Author's Note: This story is based on the CBS television series The Jeffersons and as far as I know, it is the property of Columbia Pictures Television, Sony Pictures Television, TAT Communications Company, Embassy Television, Shout! Factory, and of course, CBS. No infringement is intended.
Chapter Summary: George panics when Louise leaves the apartment by herself.
Chapter 1: Still a Lioness
It was one minute until seven in the morning on a lovely Saturday in June when George Jefferson first opened his eyes. A couple of moments later, he quickly turned his head to check, and sure enough, his beautiful wife Louise was lying right there beside him in a very peaceful sleep. During those horrific six years that he'd had to live without her, mornings had been an utter nightmare. Waking up in the morning, turning his head and seeing that Louise was gone and that he was all alone in this world without her…it had been beyond awful to say the least. But now, Louise had come home to him at long last, and he was by her side once again, and her homecoming meant everything to him. They'd returned from their second honeymoon in Rhode Island a week ago, and the past three weeks had been the happiest time of their lives, and George couldn't possibly have been more grateful to God than he was now for bringing Louise back into his life.
A few silent moments later, Louise opened her eyes, and George smiled and gave her a big kiss.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jefferson," George lovingly whispered.
Louise looked into her husband's eyes with a smile and said, "Good morning, my love." She then looked over at the alarm clock that was on her nightstand to see what time it is. "It's seven o'clock. I need to be getting up."
"No you don't, sweetheart. It's Saturday. And besides, it don't matter what day of the week it is. From now on, you can take it easy and sleep in just as long as you want to. You don't have to push yourself so hard anymore. All those days are over."
"George, you are being way too overprotective of me…as usual," Louise teased. "I'm not 'pushing myself' simply by getting up out of bed and making breakfast. Besides, I told the girls last night that I'd make us waffles for breakfast this morning."
"Let Florence do it. She's our live-in maid, after all. It's her job."
"It's Saturday. I've never made Florence work on the weekend. And besides, even though we all love Florence, let's be real, here. Her cooking isn't exactly the best in the world."
"Yeah, you're right. It's a miracle ain't none of us had to go to the hospital to get our stomachs pumped yet after all this time of eatin' her cooking. I never will forget that time she made those cucumber cookies for that potluck supper at Estelle's church. It's amazing that nobody died," said George as they both laughed, and then he gave her another kiss.
It was in that moment that Angie burst into their bedroom in her adorable pink pajamas, carrying her calico cat Patches in her arms.
"Mommy, are you going to make waffles now?" the child asked as she bounced over to her parents' bedside, set the cat down on the bed, and then sat down on the bed herself. And Louise and George had another good laugh as they both sat up in bed.
"Yes, darling. Your father and I were talking about that just now. Just give Mommy a chance to wake up and get showered and dressed, alright?"
"Actually, baby, I just decided that I'm going to go out and get breakfast for all of us and bring it back here so that Mommy doesn't have to cook," George told Angie, and Louise smiled and silently laughed on the inside. Sometimes her husband's stubbornness really could be adorable.
"Will you bring us waffles, Daddy?"
"Oh, no. I ain't gonna get no waffles for you girls. I'm gonna go out and get y'all spinach for breakfast," George teased, and then Louise gave him a playful punch in the arm.
"Oh, stop it, George!" said Louise as they continued to laugh.
"Daddy," Angie said in a complaining tone.
"Yes, baby girl. Daddy's gonna go get waffles for us this morning," George assured her with a chuckle.
"Thanks, Daddy," said Angie, and a couple of moments later, she got up and picked up Patches once again and left.
"Spinach, huh?" Louise said then with a laugh.
"Even spinach would be better than Florence's cooking!" George kidded, and again, he and Louise laughed. Then after the happy couple kissed each other yet again, George got up and showered and dressed and went out to get breakfast for everyone.
