Chapter 10：For How Long

When I woke I heard bells as they rang through my ears. The sound of wood object hitting another. My eyes still closed to where I was. Seymour could have caught me but I still didn't open my eyes. The sound of the door opening as someone came into the room. Foot steps toward where I was laying. I went to move and winced a sharp pain going through my side as I cried out from the unexpected pain. My arm bruised as I moved it. A hand gentle, warm and familiar landed on my thigh. I opened my eyes to look up at the ceiling. The room was dark, the only light coming from a candle at the bed side. It smelled of musk and lavender soap.

"Jaq…" I heard the husky voice before I saw the handsome but worried face. I only moved my head knowing at least I wont get pain if that is what I was going to move. The hand at my face came next as I sighed. It wasn't Seymour. That was a relief.

"Ma!" I heard the exclamation from Alora. The small hands came next along the edge of the bed. He bent to pick the girl up but would not let her come to me.

"See, she's OK. She woke up but she still needs to rest." He reassured the girl. She just gave him a mean look as if she didn't approve of him making my choices. "You can give her one kiss, gently, then you are off to bed." his voice was still low and husky as he spoke to Alora. He stood, bent so that I could see her face. She touched my sore cheek gently then her small lips came next. He pulled her away as I smiled at her. "I will be back, Jaq. Stay still till I return." He hesitantly left the bedroom. I was not in my room but his. His bed? Then where was he sleeping? Where had the red head gone? Why was I here? Better then Seymour's palace I was sure! I tried to move again but the pain hit me. I stayed still then knowing that I would just get even more pain. I crossed my hands over my stomach as I waited for him to come back. He did as he said he would, baby monitor in hand as you could hear Alora singing her alphabet. He set it on the side table as I closed my eyes. He turned the volume down slightly then sat on the bed. "I do not know how I was lucky to catch you when I did." I felt the tears in my eyes. I wont let them fall. They can't! "Seymour had called me stating that he had his Virgo. I was looking for you at the time he called. Alora I left with Mrs. Genji next door. She had said she had seen you go east not long ago. I didn't think you stayed this close to home." The tightness came next in my throat. No where was my home. I was not able to have one. "He was having trouble and the phone hung up. Few minutes later I called back he was saying she had escaped to never mind. He was rather pissed." He was leaning forward now as I felt the bed shift. "I found you not far from where he was. I don't know how you were in the same area he was but it looked as if you were hit from a car. I thought maybe the burning limo caught in the middle of his battle dreams." I chuckled then winced at the pain. I looked over at him. "You had a few broken ribs, your arm is bruised and you cheek is healing fine." He knelt on the bed placing his arms behind me. "Sit up." he said. He helped me slowly to sit up against the propped up pillow behind me. No pain as I sat there. "I fixed your ribs so they are healed but because of it your going to be rather sore for a while." I nodded placing my hands in my lap. I was wearing one of my night gowns. "Don't worry. Mrs. Genji changed you. Not that I haven't seen you naked." I felt the blood rush to my cheek as he stated that small fact. I had only gowns that hid my pendant. It was up to Genji if she had told him about it or not. "I put you in the car and left. I wasn't about to deal with a pissed off Seymour." He sat with his foot under his leg, his hand on the bed next to my leg. I didn't want to look at him. Didn't want him to see the hurt in my eyes or the pulse of my heart at hearing him again. Knowing that even though I was in trouble and yea I will believe it was just luck he was there when I had needed him the most! I didn't say anything as we sat there for a moment. His green content eyes on me as I closed my eyes. "Are you hungry?" He suddenly asked. I then looked at him. His green clear eyes on me. The look in them was pure worry. "You've been out for about a week. I don't know what your thought on doctors are so I didn't call one. It's not like I didn't know what was wrong." I nodded. I knew he could use magic cause he had said so when we were stuck in the mountains. "Genji helped me at first but then I told her it will be fine. Alora didn't want to leave the room. I have to place her back up crib in here next to the bed. She didn't understand that you couldn't wake up. It's amusing that she had actually grasp the concept of death. She had asked if you died." I looked up at the ceiling as he chuckled. "I had to explain that you were in a deep sleep and we just had to wait. I don't know if she thought her being here would help or if she just didn't want to leave the room. This is the first night she has spent in her room." He stood and went to another candle lighting it. The smell of vanilla filled the room. He came back over and stood next to the bed. "Bella had used the excuse of my wife dying to help me. Well, she didn't want to help me at all with Alora. She just wanted a place in my bed." I looked down at the quilt that I was now under then gave him an eye brow look. He then laughed. "You're the first women that has laid in that bed since my wife.' He said huskily.

"That's not really my business." I said then regretted talking. Just to breath that intake of breath was painful. I recovered and spoke again. "I am a little hungry but not much. I am more tired then anything. What's wrong with the lights?"

"Nothing. The lighting in here can get bright and I didn't want the lights to wake you. You needed the rest and not to…" His phone rang at his hip. The lighting of his screen going as the ringtone of the week. He took it from his side, rolled his eyes then answered it. "Yes Seymour… a meeting? But why?… Oh for real!…. I am not dragging my kingdom into a imaginary search funding that kind of ridicules none sense…" I folded my hands over my lap and listened to him talk to his brother. I sighed looking at his face as the candle flickered on it. He looked rather disgusted at Seymour's declaration. "… you have no proof that this girl exist besides you chasing someone that even you don't know who it is…. I said no…I have my own problems to worry about Seymour and finding this Virgo that you say exists isn't on my top priority list… Later." He hung up his cell phone, kept a button pressed down, and the lighting on it turned off. He tossed it on the bedside table standing there looking at it.

