A note from your author...As always, I extend my deepest gratitude to you all for your continued support of this story. I am so incredibly blessed. This chapter is meant to be a filler. A fluffy little arc bridging chapter filled with Will/Louisa adorableness with a huge side of Georgina thrown in for good measure. I hope everyone is still enjoying this story. I know I tend to switch gears a little, flipping from action/emotion pack chapters, to slow moving filler chapters showing the mundane simplicity of everyday life. I try to stay true to the characters and story lines while still building on the plot itself. There is also usually some sort of reference to Will's disability in just about every chapter, such as a schedule mention, a dose of medication, a slightly self-deprecating quip made by Will himself...done not because I feel the need to remind or reiterate, but because that is his reality and it is my job to stay true to his character, to all of the characters. In closing, thanks again for reading, reviewing, liking, messaging, etc. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

"You weren't kidding last night when you said you were exhausted."

"God Clark, I am so sorry," Will grimaced through his apology.

"Stop. I was just teasing," I assured him as I walked the rest of the way into his bedroom, morning meds already in hand. In the days since I'd moved in, Will and I fell into a routine where as I would complete the first-thing-in-the-morning duties...re-position, meds, BP check. It shaved about twenty to thirty minutes off of Nathan's start time and provided Will and I with some additional time together. I was very happy to take whatever time he was willing to give.

Will was resting on his left side, so I first had to remove the support pillows from behind him before easing him onto his back. I adjusted any awkwardly position limbs, then raised the head of the bed slightly. "Nathan said you were asleep before your head even hit the pillow."

"I'm surprised I made it that far," Will added, keeping the playful banter going. "Nearly fell asleep during my shower."

I laughed, even if Nathan had already shared that piece of information with me the night before. "Well, you'll just have to tell me all about your day over breakfast then," I announced, just as I had administered the last of Will's medication. "Have you thought of what you'd like this morning?"

Will's gaze lingered on me for a moment. "Whatever you want," he finally stated, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. I raised a curious brow at him. "You always make what I like to eat. So today, I'd like to try something you enjoy eating."

My expression turned skeptical at first, but was quickly replaced by a spreading smirk of amusement. "I like just about everything," I countered, shrugging indifferently as I reached for the blood pressure monitor.

"Surprise me then," he replied, once the test was complete.

"I think I will," I whispered coyly as that deep desire from the day before, suddenly returned. This time, instead of ignoring it, I acted on it and pressed my lips firmly to his. Will seemed surprised by my brazenness, but not at all displeased.

I stood immediately upon hearing the annex door open and the familiar sound of Nathan's footsteps nearing.

"Clark?" Will called out after me, and I turned to face him. "Thank you. For yesterday. For the idea of the tickets. For everything."

As soon as I stepped over the threshold of the back door of the annex, I could hear muffled voices coming from the kitchen.

"-join us for brunch."

"I've already eaten," Will's impatient voice rang out. "Louisa and I had breakfast hours ago."

"Where is Louisa?" I could hear Georgina ask next.

"Church with her family."

"And you didn't go with?"

Will scoffed. "You're really asking that?"

There was an awkward silence after that and I used it to consider my options.

"Will, please," Georgina nearly begged.

Easing open the door I had just entered from, I shoved it closed, this time with more force than actually needed. "I'm home," I called out, heading through the hallway. "Oh hi."

I acted surprised, and while Will looked annoyed, Georgina looked almost relieved to see me. "Good morning, Louisa," she greeted with a genuine smile. "I just came by to see if you and Will would like to join us for Sunday brunch."

"That sounds lovely."

"We've already eaten," Will interjected pointedly.

"Yes well, true as that is, I'll never turn down a good cup of tea," I quipped playfully as I paused at the sink to first wash my hands. "You coming?" I'd asked Will in passing. Sometimes the only way to get him to do something he didn't want to do was to head off and do it yourself.

Georgina and I had gotten all the way to the doorway and Will still hadn't budged. When I glanced back, he glared at me and heaved a reluctant sigh, but slowly followed us out.

Mrs. Traynor has spared nothing in preparation for this gathering-platters of delicious smelling food, her finest crystal and china. My stomach fluttered slightly at the formality of it all. I was never so relieved to be wearing my conservative Sunday best.

"Oh Will, Louisa, I'm so happy you could make it," Mrs. Traynor exclaimed by way of greeting. She seemed uncharacteristically nervous for some reason as she rushed to remove a dining chair and open a spot for Will.

"Don't bother, Mother. I won't fit," he muttered, gaze set on the large scalloped lip of the ornate table. Deep disappointment clouding her features because of the oversight, Mrs. Traynor tucked the discarded chair against the wall so Will could do what he wanted with the space. He pulled up almost parallel to the table, angled toward me.

"What can I get you, Louisa?" Mrs. Traynor asked, after first clearing her throat.

"Just a cup. Honey and lemon, please. And maybe one of those," I replied, blushing slightly as I pointed to the platter farthest away from me. "I simply can not resist a good looking pastry."

She smiled as she passed me my items, then turned to her son. "Will?"

"I'm not hungry," he countered, but conceded to the offer of tea with his unique head nod version of a shrug.

"So what are your plans for today?" Mr. Traynor broke the ice as the platters were passed around the table.

"I'm really not sure," I answered, glancing over at Will for some guidance. He looked equally surprised by the question. "We hadn't planned anything yet. Maybe a picnic in the gardens?"

Mr. Traynor nodded his head approvingly. "What about you, George?"

Georgina considered her answer as she chewed and swallowed her last bite of food. "I need to take Apollo out for a bit, then probably get started on the grooming."

