It was dumb to hope. She told herself, as they walked back to the castle.
But every moment she spent in his presence made her forget that she had spent those few months after their separation, crying herself to sleep. Made her remember that she still loved him.
And God knew she was never a woman to ignore the state of her heart.
It was what, she knew, made her a good guardian.
Her big heart could love strongly, yet so tenderly.
Nevertheless, she would use her head. She wouldn't throw herself at him the way she had when they were younger.
Some things, she thought, could actually change.
~~~
"You two look like friends right now," Hannah said when she met the together in the courtyard, her hand over her bulging belly.
Jasper wasn't far behind her. He hardly was anywhere else, to be honest.
Rose shrugged, "I have enough enemies as it is."
Cephas turned to her and smiled, "was that what I was before now? An enemy?"
Rose shrugged again, "you weren't really a friend, now were you?"
He thought about her her words for a moment and shrugged as well.
"I'd like to stand and watch where all of this is headed, but I've really got to get off my feet." She stalked off to a bench a little distance off and Jasper followed, pausing only for a moment for a passing word,
"I thought she was sassy before the pregnancy. Boy, have I been proven wrong?" He turned to watch her and Cephas watched as his eyes grew big with love,
"Wouldn't trade it for the world though." He said and looked back at Cephas,
"See you around. He slapped his shoulder before turning to address Rose,
"Looking bright and beautiful, red." She smiled brightly at his compliment,
"Thank you." She said as he waved, then jogged off to be with Hannah.
She simply sighed.
Her friend had been through a lot, but she had a good man at her side. And that, she thought was truly beautiful. It definitely made the hard days less bitter.
"You okay?" Cephas asked her when she had grown quiet,
He looked at her with worry wrinkling his brows,
"Oh? I'm alright. Just got lost thinking."
"You always were a dreamer." He said softly and tugged at her hair.
"Don't do that ." She said, with a pained sigh,
"Do what?" he asked, but brought his hands to his side,
"Speak to me in that tone."
"Rose…"
"Cephas, we're friends now. And we are going to embark on this journey together. But I think it's best if we keep this entire thing void of things that remind us of younger days."
He frowned at her, "Jasper called you 'red' as well."
She shook her head, "you know what? Maybe joining me might not be such a good idea after all."
She said and stalked off into the castle, leaving him in an utter state of confusion.
"Women." He bit out in frustration. shaking his head, he stalked off in the other direction.
"You think they are okay?" Hannah asked Jasper as she watched her cousin walk off to the stables. He usually went to the horses when he needed to clear his head.
Jasper rubbed at her feet as she watched Cephas as well,
"My guess is they just had a petty fight."
She looked at him, "petty fight?"
"Aye. The kind of fight two people in love have when they don't want to admit they are in love."
Hannah's lips twitched. She found it funny, but it was oh so wrong to laugh at her cousin and friend's situation.
"Did we have that?" Jasper thought for a moment,
"In a manner of speaking. You aren't exactly the verbal type, but you would always jut out that regal chin of yours and I knew it was end game."
She burst out laughing, "Did I, now?"
"But God making me the patient man that I am." He said shaking his head,
"Now you're just making all this up."
"I'm not… and you know it." He said with a wink. She smiled down at him until she remembered Cephas and Rose again. Then she shook her head.
"I really hope they work it out."
He bent forward and kissed her leg, swollen by pregnancy. He had never found them as beautiful as he did right then,
"We did. And if Cephas has half any of your sensibilities. Then by God, they will as well."