Title: Life's a Journey

Author: AnitaB

Author's notes: I own nothing from V. No money was made and no infringement was intended.

There was no way in hell that I or the voices in my head from V were okay with the finale. My Erica wants Jack, not Hobbes. Nobody's getting blissed out of their minds. Tyler and Lisa are not getting ripped apart (literally or figuratively) and … yeah. Done ranting now. Erica/Jack fluffy future fic. Romantic committed smut and familyness ahead.

Life's a Journey

by Anitab

Chapter one: Slow first steps

It had happened slowly, with great care and over a ridiculously long span of time. She smiled to herself, thinking back. And she wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, there had been times when something might have sped up the pace between them, and she had no doubt they would have very much enjoyed those occasions had they actually happened. But it would have been hard, fast, and rushed, some moment of comfort or connection before a battle. Maybe even celebration sex after a victory.

And her man would have felt so damn guilty afterward that Erica had no idea if he would have ever let anything happen again.

They certainly wouldn't have gotten here. And she wouldn't give up what they had now for anything. Erica dried her hands and stepped away from the sink. She automatically twisted the diamond ring straight on her finger before rubbing at the ache in the small of her back. She had everything she'd ever wanted and that was more than worth the wait. And the back pain… the smile on her lips twisted just a bit as the child inside her decided to practice for its future soccer career with her bladder standing in for the ball. "Come on, kiddo, what's with the kicking?"

Warm hands touched her back, sliding around to cradle the mound of her stomach as she leaned back into those arms with a sigh. "I know our baby's going to be smart, but I don't think it's up to speaking just yet." Her husband rested his chin on her shoulder as he pulled her closer, strong fingers rubbing tight skin. There was nothing better than his arms around her, his hands touching her. And Jack knew it. He loved holding her just as much as she loved being held. "Did talking to Tyler help when he kicked you from the inside?"

"Not even a little." Her head angled to the side, encouraging the trailing little line of kisses he started dropping along her neck. "But everyone always tells me that the second pregnancy is easier." Erica rested her hands on the backs of his, their rings making a small metallic clink.

"Is it?" His arms tightened and shifted, taking more of her weight right before he nibbled and licked over the mark behind her ear. He knew she couldn't think when he did that, knew that her knees went weak every single time. "Or is my baby as stubborn and hard-headed as its mother?"

"Jack…" She wanted more, wanted those lips against her own. But his arms were holding her tight, too tight to wiggle or turn. "I want…" Erica rocked her hips back into his, turning her head to try for a kiss. The sight of his smile weakened her knees even more. That was not an expression he'd ever worn before he'd slid a wedding band onto her finger. So many of her favorite memories started with that look on his face and it always pulled a reaction from her every nerve. Without fail. "Please,"

"Come here, Erica." His arms loosened just enough for her to turn and wrap both arms around his neck. Then his lips were finally, finally in reach of her own. With a low rasp of sound, he finally gave her a real kiss and she damn well loved it. This was perfect and something she would never, ever get enough of. It always started with a gentle touch of lips that took her breath away before he deepened the contact enough to keep her breathless and begging for more.

He always gave her more. Strong hands rubbed up and down her back, pulling the curve of her stomach tight against his body. The child inside her calmed at the warmth, loved when its daddy was this close. For a fetus, it had amazing taste. Erica wanted Jack closer, always had. From the first moment they'd met, there had been a pull between them. Even when he'd still been a priest, nothing had comforted her more than his hug, his touch. Just his voice or his presence in a room made the hard road of their rebellion a little easier to walk. No matter how much she'd always hated his collar.

Now he wasn't even allowed to wear a tie because she was not giving him back. This man was hers and she was keeping him. Every gorgeous inch of him. "Jack," She was already leaning in for another deep kiss when her fingers found his shirt buttons to fumble each one open.

"Erica," His hands caught and contained hers, pressing her palms still over his heart as he tried to focus on her eyes instead of her lips. "What about Tyler?"

"Unpacking the new apartment with Lisa. They'll be back in the morning for the last of his boxes and a family breakfast." There was the smile she adored before he buried his hands in her hair for a deep and wanting kiss. His arms wrapped tight around her while she was distracted by the plunge and dance of his tongue. It was only when he lifted his head that she realized he'd lifted her right off her feet. Strong arms were cradling her against his chest in the path of another breath-stealing smile. "My, what strong arms you have, grandmother."

She adored the sound of his low laughter, would do anything to hear it again. "The better to hold you with, my dear." Those gorgeous lips smiled into a quick kiss before he shifted her more comfortably in his arms and carried her toward their bedroom door.

Yup, she wouldn't give this or him up for the entire world.

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