Accidental Happiness

Chapter 10

Hannah was a delightful girl and asked Mike to let her pick out small gifts for the twins. Maddie helped her find two small sock monkeys for them. She had asked for very little, and Maddie had found jeans, sweats, shirts and underthings for her. Hannah was thrilled with absolutely everything and was even happier when Maddie got her hair cut.

Mike took them out to eat at one of the restaurants in the mall. Maddie realized it was the first time they had been on something even relatively like a date. From the beginning their relationship was about sex. It was fun and Maddie enjoyed it, but would there be anything more?

Maddie had never been in love. Mike was really the first semi-serious relationship she had had, if you could call it that. They co-parented the twins, and slept together. While Hannah tried on some jeans, Maddie sat down next to Mike and smiled at him.

"Do you think sometime, you and I could go out for dinner? Just us? Now that Hannah is with us, she can help Mama with Jack and EmmaLeigh. We've just…slept together." Maddie asked quietly.

"Like on a date?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, I suppose that would be what it was called." Maddie answered.

"I imagine we can figure something out." Mike said. She could tell he had something on his mind but it angered her.

"Mike; what are we doing? We have sex, but we barely talk otherwise unless its about the twins or Mom. I suppose we need to decide if we want something beyond that. I know I have let you think this is casual, but maybe I don't want it to be casual anymore." Maddie questioned.

"Can we talk about this some other time? This really isn't the right time." Mike asked. It frustrated Maddie, but she nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I'm going to go in and check on Hannah." Maddie told him. She stood up and walked away before anything else could be said.

They said little else through the day, unless it had to do with something Hannah needed. As soon as they arrived home, Mike went into his office to make calls, and Maddie began washing Hannah's new clothes and bed linens. Hannah was playing on the floor with the twins. Mike finally walked into the laundry room where Maddie was pulling tags off of things.

"I have to run into the office for a bit. I will be back before dinner. Can Hannah stay here?" Mike asked.

"Its your house, but yes; she can stay." Maddie answered.

"Thanks. See you in a bit." Mike told her before giving her a kiss on the forehead. It surprised Maddie. He wasn't normally so tender. He left the room before she could say anything.

It occurred to her a little later that he hadn't been wearing a uniform. It wasn't like him, because he always wore one, even in emergencies. She helped Hannah put her room together, hang up and put away clothes. Finally, Mike walked in and smiled at them.

"Maddie; can you come with me?" Mike asked.

"Let me finish this." Maddie said as she fiddled with a pillowcase.

"I'll do it." Hannah said as she took it from her. Mike grabbed her hand and led her into their bedroom. He gently sat her on the bed and knelt in front of her.

"I don't want to date you. I wouldn't mind going on dates with you but I don't want to date you. I want to marry you instead." Mike said as he pulled a ring out of his pocket and showed it to Maddie.

"We barely know each other." Maddie said.

"I know and I know this isn't the first time I should be saying this; but I love you. Not because you are the mother of my twins, but because you make me complete. You aren't a replacement for Christine either. I know you may not feel the same way, so we can put this away, and get to know one another better." Mike answered as he started putting the ring away.

"Not so fast. I didn't say no." Maddie said before pulling Mike next to her and giving him a kiss.

"Is it a yes then?" Mike asked with a smile.

"Yes, it's a yes and something else? I love you too." Maddie answered with a smile. Mike placed the beautiful diamond ring on her finger and gave her another kiss. "How did you guess my size?" Maddie asked as she admired the ring.

"I've done this before, remember?" Mike reminded her.

"You did good." Maddie said with a laugh. It was unorthodox but it worked for them.