He chuckled when he entered the bullpen and saw her curled in his chair. She had his coat wrapped around her and he felt a strong male satisfaction when he saw her breathing his scent. Her high heel shoes were on the floor and her legs were folded beneath her as she stared into space. He approached slowly and she smiled a little when he brought a chair and sat in front of her, his hands reaching for hers.

“Do you like my coat?” He couldn’t resist the teasing and smiled when she nodded her head and cuddled closer.

“Yes it’s very…warm…” She teased, smiling a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Bobby sighed and bit his lips before talking.

“He confessed in helping Perry to escape. Apparently, he sent him to some psychiatric hospital for a check up under a false name and documents. Perry had a good four years to develop and hide his obsession with you and James. He was released a half a year ago and probably had it all planned before he came to Washington two weeks ago.”

“Why did he help him?” Megan asked quietly.

“He knows it was a mistake. Perry lost a lot when he saved his life in the army and Stanton felt obligated to…” He trailed off when he saw the anger in her eyes. “I am not justifying his actions; I’m trying to see it from his point of view. When Perry got in town he surprised Stanton and he gave him the police scanner, that’s how he knew your every movement. Stanton realized Perry wasn’t very stable and he ran away. He told us he understood his mistake and willing to pay the price.”

“Mistake?” Megan’s eyes widened. “He helped cover up a murder.”

“He claimed he didn’t know Perry killed them, he witnessed the same scene you saw and it looked like a suicide.”

“Some detective he was.” She said bitterly, pulling her hand from his and moving it in her hair.

“We’ll charge him for everything we can. I know it’s probably no comfort to you.”

“I don’t…for the past few days I got used to thinking about him as the evil guy who sat aside and laughed while Perry had his way with us. But now you’re saying he didn’t really realize what he was doing…”

Bobby reached out for her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Do you want me to take you home?” she shrugged her shoulders and then shook her head. “Do you…want us to have some coffee before we call it a night? After all, our date was brutally cut in the middle.” This time, he received a smile and he placed a kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering on the soft skin before he pulled away and reached for her hands, pulling her up with him.

At the entrance to the bullpen, Jack hesitated and then smiled, pulling Sue into his arms and listening when Bobby and Megan talked quietly. Sue rested her head on his shoulder. “Is he telling her?” She asked and felt him nodding his head. He moved his hand trough her hair and placed a finger beneath her chin, tilting her head so that she could see his lips. “I need your help.” He whispered. “I lost a bet and now I need to pay for it.” He grinned at the question in her eyes and moved them both against the wall so that they could see the couple inside. Sue smiled when Bobby kissed Megan’s forehead before helping her to her feet. Jack tilted her head again and planted a small kiss on her mouth before speaking again. “I made a bet with James. I thought those two would kill each other before they’ll be together.” Sue giggled.

“You should have asked me, I could have shown you the potential, everyone saw it.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “Alright, so I’m a bit slow in the romance department.” His eyes widened when she snorted and burst into a fit of giggles. “What?”

“Three years is a little slow?” Sue quipped and then shrugged her shoulders at his astound look. “What? You said you loved me for as long as you can remember us. Now if that is not slow then…” He stopped her with a kiss, his mouth hot against hers, his arms moving to envelope her body. He only stopped when he heard a soft cough and turned to see Myles rolling his eyes at them.

“I know you’re fond of dangerous situations but getting caught by one of our supervisors is not recommended right now.” The tall agent smiled slightly. “Garret is a few minutes behind me. I just told him we finished wrapping this case completely and I’m sure he’ll be right up to congratulate. Maybe you should unbutton that shirt.” He smirked at Jack and Sue flushed scarlet before leaving his arms and heading towards the bullpen. Jack moved his hand to button the shirt before he joined them, Garret following him inside.

Garret’s speech was short; he congratulated them, ordered them not to show up until Monday and then left the bullpen. The other’s hurried after him. Tara smiled when she watched Bobby and Megan leaving and then turned to Myles who pretended he was still fussing with his computer so that they will be left alone. Tara sat at the edge of his desk and he smiled at her. “They make a beautiful couple.” She said.

Myles grinned. “Which one are you referring to?”

Tara laughed and he rose from his seat and reached out for her, holding her in his arms. Their middle of the week date was special, everything was new and exciting and getting to know each other better was a wonderful adventure. Myles looked at the woman in his arms and smiled, lowering his head to kiss her cheek. “You’re right.” He said. “Very beautiful.” She beamed at him and raised her head, her lips meeting his in a gentle kiss.







The water boiled and Bobby hurried to pour them into the cups before reaching for his cupboard and pulling out a packet of chocolate cookies. Megan eyed it with appreciation. “That wasn’t there when I looked for something to eat last week.” She said.

He raised his eyebrow. “You went through my closets?” He faked shock.

She rolled her eyes. “I went through your kitchen cupboards in a vain search for food. Don’t look so shocked, there was nothing in them.”

“Well, I figured you might hang around my apartment more often so I might as well be able to satisfy your every crave.” He gave her a flirtatious wink and handed her the cup of coffee.

“Are we playing the double meaning game again? You know I’m better, we’ve already established that.” She grinned and Bobby chuckled, his memory bringing him back a few days earlier when a comment just like that brought on a verbal spur that was filled with implications and innuendos. When they finally ran out of words the intensity was so strong it almost killed him. He had to touch her. The feeling was obviously mutual and she was in his arms as they tumbled to the familiar sofa, kissing passionately. He loved that new side of her he was slowly discovering, he loved the way she fitted in his arms so well.

At some point one of them stopped the hungry explorations. He guessed that they simply ran out of air. And when he stared down at her flushed face and traced the fair skin that he already managed to uncover he decided that they should wait just a little longer before moving things forward again. He could still see the bruises on her ribcage and his back still hurt. She was confused and he saw the insecurity in her eyes as she waited for him to speak. He kissed her softly and admitted he wanted to wait just a little, that he didn’t want to rush, that their next time should be slow and memorable. She smiled, the mischief in her eyes returning when she told him that she remembered their first time very well. He laughed, pulling her close for another kiss.

“Bobby?” Her voice brought him back to the present. “Where were you?”

“In a good place.” He smiled. “Your clothes are still here if you wanna change into something more comfortable. I got them out of the drier this morning, they’re in the bedroom.”

She arched an eyebrow. “When you say change into something more comfortable…”

“Go away…” He rolled his eyes and firmly stopped the train of thoughts that started running in his mind. She giggled when she headed towards his bedroom and Bobby placed his cup of coffee and the cookies on the living room table. He just sat down on the sofa when she called him. Shaking his head, he got up. “What?” He asked, moving towards the bedroom.

When he walked through the door he stopped in his tracks, taking the sight of the room that was semi dark, the only light coming from a few large candles that were placed strategically around the room. Megan sat on his bed, one bare foot tucked beneath her. His attention was drawn to the bed, he thought he saw Rose petals and he approached slowly, confirming his suspicions. He groaned inwardly.

