A/N: I'm sorry you all had to wait so long for this update, but most of the reviews I got last chapter were in opposition to what I had written next. That left me not knowing what to do, and what you have here is a (lame & short) attempt at getting past my writer's block. Sooo… Here we go in a slightly different direction. For now. Sorry for the shortness.
Oh - and you can all thank Silvia for the last push that finally made me update!
From Last Time:
"Tell me," Cal encouraged her, just above a whisper.
Gillian thought to herself, It would definitely be easier to tell him to wait, but I really don't want to. So…what do I say?
Cal leaned in and started kissing her neck, making her sigh as she tipped her head away from him so he had more room. It was only when he ran his tongue over her skin that she really decided what she wanted to do.
"Cal," she suddenly said with determination as she placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away from her. "I want to wait." She reached down and pushed his hand away from her jeans, immediately regretting her decision but knowing it would be worth the wait. If she was going to have him, she was going to have all of him.
"Alright, love. If you're sure," he said with a look of amusement, not at all convinced she didn't want to proceed.
Pulling herself together, she said with forced confidence, "I am." Then, after exchanging knowing looks with Cal, she added, "We should get you home. I'm sure Emily will want to see you," and though you'll protest, you need to rest some more. Especially after your confrontation with Mark, and Emily will help me with that. She gave him a smile.
"What's that then?" he asked, circling his finger at her face. "Your wheels are turnin' up there. What are you thinkin'?"
She bit her lip while smiling at him, refusing to answer.
He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment before saying, "No matter. Em will probably want to see you too. Drive me home?"
"Sure," she replied with a smile, gently placing her hand on his chest before grabbing her purse and leading them to the car.
###
After pulling into Cal's driveway, Gillian came around the side of the car where Cal was struggling to stand. She crouched down and put an arm around his middle, pulling him to stand as he took in a sharp breath, holding it for a moment before slowly letting it back out through barely parted lips.
"Come on," she said, leading him inside and back over to the couch. "This is where you should have been the whole day!"
"You know you're glad I came over," he said with a grunt as he gently flopped on the couch again. "You'd be stuck gettin' cozy with the biggest wanker in DC if I hadn't."
"He didn't turn out to be as great as I'd thought," she admitted, sitting sideways on the edge of the couch next to him.
He brought a hand to her face, running his finger tips down her cheek before putting his fingers under her chin and running his thumb over her bottom lip.
"You deserve better than him," he told her quietly.
Turning to him, she smiled and laid her arm across his stomach.
"You deserve better than me too, but that's completely beside the point," he quipped.
She laughed at him and said, "I think you're perfect for me."
She was leaning down to kiss him when she heard the door and sat up straight again, earning a pout from Cal. She gave him a small smile, knowing he was disappointed but not feeling comfortable enough to be kissing him in front of his daughter.
She gently laid her hand over the bruise on his face and said, "I wonder when this will start to fade."
"I quite like it. Gives me a bad boy look," he said while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Gross, Dad!" Emily said, appearing in the doorway with a look of disgust. "Keep your bedroom talk to the bedroom. Please!"
Cal leaned up slightly to look around Gillian, saying, "Bedroom talk? I hardly think that qualifies."
Gillian swatted him on the arm before turning toward Emily with a sympathetic smile.
"Ow! Injured man! Watch where you swing your limbs about, will you?" Cal complained loudly.
"Pipe down, old man," Emily told him. Then, scampering toward Gillian who was now standing, she threw her arms around her saying, "I'm so happy he finally told you!"
Returning Emily's hug, Gillian said, "Me too."
Emily released her while saying, "I'm pretty sure he's been pining after you for years."
"Pinin', Em? I do not pine," Cal defended himself.
"Definitely not," Gillian agreed. "You get jealous and throw tantrums instead. Much more grown up than pining."
"That does sound more like him," Emily said teasingly.
"Bloody hell," Cal complained, looking between the two females. "Attacked from all sides! I'm glad I've got my back to the couch."
