Spot lay on his back on his bed, it was somewhere around ten o'clock and hadn't moved from that spot since he'd left the kitchen earlier that afternoon following his fight with Glori. He was feeling bad for the things he'd said to her, but he wasn't sure how to apologize. A gentle knock got his attention, "Come in."

Bites peeked her head in her eyes were angry, but concerned, "What's goin' on, Spot."

"Where's Glori?" He questioned softly.

She came into the room and plopped on his bed, "She was asleep wid her head on da kitchen table when I got home round eight, hasn't budged since."

Spot was silent his eyes remaining on the ceiling.

"What happened 'tween you two? Tear tracks are on 'er cheeks."

Spot glanced over at her then, "Whatta ya think happened, we had a fight."

"What about?"

Spot shrugged, "Nothin'"

"Spot."
"I said nothin, Bites, just drop it."

She sighed, "Fine." And walked out of the room.

Spot got up then, finally, and ventured his way into the kitchen. I really should apologize. I shouldn't a gone off on her like dat. It wasn't her fault all dat stuff happened to me when I was a kid. He thought to himself. Just seeing her with Gospel made me so jealous and angry that I didn't even know what I was saying. He argued softly in his head, but that was no excuse for the way you treated her. He countered back to himself. You can be so hotheaded and stupid sometimes Conlan. You gotta learn ta think! Spot sighed and got out of bed, he had to do something to make things right or his conscience, generally a silent partner, would never leave him alone.

He swung the door to the kitchen open to find her sound asleep, her head resting on her forearms. The moonlight crept in from the windows and kissed her hair and cheeks, making them glow softly, once again giving her an ethereal, almost angelic look. In the moonlight her hair look soft and smooth as silk. He reached out a hand and stroked it gently, as though touching something very fragile and sacred, his hand flowing with it down her back. She made a soft sound, a sigh.

He glanced at her face. It looked troubled even in sleep and her cheeks were tear-stained. Much to his shame he noticed a light bruise marring the flesh on her arm. He stroked her hair again lightly and said her name softly. She didn't budge.

"She must be real tired, been woiking hard, cleaning all day." Came the gentle old voice of Mr. Crandle as he opened the door to the kitchen, "Why don't'cha carry her on up to bed, Spot. No sense in waking her."

Spot nodded at the old man, "Sure thing." He said softly, "Good night, Mr. Crandle."

"G'night Spot." He turned to leave, but then decided to say one more thing, "Spot?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Be gentle with her, will ya? Somethin' special there, but fragile, don't crush it for it has a chance ta bloom."

Spot was silent for a moment, "Yes, sir…Mr. Crandle?"

"Yeah, son?"

"What if I already have?" Spot asked, his voice sounding young and heartbreakingly tender.

The old man smiled softly, "I 'spect you've still got a chance to make things right."

"You think?" Spot asked, his voice coming out more eager and hopeful then he would've liked.

"'S'long as you don't screw it up again."

Spot nodded, "I'll do my best."

"You'd better." He said softly, smiling to himself as he walked out of the kitchen.

Sometimes it amazed him just how emotionally sensitive and insecure Spot truly was.

Spot sighed and leaned over, scooping Glorianna into his arms. She was so light and delicate, she fit perfectly into the circle of his arms, her head resting softly on his chest and shoulder.

He carried her into the room she was staying in. It used to belong to Mr. Crandle's daughter, Suzie, before she got married and moved far way, off to New England. She never visited.

Spot laid her down on the soft, large bed and, after pulling off her shoes, pulled the blankets over her. On impulse he leaned over and kissed her cheek. It was a mistake.

Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him guilelessly, "Spot?"

He leaned over and kissed her again, this time on her lips. She didn't protest, but instead, looped her arms up around his neck in a languid fashion. His lips were soft against hers, she could feel the small, wirey muscles in his shoulders bunching beneath her hands, revealing tense restraint. He's holding back, kissing me softly like I'm something fragile...God...I wish he wouldn't. Her thoughts stopped all together as his tongue darted against her lips, within her mouth, and then out again. She could feel a blush rising in her cheeks, she had never had a kiss like this before, was it indecent? After a few more moments of kissing, he leaned back. Her hands fell slowly from around his neck and came to rest on her chest, she looked on at him, confused, "What was that for?"

He was silent for a moment, "I'm not sure, but uh…I'm sorry for earlier."

She nodded, "I know."

He took a deep breath, "I'm sorry for kissing you too."

"I know that too…but I wish you weren't."

His eyebrows raised, "Why's dat?"
"I'm not sorry."

"Oh…" He blushed then and was silent, "It's not right dough, Priss."

She shrugged why in the holy heck not? her mind screamed, but instead she whispered, "Will it ever be?" Hating how desperate it sounded, her pride taking a dip as she listened to herself, where's my pride? Ladies don't beg men for their favor...
Spot shook his head, "Unh-uh, no, not evah…" He said and rose slowly from the bed, walking towards the door.

"I won't leave you like she did, Spot." She said softly.

Spot froze in place, "It ain't 'bout dat." He said in a quiet, tense voice, knowing full well that is was all about that. He didn't think he could take it if another person he loved left him.

"Then what?"
"Go to sleep, Glori, please." He said, his voice aching as he walked on out the door, "It's not open to discussion." He finished abruptly, then shut the door behind him.

She sighed angrily, "Stupid, stupid boy." She growled, then laid back and thought about the kiss. She barely got to sleep that night.