Part 6
Tommy adjusted himself nervously.
"Ahem, yes..."
"Password," the man grated out.
"Coppers can't stop us," Sylvia said pointedly, and the man moved aside to let her and Tommy enter.
When they stepped inside the smell of cheap, homemade and bootleg booze and the sound of loud, rowdy people surrounded his senses. He wasn't used to it- -- and he didn't like it. Something in the back of his mind said that he did, but he brushed it away as a cobweb...
Then, he saw her... the cute little beaded flapper dress... the too-bright lipstick... the dark, soulful eyes...
"Who...?" he asked the bartender, gesturing to the tiny, and obviously hastily made, stage as he was handed a metal coffee-mug of what could only be moonshine, or what he imagined it'd look like.
"My sister, Beckers. She owns this joint," the boy explained, pulling his floppy, brown cap lower on his brow...
Tommy had never seen someone like that before. She seemed so exquisite and yet so -- harsh. Her hair was blunt and cut just at her chin like Sylvia. But where his companion had tamed her curls into a subdued wave Beckers' style was sharp and straight.
She was--
"Tal! I can't believe we're here. Could you have imagined this?" Sylvia asked as she grabbed his arm.
"Ummm... I suppose..." he responded, absently waving her off to watch Beckers dance.
Suddenly, a brawl broke out and the bartender ducked behind the bar as the music abruptly stopped.
"Mel, throw those bums outta here!" Beckers said loudly over the scuffle, stalking over to the bar with a swing of her hips that sent the beads swaying wildly as if angry themselves.
"Dunno, Sis. They're... really big...and... I'm ou'numbered?"
She rolled her eyes and stomped over to the brawlers with the clatter of her dress, she would have called her password man to help her out except he seemed to be passed out at the moment. All of the sudden, in one forceful movement, she tossed a bucket of semi-melted ice and water on them. They jumped at the freezing interruption and when they went to turn on her, she punched one in the throat, simultaneously kicking the other one in the kneecap.
"You bums have been *warned*--- you're banned from this establishment, ya hear me?" she yelled, grabbing them by the ears and *dragging* them out.
She opened something that seemed like an escape door for if the police happened to find her bar and tossed them onto the street before slamming the door self-satisfied. He doubted the two men would seek retribution for being booted - they were so drunk he doubted they'd remember it.
"Well? What's everyone looking at?" she demanded, feeling eyes on her. "It's a party--- dance!"
The music started back and she strode to the bar, perching herself onto it and crossing her legs. Mel reached out and poured her a fancy-looking concoction of unknown drink that only looked fancy because of the glass in which it was served. Beckers reached out and held it with practiced fingers, taking a slow, satisfied sip...
"Thanks for the help," she sarcastically told her brother.
"I was about to hop in," he insisted.
"From under the bar?"
"I had good thoughts," he offered.
"Did me a fat lot of good," she complained downing the drink as Tommy looked on in half fascination. She was a lady as he'd never seen before. All the women he knew - including Sylvia -- seemed likely to faint at any given moment and claimed to need help at every second of the day. She seemed liked she'd look at you as if you were daft if you offered her a hand.
"I'm back, and no more liquor for Tony tonight, it took me three times knocking before he woke up and let me in!" a blonde announced. She pulled off her cap, careful of the silk flower pinned to the side and smoothed her short, flippy hair as she leaned to the bartender. "Hey, baby."
She kissed him with a smile and he pulled back with a bit of a dazed grin.
"How's my sweetheart?"
"Awaitin' your return," Mel answered.
"Isn't he a peach?" the blonde asked.
"Yeah, Lola, but I wish he was a more of a fighter than a lover."
"I'm good enough lover it makes up for---"
"Shut yer trap, Mel. Ya shouldn't speak of such things in a refined place such as this," Beckers scoffed.
They shared a laugh, even though they were rather proud of their bar, when they noticed Tommy come up slowly, Sylvia on his heels.
"Hi..."
"May we help you?" Beckers asked, bemused.