Louise and George and the girls had a very pleasant weekend, but on that Monday afternoon when George came home for lunch, to his horror, he discovered that Louise wasn't there, and he panicked. His mother was there that day with Tom and Helen Willis. Tom had taken the day off from work, and he and Helen spent the morning in the Jeffersons' apartment chatting with Louise, Olivia, and Florence. Then a little while later, Florence began coming down with a cold and Louise set her to bed and told her she'd go out and get her some aspirin and some cough syrup. Ever since they came home from their second honeymoon in Rhode Island, George had practically been keeping Louise under house arrest because he was so petrified of someone hurting her again. He'd hardly let her leave the apartment at all, and whenever she did manage to leave, George always insisted on someone going with her. After venting her frustration to Olivia and the Willises, they suggested that she take the opportunity to go out by herself now before George came home for lunch. Certain that she'd be back before George got home, Louise took their advice and seized the opportunity to leave the apartment on her own. But unfortunately, Louise still hadn't returned when George walked through the door.
"Where's Louise?" asked George as soon as he came through the door. Olivia and Tom and Helen were all sitting at the dining table together relaxing in those moments, and the girls were gone. Melissa and Angie had met and made friends with an eleven-year-old girl named Pearl Lancaster who also lived in an apartment on the twelfth floor, and George already knew that they were spending the day at the Lancasters' apartment with their new friend.
"Louise went out to get something for Florence," Helen replied.
"She went out to get something for Florence?"
"That's right, George," Tom confirmed.
"There's a cold going around and Florence started feeling sick a little while after you went to work this morning," Olivia explained.
"Yeah, and Louise went out to get her some aspirin and some cough syrup. And she mentioned that she was going to do a little grocery shopping, too," Helen told him.
"Wait a minute. You mean y'all actually let Louise leave the apartment all by herself?"
"Well sure. Why wouldn't we? Louise is not a child," said Helen.
"Are you out of your mind?! Louise can't be out on the streets of New York all by herself! Not in her condition! This is New York! There are a ton of muggers out there! Somebody could hurt her!"
Tom, Helen and Olivia got up then, and Olivia went over to her son and gently told him, "Calm down, son. Calm down."
"How am I supposed to be calm?! Somebody could be out there killin' Louise right now!" a terrified George yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Relax, George. Relax," said Tom. "Nothing is going to happen to Louise. She should be back any second now."
"Tom and Helen are right, George," Olivia tried to reassure him, but George wasn't having it. He spent the next few minutes just silently pacing back and forth in a sheer panic. But then finally, mercifully, Louise returned with two full bags of groceries and her purse in her lap.
"Hi, everybody," Louise said with a smile as she wheeled herself into the living room, and George rushed over to her and clung to her as tightly as he could.
When their long embrace ended, George asked, "Baby, are you alright? Are you okay? Is everything alright?"
"Of course, sweetheart. Why wouldn't I be alright?" asked Louise, but in the next moment as she got a good look at her poor husband, she realized that something was really bothering him. "George, what is it? You look so upset," she said gently.
"Try terrified," he told her truthfully.
"Why? What's the matter?"
Before George could answer his wife, Tom quietly asked, "Would you like me to take those bags into the kitchen for you, Louise?"
"Yes, I would. Thank you, Tom," said Louise, and then Tom took the bags of groceries from her lap and went out into the kitchen.
George then responded, "I was so scared that somebody would grab you off the street and try to hurt you."
"George, is that why you've practically had me under house arrest like a prisoner ever since we came home from our honeymoon?" asked Louise as Tom came back from the kitchen a moment later.
"Baby, I'm not tryin' to keep you under house arrest or treat you like a prisoner. I'm tryin' to protect you. It ain't safe for you to be out on the streets of New York all by yourself. Not in your condition. You're fragile and you need protection."
