No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 21
Night of Hell, Night of Heaven.
`
They settled on the McGuire den. Although small compared to the living room, it would serve. An old cot and two sleeping bags were set-up. The cot was put in the middle of the room for Lizzie to use, with a bag on either side. She got the cot so she wouldn't have to fight her casts to stand up. The cot was between the bags for obvious concerns.
The girls changed for bed in Lizzie's room. Miranda's parents had bought her a set of sweats to use for nightclothes. She could barely contain her laughter when her father handed them to her. When she was alone with Lizzie, she finally had to laugh. "The way he acts sometimes, you'd think Matt and I were a pair of rabbits!"
"Miranda, I know that it seems over the top at times, but they're only trying to protect you. Parker got pregnant end of last summer, remember? We talked about it enough when we found out, I'm sure it's still on their minds."
Miranda shook her head. "If you would have told me two years ago that Parker and Larry would fall for each other, much less have a baby together, I'd have said you were crazy." The news broke that November, when Parker passed out in chemistry, and a hysterical Larry let slip she was pregnant while trying to get everyone to give her room to breathe. Gordo was in their class, and immediately turned traffic cop.
"But you know how smart Larry and Parker both are, even if Parker doesn't like to show it. If they can give in, can you be so sure you won't?"
"I'm not. Lizzie, I'm not saying it could never happen. But two things Matt and I agree on are that we both don't want to risk kids yet, and we don't want our first time to be when one of us is hurting, up here." She pointed to her head. "We want it to be perfect. You can understand that, can't you? Would you want anything else for you and Gordo?"
"Of course I understand." She shook her head and whispered. "I can't believe I'm talking to my best friend about her plans for having sex with my baby brother. That can't be normal."
Miranda stiffened. "Lizzie, I know you didn't mean anything by it, but please don't say anything like 'that can't be normal' around Matt. How normal he is or isn't is a touchy issue for him. For me, too."
"I'm sorry."
"No, Lizzie, it's okay. You didn't know. Just be careful, okay?"
"Okay. And Miranda, I know it will eventually happen. Just promise me you'll be careful with him, okay?"
"Of course. I love him too much to do anything else."
~~~~~~~~
As Matt changed in his room, he had a lot on his mind. Something Mr. Sanchez said to him hit home, and he wanted to talk to his mother about the possibilities. He just didn't know when, or even how to ask, as the implications of his questions might be more than she's ready for.
~~~~~~~~
Not having anyone to talk to, Matt was ready before the girls. When he came down, he found the door to the den flanked by the four parents, moms on the left, dads on the right. The Gordons had left while the kids changed. Upon seeing the parents, Matt dead-panned "Wow, an honor guard. Should I ask who's honor you're guarding?"
"It isn't like that." Mrs. Sanchez sound amused. "We just wanted to wish you all a good night. It's just something parents do."
"Right. So, which of you drew the short straw for tonight's back-up?"
His dad raised his hand. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
A very distinctive rhythmic thud was coming from the stairs. "Why the kitchen, wouldn't you be more comfortable on the couch?"
"How's your neck? I'm too tall to get comfortable there. Besides, the kitchen's not as warm. I expect you kids will be more comfortable on your bags instead of in them. Separately."
Matt couldn't help but roll his eyes. Lizzie and Miranda came up behind him. Miranda's reaction to the sight was similar to Matt's. She turned to Lizzie. "Why do I suddenly expect to see a man in a black hood with a really big axe?"
"You'd think we've never said good night before." Mr. Sanchez shook his head.
"Not in formation." Lizzie pointed out.
~~~~~~~~
A little before 1:00 a.m., Matt started to stir. He knew he'd been having a nightmare, but that wasn't what woke him. There was a pain at the back of his head. 'Did I end up sleeping on something? Maybe the bag's zipper moved. No, that can't be it. OUCH!' The pain sharpened. That's when he remembered the last time he felt that. He turned to his right to look at Miranda. Even with Lizzie's crutches laying under the cot, he saw her. She was sweating, her breathing was ragged, her head was shifting back and forth, her arms looked like she was fighting something, and her legs were almost running. "LIZZIE, WAKE UP!" Matt almost flew around the foot of her cot.
"Wha . . . what? What's happening?"
"MIRANDA!" Matt was at her side now.
Lizzie turned to her friend. "Oh, no. Matt, help her. You did before, didn't you."
