls you by that name, Zatarra. Why? Where did that even come from?" "Later. I promise, my love. All will be told and explained. But later." "Now."

He kisses her gently, and then grins when she says, "You bought yourself one minute." He kisses her again, just a little deeper, and she says, "Maybe an hour." She moans into his mouth when he slants his lips over hers, his tongue sweeping inside of her mouth, teeth nibbling at her bottom lip, and then finally pulling back, only to dive in again and return for more.

When he finally releases her to come up for air again, she asks breathlessly, "What were we talking about?" Edmond just grins, "Later, my love. Later."

Three months later:

Hadlee can hardly believe how the time has flown. Nor can she believe how quickly they were able to move into Edmond's house in Rome. The only hiccup that had occurred at all, was Mercedes pitching a fit when she realized Albert was leaving as well. But as he was sixteen, and technically a man, there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Attempting to sit up in bed, she makes a brief noise of discomfort at the pain in her shoulder. It was still healing from the wound. Mostly, it just ached whenever she first woke up in the morning.

Warm hands land on her shoulders, gently pulling her back into his body. Edmond shifted so he was sitting up in bed behind her, and then began massaging her shoulders as he did every morning. This is what loosened the irritated muscles, and helped them to function normally again.

Sighing against him, Hadlee says, "Good morning." "Good morning. And a lovely morning, it is indeed." "You always say that." "You are always here, so it is always true." Kissing her temple, he asks, "Are you hungry?" Hadlee simply turns her head so she can look at him. Letting her eyes trail up and down what of him she can see, she then says, "Yes. Starving, actually."

Edmond grins, "Really? I must not have 'fed' you well enough last night. Please. Allow me to remedy that." "Edmond, I was kidding!" "But I'm not." She's on her back beneath him before she can utter anymore argument. She tries to sit up, or roll them over so she's on top. But Edmond keeps her pinned, "No, my love. The doctor insists you give your shoulder another month before you do anything strenuous." "Loving you is far from strenuous." "Perhaps. But making love can be, if done certain ways. And the particular way you would like to try, is going to put strain on your shoulder."

She pouts up at him, but he just kisses her bottom lip before saying, "I will make it up to you when you have full use of your beautiful shoulder again." Grinning at that, Hadlee then laughs when he begins sliding his lips down her body. "Edmond, I was actually joking. We can just go eat breakfast." "And we might've, if you hadn't looked at me that way. But now I'm starving. So breakfast will wait." "Edmond… Ed… Edmond…" She moans as his mouth finally reaches it's destination. He simply grins and says, "Lay back and relax, my love. I will fill you up in no time." "Please stop talking." "As you wish, my love."

And at the breakfast table later, while his smirks continue to make her blush ten shades of red, she still can't help smiling back at him. It had taken forever for them to reach this point. It had taken years of pain and misery, before they finally found each other again.

But they were here. They were a family, and there was not a thing left on this planet that could touch them. Between all of Hadlee's loyal friends, Edmond's contacts and friends, and even Maximillian Morrell, whom Albert still kept in touch with… there was no more evil that could get to them now. What little their friends couldn't help them solve, Edmond's wealth usually took care of. A wealth he now devoted to only good causes and good deeds, rather than the vengeance he had devoted it to before.

Hadlee wasn't sure she'd ever completely get used to this feeling of complete and total contentment. She had everything she could ever want, and more. Of course, Edmond was all she'd ever truly needed. Everything else after that was a bonus. The garden out back. The shop he procured for her to continue her business. The massive library he added to the house and filled with books from across the entire globe.

So even as he smirks again, causing her to blush once more with the way his eyes pour over her, she reaches for his hand, smiling at the way it feels within hers. And as he raises it to his lips, kissing it delicately before placing it back on the table… Hadlee decides that this must be very much what heaven feels like.

Edmond squeezes her hand, and as Albert finally leaves the breakfast table to go and meet Maximillian in town, Edmond asks, "What are you thinking about, my love?" Smiling, she says, "You. And how lucky I am to finally have you." He kisses her hand again, "I assure you, Hadlee Dantes. It is I, who am so lucky, to finally have you."

Chapter 9! The End! So yeah, just a cute little story that popped into my head. I absolutely love this movie and this book (the book is obviously better. The book is almost always better). Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it, and that it brought a little smile to your face. Thanks for reading!