1.10 {Part I}

Kaylee stared down into Ty's sleeping face and then, with an evil grin, took a deep breath and yelled as loud as she could. To her annoyance he didn't even budge. Glaring, she took another deep breath and started to open her mouth.
"Don't even think about it," came the gravelly response from the bed.
Startled, Kaylee jumped. Frowning she stared at the blanketed form of Ty still curled up in bed.
"Why don't you come back to bed Kaylee?"
"Hello! We have work to do remember?" she snapped. She grinned when he groaned and rolled over.
"I still don't understand why we have to do all the work when that...that..." He floundered for a polite word before he settled on one that didn't nearly convey his anger. "Woman is the one that rented us a trashed apartment."
Kaylee grinned. "Two words: No deposit. Now get up," she said as she playfully slapped his hip.

With another dramatic groan he started to sit up. Kaylee cheered and he glared at her. "What is up with you this morning? I'm the one that usually has to drag you out of bed but today you're dressed and hyped up for no reason. You're sick you know that?"
Laughing she bent down and kissed him on the forehead. "I'm happy. It feels as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Being here, with you, is something that I never imagined. I want to enjoy every moment of it."
"Well hell," he grumbled as he headed toward the bathroom, "When you put it like that I can't complain." He shut the bathroom door with a little more force than necessary.
Chuckling to herself Kaylee wrapped her arms around her waist and sighed. It was true. She had never been more happier than she was at this particular moment. Sure, they were living in a run down apartment and were on a fixed budget but...she was with Ty and she was coming to realize that it just made the world a little bit more bearable when they were together.

Thirty minutes later they stood in the living room and stared at the mess in silence. After Kaylee had gone back to the realtor's, she had refused to let Ty go with her because she knew he would cause a scene, and explained the situation they had gotten a hundred bucks knocked off the rent and didn't have to put down a deposit. She had thought that was a fair enough trade but Ty was still disgusted with the whole situation.
"So," he said as slung an arm around her shoulders. "Do you want to tackle the inside or the outside?"
Biting her lip Kaylee walked over to the large front window and peered out.



That was just the front. She knew the back was ten times worse. She heard Ty open his mouth behind her and she knew that he was going to suggest rock, papers, scissors to try and decide. And she really didn't want to work outside so she quickly turned around.
"I'll take inside!"
He stared at her with a raised eyebrow and then with a shrugged went whistling outside.

Hours later Kaylee realized that she might have given herself the short end of the stick. There was dusting and vacuuming, scrubbing and moving things. Although, Ty would appear out of the blue to lift stuff for her before he would go back outside. To her annoyance she could hear him softly singing through the open kitchen window. It was if he was enjoying himself out there.
Wiping sweat from her forehead Kaylee stood. She winced when her back gave a twinge. Before she could move to massage the ache she felt a big, warm hand doing it for her. With a groan she leaned into him. "I hate you," she growled when she felt him chuckle.
He laughed out right. "What did I do?" he demanded as he pulled her into the living room. He sat down then tugged on her wrist. Giving in she flopped down on the carpet beside him.
"Why do you still have so much energy?" she snapped as muscles that she didn't even know existed twinged in protest. Ty started massaging her legs as he stared down into her face.
"Football practice."
"What?"
He shrugged. "Football practice. Coach has us outside in all kinds of different weather for conditioning and all that. Today was nothing in comparison to what we do several times a week."
"That's just sadistic."
He laughed before he tugged on the bill of her hat and moved to sit beside her. "That's the breaks kid."
"That's a horrible Bogart impersonation."
"And don't we get cranky when we're exhausted?" he teased.
Rolling her eyes Kaylee stared at him as he flicked on the TV and started to watch a cheesy horror movie.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew he was shaking her awake telling her to go take a shower.

Leaning her forehead against the shower wall Kaylee watched as the dirt and grim washed down the drain. Hearing the medicine cabinet open she peeped around the curtain to see Ty standing in front of the mirror brushing his teeth. He winked at her as he went about his daily routine. Chewing on her lip Kaylee hesitantly pulled back the shower curtain and stepped out.
"Why so shy? I've seen it all...and enjoyed it immensely," he said around a mouthful of toothpaste.

"It's completely different when you're in the moment," she growled slicking back her hair.
He shook his head, held up a finger as he rinsed out his mouth then turned to her. "Not to me it's not. I've memorized every freckle, every mole, every tattoo on your body. If I was struck blind tomorrow I would still known my way around your body." He stared at her intently before shaking out a towel.
"Now let's go to bed."

It became their routine. To curl up around each other before falling asleep. And every morning she would wake up cuddled in Ty's arms his one of his big hands palming the back of her head. She would look up and he would give her the sweetest smile as if he still couldn't believe she was there. They'd eventually get up and Ty would drag her into the shower with him.

He was an earlier riser in more ways than one.