“Bobby…” She started.

“It’s not what you think.” He hurried to explain.

“What am I thinking?” She asked softly.

“That I brought you here intentionally so that we could spend the night together.” He blurted.

“You don’t want to spend the night with me?”

“There is absolutely no way I can get away with this, right?”

She smiled. “I know you didn’t sneak in here…so, how did you manage to pull this romantic atmosphere?”

He sighed. “One of my neighbors saw you and when I told her that I’m taking you out for dinner she insisted that my apartment needed some romantic touch. I humored her and gave her my spare set of keys, I thought she’ll put some flowers in the living room and get it over with.” He took a look around his bedroom. “She seemed to have other ideas…”

“Well it is romantic.” She said. “She did a good job.”

He sat beside her on the bed, reaching out for her hand. “I know you had a rough couple of days and nights. I don’t want anything to bother you or me, definitely not that case.”

She sighed. “I feel strange…I’m nervous like this is our first time together. I feel like I might disappoint you. Does that make any sense?”

He laughed shortly. “Disappoint me? What are you talking about?” She shrugged her shoulders and he squeezed her hand. “I have an idea. Maybe we could just relax and see where this is going. We don’t have to jump to the deep end of the pool, we could start some place else, just for fun.”

“Just for fun…” She repeated slowly. “A kiss might be nice, don’t you think?”

He grinned, pulling her towards him as he lowered his head slowly, his lips touching hers. She sighed into his mouth, moving her hand to cup his face as the kiss deepened and he moved closer, enveloping his arms around her and pulling her to lie beside him on the bed. He felt like he was kissing her forever, giving and taking as she responded to his touch. One of his hands migrated to her back and he traced a finger around the zipper of the blue dress, his hesitation ebbing away when he realized she was unbuttoning his shirt slowly. He smiled to the kiss and heard her chuckling. She broke the kiss slowly and he stared at her face, the soft light caressing her face.

“I just might disappoint you here.” She said, smiling at him.

“What do you mean? Will you stop saying that; have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?”

“Yes, I still have marks on my ribs but that’s not what I’m talking about.” He raised his eyebrows and she continued. “They didn’t have any red on my size so I had to settle for…Oof…” Her words were swallowed by the pillow as Bobby playfully turned her around so that he could have better access to her back.

His breathe caught in his throat. “Blue…” He murmured. “Even better…” he grinned and she burst out in laughter, every hesitation or awkwardness that was between them disappearing. She leaned for another kiss and he happily met her half way, becoming addicted to her taste.

She drew closer to him. Their legs tangling together as they kissed, lips soft and warm against each other. Bobby’s hands were warm against her back and she arched against him, seeking for more contact. She moved her hands along his chest, trying to undo the buttons as he kept on distracting her. In an effort to regain some kind of clearness in her hazy mind she broke away from the kiss, concentrating fully on removing his shirt.

He smiled, closing his eyes and adjusting their bodies close together, laying on his back and giving her full control. Megan hesitated for a moment before kissing him again, her tongue exploring his mouth while her hands traveled every where. He hissed her name, the pleasure almost too much for him.

She was surprised when he easily flipped them over, and his eyes were dark and stormy as he looked at her. He moved to remove her dress slowly and she found herself averting her eyes when he took in every detail. His breathe tickled her ear. “I think blue is my new favorite color.” He whispered and she laughed, her eyes meeting his.

“I think it’s wrong that we could still talk in complete sentences.” She teased and watched with amazement when his eyes grew even darker and he moved a hand to caress the exact line where her bra met her skin. She inhaled sharply and he lowered his head and kissed the top of her breast, succeeding in making her loose all coherent thought.

She was warm and sweet and Bobby lost every thread of control he ever had as he moved his body closer to her, seeking heat and softness. He couldn’t speak anymore, letting his body speak for him, taking in every expression he saw in her eyes. Megan tried to match his every move, sometimes leading, sometimes following. She let go of everything, knowing that he will catch her. And in the end, it was just the two of them; kissing passionately, falling into bliss together.

He held her close to him, leading her slowly with the sound of music only he could hear. Her body was pressing intimately into his and he smiled to her hair. The idea of spending a quiet night at home certainly had his advantages. Spending the entire day with her was even more amazing then he thought.

She arrived pretty late in the morning and found him still rumpled as he just rolled out of his bed to open the door. He gotten so used to the night shifts he was having trouble in falling asleep at night. She teased him, saying that she was sure the paramedics would love if he would keep working with them. He rolled his eyes, his sense of humor a little rusty before his morning coffee.

They took a walk in the park with Levi. The golden in high spirits despite the cold that surrounded them, they threw snow at each other and Jack knew that it’s been a while since any of them laughed so much. They returned to his apartment, Sue surprising him with a bag of clothes she carried in her car. She flushed scarlet when she told him that her clothes were wet and that she was cold and needed a warm shower. He laughed when they walked inside and gave her the largest towel he could find, struggling hard against the images in his mind.

They talked. They talked about everything and nothing at all, about their past and their future, their hopes and dreams. He never remembered opening up like this to anyone, only Sue could understand him so perfectly. They made dinner together and even that simple task was enjoyable with her presence.

And now, as the New Year slowly arrived he was content to make new resolutions, sure of himself enough to make long lasting promises, knowing now that he could keep them. Jack moved them closer to the window, eyeing the clock that was hung on the wall.

“Is it time?” Sue asked and he nodded his head.

She raised her head from his shoulder and watched him closely as he signed in her hand, mouthing the countdown until he reached the end. She watched when he smiled and lowered his head a little, intent on kissing her. She smiled back, tilting her head upwards to meet him half way. The kiss started as light and gentle but soon they both found themselves consumed by the desire they felt for each other. Jack moved his hands restlessly on her back, forming circles and pulling her closer to him. Sue anchored one of her hands to his hair, caressing his scalp while her other hand trailed lines on his chest.

Mouths glued together, Jack was having a hard time to focus. All he could think about was her touch and the desire to take her with him, close the door and make the world disappear for the rest of the night. He wondered if it was too soon. He already knew his feelings. The thought that she will be the only woman he would ever be with was not at all intimidating, he found himself longing to make it happen.

She eased away from the kiss, moving her lips along his jaw line towards the one point next to his ear that could make him groan and grasp her more tightly. She already learned to recognize the vibrations of his chest to be his vocal reaction to her ministrations. It made her feel powerful, that she could cause such a strong reaction with a mere caress of her lips. It made her love him more as he gave himself completely to her, not hiding anything.

She wondered what it would be like to give him everything in return. She wondered if she was ready. She had no doubt that this man who was now anxious to open a few buttons in her shirt was the one for her. But was she ready? Their relationship was so new…and so old.

