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Cooper Crazy
(7/16/05 9:58 pm)
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Giving In - Chapter 13
“You know, I think I’m just going to wait in the car. Take your time,” Gus said as he dropped Harley’s hand and turned away as they walked up to the porch of Company.
“Uh, no, I don’t think so,” she replied, pulling him back. “Come on, it will be fine.”
“No, I don’t want to cause any problems, so I’ll just wait out here for you.”
“Gus, you are not going to cause any problems. I want you to be a part of my life, starting now. Not starting when you move back here and can’t avoid it anymore. Now, I want you to hold my hand, walk in there beside me, and have dinner with my family. Please?” she pleaded and wrapped her arms around Gus’s neck.
“Alright, just for you,” he smiled. “But you have to promise that you’ll protect me, because your family can be a little scary.”
“I promise,” she nodded and he leaned down to kiss her deeply.
“Whatcha looking at Pop?” Frank asked as he came up behind Buzz who was peering out the window at Harley and Gus on the porch. “What is she doing?” he asked and started out the door.
“Frank, Frank!” Buzz pulled him back. “I should have told you, but your sister and Aitoro are…well, I don’t know what they are, but they are something.”
“Since when?” Frank asked.
“Since a few days ago? I don’t know. She told me the other day when she called to say they were staying an extra day. Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want you to cause any trouble, okay? Let’s just give them the benefit of the doubt,” Buzz pleaded as the front door opened and they turned to see Gus and Harley standing in the doorway holding hands.
“Hey guys,” Harley greeted and Frank and Buzz rushed over to hug her.
“Hey! We missed you!” Frank said as he lifted her off the ground in a big hug.
“I missed you guys too,” she replied. “Where are the boys? I saw Rick’s car out there.”
“He just went to change Jude’s diaper and get Zach cleaned up, they were at the park,” Buzz answered.
“Oh okay, I can’t wait to see them, I missed them so much!” Harley said as she took Gus’s hand and led him over to the bar. “Do you want something to drink?” she asked him.
“Yeah, like iced tea?” he asked and she nodded as she went around to the other side of the bar and poured two glasses.
“So uh…how are you doing Aitoro? Franklin said you got shot,” Frank said, trying to be nice.
“Yeah, it was just a little graze, I’m fine. Thanks to your sister,” Gus answered and reached across the bar, placing his hand on Harley’s.
Harley smiled before moving back beside him, “He did drive me crazy with worry for a few hours though,” she added as she heard a squeal behind her and turned to see Zach running towards her.
“Mommy!” he exclaimed and flew into her waiting arms.
“Hey baby, oh I missed you so much!” she said as she squeezed him tight then planted kisses all over him. “Did you miss me too?” she asked and Zach nodded wildly before he wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed her again.
“Hi Gus,” Zach said with a wave over Harley’s shoulder.
“Hey buddy, how you doing?” Gus asked with a big smile on his face and Harley turned to smile at him.
“Look Jude, Mommy’s home,” Rick said as he handed the baby over to Harley who kissed her youngest son.
“I missed you guys so much,” she said as she hugged them both then sat Zach on the bar next to Gus. “I think Jude grew a few inches since I’ve been gone,” she said and Gus laughed.
“Hey Zach,” Gus motioned for Zach to move closer, “I think Mommy has something for you from Paris,” he whispered into Zach’s ear.
“Mommy! Gus says you brought me a present!” Zach exclaimed and Harley laughed.
“Well, Gus is right. Do you want to see what I got you?” she asked and he nodded. “Will you take Jude, please?” she asked Gus and handed him the baby while she reached into her purse.
She pulled out a little black beret with “Paris” embroidered on it, the ‘A’ was in the shape of the Eiffel tower, and put it on Zach’s head.
“Don’t you look handsome?” she smiled and held Zach’s chin in her hand as she kissed his nose.
“And French,” Gus teased.
“And one more thing,” Harley continued as she reached into her bag again and handed Zach a little train. “This is a train that Gus and I rode, it went so fast that when it stopped you had to get off really fast or else it would leave with you still on it!” she explained.
“Cool!” Zach exclaimed and turned around to run his train up and down the bar, complete with sound effects.
“Are you staying for dinner?” Buzzed asked and Harley nodded. “Rick, are you staying too?” he added and got another nod. “Then let’s eat!”
Rick took Jude and put him in a high chair at one end of the table while Harley put Zach in a chair between her and Gus. Buzz, Frank and Rick filled up the other side of the table and a waitress came to get their orders.
After the waitress left, Gus reached over and pulled the beret off of Zach’s head.
“Hey!” Zach exclaimed and reached up to get his hat back.
“No hats at the dinner table,” Gus replied and Zach looked towards Harley for help.
“Don’t look at me, you know the rule,” she said and Zach pouted as he went back to coloring his kids menu.