"Fragile? George, a fragile person would never have survived the hellhole. Honey, I love you to death, and I appreciate how concerned you always are about me, but you have got to stop treating me as if I'm made of glass. Sometimes I feel like that when you look at me, my wheelchair is the only thing you see. Sometimes I feel like it's the only thing you ever see. I don't want to do anything to worry you, but I'm not going to just lock myself away inside this apartment for the rest of my life. And I'm not going to agree to only leave the apartment if somebody else is with me, as if I'm some prisoner who always needs to be guarded. I'm not going to let my disability force me into living the life of a prisoner. I'm just not. I'm going to live my life the same way I would if I could walk."
"Right on, Louise!" Helen said aloud.
"But what if somebody comes along and tries to hurt you and you ain't got nobody there to protect you? What then?" asked George.
"I don't like to advertise this, but if something like that should happen, if somebody should come along and try to hurt me again, I…well, let's just say I have a couple of friends concealed in my purse who can help me out. A couple of friends named Smith and Wesson."
Stunned by his wife's revelation, George said, "You never told me you carried your gun in your purse."
"Well like I said, I don't like to advertise it."
"Do you really feel comfortable always having a gun on you, Louise?" asked Helen.
"Well let me put it this way. Whenever I leave the apartment, I feel much more comfortable having a gun than I would feel not having one."
"You know, I've always been such a liberal all my life. And I used to be dead set against people carrying guns. But I have to say, Louise, that if I'd survived the hellhole and I was disabled, I would probably feel the same way," Tom admitted.
"So would I," Olivia agreed.
"But what about Melissa and Angie? Louise, do you really think it's safe to have a gun in your home with children around?" asked Helen.
Louise shook her head and answered, "Before they were old enough to be taught how to handle a gun properly, I always drilled it into them that if they ever even thought of going near one of my guns, they'd get skinned alive. And when Mark and I felt that they were old enough, we taught them all about gun safety and how to handle a firearm properly, and we drilled it into their heads that a gun exists for one purpose only: to defend their own lives and the lives of others if they're under attack. People always underestimate children. Children aren't stupid. Melissa and Angie know that a gun is not a toy."
"Good for you, Louise," Olivia told her. "In these crazy times, it's more important than ever for a woman to be able to defend herself if she has to."
"A woman doesn't always have to resort to using a gun to defend herself, though. Starting next Wednesday, the Help Center where I do volunteer work is going to be hosting a series of courses in self-defense for women. Even though you have your gun, Louise, it might still be a good idea for you to go. Maybe the courses can help give you additional options for self-defense besides your gun," Helen suggested.
"You know, that's not a bad idea," said Tom.
"Willis is right. It's not a bad idea. In fact, it's a great idea," said George.
"I think it is, too," Louise concurred.
"So do you want me to sign you up for the classes next time I'm at the Help Center?"
"Oh, would you, Helen?" asked Louise.
"Absolutely."
"I'll go write a check to the Help Center right now to cover the cost of all the courses. I want you to take every single one, Louise," George told her.
"Oh, you don't have to do that, George. The Help Center is offering the courses for free," Helen informed him.
"I think it's terrific that you're going to start taking these courses next week, Louise," said Tom.
"And so do I," Helen agreed.
"You know, Helen, maybe you should sign up for the courses, too," Tom suggested.
"Oh, that's a great idea."
"I think so, too," said Louise. "Florence may want to do it, too. I'll talk to her about it. And what about you, Mom? Do you want Helen to sign you up as well?" Ever since Louise and George had renewed their wedding vows in Haven Lake, Olivia had insisted that Louise start calling her 'Mom' and not 'Mother Jefferson.'
"Hey yeah, Mama. I think you should do this, too," said George.
"And I agree," said Olivia. She then looked at Olivia and told her, "Sign me up, Helen."
