"Would you get your ass outside, Lil?"

Lilian turned her head away from the computer screen. "In a second! I'm looking at the weather."

Dwayne rolled his eyes and walked behind the chair, dressed only in his swim trunks. "The weather is fine. It's hot, with a little wind and clear skies. Most people here in Miami like to go outside on days like this."

She frowned and closed the window, turning the chair to face him. "Sorry, I don't know why I was looking. But, it's a good thing I did, the weather men are predicting a thunderstorm."

"Good for them, they're wrong most of the time. Now can we please go back out?"

"Yeah, yeah," Lilian muttered, standing up from the chair and adjusting her shorts. "You just want to see me in a bikini," she commented, ducking underneath his arm to exit his beach house.

"Hmm… bikini?" he questioned. "Didn't I tell you this is a nude beach?"

She froze, her mouth opening as she swung her head back to look at Dwayne. Seeing the smirk on his face, Lilian shook her head.

"You're an ass sometimes, D," she commented, though her insult was accompanied by her megawatt smile.

"I know, and you always compliment my ass." He turned, modeling off the indicted part.

She walked back to him, as if she were going to turn the computer off. After shutting down the system, she gave him a swift slap on the aforementioned ass. "Love you, baby."

"You're going to pay for that!"

Awhile later, when they were lying on beach towels on the sand, he reached out to cover her hand. "I really love it out here," he said finally.

"Me too," she answered, opening her eyes to look at him. "I think you should sell your house in Greenich and buy a new one down here since you're letting Dany keep this one."

"Nah." He smiled at the frown on her face. "Why not buy both?"

"Are you serious, D?" Lilian asked, eagerly.

"Yeah… Miami is my home, and I want to stay down here." Pausing, he looked back at Lilian as he whispered, "And I want you to move in with me."

"I… excuse me?"

"I want you to move in with me," Dwayne repeated, louder this time.

"I… wow, D. Are you sure we're not moving too fast?"

Sensing her discomfort, he squeezed her hand slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's not that, D. It's just… New York's my home. I've lived there thirteen years. I don't know if I can just up and leave the city like that."

"Then don't," he said simply.

"But D, I really want to be with you."

"Okay, then be with me."

"But it's New York..."

He chuckled. "Lil, just stay in both, hell you can live with me in Greenich and L.A. It's not like you stay in Manhattan all of your days and hours. You move around, just like I do."

She grinned and threw herself on top of him in a mock hug. "You are so perfect! Remind me again why we didn't start dating sooner?"

"Well, you were married and so was I. Then you know, you went through your divorce but I was still married. And as much as I cared for you then, I wasn't going to cheat on my wife."

Lilian nodded slowly. "I wouldn't expect you to."

They both sat there in silence, Lilian thinking of the best way to move her things to his Greenich house and Dwayne thinking how lucky he was to have found this love with Lilian later in his life.

"Lil," he finally said, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Can you put some more suntan lotion on my back?" he asked. "I can feel myself burning."

"Sure," Lilian said, sitting up. She grabbed the bottle of suntan lotion and squeezed a generous amount on his back, giggling when he jumped.

"Jesus, Lil! You're supposed to put it on your hands first!" he gasped.

She finished rubbing it in and moved to sit in front of him. She took his hands in hers thoughtfully. "Dwayne, honey, I'm not sure anybody has ever told you this, but you're half African American."

He feigned shock. "I'm WHAT?! I knew my mother was lying when she said that my father was back in California, delivering his milk!"

Lilian giggled. "She told you that?!"

He laughed, dazzling her with his smile. "No, and thanks for notifying me, but I already know my heritage."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying, you probably won't get sunburned. You were just making an excuse for me to touch you."

"Now why would I need an excuse?"

Lilian smirked, finishing her blending in of the suntan lotion. "Now would you mind putting suntan lotion on my back so I really don't burn?"

She rolled over on her stomach, squealing slightly when he poured the suntan lotion on her back. "I should have seen that one coming," she grumbled good naturedly, closing her eyes as she felt his hands running over her back.

"Lil, can I… uh…"

"What, D?"

"Can I undo the tie on your bikini? So I can put suntan lotion there?" he asked, almost shyly.

She turned her head to look at him. "You could just lift the strap up."

"Well, I know," he drawled and looked around. "But nobody's out here. Not even the seagulls."

That's odd, Lilian thought. But she said, "If that's what'll make you happy."

He grinned and waited until her head was back down on her towel. His longer fingers untied the small bow that was keeping the bikini top on. Using some of the excess lotion, he began to rub it in where the fabric was just at on her skin.

