Type of work: Chapters of In Joy and Sorrow
Genre: Romance, fan fiction
Title: In Joy and Sorrow: Chapter Eight, Escape the tears
Author: dreamsinfiction
Fandom: Ville Valo of -H-I-M-
Rating: R
Warning: swearing, sexual tension, kissing
Summary: They realize time is of the essence
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

Links to previous chapters




Bubbles floating in the air, landing on the carpet just outside the bathroom. Kat giggled, her eyes going to Ville as he passed by again. Once again he was practically shouting into the phone. His body language troubled her and she wished he would come and join her in the bathtub. Afterall it had done loads to improve her mood. Or maybe that was the vodka. Or both. Definitely both.

"Ville!" she whined at his next passing. "It's getting coooold!"

At the returning pass, he stopped in the doorway. His phone flew over his shoulder as a smile came to his face. Each step he took into the bathroom, an article of clothing came off. Kat's eyes remained on his as he sunk into the tub with her, causing some of the bubbles to slosh over the side. She held the bottle towards him, giggling when he took a swig and some of it ran out of the corners of his mouth.

"Wasn't a good call at all, was it?" she asked before taking another drink.

He shook his head, "No. And I doubt not it will get worse. Perhaps things will get better in LA."

"Why? What's in LA?" she asked.

"We will be there for two weeks. Bam's supposed to be there. Jonna's supposed to be there. Maybe I can fix things then," he commented.

"Oh," her eyes dropped to the bubbles.

"Or end it properly, not over the phone," Ville stated.

Kat looked back up to him, "What?"

He sighed, "Ever since we decided to marry, she's changed. Or maybe I'm more noticing. She demands more from me all the time. She would probably kill me if she knew I was here with you now. I almost think she's going to ask me to stop doing what I do."

Her mouth opened slightly, "Quit HIM?"

Ville nodded, "She gets insanely jealous when we tour... and it's much more now. The only difference I can see is perhaps the fact we're engaged."

He reached for the vodka bottle and took another drink.

"I cannot marry someone like that," he stated. "All the years invested into this relationship, only to find going to the next level is... ill-suited for us."

"Oh," Kat repeated, looking at the bubbles again.

She really didn't know what to say. It wasn't like she had any great relationship stories to share with him and certainly no advice. Afterall she'd only had on serious relationship and that turned sour when he asked her to invite one of her friends into their bedroom. Otherwise it had all been casual dating. Certainly she was no expert to ask whether or not one should get married.

Especially since she was enamored with the man whose toes were touching her hips in the tub.

"Kat?" he uttered, breaking her thoughts easily.

Her eyes snapped to his, "Yes, Ville?"

His hands reached for the bottle and he set it aside outside of the tub. His next movement beckoned her into his arms. She only hesitated a moment before pivoting and laying her back against his chest. As his arms folded around her, Kat smiled to herself. She was no fool. This had turned out much better than she dreamed. All she had wanted to do was meet the band. And now she was naked in a bubble bath with Ville. Heaven could wait, she had all she needed in that moment.

"Let's never leave here," she declared. "Stay right here forever."

"But the bubbles would disappear," he chuckled.

Kat lifted her foot, causing a bunch of bubbles to slosh over the edge of the tub again, "Bubbles aren't forever anyways."

Ville's hand ran down her arm, "Perhaps not. But you want to remain here for other reasons, no?"

"Yeah," she smiled softly. "Other reasons. Just being with you."

His hand reached hers and their fingers intertwined.

"That would be nice," he commented. "Very nice."

"Really?" she pivoted her head to look up into his eyes.

"I cannot explain what it is, but there's just something about you, Kat. From the moment you walked into the room at the club, to the funny look you get on your face when you drink the first drink. It makes me smile," Ville declared.

Kat grinned and kissed his mouth quickly, "These past few days have been the best days of my life. I don't want them to ever end."

Her grin faded and she turned away from his face.

His fingers trailed over her skin, causing her to shiver slightly, "Sweetheart, do not be sad. Please?"

She nodded, though she could not escape the tears on her cheeks.

"Kat, look at me," Ville instructed.

She slowly turned in his lap, eyes meeting his, wavering slightly.

He sighed, "Do not be sad. Please?"

Ville kissed her softly. More tears snaked down her damp face when his soft lips touched hers. He cupped her chin, catching her tears with his thumb.

"Please smile for me, sweetheart."

She shook her head, "How can I? When in less than twelve hours you'll get on a bus and I'll never see you again."

"What? No. I most certainly will see you agan, Kat," he argued. "We are not saying good bye."

"We're not? I don't see how that's possible, Ville. It's not like I can just hop on the bus and tour with you," Kat argued. "Or hop in a plane and fly to wherever you are."

"Why not? You said you had no where to go after here. Come on tour with us," Ville stated.

"Yeah right," she rolled her eyes. "That's a good idea."

"Seriously. Come with us. Come with me."

Kat stared at him. The look in his eyes told her he wasn't joking. But she couldn't just up and jump on tour with the band. She had a life to get back to.

No, wait, she didn't.

She shook her head, "I think you've had too much to drink."

With that her hands went to the sides of the tub and she quickly stood, water streaming down her in rivelets. Stepping out a moment later, she wrapped a large towel around herself, leaving the bathroom and Ville behind. But he was a moment behind, pausing only to let the water from the tub.

"Kat. Really. Come with us," he trailed behind as she sat to brush out her hair.

"Ville, how is that possibly a good idea?" she turned to look at him. "I'm just one hell of a lucky fan who somehow crossed that line drawn in the sand. That's it."

He shook his head, "How can you say that? Did not today show you differently?"

"I just don't think this is a good idea," she stated, with a sigh. "Let me think it over."