Chapter seventeen of L&L
Chapter Seventeen: Even if I brake… I take this chance
Author’s Note: Thank you so very much for my friend Kathy (kittie8571) who is the Beta of this story!
Thank you everybody for the reviews! Especially to gres1, haljbg, bbmlover, fl1789, delvalmom, ramona4jake, sweetje, ihatemonday, joetheone, bbmjack324, coffee83, bmshirts, ifyoucantfixit2, annabuffy and Ana.
Chapter Seventeen: Even if I break… I take this chance
(Jack)
(Ennis - maybe a few years older than this)
Time passed easily. Two months flew by, but not without the usual events involving Jack and Ennis. Or their friends. Or their work.
Jack was still without a clue as to where he could find the next riddle. It looked like a dead end and no one seemed to be able to help him. Mary’s detective work wasn’t getting any more answers than the ones he already had. Mary kept complaining about the distance and how remote the village where Hanna Olson lived was. She was determined that a flight to Sweden was needed and Jack was more than ready to endorse it. At the firm, the plan to improve the Magnet’s reputation was a success, with Jack offering a program that helped less fortunate people have access to better lawyers. It helped bring the firm’s name back in the good graces of the more common New Yorkers.
Ennis hadn’t really been happy about it, but he had been intensely involved with his new case. He'd failed to prove the involvement of the Hollywood doctor in his previous case, so he was extra motivated to work on his new murder case. They had spent weeks preparing and finally the final allegations were coming. From dubious public promotional campaigns, to arguments with the judge about the importance of pornographic photos involving his client, there had been some real «outside of the court action». It had been hard work, but the judges and the public in general were now convinced that Ennis’s client was a hero, a lonely hero, whose wife had unfortunately committed suicide; her body disappearing amidst the waters of the flowing river. Ennis knew better, but that has never stopped him before.
Dave was the new star among the younger associates in the Magnet firm. After the party at the Twist Mansion, he seemed to be more confident than ever. It also helped him to get more cases and even his girlfriend had been impressed. Ennis also suspected that he'd finally grown an ego.
Elizabeth and Mary eventually had an enormous screaming match regarding Mary’s new smoking habits. They didn’t talk for three days, during which time Jack and Ennis kidnapped Sophie from them. They spent time with Matilda and Edward at the Twist mansion, until Elizabeth finally decided to forgive Mary and Mary was once again back to the nicotine gum and the unpolluted air of Elizabeth’s mansion. And they made up right on time to celebrate Sohphie’s one year anniversary.
Back at the ranch, everything was progressing as planned and they made their usual visit. Ennis and Jack kept their rings in a drawer at Ennis’s apartment in exchange for the blissful peace of the ranch. David and Deacon were pleased to inform them that the ranch had been awarded by a famous magazine. They wanted an interview with Ennis and Jack, but they easily convinced them to interview David and Deacon instead.
Veronica had bought and moved to a new apartment, really close to the hospital. Ennis liked the place, but it wasn’t the same as being neighbors. Thankfully they had already developed the habit of having quick lunches at the hospital garden every week or going to Neve’s vet appointments together. They had turned into best friends so easily, it was impossible not to stay in touch.
Robert’s school and studio was improving immensely and so was his relationship with Cecilia. Jack, who had been so excited in the beginning, was now worried about the "too fast" developments between the new couple. Ennis had remained silent about the issue as he didn’t like to interfere when it came to Jack’s friends.
Autumn arrived and there was no doubt that Jack and Ennis were a serious couple now. Colleagues at the firm had been whispering about marriage in Europe and even crazier nonsense, but Ennis and Jack had done nothing but laugh at that. It had taken them almost two months to find the perfect place to move into together and even longer to convince Matilda that they were not ready to move into the mansion.
Finally it was their last day in their respective apartments and Ennis and Jack were both trying to control the excitement and nervousness of moving.
“The place looks scary without most of the furniture.” Jack confessed, sitting on top of a big box of clothes.
“I think it’s the lack of paintings on the white walls that does that.” Ennis was on the floor eating a yogurt.
