Another Journey Begins
folder
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
860
Reviews:
0
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
860
Reviews:
0
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Echoes of the past
Chapter 5
"What are we having for breakfast?" Tara asked, trying out a Russian accent for the first time.
Sven looked at her curiously for a moment before turning the omelet in the pan. "The same thing as always," he replied. "Egg white omelets with bacon and whole grain cereal."
"Ah, so I am to have a busy day today then?"
"Um, yes," Sven answered. "Sweet one, are you trying out an accent for a reason?"
"It is part of my new persona," she explained. "Can you tell what I am?"
"It is difficult, but I believe you are trying for an Eastern European accent."
"Okay, but which one."
"Right now, it sounds like a little bit of Croatian mixed with Romanian and Russian," he said thoughtfully. "With New England undertones."
Tara sighed in defeat.
"Do not worry," the Scandinavian grinned at her. "We can work on it. Soon you will have the accent you want."
"You think?"
"Yes. Now, which accent was it that you wanted?"
"Russian."
"Ah, good choice."
"Is breakfast ready yet? I am starving," Justin said as he entered the kitchen.
"You ate enough at dinner last night, I thought," Tara said slipping back into her normal voice. "Do you work out in the middle of the night or something?"
Justin said nothing but she could swear his face reddened slightly. Sven just smiled and served the omelets. Tara may not say anything to them, but that didn't mean she was above teasing them. Hey, she figured she had to get her fun from somewhere.
"Sweet one is trying out new voices," Sven deftly changed the subject as he set the platter of bacon on the table and sat down. "She has decided upon a Russian accent."
"Russian?" Justin asked around a mouthful of bacon. "Why Russian?"
"It is colder than other languages, but not as harsh as German," Tara replied in her accent, or accents.
"Ah, so you want to be cold then?" the dark haired man seemed to contemplate this. "But not too harsh."
"The German is too harsh on me," she explained. "It gave me a headache."
"Have you settled upon a name yet, sweet?" Sven asked. "It would be nice to call you something else once in a while."
"I'll get back to you on that," she sighed again.
----------------------------------------
Training had been harder that day than usual. Justin put her on the trampoline again. And she fell again. And again. And again. She figured the Fates were probably laughing their asses off at her. Tiredly, she fell into bed and stared at the ceiling again. She needed a name. Sven was right.
She drowsily contemplated the walls while a memory came back to her, uninvited but there nonetheless.
FLASHBACK
Ben was sitting in his favorite easy chair, flipping through channels with the television remote. They only had basic cable but they were content with that. Tara just came from the kitchen with a mug of homemade hot chocolate for him. She'd been trying various recipes, looking for one that he'd love instead of just like.
"Mmmm, this is really good!" Ben sighed. "But the others were fine too. Why are you working so hard on this, Angel?"
"Well, you mentioned the hot chocolate you had in Brazil was the best you ever had," Tara smiled somewhat shyly, like she did every time he used his special nickname for her. "I just wanted to find a way to give that to you since you won't be going back there for a while."
Ben stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, his slight frown marring his otherwise boyish appearance. He was only in his twenties, but his lean, lanky frame and tousled light brown hair gave him the appearance of late teenage years. His hazel eyes, usually dancing with amusement, now took on a thoughtful air.
"Are you still feeling guilty about what happened with my parents?"
Tara just shrugged and looked down.
"Sweetie, we've been over this," he said as he set his cup on the end table and pulled her into his chair with him. "They can't hold their money over my head. I won't let them. You're all that matters to me. You and," he put a hand on her stomach, "whoever this little guy turns out to be."
She smiled and buried her nose into his neck, reveling in his warmth. She loved her husband so much and only wanted to make him as happy as she could.
"You're sure?" she asked in a soft voice, not lifting her head to meet his eyes.
"I'm positive," he grinned. He ran his free hand through her dark blonde locks.
"But the baby wasn't planned."
"He or she is the nicest surprise I've ever had."
Tara had opted not to learn the sex of the child until he or she was born. Ben knew, though, from the last sonogram. But he'd promised her he wouldn't tell.
"But you wouldn't have felt you had to marry me," she protested looking up. "If I hadn't gotten pregnant . . ."
"I would have married you anyway," his grin widened. "I was already in love with you, Tar. Nothing was going to make me give you up."
"But."
"Ask Tony," he said as he began rubbing her tummy. "I bought that engagement ring before you told me you were having my baby. Nothing was stopping me." He kissed her softly on the lips to punctuate the statement.
"But your parents would have still cut you off," she sighed.
"And?" he asked, clearly amused at her confusion. "They weren't going to control my life, baby. I made that promise to myself a long time ago."
"Oh!"
They both laughed as the baby kicked from inside.
"I think we may have a field goal kicker in there," Ben laughed. "Or a soccer player."
"Hmm. Then he or she could play professionally, right?"
"If he or she wants."
"And we can go see him or her play in Brazil," she smiled.
"That would be nice," he smiled back. "But I'll get us there before then. You'll see."
"Hey, me too!" she playfully protested. "Don't think I don't have plans for myself when I finally graduate."
