Viggo left after a month into the death of Megan’s parents. Orlando was
filming Ned Kelley at some lot in Sydney and Megan would spend her day
either at work, or at home trying to figure out what to do with her parents’
manor in London. She was sitting at her desk in her office, Melissa in her
play pen, and an ever growing amount of paperwork about patients on her
desk.
A nurse popped in. “Slow day?” She asked Megan.
“Thank God.” Megan replied. “I haven’t been able to touch this stack until
now. And now that I have them. I don’t want to do them.”
“It’ll all go by quick, Dr. Hartl.” She replied. “Cute girl you got there.”
She smiled at both of them and went on her way.
Megan sighed and began to work on her charts. After about an hour she was
well into the groove of it all. Signing away on papers and all. She was
three quarters of the way finished when her phone rang. “Dr. Megan Hartl
speaking.”
“Hey Megs.” Orlando said. “D’you think I could get Heath to come over
tonight? He’s bringing Naomi.”
“Watts?” Megan asked. “Oh my God, I love her. Yes. Yes. Let her come along.
Oh…wait, Orlando, remind me we’re going to have to sit down and talk about
the estate in London.”
“Alright.” Orlando said. He yelled an affirmative off into the distance.
“We’ll talk in the morning. I’m not working tomorrow.”
“Good, because… I need to do something with it soon.” Megan replied.
“Oh shit, Megs, they’re calling me. I’ll see you tonight. Just order take
out! I love you!” Orlando said, in a rush.
Megan was stunned. “I…I love you too.”
The other end was silent. Then she heard breathing. “Kidding about them
calling me, just wanted to see what you’d say.”
Megan’s face broke into its first genuine smile since she lost her parents.
“You could’ve just said I love you. No need to go to great lengths.”
“I like going through great lengths, thank you very much.” Orlando said.
“Well, now I really have to go. I love you, and I’ll see you tonight.”
Megan laughed. “Bye love.” She went back to her paperwork. “Why don’t
teachers tell us about these papers in med school?”
“Because half of the medical population would be wiped out.” A nurse said.
“Here’s the baby bottle you asked for.”
“Could you just give it to Melissa?” Megan asked not looking up. The nurse
sighed and gave it to the blonde toddler, who was looking very close to
napping.
After half an hour Megan stood up triumphantly and came very close to
spitting on her stack of charts before she realized what she was doing.
Putting them in her out box, she gathered her things and scooped up Melissa
from her play pen. After buying Thai food, she went straight to the
apartment to clean up and give Melissa a bath.
The day before, Orlando had converted Melissa’s crib into a toddler bed. The
very fast-walking Melissa went to her room before Megan had a chance to put
clothes on her. The struggle to get Melissa clothed and sleeping took about
half an hour. Megan sighed and looked at the front room. There were toys
scattered on the floor so she gathered them all up and put them in the toy
bin.
“That’s it. I’m making Orlando do this from now on.” Megan said, looking at
her work, hands on her hips.
The door opened and Orlando, scruffy beard and all, went in first. “Megan!
Come over here, I want you to meet Heath and Naomi.”
Megan smiled at them. “Nice to meet you both. Big fan.”
Heath, who had a beard more untamed than Orlando’s, smiled. It was hard to
tell. “Orlando tells me you’re a born and raised Sydney girl?”
“Yeah, Sydney’s the only home I’ve known for the last twenty five years.”
Megan replied. Orlando kissed her cheek and went into the kitchen.
“Ah, then he’s got a good one.” Naomi grinned, blue eyes flashing. Megan
only smiled, and blushed slightly.
“Shall we eat the finest Thai take out in Sydney?” Orlando asked, looking
into the boxes in the kitchen.
~*~
The four were now enjoying a glass of wine in the living room when a bleary,
blue eyed Melissa came out of her bedroom and right into the middle of the
conversation and climbed onto Orlando’s lap.
“Now who’s this?” Naomi asked, putting on a higher, friendlier voice.
“This, would be Melissa. Who should be back in bed.” Orlando replied,
putting his glass down as he carried the little figure back into the room.
“Orlando never told me that you had kids.” Heath said, looking at Megan.
“We don’t. That’s my sister. My parents passed away last month, so now I
have to take care of her. Orlando’s just been kind enough to help me.” Megan
replied.
Naomi looked at Heath with a look that Megan couldn’t read. “Orlando doesn’t
mind taking care of her?” Naomi asked.
“He enjoys it actually.” Megan replied as Orlando got out of the room.
“She wanted a toy.” Orlando said, sitting down next to Megan and kissing
her.
“Orlando, were you really doing those bow and arrow shots in Lord of the
Rings?” Heath asked. “Those were incredible.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Orlando grinned, and stood up to bow. “Actually
yeah, I did. After, like, four weeks of training.”
They talked for several hours about anything and everything and soon the sky
was beginning to brighten. Heath and Naomi finally left. Exhausted, Megan
and Orlando crawled into bed as the sunshine peaked through the shades.
The two were huddled close together when Melissa came crawling in between
them the remote control of the TV in her hand. Switching the television on
she sat up in the middle of the both of them, sound blaring. Megan opened
her eyes, and sleepily blinked at Orlando who was grinning at her. “Go back
to bed, Megs, I’ll bring her out to the living room.” He whispered, with
that he whisked away Melissa, shutting the TV off.
“If you wanted to get in my good books before tonight Orlando, you’re
already in them.” Megan shouted.
“Sex? Does that mean sex?” He asked. He peeked into the room and his reply
was a roll into a more comfortable position.
~*~
That afternoon, Orlando treated the two to a lovely walk in the park.
Melissa in the middle, holding both of their hands as she walked. “Orlando,
you know I have that estate in London.” He nodded. “I’ve been there twice. I
loved it. But I also love Sydney.”
Orlando smiled at her. “Has Melissa been there?” Megan shook her head. “And
this has been in the family for years right?”
“But Sydney, this place is my home.” Megan said. Orlando stopped, picking up
Melissa and led her to a park bench.
“London’s my home, Meg. And I’m here.” Orlando replied, matter of factly.
“Before I met you, I got the Ned Kelley part. I thought that when Ned
Kelley’s done with, I wanted to go back home to visit family I haven’t seen.
Then you came along, and I decided that it would be a vacation to see my
family. Megs, as much as I love you, Melissa, this place…London’s still my
home. I miss it. My home’s also with you. Could you ever consider making
London our home?”
Megan was silent for a moment. “You practiced that didn’t’ you?” She asked,
smiling.
Orlando grinned. “Yes, did I rush it?”
“No, it was good.” Megan answered. “That’ll be a big move, Orlando. I have
to sort everything out.”
“Hey, hello? I can help.” Orlando said, waving his hands around. Megan
laughed. “Would that make moving to London a yes?”
“So persuasive.” Megan replied, kissing him. Orlando grinned at her.
Orlando scooped Melissa up into his arms. “Come on ladies, let’s go back to
the apartment. A swim in the pool is calling me.”
“Melissa’s hair turned green last time.” Megan said.
“I know.” Orlando replied. “Tonight’s your night to clean her up too.” He
winked at her.
“Oh that was a low blow.” Megan said, feigning offense. She pouted at
Orlando.
“Stop doing that!” He laughed. “You know my weaknesses all too well, Megs,
love. I’ll clean her then.”

«Chapter 10

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