Lightning left work early that day. First he needed to know of Cleo had anything to do with this. He obviously didn't tell anyone about it and Sally? No, she wouldn't do that to herself. But Cleo didn't seen jealous or angry or even seem to dislike Sally. Cleo had been so nice and caring and kind. It was a little unnerving to think she may have had something to do with something so mean.
Lightning rang the bell and the young man escorted him to Cleo's bedroom. Which Lightning hadn't been to yet. Walking up large cloth stairs cased in stone, then into a large bedroom that was definitely designed for a woman. Then the young man said "Cleo is in there." pointing to the large white door in the corner. Then left. Lightning hesitantly knocked and went inside calling "Cleo?.." He walked in and smelled the scent of lavender amd honey. Steam in the room hinted she must of had a shower or bathed. "This way Lightning." she called and Lightning followed her voice through the large bathroom. Large enough it could have fit an entire Cozy Cone motel room inside it! "Cleo? Oh.." He stared surprised. She was completely naked and laying on her stomach on this giant, round, navy blue, cushion, sofa thing right in the middle of the bathroom.
"Sorry.. I just.. We should talk." Lightning muttered but stared at her. She looked so gorgeous. Cleo smiled and asked "Okay. What about Daddy? I'm just air drying." She then rolled over on her back. Letting her neck fall off the ledge and her hair to the floor. Her knees up and crossed mid air. It was a little teasing and tempting but no, he needed to talk about that magazine article.
"This came out today." He opened the magazine to page 14 and showed her the headlines. Cleo immediately sat up right and took the magazine replying "How aweful.. How is she?" Lightning glared a bit and knelt down asking "I don't know yet. I'm gonna go check shortly but.. Cleo? I have to ask... Did you say something about this to the press?" Cleo's eyes widened as she answered quick "How dare you? You think that of me? Wow... Why would you think that?" she looked really hurt. Lightning sighed explaining "Well.. It's nothing against you baby.. You are absolutely perfect. But.. Some people think you might?.." He tried to put it gently. Cleo seemed to take things rather harshly.
Cleo gasped and set the magazine down and placed her hands on Lightning's shoulders. She saw his eyes glance once at her chest and back up quickly. He was trying to concentrate on the subject at hand but she knew her body was a little distracting for his weak male mind. "Well I would think you would know better than to listen to rumors from strangers.. But I guess I was wrong.. Why don't you think Sally? Maybe she did this to herself?" Lightning raised a brow listening. "I mean.. She has been a little... Stressed.. And she's not herself. You said that yourself the other night. Maybe she did this as a desperate cry for help? Hmm?" Cleo made this little pucker of a lips and raised her brows. Lightning shook his head and pulled her hands off him as he stood up answering "No, no, no. Sally maybe not herself but she's not desperate. She wouldn't do that. I don't think so." Cleo shrugged adding "People do crazy things when they're mad or hurt or even stressed Daddy.."
Lightning nodded. Sally wasn't crying out in desperation. She wouldn't do that. Cleo stood up reminding "She did go off at me and violently slammed a door in my face. Hell, if I hadn't of stepped back? She would have seriously hurt me!? You can't let her act that way to us, to me. And I think I smelled alcohol last time I saw her too.. Maybe she needs help.." Lightning stared. Thinking. Was Cleo trying to cause friction between Lightning and Sally or.. Then again, Sally did act that way to Cleo.. She snapped at him even multiple times for no reason really.. She was controlling.. "Maybe." Lightning muttered. "I'm gonna go talk to her. Check up on her and the kids."
Lightning began to leave but Cleo pulled his hand back and kissed him so passionately and lustfully. "Come back to me Daddy.. And I'll have a.. More wilder surprise for you tonight.." Lightning definitely couldn't resist that!...
Lightning went over to Sally's. Knocking and Sally opened the door, letting him in without a word. She was mad and he was about to hear it. Lightning sighed and began "Sally.. I'm"-"Stop. Don't." She interrupted. She was hurt. Extremely hurt. Lightning reached out to her but she pushed away scolding "Don't you get it!? Stop! You are ruining me!" Lightning glared replying "Now you're overreacting... I didn't send that into the press Sally." She nodded, "I know you didn't, it was your slut. Wasn't it!?" She asked. Lightning shook his head explaining "No. Cleo wouldn't do that. I talked to her about it already and"-"Oh good! Great! We just should believe her than right?" Sally interrupted again.
