A/N: Here you go - new chapter. Thankyou to everyone who's reviewed, you're all gems.
Ruby was dancing around the kitchen in a pair of chocolate brown slacks and a hot pink satin bra, singing into a spatula as she spun in circles. Cade was sitting at the table giggling at her antics and clapping, bouncing in his chair himself. His dad wasn't like this in the mornings so it was unusual to see – he loved it.
Ruby flopped into the chair across from him, resting her chin in her hand as she sung to him.
" – and then we kiss and kiss and kiss, and then we kiss some more. Who cares how many times we kiss, at times like these, who keeps score?"
She bounded to her feet again, twirling her hips in circles as she moved across the floor.
The drier rattled slightly in the laundry – just off to the left of the kitchen –and music blared through the small sea side house.
She laughed and scooped Cade up into her arms, spinning around with him. "Sing with me, handsome!"
He squealed with laughter as she tickled him then set him back on the chair, darting back over to the stove.
Cade wasn't entirely sure what was wrong with the strange lady his dad had befriended, or rather had befriended his dad, but he knew he liked her. She made him laugh and as much as he tried to hide it, she made Leon smile too. As long as his daddy was getting better – she was alright by him.
"What the fuck.."
Ruby spun on her heel and waved good morning to a rumpled looking Leon. He was rubbing his eyes tiredly, his movements slow and jerky. He gave her a bemused look then quickly looked away seeing her state of undress.
She grinned – the music had changed to Marvin Gaye now and she could see Cade's little feet tapping to the beat. Well what do you know – the kid likes soul.
"Good morning, Leon! Hungry?"
She shimmed across to the table and set a plate of small pancakes down in front of Cade, pecked Leon on the cheek and skipped back over to the stove.
He grunted. "Jesus," shaking his head he started out the back door after giving Cade a hug and kiss good morning, "- I need a cigarette."
Ruby watched the back door swing shut and sighed, turning to Cade. "Is he always such a morning person?"
He nodded. "Grumpy." He said solemnly. He tore at his pancakes not even five seconds later, his mood forgotten as he got syrup all over himself.
Ruby grinned and plopped the syrup bottle down on the table in front of him. "Will you be alright making a mess while I go and talk to Daddy?"
His cheeks were all puffed out, stuffed full of food. "'es miff 'uby."
She kissed him on top of the head. "Atta boy – knock yourself out."
Walking out the back she saw Leon sitting at the edge of the patio, his legs crossed up beneath him, shoulders slumped. Quietly she walked up behind him and knelt behind him, her hands moving to rub his shoulders. He had to be hurting after that massage the night before. He'd been tense for so long that his muscles would be rebelling against him, causing a fair amount of discomfort.
His head fell forward – he didn't pull away or flinch this time.
"New man, my ass." He mumbled. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
Ruby grinned, digging her thumbs into his neck. He winced, but didn't complain.
"You need a hot, hot shower – as hot as you can stand it – and maybe a swim. That'll loosen you right up."
He glanced back at her, his brows furrowed. "I would never have let you do it if I'd known."
She nodded brightly. "I know! That's why I didn't tell you." She dropped her hands away from him and stood back up. "Hungry, precious?"
"Why do you call me that?"
She looked thoughtful, trying not to laugh when she noticed he wouldn't look directly at her. She hadn't bothered to put her shirt on before wandering out after him – no neighbours therefore no point.
"Well – I suppose I could call you pumpkin, or petal.." her eyes lit up, "Or pudding!"
Leon snorted and made a sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "Precious is fine."
She clapped her hands together. "So – hungry?"
He inhaled, glancing toward the back door. "Not if that smell is any indication of your cooking."
Ruby frowned and sniffed the air. There was a horrible burnt molasses smell coming from the house.
"What the-?" she quirked a brow, her eyes suddenly widening. "Oh shit!" She ran back inside and looked at the table, fully expecting to see Cade sitting there eating and making a mess. When he wasn't there she turned and spotted him in front of the stove standing a little ways away so he wouldn't burn himself… Shaking the syrup bottle up and down with the lid all the way off. Somehow he had managed to get the screw top off and instead of just a small hole for the sticky substance to come out of, there was a great big one. It was flinging all over the place in huge globs landing on everything – the stove top included.
