John smiled at Jaycee as they arrived at the hotel. Jaycee smiled as she walked out on the balcony and looked at the ocean. She had been shocked when the plane landed in The Bahamas.
"Like the view." John said walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I love the view and everything." She said turning to face him. "And I love you ."
"I love you too. That's why I brought you here. To relax and reconnect with you."
"We need to reconnect?"
"Yes, we have been so busy with our careers and with Ethan. I want us to reconnect as husband and wife. Not just mom and dad."
She smiled and leaned in and kissed him. "I want that too. In fact, how about we start right now?" She took his hand and they headed back into the room. John smiled and pulled her to him. He laid her back on the bed and their clothes were soon gone and they were making love. Being at the ocean and smelling the ocean breeze reminded Jaycee of their first time together. It was so romantic and magically. And it made her love him even more.
"That was pretty incredible." John said as they laid there afterward.
"Yeah it was." She smiled and kissed him. "This is nice. So, how long are we staying here?"
"A few days. I want us to enjoy this time and not think about anything back home. Well, other than calling to check on Ethan. But we know he's fine."
"I hope Charlie and Phil are too."
"I'm sure they are." He replied. "They just have things to work out. But they are going to be parents together and that's a powerful bond."
"Yeah. I just wished my brother wasn't being like this. I know they love each other but it's like their lives can't compliment each other."
"This time away is about us. No thinking about them okay?"
"Okay." She said as she leaned in and kissed him and they were making love again.
Charlie looked at herself in the mirror and made sure she looked good. Phil had called and said he picked up Ethan from school and would keep him until the next day. She was nervous. She'd only ever been on dates with Phil.
She heard the doorbell rang and took a breath. She walked down the stairs and opened the door to find Ted standing there.
"You look beautiful." He said to her.
"Thanks." She said smiling.
"Oh, these are for you. If I remember right, lilies are your favorite."
She smiled and took them from him. "They are my favorite and they're beautiful."
"Well shall we head out?" She nodded and took his arm that he offered. They got in the car and drove off.
Phil looked over at Ethan. "You sure about this?"
"Yes. You and Aunt Charlie belong together. And we have to stop her and Mr. DiBiase from becoming anything."
Phil shook his head and smiled as he started the car. "I'm glad you're on my side." Ethan laughed and they headed toward the same place as Ted and Charlie.
Charlie and Ted were shown to their table and they looked over the menu. "Everything looks really good." Charlie said as they sat there.
"Order anything you want." Ted said with a smile. Charlie smiled and nodded. The waiter came back and took their order. Ted turned his attention to Charlie. "So, I'm really glad you agreed to come out with me."
"I'm glad you invited me." She said smiling.
"To be honest, I was a little nervous you'd say no."
"Why? Because I was engaged to Phil?"
"Yes." Ted looked at her. "It's no secret how in love you guys used to be."
"Yeah we use to be." She replied. "You know, let's not talk about him. Let's get to know each other now. We know how we were in school. So let's get to know each other as adults."
He smiled. "I'd like that." He said as the waiter brought the food.
"I can't see anything." Ethan said as he and Phil sat at a table across the room. "What's happening Uncle Phil?"
"They're just talking and eating dinner."
"And that's good?" He asked him. "Mom and dad do that all the time."
"I don't know if it's good. I can't hear what they're saying."
"Oh let's try this." Ethan said getting out a listening device. "Dad uses it when he wants to know what mom wants for her birthday or Christmas. We can use it and hear what they are saying."
"Are you secretly a spy or something?"
"No." Ethan laughed. "Dad just likes to buy me spy stuff. And he says it helps him with mom if he knows what she wants."
"Well go ahead James Bond. Listen in and tell me what you hear."
"I thought you would want to use it and hear?" Ethan said to him. "It's really easy. You just turn it on and put the headphones on."
Phil shook his head and grabbed the ear piece. He turned on the device and listened to what Charlie and Ted were talking about. He heard Charlie laugh at something Ted said. He sighed. She seemed like she was having a good time.
"What do you hear?" Ethan asked him.
"They're having a good time."
"That's not good." Ethan replied. "Oh, let's pretend I'm sick and that she needs to come home and help with me."
Phil looked at him. "I think that only works when you want your mom to stay with you. Aunt Charlie knows I can handle you when you're sick."
"Then we can say you're sick and she'll have to come home and take care of us both."
Phil looked at him. "You are a sneaky little thing." He laughed.
"It will work. So let's go home." Ethan said to him. He got up out of the booth just as Charlie was walking to the bathroom and she saw them.
"What are you two doing here?" She asked when she walked over. "Are you spying on me?"
"Um...no?" Ethan said. Charlie sighed and looked at Phil.
"Get him home. I'll be there in a few minutes. You're both in so much trouble."
"Charlie…" Phil said to her.
"Just get him home and I will meet you there." She said walking back over to Ted.
"Everything okay?" Ted asked.
"Not really. I hate to cut this short but there's something I've got to deal with."
"Okay. I'll take you home." He replied. "How about a rain check for dinner?"
"Yeah, I'd like that. Call me tomorrow and we can work it out."
"I will. Now let's get you home." He said as they headed out to the car.
Ethan looked at Phil when they arrived at John and Jaycee's. "Aunt Charlie is going to tell my mom and dad about this."
"I'll take the fall for it."
"She still will tell them and mom won't be happy." He said as the door opened and Charlie walked in.
"Ethan, get upstairs and go to bed now. And don't even think about turning on your video games at all for the rest of the week."
"But Aunt Charlie…"
"Upstairs and bed now." She said to him. He sighed and headed upstairs. She turned to Phil. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"What?" Phil replied.
"What?" She asked him. "You use our nephew to spy on me and you say what? How could you use Ethan like that? You know John and Jaycee aren't going to be happy when they find out. And I'm not happy that you're spying on me."
"Charlie, I just wanted to see how your date was."
"My date wasn't any of your business. You had no right."
"I had no right?! You're carrying my baby. You can't just go traipsing all over town with other men. Not when we belong together. Not when I still love you."
She shook her head and laughed bitterly. "I'm sick of having this conversation with you."
"Can you tell me that you don't still love me? That you don't feel like you're not complete without me? If you can look me in the eye and tell me that you're just fine without me, I'll leave. I'll walk out the door and I won't bother you about us again. I was an asshole. I said some really hurtful things to you that I didn't mean. I can't apologize enough for that. I'm not sure what the future holds for us. All I know is that the only thing I've ever wanted in this life is you. The rest of it was my way of getting your attention. I don't want to lose that. Tell me you don't love me and I'll go." He said as he walked over to her. She looked at him as he wrapped his arms around her. "But just remember that no matter what, I will always love you. Always." He said as he leaned in and kissed her. "I always have and I always will."
"Phil…" She said before he kissed her again. She surrendered herself to it, kissing him back with all the passion she still felt for him. She barely had time to react before they were in her room together. He felt a new sense of hope as they made love.