Olivia

"I know how you feel about yourself, my love; but what you did today was ballsy, and I'm so proud of you."

Not even five minutes, and my mood has already increased with having Jasper around.

"Hey, Jas. . ."

"Yeah?"

Biting my lip, my brain conjures multiple plans for me to say 'hey, so, you're going to be a dad; what do you think?' But all that comes out is, "Thank you for everything, and your dad isn't going to be upset I pulled you away, is he?"

"No, my love." He glances toward the hallway with a cheeky smile. "But he will kill me if I mess around, although, it will be worth it."

Rolling my eyes, I nudge him toward the hallway. "Go on, you, shoo."

"I love you!" he calls over his shoulder on the way out.

"I love you too."

When he leaves, a deflated sigh falls from my lips before I shuffle toward the backdoor where the garden resides. The memory of our wedding resurfaces, and it's like I'm reliving it again. The music, the chatter of our guests, and Jasper twirling me in his arms, laughing and sharing sweet whispers of affection.

I'm blessed, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Kicking back my feet on the grass, allowing the gentle breeze to calm my stomach, enjoying how it tumbles through my hair. The earthy scent draws me into a mellow state, and the rustle from the hedges with the nesting birds only sets the tone. Then something scrapes behind me, and my heart spikes.

"I see the way you waltz around here, princess; you belong somewhere so much better," a deep voice announces on the way through the slider doors. "I've got a job to do, and I'm afraid where you're going isn't pleasant. You should've listened to the warning signs."

Something metallic taps playfully against the bench between us, and when he throws it up to catch it, silver glints in the moonlight. Golden swirls decorate the handle before landing in a faintly tanned palm, and I snap my gaze to where his should be if it weren't for the overcast of the hood.

I jut my chin at the figure and keep my posture firm. "What is it you want, Sir?" Scanning our surroundings in my peripheral view, there's no one around, and the music would cover my call for aid. "I can promise you this isn't where you should be, nor what you want to be doing," I reason. "Tell me, and we can sort it; my fiancé will be along any minute now."

At least, he would've been if he weren't away with his father until late tomorrow.

"Not this time, sweetheart."

Knowing I can't get round him, I dart in the opposite direction. Running across the grass, feeling it slide over the revealed section of my flat shoes, I head toward the only place I know where I can find help. This man clearly has more skill under his belt than I do, so I can't let him get his hands on me. I need to find my bearings, regroup, and find a rout to give us the upper hand on him—

His weight knocks into me, and we tumble across the ground, and it doesn't take long for a fight to break out. Kicking his leg from under him, I turn, knowing if I can make the last mile, Emit's little place of heaven will be there.

A searing pain shoots through my back, and I'm pushed into the earth again, the wind knocked out of me. Agony stabs at my back, and I keep my eyes on the blade, making sure he doesn't get past me to use it. Our dodging and clashing freezes when a familiar voice catches my attention, but I can't pinpoint who.

"Get back, it's not safe!" I yell.

Pain radiates through my midsection, followed by my back as something thunders through the clearing. The ground hits my knees first, then my side before my head connects with the grass. Something wet trickles over me until my dress is damp and my skin is slick. It stings my eyes to the point I can't see anything but a nasty haze, and there's nothing but a strange fume smell. It burns my wounds, and I can't hold in the hiss any longer.

With a final attempt for answers, I swipe at the man's face. Another thundering boom echoes around us, my breath catches, and multiple hooded figures surround me like vultures.

A slender orange hue bleeds into my vision, and the cringe sensation of blood pooling beneath me as tears mix in with the substance in my eyes. Rolling onto my back with a gasp for breath, the last thing I see is the match drop before there's a small pinch to my skin as everything grows black—

"Olivia!"

I jam my eyes open, feeling the soreness in my throat. The breeze chills the flesh on my cheeks, and I startle when Graham's face is inches from mine. He abruptly steps back, lowering his hands repeatedly in a calming motion, and my hand instinctively touches my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I can feel my heart steadying.

"S-sorry, Graham, I-I just need a minute." Shaking my head, I pull in more oxygen, the nausea dimming. "H-how was the meeting with Jasper?"

I've seen the sympathetic look on Graham's face, and I see it now. He was the first to realise I was a Memoir, and he's been the most sheepish because he doesn't know what to do to help me through the transition since the boys are still in their first life cycle. I'm thankful he isn't making a comment on what just happened, but the firm expression he's wearing concerns me more.

"You need to leave."

