Always His.

One Month Later.

The Gladstone Gallery was teeming with people. There was soft music playing in the background, while the guests and art enthusiasts admired the paintings on the wall. It was Amelia's first art exhibit. And by the turnout and the amount of engagement her art was getting, it was going splendidly well. Amelia sipped a bit of her drink as she took a minute to step back and watch it all. She didn't think she could do it, put her art out there. Her art was an extension of herself and no matter how strong Amelia was, she was never open to criticism. Especially when it came to her art.

A few of the pieces would be donated to the Gladstone art gallery and a children's hospital while the rest were going to be sold. She was already talking to a few people who were interested in upcoming art projects of hers.

But so far, amidst the good reviews and the little criticisms she had managed to sift out of peoples compliments and comments, she was elated that she was able to put herself out there. She looked around again, still waiting and eager for Xavier to show up. He had dropped her off earlier with the promise of coming back as he had an important client that he urgently needed to see. But he promised to come back before the end of the exhibit. At least just in time for him to hear her final speech. Molly and Ruby too were going to arrive late due to the timing of the art exhibit and the New York traffic, but they reassured her that they were already on their way.

Amelia didn't mention a word of the exhibit to her parents, it wasn't like they ever supported her passion. Besides, last she heard of them, they were in Hawaii.

Amelia smoothed the front of her her royal blue A- line dress as she approached the museum curator. She had taken extra time and meticulousness in her look just for the art exhibit and Xavier had been showering her with compliments ever since he laid eyes on the blue dress.

Their relationship bond had been stronger in the past few weeks, they had spent all their time together. Sometimes Amelia would paint all day while Xavier would simply be content with watching her.

And sometimes Xavier would work all day and Amelia would not be able to leave his side. It was truly beautiful and Amelia felt stupid for ever considering the fact that she wanted to divorce Xavier. He was all she ever wanted and she couldn't wait for them to be done in New York and go back to their love nest in California.

"Are you ready?"

She asked and Amelia nodded

"As ready as I'll ever be."

She whispered slowly as her curator led her to the makeshift podium that had been made for her speech. The lights dimmed slowly as the Museum owner introduced her to the stage and there was a light applause. Amelia was practically beaming when she got on the podium and saw how many people were eager to hear her speak.

She took a deep breath and sighed pleasantly, she really didn't want Xavier to miss her speech but the show had to go on.

"Art is amazing. When I was young, I used to think art was beautiful, except when it was drawn by my hand."

Amelia said and everyone in the room lightly chuckled. She watched from the corner of her eye someone slipping in the room and she smiled as she discovered that it was Xavier.

"My first contact with art, I was a three year old with a broken arm and I was given a crayon and told to have fun. And I've been having fun ever since then."

"How can I describe this collection? Hnmmm  Well, it's an expression. An expression of something that can be heard in the depths of our bodies, right in the core of our person, where it resonates its deepest meaning. What that means is, is up to you. Art has the ability to express a thousand words in a second, and a hundred different stories can be heard in each note of a song."

Amelia paused for a while, her eyes finding Xavier and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Art should be wholly and completely selfless, and because of this, it is utterly and shamelessly beautiful. That is why a few of this art would be staying as permanent pieces of the Gladstone Gallery and some of them will be donated to the St Johns Children hospital."

There was a raucous applause as Amelia left the podium.

Xavier watched her with a proud smile on his face. He had never seen her so excited about the art exhibit when he dropped her off. Unfortunately, he couldn't be available for more the. half of it due to work related reasons but he was glad that he made it in time for her closing speech. Her recent pieces were phenomenal and he was glad he wasn't the only one that thought so. Amelia was a better artist than she gave herself credit for.

He had watched her for a month creating art pieces.

He watched her hand move over the canvass almost like her mind was directing it without her, odd perhaps, but that was the way she painted. Her  hand always moved instinctively towards the right spot, building a new picture, often one he had never seen before. In those fantastical worlds he saw reflections of her own mind, the way she thought, but there was something else there too. A deep calming peace that he was certain that Amelia felt whenever she was painting.

Molly and Ruby rushed to Amelia before Xavier did.

"Oh Mia! That was amazing!" Ruby commented as she gave Mia a brief hug, her hand still entwined with that of her new boyfriend Umberto. Molly on the other hand was grinning like a teenager.

"Umberto! How are you doing?"

Amelia asked as she waved at him eagerly and he flashed her a smile.

"You're a really amazing artist. I was just telling Ruby that we need to buy some of your art."

