Home Away From Home

Home : Stories by Catw00man : The Storm Series : Home Away From Home

Summary: Home really is where the heart is.

AUTHOR: Catw00man
EMAIL: catw00man@cryptoffic.com
RATING: NC-17
SERIES: Storm Series
CHARACTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr/Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr POV
CATEGORY: Romance
COMPLETED: October 22, 2008
WORD COUNT: 5,790
DISCLAIMER: I own NOTHING and am affiliated with NO ONE mentioned here. Not the drivers, not the teams, no one. This is all fiction and fun. In other words...NOT REAL, NOT REAL, NOT REAL. ;-)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Zippit for the awesome beta on this.
AUTHOR'S NOTE2: Ok so this thing has already kinda gone AU, since in the first fic I had Jeff win the Championship in ’04.  Also, he made the trip to Paris with Jimmie for the ROC race.  *shrugs*  Oh well, my fic, my rules, right? This fic takes place during the first round of Daytona testing in 2005. Drivers that finished the previous season with an odd numbered owners points position were testing.
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The 24 Karat - Daytona, FL: January 13th, 2005

I thought I was ready for this.  I really did.  I thought after the night with the piano….  Slow smile slides across my lips when I remember the possessive look in his eyes and how I’ll never look at a piano the same again.  I needed to know he was with me and only me, and in one night he showed me without a doubt I was the one he wanted.  But that was all before we came down here.

Grip the smooth varnished rail of the yacht tighter then slide my palms across it over and over.  Fancy ass boat like this ain’t usually my style.  Hell, I never could imagine spending so much damn money on a boat.  But this is where he stays when he’s in Daytona so how can I complain?  He’s been with me at the Acres for over a month and hasn’t complained once, so how can I bitch about being on his boat?

I can’t.  I need to get the fuck over it.  At least his fancy ass prick of a teammate of his isn’t testing this week.  I don’t think I could have handled him…yet.

Stare out over the water and see the lights from the pier flickering over the dark surface.  I’ll admit, the water is pretty at night but it still doesn’t feel right.  I should be in my coach or some crappy hotel, not in a million dollar yacht that’s way too high class for my taste.  Not to mention I’m sure he spent plenty of time here…before.

Hold tight to the railing again and alternately push and pull on it as I rock on my feet.  I don’t need to think about this.  I don’t need to think about him.  I need to focus on racing and Daytona and Jeff who I know has been tryin’ to spoil me since we got here.  Shit, he had the fridges stocked with Sundrop and more Bud than even I could drink.  He’s thought of everything, or at least tried to, and I need to focus on him and not who else’s reflection used to be in that mirror over the bed.

They’re over.  I know they’re over.  So why does the thought of that scrawny wannabe still drive me nuts?  Maybe because I remember how much hurt was in Jeff’s eyes on that beach, how it cut him straight to the core.  It takes a lot to do that to a man.  Losin’ Daddy was the only time I hurt so much and I know it’s not a fair comparison.  It’s not the same.  But he was hurt a lot.  And I know hurt that deep doesn’t just go away.  I’ve never felt that much for someone who wasn’t family, until maybe….

Shake my head and run a hand through my long curls.  I shouldn’t be letting myself get so deep.  I shouldn’t.  He’s not family, not even DMP…yet, though I think he could be.  Have to see what happens once the season starts.  That’s what I’m waiting for though I know it’s already too late.  Losin’ him is something I can’t even bear to think about.  That’s why the very thought of his annoying teammate drives me crazy.  I can’t shake the feeling he could still come in take him away.

Drum my fingers on the rail and stare up at the night sky.  It isn’t as dark as it should be.  Be better if we were out in open water, then maybe I could see the stars I’m so used to.  I remember how Jeff couldn’t believe how bright the stars were the first time I took him out on my land.  It’s like he’d never taken the chance to look before.  Guess being in New York so much will do that to you.  He was so different from me then.

And what the hell makes me think that’s changed?

Sure he’s still wearing the camo hat when he’s not out in the media but he shed everything else so easy once we got down here.  Ok, yeah, he’s still not as clean shaven as he used to be but it is preseason.  I have no doubt once the season starts he’s gonna be back to being Mr. Perfect Five Time Champ and I’m gonna be the one who don’t fit.  Not like Johnson.  Shit, Johnson was his fucking clone.

