014: Viva La Vida

She'd found the box he'd left for her in the middle of the bed, a note resting atop a bed of tissue paper, printed in that oddly precise block script Rick used that reminded her of the lettering one might find on a set of blueprints.

Wear this and meet me downstairs for drinks.

When Kayla pulled the pale pink tissue back, there was champagne-colored material underneath. She held the dress up, admiring the shimmering fabric. The sleeves were sheer and the neckline was low-cut. Also, in the box were a pair of golden strappy heels that matched the dress perfectly. It would appear as though she had a date and the realization had her stomach in knots. The time they'd been spending together had been more casual and even though they'd been intimate more than once, she still felt a flurry of butterfly wings when she thought of getting all dolled up for him.

It had taken her a couple of hours to get herself completely ready and when she studied her appearance, she'd never felt more beautiful. The champagne dress Rick had chosen for her fit perfectly and hugged her body in all the right ways. The heels accentuated the length of her legs flawlessly. She took the utmost care with her makeup that evening, pinned her hair up for a change, and put on a pair of simple teardrop diamond earrings. They had been a gift from her grandparents for her thirtieth birthday.

She'd been in the club only one other time when it was empty – it seemed like a lifetime ago. Now as she walked down the stairs and approached the bar, she could hear her footsteps ringing out loudly, making her want to flinch. She'd never been one for big crowds or nightclubs, but she understood why Rick was so proud of the place. It managed to be both timeless and trendy with the mixture of dark wood and neon lights. She had a chance to admire it now, walking past the grand piano, her hand trailing over the lacquered and polished surface. She could picture him there, playing something melancholy while the whole room held their breath. She shook off the image, making her way slowly towards the bar as it was the only thing in the room fully illuminated. A drink sat there atop a coaster and she recognized it as the one he'd recently added to the menu after testing it out on her. He'd called it a Pineapple Upside Down Cake and it was sinfully sweet but absolutely delicious. Pulling out her phone, she tapped out a quick message to him as she took a seat on the tall stool.

She heard the ping of his phone and looked up to see him standing at the end of the bar. His dark eyes were locked on her and he looked incredible, dressed in a black suit with a subtle pinstripe pattern in shiny silver thread – it would have been nearly invisible if not for the laser lights reflecting off it as he made his way towards her. He'd gambled on the dress, buying it on a whim as he passed a shop on Rodeo Drive – he'd bought it the day he'd come back to find LJ standing in his office and it had sat in a garment bag in the closet, forgotten until today when he'd seen the perfect shoes to match. Looking at her now was utterly surreal. She looked like one of the Disney princesses that he'd once accused her of envying.

She looked like a Greek goddess, like Aphrodite, back-lit with the glow of the spotlight she hadn't even realized was shining down on her.

"Should I check that?" He chuckled softly, almost seeming embarrassed at the intense look she was giving him. He brushed it off as he reached her side and his hand rested gently on her back as he leaned in close, his breath warm against her neck. "You look fantastic."

She breathed in the scent of his cologne, feeling immediate comfort. "You're who to thank for that." She turned on the stool and smiled warmly up at him. "I don't even know how to thank you for the dress and shoes." He looked so handsome, which wasn't a surprise, but he was a sight to behold. "And welcome home." She leaned in and hugged him, holding on for a few seconds longer than she normally would have. "How was the meeting?"

"Fine," he replied dismissively. "Nothing to report. Everything's cleared off the plate for a week, at least."

Smiling widely, she pulled back but rested her hands on his arms. "Well, I'm glad I've got you all to myself."

His smile was warm, lighting up his eyes. "Such selfishness! You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"Are you surprised?" Kayla hopped off of the stool and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Her hand came up and rested against the other as she leaned in to whisper in his ear, "you're a bad influence."

Rick laughed as he pulled back slightly, and his gaze went to the drink she had sitting there, more than halfway full. "How does that thing taste? Good?"

Nodding, she grabbed it and took another sip. "It does – it's sweet and I can't taste the alcohol. It's dangerous. Just like someone else I know."

"Is that so?"

"Mmmhmm," she nodded, "also, I'm thinking after we have drinks that we should order a pizza. Theeeen we can cry over Toy Story Four. Well, I will; you can just let me cry on you."

"If that's what you'd like to do." He settled himself on the stool next to her, turned so that his knee was deliberately touching hers. "As long as it's not on this suit. It's dry-clean only, after all – I'd have to deduct the cleaning bill from your pay."

