Miraculously making it home with a clean driving record, I parked behind Dr. Sean's Honda before taking a deep, calming breath for courage. Tucking my phone back into my bra and remembering to grab the keys from the stupid ignition, I headed towards the leftmost townhouse. Standing three stories high with a brownstone finish, the pristine yard absolutely screamed Owen Blackbourne. The purple welcome-mat with "an apple (pie) a day keeps the doctor happy" written across it, on the other hand, was purely Sean.
Stepping over the threshold, my nose was immediately bombarded with the rich scent of pasta sauce. I vaguely recalled Dr. Roberts lecturing about certain foods making me nauseous during my first trimester, but I was relieved to find that my stomach was still leaping at the chance to consume some delicious pasta.
Low voices could be heard from the kitchen, and I dutifully placed my keys in their designated, decorative bowl before making my way through the foyer and into the living room.
"Pookie!" Sean grinned from across the kitchen island as he saw me come in. My lips lifted automatically as I took in the sight of Sean and Owen cooking together. Those two could be more domestic than any mother I'd ever seen, when given the chance. I passed the couches and large dining area while heading towards them, my eyes drifting over Sean stirring a pot while Owen chopped some tomatoes.
"Hi, Sean," I greeted, grinning as I leaned against the island. My eyes traveled over the frilly apron he was wearing, and I recognized it as the one Luke gave me for Christmas a few years ago. "Owen, did you-"
My words cut off abruptly when my eyes swung towards Owen and noticed his own locked on me. Our earlier phone conversation came barreling back into my mind as I took in his predatory gaze. A slow, millimeter smile slid onto his face as his darkened eyes stared unflinchingly into mine.
I audibly gulped.
If I wasn't incredibly turned on, I might've been creeped out by the way he was staring at me so intently while viciously chopping tomatoes with a very large, sharp knife.
"Owen, give it a rest before you make the poor girl's ovaries explode," Sean rolled his eyes as he walked up to me with his usual flirty smile. With a quick peck on my lips, he ushered me towards the table. "At least let her have a last meal."
"You have such little faith in me, Sean," Owen calmly admonished him, still chopping tomatoes.
"Actually, I think I'm showing a lot of faith in you," Sean shot back good-naturedly as he gave my shoulder an affectionate squeeze before heading back to the stove. "After all, I've seen first hand what one look from you can do to our poor Sang."
"What's for lunch?" I cut in, half of me wanting to stop them from talking about their affect on me and the other half, the one consisting of my stomach, genuinely curious.
"Cavatelli with andouille, peppers, and tomatoes," Owen answered with a knowing glance my way before turning and dropping the chopped tomatoes into the pasta.
"Sounds delicious," I said, my mouth watering slightly. "Can I help?"
"We're just finishing up, love," Owen deflected warmly, pulling plates out of the cabinet as Sean pulled out glasses. I stopped breathing for a moment when I realized he might be getting out wine, but my shoulders sagged in relief when he started pouring water in them. "You should save your energy for Dr. Green's interrogation."
My lips twitched as Sean gasped in mock-offense while he carried three glasses towards the table.
"Owen, I have never felt more insulted in my entire life," Sean huffed dramatically, handing me a water before walking back and grabbing a plate that Owen just filled with food.
"Is that so?" Owen replied, intrigued. "Even that time-"
"Nope!" Sean cut in loudly, narrowing both eyes at his friend. "There are still some things that Sang is better off not knowing about."
"Are you keeping secrets, Sean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Not secrets, Pookie," Sean winced, setting the plate down in front of me as Owen brought the other two over. "Never secrets. Just...classified information."
"Classified?" Owen snorted slightly, sitting down next to me. "I would hardly say a waitress calling you a 'pretty, little girl' is classified information."
Sean's eyes widened in alarm as my own widened in shock, and I brought a napkin up to cover my laughter.
"Owen!" Sean whined, pouting at him. "You know that can emotionally scar a kid for life. "
"S-Sean," I managed through my giggles, reaching out to grab his hand comfortingly. "Don't be embarrassed. With your gorgeous curls, I could see people assuming wrong. Sometimes it's hard to tell the gender with babies."
"That was in fifth grade," Owen shared with a snort, and my jaw dropped slightly.
"Owen, stop," Sean frowned, but his lips twitched as he turned to me. "In my defense, my hair was a little longer."
