Hunted

Chapter 23 - Reality and the local wolves saying G'day.

Nick reached over to hug me, not saying a word. We sat there and watched the yarra river, cruise boats moving past, already with people getting into the New Years party mood. He asked quietly, without really much interest in his voice, "Did you want to go out for New Years?"

"I don't know. If you want to. I know you like to go out to places, drink, have a good time."

"I love it, yes. Not tonight though. I'll stay with you here." He squeezed my waist, shrugging. "Let's just sit around and watch the fireworks from here." 

Silence fell as we watched the city again, watched the boats, the people walking along the side of the river, coming in and out of the aqurium on the other side. I loved that Aquireum, had even bought a yearly pass, loved the fish, pengins and the sharks.

"Are you okay? With adopting Matt?"

He tensed, shifting back a bit, and I knew the answer. Nick muttered, "It's going to take a little getting used to."

I nodded. Again the urge to get angry came but I pushed it down. He'd been happy with a speedy marriage, which had been a bit much for me, comfortable with the sudden flight to Australia, and even could put up with being in potiental danger by some dangerous Australian pack that were ready to kill Reece for some reason I didn't know. Now he was going to be a father, whether he liked it or not, unless he decided to not marry me. It was a huge amount.

Or maybe I just couldn't face getting into an arguement with Nick right now. Right now I needed him around.  As soon as I realsied this I sighed, breathing out slowly. Bloody hell. I had to let him talk about those things. "Nick. I don't mind you being honest."

He glanced up then, nodding, lips tightening. "I want the same from you. I... didn't want children. I toyed with the idea when Elena was pregnant but ... it never was something I really wanted that much." Nick said, after a while, as he reached for the menu. He tried to focus on it, tried to look casual, but his face was tense.

"I did want children."

He nodded, folding the menu and putting it aside, but picked it up again, rolling it around in his hands. Nick didn't answer, just avoided my eyes, gazing out the window.

"Guess htis is the kind of discussion we should have had before you decided to marry me."

"I told you, I knew that an hour after we'd met. It wasn't even really a choice."

"Guess introductions don't usually include 'So, do you want kids one day'?" I tried to joke but it came out dry, humorless, and he shrugged. I felt a bit rejected though, at his words, that he'd had no choice to marry me. Like it was an obligation. "You don't have to marry me. You do have a choice."

He blinked and seemed to realise what he'd said, sliding forward, yanking my hands into his lap and squeezing them. "No, that wasn't what I meant. Sitting there next to you, listening to you blabber about baggage missing and a stupid airport, I realised I'd found you when I hadn't even known I was looking for you." He leaned forward, kissing my cheek, brushing hair out of my face. "Far as I'm concerned, we're already married, the wedding's just to give our friends food and a good party."

"But you don't want children and I-" I wasn't even sure if that was possible now. Elena had children, sure, but I wasn't sure if it was possible for me. I swallowed. My throat was swelling again. I had to try nad cry somehow. "I would have liked to try. Not straight away but sometime. I'm sure that wouldn't have made it easy."

"We've got years, Anne, I wouldn't have worried about it." He shrugged. "Maybe I'll like the idea in five, ten years? Who knows."

"What about Matt? How will we do this? If we can-" I trailed off. I was going to say, if we can rescue him, but I couldn't say that. It made it sound like there was a chance we couldn't.