It's been a few days since I've gotten out of the hospital. Lizzie and Jamie took the apartment and moved in, Paul had been slowly working things out with Chris, Lizzie went on a date with Ryder and Jamie and Serena are going pretty good themselves. Aunt Rita and Uncle Rick headed back home yesterday after helping Lizzie and Jamie settle into their apartment.

Having the place to ourselves has been pure heaven. Since Ryder finally fixed the chain to the door we utilize it along with the bottom lock a lot since everyone pretty much has a key and don't know how to knock. They never know what they may walk into with us sleeping on the couch bed.

I roll over and realize that Zane is not in bed anymore. Looking toward the bathroom I see the door is shut which indicates that's why he's not laying next to me. Looking at my watch I notice that it's already 10:30am, but I roll over closing my eyes at least until Zane comes out of the bathroom.

The bathroom door creaks open and Zane jumps onto the bed bouncing.

"Woah there tiger!" I say laughing.

"Good morning beautiful!" He says placing kisses all over my face still bouncing on the bed.

"Good morning....." I laugh. "What has you happy?" I say continuing to giggle.

Zane plops belly down on the bed and props himself up on his elbow and looks at me. Brushing a strand of hair out of my face he leans in kissing me and pulls away with the biggest smile on his face. I look into his eyes trying at a hint of what's going on here.

"I've got a plan!" He says excitedly.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" I ask smiling at how goofy he's being.

"You're getting a tattoo today!"

"Um no?"

"You are and we are going to head over to the shop in an hour."

"Um Zane?"

"What Lucy?"

"Don't I get a say in this?"

"Sure you can pick out what you want." He smiles and kisses me again.

I've never really considered a tattoo. Sure they are pretty hot on Zane, but I never thought of getting one myself.

"Hmm ok. Well I did see this really pretty mandala I wouldn't mind getting."

"That would be sweet! Do you have a pic of it?" Zane asks me.

I reach over to the end table grabbing my phone and skimming through the photos. Once I found the one I was talking about I turn the phone to show Zane.

"That would be pretty awesome to get on the ball of your shoulder."

"You think?"

"Yep send it to me and I'll send it to Eddie so he has it ready for us."

"Sent. Guess I better go get a shower then."

"Yup! You are getting a tattoo!"

I jump in the shower and my nerves hit me. What am I getting myself into? Why am I agreeing to getting the tattoo? Oh well you only live once right?

I finished my shower, dry my hair and decide to throw it up in a pony tail since I'll be getting my shoulder tattooed. I do my make up and get dressed. Once I'm done I head out and Zane sure enough has food waiting for me.

"Eggs for you. Protein, they will help with the tattoo." He winks and shovels some food onto a plate for him too.

"Do I really have to do this?" I ask.

"I'm not going to force you. I think it would be cool if you did because you always admire mine, but baby if it's too much don't worry about."

"No I want too. I'm just scared. I don't know what to expect from it."

"It will hurt I won't lie but you are brave."

"I try." I try my best to give him a genuine smile.

We both eat and gulp down the oj he had poured into glasses for us.

"I'm getting to used to this." I smile at him.

"I will cook for you as long as you want me too." He plants a kiss on my cheek as he takes my plate and goes to the sink to wash it.

His phone beeps and he lets me know it's Eddie. He got the picture and drew it up. Zane shows me the picture. It's not exactly like the pic I sent but very close and beautiful. I'm really excited for it.

************************************************

Arriving at the tattoo shop, Zane takes my hand as he knows how nervous I am. Eddie is standing at the counter and immediately addresses us. Zane gives him a bro hug and introduces me to him. Turns out they went to school together.

Eddie leads me into his room where he has everything laid out on the table. I plead with Zane to come back with me. He does and pulls up a chair next to me.

Eddie shows me the unopened packs of needles laying on the table. Explaining that they are brand new never used. I shake my head agreeing that I saw him open new packs. He shows me how the tattoo gun works and how it sounds and shows me the colors he thinks would be best. I agree with the colors because he did an amazing job picking them out.

"Alright I'll start slow so you get used to the feeling, but first I have to apply the stencil." Eddie says applying the stencil. Once it's all lined up he takes the hand mirror and shows me and I also get Zane's approval.

Eddie takes some ointment and spreads it over the stencil. He steps on the pedal to start tattoo gun. He looks at me "ready?" I nod my head yes, take a deep breath, close my eyes and squeeze Zane's hand.

It actually doesn't feel as bad as I had thought it would. Once the outline is done, Eddie cleans it off and I stand up to look at it in the mirror. He says to take a break and he goes out for a smoke break.

"So?" Zane looks at me in question.

"Not too bad. Burns and is sore but not bad." I smile.

"See. You got this." He says and kisses me.