"Ahem, ah, no... just... I'm Tal." he blurted out. "That is, I'm Tal Robert Jacobs-Willen III."
Lola rolled her eyes over at Mel but Beckers smiled at him.
"Charmed Mister Jacobs-Willen III. I'm Beckers," she winked, looking him over appraisingly. He seemed very...
"I'm Sylvia." the redhead butted in loudly, much to Becker's sudden annoyance as Lola noticed. "I just adore this little rundown illegal club here. Not that being run down is such a bad thing, I don't mean to offend you, being you were probably quite po-"
"How old are you, Syl?" Lola asked with an overly sweet attitude but slightly narrowed eyes.
"I'm eighteen---"
"You're too young to be in here, you have to go."
"But---"
"No buts, you heard me, honey," she said, winking at Beckers and dragging her out.
Tommy could only stand there; half of him felt almost *bad* for abandoning Sylvia like that, but the other half couldn't tear his eyes away from the intoxicating creature before him...
"WAIT!" he called out. Causing Lola to stop short with Sylvia sputtering protest. " . . . Will someone escort her to my auto?"
"TAL!" Sylvia fumed.
"Mel, be a dear?" Lola asked sweetly.
"Course," he nodded. Beckers took over his spot behind the bar as he left and Lola joined her.
She sighed and shook her head. "Escorting a priss he can do, ask him to break up one tiny fight and he's as still as a stone."
"Is eighteen really too young?" Tommy asked with a little quirk of his mouth.
Beckers smirked and leaned closer.
"C'mere, doll," she beckoned, curling her finger to indicate him come forward.
Tommy nodded and moved as close as possible without their faces touching.
"Lemme share a secret with ya . . . It's a prohibition--- *everybody's* too young." she smirked, dropping a little kiss on his cheek before helping herself to another drink as Mel came back inside.
"Here I thought she wouldn't be able to drive a lick and she goes racing off. Ticked off, that one," Mel announced.
"I taught her to drive a few weeks ago, it was just the matter that she couldn't do it that made her want to."
"Hmm, imagine that, Mel. See we don't get that thrill, our whole life is made up of things you shouldn't do. Bit of a moot point for us," Beckers laughed as she finished off her drink and looked over at Lola who stood on the small stage.
"Attention. Attention!" she said clapping her hands. She let her mouth quirk up when she got the attention and she struck a pose. "Now I know you all don't just come to see what a dish I am."
Hoots went up in the crowd and Mel just shook his head and grinned.
"And I know you all don't just come for the booze." Laughter filtered through then. "Or maybe ya do . . . I was just wondering if you all were flooding here to see our own Miss Beckers give us a little number."
Roars of applause came up from the crowd as all the women and men urged Beckers on. Tommy watched as she didn't seem a bit embarrassed and instead stood hands on hips.
"Getting drunk not good enough for you?" she called with a smile. She flounced over through the tight crowd, passing Lola with a touch of her hand in a faint shake. "So what shall I sing?"
She stood next to an impressive piano that Tommy somehow hadn't noticed earlier but had been moving the room to dance all night.
Tommy watched her as she sent him a look that made him grin broadly before she leaned over to the player and he began to tickle the keys. She looked out to her audience and raised her arms as a grand entrance as she sang in a sensually soothing tone.
". . . Heaven, I'm in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly see. And I seem to find to happiness I seek when we're dancing cheek to cheek."
Her voice was rather melodious and sweet in the smoky speakeasy as everyone listened. Mel tapped his foot to his sister's song and Lola, hung on his shoulder.
"And the cares that hung around me through the week seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek."
She pulled over a stool and hopped on to it, crossing her legs as she looked over the crowd before her eyes landed on Tommy. Her arm rose and she wrapped it around her midsection as she sang.
"Dance with me . . . I want my arms about you. The charms about you will carry me through . . ."
He couldn't help his grin got wider as she sang her song.
"And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak . . ."
And then she winked while she continued.
And he about turned to a puddle. Maybe it was the slow burn of alcohol taking him over, or being here period, or Beckers herself but . . .
"Cheek to cheek, cheek to cheek . . ."
