Take a Break!

[Anna]

May 74

Spring came to their small family sweetly, finding Lucretia busy decorating their new home with care and consideration of her husband's status and family connection. Along with the ever present knowledge that there where three little ones running about - or in the case of Publius - toddling. It amazed her that her son was over a year old now, talking and walking a lot earlier than expected. Alexander pinned that on her, claiming she was the cause of their excellent son. But in truth, all of their children were her pride and joy and each had their own remarkable things about them. Even now as she blew out the candle to darken the room where the three of them slumbered in bed together, she remarked to herself what a lucky mother she had been blessed to be. 

A contented sigh left her, and she smoothed her hand down her flat stomach. Knowing the secret she kept safely in her womb. She and Alexander hadn't discussed another child. Publius had her bedridden, but she had had an extremely healthy pregnancy up until his birth. He had been a heavy baby, having taken advantage of his young mother's health and diet. With one last look upon her children she moved away from their rooms, allowing their governess to sit and look over them through their slumber. And she began to look for her husband, seeking him in each room that she could think he'd be. She wasn't use to the change in layout and most of their belongings had not found their proper place. But it didn't take her long to find him. She merely had to follow his voice.

"Alexander!" She said, her voice singsong as she crooned out her nickname for her husband, bouncing up to him and hugging him around the waist from behind. 

@Tori

[Tori]

Alexander had been directing the servants on where to put things, their new home was mess between what they had brought with them from Octavius' domus, what Lucretia had been given from her family home and what they had purchased for it. He could hear familiar footsteps heading towards him, the gentle scraping of sandals upon tile. Giving a few more orders, he handed his man the list of things that needed to go into his office before he felt Lucretia's slight body pounce him. A rumble of laughter leaving him as he heard his wife's sing song voice.

"Lucretia!" He said back, just not as prettily as she had. He had remembered her precocious nature from when they were younger, and if you had asked young Laelius if he would have dared married Natta's youngest daughter, he would have scoffed at the thought. But there they were, after sharing so many heartaches and triumphs later, they were a team. Married, with children. He had the family and she had him, every step of the way no matter what Quintus decided to throw at him. "How are you, my love?" He asked, turning to her and kissing her forehead. Loving her, he had found, came easy once he allowed himself to see her for more than the child she once was. He realized why it had been so easy for his mother, her father and her brother to give into her.

There was truly something in the saying of 'happy wife, happy life.'

[Anna]

It was hard to believe, looking at the couple now, that there had been a time where the two of them had loathed each other's presence. And to Lucretia, when the memories did cross her mind, she felt that it was literally a lifetime ago. And in truth, it was. Before the war, before their remaining parents deaths that had left them orphans, before marriage. They were not the same people, and for her it made her respect the gifts the Gods had given her even more so than she would have if all the trials and heartbreak hadn't darken their lives. 

She beamed a smile up at him, her body melting against his as she accepted the loving kiss, his laughter had sent warm vibes throughout her body and deep into her very core. "Quite well." She replied to his question softly, "The children are sleeping and I figured I would find you to see if we should retire for the evening or if you needed to stay up." She inquired softly, knowing that her brother-in-law, the Emperor, kept him busy to keep him out of sight and out of mind. But having Laelius home was always a welcomed thing if that was where Quintus wanted him. 

"Besides, we do have something to discuss." She said, pecking him lightly on the lips as she stood on her tip toes to do so. 

@Tori