Seeing Red

Chapter 9

Mark was still waiting for me when I got back to the porch, standing against the sunset like the angel he was. He was smiling as I made my way up to him and we walked into the house together.

"Everything went well?" Mark asked, "No problems at all?"

"Nothing problematic," I said, "I just cleared some things up with her, and we left it at that. My feelings concerning her haven't changed at all."

"Well, that's good to hear." said Mark as he put his hands around my waist and drew me in, "Honestly, I never should have doubted you."

"You'd think you would learn that by now, Mr. Goswington," I said as I brushed my hand alongside Mark's face, allowing him to melt into my touch, "But I supposed one lesson at a time, huh?"

"God knows I missed you." said Mark, "I am so happy we're together again."

"And this time, no one's going to break us apart." I said, pushing in for a kiss. Mark happily obliged, and sparks flew the instant our lips touched. I could almost swear that we were flying. I still couldn't fathom that I had spent almost a full year without him.

"Uh, excuse me..."

Mark and I split apart at an atomic explosion as Simon stepped onto the front porch.

"Uh, Simon!" Mark stammered out while I remained frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do, "What's up, what's going on?"

"I got in contact with Sid," said Simon, "Gave him the low-down. He said he wants some time to think things over, so I gave him twenty-four hours, just like you asked. He agreed to it, so it looks like we might be in business."

"Good work," said Mark, "Looks like things are going just as planned. For now, we should get some sleep, we're gonna have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"You can go on ahead," said Simon, "I'm gonna go check up on the prisoners."

"Watch yourself with Marther," said Mark, "I know you think you can turn him to our side, but I don't -"

"I know, Mark!" said Simon, his snapping causing me to jump a little, "I just wanted to check on them, make sure they're not going anywhere. Maybe I do want to talk to Marther a little, but that's it!"

"Hey, I'm not gonna stop you!" said Mark as he raised his hands in surrender, "I'm just saying, you have to watch what he might say, since, you know..."

"He's not gonna manipulate me," said Simon, "Becky's still in there and she can pull me out if she thinks things are going wrong, okay?"

He was irritated, I could tell.

"I think it'll be fine," I said, gently tapping Mark's shoulder, "Go on ahead."

Simon gave me a grateful smile, then he started for the barn. Mark didn't look happy about it, but there wasn't anything he could do about it as Simon walked away.

"So, what happens now?" I asked.

"We make a deal," said Mark, "Sid shows up, we end this war. After that, Palmer helps us forge some peace treaties, figure out some co-existence crap, and everyone lives happily ever after."

"A happy ending is exactly what we need." I said, "For now, I'm tired as hell."

"You want to sleep in the same bed again?" Mark asked, "We might as well move your stuff into my room now."

"You mean -our- room," I said, earning a smile from the man, "And I think I'll do just that. I'll get my things and meet you in there."

Mark winked at me and started up the stairs with me behind him, only breaking off to go into the guest room. My things were still on the bed where I had left them. As I gathered them, Paige stepped over to me.

"You're okay, right Scarlet?" Paige asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, "Everything went according to plan, and I didn't get too many bruises, so we're all good!"

"You were bruised?!" Paige said, while Elliot and Grace looked up in alarm.

"Well, one of them dragged me through a window, if I'm being honest," I said, "But that was it, that was all they managed to do, I swear! I'm okay, there's no need to worry!"

Despite me trying to calm her down, Paige looked incredibly worried, while Elliot and Grace didn't look much better.

"I thought Mark was supposed to tell you the whole plan?" I said, "I knew the risks, and I still wanted to go through with it. Besides, I'm fine, so there's nothing to worry about!"

"He didn't tell me that you were putting your own life at risk!" said Paige, "Anything could have gone wrong, you know!"

"Paige, I'm perfectly fine, besides, you're not my -"

I stopped mid-sentence, but Paige knew how I was going to finish that sentence: you're not my mother. Elliot's eyes widened, and Grace gasped. Even though it kind of went without saying, none of us had ever said it directly to Paige or Elliot. You could cut the awkwardness with a knife.

"Paige, I didn't mean it like that -!" I said, stumbling in my words and trying to take back what I almost said, but Paige raised her hand and stopped me.

"Scarlet," Paige said, "I know I'm not your real mother, and I'm not trying to replace her, but you're so important to me, and I need you to know that. Elliot and I... we could never have children of our own, that's why we became foster parents. I know I'm not your biological mother, but I'll be damned before I ever let anything bad happen to you."

"Paige... I do appreciate it," I said, "But in a situation like this, I have to be an adult. I mean, I'm only a year away from turning of age, so I'm close enough, right? Besides, out of all of us, I've had experience with all of this before."

"All the same, I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you." said Paige, "Please Scarlet, promise me you won't get yourself hurt for any of this, please?"

"I... I can't promise that Paige," I said, "But I think that I can try. In the meantime, I need to move my stuff."

"Going to start sharing a room with Mark?" Grace said, smiling, "How scandalous!"

"Silence, you." I said, though my grin must have been confirmation enough, since Grace winked at me as I carried my things out of the room, stopping at the bathroom to change into a nightgown. Mark was standing in the doorway, giving me a wolfish grin.

"Ready for bed?" he asked.

"With you? Always." I said, pecking Mark on the cheek as he closed the door behind us. I placed my bag down next to the bed.

"I'll sort everything out tomorrow," I said, "For now, I'm beat."

"I could imagine," said Mark as the two of us got into the bed together, "You did amazing with the plan, babe."

"All I did was sit in a car and get dragged around!" I said.

"But that's all we needed!" said Mark as he cupped my cheek and kept me looking into his big brown eyes, "Besides, I don't want anything bad happening to you, ever. I couldn't bare to live with myself if you ever got hurt."

"I know Mark," I said, "But considering the circumstances, I'm gonna get myself into a lot of trouble, and I might get hurt. You have to accept that. Remember when we were in Packington and I rallied us to bunker down in the cabin?"

"It was the moment my love for you was cemented," said Mark, "When you had the choice to let us all die and save yourself, you made a commitment to us and got ready to fight for our lives. I knew we sparked for a reason, and that was it."

"Well, now we're in a perpetual state of fighting for our lives," I said, "Which means we're going to have to take risks. That includes me, you know."

"I know," said Mark, "I'm just... overreacting, that's all. But I don't want to be separated from you again, so maybe I'm just being..."

"A little overprotective?" I said.

Mark started sputtering, "I, I mean, if I'm being too much, it's okay, we could -"

"You're fine Mark," I said, "You haven't crossed any lines, nothing that I wouldn't blame you for, and I wouldn't let you even if you tried to. Besides, I know how much you love me."

Mark smiled at me and pushed in for a kiss. I allowed him and pushed right back.