AN: As a caution to younger readers, this chapter has mature content. It took me longer than forever, but here is the chapter everyone asked for. Please let me know what you thought! One chapter left!

Chapter 55– First

Grace POV

Another hungry kiss continued by my bedroom door, now secured and locked from anyone disrupting the moment. I had changed. I wasn't feeling the same nerves as I had before. I had realized through what the evening had wrought, a horrible row, a shared moment of forgiveness, the revelation of a long-held secret, a tender proposal, that life was too short to keep waiting, to keep being afraid because of what we did not understand but knew we both desperately wanted. We had played such games for months as we had fallen in love, but who truly knew how much time we would ever still have?

I never could get accustomed to how his slightest touch could send electricity through me, how the taste of him could set me afire. I craved more of him every day. I loved him deeper and had hated the nights apart more as time passed. I refused to balk now, this was what I wanted. This serious, spellbinding, brilliant man was all I had ever longed for.

Realizing that, I intensified the kiss, tangling my fingers in his thick hair and pressing him into the door as the heightened scent of his bare skin lingered. He made a noise of surprise at my initiative but sighed happily as he returned my affection with eagerness.

"L..." I murmured, leaving tender pecks by his ear. "Don't leave me again tonight. I want you to stay, stay until morning …here with me…"

His breathing hitched.

"I-I always wish to stay, Grace…and I will. I promised you that…"

I felt braver as I ran my fingertips across his chest, tracing the letter G as I did so. "There's many times that I wished to stay with you. I wanted you to hold me, I wanted to feel your heartbeat against mine and know that since I was with you, you were safe. And so was I…"

He sighed deeply, his eyes very bright as he cupped my face in his hands.

"I cannot tell you how many times I debated the benefits of coming to this room and telling you how I felt. That being so close to you and you not knowing the truth was agony. And tonight, I knew you would welcome me and all I wanted was to take you into my arms. To make it right. You needed to know that even if I was angry and hurt, I would rather be here than anywhere else. I needed to be with you."

"I loved that you did…" I carefully placed a light kiss directly above my letter and felt him shiver. "I needed to be with you too."

I claimed another kiss as I ran my hands down his arms, feeling every wiry muscle as I did so. His unassuming strength was demonstrated as he grasped my waist then and with one quick change of position, now held me captive against the door. L broke the contact and met my wide eyes with nervous ones of his own.

"G, before w-we er continue…I must admit to you…" He began with a sense of unease. "It's only right to tell you. I almost left tonight. I was prepared to do so, I was so afraid what would become of us if I stayed. That this Kira business would tear us apart."

I sighed. Of course, he had. All of the signs had been there. "I suspected as much. I am thankful you didn't run. That you came back to me."

L's tension lessened as he rested his forehead against mine and rested his hands against the door on both sides of me. "I am as well. No wonder you were so upset with me when I returned just now. I didn't think it could be simply another nightmare…"

"It was both. I think I finally saw how it felt when I would rather escape from our issues than face them head on. And how it would be for you to be the one left behind." I looked into his troubled eyes. "It's not a pleasant feeling to be sure."

The sadness dissipated as he smiled tenderly at me. "No, it's rather horrible, dearest. Let's avoid that in the future."

I chuckled and rested my head against his chest as I heard the steady beat of his heart. "I'm all right with that if you are."

"Oh absolutely." He encircled me again and began stroking my hair. Almost without thinking, he loosened my ribbon and my unruly locks tumbled down around my shoulders. I lowered my gaze as he carefully tucked a curl behind my ear. It was such a simple act, but it seemed so intimate, so private, I felt rather shy.

"I watched young Ella take your hair down when she was preparing our "wedding." L explained softly. "You looked so pleasing in that moment, I wished for the power to bring it to fruition again."

I flushed more. "Well, with how often these ribbons slip out of my hair, you could have seen it multiple times since then."

"Yes, but I wanted to do it. I wanted to be so close to be able to touch you, to have permission to be that near." He murmured in my ear. I sighed contented, as his long fingers settled on my waist and gently massaged the skin he found there beneath my shirt. I had never changed for bed after the horrid row and had fallen asleep with the clothes I had worn that day, now wrinkled and somewhat tearstained. Not the most romantic get up by half. I finally peered back into his eyes, my heart incredibly full.

