CAUSE & EFFECT (Vol III)

Part 6-"How do you still effect me like this? I'm nervous"

Having arrived back in London five days prior, the dynamic between Freddie and Daisy had somewhat changed.

The press had a field day over the news of their marriage, and naturally they tried to "jazz" up the story by including Freddie's past, and even interviewed one of Daisy's high school boyfriends.

Arriving back home, despite once giving them both a sense or warmth and security, had now turned to an awkward coldness.

Freddie woke alone.

He sleepily glanced to the pillow beside him which left her print. She wasn't there.

The morning before had startled them both as a rather unexpected article of Freddie and Olivia surfaced across every paper in the country.

Olivia had sold the picture of her kissing Freddie's cheek back stage at the concert, along with a lengthy interview on her relationship with him, their eternal bond of "being eachother a firsts" and how they still adored eachother, despite their love not lasting due to bad timing.

With rather detailed descriptions of their relationship, as well as Olivia's obvious hallucinations of her current friendship with Freddie, Daisy read the article silently before placing the newspaper neatly beside her and continuing her breakfast.

Not knowing what frame of mind his wife was in, Freddie took quick glances at her, waiting for her to say or do something to indicate her feelings.

Finally she lifted her gaze and caught him looking straight at her.

With a small smile she softly tried to reassure him "don't worry, I now she's crazy"

Extending his hand across the table for her to take, Daisy placed hers in his, which was ice cold.

Trying not to appear concerned, he faked a smile "I love you"

He waited for a response, and maybe she gave one, but missed it, as his mind instantly began to panic. There were many things about Daisy he hadn't yet discovered, but what he know was that when she was upset, Daisy's hands became cold and lifeless.

Back in bed, Freddie sat up and looked to the bathroom. The door was closed. A sign she wanted to be left alone. The water loudly hit the tiles, a sound he had never noticed.

Sudden silence of the water being turned off, startled him to sit upright and wait for her to emerge.

From a cloud of steam, she stepped out as the door opened. Seeing him before he did her, she greeted him warmly "good morning my love"

His heart settled slightly at her tone "good morning darling how did you sleep"

"Well" she replied with no further addition.

Not wanting the silence to last too long between them, Freddie cleared his throat "I was thinking, I've had Garden Lodge for a while now and...how would you feel about getting our OWN place together. Somewhere new"

Daisy was visibly shocked by the proposal made, and adjusted her towel around her body. Secretly, she despised the fact that other women had been there before her. In his bed, the bed they now shared together, but she never dared suggest they move.

Her mind began to race over the excitement of a fresh start and despite being worried about the Olivia article, for a moment she smiled wholeheartedly.

The knot inside Freddie's stomach dropped completely as he let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

"Come to me" he smiled with a mixture of seduction and control.

Without any hesitation, Daisy did as she was told and walked over before stopping at the side of the bed.

Tugging at the edge of the towel, it dropped to the ground, it fell, leaving her naked in front of him. Her skin warm and damp.