Mark awoke to the sound of a crying baby and immediately wondered if he was dreaming. He hoped not, he knew how those dreams ended, in a quick blast of fire and smoke. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the lights on in the kitchen. Mark got up and walked into the kitchen and was relieved to see a very tired Cyn holding a crying Raven. He couldn't help but smile. "Oh! Mark, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you but I needed to get a bottle for Raven." "Don't worry about it; I shouldn't sleep all night on the couch anyway." Mark stretched with a grimace; he was just too tall and old for that, although, he definitely would never have given up the feeling of Cynthia's arms around him. "Need any help?" Cynthia looked up is surprise, "No thank you, you are doing so much for us already. Go ahead on up to bed, I'll be fine." Mark really wanted her to come up to bed with him, he just wanted to hold her, but he had no idea how to tell her that without upsetting her and he didn't want her to think that he was after anything inappropriate. "Naw, I'll wait till you're done, I would like to talk to you after you put Raven back to bed." "Uhh, Mark it's really late, and you are very tired. Is it that important?" She hoped he hadn't changed his mind about helping them, she really needed help, especially right now, but she would respect his decision and leave if that was what he wanted. "Well, I have something I would like to talk to you about with out the kids around. I think that now would most likely be the best time." "Ok Mark, I will be right back, let me lay her down." Cynthia walked to the baby room and put Raven into her crib. The whole time she wondered what was so important that Mark felt the need to speak to her about it now. She walked back into the kitchen and found Mark making coffee. He turned and saw her walk into the kitchen, "Its decaf. I know it is too late for caffeine." "Okay, what did you want to talk to me about?" Mark handed her a cup of coffee and motioned for her to sit. "Thank you Mark." "First thing first, don't stop me once I start." At her nod of understanding Mark continued. "Well, I don't know how you feel about me, but I feel like this was meant to happen, that we were meant to meet. I feel drawn to you and I think that I might be developing feelings for you and your little family. I love your kids and I think that we should give us a shot. Of course, if don't feel the same way, then I want to know now so that I don't let this go any farther. Also, no matter how you feel, I still want you and the kids to stay; this has nothing to do with my helping you." The whole time Mark spoke, he looked Cynthia in the eyes; he wanted her to know that he really did mean every thing that he said. "You don't have to answer tonight, just think about it, Ok?" Mark got up and put his cup in the sink. He walked back to Cynthia who was in shock and was just watching him and gently kissed her on the forehead, "Goodnight Cyn." She just watched him walk away.

Cyn followed Mark's advice and thought about it, Mark was a nice guy, she also felt that he was special and that they were meant to meet. He was great with the kids and admitted that he loved them. What was there to talk about, she decided that he had stolen her heart that night that he snuck into their room and checked on the kids before he crawled into bed. She got up and went to Mark's room, the door was open and the lights were off, she wanted nothing more then to crawl into bed with him. "Cynthia," Mark said in a sing song voice, "I can see you hovering in my door way, come here hon." Mark sat up in bed and turned on the bed side lamp. Cynthia slowly walked to the bed and sat on the edge. "Mark I. I think I feel that we should give us a shot too, I mean we- Ahh! Mark!" Cynthia started laughing as Mark grabbed her and pulled her over his body and down onto the bed beside him. "Good, then we can go to sleep now." "Mark, do you really think we should both be in here?" "Why not, you just had a baby, what are we going to do?" Mark said teasingly as he smiled down at her, "Just relax, you're my woman now and I want to hold you." Cyn cuddled up to Mark, enjoying the feel of his massive arms around her and the way he called her his woman, she was just about to drop off to sleep when Mark whispered in her ear, "I always get what I want, remember." "Yeah Mark, I remember." They both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms with smiles on their faces.