Henrik woke up feeling incredibly cold and empty. Sitting up in the bed, he frowned to see that the spot next to him was empty. Reaching out, he rubbed his hand over her spot, finding it cool to the touch. "Roxanna?" he called out as he slipped from the bed and padded over to the restroom, peeking inside to find that she wasn't there, either. Roughly pushing his fingers through his hair, he flipped the lights on to the room and let out a long, tired, breath to see that she was asleep at the table, her head buried in her arms.
Padding over to her side, Henrik reached out and touched her shoulder, trying to gently wake her. She startled awake anyway, and gave him a tremulous smile. "I don't think that I can do this any longer, Henrik. My heart is aching too badly. I know she'll always be a part of our lives, but my heart just aches right now. Would you mind if I went home to Sunderland a few days early? I don't want to go, but I feel like I have to before I say something that would reflect poorly on you or might make Maja not want to let us see Fredrik in the future. I called the airline yesterday afternoon, when you were in the shower, and they said that I could easily change my flight to an earlier one, there wouldn't be an additional charge. I'm just so tired, my love."
He crouched down next to her, picking up her hand and threading their fingers together as he stared into her eyes. They swam with tears, and he felt his own eyes prickle with reciprocal tears. Gently, he tugged her towards him, welcoming her into his lap as she burst into sobs, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I didn't realise that you were so tired, darling."
"I hate being this clingy, weepy, woman, Henrik. This isn't me. I don't want there to be this strife between Maja and me, but she just doesn't like me, no matter how hard I try to find a way in." He nodded and rubbed her back in low circles. "I want you to have a wonderful trip, Henrik, and that obviously cannot be with me."
"Don't say that, Roxy."
"It's the truth, my love. I can take the train back to the city and catch my flight this afternoon, and you can make more memories with Fredrik. Please, do this for us, for me."
He let out a long breath as he thought about her words. She had a point, but he felt himself becoming so ridiculously angry with Maja, for forcing his love to take this step. He knew, though, that he couldn't take those feelings out on Roxanna. "I want you to be absolutely certain that you're okay with me being here alone. I know that the kiss Maja forced on me yesterday probably won't be the last that she tries to give me, especially with you leaving. I can understand why we didn't spend the night, it would have been too awkward, but I don't want her to have even the hint of an opening, even if it's one that's not there."
There was another small pause as Roxanna tangled her fingers in his hair, tugging lightly. "I have complete faith in your ability to resist her wiles, Henrik. I just need a few extra days to get my heart back on a more even keel before I begin work. Believe me, I completely understand that she will always be a part of our present, but we are the ones with a future together." Roxanna pulled away from him a little so that she could look into his eyes. "I already packed, the train leaves in three hours, if I want to take it, and our flat in Sunderland is calling my name. Let me be a domestic hausfrau for a few days. Please?"
He knew that he couldn't deny her request, not when it was tearing her up so much, and so he dipped his head a little, listening to her hiccup before starting to cry once more. "I would do anything to keep you happy, Roxanna." He pressed his lips against her head as he rocked them back and forth a little, holding her tightly as he started to hum a little, wanting to soothe her. "How about we walk down to that quiet little bistro and have breakfast and then I'll get your ticket for the train."
"Thank you," she mumbled as they stumbled to their feet. Roxanna wrapped her arms around his waist as soon as they were standing, almost trying to bury herself inside him as he closed his arms around her. "And tell Freddie that I love him, too. So very much. I know, he probably won't hear anything good about me from Maja, but you can influence him, still."
"I will definitely tell him how sweet and loving you are, Roxanna. Because it's the truth, and we should always let the truth come to light." She nodded a little before sighing deeply. "Take a shower, it might make you feel better, and it's always better to feel clean when travelling."
"As always, you are my practical love," she murmured as she stepped away from him and gave him a shaky smile. "I want to be selfish and ask you to join me, but you have other things to do this morning, since I've terribly derailed your plans."
"I can sit in there with you, since I don't need another shower quite yet." The joy that lit up her face told him that he had made the right decision, and he reached out for her hand, letting her lead him to the bathroom. He sat on the bathroom counter and watched Roxanna strip off her pyjamas, folding them before setting them on the counter next to him. He used the opportunity to take a good look at her body. She had softened a little since they had been together last, and he found himself falling in love with her new shape all over again.
Roxanna cleared her throat, and he ran his eyes up to hers, seeing the small smirk on her lips. "You always do know how to make a woman feel beautiful," she said with a small wink before stepping into the shower and turning the water on. "I know, I've gained a little weight, but you still look at me as if you can't wait to devour me."
"Guilty." They shared another look, and then she shook her head a little as she turned to face away from the water as she picked up the shampoo and lathered her hair. There was something so wonderfully sensuous about watching her in such a vulnerable moment, and he had to fight the urge to join her. The longer he watched though, the angrier he became with Maja, since she had almost destroyed the gentle spirit of his Roxanna. He knew that he had to say something to her, to get her in line before Roxanna returned with him to Sweden. Hopefully, his going alone there today would help him be firm enough to put Maja in her place finally.
The steam from the shower fogged the glass, lending a hazy quality to Roxanna's body, and as he came out of his thoughts, he watched as Roxanna drew a large heart on the glass, and he smiled a little, knowing that he would miss her for the next three days.