Here we go with another chapter. I am begging you, please review because I am serious about quitting posting. If you want this to continue, PLEASE REVIEW! This is so disheartening

Laura

Chapter Ten

Michael couldn't help the smile on his face as he saw Aurora's Mercedes' jeep parked outside the front of his house. Climbing out of his vehicle, he collected his briefcase and laptop before heading up to the house. As he stepped inside, he heard the sound of music, Liberty X's Got To Have Your Love, coming from the kitchen and something delicious cooking. He couldn't help as the smile got bigger as he quietly took off his coat, shoes and placed the keys into the basket with the bags on the floor. Creeping along the corridor, he poked his head around the door to see Aurora stood with her back to him as she was doing something over an oven tray; and he guessed, from the smell, her lasagne.

He tipped toed over to her, and he stood behind her, he was amazed she still hadn't heard him but then again the music was quiet loud. Michael slowly slipped his arms around her, pulling her close to him as she scream and spun around on her heel. Seeing him there, she instantly dropped the fork, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. She hadn't been expecting him for another half an hour at least.

"What are you doing back early? I thought Lorraine was keeping you back!" Aurora said. "And don't creep up on me!"

Michael laughed; "Sorry I couldn't resist. Are you still mad at me for not texting to tell you about allowing Isabella to go with your parents?"

"Mmm…I was but I'm not now. Dinner is going to be another half an hour at least and we have some talking to do. Thanks to you I now have weekends parent free."

"Georgia only spending Monday to Thursday with you then?"

"Yes…." she replied looking very sheepish.

"Did you plan that, Miss Garcia?" Michael asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Maybe…."

Michael stepped back and placed his hands by his sides; "Truth or no more kisses for you!"

Oh she loved playful Michael! Smiling she stepped back, placed her hands on her hips and then turned to put her oven gloves on. Michael stood forward, pulled her again into his arms and began kissing her neck, as his hands lifting the back of her top out of her jeans. Seconds later she felt his cold hands on her back. Aurora squealed.

"Your hands are freezing!" she squealed, turning around and pushing him away. "Go and have a shower!"

"Not unless you join me!" Michael bantered back, as Aurora laughed. He was so carefree now, and she loved seeing that.

"Oh is that a threat, Mr Byrne? I don't take kindly to them," she said, placing her hands on her hips as he pulled her into him.

"Very much a threat, baby, and I hope you are staying over tonight."

"Try and stop me, baby. Okay let me put tea in low, you've got half an hour!"

"Oh I think you know it's going to be longer than that!"

Aurora sighed and then she went running out of the room shouting; "Catch me if you can!"

Michael laughed and went after her.

It was two hours later that the loved-up new couple found themselves on Michael's L-shaped chocolate leather couch. Aurora had a glass of white wine in her hand with her arms wrapped around his neck, as they shared tender kisses.

"Michael," Aurora whispered, moving to place her glass on the floor, before placing her arms back around his neck. "I need to ask something; I'm not judging you but when you….er…helped…."

Michael sighed; "I knew this would come up and I'm glad it has now. Do I regret helping my father? No. I never ever have and I've said that. Those last few weeks where…they were the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Would I do it again, yes I would! He wanted to go, he wanted the pain to stop but I'm amazed that it didn't go to trial. Aurora, I'm not a monster, I'm not a murderer, and I'm not the person the paper first…"

"Ssshh, I know you're not or I wouldn't be here now. I wouldn't have touched you. I admire you for what you did; and I know it would have taken a lot of guts. Michael, my love for you is pure, it's untouchable and it stayed there through everything. I have a feeling my parents will bring it back and use it, but I don't care. What I care about is us, is about your love and you're a respected and treasured head. I feel lucky to have had you as my head. Remember what Tariq said about Waterloo Road? That we're a family and a family sticks together, no matter what. That goes for me; too, I'm not going to walk away. It happened, and it shows how deeply you care and love."

He sat and thought about her words, pulling her little bit closer as she kissed him. She felt water on her face and she looked at him.

"Hey, don't cry, or I will, too! I'm sorry for bringing it back again."

"No never be sorry, you need to ask that and I don't blame you. I love you."

"I love you, too, come on let's go to bed."

Michael nodded as she stood up as he took her hand and she led him upstairs. She led him across the hallway and into the bedroom. Closing the door behind him, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She lifted her head up, letting his head join hers as they kissed, and it was one she felt all the way through her body. A kiss of love, a kiss so powerful and so tender.

