untilthenextencore

[untilthenextencore]

Bret Hart Fic~

[untilthenextencore]

"Nights To Remember Ch. 5: You Belong To Me~..."

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Jimmy & Dahlia made their exit from the Chuco sometime after that. The smallest thing triggered it. The funniest thing. A song by the Duprees. And a shared look after one last dance.

"See the pyramids along the Nile…

Watch the sun rise on a tropic isle…

Just remember, darling, all the while…

You belong to me…"

The look they shared was laden with understanding. A flicker of a shared shy, sheepish smile. A soft laugh at how fitting the song was then.

They both knew it was time. It was in their nerves. In their blood. A little flicker in their eyes.

Jimmy laced his fingers through hers, hand swallowing hers as he gazed down at her. "Shall we?"

Dahlia nodded simply. "Let's go."

Jimmy slipped out of his jacket, draping it around her shoulders before leading her back out into the now much cooler night. He nodded & smiled in greeting, tossing a few waves to some cheering fans before they were both tucked safely back into the quiet private depths of the backseat of the town car he arrived in.

"Darling, you really shouldn't have run off like that. You really did give me quite a fright. Though I'm glad you left word for me with Peter." He tutted, patting her hand.

"Of course, baby." She reached up to cup his face tenderly & thumbed the swell of his cheek. "Like you already said I didn't want to worry you. I got bored back there but saw you were still having fun. I knew Peter would get the word to you in where I had gone. If you didn't already know or guess. I just got homesick I guess. Missed things. Missed the place. The fun. You know. The old days I guess."

The old days.

Memories danced in Jimmy's mind. Of more dances here. More dances at the Chuco. Inside under the tinted light. Outside on the patio. Under the streetlight. Under the stars. Under the moon.

From the first time she took him there in his Yardbirds days to then. Through all lengths of his hair. Through all lengths of his beard. Both before & after his beard. Pinstriped trousers, jeans, velvet bellbottoms. Silk blouses, lace trim, simple cotton. No matter what he wore he was always welcome. She was always welcome. They were always welcome.

It wasn't hard to see why she loved it.

Why she missed it.

Why she escaped.

The other party was the complete opposite.

Though she stuck out in both like a sore thumb - albeit a stunningly beautiful one - it was clear, she fit this one like a glove.

"I'm sorry if I worried you at all, Jimmy. I thought maybe if I went along with Robert when he offered you'd have less to worry about."

Jimmy stifled a laugh. Stifled a grin. Barely. After all these years. Even after that night. She still had no idea. He was glad in a way. It meant Robert hadn't tried anything. It also meant that certainly Magnet hadn't either. It meant she was still safe. Still his. Still secure.

"Forgive me?"

And thus, so was he.

Cupping her face in his large hands, Jimmy cooed in a dragon's curl of smoke from the cigarette he had just finished. "There's nothing to forgive, my dear. Nothing. As long as you're safe."

Dahlia beamed at him, placing her hands over his cupping her cheeks, starry-eyed as ever. "I had a wonderful time tonight, darling. Hope you did too. Despite the slight fright I gave you."

His smile grew before his lips pressed to her forehead once more. "My dearest. My sweetest. My loveliest. My only. My girl. My lady. My Dahlia."

His heart swelled in his chest at what he saw flickering in her gaze. The light. The devotion. The purity. Purity of gaze. Of heart. Of love. Of feeling. Of emotion. Pure, raw emotion.

All of this led him to make one simple promise. "The night's not over yet, my girl. My lady. It is but still young for us."

"I bless the day I found you…

I wanna stay around you…

Now and forever, let it be me…"

Jimmy's smile brightened at the sound of the Everlys crooning over the radio. "Remember this song, my darling?"

"Don't take this heaven from one…

If you must cling to someone…

Now and forever, let it be me…"

Dahlia's smile quirked in the same way. Instantly, she read his mind. "Palomino, 1969."

They shared a private giggle. A favorite date of theirs. A favorite memory of theirs. Jimmy taking Dahlia to see the Everly Brothers at the Palomino in 1969. Holding hands. Holding her close. Sneaking squeezes of her hand. Sneaking little clinches. Sneaking kisses. As they did before.

"Each time we meet, love…

I find complete love…

Without your sweet love…

What would life be?..."

As they did then.

Jimmy leant in & nuzzled Dahlia. Nuzzled his wife. She nuzzled back. A low growl sounded in his throat. A purr in hers. A chuckle followed from him. A giggle from her.

The partition rose between them & the front seat. Jimmy's arms came around Dahlia's back, hands caressing the skin left bare by her low backed dress. Dahlia shivered & purred again, reclining back as Jimmy leant her back into the seat. Her arms circled his shoulders as their nuzzling intensified & once again their lips met.

She shivered as she felt his silver jeweled pendant cool against her hot skin.

"Gee whiz, look at his eyes…

Gee whiz, how they hypnotize…

He's got everything a girl could want…

Man, oh, man, what a prize…

Oh, oh…"

As the song played Dahlia gazed up at him in the flickering, intermittent light. The dragon's green fire seared her to the core. A private smile was shared. A tandem flicker. The air crackling between the two as it so often did. And suddenly two pairs of curved lips crashed into each other.

"Heaven up above knows how much…

I love that fella's soul…

Angels sing of a love like this…

I hope our love will grow and grow…"

Jimmy's lips burned a trail of heated kisses down her throat as his hand blazed a trail up her skirt. Her legs fell open instantly. As if on command. Under his spell as ever. Open sesame.

"'Cause, gee whiz, I love that guy…

Gee whiz, my, my, oh my…

There are things we could do…

I could say I love you…

But all I can say is…

Gee whiz…"

His lips trailed back up to claim & conquer hers yet again. Dominating her again. Mauling her again. Dahlia nipped his lower lip softly, earning a throaty growl. The growl of course came with more hungry, devouring kisses.

A sudden gasp left Dahlia's lips, thighs tightening around his hand slightly as Jimmy's fingers shifted her panties aside & his middle finger pressed inside.

"Dahlia… My lady…" He panted.

Dahlia let her legs fall open just that bit wider. Jimmy's finger pressed deeper, curving towards those familiar places he knew so well would elicit those deliriously sweet sounds.

"Ah!..."

And little bucks & lifts & rocks of her hips as she was so doing then. Each little buck allowed her skirt to slip higher and higher up her thigh. The slipping slip dress thusly only revealed more and more of her shifted panties & his working fingers.

The sight of the flickering light, intermittent from passing cars & streetlights, flashing on her exposed core stirred him to no end. The sight of her lips parted. Him parting her lips. His fingers parting them & pumping. Curving. Pressing deep. Making her mewl. It stirred him… To action.

"Oh, my angel…

Come back to me…

And I will love you…

Till eternity…

Oh, my angel…

This fire in my heart…

Consumes my happiness…

Since we are apart…"

Jimmy let Dahlia slip from his arms momentarily, only to bring both hands to his belt & undo it.

"Dahlia… Forgive me… I need..."

Dahlia merely allowed herself to sink down onto the sear & giggled. "There's nothing to forgive… As you said, my love…"

Jimmy hurriedly undid & unzipped his trousers, freeing himself & allowing his length to fall free. Dahlia giggled again & softly stroked his length in greeting. Jimmy jolted, grunting, groaning deeply. He stilled himself, allowing her a few more smooth strokes before acting again.

Taking her hand & once more pressing a kiss to the back before draping her arms around his shoulders. Coming close, he gave her panties a tug down her thighs before embracing her once more. And with that, Jimmy rose over her, drawing his hips back & piercing her in one go.

"Ah!" Cane the tandem response.

"You're mine…

And we belong together…

Yes, we belong together…

For eternity…"

The music was the perfect soundtrack as they lay wrapped in each other's arms. Another giggle was shared between the two before Jimmy pressed deeply once more. Another thrust. Another gasp.

"You're mine…

Your lips belong to me…

Yes, they belong to only me…

For eternity…"

Jimmy rolled his hips into hers slowly. Smoothly. Deeply. He drew out moan after moan. Sigh after sigh. Stirring her from deep within.

Dahlia's back arched, allowing Jimmy to slide the spaghetti straps down her shoulders. There he was able to bunch the silken dress at her waist. There he was able to trail kisses down her neck as her head craned back.

His lips trailed a heated path down to her breasts, circling her nipples & sucking them into peaks as his tongue batted & teased them. The sight of her panties, filmy & now sodden, ringing around her ankle led him to remove them, pocketing them secretly. Then, Jimmy's smile widened as Dahlia's legs wrapped around his waist. Her heels grazed the upholstery on the door behind him, her ankles locked behind his back as he drove consistently into her as they were driven around.

"You're my, my baby…

And you'll always be…

I swear by everything I own…

You'll always, always be mine…"

Dahlia watched as his pendants glinted in the light. Dangling & spinning. Hypnotizing her. Each thrust pierced her to her very core. Stealing her breath away. Her hands slipped under his jacket, sliding along the smooth expanse of skin along his back. Her fingers curled. Nails scoring into his shoulders.

His hips stuttered & faltered only momentarily before snapping harder & ever so slightly faster into her.

"You're mine…" The song crooned.

"Jimmy..." Dahlia mewled, arching her back slightly. The way her eyes both glittered & hazed over caught his eye. He recognized that. Recognized the way her nails dragged from his shoulders down his back. He hissed & shuddered & snapped his hips yet again, thrusting deeper still.

Her legs tightened around him. Walls tightened around him. Arms tightened around him. "Ahhh… Jimmy… Jimmy…"

"Are you close, darling?" He asked with a kiss, even though he already knew.

As he expected, he saw her nod slowly, still with that hazed starry-eyed gaze.

Jimmy smiled, sliding one hand down to brace her hip. His thumb swirled gently on her clit as he began to hone his thrusts in a very pointed fashion. Dahlia gasped softly. The gasp was muffled against his lips as he claimed hers in yet another passionate kiss.

"Mmmm… Me too…" He admitted, with a cheeky grin, muffling his subsequent chuckles into her lips just as she had muffled her gasps.

Now their hips rocked in unison. Lifting & rolling into a sweet, smooth grinding meeting. The two of them colliding over & over.

"Jimmy…" Dahlia mewled.

"Mmm-hmm…" He purred, wrapping one arm around her back, the other hand bracing her thigh, keeping it close to him.

"Jimmy… Jimmy…" She nipped his lower lip, causing him to growl. The sound vibrated through her body, making her shiver & clench around him.

She felt him drive into her clenching tightness in a few short quick thrusts, aiming for her spot just so & jolted. Another gasp fell from her lips as her back arched. She clutched into him & with the last of his thrusts as he grunted & groaned, he spilled & she shattered.

Galaxies collided as their bodies had, shattering & spreading stardust across her vision, the stars he had seen in her eyes sealed with a bated breath sigh of his name & kiss.

"Jimmy..."

The same stars she saw alight in his now as his lids fluttered open. Emerald depths twinkling in greeting as their gazes met.

"My lady…"

"Jimmy…"

Her fingers drew their last trails down his back. Another hiss fell from his lips as he stirred deep within her, filling her as he braced her body to his. Large right hand still bracing her thigh to his hip. His left arm still wrapped around her, keeping her stomach flush against his.

"I love you…"

He swore as his lips retook & staked their claim on hers at the same time. Deep, passionate, grateful, sated, yet all the more hungry kisses greeted her on the way down as they both recovered.

"I love you…"

She sighed her pledge in return.

Another purr sounded as despite the eternity their hurried climb & easy float down from their peak seemed to take, they both registered the last words of the song then on the radio. Fitting as ever. As always.

"And we belong together…

Yes, we belong together…

For eternity…"

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Hope y'all enjoy~!

As ever, this is forever under construction~!

[untilthenextencore]

"Nights To Remember Ch. 4: Forever Burn~..."

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Dahlia's gaze towards Jimmy was as singular as Jimmy's was to her. Even as she passed him a fresh beer of his own. Even when he took it with soft thanks & sipped from it.

Hers was starry-eyed, reverent & thrilled. Jimmy's gaze towards Dahlia was soft & tender. Kissing her hands before guiding her back inside.

Jimmy's gaze towards Robert was… less so.

Wary. Knowing. Almost accusatory. Jimmy very nearly bristled when Dahlia wasn't aware or looking in his direction. Brooding. Glowering. He'd only switch back to his sweet tenderness & warmth when Dahlia's gaze returned to him.

Robert shivered as Jimmy & Dahlia strolled over to him. Taking another sip of his beer to wet his parched throat - When did it get so dry? - he did his best to shake that off and think up a casual greeting. "Hey, mate! Glad you could make it! Was wondering when you'd get here?"

"Indeed." A Middlesex monotone replied. "I was just asking Dahlia here why she left so suddenly. Said you two had been discussing the merits between back at the Rainbow & here at the Chuco. She told me it was your idea to leave. Thankfully it was her idea to tell Peter to tell me. So I wouldn't worry. Isn't that right, my girl?" He emphasized the words "my girl". He always emphasized the words "my girl".

"Yes, darling." The word "darling" curled into the air like a plume of smoke from her lips. "Robert & I got bored & wanted to see how things were back home here. I didn't want to take you from the party since you seemed to be enjoying it. I also couldn't very well leave without you knowing." She cuddled closer to Jimmy, right arm around his waist, left on his chest. Right over his heart.

"I couldn't find you. Didn't even know where to even look. Not after you disappeared with Bonzo. Didn't want to worry you though so I made sure to tell Peter to tell you where we were & that I was safe. If anyone could find a way to tell you it was him. Peter made sure I was safe. As always. Safe with Robert & Magnet. He made sure you had nothing to worry about. See?"

"Indeed." A softer tone. Suburban Surrey sigh. Of relief. Of relaxation. Once again, he took her hand, lifting her left hand to his lips & pressing a kiss to her delicate little knuckles. Right by her ring. Dahlia giggled. In her girlish rapture, she was blissfully unaware however, of how Jimmy cut his eyes at Robert while doing so. His gaze remained severe as he rose back up & placed her hand back on his heart.

Diamond ring glinting in the light on her third finger.

Stately gold band shining on his.

Robert had to smirk & let out the tiniest breathless "hmph" of a laugh.

That was Pagey.

He never did anything by chance.

Just then, Dahlia's voice cut in, ending the stalemate.

"Do you forgive me, baby?"

Jimmy turned back to face her. His large left hand cupped her cheek. Ring still glinting. Pink lips curving from severe slit back to sweet smile. "Of course, my dear. There's nothing to forgive." In one swift move he leant in & claimed her lips as his, claimed her as his, again. "As long as I know you're safe. Nothing else matters. Nothing."

Dahlia's eyes glittered & shone in the pink light as he said that.

Now it was Dahlia that Robert saw being defined by the dj's choice.

"Hypnotized, you've got me hypnotized...

All it took was just one little look into your eyes...

I'll do whatever you say, command me and I'll obey...

(Because I love you)...

La la la...ha ha...

In a magic spell of romance...

Make me hold you...

Make me kiss you...

My heart is yours to command, and woah-oh...

Hypnotized, gee, gee I'm so hypnotized...

Just one touch of your fingertips...

One kiss from your sweet, sweet lips..."

"Though you did give me quite a fright." Jimmy admitted surprisingly. "Disappearing into the night like that. All I want is to know that you're safe. To keep you safe. And near."

Try as he might, Robert couldn't help himself. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was his usual brusque Leonine bravado. Maybe it was both.

"What's the matter, Pagey? Worried she was gonna run off with a blonde country boy? Much less yer lead singer?"

Dahlia's face fell. She gasped, turning to gape at him in surprise. She was truly stunned it seemed. Aghast. Clearly, she had no idea where this came from. Her eyes volleying back & forth from his face to the bottle in his hand telegraphed where she figured it came from though.

"No." Jimmy's response was terse & equal parts heated & cool. "What trash papers or cheap novels have you been reading? Honestly! Don't flatter yourself, Planty. I know well enough she would never do that. Never. We both do. We all do."

The gunslingers let their fingers cool on the triggers respectively. Each cooled their heels. Cooling themselves with a sip of their beers.

Until Dahlia spoke up again.

"Jimmy…" Both sets of eyes flew to her as she asked. "Let's go dance, huh? C'mon. I've waited all night."

"Waited?" Jimmy blinked in surprise. "Has Robert not led you on the dancefloor at all tonight?"

"No, baby." Dahlia shook her head. "He never even asked. It never even came up."

Shit, Robert thought. She was right. They were here all that time. Together all that time. Alone all that time. And he'd never once asked her to dance. Unlike before. He usually always got a dance in with her here. All that time. All that wasted time. And he'd never once gotten her in his arms. Now he knew his time was up. His chance had run out. Jimmy was about as likely to give him a chance to dance with her that night as he would give him a chance to play his guitar! Goddammit!

"Really now?" Jimmy quirked a brow, a smirk curving at his lips. "That's so unlike him. He usually jumps at the chance to."

"C'mon, Jimmy." She took his hand & pleaded. "C'mon, baby. It's been so long since we've been here. I missed it so. Didn't you miss it too? Remember all the fun we used to have here? All the other dances? In here? In the parking lot? Under the streetlights? Under the moonlight?"

"Aww, my darling." Jimmy's smirk then softened into a legitimate smile. His large left hand came to cup her cheek, guiding her into another kiss.

She gave herself willingly, fully into the kiss. But clearly, she was still on edge. Still willful. Still wanting.

Pulling back, Jimmy took & pressed another kiss to her left hand again. "Of course I remember, my dear. How could I forget. We've had such wonderful times here before. For years! Perhaps it was meant to be that led you to lead me here again. A welcome little change. A delight. A delightful surprise. Fate."

He smiled his best eye-crinkling smile, leading her to beam up at him in kind as he cupped her face in both hands now & pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Very well then. Whatever you say, my love." Then placing his now drained beer on the bartop besides Robert, using the clink to punctuate his words with a bit of finality, he nodded. "C'mon, Dahlia, my girl. Let's go dance."

"Wait, really?" Dahlia gasped. She knew how shy Jimmy could be. How reticent. Especially with the ever-growing weight of his & the group's name in the public eye. But when Jimmy nodded, she knew better than to question it. There'd be no looking a gift horse in the mouth from her. No second guessing.

And so it was that Robert saw them recede onto the dancefloor as the song yet again narrated what he saw before him; albeit with the tiniest mistake in getting the month wrong.

"I remember...

That night in May...

The stars were bright above...