Push off the rail hard and turn to go inside when I realize I ain’t ready to go back in there.  It’s all so plush and foreign, so impersonal and proper.  I don’t fit in there.  Out here, under the sky I can still breathe.  Turn back to the rail and lean my forearms on it so I can look down at the water lapping at the boat.  When’s he gonna realize I don’t fit in this world?  When’s he gonna look at me and wish I was more put together, more fancy and groomed like his “boy” was.  Time was those two were inseparable.  That’s gotta mean somethin’.  I ain’t like him and there’s no way I ever could be.  I’d never be able to live with myself.

I’ve had people dress me up all fine and shit before and it makes me feel like a fish out of water.  I can’t even force myself to wear a damn tux to the banquet.  It’s just wrong.  Maybe that’s Daddy in me more than anything or maybe I’m still the rebel everyone likes to say I am but I can’t be a fake.  I won’t.  Daddy couldn’t even make me do it and if anyone could it woulda been him.  I just wonder if my stubbornness is gonna end up costing me the best thing I ever had.

Feel an arm slide around my waist and I melt back into him without thinking about it.  I was so lost in my head I didn’t even hear him coming.  Pull one hand from the rail to lace with his and smile when I feel his lips brush against my neck.  Two days ago he wouldn’t have dared kiss me in the open like this, more hold over from the prick I’m sure.  But after the reward I gave him in the deck chair for being the fastest after the first day of testing, I think he got over his hang ups.  Sure there could be a chance someone could see us, but at night, in a private dock for only the rich and famous?  I tend to think we’ll be ok.

Tilt my neck to reveal more skin to his warm lips and tug his arm tighter around me as he speaks soft.  “You really like it out here don’t you?  Country boy to the very end, hmmm?”  Feel the stubble of his cheek against my neck and my eyes slide closed.  I know he doesn’t mean anything by his words but I can’t help but think about how he’s singling me out more, pointing out all the differences I don’t want to face.

“Yeah, ain’t that what they say?  You can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy?”  Glitz and glamour, I’ve seen it all since I signed with Budweiser but I never felt right in any of it.  I’ve done the appearances, I’ve met all the fancy people but the whole time all I want is to get back home.  Where I’m safe.  That’s why I build bars in my basements because then all I have to do is climb the stairs and I’m home.  Shit, I’d give anything to be back home with him now.

“I like that, you know?”  His voice is soft, lips brushing against my ear and my eyes snap open at his words.  He can’t mean that.  He’s gotta be telling me what I want to hear except…Jeff doesn’t do that.  He’s always been straight with me from the beginning.  And it ain’t like he knows what’s been eating me up.  I just can’t see how he can go from wanting pretty boy Johnson to wantin’ me.

“Do you?”  The words slip out before I can think about stopping them and I unintentionally squeeze his hand tighter.  Shit.  Cat’s out of the bag now, well as he reads me.  Might as well get it all out.  “I ain’t exactly high society, Jeff.  And I ain’t gonna be.”  There.  I said it.  I know he talked about taking me up to his place in New York but he needs to know now, I may go, but I ain’t changin’. 

“You think I don’t know that?”  Feel him kiss the back of my neck softly and his arm tightens around me.   “I’ve known you for years, Dale. Even your dad couldn’t get you to stop wearing your hat backwards.  I know you.”

Stare up into the night sky and I want to believe him.  I want to believe I’m enough as I am because he’s right.  He does know me, probably better than most people in the garage who aren’t blood.  But is that enough?  From what I knew of Johnson before he became Jeff’s “protégé” he wasn’t so high class either.  Did Jeff do change him?  Does he want to change me too?

“What does that mean?”  Bite my lip and squeeze his hand tighter again.  Somehow it’s all a lot easier like this, talking without looking into those blue eyes that see way too much.  He can turn me inside out with look and I don’t need that right now.  I need him to tell me.  I need to know I’m not gonna be another clone and that he’s really ok with it…even though I can’t imagine how.

“It means I know exactly who I’m with and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”  Feel his thumb slip under the front of my shirt and slide slowly across my skin.  “I want to be with you, Dale.  Just like you are.”  His other arm slides around me and he holds me even tighter against him as he brushes his cheek against my neck again.  “I wanna bring Mooresville with us.”

His voice is so soft at first I think I’ve misheard his words.  There’s no way he could be talking about Mooresville.  My Mooresville.  But he is.  Shiver slightly as I hear the words run through my head again, tinged with a slight accent I know he’s picked up from me.  Close my eyes and savor the sound because nothing sounds more like home to me.  Lean back into his arms a little more and tilt my head back against his shoulder.  “Tell me, Jeff.  Tell me what you wanna bring with us.”

