Coming Home to Aurelius 3

Hey guys....I'm a little short on time so I can't respond to all the comments .I'm so sorry. But JD- all answers in good time. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter! And yes I do love babies. So many abound in the family! Please comment!
--

"So what's so special about these journals that had you rushing like you had death on your heels?" asked Oscar as he helped himself to the assortment of breads, cheese and cold meat. Alexis smiled, "Nothing as of now. I was having trouble sleeping. The journals seemed like a good idea to kind of you know. . . . . ."
"Search for closure?" Oscar finished.
"Exactly!" exclaimed Alexis, "I have no clue about how to run a ranch. Joe does a marvelous job along with Anderson and GF, the men seen sincere, but if I have to handle the estate, then I've got to learn about the land."
Oscar nodded solemnly, "Ranching is one cuisinesr you cannot handle without proper knowledge. Redhead or not, you seem smart, you'll learn fast! "
Alexis scoffed, "Told you not to do anything that might change my renewed opinion of you!"
Oscar simply rolled his eyes.
As they finally sat back having done justice to the meal, Alexis started when she saw the time, "Look at the time! Oscar, have I kept you away from work?"
Oscar laughed, "Yes, but I consider the time was well reallocated."
Alexis warmed, getting tingles all over her body, all she could say was an inadequate, "Oh!"
Still laughing at her surprise, Oscar got up saying authoritatively, "I hope you remember that you're coming over to our house for dinner. Same crowd as last night. Your car's out front, but I'll pick you up in the evening today."
Alexis was still gaping as he turned away and was walking out of the study before she ran after him with retorts, "I can drive down myself, Oscar, you don't need to chauffer me around."
He didn't even deign to turn as he walked out of the front door, Alex trailing after him, "I'll come down at 6"
She watched, emotions warring within her and then turned on her heel. On the mantle, her eyes fell onto a picture of her uncle, grinning into the lens.
She glared at it and said, "Enjoying the show are you. If I didn't know better, I'd say you planted him around me."
That felt good. Laughing at her own silliness, Alexis swished back to the study to her newfound treasure. She started on the last journal. The words invoked bittersweet emotions. Some were things they'd discussed others were everyday things that had struck him as funny. The last entry struck Alexis hard. He'd made an entry about how happy he was about going to England. Alexis could feel the longing in his words. He finished the entry talking about how much trouble he'd gone through to get Peyton a jade ashtray from an Indian camp. The men had insisted he join them in having a glass of moonshine, which had given him a terrible headache.
Sniffling slightly, Alexis headed to her cupboard, her hand automatically moved to a grey shift dress.
Shaking her head, she pulled out a moss green dress, with a black satin belt to cinch her waist and black kitten heels.
She paid more attention to how she looked today, brushing her waist length hair carefully and pulling it back in a high ponytail that emphasized her neck.
Suddenly, Oscar's face popped up in her mind, and she considered mascara. Rolling her eyes at her reflection in the mirror, she headed downstairs.
She headed to the kitchen, and puttered around with Bertha. Dipping her finger into the sauce in the pan, Alexis moaned, "I wish I didn't have to go. This tastes divine!" Bertha laughed, "Much as I would like that, its much better for you to go out. Not to mention that it allows you to meet a certain someone!"


The doorbell sounded, making both the women jump and then laugh.
Moments later, Oscar appeared in the kitchen, bearing the most gorgeous bunch of white roses. With a great smile, he brushed past Alexis without as much as a glance at her and handed them to Bertha saying, "This is for breakfast."
With a swift peck on Bertha's cheek, he was steering a slightly disappointed Alexis out of the car. She had honestly thought he'd brought the flowers for her.
She scolded herself, why would he bring her flowers anyway. Lost in her own thoughts as they walked to the car, Alexis neither noticed the appreciative look Oscar cast in her direction, nor did she see the secretive smile on his handsome face as he helped her into the car.
Joining her in the car, he reached over to the back seat and within seconds Alexis found him offering her a single, perfect red rose. As she looked up at him with eyes full of questions, he sighed theatrically, "Now I couldn't ignore your existence could I. It’s your consolation prize for not getting a bouquet."
Alexis burst into delighted laughter as she took the rose from his hand and inhaled the delicate smell. Oscar's heart soared as he saw the open delight on the sprite's face. Alex's unassuming beauty filled his senses.
It also deepened his distress towards himself for what he had said when they'd first met. He broke the silence, "Did you start on the journals?" Alexis immediately broke into happy speech as she described in great vivid detail what her uncle had written. It wrenched his heart to see how hard she was trying to keep Alan alive. It was painful to see her feverish enthusiasm that barely covered the trauma she faced. He wished he could just hold her and wipe away her hurt. But it was too early for that. He'd tread softly, or she'd shut him out.
Turning into the drive to his family's ranch, Oscar brought the car to a stop. Together the two of them walked into the elegant drawing room.
A blonde midget ran into Alexis, and with her assistance was soon cuddled against her.
Oscar laughed as he ruffled Jeremy's hair," Are you trying to give me competition champ? I gave you piggy back rides and this is how you repay me?" Jeremy squealed and was soon in deep conversation with Alexis about piggy back rides.

