The Secrets

“I’m alright for now.”
____

“I’ve already had a lecture about that so I’ll save you your time.”

"Mm, okay."

---

Maxwell just shook his head then

She moved to sit on the edge of the ship to watch the water.
____

He kissed her head

(( What now? ))

((Shall we skip a while for all of them? Say they all grew closer and maybe Nereus and max are on the start of a relationship?))

(( Could do. How long? ))

((How long do you think would be enough? A month? Two months?))

(( I was thinking more 6 months))

((6 months sounds good))

(( Okay. You first? ))

((No worries I’m driving home in a minute so I’ll reply soon))

(( Okay ))

Six months later…

Nereus had somehow managed to convince Max to let her stay around and they had stopped at an island where he was still being a doctor but she was now his assistant to give her something to do. She hadn’t thought much about things back home and hadn’t made much contact with her brother since he had gotten her letter before she left. When she wasn’t helping Max she was trying to sort her life out and right now she was in the ocean looking through coral reefs and all she could think of was Max.

Meanwhile in France, Evander was living the life of luxury with Catalina at the vineyard he had come to enjoy life out there. He was always willing to try everything that she showed him and introduced him to having a new lease of life with her. He exchanged occasional letters with his sister but nothing incistent both of the siblings trying to live their lives as they should have and so far he was enjoying his.

(( Sorry I still don't know what to put, my head is all foggy ))

((Oh, are you not feeling any better? We can hold off until tomorrow if you want and try then?))

(( Off work for another week, got a doctors note today ))

---

"Stop it, stop it. Stop!" Catalina laughed in French as she jogged through one of the fields toward Evander - a tan colohred Beauceron dog at her heels that would occasionally jump up and nip her hand in play. "No, no, no. Pierre."

---

Maxwell sat in a small clearing of a nearby woodland, sat with his back against a recently felled tree. A journal resting against his knees as he quietly wrote.

Nereus eventually checked the position of the sun and she decided to head home in time to make Max some lunch, she had snagged some fish for him and she ate hers raw as she walked back to their home that they shared.
________

Evander looked up as he heard them and he laughed softly as he watched them. “Having fun?” He asked when they reached within heari mg distance of him.

Catalina offered a playful grin, patting the dog on the head before throwing herself at Evander - the full force of her weight behind it as she tried to tackle him to the ground.

---

Maxwell remained where he was, not paying attention to the time and completely engrossed in his work.

He let her tackle him, figuring that he needed to give in at least once to stop her causing them both an injury and he was laughing as they landed on the flooring of the veranda. “Hey babe.”
_____

Nereus had thankfully made something bf that was easily carried and could be eaten either hot or cold, so she packaged it up and headed out to find him using her vampire senses to do just that. “Ah there you are, I’ve brought you some lunch.”

"Hi," Catalina grinned, laughing as the dog boisterously approached and began to lick Evander's face.

---

"Mm?" Maxwell hummed, taking a moment before looking up at her properly. "Oh, hi."

“What’s got you so entranced!” She asked as she moved to sit across from him, putting his lunch in front of him.
_____

Evander laughed softly pushing the dog off of him playfully

"Nothing exciting." Maxwell insisted quietly, closing up the journal before she could properly see anything. "How was your swim today?"

---

"Go, Pierre. Go!" Catalina commanded, pointing dramatically in the direction for the canine to follow. Her attention going back to Evander when it had left, "How are you?"

“Pretty amazing the reefs are flourishing.” She told him. “I wish you would join me one day, I could share my breathing with you and we could explore together.”
______

Evander laughed softly as he watched. “I am fine love, how are you today?”

"I respect the ocean, I sail her. I have no interest of going beneath the waves." Maxwell grimaced. "It's a phobia."

---

"'Fine, perfect. I have been organising something for you, a surprise."

She nodded. “Fair enough.” She told him. “So what have you been up to today?” She asked. “You were out before I was this morning.”
_____

“A surprise?” He asked.