Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 20:31:53 -0400
From: Secret Dreamer <quillfairy4@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fall Down and Smile - 16 (Revised)

Why in the hell is there another Chapter 16, you ask?  Well, no one really
liked the precious Chapter 16. If you did like it, you didn't e-mail me. :P
Anyway, so someone brought up the idea of re-writing it and about 10 people
asked/told me to re-write it, so I did.  I hope you guys like this one
better.  Let me know if this one is any better.  It may seem kind of weird
at first, but believe me, it's going somewhere *grins*

e-mail: <quillfairy4@hotmail.com> (e-mail change)
Aol IM : <fairyofthequill>

No promises, but I'm going to try to get up to Chapter 20 before July.
Why?  I'm going to Seattle in July *dances around* But don't worry, I'm
going to see my sister (the one who previously lived in England, but they
moved), and her hubby works for Microsoft so you can bet they'll have a
computer. :) I don't know if I'll be able to do any work but I may at least
be able to put some jibberish up.  But, like I said, I'm not leaving for
another month.

So, enough of my crap.  Heeeeere's Chapter 16 : redone!

Chapter 16
"Peaches for Me"
By : Secret Dreamer <quillfairy4@hotmail.com> (e-mail change)

If I had my little way

	Dawn slid next to me at the dining room table and smiled brightly.
"We need a pet.  Maybe a kitten."

	I chuckled and sipped my tea idly.  "Why do we need a kitten?"

	She shrugged.  "I thought it would be nice."

	I eyed her suspiciously.  "Really. And what brought on this need
for a kitten?"

	She was about to answer when James came skipping in.  "Mommy, can
we get a kitten?"

	I cleared my throat and glanced at Dawn who had suddenly found the
hem of her shirt very interesting.  "A kitten is a big responsibility,
Sprout."

	He nodded.  "I know.  I've been reading."  He produced a magazine
he'd had behind his back and climbed into my lap.  "I'm doing a report on
my favorite animal and that's cats."

	We glanced through the magazine together and he pointed out
everything he had learned.

	"See, Mama. I can take care of her."

	Indeed he could.  "I'll think about it."

	He grinned and threw his arms around my neck.  "Thank you, Mama,"
and bounded up the stairs.

	Again, I sipped my tea.  "Now, what a coincidence you and James
would both want a pet on the same day."

	She sighed.  "He only thinks of me as the woman whose carrying his
baby sister.  I'm not even a friend to him.  I'm not around enough to spend
time with him because of the movie.  I want to be a part of James' life,
Iya."

	"And you thought that getting him a pet would get you some brownie
points?"

	She nodded sheepishly.

	"Dawn," I took her hands in mine.  "You can't expect him to accept
you right away.  Give him time.  He's going through a huge change."

	She sighed.  "But I want him to accept me," she got up and took a
peach from the fridge.  "It's not like I'm asking him to call me Mom.  I
just want him to see me as your lover, I guess or as his friend.  The
kisses he gives me before bed are so strained sometimes.  He does it just
to be polite," she nervously bit into the skin of the fruit.

	I got up and wrapped my arms around her waist.  "Honey, listen to
me.  Give him time.  He's a little boy whose just lost his father.  He's
still grieving."

	She sighed and placed her head on my shoulder.  "I know that.  I
worry though.  I'm worried that I'm not spending enough time with him or
that one day he'll start looking at me as an inconvenience.  As someone
whose monopolizing his mom's time."

	I hugged her tightly and ran my hand over her back.  "Oh baby, I
didn't know you felt so badly about it."

	She nodded and threw the peach pit into the sink.

	"I suppose every kid needs a pet.  Well Dawn, you've twisted my
arm.  We'll get James and Tali a kitten."

	She smiled appreciatively at me.  "I knew you'd come around."

	I laughed and called for James.

	He came shooting down the stairs and was at my side.  "Yes Mommy?"
he grinned sweetly up at me.

	'He's good at that.  Donny must've taught him,' I thought.  "I've
been doing some thinking with Dawn and she convinced me to let you have a
kitten."

	He whooped and gave me a big hug.  He hesitated near Dawn and
hugged her lightly, bashfully looking at the floor, and ran from the room.

	She sighed.  "It didn't seem to make much of a difference."  She
took another peach from the refrigerator.

*******

Where the roots all twist

	We stood before a row of kittens at the SPCA. James had
passionately refused to go to a pet store, proclaiming that it wasn't a
trustworthy place to buy any kind of pet.  It would seem that I was raising
an animals rights activist.