"And his eyes were just so pretty," Owen continued, causing more giggles to erupt as Sean glared at him.
"You do not want to start this game with me, Owen Blackbourne," Sean spoke lowly, his tone laced with warning. "I've still got dirt on you, too."
"You two have been holding back from me?" I asked curiously, looking between both as I wondered what other embarrassing stories I hadn't heard about them yet. Sean's tale about Owen being dared to milk a cow flittered through my mind, and I burst into more giggles. Honestly, it was Sean's fault for blindfolding him. How was Owen supposed to know it was actually a bull?
"Why don't you tell us about your appointment, love?" Owen asked instead, beginning to work on his pasta as Sean perked up.
"You're playing dirty, Mr. Blackbourne," I muttered to him before turning towards an expectant Sean.
"Tell me everything, Pookie!" Sean demanded, keeping his focus solely on me as his food remained uneaten. I gave my own plate a longing glance before sighing.
"Everything is good," I explained simply. "Dr. Roberts gave me a check-up, and I'm healthy."
I picked up my fork to take a bite, but Sean's flat stare had me setting it back down with a sigh.
"What exactly do you want to know?" I asked.
"Everything," Sean exclaimed, gesturing wildly with his hands. "Why aren't I your doctor? What all did Dr. Roberts check? Did he make any bad jokes? Was he professional? Did you wear that sexy, little paper gown? Did you miss me? Was there apple pie in the cafeteria? What color underwear are you wearing? Did he check your breathing? Did you tell him about stubbing your toe last week? Did he take an x-ray like I wanted?"
I blinked back at Sean for a few moments before calmly lifting my fork and taking a bite of pasta. I sagged slightly in content as the delicious flavors exploded in my mouth, before looking back to Sean. Taking a deep breath, I set the fork back down.
"You're not my doctor because it would be inappropriate," I explained, raising a hand to stop Sean's argument when his mouth opened. "He checked my height, weight, lungs, heart, eyes, ears, nose, throat, blood pressure, and everything else that he always checks. I don't recall any jokes being made, and yes, he was strictly professional. If you expected anything different, I would be severely disappointed in you. I did wear the paper gown, but if you actually find that sexy then I'm slightly worried about your mental state. I always miss you, even when I'm with you. I didn't go to the cafeteria, so I can't comment on the apple pie. My underwear is pink. Yes he did, and yes, my breathing is fine. No, of course I did not tell Dr. Roberts that I stubbed my toe an entire week ago. It felt fine after an hour and each of you kissing it."
"Prove it," was all Sean said as he stared back.
"Prove what?" I asked in confusion. "That my toe is fine? Sean, getting an x-ray would be ridiculous. We don't need-"
"You said your underwear is pink," Sean explained, gesturing towards me from across the table. "Prove it."
Part of me was very much tempted to stand up and prove it, if he hadn't been asking all those ridiculous questions.
"Let the 'poor girl' eat, Sean," Owen chided, placing his hand on my lower thigh as he sent me a slight smirk. "After all, this is her last meal."
"I still don't understand why you won't let me be your doctor, though," Sean whined with a huff, pushing the broccoli around with his fork instead of eating it.
"Because you're my husband, Sean," I pointed out, shaking my head at him fondly from across the table.
"Oh come on, Pookie. Couples play doctor all the time," he rolled his eyes before pouting at me.
"Key word there is play," I retorted, taking a bite of chicken before placing my fork down. "You can pretend to be my doctor as much as you want, but when it comes to my real check-ups you know it's inappropriate."
"But I give everyone else their check-ups," Sean's pout deepened.
"Good for them," was all I said back, finally taking another bite of the delectable pasta before spearing a piece of broccoli with my fork.
"Maybe if I could just-" Sean started to say with a wary look, before I cut him off.
"Don't you dare bring this up again!" I warned, pointing my fork at him. "You're not allowed to sit in on my check-ups anymore. They had to call security last time."
"Well Phil was sticking that otoscope way too far into your ear," Sean immediately defended, shaking his head. "He could've burst your eardrum! You think I'd just sit by and watch that happen?"
"So you just had to hit him over the head with a bone you ripped off the fake skeleton?" I asked dryly, taking another bite of pasta and chewing with a little more force than necessary.
"Hey, that was the femur. It's a strong bone," Sean explained, sounding slightly insulted.
