Cha-Cha by Operatic. Ed by BOWIEgirl. Don't anything. But we can pretend.

Virginia Beach

Driving was not one of Cha-Cha's favourite ways to spend the time. "Virgina and New York aren't very close, are they?" she moaned. Flipping through the radio stations got old after awhile. Kissing Ed's neck was fun, but then they almost drove off the road and everything, and dying was not how Cha-Cha planned to spend the day. Sighing, she sank down further in her seat. Should've brought a...colouring book or something.

"No, not really. I didn't think you'd get bored so quickly though. Why don't you take a nap?" They should have flown. He hated to rent cars, he got used to his own and didn't like adjusting, but obviously anything over an hour and she was done.

"I'm not tired," Cha-Cha huffed, looking out the window for a few minutes. That got boring fast. She wanted to be at the beach. She wanted to go swimming. She wanted to be there. "So how much longer do you think it'll be? About?" she asked, trying to keep her cool. If he said over an hour, she was going to lose it.

"Hours, honey," he laughed. "Go to sleep." If she was going to ask 'Are we there yet' every fifteen minutes, he'd knock her out himself. "We are definitely flying to Florida," Ed mumbled.

Cha-Cha stared at him. Hours. "Are you joking me?" she asked slowly. He had better be joking. No way could she stand a few more hours. No way. Her legs were already jumpy. "I mean it. Are you kidding? I really hope you're kidding."

"If it makes you feel better, we're almost in Virginia." Yeah they definitely hadn't reached the right state yet. What to do to get her mind of it... "Why don't you tell me what you and the girls did this week?" She'd seen them once for a day of shopping. That had to be at least an hours worth of stories he'd zone out for. Listen to intently! That's what he meant.

Cha-Cha sighed. "We went shopping and saw Carmine and I told them about the race and then the bathtub, which I think kinda intersted them but no big progress as of yet, sorry hun. Okay are we there now?" she rattled through the story as fast as she could, not interested in keeping on that for too long. She was bored.

"How detailed did you get?" he asked, not sure how he felt about that. Okay maybe it came up with his friends, who he finally had time to see. Not having a job gave him lots of free time. But they were different. They were all fine with her. Cha-Cha's didn't like him. That made it weird.

"Detailed enough," Cha-Cha grinned mysteriously. They were girls. Girls talked about the men in their lives. Girls compared notes. But in her opinion, Ed had a pretty high standing, and she didn't let her friends disagree. How could they really disagree with what she was telling him. "Not all the personal stuff, but...y'know. Detailed enough," she laughed.

That didn't make him feel better. At all. New topic please. "Change the radio station, it's too staticy." Oh good, it actually was. It just happened to be the first thing to come to mind.

Cha-Cha giggled, flipping through the stations again. Landing on some latin station, she left it on that. "So do you think your sister will like me?" she asked. She hadn't been sure what to bring, in terms of wardrobe. She didn't have a whole lot of conservatie wear, as she was sure Ed appreciated, but some of it just wouldn;t be appropriate. Not if she wanted to make a good impression.

"I know she will," he smiled. She had to, she was his sister. It was in the rules. Siblings band together against parents. Besides, she was as crazy as Ed was serious. Yet she still managed to be the favorite. He just hoped Cha-Cha wouldn't prefer Melissa over himself. That'd be humiliating.

"Good. Think you'll bring her back tonight?" Cha-Cha asked. She wanted to meet Melissa, but she also wouldn't mind having some time on the beach with Ed. Swimming together or just lying lazy on the sand. Maybe rollerskating on the docks! If there were docks. What sort od beach didn't have docks?

"How about tomorrow?" he suggested. "It might be too overwhelming. For me, not you. You get to explore the beach. I get to go home for the first time since Thanksgiving. Which didn't go so well. But they probably forgot by now. They have new stuff to be mad about." What was he talking about again? Oh yeah, Melissa. "Anyway, I want to get Dad out of the way. And I won't be very happy. I'd rather introduce you when I'm feeling like myself." He thought that over. "I'll be happy to see you, I mean I don't want to be ranting the whole way to the hotel and get both of us worked up..." Meeting a post rant Melissa wasn't the best first impression. "Am I making sense?"

"What happened at Thanksgiving?" Cha-Cha had to ask. She nodded, putting a hand on his thigh comfortingly. It was intended to be comfortingly. "I get it. Plus I want to keep you all selfish for myself and explore the beach with you," she admitted with a laugh. She hadn't gone swimming in years, but it wasn't as fun alone. Plus, she might need help getting acquainted with their hotel room. You know, a grand tour, or something. Really.

"Well I got a call from them saying Melissa had pneumonia. They way they were talking it sounded like she was dying or something. I drop everything and fly down within two hours to find her sleeping on the couch with hardly the flu. Honestly, sniffles, at the worst. Dad said it was a miracle. I said it was a shitty ploy to get me to come down for the holiday." Which he didn't stay long for. Two days and he was home. "I'm half expecting my mom to have an Ace bandage on her ankle." He didn't get why she went along with his ideas. He hadn't thought she'd known about the Melissa scam, but he talked to her about her own foot...

"Well..." Cha-Cha tried to find something to say to that. Something that wasn't too mean to his parents. "At least they wanted you home...?" she tried. Hey, her mom probably didn't care if she turned up in a ditch somewhere dead. Okay, that probably wasn't totally true, but she acted that way.

"Yeah," he nodded. In a weird way it showed they cared. Very weird. "That was the highlight of Thanksgiving weekend. I don't really want to get into the rest." His family was...ech. "When was the last time you saw your parents?" They weren't as intrusive as his own.

Cha-Cha thought about it herself. "Saw them? Um, my dad...last...I guess Christmas, he came over on Christmas Eve. He made me go to mass with him and watched some Christmas movie...Ivana and Grace barged in and got into an hour long conversation with him. It was fun," she nodded. Over six months. Daughter of the Year went to...at least she talked to him on the phone once a month. "My mom...probably back when I was in my early twenties. Earlier twenties," she bit her lip. "Probably...when Javier had his daughter, I think?" That was about four years ago. Oh dear. And there weren't too many phonecalls, either.

"You're an aunt?" he asked. Javier was her brother, right? He knew she had a brother and the name sounded familiar, but her family didn't come up much. The past few months had...sorta been...all about him and his. Wow. Self centered much, Ed? he thought. He hardly asked about hers, and she was driving hours to his? Then again, the few times he'd tried to talk about her family she'd gotten quiet...

"That's why I moved out," Cha-Cha shrugged. Well, it was when he got married. But the niece came shortly after that, so pretty much. Thinking back, it was one of the few times she's seen her mother happy. Well, since she came out, anyway. It was sort of nice. Even if she got that same disapproving stare and cold shoulder whenever she walked in the room. "One of the only kids under ten I can stand," she added with a giggle.

"Ah kids," Ed sighed. His cousins had kids. In small doses they were great. After a few days they got boring. Then annoying. "There aren't a lot of young kids in my family at the moment. Is there just the one in yours right now?"

"Um...just the one that I see. Probably some of my cousins and...cousins of cousins and all that," Cha-Cha had a huge extended family, but only a couple that she still saw. "But I never see them anymore. They wouldn't recognize me," she admitted softly. They didn't know. They wouldn't approve, and her mother was too embarrased to tell them.

"Oh." Now he remembered why he didn't ask. He didn't know what to say. 'Their loss' was too cliche a response. Now there had been too long a pause for a comment to be appropriate. "Sorry." About the situation, and for asking.

"It's okay, honey," Cha-Cha assured him quietly, squeezing his thigh gently. After a moment, she added, "I wouldn't wanna deal with all those howling brats anyway," with a soft laugh. Cha-Cha would never, ever be a parent, and not just for the obvious reasons.

He chuckled. She might not like them, but he imagined she'd be great with kids anyway. Or maybe he couldn't imagine her not getting along with someone? There was a difference.

"I'd like to see a mini-Melissa eventually," he thought with a grin. "That'd be something."

Cha-Cha laughed, even though she had no idea what a mini-Melissa would be like yet. But his laughing made her laugh. "Is she married?" she asked. Though, then again, being married had nothing to do with having children.

"Yeah. She better get a move on though. She's forty one. Don't tell her I told you though. She could probably pass for my younger sister. Still, she can't wait forever." He wanted a niece. It's like a daughter you can give back when you get bored. Perfect.

"Maybe she doesn't want kids. Not everybody does," Cha-Cha countered. Hell, it didn't seem like either of them did (a wonderful arrangement for Cha-Cha, by the way. Not that they were anywhere near the point where kids would be an option, right? Not that kids were even going to be in the picture, just...yeah, moving on...) "You can play with my neice if you want. I'm sure Javier wouldn't mind, you won't drop her or anything. Course, you'll have to meet Javier first," she added, poking his arm. Javier, she was relatively certain, would have no problems with Ed. He didn't exactly know about her history with men. According to him, she'd been single for years. What was to be apprehensie about?

"Yeah, well, I want her to," he laughed. Melissa had a small say in this, Ed wanted a niece, he'd get a niece. Or nephew. Preferably a niece though. He couldn't help it, girls were adorable. And while he wasn't completely against the idea of having a munchkin around his own home, he'd realized finding a lover of any kind was hard enough without that in the equation.

"Is Javier like a Cueva equivalent to Melissa?" A supportive sibling. Occasionally left out of the loop to keep that support there.

"I guess," Cha-Cha giggled, thinking about it. "I lived with him for...nineteen, twenty-one...two years..." she wasn't the best at numbers sometimes. "Yeah. He's better to me than my parents are, and that's what matters," she nodded with a grin. That probably wasn't giving him enough credit. He dealt with his drag queen sister--yes, his sister--for two years, along with all that came with living with her. Not everybody in the world would do that.

Ed had been ecstatic when she agreed to live with him, but everyone's different. His meticulous apartment may have disappeared, but the company he gained was worth it. "Good, nice to know we're each got someone." You know, aside from themselves and friends. You needed a family member.

'Well, yeah. Though my dad isn't really that bad either. Makes me wear jeans and go to church with him sometimes, but other than that...I think he'd like you." Her father had never really minded that she was gay. And again, according to him, she had been single for years, waiting for 'the one'. That...that probably had something to do with why he was okay with it. But any promiscuity on her part was in the past now, right? And Ed was a good boyfriend for him to meet, if he was going to meet any. He was financially stable, mature, loving. As long as the newspapers stayed out of Mr. Cueva's grasp, they'd be golden. "I'm his son, though," she added.

"Ah," he nodded. Got it. Better than nothing? "You okay with that?" If Ed could read her mind, he'd be wondering if he'd almost made it to 'The One' status if there was potential meeting her father moments coming.

