We are now nearing the end of this fic, only five chapters left to go. Something new in this chapter is I have added a song link to go with one of the scenes, there are a couple other chapters left that will have one as well.
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Summer had come and gone, fall was here and there was a cold chill in the air. Lily's birthday had passed, just a small celebration with Marlin, Griffin and Muffy at the bar. Takakura had given her a horse for her birthday that she had named Royal, having him cut the amount of time she spent running errands down considerably. The leaves had turned from green to shades of red and orange and the field of hay behind Lily's barn was completely brown now. Lily and Takakura had been working hard to prepare for winter, cutting the hay and allowing it to dry the rest of the way before throwing it into the hayloft, though they were quickly falling behind and running out of time. Even with time running out Lily still made time in her day to visit Griffin, for which he was always grateful.

Lily stepped into the bar, the lights weren't on yet but Lily knew Griffin and Muffy were home, it was only an hour before they opened. She stepped up to knock on the door leading to Griffin's room when the door flung open. Griffin looked down at her wide-eyed, his hair only half tied up as if he had rushed without looking in a mirror. and his shirt was buttoned unevenly.

"Are you ok?" Lily couldn't help but giggle at his disheveled appearance.

He quickly tried to fix his hair, which was beyond help. "I overslept." He admitted sheepishly.

Lily cocked her head to the said, stepping away from the door. "Overslept for what."

"Well, I..uh…" His cheeks started to flush. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to go on a date?"

Lily could see by the way he leaned away from her slightly, looking at the floor, that he was prepared for rejection. "Yes." She looked him up and down. "On one condition."

"Whats that?" He asked hesitantly.

She pushed him back through the open door gently. "You fix yourself up a little before we leave." She giggled turning him toward the mirror on the wall. She watched him fix his hair and shirt while sitting on the edge of his bed. Though his face was scruffy as always his features looked softer and the pale yellow light from the setting sun cast a halo off his hair, now neatly pulled back and hanging down onto his shoulder.

Griffin turned to her with a soft smile. "Do I look ok now?"

She nodded, grinning at them as they left.

Hand in hand, Griffin took her to the inn, and waited in the kitchen. "I asked Ruby to make us dinner, if thats ok with you."

"Of course." She smiled up at him. Her hand seemed so much smaller in his, though she loved the feeling of their fingers intertwined.

Ruby danced around the kitchen as she cooked, almost as if she were putting on a performance. Eyeing them she had to ask, "Are you two on a date?"

Griffin's face flushed with embarrassment, he was relieved when Lily answered for him. "Yes, we are."

Ruby set down plates of food in front of them. "Well then I'll leave you two alone."

They ate quietly, both of them unsure of what to say. Lily pushed food around, not wanting to look at Griffin's face, the image of him from earlier still etched firmly in her mind.

"It's unseasonably warm today." Griffin forced himself to speak, regretting it almost instantly.

Lily smirked at him. "You're seriously going to talk about the weather?"

"I reckon I am." He chuckled. "I'm sorry"

She smiled at him, her violet eyes shining. "What do you have planned next?"

"I thought that maybe you'd like to take a walk with me."

"Sounds perfect." Lily finished her meal, at least all that she was going to. Ruby had a bad habit of giving everyone larger portions than were possible to eat. Griffin seemed to have the same thought as her, standing first and taking her hand as they left the kitchen.

(Song to go with the next scene: /nicolas-attie/love-has-no-age-nicolas-attie )

The sun had set while they were inside but the street lights hadn't come on yet, the full moon and stars provided plenty of light as they walked along the river toward the waterfall. Griffin held Lily's hand lightly in his, remembering the last time they had been at the waterfall together, they barely knew each other then, he smiled on the memory. He enjoyed her company, more so than anyone else's company.

"I love waterfalls." Lily commented looking up at the sky.

"So do I." He looked at Lily, the stars reflected in her eyes. He cleared his throat. "Hey this is kind of a serious question."

Lily turned her attention to him, the look on her face made his heart leap.

"What do girls your age think of men my age?"

She tilted her head slightly to the side. "What do you mean?

Griffin could feel his face turning red. "Well its hard to say." He struggled to force himself to continue. "Are they, could they, be interested in someone like me romantically?"

"Well I'm interested." She smiled at him innocently.