Emily smirked at him before more seriously asking, "How are you feeling, Dad?"
"I'm sore, but I'll be alright, love. Nothin' to worry 'bout," he told her with a genuine smile so sweet that it melted Gillian's heart.
Smiling back at him, Emily said, "Good. I'll go start dinner."
"I'll help," Gillian offered. Turning to Cal with a point of her finger, she added, "You – stay put and rest."
"I've got no where to go now. Both my girls are already here," he told her, a look of love in his eyes.
She smiled at him and followed Emily into the kitchen.
"He means that, you know?" Emily asked, wondering if Gillian understood just how important she was to her dad. "He was heart-broken when he found out you had a boyfriend. Or have…a boyfriend?" she asked, wanting clarification.
"Had," Gillian told her, taking a seat at the island. Emily had gotten out the ingredients for spaghetti and Gillian knew they'd be waiting for the water to boil.
"Oh?" Emily asked, intrigued that things had changed so much in a day.
Giving her a knowing look, Gillian said, "Mark showed up at my place while your dad was there, and I ended it." She didn't think Emily needed to know everything, so she skated over the details.
"Mmhm," the teen said, not at all convinced it was that easy. "So, dad just hung back and let you break up with the guy? I don't buy that for a second. Knowing him he probably punched the guy right in the nose the second he tried to touch you."
Seeing the shock on Gillian's face, Emily said, "No way! He punched the guy? Go, Dad!"
"Oi! What are you talkin' 'bout?" Cal called from the other room.
Gillian quickly walked over to the den and said, "Nothing. It's nothing."
"Nothing?" Emily squealed from over her shoulder.
Gillian gave Cal an apologetic look, not knowing how much he wanted his daughter to know.
"You punched a guy to get Gillian and it's nothing?" she questioned, her voice taking on a higher pitch than usual.
Propping himself up with much effort, Cal said, "I did not punch the guy to get her. I already had her at that point. I punched him because he was an arse."
"What did he do?" Emily asked, now feeling concerned for Gillian.
Hearing the worry in her voice, Gillian laid a hand on her arm and told her, "He just said some things that weren't very nice. Your dad shut him up though."
"Damn right, I did," Cal said seriously, lying back down again.
"I'll go check the water," Emily quietly said, seeing the way the two were looking at each other.
"Come back over here," Cal gently requested of Gillian. She had that look in her eyes again, the one that told him she was thinking over what Mark had said about her. He patted the edge of the couch next to him, and she lowered herself on the few inches of couch available, smiling when Cal pulled her into him. She placed her arm on the far side of him near the back of the couch to prop herself up. She found herself inches from him and she couldn't help but smile even wider.
"You listen to me," he told her in a hushed tone, wiping the smile from her face as his eyes looked deep into hers. "I want you to forget about what that prick said. Anyone that gets time with you is lucky, and their life is better for it. If anyone has wasted their time it was you who wasted your time on him. You're loyal, dedicated, and caring." He paused, seeing tears rise in her eyes then added, "And I mean really, Gil – the guy needs to get his eyes checked! Not hot?" He shook his head, looking down her body again, "You really are the sexiest thing I've laid eyes on, and I can't wait to see what's under those clothes…"
"Cal!" Gillian yelled in a hushed tone with a chuckle and a slap of his arm.
"It's true. I've been curious for years and I'm about ready to–"
"Dinner will be ready in five minutes," Emily said, interrupting a statement that Gillian was sure was about to make her blush.
"I'll get the plates out!" Gillian said, happy for an escape from the conversation that was quickly turning dirty.
Cal grabbed her hand before she could leave. She looked back at him and he said, "You forget what he said, and remember my words."
She nodded at him and started walking away when he called her once more. She turned to look at him again, one hand on the doorway.
"I love you, Gillian."
Slowly walking back toward him, she bent down and placed a quick kiss on his lips, then whispered in his ear, "I love you too."
I refuse to make any guesses about when my next update will be since I failed miserably this time. I will, however, say that I am not abandoning this story. So stick with me!
