La Familia Importa

[Captain Marcos de La Costa]

Kaori Hotaro: "The mommy duck said, 'Quack quack quack!' But only one little duck came back!" the Nihonnin sang as Mary Beth met her outside to retrieve the babies. "Ah well, we'll continue later!" she said among a small flurry of hugs and kisses before she started for the castle. The morning had been pleasant, both babies well rested and easy to feed and dress. They were pleased to see Mary Beth and she was just as pleased to receive them so Kaori could go to the castle and get caught up on some work. She met with some people, found a pile of work, and taking a big stack of it, headed to the library to work in a quiet environment. Aye her mind wandered and her eyes flitted to the ring on her right hand time and time again, but she was, at least, plugging through a pile that needed attention! (d)

Marcos de La Costa: Marcos was late rising, as the poor man had intended on resting the entire day. However, his up bringing and hard habits wouldn't allow it. So out of bed he moved, dressed and saw to all his morning routines before making his way downstairs. He did grab something to eat, seeing that Kaori must have been thinking about him and had it all out on the table. He enjoyed it as much as he could even if rushed before he cleaned up after himself and moved over to the roll top desk where he was sure to find pen and parchment. He was going to leave Kaori a note, letting her know his plans for the day and how late he might be. Upon sitting within the chair, the wood top rolled up dark hands reached forward to search for clean parchment. One glance, then two was made as something caught his eye. Both his dark brows arched as a few pieces of paper were gathered up and read over. Those brows would furrow with each page read and the temper of the Spaniard began to heat before it was boiling. Without even so much as straightening up after himself, Marcos would leave the house with said papers in hand. His destination? Wherever his beloved Kay was....she had some explaining to do. <d

~Takes Place In The Library ~

Kaori Hotaro: "Shhh!" Kay looked up with wide eyes to see an old cleric at the next table giving her a stern look. "Hmm? Oh!" She winced, and lowered her voice. "I mean, oh! I'm sorry!" She had been humming to herself without even realizing it. And thanks to the twins, she had been humming about the pond of faraway the baby ducks liked to swim it! Dammit all, that would be in her head all bloody day. She turned back to her work and tried to concentrate, but it was hard. Was this what it was like to be in love? Would she never think straight again, would she always be this blissfully happy? It was somewhat repulsive in the eyes of others, but Kay felt no pain. She was in love, and it was bliss. She could see Marcos clearly in her mind. His handsome, chiseled features. Those intense eyes. That gorgeous head of hair that never wanted to behave. And that anger! ... Anger? She blinked and realized suddenly that it wasn't all in her head. Marcos was there. And Marcos wasn't happy. Her head canted as she looked around the room, but no. As her eyes returned to the man heading for her, she realized well that he was indeed looking at her. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: Yes... the Spanish Captain was there and no, he was not at all a happy man. He had literately pushed Argento across the land in a race to get to the castle once a passer by had informed him of Kaori's where abouts. Argento was seen to by one of the castle servants, not even a glance back to the boy or words of departure was made. He climbed the steps two at a time until he was inside. His stride was one full of anger and determination, down the hallway he moved before he stopped a maid. "Senorita Kaori Hotaro...where is she?" He asked her in a irritated voice. The maid pointed to the library and off the Spaniard went, entering through the doors with a bit of noise to have any and all visitors looking his way. Did he care? Nope... not in the least bit as he began to close the distance between himself and the woman he loved, who was by now realizing his visit was not a pleasant one. "Kaori... que es el significado de esto?! Usted tiene algun explicar para hacer!" (Kaori... what is the meaning of this?! You have some explaining to do!) he bellowed out as the papers in his hand were held up to show her just what he was referring to. Unfortunately, when he was angered he often forgot to speak in the English language. Sometimes the emotions he felt took him over and had him forgetting much of where he was or to whom he was speaking and how. "Como podria mantener usted algo como esto de mí? ¡Como?! " (How could you keep something like this from me? How?!) His eyes were intense and their focus... Kaori's own eyes.<d

