(Who said life was easy, the job is never through�it'll run us 'til we're ragged, it'll harden our hearts and love could use a day of rest before we both start falling apart� Pray that it's raining on Sunday stormin' like crazy, we'll hide under the covers all afternoon� baby whatever comes Monday can take care of itself, 'cause we got better things that we could do when it's raining on Sunday� - Keith Urban, Raining On Sunday)
He lifted his head from the pillow, focusing his eyes on the windows on the opposite side of the room. The large glass panes made up the wall, reaching from floor to ceiling. He rested his weight on his elbow, propping himself up as he stared out. It was so rare these days to have the time to actually slow down and notice something like the view. It was part of the reason he liked the house when he first looked at it. The view seemed to go on for miles of endless green, though he knew in actuality it wasn't that far until the end of the property line, but he liked to pretend.
His eyes moved north of the treetops to the sky, frowning a little at the dark grey that seemed to be slowly taking over what had been a perfectly blue canvas. His frown deepened a little. He finally had a complete day off � no flights to catch, no photo shoots, no call-in interviews, no commitments � and now it looked like it would pour the whole time.
As if on cue, tiny droplets splashed against the windows. It was only a few at first, and within seconds the rain seemed to come down in sheets. A sigh escaped his lips, so much for the big day he had planned. Not that he had anything planned out, he only knew that he wanted to *something* to take advantage of this rarity of free time. Another even darker cloud moved in, casting a soft tone over the bedroom. He watched the shadows on the wall change as the source of their existence shifted. He used to do that as a kid. He remembered standing in the yard on one of those summer days, moving against the sunlight, watching the way his shadow changed with every step. He smiled at the memory, what he would give to be that innocent again. To be able to enjoy those simple things again, to have that be enough.
His mother would always kiss him on the forehead when she tucked him into bed, whispering against his hair, "Dream big, little one, dream big." And he did, setting goals for himself that most called silly and unattainable. He never let that stop him though, if anything it made him more determined. One by one, all those objectives were reached. He lived the life he dreamt of as a kid. It was a life that didn't allow him time to notice things like light and shadows anymore.
But today he did.
And he knew why.
He let his arm fall to the pillow, followed by a mass of blond hair. He tugged at his pillow, trying once more to get comfortable. It was his day off and if he wanted to spend it in bed, he would. A loud crack of thunder sounded alongside a bright bolt of lightning, and instinctively his arm went to the woman's waist, pulling her closer to his body. Funny how he always felt the need to protect her, even when she probably didn't need it.
He felt her shift under his arm, a small smile hinted on his lips when she automatically cuddled closer to him in her sleep. He pulled her back even closer until the ends of her long hair tickled the bare skin of his chest. Their legs wound together on their own, as if they already knew what to do. He smiled at the soft sigh that escaped her lips in her sleep when he rested his cheek against hers and almost enveloped her body with his own.
The rain pounded against the glass in an even rhythm, like a soft drum beat off in the distance. He let the rhythm soothe him into a trance for a long while, only breaking out of it with another even louder clap of thunder. He noticed her body jump slightly at the loud noise but she didn't wake up. He loosened his grip just enough for her to turn over, her body once again instinctively mingling with his. Her face was mere inches from his and her soft breaths kissed his cheeks.
The storm brewed on the other side of the glass, leaving the world outside dark and blurry. Funny how everything felt and seemed clear for the first time in days.
It was too easy to get caught up in it all. To get lost somewhere in the shuffle of flight times and rental cars and autograph signings and late night talk show appearances. It wasn't difficult to forget who you really are. Who you were � a simple boy with a simple dream of living under the bright lights. He lived a life in which people went out of their way to stroke his ego, to tell him how great he was, to put him on a pedestal. The biggest mistake one can make is to believe your own hype. When things began to get carried away, when he started to get out a hand, she was always right there to keep him centered. Grounded. Together.
She made him a better man.
Pushing her hair off her face, he stroked it backward onto the pillow watching as the ends seemed to curl just right. Perfect. Everything about her was perfect.
Part of him still wondered. A small piece of him wanted to know what they would say. The fans, the critics, the so-called experts. Even some of the boys in the back, the ones who had an idea but couldn't be sure. He wondered what they would say if they knew.
She was the woman they loved to love.
And he was the man they loved to hate.
Pressing his lips to her forehead, he held the kiss for a moment letting the heat from her body radiate throughout his. Resting his head back against the pillow, he took the opportunity to study her every features. It wasn't something he got to do very often, she would usually hide her face and giggle, telling him to stop staring. She didn't understand how he was able to be perfectly content just looking at her, in awe that a woman like that ever gave a guy like him a chance.
He lived his life with the tiniest of fears always in the back of his mind � that one day she would turn around and wonder why she had wasted her time with him, why she was with him in the first place. Then she'd be gone. Just like that.
It was a small fear, one that always pushed away when it poked it's ugly head into his thoughts. It was silly, the rational side of his brain knew. She wasn't that type, to up and leave after investing so much time and effort into him. She was too good for that, too loyal. Though sometimes she was almost too loyal for her own good, almost to a fault. It was the only fault he was ever able to think of for her, that she would stand by someone, who more often than not, probably didn't deserve it. Someone like him.
Thunder shook the room once more and he felt her body jump at the noise. Her eyes fluttered open at the loud clamor, instantly and instinctively searching for him. Not needing to look very far, she opened her eyes fully. "Mmm," she moaned her sleepiness, "what are you doing up?"
Even fresh out of a night's sleep � hair tousled, no makeup, voice dry and torn � she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Couldn't sleep." He hated how rough his voice was, even in a whisper. He wanted everything that touched her to be soft and gentle, he hated that nothing about him was.
Her eyes fluttered shut when he pressed a kiss to the corner of her eyelid and she sighed. Eyes closed, she furrowed her brows. "'sit raining?"
He nodded, knowing that it did no god with her not looking at him. "Yeah, just started."
A light roll of thunder sounded off in the distance. "I love thunderstorms," she mumbled, already half asleep once more. He shifted to lay more on his back, happy when she automatically curled against him, resting her cheek on his bare chest. Moments like this�he wished they'd never end.
"What'd you say?" He questioned when she said something else, though he couldn't make it out as sleep slowly took her back.
"Thunderstorms," she was more clear now, throwing an arm across his body. "Always thought they were romantic."
A small adoring smile filled his lips. "Go back to sleep baby." Nuzzling closer to his body, it wasn't long before Lita's breaths fell back into a slow even pace. With one last glance at the woman in his arms, the woman he loved more than life itself, he closed his eyes letting the sound of the rain battering the windows lull him back to sleep as well. 'Yeah,' Hunter thought again, before the last bit of consciousness slipped away from him. 'It was his day off and if he wanted to spend it in bed, he would.' With her by his side, that idea sounded better and better.
The End