A/N: Hello! This fanfic was a collaboration borne of mutual love for the character of Trent Maddock. One of us has watched the show all the way through; the other has not, so there may be some continuity errors. We also live in different states and haven't exactly memorized the California penal code, so there are instances where one of us may be using knowledge of the laws from another state. This is also somewhere between "close to canon" and "AU". We therefore humbly request your indulgence.

At first, we were writing Trent as a relatively sweet, charmingly boyish man with a wholesome vibe because that's what we got from Paul Welsh's delivery (and also, he's WAY less sinister than, say, Joe Goldberg from You). Then, as we got deeper into the story, we decided to take the "sinister, scary, unhinged," etc. traits that the wikis and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend fan groups on Facebook projected onto him and just run with them. He goes from sweet, gentle, and forgiving to "Holy Shit Quotient: The Character!" within just a couple of days of us writing.

We did this just for fun, on a private forum, and decided to publish it just in case there are any other Trebecca fans who might enjoy our take. As the Marquis de Sade expressed in many of his surviving works, take what you enjoy and ignore the rest.

xoxo

Chapter 1: Tears in Heaven

Everything was pain. His head, his heart, his body. He had confessed to stalking Rebecca and threatening her ex, Nathaniel, because he couldn't bear the idea of Rebecca in prison. God help him, he still loved her, even after she had put him in the hospital, even after she had broken his heart. His head hurt from crying; his bones hurt from healing. He knew there was no other girl in the world for him. Why did he have to feel this way? He had worked so hard to convince himself she loved him and it had all come to nothing. Despair overwhelmed him. He no longer cared if he went to jail, if he lived or died. Everything...was pain.

Rebecca was a mess, if truth be told. After the brief shock of seeing Trent trying to hurt Nathaniel, and her actions as far as shoving him off the roof, everything that followed after seemed to just crumble and fall apart. Nathaniel had basically told her that he had never wanted to see her again. Josh wouldn't return her phone calls, and Greg...well, it was best not to think about Greg. Life sucked and she was on the verge of losing her mind. The one constant, in this crazy scheme of life, since she had moved to CA, strangely, had been Trent. He had been there since Val had called to inform him of Rebecca's lie, and like the good guy he was, he had played along, till it turned to blackmail into getting her to liking him. But she couldn't think about all that now. She had been stupid, in many, many ways and after cleaning herself up, she had found where the paramedics had sent him, and also found out that he was on a police watch since he had confessed to get her out of jail. Even now, he protected her. She really was an idiot!

Making her way to the hospital, she paused and paced a few times in the hallways, asking herself what the hell she was doing! Why was she going to see him at all! Ugh! Life so sucked right now...but she found out where his room was and slowly made her way there. Stopping at the door to catch a breath before she pushed it open and walked in. No turning back now.

"Trent?"

He was hearing things. He must be hearing things. It was his mind playing tricks on him, giving him hallucinations of what he most wanted—the oasis in the desert. Rebecca. A soft groan escaped his lips, an acknowledgement of what couldn't be, of what never was. A sound of pure torture. He felt another hot tear slide down, under his face cast. He dared not open his eyes; he couldn't bear to confirm that he was hallucinating.

Seeing him the way that he was, all bandaged up in a body cast, Rebecca nearly bolted. She had done this, caused this, and she couldn't begin to imagine the pain he must be in right now. But she didn't, because something inside her made her stay. Face what she had done and feel bad about it. REALLY, she felt terrible. She hadn't meant to push him off the roof! Just to shove him away from Nathaniel. Hearing his soft groan, she bit her lip and wondered if this was the best idea. After all, she had broken his heart and the look on his face when he had left that night had, in a way, broken hers too. Why did she ruin everything she touched? But enough, she was here now, and something inside her compelled her to try again.

"Trent? It's...It's Rebecca," she ventured, feeling really, really stupid. Of course he would know it was her! "I—I came to visit...and...and thank you for what you did." Gods, why was this so hard and awkward. She should leave! Leave before he opened his eyes!

