If I Could

{59} - Normal

"Hello, baby," the voice responded, sounding a little more familiar now. "I know I sound a little bit different. It's just that I've been singing Led Zeppelin out loud. This is Roger. Like, Roger, the man you're head over heels with, not that I blame you though," he jested.

Belle giggled, blushed impossibly hotter and tried really hard not to burst out laughing. Besides that, she was really baffled. Roger calling her? That was a really nice unexpected surprise.

"Hey, Roger. What's up?". Belle wished she could have said something smart or cool, but her brain offered 'what's up' and then switched back to the fact that Brian was waiting for her in her car and she gestured him to wait.

"I'm coming back to London tomorrow. I was thinking we could maybe go out. Is that alright?".

"Is that alright?". Belle almost laughed at how absurd that was.

"Why do you even ask?", Belle laughed. "Of course it's alright!".

"Sounds like a plan."

"I can't wait."

Needless to say, Belle was happy for the rest of the day.

After Belle drove Brian to his apartment she decided to stop by her mother's house to say hello and maybe find out if Mary was still angry with her.

After Belle told Mary that she would divorce Rami, Mary begged and begged her not to do it. She told her daughter that she would never find someone like Rami ever again, and that what was she was doing would end up being hamrful to Alice. And after news of Belle's divorce became public, she simply lost her mind.

"Mom, I don't want you to be mad at me," was the first thing that Belle, who was carrying Alice in her arms, said after Mary opened her house's door. Mary didn't answer back, she simply let Belle in her house, and unlike Belle, she knew what was coming next. She started screaming out a sermon to her daughter about how wrong her decisions were, about how her father was the one behind all of her actions, and the way Mary's words bit into Belle as if she personally set out to make her mother's day as miserable as it could have been was embarrassing, no matter how much she disagreed with her daughter. It was rude, uncalled for, ridiculous.

"You'll never find someone as great as Rami. Maybe if you were not travelling alone with Roger Taylor you would have saved your marriage!".

John was reading an interesting article on a magazine about electronics when he heard all of the havoc Mary was wreaking, and John was up out of his chair before he really thought about it.

"Her marriage's downfall is obviously not her fault, Mary," John cut in, standing a little in front of Belle whose hands went to touch John's shoulders. "Rami cheated on her multiple times."

"John, don't-

It didn't end well. Belle still got reprimanded because her mother was her mother, and Mary asked her not to come back until she recognised her guiltiness.

Sitting outside afterward, Belle crushed a beverage can under her shoe and sighed.

"Why'd you do that?", Belle asked John. "I thought you didn't approve of my relationship with Roger."

"Mary was wrong, and I was wrong too," John shrugged. "If you love Roger and he loves you, there's no justifiable reason why you guys shouldn't be together."

Belle smiled. "Thank you. I have to go now."

Belle's heart felt as if it almost could jump out of her chest every time she remembered she would see Roger tomorrow. She knew she could never get tired of the feeling even if she were to feel it every day. Belle sighed and wished the feeling would someday become normal.

The next day

Belle and Roger were reunited, the day was incredibly cold so they decided to go to the coffee shop. They were equally delighted to be together again, and they couldn't stop talking about how much they missed each other. A friend of Roger owned it so Roger asked him to shut the second floor down so Belle and Roger weren't photographed together.

The place was cozy and gave off a comforting feeling, Belle thought. The couple ordered their stuff, Roger paid for Belle and waited for it to be brought up to them.

"You know, you didn't have to pay for me," Belle said as she followed Roger up the stairs. "Makes me feel like I can't give you anything back."

"It's all right," Roger said as he made his way to the corner, where some comfy armchairs were situated. "Just tell me about everything that's been going on at the psychiatric hospital. I know how important it is to you."

Belle took a deep breath. "I'm not going to lie, I enjoy being there. But you know, Ben works there and he's my attending physician and I'm sorry, he's annoying as Hell because he's really strict" Belle chuckled nervously, because at the end of the day Ben was still Roger's cousin. "And Mailen's brother works there, so it's interesting to be there."

"Well, I think being strict is good. Not everyone you're going to deal with is going to be nice, that is something I have learnt the hard way," Roger stated. "My father was my only mentor and he obviously always played it cool with me. Sometimes I wish someone stricter would have taught me the reality of my job."

A waiter appeared with two glasses in his hands, obviously Belle and Roger's drinks. He made his way to where they were sitting and carefully placed the drinks down on the table, putting his hands on his hips as he gave them a smile. "The food will be up in just a moment, so I'll be back soon if you need anything," the waiter smiled and gave them a nod before making his way back downstairs.

"Well, I'm sure you heard about the fact that Kate didn't want me to be her doctor," Belle grabbed hold of her mocha-flavoured milkshake and took a sip.

"Yeah, I heard about that. I'm sorry, but you know the woman is where she is for a reason."

"I still asked Gwilym, her doctor and Mailen's brother, not to keep her there for too long. I think about your children a lot. They don't deserve being without their mother."

Roger smiled with gratitude. "Thank you Belle, this is why I love you. But there are some other big news to talk about as well. You're getting divorced, finally."

"How's that?", Belle chirped. "Rami has been acting super friendly lately. Strange but I won't complain about it."

"Yeah, you told me about that in that call where we defied the huge time difference," Roger said as he drank his own coffee. "Part of me wants to believe he really changed. Don't know what must have gotten into him but whatever it is I'm thankful."

"I know," Belle nodded. "My mom is losing her mind over it though, and my dad is really happy about it."

"How's your dad, by the way? Haven't heard you talk about him."

"He's in Germany promoting his music but he has been partying really hard though."

'That's the dream life."

"Speaking of people we haven't talked about, have you talked to Jessica, by the way?".

Roger's world froze. He felt like a complete idiot. He had totally forgotten about Jessica, and he cursed himself for that. She had been so kind and noble to him, and he barely remembered her anymore.

"God, no. I feel horrible," Roger said with honest regret. "I really should call her."

"Yeah, you should do that."

"Even now more than ever, when something totally crazy has been wandering around my mind."

"What is it?", Belle raised an eyebrow.

"Definitely not going to tell you," Roger let out a mischevious smile. "But you're going to get to know what it is, because it involves you."

"Oh, really? I'm curious about that."

"You should be."