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A London Extra; A Hannah/James Sequel to A French Connection
Topic Started: January 9, 2012, 12:42 am (25,116 Views)
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Some_Kind_Of_Monster
February 5, 2012, 7:49 am
I get the feel, that if something will go wrong between Hannah and James, her dad will kick James' ass :rolleyes: :lol:
Her Dad is having discussions with them both during the chapter--you will see very soon! :nanner:
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Nah Bruno
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Poor Twisted Me
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As you know, just caught up now! :wink

Poor Cali, I'd be SO MAD at my father, so mad! My boyfriend (if I had one) would get nuts with my crazyness :lol:
Glad Hannah's dad called her. Her family will accept it, sooner or later! And cool he's coming for Ant's birthday!
Fran telling Ray to go after Hannah was priceless! She's so want her man back! :D

:heart:
Edited by Nah Bruno, February 5, 2012, 9:20 pm.
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On Saturday, James had decorated the house for the first birthday party we had ever celebrated for Anthony. James knew how much it meant to me, and he’d done everything he could to make it a special day. He had hung streamers from the ceiling in the lounge, decorated the house with Happy Birthday signs and blown up over thirty large blue and white balloons that now wafted around the lounge downstairs. The night before, he had painstakingly iced a cake he had made himself. It was a large circular chocolate cake that he had piped carefully with white frosted icing. A single, tall candle sat in the middle, and it waited on the table as our guests arrived.

My Dad had arrived from London that morning, and after greeting me warmly, he had taken straight to James and they chatted happily. I wondered anxiously what their topic of conversation was: I wished that Lars might arrive already and act as my defective informant. My Dad had most certainly noticed the large diamond engagement ring on my finger. I wondered whether he was quizzing James on this latest development in our relationship. James looked nervous as he held an empty glass in his hand, my father was refusing to let him escape. James nodded along to his speech, listening carefully. Finally, Dad left James’ side and took me outside for a talk. We watched James hold Anthony in his arms as our friends arrived. James was a brilliant father to my son, and I was proud of him for stepping up and taking Anthony into his heart as though as were his own.

‘You’ve got a special one there’ Dad smiled. ‘He really loves you, Hannah’ he revealed. I blushed, I hoped he would tell me more of their private conversation.

‘So you want to divorce Ray and marry James?’ he asked in a serious voice. His eyes dropped to the engagement ring on my finger. Dad and I hadn’t discussed it yet, but he seemed to have caught up in his chat with James.

‘Yes’ I gulped emotionally. I still couldn’t bear to think of Ray in such a bad place. I had hoped he was improving.

‘James tells me he wants to start a family of his own with you?’ Dad revealed. I was surprised James had admitted that—it was still a private agreement between the two of us.

‘Yes, perhaps next year, but we’ve only talked about it vaguely’ I revealed. Dad read my hesitation.

‘He seems pretty sure it’s what he wants—are you sure?’ he asked me kindly. I looked inside to Anthony, knowing what a big task one child was. Dad finished my thoughts for me outloud.

‘Anthony is still very young, believe me, it’s very hard having several small children at once. You three girls were the death of your mother and I!’ he remembered. I agreed, I knew another baby would be a lot of work.

‘So how many children does he have with his ex-wife?’ he asked. Dad had guessed by the size of the house, and James’ well established fatherly qualities.

‘He has three teenagers, two girls and a boy—there were here just a fortnight ago for Thanksgiving’ I explained.

‘How did it feel meeting them?’ he asked. I knew he was asking if I thought I could take on the added responsibility.

‘His oldest daughter found it pretty hard, but the younger two were alright, they seemed to like me’ I reflected. Dad thought hard before he spoke.

‘You will have more than enough battles ahead of you if you marry him. You will become their step-mother, whether you like it or not. And they might never warm up to you—you’ll always be the person who came between them and their father’. I thought on my father’s wise words for a minute. I knew he was right.

