In These Arms

Chapter 15

"We are just like Aria and Ezra aren't we?" Ian said later that night as he cleared away their take out cartons.
Lucy laughed and shook her head, "No," she said as she drank the last bit of wine from her glass, "I don't think Ezra would ever try and get Aria drunk."
Ian smiled and sat back down next to her, picking up his own glass as he did so, "I think Aria would make an adorable drunk."
Lucy laughed placed her legs across Ian's lap and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're in Monday."
"I am," Ian replied kissing the top of her head.
"Good," she said sleepily, "I like you being around."
Ian knew without even opening his eyes that Lucy wasn't in bed next to him, he reached over to the bedside table and grabbed his phone to check what time it was just after 8am. He stretched got out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants.
Lucy looked up from her phone when he walked into the living room, "Morning," she said smiling.
"Morning," Ian replied as he ran hand through his hair and walked over to the couch, he sat down next to her and she snuggled into his embrace.
"Dreams again?" he asked.
"Yeah," Lucy replied tilting her head slightly so she could look at him, "I don't even remember what they were about but I kept on waking up."
Ian pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I really think you should speak to a doctor they might be able to help." He felt Lucy tense next to him, despite her saying the day before that it might be a good idea to talk to somebody he knew that Lucy thought the issue would resolve itself.
"I'll be fine," Lucy said, "it's just because it's fresh in my mind and what happened with Callie isn't helping either, but I'll be fine. I don't need to speak to anybody about this."
Ian nodded and decided to change the subject, Lucy could be incredibly stubborn when she wanted to be and he knew better than to try and push her. "Are you meeting Annie and Claire for brunch?"
"Yeah," Lucy replied, "we're meeting at 11."
"I'm going to go and see how Sarah's new arrival has settled in. It's okay if I take Jack right?"
Lucy smiled, "Yeah of course and you have take photos of Sarah's dog he's gorgeous."
"I got photos yesterday." Ian replied chuckling slightly.
"I know," Lucy said, "but you need to get more, ones of him in his new home and with the cats and Jack."
Ian nodded and pressed a kiss to her lips, "Okay. I promise to get lots of pictures of him in his new home."
Claire and Annie had been full of apologies during brunch for Callie's behaviour the night before both insisting that they didn't feel the same, Lucy assured them that she knew this and quickly changed the subject she didn't want to spend the entire brunch talking about it.
She got her phone out of her bag and dialled Ian's number as she walked the short distance to her car. "Hi," she said as he answered, "Are you still in Sarah's?"
"Yeah," Ian replied, "but if you've finished brunch I can leave?"
"No," Lucy insisted, "but I was wondering if it would be okay if I came over?"
"Of course Luce, you're more than welcome."
Ian gave Lucy the address and she entered it into her GPS and drove towards Sarah's apartment.
"Hi Lucy," Sarah said warmly as she opened the door.
Lucy smiled back, "Hi Sarah. Jack's been behaving himself hasn't he?"
Sarah nodded and closed the door behind Lucy, "He's an absolute gem. It's Winston that's being naughty. I already have a 'naughty corner' and I've only had him a day.
Lucy laughed, "I had naughty corners all over my apartment when I first got Jack."
"Well that gives me hope that this little guy will get better then. Can I get you anything to drink?"
Lucy nodded, "Just a water please."
Lucy smiled when she saw the sight before her, there were bits of paper strewn all across the living room and Winston was running around energetically. Ian was seated on the floor by the couch and Jack was sitting next to him watching everything with wide eyes. Sarah's two cats were lying on the windowsill fast asleep, they weren't going to let anything interrupt their nap time.
Ian held out a hand for Lucy and she put her bag down before sitting down next to him. He put one of his arms across her shoulders and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Did brunch go okay?" he asked.
Lucy nodded, and scratched Jack on the head, "Yeah, it went a lot better than things are going here from the looks of it. What happened?"
Ian laughed, "Winston is a bit excitable."
"A bit?" Lucy replied laughing.
Sarah walked back in and handed Lucy a glass of water. "He's a handful that's for sure. He seemed so quiet in the shelter," she said as she took a seat on the couch.
Lucy laughed, "Yeah they lull you into a false sense of security by being all innocent and when you get them home they wait a few hours and then it's like they've had a personality transplant, by which time you're completely smitten."
