Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to the Guest who reviewed chapter 6 and wanted the morning after. It is also dedicated to fanfictionkkc for guilting me into writing the tidbit that eventually led to this story. Also, I'm giving a shout-out to robertwnielson who took me up on the challenge.

~~~AW~~~

Stringfellow Hawke awoke slowly. The first things he became aware of were a warm weight across his chest and a smaller weight over one leg. The faint smell of strawberries wafted to his nose and with every breath something tickled and teased him. It was the tickle that awoke him.

Flashes of memories from the night before had him opening his eyes before moving anything else.

He was greeted by the sight of bright red hair softened by the California sun. A huge grin broke across his features. Moving slightly to stop the incessant tickles caused by his own breath inhaling wisps of her hair, Hawke assessed his situation. He was lying in Caitlin's bed, in Caitlin's arms, next to a very beautiful and…He moved his hand experimentally…very naked Caitlin. He could get used to waking up like this.

Seemingly of their own volition, Hawke's fingers began a slow caress. The hand near her breast traveled upward to lightly trace the outer curve of her supple tissue. He brought the arm that was sprawled on the pillow next to him around and laid it down her body placing his had firmly on her hip. He kissed her hair in contentment. He could definitely get used to this.

Caitlin shifted her leg off his and burrowed closer. He felt her lips press against his chest and then her tongue traced his nipple. She lightly sucked while her hand traveled down his muscular frame to rest against his hip.

Hawke groaned as his evident desire built and spread warmth throughout his body. Caitlin stopped her ministrations and lifted her eyes to his.

"Good morning," he said with a wanton smile.

"Definitely good," she said as she licked her lips. She playfully flicked her tongue to his chest never losing eye contact.

"You better watch it," he said in a low rumble. "I could get used to this."

Holding his eyes captive with hers, Caitlin ran her tongue down the center of his abs to his navel.

"Used to what," she asked mischievously. She continued lower. "This?" Caitlin kissed the boarder of tightly curled brown hair she found. "Or this," she breathed as she ran her tongue up his fully erect shaft placing a delicate kiss on the tip. Hawke gripped the bed sheets in tight fists. "Or maybe this," Caitlin said as she covered the head with her mouth.

Hawke's eyes flared wide and fully dilated as he lost all rational thought. Her eyes were still locked on his as she manipulated her mouth and tongue over him. She noted what made those eyes change, what caused him to tense, relax, and finally for his eyes to roll back.

His hands forced her head and then her body up his. He took her mouth in an almost brutal kiss, flipping them on the bed and tasting his own moisture on her lips at the same time. Without waiting another moment he pushed himself between her legs and entered her wet recesses.

Caitlin let out a cry of pleasure, bent her knees bracing her feet, and thrust up to meet him.

Hawke nipped at her neck once before taking a long hard draw on her nipple. He thrust into her with each suck. His arms encircled her arched back. He pulled her to him repeatedly, sucking, and thrusting. Their movements became faster and harder until they both cried out collapsing into each other.

A long time later, Caitlin stirred. She was lying across him in much the same way as when they had both awoken earlier. Hawke's arms tightened around her. As tempted as she was to just spend the entire day in his embrace, Caitlin pushed against him.

"Hey, who said you could move," Hawke admonished. He kissed her head and ran a hand down her back.

"Much as I'd like to never leave this moment," Caitlin began. "Our…activities have left things a little damp and sticky. I could really use a shower." She pushed against Hawke again.

He sighed loudly. "Okay," he droned petulantly. "But, not without paying the toll."

"Toll," she questioned. "What toll?"

"To release you from the gate of my arms, you have to kiss me." He grinned unrepentantly.

"Hmm," Cait considered it. "Well, I guess if I have to pay the toll, then you can't come along for the ride." She ran her fingers teasingly up his chest."

"What ride," Hawke asked with sudden suspicion at her counter.

"Well, I was just thinking." Caitlin's fingers started caressing the back of his neck.

"What?"

Her hand started moving down his abdomen. Finally her fingers brushed over his hair and thigh.

"You could use a shower too."

"Is that an invitation?"

"Are you saying you still need one?"

Her hand ducked between his legs to explore. It had the desired effect in that Hawke loosened his grip.

Caitlin quickly slipped from his grasp and walked sensuously to the bathroom.

Damn, Hawke thought. How could I ever think she was a kid?

After their shower, Caitlin dressed and watched in amusement as Hawke pulled on his pants from the night before.

