They hadn't moved as the sounds of footsteps faded. "I'm sorry Alicia. I wish I could take back what I said," he shifted so he could look in her eyes. "Look at me," he commanded, as she rose brimming eyes again. He wrapped her against his chest. Laying back until his head was on the arm rest, he pulled her on top of him. Lifting her chin he kissed each eyelid, tasting salty tears and licking away the moisture, moving his lips down until they parted hers and his tongue asked entrance. Not in a hurry, they kissed for a long slow time. He felt her start to relax under his rubbing hands that found their way under her shirt stroking her soft skin.
"I have to go to the bathroom," she struggled against his hold. He pushed her up and paced until she returned.
"Is everything alright with you and the baby," he was amazed at how normal it rolled off his tongue.
She nodded, "Mira found out and made sure I got enough food and water. My being pregnant reminded her of her daughter."
He came to her, "May I?" He wanted to see her stomach.
Lifting her t-shirt, he saw a slight bulge and moved his hand all over the slight swelling. "I never thought I would see you again," he rumbled softly, pulling her shirt back into place and taking her in his arms. "I'm still going to have nightmares and it'll take time to sink in you're really back to stay," his lips found hers again. "I wanted to keep you safe and thought keeping you here was the answer. Instead of you being here, I put you out there with our baby. I should have listened to you. I will from now on," he stopped talking in favor of another long kiss. He missed this so much. Kissing was their pastime, making up for non-touching days. To feel her lips against his once again, he couldn't get enough and his body started responding. Coming to life, he could feel swelling in his pants and arousal in his loins.
"I want to go with you," was her first request.
"I want to get married," it came out of the blue. Where did that come from? He wanted to date her. But, no he knew, deep down dating was an excuse to work up to a proposal.
"What about your other girlfriends?"
"My other… what, where did that come from?" She constantly surprised him today.
"Well, Debora Tate was all over you when I pulled up, and I bet if I ask around, which you know I will, I'll find every woman who had dreamed they might stand a chance with you. Women just love to rat each other out," she looked closely to see if he showed any guilt.
He just stared at her, with his dumb expression. "If they did, it didn't register. I was morning you like I did Ayani. You've been my only love for so many years. I didn't want anyone else."
"Better not look now," she threatened and pulled him back down for another kiss, this time forcing her tongue into his willing mouth, making him groan.
"Never," he mumbled into her mouth. "So you'll marry me?" He held her close.
"I don't want to force you into something you don't want, Nathaniel," she threw her head back a little to look in his eyes, but stayed put in his arms, her chest resting against his. "I wanted something of you if things went bad. Would have made losing you easier. I never stopped to think, I never had you," she broke away and paced across the room, needing space to try and reason what she did, that seemed so right at the time.
"You had me. It was me, Alicia. I wasn't ready to be hurt again and kept you emotionally at a distance. When I thought you died, it hurt worse than anything I can remember feeling. I felt like my heart was going to explode, I couldn't breathe. Nobody I wasn't in love with could do that to me. Oh, I love you alright." She walked back to him and he pulled her to his chest again, "In my mind, I've done everything but the ring. When I went to you at night, it wasn't for cheap sex. I needed to feel you, share my day, the personal part I couldn't when others were around." He smiled and placed his cheek against hers, "I hated going home alone and every day it got harder. After the eleventh, I was going to court you properly. Watching the kids doing it right, I wanted that for you," he ended by running kisses along her neck, nuzzling under her chin until it lifted so he could rain kisses and nips everywhere. "Now you've given me an excuse to cut out the courting period and get right to the wedding."
Alicia ran her hands up his chest, caressing his neck and into his hair and tugged the short strands until he lifted his lips back to hers. "Ask me again, Taylor," her words vibrated against his lips.
Taking her hands in his, he sank to one knee and started with, "Sorry I knocked you up," causing her to laugh. "Before making you mine legally, I love you, Alicia, be my wife. Will you marry me?" He kissed her hands and grinned up at her.
