Chapter 5: Confessions and comfort

Emilio dragged them around the mall, running from toy store to toy store, pointing out all the things he wanted. They had lunch in the food court and Emilio happily ate his happy meal as he continued to tell his uncle about the action figure he desperately wanted.

By the time Lilly, Scotty and Emilio had made it back to the house; Emilio had fallen asleep in the back seat. Chuckling slightly, Scotty carried his nephew inside and up to his room.

"Must of worn him out" Lilly whispered as Scotty quietly closed the door and Scotty smiled.

"Yeah, he had fun though" Scotty replied as they made their way back down stairs to the kitchen. Scotty began to pour them some coffee and they retired to the living room.

"Where is everyone else?" Lilly asked curiously, looking around for any signs of his family.

"Ma and Dad are buying supplies for the party tomorrow night and Mike and Allie had to work today" Scotty replied taking a sip of his coffee and sighing contentedly.

"So what were you like as a kid Lil, bet your mom took you to see Santa when you were younger" he inquired his brown eyes sparkling in amusement. When Lilly merely shrugged, he frowned and started to get a little frustrated. He knew his partner wasn't forthcoming with her childhood, over the past five years of them working together he'd gleamed very little about her life, but now she'd seen another side of him, he desperately wanted to get to know her more. "Come on Lil" He said unable to hide his annoyance "Every time I ask you, you clam up. It couldn't have been that bad" Lilly stood up and walked to the window, staring out into the swirling snow. After a few minutes he heard a few quite sniffs and he sighed. "Lil, I am sorry. Just forget it, please don't be upset" she turned to face him, her eyes welling with silent tears. He crossed the room and without waiting for permission, wrapped his strong arms around her. She didn't return him embrace, nor did she push him away. She just allowed him to hold her, breathing in his aftershave and listening to the steady beat of his heart. After what felt like hours she finally pulled back, wiping a hand across her face.

"I am sorry, I can't believe I just cried all over you" she said in a choked voice.

"It's okay Lil, I shouldn't have pushed. If you don't wanna tell me anything it's fine"

"No" Lilly replied, with more force than she'd meant "I mean, were partners and we have been for five years so maybe it's time I actually tell you something about me" Scotty motioned back to the couch and she sat down. "Do you realise how lucky you are" she began "My family consisted of an absent father, alcoholic mother and a whore of a younger sister who could in no wrong in the eyes of my mother. Christmas pretty much consisted of me cleaning up after my mother's latest binge while trying to explain to my baby sister why we didn't have a tree or presents like the rest of her friends. " she sighed and looked across at her partner, his soft brown eyes looking so deep into hers that it filled her with the confidence to go on. "One year I raided my piggy bank, and bought a little fake tree and a present for Chris, told her Santa had finally gotten our address right. She was so happy, until our mother had staggered home and threw out the tree" She felt tears beginning to sting her eyes again and found a comforting hand on her leg. "When I agreed to come here this week, I didn't realise what to expect and these past couple of days I've really had fun" Scotty smiled at her and his hand raised to her cheek, to gently brush away a lone tear. "Your family is so wonderful; your mother is everything a mother should be. Your brother is so nice and you nephew is so adorable" Lilly smiled at him.

"I am glad you're here Lil" Scotty said

"Me too" Lilly replied

Later that night Scotty lay awake, thinking about what Lil had told him. He knew she didn't have the best childhood but he always figured she'd have to of had some good memories. Chris had told him a few great stories when he dated her briefly but know he realised that Lilly had probably shielded her Little sister from the worst. He looked down at her; she looked so peaceful, so content. It was hard to believe that just a few hours before, she'd been crying on his shoulder. He told her about some past Christmases when he was growing up, including the time where he and Mike knocked over the tree on Christmas morning when they'd conspired to sneak down stairs to see if they could catch Santa leaving their presents. Their parents had come running down stairs to find their two sons, standing in amongst broken branches and shattered decorations.

...Scotty was the first to wake up the next morning and he got the shock of his life when he looked down and saw, Lilly Rush, his partner and admittedly his best friend with her head pillowed on his chest, her arm draped over his stomach.

His first thoughts were to quickly and quietly slide out from under her grip before she woke up and kicked his arse. But as he heard her mumble something incoherent and snuggle closer to him, he found he didn't want to leave the bed, he wanted to wrap her in his arms and just hold her. Lilly jerk awake suddenly and realising her position, quickly sat up, blushing furiously.

"Scotty, oh god I am sorry" She said leaping from the bed.

"It's okay Lil, don't worry about it" Scotty replied, trying to keep from blushing himself.

"I...I...am going to take a shower" she said and she practically ran from the room, leaving a completely dumfounded Scotty in her wake.