A/N: Melody – your wish…my command. :) PCGirl – the second part of the chapter is something you haven't seen before. LOL! Here's to finally being home and the heaven that is fuzzy pink pig slippers. ;) Until 36! Enjoy!! xox-G
Chapter Thirty-five
"You did not!!" Billie laughed loudly as she gazed at Quinn. It was amazing to her that she still knew how.
"Yes. I did." He grinned sheepishly. "Lia's hair was blue for a week." He looked longingly off into the distance. "God. That was one of my better ones."
Billie was finally able to get a hold of herself she sighed as she said, "And here I thought you were a good influence on Ty. Little did I know I was letting him hang out with a juvenile delinquent."
"Aw c'mon. I wasn't that bad." Quinn chuckled at her. "I was just a kid."
Billie turned to look at her nephew, wanting to give him a warning. "Tyler, make sure you don't…" Her face softened as she realized he was sound asleep. "How long has he been asleep? I didn't even notice…" She said a bit in shock that she had lost all track of time. She stood and checked her watch. "Oh my God. It's after midnight."
Quinn was just as surprised. It seemed like time flew when he was with her.
"OK, buddy. Let's go…" Billie whispered as she bent down to scoop Ty up off the couch.
"I can get him…" Quinn offered as he moved to stand.
"That's OK. I've been carrying him for eight years." She replied, and for the first time when she said it her voice wasn't defensive. She smiled at him again. "I'll be back in a minute."
As Billie carried him to his room, Ty kept his eyes shut tight and tried to stay relaxed. It was tough work being a spy. He'd never heard Billie talk so much. He had to act normal so he could find out what was happening. It was like he was a detective, finding all the clues to see if Quinn was going to try and marry Billie. He knew if that happened he had to try and stop it.
"Sweet dreams, little guy." Billie whispered as she pressed a kiss to Ty's forehead. "I love you." She smiled as she closed the door slowly and moved back into the living room.
All of the sudden she was nervous. It was easy to be with Quinn when Ty was around but now they were alone. On shaky legs she made her way back into the living room. Silently Ty slipped from his bed and cracked the door open a bit, watching her every move.
Quinn stood at the sink, rinsing out his coffee mug. He smiled remembering how he'd convinced her to take the small coffee maker he offered as a gift. If he was going to be spending time here – he'd need coffee to survive.
"Ty's sleeping." Billie said, feeling foolish.
"That's been established." Quinn replied with a grin as he dried his hands with a dishtowel.
"Thank you for coming to dinner. It was fun." She continued, her face flooding with color.
"My pleasure, Belinda. Thank you for having me." He said with a nod as he crossed the room to stand in front of her. Suddenly he was only a half a foot away.
The way he said her name made her heart beat wildly. All at once she felt like a silly schoolgirl. Get a hold of yourself, Billie. She cautioned herself. "So. Ummm. OK. Goodnight." She said quickly as she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek.
Quinn's eyes glinted in amusement as she pulled back. "Is that the best you can do?" He asked softly.
"W-w-what?" Billie stammered.
Smiling, he gently took her face in his hands. Almost involuntarily, Billie rose on her toes again and as she did one of his arms curled around her waist to pull her close. His other hand still rested on her cheek as he touched his lips to hers.
Billie sighed as she melted against him. He was so gentle with her she forgot she'd been nervous. Her palms rested flat against his chest and if she'd been more aware she would have felt his heart pounding. His mouth closed over hers again and again, teasing her and making her dizzy. He deepened the kiss and was thrilled when he heard a small moan catch in her throat.
Quinn's ownhead began to spin, knowing that if he kept this up he wouldn't be able to leave her. Pulling back a bit he watched as her hand slid up to his shoulder and fisted in the fabric of his shirt, tugging him back towards her. "Billie…" He whispered against her lips with a laugh.
"mmm?" Was about all she could manage.
He kissed her once more and took a deliberate step back. "Goodnight." He said softly as he watched her rock back on her heels and blink furiously.
"OK…" She breathed.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He promised as he grinned smugly at her.
"OK…" She repeated, still in a daze.
"Sweet dreams." He chuckled before he walked out into the hallway and shut the door behind him.
Billie stood frozen for a long moment. When she finally could catch her breath she stumbled towards her bedroom, not knowing how she'd ever be able to sleep tonight.
She was so caught up in unfamiliar feelings that she didn't notice Ty's door snap shut as she walked past.
And she didn't hear when the little boy crawled back into bed and began to cry.
