Saturday night, Lorna's room

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Lorna and Alex leave the party a bit early and head back to the mansion. They are cute and mostly fluffy except for the part where Lorna makes good on her half of the deal and tells Alex about why she has trouble sleeping.



The party seemed to be winding down, though the diehards would doubtless be hanging around for hours yet. Lorna gave the catering coordinator one last set of instructions before responding to Alex’s tugging on her hand. She swirled back to him in a shimmer of gold fabric and smiled. “Ready to go, hon?” she asked.

He wrinkled his nose and grinned. "I missed you calling me that." he leant in and kissed her quickly, then pulled back, practically jumping around. "And I've been ready. I want to go back to the mansion so I can have you all to myself. I wanna be selfish for the rest of the night."

“That sounds wonderful.” The grin she couldn’t keep off her face had to look as helplessly silly as it felt but she didn’t care. She scanned the room again, just to be sure that everything was running smoothly then nodded. “Let’s go. Shiro and Clarice can take Leyu home.”

"Already have that taken care of while you were talking to the caterers. Shiro was very happy to oblige and would explain me sudden absence to his sister." He wrapped an arm around her waist and escorted her to the door.

“Brilliant.” She kissed his cheek and let him lead them out into the chilly evening air. She shivered and clung a bit closer to him, taking advantage of his warmth as well as revelling in her ability to do so.

Alex felt her shiver and gladly pulled in closer, having forgotten how well they seemed to fit together. "I try." He looked around then leaned in, kissing her neck softly before asking. "Where did you park? If I am to drive the lady's chariot, I need to know where it is..."

She shivered again, from pleasure this time, and sighed happily. “Back by the kitchens. I was in something of a rush at the time.” She changed their direction slightly and soon enough they were at the sporty little car she’d borrowed when she’d been called over earlier.

"Keys?" Once she handed them over, Alex unlocked the door, opening for her so she could step into the passenger's side with a slight bow. "your chariot, m'lady?"

“Thank you, good sir knight.” She kissed him before sliding in, tucking her long skirt around her ankles, letting him close the door. She leaned across and unlocked his door for him.

He quickly walked around the car and slid into the driver's seat. Alex leaned over and kissed her as he turned the ignition. Once the car was ready, Alex backed out of the spot and headed for home, his finger antsy on the wheel since he was impatient to get home.

Either the drive home was less far than she remembered it or Alex was beginning to drive like his brother. Which ever it was, they made it to the mansion more quickly than Lorna had expected. Not that she was complaining. She bounced out of the car into Alex’s arm then leaned on him so she could take off her shoes. She kissed him, again, because really, she would never get enough of that.

Once she had taken off her shoes, he swept her up into his arms, carrying her as if she was as light as a feather, still kissing her. Then Alex gave her a sly wink. "Your room m'lady? He asked as he walked through the door and began carrying her up the steps.

Her eyebrows went up when he lifted her but she didn’t hold on any tighter, trusting him to carry her. “That sounds perfect considering I’m never letting you go again.” She stole another few kisses. “By the way, did I tell you how drop dead edible you are in a tux?”

He nuzzled her neck, trying to pay attention to where he was walking so he didn't trip and dump them both. "No, but you are just as edible in that beautiful dress...gold matches your hair beautifully." Alex finally came up on her door and stopped. "Little help?"

She laughed and flicked the door to the suite open then did the same for her bedroom door. There were times when her mutation came in handy. “I’ve missed you.”

He gently placed her down on the bed and sat next to her. "You have no idea how much I missed you..." He leaned over and kissed her neck, a hand running through her hair.

“If it’s anywhere near as much as I missed you, then I think I’ve got pretty good an idea.” She curled into him, pressing close like he would vanish if she didn’t. “I’m so sorry, love.”

Alex put a finger to her lips, a serious look on his face. "No more apologizing. We're going to get no where like that..." He kissed her on the forehead.

She sighed and reached up to take down the pins that had been holding her loose curls in place. “I know. I just…wanted to be sure you knew is all. That whole talking about it when things bug us thing.”

"I'm as guilty as you are so no more apologizing..." He ran a hand through her now free hair then moved to stand. "I'll let you get ready for bed. Good night love..." He paused, wanting to ask but he stopped himself. Alex didn't want anything to screw this up.

She sensed the pause and reminded herself that she was going to ask and not back off. “You’re leaving so soon?” She tugged at his hand. “Is something wrong?”

Alex bit his lip, then took a deep breath, "Feel free to say no if you want, but can I ask a favor of you?" He sat down again. "It's kind of selfish but...it would mean no nightmares."

“You can ask anything of me, hon.” She shifted, heedless of her incredibly expensive gown, turning so she could face him. “How can I help?”

