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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 1:11:01 GMT -5
It was a beautiful morning - crisp, cool, quiet, just a bit foggy. Diana was sitting by the window with a blanket wrapped over her as she stared out onto the street. She turned as the door opened and Christian came inside. He smiled at her and she smiled back, unspoken words of love and longing exchanged with glances as he made his way toward her.
When he kissed her, the world faded to darkness, she was mind-numbingly blissful. Suddenly they were standing at the top of a cliff. She brushed her hair out of her face then brought her hand up to his cheek, "Why are we here?" she asked curious but unconcerned.
He smiled at her. She never saw the knife.
With one swift move he kissed her and plunged the knife upward toward her heart underneath her ribs, then pushed her away.
She stumbled through the shock and pain, as her feet crumbled before her and she fell forward off the cliff.
Diana's heavy breathing was the only indication that she was having a nightmare until she shot straight up and clasped her hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding wildly as she reconciled reality with the nightmare.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 1:22:53 GMT -5
Christian had been sleeping soundly next to her, unaware of the terrible images that plagued her subconscious. It wasn't until she jolted awake, shaking the bed with her quick movements, that Christian knew anything was wrong. His normally quick reflexes were slowed slightly by his tiredness but he nonetheless sat up as she did and looked around for the danger that lurked in their bedroom.
There was nothing there. "You had a dream," he said in a sleepy tone as he laid his head back on the pillow facing her. He pulled her down to him.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 1:27:55 GMT -5
It wasn't just a dream. Diana's skin was clammy and the adrenaline was still shooting through her body. She tried to quell the images and feelings, but they wouldn't go away. She was shaking as Christian held her. She didn't want to wake him; it was hardly the first time she had bad dreams, but this one felt off.
After a few moments she attempted to slide out of the bed without disturbing him. It was a long shot, but she tried anyway.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 1:36:31 GMT -5
She was unsuccessful. He lifted himself onto his forearm as she slid away from him. "Where are you going?" he asked in a deep, groggy voice. He blinked to clear his vision as he looked at her.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 1:57:01 GMT -5
"Water." she told him, "Go back to bed."
It was three in the morning and her dream had scared away any idea of a good night's sleep. She'd make up for it with a nap in the morning. She left him to get water as she said, then -being pregnant- her bladder yelled at her and she was pulled to the restroom. Finally her stomach won the argument and she found herself staring at the fully stocked fridge wondering what peanut butter and pineapple would taste like. She didn't see the clock, but she had been gone for almost an hour.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 2:09:44 GMT -5
Christian fell easily back asleep though it wasn't as deep a sleep as it had been before. He rolled over, his arm expecting to drape over Diana's body when it fell straight to the cool mattress. He stirred, realizing Diana wasn't there. He checked the clock.
Christian yawned as wiped the sleep from his eyes and pulled himself from the bed. The door to the bathroom was open and the light was off, she was downstairs. The stairs creaked under his weight as he lumbered down to the kitchen, waking fully as his bare feet his the cold tile floor.
"You're not trying your hand at cooking again, are you?" he teased as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Anyone else would not have been able to tell, but Christian knew Diana's body like the back of his hand and he could feel the beginning of her baby bump under his shirt that she wore as a nightgown.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 2:46:09 GMT -5
She knew when he woke and could hear him coming down the stairs to check on her. She loved him for that, and for not being angry at her lack of sleep schedule.
But mostly when he put his arms around her, his warmth and strength penetrating through the cold, as his fingers gently pressed in against her stomach as he acknowledged their son, she could feel the love she felt for him consume her.
She took a moment to revel in the simple feel of him, then she smirked, "Now that you're here I don't have to." she grinned up at him.
"I'm kidding. I was just going to make a snack."
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 2:55:48 GMT -5
Christian kissed her neck before turning and moving to the opposite side of the kitchen. He put on the kettle.
"What hideous concoction does my son want this time, that you will try to hide from me?" He had noticed her weird food pairings. Before he had simply thought it was a myth, an old wives tale to make pregnancy seem stranger than it actually was. He found he was ignorant to a great many realities of Diana's condition.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 3:22:07 GMT -5
When the first rays of dawn began to filter through the room it revealed Diana's cravings.