‘What does his ex-wife think of all of this?’ it was more or less a rhetorical question, he continued. ‘She will always be in his life, how do you feel about that?’ he pointed out.

‘I honestly don’t know, Dad’ I said. I thought of the photos of them kissing on the beach, and Cali’s revelation I had overheard that James had been in Francesca’s bedroom. I didn’t truly know the state of their relationship now after their divorce.

‘I think you’ll find it will be very hard to accept’ he mediated. ‘James will never feel like he’s 100 percent yours’.

‘I’m very happy for you’ he clarified, ‘but just be sure about this. I can see he’s extremely wealthy, and he can provide for you and he wants to be a father again, those are all fantastic things, but I want you to realise what you’d be getting yourself in for’ he finished. I knew it was a big ask, and I knew James wanted a new life with me. Sometimes, I wondered if he was ready to start over more than I was.

‘Thanks Dad’ I hugged him long and hard. I had missed him dearly.
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Nah Bruno
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Hannah's dad is sweet and loving! He's very comprehensive too :heart: He can put things clearer than Hannah's mind to herself!

James's older, divorced, and his kids are already grown up. And the most important thing: he's the father, not the mother who will carry the baby for 9 months, feed it, etc. So, yeah, she's not as sure as he's. Plus, Ray was not doing well :ugh:

More? :nanner:
:heart:
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Nah Bruno
February 5, 2012, 9:51 pm
Hannah's dad is sweet and loving! He's very comprehensive too :heart: He can put things clearer than Hannah's mind to herself!

James's older, divorced, and his kids are already grown up. And the most important thing: he's the father, not the mother who will carry the baby for 9 months, feed it, etc. So, yeah, she's not as sure as he's. Plus, Ray was not doing well :ugh:

More? :nanner:
:heart:
Yes, he certainly has given her some good perspective on things. James is 20 years older than her, and Francesca will always be in his life as the mother of their children. The way she feels now will not change if she marrys him. Her Dad is right when he says James will never be 100 percent hers.

The second part of the party with promised bombshell is up next! :nanner:
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Gathered around Anthony’s first birthday cake in a large crowd, just as we had been for James’ birthday in August—we fussed lovingly over our young son. James held him in his arms as I adored his small happy face. We were preparing to sing Happy Birthday as Anthony eyed the cake and reached out with his hands towards the icing. James pulled him back anticipating the disaster, and the crowd laughed heartily. The front door clicked open, we had another late guest. I turned my head with a smile as we began to sing, James’ loud voice led us in Happy Birthday.

But my smile had turned to shock at our guest. Ray walked in the foyer of the house he knew so well, setting down his bag by the door. He looked around, remembering this house where he had lived for so long, taking in the lounge and the familiar faces of the guests, the people he used to know so well. He mixed with the edge of the crowd as we sang. James had not noticed him yet: I thought quickly of how to broach the harsh realities with Ray which we had kept from him while he was in rehab. He did not know that James and I were engaged, that James had taken Anthony on as his own son, that James and Francesca were now divorced. He had missed all of this during his painful absence. I looked with horror at the engagement ring on my finger that replaced my wedding ring with Ray. I panicked—he was here, and there was no time to hide the horrible truth. The crowd cheered and clapped as James an Anthony cut the cake, his small hands helping James’ large ones. Ray watched on, happy to see his son again, it had been over seven months since he had left for Argentina and returned to the UK. I watched his disappointed face as James celebrated Anthony as his own. I made through the crowd to greet Ray.

‘Hannah!’ he smiled emotionally at the sight of me, he took my hands and kissed my mouth warmly. I pulled back a second into his short welcoming kiss.

‘Come and see Anthony’ I explained. I led Ray by the hand to James, his face was surprised and pleased to see his old friend, but his eyes turned cold as he saw Ray with his hand linked in mine.

‘Dude!’ James hugged him warmly. ‘It’s good to see you, man!’ James exclaimed, he accepted James’ welcome, but it was clear Ray was not here for a reunion with his old boss.

