Colton could barely focus all day. He kept checking the clock and checking flight tracker to make sure her plane was on time. Iris had sent him a quick message to say she was on the plane and couldn't wait to see him. It had been a long four weeks since he'd turned up on her doorstep and the day was dragging. They had talked every day, sometimes for a few minutes and sometimes for hours.

Reconnecting with Iris had been the best thing he'd done. He couldn't be happier and even his mother had commented in the vain hope he'd met someone new, he didn't bother to tell her it was Iris. He was pretty sure even if it wasn't Iris it wouldn't take her long to start hating whoever he dated next, it was only a matter of time but for some reason her dislike of Iris was next level.

When the traffic snarled he was glad he'd left a little earlier and arrived at the airport just as Iris's plane landed. Was there anything better than seeing the love of your life scanning the crowd for you at an airport then bolting into your arms? "Well hello." He grabbed hold of her legs as she jumped into his arms. "You seem happy to see me?"

"So happy. I missed you." After smothering him with kisses Colton set her down on her feet. "The poor guy I was sitting next to must have thought I was high or coming down off something. I couldn't sit still."

It felt nice to be holding her hand again as they weaved their way through the crowd out to the parking lot. Iris had crammed everything she needed into a carry-on bag which Colton had slung over his shoulder. "So? Dinner? Movie? Visiting friends? Family?"

"No, no, no. Your place. I need to get naked with you, until tomorrow morning at least."

"I like the way you roll."

"I'm so fucking horny." Iris moaned as they pulled out into traffic. "This is one thing I don't miss about Chicago. The fucking traffic."

"Well those two things are related." He laughed. "I missed you too."

Iris was all over him as he drove. "Quit it." He growled at her playfully as he pushed her hand away from his groin. "Look what you've done to me."

"Not my problem." Iris huffed when Colton slapped her hand away as she reached for him again. The last thing he needed was to be pulled over in the state he was in, holy hell he wanted to get her home though. The second thing he would do is take his shoes off. "You know just before the plane landed I took my underwear off."

"Fuck off, you did not."

Iris reached into her bag and pulled out a black lace thong. Swinging it from her fingertips she smiled coyly at him. "Didn't I?"

"Oh fuck Bug, I missed your crazy." He slid his hand over her knee and under the hem of her dress, stopping short of the holy grail which was tough for him and frustrated Iris.

"I just want to streamline things."

Iris had only had a video tour of Colton's place. He had moved recently when something closer to work came up. It was a little bigger than his last place and had two bedrooms and she was looking forward to seeing it. They hadn't talked about where they would live when she came back, whether they would move back in with Pops. Alfie had put in the hard yards and his life was sort of on hold because of it. Perhaps they could ease the burden a bit and they had enjoyed living with Pops in the past. Although it still seemed like a million miles away, Iris had four months left on her contract. "I hope you changed the sheets?" Iris lamented playfully. "I don't want to sleep in your sleazy sex sheets."

"The only sex I've had in those sheets lately is phone sex with you."

"That was fun hey?" Having not spent much time apart it was a completely new experience for them and they made the most of it although it took a little bit of encouragement from Iris to get him to let go of the reins. Sometimes he could be such a stereotypical accountant.

"If you keep talking about it, this will be over before I get it out."

He did get it out, he did still have his shoes on and he didn't care that Iris had lied to him about the underwear, it had the desired effect and it didn't take him long to get them off anyway and they were banging within minutes of walking through the door. Then he gave Iris a tour of his place and Iris noted all the places they had to 'christen' over the next few days, but all she cared about right now was the bedroom.

It was a long night and lazy morning in bed. Colton got up and made them breakfast while Iris showered. She threw on one of his shirts over her lacy panties, it was something else she missed, wearing his clothes. Colton loved seeing her in his house again and in his clothes, she had deliberately not packed much knowing that he would love her in his shirts and she found some old favourites. He was just in a pair of jeans, bare foot making an omelette. "Smells good." Slipping her hands around his waist she kissed his back. "You smell sexy."

"Sweaty?"

"No sexy, like you've done nothing but have sex."

"Well Wombat, you were horny last night remember?"

