Retreat then Restore...Revisiting the Past

She went away, and now she's back...but how does she explain the fact that she wasn't dead, and didn't kill herself?

Just a word of warning to all...My exams start in May and there's going to be a lot of pressure on me work wise until the end of June. So posts may be sparse.

I am posting like a well oiled machine these past few days, there's inspiration in the air.

Leaning up to her, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss, letting her know how much he had missed her, and how much he was looking forward to their life together.

'Ric,' she said quietly into his ear. 'Make love to me.'

Picking her up, he took her to the bedroom and showed her truly how much he'd missed being in her arms.

The next morning came in a heartbeat, no period of time could ever be long enough for Ric to be with Diane, and for Diane to be with Ric.

As they stirred from sleep, both of their minds were full of thought about each other, what they hoped for in the future, and mapping out their lives together.

Ric's eyes opened first, and, noticing that Diane was still asleep, he kept as still as he could, watching her sleep. To him, she was like an angel, so peaceful and innocent, subjected to the cruellest side of human nature. And Ric was determined to rekindle her faith in the world, that it was not all bad.

To Ric, there was nothing more soothing, more blissful to watch than his angel sleep in his arms, after a night of tender love making, her hair slightly askew, her body bare and her face flushed. He couldn't actually remember a time where he had been happier, more content, than when he was with Diane, holding her close, and dreaming of a deliriously happy future with her and Cassie.

Hearing Cassie stirring, Ric sat up and got out of bed, pulling on some boxers then getting Cassie out of her cot.

Sitting back down on the bed, Cassie in his arms, Ric said, 'Shh Cassie, we don't want to wake your mum.'

She let out a small cry, which made Diane change position slightly.

'Shh, shh, shh,' said Ric, rocking her gently, trying to think of a way to calm Cassie.

And then he remembered. His mother's Ghanaian lullaby, which always calmed him as a child. He would sing that to her.

Tue tue, barima tue tue
Tue tue, barima tue tue
Abofra ba a ma da wa da wa
Tue tue
Abofra ba a ma da wa da wa
Tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue

The song seemed to have served it's purpose as Cassie had calmed considerably, and was now cooing gently at Ric.

Turning over, Diane woke up and said, 'Morning.'

Giving her a quick kiss, Ric said, 'Mm, morning.'

'I see my little madam woke you up,' replied Diane with a smile, seeing Cassie smiling in Ric's arms.

'I was already awake,' said Ric. 'Then she started to wake up, so I sang her a Ghanaian lullaby and she calmed down a bit.'

'Your mother's lullaby?' asked Diane.

'How did you know?' asked Ric with a soft smile.

'Kumi told me that you'd both passed the tradition down to your children,' said Diane gently.

'Yeah,' said Ric. 'It's just something we held onto.'

'I understand,' replied Diane. 'Especially for you, as your children weren't raised in Ghana. It's something to remind them of where they came from.'

Taking Cassie from Ric and lying her down in the middle of the bed, Diane shifted so that Cassie was between them, both of them cuddling her close.

'This is nice,' said Diane.

'It is,' replied Ric.

'I could stay here forever,' said Diane.

'Ah, I wish that I could, but I have to go to work,' said Ric with a sigh.

'It's hard when our own little bubble bursts, isn't it?' asked Diane. 'When we realise that it's not just the three of us in the world, but there's work and more responsibilities.'

'But we have each other,' replied Ric, kissing her softly.

'Yes we do,' said Diane softly. 'And I never want that to change.'

'Me either.'