Molly waited as the Facetime call rang through. It had been a full week since she'd gotten to Ireland and she was beginning to think about work again. It was late at night and darkness had crept in around the house. She could hear Andrew in his room noodling gently on his guitar while a soft blues track playing in the background, his night owl tendencies in full swing.

"You've reached the life-size projection of Oscar Llewelyn. If you are seeing this, I'm out of my mind on ketamine. Please leave a message and I'll return your call after I've come down," Oscar said in a robotic voice.

Molly laughed. "Hey."

Oscar broke into a grin. "How's my favorite almost-disbarred attorney? How's Ireland? Did Andrew blow your back out yet?" His questions were rapid-fire.

"Dude, its like 1AM here. Take it down a notch," she winced. "One question at a time."

"Okay: how's Ireland?" he started.

"Cold and wet," she answered. "I think its rained at least five days since I got here. I never realized how much I loved the Los Angeles sun."

"On to the question I really want the answer to: are you two fucking again?" he asked.

"No."

He looked at her in shock. "Mol, you've been there a whole ass week! I thought your pussy would be broken by now!"

Molly rolled her eyes. "As lovely as it is that you care about the status of my vagina, its a bit more complicated here than I thought."

Oscar narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "Long story short, he wants me back but he's not interested unless I do certain things for him."

"Gross," he replied.

"No - not like in a weird way or anything," she said quickly. "More like...he wants a real commitment from me. And proof that I'm serious. In his words, essentially he wants me to make him a priority of mine. He doesn't want it to be like before where he was basically just getting crumbs."

Oscar was silent for several seconds. "Is that something you can do?" he asked. Molly looked away, unsure if she should tell her best friend what her plan was. "Molly...what's going on?"

Michelle would find out about the application when it was processed because she put her down as a reference and she'd used her work history with Bright Horizons. It was only a matter of time before he found out as well and it was better it came from her.

"Its kind of something I can do," she replied. He raised an eyebrow. "I applied to get my LLM at Trinity," she said softly, aware that Andrew was still in the other room.

"You what?" Oscar asked.

"I applied to Trinity to get my LLM," she repeated.

"Mol, why there? That's...that's a year-long program. You could do it at UCLA and Michelle would fucking pay for half," he said in disbelief.

He was right. Michelle had told both of them at the beginning of the year that she'd pay for half of the degree if they got a LLM from UCLA. But that offer also came with the expectation that they'd sign a three year contract with her afterward.

"Yeah, if I wanted to stay in L.A., I'd agree to it," she replied. "But I don't want to be locked down there for four more years. Not when I could have Andrew now."

"He really must have some magical dick because there is no way I'd move my whole life across the world for anything less," Oscar answered.

"Its just a year," she said dismissively. "I don't even know if I'll get in. It doesn't even start until September."

"You'll get in because you're a fucking genius," he said. "What happens if you two split up?"

"Obviously I'd finish my degree if I wasn't already done," Molly said. "Then I'd come back to L.A., beg Michelle to rehire me, and carry on with my life. Its not like my life stops. Worse case scenario, I spend a year in Ireland and leave with a new degree."

Oscar sighed and shifted, moving the camera around. "What does Andrew think of this?"

She stiffened. "He doesn't know yet."

His jaw fell open. "Molly Katherine Stanley! Are you an idiot?!" he exclaimed.

"You just called me a genius a second ago," she quipped.

"Molly, you're making a major life decision for someone without running the idea by said person?!" he asked. "This is ridiculous."

"I doubt he's going to say no. He's practically begged me for this. I haven't told him because its sort of his Christmas present," she said.

He looked at her for a moment, as if he could read her thoughts. "What else is it?" he asked. "What else aren't you saying?"

"The other night, we were coming back from dinner in the city and he said something that kind of...I don't know, surprised me?" she said slowly, rolling onto her back in her bed.

"What did he say?"

She sighed, knowing he would overreact if she didn't explain it correctly. "I think his desire to be with me may have drifted into a slight obsession. I'm not sure. The way he described it seemed like an addiction, almost," she said.

"That seems like an excellent reason to stay with him," Oscar deadpanned.

"Its not what you think!" she insisted. "Its...he's not like...hovering over me all the time. He actually doesn't seem to mind his own space. It just...I think its more that he can't stop thinking about being with me."

"Damn, the sex between the two of you must have been Earth shattering," he quipped, rolling his eyes. "He's got a magic dick, you've got a magic pussy. All I've got is the fucking Magic School Bus on Netflix. Its not fair."

"He's been nothing but respectful and affectionate," she continued. "Its not like he's keeping me locked up and making me do weird shit. He just...he says he can't stop thinking about me and that its hard knowing I can't give him what he wants."

"Except you think you can," he added.

"I'm going to try," she corrected him. "I'm not sure if I can. But I sure as Hell can't do it from Los Angeles."

He sighed. "The more I think about it, the better I feel," he admitted. "You're twenty-nine in what - two weeks? Its the last year of your twenties. Last chance to really fuck things up for yourself before your thirties kick in," he teased.

