"Can I use your toilet?" Fletcher asks as both Lydia and Ray look through the photos that he pulled out of his satchel. The photos were of Lydia beating the shit out of the kid and Ray getting out of the car to get the phone containing photos of Aslan's dead body from her. "Just a pee-pee?" Wordlessly, Ray nods keeping his gaze on the photos.

"Fletcher, darling," Lydia says lifting her head towards him. "Be sure to take your shoes off before you go into the house," She states with a small smile. However, it's a smile that Fletcher knows is anything but kind.

"Leave them by the door," Ray continues in a more stern tone.

"Yes, mommy," Fletcher smirks before continuing towards the house.

"How much longer is this damn story of his?" Lydia grumbles turning to her husband. Gently, she rests her hand on his thigh. "I've shared your attention for long enough," She whispers gripping it lightly. Ray practically growls as his hand covers hers.

"Behave," He says sternly. She moans quickly while leaning towards him. 

"Make me," She whispers brushing their lips together but never fully connecting them. She smirks slightly before moving her lips to his ear. "I won't share you for the entire night, love," She promises. She bares her teeth and nips at his ear. He groans reaching for her but she's already standing up and walking towards the house. "I'll refill our drinks, don't you have something you need to you?" She asks with a small grin and an arched eyebrow.

Narrowing his eyes, Ray springs from his seats and chases after her. She lets out a laugh and races inside. Ray grumbles at his inability to catch her. He kneels beside Fletcher's shoes to place the tracking device while Lydia goes to refill their drinks. 

"Good evening, Lydia" Turning around she notices Bunny and Frazier pulling Aslan out of the freezer.

"Oh, hello, boys," She greets. "Do be quick with that, we have a guest" She tells them.

"Will do, ma'am" Frazier nods.

"Good night," Bunny nods to her. She raises her glass to him watching them carry the body out.

"Pity," She sighs shaking her head. She had liked Aslan's spunk, even though he was a little shit. "Oh, well," She shrugs not giving him another thought. She pours Fletcher and Ray a drink. Once she's done, Ray comes up behind her and takes the drink from the table. Lydia smiles leaning back against his chest. "Bunny and Frazier just took Aslan," Lydia tells him.

"I'll take care of it," Ray mutters kissing the side of her head, his lips lingering. She smiles leaning her head towards him. He stays with her for a moment longer, not wanting to leave, even if it's just for a moment. However, he hears the bathroom door opening and knew that Aslan hadn't left the home yet.

"I'll wait outside," She whispers to him. He hums walking away to make sure Bunny and Frazier leave without problems.

⚜

"So, how have things been going on between you and Ray?" Ros asks sitting across from Lydia. It had been a few days since the two had seen each other. The last time they were together was in Ros's workshop after Lydia and Ray dropped Laura off at her families home.

"We're perfect," Lydia smiles her eyes dazing as if she were in a dream. "I got so lucky with him, Ros... I honestly don't know what would have happened had he not come into my life," Lydia whispers.

"You would have endured," Ros says confidently. "You're a survivor," Lydia smiles taking pride in the fact that Ros has so much faith in her.

"I know, I would have," Lydia smiles nodding not doubting that fact. "But would I be happy?" Lydia wonders. "Would I have made a life for myself or continued living in the slums getting into trouble with dangerous gangs? That, I don't know," Lydia tells her. Ros smiles not arguing against her. "If it weren't for Ray, I doubt I would have even accepted Mickey,"

"I don't know about that," Ros says. "Mickey can be very persistent, especially when he wants something. Once he figured out you were, in fact, his daughter, there was nothing stopping him from doing everything he could to protect you and be in your life. He loved you from the very start, why do you think he allowed Ray to go to America? Or not be angry with him if he was late for work because he was up late talking to you?"

"That's because dad is a romantic at heart," Lydia smiles. "Thank God he trusted Ray with me instead of becoming an overprotective fool and tried to forbid us,"

"Don't give him too much credit, the thought did cross his mind on more than one occasion." Ros tells her. "Although, he was often reminded that you are an adult and so is Ray."

"Thank you," Lydia whispers. Ros smiles nodding silently.

"Well, I should be getting back to the garage," Ros says pulling out her wallet.

"Let me," Lydia says quickly. Ros goes to argue but Lydia doesn't let her start. "I'm not leaving yet, I'll pay before I go," Sighing Ros nods.

"We should have dinner sometime, all of us." Ros suggests.

"I'd like that," Lydia nods. Ros smiles.

"Then it's decided," Ros grins. "I'll be in touch," Ros says before walking to her car.

"You've been following me all day, why don't you join me for a drink?" Lydia asks loudly while picking up her tea cup. A moment later, the seat Ros had once occupied is not occupied by a man. "The last time we saw each other you stated that you knew who I am, that you knew my family. If that's true, then you must realize how dangerous it is to follow me like a criminal waiting to jump their victim,"

"Aye," The man nods. "But I need to talk to you and I need to talk to you alone," He says.

