Gerard’s eyes popped open when the alarm on his watch started beeping. He’d set it for 7 am so he could take care of the chickens before the heat of the day got brutal. When he looked down he saw Lucy’s eyes were open and she was smiling.

“Feeling better?” He asked caressing her cheek.

“Little bit.”

“You’re warm. Need to get you a pill.”

Lucy tried to prevent him from moving, “Not yet.”

“How long have you been awake?” He asked.

“Couple of hours.”

“And you just laid here? You should have woke me up.”

Lucy smiled, “Didn’t want to. I like watching you sleep.”

Gerard laughed, “Really?”

She nodded, “Yeah, you look so peaceful.”

“Well I did fall asleep with a beautiful woman in my arms.”

She sighed, “Okay, we both know that’s not true. I look like death warmed over.”

“Only because of the stupid pneumonia.”

She snuggled closer to him. “I’m just glad I’m not contagious. I’d hate for you to get sick.”

“Lucy, we’d be like this even if you were contagious. Staying away from you just isn’t an option.”

He could tell by looking into her brown eyes full of emotion she wanted to say something but remained silent.

After a few more minutes he spoke, “Now, I’ve got to get you a fever reducer, deal with the girls and make breakfast.”

“Okay.” She relented sadly removing her arm.

“Need the bathroom?”

She nodded.

Gerard got up then helped her to her feet. Once they arrived at the bathroom door he spoke again. “I’m gonna run up and get dressed. I’ll be back in a flash.”

When he got back he found Lucy in the kitchen attempting to make coffee.

“Hey” He frowned, “You aren’t supposed to be doing anything.”

“Gerard” She rolled her eyes, “I don’t think spooning coffee grounds into a pot is considered over exerting myself.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He took the spoon from her hand.

“I just wanted to do something nice for you.” She pouted.

“You are.” He said taking her hand to lead her back to the living room. “You are letting me take care of you.”

Lucy sighed, “Like that’s some honor?”

“It is to me.” He said gently.

Once he got her settled back on the sofa he gave her one of the fever reducers. “Okay, now I’m gonna deal with the girls then I’ll make breakfast. Don’t forget I got you some magazines if you’re bored.”

She nodded.

“And later I have a surprise for you.”

Lucy gave him a surprised look “A surprise?”

“Yep, a surprise.”

She smiled, “Sounds good but I really don’t need one.”

“You don’t need one?”

Suddenly she looked very serious. “No, you’re spoiling me.”

He shook his head, “No, I’m not.”

Lucy looked down at her hands, “It’s been a long time since anyone was concerned about me.”

“Lucy…”

She spoke quickly, “I know that’s my fault. I closed myself off from the rest of the world….I just…”

He sat down next to her taking her hands in his. “It’s how you dealt with the pain.”

She nodded.

Gerard caressed her hand with his thumb, “And that is why I’m honored to be the one you’re slowly letting in.”

“I just don’t understand why you want in.” She whispered.

God, he wanted to tell her how much he loved her but he didn’t want to scare her. “Because it feels right.” He said softly, “Being with you just feels so right.”

______________________________________________

As Gerard walked across the yard towards the kitchen coop he thought about what he’d just said to Lucy, that being with her just felt so right. “It really does.” He whispered.

Rex who was trotting along side wagged his tail.

Gerard looked down at the dog, “You know I really wish you could talk to me, I’m in desperate need of advice. How am I going to tell her the truth about who I am?”

Rex continued to wag his tail happily.

“I’m so afraid she’s gonna hate be because of the deception.” Gerard said softly as he neared the coop. “Fuck, why wouldn’t she? I’m a married man with a child.”

He went inside gathered the eggs quickly then threw some feed down for the girls. All the while his mind was still in turmoil. Lucy was lowering her defenses and while part of him believe it was because she was sick he still knew it was an important step for her. She was opening her heart she’d believe to be dead.

He went back inside allowing Rex to come into the kitchen while he started breakfast. But first he wanted to check on Lucy even though he’d only been gone a short time. When he quietly peered into the living room he saw that she’d fallen back asleep.

Back in the kitchen he washed his hands then decided to make Lucy scrambled eggs and toast. He saw that Rex was sitting near the kitchen table watching his every move. “Once she’s better I have to tell her.” He said softly. “I have to make her understand I didn’t purposely try to deceive her.”

Rex titled his head.

“Well I didn’t.” He sighed, “But everything was so crazy at first. And then when I found out who her grandmother was…” He shook his head. “Look, I was meant to find her, I know that in my heart. Shit, and then Rafe…” He saw Rex’s ears perk.

