Geez. Even I'm excited about this new chapter! (I'm all giggly right now, FYI.) Additionally I am getting down on my knees and begging for your forgiveness. School aside, I have started and restarted this chapter time and time again. I just couldn't figure out where to go with it! It's also the shortest chapter yet, but that's where the muses took me. I ask for forgiveness for this as well! Chapter 11 shouldn't take anywhere near as long to post now that I have a bit of direction in the story.

ps - who's loving these new episodes? I had no idea I could feel so much angst!

Typical disclaimer, blah blah blah. ENJOY! :)

"But you said I could have anything I want, Cal!" Gillian whined after finishing her entrée at dinner that evening.

"Anything but that. You eat too much chocolate. It's horrible. Besides, you're supposed to want me," he replied.

She sighed. "I do, but right now I really, really want this triple layer, fudge brownie cake!"

"Fine, but I'm not paying for your addiction," he said, jokingly.

"Right, and you think that would stop me?" she replied, laughing quietly.

"Well, no, but it was worth a shot, wasn't it?"

Before she could answer, the waiter stopped by and asked if either of them would like to order dessert.

"Not much of a sweet tooth myself, but this 5-year-old in a woman's body would like to order that brownie fudge nonsense you have," he told the young man. Gillian merely grinned. "Oh, and we'll take it to-go please."

"No, I'll eat it here, sir. Ignore him please." Cal looked at her as the waiter walked away. "What? Two can play that game, Cal Lightman!" Gillian rested her elbows on the table and her face in her hands. "I plan on torturing you," she said in a low voice, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Liar."

"That's what you think."

When her dessert arrived, Gillian did exactly what she said she'd do. She took her time eating her cake and savored each and every bite. She moaned and then licked the spoon completely clean each time she put it in her mouth. After ten minutes of torture she finally finished her dessert. Having already paid the bill, Cal grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out the door, with Gillian giggling the whole way.

Cal and Gillian's after dinner plans started just as expected. Their hands were everywhere as soon as they crossed the threshold of Gillian's door.

"Why can I ever seem to get enough of you, Cal?" Gillian moaned as Cal nipped at her neck.

"Nobody can get enough of the delectable Cal Lightman, love. You should know this by now," he replied, grinning.

"Maybe, but do you wonder how long we'll be like this?" she said, stopping him.

"Bloody hell. Don't tell me you've already gotten fed up with me, Gill," Cal groaned.

Gillian laughed and gave him a quick kiss. Her expression then became serious. "I'm not complaining, Mr. Delectable. I'm expressing concern!"

"Concern? We're adults pawing at each other like teenagers and you're concerned? I'd wager that's quite a healthy sexual appetite, love." he stated, disregarding her seriousness.

"Damn it, Cal! I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you. I don't want us to be just like every other couple when the so-called 'honeymoon' phase ends. I want the romance and desire to stay. I don't want to stop wanting you every second of every day. But," she said when his eyes lit up, "that doesn't mean I want to let my hormones take over my body."

"Oi, I love you to pieces, woman, but are you trying to kill the mood?"

"I can't believe you just said that," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "I just want to talk about our future, Cal. Here I was thinking you were different, but you're just like every other man. You think with your damn dick!" She bit her lip and looked down, trying not to cry.

"Please, love," he begged, "Please don't cry. I hate to see you cry, and I hate myself when I'm the one who makes you." He placed his forefinger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "I do think about our future together. I'm sorry. I shouldn't let Lightman Jr. take over like that. I am just like every other man in that respect, but I should know better than that when it comes to you."

"Yes, damn it, you should!" she said, interrupting him.

Cal looked a little ashamed. "But when I'm with you, I just want to live in the moment. I'm terrified of losing you, love. I think constantly about a future with you, but I'm scared that I'm going to do something to fuck it all up, fuck up what we've become, and I can't bear to think of it. I can't help but think that one day I'm really going to do something completely idiotic, as you well know I'm apt to do, and get myself hurt, or hell, even killed! I don't want to think of a future without you, love. Even before we came to our bloody senses I didn't want to think about a future without you."

"Oh, Cal. I had no idea you felt that way. I promise you won't screw it up. You've done so many stupid things over the years and I've never even really thought about leaving. I want you – just you – until the day I die. I want to be with you. I want to marry you. If I could, I'd have babies with you…"

"Speaking of babies," he interrupted, "I've noticed you seem to have gained a few pounds recently, love…"

Direction? Yes. Is the direction set in stone? Just like Cal and Gillian's relationship, only time can tell. . .