This hallucination...it was starting to feel all too real. Was he asleep, or was he awake? Was he dreaming?

"Re...becca..." he managed, though it hurt his throat and his heart. "Anything... For you." He knew he was delirious, but he couldn't resist talking to this beautiful hallucination. He wanted to believe. Needed to, in a way.

Hearing her name leave his lips in that way, made her pause as she was trying to sneak back out the door. She closed her eyes, counted to three before turning back around and coming back to stand at his side. He seemed to not really see her, and that, for a moment, worried her.

"I'm sorry, Trent." Her words soft as she ventured a sincere, heartfelt apology. "I didn't mean...I just...that's all I can say, I guess. I am sorry. And I AM sorry." she bit her lip as her eyes met and held his. So many things she wanted to say, but no words were coming.

Trent started crying in earnest now. He knew these words; he heard them in his dreams, willed them to be real. He had believed in manifestation, to a point, before everything had come crashing down. Somehow this time, the words, her voice, were more in-focus. His imagination was getting better, or his delusions were getting stronger. Maybe someday he would believe he could truly be loved again.

And he responded as he always did in his dreams: "forgive...you, my...love." His throat was searing, and so was his heart, but just in case it was real this time, he had to answer. He always answered. He could never deny Rebecca, even an imaginary Rebecca.

"Ohhh...Trent...no...no...Don't cry...I am sorry." Rebecca began to panic when she saw his tears and knew for certain that he wasn't even seeing her standing before him. But rather was lost in a haze of medicine and pain, the likes she couldn't even believe. Should she call for help? What good would that do him besides more drugs? She was so afraid to touch him, seeing him the way he was. Afraid she would hurt him more since every part of him was bandaged, but she had to do something to comfort him. Her heart broke anew, at the sight of his tears and the soft whisper of his words. "I forgive you too, Trent..." She whispered softly as she leaned over carefully and ever so gently, pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Please, Trent, don't cry. I really am here...I promise."

Just like a princess in a fairy tale, Trent was awake and alert the second he was touched by lips. His soft green eyes focused on the woman in front of him. She looked... beautiful, and sad, just the way he remembered her. He wondered briefly if he had died, if she was in fact an angel taking the form he would most accept, but he felt the tears upon his cheek and knew that could not be true. There were no tears in Heaven. There was a song like that...wasn't there?

"My love," he rasped again, gazing at her in rapture.

She instantly relaxed when he actually looked at her and saw her, noting how much more alert he seemed to be. Taking a deep breath, she nodded slightly, smiling faintly at his words. She knew how he felt about her and it still felt a little weird to be called such by someone she didn't exactly know yet, but she wouldn't demand he change it or stop. Not if it made him feel better...and her too, in a way if she was honest. "Hello Trent..." Her voice almost shy as she felt her lips turn up in a smile. "I am here. I... had to come..."

This was good. This meant part of her cared about him. Maybe not love, but she clearly cared if he lived or died, which was more than he had fully allowed himself to hope before now. He had dreamed, wayward dreams of a desperate man. He held her gaze. It was important that she know.

"Wouldn't... hurt... him. Just... for show," he managed. He swallowed hard. He wasn't dehydrated; the IVs saw to that, but he had a lump in his throat from crying, and his body was, of course, still healing. How long had it been? Time was a blur. At least a month and a half? Last time, he had healed after six months. How long would it take now? "Wanted... attention," he added painstakingly.

She could tell how much talking cost him, and when he managed to get out what he seemed so eager to say, for her to know, she sighed, pulled up a chair beside his bed and met his eyes, looking deeply into them. "I know..." she said softly. Why did this have to be so hard? True, he had pursued her every step of the way, offered her things no one else ever had and even listened to her...really listened to her when he really didn't have to. He didn't know her, not really, but what he did, he did because, in his own, weird little way, he cared. She knew that now. Though it was still odd to think about.

