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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 7, 2016 12:19:20 GMT -5
Diana pouted. What had she done? Was he really pissed off that she didn't take off her shirt for him? She stayed silent and sipped her tea. A part of her wanted to take her shirt off instantly and repair the good mood, another part of her was indignant that such a small thing should upset him this morning.
She went with indignant and lifted her chin in the air, not saying a word.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 7, 2016 22:38:16 GMT -5
Christian returned to his paper, scowling slightly and not noticing Diana's sudden silence. It was the toss of the coin lately whether she responded to his outbursts with the silent treatment or by matching his emotional level. The peace that persisted throughout the remainder of breakfast was expected.
After they finished eating and Christian cleared away the leftovers having made far too much for even the hungriest of couples, Christian deliberated what to do next. They needed to figure out what was happening with the assassin which meant he would need to talk with Copperbottom. But they also needed to replace the more important belongings they had lost when they left the ship so suddenly after the attack; the most vital item being the two-way mirror he used to communicate with employees. Christian wasn't worried that someone else might happen upon, as it only responded to his wand but his business, and consequently his and Diana's mission, was put on hold until he managed to enchant a new one which was a process in and of itself. Of course, the winning idea for the moment was to climb back into his bed and sleep until his body adjusted to being on London time again.
He looked at Diana who was still giving him the silent treatment as she read the paper. She didn't seem to actually be reading much; her eyes didn't shift with the text and she'd been holding the same page for much longer than necessary even if she read every single column. "What are you thinking on so intently?" he asked her.
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 1:03:52 GMT -5
He was right, she wasn't reading the paper. She tried, but after the fourth time reading the same paragraph she gave up. Still she wasn't ready to talk to him. She didn't know how to tell him and she didn't want to tell him the wrong way. Was there a right way to tell him that she was pregnant?
Silence was safe.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 1:19:36 GMT -5
Nothing. Not even a snappy remark for his earlier outburst. Christian scowled. He hated the silent treatment, he much preferred their heated disagreements to her cold shoulder. He sighed loudly. "Oh, come off it, Diana. You're not going to keep at this all day so just give up already," he said.
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 1:28:03 GMT -5
"Make up your mind then. Either you want me to talk or not." she huffed at him and flipped the newspaper page. She grumbled then speaking under her breath about unpredictable moods.
She paused then, she really didn't have room to talk all things considered. With a sigh she set the newspaper down and looked at him.
"Thank you for breakfast." she said in an attempt at civility.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 2:05:33 GMT -5
"Because whether I want to hear you natter on has ever dictated whether or not you spoke before," he retorted, rolling his eyes. He crossed the kitchen and sat with her as she set her paper down.
"You're welcome," he replied. "You haven't told me what you were thinking about."
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 2:11:06 GMT -5
"Oh but I live to please you Husband dearest." she mocked, then turned serious chewing on her lip.
"There's too much to think about right now. Copperbottom, the final board member, this assassin that almost got us both killed, this unbreakable vows business, our marriage, and if we manage to survive all of this whatever comes next." she said on a sigh.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 2:48:51 GMT -5
Christian smirked as she listed all of the things on her to do list, glad to have his dedicated Diana back. It was a daunting list, and while a few new items had been added recently, on the whole they were making great headway.
"I'll send an owl to Bennett, see if he's found anything yet. You should see if Burke has discovered anything on the assassin that might be of use. Is he back in town, yet?"
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 2:55:55 GMT -5
"Your guess is as good as mine. When he wants to, he can completely disappear of the face of the planet." she said rather aggravated as though it wasn't the first time Derek had disappeared on her.
She chewed on her lip some more, "What does come next Christian? After we kill them all, and get Alyx back. I hate to admit it, but I stopped thinking that far ahead." Before Christian came along, she was quite certain she was going down in a blaze of glory.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 3:27:55 GMT -5
Burke's disappearing acts were not uncommon for Death Eaters. When they were assigned a task, it needed to be done immediately and correctly. Total devotion until completion. Christian had undertaken several tasks requiring such commitment. He could only hope Diana would be more understanding of his absences than she was of Burke's. But he could hope in one hand...
Christian was far too sober for the conversation Diana was proposing, but also too tired to handle his liquor well enough to participate after more than a glass. He bid his time, studying her as she spoke. Christian knew what he wanted, and it was the same outcome whether they found a way out of their life bond or not. He wanted Diana and their daughter. They would be a family, a highly dysfunctional family but one that loved each other despite their issues. But again, he was too sober for the conversation. Too apprehensive to make the first move.
"What do you want to happen, Diana?"
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 3:31:47 GMT -5
As he deflected the question she lost her nerve. It had taken a lot for her to ask in the first place.
"It's too early in the morning, and we've had a long trip," she said standing up and stretching slightly, " we don't have to do this right now." she finished.
