Another night arrived, and once he was sure that everyone was in bed, Alex got up, and knelt down, pulling out a bottle of Champaign he had snuck from the wine cellar, and a sack of food he had prepared for their little get together, from under his bed. Once he had all he needed, he snuck out his window as he had been doing for nearly eight days, and headed for the barn.
The only noise aside from the boards creaking as she paced, was the horses occasional winnie. Things were happening, wonderful, amazing scary things, and Megan felt lost. The only person she had was Alex, and she wasn�t sure he was thinking straight. As she turned she bumped into him, knocking the bag of food and Champaign out of his hands. �I�m so sorry,� she said as she knelt down to try to salvage what was left of their snack.
Alex quickly halted the frantic movement of her hands, and stood her up. �What?� he asked, realizing from watching her for several minutes, that she was upset about something.
�I�m afraid Alex,� she said as he guided her over to the blankets she had spread out, and had her sit down. Once she was settled he sat behind her then pulled her into his arms.
�Are you afraid of what my parents would think?� he asked kissing the top of her head.
�No. No, it�s not that, well maybe part of it is. Alex what if I told you that I wanted more from you tonight?� she asked as she turned to face him.
For a moment he couldn�t remember how to talk then when he did, he couldn�t figure out what to tell her. �I want that too Megs,� he finally said then watched as she stood up and turned to face him.
�No you don�t. Your not ready for it, just like...� Before she could finish he was on his feet, and she found herself in his arms. They were kissing as they had done a thousand times, and she felt his hands rubbing up and down her back. Moments passed and they were laying on the blankets, Alex was over her, and this time there wasn�t any doubt in either of their minds.
**********
It was nearly sunrise when the two of them left the barn, and their lives had changed forever. They had made love, and then had spent the night talking about what they had just experienced, and talked about when to meet again.
Now on his way back to the house, Alex had a grin on his face, very much like his fathers, and didn�t noticed his Uncle pulling into the driveway, not until Jonathan was in front of him saying his name. �Uh. Hey Uncle Jon,� Alex said as he looked down at his feet.
Jonathan looked at him noticing that the buttons on his shirt were not properly buttoned, and that his shirt was pulled out of his pants. That along with the look on his face, had Jonathan worried. �I think you and I have alot to talk about,� Jonathan said as he pushed Alex ahead of him. He knew Alex was grounded, and knew that Megan had not been over to the house since that time, and hoped that Alex had just been out on a walk, but had a bad feeling that there was much more to it than that.
Once in his room, Jonathan shut the door and found Alex sitting on his couch looking very afraid. �I can�t get you to tell me what just happened, but I think you may feel better,� Jonathan said as he sat beside him.
Alex fidgeted with Megan�s ring, the one he wore on a chain, which he never took off, wondering what he could say to his uncle. His parents thought he was being the obedient son that they wanted, and he clearly was not. Then again, he had never promised them to stay away from her. �I�ve been sneaking out to see her for a week,� Alex said as he looked at his uncle.
Jonathan wasn�t sure he wanted this to continue, knowing that it was likely something he would need to tell Rick and Evelyn, but also knowing that Alex was putting his trust in him.
�Everything is just happening so fast. I love her alot Uncle Jon, and Mum and dad were insane to ask me to stay away from her for an entire month. It really isn�t about her anyway, it was about me hurting Heidi, and sometimes I just don�t get them,� Alex said all in one breath.
�You know that they love you right?� Jonathan asked, wanting to make sure Alex knew that.
Alex sighed and ran his left hand through his hair. �I know they do, but I�m growing up now. I need to be able to do what is right for me and right for Megs,� he said as he stood up and began to pace. �And dad doesn�t really have any place to talk about right and wrong. Did you know that his family is likely still living, and that he hasn�t ever gone back to tell them that he�s all right?� Alex asked as he stopped to look at his uncle.
Jonathan shook his head, feeling that he was in way over his head.
�Yeah, at least I let them know whats going on.� Then he stopped pacing and sat down on the sofa. �Except this time I can�t tell them,� he mumbled as he pressed his head into his hands.
�Will you talk to me?� Jonathan asked.
�We, we made love,� Alex said as he continued to hide his face in his hands.
Jonathan sat back on the couch and tilted his head back. He was really in over his head. The two of them were still young, still had alot to know about life, and Jonathan felt if he hadn�t figured it out by now, how could his sixteen year old nephew. �I think if I were you I would talk to your parents. You know they...�
Alex launched out of the couch. �Forget it. I don�t need your help and I don�t need theirs,� he said then stormed out of the room, leaving Jonathan completely Sober, and very worried.
********
That morning in the kitchen with a chair pulled up to the counter, Heidi was getting a lesson in how to make batter for the pancakes, something Rick was teaching her.
�Easy, that egg is delicate, and you just want to crack it,� he said as she hit it a little to hard against the edge of the counter.
