I mean it.. She started as she curled her fingers around Ella's hand, and brought the hand to her lips, placing a small kiss on the back of a knuckle. I've been enjoying.. acting as an advisor for your grand..father? Feels odd saying that, but we have ears. She looked to the door, trying not to let the bit about potions let her falter. I'd rather us not have to lie to one another outside of keeping any affairs secret from one another. It would be easier if the change I want to see being made came through official channels.
Plans had been in motion, before.. before all this. Do we really need to put it on paper? He's on retainer, he's paid no matter what. Until you die, isn't that right Jensen?! She finally called at the door, her thumb gently stroking over the back of Ella's hand. Any preferences on the new house?
Novella studied her wife, quietly for a moment. Probably would be quicker, and safer, through official channels. But you'll lose a lot of friends. It wasn't easy convincing those sorts to trust you, but it was easy to lose their trust.
Mmm, I'd like it on paper. We fight too much. Might be nice to have a contract, reminding us of our agreements. But Kaczor had asked about the house, and Ella shook her head. Maybe we can look in father's neighborhood, though. Some of those houses could be persuaded to be for sale.
Only if they believe I've been 'converted'.. Besides, I've done more than a lot have at this point. I think it would be safe to retire my wild, youthful days and finally allow my mother to have her fondest wish for me to 'do my civic duty as the Tilani Heir and become a productive voice in our society', Kaczor changed her voice to affect her mother's timbre and cadence, before shaking her head. At least this way I'm doing it of my own free will and not.. being forced into it.
Jensen, we need to dictate a limited term agreement. Null and void if one of us has a child outside of the marriage, to protect us both. And write in this one that if at the end of this contract Ella wishes to walk away from our marriage she does so without and of the normal bullshit that's put in our prenuptial agreements. Annie retains the name, and the inheritance as my heir. And custody can be split, amicably, or.. she can be adopted to a couple of our mutual satisfaction, with full visitation rights at all times. She looks over to Ella, her brow drawn. Are these agreeable adendums? Since neither of us are keen on a child outside one another, its.it's.. protection for Annie. It'll superced our original prenup if we do it like this, and that way my family can't interfere.
She looked to Jensen to confirm her understanding of the law, Make sure her father's lawyer gets a copy of it, make sure it's iron clad that my family can't push Annie out. Then her eyes went back to Ella, If you agree to adding this.
Also, add in that if at the end of the contract we wish to stay in the marriage, we will have a family and peer only ceremony that's not as part of an arranged marriage. Her mind was working hard to make sure it was fair to them both, protected Annie, and allowed them freedom if they wanted it after.
Novella chuckled quietly, Really good impression of your mother. She admitted, with an eyeroll. But then the lawyer was in the room with them, and she hummed quietly, listening to Kaczor.
Very agreeable, she murmured. Term limit of two years, then? Since we won't revisit the promised second child until six months from now? She suggested, raising her eyebrows.
I'd like a copy kept here, as well. Knowing our spats... It'd be easier to remind the other, if they could pull the contract out, defined in legal letter.
Please, I have lived with her my entire life, and since you know I turned out like my aunt she's practically frothing at the mouth I have a duty to the family. I think she sees her sister in me, every time she looks at me. Kacozr said quietly, and then sighed, rubbing her fingers over her thumb a few times. Three, so that it put's Annie in a position to have her first magic aptitude testing and whether we'll need to make special arrangements to get her out of country so they can't do to her what was done to you.
She looked back to Ella, brow knitting together some, Of course, in the safe, so that we both know where it is, it's just, not very romantic.. She frowned a bit, Do we need to define ... She steeled herself, the entire thing even painful to think about, terms of any lovers you may take. I don't want them in the shared household if you take one, I...
She couldn't help the fist that tightened, nor the way her chest started to feel like her heart was going to stop.
Novella nodded once, in agreement with the change to the contract length. I... was not aware that having a contract with your spouse could be... romantic? Elaborate? Ella tilted her head, studying her wife quietly.
I... don't think we need to define those. I imagine if there are any indiscretions, it will be kept far from you. I do respect you. She reached to smooth out one of Kaczor's hands, gently. I'm not going to look for someone, I just... wnat the option to be there.
Lies, lies, lies. She needed it open-ended for her work; a black widow couldn't very well be a black widow if they couldn't get close to their targets, after all.
