Chapter 49

When Addison awoke that morning, she saw a low stream of sunlight that blinded her for just a moment. She turned away from it, shielding herself, her head finding the hard safety of Jerome's chest. His fingers stroked her hair out of her face then in a tender way she cherished and it was then she looked up into his sleep dulled eyes. She knew immediately that he had been watching her even before she woke. It amused her as she gave him a sleepy smile.

" What's wrong, haven't you ever see someone sleep before?" said Addison a bit of playful sarcasm in her voice. Jerome laughed in response his mouth suddenly coming to kiss hers. Even when he pulled away though, he didn't take his eyes off her, but cupped her face in his hands in that sweet manner she had known since the day she met him.

" No one quite looks as peaceful as they sleep as you do. You gave me a lot to think about last night...I spent the night trying to figure you out" breathed Jerome letting her snuggle closer into his arms.

" And what were you thinking about? I thought you already had me figured out" whispered Addison bringing her own hand to touch his cheek. They hid from the sun then both of them suddenly curling deeper under the sheets. It reminded Addison of days not so long ago when they had done this early in the morning before anyone was awake and at night too. Late at night, when he would sneak through her window, and snuggle together without her dad ever knowing.

" Honestly, I was trying to figure out what you and that psycho little girl were girl talking about last night" said Jerome barely having time to prepare himself as she straddled his body.

" I told you, just girl talk. Boys, makeup, and hopeless gossip is all" said Addison on a laugh. Jerome laughed too, shaking his head. He never pictured her to be the type for hopeless gossip. He saw through her joke as he let her lips kiss his. He indulged in the kiss then, knowing whatever it was that she would tell him. There had never been any secrets between them and he doubted there ever would be as her body laid across his, his hands touching the warm softness of her skin. Addison indulged in the kiss as well, her arms firm as they held him. When their lips finally parted, Jerome looked at her, his eyes asking for the gossip she had hinted at. As always, Addison gave into him willingly.

" She was kind of freaked out about what happened yesterday. She'd never gone off like that" whispered Addison sensing a level of understanding as she looked into Jerome's eyes. And the truth was, Jerome did understand. Suddenly, he remembered the night he had killed his mother. The night when he had just snapped only to look up to find her laying dead on the trailer floor. He knew it wasn't exactly the same, but he knew what that girl had done was similar as he caressed Addys back as if to encourage her to continue.

" She didn't know what made her do that. She didn't know if it was out of love or some twisted hate that she didn't understand. All she knew was she was willing to kill you to ensure no one would ever try to hurt Bruce Wayne again. She came to me because I guess, she saw how I was willing to die for you, and she hoped I'd be able to explain what was happening to her" whispered Addison remembering the look on Selina's face. She had been so unsure, so much so that she had nearly failed to get the words she needed out of her mouth. As she mentioned the sacrifice she had been willing to make then, Addison couldn't have stopped him if she'd wanted to. He grabbed her in a desperate kiss. A kiss that she knew said more then thank you, but also I love you and I need you and returning it, Addison felt it down to the very core of her heart.

She felt his hand cup the back of her neck then as she gave into him without very much prompting at all.

" Many would think you crazy as me for doing what you did" said Jerome then her face in his hands his eyes misty with tears at the memory of what she'd done.

" So, what'd you tell her?" whispered Jerome then sharing a smile with her.

" I told her about us. About how we are, how we've always been. I told her that love comes in two forms that of lovers and that of friends and that sometimes one blossoms into the other. I told her how we started out as best friends and how we wound up falling madly in love with each other. How we didn't plan it that way, but that's how it turned out. I told her that's why I did what I did and why I know you would've done the same" whispered Addison. By the time she was finished her eyes were misty with tears too. Not just that, but as she spoke there was a deep quiver to her voice that touched them both. Jerome couldn't believe it, but everything she said had him falling even more in love with her. He had thought that wasn't possible. That he was as in love as one person could be with another, but he had been wrong. Jerome didn't say anything then, he only smiled at her as she snuggled into his arms.

" You going to school tomorrow?" whispered Jerome his mind forming dangerous ideas.

" Unfortunately, why? What are you doing?" whispered Addison taking his hand.

" Nothing, just wondering. I might go see Curtis or see if Casey will come by" said Jerome. Addison gave him a look then, but she didn't ask any questions. She knew when the time came, Jerome would tell her. They drifted back to sleep then, both knowing the kids would wake them sooner or later.