Cha-Cha shrugged. "It could be worse. And I mean...I am a boy, so he's not technically wrong." And besides, it wasn't like she'd ever tried to push the girl thing on him. She wasn't even sure he knew about the Miss Flawless competition, though she did have the crowns on display. Anyway, she'd take what she could get, and she was pretty much okay with being a boy to him.

"Mhmm." Ed forgot sometimes, as silly as it sounded. He was gay, he dated guys, he should remember. But she didn't look like your typical guy. See, she didn't look like a typical guy! It was probably the pronoun usage that got him. Until, of course, night came and she turned into him before Ed's eyes. Or it was a particularly hot day and shirts needed to be off.

Anyway, whether it was a 'she' day or a 'he' day or something in between, Ed would be there regardless. Ready as ever to pounce on his lover.

That was all Cha-Cha really needed. Some lovers had insisted she was male, whether they didn't have the sense to ask for her preference, or they just didn't care. But she'd never had to correct him before, and she knew he'd say whichever she preferred. There were times when she felt nearly purely male, and other times when she couldn't feel further from that. As long as he stayed on her side either way, she wouldn't worry.

Talking to him, she'd almost forgotten how bored she was. "How much longer now?" she sighed.

"Cha-Cha, I love you. And I want to still love you by the time we get there." They had hardly talked half an hour. Was she going to 'How much longer' the whole way there? "Hours, honey. Still. Just...focus on the nice bonding we're doing. Think of something to talk about." He tried to think if there was anything he'd ever meant to ask her, but never found the time. Hmm.

"You will always love me, you jerk. I'm the love of your life," Cha-Cha teased, rolling her eyes. Whether it was true or not, how wise would it be for him to deny it? "How could Virginia be hours away? You really did wanna get away from them," she commented. She'd never been quite that brave. Or rich enough to make it on her own.

Hey, he'd earned his escape, thank you. Guilt checks went to saving for situations like this. Everything else was his paychecks. "Well, you kinda got the idea why, didn't you?" he asked. She'd heard his father on the phone enough times, right?

"True, true," Cha-Cha sighed, thinking. What could they talk about? Hours. That really was a ridiculous time period to drive for. "How did you stand these drives when you were alone?" she asked. Because she made pretty awesome company, of course. Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet?

"I enjoy driving. Unlike somebody, apparently. But most times I flew. And before you cry about that, it's because someone would pick me up at the airport and I'd stay at the house. If we'd done that we would have been trapped there."

"Aw, flying?? You shoulda gotten Lennie to pick us up. I never flew before," Cha-Cha sighed. It looked pretty cool, though. Well...scary. But still sort of cool. He'd protect her, though. Even though if they went down in a fireball there really wasn't much he could do... "But then again, driving's good too."

"Think that through, my dear." Yes, Lennie could handle the New York end, but someone hd to get them in Virginia. "Did you miss the part about staying at the house? Without a car?" He didn't rent cars. It was a thing he just didn't do. He got used to his and wouldn't drive anything else. Though if he and Cha-Cha had faced being stuck 24/7 in his parents house...first time for everything, right? Driving to a hotel would have been required. "You can fly home if you want," he laughed. He'd have to drive, but if it drove her this crazy...Posted by Cha-Cha de los Santos Perez... on Jul 1, 2008, 9:24pm"Sorry. I've been driving so long my brain is broke," Cha-Cha huffed. "Would you fly with me? Cause I'm not going alone." No way, absolutely not. Not alone. It would be bad enough with him.

"No, the car has to get home somehow. But we are never driving anywhere again," he laughed. He enjoyed talking with her, but somehow everything ended up at the same place. How much longer? So...what now... What was something they could talk about for a while. Ed could go on about his family, he knew, but he wanted something positive. "Any ideas on traumatizing Virginians?"

Cha-Cha giggled, thinking about it. "Well we're going swimming together," she reminded him. "Umm...I dunno. It's the South. Won't we be enough to do it?" she pointed out with a laugh. Southern people in general weren't as open minded as those in New York. Here you had a homosexual, interracial couple, one half being gender-confused. This was gonna be a fun weekend.

"Right. I forget we aren't the normal couple. But what does swimming have to do with it?" Well, maybe two men half dressed together- yeah that's about as far as he had to get to figure that one out.

He almost suggested the jacuzzi, because really, what hotel didn't have one, but if it went anything like the other night... They' be out of a room. Unless they sat on opposite sides. And they would be sort of clothed, right? He could control himself. Right? There was a chance it'd stay family friendly.

There was no chance that would stay family friendly. Cha-Cha could promise that. She couldn't control herself. She couldn't pretend what happened in the bath was unwelcome. At all. "Pretty much. It'll be fun though. You gonna go tanning with me?" she added. Okay, even if a tan wouldn't do much him good, could he say no to lying together on the sand?

"You don't think I'm dark enough already?" he asked with a laugh. "But um, yeah, if I'm back from the house early enough, sure." Depended on if the sun was still hot enough to be worth laying under when he returned. Maybe go early, come back to her for a bit, back to mom...so much driving... Alright, mom got morning and early afternoon. Cha-Cha got from at least 3:00pm on. He'd figure something out.

Cha-Cha nodded. "Well if not, you can give me a tour of the hotel room," she giggled, winking at him. Hey, everyone had to have hotel sex at least once in their life. She had, but maybe he hadn't? Either way they'd pretend it was their first times and they'd have a ball. "Or we can go to the beach at night. When it's all cold and pretty outside." Clearly she'd put alot of thought into this.

He assumed that it went unsaid that he was very, very into the first idea. Ah, but had her adventures been motels or actual nice hotels? That made all the difference. Yes, Ed would know. Either really bad or really fancy. In the middle just wasn't the same.

Oh, sand at night could be fun. "Be those people with flashlights on at midnight looking for crabs? Actually I'd just like bothering people with the beam...but crab hunting is a good excuse." For years he never knew what those people were doing. Just looking at the sand? Really? After two in the morning?

"Crab hunting?" Cha-Cha asked. The idea made her laugh. Why would they want crabs? What possible use would one have for crabs? Okay, crab meat, but...crab hunting! Like bee farming, only on the beach. Shaking her head, her giggling finally died down. "Or we can just hold onto each other...look at the stars." Shut up. Cha-Cha could be ridiculously romantic sometimes. Besides, how often did she see stars, anyway? They lived in New York.

"I seriously don't know why people do it, I never have, but hey, if it gives me a reason to have a flashlight out to shine at people..." He was a nice gentleman, wasn't he? He'd never dream of disturbing any windows with the light.

"I like your idea much better," he grinned. Anything that could make a cold night hot was a good idea.

Cha-Cha giggled, covering her mouth. "Ah, Eddie. I love you. You make me seem nice," she grinned. A difficult feat indeed. "Maybe I should wear my skates, just incase any high-speed chases go on when people finally get sick of you. As we've seen they are highly effective when racing the police," she smirked.

Ed rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, you won, we all know. Good job." Sore loser. Even though he'd seen it coming. She'd get tired of rubbing that in eventually, wouldn't she? ...psh, yeah right. "But you know, good luck on sand, sweetheart."

"I'm just a winner, Ed. Fate smiles down upon me," Cha-Cha teased. "Least now I can say I've been tackled by a New York detective. Though...I guess I've been able to say that for awhile," she laughed again. Shrugging, she added, "There's gotta be a boardwalk or somethin. Anyway, it's better than just running. As we've seen, you're not the fastest on your feet."

"If I weren't driving, Cha-Cha, if I weren't driving..." He'd probably tackle her again. The verbal abuse poor Ed went through... "If I have to I'll push you in the sand. You are not skating off and leaving me to get caught in this hypothetical chase. Although you know if you were running you wouldn't stand a chance."

Cha-Cha gaped at him. "And how do you know that?" Of course he was right, but he didn't have to know that. She could be some sort of...marathon runner or something for all he knew. She wasn't out of shape, at least. Well...not really. She ate junk but usually worked it off. Did that count?

"Call it an educated guess. Besides, cops like me and our imaginary officer run all the time. How often do you?" Okay, for him it was becoming 'ran' all the time instead of 'run'. Whatever. He couldn't remember ever seeing her moving more than she had to. "Don't get me wrong, your legs are fantastic." He would know, too. "But I just can't see you as a runner. Long distance anyway." Great, now all he could think about was her legs.

Cha-Cha stared at him, unsure of what to say. "You're just mean, Ed. You are just a mean man, and you're just picking on me," she decided, shaking her head. He was just making assumptions about her, and everyone knew what that made him. "But I'll forgive you cause you're only doing it cause you like me," she added with a grin.

"Exactly. Think of it as me chasing you around the playground." Boys were always supposed to tease the person they loved. It was just a fact of life. Did people think men grew out of that? "Chasing and then catching..." If she could brag about beating him in the park, he could dream of beating her when it was fair and square.

"How do you know you'd catch me?" Cha-Cha shook her head. As long as she wasn't in heels, how would he know he was faster? Even if he really was. "If you did, it would only be because you cheated again. And I know you would," she grumbled.

"Because nothing can keep me away from you, including you." If he needed to, he could catch her. And yeah, he probably would cheat. But only because he loved her.

Cha-Cha wasn't expecting that answer, and the smile returned to her face. "Can you stop making me love you? It gets annoying sometimes," she teased. He was a hard person to stay mad at. Good for him, but unnerving for her. Or it would be unnerving if he weren't so amazing. See? It happened again!

"I'm sorry, I'll stop," he laughed. Hey at least he wasn't making her hate him, right? He'd never try that intentionally. "Happier news, we're just over one hour away."

Cha-Cha sighed. She didn't like the words 'just over'. Or the word 'hour'. "So what can we do in just over an hour?" she asked. With him driving, keep in mind. That narrowed their options down alot. "Tell me a story," she decided, too lazy to come up with something herself. "An...embarrasing Ed story."

"I'm not telling an embarrassing Ed story," he said, rolling his eyes. Why? Obviously it would be embarrassing. Despite his protest, his mind was already filtering through the events of his life, trying to find something he wouldn't mind her knowing. His mother would come up with plenty of stories, none of which Ed would tell himself. Another good reason to keep her away from Cha-Cha.

Nothing coming to mind really topped that newly weds in the hotel story from so many months ago. Could he think of anything else he'd done on the job that she would find amusing…? Well there was that one thing that had nothing to do with his job. What was that, three years ago? Like he'd bring that up. That was...okay the point was to be embarrassing, but that had just been a bad idea. "I can't think of a thing," he lied, hoping he sounded sincere.

"Oh sure you can't. You just don't wanna give me stuff to make fun of you with," Cha-Cha giggled. Could read him like a book. Course who would willingly give up that sort of information? "Course, if you were a man you'd be able to face the humiliation as such. And you'd realize you have a caring, loving, wonderful lover who wouldn't dream of making fun of you," too much. "But if you wanna be that way, fine. Are we there yet

?"