“So was this an all business trip or did you actually get a chance to enjoy Paris?” Rick asked.
“It was all business until…” Harley began.
“Mostly business,” Gus interrupted and Harley smiled over at him.
“Until Saturday when Gus got out of the hospital,” she continued. “Then we actually got to go out for dinner. But we spent most of yesterday out in the city. We took a cruise on the Seine and had lunch on the boat, it was great. It was so beautiful. And then Gus got us reservations at the restaurant on the second level of the Eiffel Tower. We got a table by the window and you could see the entire city, it was amazing. I’ll have to get our pictures developed, I hope they’re good.”
“So is that why you stayed an extra day, to actually sight-see?” Rick asked.
“Well, sort of,” Harley replied. “We just wanted a day to ourselves and yeah, we hadn’t gotten to see anything that people go to Paris for, so we did that,” she answered.
“When are you going back to DC?” Frank asked Gus and Harley shot him a dirty look.
“Uh, I’m going to Chicago tomorrow. I have some things to take care of there, then I’m going back to DC Wednesday,” Gus answered.
“Gus is staying with me tonight and then when he gets back to DC, he’s going to finish up his cases so that he can move back here,” Harley added.
“With you?” Frank asked.
“Well, no. Actually, we were thinking he could get a room here first, until we figure things out,” she replied, looking at Gus before turning to Buzz, her eyes pleading.
“Uhh, I have a couple of available rooms. I can probably save one for you,” he finally replied.
“Thanks Buzz,” Gus said.
“When will you be moving back?” he asked.
“Probably not until July, I don’t really know for sure yet,” he answered.
“Well, there will be a room here for you when you need it,” Buzz replied and Harley smiled at him grateful that he didn’t cause any problems.
“I’m going to get more to drink, you need more?” Harley asked as she stood up and took Gus’s glass with her over to the bar.
“Hey sis,” Frank said, following her away from the table.
“Yeah?” she asked and he swept her up into a hug.
“I really missed you,” he said.
“Oh, I missed you too,” she replied.
“So how are you? Franklin just told me that Aitoro was shot but you were fine, what happened?” he asked, worried.
“I’m fine, I was fine the whole time. It’s still an open case, Frank, I can’t talk about it,” she answered.
“Okay, then can you talk about what the hell is going on with you and Aitoro? He’s moving here? When did this happen?”
“By this you mean Gus and I getting together?”
“Well yes, I mean, two weeks ago, you couldn’t stand him and now he’s moving back here to be with you?” Frank asked.
“Our relationship is very complicated and I don’t need to justify it to you. All you need to know is that this is what I want, I want to be with Gus, and he makes me happy. That should be enough for you to not bug me about this, and not be nasty to Gus. I know that he has done some things in the past that worry you, they worried me too, but I know him. Better than you do, better than anyone does and he is a good guy, and he loves me. And I love him. And I know that as my big brother, who has always looked out for me, you don’t like the idea of any guy being with me, but I also know that all you want is for me to be safe, healthy and happy, and I am all three and more with Gus. So, since I am, you can be happy for me, right?” she asked.
“If he hurts you…” Frank warned and Harley put her hand on his chest to stop him.
“He won’t,” she smiled.
“You love him? Really?” he cringed.
“Really,” Harley nodded.
“You gonna get married?”
“I don’t know,” Harley laughed. “Let’s cross that bring when we come to it, shall we?” she said and walked back to the table.
She stood behind Gus and set his glass back on the table then wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her hand down the front of his shirt.
“Everything okay?” he asked as she leaned down and rested her chin on his shoulder, kissing his cheek.
“Yeah,” she nodded and he turned his head to catch her lips in a kiss.
“Gus, are you sleeping at our house tonight?” Zach asked as Harley sat back down beside him.
“Only if it’s okay with you,” Gus answered.
“Are you gonna sleep in mine and Jude’s room?”
“Uh, no…no, that’s your room,” Gus laughed.
“Then where are you going to sleep?”
“Well, I don’t know now…” he replied.
“You should sleep with Mommy, she has a big bed,” Zach decided and went back to his crayons.
“Okay then,” Gus smiled and looked over at Harley who was trying not to laugh.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Need some help?” Gus asked later that night as Harley grabbed both boys and started upstairs for bath time.
“Uh, yes. That would be great. This one likes to squirm and Jude hates baths,” she replied and he followed them upstairs.
Gus entertained Zach with some bath toys while Harley got Jude undressed. He started screaming the second the water started running and now his face was red from crying.
“What is up with that?” Gus asked as Harley finally sat him in his little seat in the tub with Zach.
“I have no idea, it just started a few weeks ago. I hope it’s just a phase. He screams his head off, but the good thing is he usually wears himself out so much he goes right to sleep,” Harley answered.
Zach and Gus played together while Harley got Jude all washed up as quickly as possible.
