It's a Love Story

He stroked her cheek and kissed her back softly. "Thank you."

She nodded and kissed him again. "mmh... I missed kissing you."

He chuckled softly and kissed her. "Only kissin' me," he asked, teasing.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. "And hugging you."

He smiled and held her closer. "I miss all of you," he chuckled, kissing her cheek.

she smiled. "Well, now I'm here. No more talking about missing, it's sad. Let's make new memories and take lots of pictures so we'll never forget."

He smiled. "Alright. But we have to feed you first," he said and helped his mom set the table.

Lilli stood, smiling at Michelle. "Can I help with anything?"

Michelle smiled. "Could you help put the food on the table?"

She nodded and got some plates, laying them in front of chairs.

Michelle smiled and finished up the dinner, putting the food in serve-able bowls.

Lilli smiled, sitting down when Mike sat down. "Mmh... this smells great."

Michelle smiled happily as they all sat down at the table and took each other's hands to say grace. "Thank you. Would you like to say grace or should I?"

"Ohh, can I do it, Ma," Cassie smiled.

Michelle smiled. "If Lilly doesn't want to, then you may."

"We usually don't say grace..." she said, turning a little red. ((lol. that rhymed)) "I really wouldn't know how."

Cassie smiled. "It's really easy! You bow your head like this and close your eyes while somebody says grace, then when they're done, you say 'amen'," she smiled and bowed her head. "Reach up high, to the sky. Reach down low, just like so. God is great, God is good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hand we all are fed. Thank you, Lord, our daily bread. Amen."

Lilli mumbled a slight amen and bit her lip. She didn't really believe in God, had no reason to, it felt weird to say a grace.

Mike murmured his amen and reached for the potatoes, scooping some onto his plate and passing them to Lilli. "Potatoes?"

She smiled and brightened a little, taking the plate, taking some potatoes and then passing the plate on.

Once all the food was passed around and he got his plate full, Mike thanked his mom for cooking dinner before he started eating, happy that Lilli could enjoy his mom's delicious country-home cooking.

Lilli smiled, eating quickly. It had been a while since she had a real home made meal.

Mike set his fork down on his plate when he was done, leaning back in his seat. "I'm stuffed. Excellent dinner, Ma," he smiled at his mom.

She chuckled. "My pleasure. What are your plans for the rest of the night?"

"Lilli said she wanted to ride Splatter, so we're gonna brush her and saddle her up so I can show her around," he smiled.

"uhm... Where am I sleeping while I'm here?" Lilli asked. she hoped with Mike, just so he could hold her and they could spend some more time alone together. But, she didn't know if his parents were that cool.

George washed down his food with his glass of water. "We thought you could sleep in Mike's room. He's offered to sleep on the couch or the floor. But if you're gonna sleep in your room with her, Mike, we're gonna hafta have Cassie sleep in there with you two," he said, looking at his son.

Mike nodded. "Understandable."

"Oooh, can I have a sleepover in your room, Mikey," Cassie asked, looking at him hopefully.

"Oh, I don't want to sleep in anybody's room... I was hoping to sleep with Mike, not in a sexual way... well, yeah, in a sexual way, but not until later... I should shut up now..." she sighed, looking down then back at everyone else. "What I'm saying..." she chuckled slightly, "Is that I can sleep on the couch, it's no problem."

He and his parents laughed. Mike shook his head. "We can have a sleepover in my room if Cassie wants one so badly," he chuckled. He did want to hold Lilli all night. Nothing sexual, just to hold her. And he wanted to make his sister happy, too.

Cassie cheered. "Yaaay!!"