Category: Flash Fic Friday

**In honor of the Admiral’s birthday, a short special fic.  Happy Birthday honey, even if you’re not celebrating :D**

I loved Vegas, but right now the crowds were getting on my last nerve.  The lobby of the casino was packed, and I was just trying to get across the floor.  I wasn’t sure when people had lost all their manners, but I shouldn’t have been surprised.  Fuckers.

Someone knocked into me hard from behind.  I stumbled and nearly fell.  I whirled around, ready to yell at the inconsiderate fucker for not paying attention, but as soon as I caught sight of the man, the words dried up.  He was trying to hide under a ball cap and dark sunglasses, but I knew that face.  Those lips.  That chin.

“Hey, man, I’m sorry,” his voice rumbled.  My knees nearly gave out.  Chris fucking Pine had bumped into me, was talking to me, and I could do nothing but stare.

He reached up and pulled off the glasses, his brilliant blue eyes piercing into me as he studied my face.  “You all right?”

“Yeah,” I croaked out.  I cleared my throat.  “Yes.  You’re Chris Pine.”  I winced.  Fuck a duck, I sounded like an idiot.

His smile was gorgeous as he held out a hand.  “Yeah.  Nice to meet you.”

I took his hand, holding it more than a shake, but he didn’t seem to notice.  I nearly whimpered at the touch of his skin on mine.  But Chris just shook my hand and then pulled away.  I stood there like an idiot when he gave me a wave and left.

I could have kicked myself.  I had the man of my fantasies right in front of me and I did nothing about it.  I should have at least given him my name or tried to draw him into conversation.  In the thousands of scenarios I had daydreamed, it had never gone like that.

“Baby?”

My husband’s voice shocked me out of my reverie, and I looked up into his brown eyes.  He was wearing a concerned expression. I opened my mouth, shut it again, and swallowed hard.

“Chris Pine.”  It was all I could manage to say.

“What?”

“Was here.  Touched me.  Talked to me.”  Goddamn, I was better at words than this.

My husband scowled, and his voice dropped low.  “He was here?”

I nodded.

The scowl got darker.  “If he’d have said the word, you’d have followed him back to his room and let him fuck you.”

I nodded again, because he already knew the truth.  He growled.  Then he took my face in his hands and kissed me.  It was hard and possessive, biting at my lips as his hands cradled my head.  As always, I melted under his touch.  I loved him.  Chris Pine was the fantasy, and yes, I would have cheated on my husband for him.  But this?  This right here was real and every day and amazing.

When we broke for air, he looked down into my eyes, his gaze alight with passion and need.  “How about I take you back to our room and I fuck you instead?  Remind you who you belong to?”

“What if someone hears?”  I couldn’t resist teasing.

He growled again.  “I’ll make an exception this time.”

He took a hold of my elbow and I let him pull me from the lobby.  Best.  Vacation.  Ever.

After accidentally posting earlier this week, it’s now really time for Flash Fic Friday!

**Okay, so this week I brought back Elliott and Nate.  Remember them and their proposal at the zoo?  They totally wanted to come back when we got this week’s challenge–a phobia, lost keys, and a birth.  Enjoy!**

“Keys, keys, keys,” I muttered to myself, tossing the pillows off the couch and sticking my hand down between the cushions.  I’d torn the house apart looking for my damn keys, and I was freaking out.  I always tossed them in the bowl on the little table by the door when I came in, but they weren’t there.  Panic was starting to rise in my throat.  I had to go. I had to get to the zoo. I had to be there.  There was no way I was missing this.

Nate’s nearly constant text messages weren’t helping any either.  Now that I knew Amala was close to giving birth, and that I’d be allowed in despite not being an actual staff member, I was desperate to get there.  I’d been waiting for this moment for nearly two years, ever since Nate came home and announced the young elephant was pregnant.  He’d been just like a proud papa.  I knew the girls were like his children.  Hell, I loved them almost as much as he did.  Indira was both of our favorite, and Amala was her daughter.  I didn’t want to miss seeing the moment Indira became a grandmother.

But I couldn’t find my fucking keys!

There was only one place I hadn’t looked, and with sinking dread, I realized that it was likely the keys were in that room.  Because Nate, the rat bastard, had been a good husband and taken my car for an oil change last night.  And since he’d had the keys, and had gone straight to the freezer and gotten several pinkies the moment he’d walked in the door, probability was high that’s where they were.

I checked the freezer for the keys first, just in case.  No such luck.

Fear welled in my gut, and for a moment I thought I was going to puke.  I almost thought it would be better to call a cab and pay the exorbitant fees than go in that room.  Which was just ridiculous.  I loved Nate more than anything in the world, but I was going to kill him dead for making me do this.

It was just a snake.  A baby, not even two foot long albino python.  I dreaded the day she got big enough that she could no longer eat the tiny, frozen, naked baby mice.  Nate swore Jezebel was a sweetheart.  But I knew better.  Snakes were gross and dangerous and they ate poor defenseless mice and other rodents.  I hated snakes.

Okay, they scared the ever loving crap out of me, and the only reason I allowed one in the house was because she had her own room and was kept under lock and key.

My phone went off again with another text from Nate.  His “hurry up, Elliott, you’re going to miss everything!” finally spurred me into action.  I took a deep breath, and swallowed down the bile.  I approached the room slowly.  My hand was shaking as I lifted it to unlock the deadbolt.  It turned easily.  Slowly, every so carefully, I inched the door open a few inches.  I closed my eyes, pressed my hand to my stomach, and peeked inside.

Instantly I saw the snake, high on a tree perch in the corner of the elaborate habitat Nate had constructed along the back wall.  The door to the enclosure was firmly shut and latched.  I stuck my head a little farther into the room, and tried to look around while keeping an eye on the snake and making sure she stayed put.

There, on the tiny table right by the snake, were my keys.  Goddammit and mother fucker.  Okay, okay.  I could do this.  The snake couldn’t get me from where she was, the mesh screen was firmly intact and there was no way she could get out.  I inched into the room, took a deep breath and ran for the table.  I snatched my keys up, and bolted, slamming and locking the door behind me.  Panting hard, fear and adrenaline pouring through my veins, I leaned against the cool wood for a moment, trying to get myself back under control.

Fucking snakes.

