Brian was watching his sleeping wife. After everything they'd been through for over the past month, she still loved him. She'd made him face the fact that he'd rather die than lose her. It had all started when she was feeling ignored and unloved. He had made her feel that way. Since then, they'd "graduated" from marriage counseling after learning how to communicate those innermost feelings and learning not to blame or accuse each other.
Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams
Brian felt he knew his wife better than he ever had. He was making an effort to pay more attention, and Honey let him know she both noticed and appreciated it. Their anniversary was coming up. He was determined to show her how much she meant to him. He just didn't know that Honey was equally determined to show him the same thing. Brian was dressed in a suit, straightening his tie, when Honey walked in the room wearing her formal dress. As he was zipping her dress as she had asked him, he couldn't help but wish he was doing the opposite. Honey deserves this night, he sternly told himself. As he was thinking, he realized that he wasn't as stressed as he normally was. His chosen career no longer overwhelmed him. He had learned that if he focused on his wife at home, he could handle anything. Honey would always be there no matter what happened. They wouldn't take advantage of each other or their marriage.
I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you
They went to the Glen Road Inn restaurant, where the Wheelers had made reservations for them. Honey let out a soft gasp when she saw how far her parents had gone towards making their three-year anniversary romantic. The restaurant was empty, the maitre'd commenting that it had been rented so the celebrating couple could have privacy. The meal had been ordered and Brian and Honey decided to exchange gifts. Honey's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she opened the jeweler's box to reveal an anniversary ring that matched both her engagement and wedding ring. Brian was equally touched when he saw his gift. It was a silver pocket watch. On the front, it had a gold medical symbol. On the back, Honey had the date engraved.
"Open it," she whispered. Brian opened it, and inside the front cover, he saw a small version of their wedding portrait. After eating, the couple danced to every slow song the hotel manager could find. Unfortunately for the situation, that wasn't much. After an hour of swaying in each other's arms, he wanted to get his wife home and into their bed. Brian signaled for the check. Instead of a check, they were presented with a note.
After reading the note, Honey looked at Brian curiously. "Is this for real?"
"I guess so," he answered. "It's signed by Moms, so I don't think it would be a joke."
Honey laughed happily. "First, dinner from my parents, and a room from yours. I wonder if they're giving us hints."
"Well, shall we see what's waiting?"
"Let's," she answered, smiling.
The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time every time
I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes
When they saw the room, they both had to catch their breath. There was a silver bucket of champagne beside the bed. Honey, trained in observation, soon spotted a basket of bath luxuries, a pair of light blue silk boxers, and a short spaghetti-strap nightgown with a matching robe on the bed. A closer look at the nightgown revealed a pair of thongs that coordinated perfectly with the boxers and gown. She giggled, darted to grab the basket and was in the bathroom running water into the large tub before Brian could even blink. He heard her sounds of surprise, and went to see what she was happy to have found. The sight that greeted him made him immediately forget about the basket and concentrate solely on his wife. Honey smiled in pleasure when she noticed Brian staring at her.
"Hi," she said and giggled at his lustful expression.
"Hi," he whispered in a tone of total awe. When the water got cold, they got out of the tub and lovingly dried each other off. When they reached the bed, Honey reached for the enticing night outfit. Brian grabbed her hand. She looked at him questioningly. He shook his head and smiled suggestively. Honey smiled and blushed when he crushed her to his chest and gave her a deep lustful kiss. The bright sun shining through the window woke them the next morning. Honey stretched while Brian took pleasure in watching. When she was finished, he pulled her against him.
"Again?" she asked, with shining eyes.
"Oh yes," he replied. "I'm not about to let this go to waste."
Her giggles were muffled as he kissed her.
I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you
That afternoon, as they checked out, the lobby seemed to fill with people.
"Happy anniversary!" the mob shouted in what seemed to be one voice. Brian looked stunned, and Honey gasped. Both of their entire families and friends were there.
Trixie shoved her way up to the front of the group. "We couldn't bother you yesterday or last night to have a party, but today is for you and all of us together."
The first part was a party at the lake. After a couple of hours of splashing around, the group dried off and went to the Manor House for dinner. After squelching the ideas of toasting the couple, Brian and Honey said they were tired and needed to go home.
Madeleine and Helen winked at each other.
"So I guess you got our hint," Helen commented.
"I hope that's why they're tired," Madeleine replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"We should know in about four or five months, unless they decide to tell us themselves."
Blushing, Brian and Honey left.
Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Oh, every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you.
After another bit of fun, Honey settled down to sleep.
Brian watched her, lost in his thoughts. I can't believe I was so blind. I almost lost her because of my selfishness and fear. If I lost her, I'd lose everything that really matters to me. He silently berated himself for past sins as he recalled the exact words of her note.
Brian, I love you. Let me make that clear. I wish I didn't feel the way I do. The way you've been treating me lately hurts. I'm supposed to stay home unless I'm working on a case. I'm supposed to be available whenever you have time for me. And when you don't have time, I'm supposed to wait until you do. I can't live like that. I can't be put on hold. I won't be put on hold. I love you so much, but right now, that love is causing too much pain. I feel as if I'm only acknowledged by you when you need something. I can't bear for you to cause more. I'm going to leave for a while. I'll be in touch. Forever, Honey
Brian thought about how that had been the kick in the rear to make him realize what and who was really important. If it took counseling to prove that to his beautiful wife, he happily agreed. It was worth it all, he reminded himself. Honey was his whole reason for living, and the intensity of those feelings still scared him. He'd learned that she felt the same way, but didn't let the fear rule her as he had for that short period of time. As Brian drifted off to sleep, he unthinkingly pulled her closer, and she instinctively nestled in against him and let out a pleased sigh.
Author's Notes: Thanks to Random House for having such great characters. Thanks to Lindsay for her great encouragement and the song suggestion. Oh, and the song is Amazed, by Lonestar. I do not have permission to use the song or the characters. I just used them for fun and am not making any money off this.