Kaori Hotaro: She wanted to smile. She really did. In truth, this was the first time Marcos ever approached her and did not put a smile on her lips. The thought of frowning at the sight of him was upsetting, The idea of him being angry with her was devastating however. He was speaking Spanish, and she had to think hard to put the words together through her fear. She was not afraid of him, but she was afraid that she had upset him. That much was evident. "Marcos, what are you..?" She trailed off as she looked to the missives in his hand. She only had to glance to see it was the correspondence between herself, Mikalia and Warden Tsukino. Her breathing quickened as her heart rate did, her eyes darting around the room to see many eyes on them. Standing, she quickly gathered her work, shoving it all in a satchel haphazardly before grabbing his hand and striding out of the library. Looking about the halls she walked quickly, ultimately taking him to her office where a messy desk littered with work and tomes sat among chairs, bookshelves and a series of unorganized files. Once the door was closed behind them however, she kept her head low and quietly said, "This all happened while you were away. I- I didn't want to upset you as soon as you were home." She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes, her voice small and meek. She wasn't sure just how much this was going to cost her. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: Marcos only allowed her to pull him for so long before he would have his arm free from her grip. He continued to follow though, cursing in his language all the while. His head shaking, the looks he gave others as they went this way and that way until they reached her office. "Away or not Kaori.... you should have told me as soon as I got home. Here it is... already que... dos... tres dias?! This... Mikalia could have harmed you! Or the babies... then.. then I would be forced to hunt him down and tear out his heart!" The hold on the papers would not grow any less firm, but in fact more so as his hands flung up and about in some wild frustrated manner. "Y for you to keep this from me... mi amor... I know this did not all just happen. Surely this is something that has gone on since you and he separated." He turned his back to her, his free hand running through the dark locks of hair before it slide down over his rugged face. The other with the papers rested at his hip, bracing against knuckles. "How am I to be a papa if you keep things from me that concern mi Carrine y Caliban?" He asked as he turned to face her once more. <d

Kaori Hotaro: There was a spot on the rug in her office that was suddenly very interesting to her. She had never seen it before. It kept her focus for now, She couldn't look up at him. Kaori, much like Marcos, had a temper. Kaori could get mad, too. But at times like this, when she was the culprit, she took a submissive role. It had been bred into her and it was not something she could take. At moments like this she'd be willing to consider taking her own life if she thought it might please him. "Marcos-" she tried to answer a few times, but he was in a zone and he had much to say. Finally, his final question gave for a long enough pause for Kaori to know she could answer. "The- The correspondence is all recent. None of it is old. It- It wasn't until- until recently that I felt I needed to convince Mik to relinquish rights to the babies. If I thought we were in any danger I'd have shared it with you. As it was, I didn't want you to be worried... Or- or angry!" At this point tears were glistening in eyes she kept turned down and away from him. "I wanted to be able to show you finalized documentation not- not this nonsense! I wanted to give you cause to smile." Wetting her lips, she added, "I'm trying to get it done differently now. It just..." She sighed and quietly said, "It wasn't supposed to be this difficult." (d)

Marcos de La Costa: The Spaniard was about to dish out another set of angered words to show his frustration until he watched her and heard her. She was stuttering and now, she was turning away from him. He knew then she was trying to hide tears as the sound in her voice confirmed his assumption. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself and suddenly feeling bad at having made her cry. Her words did not go unheard and she had wanted to make him happy with the end result. Not worry him with the process itself. Damit though... this was the second time in a month she had gone and done something without letting him know of it. Both were dangerous things and he was the man here... he was the one that was suppose to face and conquer all threatening elements. To protect her... the babies... their life together. His head hung low for a moment before he took several steps to close the distance between them. The papers were placed on her desk as he passed it by, hands coming to her shoulders as his chest pressed against her back. He leaned down, his lips neared her ear. "Por forvor mi amor... me perdona?" (Please my love... forgive me?) He then let his arms wrap around her and hugged her to him more. "I sometimes forget my place.... no, I am not their father... but si... I want to be. It is my love for you and the babies that make me...loco. I would do anything for you... for them...and this ex of yours, should he stand in my way.... our way of happiness, he will regret it." <d

Kaori Hotaro: The relief that flooded through her as soon as she felt his hands on her shoulders was intense. For a few moments there she had been worried she was losing everything she had based her future on due to her foolishness. She had to swallow back a lump in her throat in order to speak. She leaned back into the hug, her hands lifting to grip the arms around her as her eyes closed. "There is nothing to forgive." She let out a deep breath before saying, "You are more of a father to those babies than anyone they've ever known. You're the only person that could ever be their father, Marcos. Mik is a jealous git, but he'll not try to hurt us physically. And believe me, Marcos, I'll not let him stand in our way long. I'm already working at rectifying this matter differently since Loreil cannot help me." She at last was willing to turn and hug him tightly to her. She was so thankful he was no longer mad at her. "I didn't want to keep anything from you. I just... I just wanted to show you something different. You know why I'm doing this. And that was my focus. I swear." She pulled in a deep breath through her nose, relishing his scent in his clothes. "I want you to be what you want to be not just in our hearts but officially, too. You know that." (d)