Lightning snapped yelling "Hey! Don't point fingers at everyone else when you're the one acting like your crazy and on somethin!" "Really Lightning!?Really!?" she yelled. Lightning shook his head asking "Well how do I know you didn't tell someone else!? I messed up, I admit. I didn't mean to tell Cleo, it just? Happened!?" "Like when you happen to start banging Cruz right!? it just happened!?" Lightning hit the table yelling "What is wrong with you!? Cleo has been nothing but nice to you! I have been here for you everytime you needed me!? And you act like that's not good enough!?"
Sally was just furious but took a deep breath and replied "You shouldn't have told her Lightning.. Cleo is the crazy one. She is just using you!?" "I think your crazy. I think YOU are the one using ME because you know I still love you!" Sally frowned. She did know that.. But.. To bad of history to go back to that. Lightning turned and began to leave. Sally followed saying "Lightning.. Wait.. Please.." He stopped and turned facing her and asked rudely "What?" Sally sighed and said "I am sorry... Please don't go.. I am"- "Daddy!" Landon screamed of excitement as he ran in interrupting.
Lightning knelt down and hugged his on. "Hey buddy.." Landon smiled and jabbered a little. "You back?" he asked. Lightning shook his head answering "No.. daddy just needed to see mommy a minute." Sally took the chance to get Lightning to stay and asked "You could stay? Just for dinner?.. Kids would love it." Lightning glared up at Sally and Landon was excited about the idea, giving Lightning really no choice without hurting his kids here. "Fine. Yeah, I'm gonna stay for a while Landon. Go on and tell your brother and sister." Landon took off down the hall to the room. Lightning stood up and scolded "You shouldn't have done that. You can't manipulate things like that. You are so controlling and lately... Not you. I hate it." Sally nodded with a frown. She hated it to.
"You don't have to stay?" Sally reminde. Lightning glared snapping "Oh and what? Be the bad guy? Make the kids upset!?.. I'm only staying for the kids. Because you put me in a situation to stay. That's it." Lightning said firmly. Then he took out his phone.
Lightning
Gonna be a little late. Sally is a mess right now and the kids need me.
Cleo
Okay. No worries. But not too late please! I'll keep things warm for you....
Lightning was off with the kids, playing with them in their rooms while Sally was making some dinner. Everything was fine and rather quiet until Lightning and the kids were startled by the sound of clashing metal. More than likely a dish, pan, or pot to the floor. Followed by Sally whining and muttering about it. "Be right back." Lightning said to the kids and they didn't mind. They continued to play while Lightning rushed into the kitchen and asked "What happened?" Seeing Sally neat the stove and a pot on the floor with an entire can worth of sauce all over the floor.
"I just, it then, I couldn't." Sally muttered and stumbled over her words and just fell onto the chair behind her and began crying. She had finally just broke down and lost it. Lost IT, it seemed. Her will to live would not be so much of an exaggeration. Lightning felt really bad and began cleaning up the mess as he talked to her, "Sally.. It's all going to be okay. You need to breathe. Maybe you should consider taking a vacation?" "Lightning I can't! I am the Mayor! I don't understand what's wrong with me?.. I am usually on top of everything and have everything in order and now!? I can't even make dinner!?" She yelled! Lightning sighed but remained quiet so she could talk.
"I am a mess! I,I am going to loose my job!? Amd the kids... Gosh they are going to notice this!? A mental train wreck.. I can not believe this...And I hate making this about Cleo because believe me she is the last person I want to even talk about, but she is fake I swear and I can't believe you don't see it and that you would fall for her"-"Sally! Stop! Enough!" Lightning interrupted loudly. Sally stared amd shut her mouth. Her heart racing. It was quiet for a minute or so then she softly murmured "I.. I'm sorry.. Maybe..." She paused and sighed, "Maybe I am crazy." Lightning frowned and stared at her. Finished cleaning up the mess he pulled Sally up from the chair with a soft command "Come here." And held her close against him. Wrapping his arms around her as she lay her head on his chest.
