Since sending his letter to Megan, Alex had been looking for her response, and as the days passed by, he was beginning to worry. He knew she loved him, but he also knew how much she worried about what his parents thought of her, and at times that was frustrating to him.
At work, his father had introduced him to the man who managed the work in the building room, Tobias Blitzer, who was nice, but who was also serious about work. Alex had been learning about how to build the ships, and while he enjoyed that, he wished he could actually do more than just watch and be a delivery boy.
When he was home, his studies came first; for he knew if his grades were to slip, then his parents would pull him off of the Rugby team, and that wasn�t something he was going to let happen. Life in general had become more and more frustrating to him, and top things off, having a baby sister who always got her way, was not sitting well with him.
Friday came, and a weekend was ahead of him. Alex was looking forward to just sitting around, and as well his Rugby game. As he and his father drove home, Alex sat with his eyes shut, hoping that Megan would have sent him a letter, and very tempted to sneak to her house after everyone was in bed. He needed to see her, to hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. When he felt the car stop he opened his eyes and stretched.
Rick was proud of his son, and glad that this first week had gone by without any problems. He was glad Alex and Heidi were getting along, and hoped that even after his punishment was over they would continue to get along. As he and Alex got out of the car, the front door opened, and Heidi came bounding out followed by Miah, her shadow, and partner in crime.
�DADDY DADDY,� she yelled as she ran to him. Both girls hugged around either leg, and Alex took his dad�s briefcase, leaving before he said something negative to the little imp that posed as his sister.
�What are you two plotting?� Rick asked as he reached down and tickled both of them.
�Miah�s going to stay with us tonight,� Heidi said as she released her good arm from his leg.
Rick frowned at that. He and Evie had talked about going out, leaving Aunt Maggie to watch over Heidi, and most of the time when she stayed it was easier for her to handle just one child.
�Have you talked this over with you mum?� he asked.
�Yes. Come on Miah, let�s go up to the barn and see if Thomas has finished shoeing the horses,� she said as she grabbed her best friend�s hand.
The two girls headed to the barn as Rick made his way into the house. Inside the front door, he hung his coat in the closet, then went to find Evelyn to see what they did have planned for the night.
******
Finally a letter had come, and Alex sat in his bed reading it, while petting China, who had curled up next to him.
~*~
Dear Alex,
I want to see you too, and if we need to sneak, then I guess we have no other choice. I don�t know when you will get this, mail seems slower than usual with the War, and I should just deliver my letter myself, but I�m afraid it won�t get to you if I did it. I wish you could just phone me, but I guess that would be too much of a risk. Perhaps if and when you get this letter, you could just come over that night. I�ll leave my window unlocked for you, and hope that you will be here soon. I love you
Megan
~*~
Alex put the letter with her other one, then began to plot and plan on how he would get out of the house. His father had mentioned that Aunt Maggie was going to be there to look after his sister, and that just added to Alex�s frustrations. She always treated him like he was five years old, and he hated that. At least tomorrow he had a game, and hoped that if he did get to see her tonight, he could persuade her to be at the park to see his game and wish him luck.
With two days off before he had school, Alex decided he could put his studies off until Sunday, and from his closet got out a box, which contained plastic parts that would eventually become a ship and started to work on his model.
*******
In the back of the house, in the study, which both of them shared, Rick found his wife sitting at the desk with piles of old papers stacked all over the top of it. She was reading something, and didn�t notice his approach.
�What is all of this?� he asked, startling her.
Evie nearly dropped the paper she had in her hands, but managed not too and looked at her husband. �You need to knock,� she scolded.
He walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, beginning to gently rub her there. He felt her relax, and after a moment she apologized for being cross with him. �So what is all of this?� he asked.
�Letters my father wrote to my mum, when he served in the War,� she said as she set the one she had in her hands down with the others. Evie sighed, leaning her head back, and relaxed as he continued to massage her shoulders. �Do you plan on fighting?� she asked.
