Just for Tonight

11.

" So... You fell in love with me too ? Really ?" . Ville was taken aback.

She shyly smiled at him.

" Twice", she replied.

" Twice ? How is it possible ?", he asked, raising his eyebrow.

" I first fell in love with the singer of HIM. Your deep and velvety voice and your sweet words. The way you described love and pain, intertwined. It happened a long time ago, the"razorblade romance" era was at its peak. And then, I stopped listening to music : I was too busy with my cursus at the Uni. Studies above all ! ", she giggled. " And more recently, I fell in love with Ville Valo. The man". She blushed.

" When did you.... Feel it ? "

" When I told you about Ian. That night. I don't know... The way you cared for me, the way you took me into your arms. It was different from the others times you held me in your arms. I felt a strong connection between you and me."

"I felt it too. Do you remember the night I switched my bunk with Migé 's ? Well, that night I knew I was falling for you. But I denied it, I lied to myself. I was afraid of my own feelings".

" I' m scared too, Ville. I really am", she exclaimed.

"I know. You are shaking like hell", he noticed, cuddling her and kissing her cheeks.

"Too much feelings at the same time" she explained. "But remember, Ville, I need time. Please, be patient."

She took his face in her hands and caressed his cheeks with her thumbs.

"I'll wait for you, honey. I don't want to rush anything. I now know that you love me and it means the world for me", he sighed with relief.

---
For the first time on tour, everyone could rest in hotel rooms. They were crossing big cities and staying there for a few days, giving more than an one-off show. They also had days now and then without any gig schedulded. And to see the tiredness in every face, you could understood that it was time to slow down.

The first evening, you could meet a really drunk Migé, sitting (God knews how), on a barstool chair, with Gas, Linde and Burton. Totally wasted. The problem was that, when he drank, he didn't know or remember what he was supposed to keep quiet about or what to share with everyone.

" And then, Ville is shhho in love that he shhhmiles every time he shhees her and... And..."

"Ville's in love ?", Linde asked.

"yeshh", Migé laughed loudly.

Linde frowned: "Problems are coming". He sighed.

"Who ? " Burton asked, sharing Linde's state of mind.

"Chloweeee", Migé giggled.

"Are you kidding, Migé ?", both replied, stunned. " Chloe, really ?"

"Ville has never been able to deal with his women". Gas stated sternly.

" He will loose it and we will loose her", Linde predicted, pronouncing each word in slow motion. "And I don't want it to happen".

"How can he do that to us ?", Burton whispered, lost in his thoughts.

" Any woman but Chloe !", Linde groanned.

"We have to make sure he behaves, this time", Burton conclued.

Everyone agreed. Migé also with a loud "yeshhhhhh" .

Meanwhile, Chloe was in her hotel room, taking her stuff to get a shower. A shower ! She hadn't had one for ages ! The hot water lighgly hit her nacked body. She washed her hair twice and let the conditioner making its magic while she soaped herself.

Sleeveless pijamas on and hair still wet, she looked at the King size bed which waited for her. Wearing clean pijamas was also a luxury : she used to sleep on the bus in her clothes from the previous day, usually jeans and a sweater with sleeves, as all the other members of the group did. Only Ville usually slept shirtless.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Ville !" she exclaimed as she opened the door.

"Hello , honey. Enjoyed your shower ?", he asked, as he took a lock of her wet hair between his fingers.

"It was amazing", she laughed.

He took her in his arms and whispered to her ear with hope in his voice :

" Can I... Stay with you tonight ? I'll behave".

" Of course you can", she smiled.

He then saw the tattoo on her left arm. It was the motif of a plant, running from her shoulder to the top of her wrist.

"Your tattoo is splendid," he said, gently caressing the design with his fingers.

"It's something we have in common", she breathed, pointing to Ville's left arm and its splendid vine-leaf tattoo.

They both lay down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. He squeezed her hand.

" I want to kiss you so bad", he said in a husky voice.

She turned to look at him intensely. He searched her gaze for an answer.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have said that. You asked me for time and I'll give it to you. "

"It's all right," she replied after a moment. " I want to kiss you too, but I don't know..."

"Is it because of Ian?", he asked. He lay on his back again.

"No, not really," she said, thinking. "I think, if we kiss, we'll lose control. We're going to lose it. And for that, I'm not ready. I'm not ready yet. I need to get to know you better, I want to know everything about you before. But maybe..." she said. She leaned on her elbow and placed her face over his.