Chapter 90 - Delia and Troy

Delia was so happy for Lucas and Ari. But now she was alone and she already knew what - or who - she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Troy.

Delia got tired of waiting for him to ask her out so she invited him over for a swim. He hesitated and then said, sure, he would be over.

Delia was concerned about his hesitation but thrilled that she would be seeing him soon. He was SO charming the few times they had been together and truly seemed to like her.  Maybe he had not been calling because he is a busy politician.  Delia prayed it was truly work related and not another woman.

Troy arrived and Delia moved to hug him, instead he stuck his hand out and they shook hands. So formal. Much different from the charming man that said how beautiful she was several months ago.

But when they touched hands, Delia swore she could feel an electric shock all the way to her core. She wanted him very badly and she could see in his eyes that he felt it too. She just didn't understand why he was fighting it.

She shrugged it off and they went out to the pool.  It was a cool summer day so the hot tub was inviting. They both changed and climbed in.  When Delia moved closer to Troy he seemed uncomfortable. She was confused. She really thought he wanted to move things along. She decided to slow things down and they just talked until he had to leave. Delia was a bit disappointed. She wanted more from their relationship than just friends. What happened to "love at first sight" she thought, remembering his words from their first meeting.
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Ari and Lucas were having a housewarming party.  Delia couldn't wait to see them. She missed having Lucas around.  She got to their home a little before the other guests. No one answered when she rang the bell and then saw why.

They were outside making out. Those two couldn't get enough of each other. Delia was secretly jealous. She wanted that again. She had it briefly with Francisco, her first husband and more urgently with Vladimir. So she knew what that kind of love was.

Of course to see Lucas able to have a normal life was comforting to her. When they saw Delia - they apologized and the two ran inside to get changed for the party.

The party turned out to be many things more than just a house warming. It was also their forum for announcing the upcoming addition to their family.  Ari was pregnant. More good news.

Then someone started playing the piano. Delia saw Troy! She was so happy to see him, but he didn't say anything to her at first and just continued to play. He was good. Not as polished as Vladimir, but very, very good.

Listening to Troy play brought back bittersweet memories of Vladimir playing the piano on the balcony on their impromptu wedding night. She wondered if Troy would ever play for her like Vladimir did. She hoped so.

After he finished his set, she approached him and flirted a little. She didn't want to put him off, but she did want him to know she was interested.

Delia decided to try one more time and invited Troy back to her house for burgers. Maybe this time they could talk more and she would just let him be.

"Hi Troy. You play beautifully," said Delia.

"Thanks. It is my stress reliever," replied Troy.

"I have a baby grand at my house and you are welcome to come and play on it anytime. In fact, if you like I can make hamburgers and we can spend the day just hanging out. I really enjoyed having you over the other day. My house is so lonely now without Lucas there asking for food constantly!"

"Well, uh, I don't want to impose," stammered Troy.

Disappointed, Delia put her hand on his arm determined to try one more time, "I have no one to cook for anymore. Really, it's no trouble." She felt the tingle when she touched him and once again it was like they were meant to be together. How could he not feel it?

Then he looked into her eyes, and said, "I can't wait. What time?" And she knew he felt it too. So why was he resisting?  She prayed he wasn't in a relationship.
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This time she poured wine for them. She was determined to figure out why he kept putting up walls. Maybe a little food and drink would help to loosen him up.

Troy hadn't kissed her, so technically they were 'just friends' but Delia so wanted more from this man. They could grow old together. No more potions, no more witches, genies, vampires or werewolves...just plain old ordinary people.

Once again, he was the perfect gentleman upon arrival. So sweet, but every time they touched, a shiver ran all through her body awakening her deepest needs. It was all she could do not to wrap her arms around him and force him to kiss her. Of course she would, could never do that.

"Come in Troy. I have burgers and poured some of the wine I made myself and keep stored in my wine cellar. It's quite good."

"Thanks Delia. I am hungry," said Troy and then he just held her hand for a bit longer like he was trying to figure out what had just happened between them.

They went inside and sat down to eat. Delia made small talk and asked him about his family. He told her he came from a very old family with ancestors that go back over a thousand years. Delia thought that was amazing since she didn't know anything about her past other than her mother. She felt a pang of guilt for not having read her mother's journals. How many years has it been? Well, she would leave it to her children,or Lucas and his children, if she had to. Right now, she had this incredibly handsome man sitting in her house and that is in the here and now.

After lunch they walked into the foyer and continued to chat. Delia drank a little bit of courage as she chatted with Troy who was becoming more and more interesting by the minute.

