A/N: so this is basically what would happen if it had been Cricket, instead of Amanda who moved back to Dallas in the beginning. Eventual Blicket. I hope y'all enjoy! I'm still devastated over the fact that this amazing show has been cancelled. Please sign the petition to bring it back! Happy reading.
Later that night Blake had explained to Alexandra that he was taking Cricket riding and he promised the teen she was safe in the large house.
Blake told Cricket that after dinner he wanted her to meet him in the barn, ready to ride. She did and was standing in Sadie's stall when he found her. "Hey Crick..."
"What's this?" She asked.
He smiled, his ranch hand had helped him set up a special area not too far from the barn where he was going to spend some time with her before they rode back. "I know how much you really want to ride, so I'm takin you"
She smiled, "how far out? Alexandra's by herself..."
"Don't you worry about her, we're not going too far, and she knows about this" he reassured her.
She just nodded, and climbed up on Sadie. Blake told her that he wanted her to either follow him or be right by his side. She sighed but was happy she was getting to ride.
She rode alongside him until they got to the clearing with the blanket set out and a basket. "Crick I want you to take a break.."
She sighed but got off Sadie and tied the reins to a nearby tree. Blake did the same with his horse and wrapped his arms around Cricket "Blake what's this?"
"Just something special, to help you get away, relax" he told her.
She shrugged and let him lead her to the blanket. "What'd I do?"
He rubbed her back, "nothing, you've gotten so much better, this will be good for you"
She sighed again and leaned on him, "what's in the basket?"
"I brought a little wine, and another blanket incase you get cold" he told her.
She sighed, but let him keep rubbing her back. "Blake, I'm trying to slow down on the drinking..."
He hugged her, "that's okay, we don't have to have any of the wine if you don't want it"
She nodded and just let him hold her. They sat in silence for a while and she watched the sun sink and everything turn dark. "Crick, I want you to sit up for me..." He told her.
She sat up but faced away from him, "why..."
"I'm just gonna massage your back a little, I want you to get a little more comfortable with my touch.." He told her.
She nodded and let him knead the sore muscles in her back. "Don't stop.." She mumbled.
He smiled, "I can tell this really makes you feel better, and that's what we want"
She nodded and a few minutes later she felt his bare hands on her back. They were still as gentle as they'd been when he massaged over her shirt but now she felt them on her skin. She thought she didn't like the feeling at first but she was longing for a gentle touch, so she let him keep rubbing her back.
He continued to be so gentle, "if you want me to stop Crick, just tell me"
She shook her head, "I'm okay.."
He smiled, "if you lay down, I can get your neck and shoulders better.."
She agreed, that was where she had the most pain. He was so gentle and patient with her that she couldn't help but relax. He really worked at her shoulders and she felt her tension disappear. He finished rubbing her back, "sit up for me Crick..."
She let him help her back up and she smiled. There was a pile of pillows on the blanket and Blake leaned back on them, "come here sweetie..."
She inched closer and let him hold her. She leaned into his chest and smiled when she could feel his steady heartbeat. "This is nice Blake.."
He continued to rub gentle circles on her back, "I just want you to feel loved Crick, and I know that feeling hasn't really been there lately"
She didn't know how to answer but her hot tears answered by soaking his shirt. He didn't stop rubbing her back because he knew it calmed her, "shhhh, sweetheart, it's okay if that feeling hasn't come yet. I don't want you so upset"
She couldn't make herself get up because she was so comfortable. She felt safe and protected in his arms, but she wasn't sure why she wasn't feeling loved by him.
"I'm too messed up to love" she sadly told him.
He didn't get angry, and tried to be understanding instead, "all I want you to do is listen, you may think that way now, but I don't. You deserve love more than anyone, I want to show you that you are loved, and I'm gonna take all the time you need to see it"
She just continued to cry, "why do you care so much?"
He sighed, this was where she needed someone's patience and understanding the most. "You shouldn't be alone, you've been through so much, and you need someone that's going to always be there"
She sighed, and started to cling to him. She didn't quite feel loved, but she was starting to feel wanted. It was a nice feeling and she hoped it lasted. "I feel... wanted.." She hesitantly told him.
She got a gentle kiss on her forehead, "that's really good Crick, I want you to feel that way"
She smiled but her tears were still there. "That was stupid..."
He continued rubbing her back, "no, it's not. If you ever feel like sharing your feelings that's okay. It helps me know how to make things better for you"
She just nodded and he calmed her so she could roll over and look at the stars with him. They laid that way for almost an hour and Cricket started to shiver. "Are you
cold sweetheart?"
She nodded and he pulled her close, "we can head back, or I've got another blanket"
"I wanna go back" she mumbled. He nodded and discreetly sent a text to his ranch hand for the hay ride.
She got a little scared when she heard the truck, "Blake..."
He hugged her, "I know, I had the ranch hand set up a hay ride incase you fell asleep out here"
She sighed and looked at the horses, "I'm awake"
He laughed, "you're fallin asleep on me sweetie, the ranch hands will ride them back"
She just nodded and let Blake help her into the trailer. She leaned on him and they drove away. The ranch hands cleaned up and cricket fell asleep on the way back. He had the ranch hand drive them to the house for this reason and he carried Cricket inside. When they got in there weren't any lights on and he didn't see the teen downstairs. He laid his sleeping girlfriend down and went to check on the teen.
He went upstairs to the bedroom she was sleeping in and found her curled up in bed, but her sheets were pushed away. He straightened her sheets out and smiled, "goodnight sweetheart.."
The teen snuggled into the sheets and stayed asleep. He saw an old teddy bear thrown on the floor and picked it up, and put it in the teens arms. She squeezed it and curled up. He smiled and gently closed her door.
He went back downstairs and found Cricket still sleeping. He rubbed her shoulder, "sweetie, lets get you to bed"
"Alexandra.." She mumbled.
"She's sound asleep, I just checked on her, don't worry" he reassured her.
Cricket smiled, "mmk... Not tired"
He laughed, "yeah you are, I'll help ya. You've been sleepin"
She sighed but let him help anyways. He held her as she walked to the bedroom and he made sure she got cleaned up and into bed. He laid by her and she rolled over close to him. She liked the warmth of his body, the calm heartbeat, and his gentle touch. He helped her sleep so much better than her pills did, that shed rather be by him. He pulled her close to him and let her rest her head on his chest. She immediately heard his steady heartbeat and it relaxed her. She let him rub her back and this was how she fell asleep. His gentleness was exactly what she needed to get her rest and get through what had happened.