Chapter 238: Nuts and Bolts
"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." – Vincent Van Gogh
"Laughter is an instant vacation." – Milton Berle
"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on." – Bob Newhart
"A hearty laugh gives one a dry cleaning, while a good cry is a wet wash." – Puzant Kevork Thomajan
Will was the first through the front door, yelling to Francie who was halfway up the walkway, "I'll ask!" He glanced in the living room and found no one there, "Guys?" he yelled.
No answer.
"Guys?" He called again, a little louder.
No answer.
"GUYS?!" his question took on a worried tone, wondering what happened to the couple they had left that morning. Down the hallway, Sydney's door was open, so he knew they were not…busy. He checked out the patio and found no one there, and continued on his way to the bedroom, slightly faster than he had intended.
"Gu–" he stopped, Francie slamming into him powerfully enough to send them both into the room, staggering.
"Will what the he–" Francie got out, her gaze going from Will's stunned face to the bed.
"Aw SHIT," Vaughn said, half asleep.
Sydney jerked awake, looking down at Vaughn in question, "Wha…" she said equally sleepy. She followed Vaughn's gaze to her two friends in the room. Without thinking, she pushed herself off of Vaughn, making him groan in the process at the quick exit from his warm sanctuary, "Syd, wait –" he got out, the curse of half sentences striking again.
She knew instantly why he had said that, because before, where their joined antics had been concealed by her legs, now, there was nothing that wasn't out in the open.
She reached for the sheet quickly, trying desperately to cover them both, but it was largely much, much too late for that.
Francie was grinning like a fool at Sydney, "Well girl…I gotta say…way to go…" she said nodding.
Will turned to look at her, "EXCUSE ME?"
"Well – it was right there…I mean you can't fault a girl for looking…and you should talk – since you checked him out too…"
"Would you rather me check out Sydney's ass? Besides that – if I was checking Sydney out – Vaughn would kick my ass…"
Sydney had dissolved into a fit of giggles on the bed; bringing Will and Francie's attention back there. Vaughn was equally amused, chuckling as he watched Sydney completely lose it. "Guess we fell asleep," she snorted between giggles.
Will turned to walk out, "I'm just going to pretend this never happened and go out here in the hall where it's safe and I'll remember to yell really loudly any time I come in the house…and what do you want for dinner as I just make my way out here…"
Vaughn started to laugh harder as Sydney leaned into him as tears started to fall. "That. Was. So. Funny."
"I'm glad you thought so," Will called from the hallway.
Francie giggled, "We'll just whip something up…" she said, starting to follow Will out into the hall and giving Sydney a wink and a thumbs up on her way out.
Sydney waved to her and snorted again, "Whip something up…"
Francie was still chuckling and snickering as she walked to the kitchen behind Will. He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and sat down on one of the stools in the kitchen. "Why me?" he asked quietly.
Francie giggled, "Oh stop…you just witnessed like live porn. Shut up…take the dog out while I make dinner. You can clear your mind…so it's all fresh for when we go back in there."
Will shook his head, "Yeah ok…Donovan!" he called to the dog who was in the backyard, happily chasing a chipmunk. He bounded over to Will, his tongue lolling. "Let's go for a walk boy."
Donovan followed him to the door and waited patiently for him to attach the leash before he walked out with the gleeful dog.
Francie chuckled as she opened the refrigerator and settled on something to make for dinner. She giggled as she set it on a plate and put in the microwave. Will would never see it coming…
Hapless Will reentered the house with Donovan a while later, refreshed and smiling. He kissed Francie on the cheek, "Did you decide on dinner?"
"Yes, it's already in the bedroom…we're all set…just got it finished."
"Great," Will said, walking arm-in-arm with her down the hall to the bedroom.
Sydney and Vaughn were already chuckling when he got to the room, so he had an idea that something was awry, but he sat down nonetheless on the chair. The couple on the bed was at least dressed for the occasion this time and he watched as Francie retrieved a plate from the dresser.
"Here ya go honey," she said, handing him the plate and trying to cover her smile with her hand.
"Nice guys…real cute," Will said as the room erupted with laughter, a hot dog sitting on his plate.
"Don't blame us," Sydney said through a bite, "it was Francie's idea."
Vaughn smiled at Will as he dunked his hot dog in a huge pile of ketchup, "Sorry man."
"Thanks honey…really…very nice…hope you know you'll be getting none of what we walked in on tonight," he said with an elaborate bite. "Oh…and you've now ruined hot dogs for me…I'll never be able to eat them the same way again."
"Honey, I'm sure you're male sexual brain has had those thoughts for years," Francie pointed out.
"Well…yeah…but now…" he shuddered.