She wasn't amused. "I want this, Oscar. Please don't be cruel."

He sighed deeply. "You better tell Michelle before the admissions people get to her."

Molly groaned. "Yeah, I know. I just hope she understands."

"You're her best lawyer. She'll be sad to see you go. But I also think she sees a lot of herself in you and she'll be happy for you eventually. You're her favorite. She can't stay angry with you forever," he said. "Especially if Andrew keeps making those huge ass donations of his."

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to talk to him about that," she muttered.

"Why?" Oscar exclaimed. "I need a fucking raise! When you leave, I'll be on my own with the rent!"

"Andrew likes to show his affection toward me with overly generous gifts. Its...its too much. I can't keep letting him spend all his money on me like that," she insisted.

"Fine," he grunted, making a face.

"How's work going? And my cases?" she asked.

"You mean my cases?" he countered with an annoyed look. "The cases Michelle made me take on because you made me lie to her for you? Those cases?" he asked in mock confusion. "They're fine. I haven't slept more than four hours at a time for two weeks, but at least Mrs. Fliegelman the cat lady won't have to pay a fine for taking out eight mailboxes and a port-o-potty with her car."

Molly snorted. "Stop. Mrs. Fliegelman is a sweet old lady."

"That bitch has glaucoma in one eye and is deaf in both fucking ears! I swear to God she nearly hit me backing out of her parking spot after court! She shouldn't be driving at all!" Oscar laughed. "How does she still have her license?!"

Molly looked at the time. It was getting late. "Andrew's hosting his family's annual Christmas party tomorrow night. A lot of his friends will be here, too," she said casually.

"What is he going to introduce you as?" he asked.

"Probably just as his friend," she answered. "For someone who is obsessively drawn to me, he has remarkable resolve and boundaries."

"You better not keep him waiting too long," Oscar warned. "The poor man probably has the worst case of blue balls in the whole damn country. Does he go through a lot of tissues and lotion?" he asked with a smirk.

"Okay, I'm going to bed," she said, shaking her head. "Could you try to get your mind out of the gutter? For like...five minutes?"

"Never!" he hissed playfully. "Talk again soon?" he asked.

She nodded. "I'll text you. Goodnight."

"Night, Mol," he replied before ending the call.

She plugged her phone into the charger and turned off her light before settling into the blankets. Within minutes, she was sound asleep.

***

Molly adjusted the sleeves on her dress in the full length mirror. It was a dark forest green velvet with a high neckline in the front that dipped into a deep V-line at the back. It was so low, she worried her bra would show. She'd styled her hair into a half up do with soft curls that cascaded over her shoulders.

She walked down to the kitchen where Andrew was reading on the sofa. He glanced at her and froze, his eyes taking in the short length of her skirt.

"You look...fuck," he said appreciatively.

She swept her hair to one side and turned toward him. "Could you do me?" she asked, gesturing to the zipper at the back.

She heard his soft chuckle at her innuendo and felt a slight shiver go up her spine as his fingers whispered across her skin. "You don't think its too short?" she asked, smoothing the hem down to her mid-thigh.

"N-no," he answered, returning to his book.

She fingered the envelope in her hand, taking a deep breath. Even though she though she thought knew what his reaction would be, nerves still sat at the back of her throat.

"Here," she said, holding the envelope out for him. He turned and looked at it. "Its your Christmas present," she explained. She sat next to him.

He smiled at her while he opened it. "Is it a pony?" he joked.

"Mmm...probably better than a pony," she answered.

He pulled the copy of the top sheet of her Trinity application out and unfolded it. "What is this?"

She looked up at him as he read it. "When you told me what you needed from me to...make this...work between us, I tried to think of a way that I could give that to you without compromising my career," she started. "Then I remembered that Trinity had a LLM program and that I had always planned on getting one."

"LLM?" he asked.

"Master of Laws," she explained. "Its like a...degree to focus on specific areas of legal practice."

"So...you...applied to Trinity for that program?" he asked, putting things together.

She shifted her black stilettos on the carpet. "Yeah. I don't know if I'll get in. And it starts in September, so its a long way off. But I figured it was the easiest way for me to get closer to you while still staying true to my career and goals. I'm only giving up a year in the workplace, which I'd still have to do if I took the program at any other school. But at least this way I'd get to come home to you most of the time."

He stared at her, his face a mask.

"You said you wanted proof that I'm serious, that I could prioritize you, and that I could make sacrifices for you," she said quietly. "If this isn't proof then I don't know what is."

"When did you do this?" he asked.

"When we went into Dublin. I was meeting with Diana," she answered. "I wanted to wait to tell you until I got in, but I knew Michelle might say something to you since the admissions board will probably call her. I didn't want you to hear it from someone else." He stared at the application, not speaking. "Andrew, can you give me a response? I thought this was what you wanted?" she asked gently.