She had finished about half of her drink and then set the glass on the counter. "To be honest, I think it would be a shame to waste this dress on pizza and a movie." Her hands came up and rested on his shoulders, feeling a bit lightheaded, in a good way. "You know this city better than me – where'd be some good places to go?"

He wasn't sure what was even open at this point. "I'd suggest the Bellagio fountain, but it's another MGM property. They're probably not even running it. Frightening to think this time tomorrow everything here will be deserted – a veritable ghost town. In the fifteen years I've been in Nevada, I've never seen that happen." He was trying to think of something romantic to do but it suddenly occurred to him that their options were severely limited with the lock-down that was currently going on thanks to the damned virus.

"I've heard the fountain is beautiful in person." She finished the rest of her drink, which was having more of an effect on her than usual. She hadn't eaten anything since lunch and by the time she would have eaten dinner, she was too nervous. "We could go to the Haunted Museum?"

"There's a Haunted Museum?" He shook his head in disbelief, "I guess there really is something here for everyone."

"Well it's more just filled with cursed objects... and in thinking more about it, I would probably touch stuff I shouldn't." Last thing she wanted was a ghost following her home. "Okay, you choose what we do. I'm just gonna let you be in charge of tonight. Pretend you're my tour guide and I'll 'oooh' and 'ahh' at things."

"We could go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It's almost as nice as actually going to Paris. They might still allow us up there, even if they're emptying the property of guests." He mused aloud, his fingers brushing hers as he took the empty glass and set it aside. He knew he was flirting, far more than he had with her in the past but he felt almost giddy tonight. "Or we could go to the neon graveyard. See all the old signs. That might still be open, being mostly outdoors and all."

"I will go anywhere you wanna take me. " She leaned against the stool, but didn't feel like sitting. "I trust you, yanno that?"

"I do." Rick was solemn as he looked at her, realizing he knew exactly where to take her. "Let's get out of here," he took her hand and led her back to the elevator, pausing before they got on. "Do you want a jacket? It's mild out, not overly cool."

"I'll be okay, I think. So... where are you taking me?" His sudden shift in mood had her feeling almost nervous again as she followed him into the elevator, watching him activate it with his card. "Maybe somewhere with tacos?"

"There's a taco place in the mall here," he murmured, watching the numbers count down as the car started to descend. "It's actually quite good. But all of those places have been shut down until the end of the month," he sighed. "This whole thing is frustrating. This would have been one of our busiest nights," he muttered, pretending it was more about the loss of revenue than the fact that he had nowhere to take her. Moving a little closer to her, he put an arm around her shoulders. "I was thinking I'd take you to my favorite place. If you'd like."

Kayla breathed a sigh of relief as she leaned in against him. "I can do without food for a little while longer." She turned and looked up at him, her arms wrapping around his waist. "Where are we gonna go?"

"You want me to tell you? Ruin the surprise?" One brow quirked as he looked at her.

"Kinda." She grinned at him and rested her chin on his shoulder. "I could entice you, if that would work."

"Entice me?" He looked her up and down, that devilish smirk flashing across his lips. "How could you possibly be more than you already are?"

His smirk made her cheeks redden as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. She took hold of his hand and let him lead her out of the elevator. "On second thought, I'll use my super enticing skills when we've got a little more privacy. Not sure I wanna be arrested for indecent exposure."

Rick chuckled, his arm back around her waist once they were in the hotel lobby and he led her towards the doors, pausing before they got outside. "Are those shoes comfortable enough to walk in or should I call an Uber?"

"I think I can walk in them. Just show me the way, my fearless leader." Once again, she grinned, her mind racing with where he could be taking her.

"It's just up the road. I'm sure it's going to be deserted." He pulled her in closer, kissing her gently on the lips. "If your feet start to hurt, I'll carry you." They walked out of the circular drive, past a lone taxi and onto the dark sidewalk. Cars were still flying past down the road, but there didn't seem to be a whole lot of foot traffic and for the moment it felt like it was just the two of them with that massive monolith of the hotel looming behind. "I took a thousand photos of those palm trees there," he inclined his head at the median, chuckling. "Hadn't ever seen them before. Growing up in London, and all. Looked like an absolute fool, I'm sure. I took photos of them all. Had to touch them, too. Feel that bark. Nothing quite like it."

Kayla listened to him intently, her arm having slid through his. They were nearing the airport and she hadn't even realized how close they actually were until that moment. She hadn't ever been able to hear them back at the penthouse. "I can honestly say that I've never come up this way." Her hand found its way into his and she couldn't ever remember her hand fitting in someone's so perfectly.

