A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"I think we need a new washing machine." I step into my black knit pants and then turn to the doorway where Christian is standing. He's been downstairs feeding the girls so I wonder why he's bringing up needing a new washing machine.
"Why do we need a new one when the one we have isn't a year old yet?"
"Let me rephrase my comment. We need another washing machine to go with the one we already have. The girls got food all over their clothes so I changed them and took the dirty ones to the laundry room. I know that Janie does all she can with the laundry, but it's got to be hard washing clothes for so many people using only one machine."
"You've got a point, especially since Georgia and Raygan like making messes. That leads me to my question of where are they?" He finally moves and pads over to the bassinets where Aidan and Teddy are laying.
"They're downstairs with Gail and Taylor. As soon as I got their clothes in the machine, they tore away from me. How was your shower?"
"Very refreshing. I think I got most of the baby spit up out of my hair." After feeding Aidan, I noticed that part of my hair had slipped out of my ponytail, resulting in spit up getting in it. Christian smiles down lovingly at the boys and then moves in front me. He takes a strand of my hair in his hand and brings it to his nose, taking a slow sniff.
"It smells like honeysuckle.", he laughs. I glance over my shoulder at Aidan and Teddy.
"Boys, your dad's odd at times but still the most amazing man in the world."
"And the amazing dad wants to have a date night with the even more amazing mom. What do you say about us going out tomorrow night, just you and me?"
"Who's going to watch the kids?", I ask.
"Mom and Dad who already said yes. We haven't had a date night since the nuggets have been born." Christian's right. In the four weeks since Aidan and Teddy made the entrance into the world we haven't had any alone time outside of the house.
"A date night does sound nice, but you do realize we still have some time to go before we get the all clear from Dr. Greene." He closes the distance between us even more, placing his hands securely on my shoulders.
"I'm well aware. However, we don't have to have that in order to have a perfect night. What am I saying? We always have perfect nights and days."
"Another thing boys, your dad is a true romantic.", I giggle as Aidan and Teddy begins crying. Christian releases his hold on me and picks up Aidan while I get Teddy.
"So much in fact that I've been named the Swoon King.", Christian laughs with a heart stopping wink.
"How's Daniella doing?", I ask Haley. She finishes watering the fern in the corner of the office and looks out the window that overlooks the bookstore. In the front of the store, both Emily and Gwen are helping customers.
"She's caught on well. I was a little cautious at first considering her past with Clarissa, but they get along well. It's clear things between them have vastly improved. Gwen, Emily, and I also like her.", Haley says as Georgia and Raygan start digging into the diaper bag next to my chair. They came to the store with me while Gail and Vickie watch Aidan and Teddy.
"Girls, don't start unpacking the diaper bag." Georgia has managed to get the wipes container open and has pulled out several wipes. I reach down and take them from her. She draws her mouth up and looks as if she's going to cry, but then she starts giggling. Haley observes the entire thing until she opens the top drawer of her desk. She brings out a small stack of papers which she slides across the desk to me. "What are these?"
"Coupons for massages and kisses.", she answers. "All of them are courtesy of Adam. He came home from work last night and gave me this immaculately wrapped box. It wasn't my birthday or our anniversary so I was a little unsure what he had for me and why. I opened the box and found a smaller box which led to an even smaller box. Inside the third box were these coupons. I asked why he was giving them to me, and he said just because. I was in tears. It was a sweet thing for him to do. I handed him one of the free massage ones before we went to bed last night. I swear the guy could be a professional. He lit some candles and turned on some light music. It set the mood as he worked his hands on my body." She cradles her face in her hands as she recalls what happened.
"I'm glad you enjoyed your massage, and I'm sure you enjoyed what followed afterwards.", I tease.
"Me go bye bye.", Raygan says.
"We're going bye bye in a second.", I tell her. "I've got to get them home and down for a nap. I also need to find something to wear for my date with Christian."
"Any thing you decide is going to be incredible."
"How is this?" I spin around in the middle of the bedroom to give Christian a good look at the dress I decided to wear for tonight's date. I went went a deep red form fitting dress that stops just above the knee. It shows every bit of my curves. Christian stands in front of me and then moves around to the back, all in complete silence. "If it's not ok, be honest and let me know."
"Baby, you're stunning.", he whispers. His eyes tell me he's being honest. I then take in him in his crisp white button up and black pants.
"You're looking very hot tonight.", I blush.
"Thank you. You see I have a date with my wife, and I wanted to look my very best."
"Your wife is going to be very pleased with what she sees." Before any more words are spoken, his lips are on mine. We're lost in one another until crying breaks the moment. "Aidan and Teddy are awake. It's also time for them to eat."
Once Aidan and Teddy are fed and changed into fresh diapers, Christian and I carry them downstairs into the living room. Sawyer's in the middle of the sofa with Georgia and Raygan settled beside him. All six eyes are glued to the tv. Gail and Taylor are on the love seat where they're whispering to each other amid glances at the sofa.
"What are you guys watching?", Christian asks Sawyer and the girls.
"Pooh Bear.", Georgia answers without taking her eyes off the tv.
"Ana, you look very nice.", Gail says. "And so do you Christian."
"Thanks Gail.", I tell her. The doorbell rings and ends the concentration Georgia, Raygan, and Sawyer had on the tv. Taylor shakes his head in amusement on his way to the get the door. He opens it and steps to the side for whoever is on the other side. I'm suprised to see that it's Greg, the guy who Barbara has been dating. The last time I saw him was at the hospital when he accompanied Barbara to see the boys. Now, however, Barbara isn't with him. "Grey?"
"Hi Ana, Christian. I'm sure you're probably wondering why I'm here and without Barbara. The thing is...I don't know where Barbara is." Gail, sensing I'm going to need help, takes Teddy from me while Taylor takes Aidan. We then head into the kitchen.
"What do you mean you don't know where Barbara is?", I ask.
"She and I were supposed to meet around two at my place, but she never showed and called. Barbara is always on time, but she calls if she thinks she's going to be a little late. I didn't get any call from her. When I tried calling her, it would only ring and ring and ring. I went to her place and found her car in the driveway. I then let myself inside with the key I have." He looks at Christian. "We took a new step in our relationship when we exchanged keys."
"Go on.", Christian says.
"Inside, nothing was out of the ordinary at first, but then I saw her purse on the coffee table. Next to it was her phone."
"Did you call the police?"
"Yes. They told me they couldn't do anything until she had been missing twenty-four hours. The cop also made some snide remark about Barbara just going out for some fresh air to clear her head. Why would she do that without her car or purse? She'd never just up and leave."
"I haven't talked to her since you guys came to the hospital, but how have things been with the two of you?", I ask as I feel myself shivering in fear. Barbara has been like a mother to me, and the idea of something possibly happening to her is devastating.
"Things have been wonderful with us. We've seen each other every day and have been falling more and more in love.", Greg replies. "I came here to see if you had seen or talked to her, but you just answered that."
"The police will get on the case.", Christian sighs, wrapping his around me. "I'll call and make sure of it. There won't be any twenty-four hour waiting. I'm also going to have my guys do some searching. We're going to find her."
"We have to.", I murmur.
A/N 2: For those curious, Barbara is Ray's old high school girlfriend who reconnected with him in the first SOTH. After his death, she's remained close to Ana and has been a mother type figure.