Lightning stepped behind the curtains and one guy chuckled a little and asked "Did your ex wife just buy you?" Lightning nodded slowly answering "Yeah uh..I think she just did.." The man laughed more then walked out for his turn to be auctioned off. Lightning wasn't sure why Sally did that but he was gonna find out. Lightning stepped outside and over to Sally after weaseling through the crowd.
She was already near the exit and about to leave. Lightning grabbed her arm and immediately said "You didn't have to do that." Sally stared at him and his grip. She pulled her arm away as she replied "Don't worry about it.. It was for a good cause anyway." "Let me pay you back." Lightning suggested. Sally shrugged repeating "Don't worry about it." Then Rhonda butted in asking "Hey, congratulations. Would you like to set up your date?" Sally shook her head "No, it's fine. But um?.. How long do these set ups usually last?" "Three or four hours usually." Rhonda answered with a smile. Sally nodded and thanked her then began to leave. Lightning at least walked with Sally out the door before he stopped her asking "Thanks.. um.. Why did you do that anyway?" Sally sighed and just stared at him. She shrugged answering "I don't know... But I did." Lightning smiled a little then complimented "You look beautiful." Sally naturally smiled a little.
Then she turned and began to walk toward the and parking lot. Lightning sighed and watched her walk a way. But she suddenly stopped and turned back facing him and asked "Aren't you coming?" Lightning raised a brow confused. Sally giggled explaining "I paid 750,000 dollars to have you for?" She glanced at her watch. "Four hours. That or until you get on my nerves, whichever comes first. So come on." Lightning was very surprised but rushed up next to her and walked with her to her car. "What do you have in mind?" Lightning asked with this horribly charming and eager smile. Sally shook her head and couldn't help smiling. "Just get in the car. We can have a nice dinner at my place. It could be nice to just hang out." Sally replied. It sounded fine. The two got in and Sally quickly made it known. "But I'm making rules!" Lightning glared muttering "Seriously... Rules?" Sally nodded and began her list, "Don't mention Francesco, don't talk about Cruz, no bringing up the past if it's gonna start something and don't try anything. If we are doing this it's just gonna be nice and appropriate..." Lightning snickered but agreed to her rules with a nod...
They got to Sally's home. No kids, just the two of them. They walked on in and Lightning asked "So what do you want for dinner?" Sally smiled "Well.. Might as well make yourself useful for 750k. Surprise me." she answered. Lightning couldn't help smiling and chuckled "Okay. Lead the way mam." Sally rolled her eyes but did just that. The two of them walked into the kitchen. Lightning made himself at home easily as he grabbed a few things out of the fridge. Starting by grabbing a bottle of wine and opening it. Sally raised a brow and asked "Do you think that's a good idea?" Lightning poured into two glasses and held one up to Sally. She glared a little but took the glass. "A toast." Lightning said. Sally just stared unsure what he was gonna say next. "To.. Us.. And tonight." he exclaimed. They clanked glasses and Sally muttered "To tonight." Then they sipped a little. Lightning rather gulped his down.
Sally snickered asking "Thirsty or nervous?" "Both really." he answered. "I just hope tonight goes well.." Sally rolled her eyes then glared replying "Don't be that way Light. This isn't a real date." Lightning didn't reply to that. He was more determined to show Sally the man he could be to and for her again.
So as he began cooking, they began chatting. Ofcourse about their kids. "So Ece is talking more. At least to me." Lightning pointed out. Sally smiled agreeing "Yeah she is to me to." Lightning stared and asked "Does she have princess dresses over here?" Sally shrugged "One or two maybe. Why?" "She's been continuously wearing this certain pink one at my place. Think she needs a few more. Cause I swear that one is coming apart." Sally snickered. Cute that apparently Lightning and Ece were messing with princess dresses."She's just so shy." Lightning whined. Sally nodded "Therapist says it's normal. Ece has a naturally shy personality." "So you think therapy is working for her?" Lightning asked. Sally paused with a hum. "Hmmm.. I think so. I mean I'd like to think so." She answered.
Lightning continued to prepare dinner and chuckled saying "And Landon.. He is so? Plain compared to the other two. Don't you think?" Sally snickered again and nodded "Yeah.. Colton is a little rebel. He is your carbon copy." she joked. Lightning smiled replying "Yeah, I know. He has an attitude that one." "He sure does. And he whines a lot here lately.. Does he do that with you?" Sally asked. Lightning paused and frowned before answering "Yes... It's my fault he acts the way he does sometimes.. He isn't.. Happy.. I messed up with everything I did to you all and I didn't think it would affect Colton because he was so young, but it did!.. Now he just"-"Hey. Stop. No talking about the past if it's gonna start something and this?.. This is gonna turn into Lightning and Sally's greatest hits." she interrupted. Lightning sighed and muttered "Right. Rules.." "Which.. I am curious.. What did you do with the kids tonight anyway?' Sally asked. Lightning happily answered "My mom.".