When he was done, he carefully retied the bow, making sure it was snug against her skin.

He laid back, looking at her for a long time as she quietly pulled out a book and began reading.

"What?" she finally asked, noticing his gaze after several long minutes.

"You're just… you're gorgeous, Lilian. I'm just thinking that I'm very lucky to have you in my life."

"I know," Lilian said softly, looking back at him. Glancing up to the sky, she frowned as she said, "I thought you said the weathermen are wrong most of the time."

Following her gaze, he was surprised to see several dark clouds rolling in. "Shit. Come on, Lil. Let's get back to the house."

"Okay," she said quickly, gathering up her things.

They reached the backdoor just as the rain started to pelt down in heavy drops.

Lilian shivered and pushed the door open. She stepped into the kitchen and off to the laundry room to toss their towels in. Coming back out, she rubbed her arms. "That was bizarre."

"You're telling me," Dwayne said. "It's okay, Lil," he comforted. "It's just a storm, it'll blow over."

"I know, I'm not sure why I'm all freaked out. I think I'm going to go upstairs and take a bubble bath."

"Okay," Dwayne replied, setting his keys down and walking over to the television. He flipped it on, turning to the Weather Channel.

"Shit!" he cursed for the second time in the past ten minutes as he listened to what the weather forecaster said.

"As we've been reporting, Hurricane Amelia has taken a bizarre turn and is now headed for the Florida coast rather than the Bahamas as previously expected. Officials are advising that residents along the coast of Florida take extreme care and evacuate immediately, as Amelia is expected to make landfall anytime within the next two hours."

"Damn," he muttered, taking the steps two at a time, stopping when he came to the bathroom door. "Lil?" he called, pushing open the door without waiting.

Lilian jumped, grabbing a towel to cover her bare chest. "Jesus, D. Haven't you ever heard of waiting for a person to acknowledge you before you open the door?"

"Sorry," he said, turning to not look at her until she had sunk lower into the bubbly water.

"What's going on?"

"We need to go."

"Go?" she asked, confused. "Go where? Dwayne, what is going on?"

He sighed. "The weather channel is saying that the Hurricane that wasn't supposed to hit us is going to hit. They're advising people to evacuate immediately. I just hope we can get out on the road before the entire city starts going crazy."

Wide eyed, Lilian jumped out of the bathtub, not bothering to let the water out. "Where are we going to go? What all do I need to pack? Oh my God, what about your house! We need to board the windows don't we?"

"There's no time, Lilian," he said with a sigh, reaching down to pull the drain of the tub. "We'll figure out where to go after we're on the road. Just grab your basic things. A change of clothes, and some basic toiletries. Pack the same for me. I'm going to gather some bottled water, some canned foods, flashlights, our cell phones, and my portable radio. I'll meet you down by the car in about ten minutes, okay?"

"Okay," Lilian replied, wide eyed.

Lilian ran to the bedroom, finding a duffel bag in his closet as she hastily pulled some clean clothes on. She tossed a couple of shirts and other things into the bag, taking the steps quickly. She grabbed her purse, slinging it over her shoulder before exiting the house.

"Hey, you ready?" Dwayne asked with amazing calmness.

"Yeah."

"Let's get out of here."

Together, they set off for his garage, Lilian looking at Dwayne. "Have you talked to Dany?"

He shook his head, then smiled. "I talked to Simone."

Lilian exhaled heavily with relief. "Where are they?"

"Dany and her went to visit some family over in California. But now, we really need to go," he urged, still staying calm.

"Right!"

They headed out to the garage, loading the extended cab of his truck with their things. Lilian ran around to get in, but he grabbed her gently by the arm, swinging her into him. He kissed her hard, and then softened up.

When they broke, Lilian raised an eyebrow at him. "We aren't going to die, are we?"

"Get in," was all he said, hitting the garage door opener.

Within moments, they were on the interstate, headed north. Lilian sighed, rubbing her palms nervously on her legs. "So… what now? Should I try to get airline tickets?"

Dwayne shook his head, concentrating on the road ahead of him. There were several cars on the road already, but everyone seemed to be moving calmly. "No. They'll ground all flights within the hour and we'd be stuck there. Our best bet is just to drive north."

Lilian nodded, frowning. "How far is it to Tennessee?"

"About thirteen, fourteen hours, if I remember right," Dwayne replied. "Why?"

"Dahlia lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Maybe we can shack up with her."

Dwayne contemplated this, then nodded. "Okay. Call her."

Lilian phone Dahlia's number in her phonebook and connected the call, her breath hitching when rain began pouring down on the truck.

