[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

he was glad when both boys seemed to get changed without too much of a fuss. he knew jare was exhausted and he could relate so he wouldn't hold it against him. tae on the other hand was a little harder to distract and get to cooperate but eventually he'd pulled a giggle out of the boy and he'd gotten ready just like his brother. he hoped that once they got into the pool they'd relax, then they could shower off, have something to eat and get all three kids into their beds without too much of a fuss tonight. then hopefully they'd be up at their usual time in the morning and then the day could go as planned. of course the odds were their plans would go out the window, one of the kids would sleep in for hours, the other would be up extra early and the last one would wake up in between and the crankiest of all. if that happened though, he was sure they could all handle a day on the couch watching movies and stuffing themselves with gelato or pasta.

he almost felt lexi jolt when he touched her back and to be honest he hadn't even been planning on it, it had just been a subconscious move he'd made but it felt like is sparked something in his finger tips and he let his hand linger there. it had been so long since they'd touched each other, really touched each other like they used to. they were an affectionate couple, all over each other and not afraid to show each other how much they loved each other and then this whole thing had happened and it had broken something between them, there was no longer casual touches between them, there was hardly any deliberate touching either and there had been few times where they'd been more than intimate in the last few months. but the feeling in his fingers spread further into his body and he couldn't hide the fact it felt amazing enough he let his fingers linger against her back for as long as he could.

he smiled a little as lexi suggested the boys head down to the pool ahead of them. both boys were water smart, they'd been around and in water since they'd been old enough to go into the pool and they knew not to get too close and what to do if they did fall in. they lived near the beach, had troughs and watering holes on the property and creeks and rivers close to them. water safety had been so important when they'd been little. his smile softened as tae took jare's hand and followed him out of the room without too much of a fuss. he did an internal fist pump at the small step their youngest son had just taken to leave the room without them and he let out a breath. "i need to change too." he said with a small smile as he walked through to the main bedroom with her.

he moved to his case and took in the room they were staying in. he'd been in it before but this time it felt slightly different. the last time he'd been in here he couldn't wait to throw lexi down on the bed and enjoy it with her in a totally different way but this time .. the desire to be close to her was there but he wasn't sure about throwing her down on the bed, well gently throwing. he stooped down to open his own case and he pulled out his swim shorts and he quickly changed out of them and tossed his plane clothes towards the bathroom door, something he did at home too that he was sure annoyed his wife but it was a habit he hadn't managed to break yet. "i'll go get rory." he said as he glanced at her while she changed into the bikini. he hesitated for a second and he paused to press a kiss to her cheek quickly before he walked out of the room. it was the small things right? that's what it was going to take. small steps to build up the courage to take the bigger steps. that's what he was hoping anyway.

he headed down the stairs to where they'd left rory sitting peacefully in her carrier still, just looking around the room she was in now she'd woken up and he touched her cheeks gently. "look at you. such a quiet kid." he said as he undid her from her restraints and he pulled her to his chest, cradling her close as he picked up the carrier and he took it outside with them. he didn't want to leave her in it but he wanted it with them in case both him and lexi wanted to get into the pool, they could put her back into there so she was safe by the water. he grinned wide when he saw his two boys and he set the carried down and then he looked at them. "okay! in you jump!" he said with as huge a smile as he could muster and he saw down on the edge of the pool, pulling rory's shoes off and tossing them next to the carrier so she could splash her feet in the water if she wanted while she was sitting on his lap.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

She was glad when the two boys took themselves off, feeling a little knot of worry easy to see them toddler off together. As much as they fought on occasion and pushed each other about they were good kids, and good siblings - Jare would always look out for Tae really, even if he could be a bit bull headed on occasion. It made her inherently glad that her and James had decided on having more kids, even after what had happened to their first child. "i need to change too." She heard James say and she nodded.

