Chapter 30

Faith watched the back end of Richie's car, he was driving the silver sports car again. As she followed him she had some time to think. She realized it then that with the guys there she might be able to pull Jon aside and ask him about Richie's birthday. She wanted to surprise Richie and would need Jon's help to do so. She hoped Jon didn't balk at the idea. She just didn't want Richie to be alone on his birthday. Not that he would be alone, he would be with the guys and they had a show to do, but she wanted to be with him on his special day.

Faith had a horrible thought, what if he didn't want to be with her?

Faith shook her head, not after what happened in her backyard. He would want to be with her, wouldn't he? She tried to shake that thought from her head. Things were too good between them to start having thoughts like that now. I'll just talk to Jon and see what happens. The worst he can do is say no.

They pulled into Richie's driveway and she watched as he parked his car in the garage next to the huge Hummer he also owned. She shook her head, who really needed a vehicle that big? She was out of her car and at her trunk when Richie came up beside her. He took her bag from her and led her into the house.

Richie stopped her at the foot of the stairs, "wait here" he kissed her and took her bag upstairs. He was back not more than a minute later. Taking her hand he led her through to the kitchen. "I have something for you." Faith watched as he crossed to the corner counter where his mail was waiting for him. He took something from the drawer and came back to her. "Here." He placed the item in her hand. She looked down, it was a key and a slip of paper with a four digit number on it. She looked up at him, "you're giving me a key? To your house?" She was too surprised to care how dumb the question sounded.

He grinned at her. Richie had given this a lot of thought during the car ride. Looking at her now, to see the true surprise and unexpectedness of his action, he knew he had been right to follow his heart, to trust her with this. "Yes Faith, I am giving you the key to my house and the code to the alarm." She looked at him, her green eyes wide, "but why?" Richie took her free hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it lightly. "Because I ..." the doorbell rang. Dammit! Richie kissed her hand again before letting it go "I'll be right back" and he went to answer the door.

Faith heard the commotion down the hall and realized the troops had descended upon them. With a sigh she slid the key and slip of paper into her pocket. Hopefully they could finish their conversation later.

The din got louder as the group approached the kitchen. Faith noted that they all looked a little more than travel weary. Jon approached her, giving her a peck on the cheek, "hiya Faith". She smiled at him and gave him a hug, "hi Jon, its nice to see you again."

Richie came over to her and slung his arm around her shoulders, leading her toward David and Tico. "Guys, this is Faith." He looked at Faith, his eyes smiling, "Faith, this is David and Tico." It felt right to have her there at his side, introducing her to his friends. Dave and Tico shook hands with Faith, "its nice to meet you both" she told them. Dave turned to Richie, "Now I get why you were such a grouch for the last two weeks and why you were in such a hurry to get home." Tico had his own jab for his friend, "so she's the one keeping you fat and happy, huh?" Faith ran her hand down over Richie's stomach and then smiled at Tico, "happy yes, but fat? definitely not!"

The group moved to the table and as they sat, Faith snuck a look at Richie, he was sitting in "their" chair. He winked at her, knowing just what she was thinking and she felt the heat rush through her at the memory.

They talked of the last two weeks and the flight home, of their upcoming schedule. Faith watched them all, seeing the weariness creep into all their faces. "So" Jon turned to Richie, "got anything to eat around here?" Richie gave his friend a smirk, "didn't you guys eat on the plane?" They all shook their heads no. Richie looked at Faith, "what do you think, should we feed these heathens or let them starve?" Faith smiled at him, "might as well feed them," she looked around the table, "can't have you all withering away to nothing. What would your fans think?" Faith and Richie worked together and in short order had a pot of decaf, a pile of toast and a steaming hot platter of spicy scrambled eggs on the table.

After the food was gone and the pot of coffee just about emptied, the guys, all looking like they were about to fall over, excused themselves and left Richie and Faith alone. They put the kitchen back in order and Richie led Faith to the living room and he pulled her to him as he sat down on the couch. She rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. Richie kissed her head, "thanks for helping me feed the masses." She kissed his cheek, "my pleasure. So, are you going to finish telling me why I get a key to your house?"

Richie cupped her cheek and raised her face so he could look at her, "you really don't know?" She shook her head "no, I don't." He suddenly felt slightly nervous. He hadn't said the words to anyone other than Ava and before that it was Heather, but no one since. He kept his eyes on hers, "Faith, since my divorce, I haven't cared enough to let anyone this close. Until I met you. I want to share my home and my life with you. I love you."

Faith didn't say anything, couldn't find any words to express what she felt in her heart for him. So she showed him. She kissed him, pouring everything she had into it. His arms came around her and held her close, returning the kiss with more passion then he had felt in a good long time. They undressed each other, hands and mouths playing over each other, there was no urgency, only the slow burn of pleasure and passion. When they had pushed each other to their limit, Richie lay Faith back on the couch, he told her again "I love you Faith" as he slipped inside her. He watched her as she came, waiting for the tremors to settle. He moved in her slowly, driving her to the edge again, this time holding nothing back, falling over with her.

He was laying on top of her, their hearts settling and breathing easing. She stroked his back, enjoying the after almost as much as the before. He shifted slightly, dragging her closer. She pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and covered them. As he started to drop off to sleep he heard her whisper "I love you too Richie."