Once upon a time

Chapter 15: Preparing for bad news

It has been a week since my mother's funeral. We are all doing good, but Alec seems slightly more tired for some reason. I watch him cook and play with May. He shoots me a smile, making me sigh happily. How could I get so lucky? He was just.... I just can't put him into words. I was so taken by him.

He had brought colour, laughter, joy and love into my life. He made me feel whole and strong. He accepted me and loved me for who I am. He stayed with me through everything. When we had made love, he had kissed all my scars and told me a million times that I was beautiful. I did feel beautiful when he looked at me, he made me feel special.

I loved his smile, laugh, his cheeky jokes and perverted hands that kept resting on my butt. I was so in love. My world seemed more colourful and bright. I would smile like a maniac, my cheeks were always hurting. I feel as if I had died and gone to heaven. He walks towards me, with his windswept hair and brown eyes.

He leans over and kisses me, tenderly. I smiled against his lips remembering his confession yesterday. He had confessed that he had no self control when it comes to me, relieving me of my guilt for craving his touch. I knew I was being selfish, Alec wasn't from this world and eventually he would have to return.

He was a prince after all. I just wanted to be with him and just be living in the moment. Surely he misses his parents, home and everything. If only there was a way for me to go into his world. For the past week, I have been trying to find a way to enter Alec's world, but the books tell me that it's nearly impossible.

I need to help Alec return to his world. He was needed, he was the future ruler of his world. I couldn't keep him here for my selfish reasons. Eventually, I would have to let him go. The thought of letting him go was so painful. Despite the short time we've spend together, he had taken over my heart and I knew that life wouldn't be the same, again.

He looks at me concerned as I get lost in my thoughts. "What's wrong?" he asks, placing his hand on my cheek. I look into his brown eyes and smile. "It's just that I never knew that you could love someone this much." I answered truthfully. He beams at my reply. "Hearing this makes me very happy, love." he says, his eyes bright.

I smile as he plants another kiss on my lips. I kiss him back, my arms wrapping around his neck. His arms are around my waist and one of them gently holds my face. He pulls away leaving me breathless and undone. The power that he had over me was unnerving. A smile from him can easily make my day and his kisses made me feeling so powerless.

I never felt so happy. I feel like I was on cloud nine. He smiled, pulling me into his arms. "Guys?" called May, nervously. We turn to face her and she gestures towards the food. Alec laughs and dashes to the pan, managing to save the food from burning. I flush bright red, knowing how distracted I was by him.

"Mom always said that being distracted when cooking is destructive!" May scolds Alec. Alec hangs his head with a sheepish look. "But it's not my fault. Madison's just too pretty." he whines, giving me a suggestive wink. My cheeks get even redder at his comment. May sighs and shakes her head at us.

Smiling, I walk towards him and lace my fingers through his. I take a brief look at our intertwined hands to admire the sight. I look at his fingers, but I do a double take and notice that his pinky is missing like it faded away into the background. "Alec! Your pinky." I gasped, gesturing towards his hand. He looks at it calmly. I realise that he had already known. I look at it, again, only to be greeted by the same sight.

"When did you notice? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, my voice shaking. He pulls me into his arms gently and replies, "Last night, I didn't tell you because I knew that you were already having a hard time, love." Tears well up in my eyes and I kiss him, tenderly. "I just don't want to lose you, okay? You're everything to me" I said, as I pulled away.

He leans down and kisses me, again. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." he apologises. I nuzzle my face into his neck. "I'm sorry that I overreacted, a little." I replied, my cheeks warming up as I recall my shaky voice. I pull my face away from his neck to look at his eyes.

"We are going to Mr. Phillips, now. We need to know what's going on." I said, dashing into my room to get the book. We leave the food and we all head to the bookstore. Mr. Phillips was busy cleaning the shelves. "Morning, Uncle!" greets Alec, cheerfully as if his pinky is still visible. I give him a look which makes him quiet.

"Good Morning, Mr. Phillips. We have a couple of questions to ask you." I said, my heart beating fast. I knew that this was serious despite how Alec downplaying this. He walks up to us with a serious expression. We sit down on the chairs and I speak breaking the silence, "Alec's pinky is missing." Alec places his hand on table, showing Mr. Phillips.

Mr. Phillips examines it and sighs deeply. "I was afraid that this would happen." he says, bluntly making me heart drop. Alec pulls me onto his lap as we brace ourselves for the bad news that is yet to come for us. I squeeze his hand and take a deep breath to console myself. For now, we have each other and that's what's important.