"There was a time, before we ever really talked, we were still teenagers…when I saw you sitting outside by the tennis court. It had started to rain, and still there you sat. You seemed so alone."

L waited for more, his expression warm.

"We didn't care for each other, and I was so confused by the desire I had to go join you out there and wrap my arms around you. You likely were perfectly fine sitting out there, obviously you could move and come indoors at any time, but I still felt this compelling need to be near you in some way. I never understood it until recently. L…I think I loved you even then."

His eyes grew very black. "Better late than never, I suppose."

"Quite." I breathed and drew him closer for another kiss, one that grew more fervent by the moment. His fingertips still grazed my skin as we continued and started to creep up my back. I made a soft sigh of pleasure and he broke the kiss, his eyes beseeching me for permission. I nodded quickly, and L smiled, carefully raising my shirt up over my head and letting it fall to the floor.

"G…" He whispered in reverence as he pulled me to him and began to leave soft, warm caresses on my neck. I whimpered in response as my own hands gravitated down his sides. The skin to skin contact was indescribable and I desired more. I reached behind me, the inhibitions fading, and unhooked my bra, also letting it drop to my feet. L instantly pressed me tighter against him as his hands roamed my hair, my back, my waist. I had wished to be like this with him for so long, and I relished every moment.

"Gods, you are perfect…" he whispered in between kisses as he released me from my skirt.

My hands moved to the top of his jeans then and fiddled with the button, then the zipper. He made quick work of my efforts by pulling them down and giving them a decided kick off his foot. We were only barely clothed now, and this was much further than we had ever gone before.

L blushed for a moment and then approached me again. "Might I-er is it all right if I—"

"Touch me?" I answered breathlessly, and he slowly nodded his eyes lowering below my neck as I stood before him. I reached for his hand and placed it above my chest, giving it a gentle squeeze of assurance. I wanted him to touch me, to see me as he never had, as no one ever had.

His fingers quickly moved to the top of my right breast and I gasped as his next kiss was so powerful I could barely stand. His tongue searched for mine and when it was found, he wouldn't release it from its touch. The sensations were making me weaken by the second.

Our touches and affection intensified as we backed up towards the bed and fell together onto it.

Neither of us could possibly know what we were doing, so technique and mastery weren't the objective. I gazed up at him as he appeared stunned.

"L, what is it?"

He shook his head and swallowed hard, his black hair falling into his eyes. "You are so beautiful, I am quite unable to speak."

I tried not to laugh in my nervousness and instead smiled. "I feel the same way."

I watched a faint pink rise in his cheeks and he looked away from me. "You didn't need to say that."

Warmth flooding me, I reached up to touch his face and bring his deep, dark eyes back to mine. "Why not? It's true. I find you beautiful."

His smile returned. "There's that sincerity again. I never expected you to think that way, but it does please me." He brought his face close to mine again, his eyes wearing a childlike expectance. "Did you truly say that you will marry me?"

"Well, L it was about ten minutes ago. Please tell me your memory is not that faulty." I teased as he pressed his lips against my collarbone.

"Cassandra Grace, there's no need to be facetious…" he murmured as I ran my hands down his back. "I simply wanted to be reminded that it truly happened."

"It did." I whispered. "You asked me to marry you. Truly, this time. On bended knee and all."

His grin was hard to resist. "Bended knee is a requisite eh? So, if I had knelt that day when Jude arrived, it would have made the proposal authentic?"

I blushed as his lips left my damp neck and settled on my stomach. "L, nothing about that would have made it authentic. There were weeks following that I imagined it had been part of a long con."

He chuckled then, making my skin ticklish. "I suppose I was being rather hasty. I needed you to see me as someone you cared to be around first before suggesting you become my wife."

I ran my hand through his hair and he gazed back up at me. "It didn't take much longer after that for me to want you around. To miss you dreadfully when you'd leave, to imagine…this."

"This?" He repeated huskily as his wandering mouth fell onto my chest. Good lord, the feeling was almost sinful, and I couldn't hold back a soft moan.