I'm aware I'm staring longer than I should, but my brain's buffering.

"Is something the matter?" I question the best I can without my voice trembling.

His brows narrow. "You know what's going to happen if you stay; and for the sake of yourself and my son, you need to leave before someone finds you."

"I think they've already found me," I retort without missing a beat. "And I think you know something about it, don't you?"

Graham's blue eyes harden, fists noticeably balling. His posture's angled into one for intimidation, and a lump forms in my throat at how effective it is.

"Then you better leave before I'm going to have to make you, Olivia," he grits, but there's a flash of regret in his eyes.

My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water as I try to think of something, anything to make sense of this. His eyes don't match his words, but what one can I trust?

"What's going on here?"

Flicking my gaze over my shoulder toward the door, I'm relieved to find Jasper standing there with an annoyed look on his face. Graham thankfully backs up and storms off with a pissed expression; then the door slams behind him.

Jasper comes to me, and like a baby, I cry and hold on tight to him. "Jasper, I had another memory. . I saw w-what happened. I'm certain Tina and Turner were there, a-and there's a man; he's highly skilled at fighting, but he w-wasn't the boss." I choke out a breath. "Your dad was t-trying to get me to leave."

His shoulders rise and fall heavily, nostrils flaring. "And?"

"And he said he would make me if I didn't."

The cogs are practically on view as they turn within his head, processing everything until his lips settle in a thin line.

"Stay clear from him for the time being while I figure out what to do with him. I'll speak to Emit, and he will protect you in my absence; if it comes to it, I might have to take you to Mními."

Ever since he mentioned the home for Memoirs, I've tried everything to envision it. Visiting, however, has been a no go since the uproar of the people. Jasper doesn't want me to get hurt or brought into any of the crossfire, not until things have settled down and I'm ready to help the people. I want to do something for them now, feeling a bond forming even though I've never been there yet, but I know acting on emotion like that won't do any one of them good, nor Jasper.

"Jas, can we go there one day anyway? I want to see where I came from, I want to meet our people. . . do you know who my parents are?"

His face falls.

"Oh. . . I got it."

"They loved you, Olivia; they didn't have much, but what they had, they gave you. We took you in when you were nineteen, and you know the rest. My family adored your parents, and I know I did too."

I curse my memory for not speeding up, I want to remember them like I remember my current parents. I know Jasper told me when we're born on this side of life, we are practically adopted, even from Mními. We only have one real mum and dad to be born from, after that, we're just spawning energy.

"Do you think I'll ever see them again?"

Scratching the nape of his neck, his eyes soften. "When we die, we don't go looking for our past families because it could take forever, not only that, but remembering them as well. If a child dies, they won't remember their parents until later on, and vice versa. Although, you will get that familiarity if you're near them. In a way, our lifespan makes up for it."

"Because we can spend more time together?"

He nods. "That's right."

"So. . . what happens to the royalty? Do they return when their memories are restored?"

"No, actually," he begins, taking me by surprise. "It passes down through the bloodlines, and when they eventually die, there's a re-election; until we know what happened to the First Family, them and mine are the longest reigning."

If the First Family were dead, that would make Jasper's family the next in line for the throne. . . I can see how that's suspicious to those who don't know the Petrovas like I do, but they wouldn't do such a thing.

Jasper clears his throat, giving me a soft squeeze. "Anyway, we can go to Mními whenever you want; if you wish to leave, once we're sorted, we can up and leave and not worry about a thing, my beautiful wifey."

Giggling, I climb into his lap when we lower to the grass, and he's more than happy as he curls his arms around me. "Sounds like a plan, superman, take me away."

He picks me up and rushes around the garden, the both of us laughing like a pair of maniacs, and I love it. With the simplest, joyous things, he makes me feel free. Alive.

"I'll even show you our favourite spots if you'd like?"

I bob my head frantically. "I would love that, thank you, and maybe it will help jog my memories too," I offer.

"That would be nice, but as long as you enjoy it and we can make new memories, then I'd rather that," Jasper coos against my hair, causing me to swoon.

"You're an amazing man, and I'm glad you're my True Love. . . I can't imagine being with anyone other than you," I murmur, inching toward his lips.

"And I, you, my precious True Love," he replies, pressing his lips sweetly to mine. "We'll get through this, I promise."

Plucking a strand of grass, I trail it across the back of his hand. "I know we will, because we have each other."

"And the rest of our lives."

We do, and I know we can do this, no matter how hard things get. And no matter what happens, I'm never going to leave him again, or our little one.