regency au } { of strained bonds and missing connections

[hereditare]

Laura: [so she will corner him in his office at some point after she's noticed he's there past when he normally is.] Is something wrong?

Derek: No, just trying to catch up on a few matters. [not looking up from his ledger]

Laura: Mmmm-hmmm. [she'll move to sit nearby, fixing him with that knowing sister look over his shoulder.]

Derek: [and yes, she is being an annoying sister because reading over his shoulder] Can I help you with something, dear sister?

Laura: Just wondering what's going on with you and your wife.

Derek: Nothing that needs your intervention.

Laura: I wasn't looking to intervene. I was simply wondering if you needed someone to talk to.

Derek: [and he sighed, pulling his quill down and rubbing at his face] Let us just say that you are lucky not to have a human as a mate and watching them age.

Laura: [she tips her head to the side] Is Elena's age becoming a factor?

Derek: According to Deaton, it is.

Laura: Is she not well?

Derek: He has told her that she should no longer bear my children at risk for her health.

Laura: [she sighs softly] You had to have seen this coming, Derek. She was not doing well after her last birth.

Derek: I am aware of that. I am not blind to my wife's condition, Laura.

Laura: Then what is the issue? You've been blessed with many children, and if she's healthy otherwise, then what is the ... [and there's a pause as it clicks into place] Oh.

Derek: [and he's just quiet, going to clean up his desk because this is a very uncomfortable thing to talk to his sister about]

Laura: [would you rather it be Peter? Because Peter is your other option, and it's not like she doesn't know he's sleeping with his wife. The brood of children gives that one away quite well] She gets up and rests a hand on his arm gently] Derek, it's not the end of the world.

Derek: How would you feel if you knew that being intimate with your mate could lead to a condition that could kill them?

Laura: I would be grateful to know so that I could show some restraint but it's not your fault, Derek. She is human. Honestly, I'm surprised you had as many children as you did before this became the case.

Derek: And what if having all our children as we did is the reason this has happened?

Laura: Then I don't think Elena regrets any of it. She loves you and she loves your life and your family. She wouldn't have had it any other way.

Derek: It still doesn't change that I can't risk being intimate with my wife without risking her health.

Laura: Then get creative. I'm sure that there are ways the two of you could still be intimate without worrying about conception.

Derek: I am very creative, thank you. Her pleasure isn't the problem. [he doesn't want to make it hard on her feeling unable to satisfy him]

Laura: Then you should let her get creative. I know it's not ideal, but I'm sure she would be more than happy to find ways to return the favor.

Derek: It is not the same. It's not what we want. [because he knows its not what Elena wants anymore than he does]

Laura: Well, we can't always have what we want. And I'm sure a healthy, living wife matters more to you than this does.

Derek: It does. Which is why I work until I'm too exhausted to think about being intimate in that way when I return to my chambers.

Laura: And while I'm sure that works for now, you're going to have to come up with a whole new method of avoidance when you're in Mystic Falls with no work to do. It might be easier if you tried talking with your wife.

Derek: I have been talking with my wife. [maybe not about this topic, but he hasn't gone cold on her]

Laura: You know what I mean. Intimacy is not just about the physicality of the act, and I know that you are not the best with words but ... sometimes even with mates, it's better to say them out loud. Otherwise you're going to have a very long carriage ride to France ahead of you.

Derek: [sighs] I will figure it out.

Laura: [she sighs because she tried. But as she gets up to take her leave] I will say, that she likely doesn't have long left as far as child bearing is concerned. This may not be a concern for long. Don't treat it as though it is the end all and be all for that part of your relationship.

Derek: I'm not. I've heard there are alternatives that are possible. I just need to find the truth in them.

Laura: Then do that. But make sure you let her in, because these are choices that affect her too. You don't have to do it all on your own.

Derek: I had already planned to. [he just would wait until he had certainties, not possibilities]

Laura: [she nods again, before giving his shoulders a squeeze] Go and see your wife. [she pulls back] That's an order from your alpha.

Derek: [looks up at her] That is a gross abuse of power.

Laura: It's for your own good. I regret nothing. [and she'll slip out the door to go find her own mate]

Derek: [and he will sigh and close his book, blow out the candles and head home]

Elena: [and she will be writing in their room, sitting on the window seat with a candle. she's gotten used to him being late, even if she can feel the distance, she's trying not to let on to that and keep pushing forward]

Derek: [and he will come in, trying to be quiet in case she is already sleeping]

Elena: [and she will look up when she sees movement and smiles] You're early.