Marcos de La Costa: He felt those tiny hands lift and hold to his arms as he hugged her from behind. It was strange how such a small woman could have such control over a man. One minute she had him stark raving mad until he could see his rapier running through her ex, the next... she had him purring like some over grown beast with just a touch of her hand. "Si, there is something to forgive... my assumptions of things before I know all the facts. Y para eso... Lo siento.." (and for that I am sorry.) When she turned to finally face him, her arms wrapped around him as did his to her. Those dark brown hues stared down at her as she finished expressing her desire for him to be apart of Carrine's and Caliban's life, not just by one aspect, but all. Marcos then lowered his head some and brushed a kiss to her temple before a hand came to cradle her head to his chest. His fingers instinctively began to run through the long dark sheet of hair idly. The other hand had come to rest as the small of her back and he would silently nod. "Si... this I know mi Kaori... this I know." <d


tbc

[hotarokaori]

Kaori Hotaro: After holding him a few extra moments she was finally able to look up at that handsome face again. He understood, that she was certain of. There was nothing underhanded or treacherous about her concealing the ugly truth of the children's paternity. In all honesty, it completely bewildered Kaori. Mik had no involvement with the children, and as far as she could tell, no desire to be involved. Cal and Carri's biological father had been killed at war. Why there was even a dispute was beyond her. "Marcos," she said quietly, gazing up at him. "I know this has to be upsetting for you. I was positively distressed at first, especially when I found that Loreil could not help me. But I do believe I know a way to get what I'm looking for without involving Mik any longer. He is out of my life. I made attempts to discuss and finalize matters and he has not been receptive. I'm proceeding without him." She then managed a grin that was a bit sly despite the fact she was still a little hesitant. "And I do not live permanently in Loreil." She supposed that was a hint enough to explain what channels she was now going through to get this settled once and for all. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: Marcos would never understand why a man could not accept the fact that children were people to. That despite blood relations, or the lack there of, they were just as important as any other person. That they too had feelings, needs, and wants. All to which is left up to adults to see to those very things. "Kaori.... no more of these secrets though... si? I had hoped that by now, you could come to me for anything. For whatever reason you felt you could not...tell me mi amor, what is it I must do to that will allow you such a thing...hm?" He paused a moment, pulling her even closer if it were possible. "But I am glad that you are finding a way to handle this without him having to be directly involved. I do not want to see him anywhere near you, Carrine or Caliban... so help me Dios... should he tempt fate... he will easily find himself on the end of mi blade, no questions asked." <d

Kaori Hotaro: She winced and bit her lip, feeling like a fool for not having told him what was going on. "Oh, Marcos, it's nothing like that, I swear. I wasn't trying to keep a secret. You've only just gotten home and we're so happy to have you back now. I didn't want to trouble you with this, not yet. And I was hoping that when I could present this to you, it would be with good news, with everything settled. I just... I didn't want to see you unhappy." She didn't worry at all about exposure to Mik. She was quite confident he was out of her and the babies' lives. The problem now was that she had inadvertently done something to hurt Marcos. In Nihon, she'd have expected to pay as severe penalty. Stepping back a few paces, though she was in a lovely blue gown with silver trim, she was instantly on her knees. "Sumimassen, Marcos-san," she said with a strained voice, executing a flawless bow, arms extended gracefully, her back perfectly straight. She was begging forgiveness and she'd stay in that position until she was told she could do otherwise. That was how a Nihonnin would have been expected to react and while she may have been removed from Nihon, Nihon obviously hadn't been removed from her. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: "Si... just arrived home... but as a man... I should be able to see to all things concerning mi famila mi amor. Perhaps it was the way I was raised...along with other factors through out mi vida." Their cultural differences were something they were still having to learn. So when she did what she had, he gave an odd look to her, his head canting until it dawned on him what she was doing. "No no no mi amor... por favor... there is no need to do that." He said as he stepped forward, letting his hand take to her shoulders and have her straighten but relax as his hands glided down the length of her arms so they rested along her sides. His hands then came to cup her face. "Kaori... mi amor..all I ask is for you to let me be apart of things.. no matter how bueno.. or no... si?" He then stared deeply into her eyes and brushed his lips over her own. The kiss was light at first but then grew more firm and deeper. Yes, anyone could just come waltzing in and see such a open show of affection..and Marcos would of course tell them to take a long walk on the short pier.<d

