Title: You Left Some Stars In My Belly
Author: MCMGM
Characters: Jeff Buckley, Kristen, various other.
Rating: M
Content: Language, mild violence, strong sexual content, drug use.
Disclaimer: Only own Kristen and any other fictional character. Everyone else owns themselves.
(A/N) Based in an AU.
Tim Buckley was a celebrated musician, who's fame came to rise in the late 60's and early 70's. He also wasn't much of a father to Jeff. He left town before Jeff was even born. Going on tours, making records and falling in and out of love with various women. So they didn't have much chance for a relationship. And Tim's death back when Jeff was only eight didn't help matters either.
Kristen hadn't realized how much Jeff looked like Tim until he confessed he was his father. The heavy brow, slender nose, deep clef in the chin. Jeff looked like a live action picture of Tim from his younger days. None the less, she felt bad for the comparison.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."
"You like Tim's music?" Jeff asked, refusing to call him 'Dad'.
"Yes…" she reluctantly replied, not wanting to offend him further by admitting to it.
"Cool."
Jeff slammed the mail box shut and made his way to the elevator. They rode up in an awkward silence. Kristen couldn't believe she was actually going to some strange guy's apartment. Even if it was HER apartment a few years ago, even if she was a fan of his absentee father's work, it was still risky. He could be crazy, God knows what he did to her apartment. He could have converted it into some type of torture chamber or something. Her crazed thoughts were interrupted by Jeff's soft voice.
"Well, welcome home." he chuckled as he pushed open the front door with his foot.
As they walked in her eyes darted all around, surveying the place. It was so different from when she had lived there. In place of blue paint was basic white. Where family photos used to hang, a poster of Jimi Hendrix. The living room was pretty bare, with a single couch and love seat sitting across from one another. A guitar and amp sat quietly in the corner near a shut off lamp. It screamed a single person lived there.
Despite what she imagined, there were no torture devices waiting for her or anyone else who ventured here.
Kristen helped Jeff take the groceries into the kitchen. She led the way, seeing as she knew where it was. They put everything up and then headed into the living room.
"I hope I didn't destroy your place too bad." Jeff laughed as he moved a pile of records off of the love seat.
"It isn't my place anymore, stopped being that when I moved so don't worry about it."
Jeff nodded.
An awkward silence filled the air around them again. Finally Jeff broke it.
"Um so…what do you want to do?"
Kristen shot him a look.
"I didn't mean that…I meant do you want to watch t.v or something."
Kristen just shrugged. Jeff smiled lightly and offered Kristen a seat. He grabbed the remote and flicked on the t.v.
"And in other news, local up and coming singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley has been gaining a bit of a fan base in New Yor…" Jeff flicked the channel as fast as he could, embarrassed Kristen had had seen him on MTV.
"Hey, I was looking at that."
"There are better things on." he said, flicking through the channels once more. Kristen could see that he was obviously upset, so she didn't push it.
"Hey Step by Step is on." Jeff finally settled on the sitcom starring Patrick Duffy and Susan Summers. They watched until the first commercial, when Jeff stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
"Hey do you want something to drink? Soda? Water?"
"Water is cool."
"Alright."
Jeff strolled off, giving Kristen an opportunity to steal glance at his record collection. She could see Miles Davis, Rush and Yes right at the top. Before she could probe any further, Jeff returned with her water.
"Thanks."
"No problem." he said as he sat back down on the couch. After Step by Step went off, he searched once more through his limited selection of channels. He was too poor to afford the luxury of cable.
"I'm sorry." Jeff said seemingly out of nowhere.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Kristen asked quizzically.
"For what that guy said to you the other night. Sin-e is usually a nice place, no one bothers anyone. Just sometimes they can get an asshole or two on Happy Hour nights. You happened to be there on a Happy Hour night."
"Well, I forgot all about that, but thanks." she lied.
Jeff nodded and continued, "If I wasn't such a pussy, I would have hit him for you. But I tend to bruise easily. And record companies don't want to hire bruised guys to be their poster boys." Jeff turned his head slowly in her direction. The cheesiest of smiles adorning his face.
Kristen burst out in laughter, covering her smile with her hand. Jeff joined in with her, shortly thereafter.
"That was the first time you've smiled since you've been here."
"I'm sorry. I have just been having a hard time at work. It's starting to spill over into my personality. You probably think I'm a bitch."
Jeff sat up, "I don't think that at all. Or else I wouldn't have invited you up here. I don't associate with bitches." Jeff lifted his chin in the air as if he were above everybody. Kristen stifled a second laugh. Jeff smiled at her affectionately from the couch.
"Um, listen. I'm doing another show at Sin-e tonight. Would you mind coming? And uh, STAYING this time?"
Kristen chuckled, "I would have to go home first."
"Come as you are."
Something about the way he said that made her tingle a bit on the inside. She shook it off and attempted to come up with an excuse to go home.
"After the day I've had, I need to shower and change. But I know where the place is. I can just meet you there."
"I'd prefer to pick you up, I'm not a fan of women walking by themselves late at night around here."
"You think I can't handle myself?"
"No, not at all. Just, I'd feel better if you'd let me get you."
"Well, alright. Uh, let me give you my address and directions." Kristen grabbed a piece of gum wrapper out of her pocket and scrolled down the information.
"Well, I guess I'll see you in a few hours."
"Yeah, I'll be there at 9 to get you."
"Alright, bye."
"Bye."
Jeff started to close the door as Kristen made her way to the elevator. But he stopped himself.
"Oh and take a cab home!" he yelled after her.
"I will!" she yelled back as she got into the elevator.
He closed the door and fell onto it in a huff, exhaling deeply. His stomach hurt, but it wasn't a ache from bad food or stress, but knots from butterflies.
"Oh man." Jeff pushed himself off of the door and walked into the bathroom to shower and get ready.