He glanced up at me in astonishment. "Do you like that, G?"

Erm, of course I did! Blushing, I nodded, and his tasting became more fervent as he explored every inch of my breasts with his mouth and his tongue. A full-bodied moan escaped from my lips making him abruptly stop.

"Good lord...I didn't mean to...God, if anyone heard..." I fretted. L kept an entranced gaze on me as he left my chest and returned to my lips.

"I don't give a damn if they did. I simply hope that I can cause that sound again..."

I stared up at him breathless. "I'm certain you can."

"It will be much fun to try." He remarked, then came closer for another lingering kiss, as his hands began their course across my body. I didn't know how my heart was going to take this. L and I sharing a bed, his half naked body on top of mine, calling me his dearest and his love...the dream had never come close to how it would actually feel.

The locking of our lips grew stronger and I dug my fingers into his hair trying to bring him even closer to me. It was then that he produced the same moan I had been embarrassed over. His noise was far more exhilarating. I felt my skin tingle at the guttural sound, then giggled when he broke the kiss mortified.

"Oh...my apologies Grace...I have no idea where that came from. What you must think..."

I smiled. "What happened to not giving a damn and reckless abandon? As to what I must think..." Softly, I began nibbling on his neck. The moan returned fully unguarded, just as I had expected. "I've never found you more desirable than right this moment."

His returning smile was shaky. "And you are a vision, an extraordinary, heart aching miracle and I am terrified that I am going to wake up from this bliss, this perfect moment in time, and, I'll never have this overwhelming euphoria again." He pressed his forehead to mine. "You don't know in how many hotel rooms I've had this same dream. You lying in my arms telling me you love me, me ready to give myself completely to you, and the phone rings, or daylight breaks." He frowned with a deep sadness at the memory. "And you're gone...and you were never there to begin with and were never going to be..." He drew in a shattered breath. "Gracie, please tell me that you are really here, that you are not planning to vanish just when I need you the most."

Wordless from his deep fears, I removed my hands from around his neck and placed them over top of his. Carefully I guided his hands down my waist and over my hips to the tops of my underwear. Locking eyes with him, I assisted him in slowly sliding them off of me and letting them fall to the floor. "L, I'm not going anywhere. I promise you. Nowhere that you aren't with me."

His eyes were wide with disbelief. "Good Lord..."

I pulled him closer again, pressing my body against his, barely able to control the pleasure I felt below my belly.

The hardness in his boxers couldn't be ignored, and he blushed, running a hand up my leg. "This is truly nerve-wracking," he confided after a lengthy kiss. "I mean, I have desired this moment for years and years, possibly forever, but I never realized until I fell in love with you how much I had wanted you before. I don't know how I held myself back for so long..."

"By torturing poor Jude." I teased watching him pull a face. "But you don't need to hold yourself back anymore. I want to be with you, L, here, tonight."

He looked terrified. "You truly want me to make love to you, Grace?"

"I do. I think we've waited long enough, but if you aren't ready to, L. I understand." I reached up to stroke his dear face.

He closed his eyes for a moment as he reveled in the touch, but then caught my hand and brought it to his chest, on top of the G tattoo he had revealed. "It's all that I want." He answered simply. "If you are ready, I am. I love you, Grace Deacon. Endlessly."

"Well then," I smiled. "I suppose we continue." I tenderly brushed his skin with my fingertips. "I love you, L. We have all night, remember?"

The nerves gave way to a sweet smile. "Yes, I remember."

Before we kissed again, he stopped himself with a thought.

"Do we require prophylactics? I do have some in my quarters. Fritz thought that was an ideal birthday gift for me this year. A bit disturbing one from my closest approximation of a younger brother, but to be fair, he has had me beat for some time now."

I laughed. "He did not! It's not necessary if you don't deem it so. Er, I take a contraceptive, I have for some time now."

"Ah, I see." L appeared relieved that he didn't have to traipse across the hall in his current state.

Rather shakily, he removed his underwear then and I blushed again about what was about to happen. Not that I regretted it with any part of me. I loved him. I was helplessly, madly in depthless love with the shy, brave, beautiful twenty-four-year-old man returning to hold himself above me once more. As our eyes locked, I took a deep breath.

