Sorry for the long wait my muse ran away screamed and hid… but anyway here is the next chapter. R&R please.
I woke early to see the early sunrise coming in through the windows. I gently removed myself from Will's arms and got up. I quickly showered and dressed leaving a note on my pillow for Will when he woke up. I quietly left the bedroom and made my way to my office. I felt happy and I wondered why it took me so long to feel like I could have a relationship with someone like Will. I didn't do 'normal' because it was not usually possible. I sat down at my desk and began the work for the day, putting my personal feelings and relationship aside for the time being. Time wore on and before I knew it lunch was delivered by Will and I smiled. I went back to work and the same routine was repeated, until it was time for bed in which everyone turned in at the same time for once.
The pattern continued for two weeks and I found myself being talked into a 'family' vacation to my Italian villa by Will and Henry, and Kate. I made the arrangements and that is why I found myself in the pilot seat of one of my jets preparing to land on the private stretch of airway. Landing the aircraft flawlessly I looked over at Will, he looked a little pale, though I couldn't blame him the only time he had ever been in an aircraft that I flew, it had been taken down by an angry and unpleasant abnormal.
"Darling, you can open your eyes now; we have landed safely and in one whole piece." I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. I stood up and kissed him on his forehead while he unbuckled himself. I turned and went to the passenger area to open the door and put the steps out.
Climbing the stairs down, I noticed that a car had already been sent. Will and the others came down the steps of the plane with the luggage and I smiled when Will also had mine. I walked over and retrieved my bags from him and slung them over my shoulder heading towards the car. Packing the luggage in the trunk we all climbed in and I started the car.
"Mom, how long until we get there?" Henry had taken to calling me 'Mum' again in front of Kate and Will after he had slipped up a few days ago. I looked up and was instantly reminded of how impatient he was on long trips.
"It's a thirty minute drive Henry, we will be there soon, I promise." I smiled noting the look Will had given Henry at calling me 'Mum' because there are only three years in age difference between them. The rest of the drive was quiet and I found myself thinking as I drove the familiar route to the Villa.
The Villa finally loomed in front of us and I heard three distinct sharp intakes of breaths and smiled. They had never been here. They would look at the walls the gates and the tall hedges surrounding another gothic style house. I pulled up to the gate and punched in the security code, the gates swung open and for the first time I realized what a novelty it was that I only ever built or bought gothic style buildings. The Villa had been left to me by my godfather. I like it very much. The grounds were beautiful and clean as always and the building was 8500 square feet of vacation space not counting the 60 surrounding acres most all fenced or gated or walled for my privacy. The back led out to a private beach with a bay that was home to some of the clearest waters on the Italian coast. I parked the car in the garage and we all climbed out breathing in the fresh ocean air.
"Wow." Was the most audible thing that came from everyone standing behind me in the foyer of the old gothic building. They separated and went about exploring as I took my bags and Will's up the large staircase and into the master bedroom before making my way to the kitchen. As I suspected the kitchen was already full of food and I began to pull things out for dinner. It was awhile before I was disturbed by anyone.
"What are you cooking, it smells so good?" I turned around to see Kate walking in through the doorway. I smiled at her taking in the fact that she had indeed changed into her bathing suit and had possibly already found my pool.
"A traditional Pizza with Pepperoni, three cheeses, Canadian bacon, and pineapple chunks, a salad and if you would like to help, I can have a dessert ready as well." I stated as I began to rinse out the bowl that I had made the pizza sauce in. Kate nodded and went over to the refrigerator and began pulling things out for the salad. I started on dessert.
One hour later I called the boys up from wherever they were on the grounds as Kate set the table. I walked back in and sat at my usual place as did Kate, while seconds later the boys sprinted in. Sitting down at their usual spots we ate while discussing plans for the three week vacation we were taking. Will and Henry were talking about video games and Kate and I were discussing the options of the beach for sun bathing and which suit to wear.
