JACKSON

I should feel heavy with everything April laid on me, but I'm lighter. Right now, I can't pinpoint a single worry in my mind. With a smile, I murmur, "So, you wanna be together." I tuck her hair behind her ear, moving it away from her face. "You wanna make this work with me?"

"If you wanna make it work with me," she says, slipping one leg between mine as we're lying down now. "Yeah, I do."

"Good," I say.

"Does any of what I said…" she trails off. "Does it bother you?"

"April, I already told you," I say. "I'm happy we talked about your sexuality. It doesn't make me uncomfortable - I'm secure enough in myself."

"You still trust me, right?" she questions. "Even though I…" She widens her eyes. She doesn't want to say it.

Admittedly, the fact that she kissed her ex came as a surprise - especially given the fact that it happened the day after we had sex. Her virginity doesn't bother me in the slightest; I'd actually been wondering about it myself. At the time, though, I told myself it was her business and I shouldn't call attention to it. I'm happy she figured it out on her own, though, and was able to validate her bisexuality in doing so. What I'm not happy about is that I sense feelings lingering between she and Izzie - but it isn't April that I don't trust. Who I can't help but call into question is Izzie. I don't know her, and I don't care to, but who's to say what she might do now that they were intimate? It's a thought that I can't let go of, and I doubt I'll be able to for a while. "Of course I trust you," I tell her honestly.

"I feel like there's something you're not saying," she mutters, reading my mind.

"Well…" I begin. "Okay. I know how you feel about kissing her. You-"

"It was a mistake," she says, hurrying to fill in the words.

"I know," I say.

"You believe me, right?"

"Yes," I say, smoothing a hand down her arm. "But what about her? How does she feel about it?"

Clouds pass through April's eyes as she wonders the same thing. "She said it was wrong, too," she says. "At least, I think so. It was such a whirlwind moment, I… I can't remember that well. A lot was going on and I just wanted to get out of there. It made me feel sick. It made me feel like a cheater, and I am not a cheater."

"You don't have to keep telling me that, baby," I say.

She smiles, big and cheesy as she somehow pulls herself closer. "You called me 'baby,'" she says through her grin.

"It's not the first time," I say, trying to play it cool.

"I know," she says, fingers dancing on my chest. Suddenly, I feel every inch of her warm body against me, pressing into all the right places. I never want to move out of this position, never want to let her get further away than she is right now. "I like it." She's quiet for a while, dropping a few kisses to my chest before speaking again. "I don't know what she thinks," she says. "Izzie. I kind of want to talk to her, though. Not for… for a weird reason or anything, but I think we should set things straight. I want to let her know that I'm really with you. She and I can't turn into anything… I don't want us to."

"Hmm," I hum, not crazy about the idea of April seeing Izzie again. Something toils in my gut – jealousy, maybe? Insecurity? Whichever of the two, it's not a pleasant feeling. I try not to let on, though.

"I might wait," she says, trying to catch my eye. "I don't know if I'll be ready for a while. It's weird. I don't know how to get closure. Every time I talk to her or… or see her, it feels like there's always one last string to tie. Does that make sense? It just feels unfinished, like with every interaction, we keep dragging it out. And I don't even know what we're dragging out!" She sighs. "It's so confusing. Because here I am with you, completely in…" Her face blushes a brilliant red and I pretend not to notice. "Having really strong feelings, and I don't want to be in a relationship with her. I'm right where I want to be, here with you. I don't know what the hell I need to feel done with her."

"Time, maybe," I suggest.

"Yeah," she says. "You're probably right." She stops to think for a while, rubbing her palm in circles over my chest in a soothing pattern. "You know, Izzie was actually the first person who I told about you," she says, surprising me. "I felt like I could. And I wanted to, you know? I was happy to tell her… I'm happy that we're together. I don't know why that matters, but I felt like you should know. I didn't wanna keep that from her, that was I with someone. With you."

"So, she knew," I say. "She knows."

"Yeah," she says. "And she's seeing someone, too. I wonder if she told them about what happened."

"I hope so."

"Yeah, me too," she says. "You know, I wanted to tell Steph about you, too. But she didn't wanna hear it. I want to tell everyone because I'm so excited, but… I don't think we should do that."

