So, it's been a while mostly because of me being a piece of shit. I'm sorry. I know that doesn't make up for anything, but maybe a really long chapter kind of will?... Please? As per usual, I don't own anything but my own characters. Also, I have no idea whether or not you had to have graduated high school to join the military. We're saying he graduated and stuck around town for a bit before he joined. Also, because this chapter was so long, it was harder to edit, so I'm just really hoping you can overlook any mistakes I may have made. Hope you like it, as always, read and review.

Genevieve chewed thoughtfully on her sandwich. She swallowed before answering. "I don't know. I don't think that's how it's gonna work."

"What else are they going to do?"

"Barb, I don't care how many men go off to war; they're not just gonna start marrying us off to the ones that are left." Genny's best friend Stella looked like she couldn't believe that Barb had made it this far in her years without choking on a lifesaver.

"But it makes sense."

"In what world," their friend Mary asked.

"Well think about it. All the young men are going, and a lot of them aren't going to come back. But, we're going to have to get married to someone. All that will be left are the men that are too old to go, or too weak."

"Yeah, or too rich. Some people bought their way out of going."

"Excuse me, what do you mean too rich? Is that even a thing?" Mary was staring at Stella with confusion.

"Ok, I suppose not, but I wouldn't wanna be with a man who wouldn't go to war for his country."

Genny spoke up. "Let's be honest here. I think we all know that the only reason Barb is this concerned about it is because she has a crush on Mr. Landon and she wants to justify it to herself," she quipped with a grin, speaking of their geography teacher.

The other girls laughed, as Barb blushed scarlet. "Um, no, that's not the only reason." They just laughed harder.

"Ok, but consider this; who even says we have to get married," Stella questioned. "Just because we're women doesn't mean we have to let a man control us forever."

"Oh shoot," Mary interrupted. "That reminds me. I can't go out tonight. Johnny said I have to stay home while he polishes up his good church shoes."

The other three girls looked at her like she was crazy. Mary smiled. "I'm kidding. Jeez, tough crowd today."

Genny laughed. "Very funny. But Stella does have a point. We could all just stay single bachelorettes and go out and have ourselves a grand time together. No men allowed."

Barb appeared thoughtful before she leaned in close. "I'd rather have the dick."

Mary, Genny, and Stella all squealed loudly. The group of girls sitting nearby on the school lawn glared at them.

Mary rolled her eyes as they calmed their giggles. "Ugh, it's not like we're inside. Why can't they just enjoy the weather and be nice?"

"Because that'd be too easy," Genny suggested with a shrug. "Oh well. Doesn't matter anyways. We have this weekend to look forward to. Daddy said I could go to the pictures. Said he'd even let Carl drive, no questions asked."

Genevieve's dad was very strict about letting her go out when one of her friends was driving. He always said that 'kids your age are just too distracted.' Carl was a good driver though, so when her father David had said yes to her asking to go, she could barely believe her luck.

"Oh boy, that'll be fun. We've got to do it Friday though, so it doesn't mess with Merriel's party," Barb said with a smile.

Genny tilted her head. She hadn't been invited to anything by Mere. "What party," she asked through a mouth full of sandwich.

"Oh, shit," Mary muttered.

"His going away party, silly," Barb answered.

"Barb, shut up," Stella snapped.

Genny pulled back, suddenly feeling like she was the butt of a joke no one had told her about. "Where's he going," she asked lamely.

"Didn't he tell you?"

"Barbara Nicole. Stop. Talking."

Genny looked around at her friends, Mary and Stella looking anxious and Barb looking confused. "Tell me what? Guys, what's going on?"

"Nothing, hon, Barb's just running her mouth."

She looked into Stella's startlingly green eyes. "What's going on? Where is Mere going?"

Stella looked heartbroken for her friend. "Oh, Gen, sweetie, he was gonna tell you. He was just waiting for the right way to do it."

"Tell me what," Genny asked, feeling a lump forming in her throat.

Mary reached out to take her hand but she pulled away, shaking her head and willing herself not to cry as Stella answered with a heavy sigh.

"Honey, Merriel enlisted in the Marines… and he's leaving on Sunday."

Genny let out a deep breath before biting her lip. She looked around and even sitting in the bright sun, she felt cold. A million questions were racing through her mind and she had no way to quiet them.

Why didn't he tell her? Why did he enlist? Why did she care so much? Weren't they just friends? Why would he tell everyone else and single her out? Why hadn't she been invited to see him off? How long had he known he was leaving?

She felt dizzy. Shaking her head to clear it, she stood up.

"I've gotta go. I have homework to finish before next hour," Genny lied without even trying to make it sound convincing.

Barb looked devastated. "Genny, I'm so sorry. I thought that you knew," she told her as Genny picked up her trash from lunch.

"It's fine. I'm fine," she answered as she took a lurching step towards the school before straightening up. "I'll see you guys later," she called over her shoulder as she hurried into the school, throwing her brown paper bag into the trashcan by the door.

The school opened into a long stretch of hallway. She could hear chatter from the lunchroom further down on the right. She practically ran past everyone else still happily enjoying their afternoon. She made it into the ladies' room and pushed into the furthest stall. Sliding down the wall to sit on the cool floor, she dropped her head into her hands and let the tears flow freely.

"God, I'm so stupid," she said quietly to the empty room. She hadn't meant to, but she had developed feelings for Merriel. They had sex, really good sex, and then he annoyed her in public. That was their relationship. But somewhere along the way, she had grown attached to him in a way that she knew she shouldn't have.

The way he treated her when they were together wasn't something that she could ignore. He treated her like she was the only girl on the planet that mattered. He could be a bit obnoxious sometimes, vulgar as well. But she knew that was how he showed affection for his friends and that he was the only one allowed to act that way to her. He was very protective of her.

She had to face it though. He hadn't told her that he was leaving. He clearly didn't see her as more than a girl to get with when he was bored. Protective or not, she was going to have to be ok with him not actually wanting her.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to stop crying. She scrubbed at her eyes and knew she had to look bad. She heard the first bell ring, warning that she had five minutes to get to her next class. She stood and slowly puled open the stall door. Peeking out, she saw that she was still alone so she stepped up to the sink.

Genny flinched. She looked much worse than she thought. Her eyes were puffy, her nose was red and running, her head was hurting, and there was a pressure in the front of her skull that wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

She turned on the tap and rinsed her hands in the cold water, reaching up to press their coolness into her warm face. She grabbed a paper towel and wiped away the dampness. She hurried out of the restroom, keeping her head down and was lost in a sea students trying to get to their classrooms.

She still had to get to her locker and knew she was going to be late. When she walked into her geography classroom nearly two minutes after the bell rang, books clutched to her chest, her teacher shot her an angry look.

"Ms. Du Champ, you know that tardiness is unacceptable."

Genevieve looked up, her face still showing the obvious signs of her tears.

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."

Mr. Landon faltered on his reply, taking in her face. "Take your seat, Ms. Du Champ. Don't let it happen again."

She nodded, sliding into her seat, avoiding the stares of her classmates, including Barb, who looked guilty as she stared at the back of her friend's head.

She couldn't concentrate for the rest of the day. When it was time to go home, she practically ran out of the building, ignoring her friends as she headed for her home.

"Genny," Stella called. She pretended she didn't hear her. However, she heard the quick steps running up behind her and soon Stella's arm was around Genny's shoulders.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Sweetie, for once in his life, he watn't doin' it to be mean. Honest."

Genevieve had done well, fighting her tears the last few hours of the day. But here, walking with her best friend and no one else around, they were falling once more.

"Why didn't he tell me," she asked shakily. "I wasn't gonna be mad. And now he's leaving in four days and I just hope I don't see him before he does."

"He wasn't trying to hurt you."

"He told you and everyone else but he didn't tell me? How is that not supposed to hurt me?"

Stella sighed, shaking her head. "Do you really not know?"

"Know what?"

"Gen, he could tell me and everyone else because we're his friends. He didn't want to tell you though because… well, he probably didn't want to upset you because I think you're a little bit more than a friend to him."

Genny scoffed. "Yeah right."

"I'm serious."

"So am I." Stella let go of Genny and turned to face her as they walked.

"Hon, I ain't gonna say it for sure one way or the other, but I think he might be in love with you. I grew up with the boy and ain't ever seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."

"Stella, I appreciate what you're doin', but we're just friends. He doesn't look at me any special way." She paused, biting her lip, wondering if she should tell her friend. "He just looks at me like someone he can get his kicks with."

Stella's eyes widened when she realized what she meant. "You're still sleepin' with him? I thought that was a one-time thing."

"It was," Genevieve defended. "Until it wasn't." She shrugged. "I don't know. We did it the first time, when I came over while his mama was away, and there was one time we were at the swimming hole. And then again during the hurricane when daddy was in Alabama. It's not like we planned it. It just sort of happened."

"Jesus, Gen, you're busy." Genny blushed, afraid of Stella's judgment. But then she saw Stella smiling. "You know, that's more time than he eva' spent with any a' the otha' girls he got with. I told ya he likes ya."

She rolled her eyes. "Even if that meant anything, which it doesn't, I don't care. I don't want to see him."

Genevieve knew she was being petty, that he might not come home, but she couldn't help it. He should have told her, and they would have had more time. She would have had more time, to get used to the idea of him not being around. Because she wasn't going to admit it to Stella or anyone else, but she was so deep in love with Merriel that if she looked back, she couldn't even see the point where it had happened.

"So how long has he known," she asked, kicking a rock along the road.

Stella looked down. "A couple months. He told me he was planning on it back in December, then he enlisted in the middle 'a January and now he's headed out."

Genny shook her head. "Two months and he couldn't find the right way ta tell me?"

"C'mon, Gen, come to his goin' away party. It'll be a nice. We invited the guys, and Mary and Barb, the parents. We're gonna make a nice meal. He won't be able to annoy you or anythin' 'cause he'll be in a public settin'. He'll be polite, an' you can say good-bye. Cause Genny, if you don't say it, an' something happens, you're gonna carry that with ya until the day you die."

Genny shook her head. "No, I won't. Because whether he thought it would upset me or not, he still didn't have the guts ta tell me. You don't keep secrets like that from your friends. Not if ya really care about 'em. And now I'm mad. I'm so mad. And I don't want to see him. Or talk to him. I wanna hit him, and that ain't me. So he can go, and just leave me out of it all."

Stella looked sad. "You're really not gonna come?"

"I can't." Genny shook her head. "I just wouldn't feel right there." She didn't say what she meant; she'd feel like an idiot for thinking she was more important to Merriel than she actually was.

Stella sighed, shaking her head. "Alright, I won't push it if you're absolutely sure."

"I am."

Stella threw her arm back around Genny as they finished their walk home. "Well I'm sorry you're so upset. I don't like to see ya hurt. If he wasn't leaving in less than a week, I'd kick his ass for ya but I'm sure the Marines will do that just fine," she said as they made it to Genevieve's house.