The evening passed peacefully.
Alexis grew increasingly aware of Oscar.
Well first impressions could be wrong. He'd suddenly turned into someone very very interesting. She blushed and dropped her gaze, stroking Jeremy's hair who was still lodged in her lap, as Oscar caught her looking at him.
A sudden heaviness told her that Jeremy was falling asleep. Getting up she made her way over to Caroline who was telling Mrs. Carmichael about Alexander's snoring. Alexis couldn't help but giggle at the vivid description Caroline was providing about the tenor of the snores! But she was careful not to wake the child. Caroline turned with a woeful look on her face, "I can only hope that Jeremy's wife doesn't have to suffer as I do!"
Still grinning, Alexis was making her way back to where Mr. Lane was sitting, when she was intercepted by Oscar.
Looking up at him, she could feel the eruption of small fireworks inside her. Oscar smiled, increasing her wonderful discomfort, saying, "Do you want to go out for a walk?" Alexis replied with a breathy, "I'd love to!" She questioned her sanity as she cringed at how he affected her. She was still pondering these complicated ideas when Oscar led her out into the open.
He tucked her hand through the crook of his arm as they walked to the garden, "So. Tell me more about you." Alexis rolled her eyes, "Would you like me to start with my favorite hobbies or with my favorite color?"
Orcar laughed, "How about boyfriends?"
Alexis tried to wriggle her hand out of his grasp but he acted as if he didn't even feel it. So she had to answer, "No boyfriends ever. Had a crush on a guy in college. Never worked up the guts to tell him! What about you? I guess you leave a trail of broken hearts?"
Oscar looked at her curiously, "I thought I was in love once. I was 18, that was what. . . . . Seven years back. My friend, Jason was the smarter one at relationships while I was the one who studied for the both of us. He told me the girl was after my money. Didn't believe him. He convinced me to tell her that I would give up my right to my inheritance. I did, and she vanished. I became very cautious after that. So i leave behind broken pride and egos not hearts."
Alexis seemed startled, "Why do I get the feeling that you don't talk about this very often?"
It was Oscar's turn to look surprised at her astuteness, he shrugged, "I just wanted you to know." They walked around the fragrant, but dark garden in a comfortable silence. Alexis felt giddy and calm at the same time.
Giddy because you could hardly stay sane in such close proximity to such a man. And calm because, he provided a sense of solidity by just being there. Like he had this morning. Oscar was savoring the sensation of being close to Alex. For the first time in his life, he'd felt so strongly so soon. He looked down at the red head, that had come to rest on his shoulder that she barely reached. He noticed that her eyes looked tired and still as if exhausted.
Turning her to face him, he took her pale face into his hands and tilted it up, "You're having a really hard time aren't you?" Alexis simply could not help it. Her eyes swam with tears at the concern in his voice.
Within seconds, he was hugging her close to him, stroking her hair. A few minutes later Alexis calmed down. She was still clutching at his t-shirt. She stiffened and moved away immediately. Oscar laughed as he lassoed her waist and drew her back to him, but still keeping reasonable distance so as to not make her uncomfortable, "Alex. Its obvious you're having trouble eating and sleeping. Why don't you stay with one of the other families for a while? At least, some company might help you know."
Alexis shook her head, "I know. But I have to stay at Aurelius. I want to stay at Aurelius. For me, for Uncle Alan, for mom and dad." Handing her a hanky, Oscar stared at her for a few minutes and then said, "Very well. But you should know that you'll be welcome to stay with us at any time." Alexis nodded her head as she and Oscar headed to his car, so he could drop her home.

