Simplicity, <3 Jay

[aaralyn lina young]

Her dreams were dominated by blonde curls, cooing laughter, and a sweet smile. Aaralyn had returned to her home, her native land, of Australia. Brisbane had been an unwelcome surprise. She had prayed that the city would have changed, that the crime might’ve lessened, that either the AE or the Service would have gained control, and established some form of ruling system. But, as the red-haired mother discovered, it was nearly identical to what she had left so suddenly. She only prayed that her anonymity would remain, so that Rosaleen’s safety might be secure. Her adopted daughter was the most precious thing in her life, and the position she formerly held put both of them at risk. Targets were made of former friends and workers of the AE, so Aaralyn had changed her name once again, to the public face. Aaralyn had spent the last three weeks, her first time back to Brisbane in more than 7 months, under heavy paranoia and a careful nature. She had enjoyed spending the time unpacking into her new home, arranging her and Rosaleen’s belongings into their proper places, painting walls, decorating according to her liking. She could be frequently found with her windows open, allowing the wind to sweep sweetly through the home, with her music pervading the area, and her dancing about with her baby in her arms laughing. Although she felt worried about being discovered, Aaralyn felt almost carefree in her new neighborhood and home. She didn’t allow herself to contemplate the possibility of contacting Derek or Jay. But Jay crossed her mind frequently, lie when she watched the babe sitting in a pool of sunlight. When her mind strayed to the outside world, like the plains of Africa, and the feel of fingertips caressing her skin. She dearly missed both of the men that her life had formerly swirled about. But, she hadn’t felt ready to make contact with them immediately. Too many conflicting emotions warred within her yet, and the red-haired woman was content to be happy alone with her child. Today, she and Rosaleen were falling into habits of daily life. The blonde infant was sleeping for her afternoon nap, her cradle in the living room, drenched in the soft sunlight that filtered through. Aaralyn lounged in an old armchair by an open window, her legs draped over the arms, a worn book in her hands, attention absorbed. Running a hand over the long braid of red hues absently, the woman smiled when a light breeze rustled her loose strands into her face. Happiness in simplicity was what could describe her in this moment.

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

He had changed greatly in the seven months. His youthful features remained the same, but maturity now chiseled his features. A sense of responsibility had etched away at the carefree nature of his persona. Subtle details attested to his changes. He carried himself with a careful mixture of dignity and compassion; sensitive to the demands that he not be arrogant. Jay had become a dichotomy of traits. He was cruel to those who opposed him, but gentle to those who aided. He was charismatic on stage, but silent offstage. His new position demanded much of his body and mind, so much so that he had spent the last seven months altering every changeable aspect of himself. In the past, he had never allowed his physique to suffer, but he had perfected his form to allow for no question of his superiority. The casualness of jeans had been cast aside in favor the more formal suit and tie. It was a tiresome change, but a necessary one to inspire those to follow his cause. Still, the one thing he had never been able to change however, was the constant whisper of Aaralyn in his mind. Many times he had dreamt of escaping to Africa; of leaving the troubled world behind. But he had never abandoned himself to such fantasy. Yet, he found himself standing outside of this house. 7549 Sand Dune Blvd. It was a place he had never expected to be. The house was quaint, something he had never expected of her. He almost expected a family dog to come bounding up to the fence with a child close behind. It was hard to imagine Aaralyn in this context, away from the extravagance of his hotel room. But this is where he had been told she was. He had received word of her return from one of his supporters. It was news he had been anticipating since her departure, but it had still caught him unprepared. So he found himself standing outside her new house, musing over the use of her new alias. The alias had delayed his return to her but only for a few weeks. With a deep sigh and some tribulation, he passed through the gate and approached the front door. His knuckles assaulted the wood of the door. From the report he had been given, he knew Aaralyn was fine, but he could not quiet his worry. No emotion showed on his once expressive features as he waited for an answer however. Instead he focused on ignoring the fluttering in his stomach.