"You need to breathe and listen to me.. You're not crazy. I'm sorry I said that. You are overwhelmed, overworked, amd stressed out more than I think I've ever seen before.. You need to stop worrying about the kids, work, me and Cleo.. You should take a vacation.. I'll even take the kids if you want. You can have just you time to wind down. You need it." Sally sniffled and cried a little in his arms amd admitted "I don't want to.." Be alone. But she wasn't going to say that part to Lightning. Not complicate things and hurt him more.
She sighed and pulled away "Maybe you're right.. Maybe I do need to get away.." Lightning smiled a little bit. Then Ece ran in and straight to the cabinet that had snacks and foods in it. But it was baby proofed shut. She looked at her parents and said "Nummie?." With a smile. Sally frowned and began to say something but Lightning spoke up "I'm making dinner Ece. No snacks. Go on and play, I promise it won't be long." Ece stared at the cabinet. She didn't want to leave without a snack. "Ece." Lightning said grabbing her attention. "You have to wait." Ece left the kitchen without another word. She was a quiet one.
Sally faced Lightning saying "You don't have to make dinner.. I'll figure something out." Lightning snickered replying "Well I am here and you need me. I'll make dinner. You go relax. Take a bath or somethin. Think you still like those anyway?" Sally sighed and nodded with a smile. "Great. I got dinner and the kids. Tonight, I'm yours." Those words never sounded so amazing. "Thank you.." Sally said softly. The two smiled at each other for a second but then Sally left to take a much needed break while Lightning prepared some kind of meal...
It didn't take long. Lightning finished the meal and set the kids up to eat at their smaller table in the living room next to the tv then went upstairs to check on Sally and let her know food was ready. He knocked on the bedroom door first calling "Hey Sal?.." Nothing. He pushed the door open and called again "Sally?" She was laying in bed. Covered slightly by the sheet. Lightning walked over and snickered with a smile. She was asleep. He sighed and sat down on the side next to her. Watching her sleep a moment. He wouldn't lie. He missed her. Missed her crazy side too. But she was a mess and he was actually happy with Cleo. Lightning took her hand gently and kissed it before covering her and leaving the room to supervise the kids before cleaning up and getting them to bed...
Sally woke up and walked out in the hall, just as Lightning was getting the kids into pajamas and into their room for bed. "Hey, you're up." Lightning exclaimed. Sally smiled and thanked him again "It was really nice what you did for me tonight.." she added. Lightning smiled and nodded "You're welcome." Colton came up to his father with a book asking "Reada book?" Lightning sighed with a warm and loving smile and Sally explained "Colt.. Daddy has to go." Colton frowned and shoved the book to Lightning asking again "No, I wanna book.." Lightning glanced at Sally then answered "I could stay for one book." That was sweet. So Lightning sat down with the kids to read thos book Colton grabbed. Sally watched a moment. She couldn't help it. It was so sweet.
Just as he was about to read it Landon asked "Mama?" reaching out toward her. Sally's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head "No baby, you three get to have special time tonight with daddy. Mama's gonna go clean up." Lightning quickly stopped her saying "Don't. I've already cleaned up everything. Come on mama. Come listen to?." He glanced at the book and continued "The story of Cami kangaroo." Sally stared and just stood there at first. So, Lightning taunted "It's the one where he eats to many sweets.." he smiled. Sally snickered to keep from laughing really and rolled her eyes and gave in."Alright." She sat down with Landon and Ece snuggled up there to. So Lightning and Colton began reading the story...
The kids passed out. Two of them, Ece was half asleep more or less. But she was so tired, she didn't care that her parents began to leave the room. Lightning was the last out and cracked the door shut. Sally crossed her arms and quietly thanked him again, "Hey, thank you so much. Tonight was great." Lightning smiled "It was, wasn't it." The two stared at each other. After that sweet moment of snuggling their kids and dinner together. They both felt something surely. And Sally may have been a mess, but she was a beautiful mess. Their stare turned to a warm gaze and definitely felt maybe even a little romantic. They may have even kissed if it weren't for the annoying, silence breaking buzz of Lightning's phone!
Lightning sighed and glanced at it. Cleo. "I should go." He exclaimed. Sally nodded and thanked him again as she walked him to the door and watched him leave in the oddly expensive car. Feeling a little ashamed and hurt. She missed feeling wanted and needed. By him.