Homecoming (Veronica / Omari )

[Deleted]

Appearing inside the terraced area, the only appiration point at the house, Omari had a messenger bag over his shoulder and stepped inside, passing by the hot tub and coming up into the house proper. As he did so he called out, just to let her know he was around. "Veronica? I'm back." As England grew colder with the winter, he wore progressively thicker clothes more then most English because he was used to a different climate.

At the door he stopped and stripped off two thick coats and hung them in the closet, glad the house felt warm at least. As he saw her he added "I am constantly amazed at how penetrating the cold here is! At least back home it was only in the night, but here it seems never ending..." Stripped down to a suit entirely, he shook himself and walked towards her, sliding a hand around her middle and kissing her.

She looked as pretty as ever and he felt himself react to the smell of her. She was his and he liked that feeling of coming home to find her warm and welcoming, though she seemed a bit on edge. "Everything all right? Where's the little prince?"

VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER

[VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER]

His voice echoing through the hall made her tense. He had been gone more and more lately, and though the holidays could be partially to blame since demand would predictably be higher, she'd begun to suspect it was something, or rather someone else keeping him away. He'd been increasingly vague when she asked him about his trips in the past few weeks, and she'd decided to stop pressing him. She laid their son carefully in his crib and gently smoothed the baby soft hair. He made a soft sound like a sigh but his eyes never opened. Straightening, she took a deep breath of her own and followed the direction his voice had come from. When she found him in the sitting room, she smirked. "Funny, I would say the same thing about the heat in Egypt" she answered, her smile was distant, but not cold. She studied him, searching his eyes for some sign of...what? Guilt? Remorse?

"That is what most people consider winter, darling" she tried for teasing. She wasn't ready to confront him, if she ever would be. It wasn't like it made much of a difference. Their contract was a legally binding agreement. When he pulled her close, she stiffened for less than a second before she kissed him back. Even if her mind was at odds, her body had missed him. "How was your trip?" she asked, but the question held a sort of obligatory note. "Did you get everything squared away?" She wondered if he might just come out and tell her, but she doubted it. He liked things just so, and that particular announcement would do much more than just disturb the peace. It had been barely a month since he'd taken her to Egypt. The trip had been an amazing experience, much like most of the ones she'd had with her husband. They'd been married a bit less than two years, and the whole thing had been surprisingly pleasant considering the circumstances. Until now of course, now she had no idea what to expect.

He had picked up on her mood, and she silently scolded herself for letting him. "Of course" she smiled. "I just finished putting his highness down for a nap." She sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs. "How is your mother doing?" Her tone sounded sincerely interested. She knew he'd been justifiably worried about what might happen to his mother once he wasn't around to keep a watchful eye. His father was...Veronica almost frowned. There were very few people she disliked as strongly as her father-in-law.

@shava4444444

[Deleted]

As she entered and made a joke about the reverse he made a face. "Ah, but night in Egypt is cold, very cold and the days are very hot. Here it's so penetrating because there is no relief it's just unending cold. Very different to my mind." Deserts did not hold heat in when the sun went down unlike earth so it always got sharply cold at night and baking during the day. This unending of cold was still catching him off guard. "Maybe I will adjust, but not yet clearly."

She asked about the trip and he wasn't sure what to tell her about what was happening back home. Certainly he knew she would be worried about his mother, but the situation was more...complex then that. "No, unfortunately. No more solutions, just more problems and less answers." He rubbed the top of his nose, frustrated and sighed. "Nothing more I can do till after Christmas though so I'll be here at least a week this time."

As she spoke back about their son, he pulled her close and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in. Distraction, that is what he wanted and needed. "Ah good! I want to go see him then maybe we can talk about what you wanted to do this week." To her next question he was heartily glad he could answer "Ah well, I didn't see my parents this trip. Too many other things to figure out and piece together. Maybe next time. We don't exactly celebrate Christmas so much so it will be interesting to see what you do."

VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER

[VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER]

Veronica very narrowly missed snorting. Married two years and still discussing the weather. A calmer, more sane voice in her head told her she was being unreasonably harsh, but she ignored it. Unending cold...she supposed it would wear on someone who was used to such varying temperatures. Still, she had trouble finding room to be sympathetic. "Its an easy enough fix" she pointed out, nodding in the general direction of the hot tub in the other room. "A while in the hot tub should thaw you out quickly enough." She smirked, whatever her husband's scruples might have been, lacking or otherwise, it was still a very very nice view. "It will take time" she agreed. "I imagine about as much as it will take you to stop shaking your head every time you see a woman in a pair of shorts." It still amused her. Women often mistook her husband's attention for gratifying, when in reality what they read as interest was actually disapproval. In their defense, she supposed he wasn't very easy to read.

As he spoke, answering her, she realized he looked genuinely troubled. Maybe she had misread the situation, she just wished he'd open up more. He rubbed his nose and she sighed, it was a nervous habbit, or rather, a frustrated one, a result of stress. "I'm sorry" she told him sincerely, stepping closer as some of the tension went out of her body language. "Good" she murmured. "I feel as if we've barely seen you in the last few months." Not that she had missed him, because she hadn't...really. Her son needed his father, and she was just...lonely. Ronni was accustomed to an isolated life, but at her parents' she'd had Cam at least. He visited when he was home, but she knew he was dealing with his own issues at the moment. Speaking of which, she really needed to owl and ask how things were going with the little spitfire mum and dad had saddled him with. She smiled then, wondering if her husband had once thought the same of her. "Mum and dad will want us for dinner, and you'll get to meet Cameron's fiancee." He had been away on business during that first dinner, which was probably just as well. Veronica had no idea how her husband would respond to Leyshell's particular brand of..well...everything.

She was only slightly surprised when he pulled her close. It felt good to be in his arms again, to be touched at all really. She brushed her lips over the curve of his neck just above his collar. The scent of him, warm and familiar, washed through her senses, and she softened. Had he, maybe, missed her? She nodded, "that is an excellent idea" she told him warmly, listening to him speak as they walked together to the nursery. The thought of decorating their home for Christmas excited her, and it showed. "Well, there will be dinner with my parents as I said, and possibly a few other things thrown in. I'm not really sure how things will be now that..." Now that she was gone, now that Cameron would soon be on his own and married as well. As she listened, she frowned. Piece together? It didn't sound like he was talking about another woman. The way he spoke sounded much more ominous. They reached the nursery and she crossed the room to their son's crib, lifting him out gently so as not to wake him. "He is growing every day it seems like" she murmured. No such luck, as though sensing his father was home, the little boy opened his eyes slowly, blearily. Spotting Omari, he reached for his father. "Da"

@shava4444444

[Deleted]

A glance back at the direction of the hot tub and he nodded. "Might have to at that. Later possibly." Might as well use it while he was home, right? He had set it aside for relaxing. Then she caught him out and a purse of his lips before he smiled told the tale. "Touche. I still find it hard to believe people display themselves for everyone else that way." He might not ever lose that particular issue.

Her reaction to his week stay pleased him. "Well then, I shall have to make sure I make a good impression while I am here then. Maybe I can coax you into the tub with me later on..." Ah ha, so her brother's time had come? "Ah, how did he end up? Younger girl or older? Have you met her?" As she approved of his choice, he let his hands keep her close, holding her as only her husband could do. Kissing the side of her neck he said "Lots of time to catch up on for certain..."

As she spoke her voice dropped off and he glanced at her face fully. "Now that what? We need to make some of our own traditions as well. We can talk about that over the next few days though, let's go see the boy first," he said with a smile of fondness. When they got there and his son reached out to grab at him, Omari slid an arm around her middle, sliding up against her back and caught his son's hand. "Kaif, such a good boy. You were good for mama, right?" He kissed his son's forehead and let him curl his hand around his finger while she held him.

"Goodness, you are getting big aren't you? Mama was right. Maybe we need to be thinking about siblings soon for him..."

VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER

[VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER]

A smile that bordered on rueful as she nodded in response. "Later" she agreed. He was gone so often these days that having him home felt almost strange. She tried not to think on that too closely. There was a time and a place to process her thoughts, but this was neither. He gave easily to her point and his response brought an amused upturn at the corners of her lips. "That is fair though, when you consider most people can't understand how women stand to be covered head to toe in the desert." It had surprised her when she realized how cool the clothes actually were, though she supposed the additional charms had helped. The truth was that returning to European culture had felt strange to her as well, and was becoming increasingly more so the longer she lived with her small family. Not that she planned to go around in veils any time soon, but she found herself shying away from more revealing things reflexively when it came to going out, not something that would have bothered her before.