He took that as fear. "Gracie, please tell me to stop if you are frightened. I completely understand."

I shook my head smiling. 'No, I'm not that scared to deny myself this moment, but it's all right if you are."

"No," his voice came out rough. "I agree, I want this, even if I am a bit terrified."

I brought him close for another kiss. "Let's admit it, Louie. We are both scared out of our bleeding wits, but I think something would be wrong if we weren't!"

He relaxed a little with a half chuckle. "Very well then." He made an intake of breath and gazed into my eyes, waiting for acceptance. "Are you ready, Gracie?"

My heart pounded in my chest. I nodded, bracing myself for what was to come. "Yes, L. I'm ready."

His eyes softened more as he stroked my cheek. "G, I have reason to believe this could be painful. I don't want to hurt you, that's the last thing I want."

"I know." I encouraged him, placing my arm around his perspiring neck and closing my eyes. "But I need you L, more than anything ever before. Please don't worry."

I heard him sigh unsteadily as he moved into position and I felt pressure build between my legs. "All right, my sweet dearest, I promise to be more than careful."

I smiled as he moved forward, and the pain pierced my concentration. It was awful, just to the edge of unbearable for several moments, but what it meant was so profound, so sacred, I was in awe of it.

I opened my eyes to see L's closed, bliss overtaking his features. "Oh Grace," he muttered, his eyes fluttering open to take me in. "I love you so incredibly much."

"I love you more." I whispered as I pushed the pain out of my mind and moved against him. I could feel him jolt in his skin.

"Oh Gods…" He came forward helplessly and kissed me quite sloppily. "The way it feels, to be part of you…"

"I know." I murmured holding onto him tighter. "Don't stop."

L smiled sheepishly. "There's a 0% chance of that happening… you are far too beautiful, your fiery hair, your eyes, your soft skin. You're a goddess. Mine alone."

"A bit much, L."

"It's all true." L protested with feeling as our bodies quickly found a rhythm.

"Mmm…well the being yours part I'll agree with."

His grin grew wide. "Why did I not tell you how deeply I had fallen for you years ago? I fear that I wasted so much time."

"Hush." I soothed, taking his face in in my hands. "At least you finally did. And years ago, I would have been shell shocked. I still am when I look at this." I glanced down at the letter G rising and falling on his taut chest as he moved with me. "How long you kept this hidden, all of the possible near misses…Oh my God!"

Startled, he stopped. "What is it, Grace?"

I couldn't control the giggles, remembering the night at Carabelli's and L's fear of being stripped by Fritz in the restaurant lobby. "It must have taken a great deal of subterfuge, otherwise I suppose we all would have seen your secret!"

He chuckled with me and kissed me with renewed strength. "What secret? The only one who didn't know was you, dearest."

We indulged in another lengthy kiss when L backed away with a look of fear.

"What is it?" I asked as he closed his eyes and concentrated on slowing his movements.

"I-I fear I cannot hold on for much longer, G." He confessed panting slightly, and I smiled, stroking his cheek.

"Is that all? Then let go, love. Let go."

A smile broke through the concerned expression and he quickened his pace, his breathing growing labored as I ran my hands down his back streaked with sweat. The discomfort of before had dissipated and I enjoyed how matching his rhythm increased my own pleasure.

Then, his entire body stiffened, and his dark eyes widened. "Oh Gods, Grace, Grace, I-I-"

I watched his face transform into complete abandon as he moaned loudly and released, finally collapsing on top of me, utterly weakened.

"I love you too." I whispered, kissing the top of his head.

"Mon Dieu, Marry me, Grace. Marry me." He lifted his head to gaze at me in adoration and disbelief.

I laughed. "I already am, sweetheart."

"Oh yes, so you are. Forgive me. I was just so overwhelmed by emotion that I spoke how I felt. You must think me quite the fool."

"I think nothing of the sort!"

Carefully, L parted from me and then folded me into his arms. "That was wondrous, unbelievable, remarkable…"

"Well I do hope there's more of it. The night is young, you know." I joked playfully and nearly felt my heart stop as he dove forward to kiss me again.

"How do you feel? I pray I didn't hurt you, my love."

