This story picks up a few years after Blood, Badges, and Bonds ended, so it's probably a good idea to read that fic as well as Heart and Mind before starting this one.
XXXXXX
"I'm so confused," Lauren murmured to Bo, eyeing Tamsin and Evony across the room. "How do they even know each other? When did this happen?"
Bo shifted her eyes to the pair as Evony tossed her head back and laughed at Tamsin. "As cops, we spend a lot of time at the hospital. They most likely met there." She shrugged and turned back to her wife, openly studying her.
Lauren clicked her tongue in disapproval as they made their way through the mass of people in Kenzi's living room. Kenzi and Hale's place was more spacious compared to Bo and Lauren's house, the open floor plan created ample space for lots of mingling between the guests without feeling cramped or swarmed. After years of living in their apartment, Bo and Lauren had finally decided to buy a house. Their own home. The hunt had taken awhile as Lauren wanted to get it right, making a list of everything she wanted, and everything Bo wanted, weighed by priority. To her it made making the decision easier, that way they could rely on logic instead of emotion. Finally, they had found a great house with almost everything they wanted, and since it was just the two of them, they didn't need a lot of space. And Kenzi's home was a mansion compared to their modest house.
"Call me crazy, but it's so weird. What do they even have in common?" Lauren said, not dropping the subject.
Evony and Tamsin's relationship was odd to Lauren, and it seemed to come out of nowhere. What the hell did her friend see in Evony of all people? Tamsin was one of the kindest, most generous people she had ever met, so it irked her that Evony was targeting her. And honestly, she hated the idea of Evony infiltrating her close-knit group of friends. She just wanted to enjoy their company without Evony saying or doing something to ruin it. Who even invited her, anyway?
Bo wrapped an arm around Lauren. "Opposites attract."
Evony must have sensed Lauren talking about her. She turned and stared at her for a second, arched a condescending brow before returning her attention to Tamsin.
Still watching Tamsin and Evony, Lauren muttered quietly to Bo. "I guess, but it's still bizarre to see, and think about."
Chuckling, Bo darted into Lauren's vision, blocking her view of the pair. "Do you think about them often?"
Lauren wrinkled her face in disgust. "Ew, that's just gross," She said, and Bo couldn't help the small grin that appeared on her lips. "Opposites may attract, but having similar goals and common interests, all that stuff matters as well."
"Maybe Tamsin just needed to unclog the pipes down there. You know clean out those vagina cobwebs." Bo stopped and laughed at herself.
Lauren pursed her lips at Bo, not amused. "Bo, stop."
"I'm just saying, maybe she just needed a satisfying, wild lay. I think it's been awhile."
Lauren shook her head at that, and thought that she needed a drink and fast to forget about the awkward coupling.
"You are being surprisingly judgy."
That statement earned Bo another stern look because she didn't feel like she was judging Tamsin, she was only concerned about her. "I don't want to see Tamsin get hurt…Evony's well…" Her mouth closed mid-reply as her eyes widened when Evony and Tamsin kissed.
"Do we have to talk about this?" Bo bumped her forehead on Lauren's shoulder a few times. "I'm exhausted. I want to go home and have a long soak in a hot bath, and then love on my wife for a few hours."
Lauren frowned and glanced around at the other party guests. "But Dyson isn't here yet, and we haven't had dinner. Do you mind if we stay a couple more hours?"
Bo leaned back against a nearby wall and drew Lauren close. "Do I get a reward for waiting patiently?" She grinned, mischievously, eager to bring a smile back to Lauren's face.
Lauren inched closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I think that can be arranged."
"Good because I've started making a list." Bo's voice was serious, but her eyes were playful.
Lauren smiled, just like Bo had wanted, as her eyes lowered to Bo's lips briefly before shifting them back to her eyes. "A list?"
"Of all the ways you can reward me."
Lauren's lips were puckered in thought, and Bo wanted to kiss them or bite them, or both. Considering how physically attracted she was to Lauren, it was almost impossible not to kiss her right then, but before she could, Lauren spoke. "What's on this list of yours?"
With desire evident in Bo's smoky bedroom eyes, she wiggled her eyebrows. "Things. Lots and lots of unbelievably hot, naked and sweaty things with an incredibly sexy you."
