Chapter 26: Priorities

At four o'clock, Laura threw her hands up in the air where she sat at her desk and called a spade a spade. Her ankle was still throbbing, making her… difficult. Her husband had fled her presence within minutes of arriving at the office and Mildred had ended up glaring at her, fists planted on hips, a half dozen times on the day after being snapped at for no just cause. After closing out and filing the Schultz case, her desk was clear as only the two potential security contracts Remington was working on were all they had on the immediate horizon. To keep her mind occupied, she'd buried her nose in the Roselli files which had only left her all the more cross.

To top it all off, she and Remington had agreed to keep Laurie Beth the next day, the idea of which only added an extra edge to her nerves. A test for herself, to see how she would relate to a single child at a time. If her mood continued to decline at the rate it was, and the pain in her ankle not become manageable, the day would be a disaster from the start.

So, at four o'clock she'd called it a day, ignoring the relieved look on Mildred's face as she watched her boss depart. By quarter until five, she was home, ensconced in the churning, steaming waters of their jacuzzi tub, and holding a pill in the palm of her hand. She stared at it for a handful of seconds, then reluctantly swallowed it with the aid of a glass of water. Thirty short minutes later, the throbbing in her ankle eased to a dull ache, and she was considerably more relaxed.

"How's the ankle feeling, love?" She started where she sat in the tub, then turned around to find Remington leaning with a shoulder against the doorway to the bathroom, watching her.

"Better. I took a pill." She gave him a wry smile. "I thought I'd chased you off for the evening."

"Mmmm," he hummed, then tugged at his ear. "Thought I'd see if you might wish to have some company this evening." He'd alternated between being irritated with and concerned about his petulant wife throughout the day. When he'd called to check in at the office and Mildred had informed him Laura had left the office early, concern had been the victor.

"That depends on whose company you're referring to. If you mean my sister, I'm not up to that this evening. If you mean my husband, he's welcome to join me." Her eyes held an apology in them, even as her hand indicated the bath. What tension still lurked in her neck and shoulders released when he moved to stand next to the tub, and leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips.

"I'll be right back," he assured her, then turned and left the bathroom.

Laura shifted downwards in the tub with a sigh. This was one of the things about Remington she never failed to appreciate: his ability… and willingness… to forgive so easily under most circumstances. No groveling, no protracted apologies as would be expected from Frances, her mother… would have been from Wilson. A simple, sincere look, on occasion a couple of words, and all was well again. The man himself reappeared a few minutes later, wearing his robe and setting a plate holding cheese and crackers on the edge of the jacuzzi.

"If my suspicions are correct, you didn't consider eating a bit of something before taking your pill," he explained as removed his robe, then lowered himself in the tub across from her.

"I didn't," she confirmed before tilting her head at him. "Don't you have poker this evening?"

"Monroe and I have decided to forgo poker night until after the New Year." Actually, he'd bowed out of the evening, after which they'd agreed with the upcoming holidays and the trip to France, it would be wise to pick up after the first of the year. No need troubling Laura with the little details. She eyed him suspiciously, but in light of what he'd put up with the past day, decided to let it pass. She was much more interested in a quiet evening at home than proving he'd been… misleading.

And a quiet evening at home is exactly what they'd enjoyed, he sitting at one end of the couch in his viewing room, she lying down with her feet in his lap as he massaged foot and ankle, alleviating the remaining aches and stiffness.

"That feels wonderful," she'd all but purred at one point. She was surprised when he shifted beneath her feet and released her foot long enough for an anxious tug of his ear.

"I may have stopped off at your physical therapist's office and inquired if there was anything I could do to… assist… with your discomfort. He showed me a few things," he confessed, then waited on the obligatory lecture on how she could take care of herself. This time it had been her turn to shock him, when she snuggled further into the couch and closed her eyes.

"Above and beyond, Mr. Steele," she murmured.

"To the contrary. In sickness and health, Mrs. Steele," he'd countered.

They enjoyed a late dinner, before Laura took a second and final dose of medication for the evening. By the time she woke Saturday morning, any lingering discomfort in her ankle had faded. She celebrated the occasion by waking her husband in a way that guaranteed both of their mornings would get off to a good start. Indeed, by the time Frances arrived with Laurie Beth, they'd enjoyed a quiet breakfast together, followed by a shared shower, leaving both of them thoroughly relaxed.

"Uncle Remington," Laurie Beth cried out, launching herself at him. With ease, he swung the little girl up into his arms. "Mommy says I get to go Christmas shopping with you and Aunt Laura today!" she told him excitedly, patting his shoulder with her small hand.