"Ya, but she wasn't thrashing around before! Lizzie, kissing her worked then, but what if it doesn't tonight."
"Try first. I'll get ready to get dad." Lizzie swung her legs to her left, grabbed her crutches, and stood. She turned back to them in time to see it.
Matt had her head in his hands, his elbows held her shoulder still. "MIRANDA, WAKE UP! IT'S ME! IT'S MATT! PLEASE, MIRANDA, WAKE UP!" She wasn't responding. As much as he liked kissing her, he hated this, because it meant she was in her nightmare too far to be released normally. She was in pain, and that hurt him. No matter what anyone told him, he would never absolve himself of responsibility for her nightmares. Taking a breath, he slowly lowered his head, and kissed her.
At first, they were soft, gentle, almost chaste kisses. She didn't respond. He refused to give up. He took another breath. This time, he kissed her with more intensity, almost demanding her to respond. Just as he was about to come up for air, he felt her lips start to return his pressure. Releasing the kiss, he looked for her eyes. Still closed. "Miranda, darling, please wake up."
Slowly, her eyes flickered open. The terror still in them chilled his soul. She had stilled, so he released the pressure on her shoulders. "Matt?" She was barely whispering. "Matt, you're okay?" Her tears started. "You're okay!" She surprised him by grabbing his head and vigorously kissing him. He was further surprised when this quickly turned into their second ever french kiss.
Lizzie was shocked by her friend's aggressiveness. With her brother. "You can let go of him at any time" she said irritably.
Miranda broke the kiss a moment later. "Wow" was Matt's only response. He moved to a sitting position beside her.
"Sorry, Lizzie, but if you had seen what I saw, you'd understand." She caught Lizzie's eyes with hers. "Imagine being forced to watch as Gordo was slowly, mercilessly beaten to death, and you unable to stop it." She sat up as she let that sink in. She was still shaking. "Then suddenly, you wake up, and his very alive face is right there in front of you. How do you think you'd react?"
Lizzie had turned pale. "I hope I never find out. I'm sorry, you're right. I just was shocked at seeing you french kissing my baby brother. Please tell me that was your first."
"That would mean lying to you, sis. But it was only our second. Come to think of it, you saw the results of our first. Remember when I was wearing her lipstick?"
"Yes, I do. I just hope I'm not around you two for more 'firsts'." She shuttered.
"Considering what kind of firsts are left, so do I." As Lizzie blushed, he turned to Miranda. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep?"
"Without you, I don't know."
"I'll get you some milk."
"Not warm, please. I can't stand it warm."
"Sure. You want some, Lizzie?"
She sat down on the cot. "I'd rather have just water, if you don't mind."
"I'll be right back." He turned and left the room.
When the door closed, Miranda turned to Lizzie. Although she was still shaking, she needed to talk to Lizzie. "Why have you started calling him your BABY brother?"
"What?"
"You've been calling him baby brother all night. I can't remember the last time I heard you say that. Lizzie, what's going on? Are you having trouble dealing with Matt and I in love?"
"I don't know. I didn't even know I was saying it." She took a calming breath. "Truth is, I never expected to have anything to do with Matt's love life. What big sister would? Yet, look at me. I'm watching him and my best friend make-out. I'm chaperoning you because our parents are afraid you'll do more. Miranda, I can't think of anyone I trust with Matt more than you. It's just that, because it is you, my best friend, I am involved in the one part of Matt's life I never expected to be. Does that make ANY sense?"
"Yes, strangely, it does. Lizzie, I want to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Even Matt. Promise."
"It must be serious for you to hide it from Matt. Yes, I promise."
"Do you remember when we told you about Friday night, and the next morning?" Lizzie nodded. "Well, when he told me that he was thinking about marriage, I was shocked. I told him that it was too soon to think about that. But the truth is that now, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm seriously thinking about saying yes."
"Ohmygod," she tried to bring her voice to a whisper, "Miranda, you can't marry him yet. If I remember what Parker said, he'd have to be fifteen before he could with a parental waiver. And how would you support each other? What on earth are you thinking!"
"Lizzie! Please quite down and listen. I don't mean we'd marry right now. But I already think of myself his fiancé, and I've had to stop myself saying it aloud I don't know how many times. I know it's only been a couple of days, but this is something I already know in my heart. I am the future Mrs. Matt McGuire. You and I are going to be sisters. I'm not going to ask him, at least not yet. But, if he asks me, I don't think I can say no. Is that so wrong?"