Lauren flushed all over. Bo could still make Lauren feel like she was looking at her for the first time, not the millionth time. She never before felt so sexy in the eyes of another as she did with Bo. And she still managed to give her butterflies, make her tremble just with her words. How could Bo still affect her physically after all this time, she'd never fully understand. Though she was grateful.
Lauren glided a finger across Bo's parted lips. "You sure know how to flatter a girl."
Bo nipped Lauren's finger as it moved against her mouth. "I always aim to please, my love."
Lauren caught Bo's cheek in her palm, and pressed a kiss on her lips, the only feeling swirling inside Bo was happiness. Bo was so in love with her wife it was almost overwhelming. The pleasure seeking part of her was sort of dying to make love to Lauren and she briefly thought about pulling her into an empty room for a quickie but movement caught her eye, halting that idea.
Lauren heaved an audible sigh and stepped back from Bo when she saw the same movement.
XXXXX
With Tamsin by her side, Evony walked over to them like she owned the place. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag now," She said with a wink at Lauren.
Lauren faked the best smile she could manage and fished for a topic of conversation. "How did you meet?"
Grinning devilishly, Evony bit her perfect red lip and cocked her perfect eyebrow at Lauren.
Tamsin rolled her eyes at Evony's antics and answered Lauren's question. "Evony was the physician for a vic on a case I was working for a few months. We kept bumping into each other, and well…" She trailed off when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
"How nice," Lauren said and folded her arms across her chest, glaring at Evony, who stood looking back at her. Lauren kept angry eyes on Evony, waiting for her to cause a scene or say something rude.
Bo's eyes bounced between Evony and Lauren, her eyebrows suspended on her forehead. The situation had quickly turned awkward. She didn't know if she should be polite in that situation, or pull Lauren away from Evony.
After reading her text, Tamsin turned to Bo. "Can I talk to you for a minute? It's about work."
"This is a party. Can't work wait until the morning?" Lauren cut in, giving Bo a look.
"Two minutes," Tamsin promised, pulling Bo along with her.
Bo mouthed 'sorry' as Tamsin took her to a corner to discuss work.
Letting out a long sigh, Lauren watched them go, leaving her standing uncomfortably next to Evony without any buffers. Evony was just about Lauren's least favorite person to talk to in a social situation.
Evony gave Tamsin a suggestive look that made Lauren's skin crawl. "Did you like what you saw?" She whispered to Lauren, tilting her head.
Wanting to gag, Lauren choked out. "No."
Evony seemed amused by Lauren's response. "Jealous?" She asked with humor in her eyes. "You look positively green."
Lauren could feel self-satisfied smugness radiating off Evony. She knew she said things for the sole purpose of riling her up. She glared at her but didn't say anything.
"Have I rendered you speechless?" Evony flipped the hair off her shoulder. "I do have that effect on people."
"Have you ever been in love?" Lauren asked, and knew her abrupt change in conversation would throw Evony off her game.
Evony blinked at her, and then looked Lauren up and down. "I don't believe in love. I'm a very successful woman; I don't need it. It's dull and ordinary, and I'm not dull or ordinary."
Lauren involuntarily fingered the ring on her finger, and Evony's gaze followed her movement. "I don't know what you're up to, but Bo and I are in love, madly in love. We've been through a lot together. I don't need you coming back into my life and messing with me."
Lauren didn't like the triumphant smirk slowly spreading across Evony's face, nor the feeling that she had played right into her hands.
Feeling uncomfortable, Lauren spun on her heel but Evony grabbed her elbow to stop her. Her dark eyes bored into her. "I'm not hanging around Tamsin to make a play for you, Dr. Lewis. Tamsin's a lot of fun, a real dish, and our relationship has nothing to do with you."
Lauren knew Evony's motives weren't as benign as she made it sound. She planted her feet and glared at her.
"I've always said that big head of yours is going to get you in trouble. It's high time you get over yourself."
"Tamsin's my friend, and you better not hurt her." Lauren snapped back, eyes narrowing for a second.
Evony let out an amused sounding laugh. "I do what I want. If I want caviar, I'll eat caviar. And if I see a woman I want, I'll eat a woman."
"Don't be crass," Lauren said with an eye roll. "If you hurt Tamsin, I will personally make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"
"You're in a lively mood. I like it when you get worked up." Evony chuckled, apparently increasingly pleased with the back and forth. "No need for threats. She's a big girl, and I don't bite." Evony smirked, her eyebrows rising. "Well, that's not actually true, but I always ask first. It's all just a little harmless fun."
