Mike ran around the truck to open the door for Meg. When she got out of the truck he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the door.

"You're just supposed to carry me over the threshold," Meg giggled.

"I'm not taking any chances of you tripping and getting hurt before I get you in the bedroom," Mike said, only half joking.

Meg blushed at his statement and felt her stomach do a somersault as the nerves kicked in as to what they were about to do.

Mike set her down to pull the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. He pushed the door open and picked his bride back up in his arms, walking her into what was now their home. He kicked the door closed.

"Lock that," he said, leaning her toward the door, so she could flip the lock.

"Chain too."

Meg slipped the chain into place and Mike headed toward the bedroom. He sat Meg down on her feet and took her face in his hands.

"I love you," Mike whispered as he leaned in and gave Meg a kiss. He pulled away only for a second before leaning right back in for a deeper kiss and letting his hands go up her back to start unzipping her wedding dress. He stepped back just long enough to pull the dress forward so Meg could slip her arms out of the dress. Mike let it drop to the ground and resumed their kiss, his hands sliding up her back and beginning to unfasten her bra.

Meg tried to concentrate on the kiss and not the fact that she was so nervous she thought she might throw up. She knew it had been difficult for Mike to wait to sleep together until they were married and now there wasn't any reason to delay any longer.

Mike slipped off her bra and let his hand cup her bare breast. Meg shivered.

"Cold?"

"A little," Meg said, not looking at Mike.

"Let's get you into bed," Mike said, pulling back the covers.

While Meg slipped into bed, Mike quickly stripped down to his underwear and then joined her under the covers. He rolled on his side and leaned on his elbow as he resumed kissing her, his other hand caressing her body.

Meg forced her hands around Mike's neck and began lightly scratching his back trying hard to stop her internal freaking out and just focus on the fact that she wanted this too.

She closed her eyes and focused on how soft the sheets felt, telling herself, this was Mike. He was her husband and she was his wife. This is what they were supposed to do on their honeymoon and she shouldn't be nervous. When they had made out in the past, it was so natural and easy. Not letting things progress further had been the difficult part. Why was it so hard to just relax and let things happen, she wondered?

Mike eased back and looked at Meg. Usually when they made out, Meg was an equal participant and vocalized her pleasure at his touch. She was so quiet Mike knew something was wrong. He looked at her eyes that were squeezed shut. She looked pale.

"Meg?"

Meg opened her eyes, but didn't say anything.

"Are you okay?"

Meg shook her head, as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Mike."

"Hey, what's wrong. Am I hurting you?" Mike knew he had been in an almost trance like state. He had wanted her for so long and now she was his wife and he couldn't wait to consummate their marriage. Knowing he wasn't going to have to stop had been so freeing for him, he'd been lost in what it felt like touching her, knowing that soon he would be inside her for the first time and he was anticipating how good that was going to feel.

Meg shook her head again.

"What's wrong?" Mike asked again, his brain kicking back in as his body realized there was going to be a delay in where he thought things were going.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm so nervous. I want this, Mike. I swear I do. I'm just scared. Don't worry about it. I'll be okay as soon as it's over."

Mike just looked at her, his brain registering what she was saying and he really wanted to swear at himself, no kick himself, he thought. How could he have been so insensitive. Of course she was going to be nervous. This was her first time and he was just going at her like this wasn't new for her.

"Please don't be mad at me," Meg pleaded. "I'm sorry. I'm ready, just keep going."

Mike rolled over and got out of bed.

"Oh please, Mike," Meg sat up, but clenched the sheet to her chest covering her nakedness. "Please don't leave. I'm so sorry."

Mike picked her wedding dress off the floor and moved over to her side of the bed.

"I'm not leaving, Meg," Mike said, kneeling down next to the bed. "And you're not the one who should be sorry. I was so focused on the fact that we could be together now, I forgot to let you set the pace. It was stupid of me. I've tried the whole time we've been together to never push you to the next physical level, but let you take us there when you were ready and here I am practically mauling you. Forgive me, sweetheart."

Meg released the sheet with one hand and ran her fingers through his hair. "You didn't do anything wrong," she whispered.

"Yes, I did," Mike said, standing up. "But, I can fix it. Why don't you put your dress back on and meet me in the living room?" Mike laid the dress on the bed and moved to pick up his clothes. He closed the door behind him.

Meg quickly slipped her bra and wedding dress back on and opened the door. She wasn't sure what Mike had planned and she still felt incredibly guilty for stopping him.