"No, not yet," I agree, and she turns onto her back. I rest a hand on her stomach and enjoy the rise and fall of it. "I wanna tell people too, though," I say. "I'd love to kiss you whenever I want."

"So, you mean… you want Athena to know," she fills in.

"I do," I say, trying to piece my thoughts together with a sigh. "But… I don't."

"No, I agree," she says. "She's not ready." She lifts her outside arm and bends it at the elbow, resting a hand under head. "She's getting to be my little best friend, you know."

"Getting to be?" I echo. "She's already there. When you're not around, you're all she talks about." I kiss her cheek, slow and sweet. "You're pretty much the only thing we think about."

"I guess I've hypnotized the Averys," she says, giggling with her eyes closed. "I love how excited she gets when I play a song and she learns it right away. There's this look that comes onto her face… just pure joy. I wish I could bottle it." She smiles softly. "And how she skips over and takes my hand after school, I love that. One of these days she's gonna have the monkey bars down, I'm telling you."

"You've done so much for her," I say, still rubbing her stomach. "You really have."

"She's done just as much for me," she murmurs. "I love her, Jackson. She's an amazing little girl."

"She is," I say, then sigh. "Honestly, though, I can't help feeling jealous. I wish I knew how to get to her like you do. We're better than we were, but… I don't know. It's still not great."

"Well, what she and I have isn't perfect, you know," April adds.

"I know," I say. "But you two have a closeness that I don't have with her. And I want it - I mean, she's my daughter. I want her to know she can tell me anything and I'll always be here for her."

"I think she does know that, deep down," she says. "But you know what she would really, really like?"

"What?"

"To play with you," she says. "Do you see how she lights up when you act silly? How hard she laughs? She loves it."

"She always tells me she doesn't like playing," I say.

"She's a kid, Jackson," April says. "Believe me, she likes to play. She just isn't sure how because she's been too stubborn to learn. You just have to show her."

"I can do that," I say, confidence growing. "I can play."

"And snuggle," she continues. "Hold her close when she asks. Hug and kiss her in the morning and at night, or whenever you feel like it. That's your baby. She wants affection from you."

I smile and let my eyes drift shut as I inch closer to her face again. "You know so much," I say, fingers mapping her waist as I pull her in.

"She's taught me a lot," I say.

"We're so lucky to have you," I say, turning her head so I can kiss her lips. She opens her mouth and takes a deep breath through her nose, rolling onto her side to face me again. She drapes an arm over my side and bends her knee, resting it over my hips so I have plenty of leverage to touch her.

"Oh," she says, a bit surprised. She smiles into the kiss, though, one hand flat on my spine.

"Is that good?" I ask, lips moving against hers.

"Yeah," she says, breathing deeply.

It's strange and beautiful, being intimate in an open area of the house. Athena is a heavy sleeper; I'm not worried about her in the slightest, and it's freeing to do this like we are. When Myla was alive and our sex life was active, this was never something she wanted. She always said it made her feel exposed to do it here on the couch, with no coverage of darkness or blankets. I always respected her wishes, I could see where she was coming from, but a change of pace is refreshing.

I don't know why Myla crossed my mind when April is right in front of me, gorgeous and alive. The seal of our lips breaks only so she can murmur my name, but other than that we don't stop. She sighs into my mouth and I swallow the sound, keeping it at the base of my throat where it's warm. Her body heats up and her heart quickens - but my mind has begun to wander. Since I thought about Myla so involuntarily, does that mean she thinks about Izzie much in the same way? It's not that I'm worried; I'm curious over anything. I'm embarrassed that Myla came to mind at a moment like this, so I can imagine she would feel the same – that is, if she's thinking about Izzie at all.

When we finish, she flops onto her back with her arms over her head and tries to catch her breath. I smile with a bit of smugness then kiss her cheek - wondering if I should say what's on my mind. "What're you thinking," she breathes, shortly after.

"How did you know I was thinking?" I ask.

"Not talking," she replies, opening her eyes. She looks over and meets my gaze soberly, clear in the way I've only seen her eyes look. "We've already aired out everything else tonight, so you might as well say it."

I chuckle. "Okay," I say, clearing my throat uncomfortably. "It's odd, but I couldn't help but think of all the ways you're different from Myla."

April raises her eyebrows; that's not what she expected. "Oh," she says, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Um… is that a good thing, or…?"

