*Author's Note*
Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.
So, I FINALLY finished this chapter for you guys. Hope you like it. Warning, get the tissues ready. So many feels in this! There's also some lemons too. ;)
Why Do You Care?
Tolbert POV:
After I assured Nova that I loved her; wanted her t'stay wit' me despite how it might not be moral she curled into my side and sipped on her tea while I just held her. This copper-haired woman's been my other half since our first date. I loved her despite lettin' her go when she was in college, somethin' I did to better her life even tho it broke both our hearts. I do regret leavin' her, but I'm grateful to have a second chance wit' her. I know, she's married to Cap Hatfield, but it seems she's truly ready t'be wit' me. She came back to me after she left cause she needs somebody t'lean on wit' what she's goin' thru wit' her brother. Nova didn't go home to Cap to try and fix things, but came t'me. She wanted to fix things wit' me; have me be her rock as she unloaded 'bout her brother's attempted suicide and depression.
She ended up fallin' asleep in my arms from bein' both tired an' overwhelmed by everythin'. I didn't have the heart t'wake her, but I knew that she couldn't sleep all curled up on the couch cause she'd get a stiff neck or somethin', so I picked her up as gently as I could an' carried her to my bedroom.
"Tolbert?..." She stirred as I laid her down on the bed, after pullin' the blankets back.
"Ya fell asleep; I put ya in our bed cause ya can't sleep sittin' up on a couch." I softly told her so she'd know where she was an' why.
"Oh…" Ella sleepily mumbled.
"D'ya want me to get'cha a shirt t'sleep in? I'll help ya change." I asked, figurin' I might as well offer t'help her get comf'table since she's half-asleep an' aware of what's goin' on.
"Yea." She nodded groggily, pushin' herself to sit up in bed.
Quickly, I went ov'r to my dresser an' grabbed a t-shirt from a drawer. I didn't even notice what one it was, all I did was grab somethin' stacked on top. Quickly, I went back to Ella, set the t-shirt down on the bed, an' helped her undress. Since she was so tired, she was dozin' off on me as I helped her change. I couldn't help, but chuckle at that.
After I got my shirt on her, which turned out t'be my blue Captain America shield tee, I set the alarm on my phone so I'd get up in time t'call my daughter in for school. I couldn't send Sally Elle t'school t'day, not wit' ev'thing goin' on. I felt that she'd be a comfort for Ella right now, keep her mind off o'Moses an' his OD by motherin' her.
I got into bed next t'Ella, who was out like a light, an' got right 'hind her. I pulled her close t'me, makin' me the big spoon an' her the lil one.
The annoyin' loud beepin' of my phone's alarm woke me up. Wit'out rollin' ov'r or sittin' up, I flung my arm in the direction of my nightstand; blindly feelin' 'round for my phone. Once my fingers landed on the thing, I whacked ev'ry inch of the screen til the alarm either disabled or went into snooze mode. I really didn't wanna get up right now, so I just wrapped my arm back 'round Ella an' held her close. She looked so peaceful sleepin', as if nothin' bothered her. I knew better tho; knew that once 'wake she'd be anxious an' worried 'bout her brother.
Hell, talkin' 'bout her brother I gotta swing by the hospital in Logan to visit him either t'day or t'morrow. That's gonna be a hard visit since I'll be tellin' him somethin' I'd rather him not know. I knew it was t'help Moses, but it didn't mean I had'a be thrilled 'bout it.
When my alarm went off 'gain I knew I had'a get up an' call the school 'bout Sally Elle. My motions o'sittin' up made Ella stire; woke her up. As I leaned 'gainst my headboard, grabbin' my phone, she turned 'round t'look at me wit' sleep laden eyes an' simply asked, "Tolbert?", as if makin' sure I was still nearby.
"I'm right 'ere, sweetheart." I assured her, gently tuckin' a stray piece o'red hair 'hind her ear. "Just gotta call the school; let 'em know Sally Elle's stayin' home for a family emergency."