He took a deep breath and sat the envelope on the coffee table. In one swift motion, he pushed her back against the sofa cushions, kissing her hungrily. Molly gasped as he growled against her lips, a noise deep in his throat she'd never heard before. He shifted and moved between her legs, hiking her dress up around her hips.

"Can I?" he asked, kissing down her neck, scraping his teeth as he went and making her moan softly.

She reached between them and found his belt, unbuckling it quickly. It jingled as he slid his jeans down slightly. Her back arched involuntarily as his fingers slipped between her legs and pushed her underwear aside.

"Fuck me," she whined, her hands scraping up his back in anticipation.

Just as he'd settled against her core, kissing her hungrily, a loud chime sounded from his phone on the coffee table. He froze and looked over at it before collapsing against her.

"Fucking Jesus fucking Christ," he groaned, burying his face against her shoulder.

"What?" Molly asked. Her mind was clouded over with lust.

"Someone's fucking early," he answered, his words muffled.

His phone chimed again. He reached over blindly and picked it up. "Whoever the fuck it is, I'm killing them." He touched the screen and set it back down again before bringing his hands up to her face. He kissed her softly. "Molly you have no idea how happy you've just made me," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. He was breathing raggedly.

She rubbed her nose against his. "Tonight?" she asked, moving her hips toward his.

He gasped and shuddered slightly as his cock brushed against her. "Tonight," he answered, looking at her hungrily.

He got off of her and pulled his pants up, doing his belt and rearranging things carefully. He helped her up and watched as she fixed her clothes.

"How's my hair?" she asked, combing her fingers through it.

He pulled her to his chest. "You look incredible," he whispered, kissing her softly.

The sound of a car door slamming grabbed his attention. Molly rushed to the bathroom to check her hair and makeup as Andrew went to open the kitchen door. When she returned, she was greeted by an elderly woman hugging Andrew in the kitchen.

"Molly, there you are!" Andrew said pointedly. "Come meet my grandmother," he added through clenched teeth.

It was all she could do not to burst into laughter. Andrew was doing his best to keep his hips away from the older woman, disguising it as stooping down to hug her back. She bit back a laugh and plastered on a smile.

"Oh! I was so worried I'd be the first one here!" the older woman said, taking Molly in.

"You are, Gran," he said. "This is Molly. She's staying with me from America. Mol, this is my grandmother Charlotte."

"So you're the girlfriend?" Charlotte asked, allowing Andrew to help her to one of the armchairs.

"Yes," Molly replied, walking to her other side.

"Andrew, you're swinging above your range, my dear," Charlotte said, looking Molly up and down as she settled into her chair.

"Oh, I'm aware, Gran," he said, smiling at Molly. "Can I get you anything?"

"A strong cuppa," Charlotte replied. She looked at Molly. "So what is it you do, love? Andy wouldn't be with you if you weren't useful at somethin'."

Molly admired the woman's straightforward nature. "I'm an attorney in California," she answered.

"Attorney - that's like a barrister here, right?" Charlotte asked.

"More or less," Molly allowed. "A lawyer and an attorney both have the same training. But an attorney typically argues cases in court while a lawyer mostly just offers legal advice and handles legal documents. You don't need extra training to argue cases in court like you do here, though."

Charlotte nodded in understanding. "Interesting. How did you two meet?"

Andrew returned with a steaming cup of tea and presented it to his grandmother. "We met for the first time when she was spending the summer here after she did a semester at Trinity."

"You weren't here this summer, Andy," Charlotte stated in confusion.

"No - five years ago, Gran," he explained. "Then we sort of met again while I was in Los Angeles. We reconnected."

"That means its real," Charlotte said. "Fate."

"I'm not sure about that," Molly chuckled.

Andrew picked up the envelope from the table and tucked it into his back pocket, winking at Molly. He sat across from them on the sofa and put one of the pillows over his lap. Molly bit her lip and cleared her throat, avoiding his gaze.

"Christ, how early am I?" Charlotte asked, looking at the clock on the wall in the kitchen.

"An hour or so," Andrew replied grudgingly.

"Oh. I hope I didn't put you out," Charlotte replied.

"Not really," Molly said, ignoring the glare she got from Andrew across the room.

The three of them continued chatting for the next hour and Molly was delighted with stories of Andrew's youth. Charlotte was Raine's mother and fairly artistic herself. Molly could see that creativity was an inherited gift in the family. Andrew's parents arrived next with his brother.

And thus began the endless sea of new faces and names that she was introduced to. By the time the final guest arrived, Molly had lost count of the running total. Most of the people were members of Andrew's family - cousins, aunts, uncles. A few of his friends had also made appearances, though she got the impression these were more like long-time friends that could be trusted around his family.

Andrew was a gracious host, greeting each guest and ensuring they were well taken care of. Molly found herself circulating through the house, chatting with different groups of people. But most of the evening, she found herself on the receiving end of heated looks from Andrew across the room. Every once in a while, she'd look up from a conversation and she'd see him hovering along the wall, wine glass in hand, staring at her intently.