Another chime from my phone, and I was running from the house, barely remembering to lock the front door on my way out.  It took barely twenty minutes to get to the zoo, and I parked illegally in staff parking before racing through the front door.  I was there all the time, and I barely waved to the volunteer at the ticket booth.  Agnes was a grandmother of eight, and the sweetest lady on the entire planet.  She just laughed as I ran by.

It was late, and the zoo would be closing in about a half an hour, so there weren’t too many patrons still inside.  Despite that, I had to dodge and weave around a few small children, and was ready to leap over a stroller until it was moved at the last second.  I was panting hard and out of breath by the time I made it to the elephant enclosure, and ran around to the back where the stables were.  Only then did I slow, take a minute to catch my breath, and then carefully and quietly push open the door.

I saw Nate right away, my beautiful husband wearing a huge grin.  I walked quickly, my sneakers not making a sound on the concrete floor, and sidled up beside him.  He startled, but as soon as he realized it was me, he tucked me under his arm and kissed my cheek.

“You made it just in time,” he whispered, and pointed into the stall.

There was no doubt about it, the birthing process was absolutely disgusting.  And Amala was obviously in pain.  It broke my heart to see it, and my already queasy stomach turned at the blood and amniotic fluid.  But I still watched in awe as the tiny baby elephant made its way into the world.

Nate and a few other staff members went in as soon as they could, toweling off the baby and giving it and Mama a quick check.  Amala had been born in this zoo fifteen years ago, and she considered Nate part of the herd, so she accepted the attention without fuss.  I watched for a bit longer, before I headed down the aisle to visit with Indira.

Indira was still snuffling her trunk in my hair when Nate found us.  He patted Indira’s trunk, gave her a few scratches behind her ear, and then turned a beaming smile on me.

“Amala is fine,” he told us both, one hand still on Indira.  “And so is her calf.  A beautiful baby boy.”

I had to admit, I was a little sad at the news only because it meant that the baby couldn’t stay with the herd.  The zoo already had one bull elephant, and wouldn’t keep two.  Jahi was only twenty or so, and had a lot of years left.  The baby would be sent to another zoo in a few years, and that broke my heart.

Indira started making a growly noise, a stomach rumble she used to communicate with the herd.  Nate did his best to soothe her.  I knew she was anxious to check on Amala and the baby, but Nate had told me before that no one else would be allowed near her for at least a few hours.  I reached up to pet Indira’s trunk too, hoping to help.

“What are you going to call him?” I asked softly.

Nate pulled a face.  “The zoo will announce the birth in the paper and on the news, and then have a naming contest.”  He rolled his eyes.  “We won’t know for a few weeks what his name is.”

I scrunched up my nose.  “We are so not doing that for our kids,” I teased without thought.

Nate sucked in a breath, and I realized what I said.  I gaped at him, trying to take the words back, but I couldn’t make myself.

“Elliott?”

I shook my head quickly.  “A conversation for another day.  Let’s go look at No Name instead.”  I gave Indira another pat, and then headed for Amala’s stall without a backward glance.  I heard Nate following, and he caught up with me fast, grabbing my hand.

“I love you.”

I smiled.  “I love you too.  So much.  I’m going to kill you later though, because I had to go in the snake room.  So I guess we don’t have to worry about kids after all.”

Nate let out a happy laugh, and tugged me close, giving me a swift, deep kiss on the lips.  “You can tell me the story while we watch No Name find his feet.”

I had to agree, that sounded like a pretty fantastic idea.

**Remember Connor and Angel?  No?  Well refresh yourself, I’ll wait.  All caught up?  Good.  I was having a lot of trouble writing this week’s fic, until I finally realized that it was time to bring these boys back.  Enjoy!**

Three months had passed, and I was still here.  Living in a tiny rent-by-the-month apartment and telecommuting.  I still didn’t know what I was going to do with the property where my childhood home had once stood, but I knew I had to decide soon.  Because there was no way I was going try to muddle through filing my taxes again next year with it still hanging over my head.

But I was finally done, and I thought I got it right.  At least the software I was using finally stopped throwing errors at me and let me submit the paperwork.  A few minutes passed before my email dinged with the confirmation.  The forms had been filed, and were waiting acceptance.  I breathed out a sigh of relief.  It had taken me a good ten hours to get it done.  I wasn’t even that pissed that I wasn’t getting a refund this year.  Because it was over, and I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

There was a knock on the door a second before it creaked open.  I gave Angel a tired but pleased smile.  Lately things had been moving from friends to something more between us.  But I knew he was wary of starting something until I made some decisions.

I hadn’t had the guts to confess that I was sticking around because of him.

“You should keep the door locked, you know,” he said by way of greeting.  But his dark eyes were sparkling with humor.  God, I loved that look on him.  He was gorgeous, and he knew it but he wasn’t arrogant about it.  I needed to do something about us, and I needed to do it soon.

I cleared my throat and forced that thought away for the moment.  “What have you got there?”

He was holding a weathered piece of wood, and at my question, he looked down at it like he’d forgotten he held it.  His grin was wide and warm as he walked further into my apartment, and held it out to me.  I quirked an eyebrow but I took the proffered item.  My breath caught when I realized what it was.

The sign from the treehouse we built the summer we turned eight. My father had actually be sober that summer, and the three of us cobbled together a barely stable platform in the white ash tree in my backyard.  Angel and I had spent every day there, and some nights too.

“I’d forgotten about this,” I whispered reverently, tracing my fingers over the lettering.

Angel crouched down and put his hands on my thighs.  He looked up at me, his dark brown eyes fringed with impossible lashes.  “That was a good summer.”

“Yeah,” I murmured in agreement.  It was one of the few good memories of my childhood that I had.

“Will you come with me?”

“Sure,” I agreed, my voice gravely with emotion.  It didn’t matter where we were going.  Angel asked, so I went.

We were driving down a familiar street before I realized our destination.  I fidgeted in my seat, uncomfortable.  Even though I’d been in town for three months, I’d only been to this property once.  The night Angel and I reconnected.  Every time he’d brought it up, I’d quickly and effectively shut him down.

But now we were here, and my heart stuttered as he pulled into the gravel driveway.  The ruin of the house had been torn down at my direction, but the cement foundation was still there.  I couldn’t seem to tear my gaze away.  Angel opened my door, and with his gentle coaxing, I exited the vehicle, my attention still fixed to the foundation. He took my hand and led me around the car onto the grass.  My heart was thundering in my chest, my breathing fast, and I couldn’t seem to get my riotous emotions under control.