"I know you do!"
"I mean it, Ben," she giggled. "I'm going to me the best entrepreneur you've ever seen!"
"Oh yeah?" he kissed her cheek. "What are you going to sell, Angel?"
"Your books, of course!" she grinned. "Then we'll all go to Carnevale in Rio to celebrate!"
"That we will," he assured her. "I really want to take you there, baby. You'll love it!"
"And then I can taste this hot chocolate for myself!"
They both laughed.
END FLASHBACK
Tara's cheeks were stained with the tears that accompanied the memory. She'd only wanted to make a happy life with Ben. Why couldn't she have that? Why did he have to pay such a high price? And why couldn't their baby live? Turning over in her bed, she looked out the window at the dark Montana sky. Where was he now? Where did someone go when they died? He'd always promised her he'd never leave her. Did that mean he was with her now somehow? She hoped so. She also hoped he had their baby with him.
Finally she drifted off into a fitful sleep. She dreamt of the night he'd been attacked again. Then she dreamt of sitting beside him in bed. His eyes were open though, but they were black instead of their normal hazel color. He looked at her blankly, as if in a trance. She was shaking him and calling his name, but he wouldn't move. He just stared. Her heart thumped in her chest as she tried in vain to reach him. Finally, he smiled at her. But soon after, he dissolved into the air, leaving nothing more than a small wisp of vapor.
Tara awoke with a start, sweating and shaking. The sky outside was just turning a dark orange with the dawn. She could see that there would be no more sleep for her and got up to change for her training sessions.
----------------------------------------
"You are up earlier than usual, small one," Justin greeted her as she emerged from the stairway.
She jumped for a second then visibly relaxed. The dark haired man studied her carefully, worrying about what had her feeling edgy.
"I'm anxious," she began then stopped herself and took a breath.
His blonde lover came into the room and stopped, watching the two interact. Justin smiled inwardly, feeling more like they were becoming a family as each day passed.
"I am anxious to begin," Tara finished in an accent much closer to Russian than the previous day.
"You are improving," Sven remarked.
"I am trying," she replied, turning to the blonde man. "And I now have a name."
"Ah, this is good," Sven smiled. "And what may we call you, sweet one."
"Rio," she gave him a small smile. "I am Rio Angele." She pronounced the "˜g' as "˜zsh' as she said it."
"Rio Angele," Sven repeated as he mulled it over. "May we ask about the name?"
"Maybe another time," she said as she led the way to the kitchen. "For now I must refuel before I meet again with that blasted trampoline."
Justin gave Sven a calculating look as they followed her into the kitchen.
"What are we having for breakfast?" Tara asked, trying out a Russian accent for the first time.
Sven looked at her curiously for a moment before turning the omelet in the pan. "The same thing as always," he replied. "Egg white omelets with bacon and whole grain cereal."
"Ah, so I am to have a busy day today then?"
"Um, yes," Sven answered. "Sweet one, are you trying out an accent for a reason?"
"It is part of my new persona," she explained. "Can you tell what I am?"
"It is difficult, but I believe you are trying for an Eastern European accent."
"Okay, but which one."
"Right now, it sounds like a little bit of Croatian mixed with Romanian and Russian," he said thoughtfully. "With New England undertones."
Tara sighed in defeat.
"Do not worry," the Scandinavian grinned at her. "We can work on it. Soon you will have the accent you want."
"You think?"
"Yes. Now, which accent was it that you wanted?"
"Russian."
"Ah, good choice."
"Is breakfast ready yet? I am starving," Justin said as he entered the kitchen.
"You ate enough at dinner last night, I thought," Tara said slipping back into her normal voice. "Do you work out in the middle of the night or something?"
Justin said nothing but she could swear his face reddened slightly. Sven just smiled and served the omelets. Tara may not say anything to them, but that didn't mean she was above teasing them. Hey, she figured she had to get her fun from somewhere.
"Sweet one is trying out new voices," Sven deftly changed the subject as he set the platter of bacon on the table and sat down. "She has decided upon a Russian accent."
"Russian?" Justin asked around a mouthful of bacon. "Why Russian?"
"It is colder than other languages, but not as harsh as German," Tara replied in her accent, or accents.
"Ah, so you want to be cold then?" the dark haired man seemed to contemplate this. "But not too harsh."
"The German is too harsh on me," she explained. "It gave me a headache."
"Have you settled upon a name yet, sweet?" Sven asked. "It would be nice to call you something else once in a while."
"I'll get back to you on that," she sighed again.
----------------------------------------
Training had been harder that day than usual. Justin put her on the trampoline again. And she fell again. And again. And again. She figured the Fates were probably laughing their asses off at her. Tiredly, she fell into bed and stared at the ceiling again. She needed a name. Sven was right.
She drowsily contemplated the walls while a memory came back to her, uninvited but there nonetheless.
FLASHBACK
Ben was sitting in his favorite easy chair, flipping through channels with the television remote. They only had basic cable but they were content with that. Tara just came from the kitchen with a mug of homemade hot chocolate for him. She'd been trying various recipes, looking for one that he'd love instead of just like.