Rick stopped massaging her, and turned her seat around then knelt down. �I sometimes feel I should. Alot of people are, to protect those they love, but I don�t think I could stand being away from you or the children,� he admitted. Since their last adventure in Egypt, Rick had been adamant about protecting his family from the dangers of the world, and while he felt the need to go in and try to defeat Hitler and his Nazis, Rick also felt an even greater obligation to stay here and keep his family safe.
�I barely remember that time. My mum kept the horror of that time away from me, keeping me busy in my studies, or in other activities. I know Jonathan remembers that time, but he doesn�t like to speak of it,� she said.
�I don�t think I blame him. I never really had anything to do with that time myself, by then the Legion was more interested in their own personal missions, than serving their country,� Rick said, then remembered what Heidi had said. �So are we still going on our date? Heidi said that Miah was staying over,� he informed.
Evelyn shook her head. �I would have let her have Miah over, but she informed me rather than asking me if she could stay, so I told her not this time. Where are they?� Evelyn asked, ready to go have a talk with her youngest child.
�They were heading for the barn. Look, why don�t I go and get them, and you can finish here,� Rick said as he stood up. He leaned in and kissed her soundly on the lips, then left to get changed into more comfortable cloths before going to find his daughter.
**********
Thomas had just finished shoeing Seti, when the girls arrived at the barn, and now while he started to work on Amunet, Heidi and Miah were sitting in the Hay loft, talking about Jeremiah, a boy in their class who always picked on them. �Well my daddy is braver than his daddy,� Heidi said as she tried to reach up and scratch just inside her cast. She hated having it on, and the Doctor had said it would be a few more weeks before they could take it off, but she wished it was gone now.
�I think my daddy is going to fight in the war,� Miah said.
�My daddy, says he wants to stay here and keep mum and me and even Alex safe.�
�Heidi, Miah, come down here please,� came Rick�s voice from below them.
Miah was the first one down the ladder, then Heidi followed, and when she looked at her daddy she saw that he didn�t look very happy with her. �Hi daddy, did you know that Thomas let us help put Seti back in his stall?� she asked.
�Maybe when you get your cast off, and when the weather gets warmer, we can start teaching you to ride,� Rick said as he took her hand, and Miah�s, deciding that they would discuss her inviting Miah over for a spend the night without their permission after the little girl was gone.
As they approached the driveway, they saw that Miah�s mum was there already, and Heidi pulled away from her dad. �Noo, she was going to stay the night, she can�t go,� Heidi wailed as she held on to her friend.
Miah walked quietly to the car, not wanting to get into any trouble, despite Heidi begging her to stay with them. Her mum was talking to Mrs. O�Connell, and when they reached the house, Heidi let go of her and ran inside.
Evelyn was angry with her daughter, but stayed outside, telling Miah that she could come stay the night with them another night. She waited for Rick to arrive, then when Miah, and her mother drove away, they both went inside to have a talk with Heidi.
******
Her best hiding spot was in her closet, and with several blankets piled over her, Heidi sat pouting. Her parents were not very nice, and sometimes she wished she could have new parents who let her do what ever she wanted too. She heard her door open, and heard her mum call her by her full name, but stayed where she was. They could get as angry with her as they wanted, but she wasn�t going to come out.
�Heidi, if you are in here then you need to come out so we can talk,� Rick said as he let go of his wife�s hand. They both waited, and Evelyn looked in placed like under her bed and in her bathroom.
�Heidi, if I have to find you myself, then you are going to be in big trouble,� Evelyn said, trying to give her daughter a chance to come out on her own, guessing she was likely in her closet.
Knowing that big trouble usually meant getting a spanking, Heidi decided to come out of hiding, and when she did her daddy put her in the rocking chair. He asked her why she had invited Miah over without asking first, and Heidi looked at her feet, still pouting about them sending her home.