She made sure she kept her distance, not wanting to draw too much attention to herself. Anytime a phone appeared for a photo, she made she was the one taking it, to avoid appearing in anyone's pictures that might make their way to social media. Until they spoke about what her enrollment actually meant for them, she was wary of introducing herself as his partner and vary of it somehow becoming a story in the press. Still, their agreement to finish what they'd started later that night hung in her mind, making her heart race every time she caught him staring.

By the time the party was really going, music and commotion filled the house. Alex had taken over the sound system with a shorter blond man, playing records from Andrew's vinyl collection. The alcohol had been flowing for several hours and everyone seemed distracted enough. Andrew came up behind her in the kitchen and pressed his body against her back as he looked over her shoulder at the bottle of wine in front of her.

"Meet me upstairs in ten minutes," he whispered against her ear, making her shiver slightly. "Take the other staircase."

He was gone just as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving every nerve in her body on end, electric. She drained the last of the wine in her glass and made her way through the house to the entryway. She waited at least ten minutes before taking the stairs to the second floor. One of the bedroom doors was open and several of Andrew's teen cousins were chatting on the floor, passing around a couple bottles of beer.

She took the catwalk above the kitchen and paused for a moment, looking down on the party before her. Briefly, she wondered what Andrew wanted her to come upstairs for, but something deep in her body already knew. Each time she caught him looking at her, a small ache would twinge in her core. By now, it was all she could do to maintain a normal heart rate.

She passed her bedroom door as Andrew appeared behind her in the hallway. He grabbed her by the elbows and shoved her ahead of him into her bedroom before shutting the door behind himself.

"What-," she started, but his lips cut her off.

He kissed her hungrily, shoving her up against the closed door. Within seconds, her hands were at his waist, unbuckling his belt and jeans, tugging them down. He slid her dress up over her hips and yanked her underwear off, growling when they caught on her high heels. She kicked her shoes off eagerly. He gripped her ass and lifted her so her core was even with his cock, kissing her deeply as he slid into her with a frantic groan.

Molly grabbed his shoulders and linked her ankles around his waist and bit her lip to keep from crying out as he moved. He kissed her harder, thrusting hard and fast, and she would have been surprised if no one heard them moving as he balanced her body against the door.

"Andrew..." she murmured against his frantic lips.

He brought one hand up to her mouth, holding it over her lips as she moaned. Her breath came hot and heavy out of her nose and she gasped as he moved inside of her. He moved with urgency and bit his lip as he stared down at her, as if the world would end if he didn't bury himself as far inside of her as he could as quickly as possible.

The only sound between them was the jingle of his belt down around his knees and her ragged breathing against his hand. The party carried on outside the room and the fact that anyone could hear them or walk in on them at any second made the whole thing that much sexier. She fought to keep a moan down and he pressed his forehead against hers. She felt him start to tense up against her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer. His eyes burned into hers as he emptied himself inside of her with a strong thrust and shudder. Molly held him tightly, wanting him as close as possible.

After a second, Andrew reached between their bodies and ran his thumb across her clit, still staring at her. She felt her body tense as she climbed to an orgasm, his hand still against her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut as she came, shuddering and shivering under his touch. He held her tightly, staring into her face.

"I fucking missed you, Molly," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers as he took his hand from her mouth.

She inhaled his scent - woodsy and crisp with the heady addition of sex. "I missed you too," she replied.

As he held her, emotions rose up and overflowed. Suddenly everything ran through her at once: frustration at herself for taking so long, sadness for how much time together they'd lost because of her insecurities, pain and guilt for how much she'd hurt him. She felt the tears start to prick at her eyes and she blinked rapidly to try to keep them away. It was futile.

"I'm sorry," she said as her throat tightened. "I'm sorry I was so selfish and hurt you and it took this long for me to come back to you."

"Molly, don't cry," he pleaded. "Hey. Its okay," he assured her, bringing one hand up to stroke her face. Andrew shifted and paled as a realization came over him.

"What?" she asked, sniffling, looking up at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"I - I'm so sorry," he pulled out of her and let her down to her feet. Panic etched on his face. "I meant - I planned on pulling out. I didn't...fuck, I just..."

She looked at him for a second. "Andrew its fine," she said softly, wiping her eyes carefully.

"No its fucking not," he said, pulling his jeans up and rushing to the bathroom. "I think if we hurry we can still get to the pharmacy."

She picked up her underwear and walked into the bathroom after him. As funny as it was to let him panic, she was scared he might have a heart attack.

"I shouldn't have done that," he said, washing his hands. "We didn't agree on that and...fuck!" he exclaimed, slamming his hand on the vanity, making her jump slightly.

"Andrew, its fine," she said again.

"No its not!" he insisted. "I just fucking got you back and the first thing I do is put you at risk like this." He turned and dried his hands.

She closed the distance between them, pressing him against the vanity. "Calm down," she whispered, taking his face in her hands. "I'm on the pill."