"I'm sorry, Trent. I really am," she said softly as she instinctively reached out and allowed her fingers to ghost over his a moment before she pulled her hand back. She really didn't want to hurt him again. "I didn't mean to actually shove you off the roof. You just scared me..." She sighed again and looked down, trying to get her thoughts in order, before raising them back to his again. "Can we... start over...?" she ventured shyly, knowing she had no right to ask that of him. "No blackmailing or lies or tricks this time? Just... Just you... and me?"

He blinked. That was all he had ever wanted! He could soar right out of this cast, he felt so light. Gravity was an illusion and pain was an emotion. He was flying high, and there could be no other answer.

"Of course," he whispered. In his mind, he was reaching out and holding her hand. He felt a twinge; one of his fingers surely must have twitched. "I'd... love that."

Something washed over her at his answer, and she had to look away a moment, least she blush. He looked so...excited, so like a schoolboy that it almost made her cry at how happy her question had made him. Did he really feel that deeply about her? Had he for that much, that long? Really? Well, she wanted to find out. This time, no more lies, no more tricks. Sure, they both had quirks to work out, but given time, they could work them out together, she was sure.

"Ok, don't look so excited," she teased, chuckling softly. "You have to get better first. Then we can talk about this more. Ok?" She turned back and actually smiled at him, before it faded a moment. He faced jail for his confession. They would have to deal with that soon too. Good thing she was a lawyer. A property lawyer, but still...right?

"It's just...how I look," he whispered, a smile in his voice.

A soft giggle actually escaped her at his words, about him being excited. She remembered he had said the exact same thing when they first met. But the realness of the situation they faced loomed before her and she sat back in her chair, thinking a moment.

Such was his bliss that he had completely forgotten his confession warranted jail time, but now the realization hit him as he saw Rebecca's smile fade. Right. Real life had a way of interfering with dreams.

"Duress," he said; confessions under duress were inadmissible in court. Rebecca had been let out because she honestly didn't belong there, and as a rich white woman, the State hadn't wanted to hold her anyway. But it was important she get him a defense lawyer who could argue this: Paula had extracted a confession from him under duress, and it couldn't count against him. He frowned with effort, urgently trying to convey his message. "Duress," he said again, more forcefully this time.

So lost in thoughts was Rebecca, for a moment, that she didn't hear him the first time. Not till the urgent sound of his voice pierced her thoughts did she blink and look back at him.

It took her a moment to get what he meant but when she did, her smile brightened considerably. "Trent...you are a genius." If she could, she probably would have kissed him for such an answer.

Trent's heart danced for joy when she called him a genius. He knew he was, but to hear it from the lips of his beloved was validating indeed.

Rebecca knew what had happened, mostly, when Paula had come to see him the last time he was in the hospital. That woman told her everything. Or, almost everything. She didn't tell her exactly how she had gotten him to confess though, and that made her eyes furrow as she looked back at Trent. "What... what did she do?" She ventured softly, before shaking her head as if to clear it. "Never mind... we can talk about that another time. But I know what to do now. You won't face the inside of a cell if I have anything to say about it. Promise." Could she keep that promise? Oh gods, she hoped she could.

"She came," he started. Talking was easier now he was calming down and getting used to it. "Insulted me." Casual tone; he didn't care if she called him a 'psychotic, turtleneck-wearing piece of crap'; her existence was largely irrelevant to him. "Tricked me." This was said with disdain. "Pretended... not to know... my school." He paused to take a breath. "Said she would... have Princeton" –Disdain, again, for a lesser school than his alma mater— "take back my degree... Foolish... Told her, Actually, I went to school in Boston."

Listening to him speak, she paid close attention to his words, and to the things he didn't say. A threat was a threat, regardless of the situation. She could use that. But she didn't like the fact that a supposed friend had done this to get her out of jail. Warranted, Paula had only meant to help, but she had left out the parts where she had insulted Trent, or tricked him for that matter. It showed clearly on her face, as he talked, what she thought of the actions of her friend.

"Trent, you silly man..." She chuckled softly, a soft smirk alighted her face. "I am sorry she harassed you. Said mean things. I never told her to do that."

