by Janie Marie
He rubbed her back as he ran his fingers through her hair. “I know, but we’ll be back.”
She trusted him. She knew he’d do everything possible to bring them home safely, but she was breaking. And she was about to officially end her marriage to their father.
“Give them a kiss. They know you will not be here when they wake.”
Jane rubbed her tears before walking closer to her babies. He’d put them on the same bed, and she knew they’d need each other more than ever. “Mama loves you,” she whispered, gently caressing Nathan’s forehead. She leaned down and kissed his head, struggling to not make any noise. Then she did the same with Natalie. “Always. I love you both.”
David rubbed her back when she didn’t move. He held her, and they both stood there, watching them as they slept.
Finally, David stepped away, but he grabbed her hand. “Jason is waiting.”
Taking several fast breaths, she let him gently pull her from the room, only losing sight of them when he shut the door. Her soft sob couldn’t be contained, and he hugged her quickly.
“Shh . . .” David kissed the top of her head. “Be brave, Jane.”
A low chuckle echoed from the living area, making Jane and David tense against each other.
“I guess that’s why you’re better for her,” Jason said softly. “You tell her to be brave, and I always told her not to be something she wasn’t.”
David took her hand and put himself in front of her as they walked to Jason. “She’s the bravest person I have ever met,” he said, gripping her hand tighter. “She only needs someone to remind her she is.”
Jane stared at her husband. He was thinner, paler. The confidence and smug look he usually had were nowhere in sight.
“You see her,” Jason said, not looking away from her face. “You see her even with the tears. I didn’t. I saw weakness, cowardice. I saw the ugliness of what had been done to her, what had been left behind—but you still see her, don’t you?”
David was still tense, but he spoke calmly. “Crying does not make a person weak. It takes more bravery to cry than to hide one’s pain or sorrow. I see all of her. The bad parts are there, too, attempting to hide who she really is, but I accept all of her. That’s the only way I am able to see the light inside her.”
Jason smiled and looked down at his hand, at his ring. “I didn’t want to get married. I didn’t want a wife or kids, not at the time, at least. I loved Jane, but I didn’t want to devote my life to her. She was too much work for me, but I had gotten used to having her around. When I saw others drawn to her, I didn’t like it, and I refused to let her go.
“I guess I also saw glimpses of the person she could be, and I wanted that for myself. She would light up sometimes, the way she does with you, and especially how I witnessed her with Ryder. It slipped out on occasion, and I didn’t want anyone else to have it. I don’t even know what brought her out, but sometimes, I’d see what I imagine you see all the time.”
“Then that was your problem,” David said, not angry, still controlled. “Ryder and I love those vulnerable and fragile parts of her as much as we do the bright, sweet, and powerful sides of her. She thrives when all of her is loved. It’s too bad you could not look past her sadness.”
Jason nodded. “Your friend Dagonet said something similar before he died. I didn’t understand. I still have a hard time, but this last week, watching her, watching you care for her when she stared off to the side—she’s always stared off to the side, and you know she’s seeing something awful . . . I’ve seen that, but I never helped; I didn’t know how. So I ignored her. It was impossible to ignore her this time, though.
“You didn’t walk away or wait for her to finally snap out of it like I always did. I have no doubt she would have come back this time as well—for the kids. Never for her, but she would for them. I knew that. I knew when she had them, they gave her a reason to fight back. But I left her to fight alone. Not you, though.”
“Jason,” Jane whispered, her voice cracking. She’d never heard him talk this way. She’d never believed he saw or understood, but he did, to a degree, and he was admitting he abandoned her.
Jason held up his hand. “Let me just say this, Jane. I need him to hear me, and I need you to understand before you go.”
David put his arm around her and pulled her close.
Jason’s gaze fixed on the movement, but he spoke calmly. “I didn’t know you saw your abuse, Jane. I don’t know what I thought when you would curl away, or when you would cry afterward. I didn’t know why you cried in the shower.” He stared her in the eye. “Arthur told me when I argued with him. He told me what you only told David.”
Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at his glassy eyes.
“I know why you didn’t tell me,” he said, still not looking away from her face. “I never gave you a reason to believe I’d listen, that I’d care. I didn’t want to know what happened to you. I didn’t want to talk about it. I still don’t. I actually don’t think I had anything to do with ever asking you to confide in me when we met . . . But I know David will be there for you. I hate that he loves you so fiercely, but I’m also relieved that someone does.”
“Oh, Jason,” she said, wiping her tears.
Jason smiled sadly. “When they told me you were alive, I was so relieved because I would finally be able to make things up to you. I knew I’d taken you for granted, and I thought, this is my chance. Fate had given me a second chance with you. But then I saw him beside you, and I knew right then I’d lost you. The way he looked at you and the way you protected him from me—as if I could hurt him.” He smiled sadly again. “I knew we were done. I knew he’d let you see the way you should have been treated. Hell, I even think Ryder showed you more love than I ever did.”
More tears fell, sliding down her chin and neck. She didn’t know how to feel.
