Hey little darcy's, sorry for the delay on updating. I'm working on a book I'd like to try and get published, plus a few other stories I put up on this sight. I thought I'd let you all know I'm thinking of taking down Look what the Stork dropped in. I dunno, I don't know if it's writer's block or I got another idea coming on.. I just don't know. Lemme know what you think and as always, reviews are much appreciated.

Chapter 13: Just the angels bowling love

As the couple's intimacy grew, Lola became more determined than ever to break down Victor's walls.

She was fully aware there would be things even she wouldn't be told, that was the nature of Victor's life. But Lola also knew that if she wanted to show Victor she could be a good mate, then she'd have to take all of him, not just the bad boy who set bras on fire with a single look.

Unfortunately, Victor Creed was so rarely vulnerable that Lola was at a loss. How do you support a man who's always on his guard?

The answer came one stormy night when she was sharing his bed. On the weekends, with her roommate gone Cat was free to sleep at Victor's. The young feral had been surprised to find Victor liked having her around, not just when their activities were amorous. They regularly spent time together, watching TV, talking, sometimes he'd read to her or vice-versa.

He had about a million stories from his travels and Lola was an eager listener, but he very rarely mentioned being nervous or scared at any point. The way he told it, life had been one curveball after another and Victor had thrown it right back. Every once in awhile, he'd even go so far as to talk about the women he'd "met", usually to get her riled and jealous or because it had happened in such a way that the woman didn't matter; the events surrounding it were the story.

So when Lola woke up to a clap of Thunder and Victor whining in distress, she was at somewhat of a loss. This didn't fit the image he had painted of himself and admittedly, she was unsure what to do. Would he want her to pretend she hadn't heard him? Or would he want to be comforted?

"Um.. Victor? Everything alright?"

His reply was hoarse.

"I'm fine Cat. Go back to sl-"

A flash of lightning cast down, with a clap of thunder that shook the windows. He actually yelped and buried his face in her neck, body shaking and fists gripping the sheets. Alarmed at this sudden movement and a bit scared of thunder herself, Lola hugged her big feral tightly.

"Shhh. You're safe Victor. I'll keep my mate safe. It's okay." She rubbed his back and neck, trying to purr and croon like he did for her when she became upset. Lola could only pray for a sign she was helping him.

He was trying to gain some semblance of control. It was his job to care for her, not the other way around. But thunder had always been been an issue for him. It was too much like gunfire, on top of which the sound was hard on feral ears. It was one of the very few things that put him down, a fact he had by now forgotten and was loathe to share with anyone. Even his mate.

However he couldn't argue that she didn't help. Her scent alone took the worst of the fear away and being held in her arms added to the helping hand. And maybe it wasn't fair, or right. But he took comfort in her embrace.

When another crash of thunder stormed in on them, Victor just barely swallowed down another whine. Lola's ears caught the tail end it and began to speak quietly, giving him something else to listen to.

"When I was little -around four or five I guess- I used to be really scared of apple orchards."

"You were what?"

"Don't laugh!" She gave his chest a little push, pursing her lips to hold back a smile. He snickered and nuzzled his nose further into her neck.

"Right. Sorry, please go on."

She gave him another push for good measure, but continued.

"So the thing was, one day this storm comes up, right? And I was playing out in the orchard when it happened. Since it's raining, I'm trying to pick up my dolls-"

"Were you having afternoon tea too?"

This time she did laugh.

"Don't judge! I was a little girl, girl's have tea parties."

"And I bet you were adorable." He cooed.

"I was actually. Now stop interrupting, you're messing with the flow here. So I'm picking up my dolls, I had two really lovely dolls, a soft one, a China one and then my teddy bear, Edgar."

"Okay wait, Edgar ?"

"Henry read me a lot of Poe back then. Anabel Lee was my very favorite."

"Explains a lot."

"Shut your face. Anyway, I'm gathering them up and this absolutely monstrous wind comes gusting through, like, it almost knocked me over it was so huge. And then instead of raindrops come apples from the trees above me and I start getting pelted by the stupid fruit!"

