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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 4:16:00 GMT -5
Diana winced in pain as Roselyn hugged her, but she smiled at the woman's exuberance and tried to return the hug.
She also winced when Roselyn slapped Christian, and tried not to smile or laugh at her husband's helplessness. Christian was one of the fiercest, strongest, most capable and dangerous men she had ever met, and once again he was reduced to naughty school boy in his mother's presence. Diana wondered what it would be like to raise Liam, and if he would be the same way.
Surely Roselyn was proud of her handsome son. There was a love struck Diana that was proud of her husband, no matter how many times he let her down.
"It's a boy." Diana added shyly.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 4:24:37 GMT -5
Roselyn lit up once more. "A boy! I have a grandson!" She pulled Christian in for a hug, forcing the tall man to bend over so that she could reach him properly.
She squeezed him tight, swaying back and forth happily until Christian said, "okay mum." She let her son go and turned back to Diana, with a smile on her face. "Have you decided on a name yet?" she asked happily, but before either Diana or Christian had a chance to respond she turned to Christian and said, "Christian, sweetheart, bring me that chair so I can sit with my beautiful daughter in law." She gestured to the overstuffed arm chair in the corner of the room where Christian had sat watching Diana for hours as she slept. Christian groaned inwardly and moved to pull the chair up for his mother.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 4:32:00 GMT -5
Cool, confident, sexy, and wildly passionate Diana, also became meek in front of the highly energetic woman, "Um...well..." Diana looked at Christian then back at Roselyn, "We were thinking Liam after your father, and Oliver after my grandfather. Liam Oliver Ward." she answered.
"Careful! Um..." she was moderately embarrassed, "There's glass..." she said averting her eyes.
"Repairo" she whispered under her breath as a vase formed from the shattered pieces and righted itself on the nightstand next to Diana. She gave a somewhat sheepish look toward Christian.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 4:45:05 GMT -5
Christian returned Diana's look as the vase repaired itself. She was fiery. He liked it.
"Liam! Oh Christian, you sweet, sweet boy! How you make me so proud!" Roselyn wrapped her arms around her son again just as he was about to step back to let her sit down. "I'm a grandmother," she said happily, releasing Christian and sitting back into the chair. "Oh, not that I wasn't already, dear." She patted Diana's arm sympathetically before turning to Christian. "Any luck with finding the girl?" she asked gently of Alyx.
Christian moved to sit at the foot of Diana's bed, sighing gently as his mother's excitement and constant talking proved to be overwhelming. "We're getting closer," he said in what he believed to be the truth. They couldn't fully search for Alyx until all of these threats were taken care of. But now with Silas coming against them it seemed as though their enemy count was increasing instead of diminishing.
The mention of Alyx made the memory of the record he'd bought for her spring to his mind. He loved her and wanted her home. Christian placed his hand on Diana's leg as he looked at his mother. "We haven't been completely honest about Alyx. She's not just Diana's daughter. She's my daughter, too."
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 12:40:54 GMT -5
Diana wanted to laugh when Christian sat, but she too felt overwhelmed by Roselyn's energy. She found it odd that she could argue with Christian for hours, days even, and go another round. But Roselyn was another tier all together.
When Roselyn's words pierced Diana's mind she was almost startled. Roselyn referred to Alyx as her own grand daughter. Did the woman know? No, how would she? Roselyn was just accepting Diana's daughter as her own grandchild. Roselyn would do that.
But then Christian dropped the news. Diana tensed and looked at Roselyn waiting for her reaction.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 14:16:36 GMT -5
There was another moment of silent as Roselyn stared between Christian and Diana in shock. Christian waited, knowing how his mother processed surprises and expecting her to begin jumping about slapping him any minute now. Roselyn scolded people when she was too happy.
"Your daughter?" she asked, looking at Christian with confusion. Christian couldn't tell whether she was happy or not.
"Yes, mum. It's a long stor-"
"I need a word with you, Christian." Roselyn looked very serious as she stood from her chair and made for the door.