Genny managed a small smile but she wasn't feeling all that playful. "Yeah. I 'ppreciate it. I'll see ya around," she told her while she walked across her green lawn.

"Yeah, alright. See ya, sweetie." Stella waved and gave her a smile but Genny could see that she looked a little sad before she continued down the street.

Genny made her way inside, locking the door behind her and dropping her books on the table. She pulled off her shoes and went to pull dinner out of the refrigerator. She began peeling the skin off of the raw chicken pieces before getting them into a pot of boiling water. She then pulled out the big container of flour and started working on the dumplings. She got everything into a big boiler and then sat down to do her homework.

Her father David arrived home promptly at 5:15 and they went through their usual conversation of the evening, asking how the other's day had gone and if anything new was going on. The night was passing without incident, the kitchen cleaned up from dinner, her father scrounging around in the kitchen for milk to go with the cookies Genny had made the previous night, while Genevieve worked on gathering her homework and taking it to her bedroom to finish.

She was just coming back down the hall from her room when she heard a knock on the door. She stepped out from behind the wall before catching a glimpse of a mop of brown curls over the top of their window curtain. David was headed towards the door.

"Daddy," Genny hissed. "Daddy, if that's Merriel, tell him I'm not here. Or that I'm busy or something. Ok?"

He looked confused. "Why, what's the matter?"

"Nothing," she said making a frustrated face. "I just don't wanna talk to him. Please."

Still looking a tad confused, he pulled the door open just as Genny ducked back into the hallway. She stayed still, not daring to make a sound.

"Hello, Mr. Du Champ. How are you doin' this evenin'," he asked being oddly polite.

"Hello, Merriel. I'm doin' all right. Been busy down at work. But I guess it's better busy than bored."

"Yes, sir, it is."

"And how are you tonight?"

"I'm great, sir. I just been keepin' outta trouble. Tryin', least ways."

"That's good to hear, Shelton."

"Yes, sir. Just gotta tell myself just 'cause I live alone don't mean I can do whatever I want."

David chuckled. "So what can I help you with today, son?"

"I was actually here to see Genevieve if that's ok. Had to talk to her about somethin' real quick."

Genny rolled her eyes. 'I'll just be you do,' she thought bitterly. She then made a mental note to let Stella know what a blabbermouth she was the next time she saw her.

David cleared his throat. "She's actually busy right now. Workin' on a school project."

"Well it'd only take a minute, if she's got it, sir."

"She asked not to be disturbed. Said it's a real important project."

"Oh, alright," he said in his thick, slow drawl. Mere didn't sound sad. He sounded skeptical, exactly like he knew that she had asked David to lie for her. "Well can ya tell her I stopped by? That I might stop by again lat'a this week?"

"Sure, Merriel. Have a good evenin', son."

"You, too," he replied before the door shut.

David was quiet for a few seconds before calling her. "Genevieve, get in here."

She stepped into the kitchen, dragging her feet a little as she went. "Sir?"

"What was that all about?"

"Nothin', Daddy. I just don't wanna talk to him."

"And why not? Not that I want ya talking to a bunch a' boys or anything, but Merriel's been your friend for a while now. Why ain't ya talkin' to him?"

Genny sighed, leaning against the counter. "Because. He joined the Marines."

David didn't look any more enlightened. "Well, honey, we're fighting a war now. If he wants to join up and help his country, that's good then."

"Daddy, he joined a while ago and he didn't tell me and now he's leavin' on Sunday. He told everyone but me and now I look like an idiot for not knowin', and he still ain't told me about it. I only found out cause Barb accidentally mentioned his going away party. I don't wanna talk to him because that's not what friends do." Genny was embarrassed by the way her voice cracked at the end of her sentence, and could feel herself blinking back tears.

David was quiet, staring at his daughter with knowing eyes. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. "Alright. As long as you got your reason for it."

She sighed. "Yes sir. I'm gonna go finish my homework."

"Ok. I'll be in here for a while."

She nodded ok before retreating to her room. She closed the door and flopped down on the bed. She was lying across it, hands over her eyes when she heard a clicking. She tried to ignore it, but then heard it again, louder. She looked up, searching her room and nearly jumped out of her skin.

Merriel's face was in her window. He was tapping on the glass and motioning for her to open it when she finally saw him. She shook her head, looking annoyed.

He tapped a little harder, giving her an incredulous look. Rolling her eyes, Genevieve scooted off of the bed and went over to him, slamming the window up.

"What do you want," she hissed.

"Why you avoidin' me?"

"I ain't. Now leave me alone."

He propped up on her window frame. "Genny Rose, ya are too. I ain't stupid. I just need ta talk to ya for a minute."

"Oh, now you wanna talk?"

"Look, I know that ya know I enlisted. I'm sorry I didn't tell ya about it sooner. I just didn't-"

"If one more person says that you didn't know how to tell me, I'm going to rip their arms off and beat said person to death with them. It's not that hard. You open your mouth and say 'Hey, Genny, guess what? I joined the Marines. Leavin' in February. Been nice knowin' ya.' See how easy that was?"

"Hey, Genny, guess what? I joined the Marines. Leavin' in a few days. Been nice knowin' ya." He was trying to make her smile. It didn't work.

"It's too late. How long, and I mean exactly, have you known you were going to be leaving?"

He looked back over his shoulder, and then back towards her room, avoiding her eyes. "I thought about joinin' back in December, and then knew fo' sure January 12th."

Genevieve stared at him, dumbfounded and angry. "You've known for a month, suspected for two, and I don't even get the courtesy of a whole week's notice? Do you know how wrong that is Mere?"

"Look, Genny Rose, I know I fucked up-."

"Don't Genny Rose me. You use that stupid name when ya know I'm mad at you because ya think it's cute. You're not goin' ta talk me outta bein' mad at you. Not for this."

"Genevieve," he said, in one of the few times he used her name without it being to tease her. "I shoulda told ya, I know that. I can't take it back that I didn't, but please don't ignore me. I'm sorry. I can't do nothin' about it now though."

She looked down into his eyes. They were anxious. He needed her to say it was ok. That she was fine with him leaving. But she couldn't.

"Please leave. I don't want daddy hearin'. And I really do have homework I gotta work on."

"Ok, but are you gonna come on Saturday? Or at least let me see ya before that?"

"Goodbye, Merriel." She slid the window closed and pulled the sheer curtain. She walked over to her bed and propped herself up into the corner, facing away from the window. She peaked up in time to see the form of Merriel shaking his head and then she heard the loud thunk as he hit the side of her house before he turned and left her side of the yard.

As soon as he was gone, Genny broke down crying. Not calm, gentle tears flowing. She was bawling, much like she had earlier that day. Her whole body was racked with her sobs, she couldn't breathe, and she was blowing a steady stream from her nose into her hanky.

She slammed her head back onto her wall in her anger and frustration. All that accomplished was giving her a large knot on the back of her skull, and leaving a throbbing ache for her to deal with.

She was distressed. She wanted to throw things, and scream and cry, and punch something, but she also wanted to spend every remaining moment she had with Merriel, but she didn't want him to know how much he meant to her because he might not feel the same about her and she wouldn't be able to take that. She didn't know what to do.

Dreams didn't come easy, and she cried well into the night. The next morning, she woke feeling as if she had gotten ten minutes of sleep and her head was pounding. When she went to the bathroom to get something for her headache, she saw that she looked even worse than the previous day after lunch. Even her dad noticed, mentioning that she looked a little tired.

That's how the rest of her week went, distraught and crying at night, exhausted and angry during the day. Stella must have told her friends not to push Genny, because neither Barb nor Mary mentioned Merriel or his going away party.

On Friday, they asked her if she still wanted to go to see a movie. She declined, opting instead to stay in and clean her house, keeping herself busy and her mind occupied.

Before she knew it, Saturday night had arrived. At 5:45 P.M. Stella knocked on her door, dressed up in a pretty blue dress that made her eyes stand out.

"Ok, before you say anything, I just wanted to make sure you didn't want to go, because if ya did and felt like you can't come, that's not true. We'd all still love to have you there."

Genny shook her head. "Thanks sweetie, but I don't think so. You go and have fun."

"Are you sure? Carl and I can wait for ya ta get ready. We don't mind. Honest."

"No, I just can't. I'm still so mad at him. I know that I shouldn't be, but I am."

Stella nodded with defeat. "Alright. If you're sure. But, if you change your mind, please come. We're gonna eat in about an hour, and then we're all gonna hang out and talk for a while, make sure we give him a good send off."

"Ok. Thanks for letting me know." She watched Stella retreat to Carl's car, where he kissed her on the cheek after she climbed in. 'Good for her,' Genny thought. Her friends meant a lot to her and if one of them had found some sort of romantic happiness, then she was just excited for her friends.

"Who was that," David asked after she closed the door.

"Just Stella. Wanted me to go to Merriel's going away party. I told her I wasn't feeling up to it."

He nodded. "It's probably for the best anyways."

"How do you mean?" She cocked her head to the side.

David shrugged. "Well, it's just, he's not exactly officer material. He's probably gonna see a lot of action out on the front line, wherever he goes."

"I don't get it." She looked at her father, a look of accusation in her eyes. "Are you saying he's gonna die overseas or somethin'?"

He sighed, but nodded heavily. "Honestly, yes, more than likely. He's probably never comin' back after he gets out there an' it's best if you ain't spendin' your time waitin' on someone that ain't comin' home."

"Daddy." She was shocked. "Why would you say something like that? You don't know that for sure."

"Because it's the truth sweetie. I don't wanna upset you, but it is."

"So you're not even gonna give him the benefit of a prayer. You wrote him off, good as dead?"

"I ain't wrote nobody off. I'm just sayin', I won't be able to take watchin' you wait for someone who you may never see again. If he doesn't ever come back it's best that you make a clean break, and don't let him drag you down." Genny started to protest. "'Sides, even if he does come home, he ain't ever gonna do anything with his life. He ain't no good for you."

"Daddy, he's a good guy. You've known him for almost ten years. And he's not nothin. He's not rich, but he works hard. I can't believe you're sayin' this." She felt hot tears stinging her eyes, a sensation she was more than familiar with given the week she'd been having.

"Genevieve, it's true, and I'm sorry, but I don't wanna hear no more about it now."

Feeling the tears welling up, about to spill over, she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes, sir. I'm goin' to bed. Good night."

He looked at his watch. "It's barely six o'clock."

"We ate already, I cleaned up, and I'm tired. I'll see you in the morning."

He eyed her, but seeing how red her face was, and that there were wet streaks on her cheeks, he shook his head. "Alright. Good night, baby girl. I love ya. And please, don't be upset over him, or what I said. It's the truth. It'll be easier this way."

