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Joey awoke the next morning and looked up from her bed, she saw Portman asleep in a chair on the other side of the room, they had stayed up all night talking and laughing and a little making out here and there. She quietly got out of bed and walked over to him, "hey sleepy head wake up" she whispered sweetly into his ear.

"hmmmm I don't wanna" He answered gruffly.

"yea I know, but are you gonna go to church with me or not"

"ummmmm I don't know I guess do I have to wear a penguin suit, cuz I did not bring one of those"

"that's ok you can wear one of the boys I laid one out on the bed in the study, theres a bathroom down the hall you can shower and what not in there."

"ok" that was all Portman said as he got up slowly and made his way down the hall dragging his shaving kit with him.

Joey got into the shower and let her thoughts and fears about what that morning would hold for her consume her. She knew that she had to see him but she most definitely did not want to .

………..about an hour later……………

Portman tapped softly on the now closed bedroom door, "come in" came Joey's soft tired voice from the other side.

Portman walked in slowly, Joey was in her bathroom finishing her hair and makeup, he took in her thin frame that was now covered in a sleeveless navy blue dress that hugged her hips and went down to about her mid calves very much so resembling a 40's style, and to top the outfit she wore navy blue pumps the color of the whole ensemble matched Portman's suit he however wore a burnt orange shirt all of which he looked very handsome in.

"hey babe" he said slowly as he leaned on the door jam.

"hey almost ready…..ok done" Joey answered as she put her mascara on the counter.

"ringlets?" Portman questioned as he noticed the large delicate ringlets her hair now formed.

"yea I wasn't born with straight hair ya know, I came out a little kinky"

"sounds exciting"

"doesn't it?" Joey laughed. "ok enough fun and games we must be off"

"yes dear" Port answered sarcastically as he placed his hand on her lower back and led her slowly down the stairs. "so what chariot are we taking today" he questioned curiously.

"today we take the cadillac, very southern you know" Joey answered smugly.

"oh lovely" Portman rolled his eyes.

The couple got into the car and the long boring drive began.

"Babe , I really should warn you of something , and your probably not going to like it much"

"Joey, what are you talking about"

"well my ex boyfriend hes the assistant pastor to my dad and when dad is out of town hes the head pastor so he will be giving the sermon today, and this is the first time we have seen each other in quite a while so I don't know whats going to happen"

"WHAT!" Portman exclaimed. "I HAVE TO MEET THIS JACKASS THAT BROKE MY WOMAN'S HEART I DON'T THINK SO" he hollered at her.

"LOOK I HAVE TO OK" Joey screamed back. "But afterwards Ryan and Riley and Tuffy are coming over for thanksgiving dinner and I'm cooking, so its going to be ok, everything is going to be ok"

"Yea right just keep being delusional"

Joey pulled into the parking lot of a traditional southern chapel; she slowly got out of the car and took a pair of navy gloves out of her purse.

"gloves, a little much don't you think" Portman asked.

"I told you this is the south , they are very well old fashioned around here, your not mad at me are you"

"no but if he makes a move on you I will kick his ass"

"Portman this is the house of the lord, watch your language"

"oh and if I don't will you spank me"

"maybe"

"in that case holy fuckers"

Joey laughed slightly and it eased the tension she was feeling in every muscle of her body, until she walked inside and saw him standing behind the pulpit. They quietly sat down in a back pew and within a few minutes the service started.

"My dear followers of the lord, I welcome you on this Sabbath day to our home of salvation." Joey rose her head and met his eyes for the first time in a year, and he was nothing more than speechless. At that moment everyone in that church knew what was happening, there was only one being on God's earth that could silence this man and it was Joey.

"pardon me my brothers and sisters in faith, now then the sermon that we scheduled today , well we shall drift from that. Not many people are blessed with love in their lives but when they are many tend to take advantage of it and they forget what they have been given and in time they lose it. I suppose the moral of today's sermon is this do not take advantage of what god gives you because someday it may be lost forever and if your lucky you will be able to see it again but it will never be within your grasp again" He stepped down from the pulpit and the choir began to sing and that was the end of the shortest service ever held in that church.

Portman gently rubbed his thumb over the top of Joey's hand. "hun I'm very proud of you" he whispered into her ear. She smiled softly and stood to leave , when he once again caught her eye, he was standing at the door greeting members and she knew there was no way to escape.

She approached slowly with Portman at her side.

"hello David"

"hello Josephine, its been a long time, you look amazing"

Joey blushed softly, " I have been really well , I have someone I'd like you to meet"

"ok"

Joey pulled Portman up slowly "this is my boyfriend Dean Portman"

"hey man whats up" Port said holding out his hand.

"its nice to meet you Mr.Portman" David replied shaking Portman's hand.

"well its been nice seeing you Josephine but I have to go, don't be a stranger" and with that he was gone.

The ride back to Joey's house was a quiet one, they got home changed and met back up in the kitchen.

"can I do anything" Portman said unsure of what exactly he should say.

