A/N: Thanks for the reviews of the ½ chapter I published while on vacation. Back from vacation and back to work. Here is the rest of it.

Will was in agony. Pure carnal agony, but he gladly bore it to help Abigail overcome her fears. While he stroked her back and murmured softly, a plan started to form. Jess gave him the perfect idea of how to show Abigail some dinosaurs and get to hold her as close as he could without being accused of doing something indecent.

"Sweetheart?" he breathed into Abigail's ear. The endearments dropped off his tongue without any conscious thought. It surprised the hell out of him, but it seemed only natural to call her sweetheart because she was so damned sweet to start with.

"I-I'm s-so sorry," she stammered against his throat. The feel of her warm breath and the brush of her soft lips against his skin nearly undid him.

"Nothing to be sorry about, honey," he groaned as he brushed his lips against her cheek and felt a shiver run through her body. Damn. I have got to get her alone one of these days or I think I might physically die from desire.

The kids were in awe of the survey of the cosmos and Will was loath to interrupt their birthday surprise, but he thought he might be able to help Abigail. "I have an idea."

"What?" Jess asked.

"I think I can help your aunt with her fear of dinosaurs," he replied to the nine-year-olds. "If you'll trust me," he said to Abigail.

"I think I know what Will wants to do. Aunt Abby, it'll be really neat." Jason stood up and looked at his aunt still seated on Will's lap.

"Why don't you and Jess sit with us?" Will said, trying secretly to keep Abby on his lap as long as possible.

"I should…" she started as she tried to move.

He locked his arms around her waist and shook his head. "If you get frightened, this is the best spot for you." His brows waggled.

She rolled her eyes and glared at him, but didn't try to get up.

Success! "Show aerial view of a herd of brachiosaurs from one-hundred feet above," a triumphant Will ordered the computer.

Abigail was scared of the sheer size of the dinosaurs, but relaxed once Will told her she need only say Stop or Erase to control the views. She remained on his lap and turned slightly so she could watch the array of creatures he showed her.

Jess leaned over and asked quietly if she could see a Nyko or a Slasher.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Abigail said.

"But if we need to be aware of them we should see them in more than pictures and tiny videos," Jess responded.

"They don't have to move. They could just be life-size stationary dinosaurs," Jason said.

"What do you think, Abby?" Will asked. His arms were secured around her waist and his eyes surveyed her for any signs of panic. Fear was expected, but the irrational panic attacks were what he was trying to avoid.

"Okay. But I might scream stop after a few seconds." She shifted to grip his hands tightly around his waist.

Will fought hard to suppress the groan that formed in his throat as she brushed against a particularly sensitive part of his anatomy with her twisting. Why he was torturing himself like this was beyond him. He closed his eyes and tried to picture the most hideous woman he ever met… naked. Not working.

"Stationary view of n-nykoraptor," Abigail's soft voice requested and the computer responded by putting the dog-sized creature in front of them surrounded by the jungle.

"Good. It's not so bad when you're in control is it?" Will asked. He inhaled deeply to imprint the smell of her flowery shampoo on his senses. She fit so perfectly in his arms, he could hold her for days.

"No," she responded, but didn't loosen her grip.

"It doesn't look like a giant bird," Jess said.

"Who told you that?" Jason asked.

"That little brat Owen Fitzgerald," she said.

"Fitzgerald?" Will asked. "Is his dad a soldier?"

"Yes, he's on some secret mission…"

"I can assure you that John Fitzgerald isn't on a secret mission. He's escorting one of the colonies' premiere scientists around the continent." Will had distain in his voice.

"His little sister, Nina, is in my class. She's having a hard time with her dad gone so long. Owen probably misses his father too. They don't have a mother and are staying with another family," Abigail added.

"Owen's a jerk," Jess said, crossing her arms.

"Jess almost got in trouble for hitting him. I had to stop her," Jason added.

"What?" Abigail looked at her niece.

"Is he bothering you?" Will asked, the feeling of protectiveness he had for the kids reared its head.

"He keeps trying to kiss me," she said.

"Go ahead and hit him," Will said. "Teach him No means No at an early age."

"Will! She can't hit a classmate."

"Little boys need to get smacked down by girls. You don't want him growing up to run around kissing girls when they say no, do you?"

"Here you go speaking your second language again."

Will laughed and kissed Abigail quickly as the kids dissolved into giggles.

That night, Jason and Jess lay side-by-side, one on a cot and the other on Will's bed pretending to be asleep until Will and their Aunt Abigail left.

"How cool is this? We get to have a sleep-over at Will's house," Jess said. "Today has been the best birthday ever."

"No, the best day ever! The Eye was the coolest thing. I can't wait to do it again." Jason rolled onto his back and stared up at the darkened ceiling.

"And Aunt Abby even looked at dinosaurs."

"And didn't scream when we ate bugs on our Cretaceous pizza," Jason said with a giggle.

"Will is the best." Jess got quiet for a few moments before she spoke again. "Jason?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think Will wants to marry Aunt Abby?"

"I wished he would when I blew out my candles."

"You're not supposed to say your wish or it won't come true," Jess scolded.

"I know this one will. Aunt Abby and Will look at each other like Mr. and Mrs. Devlin and Zoe's parents. They're in love." Jason spoke with absolute certainty.

"I won't tell you my wish or it won't come true," Jess stated.

"I already know your wish and it can't happen. We already have a father," Jason replied.

