"When I look into your eyes, every time you smile at me, oh I go weak inside. Baby I just can't hide my love." ~Steps

Nick's P.O.V.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Claudia asked.

"Joseph went through hell, but he hasn't shown any signs of trauma," I said.

We were in my house, sitting on the couch. Dinner would be ready soon and everyone would probably be here shortly. I'd invited everyone over for dinner as a sort of celebration that everyone has made it through the Helen incident alive. Claudia had shown up early to help me with dinner and setting the table and whatnot.

I absently stroked the side of her face, not even realizing I'd reached out until I felt her warm skin under my fingers. I leaned close to her, so close I could fell her breath tickling my face. I wanted desperately to kiss her, and the warmth of her sparkling brown eyes told me that she wouldn't object. I had missed her terribly in the days we had been separated, and now that Helen had disappeared again, I figured it was safe enough to let everything go back to normal.

There was no guarantee Helen was staying gone, but I had a good feeling we wouldn't be seeing her again for awhile. Then all thoughts of my ex wife vanished from my mind as I felt soft, smooth lips press against mine. A feeling of love and security ran through me as I gently pressed my lips back against Claudia's. She tasted sweet and wonderful and more than I would ever deserve.

She reached up to wrap her arms around my neck, and as if their timing couldn't get any worse, someone run the doorbell. I sighed and reluctantly pulled away from her. When I opened the door, I saw Connor and Abby standing there, and they were followed closely by Stephen. I stepped back to let them in, and didn't even have the door shut when Caspar pulled up.

Finally, everyone got there and we sat down at the table. It was slightly crowded given how many people were clustered around the table, but I didn't really mind. I had to admit we made an odd looking group, though. Myself, Lester, Claudia, Abby, Connor, Stephen, Caspar and Joseph all sat around my kitchen table. It was crowded but oddly comfortable. All of them - even the vain, pen pushing civil servant- had become like family to me.

"Uh oh, I think war is about to break out," Abby said.

"Why is that?" I asked, looking up from my food.

"Connor just threw food at Stephen."

"Well Connor, it was nice knowing you," I said, doubting he would survive the next five minutes.

"Oh, this is war," Stephen growled, throwing his water in Connor's face.

I grinned, watching as a food fight broke out. Lester started backing up, trying fervently to avoid the various edible particles flying around the room. I couldn't hold back a laugh as Abby dropped an ice cube down the back of Caspar's shirt, and Joseph just crawled under the table to hide. When Stephen got too close to him with a piece of the cake I'd bought for dessert, Joseph knocked him upside the back of the head with a cutting board.

"Lester," I said, and he turned around expectantly.

I smiled and promptly shoved a piece of cake squarely into his face.

"Fancy some dessert?" I asked.

If looks could kill, then the team would have to plan my funeral. I took off into the living room, fearful of what he would retaliate with. I figured I was safe until someone through a bowl of soup in my face. I blinked, rubbing broth out of my eyes. When I opened them, I saw a grinning Claudia holding an empty bowl.

"Claudia Brown, you are dead," I laughed, chasing her back into the kitchen.

I wasn't completely sure when everything finally settled down, but eventually everyone cleared out save for Claudia and me. I'd told her she could take a shower here. She still had some of her clothes in the dresser she could change into, so the issue of her currently food and beverage covered clothing wouldn't be a problem.

When she pulled some clothes from the dresser and disappeared into the bathroom, I pulled on some clean clothes and decided I would get a shower after the water heated back up. I sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled my wallet off of my nightstand, flipping it open to reveal the photograph of Claudia and I.

I closed my eyes, wondering if things with her could ever be mended. I missed what we'd had. Not to mention I'd had terribly nightmares lately. It had been the same nightmare over and over, repeatedly torturing my subconscious. I went through an anomaly to the Permian and returned, but when I came back Claudia wasn't there. No one knew who she was, and I had returned to a world where Claudia Brown had never existed.

"Nick, are you alright?"

I glanced up to see her standing in front of me. I hadn't even realized she was standing there until she spoke. She looked almost heartbreakingly beautiful, with her hair damp and cheeks ruddy and flushed. She always looked amazing, but when her gorgeous face wasn't masked by makeup, she was that much more perfect.

"Yeah. I'm fine," I nodded, closing my wallet and tossing it back onto the nightstand.

"Something's on your mind," she said, sitting down next to me.