Dwayne turned the wipers up on high, cursing when the water began pelting the truck even harder than before.

"Matthew? It's Lilian, can I talk to Dahlia?" She looked over at Dwayne, the anxiety clearly written across her face. "Hey, look, D and I are down here in Florida and we're about to get blown away by a hurricane." She heard him laugh softly and shot him a look. "We're on the road now. Would you mind if we stayed at your house for a bit? At least until the airlines let us go back to Miami or we book a flight to New York." Lilian didn't want to mention Greenich, she hadn't told Dahlia a lot about Dwayne, at least not yet.

"Great! Thank you so much, we'll be there, but it will probably be late. Yes, I still have your key. Are you sure? Alright, I love you! Bye." Lilian ended the call, looking at D. "Okay, she said it's fine."

"I feel bad for just going in to her house like this."

"Don't," she said softly, "It's Dahlia, she doesn't care. If you knew how many boys I've ... never mind."

Dwayne snickered, shaking his head as he reached across the seat and grasped her hand. "If I didn't know you so well, I might believe you," he answered with a grin.

"Hang on," Lilian said, taking off her seatbelt. She slid across the seat, moving so she was sitting next to Dwayne. She pulled the lap belt across her waist, securing it.

"There," she said, satisfied as she pressed up closer to him, resting her hand on his thigh. "Now I'm close to you and you can keep your hands on the wheel."

"Okay," Dwayne said with a laugh. "Do me a favor and enter Dahlia's address into the GPS system."

Lilian looked at the complicated device, frowning. "And how exactly do I do that?"

Dwayne laughed, shaking his head. "Dany never got it either," he commented softly. "GPS systems must be a guy thing."

"Take the wheel," he instructed.

Lilian leaned over, grasping the wheel tightly.

"Lil, it's a steering wheel, not a rope that's saving you from a million hungry alligators," he joked, loosening her grip so that her knuckles weren't white anymore. "What's her address?"

"1506 Ridgewood."

He put the information into the system and sat back. "You smell really good."

She looked at him, brow furrowed. "What?!"

He chuckled. "Lilian, relax, we're going to be fine."

Lilian exhaled slightly, managing a small smile for Dwayne. "I'm sorry… I'm just not used to this. The few times hurricanes actually hit South Carolina it was while my family was in Spain," she told him. "I'm a little freaked out."

"It's okay, Lil. We'll be fine. I promise," Dwayne reassured her, wrapping an arm across her shoulders and pulling her closer to him. "We're getting out of here in time."

"Okay," Lilian said softly. "I trust you."

They were quiet for a few more moments, then she spoke up again. "Are you okay to drive? Do you need me to take over?"

He looked at her, fighting the urge to laugh. "I'm fine, Lil. Why don't you turn on the radio?"

She nodded quickly. "Okay."

Reaching forward, she turned the radio own, searching the channels for something good to listen to. When she found nothing, she groaned. "The radio stations down here sucks. I don't like rap, thank you very much."

He smiled. "My CDs are in the back somewhere."

She fished around and then came back with a black, leather case. "Hmm," she hummed, flipping through the CDs. She pulled one out. "Shania? Really, D?"

He shrugged. "She's good, leave me alone."

"No, D. I'm not teasing you. I like Shania," Lilian defended, flipping through the CD's some more. "But Britney Spears… that kinda surprises me."

"What?" Dwayne scoffed. "There is no Britney Spears in my CD collection. Backstreet Boys yes, Spears, no."

Lilian giggled, flipping back to Shania Twain. She carefully took the CD out of the sleeve, sliding it into his player. She relaxed slightly as the first song came in, drawing her legs up so they were curled on the seat.

"D… thank you."

"For what?"

"For being so patient with me. I tend to freak out at little things, as you can see. First my surgery, then this."

Using his left hand to drive, Dwayne placed his right hand on her thigh. "You don't need to thank me for that."

"Yes, trust me, I do. I know what a bitch I was being then."

He shrugged, deciding not to say anything.

"Hey!"

"Sorry!"

She stuck her tongue out at him and then pouted, making sure her lower lip was sticking out.

"Are you going to hate me now?"

She nodded her head.

"Are you giving me the silent treatment?!"

Another nod.

"Well thanks, Lilian, really, it means a lot. I should've just left you at the house."

Lilian smirked, resting her head against his chest. "So, uh, is this your first hurricane?" she asked after a few moments.

"Done with the silent treatment already?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Eh, I can't keep quiet for too long," Lilian replied with a shrug. "Just ask Marc Yeaton the next time you see him."

