Title: A Parallel Universe - Full Circle
Author: Strella Smith
Pairings: Fred/Lizzy
Rating: Strong P-13 (Sexuality)
Fred took a few lurching steps forward. His new human body felt so heavy, much heavier than his imaginary one. It took him more of an effort to raise each foot and plant it into the ground again. His limbs felt leaden. He realized that he was suddenly a slave to gravity, something he had never experienced before. It was going to take him some time to get used to.
It was so dark in the room, he could hardly make out anything. He went over to the bed and laid his hand on it. "Lizzy?" he whispered gently. But the bed was flat and made. Lizzy wasn't there.
He was suddenly aware of his throat burning with thirst. He felt as parched as if he had just trekked across the desert. He didn't know if it was a side effect of being made human, or if it was because he had cried so much and drunk nothing in the past several hours. He went into the little bathroom and snapped on the light. He bent over the sink and gulped handfuls of water. When he straightened up, he saw his reflection in the mirror and started backward in surprise.
The Judge had made a few changes to his appearance when he granted him his humanity. He still looked like himself, still tall and lanky, (very lanky, the Judge had not bothered to take away his gaunt, half-starved appearance). He still had wild red hair, and clear blue eyes (the eyes more sober than he had ever seen them). His face was still boyishly handsome, albeit rather thin and haggard from the suffering he had endured.
But his clothes, the same clothes he had worn ever since he could remember, had vanished. Gone were the green and yellow striped trousers, the red boots, the bright yellow undershirt, the suspenders and emerald-green jacket. In their stead, he was wearing strange, drab garments that hung off his wasted frame like cast-offs. He examined them in bewilderment. The brown trousers, plaid shirt, gray vest and worn boots looked like clothes which would have been worn a half a century ago. He had an odd feeling that Judge Fair had felt his old garments would be unsuitable for a proper human and had adorned him in something he felt would be considered respectable.
Fred couldn't help but smile. Leave it to the Judge to choose something which would have been worn during depression era 1930s. He wondered idly if the Judge hadn't pulled them out of his own closet at the last minute and garbed him in them as he was being swept away. It was a fitting farewell gesture from the Judge.
He left the bathroom, leaving the light on so he could see his way around the room. Lizzy was nowhere to be seen. She wasn't in her bed, she wasn't on the balcony. Fred tried to fling out his senses to find her signal, but it was as though his consciousness hit a brick wall. He tried again and encountered the same barrier. Over and over, he tried to find Lizzy's beloved signal, but he couldn't. He realized with a fierce pang, that his ability to sense her had been terminated. It was a power available only to an imaginary friend. It was lost to him forever. He felt a wave of incredible loss. He had loved that connection with her. It had made him feel so close to her, so much more capable of of protecting her. He would have to adapt to his human limitations now.
Fred went to the little landing outside her bedroom and began to slowly make his way down the stairs. It was then that he heard a soft, heartbroken sound. He peered over the stair railing and just below him through the kitchen door, he saw Lizzy. She was seated at the dining room table and had obviously been grading papers. They were spread out all around her, and he recognized the bright red pen she always used.
She wasn't grading now. She had laid her head on her outstretched arm and was weeping quietly, her slender shoulders shaking with sorrow.
The sight pierced Fred's heart. Quietly, slowly so as not to startle her, he made his way down the remaining stairs and came to stand in the doorway. She did not hear him.
He said her name quietly.
"Elizabeth."
Her head came up. She saw him standing in the doorway. For a few seconds she stared, and he saw the gamut of emotions play out on her face; shock, denial, wonder, and finally, incredulous, disbelieving joy.
"Fred!"
His name was torn from her in a shriek of unbridled emotion. She flung herself out of her chair, across the room, and into his outstretched arms. He snatched her to him, sank to his knees, and held her as though he would never let go.
"Fred!" Lizzy was sobbing wildly. "Fred! Oh, Fred, is it you? Is it really you?"
Fred crushed her to him and devoured her with kisses. "It's really me," he sobbed. "Sweet, precious love, it really is me."
Lizzy was weeping and clinging to him desperately. "Tell me you're real!" she cried. "Tell me you're really real! I can't bear for this to not be real!"
"I'm real," he whispered. "Lizzy, my darling, I'm real. I'm here. It's okay... everything is going to be okay."
Lizzy took his face in her hands and looked at him, running her hands through his hair, stroking him, still sobbing wildly. "I thought I would never see you again!"
He kissed her fervently. "So did I. Sweet little love of mine, so did I."
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, pressing her face into his neck, weeping. He stood up with her, and carried her over to the couch. He lay down with her, covering her body with his. She twined herself around him, feeling him, kissing him desperately. "I thought I would never see you again," she kept whispering.
Fred lay against her, soothing her with his mouth, his hands. He had a desperate need for every inch of him to be touching her. He kissed her face, her neck, her shoulders, her arms, her chest, every part of her that he could reach. He ran his hands greedily over her whole frame, satisfying his own need to feel that she was real.
"Let me look at you," he said hoarsely, taking her face in his hands. "Lizzy, let me look at you. I feel like I'm starved to death for you." He held her gently at arms length for a moment, letting his eyes feast on her. She was as pale and wasted as he was. Her eyes were red and swollen as though with ceaseless crying. Her hair was rumpled and she wore a ratty old tee shirt and cut off shorts.
Fred thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
He lowered himself to her again, kissing her tears away. "I love you," he breathed against her skin. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
Lizzy held him to her tightly, ragged sobs still escaping from her. "I love you too! I love you too! Oh God, I'm so terrified I'm going to wake up! I'm going to wake up and find out that this is one of those terrible dreams I had, where you came back to me, but when I woke up you were still gone."
"It's not a dream," Fred murmured between kisses. "Lizzy, I promise you, it's not a dream. You're not going to wake up. I'm real. I'm here. And I will never, never leave you ever again."
She shuddered and shut her eyes, turning her mouth to his, desperate for his kiss. He lay with her for a long time, his body stretched against hers, his fingers laced through hers, his lips claiming hers again and again, tenderly, possessively, hungrily. He felt her taut, trembling limbs slowly relax beneath him. Her sobs quietened, and she lay still, tears of relief quietly streaming down her face. He continued to kiss her lips because he couldn't bear to do anything else just then.
After a while, Lizzy whispered brokenly between kisses. "Fred... you don't know the hell I've been in..."
"Yes I do," he murmured against her lips. "I know, because I've been there too. I found out what it is like to live without you, and it is pure, unadulterated hell."
Lizzy tightened her fingers in his and kissed him back fervently. "Tell me..." she whispered desperately. "Are we in danger from them? Are they going to take you away from me again?"
"No, sweet love," murmured Fred. "They let me come back... this time forever. It's over Lizzy. We don't ever have to be afraid of them separating us again."
She shivered and pulled her hands out of his so she could wrap her arms around him, drawing his head down to hers to kiss him more deeply. "What changed their minds?" she whispered, when their lips parted.
Fred brushed his face against hers softly. "Let's go upstairs," he murmured. "I don't want to lay on the couch all night. I'll tell you the whole story, but I want to hold you in bed. I'm never letting you sleep by yourself ever again."
Lizzy blushed crimson, but she slipped her arms around his neck and let him lift her gently from the couch into his arms. He marveled at how light she was as he carried her lovingly up the stairs. She felt dangerously fragile, as though the slightest breath could blow her away.
Her mind seemed to be running along the same lines. "Fred, what did they do to you?" she whispered sadly, as they came into the light of the bedroom. She ran her hands tenderly through his hair and all over his face. "You're an absolute skeleton. Oh my love, what did they do to you?"
"Nothing other than take me away from you," he murmured, brushing his lips softly across hers. "Which is the worst thing in the world they could have done."
She nuzzled her face against his. "My precious darling," she whispered. "I'm so sorry, my precious love."
Fred carried her over to the bed and laid her on it gently. He switched off the bathroom light which was still glaring, and turned on the little soft, muted lamp which stood beside Lizzy's bed. He kicked off his boots, shrugged out of his jacket, and lay down next to Lizzy. The night air wafting in through the open window was chilly. Fred propped himself up slightly on the pillows, drew Lizzy into his arms and tucked the quilt in around them. He settled her head on his chest and twined himself protectively around her.
