Dreams: Beah 02

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and it was created solely by me as the author. Any similarities to characters, businesses, places, or things are all happenstance, though my appreciation to those who have

inspired

my works is immense.

Author's Note:

This is the second part in a series about the Nickels family. I believe many of you will (or already have!) come to love Bekah, Dave, Joe, Nancy, Bob, and Nana. (Who doesn't love a spunky, lovable, doting Nana?!) While it was recently criticized that I claim this work has a slow buildup into the hot and heavy scenes, I maintain that fact, and you will understand why I say this after the next part is consumed by you, my dear readers. I promise, it's worth sticking with it! Remember, my stories are STORIES, so many details make for fun, exciting, and interesting plot lines. Questions and comments are welcome. Please take the time to rate this story also. I hope everyone will be kind.

Recap:

Dave smiled. "After four hours of putting my hands and mouth all over your upper body last night, I'm afraid if you are contagious, I've got it. And now," he sighed as he thought about their escapades, "I guess we'll both be taking cold showers this morning. Dang it!" he yelled and shut the door.

Bekah laughed and laid back on the bed. She was sure she heard the shower curtain close, but that was all she remembered. When she opened her eyes, Dave was standing over her with a look of sadness. She tried to sit up, but she was stuck. She tried to wiggle, but her body wouldn't move.

Dreams: Bekah 02

"It's a shame," Mom shared as she stood next to Dave.

"Yeah," Dad agreed as he remained behind her. "She had such potential."

"Wait, what? I'm right here!" Bekah yelled. They didn't react.

"If only she'd have come from a better family," Dad stated and shook his head.

"At least I don't have to take cold showers anymore," Dave said with no emotion. "Ah well, it was fun while it lasted," he added and turned to walk away.

"Dave! Dave! I'm here!" she screamed. "Dave! Wait!"

Dave ran up the stairs and flew to Bekah's side. She was thrashing in the bed. "Dave," she yelled again.

"Bekah, Bekah, wake up! Bekah?"

"Dave! Dave! Dave!" Bekah yelled again, this time trailing off.

"Bekah, please wake up." When he pulled her into his arms, she woke with a start and pulled away from him, but he held her.

"I've got you, Bekah," he assured her and rocked her until she stilled.

She was shaking as silent tears began to fall.

"I was lying down, and you and Mom and Dad were standing over me," she choked out. "I guess I was dead because I couldn't move, and you were all saying it was a shame and talking about how I had such potential. It was even pointed out that the reason I was there was because I didn't come from a better family. And then you said that at least you didn't have to take cold showers again, and you turned and left me. No matter how hard I tried to call out to you, you wouldn't turn around. I just kept saying your name."

"Yeah, Beck," he answered. "We all heard that from downstairs. I came racing up thinking you were calling me. You know, like it was 'awake you' calling me. But how do you feel?"

She pulled away from him and felt her forehead. "What time is it? I should take my temperature." She tried to get up, but he continued to hold her.

"Beck, hold on." He turned his head to the door. "Mom?" he yelled. "Can you bring up the thermometer please?"

"Coming!" Mom yelled back. When she entered the room, she walked right over to hand it to her. "Did you have a bad dream?" Bekah nodded. "Well, again, pressure of this week, I'm guessing. Give it 72 hours," she predicted. "I think you will begin to feel all sorts of better after that." She winked at Bekah and took the thermometer from her. "Oh good! It's down to 100.6. That's still a fever, but much better. Come downstairs," she instructed. "We can have a late lunch. It's too early for more ibuprofen, but we can sit together to watch a movie."

As the day continued, Bekah ate lunch and fell asleep on the couch. Mom was worried that she'd eaten too much, even though she'd stated that she was just hungry. Mom had grabbed the big bowl from under the counter and set it next to her just in case. When Bekah woke up, she had a worried look on her face.

"Dave! Bowl," Mom yelled, and he caught it just in time.

"Come on," he told Bekah as he held the bowl to her and helped her up to walk to the bathroom. She continued to vomit. Mom followed holding Bekah's hair back.

"OK," Bekah sighed after dry heaving a few times once the food was out of her. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Get cleaned up, and I'll take your temperature again," Mom instructed as she walked out of the bathroom. "To take more ibuprofen, you'll need to get something back into your stomach."