"No, if it's for the right reasons." She saw the coming protest. "Let me finish! Miranda, think about what you've just been through. Can you tell me that it has nothing to do with this? I know that, when I learned Gordo had died, then came back, part of me wanted to ask him to marry me the first chance I had. But I decided that wasn't how it should be. We need this to have a chance to grow naturally before we take that step, not fly to the altar in a panic. He knows I love him, and that isn't going to change. It's like what you said before about first times. I want every part of my wedding to be perfect, including the engagement. I would love to call you sister, but please, can you wait until things settle down for you two?"
"Lizzie, you said that you weren't going to ask him. But if Gordo asked you, tomorrow, to marry him, would you say no?"
Lizzie's face lit up, then fell in realization. "I don't know."
"I do know. I'll hold off on asking him, and you can't say anything to him. But if Matt comes to me on his own and asks me, I'm saying yes."
"I guess I can understand that." Lizzie shook her head. "And I always thought Gordo was the obsessive one."
"We ALL have an obsessive streak." Miranda grinned in triumph. "You just didn't notice mine because they were usually your's, too."
~~~~~~~~
When Matt got to the kitchen, he had a feeling something was different about it. However, he wasn't here to puzzle about stuff. When he opened the refrigerator to grab the milk, his father awoke with a start. "What, Matt, what's wrong?" he asked as he scrambled to his feet. He was standing on some blankets in front of the sink.
"Miranda had a nightmare, but she's awake now. Could you get a glass of water for Lizzie while I get some milk?"
"Oh, sure, sure Matt."
Matt noticed how nervous he's father seemed, but he thought it was just being woke up like this. It wasn't until he turned to take the water from his father that he noticed what had changed. All the sharp items had been either hidden, or moved so that they were tough to get to without stepping on his dad. It took a second for him to put it together. "Dad, I'm not going to do that."
The comment came without preamble, so Sam didn't realize what he meant. "What?"
Matt pointed to the empty space on the counter usually occupied by his mother's knife set. "Kill myself."
Sam paled. 'Busted'. "Matt, please understand . . ."
"Dad, I do understand. I'll explain better in the morning, but I know that if I kill myself, Miranda would be devastated. Maybe even enough to . . . I can't do that to her. She needs me, alive. Dad, I was going to talk to mom about something tomorrow. I think now I want both of you there. This is very important to me, and I need your help and advise. Okay?"
Sam was stunned by his son's words. "Okay, where?"
"How about we use my room? It seemed to work last time."
"Sure."
"Thanks, dad. I should be getting back." He gathered the glasses. "Good night."
"Good night, son." Sam was still very confused.
~~~~~~~~
When he got to the door, he saw that he had left it ajar. Hearing the girls' voices, he decided to tap on the door with his heel to warn them he was coming in. He was going to use his heel because his hands were full. When he was close enough to the door, he heard Miranda say something that made him stop.
"Lizzie, you said that you weren't going to ask him. But if Gordo asked you, tomorrow, to marry him, would you say no?"
'What brought that up?' he wondered.
"I don't know."
"I do know. I'll hold off on asking him, and you can't say anything to him. But if Matt comes to me on his own and asks me, I'm saying yes."
Matt missed Lizzie's reply, as his mind started to spin. 'That talk with mom is more urgent than I thought.' Trying desperately not to dance a jig, and thus spilling the drinks, he tapped the door. "I'm back. Are you decent?"
"Of course, Matt. Come in."
~~~~~~~~
About two hours later, Miranda was jugged awake by a pain at the back of her head. Although she had never felt that before, something about it made her like toward Matt. It looked to her like he was having convulsions. She didn't stop to think about Lizzie, Sam, or anything but helping Matt. When she got to him, her heart sank. It felt to her like her very soul was being torn apart. 'My god, is this what he feels when I'm like this?' She had to lean hard on his shoulders to still them. Grabbing his head, she didn't bother with words. The kiss she gave him was forceful, demanding, backed by her fear for him. He didn't respond. When she broke the kiss, her tears were flowing freely. 'What's wrong with him?!?' She was desperate, panicking. Using the thumb and index finger on each head, she forced his eyelids open. He's eyes were unfocused, darting from side to side. They looked terrified. "Matt! Wake up." Nothing. "MATT! WAKE UP, MATT!" Still not awake, he started to weakly try to fight her off. "NO, MATT, IT'S ME, MIRANDA! PLEASE!" She didn't notice that her screams had woke Lizzie. She released his head long enough to pinned the arm nearest her with her knees. Then she seized his head again, leaned in and kissed him. At first, he was fighting her. Then slowly, he relaxed, then started to respond.