“I wanna bring this where ever we go,” he purrs against my ear as he slides his hands over my stomach and talks with a voice that melts me like butter.  “I wanna sit outside our coaches and drink beer like we did on your porch.  I wanna eat frozen pizzas, watch racing and whip your ass in online racing…or at least try to.”  He kisses my neck softly and runs his hands higher up my chest.  “I wanna keep things just how they are, Dale.”

“I want that too.”  The words flow from my lips so easily and when he tugs at my hips to turn me around I don’t resist.  Lean back against the rail once I’m facing him and get completely lost in his deep blue eyes, just like I knew I would, but this time I don’t mind.  Lean into him, dipping my head as I bring my hand up to cradle his face and kiss him softly at first, tenderly parting his lips with my own.  Slide my free arm around him and deepen the kiss as I pull him against me, his body willingly molding itself to mine. 

This is how it should be, just me and him and nothin’ else.  I dunno why I was so worried about all the fancy shit because it’s not him.  Sure he can play “high society” but that’s not the real him.  I’ve seen the real him.  It’s in the way he’ll joke around with Snooter, but never lose patience with him when he gets drunk and tells the same story fifteen times.  It’s in the way he’ll sit out and drink beers with me and not need to say a word as the sun sets.  It’s in his touch and his kiss but more than anything it’s in his eyes. 

“You wanna go inside now?” he breathes against my ear in the same relaxed, sultry tone as before and it almost makes my knees go weak.  I don’t know how he does this to me time and time again, twisting me around his finger like he owns me, but I ain’t fighting it.  Tilt my head to kiss down his neck and nuzzle against the side of his face as my lips brush against his ear.

 “Kinda wanna stay under the stars but…we can go in if you want.”  And this time I don’t mind.  I’m sure there’re still ghosts inside, but that’s not why I wanna stay outside anymore.  The way he looked at me just now let me know his eyes are only for me.  Johnson may have spent a lot of time here, but those times are gone.  Now it’s us and I know before we leave Daytona we’ll make plenty of new memories in that plush bed of his.  But not now.  Now I want to share something that’s just ours.  Now I want to hold him under the stars.

“Ok…” he whispers to me softly as his hands run up and down my sides.  “I’ll get us some blankets and meet you by the deck chairs.”  His lips brush my neck again and I feel his hot tongue taste my skin before he slowly pulls away.  Cool air hits the wet flesh but it’s not what makes me shiver, it’s the look he shoots me before he heads inside.  Watch him until he disappears then turn for the bow of the boat.

Walk around the chairs and over to the rail at the front the boat and stare out over the water for a moment.  There’s more breeze up here and it’s a little cold but I don’t care, it’s warmer than Mooresville is right now.  Run my hands over the smooth rail and smile softly.  I have to admit, even if I’d never drop my own money on a boat like this…it is nice.  Hear his feet moving across the deck in another moment and call out to him without looking, “You really do have good taste.”

“I know.”  Look over my shoulder to see him smiling at me as he sets some blankets down on a large deck chair and two glasses on the table beside it.  “I ended up with you didn’t I?” 

“What makes you think you got me?”  Grin at him as I walk over to join him and hear him chuckle as he spreads the blankets out on the chair that’s more like a futon than a lounge chair.  There’s more than enough room for both of us.  Perfect.  Glance over to the small table at the wide, short-stemmed glasses he brought out with about an inch of dark mahogany colored fluid in them.  I’m not sure what it is, but knowing him I’m sure it will be perfect too.  He has a way of giving me exactly what I need before I even know it.  Yeah, he’s got me alright.  Probably has from day one.

“So what’s in the glasses,” I purr against his ear as I wrap my arms around him from behind.  I wish I could tell him how much I love this, feeling him in my arms leaning against me, but I’ve never been able to find the words.  Every time I try it all seems so lame I end up biting my tongue.  One of these days though, one of these days I’ll figure out exactly what to tell him and it’ll be perfect.  Just like all of this.

“Something to warm us up.”  He leans back into my embrace a little more and runs his hands over my arms.  “Not that I don’t think we’re perfectly capable of doing that on our own.”  His soft chuckle and the way his ass grinds back against me already start sending heat through my body and I hold him tighter.  “But I think you’ll enjoy it…at some point.”

