It's a Love Story

She sighed and moved into his lap again. "Would it be bad if I fell asleep?" she mumbled.

"No, but we should probably go home for that," he told her gently.

She shook her head and shrugged. "I'm being selfish." she chuckled. "You should be with your family..."

He shook his head. "No, honey, this whole get-together was to meet you. They all met you and now we can go home if you want," he told her gently.

"I think everything just finally caught up with me... Everything yesterday and we did so much today..." she mumbled, already falling asleep as she felt safe and warm in his arms.

He kissed her forehead and stood, carrying over to his parents to tell them he thought it was time to go home. They nodded and said goodbye to everyone before leaving.

They were half way out the door before Lilli woke up enough to stop them. "I have to talk to Grandma Rose... My stocking..."

Mike looked down at her. "We'll go to her house in about an hour. You need a nap," he told her gently. "And she's not leaving for a while yet."

Lilli nodded and sighed, laying her head back down on Mikes shoulder.

Mike sat her in the car and sat beside her, his arm around her instead of putting her seatbelt on for her. He carried her inside and laid her in his bed and went to change himself into some comfy pants and told his mom that she fell on her shoulder and asked her to look at it. Michelle did, very carefully. "It just looks more bruised. Put some ice on it, though, it looks like it's starting to swell a bit," she whispered, not wanting to wake Lilli up. "I'll give her some pain medicine when she wakes up to help."

A few hours later, Lilli woke up and made her way down stairs. She had changed into a short sleeve shirt and some sweat pants. Her shoulder throbbed, but she didn't let the pain show on her face.

Mike was playing Old Maid with Cassie and looked up as Lilli came down the stairs. "How're you feeling," he asked, putting his cards faced-down and standing, going to her and giving her a kiss.

Cassie went to hug her, still feeling bad about her falling.

"Im okay." she said softly, running her fingers through Cassie's hair. "My shoulder's throbbing a little and I think it's swollen..." she looked at Mike. "How long did I sleep?"

"Ma's got some medicine and ice for you," he told her gently. "You slept for a few hours."

She nodded and hugged Mike once before pulling away and smiling slightly. "Where is she?" she asked about his mom.

'She's out in the stables with pa. I'll go get her," he kissed her softly and pulled his boots on and walked out the door.

Lilli smiled and looked down at Cassie who was still hugging her. "What were you and mike playing?" she asked.

"Old Maid," she looked up at Lilli as Mike came back in with his Mom. "How you feeling, sweetie," she asked Lilli.

Lilli smiled slightly. "I feel a little better now that I've slept, but, my shoulders killing me. I think it may be swollen too."

Michelle nodded and got her comfortable on the couch, put ice on her shoulder, and got her perscription strength tylenol. "I'll call Grandma Rose and have her come here so you're not straining yourself," Michelle smiled at her. "We don't want you going without a stocking."

Lilli nodded and smiled. "I'd like that. But I don't want Grandma Rose to go to any trouble..." she said softly.

"She likes visiting everyone. She starts to feel trapped in her own house every now and then, you know?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I know." She felt that way all the time at her house.

Michelle smiled and went to call Grandma Rose. Mike sat beside Lilli, holding her hand.

Lilli smiled at Mike, leaning over to kiss his lips softly.