I looked over and just then realized she had nothing but a dark blue towel wrapped around herself, one hand holding it closed and the other resting on my arm. The towel covered her from her chest down to just above her knees, leaving her long legs exposed. I couldn't help but blush slightly at her lack of clothing. It reminded me all too vividly of what had been interrupted at Biltmore.

"Nick, talk to me. You know you can tell me anything," she said, moving her hand from my arm and using it to turn my head, forcing me to face her.

"I know. It's just that…" I trailed off, searching for words. I finally decided just to be direct. "I miss you. And I know you're thinking that I must have some nerve, putting you through what I did and then saying this to you, but I've been going nuts without you. I completely understand if you just want to tell me to shut up and leave you alone, but there's something I need to tell you. I know I should have said this a long time ago, but I'm saying it now," I continued. "I…I love you, Claudia."

She smiled and caressed the side of my face with her fingertips. I had expected her eyes to be closed off and guarded, but I instead saw a surprising amount of love and openness.

"I love you too," she whispered, leaning forward and catching my lips with hers.

I didn't hesitate to kiss her back. My arms wrapped around her and her lips parted against mine, our breath mingling together. The kiss began deepening, as if it was silently communicating every feeling we'd ever held back. She leaned into me, every curvature of her body pressing to mine through the thin fabric of the towel she still held around her. I ran my hand lightly down her back, and she leaned even closer.

I was so distraught I barely knew which way was up, but I slowly drifted back to a partial state of reality as she pulled away long enough to tug my shirt over my head and toss it aside. She reached down with both hands and began unfastening my belt, and the towel that had been wrapped around her fell away, leaving every inch of her bare skin exposed to me. I tossed the towel aside, roughly in the same direction she'd tossed my shirt.

In one swift movement, I pushed her down on the bed, coming down on top of her. She quickly removed the remainders of my clothing, and my lips again sought hers. I began exploring every inch of her pale, flawless skin with my mouth, eliciting soft sighs and moans of pleasure from her. I knew then that nothing could ever separate us again, the feeling of need and completion as I again pressed my lips to hers confirmed it with an undoubting solidity.

Then I let my thoughts be replaced with the sweet sensations as the hours turned to a world of undiluted passion, a place where time meant absolutely nothing.

Claudia's P.O.V.

I was woken up by the bright sunlight streaming through the window. A slight soreness lingered in my muscles, but my body felt oddly ungrounded. I was still wrapped up in thoughts of pure love and ecstasy, two words that had come to mind several times last night. Well, they'd come to mind when I could even form a coherent mental sentence. I opened my eyes, finding my head resting on Nick's shoulder and my hair splayed out in all odd directions.

His eyes were closed, his breathing was deep and even, and he was obviously still asleep. I gently ran my hand down his bare chest, smiling slightly. Last night had been more than perfect, more than I ever could have dreamed of. I had never pictured myself feeling so completely comfortable and trusting around someone as I was Nick, but I couldn't imagine life any other way. I wanted my life to be exactly as it was right now, right here, and I never wanted it to change.

"It's the way you make feel, the way that you make me feel. Spinning my world around. Tell me how can I walk away? I don't care what they say, I'm loving you anyway. It's the way you make me feel." ~Steps

Author's Note:

Please don't kill me! I know it's been forever since I updated, and I am really really sorry! I have been vidding and doing all sorts of school stuff. I'm also in the process of starting a MultiMale collab, so if anyone has any good song suggestions please tell me :-)

This chapter was inspired mostly by "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Steps, which is what I used for the quotes at the start and end of the chapter. I actually found it when I was looking for Doctor Who clips for a video I made as a Christmas present for a friend on YouTube. I don't actually watch the show and I think David Tennant is a little on the goofy side. That is no offense to people that watch the show, I just can't really get used to how hyper the Tenth Doctor is.

The only thing Doctor Who I've found so far that I like is a picture I found of David Tennant holding the most adorable little kitten. Oh and if anyone has a Christmas wish list they would like to send me I will be happy to make something! Wallpapers, videos, icons, etc. I make videos for shows I don't watch, so as long as I can find clips I'll vid just about anything.

I didn't realize how long I'd been rambling until I looked up and saw how long my A/N had gotten. Sorry about that, I think I've been staring at the computer screen too long and have given myself a headache. Okay, I really am done babbling now.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!