I really should be studying for my exam, but if I've learnt anything this week, it's that no matter how much revision I do, the exams are still horrendous! So…meh!

Thank you to FriendsHolic, Jen, Sunny, ally, Lauren, Christine and Cohen-girl for your reviews of the last chapter.

The Countdown

Kirsten woke up still wrapped up in Sandy's arms, spooned together under the sheets. She could feel his chest rise up and down against her back and his warm breath tickled her ear. She yawned and resisted the urge to stretch her body so as not to wake her sleeping husband. From under the sheets, Kirsten's stomach rumbled and she started to regret not going to dinner last night.

She laughed quietly as she remembered the party that she and Sandy had gone to. The swingers party. Hailey had wound her up and Kirsten had fallen for it, as usual. She had goaded Sandy into putting his watch into the bowl and instantly regretted it when he called her bluff. Most of the evening was a blur as she watched Sandy schmooze the crowd, her only companion a glass of champagne. Except for Bob, the birdwatcher. Kirsten shook her head and laughed. If Hailey thought she was boring, she should meet Bob.

It had hit 11.30pm – time to swing – and Kirsten remembered her heart stopping for a moment as she thought she might actually have to go through with it. A feeling of dread had embraced her as, one by one, the watches were pulled from the bowl. She should have known that Sandy could read her mind; that he would never have gone through with it himself. An overwhelming feeling of relief had swept over her when they were the last ones standing.

Although once they got home, they weren't standing for long.

Kirsten smiled as she remembered the night they had spent together. If the saying was true, that you should spend the New Year the way you want to spend the rest of the year, then Kirsten was going to have a very good year!

Her stomach rumbled again and slowly she slipped out from under Sandy's arms. He grunted and rolled over onto his back, his mouth open slightly. Kirsten sat up and finally stretched her body and sighing. She grabbed her robe and stood up, walking across the bedroom and pausing at the door. She went over to the closet and pulled out the sweater-set from Talbots, grimacing. Pulling it off the hanger, she screwed it up in her hands and threw it into the bin.

With a resilient nod, she walked down the steps and wandered through to the house, only to be faced with the reminder of Hailey's party the night before. The couch was still upside down, streamers littered the floor and spilt beer stained the carpets. The kitchen was just as bad and Kirsten started to pick up the rubbish that was scattered, literally, everywhere. As she picked up a paper cup, the bottom fell through and the contents fell down her legs. Irritated, she through the paper cup into the sink and leant back against the cupboards.

As she did, Ryan came through the doors and heard her sigh.

"Hey," he said softly so as not to scare her.

Kirsten looked up, surprised to see him. "Hi. You're up early?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I made plans with Marissa to…hang out," Ryan answered shyly.

Kirsten watched him as he moved around the kitchen, making a space for himself on the end of the kitchen island to eat a bowl of cereal. He was conscious that Kirsten was watching him and he looked up.

"What?"

"You told Marissa you loved her, didn't you?" Kirsten said.

Ryan averted his eyes, embarrassed, and Kirsten laughed.

"Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed about," she defended. "And, you know, at least it was memorable."

Kirsten laughed again as Ryan looked up, wide-eyed at her.

"Memorable? Girls remember stuff like that?"

"I think a lot of people remember the first time someone tells them they love them," Kirsten said.

"Do you? I mean, do you remember the first time Sandy told you?" Ryan asked curiously.

He had heard them say "I love you" so many times, Ryan was surprised that she would remember one particular time. He had never heard his parents tell each other that they loved each other. He saw Kirsten smile and her eyes glaze over.

"Yeah, I do. We hadn't been dating for long – a couple of months – and, uh, I decided I wanted to do something special for him, so I tried cooking us dinner."

Ryan looked amused and Kirsten nodded her head, answering his question before he even asked it.

"It didn't go well," Kirsten laughed. "What was supposed to be lasagne turned out to be one big lump of charcoal. I was so upset and so annoyed at myself, that I had ruined it all. Sandy…he just came into the kitchen and he told me that it didn't matter that I couldn't cook; that he loved me anyway. I don't think he even knew he'd said it, he just wandered off to find the phone to call for a takeaway. A couple of weeks later, it was my birthday and he told me he loved me then, in a big romantic gesture-type way. But I already knew."

Kirsten smiled fondly at Ryan. "I don't think it matters how or when you say it; just that you do."

They were interrupted by Hailey, who walked sullenly into the kitchen. Kirsten pursed her lips, wanting to avoid another argument. The kitchen fell silent, except for the crunching noise that came from Ryan as he ate his breakfast. Kirsten wandered around the kitchen, picking up bagels, making coffee, pouring orange juice, two of each, and placing them on a tray. Ryan made his excuse and went back out to the poolhouse. Hailey sat quietly at the kitchen table, popping pills in the hope that they would get rid of the awful headache that was invading her brain.

Before she left, Kirsten walked over to her and dumped the Yellow Pages in front of her. Hailey jumped as it banged on the table.

"You might want to look up cleaning services. I think you're gonna need some help."

Her voice was authoritative, but without malice. Kirsten picked up the tray and went back through the messy house to her bedroom. Sandy was still asleep. She put the tray down on the table and sat on the bed next to him. She chewed her lip thoughtfully as she considered the best way to wake him up. Carefully, she bent down to kiss him lightly, catching his top lip between her own lips. He didn't move. She kissed him lightly again, this time squarely on his lips. He stirred slightly and Kirsten bent down again, pressing firmly on his mouth this time. Sandy's eyes fluttered open and he smiled when he saw his wife leaning over him.

"Morning," he chuckled.

Kirsten smiled and responded with another kiss, this time deeper as his hands moved over her back. She rested her body against his chest.

"I could get used to this," Sandy said. He paused. "Do I smell coffee?"

"And bagels," Kirsten said.

"Oh, I could definitely get used to this," Sandy laughed. "So, how does the house look this morning?"

Kirsten rolled her eyes. "I don't think you'll be getting up to a clean house like you wanted."

"Well, that depends…" His eyes were dancing.

Kirsten looked at him suspiciously. "Depends on what?"

"On what time we get up."

Kirsten giggled as he brought her down to kiss him again, shifting his body weight from under her so that they rolled over.

"The coffee will go cold," Kirsten murmured as Sandy's lips grazed over her jaw and neck.

"Uh-huh," was all Sandy replied. His lips made their way back up to Kirsten's.

"I can't believe we almost spent New Year apart," Kirsten said quietly; guiltily almost.

"That never would have happened," Sandy said.

"I wouldn't have done it, you know. I couldn't," Kirsten said.

"I know," Sandy laughed. "Me neither."

His eyes swept over her. "I love you."

Kirsten giggled as she remembered the story that she had just told Ryan.

"What?" Sandy frowned.

Kirsten shook her head. "Nothing. I love you too."

Her hands reached for his face and she pulled him down towards her for another kiss. Kirsten was starting to like her rut.