Firefly

Fourteen

Bill and Frank's

"The bathroom is right in through there. Here's a box of clothes for you to go through. I'm sure you can find something. But if I may, I think this…" Frank dug into the box he set on the bed and pulled something out of it. "Would look great on you." He held up a white sundress with the smallest details of flowers. "A dress?" I asked. "You can wear it for lunch and then change into something else before you leave. I even have sandals that would go with it."

He left the room and I went into the bathroom. I turned on the shower feeling the water start to get hot. Just as I got undressed and stepped under the water someone knocked on the door. "Firefly, it's me." I heard the door open and shut then a deep sigh from Joel. "Bill said not to waste all his goddamn hot water." I chuckled and peaked my head out from behind the curtain. "Then maybe you should join me. Ya know… to save water and all that junk." 

"You know damn well what will happen if I get in that shower with you. It's extremely tempting, darlin', but I'll wait." I groaned, "Fine." I pulled my head back into the shower and made quick work of washing myself and my hair. "Hand me a towel?" I asked, holding out my right hand. I felt the soft fluffy material against my hand and grabbed it. I wrapped the towel around me and stepped out. When I looked up Joel was looking me up and down.

"What?" I asked. He shook his head, nothin' ya better get outta here before I do something that will probably piss Bill off or probably scare him." I giggled and lightly hit his chest. "Behave, Mr. Miller." I squealed when he pulled me against him. "That's not helping. Now out." He gave me a quick kiss before pushing me out the door with a slap to my ass.

When I was in the room I started to look through the box but stopped and looked at the dress Frank laid out on the bed. I took the towel off and pulled a white underwear set, with the tags still on them if you can believe that, and put them on. It was amazing how they seemed to have every size under the sun. I grabbed the towel and lightly towel-dried my hair then put the dress on. Walking over to the full length mirror in the corner of the room I looked at myself in shock.

I haven't worn a dress in a very long time. I grabbed the hair brush off the vanity close by and brushed my hair, grabbing a clip and clipping part of his back before standing back to look at myself again. I kept fidgeting with the dress, not sure what to think. I don't think I've felt this pretty in a while. "Okay, that felt…wow…" I turned around to see Joel in nothing but a towel looking at me in a way I could figure out.

"What? What's wrong?" I turned around to look at myself again. "I look ridiculous, right? I mean were in the fucking apocalypse and I'm in a dress. Fuck! I'm going to change." When I turned around Joel was there to stop me, turning me back around. "You look beautiful, darlin'. You deserve to enjoy this even for a little while." He kissed my shoulder and turned towards the bed. "Don't you dare put the clothes you had on. There is a box full of clean and new ones. I'll be downstairs with Frank."

When I walked down the stairs I headed to the kitchen. Frank had given me a little tour before leading me upstairs. "Oh, um sorry, I was looking for Frank." Bill looked at me up and down. "He's out front," he said. "Thank you…for letting us come into your home and for the hot shower." He went back to cooking and I walked outside. Frank was setting the table. I walked over to him and he stopped. "I knew that would suit you. You look beautiful." I felt my cheek flush, "thank you."

When Joel came outside he was wearing a green button up and jeans. I walked over to him, smiling. "Well, don't look handsome." I grabbed his hand and led him over to the table where Frank and Bill were setting the food down. "This looks amazing, Bill."

As we sat down he automatically pulled his gun out, pointing it at Joel who was unfazed. "Bill, for God's sake put that damn thing away!" He grumbled but put it down. "Look, I get it. I wasn't happy when I found out she was talking to a stranger on the radio. But we can get things in the QZ. Medicine, equipment, spare parts. We can trade with each other. We can decide on a halfway point and meet there." Bill didn't say anything and kept eating.

After lunch I helped Frank with the dishes. "He really loves you." I looked over at him and in confusion. "What?" I asked, smiling. "Joel; He really loves you. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. How did you two meet?" He asked. I dried the last plate, sitting it aside before leaning back on the counter. "Uh…he lived across the street from me and my Nonna. I used to…what I'm about to tell you; you can't bring up around him, please." He nodded his head, looking at me in concern.

"I used to um…I babysat for him. He's lived across from my Nonna for as long as I can remember. I was with his…uh…his daughter the first night. The three of us and his brother were trying to get out but…the town was overrun. It all happened so fast. We ran into a soldier, Sarah was hurt, we were in an accident and she hurt her leg, he shot, Sarah was killed, I was hit and almost didn't make it." I was playing with my fingers, looking down at the floor. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." Frank pulled me in and gave me a hug.

We walked back outside to see Joel and Bill looking at each other, still sitting at the table. "Everything okay?" I asked, walking over to Joel. He stood up and pulled me into him. "Yeah, darlin' everything's fine," he said, kissing the side of my head. "Why don't you two take a walk around the town."

"I think it's time for them to–" Bill stopped talking when Frank gave him a hard glare. "I was thinking maybe you can stay overnight and leave in the morning after breakfast. Maybe Bill can even help find you a working car so it doesn't take as long to get back as it did to get here." Bill grumbled and walked back into the house. Frank gave up an apologetic look before following after him. "I'll talk to him. Don't you worry. Go have a nice walk. Enjoy yourself."

I grabbed Joel's arm, "well, come on, let's explore." He reluctantly allowed me to pull him along. "This place is so…beautiful. It's like the world never ended." Joel hummed, "well, I don't think Bill is going to budge on wanting to trade. Guy is kinda…strange." I laughed at the irony. "You're strange Joel. You and Bill have a lot more in common than you think."

"We do not," he argued. I laughed more, turning so I was looking at him and walking backwards. "Let's see…you're both grumpy, don't trust anyone, very protective of the people you care about, stubborn as hell." I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Will do anything to make the person you love happy." O reached up and peaked his lips before dragging him along.

"Ya know, this place is safe," he said after about ten minutes. "Mmhm," I hummed, looking around and enjoying the nice weather. It was like the world didn't end and there wasn't some fungus that made people raging lunatics.

"You could…uh…you stay here. I'm sure Frank can talk Bill into living here with them." I stopped, spinning around to look at him in confusion. "What're you talking about?" I asked. "You would be safe here. A lot safer than the QZ. Safer than you would be with me." I moved away from him, looking at him in disbelief. "Are you fucking joking? You can not be serious right now!"

Joel came towards me and I stepped back. "If this is your way of telling me that–that you don't want to be with me anymore because y-you– you and Tess actually are…" I couldn't even finish that sentence. I just turned around and started walking away, tears already beginning to stream down my face. I pulled away when I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Don't touch me! You had to go and ruin a perfectly nice time didn't you? You couldn't have just told me the truth back at the apartment. That's why you wanted Tess to come with you, isn't it?!"

"No! There ain't nothing going on with me and Tess. I'm only thinking about you! I'm always thinking about you!" He came over and grabbed me by the shoulders. "I want you safe and this place is safe. I can't lose you, firefly. I–if I lost you I'd put a gun to my head and this time I wouldn't miss."