Oh god no, she was not going to 'Are we there yet' for the next hour. "You know, you've uncovered numerous things about me I wish you hadn't. Why can't we talk about you?" He wasn't really annoyed, it was a ploy to change the subject. Another thing had popped into his head and if he thought about it too long he feared it would show.

"There's nothing to tell," Cha-Cha replied too quickly. "But Eddie your stories are more fun! You've been around longer. More time for you to mess up." Or one would think. Cha-Cha had faced a surprising number of mess ups in her short twenty-something years.

More time to mess up. Thanks. But everyone knew denying that fast was a dead giveaway she had stories of her own.

"Fine." How to put this so he didn't have to relive it all over again. "There was this..." No. "It didn't..." He knew this was a bad story to tell her. "Basically...there are two reasons I don't date men with water beds anymore." He wasn't sure if he wanted to look at her or not. Her expression would probably be amusing, but then would he be able to finish? "Sex is incredibly difficult. And water beds can pop."

Cha-Cha was trying incredibly hard not to laugh. Not to be nice or anything, but she wanted to be sure she understood before she went nuts. And she would go nuts, guarenteed. "It popped?" she asked slowly, forcing the grin off her face. "What do you mean...sex is difficult?" She had some idea but she wanted to know.

"I don't really want to talk about having sex with someone else with you," he laughed. Sort of weird. Friends were one thing. Your current lover? Quite different. But those eyes could get anything out of him. "Especially not when it...just...did not work out well. You have to be able to imagine that on your own." A bed of water was not easy to sit on without constantly steadying yourself. Never mind attempting other positions. "I mean...you fall all over the place. The bed you're on just goes wherever it wants to. It's hard to get two people in the same spot at the same time for more than two seconds."

Cha-Cha finally laughed, just imagining it. Her poor Eddie. "I bet you would have still been with me if I had a waterbed," she hoped, her hand resting on his thigh again. She just liked it there. "So...did you make it work out? Or did you go home alone?" she asked, the amused smile still on her face. What? She couldn't help it. She probably would've laughed if it happened to herself.

"Yes, yes, laugh. I thought it was funny too. The first time." Second time had been even worse. Why was there even a second time? It never should have happened. "I insisted we go to my place after that. I forget how or why but somehow we ended up back there again a few weeks later." He was going to make her tell him a story for this. "I'm not exactly sure how two people can manage to pop one, but...we did." Had he left a pen or something in his pocket? That couldn't have done it, right? Something in the frame stabbed it? Just jumped on one too many times? However it happened, a sopping wet Ed had stormed out of the apartment.

"That's why god created couches, baby. And showers and floors and bath tubs, apparently," Cha-Cha shook her head, laughing. Twice in a few weeks. Wait. "A few weeks?" she asked. That was a long time to be seeing somebody. A really long time. Her relationships lasted a week at the most.

"Yeah," he said, oblivious to why a few weeks would be surprising. She'd been with him a while, he forgot that that probably wouldn't be normal for her. His in general lasted a few months. Unless there was an obvious issue with the man. Had to give things time to develop though. "Should have known before that disaster. It makes a good story, but that's at least a month of wasted time."

Cha-Cha nodded. In his opinion then, she would'e wasted many, many months. "I don't usually last that long. My longest relationship was like...six months-ish," she responded softly. She was still in it. "We broke up though, cause he took me on this really boring car ride," she added with a moan, resting her head against her window.

He wouldn't consider any of their time together wasted if she left. She left. He couldn't think of any reason good enough for him to go anywhere. "Yeah, what a jerk for taking you to a beach. He should have just let you stay home and relax in an empty apartment."

He hadn't realized he'd made it the longest. Wow. The same didn't go for him, but he hoped eventually he'd be able to say it did. Actually hoping it would was turning into believing it would. The longest relationship she'd been in. Huh. How bout that. "Am I really?" he asked.

"Are you surprised?" Cha-Cha asked with a small smile. And still, she couldn't be sure why. Well...she loved him, obviously, but it wasn't like he was the only one. She was pretty sure she'd been in love before. She knew she had been, ending with another one of those mess ups that were so common for her (though granted, a more painful memory than popping a waterbed). But why he could last so long...yeah she was in love with him, but it wasn't at first sight or anything. Somehow he got longer than the rest. She didn't even get that freaked out when he took those big steps (well...not as freaked out anyway).

"A little," he admitted. And yet...no, at the same time. He could believe that she'd get bored with someone quickly. Or be too hard for someone to handle. Meant that in the nicest way possible. She was a bit unusual. Drag queen not being the only thing contributing to that.

He was grateful she hadn't gotten tired of him yet. She constantly teased him about being old and boring, but she was still around so he must be doing something right. "But seeing as how I've no intention of going anywhere anytime soon, I'm sure you'll beat the current record for me too."

Ed was a more normal person than she was. He'd probably had much longer relationships. That she was even running was enough to please her. "You think so?" she asked with a smile. "How long do I have to beat?" He was already there for her. She wouldn't mind being there for him either. Cause for the first time in any relationship, she wasn't planning on taking off, either.

"You've already passed a few," said Ed. Now about the longest. He wasn't sure if knowing would intimidate her. Maybe intimidate was the wrong word. But he didn't know if it'd make her feel small in comparison, or inadequate or something. She asked though, so he answered, "A little over two years." Did the idea of staying with the same person, even him, sound boring to her? Telling her he expected her to stay that long seem too assuming? He was never certain how she'd take things. Maybe it'd please her to know he wanted her for that long. Who knew.

Double take. Two years?! "Jesus, Ed. Mine was like...two months before I met you," she gushed. How does one last two years?? She'd be...twenty seven if she lasted that long. Well...her birthday was sooner than she liked to admit...make it twenty six. But still, that was old! That was two years. She couldn't even imagine being able to stay with someone that long. Even him. Yet he seemed to think she could do it...had implied it, anyway. "That's ridiculous. No offence. Who was it, Starr?" she shook her head. Not that there was anything wrong with it being Starr, but that was the only one of his exes she knew about. Aside from Water Bed Boy, apparently.

Yup. He'd expected that reaction. "No, she was more like, a year and a half maybe. More like a year and three months-ish." Still had Cha-Cha beat. "Brad was two years. Who was yours?" Another evasion that would probably fail. If only he was better at interrogating her.

Cha-Cha wasn't sure this was the time to get into that story. Even though she knew it had to come up eventually. It probably already should have. What was the big deal though, right? Tell him her longest relationship. No biggie. Tell him how she messed it up completely...not as easy. 'Messed up' was too kind to say. Two years had provided more than enough time to get over Scott, but the fact remained how badly she had wrecked it. It should have been talked about before, but...

"Um...his name was Scott," she replied slowly. "And to be fair, it was three months. And a half." And eleven days if memory served her right. She didn't elaborate, and let him decide if he wanted to hear more or not.

Ed had no idea it was awkward territory. Exes usually were, yes, but some were easier to talk about than others. If he could have been able to tell what she was thinking he would have backed off. That not being the case, he pressed, "And?" He didn't know what he was asking for. Surely a fact or two could be surrendered. Besides, she hardly told him anything about previous relationships, while she knew the ins and outs of Ed and Starr. He was curious.

If it had to come out, she wanted it over with fast. Didn't want to drag it on forever. If she did that she could chicken out, and decide not to tell him last minute. Then where would they be when it finally came out? It had already been too long. He'd told her practically everything...and there was still alot he didn't know. Better to let him in quickly, then to hold off and have it bite her later. It wasn't fair to leave him in the dark. "And he loved me and even though I loved him back it scared the shit out of me and I cheated on him."

It came out faster than she intended it to, and absently sank a bit lower in her chair. Kind of matched the low feeling she had in her stomach. While she couldn't claim to love Scott anymore, that didn't make it right. Any of it. "So um...I guess that's sort of why I didn't freak out, when you told me about the married guy and stuff, cause..." she sighed. She hadn't envisioned doing this in on a long car ride. Would have preferred to sit him down and tell him one day...why though? So she could run away after? Be too scared to face his reaction? "But it was two years ago," she added. And she'd gotten past that point with Ed and no problem. Maybe...he wouldn't freak out?...too bad?

Oh. Well. That was...good to know? If he didn't know her like he did now, he might have been worried with this knowledge. He loved her. She loved him back. Cheating on him comes next? No. He knew better. She didn't have time. Oh, and the whole trusting her thing. But seriously he never let her get more then ten feet away from him anymore. She couldn't cheat on him even if she wanted to.

'But it was two years ago.' That was more unwelcome than the actual confession. Why? Because when that was supposed to help him explain away a past problem she never accepted it. Gambling was several years ago. 'You should have told me.' Depending on which Starr episode you were talking about, she was two or nine years ago. 'You didn't tell me.' When something was in the past for her it was allowed to stay there, but his had to be dragged back out and examined?

Ed wasn't the type to freak out on the spot. Only when provoked properly. And this wasn't enough to get him angry. Because in his opinion it seemed the relationship was safe. They had known they loved each other for a while now, and no signs of cheating. Maybe loving and being loved scared her last time, but she seemed to be hanging in there with Ed now.

"We didn't really love each other." The married man and Ed. Ed liked doing something unexpected of a respected detective. The man had wanted a distraction from married life for a while. "But I get your point." Probably could have said something a little deeper.

"I guess," Cha-Cha watched him carefully, trying to gage a reaction. Okay...not mad. Didn't seem to be second-guessing her, which was a gigantic relief. The reason she hadn't told him before. One of the reasons. There hadn't really been time, had there? If she'd told him that when the whole arrest was going on...how would that have made him feel any better? And any time before that was too soon. He didn't care about her enough then. Easier for him to leave her. And...it would have been easier for her to be left, too. But that was the thing...even then...she didn't want to be.

"I'm sorry, Ed," she mumbled, her eyes drifting to her hands, into her lap, anywhere but him. Sorry for doing the deed, sorry for not telling him, sorry if she put any doubt in his mind. There was no reason for doubt. She wouldn't do the same thing to him; had no desire to, and wouldn't make the same dumb mistake again. He meant too much to her, and she didn't need anybody else. "I mean...he wanted to get a house together and stuff, and...I dunno. Have some sort of...not marriage, but...gay-engagement? I don't even know," she smiled softly.

"But I mean, I was twenty three then, and I was too young and stuff...and it just scared me and I didn't think. I mean he moved way too fast..." she stopped that train of thought quickly. No way was she pinning blame on Scott. Not now. "And...I was just too young." She still was, probably. But Ed...he gave her time, and was rewarded for it. She was living with him. She loved him deeply, and would admit it freely. The night he told her she stayed with him, rather than running off. And he'd upset her that night, giving her more and more reason to leave. Scott had planned some romantic dinner for her before telling her. If that didn't prove she loved Ed, what would?

