Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ School of Love ❯ Chapter Twenty Three ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"Oy, I see the lass was brave enough to come back," Rachel smirked as she saw Leia get out. "Come here and let me look at you."

"Easy now, Rach, remember that you owe me one."

"Aye, I know that."

Rachel held the bag of candy in her hand and glanced at Patrick as she pushed her bangs from her eyes. Her pony tail blew in the wind as she walked to Rachel. "Hello again."

"Ye are a brave one. Going into a den full of drunk Irish men. Patrick, protect yer woman well." Her smile faded as she saw Patrick's hand. "What happened to ye?"

"Just cut it at the house," he told her with a smile. "It was an accident."

"Let me see it!"

"It's fine. Really," he assured her. Fixing his glasses, he just nodded to the sound of more laughter. "Mike telling stories again?"

"Isn't he always?" Rachel laughed and motioned."Come in! Come in! Leia, if ye don't mind I can use some help preparing dinner, and last time you seemed to know your way around the kitchen."

She nodded. "I'll be in there in a second," she said. Grabbing Patrick's arm, she pulled him to the side of the porch as Rachel went in. "You are either lying to her or to me." Her eyes were hard. Lying was something she didn't take kindly to. "What happened to your hand?"

He sighed, never really noticing how vicious she looked when she was mad. "Ye'll be mad if I tell you."

"You tell me or so help me God I will make this visit the most miserable get together ever," she warned harshly.

"I got it climbing over a barbed wire fence," he explained quickly, not wishing her to make a scene.

"What for?" she asked confused.

"To get to a private airfield," he muttered softly.

She froze. "No...no!" she yelled. "Are you stupid! Do you have any idea what could have happened if he found out it was you!?!" She smacked him in the head then pushed him. "Do you have any idea how much damage he could do to your life? To you family? You are so...so...stupid!"

"He killed my child! There's not much worse that he could do to me," he snapped. Cursing in his native tongue, he fell quiet, not wanting the people inside to over hear him. "That bastard got what he deserved."

She stepped back from him. The first sentence out of his mouth was the one thing she never wanted to hear. She turned her back to him. Her hands were shaking as she slowly moved them to her empty stomach. "Whatever," she said quickly and walked inside, moving to the kitchen and avoiding the men in the living room.

Rachel looked up as Leia walked into the room. "Aye, what is wrong lass? Ye look as if a banshee's taken hold of ya."

"Something like that," she said softly. "Just an upset stomach," she added. "What can I help with?"

"You can help by sitting down and telling me what you think of some of my desserts." She nodded to the table full of desserts. Evidently the cooking had already been done long in advance.

There was shouting and cheers as Patrick finally made his way into the room as the men began to cheer and laugh while passing around drinks.

Leia looked at the desserts then at Rachel. "Why did you want me in here to help if nothing is needed to be done?"

"Because, I wanted to spare you the braggarts in there," she said, nodding to the living room full of men. "But if you wish to be by Patrick then by all means."

"So Patty, how's life as a teacher? Has it softened you up any?" The brown haired man hugged his younger brother, messing with his glasses as he laughed. "You still got any of the ole training left?"

Patrick rolled his eyes. "Michael, I love ye to death, but if you don't gimme back my glasses I'm gonna have to kick your ass."

"Of course you will," he smirked. "Come on. I've been over in Iraq for a year and haven't had a decent fight. Let's go. SEAL versus Marine."

Patrick laughed and grabbed a beer. "Right. In your dreams." Popping the top he offered it to Michael. "A drink to your health."

Michael laughed and gave Patrick back his glasses. "Alright. Alright." Wrapping his arm around his little brother they toasted. "To my immortality, and to Patrick not getting picked on by little kids."

Leia leaned against the wall. Why was she here? Why did she ask to do this? They were nothing like her. They were a family. And her family...it leaves scars and marks. Her fingers brushed the stitches in her lip and the now smaller bruise on her cheek. Her family only knew how to take and hurt. And all the good ones...they were dead. Just like her baby. She looked down at her belly. There was still a slight bump there like she was still with child, though it was very hard to notice unless looking for it. She would have to run and work out to make it go away.

"So Patty, have ye seen my daughter yet?"

Patrick froze. Shaking his head, he watched as Michael waved his wife toward them. In her arms, wrapped in a pink blanket was their daughter. "Isn't she a chip of the ole block?"

"Yes, she's wonderful," Patrick said softly. He looked back toward the kitchen, excusing himself, he looked at Rachel and then to Leia. "Would you like to come join us?"

Leia glanced at the baby in the woman's arms from the door way. Her hands balled into fists and she looked away. That could have been her. She could have started a new family, one built on love and respect. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Patrick and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

Patrick looked back at his brother who was watching them curiously. Moving Leia out of sight, he leaned in and gently kissed her. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," she said. "And I really don't think now is the time to bring it up."

"I know. You just looked like you could use a kiss," he explained.

Her eyes met his. "Not in this house in front of your family."

"Why not?" He reached down and took her hand, interlacing their fingers together.

She pulled from him and looked over his shoulder. "Because they are staring..." And that was just what they were doing, trying to see what Patrick was hiding.

He bowed his head and groaned. "My family is going to be the death of me," he whispered.