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Kyle looked at Becky sideways. This was probably a bad idea, he thought as he watched her. This would never work. How did he ever think he could concentrate when she looked so amazing?
She was completely oblivious as to what he was thinking. "So. Moving on…" She said as she flipped a page. She pointed at a picture in the book and said. "Avatars."
"What the hell's an avatar? Becky. We're vampire slayers." He reminded her.
"We fight forces of evil in all their forms." Becky replied sounding very much like her father. She shook back her hair and continued. "Now. An avatar is a cloaked and hooded figure that begins as somewhat of a superhero. It first finds a host – a just man who seems to have the best interest of the citizens of the town at heart."
"That doesn't sound too bad." Kyle shrugged.
"Ah ha." Becky grinned at him. "That's what he wants you to think. Soon he gains power and instead of doing good deeds for the sake of doing them – he basks in the attention. He begins to feel invincible. Before you know it – it's impregnating your father's so-called first wife and tying your mother to a tree."
"Excuse me???" This girl is crazy. Kyle thought. What on earth is she talking about?
"Never mind." Becky replied with a laugh. "Just listen to me. The point is you need to be prepared, Kyle. You never know what or who will strike next."
"How do you live like this?" He asked, completely baffled. "How can you walk outside every day knowing that evil's just waiting there?"
She looked at him and sighed. "That's just it. It's not hard to live a normal life, Kyle. You just need to make other things your priority. A home. Family. Things like that. If you have a strong foundation to support you – evil doesn't have a chance."
"So I guess I'm out of luck. My mother and my sister are MIA. My dad's a mess. I'm all alone. It's just me…"
Becky reached for Kyle's hand. His pulse quickened and his palms got sweaty. He couldn't quite meet her eyes as she stared into his and said. "My dad was alone for a long time, until he met my mom. I need you to be careful Kyle. When he was alone he took chances – chances he'd never take now. Those chances could be deadly."
She flashed him a smile and added. "And you're not exactly alone, Kyle. You have me now."
What did she mean? Kyle wondered. Don't be stupid. He thought with a shake of his head. She's just doing you a favor. She doesn't think about you like that.
Becky sighed as she fought to get herself under control. What on earth was happening to her? She couldn't believe it was true, but the past few days had been the best she'd ever spent. Kyle was so different than every other guy she knew. Could he actually be the one? She didn't dare hope.
Kyle glanced at his watch. It was after midnight. He was guessing it was time for him to go. He wasn't looking forward to going back to the dank, cramped little room he was staying in.
"Well. Thanks Becky – for all you've done for me so far. I mean, setting me up with those classes with your brother at the gym and all this time you've spent going over stuff. It's great. I really appreciate it."
"It's no problem." She said a bit disappointed. She didn't want him to leave. She knew that he was staying at the old motel on the outskirts of town. It was no place for someone like him.
"Goodnight." He said softly as he reluctantly moved towards the door.
"Hey. Kyle?" She called out after him.
"Yeah?" He said, trying to hide the hope in his voice.
"I was umm…I was going to watch a movie or something. Do you want to stay for a bit and watch with me?" Becky said, unable to believe she was actually saying the words. In the back of her mind she could hear her father's voice. "Rebecca Elizabeth – I'm trusting you. No boys allowed in the house when we are not here. They're all creeps. No one's good enough for you."
Kyle wanted to stay – but knew he should go. "It's late though."
"I know. But I'm not at all tired. C'mon." She said with more confidence than she felt. She walked towards the den. "Do you want a soda or something? I'm going to make some popcorn."
"Sure. That'll be good." He answered, still a bit nervous.
He settled on the couch and gazed over at the pictures on the bookcase nearby. There were tons of pictures of Becky and her brother and sisters. Pictures of family vacations, of Becky in a ballet costume. She was so pretty, he thought for the millionth time. If he didn't know who she was he would have sworn she could never be a slayer. She was too soft, too delicate, too…girly.
Becky walked into the room with a smile. She handed him a can of soda and settled on the couch next to him, balancing a large bowl of popcorn on her lap. "Ready?" She asked as she clicked on the TV.
"Yeah." Kyle replied, beyond happy to just be sitting beside her.
Becky shivered a bit as she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He acted like a little kid, tossing popcorn in his mouth. Who would have guessed a week ago that she'd be sitting here like this with him?
As the movie played on both of their eyes got heavy. Before either one of them knew it, the bowl between them was empty and they had fallen fast asleep.
