Not so Natural

Chapter Nineteen -Home-

"Hey, we should go see Mom and Dad! It's almost Halloween, we should take the guys and go Trick or Treating!" Cassadee suggested over dinner. "That sounds great, Cassie! What do you think Cece?" Daniel joined in. Cecilia just stared at her food. "Yeah, when?" Alex asked for Cecilia. "How about tomorrow?' Daniel recommended. "That sounds great! I'll clear the food," Cassadee said getting up. Daniel put the already clean dishes away while his girlfriend cleared away the food. "Hey, Ceel? I'll put the dishes away if you do them," Alex said softly.

          Cecilia did the dishes in silence while Alex stared at her. "Hey, let's go to bed okay? Come on Cupcake," he said into her shoulder as he leaned over. She nodded as she turned around.

          In the room he nudged her with a foot, "Hey, you know I'm here for you, okay?" A tear slid down Cecilia's cheek when she finally met his eyes and she lifted her arms to be hugged.  Alex pulled her close, "Oh Cecilia, it'll be okay." She fell asleep still curled into his chest.

          Cassadee woke up first the next morning, "Guys! We're going to be late! Get up! Dan go get our siblings up." Daniel strode down the hall and burst into the room, "Alex! Go shower, Cecilia you have to pack." Alex rolled over with a groan, "Ey, sleepy, up ya go." "No! I'm comfy," Cecilia moaned snuggling into Alex's ribs.  “I hate to break your affections up, but you really have to get up,” Daniel mentioned before turning and marched right back out.

 Alex stood from the bed with a yawn, “Go on, up you go.” Cecilia turned over and leaned on her hand with a sleepy smile, “Morning, darling.” Alex grinned at her as he stripped his shirt off, “Morning, sweets.” Cecilia stuck a thin hand out and traced a line from each freckle dotting Alex’s upper body. He stretched his arms up while she stared at the muscles moving below the surface. A small keening noise escaped from her throat followed by a gasp and a mouth being covered by a hand.

 “Someone like what she sees?” Alex asked cockily. “Oh shut up! A girl has needs, too!” Cecilia squeaked with a deep blush. Alex crawled up the bed effectively trapping her on the bed and said in a much huskier voice, “Do you really? I could help you out with such things.” He moved his hips slightly with a grin. “I would advise you not to do that again,” Cecilia grumbled. “And why not?” Alex asked moving his hips again.

Cecilia flipped them over so she was on top, “I worked on a farm for every summer from ages five to seventeen. Don’t tempt me.” She slid off the bed and cracked her knuckles, “Now, you go take a shower. I have to get our stuff together.”

Two hours later, they assembly was on the road to New York. “Hey, it’s super quiet in here,” Daniel commented from staring at his iPod. “Shut up Danny,” Alex sighed. "Geez, cranky," Daniel grumbled. "You know what is really hot? Scruff. Ain't nice to kiss, but sure is good lookin'," Cecilia piped up. "Have you ever even kissed someone?" Alex asked snarkily. Daniel turned quickly in his seat when a slap resound through the car. "Pull over!" Cecilia demanded at her sister. Cassadee pulled onto the shoulder letting Cecilia storm out of the car and grab her cases before she stamped down the highway. Alex jumped out, "Cece! Get back in the car!" She flipped him off over her shoulder still trudging down the road.

Two miles ahead they pulled up beside a crying Cecilia. Daniel got out and crouched in front of her, "Hey what's wrong?" She let him pull her into his shoulder where she sobbed harder, "I-I lost a con-contact and b-broke my glasses!" "Hey, hey, we have extras in the car. So what'd you say, let's get back to our trip?" he shushed her. She nodded into his shoulder before getting back in the vehicle. "Hey, listen I'm sorry okay?" Alex apologized when she slid in next to him. "You're an asshole, and I hate you," she replied grinning widely. He pulled her forward by her upper arms to his side, "Ti amo anch'io. Was that right? I tried to learn some Italian." "Idiota," she mumbled under her breath.

"Girls? I'm so glad to see you! Who are they?" a man about forty asked from a lawn outside a large house. Cassadee ran to him and engulfed him in a hug, "Daddy! This is my boyfriend, Dan, and his brother, Alex." The two younger men shook his hand. "This is our dad, Tom," Cecilia said from the back of the group. "Nice to meet you sir," Daniel said politely. A woman about the same age as their dad came onto the huge porch. She strode toward them smiling at her younger daughter. "I can see the resemblance," Alex said quietly to Cecilia making her jump. They had the same yellowish eyes and kind face. "Trust me, you'll see it more when Cassie washes the dye out," Cecilia muttered back. Tom cleared his throat before speaking, "This is my wife, Billie." "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Moore," Alex chimed in shaking her hand also. "You two seem like very nice young men," Billie said with a warm smile. Both men gave their thanks with grins. "Now, you go wash that purple out of your hair and grab your bags. Cecilia you give your mom a hug," Billie said lovingly. Cecilia scampered to her and embraced her beaming. "So is that Alex your boyfriend?" her mother inquired silently. "Mom!" Cecilia squeaked blushing. "Why don't you girls go inside and these two and I will bring your bags?" Tom suggested. "I'm not dating Cece, can I go inside?" Alex asked hurriedly. "Dude! You're such a traitor!" Daniel hissed. "You go on then, son," Tom said with a sly wink. The trio of women laughed at the antics as they went indoors.

"Cassie, you remember where your room is, Daniel will be in with you. Cec, you'll have to share," their mother told them. "I'm okay with that," Cassadee said sprinting up the stairs away from a murderous looking Cecilia. "MOM! What the hell!? We have like eight rooms!" Cecilia complained. "I think it's a great arrangement," Alex came up behind her and whispered. Cecilia shrieked and jumped about a foot in the air, "That's not funny!" She turned from him and stormed up to her room. Alex called up the staircase, "Aw, come on! Don't be that way! Ceel!" Billie just laughed at the antics.