“You knew him, didn’t you?”

Rex wagged his tail.

Gerard had to make sure. He waited until Rex’s tail stopped wagging then said “Rafe”

Immediately Rex started wagging his tail again.

“Shit” Gerard muttered. “You did know him, you recognize the name.”

“He was just a puppy when Rafe died but believe me he loved him.”

Gerard swung around in shock. “Lucy, shit. How long have you been standing there?” Panic filled his mind as he remembered what he’d been saying.

Lucy leaned heavily against the doorway. “Why were you talking to Rex about Rafe?”

Relief flooded through him. She hadn’t heard him talking about deceiving her but he had to think quickly. Spotting the cowboy hat on the chair he smiled, “Uh, well I wore Rafe’s hat outside when I was taking care of the chickens. When I took it off it seemed like Rex was looking at it.”

“He always wore that hat.” Lucy said softly accepting the lie.

It was then he noticed she was leaning in the doorway. “Hey, why are you up? Do you feel sick?”

“A little bit.” She admitted. “I was going to ask if I could have one on the nausea pills."

“Sure.” He grabbed the bottle off the counter, took one out, and then poured her a glass of water. “I know it probably doesn’t sound good to you…” He waited until she swallowed the pill to continue, “But you’ll probably feel better after you’ve eaten something. Probably it’s the meds upsetting your stomach.”

“I’m tired of being sick.” She muttered miserably.

“Oh, Honey.” He smiled taking her arm to lead her back to the living room. “You are going to be a difficult patient, aren’t you?”

She sighed, “I’ll try not to be.” She looked into his eyes as he helped her back to the sofa. “But I’ll understand if you want to take off.”

“What?”

She looked down, “Not now but in a few days. I’ll be able to take care of myself.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Lucy.” He said titling her chin up gently. “Already told you that.”

“But…” She stopped speaking when she saw he was shaking his head, frowning.

Still she was feeling so bad right now her emotions were hard to contain, “I know it was fun being with me before.” She whispered.

It was then he realized what she meant. “I wasn’t just staying for the sex.” His fingers stroked her warm cheek, “Great as it is between us that isn’t why I’m here, why I was staying.”

She blinked back tears. “It was great and I know you…”

“I’m gonna miss it while you’re recovering?” He smiled, “Not gonna lie, of course I will.”

“Me too.” She whispered.

He smiled, “Be honest, sex is pretty far down on your list of wants, right now.”

She sighed, “Only because I feel so yucky but…I want to please you.”

“Just being with you pleases me more than you’ll ever know.” He leaned down and kissed her lips gently. “Now” He said standing back up. “I’m gonna make breakfast.”

“Will you eat in here with me?”

“Sure.” He smiled. “Do you want cheese with your scrambled eggs?”

She frowned, “No thank you.”

He started for the door.

“Gerard.”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

He sighed, “Stop that. I told you woman, I’m here because I want to be with you. It’s not right to thank me for something that makes me so fuckin’ happy.”

When Gerard returned with their breakfast Lucy opened her eyes.

“Shit” She said struggling to sit up. “I can’t believe I keep falling asleep.”

“That’s what you’re supposed to do, sleep and let your body recover.” Carefully he placed the tray on the coffee table. “Uh, I didn’t bring you any coffee, didn’t know if you’re stomach could handle it.”

“Probably not.” She sighed “I’m not sure it can handle scrambled eggs.”

He sat down next to her. “Well you’re gonna have to try. You have to take the medicine and doing that on an empty stomach will make it worse.”

“Yes, Dr Way.” She grinned slightly.

He laughed as he handed her a plate. “That’s a good girl. Keep remembering I’m in charge here.”

Tentatively she took a small bit of eggs. “These are good.” Suddenly she frowned.

“What?”

“How many eggs do we have?”

“Maybe three dozen. The girls have been busy. Bet I collected more than a dozen just this morning.”

“In a few days some of them need to go to George’s.”

“The farmer you sell them to?”

She nodded, “Yeah, he lives a few miles down the road.”

“I’ll handle that.” Gerard said before taking a bite of his own breakfast. He noticed that Lucy still looked concerned.

“What?”

“Well” She paused, “It’s just that he doesn’t know you’re here. He’ll wonder who’s delivering my eggs.”

Gerard took a sip of his coffee, “How do you want me to handle that? Am I an old friend or your cousin?”

“You’re neither.” She said softly looking down at her plate.

“No, I’m neither.” He set the cup down on the table.

“I don’t know what you are.” She blurted out.