"But...that's over now, and I love you and it wouldn't happen again," she concluded. That was the most important part, making sure he knew that. Contrary to common belief, she did grow and learn from her experiences...occasionally. She knew that when scared, it was best to talk to your lover, rather than some...random guy you barely know that name of. No matter how attractive said guy is--no, she was not going there! "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said finally, still not looking at him full on.

"Actually, sweetheart, I'm glad you didn't." 'Sweetheart' when he wasn't in trouble. A good sign. "It might have worried me more." But now had been a good time. He knew she was his.

Her actions were almost understandable. "I think you're right about it having been too fast." Three months and he wanted to be as married as a gay couple could be? That would scare anyone. Especially Cha-Cha who was used to short relationships.

Ed had known he loved her about then, but he'd anticipated that reaction. He dropped hints now and then to see what she'd do. If he got a 'back off' vibe, he would. If she had seemed interested, he'd pursue her until she gave him that look that said 'not yet'. And he'd wait until next time. His 'I love you' hadn't been at the ideal time, but it hadn't been rushed or just thrown out there. And she hadn't run away. That was good. "He apparently didn't notice the look you get." He knew what he meant and forgot to elaborate. Forgot she hadn't heard that in his head.

"I love you too. This is probably a moment where I should kiss you, but I'm a little busy." Driving, you know. He hoped that'd get her to look at him again.

"I have a look?" Cha-ha asked with a grin, wrinkling her nose slightly. Finally she looked at him, searching his face. She was almost surprised to see no anger...at all. How could that be right though? The...approxamately two other boyfriends who'd wrangled it out of her had dropped her on the spot. The smile on her face growing, she leaned in to kiss his cheek firmly, getting as close to him as the chairs would allow. Not very close, but with one hand on his thigh and her head against his shoulder she was able to tide herself over. "You're not mad?" she asked softly, nuzzling his upper arm gently.

"You do. It's very helpful. Almost as good as you flat out saying 'Stop' and 'Go'. You didn't realize you did it?" he asked. Sort of figured she was doing it intentionally so she wouldn't have to verbally say 'Hey hold on'. "It's why I'd change the subject if love came up." He had tried to tell her several times, but he kept getting The Look.

As for being mad... Mad wasn't the right word. He was feeling something, but it wasn't that. Couldn't put his finger on it, but it wasn't that. "Not really." Best way he could find to say something was going on inside him. "For one thing, you didn't do it to me." Oh, his reaction would have been very very different if she'd said she did it to him too. "So it wouldn't be fair for me to yell at you." Plus he never could yell at her unless she'd already been yelling at him for a while. Or...like he just thought, she'd done it to Ed. "And I am glad you told me now, and not three months ago. Because I would have felt like I had to walk on eggshells to keep you around." It would have been their own three month mark. If he'd known that story he wouldn't have hinted at love at all. Wouldn't have asked her to move in as quickly as he had. Wouldn't have done anything more than stop by her place every night like he had at the beginning.

"I think I'm doing this wrong," he said with almost a chuckle. "I should probably be suspicious or something. But...for at least the past month I've seen you almost all day everyday. So...honestly honey, do you even have the time to cheat on me?"

"Oh. I thought you were just extremely in tune with my feelings," Cha-Cha teased. Okay, she had some inkling of a look. Didn't know what she was doing or what it looked like, but it was hard not to when your whole body got tense. She shook her head when he mentioned doing it to him. It would never happen. She'd make sure it would never happen. "Even if I had the time, it wouldn't happen," she promised, kissing his shoulder before sitting properly in her seat again. "And I don't want you to think it would, cause...trust me, I don't even want to."

"Hey, I had to learn how to read it." That hadn't been as easy as it sounded.

"Good. I don't want you wanting to," he said, smiling. Obviously. "And if I do suggest something that scares you, tell me. I can wait." She hadn't lasted this long before, he had. It wasn't like he was thinking 'been there done that' though, she was definitely different than anyone he'd dated before. And she was newer to it and understandably got uneasy sometimes. But they were living together, he couldn't think of anything more they'd do now that would scare her. He hadn't thought of marriage like the Scott guy had. And hey he'd had her longer than him.

If it were possible for Cha-Cha smile to grow any more, it did. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Ed Green has lasted the longest," she announced quietly. One of the reasons anyway. She loved Scott at the time, but he pressured her. He wasn't the only one, either. Remember Will? That was the only reason she moved out in the first place. But that's sort of how she met Ed, so it was worth it. And...if she could help it...in two years time, she wasn't going to be sitting around saying, 'Remember Ed?'. Cause she was still going to be with him. "I love you," she said again, just wanting to make sure it was said and he knew it. She seemed to mean it more and more.

Ed grinned. So slow and steady really did win the race, huh? He felt relieved she hadn't panicked because of anything he'd done so far. Well, okay we are looking beyond this month. That doesn't count. "I know. I love you too. And we're almost there." Thought he'd add that on.

"Bout time. Fine, I guess I'll keep you for a bit longer," Cha-Cha teased, grinning at him. Okay, that was a relief. How he wasn't mad at her, she didn't know. She probably would've been if the roled were reversed. But then...Ed was beyond amazing and she probably didn't deserve him at all. That had something to do with it.

He thought she should have left the man instead of cheating on him. That's what he would have preferred. He wouldn't want to share her with anyone. Having her gone would hurt, but if he wasn't enough for her, that'd be it. That might have been what the two who left her thought. Without reminding themselves that she hadn't done it to them. Expecting a 'yet' to follow that wasn't right on their part. If you had no faith in her, what were you doing staying with her?

"Less than half an hour and you can get out of the car."

"So what takes half an hour?" Cha-Cha thought out loud. "You need one of those cars with a pull down DVD player that shows Bugs Bunny," she decided. A few months ago, she wouldn't know what to do with a DVD if it hit her in the face. Living with Ed had spoiled her a little bit.

Ed laughed. "I'll keep that in mind for the next one. And here I thought talking to me was good enough to distract you. Can't beat a talking rabbit, I guess." What competition.

"Well you can, but you'd have to have something really special," Cha-Cha agreed with a laugh. Like a...well she'd let him know when she though of it. "Like a dancing and singing rabbit. Y'know, I don't think I ever saw Bugs dance," she shook her head disapprovingly.

"I have. There was a musical episode. Bugs and Elmer, I think they were doing Aida, but I'm not sure." It was some opera. "My niece makes me watch them with her," he added.

"Does he really? Now you know why he's so entertaining," Cha-Cha giggled to herself. Ah, Bugs. An American tresure. "Aw see, you're an uncle? Not Melissa's kids though, I'm guessing?" she asked. Did he have another sibling he hadn't mentioned to her?

"Right, not Melissa's. Technically she isn't really my niece, she's my best friends daughter. But...they're closer to me than most of my family, and I've known them forever..." It counted. And everyone knew how much Ed wanted a niece.

Cha-Cha nodded. That made sense. If she ever had kids--and that was a huge huge monstrosity of an if--Ivana and Grace and Rusty would all be honorary aunts. It would work both ways. "I'll have to meet said friend sometime," she giggled. If said friend existed and all.

He couldn't believe she hadn't met anyone yet. At first he'd had work all day, and he was so focused on getting home to spend whatever time he could with her, he didn't want to share the attention by having a friend over. And weekends wouldn't have worked because he was still greedy and wanted all day with her. Then her moving had seemed like a good reason for them to come. Help carry boxes from her apartment to his. But then the Bunny and Starr thing pushed any thoughts of introductions aside.

He had phoned and and e-mailed friends, and had even gotten together with a few now and then when he was out. Normally on the way home from work which meant no girlfriend with him. He really needed to get on with that. They all wanted to meet the infamous drag queen.

"You will, whenever I find the time. Which should be easy now." Heh heh. Constant reminders of his current unemployed status. More time for fun anyway. He'd gotten over there to see the friend, Vaughn, last week. Why hadn't Cha-oh yeah, she'd worked that evening.

"True. A big group or a few that are scattered?" Cha-Cha asked. While she had three best friends, they really were part of a bigger community. She wasn't as close to alot of other queens but she still considered them friends, simply because they had that familiarity, And of course, believe it or not, she did have some friends who weren't queens. Like two. Walt being one of them.

"All at once would be a little overwhelming, don't you think?" He knew she liked attention, but she had to have limits? Plus, Ed had met three of hers at once, and just that had been a bit much for him. Then again he wasn't the social butterfly she was. "Besides, they won't want to have to share your attention with each other."

"True. I wouldn't want to make anybody jealous," Cha-Cha sighed haughtily, a grin meeting her lips. "Are they as cute as you are? Are they straight?" Straight boys and her didn't always get along, but when they were cute, it was a little easier for her to relate. "We know they'll like me, obviously, but will I like them?"

She would, too. If she picked a favorite and talked to him more than the others, they'd have a couch full of depressed men and one standing beside her with an inflated ego.

Cute? "You won't be disappointed in that area," he had to admit with a laugh. "Just remember I found you first, I love you more, and...whatever else you need to convince yourself you're mine. I think you'll like them, though. There's really only one straight guy I'd have you meet. And no girls."

"So you've got your own little gay club hidden away!" Cha-Cha was surprised but tickled. And he'd claimed to be straight all those years? If only his coworkers knew. "Are they cuter than you? Younger or older?" she asked, extremely interested. A bunch of apparently cute gay men could do that to a girl. "Single?"

"It doesn't matter if they're single, honey, you're not." He rolled his eyes with a laugh. Really now. What did they just go over? What happened to being happy with him? Still smiling he continued, "Some are older, some are younger. Four or five years both ways." She was much younger than any of them. "They're attractive, yes."

"Oh right, I forgot," she teased, rolling her eyes. No she wasn't single, but so what? Could a girl not be curious? Was that not allowed? "That's good. I figure cute guys roam in packs, and you're a cute guy. Then again, you didn't go all that crazy over Carmine. Should I question your taste in men?" she asked with a giggle. Though his taste in women was pretty stellar, if she did say so herself.

"Just because I don't obviously drool over someone like you do doesn't mean I find them unattractive." Words couldn't really describe Carmine. Ed wouldn't admit that out loud, but no human could look at that man and not think 'Wow'.

"I guess. Carmine is hard to not find attractive," Cha-Cha nodded. She wasn't even sure she'd met anyone who didn't. Well, besides straight men maybe. But if they could come to their senses one day, they'd see it too! Lesbians she'd leave alone though. They'd saved her butt one too many times.

"The closest thing to a Carmine in my group would be Vaughn. Who happens to also be my best friend. Though that had nothing to do with it. And I liked him before he and his wife had their daughter." Yes, the previously mentioned straight guy Ed had casually mentioned was his numero uno friend.