He smiled to himself. He was a silly man. It was the nicest thing Rebecca had ever said about him, and he accepted it. As for Paula's actions, she had just been trying to be a good friend to Rebecca. He didn't begrudge her that. He would have nodded if he could to show he accepted his love's words.

Her frown was evident now as she thought of what could have happened, had Paula been caught. Harassing a 'comatose' patient was a two-day stint in the Pen if caught, without a trial. How had she managed to get away with that with two guards sitting by his door, day and night? Something else to look into that she made mental notes for later. But later, for now that Trent was awake, and seemingly feeling better, she had wanted to spend a little time with him, before she had to leave to go back to work. Leaving wasn't exactly a thrilling idea, not with him like this, and she was surprised to find herself bothered by it. But she had to work, had to find a lawyer for him that would take his case and figure this whole mess out before they could begin again.

"We'll get through this," Trent said, boyish optimism bubbling to the surface. He believed in her. She was smart and determined; if she really set her mind to getting him freed, she would find a way, he knew that about her. He felt peaceful in a way he hadn't felt since the night she had taken his virginity, twice.

She had to admit, his optimism was slightly contagious. It felt weird, to have someone believe in her so much, and she didn't even really know him. Oh, she knew him in the biblical sense, something that still pricked her when she thought about it, but she didn't really know him, as a person. She really had a lot to make up for and starting with him not going to jail.

"Yes. We will. Together," she said softly as she watched him. He seemed so... serene. What was it that went on in his head sometimes and did she really want to know? Probably not, but he looked so peaceful all of a sudden that she almost envied him.

"Thank you..." she suddenly blurted out, her emotions for the moment, getting the better of her. "For forgiving me... I have done...horrible things to you, Trent. And I cannot say it enough... how sorry I am. Honest. I can't understand how you can stand to look at me. I can't stand to look at me! I mean...come on! I pushed you off a roof! Tore your heart out, granted I didn't mean to at the time, but I did... and acted like a complete bitch to you many times... and let's not talk about the sex. For that... I can't even begin to make up for..." It all came out like word vomit. Harsh, fast but true. She felt terrible that her actions had caused him pain, that she had used and abused him and he just took it. Taking his virginity, however was the one thing she had made herself sick over... what type of person does that!

"I don't deserve your forgiveness Trent...I don't warrant it. At all!" She looked up at him, biting her lip. Unshed tears clung to her eyelids but refused to fall. "I am... sorry... that's all I can say... how... how can you forgive me? I can't..."

"Morality is relative," Trent murmured. "Who... am I... to deny forgiveness?... The things I've done...to be close to you..." His peaceful smile turned ironic. "The sex was great. Best I ever had," he joked.

"You said...start fresh. We will. I promise." He didn't like her being sad. He wanted to comfort her, even though he knew her words were true- not that she didn't deserve forgiveness, but that she had done questionable things. But in this world, who hadn't? Who was without sin? It meant the world to him that she cared, that she was finally willing to give him a chance, a real chance. Since it was her choice now, maybe he didn't have to play trust games or put her through tests. He didn't have to keep her up all night playing board games because they would have more time, now... Wouldn't they?

"Don't be sad, babygirl," he said softly. "You deserve to be happy. I want you... to be happy."

"I'm not sad, Trent. For the first time in... forever, I AM happy. Truly, utterly happy." She was, and it showed. In her face, in her expression and her body language.

His words...so sweet, so tender, so true, it was all she could do to keep herself from breaking down right there. He forgave her? Truly? The feeling was the most freeing feeling she had ever felt in her entire life. It made her spirit feel brighter in a way no alcohol or drug ever had. Seeing the way he looked at her, so earnestly, made her nod and wipe her eyes. No tears would fall. Not today. He forgave her, nothing else mattered. They would start anew. They both had promised, and maybe, slowly, they both could begin to heal.

"I promise too, Trent. I promise to be better. To make you proud that you chose me. Of me." She said with a soft smile as she reached out and very gently cupped her hand over his fingers. She was determined, then and there, no one, not even her, would ever hurt Trent Maddock ever again.

