"With the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now go live out your happily ever after,"
That's the way my seven year old imagination worked. Little did I know what awaited me beyond the alter.
•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×...
"Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up."
Grace's P.O.V
I could hear it from my place in the kitchen. The tune was unmistakable. The theme music that marked the start of every Disney movie was streaming softly from the speakers in the next room. I rinsed out the last plate and then wiped my hands on a towel before making my way to the living room.
Jeremy was standing next to the television. His back was to me as he fiddled with the remote. The room was dim. The only light came from the television screen. The iconic Disney castle filled the TV's display and for a moment I was filled with childhood nostalgia.
"Your favorite animated movie is still Zootopia right?" his question caught me off guard.
"You actually remember that? I told you that -"
"- The first night we talked on the phone. Yes. I remember it quite well," he said with a smirk.
"We talked for hours that night. I was so tired in the morning. My mother was not happy," I said with a giggle.
Jeremy smiled and then made his way into the kitchen. He came back with the boxes of KFC and nodded to the sofa. I obeyed, making myself comfortable on the soft cushions. I took my usually spot right in the corner.
"How many times have you watched this movie?" He asked before passing me my food and then taking a seat.
"A couple, but every time feels like the first time to me. It's so good,"
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Jeremy just shook his head and smiled. Animation was never his thing.
We grew silent as the movie began. I directed all my attention to the screen. Looking at the images I've seen hundreds of times. Listening to the lines that I already knew by heart. I muttered along, occasionally pausing to eat a fry or chomp down on piece of chicken. After a while though, my interest dampened and my eyes left the action on the screen. They focused themselves onto the floor as I drifted into thought.
Jeremy's P.O.V
Grace has always had a soft spot for animated movies. There were afternoons when I used to take her to the movies just to see the newest releases. She liked that. Always looked forward to it. Now as she gazed up at the screen I couldn't help, but admire her. The way her eye lashes curved outward in boast of their length. The movement of her lips as she mouthed the words along with the characters. The way her hair fell past her shoulders and the waves that were still visible in them. I could make out the faint rise and fall of her chest in the dim light and the full shape of her breasts hidden behind the shirt she was wearing. Her smell was as always a mix of floral and vanilla compliments of the body lotion and perfume she liked so much. Was it bad that I wanted to nuzzle her neck? To kiss her in that special place she loved right behind her ear? Just to show her how much I cared. She would probably push me away and I wouldn't want her to think that I only wanted her here for my own selfish reasons. I let my eyes travel back to her face. She wasn't looking at the tv anymore. Her eyes had wandered to the floor and her brows were furrowed like she was thinking hard about something.
"I can't do this," she whispered without looking up.
"Do what?" I asked.
"I need to go," her voice cracked as she stood up quickly and walked out of the room.
"Grace!" I called as I went after her.
"Please just... just let me go. I need to be with Levi. I can't leave him alone," she sobbed. The way her face crumpled made my heart ache. To think I used to be okay with making her cry shamed me.
"Sweetie, he'll be okay. Please Grace you need to calm down,"
"DON'T TELL ME TO RELAX AND ACT LIKE I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILD. HE IS ALL I HAVE!" she screamed.
"You have me. I'm here for you Gracey. I know how you're feeling. Of course I don't want you to pretend. You're not okay and that's fine. I'm not okay either -"
"Oh really? You're concerned about Levi? Yet you go around hurting his mother. That really shows how much you care Jeremy," she spat with her eyes locked on me.
"When are you ever going to forgive me?"
Her words had stung.
"When are we going to move past this? Grace I'm trying. I'm trying really hard for us,"
She didn't respond. The sound of her sobs deafening in our silence.
"You know I love him. I am sorry that it took me so long to want to change. I'm sorry that I was so difficult, but Grace I want more than anything to change the way you see me. I wish I was the man you deserved. I want to be the man you deserve -"
"You don't just get to change and expect me to jump right back into your life Jeremy. You're being selfish,"
A deep sigh escaped my lips before I turned away from her. The words she uttered buzzing around my head.
"You would never come back easily I know that. Would you come back at all? I'm beginning to doubt that possibility. I know that you want to be with your son right now, but Grace as someone who cares for you, I advise that you rest up. If you want to go home to Nora and Robin then fine. I'll take you. Just don't say that I didn't try,"
There was silence for a moment before she responded.
"Of course you tried," she mumbled, "I admire you for that Jeremy, but this is hard for me. I'm sorry for what I said,"
I looked back at her as she wiped her eyes. I extended my hand to her - sure that she wouldn't take it - but she surprised me and did. Carefully, I wrapped one arm around her waist and placed my palm on her face. My fingers brushed against her skin and I felt her shiver from the touch.
"I know I still have a lot of work to do Grace, but I will prove to you that things will be different. I want you to know that I care about you both."