"Your best friend's straight?" Cha-Cha asked. She wouldn't have been more surprised if his best friend were a leprechaun. "I thought Lennie was your best friend," she added. Of course, Lennie was straight too, but he didn't count to Cha-Cha. He was a cute old guy, and older than she liked them; he was out of the running on default. "You liked him? Like, liked him liked him?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Well...how could she blame him, when all his friends were cute gay men? But that would suck if he fell for the one straighty.

"Yes, he is. And Lennie doesn't count. Lennie is...Lennie." People say partners got closer than spouses. While Lennie had never liked the idea of being almost married to Ed, he agreed they had an incredible bond. "I didn't 'like him like him'," he said, rolling his eyes, feeling like he was in elementary school using terms like that.

"Aww," sure he didn't. Even if he actually didn't, guy bonds were so sweet. "Were you his best man? Please tell me you've gone camping and watched at least one game together," she added. What, that's what all guys did together, right? Just like straight girls had pillowfights in their underwear. Too bad they couldn't check out the same type of people, though. It was hard to compare notes. Though with her he sort of found some middle ground. "That's cute."

"I was. But sorry, no camping, I doubt he could take the bugs. Sports he can handle." Watching anyway. In high school Ed played whatever he could. Which one was gay again? "And what I meant was that I was his friend before I knew I got a niece out of the deal." Who used 'liked him liked him' anymore anyway?

Cha-Cha still used 'liked him liked him'. "Could you take the bugs?" she asked with a laugh. She couldn't She knew she couldn't. He didn't look much like a bug guy either, but you never knew. Surprises everywhere... "Where did you meet him?"

"I wouldn't turn down a camping trip in Pennsylvania that three of my friends spent weeks organizing because I was afraid of a little mosquito. If that's what you mean." Not that Vaughn had or anything. Not that they had decided to take Steve as a last minute replacement. And him not following the rules about preventing bears from being attracted to your camp and breaking into your car if you left food in there? No. Didn't happen at all.

"I heard about him through a friend who hated him, actually. Long story there. I had this idea of an arrogant asshole, and then I ended up at a party that he was at too. I was curious about the jerk I'd heard so much about. It was so long ago I can't remember what we talked about, but we did talk and he wasn't bad at all. We had mutual friends, so we kept running into each other on accident until we just decided we should be friends. Since we saw each other so much anyway. It seemed like the logical thing to do. So we stopped waiting to run into each other and hung out on our own."

"I would," Cha-Cha admitted with no shame, grinning. Bugs weren't her style. Not that she was afraid of them or anything. She'd take bugs over...snakes or other lizards or something like that...Not that she was afraid of them either!! Honest. Really.

A complicated story, but alot of times friendship ones were. "He seems nice," she told him, even though she had no idea whether he was or not. "And he's all cool with the drag queen thing...?"

"Ahm..." Cool was an understatement. He'd never actually sat down and had a conversation with a drag queen before. Hanging out with a group of gay men, they usually ended up at gay friendly bars. He enjoyed the nights out just fine. Had seen several drag queens. But since none of Ed's group had actually befriended the girls, Vaughn had never met one. He was ecstatic when Ed told him he had a girlfriend. He knew what that meant. Ed knew he would adore Cha-Cha, but he wasn't sure if he'd ask stupid questions straight people tended to ask. ...Nah, Vaughn was smarter than that. "Yes."

"Good," Cha-Cha beamed. One friend down, at least. Now she just had to work on the big one. "Does Lennie know about these friends? Guess not, right? If he just founf out you were gay," she answered her own question. She really did like Lennie, even if the older man was still a bit unsure of her. But she felt like they'd sort of bonded, anyway. Going behind Ed's back. Good times.

"Lennie has met a few. It's not unusual to have friends. He just met the...less eccentric ones. Although, if Vaughn weren't actually straight, I wouldn't have let him near Lennie. If he weren't married, I would swear he was gay. Maybe he's just hung around us all too long." Ed could pull off straight acting naturally without a problem. He had to coach Vaughn on what to and what not to say around his partner. Something was seriously wrong with that picture.

"Is that weird for him, hanging out with so many gay guys?" Cha-Cha asked. She wouldn't be able to stand a week around straight guys. Though...that was mostly because they wouldn't be into her and it'd really hurt her ego. "How's Lennie taking the gay thing?" she added. Not to hurt him or anything, she just wanted to make sure it hadn't hurt them at all.

"No, he's fine. You know some of us act like normal human beings." Not all gay guys were like Jack on Will&Grace. Some were like Ed. As straight as a gay guy could be. "And uh, Lennie just doesn't like talking about it much. I think he's more insulted that I didn't tell him than freaked out by it. But he has asked how you are doing."

"Really?" she asked with a deep smile. She hadn't expected that. Not that she thought Lennie disliked her; few peoplr disliked her. But she didn't think he'd care enough to ask. "I like Lennie," she commented. Even if she wasn't exactly what the older man had expected, she hoped he still liked her...at least sort of. One day, maybe.

Ed had expected Lennie to take longer too. It was nice to have something go surprisingly right for once. "I'm glad you do. He's warmed up to you faster than I thought he would."Well...he'd consider asking how she was doing part of the warming up process. It wasn't getting worse. So there.

There. Finally, they were there. "Happy now, hun, there's your hotel."

Cha-Cha sighed in relief, "Finally." Looking out the window, that relief got even more positive. He wasn't so off earlier, when he guessed motel for all her...experiences. Never anything fancier than that. To her a Holiday Inn was like a five-star hotel. "Not bad," she approved, a severe understatement.

"I get her a beach front hotel, and she says 'not bad'." He was just kidding. Before long they were parked and checking in, Ed already enjoying the desk clerks reaction. Never seen a drag queen before, apparently. Or a man who couldn't let go of a drag queen. Both in one day was seemingly hard to take.

Cha-Cha found it amusing too, kissing Ed's neck a few times as he checked them in. Both to make them uncomfortable and to hide her amused smirk. "Nice people," she commented about the workers as they headed into the elevator. They were giving them odd looks, whispering amongst themselves. Only not really with the decency to whisper. Five bucks said they wouldn't be getting any complimentary soaps.

"Indeed." Ed pushed the button for their floor. He hoped she enjoyed the ocean view, it wasn't cheap. But she agreed to come on this parental crisis trip, so she would be spoiled. More than at home. If that was even possible at this point.

Cha-Cha could barely believe it when she got up to the room. She stayed at the window for a good five minutes. Those motels, they...well...all she could say for them was that they had nice ceilings. This... "This is ridiculous," was all she could think of to say. In the very very best way. Finally she took her eyes off the view, her arms wrapping around her man.

While she was looking at the scenery, Ed was busy arranging things in the room. He preferred to live out of drawers and not a bag. Even if it was just for a weekend. "It's a thank you for coming. But I guess ridiculous works too." He returned the embrace.

"You don't have to thank me," Cha-Cha replied, kissing him gently. He brought her to the beach and he felt the need to thank her? The beach. Parents involved or not, it wasn't a bad thing. Breaking away from him, she started helping out, throwing some things messily in the drawers. Knowing her she'd leave them there, but it was something to do. "I hope you brought swimming things. I am getting you in that water, if you have to go naked," she promised him.

"I did, I did. But if the same goes for you, make sure you keep an eye on your stuff. Might just go missing." He wondered what kind of swim suit she'd wear. "I think it's too cold for the ocean now." He preferred middle of the day, hot shining sun. "But if you want to swim tonight, there's probably an indoor pool."

Cha-Cha giggled at his suggestion, shaking her head. "Dirty minded male," she teased. Yes, she had brought her swimsuit. Obviously. Finishing up, she shoved the drawer closed and approched him again. "How much time do you have before you have to leave?" she asked. They'd just gone on that long car ride, meaning hours without snuggling. Hours!! How they survived was beyond her.

"I dunno. A while. I need to relax after nine hours of driving." She got to fidget or sleep or at least close her eyes. He had to pay attention. "It's...what, around four or something? I can stay until five thirty or six." Get to his parents' house around dinner time. Eat, establish what the real scenario was, then let Melissa take over the night shift. He'd have to be there for a while Saturday, but she could entertain herself for a few hours, right?

"Perfect," Cha-Cha grinned, pulling him towards the bed with her. He needed time to unwind, like he said. So did she. She just wanted to lie with him for a bit, that was all. Anything else that happened was purely coincidental. Indeed it was. Plopping down on the bed, she stretched out, patting the other side. "See? Even the ceiling is nicer," she noted with a giggle.

Ed followed, lining his body up with hers once he'd laid down too. "If I fall asleep, wake me at six." Ed on a bed, not instigating something? There's a new one. But he was too tired and too worried about the approaching father-son meeting to let his hands travel.

Cha-Cha nodded, her arms wrapping around him gently. While she wouldn't mind getting up and doing something after nine hours, this was okay too. It was hard to really get too close in a car. "You're sure you don't want me coming with you?" she made sure. If it would make him feel better about it, she'd consider it.

He wanted her to come to show his dad that no matter what he did Cha-Cha was always going to be in the picture. But on the other hand, was that entirely true? He couldn't control whether or not his family would scare her. But then again they were in another state, it wouldn't matter if this didn't go well, she'd just never see them again. But... Ed's mind kept going back and forth.

"I don't know. I could go either way." He needed to decide eventually. She came all the way here, wasn't that enough? ...You know, since she came all the way, she might as well just do the whole thing with him. There he goes again.

"I think...you should stay here. At least tonight. They'll be thrilled enough with just me."

Cha-Cha nodded, her hand rubbing up and down his side gently. She wanted the visit to be as stress free as possible, for both of them. If her being there would make things worse, than she shouldn't go. He was a big boy, he could handle it without her, right? "I'll be here when you get back then. Right where you left me," she promised, her hand moving to rest on his chest.

"Good. But between my departure and my return, feel free to move around the hotel," he smiled. Didn't want her to be bored. Which made him wonder if she'd like to do something now. She'd almost gone crazy in the car, and now he was having her sit still again. "Do you want to do something?" he asked, dreading an agreement and having to get up.

"I thought we were doing something," Cha-Cha mumbled. It wasn't anything particularily active, but it was better than just...sitting. Besides, this energized her more than he thought it did. But since he suggested something, she propped herself up on to her side. "Do something like what?"

Ed grinned. Well if she was happy here... He moved closer, pushing her back down to use her as a pillow. "Never mind."

Giggling, Cha-Cha ran a hand through his hair. "Oh no, make yourself comfortable. Really. I don't mind," she teased, the hand carressing the back of his neck. He was bigger than her, wasn't this supposed to go the other way? So he was the pillow? Not that she minded or anything.

"I will." Ed stayed put. For a while anyway. Eventually he moved off of her, snuggling until he finally rolled over to see it was time for him to get up. Talk to an angry father, stay here and play? Hmm. The obvious choice was the latter. Still, he grunted and mumbled "I need to get going."