"Oy! Patty. Who's the lass in there with you?" Michael asked.

Leia froze. Yes, she was going into lions. Was it too late to bolt? She didn't have to meet the family. It wasn't like they were in love and were super serious.

"You've got to the count of three to make your decision," he whispered, staring into her eyes with his emerald ones. He knew that look. She was scared to death. "One.... Two... Thre-"

Leia pushed him aside before he finished. She wasn't one to back down. Even if she was young, with stitches and a broken heart at the moment. "I'm Leia Johnson. It's a pleasure to meet you all," she said in Irish with a perfect accent.

Michael looked at Patrick and then to Leia. There was a moment of suspicion before he burst out laughing. "Oy! Patty, where did you find this lass?" He gave her a small bow, not even bothering his mug full of whiskey. "I'm Michael McClain. The eldest son of the clan McClain, and Patty's tormentor." He winked at Patrick who had moved behind Leia protectively. "That is my wife Sally, and my sweet little daughter Jessica."

Another member stepped up. He looked like an older and somewhat more clean cut version of Patrick. "I am Jacob McClain," he said with a nod. "Back from the Emerald isles."

The third man in the room was obviously American with his brown hair and brown eyes. "And I'm Richard, Rachel’s husband. It's a pleasure to meet you, Leia."

Patrick put a hand on her shoulder, daring any of his family to say anything.

"So Pat. What is this lass to ya?" Michael asked. Of course he would ask that. All eyes were already on them, might as well make the situation even more awkward.

"Banchara," he said slowly.

Michael's smile fell, his drink nearly falling from his hand but he managed to catch it before he lost any of it. "Dáirire?"

"Aye."

Michael looked Leia up and down and then to Patrick. "Sise déanfaidh sí séanmhar?"

Patrick nodded. "Aye."

Michael looked at her once more before nodding and smiling. "Come lass. Do ya drink?

Leia smirked at their talk. She understood perfectly. Looking up at Patrick she tried not to show the overwhelming pride that he had said straight out that she was his girlfriend and she made him happy. Turning back to Michael she shook her head. "No, I don't drink," she said honestly. "Though," she pulled her bag off her shoulder and opened it. "I brought some with me." She pulled out a few of the expensive bottles of alcohol she had offered Patrick the first time he came to her house. "I don't know if you will like it but it's suppose to be some of the best stuff out there." She offered the bottles to his family.

Michael looked at the bottles and then to Leia. Then at the bottles and then at Patrick. Back to the bottles. From there, he paused, a small tear rolling down his cheek. "Damn you Patty. Must you always find the perfect ones." He hugged the bottle to him as if it was as precious as his daughter. "Sise sainmhíniú a coimeádaí."

"Aye. I already know," he said. Squeezing her shoulder, he took one of the other bottles and grabbed a glass so that he could pour himself some.

"Now that the introductions are over and we have some find drinks," Michael said, an evil glint in his eyes. "I say it's long over due for a McClain brawl."

"Really, Michael. We're all far too old for that and I'm a teacher not a ruffian."

"Like hell ye are! I know that Irish devil is there," he smirked.

Leia's heart pounded hard against her chest as his brother said she was a keeper in Irish. And the look on Patrick's face when he said he already knew that... There were things they should talk about. Things that were important to talk about, but those things she would never talk about. She sat down and tried to listen to the conversation but her eyes kept falling onto the baby girl in Sally's arms. Even with all the loud talk, she slept so peacefully...so at home. Almost instantly, her hand when to her stomach.

"Oy! Leia, what all has Patrick told you about his past," Michael said with an evil smirk.

"Oh come on Michael. You're home for a month. Don't make me hate you again," Patrick said, shaking his head as he sipped on his whiskey.

Leia snapped her head to him. "Umm...what?" she asked. She heard her name but that was about it.

"I was asking what all Patty has told you about him," he said slowly.

Patrick ran a hand over her back, staring at her with a worried look.

"Oh, uh, Mr. McClain and I don't really share much of our personal life...." she said slowly. Would that seem odd to others? Now that she said it out loud, did they only really stick together for the sex?

"What?" Michael looked over at Patrick who now had his head down, not wishing to look at others. "I see...."

"It's mostly because of me really. I don't really care to know things and I don't care to share them," she said honestly. Wow...she sounded so...bitch like. "That sounds a little cold..." she said softly. "It's not like he doesn't ask questions. I mean...he's asked about my family and things but I've never really cared to ask him questions." What could she say? Before she got pregnant with his child, she thought it was just a fun pass time to be with him. At the time she was also having the same pass time with another guy. Now that she wasn't pregnant....would they still be exclusive or would it be an open relationship again?

"Hey, it's none of my business," Michael said quickly, waving it off with a laugh. This was quickly followed up with a change of topic as he started to talk to his other brother.

Patrick shifted beside her. Finally he just stood and walked into the kitchen and began nitpicking at the food.

Leia sat there alone and shifted in her seat. What exactly was Patrick doing with a girl like her? He was wasting his time on a sixteen year old girl who knew nothing about his private life. Should she be more...emotional? More sentimental? More...mushy like other women?

Once again, her eyes fell on the baby. Would it have been different if she were still pregnant?