"Maybe, you should sit and talk to him. Why does he think this person exists or even if he has the right girl?" His green eyes looked down at me. I felt my cheeks turn pink but then looked down at my hands. "I'm sorry. What you guys do is none of my business."

"Do you think one still lives?" He asked his voice monotones as he asked. I shrugged.

"Well, the population was a big number. They mostly stayed at home right? Maybe one was out in the woods hunting or something."

"He claims it's a royal descendant." He rubbed his head with his hand looking at the flickering candle. "What does it matter? He's never going to be able to catch the girl and keep her. I am sure the girl is smart enough to get away. I mean, she did manage to blow up his only limo that he wants me to fund to replace cause of his kingdoms carriage belief." He chuckled at that then sat on the bed taking his shoes off. "You need to rest. Let me deal with him." He swung his legs up to be sitting next to me. "Lay back down. The candles will go out on their own." I stared at him as he held his hands up in the air. "I won't touch. I promise. I've been sleeping in the recliner over there since you have been taking up my…" I placed my hand on his lip to silence him.

"You don't have to explain. It just took me a moment to register the switch in conversation." He smiled at me, helped me to lay down. I laid on my back as he laid on his side facing me. His arm came under my neck as his other hand was flat against my stomach.

"Try not to move too much during the night." He said his voice low and husky. "You are probably going to be sore. You can't re break your ribs unless hit by another car but I don't want you to be in pain." I nodded, closing my eyes. As he was right, the candles turned them selves off. I knew the magic and could do it myself. Very simple. I cuddled closer to him, buried my face in his chest and fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning with Edward replaced by Alora. The pain in my side wasn't there as I sat up. Alora giggled and touched my leg. Her other hand came up to be placed on my cheek. I brought her in my arms as she played with both of my ears.

"Good morning sweety." She hugged me close to her.

"No go." She said her blond red little head on my shoulder as I hugged her close. I knew she didn't understand what was going on and it was hard to explain to her. So, I didn't. That would be up to Edward to do. I heard his voice as he came out of the bathroom. He looked over at us, said something in the phone then hung it up. He came over as I looked up at him. His green eyes soft. He was wearing a business suit like always.

"How are you feeling?" Alora's arm came around my neck as she looked up at her father, her face stern, her hair was already braided.

"She's mine!" She exclaimed. "I want to keep her." Edward's and my eye brown arched at the same time. Then, her face turned from the evil I get my way look to a blank expression. "Ut oh." She jumped from the bed and ran into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. We both laughed as he sat on the bed.

"I have to go into the office. I will be back later. Ms Genji is suppose to come by soon. If you think you can handle it let her know." I nodded. He leaned forward, ran the back of his hand along my cheek as I felt the slight blush there. He stood, knocked on the bathroom door. "I'm leaving." The water was turned off, and she swung the door opened. She swung her arms around his legs.

"Have a good day, dad." She said then came back over to the bed. She placed her hand on my forehead, gasped then said: "You need a bath, lets go." She grasped my wrist and pulled me out of bed.

"Be gentle." Edward said as he watched Alora drag me to the bathroom.

"But my cloths..."

"You can go naked." Alora said. I felt the slight blush as Edward smiled.

"That might make it worth staying home."

"Dad!" Alora yelled at him. As we went into the bathroom I caught one last look at Edward before he left. His green eyes clear, the smirk on his face just as clear. She sat on the toilet, swinging her little legs as I undressed and ran the water. My side was still a little bruised but other then that everything was still OK. I got in the tub looking around the bathroom. I felt my cheeks turn pink as the thought of taking a bath in Edward's tub made my heart pound even harder. "Ms Genji saw your pendant." She said as I then looked at her. "She didn't tell daddy though." I looked down at the necklace and sighed. "Ma, I know magic. But I don't know if Daddy wanted me to learn cause he hasn't taught me anything."

"Then how do you know how to use it?"

"By watching you." She said still swinging her feet back and forth. "I haven't said much because I was observlating." I chuckled at her want to use the bigger word but saying it wrong. "Also I have the gift of touch. I can touch things and know history or stills. So, most magics you can use I can use too." She sounded excited about that. I washed as she sat there watching me. "I even know how to cook like you do." I laughed, draining the tub before standing she handed me the towel and I wiped off. I wrapped the towel around me and left the bathroom. I went to leave the bedroom with her right behind me and when I opened the door I bumped into someone. I winced as arms came around to steady me. My hands in fists as they were next to me head that was leaning on the chest provided there. The arms loosed but stayed at my waist. "Hi daddy." Alora said. "You forgot your tie." She said. He didn't move as I was cradled against his chest.

"I'm OK.' I said knowing that he was going to ask if I was alright. He nodded, just looking down at me.

"daddy!" Alora exclaimed dancing around with his tie. We both looked over as she stopped by us, holding the blue dark tie up. Smiling at her father. he chuckled taking the tie. He pulled it around his neck but didn't tie it. So, by instinct I began to tie it. His green eyes watching my face before looking down at the working hands. The towel revealing to his upper view my top mounds. I got the tie done, tucking it into the jacket. Alora watched both of us, her hands at her sides.

Then she shook her head.