"Good night." She quickly turned on her heel, headed down the hall to her room. The door closed with a sharp rap, but it wasn't hard enough for David to come chastise her, not given her current state. She grabbed a nightgown and draped it over her arm after digging it out of her hamper. Next, she ran to her window, throwing it open loudly.

She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth before hopping in the tub, her usual nighttime routine, but she wasn't going to bed. She went back to her room again and pulled her alarm clock close to the edge of her nightstand. Genevieve sat down at her vanity and reapplied her makeup, got her hair wrapped in a towel so it would dry again, everything she would need to do to go out.

And then she began her wait. She slid under the covers, facing the wall and she watched her room growing darker. She was quiet, thinking about what she was going to be doing. She heard her father clumping around in the house; first he went out to the garage, then he was in the kitchen, sitting in the living room, kitchen again. She made a mental note to talk to him about his snacking habits the very next time it was safe to do so.

At 7:30, David poked his head into Genny's room. She kept her breathing slow, eyes closed. She felt his weight on the edge of the bed, and then she felt him lean over to giver her a kiss on the temple.

"I'm sorry, baby," he quietly spoke into her room. She almost decided to call it off, but what she was going to do was more important than keeping her father happy. She heard her door click shut and his swing open.

Genny continued to wait, well after she heard his door shut, and after her father's loud snores, which she could hear from her room if the house was quiet and she listened for him.

When she rolled over, she squinted at her alarm clock. 8:23. Creeping slowly so as to not cause any creaking from her bed, she went over to her closet, snatching her nightgown off over her head. She pulled a bright yellow dress out of her closet, one with a flowy skirt.

Changing into her new outfit, she felt her hair, just released from her towel. It was still damp, but would have to do. She pinned back a few of her loose, wavy locks once she finished brushing it out. She pulled on a pair of socks and shoes.

Knowing where she was going, she hesitated for several long seconds before she reached under her dress and slid her panties down her legs. She tossed them into her hamper and felt a good kind of nervousness, knowing she had a secret.

Going back to her clock, lifting it to her face to see the numbers so as to not turn on a light, she saw in the twilight of the evening that it was now almost 8:45. She set the clock down and then crept to her window, already open.

Genevieve poked her head out, checking up and down the street. Seeing no-one, she pulled herself up onto the ledge and turned around, so she was sitting facing her room. Still worried about being spotted, she scouted around every few seconds as she stood on her ledge and then jumped down into their green lawn.

She squatted there for a few minutes, crouching and making sure that there was no noise coming from inside. She then stood and snuck to the side of her house where her father slept. His lights were still off. She was in the clear.

Looking all around her once more, Genny ran back to the front of her house, onto the sidewalk and took off down the deserted street. By the time she slowed down, she could see the outline of Stella and Merriel's houses. The sky was dark behind them, and she could see straight into the lit windows from the road.

She slowed down, breathing heavily, sweating more than she wanted to be. She worked on slowing her beating heart, wiping away at her forehead and neck. She walked at a brisk pace down past Stella's house, seeing lights and people inside, hearing a happy din from within.

She paused at Merriel's porch and then moved into the backyard. She headed over to the tire swing that had hung in his backyard for as long as Genny had been there. It was one of the favorite hangouts for the kids in the neighborhood, besides the swimming hole down the way from Stella's backyard.

She moved through the opening and started pushing herself gently, not letting her feet leave the ground. Peeking up at Stella's house, she thought she saw someone move away from the window, but she couldn't be certain. She ducked a little closer to the rope all the same.

She wasn't sure how long she was out there but she finally heard the murmur of voices floating through the yards. She couldn't make out what was being said, but it sounded like a crowd, so she assumed Merriel would be back at his place soon. She waited for one of the lights inside to come on, but none ever did.

She was just starting to wonder if maybe she should face the embarrassment of how she had behaved and just go over to Stella's when fingers curled over her mouth. It was probably for the best, because as soon as she felt someone there, she screamed into their hand.

"Shhh, easy, 's jus' me."

She clawed at Mere's hand, scrambling out of the swing in the most dignified way she could manage. She turned around and faced him in the dark, flouncing to straighten her dress and then staring at him with annoyance.

"What the hell would you go and do a thing like that for," she asked him. "You scared me."

"You're the one sittin' in my yard, in my swang, possibly waitin' to scare me for all I know."

"How'd you even know I was back here? It's dark."

Merriel pointed to Stella's house. "Saw ya from the winda'."

"Ok, well, why would I be waitin' to scare you?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "Cause ya mad at me."

She bit her lip but kept her chin up. "I'm sorry," she answered after a brief pause. "I ain't got any right to be mad at you. I should have acted better about it."

He grabbed the rope to the swing, leaning on it and propping his foot on the seat.

"Yeah, maybe." He looked over at his house. "An' maybe I shoulda let ya know a little soon'a that I was goin'."

She shook her head. "No, you didn't owe me nothin'. If you're leavin', it's your own business."

He cocked his head a little as he looked at her, confused. "I didn't not want ya to know. I just didn't want ya getting upset, 'nd before I knew it, I only had a week left ta tell ya 'nd I still hadn't done it."

She started towards the porch, hands clasped behind her back. "Well I still acted like a brat. And that wasn't fair."

She heard him following, his feet shuffling over the grass. She turned to face him in the back doorway.

"So whatcha ov'a here fo'?" Something seemed to click then. "Does ya daddy know you out?"

She bashfully looked down before shaking her head. "Nope. Snuck out."

"Oh, Genny Rose bein' a bad girl." There was a hint of amusement in his voice as he joined her on the back porch. "And what's so important that ya had to sneak out?"

She looked up at him then. "I needed to apologize."

"You said you sorry. Coulda done that tomorrow morning, if it was that important."

"I wanted to give you a goin' away present, too."

He looked at her curiously. "What would that be?"

Genny nodded shyly towards the door. "I'll show you inside." She turned the knob and stepped into the darkened kitchen. She froze in the doorway with her hands out in front of her. She felt Merriel brush past her as he found the light switch with no trouble.

She was momentarily blinded, having been sitting in the evening for so long. She blinked several times trying to make her eyes adjust as Mere kicked his good shoes off by the door. He was wearing a pair of nice dress pants with a button up shirt tucked into them. He had even put on a tie. It was nice, a change from his usual worn out style.

"Ya want somethin' ta drink? Eat? Ain't got much but I'm sure we could find ya somethin'."

She shook her head. "I'm ok." She moved over to him, anxiously twisting her fingers together. He looked down at her, face pulled up in a bemused look.

"You look kinda nervous. Ya alright?"

She bit her lip again, nodding. Timidly, she reached out to his waist, sliding her fingers over his belt. He froze as she tugged it out of its buckle.

"Genny Rose, whatcha doin'?"

"I'm giving you your goin' away gift." She worked his button and zipper open.

"Hey, whoa, you ain't gotta-."

"I know I don't have to. I wanna." She pulled her hands back then, a thought striking her. "Unless you don't want me to. Oh, God, I'm so sorry. Shit, I feel like such an ass." She stepped back but Merriel caught her hands.

"Nah, it ain't that. I very much want ya to." He looked at her appreciatively. "I just don't want ya feelin' like you gotta do anythin' ya don't wanna do."

"No, I do, I wanna do it. I just, I don't know exactly what I'm doing and talkin' ain't helpin' and now I just feel silly."

"Alright, I'll stop talkin' then." Genevieve could see he was biting his cheek to keep from smiling and knew her face was blushing crimson, but she just looked down and continued her work, tugging first his pants and then his boxers down to rest on the floor.

He reached out to undo the buttons on her dress but she pushed his hands away. Instead, she sank to her knees in front of him on the hardwood. "I wanna try again."

Eyes wide, a look of desire on his face, he quietly whispered, "Holy shit. Ho-ly shit."

Genny faced him, pausing for a moment to figure out how to approach her task. She decided to slide her hands along his length first, hardening him. She worked him until his dark tip was leaking a clear liquid.

She looked up through her lashes at him as she took him in her mouth and his face was beautiful. He looked like he was seeing heaven as she pulled on him.

"Oh, shit, I shoulda told ya I was leavin' weeks ago," he moaned, fingers flexing beside him.

She began teasing him with her tongue, swirling it all around him, pushing at his tip, running it along his dark vein, all in an effort to get him off.

She ran her hands up his legs, finding his fingers and pulling them to her hair. He twisted them into her locks with no further prompting, red silk tangling around calloused tan. She moaned a little as he tugged at her roots, which caused him to let out a gasping breath.

"Fuck, fuck," he groaned, dropping his head back and moving more of himself into her mouth. She wondered what it would feel like, what he was experiencing as that heat and wetness enveloped him. She wondered if it felt as good as it looked, or if he was doing it for her benefit.

Genevieve started gagging enough to make her eyes water as she tried to swallow more of him. She had to slow down and breathe heavily through her nose. Meanwhile she was still working away at him, hollowing her cheeks and drawing her mouth back as she stared up at him.

"Shit, Genny Rose, fuck, fucking shit." She groaned at his cursing, feeling a twisting in her stomach at his inability to express his pleasure in any other way. She took it as an indicator that he was enjoying her gift.

Within minutes, Merriel was tugging on her hair. "Wait, stop, stop." Genny pulled back.
"What's wrong?"

"Fuck, I'm 'bout ta come. You ain't gotta do that, I can finish myself."

She shook her head. "It's fine. I want to."

She was back and sucking at him again before he could protest. His fingers, still in her hair started pulling at her.

"Nah, fuck, really, oh Jesus Christ, you ain't gotta do that." He sounded desperate, as though he didn't want her to stop but he knew he should make her.

She reached up, one hand resting on his hip, nails digging in while the other fondled him, squeezing gently and rolling him between her fingers.

"Ahhh, oh, fuck, shit, shit, hell Genny." She knew when she had won because he stopped fighting to move her away and started pulling her closer, legs shaking.

She felt a warm liquid filling her mouth, hitting the back of her throat, choking her. She swallowed as much as she could before she breathed in deeply through her nose again. Merriel continued moving in her mouth, moaning heavily as she felt it still being filled. His pumping was broken and uneven.

She waited until he stopped before she swallowed again, pulling away from him with a gasp. Embarrassed, she wiped away a bit of drool that had dribbled down her chin.

Merriel rested his hands on her head for a moment, breathing in deeply. When his heart rate was reasonable again, he grasped the hand on his waist and pulled her up to her feet.

Her knees were red, her legs were numb, and her neck was stiff from looking up. She knew her makeup was running, her face was ruddy, and there were tear streaks on her cheeks. She tried to look away but he stopped her.

"Nah. That was fuckin' incredible. Seriously, I shoulda told ya 'bout this shit as soon as I found out." He started walking her back, stepping out of his slacks and boxers. She felt the table pushing into her. "Now you gettin' yours."