He wasn’t sure how to handle this because she looked so upset. “Lucy, what do you want me to be?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed refusing to look at him.

“I’ll tell you who I am.” He said slowly wishing he could be totally honest. “I’m a man who’s here because fate led him to your storm cellar. I’m a man who stayed because the woman who lives here has enchanted him.”

She looked up. “Enchanted?”

“Oh hell yes.” He smiled, “Enchanted, bewitched, take your pick.”

She shook her head slowly, “Can’t imagine why.”

“Sometimes in life things happen we can’t explain with words but what we feel makes us know that just how it is.” He nodded to her plate. “Now eat before I have to get stern with you.”

She lifted another small bite of eggs. “Yes, sir.”

He laughed, “Man, I hope you remember to be that docile when you’re feeling better.”

Suddenly she did feel a little better. “Probably won’t happen.” She grinned over at him. “I’ll be so tired of being docile I’ll want to boss you around.”

His eyes lit up. “Really? Well then, I’ll just have to follow your every command.”

Their eyes locked.

“I like the sound of that.” Lucy said slowly. “That thought gives me a lot of encouragement to get better.”

Gerard laughed, “Well you got a least a couple of weeks to come up with idea for what you’re gonna do with me.”

“Oh I already have a lot of ideas” She muttered sadly. “Just wish I felt good enough to do them.”

“You will. Now eat your damn breakfast.”

Lucy smiled, “Yes, sir.”

After breakfast Gerard washed the dishes then went back into the living room to turn on the air. He’s been listening to the weather forecast and the day was going to turn brutally hot. He wasn’t surprised to see Lucy was asleep again. However when he turned to leave her eyes opened.

“What ya doin’?”

He grinned, “I was gonna get myself another cup of coffee then write but since you’re awake would you like your surprise?”

She sat up slowly. “Yes”

“Be right back.”

When he returned he was carrying his cup and a large plastic bag. Taking a seat next to her he first set the cup down then opened the bag. “Okay, pick one out.”

Lucy was shocked to see he was handing her a stack of DVD’s. “Uh, I don’t have a TV.”

He laughed, “Think I don’t know that? But look.” Out of the bag at his feet he pulled out a box. “See, don’t need a TV. We have out own personal DVD player. Figured we could sit here and watch movies.”

Here eyes lit up. “Oh, nice.”

He was busy working to open the box. “Yep, I just grabbed a bunch of movies out of the five dollar bin so you’ve probably seen most of them.”

She was looking at the DVD’s in her hand. “Uh, no. Haven’t seen any of them.”

He gave her a shocked look.

Lucy sighed, “The movies we sorta saw at the drive in...well, that the first movies I’ve seen in years.”

He glanced up and knew this was hard for her to admit because in doing so she was once more confirming how she’d checked out of life. “Well” He smiled, “Then you are in for a treat. Lot’s of good movies in that stack.”

“Gerard”

“Yeah?” He had gotten the box open and was lifting out the player.

“Uh, when I’m better can we go to the drive in again?"

“Sure” He forced himself to smile but the voice in his head was again reminding him he couldn’t stay here forever, he had a life in LA.

Lucy grinned happily. “That was a fun night.”

Gerard just had to tease her. “You know I tried very hard to watch the movie but I was distracted.”

“Really? I don’t remember that.”

“Oh woman.” He groaned, “I do and it was a wonderful distraction.”

Soon they were settled leaning back against the cushions watching the movie Lucy had selected. It was a comedy that made them both laugh often. However just over half way through he looked down to see her eyes were growing heavy. He reached over a hit the pause button.

“What?”

He placed the player on the coffee table. “Time for your nap.”

“But I was enjoying that.” She whined.

“And you can finish enjoying it when you wake up from your nap.” He stood then lifted her feet onto the sofa. “Now nap until lunch.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m gonna sit right over there and write.”

“Okay.” She sighed, “Maybe this afternoon I can type some more.”

He shook his head, “Nope.”

“Gerard.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I can.”

“No, you can’t because I say so.” He tucked the blanket around her. “But if you’re a good girl I’ll let you read what I’ve written.”

Immediately she brightened, “Okay.”

By the time he’s written several paragraphs Lucy was asleep.

____________________________________________

“Who are you calling?” Alicia asked glancing over at Mikey who’d suddenly pulled out his cell phone.

“Lindsey.” He answered, “Hope she answers.”

“Why?”

He sighed, “Just want to keep in contact with her.”

“I’m sure she would have called you if she’d heard from him.”

Again he sighed, “Yeah, I know but still…” He was relieved when Lindsey answered. “Hey.”

