The next morning is hectic and I have a pounding headache as I get the children ready for school. They seem different, more quiet than usual and I can only expect for the worst has happened.
At the kitchen table I hover over them and cross my arms. "Spill, what have you guys heard?"
"You and Dad are getting a divorce," Ean says looking over at Eric taking a sip of his coffee.
I look at Eric waiting for him to respond.
"No. That's not true. I love your mother." Eric looks me in the eye.
I almost want to laugh. But I don't.
Ean plays with his food.
"Don't listen to other kids," I grab their finished plates. "Dad and I are not getting a divorce, everything you hear are just rumors." I ruffle Phoenix's hair as I grab his plate and put it in the sink. "Now go, get ready or you'll be late."
Ean stays back and goes into the living room where Eric scurried off too. I lean closer to the doorway to hear what they're saying.
"Dad..." Ean says wearily.
"What is it, son?"
"I-I heard you from the kids," he tip toes around the subject, "that mom cheated. Are you guys really not getting a divorce?"
"No. We're not. Ignore the other kids. Don't you think mommy and I would tell you first?"
I don't hear anything from Ean. "Does mommy still love you?"
"We're working on it." Eric said patting Ean's back. "Don't worry about it."
I peak my head in to see Ean hugging Eric. I make my way back into the kitchen and sigh. Ean scurries off to his room and Eric comes in the kitchen for another cup of coffee.
"Ean really thinks that we're divorcing." He sighs. "Kids these days, they all talk so much."
I frown. "I can't imagine what he's really heard."
"I think I'm going to stop seeing her for awhile."
I raise an eyebrow skeptically. "Why?"
"They can't grow up like this."
"Hmm," Should've thought of that before you cheated. "So you're going to be miserable here with me? Go see your girlfriend. No one has to know where you go at the end of the day," I say unfeeling.
"You don't make my decisions for me." He slams down his mug.
My eyebrows press together. "They can't grow up like this. You being hostile like this isn't helping anything," I bark.
"Then watch your tongue." He snaps. "I'm not in the mood. Work is already shit because of you."
I roll my eyes. "Then quit, God Eric what do you want me to do? Go kill your brother if you're so unhappy."
"Why kill him when I could just kill you?" He smiles.
"Ah, you see, I am the mother of your children." I take a sip of my drink. "Can't get rid of me that easily."
He laughs. "I'll just have to try harder."
I give him a scowling look. "Go to work. Take the kids before you go."
"Don't push it." He whispers in my ear and I know he's smiling.
I push him away slightly. "This is never going to work. We're constantly at each other's throats."
"What isn't?" He says confused.
"This marriage," I throw my hands up. "Staying together for god knows what reason."
"The children and for us. We tried to do the separate thing many times before. It didn't work out."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "This isn't working out either. Us fighting, if we're staying together for them we have to at least act civilized."
"I was being civilized." He shrugs. "Sorry you can't take a joke."
"Tell that to your shattered mug."
"As if it hasn't happened before and at happier times." He rolls his eyes. "I go through a hundred of these a year."
"Happier time," I put a finger on my chin. "Hmm. What times were those exactly? Everything I know about us isn't exactly the truth."
"It is the truth everything before two years ago is the truth." He grumbles.
"Ah okay, I'll just make a mental note to forget everything in the past two years ago considering none of it was real. None of the I love yous, honey I'm working late, the sex...nothing."
"Some of it was. Just not all of it. It's been on and off. It's difficult. I don't expect you to forgive me or even to try to understand any of it, but there was times when it was real. I do love you. I'm just not in love with you."
I don't say it back. Heartbroken I walk away and head to the bedroom to get dressed for the day.
"Bye Elena! I'm taking the kids to school now. Hey gang let's say 'I love you' to mommy. She's having a tough time." I hear him shout to them. "1...2...3!"
"I love you, mom/mommy/Elena!" I hear them all shout. He so did this because I didn't say it back.
I want to ring his neck. "Bye guys, I love you all too," I put on a show. I love the kids it's the truth, but saying all was stretching I considering it meant Eric as well.
I hear the door shut and the apartment grows silent. Eero is in the nursery, I already feed him this morning before the kids woke up. This baby loves sleeping, he's much more well behaved than the others.