“What do you see?”

“Angel.”  His name was a plea.  I couldn’t believe he was making me do this.

He stepped into my field of vision, cutting off my view of what was left of the house.  “Not that,” he said, keeping his voice low and calm.  “Everything else.  What do you see?”

Because it was him, I did as he asked.  I looked around and took it all in.  The huge oak in the front yard with its gnarled trunk was just starting to bud with new leaves.  The grass, though thin and patchy, was a vibrant green.  The azalea bush was full and lush, and I could see just the hint of the pink flowers.  If I peered over his shoulder, I could just see the ash tree, farther along than everything else around it.

“That’s right,” Angel murmured, making me realize I’d been talking out loud.  “All this beautiful new life.  This is a place of renewal.”  I started to shake my head, but Angel caught my face in his hands and made me focus on him.  “Yes, Connor.  The bad is gone now, and there’s nothing left but brand new life.”

I felt a tear leak out of my eye and realized that this was the defining moment.  I took a deep breath, and then another, before I managed to look him straight in the eye.  All I saw was warmth, love, and affection.

“If I were to build here, start a new home…” I paused, and swallowed hard, never breaking his gaze.  “Would you share it with me?”

Angel’s sigh of relief and heartfelt kiss were all the answer I needed.

**This fic had a wee bit of inspiration in real life.  Not my life though, thank goodness. So when I told the Admiral of a plot bunny brewing, he decided to make it this week’s challenge.  Enjoy!**

Moving day.  I had been looking forward to it for weeks.  Months.  Years if I was honest.  Finally out of this tiny one bedroom apartment and into a real house.  We’d been looking for a long time, and when the old Bergstrom place on the outskirts of town went up for sale three months ago, we’d snapped it up.  It needed work, a lot of updating and renovation, but it was perfect.  The farmhouse had good bones, and the three acres it sat on afforded plenty of space to build cages and shelters for the wild animals my veterinarian husband rehabilitated and released.  With the more delicate cases being housed on our property, and with plans to move the clinic to the old barn once it was renovated, I had hope of actually seeing him once in a while.

I loved Seamus and I loved his passion for animals.  I knew what I was getting into when we started dating ten years ago.  I was more than aware of who I was marrying when we said our vows three years ago.  But there were weeks when we barely shared a meal together, let alone had any time for us.  I respected him and his job, so I didn’t complain.  Much. But moving day was finally here, and this was going to change things for the better for us.  I was ecstatic.

I knew that the large part of the packing would be up to me.  Seamus couldn’t just drop his responsibilities at the clinic, and I worked a regular day job.  I packed at night and on the weekends, and Seamus helped when he wasn’t too tired.  But still moving day arrived and I only had twelve boxes packed and most of our clothes.  Seamus had thought ahead, and, perhaps feeling guilty for his absence, hired packers to come and do the rest while the movers got to work.  That left us free to oversee the move.

Of course, I never thought I’d be doing it alone.

An emergency at the clinic had Seamus out of bed at four o’clock in the morning and struggling into a pair of pants.

“Those are mine,” I said sleepily, trying not to be angry.  I understood, I really did, but it was moving day.  We were supposed to be doing this together.

Seamus chuckled, dropped the pants, and picked up his own from the chair.  “Casey, baby, I’m sorry.  I am.  But I can’t leave an injured cougar unattended.”

“I know,” I said with a resigned sigh.  “I wouldn’t love you if you did.  Just…try to hurry, okay?”

He tilted his head and studied me for a moment.  I knew that look.  It meant he didn’t want to lie to me but he wanted to make me happy too.  Finally, wisely, he chose not to say anything at all, kissed me soundly, and raced out the door.  I flopped back onto the mattress and covered my eyes with my arm.  This was just great.

Eventually, I climbed out of bed and put the coffee on.  There was no use trying to sleep anymore.  I was too riled up and there was too much to do.  I started packing the kitchen while it brewed, then sat at our scarred oak table with my cup once it was finished.  I tried to tamp down the anger.  There was no point in it.  I would have to make the best of it, and hope the cougar wasn’t too bad off so my husband could come home to me.

***

It was nearly nine o’clock at night by the time Seamus finally trudged through the front door to our new home.  The move itself had only taken a few hours—we didn’t have that much stuff between us—and I’d managed to unpack most of the boxes.  Anger and resentment had fueled me.

“Hey, Case,” he called. He sounded tired.  I kind of didn’t care. “I was halfway to our old apartment before I remembered we moved.”

He laughed like it was funny.  I didn’t say anything at all, just kept pulling DVDs out of the box at my feet and all but slamming them into the rack.  Seamus didn’t seem to notice. He wandered into the bedroom to change.  Fucker.

“Casey?  My drawers are in the wrong order, baby.”  His voice carried down the hall.

“Too damn bad,” I muttered, even though he couldn’t hear me.  Where did he get off?  I’d done the whole damn thing by myself.  So what if I put his t-shirts and jeans in the wrong fucking drawers?  If he had been here, he could have done it himself.

A few minutes later he wandered back out.  “Did you have a good day?” he asked, and didn’t seem to notice that my reply was nothing more than a grunt.  He looked around, taking everything in, then walked toward the couch and proceeded to shove it three feet to the left.  “This would look better over here.  Did you eat yet?”

I shook my head as I kept stacking DVDs.  I’d been too pissed off to eat.  I was running on adrenaline and caffeine at the moment.  Because I’d had to take care of everything myself, without his help.  Because he couldn’t be bothered to even call to tell me that his animal was in bad shape.  I had kept expecting him to show up at any minute, and the longer it went on the angrier I got.

“I didn’t eat either.  I’ll fix us something.”  Seamus headed into the kitchen.  Once the swinging door shut between us, I turned fast and flicked him off.  With both hands. Feeling slightly better, I returned to my task.

I was just finishing up when I heard the creak of the hinges on the door.  I glanced back over my shoulder to see Seamus wearing a confused look.  “Baby?  Um, what were you thinking when you put away the stuff in the kitchen?  Because I’ve got to tell you, none of the places you put things make any sense.”

Last. Fucking.  Straw.  I whirled around, and the anger in my expression actually caused him to take a step back.

