Unexpected Love

Chapter 40

Julia woke up when she heard a soft whimper from behind her. She opened her eyes and glanced behind her, seeing Almas back facing her. Confused, she sat up slowly with a small yawn, ignoring the pain in her head as she layed down on her other side. She looked over her closely and seen her shoulders shake slightly for a moment, Julia reaching out to gently rub her back, feeling the sudden tension.

"I'm sorry dear, did I wake you?" She asks, still not facing her, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Julia said nothing, gently bringing her arm around the woman's waist, but Alma gently moved her hand, not wanting the attention.

"Now's not the time, Julia." She says, the woman hearing the authority in her voice that she tried to keep steady. Alma was so used to doing so, it came easy for her to do.

The younger woman listened though and brought her hand back to herself, a bit hurt she couldn't do anything to help.

"Why won't you let me help?" Julia says and Alma grew annoyed.

"Because I want to be alone." She says firmly, sitting up to leave the room when Julia caught her hand, Alma looking back at her with a harsh glare, the tears stained on her cheeks.

"You worked so hard to get me to trust you. Why can't you do the same for me?" She says, Alma looking down for a second before meeting her gaze again.

"Please let me go." She says, a stoic expression falling over her features and Julia sent her a glare, Alma letting out a small gasp when she felt her being pulled down abruptly into her lap. The younger woman hugged her close, Alma feeling her soft lips against her neck and she melted into the hug, resting her chin on the woman's shoulder. Her hands made their way to rest against the taller woman's back, Julia bringing hers gently around her waist.

"Now what's on your mind?" She asks and Alma just shook her head, her talons digging into the woman's back for a short moment. "I know some things bothering you. Do I need to kill someone?"

"No, of course not." She says softly, her breath hitting the woman's neck.

"Then what is it?"

"You don't know about him yet, I don't want to explain everything. Not yet." Alma says quietly, her eyes filling with tears again.

"You don't have to explain. Just tell me." Julia says, hugging her closer when she felt Alma relax against her.

"I lost my darling boy, Victor." She says in a hushed tone, a stray tear falling down her cheek. "I didn't try hard enough to get to him, I could have done better, but I failed and now I almost lost you too." She says quietly, trying to force her tears back down when she suddenly felt Julia pull away. She avoided her gaze, feeling embarrassed for acting like this in front of her when she suddenly felt the woman's hand under her chin, moving her gaze to hers.

"I'm not going to judge you, look here." She says with a firm but caring look and Alma did so, blushing slightly when she felt the woman cup her face in her hands. Julia gently wiped away one of the tears that fell, Alma obviously shutting them off as she looked over the younger woman.

"You can't keep turning it off, you can be upset." She says and Alma just glanced at the floor. Julia looked over her before placing soft kisses up the woman's neck, the ymbryne managing a small smile, her cheeks turning a light pink. Her talons carefully brushed through the woman's hair, Julia resting her head against the woman's collarbone when she felt the dull pain start up again.

"You should lay back down." Alma says softly, Julia pulling away to look down at her.

"No, it's alright. Might as well get up." She says, noticing the time.