Budapest [Chapter Three]
Monday, October 31st, 2011 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sectioneightentertainmentCHAPTER THREE
After lunch, Alex went back to the music room, which now doubled as the Christmas room, while the others went on with the rest of their day. Aretha went out to meet with a 'client' about a potential 'case'. Edina had errands to run. Jakob said he'd be at the stables, if in case Alex needed anything. All of them have been so nice to her during her stay at the manor. Alex felt so blessed.
She went to the vinyl section of the music library to pick an album to play on the gramophone. Given the amount of Christmas carols they sang earlier, Alex was in the mood for something else. She decided to play a Nina Simone record, an artist who she and her mother had both held in highest regards. Music filled the air as Nina Simone's Feeling Good started playing. The song's lyrics struck a chord with her heart, as it always does. For her, the song had evoked such powerful memories and emotions. Not only because it was her mother's favourite song, but also because the song had gotten her through some difficult phases in her life. As the song played, she sang along.
"It's a new dawn,
It's a new day,
It's a new life,
For me
And I'm feeling good ."
To her, the song sounded like such a joyful declaration of optimism in the face of struggle. Alex had always been afraid of change. That was something she struggled with, especially after she found out that she was pregnant. This song somewhat gave her hope. And it somehow made some of her fears dissipate. After all, like what Aretha had said before, she was not all alone.
After the music had faded, Alex just quietly rested on her favourite French sofa as she stared at her beautiful Christmas tree and reminisced about how much her life had changed since her arrival in Budapest. The first few months she spent living in Vadzel had been peaceful and relaxing, something Alex would have normally abhorred since she had been so used to the noisy and exciting lifestyle she had previously lead back in New York City. She welcomed the peace and the calm as she recuperated from her injuries. She even learned to eat healthy, something she never would've done back in New York. It was good for her and the baby.
As the months progressed though, after her injuries had healed, she grew jaded and disillusioned. As huge as Vadzel was, she still couldn't help but feel cooped up. and it didn't take long before cabin fever set in. Jakob and Edina tried to keep her spirits up by giving her the grand tour of Budapest. She found it exhilarating at first, but after a while, even that got old.
She started asking Aretha about the cases she had been working on and the heists she had been planning. Even dropped a few hints from time to time that she'd be more than happy to help if Aretha ever needed it. Aretha was hesitant at first. She remembered that during the early stages of their friendship, the only thing Alex ever asked of Aretha was that she promised not to let her dangerous exploits get in too close proximity of Vadzel as it might put her & her child's well-being at risk, given the nature of Aretha's line of work. Aretha gave Alex her word that she would make sure that none of the dangerous parts of her lifestyle would ever touch them, and she wanted to stay true to her word.
Except, Aretha saw how depressed Alex got as the days went by. So she started to include her in planning some of her heists. Nothing that put Alex in any danger, but exciting enough to keep Alex from getting bored and keep her senses sharp. The two of them worked pretty well together. They had a natural rapport to them that reminded Alex of the times when she worked with Neal and Mozzie. Alex enjoyed the time she spent in helping Aretha plan jobs, especially cons and heists.
That went on until about a month ago. Now that Alex was in the late stage of her pregnancy, she spent the last few weeks nesting. She still needed a few things for the baby, who is due to arrive in a few weeks. She had finished decorating the nursery where the baby would be staying in, which was predominantly in gender-neutral colors of white and green since she doesn't know if it's a boy or a girl. Aretha once asked her why she had never bothered to find out the gender of the baby. She said that she doesn't care whether the baby is male or female, just as long as the baby was born healthy. Alex couldn't mask her excitement. Excitement mixed with fear. As daunting as it seemed, still, she couldn't wait to meet her baby.
Alex waited till after dinner before she made a phone call to Hale and Iola back in New York. She had promised to keep in touch with them and she intended to keep it. They were her godparents, after all, her parents' best friends. Hale and Iola and their family were the only people she had in her corner when she was growing up, till she met Neal and Mozzie. It had been a while since she had talk to the couple and she was so thrilled to hear about news from back home.
Iola was so happy to hear Alex's voice. She asked about the baby and shared stories of her own pregnancies so Alex would know what to expect once she gives birth. Iola pretty much filled the gap that Alex's mother left after she died. Alex had always thought of Iola as her second mom. She was so glad that Iola was there for her, so to speak, especially during these trying times. It felt good to have someone to talk to who's had first hand experience with pregnancy.