“Hey, Mikey.” Lindsey sounded tired. “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“You want to know if I’ve heard from your brother” She sound annoyed now, “The answer is no.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just got back from meeting with my lawyer.”

“So you’re going ahead with this?” He said sadly.

“Nothing has changed. Well except it would be easier if your wayward brother was in contact.”

“Lindsey, he doesn’t even know you’re divorcing him.” Mikey reminded her.

“He’d know if he hadn’t run off.”

Mikey’s first response was to defend his brother but he suddenly rethought that. “Yeah, that’s true.” He said softly, “But he did.”

“Because that’s what he does.” She responded not with anger but resignation.

“How’s Bandit?”

“Good, took her to the park this morning.” Again her voice changed and it was filled with anger, “She asked about her daddy. She misses him.”

“Well you did take her to New York.” As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them.

“Yeah, that’s true.” Linsey spat, “I ran too but the idea of staying in that house knowing my husband was fucking the nanny in the next room was just too much.”

Mikey was trying to control his own anger, “Gerard told Joe that you said you didn’t care what he did.”

“What the fuck do you think I’d say after finding out he’d let her suck him off while I was on tour?” Her voice rose, her anger undeniable, “I wasn’t about to let him know how much that hurt.”

Mikey leaned back and closed his eyes. “You two need to talk this out.”

She gripped her phone tightly, “There is nothing to talk about. Gerard and I have been hurting each other for over a year. I’ll admit that and I hope he will too. Our marriage was over before this shit with Karli happened.”

“I know why you fired her.” Mikey said sadly.

“I fucked up when I hired her.” Lindsey sighed, “I know that now and I am sorry this shit is being spread all over the Net.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Mikey sighed.

“Sure it does. I hate that the fuckin’ bitch is getting her fifteen minutes of fame. I hate that some day Bandit will see this shit.”

“Me too.” He whispered.

Lindsey was mentally exhausted, “I’ll call you if I hear from him.”

“Thanks” Mikey said softly, “And Lindsey…take care of yourself and my beautiful niece.” With that he disconnected.

Alicia was watching him closely. “You okay?”

He nodded, “Yeah just fuckin’ sad for everyone involved.”

“That include me?” She asked staring into his eyes.

“You?”

“Mikey” She sighed, “Of course I’m involved in this shit too. Yesterday we spent a nice day together but don’t think for a minute I didn’t understand that in the back of your mind you were fretting over Gerard. I knew and it makes me sad.”

He motioned for her to join him on the sofa. Pulling her close he whispered. “I’m sorry.” He leaned down to kiss the top of her head, “Really sorry.”

_________________________________________

After lunch Gerard and Lucy watched the rest of the movie then another one after that. When dinnertime rolled around Gerard was concerned because Lucy ate so little. After dinner she immediately fell back asleep. Most of the day while she’d been sleeping he’d been writing. The story was really coming together and he was pleased with his work.

Now it was time to wake her for her pill. He laid down his legal pad then crossed over to the sofa. Gently he caressed her cheek, “Lucy, wake up.”

Her eyes fluttered open and he could see she was confused. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten. How are you feeling?”

“Ten? Shit, I slept all evening?”

“It’s what you’re supposed to do but I had to wake you up to take a pill.”

She took his hand as he helped her sit up. Once she’d swallowed the pill she sighed, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to sleep all evening.”

“Hey, I got a lot of writing done so that’s a plus.”

“I want to read it.”

He smiled, “In the morning. Now lay back and close those beautiful eyes.”

It was impossible for her not to follow his command, she felt exhausted.

Gerard watched her a minute then quickly left the room to take a quick shower. When he returned he was surprised to see she wasn’t on the sofa, she’d moved to the mattress on the floor but her eyes were closed.

He switched off most of the lights then laid down beside her.

Lucy’s voice was groggy. “You smell nice.” She nuzzled his neck.

Gerard placed his arm around her pulling her even closer. “I smell like a strawberry.”

“Gee?”

“Yeah?”

“Tomorrow can I have a shower?”

“Sure, after breakfast if you feel up to it.”

“I want to smell like a strawberry too.” She giggled.

He reached up to touch her cheek, “You’re a little warm.”

“I’m okay.” She sighed, “Go to sleep.”

He closed his eyes but a sudden flash of lightning illuminated the room followed by the low rumble of thunder in the distance.

“Storms coming.” Lucy muttered.

He tightened his arm around her as Rafe’s words once more echoed in is brain, “Yeah, storms coming.” He whispered but she’d already fallen asleep.