They stood out in front of their place and stared at all the trash piled on the sidewalk. Kaylee nudged him. "See, with all this crap out the place isn't that bad is it? Plus you did an amazing job on the yard. Come spring their won't be any brown patches in the yard at all."
He grunted. "I still say we should have gotten more than a hundred bucks off."
Rolling her eyes she puckered her lips. "Give me a kiss."
He crossed his arms and stared straight ahead. "No."
"Come on," she said leaning into him while making kissing noises. She saw the edge of his mouth twitch then he turned and swooping her into his arms gnawing on her neck making her scream with laughter.

A few weeks later they invited a couple of friend's over to have a house warming party. And, being college students, they all converged around the food. Kaylee shook her head before she walked out to the living room. She had splurged and brought a little radio and amid the talking and laughing several people were dancing. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, she thought in satisfaction just before she heard screaming coming from the kitchen. With a groan she raced back into to see the Grant sisters involved in yet another screaming match.

"I told you to stay away from him!" Bea screamed at Diana right before she slapped her. A hush fell over the party. Everyone knew how volatile Bea could be and any moment they expected a fist fight to break out. The Grants weren't known to be close. Diana was the bright preppy one while Beatrice was a loner. Everyone thought that Bea and Kaylee would be thicker than thieves but it was actually Diana that Kaylee had been friends with in high school. They had drifted apart somewhat in college. Diana was involved in this whole secret society that Kaylee had no clue about. Plus she and that Dreamer kid were pretty close and for whatever reason Ty couldn't stand him.
With a sigh Kaylee step forward to break it up but Bea brushed past her and stormed into the living room. "What was that all about?" Kaylee asked Diana as she ran a rag under some cold water for her to put on her face.
Diana smiled in thanks then shrugged. "Bea thinks that I'm after her "boyfriend". She can't face the fact that her boyfriend has been after me for months now but I don't want anything to do with him." She sighed then shook her head.
"So, how are you and Ty? I can't believe you two have been together for three years. In high school you were always pushing everyone away."
Kaylee shifted uncomfortable. She knew what Diana was getting at. She had pushed her away as well. She shrugged. "I know. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself to-"
"Get the hell off of me!"
Kaylee froze when she heard Ty's voice raise above the music. Hurrying out of the kitchen she saw Ty peel Bea off of him and set her away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kaylee snapped as she shoved her away through the crowd to stand in front of Bea. "I thought you had a boyfriend. Why are you all up on mine?"
Bea snorted and leaned closer to Kaylee. Kaylee crinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol made its way to her. Apparently someone had brought alcohol even though Kaylee had told them not to.
"You think he's going to stay with you?" Bea sneered. "He's just waiting for something better to come along."
"You little bi-"
Kaylee held up her hand to silence Ty. "And you think you're better? Bea, Ty's free to go whenever he wants. But, seeing as how he loves me and I love him, I don't think either one of us is going anywhere any time soon. You, however, are no longer welcome here. I'll call you a cab."

A cab wasn't necessary. Apparently their party was louder than they had thought. A policewoman came and broke it up. Someone volunteered to drive Bea home and that was the end of their house warming party.



"You were so hot when you were telling Bea off," Ty said as he nibbled on her ear. "I just wanted to drag you into the bedroom and have my way with you."
Kaylee laughed and shook her head. "You are such a freak." She sighed as she ran a finger down the bridge of his nose.
"What?" he asked jiggling his knee making her bounce up and down.
"I was just thinking," she said as she gripped his shoulders to steady herself.
"About...?"
"What Bea said."
He groaned. "How many times do we have to go through this? I'm not-"
She pressed a finger to his lips to stop the tirade. "Well, we're full of ourselves aren't we? That's not what I was talking about. I was going to say that, for the first time I realized how much I really love you."
He grinned. "That's because I'm so gosh darn lovable," he said pulling her close.
She snuggled against his side. "For once I have to agree with you."


Senior year wasn't a joke. There was a crap ton, as Ty called it, of work to do. Between homework, classes and job hunting the time seem to move at mach speed.
"I have no clue what they're talking about!"
Kaylee looked up to see Ty toss one of his books down and stare at it in disgust. Pursing her lips she tapped her pen against the edge of her notebook before going back to her homework. She started a mental countdown. Five, four, three, two...
"I mean seriously how did human beings become so complicated? We went from single cell organisms to the complex hosts that we are now."
"And that's only if you believe in evolution. If not then we were always this complex."
He glared at her. "All I'm saying is that life would be simpler if we still had the mind set of a caveman."
"But where would society be if we still had that mind set?"
"We wouldn't know what we were missing out on if we never had it. Besides," he said with a sly grin. "I think I would enjoy dragging you back to the cave by your hair."
She threw a crumpled up piece of paper at him. He caught it and tossed it back. He grinned proudly at her when she caught it before it hit her face.
"So, what do you want for Christmas?"
She looked up, startled. It still amazed her that he thought about Christmas. For so long she had went without it but Ty insisted on it.
"I haven't really thought about it."
"Well, get thinking."
"What do you want?"
He stared at her in silence for several seconds then clearing his throat shook his head. "I don't care," he said shifting uneasily before going back to his work.

