Better idea (1/1)

Author- Midnight Faith

Spoilers- none

Distribution- FF.net, AOH and Neurotica. Anyone else ask :)

Pairing- Lilah/Lindsey

Rating- R

Summary- It's Lilah and Lindsey's first anniversary

Disclaimer- I am the kid, but it's Joss' candy store

Notes- To my LILAC-ers. I wouldn't have got through this year without you. Thank you :)

Lilah crawling on top of him and nuzzling his ear awakened Lindsey extremely early on Christmas morning. Not that he was objecting, but this level of affection was pretty rare from her. He laced his arms around her, finding her lips with his own in the darkness.

When the kiss broke, she smoothed down his hair and whispered, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." he repeated, gently rolling her off him to get more comfortable and pulling her close. "What time is it?"

"A little after four."

He groaned and turned over. "Just another hour. Then gifts."

"If you come now," she sidled up behind him, pressing her body against his, "We can unwrap the regular gifts… and then, came back to bed and well… give each other a special kind of present."

He faked annoyance and sat on the edge of the bed. Grinning, Lilah crawled after him and straddled his lap, kissing him provocatively. "Love you."

"You too."

"I was just watching the weather channel. They're forecasting snow in the mountains. I thought we could drive up there."

"And this is in no way an elaborate scheme to avoid dinner?"

"I don't have a problem with food… anymore. Really, I don't. Now I wanna see what you bought me."

"Likewise."

She pulled him out of the room. He snatched a robe from the closet on the way. Lilah knelt down in front of her pile of presents in the den.

They took turns in opening one present at a time. Granted, they'd spoilt each other, maybe even overspent, but they wanted their second (first as a couple) Christmas together to be special. Lilah received a pink notebook, pretty red and blue drop earrings, a voucher for tea for two at the Ritz (and joked about taking Gavin instead of Lindsey,) a brown silk scarf, pink shoes, a purple lacy bra and pink panties and a soft toy bear.

Lindsey's stash consisted of a mini roulette wheel, whiskey, CD's, DVD's and a Gameboy advance.

"Thank you," Lilah said, resting her head in Lindsey's lap.

"You're welcome." He stroked her hair. "Thank you also."

"So which of these gifts should we try out first?"

"The roulette wheel." he suggested, grinning devilishly. "If it lands on red, I go down on you. Black, you go down on me."

"What about the green zero?"

"Sixty nine."

"How about," she walked her fingers back up to his lip, "We just have sex. Just straight, sitting up, we both get to come sex."

"Sure." He smiled. "It's gonna take about four hours to get to the mountains. We might wanna think about staying the night."

"Ewww, camping."

"Not camping. I meant in the truck."

"Or we could find a nice motel halfway."

"Better idea."

"At least that way we get hot water. And a bubble bath. I know how much you like our baths together." she purred in his ear. "So what do we need to take?"

"Food. 'The Joshua tree.' Condoms."

Lilah sensed a hint of bitterness so directly challenged, "Is this something we need to talk about?"

"I don't know." He tensed, nervous.

She rested her head on his back. "We can stop. You say you're clean and I believe you are. Hey, needle in my arm every three months. It's pretty much foolproof."

"But then I feel like an ass for not taking responsibility."

"This is my choice. Truth time, I've never had sex without using a condom. So I wouldn't even contemplate this if I wasn't one hundred percent sure about us."

He kissed her nose. "Come on. Actual snow calls."

*****

They'd found a little, secluded mountaintop where the view was beautiful and so clear you could see for miles. The snow had fallen lightly around them when they'd taken a walk in some nearby woods. Lindsey thought he'd received the best gift of all there: Lilah had told him she trusted him. It was part of a joke, light- hearted but still, it made his heart flutter.

Now they were back in the truck, heater on, making out softly to a jazz station. Lindsey pulled her closer, kissing her neck gently. He knew how easily she bruised there; he knew her entire body. He couldn't help but think the situation, being here with her was completely perfect.

Sex wasn't part of this equation. Not yet. Not in the car. It wasn't comfortable, it wasn't particularly warm and Lindsey could tell Lilah was craving a cosy bed at a nice hotel.

"Lilah," he whispered against her neck, "Gorgeous Lilah."

She smiled. "Are you going anywhere with that train of thought?"

"You wanna re-decorate?"

"Interesting link. You mean get interior designers in?"

"We can do it ourselves. It'll be fun. We could refurbish at the same time."

"Do we have enough money?"

"I'll sell me apartment."

Lilah visibly strained in his arms. "No."

Why not? I'm not using it anymore. My home is with you."

"What if…?"

"It won't." he cut in. "I love you. I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you too."

"OK- then marry me."

*****

Lindsey expected to awaken to find his asleep, or at least very drowsy fiancée in his arms. She'd said 'Yes.' Well, she's whispered, 'Yes. I accept. Yes. Yes.' Between kisses and they'd continued to make out and hadn't talked about it again.

They'd found a motel. It was basic but altogether homey. Among the explanation to the motel owner as to why they weren't at home at Christmas, Lindsey gushed that they'd just got engaged. The motel owner was so moved he'd found Lilah a temporary engagement ring from somewhere. Then they'd moved onto their room, eaten, showered and fallen into bed together. Lindsey was completely mesmerised by her touch, his heated skin in constant contact with hers. She's closed her eyes in ecstasy, high on an invisible drug, the closeness between them. They'd fallen asleep, still joined, tangled tightly together.

So Lindsey expected to wake up in a similar state, but was surprised to find an empty space beside him.

Sleepily, he sat up, looking for Lilah. She was curled up in a chair by the window, wearing his shirt, crying.

Lindsey got up and went over to her. He crouched beside the chair and put one comforting hand on her knee, the other on her shoulder. "I'm sorry." he whispered. "I knew this was too much too soon."

"It's not." she told him.

"So why are you crying?"

"Christmas. And all my related shit. And us. How I feel. Marriage, scary." She shivered.

"Come back to bed." he said, taking one of her cold hands in his. "You're freezing."

She let him wrap the duvet around her and moaned in protest. "Get your ass under here."

"Just my ass?"

"Do you have any idea how I feel about you?" she dropped her playful expression.

"I think so."

"Because it scares me." she confessed.

He kissed her hair. "Why?"

"It's too intense. Like if I'm not with you I might burst."

"We're getting married, Lilah."

"When?"

"Whenever you want."

"Tomorrow?"

"Sure. We can drive to Vegas. Cheap, basic, but free chips and… we'll be married."

"Does it freak you out?"

"A little."

"Because of the firm?"

"Yes. They'll probably move me to real estate or some other hovel. But you're staying right where you are."

She kissed his arm. "Not sounding bad right about now. And we're getting a cat."

"Really?"

"A black one. Named Squeaky."

"Squeaky?"

"Well I need something to practice on before having your children."

He grinned. "Seriously? Lilah Morgan does stitches, stretch marks and baby formula?"

She contemplated that thought for a moment. "Maybe just the one child."