“I still didn’t want him to have you,” he said, his voice harder. “I didn’t want to put up with you, or what you’d become, but I didn’t want either of them to have the smile he was putting on your face. But I do now.”
Jason lifted his gaze to David. “I never want to see her look the way I made her look. You gave her a second chance at life; I want her to live it. So, take care of her. Keep her safe for us.”
David squeezed her when her legs began to shake. “I’ll take care of her, Jason.”
Jason walked to them, stopping only a few feet away. “When you both return, we will figure out how to be a family.” He glanced back at David. “All of us.”
Jane threw her arms around Jason’s neck. “Thank you, Jason.” She cried as he rubbed her back. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Jane. I stopped being a husband, and I’m glad David was there to call me out on it. I lost you, and I only have myself to blame.”
She rubbed her eyes, leaning back to look at him. “I’m still—”
He shook his head. “I know we can’t get a proper divorce, but you are free of me. I hope one day you can forgive me, and you can remember something good about me.”
No words came to her mind, and she gasped when he lifted her left hand, his thumb and forefinger closing around her wedding band.
“I want to keep this,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t wear my ring if you’re with him.”
Her eyes burned as he pulled the ring she’d never taken off from her finger. It was really over. She was no longer his wife.
Jason smiled sadly as he held it in his hand. “When I look at it, I will remember there was a time when I had the most beautiful wife.” He glanced at David briefly before looking back at her. He cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears before suddenly pressing his lips to hers.
David growled, but he did not move. Jason had already pulled back anyway.
Jason smiled at him. “Just a kiss goodbye. She’s all yours. Make her happy.”
Jane stood there, numb. She only felt something when David’s hands slid down her arms in a soothing mo
tion.
“I will do everything I can to make her happy. Take care of yourself, Jason. Do not forget to call on Gwen if you need anything. She and Elle will be with you every day. Please let them help you with the children.”
Jason nodded and rubbed his eyes. “I will. You two get going now. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“We will,” David said, taking her hand. “Come, Jane. We need to meet the others.”
Jane stood there, staring at Jason’s back as he walked away.
“Baby, we have to go,” David said, kissing the top of her head.
“Okay . . . Bye, Jason.”
Jane gripped the edge of the seat and moved away from David’s shoulder. She’d been leaning on him, in a daze, since they’d taken off.
David put his arm around her and pulled her back to him. “It’s just turbulence.”
She sighed and relaxed against him. “I’ve only flown the one time with you, and I don’t even remember the plane taking off then.”
“You were preoccupied.”
The image of a bloody and unconscious David flashed in her head, and she hugged him. “God, that was horrible. Don’t make me think of it.”
“Apologies, my love. I, however, like to remember the moment my brave girl saved my life.”
She peeked up at him. “I wasn’t brave. I was scared of losing you.”
David kissed her forehead before giving her a stern look. “You can be scared and brave. In fact, being scared would make you braver than had you not been afraid. Despite your fear, you stayed by my side when others gave up, and used your powers in a way you had not thought possible. You tried even though you were afraid to fail. That is bravery, my love. The same can be said for the strength you displayed for your children.”
She huffed and looked forward again. “I’m not strong. I couldn’t even keep it together long enough to leave.”
“Baby, crying does not make you weak. You needed to cry with them. I can be there to hold onto you while you do. You don’t have to do everything on your own.”
Her eyes watered. She’d never been told crying was okay. No one reacted the way he did when she cried. There were plenty of times she’d held back her tears, and she’d felt somewhat satisfied she hadn’t been weak, but there he was, telling her it was okay, and he didn’t think any less of her.
“Oh, Jane,” he said, lifting her onto his lap. He wiped her tears, and she frowned because she hadn’t realized she had truly started crying.
“I’m sorry.”
David looked her in the eye. “Don’t be sorry for this. I realize others have made you believe you are weak for the way you have handled the horrible things you’ve experienced, but they are small-minded fools. I would wager many who have called or thought you weak would fare far worse than you. It is easy to dismiss someone as weak when you have not lived the life that person has. And very few have the mental capacity to comprehend what you have truly suffered—what you still suffer.
“Just as Jason said, he did not want to know. If someone refuses to attempt to understand, their opinion of you is meaningless. Not that you should care so much about what they think, but I know it’s hard to ignore their negativity. I have faith you will one day. But, for now, know that I—your handsome boyfriend—do not think you weak for crying. Ever.”
She pecked his lips quickly. “You’re so good it hurts.”
“I doubt others would agree with you.” He smiled before nuzzling her cheek.
“They are small-minded fools, then,” she said, chuckling when he laughed against her neck.
“Precisely, my love.”
She shivered, her eyes closing as he kissed her neck.
“My little gummy bear.”
Jane laughed and covered her face, noting she still had tears, and wiped them away. “That is the worst pet name. I can only picture myself in a little red bear suit, and you chasing me.”
He chuckled, and the deep sound made her legs clench together. “I can smell your shift in mood, baby. The others will as well if you do not calm your hormones. I assure you, squeezing your legs together hides nothing.”
She blushed. “Well, quit kissing me.”