He visibly relaxed as the words washed over him, letting out a long gust of air. "Are you - oh fucking Christ. Thank you,"

Molly laughed. "I only had you use condoms before because you'd just finished a tour. And we weren't exactly exclusive." She stroked his cheek. "But now I don't care. And clearly we're both on the same page about pregnancy prevention," she chuckled. "So if I ever have concerns, I'll let you know and we can handle it then. If that's okay with you, obviously. If you'd feel better doing something else, I understand. I trust you."

He pulled her to his chest and kissed her softly. "Thank you."

She looked at him. "Jesus, you look like you just aged five years."

"Yeah, kinda feels like it," he quipped, running his hand across his face and slumping against the counter. "Fuck."

She tossed her underwear into the basket in the corner and walked over to the chest of drawers for a new pair. He sat on the end of her bed.

"You go ahead. I'll be down in a couple minutes," she said, walking back to the bathroom. "You might want to fix your face though. Relax," she added with a grin before shutting the door after herself.

Several hours later, after the last guest had gone home, Molly felt Andrew come up behind her again as she washed dishes. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Leave that. Come upstairs," he said against her neck.

"You'll be doing dishes until Christmas," she answered. "Let me do this."

He sighed and released her, moving to pick up a dish rag to dry things. "So...what does this application mean for us, exactly?" he asked carefully.

Molly looked over at him. "It means that if I get in, I'll be living here come September. Or at the very least somewhere nearby. The whole point of me moving is to be closer to you."

He smiled and took another plate from her. "Right. But why would you live anywhere else though?"

"I mean...you're kind of out here in the countryside," she said. "Its a long drive into the city. And I'll be in class at least three days a week. Its just easier for me to stay closer and I can't really afford to buy a car. But we'd be able to see each other otherwise. Its definitely better than the commute from L.A."

He was quiet for several seconds. "What if I could solve the transportation issue?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"What if I leased a car for you, so you could drive into the city - or anywhere you wanted," he suggested.

"The car isn't the issue, Andrew. Its the distance. Its over an hour into the city one way," she explained. "That's a lot of driving in a week."

He considered her point. "What if you lived at my parents'? Its usually only forty minutes at worst. They've got the space and Mum would love to have you."

She sighed. "Andrew, I know you're excited - I am too. But I haven't even gotten accepted yet. You're putting the cart before the horse."

"You'll get in," he said confidently.

His certainty and excitement made her slightly nervous, but she pushed the feeling down. A lot of things had happened between them in the last twenty-four hours and she needed time to catch her breath.

"Can we have this conversation another time?" she asked. "I just want to enjoy the fact that we're back together. The rest can wait."

He sighed and tossed his towel down. "Come on. Let's go to bed." She protested, but he took both of her hands from the water and dried them on the towel. "The rest can wait, as you say," he insisted with a wink.

He led her up the spiral staircase and down the hallway to his room. It occurred to her that she had been staying with him for a full week now, yet she hadn't been inside his room once. He'd never invited her or offered to show it to her and she figured that was for a reason. Now, her curiosity was piqued and she followed him down the hallway. He opened the door and let her go in ahead of him as he turned the lights on.

The room was awash in dark tones. Sepia, charcoal, mahogany, and navy blended together to give the space a dark coziness she wasn't expecting. A neatly-made California king bed sat on the center of the wall between two dark wood night stands. A pendant light hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting dancing beams of golden light across the exposed beams overhead.

"The inner sanctum," she said, looking around. "Fan girls everywhere would die to be in here," she teased.

He smiled and kicked his shoes off next to a battered leather armchair.

"Have you slept with many fan girls?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Be honest," she added, pointing a finger at him.

He shrugged. "A few. Mostly when I was younger, on the first album tour." He tugged his sweater over his head. "It got weird after that."

"Only a few?" she asked in genuine surprise. "Jesus, Andrew. You have legions of fan girls who are willing, and you only had a few?"

"I didn't realize it was a bad thing that I didn't hook up with fans," he remarked, pulling the belt from his jeans.

"I mean, its not bad. It just makes me wonder how you...you know...handle things," she said, leaning back on her elbows and crossing her legs.

"Things?" he grinned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, things," she repeated, nudging his knee with the tip of her high heel.

"I'm usually too tired or busy," he said. "The label keeps me on a pretty tight schedule when I'm touring. I don't really have a lot of free time. The only reason I had so much time to see you during that residency was because it was the end of the tour leg. I didn't really have too much promo to do. It'll be...much crazier in January."

He sat next to her and looked down at her. "Besides, I've kind of been preoccupied with a certain person for the better part of five years. I didn't really have any interest in many other people."

Andrew ran his fingers from the hem of her dress along her leg, stopping at her shoes. "You should wear shoes like these more often," he remarked. "They're sexy as fuck."

"So its not a hair fetish, but a foot fetish that does it for you," she said with a sly grin.

"I don't have a foot fetish," he insisted, laying down on his side so his face was even with hers. "I just find you incredibly sexy when you wear high heels."