Mike was standing in the living room holding two glasses of champagne.

"A toast," Mike said, handing her the glass. "To a wonderful life filled with many happy memories and stolen secret moments."

He lifted his glass and took a sip of the bubbly liquid. Meg followed suit. Mike took her free hand and walked her to the couch. He waited for her to sit down and then he sat down next to her. He set his glass on the table and pulled her legs up to his lap.

"We are going to sit here, talk, and when you're ready, we're gonna make-out a little," Mike smiled at her. "You're gonna set the pace and let me know what you want to happen when. And tonight, if we make love, that'll be amazing and if we don't I'll enjoy holding you through the night. The same with tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day."

Meg smiled at him. "I love you, Mike."

"I love you too, Meg."

Meg got up from the couch. "I'll be right back."

Mike watched her walk down the hallway back to her room. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He knew he needed to do this right.

Mike heard Meg's door open and opened his eyes as she walked down the hall. His mouth dropped open. She'd changed into a short white negligee that left very little to the imagination.

"I'm ready for this level," Meg said, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Mike allowed himself to run a hand down her bare leg, but he didn't move to kiss her.

Meg smiled at him, she leaned forward and pulled him into a kiss. Mike let her set the intensity of the kiss, but he didn't have to wait long before she had him engaged in a deep, passionate kiss.

Mike let his hands roam slightly; but didn't allow himself to cross any lines of more than light petting. Meg adjusted her positon so she was straddling him. She unbuttoned his shirt, and he leaned forward so she could slip the shirt off of him. She ran her nails down his chest and stomach and then slowly back up. Mike sighed with pleasure.

Meg pressed herself closer to him, the negligee silky against his bare skin. She resumed their kiss. Mike forced himself to think back to the day he and Meg had gone to a park near where she'd grown up. The park had a river that slowly wound through the park and ended at a lake with a picnic area. They had gotten inner tubes and let the river slowly wind them through the park. They had eventually gotten to their destination; and it was a day filled with great memories of holding her hand as they floated on the river and talking about everything under the sun. He told himself this was their own private river. It may have them floating slower than he wanted, but he knew they'd eventually get to where he wanted to go and they'd have great memories of the journey.

He felt Meg shift to get off him. He figured she'd reached the limit she was comfortable with right now. He leaned back on the couch and took a deep breath trying to relax himself. He opened his eyes when he felt her reach for his hand.

He stood up as she tugged his hand and obediently followed her down the hall toward the bedroom. She stopped him at the end of the bed.

"Will you take this off?" Her voice was soft, but it was strong and she didn't look afraid.

Mike moved over to her. He slipped his hands underneath the nightie and slipped it over her head. He gently placed his hands on her waist; but he made no other moves.

Meg moved toward him and kissed him, her hands running up into his hair. Mike stood there kissing her for several seconds before she moved away again. She lowered her hands to his pants, undoing his belt and button. She bent down as she pulled his pants down. He stepped out of the pants and she pushed them to the side. She slowly stood up, running her nails up his legs and the inside of his thighs as she stood.

Mike thought she might resume their kiss, but instead she took his hand and climbed into bed and pulled him with her.

Mike continued letting her set the pace as he continually forced his mind back to that river and tried to remind himself that slow was a good thing.

Mike's hand clenched the sheets and Meg rubbed against him. They were now both completely naked and her slow exploration of his body was the most amazing torture he'd ever experienced.

"Mike," Meg whispered.

"Yes."

"I'm ready."

Mike opened his eyes.

"Make love to me, my husband," Meg whispered, pulling Mike into a kiss.

Mike rolled her over. His eyes searched hers, but he didn't see any fear or nervousness, just desire. Mike joined their bodies.

E

Kate lifted her hand, but paused for a moment before she knocked on the door, and let out a breath. She knocked three times on the door.

"Hi, Kate. I wasn't expecting you; everything okay?" Marco stepped back so Kate could enter the apartment.

"I need to talk to you," Kate said, looking over at him. Marco was still in his dress uniform from the wedding. "How was the wedding?"

"It was nice. Mike and Meg looked very happy."

Kate gave Marco a small smile. He gestured toward the couch and she moved to sit down. "You found out something about Evonne," Marco observed.

Kate reached into her bag and pulled out a file. "I don't have all the details, Marco. To get them I'd have to have Captain Stanley pull a report."

