Hello faithful readers, I am so sorry for the long time between updates my muse left me for a while but I think she is showing her face again and I am hoping that she will hang around so I can finish this story. I do know where the story is going and have an outline planned out. So as long as she stays with me I hope to have regular updates. There is a bit of fluff in this chapter to help me move it along and get it to where I need it to be.
As always they are not mine I am just playing with them.
Where Too Now?
Chapter 6
SPOV
I have to admit I was a bit shaken after the run in with Anthony. Alexander brought me inside and started making the tea that he had promised me. I sat on a bar stool while he moved about the kitchen, I could not help but think that trouble seem to find me no matter where I am. I realized at that very moment that the one thing that I wanted when I found a place to stay was that I wanted to not only feel safe but be safe. I was so lost in thought that I jumped when Alexander put a cup down in front of me.
"Bella, did Anthony scare you that much?"
"A little, but I was just thinking."
"What were you thinking?"
"That when I find a new place to live, I want it to be a safe place to live." He just nodded to me as he sipped his tea, "Alexander?"
"Yes Bella?"
"What happens now? Do I have to leave?"
"No you stay as long as you need to. Ulysses and I have decided to take some time off and stay here at the lake as well. But I want you to do a couple of things for me Bella while you are here."
"You have done so much for me Alexander I will do anything for you that I can."
"First whenever you go out I want you to take Aiden with you. He normally likes to run around the lake when we are here so he will be a perfect running companion for you."
"I have no problem with that besides it would be nice to have someone to run with."
He smiled and took my hands into his, "Bella are you still at odds with your family?" I gave him a confused look, "Your mother has still banned you from her house has she not?" I nodded at him, "And your father has he tried to make amends with you?"
"No. I tried to call and talk to him, but mom always picks up the phone. The one time I did get to talk to him he told me it as better if I didn't call anymore."
"Bella I am sorry that your family has shunned you. Over the past couple of years I have seen what a amazing caring person you are. You kept visiting this old man even after everything with Hannibal was done and over with. You have become a daughter to me and there is nothing I would not do for you to see you safe and happy. What I am trying to ask you is will you call me Papa?"
I was stunned and didn't know what to say. I was born into a family with a mother who did not want me to be me but burg. And here was a man that I known for only two years and was asking me to be a part of his family. I searched his eyes and saw them shining back love and hope. I felt my eyes tearing up the only other people I saw that look come from were RBLT, they always had that look.
"Bella?"
I got off of my stool and wrapped my arms around his neck, "Yes!"
I felt his arms come up around me, "Oh Bella, you have no clue how happy you have made an old man."
I don't know how long we stayed like that but I jumped when I heard a voice behind us, "It seems that I may have missed something."
I turned around and smiled, "Papa and I were just talking Ulysses."
"Papa huh?" I nodded at him, "Then I guess that makes you my little sister."
"I guess so." I could not help the huge smile that spread across my face.
"Tell me Ulysses what did Anthony have to say about what he was looking for?" I turned to leave so they could talk without having to worry about me. "Stay Bella this concerns you as well."
"He did not say much as we escorted him to his car. The only thing we really got from him was that he was looking for something that he hid on the property and he would not stop until he found it."
"Hmm…this could cause problems."
"We went back and looked where he had been digging and there holes dug all over the place. So whatever he is looking for he has no clue where it is."
"And Bella, do you think he will fixate on her?"
"I do not know Father, I hope not."
"He will."
They both looked at me shocked, "Bella?"
"What? It's true he will, it's just the type of luck I have when it comes to these types of things."
"I hope by declaring you family it will discourage him."
"If anything I am sure it will just drive him to get to me more."
"Why do you say that Steph?" Ulysses asked me.
"Because he was kicked out of your family and I was brought in. If anything he will use me to hurt you for being part of your family." Hmm…maybe just maybe I have been stalked one too many times if I can now understand why someone would stalk me.
"I hope you are wrong Bella."
"Me too Papa."
"So Steph how much exploring did you get to do around the house?" I smiled at Ulysses I knew that he was trying to change the subject.
"Aidan gave me a brief tour yesterday but for the most part just the most amazing bathroom I have ever seen and a huge closet full of clothes, which I need to thank you for Papa."
"Think nothing of it Bella."
Ulysses chuckled, "Is that all you saw Steph?"
"Inside the house yes, I did run the trail that goes around the lake this morning. Oh and just so you know the house across the lake is not empty I saw someone walk out of the back door."
"Hmm…now that is odd I have only seen the owner there a few times. You need not worry whoever is at the house will not bother us." Papa told us, "Now Ulysses why don't you give her a real tour of the house while I go and make a few calls."
"Shall we sister?" he asked me with a smile.
"Why of course brother."
For the rest of the day Ulysses showed me every nook and cranny of the lake house. Everything from the panic room in the basement to the 'gun closet' as Ulysses called it. He should have called it a warehouse for the number of weapons that were in there.
As we walked back upstairs I could not help but to ask, "Ulysses are you sure that you should be showing me all this?"
"Father has made you apart of our family and you need to know where these things are to keep yourself safe if the need arises."
"I am sure that there are many members to the 'Family', do they know all this?"
