Since my second coming back home, Edwards attitude had changed dramatically. He no longer said anything about bringing another wife to be home. He didn’t mention anything about knowing if I was a Virgoians or not. Alora seemed to thrive faster since I was now teaching her what magic I knew she was able to learn. Edward was starting to get more touchy. His arm going over my shoulder when he had the chance, coming up behind me wrapping his arm around my mid section to hug me while I was doing dishes and now that spring was over, Alora played mostly in the back yard during the day. The mood in the house seem to lift as the shift of moods changed.

One night after I put Alora to bed, Edward was up in his study, on the phone. He didn’t seem thrilled about talking to this person. His ‘funds’ to help Seymour find me or even the want to didn’t appeal to him. So, he had told his brother to stop bugging him about it. He would replace the car and make the report as if it was an engine malfunction. Edward didn’t like that he did that but he was his brother and nothing was going to change that. I was doing the pots and pans from dinner when he entered the room. I turned and watched his hand run through his black jet hair, making it a mess.

“Jaq...” He swallowed not knowing how to continue. I turned fully to him, wiping my hands as I looked at him. Well, here we go again. “I want to try one more time. To have someone different. Even though Alora has stated what she wanted, people aren’t objects to own.” I turned, looking at the rose bushes in the garden. Was this a deja vu or what? I felt my heart tear as I continued with the pots. “She’s coming in tonight. Someone I’ve known since I was little. She...” It became too much to bare. I slammed the pot in the water, bringing Alora into the room. Edward had turned his attention from me to the little girl. “Alora, go in your room, OK.” She nodded obeying her father. He took a few steps towards me as the bubbles were now on the window in front of me.

“Why are you doing this?!” I exclaimed. I let the tears fall knowing that I would have to leave again. Leave this house that I wanted to so desperately to call my home. He stood a few feet from me, his brilliant green eyes hazy, cloudy and concerned all at the same time. “Bring in these women just so that you have no other choice then to come back to me. Bring me back here with false hope that maybe this time, just this TIME I was going to be welcomed fully into the home. Be able to have a home. Be able to call Alora my daughter. Even call you my husband.” I heard a slight gasp come from him. He shifted staying in one spot. “Why can’t you ask me? I’m already here. I have no where to go. Is having me as a wife sound so distasteful that you have to bring these women in and out of this house! I’ve already made a connection with Alora. I love her. I love you!” I exclaimed holding the dish towel in my hand squeezing the bubbly content into the sink. The tears rolling down my face as now the front of my white blouse had gotten wet from the water witch was almost forgotten. The white outline of my bra was clear on the front as it had soaked through. “Why can’t you ask me specially if... if your not looking for a bed mate. Just a mother.” I looked up at him. His green eyes taking an up and down motion of my tense body. The bubbles going up my arm from the now soaking pots and pans. I sniffed in, knowing that no matter what I was going to say, that this was not going to turn out to my advantage. Specially if he hadn’t moved from his glued spot. His hand on the counter seeming like it was holding his weight. Go a head tell me you didn’t expect me to fall in love with you. Go on say it! Just when he was about to say something, the door bell rang. “Go on. It’s not like I expected much. Third one is always the charm right?” I said low, bringing forth a fake smile. He didn’t move, just watched me. I wiped my hands with the towel and placed it on the counter.

“Jaq I didn’t.....”

“Go.” I exclaimed as the door bell rang again. He sighed and left the kitchen running his hands through his hair again. I drained the water, wiped off the pots and pans and put them away. I heard him, a women and another man in the den as I went to my room. I changed to one of my other blouses. It was purple, touched my neck, and hid my pendant. I put black jeans on, and decided to go offer some coffee. I left my room as Alora came bouncing out of the den.

“Come on, Ma. This is exciting!” I sighed as at least she found this exciting. I didn’t know if she knew what having another women in the house meant but I didn’t ask her. Suitcase after suitcase lined the wall to the steps. So, I was guessing both voices were staying for a while. Alora opened the doors and we walked in.

I saw the auburn hair first. It reached her mid back, her bright Grey eyes looked up at us entering. She wore a simple ankle long dress that hugged her every curve. Even more thinner then I was. Her hands and half her arm was encased with a white laced gloves, her smile was genuine and her lips were painted red, that went perfectly with her light blue dress and perplexion. Her waist was small, her rear was round and it fit her petite frame perfectly. This women was perfect and she walked up to me. Her politeness just as genuine as her smile. The V neck of her dress didn’t hide the fact that her bust was small but she tried to show as much as she could of them. I took her out stretched hand.

“Hello, dear. I am Felicia StoneWell.”

“From StoneWell Inc.?” I had asked. She smiled, the small one sided dimple showing as she did so. I heard two sets of boots walking over, then one stopping as the other continued.

“That’s right.” She said.

“I am Jaq. I’ve been taking care of Alora since she was a baby.” She nodded. Then, moved out of the way.

Violet clear eyes looked up at the blue green shocked ones. Black hair pulled back showing the roots of the platinum that streaked its black contore. The round perfect nose that matched Edward’s. The high cheek bones and the thin lips that soon formed into a grin that spoke all the evil that was possible from him. He wore black leather pants, boots, black tight fitting tunic that was covered with a dark crimson vest. Over the vest was a suit jacket in an attempt at making himself look business like. Edward stood a few feet in front of him, his green eyes looked from him to me. Seymour was the first to move, his hand grasped mine and he pulled them to those thin lips as the warmth touched the back of my hand.