Marco looked shocked. "A fire department report?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Evonne was arrested for arson causing bodily injury."

"When?" Marco asked, a feeling of dread settling like a pit in his stomach.

"It's been almost 10 years, Marco. She was a minor; and my report doesn't have all the details. Just that she was charged. I don't have anything beyond that. I don't know if she was placed in a juvenile detention center, or if she was found not guilty. I don't know if she actually set the fire, or was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Marco was looking down at the carpet; his face pale.

"I'm sorry," Kate said.

"For what?" Marco asked, standing up and moving away from Kate. "For doing what I asked. I must've sensed there was something there or I wouldn't have asked."

"We don't know the whole story, Marco. She could've just been in the wrong place at the wrong time," Kate said, sensing how hurt Marco was feeling.

"She knows I'm a fireman, Kate. You don't think she would've known it was important to tell me she'd been involved in a fire before we moved things forward?"

"I don't know, Marco. You should ask her," Kate suggested standing up. "Until you talk to her everything running through your head is just speculation and I know first-hand that doesn't get you very far."

Marco just nodded and followed Kate to the door. He closed it behind her, but just stood there for several minutes; his hand still on the door knob.

E

"Wow, don't you look very dapper," Evonne said, turning to see Marco standing it the door of the restaurant. "I didn't know you were planning on coming by today. I just finished trying a new mole recipe. Want to be my guinea pig?" Evonne held out a spoon of the dark sauce.

Marco just stood looking at her. He didn't say anything and he didn't move.

"Marco? Are you okay? Did something happen at the wedding?" Evonne asked, feeling a sense of unease creep into her heart.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Evonne just looked at him a minute, the unease turning to fear. "Tell you what?"

"Don't play games with me, Evonne," Marco raised his voice.

Evonne felt her hands begin to shake. "Who told you?"

"Not the person who should have," Marco said, his tone accusatory.

"I wanted to tell you," Evonne said, putting down the spoon and turning her back to Marco as she washed her hands in the sink.

"There wasn't anything stopping you," Marco said. "If you wanted to, you would have."

"It's not that simple," Evonne said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I can't work with someone I can't trust," Marco said.

Evonne turned to face him.

"You can pay me back over time; but I'm out," Marco put his key to the restaurant on the counter and turned away, heading back to his car.

Evonne stood frozen. She just stared at the key on the counter. She heard Marco's car start and began moving out of the restaurant. She ran to the parking lot and stepped in front of Marco's car. He had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting her.

"What is wrong with you," Marco yelled, slamming the car into park. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" He asked, getting out of the car.

"You stormed out without giving me a chance to say anything," Evonne said.

"Your time to say something was literally any minute before I was told by someone else that you'd been arrested for arson where someone was injured," Marco said, his arms crossed over his chest.

"And how do you suggest I should have done that, Marco? When you were busy saving me from my restaurant fire? When you were helping me clean up the mess and see if I could salvage my business? When you were offering to help me save my dream by opening a take-out window and starting a catering business with you? Or maybe the day you kissed me? Maybe that was the day I should have told a FIREMAN, that I was arrested because the police thought I started a fire that hurt someone!"

Evonne moved away from the front of the car to stand in front of Marco. "It's not an easy conversation normally. The fact you are a fireman, makes it worse. The fact I don't like to talk about it, is just another obstacle. The fact I like you, just makes it THAT much harder," Evonne was obviously frustrated.

"It's not so cut and dry either," Evonne said. "They claimed the fire was intentional; but I swear to you Marco, it wasn't. I will tell you everything, just please sit down and talk to me."

Marco stood staring at her, sometimes it was just too late.

"Please. You can always leave after I've told you what happened."

E

Roy smiled as Joanne joined him in the shower. They still had just over half an hour before Johnny and Ainsley brought all the kids over to their house for the evening.

Joanne lathered up her hands and began to wash his body. He closed his eyes and just let himself enjoy the sensation. He wasn't sure he was up for round 3; but if she wanted to try he was happy to let her do some encouraging.

Joanne maneuvered them further back in the shower stall after she rinsed the soap off Roy's body, so the heat from the spraying water kept them warm; but wasn't beating directly on them. She knelt down in front of him, taking his hardness into her mouth and making him groan from the sheer pleasure of the sensation.

E

"Jo," Ainsley called out as she and Johnny opened the door to the DeSoto home, slowly; wanting to make sure they didn't walk the kids into anything they shouldn't see.

"In here," Joanne called from the kitchen.

