A/N: Lovin' the reviews! Thanks everyone again for the encouragement! Also, this chapter turned into a really, really long chapter, so I broke it up into two parts to make it easier to read.
This first part is rated, um, M....Enjoy!
Bobby Goren's Apartment
His eyelids felt heavy, like they were being weighed down much like the rest of his body. Shifting his weight and rolling onto his right side, his right leg protested violently as it twisted and wedged up against the side of his bed.
Groaning at the sudden discomfort, and wondering why, he slowly pried his eyes open. Sunlight immediately burned at his eyes, causing him to wince and moan as he covered them with his hand. After he rubbed the pain away, he opened his eyes again, but this time he was looking toward the floor and not directly out the open window. It was his wooden floor, with his clothes scattered on it. The only thing he was wearing were his boxer shorts.
Taking a quick mental survey of his body, overall, he was feeling okay. His back was tense and stiff, his head was still hurting but it was tolerable, and his right knee was throbbing with the awkward position it was in. That was when he realized that his leg wasn't on the bed but it had been thrown over the side of it with his foot planted firming on the floor. He must have done that last night to keep the room and his head from spinning.
Swallowing around the thick cotton in his mouth, he rolled onto his back as he said, "'lex," as he turned his head to the left to look at her.
The blue comforter was pulled all the way up, over her face, to block out any light. All he could see was the top of her blond head. Pulling the blanket down so he could see her face he smiled at seeing her still fast asleep. He took a moment to watch her as he once again was struck by her beauty, and the fact that she was still there. Prying his eyes away from her, he glanced over at the clock and groaned at the time. It was a little after eight; he had only gotten about four hours of sleep.
Slowly sitting up on the side of the bed, he rested his head in his hands and waited for the spinning, queasy movements to stop. How much did he drink last night? He only remembered three.
As soon as he went to stand, his back flared with a warm spasm and he gritted his teeth at the pain. When his face tensed, his right cheek and eye started to hurt as well. Rubbing at it, he felt the puffy sore skin from where Douglas had hit him. Yesterday, he had been battered not only mentally and emotionally but physically as well. Now his body was making him pay for it as it protested against his every movement as he made his way to the dresser and pulled out a clean white T-shirt, boxers, and black jeans before leaving his room.
His shower took a little longer than usual as he let the warm water beat down onto his back, trying to ease the tense and sore muscles from when Douglas had plowed him into the interrogation room wall. Finishing in the shower, he dried and got halfway dressed, leaving his shirt off as he took a couple of aspirins before lathering his face with shaving cream.
He was meeting Alex's family today, and there was no way he was going to do it looking like he was. As he looked at himself in the mirror after shaving, he ran a hand through his hair and decided to also get a haircut. He would stop at his barber's shop on the way.
Taking his folded shirt off the counter, he pulled it on as he left the room.
Music was the first thing Alex noticed as she drifted into consciousness. She looked over at Bobby's side of the bed and frowned. He wasn't there. Looking around the room, she noticed that he wasn't in there and the door was open. Rubbing at her eyes, she slowly got up and realized that she wasn't wearing hardly any clothes. She still had on her bra and panties, but that was it. And it was a little cold in the room from the window being open.
Alex looked around and picked up the first piece of clothing she spotted; it was Bobby's dress shirt that he had worn to work yesterday. Slipping the oversized shirt on, she buttoned it as she made her way out the room and out into the living room.
The voice that was singing finally registered and she had to smile. It was Frank Sinatra singing 'The Good Life', but she could hear Bobby's soft baritone mixed in with it. Alex used her fingers to straighten out her hair as she approached the source of the singing. What she saw as she turned the corner at the entryway to the kitchen made her freeze as she took in the sight before her.
Bobby was swaying lightly and singing along with the song as he stirred a wooden spoon around a pan full of eggs with his right hand while he sipped at a cup of coffee with the other. "...You won't really fall in love, 'cause you can't take the chance. So be honest, with yourself, don't try to fake romance. It's the good life, to be free and explore the unknown, like the heartaches when you learn you must face them alone. Please remember, I still want you, and in case you wonder why, well, just wake up, kiss that good life...goodbye."
She covered up a laugh as she eased into the room. She slid up behind him as she watched him set the cup down as he started dancing along with the musical interlude.
"Please remember," Bobby started singing again, "I still want you and in case you wonder why...well, just wake up, kiss that good life...good-bye."