“You don’t like where things are?  Then you should have fucking been here to help me!”  My voice was loud, echoing in the cavernous room.  I was breathing heavy with my rage.  And my hurt.  He was supposed to have been here helping me.  Our first house was supposed to be something important.

Seamus was quiet for a long moment, then he blew out a breath.  “You’re right.  I’m sorry.  I should have been here.  It couldn’t be helped, but it’s no excuse.  I am sorry.”

I deflated a little because I could see how sincere his apology was.  “I know.  I just…I fucking missed you today.  We were supposed to do this together.”  Tears of hurt and anger welled in my eyes, and I blinked hard to keep them at bay.  No way was I going to cry over this.

“I know, baby.”  His voice was soft, and he crossed the room to stand close to me.  He didn’t touch me, which was smart on his part.  “I can’t make this up to you, I know that.  The only thing I can say is that once we get everything situated here, I won’t have to leave you to do the important things on your own.”

I nodded.  That was the point of all of this.  Not only so we could have a house, but so that his work could be right there and we wouldn’t be spending so much time apart.  I blew out a breath, and when Seamus pulled me into his arms, I melted against him.

“I love you,” he murmured into my hair.

I wrapped my arms around him and held on.  “I love you too.”

“It’s only going to get better from here on out.”

I nodded against his shoulder.  He was right.  And that’s all I could want.

**I’ve brought back Cole and Rafael for another week, because I wanted to see their relationship a little bit down the road.  And with the challenge for this week–a fight and a visit with an old friend–I knew these were the guys to tell the story.  Enjoy!**

Cole was everything I had ever been looking for and everything I didn’t know I wanted.  He was smart and charming and beautiful.  He had a huge heart, a kindness that wouldn’t quit, and a sense of adventure that rivalled mine. When I had stopped him for speeding—and let him off with a warning even though he should have gotten a ticket—it was because his gorgeous face caught my attention.  There was a spark when our eyes met that I couldn’t ignore.  I was grateful every day that I’d taken a chance and shown up outside his audition.  He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me.

Right now, though, he was inexplicably and extraordinarily angry with me.

“Cole,” I began, trying for soft and soothing.

“Don’t,” he hissed.  “Don’t you say my name in that patronizing manner.  I’m not wrong here and I have every right to be beyond pissed.  So don’t stand there using your ‘hey I’m a cop diffusing the situation’ voice on me.  I don’t appreciate it.”

Oh yes, he was mad.  His eyes were lit with a dark, angry light, his face flushed, his mouth set in a hard line.  Truthfully, he was turning me on a little.  I liked seeing the passion on his face.  And I knew I should stay and work things out.  We’d only been dating for six month, and had moved in together a mere three weeks ago.  But I was late, and he was being unreasonable.

“Okay,” I said in the same placating manner.  I couldn’t help myself.  I loved him, and I knew we could make our relationship work.  But continuing the argument right now would serve no one.  I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door.

He made an indignant noise.  “You’re going to go?”  He was incredulous.

“Yeah,” I said, letting a bit of my annoyance creep into my voice. “We can deal with this when I get home.”

“You’ll be lucky if I let you back into the house!”

It was an empty threat so I walked out the door.

***

Jake was already waiting for me when I got to the restaurant.  He’d been gone for more than a year helping to open a new office for his company in London, and I’d missed him terribly.  We’d been friends since we were kids, and lovers for a brief time in our early twenties.  We’d fallen into a relationship because it was easy, and we were horny.  We were never meant to be more than friends though, and it ended almost as soon as it began.  He was my closest friend, and just seeing his smiling face made some of the tension in my shoulders disappear.

I greeted him with a hug and a kiss to the cheek, then dropped down into the seat across from him.  He gave me a critical look, his gaze shrewd as he took in my face and demeanor.

“What’s with you?” he asked jovially.  “Where’s the new boy?”

“Cole’s at home,” I answered.  I scowled. “We’re fighting.”

“Already?” There was a chuckle as Jake picked up his menu.  But he wasn’t looking at it. Instead he peered over the top of it to keep his gaze on me.  “About what?”

“You,” I answered honestly.

His eyes went wide and he set the menu down.  “Rafael?  What the hell, man?  If you had to cancel—”

I cut him off with a shake of my head.  “No.  Don’t.  You’re a part of my life, and Cole is going to have to get used to it.  And he will get used to it.  Once he realizes that there’s nothing between you and me other than friendship.  He just doesn’t understand yet.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed.  “Then you should have brought him so he could see.”

I snorted out a laugh.  That wouldn’t have worked.  Not tonight.  Cole was too angry.  I acknowledged to myself that I shouldn’t have sprung it on him at the last minute.  And perhaps I shouldn’t have been honest when he asked me if Jake had ever been more than a friend.  But I wasn’t in the habit of lying, and I wasn’t going to keep anything from Cole.

“We’ll work it out.  Don’t worry about it.  Read your menu.”

Jake didn’t move or saying anything for a long moment, then he reached out with one hand and patted mine.  He studied me for a few more seconds, and then picked up his menu, this time actually looking at it. I breathed a sigh of relief.  I just wanted to have a nice dinner with oldest friend.

After that, we fell into old habits, teasing each other and laughing at stupid things.  He didn’t bring up Cole again and neither did I.  For a time, I was able to forget that when I got home, the love of my life would still be pissed with me.  I enjoyed our dinner, and it wasn’t until Jake was paying the bill—it was his turn to buy—that I realized leaving here meant going home and fixing things with Cole.

As always, Jake knew where my mind had gone.  He walked with me to my car, and gave me a brief but tight hug.  When he stepped back, he offered me a small smile.  “Next time, bring Cole.  Once he sees there isn’t anything more between us than a bromance, he’ll be reassured.”  He stopped, and then gave me a glare. “Fix it, man.  I’ve never seen you so happy since you started dating him.  He’s your forever man.  So fix it.”

I held up my hands in surrender.  He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. I gave him a wave, got into my car, and drove home.  But when I pulled into the driveway, the entire house was silent and dark.  Cole’s car was still there, so unless someone had come to pick him up, he was at home.  But he’d probably gone to bed, despite it not being that late. I felt twitchy that we wouldn’t be able to resolve this thing between us until tomorrow.

