The Navigator

29. Bird and the Fish

Author's Note: 

Song Credit: Become the Beast, Karliene

This Chapter contains some mature language and sexual themes. This story is rated mature so discretion is advised.

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Addy awoke, lazy light filtering through gauzy curtains, turning almost none of the rays away at the window. Instead allowing it to infiltrate the room with a golden perforating glow. Her eyes fluttered open, the peace that had overtaken her before sleep still settling heavily against her chest. A comfort she had grown accustomed to living without, now a welcome guest in her body a feeling she hoped would continue.

She stretched languidly, reveling in the slight ache between her legs, pleased with the skill that had been executed there to her great benefit. It had been lovely and exactly what she hoped for. She felt much better, settled in her mind and prepared to face the world without Darren. Addy and Gemma against the world. The idea made her smile, her baby....wait...her baby!

She sat bolt upright, connecting to the monitor as she scrambled out of bed, horrified that she had slept for so long then woke without a thought to her most important responsibilities. She was at the door when she heard Gemma laugh through her communicator, she slowed- listening. She could hear Brooke, Billy and Dade as well, accompanied by the clinking of utensils on plates. Breakfast. Her daughter was eating breakfast with her extended family.

Relieved Addy took a moment to ready herself for the day, running through the normal motions at a leisurely pace, reclaiming the calm she had momentarily lost. Appreciating the new sense of self that accompanied the recovering her of humanity. Idly thinking, she should thank Jax, he could always be counted on to make her feel better.

Something in the thought bothered her all of a sudden, like something was stuck on the tip of her tongue. A connection that was just outside of her reach, past her ability to understand so she dismissed it. If it was important it would return, no reason to struggle to sniff out half an idea.

Addy exited her room, passing the line of closed doors, not wondering who might still be asleep and finding her way to the kitchen.

Breakfast had concluded while she had gotten ready, but everyone was still there. Dade and Billy sat close together on one end of the long breakfast bar, Gem posted on her own stool between the men and Brooke. The little girl was standing, Dade providing a steadying hand behind her back while Brooke held her little hand. They were all watching her humorous efforts at keeping her eyes on Pretty as it flit throughout the room, while they conversed. As Addy entered, the conversation died, the kind of death that indicated she was the subject at hand. She was greeted by an enthusiastic wave from Brooke, but it was impossible not to notice Billy's marked change in demeanor.

His motion was simple, a dragging back of barstool and coming to feet, before dashing from the room much too fast for it to be incidental. Addy stood flummoxed by his actions, startled into motionlessness. She noticed a look exchanged between Dade and Brooke, one that seemed to say a lot between them and her curiosity brought her back into motion, approaching the pair.

"What was that about?" She asked, optimistic she would get a real answer and not some kind of dismissal, hoping she hadn't managed to offend Billy in some way. She couldn't imagine how that would be the case, she had barely spoken to him since her arrival. Given the events of the evening that seemed reasonable to her, and shouldn't be the reason he was upset.

Again Dade and Brooke looked to each other, deciding what to say and Addy felt herself getting frustrated. What the hell was going on? She was going to ask just that when Dade answered her.