by Katie McNamara
None of these characters belong to me. They belong to AMC and Rupert Holmes and everyone else at Remember WENN.
As Hilary’s fist came in contact with his face, Jeff crumpled to the floor. Scott and Betty rushed to his side while Hilary stood nearby, numb with shock. "Pumpkin!" Hilary cried out, finally regaining the ability to speak. She sank to the floor, taking Jeff’s hand in hers. Betty returned from the small refrigerator with an ice pack and flipped on the lights.
"Oh, gee. I have to get back to the writer’s room," she said, looking at the clock. "Come on, Mr. Sherwood. You have to be on the air in one minute," she added, handing Hilary the ice bag as she left the room.
After Scott and Betty left, Hilary moved Jeffrey’s head into her lap and gently placed the ice pack over his slightly discolored eye.
"Jeffrey, Pumpkin. Wake up," she whispered, gently rubbing his cheek.
"Hilary," he murmured softly.
"I’m right here," she assured him tenderly. "Now open your eyes."
Jeff slowly opened his eyes, at least one of them anyway.
"AAAAHHHHH!" he screamed, backing up to the couch and covering his face with his arm.
"Jeffrey, relax. I’m not going to hit you again," she said, gently moving his arm away from his face. Hilary picked up the ice bag from the floor and sat next to Jeff on the couch.
"There, doesn’t that feel better?" she said quietly as she replaced the bag over his eye.
Jeff gently set his hand over Hilary’s and moved it to his lap. "Hilary, I’m really sorry about what happened tonight. I only did it to make you jealous."
"You certainly succeeded in that," she said, laughing.
"Yeah, so I see," Jeff commented, lightly touching his bruised eye. "It’s just that...Hilary, you mean everything to me. And you are the only woman I will ever love. Not Betty, or Celia or...Pavla," he told her, gently taking her hand in his. "I’m not asking you to start over with me. I’m just asking you to forgive me. And we’ll see what happens from there."
"Okay, but you have to promise. No more running off to get married...unless its with me," she said, smiling.
"Scout’s honor," Jeff promised, holding up his hand.
Hilary laughed as she leaned over to hug him.
Just then, Scott and Betty came through the door. "Jeff? Hilary? Scott and I are going out for a real dinner. Would you two care to join us?"
Jeff looked at Hilary and seeing her positive response he said, "Sure, that sounds great. Just give us a minute to get our coats."
The two couples had a pleasant evening laughing over that night’s disastrous broadcast. After dinner, they went back to Hilary’s place for a drink.
"See, this is more like it," Scott said, putting his arm around Betty. "It could have been this way if Hilary didn’t decide to make Jeff jealous," he joked as Betty shrugged out of Scott’s grasp.
"Hey, Jeff. Remind me again. What color was Betty’s ribbon? Was it black or blue?" he quipped.
"No, Hilary’s black, Eugenia’s blue. Betty was red...I think," Jeff played along, causing everyone to laugh.
"Well", Betty said, yawning. "It's time for me to get home. Come on, Scott. I’ll share a cab with you," she said, throwing his coat at him.
Before they left, Scott turned and winked at Jeff and Hilary. "I’m an irresistible fool."
Shaking his head, Jeff smiled and stood. "Come on, I’ll help you clean up," he said, helping Hilary to her feet.
After all the dishes were dried and put away, Jeff picked up his coat and hat from the chair and headed for the door. Then he stopped as he saw Hilary. Her auburn curls falling over her shoulders and those striking brown eyes that he loved so much. It took every ounce of strength not to go back and kiss her. He hung his head as he opened the door and started out, but not without looking back one more time.
"Jeffrey, your eye looks terrible. Let me get some more ice for that," she said.
While she went into the kitchen, Jeff put down his coat and sat on the couch. Hilary returned and sat down next to him. She looked at Jeff and brushed her thumb along the area where her ring had made an imprint in his face. She looked into his eyes, seeing every bit of the pain and hurt she had felt over the last few months locked in his eyes at that moment.
Jeff took the ice pack from her, not wanting temptation to get the better of him, and stood. "Hilary, I have to go. It's getting late," he said as he got up.
"Okay," she said, following him to the door. "I’ll see you tomorrow."
Jeff put on his hat and turned as he opened the door and stepped outside. He looked into Hilary’s eyes then kissed her gently on the cheek and started down the sidewalk toward his hotel.
THE END
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