**CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Maddie was elbow deep in potato salad when Tim and Billy arrived for lunch. She had to smile as she heard her mom's enthusiastic greeting, while she ushered them towards the back door. "My sister and her family haven't turned up yet, but Landry's outside firing up the barbecue with his dad, so feel fee to head out there too."

Billy nodded his thanks a disappeared through the door, while Tim spotted Maddie in the kitchen, and detoured to join her. "Hey," he greeted, dropping his keys on the bench.

"Hey," she replied, looking up with a small smile before turning her attention back to the salad. She could feel him staring at her down bent head, and fought to keep the smile on her face.

"What's wrong Mads?" he asked, his finger tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You've been funny since we left church..."

She needed to break the contact, and turned twisted her face away from his hand. She couldn't summon a smile this time.

Tim sighed, having a pretty good idea of what was bothering her, and turned to lean against the bench beside her. "...Lyla?"

"Is there still something there Tim?" she burst out. "Because, I mean, I don't know what's goin' on between you and me, but if you've still got feelings for Lyla, then maybe we should stop. I don't want to be strung alo-" her tirade was cut short by Tim's lips crashing against hers and Maddie forgot what it was she was worried about.

As he pulled away, Tim had to grin at the dazed expression on the face before him. "I have no interest in Lyla Garrity any more, Mads. Yeah, we had somethin' a while back, but it's over. Done."

"I just don't want to get hurt, Tim," she replied softly, recovering from the kiss. "I like you, but I can't stand being lied to. If there's still something there, just be honest with me. I can take the truth. Just don't ever lie to me, ok?"

He grinned, knowing it had taken a lot for her to make that little confession. "I promise. I like you Mads, I really do. You don't need to worry about Lyla, or any other girl, ok? ...Ok? he asked again, at her lack of response.

"Ok," she replied, lifting her eyes to his just in time to see his head swoop. This time the kiss was gentle and sweet. A reassurance.

A small cough had them springing apart like guilty children, and Maddie groaned inwardly at the sight of her mother at the entrance of the kitchen.

"So, uh, I guess I'll be headin' outside now," Tim said, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Ma'am," her greeted her mother with a nod of the head before practically running out of the room.

As her mom took a pace beside her at the bench and began preparing another salad, the silence was killing Maddie. "Ok, mama, out with it. Let's have it."

"Let you have what sweetheart?" Tabby asked, her face the picture of innocence.

"Oh come on," Maddie laughed, "I know there's a witty remark rolling around in that mouth of yours, just itching to get out!"

Her mom grinned, and shrugged her shoulder. "You're old enough to make you own decisions, Maddie. I trust your judgement. And I like Tim, he's a nice boy. I just hope he knows that if he hurts you in anyway, you're father knows the right people to make a murder-charge go away..." (**)

Maddie laughed, planting a kiss on her mother's cheek, just as the doorbell rang. She ran to answer it, knowing her cousin would be on the other side. "Hey!" she cried, throwing the door open and pulling Sophie into a hug. "What?" she asked, looking around, "No Ry today?"

"Nope, he had to work," her cousin replied, making her way down the hall.

Maddie turned just in time to catch Adam as he sprang into her arms, and smothered his cheeks in kisses as Angie closed the door behind her. "Where are your folks?" she asked, letting go of Adam and watching him streak down the hall.

"They'll be here soon," Angie replied, struggling with the grocery bags in her hand.

Maddie grabbed a couple as they wandered slowly towards the kitchen. "Tim and Billy are here again," she said softly, grinning as her cousin's face brightened at the sound of Billy's name. "There's a really cute bikini in my top drawer and feel free to use my make-up, if you want..."

She dumped the bags on the kitchen bench and made her way out to the backyard, leaving Angie with her mom. Adam, Sophie, Landry and Tim were already in the pool, while Billy was keeping her dad company at the cooker. She couldn't really be bothered changing out of her sundress and into her bathing suit just yet, so she settled for sitting on the edge of the pool, her legs resting in the refreshing water.

Tim spotted her and made his way over to the side of the pool, laughing at her warning look as he mad to splash her. Instead he settled for standing between her legs, his elbows resting on the concrete on either side of her thighs. "So... did your mom have a fit?" he asked, his eyes squinting against the sun.

"Nope," Maddie replied with a grin, "she trust my judgement, and thinks your a nice boy."

They were still laughing as her mom and Angie stepped through the back door, followed by her Aunt Caroline and Uncle Stu. "Perfect timing!" her dad called, "Meat's done."

Maddie raced over to give her aunt and uncle a hug, as the rest of the 'youngans' made their way to the table. Lunch was such a loud and raucous affair, Maddie had to feel sorry for their neighbours. Adam monopolised Tim once again, while his mother was being monopolised by Billy. Maddie spotted Sophie watching them from the corner of her eye, and had to suppress her laugh. "Coming to the bonfire tonight Soph?" she asked, reaching for a piece of chicken.

"You betcha," she replied, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Would you mind picking me up on the way through? Ryan's going to swing past after work and he'll take me home."

Maddie nodded, her mouth full of salad. "You need a lift, Tim?" Landry piped up from beside her.

"Nah, I'm good," he replied, welcoming the break from Adam's incessant chatter. "I'm picking Street up, so we'll just meet you there..."

The rest of the afternoon was spent laughing and eating, before everyone ended up in the pool, including her parents. Maddie was pleased to see that Angie had taken her advise and changed into her little yellow bikini, a move that had not been lost on Billy. And she was even happier later that afternoon when Angie pulled her to the side and confided that Billy would be joining she and Adam for pizza and a movie that night. It was great to see Angie so excited about a guy again.

It was much later when the Miller's finally said their goodbyes, Sophie calling out to remind Maddie to pick her up. Maddie stood on the porch with Tim, waiting for BIlly to say his goodbyes to her parents. Tim was leaning against the rail and Maddie was standing between his legs, her back against his chest. She couldn't help the sigh the escaped from her lips, or the look of contentment that settled on her face.

Tim grinned, hearing her sigh, and leant his head towards hers. "I forgot to tell you how good you looked this morning..."

Maddie shuddered at the feel of his breath against her ear and smiled. "Funny, I was thinking the same this about you," she chuckled, as his eyebrows rose. "No really, I have to say, I'm a big fan of that black shirt!"

Tim laughed, shaking his head, as Billy opened the front door, followed by Landry. They straightened and Tim dropped a quick kiss on her lips while the other two were preoccupied. "So I'll see you later?" he asked, making his way down the steps, as Billy paused to drop a kiss on her cheek.

"You will," she replied before calling out, "See ya Billy. You have a good night, now..." and laughed at his shocked expression as he climbed into the truck beside Tim.

"What was that about?" Landry asked quietly from her left.

They both waved as Tim pulled away from the curb with honk. "Billy's have dinner with Angie and Adam tonight," she sang, as they made their way towards the front door.

"Wow," he replied, holding the door open for her, "Looks like love it in the air for everyone, now, isn't it?" he laughed as he dodged his sisters hands.

"Don't you start, old man!" she laughed as he bumped into the wall.

Landry's singing could be heard in the street as he slowly closed the front door. "Riggins and Maddie, sittin' in a tree... owww!!"

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(**) Ironic, considering what would happen with Landry and the rapist…

Sorry if this seems like a bit of a 'filler'...