"That sounds about right," Sarah replied with a smile, "but Jack seems pretty well behaved now?"
Lucy laughed, "Yeah he's a pretty good boy but he does have his diva moments."
They stayed for a few more hours, Lucy was having fun playing with Jack and Winston and Ian was helping Sarah in the kitchen.
"Are you coming back to my place?" Ian asked Lucy once they were outside.
Lucy nodded, "Of course, I just need to stop by the grocery store on the way home first. I'm cooking you dinner tonight."
Ian smiled, "I'm looking forward to it. I'll take Jack and see you soon then?"
Lucy nodded and stood on her tiptoes so she could kiss him, "Yeah, I'll see you at home."
"What time are you in tomorrow?" Ian asked Lucy later that night.
Lucy sighed, "Eight to shoot the scenes I missed and then table read in the afternoon. I feel guilty that Holly, Cody and Shay have to come into work because of me."
"You don't need to feel guilty Luce, they'll understand why. They care about you too."
Lucy woke up after another dream just after 1am, she looked over to Ian who was still sleeping and slowly got out of bed careful not to disturb him. She picked Ian's discarded t-shirt up from the floor, pulled it over her naked body and walked into the living room, grabbing the throw on the way.
Ian heard her getting up and sighed, she hadn't slept through the night since Chris's revelation about a sex tape earlier in the week. He lay there for several moments before getting out of bed himself, pulling on some boxers and following her out into his living room. She was sitting on the couch with the throw wrapped around her body staring at the TV, although Ian could tell she wasn't really paying much attention to what was on.
"Can't sleep again?" he asked.
Lucy shook her head, "I came out here so I wouldn't disturb you."
Ian sat down next to her, "Luce," he said quietly, "you can't carry on like this. You haven't slept properly in days it's not good for you."
"I'm fine," Lucy replied, "I told you that it's just because it's fresh in my mind."
Ian shook his head, "Lucy this isn't good for you and I think you need to talk..."
"Will you just stop?" Lucy shouted angrily, "I told you I'm not going to see anybody. I don't need to see anybody I'll be fine."
Ian sighed, "But you're not fine, and I'm worried about...."
"You know what?" Lucy said jumping up from the couch, "I'm going to get my things together and go home. I've told you I don't want to speak to anybody and you just keep going on about it, so I'll just get out of your way, then you won't need to worry about me."
"Lucy," Ian replied as he followed her into his bedroom, "It's 1:30 am you can't leave now."
"I can," Lucy shouted, "and I am. I'm not staying here if you won't respect my opinion."
Ian watched in silence as Lucy gathered her clothing and toiletries throwing everything into a holdall, she then pulled on her jeans leaving Ian's t-shirt on and walked out of the bedroom carrying the bag. She went into the kitchen and gathered Jack's things, putting them all in the bag with her own belongings. She put Jack's leash on him, pulled on her converse, picked the bag up and walked towards the front door.
"Lucy," Ian said, "you're tired. Please just stay and we'll talk about this rationally."
"No," Lucy replied shaking her head, "I'm leaving. I don't need you telling me what I should do." She opened the door, and closed it behind her. Ian sighed and leaned against it, he wished he'd just stayed in bed.
"Morning Goose," Holly said as Lucy walked into the make-up trailer that morning, "rough night?" she asked once she took in Lucy's appearance.
Lucy took her seat and nodded, "I had a fight with Ian early this morning and stormed out of his apartment."
"About...?"
Lucy shook her head, "I'm not sleeping and I'm so tired and I snapped at him because he's worried about me. I feel horrible for the way I acted."
Holly reached out for one of Lucy's hands, "We all get cranky when we haven't slept and I'm sure Ian understands that."
Lucy nodded, "I know, but he was just trying to help me and didn't deserve it. He thinks that I should see if my doctor can give me something to help me sleep, and I know he's right. I can't carry on like this."
Holly nodded, "It wouldn't be a bad idea. It's not a long term solution obviously, but for the short term whilst all this is still fresh on your mind..."
"Ian," Lucy said as she walked up to him once the table read was over, "can we talk?"
Ian nodded and followed Lucy as she walked out of the room; she went into the bathroom that they had kissed in a few weeks before and waited for Ian to close the door behind him.
