Betrayal

Author’s Note:  Trixie Belden® is the registered trademark of Random House. This story is not for profit. 

It was still early, but the sun was rising as Mart dressed.  His eyes did not leave Di's sleeping form as he asked himself again why he would choose to study at a college thousands of miles from her.

She was like a Goddess to him.  Her beauty enchanted him, and he succumbed to her every demand but she did not abuse his dependency on her.  She loved him in return and in every way.

"I love you," he whispered as he put on his wrist watch and looked with alarm at the time.  He and Dan would have to get a move on as Moms expected him home early to help with the harvesting.

Mart leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, her glossy blue-black hair framing her face.  His awe of her beauty had never diminished and he knew how lucky he was to have her even look twice at him.

He tiptoed quietly out of her room and hurried down the stairs.  He wondered what he would find, having left Dan and Hallie to their own devices for the entire night.  He was disappointed to find Dan dozing in the arm chair and Hallie curled up on the couch.  It looks like Dan was going to keep to his promise.

"Dan," Mart whispered, giving him a gentle shove.  "We gotta get going."

Dan's eyes flew open and he looked up at Mart.

"What time is it?"

"Almost eight," Mart grinned.  "I told Moms I'd be home for breakfast.  We have to spend the day in the orchard."

Dan nodded and stretched, looking over at Hallie.

"Just give me a minute to wake up," he told Mart.  "I'll meet you outside."

Mart nodded and concealed a smile.  He slipped quietly out the double doors and waited for Dan.

Dan stood by Hallie, looking at her peaceful face.

"I wish you were always this content," he whispered, and turned to glance over his shoulder to see if Mart was watching.  "Thanks for last night.  Goodbye Hallie."

He leaned down and let his lips just barely brush against her forehead, his heart racing as he did so.  She did not move and he straightened up reluctantly.  He allowed himself one last longing glance before he turned and disappeared.

Brian awoke to the wonderful sensation of having Honey's naked, warm body pressed against him.  He smiled widely remembering the way they had made love last night.  It had been a perfect moment.

He rolled slowly to his side and looked at her.  Her golden hair fell over her face down on to her rounded breasts.  He caught his breath as he admired her beauty.  Last night had changed things, she was no longer the girl he fell in love with.  She was a woman.

I guess she has been for a long time, Brian realised.  Why did I never see it before?

He leaned in to kiss her and her eyes opened slowly and a smile spread over her face.

"Good morning."

"Good morning Honey girl," Brian replied and kissed her again.

"How long have you been lying there looking at me?" Honey asked.

"Not long enough," Brian answered, caressing her face and letting his fingers trail down to her breasts.

Honey closed her eyes and smiled.

"I like waking up with you," she breathed.

"I like falling asleep with you," he returned.

"Last night was wonderful," Honey murmured.  "Thankyou."

"Thank you," Brian smiled.  "I wasn't sure if the timing was right, or if we should wait until you finished high school, but it was perfect.  I love you so much Honey girl."

"I love you too Brian," Honey smiled and they kissed, Brian pulling her against him.

The fire between them ignited instantly and they slowly began to explore each others bodies, the nervousness of last night gone.  Mouths and hands caressed and teased as they stoked the passion between them, and Honey's eyes widened as Brian's mouth moved between her legs.

Any hesitation she felt disappeared the instant his tongue found her clit and she cried out in surprise.  She took his head in her hands and ran her fingers through his hair, panting as he pushed her towards climax.  Honey cried out as she came, waves of pleasure pulsing through her body with an intensity that shocked her.

Tears welled in her eyes as Brian slowly removed his mouth to kiss her.

"This is what you taste like," he told her and kissed her softly, but deeply.

"Oh," Honey murmured, her head spinning.  "That was incredible."

Brian grinned happily, kissing her face.

"Do you ache for me?" He asked her.

Honey nodded.

"Tell me," he prompted her.

"I want you inside of me," she murmured, her pupils dilated.  "Please Brian, make love to me."

He lowered his hips down to meet her and gently, but firmly slid inside of her.

"Does it hurt?" He asked her.

Honey shook her head.

"It feels... oh..." she murmured as he began to move inside of her.

The sensation was different from last night, when she sat astride him.  Now he thrust deeply into her with long, fluid movements; their bodies rubbing together.

She raised her legs to wrap them around him and was surprised to feel the position deepen his thrust and she cried out as pleasure rushed through her.

"It feels... so... good," she panted and Brian growled as he increased his pace, sweat beading on his forehead.