His words trail off as he turns halfway around in my arms and brushes his lips against mine.  “Why don’t we get comfortable?  We can worry about the cognac later.”  Nod to him as he turns around completely and kisses me again, deeper than before.  Pull him tight against me and run my hands over his back as he tugs me down to our makeshift bed.  Bet Johnson never would’ve let Jeff show him this side of him.  Fuckin’ idiot.  He has no idea what he’s missin’…and I’m gonna make sure he never has another chance.

Slide down into the chair with Jeff, kicking off my shoes as I sit down and lay down beside him.  Roll to my side and grin when I find he’s already watching me.  Scoot a little closer as he pulls the covers up around us.  It may be cold outside, but under the blankets with him it’s already getting hot.  Feel his hand slide up under the front of my shirt and his touch feels like fire across my skin.

“You do know how to warm things up,” I murmur against his lips as I kiss him again, my hands trailing over his hard body.  To think a few days ago I could hardly get him to kiss me on the deck.  Now I bet I could get him stripped down naked in no time…and I think I will.  Kiss down his neck and mimic his actions, but instead of just caressing my hands across his stomach I push his shirt up and lower my head under the covers.  Kiss over his skin and I hear him let out a low groan.  That’s right Jeff, under the stars, with me.

“Daaaale” he drawls my name and I feel his hand in my hair, threading through it and sliding my curls through his fingers.  Every time he does that it makes me all warm inside.  I’ll gladly keep my hair like this as long as he keeps doing it.  There’s something so intimate about his touch and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Bathe his nipple with my tongue and continue sliding his shirt up, pulling it off completely when he lifts up. Drop it to the side of the chair then raise my head enough to grin at him when he speaks, “God you look so sinful like that.”

Chuckle softly at his words and lean down again to nibble lightly at his hardened nipple, never taking my eyes off his.  He’s giving me the look that makes me want to combust and I know he’d love nothing more than to have me right now.  But he won’t.  He’ll let me play as long as I want and I love that about him.  He lets me be me in ways I never imagined before. 

“Gotta be sin to feel this good.”  Slide up his body and capture his lips with my own, tangling my tongue with his as his mouth opens under mine.  Feel his hands run up my back and with it my shirt, slipping up my skin and over my head as we break the kiss for only an instant.  He loses the shirt, somewhere to the side, and I press closer to him, savoring the feel of his bare skin against mine.  Tug the blankets tighter around us and run my hands down his chest.  Curl my fingers around his waistband and whisper against his lips, “Want you under the stars, Jeff.  Want you right here.”

“Then by all means have me.”  His voice is husky and rough and the sound makes me shiver.  He reaches down to take one of my hands and guides it to his front pocket and I grin.  Should’ve known he was planning this all along.  We’ll have to be quiet this time, something we’ve never done much of and the thought sends a fresh bolt of desire through me.  There’s something about sneaking around that’s just…hot.

“Hope you can keep quiet, Jeff, cause I know exactly what I want.”  Slide my hand inside his pocket and pull out the lube.  Press it into his hand then trail my fingertips over his stomach, grinning when his muscles jump under my touch.  No one’s ever been this responsive to me and I can’t get enough.  Don’t think I’ll ever get enough.  Undo the button on his jeans and tug them open.  Push the denim over his hips then slide it down when he raises up underneath me.  I do have something different in mind this time, something we haven’t really done before and I hope he goes for it.

“If it means I’ll be getting you then I think I can manage.”  Chuckle at his words as he kicks his jeans off the end of the chair then prop up on my arms as he tries to get mine off.  It doesn’t take him long to make short work of my jeans and boxers and before I know it I’m all wrapped up in him.  Hard body, warm skin, all tangled up with mine and I have to catch my breath when I feel his arousal brush against mine.  I don’t know if I’m ever gonna get used to that and I hope I don’t because, fuck, is it hot.

Groan softly and feel his hand at the back of my neck, urging me into a kiss as he tries to tug me on top of him.  Relent to the kiss but don’t move completely over him.  He stills after a moment then whispers against my lips, “Is something wrong?”

“Hell no,” I tell him immediately as I shift and get comfortable at his side.  Kiss his neck then murmur soft against his ear, “Get on your side, facin’ away from me…”  My voice grows even softer as I continue, “…so I can hold you.”

