Initial Plot (Breakfast)

Skylar slipped back into consciousness, her body becoming aware of a soothing heat. It was her first instinct to curl up closer to this source of warmth. She wasn't generally a curious person, so what made her open her eyes was a mystery. Her vision started of blurry, a dominating structure right before her eyes. After blinking few times, she recoiled in surprise. An unsuspecting gasp escaping from her lips. She was not aware of the force she used to get away but it was enough to set her on the path to a damning journey head first into the floor. She felt a grasp, jerking her back onto the soft surface and straight onto Austin's chest.

"Is this how you prefer to start your mornings?" He asked mischievously as he pushed her gently away from him. How she wished that smirk would just fall off.

"You scared me."She replied, her breathing not yet returning to normal.

He seemed to be considering something as he turned his head slightly and gazed at her. Skylar suddenly felt self-conscious, finding it difficult to swallow past the lump in her throat.

"My apologies. I never had after morning complaints before." He stressed on the second to last word, saying it as if he was learning a new language.

She unravelled herself from the sheets and got up as fast as she could, throwing the sheets in his direction. "That's not what I meant!" Her arms folded at her chest now.

He rose up in a sitting position, and it was then she realised he wasn't wearing a shirt. She gasped and spun around, but not fast enough to see him smirk.

"Tell me then, what do you mean?" The words innocent but his tone dripped with corruption.

The nerve of him! "You know what I mean. How could you climb into bed with me, while I was asleep? And indecently at that!"

"Turn around." He said, sternly and she almost obeyed. Almost. She heard him sigh when She didn't reply. "Right now the surface I am on is called a sofa."

Skylar gasped as her vision gazed over at the bed, it was empty, and further away than she thought.

"I did not indecently climb into bed with you, rather you indecently climbed into my sofa in the middle of the night." He enlightened.

"Ahhh, I must be crazy!" she chastised herself, turning around to look at him. "Why didn't you stop me?" She half yelled at him.

"Honestly, it was dark and I couldn't risk you falling over trying to make it back to bed and frankly I hadn't the energy to put you back there." He started getting up, tidying up his sleeping area.

"She you just let me cuddle next to you on a surface barely enough for one person?" She questioned.

"I put up with it for one night, not a big deal." He walked out of the room after giving her a smirk.

"Shameless!" She muttered.

***

As she made her way downstairs for breakfast, Austin was already dressed and sitting at the table, a paper in his hands. He didn't look up as she entered and took a seat. Austin was acutely aware of her presence and it bothered him, he didn't understand why last night's events made him feel closer to her, a sensation he was deeply uncomfortable with.

"I hope you have been taking care of your health these past days." He said his eyes busy reading the document. Skylar was grateful for his attention to be elsewhere.

"I am trying to keep my stress levels down, but I have been so bored these past days that it’s frustrating." She placing a piece of toast in her mouth.

"How about I keep you company today?" He offered placing his papers on the side.

"Not that bored." She muttered under her breath.

"I didn't hear that." he gazed at her expectantly.

"Aren't you busy?" She smiled in uncharacteristically sweet manner, this caused Austin to smirk.

"Nothing I can't get out of. I play a minor role in my father's company, I just need to make some calls." He fished his cell out of his jacket.

"I thought you worked for Thomas." She inquired. "Can't a guy multitask?" He grinned making his way out of the room to make his calls.

"Skylar," She saw Abigail, her voice unusually soft and reserved. "There is a call for you."

"For me?" She questioned sceptically as she took the phone.

"It's Emma." Why would Austin's mother wish to speak to her? Skylar immediately tensed.

"what do you want?" Skylar asked coldly.

"We are coming to visit. Please tell Austin that his father has something important to discuss with him." She said, pausing and it felt as if she was deciding whether or not to tell me something. "And make yourself scarce my other son is also coming and I don't wish for you to be causing any issues between my sons."

"I understand." Skylar tried not to let her emotions lace her voice but as a result, her tone was deadly.

"Skylar..."

She couldn't let Emma finish her sentence. "I am so sorry, but Abigail is trying to get my attention. I will inform Austin. I look forward to not seeing you later. Have a nice day."

Skylar hung up the phone and tried to calm her nerves. Emma brought out the worst in her and she was tempted to stay especially close to Austin but yet the part that bothered her was knowing that Colin was going to be in her home. She couldn't face that man. Nothing in the world could persuade her. She summoned Abigail and relayed the message to her, leaving out the fact that his mother wanted her to be nowhere to be seen. She hadn't the heart to retain an appetite. She went straight up to her room.

Austin re-entered the dining area to find it completely empty. He stood there for a second.

"Uh, your wife has something to talk to you about." Abigail informed him as she came in to clear the table. When he rose his eyes at her, she signalled that Skylar was upstairs.

He entered their room, Skylar pushing her feet into shoes. "Going somewhere?" He asked.

"I decided to catch a movie, maybe do a little shopping." She said, not looking at him.

"I'll bring the car around." He said.

"No!" She said instantly. He spun around, his set in confusion. "Didn't Abigail speak to you?"

"Yes, she said, you wanted to talk to me. Isn't this what you wanted to say?" he questioned.

"No, I told her to inform you of what your mother said this morning." Her eyes met his in confusion.

That meddling woman!

"She directed me to you."

Austin saw her swallow with some difficulty. "Your parents are visiting, your father has something to discuss with you, and uh..."

Austin heard and saw the hesitation in her. "What else?" he encouraged.

"Your brother is also coming." Her voice was barely audible. This caught Austin's attention, not because of her reaction but because his brother has never before visited his house, nor had he ever invited him. It annoyed him to think his parents assumed that he would be okay with this.

"Do you want to avoid them all?" He asked seriously, her eyes shot to his instantly.

"Wouldn't that be rude?" She was being sarcastic, it seemed that she had already decided on this matter on her own.

"You are my wife, you owe nothing to anyone, least of all my family. Besides, I found it rude of them to invite themselves and also my brother to my home without my permission." He saw her breathe a sigh of relief. Skylar was terrified that Austin wouldn't understand her need to escape.

"Thank you." She said and a moment of understanding passed between them. Austin nodded.

"I will be checking up on you." he warned and she smiled as she left the house.