The Homecoming Bride

Chapter Two: Where

AN: This chapter introduces a new character named Charlotte Henshaw, who is inspired by actress Charlotte Riley and her performance as Cathy Earnshaw in PBS Masterpiece's 'Wuthering Heights', pictured above.

CHAPTER SONG: "Where" by Lisbeth Scott

The next morning, Emmy opened her eyes to her room again, the early rising sunlight streaming through the gossamer curtains of the window. Definitely a contrast to her blackout curtains in her old apartment from 2020 Virginia.

She blinked her eyes shut while adjusting to the light, sitting up from her pillow, placing her hand to her stomach, feeling a slight poking jab of a menstrual cramp not as intense compared to the previous night. Her soothing bath and a pre-bedtime herbal tea helped in keeping the period pain subdued.

A movement from the other side of the twin bed alerted her to the presence of someone else in the room with her.

Rolling over, she saw her Will asleep at her side above the sheets, facing in her direction.

For the first time in a month since their becoming engaged, he had slept in her bed. The deep rumbling sound of his breathing combined with the occasional youthful snore soothed Emmy enough to settle close enough to him, adjusting the multicolored family quilt over him to cover his long legs.

Her scarred hand stroked through his awry waves of brown hair as he slightly started to stir himself awake against the pillow. She could undeniably see the more boyish side of him, relaxing as he slept next to her.

How she hoped he wasn't having a nightmare... and she wondered how often he had them.

His facial muscles twitched as she leaned down to kiss his forehead, the bridge of his freckled nose, then his ever sensuous lips that had branded her skin with their everlasting mark of his love.

"Will... wake up." Emmy's nose brushed his with a light Eskimo kiss to rouse him. "Wake up, my prince."

He gasped in a startled manner from deep within his chest as his eyelids shot open, revealing his sky blue irises emphasized by his pupils constricting in response to the bright morning light. Emmy laid her head next to his on the pillow, her wild curls strewn everywhere around them.

Will withdrew a low groan before focusing his gaze on his beloved next to him. He felt her body snuggled close, her ring bejeweled hand on his acne spotted cheek, her lips placing a lingering kiss on the bobbing of his Adam's apple.

"My handsome Will..." She purred against his throat, her tangled hair tickling his face. "You dare compromise my honor before I walk the aisle by spending the night with me?"

His vision cleared as he became fully awake, seeing Emmy draw her head back up onto the pillow beside him, a mischievous smile creeping onto her face and her eyes lighting up with a teasing humor.

Will's own lips turned up into his own slightly more subtle grin, his brow rising on his forehead as his arms wrapped around his bride-to-be tightly to him. "I'm sorry, my darling. I didn't want to leave you last night with you feeling unwell. I only meant to watch over you until you fell asleep."

Emmy nodded her head in understanding, her smile relaxing into a more neutral expression, leaning over to kiss him on the lips again. His large hands tenderly moved her chaotic tresses of hair around so he could see her face, the pink blush of her cheeks and the sheen of sweat on her forehead.

The niggling question in the back of her mind dangled on her tongue, needing to burst from her lips. Will placed one of his hands on the side of her face, his healed palm covering the entire roundness of her cheek, his thumb petting her bottom lip.