I was quiet as I entered the house.  I didn’t want to disturb him.  I hung my jacket on the hook, and then tossed my keys on the sideboard before toeing off my shoes.  I made sure the door was locked and that the alarm was set before I padded in socked feet toward the kitchen.  I didn’t relish the thought of climbing into bed with an angry, but sleeping, man.

“Don’t leave again.”

Cole’s voice startled me and I only just managed to quell the yelp of surprise that wanted to escape.  I turned in the direction his voice had come from, and realized that the shadows in the corner of the living room had kept me from seeing him hunched up and huddled on the armchair.  I moved closer, snapping on the light as I passed the end table.  He’d been crying.

He wasn’t now though, and his glare was hard.  “When we’re fighting in the future, I’d really appreciate it if you’d stay and work things out with me if it’s at all possible.”  Despite the harsh look on his face, his words were soft and firm.

“I am sorry about that,” I said sincerely.  I knelt in front of him, wanting to be close and have this conversation face to face.  I was gratified when he unfolded enough to lower his legs.  I put my hands on his thighs and looked directly into his eyes.  “I was angry too, though.  And I didn’t think we’d get anywhere if we kept yelling at each other.”

His nod was slow.  “All right.  But leave the room, not the house, next time.  When you walked out, if felt like…”  He took a deep breath.  “If felt like you were choosing him over me.”

“Never,” I said quickly and vehemently.  Cole gave me a ghost of a smile.  “Look, Jake is my oldest and closest friend.  I love him like a brother.  But I’m in love with you, and that’s not ever going to change.”

Cole’s eyes went soft, and he sat up far enough so that he could put my hands on my face. “I won’t lie.  I’m jealous of that.  Of what you have with him.  That you were together, for however brief a time, and still friends.”  He blew out a breath, and then rested his forehead against mine.  “But that’s something I’ll have to work through.  And I should meet him, yeah?”

“Yeah, absolutely,” I said as relief poured through my veins.  For a long time, we stayed just like that, breathing each other in and holding on.  Eventually, my knees let me know that I was on a hardwood floor, and I pulled back, giving Cole a grin. “I guess we survived our first real fight, huh?”

His chuckle was warm. “I guess so.  The first of many, I expect.  But you know what comes now?”

It took me a second to catch on, but when I did, I shot to my feet and hauled him out of the chair.  “Race you to the bedroom.”

**So this week’s challenge was one of those that I saw in my head almost as soon as the Admiral issued it.  Trying out for a play and a cop he said, and so I introduce you to Cole and Rafael.  Enjoy!**

I had no aspirations of being famous.  But I loved to act, and I could sing and dance, so when I heard that our local theater was putting on a production of Once Upon A Mattress, I couldn’t resist auditioning.  I hadn’t done any sort of theater since high school, but I thought it would be fun.  I was hoping for the part of Sir Harry, and I’d put that down on my paperwork, but I was sort of glad it was general auditions for everyone.  The same scene and the same song.  It took some of the pressure off, and I could just enjoy the process.

Not that I wasn’t nervous as all hell.

I thought I covered up the shake in my voice pretty well.  I sang my heart out, emoting expressively on the big stage, my strong tenor voice clear and on pitch.  I read my lines with feeling and vevre.  When all was said and done, I thought I’d done pretty well, despite the fact that it had been nearly fifteen years since I’d set foot on a stage.  I knew better than to read into the director’s huge smile, but I thanked him for his time and told him I looked forward to hearing from him.

Callbacks happened a week later.  When I got the email asking me to come in a read another scene, I actually shouted out loud in glee.  It scared the cat, she hissed and took off like a shot, but I didn’t care.  Knowing I would at least be a part of the production, even if I didn’t get my chosen role, was thrilling.

I raced to my second audition that night, excitement and nerves making my foot heavy on the accelerator.  I was talking to myself out loud, going through the scene again, making sure I had it memorized.  I was so absorbed in what I was doing, I almost missed the flashing blue and red lights behind me.

Fuck.

I eased off the gas and steered the car to the side of the road, coming to a stop.  All hope that the cop was going to fly by me disappeared as he pulled in behind me.  Double fuck.  I eased the window down with a push of a button, then placed my hands back on the steering wheel.

The officer cut an imposing figure in his dark blue uniform as he sauntered toward me.  Tall, wide shoulders, dark hair, and an easy roll to his gait.  I peered up at him when he got to my window.  His nameplate read Rinaldi, and the last name somehow fit his swarthy good looks.  I swallowed hard.

“License and registration, please.”  His voice had a deep bass timbre that slid down my spine.  Christ, really?  This was not the time for such thoughts.  I nodded and dug in my wallet to produce my license, and then reached for the glove box and fished around until I found my registration.  I handed them both over.

He was silent for a long moment as he studied them.  “Do you know why I pulled you over?”

“No, sir,” I said.  I used the honorific on purpose, keeping my voice low and non-confrontational, hoping that my cooperative deference would work in my favor.

“You were going sixty in a forty-five,” the officer said conversationally.  He looked up and his dark brown eyes seemed to pierce right through me.  “Where were you going in such a hurry, Mr. Martin?”

“An audition,” I responded.  When one dark eyebrow quirked in question, I blew out a breath and elaborated.  “For the local theater?  I have my second audition tonight.”

For a very long, tense moment, he said nothing.  Then he handed me back my license and registration.  I was a little stunned as I took them.  He leaned one arm on the top of my car, and bent down to peer inside.  His gaze found mine.  “Be more careful.”

I was still nodding when he stood up and walked away.

For a moment, I just sat there, stunned.  I’d been sure I would get a ticket.  But he’d let me off with a warning.  I knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.  I shoved my registration back in the glove box, tossed my wallet and license on the passenger seat, and drove off at a much more sedate pace.

***

The audition had gone extremely well, the director all but told me I’d be playing Sir Harry, and I was riding high as I practically floated out of the theater and to my car.  I was beyond thrilled, and I knew I was going to have a fantastic time.  I couldn’t wait for rehearsals to start.

I came back to earth with a nasty bump when I saw the cop leaning against my car.  What the hell was he doing here?  Had he followed me?  Was he going to give me a ticket afterall?

“Officer Rinaldi,” I greeted with a head tip when I got close enough.  I did my best not to let my nerves show.

