The Midnight Train Crossing

RC woke one morning and rolled over to nuzzle Lily. "Morning Lil," he greeted.
She just groaned in response.
He blinked, "Lily?.... are you alright?"
She took a deep breath, "When this kid comes out of me, he is so grounded for making me sick."
RC gently felt her warm forehead, "I'll go get a repair truck if you want me to..."
"No, just some aspirin," she replied.
"I don't know Lil...." he said slowly, shaking his head, "Aspirin's not the best for a baby..."
"Lovely," she replied sarcastically.
"Sorry Lil..." he propped himself up and brushed the hair from her face.
"Yeah... not your fault," she replied, closing her eyes again.

"I'm calling in sick and telling them I'm staying home today," RC decided. He didn't want Lily to be home sick by herself.
"No," she said, "I'll be alright. I'll call the repair truck or someone."
"But..." RC started to protest.
"I'll be okay," she said, "Look, I'm feeling better already."
"Lil..." he watched her as she got to her wheels. She was right, she seemed steady.
RC sighed, "Alright Lil... you know how to reach me should you need me..."
"I know how to reach you if I need you," she replied, "And if I do need you, I won't hesitate to call." She kissed him, "Now go on."
He returned the kiss. "Alright... I just worry about you Lil. I love you..."
"I know," she said, "Tell you what, if it'll make you feel better, when you get home you can pamper me all you like."
"Alright," RC kissed her again, "It's a deal."
"I'll look forward to it," Lily grinned, "But you'd better go, I don't want you to be late."
He gave her one more kiss and headed off to work.

"Whew..." Lily sank back down into bed, rubbing her sore head. The coach rested for a few minutes and then picked up the phone.
"Hello?" her friend Aliah, another sleeping car answered on the other end.
"Hey," Lily said, "you busy?"
"For you hon? Never."
"Can you come over?" Lily asked, half-pleading, "I think... I need some help..."
"What's wrong sugar?"
"Baby's making me sick..."
"I'll be right over."

Lily had made her way out to the couch by the time Aliah arrived.
"Hi," Lily said weakly.
"Hi," Aliah looked around, "No RC?"
"No," she said, sitting up, "I sent him off to work."
"Well at least I know he hadn't just gone off and left you," Aliah teased.
Lily smiled, "I didn't want him hanging around all day... he'd just be pacing around the house driving the both of us nuts."
That made Aliah laugh, "Just what we need around here, two crazy cars."
Lily giggled softly, "That's why I've got you."
"Glad I can help," Aliah replied with a little bow, "Speaking of which, did you need anything?"
"I'm open to suggestions," Lily said, "Anything that'll help a headache."
"There's always herbal tea," Aliah replied, "I'll make some."
Lily gave a nod.

In almost no time, Aliah had returned with a cup of hot tea. "Sometimes if you can get something in you, you'll feel better."
"Thanks," Lily said, moving over so Aliah had room to sit.

She took a sip of her tea and sighed, resting her head on Aliah's shoulder. "I'm not a fan of this whole sick thing."
"I know hon," Aliah replied, "No coach is."
"But it's just something we gotta put up with, right?"
Aliah nodded, "Right. And if we're coupled to the right train, he helps us through it."
Lily giggled a bit, "Ryan would do the whole thing *for* me if he could."
Aliah laughed slightly. "It's good that you found some-train like RC. Proof that not every coach needs to fall for an engine."
"Yeah," Lily smiled.

"The wedding is soon," Aliah added.
Lily nodded, "I'm sorta glad it's not an elaborate one." She touched her stomach.
The other sleeper nodded.
"Maybe after the baby... we can renew our vows on our anniversary and have a big wedding..."
"Sounds like an idea."

There was a sound outside and Lily looked up. "Hey, Aliah? That's the mail... see if I have anything?"
"Alright," Aliah got up and went out to check.
After a few minutes she came back into the house. "I'm sorry..." she started.
Lily sighed, "Why hasn't she written back?"
Aliah moved back to the couch and gave Lily a gentle hug, "I don't know sugar... she could be busy."
"Too busy to write me back?"
"I wish I had answers for you," Aliah replied.
"I mean, if she's mad at me, she doesn't stop talking to me..." Lily smiled slightly, "Actually, she doesn't shut up if she's mad at me."
"So if she was mad at you for this... you'd most certainly hear from her."
Lily nodded, "but if she wasn't mad at me, she'd want to be involved in this."

"It could be possible that she never got the letter," the sleeper said simply.
"You think it got lost in the mail?" Lily asked.
"It's possible," Aliah said, "You could try writing her again... but it won't get there in time for your wedding."
"Yeah, but at least she'll get it..."

Lily stood up and went over to the kitchen table, "I'll do it now, and then ask Ryan to mail it when he comes home for lunch."
Aliah smiled and gave a nod. Not only did it seem that Lily was feeling better, but she seemed a bit happier. "Would you like any more tea?"
"Yes please," Lily said, starting in on her letter.
Aliah got another cup and brought it over to her, "How's your head?"
"Feeling much better," she said.
"Good," she said, "the tea usually does the trick."
"It's just bad in the morning lately," Lily said, "I hope it won't get any worse..."
"I don't think it will," Aliah said knowingly.
"Good," Lily sounded relieved to hear that and Aliah had to laugh a bit.