"I am so sorry for the way I acted this morning," she said tears forming in her eyes, "I'm tired and cranky and I took it out on you when you didn't deserve it. You were only trying to help me, and you're right I do need to talk to someone about this so I've made an appointment to see my doctor today." She stood on her tiptoes her mouth centimetres from his and whispered, "Forgive me?"
Ian smiled and pressed his lips to hers briefly. "I just want you to be okay," he replied bringing a hand up to her cheek, "and I'm pleased you've made an appointment with your doctor."
"You're not mad at me?" Lucy asked meekly.
Ian shook his head, "Of course not. I'm moody when I'm tired too," he pressed his lips to hers again. "You promise you'll tell the doctor everything," he asked, "and not gloss over things."
Lucy nodded, "I promise, and I am really sorry for being a bitch this morning."
Their lips met and they kissed tenderly.
"You do know that this is the girl's bathroom Harding?" Shay said as she walked in a smile across her face. Lucy and Ian broke apart and looked at Shay both had smiles on their faces.
"You're not trying to recreate the scene from the pilot are you? Because if you are I can leave you two alone."
"We were just talking," Lucy said grinning she turned to Ian, "I just need to freshen up."
He nodded, "I'll be in my dressing room," he replied pecking her lightly on the lips before leaving the bathroom.
"God," Shay said, "you two are just so freaking adorable."
"We had our first fight this morning." Lucy replied as she walked over to the mirrors.
"Is everything okay though? I didn't walk interrupt you making up did I?"
Lucy just laughed and shook her head.
"You all set?" Ian asked as Lucy walked into his dressing room.
"Yeah," she nodded, "wardrobe all sorted and we're good to go. Would you be able to come over to my apartment with me while I pick up Jack and some clothes? I figured you could take them back to your place and I could come over straight from the doctors. I mean if it's okay for me to stay in your apartment that is."
Ian closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, "Of course it's okay Luce. Just because we had one little fight doesn't mean I don't want you to stay over anymore. I love having you in my apartment, both of you."
Lucy pressed her lips against Ian's the moment she closed her apartment door behind them, her tongue gently pressing against his lower lip. He willingly deepened the kiss, and turned their bodies so that Lucy was pressed flush against the wall, and he was pressed tightly against her. He felt her hands tugging on the hem of his t-shirt and pulled away, "What about Annie?"
Lucy shook her head, "She won't be home till after six and I have at least two hours till I have to be at the doctors." Ian smiled and kissed her again.
Lucy picked up a prescription for sleeping pills and some birth control. She enjoyed her first night's uninterrupted sleep since this whole thing started, however she felt drowsy for a few hours after waking up which meant that Ian was her ride to and from work something he didn't mind doing at all.
It was now Wednesday evening and Lucy and Ian were sitting on the floor on one of the soundstages waiting to be called for their scene. They both had their backs against one of the few static walls, their hands were clasped tightly and their legs were crossed over each others at the ankle.
"I'm supposed to be going to Coachella this weekend." Lucy said quietly.
Ian nodded, "Yeah are you looking forward to it. I know how excited you've been."
Lucy shook her head, "I'm thinking that I just won't go."
"Is this because of Chris? It's a big place Luce; you probably won't even see him there."
Lucy nodded, "Partly. I guess I'm scared that he'll somehow find us and cause a scene, but I'm worried about what happened with me and Callie too. We still haven't resolved anything I just think the whole weekend is going to be awkward, also I pretty sure that she's still in touch with Chris."
"Annie and Claire will be disappointed if you don't go." Ian replied.
Lucy shook her head, "Maybe at first but then they'll be having so much fun they won't even miss me. I can always go next year."
"Look," Ian said, "you don't have to decide today, just wait until Friday morning, you may feel differently then."
Lucy smiled, "Okay," she whispered as she leaned in for a kiss.
"Oh god," Shay said as she walked around the corner with Keegan, "would you look at those two? They're so adorable."
Keegan nodded, "I know. I'm so glad that they both came to their senses."
"Me too," Shay said in agreement, "you should see them of a morning when they get here, they walk from the car to craft services or hair and make-up holding hands."
"Wait, what?" Keegan said, "They've been coming here together every morning?"