[aaralyn lina young]

The waves of salt caressed her boat, and she could almost feel the heat of the unguarded sun on her bare back, blistering her fair skin with it’s intensity. Her throat screamed out for drinkable water, her stomach tiny and in agony from lack of nutrition. Water Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink. Aaralyn turned the page, her mind engrossed so deeply in the story before her that she forgot where she was. She swallowed against her imagined dry throat, her fingers still running down the thick braid that reached her middle back now. There was nothing but the words running across her mind, creating her absorption of isolation on the wide seas. That was all interrupted by a rapping on her front door. A frown appeared on the delicately freckled features, and Aaralyn set her book down, legs finding their rightful place on the floor. Her bare feet were chilled by the wood flooring, and she rose quickly. Who would be knocking on her door? She hadn’t heard a car, and she had been sitting by her open window. Then again, her mind had been so distracted by the classic story, that it was surprising that she even responded to the knocking. Slowly she made her way to the front door, and quietly she checked the small coffee table by the doorway for the gun taped underneath. Suspicion tingled incessantly. And she cursed herself for not installing the peephole in her door yet. ”One second…” she said clearly, making her fingers deftly open the door after unlocking it. She swung the door wide, stepping with it as she let the sunlight blind her momentarily. When her eyes adjusted, her breath was stolen from it’s place. Jay. Her heart began to pound wildly, and her throat closed up. She noticed his calm, almost blank demeanor, his suit, the way he held himself. She wondered what had happened in the time she had spent away to make him such. Aaralyn felt such a longing to touch his face, to coerce a smile from his lips, to see his pleasant and almost carefree expressions that she had to ball her free hand into a fist. ”Jay…” Her face was surely showing her shock. Her mouth was open, and her eyes were confused but awed, too. ”How’d you find me?” she whispered, suddenly remembering Rosaleen, anxiousness coursing through her.

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

The door swung open and the tempting curves of Aaralyn created him. A twist of anger and a stab of longing riddled his mind with contradictions. Here was the cause of his months of self-torture. Yet he gladly would have pulled her into a heated kiss if he had allowed himself the carefree venture. He hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this. His fingers twitched, longing for the silk of her skin but bitterness held him in place. He could no longer cave to such desires without a thought. So he stayed locked in silence, all charisma escaping him. The whisper of his name unlocked the old secrets of his heart. His expression softened, his body slackening into a more relaxed state. He hadn’t meant to fall into old habits so easily. “Bonjour Aaralyn.” A ghost of a smile touched his features as he whispered her name in response. He started to reach for her, but distracted himself by placing his hand on the doorframe. His eyes were clouded with the many emotions saturating his mind. How could he quantify what emotions ran through him? Bitterness. Anger. Relief. Desire. All of these things competed for his attention, yet his could not bring himself to voice any of them. He could only hope that her explanation of her sudden departure might soothe his negative feelings and leave his to sate his longing for her company. “Invite me in and I’ll tell you.” The playfulness in his voice fell short of older days. A gentle smile stole over his lips, warming his features slightly.

[aaralyn lina young]

“Bonjour Aaralyn.” She hadn’t thought about the effect of his voice pronouncing her name would have on her. Her body went tingly, and she felt her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. She wanted to just flee into his arms, wrap herself about her former lover, delving back into the past pleasure and love she had experienced with him. Her eyes studied his face and body meticulously, noticing how he relaxed slightly, her stomach filling with butterflies. When he placed his hand on the doorframe, the urge to fit her body against his overwhelmed her so incredibly that she could already feel the fabric of his suit against her skin. Why was it so difficult for her to keep her head about her? The reality of the situation still shocked her, and when Jay requested to be invited inside, she sucked in a breath to regain control of her mind. The dilemma she was in put her between a rock and a hard place. Rosaleen was asleep. Would he demand to know the entire story of why she left? Would he assume that the blonde girl was his own? Jay had been the last man she had slept with, something she had remembered with frequent happiness and longing. Aaralyn bit her bottom lip, and a second later, she nodded and motioned for him to come inside. Closing the door, and closing her eyes as he passed her to gain entry, she took another breath. Reopening her eyes, she smiled at her unexpected guest hesitantly. She placed one finger to her lips as a gesture of silence, and lead him to her living room. Passing through the short hall and turning left, the immediate view was of a cradle, a couch, and the armchair by the window Aaralyn had previously occupied. No television. Nothing flashy or unneeded. ”Welcome to my home, Jay.” Aaralyn whispered, taking a seat on the couch, a few feet away from her sleeping child in her rocking bed.

