Maya sat at the dining room table in a girly pink dress. Her face scrunched into a scowl. Lucas was holding in his laugh as Maya glared at him.

"You look so pretty short stack." Lucas cooed chuckling.

"It was all pink." She countered sharply.

Lucas took a bite of his potatoes to hide his grin as his mother talked about their family to Maya.

Maya listened quietly, her muscles aching from her last encounter with Kermit. She began to rub her sore legs as Lucas' mother went on about Pappy Joe. If she had been focusing she wouldn't have missed the opportunity to tease Lucas.

Lucas noticed her repeated movement and took her hand gently rubbing the back of her hand. "Why don't you take a hot bath?"

Maya nodded standing up. "Can I borrow a shirt to sleep in? Preferably not pink?"

Lucas smiled and walked into his room grabbing one of his smaller shirts knowing it would still be huge on her. He handed her the shirt, a smile spreading across her face as she turned to enter the bathroom. Lucas grabbed her wrist careful not to hurt her.

"Hey come here." He said pulling her against him holding her hips.

"Yes ranger Rick?"

Lucas smirked and captured her lips with his, murmuring against them. "I've missed you."

Maya sighed against his lips as she kissed him. "I missed you too huckleberry and I know you're gonna take care of me." She said leaning her forehead against his. "I'd invite you in but I'm not sure how your parents would like that."

Lucas chuckled and nodded. "I'll take care of you when you come to bed." Maya grinned and kissed him again. They had only been together two weeks so they were waiting for the moment to be special before they slept together. Maya had a feeling that living together would speed that up and she didn't mind. Lucas really cared for her she felt it in every touch and she knew he would know when she was ready.

Maya soaked in the tub, the water up to her neck. She thought about all the times she sat in the tub examining her bruises, contemplating whether or not she wanted to sink under never seeing Kermit again. But this time she sat there thinking about Lucas and his caring arms. She missed her mother but she knew she could never forgive her. If she ever came back she would walk away letting her know how it felt to be left.

Maya dried off with the towel she found on the shelf. She slipped on her underwear and Lucas' t-shirt, her damp hair pulled up into a bun. She gathered her dirty clothes and opened the door. She checked the hallway for Lucas' parents not wanting them to see her so uncovered. She darted to the door that she saw Lucas leave earlier and walked inside.

Lucas looked up from his on-the-go football stats at the sound of her entrance. "Hey how was your bath?"

"Good, relaxing." She said sitting in between his legs and leaning back. Lucas smiled wrapping his arms around her and kissed her head. She traces his arms as he softly talked.

"I'm sorry I should have notice sooner."

"Don't say that. None of this is your fault." Maya countered.

"I could have protected you."

"You're protecting me now." She said turning around in his arms. She grabbed his face gently and kissed him revealing all the appreciation and dare she say, love she had for him.

Lucas smiled into the kiss holding her waist. She winced as his hand pressed against one of her many bruises. Lucas pulled away as she gasped. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

Maya set her hands on his chest. "There's a bruise there that's all."

"Lay down. I want to know where each of them are."

Maya nodded and laid down peeling off her shirt, her bra and underwear still covering her. Lucas smiled softly and hovered over her kissing her gash first. Maya closed her eyes relishing in the love she felt in every touch. Lucas moved his lips she each bruise and scar. She bit her lip, reaching down to his head and running her fingers through his hair. Finally he kissed her last bruise and rubbed it softly. He wished the marks and her pain could go away with just a kiss but he knew it would take much more than a kiss.

He took her hands pulling her to sit up against him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.

"Ready to sleep?" He asked tracing circles on her shoulder. She nodded dozing off to sleep knowing she was safe and cared for with Lucas.