Love at First Sight

Chapter 19

Adeline woke up to the sunlight peering through the window, sighing and rolling on to her other side to try and fall back asleep. She felt the warmth of the woman's chest against her cheek and felt the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. Moving closer to the woman, she gently brought her arm around her waist, surprised when the older woman chuckled lightly. She looked up and seen the ymbryne was already awake and smiling down at the woman.

"You never wake me when you're up." Adeline says and Alma smiles.

"I'd rather let you sleep." She says softly, pressing a light kiss on her lips. Adeline blushed. So last night wasn't a dream.

Adeline returned it, feeling the older woman sit up to lean over top of her to deepen it.

"I'm going to change and start breakfast, mind helping me with the food?" Alma asks as she gets off the woman and sits on the edge of the bed.

"I wouldn't mind." Adeline says, stretching and sitting up, Alma handing her one of her outfits from her room and Alma was already dressed.

"Did you wake up early and get me an outfit?" Adeline asks with an amused look and Alma smiled.

"I thought I would as we can't have questions being asked from the children after all." She says and Adeline raises an eyebrow, confused at what she was implying. Is she saying there was something going on between them? Is this official or not yet?

"I'll meet you downstairs." Alma says with a small smile and left.

Adeline got dressed and went down the stairs, the ymbryne in the kitchen starting breakfast and she walked over, hugging her from behind and Alma tensed before relaxing in her arms. She hadn't got used to the feeling just yet as Amelia wasn't affectionate like this. Though she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it.

"You need to relax, birdie." Adeline says with a small smile, propping her chin on her shoulder and Alma smiles.

"I am, dear." Alma says, but her voice went weak towards the end when she felt the woman's hands start to gently work through the knots in her shoulders, gently rubbing the woman's back as she eventually made her way down to her waist, Alma holding back and noise as the woman carefully pressed her thumbs into her back, her hands resting on her hips as she eased her tension.

"Darling, don't, your hands." Alma says, gently taking her hand in hers for a moment before dropping it. She loved but feared the way she loved the woman so much. She can't rush it, no matter how much she wanted to claim her as her own, she was scared. What if she turned into Amelia? She rid herself of the thought, Adeline would be nothing like her. She couldn't be, she's too kind. She wouldn't lay her hands on her, right?

"What's on your mind?" Adeline asks gently and Alma said nothing, only shaking her head a little. Before Adeline could ask anything more, Emma came down stairs with Olive and Millard.

"Miss Peregrine, can we go into town?" Emma asks and the ymbryne looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

"To do what?"

"Just to stop by the library." Olive says with a small smile.

"I do not want another 'Raid the Village' incident, understood?" The headmistress says and the three nod. "You are to only go into town for that reason only and return here by before lunch."

"Yes Miss." Millard nods and Alma allows them to leave, the three taking the horse and carriage.

"Alma?" The ravenette looked at the woman and Adeline looked up at her, Alma feeling her heart melt at the look. "I love you, truly I do and I don't expect you to answer that right away or constantly be sure how you feel, but I'm nothing like her. I promise you." She says gently and Alma looked into the woman's eyes, seeing the sincerity.

"I've spent five here's with you and I would always worry those nights you left to the council, I didn't want anybody ever hurting you. When I found out who Amelia really was, I wanted to help you, I truly did and I'm so sorry I didn't realize when you needed help. I was too caught up with my own thoughts and being selfish that I didn't realize you needed help. I'm sorry." Adeline says softly and Alma chewed on the inside of her cheek as she tried to school her features back into her professional demeanor.

"Don't apologize." Alma says, managing a smile before returning to the food and Adeline gently took her hand, gaining her attention again.

"Alma, please talk to me." Adeline says quietly and the ymbryne looks at her, skimming her eyes over the woman's features. "I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm perfectly alright, darling." She smiles and presses a light kiss to the woman's hand before turning to set the table.

                             ~~~

Adeline heard a knock on the door, Alma heading out of the kitchen to open it, a smile spreading across her features as she moved her pipe away from her mouth when she opened the door.

"Hello Mr Portman, I've been expecting you." Alma greets holding her hand out. "I'm Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine, you may call me Miss Peregrine." Adeline watched as the boy shook her hand and Alma moved away for him and the three others to come inside.

"This is Miss Johnson. Miss Bloom, I find it rather suspicious that the three of you went into town without any trouble. Are you sure it was just the library you were going to?" Alma asks with a sharp look.

"We may have accidentally started a fire..." Olive says quietly and Alma sends her a look.

"I do hope the police do not show up again, I've had to kill them three times this months." The ymbryne says and Adeline tried not to smile at how casually the headmistress said it. "Miss Bloom, the squirrel needs to be tended to." She adds and the girl nods, leaving the home to head outside, Olive following her outdoors. "Now Mr Portman, I've heard many things about you from your grandfather." She says, guiding him to the kitchen.

Meanwhile Adeline sat in the parlor, the book from the study room in her hands as she flipped through it, trying to understand what the note meant.