I have been so busy reading the wonderful Halloween stories, that I haven't had time to post a long one -- but I thought I would throw in my attempt with a bit of short 'fluff'. Do you realize what you all have been doing to poor Sue this Halloween?! Kidnapped, injured, struck down, haunted, immersed in the dark, scared out of her wits!!!! I just couldn't contribute to it all! So, I decided that Myles needed this:

Myles sighed with relief as he navigated his car onto the road. He'd been a little out of his element tonight at Lucy's Halloween party...alright, alot out of his element. The group he had just left -- party still in full swing -- were the closest he had ever come to true friends, yet he still felt it next to impossible to unbend in their presence. Generations of Leland reserve coarsed through his veins. He tried to shake it -- thought he was doing a pretty good job of laid back banter and cunning jokes at the office. But the unstructured frivolity of the Halloween party was almost his undoing. The more he tried to unwind, the stiffer and more reserved he had become. He knew they were used to him being that way, and no one probably thought anything of it -- though he had caught Lucy giving him the odd glare -- but what they didn't know was that he didn't want to come across that way. It seemed he was cursed with his father's stuffed-shirt, stiff upper lip mentality whether he wanted it or not. He thought it might have been different tonight -- that he might have been different. He certainly felt differently inside. Softer, gentler -- more at peace. Since he met her, his walls of reserve had started crumbling. She'd been doing a great job the last couple of days of chipping way at him, brick by brick. At first he'd fought it -- fought with her -- but now, he found himself reaching out to her more and more often. Looking forward to the end of the day when he could be with her again.

No one at the office knew. Infact, no one at all knew about their chance meeting nearly a week ago. No one witnessed their awkward first moments -- no one who knew them anyway. No one was there, the night he invited her home, or witnessed him letting her out of his house the next morning. She'd be there now, probably trying to stay awake, waiting for him to come home, so they could climb the stairs and go to bed together -- like they had done every night this past week.

Frankly, it was the lure of her presence at home that had pulled him away from the party earlier than anyone else. Oh, there had been some half hearted protests when he declared he was going -- but no one really tried to convince him to stay longer. Indeed, he'd only really stayed as long as he had because he wanted to talk to Sue. If anyone could understand, he knew she would. Understand and not judge. And he needed her advice. On quite a few matters pertaining to his new living arrangements. He needed to understand the femine side of things. He was so sure he would make mistakes, blunder in and do untold damage to this blossoming relationship and her sweet and gentle nature. He knew Sue would understand. He trusted her. Probably more than anyone else in the world. He had some pangs of guilt when he thought of how he had treated her two years ago. When had his opinion changed? When had he begun to care for her -- when had be begun to think of Sue as his sister? Myles sighed in frustration as he pulled into his driveway. He would have to try to muddle through this night -- this weekend and approach Sue on Monday.

Bracing himself as he bounded up the steps, he slipped the key into the lock. He really should have invited her to the party tonight. It would have been the perfect place to introduce her to his friends. To get it all out in the open and all the awkwardness and embarrassment over with. But he hadn't quite been able to muster up the nerve, and now he was home, facing the gentle reproach in her eyes. But this parragon of femininity didn't hold a grudge. Her welcome with filled with warmth and love -- and dare he hope that he saw blatant adoration in the dark depths of her brown eyes?

"I know...I know I should have taken you with me tonight." Myles apologized. "I'm sorry -- and don't take that lightly, I never apologize -- well nearly never. You would like them, my friends. They're good people. Understanding people. They wouldn't judge you. They'd have welcomed you with open arms. I've been as obnoxious as I know how to be, and they keep embracing me into their fold. You'd have felt safe there. No one would have cared about your background or your upbringing or that I virtually picked you up off the streets. They'd have loved you as I do. How could they help it? How could I have helped falling in love with you. Can you forgive me? "

She rained his face with kisses -- hurling herself into his arms, writhing against his body in ecstacy at his return....at his kindness and devotion to her. She had waited for him, infact this past week she felt that she lived for him and these moments they could spend together. This was the only time she could remember in her life that she felt safe.

Myles felt her love cascading over him in waves. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs.

I did say this was very short -- here is the conclusion -- I didn't think I would have time to put it in the first post -- but my ride to church is a tad late -- so here it is:


The sun streaming in the bedroom window helped to gently wake Myles the next morning. He stretched sleepily and smiled when he felt the warmth at his side -- where she still slept, her nose buried under his armpit. He started gently tickling her soft white belly in circular motions, she started and half sat up beside him. Her look still spoke volumes of adoration. With the sun streaming in and her obvious devotion, Myles felt more at peace with the world than ever before. And it was then that he realized he wouldn't have to wait until Monday to talk to Sue.