She pushed herself t'sit up an' placed a hand on me, "You don't have to keep her home cause of me and my brother."
"Yes, I do, Ella. Mo doin' what he did's a shock an' we need'a family day t'calm down an' gather our wits."
"So, we're a family?" She asked, a tinge of disbelief in her sweet voice.
"Yea, a fucked up one, but a family nev'rtheless." I nodded, a ghost of a smirk on my face.
"It's my fault we're fucked up." Ella sighed heavily, hangin' her head down so low her chin was hittin' her chest.
Tippin' her chin up wit' my knuckle, makin' her look me in the eye, I told her, "It's both our faults, t'be honest." Softly smilin' at her, I added in, "Ya know we could nev'r control our shotgun tempers or bleedin' hearts when it comes t'each other."
"You better call Sally Elle in." Ella told me 'fore movin' to get outta bed an' tellin' me, "I'm gonna take a shower."
Nova POV:
"A'ight." I heard Tolbert simply utter out as I made my way over to the bathroom.
I still can't believe that he's keepin' Sally Elle home today so that we can have some family time; emotional healin' time too. It's just, I dunno, I never thought that Tolbert would do something like that.
I shook my head to clear it right after I walked into the bathroom, while Tolbert was on the phone with the secretary of Pikeville Elementary.
After flippin' on the light, I striped out of Tolbert's shirt and my panties. I couldn't help, but smile when I saw the design on the shirt. The Captain America shield. I bet he got it from Squirrel or his cousin helped Sally Elle pick it out for him as a gift cause that avid hunter always was good for givin' out screen shirts from the large section of them at Wal-Mart.
I slid the shower door open and stepped inside. Quickly, I shut the door and I turned the different knobs; causing the shower to come to life with a jet spray of warm water. The warm water cascadin' over my tired body felt amazing. I swear, I love Tolbert's custom shower. Hell, I love the man's custom designed bathroom as a whole.
I lost myself in the feel of warm water spraying down on me as I washed my hair, so much so that I didn't even noticed the bathroom door openin' or the shower door openin'. I didn't even notice that Tolbert had joined me in the shower til he opened his mouth and said, "Scoot over, Ella. I need'a wash my hair too."
"Tolbert, I didn't hear ya come in." I admitted in a surprised gasp, quickly tradin' places with him.
"Yer too lost in yer own thoughts, sweetheart." He stated, standin' under the shower head; letting the water wet his ginger curls as I reached for the bottle of conditioner.
"Yea, I know." I simply said, squirting a dollop of conditioner into my hand while he grabbed the shampoo and put some into his hand.
"Ya know, Ella, ya can talk t'me 'bout anythin'. We're livin' t'gether now; can freely share thoughts." Tolbert informed me wit' a softness to his smoothly gruff timbre while we scrubbed our hair, causin' suds to foam up in it.
"I know." I nodded as Tolbert quickly rinsed out his short hair, causin' suds and bubbles to fall onto his pale broad shoulders.
Once again, we traded places, so that I could rinse out my hair, while he softly pleaded, "Just tell me what yer thinkin', please."
As I rinsed my hair, he conditioned his. I bit my lip, debatin' on what to tell the redhead that's somehow always been a staple in my life, 'fore lettin' out a sigh. "I'm worried about Moses, but I'm also worried about your case too."
"Ah…"
"Before I left his room, Mo told me that if you beat the case you'll be a dead man since the Hatfields'll never let you live; that they'll want your blood to revenge Ellison." I honestly told Tolbert as he once again traded places, causin' the shower head to pelt water onto him. "He thinks we need to get away from the area." I revealed while the redhead rinsed the conditioner out of his hair.
"I'm not runnin', Ella. Either I go to jail or get cleared and stay here, but I'm not takin' off like a dog wit' its tail tucked 'tween its legs cause o'some threats."
"Tolbert, if you're cleared and somebody tries to hurt you, we might need to leave."