She was loathe to admit she had been lonely during his absence, but the ease with which she felt herself relaxing now that he was home spoke for itself. His invitation brought the first genuine smile. "Quite possibly" The thought was so welcome it almost surprised her. Kaif would be down by nine, and then... She felt something stir. Yes, quite possibly. He seemed amused by Cameron's predicament, and she supposed she could see why. "She's younger" and then with a slightly rueful look. "Yes, I've met her. She's a bit..." Was there a way to put it politely? But then, this was her husband she was speaking to. "She's kind of crazy, but Cam always did have a thing for the wild ones so maybe it will turn out all right." So long as neither of them killed the other first of course. The feel of him against her, warm and solid and real for the first time in several days felt...She closed her eyes as his lips found a spot on her neck she particularly liked. Merlin, it felt bloody wonderful, that's how it felt. It was distracting, the attraction she most certainly felt for her husband. It made her fears of where he went for days on end fade for the moment into the background.

She would think about it later.

Their own traditions? She frowned, but only for a moment. She hadn't thought about that, but now that she had it made perfect sense. Of course they would have their own traditions. They were a family now. The nursery was warm, and the colors had a calming effect, intentional, she knew. Standing there, with their son in her arms reaching for his father who was still holding her close, Veronica felt...content...but also something....else. A longing perhaps, for reassurance, but it would wait. She was enjoying this moment far too much to spoil it that way. Their little one wrapped his tiny fingers around his father's and her heart melted. "Mama" he repeated, turning to look at her with adoring eyes before turning back to look at his father. She smoothed his hair, kissed his cheek, and laughed softly. "He's had some trouble getting to sleep the last couple of nights, but other than that he's been a very good boy." Kaif giggled, "good" he repeated, and she smiled warmly. "Yes love" she answered her son. "Very good."

The mention of siblings caught her attention, and after a thoughtful moment, she nodded. "Of course" She wanted more children, but she wasn't sure how ready she was to let go of it being just the three of them yet. Or more often lately, just the two of them. Still, this had been part of the agreement, and she doubted broaching the subject would go over well.

@shava4444444

[Deleted]

He shrugged. "That's the desert for you. If you have exposed skin it's far hotter in the sun. Only in full coverage is it a comfortable temperature. But you all have humidity here which we do not as well." She had done just fine in that too he remembered, once she tried it out. But her interest in trying had made him rather proud of his choice. he grinned at her response, even if it was a bit worn from too much work recently. "Excellent! Then I shall make a point to be as enjoyable company as possible..."

Ah younger, of course. The English liked making sure the male was older for certain, as did other cultures, but most chose well enough. He gave her a quizzical look. "Crazy as in he likes hanging out with mentally unstable girls or that she is a party fan as so many seem to be these days?" Party girls tended to be more loose then his culture would allow. Not to mention too experienced in bed. He distracted her anyway, enjoying the fact his younger wife felt a bit of weakness for him physically.

His father had been right about the way that felt at least, even if he screwed up much of the rest.

Omari grinned at both his son's words. "Yes, very good! I can tell you will be a very smart boy too," he said teasing with the finger his son had, causing him to grin himself and grab at another. "You mother does very well for you, Kaif, maybe I should give her a break for a night?" His other hand came up to caress the boy's cheek who laughed happily at the attention and Omari smiled. Softly he said while the boy was distracted "Beautiful..."

After a moment he nodded, then kissed her more directly on the lips, holding his son's hand still between them as he looked up with wide eyes. "My beautiful wife and handsome son. Home."

VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER

[VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER]

The more she relaxed, the less stilted the conversation felt. Surely if he were drifting to another, he would not be so relieved to be home...or seem to. She would have to wait and see she supposed. She hadn't, in fairness, expected to miss him, but a big empty house with only her son and occasionally her brother for company was lonely indeed, and she had become surprisingly fond of her husband, he was better company than she had originally thought he might be. "How fortunate for me then" she teased with an edge of allure, that my exposed skin is reserved mostly for indoor activity and..." She smiled up at him, "exclusively for my very handsome husband." She felt a pressing urge to confirm to herself that she had not been outshown, and that her husband still desired her as strongly as he had on their honeymoon not so long ago. "I imagine there are many ways we can find to enjoy each other's company over the holidays" she observed, and her tone was light, teasing, and accompanied by a 'come hither' look for a brief moment when she met his eyes as they walked, smiling up at him.