It felt silly, to feel nervous when James entered the room. It was almost like her first time or something stupid, when the energy felt different to that though - not like the nerves of not knowing what you were doing or what would happen, but almost more the absence of what would normally happen with them. He would have picked her up and thrown her on the bed by now with a laugh, and even if they hadn't had time to part with their clothes, he'd have given her a kiss that would have left her thinking about later.. for the rest of the evening. They had slept in the same bed at home again, a tiny bridge having gone up from their last conversation, but it had still felt a little cold, and being in a foreign country made it feel more romantic - more expected. But she was scared. Scared to cross that line again after what had happened last time, of getting hurt again. He was her husband for God sake, but it had still hurt.

She finished changing and glanced over to James, just as he spoke. "i'll go get rory." Lexi nodded - the youngest was surprisingly good for a girl, and she hadn't even heard a peep from her yet. As he came over to her she held her breath for a moment, so teenager-y of her but she thought he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to. The soft brush of his lips on her cheek was something and she gave a faint smile - but it wasn't enough. She let impulse drive her, reached out to grasp his hand when he went to walk away, a soft tug, not demanding but firm, to pull him back to her. She raised on her tip toes with clear intent to kiss him; a proper kiss. Her spare hand reached up to curl around his neck, to bring him closer to her as she deepened the kiss, that usual spark between them zinging right down to her curling toes.

And then she released him, taking a step back and biting her lip. Maybe it was going to get her burned again like last time, she couldn't help but look a little wary, a little worried as she gaze at him, half expecting him to do what he did before and pull away from her emotionally. But she let him go to Rory - following him down only a moment later. By the time she reached them, Jare had already dived in, cannon balling to create as big a splash as possible and then going under the water, pretending to look for hidden treasures. She smiled, putting her towel on a chair and moving over to the edge of the pool to sit beside James, dipping her long legs into the water and reaching out to tickle Rory gently. "Hey sweetie, I think you'd like a little paddle too, hmm?" She said softly, wanting to hear her giggle too.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE

[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

he was about to walk out of the room, to take the steps away from her that take him from her but he was stopped, the touch on his hand made him pause. his fingers wrapped around her small hand gently, the roughness of his hands always a stark contrast to how soft he thought her skin felt against his. he turned back to her, something deep in his soul stirring and driving him to step back to her as she tugged on him gently. they'd been so far apart, so distant and it had been so painful. it had broken them down, their family was suffering and the house that they'd built together had felt cooler and darker than ever in the last few months. all because the words just couldn't be found, feelings couldn't be forgotten and memories that wouldn't go away.

as she raised herself onto her toes he slipped his spare hand around her back, resting it there softly to support her without thinking about it, that piece of his soul driving whatever train of thought he was having now. the desire to pull her against him was strong but he resisted, just, not because he didn't want to but because he couldn't help but think of their two children down next to the pool. he gripped his fingers gently against her bare skin as she kissed him. the moment their lips touched it was like electricity surged through him and he met her kiss with that same spark, leaning his head down as he felt her hand come to rest there, following her touch and to make it easier for her. the world melted away, it was just them standing there in a world that meant nothing. the only thing in it was them and that was all that mattered. it felt like kisses from days past, where the feeling between them was so strong it drove all alse away.

it was over almost too soon and he opened his eyes as they pulled away from each other, though he didn't let go of her hand so quickly. he'd known he'd hurt her last time, when he'd turned away from her when she'd made an effort to get close to him. he'd just been so full of feelings of shame and disgust in himself that he hadn't been able to lay with her, he hadn't been able to let those feelings be known to her so he'd thought it best to walk away. he didn't regret the night, the closeness they'd felt then but he did regret not talking to her after, trying to let her know what had made him leave but he hadn't been able to. there was something that always stopped him opening up to her right now, be it the anger from what had happened, the fear that she no longer trusted him to keep her safe or the lack of emotional capability. whatever it was it had stopped him and driven him away. that's what he regretted, that he'd let it.

