Thanks so much for the reviews..keep reading and reviewing.
Mark waited till they had rode the rides at the fair and they got the kids settled down with hot dogs before Mark broached the subject of what Marrissa had said, he could see Faith was upset, but she was putting on a good front for the kids.
Mark seen the kids were occupied with eating and looking at all the sites, Noah was busy chatting away to Isabel. "Whats wrong Darlin?"
Faith looked up at Mark. "Marrissa says Isabel is afraid to talk, because in her mind, talking made her daddy go away and it might make me and Noah go away, I cant believe she thinks that and I didn't even have a clue, I'm a crappy mother."
Mark took her hand. "Stop it Faith, you're a great mother, and now that we know what the problem is, we can fix it."
Faith nodded, she knew Mark was right. She told him what Marrissa said about asking Isabel questions and pushing her a bit, and reassuring her nothing bad was going to happen.
Mark kissed Faith's hand. "Faith she'll talk and we'll help her, I want ya to stop worrying so much, everything will be fine."
Faith smiled, Mark's soothing voice calmed her down, he made her feel like they could conquer anything. "Thank you."
Mark smiled. "You don't have to thank me darlin, I care about Izzy, and you and Noah too."
Faith's heart skipped a beat at his words. Maybe Mark was coming around, she wanted to tell him that she loved him, but she couldn't, she was still to scared to go there yet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a good day, the kids were thrilled they got to spend the whole day with Mark and Faith, they had spent most of the day at the fair, and Mark made sure they rode every ride at least twice. They came home loaded with stuffed animals and cotton candy.
The only thing that had been a little difficult was their pushing Isabel to talk, both Mark and Faith had kept up a steady stream of talking to her , and asking questions that had to be answered, at first she had looked at them confused. Then she had caught on, and she just started giving them not so happy looks.
It was after six in the evening when they got home and Faith gave Isabel a bath , when she was done with Isabel, she wrapped a towel around her and called out for Mark to bring her Isabel's clothes.
Mark stuck his head in the door and asked Isabel which nightgown she wanted.
Isabel had enough questions for one day, she did something she never did, she flung her self on the floor and started kicking and screaming.
"Isabel, stop it honey." Faith said not liking seeing Isabel so upset.
Mark looked at Faith. "We both knew she would probably react like this, let me talk to her."
Faith nodded and went to give Noah a bath.
Mark bent down and gathered the screaming girl in his arms and carried her down the hall to her bedroom. He sat her on the bed and pulled her clothes from her drawer and managed to get her dressed even though she tried to squirm away from him.
Mark sat her in his lap and wrapped his arms around her. "Izzy, calm down little girl."
Isabel looked up at him with tears streaking her face and Mark's heart melted. "Aww honey, don't cry, I want ya to listen to me, me and your mama want you to start talking, we know you can, and nothing bad is going to happen if you do, I promise you Izzy. I'm not saying you have to right now, but I want you to work on it, for me, Okay?"
Izzy leaned her head on Mark's chest and she nodded. "Good, thats all I ask is that you try."
Mark held her till her tears dried and he lifted her in his arms. "Let's go see your mama, she's worried about you."
Mark watched as Isabel practically jumped in her mother's arms. Isabel kissed her mother and hugged her neck.
Faith smiled at Isabel, she knew it was going to be work, trying to get Isabel to talk, but she wasn't going to give up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark smiled as he turned out the lights and carried Isabel, down to the bedroom, she was using here at his house, he was thinking about having Faith go ahead and fix these rooms up for them , the way they liked. He wanted the kids to be comfortable here.
Both had been asleep before he got to the third page of the book.
Mark walked downstairs and went outside to check in with the security he had stationed around the house.
Justin had called him to tell him there was nothing new on who had trashed the bar and started the fire.
He had a feeling it was Della, and even though it pissed him off, he knew Della well enough to know it was a fit temper and once she was over being pissed off, she would let it go.
Mark walked back in and looked around for Faith, he found her in the den laying on the couch, she wasn't asleep, but she looked tired.
Mark bent and scooped her up in his arms. "Bedtime."
Faith rolled her eyes. "You're way to bossy."
Mark just smiled and carried her up the stairs and deposited her in the bathroom, he ran her a bath and added bath oil. "Get in there and relax a little darlin."
"I need some clothes." She called after him.
Mark stuck his head back in the doorway. "No you don't, now get on in there." He said .
Faith sighed and undressed and got in the hot bath sighing in pleasure.
She couldn't help but smile as she thought of Mark, he was bossy no doubt, but deep down it didn't really bother her, she teased him about it, but the way he treated her made her feel safe and cared for, Mark always seemed to watch out for her and made sure she took care of herself.
She looked up when Mark came in with a cup of hot tea, he handed it to her and sank to the floor by the tub. "Thank you."
Mark smiled and took his hand and wiped a bit of soap off her cheek. "You're more than welcome Darlin."
