A/N: Back with another chapter! Miss me? I sure hope you did. :p I actually really like this chapter. I was quite surprised that I wrote it in a couple of hours. Literally, I had hit a funk in my writing and didn't do much but relax and wait until my muse came back. Well, apparently I have more than one muse - four to be exact. Yes, you have my Queens 2ne1 (Dara, Minzy, CL, and Bom) to thank for this update since it was their songs Lonely and Ugly that gave me my juice to write this chapter today and finish it. However, your reviews have been a big help. I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be my most popular story, but that will only be because of you wondrous, wonderful, people! But, even if it isn't, I am grateful for those of you who have followed, favorited, and left a review. You all make my day. And as every chapter, I ask for your opinions. Love it? Hate it? Just leave a review or PM me. I eagerly await your responses! 'Till next chapter my sweets.
There was a groan in the room as Daisy shifted in bed. There was an ache in her lower gut. The pain was an effect of her uterus lining being ripped out from her as her menstruation was beginning. It put her in a foul mood. Standing, she grabbed a clean change of clothes, a towel and a pad, before heading straight to the bathroom. Turning on the water she watched as it fell over her body. The hot water easing her tight muscles, her cramps slowly leaving. She sighed in relief. Why did periods have to be so god damn painful? Lathering her hands with the shampoo she washed her hair. Time was felt slow as she was in no rush for the shower to end. After an admittedly long time she decided that she rather not be pruney and exited the shower. Quickly drying herself she then put on her clothes. She went back into the room and threw herself on the bed. She definitely needed more rest.
There was ruffling around her. She froze, wondering who was in the room with her. Then realization came back that it was only Th'vk. Her husband. Mate. But, for the time being he was a roommate-slash-courter. It was definitely the weirdest relationship she had ever been in or one of the few. One could look at it however they wanted. The Predators had gradually relinquished their control over the daily lives of the women, leaving them to care themselves. One thing Daisy had noticed was that they did not eat every day, or every meal. They ate once every few days, it was a startling fact to find out. Only eating once every few days seemed like torment. Speaking of food, she was becoming very hungry. "It is time for you to eat." Th'vk announced. Daisy only grunted in response, there was no way she was going to leave the room. Hungry, or not, she would stay in bed and rest. "Are you not hungry?"
Daisy turned her head to view Th'vk. Her eyes were slightly narrowed. "Of course, I'm hungry! Hungry, bleeding, and in pain. You know, just like every menstrual cycle." She replied haughtily. Her head started to hurt.
"You are injured?" He questioned as he tried to approach her.
Her head snapped to look at him to warn him not to touch her. She sighed, "Do you know what a menstrual cycle, also commonly known as a period, is?"
"No." He grunted, no doubt finding it distasteful that she knew something that he did not.
Daisy rolled around to lie on her back, so that she would be able to look at Th'vk while she explained what exactly a menstrual was. He studied her carefully as she went on. He drank in her every word. When she finished she closed her eyes to rest. She always tired easily on her period. "Then, if you were pregnant you would not be on this . . . period?"
Slowly opening her eyes she eyed him suspiciously. "Yes, that is correct," she nodded. He better not go there, she glowered.
"Would it not then be better to be pregnant?" His response spoken slowly, knowing it was not the smartest thing to say but not being able to help himself.
"No, it would not be better if I were pregnant." She grounded out, chest huffing. "If anything, I would no doubt be even crankier than I am now." I can't believe he actually went there, the jerk!
"You are aware then, that you are being aggravating." He stood with arms crossed over his chest.
Her eyes widened and then narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me?" Daisy gowled, giving him only one chance to take back his words.
He stood quiet for a couple of seconds before he gave a sigh. It was an odd sound coming from him, almost like he was choking. "I apologize, I should not have insulted you." His voice carried some truth to what he said but Daisy knew he wasn't completely sorry.
Who could really blame him? Daisy knew that she could be a bit abrasive on her period. "I kind of deserved it." She admitted reluctantly. Her response gave Th'vk a pause. "But, don't go thinking that all women are cranky on their periods or because of their periods. It is a preconception sure to get you kicked where it hurts the most." She finished warningly.
"Impossible, the Yuatja do not hurt worse in one place than any other." He huffed, like a child.
Rolling her eyes Daisy replied, "Right. It's an earth saying, meaning that you would get kicked in your junk." He regarded her with a blank expression. She groaned, why do I have to explain it to him? "Your 'junk' is your man bits, or balls, or dick. It is that." She pointed at his groin. "On earth it is a guy's sensitive area, it never fails to cause a guy to bend over, loosen his grip, become weak, or all of the above and more. It is essentially their weak spot and plenty of people have kicked a male there for whatever reason they wanted him to be in pain for."
"It sounds dishonorable." He studied Daisy then spoke again, "Have you even hit one of your human males there?"
It was very obvious to Daisy that he wanted her to deny it. She was sure it was because he considered it dishonorable, but hell it worked for her and she didn't see why it was wrong. "Yes, self-defense is self-defense, no matter what. It saved me once." She shrugged.
"Explain." Th'vk demanded walking closer to the bed.
