Chapter 6: Party time

Lilly didn't appear downstairs for quite a while and when she did she avoided looking Scotty in the eye. She'd been embarrassed to look at him because of what happened that morning, waking up in his arms felt nice, she felt safe and secure for the first time in months but she also knew that he was her partner and it was wrong on so many levels for her to be sleeping on him. The more she tried not to think about it, the more she couldn't stop thinking about it. Scotty tried to initiate small talk with her but she'd only answer with one word answers and as soon as breakfast was over she'd walked outside and was staring out onto the snow covered backyard.

"Is Lilly alright Mijo?" Rosa asked curiously as she collected the plates. Scotty sighed and shrugged

"I don't know Ma" Scotty lied "I'll go talked to her" He said and he followed his partner outside, Lilly was sitting down on the love seat and he could tell that she'd been crying again. "Mind if I sit down?" He asked pointing to the space next to her and she nodded slightly. "Are you still mad at me?" he asked.

Lilly turned to face him utterly mystified "I wasn't mad at you" Lilly said "I was embarrassed" she protested "I mean I woke up...on top of you...I mean..."she covered her face again and he sighed.

"It's no big deal Lil, the bed ain't that big and you're used to sleepin' alone, so am I really, so it was bound to happen sooner or later"

"So you weren't mad" She whispered sheepishly.

"Nah Lil, I ain't mad at you"

She looked slightly relieved and even managed to smile at him. When she smiled at him Scotty felt something stirring in his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time, it was the same kind of feeling he'd gotten when Elisa used to smile at him and it wasn't entirely unwelcome.

When they came back inside, they started to help Rosa with the preparations for the party that evening; Lilly was amazed at the sheer volume of food that Rosa was preparing. Scotty joke that his mother always over catered and that they'd be living off the leftovers for a month. He duck quickly as his mother threw a tea towel in his direction, and muttered at him in Spanish. Although Lilly didn't understand a word of it, she could guess that her partner was being scolded. She giggled at the properly chastised look on his face as he tried to dig himself out of the whole he'd gotten into. At six that evening they'd both retired to their room, to get changed. Lilly sighed as she sorted through the clothes she'd brought with her, trying to find something to wear. But all she had brought her usual pant suit that she'd always wore to work.

"Is there something wrong Lil?" Scotty asked as he pulled out a clean shirt.

"I just don't have anything to wear tonight" She said, slumping down on the bed. Scotty walked over to the door and stuck his head out into the hallway. "Hey Allie, can you come here for a minute" Scotty called.

"No Scotty its fine" Lilly started to protest but Allie was already in the room.

"What's up?" she asked looking between Scotty and Lilly.

"Lil didn't bring anythin to wear tonight; do you think you could help her out?" he asked as he gathered up his shaving kit and clothes and walked out of the room to the bathroom. Allie smiled and sat down on the bed beside Lilly "I think I have a nice dress that should fit you" Allie replied.

"You don't have to Allie, really its fine" Lilly protested earnestly

"Don't be ridiculous, your gonna look so gorgeous that Scotty won't be able to keep his eyes off you" She said wickedly and she grabbed Lilly's hand and dragged her out of the room.

...

The guests began to arrive and Scotty started to talk to one of his cousins, he was so lost in the conversations that it was another twenty minutes before he realised that he hadn't seen Lil yet. Allie walk in and handed Mike a drink and Scotty turned to talk to her "Allie, have you seen Lil?" he asked.

"Yeah, she'll be down in a minute, she's just putting the finishing touches to her makeup"

No sooner had Allie said this than he spotted her, it was if time stop, all he could see was her, he couldn't hear the music, or any of his numerous family members all he could see was her as though they were the only two in the room, his heart was pounding hard against his ribs. She look amazing in the crimson dress that stopped just below her knees and the teasingly low sweep that gave him the slightest glimpse of her creamy swells of her breasts, her hair was straight apart from a few soft curls she'd put in a few strands of hair. She smiled at him and made her way over to him, Allie and Mike.

"Wow Lil" Scotty said finally finding his voice "You look beautiful" he said and without even thinking he leant forward and lightly kissed her cheek.

"Thanks" Lilly replied softly, not entirely sure how she should react to Scotty's kiss

"You wanna dance?" he asked holding out his hand, Lilly nodded and took a hold of it as he led her to the middle of the lounge room where other couple were dancing. He carefully wrapped his hands around her waist and he began to guide her in the slow tempo. "You really look amazin Lil, never seen you in a dress before" he commented "Really suits you".

