@Shewolf13 Not bad at all! I love Diego
And the fertile thing, totally my bad, I was watching a show while I was playing and not paying attention, gah! Bella, I thought, deserved to play a good role in one of my stories after paying her penance in my legacy for destroying my heart in oshizu's rival dynasty, hehe. She's actually doing a good job at it, too!
@FrancescaFiori Eeee, I'm loving the dynamic between Diego and Aislin. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3: What The Heart Wants
Aislin: Listen here, I don’t appreciate you just…constantly…showing up all the time. I’ve got important business to take care of, and I don’t need to be distracted.
Diego: So, you admit that you find me distracting?
Aislin: Er. Um.
Crap. Anyone would find that suit distracting!
Diego: -chuckles- I think we both know that isn’t what you meant.
Aislin: It is entirely what I meant! I…I don’t have to sit here and listen to this. I don’t. I’m. I’m going!
Diego: Now, just wait a moment there. What are you so afraid of? I’ve heard about you, and—
Aislin: Um, I’m sorry, what? You’ve heard about me?
Diego: -smirks- Did you really think you could break a dozen hearts and no one would talk about it?
Aislin: Oh, crap. That’s not mortifying at all.
Diego: Never fear, I like what it says about you—you won’t settle for just anyone, you need to be challenged, you have high standards, and you’re not afraid to seek that out. But you
are afraid to take it when it’s right in front of you. Why is that?
Aislin: Oh, what, you think you’re my perfect match? Hah! I can’t stand you.
Diego: Liar.
Aislin: Okay, I’m going now. There’s nothing you can say that’s going to change my mind about this—you are insufferable, conceited, and there’s no way you could ever possibly enjoy the things I do. You need to let this go.
Diego: The things you enjoy? One look at you and I can take a guess. You’re right, I’m a city man. I like the finer things in life—and I suspect you would, too, if you would just believe that you’re deserving of them—but, dear, I would gladly trek through a jungle to spend a moment by your side.
Aislin: I…Those are pretty words, but they won’t sway me. Goodbye.
Diego: Now, wait—
Aislin: No! I said goodbye, and I meant it!
Aislin: All right, Bella, enough is enough. I trusted you, and you set me up. You gave Diego my number, didn’t you? And then you told me to go to the city, and Diego just happens to show up? Fess up. You’re behind all of this.
Bella: Well, someone had to do something. You can’t possibly be blind to how attracted you are to him. Have you even given him a chance?
Aislin: No, and I’m not going to. I know his type, he’s not…he wouldn’t be happy with someone like me, not for long. No one ever sticks around, everyone always leaves, anyway.
Bella: Oh, Aislin, I know what you’re afraid of, but that shouldn’t scare you anymore. Sai took that away. He’s not going to break your heart.
Aislin: What would you even know about that? You left your family.
Bella: …
Aislin: I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair…
Bella: Do not presume to know why I did what I did. I have my reasons, just as much as you have yours for undertaking this task. I love my children, and I loved Mortimer, and I did what I did for them, even if they’ll never understand that, even if…even if I’m not allowed to see them ever again…I know what it is to love someone more than your next breath—and I know that you have a chance of knowing what that’s like. Don’t let it pass you by.
Aislin: Bella, I’m sorry, I—
Bella: I’m sorry, I need to be alone right now. Do whatever you want, Aislin, I know you will at the end of the day. I just hope you take my advice to heart.
Aislin: Wow, I really put my foot in my mouth there. All right. Bella thinks I’m being a chicken. Well, I’ll just prove her wrong. I’ll prove both of them wrong. Neither of them are going to stop until I ‘give him a chance,’ so I’ll do that and then they can leave me alone. Ha!
Diego: So, this is where Aislin lives. How charming.
Diego: I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep away for long.
Aislin: Oh my god, get over yourself. I just invited you over to talk—so that you can say your piece and we can both go our separate ways, and everyone can stop telling me I’m running away from something. I’m not afraid of anything.
Diego: From the sound of that, I’d say you’re still running. You aren’t giving me a chance at all if you’ve already made up your mind that it won’t work.
Aislin: Listen, I know you, buddy. I know your type, and that’s how I know it won’t work. We’re from two entirely different worlds, and on just a basic level, we’re too different from one another. You’re going to get bored, and you’re going to hate not living in the city, and you’re going to hate me, and I’m just…I’m not interested in living with that for eternity. So, what on earth do you think you can say that will change any of that?
Diego:
Cherie, you are adorable when you’re all worked up. You’re right that we’re very different people, but you’re so wrong if you think I could ever be bored of you. You have a fire in your heart that will keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, and I have an inkling that you will drag me on many a fine adventure. The moment you spoke to me, you laid a brand on my soul that ruined me for any other woman—I will never hate you, I will never leave you.
Aislin: -teeny tiny squeal-
Aislin: No, uh uh, no way, I’m not…I’ve got to…
Diego: Running away again, are you?
Aislin: I can’t think around you! This, whatever’s happening here, it’s dangerous.
