The Adventure Continues

[abrightboy]

For thatsfascinating.



The villa Malcolm rented was in the Languedoc, not far from Marseilles, south of Avignon. It was a very historic region, though Malcolm was particularly not interested in visiting Marseilles again. There was a charming village nearby the villa and if they were going to go to an historic city for a day, he'd rather make the trip over to Montpellier, where he'd never been at all, much less with Dr Whitly.

The villa had six bedrooms. As the driver brought their luggage inside the bright and spacious main room, Malcolm handed him some folded Euros and thanked him and shut the door behind him.

"First choice of a room is yours," he told Edrisa with a smile. "But you might want to explore first."

Comments

[abrightboy]

He knew she had to be. He'd guessed that even in a concussion haze.

"It's okay," he told her. "Let it out."

[thatsfascinating]

He was holding her close, wrapping her in his arms and in his love. She was safe, her body and her soul, as safe as she could ever be.

The first choking sob tore from her throat. The dam broken, she turned her head, half buried her face in his neck, and wept.

[abrightboy]

Finally, was his first thought. She couldn't keep bottling it up. He knew the damage that could do.

He rubbed her back with one hand and just held her.

[thatsfascinating]

For someone who had to face some of the ugliest realities of life on a daily basis, Edrisa didn't always do a great job at facing her own personal traumas. Like the one that had put the kibosh on her being a doctor for living people. But here and now it felt like she had opened up her heart and all the pain and sadness just came pouring out. She had never cried this hard and this long before. It was several minutes before her sobs began to lessen, and she just lay on his chest, exhausted.

[abrightboy]

That was important, that she had that release.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He didn't say anything. They were going at her pace now.

[thatsfascinating]

She felt wrung out, empty, but also calm. Peaceful, even. She brushed her fingertips against Malcolm's chest, listening to his heart beat.

"Are the police going to come talk to us?" she asked softly.

[abrightboy]

"They're supposed to come take statements at some point." He pressed another kiss into her hair. "We could stop by there tomorrow and get it over with."

[thatsfascinating]

"I think that's a good idea. Better to be in control of it, right?" She lifted her face to look at him. "We could actually have lunch at a quaint cafe this time."

[abrightboy]

"I'd like that," he said softly. "We'll make a concerted effort to have a good day."

[thatsfascinating]

"Any sign of trouble, we totally ignore it," she agreed.

She leaned up to kiss him gently, then settled back on his chest.

"I love you," she murmured. And then, "Thank you."

[abrightboy]

"I love you too," he said softly. "We'll be okay."

[thatsfascinating]

She nodded. "We will." She was sure of it. The two of them together could do just about anything.

"So," she said after a quiet moment. "Where do you want to get married?"

[abrightboy]

"I don't know," he admitted. "I think I want to look around the area. See what the options are. This is... a whole different plan from anything I pictured. My whole brain has to start from scratch."

[thatsfascinating]

"We can do that." She smiled faintly. "What had you pictured?"

[abrightboy]

He shook his head, shrugging the shoulder she wasn't leaning on.

"Something more...crowded, I guess. And everything that goes with that."

[thatsfascinating]

"That would be a very different experience, yeah." She looked up at him again. "Are you sure you're okay with this? With doing it so differently?"

[abrightboy]

"Yes. I just... want to do it right, if we're going to do this. I want to find the right place."

[thatsfascinating]

"We will," she promised. "It's so beautiful around here. We're bound to find the perfect place."

[abrightboy]

"And I want to go into Marseilles and find some proper boutiques to shop at," he insisted.

[thatsfascinating]

She smiled, resting against him. "We can do that. Are we going to follow the thing where the groom doesn't see the bride's dress before the wedding? Cause that might be a little difficult."

[abrightboy]

"I don't think we need to go that far," he conceded. "But we can get you some new sundresses while we're there, too."

[thatsfascinating]

She nodded. "That would be nice."

She put her hand over one of his, threading her fingers into his.

"Should we be talking more about what happened?" she asked quietly.

[abrightboy]

"If there's anything you want to say, or discuss or get off your chest, you absolutely should," he advised.

[thatsfascinating]

She thought about it for a quiet moment.

"I feel like there's just...so much we don't know," she murmured. "Who was he? How many people he kill?" Then, quieter. "Could we have stopped him some other way?"

Did she have to kill him? And if not, did that make her responsible for an unnecessary death?

[abrightboy]

"We definitely couldn't have stopped him any other way. He was going to kill both of us. And then he was going to continue hunting his prey."