Thunderbolt – Out of the blue
Nikolas put the saddle away and turned only to find Brook standing next to him. Her hand went to his collar and he heard, "You know this wasn't the sort of ride I had in mind," right before his lips were claimed by hers.
At first Nikolas, didn't move. He thought of Elizabeth. Love filled his heart, followed by hurt and angry he roughly pulled Brook up his chest, deepening the kiss. Neither noticed Elizabeth as she turned and raced into the storm. Lost in angry huger, he pushed Brook into the side of the horse as her hands worked at his shirt buttons.
An image of Elizabeth laughing broke the spell and Nikolas pushed away from Brook, "Dammit, what am I doing? I'm sorry, but I can't." His recriminations are stopped by a loud crack and a burnt ozone smell.
"Go to the house Brook, quickly," he said before heading out to investigate. He found the North corner of the stables on fire. He grabbed a nearby horse blanket and beat out the flames. Once he was sure the fire was out he called Alfred to tell him what happened and request the help of some stable hands before he checked on all the horses.
"Hey old buddy," he said rubbing King's Promise's nose. A thunder clap scared the horse. "It's okay the fire's out. Your safe and so am I. I almost did something very stupid tonight."
"What's that?" He heard a breathless voice say, a voice that made his own breath stop. He turned and exhaled, "Elizabeth." He stepped out of King's stall and asked, "What are you... how did you get here?"
"I was up at the house and Alfred told me about the fire." She pulled herself together and said very business like, "He told me you put it out with a blanket. Let me see your hands. I want to make sure you didn't burn yourself."
Still unbelieving that she was there Nikolas put out his hands and felt her soft cold hands envelope his. "I didn't know you had returned from California."
"I missed home. Your hands appear fine, dirty but fine." Her fingers didn't let him go. "You didn't answer my question, what stupid thing did you almost do tonight?"
"You ask that like you already know," he said clasping her hands tightly with his he kept her close. "Did you meet Brook up at the house? Whatever she said, nothing happened."
Elizabeth's eyes focused on their clasped hands, she couldn't look him in the eyes, "She said nothing happened. I saw the two of you, you see."
"You saw us? And you didn't say anything, didn't try to stop us? You are always jealous of the women in Lucky's life, I guess I really do mean nothing to you," he said as he let go of her hands.
Elizabeth walked away from him to pet King's mane, "I was jealous. I left because it hurt too much. I feel too much with you."
Nikolas' heart beat faster with each word."You feel too much with me," he prompted.
"I thought a lot about our affair while I was gone. About my actions in particular. I wondered if I was using you to protect myself from committing everything to Lucky again or if I was using Lucky to protect my heart from you."
Nikolas was almost afraid to ask, "What did you decide?"
Elizabeth turned to look at him, "I was using Lucky not you."
Nikolas felt relief flow throw him and he let go a breath he didn't know he was holding but he couldn't stop himself from asking,"Why? Were you worried that I wasn't over Emily? Because I am Elizabeth. I've thought about this a lot since last year. I've been over Emily for a long time. Even Rebecca wasn't about Emily so much as about filling an empty place in my life. Everyone said I wasn't over her, Alexis, Monica, Lulu,... you, it was just easier to go along. Even I thought I wasn't over her, but I was, I am. I will always love her but that doesn't mean I haven't moved on, or that there isn't room to love you just as much. I'm a different person Elizabeth. Part of who I am was formed by her, by our love for each other but I've changed."
Elizabeth stopped him by placing her hand over his heart, "I know that. I understand because I've changed too. I think I've known that since the beginning. I was using Emily's memory just as I was using Lucky as a way to protect myself."
"You don't need to protect yourself from me, Elizabeth. I love you. I only want your happiness."
"I believe you. But do you know how scary that can be? Looking back over the years you have been my one constant. Oh, we've fought but we've always had each other. You took care of me when we thought Lucky had died. You protected me from Helena. You helped me when my marriage to Lucky was spiraling out of control. I can't lose you, that's what I mean by I feel too much for you. I survived losing Lucky, I don't know if I could survive losing you. I always thought it was Lucky I needed, but I was wrong. You know [i]me[/i] better than anyone, you know my fears, my deepest fantasies and you still like me. I need that."
"Your stronger than you think Elizabeth. You always have been. You're a survivor. I've been afraid too. Everything you said works the other way. You're my best friend, you're the person who knows me best. You've challenged me from the beginning and I need that."
Elizabeth laughed and wiped a few tears from her eye, "I'm a fool. Are you sure you can love a fool?"
Nikolas' hand fondles her hair and he leaned his dirty forehead against hers, "I love you Elizabeth and I really need you to stop saying such ridiculous things about the woman I love."
Laughing some more Elizabeth replies, "You know I've been worried about how well I could fit in your world. I found living at Wyndemere daunting but seeing who you hired as an escort during my absence I think I'll fit in fine. We just might need to make a few small changes in regards to running the household."
"What ever you want; Alfred will see that it happens," Nikolas answered in relief before taking her lips with his. She sighed with contentment and returned the kiss, outside the storm began to settle.
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