He started to wake, only to panic, at first, that part of his nightmare had come to life. He couldn't breath. Although afraid to, he opened his eyes. It took a moment for his eyes to focus, then he recognized the hair and ear he saw. Her's. Energized with relief, he's free arm wrapped around her, and, surprising her with his strength, he rolled her over him, onto her back. Using the opportunity to draw a breath, he then threw himself into a kiss that, if possible, was more impassioned then her's earlier that night.
"Good grief, you two! Do I need to turn a hose on you?"
When he broke the kiss, her joy was squashed when she saw him. He was still shaking, he was crying, his eyes still showed his terror. "Oh, god, Matt, was it really that bad?"
His voice shook as bad as he was. "It . . . it . . . yes, it was . . . I can't talk about it yet. Please understand, I just can't."
"It's okay, love, I do understand. How could I not? Lizzie, I know you're here to keep things from getting . . . frisky, but this night has proven bad for both of us. I'm not asking you to let us . . . we had that talk, remember? We're not going to do anything objectionable. But I think we need each other. Like Friday."
"What!?! Miranda, you can't expect me to let you do that! If they walk in on you like that . . ."
"They'll see no more than they saw Saturday morning. Sis, I understand we're putting you in a tough spot, but I can't see any of us getting much sleep tonight otherwise. I promise you, I'm not going to try anything. I can't do that to her under these circumstances. If it makes you feel better, keep an eye on us until we're asleep. All we're after is peace, and this is the only way we've had any for days."
"I guess I can understand that. But I will be watching."
"Thanks, Lizzie."
"Yes, thank you, sis. Good night."
"Good night, you two. Better dreams."
"I don't think worse are possible."
~~~~~~~~
A/N: How will the parent(s) who find them react? Is Matt's talk about what it sound's like? Stay tuned.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 21
Night of Hell, Night of Heaven.
`
They settled on the McGuire den. Although small compared to the living room, it would serve. An old cot and two sleeping bags were set-up. The cot was put in the middle of the room for Lizzie to use, with a bag on either side. She got the cot so she wouldn't have to fight her casts to stand up. The cot was between the bags for obvious concerns.
The girls changed for bed in Lizzie's room. Miranda's parents had bought her a set of sweats to use for nightclothes. She could barely contain her laughter when her father handed them to her. When she was alone with Lizzie, she finally had to laugh. "The way he acts sometimes, you'd think Matt and I were a pair of rabbits!"
"Miranda, I know that it seems over the top at times, but they're only trying to protect you. Parker got pregnant end of last summer, remember? We talked about it enough when we found out, I'm sure it's still on their minds."
Miranda shook her head. "If you would have told me two years ago that Parker and Larry would fall for each other, much less have a baby together, I'd have said you were crazy." The news broke that November, when Parker passed out in chemistry, and a hysterical Larry let slip she was pregnant while trying to get everyone to give her room to breathe. Gordo was in their class, and immediately turned traffic cop.
"But you know how smart Larry and Parker both are, even if Parker doesn't like to show it. If they can give in, can you be so sure you won't?"
"I'm not. Lizzie, I'm not saying it could never happen. But two things Matt and I agree on are that we both don't want to risk kids yet, and we don't want our first time to be when one of us is hurting, up here." She pointed to her head. "We want it to be perfect. You can understand that, can't you? Would you want anything else for you and Gordo?"
"Of course I understand." She shook her head and whispered. "I can't believe I'm talking to my best friend about her plans for having sex with my baby brother. That can't be normal."
Miranda stiffened. "Lizzie, I know you didn't mean anything by it, but please don't say anything like 'that can't be normal' around Matt. How normal he is or isn't is a touchy issue for him. For me, too."
"I'm sorry."
"No, Lizzie, it's okay. You didn't know. Just be careful, okay?"
"Okay. And Miranda, I know it will eventually happen. Just promise me you'll be careful with him, okay?"
"Of course. I love him too much to do anything else."