“I still don't think it was a good idea to use some of your furniture for the new apartment.” Jack complained crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“You really don’t want to start that argument again.” Ennis glared at him, but failed miserably because his mouth was full with a silver spoon of yogurt.
“Forget it. I don't fancy spending my evenings sleeping on the floor because of your insecurities.”
“Jack.” Ennis warned, this time more seriously.
“Sorry.” Jack said softly, sighing. “I’m just nervous, I guess. But that doesn’t mean I’m not right.”
“I’m tired. We've fought about curtains and wooden furniture for two weeks!” Ennis closed his eyes and rested his head against the sofa.
“Do you regret it?” Jack asked carefully, observing his boyfriend.
“No. It’s only natural that we fight over this, we’re adjusting to this new reality. I just wish you wouldn’t be so stubborn…”
“I just want us to be comfortable. It’s irrational to live in a bad situation when I've got more money than I know what to do with!” Jack said angrily.
“That was not what we had planned initially.” Ennis complained for the thousandth time since they had started searching for an apartment.
“We paid half each. That was what was planned.”
“No we didn’t. Or do you expect me to believe that they would sell us this penthouse for that much?” Ennis rolled his eyes. “I hate when you try to fool me!”
“For God’s sake! They owed a lot to the firm and it was time to repay the favor. It was a symbolic price, that we paid by half.”
“Yeah, but I still feel like you’ve tricked me.” Ennis complained.
“Is it such a bad thing that I made you a lot of money? Are you allergic to money now?” Jack asked determined.
“No.” Ennis sighed loudly. “I still wish things could be different.”
“I can’t get rid of the money my assessors worked so hard to gain. I’m already considered a freak for not spending it like crazy. I can’t keep deluding you about this…”
“I know.” Ennis looked at his boyfriend. “You’ve been great. Living here has been both a risk and a sacrifice to what you’re used to.”
“Not really a sacrifice, Ennis.” Jack interrupted him. “A house is mostly made of who lives there. I felt good here. But it was a risk, and since the beginning I knew that. I did it for us and I don’t want you to worry about what was my decision.”
“It’s my time to make some sacrifices.” Ennis murmured.
“Not really. I want you to feel comfortable and we did work on this together. I’m sure it will still be a simple house with the expensive appearance that we need.”
“I really like the things we bought!” Ennis said with a small smile. “And I like the fact that some of them are so much about you…”
“You still think I’m spoiled…”
“I really like that you’re so down to earth sometimes, that you’re capable of dressing down with a shirt and jeans to work with me on the ranch. But at the same time, I like the way you keep demanding emotionally from me… and these small things you’re used to having… That’s the spoiled part of you that I love too, but on the other side of the coin, I can’t stand it sometimes.”
“Now you made me feel terrible.” Jack said laughing.
“Don’t.” Ennis said softly, sitting next to him. “It’s who you are and it would be unfair of me to make you change that. I’ll get better with this.”
“Hope so.” Jack rested his head on Ennis’s shoulder. “Because you’re driving me crazy!”
“Soon I’ll be spending your millions on superficial things, just like the good boyfriend should be.” Ennis tickled him a little.
“As if.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Even I don’t know what to do with my mother's money. And it’s a lot, honey.”
“Don’t you have any big dreams left to fulfill?”
“I really don’t think money will help keep Ennis Del Mar with me forever.” Jack said with smile.
“What? You think it’s impossible to buy him?” Ennis bit his bottom lip playfully.
“He doesn’t seem to care much about money.” Jack sighed, playing along.
“There’s one intelligent man, that Ennis Del Mar.”
“His brains are indeed sexy. And the rest of him is also very appealing.” Jack pretended to think about the issue.
“Very appealing, hmm?” Ennis said pushing Jack to the floor with him.
“I mean, he’s kind of insecure sometimes. But he plans the best surprises.” Jack rested his hands on Ennis's chest without moving, looking down on him.
“So it’s all about his looks then.”
“Definitely! What else could it be?” Jack faked sincerity, looking down at him with a small smile.