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

With her permission, Jayden ventured into the house slowly. His footsteps echoed on the floorboards, sounding obnoxiously loud to his own ears. His gaze roamed the entry to the home, taking note of the details she had decorated her home with. His gaze searched her out as she led him to the living room. Even if she had not given him the cue of silence, he would not have had words to speak; so silently he followed her. He could not keep his eyes from searching her, seeking some indication of her sudden departure. Had she become ill? Had she been harmed during her absence? All of these thoughts flashed through his mind within the short distance to the living room. He could not deny the memories of their first night together either. He closed his eyes for a moment and found her clothed in the slick dress of green. He savored the night, recalling every brush of her skin. How could he maintain his anger when there were such sweet memories of her? Deviant thoughts stole through his mind as he opened his eyes again. He lengthened his stride and followed her closer. His fingertips reached for her back, to touch the hidden wings he knew lay under the fabric. From there his arm would slip around her waist, pulling her warm body to his in a rough but tender embrace. But his fingers never made it to her before he had taken notice of his surroundings. A couch. An armchair. A book. All was as it should have been, until he looked upon the cradle. First there was shock, then crashing despair. So this was why she had left. He moved past her without a thought for her parental concern and approached the cradle. His body became rigid with tension as he neared the crib, the sole focus of his anxiety. He looked down into the crib at the sleeping babe, his shoulders drawing back. A perfect embodiment of Aaralyn lay sleeping in the soft fabric. Soft blonde curls framed her innocent features, a time capsule of Aaralyn’s past. The child reminded him of Aaralyn sleeping so peacefully in his arms months ago. He exhaled slowly as he was overtaken by a desire to lift the child into his protective arms. One hand reached down and his fingertip traced down her familiar nose; as he had once done to the child’s mother. He rest his hand on the edge of the crib, staring down at the young girl. Urgently, he did quick calculations in his mind. Was this why Aaralyn had left so suddenly? Had she feared judgment from him? Could this perfect being be…his? “This is why you left.” He whispered, having no desire to wake the sleeping perfection. It was not a question, rather a statement. After all, what Mother wouldn’t ferry her child away to safety? Tearing his gaze away from the sleeping infant, he looked towards Aaralyn. All hardness had fled from his expression, leaving his soul clear for her to read on his features. An unspoken question was held in his curious eyes as he met her gaze for the first time. Could there be more to his life now then just revenge?

[aaralyn lina young]

Aaralyn was all nerves. Jay moved closer to her child, and her entire body screamed for her to hold Rosaleen, to keep her away from harm. She watched with apprehension and a ready body to protect her child, as Jay turned stiff and tense. She wished she might see his face, so that his reaction would be gauged, to alleviate or alert her. Fingers dug into the couch as Jay’s hand made contact to Rosaleen, trailing down the babe’s nose. She watched her daughter breathing. Saw the rise and fall of her little chest, witnessed her dreaming behind those pink eyelids. Her entire world was asleep in that wooden cradle, chubby fingers lax and face smooth. So much joy had been handed to her, out of the blue, that it still amazed the red haired woman that Rosaleen was hers. And it made her all the fiercer in protecting the infant. She stood up instantly, as his arm retracted, just as he glanced back at her. She couldn’t understand his expression. Jay looked as if someone had socked him in the gut, that he had lost his breath. Her own body was strung so tightly she felt like snapping. Aaralyn needed him to give her some signal, some insight to his mind. She was about to go insane. ”This is why you left.” Jay’s whisper sent her back into the hotel room they had shared what seemed a lifetime ago. It was a different woman who had sleep within his arms, who had shared in the playful banter of traveling the world. Soft caresses and trailing fingertips were the forefront of those memories. That love was simple, easy. ”Rosaleen.” Aaralyn whispered, her fingers brushing back her rebellious strands of hair that escaped the long braid. She could see the question in Jay’s eyes. She could see both hope and despair. The infant looked enough like herself to be mistaken for her biological child. Would it be so awful for Aaralyn to leave the situation as it was? To let Jay believe this babe was his own? She could see longing. And it made her think, hope… maybe? No. Sooner or later such a omission or lie would tear her apart. It wasn’t even remotely fair of Aaralyn to even think of such an awful, selfish plot. ”Yes, she’s the reason I left, Jay.” Aaralyn took her seat once more, her eyes scanning the room, trying to find the correct words. ”She’s my adopted daughter…” From the couch, the mother finally locked eyes with her once lover, and gave a weak smile. She left a couple of breaths pass before she continued. ”I had cousins in Ireland who had died, leaving Rosaleen an orphan. And when I was contacted, I couldn’t allow her to slip into the foster care system. I was in Ireland for more than 7 months, trying to win custody of her, adjusting to having a child of my own once I did.” Aaralyn took a deep breath, looking to the infant once more, a smile gracing her features. ”I’m sorry, Jay, that I left without a goodbye…”