“Will you get Jude’s towel and take him while I finish with Zach?” Harley asked. “I promise he’ll stop crying as soon as he’s out of the water.”
“Absolutely,” Gus agreed as he got Jude’s towel off of the counter and held it out for Harley to pass him the baby.
He took Jude and wrapped him up tight and let him snuggle into his chest as he shuddered with some final whimpers. He was quiet for the rest of Zach’s bath and by the time Harley got Zach out and in a towel, Jude was fast asleep in Gus’s arms.
“What did I tell you?” Harley remarked as she helped Zach get into his pajamas. “And he likes you, he doesn’t fall asleep for just anybody.”
“Of course he likes me, I delivered him, we have a bond,” Gus replied.
“You know when you used to tell me that, I thought you were just being a pain in my butt, but I think you’re right,” Harley smiled.
“He smells so good, clean, you know?” Gus said as he nuzzled into the top of Jude’s head then kissed it softly.
“I know,” she nodded. “Alright Zach, why don’t you take Gus downstairs and show him your toys while I put your brother to bed?” she suggested and Zach took off towards the stairs.
“Do you mind?” Harley asked as she took Jude from Gus.
“Not at all,” he replied and kissed her quickly before he followed Zach downstairs.
An hour later, Zach was getting sleepy so Harley urged him upstairs. “Why don’t you lock up down here and meet me in the bedroom?” she suggested quietly to Gus who nodded before she took Zach upstairs.
He made sure the door was locked and shut off all the lights then went up to Harley’s bedroom. He moved his suitcase off the bed where he had it while they were getting ready to go to dinner and lit a few candles around the room.
He was just coming out of the bathroom from brushing his teeth when Harley slipped back into the room.
“Shh…” she whispered with her finger over her mouth and they met in the middle of the room.
“Asleep?” Gus asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Sound asleep,” she nodded before she covered his lips with hers in a deep kiss.
“Time for us to go to sleep too?” he asked as they broke the kiss and he ran his hands through her hair.
“Definitely not,” she smiled as he slid his hands down her arms and grabbed the bottom of her shirt, pulling it up over her head.
“I’m glad you are staying here tonight,” Harley said quietly, “I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.”
“We’re not saying goodbye tomorrow either, just see ya later,” he teased and pulled her hips closer to him.
“I like the sound of that better,” she nodded and started to unbutton his shirt.
Gus stopped her by covering her hands with his and brought them up to his mouth to kiss them softly. He dropped her hands and held her face as he placed little kisses on her lips, cheeks, nose and forehead.
Harley looked up at him and smiled, “I love you, Gus,” she said.
“I love you too,” he breathed as his face came closer to hers until he closed the gap between them and kissed her.
When they broke the kiss, he moved his lips down her neck as he slid his hand up her back. He slipped a finger under the strap of her bra and pulled it down over her shoulder, following it with light kisses and bites to her soft skin.
Harley threw her head back in pleasure at that feel of his lips on her skin and let out a soft moan that turned into a groan when Jude’s crying interrupted them. At the first scream, Gus’s lips stopped cold on her shoulder and he slid her bra strap back up before he took a step back.
“Welcome to my life,” she laughed as he bent over and picked up her shirt for her. “I’ll be right back,” she said before she kissed him and left the room to put Jude back to sleep.
Gus let out a soft sigh and sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked over at the nightstand at a picture of her with Zach and Jude and smiled. It had hit him a long time ago that having Harley in his life also meant having those boys in his life, and he couldn’t be happier. They were great kids and he loved watching Harley’s face light up when they were in the room. He always felt he had a special bond with Jude since the day he delivered him, but he also felt a connection with Zach. He had spent most of the evening after the boys’ bath on the floor playing with Zach, and he couldn’t remember when he had laughed so much. It had been a long time since he stepped out of his tough-guy persona and sat cross-legged on the floor building a skyscraper out of legos. Having the boys in his life was anything but a sacrifice, he felt that it was more of a privilege, one that until a short while ago, he never envisioned himself having.
He stretched out on the bed and rolled onto his side. It had been a long day for both of them and his wound was starting to ache a little, so he planned on just resting his eyes until Harley came back.
Almost twenty minutes later, Jude had finally drifted back to sleep and Harley pushed her bedroom door open.
“He’s out, hopefully for good,” she said as she shut the door.
When she turned around, she saw Gus fast asleep on the bed, still dressed and she smiled. She realized how exhausted she was too and blew out the candles that Gus had lit. She kicked off her shoes and crawled onto the bed, laying on top of Gus, who stirred when she joined him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and kissed his chest.
“It’s okay,” he replied. “Just lay here and sleep with me,” he added and she nodded as she snuggled into his side and he kissed the top of her head.
“Sweet dreams,” he mumbled.
“Good night,” she replied with a kiss to his chin and they were both asleep within minutes.
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