"I wouldn't trade our first time for the world, L."

"Neither I. It was leaps and bounds over my imaginings."

"You are the only man I've ever imagined." I confessed. "Before, my thoughts never went that deeply, but I would fantasize about you making love to me. What it would be like, how it would feel. Even when we were only friends, I suspect I had some ulterior motives."

He grinned. "Did you? That thrills me to be honest. If I am truthful, I would think about it quite often."

"Now that doesn't surprise me!" I teased and caressed his chest with my fingertips. "Typical male."

He watched how the diamond ring on my hand sparkled in the light of the lamp as I did so. He leaned over and tipped my chin up to meet his blissful expression. "Not typical. I'm hardly typical, don't you agree? It's you, Grace. It's only because of you. I have never been stirred in such a manner as I was when I thought of you. It would ache inside, the longing, the wanting, the hoping. So many sleepless nights. It would never stop."

"Will it stop now?" I whispered, still feeling a sense of regret for all of the time we had spent apart.

His return look was grave. "I believe I may get an evening's reprieve, but I'll never stop wanting you, Cassandra Grace. This is a lifetime affliction."

I was caught off guard by his words and instead rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, somewhat overcome by the power of the moment. I heard him reach over and turn off the lamp, then he returned to embrace me tightly. My skin against his skin. Our bodies entwined together never wishing to let go.

"Now do try to get some sleep. That's an order not a request, Detective."

I felt him kiss the top of my head. "Yes my Grace."

"I do like the way that sounds …"

"I told you times change …"


L POV

Words. What use were words? I was bereft of any way to articulate what had happened between us in the last few hours. Bereft of reason, of logic, of thought. I was a profoundly different man than I had been even earlier in the evening. I had truly never felt so at peace before than how it felt in the moments after we had finally given ourselves to each other. She had my whole heart, my mind, my soul and my body. I would never be alone again knowing she had claimed me as her own.

I slipped out of bed, not to leave as I had cowardly attempted earlier but to reach the en-suite. I located my boxer shorts on the floor and slipped them back on. In the en-suite, I closed the door to only leave a crack open as I turned on the light. I splashed water onto my face and caught my reflection in the mirror above the sink. I was startled that I could hardly recognize myself. I never cared for what I looked like before, but now I was fascinated by the changes. I stood in Grace's en-suite, bathed in a harsh artificial light, wearing only my underwear while a few steps away my new fiancée slept contended, her delicate still nude form tangled in sheets on her bed after we had made love for the first time.

Gods, how was this even possible?

My eyes were bright as I took in my body. That pesky foolish branding on my chest was no longer in hiding. Now I could wear it proudly, showing who I belonged to, who had my heart and always would. The woman I couldn't even call a friend for years had agreed to become my wife. Because she loved me. She loved me as I loved her, perhaps not as long as I had endured, but it was just as strong, just as passionate, just as resolute. She was mine.

I was horrified when I realized the brightness of my eyes was due to tears brimming at the surface. Why on earth was I so overcome? This is all I ever wanted, all I ever could want. Instead of shedding tears, I should be grinning. "What do you think of this, detective? You never deduced this would come to pass, did you then?" I had hoped, I had fantasized, even in low moments I had prayed to whatever possible higher power wished to listen that she would see me. That she would want to know me.

The tears flooded their barrier and I watched them run in rivulets down my cheeks. I couldn't stop the onslaught. I drew a shaky breath and bent over the sink allowing them to come, hoping it would pass quickly. I was exhausted from the work, anxious about the future and elated all at the same time. My heart was so full, and my mind couldn't shut down recounting every moment we hadjust shared together. I needed to capture it all in my photographic memory, I could never forget a single touch, word, feeling that had occurred. It all needed to be preserved forever. Especially when I truly would have to part from her to go to Japan.

I was mortified as I produced a low sob then. My shoulders shaking, I gripped the sink and glared at myself in the mirror. "There is no time for this. This is bloody ridiculous. Calm yourself!"

Several moments later, the door opened fully, and Grace stood there, her scarlet dressing gown wrapped around her. "Louie, for goodness sake, why on earth are you yelling? Doesn't Mello do that enough in the middle of the night?!" She hesitated then as she took me in with concerned disbelief. "You're crying. Whatever is the matter?"