Then he told her the whole story; everything that had ever happened from the time she was a child up until the events of the preceding hour. She lay quietly in his arms, listening, occasionally asking questions, occasionally expressing amazement or dismay, such as when she learned how close she had come to losing him the day of her father's abandonment.
"My God... I can't even imagine what would have happened to me if they had forced you to leave me then." she shuddered. "I don't think I could have survived it. If I had lost you and Daddy the same day, Fred... I would have wanted to kill myself."
"I know, love," said Fred soberly. "That's why I fought so hard to stay with you. I knew it would have shattered you beyond mending."
She kissed his neck, nestling closer to him. "I had no idea how many times you'd actually saved me." she murmured fervently.
"It wasn't entirely unselfish," murmured Fred, stroking her hair. "I was saving myself as much as you. I knew my life wasn't worth living without you even then."
Lizzy kissed him again and cuddled her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "What happened after that?"
He went on with the story up until the point when Judge Fair decided to let him be reunited with Lizzy. There he stopped. He had left out of his narrative, Sagacity's suggestion that he be made human, as well as the subsequent conflict over it. For some reason he felt a little shy about telling her that he now held her in his arms as a flesh and blood man. It made him feel very vulnerable and a little nervous. He wanted to tell her, but he wasn't sure how.
"Lizzy," he said softly. "Did you notice what I'm wearing?"
She sat up and looked at him in the lamp light. He saw surprise on her face. "I didn't until now," she admitted. "Fred, where are your clothes? I've never seen you in anything but your green clothes!"
"Well... there's an interesting story that goes along with why I'm not wearing those clothes. It's the last bit of this story and – and the most important."
Lizzy was watching him closely. "What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Well, you see, Judge Fair's main objection to me staying with you was the fact that I was in your life as your imaginary friend. He didn't think it was healthy or appropriate for you to prefer me over a real man."
"I prefer you over a real man because you are better than any real man I've ever known," murmured Lizzy, hugging him fiercely.
Fred couldn't help but smile with intense pleasure over this. He kissed her softly. "Well, the Judge didn't see it that way, and I kind of saw his point," he continued. "So Sagacity made a suggestion, a wonderful, radical, drastic suggestion that changed the way the Judge saw everything and changed the course of our lives too."
"What?" Lizzy was tense with wonder.
Fred nuzzled his face against hers. "Elizabeth..." he whispered. "My precious little darling Elizabeth, I'm not wearing my old, green clothes, because Judge Fair apparently thought they were only fit for an imaginary friend. Sagacity's suggestion was that I not be your imaginary friend anymore... she suggested that I become your real friend... your real friend and your real lover. She knew Judge Fair had it within his power to make me that, so she asked him to, and, after a little persuading... he agreed."
Lizzy suddenly sat up and was stared at him wildly. "Fred...! What are you saying?"
"Lizzy, sweetheart, I'm afraid I'm not Drop Dead Fred anymore. I'm just Fred now... just plain old Fred. I can't do magic. I can't appear or disappear at will. I can't shrink myself or hang upside down. I'm not your imaginary friend anymore. I'm just a man who loves you with all his heart. I hope you don't mind. It was the only way Judge Fair would let me come back to you."
Lizzy suddenly seized his face in her hands, wild joy dawning in her eyes. "Fred! Are you telling me you're real? Do you – do you mean other people can see you now?"
"More or less," said Fred with a sheepish little grin.
Lizzy suddenly burst into tears again and threw her arms around him. "Oh Fred! That's the only thing in the whole world I've ever wanted!," she cried. "The only thing I've ever wanted! Do I mind? Mind? It's my wildest dream, my dearest hope! The only thing in the world I ever wanted was for you to be real! Oh my darling, I can hardly believe it! You just made me the happiest woman in the whole wide world!"
Fred snuggled her to him, laughing happily. "I'm glad you wanted it that way... I thought you probably would. I just wasn't sure."
Lizzy took his face in her hands and kissed his lips softly, tears of joy still rolling down her cheeks. "How could I not want it any other way?" she whispered. "For you to be real... I can talk to you in front of other people, I can introduce you to my friends, my family. I can hug you, kiss you, laugh with you in public and no one will think I'm insane. Oh Fred, this is too good to be true! It's like every crazy, wonderful dream I ever had is coming true all at once. I'm terrified it's all going to vanish!"
"It won't," he whispered, brushing his lips across hers. "It won't, Lizzy. I'm real, I'm here, and I'm yours forever... if you want me."
"I want you more than anything in the world," breathed Lizzy. "I want you, and I want to be yours forever."
Fred did not answer her in words. He wound her in his embrace and covered her sweet mouth with his again. They lay in each others' arms, kissing and caressing in the soft, velvety darkness. They did not make love. Their emotions were still too raw and immediate for that. They held each other close and comforted each other with gentle touches and whispered reassurances. The wounds of the past weeks began to slowly heal over. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, they fell asleep, cocooned in each others arms, and the sleep which came to them was deeper and more peaceful than either of them had known since their separation.
. . .
When Fred woke up, it was broad daylight. Lizzy was curled up in his arms, asleep with her head on his chest. He sighed with bliss and tightened her in his embrace. He lay stroking her hair, watching the tree tops wave softly in the breeze outside the French doors. He had never experienced a moment of such perfect happiness in all his life. He held Lizzy close and relished the feel of her slow, peaceful breathing against him.
After a while, she stirred faintly and opened her eyes. A slow smile of sleepy happiness spread across her face when she saw him. She reached up and stroked his cheek softly. "You're still here," she whispered. "I was so afraid I would wake up in the morning and find that last night was all a dream."
"I'm still here," he whispered tenderly. "You are going to wake up in my arms every morning for the rest of your life."
Lizzy smiled rapturously and they kissed in the soft morning sunlight. Then they lay quietly for a while, basking in the delicious warmth of each others arms. Fred would have been contented to lie there with Lizzy forever, but a thought had seized his mind. It had taken root and was growing in persistence every moment. It was the sweetest, most wonderful thought he had ever had.
"Lizzy?" he said softly, stroking her hair.
"Yes Fred?"
"Will you do something for me today?"
She nestled closer to him. "Anything, love."
He was quiet for a moment, still stroking her. "Will you marry me?"
She froze. "What?"
He rested his cheek against her hair. "Will you marry me?"
She seemed stunned. She sat up and looked at him. "What – today?"
"Yes. Elizabeth Cronin, will you marry me, Fred, today?"
She sank back against him, speechless with surprise. "I – Fred... isn't this a little sudden?"
He looked at her, his eyes dark blue with longing. "I've loved you and wanted you for eight years now. No, I don't think it's sudden at all."
Lizzy began to laugh a little incredulously. "But... we haven't made any plans, I don't have a dress... anything..."
"Is that what you want?" he asked softly. "Do you want a big wedding for your mother to sabotage and stress you over?"
Lizzy looked vaguely horrified. "No... I don't want that at all."
Fred began to kiss her. "Neither do I," he whispered. "All I want, all I've ever wanted... is you. I don't want a big ceremony with all the trappings and fuss. I just want to make you mine in every way possible. I want to bind you to me body and soul so that nobody will ever have an excuse to take you away from me again."
Lizzy was listening to him, eyes closed, breathless with delight as he pressed kisses all down her neck. "What do you say, Snotface?" he whispered tenderly. "Will you run away with me one last time? Will you be totally scandalous and irresponsible and marry me on the spur of the moment, and then come back here so I can make mad, passionate love to you?"
Lizzy giggled, blushing furiously. He could almost feel her body heating at his words. He smiled as he continued to brush kisses all over her face. "What do you say?" he whispered again.
She nuzzled her face against his. "Yes Fred," she whispered.
"That's my girl," he breathed before he claimed her mouth with a deep, passionate kiss. Lizzy wound her arms around his neck, melting against him. When he finally released her, he smiled down at her, his eyes dark with desire. "Come on," he murmured. "I don't want to waste another minute."
Laughing, almost giddy with the crazy thing they were about to do, Fred and Lizzy launched themselves into the whirlwind that would be their wedding day.
"We'll have to get what we need for a marriage license," said Lizzy feverishly. "I have my birth certificate in the file cabinet somewhere..."
Fred turned around and looked at her. "Birth certificate?"
"Yes, you need a birth certificate, or a driver's license or some sort of identification to get a marriage license..." she trailed off as the implication of her words suddenly sank in.
"I don't have a birth certificate," said Fred slowly. "I don't have any of those things."
Lizzy bit her lip, looking thoughtful.