I'll hope and I'll pray...

To keep...

Your precious love...

Well before the light...

Hold me again...

With all of your might...

In the still of the night..."

Robert ambled over to the wall by the door, reclining against it. One leg bent, foot against the wall behind him. Beer in hand.

As he stood there, he heard the music playing from the outdoor patio. A different set of oldies were playing for the kids to dance to or chill to under the streetlights. A double soundtrack for Robert to sit - or stand - and contemplate.

"Devil or angel, please say you'll be mine...

Love me or leave me, I'll go out of my mind...

Devil or angel, dear, whichever you are...

I need you, I need you, I need you...

You look like an angel...

Your smile is divine...

But you keep me guessin'...

Will you ever be mine?..."

Still, his eyes never left them as they swirled about the floor. Her eyes lit up by more than the pink light. Jimmy's glittering in kind. Both locked in a shared ecstatic grin amidst secret hushed words & giggles as the music continued to narrate.

"My love must be a kind of blind love...

I can't see anyone but you...

…

Are the stars out tonight (sha bop sha bop)...

I don't know if it's cloudy or bright (sha bop sha bop)...

I only have eyes for you dear...

(Sha bop sha bop)..."

Robert watched avidly. He saw how the "stars" that night shone in her eyes. How they dazzled. Dazzled him. How they were dazzled. By Jimmy.

At the same time, the outdoor soundtrack of sorts weaseled its way into his ear. It read him as well as anything playing that night. Needling him. Seeing him. Seeing deep within him. Seeing all. And laying it bare.

"Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by...

I say to myself, "You're such a lucky guy"...

To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true...

Out of all the fellows in the world, she belongs to me...

But it was just my imagination...

Runnin' away with me...

It was just my imagination...

Runnin' away with me..."

The Temptations. Despite himself, a wry smile curved his lips. Both from how fitting the name of the group was & how well it fit with the Dells' song playing as Dahlia & Jimmy waltzed in the center of the dancefloor.

"I won't forget all those things...

You have told to me...

The craze in my heart...

Won't let me forget your love...

…

Oh, what a night (to love you dear)...

Oh, what a night (to walk you dear)...

Oh, what a night (to kiss you dear)...

That's why I love you so...

No, no, no, no, no...

No, no, no, no, no...

One more night...

Can I walk you home one more night?...

I wanna make love to you one more night...

I love you baby...

I want you baby, I need you baby...

I love you baby, one more night..."

Watching Jimmy waltz so effortlessly. With Dahlia in his arms. Beaming up at him. Whispering to him. Kissing him. Robert couldn't help but brood a bit.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of another petite lovely. Dark hair, dark eyes, dusky skin… And unlike the one he had centered in his sight… The one he usually had his sights set on… She was signaling her interest in him. Finger curling in the end of a lock of hair. A soft smile curling her lips. A twinkle in her eye.

His eyes flicked over to her from time to time. A grin tossed in her direction. An effortless wink. Hell, even the occasional blown kiss. It came easy to him now. She wouldn't be the first he picked up at the Chuco. Hell, she might not even be the last.

Still, Robert's eyes couldn't help but be pulled to the same set of familiar glittering eyes that shone up at his guitarist friend as Otis Redding called into his ear from outside. Reading him once more from the great beyond. Searing into him.

"These arms of mine, they are burning...

Burning from wanting you...

These arms of mine, they are wanting...

Wanting to hold you...

And if you would let them hold you...

Oh, how grateful I will be...

Come on, come on, baby...

Just be my little woman...

Just be my lover, oh...

I need me somebody, somebody to treat me right, oh...

I need your arms, loving arms to hold me tight...

And I, I, I need, I need your, I need your, tender lips, to hold, hold me...

Tell me when I'm right now, baby..."

In the blink of an eye it seemed Robert was no longer alone.

"Hey…"

Looking towards the source of the hushed greeting, Robert found the young petite beauty had spirited her way next to him. "You alone, handsome?"

"Not for long." He grinned, snaking an arm around her waist as her hands went to his chest. "S'yer name, luv?"

"Paulina." She cooed, nuzzling him as she asked. "You in town long?"

"Mmmm… Pleasure to make your acquaintance, luv." He nuzzled back, one large hand gripping her hip. He heard her gasp softly, drawing an even wider, dimple-popping grin from him.

Old Habits die hard.

"What brings you to these parts, Paulina, my dear?"

"Well, at first it was the music… But now…" She rubbed her nose against his in a soft little, teasing Eskimo kiss. "You…" Her eyes flashed up at him, searing him in her own way.

"Smart girl." His grin now widened to a face-splitting Cheshire cat level.

Another gasp sounded as he then stole her lips in a sudden hungry kiss. She responded in kind instantly. Though, gathering as much of her own barely checked ardor & need as she did, she still struggled to match his passion & fervor.

Breaking the kiss just as Paulina began to swoon, Robert began kissing his way down her throat, sucking a mark onto her tawny skin.

Though even as he mauled the young Paulina so, his eyes still rose. They still lifted. They still moved across the room & locked onto the sight of another dark beauty. He couldn't help it. The same one as ever. Her and her dark lord. The two were still making a striking sight as they swirled & whirled about the floor. Only this time, they two were beginning to neck as well as Etta James sang.

"All I need...

Is someone like you...

My dearest darling...

Please, love me too...

Within my heart...

I pray your answer's yes...

I'll make your life...

Full of happiness...

Whenever you need me...

I'll be there by your side...

Oh, I pledge my love to you...

With God as our guide...

Oh nothing, nothing, nothing in this world...

Can keep us apart...

Unh, my dearest darling...

I offer you my heart..."

Dahlia's arms tightened around Jimmy's shoulders. Jimmy's hands sliding up & down her back. Jimmy's head craned into the crook of her neck in between his mauling her with kisses. Her eyes closed & head tilted back as she giggled & smiled rapturously.

The sight still stung a bit. The beer dulled it a bit. And the presence of a curvy beauty in his arms helped to soothe the rest of the sting.

The music pumping from outside continued to needle him, however.

"Sincerely, oh yes, sincerely...

'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine...

Sincerely, oh you know how I love you...

I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine...

Oh Lord, won't you tell me why...

I love that girlie so...

She doesn't want me...

But I'll never never never never let her go...

Sincerely, oh you know how I love you...

I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine..."

Robert did his best to brush those needles off. As his hands slid up & down Paulina's back, he tried to ignore how they paralleled the movements Jimmy's hands made on Dahlia's back. The barest thought of it, the merest thought, made him crave to feel how it'd be to have his own hands running up & down Dahlia's back. Feeling how she'd react. How she'd respond to the very things that had Paulina purring & nearly coming apart in his arms.

That thought was the straw that broke the camel's back for him.

Unlatching his lips from her neck, he glanced down at her. Eyes closed. Sweet smile. In rapture herself clearly. He grinned, rubbing his thumb over the soft bruise he'd already drawn into her skin.

Try as he might, he still had Dahlia on the brain.

He sucked the mark deeper into her skin & gazed at her.

He gave Paulina his own version of mauling kisses & gazed at her.

He pulled back from the passionate kisses & gazed at her.

Dahlia, for her part, was still lost in her own world dancing with her beloved shimmer suited Jimmy.

"C'mon…"

And as he grabbed Paulina by the hand & guided her out the door & out into the car, the vision of Dahlia, rapturous, smiling, dancing whirled in his mind along with the words to the song they were dancing to - the only song that was playing both inside and outside - rang in his mind.

"Forever my darling our love will be true...

Always and forever I'll love only you...

Just promise me darling...

Your love in return...

May this fire in my soul dear...

Forever burn...

My heart's at your command dear...

To keep, love and to hold...

Making you happy's my desire...

Keeping you is my goal...

Forever I'll love you...

for the rest of my days...

I'll never part from you...

or your loving ways...

Just promise me darling...

Your love in return...

May this fire in my soul dear...

Forever burn...

My heart's at your command dear...

To keep, love and to hold...

Making you happy's my desire...

Loving you is my goal...

Forever I'll love you...

for the rest of my days...

I'll never part from you...

or your loving ways...

Just promise me darling...

Your love in return...

May this fire in my soul dear...

Forever burn..."

~

Hope y'all enjoy~!

As ever, this is forever under construction~

[untilthenextencore]

"Nights To Remember Ch. 3: Bright Lights, Big City, Dark Sylph, Dark Lord~..."

~

~

Bright lights, big city. Taillights & headlights. Children of the sun. Suntanned skin & brown bottled beer. And a curvy, dusky skinned sylph a bit too dressy for such casual surroundings heading into the blues pumping nightclub. Cutting a swath through the milling crowd. Bathed in a pinkish glow from the neon curved lights announcing to the world the humble haven at which they, along with Robert & co had found themselves: The Chuco.

A reference to the Pachucos, zoot suiters that a lot of its denizens were birthed to or had otherwise in their family.

The first teddy boys in a way, Robert thought, right down to the flashy clothes & slicked back hair. Some of the kids still sported that "greaser" aka teddy boy look. Though Robert knew well enough to steer away from the former term & used the latter. He recognized the look anyway. Right down to the cuffed jeans & white t-shirts with the rolled up sleeves that had the cigarette packets & matchbook tucked inside.

He had attempted such a look in his youth. In those heady early days. When rock'n'roll first shook him, and blues first seduced him away. Astray.

Astray.

Astray is apparently how he continued to stay. How else would he find himself here? At a small nightclub away from the rest. Away from all others. But Magnet.

And her.

Magnet he saw chatting up a pretty, petite young thing against a nearby wall.

That just left him. And her. And about a few tens of other kids around them. But in his mind they all but disappeared. All blurring into a Renoir like smudgy frame for his gaze. Myopic as ever. Single-minded. Laser focused. His view. His vision. The vision.

Her.

Her.

Her.

She was bathed in light. A pink light. Blushing violet pink. The shade was a near perfect match to the signage outside. It lit her & everyone else in the room. Making them look like the denizens of one of those pulpy romance comics. All dark features & strawberry light. All dark features except for him. Which, despite his better nature, only served to have him further feel like the protagonist in one of those pulpy romances.

All dark features. And strawberry light. All he saw then was dark features & a figure lit by strawberry light. From the club's tinted lighting, yes. From the rose colored glasses Robert always seemed to sport- especially regarding her - also yes. But also from within.

She lit up.

She came alive here.

She was incandescent.

Her eyes sparkled. Glittered. Shone really. Her mask of previously remote features now fully removed if not shattered. Now her lips curved in the proudest gleaming grin.

She raised her arms in exultation, releasing a cry of exultation from deep within. One which ended up being a cry of call and response. As many around her responded with a similar cry in return.

Thankfully she was far enough ahead - while of course still remaining well in Robert's sight - that no one around them let out any other screams at Robert's striding his 6 foot, blonde, white, English country boy self inside.

Indeed he saw some glimmers of recognition, disbelief, then outright confusion. He could read their features like a book. A silent movie at play before him.

Is it him?

It is!

Why the fuck would he be here?

There's no way!

Little did they know.

There was a way.

One way.

Her.

Her.

Her.

Robert took a beer Magnet gave him in passing. He then noted with his first sip, that Magnet as he passed, was currently flitting on his way to another girl still with the first in tow. Three's company. His kinda company clearly. Clearly hopeful that a threesome was on the way.

Classic Magnet.

Upon taking this beer, Robert raised it to those eyes of recognition. A toast. In return, he pressed a finger to his lips & gave a conspiratorial smile. Thankfully, miraculously, this seemed to be enough to quell any tongues that might've been set a-wag by his arrival. Smiles were returned. Nods & cheers with their drinks in return. A few blown kisses by some young lovelies.

And it was then that even though Robert found his "cover blown," so to speak, he found himself in the clear.

With his way now clear, Robert made his way to Dahlia. She had hugged a few old friends in warm, enthusiastic greeting, chattering animatedly in a quick catch-up. Catching them as she was arriving & they were leaving. After waving goodbye, she then strolled over to the bar, picking up a beer & taking a swig herself as her bent elbow rested on the bartop she leaned back into.

As Robert approached, the soundtrack of sorts, incidental music, continued to tease him in a way that seemed anything but incidental, accidental, or by happenstance. This time, it was Junior Walker & his All Stars.

"What does it take…

(What does it take)...

To win your love for me?...

(To win your love for me)...

How can I make…

(How can I make)...

This dream come true for me…"

He reached out in what seemed like slow motion. Reaching for the vision in raspberry light. Strawberry light. A brilliant smile that seared itself into his mind at first glance. A lyrical laugh that rang out above the clinking beer bottles & trickled over him like the lightest, sweetest waterfall. And silken, tawny skin that burned him alive simultaneously as his fingers slid across her velvet soft hand. The one without the ring.

Her eyes cut over to him. Her gaze at first flickered in confusion before alighting in recognition, smile back to full strength. She mimicked the song then playing in her greeting.

"Hello, stranger." She then added yet another one of her light, playful teases. "Long time no see." Clinking bottles with him, she continued. "I was wondering when you were gonna amble your way in."

"Ah…"

For once in his life, Robert struggled for a snappy line.

So he scrambled for the closest thing.

A grin curved his lips, easier than he felt inside. "Well I can't very well leave you to the wolves now can I?" His delivery wasn't as smooth as he'd have liked, alas. His voice shook slightly. Hopefully she just took that for barely checked laughter.

As it turned out, she took it in stride. It barely checked. It barely registered.

"Wolves?" Dahlia tossed her head back in a laugh of her own. "What wolves?" Motioning to all that was around them, she stated proudly. "This? This is family! We're among family here, Planty! Don't you see? Can't you tell? We're home!"

Home.

Home indeed.

For her.

Dahlia, the girl from East LA. Hometown girl. Local girl made good. Just as her historian father Alberto Dominguez-Alvarez was a local man made good. His books and scholarly lectures and presentations were full of their glory days, both past & present.

Children of the sun.

Chucos.

Chicanos.

He'd caught one of those presentations & lectures in Birmingham in his Pre-Zeppelin days. That's where he got Alberto's books. That's where he got a primer on Mexican culture. Pre-Columbian & current. On Mexican youth. Past & present. On her.

Her father had used her pictures as an example - if a rather self-indulgent one - of modern Mexicanidad. Mentioning her then current early enrollment in UCLA.

There was a collage of pictures of her with her acceptance letter. In a brown beret uniform in East LA where they hailed from. In her Quince dress from the society page. In a button down & jeans in the slightly more upmarket part of LA the family had then moved to. In a classic, demure dress in Mexico. Using her as an example of possibility, of accomplishment, of their multifacetedness. All in one.

Later, he admitted when questioned that yes, she had been in the Sunset Strip curfew protests that some had termed riots. But he stressed that they were protests. And social engagement, community engagement was not a crime and should not be considered a crime due to a difference in melanin between the protestors themselves or between them & those they were protesting against. A knowing reference to the Civil Rights Movement.

Neither Alberto nor Robert had no idea how prescient those words were. He would later. Later. Later when Dahlia showed pictures of both herself & her father in the East LA walkouts, backing up people back home. Backing up friends. Backing up family.

And again at the Chicano Moratorium.

One of the few Zeppelin gigs she had missed she missed on purpose, flying into LA to take part while they did a gig. She headed back to East LA where her family had moved back to by then. Ready to support. To protest. To be heard. The pics she later showed them showed them looking hopeful. Proud. Expectant.

That was before, due to unforseen circumstances, things went left that day. Dark. Deadly. Black.

As soon as he heard, Pagey was on the phone. Peter too. As soon as he heard from Dahlia herself - thankfully safe at home & able to take the call - that she & her family were fine, Pagey had her fly back out to meet them on their next stop on the next available flight. Pagey had her in his arms. Locked in his room with him. Grant assigned them - her really - a bodyguard, under his, Jimmy's & honestly everyone's agreement.

Saying another silent prayer for Ruben Salazar, the one casualty that day, and any others affected, Robert decided to shake the darkness from his mind.

He allowed himself to be pulled back into the light.

Pink light.

Raspberry light.

Strawberry light.

Warm light.

Her light.

He saw his teen self in his mind's eye as he was then at the presentation. Gawking at the pictures. She was bleeding beautiful. Two years younger than him. Where did they make birds like that? Brains and beauty. Dusky skinned determination. Heaven-sent & hip as hell. LA? East LA? Right then and there, he pledged that if he ever made it to the States, he had to go there, wherever that was. Los Angeles, he knew. How far east he'd have to go, he didn't.

What he also didn't know at that time - not until much later - was just how close just such a girl was to him then. Not just such a girl. That girl exactly. For the time was spring 1967, and not only was Alberto in England.

But so was Dahlia.

Alberto, of course, was lecturing Robert & others in the north in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Dahlia at the time - as he would later find out - was staying southward in London.

She had left the hotel room her father had gotten her, leaving her to study for a paper she was going to do on English History as he traveled about. The hotel room then stood mostly empty. Instead, she saw fit to stay with another attendee of one of her father's lectures that he'd given in London before coming up north.

A friend.

A penpal.

An on again off again budding potential love & beau.

On Shooter's Hill.

In Pangbourne.

With one who would later - now - be his songwriting partner & close friend.

Yes.

With one James Patrick Page.

There she was holeing up with him. Hitting up his local haunts with him. Scotch of St. James in between her studies. Granny Takes a Trip between corrections of one draft's grammar most likely. Giving herself to him for the first time. First of many. First of many on that trip he figured as well. Knowing Pagey. In the car if he had one. In the boat. In the boathouse. Every bleeding where in the boathouse. Again knowing Pagey, Robert figured there was hardly a surface in the place, down to the couch he sat on that first day when he came down, that hadn't been so christened that time in '67.

Granny's, the Scotch, in bed (and other places) with a dusky, driven & foreign little brunette dish. All the places Robert could then only dream of being.

Now he had his dusky brunette by way of Maureen. But she was back home with the kids. And he'd had others since then. Plenty others. Many others. He even had several around him that day.

All his focus went to only one though.

One that was off limits.

Very decidedly off limits.

The one that was closest to him funny enough.

Or as Brenton Wood sang then.

"I run after you...

Like a fool would do...

But mama didn't raise no fool...

And I should know...

That baby you got it...

That's all I can say to you..."

Brenton even seemed to see in her what he did.

"You got soul, too much soul...

Foxy clothes, the cutest nose...

The greatest shape...

There's nothing fake about you...

Baby you got it..."

But when Brenton continued, Robert felt it once again hit too close for his liking.