"Indeed you do," he confirmed.

"She says I have to be on my very bestest behavior," she told him solemnly.

"Ah, I see," he answered in his most serious of tones. "I don't imagine that will be a problem for a well-mannered young lady such as yourself, do you?" She shook her head vigorously in response.

"Laura, I absolutely love what you've done to the house! Your decorations are wonderful! And this tree! I wish Donald and I had room for one so grand," Frances lamented.

"Now Frances, you know you do a remarkable job with decorating. Your house is always so… homey," Laura appeased.

"I do what I can with the space I have. Our house here is much smaller than our house in Connecticut, you know." Laura concentrated on not rolling her eyes. It wasn't the first time Frances had voiced this complaint, nearer the hundredth, and it wouldn't be the last. "I have to be on my way if I'm going to have Mindy ready on time. Thanks so much for doing this again."

"It's our pleasure, Frances," Remington answered for the two of them.

"Laurie Beth, remember to mind your manners. I'll be back in just a few hours." With those final words, Frances left, closing the door behind her.

"What time did you tell Fred?" Laura asked. They'd decided with Laurie Beth along, the little girl would not only enjoy the treat of riding in the limousine, but it was, in the end, the most practical of their choices. The two-seater Auburn was certainly not appropriate and the Rabbit's trunk would likely not be large enough for their purchases.

"Twelve fifteen," he provided.

"Sweetie, why don't you go use the bathroom really fast before we leave," she suggested to Laurie Beth.

"Alright, Aunt Laura!" she agreed, skipping away towards the other side of the house and the guest bathroom.

Since Remington had left the choice of shopping destination up to her, Laura had finally settled on the Beverly Center. The eight-story mall offered five levels of on-site parking and three levels of shopping, and would place more than a hundred stores at their fingertips. By her calculation, they still had a long list of people to purchase gifts for: Murphy's twin boys, Bernice's son, Mildred, Veronica, Maxie, Donald, Frances, her mother, Mindy, Danny and something to accompany Fred's holiday bonus. That, of course, did not include her husband. While her 'largest' gift for him was already in the works, she still wanted to pick him up a few movies to add to his collection, as well as a new watch, cuff links and a set of tie collar bars. Given her husband would find a great deal of entertainment in watching her trudge through the stores, a task she loathed, she'd decided that amusement could go both ways. Remington preferred quiet, exclusive shops and had yet, to her knowledge, to experience the chaos of an American shopping mall. Add to that her planned lunch in the food court, for Laurie Beth's sake, he'd likely spend most of the afternoon grimacing in discomfort. Tit-for-tat, Mr. Steele. Tit-for-tat, she mused now.

Besides, she could think of worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching her jean and well-fit polo shirt clad husband's form as he navigated the crowded walkways. She smiled a little smile at the thought. Not a bad way at all.

Forty-five minutes later, as she, said husband and Laurie Beth stepped off of the elevator, she nearly reversed her position on that decision. Rarely did she find herself out shopping at this time of the year. She was an early shopper, preferring to have her gifts purchased by Labor Day. Oh, she might have to run out for a thing here or a thing there, but that was a rarity and when it did happen, she usually turned to the smaller shops of Remington's liking to take care of the matter. Releasing a heavy breath, she realized she may as well get used to the Christmas season shopping madness. After all, when they had children, there was no plausible way to request their letters to Santa four months prior to the holiday.

Remington, on the other hand, would have applauded his wife's initial reaction of doing an about face. Rubbing a hand over his mouth, he looked around him with something akin to horror.

"Are you to tell me Americans actually enjoy this… insanity?" She lifted her free hand and dropped it in a helpless gesture.

"Not this American," she replied. "But we're here. May as well get it over with." With another look around him, he shook his head.

"Who do we still need to purchase gifts for?" She rattled the list off him. "Might I make a suggestion?"

"By all means," she answered, laughing and rolling her eyes.

"We convince Abigail to extend her stay for a few days. We send Donald and Frances to our house in Vail, for a ski getaway. When they return, we send Abigail to Ashford for a week." She blinked hard and looked at him as though he'd lost his mind.

"Do you realize the cost of airfare at this time of the year?" He swept a hand through his hair.

"Laura, I don't care if it costs a king's ransom, which incidentally we can afford, as long as it shaves a few names off that list and gets us out of here all the sooner!" She glanced around again, then turned her attention back to him again.

"Done. That still leaves nine," she pointed out.

"Monday afternoon I'll pick up Fred a bottle of Glenlivet. Down to eight. We'll return to Kiddie Town—"

"Kiddie City," she corrected automatically. He gave her a look of utter frustration.