He nods, kisses my lips once more then rolls to his side  The lounge chair has just enough room for us both to be comfortable like this and I hope it works as well as I think because I’m not in a hurry.  After all the worrying about his idiot teammate I’ve been doing…I just want to hold him and know without a doubt he’s with me.  Wrap my arm around his waist as he scoots backward against me and groan softly when he rubs his ass against my cock.  He knows exactly what I’m planning now.  Tighten my arm around his waist and growl low, “Damn tease.”

“You know you love it.”  And I do.  Fuckin’ hell do I ever.  I love all the things he does to me because he always knows exactly how to drive me right out of my mind.  Kiss the back of his neck and draw patterns on his skin with my tongue until I feel him shiver.  Mmm, good to know I still have the same affect on him. 

Nibble at his earlobe and suck on it lightly before whispering soft, “Gimmie that lube you had.”  Trace my tongue along the shell of his ear and feel him shiver again.  “And I’ll show you Mooresville.”  He sucks in a breath at my words and I can only wonder what night he’s remembering.  There’ve been so many already.  But maybe he’s right.  Maybe we can take it all with us…like we’re doing now.  Feel him press the lube into my hand and I flip open the lid with my thumb.  He helps to pour some into my hand and I bury my face in his neck as I slowly coat my cock in the cool, sticky substance.  “You ready?” I whisper to him soft and I rest my hand on his hip.

“Yes, fuck yes Dale.”  He slides his top leg forward and when he does I’m able to get into the position I need.  Suck in a breath when I can feel his tight entrance against my cock then slowly rock my hips forward, inch by torturous inch.  I could go faster, I know I could with as active as we’ve been the last month, but I don’t want to.  I want to savor each and every sensation, memorize each and every thing about him.  The way he smells, the soft groan he makes as I slide inside, the way his skin practically trembles at my touch.  He’s right.  This is Mooresville because this is home.

He whimpers softly as my hips brush his ass and I tug him back against me even tighter.  Kiss and nuzzle against his neck as I slide my hand across his stomach and don’t move my hips at all, just relish the feeling of him all around me.  So tight, so perfect and so unlike any girl I’ve ever been with.  His hard body feels more right than anything I’ve ever known and I want to enjoy it.

“God, Dale…you feel…so damn good.”  His words come in gasps and I know mine would be no different because the feeling is so intense.  Rock my hips forward a little and the movement has us both groaning low.  Who knew not moving could be so damn hot?  Find his hand and cover it with my own and lace our fingers together.  No one’s ever held my hand like he does and I can’t get enough.  It’s so fucking intimate and I can’t believe I’ve never tried this before.

“So do you,” I breathe against his ear and push forward again, still barely moving as I find a slow rocking rhythm that has us both trembling in desire.  Kiss his neck, forcing myself not to rush things and everything gets hazy.  Sweet pleasure courses through me until all there is is him and the perfect little cocoon we’ve wrapped ourselves in.  The world is all around us, but it doesn’t touch us and maybe that’s what we’ve both been looking for, a little piece of heaven wherever we are.

Thrust into him a little harder, unable to help myself, and groan when he pushes back against me.  He clamps his muscles down tight around me and it’s all I can do to keep from crying out louder.  I wanted to take this slow, but shit, how can I resist him.  Squeeze his hand tight and lead it downward until it brushes against his cock.  Hear him hiss softly in pleasure and I know he’s as wound up as I am.  Guide his hand over his length then close my hand around him, mine over his, so we’re both holding him tight.  Rock my hips forward again until he’s sliding through our combined touch and he whimpers soft, trying to keep quiet I’m sure.  Damn there really is something so sexy about that.

“It’s hot, isn’t it?”  I murmur soft against his ear.  “It’s hot the whole world’s all around us and still we got this.”  Pick up the same rhythm as before but this time we both slide our hands over his cock with each rocking thrust.

“Yes, shit yes, Dale.  Stars belong to us.  Nothing else matters.”  Continue to rock deeper into him again and again and I can feel the heat building out of control.  I’m not gonna be able to keep this up much longer and from the way he’s trembling in my arms I doubt he could take much more if I could.  Kiss his neck and feel his words under my lips as speaks again with an even more desire filled voice.  “This is…what I wanted…just this…only this.”

His words still me, but only for a moment.  I should have the words for him.  I should tell him how I feel but God, the things he’s doing to me.  Suck at his earlobe and nip at his neck as I try to find some way to express the feelings running through me.  But then he clamps down tighter around me and meets my deep thrusts harder and I can’t think.  Tighten my hand over his and push into him harder, faster and it takes almost nothing to fall over the edge I’ve been hovering at for so long.  Bury my face in his neck when it finally hits me hard and I can’t keep the whimper from escaping my lips as bliss shatters all around me.  Vaguely feel warmth on my hand but it’s nothing compared to the warmth I feel inside…warmth I’ve only ever felt with him.

