HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

“HI,” she said.

He frowned and raised an eyebrow. “Hi” he replied.

“I’m sorry… Did I interrupt something?” Emma asked.

“No… I was just getting ready to take a bath… kinda tired” he replied.

“Oh…. Maybe I will just wait till tomorrow then. Good night” she said. She began to turn around but his hand on her arm stopped her movement.

“It’s okay, Emma,” he said. “We can talk now. Is everything okay?”

“Yes” she paused, then asked. “Are we going to stand out here and talk?”. She realized she sounded like she was asking for an invitation into his room and she honestly didn’t know if she wanted to go in. So she added quickly. “We could go to the living room”.

He smiled and Emma wanted to hit him. There was nothing to smile about right now. The man just liked seeing her embarrassed. He stepped aside and she walked in. She took a deep breath and turned to face him.

“You don’t want to sit?” he asked.

“No. It’s okay. I won’t stay long…. I just wanted to apologize for the way I have been acting. I know you are just trying to help and I want you to know that I appreciate everything you have done for me… And the baby. I’m sorry about this morning too. I shouldn’t have been so…. You know”.

“It’s alright” Daniel said. “I understand that this isn’t easy for you, and you are going through a lot right now. So I get it”.

“No”, Emma said, shaking her head. “You are going through this too. I realize that I have been so selfish. I haven’t really thought about how this affects you. I have been so focused on myself and I haven’t paid attention to the fact that this changes your life too. And I’m sorry. I haven’t even asked how you feel about this. I haven’t… I just… I know you must be really mad at me right now”.

He moved closer and grabbed her hand, one of his hands moved to her chin, lifting her head so she could look at him.

“It’s alright,” he said. “We will figure all this out…. together. And I’m not mad at you… Maybe a little hurt.. I gotta admit”. He grinned then continued. “But I get it. I understand why you hate me right now… I have been a jerk… I hurt you… And I’m sorry about that too”.

“I… I don’t hate you” Emma said. She looked amazed. “You are just so-so-so-”

“Bad?” he suggested, smiling down at her. “Yes, I know.” he said.

“I wasn’t going to say that,” she protested. “I don’t think you are bad”

“But you don’t like me,” he said.

A look of confusion crossed her face and he realized she wasn’t half as confident as she would like to appear. And it would be so easy to take advantage of her here.

But that wasn’t going to happen. He wasn’t about to destroy the fragile understanding that seemed to be developing between them and he was totally stunned when she suddenly put her hands on his shoulders and reached up to brush her lips against his cheek.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like you,” she said huskily, and Daniel could only stare at her, too astonished to do anything else.

The kiss on his cheek was brief, impersonal, but he knew she had shocked herself, too.

A look of consternation crossed her face and, although she hadn’t yet turned to leave and seek refuge in her room, he knew it was only a matter of time before she did so. Her eyes sought his in mute denial of what had just happened and Daniel arched an enquiring brow.

“I guess I did something right at last,” he remarked lazily, and she took a shuddering breath.

“I should go,” she said. “Good night”

“Good night, Emma,” he replied.

And with that she walked out of his room.

—————————————-

It was exhausting and annoying just sitting around and doing nothing.

Restless and sick at heart, Emma left her room and made her way back into the kitchen and took stock of the contents of the refrigerator and cabinets. Deciding that she had all the necessary ingredients for one of her favorite dishes, she began laying them out on the countertop.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

At least it would give her something to do and dinner would be taken care of. Daniel would be back soon and it would be nice to do something for him for a change. They had been getting along pretty well for a while now and Emma was beginning to think that maybe, they could figure out a way for this baby thing to work.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Daniel demanded minutes later, materializing out of nowhere and taking the pan she was holding from her. He steered her firmly away from the counter and back into the living room. “Sit,” he ordered once they reached the couch.

He propped her feet up on the coffee table, placing a pillow under them. He stood back, his expression lacking the anger of just a few minutes ago.

“Maybe you didn’t understand the doctor’s orders.” he said. “You are to rest. Stay off your feet.”

He enunciated each word in clipped tones as if he were speaking to a dolt. Well, that wasn’t entirely untrue. She thought. She was the biggest dolt in the world for getting caught up in this.

He seemed calm. And she was calm, too.

“I just wanted to do something, there’s not much to do when you are working from home on your bed. And I don’t think being on my feet for thirty minutes is going to hurt the baby. The doctor says I’m doing fine. So maybe you should relax a bit” she said.

He sighed. “I just don’t want to take any chances. I will take care of dinner” he said, and minutes later they were in the dining room.

“So what does your family think about the baby?” Emma asked. “I know we have kinda been focused on us, but I guess you have told them”.

“Oh.. My mom is thrilled. She’s getting something she has always wanted… Grand babies. Alexa is happy about it too. They can’t wait to meet the baby. You know they really like you.”

Emma smiled. “And Jared?”

Daniel hesitated. “He made some comments… But there is nothing to worry about”

“What comments?” Emma asked.

“There’s no need to get upset”

“I’m not upset… Let me guess, he probably thinks I got pregnant on purpose. This was my plan all along. To get pregnant so I can get unlimited access to the Rohan family’s wealth. So why the hell should I get upset, I’m not.. I’m great… I’m super” Emma said.

“Look, Emma..” Daniel began.

“It’s fine” Emma cut in. “Let’s just drop the subject.