Lauren wasn't sure about the harmless part. Even though she wanted to, she resisted the urge to say her feelings out loud.
As Lauren gave Evony a dirty look, Evony huffed and turned serious. "I thought we called a truce." Lauren frowned, and she continued. "I have a high regard for you as a doctor, and I was hoping you would come back to work at the hospital. We are in need of a few good doctors."
"No," Lauren answered with a quick headshake. "I have a job."
"Oh yes, that little clinic you work at. What a waste of talent. You will get bored. You've always been so driven and competitive, and working for a private clinic will eventually get too monotonous for you."
"I like working there. I have lots of patients to see, and time to continue with research. I'm not bored. Far from it."
Evony gave a fake yawn as Lauren spoke. "That all sounds fantastic, but I want you."
Lauren's eyes widened at the double-entendre and Evony smirked with satisfaction.
"Professionally speaking of course. You are the doctor I want working under me, Dr. Lewis, and I always get what I want."
"Changing jobs at this moment is impossible to contemplate." Lauren's tone was misleadingly calm, despite the thoughts Evony had kicked up with her job offer. Even though she found Evony's personality off-putting, she was one of the best surgeons in the country, and she knew working with her would be a challenging and professionally rewarding experience. One thing Evony was right about was that Lauren always craved new challenges.
"Don't let that wife of yours hold you back from reaching your potential."
Lauren had to avoid the impulse to respond with a biting comment, refusing to sink to her level. Instead of responding she twisted away and strode off to join Bo and Tamsin.
XXXXX
Relieved to get away from Evony, Lauren guided Bo into the kitchen, who lingered behind so she could have a quick squeeze of Lauren's ass.
Lauren gave her a warning look. Bo winked at her, and couldn't help but give her another squeeze.
Lauren stopped abruptly and faced Bo, her expression devoid of humor. "I can't believe you left me alone with Evony."
"Sorry. But it was Tamsin's fault."
"She offered me a job."
Bo frowned at Lauren, confused, since Lauren had just recently gotten a new job at a private clinic, and as far as she knew Lauren disliked working for Evony. "You have a job." She stated simply, not knowing what else to say.
"I know…" Lauren started but stopped when Dyson entered the back door with his arm wrapped around Ciara as she carried their baby son in her arms.
Ciara was the heiress to a vast pharmaceutical fortune, and over a year ago she moved back and started dating Dyson. They knew her from college, and Lauren always felt like Dyson and her belonged together; they just didn't realize it. She thought it was sweet, and romantic that they had rediscovered each other after all those years. And Lauren was happy that Dyson finally found someone who complemented him so well, she only wished Tamsin could do the same, and get away from Evony.
Lauren rushed up to greet them, and Dyson scooped Lauren up into a giant bear hug, her feet left the ground for a second. "I never get to see my best friend anymore. I miss you."
Lauren craned her head back and absorbed Dyson's goofy grin. "Really? I haven't missed you at all." She said with a note of cheerful teasing.
"Very funny," He replied, a fake grumpy look on his face. "I don't feel adequately welcomed here."
Lauren stood on tiptoe and kissed Dyson's cheek. "Miss you, too. You big baby."
After that, they all said their hellos and enjoyed a few minutes of chitchat. The conversation died down, and Lauren looked at Ciara. "Can I hold him?" She asked, referring to the baby cradled in her arms.
Ciara kissed Marshall's forehead, and then handed him to Lauren. She beamed at Dyson. "Have you ever seen a kid with so many adoring fans?" She asked, and Dyson smiled proudly back at her.
Wide blue eyes looked up and studied Lauren. She considered Dyson's son her nephew, even though they weren't blood related. Dyson and her had been friends most of their lives. They'd been through every up and down in each other's lives together. And Lauren knew she could always count on him. He was her brother, her best friend, the most important person in her life, save Bo. And the moment she laid eyes on Dyson's baby, she loved him like he was family.
"Look at my beautiful nephew. I'm so happy you look like your mama, not your daddy."
"Oh, stop." Dyson laughed, helping himself to a drink. "He has all my gorgeous features."
Lauren smirked, still studying the baby's little face. "If you say so."
Minutes later, they all took a seat around the long dining room table, with the rest of the party in the other room.