He snorted, not quite managing to mask it with a cough.

"Shouldn't you have been scared of storms after that?"

"Not really, there wasn't any thunder or anything. But I ended with a black eye from one apple hitting me in the face. And then I trip on top of that and fell right on the China doll. I had to get two stitches in my chin and six in my stomach. Actually.."

She squirmed and tugged till her pajama shirt was up, uncovering said stomach.

"See? It's that scar right there."

"Where?"

"Right... here, gimme your hand."

She pressed his fingers to a spot on her lower right abdomen.

"It's moon shaped."

"Weird right?"

"Huh..."

He gave the scar a little kiss and snuggled against the warm body of his young mate.

"And every time I went to the orchard after that, I was petrified. Totally convinced that little tree people were out to get me with apples."

Victor chuckled, the rumbling in his chest making her giggle along side him.

"You get more interesting every day babygirl."

"Technically it's the middle of the night. But anyway, your turn."

"For what?"

"A story. I told you one, now you gotta tell me one."

"How bout I tell the story of a bossy little girl with ice cold feet-"

"Hey!"

He smirked, knowing she was rolling her eyes in response.

"Fine. Gimme a topic."

"Um... how about..." She clicked her tongue.

"Fallin asleep over here-"

"Okay okay! How about.. did you ever love anybody? Before me I mean."

Victor was quiet briefly.

"Love, or in love?"

"In love."

Again she was met with silence.

"You don't have to-"

"No interrupting the flow remember?"

"My bad."

He sighed, rolling over onto his back and pulling her tight to him.

"I've loved some women in my time. They were good. Solid. And up for being bedded. But- before you- there was only one other."

One slim hand went over his heart. Silently urging him on.

"Her name was Regan. She was.. she was this almost- this illuminating creature. Her voice, it could stoke a fire when she was in a temper but cool like snowflakes just as quickly. Her eyes were- a lot like yours actually. And she had dark hair, one minute I'd think it was just black and then when the sun hit all these rich colors came out. Reds and brown and gold like the little flecks in her eyes. When I met her, I was sick. Really sick, on the verge of dying sick."

"But you never get sick."

"I can. It's incredibly rare but not impossible. This wasn't regular sick anyway, I got poisoned- that's a whole other story I'll have to tell you sometime- so I was pretty out of it."

"What happened?"

"Don't sound so worried. I'm okay. Right here with you, right?"

She nodded but hugged him a little closer all the same.

"I don't remember much of it, I was kinda wandering around and saw the house. She had a barn out back, I was aiming for it but my feet got messed up and I passed out at her door. Right in front of it."

"And she came out and found you?"

"Yup. For a long time, I still don't know how long, I was out of it. Seeing shit that wasn't there, cold sweats, puking out most of my insides. And she took care of me the whole time. A complete stranger, nursing me back from death's door."

"And that's how you fell in love?"

He smiled.

"Not exactly. We were both too damn stubborn for it to be that easy. The first time I tried gettin out of bed too soon she says to me, 'Now look here boyo, I've not spent more n' a donkeys year-"

"How long is that?"

"Beats me, but God knows she said it enough. She goes 'I've not spent more n' a donkeys year fixin ya up just for you to go an be thick. Go and have a lie down before I drag you back on yer ear."

"She sounds tough."

"She was."

"Have to be to deal with you mister."

He just smiled and pulled the covers up higher around them.

"Go to sleep ya brat."

"But I wanna hear the rest-"

"Another time."

She yawned widely and turned on her side, putting her hand over his when it wrapped around her middle. It never was any use to argue, he usually knew what was best when she was overtired.

"Victor?"

"Mm?"

"I'm glad you weren't alone all those years. And that you had some good times too."

He pressed his lips to her nape with a grateful purr.

"I'm glad to have you Lola."

Her lips quirked in the darkness, hand pressing down and lacing it's fingers in amongst larger strong ones. The storm would rage down upon the earth and yet for the rest of the night, it would be unable to break the peaceful slumber of the two, try as it might.