Rp- Add on thread to Bella's release

[musical_rocker]

Albert wasn't aware of much because he had Bella in his arms and she was still babbling away about this and that, mindless stuff which all seemed so important. He couldn't believe how much she'd grown in this short space of time and she say so much more now. A minute or two later she was wiggling in her arms to get down and Albert carefully lowered her to the ground, and holding Moo in one hand, Bella took hold of Albert's with her other and started to tug him towards Mac.

"Move," she said, tugging at his hand and grinning as he started to walk. Soon they were by Mac and Bella reached to put Moo in Albert's pocket before reaching up to take both Al and Mac by the hand. "Sleepy," she said softly, yawning, "Moo's sleep too.. bedtime!"

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[musical_rocker]

Albert couldn't help but watch him as he stood at that door and he pushed his lips together, a lump rising in his throat. He felt his heart sink suddenly, maybe Fia would be better for Bella than he could ever be. He could keep her safe in ways that Albert couldn't and maybe... No he couldn't think like that. He couldn't think of Fia raising Bella with her.

Tears fell down his cheeks and he drew in a shaking breath, "I was so scared," he said softly, "Scared something might happen to her, scared that when I got here she'd be all grown up and not remember who I was.. scared I wouldn't be able to bring her home because.." Because he wasn't anything special. "I missed her every day, she's what kept me going."

[not_soperfect]

Turning his attention back to Al, he spoke again,

“She won’t forget us.” Mac was certain of it, and wasn’t just telling Al to make him feel better. He didn’t like seeing Al cry, yet he understood how much the other had been through. His expression softened.

“Are you finished with the bath? There is some food if you need it.”

[musical_rocker]

Albert looked up at Fia as he spoke and then ducked under the water again to wet his hair and surfaced. He looked scruffier than usual with how much growth he had on his face, he was sure he'd look like a homeless man or something.

"Can you pass me a towel or something, please." His voice was soft and he moved towards the end of the bath to climb out, "You only asked me to stay here because you knew she'd want us all here together."

[not_soperfect]

Finding a cloth used for towelling body’s dry, he held it out to Al. Waiting for Al to come out of the bath.

“Would you have preferred to stay with Audr’s daughters, or Brea and Hawken?”

[musical_rocker]

He took the cloth and climbed out of the water, slowly shaking his head, "You know there is no where I would rather be but here with the two of you." But Al would have to keep reminding himself over and over again that this was going to end the moment they left here and things would go back to how they were before.

He dried himself and dressed in the cloths Fia had found for him.

[not_soperfect]

“We can have that for now.”

Turning away he left Al to finish up in the bathing room. A few minutes later he had served out some small delicacies, mostly fruit, berries, and nuts, on a serving tray and poured him self a goblet of wine.

When Bella murmured unhappily in her sleep he went to her, speaking softly, and covered her back up with the bedding. She settled again letting him go back to his wine while he waited for Al.

[musical_rocker]

For now.. but soon it would all be over.

Dressing he ran his fingers through his hair, turning it into it's usual mess and he tried to flatten it, but it didn't work. It never really did.

Moving back into the main room, Albert stood on the edge of it looking a little uncomfortable until his eyes fell upon the sleeping form of Bella and he smiled. "She's going to break a lot of hearts when she's older."

[not_soperfect]

“You think I’m going to let those hearts, near our daughter?”

It was the only time since they had been together did he allow a light teasing sound come into his voice. Still, he looked a little pensively at Bella; knowing Al was right.

“Are you hungry?”

[musical_rocker]

"I'm not sure you'll have a choice, and lets not forget that the small one has you wrapped around her finger and can get you to do anything she wants you too."

They both knew that was truth. Big scary Fia was a push over when it came to the small child asleep in the room.

"A little, tired more than anything. after the journey we've had and everything else, my mind just wants to shut down." He looked at the food and then around at the room, wondering where he was allowed to sit, or even end up sleeping.

[not_soperfect]

Placing his wine goblet down, Mac walked towards what looked like a wall of draps. Pulling back the curtain pull revealed a large poster bed surrounded by silk drapes and bedding.

“There is only one bed.” He said explaining as he tied the drapes back. “You can have it. I’ll sleep on one of the chairs.”

[musical_rocker]

He looked at the bed for a moment before shaking his head, "I'll take the chair, it's your bed."