Tighten my arm around him as I tremble and hold him as if he’s my lifeline to the world and right now he just may be.  All I feel is him and all I want to do is hold him and never let go.  Lose myself to a sea of sweet perfection beyond all conscious thought and reason.  This--he--is home, and I wouldn’t have it any other way because as long as I have him…I know everything’s gonna be alright.

Drift in the bliss of being with him until I feel soft kisses on my face.  He’s turned in my arms--when did he do that?--and I raise an arm to slide around his waist.  I realize I must’ve drifted off at some point because as I blink my eyes open I see he’s laying on his side, looking down on my with the most amazing smile.  There’s amusement in his eyes and I rub at mine before finally asking him, “What?”

“You look younger when you’re sleeping,” he tells me with a grin and I snort softly at his words.

“You sayin’ I normally look old?”  He laughs quietly and when he smiles again I can’t help but return it.

“No, just saying you look peaceful.”  He pauses a moment and for an instant I see a trace of seriousness in his eyes I don’t usually see.  “It looks good on you, Dale.”  He pauses another moment and I wonder if he’s telling me a lot more than he’s saying.  He’s known me a very long time, knew me before Daddy died and I wonder what he sees when he looks at me.  Does he still see the punk I was, or is the age from 2001 still written on my face?  I should ask him that sometime, see what he really thinks but right now all I want to do is enjoy tonight.

“Mmm, gotta say I think it’s all your fault.”  Grin at him more as I continue, “Guess you’ll just hafta hang around and make sure I stay this way.”  Wrap the blankets a little tighter around us when I feel a bit of a chill and he scoots closer.

“I think I can deal with that.”  He smiles and looks me over for a moment then leans over me like he’s reaching for something.  Shift slightly to get out his way then realize he’s reaching for the glasses he brought out before.  Watch him pull back then he presses one into my hand, urging me to sit up at little and I follow his lead, keeping the blankets pulled tight around us. 

“This’ll help warm you up a little,” he tells me and I bring the glass up to take a sniff.  Blink at the strong whiff of alcohol and try to remember what he said it was.  I’ve had tons of stuff to drink over the years but I already know this is something I’ve never had.  Look at him curiously and he just smiles.  “It’s ‘Richard Hennessy’ cognac and trust me when I tell you you don’t want to know what it costs.”  He chuckles soft and I shake my head.  Leave it to Jeff to have the priciest stuff around.  Nod to him and bring the glass to my lips making sure not to take a breath this time.  I can’t imagine why he’d shell out so much money for some kind of a--

Blink in surprise as the amber liquid hits my tongue and holy shit I’ve never tasted anything so smooth.  It’s warm, but not burning, and as I swallow a sip it does feel like it’s warming me from the inside out.  The taste is slightly familiar and I guess I have had some kind of cognac before but it sure as hell was nothing like this.  This is…like drinking sunlight or something and whatever he paid for it, it was worth it. Look over at him as he sips from his own glass and shake my head.  “Wow.”

He grins, chuckles again and I swear his eyes are dancing with happiness.  “I was hoping you’d like it.  Definitely takes the chill off doesn’t it?”  He moves a little closer to me and I can’t get over how amazingly happy he looks.  I mean, I’ve seen him happy before but this is different and I can’t put my finger on it.  This is….

Oh, I get it.

He curls up against me and I wrap my free arm around him as he gets comfortable and it all falls into place.  This is about him and who he is just like Mooresville is all about me.  He wanted to share this with me and damn am I glad he did because I like seeing this side of him.  I was so worried about him trying to change me, but that’s not what he’s doing.  The boat, the cognac, all of this isn’t about changing me.  It’s about showing me who he is and making me a part of his world.

And I can handle that.

I can’t imagine a more perfect night like this and it’s got me wondering what a night with him in New York or something would be like.  I’m starting to think I might want to find out because I get it now.  He’s not trying to mold me into somethin’.  He just wants to show me part of what’s home to him and I wanna know more.  I wanna know everything.  This is gonna be a good year after all.  I have a feeling I’m gonna be a lot less homesick than I’ve ever been.  I guess home really is where the heart is.

~~Fin~~

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