Genny spoke. "You don't have to. I just wanted ta do that for you. I know that ya liked it. But I wanted to, you know, finish this time."

He shook his head. "My goin' away present. My rules." He knelt then, kissing down her stomach to the v of her legs over her dress while his hands ran up over skin. When he reached her waist, his eyes widened. "Oh, fuck. You downright filthy tonight," he said with a wicked edge to his tone.

"You said somethin' about wantin' me walkin' around without anythin' underneath. Figured I could do it once, see what you thought." She played with a strand of her hair as she spoke, afraid to see his face.

"I think I wanna fuck ya right here on this table, but not yet." He stood, lifting her by the thighs as he did. She squealed as he tossed her onto the wood. He leaned over her, shoving mail and books from behind her onto the floor before he grabbed her calves, tugging her right to the edge.

Genevieve watched entranced as Merriel pushed her dress up to her hips and dipped his head between her legs without hesitation. He immediately began kissing her, working at her with his tongue. She moaned, lying down. He reached up, grabbing her legs and draping them over his shoulders.

"Oh, God, Mere." Her toes curled and her feet dug into his back. She lifted her hips to his eager mouth. He ran his hands up her body, stopping at her breasts to knead them through the fabric that hid them. His mouth moved to her clit, scrubbing over her, making her pant into the emptiness of his house.

"You like that? Huh, my filthy, dirty little Genny Rose?" His eyes were shining as he sat up.

"Yes, yes, yes." She propped herself up on her elbows, moaning as she let her head drop back. "That's perfect." As though unable to decide what he wanted to do to her, unable to keep his hands still, they slid over the fabric of her dress to meet bare skin. He squeezed at the back of her thighs, keeping her lifted to him until she lost track of time. He could have been there for minutes or an hour. She didn't really know.

"I could do this all fuckin' day," he eventually spoke, low as though it were meant only for his ears but Genny heard. Her foot slipped over the material of his shirt before her toes curled against him again.

"I want you inside me. Please, Mere." She didn't care anymore that this was for him. She needed to feel him moving within her when she came.

"Goddamn, you somethin' fuckin' special, girl," he groaned. He rose up, keeping her legs over his shoulders, folding her as he dropped a hand to her apex and thrust two fingers into her, curling the digits. With the other, he grasped himself, pumping with both.

"Jesus, Mere," she let out in a whimper as he started scrubbing his thumb over her sensitive bundle of nerves. He pushed a third finger into her, furiously working both of them. She panted, unable to catch her breath as he pushed her to new highs.

"Fuck," he finally said after what felt like a lifetime. Releasing his member now that he was satisfied he would last another round, he curled his fingers as he pulled them out of her. "Roll ov'a," he commanded.

Confused, she did as he said, dropping her legs and turning so that she faced away from him. She was on her tiptoes as he snatched her flowing skirt up over her rear.

"Mere, what are you doin'?" She looked over her shoulder at him but he was looking down, lining himself up with her now slick entrance.

"Just wait," he breathed before pushing into her. His pelvis hit her bottom, and she felt him slamming into a wall within her. She whimpered again.

"Holy shit." Her hands went out to her sides, grasping at the edge of the table, her knuckles white. "Oh my God, oh God," she moaned, dropping her head to the worn surface. His own hands moved to her waist, one pushing around so that he could harshly finger her under the material of her dress.

He grunted as he began moving, his hips slapping hers roughly with each pass. "Genevieve, ah fuck, Gen," he groaned, leaning over her. She felt herself slowly sliding forward each time he moved until her feet were swinging, toes barely touching the floor.

"I, ahhh, Mere, I can't reach," Genny said. Merriel adjusted his hands so that both gripped her hips tightly.

"I gotcha," he chuckled as he picked up his pace, laughing at her wiggling. "Is that betta' now?"

"Shit, that feels good," she moaned in response, the only answer she could give.

Merriel dropped his head to her shoulder, placing a kiss on her through her dress. He was making little gasping grunts. His noises made Genevieve's stomach twist with need. She liked knowing that he was enjoying himself. She still moved though, trying to find purchase with her feet. He pulled out of her and she let out an indignant noise at the loss.

"What did you do that for?"

He wordlessly pulled on her hip, turning her so she faced him. He pushed her back up onto the table just enough that she could say she was sitting down. He was back inside her in seconds. "That more comfortable fo' ya?"

"Much." She wrapped both of her legs around him, squeezing at him with her thighs. She draped her left arm around his neck, pulling him into her. His mouth attacked her neck, kissing her unforgivingly.

She propped up on her right hand, moving her hips in time with his so that with every biting thrust, her body was there to meet his, sending racking waves of pleasure through both of them as she squeezed her walls.

Genny threw her head back. "Oh, Merriel, please don't stop. Oh God, please," she begged him. He nipped at her collar in response. "Yes, just keep goin', fuck yes."

"God, I love listenin' to you when I fuck ya. You got a foul little mouth." Merriel's fingers pinched at the spot between her legs that had her writhing. His other hand held her securely to him as he started pumping harder. He was moving faster than her usual preferred pace but Genevieve didn't care. She was too focused on how good everything felt.

Merriel sat up then, pulling her with him. Then, surprising her further, he stood, lifting her while he remained inside of her.

"What are you doin'." She shuddered, so close to her orgasm.

He held her by her thighs and she supported herself with her arms around him while he spun, stumbling over to the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. He shoved her roughly up against it. Her ankles locked behind him.

"Oh, Jesus," he gasped into her neck. "Shit, I've wanted to pin ya up against a wall since that first time ya lemme fuck ya."

She just moaned into his shoulder before kissing him harshly. "Mere, I'm about to come. Please, harder, oh God, please."

Merriel held her against the wall with his hips shoved into hers. "Yes ma'am," he answered, grabbing both of her hands; he trapped them above her head with one of his and then grabbed her thigh with the other before slamming up into her again.

Genny panted. "Oooooh, Mere, ahhah, keep goin'. Keep goin'."

He dropped his head to her breasts, kissing the pale flesh there, moving up to her collar. He bit down and Genevieve squeezed the body between her legs, tensing up as Merriel drove up into her, hitting a spot inside that made her cry out.

"Shitshitshitshit," she cursed to the kitchen. Her hands balled into fists, nails digging into her palms. Her back arched, pushing her covered chest further into Merriel.

He released her hands and she dropped them so her arms rested on her head. Merriel readjusted his grip as he continued pumping within her. She pulsed around him and he lifted his head to quietly speak directly to her.

"You feel fuckin' fantastic. Shit, I'm gonna miss this. You gonna miss it? You gonna miss me makin' you come like this? Like a dirty little slut?"

Genny's toes curled into Merriel. She moaned. "Yes."

She knew that Mere didn't actually think she was a slut; this was how he talked during sex and it was something she had grown to like. However, she had started crying the first time he had said anything like that to her.

It had only been the third time she had been with him. He had been pounding away at her and it had slipped out.

"You a nasty tramp? Huh?"

She had looked up shocked, eyes streaming, and it had taken almost two full minutes before she was calm enough to explain what was wrong. He had started laughing and then had to explain to her.

"I know ya ain't a tramp. I'm sorry. It's just dirty talk. Shit, I forget ya new ta this. I ain't gotta do it if ya don't want me to. Sorry."

Once she was more experienced, albeit not by much, she liked when he said things like that. It was a little exciting, as though she were pretending to be someone else, someone much more open with her sexual encounters than Genny believed she'd ever be.

"Say it," Merriel now demanded of her while he remained inside her, thrusting, beads of sweat rolling down his face.

"I'm a dirty little slut," she cried out as the waves of pleasure forced their way through her body.

"Yeah, you my little slut," he groaned as a question.

"Yes," she gasped, breathy and worn out as her orgasm dwindled. She dropped her head to his shoulder: her right hand draped down onto his back while her left moved to gather his curls.

She could feel sweat making her dress stick to her back but could do nothing to fix it as Merriel continued moving. After another minute of Genevieve stroking at his body, he finally shuddered, falling forward and pinning her completely, only his hips moving.

He dug his fingers into her skin as he leaned into her. He was shaking by the time he finished.

Panting, he told her, "That was amazin' Genny Rose. You amazin'. Fuck." He raised a hand to twist into her hair, moving her face to his. He kissed her deeply before wiping a fallen strand back from her forehead.

As he slid from between her legs, she groaned, feeling hollow. Merriel stepped away from the wall, still holding her to him.

"Do you, oh God, do you want me to go," Genevieve asked, exhausted.

"Nah, stay. I want ya ta stay," he spoke in between their lips. Still holding her, he moved away from the wall and headed to the living room. He crossed to the couch, at last sitting her down. "Wait right here," he told her, heading to the stairs.

"Where are you goin'," she asked him but he was already at the top of the landing.

She sat back against the cushion and after a moment, raised her fingers, undoing the buttons on her dress, exposing her chest, stomach, and finally the auburn hair at the center of her legs. She lifted her hips and shoved the dress down over them before grabbing the afghan from the back of the couch and covering herself with it.

A minute later, Merriel came back down the stairs, toting with him what had to be all the blankets from the house. He tossed them on the ground under the mantel, between the armchair and coffee table, spreading them out into what looked like a cozy nest of pillows and comforters.

Genny stood up, wrapped in her makeshift garment. "What's this for?"

Merriel shrugged as he turned to her, hands moving to undo his button up shirt. "My bed ain't that big. I wanna have room to move ya around if I gotta."

She blushed at his words. "Jeez, Mere, what did ya plan on doin'," she asked shyly.

He grinned down at her. "Whatever we feel like." His shirt was hanging open. She moved over to push it off of his body, and then leaned in to kiss his tanned chest.

He reached up, tugging her blanket off. He kept his eyes on her face, not allowing himself to stare at any of her newly exposed body. "Way I see it, I ain't gotta be on that train til eight o'clock. That's a whole lotta time ta do whatever comes ta mind," he told her, reaching out, grabbing her by the waist, and pulling her into him.

She shivered as she felt him slowly ghosting up her spine until he found the clasps to her bra. His fingers moved deftly and he was sliding her straps down her arms. She let him, dropping the material off beside her. His hands moved down to her waist and his lips were on hers again.

Genevieve reached up, hands exploring his body, feeling the smooth skin beneath them. She stopped them when they rested high on his sides, fingers gripping him tightly.

Merriel's hands moved as well. He was soon holding her thighs and with ease, he lifted her to him, securing her legs around him. He turned and walked across the living room to where he had dropped the blankets.

Genny moved her lips to his neck, sucking gently as Merriel knelt. When he was on the ground and sitting on his feet, he slid his hands down, squeezing at her bottom.

"You gotta damn fine ass, you know that," he told her. As he squeezed at her, he pulled her down hard over his lap. She shuddered, sensitive to everything going on between her legs.

Her mouth moved to his jaw line, the corner of his smile, and back to his lips. "I wouldn't know. You're the only one lookin' at it," she told him.