Christian shut his eyes, scrunching his face up in aggravation as his mother's response came in surprise.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 15:41:04 GMT -5
Diana swallowed. Her mouth was dry all of a sudden. Roselyn's serious expression was surprising. Diana naively thought that Roselyn would react with the same exuberance as before, but this deadly serious woman was new as it was unsettling.
She wanted to go with them. She never liked being left behind, but she was stuck in the bed and obviously it wasn't meant for her ears whatever it was. She chewed on her lip and watched her husband.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 16:06:27 GMT -5
Roselyn stepped out of the bedroom without looking back at her son, knowing he would follow. And he did. Christian shut the door as he stepped into the hall but the voices carried easily through to Diana.
"Christian Anthony Ward, what on this great bloody earth do you mean she's your daughter?"
"Exactly what it sounds like, ma."
"Don't you take that tone with me, young man! You're the one that was keeping secrets from me. If anyone deserves to use that tone, it's me."
"We didn't want to pile on. It's a lot to take in. I didn't think-"
"No, you didn't think, did you? She's a teenager, Christian! You were only a child at the time. I knew your father letting you have those magazines was a mistake. I tried to pretend I didn't know they were under your mattress but a mother. Oh, Merlin a mother knows."
"I wasn't a child," he insisted in a deep voice. "I was 21 and had my own flat at the time."
There was a silence.
"We sent you to Bosnia when you were 21. What on earth was that sweet girl doing in Bosnia?"
"It was before that."
There were muffled sounds of Roselyn smack Christian repeatedly as she spoke. "You left that girl alone and pregnant and you didn't bother to tell us?!"
"I didn't know, mum!" There was silence again.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 16:15:03 GMT -5
Diana was nervous about the altercation that was taking place outside the room, but when she heard Roselyn talking about magazines under Christian's bed Diana had to laugh.
The laughter was short lived, she chewed on her lip as Roselyn's attacks grew in intensity. Diana had often thrown the same things in his face, but only when hew as being an ass. He hadn't been an ass to her since she woke up, with the exception of once again traipsing off without her.
"Oh dear..." she murmured when Christian began to yell.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 16:43:06 GMT -5
The silence lasted a few minutes as Roselyn glared at Christian and Christian gave a most convincing look of a scolded boy. Finally, Roselyn spoke.
"Where is she, Christian? You've been looking for her all summer, well it's bloody November now. Where is my granddaughter? Where is your daughter?!"
"We don't know," came Christian's deep voice again, a hint of emotion breaking through.
"What have you been doing all this time? You should have found her by now! Your father, God rest his soul, would have found her by now, Christian. She's your daughter!"
"We can't look for her yet, alright?" Christian's tone was angry suddenly. "If I was able to look for her I'd have found her, mum. I would have brought her home and you'd have met her by now. It isn't safe yet! That's why I brought you here. It's not safe and I'm not bringing my f*cking daughter into this mess just to lose her all over again!"
Roselyn made a huffed sound as Christian cursed at her but she didn't say anything else. Christian continued, just as angry. "Go see to Diana. Merlin only knows what she thinks you think of her now."
"Christian, dear, I didn't-"
"Just go. Go talk about Liam or something. I don't f*cking care what, just stop badgering me about Alyx!"
The door opened again and Roselyn entered looking defeated. Her expression changed as she shut the door behind her. Christian didn't follow.
"Tell me all about my grandson," Roselyn said as she came back to sit in the chair near Diana's bed. Her voice was cheerful, but not as much as it had been earlier.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 16:51:31 GMT -5
Kaden's walls were paper thin. She heard everything. Her face was buried in a pillow when Roselyn came back in the room which hid her bitter tears.
She sat up when she heard the woman's voice.
"It's not his fault..." she began, "It isn't. It all just got so horribly messed up." she despaired putting her head in her hands.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 17:02:17 GMT -5
The Wards were no strangers to "horribly messed up" and Roselyn had, at one time, been quite accustomed to dangerous situations. But Christian seemed to get into far more serious scrapes that his father, Grant.
"I suppose it comes with the territory, dear. But don't you worry. My Christian is a smart boy, he'll sort it all out." She stroked Diana's arm tenderly.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 17:30:52 GMT -5
Diana was desolate. Her hormones had kicked into gear after the eventful day and it all just became too much.