"I know what we'll do today -- we'll go meet up with Sue and Levi at the park." Myles exclaimed excitedly. "You'll like Sue -- and it won't be so overwhelming to meet just her. The party last night really would have been too much for you. I was right in leaving you at home. I'm sure she'll be able to help us out."

Perplexed brown eyes met his. Myles sat on the bed and sighed. He gently stroked her face.

"Look, I know you can't understand what I'm saying. You can't even hear what I'm saying. But trust me, we're going to work this all it. Sue will help." He sprang to his feet and motioned her to follow him. She did so, unquestioningly. Hurrying to the hallway, Myles began rummaging in the closet.

"We have to hurry -- Sue's a morning person, and she'll have Levi at the park now. We should be able to catch them..ah -- here it is...Gracie, look." Myles turned, holding the brand new, red leash in his hand. The perplexed look immediatly lifted as Gracie atlast understood. She excitedly chased her tale three times and then sat for the leash to be attached to her collar.

Myles snapped it on and patted the fuzzy black head.
"It's going to be okay." he told her solemenly. "Sue's going to help us work this all out. I didn't know it a week ago -- but Gracie, you're the one that want!"

LOL, wonderful story!! That was great! hehe. To tell you the truth, I suspected that Myles had gotten a dog from earlier on in the story, because the other implications just.... well, didn't jive... but they were great just the same. hehe. I love that he's broken down enough to find a companion. After all, pets can be the best listeners, and they almost never judge.

Ack! I had no clue until the end that his new roommate was a dog. Perfectly delightful and such a surprise to find out she is actually a dogshe.



This is exactly how I picture Myles thinking about his own stuffy behavior. Wonderfully written.



Simply said but implying so much about his relationship with his friends.

Great story with such a beautiful twist.

Kav, that was wonderful! You write Myles very well...any chance we'll see more of your work, perhaps a Myles fanfic? I know I'm not alone when I say it would be very welcome!!!

I've got to agree whole-heartedly with Michelle's comments on Myles - they are so astute, and speak volumes about the man that we occasionally catch a glimpse off, hidden away behind his public persona.

I've got to say, kav, I love this story. Short and sweet most definitely works here - I am thrilled to find such a wonderful last minute entry into the challenge - well done! And I really, really hope this is just the start of your posting, as I love to see lots more from you in the future. To put it bluntly - you write good!!!

Pam is right, Kav--you write good, really good! To be honest, I had a funny feeling that the new 'woman' in his life might not be quite what you were implying...I loved the 'reveal' at the end--wonderful job! And you absolutely have Myles pegged; I would love to see you write more Myles stories in the future. Great work!

Nope, JP...I'm right there in the cheering section with you! I know; it's hard to believe that I would enjoy a Myles story, isn't it?

Great job, Kav! Like the others said, I think you write well and you have great insight into Myles' character. Can't wait to read more of your work!

i have to say the dreaded...

ditto to everyone else

that was really great...short but wonderful

Hi everyone,

Thanks for you kind comments. I was pretty scared about posting anything -- never tried anything like this before. I never intended to write about Myles -- I was trying to think of a good J/S scenario -- but so many of you beat me to it with great, imaginative plots and twists -- that I just gave up that idea. Plus -- I was thinking of writing a Halloween story from Levi's perspective, and then I read that Levi has his own 'memoirs' going here -- and really, who can write better from a dog's perspective, then a dog -- so I didn't do that. I guess I just had 'dog' on the brain -- and I wanted cut Myles some slack. Hmmm...maybe there could be a love story between Levi and Gracie?! Anyway, thanks for your comments.
Kav

Wow, what a great little fic...Loved a new perspective on Myles...it fits him because we've seen him 'cave' at work when it comes to dogs...so this is very believable.

Sidenote:
Is Gracie deaf??? I'm thinking that's why he especially wants Sue's help. I don't remember anyone else mentioning it so I may have just embarrassed myself

Hi Bigfan,

Don't be embarrassed. You're particularily astute. Gracie the dog is deaf...I had a friend who rescued a little deaf dog who was quite a handful until she figured out how to train her with hand signals, and to not go sneaking up on her from behind. Poor little thing had been abandoned (and definitely abused, probably because her original owners hadn't realized she was deaf and just thought she was 'bad'). It took alot of patience and care, and the dog was never good in huge crowds, and timid of strangers, but she was a happy little dog. I thought giving Myles a deaf dog might help him come to terms with how he has treated Sue in the past....thinking too deeply about a series character, eh? Oh well...I'm having fun here.
Kav

Oh wow!! I really didn't interpret that line that way--great catch, Tracie! I took it to mean that she couldn't 'understand' the words he was saying, silly me! That makes me look at things a lot differently--great idea, Kav...any chance we'll get to read more about Myles and Gracie in future stories???

Aww...



Hope ~