"I never could resist your charm. I'll marry you, but you'll explain the six months to our child," she pulled him up and back into her arms.
And he pulled her against his erection, "Think Shannon's will mind if we use their bedroom to celebrate our engagement?" He kissed her again before she could reply.
"Down boy, they'll be back soon."
"But Shannon told us to play nice," he whined, the mirth in his eyes returning after being absent for three months. Sobering up, he led her back to the couch and pulled her down beside him, in the same position they first started. "We have so much catching up to do. Are you up to a trip back?" He limited his actions to hand holding, trying to subdue his wayward member before anyone came home.
"Let's get married first. I don't think Lucas will be back too soon."
"Okay, any wedding you want, large, small…."
"Private, like our lives. The only privacy we had was to keep quiet. That way all anyone saw was what we wanted them to. I'm okay with not displaying too much around them and don't want to give the divas an idea what you are really like in private."
"Touching your hand isn't helping me any. I'm not going down. Diva's huh? You're going to have to point them out to me. I wouldn't know one if she stripped and danced naked on a market table."
"Debora Tate had was rubbing her boobs on your arm. You telling me you didn't notice?"
"No, I was watching you approach and expecting trouble. You know I've been good friends with her and Alex for almost twenty years."
"Alex is dead, you're not."
"Uhhhh, I guess you're right. I'll never talk to her again," he teased and leaned over for a kiss.
"Just make sure her breasts are at least four feet away or they might have an accident."
"I never took you for the jealous type, Wash," he lifted her entwined fingers and kissed the back of her hand.
"Territorial. You want me. I want your eyes on me alone."
"You've had that for years." He looked sideways at her and sighed, "Were you raped, Alicia?" He had to know.
"Surprisingly, No."
He let out the worried breath he was holding, "I'm glad. You're telling me the truth, right?" He didn't want her protecting him.
She smiled and reached up with her free hand and stroked his beard, "If I had been, I would tell you. You're a big boy. You can handle it."
"No woman should ever be violated. Skye had to give in to Lucas. I screwed up again and he stabbed me. I saw what he did to you and still I let my guard down and you weren't here to sew me up." He gave her a wide grin, "Thinking about Lucas did the trick. I can stand in mixed company again." He loved the smile she shot back and head shake of her head, a maneuver she did quite often in private after one of his teasing sessions. He loved saying something just to get that combined reaction.
The door opened and Wash murmured, "Not a moment too soon."
"We brought food and Malcolm," Elizabeth entered, followed by both men, each with bags of food.
Malcolm sat his bags on the table and came over to Wash, pulling her off the couch; he gave her a huge hug. "Never thought I'd see you again. Welcome home, Lieutenant." They gave genuine smiles to each other.
"Did you get to look at what I brought back?" She sat back down beside the Commander while Malcolm planted himself on the padded bench across the room and noticed the Commander was holding Wash's hand like it wasn't the first time.
"I pulled up a couple shots. Who took the footage?"
"Mira. I told her what I needed. I got a chance to view it all on the way back. I'm not sure what I was looking at, but figured you might understand it."
"You and Mira did extremely well. I understand the formula Lucas used. I need to go to the site and look it over. When are you leaving, Commander?" He watched as Taylor absentmindedly played with Wash's fingers and she seemed perfectly happy to let him.
"Well Wash wants to get married first," He barely got it out when Elizabeth rushed over.
"You work fast, Taylor."
"Actually, no." He grimaced and turned back to Malcolm, "We put the cart before the horse. Now I have to make an honest woman out of her." He grinned as she pulled her hand away and slapped his leg.
Malcolm started laughing as he figured it out, "Congratulations on both events."
"I'm going to go be useful," Washington joined Elizabeth in the kitchen.
"I hope you're up to a few visitors. After dinner, some of your friends want say hello," she looked for Jim, but he had moved to the living room to join the others.