Dwayne laughed, knowing that Lilian often talked to the WWE timekeeper during matches. "Nope. I've lived here awhile. I've seen my fair share of hurricanes."

"Any damage ever?"

"No, we've been fortunate."

"Ever had any close calls like this?"

"Sure, every now and then. I don't ever really worry about it. It's these other crazy morons on the road that I worry about."

Lilian smiled tiredly and yawned. "How much longer?"

"We have a while," he answered. "Do you want to stay in a hotel?"

She shook her head, closing her eyes. "No, I don't want Dahlia to worry if we don't get there."

"Okay then."

When she didn't answer, he assumed she'd gone to sleep. He reached up to turn the volume higher on the CD and began to hum along with the song, which then turned into a soft singing.

Lilian grinned to herself and listened to his voice until it lulled her to sleep.

Lilian awoke some hours later, looking up to see Dwayne staring blearily out the window.

"Hey," she said softly, rubbing her hand on his arm. "You okay?"

"I'm a little bit tired, but I'm going to get coffee at the next rest stop."

"Don't bother," Lilian replied. He glanced down at her, confused. "Let me drive the rest of the way."

"Lil… have you ever driven a truck?"

"I drive Trish's SUV all the time when I visit her," Lilian replied. "So I think I'm okay to drive this thing."

"If you're sure," Dwayne replied doubtfully, pulling into a rest stop. The two got out and stretched their legs, Lilian running to the bathroom while Dwayne filled up the tank. Once she came back, he went to the bathroom while she finished pumping the gas.

He noticed that she was shivering slightly from the cool air. Walking behind her, he wrapped his arms around hers and slid his hands up and down her arms.

"You're sure you want to drive?"

"Yes, D, I'm positive," she answered, hanging up the pump. "Besides, I'd rather drive and crash, than you drive and crash because you fell asleep."

She started moving for the truck and he followed, getting in on the passenger side. "Okay, but only if you're 100 percent, absolu-"

Lilian covered his mouth with her hand. "D, baby, I'll be fine."

He lay down across the interior, resting his head in her lap. She smiled down at him and reached for the keys.

"Now...just how do you start this thing?"

"What?!" He jerked his head up, banging it on the wheel. "Damn it!"

She giggled. "I'm joking, go to sleep."

"You're going to give me a nervous breakdown, woman," Dwayne grumbled.

Lilian giggled, carefully easing the truck out of the rest stop. Before she pulled back onto the interstate, she tested the power of the truck, stepping on the brake after accelerating.

"Lil… what are you doing?" Dwayne asked warily, not wanting to open his eyes.

"I'm just testing this thing to see how well it stops and everything. Relax… I got this."

"You got this… what, are you going black on me?"

"Yo, yo, yo," Lilian replied, accelerating once she got off the ramp.

"Lil… please don't ever say 'yo' again? Okay?" Dwayne requested, closing his eyes.

Before they reached Nashville, they switched another two times, just to make sure they were alert while driving in the dark. It was 5 in the morning when Lilian pulled the truck into her sister's driveway.

"D, get up," she said softly, her fingers dancing across his face.

With a groan, he got into a seated position, stretching and yawning.

They got out of the truck, and Lilian found the house key on her keychain. She opened the front door, making sure to be extra quiet and not to wake Dahlia, Matthew or their two children.

She motioned for Dwayne to follow her with their bag of clothes. They walked past the living room and down a hall, finally stopping at the second door on the left. Lilian opened it and stepped inside where there was a queen sized bed, a small table, a rocking chair and a dresser.

"Come on… let's go to bed," Lilian said tiredly, leading Dwayne to the bed. She settled down, not even bothering to take off her shoes, Dwayne doing the same thing after he set their bag on the rocking chair.

They were both asleep before their heads hit the pillow.

"Auntie Lilian!"

It wasn't the excited squeal of her three year old niece that woke her; rather, it was forty pounds of the child jumping on her stomach that startled her into consciousness.

"Elisabeth Marie Williamson! Get off your aunt right now!" Lilian heard her very pregnant sister scold, stalking into the room.

Lilian smiled, wiping at her eyes. "Hey there Miss Elisabeth." She looked around for her sister. "What time is it?"

"It's almost noon."

Lilian groaned. "Okay, we'll be up in a few minutes."

"Don't worry about it," Dahlia said, walking into the room to pick up her daughter. "Matt's at the soccer game with Benjamin."

Lilian nodded, thinking of her six year old nephew playing soccer. "I would've thought you could've shown him a real sport, also known as swimming."

Dahlia laughed. "Go back to bed."

And she did.

End Part 11