Topic: Late Night Homecoming

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2010-07-19 01:20 EST
She shut off the car and just sat for a long moment in the dark. Aja was exhausted. Tonight had been a slow motion nightmare, on repeat. Same story, just a different villain and a different friend. And the end was like the one before. One more friend lost to slavers with her wondering if they'd ever see them again.

She slowly got out of the car, trying to shove tonight's events to a corner of her mind to be dealt with later on. As she made her way to the front door, she smiled a little knowing that it would never happen in Arcadia. She would never have to worry about her people being threatened by that sort of predator. Between magic and sheer might, any trouble from any one individual would be handled swiftly, often without the residents ever being aware there had been trouble at all. As some unfortunate souls had found out. They didn't live long enough to ever repeat the mistake.

Aja entered the house quietly and closed the door just as silently. She leaned on the door, letting the calmness of the house wash over her for a moment before she opened her eyes and looked at the construction work being done on the staircase. She sighed a little, she was sure Maria was displeased by the mess but it couldn’t be helped. Progress needed to be made. She wanted the house to reflect the changes that had taken place now that Tristan was home again. The darkness could go away, the light could come pouring in now. She no longer saw the house as the same with Tristan back. The children had brought some joy to the house, but as they grew up and got their own lives, Aja would feel as if the walls were haunted and dark. He had brought the light back.

After tonight, she needed that light. She listened to the sounds of the house, trying to determine where in it that Tristan was. Given the hour, she assumed he’d be asleep, but as she thought about moving towards the temp elevator, she heard the sound of a glass being picked up coming from the study. The ice tinkled in the glass like a bell alerting her where to go.

She came off the door and moved towards the study. Tristan’s study. It had never stopped being his. She hadn't touched it since the day he left. She often stood in the doorway over the years and closed her eyes remembering him being in there. There was a smile as she realized that tonight, she wouldn't have to imagine him there. Tonight, she wouldn't have to rely on memories that were fading.

Going through the parlor area, she heard the soft strains of the jazz music he was playing. She could see him now, drinking scotch while he leaned back in his chair, letting the music wash over him.

Aja stood in the doorway, watching the mental image she had pictured, in living color with a soft smile. She leaned there against the frame quietly, content to watch him enjoying his music. She could watch him forever. The gentle smile on his face, the way the sun had lightened his hair, the healthy tan on his skin. She took a quiet breath in, taking in the scent of him. His favorite after shave and that scent that was all him.

She silently stood up and started across the room, meaning to sneak up behind his chair, but he sensed her before she got halfway.

"Thought you were going to stand there all night, Rabbit.” His deep tenor filled her ears and ran along her spine making her smile.
"I was enjoying the view, Larson.” She sassed back. "You got a problem with a wife enjoying the sight of her very attractive husband?"
"Not at all.” He turned his chair towards her and Aja took that opportunity to sit in his lap and hug him tight.
"I’m glad yer home.” She said quietly and nuzzled her face into his neck.
"Oh?"  he seemed amused. She knew he knew something was bothering her, but he'd ask later. For now, he was going to just let her do what she needed.
"Yeah.” She pulled back. "I missed you.”
"Missed you too.”
"Can you play this upstairs?"  She pointed to the cd player as she asked the question with a smile.
"Yes.”
"Good.”  She got up. "I’m gonna grab a snack and meet you upstairs. Alright?"  Tristan nodded moving to get up too. She took that opportunity to kiss him, one he returned, with his arms going around her to hold her closer. When they pulled back smiling at each other, she reached up and touched his nose. "I love you.”  He looked puzzled for a moment, but smiled even more.
"I love you too.”
"I know.” She started moving backwards out of his arms. "You came back from the dead fer me.” Aja shot him a wink and turned to go into the kitchen. She heard his low chuckle at her answer and smiled wider. She did love the sound of his laugh.

Tristan watched her leave with an amused smile. There were days he lived and breathed for that woman, even if she was a tad bit crazy. He knew there was something bothering her, it unsettled him to see her like that. He knew all he could do was be there for her, but he was still allowed to worry. He was terrible at hiding it, she knew he worried and knew what things would give it away when he was worried. It was only a matter of time before she picked up on it tonight. If she hadn't already.

He strode over to the music player and popped out the disk with a click. Eyes scanned over the title before, like he always did, he changed the disk for a softer Jazz collection. He moved to the door, only to pause and look around his study before shutting off the light and closing the door behind him.

Once in the hall, he paused to listen to the sound of her shuffling around in the kitchen. A long pause brought him to ponder waiting for her before choosing against it. He rushed up the steps, moving to the room and get ready for his wife’s arrival.

Aja went into the kitchen and quickly gathered up a tray of things that looked good. Mango slices, strawberries and some tapioca pudding. She took her goodies and hit the back steps. As she got closer to the third floor staircase, she could hear the strains of his jazz music floating down.