“Cole Martin,” he said, his voice going low.  Seductive even.  His gaze traveled up and down the length of my body and I fought the shiver.  “Please, call me Rafael.  I’m off duty now.”

Okay then.  Not here to give me a ticket.  This was something else entirely.  I swallowed hard.  Then I tried his name out on my lips.  “Rafael.”

His grin was breathtaking.  My own mouth quirked in response.  God he was beautiful.

He pushed off from my car with an easy nudge of his hip, standing up straight, but his posture was relaxed.  He took a couple of steps toward me until he was in my space.

“How did the audition go?”

“Good,” I said.  There was a slight crack in my voice.  I blushed slightly as I cleared my throat.  “Really good.  I think I got the part.  I won’t know for a couple of days though.”

He nodded slowly, that smile still in place, and then he reached out one hand and ran his fingers down my arm.

“How would you like to go for a cup of coffee?  You can tell me all about it.”

I grinned and nodded.  This was turning out to be one of the best nights of my life.

**Micah and Kevin from last week are back again.  This time, it’s Kevin who makes the mistake.  Enjoy!**

I stood on the porch, my hand on the doorknob.  I took a deep breath, and told myself to open the door.  My body didn’t obey.  I fought back a few tears, took another breath, and finally made myself open the front door and walk into the house.

“Kev!  Hey, there you—” Micah cut himself off when he caught sight of my face.  Instantly, he was up and at my side.  “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

I shook my head as he led me to the couch.  “When you kill me, will you make it look like an accident?”  My laugh was weak, my attempt at humor not even remotely funny.  Micah’s eyes were filled with worry and his thumb made soothing circles on the back of my hand.

“What happened?”

I had to suck in a breath, then release it slowly.  There was no use in avoiding the truth.  I needed to be the one to tell him.  I couldn’t let him find out on his own.  That would just lead to a huge fight.  I couldn’t keep this a secret.

“I’m sorry!” I burst out.  Another deep breath.  “I was online today, making my quarterly donation to Make-A-Wish.”

Micah nodded.  “Okay,” he said slowly.  “You do that all the time.”

He didn’t understand, but he would in a minute.  And then he would probably strangle me to death.  I’d deserve it.

“I was rushing, and I wasn’t paying as close attention as I should have been.  I’ve done it so many times, you know?  It’s like my fingers know exactly what to click.”  I peeked at Micah out of the corner of my eye.  He was waiting, not exactly patiently, for me to spit it out.  So I did.  “I meant to donate fifty like I usually do.  But I didn’t put the decimal in.”

“Kevin,” Micah said, his voice low.  “What happened?”

“I donated five thousand dollars,” I all but whispered.  “Our vacation fund is gone.”

Silence.  It took me almost a full minute before I could lift my gaze and look at him.  Micah was staring at the far wall, his face entirely blank.  I wanted to reach out and touch him, wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but I knew better than to say anything.  I needed to wait while he processed that information.  I couldn’t rush him.  I tried very hard not to fidget.

“You didn’t tell them it was a mistake?” Micah’s voice was dangerously low.  I swallowed hard.

“How could I?” My voice was soft.  “I clicked too fast, it was done and complete before I realized it and…” I trailed off, and sighed.  “How could I take that away from kids who really need it?  I just—”

Micah stood up fast and I stopped speaking.  He walked across the room, leaning his hands on the mantle, and hanging his head between his arms.  I wanted so badly to hug him, for him to hold me back and tell me it was okay.  I hadn’t meant to do it, and I regretted that basically every penny we’d been saving for months for a cruise was gone.  But I didn’t regret that the money was going to a worthy cause.  So I remained still and silent, waiting for Micah to start yelling.

“Okay,” he said finally.  He blew out a breath and lifted his head, but he didn’t turn around to look at me.  “It’s okay.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.  I cleared my throat.  “It’s okay?”

Micah sighed, and finally turned around.  “Well, what are we going to do about it now?  Nothing.  There’s nothing to do.  Hopefully, that will help make some poor kid’s wish come true.”

I almost couldn’t believe the words he was saying.  “You’re not mad?”

He shook his head, and I nearly sagged in relief. But then he spoke and my muscles went taut.  “Oh, I’m plenty mad.  I’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, and I’m pissed as hell that now it’ll be even longer before we go.”  His eyes were swirling with emotion, and I tried to say something, but Micah cut me off by lifting his hand.  “But I also know you didn’t do it on purpose, and that you’ll be much, much more careful in the future.”

I nodded fast, and Micah finally graced me with a hint of a smile.  He shook his head, then pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Yeah, I’m upset.  But I’ll get over it.  And because I know you weren’t trying to be a jerk and mess up our vacation, I’ll forgive you for this gross oversight.”

A laugh of relief bubbled up, but I managed to check it before it escaped.  That wouldn’t do us any good right now.  Instead, I stood and slowly crossed to where he was standing.  I cautiously reached out a hand, and Micah took it after only a second’s hesitation, then pulled me into his arms.  I sighed as I snuggled into his embrace.

With my face smooshed against his neck, I said again, “I’m really sorry.”

I felt him nod, and he squeezed me tightly.  “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I said fervently.

“But you’re not allowed to play with money for a while, huh?”

I laughed because I couldn’t help it.  “Yeah, okay.”

It was the least I could agree to.

**A birthday deserves a special story, right?  So for Carla (who helped a bit with this as well) Happy Birthday!!  May your day be filled with awesome!**

I’d always wanted to visit Paris, and Etienne had made that possible.  I swore up and down to anyone who asked I hadn’t started dating the Frenchman so that he’d take me home with him, and it was mostly true.  Etienne was gorgeous and kind, and he’d caught my attention before I’d ever heard him speak or known that, for all he’d been living in the States for fifteen years, his heart and home were still in France.  Now, after a year and a half of dating, we’d finally gone on vacation to visit his relatives.

Standing outside the Palais du Louvre near the Pont des Arts, I waited for him to finish a phone call that couldn’t wait.  He’d been really good about ignoring the phone when he could while we’d been here, so I didn’t fault him for the occasional time that he couldn’t.  Besides, it was good people-watching.  The courtyard wasn’t overly fully, but there were enough people milling about the pyramid to make it interesting.  Family groups, couples, and a whole mess of tourists had my imagination wandering, wondering what their stories were.