"Well, he's never been as much of a father to us as Will has. Do you think he'd care about Owen Fitzgerald trying to kiss me? Or my dream to be a soldier? Or that we do our homework? No, Kyle isn't our father." Jess's voice was cold and full of hate.

"Jessica! Don't say that."

"Commander Taylor makes the laws and he could make Will my father some day," Jess said, her voice finally quivering. "I'm going to sleep. Good night." She rolled over and pulled Will's blanket over her head.

Abigail followed Will into a small area enclosed by shrubs and trees behind his housing unit in the barrack's area of the compound. The front yard where the party took place had finally been cleaned and the last of the guests headed home.

Will had invited almost everyone she'd ever met in the colony. The only one obviously missing was Malcolm Wallace and Abigail had a sneaky suspicion that Will left him off the list on purpose.

"Will, I can never, ever repay you for this," Abigail said as they approached what appeared to be a piece of cloth hanging between two trees.

"And you don't have to." Will pulled off his jacket and turned to Abigail. "Put this on. You're cold."

"Don't change the subject. Jason and Jess have never had anything like this done for them before." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Even I never…"

Will's arms instantly slid around her, somehow depositing his jacket around her shoulders as he pulled her into his embrace. "It's okay. I went overboard because I've never done this before."

She moved her head back to look into his face.

"I never had a party. My brother never did. Jason and Jess obviously have a less than stellar father. I think this party for them was like the party my brother and I never got too."

Abigail couldn't stop the tears from falling.

"No crying! This is a happy day for them," Will said as his fingers brushed her tears away.

"Will, how did you get to be so… wonderful without any positive role models?" Abigail finally asked as she swallowed a sob.

"Sweetheart." He leaned down and gently kissed her.

By instinct now, her arms slid around his neck to hold herself upright and keep him close.

The kiss stopped before it became anything more than a sweet comfort to her and Abigail had to admit she was annoyed.

"Come on." Will nodded toward the cloth between the trees. "Let's sit and talk."

"But where?" Abigail looked around for chairs.

"On the hammock," Will said as he led her to it.

"That's a hammock?"

"Yup." Will let go of her hand and spread out the cloth, stepped over it and sat back. "Come on. Sit down."

"Between your legs?" She couldn't help but notice how tight his jeans stretched over his thighs and her face turned crimson. The fact that it was dark and only moonlight shone on them was a small comfort.

"Abigail, I am not going to do anything with two kids sleeping in the house and neighbors on the other side of the bushes. "I thought we could spend some time alone."

She cocked her brows and crossed her arms.

"Fine. I hoped from some kissing too." He smirked.

And Will got his kissing. Until sleep overcame them and Abigail drifted off curled in his arms.

He'd never felt so content as he looked down at the woman sleeping with his arm pillowing her head. How he managed not to screw things up was a feat of some higher power. I need to visit Father Mike one of these days.

Abigail moved and rubbed her hand over his chest.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered.

"Did we sleep here all night?" she gasped as she tried to sit up.

"Best night's sleep I've had in months." Will couldn't help but kiss her softly before she fully woke up.

"The kids!" Abigail mumbled against his lips.

"Are sleeping inside." He continued to nibble at her lips. "You know this is only the second time I've woken up with a woman in my arms early in the morning." He continued to kiss her and pulled her closer.

Abigail curved into his touch and her hands slid around his back as they deepened the kiss. When he tried to pull back, Abigail protested and locked her hands behind his neck to hold him close.

It had taken all his training once again not to let his hands wander where they shouldn't. Not to mention reining in how badly he wanted to ease the aching below his belt. Taylor's method seemed to be working and Will knew that when they did make love it would be the perfect experience Abigail deserved.

Abigail was entirely confused. Everything she knew or thought she knew had been turned upside down by the man who held her in his strong arms. For the second time she'd slept in his arms and slept more soundly than any other time. The only dream she had involved the man who was now lying behind her with his arms wrapped around her midsection.

"Watch for it," he whispered near her ear.

"What…" She stopped speaking. The sky in front of them suddenly lit up with shades of purple, pink and light blue.

"I bet you never watched the sun rise before," Will said softly. "I used to think it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen… until I met you."

The last four words were spoken so softly that Abigail thought she imaged them. "It is to me." She felt tears well in her eyes. There was no way any painting, video or reproduction in the Eye could capture the subtle shades and changes to the color spectrum with the rising of the sun. "I can't believe I haven't seen this before."

"I didn't for at least a few months. I had night shift and was finally posted facing East. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was."

"Thank you, Will," Abigail said as she snuggled more tightly in his arms.

"You're very welcome," he said as he pressed a kiss to her neck. He then let out a sigh. "And with the sunrise comes another day of work for me."

"I better get the kids up and get out of your house," she said.

"You and the kids are always welcome here," Will said.

Abigail turned so she was on her back and he was above her. "That's nice, but…"

"No buts." His finger landed on her lips. "You and the kids can come her anytime. I'll even tell you the access code."

"Will…"

He cut her off with a kiss and all protests left her mind as his lips once more expertly erased her thoughts.

A loud beeping from the jacket he had wrapped over them pulled him back from another long kiss.

"Some days I just hate my job," Will groaned and for once Abigail wholeheartedly agreed.

TBC

A/N: I feel I must warn you that the fluff is going to be hard to come by for a while. I hope you'll all stay with me and this couple that many of you have fallen in love with. Thanks for all your support!