"Everything's changing. Kenzi's pregnant, you have a baby, and Tamsin…has a new relationship of sorts…." Lauren mused, bouncing the baby on her knee.
"Having a baby boy to dote on is just what you needed to grow up," Bo added, giving Dyson a quick smile.
"So when will Marshall have a playmate?" Ciara asked, leaning into Dyson's body, and looking back and forth between Bo and Lauren.
Both Bo and Lauren's eyes bulged, and their mouths dropped open. They held their deer-in-headlights expressions as Ciara and Dyson looked at them expectantly. Waiting. Wondering. Hoping. Their eyes were practically dancing in suspense.
Lauren's pulse sped up while her breathing seemed to halt. "I think Kenzi has that covered." She said quickly, averting her eyes from her friends.
Ciara smiled at her, unfazed by her discomfort. "You don't want children, Lauren? I think you'd be a great mom. I mean you're a doctor."
Lauren didn't have an answer for that. In theory, she wanted children, someday, in the far future, maybe, or maybe not. The notion of never, ever having any of her own made her a little sad, but the idea of having children also scared her terribly. It was a topic she wanted to avoid as long as possible. And she knew from her own father that being a good doctor didn't equal good parenting, far from it.
"How's work?" Lauren asked, clearly shifting the conversation away from the children topic.
Ciara perked up at that, and scooted closer to Lauren. "Good. It's been really busy. I'm running my own division now."
As Lauren and Ciara talked about work, Dyson circled the table to sit next to Bo. As he settled into his seat they clinked their bottles together. "Look at me. Last year I was a single cop with a different girl in my bed every night and the next I have a girlfriend and a little boy. It's crazy huh?"
Bo smiled, and briefly glanced at her wife, who was chatting with Ciara and still holding the baby. Lauren's laughter paired with the baby's giggles had her tingling, and she forced herself to focus back on Dyson. "Honestly, it sounds overwhelming. The kid stuff I mean. Babies are a lot of work."
Dyson nudged her shoulder. "Not as much as you might think. There's something kind of amazing about having someone to love, unconditionally. Warts and all."
"I knew deep down you were a romantic at heart. You just needed to find the right woman. Or in your case rediscover the right woman."
"Ciara gave me the greatest gift I never realized I wanted or needed." Dyson gazed back at her, his expression turning earnest. "Really when are you and Lauren going to have a baby?"
Bo's skin itched just thinking about all that responsibility. "I'm too selfish right now. I don't want to share my wife." She answered honestly.
Abrupt laughter escaped Dyson. "That's what you're worried about? That the baby would take Lauren's attention away from you?"
Bo considered Dyson's question and wondered how to explain her perspective without sounding unfeeling or cold. "Kids are too demanding. We're both too career focused, my job is basically twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and Lauren's busier than ever, working two jobs now. When would we even ever see the kid? Nannies raised me, and I would hate to do that to my own child."
Dyson looked thoughtfully at Ciara and his son. "Huh. That's one way to look at it." He chuckled softly to himself, turning back to Bo. "And Lauren feels the same?"
"I think so." Bo briefly glimpsed at Lauren, who was kissing Marshall's chubby cheeks and smiling. The scene was adorable and Bo felt an unexpected flutter in her chest. That reaction confused her, and made her wonder what she really wanted.
"For the record, I think you're wrong. Working parents can make it work, just look at Ciara and I."
Seconds later, Hale came up to Dyson side and clapped his shoulder. "Hey, you made it. People have been asking for you."
Dyson shrugged. "Hard to get out, sometimes, with the little man." He grinned up at him. "You'll soon find out my friend. Having a kid changes your life."
Bo pointed at Dyson, nodding in agreement. "Exactly. And I, for one, love my life as it is."
Kenzi also joined them in the dining room, giving Marshall attention with kissy noises.
Bo's eyes roved over her sister as she stood to greet her. She was in the delightfully cute stage of pregnancy, just rolling into her fifth month. As Bo wrapped her arms around her, the baby pressed against her stomach. Chuckling, she leaned down and placed a hand over the bump. "How's the baby?"
"Growing, and always hungry."
"The baby already takes after her mama," Hale added, rubbing Kenzi's stomach after Bo stepped back. "Like a refrigerator with legs."
Kenzi looked at her husband, with love in her eyes. "Speaking of food. I could really go for a steak right now. Could you start the grill? Feed me, husband."
With a wide grin, Hale saluted her. "Anything you want little mama."