"Can you teach me how to dive?" Kate's question made me smile and I took another bite before replying.
"Of course, I am qualified to certify you if you want it." I smiled and she nodded in agreement. With that settled and everyone finished with dinner the boys decided to do the dishes, ushering us out of the room so they could 'talk', that in and of itself scared me and Kate almost to no end. We found ourselves in my room as I chose a black and silver bikini that Will decided I needed for the trip, noticing that he had removed my solid black one piece from my suitcase. I frowned as I looked in the mirror after putting it on. I have a good body, healthy and fit with a sort of athletic side to it, but I have never seen the point in flaunting it just to do so.
"Wow Doc, I didn't think you did two pieces." Kate whistled staring at me. I squirmed a little under the scrutiny.
"I don't usually but it seems that Will has a different opinion as I didn't pack this suit myself and my usual one is missing." I sighed and grabbed my overthrow shrugging it on and walking out of the room with Kate heading towards the indoor pool. We entered the pool area and made our way to the chairs. Kate took off her overthrow and immediately ran to the deeper end and jumped in. When she surfaced it was with a look of 'I want you to do it too' and I sighed. I took my overthrow off and made my way gracefully to the diving board making Kate raise an eyebrow as I climbed the ladder allowing myself a grin. I took a deep breath and launched myself into a triple back flip and dove into the pool making my way to the shallow side before coming up for air. Kate swam over looking shocked and I grinned.
"Surprised, Kate?" I asked as she nodded. I heard claps coming from behind me in the general direction of the door way and turned to see Henry and Will in their suits grinning wildly.
"See Will, I told you she would do it didn't I?" Henry punched Will in the shoulder.
"Yeah, you did but guess what that means, "He grinned wider as Henry's face fell. "You have to ask your question first." Will stated happily to a very scared looking Henry. I looked at Kate seeing the look on her face that said the same thing I was thinking. They obviously had a surprise, however what it was, was going to be kept from us. We frowned, trying to come up with what they could possibly be hiding. My thoughts were cut short as Will ran to the other end of the pool and jumped in while Henry used the diving board like I had minus the flips. I made my way back to the deep end and began to systematically swim laps while the others played childish games. After twenty-eight laps I found myself being pulled into a game of water volleyball. It was Will and Kate versus me and Henry. After we were all sufficiently tired out from the pool we took showers and made our way to the living room for movies.
When I woke some time later I found I couldn't get up to go to the loo because I was pinned by something. I blinked moving the arm I could to wipe the sleep from my eyes. Looking around I can tell the others were piled in various way on top of each other effectively pinning me. Will was laying on my stomach his ear against my heart beat, Kate was using both of us as pillows and Henry lying on Kate in the same fashion as Will was. 'Well, this is just fantastic...' I thought to myself. I really had to go and the pressure on me mid section was not helping. Me being me, tried to gently shift out from under everyone else without disturbing them. I managed to free myself and walked as quickly and quietly to the nearest bathroom. I finished and washed my hands. Deciding that I didn't want to leave the others I want back to find all of them sitting up and separating from the pile. Will looked at me as I came back in.
"We didn't think you'd get out of the dog pile there sleepy head." He teased and I smiled.
"Well when you got to go, you find your way out." I shrugged and sat down beside him, curling up beside him again this time making sure he was on the bottom. Kate and Henry came over and curled up, making us a pile of limbs, again. We all slept like that for the rest of the night.
There are people who sleep through everything, and then there are people who don't. I wake if the wind changes direction, sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. So when Kate woke, I did.
