Chapter 29

When Jerome exited the bedroom he was immediately tackled by his younger siblings, grunting as Oliver soon joined the fray helping them nearly knock him to the ground.

"Happy Birthday big brother," exclaimed the three of them Charlie repeating the sentiment behind them as she cooked breakfast a tiny smile on her face as she watched him stumble with them in tow to the table. Shaking her head, Addison smiled as she walked past the group. It was one of those days when she was grateful that they had welcomed her into their family. Since her mom had died she hadn't really had that, in fact, if she hadn't of had them she wasn't so sure she would have survived. With that thought in mind she joined Charlie had the stove, the two of them sharing a smile, as she opened the package labeled bacon to help her along with breakfast.

" After breakfast you can start on his cake if you want," said Charlie pouring eggs in a skillet before turning to flip a pancake onto a growing pile.

" Yeah, I'll start it after the breakfast dishes are done," said Addison in response smiling as the bacon began to fry in the pan the aroma wafting up to greet her nose. She loved baking and cooking for her baby. It was her way of showing her love for him and looking at him out of the corner of her eye she smiled wider. She loved him so much, more than she would have ever thought it possible, and though she knew some would think her silly Addison knew he was her soul mate. Not many people found their soul mate at nine years old, but she knew she had. When the pancakes, eggs, and bacon were all done they sat down for breakfast. Like any meal they had ever had together nothing was silent and for once each of them was happy. Jerome sat with his family around him, his arm draped around his girl, and a feeling of relief seemed to settle over him. He was home. He still had his family and suddenly for the first time he thought everything might be okay. There had been a time when he had thought nothing would ever be okay again. There was a time when he thought his next birthday would be spent behind bars surrounded by crazies, but he was far from that now. Now he was home, he was safe, and the people he loved still loved him. Jerome would forever be grateful of it all, his siblings, his girl; his family. As long as he had them he didn't need anything else.

After breakfast no one would let him help with anything. Chloe and Jackson immediately descended into Charlie's room to wrap presents, Oliver followed along behind them, screaming could be heard immediately, and Charlie and Addison did the dishes. He was forced to simply sit and watch. But then the last of the dishes were done, Charlie was gone to help the chaos going on in her room. Jerome found himself left with Addison then, her back turned as she started her usual birthday ritual. He grinned just at the thought; he loved when she baked for him or cooked for him. The girl had true talent in the kitchen. It was one of the many things he had missed while in Arkham, but also the only thing that got him to swallow down the dredge they called food. And sitting there in that moment he remembered the meals at Arkham.

They were damn near inedible, it had taken him awhile to get used to, but eventually he found a way.

"You know, when I was in Arkham…the only way I could manage to eat the food was when I pretended it was your carrot cake," said Jerome not really sure why he was telling her this watching as she turned to smile his way.

"Really…well, you don't have to pretend anymore. I'll bake you a carrot cake anytime you want," whispered Addison returning to her task her voice cracking just at the thought of him being gone. Jerome chuckled in response as he made it to his feet slowly padding over to her. Standing behind her, he leaned flush against her, her back to his chest, as his hands came to clutch at her waist. He had caught the catch in her voice when she said that. Kissing the back of her head, it was a silent reassurance that he wasn't going anywhere again.

"I'm here, baby…I love you," breathed Jerome making her turn her head meeting his eyes.

"I know, I love you too," smiled Addison leaning back suddenly needing to feel him there with her.

"What can I do?" said Jerome laying his head on her shoulder watching her add her ingredients then mix them together.

"Nothing," said Addison without looking at him.

Jerome smiled at her stubbornness planting a kiss on her cheek before continuing onto her throat. But then he looked at her letting out a groan as he held her closer part of him remembering their time not too long ago in his bed. Laying his head against hers he spoke softly to her, at first it was merely sweet nothing as he tried to butter her up into letting him help, but when even that didn't work he groaned again.

"Please Addy…let me do something. I'm so bored I could die of it," exclaimed Jerome making her laugh at his over exaggeration his body sagging playfully against her own. Sometimes he could be so funny, so childlike, but others so serious. With him, she never knew what to expect, but Addison didn't mind that. In fact, she was sure that that was one of the things that had made her fall in love with him.