He chuckled. "That ain't true. You might not see it, but I know there's otha' guys looking at ya."

"Yeah, right." She ran her hands up to his hair. Merriel spoke into the crook of her neck.

"You the prettiest thang in this whole damn city."

Genevieve bit her lip, hiding a smile. She pulled back on him, headed for the pillows. He complied, reclining them back and catching himself on an arm.

"God damn, you so fuckin' gorgeous, my little Genny Rose," he told her.

She stretched beneath him and let her hands drop on his back. "I wanna do it again."

He had a small smile playing on his face. "Yes ma'am." Situated between her legs, he sat up over her and put her hands on the pillows above her head. "Don't move," he commanded.

She cocked her head, raising an eyebrow at him. "And why not?"

"Because I said so," he replied with a chuckle. He leaned down and started kissing across her throat. His hands massaged at her thighs, sliding along them as he slowly worked down her body.

He was careful as he moved further south, not missing any of her while he went; ghosting over her collar, down to the valley between her breasts, over both of her stiffened nipples, from one side to the other across her stomach. As he moved, his hands did as well, travelling over both of her knees to rest on her calves and massage at the muscles she didn't even know were aching.

When his lips finally found her thighs, he placed kisses on both. With a burning slowness, he lowered his mouth to her center once more. He swiped his tongue harshly over her clit once, pausing before he did it again. He continued in this manner until Genevieve let out a frustrated groan.

"Mere, please," she begged.

"I want you ta want it first," he told her with a chuckle as he did a double pass over her skin, running from the bottom of her folds to the top.

"I want it, I promise," she told him while she tried to push her hips up to him.

Splaying his fingers over her waist for a wider grip, he pushed her back down to the blanket and continued with his slow burning kiss.

"Not bad enough," he replied.

She groaned a second time but lay still beneath him, her arms still outstretched. She took a deep breath in, releasing it slowly, allowing her eyes to close. She focused on his mouth, on her body, on what she was feeling between her legs. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep her sounds to herself, taking it in as he finally added more of his strokes to his passes, although he still kept the same slow pace.

After several minutes of his gentle torture, she was writhing. "Oooh, Jesus, please Merriel, please," she whimpered.

She could hear the smile in his voice as he answered her. "I guess, you sound ready." Finally, he began licking at her apex with more enthusiasm and speed and Genevieve let out a sigh of relief.

Merriel pulled her legs over his shoulders and her ankles crossed behind him. Her lower half was lifted each time he pushed his face forward into her.

"Yes," she whimpered, over and over. "Yes, yes, yes." It was a mantra, a prayer, the only thing that mattered. She was already so close, starting out halfway there from her previous orgasm.

Her legs strained, heels pulling him closer to her as she gasped for breath. Without warning, two fingers were curling inside her, pumping back and forth. Merriel's tongue worked over her folds and her sensitive bud and before she could say it, she was shuddering out her release once more, walls contracting around his digits as she came again, loudly moaning his name.

"Fuuuck, Mere," she panted, fingers twisting in his hair to keep him pressed against her.

She heard him chuckle and when she had ridden the wave of her high to a blissful rest, he sat up, pulling his hand from between her thighs.

Genevieve was breathing heavily as he licked his fingers clean. "I know I done said it, but you fuckin' incredible, Genny Rose."

She blushed. "Believe me, it was all you."

He smiled mischievously. "Well, I do what I can." He moved so that he was beside her and laid down along the length of the blankets. "You moved yo' hands."

When he was gone, she closed her legs and she could feel the result of his licking and touching. She shuddered at her sensitivity.

She looked over at him. "Only after. That doesn't count."

He shook his head. "I think it does."

She peeked sheepishly through her lashes. "What are ya gonna do? Punish me?"

Merriel's tongue darted out to wet his lips. "Maybe. Might have to whoop ya, just once or twice."

Genny shivered at the thought. "I'd like ta see you try."

He rolled over so that he was facing her, propped up on one hand. "Jus' wait. Imma get you when ya forget about it." He ran a hand along her side, fingers teasing the soft flesh of her hips and waist. "I think I need some sleep though."

She stretched out, feeling the pull of her stiff muscles as she did so. "I could sleep too. I just-." She faltered.

"What? What's the matta'?"

"It's just, I don't wanna waste any time sleepin' with you leavin' so soon."

The corner of Mere's mouth pulled up and ran a finger the entire length of her side. "You ain't gotta worry 'bout it. I gotta go, but jus' you bein' here is nice. I got ta say goodbye to all a' y'all, even if you the only one I told goodbye like this," he answered with a teasing wink.

She smiled a little at his sentiment.

"'Sides, I'm sure we can wake up before the night's ov'a with 'nd we can go a few more rounds." He waggled his eyebrows at her, making her shake her head but the smile remained.

She rubbed her hands together, realizing that her nakedness had sapped all the heat from her. "I'm cold."

"A'right, gimme a minute," he told her as he made himself sit up and he stretched. He moved over to the mantel and started working at the logs in the fireplace with a match from the shelf.

Genevieve stood up, moving to the stairs, taking the afghan with her. "I'll be right back," she assured him as she went. Two steps forward though and she paused. She stooped and picked up his button up shirt, letting the blanket fall.

She worked her arms into it and then buttoned it up to the last two buttons, the ones that pulled oddly across her chest. Breasts clearly hadn't been in mind when it had been made.

She went into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was not as neat as it had been when she left the house. She smoothed out the areas where stray strands were sticking out. Unable to fix it, she flipped her head over, ruffled her roots, and flipped it all back again.

Mascara was smudged under her eyes so she turned on the faucet and wiped most of it off, leaving her face almost totally plain.

She then moved to the toilet and after finishing her business, went back to the living room. Genny saw fire in the grate and Merriel was dropping kindling strategically around the logs to keep it burning.

She moved into the kitchen, locking the back door and flipping the light off. When she reentered the living room once more, he was pulling a blanket back for them to lie under.

He paused when he saw her, eyeing her strangely.

"What," she asked him, very aware of her body.

He nodded at her. "My shirt."

Her fingers gripped at the cuffs that hid her hands. The sleeves were far too long.

"It was on the floor. I thought it'd be ok," she explained shyly, looking down at herself.

He stood up and walked over to her. "It's very much ok. Jesus, you look amazing in my clothes."

She blushed. "What?"

"Yeah. You look damn good in my shirt." He dipped his head to press his lips to hers. His hands squeezed her bottom, pulling her into him. She was surprised to feel he was hardening once more. "Damn, Genny Rose, I'm gonna fuckin' miss this."

She was secretly elated that even without her makeup, even with her hair shot to hell, he still found her beautiful. Genevieve reached up, pushing Merriel backwards, and then down when they were standing on the blankets.

They knelt, clumsily trying not the break the kiss. Once on the ground, Merriel directed her to the pillows and moved between her legs.

"Maybe one more time before we fall asleep," he suggested.

She bit back her smile, nodding eagerly at him.

As quickly as he could line himself up with her entrance in the light from the fire, he was buried inside her. She was still soaked from her previous orgasm and he slipped in without difficulty.

She moaned as his hips slammed into hers. "Merriel." Her eyes closed at the feeling. It was one of the few times she hadn't called him Mere.

Without waiting, he started pumping into her. "I love when you say my name," he groaned, fingertips squeezing at her waist.

"Oh, God, Merriel, Merriel, Merriel," she gasped, not wanting him to stop. He smiled, tongue running along his teeth.

"You wanna make me come? 'Cause you sho' 'bout to." He panted his words out.

She raised her legs, pulling at him. He complied without further prompting and when he was within reach, she wrapped her arms around him, her hands resting on his upper back, nails digging in as she moved in time with him.

With every thrust, their sweat slicked bodies moved together. "Oh, please, just fuck me, Merriel. Fuck me harder." If this was what he needed before he left, she didn't have a problem using his name, begging if he wanted.

"Shit," he spat out, moving a hand to her crest and circling two fingers over her clit.

Her thighs clenched at him as she inhaled sharply. "Jesus." She closed her eyes but he spoke.

"Nah, lemme see ya." She opened them again and he was staring at her as though he was trying to memorize every single speck of blue and grey in them.

She knew she had to look desperate, could feel the need on her face. "Keep goin'," she pleaded. She moved her hands to the short bristly hairs at the nape of his neck and pulled his face to hers.

Merriel pushed his tongue into her mouth and brought both of his hands to her wrists. He held them delicately as he pinned them to the pillow on either side of her head. She could feel his shirt, loose on her small frame, scrubbing over her arms each time his thrusts moved her body.

"This ok," he asked.

"It's good, I like it," she told him.

She couldn't explain it but she really did like him holding her hands down. She was relinquishing power to him but she knew he was using it to make her feel incredible. Her toes curled into the blanket beneath her.

"I'm almost there, just a little more," she informed him breathily. He started trying to break her with his thrusts and she couldn't take it.

His pace picked up as she moaned, head lolling to the side while her systems were overcome with her third orgasm of the evening.

Her body contracted and Merriel could feel the strength of each spasm as she strained against him.

"That's it, that feels good, right," he cooed into her ear.

She felt a sob build in her throat as her walls tightened around him. "Yes, oh, oh my God, yes," she whimpered. She felt dizzy, her head swimming from her shallow breaths.

She eyed him, a hazy look painting her features in her euphoria. "Are you gonna come Mere? I wanna feel it. Come on Mere, just do it," she coaxed.

Her pleading did the trick. She lost her breath momentarily as his arms gave out with his release.

"Genny, Genny Rose, fuck, Genny Rose," he murmured to her frantically, eyes clenched tightly as he finished thrusting. When he was done, he pushed himself up only long enough to pull out of her and move to the side before he collapsed on his back with exhaustion.

He draped an arm over his eyes and rested his free hand on his chest. His breathing was labored, as though he had just run a race.

Genevieve wasn't in much better shape. As she tried to roll over to her side, she realized she couldn't feel her legs. She was breathing quickly, trying to keep air moving through her lungs. She couldn't tell if it was working or not.

She reached up, wiping away the tears that had escaped her eyes as she had experienced a sensory overload. She also wiped at the sweat that had formed on her face with her exertion.

"Holy. Fuckin'. Shit," she heard from beside her. She turned her head to see Merriel with curls matted to his forehead as well as sticking up in different directions from the top of his head.

"So ya liked your gift, then," she asked.

He let out a chuckle. "It was the best damn part a ta'night." He looked over to her and said, "You somethin' special, Gen."

She smiled shyly and reached a hand out to him. He grabbed her and with a groan he helped pull her up onto her side, resting right up next to his own. He didn't release her when he was done.

She watched as he brought each fingertip to his lips in an uncharacteristically gentle gesture.

"I mean it, Genevieve," he told her. "You damn amazin'. You need ta know that. Ya hear me," he told her earnestly.