"Laura, Kiddie Town, Kiddie City, Kiddie Kingdom – whatever its name! It's a veritable Utopia compared to this den of iniquity." She burst out in laughter at that, the sound drawing a smile to his lips in spite of the situation.

"I'm not a fan of mall shopping either, especially during the holidays, but even I think that's a bit extreme a comparison," she admonished. "But you sold me. That leaves Mildred, Veronica, and Maxie." She turned and looked around. "Silk scarves for all, a tasteful purse, additionally, for Mildred. Bloomingdales." He shook his head emphatically.

"Gucci at the Rodeo Collection. We're done here," he announced turning on his heel to return to the elevator, only to find a small hand tugging at his. He turned to look down at Laurie Beth.

"Can I go see Santa Claus? Please, Uncle Remington?" Big brown eyes, much like his wife's, pleaded with him. Next to him, his impertinent wife tittered behind her hand. Bloody hell. He peered around the mall and saw Santa sitting center stage on his throne in the midst of all the madness. A line of antsy and screaming children extended half-way across the mall floor. He groaned aloud.

"Is it very important to you, ceann beag?" he asked. Laurie Beth gave him an odd look.

"I'm Laurie Beth, not ce… ce…" That drew a smile from him. He lifted her up easily and balanced her on his hip.

"Ceann beag. It means 'little one' in the language of my childhood," he explained. "My calling you that simply means I'm quite fond of you." Her face lit up at his words.

"That's okay then, because I like you too," she told him patting him on the cheek.

"Let's try again, then, eh? Is it very important to you to see Santa Claus, ceann beag?" She nodded her head vigorously. He looked over his shoulder at Laura, who gave him a complacent shrug of her shoulders. "Very well, then. Let's go see the fella."

Grasping Laura's hand in his and weaving their fingers together, they made their way through the jostling mobs to stand at the end of the line which had lengthened even further during their walk. Laura left Remington and Laurie Beth standing in line while she went up to speak to the head elf. After establishing it would take nearly an hour and a half to reach the front of the line, she returned to her husband's side.

"An hour and a half, roughly," she told him, biting her lip to keep from smiling in response to his appalled look. "Get used to it, Mr. Steele. If you want children, you can expect this to be an annual tradition."

"I'll hire one," he retorted. This time she couldn't hide the smile from him.

"I'm afraid that takes away half the fun. Kids want it all: the lights, the music, the elves, the chaos." She pressed up on her toes, and brushed a kiss against his cheek. "You'll be fine. Stay with Laurie Beth. I'm just going to run to Bloomingdale's real fast and pick up those gifts. I don't see any need for us going over to Rodeo Drive since we'll be here for at least a couple more hours anyway."

"A couple… a couple more hours?" he stuttered. "How's that?"

"I promised Laurie Beth lunch at the food court." She saw the questioning look on his face at the phrase 'food court' as he tried to muddle through what exactly that might be. "You'll see," she teased, then with a pat on his arm left he and an animated Laurie Beth standing in line.

As soon as she was certain she was clear of Remington's line of sight, Laura veered off her path towards the escalator. On the seventh floor, she made a beeline for Tiffany & Company. Within twenty minutes she'd picked out a pair of platinum cufflinks, a matching set of tie collar clips, and a two-tone Atlas Dome Watch, all of which she was assured would be engraved and ready for pick up within the half hour. Her stomach rolled as the equivalent of the national debt was charged to her personal credit card From there, she scurried over to Bloomingdales, selecting three tasteful silk scarves for the women, and on an impulse, added a Christmas dress, lace bobby socks, red Mary Janes and a hair bow for Laurie Beth. A quick glance at her watched showed she'd been gone just under forty-five minutes. Two doors down from Bloomingdales, she purchased a purse for Mildred in Coach, before she walked as fast as her boot would allow back to Tiffany's to retrieve her purchases which she hid inside the purse she'd bought.

She rejoined Remington and Laurie Beth back at the line, still more than a dozen children before them. She shoved the shopping bag from Coach into his hand, before grabbing Laurie Beth's hand in hers.

"Stay in line," she instructed him. "We'll be back in five."

"Where are we going, Aunt Laura? I don't wanna miss Santa!" the little girl called out to her in alarm. Stopping in her tracks and grimacing at her failure to realize her young niece would need an explanation, she kneeled down to meet her at eye level.

"Uncle Remington is standing in line. No one will take your spot, he'll see to it. I have a little surprise for you. It won't take long." Laurie Beth studied her face for a long second then nodded her agreement.