"My friends say no can be...

You're not the girl for me..."

Bullseye!

Try as he might to distract himself with another sip of his beer, the next song was no better.

"Just pull them little strings...

And I'll sing you a song...

I'm your puppet...

Make me do right or make me do wrong...

I'm your puppet...

Treat me good and I'll do anything...

I'm just a puppet and you hold my string...

I'm your puppet...

Your walking, talking, kissing loving puppet...

I'm hanging on a string...

I'll do anything, love you 'n' kiss ya..."

"Here…" Dahlia snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked down. A peace offering. Another bottle of beer to replace his now drained one.

Another clink.

"Cheers." She locked eyes with him, pursed lips grinning behind her bottle.

"Why won't you...

Take a chance on me...

And let me show you...

How wonderful to love can really be...

I can love you for all eternity...

Take a chance on me..."

God damn it if it wasn't Brenton Wood again summing it all up again.

"Dahlia…" He breathed her name in more of a sigh than he wanted to allow at that point. Her name always sounded like a sigh. Always. From day one. From the first day he heard it. A sigh.  A dreamy sigh. To him. From others. And most importantly from him.

"What is it, Robert?" She slid her hand over his, giving a gentle squeeze again like she had in the car. "You feeling alright?" 

That voice.

That hand.

That silken skin.

That touch.

That tenderness.

A tenderness that was always so apparent in her.

A gentility amidst her all-encompassing warmth that ranged from the flickering of a flame, dancing & playful like the mirthful light that shone in her eyes to molten, incandescent, torrid & sizzling. It scorched him. Seared him. Searing him deep within. Burned him. Burned within him. Burned him inside out. Made him feel feverish.

And again, the song playing around them said it all.

"The touch of you (baby, baby, the touches from you)...

Is drivin' me out of my head, oh, boy (baby, baby, out of my head)...

What a touch from a little hand can do (can do)...

Especially coming from you…

Turn my life all around (all around)...

I can't seem to settle down…

Oh, baby…"

"Dahlia, I…" He started before he even knew what he was going to say.

Thankfully…

Mercifully…

He was cut off before he could figure out much more to say.

Both by a random lad in an awed hush. "Holy fuck! Now there's two of them, dude! Am I seeing things?"

But no…

He wasn't…

The lad wasn't seeing things…

Because there he stood in the doorway. All six feet of PreRaphaelitic glamour. A brooding Black Irish English stallion. The dragon. The "Dark Lord" himself.

Or as Dahlia gasped, trotting over to him excitedly.

"Baby!"

James Patrick Page.

Count on him to make his entrance to a song with a twangy guitar intro.

Of course he would.

Jimmy extended his arms, welcoming Dahlia in his embrace with a smile. He hugged her tight. Warmly. Protectively. He mumbled something to her to which Dahlia nodded. Pressing a kiss to her hair, her forehead & lifting her chin, then her lips, he claimed her. Sealing it with a kiss. Or three.

And as ever, Robert was left with the unintentional soundtrack summing it up for him.

"Love...

Love is strange...

Lot of people...

Take it for a game..."

~

Hope y'all enjoy~!...

As ever, this is forever under construction~...

[untilthenextencore]

Nights To Remember Ch 2.: Flashes & Flickers: Light & Shade~...

~

~

In the car, Robert saw a transformation occur in Dahlia. A fire lit in her eyes. Her body grew tight. Expectant. As his was too, albeit for a completely different reason.

As a familiar DJ howled over the radio, she called out. "Mag, mind changing the channel? I love Wolfman, but I'm in the mood for something else. Try KRLA or something."

"Mag" or Magnet obliged. He turned the dial as he turned the corner.

A voice crooned from over ten years ago.

"Those Oldies But Goodies remind me of you~..."

He knew who it was.

Knew what she wanted.

Magnet knew too, hence his turning the dial in just the right direction.

Art Laboe.

Dahlia proved them both right as she recognized the station instantly.

"Yesssss…" Dahlia hissed.

Magnet flicked an amused grin back at her through the rear view mirror.

Robert's eyes were drawn to her too. In full. Closely watching. He saw her toes curl. Her fingers tightening over her small clutch purse & book. Fingers tightening. Toes tightening. Body tightening. Anxious. Expectant. Excited.

Was this how girls were like in making their way to their concerts?

Perhaps.

He saw an aura grow around her. Bated breath & something swirling about her in the smoky haze in the car. Cracks in the veneer. Little glimmers of light peeking through from within.

She was coming alive.

Or about to.

Memories of her dancing & carrying on with her friends at the Chuco flash through his head. Drinks & dancing.

Robert dancing with dusky maidens under the stars. Making him feel home sweet home. Little Mexican Maureen facsimiles. More Indian beauties. More weaknesses. More indiscretions. More things to apologize to the actual, original, one & only true Maureen to.

Robert danced with her too. Dahlia. Bopping around to the rock'n'roll songs they grew up & cut their teeth on. Robert even managed to snag a few slow dances with her. Under the same stars & streetlights.

Until Jimmy appeared out of the ether seemingly. Sidling up to them & spiriting his girlfriend and then fiancee away & into his own arms. Slowdancing with her himself under the stars & streetlights. The flashes of lights both from that & the headlights & taillights of the classic cars that surrounded them all bathed them in a flickering warm glow that matched the warm glow that seemed to emanate from the couple themselves.

Just as Jimmy would want & the only way he'd have it.

Light and shade.

That memory sent him rocketing back to the present. The present that had him beside Dahlia in the backseat as she went from allowing her body to flit from two extremes in her response to the best Art Laboe could play; melting at ballads to winding back up at the rocking tracks as they played. All the while, that same sharp, inscrutable look remained in her eyes. Deep brown depths alight with more than the passing flicker of a streetlight. All as they were similarly surrounded by a tight phalanx of headlights & taillights.

That last bit quirked the corners of his mouth & would've made him laugh had he not been otherwise occupied.

No, instead as Dahlia's head craned back & let yet another sweet ballad from yesteryear wash over her, Robert's head craned back, peering myopically into the following headlights & trying to make out any familiar faces amongst the blinding beams.

No luck.

He thought he saw a familiar town car. Perhaps even a familiar curly black head. But would he ride in the front seat? Was he just seeing things? He didn't know.

All he knew was that as ever, a half an hour or so alone with the lovely young Miss Dahlia was never enough for him. But now he found it stood true for a whole different reason entirely.

As Magnet gunned the engine along with the twanging guitar of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" Robert's stomach clenched to match his fist. Twanging guitar. Mentions of someone who could "play guitar like ringing a bell". He knew someone like that. Someone who was hot on their tail. Whose smoky dragon breath curled hot on the back of his neck, tickling the golden curls there.

Magnet's driving chugged the car along like the train alluded to in the lyrics. Robert was the conductor. Or at least he had been. The chain of cigarettes he took down produced the smoke.

Dahlia's fingers on her right hand stayed "strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made". Her left hand shifted over Robert's. Clearly, she sensed his nerves. Even if she didn't understand them or why he was in their clutches. He just was. She wanted to help. That was that. Even if he didn't want to talk. Wasn't ready to talk. She was there for him as a friend. That was all that mattered.

The contact elicited two reactions in him at once. It both soothed his soul. And inflamed him. In a way she seemingly had no idea. To paraphrase Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the very song that was playing then as she did that; "If she didn't know by now, she'd never, ever know."

She didn't know.

But he did.

Magnet did.

Peter did.

Virtually everyone else did.

Especially a special someone.

One whose stately diamond ring glinted in the flickering light as it circled her left hand's delicate third finger. One whose slim delicate fingers paired with his massive fucking hands in strumming with the rhythm that the drivers in his head made, playing his guitar like ringing a bell, like a fuckin' menace.

The PreRaphaelitic faced, star-suited dragon lord himself.

Paganini with a pick.

James Patrick Page.

The one Robert remained keenly aware of as he verily sensed the town car trailing them mimicking each twist & turn his "getaway man" Magnet made behind the wheel. Johnny B. Goode himself. Hot on the trail of a "country boy" who - despite his best impulses - always seemed to telegraph his wants & needs to be a little bad. Impish. Impulsive. Impetuous.

Peck's bad boy.

Plant's bad boy. Anthony Plant's bad boy. With Page's good girl. His best girl. His wife. His fuckin wife!

And though he never did anything really. Though never crossed the line. Never behaved untoward with Dahlia. Page knew.

Page knew.

He knew.

He knew Planty.

He knew Plant's tastes in women. Hell, he knew Planty's fuckin' wife! He knew Dahlia fit right in line with Planty's tastes. How sometimes the only thing saving some stupid journalists from telling Mrs. Page from Mrs. Plant was that Dahlia was just a few inches taller.

He knew Robert. He knew how he took to loneliness. He knew how it was on the road & how easy it was for Robert to go looking for company. How easy it was for his eyes to go astray.

And how easy he found it & how often it was that Robert's eyes found themselves straying to her. Straying on her. Her face, her eyes, her curves, her entire figure, her hair, her smile, her whole self, her entire being.

He saw. Even when Dahlia didn't.

He saw how he looked at her. How often he looked at her. The way he looked at her. He knew that look. He'd seen Robert give it to other women before. Women he intended to take to bed.

Jimmy had given girls that look before himself. He'd had similar results. But that was before Dahlia. Before he gave it to Dahlia. And after a slow seduction, months of letters & calls & a pen pal friendship that blossomed in between her on and off relationship with Jim Morrison, that he found himself the first to take Dahlia to bed. Not just any bed either. His bed. When she visited England in the spring of '67 & stayed in his then new house. Pangbourne.

Prize won.

But he found there was no moving on from that point. She was in his blood. One taste. And that's all it took. She was his. No matter what. Even if it took a while sealing the deal. No matter. He'd do whatever it took to ensure that. The deal was done.

Robert knew the whole story of course.

He also knew that it was Jimmy's knowing that look, and knowing those results, first hand no less, that only made it so Jimmy did his damndest to ensure that only he could get such a result when giving Dahlia that look. Not anyone else. And certainly NOT Robert.

And as Robert registered another pat of his hand by Dahlia, he smiled. Both from the tenderness shown. Classic Dahlia as ever. And for how succinctly Eric Burdon was then summing up the many things that had been whirling about his mind then, in yet another old song from years past.

"Well, don't you know that no-one alive…

Can always be an angel…

When things go wrong I seem to be bad…

I'm just a soul who's intentions are good…

Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood…"

The situation found itself more succinctly - if vaguely - summed up when Magnet slowed the car to a stop & parked, announcing. "We're here." Then "Mag" jerked the handle shortly, opening the door wide and supplanting the last strains of Eric Burdon & the Animals with a slow, slinky bluesy intro.

Dahlia instantly perked up, recognizing the sound & crooning. "Ohhh! I love that song. C'mon Robert, let's go!" And with a series of clicks, the unclicking of her belt, opening of her door by Magnet & the hurried clicks of her heels towards the music as it swelled, she was gone.

Robert was left to finish his last cig, brooding, contemplating, mulling over Big Jay McNeely voice as it drawled out the first line. The words teasing him in their seeming concise reading of him upon arrival.

"There is something on your mind~..."

~

As ever, this is forever under construction~...

Hope y'all enjoy~!...

[untilthenextencore]

"Is She Or Isn't She?: The Potential Mrs. Page~..." (Jimmy Fic Article~)

Is he or isn't he? Are they or aren't they?

That's the question on everyone's minds when it comes to Jimmy Page & his new young "Honey". The elder statesman of rock & his young ex radio dj talent girlfriend, one Yulissa Honey Garcia, seem to be delighting in keeping us the public guessing.

Page has seen fit to spoil his young twenty-something beauty with lovely clothes, roses and jewelry. Nine times out of ten Yulissa sees fit to accessorize her outfit of choice with garnet jewelry. Her reason being that garnet being her beloved boyfriend's birthstone.

What set tongues wagging anew however is her latest acquisition. A stunning cushion cut champagne diamond surrounded by 28 smaller white diamonds, set in a stunning ornate gold ring. This new acquisition the young Miss Yulissa tends to wear on her left hand. Third finger.

What compounds this interest is another ring she has been seen with. She rotates this champagne diamond bauble with a comparatively simple garnet ring. One that matches a garnet ring he wears on his own left hand's third finger.

This tease is added to the snatches of playful humor photos show regarding Page's young love. Yulissa has been seen wearing Dior ribbons in her hair - an obvious memento of yet another Page gift - along with her chosen jewelry of the day when dressing down in her jeans & t-shirts.

The May December lovers have also been seen in typical lover's retreat locations. One might even class these places as honeymoon locales, such as Paris. Paparazzi have spotted them having champagne brunches on the balcony of their suites, cozily dressed in their pajamas & robes, Yulissa's being white with lace sleeves & very befitting a new bride. Miss Yulissa has even been papped in one of their hideaway suites sipping champagne from the bottle in a less than fully dressed state.

Whispers abound of her dining either topless or in brief wear during lunch at an island getaway.

And when she does deign to dress, the young Miss Yulissa has been seen wearing clothes one would see belonging to if not befitting bridal collections. White & filmy & floaty. Ethereal.

One wonders if Page's tastes for PreRaphaelitic & Romantic touches, and his possible dressing of young Yulissa at these times, doesn't hide a secret happiness; a secret happy event between the two we'd only be too happy to congratulate them for.

With Page's jetsetting ways with his young love however, we must admit that we're at a loss as to where one might look to even begin to search for a possible marriage license.

Mr. Page has been contacted for comment, but he & his representatives have remained as mum as ever. Miss Garcia - or perhaps Mrs. Page - has been reached to similar no avail. When asked on red carpets at any of Mr. Page's events as to their marital status, the two only smile & walk on their merry way, hand in hand if not locking fingers. It seems that the two of them see fit to keep us all guessing for just that much longer. How much longer, however, is anyone's guess.

~

As ever, this is forever under construction~...

Hope you guys enjoy~!...

[untilthenextencore]

A New Chance at Life For An Old Pro~...

Spring 2014~

As expected, Jimmy was a pro at handling Dante. He took to it like a duck to water. He was there along with the nanny when Soraya, still tired & recommended to remain on bed rest after giving birth, could not be. He was there for Dante & for her.

He would help her wake & make sure she ate, helping her brush her hair in between cuddles of her & the baby - and feedings of the baby as well - as she found herself a daily routine as a new mother.

He dressed them all in white shifts that day. Soraya he had in an off-the-shoulder linen gown that he bought, seeing it as reminiscent of her wedding gown. Dante was in a little soft linen sleeper. Jimmy wore a white linen shirt he had gapped in order to continue the skin-to-skin he first tried in the hospital with Dante. The maid joked that they looked like a family of spirits haunting the house as they drifted about, making them laugh.

They got into an easy routine. Soraya feeding the baby & Jimmy changing his diaper to let her rest as much as possible. Jimmy would have them snatch naps together. If Soraya nodded off with Dante, he'd hold Dante on their laps, softly petting the both of them. She could feel him lean in to kiss the both of them tenderly. Feel his lips softly press to both of their cheeks & temples. Hear his hushed words, sotto voce as they were.

"My word..." He hushed as Dante yawned & snuggled closer to the both of them. Dante blindly gripped at their shifts, holding snatches of both Soraya's gown & Jimmy's blouse. "There there, mate. Don't worry. We're still here. We've got you." He chuckled, as Dante gave the fabric a little tug with yet another yawn.

As he pet the young one's head, Jimmy recited his full name - including the names they were considering for his middle names, hushing them in reverence, speaking them like an incantation. "Dante Gabriel Everett Millais Holman Hunt Jaime Amado Page~..." Soraya smiled softly as Dante shifted as if responding to his names as much as his father's voice.

Dante fidgetted a bit, yawning again before smacking his lips in a tell tale fashion.

"Oh! Someone's hungry." Soraya cooed, pulling the ties of her gown & shimmying the neckline down & taking Dante to her breast. As Dante nursed, the room fell into a quiet hush. The only sounds aside from Dante's suckles were the crackling of the fire & the wind outside. Soraya & Jimmy took turns petting Dante's head as he nursed. Jimmy let Soraya take over soon enough, then bringing his right hand lower to bolster the pillow Dante rested on a bit.

He paused a moment to take in the sight; his young wife dressed in the sleeping gown that he had bought specially made for her, nursing his new son. It was humbling. Stirring. Deeply stirring. He felt himself throb despite his best intentions.

Not quite yet, mate. They must wait a few weeks yet for that. Soraya - however deeply stirring - was still recovering yet. Still finding her feet. Still finding her way. Finding her path. Finding her place in her new life, both as his wife & now a new mom. He mustn't intrude on that. It was too special a time. Too sweet. Too sacred.

No. Instead, he would guide her. Do whatever he could to guide her. To help her. To support her. To protect her. With his whole body and soul and spirit, he would protect her. And now little Dante too. With everything he had.

Never did he think in all his years that he'd be back here again. In this position again. Married. With a small child. A new baby. A little son. He never saw this coming. But now that he was here he'd not take it for granted. He intended to experience it all anew. Every delicious, delirious, delightful part & bit of it. Newlywed life. Fatherhood. Every bit of bliss. Building & being in & bringing his new son up in a warm, safe, supportive environment, in a house full of love.

All these thoughts milling & spinning about his head brought the tears back to his eyes, turning his eyes a mistier shade of green.

He pressed another soft kiss to Soraya's temple, doing his best to swallow the watery lump in his throat as he rasped. "You're doing phenomenal, love. Absolutely fantastic. Such a natural." Another kiss as he held her tighter. "I'm so proud of you, my love. So proud of you."

Dante relinquished his hold on their clothes & curled his tiny hand over Jimmy's finger. His heart swelled. Tears sprang to his eyes. "My... My... My goodness gracious... He is such a tiny dear thing. Such a dear thing. A dear boy. Are you sure he's ours?"

"Of course he is! Precisely because he's so dear. Why? Having doubts?" She teased Jimmy with a nudge.

"No!" He wrapped his arm tighter around his wife, kissing her temple & nuzzling her.

"Good!" Soraya returned his affection, meeting his lips with a soft kiss of her own. "Because you don't have to look too far or think too hard as to who Dante takes after in his widows peak, green eyes or black Irish coloring." Jimmy just laughed, meeting Soraya in another kiss.

He was duly rewarded.