As he finished the song with a way too dramatic emphasis on 'bye', she placed her hands on his back.
Bobby nearly jumped out of his skin as he jerk against the stove and looked at her, causing her to laugh even harder. "Eames!" he scolded but his threat wasn't much as he had a playfully smirk on his face. He turned off the stove before turning into her hands and wrapped his left arm around her waist. Pulling her more firmly against him as he asked, "Think I'm funny, do ya?" He didn't give her a chance to answer as his right hand moved her hair out of her face as he started placing soft kisses along her neck and up to her ear. "Mornin', baby."
"Mornin', Frankie."
Bobby chuckled as he took her right hand in his left as he suddenly spun her around and then pulled her back to his chest as they started dancing to 'Strangers in the Night'. He kissed her on the lips before kissing along her face and jaw, heading back down her neck. Feeling his warm breath on her skin sent a shiver down her spine. She loved the way he kissed and touched her; it was always tender and soft yet so passionate.
He easily dipped her and chuckled at her yelp as he brought her back up to him. Alex was laughing as well until his tongue started licking, tasting, and sucking at her skin all the way down to her collarbone. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her skin before kissing it.
Alex kissed his left cheek, making him tilt his head to the side as he met her kiss with a soft one to her lips as he swayed his body against hers. Turning her around, he pressed her back up against a counter as she pushed her lips firmly into his. She teased his lips with her tongue, leaving them both wanting more, before she pulled back. "Why are you apologizing?" she asked once the kiss was broken. "I've only been up for ten minutes and so far you're not frustrating me."
Bobby smiled a little before he told her seriously, "It's after nine and I knew that you wanted to get going by now. I should have woken you sooner, but...I got distracted."
"I thought I would be able to leave by nine last night, but that was before Benson challenged me in a game of arcade bowling. So, if anyone should be saying they're sorry it's her for making me have to play five games before she conceded defeat. We stayed out way longer than I expected."
Bobby shook his head and rubbed at the back of his head. Alex had noticed that there was a small lump there last night, but it wasn't serious or noticeable. "I don't remember that."
Alex smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm not surprised. You and Munch were matching drink for drink as you went off on conspiracy theory tangents for hours. Bobby, by the time I dragged you out of there, you were convinced that the FBI actually has a team of agents investigating UFO's and aliens."
Bobby blinked back and smiled a little. "It...could be, possible."
Alex rolled her eyes and shook her head causing him to laugh. She pushed up against him at the same time that he leaned down and they kissed deeper as she let his tongue taste her warm mouth. His hand moved down to her thigh and squeezed gently as he lifted her leg to hook around the back of his. A heat spread through her as she felt his hand caress from her knee to her butt then back again. Moaning into his mouth, she rubbed against him and gasped as she felt how hard he was through his pants.
Bobby's arm was suddenly around her waist under the shirt as his other hand gripped her thigh firmly as he hoisted her up onto the counter. Alex closed her eyes as his lips attacked her neck as his hands unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing. Running her hands over his back and into his hair, she felt his big hands take her hold of her breasts and massaged gently before he took a nipple into his wet mouth.
There was no holding back with him; Bobby greedily sucked and licked at her nipples and breasts, making her squirm and bite her bottom lip to keep from screaming. She couldn't hold back her moans as it felt so good; the fire was igniting her whole body and she was desperately aching for him it almost hurt.
"Bobby, please..." her voice shook as she asked, "I want you."
He kissed his way back up to her lips and sucked hard on her bottom lip that she had bitten before leaning back. As he undid his belt and unzipped his pants, Alex swallowed hard at the intense look of hunger and lust that filled his dark eyes as he took her in from her legs up. He was going to fuck her brains out on his kitchen counter, and she was going to let him.
She grabbed the hem of his white shirt and pulled it up over his head once it was free of his pants and tossed it somewhere behind him. Bobby moved in-between her legs, letting his eyes roam over her body as his hands smoothed up her inner thighs. His thumbs rubbed circles on her hips causing her muscles to quiver and face to heat with want.
The teasing was frustrating her, and Bobby knew it and that was why his lips suddenly formed a goofy looking smirk before she slammed her lips against his, wrapped her legs tighter around his back, and pulled him to her. Breaking the kiss, she told him, "Fuck me now."