The longer they talked and the closer to each other they got, the stronger the pull to be close to each other got. It was pure magic.

Delia finally had to say it, "I really do like you Troy, a lot. I confess, I feel like I have been stalking you. Please just tell me to get lost if you don't feel the same way and I will leave you alone  - as much as it will hurt to do so."

Troy embraced her and she had to grab him around the waist to keep from falling to the floor. "Delia, you are beautiful, charming and quite interesting. There is something about you. Fairy like. The feelings I have when I am near you are like nothing I have ever felt before. You frighten me my sweet Fairy Princess."

She took his hand and led him to the couch. She had to sit down but didn't want to let go of his hand. The touch seemed to be so important.

They just sat there for a few minutes. He asked her again about her family. He was sure that was the key but Delia was very closed mouth about her past, just that she was raised by her mother who died while Delia was in high school back in Appaloosa Plains. She had moved to Roaring Heights where she met Lucas' father who then drowned in a swimming pool accident when Lucas was an infant. They moved here to escape the memories. Yes, Delia was a complicated woman for sure. And he couldn't understand the physical attraction. He found himself leaning in to kiss her. He wanted more, but had to control himself. He couldn't get involved. She would wind up hurt.
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Ari and Lucas' baby was born. It was a little boy they named Dustin. Delia was pretty sure little Dustin would be fine since Lucas was cured of Lycanthropy, but she had to look in his eyes to be sure. She went over to congratulate Ari. She was sort of glad Lucas was at work. She didn't want him to know what she was doing and he would know.

She had nothing to worry about. Dustin was perfect in every way. It was so wonderful to be able to hold a baby again.

"Ari, Dustin is adorable. Anytime you need a sitter, you better give me a call!" exclaimed Delia.

"Of course, Mrs. Schlick. You are a natural with him. Look how calm he is in your arms," cooed Ari.

"Delia! Please, call me Delia," laughed Delia, "You make me feel like a grandmother. Oh, I AM a grandmother! Please tell Lucas I said hi. I have to run. I just wanted to check up on the two of you."
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Delia called Troy when she got home. He has yet to call her or ask her out. What is it with him? He had finally kissed her then ran like a scared rabbit. I don't bite, anymore, she thought. I am getting to the bottom of this. It can't be another woman. I gave him an out and he didn't take it. So what is it?

When Troy arrived he didn't touch her this time. He said they needed to talk. She figured this was it, the "I only want to be friends" speech. They sat down and he looked at her and Delia's heart sank. He started, "Delia, when I am around you, I want nothing more to than to take you in my arms. But, well it's complicated."

"Troy, it's not complicated. I like you and you feel the same. What makes it hard? Is there another woman?" asked Delia.

"Not exactly," said Troy, "it's more than that and I am confused. When we touch, or are near, I feel out of control and have feelings - I told you - that I have never had for any woman before. But, Delia, when we are apart, it's different. The feeling isn't as - uh - never mind."

Delia got up and grabbed Troy's hand. He was right. It was touch for sure that intensified the feelings. She felt it too.

"Troy, I-I feel it too...It's not a bad feeling. It's as if we are meant to be together," said Delia.


Troy helplessly pulled her to him whispering, "No no no" while Delia whispered back, "yes, yes, yes, this is so right."





They were soon kissing each other like their next breath depending upon the other.

When they broke apart, Delia suggested they go outside and enjoy the evening. She wanted to dance under the stars, just the two of them.

They danced outside, enjoying being in each other's arms until it began to get cold and they went inside.

They soon kissed their way into Delia's bedroom.

"My sweet Fairy Princess. What is it about you that makes me lose control of myself? I just want to be with you. I never wanted to be with a woman before like this," said Troy huskily.



"Then just make love to me. Now Troy," pleaded Delia.

That was all it took and the couple fell into bed, urgently tasting and discovering each other until they fell asleep exhausted.

"Good morning Troy," Delia said happily, "Can I fix you some breakfast? An omelette or crepes?"

"No," snapped Troy, "Please, Delia don't touch me, I have to go. I - uh - have to get to work."

Troy was upset with himself. He didn't come over to get into Delia's bed, in fact he had come over to tell her he couldn't see her anymore. But just being in the same room with her and her touch - she must have put some sort of spell on him. It had to be some sort of love spell. He just wasn't himself when he was around her. He would try to find an antidote. The folks at the elixir store could probably help and they might have some gossip about her. She smells of Fairy - but not quite - maybe a hybrid.

