Royals'

Six.

I stood watch as our house doctor checked Sherwin's vitals. He would occasionally release grunting sounds from his dry cracked lips. There were a few stiches in his eyebrows that my doctor had sewed in to seal the large gash he had there. We were told that a broken arm and rib were the possible cause of the swelling in his upper body. I looked over to Mason whom wasn't pleased with our new house guest.

"You okay?" I asked walking over to rub his back.

"Why wouldn't I be okay with my wife letting a complete stranger into my home without my consent first?" He questioned sarcastically.

"M-massie." I whispered as he walked away from me. Embarrassed I looked around slowly to see if anyone had witnessed our exchange of words. Locking eyes with Sheldon he simply shook his head then helped the EMT with loading Sherwin onto a stretcher.

Grabbing my coat and shoes I followed behind them to the long ride down to the hospital room. I did not intend on leaving his side until he was better.

***

"Hey."

"Hi." He croaked.

Every second of him being here in this bed felt surreal to me. I had a million questions that needed to be satisfied with an answer. Getting up, I pressed the small button that hung onto the white cord next to his bed to ring for a nurse. The doctor said he'd have to stay here for a day or two until they were sure he was stable enough to be released. Nothing life threatening had occurred to him. Like my house doctor had suspected, he did indeed suffer from a few broken bones.

"Everything okay? Oh goodie, you're awake!" The round, warm cheeked nurse said entering the room.

"I'll be right back ok?" I said looking him in the eye, I needed to call Mason to make sure he wasn't doing that thing he did when he was upset. After Sherwin nodded I stepped just outside of the room to make the call.

"Massie?" I asked after he picked up on my fourth time calling.

"What is it Yasmine?" He said sighing.

"Why didn't you pick up your phone? I was beginning to worry." I said scrunching up my eyebrows.

"My apologizes love, I was in the shower."

"Do you want anything on my way home?"

"Nothing babe. Just please hurry home, I miss you terribly and I must apologize for my poor manners I was taught better than that." He replied scolding himself.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. I would have reacted the same way, if not worse." I said trying to ease the tension that I could feel that were on his shoulders over the phone.

"I love you." He said after a few beats of silence.

"I love you too baby." Making kissy noises into the phone, I hung up then went back into Sherwin's resting room just as the nurse was taking her leave.

"How'd this happen?" I asked sitting in the chair that was closet to the bed. Glancing at the clock, 4:23 a.m I sighed. I was glad that being who I am I got special privileges, because visiting hours were long over.

"You look beautiful." He said deflecting my question while clearing his throat which sounded painfully dry.

"Thank you." I said blushing.

"How you been?" He asked struggling to talk.

"Sherwin please save your energy, there will be plenty of time to ask questions." I said feeling hypocritical due to me asking one just before his.

"You're so beautiful when you're being all bossy. I've watched you grow over the years, from your Tv shows to the big time movies y-you produced." He said smiling through his coughs.

"That sounds extremely creepy." I said causing us to laugh. Old memories of us cuddled up together in various places sharing each other's laughter and company flooded my mind causing me to tear up.

"Oh how much I've missed you!" I said getting up and throwing my arms over his body, careful not to crush him.

"Everything will be alright. I'm here now baby girl." He said rubbing my back with his strong hand while I cried and grieved over the years I lost awaiting his return. Suddenly all I could feel was anger. I was angry that I had spent countless nights staring absent-mindedly out of my cool window each night. Watching the droplets of water slide down, racing one another, leaving their trail behind. I did this while wishing that he would appear from thin air and steal me away into the night. Rob me of everything else that stood left in my interior as done of my heart.

Snatching my body away from his grip I grabbed my belongings and left. Going home to my husband whom I knew loved me, ignoring Sherwin's pleas for me to come back.

***

"Madam." Sheldon said taking my jacket off of me as I entered the house.

"I'm surprised you aren't asleep like everyone else." I said looking about at the quiet manor.

"Well, I couldn't sleep knowing that you weren't here." He said turning away.

"You're too sweet." I said gently placing a hand on his arm then excused myself.

When I arrived at my bedroom that I shared with Mason, I smiled as I heard the soothing songs of the piano floating through the thin cracks beneath and above our French doors.

"Why aren't you asleep?" I asked after watching his skillful fingers dance across the keys for a moment or two.

"I missed you." He said stopping to give me his full attention. Smiling, I stripped myself free of my clothing then headed to our bathroom.

"Do you want any company?" Mason asked walking towards the tub that I laid in, washing away the days worries.

"Not tonight." I replied, leaning back laying my head on a tub pillow.

"As you wish." He replied sounding a little disappointed.

"Mason!" I called out.

"Yes?" He asked, hopeful.

"Get in." I smiled.

A few hours later we were in tangled within each other laying on our king sized bed. Our shower together was lovely, followed by the sweet loving making. I couldn't help but think about Sherwin as Mason ran his soft but firm hands up and down my back, soothing me to sleep. Why was I so troubled? Isn't this what I've always wanted? Children. Maybe that is what's missing to make me happy. I would speak to Mason about it in the morning. For now I would rest in my mans arms.