Just A Little Magic (closed)

[Tibxo]

Jason

Jason rubbed his eyes warily as he stepped onto the porch. Having spent the last hour listening to Felicity's tirade on 'why that girl' was around this time of morning' to 'she couldn't understand why they just couldn't go home and sell the place cheap so that they could get on with their lives', he was glad for the moment's respite.

There he saw Lily, who was working on the wood railing jump as he approached her.

"Sorry." He said.

"Me too." She replied as she continued on her work.

"I mean I apologise for what happened earlier. You see Felicity is not a morning person."

This time, Lily stopped and looked at him. Her face looked cute with the specks of paint on it.

"Tell me about it." She smiled. "You should see my Aunt Ada first thing. Not even Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn't dare go up against her then."

They both laughed.

"And what's so funny?" A curt female voice asked behind.

"Nothing really." He replied, knowing that Felicity would not understand.

"Good." She said without stopping. "We need to get going if we going to get a day's worth of shopping in."

"Ah, yes." He said as he started to follow.

"And my dear girl," she stopped without looking back, "if you do have to come round to work on this..place then I would appreciate if you could do so a little later. Not all of us are used to getting up the crack of dawn."

Jason gave Lily an awkward smile and followed in Felicity's wake.

******

It was after midnight that the two of them returned from the city, laiden with boxes.

"I really do not understand why we had to come back here." Felicity moaned. "It would have been so much easier to gone back to your apartment."

"I know dear but as I have said before, I really would like to work on the place before it is sold." He said. Even his mellow character was having a hard time putting up with his fiancee's recent behaviour.

Felicity turned to him.

"You are not getting tetchy with me are you, darling?"

"Of course not." Jason sighed. "It's just that it has been a long day and I am tired. And I really should have spent the day on the house rather than shopping."

Seductively, Felicity come up and pushed herself into his arms.

"But you know how out of place I feel here. I - we belong in the city and going shopping today was like a breath of fresh air. I really do appreciate it."

Jason smiled and ran a hand through her hair.

"I know. It won't be long." He promised.

Felicity smiled and gave him a slow kiss.

"I know what you want. One of my famous backrubs."

Taking his hand, Felicity led him upstairs to a backrub that led to other things...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lily

She didn't sleep all that well, up into the wee hours of the morning doing research in her aunt's old tomes. Looking for something that could aid her in some way that wasn't positively evil!

She gave up about three and went to bed, dreaming the entire time of the past mostly. He may not remember any of the moments, but she did. It wasn't a whole lot of a past between them, but still there was a connection through Aunt Betsey.

She slept in, took her time showering and this time waiting until noon before approaching Jason's house. Arnold was coming over for a picnic type lunch, and so she made enough to accomidate the four of them.

She ground her teeth together, bound and determined that Felicity was not going to ruin her good mood! It wasn't logical to put on nice cloths for renevation, but she did wear something more decent this afternoon. She had to remember her morals, she wasn't cheap nor easy and certainly did not want to come off as being such!

She packed freshly baked chicken, salad and rolls. She carried out to the work station lemonaid and glasses as well. She even went so far as to set up a table cloth and place settings. Freshly baked apple pie sat waiting for dessert and all that was missing were the guests.

She knew Arnold would arrive on time, he always did when she could stomach granting him an invitation.. now for her neighbors. Squaring her shoulders, she kept her head held high and her smile bright as usual.

Again she knocked on the door, she knew them both to be home as she'd seen Jason not long ago opening curtains. It was time he pitched in to aid her, they only had three weeks to finish this project.. And she wasn't going to do it alone!

"Hello." Jason opened the door with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, but he tried, she'd give him that.

"Hi there.. I just finished making lunch and thought I would invite you to a nice home cooked meal before starting today?" She didn't wish to sound pleading, in Jason's mind this was an arrangement, not friendship.

"I remembered that the moving van's would be coming today, to store anything in the house you'd like to keep... Not furniture and the such, but momento's. That way We can begin working on the interior and attic today." She smiled as she rocked back and forth on her heels, he looked about to decline and so she spoke up, "Please? I made a lot of food.. and Mr. Becker is coming.. I don't really feel comfortable around him unchaperoned.." She whispered softly so that no one else would hear her confession. Her eyes were big and pleading, she had to fight fire with fire..

 

[Tibxo]

Jason

(Welcome back, Sweet. You were missed! )

Jason had been working at the back when he saw Lily heading towards the house. Putting down the paint, he went through and answered the door.

"Hello." Jason smiled.

"Hi there.. I just finished making lunch and thought I would invite you to a nice home cooked meal before starting today?" She said. "I remembered that the moving van's would be coming today, to store anything in the house you'd like to keep... Not furniture and the such, but momento's. That way We can begin working on the interior and attic today....Please? I made a lot of food.. and Mr. Becker is coming.. I don't really feel comfortable around him unchaperoned.." The last bit she whispered.