Mesmerized, Tommy walked over to the stool and reached out his arms, helping her down as she smirked. The piano player began playing a slow, instrumental version of a blues song, and they began swaying slowly...
~*~
Later, when the dawn was soon to show, Mel and Beckers announced it was time to leave and after the masses left they didn't bother to clean the mess and decided to let their weary bodies take a break. Mel and Lola left together, headed for her room in the Renlod Girl's Apartments - actually Lola was headed there, Mel was headed for the fire escape of the building to break the 'No Men' rule.
Tommy offered to walk Beckers to her own small apartment and she accepted with a small smile. She had danced with him all night long and now he was escorting her home. Maybe the label of 'gentlemen' wasn't such a horrible thing to be bogged down with. Though amongst her vast experiences of life she hadn't encountered many, her brother being the most consistent of the lot - and he could be a coward most times - so such an idea of chivalry didn't seem so wonderful. Till now.
The last vestiges of true darkness lingered around them as the approached the brick building with the two doors, one leading into a Shoemaker's shop, the other her second floor apartment. She unlocked the door and turned to him.
Beckers was not a virginal sweetheart, she didn't brag about such a thing but she wasn't ashamed of it either, and somehow . . . She seemed a little torn as she turned to him and cocked her head to the side.
"What would you say if someone . . . not quite a lady, offered you to come upstairs?"
"Are you asking me?"
"Not very observant are you?" Beckers quipped.
"No," Tommy said quietly, stepping closer. "But I see nothing but a lady before me so your question couldn't be accurate."
"Charmer," she laughed, turning to unlock the door and letting him inside.
They reached the top of the steps and Tommy saw it was a spacious apartment with a large main room, a kitchenette and bedroom through the open door. Or he *would* have seen that if he hadn't been so very focused on Beckers.
"I have some coff--"
As she turned he swept her into a kiss, pushing her until a wall stopped any further movement. Tommy's hands went to her waist, her hips, and finally her thigh, lifting her against him. His palm smoothed its way up her leg to feel the garter holding up her stockings and he growled into her mouth.
Her legs wrapped around his waist like a belt, and his hands cupped her bottom as both kissed each-other in a frenzied desperation as they made their way to her bedroom...
They fell onto the bed, ignoring the sounds of the morning train not far away, ignoring the sounds of *anything*, except tasting the new experiences awakening within each-other...
Suddenly, Tommy felt everything starting to swirl, and he cried out, but it was too late... he was back, in the lair, Merton and Lori observing him like Freud and his assistant...
"What happened this time?" Lori asked.
Quite bitter from being pulled from a moment that was so . . . Well, he was bitter.
"You and Merton were getting it on."
"Ew!"
Ah, revenge.
"Hey," Merton objected.
"Well, ya were--- and, Becky... she... she was... she ran a bar in the prohibition?"
"Yeah?" Merton asked, a bit impressed.
"Yes, and you weren't all Mr. Bravery like before--- *she* had to throw the bums out."
Merton pouted indignantly and covered for himself in front of Lori. "Maybe I was just saving my bravery for a more important time."
"I'm sure."
"I really *liked* that one," Tommy complained. "And when I got yanked I ... well, it wasn't a good time. But, the good news is Lucard's name never even turned up."
"That is good news, but it doesn't mean he wasn't there."
"So what was I like? Was I famous? I mean . . ." Lori saw Merton and Tommy's pointed looks and folded her arms. "What? You get to ask questions."
"You were with me, I think you know enough," Merton nodded with pride.
"Oh, so in my past life I was insane," she said earning a look.
"Guys, can we focus!" Tommy asked getting their attention. "It was kind of funny... her name was Beckers---"
"Like you call her now?" Lori smirked.
"Well... yeah?" Tommy shrugged, looking pensive.
"Intriguing," she mocked.
"That's an offset--- a non-issue," he said decidedly. "What we need to worry about is *why* I keep getting sucked into the past, and... if I'm meant to be with her... and..."
Tommy sighed, running a hand through his thick chestnut curls.