She knew from the look on his face where things were headed, but her brain told her to put on the breaks.

"So I'm going to institute a new rule," she said, tucking his hair behind his ears. "Only one fuck a day."

His face fell. "What? Why?" He brought his hand to rest on her stomach.

"Because I don't want to have the basis of our relationship to be fucking like rabbits," she said slowly. "If we're going to survive me going back to America until September and you being on tour for the next six months, we have to have some sort of emotional connection." She turned to her side to face him.

"I hear your offer and counter with one fuck plus a hand-job," he teased, wagging his eyebrows. "I'll even through some fingering in there for you because I'm fair."

Molly smiled in spite of herself. "Andrew. I'm serious."

He sighed. "You're right," he allowed. "But I have my own rule." She nodded. "I'm not going to censor my feelings for you anymore. You can say you love me back or not, but I'm not going to keep it to myself just because I'm worried it might scare you off."

She blinked and forced the urge to panic back down again. He was standing up for himself and it was a new feeling for her. But she liked that he was asserting his needs instead of blindly following like before.

"Ok," she said softly, leaning over to kiss him.

"Wait, what constitutes a completed fuck?" he asked suddenly. "Like do I have to finish or what?"

"Andrew, if you can manage to hold off an orgasm after fucking me - like really, truly make-me-scream-toe-curling-fucking - I will let you fuck me as many times as you want, as often as you want, however you want, anywhere you want," she said, leaning over him and pressing her chest against his.

"Is that a challenge?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

She could see his eyes darkening with lust. "Maybe," she smiled. "But its going to have to wait. I need a shower." She pecked him on the cheek and sat up.

As she washed the day away, Molly couldn't help but smile. Everything was falling into place and she felt like she could breathe for the first time in months. When she returned to Andrew's room, she found him freshly-showered, laying under the blankets with a book open in his hands. He didn't look up as she slid into bed next to him.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" she asked, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders.

"I was thinking we could head into Greystones and Delgany and I could show you around. A lot has changed since you were here that summer," he said.

She sighed and closed her eyes as she settled against his body. "Sounds good to me," she mumbled, enjoying the pull of sleep from the darkness behind her eyes.

She heard him rustle next to her and the lights switched off. He settled in next to her, draping an arm over her body.

"G'night, Mol. I love you," he sighed against her hair.

Surprisingly, she didn't feel the anxiety creep in, like she used to. Instead, all she felt was comfort.

***

The next few days passed quickly. Andrew took her into Greystones and Delgany and she was surprised to see how built-up the small villages had become. New shops had opened up, bright and inviting. The villages themselves seemed to be bustling with locals and Andrew explained that there had been a mass exodus to the countryside over the past five years and villages like them were the prime locations for city dwellers eager for more elbow room.

They spent their mornings enjoying coffee on the sofa in the front room before going for walks with Elwood along the narrow gravel roads. The crisp air cleared Molly's senses, but she did miss the warmth of Los Angeles. Andrew was generous in his time with her, engaging in conversations about American and Irish politics alike. He'd ask her questions about different legal cases and she'd do her best to explain them to him.

Evenings were her favorite, though. After dinner, they'd curl up in bed and read or lounge on the sofa and watch something on television. Thus far, he'd managed to keep the one-fuck-a-day rule and she hadn't run for the hills at his soft proclamations of love for her yet. They had fallen into a peaceful domestic life and she even surprised herself one night by making dinner entirely on her own. Granted, it was just a roast chicken with carrots, onions, and potatoes, but she didn't burn the house down and it was edible, so she counted it as a win.

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, Molly had actually forgotten about her application to Trinity. It wasn't until they were at Andrew's parents' home handing out gifts that she remembered. He had asked her if they could tell his family about the very likely possibility of her moving and she'd agreed reluctantly, mostly because she knew he'd probably let it slip somehow anyway.

"So Molly and I actually have some news," he started. "Technically, Molly does I guess."

"You got her pregnant," Jon quipped from an armchair in front of the fireplace.

"I - no," Molly replied, looking at Andrew. "Do I look pregnant in this dress?" she asked.

"No, you look fine," he answered. "My brother's just an arsehole," he added, launching a large ball of crumpled wrapping paper at his brother's head. "Tell them," he said, smiling at her reassuringly.

She took a deep breath. "I applied to Trinity to get my Master of Laws degree there next September," she said slowly. "So, with any luck, I'll be moving here at the end of the summer."

Raine's face lit up. "That's fantastic! It'll be good to have you close by."

"Yeah," Molly said, taking Andrew's hand in hers as it rested on her shoulder. "It'll be good for me, but mostly I think it'll be good for us." She felt the heat of his body as she leaned against his chest on the sofa.

"So tell us, Molly," John started. "What is a Roma Christmas like? Do you have any interesting traditions?"

Her heart dropped into her stomach as the blissful bubble she'd been existing in for the past few days popped. Breathe. He doesn't mean any harm. He's just curious like most people are. She could feel Andrew tense behind her. Then: How did he find out? She could see their gazes on her.