"Alright," She says giving him his full attention. "What can I do for you, Coach?" She asks him.

"A couple of the boys I look after got into a bit of trouble with your father," Coach confesses. Lydia looks at him curiously and motions for him to continue. "They raided his farm,"

"Ah," Lydia whispers in realization. "Caused us quite a bit of trouble," She tells him.

"I know," Coach sighs. "But they're good lads-" Coach goes to defend them but she holds up her hand and silences him.

"Coach, you helped me once a while ago. I told you I wouldn't forget it," She tells him. "Don't worry about this, I'll handle it. Just keep your boys away from my father's farms and we won't have anymore trouble,"

"I appreciate that," Coach says honestly. "Although, I don't want the boys thinking that they can just get away with things like this."

"Actions have consequences," Lydia states and he nods in agreement. "Alright," She says slowly as she quickly thinks of something. "My father owns a pub, I'm sure you know where it is," Coach nods. "My husband is there at the moment, meet me there in one hour," Lydia says standing up.

"I, thank you, Mrs. Smith," Coach says sincerely.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Coach..." Lydia tells him. "Making a deal with my father is just short of making a deal with the devil himself,"

"I understand," Coach assures her. 

"Good, I will see you in one hour," Lydia says before leaving him. She slips into her car and drives to her fathers pub. She smiles when she sees Ray's car and parks beside it.

"Afternoon, Ms. Lydia," The bartender greets. She smiles at him kindly as Ray turns in his seat. He's obviously surprised but smiles nonetheless.

"Hello, love" He walks towards her. He gathers her in his arms kissing her lightly. "What are you doing here? How was lunch with Ros?"

"Lunch was good," Lydia nods. "I have something to talk to you about, do you have a moment?" She asks. Ray instantly nods leading her to one of the tables.

"Anything to drink, Ms. Lydia?" The bartender asks.

"No, I'm quite alright, thank you" Lydia responds sitting at the table. Ray pulls a seat up close beside her. Their legs instantly lean to touch each other.

"What is it?" Ray questions.

"You remember that little... incident almost a year ago?" Lydia brings up hesitantly. This was the last thing she wanted to talk about because it not only angered her husband but it also brought back unwanted memories. It took Ray a moment to realize what she had hinted towards. The moment he did figure it out, his entire body hardened. Quickly, Lydia reaches out and holds onto his hands as if to ground him, as if to remind him that she's beside him, that she's safe.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Ray asks slowly. 

"I didn't tell you everything," She whispers. "I didn't walk home, someone found me outside of the building. He gave me a ride home but asked that I didn't say anything. He didn't want to get involved with our lifestyle. He wanted to stay off of my father's radar,"

"Get to the point," Ray couldn't help but to growl.

"His names Coach, he looks after the boys that raided Mickey's farm," Ray's jaw screws even tighter, if it were possible. "He's asked me for a chance to make it up, to make amends. Ray he helped me when I needed it, give him the chance. Make Mickey give him the chance," 

Ray sighs slowly through his nose. He closes his eyes and rests his head on hers. She leans into him, raising her hand to cup his bearded jawline. Ray felt like he was seconds from pulling her onto his lap. His proper attitude was ticking away as the need to hold his wife over took him.

Knowing exactly what was going through his mind, Lydia climbs into his lap sitting sideways. Ray instantly nuzzles his head into her neck, his arms wrapping around her tightly. She runs her fingers through his hair humming random tunes to help calm him.

The bartender slip into the back room sensing the pair needed their privacy.

"Ray, I'm alright," She whispers to him. His arms tighten even more. "I'm safe, I'm with you," 

"Don't ever leave me," Ray says lifting his head to look into her eyes. She smiles and slowly connects their lips. He instantly dominates the kiss, holding her against his chest.

"You shouldn't be the one worried about leaving me," Lydia whispers against his lips. The genuinely confused look on his face warms her heart. He looked as if he didn't understand why she would be worried about him leaving her, as if the thought is simply incomprehensible. "Sweetheart, you're not the one with the baggage in this relationship," She reminds him. "You're not the one with the troubled past, the scarred body and mind, the-" Before she could continue he silences her with another kiss.

"I, Raymond Smith, take you, Lydia Pearson, as my lawfully wedded wife," Ray whispers against her lips. "To have and to hold," He kiss her lightly. "In sickness and in health," He continues in a hushed, intimate tone. "In good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping myself unto you for as long as I shall live," He recites perfectly. Lydia smiles feeling slightly misty eyed as she gazes into his eyes. "Those aren't just silly words to me, Lydia. I didn't say them because it was expected of me but because I believe in them whole heartedly. I will love you to the end of my days. I will love you no matter how scared your body or mind may be, how troubled your past is. I don't care. What I care about is you and the love we share. You can doubt many things in the world, but please, do not doubt that I love you and that I will never leave you side so long as you want me,"

"I'll aways want you, Ray," Lydia whispers pressing their foreheads together. "I'd be a fool to get rid of you," Ray smiles connecting their lips once again.