| I ran my hands through his hair and stroked his cheek as he slowly pulled out of me and gently set me down, being careful of my leg, which was throbbing uncontrollably now. He kissed me and quickly adjusted himself, then turned to help me. I had already adjusted my top and I was trying to bend my leg to get it back into my shorts. He gently helped me get them on, then slowly buttoned and zipped them for me. He ran a hand through my hair and rested his forehead on mine. He put his hands on my shoulders and grinned, "It's more fun to get them off than on, and that wasn't difficult at all...." he said mischeviously. I had to laugh. "I love you, you nut.." I told him and kissed his soft rosy lips. "I love you, too Jessie." he said quietly. "C'mon let's get that leg taken care of, I know it sore.." he said and began to help me get it wrapped and iced. We took a quick look at each other to make sure we looked respectable before we left the lavatory and Taylor took my hand and led me back to my seat. He helped me get the ice pack positioned under my leg, and then put his arm around me. I leaned back against him and sighed. Tay excused himself for a moment, saying something about needing a bottle of water, "ok babe, bring me one too if you find some." I smiled and sqeezed his hand as he got up. As soon as he was gone, Zac leaned across the ailse and gave me a sly look, "I KNOW it doesn't take that long to change a bandage, Jess.." then grinned. I reached across the aisle and smacked him in the arm, hard. "Zac, shut up you shit! And don't give Tay a hard time either, smart ass, or I'll have to take you out, boy.." I teased. "Ooh, I'm sooo scared.." he grinned and teased back, "you guys are disgusting.." he chuckled and leaned back in his seat as Taylor returned, two bottled waters in hand. He handed one to me, "Thanks, hon." I said and smiled up at him as he sat down next to me. I looked across at Zac, who was making a gagging face, and giggled. I gave him a stern look and pointed at him, as if to say, "Behave!" Zac mouthed "Ooh.." and wiggled his fingers at me, then laughed. Tay gave me a questioning look. I had to laugh again, "It's nothing, Tay. Zac's just being HIMSELF." I told him. Taylor put his arm around me again and we setteld back for the rest of the flight. |
| When the pilot announced that we were approaching the airport and were preparing to land, my stomach rebelled against me. It was doing sommersaults, and my nerves were twanging, making ne feel like the were beyond my skin again. I took a deep breath and let it out, slowly, trying to keep Tay from figuring out how nervous I was. No such luck. "Jessie, please.." he said softly. "relax, baby. We'll have a blast this week and my parents will love you." he squeezed my hand and then brought it to his lips for a kiss. "And I love you.." he whispered as he lowered my hand back onto his lap, but kept his grip on it, and smiled at me. I sighed. "I know, Tay. I love you too. But I still can't help being nervous." I said. He squeezed my hand again and smiled down at me. "I just hope you're prepared for the noise level.." I giggled, "Well, maybe no one will notice me..." "They'll notice, Jess, but it will be good. Calm down." |
| The plane landed, and we gathered up our things, the guys taking care of all the carry on bags. Even Zac lugged more than his share, as he wound up carrying both my bag and Tay's. Taylor wound up helping me weave through the sea of people at the airport, because my leg picked this paticular moment to throb uncontrollably and refuse to move properly. Taylor, very sweetly and carefully, led me through the throng without too much demand on my swollen leg. It was straining against the bandage and really needed more ice and a large dose of some kind of painkiller, ANY kind. I took deep breaths and blew them out slowly to keep my mind of the pain, but I felt like the biggest wimp. Here I was about to meet his parents and the rest of the family and I was barely walking, and Taylor was having to cater to me. I felt guilty. "God, Tay, I'm sorry...this is so unnerving...I can't even walk right...' I groaned. "Don't be silly, Jess. You can't help it..besides you injured yourself to protect ME.." he grinned and shook his head, "How am I gonna live THAT down? Zac has been at me non-stop when you're not looking.." he laughed. I rolled my eyes. "Oh my god Tay..I never even..oh dammit! I'm gonna kill Zac...the little shit..." "It's okay, Jess. Zac is just being himself...like you said. Besides, I woud have done the same for you...almost did 'till that burly brother of yours stopped me.." He smiled then, and I thought my knees would give way. "I have to admit I was a little unnerved at first, then you fainted in my arms and I forgot all about my ego.." he smiled devilishly. "My mother will probably kiss your feet." "OH NO TAY..she doesn't KNOW about all that ugliness does she?" I panicked. He laughed out loud. "Yes, Jessie. Do you really think that Zac could have kept that to himself for long? Come on, we're talking about Zac, who thinks you're more awesome than Xena the Warrior Princess now.." "Oh my god..." was all I could manage to groan. He chuckled at my dismay. "C'mon, Jess the throng that is my family is here to meet us." My stomach did the most intense flip I'd felt yet. |
| I had to sit right then. My head was swimming, my leg was throbbing and I could swear I was having a full blown panic attack. I shook my head slightly and choked out a whisper, "Tay...I have to sit...now..my leg.." He quickly found a chair and helped me into it. Zac turned to see what was taking us, and was also at my side helping me to sit. Zac set the bags down next to the chair and took the hand that Tay wasn't holding. I tried to smile, and then turned to Tay, "I am so sorry...just give me a sec.." I said, my voice barely a whisper. He squeezed my hand again and smiled. "Jess, it's OKAY...but I'm sure it's not just your leg.." He motioned Zac to pick up the bags and join him a few steps away. Zac nodded as Taylor talked, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Zac nodded one more time, and then hurried to catch up with Ike and Lacey. Taylor strode back toward me, grinning, and sat in the chair next to me. He ran his hand through his hair and took my hand again. "Doing better?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and groaned. "I feel like a great big sissy...stupid leg.." I grumbled. He laughed, "It's not just your leg and you know it, Jessie. I wish you would settle down, they're just my family. They are noisy but you will love them and they will love you, c'mon Jess. They're just parents." He gave my hand another squeeze. "Zac will be right back and then we'll go, okay?" I took a deep breath and nodded as Taylor put on hand on my back and rubbed, trying to relax me. I looked up just in time to see Zac striding toward us with a big, mischevious grin on his face. He walked up to us and asked Taylor, "Well, are we ready?" Tay just nodded and stood, but I could see he was trying not to laugh. I looked from one to the other, but they were grinning at each other. I inwardly groaned and wondered what these two dorks were about to do to me. They bent down simultaneously and each put an arm around my back, I lifted my arms to put them around each shoulder, thinking they were going to help me out of the chair and to walk. But they each slid an arm under my leg, Tay taking the sore one, and I realized these jokers were going to try to carry me. |