"That's one good man you have." Ciara stated, speaking to Kenzi.
"Don't I know it." Kenzi answered and lowered herself to a chair, her stomach brushed the edge.
After Hale and Dyson had left to start the food, they all passed the baby back and forth, enjoying him as much as he enjoyed the endless attention.
Bo rounded the table to sit next to her wife. "I still can't get over that Dyson has a baby. It happened so fast." She whispered to Lauren, so Ciara didn't overhear.
Lauren laughed and nodded. "I'm glad we don't have to worry about that."
Holding her belly, Kenzi sprang from the table and shuffled her way out of the dining room when Hale called for her.
"Getting each other pregnant?" Bo asked, shifting her attention back to Lauren after Kenzi disappeared from her view.
Lauren nodded a yes, as she sipped her drink.
"You don't want…"
Caught completely off guard, Lauren frowned, leaning back in her chair while her eyes studied Bo. "Do you?"
Bo's eyes twinkled lovingly at Lauren, and she dropped her hand to Lauren's knee. "I want whatever you want. You being happy makes me happy, and that will never change."
"I'm not certain where this conversation is heading, but our schedules keep us on the go and very busy," Lauren spoke her truth, quietly. "I don't want to talk about kids. Not yet. I don't want to rush into things."
Bo nodded and dropped it. Perhaps it wasn't the best time to talk about it, but then it never was. It's not that she wanted kids, soon, or maybe ever, but she did feel like the topic at least warranted an extended conversation to make sure they were on the same page.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur, with the baby keeping them entertained. To her relief, Lauren was able to avoid any more awkward encounters with Evony because they had ducked out early. The second source of her relief came from the fact that no one else brought up the baby subject.
XXXXX
The next morning, Lauren glanced over her shoulder, finding Bo in a black tank top and tiny underwear, and nothing else. Lauren was practically in a lusty trance as she watched Bo slowly walk toward her.
"Good morning, beautiful."
"Morning, love," Bo said groggily, stretching out her arms.
Lauren's body reacted just watching Bo stretch, her stomach exposed as she moved. Her eyes skated over Bo, following the trail of her bare skin. Her eyes caught on one side of Bo's lower back, only visible because she was reaching up, and twisting her body.
"What's that?" Lauren gestured to her back.
Bo glanced at her, her long hair in sexy disarray, and then twisted to search her skin. She found the spot and frowned down at it.
"Bo." Lauren prompted when she remained quiet. She knew it was a bruise, and her mind flicked through all the possibilities as to the cause. "Did you get hurt during a workout?"
Bo shook her head, her eyes on Lauren. "No. I got it while arresting a suspect." She smiled and opted for a joke. "All in a day's work."
"Oh," Lauren stood from the table, the legs of her chair scraping against the wooden floor, and walked to the coffee maker. She was very aware of the violence of Bo's job, but it still bothered her when she was faced with the reality of it.
"Don't be upset," Bo spoke to Lauren's back. Lauren didn't miss the desperate hint to her voice. "It was nothing." Her arms quickly came around Lauren's waist, and she pressed her front to Lauren's back.
Without facing her, Lauren poured herself a cup of coffee and asked, "Why didn't you tell me last night?" She felt guilty that she had been too engrossed in her own lust to even notice that Bo was injured the previous night while they made love.
Bo placed a light kiss on Lauren's shoulder. "I didn't want to worry you."
Lauren swallowed hard, her heart sinking a little. What Bo did every day was dangerous, and she worried about her every time she had to go to work. She couldn't lose her. She couldn't face that. If Bo died, she would die too. She knew she would. Perhaps her need of Bo was worrisome, made her weak, but she didn't care. She truly was weak for Bo. She always would be.
"You put your life on the line every day, and I can't help but worry about you. I want you to tell me everything that happens to you. When you get injured, I need to know that."
"Okay," Bo said quietly. "My line of work isn't always safe, we both know that. But I never take crazy risks. Not anymore. I don't do anything with flippant disregard for my wife."
Turning to face Bo, Lauren pulled her into her arms, because she needed to touch her. She lifted her chin and whispered against her ear. "Good because I'm a complete mess without you. I need you with me. Alive."
Bo's mouth compressed and her eyes moved between Lauren's, a flicker of understanding behind her expression. Her arms came around her, and she held Lauren to her with a tight, possessive embrace. "I get it now."
