When In Rome

Chapter 2

"Looks like someone got an early start shopping," Holly J said when she saw Fiona walking down the hall toward her hotel room, it was early in the morning and a bellboy holding several large shopping bags.

Fiona smiled. "I decided to go down to the Via Condotti early, try to beat the rush. What are you doing up already?"

"I was gonna go down to the dining room and see what they have for breakfast."

Fiona raised her eyebrows. "Room service," she suggested as she unlocked to door to the hotel room. The bellboy put her bags inside and she quickly gave him a tip before he walked away.

"And miss the opportunity to meet a cute Italian waiter?"

"Someone's ready for a rebound."

Holly J shrugged. She and Sav had broken up shortly after graduation. With her going to Yale and him staying in Toronto, they decided the distance would be too hard on their relationship. "What about you and Adam? Where he is this morning?"

"He was still asleep when I left. He was so cute I couldn't bear to wake him."

Holly J smiled. "Wore him out, eh?"

"Something like that," Fiona said, rolling her eyes. "Weren't you going somewhere?"

"Defensive," Holly J noted, raising her eyebrows. "Come on, what happened."

"Nothing," Fiona told her. "Sorry to disappoint you," she added when Holly J frowned.

"I definitely heard screaming last night and they were not screams of horror."

"You were listening?"

"Ew, no. Our rooms share a wall and you guys were anything but quiet."

Fiona rolled her eyes. "We had a tickle fight."

Holly J blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

"We tickled each other. And then we fell asleep."

"You tickled each other? How... cute."

Fiona sighed, looking into her hotel room. Adam wasn't in bed, but she heard water running from the shower in the bathroom. She had no idea how long he might be in there. "Can um... can we talk in your room?"

"Yeah," Holly J said quickly. She unlocked the door and opened it so Fiona could enter. "What's up?"

"Um... the first time you and Declan... I mean, I don't wanna hear about my brother and... that but was it awkward when...?" Fiona asked awkwardly as she sat on the large couch.

Holly J looked confused as she sat on her bed to face her friend. "When what?"

Fiona raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. "You know."

"Oh," Holly J said after a moment. "Ohh. Um, kind of, at first. But then we got more comfortable with it and each other and... everything was ok."

"So it didn't change anything between you two?"

"Of course it changed things," Holly J told her. "Sex changes things. It's just the nature of it. If the relationship doesn't change, something's wrong."

Fiona nodded. "Adam and I are in such a good place right now. I don't want to ruin it all. I mean, what if he doesn't like me anymore after..."

"Are you insane?" Holly J spat out without thinking, Fiona sighed and looked away. "Fi, you know Adam's crazy about you. You guys love each other. Trust me, it won't ruin anything."

"But you and Declan..." Fiona began, but Holly J shook her head.

"Me and Declan breaking up had nothing to do with sex. Well... not the first time, at least. You just need to relax. Dwelling on it like this isn't gonna make it better. If anything, its just gonna freak you out more."

Fiona nodded again. "Well... what about... during?"

Holly J raised her eyebrows. "I can't tell you about during. First of all, because we're talking about your brother. Second, it's gonna be completely different. I mean, Adam's not..." she began, but cut herself short when Fiona glared at her. "Declan," she said quickly. "He's not Declan. And you're not me. You guys are different, so it's gonna be different."

"Nice save, Gretzky," Fiona mumbled, rolling her eyes.

"All the advice I can really give you is, when it feels right, go for it. Just don't force it and don't over think it, cause then it'll be awkward for both of you."

Fiona nodded slowly.

"You should probably get back. Adam's gonna be looking for you soon."

"Right," Fiona mumbled.

"Fi, don't do this."

"Do what?"

"The minute you go over there, Adam's gonna know something's wrong. You said yourself, you guys have a good thing going. Don't freak yourself out."

Fiona nodded and let out a quick breath, then walked out of Holly J's room. When she entered her room, she saw Adam laying on the bed with his eyes closed, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, his hair still slightly damp from his shower. She smiled and crawled into bed next to him, resting her head against his shoulder.

He opened his eyes and looked down at her, smiling. "Hey. Where have you been?" he asked.

"Shopping," she said simply.

"I noticed," he said, lifting his head slightly to look at the large pile of bags next to the door. "But when I got out of the shower, they were here and you weren't."

"I had to talk to Holly J."

"Everything ok?"

She nodded and sat up just enough to reach his lips, he smiled and quickly closed the distance between them, kissing her softly.

"I love you," he told her as she pulled away, laying against his shoulder again.

"You say that a lot," she noted.

"Only because it's true."

"Good," she said, putting one arm around his stomach as she snuggled closer to him.

to be continued...

AN: I really have no idea what happened during the part in Holly J's room. The Fiona in my head decided it was time for a freak out.