Soraya beamed, looking incandescent in the glow of the fire nearby. "I owe it all to you. My darling husband. My beloved. My one and only. My heart." Clearly, she was just as moved by this moment. Tears edged her eyes as well, which she daintily patted away & swept away with her fingertips before he helped her with gentle dabs of his handkerchief. "I wouldn't have him but for you. We wouldn't have him. Wouldn't have this..." She motioned to the firelit room flowered with roses, baby clothes & well-wishes. "All of this... I can't thank you enough. And how you help me... Guide me... Support me... You do more than I ever could imagine... I couldn't ask for more... I couldn't thank you enough..."

Her tear-misted gaze then fixed on him as she hushed. "I adore you, Jimmy. Mind and body. Heart and soul. You'll never know how much."

Her words echoed ones she had often spoken to him. They echoed her vows. This hit Jimmy right in his heart... In the tenderest spot... The one he saved for her...

Silently, he took her lips in yet another kiss. His lips were trembling as were hers but they were never more sure than they were at that moment. They fit like pieces of a puzzle solved at long last. Her hand rose to cup his cheek tenderly, keeping him in the kiss even as he refused to break it. Her thumb caressed his tears away even as hers continued to fall.

"Thank you, my darling." He hushed into her lips. "You'll never know how grateful I am to you... How indebted I am... You've given me a gift of life... New life... Nothing can ever compare... My beautiful Soraya... My lady..."

Her heart felt so full it could burst at that moment. She didn't know what to say... What more she could say... What more she could do... She racked her brain for the words which proved fleeting but for one...

"Jimmy..."

Instead, their attentions were grabbed by the surprised murmur of little Dante as their tears both fell onto him below, anointing his forehead as he nursed. Both came to cup his head, fingers meeting as they brushed the tears away & into his skin. They both laughed softly, as they stroked his cheek.

And as their fingers tangled tenderly about their son's downy cheek, in a knitted halo about his sweet face, at last, the words came to Soraya, his forever muse, who mused in an amused lilt.

"Don't that just beat all?... Don't that just say it all, Jimmy? If it doesn't I don't know what does. I don't know what more I could say. What more he could say, past the simplest expression? So I'll say it for him." Turning to greet her husband with a soft kiss, "Jimmy..." She spoke soft words she had often said & repeated that no less shook him to the core, hitting that tenderest part of his heart that ever remained hers. "I love you..."

Indeed, it did. Defeating all words. Rendering them all useless & mundane. Ineffectual & redundant but for his simple reply, uttered in a reverent hush as his arms wrapped tenderly tighter still around them, as ever loving as they were ever protective, which they knew they always would be.

"I love you too... My lady... My darling... My darlings... I adore you... And I always shall..."

With that, the room fell into the same reverent hush around them. But for the soft whisper of wind outside, the crackle of fire inside, along with Dante's suckle & the soft kiss the two new parents either placed atop his head if not shared together still within that tender moment, nothing more was said.

Nothing more needed to be said. Nothing more was needed. All of them were content. Content all was said that needed to be. Content they had everything they needed within that little room... Within that embrace... Within each other...

~

As ever this is forever under construction~...

Hope you guys enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Of Sea, Stars & Jimmy's Surprise~... ( Fic Drabble)

~

A bit from a fic I've been toying with~

This takes place around the early 2010s~

Jimmy & his young pregnant wife, Yulissa Garcia~

~

'I've got a surprise for you." Jimmy announced as he strode up to Yulissa.

"Yeah?" She giggled, covering her mouth shyly.

"Yeah." He lifted up one of his scarves to her. "Here. Turn around."

Upon following directions, Yulissa found her vision suddenly obscured as Jimmy tied his scarf around her eyes. She felt his hands brace her arms firmly yet gently, nudging her forward as he instructed further. "Follow my lead."

Yulissa was guided down the corridor. She wracked her brain as much as she could but all she could think laid in that direction was a room in the house that had stayed empty but for a few of Jimmy's guitars. And though she felt she might have been mistaken, that seemed to be exactly where he was leading her for some reason. The way he gingerly brought her to a stop in the center of the room made her think some of his guitars indeed were in the room still.

"You ready for your surprise, darling?" Jimmy stunned her by how breathless with excitement he seemed to be.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess. You certainly seem more than ready yourself."

"I am. You'll see why, love. I can't wait till you see why. And you will... In three... Two... One..." Jimmy carefully removed his scarf from her eyes & announced. "Go on, love. Open your eyes."

When Yulissa opened her eyes, she gasped. She indeed found herself in what she had once playfully termed "Guitar Storage Room #76" rotating the number with whatever number crossed her mind before. But that was not what had instigated her surprise. Instead, it was the room's transition. It had a completely new look. Though a few of the guitars still remained the room had transformed completely.

The walls, once creamy white & plain now were a mix of purples, pinks, oranges, blues and whites. Lush sea and sky scapes. One wall mimicked the early dawn. The next a crystal mid day. The third wall a soft dusky evening. The doorway behind her linked the evening to the morning in a lightening ombre with tiny stars dotting the entryway.

Inside the room against the "early day" wall, was a changing table & dresser set. The wall nearest the dresser held a large pink & peach seashell riding a cresting wave & opening towards the dresser & changing table to reveal a pale lavender white pearl. Jewels rose up from a chest underwater & scattered in the foamy sea water alongside flowers & equally scattered petals. Those were not the only flowers. The shell itself had a rose on one side of the mouth & a poppy on the other. Above the shell flew doves with a pale ribbon held between their beaks as if to hail the treasures below. The combination of the open treasure chest below, the doves & the bright light above all seemed to embrace both the seashell & the dresser & changer in front of it.

The midday wall held the sight of a grove by a lake in full abundance. Apples, oranges, lemons, peaches & grapes ripe for the picking. Baskets of roses all in bloom. Some fruit scattered the grounds along with flowers. All of this bathed in the starburst sky.

The dusky scene held a riverside scene. Something of a timelessness in it. A place in between time. In between places. Elements both of the Thames & the LA River after a good rain lay within. Hers & His. Up in the star dotted sky lay the brightest star, with a halo around it, floating in a sheer almost milky haze. Bringing with it hints of the galaxies above. Heavens. Eternity.

Yulissa was stunned into a tearful silence. The whole piece told a story in a blend of some of their favorite art styles. PreRaphaelitic & Post-Impressionist. With Italianate Renaissance touches to combine the two.

His study had Pre-Raphaelitic & early Victorian art mixed with the psychedelic artefacts of his youth. Her study had Impressionist Sargent & Mexican Muralist Kahlo art with Baroque Reubens touches.

This was the blending of the two. An expansion of the blending of their beloved art styles that lay in their bedroom. The ultimate expansion. All four elements. Earth, Air, Water & Fire. All five realms. Sky, sea, air, land & universe. The perfect & ultimate combination of the two of them. Just as their soon to be arriving, little one would be.

All that could be heard was her soft, shaky breath as she gazed from wall to wall, hands still covering her mouth.

When he asked. "Well, what do you think?" Her answer was simple. She turned & ran the few steps into his arms, hugging him tightly. He embraced her tenderly in return. His long arms holding her together when she fell apart.

"Yulissa... Darling..." He cooed, petting her hair & pressing a procession of sweet kisses to her temples. Just when she felt herself almost give herself to her tears entirely, she stepped back.

She made sure, however, to remain connected to Jimmy, pulling back, yet remaining with his hands clasped in hers. "Baby, this is gorgeous! Just gorgeous! How did you do this? How did you get all this done? Who did you hire? And what did you tell them to create this?"

"Oh, I have my ways..."

~

Hope you guys like it~!

Enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Of Hopes & High Grace Pt. 3: Knowing What You Want: A Way In~...

~

~

By the time Jimmy had reached her, Sonny had pulled Cher back on the dancefloor. This left Mariella to her glass of punch by the punch bowl as she turned to watch the goings on. She was mid-sip when Jimmy found himself by her side.

"Oh!" Mariella gasped softly as she noticed him nearing. "Hello, stranger."

"Hello." He smiled. "You were amazing up there. Just incredible. It truly was an experience to watch you up there. An honor. A privilege and an honor."

Another soft curtsy like bow followed, along with the soft coo. "Thank you. You're very sweet."

Was that a soft smile he saw playing on her cupid's bow lips?

Perhaps.

He hoped so…

"That first song… The guitar on it… Was that what you were going for? I heard you're working on it. Is that close to what you hope to put on record?"

"Kind of. Most of the song is settled. The guitar seems to change every time. I don't quite have that down yet. But maybe soon. Hopefully soon." Her eyes cut from her glass up to him as she tilted her head. "Not to make you work when you might be on a break…"

Had she read his mind?...

"You might as well be on vacation for all I know but…" Jimmy held his breath for her next words. "Mind if I ask your opinion on the guitar break you heard. Do you think it works? Fits? Be honest. Tony says you're one of the best out there so I figure I should ask you that much at least."

"Well…"

He exhaled deeply, careful to make sure he didn't sound like he was sighing. Alas, his being "one of the best" or not, she was not going to ask him for much more than that it seemed. Whether it was tied to his supposed "vacation" or not, she was not going to extend herself to ask a favor it seemed. Not yet. Certainly not on the first night.

"It fits just fine. It goes. And it sounds quite nice. But it sounds like what it is or what it might have been. A jam session. A place holder perhaps. Even if it's a pretty one. It was a great solo & it stood out well enough. I'm just not convinced it's the best candidate for what could or should go there, perhaps."

Jimmy was surprised to find her not only not hurt or offended, but nodding.

"Nor am I." She considered her next words with a sip of her drink as he did the same. "He did a great job. Wonderful even. But I wouldn't say that that's exactly what I'm looking for yet. Even if I don't know exactly what is."

"You know what you like. You know what you want. Just not how to find it yet. If nothing else you at least know what you don't want…" He offered before adding after another sip. "That ends up being a greater help than one thinks half the time…"

"Exactly…" She nodded. And smiled. And laughed! Miracle of miracles! "Don't I know it!"

Perhaps now was his time…

Taking a deep breath he began.

"Mariella, I…"

Just when he was about to begin, he was interrupted.

Tony came up, tapping Mariella on the shoulder.

"Hey, doll. I hate to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know it's getting late. If you want to get home in time, you might have to make your departure soon."

Mariella blinked in surprise, turning her wrist upwards to glance at her watch. A soft gasp left her lips. "Oh, wow. You're right. Thanks Tony. I'll just say my goodbyes & slip my shoes back on & go. You can give me my records back after the party. Maybe tomorrow or later on this week." She finished her last sip of punch & gave him a quick hug before doing the same to Cher as she drifted by.

As Mariella made her rounds of goodbyes and slipped back into her ballet flats, Tony patted Jimmy on the arm. "Hey, Jimmy. You mind watching over the place for awhile? I'll be right back. I gotta walk Mariella back up to her place. It's getting dark & the roads are all windy & all. You know how it is. She just lives up the block here on Appian but I still feel she shouldn't walk alone."

Miracle of miracles!

He had another in!

He had another shot!

"Indeed you're right, mate. She shouldn't walk home alone in the dark. Too many dangers & things that go bump in the night. But I'll tell you what. I have an even better idea. Why don't you stay here & maintain your hosting duties." He clapped Tony on the arm, announcing. "I'll take her."

Tony's jaw dropped before he spoke in an incredulous tone. "You? You mean you'd really do that for me? You think that's a good idea? I mean… You know how shy & careful she is…"

"Why not?" Jimmy shrugged, hoping to seem more casual & offhand about it than he really was. "We seemed to get along well enough right now after all. That is… Until you popped up!" He nudged Tony, both of them laughing. "If she's okay with it, I'd be glad to escort her for you. If not, I'll man the fort here. Deal?"

"Deal." Tony nodded.

Just then, Mariella appeared, sweater in arm, tapping Tony on the arm & announcing. "Sorry for the wait, Tony. I'm back. Ready to go?"

"Change of plans, babe." Tony announced.

"Tony, I have to get home!" She insisted.

Jimmy had to fight back a small smile & giggle as Tony explained.

"I know, doll. But here's the thing. Instead of me walking you home & Jimmy watching over the pad for a bit, why not switch things? Why not let Jimmy walk you home while I look after my house & guests to make things easier. How's that to you? You cool with that, babe? Either is fine."

"Well…" Jimmy held his breath as Mariella paused to mull things over before shrugging. "Why not? I don't mind if you don't mind, Tony. Whatever makes it easier for you I guess."

"Yeah." Tony nodded. "And besides, that way you two can finish whatever discussion you were having when I butted my way in."

"A brilliant suggestion, that." Jimmy grinned.

Another shrug followed by the young Miss in their midst. "Makes sense to me." She fiddled with her sweater, unfolding & finding a way to hold it so she could slip into it. "I'm ready when you are then, I guess."

Jimmy took note of that.

Any port in a storm.

Any in he could find he'd take.

"Here…"He then plucked her sweater from her grasp, holding it out to her. "Allow me…"

Mariella looked from her sweater in his hands up to him in surprise. Polite to the end, she curtsied softly, hushing a soft. "Thank you." As she turned to slip into her sweater, she looked up at him & added. "You're so kind."

Soft as it was, those eyes seared into him. Into his mind. Into his heart. Into his very soul. The soft, fleeting, delicate touch of her fingers ghosting over his was the flicker of the flame, her flame - one he wasn't even sure that she even knew she possessed - that just sealed the deal.

Once she slipped into her the softness of her sweater, Tony smiled. "Great!" He gave her yet another warm hug & pecked her temple before wishing her farewell. "See you later, doll. Don't worry. I'll take good care of your records. And Jimmy will take good care of you. I promise. He'll make sure of that."

"I'm sure." Mariella gave a slow nod, casting a sideways glance to Jimmy, who now stood beside her.

Tony laughed as he then waved them off & made his way back to the crowd.

"You sure you want to walk me home? I don't want to get you in trouble." She asks even as they approach the door.

"Trouble? How could you ever get me into trouble, luv?" Jimmy asked despite himself.

Mariella gave another shrug. "Well… Didn't you come with Jackie?"

Offhand though it was, Jimmy couldn't help but jolt slightly, almost imperceptibly at her perceptiveness. "Yeah but... We're not together though."

"Maybe so… But… Does she know that?..." Mariella smirked slightly, motioning to the blonde currently craning her head, clearly searching for a certain someone. "You know you really don't have to. Not if it'd put you in the wrong, especially. It's only a little while up the block. It's not that dark. I can make the trek myself if it's too much trouble."

"Nonsense!" Jimmy shook his head, putting his coat on. "You're not putting anyone in the wrong. And up the block or not, I'll not hear of you going alone. It's unconscionable. Tony would want to know you got home safe and I couldn't sleep properly otherwise."

"Very well…" Mariella nodded. "You're right. Though, I feel I should tell you… I'm afraid I cannot invite you in. My father would not like to hear that. I'm sorry. You understand, of course?"

"Of course." Jimmy nodded, opening the door to the sounds of light passing traffic blending in with the goings on inside. All the while he was doing his best to ignore the call of a familiar voice calling over the music.

"Has anyone seen Jimmy?"

His only response being a simple. "Ready to go, luv? It's getting late."

Mariella nodded. "Let's go."

And with that they were gone…

~

As ever this is forever under construction~...

Hope you guys enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Of Hopes and High Grace Pt. 2: Your Voice, Your Eyes: Any Port In A Storm~...

~

~

As it turned out, Tony had been motioning to his side to signal for a jam session. Guitarists in a semicircle. A drummer on a small kit. Bongo players. Tambourines and maracas. A few violins at the ready. Even a small brass & wind section. The house was stacked & ready with a miniature makeshift orchestra at a moment's notice.

Jackie sang a few numbers after squiring Jimmy around. He was glad to make a few new connections. But try as he might, he couldn't make himself be fully present for the many conversations he found himself in. Suffice to say he was a little distracted.

Every now and then he'd crane his neck to see if he could catch sight of her again. Mariella. She was making her own rounds with Tony. Greetings. Hugs. Lively chatter & laughter. The very same thing he had seen with Tony earlier but had not been able to see up close & personal himself. Not first hand at least.

He saw her hug & attach herself to a kohl-eyed slim, tall brunette in a a pair of the hippest bellbottoms & jangly, layered jewelry he'd seen this side of the Atlantic.

If his memory served correctly, he thought the girl's name was Cherilyn or Cher. She was with a shorter lad with a bowl cut, strong features & eyes that were more steely than sloe compared to hers named Sonny.

She & Mariella seemed to be rather tight. Cuddly & giggly & playful. Laughing & dancing. Swapping bracelets & things randomly. Very girlish & sprightly.

When Cher's turn came at the mic, so to speak, after each round, one of the most effusive, if not loudest, cheers came from Mariella. She even backed her up with a few others in forming an impromptu chorus. Jimmy strove to hear her, but he realized she was too quiet. Maybe she was tempering her voice. Maybe it was that each time her voice lifted in song Jackie's drowned her out.

Perhaps that was by design.

Jimmy had almost resigned himself to shelling out the few quid - er, dollars - to see her in concert in order to get his chance to hear her properly. In her true & full form. When…

"Get in here." Cher went into the circle of people & dragged Mariella out into its center. "Your turn. Your turn. It's your turn now." She repeated as she pulled a reluctant & shy Mariella out. Mariella had turned to Tony for help only for him to gently push & help guide her in the same direction as Cher was pulling. For her there would be no escape.

Once Mariella realized this, she allowed herself to be led into the center where Cher had once stood. She & Tony discussed what seemed to be the impromptu arrangements. Tony seemed to be making requests or offering options on what numbers she could do in between calling out which instruments would be needed for this round & what key.

Jimmy saw as he led the violin players in a quick practice of a short length of music; the intro, Jimmy was assuming. Tony then looked back to Mariella & she nodded, holding hands that were folded shyly - nervously? - to her mouth. She & Tony huddled together for another quick chat, tapping three fingers in a slow three count. They shared a nod & Tony spoke quickly to the violinists before having the drummer start them out with the brass coming in as he followed on piano.

"Presenting what will soon be the latest hit for our Mariella aka Esperanza Aguilar. A song she's currently working out called Tu Falta De Querer!"

Esperanza Aguilar? Was that her stage name? Jimmy made a mental note to check out both Esperanza Aguilar & Mariella & Carlos Alamilla next time he was in the record store.