As the conversation moved to her brother's situation, she shook her head, undoubtedly rueful. "Crazy as in I would fear for his safety were it not for several clauses which prohobit certain more violent action on the part of his wife-to-be" she clarified. "His last letter was more encouraging. Perhaps he'll be able to charm her as he does the others." She shrugged, a smooth, graceful motion, more of a roll as though she were tense. "He hasn't mentioned any partying, I doubt he has time. The way I understand it she's quite a handful, and he is a bit more focused on making some useful connections this year." She wasn't quite sure for what purpose, but she knew her brother well enough to know he planned ahead, it was one of his more admirable traits, and one which she herself sorely lacked. She felt her body relax further as his reassured her, and stirred too-long neglected feelings. She remembered him vividly even when he was away, and the memories haunted her dreams even as the smell of him permeated her senses when she lay in their bed at night. It was its own form of torture she supposed, but a gift also. There were worse things than to be attracted to her husband, but it contributed to the feelings of loneliness, and those she could do without.

As he praised their son, Veronica watched them both, man and boy and the tenderness welled. Whatever their marriage lacked, she trusted Omari to care for her and for their children. He did both very well. He was her lover, and she was surprised to realize she had also begun to consider him a friend. He had said often in the beginning that she could trust him, and she found that as the weeks had passed, she had become less grudging in her dependence, more open in her triumphs when time and his schedule allowed. He filled up their home, and there was a completeness that came with his presence. It made it easier to relax. Aloud she said, "he will be brilliant, already he loves to be read to, and I imagine it will not be very difficult to teach him to read when the time comes." She was, as of yet, unwilling to see him grow up too fast, but she exulted in his advances, in his triumphs, and he did seem to learn exceptionally well for his age. Her husband's praise and her son's laughter brightened her spirits, and she glowed with an inner warmth that lit up her face. "He is not so much trouble" she assured him. But, after a moment her eyes found him and conspiratorial smile turned the corners of her lips, "but a break might be nice, yes."

Drawn by his warmth, she leaned up after he spoke, careful of their son, and kissed him softly in a way that lingered and with a warm intensity that surprised her. "Yes" she whispered softly still close enough to feel her breath as it warmed the air between them. "Welcome home, Omari"

@shava4444444

[Deleted]

Her comments about her skin, drew him closer and he breathed upon the skin of her neck letting his warmth tickle her nerves. "Keep up such reminders, my wife, and we may not wait till later for some personal time..." A soft grin; was the boy old enough for a light-heat hot tub? It might help him fall asleep earlier then normal while his parents sported together as husband and wife. His eyes sparkled and he held out his palms to her as if offering himself. "I am yours, my wife, for the duration."

His eyebrows went up. "Seriously? She is considered that dangerous that it must be written down? How extraordinary." His face showed his distaste for the idea of a woman in that position like that, but he wiped it away soon enough remembering (as one could tell in his eyes) that he was suddenly aware this culture did things very differently. "Pardon me, but is it normal for your society for a contract to share such a thing?" A disturbing thought, male or female.

"You hear that? Your mother loves you very much! What a lucky boy!" A teasing look in his eyes as he turned so his son could see his mother and getting the clear reaction of both hands out to her to go to her as he added "I feel jealous. I need to try harder to make your mother talk about me as she talks about you..." His eyes said he was already thinking of ways to please her, but it was purely humor with his son; no mother would ever not love entirely with all their heart to her own children. That was no contest.

"A break you shall have tomorrow then, but for tonight I think we might try this one on a slightly cooler warm bath with us. A treat and a sleep inducer I think it may turn out to be. If you get him ready, I think I can start up the bath and arrange a snack for us. Would you like that?" A soft moment then, a welcoming home which he didn't pick up any hesitation in, just a wonderful evening coming up. His smile was both warm and very content.

VERONICA CHARLOTTE ZANDER