Something is bothering Johnathan. Edgar reacts to Dawne's past. Lita & Andy? Well read on.
*Don't know the Katzenjammer Kids? Google 'em.
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Sioux & Johnathan
After Neil, Mike and 'the guys' had beat a hasty retreat, Sioux had starting laughing and couldn't stop, and soon Johnathan joined her. They laughed until they cried. Sioux was leaning back in his arms and every time she thought about Neil's mad retreat and his warning to Mike, she'd crack up all over again.
'W-w-we're dead men. Run! WaaHaaHaa!' She howled.
She wiped her eyes. 'Oh honey, it's like we're Mama and der Captain wrangling a boat full of Katzenjammer Kids!' *
That cracked Johnathan up again. 'I used to love that comic and cartoons; old, fat, bald der Captain with that big bottle-brush beard. . .that's gonna be me one day. Will you still love me?'
Sioux gasped. 'And fat Mama with that black spiral bun sticking straight up. . .you're lookin' at her!'
'And we'll still be kickin' ass!' Johnathan chuckled.
'Those Katzenjammer Kids were little devils.' Sioux remembered. 'Reminds me of the crew of a certain crab boat. . .The Bad Boys of the Bering Sea.
'See baby, this is only one of reasons why I love you.' Johnathan nuzzled her neck and offered her his scotch. 'Who else remembers der Captain?'
'Just us old folks.' She sipped.
He growled in her ear and tickled her ribs. 'Who you callin' old? We'll be young forever baby.'
Dawne
He wasn't aware all the color had drained from his face and his eyes had gone hard. Or that she could see how he was struggling not to react, and it hurt her to see him so upset.
'Edgar, listen to me. It was a long time ago. I shouldn't have said anything about Edward or my ex. Let's just pretend it never happened. Okay? Please.' She pled as she grasped a tense muscled arm.
She hated this. Hated seeing the cold fury and helplessness in the eyes of a man who loved her. . .like Uncle Marcos.
Uncle Marcos had the same look in his dark eyes when she had fled hysterical and bleeding to his small apartment in Ballard after a particularly bad episode with her ex. After her father had passed suddenly five years ago from a massive heart attack, Uncle Marcos, her father's youngest brother, and life-long fisherman had taken her aside after the funeral, held both her hands in his big callused work worn, and told her of his sacred promise to his beloved oldest brother.
'Dawne, I swore to Christos years ago that if he passed before you had escaped from that your husband of yours, I would take his place as your father and rest you under my protection. Not for Nena or Maria, but for you. He worried so much for you. . .his strong number one son.'
She remembered his eyes full sadness and fierce resolve. Uncle Marcos never told her what transpired that night after he had tended to her, lovingly tucked into her into his bed, and watched over her 'til she slept. When she awoke in the morning, he was sitting in his worn armchair beside the bed snoring.
'Uncles Marcos.' She shook him up gently. 'Wake up. Can I make you breakfast?'
He had startled awake and smiled at her. 'How are you my child?'
"I'm O.K. Uncle.' She grinned at him, her heart filled with so much love she fought to keep grateful tears from streaming down her face.
He held her soft green eyes, eyes that had captured him since the day she was born.
'Good. Because you can return to your home at any time. He will not be there. You're safe. I swear it on Christos' memory.'
And she had been from that day forward. And she had never asked how he had saved her.
Edgar took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as Dawne desperately held on to him. Then he looked down at her and swore in a hollow voice she hadn't heard before.
'If I ever see that look in your eyes again, somebody is going to pay.'
She shivered because she knew he meant it.
'Since you're not working today, there is a member of my family I'd like you to meet.' She gave her best effort at a grin.
'Who?'
'My Uncle Marcos.'
Lita & Andy
Slept. Like. The. Dead.
Sioux & Johnathan
Later, Johnathan was doing another of his favorite things, brushing Sioux's hair in front of a fire. Their mellow peace restored, he decided now was the time.
'How're the plans for your house in Homer going?'
Sioux had been working on the design with an Alaskan architect one of his neighbors had recommended and she was pleased; everything should be ready for construction to begin in the Spring.
'It's going very well; I'll show you the latest revisions when they come in tomorrow.'
'And here in Seattle?' He inquired casually.
'Not as well, but I have another realtor looking. . .so we'll see.'
'Sioux, I need to talk to you about something that's been bothering me.'
She looked back at him, because of the queer tone in his voice.
'What's wrong?'
'Now hear me out o.k.?' He brushed her hair over her head.
'When we were here, before Christmas you said we had to live apart. I didn't like it but you were so set on the idea because. . .how did you put it? That we were mustangs, never broken to the bridle of marital or any other kind of intimacy.'
He prayed he could make her understand.
'You were right. Right about me. But you broke me Sioux. Broke me forever. So now it's just you got the intimacy hang up. I understand Homer, you want to put down your roots. Me. I just need a place on dry land where I live with you, where we're just 'us'.
He turned her head and brushed her hair to the side.
'Where our friends and family come lookin' for us. And even if we cuss them out and run 'em off, they know there's a place where 'we' are.
He sighed. 'I want to live with you in Seattle. We need some roots. I'll sell this place, get one where we can start fresh, anywhere you want, but I need to be with you.'
He kissed the hairline above her temple and continued brushing. 'Will you think about it?'
Sioux was thinking. He said she had broken him. Had he broken her? So this was that compromise thing 'couples' did. She had feared she would struggle and kick against this kind of stuff. Truth be told, the longer she was with him, the more settled she felt. . .and with him, settled felt good.
'We're both hard-headed and we're gonna butt heads.' She cautioned.
'I love you.' He kissed the nape of her neck.
'I can be mean as a snake as you well know and subject to do what I want when I want.' Sioux reminded.
'He twisted the whip of her hair in a big hand and pulled her head back to bring her lips to his. 'I know, and I love you anyway.'
'You won't leave me?' Her voice quivered as his lips sought hers.
'Never.' He kissed her gently.
'I could never leave you.' He again kissed her gently.
'I love you.' Then kissed her like a man who loves a woman.
When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothin' else
He'd trade the world
For a good thing he's found
If she is bad, he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he puts her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comforts
And sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way
It ought to be
When a man loves a woman
I give you everything I got
Trying to hold on
To your precious love
Baby please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Deep down in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she is playing him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can never see
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'cause baby, baby, baby
I am a man