"Ella-" He began only for me to cut him off with, "Tolbert, I don't want to lose you and I don't want you to end up dead, so if things get bad we can't stay."
"Ella, all I know's shinin' and these hills. I don't got no fancy degree or skills t'fall back on. I can't leave, no matter how bad things get."
"You can always get your GED and go from there."
"Ella…" Tolbert sighed, givin' me a look with his stormy blue eyes that portrayed he was done with the conversation.
I didn't know what to do, so I just wrapped my arms around him in order to embrace and comfort him. Instantly, Tolbert cradled me in his arms and pressed a kiss atop of my head. I looked up at him wit' a soft smile on my lips only to see such tenderness shinin' in his stormy slate blue eyes. A tenderness I never noticed before, or perhaps pushed away and ignored cause I didn't want to deal with it.
Tolbert dipped his head and captured my lips in a soft, languid kiss that expressed every lovin' feelin' he had for me. Instantly, I moved my lips against his and poured every sappy feelin' I had into our kiss. His tongue gently swept across my lower lip, askin' for permission to deepen our kiss. Permission I granted. I let out a tiny mewl as our tongues danced intimately as our lips meddled together, pullin' and tuggin' in a deep and loving kiss.
Suddenly, he tore his mouth off of mine and began to trail kisses under my jawline while pickin' me up in his arms. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs 'round his waist, feelin' his hardness press 'gainst my belly, and snaked my arms around his neck. Tolbert didn't say a word, just pressed my back up 'gainst the tile shower wall and pushed himself into my wet and ready core.
"Fuck…Ella…" He groaned while at the same time I let out a breathy moan of, "Oh, Tolbert…"
I could feel his tight grip on my hip, holdin' me steady, as he moved in and out of me in a languid pace. His hand braced the shower wall, near my head, while I tightly clung onto his neck with my arms. One of my hands snaked its way up to his neck only for my fingers to brush the hair on the nape of his neck. As we moved together as one, little moans and grunts tumbled from our lips. Tolbert nibbled at the sweet spot right below my ear, causin' me to pant and mewl.
Our sensual push-pull movements eventually pushed us over the edge of bliss, causin' us to come undone together in a loud mantra of moans.
I've had shower sex plenty of times before, but it's never felt as sensual and romantic has it did just now with Tolbert.
Tolbert POV:
After makin' love in the shower, we finished washin' up, got dressed, an' made breakfast. It was a simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, an' toast so I was able t'make most of it. I didn't want Ella doin' too much given her fragile state. Her brother just tried t'kill himself last nite, no matter how fine she says she is, she's anythin' but 'fine'. Once breakfast was done, I suggested that Ella go wake up Sally Elle 'fore platin' up the food.
Ella obliged, causin' my daughter to squeal happy chants of, "Mama, ya came back! Ya came back, mama!", once she was woken up.
Hearin' my daughter soundin' so happy brought a smile t'my face. Sally Elle deserved t'have a good mama an' Ella'd be that for her. Ella had such a big heart; I knew she'd make my daughter a good mama. Hell, she was givin' my daughter a siblin' (that had a chance o'bein' mine) too.
I'd just placed all the plates on the table an' was pourin' some glasses of juice for my girls when they came walkin' into the kitchen. Well, Ella walked in while Sally Elle ran into the room cheerfully announcin', "Poppy, poppy, mama came back! Mama's back, poppy!"
"I know, sweetie. I did let her in the door." I smirked at my daughter while placin' the carton of orange juice back into the fridge.
Ella didn't say a word, just smiled as she looked 'tween me an' Sally Ella as I brought the glasses of oj ov'r to the table. It was clear that she needed t'be here; that she needed me an' my girl t'be her family in her hard time. We were all goin' thru a storm, but hers was worse than mine. I was dealin' wit' a murder trial, but she was dealin' wit' both defendin' me an' wrappin' her head 'round her brother's attempted suicide.
