"You two be good." Happy told Toby and her Father as she got up to go to the restroom.
"When have you ever known me not to be good?" Toby quipped but then just grinned as Happy glared at him before walking off.
"How's your steak? Has to be better than the bologna in prison." Toby asked Patrick as they sat there.
"It is wonderful. Bologna would have been a major improvement on the food in prison. Most of the time you couldn't tell what the meat you were eating supposedly was. They went from calling it chicken alfredo to plain alfredo. One of the line guys said he threw a piece of the meat to a local cat that was scrounging around the docks and it refused to eat it." Patrick told him.
"That would be a dead give away to avoid it. You do look a bit thinner. But we'll get some meat back on you." Toby told him.
"If it hadn't been for the money Happy put into my commissary, I'm not sure what I'd have lived on. So, anyway, what is up with you and my little girl?" Patrick asked as he took a sip of his beer.
Toby smirked.
"Nothing really. She won't give me the time of day half the time. But if she would, I'm crazy about her. She's one nut I would love to torque." Toby told him and then grimaced seeing the look on Patrick's face. "I don't mean that in a bad way." Toby hastily replied.
"You know after what Walter did to her you are going to have to be extra considerate of her, right?" Patrick asked.
"Yeah, Walter was pretty emphatic about how I approach her going forward too. Threatened me if I did anything to hurt her." Toby nodded as he finished the bottle of beer he had and flagged the waiter for another.
"What do you think about what he did to her?" Patrick asked after taking a swig of his beer.
"Well I don't know much about what he did behind the scenes. She's pretty hush-hush on that. I know he gave her a bunch of hickeys the other week." Toby sighed. "So much so she took to wearing turtlenecks."
Patrick nodded. "Look, I know I don't have a right to try and act like her Dad after all I did, but after I was finally able to climb out of the bottle I have to do something for her."
Toby nodded as he took a sip from his new bottle.
"Just don't push too hard. And speaking of which, should you really be drinking?" Toby asked him.
"If Dad thinks he can handle a beer or two, leave him alone. Push too hard about what?" Happy asked as she walked up.
"At being your Father. No, I think I've lost my taste for alcohol. It is all that I can do to drink these two." Patrick volunteered.
Happy sighed as she sat down.
"I thought I told you both to be good?" Happy asked.
"We were." Toby smiled. "You didn't say discussing roles in your life was a bad thing."
"Doc." Happy said tiredly.
"Happy, I know, I really do. You existed with so little for so long, bottling up everything, that now it is painful. And having to talk about private things that you had to always keep quiet because of where you grew up makes it overwhelming. But what with you finally expelling Walter from your life, you do need some structure again. Your Dad and your friend being part of your life should be a good thing, right?" Toby asked as he watched Happy's eyebrow raise.
"Doc, I'm not ready to get into it." Happy warned.
"Don't blame the Doc. We're not trying to get into anything with you, Happy. We're just trying to be here for you, in any way you think you need or want us." Patrick told her. "I was the one who turned the conversation to you. Ever since you allowed me back into your life last year I've wanted nothing more than to know who you really are now. To try and do something, anything, that could help repair even the tiniest shred of damage that I inflicted on you."
"I am who I am. And that is a very private person. I'm not an open book, no one gets all of me. Take it or leave it." Happy told them both.
"Did Walter get all of you?" Toby snarked and instantly regretted it as he watched piece after piece break off and fall from Happy. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that." Toby apologized quickly.
Happy sat breathing for several minutes as she tried to stop what she felt.
"Walter got everything from me." Happy slowly told them. She knew Toby wasn't going to stop until she told them something. "We met in 2009, I was almost nineteen and he was a force of nature. He rocked my world like no other. For the year we were together exclusively, it was the best I'd ever had. And no one before or since me, got anywhere close to that much of Walter, hopefully Paige will get it all. If she can't, he's doomed. Until we were together, the longest he kept someone with him was two months. Usually much less, nowadays his dates are lucky to last a week. He claimed possession of me on our first date together. Starting our second week as a couple he took me on a two month tour of the world." Happy reminisced.
"He didn't ask, just showed up at the place I was working and told my boss I was going on vacation. When Billy argued I didn't have any vacation time coming, Walter said something to him that scared him. Billy usually scared people, nothing scared him. Walter did and he watched as Walter led me out to his 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, one of the first of its kind to roll off the line in 2008. Gawd, that car was hot. We spent the next thirty days in a whirlwind of traveling. We slept on his private plane each night as they flew us to the next stop. He'd already had a complete wardrobe on the plane for me, so we didn't even go to my place before we left. We spent the day sightseeing and making love wherever and whenever Walter wanted." Happy told them.