"Why do you have to have all those things to get married?" demanded Fred, dismayed. "Can't we just go to the Justice of the Peace and say our vows and be done with it?"
"It won't be a legal marriage," said Lizzy reluctantly. "I mean, it won't be recognized by the state."
Fred stared at her in disheartened. "But how in the world will I ever be able to get married then?" he asked unhappily. "I don't have a birth certificate and I never will. I mean, technically I was "born" into this world about fourteen hours ago. No one would believe me if I told them my birthday is not only today, but this year too!"
"It'll be okay, Fred," said Lizzy soothingly. "We'll figure something out. You can't be the first person who's ever wanted to get married without a birth certificate."
Fred sat down on the bed. He looked so downcast, Lizzy sat next to him and put her arms around him. "I don't care if the marriage is "legal", Fred," she said softly. "All I want, is to hear you vow to love me and cherish me and say all those other wonderful things people say to each other when they really love each other. The legal bit of it can go hang."
Fred sighed and hugged her close with one arm. "That's really sweet of you, Snotface, but I feel a little differently about it. I want to make you my wife, and I want the whole world to recognize it. I don't want it flung back in my face someday that I didn't really marry you."
"Well, we may not be able to get married today then," said Lizzy gently. "We'll have to go see about getting you made into a real person – in the eyes of the government that is."
"Why does everything have to be so complicated?" moaned Fred.
"Welcome to the human world," said Lizzy dryly.
Fred sighed and leaned his head frustratedly against hers. As he did, he absently stuck his free hand into his pocket and felt something. He drew it out without thinking. It was a folded up piece of paper. Mildly curious as to what could be left in the pocket of a garment given away by Judge Fair, Fred unfolded it and glanced at it. He did a double take.
Lizzy glanced over at it as well. She gave a little start. "Fred!"
Fred began to laugh. He set the creased piece of paper down on his knee and laughed and laughed. In fresh, blue ink scrolled across the little rectangle were the words:
Birth Certificate
This hereby certifies that Drop D. Fredrick
Was born on August 7, 1952 A.D. In St Paul, Minn.
To Parents unknown Supervising Official Judge Fair
It even had an offical-looking stamp on it as though it had been certified at a hospital.
Fred wiped his eyes. "Judge Fair is nothing if not thorough," he said at last, still chuckling. "Leave it to him to give me a proper send off into humanity, complete with a birth certificate. I guess he knew I wouldn't have a very easy time of it in this world without one. He might have had an inkling that the first thing I would want to do when I got back, was marry you."
"Good old Judge Fair," said Lizzy, smiling. "I'm beginning to feel a bit more kindly toward him."
"Yes, I think we must forgive him for separating us. He gave me my humanity and a way to marry you – legally. So I suppose I shall have to bury the hatchet. Thanks for this," he said to the ceiling.
"Yes, thank you," murmured Lizzy.
"He even gave me a back story of sorts," observed Fred, surveying the little document. "Apparently I'm an orphan – or abandoned or something. Ooo, that'll make me interesting. Hey look, I'm thirty-five! Eleven years older than you! Naughty me, I robbed the cradle."
Lizzy was laughing. "Very fitting."
"I was born here, so I'm a native. Nice touch. Now nobody has ever in the history of the world called me "Fredrick"! I suppose that's the Judge's final attempt at making me more respectable. Ha! Fat chance! I may have to look into having my last name changed, though. I don't fancy your name being "Elizabeth Drop", eh, what d'you think, Snotface?"
"We can probably think of something a little more melodious."
"No foolin'. I'll leave that to you. How would you like that, sweetness? Would you like to name me... us, I should say?"
"How about you just take my last name? Would you like to be "Fred Cronin?"
"I would like that very much."
"Okay," she smiled up at him. "Fred Cronin, if we want to get married today, we're going to have to get a move on."
He kissed her. "Go on with you then, little bride of mine. Do what you have to do."
Lizzy threw herself in the shower and then began a feverish search for a suitable dress to wear. "Surely I have something white!" she said, digging through her wardrobe.
"I don't care if you marry me in a potato sack," chuckled Fred. "You make anything beautiful."
She turned pink, looking pleased. Suddenly she snatched a dress tucked far at the back of the closet. "Oh! I forgot I had this... well, it'll be a bit unusual for a wedding dress, but at least it's white."
"Can I see?"
She shooed him away playfully. "Not till I'm ready."
She disappeared into the bathroom for a long time. Fred surveyed himself ruefully in the bedroom mirror. His own appearance was unusual to say the least, dressed like a 1930s hostler, but he had absolutely nothing else to wear. He tried to smooth his wild, red, shock of hair into a slightly more respectable shape. He decided that he wasn't going to care. He was going to marry Lizzy... nothing else in the world mattered.
At last Lizzy emerged from the bathroom. Fred caught his breath. She had adorned her glossy black hair with a little wreath of silk orange blossoms she had gotten from the busker festival the last day they had spent together. Her dress was a simple, gathered peasant dress, white with small, puffed sleeves and a smocked bodice that just accentuated the swell of her breasts above the neckline. She looked sweet, innocent, and utterly desirable.
"Will this do?" she asked shyly, blushing at the look in Fred's eyes.
He came over to her and took her gently in his arms. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
She bit her lower lip, smiling, her eyes shining with pleasure. He drew her close and kissed her lips lingeringly. "Come on," he whispered. "Let's go get married."
They were at the door when Lizzy suddenly stopped in her tracks. "I just remembered!" she said, looking foolish. "My car got stolen while you were gone."
"Your car?"
"Yes. I was having a terrible day, missing you horribly, and I stopped at a pay phone to talk to Janie. While I was on the phone, some guy broke out the window of my car and stole it! I've been having to ride the bus everywhere. I'm sorry, Fred, I've been so caught up in you coming back, I completely forgot about it."
Fred hugged her close. "Poor little darling. What a time you've had. Never mind, we can take the bus."
The bus trip was Fred's first foray into the world as a visible human. It was very strange to him to be forced to walk everywhere, instead of materializing in and out of places at his convenience. His feet still felt awkward and heavy. Having to move out of people's way and be a part of the shuffling, claustrophobic crowd on the bus was a faintly discomfiting experience. He wasn't used to it, and it made him feel nervous and edgy and a bit overprotective toward Lizzy. He kept his arm tightly around her shoulders until they had reached their seats. When they sat down, he waited until the bus had lurched into motion, then gently drew her onto his lap and held her close in his arms.
"I'm not sure we're technically supposed to do this," said Lizzy, mildly amused. "I don't think passengers are really supposed to share seats." But she didn't try to get off his lap.
"Bear with me," muttered Fred. "I've just got you back, and I'm half afraid someone is going to snatch you away from me again if I don't keep you close."
"Well, considering what we just went through, I think you're entitled to a little paranoia," said Lizzy, stroking his hair gently. "But no one is going kidnap me right out from under your nose." Then she laid her head on his shoulder. "But I love for you to hold me," she whispered. "It feels so wonderful to be safe in your arms."
Fred kissed her fiercely. "I won't let you go," he whispered.
They got a few smiles and a couple of raised eyebrows as they rode into downtown, but no one bothered them. When they reached their stop, Fred led Lizzy gently down the aisle, through the crush of people, and out into the bright summer afternoon. Neither of them had had anything to eat that day, so they stopped at a little corner cafe and ordered sandwiches and coffee. They sat close together as they ate, rapturously happy just to be together, doing something as mundane and normal as eating.
"It's nice to be hungry again," Fred observed, examining his sandwich. "I didn't want to eat at all in Limbo. Food tastes better when you're human. It doesn't taste different, just better. The flavors are sharper somehow."
Lizzy beamed at him. "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say things like that. Every time you do, it reminds me all over again that you're real, and it makes me so happy I could cry!"
Fred smiled down into her eyes. "Just seeing you happy makes me happy."
After they had eaten, their real adventure began. "We'll have to go to the county clerk's office," said Lizzy. "I think that's the quickest way to get a marriage license."
"Before we do anything else, we have to get a ring of some sort," said Fred firmly.
"Oh goodness, I didn't even think about a ring. Fred, you don't have any money for a ring We can get married without one."
"Nope. Not an option. I'm putting some sort of ring on your finger today."
Lizzy scanned their surroundings thoughtfully. "Remember how you used to make me little rings out of braided twigs when I was a kid? Do you still know how to do that?"