"No more toast!" Bekah yelled and sat down on the toilet. "Dave?"

"What's up, Beck?" Dave asked as he rinsed out the bowl. He was acting as if he was unaffected by the whole episode.

"Doesn't this bother you?"

"That you're sick? Yeah, I'm scared that there's more to it than just nothing. That you threw up? Nah, for better or worse. I committed to that the day you brought me soup and stayed with me five years ago."

"I need a new shirt. And a washcloth." Bekah looked down and sighed. "What can I eat that I won't throw up?"

"I have crackers and clear soda out here for when you're ready!" Mom yelled at her from the living room.

"Do they have bionic hearing?" Bekah asked in a regular voice.

"Sometimes!" Dad yelled from the living room.

"God, I hope not," Dave whispered and smiled to himself as he thought about the prior night and then about their upcoming wedding night. Once they moved into the house, they'd continue to engage in marital activities. He really hoped the walls were more soundproof than he was giving them credit. He caught Bekah looking at him and whispered to her, "Don't you dare say 'truth,' or we'll both be awkwardly smiling when we go back in there."

"Oh," Bekah replied and smiled as she looked down. "So, about that shirt..."

"Right! I'm on it," he told her and took the bowl with him as he left the room. Bekah sat back, leaned forward, and put her head in her hands.

"Here ya go, Rebekah," Mom told her as she walked in with a fresh, cold washcloth. "Take that shirt off. I'll throw it in the laundry." Bekah gave her an odd look, but Mom waved her shock away. "Oh, Rebekah, he's seen your bra before." She tsk'd and laughed. "I'm well aware of what you guys are doing up there." Bekah's reaction was even more shocked. Mom whispered, "I know you don't think you're the

only

ones who've been hot and in love. I see things. I

know

things." More to herself, she said, "I've

done

things."

Bekah took off her shirt just as Dave was walking in. "Wow, huh, that wasn't expected. Here's her shirt," he told his mom and turned to walk back to the living room.

Mom laughed quietly to herself. "Bekah, I've raised my boys right, no matter how

Joe

behaves," she shared in a hushed tone and laughed again. "I raised them to be considerate, whether it's about manners or privacy," she told her and pointed in the direction of Dave's room. "I've taught them to appreciate the good things in life," she said with a wink and continued, "and I've taught them to especially be respectful of women. In private," she said even quieter, "he will enjoy being with

all

of you." She pointed at Bekah up and down in reference. "But, like just now, he'll look at you differently, or

not

look at you in this situation, when I'm standing here."

"Joe would have covered his eyes and run away screaming about seeing his sister naked," Bekah offered in a quiet voice and laughed as she pulled on the new shirt. It was one of Dave's. She loved these.

"I'm going to go brush my teeth and fix my hair into a braid again. I'll be right back to eat those crackers," Bekah told Mom and patted Dave on the shoulder as she passed him on her way to the stairs.

When she walked into the bathroom, she was a little bit sad. She thought about the day and the fever and the food and the sickness and the bad dream. She looked in the mirror and repeated the words she could still hear in Dad's voice. "If only she'd have come from a better family," she quoted aloud.

Dave walked up behind her as she brushed her teeth and shook his head at her reflection in the mirror. "That's what's making you sick, I think," he told her. "You took in too much this week. Not only did we step up our relationship from just friends to two days from getting married, but you also found out some life-changing information about your past. Bekah, that's a lot to process in a year, let alone a week."

She finished brushing thoroughly and spit out the water with which she'd been rinsing as he finished talking. She wiped her mouth and turned to face him. She had the comb in her hand and ran it though her hair. As she separated the three parts to braid it, she stared at the floor. She didn't know what to respond. She finished and rubber banded the end and put her arms down.

"Dave, I think about the life-changing stuff. I think about how it upsets me. When I've done the demolition thing, it always ends up with me throwing plates at the wall and screaming, mostly at Harold. I hate that they left me even though I don't care that I won't see them again. Does that make sense? I am mad that it was all done intentionally. He would go away so he didn't have to be burdened to go to some dance with me. He didn't care about me at all. I was just something that needed to be upkept.