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

Jay remained by the crib for a time, unable to tear himself away from the young girl. He allowed his thoughts to become hopeful in regards to the future of the child. He could admit that he had always known that one day he would settle into the family life, when the right woman severed ties to his boyish ways. It didn’t take much imagination for him to see himself spending evening with Aaralyn and the child. He could practically feel his arms around Aaralyn and the baby already. The Fatherhood role already felt so natural to him. Ramos could be that family dog in the front yard; it seemed to fit all together so naturally. As Aaralyn spoke her name, he repeated it quietly, commenting quietly on its beauty. “She’s my adopted daughter…” All his hopes crashed down around him. Despite the resemblance, Rosaleen wasn’t even Aaralyn’s, which meant she could not be his. Jay retreated from the crib and settled into the armchair, trying to mask his disappointment. He interlaced his fingers and formally rest them on his knee, composing himself again. He desperately tried to ignore the vague hope that Aaralyn was lying about the cousin to hide the truth from him. “I am sorry about your cousin.” He said quietly, suddenly aware of the awkwardness the situation could pose. He had arrived uninvited on her doorstep with bitter feelings. Yet she had let him in, trusting that he had not changed in the last seven months. It was a huge risk to take in this town. For a moment he allowed his gaze to meet Aaralyn’s before he looked down and picked off invisible lint from his suit. “I thought it would have been safer you both to stay in Ireland. At least until the AE is gone.” He commented. Despite the fact that he was not Rosaleen’s father, he could not quiet in innate protectiveness that had fostered in him. Nothing would happen to Aaralyn or Rosaleen under his watch.

[aaralyn lina young]

“I am sorry about your cousin.” As Jay sat down, it was obvious that he shuttered himself back into the façade that he presented to Aaralyn now. His reserved mannerism got under her skin, in a hurtful and strange way. She could understand though, why. Her silence and sudden disappearance from his life, after a promising start to a great relationship was all the reason he needed to be bitter and angry and numb to her. Aaralyn could only justify her actions by her Rosaleen. But his distance still stung her deep, surprisingly so. ”I didn’t know them. But I’m grateful for Rosaleen.” Swallowing against the sudden tightness in her throat, her mind slowed down, and Aaralyn felt her betrayal. She noticed he didn’t touch her apology. He didn’t express hatred towards her, or confess grief in her disappearance. Somehow, his blasé dismissal made her look away, to regain her own composure. ”I came back because I needed to. High paying jobs are hard for a girl like me to find, with my background.” Blunt honesty spilled from her lips, but not the full truth. She would have rather him think her crazy instead of desperate for an income. Jay didn’t even know about her involvement with Derek and the AE, and she desired it to continue that way. Confusion muddled her thoughts. Aaralyn was rusty; her skills that she had honed in the time spent working her way up the ladder had become stiff and unnatural. She guessed one couldn’t stay a vixen, a manipulator forever. It wasn’t a sad goodbye to such a lifestyle. A quick dip back into it, to gain some cushion for her and Rosaleen until they might leave once more, was risky but necessary. ”Look, I need to know how you found me. How long did it take?” Wringing her hands together and apart, and biting her bottom lip against the onslaught of heavy emotions, Aaralyn looked to Jay, not sure how to make everything better between them. I’ve missed you…. She longed to say, Forgive me. But there was no courage left for the woman to spare, and she sat, waiting for him to answer her. She desperately wanted to know why he came to her, if all he felt towards her was animosity.