She nodded at his seriousness. "I do. I hear ya, I promise," she replied.

He released her and moved his now free hand to her hip as he rolled slightly, slipping it down to the back of her thigh. He gripped her and pulled her so she had one leg hitched over his waist and lay back down. His fingers danced gently over the soft skin there, tracing patterns back and forth along its length.

Genny sighed in contentment and then she moved so that she rested closer to him, one arm tucked under her head. She grabbed the blanket and pulled it up over them and then rested her top hand on his shoulder. Her thumb traced a soft line back and forth over his warm body until she was consumed by her fatigue.

The rest of their night was passed in various periods of sleeping and sex. At one point in the evening, she woke up with Merriel's erection pressing into her belly. She rolled her hips, moving against him and as he woke up, looking around blearily, he smiled before slipping into her wet warmth. She had buried her face in his chest, kissing his tan flesh and letting his body absorb her whimpers and moans.

They shifted as they slept in the dying light of the fire and when she woke up with her back pressed into his torso, he was caressing her waist delicately. She had taken his hand and moved it between her thighs, and he had stroked her until she was soaked. He then tucked her leg up over his own and had pushed forward until he was hitting her from a new angle that had her crying out.

Genny had reached back, fingers finding his curls with ease to keep him against her. Merriel had started moaning about how good she felt and how he wished he had told her before now. He had also started whispering in the Creole French he had learned from his parents, something she had found incredibly sexy the first time he had done it. She didn't know what he was saying but as he moved his hands deftly over her body, she didn't care and she came within minutes.

He got up and left their nest of tangled sheets for a minute when he thought she was asleep but his movement had made her restless and she soon woke up again. She had reached out, confused, trying to find him in the dark, unfamiliar setting before her.

"Merriel," she called into the blackness before her, reaching out with both hands, panic bubbling up as she worried in her sleep addled mind that he had left already. "Merriel?"

"I'm here," he had replied almost instantly, taking her hand. She jumped but as she realized it was him and he was still there, she settled, wondering how he had found her so easily. She asked him as much.

He chuckled. "I was raised in this house, Genevieve. It ain't changed since I was a kid. I know where things are at. I knew where to look for ya. And I'll always find ya, I promise."

"Where'd ya go?"

Merriel placed something made of cold, heavy metal into her hands. "Needed an alarm clock. It ain't gonna be too good if I miss my train."

"What time is it," she asked him, afraid of the answer.

"'Bout 3 o'clock. Gotta be up at 7, at the station by 7:30 for my check-in."

"Oh." It was four hours. A lot of time, but not nearly enough. She set his clock aside and wrapped her arms around herself in her sorrow.

"Are ya cold," he asked her.

"Just a little," she lied.

He moved over to the fireplace and in minutes, a new fire sprang up from the embers of the old one.

Genevieve's eyes adjusted in the brightness and she looked to Merriel. He had slid his boxers up his lean legs, retrieving them from the kitchen at some point.

"Oh my God," she exclaimed, coming over to him.

"What? What is it?"

In the light from the fire, she could see him clearly, and saw all the marks that had been left on his body. She raised a hand and ran it lightly over the angry looking bruise that had formed on his collar bones.

"Ya look like ya got in a fight," she explained. He had multiple hickeys peppering his torso. He had small impressions on him where she had grabbed his hips when she had first given him his 'gift'. As she moved around behind him, she saw that his back was covered with claw marks intersecting each other.

Merriel looked down, examining his body. "Damn, Genny, you like gettin' rough, don'tcha?"

She blushed scarlet. "I'm sorry. I guess I just got a little carried away."

He laughed. "That's a'right. I like it when ya get all carried away." He nodded at her. "'Sides, you should see ya'self."

Genny glanced down, taking in her appearance. "What, I don't see anything wrong."

He moved his hands up, undoing the buttons to his shirt that Genevieve had fallen asleep in. He tugged it down off of her body and pulled her so that she was facing the fire directly.

"Look right there," he told her, pointing to her thighs.

She leaned down to look and sure enough, the inside of her legs were covered in love bites. Her nipples were swollen and the normally pale flesh of her breasts was tattooed in little bruises, some of them already a violent shade of blue. She could see the deep burgundy that was his handprint on her waist and hips. At the times his hands had been there, she couldn't recall him being overly forceful. They had both been so caught up in everything that was happening that even the pain felt good.

She looked down at her wrists and saw the marks of his long fingers wrapped around them. "Well, there is no covering that up," she said as she twisted her arms to get a better look.

"Sorry," he told her, pulling her down to his lap.

She curled into his body, tucking her head in just beneath his chin and sighed happily. "It's ok. I just gotta wear long sleeves for a while. Maybe put some makeup on 'em." She wrapped her arms around his torso. She could feel his heart thumping through his chest.

"Are you scared," she asked him quietly after several minutes of him holding her, stroking his fingers gently along her back.

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he thought over her question. "Nah. Not really. Not afraid of dyin', anyways."

She pulled back to look at him. "What are you scared of?"

"Honestly, I'm more afraid of not comin' home, if that makes sense."

Genevieve still looked confused. "I'm sorry, I don't…"

"Look at it like this. I'm not afraid of gettin' hurt. That ain't gonna bother me, pain is pain. Everybody's gotta hurt some time or another. But not comin' back here. Never seein' any a' my friends, never seein' the city again, that's what I'm afraid of."

"Oh," she said softly.

He ran a finger up her spine. She shivered into him. "I know I said it already, but I really am sorry I didn't tell ya sooner. 'Nd not jus' cause a' this. Shoulda told ya the same time as everyone else. You my friend first, regardless a' if we fuckin' or not."

That was about the closest thing to opening up Genevieve had ever heard from Merriel. She had a small smile. "Thank you. An' I really shouldn'ta acted like such a brat. It was your decision to make and I can't be made at you over your choices. It's your life an' you gotta do what's best for you. I get that."

Merriel had a strange look on his face, like he wanted to say something but he couldn't. Instead, he took her face in his hands and just said, "Thank you," before bringing his lips down on hers.

He was gentle this time, slow going, but there was an underlying desperation to the way that he held her so close. His hands were everywhere and nowhere, not settling, constantly moving to new places on her body and before she knew it, he was standing once more. He released her only long enough to drop his shorts, sit down, and lean back against the arm chair that was at the head of their blankets.

When he pulled her down, he kept her straddling him. She could feel his dick hardening and straining up into her folds. She slowly moved her hips, rocking over it and reveling in the feeling of his smooth skin sliding over her swollen clit.

"Lift up," he commanded from below her, his speech muffled as he tried not to break away from her lips.

She did as was asked and hovered above him on her knees. He pulled her hand to his member and made her grasp it. Without his prompting, she slowly slid her fingers over his length, moving back and forth until he was fully hardened once more.

"Ya gotta move, move it how ya need to and relax," he instructed as he carefully helped Genevieve guide him to her entrance.

"It's not gonna hurt," she asked, finally breaking away from him and looking down between their bodies.

"Nah. Don't go further than you can and it'll be fine."

"I meant for you. Am I gonna be… I don't know, crushing it?"

He laughed, but reigned it in at her look. "Nah, it'll be fine."

Hesitantly, she lowered herself onto him, not letting go of him until he was completely sheathed inside of her.

"Ahhah," she moaned, being on top of his body a new sensation for her. She rested her hands on his chest and he reached out, holding her easily by the small of her back.

She could feel him pushing at her furthest boundary as she rested above him. She shuddered out a breath before she lifted herself up carefully.

"Easy, go slow," he advised while watching his member slowly being exposed. His hands rose with her, holding her.

She was comforted by his embrace and as she moved up, she clenched around him. Merriel let out a pleased hum.

She sank carefully back to him and he smiled. "You can move a little fast'a than that if ya wanna."

"I'm goin' to, I just ain't yet." She averted her eyes. "I don't wanna hurt ya," she trailed off. She felt heat creeping up her neck as he chuckled. "It ain't funny."

"It kinda is. Genny, ya seen how rough I am with ya. Why would this hurt me?"

"I don't know, it's just different. Cause it's my weight comin' down on you, not the other way around."

"Raise up," he commanded, hands guiding her hips. She did as he said and waited. With a surprising force, he brought her down on him, her bottom slapping against his legs as she landed.

She cried out as he was slammed into her in a way so similar yet so different. Her fingers flexed, and she dropped her head forward onto his shoulders. "Oh, God," she whimpered.

Merriel panted at the sensation. "You tellin' me," he groaned. "Do it again."

Genevieve skeptically rose and then dropped to him. As she was filled again, she looked at Merriel. His eyes were closed and his head was resting against the chair behind him.

Taking that as a good sign, she continued her motion, gradually gaining courage and moving with more vigor. She kept an eye on Merriel's face, watching for any indicators that she was doing something wrong. However, he appeared to be in a state of total bliss.

Bracing herself on his shoulders, she began pulling her hips forward in a rolling motion, gaining more momentum as she did. She was quickly getting adjusted to being above him and the way that he filled her in a manner she wasn't used to.

"Oh, shit, Merriel," she breathed out, her hands sliding up his body to take hold of his hair. He lifted his head up, looking at her as he slid his hands around her hips and down until he was squeezing at her bottom.

"Fuck, I can't get enough a' this ass," he told her before leaning forward and taking on of her nipples into his mouth.

Genevieve continued rocking against his lap. She leaned forward, resting her head on top of his as she moved. Merriel moved one of his hands up at a creeping pace, fingers gently setting fire to her skin as he touched her, until he had an arm wrapped around her lower back, keeping her pressed to him as though he were afraid to let her go.

He broke away from her nipple and kissed up her chest until he was sucking harshly on the already red and bruised flesh of her neck. As she was lifting her body, he pulled her down to her while he thrust upwards.

"Fuck," she gasped. She looked down at him. "Again, please," she begged, allowing him to take control from his position beneath her.

He grinned up at her. "Sit down here," he told her, centering her above his lap.

Merriel lifted his hips with a surprising amount of force, slamming into her. Genevieve dropped her head back, taken over by the feeling. He wasted no time, thrusting quickly, pulling her hips down to him in short jerking motions.

"Jesus Christ, don't stop, please," she pled, moving in time with his motions. He released his hold on her ass and skimmed his fingers upward over newly sweat dampened skin. He grabbed a handful of her hair, directing her face back to his. He reveled in the desperate look of desire in her eyes.

"Say my name," he told her heavily, leaning in and attacking her throat.

Her fingers curled into tight fists, bringing him impossibly closer. "Merriel, oh, Mere, please, fuck me, just like that, oh, Christ, yes, just like that Merriel." Her moans were sinful and frenzied as she moved on his lap, rocking her hips into him. Each time she moved, he was pulled into the softness of her breasts.

He let his head drop away from her in ecstasy as she rode him, listening to her whimpers and pleas while he groaned his own delight from below her.