"And her. How sad that she had this amazing love, and it was over before she could even process that she was pregnant. She even said she never wanted me. Even if it's the truth, does anyone actually use those words? I've read the letter ten times. Every word in that letter was picked intentionally. She'd been writing and writing it until she decided on the correct draft. I bet Harold never even knew she'd written it."

"But Rebekah," he said softly, "I want to make sure you know that your upbringing, though horrendous and painfully short on love, has no impact on how we look at you, think about you, and love you. That quote you just told yourself is a lie. It's the pain and suffering and fear and anxiety which is within you that's making you feel this way. I hate the feelings you're suffering. But I'm so glad you came into my life. God," he breathed with tears in his eyes, "Rebekah, I love you. I just want you to be OK."

She leaned forward and put her head on his chest. He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. As she put her arms around him, she told him, "I love you too, David. It's bittersweet. I hate that I've lived that life, but everything changed when your family moved here. I became aware of what life should be like, about what love is, and what family is."

"Ah," he sighed with a laugh. "Too much emotion this week. All good stuff, but a lot of it." He turned her to walk in front of him and kept his hands on her arms. "Let's go load up on some sick food. Crackers and clear soda!"

They went downstairs and Bekah munched on a few crackers. When she'd eaten enough to make Mom satisfied, she was given two pills of ibuprofen. "I wonder if the larger dose made you sick. Let's just stick with this for now."

Bekah did as she was told and rested for the remainder of the day. When she had her temperature checked before bed, it was 98.6. Mom was excited, and Dave was relieved. They just had to see how she'd do the next day.

When Dave got ready for bed, he made the difficult decision to take all extra activities off the table. He was well aware that this was the last night they'd be spending together until their wedding night. Her health and wellness were just too important.

Bekah finished in the bathroom after he did and turned out the lights in the room. "Now, just to make it through the night," she told him and cuddled up to his side. She was asleep before he could tell her his decision.

In the morning, the alarm went off at 8AM. Bekah sat up and stretched. Dave was in the shower. She sat back and felt her head hesitantly. It didn't seem warm. She was about to get up when there was a knock at the door. "Come in," she answered. Mom walked in and smiled.

"May I check it please, just for good measure?" she asked and whipped out the thermometer from her pocket. When it beeped, Mom took it and smiled. "It's even a little low. That's wonderful. Our appointments are at 9:30AM. Don't bother washing your hair. They'll be doing that."

Dave opened the door and only wore jeans as he dried off his hair with a towel. She remembered the way he'd done that exact thing the night they admitted their feelings for one another. She smiled and blushed. Mom turned to look at what Bekah saw and smiled. "And that's my cue," she whispered and tapped Bekah's leg.

Dave walked over and sat next to her. "What's up?"

"Mom just caught me admiring you as you walked out of the bathroom." She smiled and blushed again. "My temp is below normal, so she's happy. And we have appointments at 9:30AM."

"You like what you see?" He looked down at his chest and smiled.

"Enough to now need a cold shower," she answered with a sigh and tried to get up. "Dave, I need to get up." He was still smiling and leaned in towards her. "Dave. Cut it out. I need to get up."

"You'd deny me the last opportunity to corrupt you before our wedding night?" he teased and continued to move in on her.

"Dave! Oh, you're gonna get me in trouble!" she hissed. She squealed and laughed as he tried to get at her neck. "Dave! Ah!"

He reached under the covers to pick her up. He kissed her on the mouth and then said, "Ah! I didn't even get one of those last night!" He set her down and attempted to smack her butt as she walked to the bathroom but missed when she'd managed to sidestep his move.

"Oh! You've gotta be quicker than that!" she taunted and screamed again when he ran over to her. She wasn't able to close the door, so he stood in her way to block her exit.

"Tease, tease, tease, Rebekah," he accused and shook his head. "Whatever will I have to do to teach you a lesson?"

"There are many lessons which will be learned very soon, future husband. But for today, on the day before my wedding, I need to do bachelorette stuff! And you have a bachelor party with strippers and beer and smoking to get to!"

"More like pizza, soda, and demolition, my love," he said to her and smiled. "And maybe some unwanted advice from a man who likes to share too much and a guy who has little to no experience himself." He laughed. "Now, may I please have a hearty kiss which will hold me over until after you come back here, even more impossibly beautiful than right this minute?"

