Crazy Glad

[Lovely]

October 24, 2008
Early morning before dawn
Veinna Estate - Richie's Room


Fauve woke in the middle of the night, as she stirred and moved she worred about waking Richie and tried humor as she saw him looking at her. "hello 'Dick'. "

"hey... it's Richie, thanks."

"Of course it is." She smiled at him. "You feel like playing Richie..?" She remembered her very first night with him and their cardless game of go fish.

"Playing what?" *yawns... stretches*

"Depends on where you want to start.." watches him move, an eyebrow gently arched.

*wiggles toes under covers*... "this looks like a good place to start... can I get up first?"

"I suppose.. if you really want to."

*chuckles* ..."alright... can I wake up first? You're bright eyed and viper tailed... who rocked your cradle this morning?"

Leans against the edge of the bed with a sigh and shrugs. "Speaking of vipers.." Her chuckle was dry. "Who said anyone had to rock my anything?"

"Well... maybe someone should. Is there something I'm missing here?" He sat up and looked around the room. "It's still dark. If you're trying to kill me in my sleep, you missed. But I guess you're not. You're not running either. Missed that chance too. Are you feeling okay?"

"As well as can be expected.. A little sore.. you're a doctor.. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks.." Her eyes drifted over him in the still mostly dark room. "I was noticing.. you're handsome.. even when you're sleeping.."

His eyebrow twisted gently, looking for sarcasm and not entirely sure whether it was or wasn't. "Thanks. How can you tell?" He murmured, watching her in the minimal light. "Hmm... and as a doctor, I should tell you that you need to rest, young lady." He couldn't help the yawn. He was relieved enough to have her back and the layers of exhaustion rolled through him in thick waves.

She folded down to sit on the bed, her legs curling and crossing. "I am resting.. I'm not swinging at anyone or running.. I'm mostly sitting still.. I'm sorry I woke you.. well not sorry to have you awake, but you're tired."

"I'll get over it," he said, getting sucked back into the warmth and comfort of his pillow. "You could join me, you know. You don't have to swing and you don't have to be still if you don't want to."

Fauve watched him, trying to hide the small smile that tugged her lips. "I.. can't sleep." She admitted, though it was obvious since she was awake. Her arms curled around herself, her hands sliding over the sleeves of the shirt she'd borrowed. It was his shirt, she'd not gotten much for herself while she'd been there and most of it had been shoved in the small pack she'd taken with her. They had not gone to get it tonight and she wasn't sure if they would let her go off by herself to retrive it later, she'd probably have to leave it or have him with her.. not that it mattered much other than he'd probably get even more upset by seeing where she'd been staying. Fauve sighed, curling into the comfort of his shirt and watching him for a moment longer.

"Sooo... don't sleep. You should at least lay down and let your muscles relax or that sore everything will stay sore. You should see a doctor about that," he teased, reaching for her hand. "Glad you're back."

[Lovely]

"I.." She started but didn't finish the thought, reaching to grasp the hand that reached for hers. "You really are glad.. aren't you?" She smiled a little more, lacing her fingers with his. "I think you might be a little crazy."

"Oh hell, I know I'm crazy, but yeah, I'm glad. Hate laying here three hours before the rest of the world wakes up, talking to myself... nice to have someone to listen again. I missed it a lot... even more when you weren't here," he said, rubbing her fingers gently under his thumb. Late nights talking for hours with Mags was something he missed a great deal and just the few weeks with Fauve had reminded him just how much he liked having that in his world. "Thanks for not giving up on me."

Her head gave a slight nod as he spoke, she agreed about the late night talks, she hadn't known she liked them until she'd discovered them with him. She had several in her head 'with him' when she'd been away, but it wasn't the same as having him there to talk to her, listen, and hold her. She lifted their hands and brushed a kiss over his fingers. "Thank you for not making it easy for me to give up."

He tugged gently. "Not letting you get up yet either. Doctor's orders... come on," he murmured, wanting her lay down beside him.

She started to lean towards him and the pillows as if she'd come easily to crawl beside him, but didn't. She paused and looked away biting her lower lip. "I'm.. afraid.." She whispered, just barely loud enough to be heard, it wasn't something she liked feeling and much less admitting to him.

Even in the dim light, she could see his browline knit in confusion. "Of? You're safe here, Fauve. You know that... what's wrong?"