She drowned in another kiss. His tongue fighting hers for dominance as he buried his hands in her hair, she moaned into his mouth and felt him responding, his kiss becoming slower and more sensual as he slowly ended it. She felt the sudden vibration of a loud noise and pulled him closer as the festival of lights danced in front of his window. The fireworks were amazing and Sue smiled to his neck, knowing that she should just allow things to progress on their own; they could handle everything that might cross their path.

Jack tilted her head upwards, smiling at her. “Happy new year, Sue.”

She grinned. “Happy new year.”

The siren echoed in the street and Megan reached out to turn it off. James grabbed the radio. “Washington 52. In the scene.”

“52, do you require assistance?”

James surveyed the scene around. “It doesn’t look like that at the moment.”

Megan shook her head and opened the ambulance door, watching when Jack Hudson approached her. “We have a dead body and Myles took a bad swing in his eye.”

Megan and James left the ambulance and headed towards the surveillance van, Myles was sitting inside, his hand covering his eye as he moaned. “I don’t need a hospital.”

Megan pried his hand gently from the eye and nodded her head. “I think you do, Myles.” James helped him up and led him to the ambulance. Megan looked at Jack with question. “Bobby?”

There was a grim expression on his face. “He’s alright. He left before you got here.” Megan was about to ask more when he shook his head and turned around, hearing someone calling his name. “Excuse me.” He walked towards the small house and Megan frowned as she watched him walking away. A look towards Tara’s direction didn’t help as the blond agent was busy with her equipment. She bit her lips, something strange was going on.

*****

Megan was surprised to see his keys at the door when she walked inside. She raised her eyebrows, searching for him in the kitchen before removing her coat and heading towards the bedroom. She had grown to think of his apartment as home, barely sleeping in her own apartment anymore. When she wasn’t spending the night with him, she was working.

She was reluctant at first, remembering previous mistakes, but his logic was clear and his idea was good. Since she still had to pay the rent for the next few months, she kept the apartment and he arranged for a nice room for her, placing a bed and a closet in his spare room, allowing her to paint the walls. It was just in case, he told her, that she will need the space from him.

She didn’t spend one night in that room, preferring to stay with him any time.

She stopped at the entrance to the bedroom, taking in the pile of dark uniforms that was on the floor and the sight of him on the bed, his arm covering his eyes. If he heard her coming in, he didn’t show any sign of it and she took a step backwards, heading towards the shower.

The room was humid and she could still smell his soap. She smiled, closing her eyes as the scent engulfed her, remembering his touch. She couldn’t believe it’s been over two months since she first met him in the ambulance station. Megan grinned at the memory of Valentine and how she was most unprepared for the romantic night he planed, his room…their room once again filled with candles. It was one of the most romantic days she had and he made her promise not to tell a soul in fear that his reputation will go down the drain. Of course, she told Sue and Sue told Lucy and the jokes ended up to be on Jack and Myles who obviously had less ideas for the romantic day.

Finishing her shower, she put some sweats and walked towards the bedroom. His eyes were open and she smiled at him. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you home.” The smile faltered at his sober expression. “Bobby?”

“I’m fine Megan.” He said, his voice harsh and distant, staring at a point on the wall in front of him.

She raised an eyebrow, trying to stifle the initial angry response that was about to surface. Instead, she took a breath. “I’m grabbing something to eat, you want some?”

“No, thank you.” He said shortly, still not looking at her.

She made a sandwich, her appetite slowly disappearing as she noticed two empty bottles of beer. She wondered if someone was with Bobby and they had a drink together, but who drank alcohol so early in the day? She tossed the bottles to the trash can. Bobby didn’t drink them, for as long as she knew him he only had one drink, never more. The only exception was when they ordered a bottle of wine. She wondered what was wrong and suddenly had the urge to call Jack and ask him about the raid that happened earlier. What was Bobby doing at home so early?

She walked towards the bedroom again and he turned to face her when he heard her approaching. She sat on the bed, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He flinched and she backed away from him, wrapping her arms around herself. He stared at her, knowing his reaction hurt her but finding no words of comfort he could give her.

She had to swallow hard before talking. “Did you drink that beer?”

He arched an eyebrow. “What if I did?”

“Nothing, I just wondered.” She said softly and then gazed at him. “If you want to talk…”

“I don’t want to talk about it!” He said sharply, feeling overwhelmed with sudden anger. He watched quietly when she rose from the bed and headed down the hallway, closing the door that led to the spare room. Bobby lowered his head to his hands, not sure he could handle a fight with her among everything else that happened. He tried to rest and forget about it but nothing helped. He rose from the bed and reached for his jeans, dressing and walking towards the spare room. He hesitated at the door, having trouble to find the right words.

Megan leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. She had to pull away, couldn’t look at him in her state of mind. She was confused, something happened but he wouldn’t tell her and she had to back away from him. She looked at the quiet room, smiling at the pale blue walls. She didn’t remember who commented on the color to be prefect for a nursery. That comment brought out a hysterical laugh from the both of them and they never mentioned it again. Was it a fantasy? That the room could ever be a nursery? That they will have a nursery? She knew that this relationship will be hard, they had a rough start, they both had to adjust themselves, she knew he was inside her heart and was there to stay. But he never pushed her away like that. She was the only one who…

A sudden realization sunk inside her heart. She pushed him away more then once and yet he always seemed to be at her side. She had to find the courage to do the same. She won’t give up on something good just because things might be a little rough. Her head held high, she opened the door, surprised to see him standing there.

He swallowed and reached for her hand, dropping it when she didn’t move. “I…I wondered if you’ll go somewhere with me.”

“Where?”

“A place…I want you to see. Around seven o’clock?”

“Will you wake me up at six and a half?” She asked, meeting his gaze with her own.

He smiled a little. “I will.” He followed her to the bedroom and closed the door after seeing that she was under the covers. The temptation to hold her was almost too much but he recognized the space she needed and appreciated the fact that despite everything he said she still didn’t use the spare room. Sighing to himself, he went to the living room, wondering how he could possibly make time move faster.





Bobby couldn’t remember a meeting that seemed so short. He wondered if it was because he was afraid of looking in her eyes at the end of it. They arrived early and sat down on the stairs that led to the entrance. He couldn’t look in her eyes as he told her about the consequences of the raid that happened that morning.

They raided a house in the suburbs, expecting to find a drug dealer. They found the drugs along with an illegitimate gambling business, fully equipped. Bobby was momentarily distracted and Myles paid the price as one of the men in the room attacked him. It was the sudden understanding in Myles’ eyes that frightened him and he left the scene, quite sure that his career was over and that his friends will turn against him.

He didn’t feel the urge to gamble, he didn’t feel the familiar itching feeling in his hands but he got distracted and someone could have died because of it. When he returned home he was so upset he simply didn’t notice drinking two bottles of beer. He never did that, always remembering that one addiction can change shape and turn into another. When the realization sunk in he simply went to bed, hoping that sleep will come and put him out of his misery.