Fred looked at her affectionately. "I do. And that's probably about all I can offer you right now. I'm sorry, Snotface. I wish I had a huge diamond to put on your hand. Unfortunately I'm a little short on funds right now."
She smiled at him. "I'd rather have a ring of braided twig from you, than a 24 carat diamond from another man."
He kissed her. "You're one in ten billion. I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world."
He pulled some twigs off a nearby tree and set to work. His clever fingers remembered the little trick he had practiced for children decades before he met Lizzy. When he was done, he knelt down before Lizzy and took her hand. "Elizabeth Cronin, Will you marry me?"
She laughed. "Yes, Drop Dead Fred, I will."
He slipped the ring on her left hand, then caught her up and twirled her around, laughing. "Now we're officially engaged!"
To the county clerk's office they went. The process of getting a marriage license, of filling out paper work, of waiting in a drab little room, listening for their names to be called could have been a dreadfully trying process; but Fred and Lizzy were so in love, so caught up in the moment they scarcely noticed the tedium.
Fred could not take his eyes off of Lizzy. She made him think of a fragrant white lily which had suddenly blossomed in the midst of the sterile county office. He almost burst with pride at the thought that she was his, this lovely, alluring creature who could light up the dullest place with her beauty. He would not let her sit on the hard chairs in the waiting room. He held her tenderly on his lap, and nuzzled his face against her neck. They were both so delirious with happiness, they didn't even notice the rather knowing smiles of the other people in the room.
When it came time to present their identifications, the clerk at the window gave Fred's "birth certificate" an appraising look. "My, I've never seen one quite like this, young man," she said. "It's rather obscure."
"I was abandoned at birth," said Fred recklessly. "No idea who my parents are. Will that certificate do? It's all I've got."
"Yes, it's fine. I've just never seen one quite like it before."
"Gotta be a first time for everything," said Fred, relieved as she handed it back to him.
After they applied for the marriage license, they were informed that it would take a few days for it to be processed.
"But we want to get married today!" exclaimed Fred. "Is there any way we could go ahead and have the ceremony?"
"Yes, said the clerk. "You can have a ceremony. The marriage just won't be legal for a few days."
"Oh, I can deal with it not being legal for a few days," said Fred. "But I don't want to wait another minute to marry Lizzy."
"Very well," said the clerk, amused. "You can come before the Judge to say your vows. You need a witness though. Did you bring any friends or family?"
Fred and Lizzy looked at each other. "No," they said in unison.
"Well, that's not a problem. You can ask one of the other couples in the waiting room if they would mind being witnesses."
"Let's do that," said Fred, relieved.
They ended up asking another young couple who were waiting to get married as well. They all filed into a little wood paneled room, and stood before the Judge's desk. The little ceremony began.
They were married for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. They vowed to have, hold, love, cherish, until death did they part. Fred held Lizzy in his arms through the whole thing. They both cried so uncontrollably, they could hardly get the words out of their mouths. Fred slipped the little braided twig ring on Lizzy's finger and the Justice of the Peace pronounced them man and wife.
"You may kiss your bride, young man," he said, smiling and shaking his head at the emotional young couple. Fred kissed Lizzy tenderly and it was over. They were married. They shook hands with the other couple, thanked the Judge, and left the building hand in hand.
Outside the courthouse, Fred drew Lizzy into his arms, tears stinging his eyes. "You are mine now," he whispered triumphantly. "You are finally mine! Oh Lizzy... my precious little Lizzy."
Lizzy slipped her arms around his neck and lifted her lips for him to kiss. "Take me home, Fred," she whispered. "All I can think about is how much I want you to make love to me."
He crushed her to him, kissing her recklessly for a moment. Then he slid his arm around her waist and walked with her to the bus stop. The bus was even more crowded before, and there was standing room only. Fred gently steered Lizzy to the back. He drew her into the furthest corner and turned his back to shield her from prying eyes. He took her into his arms as the bus jerked into motion. He kissed her the whole way home, uncaring of who saw them. Not many people noticed. The few who did only smiled indulgently and looked away. Two boys wolf whistled once, and a rather sour-looking man muttered "get a room," as he brushed past. Fred and Lizzy did not care.
The bus lurched to a stop at the end of their street and Fred and Lizzy got off. The last rays of the sun were shooting liquid gold through the soft evening air as they walked hand in hand to their home. Fred unlocked the front door and swept Lizzy up into his arms. "Welcome home, my love," he whispered, as he carried her over the threshold. She wrapped her arms around his neck, shivering with joy. They stood in the golden-red light of the setting sun and kissed deeply for a long moment. Then Fred kicked the door closed and carried Lizzy through the amber-tinted dusk, upstairs to their bedroom.
He set her down gently and turned her to face him. She looked up at him, her eyes soft with longing. He drew her close and began to kiss her. With trembling fingers, he began to slowly, almost reverently undress her. The desire which had been slowly mounting in his body all day, became a pounding need. As he slide the last garment from her body, he drew back and drank in her beauty. Lizzy blushed beneath his yearning gaze, but she came near, and began to shyly unbutton his shirt. He caught his breath. The feel of her gentle hands disrobing him was one of the most delicious things he had ever felt. He closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. When she had finished, he drew her to him, relishing the satiny heat of her skin against his.
He laid her down and eased his aching body onto her little silken one. Lizzy twined herself around him. His yearning mouth found hers, and his kisses became deeper, more demanding. Her soft hands left trails of fire along his skin wherever she stroked him. He thought he would lose his mind with pleasure. He let his lips and fingers explore her in ways he had never thought he would dare. The relief of their love finally being realized was so intense, tears ran down Lizzy's face. Fred kissed them away, whispering endearments.
They abandoned themselves to each other. She gave herself to him with utter trust and he claimed her with infinite gentleness. He held her close, moving slowly, kissing her and soothing her, letting her get used to the feel of him. It was the sweetest thing in the world to feel her slowly melt beneath him and eventually dissolve into rapture.
Far into the night they made love. Years and years of suppressed longing gushed from them in a torrent of release, as their bodies and souls forged together in fiery tenderness. Fred cherished every second, the taste of Lizzy's lips, the brush of her skin, the scent of her hair, her whispers of adoration as he loved her. He stored them away in his mind, memorizing their sweetness, locking their ecstasy into his heart forever.
At last, toward morning, they lay spent and trembling. The bliss of their union was so intense they could hardly bear to abandon it, but exhaustion finally betrayed them and they fell asleep, tangled together in each others arms.
. . .
Hours later, Fred woke up. Golden sunlight was slanting across the room through the drawn blinds. He could sense that it was late morning. He stirred faintly, suspended in a delicious space between sleep and waking. Lizzy was welded against him, fast asleep. Memories of their night together flooded him and he twined his arms around her, overwhelmed with tenderness. Lizzy sighed contentedly in her sleep. Fred held her close, his heart heart throbbing with love, savoring the exquisite feel of her against him.
Eventually, she stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. Fred propped himself on one elbow, stroking her hair, watching her blink into wakefulness. She smiled dreamily when she saw him, her eyes misty with sleep.
"Hi," he whispered tenderly.
"Hi," she murmured, still smiling.
He leaned down and kissed her lips lingeringly. "I love you," he breathed
"I love you too."
He nuzzled his face softly against hers, relishing her precious essence.
"I was having the most beautiful dream," Lizzy whispered, her eyes closed in rapture as Fred softly brushed his lips over her face. "But waking up was even more beautiful. I think that's the first time in my life that's ever happened. I'm afraid it's going to melt away and I'll find out that this was the dream."
"It's not a dream," Fred murmured, still kissing her. "It's real. You're mine now, you're safe in my arms where you've always belonged."
"I'm so happy, I'm afraid of it," Lizzy breathed. "I'm afraid it can't last. Oh Fred, don't stop kissing me, that's the sweetest thing I've ever felt. I just want to lie here with you forever."
They stayed in bed the rest of the day, getting up only long enough to eat. The rest of the time, they lay in their private heaven, loving each other, tenderly washing away the pain and loneliness of their separation.
That evening, Lizzy threw away her anti-depressant medication. "I don't think I will ever need those again," she said as she slipped back into bed, into Fred's embrace. "I'm so happy right now I feel like I could fly."
Fred cuddled her into his arms. "You were born to fly," he whispered. "I've watched you try to take off for so long, only to be grounded over and over again. Now I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that you soar. You watch, my little Lizzy Cronin. You are going to take the world by storm."
