Pieces

Pieces
Chapter Three

This place is so empty,
My thoughts are so tempting,
I don’t know how it got so bad.
Sometimes it’s so crazy,
that nothing can save me,
But it’s the only thing that I have.
Pieces~~Sum 41


When Margot reached Francesca’s house she wasn’t sure what she noticed first. It could have been Frankie’s very cute roommate. It could have been the happy chortles of her daughter. It could have been the rich bass baritone rumblings of a long-forgotten love. Well she wouldn’t go as far as to say she loved Lachlan, but it sounded poetic and she had never really forgotten how nice Lachlan sounded when he laughed. This was probably because he had never laughed much, especially those last few months so she sort of cherished the sound.
“It’s so soft.” Margot tried not to smile as she watched her daughter run her fingers over Lachlan’s silk tie. He nodded in agreement and Margot could have stood there and watched them together forever.
“Marguerite!” Devon’s voice was shrill and tense and Margot knew immediately.
“You could have called me so I could explain myself.” She told her sister as Devon tried to look sorry and cute.
“It’s okay Mum, Daddy isn’t mad anymore.” Marianne offered, blinking her big brown eyes the way Parker had taught her.
“You can talk in the spare room if you like. But like, don’t forget to strip the bed when you’re done.” Francesca offered, her nephew bundled up in her arms as he noisily ate a carrot. Lachlan stood and gently placed their daughter in the now empty chair. The tails of his shirt slid out of his pants as he bent and he tugged the sleeves of his shirt down. He picked up the business jacket draped across the back of the chair and spread it across Marianne as he reached over to flick Francesca in the ear.
“Ow, what did I do?” She asked as she rubbed at her ear.
“Unnecessary comment about bed stripping.” He told her.
“Psh.” Francesca said as Lachlan turned away.
“What?” He asked turning back.
“You know like Meh but sort of not.” Francesca explained.
“You’re an odd one.” He told her as he turned back to Margot. Francesca made a funny face at his back as he began to walk. He walked past Margot and slid the glass door open.
“After you.” He motioned her inside and she shyly stepped past, getting a whiff of his cologne. She smiled as she realized that five years on and he still smelt just like she remembered. He stepped in behind her and slid the door shut.
“Where is it?” She asked politely.
“I’ll show you.” He politely offered his elbow and she took it, letting him lead her through the house.
“Are you really not mad at me?” She asked quietly.
“Furious, but Marianne looked a little scared when I started yelling so I stopped.” He told her as he opened the door to the spare room for her. Margot nodded in thanks as she stepped in to the small, bright room. The door was kicked shut with the heel of Lachlan’s shoe and his face was buried in the crook of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Lips, teeth, tongue. Fuck, she was going to have one hell of a love bite. Margot did the only thing she thought would work. She dug her reasonably maintained nails into his forearms and he yelped. Little crescent indents appeared on his forearms and he glared at her from underneath his disturbingly long, feminine lashes and he hissed a little.
“I can’t show up to work with a hickey; I do have a reputation you know.” She told him.
“How have you been?” He asked calmly as he spread himself out over the bed on his stomach. He settled his big brown eyes on her and watched her intently for a moment.
“Are you alright?” He asked as she turned away, ignoring his question completely.
“Yes.” She said as she avoided his gaze waiting for a confrontation.
“Liar.” She heard him moving again, a restless brush of cotton against cotton. She wove her fingers through the tip of her ponytail, absently scheduling a hair appointment for a week later. A soft cotton hand kerchief was pressed into the palm of her hand and she could feel the heat radiating from his body as he stood close. She pressed the palm of his hand against her shoulder as she delicately dabbed at her face, brushing away the few, stray tears that had managed to leave her control and streak down her cheeks.
“You know Margot; you weren’t the only one who lost something.” He told her, delicately pulling him towards her. She slid into him easily and her curves curled around him easily, her head nestled in the crook of his neck as she began to cry softly. He held her firmly against him as he gently stroked his hair. He didn’t try to make any noises to comfort her, choosing instead to gently rub at her lower back. She stopped eventually, her cheeks, the handkerchief and his neck stained with tears and make-up. She tried to pull away and he let, pulling the handkerchief out of her hands so that he could gently rub away her makeup. Margot bit down into her lower lip as she noticed the red welts of fingernail marks littering his arms.
"Sorry." She said as dabbed gently at her cheeks, pointing to the gashes on his forearms.
"No biggie." He answered as he glanced down, his shoulders moving up and down in a careless shrug. She smiled at him and he uneasily smiled back. Margot reached up to flatten his hair. Lachlan calmly stood still while she fiddled with his hair, silently wondering what would happen next. Margot noticed his distraction and quickly used her free hand to grab his tie. She tugged him down by his tie, her free hand tangling in his hair. She pressed her lips against the corner of his mouth and she paused, gathering her courage and kissing him completely. She felt him melt a little before hesitantly kissing back. It took Lachlan a few moments to realize what he was doing and he jerked back, his hair mussed and his tie askew, a bewildered expression on his face. His facial expression was beaten by the wounded look splashed across Margot's delicate European features.
"Margot wait." He grabbed her hand as she turned away and he pulled her back, careful not to hurt her as he maneuvered himself between her and the door.
"If we do this, I don't think I'll ever be able to let you go again." He said. Margot looked up at him, her blue eyes watering again.
"I don't think I have a problem with that." She answered, her fringe flicking into her face.
"You see, but I do." Margot blinked, bewildered and he sighed, "Margot, I'm engaged."
~*~*~*~

I tuold you it would be slow coming.
Sorry Lovies.