Chapter 1: Return to paradise?
Summary:
A little summer fun. It isn´t very long. It's something I've always had in mind, what if ...? Richard Poole has very interesting relatives, and that can complicate his life to unsuspected limits. He is concerned with time travel! Another twist to what could happen to Richard's long-awaited return from London ...
Notes:
The action begins when Richard returns from escorting Vicky Woodward (temp 2 ep 8) (before getting married and having the twins. Not necessarily in this order). There is an evident rapprochement between Camille and her, but there is also so much fear ... Fidel, Dwayne and the others try to help, but it is like seeing two wild animals, you cannot get too much into it or mess it up. Also, there is the problem of the anomalies ... why is Richard aware of them, albeit in a distant way? Perhaps we have a more determined Richard than usual. We all evolve!
Although 'Dark Love' was my first story and already featured the twins of the couple, this story is like a strange continuation with anomalies, 'evil' plants or trees (REAL: it exists in the Caribbean area. See notes.), and time travel with the occasional change in the story for a major cause.
It is related to 'Dark...' in that it explains where the children come from. I hope that those who didn't read it at the time will enjoy it and that the rest of you will enjoy it again!
Chapter Text
Endless hours on the plane pass for Richard. Every once in a while he looks out the window of the plane as he approaches the end of his journey back to the heat, the insects, the sand you never get rid of… ..and Camille.
Camille has become a very big problem for him. She doesn't want to admit it, but London is no longer the same. He isn´t even sure if he was happy before going to Saint Marie. He suspects not. What happened was that he had nothing personal that would have caused such an earthquake inside him that made him realize if he was happy or not. He had created his own bubble and he never thought of going beyond the limits that he himself had created to avoid hurting himself.
The problem was that he no longer needed that bubble and he had to face all those emotions without that armor to protect him.
"Do you need anything else, sir?" In approximately half an hour the plane will reach its destination. Then he won't be able to take anything. " The stewardess asks kindly, interrupting her reflections.
He is a little surprised, but he compiles himself and answers:
"No thanks. I'm fine"
He feels a little upset ... where was he going? Oh yeah! His "armor". Camille had certainly done a great job of slowly eroding all the walls he had created. But she couldn't fool herself: if he hadn't wanted it that way, she wouldn't have gotten it.
A smile escapes him. He feels lost, but for good. In fact, he's in a hurry to get there. To his home. He wants to chat with his friends, he wouldn´t even mind making reforms in his shack, and if it isn´t possible, look for another shaft in better condition, bigger, with amenities and ... near the sea. Although he would take Harry, of course. Not too close to any neighbor, like this one. You have to think about the gossip …
He laughs again. The middle-aged woman sitting next to him looks at him strangely and he sets out to control his reactions. No one cares how he feels. He sets out to change the subject and focus on the conversation with his cousin James. Amazing work, he admits, but terribly addictive. Who was going to say it! Luckily, even if he wanted to, he couldn't talk about the whole thing. They weren´t going to believe him! Well, he felt his life was changing, he was inexorable, perhaps in a slow way, but he wasn't going to back down, he couldn't even if he wanted to. Who knows, surely even he would have no problems with luggage
At the Kaz, listening to the Commissioner, Camille, Fidel and Dwayne are very concerned, some with more anxiety than others. Is it possible that Richard is not back? But no, soon you will hear the bitter complaints of a man who, honestly, didn´t expect it. Not this time, everything was going so well ... That's why he's in an impossible mood. But it doesn't matter, for Camille that's the sound of angels.
Catherine immediately shows up with the tea to calm the beast! They allow him to vent a minute or two. Then he calms down a little and is interested in how the Station has gone, rejoicing that no important case has been lost. Although the latter disguises it, he doesn´t want to downplay the work done by his subordinates. On the contrary, he congratulates them.
After an hour of pleasant and calm chatting, of questions about what he has done in London, the news and, of course, if he has enjoyed his long-awaited rain, Richard's mouth opens.
He´s terribly tired. The trip, the extraordinary news that he knows to be an absolute secret, the loss of his luggage ... he can´t handle it.
"I think it's time to take you home, Richard," says Camille.
She has hardly spoken to him all afternoon. He was too happy for his return and didn´t want to give the note. The others pretend that they don't notice anything.
"Sorry. I can´t be awake. I really liked the reception. I can assure you one hundred percent that they never expected my return in this way. " He comments as he gets up to leave.
"Okay Chief! We leave the party for another day for real. " Dwayne jokes.
Richard looks at him with alarm reflected on his face. And they all laugh. They are really happy to see him back.
When Camille and Richard get into the car, an awkward silence reigns for a couple of minutes until Camille breaks the ice with a comment:
"So you had a good time in London, were you able to see your parents? What did they tell you?"
Richard automatically answers: "Yes, I had a good time. Blessed rain! " he only thinks about his resolution on the plane back to Saint Marie "and yes, I saw my parents. They´re fine, they showed more interest than I thought in everything I have done in all these months. The phone conversation on the night of the hurricane worked miracles, Camille. I have to thank you" he ends staring at her.
He sincerely hopes that she will get an idea, because he has no idea how to handle this matter and he´s completely lost. Tiredness doesn't help him either.
Camille is uncomfortable, she still doesn´t dare to correctly decipher what he wants to say.
She smiles at him and replies: "You´re wellcome. Really. I told you: you could count on me. I'm glad to see you listen to friends. "
"Just friends? Richard thinks.
"Of course." So he decides to jump into the pool, metaphorically speaking. He suspects that he´s not the only one who is afraid, and that encourages him to continue: "I also remember that you assured me that I would no longer have to do" puzzles" by myself"
Camille looks at him in amazement. Has her mother poured him something in the tea?
But he doesn't have time to coordinate his response, as he notices that they´re arriving at the shaft and, in theory, Richard is dead from sleep.
They get out of the car in silence and walk towards the entrance to the kitchen.
So he insists: "Were you serious, Camille? About the puzzles, I mean. And not just the puzzles…" as he opens the kitchen door.
Camille looks at him and understands that the one who is reacting slowly is her and not him. Jumping with joy inside her, she looks at him and responds:
"Richard ..." But she doesn´t have time to continue, since a self-assured voice with a slight throat clear interrupts them:
"Sorry Richard, I hope I don't interrupt anything serious. But Connor has made a small mistake, otherwise I would be amazed, and he put something in your suitcase that shouldn't be there. Here's your suitcase and you don't need to thank me for it. "
James Lester looks closely at Camille and then Richard. "Nice dress," he says, looking at Camille. She wears the dress that she reserved especially for Richard, a beautiful and delicate coral and red dress. She doesn´t come out of her amazement. Does Richard have a twin brother?
How come she didn't know? Richard and Camille look at him in amazement.
Richard thinks, "How is that possible?"