"You know somethin Hawke…" He glanced at her. "It's a good thing I never knew you were going commando." Hawke raised an eyebrow in inquisition. "I probably would have paid a whole lot more attention when you were in the hospital that time with Dom." The mischief lit up her eyes. "In fact, it probably would have caused a few more 'accidents' around the hangar. And, you never know. An enterprising gal like me could have arranged it so I could watch you pull yourself out of the pool at a wrap party. Why I bet those white pants would have looked great dripping wet."

Hawke's jaw dropped as he watched her bounce out of the room.

They ate breakfast then headed to the hangar. Hawke needed to change into something other than a tux.

When Hawke reentered the main hangar space after changing into jeans and t-shirt, he found Caitlin leaning against the fuselage of the old Steerman. She looked deep in thought.

"Hey what's going on in that pretty little head of yours? Thinking about christening the Steerman?" He asked as he put his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Just rememberin the first time I saw you here in California. You were working on the Steerman." She patted the old plane affectionately.

"And you were working on seeing Airwolf again." He smiled as she gave him a wry grin. "I never told you how disappointed I was that you were more interested in my helicopter and "that fancy flying stuff" than me."

"Oh, I was interested in you too,"

"You could've fooled me. You started dating that Robert guy the very next week," he said grumpily. It had bothered him then that she ran around the hangar trying to get all gussied up for a guy she'd just met.

"You were jealous," she accused with new insight.

"You'd just met the guy," he defended. "And there you were, trying to impress him. At same time all you could talk about with me was Airwolf."

She laughed at his irritation.

"What's so funny?" Hawke frowned.

"You, if you'd of been straight with me about Airwolf, I wouldn't have wasted my time on anyone else. Besides, other than a little, make that very little flirting, you really didn't seem interested in me in that way."

"Well you did threaten to bite my lip," he pointed out.

"You didn't seem to mind my doing that last night," she countered. "Face it Hawke…"

"Face what?"

"We could have christened the Steerman a long time ago." She gave him a quick kiss.

"Yeah? You want to make up for lost time?" She just smiled and slipped out of his embrace.

"What's a matter? Afraid you'll never be able to look at it with a straight face again."

"I can guarantee you'd never look at it the same again."

"Speaking of christening, since you were so interested in Airwolf, we could always take a trip out to the lair later. I'm sure you could find several ways of making me be straight."

Hawke grabbed her from behind. He placed one hand on her breast while kissing the back of her neck. His other hand covered her pelvis. As she leaned into him he began to dip his hand between her legs.

"Hawke, not here," she said.

"Why not," he questioned while nibbling on her ear.

"Because this is Dom's place," she answered stepping away from him again. "It would be like having sex in your parents' house while they're sleeping down the hall. As much as I love you and will do it if you ask," realizing what she'd just admitted, Caitlin took a deep breath. She dipped her head as her cheeks began to turn red. She knew she'd do it if he asked. She'd do anything he asked. She loved him. It scared her how much she wanted to bask in whatever he gave her for however long he wanted her.

Hawke walked past her to the office. A few minutes later he came back out and shut the door.

"Come on. We don't have much time," he said. He grabbed her hand and led her out the hangar door. Making sure to lock up before they left, Hawke ushered her to her car.

"Follow me over to Davies. I need to drop off the Mercedes."

They dropped off the other car and Hawke drove them into town. At first, she thought he was taking her home because she didn't want to have sex in the hangar. But, when they passed the turn that would take them to her street, she didn't know what to think. She was even more confused when they pulled up in front of the bank.

"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," he commanded before giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

Caitlin looked at her watch. It was five minutes 'til noon. She thought about the last twenty-four hours. Her life had definitely changed. Whether or not the change was for the good still remained to be seen. She finally had Hawke as a lover, but couldn't help but feel insecure about how long that would last.

Caitlin looked up to see Hawke leaving the bank. An employee locked the doors after him. It was already past noon. He hurried to the car and peeled out.

"What's going on Hawke? I know you didn't just rob a bank."

"No, they were in a hurry to close though." He didn't venture any more information.

Cait sat back and looked at his determined demeanor. He was definitely a man on a mission. They drove directly back to the hangar.

"We're going flying," Hawke answered her unspoken question.

Cait shrugged her shoulders and followed his lead. Soon they were soaring high above the California landscape. She wondered if he were taking her to the cabin, or possibly to the lair, but they missed both the flight corrections to make either of those destination. Hawke kept a steady course of northeast.

There was nothing like flying to clear her mind. Okay so she wasn't currently in control, but trusted Hawke to take care of her. She realized the truth of that thought a moment later. After all they'd been through together she knew Hawke would take care of her. She shouldn't expect that to change simply because their relationship had moved into the physically intimate realm.