Mariella retook the center stage position, shuffling her feet until she got into a comfortable stance. Jimmy lit another cigarette & took another sip of another drink as he watched as she wrung her hands, biting & pursing her lips nodding to the rather doo wop like backbeat. He saw her nods drift to a slow stop as she took a deep breath & turning towards the mic that was now left to her, began.

"Hoy volvi~..."

Her voice was like silk. Falling onto his ears like a steady breeze. Like the falling of water. It was sweet, smooth, steady. As smoky as the whiskey that was burning its way down his throat then.

"Te quiero ver~..."

If he was not mistaken from the little Spanish he had picked up in school & on his travels, those words meant. "I want to see you…" He couldn't understand much else but he did pick up on what he thought were the words "I love you more than yesterday." And something about "won't let you see…" He was about to try to wrack his brain to figure the rest out when…

Her voice rose & called again. This time louder. Pained. And beautiful as it lifted to insane heights of pure raw emotion.

"Ven~... Y cuentame la verdad~... Ten piedad~... Y dime por qué, no, no no, oh~..." She leant away from the mic at times so as not to overload it. That was how strong her voice was. He was stunned.

Mariella stomped softly, in time with the back beat in the last song. That was when he noticed that she, like a few other girls, had been barefoot for most of the party. He chuckled to himself at that fact. Cute.

Her voice lifted in an unchecked lyrical rage. Her hands were held out, fingers curling, clenching into fists as she continued. "¿Cómo fue que me dejaste de amar~? Yo aún podía soportar~... Tu tanta falta de querer~..."

"Hace un mes~..." She leant back into the mic as her voice lowered back into the smoky hush as the second verse came.

All the nerves dissipated as she continued. The shyness was still there. But now it served to bolster the quietness of the verses. A delicate mastery of the silence before breaking through it in the chorus. He saw it both in the hushed verse that followed & when her voice lifted again.

Tony in his humble way had undersold her when he said she sang "like an angel". And again when he said this song was going to be her new hit.

It was evident to Jimmy now what she was both capable of & what she was doing. Burning the stage down & leaving no room for anyone else to follow in the deftest of ways. He saw it clearly. Even if she didn't, herself.

"Guitar…" She whispered before sidestepping to allow one of the guitarists a solo beside her.

Out of reflex, Jimmy reached to his side but remembered suddenly that he came to this soiree empty handed.

A mistake, he realized too late. But Jackie had told him he deserved at least one day off a year & told him this should be it.

That was before she decided he should use the party to network. How that made sense - how was he supposed to prove his merits as a guitar player without a guitar available to play - he didn't understand.

But it seemed her decision to network that night was a later development. One that popped in her head after the lovely young Miss Mariella Alamilla, aka Esperanza Aguilar, popped up on the scene.

The rockabilly sounding guitar break was very well done but definitely off the cuff. Others might not notice but after years of sessioning, he could definitely tell it was a bit of noodling - if inspired noodling - a well crafted placeholder for what would later actually fit into the finished piece. The missing puzzle piece. Perhaps he might noodle something later to see what he could find.

He nodded in time, making a mental note of the best bits to build off of & play with later in relation to the rest of the song.

"Ven~..."

Her voice rose again in its lyrical cry. Two foot stomping choruses where her tiny fists beat along on her hips followed. She gripped the air, pointed at her chest & motioned with outstretched palms. Her voice continued rising & falling in what seemed like a tempestuous breaking wave of emotion all culminating with a pointed finger, the pouted lips forming the words. "Tu tanta falta de querer~..." As she stepped back & let the musicians bring the song to a close. She stepped aside, turning to applaud the musicians around her even as she herself was applauded.

It was when she stepped back from the mic, acknowledging & bowing to the applause that Jimmy & the others greeted her performance with, that Jimmy finally saw just how much of herself she actually gave to even this informal performance. She fanned herself, taking a tissue from Cher to dab her eyes before taking a sip of her drink. She was crying. Or near tears at any rate.

That was likely what fueled the song & the pointed breaks of her voice at times. Overcome. She was overcome. Allowing herself to be overcome. Losing herself in the song even in a impromptu performance of it.

Though she seemed to be in good spirits. Tony came to check on her, chatting & laughing with her as she decompressed before the next song. She motioned to the violins & whispered something to him. He nodded, motioning them to take up their bows & counting them off.

The violins swirled around them in a lilting swoon. Bossa nova like. Jimmy liked it.

"Y yo que pensaba que estaba sola. En la antología del dolor." Her voice was as lilting as the violins now. It came in a kittenish whisper. It sounded like the fluttering caress of the breeze through trees on a warm day. Tickling. Teasing. Near tormenting with its brevity before it was hushed & gone again.

"Todas las tormentas se me enamoran~..." All of the torments fall in love with me? Jimmy wasn't sure how much of a 1 to 1 translation this song was. He didn't know if he had it right. He felt, probably not.

"Canción feliz de soledad~... Que me acompaña sobre mi regazo con tanta piedad~... Canción feliz de soledad~... Que me acurruca, se clava en mi vientre como un alacrán~..." A happy song of sadness or loneliness? Jimmy shook his head. He had to stop stumbling his way through translating it. At last he decided to just enjoy it as it came.

Now Jimmy saw that instead of fists her hands were relaxed. Fingers half curled half extended as her hands framed the mic or mic stand as she sang.

He recognized only the odd word now.

She sang of scorpions and deep hunger and sad music following her in her "happy song of loneliness". The few glimpses of familiar words in the midst of the rest of the foreign language that he could not yet decode tantalized him. That only added to how her soft sweet voice enticed him. It rang through the mic seemingly barely above a whisper yet able to hold its own against the instrumentation behind her. He was so enthralled by the entirety of her performance it came as a surprise when her voice hushed a slow final line & the song ended.

Again he led the applause. Again Jackie's eyes were on him. Again his were locked on Mariella & no one else.

"Last song…" Tony announced.

The violins lifted & swirled in a song that seemed to straddle the line between hints of bossa nova & lushly orchestrated ballad.

"Me puedes ver~... En mis pupilas no se puede esconder~..." She began in another lilting, beckoning, whisper of a voice. Her gaze seemed to look both at & through people. Both at & through him at times. Shy but searing. Soft but scintillating. Hushed yet with hearthfires behind it. With the silent, unspoken delicacy of power of a flame flickering in the wind; capable of either warming you up or burning you down.

"Fui una mujer~...Que caminaba entre la vida y la muerte~..." Try as he might he couldn't help but armchair translate that line. She described herself as a woman who walked the line between life and death.

That was a hell of a line.

A hard one to pull off.

Especially at such a young age.

And yet she did. Quite adeptly at that. It was easy to wring every last sentiment out of that and be quite maudlin about it. But she was restrained. She held back. Letting only the barest hints show. She allowed the softest washes of building emotion to color her voice. The colors deepening over time as the song went on.

"Antes de ti~... Yo no conocía el amor~... Estaba sola y triste como esta canción~..."

Ah. A song about not knowing love before. That much he knew & could understand. Along with snatches of words referring to dark sides of moons, stars & deception.

"No había nada-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah~..." In the penultimate line of the song her voice lifted in the uplifting stretch of the last syllable. Yet it cut short of her allowing her voice to make its full power known. Jimmy had a feeling that wouldn't be for long. This was likely only a taste.

"Antes de ti, mi amor~..."

The violins swirled & lilted, as she nodded & softly swayed her way through the resulting rhythm.

"Me puedes ver~... Con claridad ahora soy transparente~..." Mariella kept her hand movements small & careful as she motioned to herself. Tight without seeming tight. Going with the flow. Letting the song build. Letting her voice build. Letting the mood build. The vibe. The experience that followed. All until it reached its inevitable conclusion.

And what a conclusion!

It was one that Jimmy wasn't ready for.

Nor was he sure that anyone there was truly ready.

Save for Tony.

He caught him glancing over to Jimmy with a grin as he played. Clearly, he knew what came next. He caught Tony & Mariella sharing a nod before the next line came. Mariella seemed to take a deep breath to brace herself. Steady herself. Still herself.

This time, as the chorus came and her voice lifted the beginning phrase of "Antes de ti~..."

And the music swirled…

He felt it…

He felt it grow…

He felt it build…

He felt it swell…

His toes curled…

And as her voice rose in the last word of that same penultimate line, it fully unleashed. It grew and grew and grew… Escalating in emotion & pitch & volume… Until she had to pull back from the mic again… Until her head craned back… Until her voice rose in an uninhibited cry…

His jaw dropped.

It made him grip his glass as both his fingers and his toes curled.

It stunned not just him but many of those in the room.

As was born out by the other slacked jaws & the sound of rattling ice in glasses as people cut their sips short & put their drinks down in a rush.

"Antes de ti, mi amor~..." Her last line rang true & sweet in the resulting hush as the strings swelled once more, the drums sealing the song with soft cymbals.

Again he was leading the applause. Clapping loud & hard but lost in a sea of cheers that suddenly fountained from the previous stunned silence. Mariella bowed politely, her shyness returning.

She hugged Tony in gratitude before playfully nudging him away & demurring as he showered praise on her. She then allowed herself to be swept up in another celebratory hug by Cher. The two of them holding hands & giggling as they cut through the crowd as the band picked up & just started to jam. The crowd filled in the floor between them & the band & the dancing began again.

The two neared the drinks table nearby & before he knew it, he was making his way there...

~

As ever this is forever under construction~...

Hope you guys like it~!

Enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Daddy's Coming~...

Note: This is an old fic bit of mine. I might fine tune it & possibly add to it. We'll see. Hope you guys like it! Enjoy!

~

Ava sat at her vanity, running her brush through her hair. The sun had long since gone down, and the cool night air was beginning to set in. A tapping sounded at her window at slow inconsistent intervals, causing her to turn around. Nothing there. All she saw was a branch reaching out from a nearby tree swaying in the wind. Shrugging, she made a mental note to tell her father to tell the gardener to trim the trees next time. That mental note grew further fixed in her head when she heard the rustling of leaves & creaking outside. The wind was really beginning to pick up. It was a matter of safety to get that tree fixed. The creaking, rustling, and of course the tapping that was now growing incessant, annoying her enough to turn back to the window, again to be greeted by nothing but that branch.

Only the tapping was still sounding but the branch was too far from the window & wasn't making contact with the glass pane at all.

This puzzled Ava until she heard the tap again, now being able to source it as coming not from behind her at the window, but to her left at the balcony. Whirling around she saw a shadow through the thin curtains shielding the doors. "Go away!" She screamed. "Go away or I'm calling the cops!"

"Ava darling it's me... Let me in!" A voice with a familiar gentle lilt rang out. She was used to hearing it in a more soft spoken manner only this time it had a more understandably panicked edge. "Jimmy?!" Ava dropped her hairbrush and scurried over to unlock the doors and let him in.Unlatching the little chain and turning the lock she pulled at the door slowly, peeking one eye out of a tiny gap, ready to close the door back up if she were just hearing things. "Yes, darling. Don't worry. It's really me." He grinned at the one lone, dark, doe eye he saw through the tiny opening. Immediately it went from doe eye wide to a leery squint as he heard a faint disgusted scoff before the doors flew wide. He threw his head back in ribald laughter at this. Turning his gaze back to her he grinned proudly, intending to tease her with some sort of smart remark as was his usual until he got a good look at what stood before him.

There stood nearly five and a half feet of perfection, dark hair, flashing dark eyes, full, pouty lips, lightly sun kissed skin, semi clad in a pale floral print minidress that she apparently had been in the middle of removing as the strap had slipped off of her left shoulder, giving the impression of the dress only being a veil that had always been intended for removal. Jimmy already well knew that her figure was one meant for unveiling. The glimpses and peeks that the slipping slip of a dress and the shadows of the curves underneath being left by the setting sun and what little light she had on in the room bore this out perfectly.

And so it was that when a still alarmed & slightly unnerved Ava hushed. "Jimmy! Jimmy! Are you crazy? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the pool house with Jeff! What if daddy comes home? What if he comes home to find you here? Here in my room! You'll be in big trouble! We both will! My God! I don't even want to think about what might happen if he --"

He answered her simply, silencing her with a sudden kiss, slanting his lips against hers as he stepped in, closing & locking the doors to the balcony behind him.

"Mmmm... Jimmy... Wait..." She mumbled in between more impassioned kisses.

"No... I can't wait... I needed to see you... I need you... Ava..." He pulled his navy military-esque coat off, tossing it onto the chair by the vanity. Ava acquiesced, her arms coming to wind around his shoulders just as he playfully pushed her back onto the bed, bringing him along for the ride. He gasped and caught himself, bracing his hands on the mattress on either side of her, thereby pinning her underneath him. He felt her giggle against his lips & chuckled in return. "Ava..." Jimmy sighed, pulling back for air. Tossing his head back & brushing a lock of hair back from his eyes, he gazed up at the walls of her room, still adorned with the usual teenage wallpaperings of posters.

One poster Jimmy had Grant secure for her of himself that he had signed hung in a special place of honor above her bed. But there were others. Others decorating the other walls & door to her bedroom. Elvis. George Harrison. Julie Newmar as Catwoman. And Eartha Kitt. There were also quite a few Stones posters, including ones of Mick & and Keith, signed for her from the lads. She had mentioned them being given & gifted to her by the lads after they performed on her father's show. He knew. He understood. They'd spoken about this before. Spoken and... Done other things...

Still he couldn't help but scowl a bit, brow furrowing & the corners of his mouth turning down & pouting slightly as he remarked. "Remind me to get you more Yardbirds posters, love."

Ava just giggled, tousling his already windswept hair. "Whatever you say, Jimmy..." The corners of his pout curved upwards, turning his frown into a slight grin at the sound of her laughter. With that he let his eyes drop to where she laid on the bed. Her dress was still only barely clinging onto her, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, long legs rubbing together anxiously, teasingly, temptingly, causing Jimmy to come onto his knees and slide his hands up her skirt & pull her panties down in one smooth move. Now she lay before him, her skirt flipped up & revealing her slick little center, the two middle fingers on his right hand swirling on her clit earning a soft moan as more slickness greeted his fingertips, her hips lifting to greet & meet his touch. "Mmmm... Jimmy..."

His fingers then slid down to press against & through her lips, pushing inside, earning more moans & lifts of her hips. His free hand meanwhile continued to push her dress up until it rested bunched up under her collarbone, exposing more of those beautiful curves to his eyes. His grin grew enormous. Wolfish. A mixture of hunger and pride.

Then he took her hand in his & led it to cup the prominent bulge between his legs. "I've unwrapped my present, love. Unwrap yours."

Ava didn't need to be told twice. She hurriedly unzipped, unsnapped & and pulled his trousers down "unwrapping" his sizeable length which sprang out to greet her palm with its full weight, greeting both the warm contact of her ensuing strokes coupling with the cool air let in by Jimmy's entrance with a soft trickle of salty tears. "It's crying..." She mused with a soft smile. Jimmy just chuckled softly and nodded. "It missed you..."

Ava's smile caught a slight edge to it, mimicking the one that often colored Jimmy's features. Only hers was more minxish than wolfish. "I missed it too..." She then brought Jimmy's length to her lips & greeted it with a kiss before letting her tongue circle the tip, licking up the trails of tears, even as the contact only caused more to flow. Her eyes flew up to Jimmy's face just in time to catch a glimpse of him jolting in surprise, wincing, gritting his teeth & hissing. "Fuck... Fuck... Ava... Mmmm... Take more, love. Take more..." Ava just kept her attentions on the head, now flicking her tongue back and forth on the head as if it were an ice cream, eyes never leaving his face.

Jimmy just grinned. She was teasing him. Well two could play at that game.

"Here, love... Let me help you..." He brought his left hand to cup the back of her head and push more of his length into her mouth, causing him to once again hiss in pleasure as she hummed around him in surprise. "Mmmm!"

This hum was also caused by the fact that at the same time he did that, his fingers began thrusting harder & deeper into her.

He curved his fingers, hitting her spot just so, at the same time he guided her to take him into her mouth and suck him just so. Her lips tightened around his length just as her walls did his fingers. This caused Jimmy to growl & thrust both his fingers and length faster & harder into her. Ava moaned at this, tracing her tongue along his shaft, her right hand cupping over his left that he had tangled in her dark brown hair, her left pulling his trousers down further before gripping the sheets as he hit her spot again. Her hips bucked up in response. In return Jimmy pushed his hips forward, having Ava deepthroat him with a groan.

When Jimmy felt Ava's left hand rise back up to splay on his lower stomach he pulled back, wondering if it was too much. Instead he was met by her purring around his throbbing length. "Mmmm... Jimmy... More... More... Please, more... Please..."

Jimmy responded instantly, pulling back & letting his length fall from her lips - after a few more deepthroats not being able to help himself- and pulling his fingers from her slit after a few more thrusts for similar reasons. Sucking his fingers clean he chuckled & met her gaze with a grin & a gleam in his eye. She grinned back, giggling as she tried to ignore the blush fanning across her cheeks. He then undressed the rest of the way, pulling her dress up over her head before lying her back on the bed & nestling between her legs. "Ready, dear?"

Ava nodded. "Mmm-hmm... But be careful, baby. Don't hurt me. I'm still new to all this." She grinned teasingly up at him getting a smug grin back in return.

"Hurt you, love? Never!" He then ground into her with a moan, earning a pleasured sigh from Ava as she wound her arms around his shoulders. Her legs also parted wider for him welcoming him as he reared back & pressed into her, thrusting slowly, deeply inside. "Mmmm... Ava... Baby..." He moaned as her walls enveloped him. "Mmmm... Still so fucking tight!... Fuck!..."

Ava purred in reply, her legs coming to embrace his rocking hips. "Jimmy... Jimmy... God... You're going so deep... So deep... You're so big... Ahhhh..." Jimmy grinned & pressed his hips against hers, grinding into her & earning a gasp. "Jimmy! Jimmy! Jimmy, please! Stop teasing me."

Jimmy's grin widened & he just chuckled before cupping her face in his hands & cooing. "My baby... Precious Ava... Precious girl..." He then pressed his lips to hers, beginning to pump his hips into hers, setting a chugging rhythm. Her cries & mewls muffled into his mouth as did his grunts & growls. Her legs wound tighter around her hips at the same time his hands fell to cup her full breasts in hand, massaging them.

In return, Ava arched into his touch, leading to her hips tilting as they met his, leading his thrusts to hit her spot at a new angle. This caused her to pull back from the kiss to take a shuddering breath, then let her moans ring perfectly into his ear, calling his name. "Jimmy...."

