Disclaimer: Not my characters,but my plot. This is the first of more chapters to come. Enjoy!
Cate curled up next to the fireplace.
It was a chilly morning; frost was beginning to form on the windows.
She leaned over just a bit closer, to put her hands closer to the screen to let them warm up. Ed came downstairs, clad in a royal blue bathrobe, and boxer shorts. He approached Cate, bent down to give her a kiss.
"Good morning, love." Ed said cheerfully.
Cate smiled."Ready for breakfast?"
Ed grinned."Sure. Where is everyone?"
Cate then said, "Well, Jim and CJ are out on a trip up north, and the kids are away for the remainder of winter break. They all just left this morning."
Ed put an arm around her."So that means..."
Cate laughed."Yes, just us for two whole weeks of winter break." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"We haven't had time alone since, well...ever." Ed said. He thought for a moment.
"You know what?" Ed said, smiling.
Cate inched closer."What?"
"No, never mind. I'll surprise you later, over lunch."
Cite gave him a kiss."Where are you going? What about breakfast?"
Ed smiled. "I'll pick something up on the way. I'm going up to the school to fill some paperwork the district needs by early afternoon. Why don't we go out for lunch?"
Cate nodded, and then said, "Well I can get some stuff done around here and then meet up with you around eleven o' clock."
"Sounds good to me." Ed ran upstairs to get ready.
While Ed was out, Cate got some chores done around the house, and then got ready to meet up with Ed at the nearby bistro.
She arrived at the bistro, wearing a tight top, and her favorite jeans. It wasn't what she always wore to work, but Ed saw her and smiled.
"This, my love, is my favorite top of yours."He kissed Cate on the lips, holding her close.
They walked into the bistro, holding hands and smiling. Cate ordered their lunches, and they went to sit outside, where there was music, and beautiful decor outside. Ed picked a table and they sat down. A waitress brought them their meals, and they sat down to eat.
Cate inched close to Ed, a smile on her face.
It was one of her smiles, the "I'm flirting with you smile" that always seemed to attract Ed's attention. He looked up from his lunch, and asked, "What do you need, Muffin?"
Ed always called her Muffin.
She looked at him," What was it that you wanted to surprise me with this morning?"
"Oh yes, that." Ed set his paperwork folder aside, and moved closer to Cate. He grasped her hand.
"I was thinking today that since the kids, your dad, and CJ were away, we could also make a little romantic getaway ourselves. I decided to book us a cabin up north for a week, just us two."
Cate grinned. "You mean it? For the week?"
He smiled."Of course."
Cate wrapped her arms around Ed in excitement.
"I love you, Ed." She kissed him.
Ed squeezed her hand.
"How's my girl. Excited, I bet." Ed kissed her lips tenderly.
Cate tousled his dark hair. "Very excited." She giggled.
Ed smiled. "That's good." They glanced lovingly into each other's eyes for a moment and then Cate said, "Let's go home."
Ed knew what she meant, and they headed to their separate cars, and drove home.
When they got in the door at home, they headed straight for the couch.
Cate sat down, and Ed joined her.
Ed smiled. "You ready for the trip? I know I am." Ed put his arm around Cate's waist, and she put her head on his shoulder.
"Definitely." Cate said, looking up at Ed with a huge grin on her face.
He smiled." I can't wait for us to spend every waking moment with each other."
Cate smiled and said, "Me too, Ed. Me too."
An idea came to Ed. He lit up.
"Why not start now? After all, the kids are gone, and so are Jim and CJ…"
Cate finished his sentence. "So we have the house to ourselves."
Ed grinned, and took Cate in his arms."Correct." He dipped her, and kissed her tenderly. Cate sat up, smiling. Ed then took her hand and kissed it.
Cate blushed,"Ed, you're so romantic."
He smiled and pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
As he poured, he said, "Let's toast." They held up their glasses.
"To us." They clinked the glasses together. Both drank, and smiled.
Ed motioned for Cate to sit on his lap. She sat, and Ed held her close.
"What do you want to do?" Ed said.
Cate pulled out a DVD. "Why don't we watch a romantic movie?"
Ed smiled."Good idea. It will put us in a mood."
She popped it in the DVD player, and they sat on the couch, holding hands. Soon enough, they fell asleep on the couch.
Cate woke up. She was lying on her side, and Ed was holding her. Smiling, she closed her eyes. Thinking to herself, she remembered that they had been watching a movie, and fell asleep.
Opening her eyes, she noticed Ed was awake, and running his fingers through her hair.
Cate turned, and he whispered," You look beautiful when you sleep."
She smiled, and Ed grinned.
Sitting up, she dusted herself off, and then Ed led her back down.
She laid there, her chest pressing against Ed's.
A gleaming object came to Ed's visibility, and he pulled the chain gently. Around Cate's neck was a necklace.
Ed held the heart shaped locket in his hand. It was inscribed,
"I love you and don't forget it."
He smiled. It was the locket he gave her as a gift for the six months they had dated. Since that day, she had worn the necklace every single day. Ed set the necklace down on her chest gently. She smiled.
They glanced into each other's eyes, no words spoken.
Cate unbuttoned Ed's dress shirt carefully, button by button, exposing his chiseled chest. She then laid there, her head resting next to Ed's, and her hand on his chest. Ed smiled, his arm around Cate's waist.
"You look tired, dear.How are you feeling?"
Cate looked into Ed's grayish blue eyes.
"I'm actually not tired, surprisingly. You?"
Ed, not saying a word, smiled, and grasped her tighter, and leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was a passionate one; they continued to kiss, with his hand caressing her cheek.
In between kisses, Ed whispered in Cate's ear.
"I love you, Cate."
She smiled, and for the remainder of the afternoon, they remained in each other's arms.