'You're right' she said quietly when she woke, knowing he hadn't slept and was scrolling through his phone over her shoulder.

'I'm always right' there was a hint of laughter in his tone

'not always. not about me' she corrected, but continued anyway 'I can't just lay in bed. I need to get back to work. I need to... do'

'Of course you do my love' he kissed her, she felt him drop his phone behind her back, his hands wandering her body freely 'it is not in your nature to sit idly'

'don't... please don't touch my belly' she said as his hand move dangerously close 'I'm not ready for that' he obligingly kept his hands to her back and breasts.

'Shall I call and inform them you're ready to return on Monday?' he asked after a few moments 'Or would you prefer?'

'You, if you don't mind. I would rather not answer the questions just yet'

James nodded, her ever loving husband, always fulfilling his duties. 'Why don't you take a shower, get dressed, and I'll have lunch made. Maybe we can venture to the dining room to start?'

she nodded meekly, kissing him lovingly, and shuffled to the side of the bed. Theirs was so big it was often difficult to find which side you should try to roll off.
The hot water soothed her still aching muscles, cramps still shaking her from time to time. Of all the things she had been prepared for, it wasn't what happened. In her mind a miscarriage was a bad period. She hadn't considered that she would need to actually give birth. it was the most pain she had experienced in her life, pain she imagined could be bearable if she had a child at the end. Her doctor had assured her the bleeding would stop within a month. It was horrible, to look down and see that, every time she went to the bathroom, a red reminder of her bodies failure.

'You look beautiful' he held out his hands to her when she opened the bedroom door. he had been leaning against the banister waiting for her for over an hour, wanting to give her privacy but also be there should she need.

She thought she looked horrid, pale and wan, her eyes bloodshot, her hair still wet and pulled into a bun. she had slipped on a loose maxi dress, covering her shoulders with a silk wrap he had bought her from his last trip to Cambodia. 'Thank you'

'The Dean has organised a TA to assit you if you need it, and wants to assure you there is no pressure for you to commit to your old schedule'

'thats very kind of him' she looked him in the eye, one of his most beautiful features 'thank you for calling for me'

'Anything for my darling' he kissed her, trying to portray his apology for his behavior.

She looked him up and down before they walked down the stairs, it was nice when he was home with her, relaxed and casual, not wearing his suit as armour. Jeans were a rarity on his handsome ass, and a casual sweater was almost unheard of.
It was almost like having a husband who worked in an office, instead of... well she preferred not to learn too many details about his work. She hadn't married him for his job, or his power, or his money, she married him, because behind all that, in the moments she had him to herself, he was an intelligent, caring, handsome man, and he adored her in return. He had a strange way of showing it, sometimes, but he did.

'Where were you the past month, anyway?' Hunter never questioned him, or what he did, but she needed to know what was so important that it came before her and their baby.

'It was very complicated, my darling. It's not something we should talk about now' he tried to buffer her interest, the way his hand twitched in hers giving him away.

'Sorry, but who am i?' she pulled her hand from his 'Am I some lowly minion? or am I your fucking wife?'

'Darling, I'll tell you anything you want, I only want to protect you while you're vulnerable' he used his most soothing tone, brushing stray hair behind her ear. 'I will tell you everything after lunch, I promise'

Tears welled in her eyes 'Oh I'm sorry James... I'm just...'

He held her face and kissed her forehead softly 'You are being completely human, and despite all my failings, I understand why. come on. lets eat'

Their lunch waited for them on the table, her favourite, just a large charcuterie platter, with fresh bread, and mustard's and plenty of cheeses. She liked to be able to pick and choose, the idea of grazing, her love of french food.

'Now tell me where you've been' she said, in a tone that he knew meant not to play with her. she had eaten as much as she could, the first morsel to pass her lips in days made her feel a little more human.

'I was being held captive by the elder Holmes brother. He wanted information, the insufferable bore' he rolled his eyes, his disdain plain

'You're fucking kidding' Hunter gasped, gripping him arm 'James why didn't you say sooner?' her tone turned dark 'And why didn't Moran say anything?'

Oh he's Moran now, Jim smirked, he's definitely in trouble. 'First of all, my dear- Language. We are civilized in this house, and you know how I hate it when you swear' his tone was playful. One look at her face and he turned serious 'Second, I had no way of contacting you until my release and I didn't want you to see me in such condition. I'd have only caused you further distress'

'Oh my darling' her voice trembled, from anger or sadness he couldn't tell 'What did they do to you?'

'A few broken ribs, a lost tooth or two, and some cuts and bruises. I am mostly on the mend now' he tried to calm the anger and upset he could see rising within her 'Nothing I haven't had before'

She stood, tears trickling down her cheeks 'My James, oh how you break my heart' she wrapped her arms around him carefully, letting him rest his head against her chest 'But if you ever hide something like that from me again, I will show you the meaning of unhappily married'

'I don't doubt it' he was solemn 'I only acted in your best interests'

'As for Moran, he's definitely on my shit list now'

'Language'

'I will poke those ribs' she countered, wiggling a finger in front of his face, as though she could ever hurt him.

'Nothing could ever hurt me as much as being separated from you the last month'

'If I weren't in so much pain, I'd take you to bed for being this sweet' she nuzzled his neck, noting that the maid had subtly left her pain medication by her glass when she cleared the plates 'But then I suspect those ribs aren't a tickle either' She shook out four pills and gave two to him, which he swallowed without question. 'I'm worried about this thing with the Holmes' my love'

'I have a plan, my dearest. Don't you worry yourself about my work'