Aurora took his hand and led him over to the edge of the bed, turning she allowed her hands to go under his t-shirt, her hands touching his skin, her eyes locked on his as she began loving him. Loving him so tenderly as she wanted him to feel her love. She made him feel her love and to show him that she'd be there no matter what. Michael had never experience something so tender as he did with Aurora; something inside of her told her what he needed. He needed to be assured that no matter what his past was, she'd be the woman to stand by him. I've been waiting for so long, to find someone to stand by me.

Later that night, he lay watching her sleeping as he lay in her arms; he felt truly blessed. Aurora, her love for him blew him away, and he never wanted not to feel that tender, pure love as he did right now. Her hair went falling over the pillow, as her eyelashes rested gently against her cheeks. He had been so lucky to find her, to find someone who didn't judge him on his past. Pulling her closer to him, he kissed her head and he knew he'd never let her walk away. But something told him she wouldn't. He knew that by how tenderly she made love to him. Making him feel loved. Nevertheless, she'd told him she would never ever walk away.

Michael had a feeling, as he watched her, that she'd be the one to marry him, to have his children and she wouldn't care less about their age difference. In Aurora he found someone to cherish, someone who would love him and support him no matter what. That blew his mind. He hadn't felt or had that before, and he had found his true love at his place of work. Snuggling closer to her, he finally allowed sleep to take hold of him; finally a happier and whole man.

Aurora awoke the next morning first as Michael was wrapped in her arms. Blinking a few times, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the morning sunlight before looking down at the man sleeping, as the memories of the previous night came flooding back. Wow, it had been a heavy one and their love making had been so tender, so full of love and compassion. The conversation they had, even short, had been a heavy one and she had a feeling that he had been dreading that conversation. But it had happened now.

Looking at the clock on the other side of the bed, she didn't want to wake him up but it was nearly time for him to get up. She didn't know if it was a good idea for him to go to work especially as he had such an emotionally draining night in their short but important conversation about his dad. Billy. She was so tempered to ring Lorraine and say he was being sick and must have a twenty four hour bug. Being a headmaster of a secondary school took everything out of you anyway, but to do it on top of having an emotional night.

Aurora gently slipped out of the bed, trying not to waken him as she headed towards the bathroom. Her head was spinning as she reached the room. Closing the door, she took care of her needs before she headed back to the bed. She saw Michael was awake and she wondered if he was sensitive and could feel when she wasn't there already.

"Did you feel me move?" Aurora asked, as she climbed back under the black bedcovers, as Michael snuggled back into her, their lips meeting in a tender kiss.

"Yes, I guess I am sensitive to it. I don't know."

"Are you okay after last night?" enquired Aurora as she ran a finger down his arm.

"Yes we needed to have that conversation and I'm so glad we did. We needed that out of the way; I love you, Aurora," he whispered against her lips, as he kissed her softly. "But I'm going have to get up for work. I'm shattered but I need to go in."

"Do you want to go in?"

"No, not really but I need to. Lorraine is on the warpath and she's stood by me through thick and thin. I will see you on Friday night. Only three nights of loneliness," he sighed.

"Michael, as much as I want to come back tonight, I think we need to have some nights away from each other. I love you and I'll ring you at dinner time. Have a shower and I'll make you some breakfast," she said, kissing him one last time before she pushed the covers away and headed out of the bedroom, but not before putting on his t-shirt from last night.

Aurora didn't want to leave him but they both needed breathing space, and maybe it wasn't the best thing to do after last night. However if they were on top of each other all the time while her parents where away, she was scared he would lose interest. She didn't want that to happen but something told her it wouldn't. Stepping into the kitchen, she decided just to warm some pancakes up she had bought and serve them with fresh fruit. Before she had come over, along with the ingredients for the lasagne, she had bought some breakfast items.

She had just warmed the last pancake up, when Michael came walking through the door all dressed for work. She smiled at him, placed the pancakes down before placing the fruit next to it.

"This looks good," he told her, as he poured a mug of coffee and tucked in.

"I'm glad you think so, and I'm hoping to try your cooking sometime," Aurora replied, placing a strawberry in her mouth and biting into it.

"Okay how about Friday? I'll cook you my famous pasta," he told her, but secretly he was planning on something else. He could cook and all his previous partners had said so, including Loony Linda, well she was just a friend.

Aurora raised an eyebrow; "Okay, look forward to it. I'll be here for about six. I'm going to join the local hotel gym."

Michael smirked; "Why because I work out?"

"Oh it's not why I'm joining the gym and it's obvious you work out," she replied, smirking.

"So you're with me for my body, then?"

Aurora burst out laughing; "Whatever!"

She giggled as Michael took hold of her chin and kissed her. "I love you."

"Love you, too, baby."