"Everything.." She whispered, curling a couple inches closer to him. "..this.. what Aberto said.. the fights.. all I've been doing, not doing.. if it's real.. if it's not.. I wasn't trained for this.." Her free hand drifted lightly around her middle as she searched for some way to explain to him what was going on inside.

"I understand you're afraid, Fauve, but you really shouldn't be." Richie didn't make fun at her expense as he might at his brothers. "Not many people are trained for it, really. It just happens. You learn as you go through it. Well, I guess that's easy for me to say, since I"m not you, but I've been through it from this side... and it's not so bad. Will you trust me?"

"I do.." She started and lifted her gaze to him, realizing it was very true, though she didn't know how to do that very well either. "I'm still scared.. "

"Sooo... I guess we do what we can to help... maybe distraction? How many holes are in each of the ceiling tiles, do you suppose?" He smiled, and pointed up in the darkness to the ceiling that was barely visible.

She shook her head and sighed, inching closer to him. "I don't think that will keep me distracted for long.. but thanks.. what if I mess up?"

He shrugged and turned the warm grin toward her. "Just start from the top... one... two... th-... I'm kidding. It's called being a mom. All mom's mess up and all mom's make up for it because they're always 'mom' no matter what. That's what hot cocoa and skate boards are for... until they're ten and they get all weird and squishy."

[Lovely]

Her lips trembled and her head shook. "I don't know if I can do this.. any of this.. you're so good at it.. Do you really even want me to.. you didn't get much say in this.. or choice.."

"Shhh.... don't wind yourself up so much. I wouldn't change it and wouldn't dream of saying 'no', Fauve. I love my kids... -all- of my kids.. and I love you. I think it's fantastic. I do."

"It's only been a few weeks.. and.. it's so fast.. I.. Richie.. if you're brother is right in what he's said .. it was likely that first night.. Would you.. had you known..?"

He nodded, his fingers clenching around hers to reassure her. "I wouldn't change a thing... and even if I could go back in time and do something different... I wouldn't."

She clenched back and gave gime a tiny smile, leaning down to hover close. "No wonder everyone loves you so much." She murmured softly.

"Hope you're part of that 'everyone'," he smiled, sneaking up to reach her for a gentle kiss.

Fauve shifted and uncurled to lay next to him, partially over his chest as she returned the kiss, lingering against his lips. "I think.. I might be.. don't know much about love either.. you sure you want me.. with all you'll have to teach me about.. life?"

"Mmm... pretty sure," he teased a little. "Believe me, you're going to teach me plenty, too. This family? Totally different from any out there... I learn things every day. With you... those are things I -want- to learn."

"Out there?" She chuckled and leaned down to kiss his chest. "I don't know as much as I make it look like I do.. I spent my life in a lab and training facility.. learning how to do things.. and how to move amoung the world without being a part of it.. what could I teach you?"

"Innocence, simplicity, an entirely different view than the one I had growing up," he sighed. "It might be hard to explain, but I think I like your point of view better than mine."

"I.." She shook her head and kissed his chest again, nudging the covers down a little lower on him so she could feel more of his warmth. "You are crazy.." Her smile curved against his skin.

"Hey... except that point of view. It's cold out there. How about you come down in here instead, hm? You don't have to sleep, but you don't have to freeze me out, either," he teased, tickling her side a little to get her to move under the cover instead. "And I told you, 'yes' I'm crazy. Just accept it... that's not changing."

She giggled and squirmed a little as he tickled her. "Hey.. I didn't say I wanted you to change.." She caught his fingers and nipped playfully in the air at him. "Alright, quit with the torture tactics.. I'm coming in!" Her leg swung up -coming straight up by her head, she was very flexible, her foot hooked into the blankets to pull them back.

"About teaching me things... how'd you do that?" He chuckled. "You're giving me all sorts of ideas now... and few have anything to do with sleeping."

"Do what?" She slid beneath the blankets and snuggled close to him, giving him a soft smile.

"That... thing with the... nevermind. I'll just take notes and keep them on your chart... flexibility... remarkable... hmmm," he smiled and snuggled back, working around the shirt that covered her.

Her lip perched between her teeth in an adorable smile while her eyes sparkled and her leg slid along his side up to rest her ankle on his shoulder. "oh.. that... just.. you know.. like this.. "

[Lovely]

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Fauve rolled in her sleep, murmuring something softly and snuggling closer to the warmth that filled the bed next to her. She smiled in her sleep, her fingers curling around the arm that was draped around her middle.

