Breakfast was taken in a small but quaint little diner just a short drive from Billys home. It had the makings of being a small time place, that catered to rich and not so rich alike. Becca liked it immediately upon walking in. It was a charming little place, complete with modern decorations upon the walls and it had soft, soothing music from a later time that drifted upon the air. Very cozy little place.
Billy led Becca to a back booth and nodded for her to sit first, before he slid into the seat opposite of her. He gave her a wink as he picked up his menu and scanned it a moment. She did the same, after taking in the charm this new place had to offer. The food was labeled upon the menu in order of the meals served, and it even had a few pictures to show what they offered for the specials of the day. While browsing her menu, Becca happened to glance up and caught the tell tell action that someone had been staring at her. A man, not two booths down had quickly looked away the second her eyes had lifted from her menu and he seemed to shake his head, which made her furrow her eyes slightly. Going very still inside, did she allow her senses to push outwardly to focus on the goings on around her without being obvious that she did so. To all around her, it still looked like she was perusing the menu, when in reality, she was listening to the voices around her, and watching the looks that were shot in their direction. People were staring!
For some ungodly reason, that angered her. She moved the menu about to not give herself away, but she didn't miss the waitress who seemed engrossed in conversation with a person she was serving, nod in her and Billys direction. Nor did she miss the head shake of yet another male, as he turned his eyes from their booth and went back to talking to the woman seated before him. Through all this, Becca said nothing, nor did she give away that she knew. Instead, she cast her eyes back up to Billys, caught his eye and smiled at him.
"Everything looks good here." She said softly. Trying to dispel her mood and remain 'unawares' of the goings on around her. "The pancake stacker with a side of eggs and bacon sounds good. What are you having?" She asked Billy, curious as she shut her menu and laid it beside her.
"I might have some eggs and toast with my coffee." Was his soft spoken reply as he did the same. He, too, was aware of the stares but he paid it no mind and was thankful that Becca was not yet aware or knew. Or if she did, she gave no outward sound or notice. He reached for her hand and lightly laid his overtop hers, grinning at her with that cheeky half grin of his.
She heard the upbeat in conversation around her pick up the moment they turned their attentions to each other, but said nothing. In fact, she grinned brighter at Billy and entwined their fingers together when he reached for her hand. When the waitress came and took their order, Becca ignored the curious looks she passed her as she wrote down their orders and then turned to leave. Becca found it slightly comical and she let a soft chuckle escape her lips as she and Billy conversed softly with each other as they waited for their food.
The foods arrival made Beccas mouth water, as she was quite hungry and she gave a playful growl as Billy attempted to 'steal' one of her pancakes off her plate when he thought she wasn't looking. "Get your own!" She playfully laughed. Holding her fork like a weapon, guarding her pancakes.
Billy gave a laugh and shook his head at her antics. "Alright, I give. I should have gotten some, as they look good." He teased back, turning his attention to his meal.
The meal passed in relative silence as none of them were prone to talking while they were eating. The meal was good, filling and the pancakes were so delicate that they all but floated in the syrup Becca drowned them in. The eggs were light and fluffy and filled with cheese. Just the way she liked them! She was done in record time and was sipping on her coffee as she waited for Billy to finish.
They lingered only a moment, over their coffee before they got up, paid their tab and reaching for each others hand, walked out into the brisk, afternoon sunshine. Since it was such a nice day, Becca suggested a walk in the nearby park and Billy agreed. It would give them time to digest and to spend more time together. It wasn't a far walk to the park from where they were and they took it in leisure.
Walking silently together, holding hands, did each seem lost to their own thoughts till it was Becca who broke the spell. Glancing up at him, did she gift him a small smile before giving his hand a light squeeze. "Do people always stare like that?" She asked rather bluntly.
Billy gave her a smile at seeing her own, but then sighed deeply and pulled her closer to him. Giving a slight nod, he looked down at her once more. "You noticed that, huh?" He asked, trying to tease.
"Aye. How could I not? I mean, not that I mind. People are so..."
"Rude?" He finished for her with a soft smirk. "You get used to it. I AM so much older then you. People wonder." He trailed off and went silent for a minuet that made Becca look up at him.
"You don't wonder...do you?" She asked so softly.
They paused in their walk together. Billy turned to face her and lifted a hand to gently caress Beccas cheek as he looked down into her emerald depths. He was silent for a moment, making Becca realize she was holding her breath.