With my attention diverted, I was nearly bowled over by two young children, a boy and a girl, as they ran past.  Shouting and chasing each other, I smiled as I watched their antics.  A woman chased after them, harried looking but smiling as she called out, “Nell!  Viggo! Reviens ici, imbéciles. Ne t’enfuis pas de moi.”

They seemed happy, even if their mother looked ready to cheerfully strangle them, and I stepped out of their path and meandered a few feet away.  A glance at Etienne showed he was still rather engaged in his phone call, but he had one eye on me and made an apologetic face.  I blew him a kiss, and moseyed further inward, taking in the sights, and soaking up the atmosphere.

“Tu es un homme merveilleux.” A deep voice said close to my ear.  “Tu devrais me laisser te ramener à la maison.”

I wasn’t very good with French—Etienne was teaching me but it was slow going.  I didn’t really have an ear for language—but I understood the gist of it.  Since that wasn’t Etienne, I opened my mouth to decline but the words dried up when I caught sight of the man speaking to me.  He was absolutely stunning in his beauty, but he held himself with a smarmy air that let me know he knew it.  I shook my head.  I wouldn’t have gone with him even if I wasn’t already in love.

“Il est à moi,” Etienne growled, stomping over to where we stood, his face a dark mask of anger.  The stranger held up his hands and backed away slowly, like he didn’t mean any harm, but Etienne didn’t stop his menacing stare until the man was well and truly gone.  I smiled up at my boyfriend.  His possessiveness should have been a turn off, but I just found it hot.

“I wouldn’t have gone with him,” I said softly, staring into his deep brown eyes.  He nodded quickly, and his smile turned both indulgent and apologetic at once.

“Oui, I know,” he said.  Then he held up his phone.  “Je suis désolé.”

“It’s all right,” I said, meaning it.  I grinned.  “How about you show me what you wanted to show me now?”

He nodded and took my hand, leading me toward the Pont des Arts.  It was one of the things I’d loved about him from the start, that he wasn’t afraid to show his connection to me.  Etienne was an incredibly tactile person, and he touched me whenever he wanted, no matter where we were.  I was more than happy to let him.

Once on the bridge, Etienne pulled me to a stop about half way along, and then drew my attention to the railing.  It was only then that I noticed the padlocks.  Thousands upon thousands of locks were attached.  We moved closer and I could see that they had names written on them.  I cocked my eyebrow at Etienne in question.  He smiled.

“Cadenas d’Amour,” he said in his deep baritone, pulling me closer.  “Love locks.  It is a tradition that lovers attach a lock to the bridge, and then throw the key in the Siene.  It is said to represent a couple’s committed love.”

I smiled, my gaze barely able to take in the multitude of padlocks.  “That’s a lovely sentiment.  I can’t imagine it’s good for the bridge, but I don’t think I care.  I love the romanticism of it.”

Etienne nudged my arm, and when I looked at him, he reached into his pocket and produced a gold padlock.  It was a hefty piece of hardware, the shackle thick and sturdy.  And then he turned it over to show me the other side. Michael and Etienne was engraved in elegant script.  My heart gave a thump, and my breath caught in my chest.

“Oh, Etienne,” I began, but I couldn’t get any more words out.  He cupped my jaw with one big hand, his smile full of love, and then we turned our attention to the railing.  Together we found a spot, though it was a challenge, to attach our padlock.  Etienne was careful to make sure it was secure before he removed the key.  He handed it to me, and I kissed him softly before I tossed it over the side and into the Siene.

We stood there for a long moment, just absorbing the moment, before he once again took my hand and we continued our journey.  Across the bridge and toward the rest of our life.

**This week’s challenge went through a couple of incarnations before I finally got it written.  But here’s what happened with driving under the influence and the morning after.  Enjoy!**

The squeal of tires and the sound of the garbage bins being knocked over jerked me from sleep.  I’d been lounging on the couch waiting for my boyfriend to come home from his friend’s birthday party, and I must have dozed off.  But the shock of awaking to those noises had adrenaline pulsing through my veins.  I hopped off the couch and scrubbed my hands over my face even as I walked as quickly as I could toward the front door.  With a quick twist of my wrist, I had the deadbolt unlocked, and I pulled the door open.  Micah was on the porch, swaying unsteadily, his hand raised toward the door with the wrong key extended.   He smelled like a distillery.

“Jesus,” I whispered, reaching out a hand and grabbing hold before he could fall over.

“Hey, baby,” he slurred.  He leaned heavily against me, and since I was several inches shorter and thirty pounds lighter than he was, I grunted under the strain.   His smile was wide, and his eyes were unfocused.

“Christ Micah, what the fuck?”  I ushered him into the house and made sure he was supported against the wall before I turned to shut the door.  When I caught sight of his car in the driveway, with no other occupants, and the garbage cans lying on their side, my blood started to boil.

“You drove?” I hissed.

Micah’s grin just grew wider.  “Yep!”  He seemed pleased with himself.  He gave a belch, then patted his stomach.

“What in the fuck were you thinking?” I bellowed.  I was beyond angry.  He could have killed himself!  He could have killed someone else!  What the fuck was he thinking?  Clearly he hadn’t been, and I was honestly surprised.  This was not something he’d ever done before, and I knew he knew better.

“Shh,” he whispered, wincing at my tone.  “I’s fine, Kev.  No big deal.”

Yes it fucking was.  But there was no point in arguing about it now.  He’d get an earful in the morning.

***

The next time I woke up, it was to the sound of Micah retching in the bathroom.  I waited until he stopped, and I heard the flush of the toilet, before I burst into the room, letting the door bang against the wall.

“Good morning, Sunshine!” I shouted.  “How are you?”

“Jesus fuck,” he muttered before hauling himself upright and shuffled to the sink.  “Kevin, sweetheart, keep it down.”

“Nope!”  I was using my outside voice on purpose.  He’d pay for what he did last night with more than a hangover.  “I want to know what in the fuck you were thinking driving yourself home last night.”

“I was fine.”  He voice was quiet, and he scowled at me.  “I only had three beers.”

I snorted.  “You had more than that.  You came home reeking of alcohol and barely able to stand up.  Micah, what the hell?  You know better than to drive like that.  You could have been killed!  Worse, you could have killed someone else.  Tell me what was going through your dumbass head that you got behind the wheel!”