And then Megan came and he knew that he had to tell her, tell her before she’ll find out from someone else. Maybe he’ll manage to keep her by his side. Loosing her as well…he couldn’t even think about it without feeling his heart clenching. When the ‘GA’ meeting was over he sighed and rose slowly from his seat. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face her yet.

He found her in the exact location where he left her, sitting on the fourth step, holding a cup of hot chocolate in her hand and handing him another. He lowered his tall frame to sit beside her and took the hot cup from her hands, smelling the sweet scent of the chocolate. “How was the meeting?” She asked quietly and he nodded his head.

“The same as always.” He replied, wondering if they could somehow return to themselves. Was she angry at him for not telling her sooner? He told her that he didn’t gamble for nine straight years before his tumble the previous year, did it bring her any comfort?

“We should get back.” She said and he nodded his head, following her outside. He froze when they reached his car, becoming fully alert at the sight of his team mates waiting for him. He looked at Megan but she shook her head. “Don’t look at me; I have no idea what they are doing here.”

Myles suggested dinner in a small café and they all nodded their heads, practically dragging Megan and Bobby with them. The small gathering did help to relieve some of Bobby’s tension. Jack assured him that his job was intact and he spent long moments with Myles, Tara, D. and Lucy and talked to them, trying to explain. They all seemed to accept the problem and they all offered their support, it relieved him to see true friends in his colleagues.

When they were finally alone Megan was the one who made the first step, reaching out for his hand. He grasped her smaller hand in his, taking a shaky breath as relief flooded through him. They walked quietly towards his car and he stopped to envelope her in his arms before opening the door for her.

As they drove she spoke finally. “You know, someone told me that leaning on someone else didn’t mean weakness.”

He smiled a little. “I was always good in giving advices. I was never good in following them.”

“It doesn’t bother me, Bobby, the fact that you have a gambling problem. But it did scare me to see you like that.”

He nodded his head. “I’m sorry. I know I was wrong pushing you away like that.”

She smiled. “Yeah, well, I pushed you away too.”

“I thought we’ve passed this stage a while ago.”

“We did.” She paused for a moment. “I’m glad you told me yourself. I’m glad I didn’t hear it from Jack or Sue.”

He hesitated before answering. “You know what? I’m glad I told you too.”

They went to sleep early, hesitantly reaching for each other under the covers, both unsure at themselves as they allowed touch to compensate for the lost words. Their lovemaking was different, slower and softer as if they only just saw each other clearly. Bobby watched quietly as she dozed into sleep, her warm body snuggled close to his. He reached a hand to caress her hair and smiled at the sense of serenity that washed over him. He was tired but so very much relieved. Closing his eyes, he fell into slumber.

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Sue spoke softly and watched when Jack pursed his lips and then sighed.

“I hope so.” He said. “We know him for a long time. He’s my best friend. I know he’s happy with her, I’m just not sure she could handle it after all her history with men.”

“Bobby is a good man.” She sighed and he pulled her closer as they climbed the stairs to her apartment.

“Is Lucy home?” He asked and she responded with a mischievous smile. He laughed. “What? It was an innocent question.”

“Was it, agent Hudson?” She laughed, remembering all the times when the mere presence of Lucy in the apartment caused them to behave. However, in the last few weeks even that didn’t help as they both found creative ways to loose themselves in one another. “Lucy went over to Peter’s for a quiet night of movies and popcorn.”

“Does this mean we have the house to ourselves?” He asked, effectively distracting her from the simple task of opening the door, kissing her earlobe while his hands roamed the sides of her body. She stomped her foot, a soft sigh escaping her lips as Jack slowly moved her hair from her neck and started nibbling slowly, his warm breathe creating a shiver all over her body. She tried to form a coherent sentence, turning to face him, his arms still embracing her.

“If you keep it up, Jack, I won’t be able to open the door and we will stay outside.” She teased and laughed as he made a show of pouting before he released her and physically turned her around so that she could open the door.

Her hands were still unstable but she managed to open the door, giggling as he stayed close to her while she stepped inside. She paused at the entrance, curious when she saw the soft light that came from the living room. Her nose picked up a sweet vanilla scent and she turned to face him, question in her eyes. He smiled. “Go ahead.”

Sue’s breathe caught in her throat at the sight of the living room. The room was filled with candles and there was a large bouquet of flowers on the table. She turned to face him, a smile illuminating her features. He shrugged his shoulders. “Alright, I knew Lucy won’t be home and she was kind enough to help me with it.”

“What’s the occasion?” She asked, finding it difficult to breath.

Jack just smiled, helping her to remove her coat and removing his own before reaching out for her hand. “There is no special occasion. I just wanted to do something special.” He motioned towards the sofa and sat down beside her. “We didn’t have much time for ourselves lately and I missed you.” He pulled her to him and she smiled, melting into his embrace. He was right, they had a few rough cases in the past few weeks and they didn’t have much time together. They few evenings they did spend together were nothing less then amazing, Sue felt her cheeks grow hot and buried her head deeper in Jack’s chest, inhaling his scent.

Jack closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of holding her peacefully. The last few weeks were hectic and today’s fiasco was the worst. He enjoyed his rare moments of contentment with her, he wanted to make them last forever. He kissed her hair, remembering all the nights he had to leave her and walk away. She had decided to wait and he respected her decision, despite the way his body objected. He respected her above all and he imagined a time where he will not hide the full extent of his desire for her.

She snuggled closer to him and he smiled; a new idea surfacing. He looked towards his coat; he carried the small box in the pocket for two weeks now, he just couldn’t find the right time, couldn’t find the right words. What were the right words for such an offer? He never thought he was that good with words, he declared his love for her in a hospital room…but it didn’t seem to bother her very much…

“Jack?” She looked at him, a smile on her face. “Are you alright? You seemed upset for a moment.”

He shook his head, finding that he needed to clear his throat before he could speak. “I’m alright.” He said his voice thick to his own ears. Suddenly, he knew this was the moment, this was his chance and the words failed him once more as he struggled to speak, shaking his head and raising his hand, signing.

Sue watched with awe as he signed, his signing fast and fluent. He signed every word and it seemed like he practiced a lot recently. She shook her head, realizing she hasn’t picked up a word of what he was saying and signed him to repeat it. He looked at her incredulously and smiled, signing faster. She felt her eyes widening. He told her he loved her, he told her he wanted to spend every waking moment with her and that he wanted to sleep with her in his arms. She blinked at the last sign and raised her eyes in question. He repeated the gesture and she blinked again, her heartbeat racing as her mind seemed to process things very slowly. She watched when he sighed and then spoke. “I signed it wrong.” He whispered. “Sue…”

“Yes.” She whispered and he raised his eyebrow, trying to form some kind of a sentence at the sight of her glowing face.