"yea" Joey smirked . She walked over to Portman and pushed him into the chair that was conveniently behind him, she straddled his lap and just couldn't help but devour his perfect lips.

After a few minutes Portman reluctantly broke up his kiss.

"now not that I'm complaining but what the hell was that"

"well you are a fabulous boyfriend and today I just really understood how much better off I am without David and that's partially because of you".

"well ya know I try" Portman answered placing his hands on his pecs.

"hmm" Joey got up and went to the freezer, she pulled out 7 steaks and began cooking the annual Sunday Thanksgiving feast.

About an hour later food was on the table and doorbell was ringing.

"for God's sake just come in" Joey cursed silently, Portman began laughing at her short temper as he left the kitchen to see who was at the door. He rounded the corner and saw Riley, Ryan and Tuffy hanging up their jackets.

"Hey Portman hows it goin?" Tuffy asked slappin Portman on the shoulder

"goin good Tuffy, hey Riley, Ryan"

"hey man" the boys said together.

"wheres Jo" Riley asked looking around for her.

"shes in the kitchen" Port pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

"Baby Girl whatcha makin" Ryan called as he entered the large kitchen

"your favorite, steak now kiss the cook" Joey answered as her brother playfully kissed her face.

"ok ok that's enough" she giggled. "lets go eat the food is on the table"

Lunch went on with all the boys stuffing their faces and being thoroughly satisfied at the end of the meal.

"ok now I'm confused about something" Portman said as he leaned back in his chair.

"and what would that be" Joey questioned.

"well this was great" he said indicating the meal

"thanks"

"but you told me you burnt easy mac , so how can you burn easy mac and make this"

Riley laughed uncontrollable.

"well our Joey is a very talented cook" Tuffy smiled.

"but what about the easy mac" Portman questioned.

Riley still trying to contain his laughter answered, "well now she did do that I think that is was just a temporary lapse in judgment and cooking ability"

"hey honey do you want to go shoot some hoops" Joey questioned Portman quietly.

"sure if your not afraid of me beating your ass"

"ha not gonna happen" Tuffy interjected. Joey smiled devishly.

"huh"

"I'll have you know that Joey here was on the basketball team all through middle school and through tenth grade well almost through tenth grade at least until the…"

"the what" Port asked.

"the nothing" Joey answered sternly, "lets go play".

With that they left and headed to the backyard court.

"c'mon lil one lemme see what ya got"

"oh jock boy your askin for trouble" Joey answered coyly as she dribbled the ball down center court.

"oh Joey London dribbles down center, takes it through the legs of the block takes it around town and sets up for a lay up , shes up she shoots she OWWW HOLY FREAKIN SHIT"

"Joey, what happened" Portman hurried to her side where she was clutching her right leg.

"nothing, nothing don't worry its nothi…………" she was gone, passed out right in his arms, Portman quickly scooped her up and ran her inside.

"RILEY,RYAN, COME HERE QUICK!"

The twins rushed into the living room. "WHAT may I ask did you do to her" Riley exclaimed.

"Ri chill look at her leg her jeans are skin tight, its her knee again"

"shit, ok well Portman you don't have to freak out too much, its just her old knee injury" Riley attempted to calm Portman.

"yea ok hurting yourself is one thing but why did she pass out" he answered still in the freaking mode.

"she has this fainting condition, if shes ever in extreme pain or exhaustion or stress her body works too hard and her heart starts pumping really fast and all the blood goes to her legs and not the rest of her body." Ryan explained.

"oh so shes not gonna die"

"no she'll just be sore later" Riley laughed. "Ryan put her legs up you dumbass"

"her legs up?" Portman pondered

"gets the blood back to her heart"

"ahh"

"mmm what happened" Joey asked groggily.

"sweetie you fell on your knee again, and you passed out" Ryan answered.

"shit" Joey replied quietly.

After a while of making sure Joey didn't need to go to the hospital and babying her to death Riley, Ryan and Tuffy finally left.

"well that was an eventful night" Portman said helping Joey clear some of the dishes from the table.

"yea I know"

"your still limping why don't you sit down and let me finish" Portman reasoned lifting Joey onto the kitchen counter.

"im too tired to argue"

"good"

"yea yea, Port?"

"yea"

"thanks."

"anything for you"

Joey giggled softly

"so are you going to tell me what happened to your knee" Port inquired

"umm I guess, lets see about a year ago I was in a really bad car accident we were rear ended at a red light by a drunk driver that was going about 60 and he pushed us into oncoming traffic, I was in the backseat and when the drunk guy hit us he totally collapsed the back seat and I slammed into the drivers seat while it simultaneously was thrown back right into my knee I blacked out after that so who knows what else happened to it , all I know is afterwards my knee was a mangled mess of muscle and acl and yuck"

"oh my god, does coach know"

"no and hes not going to know, this injury kept me from basketball and dancing don't let it keep me from the only thing that I have left" she pleaded softly

"ok I wont tell him but just take it easy until we get back we have a big game next week"

"well if you insist"

"I do insist now come on I will carry you up stairs, you need some rest"

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