His thumbs circled her nipples, flicking & teasing the rosy little targets as they hardened. Jimmy cast a heavy lidded glance down at how her curves filled his hands so perfectly, then lower to how she took him in so perfectly, as he filled her. He then let his eyes drift back up to her now flushed face, eyes equally as heavy lidded as they met his, lips slightly parted, soft cries pouring from the full, plush, cupid's bow pout. Jimmy cast a hazy eyed grin down at her, musing. "Beautiful... So beautiful... Fuck... How did I ever get so lucky..." He leant in & met her lips in another soft kiss, which she met by moaning into his mouth, the moan ringing out clearly as he pulled back.

Jimmy just chuckled, tossing his head back, again trying to brush a lock of hair back. And again his eyes locked on Stones & George Harrison pictures with plenty of X's by his their signatures. He grunted, growled & then let his head fall back down, his gaze meeting hers with a new fire blazing in the depths of his emerald eyes. "Fuck... Ava... Mine... Mine... You're mine!..." He growled again, pumping his hips harder and faster into hers.

"Ahhhh... Jim... Jim... Jimmy..." Ava cried out, her toes curling as he pounded into her, making the springs in the bed squeak.

Jimmy just repeated his earlier rantings in the same low, husky voice. "Mine... Mine... My Ava... Mine... All mine..."

Ava arched into his touch once more, her eyes following the direction his had come from. She could barely focus but still managed to catch sight of the posters on the wall to her right. Could that be why Jimmy had gotten so possessive so suddenly? It was possible.

Turning back to regard Jimmy with an equally hazy gaze, Ava found him still muttering the same possessive mantra to himself as he claimed her. He even seemed to be glaring at a 16 magazine cutout of Keith off to the right of the wall before him, near the other posters.

It was like he had to prove to "Poster Keith" that "Poster Jimmy" had out ranked him, hence "Poster Jimmy" having the spot of honor above her bed. Perhaps that's why he smiled whenever he saw his poster above her bed. It reminded him of the same.

It was also like he had to prove to "Poster Keith" - as if it would thereby prove it to "Real Keith" that just like "Poster Jimmy" outranked him, so did "Real Jimmy" and that Ava herself belonged to Jimmy, and Jimmy alone.

She rather liked that idea herself. So she told him, mimicking him, repeating his words. "Yes, Jimmy... I'm yours... Yours... All yours... Only yours... No one else's... I'm yours... Yours... Your Ava... Just like you're mine... Mine... Mine... Only mine... My Jimmy... No one else's..."

Jimmy shuddered & moaned at the sound of her pledging herself to him, responding by thrusting harder still, his hips now clapping soundly against hers. This earned a shaky moan from her as well. Ava's eyes fluttered closed, toes beginning to curl once more. But just as she was about to begin to ascend to a pleasured high she heard a noise. Again. This time it wasn't a tapping at her window, or rustling leaves. This time it was a creak. And it wasn't the bed, though the bed was doing some creaking of its own thanks to Jimmy's incessantly pounding hips.

No. This time the sound - the creak - sounded like it was coming from outside. From outside the room. From out in the hallway. No. It couldn't be. It couldn't be. Could it? Her dad wasn't due home for ages yet. Though there was always a first time for everything. There was always an outside chance he could've come home early. But why now?

Regardless of the reason why, Ava still had to warn Jimmy.

"Jimmy... Jimmy... Jimmy..." She repeated his name forcing herself to focus, or at least try to. "Jimmy... Jimmy, I think my Daddy's home..."

"Mmmm... Mmm-hmm..." He hummed with his eyes closed, a happy, dazed smile on his face.

"Jimmy..." Ava panted, still struggling to focus on the task at hand. "Jimmy, are you listening to me? I said I think I hear Daddy. Daddy. Jimmy... Jimmy... Jimmy, Daddy's... Daddy's... Mmmm... Daddy's coming."

Jimmy nodded, still getting a pang of slight nerves, but not hearing footsteps approaching calmed him somewhat enough for him to reply. "He's not the only one."

That startled Ava. It startled her enough to throw off her focus, leading her to once again lose herself in pleasure, snapping her back into the moment. "Jimmy..." That caused Ava's eyes to once again flutter shut, her back arching, hands coming to grip his shoulders, nails scoring into his back. "Oh God! Oh God! Jimmy!" Her legs wound tighter around his hips as her walls clenched tighter around his length. The clenching grew more frequent to match the rhythm of his thrusts. Jimmy's chugging rhythm, hitting her spot so perfectly only led to her ascending to that aforementioned pleasured high. Jimmy pushing her up & up & up, higher & higher until finally, with a gasp. "Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh God! Oh God! Oh... Oh... Oh my God! Jimmy!..."

Jimmy grunted, his hips pistoning steadily into hers, left thumb now swirling on her clit. Her hips twitched at this, yet again beginning to tilt into and meet Jimmy's thrusts as he grunted and groaned. "Ava... Baby... Ava... So tight... So fucking tight... Ava... My baby... My girl... My lady... My woman... Mine... Mine... My Ava... Mine... Mine... My... My... My... Ava! Ah! Ahhhh..." He moaned aloud as he pounded into her, the last few thrusts coming shakily & off rhythm as he pumped deep within her, his cum coming in several white hot spurts, mixing with hers & filling her to the brim.

Jimmy then showed her his gratitude by meeting her lips in a sleepy kiss, brushing loose strands of hair away from her face as she did with the sweaty tendrils framing his face. "Mmmm...Ava... My God... My God... My God how much I love you!" He sighed happily, grinning down at her.

She met his grin with a sweet, serene, sleepy smile of her own, hushing. "Mmmm... Jimmy... I love you too..."

~

Hope you guys like it~!

Enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Of Hopes & High Grace Pt. 1: Clearly: Up in the Canyons~...

~

~

Laurel Canyon, 1965~

Walking up the driveway into the house, from his tour around the grounds by the house's owner, Jimmy let his eyes scan the room. Turning left, he saw his date for the evening Jackie sitting in the pit - a sunken floor & seating area - chatting with one of their friends. He had come to the party with her that day. Jackie had been something of a regular or semi-regular presence in his life. They'd been on & off for a few months since working together both on her music, songs for others like Marianne Faithfull, or even his own attempts at solo work. Though the less said about that single, the better he figured now.

Turning right & taking a sip of his drink as he tried to clear that from his mind, he saw a bunch of kids dancing in the center of the living room. They weren't really kids, actually. Most looked about his age from what he could tell. They twisted & moved in front of large double glass doors that looked out on quite a view of the city below. The setting sun streamed in through the windows, starbursting over the dancing kids. One in particular caught his eye.

She was in a slim fitting sheath dress with a scoop neckline & a mottled shimmery watery blue & lagoon green print. The dress skimmed what he could surmise was a very alluring figure. Long dark hair flowing loose around her shoulders, tawny skin, a hint of cat's eye eyeliner framing two deep brown eyes. Full rosy cheeks. Even fuller berry rose lips. She laughed & clapped & spun about with an older male friend as the guitar in the song trilled.

Try as he might, Jimmy couldn't tear his eyes from her. She was lively. Spirited. Drop dead gorgeous. He simply had to get her name.

Nudging his host for the evening, he motioned to the dark sylph dressed in siren's blue & asked. "Who's she, mate?"

His host Tony turned to peer in her direction before smiling. "Ah, her? That's Mariella. She lives up here. Bought a house on Appian Way not too long ago. Made a few papers. Rather young for being a homeowner, she. Teenage homeowner. You know how papers eat that stuff up."

Jimmy nodded at that. He knew all too well. So she was a teenager, was she?

Tony explained further. "But she's more known for her music."

"Sings, does she?" Jimmy asked with a sip of his drink.

"Like an angel!" Tony nodded. "Though she sings mostly in Spanish. Mexican music & the like. Her father is a singer, too. A famous one in his field. Carlos Ignacio Alamilla. She sometimes used to tour with him. Now she goes between performances with him & her own local club gigs."

"I see..." Jimmy nodded, mulling over the many ways their similar lines of work might give him an in with her. "Mind introducing me then?"

To his surprise, Tony laughed.

"What's so funny?" Jimmy asked, half annoyed, half confused.

"Nothing. Except I feel I must warn you. You being new here & all you probably don't know. She's not too forthcoming with new people. Her father is extremely protective of her, with her being his only daughter. And even if you get past him, there's no promise you'll get anywhere with her. The running joke is that while most everyone's first word was "mama," hers was likely "no."

Jimmy snorted.

"It's true. Not to say she's mean. Just very careful in meeting new people. Wary even. Once you get to know her... If you get to know her... Once you get close... If you get close... You'll find she's a delight... Sweet girl... Just very shy I guess... Impossible not to love her, that one..."

"I see..." Jimmy breathed those words in a dragon's puff of cigarette smoke.

A delight...

Sweet girl...

Shy girl...

Indeed...

What's not to love?...

Jimmy contemplated everything he was told with another puff of his cigarette before asking it & announcing with a wry grin in yet another dragon's puff. "Well, now I have to meet her now don't I?"

"Alright." Tony drawled, placing a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. Don't say I didn't warn you. And don't be surprised if she's not as forthcoming with you. It takes her awhile to warm up." With that he led the way as he & Jimmy weaved their way through the crowd.

Each undulating body seemed to serve as a fluttering curtain. A momentary eclipse. All of it making it so as they neared Jimmy saw her move in sections. In snapshots. Rotoscope images that burned & swirled in his brain, searing themselves into the grey matter. Each fleeting glimpse only serving to intrigue & tantalize him more. The time it took for them to cross the few feet's distance they had to traverse, feeling like one long scene in slow motion. The music falling into silence. The silence cut only by the sound of his blood thumping in his temples. His heartbeat pounding like a drum of war.

Jimmy's mouth went suddenly dry. He swallowed hard. He could be wrong but he swore that lump he felt in his throat, if it wasn't his Adam's apple, might've been heart-shaped.

Just then, Tony's voice cut into his train of thought, slicing through the thumping silence. "Hey, Mariella."

Black hair fanned out as she whirled to face them cutting her dance short, before coming to rest framing her face as she turned.

Lovely face, Jimmy thought.

A look of confusion crossed her features before her eyes lit up in recognition. "Tony! There you are! I was wondering where you had gone off to!" She spoke in a bright voice colored with an indeterminate accent. "I knew you were here but I didn't see you. How are you?" She asked with a hug.

Perhaps, this would be easier than Tony said it would.

"Just fine, doll. And clearly you seem to be enjoying yourself too. Great mix of songs you brought this time as always!" Tony smiled & returned the hug warmly. "I've been looking for you too by the way. I have someone I want to introduce to you. He's a friend of mine."

"Oh?" She looked up at him with a curious pout.

"Mariella Alamilla may I introduce one of the latest English imports to hit our shores, A Mister James Patrick Page." Tony motioned to Jimmy, snickering at his own overly florid introduction.

She, Mariella, turned to face Jimmy, regarding him with the same curious pout. Indeed there was a touch of wariness edging those eyes as they scanned him guardedly. The young girl stayed close to Tony, anchoring herself to him amidst this stranger before her.

Now was the time.

Jimmy gave her his best disarming smile & extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Call me Jimmy. And may I say you have a phenomenal taste in music. What's the name of the song if I may ask?"

"Pleasure's all mine I'm sure." Her voice was cool & soft as she placed her smaller hand in his lightly. Feathersoft. Fleeting, hesitant contact. None of that brightness & effusiveness that had been so evident in her chat with Tony. "And thank you. It's one of my favorites. It's called "El Boogie de la Guitarra" by Los Crazy Boys. Mexican Rock. Tony likes me to bring some music by artists he and the gang might not have heard of." She explained in a polite yet matter of fact tone.

Mariella had undergone a sudden transition. She went from alive & incandescent to hushed & removed. Her light still shone but now it flickered like a candle in a breeze. A light in the window of a tower, or at a high altar. Still burning. Still present. Still bright. Yet just out of reach. So near & yet so far.

So Tony was right after all! He WAS gonna have to work with this one. Interesting...

Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed the back, eliciting a jolt, soft gasp & the slight widening of eyes.

At least he could get some kind of reaction out of her. A delicious one at that.

Fighting a grin at the sight of her trying to reel in her reactions so & giving a soft curtsy in semi-formal / semi-playful response to his florid actions, he continued. "I hear from Tony you're in the music game too."

"Yes." She replied, still soft yet pointed. "I sing with my father at times & at other times do my own thing."

"Which is?..." Jimmy asked, maintaining his hold on her hand despite the momentary soft pull he felt. She attempted to retract her hand after the kiss, clearly expecting that to be it. Clearly, it wasn't though. And so her hand remained in his, his thumb rubbing the kiss-printed back as the rest of his hand swallowed hers whole & kept it there. Jimmy meanwhile did his best to distract her from this fact by adding. "Tony told me you sing Mexican music?"

"Yes." She nodded, swallowing hard herself. Clearly she was trying to ignore her nerves. Trying to ignore or quell the tremble in her hand that was locked in his. A fact he clearly reveled in. "I sing Mexicana with my older brother, father and his band. Banda. Boleros. Mariachi. That sort of thing. When on my own I sort of mix that with an indie kick. Maybe a little jazz. Maybe a little rock. Maybe something else. It all depends on my mood." Lifting her gaze from her hand in his & pinning him with a look that was at once both curious & cutting, she asked. "Do you sing too, Jimmy?"

He & Tony shared a knowing laugh. "Not really I'm afraid. I plan to stick to the guitar & maybe my art otherwise."

Tony nodded, explaining simply. "Jimmy went to art school before things really kicked off for him. He's now one of the most in demand session guitarists there is, doll!"

Jimmy did his best not to blush at the compliment. He didn't want to be too conspicuous. Though he had been content to remain silent up to this point, Jimmy saw that Tony's eyes had volleyed from Jimmy himself to Mariella and back like he were witness to the most captivating tennis match ever.

"Really now?" Jimmy heard the first lilt in her voice in what had been quite awhile. The light in her eyes flickered anew. The corner of her sweet mouth lifted as she asked. "That seems to be quite a frequent occurrence. Tell me, Mr. Page, do all you Englishmen flock to art school before you hit the music scene?"

Both he & Tony laughed again. "Boy if it don't seem like that sometimes, huh?" Tony nudged Jimmy, grazing him with an elbow to the ribs.

"Yeah it does. A lot of us sure seem to but it's not like a dead set rule or anything." Jimmy smiled as he met her gaze. His laughter crinkled eyes were met with a gaze that was still just as inscrutable as it was penetrating even as little flames of mirth danced in her eyes & in the corners of her soft, wry smile.

Where had he seen such a look before?

He couldn't put a finger on it.

Shaking out of that thought, he added with a soft pat to her hand, still locked in his, with his free one. "In any case I do hope I'll get the honor and pleasure to hear you sing while I'm here."

"Maybe you will." Tony smiled.

Though Jimmy's gaze hardly left Mariella, Jimmy could still catch the barest glimpse of him signaling to someone off to the side.

Another soft curtsy by the young lovely in the blue dress followed, recapturing Jimmy's full attention. "I hope you still find it such a pleasure afterwards if you do."

Jimmy was sure he'd indeed find her such a pleasure.

In more ways than one.

Just then Jimmy found his attentions pulled to his side as a certain familiar blonde, curled her way around him, linking arms with him.

It was Jackie.

"Jimmy..." She drawled, snapping her gum sharply. "Where've you been. I've been looking everywhere for you. And who's this?" He saw her eyes scan Mariella warily.

Mariella for her part barely flinched. Her features hardly changed. One eyebrow lifted in the barest perk as her head tilted slightly. "Nice to see you again, Jackie. How've you been? Haven't seen you since the last music show we did together. Hope you've been well." Her voice was as ever cool, controlled & polite. Where some would fight fire with fire, she clearly preferred to ice out the flames entirely. And rather aptly at that. Smooth.

"Oh hi, Jackie. Tony was just showing me around & introducing me to people." Jimmy explained as coolly as possible.

"I see..." She cast a nonplussed look his way before turning to regard the dusky brunette once more. "Ah, Marie-Ella..." Jackie cooed, breaking her name up in some sort of southern double name special like her own government name was. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize it was you!" Her voice was super sweet as she laid it on as thick as honey. Though try as she might she still came off as something a little short of genuine in her apology & attempts to ingratiate.

Had she always been this cloying?, Jimmy thought.

"Long time no see indeed!" Jackie giggled. "How's the eighth grade? Or is it ninth now? It's been such a long time I just can't keep track."

It was then that Jimmy & Mariella's hold on each other broke.

Eighth grade?

Ninth?

What was that in terms of forms again?

Jimmy cast a stunned look at Mariella who just shrugged.

"Actually I'm in high school now, thanks for asking." She replied matter of factly. Calm. Cool. Collected. Sweet & smooth. "How's the school of life treating you, Jackie? Well, I hope." There went that soft yet inscrutable stare.

Jackie just scoffed & smacked her gum again. "Well enough thanks." Then tugging on Jimmy's arm, she announced. "Jimmy let's go. I have some people I want you to meet."

Before he could think to respond with more than a mere. "Wait, Jackie. Wait..." Mariella gave him a playful salute with two fingers to her temple.

"See you around then. Bye you two."

And with that, she & Tony disappeared into the crowd as Jackie pulled him away.

~

As ever this is forever under construction~!

Hope you guys enjoy~!

[untilthenextencore]

Nights To Remember Pt. 1: Of Gods & Goddesses & Magick & Memories~...

Backstory: Summer 1973~. Jimmy & Dahlia had gotten married in the past year~. Some of the more territorial newer wannabe groupies are having a hard time coping with not just her continual presence on tour, but now Dahlia's new status as THE Mrs. Page~. Her & Robert's displaying their close friendship doesn't help~.

Their subsequent finding a friendly way to deal with their boredom amongst the goings on that the hangers on & wannabe groupies live for by escaping certainly doesn't help~.

Robert offers the escape~. He's always been a little in awe of Pagey's choice of girl both in general in the early days, but also in the form of his chosen one, Dahlia~. She is so familiar yet foreign to him it makes his head spin~. So worldly, yet down to earth~. A mix of city yet downhome that he might've chosen for himself if he had the chance~. But as far as he's known her she's been Pagey's~. Solidly, decidedly, faithfully Pagey's~.

Suffice to say, even in his happiest moments in the friendship he's conflicted~. Even though they're not cheating or going behind Pagey's back~.

