Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owner's, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
*Warning Rated M for Bad language & Violence.
"He did what?" Cody roared as Buck filled the boys in about what had gone down at the small farm just hours ago.
"Tody, Meme," The soft sound of Lily called as she ran from the bunkhouse, desperately trying to get their attention.
"Hi sweetheart," Jimmy smiled as he bent down preparing to capture the little girl in his arms, but to his surprise she flew into Cody's.
"Hi Lilybug,"
"Tiff 'as gotta baby," She told Cody seriously, "In 'ere." She pointed to her own tummy.
Cody laughed, "She has, has she?"
"Mmm," Lily nodded her head while Cody adjusted her on his hip.
"Where was this one and Lou when it went down?" Cody asked Buck, keeping his tone light for Lily's sake.
"In the bunkhouse." Buck told him. "They arrived back from meeting Jenny, and the Harrington's were already here." Buck smiled up at Lily who was nodding her little head in confirmation.
"I got 'dis many sweets." Lily told them, holding three fingers up proudly, after she heard Jenny's name.
"Three Lily. That is too many for a little tummy." Jimmy teased.
"Tis'nt" she shook her head at Jimmy.
"Well how bout you come with me and you can show me where your Mama is and where she hides them sweets." Jimmy suggested to which Lily held her arms out. He could see Cody's eyes trained on the cottage, he needed to go check on Tiffany.
Cody passed her over, relieved Jimmy had offered, cos as much as he cared for Lily he really wanted to go and check up on Tiffany.
"She's with Rachel in the main house." Buck told Cody.
Jimmy and Buck both watched Cody run up to the main house.
Buck was feeling guilty that he had not heard Meredith and Emmett earlier than he had. If he had then maybe Emmett wouldn't have laid a hand on his daughter.
"I got a bad feeling about all of this." Buck muttered to Jimmy. "Her father is a determined man. For him to grab his daughter like that…it scares me when I think how far he would go to get what he wanted."
"Perhaps the girls coming on a drive with us isn't such a stupid idea." Jimmy mused out loud.
"But it would be." Buck reminded him. "Sure Lou and Rachel would cope; they've done it before, but Tiffany." Buck shook his head, "It would be hard for her, and she is with child."
"You're right." Jimmy agreed. "And Little Miss Lily here," Jimmy bounced her on his hip to see if she was listening. She giggled and wrapped her small arms around Jimmy's head trying to keep it still so she could give him kisses.
Buck and Jimmy laughed when she finally planted one on his cheek, "'dotcha'"
"I don't know about you Buck, but do you think Miss Lily needs a bath?" Jimmy looked to the horse trough.
Buck following his eyes and nodded his head in agreement, and decided to play along with Jimmy. "I think your right. How about over there?" Buck pointed to the horse trough he and Jimmy were eyeing.
"No, no, I not a 'orsey." Lily said seriously seeing where Buck was pointing.
"But you need a bath," Jimmy laughed as he started to walk over to the trough. "Do you know Teaspoon takes his baths in there?"
"Lily not," she said as quick as can be.
Jimmy started to tickle her making her giggle hysterically. "Your right, Lily will not be taking a bath in there." Jimmy told her as he straightened her up.
"Yeah because he's scared of Lily's Mama," Buck laughed.
Lily frowned at Buck before looking at Jimmy, all giggles gone. "Mama not scary, she not da monster, she not hurt your arm."
Both Buck and Jimmy's face drained of all colour, as cold prickled up their spines.
It was the first time they had heard Lily even say anything about what had happened all those months ago.
"I'm sorry Lily you're right." Buck was the first to recover. "Your Mama would never hurt anyone."
"She 'tis good." Lily agreed.
"That she is." Buck smiled. " .You." he told her poking her tummy with every word." Lily giggled and held her arms out to Buck.
"Are you going to help me fill Teaspoon's bath?" Buck asked Lily as he took her from Jimmy.
"Cans he have bubbles?"
"No, bubbles are for pretty people only."
"Like me."
"Yes Lily, like you." Buck looked at Jimmy to see he was still dealing with what Lily had said.
"Jimmy, Lily and I are going to feed the horses. How bout you go and see if Lou wants to make a special bubble bath for a pretty girl."
"Meme not listening." She giggled in Bucks ear.
"I am Lily. I think a bubble bath sounds good." Jimmy leant in and kissed the wee girl on her forehead. "See you soon."
.
.
.
Jimmy watched Buck and Lily disappear into the barn. He couldn't believe Lily had said what she did. He wasn't ready for that and he wasn't ready for the memories that came to his mind from that day.
"Jimmy have you seen Lily?" Rachel called out from the main house. "Cody said she was with you."
"She's helping Buck in the barn. Did you need her?"
"No. Just wanted to know where she was." Rachel smiled.
Jimmy made his way over to Rachel. "How's Tiffany doing?"
"Her arms are pretty bruised up." Rachel seethed, "And she's cried herself to exhaustion. But Cody being back has helped."
"Did Lily see Emmett grabbing Tiffany by the arms?"
"I-uh-I don't know. Why?"
"Just something she said." Jimmy muttered. "Where's Lou?"
"She's doing some vegetables for supper in here. Did you need her?"
Jimmy nodded as he walked up the steps of the main house. "I'll come and see her."
He sat of the porch chair and unlaced his boots before pulling them free from his feet. "God that feels good," He sighed to himself.