"Yes, you can watch," grinned Addison laughing when he glared at her. Jerome returned to the table with a sigh, he hadn't held much hope of breaking her resolve, but he always had to try. But still his eyes never left her. He focused on her, on the curves of her body, on the movement of her hands as she worked, and most of all on her face. Her beautiful face. He could just stare at her for the rest of his life and he would be happy.

"Quit it…you know I don't like to be stared at, Jerome," said Addison adding ingredient to her batter.

"I can't help it…you're quite the sight," smiled Jerome.

"No I'm not. I'm just an ordinary girl, "said Addison mixing the batter very quickly now. Jerome frowned at her then making her give him all his attention.

"No you're not. You, baby girl, are far from ordinary, you're my girl, and so to me you are always a beautiful sight," said Jerome making her stop to look at him. It wasn't very often he said something like that, something so sweet, or romantic, but even he had his moments. That remark earned him a quick kiss on the lips before she returned to her baking a smile on her face now.

"You, Mr. Valeska, are going to get a very happy birthday later," whispered Addison as she worked giving him a wink that he returned with a smile. He continued to watch her then hearing as she started to hum as she worked. She mixed everything together until it was just right and only then did the batter get poured into two cake pans. And when it was all just right she handed him the spoon with a smile. But Jerome knew as he licked at the treat that she was far from done. Pulling another bowl from the cabinet she started on the frosting making it with as much love as she had the cake itself. Only when that was done did Addison finally turn to look at him again. He couldn't help, but grin when he saw her. Cake baking was a very messy job and standing there she looked a mess. She had a hint of cake batter on the corner of her mouth and a smudge of frosting on her neck. Just looking at her Jerome was determined he would be the one licking it off. Rising to come to her side again he couldn't resist pulling her close feeling as her hands found his chest immediately.

"Well…don't you look yummy," whispered Jerome leaning down to lick the bit of frosting from her neck. He met her gaze then watching as she smiled her eyes getting slightly heavy at the action as her arms encircled him. The second she did this her face was in his hands and attacking her lips he kissed her with a passion he only had for her. He didn't care in that moment if Charlie and the kids walked in to see them, he just wanted to kiss her, to be with her, and that was his only thought as he kissed her heatedly deepening it before she had a chance to stop him. Not that she would have anyway. As the kiss progressed, Addison leaned heavily against him moaning as she tasted the frosting on his tongue. The kiss was hard and fast. There appeared to be no stopping point and that moan only seemed to spur him on. Soon he had his hands underneath her knees picking her up his mouth leaving her. His eyes never left her as he dropped her on the counter with a squeak diving right back into kiss her again as her fingers traveled into his red hair. As she tugged on the strands he growled his mouth leaving hers traveling to her neck once more. His lips quickly moved over her throat running over it again with his tongue as her legs grabbed him pulling him flush with her.

"Damn Addy…if we don't get some alone time soon I don't what I'm going to do. I need you," gasped Jerome his lips returning to hers almost immediately, but then as if on cue there was a knock on the door.

Their lips parted almost immediately both of them looking at the door. Finally their eyes met again with a sigh, their foreheads touched, and as the knocking continued nothing was said. They both just wanted everybody to go away.

"We just can't catch a break, can we?" breathed Jerome their eyes meeting.

"No, but later I promise I'll find a way for it to be just the two of us," whispered Addison pulling him in for one last kiss. It was then that Oliver answered the door letting Jonathan in. His eyes instantly fell on the united form of his two best friends locked in a passionate embrace. It made him smile, he was glad to know they would always be in love, that even their time apart couldn't break that up. But that didn't keep him from poking some fun at them.

"Get a room," whispered Jonathan as he walked past them with a smirk. This made the couple break their kiss both of them looking at him as he sat down. They knew he was just poking fun, but still the irony of what he said wasn't lost on them.

"We got a room…that's not the problem. We just need to get people to leave us alone while we're there," whispered Jerome more to Addison then to anyone else. Still looking at her then he smiled at her picked her up feeling as her legs wrapped around him. Carrying her to the table he sat down smiling as she made herself comfortable in his lap tenderly kissing his cheek as she did so.

"You having a happy birthday so far, J" smiled Jonathan.

"Yeah sort of. Though I'll be having a real happy birthday a little later," said Jerome squeezing Addison's thigh from beneath the table to emphasis his meaning.