"Dad..." he said quietly.

Don't panic. She swallowed quickly and kept her face a mask. "I - uh...could you excuse me?" she asked, standing up.

She walked quickly to the kitchen door and wrenched it open, greeting the cold afternoon air with a gasp. Her mind was racing and she leaned a hand against the stone wall of the house as she struggled to breathe. She had always been so careful of who she told her past to, but not because she was embarrassed of being Roma. Rather, she didn't want to dredge up the memories of her childhood by answering the questions that inevitably followed with each revelation. But in Ireland, she'd learned very early on not to reveal her origins.

Roma were persona non gratis to most Irish. After a mass influx of Roma coming to the country illegally in the 1990s seeking asylum, many Irish didn't welcome them. They were seen as drains on the system and often the subjects of cruel attacks and prejudice. They were outsiders in every sense of the word and prejudices against them had become commonplace. It was dangerous for anyone to know she was Roma, especially since she was a foreigner.

"Molly?" Andrew's voice met her ears as she stood in the back garden.

Frustration and anger tinged her voice. "You told them?!" she hissed, turning on him.

He looked over his shoulder and shut the door after himself, stepping into the cold air. "I didn't!" She raised an eyebrow and glared. "Ok, I might have mentioned it to Dad like, five years ago! But it was only because I was curious. He'd worked with several Roma musicians and I wondered if he knew anything about the culture since I couldn't find anything online," he admitted. "But I didn't expect the arsehole to remember it all these years later when he barely remembers where he puts his glasses half the time!"

"Andrew, it is dangerous for people to know I'm Roma here. It's not like America!" she exclaimed. "A man was beaten to a pulp and left for dead in the middle of a fucking park just because he was Roma not two days ago! No one batted an eye!"

The attack on a Roma man in a Dublin park had been briefly covered by the Irish media, but it had been sandwiched between a report on a potential bill to increase taxes and a story on what to serve for a last-minute Christmas dinner. No one paused. No one asked how or why this attack happened; nobody cared. It was a cold reminder to her that Ireland still had quite a long way to go in terms of accepting others.

"Molly, its different for you. You're American," he said quickly. "You're not like other Roma."

You're not like other Roma. His words hit her and she was shocked by the cavalier tone he used when saying them. She took a step back from him, the air between them changing, becoming charged with anger. Disgust boiled up inside her as she took him in.

"I'm not like other Roma?" she repeated softly, disbelief clouding her vision. "So what? I pass for - for a white girl?" she demanded. "Is that what you're saying?! That I'm fucking white passing? I never thought you of all people would say something like that."

He took a step closer to her, but she pulled one of the metal patio chairs between them, her hands resting on the back, cold and slick from rain. Andrew froze and held his hands up. 

"That isn't what I meant," he said softly. "I'm sorry."

"I thought you were different - all acceptance and feminism and inclusivity and radical," she spat, gripping the rusted chair. "You're no different than the rest of them."

He looked at her apologetically. "I am different."

She looked away from him at the garden wall, watching a small bird hop along the top. "My first week here, back when I was in school," she said softly. "I met a guy and we went out on a few dates. He was a lot like you. He was charming and sweet and convinced me to tell him all about Roma traditions once he learned I was one. Then he started trotting me out to his friends, like a fucking circus animal. I was a fucking fetish for him and his white savior complex." She looked back at him, tears welling in her eyes. "To him I was this exotic creature to possess, to own. To live out his disgusting colonialist fantasies of saving the fucking heathens."

"Molly, I loved you before I knew you were Roma," he whispered. "I'd love you even if you weren't. It doesn't matter to me like that." He took a step closer and she relaxed slightly. "It only matters to me because it is important to you. Its part of your identity and you hold it as important. So it matters to me."

A gust of wind came and she shivered. He slid is jacket off and held it out to her. Reluctantly, she accepted it.

"Have I ever made you feel the way he did?" he asked softly. She shook her head. "Have I ever made you feel uncomfortable about being Roma or in general?" he asked. Again, she had to shake her head. "Has my family, or anyone else in my life?"

"No," she answered.

"Mol, nobody here would hurt you, alright? And if they did, I'd chuck 'em from my life," he said. "I love you, alright? No one in this family would ever do anything to hurt you. They're not going to broadcast it to anyone. Hell, I've managed to keep most of my private life private this long. Clearly they can keep their mouths shut."

She sighed and let him slide the chair away from her. He was warm as he embraced her tightly, stroking her hair. She let her arms wrap around him and she inhaled, enjoying the way he felt against her.

"I'm sorry I told my dad," he whispered. "I didn't realize he'd say anything."

"You didn't realize we'd ever be together again," she added.

"He feels terrible, by the way," Andrew said, looking down at her.

She sighed. "I'm sorry. I kind of overreacted."

"No you didn't," he said firmly. "You didn't know that he would ask that. He really shouldn't have - not as he did, at least. And it makes more sense now why you're wary. I didn't even connect that attack with how you'd feel. I'm sorry."