It got quiet for a moment. No noise except for that of Lightning stirring up dinner. "You know?" Lightning started "We should do something together as a family." Sally just raised a brow. Listening as he went on. "We should take a family vacation. We never really have? Not all five of us." Sally frowned and shook her head disagreeing "No.. I don't think that's such a good idea Lightning.." "Why not?" he asked then further explained "It doesn't mean we are back together? And we don't have to sleep in the same rooms. Look it's good timing. The twins are old enough that they'll enjoy it and it'll give them amd Colton good memories of us being an actual family, a normal family. And you and I aren't seeing anyone so no obligations there. Right?" Sally just stared. Lightning had a point somewhat. She shrugged replying "I just lost.." She was gonna say Francesco but.. rules. Her own rules.
She sighed and continued "Maybe." Which made Lightning feel pretty good about it. Then Lightning admitted "Pam was hired to bid on me with money I gave her." Sally raised a brow "Whose Pam?" she asked. Lightning's eyes widened "Someone that was paid to buy me out of that date auction with my money. That's why you didn't need to do what you did." Sally couldn't help but giggle some asking "Wait? You hired someone to buy yourself out of a date?" She laughed. "I am so sorry it's just. Funny." Lightning just stared as she calmed her own laugh then asked "Wait? Than why even do it?" "Well.. More of a publicity stunt. Cruz said it would..." He paused.. Rules.. Don't mention Cruz. "Be good... for looks.." He mumbled. Sally nodded. It got quiet after he mentioned her. Cruz was still in the hospital, still in a coma. Lightning felt so horrible for that and really couldn't wait for her to wake up and tell him who did that to her. Because they were going to pay!
Sally broke the silence admitting "Sorry about buying you like that.. I just.. i didn't want Cleo to win. She is better than me at everything and I just had to top her honestly. Sorry I dragged you into that." Lightning was a bit surprised. Part of him really hoped Sally just wanted him but hey? He would take whatever he could get right now. Then Lightning asked "Is she really running for mayor?" Sally nodded as she watched him cook. Lightning shook his head griping "She would make a horrible mayor for Radiator Springs." "Maybe.. She has great ideas honestly. Even the auction was a hit." Sally exclaimed! Lightning chuckled reminding her "Yeah, because of you. 750,000 dollars! Come on, that's outrageous. Even for me." he laughed. Sally snickered and rolled her eyes.
"I'm always so busy.." She admitted. "Too busy. I never have time for the kids anymore.." She frowned. "Because of that, sometimes I think I should just let Cleo win.. Let her be the new mayor of Radiator Springs.." Lightning immediately disagreed replying "Uh.. No.. I don't think that is a good idea. I mean she's Cleo for goodness sakes.. She would turn this town into a giant run way to show off her ass!" Sally rolled her eyes. That was a funny way to disagree. But, she continued "No, seriously. I am not an attorney anymore, and it's so hard running the motel and being mayor! I'm... Getting to old for all this running around." Lightning frowned hearing that but whined in a whisper "I didn't know you weren't an attorney anymore?.." Sally then realized how much she had cut Lightning out of her life lately. And she frowned. "Yeah.. Um.." she muttered, clueless what to say next.
Lightning smiled warmly and offered "I could help you know?" Sally smiled back replying "Thanks but no thanks. I am actually considering just.. Being done and retirement. But.. Then I might lose my mind having NOTHING to do!" Lightning chuckled at that. Sally always was a workaholic. "Well, if you got bored you could come work for me. No matter what, you will always have a place there with me." That was so sweet of him. Sally just gazed and smiled at him lovingly. "Thank you.." She whispered. Lightning just held his smile...
Dinner was so quiet. Awkwardly quiet. Time went by as they sat and ate together at the table. Not a word was said for the longest time. Neither knew what else to talk about. Lightning's phone buzzed on the table. It startled them both a little as they stared at it. Lightning went to grab it and dropped his fork. Sally tried to quickly catch it and wound up bumping the table, making the table shake! Their glasses spilt over and all over Lightning! Sally jumped before any could get on her. "I am so sorry!" She apologized! "Let me get some towels." she insisted and ran out before Lightning could say a word. He sighed. He needed to start some kind of conversation. While she was gone he glanced at his phone message.
Cleo
Did you schedule your date yet? If not I am sire I can get you out of it.
Lightning heard Sally coming back so quickly put the phone down as she came over and began cleaning up the table, the floor, chairs and Lightning's shirt and lap. She paused as she patted his lap and cleared her throat apologizing "Sorry." She was soft and quick as she stepped back. Lightning smiles reassuring her "Sal it's okay. It was an accident." Sally sighs then lit up saying "Oh. I think I have some clothes you can change into. I'll be right back!" And again she shot off. Leaving Lightning before he could even refuse. He sighed and glared into the abyss. Great. Now he was going to have to change into something of Francesco's.. How lovely this would be. Sally returned and handed Lightning some neatly folded white shirt and a pair of dark jeans. He stared at them and realized he recognized these for a reason. "Wait are these mine?" he asked as he looked up at her. Sally shrugged. But she knew they were. She kept them because they had his sent. It hurt. The divorce hurt and sometimes to make it through the night she needed his scent.