"Okay. But as long as we get right back!" she told her aunt earnestly.

"I promise," Laura vowed, as she stood back up.

In short order, she found the bathroom and helped Laurie Beth change in the stall. Then sitting her up on the counter, brushed her hair and pulled back the front, securing the hair with the bow. Holding Laura's hand, the little girl skipped happily back to the line to join her uncle again.

"My, my, my," Remington greeted her. "What have we here? A Christmas princess?" The little girl flushed at the compliment and smiled widely, showing off the spot where her top two front teeth were missing. Her new dress featured a short-sleeved, red satin top and a full, white lace skirt complete with a crinoline underneath. A large, red satin bow wrapped around her waist in place of a belt.

"Aunt Laura bought it for me!" she announced excitedly.

"Aunt Laura has exquisite taste. You look lovely," he complimented. "Did you thank her properly for her thoughtfulness?" Laurie Beth's eyes widened when she realized she hadn't. Turning to Laura she hugged her hard around her waist before looking up at her.

"Thank you, Aunt Laura. I love my new dress and shoes and think Santa will too!" Laura leaned down and pressed a kiss to the little girl's cheek.

"You're very welcome." She looked up at Remington and caught him in an unguarded moment, yearning clearly painted all over his face. Her stomach did a funny little flip flop in response. She stood up and took his hand. "Thank you for being so patient with all this," she flicked out a hand to indicate the line and Santa Claus.

"Mmmmm," he hummed, bussing her on the cheek much like she just had Laurie Beth. "I've been well-educated on the importance of being able to tell Santa, in person, what one wants for Christmas. Perhaps that was the mix up in my youth, eh?" he asked lightly. "I never once sat upon Daddai Na nollaig's lap."

"Daddai Na nollaig? Is that how Santa Claus is referred to in Ireland?" Laurie Beth looked up and giggled from where she stood with Laura's hand on her shoulder.

"That's a silly name!" she chortled.

"Ah, ceann beag. Maybe to yourself. But I assure you, children in Ireland would think Santa Claus was quite the funny name themselves," he teased, tapping her on her nose. "That or less commonly, San Nioclás," he answered his wife. She gave his hand a light squeeze. As much as she loved when he shared these little tidbits from his childhood, she hated the look of sadness that would steal the light from his eyes when he spoke of them.

"Well, here's your chance," she teased, in hopes of bringing the sparkle back to his eyes. His eyes narrowed at her before it clicked what she meant. He straightened his back abruptly.

"Don't be absurd. It wouldn't at all do for Remington Steele to be caught sitting on Santa's lap," he retorted, snootily. She gave an exaggerated look around them.

"I hate to injure that fragile ego of yours, Mr. Steele," she drawled, "but I don't think you've been recognized by a single person since we've been here." He let out an indignant little puff.

"Maybe not. But I assure you, if I were foolish enough to perch upon Santa's lap, a reporter from LA Times would pop up and we'd never live it down."

"Coward," she muttered under her breath so Laurie Beth wouldn't hear.

"Oh, really. Seems a little wager is in order, Mrs. Steele," he challenged with the smile she was hoping to see return.

"Oh, and what do you have in mind, Mr. Steele?" she asked, brows raised.

"While you call me out for refusing to sit upon a grow-," glancing down at Laurie Beth, he realized his near slip, "Upon Santa's lap, I am willing to wager you'd be unwilling to do it yourself."

"And if I do?" she smirked.

"I'll not only purchase but watch that… Oil?... movie with you this evening."

"Grease," she corrected. "The movie is Grease."

"If, however, you back out, as I'm sure you will, then…" he scratched his nose, giving it some thought, "…Then, you agree to relieve me from any further shopping duties for the remaining people on that list of yours." This time it was he that cast her the smug look.

"You're on," she agreed, holding out her hand.

"It's my turn! It's my turn!" Laurie Beth shrieked, dancing around under Laura's hand in her excitement.

"Go on, sweetie, we'll be right here," Laura encouraged then watched as her young niece skipped up to Santa before turning her attention back to her husband. "Well?"

"It's a wager," he agreed, shaking her hand, feeling confident that at least this wager he'd win, after a long drought of no victories for him. There was no way his refined, introverted wife would be caught sitting on Santa's lap in front of hundreds of people.

Remington's kept Laura's hand in his as they stood and watched their young niece talk animatedly with Santa Claus before turning to smile for the camera. She skipped her way back to the couple.

"It really is Santa Claus!" she enthused. "I pulled his beard and everything!"

"Well, I guess I'll have to see for myself, won't I?" Laura suggested to the little girl.

