Pray For Me

Stupid

Jude stands on the porch, toying with the keys in her hands. She had decided to come home after six days with Kit and Lana, because she had realized that there wasn't anything to be done about the things that happened in the past, and both Jude and Timothy needed to put it past them in order to continue on in their relationship.

Jude sighs and sticks the key in the door, bending to pick up her suitcase before turning the key to unlock the door.

"Timothy?" She calls, setting her suitcase on the bottom step of the staircase. Jude tucks her keys into her purse and hangs it on the hook by the front door. She calls for Timothy once more before noticing the state of the house. Alcohol bottles and containers of take out food are strewn around the kitchen and dining area. Jude makes her way into the living room, more than a little mad. Timothy is passed out on the couch, a half empty bottle of whiskey in his hands. Jude stomps her foot and switches the TV off, hitting Timothy on the leg to wake him up. It was clear that he hadn't left his spot for a while, and it was obvious he had neglected his simple daily hygiene. His stubble was making him look tired, and his eyes were puffy and blood shot.

"Huh?" He asks, sitting up as he is pulled from his drunken nap.

"What the fuck?" She demands, yanking the alcohol from his hands. Timothy rubs his eyes and looks around him at the mess he's created.

"I'm sorry... I'll clean it," He says, going to stand but getting dizzy and falling back to the couch.

"Unbelievable," Jude mutters to herself, slamming the whiskey bottle down on the coffee table and narrowing her eyes. "We need to talk, but first, you are going to clean this house. I want it spotless. Then, you are going to shower and shave. I'll be home in two hours, and if it's not done by then, I'm going back to Kit and Lana's. Am I clear?"

Timothy only nods, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I love you Timothy, but I refuse to speak with you when you are in such a state. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too," He mumbles, attempting to stand once more. Jude starts to reach her hand out to him, but thinks better of it and turns quickly on her heel, grabbing her purse and slamming the front door behind her.

Timothy sighs and groans, beginning to clean his mess. When Jude left, he had thought for sure that he was going to lose her. He tried to call her several times, but was never allowed to talk to her. It was probably for the best, because after the first two days, Timothy figured it was hopeless and fell into his depression. He drank and drank until he passed out. The next morning he would wake up and do it all over again.

He knew Jude was angry with him for both the things that happened at Briarcliff and for trashing the house.

Timothy sighs and begins his task.

----

While Timothy was cleaning the house, Jude figured she should stop at the store. Judging from the amount of take out containers, there wasn't any food, and the food that was there was more than likely spoiled.

Before Jude goes into the store, she allows herself a moment to let out her frustrations. She rests her forehead on the steering wheel, and sobs.

Jude stays in her car for nearly an hour. Slowly, she sniffles and wipes her face with a tissue. She slinks through the aisles slowly, wanting to put off her conversation with Timothy for as long as possible.

When Jude pulls into the drive way, it is well over two hours later. Timothy had cleaned himself and the house, and had even gone out to buy Jude her favorite flowers and cooked her favorite meal with what was left of last week's groceries. When she wasn't home when she said she'd be, he was a nervous wreck. Jude drops the grocery bags onto the counter, catching Timothy's attention. He had been pacing around the back deck, unsure of what to do. Dinner was still in the oven, and Jude smiled lightly to herself when she saw the flowers with Timothy's apology note attached to it.

"Jude," He nearly sobs, throwing his arms around her. She stiffened for a moment before burying her face in his neck and sighing. They stood in their embrace for a long time, just enjoying being back in each other's arms.

"Judy, the food..." Timothy pulls himself from her arms and stops the timer, taking the meatballs for the pasta out of the oven and setting them on the stove top to cool, alongside the already-strained pasta in the pot.

"It smells good," She says quietly, looking around to make sure he really cleaned as good as she hoped.

"Thank you, babe," He chuckles, looking over his shoulder at her. She smiles weakly and sighs.

"Listen, Jude. I was thinking about everything that happened, at Briarcliff, and I wanted to let you know that I sincerely regret everything that I did to you. I let my own blind ambition get in the way of my feelings and better judgement. If you hadn't come and taken me out of there when you did, I would have gone through with everything Arden and I had planned because I was scared he would expose me to the church. I loved you, Judy, even then. From the day I met you at the convent and for the next four years at Briarcliff, I told myself it was just a stupid school yard crush. I love you so much, my rare bird, and I really am sorry for everything. I hope you can find it in your beautiful heart to forgive me."

Jude wipes the tears from her cheeks and smiles at Timothy.

"I forgive you, Timothy. We can't change anything that happened. We need to just put it past us and continue to grow and develop as a couple. I love you, Timothy, and nothing can ever change that. If it weren't for Briarcliff, we never would have met. I wouldn't change that for anything. So, let's put Briarcliff behind us and start fresh. Isn't that what we came out here to do in the first place?"

Timothy chuckles, relieved that those were her feelings. He was prepared to face the fact that he had messed up so bad that Jude was going to leave him. He was willing to let her go to make her happy. He had never valued anyone's feelings over his as much as Jude's. And he never would.