"I'm doing better now that morning sickness has passed," she started cutting the fish into strips for the deep fryer while Elizabeth made a mix for them to be rolled in.
"The biograph looked good. I didn't see any defects. How much do you want to know about the baby?"
"I don't care what it looks like, but what is it?"
"Hold on," Elizabeth called out to Taylor, "Commander, come here a sec." She watched as he jumped to comply, "Wash wants to know the baby's sex. Do you want to know also or do I have to swear her to secrecy?" She watched as he slipped arms around Wash's waist and looked at her cutting fish over her shoulder as if he had done so a hundred times.
"If Wash wants to know, I'm fine knowing also," he leaned over and placed a quick kiss on the side of her neck.
Amused at their affection for each other they had kept so carefully hidden, she informed them, "It's a boy." She watched their reaction. The Commander groaned while Wash smiled.
He went back to Jim and Malcolm. "It's a boy," he accepted their handshakes. They looked at the plexpad Jim brought back from the Command Center and Malcolm told them in layman's terms what Lucas was doing. Taylor looked sadly at Lucas. He was gaining a new son, but losing his firstborn.
"Zoe, come eat," her mother called as the adults sat at the table and Zoe scampered out of her bedroom and climbed in a chair next to Wash.
"Where's Maddy and Josh?" She asked her mother, seeing Malcolm in Josh's chair.
"It's Saturday night, they have big kid things to do. Remember we talked to you about them being older," she gently reproved.
"You don't like being with me?" Wash asked.
"Yes, that's why I want Josh and Maddy here. They are missing you being back," Zoe started eating.
"I saw them earlier and probably will again tonight," she passed the salad to Nathaniel.
"I forgot," Nathaniel got everyone's attention, but he was smiling at Wash. "I let Zoe give me a hug. That was my biggest miss-adventure while you were gone."
She turned to Zoe, "You hugging my boyfriend while I'm not around? I suppose you get hugs from Reynolds when Maddy's back is turned also, don't you?" She kept her tone light and teasing.
"No, Maddy can hug Mark. The Commander didn't have anyone to hug him, and he needed one bad."
Wash felt a hand squeeze her thigh under the table. Looking at the owner, he gave a mock order, "Don't ever put Zoe in the position of having to hug me again, understood Lieutenant?"
The rest of supper was spent catching up and Elizabeth telling stories of being pregnant. They went outside to the warm spring night while Elizabeth filled glasses with a sweet punch they drank for desert.
"No alcohol until the baby is here," she instructed Wash as she handed her a glass.
"After Boylan's I don't care to have a drink for a long time, but he did keep mine watered."
Reilly and Guzman came up the walk, each holding a duffle. Dropping the bags, they each hugged Wash, "Heard you disappeared to here. Ran into Maddy and she said you'd be staying here, so we brought some of your things." Reilly said and wanted to hear more about the Commander kissing her earlier, but would wait until they were alone. They didn't stay long and soon a few invited friends started trickling in, but not staying long. Could have been the scowl coming from the Commander as each person hugged his girlfriend.
The last was Thomas Boylan, stating he left Josh in charge for a few minutes. He held Wash close and whispered he was so glad the bastards didn't kill her in the end. She could see he was still haunted by his part.
"We know how to survive. You and me both," she added. "Nathaniel and I are getting married in a couple days. I hope you'll attend," she had new respect for the bartender and knew he barely slept during the occupation as she spent a good part of it in his bar.
"Bout time he gets of the fence," he spoke to her alone and with a wave to the others, he left.
"What were you and Boylan talking about?" Nathaniel saw her step aside and give Boylan a special hug and receive one back. He had heard that she was forced to spend a lot of time in the bar and had evidentially established a friendship with him.
"He helped us more than he'll ever tell you during the occupation. He had my back." She couldn't hold back a yawn, "Sorry, it's been a long day." She felt exhaustion slam into her.
