Chapter 14

She woke up lying in his arms, which was a most pleasant place to be. For a large portion of the year, she was almost always chilly. Johnny was almost always the complete opposite, which seems to be a trend between men and women. However, whenever he was next to her, whether in bed or snuggling on the couch; she was always toasty warm. Of course some of those times, she surpassed that to hot and sweaty.

Realizing that they both had fallen fast asleep she rubbed her eyes and blinked several times, clearing them. The display on the alarm clock startled her, the cob webs clearing from her mind.

"Honey...." She shook him gently. "Johnny....wake up!" He groaned and reached for her, pulling her back towards him.

"We don't have to work today, remember..." He was clearly not totally awake yet.

"No we don't but its 3:00 and dinner is supposed to start at 5:00. Jo is going to have our heads if we're late!" She ran her fingers through his curly, black hair, then leaned over and planted a long kiss on his lips.

"Ummm...what did you do that for?! Now I'm awake but dinner isn't on the top of my list of things to do!" He grabbed her again, this time pushing her down on the top of the bed. His lopped sided grin lit up his entire face.

"As lovely as a proposition as that is, I'll have to take a rain check." She gave him a look of feigned sympathy, when he put on his best pouting face. "Thankfully I already made the dessert yesterday; it's in fridge."

"Well that's all I am trying to do, is have a little dessert...." He batted those thick, black eye lashes at her. He had immediately noticed that her eyes once again held their usual spark of joy and contentment.

"Oh by the way, did the guys enjoy eating it today?"

"What, how did you know that? I sneaked it out while you were in the shower!" He never could figure out how she managed to do that.

"Actually, I didn't for sure, until now. It was just an educated guess; they all love my Cherry Surprise." She loved backing him into a corner, getting him to admit his little theft.

The conversation was interrupted by the telephone ringing. Johnny leaned over top of her, reaching for the phone. In doing so he 'accidentally' brushed across her chest, momentarily resting his hands there.

"Hello....yes, this is Johnny. Oh, Dr. Charles, how is the little guy? Really, that's great news! So we can pick him up in a few minutes......What is that? Well I'm not surprised! Oh, Merry Christmas to you too! Thanks again."

"So he's fine? Let me guess, a certain little girl and her parents beat us to it?" It was the outcome she had prayed for.

"Once again your intuition proved correct. Shortly after we left Rampart, the family was given their walking papers. Their first stop was to see Dr. Charles. Abby didn't even have to beg; her parents were eager to take him home. They are going to make fliers and post them just to be sure isn't just lost. It seems our name for him stuck. He is now officially ordained, 'Wonder'."

"Now back to dessert...." He playfully restrained her when she tried to sit up.

"We are wasting time as it is. They may be family but that doesn't mean that I want to go over there looking like a wreck!" He was giving her those 'puppy dog' eyes.

"Since we are so short on time.......maybe it would be more efficient to take a shower together?" She continued on to the shower, taking one piece of clothing off at a time.

"Now that sounds like a plan!" Johnny practically ran after her, giggling like a little kid that just won the best prize at the carnival.