he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand gently as he let a soft smile spread onto his face as he released her hand, hoping to let her know that it wasn't' like last time. he wasn't leaving because he didn't want to be with her. he lingered there for a few more seconds before he let her hand go and he turned from the room so he could go get their daughter. as he hurried down the stairs his mind was still drifting back to his wife, the feelings the kiss had stirred in him and how he hadn't wanted it to end. it had been so long since he'd felt that, that burning desire to be close to her, have her in his arms and to have it just be the two of them it was almost a foreign feeling now but it was so welcome. he could breathe better than he had in weeks, the weight had lifted slightly from his shoulders. it wasn't a fix, it wasn't over but it felt like it might be easier now.

before he knew it he was settled on the side of the pool, his arms around rory, holding her on his lap as he watched jare divebomb into the pool to search for buried treasure as tae sat on a pool noodle, doing his best to balance on it. their laughs and smile, even through their grumpiness and tiredness were like music to his ears. he smiled softly as lexi sat down next to him and he shifted closer to her slightly, his shoulder brushing hers. he took one arm from around his daughter and he wrapped it around lexi's waist lightly, hugging her against his side as they sat there, lexi ticking their daughter and the loud giggling as she bounced on his knee just added to the moment. "i think that means she does." he said with a chuckle as he looked over to where tae had abandoned the pool noodle and had started trying to join jare in diving for nothing.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

She relaxed as he returned the kiss, and it allowed her to sink into him the way she always did. How their bodies seemed perfectly aligned for each other. As a teenager, whenever she'd read romance books that talked about it, she always rolled her eyes - how was that even possible, what a load of rubbish it was. Being with James, kissing him, she finally understood it - and how it was not crap. She just.. fit him. Everything was perfect. She felt the touch of his hand around her back, gentle but reassuring, encouraging. There was no move for more, though it was tempting as those familiar heated feelings swept though her at the proper touch of his lips. It was just.. nice. It felt nice to kiss him like this again, to take their time and forget the world for each other. She wondered if later might be different, if unlike their rush on the stairs where it had all been the wrong emotions and the wrong timing, if perhaps later would be the right time, and they could just enjoy each other, explore each other again - heal.

She couldn't take her eyes off him, but the lingering of his hand helped; he wasn't pulling away, not like before. Despite them having talked about it a little, it was hard for it not to get stuck in her head, not to fear that he'd do it again. It hurt, to even think it. She would never have thought James would make her feel that way but it had happened - another thing to heal. A slight smile against the pinch of worry as his thumb rubbed over her hand, and his own smile removed the rest of her concern. No words were needed, she knew him like she knew herself and that him leaving this time was not the same. She understood that. She let out a slow release of breath, feeling some of the weight removed from her shoulders.

Jare's care's were somewhat left behind as he played. He was still tired, not quite as enthusiastic as he would normally have been but he got into his game of treasure hunter, eventually managing to encourage Tae into joining him - two famous explorers about to uncover their biggest haul yet; the lost treasure. Lexi felt James shift closer and she smiled, leaning toward him as the comforting weight of his arm settled around her waist. "i think that means she does." Lexi grinned and then slid out from James' hold, carefully sliding into the pool. They were at the shallow end, and the water lapped slightly just above her waist with the kicking and scrambling of the boys down the other end. "Come on then sweetie, let's get those toes wet." She grinned; holding her hands out to Rory for James to pass her over. The water was warm, perhaps a little cooler than the kid's pool at the swim centre, but warm enough for Rory to still enjoy.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE

[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

everyone wanted a passionate relationship until that passion was no longer exclusive to the bedroom. he and lexi had never had a problem wanting each other, they loved each other totally and so much so that it hurt james to think about how much he loved his wife. but that came with emotions that weren't just about love. james was sure that it was a major part of the problems they were going through right now. they'd always fought, they were loud and they were stubborn and they were passionate about their lives so they'd had some ripper fights over their marriage and he was sure they'd have many more over the years. but this? this wasn't an argument, it wasn't a fight, it had been an accumulation of lots of things and it had been enough to shatter that desire for each other. it wasn't gone, he didn't think it would ever be gone but it had felt different to him, like he couldn't put the pieces together and he couldn't make sense of what he was feeling. there had been fragments snapping back into place for the last week or two, being helped by effort being made and steps being taken and leaps done by both of them to try and connect with each other but with her in his arms now, it was like they were flying back together with a speed that was unmatched.

if he hadn't needed to go check on the kids he'd have stayed there with her forever. he'd have pulled her down onto the bed in the room and just hold her until time stopped. he'd missed the feeling of her being in his arms and now she'd been in them and she was gone again, they ached. his chest ached because she wasn't against his chest and there was something missing from his very being as he walked away from her. it was a feeling he'd missed. he'd missed not wanting to be apart from her, missed being drawn to her like a magnet and the connection that fate seemed to not want to let either of them lose. there seemed to be some great works and plans behind the lives they were creating together. everything from the start should have told them they wouldn't work. different countries, being so young, suffering a loss so tragically like they did and it hadn't blown them apart, it had drawn them together and now they had their three beautiful children. james couldn't wait to see how they'd grow up to change the world because they were meant to be a part of it.

once again she slipped from his hold as she lowered herself into the water but this time it felt a little different. she was still there, she was next to him and it felt so right. nothing was fixed but for the first time he had real hope that what they'd had before hadn't gone anywhere, it was there and waiting for them to wake up and take it back. he leaned forward a little to pass rory over to the waiting and sage arms of her mother and once she was in them he leaned back on his hands, moving his feet in the water slightly as he watched his girls in the pool, the way rory's hands gripped onto lexi and the way he feet kicked in the water, the giggling louder than it had been, obviously very happy where she was right now, safe in her mother's arms and surrounded by water. he looked across to where jare and tae were still diving down to get treasure that didn't exist and he was awed by their imagination. the fact that his kids had that, it meant everything to him. they could have that fun, they could play pretend because it was fun and because they were kids. they didn't need to play pretend to escape.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

She looked over at James as she slipped into the water, feeling a surprising spark zing between them; it made her blink. They had always had passion and chemistry, even all these years later, and she didn't think that would ever go, but things had been off, and complicated, and it had been a little while since she'd felt that between them. But that kiss, being in Italy, the fact that things had been on the way to healing back home and now as she looked across at him, settling in the warm water, she felt that spark again. Goddamn. Perhaps things would be fixed by being away from home, by having this magical place and time for them to work together and mend the bridges.

She grinned as Rory was passed gently over to her, and she kissed her head before gently helping her settle in the water. She held her securely but not too tight as she bounced her in the water, and then together twirled them slowly through the water. She grinned wider at Rory's giggle, laughing too as she watched her face scrunch with joy. "You like that, huh sweetie?" She asked, as she watched her kick her feet and splash a little with her chubby arms. Just so damn adorable. "Oh if only you stayed this way forever," She joked, though she loved watching the boys grow, learn and change, even if it was scary at how fast that seemed to happen.

Lexi played carefully with Rory for a little while, before she saw her daughter begin to tire. She was young, and the excitement was a lot to take in. She yawned, and began to get a little whingey. "I think that's it for little madam." She admitted as she headed back over to the side and offered Rory up James. The boys were still splashing away, but as she looked over to them, she could see the tiredness of Jarad's face. "I'm thinking an early bath and bed today for the kids?" She said, going to climb out herself once Rory was safe.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE

[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

there had to be something in the air. that was the only way he could describe it. he and lexi had been working on things back home but the progress had been slow, painfully so as they'd worked with each other to get back into some sort of rhythm but it had seemed near impossible. but the second they'd landed, taken a breath of air that wasn't tense or cold, it seemed they'd both relaxed a little. maybe it was the atmosphere, the different place or the fact they both no longer felt the weight of reconciliation on their shoulders. maybe it was just what they'd needed. he smiled as he watched lexi play with rory in the water, the delighted giggles coming from his daughter warming his heart almost as much as the smile on her face did.

he made sure to keep an eye on the boys as he leaned his hands back, moving his legs in the water as the sun beat down on their small family. it seemed like no time has passed at all before he heard the unmistakable sound of rory starting to grizzle. he sat upright and brushed his hands against his legs and chuckled a little when he saw her grumpy face, almost as if the water she'd been loving a moment ago was now the most offending thing she'd ever seen in her life. he stretched out to reach for the towels he'd brought out for the kids and he drew one close so he could wrap it around her when she was passed out to him.

taking her carefully into his arms, making sure she didn't slip, he lifted her out of the pool and quickly wrapped the towel around her so she didn't feel chilled. "is that better?" he asked her softly as he felt her snuggle against his chest and her little mouth formed an O as she yawned. he rested his cheek against her hair and glanced down at the boys when lexi did and he had to agree, they were both tired and it was only a matter of time before they started snipping at each other as a way to cope. "i think that sounds perfect." he said, though he found himself distracted for a moment watching his wife get out of the pool. the way the water glistened on her body. it still surprised him to this day just how much he loved her. that even when they were at their absolute worst, the feeling was so strong he could never ignore it or walk away from it. he tore his eyes away from her, more than a little disappointed, and he looked across at the boys and waved his hand to them. "come on you two, out you get and dry off. then we'll have a bath, we'll find a snack and you can have a nice long nap." he said as he rocked his body softly to keep rory settled and calm.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

Naturally, she couldn't help watching James as she swam her way back toward him, the way he stretched to reach the towel. It wasn't unusual for her to be hungry for her husband, when she'd been young and thought about the future and marriage, she had always hoped that her and her future man would love each other forever and unconditionally, and though her and James had had their epic fights and their highs and lows they always came back together, they always had that fire between them. Their epic fights came from that passion for each other, that love and need to protect and care for each other. But this feeling surprised her a little in this moment because of the uncertain ground between them- because the last time she'd wanted him, it had been a panic and a frenzy and then he'd pushed her away and it had hurt. As her husband reached back, her eyes following the ripple of his muscles, taking a moment to appraise him - he kept himself in very good shape, not that she cared what kind of shape he was; she loved him for him, not whether she could eat dinner off his abs.

Lexi handed Rory off to her husband, listening to her settle in his arms as he dried her off and kept her warm. "i think that sounds perfect." Lexi gave a smile and a small nod, and her cheeks heated a little as she caught him looking - she liked that it still made her blush, even though she would have thought she'd have gotten over it by now. There had to be something in the Italian air, and she had to admit that even as tired as she was, she did feel better for being here, as if there was a bit of a fresh start - a reset. "come on you two, out you get and dry off. then we'll have a bath, we'll find a snack and you can have a nice long nap." Lexi picked up the towels for the boys and offered them out to them with arms wide. She wrapped first Jare as he was the quickest out, giving him a brief hug before he tore himself away from her and toddled off, drying himself. Then she wrapped the towel around Tae, going to pat him dry and then tuck him into the towel and lift him into her arms. Jare disappeared inside the house before she could call him back, but then she figured it was best to let him, heading over to James to see if he was set to go in and help get the kids bathed and set for bed. "Alright kids, we've broken in the pool - let's get washed and put our jammies on," She said softly, going to kiss Tae's head as they headed inside.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE

[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

he had to admit, there was a difference in how he felt now they were in the villa. even with the stress of the flight, needing to keep the kids in line, the tiredness that made him feel like his bones were exhausted and the residual tension of the last few months back home. he felt like his shoulders were loser, the constant tension in his neck was gone and it felt like he could breath so much easier. he'd been certain that coming here wouldn't change things, that it would be the same, just in a different place but he'd come because lexi needed to be at home, she needed her parents after what they'd been through and no matter what he was feeling, he'd never fight that. she'd moved to another country for him, loved her family like her own and she'd done that so they could be together. the least he could do was be there when she wanted to go home for a while. and he did enjoy coming a lot more now he was used to her parents. they'd treated him like family from the moment they'd met him and he hadn't been used to it, now he was, he enjoyed it just a little.

he rubbed his hand over rory's back as he watched lexi get the boys out of the pool and dried off and he couldn't help but watch jared walk into the villa with a twinge of sadness. there had been a time where he'd have needed them to help him, just like rory and tate still did and he wasn't quite ready to let that go. he'd give anything to stop his kids from needing to grow up, to stay little and this age. he wasn't prepared but then he didn't think he ever would be. "he needs to stop growing up." he said softly with a smile as he stood from his spot on the ground and he shifted rory softly, settling her on his hip. he watched with a soft chuckle as tae's head kept bobbing up and down, watching him drift off to sleep against lexi's shoulder before waking himself up and lifting his head. "i think just jammies and into bed." he said as he started to walk into the villa. "i don't think these two will be awake long enough for anything else."

the sooner they got the kids into bed, the sooner him and lexi could just sit and relax. even if all they did was lay on the couch and watch trashy italian soaps until they fell asleep there. they'd be able to relax a lot more once the kids were settled. "jare, you good bud?" he called to his son to make sure he didn't need help as he headed up the staircase with rory, before he headed into the room where he and lexi would be sleeping so he could get rory's stuff.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

"he needs to stop growing up." She caught the soft words and gave a small smile in response, a little sad as she watched the boys as James did, her mind drifting back to the days when Jare could barely walk without a hand to hold. Now be was toddling off with his brother in tow. "Tell me about it." it was wistful thinking, to wish them young forever. It was why she knew how important it was to enjoy every moment with them, even when they made it difficult and frustrated you. She cherished it all, all the more so after losing their first child, who would never get to live the life it should have. "But there is so much to come to look forward to." She added, she smile widening. Going up to big school and colleges, first girlfriends and jobs, driving lessons and hobbies he would pick up and put down as he lost interest... So much to come. "i think just jammies and into bed...i don't think these two will be awake long enough for anything else." She nodded in agreement. "Thank God for the pool." not only had it improved the mood but it had given them something fun to do, a way to relax in a new country and also tire themselves out for a good night's sleep.

"jare, you good bud?" The young boy heard his father call and he gave a slight frown, as if he needed help. He was perfectly capable. "I'm fines." he said, not aware as to if it was loud enough or not as he clambered into bed. Lexi helped the boys in, chuckling as Jared's roll of his eyes when she made sure to tuck his blankets up around him and kiss his head. Growing up way too fast, yes. She headed over to Tae to do the same, it was always the same so nobody could be jealous. A soft press of her lips to his forehead and then running a gentle hand through the hair to push it back from their foreheads. She switched on the nightlight without a word. They were old enough to not necessarily need it but it was a strange room, and everything would feel different, she wanted something from home to make them feel safe and comfortable. "Sleep tight, love you both." she said softly, gently pulling the door to but not closing it. She had a feeling she might be needed later, even if for now they were out of it.

