Living Without A Heart

Just Popping By

"Hey I just came to see how you were-" he began "What happened to your head? Sleepwalking again?"

"Oh no - not that I know of anyway! I just tripped and hit my head that's all"

"You tripped? Al, you're the least clumsy person I know," he questioned.

"Thanks?" She laughed opening the door wider "you coming in?"

"Sure," he smiled "Where's Hal?"

"The Register I presume."

"He just left you to look after Polly by yourself? You're more than capable but still!"

"I'm glad he's out..."

"Everything alright?" He asked sitting on the couch.

"Just the usual, do you want a brew?"

"Erm yeah please Ali," he answered. The baby begun crying ready for her bottle.

"Oh - I'm coming Pol-"

"I can get her, is she due her bottle or do you erm... you know," he said, his cheeks turning red.

"She has formula milk, I'm not exactly comfortable sitting with my breasts out with Hal around..."

"Oh... do you want me to feed her?"

"I've got it,"

"Oh...okay."

"Do you really want to FP?"

"I do! You get them drinks and I'll sort out the little princess. You're the queen as always..." he beamed picking up the crying baby.

"You flatter me," she jested.

Alice handed him the milk and proceeded to make the coffees. When she finished, she placed them on the glass table and sat beside FP on the couch. Alice watched the love of her life grinning down at Polly and listened to his cute cooing sounds.

"Why are you doing this?" She enquired softly.

"Doing what?"

"Helping me with Polly and checking in? Does it not hurt seeing my life with Hal?"

"I came to talk to you but Polly is very distracting. I love holding her - it makes me feel close to you. It doesn't hurt much because you have been with him for 4 years and there are still no photos of the two of you anywhere to be seen. And you were right- I'd do anything to protect you and her.

"That means more to me than you could ever imagine." She uttered "I'd die for you and her..."

"Ali, I want to talk to you about yesterday."

"What about it?"

"I wanted to ask about how you were holding up after what happened to Byron."

"I'm perfectly fine! I feel bad because he just wanted to get revenge for his girlfriends hurt but he was an inch from killing you -I'd do it again in a heart beat."

"You'd kill someone for me? Even though we can't be together?"

"I would. I have... you know on that double-date we went on after you and I broke up?"

"Yeah?"

"I knew I'd kill for you then and someone was shaping out to be a very promising candidate!"

FP chuckled loftily and gazed up at Alice and sat Polly up to wind her.

"You're going to make one heck of a father FP..." she said sadly and his hand on top of hers.

Alice sleeves fell back as she reached for her cup. She had little faint grey bruises on her arm resembling finger prints.

"Alice what's that!?"

"Oh nothing," she said with an innocent smile.

"It looks like someone has gripped your arm very tight, is Hal hurting you?"

"It's fine FP, I'm fine!"

"I'm gonna kill him! When I get my hands on that- "

"FP, do you think I can't look after myself?"

"I know you can but he should be protecting you - he's your husband!"

"And you're a better man than he will ever be, and a better father."

"I want to kill him Alice... I want to kill him." He confessed.

"He's not an abusive man FP... he just loses his temper sometimes."

"Why are you defending him?"

"Because he is a lot of things and I hate him for it but I'm not about to let people think he is abusing me!"

"How are you?"

"I'm fine Al,"

"Can I see it?"

"Er..Yeah"

Alice reached hesitantly over to FP and unzipped his leather jacket. A shudder escaped both of their lips at the closeness of their bodies. FP felt her cold, gentle fingers against his skin and her sweet aroma invading his nose. A long, scarlet red cut stretched across his neck.

"Does it hurt?" She whispered.

"Not really, not anymore."

"I'm so sorry you got caught up in my mess."

"What are you on about?"

"If I hadn't left you, or gotten with Hal, or left my family, and the serpents none of this would have happened and you wouldn't have almost died! I'm so sorry." She rambled.

FP put Polly back in her crib and flung his  arms around Alice and she cried into the crook of his neck.

"Hey, hey, hey... never apologise and never blame yourself okay?" Everyone is okay- Byron Cooper? Maybe not but you were protecting your family!" He comforted.

"Sorry I didn't fight for us. If I ever find out who was behind ascension night I will kill them with my bare hands!" She wept.

"Maybe we aren't suppose to be together just yet." He said lifting her chin up "But Ali, good things are worth the wait. I probably shouldn't be getting married if I don't think it will last but I know one day we will get back together and we'll be happy. Even if its not until we're in our rocking chairs." He promised.

"I hope so... I really hope so..."

"I want to be in your life Al. I want us to be friends and I want to see you- even if its another double-date again. I don't want to lose you and I want to get to know mini Alice,"

"Jonesy, don't you know by now? It will be a cold day in hell when you lose me. I don't think my heartless body could take it..."

"Darling, you have the biggest heart. You may not love a lot but the people who do earn your love are the luckiest people in the world."

"You have had my love since we were 5 years old..."