Hard Time's

I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

The figure grunts as he is tackled and the Baroness squeals in fear but she needn't have bothered. You tackle the figure rolling on the ground with him you raise your fist to punch him the clouds move and you see a very battered and drunk. 'John?!' The Baroness exclaims. 'Your freezing, how long have you been out here?!' you scold him. 'Needt apologise, baroness, I should've, shouldn't have lied.' he was drunk as hell. 'Heaven's sake, let's get him inside before he catches his death.' The Baroness touches her forehead stressfully.

You groan and help him up carrying most of his weight meanwhile the Baroness a team player as always leaves you to it. You follow her up the alley she's wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. She punches in the passcode and lets you all in. You sit John at a table as best you can and go to brew him a coffee to help him sober. The kettle boils and you see the Baroness she is staring at a design using her razor she makes a few tweaks. 'Are you okay?' you ask softly approaching her from behind.

'Yes.' the voice is stoic and cold. You sigh and nod turning to go back to the staff room and fix his coffee. The storm is still loud but thankfully the power had come back on. 'What were you doing in the alleyway?' you nearly jump out of your skin you didn't know she'd followed you. 'Jesus! I ugh sorry I didn't hear you. Well, I went to the pub to calm down and then I remembered you had been off work they've been locking the doors early. I was heading back to check on you then the powercut and I thought you might be unnerved. I was going to enter by the side door to make sure you got home safely. The Baroness looks confused. 'But I was awful to you, truly awful. I attacked you.' she reasons.

You listen to her then shrugged. 'Still wanted to make sure you were safe.' The Baroness's features soften. 'Look, I'm sorry, I am I can't explain my emotions right now. I feel like a part of me was damaged beyond repair when he-' You go across the room and take her hands. 'I, know, I understand, it's okay.' you speak gently. 'It isn't okay, you should not have to endure any of this. It isn't your fault.' her hands tremble in yours. 'It isn't yours either.' you squeeze her hands. 'For better or worse remember?' you wink at her. 'I didn't intend to lead with worse.' the Baroness remarks.

You smile and step closer. 'I'm not going anywhere, I told you I will never let anyone hurt you again. I am patient I know you need time to heal.' you sit on the breakroom table. 'What if I never fully heal?' she looks away and you study her. 'What if I am never comfortable being intimate with you again? Wouldn't you rather have a partner who could grant you pleasure?' she's insecure. You smirk. 'No sex with you is still better than sex with anyone else. As long as I can be with you it's all I need.' you stroke the side of her throat. She turns back to you stepping between your legs she leans in kissing you.

After a few moments, you part and smile at each other. 'I'm never leaving you again Victoria, you are mine and I am yours.' she cups your cheek admiring the beauty of your face, unfortunately, the moment is cut short. 'The fuck is he doing now?' you jump off the table going out to where John is and the Baroness has followed you. John has arranged several glass jars which did contain beads and the like. They are all over the floor, he's using a pen to tap a beat to his song.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconutsThere they are, all standing in a rowBig ones, small ones, some as big as your headGive them a twist a flick of the wristThat's what the showman said"

'Everybody!' he goes off again. 'Okay, now just the Baroness!' The Baroness's eyebrows shoot up. 'We need to get him sobered up.' you say quietly to her. Without looking at you the Baroness nods her head in agreement with you. You call the car and the Baroness gets in the backseat you dump John in beside her. You sit opposite them as the car takes you back to Hellman Hall, John wraps his arms around the Baroness's waist resting his head on her lap. The Baroness looks down at him with disdain raising her hands so as not to touch him you smirk at her and she shoots you a glare.

When the car stops at Hellman Hall you both get out you and the driver help John who wakes up in time to vomit on your shoes. 'Really?!' you growl at him. 'Coconuts.' he mumbles. The Baroness is holding the door open now she is the one smirking at you. 'Shut up.' you glare at her. You get John settled then get cleaned up. The Baroness is reading with her glasses on in bed you enter getting changed. 'Is he still unconscious?' she asks. 'Dead as a dodo.' you reply. 'Ugh! What am I going to do about him?' You yawn. 'Work it out tomorrow.' you take your place in your armchair.

'I..' you had just closed your eyes and you open them to see her watching you. 'I was hoping last night wasn't a one-time thing. I feel better when you hold me. The doctor checked me over I have no sexual illness that will find its way to you.' she assures. 'I am not pressuring you of course and you're probably still angry about earlier.' she shuts her book and then jumps you've already got in beside her. 'I hate the fucking chair it kills my back. I like sharing a bed with you I only declined when it made you uncomfortable.'

The Baroness never asks you to hold her she just wriggles her hips against you expecting you to take the hint. You do and you hold her. 'If you like tomorrow I could give you a massage?' she offers. 'The Baroness? Give a massage?' you query. 'I am having trouble more than ever with touch I thought if I spent some time with your body it may relax me. And I wouldn't need to be touched.' you realise she's serious. 'Okay. Then maybe I could try and give you one after?' she tenses. 'Baby steps.' you smile. 'It was an offer, not a demand.' she relaxes against you.