Lizzy smiled and nestled into him. "You're the only person who can make me fly, Fred," she whispered. "Nobody else has the touch." She kissed him. "Speaking of touch..." Her hand wandered, and he moaned as she began to stroke him softly, her gentle fingers sending waves of pleasure throughout his body. When he could no longer bear it, he pulled her underneath him, kissing her deeply, and they soared into ecstasy. When they finally came back down to earth, they held each other for a long time, savoring the feel of each other, until they sank into sweet slumber and neither of them awakened the rest of the night.
The next day Lizzy had to get up and go to work. Fred could hardly bear to let her go.
"You're a teacher," he said pleadingly when she told him she couldn't spend the day in bed with him. "You're supposed to be on summer vacation."
"Honey, I'm still trying to pay off school loans. I signed up to teach a couple of electives at the art college," Lizzy explained. "When I did, I didn't know my life was going to be turned utterly upside down. First, I lost you for two months and I nearly went out of my mind with grief. I almost lost my position, I missed so many classes. I couldn't even get out of bed much less teach a class. When I finally pulled myself together and went back to work, they told me I was on probation and if I missed any more work, I would be let go. I really need the money from this job, Fred. When I took it, I didn't know I would need to plan for a major life crisis and then a spur of the moment honeymoon."
Fred sighed. "I know... I'm just having a hard time letting you go. I'm not used to being human. I can't sense you. I can't watch over you. I can't get to you instantly like I used to. I feel so helpless. It's like being blind. I hate it. I'm afraid if I let you out of my sight, something terrible will happen to you, and I won't know it, and won't be able to reach you."
Lizzy took his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly. "Fred... honey, part of being human is letting go of those that you love. I'm glad you want to protect me, but you can't be in control of things all the time. You're going to have to trust that I'll be alright."
Fred held her close and leaned his forehead against hers. "I miss your signal," he whispered. "I miss sensing that part of you. I never realized how much I relied on it for my peace of mind until it was gone."
"I'll be alright," Lizzy assured him again. "I'm just going to the art college. I went there all the time while you were in Limbo, and nothing bad ever happened. It's just going to take you some time to get used to being human, Fred. I'll give you a call at lunch if it will make you feel better."
"Yes please," murmured Fred. But he held Lizzy very close for a long moment before she went out the door, loath to let her out of his arms.
When she had gone, he spent his morning trying accustom himself to his new body. He had never had to bathe or change clothes before, and now he was slightly put off by the grimy feel of his skin after two days of not bathing. He decided to take a shower. The hot water and soap were delightfully relaxing and he added bathing to one of the pluses of being human.
He put his only change of clothes back on, noting that they had a faint musty smell his green suit had never given off. He guessed this was why humans had to wash their clothes. He decided he would leave that up to Lizzy, being unsure how to properly work the washing machine. He spent the rest of the morning sitting on the sofa watching television.
Lizzy called him at lunch and reassured him that she was well. It was Fred's first time to talk on the phone, and it was a very strange experience for him. "Your voice sounds so different," he marveled. "Sort of tinny."
Lizzy laughed. "So does yours. I've never talked to you on the phone. I like it... it's so lovely and normal. Plus you have a really nice voice. When you talk to me it always sounds sort of caressing. I love that."
"I love you. I'm ready for you to come home so I can caress you with more than my voice."
She giggled. "I'll be there in a couple of hours.
When she came home, Fred met her at the door and swept her unceremoniously into his arms. "I thought you would never get here," he whispered, kissing her. "Longest five hours of my life."
"I'll make it up to you," Lizzy grinned, unbuttoning his shirt.
After they had made love, Lizzy suggested that they go clothes shopping for Fred. He balked. "I don't care about clothes, Snotface. I'm used to wearing the same thing all the time, remember? I can just wash these over and over again, can't I?"
"You cannot get through life with only one change of clothes," said Lizzy firmly. "Plus, I don't want to do laundry every day. We're going to get you some clothes, Fred. You can pick them out."
Fred sighed, but he went along gamely. He ended up enjoying the shopping trip more than he thought he would. It was delicious just being with Lizzy, watching her enjoyment as she helped him comb through racks of clothes. They wandered around the store with their arms around each others waists, giggling over clothing styles, pausing for long kisses occasionally. Fred suspected Lizzy was enjoying dressing him up in the same way she used to enjoy dressing up her dolls. He let her pick out several outfits for him. Most of what he chose was green.
They were examining some tee shirts with funny slogans on them, laughing and trying to decide which ones to buy, when a tall, sleekly handsome man sidled his way over to them. Elizabeth looked up to find herself face to face with Charles Lance.
"Elizabeth?" Charles said. "I thought it was you!"
Lizzy eyed him. "Hello, Charles."
"You look fantastic!" he said, sweeping his eyes over her in the faintly salacious manner Fred had always hated. "How are you?"
Lizzy suddenly broke into a brilliant beam. "I'm absolutely fabulous, Charles," she said. "I'm better than I've ever been in my life!"
"Oh..." he looked a little surprised at her obvious happiness. "Well, I'm glad to hear it... say Lizzy, I'm really sorry about what happened between us. I was wondering, would you care to ever go out to dinner with me sometime... you know just to let me make it up to you...?"
Wordlessly, Fred stepped forward and wrapped his arm possessively around Lizzy's shoulders. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, darling?" he asked, looking pointedly at Charles. Charles seemed to notice him for the first time.
Lizzy grinned and cuddled close to Fred. "I'm sorry, my love," she said sweetly. "Where are my manners? Fred, this is Charles an old... friend. Charles, this is my husband, Fred."
It was her first time introducing Fred as her husband and she very nearly burst with pride as she said it. She could not wipe the happy beam off her face.
Charles looked stunned. "Your husband? Elizabeth, you got married?"
"Two days ago," said Lizzy looking adoringly at Fred. He grinned back at her and kissed her lips.
"OH..." Charles looked so thoroughly taken aback it was all Fred could do to keep from laughing. "Well, wasn't that rather... sudden?"
"It might appear that way," said Lizzy pleasantly. "Fred and I have known each other for years, and we've always had feelings for each other. We just didn't do anything about it until recently."
"Really?" Charles was looking more put out by the minute. "So you knew him when you were with me?"
"Yes I did."
"You never talked about him!"
"Never had an occasion to."
"But now you're married to him?"
"Very, very happily so."
"I see," Charles's disgruntlement was palpable. "Well, congratulations... I guess. It was nice to run into you, Elizabeth."
"You too, Charles."
He made for the nearest exit as fast as he could. The moment he was gone, Lizzy dissolved into laughter. "Did you see his face?" she cried. "Oh it was priceless! That was worth all the tea in China! He was SO uncomfortable!"
Fred was laughing too. "I think he was horrified to find you so supremely happy without him."
"No doubt! He's probably going to lie awake at night wondering what you've got that he hasn't!"
"It'll do him no end of good!"
Lizzy wiped her eyes. "Oh mercy, but he did have that coming didn't he? I love it so much! I got to flaunt you in Charles Lance's face! My life is complete now!"
"I was sorely tempted to tell him I've seen him naked," said Fred. "But I refrained."
They laughed about their encounter with Charles the rest of the day, but the incident set Fred to thinking.
"I suppose sooner or later you are going to have to start telling people you ran off and got married," he observed to Lizzy after supper that evening. "Now that I'm -er- visible, you can't very well keep it a secret much longer."
Lizzy sighed hard. "I know, I was thinking about that at work today. I have to confess, I'm not looking forward to it. It's so nice having it as our secret. Once I start telling people, there's going to be a huge uproar."
"Especially from your mother."
"Oh Lord, Fred. I don't even want to think about my mother. She's going to kill me... or have me committed."
"Don't you worry about her, precious. She's going to have to deal with me now. I'm not in the habit of letting people kill you or commit you."
Lizzy smiled but looked a little nervous. "You – you will try to be nice to Mother, won't you Fred?" she asked pleadingly. "I know you're not her biggest fan, but it will only make my life harder if you row with her all the time. I'm not asking you to be best buddies, but will you at least attempt to be civilized? Especially when I first take her to meet you?"
"I promise I will be the picture of decorum," chuckled Fred. "Unless she's very horrible to you. In which case I won't hesitate to put her in her place."