She smiled and placed her hand on his stomach. She let one finger trace up to his chest and then up to his neck and around his shoulder and down his arm. "I suppose you could have one little kiss to tide you over," she told him and leaned in to wrap her arms around his neck. She let her lips meet him before giving him one of the most powerfully sensuous kisses they'd ever shared. He slid his arms around her and held her as she pressed her body to his. She knew this was torture for him. Knowing they'd had no activities the night before and nothing to come that night had to be killing him.

He pulled away and declared, "God, woman! You were sent to torture me!" He stepped back and put a hand through his hair before standing still with his arms on his sides. His chest was moving up and down from the heavy breathing he'd been having.

She smiled innocently and waved. "I'll see you later, Dave. Have a great time with Dad and Joe. I love you!" She closed the door and let out a huge sigh. "Cold shower, here I come," she whispered and turned on the water.

When she was done with her longer-than-usual shower which hadn't even included washing her hair, she put on a nice top and jeans. She was looking forward to this with Mom, especially. Nana would just bring the fun when she came to get her nails done.

Bekah went downstairs and smiled at everyone in the kitchen. Dave was sitting on the other side of Dad at the kitchen table, presumably because he didn't want Bekah to torture him anymore. She felt a little bad, but she knew he'd forgive her, at least after he saw all that she had set up at the house for their special night. She felt her cheeks getting warm and turned to grab a plate being handed to her. She purposefully chose the seat farthest from Dave. She didn't want to accidentally touch or look at him.

"Well, boys!" Dad announced and looked from one to the other. "Are you ready for some good times? I have some ideas which will take us into the afternoon. Then tonight, I thought we should have a family game night since the next evening will be short Joe and most likely Nana too. Be ready. We're leaving when the girls do."

"What?" Joe asked and dropped his fork. "Pizza in the morning?"

"Nope," Dad answered. "Pizza in the big city! We've got a drive ahead of us."

Bekah ate her eggs and toast and smiled at Mom. She'd been watching her carefully, Bekah knew, but Bekah hadn't made eye contact until then. She had a feeling Mom had a few more words of wisdom to share with her while they were out at the salon.

"I love watching you look at Dave," Mom told her when they were in the car. Bekah turned to look at her as Mom backed out of the driveway. "It reminds me of how I used to always look at their dad, especially after a shower or at the pool." She smiled. "Sometimes I look at him now in a similar way, but Dad doesn't see it, and the feeling fades."

"Make him see it, Mom," Bekah suggested confidently. "I'm certain that if he knew you were having these feelings and desires, he'd be more aware. Tomorrow night, he will know for sure when he sees you in that dress, and out of it." Bekah nodded. "I may not have the experience of sex, but I do know what affects Dave because of what we've done so far. And you know what used to affect Dad, and you'll maybe learn more in the next week. I'm sure of it."

"Rebekah, I think you're my new best friend. I feel so confident lately. I'm sure there will be much to share after the wedding. Perhaps we should meet for lunch?"

Bekah reached out and touched Mom's hand. "I'd love that. Now," Bekah said with a clap and rubbed her hands together. "What are we getting done today?"

"I think I'm going to get my hair dyed and cut a little," Mom answered and then looked at her nails. "The mani/pedi experience is my favorite. And I think I'll enjoy the facial. I haven't had one in years. I know this old face could use the touch-up!"

"Mom! I am going to need you to stop calling yourself old! I think that a good facial will be great for you, but please stop downing yourself! You're beautiful!"

"Oh, Rebekah! You make me blush. Anyway, what are you thinking?"

"Do you think if I went a shade darker, Dave would mind? I have always wondered about getting my hair dyed, but nothing too radical. And it hasn't been cut in some time, so that's a must. I think the facial will help me to relax even more. And I can't wait to get all dolled up with pretty nails! I want the French manicure on acrylics. Not too long, but just enough to stand out."

"Ooo," Mom replied and smiled. She looked to be thinking a little, and then shook her head. "That'll be nice."

"What was that?" Bekah asked. "You were going to say something and then stopped yourself. Lay it on me, Mom. Don't stop with the ideas now."

"Well, it just makes touching a little more exciting is all I was thinking," she responded and blushed. Bekah watched her turn a shade of pink and then blushed herself.