"I'm already proud of you, babygirl. You have no idea... Twelve years... watching you. Now... We take care... of each other." Her touch sent tingles through him and suddenly, he felt no pain.

"We will...I promise." She agreed, giving him a soft, warm smile. Hearing how long he had been watching her, did give her pause for a moment, but they had promised. Start anew. The past didn't matter. Only today, tomorrow and the future mattered.

"I will be here for you, Trent. Until you walk out those doors on your own power. My turn...to take care of you..." She meant it. She would stop by every day if she would be allowed.

She would be there for him until he walked out of those doors... So, until he was healed. That was better than nothing, he reasoned, better than the rejection and heartache he had been wrestling with. Once he had a taste of her true kindness, would he be willing to let that go? But wait, she was still speaking.

"You are really too sweet sometimes, you know?" she said with a soft giggle.

"Sweet," he echoed. He tried. He did things he knew to be romantic. He loved, wholeheartedly. "Then... We make a good pair."

She smirked lightly, nodding. "We could be, I would like to see how far we can go. If you really wanted to." She paused and tilted her head a bit, chuckling softly. "You do know this means, no more conforming to fit my mold, yes?" She asked it in such a way that she nearly blushed. "I mean...you are your own person too, Trent. I want to know YOU. Not the man who tries to like everything I like so I would notice him. YOU. Can you do that for me? Promise to try?" She knew how he was, and had noticed a lot of his actions mirrored hers. Just who was the real Trent? She desperately wanted to know.

Did he really want to see how far they could go? Of course. That wasn't even a question. He had wanted to spend his life with her from the moment he saw her in the cafeteria, twelve years ago. Dear Rebecca Nora Bunch, I remember that afternoon at lunch...

What was the rest? He couldn't remember.

More importantly, who was he, outside of being a male version of Rebecca? He liked couscous, disliked Tarantino, was terrified of water, was good at computers, a savvy businessman... He had his own personality. But she had a point, he admitted to himself.

"Just don't leave me when we disagree," he said, half-joking.

"I won't...I promise." She chuckled softly, noting the humor in his voice. So that was a worry for him, was it? In truth it was a worry for her too. She had abandonment issues, since childhood that she was still working on. And she knew they wouldn't agree on everything all of the time. But every relationship had its ups and downs, and they had to work through it.

Wait. Was she already thinking that they, right now, were a thing? It made her blink, pause in her train of thought. This wasn't exactly what she had come here for, but it was much, much better if it was true.

"Good, then I guess we can begin today then...if you want." Gosh, that sounded so horrible, even to herself and this time she did blush. "I mean...we still have a lot to work on together, but...I'm willing if you are?"

She posed it as a question, trying to be a better person wasn't always so easy and instead of forcing her outlook on Trent, she asked. Start today...or start later, when he was better? Either way, she would accept.

"Of course I am," he enthused. She was everything he had ever wanted—how could he make her wait when she was offering him the relationship he had literally almost died for? Or at the very least, he corrected himself, she was offering him a chance to get to know each other. He resolved he wouldn't mess it up this time. Wouldn't take away her phone and force her to play board games all night, wouldn't ambush her in front of her friends, wouldn't blackmail or cajole or... Could he really commit to changing bad habits? Do a complete 180? It would take some time, but he was willing to try.

But... what if blackmailing, cajoling, threatening, breaking and entering, using the dark web as his own personal sandbox... What if that was his real personality, underneath? What if his romanticism was just a veneer he put up to justify his own actions? He truly hadn't meant to upset her, but he didn't know how these things worked. How did people fall in love, really? How ...did it happen mutually? Did it, ever? Or did one person just accept the other's feelings and settle for them when they were tired of feeling alone?

What would have happened if he had had the courage to approach her in college? If he had sat down at her table and commented on her mac n' cheese sandwich? Would she have been offended or would she have been friendly?

