Chapter 9.

Once Callie was sitting in the backyard, she let her tears fall. If she was that upset, she couldn't imagine what Brandon was feeling. His brother's wife was about to have not one baby, but two. And she couldn't even conceive one. Just one more child to complete their family. It was all they wanted. Was it really so much to ask?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Brandon come into the yard until he sat down next to her. "Callie, honey," he whispered, putting his arm around her. "I'm here... it's okay."

"It's not fair," she hiccuped. "We've been trying and trying. And we lost our baby. But they've only been married... what... three months? And they're having two." She looked up at the night sky, tears rolling down her cheeks. "And they're so in love..."

"We're in love, too," said Brandon. "Cal, you're my entire life. You know that, right?"

"I used to," she admitted, nodding. "You used to look at me like I was the only person in the world. But lately, I've been wondering if it's me you love, or my eggs."

Brandon took Callie's chin in his hand, turning her head to face him. "It's you, lovey. It always has been. I love you, just as much as I always have. So what... they're having twins? I'm happy for them. But I wouldn't trade you for sextuplets. I love our kids, but you're the glue that holds our family together. You're priceless." He took her cold hand in his, warming it. "I'm sorry we haven't been getting along so great lately, Cal. But I'm going to make it up to you, starting right now." He wrapped Callie in a hug, and kissed her lips, tenderly and slowly. Then he stood up, helping her to her feet. "It's cold out here. Come on." He lifted her up in his arms, bridal-style, and carried her toward the house.

"Where are we going?" she whispered.

"Shh," he replied. "You'll see." Once they got through the backdoor, he set her down. "Come on," he said, leading her silently upstairs.

Once they were in Brandon's old room, he locked the door, then lifted Callie up again, kissing her, and set her on the bed. First, he stripped off her socks and shoes. Then, he lifted her sweater over her head, and continued pressing wet kisses against her lips as he unhooked her bra.

"Brandon... with everyone here?" Callie gasped, pulling away.

"They won't miss us for a little while," he said to her as he undressed himself. He kicked his clothes aside, then leaned down and kissed her neck.

"I'm not going to get pregnant," she began, "so I don't-"

Brandon pressed his fingers to her lips, stopping her. "That doesn't matter right now," he told her. "I just want to make love to my beautiful wife."

Callie felt tears sting her eyes as he gazed deeply into them. She hugged him around the neck, kissing him hard, letting his tongue enter her mouth. When they parted, he nuzzled her neck, suckling the skin.

"You're gonna give me a hickey," she mumbled.

Brandon shrugged. "You'll look cute with one." He continued tasting her sensitive skin, as Callie reached between them and unbuttoned her jeans, wriggling out of them.

Maybe it was the risk, the excitement, of having sex in their parents' house, with the whole family downstairs. But as they made love, Brandon and Callie felt like teenagers again, sneaking around under everyone's noses, caught up in a forbidden romance. Afterward, they lay in Brandon's old bed, sweaty, entangled in each other's arms. Brandon sucked her earlobe, then pressed his lips to her ear. "I can't wait for Easter," he whispered.

"You're terrible," Callie whispered back, giggling.

Brandon sat up, sorry for their sexy romp to end. "I guess we better get dressed and go back down before they send out a search party."

Callie nodded. "Hold on, though." She turned on her back, propping her hips against the wall, her legs up in the air.

"What are you doing?" Brandon asked, puzzled.

"Well," she explained. "I can't really stand on my head, but I thought... maybe there is something to helping out gravity. You know... just in case?" After several moments, she dropped her hips back down on the bed, then reached for her pile of discarded clothes, hurrying to get dressed. As she tied her shoes, she turned to Brandon. "What if I never have another baby?" she asked. "Would that make you stop loving me?" She held her breath, waiting for an answer.

Brandon too her in his arms, setting her in his lap. "No," he promised firmly. "Look at me, Cal. Nothing. Nothing could make me stop loving you." He felt tears fill his eyes. "Another baby would be wonderful, sweetheart. It really would. But we don't need one to be happy. We have two healthy kids, and we have each other." Holding Callie tight, her pressed his lips to hers, then kissed her nose, cheeks, forehead, lingering against her neck. "Since we've been so stressed about not getting pregnant, we haven't been enjoying each other. I see that now."

Callie nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

"But," Brandon continued. "Tonight felt like... before. Listen. Life is too short. Let's just stop wasting time worrying about things we can't change, and focus on what we have, which is everything."

"That's all I really wanted," Callie told him. "More than a baby, even. I just want you to love me."

"You don't have to do anything to earn my love," he promised. "It's already yours." He swept back her hair, kissing her.

As Callie nuzzled the stubble on Brandon's cheek, smelling his spicy cologne, she felt lighter than air. "I love you exactly the same way," she whispered. Standing, she took his hand. "Let's go downstairs."

Hugging the wall, they crept back down the stairs. As they entered the living room, holding hands, everyone turned to face them. "Ooh... look who's under the mistletoe!" Mariana squealed.

Callie and Brandon looked up to see a sprig of greenery hanging in the doorway above them. "Kiss her, you fool!" Jesus teased.

Brandon winked at Callie, then pulled her into his arms as their lips met. Callie could hear Rachel and Gabe giggling at the sight.

When they finally parted, Brandon brushed her cheek with his fingers, their eyes locked on each other, and whispered softly; "Merry Christmas, my love."

To Be Continued