Salt and vinegar chips were already on the counter top, as well as a half of an avocado, a slice of cheese with a bite taken out of it and a large glass of apple juice next to half a chocolate bar. She had her hand in the refrigerator and pulled out the peanut butter and mango slices rather than pineapple.
She smiled sheepishly putting a little bit of each item on a plate before charming the food to be put away.
She didn't want to mix the ingredients together by any means, she simply wanted each item for its own distinct taste.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 3:29:05 GMT -5
He looked at her plate as she moved to the table and thought how lucky she was that she was ridiculously attractive. He smiled and shook his head at her sheepish grin.
The kettle whistled and he moved it from the flame, preparing tea for both of them. He set a cup in front of her and one in front of where he would be sitting. "Have you thought of anymore names?" he asked as he sat.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 1, 2016 3:53:00 GMT -5
She chewed on her food slowly, almost sensually though the act was unconscious as she thought about the names they had discussed.
"What was your grandfather's name?" she asked still looking for inspiration.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 1, 2016 22:51:13 GMT -5
"Humphrey on my dad's side. Liam on my mum's." He took a piece of mango from her plate and popped it in his mouth. "Do not saddle our son with the name Humphrey," Christian said with a laugh which turned into a yawn.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 2, 2016 0:53:11 GMT -5
Diana laughed lightly, "But Liam's nice." she said thoughtfully.
"My grandfather on my mother's side was named Oliver. She died when I was young, but I spent summers with him when I was little. He taught me to ride and play chess."
It was a nice memory, one that Diana hadn't thought about in a long time. It seemed like a different life. He died just before she went to Hogwarts which contributed somewhat to her awkward start at the school.
"Liam Oliver Ward." she said, testing the name out. She smiled then looked up at Christian.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 2, 2016 1:29:13 GMT -5
Liam Oliver Ward. His son was to be named Liam. Christian gave a sleepy smile before pulling Diana from her chair and onto his lap. He brushed his hand against her cheek before pulling her in for a kiss. He was feeling exceptionally tender today, likely a side effect of very little sleep and clearly having nothing to do with the fact that the woman he loved was carrying his child.
"Liam Oliver is perfect."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 2, 2016 1:52:29 GMT -5
Times like this she could almost forget about the dark things that haunted their family. That too seemed like a lifetime ago, what a difference a few months made.
She was content to sit on his lap breathing him in. She smiled widely, "We have a name."
They had a name. It was real. They were married, they were so close to ending things with the Board members, they would find Alyx, they would have Liam, and they were going to be happy. It was all within grasp.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 2, 2016 2:13:50 GMT -5
"We do," he answered happily before yawning again. His eyes were drooping despite the rising sun. "We also have a bed that is calling me."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 2, 2016 2:28:13 GMT -5
She was excited about the name, but her smile fell slightly as Christian brought up their bed upstairs. She hadn't shaken off the nightmare yet, despite copious amounts of food and -for them - copious amounts of cuddling.
"I had a bad dream." she confessed, "You stabbed me." she said with mock indignation.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 2, 2016 2:57:54 GMT -5
He frowned at her confession. Not at the dream itself so much as her reaction to it. He was not unfamiliar with dreams in which his partners betrayed him or attempted to put an end to him. They were common dreams to be had in his line of work, especially when stresses were piqued. But once awake he rarely thought of them again and certainly didn't let them keep him up in middle of the night.
"Did you do something to deserve it?" he teased with a mocking tone to match hers.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 2, 2016 3:06:34 GMT -5
'I fell in love with you.'she thought silently to herself.
Once I had been lured into a false sense of security; after I had given myself to you completely. You stabbed me and I deserved it for letting my guard down.
They were haunting thoughts she didn't dwell on in the light of day, only in the secret fears of the night which evolved into terrors in her sleep.
"Perhaps I ate you out of house and home and you saw the grocery bill."
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 2, 2016 3:37:34 GMT -5
"That seems plausible. However, I think you will find that I'm more forgiving about having no food left in the house when the culprit is so delicious." He smirked at her but the allure was ruined by another involuntary yawn.
He didn't have the energy just yet to ease her mind in the manner to which they had become accustomed. He would take a different route. "You know I would never do anything to harm you or Liam."
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