Above, much too soon for her liking, Genevieve felt her body preparing for another orgasm. She clenched her walls around Merriel and she cried out, letting her lips fall to his neck. "Oh, God, so good," she muttered, shivers racking through her. "Oh, Merriel, oh, Christ, amazing."

Her praise sent him spiraling. Listening to the desperate desire in her voice, he forced several more thrusts, much harder than before until finally he released, his body shaking as well. His hands moved to her back, squeezing her to him as he came, soothing the small body above him.

When they had both finished, Genevieve lifted her head and sat up above him. Her breaths were deep and labored, her eyes were hooded, and her lips were swollen and pink. Merriel ran his hands through her sweat dampened hair and pulled her closer, kissing her for the hundredth time that evening.

He broke the kiss to lay her back onto the blankets and then wrapped the comforter and his arms around her as she buried her face in his chest. "You're fucking amazing, Genny, holy fuck."

Genevieve had no words for what she was feeling. She was overwhelmed by physical and emotional sensation. Eventually, it was emotions that won out.

She tried to keep calm, but she couldn't. She kept picturing Merriel on some far-off island, lying bloodied and dying, shot up to hell or stabbed or starving or hurt and she couldn't take it. All she could picture was him hurt and not coming home. Tears started leaking out of the corners of her eyes and she couldn't hide the sniffle that she produced.

Still dazed from his post orgasm stupor, Merriel looked down surprised. "Whoa, hey, what's wrong? You alright?"

She shook her head. "No, no I'm not all right. Merriel, I'm so afraid for you. I'm afraid you're not gonna make it back." She hiccupped a sob and wiped at her eyes. "It's not fair. There are plenty of other guys, why do you have to go?"

Genny hadn't cried like this in front of Merriel since her mother had died. Merriel was a little taken aback, but he regained his senses and pulled her more securely to him, giving her a kiss on the top of the head. "My little Genny Rose, I know, hey, you can't be upset. It ain't right that I stay here when other folks are going over and dying. I can't just let them risk their lives so I can sit pretty here in New Orleans. I'm not gonna die over there, Gen, I won't. I'm gonna be back here teasin' you in no time at all."

With blood shot red streaking through her big blue eyes, she looked up at Merriel, hand on his chest. Her lip trembled and she took a deep steadying breath, confessing what she had been afraid to confirm even to herself. "I think I love you, Merriel."

He was silent for a moment, absorbing her words. She was afraid that she had ruined things but before she could over think it, Merriel was directing her lips to his.

This kiss was different than the rest they had shared that evening; some had been lusty and full of desire, some were delicate, some were desperate, but this was different, better.

His lips softly touched her own, moving unhurriedly, like they had all the time in the world. His thumbs stroked her cheeks, wiping tear trails away as his tongue teased her bottom lip. He wasn't worried about anything in that moment as he kissed Genevieve, telling her everything he didn't know how to put into words.

He rolled them slowly, hovering over her. A hand worked its way down to the small of her back and pulled her against him, but it wasn't a sexual thought he had. He wanted her as close as she could be to him as he told her all of his secret feelings for her.

Genny played with the curls at the nape of his neck gently as he deepened the kiss with her permission. Her toes curled and heat flooded her body. She forgot how to breathe as they lay there.

When Merriel finally pulled away, Genevieve was panting, spots popping in her vision as she tried to focus on the man in front of her. He stroked at her face, pushing her hair back and taking in every detail of her. He maintained eye contact as he nodded down at her. "I know I love you, Genny Rose."

When Genevieve woke up, she peered groggily around her. The living room was beginning to lighten. Merriel was wrapped around her looking peaceful and happy. She pushed her foot out from under their blanket and quickly pulled it back, deciding that it was too cold to risk.

She looked around searching for Merriel's alarm clock. It was behind him, so she carefully reached over, holding it close to her face. 6:47. She sighed heavily and rolled over, holding the clock close to her chest. Merriel felt her movement and stirred. His arm around her waist tightened, keeping her close to his warmth.

"Wha' time'sit," he questioned sleepily.

"'Bout ten til seven," she replied softly.

"Mmm," was his only acknowledgment as he nuzzled his face into Genny's neck. His breath tickled her skin as it moved over her.

"I gotta go soon."

"No," he groaned. "Jus' stay here."

She chuckled. "You gotta get goin' soon too." She lifted his hand to her lips, giving it a light kiss. "We both gotta go…" She let her eyes drift close in contentment.

"Just wait til seven. Then we'll get up. Promise."

Too comfortable to argue, she nodded. She sat in Merriel's embrace, listening to his breathing and the ticking of the alarm clock as the minutes ticked away, felt the thumping of his heart in his chest.

Leaning in after a few minutes to kiss her on the neck, he peaked at the clock and groaned, stretching. "It's about to go off."

"I know," she answered softly. "You want me to come see ya down at the train?"

He shrugged against her. "Nah, you don't have to. I'll be fine on my own."

A little put out, she nodded. "Yeah, ok."

They waited in loaded silence. Eventually, the ringing went off shrilly, shattering the warm fantasy they were in. Merriel released her and the spell was broken. She dropped a hand on the clock and stopped the noise.

They both moved slowly, gathering their wits. Merriel pulled his boxers on and then spoke. "Hold on a second." He grabbed her bra and tossed it at her and then moved to the sofa.

He stood up holding her dress. It was odd to see him carrying something so delicate and soft when he was one of the roughest people she knew. He held it out to her as she hooked her bra back on.

"Thanks." She slipped it on and started doing the buttons up. Merriel stepped up and placed his hands over her own. His fingers proved to be just as good at fastening buttons as undoing them.

As he fastened the button on her collar, he ran his fingers over her neck, teasing her exposed flesh. "We gotta get you home before yo' daddy wakes up."

"It's Sunday. He sleeps in and doesn't bother me 'til at least 8:30."

"Well, if you let me get dressed, I'll walk ya home."

"Oh, you don't have to do that."

He shook his head. "It's no problem. I want to."

"O-oh, ok," she replied. She wasn't sure if he really wanted to take her home or if he was only trying to be nice in light of her confession the night before. All the same, she waited for him to dress and come downstairs. He came back carrying a big green duffle bag. "Ready," he told her.

She had grabbed her shoes while she waited and she slipped them on now. Merriel went through and turned all of his lights off, locked the back door, and headed out front.

They walked in silence for most of the way, Genevieve deep in thought of how she was going to get past her father. As they reached her end of the block, Merriel stopped, staring down at Genevieve intently.

"Look Genny Rose, it meant a lot ta me, you comin' over last night. Not just fo' the sex either." He smirked. "Not that that wasn't an amazing plus."

She shyly looked away. "Yeah, no problem." She stared at her house. "Did you mean it?"

She didn't have to explain. He knew exactly what she was talking about. He nodded with a shrug. "Yeah, guess so. Didn't wanna say it though. Not before I left."

She gave him a curious stare. "Why not?"

He inhaled, looking over the top of her head. "Just didn't wanna say it 'nd then, God forbid, not make it home. Jus' didn't wanna do that to ya."

She bit her lip. Here he was about to go across the world to fight some unknown enemy, and he was worried about protecting her. She didn't know what to say for a few moments. Finally, she looked back at him, tilting her head.

"I'm glad ya did."

He gave a half smile before surprising her by leaning in and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. He then shoved his hands in his pockets and looked over his shoulder at her house. Blushing, Genevieve had to fight a grin.

"You should go ahead and go on in," he told her.

She nodded down at the ground. "Ok." They walked up to her window, which was still open from the night before. She slipped her shoes off as Merriel dropped his rucksack and laced his fingers before he ducked down.

He took one of her dainty feet in hand and stood up, boosting her to the window. As she moved to scramble into her room quietly, she felt his fingers ghosting up to her thighs. She bit back a yelp and slapped at his hands, making him chuckle.

After making her way in with almost no noise, she turned, peering down at him.

"So, I guess, uh, we should go ahead and say good-."

"Nah," he cut in. "Don't do that. Just, thanks for last night. I gotta go." He held her shoes out to her, searching for prying eyes around her yard. He grabbed his bag once more and turned to go.

"Yeah, no problem." She watched him take a couple steps before she quietly called to him. "Hey, Mere?"

He turned back to face her. "Yeah, Genevieve."

She didn't know what to say since he wouldn't let her say good-bye. "Please, just be careful. Don't do anything stupid trying to be a hero."

He smirked once more. "Genny Rose, I'm not the hero. Never have been." And with that, he turned, carefully sneaking out of her yard and down the road.

When he was gone from sight, Genny moved to her mirror, turning her light on. She worked a brush through her messy hair, taming it into a gleaming sheet that she tied back with a ribbon.

She reapplied her makeup, working to cover to numerous spots that now peppered her neck and chest. Deciding it was a bit of a lost cause, she changed into a higher necked dress with a little white cardigan. It covered her bruised red wrists and all the hickies she couldn't conceal with makeup. Finally, she slipped on a pair of high heeled shoes and made her way to the kitchen.

David was already awake, drinking coffee and reading the paper over his thick rimmed reading glasses. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked tired. He had fried some bacon and eggs and there was a dirty plate sitting beside the sink. She grabbed a piece of bacon, famished.

"Mornin' Daddy," she said through a mouthful of food.

"Good mornin', Genevieve." His tone was pleasant enough, but not as gentle playful as it usually was.

"What's wrong with you Grumpy Gus?"

He peered at her over the rim of his glasses. "Long night."

She faltered in pouring a glass of orange juice. "Oh? Couldn't sleep," she questioned, trying to sound normal.

"Nope. Not hardly a wink." He turned a page in his paper.

"Maybe you should try a new pillow. That keeps me awake sometimes."

"Is that right?" His eyes scanned the fine black print.

"Yes, sir." She turned away from him, grabbing another slice of bacon.

"So, where were you?"

Genny froze. "Uh, um. Sir?"

"Where were you? Last night I mean."

"I was here, Daddy, what do you mean?"

"No," he said casually, shaking his head, never once dropping his news section. "I went in there last night to check on ya. It had gotten a little cold and I knew you went to sleep with your window open. And wouldn't you know it, your bed was empty."

She picked at her thumb nail. "I, um." What could she say? "I'm sorry, Daddy. I was upset about last night, so I went over to Stella's to spend the night there."

"Really?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, funny enough, I thought that might've been where ya went. So I called Stella's momma this mornin'. Ya know what she said?"

She had a pretty good idea. "No, sir," she replied quietly.

"Said what a shame it was that they missed you at the party last night. Hated that you didn't wanna come be part of Merriel's send off."

Genevieve didn't know what to do. She could say that Stella had snuck her in after the fact, but she hadn't talked to her friend to fill her in on the lie. It was something her father could easily check before she had a chance to speak to Stella.

"So, you weren't here, and you weren't with Stella. Where were you?"