Ashamed, I quickly wiped my eyes with my wrist. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep, dearest. My apologies."

"I don't care about that." She dismissed as she joined me in the en-suite. "Can I help? Why these tears?"

I sighed and sat down on the toilet seat defeated. "I do wish I knew myself. It's very uncharacteristic of me to be sure. I hope that's the last of it."

Her eyes were full of affection as she sat on my lap then and rustled my hair. "I never have seen you cry. It's like I had never remembered you laughing. Of course, you were always capable of it, but it didn't seem possible."

"I feel so weak." I admitted, wrapping my arms around her waist. "To be so overwhelmed by this. To be so overcome by the mere thought of you tonight and all that has occurred."

She listened silently as I continued. "I never ever thought any of this could truly happen. That it was my cross to bear and that I was pleased that I loved someone in this life even if I wasn't meant to be loved in return. With the work, it always made it easy not to care about wanting that. That my role wasn't meant for such things and as long as you were safe that was the closest I could ever show you how much I felt. Even if you hated me for it."

She smiled then. "I understand that now, L. All is forgiven."

I kissed her hair and smiled to myself. "But this, it's all so powerful and heady to the senses. I always thought we would be apart, that I would love you from afar until the day I died. That you would know after that. But as I said, it's as if I was dreaming in black and white and the reality was in the full relief of color. It's almost too much to take."

Grace's face stared to fall as I finished. "You weren't going to let me know until you died?! L… I can't believe you would do that…"

I froze, realizing that I had admitted something that truly I had wished to never divulge. Watari had assured me that he would never disclose this to her now that I had confessed my feelings. Her dear face was becoming more distraught. "How would you have told me? You would be gone… that's simply not right. It's incredibly cruel to do that to someone."

My answer was pressured. "I hoped that you would learn to think of me kindly after you knew. That your memory of me would be altered once you were aware of my feelings. That you wouldn't despise me any longer. That you would somewhat understand my behaviors then."

She closed her eyes to collect herself. "But how? How would I have learnt? From Wammy? Would he have had to take on that purpose for you?"

"No… that wouldn't have been right. I-I- wrote you letters. They were kept for you to read once I died. Even if it was years and years from now, I wrote more, adding to the pile. It wasn't until Watari confronted me about them that I ever felt brave enough to try. That's why I tried for you, Grace. Because my coconspirator knew me better than myself and knew it was wrong. That I needed to put myself out there for your scrutiny and to see if I could move your heart. I needed to show you who I really was and let you close. To no longer feel like a stranger and to become your friend. That's all I ever expected to achieve."

"You foolish, foolish man." Her voice was full of pain. "Martyrs have positively nothing on you." She opened her eyes now brimming with tears to match mine. "Dare I ask how long you did this?"

"Years." I murmured. "I didn't share it with Watari until he learned my secret. Which he discovered when I did this." I looked down at my tattoo. "And thought there was reason to be concerned about my mental state. And that he worried what would happen if my feelings changed. Which showed me he didn't know me as well as I had believed he did. Because Cassandra Grace Deacon, my feelings never have and never will change. I have grown more in love with you every day. All of you. All of your quirks and stubbornness, your easily piqued anger and your depthless compassion. Your brilliance and your kindness. Your beauty and your strength. There is nothing that I do not adore about you. And I can scarcely believe that I can tell you this and that you wish to hear it."

Grace slowly stood up and captured me with her intense gaze. "L, I-I need you to come back to bed with me."

My heart stopped in my chest and I stood up as well. Would I ever get used to hearing things like this from the woman I loved? I dreadfully hoped not. "G…"

She came close and stroked my chest. "As I can see it, we are dreadfully off balance. I owe you years of affection and I plan to tip the scales in my favor."

I lifted up her chin to kiss her and felt my heart become flooded with feeling. She ended the kiss softly and led me by the hands out of the en-suite and into the bedroom. I watched as she slowly unbelted her dressing gown and let it fall from her shoulders and stood before me, with her bare form expectant and stunning, her violet eyes drawing me in as they always did. The moonlight was coming through the windows and alighted upon her skin making her almost become luminescent, like an alabaster sculpture. She was bloody perfect. I felt my body reacting strongly to her presence and pulled her towards me, kissing every inch I could possibly find as she whimpered in response.