They could have been together ages ago. He could have been the one she'd bought a cheap drugstore veil for, not Professor Whats-his-face. Robert. That loathsome scoundrel. It should have been himself, Trent, who made her forget about Josh Chan, not Robert.

But that was in the past, now, wasn't it?

"Willing to try," he amended. Emphasis on 'try'. He should have been over the moon, but he was starting to understand the dark reality that just because she was everything he had ever wanted didn't mean he was healthy enough to enjoy her.

She noted his silence and for a moment, felt her heart literally stop. Her head tilted as she watched him without trying to, giving him time to think things out. She had said she would accept any answer he gave, but his silence was more than deafening. It was frightening. She didn't know why it bothered her so much, either.

Sure, she had a LOT to make up for. And not just for past actions that she could think of now. Actions that, if he had really been watching her for twelve years, went all the way back to college. What would have happened, had he sat beside her that day? She was ashamed to think that she might not have been very nice to him and would have either panicked and fled, cause a cute guy was talking to her or said something snotty, hurtful and rash and then fled. Gosh... she just wasn't a very nice person at times, was she? Maybe she should go back to her therapist. Figure things out.

Thinking the things she did, she could guess Trent's thoughts almost as if he had shouted them at her. They were both broken, in so many, many ways and he didn't want him to think that she was settling for him. She wasn't. She had come here with the honest intent to apologize to him. To try and make things better. To see...if they could start over. Maybe as friends first, but she realized, in the short amount of time she had been sitting here with him, that her feelings went much deeper than that; and that scared her a little. She didn't know how any of this worked, either.

"We can do this, together, Trent. I know we can." She said as her eyes met and held his. Trying to read the emotions behind them, if he would only let her. "Sure, we both have issues we need to work on, but I came here, tonight, with the clear intent to apologize to you. To see if things could start over between us. I want that... I really, really do." She bit her lip and sighed.

"And no matter what happens, whatever challenge comes our way, we can face it together. So what if we don't always agree or understand one another. That's not what love is, Trent. It isn't perfect, it isn't at times, beautiful. It's...messy, frightening and oftentimes, dark... but it is the beautiful moments that make those dark times worth it." She had no idea where this was coming from, but she wanted him to understand that to her, he wasn't a second choice. she wasn't settling... that she genuinely cared for him. Maybe it wasn't love yet... but it could be.

"I promise to try. To give everything I have to this relationship and to never give up on you...on us. Ever. My word on that, Trent. I want to follow this road with you... honest, I do."

Relationship. She said relationship. They were in a relationship! WHEE, he was her boyfriend again!

He couldn't help but beam in delight, not the manic smile he had when he was trying to convince himself she loved him, but a smile full of true and pure joy. She knew a lot about love; her experiences had made her wise. He was still a novice, had loved only one girl besides his own mother in his entire life. He truly believed in her, that they could face the road ahead together.

"Me, too," he agreed, beaming up at her. He would put his heart and soul into this relationship, just like—well, not just like he had before, but in a more rational way. He didn't need to be frantic anymore, didn't need to force anything between them. It was okay if she didn't fully love him back yet; she said she barely knew him, which meant she hadn't become aware of his existence until she had made him her fake boyfriend four years ago. And since then, they hadn't exactly spent a lot of time together. If she needed time, he could give that to her, it was only fair that he did.

Seeing the joy light up his face, Rebecca had to take a moment to not beam back at him like a complete idiot! He seemed to believe her words, and that meant a lot to her. It felt like a great weight had been lifted from her body, that she could breathe again. Really be herself with someone instead of trying to people-please all the time. A habit she knew she had to work on, and almost made a face thinking about.

She had promised to try, and she would keep her word and that meant... ughhh... going back to her therapist again to work out her issues. She hated the idea, but...a promise was a promise and if Trent could promise to not use tricks or lies or blackmail to get her attention anymore, then she could promise to better herself. Not only for him, but for herself as well. Though she did NOT look forward to diving into her past again, at all! In fact, she hoped Trent would understand the nights she might come home cranky and crying over nothing simply because she had to relive a past experience that still hurt... but... she would do so... for them both.

