A/N: The title of this chapter comes from one of my all-time favorite songs, A Matter Of Trust , by Billy Joel. I've included some of the lyrics within the chapter, and they are all Mr. Joel's- and all credit for such beautiful and heartfelt words go to him, along with my utmost respect.
This chapter's rating is predominantly T, but since I wanted Andy & Virginia to really go steamy, I'll soon be posting a separate M-rated add-on, with a very hot, deleted scene featuring "Vindy"...
He had the dream again...
It was the same one as when he'd been dreaming upon arrival at the O'Dwyer cabin...
The one with the beautiful redhead doctor, in a field of wildflowers...
This time, however, he was walking towards her.
Her back was to him, as she looked off into the distance. Horses were grazing in a pasture nearby, and a gentle breeze was ruffling her hair and causing the hem of her dress to billow around her.
When he said her name, she turned to face him...
And her smile made his soul dance...
And then, there was a child.
Peeking out from behind Doc's skirt, the little boy's eyes crinkled with joy. He appeared to be about three, and had a mop of black hair and an infectious giggle.
Andy bent down, and spread his arms wide, becoming the child to come.
The dream then changed perspectives, and he could see himself holding the boy.
"Dada!"
Their son was perfect. Healthy. Happy. Incredibly smart, and a complete miracle to his parents.
The Leftenant continued on towards the Doc, while carrying the boy in his arms.
She welcomed him into hers, and he kissed her smiling lips.
The boy giggled, and that made his mommy and daddy place matching kisses to each of his rosey cheeks.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
###
Virginia woke with a start...
She sat up in the bed, and hugged herself..
And smiled.
The dream was so real, and so very wonderful. It was like none other, as she could practically feel the sun on her skin, and her lover's embrace.
The child was beautiful, with the longest eyelashes, ever, and his father's dimples.
The Master Bedroom was quiet, and the big sleigh bed was empty- save for her.
Fully awake now, Virginia felt the coolness of the mountain air around her.
She was used to lower temperatures, as the Pacific northwest was not exactly known for having a warm and balmy climate.
But her Seattle apartment had central heating, and outdated- but very soft and insulating carpet. Virginia also had a multitude of cozy blankets and throws, in which to cuddle up with, on particularly wet and chilly nights.
The O'Dwyer cabin's linen closet, held even more of a selection, and Virginia decided to make use of one- or two, of them.
Like her cousin, Virginia had taken to wearing yoga socks, while at the cabin, in place of going barefoot inside. It was warmer, and the grippy nubs on the bottoms kept them from slipping on the hardwood floors.
In addition to her socks, Virginia had worn her favorite t-shirt, from the Seattle Mariners, for sleep.
As she walked from her room, down the hall towards the linen closet, Virginia couldn't help but remember the impromptu dance that she shared with Andy, upon leaving the restaurant.
The two couples had full bellies, and sweet memories, as they stepped back out into the Big Bear night.
The area was still alive with activity, and people were literally dancing in the closed of street.
Before her lover could even get the words out, Sharon asked Castillo to join her to the unforgettably sexy sound of Carlos Santana's song, Smooth , with Rob Thomas.
Virginia noted that her cousin's man was a very good dancer, as was Sharon. They complemented each other perfectly.
If dancing was indeed a physical metaphor for intercourse, then it was quite obvious how much they enjoyed each other...
When the song was over, and Billy Joel's A Matter Of Trust, began to play, Andy took the moment to ask Virginia to dance.
"C'mon, Doc," Andy urged her with a smile. "Let's give it a go!"
Virginia blushed. "I'm not much of a dancer-"
"Neither am I, but maybe we can figure it out, together."
And that, they did.
Virginia had always loved the song, and could still hear the lyrics playing in a loop, in her mind-
This time you've got nothing to lose
You can take it, you can leave it
Whatever you choose
I won't hold back anything
And I'll walk away a fool or a king
Some love is just a lie of the mind
It's make believe until it's only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it was never a matter of trust
Virginia smiled wistfully, while also remembering the feeling of being in Andy's arms.
He always made her feel so safe, and so happy...
So normal...
Putting aside such musings, the doctor shook her head and continued on her mission...
As she made her way from her bedroom, en-route to the linen closet, Virginia could not help but overhear a husky male voice cry out from behind the closed door of the second bedroom
"My God, Sharon..."
And then came a female giggle.
"I knew you'd like that!"
Virginia blushed to herself, as she opened the closet door as quietly as possible, and retrieved her bounty.
It was very good that Sharon and Castillo were getting some quality Sexy Time...
Dr. Dixon was afraid that the couple was going to get arrested by the Big Bear P.D., for public indecency during their street dance.
Andy's kiss, during their own dance, was just as sensual.
Virginia hugged the retrieved blankets to herself, and then padded back towards her room before she could overhear any more cries of ecstasy from Martin Castillo, and her cousin.
She was jus about to her door, but then, a very large sneeze, halted her progress...
And then, another one, caused her concern...
She knew the voice behind the sneezes, so she changed her course, and was soon at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the loft, in nothing flat.
"Leftenant, are you alright?"
The concern in the doctor's voice was more than noticeable...
Andy sniffed, and it sounded like he was trying to politely blow his nose. The loft was open to the Great Room below, and everything that went on up there, could be heard by everyone, with very little effort.
"Yeah, Doc- I'm fine. Cold, but fine. I guess living in L.A. has thinned my blood."
Virginia hummed, as one corner of her lips turned upward, playfully.
And before Andy even knew it, the beautiful redhead was standing at the foot of his bed!
"I have blankets," she told him.
