True Friendship: A Freddie Mercury Story part 5

After a night of laughing and reminiscing and plans to go to the local skating rink the next day, we went to bed.  Freddie had me sleep in the hugest guest room I'd ever seen in my life.  For company he brought in one of his large cats.  I can't remember the kitty's name, but she was the sweetest cat I'd ever met.  She snuggled with me all night, only leaving to find the litter box.  She didn't even hiss or swipe at me when I pulled her closer.  I remember wishing all cats could be like her.  
The next morning I was awakened by Freddie singing a silly wake up song, accompanied by a hilarious dance.  I laughed out loud and after he left me to get dressed, I did so humming that song.  I went down to breakfast with the sweet kitty following me.  Freddie smiled as I entered the kitchen.
"Did you enjoy your sleeping companion?" he asked.
I nodded, "Oh I wish I could keep her!" I grinned, picking her up for a cuddle.
Freddie smiled, "I'm glad you like her...you might have just given me an idea."
I tilted my head, "What sort of idea?"
He winked, "You'll just have to see."
Jim came in before I could respond, having shaved his chin stubble off.  His mustache was still there.
"I think it's so cute your mustaches almost match!" I giggled.
Jim laughed, "It's our ploy...I'm his body double." he joked.
Freddie giggled, "More like body searcher."
I had to laugh out loud.  

After we'd eaten and chatted some, it was time to go to the skating rink.  
Freddie had hired the place for a day, just for us three.  
It looked like a standard skating rink, which was actually surprising seeing as how all the places I'd been since the day before had been absolutely huge.  It wasn't disappointing, though, it was actually quite cozy.  Freddie had actually bought himself and Jim their own skates and he rented some for me at the front desk.  
I was a bit nervous because I hadn't been roller skating since I was around twelve years old.  I dearly hoped I wouldn't fall and bust my backside.  Jim saw my nervousness and leaned down to tell me that he wasn't that well versed in skating either and that Freddie would have to hang onto both of us.  That made me feel better.  I put on my skates, laced them up, and stumbled to the floor to wait for the boys.
They got their skates on quickly and skated out to join me.
"Guys...I warn you I'm really really really rusty at skating...I might bust myself a few times." I said nervously.
Freddie grabbed my hand, "I'll keep you up, darling.  Jim dear, take her other hand, will you?" he said.
Jim laughed a bit, "You know I'm not the best at this either, do you?"
"Hmmm..." Freddie thought for a moment, "All right, switch places! I'll be in the middle keeping both of you up!" he declared, switching places with me.
My eyes widened, "What if we both pull you down?" I asked.
"My worry too, darlin." Jim added.  
Freddie scoffed, "Oh ye's of little faith!  I'm stronger than I look!" he chirped.
Jim and I both laughed and gave little "okaaaay" gestures.  
Freddie took both our hands firmly in his and together the three of us made our way out to the wooden skate floor.  Almost immediately I began to wobble.  Freddie gripped my hand tighter, giving me a wink as if to say 'I've gotcha'.  
I glanced over and Jim.  He wasn't wobbling, but he did have a bit of a nervous expression on his face.   Music began playing over the intercom for us to skate to, and I smiled when it turned out to be 50's and 60's music.
"To keep up with the retro theme of it." he explained.  
I grinned, "I love oldies!"
Freddie winked, "Me too, sweet."
Jim laughed, "Oh god, I remember this music!"
"Who doesn't?" Freddie exclaimed, "Hey who's up for the limbo?"
My eyes widened, "I can't even limbo off skates!"
Freddie glanced at Jim, "What about you?"
"I've never done the limbo before, love."
Freddie sighed, "Oh c'mon, you two! Am I gonna have to have fun all by myself?" he whined.
Jim put his free hand on Freddie's shoulder, "Just think of it this way...you'll win."
I giggled, "Yeah, you'll succeed and watch the two of us fall on our butts."
Freddie considered that for a bit, then grinned, "You're right."
Someone brought over a long Limbo stick and two skating rink workers held it up for us.  I surprised myself by making it underneath three times before I fell down the fourth time.  Poor Jim only made it once, and Freddie made it five times before he toppled over.  By the time we were done with that, we were all three sprawled on the floor laughing our faces off.  
A slow song started to play and Freddie scrambled to his feet.  Both Jim and I watched him do so, our mouths dropped open at how quickly he was able to do so.