Diego: Oh, the best things in life are. Is life truly worth living if we aren’t risking something?
Aislin: I…I don’t…Diego, I can’t, not with this, not with my heart.
Diego: How can you not believe me when I say I will not hurt you?
Diego: How can you deny the fire that burns between us?
Aislin: You can’t just do that, Diego!
Diego: And why not? You can be afraid if you want to, but I won’t. I’m willing to put it all on the line for you, I will chase you with every last breath in my body, and I will not give up.
Aislin: I am afraid. You’re scaring me.
This is scary to me—I live for adventure, I love the idea of plunging into the wilderness and not knowing if I’ll make it back out. But I watched my father walk away, and I saw what it did to my mother, and death has to be kinder than that. Being in love, that’s scarier than a mountain lion right on top of you.
Diego: Then be afraid, but do it with me. Let me be here every moment to ease your fears, to sooth you when those memories come for you, to comfort you when you cry. Let me be the one that holds you in the night, and know that I will always be here for you.
Aislin: You can’t promise those things. You can’t promise you won’t hurt me, because you can’t know what will happen.
Diego: I do know. I am more certain of this than I’ve ever been of anything before.
Aislin: Well…I…you…I hate you, so how about that? You should go.
Diego: You’re running again,
cherie. I won’t let you push me away.
Aislin: I’m not running anywhere. I said I would give you a chance to speak your peace, and I’ve given you my reasons, and you haven’t convinced me of anything, so if you don’t mind—
Diego: Actually, I mind quite a bit.
Aislin: You’re a jerk.
Diego: Shut up, you love me.
Aislin: I hate you.
Diego: No, you don’t.
Aislin: This will never work.
Diego: Nothing will ever work as beautifully as this.
Aislin: I’m super afraid of commitment, and I’m probably never going to want to get married, and I get really freaked out if I have to stay in one place for long, and I’m always wanting to go and find new things, and see new places, and I—
Diego: Aislin, I would love nothing more than to pledge myself to you, but if it will ease you, than I can promise you I will not consider our relationship any less important just because we have not signed a legal document about it. We don’t have to get married. We can go on as many trips as you want.
Aislin: I want a family.
Diego: Nothing would make me happier, except of course, you finally admitting you want me.
Aislin: I hate your suit.
Diego: You love it, and you love me.
Aislin: Ugh. Do you want to move in?
Diego: That, and something else.
Aislin: What?
Aislin: Yeah, all right, I can get on board with that.
Diego: I thought so.
Aislin: Okay, don’t freak out.
Diego: Freak out about what?
Aislin: So, I know we weren’t exactly trying, and that we still have a lot to figure out, and I still kind of hate you—
Diego: I’m starting to think that’s your special way of saying ‘I love you’.
Aislin: —but um, I may have felt a little nauseous this morning, and so I may have taken a test, and it turns out that well, um, I’m not sure how to say this, but—
Diego: Oh, please, do not play with my heart. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?
Aislin: I’m pregnant.
Diego: Yes!
Aislin: Oh good, you’re happy. I was a little scared. Because we didn’t really decide anything last night, and I know you haven’t made any promises, and—
Diego: I believe, actually, that I vowed to never leave you last night.
Aislin: Yeah, but, see, I’m pretending I didn’t hear that so that when you do leave, it’ll hurt less.
Diego: You’re a silly woman. I’m very happy to be starting a family with you.
Aislin: So, guess what!
Bella: What?
Aislin: I’m—hey, you don’t look so good. I mean, you always look fabulous, but you look kind of sad. Are you okay?
Bella: I…I think you should share your news first.
Aislin: Okay…I’m pregnant!
Bella: Oh, Aislin, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.
Aislin: Thank you! I’m really happy, and so is Diego, so that’s good. I guess I should thank you for that, huh?
Bella: You don’t have to, I only gave you the nudge you needed.
Aislin: So, what are you looking so glum about?
Bella: I really shouldn’t be. It’s a happy thing, it is, but it brings memories to the surface that I’d rather not dwell on. I don’t…I shouldn’t burden you with this, but it impacts you as well, so I can’t see how to keep it from you.
Aislin: Well, don’t! Just tell me what it is.
Bella: As it turns out, I am expecting as well.
Aislin: Oh my god! But, I thought you said you couldn’t see Mortimer ever again…?
Bella: I can’t. It’s not his baby. It’s not anyone’s baby, actually.
Aislin: What do you mean?
Bella: -sigh- The spirits, in all their wisdom, saw fit to bestow a child unto me.
Aislin: I don’t understand.
Bella: Can you bear the thought of your child losing a sibling?
Aislin: Oh. No, I can’t. I never thought about that.
Bella: You have the fertile trait. It was bound to happen, so…this is their solution. I want to make it clear, though—I’m not unhappy about having another child. I already love this child very much, I’m just a little sad, because it’s made me think about the children I had to walk away from.
Aislin: Of course it does. Oh, Bella, I’m so sorry. But at least you have a chance to raise another child and keep them close to you. And our children can be best friends! Isn’t that wonderful?