"Just don't smash anything, please Fred? Destruction and mayhem is very well in an imaginary friend, but it's most unbecoming in a husband."
He laughed and wrapped her in his arms. "No mayhem and destruction... I promise. I'll keep my combat with your mother verbal. But I will combat her. Just because I'm not your imaginary friend any more doesn't mean I'm relinquishing my role as your protector. If anything, it's more my duty than ever. You're my wife now, and I promised to love and to cherish you. Part of that means keeping you from any earthly harm I can. And the worst harm you encounter on earth, usually comes in the form of your mother. So forgive me, sweet love, if I don't hesitate to go toe-to-toe with Polly Cronin when she starts abusing you."
Lizzy smiled and snuggled closer to him. "Still my guardian angel," she whispered. "Okay, Fred, do what you have to do, but keep it as civil as possible, please?"
"Aye, aye, my lady."
As it turned out, Janie was privy to Lizzy's bombshell news before Polly was. She dropped by unexpectedly the following evening to see how Lizzy was doing.
Fred answered the door. Janie was visibly confused.
"Oh, hello," she said eying Fred suspiciously. "I came by to see Elizabeth. Is she here?"
"She surely is," said Fred courteously. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes," said Janie, still looking wary. "Who are you? If you don't mind my asking."
"Oh I'm an old friend of Lizzy's. I'll let her introduce us." Janie did not miss the amused grin which flitted across Fred's face as he ushered her into the living room.
Lizzy came in from the kitchen. "Oh Janie! Hello! I wasn't expecting you."
Janie cast another bemused glance at Fred. "Hello Honey, I just came to check on you. I haven't heard from you in a few days. I was just hoping you were okay. Who is your friend?"
Lizzy came to stand next to Fred. She put her arm around his waist, her eyes shining with happiness. "Janie... this is Fred."
It took Janie a moment to register what she said. Then her head snapped up in surprise. "Fred? Fred?"
"Fred," said Lizzy glowing with happiness.
Janie was still clearly in a state of confusion. "Wait a minute... this is Fred? The Fred The one who supposedly left you forever?"
"The same Fred," said Lizzy. Her eyes welled with joyful tears.
Understanding was dawning on Janie's face. "But Elizabeth... this – this is wonderful! Wonderful! I mean, this is what you wanted! Oh my goodness! Are you really Fred?" she demanded suddenly rounding on him.
"One and the same," said Fred.
"Well," Janie suddenly looked severe. "I hope you know what you did to her, disappearing like that for months, breaking her heart into a million pieces! She loves you! She thought she was never going to see you again! I hope you don't have any plans to ever do anything like that to her again!"
"I am going to do everything in my power to make sure nothing like that ever happens again," said Fred quietly. "I took some drastic steps when I returned to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. I married her."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Janie, giving him a fierce look. "I've never seen Elizabeth so upset about anything in her life. In fact I – you did what?"
"We got married Janie," said Lizzy, wiping away tears. "Fred asked me to marry him as soon as he got back. We got married three days ago. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. We literally did it on the spur of the moment. We've kind of been honeymooning ever since."
Janie looked flabbergasted. "Elizabeth! You got married!"
"Yes Janie. To Fred. The only man I've ever loved. Say you're happy for me?"
Janie suddenly burst out laughing. "Happy! Oh Honey, if you're happy, I'm happy! I've been worried sick about you for the past two months. To come over here and find you glowing and happy and married... are you kidding me? You made my day! No, you made my year! Congratulations both of you!"
There was much laughter, and some hugging, and few more tears shed (on Lizzy's part) and then Janie demanded to hear the story of Fred's sudden and mysterious disappearance.
Fred and Lizzy looked at each other. They had agreed to create a plausible history about Fred to tell their friends and family, but they decided to leave his two-month absence a mystery.
"I wish I could tell you the whole story, Janie," said Fred. "I really do, but let's just say it's top secret."
"So you do work for the CIA!" said Janie shrewdly. "Or maybe Black Ops! Tell me it's Black Ops! I've always wanted to meet someone who worked in Black Ops."
"If I told you I'd have to kill you," said Fred solemnly.
"Darn! Well, okay, I won't pry. But I will be curious till my dying day what exactly happened to you."
They spent a pleasant evening visiting with Janie. Fred found himself enjoying the interaction with another person. It was the first real conversation he had had with another human besides Lizzy. He was rather relieved to realize that the conversational flow of questioning, listening and answering came to him instinctively. He found that he was naturally outgoing, funny, and intuitive. He possessed the inherent gift of making people feel comfortable around him.
He liked Janie, and found her easy to talk to. Even so, all throughout the evening, he was keenly aware of Lizzy's quiet presence next to him on the couch. Her gentle allure for him was so strong, even when he was concentrating on another person, he instinctively gravitated toward her. He kept her tenderly against his side, absently stroking her hair or leaning over to kiss her occasionally. She drew him like a sweet flower draws a bee. Toward the end of the evening, he found himself wishing Janie would leave, so he could be alone with her.
Later, he happened to overhear a snippet of conversation between the two women when they were in the kitchen by themselves getting drinks.
"Elizabeth, I can see why you want to be with him," said Janie in a low voice as she put ice in glasses. "I've never seen a man look at a woman the way he looks at you! Even when he's talking to me, he can hardly keep his eyes off you. It's as plain as the nose on my face that he adores you!"
"Yes, he does," said Lizzy smiling. "He always has. That's why I love him so dearly."
"Goodness, I don't know why you ever wasted time on Charles! If I had a man who loved me the way Fred loves you I'd hold on to him tight and never let him go!"
"I intend to from now on," said Lizzy quietly. "That's why I married him."
"I think you made a good call there," said Janie, nodding. "I have to admit I was a little shocked when you first told me – seems a bit out of character for you doing something crazy like that – but I don't blame you one little bit. He's everything you need, funny, sweet, sensitive. He'll be supportive of you in everything you do. I don't doubt it! It doesn't hurt that he's quite beautiful in an unusual sort of way."
Lizzy blushed and smiled again. "That's my Fred."
"Well, I'm happy for you," said Janie sincerely. "God knows you deserve a little happiness in your life for a change, Elizabeth."
"Fred makes me happier than anyone or anything else in the whole world," said Lizzy fervently. "He's everything to me. I love him with all my heart, Janie."
"I know, honey. I can see that you do. You're lucky to have Fred, but he's lucky to have you too. I think you'll be good for each other. I'm excited to see what life has in store for you."
Fred knew he shouldn't have eavesdropped, but what he heard warmed him to the core of his heart, and he stored away the moment along with every other sweet memory he had of Lizzy. When Janie was gone, he gathered her in his arms and carried her up to bed, kissing her tenderly.
"I love you, Lizzy," he whispered as he laid her down.
"I love you too, Fred."
They surrendered themselves to an hour of delicious bliss.
. . .
Lizzy waited a whole week before she finally decided to tell her mother she had gotten married.
"She's going to be absolutely livid," she told Fred. "She's been so irritated with me anyway, because she knows I've been upset about something, but I won't tell her what. She also keeps hinting that I need to try to make things up with Charles. When she finds out that I married a man she's never met, without her permission, she's going to have an aneurism."
"Well, that'll make life easier on us," said Fred pragmatically.
"Yeah... except she probably won't be nearly so obliging as to actually have an aneurism. She'll just look like she's going to have one, and then she'll throw the biggest tantrum this side of the Atlantic Ocean and I'll be on the receiving end of it."
"And I will be too," said Fred firmly. "And I'll shield you from it. Lizzy, you're mine now, not your mother's. I would venture to argue that you've always been mine and not your mother's, but I won't stand on technicalities. The crux of the matter is, you don't have to care one iota what the Mega-beast thinks. Her opinion doesn't matter. So what if you eloped and robbed her of all that lovely control she wanted over your fiance, and your wedding, and your marriage, and your life? It doesn't matter. All you need to care about is what I think of you, and I love you with every atom of my being."
Lizzy hid her face against his chest. "I know Fred, you're right... you're always right. It's just so hard to let go of that... desire to win her approval."
"Let it go, sweetheart, let it go. It's nothing but a ball and chain dragging you down, keeping you from flying."
That evening after supper, Lizzy called Polly and asked her if she could come over. "I have something important to tell you, Mother," she said nervously. "I think it would be best if you heard it from me in person."