"You feeling better?"
Faith knew he was referring to how she had took Marrissa's news about Isabel.
Faith sipped her tea. "Yea I think so, we know what the problem is, we can deal with it, I hate pushing Isabel, the way we did today, but I know its for her own good."
Mark took the empty cup and set it to the side. "She's going to be fine Faith."
Faith heard the confidence in his voice, it made her feel like he knew what he was talking about and everything would be fine.
Mark pulled out a big fluffy towel and held it out for her as she stepped out of the tub. Her wrapped the towel around her and sat down on the toilet pulling her between his legs, he dried her off. Mark let her go and grabbed her brush off the sink. "Come on Faith."
"Mark I really need some clothes." She said.
Mark just grinned and took her hand and lead her into the bed room , he sat her on the bed and sat down behind her and brushed her curly hair. He pressed kisses to her neck in between brush strokes.
Mark finished and stood up. "I'm going to shower."
Faith just shook her head and lay back on the bed, the balcony doors were open and there was a nice breeze blowing in.
Mark walked out of the bathroom and stopped and stared, God she was beautiful, he wanted her, but it was more, he wanted to make her happy.
He went and slid beside her on the bed, he lowered his lips to her and kissed her gently and his hands ran down her sides and her legs gently caressing her.
Faith sighed and and tilted her head up to look at him, he was beautiful, and tonight his hands were gentle as were his kisses. His lips trailed down her slim neck, he took his time kissing a trail, stopping to lick or nip her tender skin along the way.
Faith smiled and her hands ran down his shoulders, she loved to touch him, to feel his warm had muscles under her fingertips.
Mark's mouth closed over one breast and his fingers gently caressed the other.
Faith moaned and her hands came back up to his head and her fingers laced through his long hair.
Mark moved his mouth to the other rosy peak and suckled it deep in his mouth, and Faith arched toward his mouth, he was going so slow, building the pleasure slowly, it felt so good.
Mark moved downward his lips skimming her ribs, the her belly button, his tongue dipping in and teasing, Faith fingers were still twined in his hair and her moans filled his ears, causing his arousal to twitch with anticipation.
Faith shivered as his tongue touched her wet heat, Mark hands parted her thighs further and he used his tongue to bring her arousal to a fever pitch, Faith's hips came up off the bed as his tongue stroked her over and over only slowing down to stoke her nub. "Mark." She begged in a fervent whisper.
Mark's hands held her hips down as he pushed her to the edge with his tongue, her hands grasped his head tightly and her hips rose to meet the stroke of his tongue.
Mark held her tight, as she climaxed and his tongue encouraged her complete abandon, as he continued his attention even as she fell apart calling his name.
Mark lifted his head when her body relaxed and he smiled at how beautiful she was, her flushed skin was warm to the touch and his hands roamed over her body in complete fascination.
Mark moved up her body and he kissed her deeply, his tongue gliding between her parted lips to mate with hers, even as he slid his shaft to the hilt, deeply sheathing himself in her heat.
"God Faith." He groaned at the feel of her surrounding his arousal. Faith's arms came around him and she pulled him as close as she could get him. "Mark..you feel so good." She murmured.
Mark kissed her lips and looked in her eyes even as he thrust slowly in her. "You do too, Darlin."
There eyes were locked as they made love, the only sounds were the moans coming from Faith as he pushed deeper in her with long long slow strokes, and the sound of his breath becoming more harsh and rapid as he tried to control the urge to slam into her hard and fast, bur he wanted this time to be slow and sweet for her, she deserved to be made love to , not just fucked.
Faith's hands became restless and stroked his arms and chest as he slowly brought her to new heights. "Markkk." She begged, the need to let go almost making her blind. "I know Darlin, I know you need to come." He whispered and his thrusts suddenly became harder and faster and Faith gasped from the feeling of him filling her so.
"Thats it Faith, come with me baby."
Faith clutched at his shoulders even as her body arched against him, his lips covered her and he swallowed the scream that would have surely rent the air.
Mark thrusts became frantic as he felt his body starting to tremble. The climax was so intense he lost all sense of anything, but the intense feeling and the feel of Faith beneath him.
When his mind finally cleared he opened his eyes to find Faith looking at him in concern. "Mark are you okay?"
He smiled and kissed her and pulled himself off of her and rolled on his back, taking her with him, her laying on his chest. His hands ran down her back stroking her. "I'm fine, Darlin, you're amazing."
Faith smiled and kissed his cheek and laid her head back down on his chest.
"Faith I wish you could see you the way I do, you're so beautiful." Mark said .
Faith blushed, it wasn't like Mark to spout romantic lines. Mark lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. "I mean it, sex with you is great, but thats not what I'm talking about, you know when you're the most beautiful to me, its when I watch you with Izzy and Noah, when you're outside playing with them, you have this look on you're face of complete happiness and joy, you're most beautiful being a mother." Mark said dipping his head to kiss her lips.
