-1Columbia was the first to wake. She still had her arms wrapped around Janet's waist. With a smile she recalled the kiss they had shared. She knew Janet was engaged, but whether or not she'd see her finacé again was iffy, and…she sighed. Why did things have to be so complicated? She knew that the chances of Janet returning her feelings were slim at best, so she decided to keep her mouth shut for the time being. With another sigh she settled back down to sleep. It was Sunday, after all, and they could afford to sleep in.

Frank finally managed to get back to sleep, but his dreams were just as troubled, until finally he could take no more of it. He had to apologize to Columbia. What was it his mother always told him? "Take your dreams very seriously, son, because dreams tell us much about ourselves that sometimes we might prefer not to know." He supposed this was one of those times he was learning something. "Learn something…" he muttered. "I'm a bastard, is what I've learned."

He sighed heavily. There wasn't any easy way to apologize. It just wasn't something he was used to doing. He was Dr. Frank N. Furter, scientist, and he didn't apologize to anybody. Until now.

The knock at the door woke Columbia from her half-sleep. "Who's there?" she called.

"It's me," Frank replied. "Please come out."

Columbia gently let go of Janet and got out of bed to open the door. Frank motioned for her to follow him, which she did, reluctantly. He took her back to 'his' room and ushered her inside. He sat on the bed and took her hands in his. "Columbia. You've no idea how difficult this is to say, but I made a mistake, and I was wrong to yell at you."

At any other time, Columbia might have been softened by his words and maybe even could have forgiven him, but circumstance had made her unpredictable and moody. She just glowered at him and replied, "You're right. You made a mistake. It's your fault we're here and it's your fault I can't see Mags, and it's your fault--"

He slapped her across the face. "Shut up," he growled.

She slapped him back, delivering a ringing blow to the side of his head. "You shut up!" she shouted. "I've had enough of you always looking over my shoulder, always telling me what to do. I hate you! Do you hear me? I just want to go home."

Grabbing her wrists so she couldn't slap him again, Frank replied, "Claws in, you cat. If you hit me again, so help me…"

She twisted in his grasp, the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "Let…me…go!" she said through gritted teeth.

"Calm down." He squeezed her wrists threateningly.

She began crying, trying to beat his chest with her fists, but he held her tightly. "I just want to go home," she sobbed, beaten. "I just want to see everyone again, Frankie."

He let go of her wrists and let her fall into his arms. "We'll get home," he promised. "I don't know how long it will take, but we will get home. Oh, Columbia…" He buried his face in her neck to hide his tears, ashamed that he was crying. She cried right back, sobbing into his shoulder.

"I wish they were here right now…" she said, meaning Magenta and Riff Raff. Frank nodded into her shoulder, still hiding his tears.

"If Riff were here," he said, "I know we could get back. I can't keep the lab straight without him. If he were here…the two of us would find a way to get back."

Columbia climbed into Frank's lap. "Frankie…why did you hit me?"

He sighed. "Because…I'm an asshole, Columbia. I don't deserve you. I don't deserve anything. But…you're still here, with me. Why?"

She hugged him and laughed softly. "Silly. It's because I love you."

"Even after I hurt you?"

"Even so," she murmured, moving away and stretching out on his bed. "And since you're man enough to admit that you're no good…I guess that means you're pretty alright."

"That makes no sense."

She shrugged and pulled him down next to her. "Don't have to. I…Frank…I didn't mean to hurt you, Frankie. I didn't mean to yell at you, darling. Forgive me?"

Frank smiled through his tears. It wasn't her fault, she must know that it could never be her fault, but to make things right she would apologize and hope that it meant he would agree to forget that anything had ever been wrong.

"It's not your fault, doll," Frank whispered into her ear. "It's not your fault. You needn't apologize, love. I should be the one apologizing. Can you forgive me?"

In answer, Columbia buried her fingers in Frank's hair and covered his face and neck with kisses, kissing away the tears he'd failed to hide. "Of course," Columbia whispered in reply.

The two of them snuggled together, truly alone for the first time. Even in the castle there had been the risk of Riff Raff or Magenta inadvertently walking in, but here…they were truly alone, behind a locked door. Naturally, they decided to take full advantage of the situation.

Author's Note: I'm currently working on a Rocky Horror Christmas Special to get in the holiday spirit, so this is the beginning of the "Intermission", so to speak. I won't be working anymore on this story until the Christmas Special is finished. Well, I lie, I'll be working on it like a dog, but the CS will have first priority until it is finished. I'll work on uploading a few more chapters of Time Warped, and there is a chapter of After the Fact that is currently in the works.

Hope you enjoyed, and hope you enjoy!