One Wild Night

Lucy stirred, a lethargic groan escaping her lips. The events of the previous night, the worry and the relief, all caught up to her, leaving a dull ache in her limbs.

She smiled when she felt Tom's arms around her, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept.

Why didn't he wake her up to go and freshen up? She mused as she wondered how long she had been out.

Picking up her phone, she glanced at the time and she was surprised to see that it was almost noon. She had been sleeping for over four hours already.

Not wanting to disturb him, she carefully lifted his hand and slipped out of arms. Careful not to rustle the sheets, she slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, and tiptoed towards the bathroom.

As she freshened up her thoughts drifted to her phone conversation with Candace and she could help but hope that Tom would let her check on Dawn now.

Wrapping a towel around herself, she stepped out, ready to grab some clothes and head back to bed for a few more precious moments of sleep.

Just then, Tom stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He paused, his gaze landing on Lucy standing in the doorway, the sunlight catching the damp strands of her hair and highlighting the curve of her shoulder. A slow grin spread across his face.

"Ain't that a lovely sight to wake up to," he drawled, his voice husky with sleep, "You look like an angel who just stepped out of a cloud."

Lucy flushed, a startled laugh escaping her lips. "Did I wake you up?"

"I missed you in my arms," he chuckled, propping himself up on his elbows. "But don't worry. I don't mind since I get to l admire this view. You look especially ravishing right now."

She rolled her eyes, a blush still warming her cheeks. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"We'll see about that," he countered with a wink.

"I think I'm a bit hungry. Are you hungry?" Lucy asked with a yawn as she walked towards the dresser, grabbing a brush and detangling her damp hair.

"Sort of. I should probably give Samantha a call and have Adolf deliver lunch," Tom said as he picked up his phone.

After calling Samantha and instructing her to pack their lunch and have Adolf deliver it, he looked at Lucy who was seated in front of the mirror with a dryer in hand.

"I didn't expect you to wake up anytime soon seeing how exhausted you were."

Lucy sighed, running through her damp hair with the brush. "I'm still exhausted. I still plan to get some rest," she said as she dried her hair with the dryer.

"Need me to help you with that?" Tom asked as he got out of bed.

"Your help will be greatly appreciated as long as you don't come seeking reward of any kind," she said, and Tom chuckled as he took the dryer from her.

Tom dried her hair in silence while combing her hair at intervals and Lucy turned in her seat to look at him.

"Why are you so good with this? Have you done this for someone else before now?" She asked suspiciously.

Tom chuckled, "I see you do this often. How slow would I be not to pick up how to do it?" He asked and she grinned.

"Just wanted to be sure," she said as she relaxed back.

"I think it's all dry now," Tom said as he turned off the dryer.

"Thanks," Lucy said as she rose, and walked over to the closet to take out something to wear.

"Do you really need to cover up? I'm not complaining, you know?" Tom said as he ran his gaze over her.

Lucy giggled, "By the way, you won't believe what Candace told me earlier," Lucy said as she took out a comfortable shirt.

"What did she say?" Tom asked as he came to stand close to Lucy, a naughty gleam in his eyes.

"Step back. You're too close for comfort," she said with a giggle.

"Why? I didn't do nothing. Go on and dress up," Tom said with a chuckle as he waited for her to take off the towel.

"Step back. Go lie on the bed," she said, knowing he planned to do something once she took off the towel.

"Alright. Fine. Whatever," Tom said as he turned around like he was going to the bed, and immediately he heard a little movement behind, he turned to see if she had taken off the towel and Lucy laughed.

"I know you," she said laughing and Tom chuckled.

"Suit yourself then," he said as he got on the bed, and Lucy quickly took off the towel and put on the shirt.

"Did Harry mention anything to you about his dad coming to Ludus on Monday? Candace said Aaron is coming to visit Sara, and she wants me to see if I can accompany him," Lucy asked as she joined him on the bed and Tom nodded.

"Harry did mention that his father planned to visit her, but he didn't tell me the day or time. What did you tell her?" Tom asked and Lucy shrugged.

"I asked her to find out his flight details. I will go pick him from the airport…"

"I will go with you," he said and Lucy arched a brow.

"You might be busy," she reminded him.

"That's Harry's father. It doesn't matter whether or not I'm busy. I can always make out time for him. I'm sure Harry would have been there to pick him up had he been around. So, since Harry isn't here, I will fill in for him," Tom said and Lucy smiled.

"That's cool," Lucy said with approval.

"Was that what you wanted to tell me earlier?" Tom asked curiously.

"Oh, that. No. It's about Kimberly. Kimberly got engaged," Lucy said and Tom snorted.

"Engaged? How sure are you…"

"Candace said the guy in question confirmed the rumors," Lucy said, since she had thought the same.

"If that's the case, congrats to her. I hope she finds happiness," Tom said expressionlessly.

Lucy nodded. "Me too. Though, it does make me wonder about Dawn."

"What about her?" Tom asked, since he had resigned himself to the fact that no matter what he said, Lucy was always going to worry about the kid.

"Don't you think this changes everything? I mean, now that she is getting married…"

"Dawn is getting married?" Tom asked dryly and Lucy giggled.

"Don't be a clown. You know what I mean…"

"No, I don't," Tom cut in playfully again and Lucy laughed.

"I'm being serious," Lucy said and Tom sighed.

"Okay. Shoot."

"I was wondering if it might be okay for me to reach out to Dawn now. Kimberly won't be bothering you now that she is getting married," Lucy said and Tom sighed.

Lucy looked at him with hopeful eyes as she waited for him to say something, and just when she was about to give up speak again, Tom finally responded.