“Yes?” He asked finally and she nodded her head.

“I’ll marry you.” She was crying and he gathered her in his arms, releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding. She leaned against him for a few moments and then raised her head, smiling through her tears. “You signed. I never saw you sign so fast.”

“I practiced in front of the mirror.” He chuckled, moving to caress her hair, aching to feel her against him. Her eyes clouded and she licked her lips, sighing when he pulled her closer, moulding their bodies together as he kissed her. He traced her lips with his tongue, slowly nibbling on every lip before deepening the kiss. She responded ardently and he sighed, his entire body responding to the kiss. His hands trailing beneath her sweater, he sighed at the contact, tracing the line beneath her bra. She arched against him and he moaned, smiling when he realized her hands were creating trails of fire up and down his chest.

His shirt was gone and he wasted no time in removing hers before pulling her flush against him, the contact shocking them. He breathed her scent, readjusting their bodies so that she was straddling him. He smiled at her flushed face and bright eyes and kissed her lips gently, his hands exploring the hot skin he uncovered. Her bra was almost his undoing and he traced the dark strap with his finger, tempted to lower it from her shoulder.

Sue sighed softly, his touch evoking so many feelings inside. He was watching her, his eyes dark. She focused her attention on his chest, tracing lines with her fingers, smiling when he shuddered and his hands started wandering again, threading closer and closer to the places she wanted him to touch. Jack watched her, his hand moving to caress her breast, her breathe caught in her throat as her eyes opened wide, not really seeing him as he caressed. He smiled and pulled her to him, his heart beating hard in his chest. She opened smoldering eyes and looked at him. “Jack, I want to…” He held a hand to her lips.

“I promised you that we will wait and I intend to keep my promises.” He said softly, she stared at him for a moment before nodding her head. “Do you mind if we’ll make it a very short engagement?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively and she giggled.

“I don’t mind at all.” She leaned to kiss him and his eyes widened.

“Wait, I have a ring for you.” His words were swallowed in her kiss and she pulled away after a while, leaving them both breathless.

“Did you say something?”

“Later.” He mumbled, pulling her for another kiss.

He opened the door quietly, smiling when he heard her moving in the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks when he heard something falling to the floor, a loud yelp and a string of curses that made him grin. He approached with caution, leaning on the counter as he looked at her. “I think I’m a bad influence.” He said, keeping a straight face when she jumped and turned to face him.

“You scared me.” She accused, waving a kitchen knife at him. “And you’re late.”

“Sorry, the meeting was longer then we expected.”

She kept on cutting the vegetables and he raised his eyebrows. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” She responded.

He approached her, touching her shoulder, a smile on his face. “Is this the time of the month? I can tell, you know, you’re…” He trailed off, his eyes widening at the glare she gave him. “You’re not different at all then usual, in fact, you are so much more charming…” He stopped talking again when he saw the tears in her eyes, she averted her eyes and he pried the knife from her hand before pulling her into his arms. “Megan, what’s wrong?”

Her tears were warm against his shirt and Megan stomped her foot in frustration. “It’s been a bad day, that’s all. My new partner is a nightmare and I’m tired and cranky and no, Bobby, it’s not the time of the month.” She chuckled a little. “I just wanna crawl into bed and wake up tomorrow.”

“You can go to bed if you want to.” He smiled, kissing her hair and tilting her head so that he could wipe her tears.

“I can’t. Everyone are coming in an hour and a half and nothing is ready.” She said, surveying the mess she made in the kitchen. “I don’t cook well when I’m in a lousy mood.”

“I’ll tell you what. You sit down.” He positioned her on one of the chairs. “I’ll make you some coffee and then you can supervise while I’ll finish making dinner. You know you like to supervise and I won’t burn anything if you’re here.”

She smiled. “Make it hot chocolate and we have a deal.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Comfort drink? That bad?”

“When you first met me, did you think I was mean?”

“Mean?”

“Yes, mean, evil, bad, insensitive, you know.”

“Well…I…why do you ask?” He tried to avoid the question.

“My new partner said I was mean, right in front of the patient.” She said quietly.

“Why would he say that?” Bobby handed her the hot chocolate and moved behind her, intent on relieving some of her tension by releasing the knots in her shoulders “No wonder you’re stressed.” He mumbled, easing the pressure when she yelped.

“You remember we use a chair when we have to carry patients down the stairs.” Bobby nodded his head and placed a kiss on her head. “We always secure them to the chair and make sure their hands are secured to their bodies. My new partner insisted that it was hurting the patient and refused to secure her hands. I didn’t want to keep on arguing with him so I allowed it and our patient got into hysteria in the middle and grabbed the railing. I’m telling you if she was any heavier I would have dropped her along with the chair and my so called partner, I’m having a hard time carrying them as it is.”

“A rookie mistake.”

“Yeah, but couldn’t he wait for us to be alone before calling me names? Am I really that bad?”

He sighed and sat in front of her. “I think people see your professionalism and at first sight it looks like you’re cold hearted.”

“You called me cold hearted before. Do you still think I am?” She asked, rolling her eyes when he grinned. “I’m serious.”

“Megan, after that talk we had at the hospital about why you acted the way you did, I never thought you are cold hearted.”

“Then…why did we fight all the time?”

He laughed and traced a line on her cheek. “I think, some part of me recognized attraction and I couldn’t let anything happen to you. But you were so stubborn, you never listened to a word I said and I grew very annoyed with you on one hand and very fascinated in the other.”

She smiled a little and leaned into his touch. “Thank you…I guess…”

He placed a sweet kiss on her lips before rising from his seat. “Now, what do you want me to do?”

He finished making the lasagna while Megan finished her hot chocolate and joined him at the counter, kissing his shoulder before starting to work on the brownies she wanted to make, feeling cheerful enough to work on them. His eyes lit at the sight of the chocolate and he approached her, resting his chin on the top of her head while she stirred the mixture.

She laughed. “Bobby, the lasagna…”

“I can’t. You’re distracting me.” He pouted.

“Here.” She dipped a finger in the rich substance and turned to face him, offering a taste. Bobby swallowed before taking her finger in his mouth, nibbling softly, his eyes wide and dark as he looked at her. Megan had a small smile on her face and she chuckled when he asked for more. She dipped her finger again but this time brought it into her mouth, watching when his mouth opened and he moved closer, pinning her against the counter. She knew she was playing with fire but his eyes wouldn’t let her stop.

He reached for the bawl and traced a line of chocolate down her neck, leaning to follow it with his tongue. She arched against him, crying out his name, everything fading away as he touched her. Bobby pulled her close before pulling them backwards and sitting on one of the chairs, pulling her on top of him while he positioned the bawl of chocolate on the kitchen table.