	He smiled sadly and whispered to a very talkative kitten.  "I wish
I could take all of you home with me."

	And a compassionate human being.  Donny had done such a good job.
I sighed and sat in front of the cage of a 6 week old calico kitten.  She
rubbed against my palm affectionately.  Her eyes were a clear blue, bright
with curiosity and mischief.  This one was quickly winning over my heart
but I tore myself away when James called to me.  He had passed me and moved
farther down the row.

	I squatted down next to him.  "What did you find, Sprout?"

	He smiled at me and pointed.  A pitch black 9 month old kitten was
licking her haunches with her strikingly pink tongue.  When she had
finished, she noticed James for the first time and trotted gracefully over
to him.  He opened his hand and she rubbed against it, arching her
back. James gleefully lavished attention on the mammal.

	I left him to his happiness and walked back over to the calico who
was still sitting by the kennel door, where I had left her.  She yowled
loudly at my presence and licked my palm.  'I suppose we could get two.'

	James let out a soft yelp and pattered over to me, tears streaming
down his face.  "It tried to scratch me," he whimpered.

	I pulled him into my lap and wiped away his tears.  "She may have
just been frightened."

	He shrugged. His attention was quickly caught by my calico
companion.  He tentatively reached out a hand.  She backed away slowly and
looked up at me.  'Go ahead,' I nodded and she cocked her head, sniffing
his hand before licking his finger tip and rubbing against it.  Soon, a
loud purr could be heard from her as her eye lids closed to slits and she
blissfully let James pamper her. He giggled and sniffled.  "I like her."

	I snuggled against him.  "So do I."

	He leaned back against me.  "Can we take her home?"

	"Let's see what Dawn thinks."

	"Dawn thinks about what?"  she asked coming up behind us.

	I patted the spot next to us.  "James and I both like this one."

	She smiled and rubbed her hand over the cats length. The calico
continued to purr with delight and nearly fell over with pleasure.  "I like
her," she turned to James.  "What are we going to name her?"

	He bit his lip and stared at the ceiling.  "Tigger.  So she and
Pooh can play together."

	"I see you folks have found a keeper," one of the volunteers
chuckled.

	We looked up and nodded simultaneously, eliciting another chuckle.
"Come with me and we'll start the paper work."

	He set us down in a few chairs to fill out the security precautions
and basic information.  It took less than 15 minutes and James gleefully
handed the volunteer the forms.

	"We'll call you after we've done a background check.  That
shouldn't take more than a few days."

	James' brilliant smile faltered.  "Okay."  He sighed deeply once
we'd left the building.  "I wanted her today."

*******

And dreamed about you

	Dawn groaned as I helped her out of the car.  "My back is killing
me."

	I grinned and shut the door behind her.  "I know, honey.  Believe
me, I know.  Just wait until Tali gets bigger."

	James giggled as Dawn sighed and skipped ahead of us.  We'd managed
to convince him that just because Tigger wasn't coming home today, didn't
mean we weren't getting her at all.

	"I need a peach," Dawn remarked, as she fell onto the couch with a
huff.

	James came skipping in.  "Here," and handed her one with a slight
blush in his cheeks.

	'Maybe he's finally warming up to her,' I silently hoped.

	Dawn smiled widely and gracious took the fruit.  "Thank you,
James."

	He giggled and ran up the stairs.

	I sat next to Dawn and wrapped myself around her arm and placed my
head on her shoulder.  "I think he likes you," I laughed in a sing-song
school girl kind of tone.

	She rolled her eyes but kept smiling as she bit into the flesh of
the fruit.  "Oooh," she moaned. "These things are so good." A bit of juice
ran down her chin.  "They're the best thing ever, well," she paused and
took a sidelong glance at me and blushed.  "Almost the best thing."

	I kissed her cheek and ran a hand over her stomach.  "What do you
think Tali will be like?"

	"I hope she's like you," Dawn whispered with a sigh.  "Do you think
it's too late to call her 'Peaches'?"

	I snickered loudly.  "I didn't think peaches could make you drunk
but I think you've proved me wrong."

	She laughed but stopped abruptly. "Hey!"

	I laughed and pulled her from the couch, kissing her tenderly and
wrapping my arms around her waist.  "I love you so much," I grinned.  "Now,
come on, let's get James and go for a walk on the beach."

