End of Heartache

Viktor stood in the garden, he was filthy but the work was done. He checked the time, it was getting towards dinner, he should cook something. He walked into the kitchen and washed his hands. The kitchen began to smell like onion as he let the pan saute and got the rest of the meal ready. A short while later dinner was ready, he set the table and after realizing he'd once again be eating alone he finished eating. He cleaned up his setting, made a plate for Sharyn, did the dishes and went to shower. Once he was clean laundry was folded, house was vaccumed and he sat down in the living room. It was still early for bed so he took out his phone, Mark would probably call soon and he didn't want to miss it. The time for Mark's usual call came and went, boy was busy at college he told himself. A half hour later his phone rang and he picked up on the first ring.

"Hey Dad," said Mark.

"Hey buddy," said Viktor, "how are classes?"

"Fine," said Mark, "how's mom?"

They sat in silence, she was probably alive and well but other than a passing glance as she went into the kitchen and retreated back upstairs they barely saw each other and they hadn't spoken.

"How are you dad?" asked Mark ending the silence.

This was wrong, his son shouldn't be feeling the need to check in on him, "keeping busy," said Viktor.

"How's the shop?"

The shop was dead Viktor knew, he hadn't been able or willing to bring back all of the business he'd had before Sharyn's illness.

"You know," said Viktor.

More silence, Mark usually had something to talk about, since he'd gone off to school he'd mention friends or something.

"Are you ok?" asked Viktor.

Mark sighed heavily.

"Everything ok with your friends?"

"They're ok," said Mark.

Ok sat with Viktor, Mark usually had something to say.

"I joined the football team," said Mark.

"Really?" said Viktor, "how's that?"

"Still new," said Mark, "if I ever get to start I'd love for you and mom to come."

That was unlikely, Viktor knew.

"I'd love that," he said.

More silence, he shouldn't ask, but he did.

"Mark," he paused, "you seem down, is everything ok? Is it the curse?"

"It's ok," said Mark but his voice betrayed his words.

***

Sharyn sat in her room doing what she did with most of her time these days, she stared at the wall and wondered if she was worth being saved. The scent wafting up from the kitchen smelled great, Viktor was a good cook, if something had instructions he could figure it out and if he put his mind to it he could master it, its how he became such a good mechanic and how he became such a good cook when she'd gotten sick. As quietly as she could manage she ducked down the stairs and into the kitchen. There were fresh lilies on the table, her favorite, just like the fresh lavender he put in the bedroom for her they were replaced once a week. Her dinner was on the table, wrapped in foil to keep it warm.

She took it and made her way back up the stairs, about half way she stopped to eavesdrop on Viktor's phone call, he seemed concerned about Mark. She hurried upstairs knowing she was probably due a call soon, it was really the highlight of her week. Back upstairs she stared at her phone, she answered it on the first ring.

"Mark," she said, "thank you so much for calling."

"Of course Mom," he said, "I miss you guys."

She missed them too, she missed how they were before.

"How is everything?" she asked, "how is Anastasia?"

It's good," said Mark, "Stasi and I are talking again."

"That's great Mark," she said, "I know how much she means to you. I'm sorry I was so hard on you about her."

"I know Mom," he said, "I just couldn't keep pushing her away, especially not with... everything."

The curse, the stupid curse, her hatred for Viktor came bubbling back to the surface.

"Are you ok Mark?" she asked, "you sound down."

"It's all just a lot," he said and paused for a long while, "I told Stasi."

"Told her what?" asked his mom.

"Everything."

Sharyn sat, this was all insane but if anyone was going to believe it Anastasia would believe Mark, because it was Mark. The girl may be a little conceited, and a little dense to her son's feelings but she cared about him and she trusted him more than probably anyone else.

"I'm sorry Mom," he said.

He sounded really upset, like he was fighting back tears.

"Mark," she said, "what are you doing tomorrow, why don't I visit?"

"Thanks Mom," he said, "but I've got a lot of homework, plus next weekend is family weekend."

He cleared his throat, he was trying to be strong for her.

"How are you Mom, Dad said you still aren't talking."

"Oh he did?" she asked.

"Well, I gathered it from our conversation," said Mark.

"How could I?" she said, "after what he did to you."

"After what he did for you," said Mark.