“What loveliness my brother has hidden so well from me.” My other hand went to my chest as I felt the pendant under the fabric of the silk blouse. My heart pounded in my chest as he stood, taking his other hand and held both of mine together. “I am Lord Seymour, and I am embarrassed to admit but I did not catch your name.” I swallowed the frightened lump in my throat that just added to the feeling of throwing up.

“I... I’m Jaq.”

“No last name to go with that first.” His voice dropped to the husky drawl that I had heard before. I shook my head. He turned to Edward as I looked over at him. His green eyes were darker, almost livid at how his brother introduced himself. “Dearest brother of mine, how can you keep this loveliness to yourself? I should have been invited over before this. Then I could have taken her from you then.”

“No she’s mine!” I heard Alora and it was her arms around my legs that brought me back from the shock of seeing Seymour in the same house as me. As she flung herself to me, I fell forward not expecting it. Seymour turned just in time to stop me from falling. My hand on his chest as I felt the rhythm fast and hard against my hand. His arms were around me as they traveled down my body to be placed on my hips as he steadied me. I pushed against him and looked up. The pink flashing on my cheeks as my eyes met his. I slowly moved away as his hands reluctantly removed from my hips.

“I’m sorry.” I almost whispered.

“The pleasure was all mine.” I moved from him as Alora kept her arms wrapped around my legs. The Grey eyes looked over at the green livid behind me as I looked up at those eyes. “I heard everyone in here and thought I would ask if anyone... wanted anything.”

“Do you have chamomile tea?” Felicia broke the tension in the room. I looked over at her forcing a smile.

“Of course. I will make a pot of coffee too. Are you staying here, in the den?” I asked looking over at Edward.

“Yes... Seymour and I have things to discussions.” I nodded.

“If you don’t mind, dear. We’ve traveled from the country and I would like to take my tea in my room. If that’s OK.” I nodded.

“Any special room you like?”

“Oh I adore the yellow one.” She said as I picked up Alora as she stuck her thumb in her mouth. She placed her arm protectively around my neck as I felt the pair of eyes watching my back looking at the Grey ones myself.

“Of course. I will help carry your belongings upstairs.”

“Oh that would be wonderful.”

“Then you can take a bath while I prepare your tea. Want to help?” I asked Alora as we made to exit the room. My heart pounded against Alora’s small body as I closed the door, catching the grin across Seymour’s lips before closing the door. I placed her down as her green eyes looked up at me.

“Uncle Seymour isn’t allowed to have you!” She exclaimed then went into a fit of crying. Her small hands covering her eyes as both of us looked down at her. I knelt down as the other women held her hands at her chest.

“Alora, it’s OK. Nothing is going to happen, OK. If anything happens, i will always be here.” I pointed to her heart as she went to sniffing. “We have our connection.” She nodded knowing that I meant more then what most knew. “Lets help Ms Felicia to her room. She is tired and so are you.” She nodded as we turned to the women. I lead the way, picked up a couple of cases as Alora picked up the smaller one. We climbed the stairs in silence. I showed her to the yellow room, not slept in for years but dusted by me every day. She turned to me, smiled.

“Thank you. I will enjoy a leisure bath.” I nodded as the arm was around my knee again.

“Please do. I am going to put Alora to bed first. Then I will be up with your tea.” She nodded her thanks as I picked up Alora. Her head and arm presumed their places as I went back down the steps. I heard Seymour laugh then went into Alora’s room.

“Ma he knows.” She said as I placed her back in her bed. It was well past her bed time as she looked up at me the tears still falling from her eyes as I sat on the bed.

“He knew when he saw me. It will be OK, Alora.”

“But I love you I don’t want you to go.” She said. “He won’t treat you as good as daddy.” I ran my hands along her reddish blond hair.

“We will have to see what happens OK. I have to get Felicia her tea and make daddy coffee.” She nodded and laid down. I bent down to give her a kiss on the forehead. She hugged her over sized teddy and closed her eyes. I left her room going into the kitchen. I pulled the coffee pot out from the corner of the counter and turned it on. It was already ready for coffee because of how quick I liked to be. I leaned against the counter, my hands flat against the pale color of the granite. I placed my hand on my forehead, loosing my balance I fell to the counter, slid down the cabinet and sat on the tiled floor. Tears streaming down my face as now I was the most scared I could ever be. Seymour... here... in the same house. Edward having no idea what bringing him to his house meant for me, for Alora.... or even him. Not that it mattered. He wanted me gone and out of the house anyways. I stood, washed my face in cold water before taking the one person tea set out of the cabinet. I put chamomile tea in the two cup coffee machine. It only took it seconds to make tea. I placed the small tea pot and tea cup small spoon and sugar and creamer on a tray. I picked it up and as I went to go out of the kitchen, bumped into a hard rock chest. The tea started to spill but I caught it swiftly in my other hand, swirled right into the person in order to balance the pot. I looked up at the green eyes.