"You're going to go see Santa?" Laurie Beth asked, amazed. "But you're a grown up!"

"I am," Laura agreed. "Santa Claus is still one of my favorite people." With an impish smile in Remington's direction and a pat on Laurie Beth's head, she turned and walked toward Santa, planting herself firmly on his lap without the slightest hesitation.

Even Santa seemed surprised at this turn of events, but the actor took it in stride, laughing jollily.

"So, what would you like Santa to bring you this year, young lady?" he asked. She pretended to give it some thought, then instead pointed to the rings on her left hand.

"I've already gotten everything I've wanted this year," she said instead. Santa gave a deep belly laugh for the benefit of those watching.

"Congratulations," he told her in an undertone.

"Thank you." She leaned forward and planted a kiss on Santa's cheek for the photographer's benefit. That it seemed to tweak her husband's humor only made it all the sweeter. Standing, she bid Santa a Merry Christmas then returned to Remington and Laurie Beth.

"Shall we go get our pictures?" she asked her niece while holding out her hand to her. Laurie Beth took it without thought, but just stood staring at her.

"You kissed Santa!" she said in awe.

"I did," Laura agreed with a smile and a nod. "I wanted to thank him for the best present I've ever gotten." She slanted her eyes towards her husband and watched as he realized her meaning. He turned and looked at the crowds milling around them.

"Ah, bugger it," he muttered, stepping to her and kissing her hard, but swiftly. He expected a look of censure when he pulled back, but was pleased to find a pair of dimples flashing up at him instead.

"I should kiss Santa more often," she kidded.

"Like hell," he said quietly. Her laugher made his smile all the brighter. "Shall we?" he asked, holding his hand out towards the photographer. She gave him a nod, walking with Laurie Beth's hand in hers, while he held his hand to the small of her back.

Needless to say, he purchased not only Laurie Beth's pictures, but his wife's as well.

Surprisingly, Remington was relatively well-behaved during their late lunch in the food court. He griped a time or two about the lack of decent food selections until Laura reminded him…

"Better get used to it, if you want children that is. Most children aren't born with gourmet tastes, Mr. Steele."

The comment drew a laugh from Laurie Beth and a shake of his head from her husband.

Their second trip in a week to Kiddie City allowed them to officially wrap up their gift purchases for others. Laurie Beth assisted in picking out gifts for her sister and brother: art supplies for Mindy and model car kits for Danny, while Laura selected toys for her friends' three young sons. After Laurie Beth announced Candy Land was her 'favoritest game in the whole wide world,' Remington tossed it into the cart along with a couple of new coloring books and crayons to keep her occupied the remainder of the afternoon. A quick stop at the video store, and they returned to the Steele's home in Holmby Hills at a little after five.

The two adults sat at the coffee table with Laurie Beth, playing a game of Candy Land with her when the phone rang a half-hour later. Laura excused herself to answer the it.

"Hi, Frances," Laura greeted when her sister greeted her from the other side of the line. Laurie Beth's face fell at hearing her mother's name.

"What's wrong, ceann beag?" Remington asked the crestfallen little girl.

"I don't want to go home yet," she answered, looking down at the table.

"You don't, eh?" She shook her head in the negative, still not looking at him. "Maybe you should ask your Aunt if you can stay a little longer then, hmmm?" he suggested. Laurie Beth's head flew up, a smile growing on her face.

"Can I spend the night?" she asked tentatively.

"As long as it's okay with your Aunt and Mother, I don't see why not," he shrugged. He watched as his niece jumped up and ran through the dining room to Laura's side.

"Aunt Laura?" Laura held up a finger, indicating she should wait a second.

"Frances, really, it's fine if you're fifteen minutes late. You don't have to call to—"

"Aunt Laura?" she said more frantically, tugging at Laura's hand.

"Frances, hold on just a second," she directed into the phone. "What is it, sweetie?"

"Can I spend the night?" she asked anxiously. Laura glanced towards Remington who gave a shrug that clearly said 'it's fine with me.' She gave the idea some consideration. The day had been surprisingly smooth and Laurie Beth would be going to bed in only a couple of hours. She finally shrugged mentally to herself in answer.

"Frances, why doesn't Laurie Beth spend the night here tonight? The three of us are in the middle of a very intense game of Candy Land and we need to determine the victor." Her niece's face lit up with a smile. "No, honestly, we'd enjoy it… She can just wear one of my t-shirts. It will do nicely as a nightgown for her… Yes, ten o'clock would be fine… Alright, we'll see you tomorrow then."

"I can stay!" she announced to Remington happily.

