Chapter Text
Siegfried was sitting in the chair by the fire, drumming his fingers on the book resting in his lap as the grandfather clock ticked away the hours. It was her first evening with the WI since Christmas, since she’d removed her wedding ring, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to wait till morning to find out if everything had gone alright. If people have made remarks, Lord, help them if they have, he thought.
At the sound of the front door, he picked up the book from his lap to make it look as if he was up at this hour with a purpose, intending to wait until she was in his line of sight before offering a greeting. However, he was drawn from his spot by the sound of soft singing, and setting the book aside, he rose from the chair to greet her in the hallway.
“Fun evening, was it?”
When she turned to face him, her smile was wide, and her eyes were sparkling. “Very.” She said as Siegfried watched her captivated. It was as if she were walking on air.
“A few of the ladies took me out for drinks.”
"Any comments?” He asked reluctantly.
“Oh. There were a few whispers here and there, but as a wise man once told me,” she said, hands on her hips, her head held high. “‘If people judge me, so bloody what?'"
It had been so long since he’d seen her truly carefree, and as his eyes raked over her from head to toe, her beauty left him spellbound. She shone brighter than any starlet he’d ever seen on the big screen. His heart was full. And when she broke out into a fit of giggles, he wanted desperately to sweep her into his arms and kiss her.
“Mrs. Hall, are you drunk?” He teased
“No.” She said it emphatically, but her insistence was undercut by more giggles before a hiccup seemed to shock her out of her merriment.
Siegfried bit the inside of his mouth, trying to stop a smile as another hiccup shook her, her eyes going wide as she covered her mouth in embarrassment. It was extremely adorable.
“Here, sit down.” He said this as he guided her to the couch. “I’ll fetch you some water.”
Returning from the kitchen, he handed her the glass of water, and as she drank it slowly, he sat beside her, rubbing her back. When she finished, they sat for a moment, waiting, but the hiccups did not subside. Audrey let out a frustrated groan, setting the glass aside.
"Try holding your breath.” He suggested.
Puffing out her rosy cheeks, she held her breath, but this then made the hiccups sound like little squeaks, and Siegfried couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.
Playfully, she hit him on the arm. "Don't,” she pleaded, but a hiccup interrupted, and she started giggling again. As her laughter grew, she lent back, her head resting against the back of the couch, eyes closed. Siegfried felt privileged to see her so unguarded and relaxed, and every day he got to lay his eyes on her was a blessing. When her laughter subsided, she wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled that soft, quiet smile at him that he loved so much for the way it made her cheeks dimple.
“You’re thinking too much.” She whispered.
Siegfried raised a questioning eyebrow.
Audrey explained. “You get this little furrow, right here.” She said this as she tapped his temple with her finger. “What’s wrong?"
He took hold of her hand. "I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re drunk. And I don’t want to take advantage of you. It’s the last thing I would ever want to do." He said softly.
The silence between them was charged, and he held his breath, aching to know what was going on behind those intelligent, bright blue eyes that he could drown in.
The tension, however, was soon undercut by a small hiccup. They both laughed. Relieved.
“I guess it will have to wait till morning.” She whispered, smiling.