His lips turned up against her neck. “Do you really expect me to uphold such a demand?”
“David.” Jane shoved against him, but he secured his hold and kissed her neck slowly.
She couldn’t help it. She moaned.
He smiled against her skin, kissing her once more before leaning away. The satisfaction on his face had her tingling all over.
“You love making me look like a dumb girl, don’t you? Always starting stuff.”
David grabbed her by the back of her neck and kissed her. “First, you start something every time you smile at me.”
Her tummy got that fluttery feeling.
“And second, my girl is far from dumb. However, she becomes a bit of a giggling, blushing mess when I touch her.”
“I’m angry with you.” She wasn’t.
He shook his head. “I don’t think you are.”
“So full of yourself.”
“Confident.” He smirked, and David’s smirks did devastatingly beautiful things to her emotions. “And observant,” he continued. “Since meeting you, I have seen every time your cheeks have flushed, every shiver, every intake of my scent you’ve taken, and every time you have bitten your lip because you wanted it against mine.”
She looked into his eyes, not sure for how long, but it felt like an eternity before she finally turned away. “Whatever.”
“You deserve a medal, my love.” He chuckled, nuzzling her hair. “You have learned to control yourself around me, after all.”
“Bite me, David!” She glared at his smiling face.
“I thought we were controlling our desires, Jane. That would not turn out well. You do recall the last time I bit you.”
She blushed when she caught Gareth laughing across the plane cabin. “Quit it.”
“What is it?” That smile of his stretched wider.
“You’re trying to make me say something stupid.”
“I am trying to make you smile, baby, and you’re making me work harder than normal.”
Sighing, she turned to him and smiled. “There. Happy now?”
He kissed her nose. “Almost. Your smile is always my favorite sight, but I enjoy it more when you mean it.”
Jane smiled and tried to look away. She loved the way he talked to her.
“There it is,” he murmured before kissing her smiling lips.
She pressed her lips against his, breathing his scent in. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, and she kissed him harder when his hand came up to hold one side of her face.
“She acts like a hormonal adolescent,” a female voice whispered to someone else.
Jane knew there was only one other woman on the plane: Artemis.
When Jane tried to pull away, embarrassed and angry, David gripped her tighter and deepened their kiss until she couldn’t even think about the goddess’ words.
“She is far younger than you, dearest sister.” Apollo’s humored tone broke through the veil when David nipped her lip.
“Only in mortal years!” Artemis huffed, and Jane grinned when Gareth and Gawain laughed with Apollo. “My physical age is younger than hers.”
“Then David appears to appreciate how a woman’s body fills out over time and after childbirth,” Apollo said, chuckling. “Perhaps that is the reason you have remained alone—your youthful appearance does not appeal to men such as David.”
Jane hid her face in David’s neck, smiling as he chuckled and rubbed her back. She didn’t want Artemis to be teased, but she should learn to keep her mouth shut, especially around her.
“David,” Gareth hollered, laughing when Apollo shook his head at him while Artemis’ face reddened with fury. “Tell us, do men of your status prefer juicy, ripened fruit or are you so eager, you bite into sour, green bananas?”
Jane covered her fac
e with her hand as she tried not to laugh, but a few of the knights did, and Artemis stomped off to somewhere else on the plane.
“A banana, Gareth?” David chuckled, running his fingers through Jane’s hair. “And you know I prefer ready fruit.”
“I panicked,” Gareth said, laughing. “If I compared her to a sour grape you’d choke on, I think she might have castrated me.”
“Gareth!” Jane lowered her hand and laughed at him. “You’re so terrible. Quit comparing women to fruit.”
Gareth grinned. “Ask David which fruit you taste like, Jane. He told me, and I admit, I am jealous. The red Gummy Bear was my favorite as well.”
Jane felt the heat crawl up her neck, and she covered her face to hide her blush. “David!”
He laughed and turned them away from the others. “Don’t be embarrassed.”
“How did he find out?”
David tilted her face up. “I asked him if he had more.”
“More what?” Jane tore her eyes away, her face mimicking the damn candy he was comparing her to when she realized what he meant. “You are going on a detox if you don’t quit it.”
He whispered in her ear, “Can you do the same?”
“Don’t worry, brother,” Gareth yelled, roaring with laughter. “She can’t quit you!”
David kissed her temple. “We are trying to cheer you up, baby.”
She nodded and kissed his cheek. “I know. Thank you, but stop turning me on. I know the boys already know I’m impossible, but I don’t want to seem like a hormonal girl.”
“You are a hormonal girl,” he said quickly. “I am captivated by your innocence and silly personality. And I love your hormonal reactions around me.”
“I’m supposed to act more mature, though. I’m a mom.”
He chuckled. “So you must lose your playfulness because you are a mother?”
“To a degree, I guess,” she said, chewing her lip. She was actually feeling an ache in her chest about Artemis’ comment. She was a silly girl around Death; she’d always been one, and it was frowned upon by most people she’d ever dealt with.
David lowered his voice. “Do not be upset by what she said. I love everything about you, baby.”