"What's going on here, Merton?" he said quietly,
"Wacky past life fun? Or . something..." Merton answered meekly at Tommy's annoyed expression.
"This isn't fun . . . well, a little fun, but it's also confusing and . . ."
"Hey, are you okay?" Becky interrupted as she came down the steps with a wet wash cloth. She sat on the bed next to him and bathed his face gently. "When did he wake up?"
"Um, a couple of minutes ago," Lori answered from the sidelines.
"You've been out for twenty minutes," Becky said as she held the cool cloth to him.
"Yeah," Merton said with a hint. "Since you fainted. From not eating breakfast."
It was a lame lie but when his sister came downstairs he had to think of something.
Tommy smiled at her, trying to keep his emotions in check. With all of these new revelations he was almost to the wolf-out point from her hip touching his ribcage, her hand cooling and soothing his face with the cloth...
"So, are you hungry?" she asked.
"Hungry?" he echoed huskily, eyeing her up.
"Yes... you fainted from it, so I thought maybe I could make you something?"
"Food. Right. Yeah... Ahem ... A . . . Grilled cheese, tomato and bologna sandwich?"
Becky nodded and went quickly up the stairs. Tommy blanched as he caught Lori and Merton's eyes upon him...
"I'm hungry."
"For food," Lori added unconvincingly.
"Hey, I consumed liquor in that last life, maybe the effects are still--"
"Oh puh-lease," Merton said. "Just remember what I said. Two years. Destiny can wait."
Tommy nodded, still embarrassed.
Lori smiled and Merton switched mindsets, trying to remember exactly what books he needed. There was a lot . . . he wished he knew what they were dealing with. Was it really destiny? What he found so far ruled out that Madam Goolee was some quack that got her jollies from doping people up so the options were open.
A few minutes later Becky came back down and Tommy had to dive for the bed. She looked at him with a little pout and came over to sit on the bed. She got cozy next to his side and held the plate, urging him to sit up.
"I want you to eat all of this, okay?"
Tommy nodded and ignored the eyes rolling behind Becky.
Tommy adjusted himself nervously.
"Ahem, yes..."
"Password," the man grated out.
"Coppers can't stop us," Sylvia said pointedly, and the man moved aside to let her and Tommy enter.
When they stepped inside the smell of cheap, homemade and bootleg booze and the sound of loud, rowdy people surrounded his senses. He wasn't used to it- -- and he didn't like it. Something in the back of his mind said that he did, but he brushed it away as a cobweb...
Then, he saw her... the cute little beaded flapper dress... the too-bright lipstick... the dark, soulful eyes...
"Who...?" he asked the bartender, gesturing to the tiny, and obviously hastily made, stage as he was handed a metal coffee-mug of what could only be moonshine, or what he imagined it'd look like.
"My sister, Beckers. She owns this joint," the boy explained, pulling his floppy, brown cap lower on his brow...
Tommy had never seen someone like that before. She seemed so exquisite and yet so -- harsh. Her hair was blunt and cut just at her chin like Sylvia. But where his companion had tamed her curls into a subdued wave Beckers' style was sharp and straight.
She was--
"Tal! I can't believe we're here. Could you have imagined this?" Sylvia asked as she grabbed his arm.
"Ummm... I suppose..." he responded, absently waving her off to watch Beckers dance.
Suddenly, a brawl broke out and the bartender ducked behind the bar as the music abruptly stopped.
"Mel, throw those bums outta here!" Beckers said loudly over the scuffle, stalking over to the bar with a swing of her hips that sent the beads swaying wildly as if angry themselves.
"Dunno, Sis. They're... really big...and... I'm ou'numbered?"
She rolled her eyes and stomped over to the brawlers with the clatter of her dress, she would have called her password man to help her out except he seemed to be passed out at the moment. All of the sudden, in one forceful movement, she tossed a bucket of semi-melted ice and water on them. They jumped at the freezing interruption and when they went to turn on her, she punched one in the throat, simultaneously kicking the other one in the kneecap.