"Hmm…" This was about to get a little dangerous because her hand was heading south. He had barely buttoned up his jeans and Iris made quick work of them. "Don't you ruin my omelette, I'm hungry."

It was hard to focus and not burn the eggs when she had her hand fairly shoved down his pants. "Are you right?"

"Yep. I missed this?"

"What my omelette's?"

"No, your dick." He couldn't handle it anymore and turned off the burner and set the pan aside. "My eggs?" Iris was a little surprised when he pulled her hand out and pushed her up against the bench.

"Fuck your eggs Iris." He was hard, the eggs were ruined and there was no better feeling than screwing her against the bench, he had missed the crazy sex they used to have. Iris had always been wild and dragged him along for the ride.

Alfie had been roped into keeping this a secret and Iris messaged him to say they were on their way over. They had made the most of the night and morning together but Colton could tell she was keen to see her Pops. He did tease her and tell her she was just using him to get to see the old man and Iris didn't deny it. "I had to pay for my ticket somehow."

"Yes you did, you've only paid one way though, still gotta pony up for the trip back." He locked the door behind them and slipped his hand into hers. He loved having her back in his life, as well as the big things and the sex, it was the little things that meant the most and holding her hand was a little thing and he was in heaven.

"So if we don't have sex again you won't let me leave?"

"If that makes you stay I'll sacrifice myself." He closed the car door once Iris was inside, he loved treating her like a queen. Colton had been bought up by his father to be a gentleman. He knew how to treat women even if his parents rarely showed any respect for each other.

"Who's that?" Adam growled at the doorbell. He hated unexpected visitors, they stressed him out now. Too many times had it been bad news lately. Most people just walked in without knocking, so having the doorbell go was annoying. Alfie told him to be nice.

"It's Colton, Pops." Alfie smiled at both of them when he opened the door. Colt made good on his promise to bring Bug home to see Pops.

"What does he want?" Adam was unhappy with him. He'd hurt his Bug and that was close to unforgiveable. "Don't you remember what he did?" No matter how many times Iris told him it was her idea to split up and move away Adam blamed Colton for not trying hard enough to keep her here. He argued that he did but accepted that Adam was pissed with him.

"You liked Colton. It was Iris's decision, not his. Anyway I bumped into him the other day and told him to come see you." Alfie teased him as he stepped aside and let them in. "That you were grumpy and I'd had enough of you."

"Funny." Pops grumbled as he wandered out of the kitchen. He stopped on a dime and covered his face with his hands to hide the sudden tears. "Oh…"

"Hey Pops." It wasn't Colton that made him cry, it was his Bug. Iris moved his hands from his face. She held them tightly and kissed his cheek. "Are you not happy to see me?"

"Bug?"

"In the flesh. I missed you." She hugged the old man, surprised at how frail he'd gotten. "I love you Pops."

"What are you doing here?"

"Surprising you. Are you surprised?"

"Did you know about this?' He asked Alfie sharply.

"I did. It's good hey?"

"Give an old man a heart attack." Iris led him over to the lounge. "What are you doing here? Are you coming back? What's Colton doing here?"

"Slow down Pops. I'll tell you." Iris chuckled. "Colton and I finally pulled our heads out of our asses and decided we really do quite like each other and he came to see me. I am coming back to Chicago but not for a little while yet. Another couple of months but I wanted to come back this weekend because I missed you, and Colton and everybody."

"Do they know?" He assumed they didn't because they would have been here annoying the crap out of him all morning if they did. He would have a word to Alfie later about keeping secrets. He was too old for surprises; they might just kill him one day.

"No, just Alfie. I got in last night."

"Why did you not stay here?"

"I stayed with Colt."

"Sex?"

"Yes Pops." She rolled her eyes. Nothing had changed with him; he had no filter. They all just accepted it and kept the conversation moving on.

"How long do I have you for?"

"Until Monday. You have to share me with Colt though."

Adam waved his hand dismissively in Colton's direction. "Phooey. He's had enough of you last night and this morning. He shouldn't be greedy. I've known you longer. I saw your skinny bare ass first."

"Thanks for the visual Pops. I promise you've got me all day."

"No, you are staying here. This is your house." He was adamant and neither of them were surprised. Colton offered to go home and grab Iris's bag, he didn't even question it. Sharing Iris with her family was pretty much a given. "He can stay too if he has too, but no sex."

