Forbidden: Leadership

Chapter 23

-VALERIE'S P.O.V-

     I'm just here. Staring into her eyes. Lost in her question.
     I did know. I knew how she felt. I know her faith on this relationship is low.
     I have given her the power to summon me. She needs to learn it's power. But she can summon me from anything and anywhere. From any danger. From any cage I might find myself in.
"Didn't you?"
     I sigh. I reach for her hand but I feel the situation be tense. It makes me.. makes me so sad.
"I noticed it a long time ago. Towards the beginning. I would notice it in your eyes. Like a flame that would slowly die because a lack of air. And it began to break me. Each time I would be gone, it would die a little. And the pregnancy, the flame turned into an ember. Barely glowing. When I came back from hell, when I broke out just for you, just for Dakota... the ember was there with just a tiny flicker. I knew, Ninfa. I just didn't want to believe you were losing hope for our relationship." I sigh. "I didn't want to believe that you were going to fall out of love."
     A silence is my answer. Her teal eyes just tell me I'm right. It hurts to know I was right.
     I turn away from her eyes. The sadness a little too much to bare.
"I love you, Valerie. Nothing would change that. You're right. But I would never lose feeling for you. I'm sorry but an apology for this doesn't cover it properly. We can do this now, can't we? Or have I ruined everything?"
    I look down to her trembling hands. I take them in mine and lightly squeeze.
"It's going to be okay now. You can summon me..." I sigh. "You have no more need to worry about me not coming back."
    She lifts my chin, forcing me to look at her.
"Do you forgive me?"
"Yeah, do you forgive me?"
     She laughs at me and falls back on the bed. "It was my fault, not yours. All you were doing was being a hero."
    She pulls me on top of her. I hold myself up and her hands rest on my cheek. "I love you so much, Valerie. I'm sorry I was afraid you'd be here one minute and gone the next. But off topic, my hunger for you might be part of this but at the same time it's not. I've just really wanted you in all ways possible."
    I laugh lightly to it. "I admit, I can easily say same."
"Can we rest? Is that something we can do? I just want to be held."
    I climb off of her and she climbs on me. I wrap my arms around her and she sighs.
"I would have always found my way back to you. But now you have no need to worry otherwise. I just want you to be happy. I want my happy wife back."
    She lightly kisses my cheek. After a few minutes I can hear light breaths. I know she sleeps.
"I love you."
"Nn.. I love you too." She mumbles lightly.
    I thought she was asleep but she does this sometime. It's funny. I love how she does this.
    I resume time before falling asleep. I fall to the warmth here. The love. The new understanding.