Lauren eyed Bo curiously. "What?"
"Why you don't want to talk about kids. You're afraid I might leave you behind. Alone to raise our child…"
"I'm twenty-nine years old. I'm too young to think about babies." Lauren interrupted, her tone clipped and annoyed. She felt uncomfortable now that the baby discussion was under the spotlight, again. "I don't know if children will be in our future. I have no clue, and I don't really want even to think about that for a long while." She explained dodging the point Bo was trying to make.
"I just get concerned when I feel like you are bottling things up." Bo heaved a sigh with a searching gaze concentrated on Lauren. "Like I just think talking about children is something most married couples do at some point. If you have fears about my job and our future, let's talk about it."
With a huff, Lauren turned back to her coffee, dumping creamer into it. "I want to focus on our careers, and us right now, and maybe in a few years we can discuss the baby thing."
Bo had learned one essential thing over the course of their almost decade-long relationship; it was to pick her battles with Lauren because their greatest commodity was time together. She also knew Lauren sometimes needed time to think things over on her own without her pushing.
She smiled and pressed her nose into Lauren's neck. "Okay. Sounds good. We'll just continue to take care of each other. That's all I need."
With the topic dropped and all the tension gone, Lauren fixed them a quick breakfast. Bo strode away from Lauren and settled into the kitchen nook. Between the smell of coffee and the sight of Lauren all gorgeous and domesticated, Bo relaxed and enjoyed their quiet morning. Briefly, she considered how different the scene would be if they had a baby to care for, or a toddler running around. As she thought about life with children, she imagined it would be a study in delayed everything, delayed conversations, delayed gratification, delayed quiet time together as the child's needs would always come first. And she wasn't certain she could deal with any of those kinds of delays. Then, fleetingly she thought about how she had felt watching Lauren with Marshall, and smiled despite herself.
A beep of her phone snapped her out of her reverie. It was an email from the district attorney's office about the date she was set to testify on a big case she had closed months ago. She hated testifying, but it was an important part of her job, a fundamental part of the process. It was a high-profile case, and she made a mental note to review the case file when she got to the station and brush up on the details.
"Hey," Lauren said, carrying their food to the table. "Something wrong?"
Bo clicked off her phone and smiled up at Lauren. "No. Doug Reed's court date is coming up, and I'm supposed to testify in a few days."
Lauren cringed, remembering how Bo had almost been killed arresting him. He had shot at Bo, but luckily she had been wearing a bulletproof vest at the time. But that fact didn't make the situation any less terrifying for Lauren.
The Reed family owned a chain of sporting good stores, and the whole family was constantly surrounded by scandal. And Doug Reed, the eldest son, was a real piece of shit, and as it turned out a murderer. The case had been in the press for months, and no doubt the trial would be heavily covered. Bo, the daughter of a well-respected senator, was always of great interest to the media when she was involved in a high-profile case. She knew Bo hated that, her family name always made her actions scrutinized more severely, and Bo only wanted to do her job without the added pressure.
Lauren forced a smile and pushed away all her negative thoughts. "Well, you'll do great, you always do."
Bo stabbed her fork into a piece of fruit. "I just hope all the evidence is enough. He has like five lawyers working on his defense."
Wanting to move the moment away from the heavy topic, Lauren redoubled her effort to smile and leaned over, giving Bo a quick kiss. "Don't worry. You know that case inside and out."
Lauren's confidence in her smooth some of Bo's nerves about the trial, and she smiled gratefully back at her wife.
After that, they ate together in peaceful silence, but their morning together was over in a flash, as both had to rush off to work.
At the door, Lauren rested her forehead against Bo's. "Be safe," She whispered against Bo's lips. "I love you."
"I love you more," Bo whispered back, before giving her a quick kiss.
Lauren stepped back and slung her bag over her shoulder. "No way."
Bo locked the door and spun back to face Lauren. "No, darling, it's true."
Lauren backed away from Bo to head to her car. Her smile was immense as a rush of emotions pushed into her. Even when it was hard, even through all the trials and tribulations, sometimes marriage to Bo was incredible, and it was always the small moments that reminded her of that fact.
XXXXX
AN
As I started to write my bonus chapter for BBB I was struck with an idea for a longer fic, so I decided to do a full sequel. I guess I don't want to retire, yet.
No fear this story will be cheating free.
Thanks for reading :)