Lilly blushed slightly at the complement and smile "Thanks" Lilly replied "You scrub up pretty good yourself" she whispered back as she took in the dark blue shirt that accentuated the broad sweep of his shoulders. Truth was she'd never seen him look that good, she was used to seeing him in his work suits, but in this particular shirt...she wasn't sure how to describe the feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her heart was roaring in her ears as she gazed into his eyes, feeling his fingers on her back and she moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and sighing contentedly. They danced together for what seemed like hours, neither one of them wanting to pull away from each other's arms.

Rosa watched them from her vantage point on the couch and she smiled happily, glad her youngest son was happy after all the years of pain and anguish he'd been through, to finally fine someone who could make him as happy as Elisa had, more so it would seem and with someone as wonderful as Lilly. Rosa could sense that Lilly wasn't comfortable at first, meeting the family. But she'd taken to them like a duck to water and Rosa found her to be a calming influence on her son.

...

Scotty and Lilly, made their way over to the small table, laden with drinks and each grab a glass of wine. Lilly was so thirsty after her recent exertions that she'd down the glass almost instantly.

"Oh god, no" Scotty suddenly said as he looked over her shoulder.

"What?" Lilly replied suddenly confused as he started to groan.

"It's just one of my cousins' friends just got here" He said trying to hid behind Lilly "She kinda likes me and whenever we see each other she's always trying to get me to ask her out" Scotty whispered fiercely. Lilly turned slightly to see the woman Scotty was referring to. She was tall brunette and was wearing a very skimpy black dress. Lilly giggled as she watched her partners discomfort "It ain't funny Lil" he breathed "Oh crap she's commin over here"

Lilly barely had time to register the large busted woman making a beeline for Scotty when she felt him pull her closer to him as if he was going to use her as a shield. "Hi Scotty" the woman said seductively, looking Scotty up and down.

"Oh hey Melanie" Scotty replied casually "Err this is my girlfriend Lilly, Lil this is Melanie" he said. Melanie looked taken aback for a few seconds, as if at any moment someone was going to come out and say the whole thing was a big joke "Maria didn't tell me you had a girlfriend" She said, a touch of irritation in her voice.

"Yeah, we've only been datin a few weeks, ain't that right...honey" Scotty said squeezing Lilly lightly and silently begging her to play along. Lilly was torn between her desire to torture him with this recently discovered information and her conscience that was telling her that she should help him out.

"Yeah, that's right" Lilly replied, placing her hand on top of his.

"Oh well, that's nice" Maria said "Well, I am gonna get something to eat" She walked off and Scotty breathed a sigh of relief "Thanks Lil, I owe you one"

"I'll add it to the ever growing list of things that you owe me" Lilly cheekily answered and Scotty chuckled.

Late that night after everyone had gone, Lilly and Scotty dragged themselves upstairs. Scotty was desperate to get out of the living room; Melanie had still tried to get him to dance with her when Lilly had excused herself to go to the bathroom. When he had decline politely she smirk and ran a hand down his arm "Never mind, maybe later" she winked at him and then proceeded to pinch his arse before walking away.

Once inside the bedroom, Scotty let out a breath and Lilly giggled again as she slipped out of her earrings. "It really ain't funny Lil" He groaned.

"Oh I beg to differ, its hilarious" she said teasingly.

"Yeah well you weren't there when she pinched my butt" he said which cause Lilly to laugh harder.

"I woulda thought she was your type Valens" Lilly said comming around the bed to stand in front of him "You know, desperate and falling all over you, like your 'informants'" Lilly continued, making air quotes on the last word. Scotty chuckled darkly and fixed his partner with a determined look. "Oh you are definitely gonna get it now Rush" and he reached for her and started to tickle her. She shrieked with laughter and tried to get away from him, she collapsed onto the bed and Scotty fell on top of her and their laughter died away slowly. She smiled up at him and he smiled back at her "Are you gonna get off me" she said softly.

Scotty shrugged and slowly moved closer to her, lowering his head down to her till he placed a quick kiss on the side of her mouth. Their gaze locked and he leant back in again, this time kissing her full on the lips. Lilly swallowed hard when Scotty broke the short kiss, her breath comming in short bursts, Scotty was breathing heavily as well and as if they had come to unspoken agreement he kissed her again and Lilly felt the pressure of his tongue against her lips and she opened her mouth slightly as he deepened the kiss. Within minutes they began to silently undress each other as they shared deeper and more passionate kisses.