FicWad

Two Weeks Later


“Hey.” I answered my phone.

“Hey. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Pete asked.

“No. No you didn’t wake me. I haven’t gone to bed yet.” I told him.

“Why’re you still up?”

“I’m working.” I answered as I glanced at the clock. It was just after two in the morning.

“Who’re you listening to?” This was a typical start to our calls. Pete was always interested in what music I was listening to.

“The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper,” I answered with the artist and album. “I think I’m done.”

“Done with The Beatles? But that’s a great album.” I had confused him.

“No,” I chuckled. “The painting. My last commission piece. I think I’m done.”

“You think? Don’t you know?” He laughed.

“Do you always know when you’re done writing for a song?” I asked, wanting to know if I was the only one that felt like this.

“No. Not always. Does this mean you can come out soon?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. I’m not sure if that would be for the best. I don’t want to add to the tension between you and your family. And I don’t want to be the reason that you don’t spend the holiday with them. I don’t need them to think any less of me than they already do.”

“I know that’s how you feel. I know this fucked up parent thing has you, has both of us, upset. So, let’s figure out how to make this work.”

“Because we’re a team now, you and I. And together we can make anything work.” I had said that to him once here in my bedroom just a few weeks ago. We both had taken that to heart. He’s said it to me also.

“Damn straight we are.” He agreed.

“Mom’s a lost cause for now. Fucking bitch.” I said angrily. “Cloud already knows, likes, and approves of you. He’s the only family member whose opinion matters to me. Right now we need to focus on your family. So, your mom and dad want to meet me. Let’s make that happen. But, not on Christmas. Either before or after.”

“Okay. You get your ass out here as soon as you can. I’ll talk to Mom and work out when we can go see them. I’m not worried about Mom, Drew or Hills. They're gonna love you as soon as they meet you. But I am worried about Dad. If you think I can be an asshole, well where do you think I learned it from?” He sighed heavily. “Dad is protective. Especially so since I had my episode and had to move back in with them. He’s going to test you.” Pete warned me.

“Then let him.” I answered.

“What?”

“Let him test me. We know this is real. We know what we have. Let him ask away. I’ll tell him the truth. If that doesn’t convince him, than fuck him. He’ll accept us or not. I won’t let that keep me from being with you. I’m not letting Mom stop me, I won’t let him.”

“Alright. Then that’s what we’ll do. When can you come out?”

“A few days. I’ll have to see when I can drop this off and then I can leave.”

I was on a plane heading to California four days later. Pete met me at baggage claim. I didn’t start running when I saw him, it was too crowded for that, but I did pick up my pace. He saw me a few heartbeats after I spied him. That smile, the one I love so much, split his face. He headed my way and when we met, he pulled me to him and kissed me like there would be no tomorrow.

“I’m so fucking happy you’re here.” He told me after the kiss.

“Me too.” I told him truthfully.

“How was your flight?” He asked as we headed to the conveyor belt where my flight’s luggage was being delivered.

“Fine. I actually got a nap.” I told him.

“Are you hungry? Would you like to stop for something on the way home?”

“Yes. But can we just do take out? I’d like to change and clean up a bit. And I want to be able to just be with you.” I wasn’t after sex, just some hugs and cuddles. Although I wouldn’t say no to sex.

“Of course we can. Burgers ok with you?”

“Yes.”

We got my bags and headed out to his car. On the way home, we stopped to go through a drive-thru and picked up a couple of burgers and fries. The food smelled so good it made my stomach growl.

Pete had a nice little house in the hills. It wasn’t too big and it wasn’t too small. It was comfortable enough for just him, or a small family. And he had a pool out back. The weather was nice enough that a swim wouldn’t be out of the question even though it was December.

When we pulled into his driveway he said, “Well, this is home.”

“I like it.” I turned and smiled at him.

We got out and somehow managed to gather up all my bags and the food in one go. Hemmy greeted me excitedly when I entered. Pete showed me down the hall to his bedroom to put my bags down. Then we headed back down the hall to the kitchen to eat. We sat at the breakfast bar and had dinner. It was so nice to be able to see his face.

We talked about nothing important as we ate. Just enjoyed being together. After we were done, Pete said, “Before you go shower, there’s something I want to show you.”

“Okay,” I said as I slid off the barstool. He smiled at me and took my hand.

