The Pipers busted into her apartment, no doubt alerted to the crashing of furniture and glass, but were summarily dismissed. Viv remained kneeling on the floor, thankful she had not taken off her sneakers because of all the glass, but her heart broke looking at the poor little orchid.
Viv loved orchids. She wasn't sure how the Alpha knew, maybe he didn't and just thought she'd like it, but it was her absolute favorite. This particular species was a Cymbidium or the boat orchid. Bloomed in the winter and could grow up to sixty centimeters. It was mauve pink with five petals, the center a deeper hue of rose. She couldn't bring herself to touch the flower and just looked at it as it laid on the floor amidst glass and wood.
"I think you should tell him now, Hammer," Viv said as she looked sadly at her broken flower. And to her surprise, Hammer did.
She had guessed at Hammer waiting ten long years to be with Lily. It wasn't in Hammer to take up a scandalous relationship with the Alpha's wife and it must have killed him to do it. The way he talked about Lily, even his tone changed saying her name. Hammer loved her more than anything and had never loved anything or anyone more since her. It reminded her of his father; Vigo never remarrying after his wife's death, never fathering any more children even though it was expected of him. Hammerthynn families had a minimum of four boys and had been that way for generations. Vigo was the first to have only one.
How long the two men suffered silently, living within the confines of their indifferent and expected personalities. The only thing they had were their Jameson counterparts. Vigo had Duncan and Hammer had Brig - so much alike, they were. This was why Vigo sent Viv to Nachton - to make sure Hammer and Brig did not suffer alone. Ever. Both sons were slated to step into the Elder positions, and both fathers did not want to see a lifelong friendship that had serve them well emotionally and professionally not benefit their sons.
Brig finally spoke, confessing the pain that Hammer had caused in him. Maybe Hammer really did think that hiding one secret for so long would not have caused this much damage, but Brig let him know that it wasn't so much that Hammer did what he did, but that Hammer didn't trust Brig enough to help him weather that particularly painful storm. What were cousins for after all?
When Brig stood, Viv did not stop him. There wasn't much else that could be said. She didn't look at him when he returned with a glass and did his best to save her orchid. But when he kissed her on the cheek in front of Hammer, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally fell. He understood the damage in her apartment was not just monetary or material possessions; that the orchid wasn't just a pretty flower.
After a minute, Hammer stood, the sofa chair creaking as he lifted his sizable weight off it. Walking over to Viv, he knelt down and apologized softly, promising to have someone clean up the mess in the morning. Viv looked at Hammer and when he saw the tears streaming down her face, his expression was shocked. Painful shame rose up into her face and she turned away, standing.
"That's fine Hammer. I'm going to bed now." Viv side stepped by him when Hammer reached out and grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. Without looking at him, he pulled her close and hugged her. It was probably the most unnatural thing in the world for him to do and it left Vivienne confused, her face tightening up against his chest. It reminded her of Vigo and how much she missed him.
"Forgive me, Viv?"
Viv wrapped her arms around Hammer's huge chest and cried. "All right," she said, her voice muffled by his torn shirt. "But just this once."
((OOC Hammer and Viv out))
Continues in That was just a love tap, yo
Cajun chicken with linguine
Continues from Business and Pleasure
Charlie stood at the kitchen counter, holding a butcher knife in one hand while the other lay flat on the plastic cutting board. A slender, brown arm reached across him, grazing his flat hand, causing shivers to run up spine. He lifted his thumb as it passed again, letting it touch the arm. Clearing his throat, the hand that belonged to the arm put a round, beef-eater tomato in front of him.
"Want this diced?," he asked, looking at the rest of the body that belonged to the brown arm. Vivienne flashed her bright smile and nodded, wiping her hands on her red apron.
"You can cook...right?"
"I've seen Top Chef."
Laughing, Viv wrapped an arm around his back and pressed her mouth into his shoulder. She patted him on the back before she turned, picking up a large set of dishes, and backed out of the kitchen's saloon style swinging doors.
Rolling his eyes, Charlie tried to catch his breath and ignore Vivienne's scent on him. He listened to her set the table when he heard the telltale noise of the rest of the Pipers coming to her door. Their voices carried through the walls and Charlie could hear Red, Domingo, and Lewis knock loudly on Vivienne's apartment door.
He had managed to be alone with Vivienne for almost a half hour, coming early to avoid the other Pipers not so quiet whispered teasing and attention. He had been put on prep duty, which was fine, since he spent the entire time in the kitchen with her. Looking at the knife, he began cutting the wet tomato into diced pieces for her dish. In no time, the other three Pipers that had shown up came into the kitchen and were put to work along with him.
Red came in first and clapped Charlie on the shoulder, winking at him. "You say anything to her?"
"No! God, Red." Charlie looked over his shoulder and blushed.
"You should tell her," Lewis said washing his hands, using the sound of the water to mask his whisper.
"Tell her tonight, after we all leave." Domingo even felt the need to give his advice, smiling as he did so.
Charlie held his knife up and used his index finger to mimic slitting their throats. "Come on, leave me alone."
Red shrugged as Vivienne reentered the kitchen, silencing the rest of them.
Vivienne Sena
13 years ago