Chris and Jennifer bolted for the kitchen to show off their prizes from the carnival. Johnny and Ainsley walked into the kitchen, Ainsley holding Hunter's hand and letting the little boy walk and Johnny carrying Grace.

"We decided to take the kids to the carnival," Ainsley explained as Joanne and Roy eyed the stuffed animals, gold fish in a bag and giant sticks of cotton candy that loaded down their children.

"So they're gonna be up all night?" Roy said, looking at the mound of pink sugary fluff that Jennifer was munching on.

Johnny shook his head. "No way. I figure you have about 20-minutes tops before all of them have a sugar crash are quite content to lay on the couch and watch cartoons. We ran their little butts ragged."

"Good, 'cause I don't have any energy left," Roy said, a content smile on his face.

"Yeah, well I saved just enough," Johnny said, "so we're outta here." He handed Grace to Roy. "Go play with Chris and Jennifer," Johnny said, moving Hunter's hand from Ainsley's to Joanne's. He grabbed Ainsley's hand and headed for the front door, leaving behind the sound of Roy and Joanne laughing at his eagerness.

E

"What do you want to do with the rest of our day?" Beth asked, running her fingers through her husband's dark chest hair as she lay wrapped in his arms.

"More of this," Hank replied lazily.

Beth giggled. "We can't stay in bed all day."

Hank rolled over and kissed his wife. "Why not?"

"We're too old to spend all day making love. We did that stuff when we were newlyweds like Mike and Meg."

"We only stopped because we had kids to tend to," Hank said. "Not because we got too old. The girls are gone all day. I can't think of a single reason not to spend it pretending we're newlyweds again."

"Weddings do make your frisky, don't they," Beth teased.

Hank slipped below the covers, letting his tongue prove to his wife how frisky.

Beth gasped and then giggled as she succumbed to the pleasure her husband was instilling.

E

"Hi," Chet hesitated in the doorway.

"Chet, hey, you're just in time to help me celebrate," Carol said., looking at the handsome fireman, still in dress uniform, standing in her hospital room doorway.

"What are we celebrating?" Chet asked, moving into the room.

Carol pointed to the jell. "No more feeding tube. I get to try real food."

"You call that real food?" Chet asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it was this or chicken broth."

"It's green."

"They were out of cherry, my only option was lime," Carol said.

"That's just from the area where they send up patient food. I bet I can find cherry or at least orange in the regular cafeteria. Want a different flavor?"

"Orange is my favorite," Carol admitted.

"Give me five minutes," Chet said, heading out the door.

He was back in the five minutes as promised. "Orange, Cherry and lemon," Chet said, dropping about a dozen small containers on Carol's food tray.

Carol laughed. "Did you buy every jell they had?"

"Let the visitors suffer with lime jell," Chet said. "Patients should get the good stuff."

"Thanks," Carol blushed at his attention.

"So does that mean you'll get to go home soon?" Chet asked, opening an orange Jell-O packet for Carol and handing it to her.

"Dr. Brackett said barring any problems I can go home on Friday."

"Do you need a ride?" Chet offered.

"Oh, uh, I don't want to put you out," Carol's blush deepened.

"Oh, I mean, if you've already got someone picking you up, I mean, that's fine. I was just offering if you didn't have anyone," Chet stammered, wondering if maybe he'd pushed too hard.

"No, I mean, I haven't made any arrangements yet; but I have people I can ask. I don't want you to go out of your way. You've already been so nice." Carol kept her eyes focused on her jell.

"I don't mind," Chet said. "I was kinda hoping I could use that time to ask you if you felt up to going to a wedding reception on Saturday. The Engineer at our station just got married today and they are doing a reception on Saturday," Chet said, looking down at his feet. "But, I totally understand if you're not feeling up to it, or anything like that."

Carol looked up to see Chet studying his feet. Was this handsome fireman really nervous about asking her out, she wondered?

"If you're sure it's not too much trouble, I'd really appreciate the ride home. And if you don't mind the fact that I may only make it a short time; I'd love to go to a wedding reception with you," Carol said, watching Chet.

A big smiled crossed his face as Chet looked up. "That'd be great."

"Want a jell?" Carol pointed to the numerous containers on her tray with her spoon.

"I'd love one," Chet picked up a cherry jell and another spoon. He grabbed a chair and pulled it closer to Carol's bed, sitting down for a visit.

Carol took a spoonful of orange jell and smiled at him.