Standing On The Rooftops, sequel to Everyone Scream Your Heart Out

For those of you who haven't read ESYHO, Duo's with Quatre's sister, Cara. That's pretty much all you need to know, because the story pretty much explains itself. Mostly. And set about three years after ESYHO.

Ah... there will be a little angst later on... and the title will actually fit the story this time. You'll see later.

And yes, I know that the name of this fic is the same as my name. I know.

And yes, for those of you who haven't gotten it... I'm a huge, *huge* fan of Rooftops, the most awesomest song ever... by LostProphets. Go to Yahoo Music and check out the video... I love this song. And If I ever make a third sequel (wouldn't that be a 'threequel'?) I think I'll keep with the whole Rooftops lyrics thing.

Oh, and I've hired Ocean and his buddies to steal the G-boys for me. I can't wait to see how he does it...

Anyway... on with the show.

*********

'It seems my life is going to change.

I close my eyes, begin to pray...'

Arms Wide Open, Creed

*

Chapter One

Mrs. Duo Maxwell

Cara Winner woke up contented. She knew immediately that she was not in her own bed, or in her own house. But she was home. Her head was pillowed on his shoulder, her body turned towards his. Her arm was draped possessively over his bare chest, and his hand held hers in sleep, the other resting against the small of her back, dangerously close to her bottom. As usual, his feet were sprawled across the bed, his leg over hers. She found it amusing.

How many times had she woken up just like this? In this exact same position over the last three years? How many nights had she fallen asleep beside him after a long bout of passionate lovemaking? How many nights had she fallen asleep against him, just holding him all night long?

Too many to count. Cara closed her eyes, willed herself to go back to sleep. It was the first day of her first vacation in three years, but her internal alarm clock was still set for very early. Occupational hazard, she guessed, trying to lull herself to sleep with the sound of his breathing, of his heartbeat. It calmed her most of the time, like her own personal lullaby, but this morning, it was just another pretty song. She sighed. She didn't want to get up. She had another week of blissful nothingness, and then she would be married.

She snuggled closer to him, was pleased when his arm tightened around her, his unconsious way of telling her to be still. She smiled. Within weeks of knowing each other, they'd fallen into bed, entering an affair of lust and desire and friendship. After one month of sleeping together, she'd invited him to move in with her back on Luna Colony. There, they'd toiled for one whole year, she at the hospital and him in school, training to be a nurse. And then, together, they'd moved back to Earth and started a private practice, specializing in pediatrics. It had been tough, and at times she'd doubted that they'd last. But they had. They'd had low moments, like all couples, but they were happier for them. It took her around one week of living with him full time to realize she actually loved him with a forever kind of love. It had taken her another three months for her to overcome her insecurities and admit it to him. It had taken him another year almost to admit it to her in so many words. And it had taken her almost two more years to get up the nerve to ask him to take the next step.

But he'd beat her too it. He'd proposed on Valentine's Day by hiding her ring in the single yellow rose he'd given her. It was so simple, the way he'd asked. He'd nearly fumbled his words. She'd agreed passionately, so happy and so in love. So now here they were in June. One more week, and she would no longer be Cara Winner. One more week and she would forever be Mrs. Duo Maxwell.

Oh dear, here came the nausea again. She tore away from Duo, scrambled to the bathroom. Damn virus. For two weeks now, she'd been horribly sick. And damn, if it hadn't affected her appetite, as well. She'd been scarfing down two to three bananas a day... and she hated bananas.

Oh, hell, she thought, as she wretched over the toilet. She could hear Duo getting up in the bedroom. He'd be in here in seconds to hold back her hair, just like he always did. Hell... when was Sally going to get here? This wasn't any normal virus. She'd had enough sisters come down with this 'virus' to know it when she saw it... so why was it just hitting her now. And damn it... she was a doctor after all... wasn't she? She was the damn pediatritian!

She could really use Sally's second opinion.

tbc......