"Yeah, of course," I say. "If you were the same, I might be worried." I laugh, and the tension breaks. "You're much more outgoing."

"What do you mean?"

"We just had sex on the couch," I say. "Out in the open. She would have never done that."

She screws up her eyebrows. "It's not like we're in the… the dressing rooms at JCPenney, or something," she says.

"Wait," I say. "Have you…"

"No!" she says, smacking my chest lightly while giggling. "Jesus, you think I'm some kinky freak?"

"I don't know, maybe," I say, laughing. "Guess I'll find out."

"Guess so," she says, pleased. I'm quiet as thoughts buzz through my brain, watching her stare at the ceiling. "I know what you're thinking, so I'm just gonna say it," she says. "Being with Izzie was good, but she's not in my head while I'm with you." She shrugs. "She's just not. Penis, no penis, it's not comparable. It's… really different."

"I get that," I say, and I do. "Do you find it weird that I thought about Myla, then?"

"I mean, as long as you're not thinking about her to get off," she says, a concerned look in her eyes. "You aren't, are you?"

"No, god no," I say.

"Good," she says.

"It'll probably go away," I say. "I think I'm just getting used to having sex with someone new after-"

"7 years of wearing a chastity belt," she giggles.

"I don't like you," I say, shaking my head.

She laughs a little harder, a little louder, as she tucks her face into my neck. "Oh, come on," she says. "Yes, you do."

I bury one hand in her hair and hold the back of her head as she tips her chin to look in my eyes. "Maybe a little," I say, kissing her slow.

"I wish I could stay over," she whispers, then snickers. "We would not sleep. At all."

"I know," I say.

But she can't stay. We spend a while longer on the couch until it gets too late, and then I get up to walk her to the door, pressing her against the frame to kiss her before she goes anywhere. "Okay, okay, I gotta go," she says, pulling away with swollen lips. "Really. I have to."

"Alright," I say. "No one's stopping you."

"Yes, you are," she says playfully. "I'll see you tomorrow." She presses a hand against my chest and looks me in the eye to say, "Go brush your teeth, then kiss your daughter goodnight."

"I will," I say.

"Okay," she says, turning to head down the steps. But before she can get far, though, she hurries back and throws her arms around my shoulders to kiss me hard. When she pulls away, she lingers near my face, noses touching, to say, "I'm glad we made up."

"Me, too," I say.

"Okay," she says. "Now, I'm really leaving."

"Text me when you get home."

She waves and I watch her get into an Uber before shutting the door. I turn off the lights downstairs then head up, doing April one better and showering instead of only brushing my teeth. I add that in, too, of course, feeling fresh and clean by the time I'm out. As I'm drying off, I see a new message on my phone that says:

RECEIVED, 12:03am- Home safe. I had a great night. You're a keeper. :)

My stomach should definitely not be jumping in the way it is, but I try not to chastise myself too much. I'm allowed to be stupidly excited over a new relationship, over a woman who I have feelings for. It's a good thing.

SENT, 12:04am- So are you. Sleep tight, baby.

After adding a kissy-face emoji for good measure, I plug my phone in for the night and head down the hall towards Athena's room. I push open the door and look to her bed, able to see her clear as day with the strong night light plugged into the wall. The 'Classical Favorites' CD is playing softly, but it doesn't bother me now. It resides in the back of my mind and I let it stay there as I walk closer to her bed, kneeling once I arrive. She's facing me, bunny under her arm, pink bonnet covering her hair. One hand is curled under her chin and I can't help but smile as I look at her face; she must be dreaming, because her lips are twitching.

I kiss her forehead and she doesn't wake, but I can't make myself leave yet. I don't get moments like this often, mostly because I don't create them. It hits me that she won't be this little forever; in fact, not much longer. So, instead of leaving her with just a kiss, I crawl in beside her. And though I try to be gentle, I end up jostling the full-sized bed and it wakes her up. "Daddy…?" she asks confusedly, turning to see me. "What are you doing?"

"Hey…" I say, smiling at her bleary-eyed face. "I just wanted to come lay with you for a while."

"Why?"

I blink hard and find I don't know how to answer. It didn't strike me that she'd ask why, but I guess she has grounds for it. I've never done this before. "Just 'cause I love you, I guess," I say, one hand on her cheek.

