Chapter 1
"We're going to be late" she said breathlessly as he left a trail of wet kisses on her breast.
"Does that mean you want to stop?" he asked, eyes dancing. As she contemplated her answer, he buried his throbbing arousal deep inside her.
She gasped. "I'm okay with being late" she panted.
He lay still between her legs. "Are you sure?"
She moved her hips against him in an effort to get him moving. "Very sure."
He crashed his mouth down on hers, their tongues tangling with each other. She lifted her hips from the bed, desperate for him to go deeper. Accepting her silent request, he lifted her leg and placed it up against his shoulder. Her hands reached up, needing to touch his skin. No matter how long they had been together, there was still the same, urgent need to be with each other, to touch and to taste. He could feel her tighten around him and she threw her head back and closed her eyes.
"Look at me" he demanded.
Her body was beginning to tremble with her orgasm. Her eyes flew open and locked on his. Her breathing was ragged and she dug her nails into his shoulders, she simply could not get enough of him. He thrust hard against her as his name tore from her lips, her climax made her entire body shake. He followed her over the edge and collapsed against her, spent. Their bodies glistened with sweat and she ran her hands down his back as they both waited for their heart rates to return to normal.
Rolling off of her and on to his back, he gathered her into his arms. She laid her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart pounding through his chest. "Have you told Patrick about us?" she asked.
He smirked. "No."
She lifted her head. "Why not?"
"For the same reason you haven't told Robin you're sleeping with her father-in-law" Noah said.
"Do you think we should be telling people?" Brenda asked as she laid her head back down.
Noah pressed his lips against the top of her head, gently trailing his fingers down her arm. "I like this being something just for us. Do you want to tell people?"
"Not really" she smiled, dropping a small kiss on his chest.
"So, we should probably get showered and changed and head over"
"Are we showering together?" she asked seductively.
"Luckily for me, we don't have time for separate showers."
xxxxx
"I spoke to Alan today" Robin said as she placed a tray of herbed goat cheese sandwiches on the dining room table. Walking behind her, Patrick popped one in his mouth. Robin slapped his hand. "Those are for the guests" she admonished.
"Quality control babe" he smiled. "Did you get the sushi?"
"Yes I got the sushi. I got everything we needed, prepared all the food and decorated the house while you were at the hospital." Robin's voice was a little harsher than she intended.
"I was going to help you" he protested "but I got called in."
"I know" she sighed. "It's just, this is our first party, our first Christmas Eve together and there's about 20 people going to descend on our house in an hour."
"So you're saying you're stressed?" he asked, snaking his arms around her waist.
"I'm a little stressed and I haven't had any help" she said, leaning back into his embrace.
"I'll do all the clean up." He nuzzled her neck.
"I've heard that before. Did you hear me? I said I spoke to Alan today and he's agreed that I can start back to work in the new year."
Patrick dropped his arms from her waist. It had been two months since they had returned from Australia. They had come home married and committed to each other. The madness of her brain injury behind them, they worked at building their family life and adjusting to the routine of domesticity. The only real disagreement they had was Robin's eagerness to return to work. "I don't understand your need to rush back - your mat leave covers you until April."
"Patrick" she sighed as she turned to face him. "I haven't worked since May - lest you forget that I was forced on leave early. I like to work, my work is important and I want to go back. There are no real reasons as to why I can't."
"What about Rian?" he asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"Well maybe you'd like to take a few months off from your career and be a stay-at-home dad?" He grimaced. "I didn't think so. Your career is not more important than my career and if you're not willing to take months off, why should I? The hospital has a fine day care and Rian will be very happy there. Liz has Cameron in there and Nathalie leaves Oliver there three days a week. I'm going back to work in January - deal with it."
He couldn't help but smile as he saw they way her jaw was set, he knew the battle was lost. Her eyes were blazing, daring him to contradict him. "Robin, it's Christmas Eve, our friends and family are coming to celebrate with us - I don't want to fight."