"I know it's strong, Sean. I saw the bump on Dr. Roberts's head after security escorted you from the building," I sighed, reaching for my glass and taking a sip of water. Owen rubbed his thumb against my skin in comfort as he continued eating his own meal.
"Well, at least now he knows better than to risk damaging your delicate, little eardrums," Sean reasoned, nodding his head in satisfaction.
"If it bothers you that much, Sean, maybe you can do your own yearly check up on Sang," Owen suggested. "Purely for sanity's sake. Mine, not yours."
"Not a bad idea, O-man," Sean nodding in agreement, while I refrained from protesting. Challenging this would just lead to more complaining from Sean during my next check-up, and I could spare a few minutes to let him look up my nose if that's really what he wanted to do.
How romantic.
"Now, about what we discussed earlier," Owen prompted, his hand creeping slowly up my thigh as his thumb continued to rub small circles against my skin. My skirt was creeping up along with his fingers, and if he continued at this rate it would be bunched around my hips in thirty seconds flat. I let out a shaky breath while putting my fork down, any appetite for food suddenly vanished.
Sean perked up across from us and placed his own fork down.
"What were we discussing earlier?" He asked cheerfully, albeit obliviously. "Oh, do you mean the new mission Greta told us about? I don't know if Kota will go for it, but it actually looks incredibly fun."
"Surprisingly, that is not what I am referring to," Owen answered flatly before turning to me. "Miss Sorenson and I were debating my self-restraint when she was leaving the hospital this morning."
"Oh? And what did Miss Sorenson have to to say about that?" Sean asked, dropping his voice into a very deep, very exaggerated impression of Owen's voice.
I would've burst into laughter at his impersonation if I wasn't currently melting into a puddle as Owen's hand moved dangerously higher on my thigh.
As fate would have it, like it usually does with a family of ten people, the moment was regrettably interrupted as soon as Owen's fingers brushed my pantyline.
"Sang!" A voice boomed as I heard the front door burst open, Owen's hand freezing on the inside of my thigh. "You home, baby?"
My heart jumped into my throat on the word baby, and my mouth could only open uselessly in a silent response.
"I know I saw her car outside," my North's gruff voice could be heard as he walked in from the foyer. Our eyes met, and his scowl broadened into that heartbreaking grin. "There you are."
"North!" I managed to choke out, grinning back and standing up from my chair as Owen's hand slipped away. I hurried over to North, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders as he pulled me to him. "I feel like I haven't seen you in days."
"Well, it's been almost two now, baby," North said back, placing a warm kiss atop my head before pulling back. "How was your appointment?"
I shifted on my feet, hoping my eyes didn't give anything away.
"Good," I answered shortly, standing on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss before looking around him to the empty foyer. "Where's everyone else?"
"Almost here," North answered, turning me back towards the kitchen and we walked towards the table. "I rode my bike back from the range, so I didn't have to deal with traffic."
"How was training?" I asked, genuinely curious about the new recruits who finished boot camp a few weeks ago. I remember my first time on the range, and it wasn't exactly a pleasant memory if the following hospital visit was anything to judge by. Raven walked with a limp for months.
"Better than I expected," North answered as he walked to the counter and poured himself a glass of water. "The newbies are hungry, but disciplined. We've got a good crop."
"Marc was updating me on the Langston team's progress yesterday," Owen explained as he stood from the table and stacked out lunch plates on top of each other. "He said they have the potential to beat out some of our records."
"Which ones?" Sean asked suspiciously as Owen headed to the kitchen sink with our plates. I gathered the drinking glasses before following him.
"Record for most successful missions completed in a year. Record for fastest Platinum-level heist. Record for quickest full team to finish the ropes course," Owen listed off, turning on the sink and rinsing each dish. "They already broke a few others during boot camp."
"No!" Sean gasped in horror. "But our legacy!"
"They're little machines, Doc," North shook his head, taking the glasses from me and adding them to the pile Owen was washing. "You should've seen the youngest of them, Ricky, take a shot from-"
"Peanut, I'm ho-ome!" Nathan sang after I heard the front door bang open for the second time today.
The sound of more feet milling about in the foyer made my breath catch as I heard laughter and voices carrying towards us. Lots of voices.
It hit me like a brick wall. After such a calming, distracting lunch with Sean and Owen, I'm not sure what I expected. But they were all here now, and I couldn't hide it anymore.
