"Oh my gosh!" Lil whispered as she stepped into her apartment.

It was seven-o-clock and she had just gotten done with some extra filing at work.

"Tommy?" She called, not taking her eyes off of the darkened kitchen. The small table was set up for two, having a lit candle in the middle and two glasses with a bottle of wine. There was a set of plates on the table and silverware wrapped in napkins sitting atop of each of them. She glanced to the counter and noticed different foods spread out, resembling a buffet.

She diverted her attention to the doorway, where Tommy stood, grinning, wearing a black tuxedo and holding red roses.

Lil's eyes started to tear.

"Tommy…" she choked.

"Shh." He soothed, walking toward her. "I just wanted to say, I'm sorry."

"Tommy, you didn't have to do-"

"Lil, please, this is my way of showing you I'm sorry and I love you. I never meant to hurt you this morning. I guess, all the past years with me trying to forget what happened to you, what he did to you, I guess I tried too hard. I'm sorry. I never meant for what I said to come out like that."

"Oh…Tommy." Lil whispered, laying her head against his chest. Tommy took the liberty of wrapping his arms protectively around her, guarding her from any harm that may be of danger to the one thing he held most dear in his life. They were alone in their apartment, but that didn't change the circumstances. Not to someone as in love with one person as Tommy was with Lil.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

"How was your day at work today?" Lil asked Tommy.

Tommy sighed. "It was good. I just kept thinking about you, though. I could have kicked myself in the ass after what I did. I am so sorry-"

"Tommy, I think you've made up for it well enough." Lil told him, glancing around at all the food on the counter, not to mention the food currently on her plate as they ate.

"I know. I just love you so much." Tommy leaned over the table and kissed her quickly.

"How was your day?"

Lil hesitated, thinking about whether or not she should tell him about the little run in with 'James Garaghey'. Not that it was something to tell him necessarily, but the odd familiarity of him was…

"Well?" Tommy sat staring patiently at Lil, waiting for her answer.

"Oh, it was great. The girls threw me a small party in the cafeteria. Nothing big, but it was nice."

Tommy nodded, taking a bite from his spoonful of Mexican rice.

"How's dessert sound to you?" Tommy asked, picking up his plate and Lil's.

Lil smiled. "It depends. What is it?"

Tommy grinned. "My world famous strawberry-banana pancakes with raspberry syrup and a dab of cool whip."

"Mmm. Sounds delicious." She could easily remember when it was that he learned how to make them. It took years of practice to perfect them, but he did it, and they were good.

Lil finished clearing the table of their dinner and then went over to where Tommy was making the pancakes.

"Need any help?" She asked as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Sure." He smiled mischievously.

He dipped his finger in the batter and trailed it down Lil's nose.

"Oh, no, Thomas Pickles! I know you didn't just do that!"

"What are you gonna do about it, huh?" He teased.

Lil placed her whole hand in the batter, scooping however much she could hold with both hands, and turned to Tommy.

"This!" She said before rubbing her hands along either side of Tommy's face and covering his face with the batter.

"Now you've asked for it!" He told her as he took her hands from his face and placed them around his neck.

"What are you gonna do?" She whispered, a hint of laughter in her voice.

He pulled her closer to him and closed the gap between them by kissing her.

The kiss became more passionate and he leaned her against the counter. He took his hands from her hips and put them into the bowl behind her, gathering still more of the batter with his hands. He moved his hands from behind her and stroked her face before gently pulling away and breaking the kiss.

Lil grinned. "You, Mr. Pickles, are very, very tricky."

"Oh yeah?"

Lil nodded. "Mmm hmm. You know something else? I find that very, very sexy."

Tommy grinned. "Oh yeah?"

Lil nodded again. "Oh yeah."

Tommy wrapped his arms around her once more and kissed her.

"I love you." Lil murmured against his chest.

"You better love me." Tommy laughed. "I just wasted a perfectly good pancake batter."

Lil smiled for a moment before a look of deep concern made its way unexpectedly on her face.

Feeling her tense up in his arms, Tommy broke the embrace.

"What's wrong?" He asked, now noticing her expression.

Lil bit her bottom lip and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Tommy? What's gonna happen with this baby? I mean, things like this won't be able to happen anymore. We're gonna be occupied with changing diapers and taking care of a crying baby boy or baby girl and I don't know-"

Tommy shushed her, knowing she was getting worked up.

"Lil, we might not be able to run around the apartment like we are now, shrieking and throwing pancake batter at each other, but, sweetie, that's just the end of some of our fun with each other. I mean, imagine the time we're going to have together raising a baby. Sweetie, that's big. It'll be a new adventure for us." Noticing the concern in Lil's eyes, Tommy went on. "And trust me, Lil, I love you more than anything in this world. There is nothing, and will be nothing, to keep me from taking care of you and our child. Nothing. You know me better than that, Lil."

"Tommy, I know. But, we always thought that Drew and Charlotte would stay together forever. They seemed happy. But they didn't. I'm just afraid that one day, I'll wake up and you won't be there with me. You'll have fallen in love with someone prettier than me, or smarter than me, nicer than me-"

"Stop it!" Tommy said fiercely. "That will never happen, Lillian! Take my word for it and trust me when I say there is no one in this world prettier than you or in any way, shape, or form better than you in my eyes. That is just not possible. I promise you, Lil, you stole my heart when we were in the fifth grade, and no matter how much I may have tried to fight it in the past, there's just no way for me to get it back. You stole it and you won't give it back to me. Tell me something now, is there anyone in the world who could get in the way of fifteen years of my love for you? I tell you, Lil, God forbid something were to happen to you, say tomorrow, and you didn't make it, I still would never love anyone as much as I love you. Hell, I wouldn't even try. Now, whether you like it or not, I'm gonna love you forever, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh, God, Tommy!" Lil whispered. "I love you. I wish I were as fluent as you are with my words. I feel the same way."

Tommy's eyes sparkled and he leaned down and kissed Lil again, not parting even though Lil was crying uncontrollably.