Song: Cross My Mind - Twin Forks

"Tennessee Williams once wrote; When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone." - Lucas Scott One Tree Hill.

***

The next day, Lexis wakes up to the sight of Hera still fast asleep on the couch and smiles. Maeve walks in to the sight of Lexis quietly watching Hera as she sleeps on the couch, finally able to get a good rest knowing he's alive. He signals for her to leave and return later. Nodding she leaves quietly shutting the door.

The smile on his face is wiped off and turned to a glower as he recalls his conversation with Lea and his father. Letting out a heavy sigh, he seats up, his back propped against a stack of pillows with his head on the headboard. He shuts his eyes in thought, tapping his index finger against the blanket.

Waking up much later than she expects, Hera quickly glances at Lexis and notices his posture and action causing her to smile in relief.

He's awake, he's alive, he'll be fine and they'll be okay.

Stretching quietly, she gets up and folds her blanket, placing it at the foot of the couch. She then ruffles her hair and walks over to his bedside, seating down.

Lexis opens his eyes at the slight dipping of the bed by her added weight.

He smiles.

"What's wrong?" Hera asks voice laced with concern.

"What's wrong? Why do you think something is wrong?" Lexis asks and chuckles.

"Your smile is not reaching your eyes, it's half hearted and you're chuckling to cover it up," Hera says.

He stays silent.

"Lexis don't hide anything from me, please?" She pleads.

He smiles and uses his finger to trace the side of her face.

He stays quiet seemingly weighing options.

"Lea was the one who drugged me," He finally says.

"What?!" Hera says in shock.

"Why?" She asks.

"Apparently she is my mother's sister," Lexis says.

"Wait what?" Hera says in shock.

Lexis repeats his words.

"Where did you hear that?"

"From the horses mouth," Lexis answers.

"Lea told you she is your mothers sister and you believed her?"

"I don't know if I do, I still have questions,"

"You haven't asked her?"

"I was int he ICU remember?" Lexis says lightly tapping her forehead with his index finger.

"Oh my goodness," Hera says clasping her hands together.

"That's why, that's why you were unconscious?" She says tying the links.

"That and the fact that if I'm to believe Lea's words my mother committed an affair with my uncle, Ryan" Lexis says to which Hera's lips twitch as she draws in her lips for a bite. An action that doesn't pass his eyes.

"You're nervous, not shocked but nervous," Lexis says forehead furrowed.

"You knew?" He says his voice going up a pitch accusatorially.

"The day of our wedding, it was one of the reasons why I left you,"

"Okay wait hold up," Lexis says seating straight.

"Let me get this straight you knew about my mothers alleged affair?"

"Your father told me,"

"And you never thought to inform me?"

"That was the day I left you,"

"And you couldn't tell me five years later?"

"Lexis, you'd lost your memories, you had no recollection of Rose, I wasn't sure what you knew and what you didn't. I didn't want to ruin your world,"

"And when I got my memories back?"

"We were in a Cold War for our daughter," Hera says to which Lexis lets out a deep breath calming down.

"Too much happened these past few weeks and even years, the last thing on my mind was your mothers affair,"

She quickly holds onto his hand.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but Lexis it wasn't my story to tell. It was your fathers and I told him that the day he told me,"

"To tell me?" Lexis asks.

She nods.

"It was one of my conditions for leaving you,"

Lexis exhales deeply.

"You know I don't think I've ever heard the full story from you,"

"The full story?" Hera says confused.

"Why you left," Lexis says.

Releasing his hands, Hera interlaces her fingers.

He reaches out and takes her right hand in his.

"Can you tell me what happened? Five years ago and after, I'd like to know your story,"

"Everything?"

"Everything," Lexis answers.

"But you're sick,"

"I think I've received the greatest shock I can get, except you turn out to be my sister...you're not my sister are you?" He says leaning back and raising an eyebrow.

"Not funny," Hera says pouting.

Lexis chuckles.

"It is," He says to which she smiles and shakes her head.

"Come on, tell me I don't have anything to do anyways and have the whole day to waste," Lexis says.

Sighing deeply, Hera nods and goes on to tell him everything.

How Peter approached her, the story on Jake and Nathan, Ryan and Rose, the accident. How Peter and lied about his being dead, how she was after, her moving to Nigeria. 

"When I was at my lowest during the pregnancy E was the one by my side holding me and making sure I didn't fall. E was the one who was a parent to Shakespeare when she was born and I was unable to take care of her. He stayed awake many nights tending to her while she cried, changed her diapers and fed her when I, the mother couldn't. Lexis E's sister took care of our daughter for a whole year while his father tried to give me back some balance and made me able to stand once more in front of you. Even knowing what you did to his cousin Susan, the second 234's virgin E never once treated Shakespeare badly and loved her with every fiber of his being,"

"Hold up what do you mean 234's virgin?" Lexis says interrupting her story.

"Susan the second 234's virgin is E's cousin,"

"You're kidding," Lexis says.

"I'm not," Hera says sadly.

"How's that possible?" Lexis says refusing to believe it.

 That's not possible," He adds shaking his head.

"She is Lexis, I confirmed it myself. Even with what you did to his cousin E never once treated me badly or Shakespeare he was always by our side making sure we were protected and never alone,"

"Hold up," Lexis says raising his hands.

"The second room 234...no Susan was no Vanderbilt, I wouldn't have missed that," Lexis says.

"Because she's his fathers niece," She says further shocking him.

