Surprise

[Christian Ward]

Christian sighed and pulled her to his chest. She was calm but still pained and Christian wasn't sure how to compel her otherwise. He didn't want to take everything that was Diana away from her. As enticing as it might be to have an attractive woman at your beckon call, Christian was more attracted to Diana's fiery spirit. Seeing her stoic expression with the anguish in her voice was enough to force Christian to realize that this vow she had taken was a serious commitment, just as his vow to belong only to her. He would be a jackass if he abused it on a whim.

"The odds are against it, Diana. Don't worry on it anymore. I'm not going anywhere. You're going to have to put up with my f*ckery for a very long time." He lifted her face and took her lips with his in a passionate kiss.

[Diana Ward]

She gave into the passion as it was the only outlet available to her. She kissed him with passion, with fear, with longing, and she held on to him for dear life, as though they were already saying goodbye.

Diana was resigned then to protect him. She refused to let him die, and refused to be the one who killed him.

[Christian Ward]

Her arms were tense around his as she clung to him. There was only one release that would effectively soothe her and as Christian pushed her back onto the sofa he gave her tranquility, at least for the time being.

The clock on the mantle chimed six. Roselyn was expected at half past. Christian stood and offered Diana his hand. "We should get dressed."

[Diana Ward]

It was the answer they sought out most of the time, as neither of them were any good when it came to emotions.

Diana was busy putting her skirt back on when she laughed and looked at Christian.

"No wonder I'm pregnant." she shook her head amused. She hadn't forgotten the serious nature of their conversation, or the accompanied helplessness, but sex had taken her mind off of it. She realized then just how often they used sex as a coping mechanism in addition to all the other reasons they attacked one another.

[Christian Ward]

Christian laughed at her statement. He had never been so hungry for a woman as he was with Diana. Every moment he could, he wanted to be with her. Nearly everything she did enticed him.

"Stop being so damned sexy," he smirked, throwing the blame on her as he buttoned his shirt.

[Diana Ward]

"I will when you will." she said tossing back the blame. They were an extraordinarily good looking couple. They were also dangerous which was inherently sexy. Mysterious, brooding, tough, carnal and insatiable. They were lucky to have each other.

Diana adjusted her clothing and the room to appear in order. She was also mildly amused if not horrified that they did what they had just done while waiting for Christian's mother to arrive.

[Christian Ward]

"I can't turn it off, baby" he said in a purposefully cheesy manner to get a laugh. He grabbed her by her rear and pulled her in, kissing her before heading to the kitchen to make sure everything was ready.

At six thirty-five the front door opened and Roselyn announced herself. She didn't believe in ringing the bell when it came to her son. Once you give life to someone, it gives you an automatic pass from standing on their front porch. "Knock, knock," she said as she stepped into the foyer, as if the expression made the intrusion more charming.

Christian appeared from the kitchen and smiled at her. "You're late," he said teasingly.

"Five minutes. It's hardly inconsiderate." She took a beat and then admonished him for his manners. "Come give your mother a hug, you ungrateful boy. I came all the way from Harlow!"

"You apparated mother, it isn't such a feat." Christian embraced his mother anyway. As he pulled back he said, "there's someone I'd like you to meet."

[Diana Ward]

She rolled her eyes at his cheesiness but it was a welcome sight. Their playfulness was welcome. They had far too much severity to last ten lifetimes, Diana was realizing she had to grab happiness where she found it.

When Roselyn arrived Diana was still in the dining room straightening things up that were already straight to take her mind off of her nerves. She wanted things to be perfect, she felt fear travel down her spine. What if his mother didn't like her? She tried to tell herself it didn't matter, but suddenly it did. It mattered very much.

She chewed on her lip and waited for Christian to escort his mother into the dining room to meet her.

[Christian Ward]

Roselyn gave a sideways glance at her son as he ushered her into the dinning room. She hadn't been quite sure what her son was planning when she got the invitation to dinner that said he had news, but she had an idea. Roselyn stepped into the room and caught sight of Diana standing on the opposite side of the table.

"This is Diana, my-"

"You're girlfriend! Oh, come here darling, it's so wonderful to meet you. Christian just went on and on about you." She crossed the room as she spoke and pulled Diana in for a big hug. Roselyn had a problem with boundaries.

[Diana Ward]

Diana let herself be pulled in, it felt good. Acceptance felt better than good, but now that she had it, she wanted to keep it. She hugged the woman back. She didn't know what it would have been like to grow up with a mother, but she imagined Christian's was quite wonderful.

"It's really nice to meet you." she said sincerely.

"Actually...Christian and I are..." she bit her bottom lip looking at her husband. It was something that he should tell the woman.

[Christian Ward]

Christian smiled apologetically at Diana as his mother embraced her in a too familiar manner. He had warned her earlier, but Roselyn had a way of surpassing people's expectations.

"Mum, the reason we wanted - "

"Oh Christian, you didn't tell me how gorgeous she is!" She sandwiched Diana's face between her hands. "Does he tell you how pretty you are? You should tell her, Christian, a woman deserves to know she's attractive."

Christian sighed loudly. "Yes, mum."