Bobby didn't say anything but his eyes were amused as he slid her panties off and kissed her deeply as he pushed inside her. They both stilled and groaned at the pleasure. He didn't move for a moment, letting her adjust to him, as he broke the kiss and buried his head into her neck.
Alex felt his body pushed her back a little as he shifted his weight to thrust into her. She leaned back, placing her hands on the counter, as he slid out almost completely before he slowly filled her again. He was taking his time, hitting all the right spots as he swirled his hips and rubbed against the bundle of nerves that sent a wave a electric pleasure down her back.
Her breathing was shaking and shallow as she closed her eyes and focused on the sensations. One of his arms was around her waist, holding her in place, as another was playing with her breasts and nipples. Bobby was making her whole body build with anticipation and her mind was shutting down.
She couldn't feel anything except for him thrusting in and out of her, his chest shaking with the need to go faster as he fought to control his breathing, and his breath was hot and thick against her neck as his voice hitched and groaned with the pleasure he was feeling.
Just when she didn't think her body could take anymore, and that she was slowly approaching her orgasm, she screamed as Bobby pounded up hard into her, rocking the countertop. Alex swallowed a deep groan of pleasure as his hand left her breasts and gripped her hip as he sped up. He was fucking her so fast and hard that the pleasure was mixing with pain as she rocked hard on the counter.
Her throat locked as her orgasm hit her hard, spending intense ripples of pleasure and heat through her whole body. She wrapped her arms around Bobby's neck as he pulled her up to him as she clenched hard and tight around him as he continued to pound into as he rubbed at the nub that sent her convulsing into another wave of pleasure.
A deep rumble rippled through his chest as he held her against his chest as he thrust one last time into her and tensed. Bobby jerked into her a few times before moaning into her neck and pushing deeply into her before his heavy body nearly collapsed on top of her.
Alex held him to her as he held himself up on his forearms. He started placing lazy soft wet kisses on her neck and down her chest. Her hands smoothed over his neck and down his sweaty back, feeling his muscles quiver and shake as he was still feeling the aftereffects of his orgasm.
"Bobby?"
He hummed into her skin between her breasts as he continued to kiss her.
She had to bite her lip again at the sight of him moving lower. He was going to kill her if he kept this up. "Wasn't there a phone and a mug with pens on this counter?"
Bobby looked up at her and then at the counter she was sitting on. It was bare. They both looked to the floor. The mug was shattered into pieces, pens were scattered everywhere, and the phone had gone dead from being off the hook too long.
"I guess...we got a little carried away," he started laughing as he rubbed at her thighs again.
Alex turned back to face him just as he licked at her center. Her voice broke at what she was about to say as she threw her head back at the jolt that shook all the way up her body. She didn't know if Bobby was wanting to make her come again, or if he just wanted to taste what was down there, but either way she didn't care.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as he continued to drink her in. His lips and tongue were everywhere: sucking at her nub, licking around and inside of her, and then kissing and sucking at her folds. She had to lay back on the counter, placing her legs over his shoulder, as she was coming again as he flicked his tongue over her nub. He was right there with his mouth to take her all in.
She couldn't breathe for long time as her eyes clenched shut as her chest pounded. Bobby eased her legs down and was hovering over her as he kissed over her body, neck, and then her face.
"I love everything about you."
Alex opened her eyes to be staring deeply into his. His dark brown eyes were as serious and intense as she had ever seen them. It was like he was looking straight into her soul and her into his.
"You know that, don't you? I mean, when we're together...and-and I don't just mean when we're having sex, but...all the time, you...you can feel that, right? How...how much, you...mean to me."
Alex was suddenly struck with a lose for words as they stared at each other. She was aching in all the right places for all the right reasons, she had yet to even shower and was nearly naked, and he was telling her the he loved everything about her. And for Bobby that meant he was telling her that he loved her.
She felt her eyes sting as tears welled in them. Bobby frowned down at her and at the look of fear in his eyes, she immediately pushed up and kissed him with all the love and passion she could gather at the moment. She felt him shake and this time it wasn't from aftereffects, but from her kiss. Pulling away, she told him, "Yeah, Bobby, I know. I love you too."
Bobby swallowed hard as he smiled and she could see the sincerity in his eyes as he leaned down into another kiss.
She heard him groan as she broke the kiss and pushed him away. "I've gotta take a shower and I do want to eat breakfast before I have to leave." Checking the time, she realized that she should have been gone half an hour ago.