‘It’s my son’s first birthday’ Ray said simply. ‘I’m here because I’m his father’ he eyed Anthony in James’ arms as though he were here to reclaim his lost property. But James did not offer him up.

‘Can I hold him please, he’s my son!’ Ray repeated, this time a little louder with less politeness in his voice. I was unsure whether to intervene.

‘I think we should talk about this first, Ray, don’t you?’ James said, he spoke in his controlled voice. Ray had not seen the engagement ring on my finger just yet. He had no idea what he had just walked into. I took Anthony from James’ arms, it was clear he was going to take Ray outside for a shouting match. I eyed the two of them nervously as they stepped outside.

‘James, I want my son back! I want to take Hannah home! She’s my wife!’ Ray began. I cringed, we could hear them shouting through the lounge windows. Dad stood by me, watching them with a worried expression. James’ two security guards Peter and Big Mike were loitering nearby, ready to evict Ray.

‘She’s not your wife anymore!’ James yelled. His words crushed Ray.

‘What?!’ he screamed. His mind could not believe what James was saying.

‘She’s marrying me!’ James revealed, his eyes were wide and furious. I had never seen him like that before.

‘How can she? WE’RE STILL MARRIED!’ Ray shouted back. The guests inside had fallen silent. Peter and Mike had made their way through the closed doors to the patio outside that were doing nothing to obscure their heated conversation. They were waiting for the word from James, and Ray would be dragged unceremoniously from the scene.

‘You said you were over her, that I could be with her!’ James yelled. This conversation was news to me. Ray had not quite said what James revealed in as many words to him, while he had been at one of the lowest points in his life in rehab.

‘Well I changed my mind—she’s mine!’ Ray yelled. James scoffed a laugh at him. Their 15 year history was fast falling by the wayside.

‘Well, I don’t see her running back to you, she’s here with me. We’re getting engaged, she lives here, and she’s my fiancé. That’s all there is to it! I love her!’ James shouted forcefully.

‘I want my son!’ Ray yelled manically. Peter’s heavy frame took an intimidating step forward towards Ray.

‘He’s not yours to take!’ James pushed Ray backwards roughly. It had gone too far—and James’ security took Ray forcefully from the scene.

‘You can’t do this to me James!’ Ray yelled as he was evicted through the garden. Ironically, they were taking him out the side gate through the adjoining house where he used to live for so many years. Anthony cried in my arms as Ray yelled words in his son’s defence.

‘You take EVERYTHING from me James! Everything I’ve ever cared about!’ he yelled viciously. James knew that he had: he couldn’t deny that.
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Nah Bruno
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OMFG. THIS IS TOO COOL. I DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDES I AM, BUT JAMES IS A THIEF, YES.

WANNA MORE, MORE MOAAAAAAAAAAAAR! CAN'T GET ENOUGH! :lol: :heart:
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Nah Bruno
February 5, 2012, 11:54 pm
OMFG. THIS IS TOO COOL. I DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDES I AM, BUT JAMES IS A THIEF, YES.

WANNA MORE, MORE MOAAAAAAAAAAAAR! CAN'T GET ENOUGH! :lol: :heart:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I like to keep people guessing! :wink
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That night, I undressed next to the bed as James waited coldly in silence, clearing his throat nervously. We had a lot to talk about, it had been a difficult day with Ray’s unexpected appearance, it had particularly soured the afternoon’s festivities. James waited to speak until I slipped into bed beside him.

‘I can’t believe you didn’t ask Ray for a divorce!’ he began angrily. ‘Long before you knew he was in rehab, you never asked him! You just let me get divorced, but you never even sent him the papers I had drafted up for you?!’ he growled, raising his voice. I thought of my father in the guest room downstairs, hoping he couldn’t hear us arguing.

‘I wanted to, I really did!’ I said, ashamed I had not found the strength to do so. Ray and I had never been near a divorce, we had a strong and happy marriage. James and Francesca on the other hand, had been skating towards it for the better part of six years. I couldn’t be sure my move with James would last. Unconsciously, I had wanted to hold onto my marriage with Ray until I was sure.

