Chapter 26

This chapter has been transferred over as posted and has not been screened for typos and grammar mistakes.

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 The hour was late, but he noticed that the lights were still on in the house, and he could just barely see Anwyn at her desk, grading papers.

The school had been quite the success. Most of the parents were glad to have their children out of their hair, and Anwyn was a gifted teacher. Her dedication to pulling the school together was amazing, and it had given her new life. She was responsible for people outside of her own family, and that was just what she needed to function. She seemed happy.

Romeo opened the front door and saw Anwyn with her hair up and out of her face, in her night clothes but deeply engrossed in her work. She didn’t hear Romeo come in or walk up to her.

“Anwyn, why aren’t you in bed? You look exhausted.” Romeo asked.

“I couldn’t sleep, I guess. I knew there was work that had to be done, and I couldn’t put it off until tomorrow. The kids just turned in their papers and I have like, 20 papers to grade. I can hardly read the writing on some of them, so it takes a while. I think I need to teach them all handwriting and grammar before we get into history.” she laughed, not looking up.

“Anwyn, put that down. Come on,” Romeo coaxed while she protested, not wanting to leave her desk. “Come on, when was the last time you stretched your legs? Three hours ago?”

Anwyn looked at the clock on the wall. “Three and a half?” she admitted as she stood from her chair, stretching.

Romeo went over to the fairybox and put on a slow tune, then held out his hand to invite her to dance. “It’s the best way I know to stretch your legs, believe me.” he grinned, knowing that it was silly to dance in the middle of the living room.

Anwyn took his hand, and he pulled her in close. He liked to dance once in a while, it was the romantic in him. Anwyn had learned so much about him in their time here. For example, he hated to eat squid, he didn’t like silence, and he sometimes liked to be spontaneous, like dancing after Gloria had gone to bed.

They swayed back and forth for a while, doing little turns here and there, little twirls as well. When the music swelled, Anwyn dipped backwards, then was pulled back by Romeo.

Anwyn almost forgot that she was still grieving for Liam when she was busy like this.

“We could stay this way forever.” Romeo muttered into her ear, and she could almost feel the stubble of his face on her neck.

He pulled away and kissed her, and she stopped moving, her heart leaping to double what it had been. She pulled away from Romeo.

He looked at her with question in his eyes, wide with pleading.

“Ro-... wh-...” Anwyn couldn’t form full sentences.

“Anwyn, neither of us are bound to another, and I’ve grown quite fond of you. I know that when we first met I was selfish, and I didn’t care about who the king fooled around with, and and I thought you were going to get Liam in deep trouble-”

“You’re really digging yourself a hole, you know that?” she asked pointedly.

“-But that was then! Leaving the life I knew behind, finding this peace with you, it’s changed my life for the better. I never thought I’d be a father, but look at me! We’re both raising Gloria and she’s beautiful. We made a life together, what do you say we seal it and make a whole family? Can you love me?”

Anwyn looked at him, raw confusion on her face. “Romeo, I don’t think I can- I don’ think that I can love anyone else than Liam. I feel him with me all the time, I love him, the thought of him, I can’t change that.”

“It’s been two and a half years since he died, Anwyn!” Romeo started to raise his voice when they heard Gloria open her door with tears in her eyes- a bad dream no doubt. Anwyn looked at Romeo and then took her back to bed.

When she came out of Gloria’s room, she took Romeo out onto the porch where he continued. “It’s been two and a half years since Gloria was born, just about three since Liam died. He wouldn’t want you to be living here without someone to love. He would want us to be happy.” Romeo urged.

“He would want me to choose to be happy, with someone that I chose, not the nearest person and not out of convienince. Just because the two of you were close before he died doesn't mean that he wanted me to sleep with you if he were gone. Romeo-” she knew she had gone a bit far, so she tied to reel it in a bit. “Romeo, I am equally love and am loved, it’s just not a romantic love, and I’m ok with that. I love you, but not in the romantic way. You’re my family, not my mate.”

She turned to go into the house, but Romeo wasn’t done. “But what about me? I have no one. No one at all, then, so share my love with. Who do I have? I’m not a monk, I want to have someone. Anwyn, I need you.” he pleaded.

“You don’t need me, not for that.” she assured. “I think you should try and find someone who will have you, for better or worse, in bed and out, but that’s not me.” she smiled. “I’m sorry.” and she walked back into the house, leaving Romeo out in the chilly night air.

Spoiler:

Well, maybe just this once…