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

Jay tried to adjust to the sudden formality between them but struggled to contain what raged within him. But he could not abandon composure with the sleeping angel between them. Their reunion was nothing like he had imagined it. He had expected a flurry of angry words to calm his bitterness, followed by whispered words of relief and a fierce reclaiming of each other. But this distance was greater then the one that had separated them for months. Politely he listened to what she said, inserting appropriate comments as etiquette demanded. As he listened, he settled back into the armchair, “A mother’s job should be caring for her child, not risking herself in this forsaken town. No matter the pay.” He commented quietly. As soon as he had spoken the words he wished he could take them back. To his self-conscious ears, the words sounded judgmental and harsh. It was not his place to question her. He frowned, displeased with himself. Jay rose from the armchair and paced across the room while keeping his footsteps light, ever conscious of the sleeping girl. He paced the living room, entirely at odds with himself for his strange mood. “Excuse my rudeness. That was not meant as it sounded. You should be free to care for Rosaleen without financial concerns. I would be glad to alleviate such concerns.” Perhaps it was some fatherly concern that made his gaze slid over to Rosaleen’s crib as he spoke. Either way, he would not allow Aaralyn to refuse his offer; it was just a matter of whether his aid came with her knowledge. He had come to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle that he had never been at ease with. It only made sense that his security be put to good use for once. Jay continued to wear a path across the floor as he considered the demands of a child’s upbringing. He was so consumed in his thought, that he did not notice his fingers stray to the knot of the tie. Without a thought, he pulled loose the formal attire. He slid the suit jacket off his shoulder and laid it over the back of the chair before tossing his tie overtop of it. As he seated himself back into the armchair, he undid the top two buttons of the dress shirt, breathing easier as he did so. As he shed the layers the composed persona was stripped away with them, leaving the man Aaralyn had known before; perhaps only a touch more jaded. He looked towards her, finding it easier to meet her gaze now that his mask had been shed. Despite some weariness and uncertainty, his expression was sincere. “Look, I need to know how you found me. How long did it take?” “I had a number of people watching for your return. They had only your photo and directions to contact me if you were spotted, so you can be assured that they do not know anything about you. It took me two weeks from there to track you down.” Abandoning himself to his old nature, he reached out and lay his hand over Aaralyn’s to reassure her. His heart fluttered and an uncomfortable fever warmed his body at the touch of her skin. He gave a gentle squeeze of her hand, his eyes darkening with protective fierceness. “Is there someone you are hiding from?” His hand remained over her as he spoke the question, before a series of dots quickly connected within his mind. Aaralyn had been in town for at least three weeks, but had not contacted him. She had even assumed an alias. Could she had been hiding from him? The thought startled him and he withdrew his hand from hers reluctantly.

[aaralyn lina young]