“Come on, I want to show you downstairs.” he said as he led me to the staircase.

At the bottom of the steps, we turned right and he showed me the family room. It was a large room, meant to be used as a living area or family area. The back wall faced the backyard, it was full of windows and a sliding glass door. The back of the house faced west, the afternoon sunlight was amazing.

He had half the room set up as a Movie/TV watching area. In the other half, the one closer to the windows, he had a studio set up for me. There was an easel and a stool to work at. There was a table next to the easel with pots and jars filled with paint brushes of all sizes. There were also empty jars ready to hold water.

Along the wall were shelves filled with every kind of paint, sketchbooks and pencils an artist could want. There was a stack of empty canvases leaning against the wall. I stopped in my tracks when I saw it all. I was completely blown away, I didn’t have words.

I looked at Pete, still unable to voice what this meant to me. He smiled at me, obviously very proud at his surprise. I looked back at this amazing wonderful thing he had done for me. I finally stepped over to the easel and started to look at everything. Everything from the brushes, to the paints and canvases were the same brands I used at home.

I could feel my emotions getting the better of me. I was blinking fast and swallowing hard to keep the tears at bay. As I stood there silently, I heard Pete behind me say, “You told me I was welcome at your place whenever I wanted for as long as I wanted. You made me feel so welcome and at home there. So much so, I can see myself living there with you. I wanted to make this as much of a home for you as yours is for me. I hope you get a lot of use out of this.” He was starting to sound worried that he had made a mistake.

I turned around and faced him. I was still unable to open my mouth without crying. I nodded my head to let him know that yes, I would get a lot of work done in this studio. I took the five or six steps back to him and wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his neck. Before I could stop myself I started to cry.

He wrapped his arms around me holding me tight. My hair was braided so he couldn’t run his fingers through it, but he still put his hand on the back of my head. “Hey, it’s ok. Just let it all out Sweetheart.” he whispered in my ear as his other hand rubbed my back.

The past few weeks had been very hard for me. My mom and I hadn’t spoken since Thanksgiving. I wasn’t going to speak to her until she apologized to me. I was still angry with her. And she doesn't think she did anything wrong and won’t apologize. Cloud spoke with her once a few days later. He went off on her and called her a terrible mother. Swore that until she admitted that to me and him both and apologized to me for what she said, he wasn’t going to speak with her either. He was planning on spending Christmas with Heather’s family in Annoplise.

I hadn’t allowed myself to feel anything about what Mom had said since that first night when I let myself have a good cry over it. I had bottled everything up and just focused on work so I could get out of town and be with Pete. I had chosen him over my mother. This amazing gesture of love and acceptance from him was overwhelming to me and it broke me. He proved I had made the right choice. I couldn’t keep my composure any more.

He just let me cry until I was done. I sniffled as I pulled my head off his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose control like that.” I apologized to him.

The look he gave me was pure love and concern. “Please don’t apologize for that.” he said.

“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s wonderful, and I love it.” I told him as I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands. “You didn’t have to do it. But, I love that you did. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. Do you wanna go up and get a shower in?” He asked me as he wiped another tear from my cheek. I sniffled and nodded.

We headed back upstairs and to the bedroom. Pete ushered me towards my bags telling me to get what I needed and go take a long hot shower or a bath. Whichever would help me calm down. I got what I needed out of my bags and headed to the bathroom. I ended up taking a long shower and even washed my hair. Washing my hair can be a production, I have so much of it. When I got out, I wrapped my hair up in a towel. I dried off the rest of myself and put on some pajama bottoms and a tank top.

Pete and the dog were on the bed when I left the bathroom. He was reading while he waited for me. He looked up and smiled at me, “Feeling better?” he asked.

I nodded and crossed back to my bags to put my dirty clothes away. I also got out my hairbrush, comb, and detangler spray. As I pulled the towel off my head Pete adjusted the pillows against the headboard and sat back against them. Then he patted the bed in front of him and said, “Come here.”

With my hands full of my hair care items, I crossed the room to him, but didn’t get on the bed right away. He reached out and took my brush, comb and spray out of my hand.

“Let me do that for you,” he said.

“I haven’t had anyone brush my hair for me since I was old enough to do it myself.” I said as I handed over the items.

