Bring Me That Horizon
Chapter II: Hand Caught In the Biscuit Tin
By Mia 'RedWolf' LeighArc
Things at Delbert's were going well, but he missed Amelia so much. Her smile, her laugh. Seeing her bright and early at eight o'clock sharp to go over star charts for months now felt empty. After the voyage was over and he returned to Montressor, his life had returned to what one might call 'normal,' but it felt far from it. He even missed the subtle way her hair would fall in her face while she looked over the star charts, the strands of auburn falling gently across her face. He wished it might be his hand rather than hers as she swept those silky strands behind her ear. If he could be the one to sweep those strands behind her ear for her, He mused that she would be surprised at his action, and her eyes would look wide with wonder. Those eyes…His heart ached, and he debated a thousand times about contacting her, but the thought of rejection always stopped him. Sure, he had more guests now with B.E.N and Morph, but he knew exactly what his return to daily life was missing: Her. After helping rebuild the Benbow Inn and swiftly returning to his lectures, he wondered when they would have time for each other once she and the Legacy were well enough to return to the Etherium. The university was happy he had returned and immediately invited him to resume his lectures. Although he was glad to be back, even his students would notice how he seemed distracted. He had the most challenging time focusing on his observations, much less his typical daily life. He feared he didn't know what normal was supposed to feel like anymore. Sarah was worried about him as he hardly slept and sometimes skipped meals.
Amelia was feeling the same way as Delbert. She felt like her life was hollow without him in it. She would follow her daily routine to the letter, and it wasn't the same without his sweet smile and warm eyes looking back at her over the star charts they would review together every morning. She couldn't deny that when their hands would touch when she went to pour herself more tea, the sight of him blushing was rather adorable. He would apologize profusely, and she would hide the red in her cheeks, sweeping a hand through her hair. Little did she know that this simple action drove him even crazier. She knew she had to see him as soon as possible, so she devised a plan, but she needed to be stealthy for it to work. Luckily for her, her military training gave her plenty of that.
It was almost time for Arrow's service, and Amelia was nervous about attending. She had hoped that Delbert would go with her. She hoped the letter would reach him in time. In the meantime, she could dream about the things she would do if he came for a visit. She imagined taking him for a walk around the house and then taking him up to the treehouse, her refuge. She would sit down for a friendly chat and then, when she was sure they would have privacy…slowly seduce him. Then, before he knew what hit him, she would climb into his lap and drive him crazy.
"Yes, this would be a great plan indeed." Amelia thought to herself wickedly.
She was lucky that her Aunt was overtly religious and went to church every Sunday for most of the morning and stayed to gossip well into the afternoon. She opted to stay home as she wasn't overly religious herself. While everyone was away, she was left to look after the house; Aurora was in classes that day, so she wouldn't be expected for some time. This was the purrfect opportunity for Amelia to release some pent-up tension. She gathered all she needed to help her relax and took it up to the treehouse. She lit candles and put on some soft music. She put on a silky nightgown (the same one she wore the night she and Delbert slept in her stateroom together) and got comfortable. She remembered Delbert tending to her wounds on Treasure Planet and the gentle way he touched her that night he shared her bed in a 'mostly' chaste fashion. She imagined instead that Delbert was running his warm, soft hands slowly all over her. She imagined him using his mouth to tease her, his warm eyes looking up at her for confirmation for him to continue. This thought alone would leave her begging her to moan at his touch. She ran her hands slowly up and down her person, imagining his hands descending on her skin, going up and down her neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. Then, when she thought her imagination couldn't go any further, she imagined him kissing her neck down to her thighs, leaving her knees weak and burning with desire. In her daydream, he would traverse his kisses to the inside of her thighs, moving ever so slowly to the apex of her thighs. Then, he would take his time unsheathing his tongue to taste her…intimately. Amelia imagined him then taking her lips with his own, her taste lingering in his breath. Finally, she imagined him placing his fingers inside her, going faster and faster until she couldn't take it anymore and reached her climax right in his hand! She screamed his name out loud in ecstasy! When she finally returned to reality, she looked down to find a sticky hand where his mouth and fingers had been so vividly in her mind. With a good sigh, she lay back, enjoying the feeling of her release. Little did she know that Aurora overheard her when she came home from class for the day. Later that night at dinner, Amelia was in a better mood, which her aunt commented on quite frequently.