~~~~~~~~
As Matt changed in his room, he had a lot on his mind. Something Mr. Sanchez said to him hit home, and he wanted to talk to his mother about the possibilities. He just didn't know when, or even how to ask, as the implications of his questions might be more than she's ready for.
~~~~~~~~
Not having anyone to talk to, Matt was ready before the girls. When he came down, he found the door to the den flanked by the four parents, moms on the left, dads on the right. The Gordons had left while the kids changed. Upon seeing the parents, Matt dead-panned "Wow, an honor guard. Should I ask who's honor you're guarding?"
"It isn't like that." Mrs. Sanchez sound amused. "We just wanted to wish you all a good night. It's just something parents do."
"Right. So, which of you drew the short straw for tonight's back-up?"
His dad raised his hand. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
A very distinctive rhythmic thud was coming from the stairs. "Why the kitchen, wouldn't you be more comfortable on the couch?"
"How's your neck? I'm too tall to get comfortable there. Besides, the kitchen's not as warm. I expect you kids will be more comfortable on your bags instead of in them. Separately."
Matt couldn't help but roll his eyes. Lizzie and Miranda came up behind him. Miranda's reaction to the sight was similar to Matt's. She turned to Lizzie. "Why do I suddenly expect to see a man in a black hood with a really big axe?"
"You'd think we've never said good night before." Mr. Sanchez shook his head.
"Not in formation." Lizzie pointed out.
~~~~~~~~
A little before 1:00 a.m., Matt started to stir. He knew he'd been having a nightmare, but that wasn't what woke him. There was a pain at the back of his head. 'Did I end up sleeping on something? Maybe the bag's zipper moved. No, that can't be it. OUCH!' The pain sharpened. That's when he remembered the last time he felt that. He turned to his right to look at Miranda. Even with Lizzie's crutches laying under the cot, he saw her. She was sweating, her breathing was ragged, her head was shifting back and forth, her arms looked like she was fighting something, and her legs were almost running. "LIZZIE, WAKE UP!" Matt almost flew around the foot of her cot.
"Wha . . . what? What's happening?"
"MIRANDA!" Matt was at her side now.
Lizzie turned to her friend. "Oh, no. Matt, help her. You did before, didn't you."
"Ya, but she wasn't thrashing around before! Lizzie, kissing her worked then, but what if it doesn't tonight."
"Try first. I'll get ready to get dad." Lizzie swung her legs to her left, grabbed her crutches, and stood. She turned back to them in time to see it.
Matt had her head in his hands, his elbows held her shoulder still. "MIRANDA, WAKE UP! IT'S ME! IT'S MATT! PLEASE, MIRANDA, WAKE UP!" She wasn't responding. As much as he liked kissing her, he hated this, because it meant she was in her nightmare too far to be released normally. She was in pain, and that hurt him. No matter what anyone told him, he would never absolve himself of responsibility for her nightmares. Taking a breath, he slowly lowered his head, and kissed her.
At first, they were soft, gentle, almost chaste kisses. She didn't respond. He refused to give up. He took another breath. This time, he kissed her with more intensity, almost demanding her to respond. Just as he was about to come up for air, he felt her lips start to return his pressure. Releasing the kiss, he looked for her eyes. Still closed. "Miranda, darling, please wake up."
Slowly, her eyes flickered open. The terror still in them chilled his soul. She had stilled, so he released the pressure on her shoulders. "Matt?" She was barely whispering. "Matt, you're okay?" Her tears started. "You're okay!" She surprised him by grabbing his head and vigorously kissing him. He was further surprised when this quickly turned into their second ever french kiss.
Lizzie was shocked by her friend's aggressiveness. With her brother. "You can let go of him at any time" she said irritably.
Miranda broke the kiss a moment later. "Wow" was Matt's only response. He moved to a sitting position beside her.
"Sorry, Lizzie, but if you had seen what I saw, you'd understand." She caught Lizzie's eyes with hers. "Imagine being forced to watch as Gordo was slowly, mercilessly beaten to death, and you unable to stop it." She sat up as she let that sink in. She was still shaking. "Then suddenly, you wake up, and his very alive face is right there in front of you. How do you think you'd react?"
Lizzie had turned pale. "I hope I never find out. I'm sorry, you're right. I just was shocked at seeing you french kissing my baby brother. Please tell me that was your first."