Honey began to whimper as Brian thrust harder and she recognised the excitement in his eyes and it thrilled her that she could make him feel this way.

Brian was on the brink of orgasm and he slammed his hips into hers, their eyes locked, their excitement shared.  Honey's cries grew more audible drowning out his groans as he exploded inside of her.

"Honey?"  A voice called from outside the room and both Honey and Brian's eyes widened in alarm.  "Are you okay?"

Honey panicked and looked to Brian for an answer.  He grimaced and nodded urgently at her.

"I'm... uh... fine Jim," she managed to blurt.  "I think I was having a bad dream."

Brian exhaled in relief and smiled at her.

"Okay," Jim called back.  "I'm going down for breakfast."

Brian smiled wickedly as Jim's footsteps faded.

"I guess I beat him to it."

Honey's eyes widened in surprise and she began to giggle.

Di rolled over to find the bed empty and she groaned.  She'd forgotten he had to leave early.

She stretched out luxuriously and thought back to last night.  They were incredible together, everything they shared was so passionate, so exciting.  There was a huge element of lust in their relationship, but she knew it was more than that that made their relationship so special.  They were meant to be, she just knew it.

But soon he would be gone.

The thought entered Di's head and she dismissed it immediately.  She promised herself she wouldn't think unhappy thoughts while he was still here.  She had plenty of time to be sad when he was gone.

Di swung her legs tentatively out of bed and was relieved not to be overcome by the nausea that had struck her the past few mornings.  She pulled her wrap around her and went to the bathroom, quickly splashing water on her face.

Feeling refreshed, she went downstairs and found Hallie asleep on the couch.

"Wake up sleepyhead," she said, giving Hallie a nudge.

Hallie's eyes opened slowly.

"Oh God!  What time is it?" Hallie moaned.  "I just went to sleep."

"Really?" Di raised her eyebrows.  "What did you and Dan get up to last night?"

"We talked 'til dawn," Hallie yawned and she rubbed her forehead lightly.  "It was great."

"You "talked" did you?" Di teased her.  "What exactly does talking involve?"

"Nothing happened," Hallie groaned.  "I told you he's not interested."

"I've never heard of a guy who's not interested, spending the entire night talking to someone," Di giggled.

"Well, maybe he's just interested as a friend," Hallie rolled her eyes.  "Enough of this!  What time is it?  I've got to help pick fruit today."

"It's 8:30," Di told her.  "Come on, I'll make you a coffee before you go."

Hallie climbed off the couch and followed Di to the kitchen.

"It's so great having this place to myself and being able to cook what I like and when I like," Di told her.  "Things used to be a lot simpler before Dad got rich."

"We've got a maid, Ollie," Hallie replied.  "But she makes us work hard.  I think Dad employs her just to keep us in line!"

Di giggled and put a pot of coffee on to brew.

"Do you miss home?" She asked carefully.

"Sometimes, but not as much now," Hallie replied slowly.  "I like it here and I know things would be too hard at home."

"Hard because of what's missing?"

Hallie nodded slightly.

"It's not like I'm avoiding it here, I still think of it all the time," she told Di.  "It's just easier to work through here."

"Won't it be harder when you go home?" Di asked gently.

"I'll be stronger then," Hallie replied and changed the subject.  "That coffee smells good."

The smell of the percolating coffee had permeated the air and Di's stomach had not reacted well.  It rolled uneasily, and Di held on to the bench waiting for the nausea to pass.

"Are you okay?" Hallie asked.

"I was fine when I woke up," Di answered uneasily.  "I guess I haven't shaken this bug yet."

"Maybe you should go to the doctor," Hallie suggested.

"I'm sure it will pass," Di assured her.

"I'm going to skip that coffee and let you go back to bed," Hallie told her.  "I'm running late as it is, but I may be able to grab some breakfast back at the farm before we start picking."

Di nodded.

"I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more last night," she apologised.

"Forget about it," Hallie grinned.  "We both had a good time, and that's the main thing."

Hallie waved goodbye and disappeared.  Di bolted towards the bathroom and threw up.  Was this never going to end?  Maybe I should go to the doctor.

"God!  I'm late," Brian cried.  "I was supposed to be home ages ago.  We're all working in the orchard today.  I've got to go!"

"Wait," Honey stopped him and pulled Brian towards her.  She kissed him, long and lingering and by the time she released him, his head was spinning.

"I love you," he grinned stupidly.