"Well, SOMEONE sure is in a good mood today. Did you get a surprise visit from your gentleman caller?" Aunt Millie asked at dinner. Aurora just stifled a chuckle while Amelia paled, not realizing that her aunt may have caught on to what was happening. Little did she know that her cousin (more often referred to as her niece for personal reasons) knew all too well why Amelia was so happy today. She kept this information to herself, knowing Amelia would be furious if Aunt Millie found out. She would never hear the end of it!
"No, Aunt Millie, however, I did extend an invitation to him to join me at Arrow's burial service. I would feel a bit more comfortable with him there." She said, not wanting to disclose too much information for her Aunt to use as arsenal later.
"Well, sounds like someone is sure smitten with this fellow. If I were you, I would marry this man, and promptly. I know how much you love being a spacer, but you can't possibly think it will be the kind of life you'd want when you decide to settle down and raise a family. You know your mum would've wanted that for you," Millie tried to put it delicately, eyeing her husband knowingly as she spoke. Philip just rolled his eyes. Mildred supported the family's naval legacy but always felt that Amelia deserved more than a lonely life exploring the etherium. She would have nothing to return home to. Amelia's rage started to boil. How dare Millie bring up her mother! Amelia stood up abruptly, causing her chair at the dinner table to topple back with a loud thud on the floor.
"How dare you bring Mum into this! She was always supportive of my choices! You may've been your sister, but I was her only daughter. She would be bloody proud of me had she lived long enough to see me follow my dreams! " Amelia shouted irately, her eyes boiling with rage. Amelia had dealt with relatives trying to undermine her career, her marital status, and their insistence that she readily produced offspring post haste. She thought her aunt had been different and truly supported her decisions as her mother would have. Amelia stepped away from the table and her fallen chair with a huff. Mildred noticed Amelia's slightly flushed cheeks and took it as a sign that her niece had already thought of the prospects of mating with the man. Mildred had her right where she wanted her. Millie let out a small laugh, and the rest of the family finished the rest of their dinner in MOSTLY companionable silence while Amelia stormed off.
Amelia went up to the treehouse alone to think as she did when she was younger. She could still remember all the nights she would sit up there as a child, her father and older brothers off on spacing voyages while she was "stuck" at home with her aunt and uncle after her mother died all those years ago. Aunt Mildred became her guardian when her father was away, but she longed to go with him, for him to rescue her from the hell that was being raised primarily by her aunt. Amelia sighed, thinking what her mother would think of her if she could see her now.
Amelia was her own woman, and if she wanted to have a family…then she damn well would, no matter what anyone said. She would find a way to make it work. However, this conversation caused her momentarily to take in her aunt's suggestion and even imagine the possibility of raising a family with Delbert. The thought alone made her blush!
The next day, Amelia got a letter from Delbert in correspondence to her invitation. He said yes! The joy she felt in every word was like a supernova in her heart. She was going to see him again, and soon. Oh, how her plans and fantasies were coming together. She immediately went up to the treehouse for another release of tension before dinner. She felt embarrassed as no man had ever made her feel a longing like this before. She was sure she was about to be in heat with how often she had to satisfy her needs lately. Given their privacy, she would see him tomorrow and then imagine what she would do to and with him in that treehouse. With a swoon at the thought, she laid out luxuriously in the treehouse with a pillow under her head, pretending it was Delbert's furry chest. She would see him soon, which filled her with joy she hadn't felt in a long time.
He arrived an hour early at her aunt's house to pick her up the next day. He cautiously knocked on the door. Aunt Mildred opened the door with a sly smile, knowing this was an excellent opportunity to tease Amelia even more. She let him in and motioned to the couch for him to sit.
"Kitty dear, your boyfriend is here to see you!" Mildred called loud enough for the whole house to hear. Philip let out a low laugh and put a hand to his forehead, preparing himself for the onslaught.