Fred could not hear the other end of the conversation, but he gathered from Lizzy's subsequent responses that Polly had approved the visit and was keenly curious to know what Lizzy's news was. "We'll be over in a little while," said Lizzy without thinking. She had already slipped into the habit of referring to herself and Fred as "we". "I'll tell you all about it then."
Fred heard Polly ask, "who's 'we'?" as Lizzy hung up the phone.
"Operation aneurism is a go," said Fred.
Lizzy looked vaguely sick.
"Let's walk, Fred," she muttered as she got her purse. "I need something to calm me down."
So Fred took her hand and they walked the six blocks to Lizzy's old home. On their way, they rehearsed yet again the story they were going to tell Polly about Fred's past. They had created a plausible history for him pieced together with bits of truth, the meager information provided by Judge Fair's birth certificate, and some of Fred's recollections as an imaginary friend before he came to Lizzy.
"She's going to be mad on so many different levels," said Lizzy with a mixture of apprehension and satisfaction when they had finished going over the story for the hundredth time. "The fact that I've hidden you from her for years and then married you without her approval will be enough to get her blood boiling. The fact that you aren't college educated and don't have a job will absolutely finish her off. She might really have an aneurism when she hears that."
They reached Polly's home and mounted the steps to the front door.
"Here goes nothing," said Lizzy. Fred smiled and kissed her and she rang the doorbell.
Polly answered the door, impeccably dressed as always. An expression of faintly irritated bewilderment crossed her face when she caught sight of Fred standing behind Lizzy.
"Hello, Mother," said Lizzy.
"Elizabeth," said Polly, in her coldly polite way, her eyes fixed on Fred. "May I ask who this is?"
"Mother this is Fred. He's my... friend. May we come in please?"
At the introduction, a strange look flitted across Polly's face, the merest spasm of distaste, as though the very name held unpleasant connotations for her. But she opened the door a little wider. "Yes, I suppose you may."
Lizzy and Fred came in quietly and allowed Polly to usher them into the immaculate living room. Fred noticed Polly's eyes riveted to his hand which rested protectively against the small of Lizzy's back. When they sat on the sofa, he deliberately put his arm around her shoulders. Polly sat opposite them.
"Well, Elizabeth, what is this about?" Her eyes kept up a constant flicker back and forth from her daughter to the strange man who sat beside her.
Lizzy took a deep breath. "Mother... I have something to tell you. Fred is an old friend of mine. I know you've never met him, but I've known him since I was a child."
Polly said nothing, raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "He grew up in our neighborhood," Lizzy went on. "We – we used to play together at the park. We've kept in touch all this time." Lizzy was twisting her hands and playing with her fingers like she always did when she was nervous.
Polly shifted uneasily in her chair. Fred could see the apprehension in her face.
"Mother, there's no easy way to say this," Lizzy finally blurted, "so I'm just going to say it. Fred and I are in love with each other. We have been for years. Last week, we realized that we couldn't live without each other, so we – we got married."
Fred watched Polly's face slowly blanch and her eyes grow wide. "Excuse me?" she said softly.
Lizzy sighed. "Fred and I got married last week," she repeated.
Polly's eyes were disbelieving. "Elizabeth, I hope very much for your sake this is some kind of sick joke."
Lizzy sighed again. "It's not Mother. I'm telling you the truth. I love Fred..." her voice trembled slightly. "He loves me. He's loved me his whole life. Last week we decided to get married."
Polly fixed Lizzy with such a deadly expression, even Fred was chilled by it. "Elizabeth, may I see you in the kitchen?" she inquired, her voice frigidly calm.
Miserably, Lizzy started to get up to follow her mother into the kitchen, but Fred stopped her. "Mrs Cronin," he said calmly, "what Lizzy says is true. I'm her husband now. Anything you need to say to her, you can say to me."
Polly turned around and leveled her murderous gaze at him. "I'll thank you to stay out of this. I don't know who you are or why you put Elizabeth up to this, but it is not funny! I'd like you to leave."
Fred began to laugh. "I most certainly am not leaving. I didn't put Elizabeth up to anything. She is telling you the honest truth. Last Thursday evening, she and I were married at the courthouse. She is my wife and I am her husband. It's as simple as that."
Polly was growing whiter and whiter. Her nostrils were flared and a little vein was pulsing in the side of her neck. Fred watched it with fascination. He was beginning to wonder if she really were going to have an aneurism. Polly got up from her chair and leaned over into Elizabeth's face. "Tell me you didn't do this," she said in a low, deadly voice.
"I did, Mother," said Lizzy levelly. "I married Fred and I don't regret it at all. It's the single best thing I've ever done in my whole life."
Polly straightened up and stood there in silence for a moment, her chest heaving, her face ashen. "I don't even know what to say to you, Elizabeth," she said through gritted teeth. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I love Fred and I didn't want to wait another day to be his wife." said Elizabeth, quietly.
Polly sank down on the armchair and leaned her head in her hand. "Oh Elizabeth... what have you done?"
"I got married," said Lizzy irritably. "I didn't commit suicide."
Polly's head came up and she was no longer quiet and icy. Her cheeks were stained red and angry fire flashed from her eyes. "You might as well have!" she exploded. "Elizabeth, I had such a beautiful future planned for you. If you would have only given up that silly painting and married Charles, we would have seen it realized! But you are so damn stubborn! Now you've gone and done... this. What could have possibly possessed you to go and marry a complete stranger? You realize you've probably ruined your life?"
"I told you, Fred is not a complete stranger," said Lizzy hotly. "He and I have been friends since we were children. We used to play together when you couldn't see us. I didn't talk to you about him because I knew you wouldn't approve of him. But I love him. I've always loved him. I haven't ruined my life, I've made it more wonderful than you can ever imagine..." Lizzy's voice broke suddenly and her eyes filled with tears.
Fred hugged her close and kissed her, ignoring Polly's furious gaze. The latter began to pace the room like an enraged lioness.
"This is intolerable!" she fumed. "Of all the thoughtless, selfish, irresponsible things you have done, this is the worst! I'm completely ashamed of you!"
"So I take it you aren't going to congratulate us and wish us luck?" asked Fred complacently.
Polly wheeled on him. "And you. I don't know where you really came from. I doubt Lizzy's telling the truth about supposedly knowing you her whole life."
"Lizzy doesn't lie," said Fred his own voice becoming dangerous. "If you think she does, it shows how little you know your own daughter."
"Don't you dare tell me about my own daughter!"
Something in Fred snapped. His eyes glittered such an angry blue, they were almost purple. He slowly rose to his feet. "I will dare," he said, his voice soft and deadly "I'll dare because I know her better than you've ever known her. I know every heartbreak, every happiness she's ever experienced. I know what she went through living with you. I saw how you treated her. Every single time you tried to crush her heart or break her spirit, I knew! I did everything in my power to counter you."
"Fred!" said Lizzy warningly.
But Fred did not care. Years of fury at the woman before him were bubbling to the surface, demanding release. He advanced on Polly, his eyes blazing with wrath. She backed away from him looking frightened.
"I knew every cruel thing you ever did to her," said Fred savagely. "I knew when you punished her for accidents, when you shamed her for things she couldn't help. I knew when you wouldn't hug her because you didn't want your damned dress wrinkled. I knew when you threw away her teddy bear. I knew when you taped up her jack-in-the-box because – "
"Fred!" Lizzy sounded panicked.
He stopped short, biting his lip, trembling with rage.
During his tirade, Polly had been growing whiter and whiter. At the mention of the jack-in-the-box, her eyes widened. She backed against the fireplace staring at him. "Who are you?" she whispered. "How could you possibly know all that?"
"I'm someone who held Lizzy's heart close to my own her whole life and kept it safe from the likes of you," said Fred harshly.
Polly was staring at him and he saw realization dawning in her eyes. "You're him, aren't you?" she gasped. "I see it now... the pictures Elizabeth used to draw... the red hair... you're just like him. She always said you were imaginary!"
"Clearly I'm not," said Fred sharply.
Polly sank down weakly on the armchair. "What is happening?" she muttered wringing her hands.
"Your worst nightmares are coming true," said Fred sourly, crossing back to sit next to Lizzy. "Only it doesn't have to be that way." He put his arm comfortingly around Lizzy who was watching the scene in mute despair. "Mrs Cronin, if you would just leave off trying to control and bully your daughter all the time, you and I could live in peace. Otherwise, I promise, I will fight you with every breath I take. Lizzy is mine now and I will not stand for you abusing her."