As the car pulled to a stop outside Aurelius, Alexis said, "Thank you. For everything. This morning, the . . . . ." Oscar silenced her with a wave of his hand, "Like I said. I think it was time well spent. Now. I want you to go in and get some good sleep. Because I am going to be here for breakfast tomorrow and then I'm going to take you for lunch. Dress formal."
Alexis raided her eyebrows skeptically although inside she was thrilled, "What if I don't want to come?" Oscar shrugged, "I'll wrap you in brown paper and take you anyway."
Alexis pretended to sigh in defeat, "All right. All right. Goodnight then!"
She was out of the car and almost into the house, when she remembered that she'd forgotten the rose in the car. She turned and ran back down the front stairs to the car, as Oscar just started backing out.
He stopped as he saw her running. He was out of the car in a trice, "What's wrong?"
Alexis panted, "I forgot the rose in the car." There was a moment of silence as they both took in what had just happened. Alexis flushed as she realized what she'd done.
Oscar smiled as if he'd been blessed by the God himself as he said, "You ran down after the car just for the rose?"
Alex's cheeks warmed and the damn moon was high too.
Unsure of her ability to speak, she merely jerked her head to affirm her actions. Oscar's deep laugh filled her ears as he kissed her hand and said, "Then I'm pretty sure I won't have to bring wrapping paper when I come to pick you up will I ?"
He pulled the rose out of the car, handed it to a silent and mortified Alexis and watched as she made her way back to the door and waved shyly before she slipped in.
Whistling happily, that Alexis was as affected by him as he was by her, Oscar cruised into the darkness.
Alexis sat on the bed in her garfield t- shirt with the rose, her uncle's journal, her journal and her uncle's photograph from the mantle to which she was now speaking, "I made such a huge fool of myself. What must he think of me? What would you have done in my place? Ugh."
Alexis lay back still unable to sleep, when her cell phone rang. Picking it up, she recognized Oscar's number, "Hey. Are you home?"
Oscar responded, "Yeah. I had a feeling you might have trouble sleeping so I might give you an idea,"
Rubbing her cheek against the pillow Alexis prompted, "I'm waiting breathlessly!"
Oscar answered, "Remember the song in sound of music? When the dog bites when the bee stings. Well, similarly, you too should think of nice things!"
Alexis teased, "Oh yeah? Like what?"
In a grave tone, Oscar answered, "Like me."
and the line went dead.

Alexis was still staring at the phone. She turned to her uncle's picture, made a face saying, "I'll bet you taught him that."
With that she fell back into her pillows counting sheep. But the sheep had blue eyes. Oscar's eyes. That killed sleep.
Resolutely, she turned to her side but Oscar's face kept coming to mind. She finally moaned into her pillow in rage at the mush in her head and took the said man's advice and concentrated on his face.
The features weren't the best to induce sleep with. The strong lines of his face made her hands itch to just touch them. His hair looked delightful, short enough to be neat and long enough for her to run her hair through. She sighed happily as she imagined what it would feel like.
Blushing, even in the solitude of her room, she slowly and steadily drifted into sleep dreaming of blue eyes and red roses.

Morning came bright, sunny but the breeze was cooler. It was obvious winter was on its way. Meeting Joe in the foyer, she headed out for a tour of the ranch homestead. It was as well kept as it ever was. The animals, clean, cared for. The only part Alexis couldn't bring herself to enter was the stable. She stood outside, debating whether to go in, when the loud neighing of a horse sacred her and she backed away to the house.
Once inside, she pried off the muddy boots and followed the smell of frankfurters to the kitchen, where Bertha was concodesingln two maids. Smiling, Alex placed herself on the island. Almost immediately a stack of buttered garlic bread and a plate high with frankfurters doused in ketchup turned up in front of her.
She grinned up at Bertha, "Is this heaven? Please tell me it is! I finally feel like eating." Bertha stroked Alex's head as she dug in, "That’s a good sign. So what plans for today? Something that might make me giddy with expectation. My sources tell me you disappeared into the dark with someone after dinner."
Alexis retorted with her mouth full, "I went for a walk. And he’s taking me to lunch to town today. I don't know about the rest. And do not even dare to get giddy, it would mess up my appetite!" A few minutes later, the plate was clean and Alexis sat there with a beatific smile on her face. Bertha thumped her on the back with a spatula, "Go get ready. And take a shower you smell like a flowery version of Joe."

Laughing, Alexis breezed back to her own room. Dress formal he'd said she though as she stripped and dropped the clothes into the laundry bin. With anticipation worthy of a teenager, she pulled out a slinky white sheath dress with sparse chocolate brown appliqué.
She put on matching open toe sandals and pondered about what to do with her hair, deciding to leave it open in the end. Spraying on some perfume, she grabbed her purse and was almost out of the room when she rushed back and pulled out a brown silk scarf.
She wasn't going bare shouldered near that man, he made her fluttery anyway. Exposure would just make her feel more . . . . . . . exposed!
Down in the drawing room Alexis found Oscar touching the scarlet petals of the rose he'd given her. It was placed in a slim crystal vase. Her heart caught. That was how he looked in stuff other than jeans? ? It would be completely fair for her to faint right now.
Giving way to her new found habit, she turned to a picture of her uncle and her and said, "If you and Saint Peter are pulling strings up there to make this happen, then thank you. Though you're not forgiven for being in a car with faulty breaks."
With that, she stepped out of the shadows to greet Oscar. You know how it feels when you fall and land on your back? Yeah, winded. That's how Oscar felt. Clearing his throat twice, his hands itching to touch the bare skin on her neck, he teased, "I see you took my advice about what to dream about."
Is there ANY way to control blushing?
Alexis was sure this would be her permanent skin color if she stayed around Oscar for too long. She answered, "Not really. I dreamt about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, white copper kettles and warm wollen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!"
Oscar laughed, "Ah well. At least my rose featured in the dreams. By the way, you look very nice Ms. Knightly." Alexis quipped, "You look pretty dapper in that blazer too Mr. Carmichael. "

