Chapter 7
If there was any moment, any day he wanted to stand still, this would have been the one. There had been so many mistakes, so many chances, each of them blown, but somehow, it didn't seem to matter now. None of it did.
For so long he had kept what he was feeling imprisoned inside of him, as if it was a type of poison, once unleashed it would just cause even more pain. He didn't think it would free him, would make him more self-aware, give him the courage to face the fear and come to trust it. It had been her, who had been able to heal him, at least in the only way that mattered.
From the inside out.
He would show her, tonight, just how much that meant to him. He would open himself up completely, he would give her everything he had, in all ways this time.
Anna felt her coat fall to the floor in a heap at her feet and smiled, her neck now a refuge for an endless array of his kisses. It had been so long since they had been together, the feeling was one of both familiarity and a giddy sense of anticipation for what was to come.
"What about the mess?"She breathed as he locked his arms around her, already pulling her towards the bedroom. She smiled as she heard the crack of the glass at her feet.
"What mess?" He half smiled back, letting her know it could wait. Till morning at least.
They made the few remaining steps to the door, kissing wildly, David struggling to get it open. They laughed over it, breathless, before savoring sweet kisses once more.
With the snow blowing into the window he laid her gently on the bed, already feeling her hands at the buttons of his shirt, freeing him from the material. Her face was flushed by then, her eyes wide with desire as he found the bottom of her own shirt, lifting it then up and over her head.
He had to remind himself to slow down, that she wouldn't vanish, that it wasn't a dream but just the sight of her, the paleness of her skin, almost as white as the sheets below her did nothing to steady his own heart rate. He brought his hand to her stomach, feeling the warmth of her body run along his palm as he admired the change in her body, in what they had created. He planted sweet, gentle kisses there, wondering if the baby could feel.
"You're trembling." She noticed, their bodies so close she could feel him. "Are you nervous?" She half joked.
She was surprised when he nodded his head yes.
"The baby will be fine." She smiled reassuringly, not expecting his reaction. "I promise." She whispered again for emphasis, her hands at his face, already pulling at him to kiss her.
Any doubts he had left were erased then as he felt her hands flatten at his back. In his mind he knew nothing could ruin this night...for either of them.
One by one an article of their clothing found itself on the floor, their hands both frantic to find more intimate places of flesh to explore. Soon his mouth would travel, causing her to squirm on the bed in ecstasy before they finally joined together in a way that was as old as time, as perfect as any other night before it.
She knew she would never forget the look on his face as he held her then, as they moved in unison with one another, his eyes almost in awe of the fact that she was really here, and that she wouldn't leave him, ever. It was when the end came did she break his gaze, her body seemingly shattering into his before collapsing to the bed in a tired yet satisfied state. He joined her mere seconds later, his lips hot on her shoulder as he struggled to catch his breath.
She smiled, her arms almost limp as they wrapped around him in utter contentment.
Sometime Later
The snow was still falling, the wind having calmed, just as they were now, settled into bed together on this cold Christmas Eve. He lost himself in her arms, trying, and failing to keep his tired eyes open as he listened to the soft sound of her voice, of the steady beating of her heart against his ear. He smiled as he felt her hands through his hair, tangling it up in small tuffs.
"I'm going to go bald." He teased, planting a loving kiss just below her collarbone, lingering there as he inhaled the soft smell of her perfume, the real thing better than any old t-shirt stuffed in a closet.
"You have too much hair to go bald." She teased back, smiling, pulling at his hair in larger strands affectionately.
"You never know."
"We should start heading to bed." She yawned after several seconds, wondering what time it was, and realizing it was six hours later in Paris. "Your brother mentioned something about Christmas dinner at the loft with your family. They were going to open Christmas gifts…"
"I've already opened mine." He countered, referring to her perfect form in his arms. If he never got a single present more for Christmas he wouldn't care, she would be enough, all that he really needed.
"I don't count." She smirked at his reference. "You get me all year round. C'mon." She scratched the back of his head. "I know you're more tired then you're letting on. Let's go to bed."
"No Anna…" He stopped her, his voice hushed as he tightened his grip around her. "Please? Just a little longer?"
She looked down at him, in her arms, in eyes that were tender and loving, almost grateful. How could she say anything but yes?
"Alright." She sighed, lying back down on the pillows, feeling him return to his spot along the curve of her neck as they lie side by side, facing each other, her chin propped up by the top of his head. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Tell me about Paris, about the baby…about Robin." He yawned himself this time. "Anything. " He asked, not caring, as long as he could hear the sound of her voice.
"I had an ultrasound done." She smiled, knowing he would want to hear about that. "Robin went with me and I saw our baby."
"Was she beautiful? What did she look like?" He asked quickly, wishing he could have been there.
::*She*. I guess we've both decided that it's a girl, hmm David?::
"She was perfect. They're so much more detailed now then when I was pregnant the first time. You could even see each individual finger. It was amazing."
"Why didn't you find out the sex?"
"I guess…I don't know. I guess that part didn't seem right…without you." She shrugs. "It was hard, to not think of you...this baby kept you constantly on my mind."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there Anna." He looked up, his eyes again telling her that he meant it. "For the morning sickness, the sleepless nights…I should have been. I wasn't."
"You're here now." She reminded him, kissing him gently on the mouth. "That's all that matters. And she hasn't started kicking yet, which is the best part."
He nodded, his hand along her stomach now, as if the baby was going to kick right then and there. David returned to his spot alongside her, this time keeping his hand exactly where it was.
"What about cravings?" He asked again in another yawn.
She crinkled her nose, remembering all the looks Robin had given her when she brought home foods that shouldn't have gone together.
"Well let's see…chocolate cupcakes topped with parmesan cheese, pickles dipped in vanilla ice cream…" She tried to think of more. "I'm still craving watermelon and root beer, and one week I only ate Chicken quesadillas, breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"That's absolutely disgusting Anna." He replied, making no attempt to hide the look, which for some reason mirrored Robin's, at the thought of what she had been eating.
"You asked." She laughed. "But I'm sure there will be more."
"I'm really sorry baby." He murmured to her stomach. "I hope you like all that stuff. Luckily your dads a pretty decent cook so you should be getting good meals in you really soon…"
"Hey she's the one that's been craving cookies and steak sauce, not me."
"We'll just let mom believe what she wants ok?" He smiled as he got another playful tug from her hands in his hair, this time at the back of his neck. "Anything else?" He asked. "Maybe we won't need a garbage disposal throughout the rest of your pregnancy…"
"You're just so funny." She played along.
"I'm just amazed you could find half that stuff in Paris. What with their famous cuisine and all."
"Oh God the food there *was* incredible." She nodded. "Robin and I would walk down to this bakery that was just a few blocks from where her apartment was, and you could just smell the fresh bread from across the street." She remembered. "She would always get a mocha latte and I had hot tea and we would sit and drink it there, watching the people as they made their way to work or to school. Sometimes we would split a pastry." Anna smiled.
::I'm going to miss that.:: She thought, wondering what Robin was doing that very moment. ::Those mornings at breakfast.::
"When you're better we should go back to Paris." She told him. "And I'll show you… David?"
She looked down, finally realizing that he was fast asleep in her arms.
"It's alright." She murmured softly, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. "Just sleep." She told him, her arms wrapping themselves around his neck, as she yawned in complete contentment.
"I love you. I'm here now." She closed her own eyes. "I've got you and I won't let go this time."