But when he finds himself even moreso conflicted about the cloak & dagger aspect of their innocent little excursion, that he himself offered initially, he then finds the idea of Pagey finding out also somehow doesn't appeal to him~.

~

Ho hum. Another day. Another dollar. Another concert. Another party. Another night to remember. Until they forget it all in the morning. Or lose track of which night in the sea of "nights to remember" held the goings on their shattered minds remembered only fractures of at tour's end. Glittered & goggle eyed groupies frantically flipped over themselves to catch the eye of anyone who was anyone in King Robert's court. Or so it seemed.

True. Robert was holding court like he was king. One of four at least. But being in the middle of yet another tour - an American one at that - only meant one thing. Like the others he was left without a queen. Only one of their roundtable could however not lay claim to such a misfortune. The luckiest one among them. The wizard in his stars & moon suit himself. James Patrick Page.

No. Because as ever Jimmy had brought along his lady. Lady Dahlia-Maria Dominguez Page. The Lady who was a natural creative herself it seemed. She & her camera, while remaining discreet & unobtrusive, furnished some of the most intimate portraits of the band allowed. A few Peter even sold at the merch table, netting her a tidy sum of her own aside from being married to he of the led wallet and house of Tower.

Though she only released a few here and there. She too liked to maintain her own brand of privacy. Despite the wingding that was their wedding in Hampton Court Palace - of all bleeding places - in the past year, she really preferred a smaller do generally. Friends & family & neighborhood kin & no more. As was borne out by the smaller dos held in Mexico at her family's small yet palatial feeling compound in Jalisco that was something of an early childhood home for her & Pagey's place in England for family that could not swing airfare for a trip to the palace.

Which begged the question.

What the hell was she doin here?!

Not that he begrudged her presence itself. Not at all. Robert & Dahlia always seemed to get on rather well. Down home types lost in the Wonderland that was the entertainment business. Though even with her downhome partial Mexican upbringing Dahlia was decidedly still more of a city girl to this country boy.

Being an LA local, Dahlia knew it like the back of her prettily manicured hand. A hand she also often used in keeping much of the frivolity at arm's length. Even when in the middle of it all. She seemingly always sat apart. That was what Robert didn't understand about her presence in such madness.

Clearly the groupies agreed. Equally manicured hands being verily filed into a point, eager to tear at a tawny-skinned throat as their owner's gripped. "What is SHE doing here?!" Calling her everything but a child of God or what her father's own book termed their culture, "Children of the Sun".

No matter.

She seemingly stayed unaffected.

Toying with her engagement & wedding rings just so. Arranging the gold bangle bracelets or matching pendant. Her only flashes of vanity or pride being her only answer. Letting both that & her presence along with the 5000 other ways she was the "chosen one" of the Mr. James Patrick Page do the talking for her. Knowing her, if she were feeling cheeky she might whip out her instant camera & take a pic of the offending party, leaving some hanger on to deliver it & with it the picture proof / photo evidence of their bitterness as she & her beloved husband tangled fingers & held hands. They can have a pic. She had the real thing.

Guinevere was not giving up her throne.

Unbothered by the petty strife clawing at the door, begging to enter her beloved Camelot.

Rather, she looked bored, really.

Jimmy had disappeared with Bonzo. Off to take a powder likely. She had been chatting with Jonesy about books & things to get his girls & Mo back home, but now he too was off somewhere. Hangers on knew better than to try to ingratiate themselves with her. She had iced them out before. Now they well knew. There was no way in to the Page / Zeppelin inner sanctum with her.

As further proof, both of her seeming boredom & inaccessibility by groupie or hanger on, Robert saw her pull a small book out of her purse. That was Dahlia. Forever a bookworm. Sodom & Gomorrah at her feet. Head in the clouds. Nose in a book.

Before he knew it, Robert felt himself propelled towards her, stumbling a few times when a glittered & bejeweled fan flung & slung herself over him. Extricating himself deftly every time he uttered a soft, "Not this time, darlin'." "Maybe another night, doll." Or even "What will me missus, think?" Laughing his way out of harm's way as he bid them good night & left them to join the party. He caught more curses & sotto-voce snipes when they saw in what direction he was heading. But no matter. His course was set. Off he traveled to the "land of the people of the sun".

It was then that he allowed his six foot sun-people seeking self to cast a shadow over her in the midst of her reading. This had the intended effect of having the dim light she had been reading under all but disappear as he blocked it out. She whirled around to regard him with sharp eyes that were cut to him in momentary disgust. Her lips pursed as a similarly sharp tongue went about finding the right barb to fling before suddenly dropping its weapon. Her eyes widened before her gaze then softened in mirth as she lifted her arm in modified Roman salute, hand tilted upwards slightly. "Hail, Apollo. What brings the Sun God to these darkened shores?"

Sun God? He quite liked the sound of that. So he decided to play along, wracking his brain for his schoolboy Mythology.

"Hail, Aphrodite. I come in peace." He said, mimicking her salute with the hand that was not holding his beloved ale. "Or should it be Persephone, luv? By the way... Where is our beloved Hades?" Robert craved his neck around, looking for the dark-haired lord of the underworld that always seemed to be lurking around every corner when she was involved. "My stars." He gasped, putting a hand to his bared chest for affect. "I see no star suited one for miles. How is that possible?"

"I think he's off with your fellow northern friend right now. The one who plays either Dionysus or Ares if the bacchanalia goes too far." Dahlia quipped, her lips quirking into a wry grin as she pointed to Jonesy at the bar. "Hermes just left himself as well."

"Foolish ones they are." He tsked, shaking his head. "Leaving one so fair alone in the midst of such bacchanalia indeed."

Looking down he saw that where the glittered ones would have blushed or fluttered their eyelashes & twirled a curl of hair into a coil in flirtation, that was decidedly not Dahlia's - nor Aphrodite or Persephone's - way. Instead, she stayed looking up at him with the same wry grin & mirthful if still piercing stare along with a soft incredulous shake of the head. Her lips said nothing. But those eyes? Those eyes said EVERYTHING.

Clearing his throat & lubricating himself & his suddenly dry mouth with more ale, he jutted his chin at her book. "Whatcha readin' there, luv?"

"A mini collection of Harlem Renaissance poetry. Some classics. The usual." She marked her page & closed it to show him the cover art. Brown bodies arced & curved in exultation.

"Classics indeed. Your usual. A nice addition to your other usual Agatha Christies." He grinned. "What for?"

"Just because." She shrugged as she pocketed the book. "And because I figure if I'm to live in the aftermath of the Swinging Sixties... The Roaring Seventies some have termed... I better brush up on how the times used to Roar back in the day. Better brush up on my Cotton Club classic bacchanalia... Although..." She cast a suddenly weary look across all the goings on around them. Glittering, giggling, sharpened nails & tongues of hardened decidedly un flowerchild GTO like groupies & grubby fingered, coke jittery, tipsy-drunk, outstretched-handed hangers on included & heated a sigh. "Forgive me for saying but this pales in comparison to my childhood dreams of the Cotton Club."

"Indeed." He nodded with another sip of his ale. So she saw what he did that night. What he felt. She felt it too.

"I mean, not to be ungrateful or anything. Knowing how you like it & all. "Prince of Peace" that you are." There was that quirk of her lips again as she drawled the last part out.

Try as he might not to, he winced at the memory of those words leaving his lips unironically. Ah, so she had heard that story too. Of course she had. Was nothing a secret in this God forsaken place?!

His momentary embarrassment was compounded at the same time he was delightfully distracted by the sound of her sweet giggle. "I know how much fun you have typically. And I get how you dig the scene generally speaking. It just doesn't... It doesn't... It doesn't really do it for me... Not much... I mean all these people... They'd probably not spit on me if I were on fire if I wasn't with you guys. If I wasn't Mrs. Page. Hell, half of them would likely be the ones holding the match. Some of them still would now!" She cut her eyes in half dismissal half bemusement at the nail-filing bile-spitting groupies.

Naturally, she saw that too. Nothing escapes a goddess's eyes. A queen misses nothing.

"To clink glasses & break bread with them feels so false & disingenuous. Knowing all that, I mean. That's another reason I have this book." She tapped the book with a finger before closing her purse around it. "That way, I don't have to."

"Suffice to say, grateful though I am to be invited to these things, considering some of the company that find their way in... This ain't exactly my kinda party, Planty." She took her champagne glass from the table, clinking it with his bottle. "Cheers." Before downing the swallow or two that remained.

A moment passed in silent agreement. Robert having nodded at everything she said. The falsehoods of their lifestyle that were apparently hitting him hard that night, she had always seen. Hence her keeping it all at arm's length. Alice falling down a rabbit hole but landing on her own two feet. Dorothy traveling through Oz in a bubble of her own design. Pagey or not, his girl had her own magick. This he had always known. So had Pagey, he surmised, as evident by the rock on her finger as much as anything else.

"What is your type of party, luv? Missing Hampton Court?" He teased, though he knew her well enough to know better.

"No indeed." She laughed, nodding as he refilled her glass. "Thank you, kind sir." Then after a sip, she continued. "Even I know that night was a one in a million. A once in a lifetime event. Though that indeed was a night to remember as you well know."

There went that phrase again. At least this time it was worth it. That night truly was one to remember for all involved. Mariachis and Led Zeppelin acoustic jam at Hampton Court. Would wonders never cease? That had to be a first for all involved!

"But, c'mon blondie!" She nudged him, shaking him out of his reverie.

A reverie of her in her wedding whites with glittering mantilla veil coming down the aisle towards at the altar, seated next to Pagey, dancing with Pagey... And the dances he was able to share with her himself. Cor, was she a vision then. A lovelier bride he had hardly ever known.

Shaking out a wince at the thought of even thinking thar when he had his own missus at home... One who had a decidedly less ritzy do when her own turn came years earlier... He again silenced these demons with another swig of ale & turned his eyes back to the dusky goddess queen vision at hand.

"You know what it is. What my kind of party is. You know it about as well as Jimmy. Think about it."

"Jalisco?" Robert asked.

"Well, yeah." She nodded. "Yes, of course. But what about stateside? You remember. Though it's been awhile."

Robert instantly got hit with another blast from the past and he rattled off the vignettes as they came flashing back to him. "East LA. Whittier Boulevard. The Chuco." A quaint little chill hangout spot for local Chicano youth that played a mix of oldies, early rock'n'roll, Chicano groups, Latin jazz & Mexican or Latin music of all kinds.

Dahlia snapped her fingers & pointed at him. "Bingo. That's it. That's it exactly, Robert. That's my kind of party. All of it."

"Why don't we go back tonight then?" Robert offered with yet another swig from his bottle.

Dahlia paused mid thought. Mid answer. Her mouth falling open in a silent gasp & lack of immediate response. Try as she might, she couldn't really think of a reason not to. Maybe it was selfish of her, but she also really wanted to. Really wanted to. But still, she had to ask.

"Right now?" She whispered conspiratorially.

"Why not?" He shrugged. "S'gotta be better than this lot, yeah?"

Dahlia gave a quick look around & then went back to regarding Robert with a bemused smirk. "Don't you think they might miss you, your highness? I mean, how could they not miss their beloved Prince of Peace?"

He winced again at the little rib. (Dahlia was one of the rare very few whose barbs both landed & made him laugh.) But he did his best to play it off with a laugh & a wry grin of his own as he mused. "We'll be back."

Dahlia cast her eyes back over the bacchanalia, mulling things over. Another moment passed before she shot to her feet, tossing a soft voiced request over her shoulder. "Wait right here."

She then left the table & crossed over the room to Peter sitting at the bar with his ever present cigar, tapping him on the shoulder. She whispered something in his ear which had the cigar chomping bear of a man nearly dropping his cigar in shock as his jaw nearly slackened. He muttered something back, motioning to the goings on to which she shook her head, explaining further. She motioned across the room, lifting her hands in a quizzical shrug before pointing to the door, which was guarded shut. Then folding her hands together, she evidently pleads her case. And surprise surprise, wizened, hard negotiator Peter folds. He relents.

Peter motions to Magnet - of all people - pointing to her & motioning to a back entrance & hence exit. Dahlia squealed, leaping into Peter's arms & giving him a grateful squeeze. Peter grinned, hugging her back & patting her on the back with a meaty hand, making sure to keep his lit cigar away from her & keeping her safe from the ashes.

Upon breaking the hug, Dahlia turned to motion to Robert himself & tell Peter something else that nearly made him drop his cigar again. Peter's eyes widened & then narrowed. Clearly telling Peter that Robert too would be making his exit & taking his leave just then.

Peter's gaze sharpened... Not with malice... But with knowledge... He knew Robert... His types... His wonts... Or wants...

Robert knew this well...

And so it was that as Robert sidled up to both Magnet & Dahlia, he heard something above the whines & curses of the groupies. A few gruff words grunted in Cole's direction by his behemoth of a manager that cut through the din. "Get Pagey..."

Hustling himself along with her & Magnet out the door, Robert did his best to avoid Peter's gaze from then on out. Helping her into her jacket, which was really one of Pagey's more subtle, casual & less spangled boleros, Robert couldn't help but ask. "What was that about, luv?"

"Oh nothing..." She shrugged before thanking him & Magnet for opening her door & helping her into the car respectively. "Thank you. Such gentlemen." The tension Robert felt was broken by a shared giggle between the three before she continued. "I just told Peter I wanted to leave & hit up East LA for awhile before we head back to the Hyatt. He asked if Pagey was coming & I said he disappeared with Bonz for a bit & I couldn't find him. Besides, he was having fun last I knew, so I didn't want to pull him away from him being able to relax."

"I see..." He trotted over to his side of the car, slipping inside himself with Magnet shielding him from view of any lurking groupies as best as he could. "And the motioning to me & the party at hand, luv?"

"Simple." Dahlia explained, punctuating her words with the click of her belt. "I told him to tell Jimmy where I was, that I'd be back soon & not to worry. That not only would Magnet be with me but so would you & that you were leaving to tag along with me too. That you'd be there to protect me as well."

Robert felt a slight quickening of his pulse despite the innocence of it all. The innocence of her explanation. Of the situation. Yet the cloak & dagger feel of it all gave him a little heart flutter & frisson at once. He didn't quite know why. He couldn't quite put a finger on it.

Why was he so unnerved?...

It was his idea, after all...

They weren't doing anything wrong anyway...

It was then that Magnet got onto the road & pulled off. Now Robert knew... There was no turning back...

Though turn back he did...

Robert couldn't help it...

And so it was that as he craved his neck to glance back at the traffic behind him, Robert swore he saw a hint of a familiar tall, willowy, smoking, silver accented, black-haired figure hustling into the back seat of a car that roared to life & took off a few car's length behind them.

Only one word came to mind to describe the situation Robert found himself shoe-horning himself into now & his current state of mind.

"Shit..."

~

Hope you guys enjoy~!

As ever this is forever under construction~!

[untilthenextencore]

Of Births and Rebirths~...

As expected Jimmy was a pro at handling Dante. He took to it like a duck to water. He was there along with the nanny when Soraya, still tired & recommended to remain on bed rest after giving birth, could not be. He was there for Dante & for her.

He would help her wake & make sure she ate, helping her brush her hair in between cuddles of her & the baby - and feedings of the baby as well - as she found herself a daily routine as a new mother.

He dressed them all in white shifts that day. Soraya he had in an off-the-shoulder linen gown that he bought, seeing it as reminiscent of her wedding gown. Dante was in a little soft linen sleeper. Jimmy wore a white linen shirt he had gapped in order to continue the skin-to-skin he first tried in the hospital with Dante. The maid joked that they looked like a family of spirits haunting the house as they drifted about, making them laugh.

They got into an easy routine. Soraya feeding the baby & Jimmy changing his diaper to let her rest as much as possible. Jimmy would have them snatch naps together. If Soraya nodded off with Dante, he'd hold Dante on their laps, softly petting the both of them. She could feel him lean in to kiss the both of them tenderly. Feel his lips softly press to both of their cheeks & temples. Hear his hushed words, sotto voce as they were.

"My word..." He hushed as Dante yawned & snuggled closer to the both of them. Dante blindly gripped at their shifts, holding snatches of both Soraya's gown & Jimmy's blouse. "There there, mate. Don't worry. We're still here. We've got you." He chuckled, as Dante gave the fabric a little tug with yet another yawn.

As he pet the young one's head, Jimmy recited his full name - including the names they were considering for his middle names, hushing them in reverence, speaking them like an incantation. "Dante Gabriel Everett Millais Holman Hunt Jaime Amado Page~..." Soraya smiled softly as Dante shifted as if responding to his names as much as his father's voice.

Dante fidgetted a bit, yawning again before smacking his lips in a tell tale fashion.

"Oh! Someone's hungry." Soraya cooed, pulling the ties of her gown & shimmying the neckline down & taking Dante to her breast. As Dante nursed, the room fell into a quiet hush. The only sounds aside from Dante's suckles were the crackling of the fire & the wind outside. Soraya & Jimmy took turns petting Dante's head as he nursed. Jimmy let Soraya take over soon enough, then bringing his right hand lower to bolster the pillow Dante rested on a bit.

He was duly rewarded.

Dante relinquished his hold on their clothes & curled his tiny hand over Jimmy's finger. His heart swelled. Tears sprang to his eyes. "My... My... My goodness gracious... He is such a tiny dear thing. Such a dear thing. A dear boy. Are you sure he's ours?"

"Of course he is! Precisely because he's so dear. Why? Having doubts?" She teased Jimmy with a nudge.

"No!" He wrapped his arm tighter around his wife, kissing her temple & nuzzling her.

"Good!" Soraya returned his affection, meeting his lips with a soft kiss of her own. "Because you don't have to look too far or think too hard as to who Dante takes after in his widows peak, green eyes or black Irish coloring." Jimmy just laughed, meeting Soraya in another kiss.

He paused a moment to take in the sight; his young wife dressed in the sleeping gown that he had bought specially made for her, nursing his new son. It was humbling. Stirring. Deeply stirring. He felt himself throb despite his best intentions.

Not quite yet, mate. They must wait a few weeks yet for that. Soraya - however deeply stirring - was still recovering yet. Still finding her feet. Still finding her way. Finding her path. Finding her place in her new life, both as his wife & now a new mom. He mustn't intrude on that. It was too special a time. Too sweet. Too sacred.