They walked across the street when there were no cars and she realized he was taking her to see the historic 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign. She hadn't realized they were that close to it. The grass was almost glowing green under the lights that surrounded it but as expected, there wasn't anyone around at the moment. The sound of a plane landing close by was almost comforting as he stopped, looking down at her. "Most people come here when it's still light out. Photos, especially those taken on your phone, don't come out as well at night – I know this personally. Used to walk down here a lot. Clear my head. I like to watch people. Try to figure out what makes them tick, what their story is."

It was a peaceful atmosphere and she couldn't imagine it being any better during the day. The night had a certain type of magic attached to it and she knew that she'd only be able to enjoy it in the dark. "If it's people-watching you like, I'll take you to Walmart and we can watch the fascinating individuals there. It's a good way to kill some boredom."

"Not a fan of reality TV," Rick quipped, chuckling softly as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his cheek against her hair. "You'd think that wouldn't be the case – innate curiosity and all. I guess I like a good mystery. Strange creatures come out in the dark, when they think nobody's watching. The witching hour... isn't that what they call this?" His voice came out softer than usual, "between you and I, this is the time I feel most alive. Almost feel it in my veins. Mmmm," he kissed her neck, "don't you feel it, love? Don't know what it is about you, but it makes me want to do something crazy..."

Kayla let out a giggle and nodded as he kissed her neck. She turned her head so that she could place a kiss softly on his lips. "And what crazy thing would you want to do?" Her hands rested on top of his as she exhaled deeply. "Maybe throw me down and ravage me right here, where anyone could see?" She wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea, but would have preferred more privacy. Leaning her head back, she turned it to the side so that her lips were close to his ears. "I feel safe with you... trust you."

"Wholly reciprocal," Rick murmured, not caring that it didn't sound romantic at all. Sometimes honesty didn't.

"Can I ask you something?" Her voice came out tentative, almost hesitant.

"Of course." Internally, he tensed, expecting the other shoe to drop, despite the fact that she'd proven her loyalty time and time again.

"When you posted that thing in your bio, what did you mean?"

A furrow creased his brow. "Which thing?"

"The thing about scars..." her voice came out soft and she shivered slightly.

He wrapped his arms tighter, letting her feel his body heat. She was still chilled so he took off his suit jacket, settling it over her shoulders before wrapping his arms around her again.

"Hmm, yes. That." He murmured, closing his eyes as he recited it, "...'we all have scars; some of us just wear them on the outside'… is that the one you mean?" He knew which one she'd meant. He'd put it up there after he'd fled to Reno, trying to let her know she wasn't alone. He'd still been high when he'd updated it, regretting it when he'd finally sobered up. Bread crumbs were one thing, but it had felt too much like shooting himself for sport. He'd deleted it quickly, hoping she hadn't seen it – clearly not quickly enough.

"Yeah." Her voice sounded small, halfway embarrassed and he wondered how long she'd been trying to keep herself from asking.

"What did I mean?" He echoed the question, sighing softly. "What indeed."

"Rick?" She half-turned to look up at him, "you don't have to-"

"I do, though." His voice came out soft, almost toneless. He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against the top of her head. "My parents were wealthy. I'm sure you ran my name through a Google search. I'm sure you saw the obituaries, all the speculation. Compared them to Princess Diana – another tragedy caused by paparazzi. Gone too soon, survived by their unwanted cast-off of a son. I was at boarding school in Switzerland when it happened and the first thing I felt when I heard the news was this overwhelming sense of relief."

It was a good thing he was behind her, that she couldn't see a muscle twitching in his jaw as he tried to hold back the resentment the thought of them still managed to conjure up after all this time.

"Relief," Rick echoed that single word, his expression blank even though his eyes were dead black, burning with anger. "A part of me had hated them for so long and I collected all the stories I could find, wallowed in that imaginary misery. I bribed the authorities into showing me the photos from the scene and when I finally saw them, I wept. They thought I was devastated – the devoted only child, the heir to this staggering fortune mourning those wonderful, philanthropic beings. Do you know why I was moved to tears?"

It was obvious she was listening by the way her body language had changed. She was leaning back into him, her hands resting on his as though she was trying to reassure him. When she said nothing, he sighed.