"Really? Thats awfully kind of you to say given my age."

Lily turned to look back up at the stars. "Love has no age."

"I- are you sure of that?" He stuttered.

"I've never been more sure of anything."

Griffin laughed. "I wasn't expecting that kind of answer honestly."

She turned back to him again, there was something distant in her eyes he couldn't place. Slowly, gently, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, standing on her toes she pulled him closer. Before Griffin could figure out what she was doing her lips were planted on his, his arms found their own way around her waist to the small of her back, keeping her body pressed against his. Her lips parted slightly, she was trembling, whether it was from the passion of the moment or from standing on her toes she didn't know. All the thoughts and insecurities that usually occupied Griffin's mind instantly fled, the only thing he could think about was the heat and love in Lily's kiss and the scent of roses.

It took almost the full hour walk back to Lily's house before Griffin could think clearly again. Standing in front of her house he stumbled, trying to figure out what he should say.

"Would you like to stay the night?" Lily asked, she always seemed to know exactly what to say, even when he was at a loss for words, and with a smile they went inside together.

Griffin and Lily laid in bed together with Abel on the floor next to them, Lily's head rest against his right shoulder, her fingertips resting lightly on his chest, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist as they drifted off to sleep.

Lily awoke in the early morning hours to Griffin tossing and turning in bed, gently Lily nudged him, then again harder until he woke up, shoving her away instinctively and off the bed. She landed on the floor with a thud.

Griffin's eyes widened realizing what he had done. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I-"

"Are you ok?" Lily stood and brushed herself off and sat on the bed next to him, he was drenched in sweat and his eyes were still in a wide panic.

He laughed bitterly. "I hurt you and you're worried about me."

"You didn't hurt me, just threw me off balance." She scooted closer.

Griffin ran a hand over his face. "I need to smoke." He mumbled walking outside. The night air was cold, his hands were shaking, and that, combined with the strong breeze made it impossible to light the cigarette. Lily had followed him outside, still wearing the shorts and t-shirt she had been sleeping in.

"Here." Lily took the cigarette and lighter from him and lit it for him, coughing as she handed it back to him.

He gave her a small nod, still visibly shaking, only partially from the cold.

Lily touched his back gently, still cold and damp. "I'm going to find you a different shirt." She said softly going back inside. "Come in soon." There was almost a mothering tone in her voice. She dug through a drawer to find a shirt that looked like it'd fit Griffin, it was just a plain back t-shirt she occasionally slept in but it'd have to work. Griffin came back inside hanging his head. He couldn't bring himself to look at her.

She held out the shirt to him. "You need to change out of that shirt."

"I'm fine." He sat on the edge of the bed.

"No you're not." She whispered.

With a sigh he started fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, his hands still shaking too badly to complete the simple task. Before he could protest Lily was standing in front of him, unbuttoning his shirt.

He looked up at her, Lily could see pain and fear in his eyes. She rested her hands on his shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid." He admitted, those words had left his lips more often since meeting her than the rest of his life before her combined. "I have a past."

"I know." She slid his shirt off his shoulders. "And I want to know."

Griffin tried to cover himself with the shirt he had been handed, trying not to let her see.

"Griffin…?"

He lowered the shirt, Lily was on her knees in front of him, sadness evident in her eyes. His chest and back were covered in scars either from cuts or burns. He pulled the shirt over his head not meeting her eyes again.

"Is that what you were dreaming about?" She asked so softly he wasn't even sure he had heard her at first. Without waiting for his response she hugged him tightly, knocking him over on the bed.

Laying in bed together Lily sat mostly upright against the headboard with Griffin half in her lap, her hand resting on his shoulder. Slowly Griffin started talking about his past, telling her everything as far back as he could remember. Lily sat in silence, just listening to him and rubbing his back gently. Most of Griffins memories were of pain and loneliness, and listening Lily finally understood why he hadn't wanted to know her. Occasionally his body would shake and a soft sob would escape his chest against his will.

"Lily." His voice was raspy.

"Yes?"

He cleared his throat. "I've got a past, and I'm not perfect."

She rubbed his back, her head resting against the headboard with her eyes closed.

"I drink and smoke too much."

She looked down at him. "I know that."

"You still want an old man like me?"

"You're not that old, but yes."

He hugged her waist. "I'm gonna be a better man for you."