“You little devil.” Ennis murmured pulling Jack’s head down to a kiss.
“You like it.” Jack whispered against his mouth.
They opened their mouths to each other and their tongues caressed slowly.
“You taste like yogurt.” Jack stated.
“How do you do this?” Ennis asked. “One minute we’re arguing the next we’re kissing.”
“I don’t do any of those things alone silly.” Jack answered kissing him again.
“No you don’t…” Ennis murmured, moving them to the couch.
“I forgot we don’t have a bed anymore.” Jack said with a chuckle, while his shirt fell on the floor.
“And whose fault is that, hmm?” Ennis nibbled his neck.
“Forget I even mentioned it.” Jack pulling Ennis on top of him.
They kissed lazily, letting the arousal between them build slowly. Their hands caressing the well-known skin expertly and their legs interlaced, as two moving models, posing along the big sofa. The only sound of the room being the hard breathing of the two lovers.
When the need was already too overwhelming, they finally took off what remained of their clothes. They both knelt on the couch facing each other and laughed quietly as if they had never done it before.
“How do you do this?” Ennis held Jack’s face in his hands. “How do you make me feel like this?”
Jack didn’t answer but their lips met again forcefully in a kiss that lasted far less than it felt for both of them. Ennis rolled Jack’s nipples between his fingers, as he caressed the soft creamy skin of Jack’s hairy chest. When Jack found the lube, they both fingered each other in turns, playing with each other's reaction like kids. And when Ennis entered Jack’s slowly and partially with every kiss they shareed, they had already come once.
“I certainly don’t… do this alone.” Jack murmured with a smile against Ennis's ear.
“You . . . could . . . have . . . fooled . . . me.” Jack laughed as a response.
“Somebody needs to… ah… take it like a man.” This time they both laughed.
“Maybe it’s because… we’re having… sex, but… I can’t come up… with a good… answer.”
They laughed again, feeling happy and secure together. It really didn’t matter that they had to sleep on top of each other on the small couch, as long as they were together.
(The new place - the white part)
When Jack and Ennis decided to move all their things into the new penthouse, they had no idea how many people would offer to help. Matilda of course was the first one, followed by Ennis’s best friend Veronica and Jack’s best friend Robert and his girlfriend, Cecilia. Quickly the penthouse was full with people helping them and Jack was forced to give up on the services of specialized staff.
And the help was indeed needed. The penthouse that they’d just purchased wasn’t exactly new, but it has very generous space and it was very well placed. Not too far away from either the firm or the mansion. It had been indeed an amazing acquisition, especially considering the price.
The penthouse was divided in two levels, with a generous terrace and a big balcony. On the first level they had a small kitchen, connected to the living room and the dining room. There were also two bathrooms and a guest room on that level. On the second level there was the master suite and the two balconies, one of which led to the terrace. It had been a good compromise between what Jack wanted and what Ennis wanted.
A few repairs took them another week, but finally they were able to move to the penthouse and put Ennis’s apartment on the market. The bathrooms and the living room were modernized and Jack had big plans for the terrace where, at present, laid a cemetery of ugly plants. The decoration had cost them a few arguments and it was still a work in progress.
“Can you please remind me how you tricked me into this?” Robert asked Jack, carrying a huge box of photos to the second level of the penthouse.
“Stop complaining, Rob.” Cecilia said, with Neve on her lap while she happily drank a cup of tea with Veronica on the new sofas in the living room.
“Robert, just carry them to the bedroom, please?” Jack pleaded from the guest bedroom, sounding completely exhausted.
“Baby, just sit with them and have a cup of tea too.” Ennis said resting his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“Yes, my dear. You should do as Ennis says. I think the work is almost done, anyhow.” Matilda said softly.
“Perhaps we should all took a break.” Ennis said pushing Matilda and Jack gently out of the guest room.
“I brought the chocolate cake Robert likes so much. Maybe that will cheer him up.” Matilda said while disappearing into the kitchen.