The weather was meant to be cooling down some, as they headed into autumn, but they seemed to be having some sort of heat wave. His feet felt twice the size as they usually did.
Heading into the house and straight for the kitchen, Jimmy stopped in the door way and watched as Lou peeled some vegetables with a small knife.
"I told Lily she could have a bubble bath," He started, "I hope that's alright."
"Of course it is Jimmy." Lou smiled up at him, "Is she ready now?"
"No, she's helping Buck feed out."
"I'm nearly done here and then I'll boil some water."
Walking further into the kitchen Jimmy picked up a piece of peeled carrot. "Do you think Lily remembers that day when Andrew…"
Jimmy stopped when he heard the knife clatter on the floor.
"Sorry." Lou bent down and picked the knife up, shaking her head as she did so. "I would say she does. I mean it wasn't that long ago and it was pretty traumatic for her." Lou wiped the knife before she started with the last potato. She was trying to make it seem that this conversation wasn't upsetting for her.
"Why do you ask?"
Jimmy knew that Lou was trying to be alright with this talk, but he could see her chest rise and fall quickly as her breathing became rushed. But despite that he continued. He wanted to be able to talk to her about it, and he hoped that she would realise that she could talk to him about it also.
"She said something before and it shocked me is all. I didn't think she would remember that day. I wish she didn't remember." Lou sighed aloud at Jimmy's comment.
"Jimmy I know how you're feeling, trust me I know. But just because she is young it doesn't mean she doesn't remember certain things from the past. It was only a few months back."
"I know, but…hell," Jimmy threw his hands up in frustration. "I didn't think she would. And I don't know how I can stop you both from ever remembering anything about him."
Placing the knife down and putting the last potato with the rest, Lou walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his torso, "You can't." She told him simply. "In time Lily may forget but if she doesn't it will surely be just a distant bad memory for her. She won't remember the finer details. But I will never forget Jimmy." She told him with certainty.
"He will always be in the back of my mind no matter how many years pass. But at the same time, I can honestly say there are moments during the day where he isn't there. When I'm with you and Lily it makes me happy and I forget him for a while. It may not seem it but those moments are happening more often than not."
"It hurts something fierce when I can see you struggling with your memories, or when you talk about what happened. To have Lily bring him up, hit me hard."
"What did she say?"
"Buck and I were joking around and Buck made a comment about me being scared of you." Lou snorted out a laugh, which caused Jimmy to stop and smile, "Lily turned all serious and told us that you weren't a monster and you wouldn't hurt my arm." Jimmy's smile fell as he remembered her small face as she told him this.
Lou couldn't deny that her chest tightened upon hearing that. Lily was far too young to have to have that on her mind. But at the same time she was sure that the memory will fade for her daughter.
Lou squeezed Jimmy tighter in her arms, "She's ok Jimmy. I think I should have talked to her about what happened. I don't know why I didn't," Lou muttered that last part more to herself. "Do you think it's too late to bring it up now?" She asked Jimmy.
"I don't know Lou. I truly don't." Jimmy admitted, "I don't like the idea of bringing that monster up at all. Your right, we, and I stress the 'we' Lou, should have sat down with her when it happened. I think if we do bring it all back up now it could do more damage than good."
Lou smiled into Jimmy's chest. She loved him, she loved that he loved Lily.
"How bout I boil the water for Lily's bath while you finish up in here." Jimmy suggested, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "I'll meet you in the bunkhouse."
"I have a better Idea," Lou smiled, "How about you make that bath big enough for Lily and me."
"I'll see what I can do." Jimmy teased before leaning down and placing his lips to hers.
Lou placed a small hand on Jimmy's cheek as she kissed him back. She couldn't deny that touching him and wanting to be with him, was getting stronger every day.
Pulling back with a smug grin on his face he smiled brightly before heading off to pour his girls a bath.
Teaspoon headed into town instead of going back to the farm with Cody and Jimmy.
There were a few loose ends to tie up at the Sheriff's office. And he also liked to go and check the town at least a couple of times a day. Though a small part inside of him, and a very small part it was, wanted to deny any of the town folk any help if they were in trouble.
This whole business with the Harrington's rattled him. He would have thought that he and his boys belonged to this town just like the other folks did.
After all these years, was it ludicrous to think that he and the boys deserved the same level of station as the Harrington's?
It saddened him and Rachel both when they learnt of the whole town shunning the family. None of them deserved that.
Making sure his papers were all placed in his desk, and his gun cabinet closed and locked, with his keys in his hiding place, Teaspoon heard the sound of heavy boots scuff across the hard wooden floors.
Rolling his eyes to himself he dreaded turning around to see who and what he was about to face.
His mind was not in the right place to help anyone of this town. Not after the way his family had been treated.
As soon as that thought entered his head, a stab of guilt pierced his gut.
Deep down, no matter how he felt, he would always want to help those whom were in need.
So with a deep breath and a fake smile he spun round to greet his visitor.
"How can I…" His eyes narrowed as he took in the once innocent eyes of a boy, who not only bought mischief into their lives, but happiness to.
It had been seven, nearly eight years since he had laid his eyes upon the boy.
Of course he read about him, heard about him and even dreamt about him, but none of that compared to having him stand there in person.
"Jessie?" He uttered not quite believing.
"Hi Teaspoon." Jessie smiled sheepishly.