Polly looked at him angrily. "Abusing?" she snapped. "I have never abused Elizabeth a day in my life! How dare you insinuate such a thing! I've only ever wanted the best for her. Everything I've ever done has been for her own good!"
"All tyrants say that," said Fred coldly.
Polly glared at him, and suddenly deflated. "I see how it is," she said in a grieved tone. "My own daughter has turned against me for some scoundrel who's been lying to her and brainwashing her all her life. All those years of hard work being her mother and this is the thanks I get."
"Don't even try that tack, Mother," said Elizabeth suddenly, her dark eyes dangerous. "Because I won't stand for it. You can abuse me all you want, but don't you dare say a word against Fred. He's been my light in the midst of darkness. I will not stand for you to try and quench him again. You very nearly did once, and I hid my relationship with him for years because of it. Well, no more. From now on, you accept me, and you accept Fred, or we have no relationship. Do you understand?"
Polly stared at her in stony amazement. "Elizabeth!"
"I mean it Mother," said Lizzy sternly. "You can accept my marriage or you can accept the fact that you no longer have a daughter."
Polly shut her lips tightly together. There was a long silence. "I suppose you give me no choice," she said bitterly.
Before Lizzy could reply, the phone rang. Polly looked coldly at her daughter and son-in-law. "You'll have to excuse me," she said. "That is an important phone call I've been expecting from the president of the garden club. I must take it. I may be a while. You can let yourselves out, if you must."
She stalked off to the kitchen leaving Fred and Lizzy alone in the living room.
As soon as she was gone, Lizzy exhaled hugely and leaned her head in her hands. "Are you okay?" asked Fred softly, squeezing her around the shoulders.
Lizzy nodded. "I knew from the beginning that you two meeting wasn't going to be pretty. I just wasn't expecting it to be quite so... revelatory. I certainly never expected her to figure out that you are actually Drop Dead Fred."
"Well, I think I kind of gave it away," said Fred sheepishly.
Lizzy smiled. "It's okay. It feels good to have that out in the open. Mind you, I don't think she realizes that you actually were imaginary. I suppose she thinks you were some bizarre older boy I made friends with at the park and pretended was my imaginary friend so could I keep you a secret."
"It's not actually that far from the truth," chuckled Fred. Lizzy smiled ruefully.
Fred nudged her gently. "Hey... thanks for sticking up for me. It was nice to hear."
Lizzy put her arms around him. "I couldn't do anything else," she whispered. "I just couldn't endure to sit there and listen to her vent spleen on you. If she'd kept it up, I might have gotten up and throttled her with my bare hands."
Fred chuckled again and hugged her close. "You handled it very well. I'm proud of you Snotface."
Lizzy kissed him. Then she got up from the couch. "Come on," she said. "I want to get something from my old room."
Hand in hand, they mounted the stairs they had ascended so many times in years past. They could hear Polly on the phone in the kitchen, deep in conversation. They reached Lizzy's old bedroom and went in together.
It had changed very little. The walls and carpet were still pink. The little white bed was still in it's place, as well as the vanity, the big stuffed armchair and the window seat. Lizzy closed the door and looked around for a moment.
"This room is so full of memories," she said quietly.
Fred did not reply. He watched in silence as Lizzy slowly walked around the room. She took a deep breath. "Every time I come up here, I almost expect to meet my old self... a lonely little girl whom nobody loved except a crazy man with wild red hair and green clothes."
Fred smiled a little sadly. "You know that man loved you so very, very much, don't you?"
Lizzy nodded slowly. "Yes, I know. I always knew. You never said it, but you showed me, a hundred different ways every day... which is more than Mother ever did."
Fred looked at her, his eyes soft. Lizzy crossed over to the bed and sat on it. She pointed to a spot on the floor next to the bed. "Right there," she whispered. "That's where you held me the day Daddy left. I cried and cried in your arms. I've never forgotten that. Every time I see that spot, I remember."
Fred came over and sat next to her on the bed. Lizzy leaned her head on his shoulder. "Fred, do you realize, from that day on, you were the only person who ever hugged me or kissed me or showed me any affection at all? Mother certainly never did. I don't think you had any idea what your touch meant to me... what you meant to me. I'm not even sure I knew how much you meant to me until later. You were my lifeline, my shelter, the only real home I ever knew."
Fred felt tears sting his eyes. "Oh Lizzy..." he whispered. He couldn't say more for the huge lump in his throat.
Lizzy shook her head slowly, still staring at the spot on the floor. "You know, Fred... you were right when you said earlier that I've always been yours, not my mother's. She never wanted me. But you... you wanted me more than anything in the world. I didn't even realize that until recently. You gave up everything... your immortality... to be with me. I think that alone makes me more yours than anybody elses in the world."
Fred drew her to him, choking with emotion. "You were mine the moment I set foot in this room and watched you smash that window," he whispered. "You were my precious little girl, and then you were the beautiful woman I fell in love with. He took her face in his hands and began to kiss her tenderly. "I would have given up anything to be with you. Immortality was a small sacrifice."
Lizzy wrapped him in her arms, a sob catching in her throat. "I love you, Fred," she whispered. She held him to her, stroking his hair, whispering endearments to him. Fred got up and locked the door.
He took her to bed and made passionate love to her in the soft, evening twilight. Old painful memories seemed to dissolve as she lay in his arms, savoring his kisses, washed in pleasure. The ghost of the sad, unwanted little girl seemed to fade away.
Fred closed his eyes as he loved her, remembering the countless nights he had watched over her as she slept in this very bed. There had been so many, many nights when he had ached to lie with her, to soothe and comfort her with his body as he was doing now. He had a sense of closure, of things being made right. The broken circle was closing, old hurts healing over, old longings being satisfied. He brushed his lips over Lizzy's silken skin, listening with enjoyment to the soft sounds of her pleasure, feeling his own body respond to her incredible sweetness.
Later, when they lay in the sweet afterglow of their love making, Lizzy smiled dreamily at Fred. "Thank you," she whispered. "That was more wonderful than you can know."
He smiled at her, tenderly smoothing her hair back. "I think we needed to make a good memory in this room."
"I'll treasure that one forever."
He kissed her lingeringly.
"I suppose we had better go soon," sighed Lizzy. "Mother would be horrified if she knew what we were doing up here."
"Let her be," murmured Fred, lazily stroking her hair. "We haven't done a thing wrong. Just a husband and wife being happily married. It's not our fault she can't understand that."
They got up and dressed, feeling a little inclined to giggle over their clandestine tryst over the Mega- beast's head.
Before they left, Lizzy went to the closet door. "I almost forgot what I came up here for." She stood on tiptoe and reached into the top of the closet. From a high shelf, she pulled an old taped-up jack-in-the-box.
"Remember this?" she asked softly, smiling a little and pulling at the tape.
"Only too well," said Fred darkly.
Lizzy pulled all the tape off of it and opened it gently. It was dark and empty. She stood looking at it thoughtfully for a moment. "Have you ever wondered?" she asked Fred slowly. "What would have happened if Daddy hadn't let you out?"
Fred shuddered. "A few times," he admitted. "But it's not something I like to dwell on."
Lizzy turned it slowly in her hands, still looking pensive. "I might have spent my whole life without you," she murmured. "What would have become of me? What would have become of you? Do you think we ever would have seen each other again? Do you think we ever would have fallen in love?"
Fred took her in his arms again. "Let's not think about that," he whispered. "That's not what happened. I'm here and I love you. We have our whole lives ahead of us. That's all that matters."
Lizzy smiled and snuggled against him. He pulled her close for a long kiss. As he did, his elbow skimmed a little picture hanging on the wall behind him. It fell to the floor and its frame cracked. Fred and Lizzy both started and glanced over at the damage. "I do love those breaky noises, don't you?" Fred whispered, smiling.
Lizzy laughed and kissed him again. "I love you," she whispered. "Let's go home. I don't want to talk to Mother any more tonight."
She tucked the jack-in-the-box under her arm, and started down the stairs. Fred glanced back as he came out behind her. Lizzy's old room with all its memories was behind him. He nodded to it in a satisfied way and turned off the light. They had come full circle.
Polly was not on the phone when they came downstairs. She was nowhere to be seen. They slipped away without trying to find her. Hand-in-hand, they walked home through the soft, purple twilight, their hearts brimming with happiness.