"No." His answer was whispered softly. So softly, as his eyes looked deeper into her own.
"Good." She replied, just as softly. Reaching up to lay her hand atop his where it caressed her cheek. "I love you..." She whispered.
Billys eyes went soft as he stared at her. His emotions showed fully just how much he loved her as they stood there, looking into each other and not at each other. "I love you too."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, closing his eyes as he rested his lips against her skin, inhaling her sweet scent. She was his everything, and it had happened so fast. But he wouldn't trade it or her for anything. Not ever!
Pulling back to give her a loving smile, Billy wrapped his arm around her as they continued their walk. "People stare, people wonder, but rest assured, My Little Wolf, that I am safe in the knowledge that you love me as much as I love you." He said so smoothly, which made Becca smile as they walked together around the lake that was at the center of the park.
"Let them stare." She said firmly, and with a soft giggle as she tilted her head back to look up at him. "Age is just a number anyway, and I love you more then anything." She smiled and chuckled softly. "I can get used to it." She teased, giggling once more.
As they walked together, enjoying each others company, Becca happened to glance around her to take in their surroundings. It was a nice day, and she wanted to enjoy it to its fullest, for she knew with the coming days, things would be busy between them and this was one of the quiet days they would have for a while. They paused on a covered dock, to watch the ducks that swam around the covered area, quacking at them in turn. As she looked around, she noted that people were out and about on such a nice day. Each enjoying the break in the cold weather to come and enjoy the sunshine. A mother followed after two hyper boys, a few joggers passed by as she watched. Everyone seeming to be enjoying the day. It was just as she was about to look back to what she was doing, that her eyes passed over someone she recognized. It was only a second, for as soon as she looked, did the man look suddenly away and moved out of her line of sight. It took her a moment to remember that that same man had been one of the ones staring at them while they were in the diner.
Shrugging lightly to herself, she decided to ignore the gnawing feeling that pulled at the back of her mind. She slipped her hand back into Billys, gave him a small smile and they continued on their walk. It took them a while to complete the track around the lake, and they turned their steps homewards. But as they did, Becca caught sight of the man once more, standing off to the side of one of the rest areas, and she saw how his eyes narrowed as they passed. She slid a little closer to Billy as she watched, out of the corner of her eye that as they passed by, the man pushed off the wall he was resting against and started to follow behind them at a distance. It had to be her military training that kicked in the moment she saw the man move, for her senses went from calm and relaxed to instantly on alert. She heard every footstep the man behind them made, and her tenseness made Billy look down at her, with a question in his gaze till he too, noted the man that followed them.
He wasn't blind, he knew they were being followed, but he had hoped to spare the woman he was with any confrontation, knowing that this sort of thing happened often, whenever he went out. He knew his actions were always being watched. Just because he couldn't see the Paparazzi, didn't mean they didn't see him. He knew from the moment they left the diner that they were being followed, and he was well aware of the man who seemed to be tracking them, though he tried hard not to show it. That Becca would suddenly go still, silent beside him as they walked together, meant that she too, had picked up on it. Her hand was dangerously tight around his, and he had to give her a gentle squeeze to get her to loosen her grip. Not that he blamed her. But one look down at her, told him that she wasn't frightened. If anything, she was ready for a fight, which surprised him, but really shouldn't given her background. She was strong, brave, this woman he loved. He let go of her hand and wrapped his long arm protectively around her as they walked, giving her reassurance as well as getting it from her. Strange, that she was feeling as protective of him as he was of her. He loved her all the more, his fierce little wolf.
She leaned into him, taking from him his strength and felt a little more relaxed at having him near. Billys arms were strong around her. Strong and warm and it gave her a glowing feeling inside that she knew he would keep her safe if it ever came down to it. As she would for him. She was a fighter! Had to be with her past and her line of work. She wasn't one to give in easily, on anything. But the fact that they were being followed, she just couldn't shake. It bothered her! Rankled her and picked at that little flame inside of her till it went from a dull ember to almost a deafening roar. It was when she heard the soft clicks of what sounded like a camera go off behind and around them that she felt her anger slip just that little bit more. She was getting angry, and bad things happened when she got angry.