"I love you too," she giggled.  "Now go, I'll see you tonight."

Brian opened the door and stepped out into the hall, right in front of Jim.  Jim frowned as Brian gave him an embarrassed smile and Honey looked dismayed.

"What's going on here?" Jim demanded.

"I was just leaving," Brian told him.

"I want to know when you arrived," Jim frowned.

"Brian stayed over last night," Honey told him defiantly.  "That's all you need to know."

"What have you been up to with my sister?" Jim asked Brian angrily.  "I'm guessing that wasn't really a bad dream you were having this morning."

"Hey, take it easy," Brian tried to calm him.  "This is between Honey and I.  We didn't mean to upset you.  I guess I should have told you I was staying over."

"How could you take advantage of her like that?" Jim demanded, not even looking at Honey.  "You're three years older than her, she's not old enough to be involved in that sort of relationship."

"Who are you to decide what I can or can't do?" Honey cried.  "I'm seventeen years old, I'm not a girl anymore Jim.  And my relationship with Brian is none of your business."

"It is when I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you," Jim responded angrily.

"And who do you think keeps an eye on me when you're not around?" Honey asked him.  "I can take care of myself."

"And what would Mother and Dad think if they knew what you were up to?" Jim demanded.

"They would respect my decision," Honey told him firmly.  "We haven't done anything wrong."

"How could you?" Jim asked Brian.  "You're supposed to be my best friend.  I trusted you with my sister."

"I am your friend and I've done nothing to betray your trust," Brian told him coolly.  "But you've just betrayed your sister's trust in you.  How dare you make her feel like we did something wrong?  You've gone and ruined something special."

Jim turned to Honey, whose eyes were full of tears.

"Honey..." Jim began.

Honey's face fell and she turned and disappeared into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Jim and Brian stared coolly at each other without exchanging a word.  Brian opened the door to Honey's bedroom and went to comfort her.

"How could he say those things?" Honey sobbed into her pillow.  "Why was he being so mean?"

"He doesn't understand," Brian soothed her.  "He doesn't know how it feels for us and how right it was."

"Did we make a mistake?" Honey wailed.  "What if everyone else thinks the same thing?"

"No one else has to know," Brian told her.  "This is between us.  What everyone else thinks doesn't matter."

"Oh, Brian..." Honey sniffed and let him take her in his arms.

"Last night was perfect and so was this morning," he assured her.  "Don't let Jim's jealousy spoil that."

He looked into her red-rimmed eyes and smiled.  She sighed and gave him a weak smile in return.

"I've really got to go," Brian told her, kissing her gently.  "Why don't you give Di a ring and spend some time with her?  I'll see you tonight."

Honey nodded and watched him leave.  When the door shut behind him, she fell back on the bed.

"What have I done?" She moaned.

"Di?  It's Honey," Honey said into the phone later that day.

"Honey? Oh hi," Di replied.

"Are you okay?  You sound a little distracted." 

"No, I'm fine," Di told her.  "You just caught me in the middle of something."

"Can you talk?" Honey asked.  "I really need to talk to someone."

"Sure," Di replied.  "What's up?"

Honey hesitated and then related the events of the past 24 hours to Di.

"So what do you think?" Honey asked desperately.  "Did I do the right thing?"

Di did not answer.

"Di?  Are you there?"

"Oops, sorry Honey," Di cried.  "What did you say?"

"Did I do the right thing?" Honey repeated. 

"You shouldn't let what Jim said spoil it for you," Di advised.  "From what you've told me, it was a perfect, wonderful moment.  You know you did the right thing for you and Brian, so don't let anyone else make you doubt it."

"Did you have second thoughts after your first time?" Honey asked hesitantly.

"Not really," Di replied.  "But I think Brian might have given Mart a hard time."

"Brian?" Honey repeated.  "Why?"

"Are you forgetting how honourable he is?" Di giggled.  "Mart and I weren't exactly of legal age and Brian didn't think it was the right thing to do."

"But it was right for you?" Honey asked.

"Definitely," Di replied firmly.  "It was wonderful."

"Thanks Di," Honey sighed in relief.  "I didn't know who else to talk to."

"You're welcome," Di told her.  "You are taking precautions, aren't you?"

"Oh yes," Honey assured her.  "I've been on the pill for ages, just like you."

"Then it's smooth sailing from here," Di remarked.  "And make the most of it while he's here, because you're really going to miss it when he leaves."

Honey giggled.

"How are you feeling today?" Honey asked.

"Not great," Di admitted.