Jim and Nathaniel each grabbed a bag and Elizabeth led the way to Josh's room, "You know where the bathroom is." Elizabeth and Jim went back outside to give them privacy.
"Can I sleep on the floor?" He asked.
"No, we are setting a bad example as it is and besides, I can't keep my eyes open. The day has caught up with me." Giving him a quick kiss, she shoved him out the door.
Thanking Elizabeth for supper, he told them he'd be by in the morning and went home to sleep. Lying in his empty bed, he looked over at her pillow. He had taken it from her bed when he finally gave up spending every night surrounded by her things and scents. Soon she would be there in his bed.
In the Shannon's living room on Monday, they exchanged vows performed by the military Chaplain. He had stopped by the day before, talking to Wash in private determined she was ready to marry the Commander and suffering no lasting effects of her forced captivity. Learning of her decision to get pregnant, helped insure his blessing. He cautioned her some wouldn't believe it was Taylor's. "It is," she wasn't worried about wagging tongues.
The guest list was harder to agree upon. Nathaniel questioned Boylan and Wash said no to Debora Tate. In the end they compromised, both were invited. All the officers attended and a few chosen civilians. Elizabeth and Jim stood as witnesses and the Chaplain spoke a short sermon on love and commitment before joining them together.
Skye stayed beside her mother, who decided she would rather be Wash's friend than on her bad side. Wash was hard to read when she arrived and was greeted by both the Commander and his soon to be bride, but when Alicia Washington wanted to be unreadable, her face would show absolutely no emotion. It was this face that greeted Debora and Skye. The only time she openly smiled was when she was looking into the face of her new husband and when they exchanged vows. Then she couldn't hide the love that was witness to the bond between them. On his part, he never took his eyes off her. They followed her as she mingled before the vows and his arm planted around her waist afterwards.
In the midst of conversations, Skye overheard Mark tell Maddy nobody could tell Wash was pregnant.
"Mom," Debora gave Skye her full attention, "I overheard that Wash is pregnant and not far along." They both turned to where she was leaning against the Commander with his arm pulling her tight.
"Is it his?" Debora wondered aloud.
"I'll find out," Skye went to question Maddy.
Casey Durwin rolled up, "The market's going to become boring again," he was laughing up at Debora as he spoke.
"Wash and I go way back. I'll fix any 'misunderstanding' later. What do you know about her being pregnant? You know everything."
"That she got knocked up by the Commander right before the eleventh. That would go a long ways to explain him not letting her go with him, maybe he knew and was protecting his kid." Casey looked at the couple, "About time they stop pretending a non-relationship relationship."
"So you think it's his?"
"The DNA says it is," the voice of Elizabeth Shannon came from behind them. Jim had told her about Debora Tate making a play for Taylor. She tried to imagine if anything happened to her and Jim hooking up with someone else. The thought didn't set well with her and she was sure Wash wasn't happy either.
"You going OTG for your honeymoon?" Jim asked Taylor.
"We are. Wash asked to accompany us back to where the terminus is."
"I thought we agreed she'd stay with Elizabeth while we went?"
"Well, with everyone gone, it should be a recovery mission only, so we're leading a unit to bring back everything. Malcolm is going and you, and if you want your wife. Have a second honeymoon yourself."
"Oh yeah, I've always dreamed of Malcolm being on my second honeymoon." They laughed together as Wash rejoined them from the bathroom.
Slipping back to her spot pressed to her husband's side, she asked, "What's so funny?"
Kissing her temple, he dodged, "Missed you. Shannon and I are making plans to bring back our missing vehicles. The Shannon's are coming with us."
"At least you're not leaving me behind this time."
She could feel his silent chuckle, "I'm done dating my right hand," he chuckled into her ear and it brought a smile at whatever he whispered. "Let's go home and I'll show you."
"See you tomorrow and we'll pack," Taylor spoke to Jim Shannon and the newlyweds slipped out to have a proper wedding night.
