Chapter 6- Adam and Eve

"Now Jude…what's this?" Timothy inquired calmly as he sat an apple in front of Jude. They were sitting at the kitchen table and he kept putting objects in front of her to try to have her name them.

Jude could not attempt the word, but shot Timothy an annoyed glare that had 'are you kidding me' written all over it.

"Alright Jude I-I know you know what an apple is." He sighed. Jude shrugged and picked up the apple, biting into it. "Jude you have to speak…what can I do to get you to speak?" He asked. She stared back at him, concentrating on the apple. "Here." He sighed, picking up the pen and paper just across from them on the table.

"How about you sound out what I write on this paper, just one letter at a time, alright Jude? Can you give it a try?" She paused then nodded as she finished her bite of apple.

"Here, what does this say?" Timothy asked, presenting her with the piece of paper. Jude looked back up at him surprised, doing a double take.

"Go ahead, read it." He urged.

It said, I love my rare bird. Jude's heart raced and she didn't know what to think or what to say.

"T-Ti..T." She choked. It felt so weird for Jude to even say that after so many days. Her throat had become dry and itchy as soon as she attempted it and she began to cough. Timothy quickly gave her some water, hoping that would help.

"Come on Jude." He urged when she stopped coughing. "Let's try again, what does it say?"

Jude just stared at the piece of paper for a moment. I love my rare bird…. It would've been so simple for her to say this, even days ago, but now she just couldn't bring herself to speak. I. I. I. I. We say it all the time, but this wasn't an I…not for Jude. It should've read Timothy loves his rare bird…Jude wanted to speak, but she didn't want to say this for him. Jude sighed, contemplating this for a moment. She tried so hard to talk, but for reasons she didn't understand; it was too difficult on her body now.

Instead of trying to speak again as he requested, Jude picked up the apple she'd been snacking on and took another bite. She turned it over and extended the non-bitten side to Timothy, offering to share it with him. Timothy looked at it for a second, studying it carefully, unsure if he really wanted a piece. He looked back up at her and she smiled slightly as she ate. Jude sensed his hesitancy and disapproved immediately. She reached out, extending the apple to him a second time. Finally, he smiled kind of apprehensively and leaned in, taking a bite, soon finding that the fruit quenched a thirst he hadn't realized he had.

Several Weeks Later, March 1965

"Rise and shine Jude!" She sighed, moaning softly, the aroma of pancakes and maple syrup tugging at her senses.

Jude's eyes opened wide and she looked up startled for a moment. Timothy stood before her, dressed and ready for the day. She sat up, resting on her palms, blinking as her eyes struggled to adjust to the light. A couple of weeks had passed since her withdrawal episode and Jude was much stronger. She still could not speak, although she'd been making attempts at it. However, she could walk now without any help from him and had mostly regained her strength and motor skills. It had stopped snowing, and the weather was beginning to display the first signs of spring. Timothy had decided that today was the day things would start to change for them at least a little bit.

"I've made breakfast, you should get up we, have a lot to do today." He said. "But first, how are you?"

Timothy sat on the side of the bed next to her and brushed her hair away from her forehead. She allowed him to hold her head in his hands and carefully look her over. This had become routine for them as she'd been badly injured back at Briarcliff, particularly by the electroshock treatments but she also had an assortment of cuts and bruises that covered most of her body. They were healing well, but Timothy was still taking careful precautions to make sure her wounds stayed clean.

"You're healing remarkably well Jude. Your head is almost completely fine now." He smiled. "But lets see that horrible one on your back now, alright?" Jude nodded, giving him consent.

Once again, Jude had worn one of his dress shirts to bed, for which he was ever so thankful. It was just big enough on her to serve as a nightgown and he found it incredibly sexy, although, he doubted she knew that. He loved it because it made him feel like she was his, something he deeply desired. While he knew that this was wrong, Timothy decided he could pretend…just for a little while. Besides, her wearing his shirt met he didn't have to look at that awful silk slip of hers. While it was hers, it reminded him too much of Mary Eunice because she'd been wearing it when she raped him. Sometimes looking at the slip made him start to feel ill or even a little afraid. And those were the last feelings he wanted to associate Jude with.

Timothy lifted the back of the shirt very slowly, marveling over his own self-control. The sight of her bareback sent chills up his spine in the best of ways. Timothy couldn't help but think that she was just perfect.

"It looks really wonderful." He smiled. "If only you could see it Jude. I'm proud of you."

Timothy ran his hand gently along the injured spot on her back. It was right where the line of her bra would have been if she'd been wearing one. He'd first discovered this injury when he'd given her her bath, the first day they arrived at their new home. At the time she didn't even know it was there. Timothy had been worried about this injury more than any of her many others. It was red, and very painful to the touch in contrast with the others. At one point it was filled with pus and hurt so much that she'd almost cry if he touched it. The worst part was that he had no idea where she'd gotten it and she couldn't tell him. Sometimes he thought it was infected, others he even considered that it might have been a bad spider bite and was worried that it was the real reason why she wasn't speaking…Timothy didn't know much about that kind of thing for someone who'd just purchased a home and land out in the middle of no where. Whatever the case, it was gone now and Timothy was overjoyed. But, he was still worried about her inability to speak.