She tried to count to ten, to focus on breathing and knew that this was just something that came with being someone famous. It wasn't that there would be pictures of them going around later, when work day was done; it was the fact that people would actively 'stalk' them to get said pictures that she had an issue with. Having been something of a 'hunter' herself in her military career, she didn't like the idea of being 'hunted'. And as they left the park behind, she felt the hunted feeling start to leave her body as she relaxed once again. She shouldn't have!
Before they even made it back to Billys car, things exploded way out of proportions. Thinking they had left the paparazzi behind, was wishful thinking, and when one man suddenly ran up on them to get a reactive shot, he got a reactive shot alright! Already stressed from being followed, and seeing a man rush upon them and point something at them, Billy reacted! He shoved Becca behind him and let his fist fly in defense of her, thinking someone was attempting to mug them. Which wouldn't be far from the truth given this was New York, and they were in a tough area.
Becca didn't even have time to yelp when Billy reacted. She had just righted herself from where he shoved her behind him to see the man fall over after connecting with Billys fist. She didn't know what to be surprised with first. That someone would be stupid enough to run up on them like that in the first place, or that Billy would be physically violent. She didn't blame him and had she had time to react, she might have done the exact same thing. Only now, though, where there was one or two people sneaking shots, there seemed to be many, coming out of places she didn't even think to look, snapping pictures of them both, standing over the man now prone on the ground. The flashes that went off, around her made her feel trapped and she slid up behind Billy and took his hand in hers. Trying to ground herself and to keep from reacting.
Billy felt her smaller hand entwine with his own and he tore his eyes from the man before them, to look over at her and make sure she was alright. She seemed shocked and a little angry, but otherwise fine. Nothing was said. Not to the man before them, not between each other. Billys eyes narrowed as he glared at the man who slowly sat up and shook his head. Only feeling Becca give his hand a light squeeze kept him from tearing into the man further. With action or words. Pulling Becca slightly behind him but still to his side, he turned, and pulled her closer to him as they left the scene. With cameras whirling behind them. He was livid! Angry that their peaceful day had had this kind of an ending. Angry at himself for reacting the way he did. But he didn't know the man, nor his intentions. Seeing only a stranger running up at them and pointing something at them, he reacted. He wasn't happy, and he could tell Becca wasn't either, for she all but shook against him as they left together and upon reaching his car, he held the door for her as she slid in. Himself getting in the drivers seat as they sped off.
The drive back to Billys home was a silent one. Becca didn't know what to say to break the silence between them. She was still reeling from the experience and it would take her a moment to let it all go, so to speak. She could feel Billys anger from where she sat, hands clasped in her lap, looking neither right nor left but straight ahead. She stole glances at him from her peripheral vision, but never looked right at him. It was the first time since they had met each other that there was tension between them. The tension so thick you cut see it as it waived between them. She only looked at him once, and when he seemed to feel her gaze and looked at her, his face hard and set, she didn't like what she saw echoing in his eyes and looked away. Only when he raised his free hand, the other on the steering wheel, and laid it lightly atop her own did she felt that tension slightly fade. She almost shied away at his touch, but held still. She knew he would never hurt her, but it was an instinctual reaction. Yet his touch was soft, gentle even as they drove and she allowed it, lightly running her thumb over his hand as he ran his fingers over hers.
Once they arrived back at his home, did Becca give her emotions free vent. The second he put the car in park, she got out. Not waiting for him to get the door for her. Slamming it behind her, she turned to walk towards the house. Her own emotions in a sense, feeding off of Billys. He was angry, she could feel it and it in a way, fed her anger. Which was a little scary, for her. She did wait for him on the porch, as he slowly made his way towards her. He was confused, she could see it in his eyes, under his anger and for a moment felt sorry for her own emotions. They stood that way, on the porch, looking at each other for a moment. Then Billy reached across her and unlocked the door and opened it, allowing her to go first.
She shoved past him, still neither of the spoke as she made her way up the stairs to his room where she promptly took off her coat, draped it over the nearest chair and went to the small mini bar to make herself a drink. Sipping on her Glenfiddch, did she hear Billys slow footsteps approaching and she actually stiffened when he entered the room and shut the door behind him. She didn't look at him. Not that she didn't want to, she just couldn't. She didn't understand why, but some sort of restless fear inside her told her to remain still and silent. Let the moment play out. Though she didn't look at him, she was keenly aware of him! From the moment he walked into the room, her body and mind became acutely aware of where he was in the room and what he was doing. Her senses tracked him, even if her eyes didn't as he took off his jacket and hung it up in the nearby closet. As he walked slowly over to the mini bar and made himself a drink as well, as he stood there, drink in hand and just stared at her. Heard his footsteps as he sipped his drink, set it aside and walked towards her. Felt him, rather then saw him, hovering over her, just behind her. Saw his shadow as he approached and felt him standing so close behind her. She held her breath, and waited.
