A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

10

"I didn't want to wake you. You were pretty much out of it by the time I woke up, figured you didn't get much sleep last night." Lem looked up at the female, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he left the spare room the two had shared that night.

"You didn't have too." Nora nodded, nursing a mug of coffee in her hands while listening to the soft chatter of people as they passed by. Lem sat opposite his guest, a light smile on his face she reciprocated.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, he was cautious in his tone of voice- deliberately speaking gently and in hushed tones to not alarm her. The other could only nod towards him, letting out a small sigh as she recalled the events of last night. Had she really requested for Lem to lie next to her?

"Much better. I appreciate what you did, a lot."

"You've protected me a lot of times in the past, while it wasn't a lot i-it was the least I could've done." She nodded at his words, realising how much she had helped him in the past. She didn't think anything of it, feeling like it was her job to make sure he was safe and now she realised that even when Maggie wasn't sending the two out an errand they eventually found themselves roped into some trouble that Nora required shooting themselves out of.

"You don't owe me anything. I was just doing my job."

"Half of those instances weren't supposed to end up that way. Like the boat, Hixon showed up because I arranged for two driver's which I shouldn't have done a-and then there was that meeting, I lost my temper and shot the wagon. You got almost died in that explosion, w-we all did but when I saw you there was so much guilt and all I did was run-"

"I knew what I was getting into when I broke you out of that prison transfer and I stayed. Lem I wouldn't have stuck around, being my friend is the best thing I could've asked for. You don't need to repay me for anything."

"Being by your side is enough." After Lem's comment the pair stared on at eachother for a moment, silence around them before the male broke it with a cough. An action taken to clear his throat.

"We should head on out, aunt Maggie said she needed us both on deck today."

Nora nodded, leaving the table to enter the guest room once again in order to change. When Lem first described his living conditions she imagined a small place recommended for one person max but Lem had enough room for a tiny family. S'pose selling moonshine that was as well produced as theirs did provide it's perks. While Valentine was an okay place to live, it wasn't the home Lem had envisioned. That was one thing surprising about Lem, she imagined him to be a man blind in loyalty to his aunt, a man who would slave away at the shack producing the substance for their customers. But Lem wasn't like that, sure he was loyal but he wasn't blind- he wasn't afraid to correct Maggie if she were to make a false claim about Nora and he most definitely didn't slave away day and night. He was human, a man with dreams of owning a nice house and having his own family even going as far as too leave the moonshining business if it meant he could succeed his dream.

Nora however didn't know where she was going, she would always follow the path and see where it took her which was what led her to Maggie. Cripps and her as well as Harry had all started a business and after a couple of sales he had recommended the two take a visit to an old friend of his by the name of Maggie who had offered them a partnership. Although she had initially meant for Harry to take the role, Maggie would soon learn just how important Nora was at this time- always at work on time and never in a foul mood. After Hixon and Danny-lee was when her professionalism did suffer, the daydreaming being a worry.

Nora would always follow the path, knowing to not get attached to people along the way given that she may never see them again. This was all fine, it was fine for the longest time until a certain Lem Fike had entered her life. As the two got closer and their friendship grew she had realised just how much she enjoyed being around him and what a great friend he could be. When the wagon blew up and Lem was the one to help her onto her feet after a moment of unconsciousness did she realise just how much she cared for the "half-wit."

She loved him and she knew, she just didn't know how to make him realise it.

Nora sat on the bed, looking at the jacket in her arms before wrapping it around her body. Making sure she had everything that belonged to her as she left the small bedroom to join Lem who had also gotten dressed in the time away.

"Lem I need to speak to you."

Her words were soft spoken, calm and caring like they always were. She didn't smile, keeping a straight face as she stepped closer to the male, the closer she got the more she noticed how nervous he had become.

"You're my best friend, my closest companion and a good person. The amount of times I've woken up, scared because I dreamed about losing you. I realise that you're my favourite person and I love you, more than a friend. I love you with all of my heart and so much more."

Putting it into words was difficult since she hadn't rehearsed it in her mind. She hoped he got what she meant without having to delve into what she meant, how she meant.

He stood still, bewildered before nodding at her. She felt heartbroken, did she embarrass herself in front of him while in his home. He stepped closer, his breathing shallow.

Before Nora even had time to react Lem had leant forward, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. They stayed this way for a moment before he pulled away, placing his forehead against hers.

"Would it help if I said I loved you too?" Ecstatic with his words she threw her arms around his kneck, pressing closer to his body with a bright smile on ber face. When she wasn't battling demons in her slumber she had a couple dreams about this moment, always brushing them off thinking it wasn't anything serious.

"As much as I'd like to stay like this, we should get going. Maggie's a scary woman."

She chuckled, wrapping her fingers around his before guiding him out of the house and too the moonshine shack where the famed Maggie Maggie Fike was waiting.