*******

Makin' a little room

	Dawn swung her discarded sandals in her hand, the wind blew her
skirt around her legs and her hair away from her face.  My pinkie was
linked with hers as we sauntered slowly across the sandy beach.  James had
run up ahead, laughing and giggling.  Throwing rocks into the shallower
part of the water.

	The sun was setting as Dawn hummed softly and gazed out over the
ocean.  "What was it like?"

	"What was what like?"

	"Giving birth."

	I smiled and wrapped my arm around hers.  "Are you nervous?"

	She nodded.

	"You're going to be fine, Pookie.  If I can do it, so can you."

	She smiled and put her head on my shoulder.  "I suppose.  I'm just
worried.  Did you worry?"

	"All the time.  I nearly drove Sylvia and Mama crazy," I sniggered.
"But seriously.  If you know what to do, you'll be fine."

	"But I don't know what to do.  I don't know how to breath right.  I
don't have a doctor. I don't know if I even want a doctor. I'm lost," she
wailed.

	I rubbed her back firmly.  "I'm sorry.  I totally forgot about
that.  On Monday, we'll enroll in a Lamaze class and start looking for
mid-wives."

	She wrinkled her nose.  "Mid-wives?"

	I nodded.  "It's an alternative to a doctor.  That's what I did,
you don't have to, but I thought it was much more intimate cause there
aren't all those nurses staring at you and plus, you can give birth in a
pool of warm water if you want.  Like, the bath tub or if we had a pool in
the backyard. It's much more comfortable."

	"That sounds much better than having my feet in stirrups," she
giggled.  "Sounds like less of a draft too."

	We snickered and caught up with James who was sitting on the sand,
lazily dragging his finger through it, making curly-cues and little James'
designs. A sandy blonde haired man sat next to him, whispering something
and making him giggle.  A malamute puppy was licking his face and bouncing
all over the place.

	The man looked up and smiled.  He stuck out his hand.  "I'm Andrew
Dumont.  I live down the beach, I've been meaning to come up and introduce
myself."

	Dawn smiled graciously and shook his hand.  "I'm Dawn Reed and this
is Iya Moon."

	"I'm James," he grinned, scratching the puppies stomach.  "What's
your dog's name?"  he asked, looking up at Andrew.

	"Tiny Tim."

	I grinned.  "A literature fan?"

	"Guilty as charged.  I never can get enough of books. Most of the
rooms in my house are filled with them."

	"Really?  That sounds like quite a collection."

	He nodded.

	Dawn suddenly snapped her fingers.  "You own the house with the
garden in front, right?"

	He chuckled.  "Got me again."

	"Oh my gosh!  I love your garden.  It's so beautiful.  I've always
wanted a garden of my own but I don't have time," she gushed.

"I could help you if you want.  I've got lots of free time on my hands to
do garden work."

	"Could you really?" Her eyes lit up as she sat down on the sand
next to him.

The puppy ran over and jumped in her lap, propping himself up on her
stomach and graciously licking her face.

She laughed loudly and stroked his black and white fur.

	He nodded.  "Sure.  Why don't I bring some gardening tools over
tomorrow.  We can start working up some soil and talk about what kind of
things you want."

	"That would be great!"

	James yawned loudly catching all of our attention.

	I knelt down next to him.  "Tired, honey?"

	He nodded, a sleepy look very visible in his gaze.

	I grinned.  "Climb up onto my back."

	He stood up, stumbling a bit and falling onto Andrew.

	The green eyed stranger laughed and placed James' arms around my
neck.  "I'll see you girls tomorrow, then.  Around 12?"

	Dawn nodded. "Perfect."

	"Great," he waved and whistled to Tiny Tim who ran and stumbled to
catch up with Andrew.

	"Nice guy," I remarked as James' head fell against my neck.

	Dawn nodded.  "And I'm going to have a garden," she said dreamily,
swinging her sandals again in a livelier, more teenager kind of way.

	I stopped suddenly.  "Since when do you garden?"

*******

Sun soakin bulges

	The next day, Andrew was on our doorstep at 12 o'clock sharp.  Dawn
was in a pair of rolled up old jeans and a tank top, her long hair pulled
back, a bandana around her forehead to keep the sweat from dripping into
her eyes.

	Andrew said a quick hello before they disappeared into the front
yard and began working the soil.  I watched them from the porch for awhile,
rocking back and forth in the porch swing before I got tired and went
inside, just in time to hear the phone ringing.  "Hello?"

	"Hi this is John with the SPCA."

	"Oh, Hi!"  I crossed my fingers, hoping he was bringing good news.