"So I heard," he acknowledged as she kneeled back down next to the coffee table.

"Any ideas for dinner, Mr. Steele?" Laura asked pointedly. He looked at her, baffled for a minute, as she'd watched as he'd pulled salmon out of the freezer to thaw that morning. She looked pointedly at Laurie Beth. Ah.

"I suppose I could manage to whip up grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches and some French fries. How does that sound?" Laurie Beth perked up at that.

"Can I help?" she asked eagerly.

"Mmmm," he hummed, "You can indeed. Let's finish our game first, though, eh?"

Laurie Beth was the gleeful victor of the game. After, she helped with dinner preparations, carefully placing two pieces of cheese and two pieces of tomato on each sandwich, followed by five carrot sticks on each of their plates. She declared the finished product the 'bestest' she'd ever had while they ate.

Following dinner, she and Aunt Laura stretched out on the living room floor, sipping hot chocolate before the fire and coloring together in her new coloring books. Remington pulled out his sketchbook and began to produce a rough rendering of the scene before him, which he would complete in the upcoming days. Laura glanced at him from time-to-time and found in his eyes that same look of longing she'd witnessed earlier in the day, carefully hidden with a smile each time she found his eyes upon him. At eight o'clock, she took Laurie Beth upstairs for a bath, and the little girl, donning one of Laura's t-shirts, was securely tucked into bed. Uncle Remington was elected to tell her a bedtime story, as he did in a way only he was capable of. Laurie Beth giggled here, stared at him wide-eyed and open mouthed there, but ultimately sleep won and stole her away.

Remington and Laura altered their plans, slightly, to take into consideration the little girl sleeping over for the evening, moving their movie night up to the bedroom. Laura showered as Remington retrieved the movie from downstairs, along with a bottle of chilled chardonnay and two glasses. Trading places in the shower, Laura took charge of locking up the house for the evening. At last, a little before ten, they stretched out on the couch in their bedroom to watch Grease together.

To her husband's credit, he managed to swallow all but a couple of guffaws and superior commentaries. She suspected that was due to his fascination with Olivia Newton-John in the role of Sandy. Blondes, always blondes, she groused to herself with a roll of her eyes. The suspicion was confirmed when he began to lay a trail of soft kisses down her neck.

"Wouldn't happen to have one of those skirts tucked away, would you?" he breathed against her neck. She pursed her lips.

"In case you haven't noticed, Mr. Steele, I'm not a blonde. It would hardly play to your fantasy." She tried to keep her voice light, but his reference was hitting a little too close to the home in which her insecurities revolving around his past conquests lived. At least this particular blonde obsession wasn't tall, curvy and stacked. She fought back her sigh. His fingers moved to the buttons of the pajama shirt she was wearing.

"Mmmm. Hardly what catches my interest. I've a new standard, have had for quite some time," he murmured from beneath her ear.

"Oh, do tell," she managed a bit breathily as his mouth laved and gently suckled at her skin.

"Slim…" his lips returned to her neck "petite…" he nibbled, while shifting her to her back "delightfully…" then moved to stretch out over her "prim and proper…" a kiss pressed upon her jaw "talented…" then cheek "lovely singing voice…" before his lips found hers, tasting and teasing before journeying back down her neck.

"Such a sweet talker," she laughed quietly, while threading her fingers through his hair and arching her neck, humming when his lips lingered at the base of her throat. "You do realize…" she gasped, when he suckled firmly on her skin, "I'm a pretty much a sure thing these days, right?" His lips grazed over her shoulder. She looked down as his sure fingers released one button after the next. Her hands left his hair to rest on his shoulder, before she drew her fingers, feather soft, down his back. He moaned quietly.

"Thank God," he mumbled, his lips and tongue blazing a path from neck to breast. She gasped when his mouth unerringly found the tip of a peaked nipple, a hand returning to bury itself in his hair, as the other rhythmically stroked his back, scattering goosebumps across his skin. With a groan, he ground his hips against her. "Laura, love?" he gasped around a mouthful of breast, before pulling firmly upon the hardened tip.

"Oh, God," she panted. She had to force the word past her hips. "What?" His mouth moved to her other breast to take possession of it.

"Here or in our bed?" Her hands pressed against his shoulders until he hauled himself up in a sitting position, looking at her with glazed, hungry eyes. She sat on his lap, knees on either side of his hips, shrugging off the pajama top in the process. Eager fingers raked through his chest hair, as her mouth latched onto his shoulder. A hand settled on her lower back, stroking that place. Her mouth stopped its ministrations as she panted against his skin at the touch.