Eddie walks back into the room and smells of cigarettes. He must of seen the look on my face because he got up and took his top shirt off.

"Sorry about that. I forget some people are bothered by smoking." Eddie apologizes.

"Oh no it's ok, sorry didn't mean to make a face. It was a cross between the smell and my shoulder is really starting to sting. Honestly it didn't bother me that much." I say nervously because I really didn't want to offend him.

"Oh ok. Well are you ready for the color now?" He asks.

"Yep I'm ready." Eddie gives Zane a wary look and Zane smiles. "What was that about?

"Oh nothing." Eddie chuckles. "You're doing better than I thought you would. Do you have any preference of how you want the colors?"

"No I trust you to make it look good I say." Feeling confident that he will indeed make it look good. Eddie starts the machine again and dips the tip into a turquoise color. I watch the needle get closer to my skin and as soon as he starts the color I jump. "Holy fucking shit! That hurts!"

Eddie and Zane start laughing. "He told me not to warn you." Eddie says and I slap Zane with my free hand.

"Ouch! Sorry I didn't think you'd finish it if you knew the color hurts worse." Zane says with a smirk.

Eddie continues in with the color, my shoulder becoming numb to the pain. After about an hour of adding color, Eddie cleans the tattoo and moves the arm to the chair for me to stand up and look at it in the mirror. It's gorgeous and I stand there in awe looking at it.

"Oh my gosh Eddie! It's beautiful!" I say throwing my arms around his neck and he awkwardly hugs me back.

Zane stands up, walking over to me and looks it over. "Very nice! Good job Eddie!" He fist bumps Eddie.

"Thanks I'm glad you both like it. You did good for your first tattoo."

"Well I had a patient tattoo artist." I smile.

"Mind if I take some pictures of it for my portfolio?" He asks.

I nod my head yes and he takes some paper towels and more of the cleaning solution to wipe it off more. Once all the excess ink is cleaned off of my skin he steps back snapping a few pictures of the tattoo.

Zane asks him how much and we head to the front and pay. Zane hands him an extra twenty for a tip and we leave the shop with promises to come back for more.

Swinging by the bar, we head in to show it off to Paul. Of coarse Chris is in there too and Paul gives me a look like please don't say anything.

"Wow look at that!" Paul says coming over to me and admiring my tattoo. Chris comes over too and stands a little too close for comfort and I cringe.

Zane's jaw clenches and next thing we know he's asking to talk to Chris in the back. Paul looks at me terrified as Chris follows Zane.

"What the hell is he doing?" Paul asks.

"Playing the protective brother rule I assume." I say shrugging my shoulders. "You forgave him?"

"We are not back together Lucy."

"Then what's going on?" I ask him.

"We are friends. He works here too and frankly keep the finances straight."

YOU FUCKED SOME OTHER GUY IN MY BROTHERS BED!!! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHY I'M PISSED!!!!!

Paul looks at me and I run back to the back to stop the fighting.

"Zane! Stop!" As I yell Zane turns his head to me and Chris throws a punch catching me in the right cheekbone. I stumble back and Zane wraps his arms around my waist to catch me.

Once my feet are steady on the ground I turn to rage and go at Chris swinging. I caught his nose and blood splattered and I swing again slamming into his eye and then I uppercut his chin hearing his teeth slam together.

Zane wraps his arms around me pulling me back. "Weren't you ever taught not to hit a girl!" I shout.

"Fuck me." Chris says laying on the ground holding his face and Paul hands him a rag. "Shit Lucy, I've never expected you to be able to hold your own."

"First punch was for hitting me, second was for screaming at Zane and the third was for cheating on Paul!" I say.

Zane takes me back out from sitting me on a bar stool and looks over my face. Paul hands me some ice and I apply it to my face.

"I'm pretty certain my hands broken and if not broken it's pretty damn bruised." I say chuckling.

"Lucy it's not funny." Zane says looking at me seriously.

"I'm ok Zane. You should see the other guy." I say grinning.

"Lucy! You just got out of the hospital!"

"I know and I'm fine. Uncle Rick taught all us girls how to stick up for ourselves."

"Yeah but babe, it could have ended bad." Zane says softer now.

"Yeah but he fucking punched me, I know it was meant for you but he hit me." I say.

Chris comes out from the back, his face is already swollen. "Damn Lucy! You should go pro with those hits."

"You don't seem the least bit pissed off at me?" I say questioning him.

"No I deserve it 100%." Chris says.

"Well yeah but probably not that bad. I'm sorry." I say.

"It's ok. I think I'd rather you than Zane, although you hit pretty hard."

Eventually we all calm down and Zane and Chris talk and actually listen to each other for once. Zane says that if he's sincere then he will have to make it up to Paul. Chris seems to be sincere but I know Paul in return will be guarded. That's the way it goes though.