"Silence, Love. Echos so much louder then words." His words were the softest she had ever heard him speak. She bit her lip when she felt just the tiniest of touches and knew he had brushed the tips of his fingers against her arm. It pulled out goosebumps, his touch so light. "You are angry with me? For that I apologize."
She let out a breath she had been holding and shook her head, pulling away slightly from his touch. "I am not angry with you, Billy. I am...angry, at myself." Her words were soft as well, but anger tinged them as she still refused to look at him. But was so keenly aware of the man beside her, that she knew he tilted his head in a quizzical way at her words.
"Angry with yourself? Why? When it is I who reacted in the way I did. I, who put our pictures everywhere now, surely. Why are you angry, Love?"
"Because." Was her harsher reply as she finally turned her eyes to look up at him. Letting him see the 'Beast' within her gaze. "Because where you just reacted to protect me, I would not have stopped!" Her words were forceful but she spoke true. Billy had only hit the man once. She wouldn't have, and it was a part of her that she hated!
She hated that fact about her, but hated even more the look of confusion, then understanding, then something akin to pity flit through Billys eyes as he stared at her. He reached for her and went to caress her cheek but she pulled back again. She was angry and was in no mood to be comforted. Didn't he see that? Didn't see what he had fallen in love with? She didn't want pity or understanding right now. She wanted a fight! And she didn't understand why!
He saw the look in Beccas eyes and shook his head, reaching over for his drink he finished it in one gulp and set the glass back down. "So, you are angry because you would have...what? Beaten the man? Whereas I only hit him once? Love, people will always be watching us. People will always be following us. That is a part of my life that I have come to accept." He paused and tilted his head slightly at her. "But it doesn't have to be a part of yours..."
"DON'T!" She shouted as she moved away from him, shaking her head. "Don't you even finish that sentence or so help me, Billy, I'll...!"
"You'll do what?" He asked, his voice low but calm and soft. He could feel her anger. He knew what it was like, the first few times the Paparazzi found him, but he had come to accept that. If she wanted to be with him, she would have to as well. But he knew that wasn't the real reason she was angry, so he deliberately pushed her. Better to have her explode here and they rant it out then to do so in public.
She was so mad now! So mad and so frustrated with the way the day went that she wanted to scream. Since first realizing that they were being followed to now, she had been 'on alert' and it wasn't something she could just 'cut off', like flipping a switch. She had to vent it out, but she didn't want to do this...not with Billy. Not like this.
"Just...Don't." She said with a slight growl to her words. "I told you that I accept it, and I do. I...I am just angry at my own reaction for the whole thing." She looked away with a scowl. "You hit him once, I wouldn't have stopped...and that...scared me a little."
There it was out. She admitted it. She was afraid of herself, always had been since she was young. She had a terrible temper and the Marines only honed it, not silenced it. Turned her into a weapon, with no 'off' switch! But she would never admit that. That she did now, was testament to how far she had come, how much she had grown in her life. The moment was another tense one. She could feel Billy watching her.
He gave a soft sigh and walked slowly back towards Becca. Reaching out ever so slowly, he took her hand and lightly held it in his own, before bringing it to his lips and gracing her with the lightest of kisses, which pulled her eyes from the fire, back to his. He gave her that crooked grin of his as he tilted his head, staring at her.
"Hear you nothing that I say, Love?" He asked gently, watching her. "You are perfection, just the way you are. Temper and all. I love the fire within you, and will do anything to protect it from going out. Fear not your darkness. We all have it within us. Even I, and I will walk this path with you, always. For as long as you allow me."
She was stunned into silence for a moment, finding herself falling into his sea-green eyes again. He knew exactly how to word things so that she would understand and believe. That made her heart trip over itself again and again.
Seeing the look she gave him, he let out a gentle laugh and pulled her close to him. This time noting how easily she slid into his arms. Her own wrapping tightly around him, as if he were her lifeline, hugging him as tight as he held her. "You are everything to me, Rebecca." He whispered gently against her hair as his free hand came to caress slowly up and down her back. "I love you, always will and will say it many times over..."