Underneath the Tree (gg)

Chapter 3 - Making spirits bright!

Summary:
Beth goes to a lodge with Ruby and Annie, but Annie has an extra ticket.

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"Ma, what's that noise?" Rio barely shaking himself out of sleep. Beth doesn't answer, still peacefully resting on his chest. He leans over to place a sweet kiss on her forehead, "Elizabeth, you gon' have to get up."
Barely conscious, Beth wakes from her deep sleep. Rio holding her close, staring down at her. She glances upwards to meet his eyes.
"Hi..." Beth whispers.
"Hey mama... you wanna get your phone?"
"Oh shit, my bad. I- give me a second." Beth pulls herself out of bed to grab her phone. For some odd reason, it had been placed across the room, still at full charge, she answers it, "All of a sudden you're an early bird?" Beth whispers, not knowing why, Rio's awake anyways.
"Beth, don't you remember? We're supposed to go to the lodge. We're starting the drive at 3:00. It's 1:00." Annie, actually sounding concerned for once.
"Oh my god, I forgot! You should have told me last night, I would have been more prepared!" Beth's voice slightly raising.
"So I have to be the responsible one now? Besides, I'm pretty sure I tried to call you a bunch of times." Annie still sounding as if she's scolding Beth, "Are you bringing Dean? The tickets for this place were really expensive. As much as I hate him, I'd hate to return this ticket even more."
"Annie, are you kidding me. I told you the divorce finalized. Even if it hadn't, we wouldn't be together."
"Oh, I- I forgot? Sorry heh... but I'm serious, these tickets were expensive, find someone." Annie demands.
"I have someone in mind." Beth whispers as she hangs up the call. She makes her way towards the bathroom, striding in confidence despite having just woken up. Reaching the door, she stops, just before she was about the turn the handle.
"What's going on ma?" Rio still lying in her sheets.
"Um... I have to ask you something." She twiddles her thumbs as she walks over towards him.
"Wassup..."
"So, last week Annie had gotten the idea to go ice skating. She ended up buying these really expensive tickets to a lodge in Boyne Falls. There's skiing, skating, hotel rooms. They're all access passes, so we'd be able to do everything. Dean has the kids for the week, and I don't have anyon-" She's cut off.
"Sure." Rio confirms.
"Wait, are you serious? I didn't know i-if you'd be busy..." Beth hesitates.
"Elizabeth, it's a four hour drive. We can manage. I don't have Marcus this week, and our business can take a lil break. Besides, why not?"
Beth still taken aback just nods, "I'll take you to your place to pack. I already set myself a suitcase. We also need to stop for snacks." She finishes still confused at the domesticity in his presence.
Rio pulls himself out of the bed and makes his way downstairs. Beth pulling on a coat and jeans, following behind. Once downstairs, they both stop at the entrance of the hall, noticing the mess they'd made last night. Beth's clothing scattered all over the floor, the bottle of red wine now tipped over.
"Jesus, I- how did this happen?" Beth begins to clean.
"Come on Elizabeth, you know how." Rio stares. "Don't clean it, we got time."
Beth finishing up wiping the wine, she shrugs and leaves it as he said. They make their way to the porch, Rio carrying her suitcase.
"We takin' the mama van?" Rio stopping between the two cars.
"Sure, it drives over snow better. It's higher up off the ground." She walks over to her van, a little hop in her step. Rio follows behind, still lugging her heavy suitcase. Damn what she packin' so much for? He thrusts it into the backseat and they begin the short ride to his apartment.

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He lugs his much smaller suitcase into the backseat, right next to hers. The clock had said 2:12pm.
"Do you think we have time to stop for food. I know you just packed snacks, but do you want actual food?" Beth questions, she heard his stomach let out a small rumble.
"Na-"
Just as Rio begins to speak, Beth's phone starts ringing, "I'm on the way right now. We'll meet, grab some food, and be on our way."
"Wow, you got ready quick... also, who did you bring?"
"Err- sorry you're breaking up, the sn-now is probably fre-ezing the cellphone to-wers. See you soon." Beth hangs up the phone, a look of satisfaction on her face just as she glances at Rio who's smiling at her.
"Gonna keep it a surprise? It's not like they don't know me." Rio continues staring.
"I know, I just... I- they obviously don't know what happened last night. So we need to come up with an excuse for why you're coming along."
"Business..." Rio turns his attention towards the road, "Tell em we gotta work closely... can't risk getting caught."
"Alright, yeah that works." Beth allows him the credit for once, "You're telling them that though!"
"I know Elizabeth. You'd be too nervous... huh?" Rio teases.
"I would not!" Beth laughs out.
They continue the drive until they reach the parking lot of the diner that Ruby had worked at. Annie hops out of her car, it's parked across from Beth's van, her mouth dropping open as soon as she sees... him.
"Beth! You're bringing gang-friend?" Annie is practically running towards her sister.
"Relax. It's business." Rio interrupts before Beth can say anything.
"You've gotta be kidding me. Ruby are you seeing this?" She calls Ruby over, who isn't equally as shocked.
"You now owe me five more dollars..." Ruby laughs, "Come on, who were you expecting Annie?"
"We're you guys really betting on this?" Beth questions, clearly offended.
"Oh c'mon ma, they're right. Who else would it be?" Rio staring at Beth, only her.
"It's almost 2:53, we better get going. It's a long drive." Beth fumbles with her keys before she and Rio return to the car. Annie and Ruby walking back to Annie's car.

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Beth, still a little frustrated from her encounter at the cafe, let's out a small sigh. Continuing to drive, she feels Rio's hand rest on her thigh. Glancing down, Beth let's a little smile peak from the corners of her mouth, instantly feeling better. Rio turns his head to look at her profile, as he stares, he inches his hand higher. Without intentions of anything, he continues to hold her thigh, knowing it puts her at ease.
"Thank you." Beth breathes out, the situation clearly bothered her, "Was Annie expecting someone else? Who else would I bring? Dean. Of course not, h-" She gets cut off.
"Chill ma, it's not a big deal. We still going ain't we?" Rio says this and it somehow calms her again, his deep voice relaxing, "Just turn on the radio, listen, and drive. I got snacks in the backseat, they're following us. It's all good."
"Okay." Beth agrees, still staring at the road. The snow beginning to fall. The radio clicks on, the Christmas channel already synced. "Jingle Bells" playing softly. She picks up and begins to hum along. They continue this for 2 more hours, surprisingly not needing a break. Well, that is until they pull up towards a gas station. The tank had been getting low, so they decide to make a quick stop, Ruby and Annie following behind. Beth exits the car to pay for both her and Ruby's gas. Annie gets out to pump hers, as does Rio to start pumping Beth's. She comes out of the store with a small bottle of wine. Rio glances down to her hands.
"For later," She says this with a laughable tone in her voice. "Might as well reward ourselves a little bit."
Rio has a small smile forming on the sides of his lips, he then leads Beth to the passenger side, "I'll drive now. You're probably tired."
Beth doesn't protest as she slips into the seat and buckles up, "Thank you..." glancing to meet his eyes.
Rio walks back to the other side and opens to get into the drivers seat.
From across the parking lot, Annie and Ruby are staring, "What was that?" Annie questioning immediately.
"Like I know, get in the car." Ruby is now shoving Annie to get her back in before Rio pulls out of the parking lot.

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