From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   *** **   
      
   8 Maius 174   
      
   Two guards bowed before Caesar and one said," Your Majesty, General    
   Maximus and his troops are just outside the city walls."   
      
   Caesar laughed happily and loudly. He clapped his hands together. "He    
   *was* anxious to return." He waved the two guards away and motioned    
   to his wife and daughter. "We shall go and greet him, then."   
      
   It wasn't much longer until the general and his troops arrived. The    
   city expressed their excitement as the men rode by on their horses.   
      
   Lucilla felt her insides fluttering around with every step closer the    
   troupe took. Her heart was pounding wildly inside her chest. Her    
   breathing was growing shallow. It all felt familiar but it felt new,    
   too.   
      
   "Maximus, this must be a new record for you, my boy," Caesar said    
   when the general neared the family. "Either you're getting better or    
   the campaigns are getting easier."   
      
   "My men are always improving, Caesar."   
      
   "Perhaps," Caesar mused playfully. "Or perhaps you can't manage to    
   stay from Rome for too long."   
      
   Maximus chuckled as he dismounted his horse. "I cannot deny that Rome    
   holds a special place in my heart. It is good to see you, Caesar. You    
   look well."   
      
   "I look old," the emperor corrected with a smile, "but I'm still    
   alive so I can't complain."   
      
   "You'll be around for a while still, old man." He moved over to    
   Melania to offer his hello.    
      
   He kissed the hand she held out. "You always look beautiful, your    
   Majesty. Not a day over twenty."   
      
   Melania smirked. "You're a liar but a good one."   
      
   He released her hand and sought out Lucilla. He met a pair of blue    
   eyes, eyes he saw every time he closed his eyes at night. She looked    
   stunning as ever in a blue dress that hugged all of the right places.    
   He wanted to devour her right then and there.   
      
   "It's wonderful to see you again, Lucilla," he told her. He took hold    
   of her outstretched hand and kissed it gently. She felt her veins    
   course through her body. She felt her breathing stop.   
      
   "You as well, Maximus," she managed to get out. He really had a hold    
   on her. She was in deep.   
      
   *** **   
      
   That Night   
      
   All was calm throughout the halls. Guards were stationed at their    
   appointed places along the walls, making nay a sound. The occasional    
   bird could be heard. All was peaceful in the palace.   
      
   Lucilla sat comfortably in her room, a book in her hands and    
   candlelight to read by. Perhaps she was lost in her own world or    
   perhaps Rome was sleeping soundly, for she could hear no sound. The    
   hour was late but she couldn't sleep. Not even with her love at her    
   side.   
      
   She looked over at Maximus' sleeping form and sighed. He was finally    
   back where he belonged. After a long afternoon with the Senate, he    
   had made his way to her. After… vigorously welcoming him home, he had    
   admitted to being overly tired. He managed to talk for a short while    
   before exhaustion claimed him. She had simply been too… relieved and    
   happy to let sleep claim her. He looked so peaceful when he slept,    
   like he didn't have a care in the world. His face was not pained. The    
   lines around his eyes weren't present. His body held no stress. He    
   looked handsome.   
      
   `I wonder if he does this to me when I'm asleep,' she mused to    
   herself.   
      
   She shook it off and returned her focus to her book. She managed to    
   read only a few pages before she felt a hand on her thigh. She looked    
   over at her love and sighed to her herself at the sight of him.   
      
   "Why are you still awake?" Maximus mumbled into her side. He snuggled    
   up to her, cherishing her warmth.   
      
   "Why have you woken?' she retaliated.    
      
   "Your book woke me; the pages turning," he explained.   
      
   She looked abashed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."   
      
   But he brushed it off. "Don't apologize. I'm a soldier; I sleep    
   lightly."   
      
   She nodded. "I forgot about that."   
      
   He was silent for a few moments so she thought he had fallen back to    
   sleep. She continued to read her book, turning the pages slowly so    
   there was less noise. She became lost in her own world until she felt    
   his hand move.   
      
   "Why are you still awake?" he asked, repeating his earlier question.   
      
   Lucilla chuckled. She rested the book on her lap and said," Believe    
   it or not, I can't sleep. I'm too excited… and relieved."   
      
   "I thought you said you have trouble sleeping when I'm not here."   
      
   "I do."   
      
   "Well, I'm here now so based on you conclusion, you should be asleep    
   right now."   
      
   "But I can't sleep. I'm not even tired."   
      
   "So allow me to help you become tired."   
      
   He pulled her book from her hands and tossed it to the side. He    
   ignored her outcry of shock and pulled her down to rest beside him.    
   He molded his body to fit hers, enjoying the soft skin compared to    
   his rough skin.   
      
   "Maximus, I hadn't marked my placed in that book," she complained    
   next to his ear. And so he shushed her.   
      
   "It's time to sleep now, not read," he reasoned.   
      
   Try as she may, she couldn't find the energy to be mad at him. She    
   slipped an arm around his chest, ready to settle in. maybe she was    
   just a little tired.   
      
   "I missed you, Luci," he murmured against her forehead. "More than I    
   can possibly say."   
      
   Lucilla tilted her face up to his and met his lips. She helped him    
   express the words he couldn't find.   
      
   *** **   
      
   9 Maius 174   
      
   The clanking of armor woke Lucilla in the morning.   
      
   "Maximus, it's too early. Come back to bed," she tried to persuade.    
   Her eyes were still closed so she didn't see his smile. She didn't    
   like to speak much before the sun rose. Or think for that matter.   
      
   "I have to leave, Lucilla. There's some business I have to attend to."   
      
   "It can't wait for a few more hours?"   
      
   "I'm afraid not. It all has to be done in the matter of a day."   
      
   "Why a day? You're not going on another campaign, are you?" Her voice    
   was laced heavily with sleep, still.   
      
   He hesitated and looked at her. Her eyes were still closed. He    
   suspected she was hoping he would crawl back into bed with her and    
   forget about the rest of the world for a few more hours. To be honest    
   with himself, he wanted to. But he had preparations to make for a    
   journey she wasn't going to like hearing about.   
      
   "No, I'm not. I'm leaving for Alexandria." He turned his back to her,    
   trying to brace himself for the yelling he knew would come.   
      
   Lucilla sat up quickly. "What?" she said loudly, not sure if her ears    
   had heard correctly.   
      
   He slowly turned to face her but he kept his head down. "I leave for    
   Alexandria tomorrow morning."   
      
   She was at a loss for words for only a few seconds. "When were you    
   going to tell me this?"   
      
   "Well, ideally, right before we set sail," he said comically.   
      
   "It's reassuring you can joke about this, Maximus. I feel so wanted."   
      
   He finally looked up and met her eyes. He was fearful of the ire he    
   saw there. "You knew I would have to return eventually, Lucilla.    
   Right now, the sooner I leave the better."   
      
   Lucilla remained silent. She gathered the sheets around her, suddenly    
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)