"Ahhh Pops." Iris was not going to cop that and by the look of horror on Colton's face neither was he. He wasn't having Iris here, after a month without her and not having as much sex as they could possibly manage.

"Okay, but not in the kitchen, or on the table or on the floor in here." He waved his hand around. "In the bedroom."

"Okay Pops. I got it."

"And don't break anything, your father used to break furniture all the time trying to get his leg over on your mother."

"Colton's a boring accountant, strictly missionary."

Colton just shook his head as Iris winked at him, he never got used to their crazy conversations with the old man but he had missed it.

"I missed you Bug." His hands were shaking as he reached out and touched Iris's face. "My beautiful Iris, you are still my beautiful little girl." She held his hand on her cheek.

"It's so good to see you Pops. I love you. I missed your crazy ass."

Now that Adam had got over the shock of seeing Iris he was more than happy to play the game. He loved stirring people up. "I want to see Poppy; can you bring her over?" He barked at Mae before she even had the chance to say hello.

'Today?'

"Yes, I might me dead tomorrow." Adam knew he could get them to do anything he wanted by telling them he would be dead soon. "Lola is bringing the boys over."

He hadn't contacted Lola yet, but he knew she would come if he asked.

"Oh My God…" Mae screamed when her sister opened the front door as her car pulled up. She flew out of the car, leaving Poppy sitting bemused in the back seat while her mother was all over Iris. It was only when she called out to her Mom that Mae remembered her. "What are you doing here?" Mae reluctantly let Iris go and helped Poppy out of the car.

"Visiting Pops." She shrugged. "Hi Poppy." Iris was so excited to see her little niece. She had grown so much but she was a little shy and cuddled up to her Mom.

"It's so good to see you." Mae held Iris's hand all the way into the house. "You look good. It must be this place that's making you happy. You should come home." She gave Poppy to her Uncle for a cuddle and Iris felt a little put out, Poppy squealed happily and clapped her hands at Alfie and she barely knew her and refused to go near her. "Fie, Fie." She chanted.

"I will, I am happy to be here."

Colton had gone home to pick up Iris's stuff. They had told Adam they would get it later but he insisted that he get it now before they changed their mind. Patience was not a virtue that Adam possessed. He was never the most patient of people, now he was ridiculously impatient. Rather than argue with him Colton just smiled and told them he'd be back soon.

"So tell me? This is sneaky, why didn't you tell us."

"Alfie knew."

"When did you get here?"

"Last night."

"And? It's nearly lunchtime." Mae tried to sound annoyed, it didn't really matter, Bug was here and that's all she cared about. "We would have come over last night?"

"She was having sex last night." Adam dropped her in it. "With Colton. They are at it like rabbits again."

"Colt?"

"Yes, Colton." Iris sighed. "Thank you Pops."

"What the hell?"

"He came up to Albany about a month ago, he surprised me and so here we are."

"About bloody time." Mae clapped and Poppy cheered because her mother was, she had no idea what she was happy about. It never made sense to Mae why they split up rather than just do the long-distance thing. It was only for a year, if they really wanted too they could have done it. It was petty and stubborn but Iris was young and had to work it out for herself and she was glad they sorted it out eventually.

Eventually Poppy warmed up to her Aunt and Iris loved getting down on the floor and letting her climb all over her. She had just started walking, having taken her own sweet time to get up and going. Iris loved it and Mae was so happy to see Bug with her niece, she'd missed so much of her life.

Lola was so shocked she almost dropped Billy. The poor little boy let out a startled cry as he was squashed in between his Mom and Iris. Alfie had messaged her and said that Pops had the shakes and he was a little worried about him. Adam had insisted that they tell Lola that there was something wrong with him because that would get her over here in the shortest time possible. "This is amazing."

"He's so big." Iris scooped Billy out of his mother's arms and smothered him with kisses. "I wish I'd been here." Iris had flown home briefly when he was born three months ago and watching him grow up on a video screen really sucked. He smelt so good as Iris snuggled into him.

"Yes you did, so come home. Wait, are you home now?"