"Ok! Dessert!" Francie said as she reentered the room with a tray. She handed Will his dish and stood back to watch his reaction.
Will stared down at the dish and looked back up at Francie who had launched into a giggling fit. "This is in SUCH poor taste," he said.
"What?" Sydney said snickering, taking her and Vaughn's dish.
"First hot dogs…now banana splits?! Come on!"
Francie giggled more and approached Will, "See honey, I gave you the most curved banana and the ice cream scoops–"
"Yes, I get it Francie, they're right at the base of the banana, as balls, I GET IT."
Vaughn was chuckling as he watched Will and Francie; happily eating the spoonfuls that Sydney was feeding him.
"And I put extra peaNUTS on yours too honey…I left them off of Sydney's cause she already got her nuts today."
Vaughn choked on his ice cream, coughing and sitting up slightly so he wouldn't completely lose his breathing functions.
Sydney giggled more, "Actually Francie, you know I can never get enough…nuts."
That only made Vaughn cough more, Sydney rubbing his back as he shook his head.
Will glared at her from his chair, "I don't think I can even eat this…" he said looking down in near disgust at the banana spit. "It's just SO wrong. I don't even want to verbalize what's going through my mind now."
"Dude…this isn't exactly comfortable from my position either," Vaughn pointed out.
Will shook his head and tried valiantly to eat some of the ice cream.
"How're the balls Will?" Francie said, eating her own dessert happily a few feet away from him.
Will put the spoon down, "You're so dead tonight."
"I'm counting on it."
"Well that was certainly enjoyable," Will quipped, "What are we gonna do tonight?"
"Mmm…I don't know…" Sydney said, feeding Vaughn the last of the banana split.
"We could watch a movie…OR play Xbox," Will said nodding.
Vaughn chuckled, "Yeah…what are we gonna play?"
"Well we can try hockey again or one of the other games I got…Buffy," he said nodding once again in a leading manner.
"Or not," Sydney said smiling at Vaughn.
"Well FINE, but she's HOT and it was a GOOD show," he said huffily.
"What was the other one you got? Lord of the Rings?"
"Yeah."
"Why don't we try that one."
"OK!" Will got up excitedly, "I'll get it set up!"
Francie smiled at her boyfriend's enthusiasm and gathered up the dessert dishes.
Sydney looked over at Vaughn, "Ready?"
"Yeah, you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm ok," she said smiling and leaning over to kiss him before helping him stand.
He looked unsurely at her, but he didn't want to raise the issue again now. They walked out to the living room slowly, Sydney letting Vaughn take as much control as he wanted. He let her guide him until they were in the hall and then he looked at her, and she got the message. She took her arms away from his waist and let him walk with just his hand on her shoulder.
When they got closer to the couch, he let go, walking the last few steps on his own and plopping on the couch shakily and rather strenuously.
Will had stopped loading the game and actually stopped moving altogether when he saw them coming out of the hallway, Sydney not holding onto Vaughn like she normally did. He found himself holding his breath when he saw Vaughn let go, his eyes transfixed and his body ready to spring forward and catch him if he fell. When Vaughn landed on the couch, he let out a long breath, his head dropping in relief. When he looked up, he saw a similar look of relief on Francie's face just outside the kitchen, watching just like he had been.
Vaughn looked over at Will, "What?"
"Nothing."
Sydney sat down next to Vaughn, smiling proudly and he returned the smile, but he looked tired. He leaned back against the back of the couch; his head falling back as well and he closed his eyes for a few minutes, resting.
Sydney waited a few minutes before she asked him if he was all right.
"Yeah, I'm ok…can I have some water though?"
"Sure," Sydney said, quickly getting up from the couch to retrieve the liquids he requested. She returned just as quickly and handed him the glass, which he greedily drained in a few long gulps.
She smiled at him when he handed her the glass, "More?"
"Uhm…maybe one more yeah," he nodded.
Sydney grinned and brought him another glass which he also drained quickly.
"More?"
"No, that's good," he said smiling.
Sydney put the glass in the dishwasher and then sat down again next to Vaughn. "Good job honey."
"Thanks."
"K, someone wanna explain what just happened?" Will asked.
"Vaughn started walking on his own today," Sydney said proudly.
"That's great!" Will said happily, coming over and giving Vaughn a gentle hug.
Francie moved over in the same manner and kissed the top of his head, "Way to go Michael."
"Well I didn't walk very far."
"Small steps Michael…they make the same waves, just takes a few more."
Vaughn smiled.
"No step is too small Mike," Will added handing him his controller.
"Thanks," Vaughn said nodding.
Sydney watched him proudly; happy that others were reaffirming what she had told him many times already. Sometimes, it was easier coming from someone else.
