Rosaline Wood (A Violet Eden Follow-on Reboot)

Chapter Twelve: Awake!

Alec POV

She had been sitting there for days now. Just watching, waiting, praying that he would wake up. She drifted on the edge of consciousness. Her hair was a mess, unwashed and untouched. Dark smudges marred her reddened eyes. It was painful to watch her sitting there, looking out so longingly for another man. Even if he was her father. Her mother would be back soon. She needed sleep. My hand hovered close to her cheek, so close I could feel the heat emanating from her.

'A mild fever most likely from lack of respite' I decided before I materialised.

    "Rosaline," I informed her, unable to take it any longer, "I am taking you to bed now." I grimaced at the words. The sentence sounded vulgar when taken in a different context but if only she would ever accept me like that. She probably would not even notice if I was to with her in this state ...

'No!' I told myself, crushing the rising wave lust 'She will choose me when she's ready. I will not force her. I will not deceive her.' Slowly and carefully, I gathered her up into my arms and her head pressed against my chest. As she rested I carried her down the hall to a vacant room. She was so light, so fragile that I was scared of snapping her. I placed her gently down on the light blue mattress. Smoothly I pulled the soft cotton sheets over her sleeping form and then did the same with the duvet. After covering her I sat and watched her. In the oblivion of unconsciousness she looked so at peace. No fear for the life of others. No inner conflict. No eyes filled with admiration for other men. Would she ever have the same intensity of love for me as she did her father? She turned in her dreams and I brushed a stray hair out of her face. Someday. When she realises how beautifully the light and the dark mix together.

Rose POV

    "Rose!" A voice jolted me from my dreams. "Baby, he's awake!" The words vibrated in my brain. What was I doing here? Who was awake? Awake! My mind buzzed, charged with a wave of joy and relief. My eyes shot open to focus on my mother. Her hair was a complete bird's nest and her mascara had been smudged into giant panda eyes. She looked exhausted. But also exhilarated. The gentle smile on Mum's face assured me that he was alright. The breath caught in my throat. Thank goodness I hadn't done any permanent damage. My dad was okay. Okay! OKAY!

    "Come on," she persisted making her way back to the door, "He wants to talk to you!" I was out of bed in an instant. Ignoring the slight dizziness from getting up so fast I flew past my mother to Dad's room. To my great relief, he was up and alert.

    "Dad!" I screeched as I barrelled straight into his chest knocking the air from his lungs.

    "Whoa there," he laughed, breathless, "It's too early in the morning for a train crash." A laugh stuck in my dry throat and I wouldn't let go of his shirt.

    "I love you so much, Dad," I choked, tears now threatening to fall, "Don't ever, ever do that again." My father's arms wrapped around me like a vice but it lacked his usual firmness. Not eating for several days had certainly taken their toll.

    "I love you too, Baby," he soothed, gently gripping my hair, "Don't worry. I won't." Slowly he began to rock me back and forth, like when I was upset as a child. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, strong and regular. It would be okay.

    "Mum says you saved me," he whispered after a while. I pressed my cheek against his chest.

    "Yeah," I managed, voice catching slightly, "But I thought I killed you." Dad's firm hands stroked down my head and back.

    "I'm okay," he assured, "I'm still here and you made that possible. Thank-you, Rosie." We sat together for a while in silence. The clock next to the bed showed it was five in the morning. We held each other for a long time, undisturbed and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Lincoln POV

    "Lincoln," Griffin greeted looking me seriously, "Good to see you awake. We thought for a while we were going to lose you." I offered a smile, slightly unnerved by the steely glint in his eyes.

    "Griff," I replied, "It's nice to be able to think clearly." I frown appeared on my friend's face as he nodded agreement.

    "You mean you were still partly conscious?" he questioned, "What was it like?" I breathed in slowly contemplating how I'd felt.

    "Before I went under it was . . . painful," I began drawing the words out, "Excruciating might be closer to the mark. Then, I think ... I think I was stuck ... in my head. I could hear things ... remember thigns. Fragments that I couldn't quite put together. No matter what I did though I couldn't move. It was awful." Griffin nodded for me to continue and I began to smooth Rose's hair. The poor soul had fallen asleep in my arms. She looked so tired.

    "I had flashbacks mixed in among the real," I continued not taking my eyes from my daughter, "Random scenes from my life. Quick flashes of colour, light, sound and smell; chaotically thrown together." Griff nodded some more as he absorbed the information.

    "She's embraced, hasn't she?" I asked quietly staring down at my daughter. "He took her." Griffin took a moment to answer.

    "If by 'he' you mean Phoenix's son," my friend replied, "Then yes."

Rose POV

When I woke up it was light outside and my stomach was craving food. Dad's chin was resting snuggly on top of my head. He was awake too.

    "Hey Baby," he greeted, "Want some lunch?" On the bedside table was a pile of corned beef sandwiches. I gratefully dove into the stack, eating three to every one of my father's.

    "Hungry much?" he laughed. I nodded fervently plucking the last sandwich from his fingers and jumping to my feet.

    "That," he declared clamping onto my wrist, "Is mine." I grinned evilly.

    "Well," I snorted back, "You'll have to get it off me first." Dad lunged forward off the bed and we proceeded to wrestle each other for the last quarter of lunch. That was, until Mum came along and picked the mauled bread and meat out of our hands and threw it into her mouth. We stared in mock horror.

    "Violet!" Dad protested pulling her onto the floor to join us where upon we joined forces to tickle her until she begged for mercy.

...

I hope you're enjoying my story so far. Lot's of updates today so you should be happy. What do you think about the dynamic between Rose and her Dad? Is it believable? And Alec! Wow that guy is showing restraint hey? How long can he last? Please don't forget to comment so I know what you're thinking about the plot and so forth. Sorry this is a short chapter and so is the next one but they'll get longer again. Promise.

~SpanishFox