"No, not yet. I'm just here for a few days." Iris was making faces at Billy. Sam had barely given her a second glance; he was off tormenting Poppy already which was his favourite thing to do. He liked her so much more than his brother because she did something other than cry and 'suck boobies.' Sam was much happier with Poppy; she was a moving target. "I go back Monday."

Lola's eyes bugged out of her head when Colton walked through the door with two bags. "What the hell?" Her head swung around between the two of them. "Really?"

"Yes, really." Iris nodded. "It's a good thing."

"And you are coming home because of him?"

"I am. I can't wait. It's not the only reason but Colton coming back for me was the push that I needed."

"Neither can I." Lola smothered her sister.

Alfie squashed his bug in the fiercest of hugs once everything had calmed down. He snuck up behind her in the kitchen. "I'm so happy he did the right thing." He had enjoyed watching his sister's together and how happy Pops was, he also enjoyed watching Colton squirm when Pops started lecturing him about whatever popped into his head.

"He did, and I have you to thank." Iris giggled and kissed her brother's cheek.

"Always making sure my bug gets the best, that's my job. And he's the best for you."

Colton had been right; he didn't get anywhere near Iris until they were ready for bed. "Hi Bug?" It was nice to be back in their room, the room that they had lived in for almost two years. They had been happy here; it wasn't the most conventional way when you were young to develop a relationship but it had worked for them.

Being with Iris was nothing like he expected, she was beyond his wildest dreams. While on the outside they seemed to be polar opposites, the wild, fun loving Iris and the serious Colton but beneath the surface they were similar. They loved the same things and could spend hours talking about a movie, a TV show, the latest news, politics or some latest current affair. They loved eating out and Colton had introduced her to things she would never have eaten before and she got him to watch movies or read a book that he never would have touched. Iris was more a thrill seeker and Colton got dragged along, she pushed him out of his comfort zone and he loved just being with her.

They could also just be together and not talk. They were comfortable with each other's quirks and knew when to push and when to just let each other be. Colton worked hard to understand her hidden pain and Iris forced him to be more forgiving to his family. They worked; they had always worked.

Her family could be overwhelming at times, he struggled with that some days but it was never going to change. They were tight, they let you in but when things got tough he felt like he was just hanging on. Being apart though was worse, he wanted to be with Iris, so he needed to suck it up and deal with her family and seeing how happy they were to see her today only reinforced that.

"It was. They were good to you?"

"I'm bringing you home, they love me. Although I did get a bit of grief that it wasn't happening as quickly as they would like." He stretched out on the bed and watched Iris rifle through her bag. "What you looking for?"

"Something to wear to bed."

"Why?"

"Because the likelihood of Pops being in here at the crack of dawn is pretty high."

"True, but you don't need it right now." He patted the bed beside him. "Come here baby."

Iris flopped down beside him and welcomed the weight of him as he rolled on top of her. "Welcome home."

"Are you okay with that?" Adam had declared, over dinner in front of everyone that this was Iris's home and this was where she was coming back to live.

'If you don't like that Colton, too bad. She's my granddaughter and she's been away from me for too long. I'll be dead soon anyway then you can do what you like.'

"I'd live in a tent with you."

They were right, they were woken up by Adam, sitting on the side of the bed. "Just checking that my Bug is still here." He was a crazy old coot and Iris adored him.

"I'm still here Pops, still sleeping." Iris groaned and she knew that Colton would be smiling. "Still love you."

"Good girl."

The weekend wasn't long enough and it made Iris even more homesick. She hung onto Colton at the airport until the last moment. Being at home with her family again made her realise that the next four months weren't worth it. Staying in a job she hated wasn't worth losing out on watching Sam, Billy and Poppy grow up or her Pops. Alfie had come back because Pops was getting old and nothing had changed, he was still getting old. She didn't want to miss anything.

She talked to Colton every day one way or the other. Either via video, messaging or a voice call. Some days they were quick and other days much longer.

Time was dragging for everyone, particularly Iris and Colton. She just wanted this to be over and be back in Chicago and he wanted her back with him.

He was planning on another visit, although Pops rang him constantly to remind him that it would be far more efficient if he bought her back here rather than waste his money flying up there to see her.

While it was a good idea, the benefit of flying up to see her was he didn't have to share her.

One phone call…changed everything.