Sharyn chewed on that, Viktor hadn't intentionally cursed his son, hell given their atheistic existence he was probably surprised demons were real.

"You thought anymore about reconstruction?" asked Mark, "just for yourself, so you feel more like yourself."

"I thought about it," she said, "It's a lot of money."

"Don't worry about the money," he said firmly.

"That's my line," said Sharyn, "I'm the parent here."

"I got a rather large payout for my book," said Mark, "let me help."

"Honey I couldn't," said Sharyn.

"Mom," he said confidently, "I want you to be happy."

Her hand instinctively went to her chest, scars, stitches, burns, her doctors hadn't been the best or the brightest.

"We'll talk about it next weekend," she said finally.

They talked a bit longer and Sharyn sat in her room, it was dark now, her food cold. She stared at her phone and dialed.

"Mrs. Vallen?" came Anastasia's voice, "is everything ok?"

"Yes, well, no," said Sharyn, "I'm fine, Viktor, well I think he's fine but I'm calling about Mark."

"Oh my god," said Anastasia, "I've been in the library all day, what's wrong, where is he?"

"It's nothing like that," said Sharyn calmly, "but he seemed upset when we spoke, really upset, I think something happened and I know he told you... about everything."

"Of course," said Anastasia, "I'll find him, I'll talk to him."

There was commotion on Anastasia's end.

"Oh shush yourself," she snapped, "sorry Mrs. Vallen," she added more calmly, "not you."

"Let me know he's ok," said Sharyn, "he hasn't told me much about what the curse entails, I don't need details, I just want to know my baby is ok."

"Of course," said Anastasia, "now what the fuck?"

Sharyn stared at her phone.

"Sorry," said Anastasia, "again, your husband is calling me."

Sharyn sat stunned, he must have gotten the same feeling and come to the same conclusion.

"I think I see him," said Anastasia, "be in touch."

The line cut out and Sharyn sat hugging herself. Viktor appeared at her door a moment later.

"You spoke to Anastasia?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I'm worried about him too," said Viktor, "just wanted to thank you for thinking of that."

He paused when he saw the plate on her nightstand, "no good?" he asked, "I can make something else."

"It was good," she said, "I got distracted by Mark.

"Let me at least heat it up for you," he said without entering the room.

She nodded and he came and took it. He reappeared a short while later and set it down on a potholder.

"Careful," he said, "it's hot."

"Thank you," she said.

This was the longest conversation they'd had in three months she realized.

"If I had known," he said, "about Mark, I never would have..."

"I know," she said finally looking her husband in the eyes.

"I'll get out of your hair," he said turning the light on low before disappearing.

"Vik," she said more urgently than she'd meant to.

He reappeared a second later.

"Can you sleep with me tonight?"

***

Anastasia stowed her phone away as she cut across campus, she'd figured she'd have to look everywhere for Marcus after his parents had called but there he was sitting on a bench looking like the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders.

"Hey Mark," she said as she approached.

He looked up startled but he softened when he realized who it was, "hey Stasi."

She sat next to him but he shifted away from her a little.

"Ok," she said, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said unconvincingly.

"Nothing?" she said, "so that storm cloud is always there?"

He didn't respond, "both of your parents called me," she said, he'd trusted her with demon insanity, she figured she could be honest about this.

"They like to worry," he said.

"Fine," she said opening her finance book and returning to her homework rather clumsily.

"What're you doing?" he asked.

"Well you don't want to talk," she said, "that's fine, but I don't want you to be alone."

"I told you I'm fine," he said.

"And I'm calling bullshit," said Anastasia.

"Stasi," he started.

"No," she said, "we don't have to talk but you're not shooing me away to wallow in whatever."

She pretended to return to her work as he let out a long breath.

"Yasmin found out she's pregnant," he said.

"Oh Mark," she said taking his hand, he flinched at her touch but didn't pull away.

"And I," he started, "I slept with Emily."

Anastasia was drawing a blank.

"My roommate's girlfriend," he clarified.

"Oh," she said, "well from what I heard one night she needed a good lay."

Mark raised an eyebrow," I was waiting for you one night," she said, "he wasn't being very good to her, and he didn't last very long."

"Still," he said, "felt like a dick move."

She squeezed his hand.

"God and I was so bad to her," he said pulling his hand away and burying his head in his hands.