"Mmmm, this is really good!" Ben sighed. "But the others were fine too. Why are you working so hard on this, Angel?"
"Well, you mentioned the hot chocolate you had in Brazil was the best you ever had," Tara smiled somewhat shyly, like she did every time he used his special nickname for her. "I just wanted to find a way to give that to you since you won't be going back there for a while."
Ben stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, his slight frown marring his otherwise boyish appearance. He was only in his twenties, but his lean, lanky frame and tousled light brown hair gave him the appearance of late teenage years. His hazel eyes, usually dancing with amusement, now took on a thoughtful air.
"Are you still feeling guilty about what happened with my parents?"
Tara just shrugged and looked down.
"Sweetie, we've been over this," he said as he set his cup on the end table and pulled her into his chair with him. "They can't hold their money over my head. I won't let them. You're all that matters to me. You and," he put a hand on her stomach, "whoever this little guy turns out to be."
She smiled and buried her nose into his neck, reveling in his warmth. She loved her husband so much and only wanted to make him as happy as she could.
"You're sure?" she asked in a soft voice, not lifting her head to meet his eyes.
"I'm positive," he grinned. He ran his free hand through her dark blonde locks.
"But the baby wasn't planned."
"He or she is the nicest surprise I've ever had."
Tara had opted not to learn the sex of the child until he or she was born. Ben knew, though, from the last sonogram. But he'd promised her he wouldn't tell.
"But you wouldn't have felt you had to marry me," she protested looking up. "If I hadn't gotten pregnant . . ."
"I would have married you anyway," his grin widened. "I was already in love with you, Tar. Nothing was going to make me give you up."
"But."
"Ask Tony," he said as he began rubbing her tummy. "I bought that engagement ring before you told me you were having my baby. Nothing was stopping me." He kissed her softly on the lips to punctuate the statement.
"But your parents would have still cut you off," she sighed.
"And?" he asked, clearly amused at her confusion. "They weren't going to control my life, baby. I made that promise to myself a long time ago."
"Oh!"
They both laughed as the baby kicked from inside.
"I think we may have a field goal kicker in there," Ben laughed. "Or a soccer player."
"Hmm. Then he or she could play professionally, right?"
"If he or she wants."
"And we can go see him or her play in Brazil," she smiled.
"That would be nice," he smiled back. "But I'll get us there before then. You'll see."
"Hey, me too!" she playfully protested. "Don't think I don't have plans for myself when I finally graduate."
"I know you do!"
"I mean it, Ben," she giggled. "I'm going to me the best entrepreneur you've ever seen!"
"Oh yeah?" he kissed her cheek. "What are you going to sell, Angel?"
"Your books, of course!" she grinned. "Then we'll all go to Carnevale in Rio to celebrate!"
"That we will," he assured her. "I really want to take you there, baby. You'll love it!"
"And then I can taste this hot chocolate for myself!"
They both laughed.
END FLASHBACK
Tara's cheeks were stained with the tears that accompanied the memory. She'd only wanted to make a happy life with Ben. Why couldn't she have that? Why did he have to pay such a high price? And why couldn't their baby live? Turning over in her bed, she looked out the window at the dark Montana sky. Where was he now? Where did someone go when they died? He'd always promised her he'd never leave her. Did that mean he was with her now somehow? She hoped so. She also hoped he had their baby with him.
Finally she drifted off into a fitful sleep. She dreamt of the night he'd been attacked again. Then she dreamt of sitting beside him in bed. His eyes were open though, but they were black instead of their normal hazel color. He looked at her blankly, as if in a trance. She was shaking him and calling his name, but he wouldn't move. He just stared. Her heart thumped in her chest as she tried in vain to reach him. Finally, he smiled at her. But soon after, he dissolved into the air, leaving nothing more than a small wisp of vapor.
Tara awoke with a start, sweating and shaking. The sky outside was just turning a dark orange with the dawn. She could see that there would be no more sleep for her and got up to change for her training sessions.
----------------------------------------
"You are up earlier than usual, small one," Justin greeted her as she emerged from the stairway.
She jumped for a second then visibly relaxed. The dark haired man studied her carefully, worrying about what had her feeling edgy.
"I'm anxious," she began then stopped herself and took a breath.
His blonde lover came into the room and stopped, watching the two interact. Justin smiled inwardly, feeling more like they were becoming a family as each day passed.
"I am anxious to begin," Tara finished in an accent much closer to Russian than the previous day.
"You are improving," Sven remarked.
"I am trying," she replied, turning to the blonde man. "And I now have a name."
"Ah, this is good," Sven smiled. "And what may we call you, sweet one."
"Rio," she gave him a small smile. "I am Rio Angele." She pronounced the "˜g' as "˜zsh' as she said it."
"Rio Angele," Sven repeated as he mulled it over. "May we ask about the name?"
"Maybe another time," she said as she led the way to the kitchen. "For now I must refuel before I meet again with that blasted trampoline."
Justin gave Sven a calculating look as they followed her into the kitchen.