Culpables years later

Noah

When we got home, Andy and Nick's mother were still out. She wrote that she was going to eat together and that we should have a nice rest of the day. And that's what we did. I put on some comfortable clothes and Nick actually did too. It's really rare that you see him in just sweatpants and a t-shirt. Although he wanted to do some work, he didn't. He devoted all his time to me. So I couldn't really work too. It was like before, when our rare partner wasn't there and we watched a film in the living room and cuddled. I had to persuade Nick to watch films and cuddle with me. I liked a good romance, but he didn't. I liked cuddling, he didn't. I had to train him not to only cuddle after sex. And now he actually liked cuddling and watching a romance. But he knows that after a film like that I'm always ready to appreciate his sacrifices with sex. However, today we decided to watch a comedy and ate our food on the couch. I loved it. I didn't need to go out and get dressed up, a nice evening on the couch with my husband was enough for me. Well, there seems to be one good thing about bed rest and injuries. You're at home and have time for each other.

"Why is he with him? Shouldn't he stand by his son?" I asked Nick. The movie was getting confusing. I lay on Nick's shoulder and looked up at him. He was sleeping. He had actually fallen asleep. He always teased me with that, saying I was always the one who fell asleep. I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. Then I noticed his three-day beard. He looked sexy with it. My eyes took in every inch of his face. He looked so peaceful and innocent when he slept. Now I would like to see baby photos of him. He always hides them. But you could see the resemblance between Andy and Nick. Careful not to wake him, I grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. I took a blanket, laid it over us and snuggled closer to Nick. Finally, my eyes closed too. At some point I woke up, but I had no idea what time it was. It had gotten dark. Nick was still sleeping peacefully next to me and snoring quietly. He only snored when he was really tired. Or when he had drunk too much red wine. I got up quietly and went upstairs to Andy's room. Apparently it was half past eleven and Andrew was sleeping peacefully in his bed. So we had slept so deeply that we hadn't heard Anabelle and Andrew at all. His animal light lamp was burning and I gave him a goodnight kiss. Anabelle's door was already closed, so she was already asleep too. Before I went back to Nick, I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I hated going to bed without brushing my teeth. Especially now that I'm pregnant, I have to put a cream on my stomach every morning and evening to avoid stretch marks. As I rubbed my belly like that, I couldn't help but smile. Our girl would be born in a few months. We were so excited. Secretly, I wish she would look like me. Andy is his father exactly. And we want our daughter to take after me. Blonde hair and freckles all over her face. Blue eyes and a temperament like mine. Then Nick would have to have fun and relax his nerves. In moments like these I forgot about the dark cloud that was hanging over us. Breathe deeply. After my breathing was back to normal I lay down next to Nick and we fell asleep together. Although I knew he would complain at half past five tomorrow morning at the latest about lying here and being woken up by Andrew. But he is too big and too heavy for me to be able to carry him to bed.

Eight days later

Visiting our parents was pure stress at the moment! It was just like the 50th anniversary of the Leister Enterprises gala. They were irritable, tired and unpleasant. Nick was right, we should have stayed at home that evening. The day after tomorrow was the day when the gala would take place. To be honest, I was a bit scared. Because last time the celebration didn't end well for our family. Of course, Nick also sensed my tension and tried to calm me down whenever I was on the verge of a panic attack. He whispered nice things in my ear like, you'll be the most beautiful of the evening or I won't let you out of my sight. He promised me that nothing would happen and especially not between us. It calmed me down, but only for the moment.

Nick also always wanted to find out a detail about my dress. But my dress isn't with us, so to keep it safe it's hanging in my old room here in the villa. I should be looking forward to the evening because the whole group is together again. Including parents, Jenna, Lion, Mr. Travish and a few of Nick's other colleagues. It's going to be a nice evening, I shouldn't worry so much. Nick also said that whenever I wanted to go, we would go. I found that reassuring too. The plan was that we would get ready here in the villa and then go to the gala with the men. The children would be with Anabell, because she had decided not to go to the gala. So Maggie and Andrew were in good hands.

What else could go wrong? I mean, Michael wouldn't do anything at such a big event, would he?