She was silent.

"Genevieve Rose LeRoux Du Champ. I asked you a question an' I want an answer. Now," he added severely. He finally sat his newspaper down, folding it neatly, revealing what was hidden behind it.

She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat at the sight of his belt sitting on the scuffed surface of their old table. "I. I uh," she stammered. She didn't know what else to do. "I was at Merriel's house," she confessed heavily.

"You're tellin' me that you, a 16-year-old girl, spent the night, unsupervised at the house of a 19-year-old boy last night?"

"Well, I'm almost 17, Daddy, barely even 16 anymore. And nothing, nothing happened. Honest."

He stood up. "Genevieve, you know that I do not allow lies in this house. And sneaking out to see some boy, regardless of is something happened or not will not be tolerated. I am very disappointed." He pointed to the counter. "Hands."

Her heart sunk. "Daddy, please, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it, I won't never do it again, I swear."

"Genny, don't make this harder than it needs to be. Hands."

Feeling her lip tremble, she turned to the counter top, placing her hands on it and gripping the edge as she bent over. She heard David moving behind her, heard the clink of his belt buckle.

In a second, her bottom was on fire. The belt whipped through the air to land on her behind with a resounding THWACK!

Genevieve bit her lip to hold in her cry of pain.

THWACK!

She felt hot, angry tears building up in her eyes and tried her hardest not to let them fall.

THWACK!

David raised the belt and brought it down on his daughter's backside one last time and then dropped the belt on the table. "One for each lie you told, and one for good measure."

Genny turned back, face red. She thought of all she had told her father, and realized that he knew she was lying about nothing happening at Merriel's house. She looked up at the clock. 7:42. Merriel's train was set to leave in 18 minutes. She wondered if he had been late checking in.

As she stood there in the kitchen, fuming, she made up her mind. "I'm going down to the train station."

David looked at her in disbelief. "No hell you are not. You are grounded."

"Daddy, Merriel's leaving. He might die. And I know that you're mad at me, and you have every right to be, but I'm goin' because I love him and I need to say good-bye. I'll take my punishment. I'll take another whoopin' if you say I need it, but please, don't try and stop me because I'm goin' down there."

David looked stunned at her announcement, stunned to silence.

She moved to the door. "Genevieve, wait."

"Daddy, I can't, he's leaving any minute. I'm sorry."

"Genevieve," he said more sternly, moving towards the coat rack. "I'll drive you. You're never gonna make it on foot." He fished his keys out of his jacket pocket and moved to her. "Don't you ever do anything like what you pulled last night again, understood?"

Dumbfounded by her father's actions, she nodded at him. "Yes, sir."

They loaded in the truck and were on the road to the train station, Genevieve bouncing the whole way. It stung to sit down, but she knew that David's offer of a ride would be one of those once a lifetime moments of understanding between the two of them, and she wasn't going to refuse.

He spoke when they were about halfway there. "Your momma did the same thing with me. Your grandpa couldn't stand me."

She absorbed this quietly. "And he was wrong," she eventually said.

David nodded. "Yeah, I think he was."

Five minutes later pulled into the parking lot and had barely stopped when Genevieve bounded out. "Go on," David called. "I'll wait here."

She took off running to the platform, spotting a giant clock at the entrance. 7:59. Panicked, she pushed her way through the few groups of people standing around.

She saw a man in a green uniform and ran up to him panting. "Excuse me sir, I'm looking for a Merriel Shelton. Have you seen him?"

The man shook his head. "No, sorry darlin'."

She looked crestfallen. He took pity and pointed up ahead. "There's a group of Marines waiting to board just up there. He might be with them."

"Thank you, thank you," she called as she moved in that direction. There were several whistles as she came flying by groups of men in uniforms and families seeing sons and brothers off. She finally came to a large group of people, all of them standing about in matching green clothing, some bored, some cutting up, and none of them Merriel.

Genny grabbed one on the arm. He turned. "Excuse me," she said, out of breath. "Have you," she started. "Oh, Lord, have you seen Merriel Shelton? He's supposed to be on a train right now."

The man, about her age, grinned down at her, clearly amused by her current state. "Uh, not sure sweetheart." He cupped his hands and shouted over the group. "HEY, LOOKIN' FO' A MERRIEL SHELTON." It seemed like everyone in the crowd turned to look at them. Genny blushed, shrinking a little behind the man with her.

There was a call of 'Shelton' over and over until in answer until someone finally called back from a distance. "Whatcha need him for?"

The Marine next to her appraised her for a second and turned back, calling with all eyes on them. "GOT A REAL FINE LITTLE RED HEAD HERE WHO'S LOOKIN' FOR HIM." He lowered his voice. "What's ya name?"

"Genny. Genny Rose."

"SAYS HA' NAME'S GENNY ROSE. RING ANY BELLS?"

There were murmurs throughout the group. A few eyed her and gave her winks, while some turned to look at the ones behind them. Suddenly, she saw a shifting in the heads of the crowd, moving her direction.

She could have cried when she saw Merriel step out in his uniform, cover on his head and a confused look on his face.

"Mere," she breathed.

"Genny, whatcha doin' here?"

"Look," she panted, "I know you said that you'd be fine if I didn't come up here, but I wouldn't be." She noticed that the men were staring at her once more. "Can we talk for a second?"

He didn't answer, but he did follow as she backed up, trying to give them some privacy to speak. When they were out of earshot of his comrades, she spoke again. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to pester you and I know you didn't want me to say good-bye, so I won't, but I had to talk to ya. I wanted to tell ya that ya better come home."

"Genny, I'm gonna be careful, I promise."

"No," she insisted, face heating as she felt her eyes sting. "That's not enough. You gotta promise you're gonna come home."

He spoke carefully. "Look, I'll try, but listen Genny Rose, I can't guarantee anythin'-."

"NO!" She lowered her voice, taking a deep breath. "No. You promise me, right now, that you're gonna come back home. That this isn't the last time I'm gonna see ya. You told me ya loved me last night, and I know ya didn't wanna say it because of this right here, but if you really do, you'll come home. And I know that's a lot of pressure, but I don't care for once. I'm gonna be selfish." Wet streaks lined her face. "Please, Mere."

He looked torn, but he eventually spoke. "I promise ya, Genevieve Rose LeRoux Du Champ, I'm gonna come back home. Even if ya don't love me anymore, I'm gonna come home. For you. I'm coming back," he assured her.

Pulling her into a warm embrace, he placed a quick kiss on top of her head and she stepped back.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry, I know that we're not together together, that we just hook up, but I don't think I would make it if I thought you weren't comin' back." She peeked around him at the other men waiting on the platform. "I was scared I had missed you. Why are y'all still here?"

He shrugged. "No idea. Some sorta mix up. Train was supposed ta be goin' one place but I guess it's goin' another and now we gotta wait til they figure out what the fuck they're gonna do."

"Well, that's a fun way to start your military career off." She looked up at him sternly. "It's good though, because I have some rules for you."

"Rules," he asked, clearly amused.

"Yeah, rules, so wipe that grin off ya face and listen. First of all, you can't do anythin' stupid. Second, you better write me while you're gone. Third, don't do anythin' stupid. Fourth-."

"How many rules are there," he interrupted.

"Enough. Now, fourth, you gotta try an' remember ta pray. I know you don't believe in it the way I do, but please, when you find ya'self in need, or if you're in a tight spot, please just at least try prayin' on it and seein' if the Lord answers. That way, you don't have to break rule number five: don't do anythin' stupid."

He shook his head. "What makes you so certain I'm gonna do somethin' dumb over there?"

She gave him a look. "Because I know you. I grew up with you. You sometimes do stupid stuff, and stupid stuff in a war will get you killed. Now, I'm almost done. I got one left."

Merriel rolled his eyes. "Jesus, I thought my mother already died."

"Merriel, I'm serious. Number six is really important."

He looked at her with a bored face of expectance. "Yes?"

"If you get in a bind, and the prayin' don't work and you gotta do somethin' stupid, just remember what you promised, and try not to break it. Ok? Remember me, and Stella, and Carl and Johnny, and everyone back home, and try and come back."

He was looking at her, expression unreadable, when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her, bent her at the waist, and kissed her. This kiss was fun and playful. They were met with a chorus of wolf whistles and cat calls but Merriel didn't stop and stand Genny back up until he was out of breath. She looked a little dazed. He ran his hands down her back and leaned in to whisper to her.

"I'll come back if you answer one question for me."

"What?"

"Are you wearin' panties right now?"

"Ugh, you're disgusting," she said, slapping at his arm, but she allowed him to move his hands further south, squeezing at her bottom.

She flinched into him. "Ow, ow, ow, careful."

"What's wrong?"

"Long story short, I got an ass whoopin' so that you could get laid."

He grinned down at her. "Well all the same, red and marked or not; I'm gonna miss this fuckin' ass."

"Ah yes, there's the real Merriel," she said sarcastically.

Suddenly a train whistle blew over their heads. Merriel turned to look. A man was moving down the line, checking the tickets of Mere's brothers in arms.

"Looks like I gotta go."

"Yeah," she nodded up sadly. Tears coursed down her face against her will.

"I promise. I'm gonna come back soon. Swear it."

Smiling through her displeasure, she nodded. "Yeah, ok. Just don't forget about me."

"I couldn't if I tried."

"SHELTON," someone called near them.

"I really gotta head out," Merriel said.

He took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips. He kissed across her knuckles until he reached her thumb.

"I know, I know," she said sadly. She stood up on her tiptoes, straining for a kiss. He bent, kissing her once on the lips before pulling away.

"Bye, Genevieve."

She gave a small wave. "You better write me, I'm serious."

"I'll write you if I'm not comin' back."

"That shit's not funny, Mere," she called back with an annoyed pursing of her lips.

Merriel gave her a big cheesy grin. "I thought it was." He had reached his group.

Genny watched as he went, and waited for the train to move. Merriel forced his way to a window like some of the other Marines who were being escorted.

"Hey, you never answered the question," he called. She cocked her head and then it dawned on her. As the train started pulling away, she shook her head.

"Nope. Maybe I won't wear any til the war's over. Who knows."

He grabbed at his chest. "Ya killin' me Gen."

"Be careful, Mere." She waved until she couldn't see him anymore and then until the train had completely left the platform.

She turned slowly, remembering the way Merriel had touched her, kissed her, fucked her, and headed back to the truck. She gave a heavy sigh as she began the longest wait of her life.

Sooooo… let me know what you thought. Again, I'm so sorry about taking forever to write these. I have a bunch of stuff going on and I'm just really bad at forcing a chapter when it's not there.

Side note, I'm doing writing prompts on my tumblr. Fandom-writings-and-imagines. If there's anything you want to see, I'm open to doing most shows and pairings. Since they're shorter, they'll get done faster. Anyway, thanks for reading.