"Did you go to the doctor?" Honey asked in concern.

"Uh... yeah," Di mumbled.  "It wasn't anything serious."

"Oh, that's a relief," Honey sighed.  "Is anything else wrong?"

"No, I'm just a bit tired," Di admitted.

"I'll let you go then," Honey told her.  "Thanks for your advice.  Go and get some rest."

"I will," Di assured her.  "Bye Honey."

Di hung up the phone and sank back onto the bed.

She'd done it.  She'd managed a whole conversation with Honey without telling her the truth.  Now all she had to do was break up with Mart without him finding out the real truth.

Di pulled her knees up to her chest and began to sob uncontrollably.

"Thank God that's finished," Trixie sighed as they tramped into the kitchen after a long day in the orchard.

"Now all we have to do is the canning and making jam," Helen told her and smiled as her daughter groaned.

"Go and wash up," she told Trixie and Hallie.  "Dinner won't be long.  Mart's up at Di's and Brian's about to head up to Honey's so there won't be many of us."

"Mart can't bear being apart from Di at the moment," Trixie giggled to Hallie.  "She's going to be a mess when he leaves."

"You take the first shower," Hallie told her.  "I'll help Auntie out with dinner."

Trixie smiled gratefully and ran up the stairs.  The phone rang.

"Hallie, can you get that please?" Helen called.

"Hello Belden residence."

"Hallie?"

The blood drained from Hallie's face.

"Hi Dad, nice of you to find the time to call."

Helen looked over at Hallie in surprise.

"I've been busy honey," Harold told her.  "I had a business trip I couldn't postpone, and I knew Peter and Helen would be taking good care of you."

"They have been," Hallie replied.

"So how are you?" Harold boomed cheerfully.

"Oh, I'm just fine Dad," Hallie replied sarcastically.  "Couldn't be better."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," he remarked.  "It's not the same without you here."

"I bet it isn't," she replied through gritted teeth.  "Have you seen Cap?"

"I've barely been home," Harold answered.  "I'm sure he's fine."

"But you don't know, do you?" Hallie asked.  "Why did you really call?  Did Uncle Peter ask you to ring?"

Hallie looked pointedly at Helen, whose face fell.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Harold told her.

"I'd be okay if I had a father who cared about his family and didn't run out on his wife when she was dying," Hallie told him straight.

"Hallie that's not the way it was," Harold replied.  "Maybe you should come home and we could talk about this."

"Will you be there?" Hallie asked bitterly.  "I'll make this easy for you Dad.  I'm not coming home.  I'm going to stay here and finish high school.  Then I'll be off to college and you'll never have to see me again."

Hallie dropped the phone and ran up the stairs.

Helen was stunned by Hallie's announcement and hurried to pick up the handset.

"Harold, it's Helen."

"What's going on there?  Has Hallie talked to you about staying with you permanently?"

"No, it hasn't been mentioned.  She's pretty upset right now Harold.  I'll go and talk to her and I'll get her to call you back when she's calmed down a bit."

"Maybe it would be a good idea if she stayed with you," he sighed.  "What sort of family life is she going to have here with me away most of the time?"

"She needs her brothers Harold.  Let me talk to her."

"Okay, Helen whatever you think is best.  I'll speak to you later."

Helen hung up the phone slowly.  She was beginning to understand Hallie's resentment for her father.

Dinner at Crabapple Farm was a rather quiet affair.  Hallie hardly spoke a word despite the best efforts of Trixie and Bobby to cheer her up.  Helen and Peter spoke to each other through facial expressions and he had a fair idea of what was going on.

"We should work you kids in the orchard more often," Peter joked.  "I don't think we've ever had such a quiet dinner."

The words had only left his mouth when Mart burst into the kitchen, his eyes wild and obviously distraught.

"What happened Hallie?" Mart begged her.  "What did Di say to you this morning?"

Hallie looked up in surprise, completely bewildered.

"What do you mean?" Hallie asked.  "We only talked briefly.  I'd slept in and was running late."

"Did she say anything to you?" Mart pleaded.  "Did she give you any reason?"

Hallie shook her head in confusion.

"What's going on Mart?" Peter demanded.  "What's this all about?"

Mart grabbed the back of an empty chair and tried to breathe.  He fought to hold it together but the tears ran down his face.

"Mart!" Trixie cried in concern.  "What's going on?  What's happened to Di?"

"She broke up with me," Mart blurted.  "She broke up with me and she won't tell why."

The End