�I want an answer,� Rick said as he reached out and gently tilted her head up so that she was looking at him.
�You and mummy are going out, and you didn�t even ask me if I wanted to stay here with Aunt Maggie,� she said bravely.
Both parents were very surprised by her statement, and it was Evelyn who answer first, calmly. �Heidi, your father and I love you very, very much, but sometimes we like to go out for dinner and a show on our own.� she said.
�And I wanted to have Miah here to stay over, but you sent her home without even telling me why.�
�I�d watch your tone if I were you ,� Rick warned. �You need to ask our permission Heidi. That is the rule that both you and your brother have to follow until you are old enough to make your own decisions,� he said more gently.
Heidi again looked away from them, still in the mood to pout. �I guess your going to punish me like Alex and make me go to work with you now,� she said as she looked up at her daddy.
It suddenly hit Evelyn why Heidi had done this, and she felt like a fool for not realizing sooner. �Rick, could I talk to you outside for a moment?� she asked, taking his hand and pulling him with her, not really giving him a chance to say yes or no.
Outside their daughter�s room, Evelyn told him what she had just thought of, which was that Heidi was feeling left out. She was used to Rick being home, just like Evelyn, and for the past week he had been going to the office everyday, spending time with Alex.
�That still doesn�t excuse her from doing things she knows she isn�t allowed to do,� Rick said.
�I know Rick, I know, but she misses you, and maybe grounding her and giving her extra things around the house would be more effective than keeping her in her room for the night. Perhaps also spending more time with me,� Evie said, feeling guilty because she had spent half her week with Museum work and the other half on going through her parents old letters to one another.
It was then that Rick pulled her into his arms hugging her. �When did being a parent become such a difficult job?� he asked as he kissed the top of her head.
�Maybe we need to spend more time as a family,� Evelyn suggested as she pulled away to look at him.
�After Alex�s month is up, and I�ll try to do more at home with Heidi as well,� he said, then they both went in to talk more to their daughter, before they got ready to go out for the night.
******
As he has expected, his parents didn�t get back to the house until well after 1am. By then his Auntie had fallen asleep in the guest room, and only after Alex was sure that his parents were otherwise occupied in their room, did he sneak out of the house to go to Megan�s.
The night was cool, and Alex was glad he had warn his gloves, and his jacket. He had contemplating saddling up Seti and riding over to Megan�s but then decided that it would be too much trouble, and walked through the woods, lit only by the light of the full moon.
The walk to her house was five minutes, and when he got to her window he found the light on, but the shades drawn. He tapped on the window and was glad when she opened it for him. Reaching out he took her hand and let her help him in. Once he inside he took her into his arms and kissed her, drinking her in as though he had been a man lost in the dry desert for several weeks, and Megan was his Oasis. When they finally parted, both out of breath he looked at her, memorizing her, so that when he closed his eyes he would see her in his dreams. �Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?� he asked as he removed his gloves, then stroked his right hand through her long red hair.
�I feel beautiful when you look at me like that. I was so afraid that you weren�t going to come,� she admitted as she guided him over to her bed, and sat down, pulling him to sit beside her.
�I couldn�t stay away. I know my parents have good intentions, but my week has been hell, not being with you,� he said then he pulled her into his arms and began to kiss her again.
After a whole week of not seeing him, Megan had swallowed her fears. They were still there to some extent, but as he kissed her and as his hands began to rub over her skin through the soft silk night gown she wore, she became less and less fearful, knowing that even though they were young, that the love they felt for one another was real. When he pulled away he was out of breath, and she could tell he was holding back, and wanted to give him more. Without hesitation she reached out and took his right hand and place it over the soft swell of her right breast, then sighed as he began to rub over that and her left breast.
Time passed, minutes or hours, Alex wasn�t sure. He had drifted to sleep and now lay awake looking at his girlfriend, watching as she slept. As much as he had wanted to take all of her, he knew she was still afraid, and had only taken as much as she was willing to give.