Bobby reluctantly let her go as he helped her off the counter. He pulled her to him and kissed her softly on the lips before he stepped back and let her leave the kitchen.
Bobby steadied himself on the counter as he calmed his still pounding heart. He couldn't believe he had said that to her, and right after they had sex. What was wrong with him? Then she started to cry and then that kiss. That kiss was perfect, wonderful, but then she pushed him away to take a shower...He was so confused as his head was hurting as rubbed at his temples.
He pushed off the counter and turned off the radio. Finding his shirt on the chair, he pulled it on and fixed himself up as he looked over at mess on the floor. As he re-fastened his belt, he went to the closet by the back door and took out the broom and dust pan.
By the time he swept the floor, cleaned the counter, and picked up everything off the floor, Bobby heard the bathroom door open and then the bedroom door close. Taking two plates out of the cabinet, he prepared them both a plate of food. He had made eggs, bacon, toast, and tatter tots since he had a full bag of those in his freezer for a few weeks. Setting the plates on the table, he went to re-fill his cup with coffee and prepare Alex a cup.
Hearing her come down the hall and into the kitchen, Bobby sat the filled cups on the table as he asked, "Want a glass of orange juice too?"
"Sure, thanks."
He poured both of them a glass of juice before he left the kitchen. Bobby went to the front door and turned the bolt on the lock and yanked off the chain and then opened it. Swinging the screen door open, he leaned down, feeling his back spasm, and picked up the newspapers that had collected on his stoop.
After locking his door, he went back into the kitchen and finally sat down as he tossed Friday's edition on the table. Opening up today's paper, he started reading as he ate his breakfast. He had finished his food and reading about the Red Socks sweeping the Angels in the Division Series and the Yankees were going into Game 4 leading 2 games to 1 against Minnesota when Alex pulled down the paper and eyed him.
Bobby swallowed the coffee down hard as he saw her look. "What?"
"I've been trying to talk to you."
Bobby closed the paper and tossed it between them on the table as he leaned forward. He sipped at the rest of the coffee in the cup as he waited for her to start talking.
Alex sighed heavily at him and shook her head in frustration. "Okay, since we have to go out to Long Island do you want to just ride with me?"
Bobby frowned in confusion as he said, "Your parents don't live on Long Island."
Alex rolled her eyes before glaring at him like she was about to hit him, and it was a good thing she didn't since he was already in enough physical pain as it was. "I know you know how to pay attention, Goren. And your memory is exceptional, so why...Just...." she groaned in frustration at him again.
Bobby noticed that she only used his last name outside of the office when she was really pissed off at him. He sat the cup down and leaned back in the chair, trying to distant himself from the woman about ready to knock him in the head if he even tried to open his mouth.
"I told you last night that we all pitched in, me and my siblings, to rent a house for this weekend on Oyster Bay."
Bobby had no regulation of that conversation, but he sheepishly smiled anyway as he rubbed at his jaw. "I forgot...Sorry." After a moment, he asked, "Why Oyster Bay?"
"We used to vacation there all the time. Then, once we all got older, we stopped going. So, we thought it'd be nice to go out there now, all of us with our families, and me with you, and...spend the weekend."
"The weekend?" Bobby asked as his voice rose in a near panic. "Do...do I have to stay?"
Alex stared hard at him before saying, "I guess not, and since you are driving yourself, you can leave whenever in the hell you feel like it." She got up from the table and left the kitchen.
Bobby was right behind her. He stopped her from grabbing her purse off the couch as he took hold of her arm and turned her toward him. "Alex, I didn't mean it that way."
Alex yanked her arm out of his grip as she continued to pierce him with her eyes.
Bobby gave her some room, but not much as he leaned down a little as he explained, "You know that I visit my mother on Sundays; I'll have to either leave tonight or in the morning."
Alex deflated as he said that, but only a fraction as she crossed her arms. "And by that you're saying that you're most likely leaving tonight."
Bobby stepped back a step and closed his eyes, running a hand over his head as he thought about what to tell her. "I...I don't know," he finally told her. He opened his eyes and said, "It just...It depends on how I feel, or what happens. I'm not going to stay if...if I don't, feel...comfortable."
"You don't think you'll feel comfortable with my family?"
Bobby groaned and rubbed at his eyes. "That's...not," he trailed off as he tried to get his thoughts in order. "I have no idea how I'm going to feel around your family, but that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about actually sleeping there and having to drive all the way upstate early in the morning or if I want to drive back home at night and then get up early in the morning to drive upstate."