They still had a lot of catching up to do, for in the four years they had spent together, it hadn't exactly been ideal. She had spent all her time trying to get him to leave, rather than getting to know him, so slow was best. But he seemed so happy that it made her feel a tad bit giddy as well.

"Will you..." Trent hesitated. He knew this was going to sound very strange. "...teach me how to be a good boyfriend?"

Hearing his question and noting his sudden shyness, Rebecca smiled and leaned closer to him, resting her arms lightly upon the mattress of his bed. "Of course I will Trent...but you already are a good boyfriend. You treat me with respect, listen when I talk, help me when you can... sure we might need to both work on those aspects a bit better, but you are amazing." So saying, she leaned forward, with full intent to kiss his cheek again, but instead changed her mind at the last second and pressed her lips to his, lightly, almost shyly for a few seconds, before she pulled back, her cheeks a deep red. "See? Perfect." She giggled softly to cover her blush.

Her words released a tension in him he hasn't been aware of. Amazing, she called him.

And then she kissed him! His eyes widened and his face heated, and the heart monitor he was hooked up to beeped something fierce. He hoped it wouldn't alert the nurse; he didn't want their cozy discussion to be interrupted. The last time she had willingly kissed him had been when they were playacting as a couple to throw off her friends. This time was different. Sweeter. This time, she meant it, and that alone meant the world to him.

Hearing his heart monitor go off had her chuckling softly as she settled back down in her seat. Still close to his side but far enough away to give him time to settle. "Ok, Tiger...calm it down a bit. Don't want the nurse to come in here and kick me out, do you?" She teased as she smiled up at him. Seeing his reaction, nearly had her chuckle again. He seemed so surprised and honestly, so was she. "If you promise to behave, and not give the nurses a heart attack, I might be persuaded to do so again..." She trailed off, biting her lip playfully.

Tiger. He liked that. And he agreed- nosy nurses were the ultimate *cough* -block. (He blushed even deeper as he censored his own thoughts; no need to be crude, he scolded himself.) "Don't give me a heart attack," he teased back. He noticed her blushing, and that made his own face heat even more. He must be downright vermillion by now.

In truth, Trent was a good kisser. No. Scratch that. He was a GREAT kisser. Very passionate and a little dominating. Rebecca had liked that the time they had kissed in front of her friends and that had nearly taken her breath away. Imagining what that could do, had it been real set her face to blazing for a few seconds as she averted her eyes from him as she felt the warmth crawl over her skin. Not just her face, her entire body turned red with that thought alone.

He hated to send her away, but even as elated as he was, this discussion of theirs had taken a lot out of him. So he said, "Sleepy. Don't have to go anywhere, but..."

And he smiled peacefully as he drifted off. He knew he would have good dreams tonight.

Seeing him begin to fade, Rebecca sat back in her chair, her fingers still loosely holding Trent's as he drifted off. "Sleep well, Trent. I will be here when you awaken." Her words were soft as she watched him fade into sleep. The smile across his face meant so much to her.

But, as soon as he fell deeper into sleep, she stood, kissed his cheek and turned to leave. She had things to set in motion before he woke back up. A lawyer to find, a therapy session to set up and this time keep, and a good talk with Paula. True, the woman was her friend, and she knew she might not be too thrilled about her decision to get back with Trent, but Paula had to know that Trent was now off-limits. No more games, no more lies, no more hurting, him or her.

So began her very long rest of her day and into the evening. The talk with Paula about Trent seemed to take forever, and at one point, Rebecca literally told her she didn't care what Paula thought about the man, just to leave him alone and then walked out, saying she would call her when she settled down. She made her way back to the hospital and was allowed back in, because she used her lawyer privilege. She would be there when Trent woke back up... and settling back into her chair beside him, she sat close to him, watching him, until slowly, she too, fell asleep. Resting her head lightly on the bed next to him, one arm lightly resting on his torso on his cast...