Kaori Hotaro: She wasn't sure if he understood what she was apologizing for, the a Nihonnin man would have. She was not apologizing for what she did. She was apologizing for how it made him feel. She had angered him and upset him and that was what had her begging forgiveness. Gads, had she been of a lesser station she would have fetched a sword for him to remove her head for angering him. It was the accepted way of things. But with his request she nodded. She might have had something to say, but then his lips were against her. It was, at first, a soft kiss. It was that same kiss that made her weak in the knees and her head a little fuzzy. The kiss, however, transcended to something a bit more passionate... as their kisses often did. Kay was eager for the affection, whether in a compromising position or no. It wasn't as if their courtship was a secret, anyway. Just after fearing she may have lost him due to a daft decision on her part... to see him so angry with her for the first time ever... Yes, she was very eager to leave that behind and this was the best possible way. Pulling her lips just slightly away from his, breaking the kiss for the moment, she whispered, "Thank you," against his. What else was there but to kiss him once more, her lips closing the gap once more. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: The things this man was having to learn from his beloved and the things he had yet to come to know. Never would he have understood a woman taking her own life or asking for the love of her life to kill her for disrespect or displeasing him in any way. When she pulled back from the kiss just enough to whisper her words of thank you, he would nod as his forehead pressed to hers. His hands still cupping her face. "There is nada I would not do for you." He whispered back as his eyes looked into hers. Then once more they kissed, Kaori being the one to initiate it this time and Marcos gladly complying. It seemed like forever when he decided to withdrawal , reluctantly at that before he spoke. "I am keeping you from your work... perhaps I should go... si? I do not want to get you into anymore trouble...and should anyone say something to you about it, have them come to me. I will see to it." <d

Kaori Hotaro: "Work? What?" she asked, her eyes opening narrowly before she realized that they were, in fact, in an office and not her home. "Oh... Oh! Oh, my..." The frown on her face was one of pure disappointment. Rolling her eyes, she laughed lightly. "I suppose I should work. Perhaps its best I remain here, anyway. At least in here I can drum my nails and hum to myself without getting dirty looks." It was a bit stuffy in her office, but she often kept the door open, anyway. She simply didn't like to work there because she was a social creature, and in her office there was no society. Of course, her office was far more tolerable with the handsome Spaniard courting her present. She shot a look toward the door as if telling it not to open and she reached up to pull him into one more kiss, this one firm and lingering for a moment... two...three before finally she let her lips part his. "You'll come home tonight, of course?" she asked him with inquisitive eyes. (d)

Marcos de La Costa: He had to chuckle at that... the woman had completely lost herself in the moment it seemed. "Si.. work..and eh... point out the ones who gave mi amor these dirty looks." He smirked, yet he was as serious as could be. The Spanish Captain didn't like it when others said or did things to those he loved and cared for. That went double for Kaori and the babies. If he can threaten the life of a priest for slapping the Lady Eirian, he'd have no quarrels with seeing to others things whether more or less serious than that. Marcos then glanced over his shoulder to the door where Kaori had looked before returning his attention back to her with a grin. Though it would seem as if his beloved didn't want him to go just yet as she pulled him into a third kiss. When she broke it, he was smiling then gave a playful look about at her question. "Eh.. I am thinking mi crew would like mi company tonight..." He teased as he then looked to her and chuckled. "Of course mi amor... there is nada that could keep me from coming home to you..." He leaned forward, gave her a peck on the cheek before he turned toward the door. He lingered there, looking over his shoulder at her. "I will see you at home ...you y mi babies." He said before giving her a wink. "But for now... I have other things I must see to... like, finding the Admiral and being filled in on all these recent events." He then headed back down from which he had came. A few looks were given to him and he glared right back. He even spoke to one woman as he passed her. "Hay un problema?" Not stopping to give her a chance to respond, he made his way out the library and then the castle. After mounting Argento, he was off to find Captain Jack Flynn so they could talk business.<d

Kaori Hotaro: She had grinned at the joking and lifted to her toes for the kiss to her cheek. When he spoke of being filled in on things, however, that made the grin fade. She heaved a sigh before turning to her desk. She bit her lip and looked back toward the door her beloved had exited. Her eyes once more moved to the desk and she silently thought to herself, "I seriously need to work on getting this thing cleared off..." She concealed a secretive little smirk before getting serious about getting back to work. (d)