Alex finally let her guard down and pulled him into a hug as she wrapped her arms around his upper body.
Bobby hugged her back, resting his chin on top of her head and let out a deep breath. "This isn't going to be easy for me," he told her, and they both knew he wasn't talking about his driving dilemma.
"I know," she said into his chest. Smoothing her hands over his back, she tilted her head back to look up at him. "Just...I wish you can believe me when I tell you it'll be fine."
"It's not that I don't believe you, it's...I'm...um," Bobby had no idea how to get out what he was feeling or thinking.
"Impossible."
Bobby looked down at her and let himself smile at that.
Alex pushed up on her toes and kissed him. "It's getting late, and I do want to get out there to help my sisters get the house ready and set stuff up. Everyone else is supposed to be getting there around noon."
Bobby gave a brief nod as he unwrapped his arms from around her waist. "I've got a few places I need to stop at first, but...I should be there by at least one."
"Party crasher."
Bobby smirked as he watched her grabbed her purse and jacket. "It's supposed to be a nice weekend. Going to be in the high sixties today and tomorrow, with-with, uh...tonight's temperature around the mid-fifties."
Alex chuckled as she gave him another quick kiss. "At least you read the weather report before I made you pay attention to me."
Bobby walked her out to her car and held the door open for her as she slipped into the driver's seat. "I'll call you after I cross into Long Island and you can make sure I find my way from there."
She gave him a smile and wave before she pulled away and headed home. As he watched her drive away, he let out a breath and took a glance around the street. Movement in a car at the corner caught his attention. The driver was well hidden in the shadows as the car started and drove away.
Bobby had the sudden urge to write down the license plate and not knowing why. There was nothing abnormal about a guy starting his car and driving away. Shaking it off as paranoia and his cop instincts going haywire, he shook his head and went back into his house.
211 Harbor Bay Road
Oyster Bay, Long Island
She checked her watch again; it was going on one thirty and Bobby had called twenty minutes ago. Alex frowned in worry as she pulled out her cell and checked it again, making sure he hadn't called again. He hadn't.
"So, did Bobby decide to bail on us?"
Alex looked up at her father and smiled. "No, he's just...running late. It is Saturday and there's probably traffic."
Her father, John, smiled as he gave her a soft hug. "This is wonderful; you guys did a good job with the place."
"It was mostly Angie and Liz, I got here late myself. I'm glad you and mom like it."
"We're ecstatic. This was such a surprise, and to have everyone all together for once and having fun. It's the best gift a parent can ask for."
Alex looked around the big yard and toward the house they had rented. It was huge; a big, sky blue Dutch Colonial style house. There were six bedrooms and five baths with a spacious kitchen that made everyone happy; it made the running in and out for food and drinks easier with all the people there. The Long Island Sound was only forty yards away and the kids were getting all ready for the boat ride that her brother Rich promised them all.
She turned back to her dad as she told him, "I was going to get you and mom tickets for separate cruises."
John smiled and laughed. "Figured you would have thought of something like that." He looked over her shoulder and his eyes narrowed slightly. "I think he's here."
Alex turned around and her smile grew as she spotted Bobby's Mustang parking on the side of the road.
"Nice car."
Alex chuckled as she told him, "He worked on it with his friend for four months." She watched as Bobby got out and reached into the backseat; he pulled out a medium sized brown bag then shut the driver's door. When he turned around, he didn't move for a long moment. "I think....Yep, he's going to need me. I'll be right back."
She left her father's side and walked across the open yard to the street. Bobby was slowly walking toward her, meeting her halfway. Alex couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. He was looking exceptionally good to her with his black shades that matched his jeans and he had thrown on a light blue button down dress shirt that was open at the collar exposing his white T-shirt. He had that shy, awkward walk of his with his head down slightly but she knew he was aware of everything around him.
As she got closer, she noticed that he had gotten his hair cut as well. He was really trying and she couldn't have been happier about it. Alex stopped in front of him as her smile widened. "You made it."
Bobby slightly smiled as he shifted the bag from his left hand to his right before placing his left on the small of her back. He guided her along with him as they made their way toward her father. Leaning down closer to her, he apologized, "Sorry I'm late."
"It's okay," she told him as she placed her hand against his back, in between his shoulder blades, as they walked. "We haven't really done much yet, just getting the kids ready to go a boating trip."
