Chapter 1

It was still early when Sylvie got out of bed. The alarm was not due to go off for another couple of hours. She wanted a little time to herself before everyone was over to help her pack the rest of her things for the move to Athos' apartment.

It was a struggle getting up and not waking Athos. She was a week away from her due date and getting around was a challenge. Although Athos was probably used to her middle of the night bathroom visits that her getting up now didn't disturb him much anymore. At least there was a break in the recent heat wave.

She went to the bathroom first; something that was becoming too much of a habit. She patted her stomach lightly. It was worth it she supposed in the end. Scary, but worth it. Athos was just getting over his freak out. Not that he would ever admit he had been freaking out for the last nine months.

She walked into her little living room looking at the furniture she had cobbled together over the last few years. The couch she got from her dad just before he passed away. There were two chairs on either side of the couch that looked nearly identical, but Sylvie had obtained separately. One she discovered sitting on someone's yard with a sign saying 'you want it, you can have it'. The second chair was from a yard sale in another neighborhood.

Sylvie had reupholstered and painted both chairs with the same color fabric and paint.

She already had most of her small items boxed up. It was just a matter of delivery with them. The kitchen still needed going through. Most of the things she had would be going into storage. Athos actually liked her couch to her surprise and was happy to replace his with it. They had spent quite a few evenings making out or just cuddling on the piece of furniture. She could never bring herself to have sex on it though.

The couch needed reupholstering too. But that would be a job for some time after the baby was born.

She walked over to her little kitchenette to get a glass of water. She checked the time; it was a little over an hour before she expected Athos to get up.

She decided to get dressed. Entering her bathroom she looked mournfully at her bathtub. She was distracted by a kick from the baby. She smoothed her hand down her nightgown. She smiled holding her hands over the lower half of her distended belly as pregnant women were wont to do.

"Good morning."

Sylvie looked over surprised to see Athos leaning against the doorway. She felt ridiculously shy all of a sudden and her face heat up.

Athos pushed off the doorframe and took the few steps over to stand behind Sylvie. His arms came around her letting his hands rest just above her hands. He kissed her neck trailing more across her shoulder that was bare except for the thin strap of her nightgown.

"How about a bath one last time in this tub," he said.

Sylvie's eyes brightened and her smile grew.

She felt his hands come up and rest on her shoulders as he gently grasped the straps of her nightgown pulling them off her shoulders. He started kissing her again along her neck and shoulders as he successfully pulled down the gown letting it pool down at her feet.

He held her hand as she stepped over the gown kicking it out of the way.

"You should probably start the water," she said.

He stepped away and did as she said. She stood feeling a bit awkward naked in the middle of the bathroom. Then the baby kicked again.

"Sweetheart?" Athos stood looking concerned.

"Baby kicked," she said.

Athos walked over next to her resting his hand over her belly. The baby kicked again and Athos kissed her softly keeping his hand where it lay over her stomach.

"Are you ready to get into the tub?" He finally asked.

"As long as you join me and I get to strip you," she said.

He breathed out a light laugh that sounded like a happy puff of air. He smiled at her showing the wrinkles at the edges of his eyes that she loved so much. She took that as a yes and pulled off his t-shirt as he raised his arms and pushed down the sweat pants over his hips and let them slid down his legs where he stepped out of them.

He checked the water and turned off the flow once he was satisfied. She let him take her hands as she carefully stepped in and carefully sat down. He moved so he was behind her and his legs were stretched out along the outsides of her legs. She leaned back against him and relaxed letting him wash her.

Suddenly they heard a knock at the bathroom door. "Athos, Sylvie?" It was Aramis.

Athos swore noting the time on the clock. They had been in the tub longer than they had realized. "We'll be out in a few minutes," Athos said.

"Okay." They could hear the amusement in Aramis' voice in one single word.

Sylvie sighed; it was her last bath in this tub. It was the one luxury she indulged in moving into this flat. And after she and Athos started dating there were many lovely memories they had created with it.

"Ready?" Athos held out his hands to her.

She took a deep breath and nodded as she grasped his hands letting him help her out of the tub.

TBC