"Jim, dance with me!" he exclaimed, pulling Jim up.  
I struggled to my feet, my skates threatening to throw me to the floor again.  I stumbled, looking for all the world like a two year old on her first skates, over to the side to watch them dance.  
Freddie held on to Jim's arms to hold him steady and gazed into his face, a determined 'trust me' expression on his own.  I watched, my heart swelling with warmth, as the two of them danced.  Jim kept his eyes on Freddie's, his own full of trust.  The song playing was "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and the two were swaying on the skating floor.  As they danced, I held onto the railing to keep myself from falling.  It really had been too long since I'd skated.  I made it a point to go skating more often to strengthen my legs and ankles.
When the song ended another slow song began to play.  I expected Freddie to continue to sway with Jim on the floor.  Instead he gave him a tight hug and a kiss.  
Then he turned to me and held his hand out, "Get over here!" he called.  
My eyes widened and Jim came over and, as well as he could, helped me skate over to Freddie,  By then my legs were hurting a little from falling down so many times.  Freddie took my arms to hold me steady and began swaying with me just as he'd done with Jim.  He looked down into my eyes with just as much of a 'trust me' look.  I gazed up into his eyes, smiling as we danced to "Cupid".  His determined face relaxed into a smile and at one point he leaned over and dropped a kiss on my forehead.  At the end of the song, he carefully twirled me around, catching me when I stumbled.  
"That was good, darling! Thank you for that." he grinned at me.  
We skated for a little while longer, but by twenty minutes later both myself and Jim were sore all over from multiple fallings.  Freddie tried to catch us as many times as he could, but even he couldn't catch both of us when we both fell at the same time.  It became very amusing and after a while we kept a tally of how many times each of us fell.  Freddie only fell three times.  I fell ten times, and Jim fell about eight times.  
Together we limped to the carpeted area and changed back into our shoes.  I've always marveled at how much lighter one's feet feels after having skated for a few hours, once the skates are removed. Jim even made a comment about that, and I nodded, "Yeah I know, it's crazy, isn't it?"  Freddie grinned, having already changed out of his skates and was standing waiting for us slowpokes.  
We rode back to their house in the limo.  Freddie lounged across us in the backseat, his backside on Jim's lap and his legs across mine.  I held onto his legs, as if he'd fall off our laps if I didn't.  When the limo pulled up to the house and parked, he rolled off our laps dramatically, but caught himself before he could fall to the floor.  We all giggled as we went inside the house and Jim excused himself to take a shower and wash the sweat from skating off his body.  I asked Freddie if he'd like to go shower with him and Freddie smiled and told me they did that, but it would be rude to leave me alone.  He got us both a drink and then we sat on the couch to wait for Jim to shower so one of us could take one.
After talking for a couple minutes, Freddie took both my hands in his.
"Melvin, darling...words cannot express how much I am glad that you hit it off with Jim." he said, his words full of feeling, "I was half afraid you wouldn't like him."
I tilted my head, "Why wouldn't I like him?"
He hung his head a second before looking up at me, "Well..forgive me, but...I was half afraid you'd be jealous...can you forgive me for doubting you?"
My heart swelled again and I reached out and touched his jawline, "Freddie, there's nothing to forgive...I can't blame you for being afraid of that, especially since I was so passionate about professing my love for you.   But I am happy for you.  I saw how you two danced at the skating rink, and I can tell you really do love each other."
Freddie pulled me into a hug, "Thank you, darling...I really am happy, I'm so happy." he said softly.
"Well that's what I want...for you to be happy." I told him, "And I'm so glad you are."
He gave me a squeeze, holding me in silence for a few seconds.  I could tell he was thinking about something, but I hadn't the faintest idea what.  Finally, Freddie gently nudged me back, leaning his face down in order to look into my eyes.  
"I know what I'm going to do," he said, a determined smile on his face, "I'm going to find YOU somebody to love!"
My eyes widened and I gave a giggle, "What?"
Freddie took my hands in his again, "I'm gonna do it! I have plenty of friends and acquaintances, surely one of them is right for you!"
I laughed nervously, "But...what if nobody wants me?"
Freddie's brown eyes softened and he kissed my forehead, "Darling...do you really think I'd fix you up with someone who doesn't want you? Just count on me, all right?" he smiled.  
I took a deep breath and gave an uncertain nod, "Okay...if you think you can find anyone."
Freddie winked, "Just trust me, sweetie...just trust me."