Cha-Cha sighed, "Already?" With a grunt she got herself up, heading over to the dresser. She wished she had more time with him. But he'd be back eventually, right? This was something he had to do. "What time do you think you'll be back tonight?" she asked, pulling out her sarong. No use wasting the day.

Ed changed into something a little nicer looking than what he'd thrown on for the car ride down. "I'm not sure. Melissa is coming to stay the night, so whenever she gets there and I think I'm free to go. Tonight's really just saying hi and seeing what I'm up against. See if broken leg means sprained ankle. That type of thing." Oh, and she'd probably come up in conversation too.

Cha-Cha nodded, pulling out her bathing suit and laying it on the bed. She'd change after. She didn't want to distract him when he had to leave. "You look good," she commented. While she was used to seeing him all dressed up, for work and casually, it was still extremely appealing.

Ed sat on the bed, putting his shoes on. Noticing what was beside him, he said "I appreciate you waiting." She was pushing irresistible as it was. No need to tease him further. With the knowledge of what he'd be missing sinking in, he shoved his shoe on with a small sigh. After he stood he moved to hug her goodbye.

Cha-Cha smiled, her arms wrapping around his neck. It was going to be boring without him, even with the beach beside them. Who was she going to talk to? Somebody had to appreciate her beach body. "When you get back, I'm all yours," she promised in his ear, kissing it gently. Okay...she could wait a few hours. Really. Hopefully.

"I miss you already," he laughed. Kissing her farewell and heading for the door, he wondered if Melissa would be nice and get there early. She knew he didn't want to go, right?

Cha-Cha giggled, walking to the door with him. "Bye baby." Shutting the door, she turned to get dressed. While she wasn't sure how exciting it would really be without him, it was more fun than staying cooped up in their room. That really would only be fun with him there.

Ed's late afternoon and evening wouldn't be as enjoyable as playing on the beach. He got a grunted 'Hello' and things went downhill from there. And he thought it was strange to be glad to see his mothers leg in a cast. But that meant they were there for a real problem, and not a fake one. Unless that leg was just fine underneath that. Or she was pushed. But he wasn't suspicious...

His walls went up quickly. After a month away from work and so much time with Cha-Cha, he almost forgot what an asshole he could be. But that street sarcasm and toughness came back instantly. The same personality that was used for interrogating suspects. Indifferent. Almost cold. And driving back to the hotel he was fuming too much to really calm himself down.

While Ed was missed dearly, Cha-Cha couldn't lie and say she had a boring afternoon. To be honest, it was great. She spent the first hour or so on her own, but it got unenjoyable. Too many screaming kids, one too many she was scarring with her half naked appearence. Cha-Cha de los Santos Perez Cueva, however, rarely stayed on her own for long. It was always helpful when there was another attractive man on the beach. And he was alone.

She wasn't looking to cheat on Ed. That was the last thing she wanted. But she was lonely, and bored, and needed a friend. So what if he good looking? As luck would have it, anyway, he was in a relationship too. On some business trip, wanted to let loose after a long meeting. Could you blame a man? All they did was talk.

"My boyfriend's gonna be back soon," Cha-Cha thought out loud to Carl as they finished up dinner. She'd told him about Ed, he'd told her about Tommy. They ended up waiting in the lobby, so Cha-Cha could catch Ed as he came in, and he could meet Carl. Her new best friend, who Cha-Cha would never think to call again after their trip. Cha-Cha had alot of those.

"One chair," Carl pointed out as they headed into the lobby. He swooped in and grabbed it before the queen with him could.

"Oh, nice," she rolled her eyes with a giggle. Sighing, the man patted his lap. Cha-Cha sat down without any hesitation. If he saw fit to take the very last chair from a lady, then she'd just have to sit on him. Fair was fair.

The forty-five minute drive was enough for him to lose the 'I wish I had my gun with me' mood. Not quite long enough to lose the pissed off vibe. He told himself this was an unacceptable way to return to Cha-Cha. Didn't do much.

Ed entered the lobby, and his eyes found his girl quickly. Well isn't this nice. He crossed his arms. This was doing nothing for his attitude. "This is exactly what I wanted to come back and see." Oh, not a happy camper.

Cha-Cha didn't notice Ed's mood at first, too busy laughing at something Carl had said. As soon as it registered, though, her butt was out of the other man's lap. "Hi baby," she greeted him, trying to keep that smile intact. She convinced herself he was just mad from the visit. She wasn't doing anything wrong, why would he be pissed at her?

Though he had planned on pouncing on her the second he found her, now his arms stayed crossed. "Hi." An emotionless greeting. His eyes drifted to the man and then back to her. "Well I'm glad you didn't get lonely, darling."

What was that tone for? The smile was slowly disappearing off of Cha-Cha's face. So what if she made a friend? Would he have preferred she's been lonely? "Thank you, Ed," she responded, ignoring the sarcasm. Looking back at her still-sitting friend, she shook her head. "Y'know Carl, if it's all the same to you, I think we should probably head off," she decided. Ed was in a bad mood. This wasn't the right time for them to meet and hit it off.

As far as Ed was concerned, she and Carl could head off one way, he'd go another. Any other day he might have just asked who this stranger was. Not thrilled at first, but once she explained their day he'd be fine. She was a natural at making friends.

But not today. "You do that. I'm going to the room." Ed started for the elevators. He wanted to yell at the guy, but he wasn't the one on her. How did Ed know if the man had even been aware she was taken?

"What--" Cha-Cha uttered a hasty goodbye to Carl, hurrying after her boyfriend. "Where are you going? I meant you and I should head off. Together, doofus," she tried to smile at him. She figured teasing him would do one of two things; make him smile or piss him off further. She was really, really hoping for the former.

Wrong. Latter won. "Don't...even start with me." Joking around was not what he wanted to do right now. He realized he left a man in love and had come back oozing anger. But he didn't care. All he was thinking about was how he'd left her in the hotel room. Not full blown in the mood, but it only would have taken a few caresses in the right place. He didn't really think she'd allow any stranger the chance to find those places in the few hours he was gone, honestly he didn't, but he didn't think sitting on anyone would have happened either.

Cha-Cha stepped onto the elevator quickly when the doors opened. She wouldn't put it past him to close them in her face, the way he was acting at the moment. "What is wrong with you?" she asked, her strained smile vanished without a trace, a hurt expression replacing it.

Ed entertained the idea of not getting on. Take the stairs. But he wanted to argue. He'd been doing it all day, why stop now? "Excuse me for not being happy to find you sitting on...Carl. And don't puppy eye me, Cha-Cha," he said, noticing her pained look. Any minute the huge round eyes would come.

Cha-Cha watched him, staying silent as she processed it for a moment. That was why he was upset? "Hon...he's a friend and there was only one chair. That's the only reason you even saw that," she told him slowly. Her stomach hurt. A week ago, he would never have even thought that way. And he'd never treat her the way he was...

But he didn't know everything a week ago. And in the car, he'd promised his opinion on her hadn't changed. The stomach ache got worse.

His opinion hadn't changed in the car at all. He hadn't had a reason to not trust her. And even now, the most he thought had happened was just sitting on the mans' lap. But that was enough tonight. "I assumed he was a friend, even you don't move that fast. But that doesn't mean I want to spend two hours telling my father how madly in love with you I am and then come back here and find you on his lap. Not to mention five hours after you tell me you cheated on a man who loved you before. I honestly don't think you did, but the timing of this still fucking sucks."

"Yeah, and I promised you in the car that I would never do it to you," Cha-Cha countered, trying to keep her calm. It wasn't working to easily. Okay, he was upset about his father. Understandable. But she was supposed to be making him feel better right now--and he was going to hold this against her? She wasn't convinced he wasn't looking at her differently. Not by a long shot. "Fine. I'm sorry I was sitting on Carl. I really am," she replied after a pause, after her temper had gone down enough for her to not lash out.

Ed punched the number for their floor for the fifth time, well aware that would not get them there any faster. "Well of course you are now." She'd been caught. You were always sorry when you were caught. Never sorry while you're doing it.

The elevator really needed to get a move on. He was trapped with her. Not that he'd get away from her in the room anyway. Unless he locked himself in the bathroom. Or locked her it. Either way.

"I'm sorry when I do anything that hurts you," Cha-Cha responded. No, she wasn't sorry at the time. She didn't realize it would set him off. It shouldn't have set him off. But it did, and now she was sorry she did it. Simple as that. "Apparently you don't feel the same way," she couldn't help but add.

"Don't give me that," he snapped, relieved they'd reached their floor. Out of habit he stepped off and waited for her. "I felt horrible about the stuff that happened last month. And I didn't yell at you as much as I wanted to because I didn't want to upset you anymore. And I figured if I gave it a day or two I wouldn't want to anymore anyway." He hadn't made a huge deal out of her talking to Lennie. Though it crossed his mind often. "Now I have to go back to my parents house tomorrow, and I'll be worried how many friends your making."

"Friends, Ed! If you don't think I'd cheat on you, why does it matter how many friends I make?" It confused her to no end, and didn't support his argument that he trusted her. He wouldn't be acting this way if she'd met a woman, or another queen. "And, you know, Carl has a boyfriend too. Nothing was going to happen. It wouldn't even if he were single, I wouldn't let it," she walked as she talked to him, trying to keep her cool. At least slightly.

"Because if that's what you're going to be doing with your friends, it does matter." He reached their room and swiped the card to unlock to door. "I believe nothing would have happened, Cha-Cha, it's just..." He sighed, frustrated. This is what he got for dating a flirt. "I don't want a stranger touching you. Yeah you knew him for a few hours, but so what? A few hours?" That wasn't enough.

Touching her? "What are you talking about? Honey, I get 'touched' worse at a show. You wanna make me give that up now?" she countered. It wasn't uncommon for the queens to go into the audience, interact with the people. Hands brushed sometimes, men were suggestive, it happened. "But the only person I wanna get touched by is you. Are you honestly this upset that I was perched on someone's knee?" she asked incredulously. She wasn't even that close to Carl, a good amount of space between her back and his chest. She was practically closer to Ed at the present moment.

Perched on a knee. Looked at. Thought about. All of the above would bother him right now.

He went in, not holding the door open as politely as he normally did. More like a 'Get in here already the door's heavy'. "Cha-Cha, you're gorgeous. You know that. You know men want you. I'm not worried about something you might do, but I do worry about something they might do. I don't even like the idea of someone looking at you the wrong way, but you're a dancer, you're going to be seen, I get that. So I don't say anything." He couldn't stop someone in the audience from lusting after her.