It was a quiet sound, but a sound foreign from his droning music. He startled slightly, then more at the fingers on his arm, blinking awake. His head stung a little from the sugar rush that finally flattened out and it fell back to the pillow as quickly as he'd raised it. A gentle, relieved sigh puffed out as it did and he smiled to the ceiling. He turned gently, a little more to his side, letting the arm curl around her more, his fingers moving up along her side to her shoulder.

The smile widened a touch and she stretched under his hand and her legs curled towards him. Her eyes fluttered as the touch was not something she was used to but was comforting and becoming familiar. Blinking a few times her gaze focused on his face. "Morning honey.." She murmured, still sleepy.

"I like that," he mumbled dryly in return, his eyes slow to open completely. He tipped his head to watch her through the narrow slits.

"Like what?" Her fingers reached to his cheek and she traced his face lightly. "You alright, this morning?" There was a little concern in her voice.

"A little hungover... nothing that a morning kiss can't cure... if you're game?" He hugged her gently with the draped arm, rolling himself to kiss her without breathing a moment. "Sorry... I should go.. um.. maybe rinse...."

She kissed him softly. "It's morning... thats why they call it morning breath." Her fingers covered her lips and she smiled. "Probably both should rinse... to be fair.. you know?"

"I can deal cuz I'm lazy and don't want to move... much," he said, stretching out softly beside her. "But I don't want to knock you flat.. not that way," he teased.

She giggled and glanced around. "Have any breathmints, in the end table?" Her fingers still covering her lips.

He grinned. "I have sugar straws... probably work just as well. I'm game," he teased slightly, his grin likely reminding her what the excess sugar in his system would do.

She snuggled up to him, nodding her head. "Sure.. share...?" She pouted her lower lip a little and batted her lashes at him. She rolled up and over, laying on top of him. "Which drawer, hon?"

"Oh, I intend to.. top.. right there," he nodded to the nightstand, everything as it had been left, the drawer still slightly open and the bottle left half-empty.

[Lovely]

She pulled open the drawer and peeked in. "Where? Oh.." She shifted some things and pulled a couple straws out. She eyed the items in the drawer and turned back to him with a curious gaze but didn't say anything about it. Her lips brushed his as she sat back above him. She tore open one of the straws and brought it to his mouth.

He took the offering gingerly, muttering around it. "Hope you know what you're in for... thinking twenty to life if you keep pampering me like this," he teased, letting the sugar fall to his tongue to dissolve slowly.

"Hoping.... trying to find out what I'm in for." She tipped the straw back and took some in her mouth, flicking her tongue at him playfully as she poured a bit onto it. "I think I could get used to this... like pampering you..."

His head tilted, musing curiously as he sucked the sugar down to talk. "Really? And why's that, hm?" He looked up at her with a soft grin, the sugar already starting to work into his system. His fingers traced lightly over her arms and down, holding her, feeling her comfortably blanket him.

"I don't know.. Because I do.. that's why." She giggled, feeling giddy and playful this morning. It was an unusual mood, for an unusual day perhaps? Pehaps it was the activities of the night before and waking up in his arms. She opened the second straw and brought it to his lips, enjoying the feel of his hands on her skin. "You make me feel things inside, that I have never felt before... wonderful things. I like how I feel when I am with you. I hated how it felt.... when I left... Staying away was hard, it hurt... so much.." She shook her head. "Have I mentioned how sorry I am?"

He nodded, "Yeah, and you can stop, okay? No sorry.. no apologies.. no nada.. I drove you to it and I need to say it, not you... lots of things I should say."

"I'm sorry.." She smiled a little and kissed his cheek. "Okay..I'll stop.. no more.." She shifted a bit to make sure they were both comfortable. "What things should you say?" The straws, empty and set to the end table, her hands were free to begin softly sliding over his shoulders.

"Things. Just things.. explanations, maybe. Nothing bad. Just... well.. 'me' things... Richie's world.. the next step, I guess."

"Richie's world." She murmuered settling to him and trailing her fingers over his chest, her lips brushing his shoulder, neck and then his ear. "Tell me more." The soft kisses made their way to his lips and then she propped on her arm to gaze at him and listen to what he wanted to tell her.