"Kate everything okay?" I asked her sleepily. She shook her head no and I immediately went in to doctor mode. I started to take in her appearance, she looked paler and greener than normal, her eyes slightly glassy. I was fully awake and out of the pile moving towards her. I took her arm and led her to my room. "Kate what's wrong you have to tell me or I can't help?" she nodded which was apparently not good as she bolted for the bathroom. I followed grabbing her hair and pulling it back trying to sooth her as she lost the contents of her stomach. I got up from my position beside her and got a glass of water and a wash rag. Handing them to her, she took them with a nod in thanks. I offered a small smile as I stood back up and was greeted with a wave of dizziness. A hand to my head and a hand on the nearest surface I took deep breaths praying for the world to right itself. It didn't until I felt hands pulling me out of the bathroom.
"Maybe we should both stick to bed today, what do you say Magnus, you look about as good as I feel." Kate sat down with me on the bed and I almost laughed at the look she gave me. It was of concern like I had shown her but she was nervous. Truth be told so was I. I, Helen Magnus, was never sick, much less dizzy unless it was my own doing, or a very, very nasty bug. I nodded at Kate knowing that we were both going to be subjected to pampering weather we liked it or not until we were better. She nodded and together we turned the covers down. I noted that even with the almost ten straight hours of sleep I had had, I still felt amazingly tired. Climbing under the covers with Kate's help as the world still had not righted itself, she tucked me in, and I let my mind wander. Thinking about what virus or infection I could possibly have come into contact with, that my heightened immune system couldn't cope with, I soon drifted off to sleep. I felt Kate climb into bed next to me and somehow knew that she was thinking the same thing.
I woke to the horrid smell of coffee, it always bothers me. However, it has never turned my stomach; I looked at Kate, knowing full well she felt the same way, we are both adamant about tea. I realized I was losing the battle and scrambled for the bathroom. When I was finished it was Kate I found holding back my hair and it was her turn to hand me a wash rag and a glass of water rubbing my back in sympathy. I smiled weakly at Kate.
"I'm sorry Kate, I know you aren't feeling well." I looked up at her from my position on the floor. She smiled at me and suddenly her face began going green. Noting her appearance I stood up and helped her down, feeling better after my episode. I again held her hair and repeated the process from earlier. "Perhaps we have the stomach flu?" I wondered out loud to no one in particular.
"Yeah, probably, we should tell the boys we are staying in bed today." I nodded at Kate's comment; we certainly didn't need them sick as well. I think it ironic; if I don't go on vacation I don't get sick, but when I do… I finally managed to brush my teeth and Kate managed as well before we climbed back into bed. As I was walking back around the bed after tucking Kate into her side of my bed Will and Henry came in with tea for us. I looked at Kate and she smiled.
"Helen, Kate are you two feeling okay, you both don't look to well?" Will just had to be the observer, keen and maybe a little too concerned. It was almost nice if Henry hadn't walked to the closet and pulled out the disposable thermometers. Kate and I were subjected to the having our vitals taken and were promptly restricted to bed for the day. The boys moved the television set and DVD's into the bedroom and left me and Kate to read or watch movies for the day.
The next few days of the vacation went like this: wake up, eat breakfast, randomly lose contents of stomach, swim, and eat. Will and Henry were worried, but Kate and I never had a fever so we insisted we were fine. I doubly insisted because I was not going to miss lying out on the beach just because I could randomly lose my lunch. On the last day of vacation I was checking my bags to make sure I didn't forget anything, when I had the sinking feeling that losing my morning toast was going to be happening. I made my way to the bathroom and lost my toast. After cleaning myself up I went back to packing. I was zipping up the cases when a hand started rubbing circles on my stomach. It was Will.
"Hey, Henry and I have been thinking, he is talking to Kate, but we would feel a lot better if you both would go and see a doctor." I turned to look at Will. He was concerned and so was Henry. 'Bloody hell, they really are worried.' I thought about it and I could do nothing but nod in agreement, Kate and I needed a second opinion.
"I will talk with Kate about going to see Ally when we get back; I think it's time for a second opinion as well." I smiled picking up my bags and heading for the car, it was time to go home.
I know I know, 'Bloody Cliffhanger' but still… R&R please I would love to hear what you think is going to happen.