"You bums have been *warned*--- you're banned from this establishment, ya hear me?" she yelled, grabbing them by the ears and *dragging* them out.
She opened something that seemed like an escape door for if the police happened to find her bar and tossed them onto the street before slamming the door self-satisfied. He doubted the two men would seek retribution for being booted - they were so drunk he doubted they'd remember it.
"Well? What's everyone looking at?" she demanded, feeling eyes on her. "It's a party--- dance!"
The music started back and she strode to the bar, perching herself onto it and crossing her legs. Mel reached out and poured her a fancy-looking concoction of unknown drink that only looked fancy because of the glass in which it was served. Beckers reached out and held it with practiced fingers, taking a slow, satisfied sip...
"Thanks for the help," she sarcastically told her brother.
"I was about to hop in," he insisted.
"From under the bar?"
"I had good thoughts," he offered.
"Did me a fat lot of good," she complained downing the drink as Tommy looked on in half fascination. She was a lady as he'd never seen before. All the women he knew - including Sylvia -- seemed likely to faint at any given moment and claimed to need help at every second of the day. She seemed liked she'd look at you as if you were daft if you offered her a hand.
"I'm back, and no more liquor for Tony tonight, it took me three times knocking before he woke up and let me in!" a blonde announced. She pulled off her cap, careful of the silk flower pinned to the side and smoothed her short, flippy hair as she leaned to the bartender. "Hey, baby."
She kissed him with a smile and he pulled back with a bit of a dazed grin.
"How's my sweetheart?"
"Awaitin' your return," Mel answered.
"Isn't he a peach?" the blonde asked.
"Yeah, Lola, but I wish he was a more of a fighter than a lover."
"I'm good enough lover it makes up for---"
"Shut yer trap, Mel. Ya shouldn't speak of such things in a refined place such as this," Beckers scoffed.
They shared a laugh, even though they were rather proud of their bar, when they noticed Tommy come up slowly, Sylvia on his heels.
"Hi..."
"May we help you?" Beckers asked, bemused.
"Ahem, ah, no... just... I'm Tal." he blurted out. "That is, I'm Tal Robert Jacobs-Willen III."
Lola rolled her eyes over at Mel but Beckers smiled at him.
"Charmed Mister Jacobs-Willen III. I'm Beckers," she winked, looking him over appraisingly. He seemed very...
"I'm Sylvia." the redhead butted in loudly, much to Becker's sudden annoyance as Lola noticed. "I just adore this little rundown illegal club here. Not that being run down is such a bad thing, I don't mean to offend you, being you were probably quite po-"
"How old are you, Syl?" Lola asked with an overly sweet attitude but slightly narrowed eyes.
"I'm eighteen---"
"You're too young to be in here, you have to go."
"But---"
"No buts, you heard me, honey," she said, winking at Beckers and dragging her out.
Tommy could only stand there; half of him felt almost *bad* for abandoning Sylvia like that, but the other half couldn't tear his eyes away from the intoxicating creature before him...
"WAIT!" he called out. Causing Lola to stop short with Sylvia sputtering protest. " . . . Will someone escort her to my auto?"
"TAL!" Sylvia fumed.
"Mel, be a dear?" Lola asked sweetly.
"Course," he nodded. Beckers took over his spot behind the bar as he left and Lola joined her.
She sighed and shook her head. "Escorting a priss he can do, ask him to break up one tiny fight and he's as still as a stone."
"Is eighteen really too young?" Tommy asked with a little quirk of his mouth.
Beckers smirked and leaned closer.
"C'mere, doll," she beckoned, curling her finger to indicate him come forward.
Tommy nodded and moved as close as possible without their faces touching.
"Lemme share a secret with ya . . . It's a prohibition--- *everybody's* too young." she smirked, dropping a little kiss on his cheek before helping herself to another drink as Mel came back inside.
"Here I thought she wouldn't be able to drive a lick and she goes racing off. Ticked off, that one," Mel announced.
"I taught her to drive a few weeks ago, it was just the matter that she couldn't do it that made her want to."