They'd been working on speech, little by little. Some days she said more than others, and it seemed as if she was improving, but she still couldn't fully say his name. He realized the medication had made a profound impact on her motor skills, but she'd recovered in every other manner and he didn't think talking would take quite this long. At this point, Timothy was worried she might not regain this function, but hadn't breeched the subject to Jude, instead he decided to be as encouraging to her as possible.

"You're healing. Praise God." He hugged her when he let go of the shirt. "Come on, I have some things to show you and I think you're finally ready for them!"

Jude raised an eyebrow wondering what he was talking about She picked up his robe off the floor and put it on, tying it tight as she followed him out into the living room.

"After breakfast I was hoping that you would help me with some projects. I've been planning them for a while but I can't do them alone. You're strong enough now, and there's a lot of work to be done to this place if we're going to make it a home. It will take both of us to do it, so we need to start now."

Timothy was sort of hoping that some activity, other than bearing through the harsh winter and nursing her wounds would ignite her mind enough to where she could speak again. She was an intelligent woman and he figured that applying her mind to something useful would do her a world of good.

'A home?' Judy wanted to ask. She had some idea of his plans to fix the house up, but the place was in ruins. She secretly thought it was a hopeless idea.

"As you've probably noticed things could be a little…more ideal around here."

Both of their eyes immediately averted to the large pan on the kitchen counter, which they'd left there to catch rainwater and excess snow as it poured from the roof. Like the one in the bathroom, it overflowed at least once a day and was a real hassle to keep track of. Jude looked back at him and laughed, shaking her head as she picked up her cup of coffee.

"Don't laugh! Jude I promise we'll fix it up."

Timothy began to look around the house very quickly. Ramshackle might be a truly good definition of their new home. What he was saying was a tall order and while he wouldn't admit it, he knew it as much as she. The house was cute from the outside and Timothy was convinced it just needed a little love. It was a cottage more than it was a cabin and had a nice little front porch, a high pitched roof where the loft was that made it appear, from the front to have an actual second story and light wood shingled siding…quite a bit of which was falling or had already fallen off the house.

The inside was in desperate need of paint and had some holes in the floor. The fireplace, the big one in the living area, was missing its share of bricks and finally there was almost no furniture. Jude continued to laugh, remembering all of this from the inventory he'd taken over the last several days.

"Jude can't you see? There are so many possibilities...come on Jude, try to help, for me? I know you spent so much time supporting my last dream and that didn't work out so well but…this one, this one's truly for us Jude. It's not a what if, or a maybe if we get there, it's a right here, right now!"

Jude rolled her eyes and smiled a little, returning to her coffee, which was the only thing suppressing this raging headache that had been plaguing her since the rest of the withdrawal symptoms left her. She thought for sure that it would've gone away by now. Timothy didn't know about the headache and was sort of offended that she was laughing at him. Here she was, unable to speak, and yet she was laughing at him.

"T-"

He sighed, tuning out a little, sometimes it was painful to hear her try with nothing to show for it.

"T-Timothy…" She said slowly.

"Jude! You're talking! You said a word!" He burst excitedly. "You're….!" Timothy quickly pulled her into his embrace. "Oh Jude, you're talking, you're really talking, praise God!" She smiled, accepting his hug, surprised when he kissed her cheek. "Well what…what do you really think of all of this? Of coming up here…of everything?"

He was anxious now, and waited quietly for her to answer. He'd been wanting to know what she thought all this time and was afraid that she didn't really want to be there with him, and that she would leave when she was able...after all he'd done for her. He also wasn't sure how much of their ordeal she could even recall.

"Ya know…" She said slowly, he was glued to every syllable. "I-I've never, I've never had a home before." She managed.

Talking felt new to Jude all over again. She was proud and surprised she'd been able to say that much. In fact, she felt kind of overwhelmed; nonetheless she decided to press herself to say more.

"You, you what?" Timothy could not hide his surprise.

What did she mean she hadn't had a home before? Had she been an orphan? He'd heard her mention a Mother once, hadn't he? He was pretty sure about it…

"I-I've never….had a-a home before." She spoke slowly. "Not one anyone wanted to fix up far me."

"Oh…oh Jude I-I didn't know…"

"S-so, I-I'll gladly fix it up with you…if ya'll have me stay."

"What do you mean if I'll let you stay…Jude that's been the entire point! Of course you're staying! This is for you…uh for us…" he corrected quickly. "For all we've been through." He took her hand.

Timothy was shocked and thankful enough to where he actually said what he was feeling. He felt as if he'd do just about anything to keep her there.

"If ya'll have me then I'll stay." She offered and the two sighed with equal relief.

"Oh Jude, taking you from that place, caring for you… everything that was the point; so you'd stay….with me." Jude blushed at this. "Are you alright? All this time I haven't been able to really tell..."

"I-I'm fine. Thanks to you Timothy…Y-you've done all the right things far me, and I'm so grateful for that."