Derek: I thought perhaps you would enjoy my company.

Elena: [and that makes her smile wider] I always enjoy your company.

Derek: I realize I have been distant lately, and I apologize for that. It is not because I do not love you.

Elena: I know. We've simply had some adjusting to do. [and she will hold her hand out to him, curling her legs under her a bit so he can come sit with her]

Derek: [and he will go to her, sitting beside her, but not saying anything as he leans into her]

Elena: [and she will settle against him and get comfortable, keeping his hand in hers] I missed you all the same.

Derek: I have missed you too.

Elena: [she's quiet for a moment, before giving his hand a squeeze] I know his isn't easy. I feel it too.

Derek: I'm looking into options that we may have. Once I know ones that are real options, I will bring them to you to discuss.

Elena: [she nods] Then I'm sure we'll have a solution soon enough. [she trusted him, and she was certain that he was determined enough.]

Derek: I don't want to do something that would risk your life.

Elena: I know. [one hand comes up to brush against the side of his face gently] But I also know that for you, that's a form of expression as much as anything else. [he's not particularly wordy, her husband, but when they're alone together she can feel it almost as much as if he's said it aloud.]

Derek: [leans into her hand] And we are both so good at it.

Elena: We are. But as much as you can't risk me, I do not want to risk you either. [because anything that hurts her, hurts him as well]

Derek: I'm not the one who would get pregnant.

Elena: No, but if there were consequences down the line ... [she pauses before looking up at him] I know how our bond works, Derek. [and while some have survived, while Peter had survived, her husband was not Peter, and she didn't want to take the risk]

Derek: I know you do. And it's not the bond I fear. Even without the bond, I don't know how I would survive without you.

Elena: [she sighs, one hand coming up to brush the side of his face] You would find a way. You'd have our children to consider.

Derek: Our children are getting older. Soon I worry they will be the one putting me into an early grave. [small smile]

Elena: [she laughs] I don't think you have much to worry about. Most of them are young still.

Derek: But they grow fast.

Elena: And Clara at least will need her father. She's going to have her first full moon soon.

Derek: Yes, I know.

Elena: So I would be useless to her, and you would be essential. That would be the thing that would get you through.

Derek: You will never be useless. She is a young lady and there are things that women go through I can never admit to understand, and never will.

Elena: So they need both of us. Which means we will have to show some restraint.

Derek: The things we must do for family.

Elena: There are only a few more years left before my child bearing years are done.

Derek: A small comfort.

Elena: And there are other ways ...

Derek: I know. And I may know of a few others but I will need to see what my research can bring.

Elena: There is research involved?

Derek: Yes. While my wild days in my youth may have been wilder than many, I recall being told by men in my company that there were ways that a an could keep from spreading his seed with the right coverings.

Elena: Coverings?

Derek: Yes. For my shaft that would keep my seed from entering you.

Elena: And it works?

Derek: That is where the researching comes in.

Elena: I see. Is there anything I can do to assist?

Derek: Perhaps you could see if there are herbs or something you could drink in tea that may help as well?

Elena: [she nods] I'll ask Bonnie and see if there's anything in her grandmother's grimoires.

Derek: That would be helpful.

Elena: It would. Because as much as I advocate restraint, part of me still doesn't want to.

Derek: You are not alone.

Elena: [smiles softly before leaning in to kiss him] Good.

Derek: [kisses her back]

Elena: I just don't want you to feel like you need to pull away from me.

Derek: I'm sorry that I reacted the way I did, Elena. It was just not the right time for me to get that kind of news, and I did not react well.

Elena: I know. I should have told you sooner.

Derek: Just next time, when you have news that you know will break the mood, perhaps just hold onto it until the morning?

Elena: By the morning, we would have already risked too much.

Derek: You could have just told me you weren't in the mood.

Elena: You didn't give me much room to.

Derek: [sighs] I'm sorry.

Elena: It's alright. I should have put a stop to it earlier, as I said.

Derek: Why don't we stop putting blame and apologizing then, and just move forward now.

Elena: I think that sounds like an excellent idea.

Derek: Good. [and he will lean forward to kiss his wife, embracing her]

Elena: [and she will kiss him back, moving to settle into his arms and resting her head against his shoulder]

Derek: Come, let's go to bed, my lady.

Elena: [she nods, and off they go to curl up and get some sleep]

Derek: [yup, and with renewed goals on finding solutions in the morning]