He complimented and Amelia smiled. She always loved hearing his thick Italian accent.

"Xavier is waiting for you over there. I know you've been looking out for him all night."

"Awwwn thanks girls. I am so glad you could make it on time. How was your company's court case today Ruby?"

Amelia asked and Ruby shrugged.

"Adjourned. Again! At this point we're just hoping our client withdraws the complaint."

Ruby said as she tolled her eyes, flipping her dark hair over her shoulders.

"I hope you all enjoyed the exhibit?"

They all nodded.

"Yup, we're so proud of you."

Molly said as she lightly touched Amelia's hand. Amelia spotted Xavier approaching from the corner of her eyes and she widened her arms to envelope him in a hug.

"I am so glad you made it!"

She gushed out as she wrapped her hands around his neck and he hugged her tightly.

"Oh sweetheart you know I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Xavier said as he kissed Amelia's cheek and slowly released her. Molly and Ruby were suggestively glancing at each other with silly smiles.

"We'll see you later Amelia. We still have some art pieces to check out."

Ruby said as she dragged Molly along with her.

Amelia turned to Xavier and smiled. He was still in his work clothes and he looked tired. She wished that she could kiss all his stress away but sadly they were in public.

"I'm very proud of you Amelia. Everyone loved the exhibit."

Xavier said and Amelia's eyes widened.

"I know! To think all this wouldn't have been possible if you didn't push me to put my art out there."

She said as she held his hand in his and together the both walked hand in hand checking out her paintings and artworks.

"No Sweetheart. It was all you. You were the one who created these beautiful pieces. You deserve every bit of the credit."

Xavier said as he lightly squeezed her hand and Amelia blushed.

"Awwwn. Thank you Xavier. If only I could have added that drawing I made of you. We could have sold it for a lot of money."

Amelia taunted Xavier and he raised his eyebrows. While she was going over the final selection for her art exhibit, she had scared Xavier into believing that she was going to add the nude drawing of him among the rest of the paintings for the exhibit and he had been so terrified that he offered her half a million dollars all in a bid to make sure that she didn't add it.

"That drawing belongs in out attic. Covered up and buried under so much junk that no one would see it and know it's me."

Xavier said and Amelia chuckled. Xavier was really rattled about the drawing. He used to love it, but he probably didn't anymore. Or he was just scared of the fact that anyone other than he or Amelia could see it and know it was him.

His phone started ringing and he dug into his pocket to retrieve it. He scrunched up his face as he saw the caller ID.

"Whats wrong?" Amelia asked as she tried to peer at his phone.

Xavier shrugged.

"It's nothing. Let me just answer this real quick. Give me a minute."

He said as he planted a quick and sloppy kiss on Amelia's lips as he rushed out of sight. Amelia walked around, socialising a bit while keeping an eye out for her friends. She could have sworn that she saw them a few minutes ago when she was with Xavier but it was like they had left the gallery.

Her mind slowly drifted to Boston and she remembered how they had parted ways.

They would have been great friends if he had not started obsessing over her. His obsession had led to Xavier and Amelia being greatly concerned and Amelia had been forced to get a restraining order against him. Xavier had suggested it but Amelia had gone through with it herself and she felt a lot safer after that.

"What is taking him so long?"

She murmured as she walked towards the exit and found Xavier transfixed to a spot with his phone in his hand.

"Xavier? What are you doing?"

She called out as she walked towards him and he slowly turned to look at her while blinking rapidly. He looked like he just received really bad news.

"What's wrong?"

She asked as she lightly touched his arm noticing his gloomy demeanour.

Xavier shrugged and forced a smile.

"Uhhmm... It's fine."

Amelia shook her head.

"No! It's not. What's wrong?"

She pressed on but Xavier was still silent, he seemed to be looking everywhere but her face.

"We promised to tell each other everything Xavier. Everything!"

Amelia said placing enough emphasis on the 'everything'

"I know. I know we did..."

He trailed off. Amelia was slowly getting worried. Could it be his family? Did something happen to his aunts? Or his uncles perhaps? Or was it work related?

"Xavier..." Amelia called out, more of a warning than a statement and Xavier could catch a glimpse of the annoyance in her voice.

"It's Daphne..."

"So? What about her?" Amelia fired back, anger already building up inside her with just the mention of her name. She and Xavier had been enjoying their time together and their days without any interference from Daphne, she wondered what it was about her that got Xavier so worked up.

Amelia knew whatever it was must be bad from the look on Xavier's but she didn't really mind if something horrible happened to her.

"She's pregnant."