"His father is a Reynolds not a Vanderbilt. His mother is the Vanderbilt," Hera says to which Lexis searches her face for a trace of lies but sees none.

"You're not kidding,"

"I told you, I'm not,"Hera says.

Lexis chuckles slowly, turning into a full blown laughter that leads to his coughing.

Hera quickly pats his back and gets up to get him a glass of water giving it to him to drink.

He gulps it down and looks into her eyes.

"You're really not joking?" He says holding onto her arms.

"I'm not," Hera says sadly, she takes his hand holding onto her arm in her palms and seats down next to him on the bed. 

"So that's why he stopped the case and didn't divorce you?  He's out for revenge?"

"No, Lexis," Hera says vehemently and quickly.

"He only came to stop the case because I made him promise when we got married that should a Black try to take away Shakespeare from me he'd stop them. I never specified which Black. Plus at that time we really thought you were out for revenge," She says squeezing his hands.

"Lexis, E told me he'd process the divorce yesterday prior to your waking up," Hera says to which Lexis eyes thin suspiciously.

"I know it's hard to believe he isn't out for revenge but Lexis trust me. E has been nothing but an angel to me and our daughter please don't think badly of him. I can't have you two on bad terms," She says to which Lexis strokes her palms.

"So has his family, Shakespeare is currently with them. They all flew in once they heard about you not just to take care of me but Shakespeare,"

"And they all know about me? About my history with Susan?" Lexis asks.

"Yes, and they're willing to look beyond that,"

"Why do I find that so hard to believe,"

"It's the truth Lexis, even if E has not forgiven you, he won't hurt you, he promised me,"

"And you believe him?"

"I do,"

"But I don't,"

"Then believe in me," Hera says eyes pleading.

They both stay silent, staring into each others eyes.

"Continue the story," He finally says.

Later that night, while she's fast asleep on the couch, Lexis seats on the bed deep in thought at everything he'd just learnt. Opening his eyes, he makes a call to Maeve making sure to speak faintly.

"Maeve I need you to look into something and get me some information," He says.

                                                                        ***

The next day while Hera is gone, Maeve stops by to hand Lexis some documents.

He glance through them.

"It explains why it was so hard to find but with the information you gave me I was able to find that," Maeve says giving him another file which he takes and looks through.

He exhales deeply once done.

"Are you okay?" Maeve asks.

"I'm not sure," He answers.

"Should I call Hera back?"

"No, I need to think, I won't be able to accurately do it with her by my side,"

Maeve grins.

"Why are you grinning?" Lexis asks looking at her with a raised brow.

Maeve shakes her head.

"Maeve you seem to be quite idle do you want me to give you something to keep you busy?" He asks.

"Urn, no thank you, I just remembered I have some documents to sign at the office,"Maeve says quickly turning around and rushing out.

Shaking his head, Lexis scoffs and closes his eyes to think.

                     Later that night, Maeve stops by again with new documents and to brush minds with him. 

"This," Maeve says passing a document to Lexis as Hera walks in.

He quickly tucks it under his pillow.

"Evening," He says smiling at Hera.

"How was your day?" She asks smiling.

"Lonely,"

"See I knew I should have stayed," Hera says while Maeve gives him a look that says.

"Dude weren't you the one who asked her to leave to think? Stop pretending to be pitiful to fish for love,"

Shaking her head, she excuses herself.

"I made some porridge for you with Shakespeare's help. The doctor said you can't have anything heavy till after a week,"

"Alexandria," Lexis corrects.

"Can't we just call her Shakespeare?" Hera asks opening the flask to pour out some porridge for him.

"No,"

"But Alexandria is too long,"

"And Shakespeare isn't?" Lexis says a smile on his lips.

"It's two syllables, Alexandria is like four," Hera complains.

"Then let's give her a nickname,"

"Let's stick to shakes,"

"No," Lexis ays shaking his head.

"Why?" Hera says frustrated.

"Do you know how awkward it'll be to call my daughter her mothers pet name," Lexis says and shivers.

"Lexis it's not that bad, you had no issue calling her that before,"

"That was when I didn't have my memories to know and understand what the name means. I sure as hell ain't calling my daughter Shakespeare," 

"Fine, shorten it. I can't keep calling her Alexandria,"

Lexis nods.

"I'll figure something out," He says and glances at the porridge pouting.

"I don't like porridge,"

"But you like me, you'll be okay," Hera says to which Lexis chuckles.

"You're quite confident aren't you?" He says.

"That I am, which brings me to this, don't think I've forgotten to reprimand you for not going for a check up after regaining your memories," Hera says glowering at him.

"Ow my chest," Lexis exclaims placing his hands on his chest.

Hera's forehead furrows as her eyes hold a suspicious gleam.

"You can stop pretending, I'll reprimand you later not now," She says to which Lexis replies nodding,

"Ah, I see," And immediately returns to normal.

"So you were pretending!" Hera says lightly smacking him.

"Patient Hera, I'm a patient!" He exclaims earning a glare form her.

He laughs reaching out for her hands.

"Thank you," He says.

"For what?" She asks.

"For mourning me when you thought I was gone," He says pulling her to seat on the bed taking the bowl of porridge from her and placing it on the nightstand. 

"For having Shakespeare and loving me for five years even when you thought I was dead,"

"For  not giving up on yourself, bringing up our daughter well and returning to me five years later. But most importantly thank you for finally telling me you love me,"

"I love you Hera Reynolds, now and always," He says placing his forehead against hers.

***

When this book ends, I'll let you know, so until you see a mighty THE END don't believe anyone's words that it's ended.