"Dear, don't you think you've teased her enough?" He mused in his wife's ear as he came up behind her. Her ear twitched with his breath. She let out a laugh and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh tish tosh, she knows I mean well with my jests. However, there is truth in the things I say…." She said matter-of-factly. He rolled his eyes and felt some sympathy for his niece, knowing all too well how his wife has a problem letting things go. Delbert stood in silence, unsure how to respond to the banter between the couple. Finally, Philip turned his wife to face him. He ran a hand along the side of her face and gave her a kiss intended to shut her up finally.
"ah-I-I can wait outside if you two need a m-moment," Delbert said politely as he stepped out the front door to stand by the railing, looking out at the yard absentmindedly. Before he knew it, a familiar voice spoke behind him.
"Oh, hello, Delbert. You're quite early; I'm impressed." Amelia said with a soft smile. Delbert spun around so fast that he nearly fell; Amelia, luckily, was there to catch him.
"Are you all right, Delbert? Did I startle you?" Amelia said playfully with a smile on her lips. Delbert just shook his head to clear the apparent jolt he was experiencing and reached out for her hand. He kissed the back of it sweetly and dared to pass his gaze to her lovely face.
"Oh, I…ah—"Delbert could say before he was interrupted. Then, without a second thought, she leaped into his arms, snuggling her head against his chest.
"Oh, Delbert, how I've missed you." She said in a low voice in case her aunt was lingering around. He gently pecked the top of her head and sighed happily.
"I've missed you too, Amelia." He said as he put a finger under her chin to angle her head to look at him. They shared an affectionate smile between them, and an awkward silence passed. Amelia was the first one to break the silence.
"Come with me, Delbert; let's go for a walk," Amelia said with a raised eyebrow. Delbert just chuckled and offered his arm. She instantly took it, and they walked arm-in-arm around the property. They padded for some time, exchanging brief, polite conversation. Aunt Mille had been watching them from inside the house, smiling at the young couple out the window.
"Such a cute couple," She said aloud as she covertly watched them through the window.
After walking around the yard, Amelia led him to the treehouse to show him her most intimate refuge. With a raised eyebrow, she opened the latch to the door and pushed it upwards at the top of the ladder to lead him through.
"And this," She gestured as she helped him up the ladder to the inner room, waving her hand at the large open windows. "has been my home away from home since I was a child." She said as she sat on a cushion and gestured for him to sit beside her. Amelia took in the moment with a smile, looking out the windows with a soft sigh. Delbert looked around the treehouse in fascination. He could tell by the way everything was neat and well organized that this was where she spent a lot of time. He discovered as he sat down that he was sitting on a stuffed animal rather abruptly and went to remove the offending item. It was a feline naval officer stuffed animal holding a plastic cutlass and pistol. Next to it was an evil-looking pirate stuffed animal. He smiled sheepishly, thinking of Amelia playing up here as a girl. He put them on a nearby table with a slight laugh, catching Amelia's attention.
"Is everything all right, Delbert?" She asked softly. He nodded, motioning to the stuffed animal on the table. She smiled and reached her hand out, which he took in his own. Holding hands with him in her sanctuary filled them with peace as they sat silently. A knock on the treehouse floor brought them out of their trance as Aurora popped her head into the room. Amelia and Delbert sprang apart like frightened carrion birds, both embarrassed to be discovered.
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm Aurora Mayflower, Millie's daughter." She said when she saw her cousin sitting hand in hand with a man she hadn't seen before. Aurora reached her hand out towards Delbert, turning to Amelia. He shook her hand kindly with a shy smile.
"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Doctor Delbert Doppler." He said as Aurora continued speaking, this time to Amelia.
"Oh, so THIS is Delbert. I see I'm not the only one in the family who fancies Canids." Aurora thought silently to herself.
"It's almost time for the ceremony, Auntie. Mum and Dad are waiting downstairs to say goodbye when you -two are ready." Aurora said with a smile. Amelia nodded at her cousin's words, gesturing for them to head out to the carriage. Delbert follows after her, thinking it curious that her cousin should call her "Auntie" but filing it away to ask her about it later.
