Will be back on normal update schedule for tomorrow. And sorry, Anon, but will probably be saving Charles's realizations for later. Maybe another mission. Too many revelations on this one already. :D
In Pursuit of Happiness
Chapter 22 - Journey
Connor carefully studied the fitfully slumbering Alpha for what seemed like the hundredth time and came away with no great understanding of the Alpha.
Such...curiosity.
From what his father told him, a cannonball had gone amiss during the early phase of their plan and had toppled one of the trees near Lee. The unfortunate Lee had then apparently been pinned underneath the broken husk of said tree, impaled by one of its branches.
Connor’s father had believed the man to be removed from battle capacity and tried to pick up the slack. So thick had the swarm of guards been that he had been too busy battling to keep much of an eye out for Lee, except to note that the Alpha was still alive and had not attracted any enemies.
The wounded man groaned and sweat broke out on his brow.
Connor gently wiped it away, dabbing at the feverish skin.
He stared at the Alpha in incredulity.
To think that Lee had somehow managed to pull himself out from underneath the tree, grab a hold of his rifle and shoot the men restraining Connor before they could kill him...
And all with a branch through his shoulder.
The Alpha moaned again, and Connor stroked his brow soothingly.
He glanced worriedly at the cleaned wound.
He had known some first aid and managed to help bind the wound, stick and all, as they moved Lee from the battle scene to their campsite. Once they arrived, his ship’s doctor had taken charge of the man, sending them on various errands to the Aquila for bandages, tweezers, gauze, thread, needle and good strong whiskey.
Connor shuddered just thinking about it.
Between all of them, they managed to remove the branch, splinters and all, and cauterized the wound. After his doctor had finished sewing and binding the shoulder, a task that made Connor grateful for knowing such wonderful and trustworthy doctors as Michael, his ship doctor recommended by Doctor Lyle, and Doctor Lyle himself, he had declared that they had really gotten Lee there in the nick of time and that a delay might have meant infection and possible amputation.
It was really a very close call, and Connor was glad that they had gotten Lee the necessary attention in time.
Charles.
He supposed he must think of the Alpha as Charles now. The Alpha had saved his life.
After Connor’s plan with the cannonballs went awry.
Charles shivered and moaned, and Connor drew the blankets up, tucking the Alpha in securely.
It would not do for Charles to toss about and upset that shoulder. They had to keep it stable.
Charles groaned again, and Connor continued stroking his brow.
He would guard the Alpha’s bedside this one night.
----
Charles knew he walked in a dream. It had to be a dream.
Because...
Connor walked towards him, his face lifted in a radiant smile.
On one side walked a familiar little boy, Charles’s little Haytham. On the other side, two littler little girls.
Alphas all, two with amber-brown eyes and one little girl with pale blue eyes. They were so beautiful and looked so much like their mother that Charles could scarce believe it. Three beautiful, beautiful children.
The family he’d always wanted.
He walked forward to embrace them, and the three children ran towards him, arms outstretched.
They flew towards him, and he felt the solid comforting weight of them in his arms. Their hair smelt of pine and fresh air and the dampness of a Boston spring.
He had never felt anything better.
If only...
As soon as he thought it, he felt arms wrap around him and the children.
He opened his eyes to see that beloved dark head of hair and bare shoulders of honey caramel.
The grip on him tightened and the dark head lifted.
Charles was met with an impish grin.
He smiled back, finally relaxed.
His family, his wife.
At last.
He’d waited so long for this.
So many hurdles and challenges to get to this point, where his wife loved him, where he had his children by his side.
He ruffled the long soft hair of one of the girls. Such dark strands, even more dark than that of her mother. She had Charles’s hair. She would be a beauty when she grew up, ebony-tressed with striking amber-brown eyes.
And the other girl Alpha, she had his pale eyes, and Charles knew that, when she grew older, she would be able to freeze older Alphas and Omegas with a single imperious look. She had the look of a commander, of a leader, like her own mother, and Charles could already imagining her leading a crew on a ship, perhaps even on the Aquila itself.
A small hand grasped the tails of his coat, and Charles looked to his side to see his Haytham grasping at him shyly.
Ah. His Haytham.
He’d come such a long way from the shy child he was. He liked his parents and baby sisters well enough, but was often shy around other children his age. He always said he preferred adult company, but he eventually outgrew that and learned to speak with the other children.
They were all so very, very precious. Just like their mother.
Beautiful. Precocious. His.
Charles swept a free arm around the only Omega, drawing him close.
So vibrant and full of life, his Connor. And such a difficult journey to get where they were now, happy and together.
To think that it took sending Charles back in time so that he wouldn’t make the same mistakes he made the first time around for Charles to learn and do better. In fact, if he hadn’t—
Charles frowned.
Hadn’t—what?
He didn’t know.
He couldn’t remember.
He frowned again.
Why couldn’t he remember? It was something pivotal, a moment of clarity and when everything came together! The most important moment of Charles’s life, the way he finally earned back his family, and he couldn’t bring up a single memory...?
What was wrong with him?
Something must be wrong.