     I should never sleep like this. I don't even know why I fucking try. The only pain I feel is my heart and this.
"I'm sooorrrryyy." She mumbles out in a whine. She kisses my cheek and it takes the pain away.
"Every other time."
"I know. I'm sorry. I love you. Please love me. I love it. I don't mean to kick in my sleep..."
    I sigh. She climbs on top of me, don't know when she moved in the night but she did and pain was caused.
"Do you love me though I cause pain unintentionally?"
"Yeah, I love you."
    She smiles and kisses my cheek. As she climbs off of me, I follow her to the bathroom. We shower and as we hop out, Dakota starts crying.
    I quickly get dressed and head out and to her room. The second I get to her crib, she stops. Though I know the cry all too well. But I have to figure out how to do this.
    I begin changing her and Ninfa comes in as I finish. The job done terrible, or so I think. It's just the straps have to be perfect to please my OCD. Which makes Ninfa laugh at me.
    I wish I could take more than a day off because I know tomorrow is our anniversary. I sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot I have to train the troops more today."
"I thought you wanted a day off."
    I rock Dakota gently while beginning her bottle. "I know, love. It's a few hours and then I'm yours."
    I can tell she's unhappy with it but I don't have much of an option. I want tomorrow off, not today. At least this way I can plan a little more.
    As I finish feeding, I know I have to go. She knows. They both know. She takes Dakota from me.
"I'll be back later."
"Alright. We'll be waiting."
    I kiss her forehead and then Dakota's. "I love you both."
    I leave. As I land in hell, I make a landing in front of the troops. They stare at me in a confusion.
"Alright. Field training. How long will it take you to get the spirit? And whoever does gets to be my partner in the Monday experiments."
   I open the gate and release one ghost.
"Team up in pairs. Go one pair at a time, each will be timed and then the winners of the challenge will go head to head. Understand?"
"Yes, Sire." They all shout.
     With a moments notice they team up.
"Do your best, no bitching at one another because you lost. You are one body and will always be. If one of you fuck up, you stand up for them and do what you can to finish the job. Now go, right to left in order."
"Yes, Sire."
     I summon a overhead clock. Ready to start when they make a move.
"Go."
     The first team goes. It's sort of annoying to watch. I drown it out as Joel appears next to me.
     Though I keep a timer and things set for the arena, I need to speak with Joel.
"Hey, thought you wanted today off?"
"You're late, so I assume I did a good thing by coming in."
     His face turns shades of red and I instantly know why he was late. I find it cute, funny even and slightly disturbing because I don't like to think of him that way.
"Anyway. I need some help. You've been with Luke for a bit, right? How do you do the anniversary thing?"
"You mean like romance wise?"
"Yeah, I guess?"
"Well you need alone time. And which I'm guessing you were going to just surprise visit me and drop Dakota off?"
"Yeah..."
"I'll take her til Monday. Luke loves her as much as I do."
"You're taking her for 3 days?"
     The battles end and I sigh. "The winner will do an experiment with me Monday. Enjoy your weekend. Practice your standings and attack formations on your own."
"Yes, Sire."
     I turn back to Joel. He shrugs to me as an answer.
"Just follow your heart. What do you think would be good to do?"
     Without a second for me to question he vanishes. I sigh for the billionth time. I didn't even notice it was 5.
      I quickly teleport home. I'm glad I changed it all, changed it so it's me and not having to go through an actual portal.
     My beautiful wife, asleep on the couch. Next to Dakota. It makes me smile.
     I pick Dakota up, careful not to wake Ninfa. She fusses but only for a moment before she realises it's me. My babygirl, my wife. I love them so much.
     I head upstairs and change her. I've gotten better. Sort of. Still takes me a minute or so but I got it down.
     As I head back downstairs to feed her, Ninfa still sleeps. I could probably make dinner before she wakes. Maybe.
    After feeding Dakota, I lay her back with Ninfa. She doesn't sleep right away but after a moment, she does. And I take the time to make dinner.
     To be expected that the moment it's all set up and ready at the table, she walks in. Messy hair from the couch nap. Always beautiful as ever.
"When did you get home?"
      I look down at my phone. 7. So...
"2 hours ago. Fed and changed Dakota, though she might need changed again soon. Um, I made dinner."
"It smells great. You should have woke me, I could have helped."
"No, love. It's alright. All's it is is Mac n cheese and a few other things. It's not like I couldn't handle it."
"But you worked..."
     I walk over and cup her cheeks. "My beautiful angel, I would do anything to ensure you're happy."
"Anything?"
"Possibly."
     She stands on her tippy toes. So cute. So adorable.
"Kiss me."
     I lean down slightly and kiss her. Her soft lips. Claiming as my own.
     The kiss parts after a few moments because of a loud growl. From her stomach. Which made me laugh.
"It's the cheese. It smells good."
"By all means." I direct her to the table.
"Are you not eating?"
"Yeah but I didn't get drinks out? Kind of need to do that."
"Hm.."
"Joel has offered to take Dakota for the weekend. We have to pack a few things and drop her off tonight."
"Are you sure she'll be okay?"
"I'll put more protections up for her while she's there. No one will harm her."
"Are you sure he's okay with that?"
"He did offer. I was just going to see if he could for tomorrow. I take the day off, we rest. Have time alone together. You and I rest a little."
     I'm trying to act normal. She thinks I forgot about our anniversary. I most certainly did not. And I'm not missing this one this time because I was out because of stupid battle injuries.
"That sounds nice."
     I can't help but smile to her. To her smile. To the sparkle in her teal eyes. I'm glad everything is sorted out better, that we're better, that we can be happy again.
"You're staring." She says shyly.
"You're beautiful."
"You are too."
     I take her hand and bring it to my lips and softly kiss my rings on her finger. I'm proud she wears my rings. Happy that she wants to after so long.
     We finish eating our meal and she cleans up the kitchen while I take care of Dakota. Gathering things for Joel and such. It was decided last minute that Misty would be taken along, and that's okay because she's her kitty.
    I'm ready to go, Dakota is but Ninfa isn't. Ninfa is still getting dressed. Which is weird cause she looked okay.
"Let's go."
"Finally."
"I got dirty dish water on my shirt, Val. Not my fault."
     I laugh lightly. "Sure it wasn't. The water has become a entity and can now splash you from anywhere."
"You're so mean."
     Her tone is playful and damn cute. This woman is my life. I'm going to do this right. I'm going to make this perfect.
     I teleport us to Joel's. Him and Luke have no problem fighting over Dakota. They love her and I know she loves them too. Her uncles, she has to, right?
"See you in a few days." Luke says and he swipes Dakota from Joel.
"I was holding her."
"Not anymore, babe. Sorry." He laughs lightly and walks away.
"So.. You enjoy your break, vacation or whatever." He runs after Luke.
"Uh.. I think we just got kicked out, love."
"It would seem so."
     She hovers to my level, only to wrap herself around me. I hold her close as I teleport back home. She leans in and lightly kisses my cheek.
"Night and weekend alone. Whatever shall we do?"
"I could think of a few things."