"That would mean lying to you, sis. But it was only our second. Come to think of it, you saw the results of our first. Remember when I was wearing her lipstick?"
"Yes, I do. I just hope I'm not around you two for more 'firsts'." She shuttered.
"Considering what kind of firsts are left, so do I." As Lizzie blushed, he turned to Miranda. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep?"
"Without you, I don't know."
"I'll get you some milk."
"Not warm, please. I can't stand it warm."
"Sure. You want some, Lizzie?"
She sat down on the cot. "I'd rather have just water, if you don't mind."
"I'll be right back." He turned and left the room.
When the door closed, Miranda turned to Lizzie. Although she was still shaking, she needed to talk to Lizzie. "Why have you started calling him your BABY brother?"
"What?"
"You've been calling him baby brother all night. I can't remember the last time I heard you say that. Lizzie, what's going on? Are you having trouble dealing with Matt and I in love?"
"I don't know. I didn't even know I was saying it." She took a calming breath. "Truth is, I never expected to have anything to do with Matt's love life. What big sister would? Yet, look at me. I'm watching him and my best friend make-out. I'm chaperoning you because our parents are afraid you'll do more. Miranda, I can't think of anyone I trust with Matt more than you. It's just that, because it is you, my best friend, I am involved in the one part of Matt's life I never expected to be. Does that make ANY sense?"
"Yes, strangely, it does. Lizzie, I want to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Even Matt. Promise."
"It must be serious for you to hide it from Matt. Yes, I promise."
"Do you remember when we told you about Friday night, and the next morning?" Lizzie nodded. "Well, when he told me that he was thinking about marriage, I was shocked. I told him that it was too soon to think about that. But the truth is that now, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm seriously thinking about saying yes."
"Ohmygod," she tried to bring her voice to a whisper, "Miranda, you can't marry him yet. If I remember what Parker said, he'd have to be fifteen before he could with a parental waiver. And how would you support each other? What on earth are you thinking!"
"Lizzie! Please quite down and listen. I don't mean we'd marry right now. But I already think of myself his fiancé, and I've had to stop myself saying it aloud I don't know how many times. I know it's only been a couple of days, but this is something I already know in my heart. I am the future Mrs. Matt McGuire. You and I are going to be sisters. I'm not going to ask him, at least not yet. But, if he asks me, I don't think I can say no. Is that so wrong?"
"No, if it's for the right reasons." She saw the coming protest. "Let me finish! Miranda, think about what you've just been through. Can you tell me that it has nothing to do with this? I know that, when I learned Gordo had died, then came back, part of me wanted to ask him to marry me the first chance I had. But I decided that wasn't how it should be. We need this to have a chance to grow naturally before we take that step, not fly to the altar in a panic. He knows I love him, and that isn't going to change. It's like what you said before about first times. I want every part of my wedding to be perfect, including the engagement. I would love to call you sister, but please, can you wait until things settle down for you two?"
"Lizzie, you said that you weren't going to ask him. But if Gordo asked you, tomorrow, to marry him, would you say no?"
Lizzie's face lit up, then fell in realization. "I don't know."
"I do know. I'll hold off on asking him, and you can't say anything to him. But if Matt comes to me on his own and asks me, I'm saying yes."
"I guess I can understand that." Lizzie shook her head. "And I always thought Gordo was the obsessive one."
"We ALL have an obsessive streak." Miranda grinned in triumph. "You just didn't notice mine because they were usually your's, too."
~~~~~~~~
When Matt got to the kitchen, he had a feeling something was different about it. However, he wasn't here to puzzle about stuff. When he opened the refrigerator to grab the milk, his father awoke with a start. "What, Matt, what's wrong?" he asked as he scrambled to his feet. He was standing on some blankets in front of the sink.
"Miranda had a nightmare, but she's awake now. Could you get a glass of water for Lizzie while I get some milk?"
"Oh, sure, sure Matt."
Matt noticed how nervous he's father seemed, but he thought it was just being woke up like this. It wasn't until he turned to take the water from his father that he noticed what had changed. All the sharp items had been either hidden, or moved so that they were tough to get to without stepping on his dad. It took a second for him to put it together. "Dad, I'm not going to do that."
The comment came without preamble, so Sam didn't realize what he meant. "What?"
Matt pointed to the empty space on the counter usually occupied by his mother's knife set. "Kill myself."
Sam paled. 'Busted'. "Matt, please understand . . ."