"I need to apologize to him," she said suddenly. "I should explain things."

When she went back inside, she was immediately greeted by a very apologetic John. 

"Molly, please forgive me," he said quickly. "I - I didn't mean any harm by it. I thought you were okay discussing things about your culture. It was a question purely out of curiosity."

She took his hand and knelt down in front of him. "Its alright. I - I apologize for running out so quickly. I should explain."

"Please, you don't have to," Raine said from her seat. She was stirring a freshly-poured cup of tea. 

"No, I do," Molly replied. She looked over at Andrew, who crossed the room to stand next to her. "I don't want you to be walking on eggshells around me. Its your house, for Christ's sake. I'm just a guest."

Andrew sat on the sofa and tugged her down next to him before wrapping his arm around her shoulders. 

"In your own time," Jon said from his armchair. 

"Just not too long, because we do need to get into Dublin by seven," Andrew quipped. 

"Yeah, alright Mr. Rock Star," she sneered, making everyone laugh. 

She took a deep breath and dove in, explaining everything. From her childhood to her 'marriage' to Sam to running away, she told them every detail she could. They listened as she talked about being disowned and shunned from the Roma community and her experiences with prejudice in Ireland and America. For the first time, she felt like she was actually teaching someone about Roma culture and they actually wanted to learn. When she was finished, they asked intelligent questions and seemed genuinely interested in learning more. It was the first time she actually felt like she was at home there.

***

DEUXMOI SPOTTED

Hozier was out in front of Gaiety Theatre in Dublin with a bunch of other Irish artists - Bono, Niall Horan, Glen Hansard, Lyra, and a few others - doing a charity show for homelessness. He signed a few autographs and took a few pictures, but left with a girl shortly after the show ended. She spent a lot of time talking with Bono and Niall and she's super pretty in person. Bono seemed really interested in her. I attached a photo. Not sure if she's the same girl he was spotted with about a week ago. They looked super loved up and cuddly as they left. 

R/HOZIERFANS

U/FROMEDEN1990 POSTED: Andy did his kind-of-annual busk with Glen Hansard tonight in Dublin. I'm always amazed at how great he sounds with just himself and his guitar. And loving his charitable nature, as always. 

U/HOZIESSHOES POSTED: That girl from Balfe's was back with him, too. A couple people on Twitter posted photos of them together. It definitely looks like the same girl from last week. And she's the same girl in those pics Alana Haim posted at Halloween. Here are links.

U/BOGMAN3000 POSTED: Holy fucking hell, I know her! Well, I don't know her personally, but I've definitely seen her before. She was at the last two Los Angeles shows earlier this year. She was front and center in the pit with a guy. Andrew was totally eye-fucking her the entire concert. Like looking fucking feral. She must have been important back then because someone from the crew came out both nights and gave her something before the show started. The way he looked at her, they definitely fucked after the show. He was wild those nights.

Those were also the shows he mentioned that legal aide group Bright Horizons and donated all the profits from his merch sales at those shows to them. I looked them up online when I got home and I saw that girl. I think her name is Molly Stanley. She's listed as an attorney for them who specializes in immigration, civil rights, and criminal defense law. 

I'm like, 95% certain this is the same chick now, after seeing these photos. I tried to find her social media, but it doesn't look like she has any. But the guy she was with in the pit - Oscar Llewelyn - does. They're coworkers. She's appeared on his IG several times. Seems to live a pretty normal L.A. life. 

U/HOZIESSHOES POSTED: So he's dating a lawyer. And one that focuses on human rights issues, no less. That does seem like Andrew's type. Now I'm curious how long they've been together. Because if she works for Bright Horizons, he's been talking about them for at least two years now. So did they meet through Bright Horizons or did he start supporting Bright Horizons after getting involved with her? 

U/BOGMAN3000 POSTED: Well we know he wasn't with her over the summer. Remember that fan girl who basically outed him on IG with those photos after the Chicago residency? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been screwing her if he was with this Molly girl. He's not the cheating type and I don't see him wanting an open relationship whilst touring. I get the feeling that while he's touring, Andrew is all business and doesn't really indulge much. 

U/FROMEDEN1990 POSTED: That bitch was so fucking shady. That was one time I'm glad the fandom went after someone Andrew's been with. I still can't believe she had the audacity to post those pictures of him. To be clear, I don't care if Andy hooks up with people after shows. He's an adult. The people he hooks up with are adults. But breeching his trust like that is a major issue for me. It seems like Molly may be a better choice for him since she doesn't appear to have social media (or care about it, possibly?) and she's doing a job he obviously admires and connects with her on.

At least now we know who that "friend from America" was that he referenced on the ISPCC Childline live earlier. They must be serious if he's letting her come to his house and presumably meet his family. I can't imagine him inviting her for Christmas and then making her stay away when he's with his family. I'm happy for him. I was beginning to worry that our Bog Man might never find the right match.