"If it's not me you're worried about, why is it me you're yelling at?" Cha-Cha was beyond frustrated, walking into the room. He knew she'd be good, but he was angry at her. It was her admirers that upset him, but she got the blunt of it. How did this work? "I didn't try to hurt you. I never try to hurt you. What do you want, Ed?"

"I want to stay in our apartment together twenty-four seven. But that isn't realistic. So I don't know." He fell onto the bed. As for why he was yelling at her, it was so many things rolled into another he wasn't even sure. "I'm yelling because I don't know what else to do. I'm tired. I drove nine hours. I saw my parents. We fought. Dad ended up threatening to make me chose between them and you and I told him that was the easiest decision I'd been faced with all day and that if he wanted an answer then I'd be happy to give it to him and now I don't know if I'm welcome there tomorrow and I find you with Carl." How was your day?

Dammit. He always made it impossible to stay mad. Sighing deeply, she sat on the bed beside him. "I'm sorry, Ed. I really, really mean it," she said quietly. She should've known that couldn't be the only reason he was upset. What she did wasn't worthy of yelling and swearing and shutting her out. She should have known. And she probably should've realized what she was doing, and how he would take it. Obviously he was going to be a little on edge. He'd want her to comfort him, and that's what he saw? She understood now.

Part of him wanted to say 'Im sorry too'. She didn't know what had happened today. Might still not. Yeah, he'd just told her now but he'd been talking so fast had she understood everything? While Ed hadn't flat out said he'd take her over them, it was strongly implied. He doubted he'd ever really be forced to give up one. His mother wouldn't let him just disappear. But his father wasn't happy that in a hypothetical situation his son would be back in New York. And he wouldn't want to see him anytime soon.

With that in mind, finding her on someone elses lap had made him momentarily panic. Made him think for a moment he may have just lost both. But he knew Cha-Cha wouldn't do that to him. So it had only lasted a second. But that didn't mean he wouldn't let panic turn into anger. And now the other part of him wanted to kick her off the bed.

She had no idea how to take his silence, so for the time being returned it. It was more understandable now, why he was angry. Not really justified in her opinion, but if he dropped it then and there she wouldn't be angry. The timing did suck, she could agree that much. But all in all, what she did wasn't really worth his anger. But if he blew it out of proportion because of his father...she could forgive him for that.

"Are you still mad at me?" she asked hesitantly, resisting the urge to touch his arm or something. If he shook her off, she wouldn't be able to take it.

"Yes." He rolled over to face the wall. He didn't really think she deserved it either. But he wanted to be mad for awhile. Yes the point of her coming was to make him feel better. Off to a bad start. But not intentionally by her.

Cha-Cha stared at his back, her mouth opening a few times. "Why?" she asked finally, feeling genuinely hurt. After she'd apologized? After...everything? What had she even actually done wrong? "You're mad at your dad...what is holding a grudge against me gonna do?"

"I don't know," he admitted. Something had to come out of it. Good or bad he couldn't say. He just knew that he had to stay angry. He was afraid what would happen if he didn't. What if he couldn't just shrug off what his dad said and he got emotional? His dad would have won. If he was angry he'd keep thinking up sarcastic comments to what had been said to him. That was better.

Cha-Cha gawked, shaking her head. If he had no reason...why was he staying angry? How was that anywhere near fair to her? She was at a loss for words, nothing she could think of to say would make it better. What could you say to someone who was mad at you for no reason? What could you even do? On the verge of tears, she started climbing off the bed. "I'm gonna...gonna shower or something," she told him weakly, swallowing thickly against the threatening tears. She just needed to be away from him at the moment.

Ed almost stopped her. He was being a jerk. But he couldn't find the motivation to move. Her voice should have been it, but he was in his own place.

He waited for her to round the corner to the bathroom before he rolled onto his back again. He stared at the ceiling. It really was better than your average motel ceiling. Weird wallpaper on it. He didn't know why the ceiling was making his eyes water. What, it had to be that, right? Why else would he be blinking quickly? He really ought to wait for her to start the shower. And he needed to stop thinking about his evening. And that design that he must be allergic to, because he really didn't need watering eyes right now.

If Cha-Cha could look through walls, she would've come back immediately. But she was in her own place too, completely frustrated and confused and most of all depressed by his anger. She thought better of a shower; crying in the shower was so cliche. Instead she washed her face, trying to make her red eyes less obvious.

It was a good fifteen, twenty minutes before she emerged, her crying done but still just as upset.

Ed was still on his back, staring at the ceiling. He felt just as crummy as she did. Worse, maybe, because it was his fault she was upset. He'd grabbed a pillow a while ago and was hugging it. Silly, maybe, but he needed to squeeze something that wouldn't yelp in pain.

He'd noticed she hadn't gone in the shower. Knew that she was probably crying behind the wall. He had no way to tell when she was coming back. His eyes locked with hers for a moment. Then he rolled over again. Just hoped the moisture that had suddenly appeared in select areas around his eyes would be wiped off by the pillow case.

Cha-Cha wasn't sure, but she thought she saw tears around Ed's eyes. That couldn't be right, though, was it? She'd never seen him cry before. Thought she never would. He was turned away from her before she could ponder it further, though, prompting a deep sigh from her.

"So you're just not gonna talk to me for the rest of the night?" she asked, willing herself not to cry again. She just got through all that. "For the rest of the trip, Ed?"

Ed swallowed hard before he tried talking. The last thing he needed was to be emotional. So she wanted to talk, huh? "How's the weather?" he asked, sounding utterly pathetic. Great. Thank you, vocal chords. That didn't make it obvious he was sorry at all.

Cha-Cha watched him carefully, or as well as she could watch his back. It was hard to tell, but...he didn't sound too happy. And not angry, either. "Fine," she replied slowly, sitting back on the bed. What did that have to do with anything? Was he still angry? Was she angry?

She wanted as little drama as possible. She wanted to do what she was supposed to be doing; comforting him after his father ripped him apart. Putting him back together. She took a chance, reaching over to gently stroke the back of his neck and hair.

Ed instinctively moved to swat her away, but luckily he had enough sense not to. Instead his hand grabbed her wrist, and again he knew not to grab her roughly. But then he didn't know what to do after that, and he had to have rolled onto his back to complete the quick movement. So he was stuck with her in his hand, looking at her.

His hand moved down hers to interlock fingers.

Cha-Cha sighed, squeezing his hand. She knew he couldn't stay mad at her forever. Now that he was facing her again, she couldn't help but notice she'd been right. He'd...he'd at least been tearing up, if not full out crying. Any remains of anger she had started to melt away. She didn't comment on the tears. "I'm supposed to be making you feel better, baby. You're making it hard," she told him with a light smile.

"It's easier to be angry." Than to admit that he sort of would like it if his dad appreciated him more. That he'd like the war to break out after forty-five minutes, not four or five. Staying mad prevented him from feeling sad or depressed. Work himself into a rage and there was no chance of tearing. Not that he had or anything. He'd think of a reason for the water later.

"Can you try not to be mad at me, though? When I've apologized to you fifty times? I'm on your side, Ed, I love you," Cha-Cha reminded him softly, laying herself down to be level with him. She didn't like fighting with him any time, especially when there was essentially no reason. "For the last time, Ed, I'm sorry." She meant it. Whether he had a reason to be mad or not, she didn't want to cause him any more hurt.

"I know..." He knew she was. He was sorry too, but didn't say it aloud. "I just...I mean it got..." If Melissa hadn't shown up and made Ed leave, he'd probably still be there shouting. It never gets that bad the first day. Why did it this time? Yeah maybe Cha-Cha came up early on, they'd argued about dates before. "I love you too," he decided to say instead of describing the mess.

Cha-Cha could imagine. She let go of his hand, only to open her arms, to hold him if he wanted her to. "Can I comfort you now?" she asked quietly. He didn't seem to be mad anymore. She wasn't. He didn't have to talk if he didn't want to, but she wanted him to feel better.

Ed scooted over to and into her arms. He was still killing that poor pillow with one hand. Didn't want to bruise Cha-Cha by trying to hold her instead. He snuggled against her, finding a comfortable spot after a while and staying there. "I don't want to have sex tonight," he said bluntly. This was all he needed for the moment. And probably all he was up to after the nights events. "I know we're in a great hotel and you're practically supposed to..."

"It's okay," Cha-Cha assured him, rubbing his back. She could understand that. Whatever he needed to feel better, that was what they were focusing on. She'd follow his lead until she knew what sort of mood he truly was in. "What do you want to do?"

"Lay here for a while," he answered. He kissed her briefly. Lay here and love her. Without actually loving her. At least that was what he wanted at the moment.

Cha-Cha rubbed the back of his neck gently, scooting closer to him. Whatever mood he was in, he saw fit to kiss her. "I guess you're not mad anymore," she said quietly after a few minutes. Or at least, not at her. But it was time to put the Carl thing to rest now, wasn't it? She'd probably never see the man again. She definitely wasn't tring to hurt him.

She was right, not mad at her. And even dad was wearing off. Letting his father upset him this much was just letting him win, right? Ed wasn't supposed to care.

"Mmm." For some reason he wouldn't give her a straight 'Yes, I am not mad anymore'. But he moved in to kiss her neck, so it was pretty clear that noise meant yes. He slowly moved a hand under her shirt to touch her skin. Touch her. And he relished the fact that he was the only one allowed to do so. But he went slowly, because even with all the stuff going through his head he remembered the last time he'd tried to start something when he was mad. He'd promised not to do that again. His lips moved to her shoulder as he asked himself how he felt. He wasn't angry. Just exasperated, but that was fading.

Cha-Cha kept one hand on his back, the other tilting his chin up so she could kiss him. She was supposed to be making him feel better, not the other way around. And besides, she really was fine as long as he'd stoped yelling at her. Which seemed to be the case. Though she still walked on eggshells a bit, thinking things out before saying them. She was going to ask how the visit was, but thought better of that one quickly.

"Do you want to talk?" she asked finally. Maybe he'd be more open to the idea if it was on his terms.

Ed moved off of her, resting his head on the pillow. His hand had to move, so he settled for playing with the arm closest to him. "Sure." It could help. "But I don't know where to start. Could you ask a question and I go from there?" She had permission to pry.

Cha-Cha thought about it, considering what would probably be the least painful to talk about. "How's your mom?"she asked, shifting to lay on her stomach. Start with mother, work their way to his dad. Seemed like a good progression.

"Fine. Me coming here was really pointless. Like I tried to tell them." He'd spent the time eating dinner, mostly. And it wasn't like she couldn't move her arms. After she hobbled to the living room to talk. He didn't have to help her, and even if she needed help, there was dad. "I guess mom just wanted a visit and figured it was the only way to get me to come. Which was true. But still." He sighed. "She had to have known it would bug me."