The funeral was held at the Interstellar Academy just past the Montressor spaceport. A dozen naval officers were at arms at either side of the entrance, carrying bayonets against their shoulders as they entered the front door of the Academy.
Amelia stepped through the entrance hall with a heavy heart, discretely reaching for Delbert's hand. He looked in her direction, searching her face for any sign of emotion, but found her gaze downtrodden. They sat at the front of the crowd, hand in hand, for the entire ceremony. Amelia continues hiding her emotion behind her captain façade well into the afternoon as they find themselves at the gravestone the Academy made for him. A single tear rolled down her face as his name on the monument was shown in such absolutes. She thinks back about their time together. When a warm hand squeezes her own, she remembers a conversation with Arrow about a notable scientist on board the Legacy.
Captain Amelia Smollett stood at the bridge, sipping her tea while overlooking her crew. They were busy going about their duties, and she was delighted by the winds of the Etherium blowing gently through her hair. It was here that she knew she belonged. However, her mind kept wandering. She irrevocably found herself gazing at the stars briefly before her eyes fell upon the one thing that had changed her life entirely...Doctor Delbert Doppler. Through his telescope, he looked at a nearby nebula from the ship's bow. She took joy in how his eyes lit with delight at every discovery.
"Oh, how adorable he is when he's excited about things," she mused slightly. She sighed softly as she brought the teacup to her lips, noticing it was lukewarm. With a frown, she caught sight of Mr. Arrow in her peripheral vision.
Her first mate, Arrow, caught sight of her gaze and nodded in her direction. He slowly made his way to her side.
"Captain, may I speak to you?" He said when he came up beside her, startling her slightly from her distracted thoughts.
"But, of course, Mr. Arrow. I shall need to make myself more tea anyway. Care to join me?" She said light-heartedly. He smiled warmly and followed her to her stateroom. Once the door was secured behind them, Arrow approached the subject he had been wondering about for weeks.
"Captain, pardon my saying so, but I couldn't help but notice that you appear to have a fondness for a certain Doctor on board," Arrow said softly to his captain. Amelia's jaw flew open, and the teapot nearly dropped out of her hand. She was in shock that he would even suggest such a thing!
"Arrow, you know I trust you without a doubt, but with all due respect, have you gone positively mad!?" Amelia belted out as she recovered the teapot enough to pour two steaming cups of tea. Arrow slowly stepped forward with a knowing smile and took the teacup nearest to him. Amelia narrowed her eyes at him, feeling a slight reddening in her cheeks.
"Captain, I nearly happened to have taken notice of your gaze while you are on deck & think no one is watching. I meant no offense," Arrow stated matter-of-factly. Amelia wasn't amused by this fact at all.
"That's bloody ridiculous, and you know it! I merely respect the man as our financier & his navigational skills, nothing more." She started with a long sip of her tea. Arrow fought back a smile, drinking his tea quietly.
"Well? Why would you come up with such a ludicrous notion as that? I hardly fancy the man. His clumsiness and bumbling nature are amusing, is all." Amelia added when he kept quiet. Arrow knew her too well not to notice how she paced the room when she was nervous or kept waving a hand through her hair when she knew she was caught in a falsehood. Arrow smiled at her warmly.
"And you should be wise to know that it would be rude not to dine with our financier a time or two on a voyage." She continued aloud as he fought back a laugh.
"But usually, that involves both of us, Amelia. Not meals only in your company." He thought to himself, proving his point.
"Why does he bring this up now?" She thought to herself as a soft knock rang on the door to her stateroom.
"You know what they say about those who protest too much," he said in a hushed voice. "They insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying." He said with a booming laugh. Amelia slammed down her half-drunk tea with a huff and narrowed her eyes dangerously at him.
"Arrow, are you quite bloody finished?! You are dismissed. I'll hear no more of this." Amelia bellowed, not hearing the soft knock. Arrow rose from his seat, nodded in agreement, and approached the door. He opened it to find the good Doctor behind it, holding his star charts with a shy look of surprise. Amelia met eyes with the doctor and immediately softened her expression to greet him.