"Here," she breathed the word, helplessly rocking against his rigid erection in response to the touch. She pushed up on her knees when his thumbs hooked into the waistband of her panties, his mouth finding her breast again as he skimmed her panties down over her hips.

They froze in motion at the knock on the bedroom door, each staring at the other. A second knock had their heads turning towards the sound.

"Aunt Laura? Uncle Remington?" came a small voice from the other side, sending the two adults within the room scurrying into action. Laura yanked her panties back in place and lunged off the couch for her shirt. Remington jumped to his feet, looking a bit confused and raking a hand through his hair. She took one look at the rather impressive tent in his pajama pants and pointed towards the closet.

"Get a robe on," she hissed, while walking quickly across the room to their bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, she opened it, finding Laurie Beth on the other side wide-eyed and sucking her thumb.

"I'm scared," the little girl whispered in a small voice around her thumb. "Can I sleep with you?" Laura glanced over her shoulder at her husband, who was tying his robe closed, with considerable desperation written across her face.

"Of course you can, ceann beag," Remington answered, crossing the room to swing his young niece up in his arms. He stared past Laurie Beth at his wife's swollen lips, flushed skin, and still rapidly rising and falling chest, with a great deal of regret in his eyes as he raised his brows at her in a manner that clearly said 'what choice do we have?'

Taking several deep breaths and releasing them slowly, Laura concentrated on controlling her raging need for the man before her. Walking to the bed she pulled back the covers and climbed in, then waited for Remington to lay Laurie Beth down next to her. Turning on her side, she wrapped an arm around the little girl and drew her close.

"Did you have a nightmare?" she managed to ask, as some of her sensibilities began to restore themselves.

Laurie Beth nodded and acknowledged the question with a small, "Yes".

On the other side of the bed, Remington stripped off his robe and stretched out on his back, pulling sheet and comforter up over the three of them. Laura reached behind her and grasped his hand, tugging him to her. He spooned his body around hers, then lay an arm over top of the one she had around their small niece. She searched her mind for the remedy to nightmares, then recalled the few times her own mother had comforted her.

"Do you want me to sing to you? Would that help?" she inquired. Laurie Beth nodded her head.

In short order, Laura's voice softly wafted through the room as she sang All Through the Night while stroking the little girl's hair. Behind her, Remington nuzzled his chin against the top of his wife's head and closed his eyes. The moment, tranquil and poignant, tugged at his heart strings, the thought of he and Laura one day lying like this with their child as his wife sung to him or her moistening his eyes behind their lids. Unaware he was doing so, he pressed his body all the closer to her lithe frame. When the song ended, the room was so quiet, Laurie Beth's quiet, evening breathing could be heard.

After several minutes had passed, Laura began to grow nervous, wondering exactly how put out he was that their lovemaking had ended before it had truly begun.

"Remington?" She kept her voice low, so as not to wake the little girl sleeping next to her.

"Hmmmm?"

"I'm sorry." He leaned back and frowned at the top of her head.

"Whatever for?" His puzzlement was clear in his voice.

"That our plans were… um…. Interrupted." He snorted quietly behind her.

"Surely you don't think I'm put out because our niece needed our attentions?" he asked, a bit appalled.

"Are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he puffed. "Why ever would you even think such a thing?"

"You've not said a word—" He interrupted her with a shake of his head and a heavy exhale.

"Simply a bit overwhelmed for a spell. It's not every day a man has his arm around his wife and a child as his wife sings that child to sleep. It set me to thinking…" he trailed off. She tangled her fingers with the ones lying atop hers.

"About?" He propped himself up on an elbow and ran a hand across his face.

"How fortunate she is to have people wishing to comfort her after a bad dream…" Releasing Laurie Beth and turning only ever so slightly, she leaned back her head to look at him and to hold a hand against his jaw, her thumb stroking his cheek. "How fortunate any child of ours will be to have two parents that will see to it he or she has the same."

Her brown eyes were solemn with understanding and grief, as her mind finished the thought for him: As he never had anyone do for him as a child, left, instead, alone and afraid. As she frequently did in moments such as these, she silently wished to purgatory all the adults who had failed him as a child. Instead, she nodded her agreement.

"They will." Her voice was quiet but firm. Her hand shifted, so her thumb could caress his lower lip as she cocked her head and considered him. "Are you prepared to relinquish a good deal of our personal time, our privacy?" He lifted his brows at her.

"To have moments like this with our own child?" He nodded his head slowly, the look on his face as he leaned down to buss her on the forehead almost reverent. "Absolutely." Lacing her fingers with his again, she lay down and wrapped both of their arms around herself and Laurie Beth.