Sally didn't answer that question of his. Instead she pointed to the bathroom saying "Why don't you go change while I clean up." Lightning nodded and hesitated. Sally began cleaning though so off he went to change. When he returned, Sally was basically done and they went and sat on the couch in the other room together. It was once again awkwardly quiet. Not a word... Again. Sally sighed and broke it with "I'm sorry.." apologizing again. Lightning chuckled and replied with a joke "It's fine. Hell, for 750,000!? You can do whatever you want to me!" Sally snickered at that joke too. But then again it became quiet. So stinkin quiet. So quiet, Sally asked "Is this just too weird?" Lightning shook his head answering "Not at all. Just.. Usually we are fighting or talking about the past issues.. We rarely talk other wise.." Sally nodded and hated that really, but she dod agree with that.
"I think this date is going well." Lightning exclaimed with a smile. Sally raised a brow "Really? Why?" she asked. Lightning smiled at her answering "Well.. I got to see you bid a crazy amount of money on me. Makes me feel like I'm worth something to you. Then we made a nice dinner together, had dinner and without a fight. No.. Cruz or Francesco talk. No bringing up anything. Thanks to your rule. And now I'm sitting with you alone on your couch. I'd say tonight is going pleasurably well." Sally shrugged and slowly agreed. Sally smiled and staring at Lightning complimented "You looked.. You look great. I can tell you work out." She blushed a little. Lightning snickered and returned her gaze.
Their faces move closer as they gaze into each other's eyes. It's quiet as the tips of their noses become less than an inch apart then Sally pulls back scolding "No we can't. This isn't okay." Lightning frowned and sternly asked "Why can't we kiss?" Sally stared at him blank. She swallowed loudly. Why couldn't they? Really? She didn't have an answer. She shrugged. So with that, Lightning placed his hand on hers on the couch. Sally glanced down at it then back to his blue eyes. Slowly.. Painfully slow.. They lean in again. Faces closer and closer until their lips meet. It wasn't a long kiss. But it wasn't simple either. Lightning's mouth opened to take in her entire lips and immediately he felt her tongue lap his gently. Sally's eyes filled with tears as she slowly smiled and pulled away. Their noses resting against each others faces for a moment. She laughed softly? Lightning pulled further away and they stared at each other.
Lightning didn't quite understand why she had tears in her eyes but was softly, quietly giggling. But she wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "What's wrong?" Lightning asked. Sally shook her head answering "Nothing. Nothing is wrong and that's exactly what's wrong.." Lightning stares at her. Usually when they kissed, after the divorce, they could feel pain, lust, anger... In the kiss. This time they didn't feel that. It was different. Maybe a good different. They stare at each other and find themselves locked in another kiss. This one, this time, their kiss becomes that of passion. Not a lustful need but a loving and passionate want. Their tongues briefly dance together. Lightning's fingers tangle around Sally's own and the kiss became intense enough that he let out a soft murmur into her mouth. But tjat must of set Sally off as she suddenly pulled away and snapped "LEAVE!"
Lightning just stared at her like a deer on headlights! "Go Lightning! Leave!" she yelled and turned crossed her arms as she turned away! Lightning sighed and stood up thanking her "Thanks for the clothes." Sally looked up at him with eyes filled with tears. "And for dinner and..for tonight. Thanks for the kiss." He added then stood there kind of awkward. Not a word for what felt like 20 minutes. But Lightning cleared his throat reminding "Uh.. You um.. Drove us here? So.." Sally sighed. She forgot she drove him here and they left his car. "It's alright.. I'll... Just call someone to pick me up." Lightning assured. He turned to leave after standing there for maybe a minute. Sally called out "Wait.." He stopped and stared at her. Sally stood up and walked right up to him, facing him.
Lightning wondered what she was going to do.. Then she did it. She wrapped her arms around and hugged him tight. Lightning smiled and wrapped his own arms around her. Returning her affection. He moved her hair and gently kissed her cheek with a long but tender kiss. She sniffled into his shoulder. He really damaged her. He hated it. "I love you." Lightning murmured. She didn't reply to that though. And that was absolutely fine with Lightning. As long as she knew that he loved her. That was good enough for now. Sally stepped back and pulled away explaining "I just... I can't Lightning... I can't go back to.." she paused and sighed. Lightning nodded replying "I know. It's okay." BUT FUCK that hurt to say that!
At this point, Lightning began to really and truly give up on the idea of them ever getting back together. He began to truly accept it. That Sally was so damaged that she'd never let him back in...