He had taken off all but his underpants, and she had taken off her nightgown, leaving on only her silk panties. Gently he reached out and moved a strand of red hair from her face, then kissed her lips, waking her. �I need to go home,� he said, not wanting to leave her side.
�What time is it?� she asked.
�About four in the morning.� Alex kissed her again then sat up, pulling her into his arms kissing her soundly one last time before he arose from the bed to dress.
Megan stayed where she was watching him, already feeling an ache in her heart knowing that he was going to leave her. �I�ll come to your game today, if you will promise to come back tonight. Daddy will be returning late tomorrow evening, and we will have to find someplace else to meet,� she said, as she pulled her night gown over her head.
Alex, now fully dressed settled back on the bed with her. �We could always meet in the barn. I know it�s not the ideal place but I�ll sneak some blankets and pillows up there,� he said.
Megan merely nodded her head and leaned in kissing him again, stroking her hands through his hair. �I�ll miss you,� she said when he finally pulled away.
�Not for long,� he said, then he left out the window he had come, and after closing it, Megan returned to her bed, laying on the side he had slept on, catching his scent in her pillow, and doing her best to pretend he was still there.
********
It only seemed like minutes instead of a few hours before his father was there telling him to get up. Groggily Alex opened his eyes, knowing his dad wouldn�t leave until he was sure he was going to be up. �Okay, I�m up,� he mumbled then sat up. Once his dad was gone, Alex leaned his head back falling onto his pillow, and decided that he would have to spend less time with Megan in order to survive his days with his dad.
When he got downstairs to breakfast, his parents were both reading the paper, and Heidi was pushing her food around on her plate. He let Marie bring his plate, and watched his sister pouting. Heidi was grounded now as well, and he was impressed by that because most of the time it seemed she got away with just about anything.
�Stop looking at me,� she said.
�I�m not I�m eating see,� Alex said as he took a huge bite of waffle, and chewed with his mouth open, which made her even more frustrated.
�You two cut it out now,� Rick said as he looked over his paper at both of his children.
Alex sighed and continued to eat, while Heidi continued to sulk.
�Heidi you need to eat,� Evelyn said noticing that her daughter had barely eaten a bite.
�I�m not very hungry, because I�m sad,� she whispered. She saw Alex role his eyes and before thinking about it threw a piece of bacon at him out of anger. Then cried as she was sent upstairs to her room.
Alex protested when Rick sent him to his room as well, but one look at his father, he moved his tale fast, not wanting any more punishment than he was already getting this month.
Once their children were gone, Rick dryly commented about selling their two children to the circus, making Evie chuckle.
�I�m not sure the circus would want them,� she said as she took a sip of tea.
�Well, we better get ready for his game,� Rick said on a more serious note. They took their dishes as well as Alex and Heidi�s to the counter, then went up stairs to get dressed for the Rugby game.
********
Despite it being a sunny day, it was still rather cool as Evelyn and Rick spread out a large quilt, where they would watch Alex play his game.
Not far from them Heidi stood looking off to the distance at the children playing on the playground, not pleased that she had to watch her brothers boring game, instead of getting to play.
�Heidi, would you like to come with me to get some hot cocoa?� Evie asked.
�All right,� she said as she walked over to her mum and took her hand.
While they went to get the Cocoa, Rick stood watching his son�s team practicing, impressed with how much of an athlete Alex had become in the past four years. Alex was almost as tall as Evie but small compared to most of the boys he played against. Still he managed to make more scores per game than most of the boys he played against, which was another thing that amazed him.
�Hello,� came a soft voice from behind.
Rick turned and smiled as Megan approached. He gave her a hug, then invited her to sit with them.
�Are you sure that�s all right?� she asked still worried about what Evelyn would say.
�I�m absolutely sure,� Rick said, then heard the whistle which signaled the start of the game.
