Some days are bad - Cabin in the Swamp

"Get us a warsher and dryer, one of them jap made generators too. Some more clothes for ya. Maybe sumpin' perdy to wear in your ears."

She nodded.

"You want that new TV? Might as well get what we can."

"We ain't layin' low no more, so we might as well just have a big 'ol spending spree. Take you to a nice fancy sit down eatin' place, get lots of new things."

She nodded.

"Can get a new doll, and some new dresses for the older girls. Vicky's been asking for one. And get the kitten some good food."

"We don't have a kitten yet" he chuckled "Yes, dresses for your girls, a new doll. Don't you get it love, we can be normal again."

She looked around the room they were in.

"Do we have to move outta the swamp?"

"No, we don't. We'll stay put. You bought this place a long time ago, remember?"

She looked confused for a moment, then smiled as she remembered.

"Right. This is my land. My trees and plants and waters."

"You take good care of us Bethy love"

She nodded up at him.

"Have to take care of Love. He treats me good and uses me good, and is the bestest ever."

If the Malkavian could have blushed, he would have.

"It's a two way street honey. We care for each other, because when all else fails, we can only trust each other, and whatever flying crate I can get into the air."

She crawled into his lap.

"Bestest. Bethy only good because of Chet."

Once again he petted her hair and smiled "Bethy gives Chet something to believe in, and to ground himself. Where did you put our books love? Want me to read to you from Service?"

Around her, Chet eventually relaxed and his grammar improved. Redneck he might be, but redneck was well read.

She giggled and scrambled out of his lap and out of the cage, making a beeline for the main room. She would be back in a minute with the book, giving him plenty of time to move out of the cage if he wanted to.

He got out of the cage and sat in his favorite chair. When the ghoul returned with the book and had snuggled back up, he turned to a particular poem and started to read

She was happily listening to him read. He could never tell if she was actually taking in the information, or if she was just taking in his voice. But did it really matter?

He read several more poems from the book before gently closing it and smiling at the ghoul.

She was grinning up to him.

"Love you."

"Love you too" he said while giving her a quick kiss

She snuggled.

"Bestest. What can Bethy do for Chet man tonight?"

"Just be happy" he smiled "I'm glad you are feeling better"

She wiggled happily.

"Always happy with Chet. Want do more."

He ran his fingers lazily through her hair and smiled some more.

"Just having you means so much to me honey. Why don't you find a movie you like and let me hold you"

She giggled and went to go get Lady and the Tramp on VHS. It was a bit on the scratchy side, as she had watched it so often. Totally not up on the modern times, were these trashy rednecks.

He smiled and took her back into his arms when she got the movie in. "Gonna have to get a DVD player and a bunch of DVD's now eh?"