“Please stop shouting,” he said, sounding miserable.  He brushed his teeth, and then sipped some water before he turned to me.  I had my arms crossed over my chest, and stared him down.  I couldn’t believe he would do something this stupid, this dangerous, and I wanted an explanation.

“I thought I was fine,” he amended his earlier statement.

Not good enough.  “Well you weren’t.  You scared the holy hell out of me when you got home.  Thinking of you driving all that way intoxicated—”

“But nothing bad happened,” he interrupted.

“Oh my God, really?  That’s your defense?  You know damn well that was probably the stupidest thing you could have done.  If there was no one sober, you could have called a cab or me, for fuck’s sake.”

He winced again, and I saw the shame all over his face.  Good.  He deserved it.  “What do you want me to say, Kevin?  It won’t happen again.  Ever.”

I squinted at him.  “How about you don’t drink again unless I’m there and sober to drive us?”

His eyes widened.  “I’m being punished?”

If not drinking was a punishment, then he needed to grow up.  I nodded, and stared hard, not backing down even a little.  Finally he sighed, and his agreement was a grunt and a nod.  Three years into our relationship, I knew that was as good as a promise out loud.  Finally satisfied that I wouldn’t have to go through this ever again, I relaxed.  Micah’s smile was pained but genuine, and he opened his arms.  I went straight into them.

“I’m sorry I scared you.  Thinking about it now, I scared myself a little.  It won’t happen again, Kev.”

I nodded against his chest.  “I love you.  I can’t lose you.  To death or prison.”

His kiss to my forehead was sweet.  “I love you too.  And you’re stuck with me for a long time.”

I sighed contentedly.  That was exactly what I wanted.

**Hope you aren’t sick of my boys yet! 😀  Joshua and Will are here one more time, to tell you what happened when they reached a turning point in their relationship, and there was a surprise…in the grocery store.  Thanks for reading along.  Enjoy!**

Sadie Mae was seven pounds, ten ounces of perfect angel.  As I watched Joshua hold his brand new niece, my heart just melted at the sight.  He was so big and she was so tiny, trustingly nestled up against his chest.  I knew how safe I felt why I laid against him like that.  I could imagine how protected Sadie felt in those big, strong arms.

Joshua’s gaze finally strayed away from the infant he held and found mine.  And there it was all over his face.  He wanted one of those for his own.  I tried to smile, and I was pretty sure I succeeded.  But inside, I was panicking.  I never thought of having children of my own, and though we’d never discussed it, it was clear that Joshua did.  Could I deal with a kid?  Was it a deal breaker if I couldn’t?  Would I lose Joshua if I said I didn’t want children?  Did I actually feel that way?  I wasn’t sure.  About any of it.

My thoughts were racing, my brain churning a mile a minute, and I actually jumped when Joshua touched my arm and told me it was time to go.  I barely paid attention as we said our goodbyes and left the house.  I was even more lost in a daze when Joshua pulled the car away from the curb.  Christ. How was it that in more than two years of dating, the topic of children had never come up?

I startled and jerked when Joshua stopped the car, and I looked around in surprise when I realized we were in the parking lot of the grocery store.  Joshua was already out of the car and moving before I realized what was going on, and I scrambled to catch up.

“What are we doing here?”

Joshua gave me a sidelong glance.  “I told you I wanted to make a couple of casseroles so Sarah and Lucas didn’t have to worry about food.”

I shook my head.  “Right, right.”  If he’d said it, I hadn’t been paying attention.  But there was no need for him to know that.  When he selected a cart and turned it toward the first aisle, he gave me another speculative look.

“Will?”  Joshua bumped me with his shoulder.  “You all right?”

“Yeah, sure,” I responded quickly.  We both winced as my voice came out high and squeaky.  I cleared my throat.  “Just, you know, thinking.  About Sadie.”

Joshua’s smile went soft and sweet.  “She’s perfect, isn’t she?”  His tone was filled with awe.

“Yeah, she is,” I agreed.  And then I was relieved when he sent me over a couple of aisles to pick up some soup.  I wandered in that direction, nearly running into an end-cap display, and having to apologize to an octogenarian in a motorized scooter type shopping cart.  She glared at me and gave me the finger.  I couldn’t even be amused because I was so lost in thought.  This was a pivotal moment in our relationship.  How was the world not standing still?

When I caught up with Joshua again, he gave me a critical look.  Then he slid the cart to the side and took my shoulders in his hands.

“Will, what’s going?

“What do you mean?” I tried for innocent and failed miserably.

His eyes narrowed as he studied me.  “I asked you to get two cans of cream of mushroom soup.”

“Uh huh,” I agreed, nodding like a bobble head.

Joshua was silent for a minute as he pursed his lips.  “This is chicken noodle.”

“Shit,” I whispered, my cheeks heating.

“Yeah.”  Joshua pulled me a little closer so I had no choice but to look into his eyes.  “Will, baby, talk to me.”

“Do you want kids?” I blurted.

For a long moment, Joshua just blinked at me and said nothing.  My heart was rioting in my chest, and I could barely breathe while I waited.  Finally, he shrugged.  “Yeah, I guess so.  I mean, it’d be nice.  To have a little you or a little me running around.  If that something we decide to do, down the road.  After we’ve talked about it a lot.”  The last was said pointedly, and I did not miss his intent.

But somehow, that made everything clear in my head.  He wanted me forever, kids or not, and I no longer knew what we were waiting for.  We’d lived together for almost a year.  Our lives were fully entwined.  I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.  When I tried, I just couldn’t get the picture to form.  I took a deep breath, and dropped to my knee.

His eyes widened in surprise.  “Will!” he hissed.

“Marry me,” I said sincerely, not detered by his tone or our location.  I knew, to the depths of my soul, that this was the perfect moment.  We’d reached a turning point in our relationship, and as far as I could see, there was only one way to go.  “I love you.  More than anything.  Marry me.”

Joshua’s blush was sweet.  “Yes, of course, you idiot.  I can’t believe you just proposed to me in a grocery store.”

“I’m just full of surprises,” I said cheekily.  I stood up fast, and hugged him tight, loving the way I fit in his arms.  “I have the rings at home already.”

“Christ,” he said with a chuckle.  “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

“You’re going to marry me,” I said with confidence.

“Yes.  Yes I am.”

And I knew, without a doubt, that we would live happily ever after.