I set Sally Elle's glass down, rufflin' her head 'fore settin' Ella's glass down by her plate. I kissed her cheek an' went ov'r to get myself a cup o'coffee.
As I was pourin' myself a mug of Folgers, a loud bang sounded out from my front door. What the fuck? I looked ov'r at my door wit' knitted brows only t'hear another bang paired wit' Cap Hatfield shoutin', "Nova, you lyin' bitch! You said you're at the hotel, but you're here instead with Tolbert! How could ya do this to me?!"
Great…that one-eyed demon figured out his wife's shackin' up wit' me now an' he wants t'cause a commotion on my front porch. Turnin' towards my front door, I roared, "Get off my property, Hatfield!"
"Poppy? Mama?..." Sally Ella asked nervously, her blue eyes wide wit' fear, as she nibbled on her slice o'bacon.
Nova POV:
"It's okay, Sally Elle. I'll go talk to him and make him leave, just keep eating." I softly assured the little girl, who I wished now with all of my heart was my own, with a thin smile.
"Like hell yer goin' out there to talk wit' 'im." Tolbert growled as I stood up from the table.
"Tolbert, he's my husband so I'm going to go out there and talk with him." I told the redhead as I walked out of the kitchen.
"He's only your husband cause ya rushed into a marriage cause yer knocked up." He scoffed around a mouthful of bacon. His face was shaking and his neck was bulging, an angry vein popping out.
"Don't go there, Tolbert." I seethed before opening up the door and stepping outside.
I wasn't even on the porch of a second before my husband rounded on me, nearly pinning me against the decorative front door, and shouting angrily in his rolling deep wave of a timbre, "So, you're shackin' up with the crazy McCoy now? Hmm? You're pregnant with my boy, but you're with him now!"
I stared him down, my cornflower blues locking on his icy eye and it's milky white twin, while flatly telling him, "Why do you care if I ran to him for comfort or not? You were with a damn whore last night when my brother OD'd; when I was in a hotel trying to figure out what was going wrong with us."
All of his rage seemed to deflat from him, like air out of a balloon, at my words. His shoulders slumped and his head feel in shame. "Nova-" He began, his voice from screaming, only for me to cut him off with a snap of, "Don't you dare Nova me, Cap. You can't call the pot black, kettle."
His subdued attitude didn't last for long. In fact, it went back to being bitter in a snap. "Don't make me report you to the legal ethics board for fucking your client, cause you know I will if you don't let me find you a rental to stay in while we work out our shit."
"Set something up and send me the details. I need to get back inside and tell Tolbert he has to take care of his daughter alone."
"You're making the right choice, babe. That McCoy ain't worth you losing your bar over." I heard my husband call out to me right as I opened the door and walked back into Tolbert's house.
After shutting the door, I rushed to grab my things. Tolbert ran after me, wanting to know what I was doing. When I told him, his face faltered with unchecked emotions, but he told me that he wasn't worth being disbarred and gave me his blessing to return to my Uncle Perry's house.
My life's a fucking mess right now and it's all my own doing. I didn't know what to do anymore, which is probably why I found myself driving around aimlessly around the county in a vain attempt to clear my head.
I had gotten off of an exit near Prestonsburg and was about to make a U-turn so that I could get back onto the highway whenever I spotted Billings get out of his sporty car along with a man, who was roughly Tolbert's age, in the nearby Shoney's parking lot. Oh boy, I didn't know that the senator was lingering near Pike County. And is that man he's with his little (and estranged) brother of his that's he's only ever mentioned once or twice? Hmm, at least somebody's reconciling with their family.
Shaking my head, I made a U-turn at the shoulder of the road and drove off into the direction of the highway's on-ramp. I needed to get to Uncle Perry's and just face he music that'd be his disappoint 'I told you so' lecture.
AN:
Well…that was both angsty and fluffy now, wasn't it? Ooo, Senator Brooksdale's brother Brock made a cameo. His role will be explained soon.