Jay’s comments roused something in the woman that she didn’t think she’d feel towards the man. She watched as he took off his tie, jacket, and unbuttoned a few of the buttons on his shirt. Her anger brewed underneath her numb face. If she had been in her abject guilt from leaving Brisbane so suddenly, then maybe she would have experienced a rush of lust in view of Jay’s slight undressing in front of her. But nay, even those tender memories they shared before hardly even crossed her mind. His words stung and made her rash. Although he apologized, she sat on her second-hand couch, surrounded by all her hard earned belongings, in the presence of her daughter. How dare he say that she shouldn’t be here. And then for him to offer to care for her and Rosaleen. Under less pretentious offerings she might have buckled, but Aaralyn felt her pride struggling against his words. He distracted her momentarily from her irritation by his explanation of his discovery of her alias. He had his people searching for her. Little informants knew her appearance, and that she was a person of interest. That if she was spotted, Jay was to be informed. What else could they discern from such information? What if one of the watchers was a member of the AE? Or, the Service? A chill broke out across her forehead. Fear knotted her stomach. It was only a matter of time before Aaralyn was ousted publicly. Would Derek give her back her former position, as well as the protection that went along with it? ”Is there someone you are hiding from?” She had felt his hand on hers, lying limply in her lap. She felt the comforting squeeze, and heard the curiosity which stemmed from an assumed desire to protect them both. And as he retracted his hand from hers, his own doubt masking him, Aaralyn stood slowly. ”Yes and no.” She began her own pacing, this time grabbing her long plait and freeing the fiery red strands from their organized place. Her bare feet padded on the cool wooden floor, her free hand touching the baby’s cradle softly as she passed it time and again. She could taste her resentment at Jay’s proposal stirring in her chest. ”I have some enemies, and they would love to find out about Rosa…” She stopped and gazed at Jay. ”And, I’m not accepting charity. I’m not helpless. And I will not be a whore or kept woman.” She hadn’t kept he voice down, and the infant responded to the tone of her mother, rousing and crying unhappily in soft pleas. She turned to Rosaleen, her face softening as she leaned over the cradle and lifted the groggy child into her arms. Blonde curls contrasted against the deep red of Aaralyn’s hair. As the baby calmed, the woman turned her attention back to Jay, her anger diminished by the precious bundle cooing in her ear. ”Jay,” she began, ” I’m sorry about leaving. I’m sorry about the pain I might have caused. But I don’t want a knight in shining armor to rescue me. What I want is someone who might love Rosaleen, like the father she lost. And, I came to Brisbane to work for a short while, so I might have some money to stay away from Brisbane.” Aaralyn sighed and brushed at the flaxen hair of her infant. Her mind wondered what it would have been like to bear a child, Jay’s. She allowed herself to fantasize about what their conversation would be like if she had stayed, and Rosaleen was his. Would Jay be asking her about her day, what had occurred at their home, amazed at the infants small miracles? A first smile, a laugh. But no. The distance between them was Aaralyn’s fault, and she held onto Rosaleen. A question taunted her. ”Did you come here because you believed Rosa was yours? And that offering me money to care for her was appropriate?” She didn’t want Jay to think he had a responsibility to her, or her child, because he falsely believed that it was his duty. ”If you came here for that, tell me now. I don’t want someone in her life because they feel obligated.”

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

Worry creased his expression as Aaralyn admitted to have enemies. He made a quick mental note about finding some method of securing protection for them. Even if Rosa was not his child, they were still a part of his extended sense of family. Even if they did not realize it. “And, I’m not accepting charity. I’m not helpless. And I will not be a whore or kept woman.” Under Aaralyn’s scrutiny, he was chided into silence by her rebuke. Like a child facing his mother, his gaze flicked down to the floor. With anyone else, he would have lost his temper and lashed out just as viciously as he received, but with her he was silent. Instead he sat as a statue to observe her mothering side. He looked up when he thought she would not notice, witnessing the change in her expression as she doted upon her daughter. There was no doubt in his mind that she was a capable mother, but if only he could ease the burden for her. A silent sigh escaped him and his fingers slid roughly through his hair. Had he changed so much in the past months that he could not even properly express that desire to her? Without a word or movement, he watched the miracle of a mother soothe her child. It was a moment he could not hope to replicate himself. The apology that came was unexpected but it washed away all lingering doubt and bitterness. He would be selfish to not acknowledge her sacrifices. It was all too plain to see that ever fiber of her had altered for the new life she was now responsible for. “I never wished to be a knight in shining armor. It is far too cliché.” A soft chuckle accompanied the words. It was ironic that he should have to lie about that desire over all the others that he could have shared with her this afternoon. He had fooled himself into believing that most women wanted a hero to ease their burden. But if Aaralyn did not, he would bend to her wishes. Following the trend of their conversation, her words caught him off guard. She thought that he offered his aid out of pure outdated chivalry? It was an unspoken truth that he desired Rosa to be his, but never would he have felt an obligation for her. The urgency of making her believe his next statement drove him to his feet and he approached her. Moving towards her and he reached out to her. His hands longed to rest on her hips but he laid them on her arms instead, choosing the more neutral contact in light of their strange reunion. He held her arms in his hands, keeping a neutral distance between them as he held her gaze earnestly. “I came here with no knowledge of Rosa, Aaralyn. I came to find why you left for so suddenly and for so long without so much as an explanation. For seven months I heard nothing of you and suddenly reappeared, I didn’t know what to think so I had to come to be sure you were okay.” The words seemed to fall short of a proper explanation of the past seven months. But how could he put the last seven months into words for her? The pain of his broken heart had only been muffled so much by his feverish work he had taken up after her departure. But he would not tell her about those months; it would not be fair to her. She deserved no guilt for saving a life. “My offer was made out of concern for you both. I have more than one man needs to have a comfortable life. I am a simple man, Aaralyn, I do not need castles to feel complete, I just need to feel useful. So use me as you see fit.” A slight smile and warmth in his eyes tried to appease her earlier anger over the offer.