"Hmm, imagine that, Mel. See we don't get that thrill, our whole life is made up of things you shouldn't do. Bit of a moot point for us," Beckers laughed as she finished off her drink and looked over at Lola who stood on the small stage.
"Attention. Attention!" she said clapping her hands. She let her mouth quirk up when she got the attention and she struck a pose. "Now I know you all don't just come to see what a dish I am."
Hoots went up in the crowd and Mel just shook his head and grinned.
"And I know you all don't just come for the booze." Laughter filtered through then. "Or maybe ya do . . . I was just wondering if you all were flooding here to see our own Miss Beckers give us a little number."
Roars of applause came up from the crowd as all the women and men urged Beckers on. Tommy watched as she didn't seem a bit embarrassed and instead stood hands on hips.
"Getting drunk not good enough for you?" she called with a smile. She flounced over through the tight crowd, passing Lola with a touch of her hand in a faint shake. "So what shall I sing?"
She stood next to an impressive piano that Tommy somehow hadn't noticed earlier but had been moving the room to dance all night.
Tommy watched her as she sent him a look that made him grin broadly before she leaned over to the player and he began to tickle the keys. She looked out to her audience and raised her arms as a grand entrance as she sang in a sensually soothing tone.
". . . Heaven, I'm in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly see. And I seem to find to happiness I seek when we're dancing cheek to cheek."
Her voice was rather melodious and sweet in the smoky speakeasy as everyone listened. Mel tapped his foot to his sister's song and Lola, hung on his shoulder.
"And the cares that hung around me through the week seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek."
She pulled over a stool and hopped on to it, crossing her legs as she looked over the crowd before her eyes landed on Tommy. Her arm rose and she wrapped it around her midsection as she sang.
"Dance with me . . . I want my arms about you. The charms about you will carry me through . . ."
He couldn't help his grin got wider as she sang her song.
"And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak . . ."
And then she winked while she continued.
And he about turned to a puddle. Maybe it was the slow burn of alcohol taking him over, or being here period, or Beckers herself but . . .
"Cheek to cheek, cheek to cheek . . ."
Mesmerized, Tommy walked over to the stool and reached out his arms, helping her down as she smirked. The piano player began playing a slow, instrumental version of a blues song, and they began swaying slowly...
~*~
Later, when the dawn was soon to show, Mel and Beckers announced it was time to leave and after the masses left they didn't bother to clean the mess and decided to let their weary bodies take a break. Mel and Lola left together, headed for her room in the Renlod Girl's Apartments - actually Lola was headed there, Mel was headed for the fire escape of the building to break the 'No Men' rule.
Tommy offered to walk Beckers to her own small apartment and she accepted with a small smile. She had danced with him all night long and now he was escorting her home. Maybe the label of 'gentlemen' wasn't such a horrible thing to be bogged down with. Though amongst her vast experiences of life she hadn't encountered many, her brother being the most consistent of the lot - and he could be a coward most times - so such an idea of chivalry didn't seem so wonderful. Till now.
The last vestiges of true darkness lingered around them as the approached the brick building with the two doors, one leading into a Shoemaker's shop, the other her second floor apartment. She unlocked the door and turned to him.
Beckers was not a virginal sweetheart, she didn't brag about such a thing but she wasn't ashamed of it either, and somehow . . . She seemed a little torn as she turned to him and cocked her head to the side.
"What would you say if someone . . . not quite a lady, offered you to come upstairs?"
"Are you asking me?"
"Not very observant are you?" Beckers quipped.
"No," Tommy said quietly, stepping closer. "But I see nothing but a lady before me so your question couldn't be accurate."
"Charmer," she laughed, turning to unlock the door and letting him inside.
They reached the top of the steps and Tommy saw it was a spacious apartment with a large main room, a kitchenette and bedroom through the open door. Or he *would* have seen that if he hadn't been so very focused on Beckers.
"I have some coff--"
As she turned he swept her into a kiss, pushing her until a wall stopped any further movement. Tommy's hands went to her waist, her hips, and finally her thigh, lifting her against him. His palm smoothed its way up her leg to feel the garter holding up her stockings and he growled into her mouth.