"I know it's not much but...this is our first Christmas together in our own place. I just wanted to do a little something to cheer it up."
Kaylee watched as her breath clouded in front of her before disappearing. She shivered as she stared up at the lights Ty had put up around the house. She slipped an arm around his waist as she blinked back tears.
"It looks beautiful," she whispered giving his waist a squeeze. His pulled her closer to him and stared down at her. Feeling his eyes on her she looked up at him. Snowflakes fell on her face and he gently brushed them off with a gloved hand.
"Snow becomes you," he whispered before pressing a gently kiss on her mouth.

Kaylee picked he perfect spot and then, with amazing precision, she fell back into the snow and started to make a snow angel. Some of the other towns she had lived in growing up didn't have snow. And even the ones that did she really hadn't enjoyed it. It was just another hassle. For one Janet had refused to turn on the heat and for another she used to have to trudge to school in it when she had overslept and missed the bus.
Carefully getting up she stepped back and admired her handiwork as she brushed the snow off of her. But this time around it was different. She, Ty and some friends from school would go out and skate on the pond or make snowman after snowman to try and see who could make the most unique. And of course there were snowball fights which usually ended with her and Ty making out in the snow once he tackled her.
Grinning she walked back into the house and stepped into the shower. Ty had called her earlier and asked her to wear something nice tonight. It was a Christmas tradition, he had explained. Instead of opening presents early in the morning his family opened them later in the day then had dinner. Since his parents were out of town this Christmas it was just going to be the two of them.
Kaylee dug around in the back of her closet and was pleasantly surprised when she pulled out a familiar looking dress. Slipping it on she stared at herself in the mirror. She spun around when she heard a wolf whistle.
"I remember that dress," Ty said stepping into the room. "You kissed me for the first time in that dress. You look even more amazing if that's possible."
Kaylee felt herself blushing. She took the arm he offered her and walked out to the living room.


Ty had insisted on a tree. What was Christmas without a tree, he had asked. Kaylee froze when she saw the pile of presents underneath of it.
"Ty, we agreed on two presents apiece."
He grinned. "I know. But I couldn't help it. Every time I went to the store there was something there that reminded me of you. Don't argue babe. Just think of it as making up for all the Christmas' you never had.
She sighed then at his gentle urging took a seat in front of the tree. "You open one first."
"We always open the first present together. It's-"
"Tradition," she said laughing before reaching for one. "Alright. Ready?"
They tore into their presents, laughing like giddy children. Ty had gotten her an easel and another pottery wheel since she had sold her old one. There was a load of lingerie that he insisted she model for him later.



"Okay," she said edging closer to him as she nudged a package toward him. "This one is yours. Open it." She gnawed nervously on her lip as he carefully tore the wrapping off. She stared down at the present as it laid nestled in the tissue paper. When he didn't say anything after several minutes she looked up to see him fightening back tears. When he saw her staring at him he gentle picked up the small statue with trembling hands.
"You made this?" he asked in a husky voice.
"Yes."
They stared at the statue in silence. It had taken her months to get it how she wanted it. It had taken her years to start to see herself as he did. It was a nude statue of them in a moment of ecstasy. Tastefully done, every detail carefully etched out.
"I call it Abandon. You make every wall that I've ever built coming crumbling down with just a touch."
"I-I don't know what to say Kaylee."
"Your expression says it all Ty."
Getting up he placed the statue on the windowstill before coming back and pulling her up and into his arms. They stood like that for several minutes before he pulled away.


"To you," he said as he poured the champagne.
She shook her head. "No, to us."
His smile was blinding. "I can drink to that."


"Whatever you've cooked smells delicious."
"It taste even better," he boasted as he served them then sat down across from her.
After taking a bite Kaylee had to agree with him. They ate and talked but Kaylee could see that Ty's mind was on something else.
"What's wrong?"
He abprtuly dropped his fork and dug into his pocket.


"I wasn't going to do this yet. I mean, I know we've been dating for almost four years now but we still have alot of growing up to do. I love you and I don't want to rush-"


"Are you going to let me see it or what?" she demanded as her heart hammered loudly in her chest. With a unsteady chuckle he pushed the box across the table at her. Flipping it open she stared down at the twinkling diamond.
"I know you're not big on jewlery and I know you're going to have to take it off when you throw clay but when I saw it I knew it would fit you." He took a deep breath.
"Kaylee, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to get married, have babies, watch our children grow up and find themselves. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up the same way. I want to be there when you need me and even more when you don't. I want to be the reason for your laughter and by your side to wipe away your tears. And when I take my last shuddering breath I want your scent in my nostrils and your face to be the last thing I see."
Tears were trickling down Kaylee's face by the time Ty finished. There was so much unabashed love staring her in the face. She would be a fool to throw it away.


And no one could call Kaylee a fool.