"Really?" He asked, trying to figure out what could be wrong with him. Then he realised: "He's doesn't like you does it?"

Lily pulled a face.

"Jeez. He's a bit old for you isn't he?"

She deserves better than that!

They both laughed.

"That's what I keep trying to tell my aunts but they just don't listen. So I really would appreciate if you could come over and the food is good."

Jason smiled. Luckily, Felicity had gone out earlier that morning and would not be back until the evening. So there would be no objections on that front.

"Sure. Why not? Anything to help a young damsel in distress." He thought he saw Lily blushed. "Let me wash up and I will be right over."

"Okay." Lily backed away and left for her aunts' house...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lily

She managed not to leap for joy as she made her way back towards the picnic table set up on her lawn. Smiling, she poured lemonaid and carefully put in ice cubes. She hummed merrily to herself, working as she waited.. And the the sound of a car approached and her mood dropped just a little down.

Arnold Becker had arrived..

Sighing, she knew she'd do her best as always to be polite and friendly but not encourage him in any manner what so ever.

"Lilliana! Such a lovely day..." He came up, his hands before him, to cup hers within his own. "And I might I remark that you are looking lovely today."

"Thank you." She mumbled trying not to show her anger with her flushed face. "Please, have a seat Arnold." She indicated the seat on the other side of the table but instead he sat beside her.

"This smells lovely M'dear.. I do hope you didn't spend all day preparing this? You should really hire a cook, I can recommend quite a few actually..."

She bit her lip to not say anything other than, "No, thank you but no. I enjoy cooking.." She paused to find conversation when she spied Jason coming across the lawn... alone?

Where was his fiance?

"Ah, there's our other guest.. Mr. Becker.. Err... Arnold I would like to introduce you to Betsey's grandson, Jason." She smiled as she shifted a little further down the bed away from Arnold. "Jason this is Arnold Becker.." She couldn't even recall what Arnold did for a living to say so, not that it would matter.

"Please have a seat.." She smiled warmly and stood up to uncover the plates holding everything she had prepared. "I figured a nice quiet lunch under the autumn sunshine would be nice.. before I get back to work that is.."

She helped dish up Jason and Arnold's plate as well as her own, listening to the two men social a little.

"Where is that lovely young woman I saw you with the other day?" Arnold being nosey asked Jason the ONE question Lily did not want to hear the answer to.. Well she silent hoped Felicity went home for the rest of the three weeks, but she wasn't going to hold her breath waiting.

 

[Tibxo]

Jason

Jason had a quick shower and then don on a pair of jeans and a white shirt. He had prefered to have stayed and worked on the house. Especially as Felicity was not there but he had promised Lily he would go.

Grabbing a bottle of wine that he and Felicity had bought the day earlier, he left the house and strode round to next door.

Lily was the first to see him.

"Ah, there's our other guest.. Mr. Becker.. Err... Arnold I would like to introduce you to Betsey's grandson, Jason." She smiled as she shifted a little further down the bed away from Becker. "Jason this is Arnold Becker."

"Please have a seat." She smiled and stood up to uncover the plates holding everything she had prepared. "I figured a nice quiet lunch under the autumn sunshine would be nice.. before I get back to work that is."

Jason found himself sitting down with a plate on his lap, chatting to Beckett.

"Where is that lovely young woman I saw you with the other day?" Beckett asked.

"Felicity? Oh she's gone to the city to have lunch with her father." He replied.

"Oh? What does he do?"

For a moment, it felt more like an interrogation than a simple conversation.

"Ever heard of Dan Hardcastle?"

"Of King Castle Industries? Who hasn't? So you are marrying into an important family then, son." Beckett said.

"Some see it that way. But to me, I am just marrying Felicity."

"Huh-huh. So when is she back?"

"Tonight." Jason answered.

"Well. Then I would love to invite you to my house for dinner one evening this week. It could be the four of us." Jason saw Beckett turn to Lily who had been sitting silently through the entire conversation. "It would be my way of thanking you for this lovely picnic."

"Well, I am not so sure..." Lily started to say.

"Oh nonsense, dear." Said one of Lily's aunts as they walked towards them. "You would love to go. It would do you good to go out with some company. I keep telling you that. I am sure that Jason agrees, don't you, Jason?"

He looked at Lily uneasily as all eyes fell on him.

"I suppose so." He said, wondering what to say.

"Great!" Said Beckett. "Let's make it this Friday if everyone's game."...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lily

"Good day Aunt Ada." Lily spoke politely but longed to throttle the woman! Her teeth ground hard together, but she managed to maintain her smile.

"I am sure Friday would be lovely.." She wanted to shout, throw something and turn down Arnold's invitation all in one breath, but she knew she could not. She sighed, her eyes down cast as she ate her meal in silence. She listened to Aunt Ada and Arnold discussing things, but only with half an ear. She really had no interest in the man, when would they learn this?

