Chapter 14

The sound of the annoying buzz awoke Lizzie the next morning from the best night's sleep she'd had in a long time. She smacked the snooze button on the alarm clock and stretched out in her bed like a cat awakening from a luxurious nap. Her thoughts quickly drifted to Patrick. She'd dreamt of him all night and smiled to herself recalling the events that took place the night before.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of the white piece of paper sitting next to her lamp. Oh right, she thought. She narrowed her eyes and wondered what had possessed her mother to write this note. Soon, it would be time to confront the author.

Lizzie gently shook Frankie awake. She smiled tenderly at his sleeping form. He was going to be so excited that Patrick and Lizzie were together. She shook him again a little harder until the boy looked up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Time to get up, Frankie."

Nell sat peacefully at the kitchen table smoking a cigarette and sipping on her coffee cup as she read a tabloid.

Dressed in a robe, hair disheveled; Lizzie entered the kitchen and smiled at her mother.

"Good morning, Mother."

"Good morning, Lizzie. Late night?" Nell asked her with a smirk knowing full well when her daughter arrived back home the night before.

"You could say that," Lizzie responded coolly as she grabbed a pan and cooking spray.

Nell knew it to be true because she and Frankie had spied them strolling down their block holding each other from Frankie's window. Frankie had been so excited that he actually said 'Yay' out loud and high-fived her. Once they realized they may had been seen Nell abruptly turned off the light.

Her eyes still trained on her tabloid, Nell took another puff of her cigarette and asked Lizzie in an impassive tone, "So how did your meeting go with Patrick?" As if she couldn't guess. She knew she had been partly responsible for setting the wheels in motion. It wasn't as though she could stand by idly and watch her daughter suffer needlessly. She'd witnessed enough of Lizzie's brooding. Nell had already become accepting of Patrick and found his intentions to be honorable.And clearly she could see just how he felt about her daughter.

"It was fine," Lizzie replied simply while cracking eggs into the frying pan.

Nell didn't want to pry but was quickly getting impatient with her daughter's lack of response.

The two women stayed silent waiting for the other to speak first.

Lizzie was determined not to be the one to speak first feeling like in this small way she was punishing her mother because of her interference.

Nell put out her cigarette and tapped her fingers on the table while Lizzie hummed happily flipping the eggs with the spatula.

Nell cleared her throat, turning the pages loudly wondering how long Lizzie's silence would prevail and how much more she could take.

With a smirk, Lizzie hummed a new song letting the fried eggs slide off the pan onto a plate.

Frustrated with her daughter's unwillingness to communicate, Nell tapped her foot loudly and annoyingly slurped her coffee.

Lizzie danced the plate to the table and sang, "And he'll come down on a great white horse, and he'll bring me love that I've been longing for."

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Lizzie!" Nell snapped. "Are you going to tell me what happened already!"

Lizzie smiled victoriously at her mother.

"Oh so curious!" Lizzie baited grabbing a fork and a napkin.

Frankie strode in to the kitchen with a knowing smile on his face. He gave a confused Lizzie a hug and held out his hand palm up for her to give him a low five.

Lizzie observed his curious behavior and slapped his hand realizing at once that she hadn't imagined him at the window. The light had been on and he had been there watching.

Nell having witnessed Frankie blowing their cover put her fingers to her forehead and shook her head.

Lizzie turned Frankie around facing the table and pulled out his chair for him to sit.

"Well, Mother, if you really want to know, why not just ask Frankie?"

Nell pursed her lips knowing that Lizzie wouldn't tell her until she was good and ready.

Lizzie smiled to herself and turned around to go get showered. As an afterthought, she spun around and faced the two dead on. She pulled the note from her pocket holding it up with her thumb and index fingers so they could see the writing.

"Perhaps one of you can explain this."

Marie busily arranged the cigarettes on the shelf and wondered how the previous night's meeting had gone.

Lizzie walked in and greeted Marie with a smile and rushed to the back to retrieve her apron. Lizzie brought out clean silverware and started setting the tables.

"So?" Marie asked questioningly. "How did it go, Lizzie?"