"It was a good day, wasn't it, Mr. Steele?" she pondered aloud. Shifting, he pressed his cheek to hers.

"A very good day, Mrs. Steele," he agreed. Unable to resist, she circled her bottom against him.

"Lau-ra," he growled warningly. She laughed quietly.

"In spite of being interrupted?"

"Even in spite of," he confirmed.

She lay quietly for some time, contemplating the day that was coming to a close. Unlike her prior attempts to get her feet damp on the parenting front, today she'd handled the duties with ease. Even more surprising, she'd enjoyed the time they had spent with Laurie Beth. They'd changed their plans for the day fluidly and with ease to accommodate the hopes and needs of the little girl, yet had still accomplished everything they'd set out to do. They'd handed off and assumed responsibility for her niece as though they were old hands in such matters. She pursed her lips and pursued that train of thought. Maybe it simply boiled down to the number of years they'd shared a professional partnership and friendship. They were, after all, old pros at rolling with the punches, at changing thoughts and tactics on a dime, on picking the other up when they fell down. Could it so easily translate into parenthood? After today, she thought it was very, very possible.

Their differences had always complemented each other. He was instinct, she was logic. He was spontaneity, she was calculated decisions. He was adventure, she was stability. He often walked among the clouds, while her feet were planted firmly upon the earth. He was emotion, she was common sense. He was creativity, she pragmatism.

We make one hell of a team. And therein, she realized, lay the key to successively transitioning from a couple to parents and family.

"Rem?" His eyes blinked open in surprise. She'd been quiet so long, he would have sworn she'd fallen asleep some time ago.

"Yes, love?"

"What I'm about to say is going to sound very selfish at first. Promise to hear me through?" she asked quietly. She felt him shift behind her.

"You have my word," he agreed.

"If…. When … we do this, you and I… our relationship, our marriage has to come first… before everything, even our children." He scratched at the side of his nose, perplexed, but held his silence as agreed. "You and I, our relationship, will determine how our children see their home, how they view their future relationships, it will determine if they grow up secure and happy, or reach adulthood remembering unhappiness and loss as we did." He shifted further back as she released Laurie Beth and wriggled around to face him. "I don't want our children afraid to love, to not trust in it. If they see love, if they live surrounded by it, they won't run from it but strive to create and embrace it." She lifted aching brown eyes to his and held the tips of her fingers to his neck. "And on the truly selfish side, I'm not willing to lose this. I want a family, but not if the cost is us. I need to know we'll find time for us each day and I don't mean at work."

Heady stuff, that's what it was, for his normally reticent wife to share thoughts… feelings… such as these. He wasn't sure what surprised him more: that she'd put so much thought on how she wanted their children to be raised, or her admission of how important their relationship had become to her. Whichever the reason, or both, she'd once again found a way to hold his trembling heart in her hand. With a single finger he traced her cheek then jaw, before laying his hand beneath her chin.

"Ah, Laura, if you're selfish, then so am I. I've waited four years for only the hope of having this. Do you really think I'd let it go so easily?" His hand left her chin, to brush her hair over her shoulder. "When will you believe that my dreams, my hopes for a family, all begin and end with you?" He reached for her hand and brushed his thumb over her wedding band. "Our rings, what they say, stand as a testament of your place in my life, not only today, but the rest of our days." She bit at her lower lip, as her eyes sparkled with joy. "As for finding time for us? I believe I've said before: it will take at least until our silver anniversary to make up for the first four years, and given we continue only adding to that time… " he shrugged, as he leaned in to touch his lips to hers, "… it won't be long before I'll have to extend that to our golden." Her quiet laughter made his heart beat faster. Oh, how he loved the sound of her happiness, unrestrained.

With a brush of her lips across his cheek and a stroke of her fingers through his hair, Laura flipped back over and placed her arm around Laurie Beth. Like a moth to the flame, Remington followed behind, spooning his body to hers and tangling the fingers of their joined hands.

"The very spice of life, Miss Holt," he murmured next to her ear.

"That's Mrs. Steele to you, big guy, and don't you forget it!" she whispered back. Licking the tip of his finger, he glided his finger down her neck the blew on it, smiling at the shiver he felt course through her body.

"Ah, as though I could forget. And tomorrow? I plan to spend most of the day making sure you don't either." Laying his mouth next to her ear, he whispered, "Get your sleep, Mrs. Steele. You're going to need it."

"I'll hold you to that, Mr. Steele." Pulling his arm tighter around herself, she closed her eyes and let his steady, familiar breathing lull her to sleep.

(TBC)