Sienna Stone

Looking around the room I'm in is full of books and software of computers. Clothes folded perfectly in color coordination. Gun holsters strung on the bathroom door handle and the smell of leather engulfs me, with a little gun powder essence lingering.

Julian's room, "kind of pervy of you to bring a weeping girl into your room." I accuse but still look around, being nosy. It doesn't look like he brought much of personal belongings with him. Everything still is bare.

Julian walks over to his closet and without any warning he takes off his shirt, showing his bare back.

This dude is whack.

But damn, he has a muscular back though. His shoulder blades move as he stretches his arms to rid his shirt. His neck damp looking as the lighting in this room shows the glossy sheen on his skin. Realizing he just went for a run or something.

Now half naked with only grey sweat pants on he reaches in his closet and grabs a towel, "if you don't want to stay then leave. I need a shower. If your still here after I finish, then we can talk...up to you." Then he leaves into his bathroom, shutting the door.

A second later I hear the shower start before I think of why the hell am I here i should go---

Until something catches my attention on the side of his desk. A black bag with what looks like a picture popping out of it.

No! Sienna, that is snooping!

.....

My intrusive thoughts win.

I grab the picture from the bag and look at it.

I couldn't help the smile on my face when I see a little boy in the photo. The boy must be about six or something wearing a cute outfit. His cheeks are puffy and eyes alight with innocence. I wonder if this is him? I mean, why else would he have a picture like this. I can tell it is him the longer I look though, the way his eyes look and nose.

I turn the photo and see writing on it.

'Julian Ren Masters, age 7'

He was a super cute kid.

Not knowing how long I've looked at it before I hear the bathroom door open from behind me, I put back the picture, "you know touching people's belongings that don't belong to you is unbecoming." Julian says.

Frowning I look over my shoulder before I squeal, "oh my god, put some pants on!"

He is standing there fully naked with damp dark hair. He is holding the towel in one hand which he didn't wrap around his waist--it's just hiding his manhood, but still showing his prominent V.

He raises a brow at me as if I was the problem and the indecent one, "I will. Turn around so I can get dressed then."

Whirling around, my palms go to my cheeks as I feel them burn up in utter humiliation. "I should go. I'm fine now. Thank you." I blurt out before walking to the bedroom door.

"Are you fine?" He asks, having me stop at the door before opening it.

No, I'm not fine, "Julian."

"Yes?" He promps.

"Are you dressed now?"

"No. Answer my question. Are you fine?" He asked again.

I lower my head, staring at my slippers, "no. I've been miserable for the past week. I honestly don't know what I'm doing half the time. My husband is pushing me away and the twins have been busy as well. Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in a world where I don't belong. Like this nightmare will not rest." I exhale an exhausted sigh, "I feel like Nico is not only pushing me away but also breaking his promise and leaving me in the dark when he said he wasn't."

After a moment of deafening silence Julian finally speaks up, "hmm. I guess we are both feeling that way---the leaving us in the dark part I mean."

I chance a glance over my shoulder to look at him, he is dressed in shorts and a grey tank top, "so what you said about the plan seeming to easy. You were saying that he is not telling us his actual plans?"

He merely shrugs my words off, "I'm sure he has his reasons, right? Look, listen." He lifts his finger in a come here gesture closer to him.

I walk closer until he places both his palms on my shoulders, his eyes meet mine, "do you believe he loves you back?"

That's a straightforward question, "I...don't know."

Julian sighs before taking a step back from me, "then let me answer that for you...he does love you. You may not see it but he does. I don't know the man well--we just met, heck, just looking at him pisses me off for some reason. Anyway, he loves you...how I know? It's because everytime he orders someone around he mentions to someone to make sure you eat, or the time he ordered a man to make sure you are getting the best care you need. Or when we came back from London when he recruited me and got a call from here saying you've been missing. I got to say, I've never seen a man crumble in tears before as he was looking for you for days on end. But hell, I don't know what that's like so maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree for saying this...." he gives me a sad smile, "if that's not a man in love than I'm sure it's him being an overdramatic crybaby."

I couldn't help but giggle as a lonely tear falls down my cheek.

His words did help me. And in those words I can finally see now that after everything, I'm the stupid one.

Because how can I not see how much Nicolai had done for me or rather how his actions are his way of showing me how he feels.

He is a man with little words so he shows it by doing something.  Like feeding me, bathing me, protecting me. How can I have not seen that before?

Why have I questioned his feelings for me in the first place?

I'm such a dummy!

Yet again, I let my head mess with me because of that stupid therapist and my stupid past experiences!

I'm a hypocrite for telling Nico to not let the past dwell on him when I'm doing the exact same thing!

Cazzo!

I shake my head, "even if so, he still said some hateful words to me. I don't think I can face him soon. Or forgive him anytime soon."

Julian nods, "understandable. Hey, since you are here I need to show you something. I showed your husband this morning and it seemed to have bothered him. Yet he didn't look surprised in the slightest."

He shows me to his computer and sits down on the bed, I sit next him as he opens up a screen page. It's all green and black but then turns into a transaction recept. Well shit, he actually hacked in the Galeons servers. Guess he won that bet.

He points to the receipts, "see, I didn't understand it before actually I still don't. But it's a cripted code. The only thing the receipt shows  is prices and a none disclosure word, not in one's that make sense to me."

Subject 120...14

Subject 126...17

Subject 132....18

"What really bothers me is they are all in a bundle order. If it were weapons it would be in a bundle but I don't think these are orders of black marketed weapons..." he trails off seeming lost in his own thoughts.

I don't know either. It rubs me the wrong way too. "Um, Julian I have a favor to ask."

"What is it, depends..."

I roll my eyes at him, "do you know of any hypnosis professionals?"

Julian looks at me weirdly but then laughs nonetheless when he gives me a shocking look.

"What?" I ask, peeved.

He grins and lifts a finger to point at himself.

"I guess fate has brought us together for a reason, Sienna. Because I think I can help with that."

Why does he sound so cocky!?

"Wait, hold up. You mean to tell me you can--"

"I majored in psychology when I went to college my first year. Never done hypnosis but I've read about it. If anything I can give it a go."

Hell. Why not?

"Fine. Let's do it." I say.

Julian chuckles before nodding, "let me get something to make those clicking noises. Oh, I think I have something that will help."

I can't believe we are actually going to do this.

But I have to try.

I need to remember...I have a feeling that I'm missing apart of my life somewhere. This is what I need.