Swallowing he moved slowly towards a chair and sat down, reaching behind him to rub at his stiff neck. "How long has she been here?"

[not_soperfect]

Moving to sit near Al, Mac poured himself another drink.

“Take the bed.” He wasn’t going to argue about it. At Al’s question his gaze went to Bella. “They had blocked the betweens, and I couldn’t get to her when Hawken told me to leave.”

His voice remained soft as he thought about his own time trying to get to Bella. “A week or more.”

[musical_rocker]

"He told me you weren't coming, I'd never felt so much hate in my life when I heard those words." Leaning forward he placed his head in his hands, really he was such a mess still, "And all the way here, I couldn't help but hate you for abandoning her, your own daughter because of me." He turned his head a little to look at Fia, "And I hated myself more than I ever thought possible because I hated you."

His attention turned back to Bella, "She looks older, and the way she talks now." There was a moment's silence, "What do we do if she doesn't want to go home, because here is the only place you and I are in the same place?"

[not_soperfect]

“I am Hawken’s ambassador. My job was to oversee negotiations, I couldn’t come with you.”

The words almost echoing Hawken’s words when the goblin announced matter of fact, Mac wouldn’t be going with them. “She’s our daughter Al; I’d give up breathing before I’d abandon her.”

Some part of him hurt to know Al thought so little of him. Believed he could just ---then he realized with everything they had been through he hadn’t given Al much reason to think otherwise of him when it came to important matters between them. He remained quiet and when the silence drew out he spoke again.

“I’ll stay with her.”

[musical_rocker]

"I didn't know that," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper and she moved from the chair to go and sit beside Bella's bed, his fingers gently pushing her hair from her face. Even though she'd grown she was still so tiny, and yet she was stronger than all of them. Determined, beautiful and very smart for one her age.

"I called out to you, told Eothian to do the same and then Hawken came back.. I didn't know." Gently he stood, careful not to wake Bella and he moved back to the chair he'd been sitting in before.

Slowly Albert licked his lips, suddenly realizing how dry his mouth was. "We'll work something out. Maybe I have her during the week and you take her at the weekends, or visa versa if that's better for you. And longer over the holidays?" Because Albert wouldn't force Fia into something he didn't want, to be in a situation he'd end up hating him for. "I could get an apartment close to you so it's easier?" But he nodded her head, "We'll convince her it's best she comes home. After all she can't see Grandma and Grampa if she doesn't, or have Eothian play with her and Moo."

[not_soperfect]

Pausing slightly he took time to pour some liquid into a goblet for Al, and headed it over to him.

“Its wine.” He said to say what was in the goblet. Thinking about what Al said he sighed softly.

“She can’t be bounced between us, it isn’t fair on her. I have time off work, I’ll see her when I can. When I return to work, I’ll see her every day I can schedule time…”

His voice trailed off. Mac knew Al hated talking about him finding time for them. He hated it too. He took the conversation away from his schedule.

“We only have to tell her you and I won’t be staying.”

[musical_rocker]

He took the offered goblet and said a small thank you in return, and he sipped the liquid before leaning back on the chair and trying to get comfortable.

"So she'll live with me, or mom and dad, or Brea and you'll spend time with her there, or even take her out when you can?" He didn't want to force Fia into anything, he was too tired to fight and the conversation reminded him how much a numb body could still hurt. "The only thing I ask is that Bella stays away from Selene, I don't want that woman anywhere near our.. anywhere near Bella."

It was hard, not calling Bella theirs. She only had been in their heart and never would be legally. He drained the rest of the wine and closed his eyes, feeling the warmth flow through his body and dull his mind.

"I don't want to go home," he said finally, tears clinging to his long lashes, "Home's too much like hell and I can't live there any more. I'd rather Hawken put my head on a spike than go back there. I'd rather live a lie here."

[not_soperfect]

It was obvious Mac wouldn’t be drawn into any conversation about Selene. “I gave you an offer once,” He knew asking Al again wasn’t the right thing to do, yet, he’d try anything then to stop the pain in Al’s voice.

“I said I love you; that’s something we can work with.” He held back from saying anything beyond talking about him and Al. “We can keep Bella and try to sort out our own relationship too.”