[Diana Ward]

Diana's smile grew. Christian was one of the most domineering and imposing men she had ever met, but this woman had him firmly in hand, it almost made Diana laugh. When she saw Christian's expression the laughter bubbled out of her.

"He often compliments me." with his eyes, with his actions, and recently with tender words that made both of them uncomfortable yet happy.

Speaking of attractive, Roselyn was much younger and prettier than Diana would have imagined, she was still a bit overwhelmed by the arrival, but she found her tongue, "He must take beauty for granted however, having you for a mother." to say nothing of the girls that chased him in school.

[Christian Ward]

Roselyn smiled at the compliment and hugged Diana again. "Oh, I like this one Christian. You best keep her around."

"Yes, well that's sort of what we wanted to talk to you about."

"Excellent. We'll have a lovely conversation about your beautiful girlfriend over dinner. He doesn't like my cooking, has he told you? Ungrateful boy, I love him so." Roselyn assumed the conversation Christian wanted to have had something to do with the woman's kidnapped daughter, but she wouldn't bring up the subject first. She had boundary problems, but her manners were intact.

His mother was too excited over meeting Diana to take a beat to listen. Christian sighed. Perhaps eating would slow her down enough that he could get it out without screaming it over her adoration. He waved his wand and the food he had prepared in the kitchen instantly appeared on the dining room table. He pulled out his mother's chair, then Diana's before taking a seat for himself.

"How did you two meet?" Roselyn asked, unfolding her napkin and placing it on her lap.

[Diana Ward]

To have an iota of the woman's energy at that moment would have been a gift from the heavens, although Roselyn's seeming acceptance of Diana seemed to soothe her nerves. She sat and smiled fondly at Christian for getting her seat.

She smiled further when Roselyn's mother chattered, she was going to tell her how she didn't cook and was grateful that Christian knew how when she asked how they met.

"We actually attended school together. Christian was a few years ahead of me." she said staying truthful but vague.

[Christian Ward]

"And you sought him out after your troubles," Roselyn filled in. "Well you picked the right man to help you. My Christian is very talented. But not always the brightest when it comes to women. Did you ever take her on that vacation, like I told you?" She looked to Christian expectantly.

"Yes, mum. We took a cruise down by Australia." Christian placed his hand on Diana's thigh under the table. "And we had the captain marry us."

Roselyn stared blankly at them, shocked silent by the sudden news.

[Diana Ward]

Diana opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say. Seeking Christian out to help her was one way of putting it, but the bomb Christian suddenly dropped made Diana speechless. She should have known once he put his hand on her leg. She suddenly clenched onto his arm and the fork that was resting in her left hand on the table.

She looked at Christian and gave him an expression, "Subtle. Way to ease her into it."

So much for not giving the woman a heart attack, Diana turned her attention back to Roselyn chewing on her inner lip wondering what the woman thought.

[Christian Ward]

"Just wait," he said softly out of the corner of his mouth. There were a few more moments of stunned silence before Roselyn slammed her hands down on the table excitedly.

"You waited until now to tell me?! How could you keep such wonderful news from your mother!" She pushed back her chair and hurried around the table, pulling Christian and Diana from their chairs and forcing them into a hug.

"My Christian got married!" She suddenly slapped him on the shoulder. "And you didn't invite your mother."

"We didn't really plan it."

"Or your Aunt Liza. My friend Cara should have been there." Roselyn continued to rattle off names of people who should have been in attendance at her only son's impromptu wedding halfway across the world as she returned to her seat. Most of whom Christian hardly knew.

"No one was invited, mum." Christian sighed, exasperated with his mother's energy.

[Diana Ward]

It all happened so fast Diana could do nothing but stare, then she said the only thing she could, "I uh...we could have another one."

The color drained from Diana's face as her offer was purely to please the woman who had received the news so warmly, but of course she was personally horrified by the idea.

She gave Christian a look that clearly asked for help.

[Christian Ward]

Christian closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as Diana suggested another wedding. He made a inward groan at the idea.

"Oh would you?" Roselyn asked excitedly, her eyes widening.

"No, ma. We're busy with...things."

Roselyn suddenly looked very serious. "Is it the business? Because your father took two whole weeks off for our wedding and honeymoon, and if he could do it with his small team you can certainly manage with your little empire!"

[Diana Ward]

Diana looked at Christian, feeling very much like a spectator. She was fascinated by this woman who appeared gentle, but really had the will of steel.

Diana didn't personally care for another wedding. Maybe a very small, tiny part of her that should have died a long time ago, had planned the perfect wedding to the man she now called husband, but she certainly didn't have those dreams anymore. Perhaps it was just the fact that they had both been out of their minds when they were married that made Diana wonder if they ever would have gotten married if it weren't for the cruise. But Christian was right, they had a lot on their plate.

She was just about to say as much when Roselyn turned serious. Little empire? The Business? Sometimes, like when Diana found out that Christian's mother was still alive, Diana wondered if she really knew Christian at all. She knew him, the kind of man he was, and mostly how he operated. But she didn't know his life, they just hadn't talked about it. They hadn't had time.