"Who's fighting?" she said. "I'm just telling you." Their argument was interrupted by Rian's cries as he woke from his nap. "Your son needs to be fed and changed and I need to shower. His bottle is in the fridge."
She tried to brush past him but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. He nipped at her lips. "I love you wife."
"I'm mad at you so I only like you, husband"
He nuzzled her earlobe. "Nah, you love me" he said.
She sighed exaggeratedly. "Pretty sure of yourself there buckoo"
"Yup." He kissed her cheek and swatted her on the behind as he let her go and headed for the fridge to retrieve Rian's bottle.
xxxxx
Their house was buzzing with activity. It had been Patrick's idea to invite everyone over for Christmas Eve so that they could have a quiet first Christmas together. Mac, Georgie and Maxie had arrived first and both teens were fussing over Rian. Liz, Lucky and Cameron were next and set off a steady stream of people arriving including Alexis, Ric, Molly and Kristina, Kelly and Milo, Lainey, Lulu and Brenda. Nikolas and Nathalie arrived, arms full of children and presents. Robin grinned as she opened the door.
Nathalie rolled her eyes. "Seriously. All I want for Christmas is a sherpa" she joked as she walked through the door. Gracie ran into the house ahead of her. "Patty! Patty!" Nathalie shook her head. "I swear the child had manners once"
Robin laughed. "Can I take something for you?"
"Sure - these are for you" she said handing her two bags of gifts. She set Oliver down and the ground and he walked as quickly as his legs would carry him in search of his sister.
"He's turning into a champion walker. Where's Nik?"
"Getting Spencer out of the car seat. I offered to help but I think I may have insulted his manhood in the process."
"I know" Robin giggled. "Patrick got the belt done up wrong on Rian the other day and told me he had a medical degree and didn't need my help in figuring out a stupid seat"
"Men!" Nathalie teased.
"You called?" Nikolas said, coming through the door. Putting Spencer down, he too took off looking for his friend Oliver.
Robin gave him a big hug. "I can't believe Spencer is walking" she remarked.
"I think he thinks he's in competition with Oliver. Anything he can do, Spencer wants to do it too!"
"Well they're only a month apart in age" Nathalie said.
"I can't wait for Rian to walk"
"Yes you can" the couple replied in unison. "They get into everything!" Nathalie said. "Having them immobile means freedom for you."
"I guess I'm at the right house" Noah said, coming in behind.
"Hello father-in-law" Robin beamed, wrapping her arms around him.
"Hello daughter-in-law" he replied.
Robin pulled back and stared at him. "You look different"
"More grey" he said, running his hands through his hair.
"I'm not sure that's it but let's get everyone inside. There is enough food for a small country and I'm counting on you guys eating your share."
Nikolas linked his fingers through Nathalie's and headed into the living room. Kristina and Molly came running towards their cousin as soon as they saw him. "Nik!!" they cried, both jumping on him.
Nathalie dropped his hand and kissed his cheek quickly. "I'm going to go say hi to Alexis." Nikolas nodded. He watched her as she crossed the room. Their relationship had grown slowly and was stronger everyday. He had wanted to ask her to move into Wyndermere with him but because her parents were suing her for custody of her children, he didn't feel that he could. He was pleased that his aunt Alexis had agreed to take her case. Having recently resigned as District Attorney, she had reopened her private practice and had been happy to take on Nathalie as a client. The two women had hit it off instantly and Nikolas felt his heart swell at the idea of building a real family.
"Hi Ric" Nathalie said as she approached.
"Hey Nathalie" he said, kissing her cheek. "Merry Christmas"
"And to you. Hi Alexis."
"How's my favourite client?" she asked.
"Aren't I your only client?" she teased.
"Yes but that doesn't mean I have to like you. That you are my favourite client is just a bonus" she grinned. "So Nikolas is hosting all of us for dinner tomorrow night?"
Nathalie nodded. "Gracie is beside herself with excitement that she gets to spend Christmas with Molly and Kristina"
"Well the girls are pretty fond of her too. Are the kids still going to your parents?"
