A/N: Finally I've finished my next chapter. I hope my writer's block is gone now and you don#t think it's too cheesy. This definitely is a weak chapter. I hope you'll review!

Chapter Nine: My Girl

I got sunshine
On a cloudy day
when it's cold outside
i got the month of May
i guess you say
what can make me feel this way
my girl
(The Tempations)

Lilly looked at Scotty. It was unbelievable. He had the same look on his face that she felt on her mind. Mrs Collins had just relieved them of a lot of paperwork.
After Mrs Collins had left the department they just had to search for Frank Collins address instead of looking through all the files of Hope's case.

"Have a match" Lilly smirked.
Scotty came over to her desk and read the information on her desktop standing behind her.
"It seems as though the guy was never divorced of Mrs Collins even though he lives with his first wife Andrea again… and he still lives in Philly!" she informed him.
"Sounds as though we are able to visit him before lunch." Scotty noticed and took the keys out of his pocket.
"We'll take my car."

Vera who has watched the scene could not help adding a comment.
"Rumour has it you two aren't able to take another car apart from Scotty's…!"
"You know, mine wouldn't start this morning so I phoned Scotty…"
"…because your house is on his way? C'mon Rush…"
"Actually, he just doesn't spread that much rumour as you." Lilly grinned and turned at her heels to join the smirking Scotty on the way to his car.

Frank Collins lived in a small apartment half an hour from the department. But although it was small it was comfortable, warm and clean.

Lilly and Scotty sat in the living-room and waited for Frank Collins while Mrs Andrea Meyer-Collins offered them some tea.
"Frank will be here in a minute. He phones with our daughter Delia, she's a psychiatrist in Florida." The elderly woman explained. She was a little plump woman, in her mid-fifties and seemed to be the perfect housewife with her string of pearls, a light purple costume and the grey hair combed into a perfect bun. Moreover, she seemed to be a very kind and loving person.

"Do you two want some cookies?"
"No, thank you, Mrs Meyer-Collins" Lilly answered.
"Oh, but I want some:" Scotty replied and took one of the offered cookies that were still warm.
Andrea Meyer-Collins shot a caring glare at Lilly.
"Just call me Andrea! But are you sure? I think you should eat some Detective. I suppose, you don't get enough food. You are so slim and pale, almost a little sick. I guess, you have to much stress, don't you?"

Lilly didn't have to answer because a small and slender man who introduced himself as Frank Collins came in and interrupted his wife.

"I apologize for taking your time, Detective."
He seated himself on the other side of the desk Lilly and Scotty were sitting.
"So, you are working Hope's case again?" he asked while Andrea gave him some tea.
"Yes, we are. I assume you can answer us some questions?" Scotty said.
"I don't know. When Hope was murdered Alice and I weren't in the relationship anymore. I broke up when Hope's daughter, Gwen, was about a month… Alice were not in control of her daughter and she wasn't even able to see that Hope wasn't that little angle of hers."
"What do you mean?" Lilly questioned.
"Hope did what she wanted to do! She took everything without thinking of it or thinking of someone else than her ego. She often left her house in the middle of the night and met some high-school guys. She even met Delia's boyfriend."
"You mean Oliver Green was your daughter's boyfriend?"
"Indeed, they have been together for two years before Hope came. Delia was invited to a friend's party and took Hope with her. Delia thought Hope would probably be happier if she met some older people she could look up to… but Delia became sick and left the party earlier and with that Hope alone at the party. Hope took advantage of the situation and… I guess, you can paint your picture of it."
"I suppose we can." Lilly replied with bitter thoughts of Christina and Patrick.
"But that wasn't why you broke up with Alice?" Scotty took another cookie from the plate in front of him.
"No, I thought that this was just some teenager problem, not mine. But Hope stole money and was always away. Alice and I had to take care of the baby and Hope was just irresponsible. I thought that Alice would talk to her daughter, but she didn't. We argued way to often because of a child that wasn't mine…"
"So your relationship with Hope wasn't the best."
"Definitely. We didn't like each other, but we tried to get along as much as possible and ignored each other if it was necessary."

Half an Hour later Scotty and Lilly were back at the department and told the other detectives what they got to know. Both of them were pretty sure that Frank Collins had nothing to do with, but knew that they had to talk to Delia.

"So, I thought Lil and I could go to see her at the weekend…" Scotty began.
"Hey, and what is with good Will and Me?" Vera insisted. "We want some sun either."

Lilly grinned a little at Vera's try to go to Florida, but still looked awfully pale, Scotty noticed quite concerned.

"Sorry, but you aren't able to go. We don't have that much money…" Stillman claimed.
"… But it would be a whole lot cheaper if only Will and I would go there, Boss. You know, Lil needs an extra room Will and I can share one." Vera attempted.
"It's Lil's case, Nick, she has to go there. No further discussions"

With that the group was dismissed. Vera looked most disappointed and went out of the room mumbling something at Lilly.

"It's always like that with you gals, you know. You take all the fun. It's fun being the lone female detective in the department. It's always your case, your group, your vacation… I should probably start a career as a woman… Nicky… Then I'd go to Florida either…"
"He doesn't mean it like that. You know, Lil, he still likes you." Will whispered to Lil as the three of them left the office.

Scotty stayed at the office to talk a word to Stillman alone.

"Thanks Boss. She really needs another place. But if it's too much money she can go to Florida alone."
Stillman shook his head. "No, you have to look after her. She always seems to be somewhere else. Take a day off."
"I guess, she needs to see a doctor. She tries to pretend to be the same, that this incident hasn't done anything to her."
"It wouldn't have any effect 'cause she doesn't want to see a doctor. I order your tickets and you'll stay there until Sunday and the hotel rooms and you take Lil home so that she can get her things and you get yours at your place after that."

Two hours later Scotty sat next to Lilly on the plane. She was pretty quiet and hadn't said more than fifteen words. She looked exhausted and tired.
Even though she has had more sleep last night she felt weak, but didn't want to sleep in front of Scotty, not again. Somehow, she felt embarrassed, thinking of him watching her sleeping. She looked out of the little window and saw all these wonderful clouds. They looked so warm as though you could lay in them to sleep. The sun was reflected by the clouds and it seemed as though they were little mountains.

After an hour of their flight Scotty felt how a head fell on his shoulder. He turned his head a little to see her and felt the soft of her hair at his chin. She looked so beautiful, like an angel. She was still pale, she always was, but she didn't look so scared anymore, she seemed to be calm and satisfied like that. Scotty smiled at her and put a strand of her hair away from her face.

With that a Stewardess came to offer them something.
"Is everything right Mr Valens. Do you or Mrs Valens want to drink something?" asked she.
Scotty just nodded his head and formed a little "No" because he didn't want to wake Lilly. Usually he would have corrected the Stewardess and would have said that she wasn't Mrs Valens for he thought that she wouldn't like this that much, but for this moment she was his. Just for this few moments she was his Mrs Lilly Valens.