No. Instead, he would guide her. Do whatever he could to guide her. To help her. To support her. To protect her. With his whole body and soul and spirit, he would protect her. And now little Dante too. With everything he had.

Never did he think in all his years that he'd be back here again. In this position again. Married. With a small child. A new baby. A little son. He never saw this coming. But now that he was here he'd not take it for granted. He intended to experience it all anew. Every delicious, delirious, delightful part & bit of it. Newlywed life. Fatherhood. Every bit of bliss. Building & being in & bringing his new son up in a warm, safe, supportive environment, in a house full of love.

All these thoughts milling & spinning about his head brought the tears back to his eyes, turning his eyes a mistier shade of green.

He pressed another soft kiss to Soraya's temple, doing his best to swallow the watery lump in his throat as he rasped. "You're doing phenomenal, love. Absolutely fantastic. Such a natural." Another kiss as he held her tighter. "I'm so proud of you, my love. So proud of you."

Soraya beamed, looking incandescent in the glow of the fire nearby. "I owe it all to you. My darling husband. My beloved. My one and only. My heart." Clearly, she was just as moved by this moment. Tears edged her eyes as well, which she daintily patted away & swept away with her fingertips before he helped her with gentle dabs of his handkerchief. "I wouldn't have him but for you. We wouldn't have him. Wouldn't have this..." She motioned to the firelit room flowered with roses, baby clothes & well-wishes. "All of this... I can't thank you enough. And how you help me... Guide me... Support me... You do more than I ever could imagine... I couldn't ask for more... I couldn't thank you enough..."

Her tear-misted gaze then fixed on him as she hushed. "I adore you, Jimmy. Mind and body. Heart and soul. Wholly, deeply & entirely. You'll never know how much."

Her words echoed ones she had often spoken to him. They echoed her vows. This hit Jimmy right in his heart... In the tenderest spot... The one he saved for her...

Silently, he took her lips in yet another kiss. His lips were trembling as were hers but they were never more sure than they were at that moment. They fit like pieces of a puzzle solved at long last. Her hand rose to cup his cheek tenderly, keeping him in the kiss even as he refused to break it. Her thumb caressed his tears away even as hers continued to fall.

"Thank you, my darling." He hushed into her lips. "You'll never know how grateful I am to you... How indebted I am... You've given me a gift of life... New life... Nothing can ever compare... My beautiful Soraya... My lady..."

Her heart felt so full it could burst at that moment. She didn't know what to say... What more she could say... What more she could do... She racked her brain for the words which proved fleeting but for one...

"Jimmy..."

Instead, their attentions were grabbed by the surprised murmur of little Dante as their tears both fell onto him below, anointing his forehead as he nursed. Both came to cup his head, fingers meeting as they brushed the tears away & into his skin. They both laughed softly, as they stroked his cheek.

And as their fingers tangled tenderly about their son's downy cheek, in a knitted halo about his sweet face, at last, the words came to Soraya, his forever muse, who mused in an amused lilt.

"Don't that just beat all?... Don't that just say it all, Jimmy? If it doesn't I don't know what does. I don't know what more I could say. What more he could say, past the simplest expression? So I'll say it for him." Turning to greet her husband with a soft kiss, "Jimmy..." She spoke soft words she had often said & repeated that no less shook him to the core, hitting that tenderest part of his heart that ever remained hers. "I love you..."

Indeed, it did. Defeating all words. Rendering them all useless & mundane. Ineffectual & redundant but for his simple reply, uttered in a reverent hush as his arms wrapped tenderly tighter still around them, as ever loving as they were ever protective, which they knew they always would be.

"I love you too... My lady... My darling... My darlings... I adore you... And I always shall..."

With that the room fell into the same reverent hush around them. But for the soft whisper of wind outside, the crackle of fire inside, along with Dante's suckle & the soft kiss the two new parents either placed atop his head if not shared together still within that tender moment, nothing more was said.

Nothing more needed to be said. Nothing more was needed. All of them were content. Content all was said that needed to be. Content they had everything they needed within that little room... Within that embrace... Within each other...

~

Hope you all enjoy~!

As ever this is forever for under construction~!

[untilthenextencore]

Security~...

Jimmy was finding himself very protective of Soraya. More so than usual. He had thought he had reached new levels of protectiveness before. First when they first got together. Always making sure to have his driver ferry her to & from Tower. Instructing her to call him when she got home to let him know that she had arrived safely.

Those check-in calls were what often led to sweet words of thanks. Those sweet words of thanks soon turned into sweet nothings. That led to the calls lasting way into the wee small hours of the morning. Ah, the sweet heady first days of their courtship.

The sweetness and headiness continued. As did the protection.

His driver then often helped her to & from some of her readings. To save her cab fare initially. That "money-saving technique" continued when she ran errands for herself & of course again when she moved in & began running errands for their home. To help her & then them save money he said. But deep down he knew it was another way of protecting her again. She knew it too.

That protectiveness continued even when it cost him more money. Soon Jimmy assigned Soraya her own security when their relationship was revealed. Just to be sure. She was not yet used to how ravenous London paps could be. Some could make LA look like child's play.

And though she hailed from LA, she often told him she was not from "that part of town" & had very little interest in it aside from its revival houses for classic movies or the odd haunt left from the Golden Era. So knowing that even in LA she had no experience in this public world in this fashion he felt it even more prescient that she have her own retinue.

Her security was less obvious than his. They had a more laid back vibe, playing undercover in a way, to where if they were photographed one would think she were just out with friends. They did grow to be friends so that wasn't exactly untrue. She also saw it as another form of security. Another form of protection. Protecting her peace. Her peace of mind. Her peace of mind was his & in turn anything to protect that he would do gladly & willingly. That she knew & was grateful for.

He was just grateful that she took to the security with such relative ease.

He tightened security a bit when they were announced as betrothed The engagement set tongues a-wagging as he knew it would. As such he knew paps might froth at the mouth for shots of them.

Soraya did her best to cut them off at the knees. That is, after a delay which allowed they could have their moment together...

Reveling in their intimacy...

Such sacred intimacy...

An intimacy both wanted to enjoy in full as much as they could...

After said delay, with his blessing & agreement, Soraya posted shots of her newly ringed hand on her socials, figuring it'd lessen "the price" the paps might get for such shots, even if the pics also circulated on the online rags. Tongues wagged faster about them then.

Similar was done for their engagement pics & her bridal shower pics. The most security and the most protection surrounded their wedding of course. With the same amount of delay if not more.

What delay they could have they took gladly before releasing a few pics from a few favored & trusted photographers.

Some by ones they hired for the night.

Some that Ross & Scarlet happened to take as they attended.

And ones Soraya took. Ones that no one else could have. Like of their ringed hands with fingers locked.

To protect their peace but also get out in front of "the story". A price to be paid. A necessary evil. This they both knew.

That need for security intensified for him suddenly when she soon revealed her pregnancy. If he thought he was protective before... If she thought he was protective before... Now it was an all-consuming passion of his.

Now the tongues that had til then only been set a-wagging were now in an all-out froth for a time. Now Jimmy joined her on her errands amidst their security retinue. Hands locked if not fingers laced.

He was making an outward show of protecting her now. As obvious as anything he could ever do or ever has done.

She protected his peace in kind. Caressing his hand when it tightened, to soothe him. Sneaking cheek kisses & soft words of thanks & love when she could.

He & the security also followed her to her readings as much as ever if not more now, albeit comparatively low-key compared to some of their other outings. It was important to her that her readings remained a very warm, welcoming & open environment. Protecting her audience's peace as much as theirs.

Her connection with her pieces & her audience was of tantamount importance to her. And to him. It was a sentiment he knew & understood well. Of art & audience & artist. He understood it deeply. Almost on a molecular level at this point. Yet another thing they had in common.

Both were in agreement that at a certain point in her pregnancy coming up she would pause her public readings. They had too much on their plate. Readying things for the baby. Both in regards to Tower & Deanery and her mother's place in LA for when they'd visit.

Soraya knew she'd be likely getting baby brain by then & it would affect her readings & she did not want to give a sub-par & disconnected performance. On top of the baby brain, she didn't want her anxiety to be triggered by her nerves or such at a time when she was to be watching herself & keeping her anxiety triggers to a minimum where she could. She wanted her health to be in as close to peak condition as possible for the baby, spiritually, mentally physically, in as many ways as possible.

She and Jimmy would also be prepping for the holidays and Jimmy's birthday in addition to the release of his book & subsequent book tour. It was all coming at once & they both agreed not to spread themselves too thin. Especially not her.

Soraya readily agreed to the break. She was actually looking forward to it. She knew she'd very much need it at the time. Everything would be coming to a head at or around that time & she appreciated any chance to decompress as much as he did. It would also give her a time to finish her nesting, finalize her birthing plans, and keep herself safe at home while she awaited their little bundle.

It would also give her plenty of time to journal. To contemplate. To write. To explore new parts of herself amidst her new experiences. To explore & experience & find new inspirations. Write new pieces. Maybe even fill journals with new pieces. Perhaps a book would come out of it!

She was all for that!

So was Jimmy!

A book for a book!

Any chance to write more & introspect she would take. Especially at such a time. Around & about such an auspicious moment. Such a moment called for introspection. Contemplation. And it certainly seemed to be setting up as such a fountain of inspiration. Already she was penning snatches of thoughts & the odd line for future pieces. Such inspiration already fountaining from her fountain pen to the paper only merited if not outright deserved deeper study & fine-tuning.

And so it was that Jimmy & Soraya cleaved themselves to one another in such a fashion as to make real the wedding vows of yore. Living out their own vows even in this early stage. They supported each other. Protected each other. Supporting & protecting each other's peace, privacy, health, safety & yes security. They were each other's haven, hearth & home. They were what made home feel like home for each other. Their wants & needs were linked. Their minds were linked as their fingers so often were.

It only seemed fitting...

Nay, felt fitting...

Considering how soon their features would soon link in the flesh & blood proof & symbol of their love.

Their eagerly awaited baby.

Their little one whose wants, needs, safety, security & protection they both held in mind with each decision they made regarding their life and lifestyle now.

Their little one who they would soon welcome into their haven, warm hearth & home that they both created & were for each other & the little one to be, just as said little one & their impending & eagerly awaited arrival in and of itself became just one more thing that made home feel like home.

~

Hope you guys enjoy~!

As ever this is forever under construction~!

[untilthenextencore]

"Jimmy Page Is Getting Married~!" (Nascence Fic World Article~)...

The 68-year-old legendary Zeppelin guitarist and his soon-to-be bride who is 46 years his junior have made it official. Soraya Montes 22, just posted pics of her in a lush forest in what appears to be a wedding dress, veil & all.

No word on if it is to be THE dress, though sources say it's unlikely. There is also no word on if somehow Page has managed to put a ring on it in a cloak-and-dagger fashion befitting his low-profile lifestyle.

Page has already made two trips down the aisle with the mothers of his youngest four children. His eldest Scarlet was sired with his common-law wife & long-term partner, model Charlotte Martin. After her, he was partnered with his first wife, Patricia Ecker who gave birth to his first son James III. His next wife Jimena Gomez-Paratcha gave him his following three children, the children they had together Ashen & Zofia in addition to her daughter Jana whom he adopted.

His new fiancee Soraya Montes is most noted for being a young creative. A poet hailing from Los Angeles, with a handful of public readings to her name, she met Page at the turn of the decade through her ties to IYTAL, the International Young Talent Advancement League, a favored artistic leaning haunt of Page's. She is known for her stream-of-consciousness poetry either handwritten and/or typed & posted to her social media. Page was later seen squiring her around town & attending her readings as he does to this day.

It seems the countless awards shows & events he attends, most recently with her on his arm, are not to be the last time we see the ever-dapper Mr. Page in Black Tie.

Let's hope that the third time is the charm for him & the first time sticks for her. Best of wishes to the happy & creative couple. May they remain ever happy & ever creative.

~

Hope you guys like~!

As ever this is forever under construction~!

[untilthenextencore]

Teatime Explorations~...

Autumn in London. Why does it seem so inviting? Well, late summer at least. Lying on the lawn on a little blanket. Having a little picnic. Just her. And the baby. She had a little tea set out with some books for her and the bab with her diaper bag nearby. She had her snacks and some baby-safe snacks. His formula in a bottle. Water in another. Chamomile tea to soothe his teething discomfort in another. This was to be Dante's first time trying tea after his doctor agreed it might be a good choice to aid him in teething & sleeping. Hence the multiple bottles. Hence his first tea party.

He had a nice fluffy blanket to lay on on one side of the spread, away from anything he shouldn't reach for, with his toys & a mirror to contemplate his reflection in. He was covered by a large parasol with one of Jimmy's scarves over it for extra shade. The fringe of the scarf also served to hold his attention as it waved in the soft wind against his kicking feet & exploring hands.

Bucolic.

Lazy.

Pastoral.

Well, if you ignore the large looming tower in the back at least.

Dante was relaxing & kicking back on his little blanket pillow, shaking his teether at the fringe as he continued to bat at it lazily with his feet. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Not minding Soraya as she combed his little swirl of hair to curl from left to right. Wiggling his toes in the breeze as Soraya wiped a little drool from his pink lip. He smiled a little eye-crinkling smile up at her, budding teeth showing, grey-green eyes sparkling up at her as his cheeks flushed pink with mirth. Like father like son.

Along with their books & treats lay a copy of the Financial Times for a certain Mr. James Patrick Page whom they were currently awaiting.

While they waited, Soraya played with Dante, shaking his rattle. She tickled his feet, getting a giggle & another smile around a teether he held to his mouth midchew. Figuring he was having a teething spurt, Soraya gently began massaging his cheeks, humming softly to soothe him. Dante babbled happily, chewing away on his toy.

She covered his ears momentarily before calling. "Jimmy! Teatime! Dante's waiting!"

"On my way, luv!" She heard his voice call back. Dante kicked & babbled happily at the sound.

"Yes! Daddy's coming! Daddy's coming! Dante's excited cause Daddy's coming!" Soraya cooed as the baby cycled his feet.

In short order Jimmy trotted out, striding quickly over to the blanket, & finding his seat beside Soraya. "Here we are! Hello, love." He greeted her with a kiss, pressing one to Dante's temple as well & gaining giggles, happy flails & babbles in return. "Good afternoon to you too, young sir."

"Look who's happy to see you today!" She smiled, tickling Dante to more giggles & babbles.

"I see! He's doing fine despite his baby teeth coming in," Jimmy noted, carefully inspecting Dante's mouth as he chewed on his teether.

"He's a little trooper." Soraya added with a kiss. "Done with work for the time being, baby?"

"All done!" Jimmy smiled, folding his legs in & taking his turn shaking the rattle for Dante. "Has he tried it yet?"

"No!" She shook her head, bringing the bottle of tea over to him. "You know I wouldn't feed him his first drink of tea without you around. I couldn't do that without you. Never!"

"Da! Da! Da!" Came the kicking response from the six-month-old.

"Apparently Dante agrees!" Soraya noted as both she & Jimmy laughed.

Soraya gently began to lift Dante onto her lap, facing Jimmy, asking. "Who is that, baby?"

"Da!" He repeated.

Both she & Jimmy giggled as Soraya cheered. "Very good!"

She then shifted Dante into the crook of Jimmy's arm, resting him across his lap. Wiping at Dante's dribbling lip with a soft cloth, she noted. "I think it's time."

She placed the tea bottle in Jimmy's hand, placing the cloth below Dante's chin as a makeshift bib. Pressing a kiss to both Dante's temple in kind & Jimmy's cheek, she hushed with as much reverence as the moment called for. "Go ahead, baby. Feed him his first cup of tea."

While Jimmy shifted Dante up into the feeding position, Soraya busied herself pouring both her & Jimmy a nice cup of tea. Plateing a few sweets for them each & bringing a little jar of rice cereal up closer in case Dante proved to be hungry as well.

Jimmy brushed Dante's lip with the nub of the bottle, Dante's eyes widening as he opened eagerly with another chorus of "Da!" Jimmy smiled an eye-crinkling smile as Dante took his first sip.

Eyes widened again. Brow furrowing as he drank. Trying to figure the new taste. Warm. Smooth. Slightly sweet. His eyes darted down to watch the liquid in the bottle, noticing the different ambered color.

Both Jimmy & Soraya held their breath.

But after a breathless moment, Dante took to the new drink with a happy gurgle, brow unfurrowing as he relaxed in Jimmy's embrace, pedaling & kicking his feet in the breeze yet again.

"He likes it!" Jimmy hushed in awe.

"Of course! He's English!" Soraya teased before hugging Jimmy from the back as he laughed. "I'm so glad."

She then busied herself by feeding Jimmy the odd sweet along with sips of his tea in between snatching sips & nibbles of her own tea & sweets herself.She then busied herself by feeding Jimmy the odd sweet along with sips of his tea in between snatching sips & nibbles of her own tea & sweets herself.

All the while she was watching Jimmy closely, taking in his delight with Dante's first tea, delighting in it herself. Drinking in his awe & hushed reverence at the little bit of them in his arms. Thrilling Soraya with how Jimmy was clearly and happily losing himself in his drinking in Dante as he drank in his first cup of tea. She then busied herself by feeding Jimmy the odd sweet along with sips of his tea in between snatching sips & nibbles of her own tea & sweets herself.

He was reveling in this moment clearly.

Soraya was too.

The gleaming glint of his smile. Rosy freckled cheeks rising high & nestled beneath two glimmering emerald crescents. His face creased in seemingly unrivaled mirth. Eyes twinkling. Jimmy's pink lips curved in the widest smile in response to the light in Dante's eyes as the giggling bab looked up at his father as his own pink pout happily drained the chamomile from his bottle.

Soraya saw as Jimmy's guitar callused hand softly caressing his mini-me's little tuft of black hair. Cooing encouraging & sweet words as Dante drank away. Pressing soft kisses to both Dante's cheek & to hers. Kisses that felt like his heart was leaping out & reaching out & embracing both of them in them. Kisses that had all of him in them. Just as they had all of him in that moment. As much as he had all of them in that moment.

Nor did she miss the tears in his eyes as he hushed a soft, "Thank you." To her. To him. To whatever benevolent, heavenly force led them to this moment.

Both of them reveling in this moment.

Indeed.

Autumn in London.

A late summer tea party picnic.

Baby's first tea party.

Lazing & lounging & cuddling on the lawn as a family of three.

Nothing could be sweeter.

~

Hope you guys enjoy~!

As ever this is forever under construction~!