Noah

When we got home, Andy and Nick's mother were still out. She wrote that she was going to eat together and that we should have a nice rest of the day. And that's what we did. I put on some comfortable clothes and Nick actually did too. It's really rare that you see him in just sweatpants and a t-shirt. Although he wanted to do some work, he didn't. He devoted all his time to me. So I couldn't really work too. It was like before, when our rare partner wasn't there and we watched a film in the living room and cuddled. I had to persuade Nick to watch films and cuddle with me. I liked a good romance, but he didn't. I liked cuddling, he didn't. I had to train him not to only cuddle after sex. And now he actually liked cuddling and watching a romance. But he knows that after a film like that I'm always ready to appreciate his sacrifices with sex. However, today we decided to watch a comedy and ate our food on the couch. I loved it. I didn't need to go out and get dressed up, a nice evening on the couch with my husband was enough for me. Well, there seems to be one good thing about bed rest and injuries. You're at home and have time for each other.

"Why is he with him? Shouldn't he stand by his son?" I asked Nick. The movie was getting confusing. I lay on Nick's shoulder and looked up at him. He was sleeping. He had actually fallen asleep. He always teased me with that, saying I was always the one who fell asleep. I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. Then I noticed his three-day beard. He looked sexy with it. My eyes took in every inch of his face. He looked so peaceful and innocent when he slept. Now I would like to see baby photos of him. He always hides them. But you could see the resemblance between Andy and Nick. Careful not to wake him, I grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. I took a blanket, laid it over us and snuggled closer to Nick. Finally, my eyes closed too. At some point I woke up, but I had no idea what time it was. It had gotten dark. Nick was still sleeping peacefully next to me and snoring quietly. He only snored when he was really tired. Or when he had drunk too much red wine. I got up quietly and went upstairs to Andy's room. Apparently it was half past eleven and Andrew was sleeping peacefully in his bed. So we had slept so deeply that we hadn't heard Anabelle and Andrew at all. His animal light lamp was burning and I gave him a goodnight kiss. Anabelle's door was already closed, so she was already asleep too. Before I went back to Nick, I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I hated going to bed without brushing my teeth. Especially now that I'm pregnant, I have to put a cream on my stomach every morning and evening to avoid stretch marks. As I rubbed my belly like that, I couldn't help but smile. Our girl would be born in a few months. We were so excited. Secretly, I wish she would look like me. Andy is his father exactly. And we want our daughter to take after me. Blonde hair and freckles all over her face. Blue eyes and a temperament like mine. Then Nick would have to have fun and relax his nerves. In moments like these I forgot about the dark cloud that was hanging over us. Breathe deeply. After my breathing was back to normal I lay down next to Nick and we fell asleep together. Although I knew he would complain at half past five tomorrow morning at the latest about lying here and being woken up by Andrew. But he is too big and too heavy for me to be able to carry him to bed.

Eight days later

Visiting our parents was pure stress at the moment! It was just like the 50th anniversary of the Leister Enterprises gala. They were irritable, tired and unpleasant. Nick was right, we should have stayed at home that evening. The day after tomorrow was the day when the gala would take place. To be honest, I was a bit scared. Because last time the celebration didn't end well for our family. Of course, Nick also sensed my tension and tried to calm me down whenever I was on the verge of a panic attack. He whispered nice things in my ear like, you'll be the most beautiful of the evening or I won't let you out of my sight. He promised me that nothing would happen and especially not between us. It calmed me down, but only for the moment.

Nick also always wanted to find out a detail about my dress. But my dress isn't with us, so to keep it safe it's hanging in my old room here in the villa. I should be looking forward to the evening because the whole group is together again. Including parents, Jenna, Lion, Mr. Travish and a few of Nick's other colleagues. It's going to be a nice evening, I shouldn't worry so much. Nick also said that whenever I wanted to go, we would go. I found that reassuring too. The plan was that we would get ready here in the villa and then go to the gala with the men. The children would be with Anabell, because she had decided not to go to the gala. So Maggie and Andrew were in good hands.

What else could go wrong? I mean, Michael wouldn't do anything at such a big event, would he?