Andy sat up straighter, in the old Three Quarter bed, and grinned at the woman before him.
Moonglow from the cabin roof's skylight, allowed him to see her perfectly. Her hair was slightly mussed from sleep, but she looked positively beautiful.
"How did you-"
"I'm cold, as well," Virginia explained.
When she moved to cover him with one of said blankets, their hands touched, and the next minute they were kissing.
They parted slowly, not wanting to, but needing to, in order to breathe.
"You are cold," Virginia noted with a swallow, as her hands rested on Andy's bare arms.
"Yeah."
Virginia frowned.
The man wore an LAPD t-shirt, and presumably some sort of pajama bottoms, which were hidden beneath the covers. He looked adorable, but clearly he needed help.
"Take off your clothes, Leftenant."
Andy nearly choked over Virginia's words...
And then she began peeling off her own t-shirt...
The sight of the beautiful doctor, clad only in a pair of pink cotton bikini panties, made Andy's temperature rise instantly!
Virginia then pulled back the covers, and slipped into the bed beside him. She hummed forcefully, and eyed his clothed body with disapproval.
"I don't have underwear on under these," Andy said of his navy sweatpants.
Virginia smirked playfully, then removed her panties and gave them a toss.
"Okaaay..."
Once Andy was fully naked and in bed next to her, Virginia pulled the covers over them both, and snuggled in close.
"You feel warmer, already."
"Tell me about it!"
Virginia smiled, as she laid her head above his heart. She liked his hairy chest, as it felt soft and manly at the same time.
Also manly, was the lieutenant's building arousal.
"You feel good."
Andy caressed Virginia's naked back. Her breasts were pressed against him, and he liked the way that her nipples were equally aroused.
"You feel good, too."
They kissed, tenderly. Eventually, their tongues mated, while their other body parts teased seductively.
"Did you bring the condoms?"
Virginia's askance made Andy chuckle. He may have been raised a City Boy, but his Pop made sure that he joined the Scouts at a very young age.
Their motto was still with him, to this day...
Be Prepared.
Later, following a much needed post-sex nap, the couple laid in each other's arms and made quiet confessions to each other,
"I dreamt of you, earlier. Tonight, and earlier- this morning, as we came up here to the cabin."
"I did the same, with you."
Virginia's words came as little surprise to Andy, as he was quite certain that their dreams had crossed somehow. He'd read about such things happening, but never experienced it personally.
"It was beautiful."
"Yes it was."
Andy found himself humming, as he held Virginia in his arms. Her skin was warm and smooth beneath his touch. Their scents mingled in the cocoon of air around them, and they were as close as two could possibly be, both body and spirit.
And it felt wonderful...
The old Billy Joel song played on in Andy's mind. Dancing to it with Virginia had been one of the best moments of his life, so far.
It's hard when you're always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
Its a matter of trust
You can't go the distance
With too much resistance
I know you have doubts
But for God's sake don't shut me out
The small box that Castillo had procured for him earlier that night, was secreted inside his dopp kit. It nagged at Andy from the counter top of the loft's half bath.
He wanted nothing more than to retrieve it, and give it to Virginia, right then and there.
Everything was so perfect...
And it was for that reason, that he didn't...
Because he didn't want to ruin the moment.
###
"They were frakking, for sure."
Sharon giggled as her lover shucked off his jeans, and re-joined her in bed. Castillo had made a run to the kitchen in search of a post-coitus bedtime snack for them, and reported that very explicit sounds were coming from above, in the cabin's loft.
Castillo brought them a plate of Oreos, and a glass of milk to share.
Sharon didn't know what looked more delicious- the cookies, or Martin Castillo himself.
"You're sure? Maybe Andy was just dreaming. Loudly."
"Possibly, but if so, Virginia was dreaming the same dream with him."
"Good for them."
"Agreed."
The lovers kissed, between bites of cookies and sips of milk.
"Are you ever going to tell me what was up with Andy tonight?"
"I just did," Castillo replied, with a quick and playful smile. "He and your cousin were banging each other, like there was no tomorrow!"
Sharon groaned. "I mean earlier- in town."
Her lover chuckled. The diamond rings that he'd seen earlier had him in a very sentimental state, and like the Lieutenant, he too was thinking of the bigger picture.
Just how Castillo and Sharon would get there, however, was another story altogether...
"Nope. I'm sworn to secrecy."
"Okay."
They were soon down to one last Oreo, which they split in two and shared, along with the last swig of milk.
Sharon was very pleased and appreciative of how well Castillo and Andy were getting along, and told her man so.
"Flynn's alright."
Sharon hummed against Castillo, as they settled back in bed.
"So are you."
"You flatter me, Woman."
Sharon giggled as Castillo scraped his mustache against her neck.
"You wanna look at some more pictures of our granddaughter? Rusty texted some new ones, while you were getting our snack."
Castillo chuckled, as Sharon knew him only too well. Prior to their lovemaking, the lady captain had rewarded him for being such a good boy, and following her up a mountain earlier in the day- despite his protesting knees. His daughter, Kara, had sent them to Sharon, knowing of the woman's plan to confiscate Castillo's device for the duration of their vacations, and he and Sharon enjoyed them beyond words.
As her lover happily scrolled through the new images on her phone, Sharon couldn't help but recall dancing with him only a few hours before. They'd ceded the floor to Virginia and Andy once their song was over, but the tune by The Piano Man still resonated, and rang true with her feelings for Castillo, and his for her.
It took a lot for them to find each other, after so many years. They'd shared love and loss, and found an even greater love anew, than either thought possible.
And yes, just like everything else in life...
It was always a matter of trust.
#TO BE CONTINUED#