Do I have to tell... Yes, I do!

Happy Birthday, CORINA! (Again) And thank YOU, Suvi! :-)

ENJOY! xoxo

Rufus woke up with his arm around Lily's naked waist. He looked at the clock – it was 9am. He got up carefully, not to wake Lily up, and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. Then he went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat, but he remembered Lily's words, that the fridge was empty. So he decided to go to the store and buy something to make a good breakfast for him and his wife before the trip to Hudson.

When Rufus got back home Lily was still sleeping. He couldn't blame her – she was not only tired but she had also been really, really drunk yesterday evening. Rufus noticed she was shaking, so he took a blanket and put it on her. Her naked body stopped shaking. Rufus kissed Lily's forehead gently, not to wake her up and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. When Rufus was making breakfast Eric got back home.

E: Hello.

R: Hey, Eric! You're home early! How was your date? - they smiled at each other. Rufus loved Eric so much! It felt like he was his own son.

E: Good... But... I don't think it will work out.

R: Oh, come on, Eric. If you really like this boy, you should at least try – Rufus said while preparing coffee for him and Lily.

E: I don't know if he likes me as much as I like him... Anyway, where's mom?

R: She's still sleeping. She's so tired after...

E: Ok! Please. Stop it – Eric didn't like to know why their days were so „tiring" or what they had been doing in their bedroom.

R: Ok – Rufus said and smiled. He liked to tease this little boy! They spent a while in silence. Neither one of them said a word. Rufus was preparing breakfast and Eric was watching him.

E: Thank you, Rufus – he said suddenly, but quietly.

R: For what? - Rufus was confused.

E: For being with my mother. And for taking care of her. And for loving her. And for being here for her and for us...

R: Eric...

E: I mean it. She loves you. She has never been happier than she's now. With you. You are the best and the only one for her...

Rufus had tears in eyes. He came to Eric and hugged him tightly.

R: Thank you for letting me be there for your mother...

They smiled at each other.

E: Ok, ok. Enough. I'll go before we start crying! - Eric and Rufus laughed, then the younger one headed to his room. Rufus took those cups of coffee and pancakes he had made and headed to the bedroom. He opened the door and saw Lily still sleeping.

R: Lily? - he whispered – Wake up, honey. We're going to Hudson soon – he said and put the tray on the table then he sat on the bed next to Lily. He put his hand on her hair and stroke it – Wake up – he whispered again and kissed her cheek.

L: Mhm... - Lily muttered quietly and opened her eyes. She saw Rufus and sneezed. He noticed she was still shaking.

R: Guess someone freezed last night – he said smiling and gave her a tissue.

L: Thank you – she said, but her voice was... She had hoarseness.

R: WOW! Someone really got a cold last night – Rufus said and gave her a box of tissues and then he put his hand on her forehead – Lil, you have a fever.

L: What? No, I don't – she said and got up. She took a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her naked body. Then she sneezed again. Three times.

R: Ok. Enough – he got up and came to Lily – go back to bed.

L: Rufus, stop it, I'm feeling okay... Really... - she said and sneezed – I'm having a headache after those drinks – she sneezed – but I'm surely not – she sneezed – sick! - she said and sneezed once again.

R: Lillian Humphrey, enough! You have a cold so go back to bed! Now! - Rufus said and looked in her eyes. She didn't like this way he was looking at her. She shivered when she saw it – And you're not going to Hudson. I'm sorry.

L: What? - Lily screamed.

R: I'm so sorry, Lil, but I don't want you to be sick even more. You should go to bed and take some rest. You're not going with me – Rufus said and looked at her. Lily was scared. Him and Alison alone? Her eyes filled with tears.

L: Rufus, please...

R: Lily – he came closer to her and hugged her tightly – I'm so sorry. This would be the best for us. You should stay...

L: I don't want you to go without me, Rufus – she wrapped her hands around his muscular body – Please, don't do this – she whispered against his shirt – Take me with you. Or stay at home.

R: I wish I could, Lil. You know I don't want to go there and you know I'd rather go with you, but Jenny needs me. I have to go – he rubbed her back.

L: I don't like this idea at all – she said with her hands still wrapped around his body – And I hate Alison. And I swear, if she's going to use you while you're there... I'm going to kill her – Lily said seriously and Rufus laughed.

R: Well... If that means the fight like the one I saw 20 years ago between you and her for me, right before the stage, during my concert... Then I guess... I'd love that – he smiled. Lily pulled away from him and hit his chest gently with her fist.

L: Don't you even dare think about this, Humphrey. You're mine, Rufus – she sneezed – I'm not going to give her even a little piece of you anymore. Alison had you for 20 years while I have no one – she said and sneezed again.

R: Ehm... Lil, you do remember you had like... 4 husbands and a countless number of boyfriends before me, don't you? - Rufus asked playfully.

L: I do. But none of them was like you... - she said and sneezed once again then she sighed – I am mad – Rufus laughed. Lily looked now like a 5 year old girl that didn't get her toy.

R: Don't be mad – he said and pulled her into his arms again – it's not your fault, Lil... - Rufus thought for a moment – Yes. It IS your fault, Lily. I told you to go back to the room yesterday, after your shower. But no. You kept asking me about Alison and her phone call – he looked at her – Oh, Lily, Lily... - he said and made Lily lay on the bed.

L: Oh my gosh... You're right! I'm so silly... - Lily pouted which made Rufus smile. She looked like a little girl again and it was so cute.

R: Yes. Yes, you are – he said and pecked a kiss on her cheek – that's why I love you – he said and covered her with a blanket. Lily couldn't help but smile.

L: But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want you to go there. Surely not alone.

R: Lily, You know I have to go and Jenny needs me.

L: And I don't? Rufus, you are MY husband. You should take care of ME while I'm sick! Not Alison! - she said quickly and then she realized what she had just said – I-I... I meant Jenny – Lily blushed. Rufus was confused.

R: Wait – he didn't know if he should cry or laugh – You don't think I'm going there to take care of Alison, do you?