He just smiled at me and said, “Then it’s been too long.”

I got on the bed in front of him with my back to him. The towel was still draped over one shoulder. He took it and started to towel dry my hair before combing it out. Hemmy crawled up in my lap looking for some attention. I was happy to cuddle the dog. Pete took his time, and was very gentle as he started to comb out my hair. When I say I have a lot of hair, I'm not exaggerating. It’s very thick and long, when it’s not up or braided, it hangs almost to my hips. I have to move it out of the way when I sit down or I end up sitting on it. It can take a while to comb it out and dry it after I wash it. Pete knew this because he had seen me do it when he was staying with me.

As he worked all the knots out of my hair, I started to feel all the tension and stress I'd been holding on to for the past few weeks melt away. His strong fingers would move up and massage my scalp if he had pulled a bit too hard to get the comb through. He dropped feathery light kisses on my shoulders from time to time. I was starting to feel more like my normal self by the time he was ready to start with the brush.

“Pete?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.” I told him. I had known since I had to say goodbye to him back in D.C. that I loved him. I hadn’t said it because I didn’t want to rush anything. I didn’t feel like we needed to. But right now, I wanted to tell him.

His hands stopped what they were doing. I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him. He leaned forward and kissed the dandelion tattoo I have on my left shoulder.

“I love you too. I’ve wanted to tell you that for weeks now. But I wanted to do it in person, not over the phone.” He said in my ear.

I pushed the dog out of my lap and turned all the way around so I could face him. Although I was feeling more like myself, I knew my emotions were still raw and I was close to losing control again. I leaned in and once again buried my face in his neck. His strong, beautifully tattooed arms held me tight. Being with him, being held by him felt more right than anything else in my life had.

I lifted my head off his shoulder and leaned in for a kiss. “I need you.” I told him after the kiss was over. “Show me how much you love me.”

He smiled at me and pulled me back in for another kiss. Then slowly, gently and with so much care he made love to me.

After Pete and I had loved each other I was laying with my head on his chest. Hearing his heartbeat was comforting to me. We stayed that way for a little while. But I still needed to brush my hair and do something with it. Otherwise it would end up a snarled mess. I lifted myself off him and sat up.

“You ok?” He asked me as I sat up.

I looked over at him and smiled, “Yeah, I’m ok. Better than I've been in a few weeks. I just need to get my hair under control.”

“I didn’t finish the job. Got distracted there. In the best possible way.” He grinned at me. “Let me finish what I started.” He sat up, and picked up my hairbrush and comb from the bedside table.

I moved to sit in front of him again. He finished brushing it out, and then he didn’t stop. He kept brushing it until it was almost dry. He also kept running his fingers through it and he would stop to massage my neck and back of my head. It felt wonderful. I could feel myself relax more and more as he worked at it.

“I can braid it for you if you want. Might not be as pretty as when you do it.” He offered.

“There is an elastic band on the brush handle.”

He did a fine job braiding my hair. Once he was done he reached around me and pulled me to his chest. His strong arms held me tight and he kissed me on my neck.

“Are you feeling better? More relaxed?” He asked as he nuzzled into my shoulder.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Any time Sweetheart.”

“I like it when you call me that. I like being your sweetheart.” I confessed.

I could feel him smile since he had his face buried in my neck. “I like calling you that. I love having you as my sweetheart. I like it when you call me Peter Rabbit.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been so needy and emotional. The last few weeks have been rough.” I apologized to him.

“I had my head on your shoulder crying in the first ten minutes of knowing you.” He reminded me. “I think you can have a good cry on mine.”

I smiled to myself as I remembered that night. “Was there anything you had planned for us tonight?” I asked him.

“I’ve already done everything I had planned. I showed you your studio and I’ve got you in my bed.” He answered with a chuckle.

“Being in your bed was on the top of my list too.” I moved a little and realized this could not be a comfortable position for him. We were both still naked, I was between his thighs leaning against his chest and I was sure I was squishing his sensitive parts.

“This cannot be comfortable. I’m squishing you.” I said as I moved away.

“I don’t mind being squished by you.” He said, “but, yeah it is a bit uncomfortable.”

I moved so I was next to him and snuggled down into his chest as he wrapped an arm around me. We stayed in bed, cuddled together until we both fell asleep.