“I know that I’ve said this a million times, but I really like the place.” Veronica said with a smile when Ennis and Jack literally fell on the other couch.
“It looks different now with all the furniture here.” Jack said admiring the new carpet.
“Even missing some of the usual decorations, it already looks modern and simple.” Veronica offered, admiring the big division.
“The fireplace is completely new.” Jack pointed the metal structure.
“Very nice. It’s really discreet and yet, I’ve never seen anything close to this one.”
“It was specially designed…” Jack explained to Veronica.
“Please, a little break from all the excitement about home interior design. I’m exhausted and tired of looking at furniture.” Ennis complained closing his eyes.
“You’re impossible, Ennis.” Veronica complained.
“For the record I was also interested.” Cecilia said from her spot next to Veronica, scratching Neve’s ears.
“I've had enough about décor for a life time.” Ennis explained. “Jack forced me into every existing shop in New York.”
“I had to, honey.” Jack said patiently.
“I saw a pillow that cost 500 dollars! One pillow!” Ennis almost sounded traumatized and Jack rolled his eyes to both women.
“Ennis -- you have no reason to complain. Jack managed to do all this in so little time and almost without professional help. My apartment took months and it was done by a friend of mine.” Veronica explained.
“This looks exactly like that episode of Dharma and Greg…” Cecilia tried to recall.
“I’m Greg.” Jack and Ennis murmured at the same time, which made Veronica laugh and Cecilia looked surprised at them.
“I have black hair!” Jack complained.
“I’m the meticulous one.” Ennis offered back.
“You’re the one who believes in faith and other crap like that.“
“You’re the one with the crazy friends.” Ennis pointed to Robert coming down the stairs.
“I’m the rich one!” Jack said in triumph.
Robert looked at them oddly and Cecilia looked glad for his arrival, while Veronica was trying not to laugh so hard.
“That was low.” Ennis said defeated. “I can’t believe I’m Dharma.”
“I don’t really want to know what these two are fighting over.” Robert said, sitting next to his girlfriend.
“Nothing important, really.” Ennis said defeated.
“Here’s the cake!” Matilda said happily, placing said cake on the coffee table.
“My favorite.” Robert said happily, placing a kiss on Matilda’s cheek.
“Thanks, Matilda.” Jack said softly.
“Nonsense, my dear.” Matilda served them cake and sat between Ennis and Jack. “So, please Robert, what can you tell me about you? It’s been a while since you last visited me and Edward.”
“Everything’s going fine, Matilda.” Robert said between bites of his piece of cake. “The school is progressing fine, although I still haven’t been able to find the right teachers.”
“Jack mentioned that to me once or twice.” She said knowing. “And what about this beautiful lady that I’ve just met?”
Ennis and Jack shared small smiles over Matilda’s head and Cecilia tried to smile to the older woman.
“Cecilia and I have been dating for over two months. Jack introduced us.” Robert explained.
“Cecilia is a mutual friend of mine and Elizabeth.” Jack explained to Matilda.
“Good. It’s time for all of you to settle down.” Matilda said naturally, while Robert looked terrified.
“Changing subjects, I would like to say a few words. Before all of you find reasons to get out of here.” Jack said standing up from the couch and saving Robert from Matilda’s questions. “First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming. We needed the help and once again, you’ve proved to be good friends. It was a great day.”
“I'll drink to that.” Robert said drinking from his cup of tea.
“This isn't really a new phase for me and Ennis, but it’s the consolidation of what we have been building together. And I guess I needed to say that…” Jack looked around awkwardly for a moment and then his eyes rested on Ennis. “Even if all this doesn’t work, even if we lose it all… this chance, taking this chance with you, has been the most amazing thing in my life.”
Their friends raised their cups of tea, as the couple shared a brief but intense kiss.
Ennis was resting on top of the huge new bed feeling happy. There was a nice feeling about moving into a new place, that mixture of excitement and hope for the future. It’s the promise of something new, and Ennis knew that well. Ever since he had left the ranch to advance his studies, he never stayed for very long in the same place. Not even when he had worked for the M.P. office, in the earlier years of his career.