"That must have been hell coming back from." Toby told her seriously.
"You have no idea." Happy nodded as she sat thinking for a few moments.
"We ended at the closest airport to the village where Mom's family came from in China. We were chauffeured out to the village and I got to meet a lot of distant cousins. I even got to meet my Grandfather's brother and my Grandmother's sister. That was before the one child law. We spent another month traveling slowly making our way through Asia. Just to name a few, we went to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. Most of those we were on cruise ships. Didn't matter where we went, Walter knew someone it seemed and we were treated royally. The different ships' cruise concierges had to rearrange several cabins because of the noise we made and all the complaints they got." Happy laughed as she remembered the time.
"I didn't know you got to meet some of your family." Patrick said softly.
Happy just nodded.
"So he didn't hide his proclivities from you? He demonstrated them from the outset?" Toby asked softly.
Happy glared at him.
"You just can't help yourself. No matter how much I give, you have to go for more. I told you, I'm not an open book." Happy told him dangerously.
"Well, it is getting late and these two beers have really done a number on me. Maybe you should take me home." Patrick told her.
"I can do that Dad." Happy nodded.
"Good night you two. I'll see you at work in the morning. I'll call a cab." Toby told them as they both stood up.
"I got some work to do on a knucklehead engine before sleep, if you're interested in helping. Might be better than you trying to go to that illegal casino." Happy told him as she paused before leaving.
"Of course I would be interested." Toby told her as he stood. "Definitely sounds like a better time too." He smiled that she had seen through what he had planned to go do.
"Gambling huh? You better knock that crap off if you want my blessing with my little girl." Patrick told him.
Happy rolled her eyes and shook her head as she walked off.
"You're awfully quiet Doc." Happy told him after he handed her the wrench she wanted as she worked to remove the valve cover from one side of the engine.
"You seem to get upset at some of my questions and observations so I've been trying to figure out what I should and shouldn't say." Toby told her honestly.
"Like?" Happy decided to open the door a little.
"How hard it will be to impress you after what you'd been through with Walter." Toby told her.
"People don't have to impress me." Happy rolled her eyes.
"Bull poop." Toby told her. "It is human nature, it is universal. Everyone wants to be impressed in some fashion by a potential suitor."
Happy had stopped turning the wrench and was looking at him.
"In your case, just you trying to act human would impress me. Stop being a sniveling, snarky buttinsky you are ninety nine percent of the time." Happy told him before turning the wrench again.
"I'm also thinking about something Walter told me." Toby told her gently.
Happy sighed as she pulled the last bolt out of the valve cover.
"And just what would that be?" Happy asked.
"He told me to just be your friend for now. He said I didn't want to be your rebound." Toby told her as he looked up into her eyes. His hat brim was just above his brow and their eyes locked on each other.
"What's wrong with being a rebound?" Happy asked while still staring into his eyes.
"Rebounds mostly fail." Toby told her. "And I can't fail with you. I don't want to be the cause of another disappointment in your life."
"That's unrealistic." Happy said as she pulled the cover off.
"Unrealistic of me not wanting you to have another disappointment?" Toby asked.
"No, that I won't have another one. What does it matter where it comes from?" Happy asked.
"It would matter to me, if it came from me. I'm crazy about you." Toby decided to take that step she already knew.
"You could have stopped with just crazy." Happy told him even as she fought against the tears that seemed to creep up into her eyes.
"No, I couldn't. The two go together like bagels and cream cheese." Toby told her even as his hand reached out and touched her hand sitting on top of the valve cover.
Happy's eyes looked up slowly at him.
"Don't hurt me." Happy whispered as he saw the tears building.
"Never." Toby told her sincerely.
Happy nearly launched herself into his arms as her lips plastered against his.
Toby didn't know what hit him, lips and hands were all over him. His hat went flying when she threw it away as he gave in to the raw passion pouring out of Happy.
Happy hadn't been with anyone but Walter the last five years and she found it interesting learning the differences between Walter and Toby and what they liked. At times his touches were too soft, too gentle, her body was attuned to Walter's firmer grasp. But overall she was well sated as they finally closed their eyes. Only to open a minute later as her alarm went off.
"Damn it." Happy swore as she turned it off.
"Do we really need to get up?" Toby asked as he turned over and kissed her neck.
"Yes. But maybe we can play a little in the shower, if you are interested." Happy grinned.
"I'm game if you are." Toby smiled. "But, I just want to be sure since you are calmer now. You really want this?"
Happy paused as she started to roll out of bed.
"What do you mean?" Happy asked.
"This isn't just a one time event right? Are we going to move forward as a couple?" Toby asked. His heart already belonged to her and now after a night of intense sex, he was a goner.