‘Well, will you divorce him now?’ James asked in a threatening tone.

‘Yes, I will!’ I snapped, pulling the covers harshly over my body as I rolled to my side away from him. He flicked out the light in retaliation. We were thrown into brutal darkness, mid-argument.

‘I’m going home for Christmas to see my family’ I said, my voice muffled by the pillow. ‘I’ll talk to him then’ I said roughly.

‘Fine!’ James growled, and he said nothing more.

James left for HQ at 8am the next morning. He was furious at Hannah’s deception, and the only way he knew to cope was to belt out his aggression via his guitar. He turned up his amp to 10 in the large concrete garage, covered by posters and flags hanging on all four walls, and blasted out a fast riff on his iron cross. He didn’t care that he was alone, that he was there playing without Lars or any of the other guys, he just needed space to think out his next steps. It was two weeks until Christmas, and he was planning to visit Francesca and the children in Buenos Aires as she had requested. And now, Hannah would be going home to London for Christmas, he felt less guilty about not having to leave her at home to spend Christmas by herself with Anthony in San Francisco.

He wanted desperately to see his children and to mend things with Cali. He had never fought with any of his children before, and it killed him that she might be mad enough to never speak to him again. Secretly, he couldn’t wait to see his family and repair things with them. He knew Francesca was tired from her teenager’s emotional turmoil that James was so largely responsible for these days. He thought happily of their Christmas holidays together, that they would be warm and summery in Argentina, and not cold and bitter like the breath had become in his own house here.

I packed my bags and took Anthony back to London with me. My father had encouraged it, he thought I needed a break and a trip home to face up to the stories that had plagued me in the press. I had to confront my mother and the rest of my family and friends, and explain to them the decisions I had made. I knew it wouldn’t necessarily be clear to them, that they wouldn’t understand or know James to be anything but another wealthy client, or an adulterating thief. I didn’t expect to reconcile with anyone.

I knew Ray would be home now, living in my house, in the space we once shared, and I would have to face him, at some point. But for now, I took a room at the most familiar place left to me in London: the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair. It was as homely to me as any bed with any man had ever been.
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Auluna Raie
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Shark-Tastic!
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*hops in the Shark-Mobile and gets the hell out of Dodge*
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Nah Bruno
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YES! So Hannah's going to spend xmas with Ray and family and James with Fran and the kids. I smell a twist :wink

The last sentence it awesome! Reminds me of Belle, that got lost with time :heart:
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Nah Bruno
February 6, 2012, 12:11 am
YES! So Hannah's going to spend xmas with Ray and family and James with Fran and the kids. I smell a twist :wink

The last sentence it awesome! Reminds me of Belle, that got lost with time :heart:
Hannah is going to spend christmas in the hotel where she feels at home.

James is going to spend christmas with his family in Argentina. More or less.... :wink :heart:

And yes, Belle lives in her when she visits a hotel.
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Auluna Raie
February 6, 2012, 12:03 am
*hops in the Shark-Mobile and gets the hell out of Dodge*
And I gave you the angry father lecturing James! :wavey
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Auluna Raie
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kirks_wife
February 6, 2012, 12:16 am
Auluna Raie
February 6, 2012, 12:03 am
*hops in the Shark-Mobile and gets the hell out of Dodge*
And I gave you the angry father lecturing James! :wavey
Indeed! But I have this reflex muscle in my body that tells me to run like a scared chicken when an angry ex shows up :P
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Auluna Raie
February 6, 2012, 12:18 am
kirks_wife
February 6, 2012, 12:16 am
Auluna Raie
February 6, 2012, 12:03 am
*hops in the Shark-Mobile and gets the hell out of Dodge*
And I gave you the angry father lecturing James! :wavey
Indeed! But I have this reflex muscle in my body that tells me to run like a scared chicken when an angry ex shows up :P
I haven't written it, but it's implied that Ray has gone straight home to London.
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