There would be no other explanation for his courtship, for his wooing of the Omega he loved to be completely gone from his head.
Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 21
In Pursuit of Happiness
Chapter 22 - Journey
Connor carefully studied the fitfully slumbering Alpha for what seemed like the hundredth time and came away with no great understanding of the Alpha.
Such...curiosity.
From what his father told him, a cannonball had gone amiss during the early phase of their plan and had toppled one of the trees near Lee. The unfortunate Lee had then apparently been pinned underneath the broken husk of said tree, impaled by one of its branches.
Connor’s father had believed the man to be removed from battle capacity and tried to pick up the slack. So thick had the swarm of guards been that he had been too busy battling to keep much of an eye out for Lee, except to note that the Alpha was still alive and had not attracted any enemies.
The wounded man groaned and sweat broke out on his brow.
Connor gently wiped it away, dabbing at the feverish skin.
He stared at the Alpha in incredulity.
To think that Lee had somehow managed to pull himself out from underneath the tree, grab a hold of his rifle and shoot the men restraining Connor before they could kill him...
And all with a branch through his shoulder.
The Alpha moaned again, and Connor stroked his brow soothingly.
He glanced worriedly at the cleaned wound.
He had known some first aid and managed to help bind the wound, stick and all, as they moved Lee from the battle scene to their campsite. Once they arrived, his ship’s doctor had taken charge of the man, sending them on various errands to the Aquila for bandages, tweezers, gauze, thread, needle and good strong whiskey.
Connor shuddered just thinking about it.
Between all of them, they managed to remove the branch, splinters and all, and cauterized the wound. After his doctor had finished sewing and binding the shoulder, a task that made Connor grateful for knowing such wonderful and trustworthy doctors as Michael, his ship doctor recommended by Doctor Lyle, and Doctor Lyle himself, he had declared that they had really gotten Lee there in the nick of time and that a delay might have meant infection and possible amputation.
It was really a very close call, and Connor was glad that they had gotten Lee the necessary attention in time.
Charles.
He supposed he must think of the Alpha as Charles now. The Alpha had saved his life.
After Connor’s plan with the cannonballs went awry.
Charles shivered and moaned, and Connor drew the blankets up, tucking the Alpha in securely.
It would not do for Charles to toss about and upset that shoulder. They had to keep it stable.
Charles groaned again, and Connor continued stroking his brow.
He would guard the Alpha’s bedside this one night.
----
Charles knew he walked in a dream. It had to be a dream.
Because...
Connor walked towards him, his face lifted in a radiant smile.
On one side walked a familiar little boy, Charles’s little Haytham. On the other side, two littler little girls.
Alphas all, two with amber-brown eyes and one little girl with pale blue eyes. They were so beautiful and looked so much like their mother that Charles could scarce believe it. Three beautiful, beautiful children.
The family he’d always wanted.
He walked forward to embrace them, and the three children ran towards him, arms outstretched.
They flew towards him, and he felt the solid comforting weight of them in his arms. Their hair smelt of pine and fresh air and the dampness of a Boston spring.
He had never felt anything better.
If only...
As soon as he thought it, he felt arms wrap around him and the children.
He opened his eyes to see that beloved dark head of hair and bare shoulders of honey caramel.
The grip on him tightened and the dark head lifted.
Charles was met with an impish grin.
He smiled back, finally relaxed.
His family, his wife.
At last.
He’d waited so long for this.
So many hurdles and challenges to get to this point, where his wife loved him, where he had his children by his side.
He ruffled the long soft hair of one of the girls. Such dark strands, even more dark than that of her mother. She had Charles’s hair. She would be a beauty when she grew up, ebony-tressed with striking amber-brown eyes.
And the other girl Alpha, she had his pale eyes, and Charles knew that, when she grew older, she would be able to freeze older Alphas and Omegas with a single imperious look. She had the look of a commander, of a leader, like her own mother, and Charles could already imagining her leading a crew on a ship, perhaps even on the Aquila itself.
A small hand grasped the tails of his coat, and Charles looked to his side to see his Haytham grasping at him shyly.
Ah. His Haytham.
He’d come such a long way from the shy child he was. He liked his parents and baby sisters well enough, but was often shy around other children his age. He always said he preferred adult company, but he eventually outgrew that and learned to speak with the other children.
They were all so very, very precious. Just like their mother.
Beautiful. Precocious. His.
Charles swept a free arm around the only Omega, drawing him close.
So vibrant and full of life, his Connor. And such a difficult journey to get where they were now, happy and together.
To think that it took sending Charles back in time so that he wouldn’t make the same mistakes he made the first time around for Charles to learn and do better. In fact, if he hadn’t—
Charles frowned.
Hadn’t—what?
He didn’t know.
He couldn’t remember.
He frowned again.
Why couldn’t he remember? It was something pivotal, a moment of clarity and when everything came together! The most important moment of Charles’s life, the way he finally earned back his family, and he couldn’t bring up a single memory...?
What was wrong with him?
Something must be wrong.
There would be no other explanation for his courtship, for his wooing of the Omega he loved to be completely gone from his head.
Something had to be wrong with—“Charles!”
And Charles woke.