Bella: It certainly is. That does warm my heart.
Aislin: Good! Now, I need to go do something. Are you going to be okay here?
Bella: Yes. I’m actually feeling a lot better already.
Aislin: So, hey, thanks for meeting me here, J.
J: No problem at all.
Aislin: I’m afraid it’s not
that kind of meeting, though. In fact, would it be okay if we were just friends?
J: Oh, sure, that’s fine. What did you call me out here for, then?
Aislin: Well, for one, I needed to get carrots. For two, I have a job proposition for you!
J: A job? Eh, I mean, I am getting bored at my current one…
Aislin: Right, so, this is going to sound really awkward, and I can’t think of any other way to phrase it. Do you want to move in with me, quit your job, and sleep with a bunch of women for the rest of your life?
J: …What’s the catch?
Aislin: Uhhh, no catch? See, I’m kind of doing this dynasty thing, and so I and my family are going to be around for just about eternity, and so the rest of the town is probably going to die off eventually unless we do something about it, and you’re the solution! If you go have a bunch of babies, then the town keeps spinning, see?
J: Oh, children. You want me to have children.
Aislin: Yeah, that’s kind of a requirement to the sleeping around bit. You don’t have to raise them, but you do need to have them.
J: I’ll feel kind of bad, though. I mean, I’ll be fathering children whose lives I won’t be involved in.
Aislin: You can be exactly as involved as you want to be!
J: Yeah, all right, sounds good enough.
Aislin: Oh yeah, I’ve totally got this dynasty thing. I am not panicking at all. The idea of spending my life with a man who could totally break my heart does not terrify me even a little bit. I am growing a child in my body that I could totally screw up if I do or say the wrong thing, but that’s not scary at all. Woooo, breathe, it’s all okay…I’ve got this. Just gonna water some plants. That, I can do.
Diego: Hmph, mathematical diagrams are so unworthy of my talent, but
ma coeur needs them to keep her focused while she gardens, so this I will do for her. This, and anything else under the sun. She is the light in my life.
J: Aw yes, quit my job. That is awesome. I am so awesome.
Aislin: You’d be a little more awesome with a makeover, though!
J: Rude. Very rude.
J: Hey, Zoe! Thanks for coming over.
Zoe: No problem! Nice place you’ve moved into. How are you?
J: Oh, pretty good. Want to see the upstairs?
Zoe: Sure!
J: Best. Job. Ever. I mean, I could do without the woodworking, but someone’s got to earn the real money in this house if we’re ever going to have nice things, and I need nice things to impress those ladies.
J: Did you just walk right up to the bedroom door, stare at it, and then walk back down the stairs?
Lilith: Vampire break in! Rawr!
J: But you didn’t even try to bite anyone. We’re all standing out here. You just stared at the door.
Lilith: Vampire. Break. In.
Aislin: Still not freaking out. Definitely not. The reality of all this responsibility is
not just now hitting me.
Geeta: Darling, are you all right?
Aislin: Totally! I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine? It’s not like there’s this man around that has professed his undying love for me but doesn’t know that I’m going to live forever and he isn’t and so is totally going to abandon me and his unborn child the second he finds out about it and I really should have had that talk with him before the baby thing happened, but the baby thing was unplanned, so now it’s too late and the whole world is going to be ruined? Everything’s fine. I’m fine.
Geeta: Oh, you poor thing. Just tell him. It’ll all work out.
Aislin: He’s going to leave me.
Geeta: He is
not going to leave you. You are a treasure, and that man knows it.
Aislin: I’m pretty sure he hates me.
Geeta: Maybe you think that because you’re afraid to love yourself, hm?
Aislin: What? Who would ever…I certainly do not…I mean…Come on…What?
Geeta: I love you, but sometimes, you’re not very bright. Just trust Mama Geeta and go tell him the truth, and then come tell me how right I was when he doesn’t leave you.
Aislin: So, um, thanks for coming here right after work. I wanted to talk to you in private.
Diego: Oh? How’s my little boy doing? He’s going to be so strong and amazing, just like his mother.
Aislin: Diego, I need to tell you something important.
Diego: Yes, sorry, darling. What is it?
Aislin: So, something I didn’t tell you. Whoops. Sorry. I kind of got roped into doing this dynasty thing that may involve me, um, living forever, and it may be against the rules for anyone other than my heirs to join in on the immortality thing, and so, you know…this isn’t a normal life we’re going to have together. You didn’t sign on for this, and I’m sorry, and if you want to leave now, I’ll totally understand, I won’t blame you, I—
Diego: Aislin. Breathe.
Aislin: What?
Diego: You’re panicking again.
Aislin: Oh, was I? Heh. No…Definitely not.
Diego: What did I promise you?
Aislin: Um. That you wouldn’t leave me.
Diego: And I’m not going to. Not now, not ever.
Aislin: Oh. Well. That’s good, then. Good talk.
Diego: I love you.
Aislin: Shut up.
Diego: Haha, you love me, too.
Aislin: Maybe.
Diego: I’ll take it.