A few minutes later, when Evelyn and Heidi arrived back at the pallet, she smiled when she found Megan standing next to her husband. Once she had a warm blanket wrapped around Heidi and had her daughter settled with a book and a box of paper dolls, she went over to watch the game as well as to talk to Megan.
The longer they talked, the more at ease Megan felt. They weren�t mad at her and she was glad for that, then Alex had the ball and they all cheered him on, as did most of the other people watching the game.
On the playing field, Alex made the final winning score, and at the bench as his buddies congratulated him, he had noticed Megan talking with his parents and was in a hurry to get up and see her before she left. Once he had his things gathered, he hurried over to his family, not caring what his parents said he hugged her, wanting to kiss her, but figured they would frown upon that.
While Alex and Megan visited for a brief few minutes, Rick and Evie gathered up Heidi�s toys, then Rick lifted his sleeping daughter into his arms, and offered Megan a ride home which she gladly accepted, and while they walked ahead, Alex walked with his love behind them. �Are you ready for tonight?� he asked softly.
�More than ready. I slept so well when you were with me,� she said, watching ahead to make sure his parents didn�t suspect anything amiss.
On the car ride home they sat on either side of the car both keeping their distance to not let anyone know anything was going on. When they arrived at her house, Alex walked her to her door and hugged her. �See you tonight,� he said, and stole a quick kiss on her cheek before leaving to return to his father�s car.
******
A little past midnight, Alex arrived at her window finding that she was waiting to let him in. As soon as he was inside he began to kiss her and it wasn�t long before they had on only their under clothing, and were resting on the floor close to her desk, continuing to kiss one another.
�I never got to tell you why I was afraid,� she said as they rested a moment, both out of breath from kissing.
�Tell me in a more comfortable place,� he said as he helped her sit up then stood and led her over to her bed. Once he was laying down, and she was snuggled next to him he listened as she began.
�I just get afraid of alot of things Alex. I mean if we did do more than just kissing and touching, then we could get into things that neither one of us are ready for,� she said as she rested her cheek upon his chest.
Alex sighed kissing the top of her head. �Are you worried about me fighting in the war?� he asked, having thought about that alot. Darby and a few of the other boys on his team had talked a great deal about enlisting with the British Forces and to some extent Alex had as well, but on the other hand he wanted to live long enough to get through College and to have a life of his own.
�Some of my concerns are centered around that, but I�m more worried about being an unwed mother,� she said as she lifted her head to look at him.
�You wouldn�t have to worry about that,� he said as he lifted his head and kissed her. When she frowned he asked her why she was.
�I don�t want you to have to love me because of something we did. I mean if I was ever with child, I wouldn�t feel right if you married me or stuck around just because of that,� she said.
�Megan, I love you because you are my best friend. You are the only person who knows all my secrets, from the time we were in Egypt, to the time I walked in on my parents doing that,� he said as he blushed, which seemed to lighten the mood some what. �Thats better,� he said as he kissed her again. He never liked it when she was upset, and wasn�t prepared for such a serious discussion.
�Sometimes I think I want more from this,� she said as she continued to look at him. When he sat up she started to protest then relaxed when he pulled her into his arms.
He knew what she meant, and a part of him was afraid, which made him angry because he wanted to be as brave a man as his father, and so far he wasn�t doing such a good job. �Would you want to now?� he asked, feeling his heart begin to beat faster.
Megan shuttered. �I just want you to hold me if it�s all right,� she said as she rested her cheek against his chest.
Alex took in a breath relieved that she wasn�t ready for that, and held her for a while longer, then reluctantly told her he needed to get home. �What do you think about going out to the barn tomorrow night?� he asked as he pulled on his pants, then put his shirt on.
�I�ll try, but I can�t promise much. You know how nosy my father gets when he comes home from his trips,� Megan said as she walked over to her window.
They shared another kiss, then Alex slipped out into the cool night to return home, to his lonely bed and his lonely room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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