"Arnold, you will be careful with my angel now..." Aunt Ada's tone although light was threatening with promise if Arnold failed.

"Of course my dear, I will watch over her carefully and rest assured she will be returned in perfect health."

"I will drive myself, but thank you." She stood suddenly, most of her lunch finished. "I believe the attic and basement needed tending to, isn't that right Jason?" She turned, stepping over the bench and paused to shake hands with Mr. Becker, "It was nice of you to stop by and enjoy the midday meal. I will see you Friday.." Her eyes were icy as they met her Aunt's over Becker's shoulder.

Aunt Ada actually blushed, her eyes averting with something akin to shame. "I trust there will be no more disturbances that need handled?" When her Aunt said nothing to her, but instead addressed Arnold with questions on the meal on Friday, Lily gave up and headed towards Jason's... soon to be her new home.

She paused as she got only half way before turning back, "Jason? Where would you like me to start?" She called, she wanted to do something! Anything, but be busy for awhile and not think of her interfering aunts!

 

[Tibxo]

Jason

"Jason? Where would you like me to start?"

Jason was a few metres behind her, having said his thanks to Becker and Lily's aunts.

"You either carry on what you were doing yesterday or help me in the back." He shouted back.

"Okay." Lily replied...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lily

She followed him, silently sulking over the situation her aunt's kept putting her into. It was not that they didn't mean well, but she did not love Arnold! She wouldn't settle for second best, nor for a loveless life of servitude as being his trophy wife slash maid. And the very thought of bearing that man's children.. and what she would have to do to have children... it would be sickening if the image didn't make her giggle whenever she thought about it!

She wasn't giggling now however, but working silently. She assisted Jason with scraping off the old and painting on the new. She stopped now and then what she was doing to go back and correct a minor mistake Jason had made while painting but said nothing about it.

After a half an hour of silence she sighed, "I think I might be able to come down with some sort of weird cold or flu by friday.... Anything urgent that might arise for you?" She smiled a little crookedly in an attempt at humor.

"Why do people always want to rush things? Why do we have to be married to be happy? And really, can you be happy with someone who doesn't accept you for who you are but wants to change you into something you're not?" She fell silent, usually not one to vent her frustration to anyone, it was a little awkward doing so but in a small way she felt better.

"Would you like something to drink? If you don't mind me raiding the kitchen for something cold that is?"

 

[Tibxo]

Jason

"Would you like something to drink? If you don't mind me raiding the kitchen for something cold that is?"

Jason who had been too tied up in his own thoughts, quickly apologised.

"I'm sorry. Not the best of company aren't I?" He said.

"You're not so bad." Lily said, flashing him a smile that made him feel good. "Penny for your thoughts?"

What do I tell her? That I am enjoying the day without Felicity being around?

He felt a tinge of guilt. He loved her. Surely he shouldn't feel like that?

"Am just thinking what a lovely day this is. Reminds me when Grandma would take us out for a picnic." He stopped for a moment as he stared at Lily incredulously. "I remember: That little girl that used to come along with us. That was you wasn't it?"...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Lily

She smiled and nodded, "Yes that was me. Grandma Betsey used to make you push me in the old tire swing whenever we went." She moved around the paint cans to inspect their work. "Looks nice." Placing her brush into a pail, she wiped off her hands and brushed a few strands of hair from her face.

"It was also me that you used to push into the pond all the time, whenever I wasn't looking. And it was me who used to ask you every weekend when you went to play with the other boys, if I could come along." It was also him that told her girls couldn't play baseball.

"Ice water sound alright?" She paused in the doorway looking back at him for an answer. "There is pie still covered out on the table if we get hungry in a bit."

"Water is great, thank you." He smiled back and for the first time since coming over, she relaxed.

"Alright, be right back." She ventured inside, stopping to eye the damaged frame resting on a table just inside the hall. Careful, she picked it up. It must have been what Felicity had thrown yesterday morning. It made her cringe a little, realizing that picture was of Grandma Betsey and Jason when he was just about five years old. A very old picture and frame, it saddened her that she caused such a treasure to be broken.

"Maybe.. I can fix this.." She spoke softly as her fingers carefully pulled the rest of the broken glass out of the frame. She had to find a way to get through to Jason, to reach him some how. She couldn't wait, and he was too good of a man to go sniffing around behind his fiance's back.

It was a shame, but she was resourceful if nothing else!

Heading into the kitchen, she placed the frame on top of the fridge before filling two glasses with ice water. Careful on her trekk back, she handed him his and sat down on a wooden saw horse. "Are you planning on cleaning out the attic.. I mean, momentoes and such up there.. Years of pictures and all sorts of things.. Aunt Ida swears there are secrets buried up there that Betsey collected but would never share..." She eyed him with a twinkle, "Wouldn't it be fun to see if that were true?"