"Ah, Doctor, do come in, Mr. Arrow was just leaving." She said as she shot a brief glare in Arrow's direction. Arrow's laughter grew silent as he returned to the deck, and the doctor entered her stateroom.
"At least she will be in good hands when I'm not around anymore," Arrow thought as he returned to his watch, smiling toward her stateroom.
After the ceremony, they returned to her Aunt's place and sat in the treehouse for a while, drinking tea. Amelia thought about how his presence in her life brought her a sense of peace. She realized that she had never felt that way for anyone before. It was a startling realization. Delbert sat beside her, looking at her when he thought she was unaware. An awkward silence fell over them.
"So what happens now for you?" He asked in quiet tones, giving her a start. A slight jolt and a shake of her head brought her back from her thoughts. He was merely asking to make conversation, but in his heart, he thought he was confident of the answer. She would be off on her next adventure, and they would never see each other again. She was far too good for him, he thought. Part of him wanted to take his chances, but he was sure she would reject him. He had to find out for himself before returning to his "normal" life.
"Hmm?" she asked, drawing her attention back to him. He placed a hand on her thigh out of impulse as he continued. Noticing where his hand was, he tore his hand away as if she were on fire, looking out nervously. He was sure she would slap him but was surprised when she seemed distracted.
"What are your thoughts on what the future holds for you? Do you have any plans once your ship is repaired?" He said, face downtrodden. He hardly realized he was holding his breath, waiting for an answer.
"I-I suppose I shall return to sailing, but I'll need to appoint a new first mate…" She said with furrowed brows. She then paused briefly, "However, I intend to choose my crew from now on." She mused, teasing him. He chuckled slightly, and his cheeks turned a slight shade of red. Amelia wanted to hold her word on taking him on a date, as she said on Treasure Planet, but would he accept it if she were the one to initiate it? Traditionally, the man asked for dates and made the first move in forming relationships. Would he be scared away like so many other might-have-beens? Her hand found him, and she placed his hand on her thigh again with her hand above his. He gulped in surprise at her bold display of affection. Was she trying to tease him, or was she? No, she couldn't be…seducing him, could she? Before they could pursue that thought further, Aurora interrupted an intimate moment yet again.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I? Mum wanted me to let you know that dinner is ready. She said your boyfriend is free to join us." She asked, accent-clipped and precise. Amelia and Delbert sprang apart like frightened geese, flailing to opposite sides of the sitting area. Aurora held back a chuckle at the sight, knowing all too well this was the man her auntie had been calling the name of in her…alone time. She could see why Amelia liked him; he was kind, polite, brilliant, and gentlemanly. Not really who Amelia really would go for, but a good match for her. It made her happy to think that her auntie was finally pleased. Aurora returned to the house to let the 'lovebirds' talk.
"He is not my bloody boyfriend! Not yet, anyway." Amelia thought with a deep sigh at the wording Millie chose to use. She would never hear the end of this! She glared at the direction Aurora left from, then shook her head slightly and turned to Delbert, who appeared to be the same shade as a tomato at the comment of him being her "boyfriend." He hardly thought of himself that way, but he knew he would like to see if that would be possible.
"Would you like to stay for dinner, Delbert?" Amelia asked politely. Delbert was about to say something when he remembered he had to go grocery shopping while Sarah and Jim would be away for about a week at a friend's wedding on the next planet over. A week to himself would be well worth it, but he wished to spend it with a particular feline instead… Sarah, oh no! She was waiting for him. He was supposed to be home an hour ago. Where did the time go?! Delbert sprang to his feet, startling Amelia.
"I would love to stay, but I'm afraid I'm running late to run an errand with Sarah. I'm sorry. Raincheck?" he asked as he walked toward the ladder, tripping in the process. Amelia sighed with furrowed brows at his retreating back.