She moved a little closer and rubbed his back, he tensed at first but then he relaxed and after a moment he leaned into her. She wrapped her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her mind wandered, she and Emily did look pretty similar. Don't do it, she thought, don't make a move he's going through too much.

"Yasmin will come around," said Anastasia, "she's probably not due until after she graduates so there's that, and Emily cheated on Eric, sure you may have been a little aggressive with her but I'm sure she loved it."

What Anastasia meant was she would love for him to manhandle her but she wasn't going to say that, at least not right now.

"She did flat out say she liked how aggressive I was," said Marcus, "and she asked when she could see me again."

"Got her hooked," said Anastasia with a smirk, "my friend the lady killer."

Marcus chuckled, "thanks Stasi," he said after a moment, "I guess I really needed this."

He turned and hugged her tightly and she hugged him back, she loved the feeling of his arms around her. The hug finally broke and they hesitated, so close, lips so close she could feel his breath, their eyes met and she closed hers, kiss me, she pleaded.

"I should get going," he said, "I have a ton of homework I didn't do and I've got practice tomorrow."

"Practice?" she asked flustered.

"Football," he said, "I joined the team."

He gathered his things and left and when he'd finally gone she let out and aggravated groan at her own unanswered desires. Then, after a deep breath she called Mrs. Vallen back.

***

Sharyn got ready for bed, she was at least a little more at ease after Anastasia called her back and she also had parents weekend to look forward to. A short while later Viktor came to the door, he stood and knocked.

"Come on in," she said.

He came in and she pulled back the sheets on his side of the bed. Viktor got into bed giving her plenty of space, he'd be asleep soon she knew, sleeping on the couch for months couldn't have been comfortable.

"Good night," she said, then she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

It wasn't anything she thought but she could see in Viktor's eyes how much it meant. She turned the light out and a moment later he was softly snoring, this felt good she told herself and in another moment she too was asleep.

The following morning Sharyn woke up, it was still early and somehow in the night she had nestled up against Viktor and now he had one of his strong arms wrapped around her. She'd missed this, no matter how mad or undeserving she felt she missed this feeling, being at home in his arms. She moved and she felt him, hard against her ass as he continued to breathe heavily. This was something she hadn't felt in years, since before the chemo, she hadn't felt desire, she hadn't felt need. Sure she had started to regain some weight, her skin had returned to it's normal color but her chest was still a patchwork of medical ineptitude. She wanted him, but she didn't want him to see her like this. Just go back to sleep she told herself but her body wanted it, she pressed further back against him and she felt him stir.

"Sharyn?" he said, he was unsure, she knew he wanted it but he was probably afraid to push her.

She looked back at him over her shoulder as she rubbed her ass on him.

"Really?" he asked, his voice cracking from excitement.

She bit her lip and nodded. He tugged her pants down and she felt him against her. With one long stroke he slid into her and they both groaned.

"Fuck I missed you," said Viktor as he buried himself in his wife.

She felt his strong hands on her waist as he started to thrust, he didn't move to undress her further he simply used her, his lips on her neck, his cock finding a perfect spot with each dive. There was no need to hold back, to be quiet, it was just the two of them.

"Fuck Vik," she gasped an almost foreign feeling creeping up on her, "I'm gonna."

He knew her so well, he knew where to hit, how to hold her, how long she wanted him to keep going as she climaxed. Her orgasm completely shook her, she hadn't known how much she'd needed this, she was completely overwhelmed by the sensation, it was almost like their first time all over again. When she finally came down she pulled off of him and got him into missionary, she wanted to see him, kiss him, hold him. She moaned as he reentered her and grabbed his waist as he started to thrust.

"Oh god Vik," she groaned as he worked himself into her.

She kissed him, it started off like a normal kiss but it got sloppy, she needed more, she needed to make up for lost time, so much lost time.

"Holy shit Shar," he grunted.

"Yes," she hissed, "give it to me babe."

He groaned hard burying himself with each thrust as he filled her up. When he finished they kissed again while he stayed buried inside of her both of them breathing heavily.

"I missed you too," said Sharyn holding her husband.

They lay intertwined for a moment, Viktor was still hard inside of her and she started to work herself on him again.

"More?" he asked.

She bit her lip and nodded, "more."

A while later Viktor lay snoring next to her and Sharyn sat on her phone, she messaged the plastic surgeon and set up a consultation.