She worked on his shirt, unbuttoning it with unstable hands as his mouth kept on teasing her. He gave a startled gasp when she traced his collarbone with her tongue, following a chocolate path from his shoulder to his throat. He pulled her to him, kissing hungrily, tasting chocolate and desire as she moulded herself more intimately against him. He pulled her shirt off her body, throwing it on the floor as he reached for the bawl again, only to find that his hand moved too far and knocked it from the table. The sound of something heavy falling to the floor startled Megan and she raised her eyes to look at him, chuckling at his disappointed eyes.

“Did you drop the bawl?”

“Oops…” He smiled sadly. “I was just getting the hang of it.”

She burst into laughter and he held her closer, moving his hands to tickle her. He laughed with her, moving to kiss her, settling his hands in her hair. She laughed into his lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss as their passion induced haze slowly disappeared, leaving them still breathless.

Bobby leaned her head against his shoulder, caressing her hair. “I love you.” He whispered, finding no point in hiding his feelings anymore. “I loved you since the moment you gave me that cup of tea. When I was yelling at you I loved you even more because you yelled back at me, does that make any sense? I loved you when you pushed me away and that’s the reason I refused to go.” He took a deep breathe. “Are you crying?” She nodded her head, her face buried in his neck. He tightened his hold when she didn’t speak and closed his eyes. “Say something…anything…”

Megan took a deep breathe, her entire body shaking as she fought for control. She couldn’t define her feelings only that she was content and scared out of her mind at the same time. She knew his feelings, she knew he loved her ever since the night he told her he had a gambling problem but he was quiet about it and she was grateful. She knew her feelings but could she voice them out loud? She refused to let the past dictate her present. He was different, they were different, everything about their relationship was better. Their friendship was stronger, their passion higher. “I love you too.” She whispered and the sudden smile that illuminated her face erased every doubt she ever had.

He cupped her face with his hands, not bothering to hide his bright eyes before he kissed her, his lips warm and inviting. She drowned in the kiss, taking and giving, their breath mingling together.

The smell of something burning disturbed the lazy exploration and Megan tore her mouth away from his and sighed. “Bobby, why did you put the lasagna in the oven?”

“Wasn’t I supposed too?” He chuckled, caressing her shoulder.

“You were supposed to set the timer.” She rolled her eyes and got up from his lap, moving towards the oven. Bobby smirked at the sight of her with her hair all messed up and wearing nothing but her bra and jeans. The doorbell ringed and he jumped to his feet, quickly unbuttoning his shirt and picking up hers from the floor. He handed her the shirt, kissed her and walked towards the door.

“Sparky! Sue!” He greeted then enthusiastically, wondering why they couldn’t cancel so that he and Megan could have a private dinner, maybe in bed.

“Crash.” The couple walked inside, smiling. “Trying the wild look in your hair?”

Bobby hastily tried to straighten his hair when Sue raised her eyebrow. “Is that chocolate on your neck?” His red face spoke volumes and Jack tapped on her shoulder.

“Megan is in the kitchen, laughing hysterically.” He said, grinning at his best friend.

Bobby scowled at them before rolling his eyes. “It’s not that funny!” He shouted and Megan emerged from the kitchen, her hair much more in order and the phone in her hand.

“The lasagna is ruined and someone practically dropped the desert.” She winked. “I think the Italian restaurant should do the trick.”

Jack and Sue nodded their heads and Sue pulled out her blackberry. “I’ll tell Lucy to drop by the deli and pick something nice for desert.”

Dinner was successful despite the burnt lasagna and ruined brownies. They ordered all kinds of Italian food and everyone settled in the living room for desert when Jack cleared his throat and rose from his seat, pulling Sue to stand at his side. “We wanted to share some news with all of you.” The room was silent and Sue grinned when Lucy’s eyes widened and she gasped quietly. “Two weeks ago, I asked Sue to marry me and to my…great surprise…” She smacked his forearm. “She said yes.”

The room erupted with cheers but Lucy’s squeal was the loudest. “Two weeks? Why haven’t you said anything? Oh my god! Congratulations!” She jumped on her feet and hugged them. Everyone talked at once and the women all adored Sue’s engagement ring.

“Why did you wait for two weeks?” Tara asked and Sue and Jack shared a look.

“Well, we wanted to set up a date first, before we’ll tell anyone.”

“And we wanted to make sure our friends were alright.” Jack said, toasting Bobby and Megan with his glass of juice. Bobby smiled, an understanding passing between the best friends as he pulled Megan into his arms, leaning against the wall as they sat together on the carpet.

“Well? When is the big day?” Lucy could barely contain her excitement.

“Well, somewhere in the middle of May will work for us.”

Lucy’s smile broadened and her eyes seemed to loose focus. “Oh…a spring wedding.” She mumbled. “We have so much to plan, Sue; the dress, the reception, the church, the food…”

“Someone, make her stop.” Myles rolled his eyes, sending a look towards Peter who just shook his head.

“Trust me; I’ve tried several times, it’s impossible to stop her when she’s like that.”

“…the flowers…”

Megan laughed, leaning her head against Bobby’s shoulder and he leaned his head on top of hers, smiling when their fingers intertwined.







It looked like Myles never wanted to end their kiss, desperately holding her close as his mouth explored hers. Tara sighed into his mouth and felt him smiling before he pulled away from her. He rested his head against her forehead and sighed. “I should go.”

She nodded her head. “You should.”

“Goodnight.” He whispered and still kept her in his arms, his eyes taking in her flushed face and red lips.

“How many times have we said it already?” Tara giggled and Myles grinned, raising a hand to caress her cheek.

“I lost count.” He admitted, his resolution to take things slow crumbling yet again as he needed to leave her side.

They have been dating for almost three months now and he admitted he enjoyed taking things slow, he felt like he didn’t miss anything that way. Still, every time he had to leave her side at night was heart wrenching. Tara leaned her head against his shoulder and he sighed, tightening his embrace.

“Myles? Do you think they know about us?” She asked

“Yes, they do.” He said quietly. “Jack and Sue know for sure but they are keeping it quiet. We can’t use the same loop hole they used, we’re both active agents.” He sighed. “I do hate the charade.” He admitted and she nodded her head.

“I know but moving to another unit? We’re family; I can’t even begin to imagine it.”

“That’s why we’re keeping it quiet.” He said, caressing her hair. “I really must go, it’s getting late.”

“Goodnight, Myles.” She whispered, leaning into one last kiss.

“Goodnight, Tara.” He mumbled to her lips. “Are we still on for tomorrow night?” He asked.

She nodded her head. “A quiet night with your cooking, how can I possibly refuse?” He laughed and she grinned at him. “Can I choose the movie?”

He pondered the thought for a moment. “Alright, but bring a box of Kleenex with you since you finished every single one I had at my place.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do I have your permission to bring a sappy, girly movie?”

