The Solider Husband

1 August, Matthew's Villa, City K

Lexi reacted in shock and pulled back from Matthew saying "Blame myself.  Why would…And what was that you just said about David Hwang?"

"Hey, do not blame me.  I always knew little pieces of information and had suspicions about things, but I only got cleared for all the material in the last few months.  At even then there was less than a dozen people cleared for all the intelligence until Joan had started her actions, and we only put everything together once things had happened."

Staring at Matthew Lexi snapped "You better be telling me the truth."

Throwing his hand up Matthew calmly said "If you do not believe me, talk to Head Honcho, Bronwyn or even Steven.  He only got cleared for things at the last minute and pieced a lot together, which even I had missed."

Lexi bit her lip, dropped her eyes slightly and added "You better be telling the truth."

"I am sweetheart, I am.  You know I love you and would do anything to protect you."

Lexi dropped her tense shoulders and lifted her head to look Matthew in the eyes, before saying "I know.  That is one thing I will never doubt, but you forget that we are all not like you."

Matthew leant over and kissed the top of Lexi's head before pulling back and uttering "You know I will do everything to ensure Dominic and your safety."

Nodding Lexi slightly smiled and looked out to Dominic, who dropped on the ground, causing her to jump up and run outside.  Matthew, turned and saw Dominic on the ground, and ran after Lexi, both of them arriving at the same time, with Lexi calling out "Dominic are you alright?"

Dominic quickly sat up, and laughed before saying "Mummy, Daddy Matthew, you both look funny worrying.  I just wanted your attention.  I could see you were ignoring me…"

Lexi turned to Matthew who had stifled his laughter while shaking his head, and bending down to lift Dominic up in his arms before adding "You should noy do that as you worried your Mummy and I."

Dominic still laughing said "Daddy Matthew, the look on both your faces was so funny."

Finally, having gathered herself together Lexi said, "It is not funny Dominic to worry me doing that."

"But…"

"What have I told you about buts…?"

"Mummy you always tell me they are for sitting on.  Mummy, I do not like being ignored by both you and Daddy Matthew, as I want to know what is happening.  When I could see your faces you both looked serious.  And Mummy, you not going into the studio is strange.  I thought that you liked being there."

Looking directly at Matthew, Lexi calmly said, "How about we go inside, and we can talk…"

"Can we watch a movie?"

"Possibly."

Matthew, still carrying Dominic, said "We will think about if you apologise to your Mummy for worrying her." .

Without thinking Dominic leant over in Matthew's arms before saying "Sorry Mummy."

Shaking her head, Lexi calmly said "How about you two go upstairs, and I will organise for a treat Dominic…"

"Pizza Night?"

Laughing Lexi said "What is it with your and Pizza.  You only had that the other night when you convinced your Uncles Phillip and Chester to allow you to have it."

Dropping his lip Dominic said "Not fair mummy…"

Lexi simply shook her head before saying "Life is not always fair.  How about a compromise, grilled fish, and you can have chips with that, but your Daddy Matthew and I can have salad."

Dominic smiled and responded, "Fine Mummy."  He paused before saying to Matthew "Put me down please Daddy Matthew…"

"I will Dominic.  Remember there is no running inside, but how about you go and bathe before joining us in the upstairs lounge where we will have dinner."

Dominic, as soon as his feet hit the ground started running inside, and as Matthew was shking his head Lexi said, "He is constantly filled with energy."

"Which is a good thing.  But this does not mean that I have forgotten we firsty were distrcted by our discussions and then Dominic.  You need to tell me what you decision is…"

Lexi stood on her toes and kissed Matthew's cheek before saying "Just wait.  You and Dominic need to know my decision together, as it impacts you."

Matthew glared at Lexi, before she responded "Just wait, and you will understand what I have to say when I say it.  But there is one thing I want you to go and do, while I organised things."

Matthew slightly softened how he was standing before responding "What, Lexi?"

"You know all those things Rachael gave you and I…?"

Seeing Lexi's face redden, Matthew nodded, and paused waiting for her.  Lexi eventually gathered herself together and added "Can you go and get rid of them from our suite.  I know why Rachael got them and can guess why you have agreed to allow us to explore things in our bedroom.  I have realised that we do not need them.  They became a crutch in trying to work through things…"

"And you do not want that," responded Matthew, before kissing her briefly on the lips and hurrying inside.

On reaching their suite, he quickly moved through the suite gathering everything Lexi wanted gone.  While he agreed with her decision as he stared at them in the box, Matthew pondered if Lexi might regret her decision to have him disposed of them.  Moving over to where his civilian clothes were, Matthew pushed them, and activated the mechanism that opened the hidden safe, and dropped them in there so he could dispose of them in a month or so, when he was certain Lexi would not regret her decision.

Twenty-five minutes later, as the door on their private upstairs lounge closed, Matthew turned to Lexi, who was watching Dominic quickly start to eat his fish and chips, smiling.

Loudly Matthew said, "Can you wait Dominic, your Mummy has something to tell us."