"Well it's good she's not hurt, I guess. Did you have a nice time with her?" Cha-Cha asked softly. Ed had a better relationship with his mother than his father, she knew, but wasn't sure if it was possible to have a good visit with either of them. Even if it was possible, it was obviously overshadowed by the bad one with the father.

"Yeah, it was alright. We didn't talk about anything important. We never do." Weather. Movies. The past. Never about what Ed was currently doing. Actually, "well, she was happy to hear I lost my job. More interested in the details of that than any case I ever had. She tried to make it sound like she was trying to make sense of it, like 'How in the world could that happen?', but I felt an 'I told you so' vibe."

Cha-Cha nodded. They didn't want him to be a detective, right? No wonder they were happy. "Did you guys talk about the future?" she asked. It was Ed's mother who's wanted him to work for his father. But if the visit went as bad as it seemed to, she could imagine that wouldn't be happening.

"She's got her heart set on me coming back here for good." He imitated her perfectly, though Cha-Cha wouldn't have known if he was completely off: "'You have little left up there. Your reputation is ruined. Who besides your father will touch you after a murder charge?' Obviously she doesn't know you only have to inform potential employers if you were convicted."

"What about your father?" Cha-Cha asked softly, hoping it wasn't too soon to get into it. "I mean...how is he?" Shifting close to him again, she prepared herself to deal with him if the topic depressed him. She didn't mind comforting him though, and slowly wrapped her arms around him again, shifting back onto her side.

"He's the same. Pissed off. He didn't even give me a friendly hello this time. Probably still mad I suggested he pushed mom. Which still hasn't been proven true or false." Though he really didn't believe that. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. What to say about his father. That wouldn't scare her. Or insult her. "He...is...not getting any better as the years go by." So much for thinking he needed time. Though it had been twenty years. Ed should have given up hope by now.

"They rarely do," Cha-Cha admitted with a frown. It seemed the older somebody got, the more set in their ways they became. It was hard to find an old guy that approved of her in anyway. Not 'old' like Ed, but anybody over sixty-five. It took her a minute to ask another question, stuck on what to say. She didn't want to make him talk about anything too painful. Unless he wanted to. "What did he say? If you wanna tell me," she added, giving him an out.

He did want to talk about it. But he wasn't sure how to tell her parts of it. Or even if she should. "We did the losing the job thing, the suspecting him thing, what a disappointment I am...then we talked about each disappointment you individually." There. He'd said 'you' but she may not have noticed. But he told her everything.

Cha-Cha had thought she caught a 'you', but shrugged it off and didn't comment. Of course she figured she'd come up. She'd probably be considered one of the ways he'd disappointed his father. It wasn't a surprise. "What a jerk," she mumbled, watching his reaction carefully. If her insulting his father would make him feel better at all, she could do that.

He nodded. Couldn't agree more. "It got uncalled for too fast. Normally this conversation would have happened on...Sunday or something. Not when I just get here."

Cha-Cha brought her hand up and down his back slowly, urging him to continue. She knew bad things were probably said about...well, about everything. But about her too, and their relationship. She wouldn't be offended...too much. A little bit naturally, but as long as Ed didn't think so, did it matter? It was his opinion that concerned her.

Ed knew she waiting, and knew Cha-Cha was aware it had been about her. But he didn't want to repeat it. And he'd yelled over half of it anyway. "I'd rather you not know exactly what he said. I'm sure you can imagine." Not fun. But he also wasn't sure about the next part. "I sorta lost it. I don't think I'm as bad as him, but we both didn't hold back. I don't mean to be overprotective, hun," he said, face falling a little. He'd been defending her but thought he should apologize anyway, after her seeing his first freak out about her. "I try not to." He was mainly terrified that he did have part of that temper in him. But it was only something his father could bring out. "I don't want to be anything like him..." he added.

What? "You're not anything like him," Cha-Cha replied in surprise. How could he even think...? That was ridiculous. "No way. You're amazing Ed. You're sweet, and kind and...calm, even when I probably deserve to be yelled at," he barely reacted when she told him about the Lennie thing. He'd forgiven her easily. Forget about tonight, his tension was already high tonight. Could she really blame him for blowing up? "He's...not. You're nothing like him. You're better."

It was relieving to hear her say that. Wanted to believe it. But he still had his doubts. "I'm better at hiding it. Obviously it's in me. Because you didn't deserve it tonight, but I didn't care. Well I mean I did but I couldn't stop myself. Typical Green behavior."

"You were already upset tonight. Obviously something like that was gonna set you off. I shouldn't have even been with him," Cha-Cha added, doing all she could to make him feel better. "But it's like you said...there were so many times, during the rest and everything, so many times where you could've yelled at me and I probably would've deserved it. But you didn't, because you loved me and didn't wanna upset me more. Would he do that?" she reminded him hopefully. She didn't like hearing him compare himself to his father. Not when she knew he was so much better.

She had a point. "No," he agreed. If there had been talking behind his fathers back, a simple 'Well you were trying to help' wouldn't have been what he had to say. "But I just...lost it at the house. Normally he'll meet the guy and find something he doesn't like and blow it out of proportion and we'll argue a little and I'll leave. Not too upset either, because it's actually something that I noticed about the guy too but I just didn't really mind. But he hasn't met you. He just assumed he knew what was wrong with you. When there's nothing wrong with you." He could probably think of a little thing she did that bugged him, but that wasn't the point right now. "And if Melissa hadn't come and kicked me out I'd probably still be there yelling. That isn't like me."

"See? It's not like you," Cha-Cha mumbled, forcing herself not to ask what had been said about her. She was really oddly curious, but if he didn't want to say...if he thought it would offend her, she wouldn't pressure him. "I know who you are by now. It's been close to a year. I know that comparing yourself to him isn't giving yourself enough credit. So you get mad when you're angry...I've only ever really seen it happen this once. And you were provoked. So don't worry about being like him."

He sighed again. No doubt he'd been provoked. Ed didn't know what else to say. He danced fingers slowly along her side until he thought of something.

Cha-Cha moved her hand to tough the back of his neck, run along his cheek. "And I love you," she added for good measure. Just to make sure he knew. Even though they fought. It would take alot more than that to make her stop.

"I love you too much. Too," he corrected. "I love you too." If he told her something that scared her, could he take it back? He'd ask, but then she'd want to know, and if he couldn't take back, great job genius. You can't 'unhear' something, but he'd mean...don't think about it. He wasn't sure she could do that. So he just laid there, looking at her. Appreciative that she was there and they were here and he wasn't stuck in the guest room at home.

"You love me too much?" Cha-Cha asked with raised eyebrows. "Is that even possible?" she teased.

Actually, it just might be. But he'd go with he had just misspoken. Well he had. Okay stop thinking about it already. "I guess not," he smiled. If she forgot the choice his dad gave him, he wouldn't remind her. He loved her a nice, average, normal amount. Nothing intimidating. Just dandy.

Cha-Cha let her hand play over the side of his face, watching him carefully. Yeah, right. "What's the matter?" she asked softly. She could always tell when he was upset. When he wasn't telling her something. It was amazing, how well you know someone after almost a year. "What's going on?"

"I just explained it," he said. This might be one of those things that scared her. This might be something she'd be flattered about. He didn't know. Didn't want to risk it, either.

"Being like your father?" Cha-Cha guessed, her forehead wrinkling. "Being overprotective? Just tell me, hon." Whatever it was, just out with it. Even if he did think it would scare her. What could honestly be so bad?

"Tell you what? I did tell you. He and I argued about us," he said, motioning to the two of them. He didn't like how she picked up on these things.

Cha-Cha watched him. "Then tell me what you're not telling me, and what you're making a point of not telling me. Cause I know there's something." She'd known him too long, and honestly, he'd kept too many things from her. She knew the look by now. "I promise I won't be mad or sad, or...anything you think I'll be."

Oh, now he had a look? He sighed. "It's really not that important. Dad just gave me a...sort of hypothetical choice. If I kept up what I'm doing and all. Got him mad enough. If I could only have one, them or you, which would I chose? And I told him that if he seriously wanted an an answer to that I'd give it to right then, but he wouldn't be happy with it." Well, hey, it wasn't asking her to marry him after three months, right?

Cha-Cha watched him, still a little confused. So between his family and her...he chose her. Oh. He chose her? Well...he wasn't that close to his family, but...he chose her? They'd known each other for a year...but he'd known his father for nearly fourty. "So what does that mean?" she asked softly. Was he still allowed back at home then? He'd said earlier...wasn't sure if he was welcome. Was he sure he wanted to make that sort of decision? And...what did he want of her now? That...was huge. And he wouldn't have picked her if he didn't see a future for them. Of course she saw a future too, but...how fast was he expecting for them to move? Was this supposed to be an accelerator?

"It means I've scared you, apparently," he said, noticing her eyes widening. He should have just kept saying 'I already told you'. "It means nothing's changed. It was hypothetical. I'm going back there tomorrow and it'll be business as usual. He's always mad at me. Just forget I said anything, sweetheart, we're exactly how we were yesterday."

Cha-Cha nodded slowly, and hoped he meant that. Normalcy was ideal. Over time she'd be able to take bigger leaps with him, make stronger, more final commitments. But at the moment she was good where they were. She was comfortable. As for his family...she didn't want to be the reason he lost contact with them. "Yeah, you go back tomorrow. Somehow I doubt your mom would turn you away."
Even if it was a serious decision, it wouldn't be her fault. It was his father making him choose. "Exactly." He kissed her briefly. "So no worries."
Cha-Cha returned the kiss, nodding again. As long as he didn't want any overnight changes from her, she'd be fine. No engagement after three months. Well, it had been over three months. But...she wasn't ready for something that big yet. Someday...probably. If he could wait though, then there would be no problems.
He'd wait as long as it took. She didn't have to tell him she wasn't ready, he already knew. Hence trying to change subject. But now she knew, so at least any possible questions of unfaithfulness that sometimes arise between lovers would be crushed when she remembered this?
Cha-Cha kissed his neck, holding him closer. "You tired?" she mumbled. If they were done talking. He'd driven so much that day, and he'd been so upset, she couldn't see how he wouldn't be. "Bedtime?"
"I think so..." Sleep would be good. He really needed it. The day had taken a lot out of him.

The side he was on was getting tingly, so he rolled to his back. Looping an arm around her hip, he tugged her as close as he could.

Cha-Cha grinned, running a hand down his chest. "Baby...can I brush my teeth and everything?" she teased. Not that she could blame him for just rolling over. She was ridiculously comfy.
"No, you'll live one night." Damn a light was still on. It was within reach of the bed, but still required movement. With a grunt he stretched and swatted it off.
At least she'd washed her face before, when she'd gone for her shower. "Ew!" she laughed. "But my teeth are all gross..." she complained. But it wasn't a very convincing argument, as her head was back down against his chest within a couple of minutes. Neither of them had changed, either. Oh well.