"I wished I'd been there to see it happen. A part of me wished I was there to see them trapped inside that crumpled wreckage, burning alive – wished I could hear them scream and beg for mercy. I would have told them it was for their own good, that this would make the most wonderful story and that so many people would open their pocketbooks at the next event dedicated to their memory. They were always meant to be seen; you see. Visible. Everything was for maximum effect and I was never allowed underfoot. Heaven forbid a dirty, filthy little child be allowed to sully one of the spectacular Ravenswood charity soirees." His tone oozed bitterness.

"I never had Christmas holidays. No Thanksgiving turkey dinner with a motley table of relatives I barely remembered. I always spent those alone in the library – in the dorms – reading and working on the next quarter's assignments. Summer vacations, I did camps. Science. Riding. Music. I dabbled in everything, this extraordinarily brilliant jack of all trades, master of nothing. When that failed, I buried myself in extra schoolwork – it was a requirement. I knew I wasn't wanted. I wasn't welcome. I was just a problem to be solved and everyone knows the best way to solve a problem when you have too much disposable income and far too little intelligence is to simply throw money at it."

His voice was still soft as he held her, looking now over her shoulder as a car pulled up and parked. A few young, noisy tourists spilled out and made their way to the sign, jostling each other and laughing as they took photos. A sigh passed his lips as he closed his eyes again, feeling the prickle of tears. "They never laid a hand on me, though. Not out of anger. Not even out of familiarity." He pulled in a slow breath through his nose, his grip on her tightening ever so slightly. "I never heard an 'I love you' from either of them and their disdain was always evident when I didn't perform to the highest of their expectations. I was being groomed, of course. One day I was meant to take up the mantle, to live up to the namesake."

He fell silent for a moment, lost in the memory even though the words kept coming, spilling out now as though they were simply waiting for this moment. "I finished school. I went to Cambridge afterwards, got a business degree. I was twenty-one when I graduated with honours and I left London the night the house burned to the ground. I was already on a plane, on my way to America when it happened – a few hundred witnesses and a stamp in my passport as proof that I had nothing to do with such a tragic accident. I have a bank account full of blood money I don't want, that I've been trying to launder through these idiotic investments for years. I ran as far as I could but I never really managed to distance myself from them. This... this is what I am, Kayla. Who I am."

Rick's voice quivered but he covered it with a soft clearing of his throat, a tight smile on his lips. "Nobody ever laid a hand on me... but I've got scars – that's what I meant by that statement. I wanted you to know you're not alone."

He fell silent for a while, watching as the young adults at the sign took their photos and left, leaving them alone again. Finally, he broke the silence, "the pastor and his wife. Whatever happened to them? Tell me they're dead... in custody, at the very least. Tell me your story has something of a happy ending outside of your survival. Wretchedness... wickedness like that, it needs to be punished."

"I don't know what happened to them; they were gone when the police showed up. Honestly, I never looked too much into it." Kayla shook her head and pulled back slightly so she could look up at him. "I couldn't bring myself to spend more time on it. Does that make sense?"

He nodded even though he'd never have been able to leave it alone. "It does."

Her heart ached for him in a way that made her want to protect him from the cruel, cold world he'd grown up in. Her hands came up and rested on his cheeks. "You deserve good things." He tried to break eye contact, and she gently chastised him for it, "look at me, Rick. You've done so many amazing things. You're talented. You're brilliant. You have a good heart and you are a wonderful man. Don't ever doubt that."

He felt strangely hollowed out, as if pouring out all that vitriol and hate that he'd been storing up for so long had actually been good for him. He'd never told anyone half of those things before, not even his former fiancée, but he'd felt as though the level of trust she'd given him when she'd recounted the story of her abduction and assault was something that needed to be reciprocated. In that lightness, he felt a strange sort of warmth that he'd never noticed before, one that seemed to grow stronger when her hands pressed against his face and her beautiful blue eyes met his, overflowing with something he was starting to believe might actually be love.

He hadn't planned it, hadn't even seriously entertained the idea until this very moment but the words slipped out past his lips as they curved into a smile. "Marry me. Right now. Tonight, before the city shuts down completely."

Kayla stared up at him, almost frozen in place at what he'd just said. Her heart was pounding so hard she started to feel lightheaded. Despite this, she smiled slowly as she nodded in agreement. "Yes... just yes." Once the shock wore off, there was no hesitation or any other answer for her.

Rick felt a swelling of joy in his heart, filling those empty spaces to the brim as he pulled her in close. Everything finally felt right, felt as though this was how it was supposed to be and he realized he'd been waiting all his life for this very moment without even realizing it.