Bobby was looking around the area; taking a long moment to study the house before staring out toward the water. "This is really nice. I bet your parents were excited when they saw it."
Alex looked up as she told him, "According to my dad, they were ecstatic."
Bobby looked down at her and gave her that shy smile of his as he said, "I'm glad."
Alex felt the muscles in his back tense as they got closer to her dad. She became worried but didn't let it show as they stopped in front of him. She couldn't help but watch Bobby as he shifted nervously around before he positioned his legs apart and held his ground.
"Mr. Eames," Bobby greeted her dad as he shook his hand.
John smiled a little but Alex knew that solid stern look of his; he was in 'cop mode'. "So, you've finally decided to meet us; took you long enough, don't you think?" he asked in a very condescending tone.
Alex felt Bobby's body flinch, but he didn't let it show visibly. Her dad was going to make him have a heart attack. "Dad," she sternly warned.
John looked down at her and smiled wider but his eyes were still hard and un-amused. "I'm just messing with him."
She saw Bobby staring down at her in confusion and worry. He was barely breathing. "He's just kidding, Bobby," she told him even though she didn't believe it.
"Oh," Bobby said calmly but he was still too tense.
When that was all he said, Alex cleared her throat and pointed to the bag. "What's that?"
Bobby frowned at her before he realized she was pointing to the bag. "Oh, it's...a gift. For you," he said to John and he handed it to him.
John was looking skeptical as he took the bag and opened it. Pulling the contents out, he stared at the bottle and then at Bobby. "How'd you get this?"
"I-I, uh, I know a guy."
Alex tried to see what it was as she stepped to her dad's side and looked at it. She smirked over at Bobby as she said, "Bushmill's Irish Whiskey; I should have known you were up to something when you asked me what his favorite drink was."
Bobby nearly blushed as he looked down at the ground.
"This isn't just any bottle, Alex," her dad told her. "This is a 21 year old bottle. They only have a limited amount of these for sell every year. It's nearly impossible to get and the cost--"
"The cost...it," Bobby interrupted as he shook his head, "doesn't matter. I knew you would like it, so," he said with a shrug as he continued to stare down, probably at his shoes.
"What does it go for?" Alex asked her dad as he turned her bottle over and was reading the label.
John absently said, "A buck thirty."
Alex turned to Bobby and said in disbelief. "A hundred and thirty dollars? Bobby," she went to say when he shook his head.
"It's nothing." Bobby was starting to sidestep around in a small circle now as his nervous energy was increasing and his attention span was slipping.
Alex couldn't believe that she knew him so well that she could tell all that about him just by watching him move.
"Why did you get this?"
Bobby looked at her dad for a long moment before asking, "What?"
John was still marveling at the bottle as he asked again, "Why did you get this for me? It cost a lot and..." her dad gave him a suspicious look as his eyes narrowed at him. "You weren't trying to buy me were you?"
Alex couldn't believe he just asked that, and at Bobby of all people. "Dad, Bobby doesn't go around trying to buy people."
"Please, Alex," her dad strictly told her; she hadn't heard that tone since she was a child. "Let him answer."
Bobby was looking lost as she returned her gaze to him. The sunglasses were hiding his eyes, but she could tell by the way he worked his jaw and his face went slack, that he had no idea what to say. "I...don't," he shook his head slightly as he tried to figure out what his answer was. "Your daughter is right, Mr. Eames, I don't...buy, or bribe, people. I-I thought...I just, wanted to...um, get you something, Sir."
Alex was staring at him in concern as she felt sorry for him. Bobby was really feeling bad if he was being reduced to calling her father 'sir'. And he was obviously feeling embarrassed as his neck turned a light shade of red. His hand was rubbing at the back of his neck as his head bent forward a little. She could only imagine what he was thinking right now. Her father was a tough man to please having been a cop his whole life, but to question someone doing something as nice as getting him a gift...She couldn't remember her dad ever doing that. Not to anyone.
She turned to her dad, arms crossed, as she stared up at him. "What's the matter with you?"
Her dad didn't even flinch as he stared back down at her. He wasn't a tall man, but he was still a few inches taller than she was and he usually intimidated her. "Excuse me? Alex, honey, this is between me and him. Okay."