"Now that you know the truth... I have to ask you..." she bit her lip, "If anything happens to Christian or I...If we're not able to..." she swallowed the thick lump in the back of her throat.
"I would die if Alyx got caught up in any of this. If she or Liam were hurt because of the trouble that I'm in. Right now, Alyx has no connection to me, but if they found out about her, then she'd be in the same danger. You have to promise me that if something should happen to us, that you'll take care of the children. They would be happy with you. Christian adores you." she said softly. She was still so very unsure of what kind of mother she would make.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 17:53:04 GMT -5
Roselyn could see the worry and fatigue in Diana. She had worn that expression many times in her life with the Ward men, though perhaps not as utterly and completely as Diana wore it now.
"Pish posh," she said kindly, brushing Diana's hair behind her ear and resting her hand on her daughter-in-law's shoulder. "Nothing is going to happen to you, dear. My Christian loves you too much." He eyes traveled to the bandages around Diana's chest, but she reassured herself that Christian would never let Diana die. He was stubborn as a mule, that one.
"You should hear the way he talks about you. Back when he actually came over for dinner, the ungrateful boy. He hasn't been to see me in over a month, and then he shows up today..." Roselyn stopped herself from ranting and then smiled at Diana. "But of course if it will ease your mind, dear. You know I will love those children to the end of the earth."
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:06:57 GMT -5
Diana wore a brittle smile. Christian did love her. Once upon a time. He had loved her and she ruined it with her fear and insecurities. Now Christian tolerated her. She was a necessary thorn in his side. And while she may entertain him in bed, she had lost whatever deeper feeling Christian had for her.
He'd protect her to stay alive himself. He would protect his children. But he was determined not to love her, if only to hold on to the only part of himself that made sense. Diana couldn't blame him.
"Where did he go?" she asked not wanting to dwell on her husband's love or absence thereof.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:14:37 GMT -5
"He's probably off sulking. I'll go fetch him." Roselyn stood and took Diana's face in between her hands. "Such a beautiful face. Don't you worry, dear. Everything will sort itself out." She beamed just then as she turned away and headed for the door. "Oh, we're going to have to have a baby shower! Of course I'll have to invite Cara and Liza and Loraine will want to come too." Roselyn continued listing off names as she left the room, talking to herself and planning a party for Diana without bothering to ask if the woman wanted such a thing.
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:20:51 GMT -5
Diana kept that brittle smile until Roselyn was out of the room, then her features relaxed to a natural worried state. She was exhausted, but not tired. Her body ached. Her mind was spun. And her emotions were once again a train wreck.
She missed 'her' Christian. So much had happened and she just wanted to go back to a time when things made sense.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:26:22 GMT -5
Twenty minutes later Christian appeared with a plate of fruit. "She's insisting there be a party," he complained as he stepped inside the room. "I tried to talk her out of it but the woman is relentless."
Christian crossed the room and set the plate down on the table nearest Diana. He pulled the chair back from the bed a touch and sat. "You should eat, and then sleep. It's late."
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Post by Diana Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:37:10 GMT -5
It was amazing what Christian's presence did for her, though she couldn't say just why, but it was the difference between a cloudy day, and the sun shining bright.
She gave a small groan at the mention of a party, "Who all is coming to this party?" she asked. She didn't know anyone, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be surrounded by people. Not to mention that they still had a multitude of problems that needed to be fixed first. "Never mind." she sighed.
She groaned again when he told her to eat and sleep. "I slept most of the day, I can't argue about food though." she took an apple from the plate he brought, "You said I could have answers after I ate." she took a bite of the food to appease him, then looked at him expectantly.
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Post by Christian Ward on Jan 21, 2017 18:42:22 GMT -5
"Who knows," Christian said irritably at the mention of a guest list. He'd insisted his mother not make any concrete plans as they were in the middle of quite a lot, but that was the only thing Roselyn would agree to. At least Christian wouldn't have to attend. But he would have to hear Diana groan on about it afterwards.
"Damn it, Diana. I just spent the last half hour being grilled by my mother, I don't need it from you as well."
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