Nathalie nodded. "I would prefer not to send them but having considered your advice, you're right, it's something they've always done and it's an act of good faith. I just hope it pays off."
"We have another 3 weeks to prepare for the case - we will pull out all the stops" she said reassuringly.
Nathalie smiled gratefully. "They can't get my kids Alexis, they just can't."
"Who can't get your kids?" Patrick asked coming up behind them. He hugged Nathalie from behind. "Merry Christmas bottom feeder."
"Same to you quack"
"Who's trying to get your kids?" Patrick asked, returning to the original question.
"I think we should go rescue Nik from the our kids" Ric said to Alexis, holding out his hand.
"We'll talk" Alexis said to Nathalie. "Hang in there."
"Thanks" she smiled.
Patrick moved to stand in front of his friend. "Nat? What's going on?"
Looking at him, Nathalie knew the time had come to tell Patrick. Her parents had served her with papers in the middle of his crisis with Robin and he had been in such a bad place that she didn't feel it appropriate to tell him. He and Robin stayed in Australia for nearly a month after their wedding and Nathalie didn't have the opportunity to tell him then. Truthfully she had been hoping to avoid ever telling him - she had been hoping that her parents would change their minds and back down but cooler heads weren't prevailing and they were going ahead with their lawsuit. She exhaled quietly. "My parents are suing me for custody of the kids."
"What?!" he exclaimed, loudly enough that several people turned and stared. "When the hell did this happen? And where the hell do they get off?"
Nathalie closed her eyes for a brief moment. She had lived through some painful experiences in her life but this one was ranking right up there. "A few months ago - they object to me leaving DC, to dating Nikolas, to not working as a lawyer and somehow they think I'm an unfit mother."
"A few months ago - you never said?" his eyes flashed with momentary hurt.
She gave him a wry smile. "You had some stuff going on."
Patrick shook his head and pulled her into his arms. "I am so sorry Nat. I can't believe they are trying this. I hate your parents, you understand that, right?"
Smiling against his shoulder, she gave a small laugh. "Thanks P - I hate them too."
xxxxx
Robin leaned up against the china cabinet beside Brenda and Lulu and followed their gaze. "What or who are we staring at?" she asked.
"Don't you think your father-in-law is hot?" Lulu asked.
Robin choked on her drink. "Um, yes, Noah is an attractive man."
"Is he single?" she asked.
Brenda spun her head to the side. "Why?" she asked defensively.
Robin arched an eyebrow at her friend's sudden reaction. "I haven't talked to Noah about his love life but I believe he is single. Though I think he's a little old for you Lu."
"There is nothing wrong with an older man" Brenda said quickly.
"I never said there was" Robin said slowly. "I merely said that given that Lulu is just 18, Noah might be a bit old for her."
"Nah, I'm not interested in dating him" Lulu said. "I'm just curious as to why such a good looking and nice guy is single - why hasn't some lady snapped him up. If I was, like, a decade older...okay maybe two decades older I would so bet putting the moves on him."
Brenda drained her wine glass. "I'm going to go say hi to Nikolas" she said walking off. Robin watched her walk away, fidgeting with her hands. Her mouth twisted into a wry smile. After Christmas Robin was going to pin her down and find out exactly what was going on between her best friend and her father-in-law.
xxxxx
He sealed the envelope and checked the address one last time. Comparing it to the address on his screen, he had copied it perfectly. Pulling on his coat, he pulled it around him tightly, sometimes the wind could cut right through you. It was a bitterly cold winter in the city and people weren't going outside unless they had to. He considered the trip to the mailbox as a must-do. He put the envelope in his pocket and headed out the door. He lowered his head down against the wind and quickly walked the four blocks to the nearest mailbox. Pulling the envelope from his pocket, he looked at it one last time.
Mr. and Mrs. John Harder
2137 Strathcona
Drive
McLean, Virginia
22101
Bruce dropped in the box and allowed himself a satisfied smile as he sprinted back to his hotel room.