Once she had settled the boys and herself, she glanced to the bed but then changed her mind. Her eyes wandered to the night sky, and how warm it was outside, how clear the sky was. A soft smile on her lips again she headed back downstairs. She knew, somehow, that her husband would come find her. Would know where she was. Her hand took up a glass and the other a bottle of wine, taking both with her to the patio out the back. It was peaceful, and quiet, as she slid into one of the loungers and poured herself a glass off the good stuff. The tension eased off moment but moment, rolling away with the brush of the breeze. Her gaze fell to the sky above and the brightness of the stars as she waited.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE

[JAMES EDWARD WHITE]

LEXI SAFFI WHITE

james chuckles as he heard jared call back to him. he knew that he shouldn't find the attitude cute but he couldn't help it. jared didn't mean it, he knew that. he was tired and they were in a strange place and that was the only reason james had checked on him like that. "night boys" he said as he stuck his head into the room and saw lexi tucking them in. with how tired they both looked, there was no need for him to go in and tuck them in also, as much as he wanted to. he'd just wake them up more if he went in and he needed to sort out the little lady in his arms so they were 3 down for the night.

he headed into his and lexi's room and he started to gather everything he'd need to get his daughter settled for the night. lexi's parents had set up a portable crib at the end of the bed for them and he couldn't help but be touched by the gesture. it was still surprising to him the stark difference between his and lexi's parents and it had taken a lot to get used to, the fact that their kindness didn't come with strings or favours that needed to be returned. it was just because they loved them. he settled rory into the crib gently, sitting with her and stroking her back while she drifted off to sleep. he smiled softly down at her, the way her hand tucked under her chin, just like her mother. once he was sure she was asleep, he almost crept out of the room, leaving the door open to let in the light from the hall and he jogged downstairs, a yawn slipping out of his mouth as he stretched and cracked his back a little.

he knew where his wife would be. because he knew her and because they had always had an almost build in radar for each other. the closer he got to her, the more he felt the tug to be close to her. since the moment he'd met her she'd been like a drug he could never get enough of. he walked out onto the terrace and smiled as he saw her relaxing with a glass of wine in her hand. she looked so much as ease it hurt. the last few months had stolen their peace from them and a few hours back at home had given that small amount back to her and it hurt that he hadn't been able to do that for her at their home. he crossed to where she was sitting and he slid onto the lounger next to her, even if it might have been a little squishy, he just didn't want to be apart from her in that moment. "i see your mum left the good stuff." he said as he shifted to wrap his arm around her back.

[LEXI SAFFI WHITE]

The night was unbelievably quiet, and the peace of it sunk into her skin, her very bones. How was it that just one place could settle her in such a way. She had thought she'd still feel stressed and exhausted, especially with travelling - and whilst it was true, to an extent - she could feel the tiredness nudging at the back of her mind, it wasn't enough to send her straight to sleep. It was as if the calm of the evening was sucking out the tension and anxiety of the past week weeks, drawing it out like a poison and allowed her the chance to breathe again, a full, long, deep breath. It felt unbelievably good, almost like a drug to feel this wave of calm come over her. Everything would be good again now, there was no more need to talk about what had happened or argue, it was time to move on. She felt that they could do that here. Tomorrow might be different, maybe she would feel more awake and things would change, but she doubted it.

Lexi took a light sip from her glass, holding the flavour of the wine in her mouth or a moment to appreciate it, before swallowing. She tipped her head back up to the sky to watch the passing of the stars and satellites, not needing to look up to know that James had joined her. She felt his presence behind her, knew it was him, would always know it was him just by the feel of it, and a smile teased the corners of her mouth. She heard his footsteps cross the terrace and the sound of him sliding into the lounger with her, even though there was hardly any room. She adjusted, her smile growing as his warmth sank into her. "i see your mum left the good stuff."

She glanced to the bottle she'd chosen and nodded. She couldn't lie, she'd known exactly what she was picking up when she'd chosen it - and how expensive. She swirled the little in her glass, the scent of it stirring. "She knew, I think." That they would need it, that it would do them good. Silently, she handed over his glass and poured a little into it, unsure how much he would want. Wine was more her thing, after all, but they did indulge in it together at times. "Did the kids get off to sleep okay?" She asked, more meaning Rory but just if the other two had threatened to stir in the few minutes she'd left them alone. With another sip of wine she settled more into him, cuddling into his chest and letting out a contented sigh.

JAMES EDWARD WHITE