Ulysses stopped walking and spun around and took my hands into his. "Stephanie believe me when I say father brought you into our family. Yes by becoming my sister you now are in the 'Family' but when father asked you to join us he meant by blood and love. Since you have come into our families' life I have seen father smile and laugh more then he has in year. When he heard of what your mother had done to you I have never seen him so angry. Stephanie there is nothing that father and I would not do for you."
By this point I had tears clearly running down my face, this is how family should be. Not yelling or belittling you. I know that I am not a hugging person, but I could not help put pull Ulysses into arms and hug him, "Thank you, you have no idea how much that means to me."
He hugged me tightly, "It seems that we are having too many serious conversations today. How about we go to the home theater and watch a movie."
"You have a home theater?"
"Yes, WE have a home theater. It's on the roof. Come I will show you."
As we walked up upstairs Ulysses pointed out a few things that Aiden had missed, like the music room with every possible instrument you can name, or the library with books on every wall up to the ceiling, oh and a gym that could put Rangers to sham. I was starting to think that this cabin was way bigger then it looked after all that gym took up the whole fourth floor of this place.
I kept walking behind Ulysses as he led me up a fifth flight of stairs and into what was differently the home theater. I have never seen a screen that big in a home, it must have been 12 feet long and just as high. There were five rows with five reclining chairs in each and each had a cup holder. There was also an old fashion pop corn maker in the corner.
"Ulysses just to double check I am family right?"
"Stephine we have been over this of course you are family."
"Good because I am never leaving, this place has everything a girl could need or want."
He let out a belly laugh, "Don't let father hear you say that, he may believe you. Now go pick out a movie while I get the popcorn ready."
"Sure where are the DVD's?" He pointed at the computer in the other corner, I walked over and moved the mouse, "Wow there are thousands of titles in here!" I scrolled threw the movies and I could feel my eyes pop out of my head, "You have Avatar in 3D? Do you have the glasses too?"
"In the arm console of the chairs there is a pair. What would you like to drink?"
"What are my options?"
He turned to the wall next to a pop corn machine and flipped a switch and the wall slide open, "You name it we got it."
There was a whole bar that was behind the wall, "Wow, how about a coke I have never seen this movie and would like to make it to the end of it."
He laughed at me as he pulled a cold bottle of coke out of the frig and passed it to me. "I suggest sitting in the third row up, 3D movies look best from there."
I walked up and sat in chair putting my drink into the cup holder and opened up the arm console. "Jackpot." I whispered under by breath. Inside the console were not only the glasses but candy as well.
As I was trying to decide on what candy to eat, Ulysses had walked over to the computer and started the move. Just as I pulled out a box of chocolate cover raisins, those are the best to sprinkle of popcorn, Ulysses sat next to me and passed me my popcorn.
"Have you really never seen this movie?"
"No I wanted to see it at the movies but it cost way too much to see it in 3D and I was told that was the only way to see it."
"That is very true. Now put on your glasses the movie is about to start."
The lights in the room automatically dimmed as the movie was starting. I poured my candy on top of the popcorn and dug in. Now this is how you watch a movie.
Sometime later…
"Wow Ulysses that was the best movie ever! I can see why people went and saw it five or six times the graphic were unbelievable!"
"I am glad you enjoyed it."
"I really did. So what other fun things do have hidden? A roller coaster in the woods? Log flume on the lake?" I laughed.
He chuckled, "No nothing like that, but if you like I would love to show you my favorite thing to do while here."
"Sure, lead the way."
We didn't have far to go, Ulysses took my hand and pulled me along behind him and out a door opposite the one we came in. In took us out side and I was amazed to find that it was dark already.
"It seems that you have kept me busy all day Ulysses."
"You know I am sure that if I had tried to keep you busy it would have not worked, so I am going to have to keep in mind not to try." He laughed, so I stuck my tongue out at him. "This is what I wanted to show you."
"A telescope?"
"Yes, I love to look at the stars and I have found you don't see them very well from the beach house. We are too close to the casinos and there lights wash out the sky. But up here there is only this cabin and the cabin across the lake for miles around and the light they give off does not affect the night sky."
"I don't think I have ever looked at the stars with a telescope before."
"I will show you." He went over and took the caps off the ends of it and look threw the eye piece as he turned some knobs. After he played with a bit he called me over, "Come look."
I leaned down and looked, "That is amazing and beautiful." I told him in awe
"That is the Milky Way."
"What else can you show me?"
He smiled at me and this time as he turned the knobs and changed the level he told me what each thing did. He played with a few moments longer then last time before stepping away to let me see.
"What star is that one?"
"That's not a star, its Venus."
"Like the planet?"
He laughed at me, "Yes like the planet."
"More, show me more I have never seen anything like this!"
And he did. For the next hour we played with the telescope. At first he turned the knobs showing me different parts of the night sky. But then he let me explore on my own. I could stand there all night this was so amazing. It was not till I let out my first yawn that Ulysses insisted that we call it a night. He walked me back down to my room and kissed me on the forehead before wishing me good night.
FY I have seen the Milky Way myself and I was lucky enough that I did not have to use a telescope to do so. I only live about two and half hours north of Trenton so I took a guess that they should be able to see it with a telescope. I hope that you enjoyed. Liz