66. Stay the night
While Regan, Stevie and Moira were spending some minutes in the kitchen before going to bed Alex had made his decision to leave Killarney. After a short talk with Marcus he simply wanted to be with his future wife. It was against the rules, but he didn't care at all. The announcement Bryce had made had affected both brothers a lot. Alex made his way to Drovers Run late in the evening; the darkness and silence had made him sad. All he wanted was to be with the family he wanted. From his own history he knew Marcus needed time alone, or maybe he could ask Regan to check on him to be completely sure.
When he stepped into the kitchen the three women immediately looked at him, surprised and wondering what was going on. Alex' face made clear there had happened something and Stevie felt her heart skip a beat. She was scared for what he was going to say. 'Alex, what are you doing here?', she asked, reaching for him to catch his arm. He sighed, looking at her, sharing quick glances with Moira and Regan. 'Can we go to the study?'
All kinds of thoughts ran through Stevie's mind, her heartbeat speeding up. Was there something wrong? Was this about the two of them? 'Alex, tell me, what's wrong?' she demanded, not willing to stay any longer with these unsure thoughts in her mind. The door closed and Alex gazed at her, seeing those asking eyes. 'Don't worry', he stated. 'It's Bryce .. well it's me, Marcus; we're brothers.' 'What?' Stevie said overwhelmed with his quick words. 'Marcus is Bryce's son, he told us tonight. He had planned this all, and he wanted us to know for tomorrow.' Alex shook his head, still not sure what to think of it all. He was mad at his own man, he was worried about Marcus and glad, glad to know he was his brother.
'Are you okay?', Stevie asked, rubbing his arm gently. He nodded, although she could tell it was playing constantly on his mind; like he wasn't fully with her. 'And Marcus?' 'He's okay, he's just in his room, trying to understand I guess. I dunno what to do for him.' 'Shall I ask Regan to check on him?' Stevie said, moving closer. He nodded. 'But let him tell herself. All he wants is something real now.' She gave him a soft smile. 'Why don't you visit your daughter. I will ask Regan if she wants to check on Marcus. Okay?' 'Yes, good.' He blinked with his eyes; the whole evening seemed so unreal. She left him slightly dazed.
'Is everything okay?' Regan asked when Stevie entered the kitchen. 'Uhm, I hope so. Can you go to Marcus?' 'Why?' Regan tried to see in her friend's eyes what was wrong. 'He might appreciate it. There happened something, but I guess it's better for him to tell', Stevie now calmly spoke. The situation was strange. She had gone through it as parent, while Alex and Marcus were affected as being the child, which made it hard for her to deal with it. 'Uhm yeah', Regan just said, totally unsure what to do next. Somehow all of a sudden going to Marcus wasn't that easy. 'Go', Stevie pushed her. 'He will be all right. Don't worry, really.' 'And you, and Alex?' Regan said, turning her face before Stevie would push her outside. 'We'll be fine, I guess.' Regan gave her a last nod.
When Stevie got upstairs she found Alex with Aislin in his arms, sitting in bed. She smiled softly at him. 'Regan is to Killarney.' 'Good', he quietly spoke, looking at his daughter, so peaceful. She sat next to him. 'At least she will always know who her real parents are', Alex just stated, his thumb softly caressing Aislin's cheek. Stevie sat closer, leaning against his arm. She reached with her fingers to his hair, softly playing with it right under his ear. It was a way to distract herself, to relax next to him. He gently leaned in to her touch as he started to talk. 'I've send him away.' He looked at her. 'Bryce ...', he added. 'I don't want him to be part of our wedding.' Stevie softly nodded, not sure if it had any use saying something about it. 'If you don't mind, I wanna stay here tonight'. 'Oh no', Stevie shook her hand. '... no problem. If you don't feel like spending the night at Killarney.' 'I just wanna be with you and Aislin, you are all that counts ... well I'm gonna lay Ace back in her crib', Alex said, gently moving of the bed as Stevie followed his moves. She thought about what to say, what to do to ease Alex' mind.
When he returned Alex switched off the main lights and lay in bed. He kissed her gently on her temple. 'If you wanna talk about it?', she softly spoke. Alex started to tell more about the evening. 'But it doesn't matter', he finally stated. 'It does', Stevie pulled his face close. 'It does. You're not here cause it doesn't matter.' 'I know, I just don't know what to think of it. I feel for Marcus. He can't ask his mother about anything anymore, he just has Bryce. Well I never really bond with him, so why would he?' She rubbed his chin gently. 'But he has you.' Alex nodded. 'He would have me anyway, he's my mate.' Alex stared in front of him, feeling Stevie's fingers caress his face.
He remembered the moment he had found out Harry wasn't his father. So many things had happened since than. 'Come here', she said, noticing his absent staring. She pulled him close, her arms around him. She kissed his hair quickly. 'It's gonna be okay.' 'I know', he whispered. 'He has Regan, he has us.' He could feel her nod on his shoulder. 'That's all that matters.' She moved back and looked him straight in his eyes. 'We'll be fine and from tomorrow on we are a real family.' She could see the corners of his mouth raising. 'We will, the big day is tomorrow and I'm in my bride's bed.' 'We never did anything by the rules Alex', she smirked.
'Remind me why you invented that wedding night rule?', he raised his eyebrows teasingly. Stevie had to laugh. 'It will be special Alex, just like us.' 'Oh yeah now I know. At least I can hold you in my arms tonight.' They moved further under the sheets to lay down, facing each other. With soft smiles they kept staring into each other eyes like a special connection was building up. In the meantime his hand massaged the skin just above her hip. She finally pressed her body tightly against his, reaching for his lips. 'You will be mine for the rest of our lives, Stevie', Alex whispered before she kissed him tenderly. 'Completely yours', she added after.