Faith knew then and there, this was it for her, she loved this man and all the different facets of his personality. Tough, tender, rough, gentle, bossy, sweet and demanding, all were parts of this man, that made her fall in love with him. There wasn't anything she would change about him.
Mark wrapped her in his arms. "Get some sleep Darlin."
Mark held her and thought about the feelings she brought to the surface, he should be scared to death and maybe he was a little, but he knew he had never felt this way about anyone, and he wasn't about to lose her or the kids by running scared. Mark stroked her head, his finger shifting through her silky curly hair, he didn't think he would even be able to sleep anymore with out her sweet body pressed against his. "I love you Faith."
Mark looked down and grinned realizing she was sound asleep. He chuckled, Faith had to know he loved her, what man in his right mind would spout all that romantic stuff he just said if he wasn't in love, Mark used to make fun of guys that gushed over there women, he was surprised at himself, but he wasn't to shocked, after all love had hit him like a ton of bricks. "I love her." He murmured to himself.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Della stood outside on Justin's porch shifting from foot to foot. She had come to decision sort of, now she just had to get up the nerve to knock on his door.
She finally did and she stood and waited. She had come home from work and changed out of her suit and put on jeans and a tank top. Her nerves were frayed, she had always let her bad temper get the best of her, even when she was a kid, now she was regretting her fit of temper.
Justin opened the door and didn't seem the least surprised to find Della standing there. "Come in."
Della tried not to think about how good Justin looked in his jeans and tight fitting t-shirt, his dark hair and his warm brown eyes, she had been in love with Justin since she was twelve years old, she had followed him around like a puppy, but he had broke her heart, he had no interest in her.
"Sit down."
Della sat on the couch and clasped her hands together. Justin sat down beside her and that just made her more nervous. "I did it Justin, I trashed the bar and I set the fire."
Justin just stared at her, he didn't even look surprised. She waited for him to say something, but he just looked at her with those piercing brown eyes. "I just lost my temper, I wouldn't hurt anyone."
Justin sighed. "I know that Della, I've know you your whole life, you're a brat, not a criminal, you were doing your usual throwing a temper tantrum when you didn't get your way, and the hell of it is, you don't even love Mark, but this time you could have killed someone with that fire."
Della looked up at him. "I guess I'm going to jail."
Justin got up and went to the kitchen and made some coffee. He need to calm down before he dealt with her.
Della followed after a few minutes. Justin turned to look at her, dammit why did she have to look so scared, he should let her stew a couple of days. "I'm calling the judge tommorow, I'll give him the charges agaisnt you, and let him sentence you. I'm pretty sure, since you have no prior record and you did confess to what you did, you'll end up with probabtion and community service, I think the homelss shelter could use someone about twenty hours a week."."
Della looked horrified, the homeless shelter, was he crazy?
Justin saw the look. "If you would rather do jail time, thats fine with me."
"No, I'll do it, anything, it would kill mom and dad if I went to jail." She said.
"Fine, I'm going to call Mark in the morning and let him know whats going on, go home, I'll be in touch." He said turning away from her.
Della looked at him, she wished Justin could have loved her, maybe if he had she would have never ended up like this.
Della turned and left and Justin poured himself some coffee, he hoped he was doing the right thing, he would put in a good word with judge Matthews, he figured the community service would do her more good than jail time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark watched Faith cooking breakfast and had to resist the urge to carry her back upstairs and make love to her. Besides the kids were up, but there was always tonight.
"Faith, don't forget to stop at the house and get the kids some clothes and some of their toys." He reminded her.
"I wont." She said turning to smile at him.
The phone rang and Mark jumped up to get it. It was Justin and he told Mark what was going on, they discussed what was going on, and how Justin wanted to handle it and Mark agreed that community service would be worse on Della than anything.
Mark hung up after ten minutes and turned around to find Faith glaring at him. "Noah, Isabel, go watch TV for a little while.
The twins scampered off to the den.
Faith turned back to Mark. "I caught the gist of that conversation, Della did this crap and you two are letting her off the hook."
Mark walked over and pulled Faith in his arms. "She's not off the hook, she still has to be sentenced by the judge, but probation and community service is the most they will probably do,and Justin is going to keep a tight rein on her, believe me, that will make her crazy, Della is a brat, not a killer, and she's not going to bother us anymore, what she did was screwed up, but Justin will take care of it believe me."
Faith hugged Mark, she knew he was right, it was over, but she couldn't let go, that Della had started a fire with her babies in the house, she was going to go have a long talk with that bitch, she would serve her own justice to Della, then she could let it go.
Faith kissed Mark. "Go get the kids and you guys can eat."
Mark smiled and was glad she hadn't got all nuts, Faith was reasonable and he was glad, now they could put this behind them and concentrate on each other and the kids.