He kissed her lips tenderly. “Goodnight, Tara.”

She smiled as she watched him walking towards his car. “Night, Myles, sweet dreams.”

Megan and James hurried down the hall, trying to keep quiet as they walked quickly, hoping that they haven’t missed too much. James led them through the side entrance and they both sat down quietly as the minister spoke. Megan sighed quietly, they were just in time. She caught Bobby’s eyes and he winked, grinning at her. Jack and Sue looked completely absorbed with each other and she found that her eyes watered when they both signed their marriage vows to each other. She didn’t understand anything they said, but the gracefulness of the action overwhelmed her. James eyed her from the corner of his eye and chuckled, squeezing her hand.

After a long soul searching kiss that left the groom frustrated and the bride embarrassed, they rose from their seat, moving towards the reception area to congratulate the couple. James met his wife on the way and Megan spent a good few minutes fussing with their two months daughter. Arms circled her waist and pulled her backwards to lean against a muscular body. “Look, its uncle Bobby.” She crooned to the baby.

Bobby chuckled behind her, making a face to the over active baby. “You’re late.” He said. “What happened?”

Megan handed Sharon and James the baby and turned to face him, rolling her eyes. “Don’t ask.” She said. “There was a fire and the team that was supposed to cover us was late.” She raised her arm to her nose. “I still smell smoke.”

Bobby smiled, inhaling her scent as he drew her closer. “You smell great. Are you all packed?”

She grinned at him. “Yes, I’m all packed. I was all packed this morning when you asked me twice.”

He rolled his eyes. “So I’m excited, don’t hold it against me. Have you talked to Jack and Sue yet?”

“No, I was just on my way but someone distracted me.” She smiled, raising her head to plant a kiss on his lips and then heading towards the bride and groom, leaving him staring at her bare back. Bobby swallowed, released his cheerful tie a little and followed her.

They let Jack and Sue have the first dance before joining them on the dance floor. Bobby held her close as they danced, his mind already racing ahead of them, anxious for things to come. He missed her in the past week, barely seeing each other as they both pulled long hours at work to compensate the days they would be absent. He couldn’t believe that he will soon be home again, see the family he hasn’t seen in the past two years. It will be a short visit, only two weeks, but he looked forward to it.

He lowered his hand and placed it on her waist, touching both skin and silk as they danced. She looked stunning, wearing a long dress that accented the curves he was privileged to learn up close. The color was light pink that she never wore before and he appreciated the light it added to her face. Turning his head, he smiled at her, leaning for a kiss. Their lips touched softly and she smiled into his lips, enjoying the slow exploration. She leaned her head against his shoulder again and spoke softly. “Bobby, is there something going on with Myles and Tara?”

He was surprised at the question, scanning the crowd for his team mates and finding them sitting beside each other on the chairs. “Why do you…” The question died on his lips as he watched the familiarity in the way they sometimes touched each other. Myles would absently caress Tara’s hair, his hand half hidden by her head and Tara would lean closer occasionally, pressing her knee against his. Bobby grinned to himself and shrugged his shoulders. “If there is something.” He said. “I wouldn’t say anything about it as I never saw anything.”

Megan smiled, understanding the unique problem the agents had. “They look like us when we have company.” She whispered and Bobby chuckled.

“No they don’t. When we’re in public we’re much worse.”

She arched an eyebrow. “How so, Manni…” He lowered her in his arms, the song ending as he kissed her passionately.

Myles smiled, chuckling when Bobby twirled Megan in his arms and kissed her in front of the whole world. Everyone could tell they were madly in love, everyone saw they were a perfect match, completing each other. He allowed his fingers to brush against Tara’s neck and she turned to face him, a smile on her face. “They look so happy together, I’ve never seen him so happy.”

Myles nodded his head. “Sharing your happiness is a wonderful thing.” He said wistfully, wondering what might happen if he will share his happiness with the world. Tara looked at him and he knew she was thinking the same things.

“Maybe it’s about time we shared ours.” She whispered, her heart beating furiously.

Myles smiled. “You know what it means?” His smile broadened when she nodded her head.

He squared his shoulders before reaching for her hands, pulling her closer before lowering his head and kissing her softly. Her hands migrated to his neck and she caressed his hair when he deepened the kiss, stealing her breath and giving her his own. Tara felt the world slipping away, lost in sensations and dizzy with sudden relief. They ended the kiss and grinned at each other, keeping their heads high as they walked towards the dance floor.

On the dance floor, Lucy nudged Dimitrius’ shoulder. “I think you have a new project to work on.” She smiled, leaning her head on Peter’s shoulder while Dimitrius pursed his lips and shared a look with his wife.

“Trust me Lucy; there is nothing I would rather work on. I intend to keep my family together.”

Jack smiled and tightened his arms around his wife, one hand moving to caress her hair. Sue raised shining eyes to meet his. “They are all so happy.” She whispered.

“Are you happy?” He asked softly, chuckling when her eyes widened in disbelief.

“How can you ask me that question?” She rolled her eyes when he grinned. “I’m the happiest woman in this room because I just married you.”

He was embarrassed by the sudden heat in his cheeks but smiled at her. “I love you, Sue, you make me the happiest man in the world.” He whispered, lowering his head to kiss her softly, wishing the world around them will disappear.

It didn’t take too long for them to decide that no one will notice if they will disappear from the party. They drove straight to the small, beautiful bed and breakfast they intended to spend the weekend in. They decided that they will go on a longer vacation during the summer and settled for a long weekend in a small, quiet place. They arrived just in time for dinner and Sue changed her wedding gown to a beautiful blue dress before they had a quiet dinner together.

When they finished he offered her his hand and she took it, snuggling closer as they made the short trip to their small cabin. He squeezed her hand and she smiled, turning to face him as they stood outside the cabin, the stars shining above them. He pulled her closer, his lips touching hers briefly before he lowered them to her neck, nibbling on a spot just below her ear before soothing it with his tongue. She arched against him and he sighed, her closeness alone flaming his desire. He lifted his head and waited for her to open her eyes.

Sue kept her eyes closed as she reached up for him, her lips touching his in caress. She felt his breath tickling her lips as he exhaled and she drew closer, pulling him into a passionate kiss. He sighed to her mouth, all thoughts of taking things slow flying from his mind. She was heavenly and passion and innocence and all he could do was to kiss her senseless. He brought his hands to cup her face and deepened the kiss even more, angling his body closer.

It felt like her mind was no longer a part of her body. She could do nothing but hold on, flying on higher wings then ever as the kiss grew deeper, showing her glimpses of things to come. Jack ended the kiss slowly, reluctant to part from her. He opened eyes heavy with desire and motioned towards the door to the small cabin. “Do you need some time alone?” He asked.

Sue pondered the question for a moment. The cabin had one large room with a large bed, Jacuzzi, sofa, table and a small bathroom. She shook her head and smiled at him. “No, I want you to come with me.”