Caitlin was surprised when they landed sometime later in Las Vegas. His quick trip to the bank now made since. But, he never seemed to be the gambling type. Hawke quickly flagged down a cab and bundled her into it.

She was surprised when it deposited them on the curb next to a little chapel.

"Hawke?" Caitlin asked hesitantly as he led her inside.

"Name," the dispassionate woman that greeted them as they walked in said.

"Stringfellow Hawke and Caitlin O'Shannessy," Hawke stated.

The woman looked up. "Seriously," she asked.

"Yeah."

She turned back to the papers on her desk. "Is that with a C or a K?"

"Caitlin, C-A-I-T-L-I-N, O'Shannessy, O apostrophe S-H-A-N-N-E-S-S-Y," he patiently spelled first her name and then his.

"Long program or short?"

"Short."

"Okay, that'll be $200.00. You're lucky. We can't get you right in this morning. Just go through those doors," the woman indicated a set of double doors after Hawke handed over the cash. "Be sure to sign the license on your way out."

Hawke pulled Cait to through the doors. She stopped cold. A man in a long robe holding a Bible stood at the end of a short aisle flanked on either side by four white pews. Huge white flower arrangements flanked him on either side. Hawke tugged at her hand, but she refused to budge.

"Caitlin?"

She looked at him in shock.

Noting the look Hawke cleared his throat nervously.

A short elderly woman walked up to the couple and foisted a bouquet of white flowers into Cait's hands.

"Congratulation! You make a beautiful bride," she said with enthusiasm.

"Hawke," Cait asked again.

"I'm sorry. I guess I didn't quite do this right." He pulled an engagement ring from his pocket. Hawke got down on one knee while holding Cait's hand.

"Caitlin," he searched her shocked eyes for an indication of her feelings. "Will you marry me?"

Stunned she barely nodded her head as the elderly woman used the camera around her neck to take a picture. Hawke placed the ring on her finger. He stood and led Cait to the minister.

Hours later Caitlin was wondering if she were dreaming as she looked down at the wedding set on her finger. They were in a penthouse suite at the Sands. Wine was chilling on the table beside them. And, clothes were scattered everywhere.

Hawke chuckled as he walked from the bathroom to the bed. He laid down next to Cait and ran his hand from her hip to her shoulder. "It's not going to disappear Cait. You can stop staring at it."

"I just…I can't believe it. I never thought…"

Hawke leaned over to kiss her. "Believe it. If you're dreaming then I'm having the same dream." Hawke rubbed her shoulder thoughtfully. "I hope you like it."

"It's beautiful. It's perfect. It's just…when did you get a wedding ring?"

"It was in my safe deposit box at the bank."

"But when did you buy it? How did you know my size?"

He kissed her slowly before responding. "I hope you don't mind. I didn't want to wait for you to pick one out. And, I wanted you to have it. It was my mother's."

"Oh Hawke," she said as she caressed his face. "I love you."

They kissed each other again. Caitlin settled against Hawke's chest. She lightly stroked the arm he had wrapped around her. Suddenly she groaned in agony.

Concerned, Hawke asked, "Caitlin what's wrong?"

"My mother is going to kill me."

"Why? I think she'll be happy you're finally married. Of course now, we'll probably have both her and Dom pestering us about grandkids." Hawke smiled at the thought of a little girl running around with her mother's red hair, blue eyes, and generous amount of freckles.

"Are you kidding? After me missing my sister's wedding she'll have a stroke."

"We could always get married again. Do it right with the entourage, the gown, the reception, and ever thing," he suggested.

"It would be a crowded overblown affair, Hawke. Are you sure you could handle something like that?"

"I don't know. Maybe we could get married at the cabin or something."

Caitlin thought about it. "Well, that would limit the number of guests. But, getting married again just to satisfy my mom?"

"And, don't forget Dom. We'd also get to have another honeymoon."

"Hmm, that is a mark in favor. It's just that I don't think Mom will forgive me for getting married without her."

"She wouldn't have to know it wasn't the first time we said I do. Besides, I kind of have this fantasy of carrying you over the threshold in your wedding dress."

"Fantasy huh?"

"Yeah, I want to do what we did yesterday only with you in your wedding dress."

"Well when you give a girl that kind of an incentive how could she possibly say no?" Caitlin turned to him and began kissing up his chest to his mouth.

He stopped her before their lips met. "Cait you're not a just a girl. You're the most beautiful, feisty, sexy, stubborn woman I know. I don't know why I ever thought of you as a kid. But know this, no matter what happens…I love you."