"Everybody wants to know," Lizzie replied teasingly. "Didn't Patrick tell ya?"

"My brother?" Marie said incredulously. "He never tells me anything!"

Lizzie inspected the napkin holders. "Marie? Did Patrick really leave the phone message for me?" she asked curiously looking at Marie.

Marie's eyes became wide. "I...uh..." she stammered.

Lizzie decided to let her off the hook. "I know about the note. It's okay. I'm not angry about it."

Marie smiled sheepishly. "No, he didn't. But I'll tell ya I was just an accomplice."

Lizzie nodded her head having learned from her mother's confession just whose idea it had been. Catriona. Frankie's friend had come up with it and convinced Frankie to carry it through with help, of course. Everyone seemed to be in on it, except her and Patrick.

Lizzie couldn't help feeling grateful despite the deceptiveness of her mother and son. If not for them who knows if they would've come together on their own?

"Please don't tell him, Lizzie," Marie said pleadingly as she wiped the front counter.

Lizzie looked questioningly at her friend.

"Patrick's a very private person. The last person who got into his business...well..." Marie trailed off shuddering.

"What?"

"He got thrown overboard."

Lizzie knit her brows and gaped at Marie.

The sound of the door opening startled them and a smiling Patrick strode purposefully over to Lizzie. Her face lit up as he proceeded to grab her and kiss her lifting her high in the air and twirling Lizzie around. She still couldn't believe that they were finally together.

Marie's eyes flew wide open at this sight and she chuckled. "Went as well as all that then," she said to herself.

"Good morning, Lizzie," Patrick said after he put her down; kissing her affectionately on the cheek.

"Good morning," Lizzie replied shyly, finding herself quite swept away by his actions.

"Good morning," Marie cut in waving; feeling she needed to make her presence known.

Patrick smiled to Marie. "It is a beautiful morning," he announced. Patrick looked back at Lizzie. "Will you go out with me tomorrow night?"

Marie silently observed the scene; chin on hands, with her elbows on the counter very charmed by all of it.

"Well...I…Yes. Our first date?" Lizzie replied feeling a little weak in the knees by the gleam in his eyes.

Patrick stroked her hair and nodded. "Our first date."

They gazed at each other transfixed by each other's presence.

Marie interrupted their spell. "Uh hello, Patrick?"

"Mmmm?" he responded lost in Lizzie's eyes.

"Remember...the party…next weekend? Why don't we invite Lizzie?"

Snapping out of it Patrick looked at Marie. "Oh…the party. Lizzie, will you come?"

Lizzie was puzzled. She looked from Patrick to Marie.

"I'm throwing a birthday/welcome home party for Patrick at my flat. It'll be small. Ally's band will play. There'll be drinks and fun and my hot tub. You have to come!" Marie told her excitedly. She had wanted to invite Lizzie all along but wasn't sure how things were between her and her brother.

Lizzie shrugged happily, "Sounds like fun."

Patrick pulled his hand from Lizzie's waist hesitantly. "I'm going for my jog and to run some errands. Just wanted to pop in and say good morning."

Lizzie smiled up at him, already missing the warmth of his arms and wished he didn't have to leave. "I'm so glad ya did."

Patrick couldn't resist himself. He grabbed her, pulling her into a bear embrace. Lizzie reveled in the secure feeling of his strong chest and nestled her cheek against his shoulder. The two clung contentedly to each other as though to make up for lost time.

Marie, beginning to become uncomfortable, looked away as she set out for something else to do.

"Have lunch with me," Patrick whispered in Lizzie's ear.

"Yes." Without a feeling of hesitation, Lizzie answered quickly.

"I'll see ya then," he said, gazing into her eyes. Unable to resist, Patrick planted a kiss gently on Lizzie's lips which quickly turned into a deeper, more passionate one.

Marie cleared her throat and averted her eyes. She cleared her throat again. "Um hello?"

The two with their lips interlocked seemed not to hear her.

Marie became impatient. "Enough you two! Yer steaming up my shop!"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the fluff! More still to come. As usual, please review!