"Well I ummm...I find that if I share a bed with someone I trust...I sleep alright, no nightmares, no nothing." He gave her a nervous smile. "It worked with Scott...So you know...I was kind of hoping..." He ran a nervous hand through his hair, waiting for her response.

Lorna wasn’t sure that relief was really the appropriate emotion to be having here but there it was. She leaned forward immediately and kissed Alex. “Of course. I’m sure I’ll sleep better with you here too.” Her smile went a trifle ironic. “My dreams haven’t been exactly restful lately either.”

Alex grinned widely and crawled over next to her. "Do I want to know?" He asked playfully as he began to kiss her neck.

It tickled and made her giggle. She tilted her head back and ran her hands through his hair. “Missing you, mostly. Some other things too that Samson is helping me sort out.” She let him ease her down onto her back. “I’ll tell you if you want to know.”

He continued to nuzzle and kiss her neck as he removed the coat of his tux. "We did say we were going to be more open..."

“We did.” Of course, it was a lot easier to say that when it meant him talking to her. She helped him slide his coat off then tugged at his tie and vest. “It’s X-stuff. Some of it,” she said finally, pushing herself up.

Alex helped with his vest and tie, then stopped to examin her dress and the best way to get it off. "And the other part?"

Lorna licked her lips and closed her eyes, “Manuel and…well, you.” She stood abruptly and moved over to her closet, reaching behind her to unzip the dress. Her fingers fumbled at the pull, betraying her nervousness.

He looked at her curiously before following her to the mirror to help with her dress. "What about Manuel?" He asked as he pulled own the pull. kissing her shoulders as he did.

She held the front of the dress in place as she swung her robe around her then let it slide down to puddle at her feet. She stepped out of it and turned to face Alex, “Do you remember when he posted that entry apologizing to me and Bobby? It was,” she paused, trying to recollect, “probably in March.” She leaned down and retrieved the dress, hanging it carefully back up and sliding it into the closet.

Alex nodded, stepping back a bit to give her room, his hands feeling fidgety so he began to undo the buttons of his shirt. "Yeah i think so...what was he apologizing for?"

“Sending me on a happy trip.” She said it in a clipped, distant tone. Almost conversational really. “I was teasing him and yeah, you were still gone. He could feel how upset I was and he decided to fix it.” Her casual tone was belied by her sharp edgy movements as she tugged on shiny blue pajamas then sat on the bed again.

He came and sat next to her, wrapping his arms around her. "So let me get this straight...he felt you were upset and tried to fix it. Sure it sounds unethical but not so bad...there's something else about what he did isn't there?" Alex placed his head on her shoulder, holding her to let her know he was there for her to lean on.

Having him dismiss it as just Manuel trying to help felt like a gut punch. “I’ve never been that happy, Alex. Ever. It was like being drugged or…something. When I came down from it…I wanted to die. Or to feel that way again which was just as bad.” She was shaking and couldn't stop. “He had me make him dinner. I burned my hand doing it. Then he told, forced really, me to eat which was just too much food for me at the time. And all of it…even the pain and the throwing up, made me happier than I’ve ever been.”

Alex nodded now. The way she'd simplified it really didn't seem like much but now he understood. He hugged her tighter, wanting her to feel him around her, protecting her. "Shhh....I understand now. He forced an emotion on you. An emotion you neither wanted nor needed at the moment and forced you to do things you didn't want to do." He nuzzled her neck again and whispered in her ear. "But nothing Manuel could ever do to you would ever make me love you any less..."

She whimpered and clung to him. “I hate seeing him. He says he did it to help but…” She shook her head and gave up. “So if I ever seem like I’m being unreasonable about him, well, I am.”

Alex nodded. "Trust me Lorna, I know the feeling. Your know how it's like mentioning Her in my presence...but at least I don't have to live with Her." He pulled her into his lap and cuddled her. "Shhh...it's alright."

She wrapped her arms around his waist underneath the shirt he’d so helpfully unbuttoned and pressed a kiss to his throat. “I love you.” She said it like a promise, determined. “We’re going to be okay. I know we will.”

"We will...We will." He whispered gently before picking her up laying her down on the bed next to him. "Shhhh...no more." And he made well on the statement by kissing her deeply, holding her to him as if he'd never let her go.

Lorna gladly gave up talking and concentrated completely on the feeling of him holding her. She let him set the lead, giving as he asked but not pushing for more. Having him here was more than enough.

Alex was content to just hold her close, for obvious reasons not interested in going much farther. He put his head against hers, looking into her eyes before kissing her again.

She smiled and sighed happily, winding herself around him like he was a pillow and heater all in one. One hand sought out his, interlacing her fingers and pulling their linked hands to her heart.