"Like hell it is," she snapped back. She glanced at Bobby who was staring at her in shock and not knowing what to do. "Look, I know that you're worried, and given the circumstances, maybe you should be, but you don't. And I'm not going to stand by as you make Bobby feel like shit when he could have not gotten you anything at all. He was being considerate, and he was trying, really trying, and for him that's something."
"He's never tried before. What's he trying to get out of doing it now?" John turned back to Bobby as he directed the question at him. "Well?"
Bobby was shocked still and Alex couldn't blame him as he suddenly turned and walked away.
"Damn it, Bobby," Alex shouted as she glared at her father before following him.
He couldn't breathe. There wasn't a single breath of air leaving his lungs as he headed back to his car. Alex's voice was barely heard as his head was buzzing with her father's words. What did he do to deserve that? Not a damn thing!
On the drive to the house, Bobby had hoped that everything would be okay. That her family would be at least able to stand hi, being there and actually try to get to know him. He was an idiot to even think that. It had been too long. Because of his damn insecurities, he had turned her family against him. And her father hated him and he thought he was after something or trying to...
He had no idea what he was thinking, but it wasn't good.
Bobby reached his car at the same time Alex grabbed him. She pulled him back as she slid in-between him and the car, keeping him from opening the door. "Move," he said as a rush of air left his burning lungs.
"Bobby," she was pleading with him, and he didn't like that. Not at all.
"I tried. I'm not staying," Bobby told her what he had been thinking and feeling. "What your dad said...I've..." he shook his head as he pulled out his keys and eyed her again.
"You've what?"
Bobby took a deep breath as he steadied his anger. "I haven't been...embarrassed like that...not since, my own father. And, with this...shame...I-I, can't." God, was that even a sentence? He was starting to shake and his jaw was flexing as he felt the pent up energy coursing through him.
Alex placed her hands on the sides of his neck and pulled him to her. He caught himself from falling forward by placing his hands on the car on either side of her head. Bobby's chest was hurting as his breathing became ragged. His forehead rested on hers as she massaged his neck and then his shoulders. The tension wasn't going to leave his body; he was too angry still.
Her breathing was soft, and it was calming. He tried to focus on her and not his racing pulse as he took in a deep breath and opened his eyes. Alex was staring up at him with so much sympathy it sent a new wave of anger through him. She shouldn't be looking at that because of her family. Family was family, and to her it was special, and delicate, and...loving.
"If you leave now, there won't be another time. You understand?"
Bobby closed his eyes and nodded.
"I'm so sorry, Bobby. I had no idea he was going to be that tough with you."
"Don't be sorry," he bitterly told her. He shook his head slowly on her forehead as he opened his eyes. Alex's stare was one of concern yet of love and understanding. Bobby smiled a little. "I...I brought it on myself. I shouldn't...I mean, I knew it would be hard, and I knew that...that, um...Let's just say I wasn't expecting any hugs, okay."
"He ridiculed you. I still can't believe he did that."
"I can," Bobby simply told her. He was so used to that kind of reaction, especially from fathers that he shouldn't have expected anything less.
Alex pushed him a little, taking him by surprise. "Don't do that. I love my dad, but I know as well as anybody how much of a hard-ass he can be. What my father said was inexcusable, Bobby, you understand me?"
Bobby was unwavering. He knew that she would be pissed at her father just as he knew that she would stick up for him, but she shouldn't have to go to bat for him with her father, or anyone else. "Wha-what do you want me to do?" he asked, changing the subject. Her father could hate him all he wanted, but if Alex wanted him to stay, he would. He would endure, for her he would do just about anything.
Alex was quiet as she thought about it. She was watching him closely before glancing around him at her family who were all probably watching them now. "I...Bobby, I want..." she took a breath and shook her head. "This is your decision."
"No, it's yours. What do you want me to do?" he asked again, emphasizing the words as he said them.
As he waited for her to answer, he was starting to feeling the fear and uncertainty creeping up again. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that he was right. They were all watching them. Frowning, he looked back at her and knew what her answer was, she just couldn't voice it because she didn't want him to be put into anymore hostile situations. However, she wanted him to meet her family and maybe after all the hostility died down, they would be okay.
Bobby nodded a little. "I'll stay."
Alex frowned up at him and rubbed at her forehead. "Bobby, you--"
"Alex," he cut her off as he leaned his head down a little and slid off his sunglasses. His eyes were sincere and full of understanding as he told her, "I said that I'm staying. This, it's important to you, right? So...whether good or bad, I'm not going anywhere."
TBC...part 2