Waking in the middle of the night Ivy looked at her husband as the moon bathed him in light. He had thrown off the covers in his sleep and she could see the deep purple bruising at his ribs. A few tears fell down her cheeks. "Oh Jimmy why did you do it?" she whispered as she traced the bruise with her fingertips. Jim shifted in his sleep, a wince crossing his face but he did not wake.

She was thankful at that moment, that he had tried to spare her the knowledge of his last fight. Looking at the consequences of him stepping into the ring she was horrified at the idea of watching such an attack. She learned he was a boxer the day she first met him. But she had never considered what that fact meant, physically. A black eye sure...but this was something different. Something more.

She respected his quiet ways, his willingness to put in an honest day of work. The concept of putting himself in physical jeopardy was something entirely new to her. Something she would have to come to terms with.

In her heart Ivy knew she had found her true mate in James J. Braddock. Discovering how best to honor that bond was what she was struggling with. Perhaps it is simple. The answer might just be that loving him was her first and best option.

She felt his arm wrap itself around her and hold her close. She looked at his face only to discover he was awake and looking back at her. "Looks worst than it feels baby."

"Jim is there anything I can do?" Shaking his head no he smiled as he caressed her face. "Just stay close. A little rest will go a long way."

Ivy shifted her body closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Jim, again, put his arm around her, holding her close. Within minutes she could hear and feel as his breathing as it as fell into the rhythmic motion of sleep.

With each rise and fall of his chest she felt her fears slipping away. She had Jim back beside her; she had no need for anything more. Her questions would keep until another day. For now she would let him sleep and she would dream.