"If you think it would make you happy, then do it," he said, his voice gentle.

Lucy's face lit up with a radiant smile, and she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Thank you, Tom," she whispered, genuine relief and gratitude radiating from her.

He held her close, "Anything for you," he murmured, placing a soft kiss on the crown of her head.

They both glanced at Tom's phone when it buzzed and he picked up and received the call. He listened for a minute and nodded, "Sure. That's fine," he said as he hung up.

"That was Adolf. He will be here with lunch in about thirty minutes," he informed Lucy.

"Good. I'm starving," Lucy said, patting her abdomen.

"That reminds me. Tyler and Harry both called earlier," he said, and Lucy frowned.

"Tyler called you?"

"No. He called you while you were sleeping. But he wanted to speak with me," Tom explained.

"Oh. What did he want? Is everything alright?" She asked and Tom told her what Tyler had said.

"I don't feel too good about that," Lucy said when Tom was done telling her about their conversation.

"I don't either. But let's see how it goes," Tom said and Lucy sighed.

"What about Harry? How are they doing?" She asked and Tom chuckled.

"Harry is a bit bored. He's a workaholic to the bone. I think the only thing keeping him sane right now is the proposal planning," Tom said and Lucy scowled.

"He told you he is bored? How can he be bored when he is with Jade?" She asked and Tom chuckled when he heard the displeasure in her voice.

"He's not bored by her. When she is sleeping or busy with her own stuff he gets bored. Harry isn't too used to being idle," Tom said and Lucy shook her head.

"Isn't that what vacations are meant for? Being idle? I hope you won't be bored when we go on a vacation," she said in a threatening tone and Tom laughed.

"Or what?"

"Or I'm never going on a vacation with you ever again," she said and he nodded.

"Noted. Want to sleep? Or are you up for a game? Let's do something fun while we wait for Adolf," he said and she nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do that. I'd hate to sleep now and be disturbed in a couple of minutes. What game do you have in mind?" Lucy asked and Tom thought about it for a minute.

"Well, I have a couple of ideas, but let's do something simple. How about the A to Z game? Do you know it?" He asked, and when she looked at him like she didn't quite get what he meant he decided to elaborate.

"Alright, here's how it goes. We take turns making a sentence, but each sentence has to start with a different letter of the alphabet. We go in order, A to Z, and whoever stumbles or repeats a word loses."

Lucy grinned, a surge of competitiveness coursing through her. "You're on. But don't think I will take it easy on you," she warned.

"As long as you don't have mood swings when I win, let's do it," Tom said and she scowled at him.

"What does the winner get? Can I ask you for anything when I win?" She asked, and he chuckled.

"When, not if?" He asked in amusement and she grinned.

"You get it," she said and they both laughed.

"Sure. Ask me for anything whether you win or lose…"

"No. I'm not losing. You go first," Lucy urged him.

"Nah. Ladies first," Tom said, and Lucy tapped her chin, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

"Adolf is bringing us lunch."

Tom's grin widened. "Breakfast was nice but lunch will be better."

"Can't wait to see what he brings," Lucy continued, the competitive spirit rising within her.

"Don't care. Just wanna eat," Tom added.

"That's not a correct sentence. What do you mean don't care?" Lucy asked and Tom looked at her incredulously.

"Don't tell me you are stalling because you don't know what to say?" Tom asked and she rolled her eyes.

"Everyone knows I'm a straightforward person. I have no reason to stall," Lucy said, continuing the game.

"For real, Jewel. You just stalled," Tom said and she snorted.

"Get over it," Lucy said with a playful jab.

"Ha Ha Ha," Tom said and Lucy laughed.

"You're a liar. That's not a word. No way I'm accepting that," Lucy said and Tom chuckled.

"How can you say that is not a word?" He asked and she glared at him.

"I can't believe you're cheating!"

"Just remember you started it first," he said with a wink.

"Kill me with your lies already," she said and they both laughed.

"That sentence doesn't make sense," Tom pointed out and she shrugged.

"Same as Ha Ha Ha. Letter L, Tom!" She reminded him.

"Letter L isn't so hard," Tom said and Lucy gaped at him, unable to believe he just took what she said, and Tom laughed.

"Man, you're unbelievable," she said with a shake of her head.

"No, ma'am. This is all your fault."

"Or yours, you mean?" Lucy asked and Tom shook his head.

"Please let's just end this game already."

"Quick question, why do you want to end the game?" She asked with a grin.

"Really? You are going to act like you don't know why?" Tom asked and she smiled.

"Smile, T. You're frowning too much."

"T isn't in the mood to smile," Tom said with a wink and Lucy glared at him.

"Under no circumstance should you use something I said for your sentence," she warned.

"Very well then. I'm just going to come up with mine," he said and Lucy sighed deeply.

"Well, I guess there is no winner or loser here."

"Xylophones are nice musical instruments to play when you win or lose," Tom said and Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Yes. I agree with whatever you say," she said and Tom grinned.

"Zee? That was say easy," he said and they both hollered with laughter.

"You lost. There is no word like Zee," Lucy said, laughing hard.

"Zebras are nicer than you," Tom said and Lucy scowled.

"You're a liar. You lost. You lost already," Lucy said and Tom laughed.

"Prove it," he said and she glared at him.

"You're always cheating. I'm never playing any game with you again," she said and Tom laughed as she got out of the bed.

"Neither of us won or lost. Why are you so mad?"

"You lost! You lost several times," she hissed and he laughed hard.

"You're such a sore loser," he said and just then, a knock on the door interrupted then and he grinned.

"Lunch is here," Tom said as he rose to get the door and he laughed when Lucy eyed him in annoyance as he walked past her.