She got upstairs and grinned at Tristan who was now laying on the bed in his black silk boxers.

"Why, Mr. Larson.” She said in her best flirting tone. "You look positively scrumptious.” This made him laugh.
"Don't let my wife hear you say that.”
"Will she beat me up?"
"She might.”
"Yer right.” Aja winked at Tristan as she set the tray down and took in the sight of him. Her eyes traveled along his body.  "Mmm. You look good, Tris.” Aja took a deep breath still smiling and started to get undressed.
"I'm glad you think so.” He was watching move around the room.

She tossed her clothes in the hamper, then went to the dresser pulling out a white silk nightie that Tristan had bought for her on one of their trips. She put it on and walked towards the bed noticing the thoughtful expression on his face.

"Problems, Tris?"

"Just wondering what’s gotten into you.”

"I realized something earlier today.” She said while getting on the bed and getting settled.

"Which was?"  He prompted watching her fluff the pillows before stretching to grab the tray and sliding it up to them. She got comfortable and smiled at him.

"I think I’ve been holding my breath ever since you got back.” She said it simply. "Like I’m waiting for the gods or whatever deity brought ya back ta me to change their mind and snatch ya away again.”  She took his hand and looked at him. "I keep thinking that one morning I’ll wake up ta discover it was all a beautiful, bizarre, cruel dream and you never were here.”

"I’m here, Rabbit.” He squeezed her hand.

"I know.” She smiled at him. "I do. Just chalk it up to my unwillingness to believe that you would be gone again. And that maybe that pain would return..” her voice dropped a little. "I’d survive it if I lost you again. But I don’t want to experience that twice in a lifetime.” She saw he was about to say something and quickly put her finger to his lips. "No. I don't need you to say anything. I just need you to know...that I realize I haven't been fully here with you.” She lightened the pressure of her finger to his lips and traced along them moving moving across his cheek. "This mess you came home to. The disaster that is because I got used to life without you. I’m so sorry.” She sat up a little. "I’m so sorry you had to wait. I’m sorry you had to deal with it at all. You are..” she paused to take a breath. "The only one I have ever given everything I had to. That will never happen again with anyone. And it's gonna take me a little while to move the walls I put up since you left. So, what I'm asking is that you just keep being you and know that I do want it all back. Everything we had and were. I want all of that back.”  She let her hand trail down one of his muscled arms back to his hand, he took hers in his and gave her a smile.

"I’m not going anywhere without you.”

"Ditto.” She smiled brighter then, taking a moment to bask in his smile, in the feel of his hand holding hers. Aja finally settled back on the pillows and then adjusted the tray. Aja grinned at the mango and held up a piece. "I gots mango.”  This made him laugh as he recalled the memory of why she said it in the voice she did.

The memory of their honeymoon, when they had ordered room service, an assorted tray of fruit came with it. Tristan had never tried mangos, which Aja found amusing considering that they lived in a tropical climate. At first he refused to try it, which led to a lively fun battle of Aja trying to make him taste it. They both ended up with the fruit smashed on them. In the course of Tristan kissing her neck, he tasted the mango on her skin and declared it to be his favorite fruit. From that moment on, they both would smile when they saw it.

"I love mango.” He said smiling at her slyly.
"I know how ya do.”  She said with a sly winked before taking a bite of the fruit and relaxing back into the pillows.
"Everything ok?"
"Yes and no.” she said as she turned her head, he saw the slight darkening of those beautiful copper eyes. "Yes. Cause yer here. Nothing else matters right now.”
"And the no?"
"It’s just another day in RhyDin, Tris. Please?"  she pleaded with him quietly, those expressive eyes begging him not to ask. "Tomorrow. At the office, outside our bedroom. Just far from the one place I share with you and no one else.”
"Ok.” He nodded seeing how much she really didn't want to discuss it right then.
"Thank you.” She seemed to relax more with his agreement. "I just need this one space. This sanctuary from everything else. I need you with nothing else trying to steal my time with you.’
"Possessive woman."” He cracked a grin to her which got her to smile again.
"Damn straight. Have you seen you?"  the smile got brighter as she waved her hand down the length of his body. "Yer hot. I mean like seriously smokin.”  The way Aja was talking made him laugh.
"Seriously smokin?"  he asked with a grin picking up a piece of mango and eating it.
"Something I heard da boys say once about a girl they saw.” She laughed too.  Tristan adored that smile, it was full of light and made him feel like he had conquered the world.

They laid there in bed, talking and laughing, the time spent apart was starting to melt away. The slow jazz tune filling in the background to this cozy lovers scene, the only witness to the current chapter in the continuing legend of Tristan and Aja.