“Matilda said she would return tomorrow and help with the rest.” Jack informed him climbing up the stairs. “She might bring Edward with her.”
“Good.” Ennis replied from the bed. “Maybe I’ll cook the chicken you like so much for them.”
“I bet Matilda will bring lunch.” Jack said dismissively.
“Just ask her not to.” Ennis stood up and went to the bathroom.
“I’ll try.” Jack pinched Ennis’s ass as he passed by.
“I’m tired, baby. My whole body hurts… A little break please?” Ennis pleaded without even looking back at him, disappearing trough the door of the bathroom.
“I’m feeling fine.” Jack commented naturally.
“That’s because Robert and I did all the hard work.” Ennis said loud enough so that Jack could hear.
“Excuses, excuses… I’ve just been a lot to the club lately. I’m fit!” Jack said with humor. “You bunch are out of shape!”
“Don’t make me laugh. It makes my sore muscles hurt even more.”
“You’re just jealous.” Jack answered and Ennis's laughwas muffled by the water of the shower.
Jack looked around the room, frowning at the dozens of boxes placed against the walls. He had no idea where their pajamas were . . . actually he wasn’t sure if they had packed them together.
“Honey? Do you know where my pajamas are?” Jack asked loudly.
“I have no idea Mr. Peabody!” Jack heard from the bathroom.
Jack rolled his eyes and start searching the boxes placed nearby. He was having no luck when Neve appeared on top of the stairs. The white cat whipped against his legs and Jack knelt to pet him a bit.
“Aren’t you sleepy?” He asked the big clear blue eyes.
The cat jumped up onto the bed and then from there to the top of a pile of boxes. He was playing around happily. Another couple of jumps and he simply ran to the stairs and then down to the first level. Jack could only admire such energy.
He moved around, continuing to search for the box with the pajamas. He had almost given up, when he found something else.
Inside one of the boxes there was a bunch of old items that Jack knew could only belong to Ennis. There was a blue yearbook, a golden metal box of photos and a few old books. Jack nibbled on his lower lip, glancing at the bathroom door. Ennis was still showering. Moved by pure curiosity, Jack picked some of the photos out of box.
He didn’t really recognize anyone at first. The photos, considering the dates, were from the early 1990’s. Ennis must have been less than 20 years old on the photos. He tried harder and finally he recognized the open smile and the blond hair. He couldn’t help but laugh.
Ennis’s face was hiding behind a mess of long blond curly hair. He was wearing a long black sleeved t-shirt with Nirvana written across it, along with a pair of very ugly grey shorts. Ennis looked completely different.
“One minute out of my sight and you’re already searching through my personal stuff.” Ennis said with amusement, as Jack almost jumped out of his skin with shock.
“I was just looking for…” Jack tried to explain.
“The pajamas, right?” Ennis was only wearing a pair of white shorts and his hair was still wet from the shower. “It’s ok, Jack. It’s just a few stupid photos of me with my friends and people from college.”
“Yeah. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” Jack said apologetic.
“It’s ok. Let me see…”Jack showed him the photo. “Jesus, I had forgotten about the hair.”
“The hair is a mess, but you’re still kind of cute.”
“I just looked like all my other friends.” Ennis recollected.
“The "Grunge" style, definitely.” Jack commented looking at other photos. “I had a more sporty style back in those days. I was on the polo team so…”
“Here they are, my black «Doc Martens»!” Ennis pointed out.
“I’m wondering how it would have been if we had met back then.”
“You wouldn’t have looked twice at me, Jack. I had a bad acne problem, didn’t have that many friends, spent most of my time studying…” Ennis said casually.
“I’m not so sure.” Jack said looking at the photos with interest and Ennis only smiled.
Author: Cute chapter! I’m thinking about posting again this week, so please comment soon! :P For my LJ readers, wasn’t it funny to see the photos of the new place? I loved the idea! :P Jack looks exactly like I picture him... So hot! :P
On the next chapter: News about Mr. Santos, Helen, Frederic and Robert! But not everything is going as planned…