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Chapter 89 - Lucas Gets Married

Lucas took advantage of Delia's absence and invited Ari over for dinner. She readily agreed. She liked Lucas too.  Ari thought he was so sweet at prom but he needed to learn to dance. She laughed thinking how embarrassed he was trying to dance with her and stepping on her toes not once, but twice before the song was over. It was one of the things that endeared him to Ari even more.

After they ate his mom's leftovers, Lucas had gathered up enough courage to take Ari's hand and let her know that he really liked her - a lot - and would like to date her.




He was rewarded with his first ever kiss.




The two of them then migrated to the sofa to 'talk'.  He did the old yawn let me stretch out and put my arm around you maneuver and it worked like a charm.

Ari had the most beautiful black brown eyes. They were like looking into her soul they were so dark.


Soon hugging became a full blown make out session. They were so into each other they didn't hear Delia walk into the room.

When Lucas came up for air he saw Delia standing there and the couple quickly broke apart - totally embarrassed.

"Oh - Hi Mom" stammered Lucas.

"Hi Lucas and....?" she paused waiting for an introduction.


Ari quickly got up and walked over to Lucas' mother and introduced herself while Lucas was stuck on the couch afraid of what was coming next.  "Very nice to meet you Mrs. Schlick. Lucas has told me a lot about you. Your home is lovely. I understand you are an Architect, did you build it?" Ari said without taking a breath.  She was so nervous they were going to be in trouble.

"Well, nice to meet you too Ari," she said when the girl slowed down for a second, "I can see you and Lucas are getting along quite well. And thank you for the compliment. I didn't design the home, but did make a few improvements."  Then turning to Lucas she said, "Maybe next time, Lucas, you can let me know when you are going to have company," Delia warned with a smile, and added, "Lucas, did you notice? The moon is full?"

Delia was delighted that Lucas didn't change. He was cured and she was secretly happy to see he was allowing himself to get close to someone. She had worried that he may not adjust so quickly from his short time as a werewolf. Unlike his mother he seemed to be resilient. Thank God.

"I have an early morning, so it is probably time to say goodbye. And you two have school tomorrow," said Delia.

Lucas took the cue and got up and hugged Ari, his official girlfriend, goodbye and whispered to her that he thought he was falling love. She replied simply, "Me too," and turned and waved goodbye to Delia and left floating on air.

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Things were going well. Lucas and Ari were inseparable and Delia was close to becoming the most demanded Architect in Riverview.  She spent a lot of time doing concept drawings and wondering why she hadn't heard from Troy.

She finally decided to write him a letter.  That would be better than calling or texting.  Way more personal.

Lucas' birthday and graduation was coming up. She wanted to be sure to stay in touch with Troy so she could invite him to Lucas birthday/graduation party. She felt kind of ashamed. Using Lucas' party as an excuse to see Troy. She only hoped he would show up.

Finally the day came. They had his party at the Grind which probably, in hindsight, wasn't the best location, but in Riverview there weren't very many venues. If it weren't still snowing, she would have preferred a pool party at their home.

Regardless quite a few of Lucas' friends showed up and of course Ari was there. They danced almost the whole night. Lucas wanted to show Ari he had  been practicing. She just laughed and said "ANYBODY can fast dance! Show me again when you learn to slow dance."


After they danced for awhile, it was time for Lucas to blow out the candles and to Delia's delight, Troy had made it to the party.

She couldn't understand him. The first time he met it was like they were meant to be together but she never heard from him again.  Now, while he was polite, he wasn't quite as forward. She hoped he wasn't just a big flirt.

Delia wanted to dance with her son to celebrate but he was with Ari again so she used that time to hunt down Troy.

When she found him, and they got close to each other, he was charming again. He embraced her sweetly and said he would love to dance with her but had another engagement he couldn't miss.

"I am just glad you came," said Delia with a silly smile on her face. When he touched her it was like it was before. It felt like they were supposed to be together. It seemed he felt the same. Maybe absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder she thought.

"I got your letter. How could I not come. It was so - so -  unexpected, I guess. But very sweet. I don't think anyone has ever sent me anything other than a credit card bill in the mail," he said laughing.

Delia turned bright red, totally embarrassed.  "You look lovely when you blush." he said before releasing her. That only made her get redder.

"Sorry, Delia, I have to go, but I will see you again, need to see you again," he said and left the party. Delia thought that was strange. It was exactly the same thing he said before - 'need to see you again' - yet he hadn't called.

After Troy left, Delia found her grandson and they danced together to celebrate his graduation and entry into Adulthood. She was very proud of him and felt so bad that his mother couldn't be here to see him.

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Lucas graduated with honors. Delia was delighted with her grandson. He had been through so much but seemed to have found himself in the process. He wanted to become a firefighter and certainly had the muscles for it. He had found love in the form of Ari. They simply adored each other. Delia figured he would probably propose soon.