[aaralyn lina young]

Aaralyn’s grip on Rosaleen tightened as Jay stepped forward to her, his own hands resting on her arms. He meant the touch to be comforting and reassuring, but his words did that easily. She saw honesty in his eyes, and her own bright blue ones relaxed. What he said was true, it made sense. Her absence would make anyone curious, and it seemed only caring that he might visit her in person to check on her well-being. Jay’s plea to be of some use to her confused her. She wasn’t familiar with the idea of someone just wanting to be useful to help another with no agenda in mind. Aaralyn replaced the now sleeping child back into her cradle, and sighed as she straightened and met Jay’s eyes. Their conversation was bound to be longer than what had been already spoken, and she feared reawakening Rosa. She grabbed Jay’s hand with no reservations, and led him to her small but clean kitchen. The room was free of clutter for the most part, but the counters were decorated with baby food jars. The sunlight bounced off the surfaces easily, brightening the space. She turned to Jay, her red hair spilling over her shoulders. She decided to get right to her point. ”I don’t want to use you. If you want to be in our life, don’t expect us to take your money and be content.” It wouldn’t be fair for her to use Jay. Aaralyn wanted him dearly to be a figure in her life as well as Rosa’s but if their relationship was going to restart, she wasn’t going to begin it with some transfer of funds. It would come back to haunt them. He would feel as if she only desired him for the level of comfort he could offer her and her daughter. ”Jay, I’m just going to spit it out. You’re incredibly sweet and thoughtful,” and with that, Aaralyn placed a gentle hand on the side of his face briefly, ”but you giving me money would hurt us in the long run.” She stepped back, reaching the island, and hopping up onto the countertop. She gathered the long red strands of her hair to one side, and glanced through her lashes at Jay. There was so much between them that needed to be expressed. She longed to twine their fingers together and whisper saccharine promises beneath warm sheets, caring about nothing but the world within their arms. Aaralyn allowed herself to lose track of their conversation. Her smile turned wider, and a small slice of her former personality returned. ”How’ve you been keeping since I’ve left?”

[jayden tiberius fletcher]