She turned away from him ,"I'll write to Burke."
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 3:54:14 GMT -5
He faltered. She faltered. They had grown so much in the few months they'd shared together and yet they were still unable to communicate effectively when it really mattered. Christian was just as upset at himself for deflecting her question as he was at her for avoiding the conversation altogether.
"Dammit, Diana, just tell me what you want from me and I'll do it!" he yelled forcefully.
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 4:21:06 GMT -5
She whipped around as he called out to her.
"I want you to want to stay!" she yelled back at him unsure of where the words had come from. She even seemed surprised by them if the expression on her face was to be taken into account.
Once the words began she couldn't stop, "I want you to want us. I want you to want to grow old with me and Alyx and-" she cut herself off the words being pulled from her as though she couldn't help herself.
"I want you to want us to be a family. I don't know if I want to be married to you. I certainly don't want to be bonded to you."
The stakes were too high, one of them had to keep going for their children's sake.
"I honestly don't mind that you can't sleep with anyone else...though it cancels out that drunken threesome you would have tried to talk me into." she teased.
With a final sigh she sobered, "I want you to want those things Christian, and I want you to want them forever, but if you don't..." she paused with insecurity "Then I don't want you to do any of it. I don't want to be a concession or something you settle for. I won't be an obligation."
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 4:38:19 GMT -5
He could have yelled at her; she was being stupid for thinking he wouldn't want those things with her. He could have yelled for her assuming he would ever settle or even do anything he didn't truly want to do. Hell, he could have yelled for bringing up a drunken threesome he so desperately wanted now. He could have yelled.
"I don't want an obligation, Diana. I don't want to be bonded to you for the rest of my life. And I'm pretty bloody sure I never want to be married to anyone." His tone was even and his expression serious.
He paused, staring into her. The mother of his child. The love of his life. The constant pain in his ass.
"But I f*cking want you. I wouldn't put up with your sh*t if I didn't plan to spend the rest of my days with you. And when we find Alyx, I'm going to f*cking want her, too."
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 4:50:02 GMT -5
His first words cut into her as she braced for disappointment though she kept a stoic expression. That expression melted into a smile as Christian once again told her he loved her in the only way that Christian would, and it spread warmth through out her body.
Despite his confession however she had one of her own to make and it still tied her stomach up in knots.
"Then I have a confession to make..." she began nervously, "but I'm not sure how you'll react."
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 6:11:18 GMT -5
"Is it about the drunken threesome, because I'm willing to give it a go if you are," he said eyeing her and grinning as if he was very clever. He sensed some seriousness in her voice but he had no idea of the magnitude of what was coming. There was no way to brace himself. Instead, he smiled like an idiot, thinking about the indecent things he was going to do to her.
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 13:10:44 GMT -5
Diana's courage was failing her. She wanted to make light of it, even joke about how technically there were three people in the equation now, but any way she spun that it just seemed inappropriate. Her throat went dry and she swallowed down the panic.
"Well I mean we could discuss the possibilities, I don't think the odds are in your favor on that one." she said nervously avoiding her confession. Why couldn't she just tell him? Because they weren't fighting? Because the only time she made confessions was when he riled her up or when they were about to die. Or when they were in a deep love spell.
"Look Christian, there's no other way for me to say it so I'll just say it I'm-"
There was a loud pecking suddenly at the window.
Diana recognized the owl, "It's Burke." she said moving to open the window. The owl flew in and out again as Diana retrieved the letter and read it.
"He wants us to meet him. He's got something on Copperbottom."
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 14:25:50 GMT -5
A slight panic set in as Diana relayed Burke's message. No, they weren't ready for Copperbottom yet. They needed to take care of the other board member first. If Copperbottom fell the contract he held with Christian for Diana's head would become void. A new contract would be created and Christian would have no say in who was chosen to hunt down Diana. Their comparatively easy journey toward a happy family was suddenly treacherous. Christian saw his family ripped from his grasp before he ever really got to hold them.
"When?" he asked anxiously, a little more vinegar in his voice than he anticipated.
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Post by Diana Ward on Nov 8, 2016 14:32:48 GMT -5
"Now." she said, "He's at the Hog's Head." she handed Christian the letter and conjured pants and a black shirt, before putting her hair up and grabbing a jacket.
Diana was in part just as eager to get to Derek for the news on Copperbottom as Christian was, only she saw it as an opportunity to finish the job and get closer to that happily ever after. The other part was running away from the confession she needed to make.
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Post by Christian Ward on Nov 8, 2016 15:23:19 GMT -5
Christian took the letter from Diana but there was nothing more in its contents that made Christian feel less anxious. Christian dressed too, taking the slower route than Diana had chosen and actually walked upstairs and pulled his clothes out by hand. He wore dark jeans and a grey buttoned shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He combed his hair before putting on his shoes and walking back downstairs to meet Diana.
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