Ruby stifled a laugh, unable to be angry at him.
"Cade!" she shouted through her giggles, startling the boy. The bottle flew from his hands and landed in the frying pan and he jumped, his eyes wide. His face was covered in syrup.
"Daddy made me do it!"
Well that did her. Ruby erupted into a fit of laughter, leaning against the bench for support. She heard the back door creak open then Leon's shocked cursing and laughed even harder. She slid to the floor holding her sides.
A foot nudged her side. "Are you done?" came Leon's amused voice. She could actually hear the smile in his voice.
She held her hand up, signalling for a minute when she let rip with a loud snort and collapsed against the floor again.
Leon looked down at her sprawled on the tiles and shook his head – trying not to chuckle at her exuberant laughter and the occasional pig-like snort. He bent down and slid his hands around her waist.
"Come on," he muttered, grunting as he lifted her up, "-off the floor." Once he had her vertical he reached around and pushed her hair out of her face. It had been smooth and sleekly styled, her side part perfect with some cute little pins holding it in place. That was before she succumbed to her laughter. Now it hung in her face and looked a riot.
"Cade," he looked at his syrup covered son, "-go and get undressed, kiddo. We're having a shower."
He carried Ruby out into the living room and dumped her on the couch. He looked down at her and shook his head.
"Calm down, woman."
She nodded weakly, "I'm calm… Calm." She took a deep breath and waved her hand in front of her face. One look at Leon's bemused expression and she burst into laughter again. She could feel her cheeks heating as they turned red.
"Uh huh – calm." He rolled his eyes and turned, "We'll be in the shower. Gotta get all that crap off Cade."
Ruby lifted her hand and weakly saluted his back, still giggling as he closed the bathroom door, still shaking his head.
"Woman's on crack – I swear."
Back on the couch, Ruby was now substantially calmer, fanning her face with a stack of old mail she hadn't bothered throwing away yet. She brushed the legs of her pants off as she slowly stood up, then caught sight of her hair in the mirror across the room.
"Ew." She mumbled dryly, carefully removing all the pins and clips. A few minutes later all was good again, her hair no longer the nightmare it had been moments ago. Once that was done she went out to the kitchen and dumped the frying pan in the sink, charred remains of the syrup bottle and all, and ducked into the laundry to grab her work shirt from the drier.
She was just buttoning the front of the pale pink blouse up when Cade came barrelling out into the kitchen, swamped in a teal bath towel and beamed up at her.
"All clean."
Ruby smiled down at him, motioning for him to follow her. Once she was in her room she held up two different flowers. "Pink or Blue?"
He looked at them intently, then pointed to the pink. "Wha's it for?"
She tucked up behind her ear, effectively holding the sheet of fiery hair back. She posed for a moment, giggling when he clapped and lost his towel. The little boy scrambled to pick it up, flashing his behind at her in the process.
Ruby grinned as she pulled her ankle boots on, dusty rose coloured suede to keep with the colour theme, and pretended not to notice.
Leon's head poked into the room, his hair still damp and slicked back. "Did you need a ride to work?" he asked gruffly.
"That would be wonderful, Le. Thankyou."
He nodded, "Let me get dressed and I'll take you."
"But taking me would be much more fun naked."
Leon stared blankly at her, then slowly shook his head and started to walk away. "I can't believe you just said that."
It took a mere five minutes before Leon was dressed and Ruby was just lacing Cade's little boots when he walked in jingling his keys.
"What time do you need to be picked up?"
Ruby stood up, tucking her hair behind her other ear now too. Her hoop earrings dangled almost to her shoulders.
"Oh, that's ok, sweetie. I'll get a cab home." She replied, distracted as she made sure she had everything she needed for work.
Leon's throat cleared. "If you're sure."
Nodding, "Yeah – it'll be fine." She held her hand out to Cade and the three traipsed out the door. For the first time that morning, the house fell into silence.