Her legs wrapped around his waist like a belt, and his hands cupped her bottom as both kissed each-other in a frenzied desperation as they made their way to her bedroom...
They fell onto the bed, ignoring the sounds of the morning train not far away, ignoring the sounds of *anything*, except tasting the new experiences awakening within each-other...
Suddenly, Tommy felt everything starting to swirl, and he cried out, but it was too late... he was back, in the lair, Merton and Lori observing him like Freud and his assistant...
"What happened this time?" Lori asked.
Quite bitter from being pulled from a moment that was so . . . Well, he was bitter.
"You and Merton were getting it on."
"Ew!"
Ah, revenge.
"Hey," Merton objected.
"Well, ya were--- and, Becky... she... she was... she ran a bar in the prohibition?"
"Yeah?" Merton asked, a bit impressed.
"Yes, and you weren't all Mr. Bravery like before--- *she* had to throw the bums out."
Merton pouted indignantly and covered for himself in front of Lori. "Maybe I was just saving my bravery for a more important time."
"I'm sure."
"I really *liked* that one," Tommy complained. "And when I got yanked I ... well, it wasn't a good time. But, the good news is Lucard's name never even turned up."
"That is good news, but it doesn't mean he wasn't there."
"So what was I like? Was I famous? I mean . . ." Lori saw Merton and Tommy's pointed looks and folded her arms. "What? You get to ask questions."
"You were with me, I think you know enough," Merton nodded with pride.
"Oh, so in my past life I was insane," she said earning a look.
"Guys, can we focus!" Tommy asked getting their attention. "It was kind of funny... her name was Beckers---"
"Like you call her now?" Lori smirked.
"Well... yeah?" Tommy shrugged, looking pensive.
"Intriguing," she mocked.
"That's an offset--- a non-issue," he said decidedly. "What we need to worry about is *why* I keep getting sucked into the past, and... if I'm meant to be with her... and..."
Tommy sighed, running a hand through his thick chestnut curls.
"What's going on here, Merton?" he said quietly,
"Wacky past life fun? Or . something..." Merton answered meekly at Tommy's annoyed expression.
"This isn't fun . . . well, a little fun, but it's also confusing and . . ."
"Hey, are you okay?" Becky interrupted as she came down the steps with a wet wash cloth. She sat on the bed next to him and bathed his face gently. "When did he wake up?"
"Um, a couple of minutes ago," Lori answered from the sidelines.
"You've been out for twenty minutes," Becky said as she held the cool cloth to him.
"Yeah," Merton said with a hint. "Since you fainted. From not eating breakfast."
It was a lame lie but when his sister came downstairs he had to think of something.
Tommy smiled at her, trying to keep his emotions in check. With all of these new revelations he was almost to the wolf-out point from her hip touching his ribcage, her hand cooling and soothing his face with the cloth...
"So, are you hungry?" she asked.
"Hungry?" he echoed huskily, eyeing her up.
"Yes... you fainted from it, so I thought maybe I could make you something?"
"Food. Right. Yeah... Ahem ... A . . . Grilled cheese, tomato and bologna sandwich?"
Becky nodded and went quickly up the stairs. Tommy blanched as he caught Lori and Merton's eyes upon him...
"I'm hungry."
"For food," Lori added unconvincingly.
"Hey, I consumed liquor in that last life, maybe the effects are still--"
"Oh puh-lease," Merton said. "Just remember what I said. Two years. Destiny can wait."
Tommy nodded, still embarrassed.
Lori smiled and Merton switched mindsets, trying to remember exactly what books he needed. There was a lot . . . he wished he knew what they were dealing with. Was it really destiny? What he found so far ruled out that Madam Goolee was some quack that got her jollies from doping people up so the options were open.
A few minutes later Becky came back down and Tommy had to dive for the bed. She looked at him with a little pout and came over to sit on the bed. She got cozy next to his side and held the plate, urging him to sit up.
"I want you to eat all of this, okay?"
Tommy nodded and ignored the eyes rolling behind Becky.