Walking hand in hand, the well-wishers made the journey slower than either would have liked. Three months was their longest separation since they first made love. At first Nathaniel made it a Saturday night event, then twice a week, then more often until by the eleventh hardly a night passed that one or the other would slip into the other's quarters. Half his clothes graced her closet and hers his. Hers were never packed; he left them as a reminder.
The door clicked shut and his ceremonial combat knife appeared in his hand. Spinning his bride into the door, he growled, "I've been planning your unveiling." His lips captured hers as he pushed her head back against the door. "Don't move." She felt cold metal between her breast. Stepping back, he smiled with satisfaction. Her dress was parting under the gentle pressure as his hand moved down. Her bra got caught in his blade and sprang free leaving her breast exposed. He noticed a slight darkening of the nipples and stopped to savor each one, first with his eyes, then circled each orb with his tongue before continuing his undressing. His eyes never left the parting path leaving a trail of nakedness in its destructive wake. Picking up the skirt of her dress, he sliced it neatly in two, sparing her white bikini panties. Slipping the ruined garment off her shoulders with a nod, he confirmed, "That's better." Re-sheathing his knife, he scooped her up leaving a ruined heap in front of the door. Placing her on his bed, he stepped back and looked, "Beautiful."
"You going to take my shoes off?" His bride lay still waiting for his inspection to complete. He removed her pumps and tossed them to a corner. She watched him undress and started to slip her panties off.
With protest, he ordered, "I'll do that, just lie there and look beautiful. I have to check you for new marks and show you mine." Now completely nude, he stood before her. Turning he gave her visual access to his newest scar Lucas had bestowed on him. "Lucas." He watched her fingers trace the puckered two inch incision. "Doc says it'll recede to a thin white line in time, like the others. He pulled her panties down and off. Lying beside her, he asked, "Any I need to see?" He traced her nipples with an index finger.
"All the bruising from the blast is healed. You should have seen me the first couple weeks; my face was black, then purple and yellow. Helped keep me from being molested," she started running her hands over his torso. "I've missed this, Nathaniel."
"Me too," he rolled on top, parting her legs with his knee. They reaffirmed each other's bodies were as they left each other and hands and mouths explored every inch, tasting and feeling, his movements moving him ever closer to his objective until he settled onto her core with his tongue. Years of knowing what she liked and soon he had her moaning his name with each flick, telling him to stop and no, don't stop with the next breath. He smiled into her, slowed down and moved away kissing around her nerves until she begged for him to continue. Finally, he felt and heard her jump over the edge of ecstasy, memorizing her first time as his wife, another special memory to recall at will, like her first orgasm was in a special place and one of his favorite recollections.
Moving over her, he started to penetrate and she pushed against his shoulders, "No you don't, roll over." He complied, knowing it was his turn and he wouldn't hold out so long. Ever since he saw her two days before, he gave up all pretense of working or thinking. This is the moment he was waiting for. They threw a quick wedding together, or rather Elizabeth, Skye, Maddy, Wash and Reilly had it ready within hours. All he had to do was move her things to his place and accept congratulations as if it were the smartest thing he'd ever done, which he was sure was. Her mouth working on him caused a sound between moan and grunt escape. Knowing his orgasms almost as well as him; she knew when to stop and settle on him. He gripped her at the top of each thigh, trying to set the pace even though she was on top. With a quick move he rolled her off and took control. "Took you long enough," she teased.
"I've missed this so much," he buried his face in her hair as her legs came around him. Her unused tightness pushed him over the edge fast. Reveling in his release, he continued lying on top of her until he fell out. Getting up he went into the connecting bathroom and started a bath. They moved the next stage to the bathroom and made love again in the tub, and once again upon waking in the morning.
"We make it in the timeframe we did on our first time together?" He didn't want to get up, but stay in bed all day.