Delia remembered when Valerie, her daughter, had graduated and the drama surrounding the event brought on by her sister Victoria and her jealousy. Delia figured that was probably the night that Lucas was conceived by a very angry teenager who never recovered from the loss of her father. But she left behind a handsome, resilient young man with a very bright future in spite of her. She hoped Victoria's spirit was as proud as she was.
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After graduation, Lucas joined the fire department. Delia worried a bit about him. He would come home with frightening tales of fighting fires.

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Things began to settle into a predictable routine once again. Delia continued her work and became the most demanded architect in Riverview.

Finally, she decided to give the ever elusive Troy a call. He hadn't held true to his word. He didn't call her or ask her out. So this time she would call him. She got voice mail.

One night, not long after Lucas' graduation, Delia was working in the basement, pouring herself into her work since Troy hadn't called, when she received a visit from the ghosts of her husband Vladimir and their daughter and Lucas' mother Victoria.

Delia had never seen them together before. They always appeared to her separately. It gave her hope that Victoria had found her father in the afterlife and with that comfort. Victoria's spirit had seemed more settled when she visited her when Lucas was young to help her figure out what was wrong with him.

Delia just stood there hoping they weren't going to attack her. Instead, they both just looked at her lovingly and said in unison, "Thank You." Then they both disappeared, Vladimir in a red mist and Victoria in a wet blue mist.


That night Delia cried herself to sleep. She didn't know that Vladimir had come to lay beside her and her mother watched over her as well.
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Lucas had been working on his dance moves and wanted to take Ari out and show her. He invited her over and told her he had a surprise for her as he caressed her.

The weather had cleared since spring had arrived. He wanted to take her to the park. "As long as I am with you, we can go anywhere," she told him. 
"I have been practicing Ari," said Lucas, "dance with me." Lucas and Ari danced for hours and not once did he step on her toes.

As the music ended, Ari said, "I am totally impressed. How could you hide this from me?"

"Well, you know we have all that down time at the firestation. So I bought a dance instruction DVD and instead of watching TV, I have been practicing my dance moves." laughed Lucas. "The guys have been teasing me like crazy, because sometimes I make them dance with me, but it was worth it to see your smile."

"And that is why I love you," sighed Ari contentedly, "but now, all that dancing made me hungry, let's go eat."

That night, after Lucas dropped off Ari at her house, he approached Delia. "Mom, I have decided to propose to Ari. I am doing really well at the fire department and have saved up a good amount of money so now I can move out on my own. Do you think she will say yes?"

Delia just laughed. "Are you blind? That girl adores you. Of course she will say yes! And what took you so long?"

"I had to learn to dance," he said.  When Delia looked at him like he was crazy he added, "it's a long story."

"So when????" asked Delia.

"Tomorrow. I will ask her when she comes over," and he let out a big breath he didn't even know he was holding and went to bed as happy as he had ever been.
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The next evening when Ari arrived at the house, Lucas wasted no time. He was simply too nervous. And just as Delia predicted she immediately said yes. He really did think she was shocked. He figured he must have waited too long.








He hugged her tight, taking in her honey scent after he placed the diamond engagement ring on her finger. Lucas never wanted to be without her. Thank goodness they moved here to find his cure.


The next order of business was to plan the wedding. A very happy Ari sat down with Lucas and Delia and together they planned the small ceremony at the chapel. It would be as soon as possible. The couple had waited too long to be together.
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The day of the wedding came quickly and Delia had not failed to ensure that Troy was invited. Again she found herself using her son to arrange a meeting with Troy. Well, he WAS a friend, she justified.




Sure enough he showed up. He saw her from across the room right before the ceremony. He nodded a greeting. At least he acknowledged her.

Finally the ceremony was starting and Delia found herself studying him while he watched the nuptials. She was missing most of her grandsons wedding watching and trying to figure out this interesting man.

The feeling that they should be together was not as strong as it was when he touched her. What was it about his touch that made her go weak in the knees and her heart to beat fast?

Delia heard clapping and realized she had missed almost the entire ceremony captivated by Troy and his aloofness. She looked up in time to see Lucas slip the ring onto Ari's finger symbolizing their unity as a couple.

Lucas dipped Ari under the altar and kissed his new wife passionately to loud cheering. When Delia looked around to see if she could find Troy he had vanished. What was with that man?

The newlyweds had a very short reception before heading home.

The couple spent their first night in Delia's home.

Tomorrow they would move into their new home that Lucas had saved up and bought for them to begin their new life as husband and wife.


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