"Yeah why?" Shay asked.
Keegan smiled and walked over to where Lucy and Ian where sitting, Shay followed close behind.
"Hey Ian," Keegan said, "Do I need to get Tyler to pay up on our bet?"
"No," Ian replied smiling slightly, "no money needs to exchange hands."
"Wait," Lucy said looking between the two of them, "what bet?"
Ian laughed, "Keegan bet Tyler that we'd be living together by your birthday."
Lucy smiled and shook her head, "We're not living together."
Keegan frowned, "But Shay said you've been coming into work together didn't you?"
Shay shook her head, "I'm staying out of this."
"We're not living together," Ian said, "Luce is just staying with me."
"For how long?" Keegan asked, "Permanently?"
Lucy laughed and shook her head, "No, I'm taking some medication that makes me drowsy of a morning and it makes sense for me to stay in Ian's since he's driving me here."
Keegan glanced between the two of them, "So if I was to go by Luce's apartment I'd find her belongings still there?"
"Yes," Lucy replied, "my belongings are still in my apartment. Call Annie if you don't believe me."
"Was that your phone?" Ian asked as Lucy walked back into the living room from the bedroom where she'd been changing into more casual clothes.
"Yeah," Lucy replied as she sat down next to him, "it was just Annie, she wanted to know if I've made a decision about Friday yet."
"What did you tell her?" Ian asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist and moved her closer to him.
Lucy shrugged, "That I haven't decided yet. I just think there will be tension between me and Callie and it will ruin it for everyone else. What do you think I should do?"
Ian shook his head, "It's not my decision to make Luce, only you know if you want to go."
Lucy sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, "I know. I just wish it wasn't this difficult."
Thursday was a long day for both Ian and Lucy they both had a 8am call and they were shooting their last scene at 11pm. Ian's role had been expanded considerably for season three; now that Aria and Ezra were public he was shooting scenes with a lot more people.
It was now 1pm and Lucy had just finished shooting a scene with Ashley and Troian, and was looking for Ian.
"Hey Keegs," she shouted when she spotted Keegan sitting under a tree, "Have you seen Ian anywhere?"
Keegan nodded, "He mentioned something about going to The Grove, his iPad is playing up."
"Thanks Keegs," she shouted as she walked in the direction of Ian's dressing room. She got her phone out of her bag and quickly called him.
"Hey," he said when he answered, "are you finished with your scene."
"Yeah," Lucy replied, "and I'm not due back on set till 3. Keegan said you're going to The Grove?"
"Apple," Ian said, "my iPad is playing up."
"Mind if I tag along?"
"No," Ian replied, "but is it wise? It's an extremely public place."
"I know," Lucy said, "and we're just two co-stars who are spending our break together."
"What is it?" Ian asked as he heard Lucy gasp.
She looked up at him and smiled, "Michael Kors has a sale on shoes."
Ian chuckled and shook his head gently, "How about I meet you inside there once I'm done in Apple?"
Lucy frowned, "What makes you so sure you'll be finished first?"
Ian discreetly brushed his hand against hers, "Because it's you and its shoes."
Lucy pouted slightly then smiled, "Okay you may have a point, so I'll see you in there soon okay?"
"Okay," Ian nodded and they both made their way to the prospective stores.
Ian was done quicker than he expected; he'd thought they'd take his iPad away to be repaired but instead he was offered a new one and he was in and out of there in less than ten minutes. He walked over to the store that Lucy was in and smiled when he saw her sitting down surrounded by several boxes. He decided to go and grab a coffee and come back knowing that Lucy would probably be a while, and his hanging around whilst she tried on shoes would probably only raise suspicions about their relationship.
Lucy thanked the cashier and picked up the two bags containing her new purchases. Ian had yet to come in and find her so she figured the queue at the Apple store must be rather big. She walked over there and frowned when she didn't see Ian inside. She fumbled with her shopping bags and she tried to get her phone out of her handbag, she found it and was just about to call Ian to tell him that she would go and wait by the car when somebody walked right into her knocking the wind out of her and her bags to the floor. Lucy picked them up frustrated that the person who had bumped into her had not offered assistance. It was only when she finally looked up that she realised why.
One word escaped her lips, "Chris."

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