The next day, Chéri looked everywhere for Lennon once he heard he had been cleared by the doctor. He went to the private compound and was surprised to see Suzanne packing Lennon's few items.
Chéri leant against the doorframe silently a moment, just watching her, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh!" Suzanne said as she spun around, frightened at seeing Chéri leaning against the doorframe, "Lennon said I could pack his things."
"Oh, did he?" Chéri said as he walked into the room and sat on the sofa, crossing his long, thin tattooed legs.
"Yes, but, now that you're here, you can, if you like." Suzanne said.
"Have you two been living together?" Chéri asked.
"NO!" Suzanne replied quickly.
Chéri got up and then grabbed her arm. "Why are you wearing my boyfriends Gay Pride band!? It means nothing to you."
"Oh, he gave it to me." Suzanne said, meekly.
"Why?!" Chéri asked in disbelief, "You're walking around wearing his Gay Pride band, and my sister's wearing his crucifix. Both of you stick to him like glue. What the fuck is going on!"
"Nothing." Suzanne said weakly as Chéri stood up and stood next to her.
"Are you two sleeping together? Tell me the truth!" Chéri said as he folded his arms, looking furious.
"No! No I swear to you monsieur Chéri!" she said as she dropped what she was holding.
"Where is Lennon?! Cause I'm sure you know." Chéri said.
"He's left the compound with his bodyguard. He wanted to go out to the stores."
Chéri just stared at Suzanne and walked out.
☆
Sometime later, Lennon arrived back with his bodyguard. As they walked into the main compound, they saw Chéri.
"Lenny?!" Chéri said, even though he hadn't seen Lennon in over five days.
"Hey, darlin'." Lennon said with a smile.
"Are you still cross with me?" Chéri asked.
"I've had time to think about things. I've missed you, Cher." Lennon said as he hugged Chéri.
Chéri noticed all the new tattoos around his neck, hands and all the new piercings. "Lenny, what happened? You have small flesh holes too?!"
"Well, I wanted to look my best for the Masquerade party coming up soon." Lennon said.
"Oh! I like it! I got something to show you too Lenny."
"What baby?"
Chéri lifted his T-shirt, and on his stomach, under his flat bra was a tattoo written in beautiful handwriting, in an ark saying 'Lennon'.
Lennon was stunned. "Is, Is that real?" Lennon said touching it.
"Of course it is!"
"You've got my name on you...? Across your stomach?!" Lennon said in joy and disbelief.
"Yes! So you better love me cause this tattoo is going to be hard to explain to another man!" Chéri said.
"I've got your name on me, but I'll never have to explain it to another man because they'll never be another man. You're my last." Lennon said.
"Really?"
"Yes, Chéri, but...-" Lennon started.
"But what, Lenny?"
"If I find out one more damning piece of information that you've withheld, there's going to be trouble." Lennon warned.
Chéri hugged Lenny, then looked up at him, "Mmm, Lenny...?" Chéri started as he pulled himself away. "I do want to say/that I... -"
At that moment Adeline ran up and wrapped her arms around Lennon's legs. "Mr Lennon! You're well again!" she said in her little French voice.
"Hey, darlin'!" Lennon said as he picked up Adeline.
"Oh no! Your face!" Adeline said as she touched his bruised face.
"I'm okay darlin'. Hey! Wanna follow me and uncle Chéri to the kitchen so you can see what I have in these bags?"
"What's in the brown paper bag?" Chéri asked.
Lennon carefully put Adeline down and picked up something rolled in brown paper.
Lennon winked at Chéri and beckoned them to follow him as he walked into the kitchen with the large parcel rolled up in brown paper, "C'mere Chéri."
Chéri walked up, "What are you doing Lenny?"
"I'm gonna make you something to eat."
Chéri grinned widely, "You're cooking for me?"
"Yeah, I'll bet René will love this!"
"Lenny, René is a michèlin star chef, I don't think he wants to know how you cook in Tennessee, unfortunately."
"Well, more for us!" Lennon added, flashing his warm smile at Chéri.
"Ohh, I can't believe you're cooking for me!" Chéri said excitedly.
"Yeah! I got fresh vegetables and this..." Lennon said as he unwrapped the paper to show two large whole fish.
Chéri covered his mouth, "Lenny... you've brought in two dead bodies of fish?"
"Darlin', you love Salmon don't you?" Lennon asked.
"Yeah, I love it, why?"
"What do ya think this guy is?" Lennon answered as he held up one of the fish.
"Did you catch him?" Chéri asked.
"Yep Darlin'! With my own bare hands... at the fisherman's market. Though I do fish with friends, back home." Lennon said.
"Lenny, that's gross! You're touching that slimy dead fish with your hands!" Chéri said.
"It's not slimy! It's fresh, go on touch it..." Lennon said.
"No!"
"Seriously, he's fresh which is why he doesn't smell at all. Look at the colour behind his gills." Lennon said.
"Oh, my God! that's gross! Don't pull that back!" Chéri said.
Lennon held up the fish and pointed it at Chéri, "Aww, I think he likes you, Chéri."
"Lenny, that things disgusting..." Chéri said, taking a step back.
"Oh? Well! He wants a kiss." Lennon said, taking a step towards Chéri.
"Lenny! Seriously! No, NO!" Chéri answered walking backwards, smiling.
"C'mon!? One little kiss...?!" Lennon replied, now walking towards Chéri a bit faster while holding the large fish out.
"I'm not kissing him! And soon I won't be kissing you either..." Chéri added getting behind a kitchen table.
"Kiss me! Kiss me Chéri..." Lennon said in a comical voice.
Chéri started to laugh and bolted around the table to another table closer to the door with Lennon chasing after him with the large salmon.
René the chef walked into the kitchen and stopped as he stared at the scene before him.
"Chéri! I'm giving up my body for you! The least you can do is...-" Lennon paused as they both saw Renè staring at them, horrified.
Lennon lowered the fish right away and smiled innocently, yet rather mischievously at René, who shook his head and started mumbling to himself in French while he left the kitchen.
Chéri and Lennon both looked at each other and snorted while trying not to laugh.
"Right! Now back to business. Chéri get me a sharp knife, please." Lennon said.
"Okay." Chéri said as he handed Lennon a sharp knife from the drawer.
"First, you make vertical slits down the body about a centimetre width apart..." Lennon spoke as he prepared the fish.
Chéri was looking quite green and had his hand up to his mouth in shock.
"Then you can dress it and it will really absorb the flavours." Lennon said.
"Last I had salmon, René made Salmon en papillote, that was lovely but I only saw the finished product, on my plate, ready to eat! It was delicious." Chéri said, still covering his mouth while staring at the fish as René walked back in to see if the kitchen intruders had left yet, and he caught the end of their conversation.
"Are you going to pop them in the oven?" Chéri asked.
Lennon smiled at Chéri, "Nah! We're gonna soak these bad boys in bourbon, add about half a cup of brown sugar, garlic, thyme and then... we're gonna go outside n' smoke 'em."
René's eyes widened and he grabbed his knives and all the saucepans he could carry. He about-faced and stormed back out with as much of his kitchen equipment as he could carry.
"What's he up to?" Lennon asked.
"Fuck knows." Chéri said.
In the hall, René ranted to his kitchen staff in French. Monica asked the Sous chef what the commotion was about.
The Sous chef shrugged, "René wants to know how much longer we'll be hosting Barbie and Captain America, and why they are bastardising his kitchen."
Monica laughed but then turned to the sous chef. "Please remind René that 'Barbie' is signing his monthly cheque."
Next Chapter: Do You Know That Some Poor Girl, Lost Her Virginity To Me..?