Nico can hear his cell phone's gentle buzz. Dani has fallen back to sleep. He grabs it and looks at the message.
Merry Christmas Neeks… If Dani needs anything… it's in the guest bathroom.
If she needs anything to wear tell her to hit my closet. Be home around two…
Loves you… M
Nico smiles and responds.
Happy Birthday Princess… Thank you so very much… Loves you more…N
Nico checks the time. Ten in the morning, wow he hasn't slept in like this in… hmmm god only knows
when. He puts the phone down and snuggles into the back of Dani. She wakes with a giggle. "Merry
Christmas, Beautiful." She rolls over. "Merry Christmas." He gives her a gentle kiss. It is odd , normally
Dani would be mortified at how she looks in the morning. For whatever reason, she is very unconcerned
today. "Was that Maggie?" Nico smiles. "Yes, she will be home around two. She said anything you
would need is in the guest bathroom and if you need any clothes to just hit her closet." Dani lays her
head on his chest. "That's sweet." Nico smiles. "She must like you if she is giving you permission for
her closet. Her sisters don't even get that." Dani winks. "Well, Maggie is kind of growing on me too…
for some reason." She nudges Nico. "What time are the kids coming home?" She thinks about it for a
moment. "Around two." He snuggles her into him. "Is it cliché to ask you what you are doing for New
Year's?" Dani laughs… "Not at all… I would love to spend New Year's with you." Her mind adds… every
idle Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… "Good, so dinner after the game?" I forgot about that… but hey…
still better than what she had planned. "Definitely."
"Hungry?" Dani thinks for a moment… she is actually starving. "Actually yes." Nico thinks to himself.
Thank God… a woman who will actually eat. That bird thing… gets old fast. "Why don't you take a bath
and I will start breakfast." Dani looks at him confused. "A bath?" He smiles. "You haven't seen the
tub."
Nico retrieves his PJ bottoms and slips them on. Dani gets a good look at him in the morning light.
"wow" she thinks to herself… and he is actually mine. He leans down and kisses her. "I'll bring up some
coffee." He walks out the door. She wraps herself in the sheet and walks into the bathroom. The
angels sing as she sees the tub. A huge clawfoot tub near a frosted window… ok he is right… bath time
Nirvanna. There is a basket of tub time potions on a table along with an ipod… fluffy towels… a robe…
Dani glances around the room. There is a small basket with some makeup and lotions for her with a
little note from Maggie. Ok Twist my arm… Ruba Dub To the Tub… I go.
Dani runs the bath with lavender bubble bath. She slips into the heaven of the bubbles. She lies there
for a moment. She looks back to the table and grabs the headphones for the ipod. Waterproof case…
good idea…. She puts on the tunes. Lost in the sheer enjoyment of the bath, she is bopping her
head to the music in a state of total and complete bliss. She suddenly realizes that she is being watched.
Nico is leaning on the door frame holding a cup a coffee in his hand…. Laughing.
All he can think of is the scene from "Pretty Woman" and … she is damn cute…