~This Feeling~

“Come on,” Matthew whines, “You guys have to practice.”

“Matthew, sweetie, it’s late. Your dad just came by to drop off this file and tuck you in,” she looks over at Bo who’s sitting in one of the chairs in the living room, looking perfectly at home, “A little help here dad?”

Bo smiles and pulls Matthew off the coffee table and onto his lap. He looks at their son and winks before looking up at Nora, Matthew’s head tucked under his chin, “I think our son might be right, Red. If we’re going to win and show those young ones that the old folks still have it, we better practice.”

Nora felt her heart begin to race at that one simple word, ‘Red’. It’s been years since she heard him call her that and she found herself having to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. She looks down at Matthew, his father’s smile firmly planted on his face. She looks up at Bo, his blue eyes twinkling. So many feelings began to well up inside of her as she looked at father and son. She found herself pushing those feelings aside, something she’s been doing more and more lately. She looks back down at Matthew and smiles, “Okay, Matthew, one dance.”

Matthew jumps off his father’s lap and runs over to the stereo behind the couch. He turns it on. The sounds of Little Richard fill the room. They turn and look at each other both knowing that the other is thinking the same thing, remembering the same memory. Bo walks towards her and holds out his hand, “Well, Red. Let’s see if we still got it.”

It only takes a matter of seconds before they are moving in perfect rhythm, as though they’ve never missed a step. Matthew watches his parents with a huge smile on his face. One dance turned into two then four, and before they knew it they had danced for almost the entire WVL oldies hour. It wasn’t until the DJ’s voice came over the radio announcing the end of the hour and the beginning of the classic rock hour, that they finally realized how much time had passed.

They pull apart from each other, their eyes locked; the fact that their son was sound asleep on the couch forgotten. She leans against the office doors, staring at him as he stands in the middle of the living room, the coffee table and chairs pushed off to the side.

He stands in the middle of the living room, staring at her as she leans against her office doors. Their hearts were still racing, their faces flush from the dancing and the feelings that came rushing to the surface, the feelings they’ve been pushing aside and fighting for way too long.

She continues to lean against the doors, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tries to catch her breath. Bo slowly makes his way towards her, their eyes never looking away as he closes the gap between them. He pauses just inches away from her, standing so close she could feel the heat rising from his body and the warmth of his breath on her face. He slowly reaches out, their eyes still firmly locked on each other, and places his hand over her beating heart, just like he did all those years ago.

She inhales deeply; his touch making her heart beat faster if that was even possible. She brought her hand up and laid it over top of his. A single tear rolls down her face, as she releases the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She looks down at their hands and then back into his moist blue eyes, “Bo…” she whispers.

He brings his other hand up and places a finger on her lips, silencing her, “No talking, Red.” He takes her hand and leads her back out into the middle of the living room, just as the commercial break ended and the first song of the hour came on.

I can't fight this feeling any longer.
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.
What started out as friendship,
Has grown stronger.
I only wish I had the strength to let it show.

He pulls her close, his hand finding its way to the small of her back, his spot. His hand was truly the only hand that fit so perfectly.

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever.
I said there is no reason for my fear.
Cause I feel so secure when we're together.
You give my life direction,
You make everything so clear.

 

As they continue to dance memories of the past year come rushing to the surface and play across their mind…

“He’s just a little boy…a little boy who just lost his father.”

“No…he didn’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Matthew’s my son.”

She looks up at him, her son’s father, the man that for so long held all her hopes and dreams. The man who knew her better than she even knew herself, and suddenly it was as though she could breathe; after all these years she could finally breathe.

And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the wind,
On a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

“He should’ve told me, he should’ve told me the minute he found out that Matthew was your son, your son. I can’t…I can’t believe it. He should’ve told me, he should’ve told you. You are his father; you had the right to know!”

He looks at her, the mother of his son, the woman that for so long held all his hopes and dreams. The woman who knew him better than he even knew himself, and suddenly it was as though he could breathe; after all these years he could finally breathe.

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.

Without thinking he pulls her closer against him. She lays her head on his shoulder, finding that spot up against his neck that was hers and hers alone.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

They continued to sway to the music, the words washing over them, burning into their hearts and their minds, just as the memories of the past year since they found out the truth were burned into their hearts and minds forever.

“So I’m not in trouble?”

“Bo got you off the hook.”

“Bo makes me feel better.”

“Yeah, he has a way of doing that doesn’t he?”

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running round in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl,
Cause you take me to the places,
That I'd known I'd never find.

“This is going to be the best train ride ever!”

*~*

“I want this to be the best Mother’s Day ever.”

“It already is.”

*~*

“Before I go Nora, Happy Mother’s Day.”

“Thanks Bo.”

“Matthew’s a lucky little guy.”

“Yeah, more than he knows.”

And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the wind,
On a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

“He stands to lose everything.”

“If you ask me…he already has.”

*~*

“Well I hope this song isn’t any omen, though.”

“Huh?”

“This song…don’t you remember we danced at Rodi’s to this song and won second place instead of first.”

“You know we should’ve won that contest.”

“Yes we should’ve.”

“But you never quite got that one combination down.”

“Me…It takes two to tango, buster.”

“Yeah, it takes the stepper and the stepee. I remember my toe being like black and blue by the end of the night.”

“Well you put it under my foot.”

“I bet you still can’t do the combination.”

*~*

“Pink but not bleeding, just the way you like it…now eat.”

*~*

“A long time ago, before you were born, Bo and I were married, but I told you that, remember?”

“Yeah, you used to eat a lot of junk food and go dancing all the time.”

“That’s right. And we loved each other, very very much, and together we made a baby…You.”

*~*

“You’re a woman of integrity and I think you’re going to make a hell of a DA.”

*~*

“What are you doing?”

“I’m calling Coulson, I’m going to concede.”

“Wait before you do, there’s something I want to do. Come here.”

*~*

“”I’m almost done my model airplane. Come on, dad come help me.”

“Wow…Cool…”

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.

His heart was beating so fast that he swore it would burst through his chest at any moment.

Her head was swimming, her legs felt as though they would go out from under her at any moment.

Both knew there was only one thing left to do…stop fighting.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

The song ended, the words still hanging in the air between them. She lifts her head up off his shoulder, looking deep in his eyes, seeing what was in her heart mirrored in his eyes.

He reaches out and places his hand against her cheek. She closes her eyes, the feel of his hand on her face bringing more feelings to the surface. She opens her eyes, reaching out also to run her finger down the side of his face, the feel of his stubble, evidence of a long day at work, against her skin bringing back so many memories.

He slowly leans in, she does the same; their faces just inches apart. His lips gently brush against hers, their first taste after so many years apart. One taste was all it took, their kiss deepening in an instant…their son’s eyes slowly fluttering open, a smile spreading across his face as he slowly drifts back to sleep, knowing finally his parents could no longer….

…fight this feeling anymore.

THE END…or rather the beginning….

“Can’t Fight this Feeling Anymore”

REO Speedwagon.