"Now uh…now that you're speaking I want to apologize for the bath thing, a-and for a lot of things like that, it was probably not my finest…"

"No Timothy it's fine." She smiled, reaching up and cupping his cheek in her hand. "Ya were taking care of me, and I needed to be tended to… I'll always remember how you were sweetest when I was most helpless and most venerable."

Timothy smiled and put his head down, happy that his most noble of intentions had paid off. He'd wanted her so badly all this time, especially, when she was in the bath, not to mention, in bed with him every night. Jude lifted his head, placing a sweet kiss on his lips. It wasn't deep or passionate but it was sexy in its self simply because it was simple and meaningful.

"H-how much can you recall?"

"I remember everything Timothy, yar getting me out of there, what ya said ta Father Malachi." He'd told him he loved her, but she didn't bring up that part.

"Coming up here…ya didn't have ta give up everything and save me."

"Oh yes, yes I did." He said quietly, reaching up and covering her hand with his, taking it in his own. "I couldn't let you just be tortured and live the rest of my days knowing I could've saved you…you met too much to me, my rare bird."

Jude sighed; wishing, that he would confess what was on his heart…she knew it was there and for some reason he held it back. Jude wanted him to confess, especially if he did plan on their living out their days together. She giggled a little, deciding she'd just have to make him confess if he wasn't willing to do so on his own.

"I'm going to go and get dressed." She said, kissing his cheek and breaking away from him. She also wasn't used to talking and needed a few minutes break from conversation. She felt kind of weird and winded.

"W-why?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Like you said, there's a lot to do if we're going to fix this place up and make it a home."

"But Jude…" He began, turning around once she started for the bedroom. "You don't really have any clothes…to speak of." He raised an eyebrow.

"That's alright, but," She called, "ya have great clothes."

Timothy sighed, going back to his coffee when suddenly he felt something land on his head, it was the dress shirt of his that she'd been using as a nightgown. He took it in his hand and looked back toward the hallway, realizing she'd taken it off and thrown it at him.

…

"Tell me again what ya had in mind." She said.

Jude had put on a pair of his jeans and one of his flannel shirts. It had finally stopped snowing and the two had gone outside for a little fresh air. It seemed to Timothy as if it had been weeks since it stopped snowing, he didn't realize how relieved he would feel to get outside. Now he and Jude sat on the porch together with new cups of steaming hot coffee.

"Well…there's a lot that needs fixing." He began reluctantly. She giggled. "Don't laugh Jude…we can do it…"

"Alright, alright. I believe ya. What do ya have in mind?"

"Well we'll focus on the inside now that' it's Winter but as soon as Spring comes and the snow stops, I think the roof is the most important thing to attend to."

Jude giggled at this. The roof was like swiss cheese. Timothy ignored her and continued.

"And I thought that maybe you could plant a garden out front and we can have flowers….all the kinds you like. And on the side of the house I'll do the same: we'll grow our own food."

"Um that sounds nice." She admitted, smiling. If there was one thing she'd come to appreciate at Briarcliff, it was fresh food, it or rather the lack of it…

"And for the inside we kind of need furniture…desperately."

"Um…I think we have a nice bed." She offered, inching closer to him and looking up into his eyes.

"Yes." He answered simply. "We have a very nice bed." Timothy sighed inside, excited by the fact that she didn't seem eager to obtain a second bed. "And see over there?" He asked. "Those two trees…I have something special planned for that space Jude."

"Special?"

"I thought it would be nice to have a hammock."

"A hammock?"

"Yes… It will be perfect for nice summer days, for gazing at the stars, reading and relaxing and admittedly for cuddling."

"Mmm." Jude smiled, wrapping her arm in his. "Now who exactly are ya going to cuddle with?"

"You." He admitted, his heart racing as he did so, but he was so proud of himself nonetheless.

"How will I do that if I'm busy planting a garden?"

"I think you'll make time to cuddle with me Jude."

"Oh I will, will I?" She teased.

"Oh Jude." He sighed, "You're back!"

He was amazed that she was back like this, so suddenly she was speaking again and teasing him…and not just an empty vessel that was once his rare bird. He was overjoyed.

"I'm back, you should congratulate me, and I should thank you." She considered.

"H-how?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Um…" She pondered this. "Well we could start with the price for cuddling."

"The price?"

"Yes. If ya wanna cuddle with me Mr. there's a price."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Now be quiet and kiss me."

Timothy was surprised but leaned in with a big smile to give her a kiss. Jude opened her mouth and began to run her tongue over his, slowly bringing him closer to her embrace. Timothy's heart leapt as they kissed. They'd shared plenty of kisses since they'd come up here but this one was the most special to him, it was the first one after she started talking again, and he knew, without a doubt now, that she felt the same way he did: that if they wanted they could not only live happily ever after, but be in love while doing it.

Just one thing bothered Timothy now. He loved this woman more than thought he'd ever loved anyone in his life but as he sat on the porch, kissing her in a way he hadn't realized he knew how to kiss, he wondered how much longer he could possibly resist all the many little ways that she tempted him. Timothy knew that sooner, rather than later, he would surrender to sin, and unlike the last time he'd participated in such a thing, he'd be fully willing.