Unlike before there was no begging in his voice. Mac still had a smidgen of pride left even though Al had managed to break him more than once. “We can’t stay here.”

[musical_rocker]

Al looked down and nodded his head, "You did, an offer I can never take because I can never share the man I love with someone else, not in that respect. It would be like me asking you to allow me to be with Eothian also." But the difference was, Albert didn't want Eothian, not in the way Fia wanted Selene.

"You love me, you want her. You can't have us both, at least not in the world I was brought up in. I'm sorry but that wont ever change." He rubbed his eyes as his lower lip started to shake, "I would love for that to be possible, but there are too many wedges in our lives to stop that from happening and we both know that these wedges will just rip us apart. Bella doesn't deserve that."

Albert couldn't help but feel things would be different if Selene had never been in Fia's life. The meal at Christmas wouldn't have ended up with them fighting as Fia wouldn't have had plans with someone else on New Year, it wouldn't have resulted in Al spending it alone and Fia being with a woman he was attracted too... it wouldn't have ended in divorce and every fight that came after. Because every fight revolved around her and her relationship with Fia. The day they'd almost gotten back together, that had been going well until he admitted the affair and wanting them both. Al's heart couldn't live with Fia being with her as well as him.

"I know." He hid his face in his hands as silent tears ran from his eyes. They'd have to face the harsh reality soon and Albert was scared of what it might do to him.

[not_soperfect]

“You put the wedges there, Al.” Not a fair thing to say, yet part of him hated where they were now. And if he was truthful there had been always something between them from the very start of their relationship. Eothian had been the wedge then or some other problem where Al felt unwanted. There was always something between them. Mac knew he also put wedges between them, and knew he still loved Al.

Moving he tried to forget about what was between them. He didn’t want to see Al cry and he did the first thing that came to his mind, tilted Al’s face up to his and kissed him.

[musical_rocker]

Those words cut him through like a knife and he felt the last of his hope and almost sanity slip from him. Albert turned whit and truly all the fight left him.

Feeling the hand on his face and then the lips on his own, Albert allowed himself to be drawn into the dream that would never be a reality, the two of them being back together and happy without anything on the outside pulling them apart. He let the kiss linger for a moment before pulling back. "Thank you," he said softly and looked down, "Thank you for making yourself the last person who kissed me again."

And he stood slowly, "I think it would be better if I found somewhere else to sleep, Bella will be safe with you." He swallowed past the lump in his throat, "I can't do this dance any more." Leaning down he pressed his lips to Fia's forehead, letting them linger for a moment before his lips found his in another soft kiss. Albert knew he shouldn't do this, it would end in hurt and more fighting, he just couldn't help himself.

[not_soperfect]

“I can’t do this any more, either.” At that moment Mac didn’t care where it was going to end. He needed Al, wanted his body against his. Opening his mouth under Al’s, he deepened the kiss. The only moment he hesitated was when his hands began to undress Al. His mouth still on Al’s, giving light feathering kisses, he moaned softly in desire as he spoke his voice barely above a whisper.

“Tell me to stop.”

[musical_rocker]

This wasn't what Al had expected at all, wanted yes, but expected...no. Feeling the kiss deepen, Albert followed on instinct, his lips parting as the kiss deepened. At Fia's worlds, Al let out a soft laugh and looked back towards the sleeping child in the room.

"What if we wake her?" Yep, not telling him to stop.

[not_soperfect]

Pausing briefly to leave Al, Mac pulled the drapes down across the bed space; giving them some privacy. Then going back to Al, taking him in Mac’s lips found Al’s once more,

“We’ll figure that out if she wakes up.”

Every word he spoke he gave Al a light kiss. Until he couldn’t stand the barely there kisses. His mouth added more pressure, until he could fully taste Al with his tongue and lips.

“Do you want me?” He needed to know if he should go on.

[musical_rocker]

Albert watched as Fia moved away, glancing back and smiling a little. Suddenly he felt like he was younger, like mom and dad might catch him at doing something he shouldn't. Although mom and dad was a small child.

Moving closer he pressed his body against Fia's as he wrapped his arms around him, deepening the kiss to match the passion from the other man.

"You're the only person I ever want... I ever need..." He let his teeth drag across Fia's lower lip and he smiled just a little, "Don't believe me, take me to bed and I'll show you!" And once again their lips met.