"Mmmm, close. Those three were closer together as you were gone by this time." She struggled out of his arms and went to the bathroom, calling the baby needs food and I need coffee, prompting him to get up and dressed. By noon they were arranging the convoy to recover the abandoned vehicles. Wash got lots of looks as word had reached all colonists about her pregnancy. Dressed in familiar camouflage fatigues and black tank top and black leather jacket, she pitched in with the plans and packed her and her husband's rover while he gave instructions to Guzman, who was to be left in command.
Taylor decided to make the journey a festive event, any soldier with a wife or significant other who was permitted a sexual relationship was allowed a tent. Those unfortunate enough to be stag was given the task of guard duty and mine placement around the encampment every evening. Mark Reynolds volunteered to stay back, but Jim Shannon pulled rank and he was one of the solo troops.
Early Wednesday they exited the main gate. The Taylor's in their rover took the lead, followed by the Shannon's. Everyone else crowded into packed Rhino's and Mark Reynolds opted for a motorcycle that could be loaded on a truck.
"Let me show you how these military tents set up, Mr. Shannon," Mark instructed his future in-laws how to spread the tent on the ground, reaching near the opening pushed a button and stood back. They watched as air entered the material and support structures lifted the water proof material into a large dome. "Look inside." They did and to their amazement the floor was several inches thick with a soft air mattress. "Throw your sleeping bags and pillow inside and you're home," Mark wished he had a wife for this trip, but Jim was holding Maddy's age against him so far.
Looking around, Jim saw the closest tent was the Commander's, but it was still far enough away for privacy. "I'll get our stuff," he was looking forward to bedtime as he was sure the Taylor's were also.
Wash showed up as they were making their bed, "Come on, I'll show you around," and they joined her. "Mess tent," she gestured as they walked by. Already erected large standard frame tent with fold up picnic tables, where a cook worked at one end. Two shower tents were situated near a stream. "As long as we have water, we can shower." Taylor caught up with them after checking the perimeter for himself.
That evening at mess, while the Commander sat with Malcolm and the Shannon's, Wash mingled with her troops, talking and confirming her pregnancy. More than once she had to explain, "It seemed like a good idea at the time." She finally settled down beside Reilly and they had their heads together over food. Nathaniel watched, knowing what they were discussing. Reilly was telling Wash how Taylor took her supposed death.
Later that evening a meteor shower put on quite the display for about an hour. Taylor sat with his back against a tire, holding his bride in front of him so she could use him for a back rest. Sitting apart from the other couples, he used their distance to feel his bride up. His hand slid under her tank top and sneakily cupped a breast. Her black leather jacket hiding his covert activities, and a bent knee allowed for a measure of privacy. The show over, Jim looked to where the Taylor's were sitting, only to find an empty spot. With a smile, he led his wife to their tent.
On the fifth day, they cautiously approached the abandoned equipment. Taylor ordered a sweep for explosives and mines. It was an extensive arsenal the Phoenix Group had come through the alternate portal with. Malcolm got to work examining the terminus. After a few minutes, he brought it to life and shipped a small unobtrusive probe through. He couldn't get it to return indicating the portal only went one way, at least for now. The Taylor's and Shannon's gathered around to view the returning data and see where it went.
"Longitude and latitude indicate about thirty cliks outside New London. At least you put Mira on dry land, Wash." The other side provided to be unstable and the signal was soon lost.
"Can you fix our terminus, Malcolm?" Taylor wanted to know what was happening in 2150.
"I can, or better yet, I'll take the brain off this unit and install it on ours," he got to work dismantling the controller.
"Sir, are you going to send someone back?"
"No Reynolds, not unless we have to, and not without a chance to return."
"I'll see you back at Terra Nova," the Commander and his new wife were going to back track the areas the Phoenix Group journeyed. Wash had told him in private they were following a trail of ancient debris and he wanted to see if it was the same era as the ships prow that Mira recovered. He would have liked to have Malcolm for his knowledge, but wanted even more to spend time alone with his wife. He gave the rover to Malcolm and took a Rhino converted for sleeping.