"Yes. A beautiful day for a ride."

"It is," Georgina conceded, smile widening as she turned toward me. "Would you care to join me, Louisa?"

"Horseback riding?" I gasped, taken aback by her question. "I've never been."

Georgina let out soft giggle of disbelief. "Then you absolutely must."

I glanced over at Will who had a small smirk playing at his lips. "She's got the perfect outfit for it."

I narrowed my eyes at him, though there was nothing but mirth behind it. I knew he was mocking my 'mad woman' attire from our failed racing outing, but there was also something else about his demeanor that I couldn't quite put my finger on. "Oh, I don't think-"

"You should go," Will cut me off mid-sentence.

"But I-"

"Clark."

"You'll come with?"

Will seemed genuinely surprised I'd asked, but flashed a supportive smile my way before nodding and switching his gaze to his sister. "She should ride Lilly."

Georgina broke out into a huge grin. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Taking in the sibling's exchange as well as Mrs. Traynor's hopeful expression, I couldn't help but concede. "Well, I suppose I should eat something more than a danish if I'm going to spend the afternoon learning how to ride a horse."

There was a soft echo of laughter as the platters were passed around for the second time that morning.

I could see Will watching from beyond the fence as I trotted along behind Georgina and Apollo. Lilly was the most beautiful horse, white as snow with the silkiest coat and the tamest disposition of any animal I'd ever seen.

"You're a natural, Clark," Will called out as we neared.

"Oh, I don't know," I replied, heaving an anxious sigh. "I think she can just sense how terrified I am."

Will laughed. "More terrifying than scuba diving?"

"Oh God no," I gasped incredulously. "I still have nightmares of being devoured by sharks."

"But it was all worth it, wasn't it?" he queried, smile widening.

"Yes it was," I conceded, matching his grin.

"Okay Georgie, take her to a gallop."

At Georgina's nod, I nearly panicked. "What? Will?"

"You can do it," he assured me wholeheartedly. "You'll be fine, Clark. Just hold on tight. She won't hurt you."

I did do it, and she didn't hurt me, and it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

We slowed to a stop near the fence. Georgina held the reins while I dismounted. "So you had fun?" Will asked, even if he already knew what my answer would be.

I nodded in reply, still in awe of the creature standing next to me. "I think she's the most beautiful horse I have ever seen."

"She is," Will concurred. "And the most gentle. You'll never find any better."

"Oh you're just saying that because she's your horse," Georgina teased.

I sent a perplexed look Will's way. "I thought you hated horses?"

"I do," he joked back, but motioned with his head at Lilly. "Just not that one."

"Will saved her from this awful breeder who was about to put her down because she wasn't winning every race he'd entered her in," Georgina supplied, glancing pointedly and proudly over at her brother. "Daddy paid a hefty amount for her. That was more than twenty years ago."

"You were just a boy," I commented softly, as emotion began bubbling up in my stomach. "I can see now why you hate horse racing."

Will gave an indifferent head nod, but I could sense what he was feeling. Taking the reins back from Georgina, I walked Lilly closer to the fence. "Hey there, old girl," Will greeted, inching his chair a bit closer. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

I could barely hold it together, especially when Lilly seemed to nod in response to Will's question. And when she nudged the side of his head with her nose, as if planting a gentle kiss, I glanced behind me to find Georgina struggling to keep herself composed as well.

"Well then, I'll be off," she stated, covering up her sniffle with a soft cough. "I'm going to take Apollo for a short run, then get on to the grooming. Louisa, you can take Lilly back to Henry in the stables, whenever you're ready." She turned to leave, then trotted back around. "And if you two aren't doing anything later, we should go for a swim."

"Wait. You have a pool?"

Georgina gasped in response to my question. "Will?"

"What?" She's only lived here a few weeks," he countered defensively. "And I don't exactly swim, Georgie. I pretty much sink."

"She started working for you almost eight months ago," Georgina answered her brother first, then turned to me. "We actually have two, Louisa. One on the other side of the tennis courts, and yes, we have tennis courts as well. And one inside, at the farthest end of the house."

"And completely inaccessible to me by two flights of stairs."

"Steps, five of them and easily navigable with the simple installation of a ramp. Or two as the case may be," Georgina pointed out. "Something I'm sure Daddy's head of maintenance can have done within a few hours."

She was wearing that priggish smirk I'd seen her brother sport, more than once or twice. "And just how do you suppose I'd get in and out of the pool once you've gotten me to it, Georgina?"

"I'm sure Nathan could arrange for a hoist to be delivered. But in the meantime, I know that Daddy and your fine specimen of a male nurse would be more than happy to help."

I loved the fire Georgina Traynor stoked in her brother. She challenged him in just about every way. She was exactly like Will, and that infuriated him.

That familiar expression returned to his face, set jaw, narrowed eyes and I had to bite back my slight amusement.

"Right. I'll see you two later, then."

I glanced over my shoulder to wave at Georgina and when I turned back around, Will had his eyes closed and was taking in some calming breaths. After a few seconds, he lifted his eyelids, but kept his gaze lowered. "Do you still have that red bathing suit?"

"The one with the white polka-dots?" I asked, grinning. Will nodded. "It's at my parents house."

"Think we could head over there?" he asked, sounding mildly annoyed, and didn't wait for my answer. "That way you can pick up your suit, and I can talk ramp specifications with your Dad."

P.S...There is a small reference to After You in this chapter...those of you who have read that book will probably catch it;) As well as another "real life" reference tucked in there. Also wanted to let you know that I should have the next chapter up by the end of the week. Have a great one!