Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Self Defense

(Billie lets go of my hand, and gently smacks me behind my head.)

"OWW! Not so hard!" (I pinch Billie's arm, as the audience laughs.)

"You see what I got to put up with, Ellen?"(Billie laughs.)

(We talk with Ellen for about two hours. After the show, Billie is sitting in my lap as I hold her. She wipes tears from her eyes.)

"You okay love?"

"Yea...just hard talking about being raped, but at least the world knows of my pregnancy and engagement now. So, you lost a bet to me huh? Smartass!"

"Well...to be honest. I did lose something to you."

"What's that?"

"My heart. When I fell in love with you."

(Billie smiles.)

"Well...I promise to take good care of it, as long as you take good care of mine."

(I brush Billie's cheek with my fingers and kiss her lips.)

"I promise. Even it might give me gas."

(Laughs)"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've never heard that song by Blondie? Once I had love, and it gave me gas?"

(Laughs)"Oh my God. You're crazy! That's not how the song goes!"

"You sure? Every time I hear that song, it gives me gas."

(Laughs)"Shut up!"

(We kiss a few more times.)

"So, when am I going to hear this duet of ours?"

"It's not finished yet. I'm not as good as you are at writing lyrics."

"Maybe I can help. What do you have so far?"

(I grab my notebook off of a nearby table.)

"Well...you start the song off. I've written the first part down. It goes...'Into my room he creeps, without making a sound. Into my dreams he peeps, with his hair all long and hanging down. How he makes me quiver...how he makes me smile. With all this love I have to give you, I guess I'm going to stay with him awhile.'

"That sounds good so far...so what do you sing?"

"I'm still working on that part."

"Then your problem is...you're not totally focused on the song. You need to put yourself into character with who you're singing about. Kind of like telling a story."

(Billie climbs out of the chair and takes my hand.)

"Come with me."

(We walk over to the piano.)

(A little over an hour later, Billie and I had finished the song.)

"So, when do you meet with management? When do you start therapy?"

"I meet with management in a few hours actually...and as far as therapy goes..."(Shrugs)

"What do you mean? You are doing therapy...right?"

"Yes...but..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...I'm fine. I'm just tired I guess."

(I brush Billie's hair with my fingers.)

"Mrs. McAdams..."

"Damn you...can't you leave nothing drop?"

"Not if the woman I love is upset about something...no."

"I'm afraid alright?"

"That the bastards who did this might come back again?"

(Billie's eyes widen in surprise.)"How did you know..."

"Your beautiful blue-eyes are like an open window to your heart. Besides...the thought has crossed my mind a few times as well."(I pull Billie into a hug.)

"What am I supposed to do? The authorities don't know where they're at. They say they've left the country, but what if they come back?"

"Then your family and I will do everything we can to protect you."

"But what if you can't?"

"Then I can teach you a few things to defend yourself."

"You know self-defense?"

"I know a little. Come on, I'll teach you a few basics."