"So much for not scaring him away." She thought as she fought back tears that boiled to the surface out of nowhere. After a while, she went down to have dinner, still saddened that Delbert had to leave so abruptly. Aurora said nothing as the family ate in mostly silence, every so often Millie commenting on Amelia's 'boyfriend' only to be greeted by a steely silence. After dinner, Amelia went to sleep, trying to get her mind off of her dear Delbert and failing. Sometime in the night, she slipped away to the tree house, gathering two large knapsacks with all her things. He stared out the window for a long time, debating whether she should leave. She was a grown woman, and whether or not Millie was her legal guardian was irrelevant as an adult. She still wasn't sure how Millie talked the hospital into being placed in her care. She was, however, curious if his offer to stay with him was still sound, but she couldn't let her aunt Millie know. A sound stirred his mixed thoughts to the door up to the treehouse. Aurora stuck her head in as she entered the treehouse.
"Auntie?" She called quietly. Amelia stared in her direction, fighting back her emotions. She nodded to her cousin to sit with her. Aurora saw the knapsacks and figured out quickly what Amelia planned to do.
"Aurora, have you ever met a man who, despite all you've been through, puts your mind at peace when you're with him?" Amelia said quickly, taking her cousin back with her forwardness. Aurora smiled, remembering when she first met her boyfriend Pendelton, a canid in the Interstellar Navy (much like she planned to be).
"Well, of course, auntie. You've met Pendleton before, remember?" Aurora said, looking at her cousin, feeling guilty for 'rubbing it in.' Amelia nodded, suddenly remembering meeting the nice bloke and feeling slightly envious that her cousin had found a nice man well before her.
"Oh right, I do recall." Amelia fell silent for a while, unsure how to proceed with this conversation. Aurora took this as a sign that Amelia needed coaxing until she could tell her what was happening.
"If it helps, Auntie, I know your feelings towards him. I've known for a while. He's the name you call out when you're up here…having some—alone time." Aurora said plainly, tired of the awkwardness of the subject. Amelia's mouth dropped in astonishment, unaware that anyone had heard her.
"y-yo-you heard me?" Amelia spat out in surprise. Aurora let out a giggle and nodded.
"Multiple times, Auntie. I never told Mum; she would never let you hear the end of it!" Aurora laughed. Amelia smiled slightly at that, still somewhat surprised to be found out. Amelia was grateful that her cousin kept her not-so-well-kept secret. Amelia blushed slightly at the thought of it not being a secret anymore.
"It's okay, Auntie. I'm happy you're in love!" Aurora declared with a bright smile. Amelia's eyes bulged at the words. Love. She had never thought of it in those words before, but she knew how she felt about Delbert would be permanent.
"I'm not so sure I would classify it as that; not until I get to know him better," Amelia said matter-of-factly. Aurora smiled at her cousin's blatant denial.
"This will be fun to watch unfold." She thought to herself as her cousin started gathering her bags. Aurora stopped her momentarily by placing her hand on Amelia's arm.
"Do you care about him, Auntie?" Aurora asked curiously, feeling like she knew the answer all too well. Amelia thought about this momentarily, feeling her expression soften at the mere thought of him. A smile lit up her face in realization.
"I do- very much," Amelia said softly, voice quivering with emotion that usually isn't present when she speaks. Aurora put a finger under her cousin's chin so their eyes met. Amelia was tearing up, not sure how much she wanted her cousin to see of her emotional outburst. Aurora smiled at her, knowing what she needed to do.
"You should go after him then!" Aurora said aloud. Amelia was taken aback, unsure of what to say, which was difficult for her.
"I promise not to tell Mum about this or why you left. I know she would have something to say about you masturbating to the man." Aurora braved before she saw a severe look cross her cousin's face. She swallowed hard at that look, afraid she'd overstepped her bounds.
"If you speak a single word of this, I will ensure you can never speak again. Do I make myself clear?" Amelia said to her cousin darkly. Aurora merely nodded while fighting to hold back a chuckle. She knew damn well that Amelia was dead serious. Aurora knew better from growing up with her cousin not to embarrass her by laughing at the odd situation she found herself in.
"Not a bloody word, I promise you, Auntie. Mum will never know why you left. " Aurora said, extending her pinky into her cousin's like when they were children. Amelia nodded with a smile and sauntered off into the night.
