I'm really sorry about the ridiculous amount of time this took me. If it's any excuse, I did get abandoned by my beta and was waiting for a reply for months and then finally just gave up; which, of course, means that this has not been beta read, but I think I'll probably keep it like that from now on to avoid making people wait this long again.
Anyway, this is set a couple of weeks after the last chapter, and it's a songfic to 'Lay Me Down' by The Wreckers :) Hope you like it :) xx Bolly

Lay Me Down

Alex Drake woke up to find Ray Carling lying next to her, still fast asleep; just as she had done for the past two weeks. By now, they had a routine. She got out of bed and went for a shower every morning before he got up, and today was no different.

When she got out of the shower, Ray was still sleeping; in the past fortnight, she'd learned that, among other things, he was a very deep sleeper. Still dripping, she sat down on the bed, just looking at him, and turned the radio on; she knew by now that it wouldn't disturb him.
As she sat there, she couldn't help but listen to the music that was playing. There was something about it that drew her in.

You let me in, cause after all,
It seemed like the right thing to do.
She finds herself thinking about Ray. It sounds like the song's directed at him. It sounds like it should be her singing; like it could be. You let me in because I was broken, she thinks, and she knows she's talking to Ray, even though he can't hear her. It was the right thing to do.
I closed my eyes, and let you fall,
I wonder what you could possibly know
About breaking down that I don't.
I know everything about breaking down. She does. She's a psychologist. She knows everything...or so she used to think. With everything I know about breaking down, I still can't stop it from happening to me- you had to do it for me...you didn't seem to have a problem with it though. I think you needed it too.It's been getting harder last night. Last night, he asked her a question; a question she couldn't bring herself to answer. You want more than this. I know you do. Maybe you think this is more than it really is; either way, it'll never be more. It can't be. It's not what I need. I know what I need.
So lay me down, I'm lonely, oh, oh,
That's all I need. I don't want more; I can't give more.
You don't understand me,
And you never even tried to anyway.
Now that we're closer, you seem to think you know what's going through my mind. You don't. You have no idea how I feel; up until now, you've never tried. I don't even think you're trying now; but I don't mind. Just carry on like this.Who'd have thought it? Ray Carling, the misogynist who saw women as objects, suddenly telling me that there's more to our relationship than this? I still can't believe it.
I'm sorry, it's something I just can't explain.
I don't know how I feel myself.
So shut your mouth, and hold me close;
We both know, it's better than being alone,
I've been alone for too long. When I'm with you, I'm not alone, and that's all that matters.
I don't mind killin' time,
As long as I can see it your eyes.
I've been let down too many times. I can't let myself fall again; I can't let myself feel that much ever again.Just lay me down again. It works like this. Why do you have to ask me questions? Why do you have to mess things up? Please don't do that. Please don't start trying to understand me now. Just lay me down.I didn't ever really want you that much, if I'm perfectly honest. It's just that I need someone, and you're always there. Over the past two weeks, I've started to want you more and more. I'm not attracted to you, but I'm addicted, and I don't have a problem. I'm not going to fight it.
Time after time
You realize you don't mean it.
You know this is what you want too. I can see it. I know you might want more, but this is part of what you want- the only part I can give you right now. The other part belongs to someone else, although I hate to admit it- and you know who that is.As a song reached an end, Alex saw Ray's eyelids flutter. Straight away, she turned around and switched the radio off. He opened his eyes and smiled, and she could see how he felt; she just didn't feel the same way, but she reached down and kissed him, and the cycle continued, just as the girls in the song wanted- just as Alex wanted.

It's been a while, since I begged for anything
But now I want a moment,

I hear you say, "It's not the same",

So lay me down, I'm lonely, oh, oh-
You don't understand me,
And you never even tried.

If wanting you is wrong
Then I'm wrong, I'll admit it,

Lay me down, I'm lonely
Oh, oh
You don't understand me
And you never even tried
I'm sorry, lay me down
I'm lonely, lay me down
You don't understand me
And you never even tried to anyway.