"I certainly will, Mrs. Jefferson," Helen said happily, and then she turned her gaze back to Louise. "You know, Louise, I must say that you are the bravest person I've ever known. You've always been a sweet, kind, caring, sensitive person, but now, you're so incredibly brave, too. You're so much tougher, and I admire you so much for surviving the hellhole the way you did. And even though I don't entirely agree with your views on guns, I have to admit that if I'd been through everything you have, I might very well feel the same way."
"I appreciate you saying that, Helen. I really do," Louise told her.
"It's so funny, Louise. In one way, it feels so different, having you back here with us again after all these years. But in another way, it feels as if nothing's changed; as if we've just picked up where we left off so many years ago. It's so wonderful to finally have you back," said Helen, and then she bent down and gave Louise a big hug.
"Helen speaks for both of us, Louise. It truly is so wonderful to have you back with us again," said Tom, and then he gave her a big hug as well.
"And it feels wonderful to be here," said Louise with a big smile.
After a few more minutes of chatting, everyone said goodbye and left. After they were gone, George helped Louise put up the groceries, and then George took Florence's aspirin and cough syrup to her, not wanting Louise to get too near to her and catch her cold.
Then when George came out of Florence's bedroom, Louise asked him, "What would you like me to make you for lunch today, love?"
"You ain't gotta worry about fixin' me lunch today, sweetheart. I'll just make myself a sandwich."
"Well actually, I was planning on making soup and sandwiches for supper tonight. I thought it'd be a good idea to make some chicken soup for Florence with her cold and all."
George looked at his wife with a big smile then, kissed her, and said, "Louise, you are so adorable. How many women make chicken soup for their sick maids?"
"You're right. I am adorable, aren't I?" Louise teased while she and George chuckled.
"You sure are," George agreed, and he and Louise smiled. But several moments later, Louise's expression turned more serious.
"You know, George…you and I have never really talked about my decision to own a gun. How do you feel about that? Does it bother you?"
"Not at all, baby. Not at all. I think you're right. I'm proud of you for getting Mark to teach you how to handle a firearm. I'm proud of you that you know how to use a gun to defend yourself if you have to. And I'm proud of you for teaching the girls about gun safety and getting them to understand that a gun is not a toy. And I'm also proud of you for gettin' Helen to sign you up for those defense courses at the Help Center."
"Thank you, George."
"And you were right about what you said earlier. Sometimes I am guilty of just seein' your health problems and your wheelchair and not you. I'm sorry, baby. I don't do it on purpose. I never mean to be that way. And I certainly don't mean to ever make you feel like you're a prisoner. It's just so hard not to worry about you because your poor body has been through so much. And I just love you so much and I so want to protect you from anything that might hurt you."
"I know that, sweetheart," said Louise as she reached up and gave George a big hug. "I know. And I don't want to do anything that would make you worry. But I can't live my life like a prisoner just because of my disability, George. I can't allow myself to be dominated by fear all the time and just live my life in some kind of bubble because that's not really living."
"I know. And I know how brave and strong and capable you are. It's just that sometimes I forget because I get so worried about you. I get to thinking about all you went through in that hellhole and it tears me up inside and it just makes me wanna protect you from everything. And sometimes I get so wrapped up in that way of thinkin' that I forget that lioness who bravely went out and shot a homicidal maniac who was holding us hostage. And you haven't changed. You're still a lioness, Louise. And you always will be. And I love you. I love you so much. And I won't make the mistake of only seein' your wheelchair and not the lioness sitting in it. I won't ever make that mistake again," George told her seriously.
"Thank you, George," Louise said softly, and then she gave George a very long kiss. Like every couple, the Jeffersons did have their disagreements. But now that George had finally matured, now that he finally realized how short life truly was, he was no longer the pathetic spoiled brat he used to be, and he no longer caused incessant shouting matches with Louise. Naturally, they still had an argument every once in a while, but it was nothing like before. Mercifully, George now finally knew how to conduct himself like a proper adult, and he finally knew better than to look to Louise to be his mommy and his conscience, and he finally appreciated Louise for the priceless lioness that she was.