Sitting up she sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed. "Well, I was walking home from a late class. It was about ten at night and the sun was gone from the sky. The moon was completely blocked out by the clouds. I was cursing myself for getting so caught in asking my professor so many question - see I had a project due the very next day and I needed every second to complete it. Anyway, I started to run to make up for time lost but I tripped and my things spilled everywhere. Then, out of nowhere a man dressed in all black comes up to me and starts to help me pick my things up. Sure, there were warning bells in my mind but I shoved them away. I told myself that I shouldn't think he was bad because he was wearing black because black wasn't always evil. I was wrong that time though, he was wicked. After giving back my things there was this glint in his eyes that made ever hair on my body stand. Thinking about it now still gives me the chills." As if on que her body gave a shiver.
Shaking herself out of it she continued, "I thanked him and quickly left as fast as I could. When I was sure he wasn't anywhere near I stopped running. There was a shortcut I usually took, but it was a wooded area. Being the naïve me I was then, I took it thinking that it would be safer since I would reach my dorm faster that way." Her body quivered again as the pinnacle of her story was arriving. "He sprung from trees and pressed me to the floor. It was then that I realized what he wanted from me." Her voice was gravely as her vision clouded with unshed tears. "He tried to disrobe me."
She paused to take a breath. "Panicked, I did the only thing that came to mind. With all the force I could muster, I hit him with my knee." Her chest was rising and falling with the memory. "I hit him so hard that he blacked out. I ran to the dorm never looking back. As soon as I entered the dormitory I found an A.I. and told them what happened. They gave me a blanket to cover myself – my shirt was completely open and my bra torn. She called the police. He, apparently, had escaped prison and was able elude the cops for a month. The reason he had been in prison? Rape on ten different accounts." Her eyes bore into Th'vk's. "The 'dishonorable' move, as you called it, helped aid in the capture of a serial rapists." Her tone was cold and steely as she finished, eyes blank.
Th'vk continued their eye contact as he spoke. "Not dishonorable." He conceded. "It is repugnant to think that your males would do such a thing to their females."
"Really?" Daisy shook her head as a Cheshire of a grin appeared on her face. "If I remember correctly you tried to rape me in this exact room nearly a month ago." Her voice terse as a scowl replaced the cynical grin.
The silence that followed was unbearably tense and charged with emotions: fear, anger, hurt, and regret. Neither's gaze faulted as they continued the mute battle. Finally, Th'vk turned away, his dreadlocks clicking against each other. For a moment they were the only noise to sound. The next sound were the dogs pouting. Daisy moved her gaze from the form in front of her to her children, as she fondly referred to Jax, Ed, and HoneyBear. They each shook with fear and she instantly regretted having the fight with Th'vk while they were in the room. She was about to stand to go to them but was frozen as she watched Th'vk approach them and give a gentle pat on each of their heads. They stopped shivering and went back to lying down quietly, their eyes still studying their mom and dad. Th'vk faced Daisy again and their eyes interlocked. Her eyes filled with confusion. She definitely had not expected him to calm Jax, Ed, and HoneyBear, but he had. His eyes held a deep apology, it was so strong that she had to wonder why he was not voicing it. She then figured that he was fighting his own battle, one against his own pride. If he just apologized then they could start forward with their relationship. It would be a sign that he saw her as a valued equal. Until, then she would continue to be hesitant with him. He knew this. His footsteps thudded on the floor, striking through the silence. They passed Daisy and went to exit the room. Daisy's gaze followed his movement. There was a part of her that believed that he would apologize before he left. However, she was unsure if it would be sincere. He stopped just before walking through the door. Still nothing was said. He moved forward and the door slid open.
"I will bring you nourishment." Th'vk stood in the door frame for a bit. His hand grabbing the edge. His muscles were tense and the amount of force he was squeezing the metal with would have been enough to crush the skull of an elephant, easily. His chest was rising and falling rapidly. Daisy began to wonder if he was ill. She wanted to ask him there was something wrong but didn't. There was nagging voice in the back of her head that told her to remain still and watch him. "I- " he started, "I will be back soon." Then he left her there in the quiet aftermath of their quarrel.
Her shoulder sagged as she rested her head on her knees. Taking deep breaths she turned to her children for comfort. "Was I being too naïve in believing that he would apologize, or is he just being stubborn?"
HoneyBear lifted her head. "Ruff."
Daisy allowed a small smile to spread across her lips. "Your right. He's just being stubborn." Honeybear lay her head back on her legs seemingly content with herself for helping Daisy feel better. "Jax, Ed, are you are guys saying I was being naïve?" She jokingly put her hands on her hips, faking a stern glare. The two male dogs hid their faces with their paws. Daisy laughed at their cute antics. "Oh, it's alright. Your right too." She turned to stare at the metallic ceiling. A pain from her uterus was a none-too-friendly reminder of her period. Sighing she closed her eyes, it seemed that she should thank this month's menstrual. It was the cause of their conversation which opened the unspoken tension between Daisy and Th'vk. The universe sure worked in weird ways. She stared at the door wondering when Th'vk would return. Daisy had been certain that he had wanted to apologize for what he had almost done to her on the first day they had met. It was absolutely maddening that he hadn't. She rolled over so that her yell of frustration was muffled by the bed. With the relief of a good yell off her chest she closed her eyes. She came to the resolve that his apology would come at a later date. After all, the best things came from patience.