With Aliah's help, Lily had made lunch, and it was ready by the time RC rolled into the house.
"Hi Ryan," Lily greeted him with a kiss.
He kissed her back and then took a whiff of the food, "Smells good in here. How ya feeling?"
"Much better."
"Wonderful!" he chuckled slightly and took her gently in his arms.

"Aliah is here," Lily said.
"Oh is she?" he smiled, "Good. I'm glad you weren't alone."
Aliah stood in the doorway to the kitchen and gave RC a wave.

"Lunch is ready, Lily if you two would like to eat."
"Thanks Aliah," Lily said, taking RC's hand and leading him towards the table.
Aliah set the last plate on the table, "I'll leave you two alone now, I've gotta get home anyway."
"Thanks," Lily said.
"No problem hon, just call me if you need company when RC goes back to work."
With that, Aliah left.

Midway through lunch, Lily turned to RC, "Before I forget, can you do me a favor?"
"Anything Lil, you know that."
She set an envelope down next to him, "Mail this for me when you go back to work?"
His dark eyes went down to the envelope, reading the address. His eyes grew slightly, "Another one Lily? But you've sent one already."
"So I'm sending another," she replied.
"Why?"
"Because I haven't gotten an answer yet."
He swallowed a lump in his throat, "I'm sure Belle'll write back. Rusty may be taking her time...Give her time..."
"But she would have written back by now," Lily said, "I think that the first one may have gotten lost."
He looked down at the letter, trying to hide how uncomfortable he was. It would just be another he'd feel guilty *not* mailing.
"Please Ryan?" she asked.
He couldn't look at her pretty blue eyes.
"Well I guess if you don't have time, I could..."
"No!" he burst out. Then he realized how that had sounded, "I mean... you shouldn't have to... I'll do it..."
She smiled and leaned over, kissing him lightly, "Thank you."
"Yeah... anything for you..."

She blinked, "Ryan? What is it?"
"It's... it's nothing...."
She caught hold of his head, turning it in her direction and forcing him to meet her eyes.
He could only meet her eyes for a moment before he looked down to the table.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," he insisted, "Really..."
"Well... I know you wouldn't lie to me."
"Of... of course not Lil..." his hand clutched nervously around the new letter.
"But... you might just... neglect to tell me something."
His hand clutched tighter around the envelope and he stood up.
"Ryan?" she asked, setting her hand on his.
He pulled his hand away, "I... better get back to work..." He put the letter in the pouch on his belt (along with the other)
She nodded, "Thanks Ryan." she gave him a kiss.
He didn't say a word, not even returning the kiss.

RC left the house without looking back, feeling horribly guilty. He *was* lying to her... and he was the one that was making her worry about her sister.

When RC returned home he found Lily reading on the couch.
"Hi honey," she greeted him, "how was your day?"
"Okay..." he replied, moving past her, heading towards the bathroom for a shower.
She got up and followed him, "Ryan?"
He looked back to her.
"Ryan, what's wrong?"
"Nothin'..." he replied, "I'm just in need of a shower, Lil... hot and tired..."
"Oh. Alright then."

After his shower, RC went back out into the living room and sat down with a sigh. He ran a hand through his hair.
"Ryan?" Lily asked softly - almost timidly.
He slowly looked up at her.
"Did I do something?"

That made his eyes widen slightly and he looked to her, "No Lil... it's not you." The last thing he wanted was to make her feel bad... she was perfect...
The only problems were with him.
He skated over to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "You've done nothin' wrong... trust me. I love you..."
"Then why won't you tell me what really is wrong?"
He looked down. He couldn't tell her. "Just... trust me Lil..." he looked down, "It isn't you..."

Lily sighed inwardly. For the past few days now, RC had been so distant... She couldn't help but notice that something was wrong with him, and she had been beginning to suspect that it was her fault...
Well she couldn't take it any more, it was time to bring it all out into the open.
"Ryan..." she started, "I..." and then trailed off, unsure of what exactly she wanted to say.
"Yes?" he prompted.
"These last few days..." she tried again, "It... It just seems like... we're not as close."
"I... I jut have a lot of things on my mind..." he confessed, "The wedding... the baby..." He looked up at her, "But... I love you Lil, more than anything. *You* aren't any of my worries."
She hugged him.
He slowly put his arms around her as well. "I'm sorry..." he said again.

For her part, Lily relaxed. It was stress. Nothing more. Stress she could deal with... in fact, she was pretty good at dealing with it. She looked up and kissed him, slowly intensifying it.
When they parted, RC gave her a small smile, the first since lunch time.
She stroked his cheek lightly as he gazed into her intensely blue eyes. Once again, RC was struck with how beautiful they were.

"I hope our baby has your eyes..." he confided in a whisper.
She grinned and her hand strayed up to play with his messy blonde hair. "So maybe we'll have a blue eyed blonde," she said.
He chuckled, "A combination that's irresistible."