"Oh L… I'm meant to be the one giving you affection with interest, remember?"

"Yes, I remember…" I whispered as I knelt before her and made it my mission to discover a multitude of different ways to give this amazing woman pleasure. "But as you know my love, I rarely if ever play by the rules."


I awoke to the sound of a door opening and felt immediately on guard. Who on earth would have the gall to enter my quarters when I'm actually sleeping? My eyes opened, and I was face to face with the little jeweled panda bear I had brought back from my time in Beijing. It was sitting in pride of place on the nightstand next to a small bouquet of flowers and I realized where I was. Then I heard a voice.

"Gracie, did you sleep okay? I could hear you tossing and turning all night from my room."

It was Anne. I blushed to myself when I realized Grace had slept well. Once she actually had slept that is.

I turned to see Grace at her door, keeping it open just a crack as she pulled together the front of her dressing gown. "Oh no don't worry. I must have had a nightmare. I don't recall its content. Anyway, er I might go back to bed for a bit."

To be safe, I covered my head with the duvet in case I was spotted. I smirked to myself, feeling like an errant child doing such a thing.

"Gracie, wait just a second." I heard Anne interrupt before Grace closed the door. "With L… I-I hope he made it up to you after that row last night."

"I can assure you he did. Exceedingly. As I was saying …"

"Well good! I'm glad. Or else he'd have me to answer to."

"And me…so I'll see you later, all right?"

"All right, I'll interrogate you more later then." She was silent for a moment and I remained with my head under the cover until I knew for certain that she had left. "Um what is that?"

Blast! What had she found? I felt a chill come over me when I realized I had never put my boxer shorts back on after we had returned to bed. There had been no need. I dearly hoped she hadn't seen them strewn on the floor. I could never look her in the eye again.

"What is what?" Grace asked with a sense of nervousness.

"What's on your hand! Oh my God, he did it! HE FINALLY DID IT!"

The volume of her reaction shook me so much I started and tumbled out of the bed with a loud thump.

"What was that?!"

"Er—- nothing! Nothing at all. Old floor boards you know …"

Too late. As I gathered sheets around myself I peered over the mattress to see two women I knew quite well staring at me in disbelief. Grace flushed with embarrassment and Anne who started to grin. "L you dark horse! I can't believe it! Well done you!"

I raised myself to a standing position and bunched the sheets around my waist. "Er, good morning to you too, Anne."

Anne's face had now fallen to shock and I was quick to understand why. My chest was uncovered, and the tattoo was fully visible. Grace noticed as quickly as I did.

"Anne, we will talk later. Later I promise you…"

Anne, whose eyes were still large, raised her arm to point in my direction and nodded vigorously as Grace finally shut and relocked the door. She turned to face me, still reddened but now annoyed. "Louie! I was trying to cover for us! And you have to make so much bloody noise that it felt like the floor was caving in!"

"I suppose I'm not the master of stealth disguise you believe me to be, after all."

"Hardly!" She sniffed and joined me by the bed. After a moment, she started to giggle uncontrollably, and I was lost at the reason for her diversion to sudden humor.

"Mightn't I be let in on the joke?" I asked as she fell into my arms, still shaking with laughter.

"I-I think it's quite safe to say that Anne will reconsider any early morning visits to my quarters in the future!"

I chuckled in return. "Yes, I think I've likely scarred her for life with my presence."

Grace's giggles ended, and she raised her head to smile at me. "Well, I think she and everyone will need to become accustomed to it, because I'm not allowing another night for us to be apart ever again."

All I could do was kiss her then, wanting this belief to be true for as long as it could be so.


I think Anne has some hot tea about L and G!

Songs:

This Never Happened to Me Before – Paul McCartney & All This and Heaven Too – Florence + The Machine

Writing a chapter like this was way more difficult than I anticipated! I give everyone credit who can write pieces like this with ease. Parts were written 9 years ago as a character developing exercise but the rest was new. Thank you for reading!