"Dad, I do understand. I'll explain better in the morning, but I know that if I kill myself, Miranda would be devastated. Maybe even enough to . . . I can't do that to her. She needs me, alive. Dad, I was going to talk to mom about something tomorrow. I think now I want both of you there. This is very important to me, and I need your help and advise. Okay?"
Sam was stunned by his son's words. "Okay, where?"
"How about we use my room? It seemed to work last time."
"Sure."
"Thanks, dad. I should be getting back." He gathered the glasses. "Good night."
"Good night, son." Sam was still very confused.
~~~~~~~~
When he got to the door, he saw that he had left it ajar. Hearing the girls' voices, he decided to tap on the door with his heel to warn them he was coming in. He was going to use his heel because his hands were full. When he was close enough to the door, he heard Miranda say something that made him stop.
"Lizzie, you said that you weren't going to ask him. But if Gordo asked you, tomorrow, to marry him, would you say no?"
'What brought that up?' he wondered.
"I don't know."
"I do know. I'll hold off on asking him, and you can't say anything to him. But if Matt comes to me on his own and asks me, I'm saying yes."
Matt missed Lizzie's reply, as his mind started to spin. 'That talk with mom is more urgent than I thought.' Trying desperately not to dance a jig, and thus spilling the drinks, he tapped the door. "I'm back. Are you decent?"
"Of course, Matt. Come in."
~~~~~~~~
About two hours later, Miranda was jugged awake by a pain at the back of her head. Although she had never felt that before, something about it made her like toward Matt. It looked to her like he was having convulsions. She didn't stop to think about Lizzie, Sam, or anything but helping Matt. When she got to him, her heart sank. It felt to her like her very soul was being torn apart. 'My god, is this what he feels when I'm like this?' She had to lean hard on his shoulders to still them. Grabbing his head, she didn't bother with words. The kiss she gave him was forceful, demanding, backed by her fear for him. He didn't respond. When she broke the kiss, her tears were flowing freely. 'What's wrong with him?!?' She was desperate, panicking. Using the thumb and index finger on each head, she forced his eyelids open. He's eyes were unfocused, darting from side to side. They looked terrified. "Matt! Wake up." Nothing. "MATT! WAKE UP, MATT!" Still not awake, he started to weakly try to fight her off. "NO, MATT, IT'S ME, MIRANDA! PLEASE!" She didn't notice that her screams had woke Lizzie. She released his head long enough to pinned the arm nearest her with her knees. Then she seized his head again, leaned in and kissed him. At first, he was fighting her. Then slowly, he relaxed, then started to respond.
He started to wake, only to panic, at first, that part of his nightmare had come to life. He couldn't breath. Although afraid to, he opened his eyes. It took a moment for his eyes to focus, then he recognized the hair and ear he saw. Her's. Energized with relief, he's free arm wrapped around her, and, surprising her with his strength, he rolled her over him, onto her back. Using the opportunity to draw a breath, he then threw himself into a kiss that, if possible, was more impassioned then her's earlier that night.
"Good grief, you two! Do I need to turn a hose on you?"
When he broke the kiss, her joy was squashed when she saw him. He was still shaking, he was crying, his eyes still showed his terror. "Oh, god, Matt, was it really that bad?"
His voice shook as bad as he was. "It . . . it . . . yes, it was . . . I can't talk about it yet. Please understand, I just can't."
"It's okay, love, I do understand. How could I not? Lizzie, I know you're here to keep things from getting . . . frisky, but this night has proven bad for both of us. I'm not asking you to let us . . . we had that talk, remember? We're not going to do anything objectionable. But I think we need each other. Like Friday."
"What!?! Miranda, you can't expect me to let you do that! If they walk in on you like that . . ."
"They'll see no more than they saw Saturday morning. Sis, I understand we're putting you in a tough spot, but I can't see any of us getting much sleep tonight otherwise. I promise you, I'm not going to try anything. I can't do that to her under these circumstances. If it makes you feel better, keep an eye on us until we're asleep. All we're after is peace, and this is the only way we've had any for days."
"I guess I can understand that. But I will be watching."
"Thanks, Lizzie."
"Yes, thank you, sis. Good night."
"Good night, you two. Better dreams."
"I don't think worse are possible."
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A/N: How will the parent(s) who find them react? Is Matt's talk about what it sound's like? Stay tuned.