	"We reviewed your request and congratulations, you're the new owner
of a 6 week old calico kitten."

	I silently whooped.  "Thank you!  My son will be thrilled."

	He chuckled. "You can come pick her up any time."

	"Thanks so much.  We'll be there in a little while."

	"We'll have her all ready for you, than."

	"Bye."  I hung up the phone and waiting for James' bus to come down
the street.  I hopped from one foot to the other one until the long yellow
vehicle came around the corner.

	The doors opened and James came sprinting out.

	"Guess what, honey!"  I laughed as he hugged me.  "We get to go
pick up Tigger."

	He squealed with delight.  "Right now?"

	"Just as soon as you put your backpack inside."

	"Okay," he ran in and came back out, cheeks flushed with
excitement.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the car.  "Come on! Come
on!  Let's go."

	"We'll be back in about an hour," I called to Dawn and Andrew
before climbing into the car.  James was already bouncing in the backseat.

*******

Nature's candy in my hand

	When we arrived at the SPCA, James dragged me through the parking
lot and to the front desk.  The man, who I presumed was John, snickered.
"Are you the family looking for the calico?"

	James nodded wildly.

	He came around the desk and placed her in James' arms.
"Congratulations on the new addition to your family."

	I thanked him and leaned against the desk, watching James' face
change from over-excitement to softly stroking her fur with a gleam in his
eye close to euphoria.  He looked up at me and smiled brightly.  "Thank
you, Mama," he whispered and nuzzled the kitten who gladly knocked him with
her own head, hard. Causing her to fall against his shoulder, stomach
turned upward. He giggled and let her nibble on his thumb, her tail
flicking back and forth.

	"Here's everything you need, no charge," John smiled, placing the
cat-carrier and a medium-sized bag of kitten food on the counter along with
a food and water dish.  "Enjoy your cat."

	"We will," I said, picking up the bag of supplies that were inside
of the cat carrier.  "Come on, let's go home and show Dawn."

	He nodded again and followed me outside, his eyes never leaving the
gray-blue fur ball in his arms. He looked up at me, forlorn when he came to
the back door of the car.

	I chuckled, opened it for him and lifted him into the seat.

	"Thanks, Mama."

	"No problem.  Now, hold her tight.  After this, she needs to be in
the cat carrier when we're in the car, alright?"

	He nodded, still oblivious, just stroking Tigger.

	We remained in silence for most of the drive home.  I would look at
him in the mirror just to see him smile and lovingly stroke the pet in his
arms who was purring so loudly, I could hear her over the engine.  We were
about 10 minutes from home when he finally spoke.

	"Can we name her Peaches?"

	"I thought you wanted to name her Tigger? Why Peaches?"

	He squirmed a little in the seat.  "Dawn likes to eat peaches."

	I smiled at him through the mirror.  "If you want to name her
Peaches, you do that."

	He smiled and again, shifted his gaze back to his cuddly companion.
"Hi Peaches," he whispered to the now sleeping kitten.

	When we arrived home, he went blindly up the stairs and into the
house, careful not to wake the living bundle nestled against his chest.

*******

I poked my finger down inside

	Andrew stayed for dinner that night.  It was just Chinese take-out
but food, nonetheless.  James insisted on eating with Peaches in his lap,
swearing that it would be the only time.  I figured it wouldn't hurt.

	Dawn had oohed and awed over the kitten much to James' delight.
She nearly cried when he told her the name and the reason.

	Andrew smiled from behind, watching us interact, I suppose.  He
didn't seem to have a family.  Although, he seemed to be fitting into ours
quite well.

After, Andrew helped clean up the few dishes we had used and bid us all
farewell, saying he would be back tomorrow to help Dawn with the garden
some more.

	James walked with him down the beach for a bit before running back
and taking Peaches upstairs to show her wear to sleep.

	Dawn had migrated upstairs as well and now sat in the chair in our
bedroom, staring out the window into the backyard, watching the ocean;
eating another peach. There had been a pile of peach pits on the front
porch when she and Andrew had finished the garden for the day.  It wasn't
even peach season.

	I knocked on James' door and poked my head in.  He was fast asleep
on the floor, Peaches curled up around his face.  I tip-toed back to the
bedroom and grabbed my camera.  I got in a few shots before he began to
stir.

	"Mama?" he croaked.

	I picked him up and laid him in bed.  "Go to sleep honey."

	"Where's Peaches?" he mumbled.