He joined her inside, helping her to remove every single pin that held her wonderful, silky locks in a sophisticated knot. He caressed every strand of hair that fell on her shoulders until her golden hair finally cascaded freely and he smiled. “I love you.” He whispered. “With all my heart.”

She smiled at him, reaching to release his tie. “I love you too, Jack.”

They took their time in exploring slowly, enjoying every touch, every kiss, every breath. They kissed gently, softly, passionately, yearning for more. Finally, they were together and yet it seemed like their longing for each other only grew stronger. He carried her to the bed, leaving the lights open, kissing her hungrily as they slowly undressed each other. Sue felt her body buzzing with energy, his touch inflaming as he caressed her. She returned his kiss with equal ardour and they lost themselves, the world fading away as they loved each other.

The small child couldn’t have been more then three. His bloodied head and blue lips were all the evidence they needed. Death visited the room and left behind two empty bodies. Next to the tub, on the floor, was a dead woman. Her black hair was covered in blood and the red liquid pooled around her.

The woman died instantly, the small gun was next to her.

She raised her head from the bodies to look at the room around her, surprised to see the scene she was in. She knew it was a dream, knew she had no reason to dream about it again. The door opened with a loud ‘bang’ and she was surprised to see Bobby standing there, his hands in his pockets, wearing his vest and dark uniform. He stared at her in wonder. “Why are you dreaming about them?” He asked and she shook her head, terrified of the answer, she knew the reason for her fears and she smiled sadly at him.

“Because history repeats itself.”

She woke up with a start, gasping for air as her eyes adjusted themselves to the dark room. She sighed when she glanced towards the empty space beside her. He was still on assignment, probably won’t be home till tomorrow. Taking a deep breath, she got up and walked towards the kitchen, intent on relaxing with a cup of herbal tea.

Two weeks without him were a nightmare and the last two days even more. She arrived to the bullpen around lunch, planning to ask Sue and Lucy out for lunch, she even thought of inviting Myles but he already ordered a sandwich from the deli. Jack, Bobby and Tara were sent to New York to help with a case and the remaining team all waited for them to return.

The call from the New York office was unexpected and Dimitrius picked it up with a frown, immediately informing them that one of the stings turned deadly when shots fired. There was a sudden noise in her ears and the world seemed to shift around her. She blinked several times, she suffered from dizziness for several days now and the mere scent of her favorite sandwich that came from Myles’ desk caused her stomach to lurch suddenly. Trying to stable herself, she heard someone calling for her and the world turned pitch black.

She returned to her senses quickly, finding herself on the floor with her legs propped up on a chair. Myles was the first to talk. “They’re alright, Megan, just scratches and bruises, nothing more.” She nodded her head, the world still unsteady. Sue insisted that she should see a doctor and she agreed, suddenly realizing what was happening.

The doctor confirmed what she failed to see. She knew she was late but assumed it was stress related or medical related as she was very sick when they returned from Australia. She was pregnant and just as before it wasn’t planned. She was stunned, they were careful every time, they were responsible adults, how could it happen?

She curled herself on the sofa, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. She talked to him that evening and he sounded tired and upset. He told her he missed her and she silently wondered what his reaction will be. She knew him for almost a half a year now, she trusted him with her heart and her life and yet there was that small voice that insisted they were all the same, an echo from her past turning to be the source of her present fears. What if he doesn’t want the baby?

The sound of keys from the doorway startled her and she glanced towards the clock, it was only four a.m. She placed her cup on the table and walked towards the door, smiling when Bobby opened it quietly and lowered his bag to the floor. He grinned when he saw her and she fused their bodies together, her heart beating furiously in her chest. He crushed her to him, murmuring words into her hair as emotions seemed to choke him. He didn’t know how long they stood like that, clinging, holding, touching. He heard her whispering and smiled. “I missed you Bobby.”

“I missed you too, Meg. Two weeks without seeing you is two weeks too much.” He sighed, caressing her hair softly and leaning for a kiss. Megan smiled, standing on her toes and reaching out for him. Their tender exploration soon turned heated as they clung to each other. Bobby groaned as he picked her up, her hands cupping his face as she kissed him, showing him without words how much she missed him. He lowered them to the bed, his kisses hungry and needy, his passion rising with every caress as he finally surrendered to his desire.

She kissed him deeply, moving closer as he settled her closer to him, their heartbeat slowly returning to normal. “I love you.” She whispered, smiling when he tightened his embrace and kissed her hair.

“I love you too.”

She snuggled closer to him, her leg sneaking between his, remembering a night under the stars in Australia. Bobby’s home was magnificent in its simplicity and the romantic night he planned was amazing. She remembered assuming his first time with a woman was probably in the barn and he admitted, with a red face, that the straw is very itching on bare skin. She couldn’t stop laughing and he just waved his finger at her and made her spend the night with him under the stars, adding straw to their sleeping bag as a joke. Their short time in Australia only made her love him more.

“Bobby.” She whispered and he mumbled something in reply. She raised her head from his shoulder and he opened his eyes, smiling at her. “I’m pregnant.”

He blinked several times and Megan was sure he didn’t understand her when he turned her to lie on her back and he positioned himself on his side, his head leaning on his hand. His eyes were wide and dark as he moved his other hand to caress her stomach. She felt exposed under his gaze, the sheet barely covering her waist. He was silent, he didn’t tell her that everything will be alright and that he will take care of her, he didn’t promise her the world. He just gazed at her with bright eyes and a wide smile that illuminated his face while he caressed her stomach.

“Marry me.” He whispered and she shook her head, tears threatening to fall.

“I don’t want you to marry me because…” She trailed off when he got up and walked towards his coat, pulling out a small box and presenting it to her.

“I haven’t slept well for two weeks. Being away from you made me realize how much I need you, how much I love you. When we got shot at two days ago all I could think about was you. I love you, I want to marry you and I want to have this baby with you. We already have a room for a nursery.” He chuckled and she laughed through her tears, nodding her head and watching with fascination when he placed the ring on her finger.

She allowed him to envelope her in his arms and kissed him softly. “I love you; I was so worried when D. received the phone call.”

“You were in the bullpen?”

“I fainted, that’s how I found out I was pregnant. Sue made me see a doctor.”

“Smart Sheila.” Bobby grinned. “How far along are we?”

“Around Australia.” She said, smiling when he laughed. “Are you sure you’re alright with it? It’s a big step…” She whispered and felt him shaking his head.

Bobby lowered his head and kissed her gently. He didn’t answer her question, choosing to show her, making love to his fiancé and looking forward to everything that might cross their path. Megan kissed him passionately, accepting his love, matching his passion, the new day rising and finding them locked in a lovers embrace, making love as the sun rose.


The End.

You can find this story, and all of Bell's other stories here in her archive page. Comments are always welcome!