"Doc, maybe I was wrong for doing this last night. I took advantage of how you feel for me. I'm not in the best place to make that kind of decision or commitment. I will admit I do like you more than I let on, but that is all I can offer right now. The question is, can you deal with that? Without pressing for more than I can give? If so, then let's do this. If not, then you should get your shower in the hall bathroom while I get ready in mine." Happy told him.
"I'm not saying that. I just have to acknowledge to you how I feel. I know my emotions aren't as messed up as yours and especially Walter's, but they aren't the same as normal peoples'. And I'd be lying if I didn't say I know this meant more to me than you. Part of the rebound I suppose." Toby told her.
"It meant a lot to me too Toby. Just not the same way as for you. It was reclaiming a huge part of me from Walter. For five years, I've been Walter's exclusively. Part of me felt like I was cheating on him, even if I did break up with him. And even knowing he did cheat on me a lot during those five years. Happy told him.
"And before you ask, I'm not saying that was all it meant to me. I told you, I do have feelings for you. So it meant a lot because of that. I just can't get into that part just yet. I hope you can understand and deal with this so we can move forwards as friends and…lovers." Happy said as she stepped up to him as he got out of bed.
Toby wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. Her arms rose up and wrapped around his neck. Happy's head tilted up and Toby kissed her. Their hands explored as they continued to kiss.
"You know, good long screws are the best way of joining two things right?" Toby smirked at Happy as they broke their kiss.
Happy rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, you definitely need to wash your face and brush your teeth." Happy told him as she broke their hug. She turned and was walking towards the bathroom when Toby reached out and grabbed a hand and turned her back.
"You think Walter would be able to tell?" Toby asked with a smirk.
"Do you want to find out?" Happy raised her eyebrow.
"Not particularly, I kind of like how everything is right at the moment." Toby smiled.
"Then get in the shower, now." Happy pulled against his hand and they moved on into the bathroom.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Jennee77 - Thank you so much! You're very welcome!
JerBr23 - hehehe Yep, that was exactly what it referred to! lol Glad you enjoyed it! Lots and lots of missed opportunity make up sessions! lol But I think that is kind of like sleep...once missed you can't really make it up. Sure you could force yourself to sleep a little more but, if you could force yourself after missing some, you could have forced it if you hadn't so, you'd technically still be deficient. lol
Railman - lol Yep...it wasn't easy exactly. And fortunately for the story happened early enough that Walter was willing to abide by the rules of the party and not press for personal information. Who said Walter was "normal" in bed that night? LOL But no, he wasn't sadistic in any sense with Paige. hehe The new story definitely takes another twist. So far my test readers are really enjoying it. It will probably be 15 chapters. And then it will probably rest for a while. Still can't decide on a name or when to share it. I really need to finish Callan and I want to share 2003 of it next.
Lucy - So glad to see you finally taking the plunge! hehe Oh man...if someone actually threatened her life? Scary! Yes, it is very difficult seeing Mark as a good guy, no doubt! An upcoming chapter sheds some light on how they met and why she's attracted towards him.
Pearliegirl - lol Well thank you! Swing on in anytime. lol So glad you enjoyed the teaser!
LouBe - Oh dear...if you think Drew is bad here...Wait until the new story! *bwhahahaaha* Well hopeful MLB won't come knocking on my door with a cease and decease order. I think a lot of people probably believe in clandestine groups inside of organizations like it though. Certainly as we look at real life and all the stuff that has come out about Epstein and his private island and all the stuff that went on there, the people (mostly men) of note that flew out there with him and partied certainly lends a smidge of credibility to it. Not to mention all the rumors of Hollywood, especially Hollywood of 40+ years ago. Not counting casting couches and what not. hehe Yeah, Walter definitely has a number of booboos at the moment. The side of his head bandaged after having his skull cracked so badly. lol Yeah...Walter in a budget hotel...not going to happen. lol Failure of her pill? LOL Could be or maybe her and Drew had just been using condoms? The story never divulged that info. Was the street smarts in reference to her considering Walter could have been Ralph's Father or getting pushed into doing this? lol No, she had considered that it could have been her mystery lover that was the Father. It was just part of the shock of finding out Walter was her lover and then oh crap, he could be Ralph's Dad! As for Drew, he was a bit delusional on Ralph. He was supremely confident that he was Ralph's Dad. His ego wouldn't let him think otherwise. Well as long as Walter doesn't get slugged in the jaw in some fashion he'll be okay. He has limited movement so he can't really chew and the break is about 60% mended so he should be okay. His tongue just does flatten enough to slip between his teeth. Yep, Paige really resonated with Walter and she's far from vanilla. lol Not quite tooty-fruity! lol
To the Adventure! -Tim