myspace(dot)com/smeagolsgirl and the blog name is the title of this fic. I also have ones for some of my other stories. Cheers! And on we go!)
"What on earth?" cried Tabby when she opened the door to find Hope-Anne
and Deagol working their way up to the front door. "Where have you been,
youg lady? Worried us sick, you did!"
"She went out for a walk and got a little scared," said Deagol. "Said she hurt her ankle." Hope offered a fake smile and hobbled over to the entrance.
"Oh! Well then come on in, by all means!" said Tabby, usuring her in.
"I have to be heading back," said Deagol. "I'll see you later, Hope!" She waved at him, and turned so Tabby could shut the door.
"Heavens, child! Are you cold? You're shaking like a leaf!" Hope hadn't realized it but she had not stopped shaking since she had bumped into Deagol.
"I'm fine," she said. "Just need to sit- ah!" Her ankle gave out and she nearly fell but Tabby grabbed a hold of her and helped her over to a chair in the kitchen.
"You sit right here while I find a wrap for your ankle." Hope nodded and
watched as Tabby hurried off. Behind her, Smeagol stepped into the kitchen
and placed a hand on her shoulder. Hope nearly jumped out of the chair, but
he quickly stepped in front of her so she could see him, and she breathed in,
calming herself down.
"You look awful," he said, tucking a tangled curl behind her ear. "What happened?"
"Something chased me," she said softly, looking to make sure Tabby wasn't coming. Smeagol's eyes widened with interest, and he pulled up a chair in front of her, sitting on it while pulling her sore ankle into his lap to rub her foot.
"Where?" he asked.
"Along the woods," she answered. "I was walking, and it got dark and when I turned to leave I heard someone coming, following me. But every time I looked behind me they must've hid cuz I never saw them. So I ran, and they ran, chasing me, and I crashed into Deagol's house, thinking it was yours."
"Did you ever get a look at who was following you?" he asked, his rubbing becoming a little harder.
"No," she said. "I told you they were hiding. Ow! Smeagol!" He had pressed too hard, and let go of her foot.
"Sorry!" he said. The whole conversation had made him nervous, and he'd unintentionally taken it out on her foot. They could hear footsteps approaching and he quickly shuffled her foot out of his lap and she scooted back a bit.
"So, anyway, I think the fish he got was close to two feet long!" she said,
immediatly trying to make it look like they were talking about something
else. "I mean, it was huge!"
"I can only imagine," he said, playing along.
"You two are the saddest bunch I've ever seen," said Tabby, walking in with
a wrap in her hands. "You don't honestly expect me to believe that, do you"
she asked. Hope and Smeagol exchanged looks. Had they been that
transparent? "A two foot long fish?" she continued. "Sweetheart, it couldn't
have been longer than a foot an a half."
Hope and Smeagol sighed with relief. "Oh," Hope muttered with a sigh.
"Probly. Guess I saw wrong."
"You know, you two really shouldn't be alone together. One might think you
two were courting each other." They laughed with her, though not for the
same reason. "I know!" chuckled Tabby. "I'm sorry, but the thought of you
two?" She laughed some more, but Smeagol and Hope looked at each other.
"It's perposterous!" continued Tabby. She finished up with Hope's wrap, and
stood up, still laughing. "Oh, do excuse me. I need a breather!" She left
them in the kitchen and stepped outside to sit on the porch.
Smeagol and Hope stared at each other dumbfounded. "Perposterous?" she cried. And Smeagol snickered as she grinned. "I hardly can even say that word! Why is it so ridiculous?"
"Who knows?" he asked with a shrug.
"You know this is only going to get more awkward if she goes on like this.
And how will she react when we tell her?"
"She won't," he said comfortingly. "As long as we don't tell her how long
we've been together behind her back, we'll be fine." She smiled a little,
doubting that was the real solution, but nodded as he kissed her cheek.
"Come on," she muttered. "You were scared to death for me and that's all you've got?"
He smiled, then leaned in, kissing her lips fully. Her hand reached up and tangled into his hair as she nestled up to him, and he pulled away, knowing Tabby was bound to be back soon. "Love you," she whispered while he was still an inch away from her face.
"Love you too," he answered, kissing her cheek.
----
That night as Hope dressed in her room, she glanced out the window twice.
Once to look at the full moon, admiring how large it looked for a change,
and a second time because she saw something moving from the corner of
her eye.
Her blood froze, and she stared, not moving for about five minutes, her heart pounding and threatening to break free of her chest. Then, hoping it was safe, she wandered to the window and looked out. A shadow darted behind the trees and out of sight, but for all she knew it could have been a rabbit or some other creature. Behind her, the bedroom door opened and she heard a yelp.
"Hope! I- Oh my! I'm so sorry!" Smeagol had opened the door to look in,
but it didn't occur to her until after he had turned red and darted back out
that she was wearing only her T-shirt and black underwear that read, "Born
to Rock!" on the front with an electric guitar on her butt. She burst out
laughing, unable to help it, and pulled on a pair of pajama pants, running
over to the door to open it for a very red Smeagol. "I didn't realize you were
getting dressed," he said softly, and she smiled.
"It's okay. It could have been worse. Knock next time, 'kay?" He nodded,
the red starting to fade. Part of her wondered if he was still picturing her
like that in his head. "What did you want?"
"I..." He was struggling to look at her. "I can't remember." She laughed,
wrapping her arms around him in a hug and kissed his cheek. Then they
broke apart and said goodnight. Whatever it was he had wanted to say, it
would have to wait until morning.