Peter comes stomping in, pissed off. "Elena, what the hell is going on now?! What is this?"
"Please tell me it's not another sex tape."
"Are you fucking kidding me?! You have another?!" His brown eyes scowl.
My eyes widen, "No, no! I don't, Peter. I promise. But I don't know who's videotaping me anymore. For all I know Eric took one, or Uriah or--" I look at Peter's unamused face and shut up.
"You're not helping yourself by naming all the guys you've slept with." He puts his hands on his hips.
My face grows red. "What happened now?" I change the subject so it's back on track.
"What happened with you and Eric yesterday? This video floating around looks like something definitely happen."
I watch the video of Eric dangling me by my ankles. "He just got mad at me," I look at his face. "Why are you so angry about this?"
"It's not his place Elena! You're not his anymore! It's ridiculous!" He clenches his fists.
"That's what this is about?" I say almost happy. He's jealous. "Take it up with him if you're so upset--he still is the dauntless leader."
"Bullshit. You two need to set boundaries. Especially if we're a thing now."
"What do you want me to say?" I frown. "Him and I still have to act like we're in love in front of the kids."
"No, you don't." He protests.
"What are you suggesting?"
"I don't know. Don't. It doesn't give us a fair chance. I can't go out and see videos of you two like that. It pisses me off."
I wrap my arms around his waist, "You're jealous." I tease as I grind my hips against him.
"So what if I am." He still tries to be mad.
"Jealousy looks good on you," I press him closer to me and I bring my lips closer to his skimming the skin of them with mine. Taunting. Teasing.
He pulls me in closer his lips clash to mine and he deepens the kiss. His muscles ripple around me, I feel safe in his arms.
"I love you Peter," I mumble against his mouth.
His hands trail up my shirt and unclasped my bra. Still in Peter's arms I grab the hem of my shirt and lift it over my head leaving me shirtless.
He lifts me up slightly and I wrap my legs around him. We don't break contact as we head into the bedroom. He plops me down on the bed and like an animal crawls to me. He brings his lips down on my collarbone and I run my hands through his hair.
He lowers his body down on mine, I feel him grow harder against my pelvis. "Peter," I moan out.
He takes me pants over leaving me completely bare under him. His hands grab both my knees and he spreads me apart more.
My heart beats faster as he lowers his mouth down to my sex. His face between my legs, his hands steadying my hips in place. My hands grasp the sheets in anticipation.
His mouth touches me, his tongue working circles. I breathe loudly when I feel him slip a finger inside of me, he pumps in and out as his tongue makes contact in all the right places.
I try to arch my back but Peters large strong hands hold down my hips.
The speed of his fingers pick up and I throw my head back and squeeze my eyes shut. "Oh, Peter," I moan.
He pulls back and brings his lips up to mine, he takes his pants off and lines himself up with my entrance, still in edge I beg for his contact to fill me.
He thrusts inside of me and I gasp as I grab his back taking my nails into his skin.
"Elena," he breathes against my neck.
I roll us over so I'm on top. I lower myself down onto him and he arches his neck back, his mouth parts slightly. I grind my hips against him. He grabs my ass and helps me move faster on top of him.
My breathing becomes more jagged and I move quicker growing instantly tired. Peter holds me and thrusts himself up into me. I place my palms on his chest, my nails making crescent shapes on his broad chest.
"I'm gonna..." I lean my head back and screw my eyes shut as euphoria fills all my senses and I moan louder than I ever thought I could, Peter finds his own release spilling himself inside of me.
I collapse onto Peter and he flips us over so he's hovering over me. He wipes the hair sticking to my forehead and kisses me.
I lay there in his arms and rub my hands along his smooth muscled chest. "How was I so blind for so long," I kiss his jawline. "I love you so much."
He smiles in between kisses and we rest in each other's arms...that is until Eero starts to cry.
"I'll get him," Peter says.
"My hero," I stretch my arms and close my eyes grabbing a pillow.
Eero's cries silence and it's music to my ears. I never realized how happy I could be with someone.
I get up and make my way to Eero's nursery. Peter is shirtless with my baby pressed against his bare chest. He gives me a grin and I walk over to him peeking at my sleeping baby.
"You're good with the kids," I say soft-spoken.