It's not, I hate the entire idea of this, but if it.. if it keeps Annie safe, that's all that matters. Look, I.. Ella, I spent a good portion of my life whoring around, there's no easy way to put that, I did. And you... she shook her head. I would like it in the contract. Not inside the shared home. No one I have as a personal friend which shouldn't be too hard, it's not like I have too many of those these days, and no one that you'll look at as a long term replacement, one or two times and then another. And after each a check up for your health. I'll submit to the same rules when and if I choose to take one myself.
Her fingers traced over Ella's, I need this part written out so that if we fight again in the future it can't be about this... I, I can't promise if I find out about any of them that I wouldn't be tempted to murder them, which is why I need rules about it. Just the thought of you with someone else make me feel a bit murderous, but if this is what you need to make this work.. I will try, I will try really hard to be okay with this. Rules help. At least, I hope they will.
She was going to have to have a cry soon, all the more all of this hurt.
And Orion was quietly seething there in the corner, waiting for the perfect time to strike back.
She listened, quiet, considering her words carefully. And she squeezed the other woman's hands, I agree to your terms. If you need rules... then okay. She couldn't come clean about what her work really was; because... well, Kaczor had been a target.
And she wasn't certain she wanted her wife to know just what kind of target she'd been.
Jensen, take all that down and leave now please. Kaczor said, twisting in the seat of the sofa, her fingers going to slide between Ella's, and she waited until the man was gone from the room before she talked again.
I can't promise that I won't be jealous, I think you knew that in the beginning though, didn't you? With my inability to do anything half way? She gently tugged their joined hands upwards, until she could turn them to where she could place a kiss on the back of Ella's hand, if she could. You know I'd gladly tear that to shreds right now if you told me you didn't want it, right? Are you happy with these terms, or are you agreeing to them because you think I want all this?
Novella watched her wife, as Kaczor ordered the lawyer out of the room, and pulled her hand to press a kiss to the back of it. She hummed, quietly, a ghost of a smile crossing her lips, Don't tell me you're having second thoughts, now that it's inked. These terms are acceptable.
She didn't pull her hand away from her spouse, I will move out of father's spare rooms, once we've gone house-shopping.
It's not that, I just don't... Kaczor sighed gently, looking down at the hand in her own. I am trying hard to meet you on this, I know you view this as an arranged marriage, but it doesn't have to be all there is to us, Ella.
She wished she could figure out the way to put in that wouldn't send her wife spiraling again, wouldn't make her think that Kaczor didn't see her as she was. So for now, she supposed this would be what she'd have to endure till they found one another again. This is what you want, this isn't just to.. make me happy right? That's all I'm asking, I suppose. I .. I'll start looking for a house.
She sat back on the couch and took one hand up, to drag down her face gently, the weight of the past few weeks settling in hard. We'll.. keep here if only as this is where most of my clients come. I'll turn it back into just my office and a spare bed if I have a later night case.
Ella watched her wife, and smiled softly. I am... happy with this arrangement, Czora. A little give. The other woman needed it. We can look for the new house together, she clarified, biting her lip. That wasn't very demure of her.
I think... this is good. Though I don't know that I like the idea of you sleeping at the office. She wrinkled her nose, Might give people the wrong idea.
But she reached to claim one of Kaczor's hands, grinning slightly. You could keep the playroom, Annie'll need a place to play with her nanny, while her mapa works.
Novella threaded her fingers through her wife's, and smiled softly. Thank you. For the contract. For... compromising.
I'll feel better with your brother next door if any of them get violent. Not that I don't think I could defend myself but... But it was better to have scary rabid dog privilege if she was going to seemingly cut ties with the resistance group and go about things in a more official capacity.
I still don't like any of this. But, what else could she do? Please not right next door to your father, I still think he'd murder me in my sleep if given half a chance.
Novella tipped her head, studying her wife quietly. She felt safer with Malik nearby. Interesting. Just don't sleep at the office often. People will talk. She murmured, squeezing the other woman's hands in her own.
So, not right next door to father. We want two separate rooms, with a shared master in-between. Nursery, playroom... probably another bedroom. I'd like the children to have a nice yard, she mused, reaching for a piece of paper, to work on a list of wants vs needs with Kaczor.
By the time she was leaving, a little later that evening, she kissed Kaczor's cheek and stated, I'll see you in the morning? We'll visit a house or two.