He was somewhat startled when Aaralyn grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen. Some part of his subconscious might rebelled at the sudden touch, insisting that such a tedious reunion should be approached cautiously. Still, he had enjoyed Aaralyn’s rashness. So with a slight smile, he followed her lead. Some part of him was relieved that they were away from the pressing influence of Rosa’s presence. He adored the child already but could not seem to function clearly with his mind cluttered with protective sentiments. It became easier to not obsess about upsetting the child when she slumbered safely in the adjacent room. Jay spared a quick glance around the room before his gaze returned to her. As usual, her presence was the dominate feature in any room for him; save if Rosa was present it seemed. “Is it still using me if I am giving freely?” He retorted in playful banter, a fake smirk upon his lips. He could not help but be enlivened by the return of some of her old fire. Was it masochistic that he longed to completely surrender himself to be used by Aaralyn? Without a thought he would have allowed himself to be available to her every beck and call. He could foresee no reluctant nor resentment. It would be the life of service that he had wished for, the sense of purpose that he was needed in this world. Even if only to protect a mother and her babe. Unable to deny her gravitational pull on him, he allowed himself to orbit around the island, exploring the kitchen leisurely. His mind was distracted by similar thoughts to hers. He was so distracted that he did not even consider all that had happened in her absence. “I have been keeping myself entertained.” He said softly, as he stopped directly in front of her, his eyes finding hers again. There was only one way to dispel the earlier negative feelings of their meeting. Only one way he could cast aside all of their doubts without tripping over foolish words. Around her all his charisma slipped away, leaving him to resort to the primal language of the body. Without allowing himself time to think, he rest his hands against the cool counter on either side of her. His lips found hers with a reawakening of familiarity. Despite the sudden fire engulfing his mind and heart, he kept the kiss gentle and slow. It was only once their lips had made contact that one hand moved up her side to finally bury into the flames of her hair. It was a kiss to express the months of waiting; the months of worry. But also the relief of her return and the unexpected potential. In the kiss he tried to apologize for every foolish thing he had said minutes ago. It was everything he could not properly place into words without offending; everything that he had held onto for seven months. He abandoned all his insecurities, leaving himself vulnerable to her rejection or acceptance.

[aaralyn lina young]

She couldn’t help but laugh at Jay’s false grin. It felt so odd returning so easily to what playful ways they had employed before. Aaralyn felt as if there was another drama ready to spring, another set of emotions to get through. Should it be so easy to fall into place with another human after so long an absence? Not knowing the answer left the woman in a anxious state. Not knowing what to expect, how to act, is threw her off. As she sat on the island’s top, and watched Jay walk about her kitchen, her mind went still. His neutral response left her curious. She felt left behind, like the odd child out on an inside joke. Although she had purposefully kept her mind off of Jay during her stay out of Brisbane, she now wondered what he had been doing to entertain himself? Another woman? A wave of jealousy so potent ripped through her that she nearly saw double. Aaralyn knew she had no right to even come close to feeling such intensity about her former lover, but it still overwhelmed her when the thought approached her. As he stilled in front of her, eyes catching and capturing hers effortlessly, the air left her lungs. Aaralyn nearly cried at the soft touch of Jay’s lips at her own. His hands burying into her hair made her feel desired and needed. His lips spoke of longing and waiting and endless nights. Ones that Aaralyn hadn’t realized were so cruel to her also, until he reclaimed his place. She found her hands in their familiar place: one on the back of his neck, the other, the collar of his shirt, drawing him closer to her. She felt her skin heating, his touch was sincere and effortless. How could she have gone for seven months without this man? It seemed even more selfish of her to hide Rosaleen from him. Aaralyn moved her lips slowly against his, drinking in the moment. The embrace clouded her mind with it’s tenderness; she could feel the gentleness of his touch, shocked by Jay. After a long moment, she broke apart, resting her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder, breathing in the smell of him, relishing what he had just given her. ”I’ve missed you…” she whispered, her heart beating wildly within it’s cage of bones and muscle. A hot blush raced across her skin, the telltale heat flooding her cheeks, and she moved back to see his eyes clearly. Her mind jumped frantically and yet calmly, through the future. She could see Jay throwing a fair, laughing toddler into the air, deftly catching the falling body. She could see waking up every morning to him, and could already feel him sleeping besides her every night. Ideas of a true family coursed through her head, filling her mind with possibilities and hopes. Birthdays and Christmases. Landmarks of life and setbacks, all surrounded by a firm, loving safety net. She could imagine herself, so exceptionally clearly pregnant for her first time. Aaralyn only allowed herself a glimmer of a dark haired babe with Jay’s grin. Forcing herself back into reality, she smiled happily at the man holding her. Her inner demons warned against falling, against relying too heavily. But she so eagerly wanted a partner. A day at a time, she reminded herself.