Laughing the two of them stepped out and were soon on their way to Lakeside, the county capital. Alexis and Oscar shared details about their lives.
Turns out Oscar wasn't a country boy. He was a hugely successful venture capitalist on a holiday. She laughed at what had to be highly fabricated stories about his exploits in the country. Choking, she begged him to stop, "Please that's enough for now. Save some of that for later!"
She hadn't realized but the car had come to a halt outside a huge shopping arcade. Oscar pulled her out of the car saying, "I wouldn't have stopped. But where I'm taking you, if you keep giggling, they'll throw us out for misdemences. So please, I don't want to see a single tooth."
Out of sheer defiance, she gave him a full toothy grin.
The restaurant he took her to came as a surprise. Who'd have thought such a small town would have such a classy place? It was called Azzuro and was supposedly known for its Italian food. They were led to a secluded corner in the beautifully decorated room. All Gold, and white.
Oscar smiled as Alexis said , " I might just blend into the surroundings you know!"
Unable to resist, he took her hand in his own huge ones and said in a voice rough with emotion, "Not a chance."
Alexis looked up into his blue eyes and her bones turned liquid under his gaze. The spell was broken as the menu cards arrived. It took physical pain to let go of her hand, but you can't handle a huge fancy menu card with one hand. Not unless you want to break a glass or knock over your cutlery.
Orders placed, Alexis observed the other guests while Oscar took this chance to observe her. He drank in the smooth skin, her red kissable lips, her sparkly hazel eyes and the streams of curly red hair. He felt like reaching out and touching a curl, but restrained himself. His eyes focused on the pouty lips that had fallen slightly open. His eyes traversed up her cheek bones back to her eyes when they blinked. Oscar started as they both realized that they'd been staring at each other.
Alexis had just started stammering when Oscar took charge of the situation. He took possession of her hand again and looking deep into her eyes he said, "Don't be embarrassed or apologetic Alexis. I am not. I loved what I saw."
Alexis looked at him with liquid eyes, and a slight smile, "Just playing the part of a coy damsel." The rest of the meal passed like a song, laughing, talking, Oscar drew her out as very few people could. While they waited for the check, Alexis reflected on how peaceful she felt.

Walking out of the restaurant, hand in hand, they walked down the arcade. Noticing a candy shop, Alexis insisted on going in and buying pounds of cavity causing goods for Jeremy. While she was still searching for more exotic stuff, Oscar disappeared for a few minutes. He came back just as she'd finished paying. With a sly smile on his face he handed her a packet. Peeking in, Alexis started laughing. Inside was a batman toothbrush and mickey toothpaste. Oscar said gravely, "He's going to need it you know!"

They were on a lonely stretch when their tire went out because of broken glass strewn across the road.
Oscar grinned happily, even as he rolled up his sleeves to get down to a messy job. Alexis looked at him curiously, "Why do you look so happy that we have a flat tire?" Already hard at work, he responded without looking up, "Seems like the forces want us to spend more time together." Rolling her eyes, she offered to help, but was told to please not ruin his moment of glory where he could play macho.
Leaning against the car, Alexis feasted her eyes. It was a beautiful sight. A beautiful man, who didn't have ten thumbs. She'd read somewhere once that the good men were either taken or gay. Oscar, was neither taken, nor was he by any chance gay. So tracing the path of a bead of sweat on his forehead, she felt all dreamy. His body uncurled as he stood up, the job done. He looked down at Alexis and gave her a knowing look, that sent her running to the passenger seat in mortification. Oscar joined her in the car, still grinning and they hit the road.
Thankfully he didn't tease, and they embarked on safer subjects namely the inhabitants of the county. It was dark by the time they reached Aurelius.
Getting out of the car, Alexis stood still. Saying goodbye seemed just too paltry. She looked up at Oscar, her heart in her face. Oscar took her face in her hands and said, "You know your face gives away whatever you're feeling. And if you keep looking at me like that, I don't know what I might do."
Leaning down, he pressed a soft but incredible kiss onto her mouth. It lasted for hours or maybe just a minute, but with her face buried in Oscar's shirt, Alexis didn't really care.
Looking up at him she spoke before her courage deserted her, "Oscar, I lied in the morning. I tried counting sheep, but they had your eyes. So I did go to sleep dreaming about you."
Standing up on her toes, she kissed his cheek and fled to the house while he stood with a hand pressed to his cheek and a look of wonder on his face.