	Before I could lift her up, she jumped onto a pile of cat magazines
next to the bed and jumped onto his pillow.  She kneaded the down for a bit
before curling back up and purring loudly.

	James yawned and laid his hand on her back.  "Night Mama."

	"G'nite, James," I whispered and turned off the light, closing the
door behind me.

	I turned to go to the bedroom but an obstruction in the doorway
stopped me dead in my tracks and caused my mouth to fall open.
Dawn. Naked. Leaning against the door.  I wiped my mouth with the back of
my hand and stumbled forward, not able to keep my eyes from her supple
body.

	She smiled slyly and took my hand, leading me into the bedroom.  "I
want you." she whispered, biting on my earlobe.

	I swallowed. "Well, who can deny you what you want."

	She closed and locked the door, pulling my shirt over my head along
with the bra I had been wearing.  So much for the clasp.  Her lips attacked
my neck in a vicious bout of tongue and teeth.  My fingers cupping and
fondling her tender breasts and nipples, eliciting a moan from deep in her
throat.  Perhaps it had been too long since we were intimate.

	My fingers trailed down to her navel and farther still until her
hand blocked my wandering fingers. I retreated with an awful sigh.  I
wanted her more than I could imagine.  Our lips connected in a wrestling
match that no one wanted to win.

	My arms wrapped tightly around her waist, continuing the battle
with her tongue.  The flesh falling over each tooth and across each cheek.
She always did like to fondle my left side more than my right. A habit I
had yet to figure out.

	I felt her smile as she moved my hands down her smooth back and
closed them around her bottom.  I pulled back slightly but she held me
tight.  "I like you like this," I grinned and kneaded the flesh between my
palms.

	She giggled and unbuttoned my pants.  She bit my lip lightly as
they fell to the floor and she pushed me onto the bed.  "Mmm baby."

	I burst out laughing and pulled her on top of me, hugging her
close.  "I think I just ruined the mood."

	She chuckled.  "I'm sure I can bring it back," she got up and
dimmed the lights.  I pulled her back on top, feeling her body pressed
against mine.  She kissed my neck and shoulders.  Down my collarbone and to
my breasts.

	I purred as her tongue wrapped around my left nipple, her skilled
fingers kneaded the flesh of the other.  I swallowed gruffly as she kissed
my stomach and blew lightly into my belly button.  It had been way to long
since we had been together.  She tugged at the hem of my underwear until
they too, landed on the floor.

	She whimpered as I pulled her back up to my lips.  "Let me," I
whispered, kissing her neck and breathing in the scent of her strawberry
shampoo.  She sighed, her arms wrapping around my back, letting me take
control.  I kissed her again, letting my hand travel down to her exposed
sex.

	She yelped when I entered.  "You're hand is cold."

	"Don't worry," I whispered sweetly in her ear, drawing my tongue
around the back.  "They'll warm up with a little work."

	She swallowed and gasped when my words were put into action.  Her
fingers raked along my back but neither of us noticed.  My fingers moved
slowly, firmly against her, playing her as long as I could.  She was my
instrument of pleasure.  Her lips captured mine in a torrent of love and
passion.

	She clasped my breast in her hand and played with it, enjoying the
sound of both our moans mixed together.  The euphoria was taking us both
over as my movements got faster and her breathing became shallow.  She let
out a near silent whimper before collapsing on the bed, shaking from her
orgasm.

	She gasped for breath before settling down in my arms.  She
snuggled against me.  "I love you."

	I kissed the top of her head, the smell of sex strong in the room.
"I love you too."

	Suddenly her head shot up.  "Oh shit," she whispered and ran to the
bathroom.

	"Are you alright?" I called, just to make sure.

	"Yeah," she squeaked back, the sound of the fan drowned out all
other noise from inside.

	The peaches had declared war.

	I waited for her by the door, by the window, on the bed.  The
toilet flushed about 7 times and it was almost an hour and a half later
before she emerged, clutching her stomach and looking very pale.

	I helped her to bed and tucked her in.

	"I hate peaches," she muttered before drifting off to sleep.


Millions of peaches, peaches for me.
Millions of peaches, peaches for free.
Millions of peaches, peaches for me.
Millions of peaches, peaches for free
--

I hope that was better than the previous Chapter 16 :) Lemme know what'cha
thought.  Chapter 17'll probably be done by Tuesday. Woo! hehe.

Love and Lollies.

Don't forget to Smile,
Secret Dreamer <quillfairy4@hotmail.com> <FairyoftheQuill : aol im>