Disclaimer - don't own cute Mort, Secret Window - do own Lilly - but would (obviously) rather own Mort!!!

Hello all! Sorry, I've been incredibly slack on the updating front! But I wanted to finish my Benny and Joon one first - and hopefully pass my assessment tasks and tests. So, for those who have been kind enough to read/review thanks for all your time, patience - and spiffy reviews. From now on I hope to update a little more regularly.

Here you are, chapter 3 . . .

Ooops! I can't spell! I've come back and fixed most spelling errors. Thanks L.A for pointing all my stupid mistakes out. (Damn faulty keyboard!)

Oh, and if you didn't catch it - every time Mort says something like "ooh, I'm a sexy bastard - he's being sarcastic! Sorry - I'm not good at conveying stuff like that. Thanks all, cheerio!)

:::

After a wonderful meal of chicken and corn soup, corn on the cob, and a side of corn fritters, Lilly was

all corned out. 'Whew, does this guy have a corn fetish, or what?!' Lilly couldn't help thinking with a

laugh as she sat back down on the sofa. Mort had departed to work on his writing, leaving Lilly to soak

up the inviting warmth of the fire. She stifled a soft yawn 'goodness, it's later than I thought -'and with

that, unaware, drifted off to the land of nod.

There was a pretty blond woman Lilly hadn't ever seen before, but she seemed so familiar . . .

before Lilly could do anything, the woman dissolved to reveal . . . A man, medium build, brown hair.

Lilly felt a great urge to beat the man over the head with a shovel - for some reason.

Now Lilly found herself in a car. Winter. A motel. Pain.

Lilly jumped out of the car and dashed into the front desk of the motel, rummaging around on the side

wall, searching for . . . a key. She hopped back in the car, drove to the end of the motel, and ran to the

door, shoving the key in the lock. Turning, turning, open. Open to reveal the man and woman in bed

together. Lilly screamed at the pair, and was about to pull out a . . . she was interrupted as someone

shook her shoulder.

"Whoa!" Lilly bolted upright, finding she had fallen asleep on the couch. Mort had woken her and now

crouched in front of her "Are you all right?" he asked, concern in his voice. Lilly frowned. "Huh?"

Mort stood up "You were screaming. I thought you where being tortured by a crazed ax murderer or

something" he said with a small laugh. Lilly brushed the hair from her face, boy she was clammy! "I, I

had the weirdest dream!" Shaking her head, the stood up from the couch.

:::

Over the next few weeks, Lilly found herself settling in quite well. A strong friendship had forged

between Mort and herself. Maybe not as "friendly" as she would like - but maybe . . . in time. Lilly had

continued to have strange vivid dreams every once-in-a-while. These reoccurring dreams were . . .

strange - as if they didn't really belong to her, but was witnessing someone else's. Whatever it was,

they became increasingly disturbing. Lilly decided to simply shrug them off, blaming her breakup with

Thomas. It was just easier that way.

On the Mort Rainey front - as fore-mentioned, nothing seemed to be happening. Had Thomas sucked

out all her pheromones as well, leaving a fizzled old shell? . . . God, she hoped not! Lilly had to admit,

she missed the company of men, the comfort she felt being held by the man she loves . . . amongst

other things. Sighing, she looked in the mirror 'well, maybe if you stopped looking like a librarian, you

might get his attention'.

Mort had been working on a new book for ages - in fact, sometimes it seemed he didn't sleep at all. He

would just sit there, eyes perpetually glued to the shining computer monitor. He really needed to get

out a little, have some fun, relieve the stress!

As Lilly was sifting through the newspaper, she came across an advertisement for a piano recital

tonight at the local town hall. 'Hmm, I wonder if Mort likes classical?'

Wanting to surprise him, she crept silently up the stairs, but halted abruptly. She swore she could hear

him talking to himself - in a Southern accent none-the-less! Maybe, it's just an eccentric writer's thing.

Yeah, must be it. Slowly she made an about-turn, not wanting to break his train of thought.

Perhaps I might check out his CD collection. See what he's into! Rock, pop, jazz, and ah yes . . .

classical. Lilly smiled, liking a man with good taste in music . . . but what was this? Lilly frowned, and

picked up an Enya CD from the very bottom of the stand. Examining it closely, she curiously opened

the cover - revealing a small floral patterned post-it note

"Got your attention now? Don't forget to fix the washing machine and mow the lawn. Happy Birthday honey! By the way - you get your REAL present later . . . - Amy.

"See anything interesting?" Mort asked from behind her shoulder. Lilly jumped "oh, I'm sorry, I was

just looking." Mort gave her a hand-up ad looked at the CD, bursting out laughing "ah yes, the

magnificence that is - Enya!" he grinned.

"The reason I was looking, is . . I was er, wondering if you would, uh, with me . . . go to -" Lilly decided

to give up the tongue twisters and handed Mort the piece of paper. He scanned it thoughtfully "Hmm,

a repertoire including Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and Mozart? Sounds like it'd be a ball! We can leave

at a quarter to eight. That all right with you?" Lilly nodded enthusiastically. "Good. It's a date then" he

smiled, picking some corn up before ascending upstairs once more.

Lilly beamed in anticipation 'a date?' Lilly realized that she was carrying on like a hormonal teenager -

but she couldn't help herself 'seriously, get a grip!' she cursed herself. 'But he's a real catch -

intelligent, successful kind- and a real cutie!' Lilly checked her watch - 6:27pm. Whoa! So much to

do - so little time! She raced to her bedroom to find something to wear. She wanted to look . . . nice -

a little naughty - but mostly nice. And definitely NOT cheap! She tossed random garments onto the

bed until coming across the perfect attire for the evening. A cute little black number with 1920's style

fringing at the bottom. Classy. With her ebony hair swept up in a stylish bun, her little black dress and

killer stilettos - only a blind man wouldn't go gaga!

Mort, dressed in a smart black tuxedo and hair pulled back into a ponytail certainly would have

caught the attention of the opposite sex as well - had the majority of the town's ladies not been led to

believe he was a crazed murderer and all. Mort gasped softly as Lilly descended down the stairs. "Wow, my

goodness! Look out Audrey Hepburn - here comes Lilly!" Lilly couldn't help but blush, replying playfully

"this old thing? - Why, I only wear this

when I don't care HOW I look!" Grinning, Mort gentlemanly offered his arm before leaving the house. Lilly

could tell, this was going to be a night to remember.

:::

Hi again, hope that was all right! I actually know what I'm gonna write next time, so it won't be too long . . .

Ah, blooming romance - how nice!