�See, I told you I couldn�t do it,� she said as she pouted.
Quickly Rick cleaned the egg from the floor, and then showed her himself how to break it and put it in the mix. Once he had done that, he let her stir while he started on the rest of breakfast. On days when Marie had time to rest, Rick did most of the cooking, and had become quite good at that. He put ham and bacon on a skillet to fry then walked over to his little girl finding that she had the batter about the way it should be. �Good, may I try?� he asked as he nibbled her neck making her laugh.
�All right, but I get to put it on the skillet,� she said, handing him the large wooden spoon. She watched as her daddy stirred the mix fast. Then when he was done she took another spoon and on another skillet emptied the batter there. �When will we know it�s done?� she asked licking some of the mix from her fingers.
�When it starts to bubble,� Rick said looking past her as Evie walked in wearing a pretty blouse and a skirt. �I thought we were going to have a lazy day at home,� Rick said as he walked over to his wife and pulled her in his arms giving her a kiss.
�Tell that to the museum. Honestly, I don�t know what is so difficult about finding a few files,� she said as she rubbed her nose against his.
�Don�t be too long,� he said as he stole another kiss from her before allowing her to move past him. He watched as she packed up her breakfast then gave her another kiss before she walked out of the door leading from the kitchen to the left side of the house.
�Daddy it�s bubbling,� Heidi yelled.
Rick hurried to her, and helped her flip the pancake, then watched as she poured another bit of batter for another pancake, wondering where Alex was. At the first smell of food, his son, and for that matter Jonathan seemed to have a radar attached to their nose, and were hardly ever late for any meal.
*******
In his room, Alex lay on his back starring at the ceiling. Had he been wrong to make love to her, when it was clear that they really had not been ready for that? What if one day she didn�t love him and found someone else she loved? How would he live knowing that another man was getting her love? Alex was so deep in thought that he didn�t hear the knock at his door, nor did he see his father enter, not until Rick was sitting down on his bedside. Then Alex shut his eyes. �Dad, I feel sick,� he said, knowing that his dad would likely know something was up.
Rick reached out and felt his head, not finding that he had a fever. �Maybe a little breakfast will make you feel better. I was thinking once your mum came back from the museum we could go for a ride on the horses, they could use the exercise,� Rick said.
�I�ve got a test on Monday I need to study for,� Alex lied, though he did get up, deciding not to pass up on fried ham and bacon, as well as buttermilk Pancakes, and syrup.
At breakfast he and Jonathan both sat quietly, and while Alex devoured everything on his plate, Jonathan only ate a few bites of bacon before leaving the table.
Having a feeling in the pit of his stomach that something wasn�t right, and only after Hiedi had gone to Miah�s to spend the day, did Rick decide to go pay Jonathan a visit.
***************
In his room, Jonathan lay on his bed thinking about Alex, and didn�t know what to do for him. His nephew seemed very angry, but for what Jonathan didn�t know. He sat up when Rick called out to enter, and instantly started talking about his wins of last night, praying Rick would leave. Alex had trusted him with what he had said, and Jonathan knew that it would have to be Alex to tell both parents about his secret. Once Rick had gone, he decided sleep would help solve his worries, and the best medicine for sleep was a few strong shots of Vodka.
********
Last night for Megan was the most amazing night she could remember, and as well the most frightening. It had hurt when he had made love to her, and that had frightened both of them, though it hadn�t stopped them from doing it again. That next time had felt truly wonderful, but now she was really afraid. What if Alex found another girl he loved more than her, or what if they made a baby?
Unlike Alex who had a whole family who loved him, Megan had no one. If her father ever knew she had made love, Megan knew that he would send her away to some boarding school, and never allow for she and Alex to see one another again.
Most of the day she spent in her room half the time day dreaming about what it would be like if they ever got married, and the other half of the day crying, terrified that they would go their separate ways.
When night finally arrived, Megan left the house, and ran all the way to the O�Connells Barn. Upon her arrival she found Alex sitting at the door, and her heart began to race. She was now terrified that her worst fears would come true.
Seeing the fear in her eyes tore at his heart, and Alex quickly closed the distance between them, holding her in his arms. �Megan, I want you to marry me,� he said as he held her at arms length to see her face.
Megan blinked several times before she fell into his arms crying. �Yes,� she finally managed. �But our parents.�
�They don�t have to know. I get paid in two weeks, two hundred dollars, and I�ll use my savings, but I want to go away, I want to find my grand parents, maybe start a life for us in America,� he said, knowing that it sounded crazy, but really not caring. He had the woman he loved in his arms and that was all that mattered to him.
�I�ll go with you,� she said, then they went into the barn to be together, and to plan how and when they would make their journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(My muse feels like giving the O�Connells big time heart ache, and who says Alex can�t have a wild irresponsible side. Besides this is fun..)
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Shelby