They talked for a while until Iola finally handed the phone over to Hale. He was just as glad to hear from Alex as Iola was, but something in his voice seemed different. It hinted trouble. Something was up.
"Hale, what is it? Is something wrong? You know you can tell me." Alex asked him.
"Nothing, my dear. Why would you think that?" Hale replied.
"You seem to be preoccupied with something. Now tell me, what's the problem? Is it Iola? She seemed fine when I talked to her! How about you? Are you alright?" Alex's voice was filled with worry. She couldn't bear to think of anything bad happening to the family she had come to love as her own.
"No, no, Alex! We're alright! We're all fine!" Hale tried to keep her calm. He knew he couldn't hide anything from Alex. He took a deep breath and told her, "Alex, my dear, it's about Neal."
Alex heart skipped a beat when she heard Neal's name. Neal. Oh, God! Now she really was scared. She struggled to maintain her composure. "What about Neal, Hale? Has something happened to him?" she asked.
"Something's about to." Hale replied. "One of my old contacts told me that the FBI are looking into him." he continued.
"So what? They've always been looking into him." Alex said. He replied in a worried tone,
"They've been paying strict attention into his recent activities. There's this agent assigned to his case, Agent Peter Burke. He has made Neal his own pet project. I looked into him, and Alex, this guy is good. Really good. He's very intelligent and extremely thorough. My contact believes that the FBI is really closing in on Neal. One small slip and he's toast!" The tone of Hale's voice really worried Alex.
"Have you told Neal about this?" she asked.
"Of course I have! You would think that he'd listen. But you know Neal, he can be such a child sometimes. He thinks of this as a challenge, like a big game of cat and mouse!" Hale replied.
How quickly Alex had forgotten, Neal Caffrey is his own worst enemy. Many times he had been told to grow up, but never really have.
"Then tell Mozzie! Surely he'll listen to Moz, for crying out loud!" Alex was practically in tears with worry.
Hale did his best to calm her down. He promised that he would talk to Mozzie, although he wasn't too sure that even he could make Neal listen to reason. With that, Hale and Alex said their goodbyes and hung up the phone.
Alex went to bed but couldn't really sleep. She was worried for Neal. Neal was smart but often times brazen and too fearless for his own good. If this Agent Burke was as good as Hale said he was, it may only be a matter of time before Neal gets caught by the FBI.
God, I really hope Moz talks some sense into him! She couldn't fathom anything bad ever happening to the father of her child. She tossed and turned the whole night and it wasn't until dawn when she finally got some restless sleep.
The next day was the day before Christmas. Everyone was in good spirits. Everyone except for Alex, who had been preoccupied all day. Aretha asked her what was the matter. Alex told her about her conversation with Hale about Neal. Aretha told her that there was nothing that she could do from where she was and that she had much more important things to focus on.
Aretha wasn't so sure that she had gotten through to her. So to distract Alex from her worries, she suggested that they all go to the town square later in the evening to listen to the Christmas carolers perform.
That evening, Aretha and Alex, dressed in their lovely winter garbs, along with Jakob and Edina, arrived in the town square just in time. The performers were about to start the Advent concert. Alex was deeply moved as she listened to their beautiful voices. Her heart longed for the family and friends from back home who she didn't get to spend this Christmas with this year. Her eyes welled up as she continued to listen to their performance. Every note and every line of every song seemed to touch her soul.
By the time the concert was over, tears were streaming down her face. Aretha noticed that she was more upset now than before and asked if she was alright. Alex just smiled and blamed it on hormones. Jakob moved to get the car. They were headed back to the manor for Christmas Eve supper. While walking, Alex felt this distinct popping sensation, followed by a sudden gush of water that uncontrollably leaked out of her and was now running down her thighs.
Oh no! Alex thought. Out loud she called, "Aretha! I think my water just broke! The baby's coming NOW!"
~End of Chapter Three~
Footnotes :
***I was disappointed by the outcome of this chapter myself. Some people may find it confusing. Apologies if it seems long, incoherent and disorganized.***
*I'm a big fan of Nina Simone's works. In my head, she is an artist that Alex idolizes in the same manner as Neal Caffrey was a fan of the Rat Pack.
*Timeline explanation : Alex arrived in Budapest when she was two months pregnant. It took about six weeks for her broken leg to heal. She worked with Aretha when she was four months pregnant up until after the seventh month of her pregnancy. Then she took her "maternity leave".
*Budapest is six hours ahead of New York City.
***Again, many thanks for taking time to read this chapter!***