"Oh," she says, closing her eyes again. She pulls herself close and tucks both her body and the bunny's against my chest, nuzzling my t-shirt. "I love you, too," she murmurs before falling back to sleep.

I rest my chin atop her head and feel my heart soak with emotion for my daughter, who's in my arms and loving me. I had only planned on staying a few minutes, but I know I won't go anywhere now. To keep her like this for a bit longer, I'll sleep here tonight.

…

On the day of Athena's party, she's wearing her best dress and hiding behind the couch, looking out the bay window. "Thena," I say, walking into the living room. "Everyone's here to see you. Why won't you come and talk to them, birthday girl? Maybe thank them for coming to celebrate your special day?" She doesn't answer, so I get closer and peer over the back of the couch. She's sitting with her back to it, arms overlapped on the windowsill as she stares through the glass. The skirt of her sequined tulle dress is fanned around her legs as they're tucked beneath her. "Thena?'

"No," she says, without moving her head or turning around.

"Come on, baby," I say. "Why?"

"I'm waiting," she says. "She'll be here. I'm not coming out until she gets here." I sigh and rub my temples, fully aware that she's talking about April. Technically, the party started a half hour ago, but she still isn't here. I shot her a text out of pure desperation but it's still unanswered. "Call her, Daddy," Athena says. "Maybe something bad happened. Maybe she got in a car crash."

"She didn't get in a car crash," I say.

"You don't know," she says. "Sometimes bad things happen 'cause of no reason. They just happen. What if a bad thing happened to my April?"

"Nothing happened, I promise," I say.

"She said she would be here!" Athena insists, voice rising. "Everybody breaks promises but April. She would never make a promise to me and then break it. So, why isn't she here? It means something bad happened!"

"What's going on?" my mother asks, coming up behind me. "Athena V, are you still behind that couch? What's so interesting back there?"

"Nothing," she says, turning around to direct her gaze back out the window.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm watching."

"For what?" my mom presses.

"The nanny, probably," Maggie says, joining in. My sister looks to me with a disapproving look, continuing with, "She's too attached, Jackson. She's obsessed. Don't you think it's unhealthy?"

"They're close," I say. "It's not unhealthy. Please, don't make this a thing. Not today."

"I want you to call April!" Athena demands, turning to stand up and stomp one foot.

"Hey, don't-"

"Hi! Sorry, I'm late!" I hear as the front door comes open. April blusters in, breathless and holding a big present, hair coming out of a bun that was probably once tight as she's dressed in a suit. A suit from Uncommon Ground, no less.

"April!" Athena shouts, pushing her way past us to get to her nanny. She throws her arms around April's waist and doesn't let go, and April picks her up after a moment to balance her on her hip. "You came."

"I told you I'd be here, didn't I?" April says, still trying to catch her breath. "My shift got extended because the girl scheduled after me called in sick. I had to take over before someone else could get there. And because of that, I didn't have time to change and I had to run here! But luckily, I brought a change of clothes."

"Good," Athena says, running the lapel of April's suit between her first two fingers. "'Cause this outfit is kinda weird."

April laughs and drops a kiss to my daughter's cheek like it's nothing. "Weird, huh?" she says. "You know what's not weird? This dress you have on! You look beautiful. Happy birthday, big girl."

She sets her on the ground and Athena says, "Thanks," after taking the large gift and placing it with the others.

"So sorry I'm late," April says, looking at the three of us surrounding her. "Hi."

"Hey," I say. "No worries."

"Yes worries!" Athena chimes in. "I thought something bad happened."

"Oh, no, no, no," April says, cupping Athena's chin with one hand. "Nothing bad happened. And nothing will."

"Promise?"

"Yes, promise."

Athena then glues herself to April's side as I say, "Guys, you all remember April…" I clear my throat. "Athena's nanny."

"Yeah…" Maggie says. "Her nanny, right. That's all?"

"And she also plays the piano very, very good," Athena says, sticking up for her favorite person. "She teaches me. She's my best teacher."

"How nice," Mom says.

April smiles. "Nice to see you all again," she says, then laughs. "Uh, is Richard here?"

"Right," I say. "You know my dad. She works at Uncommon Ground," I say, gesturing towards the brand on her suit

"Wait, you're telling me this is the April my husband goes on and on about?" Mom says, rolling her eyes lightheartedly. "Jesus, you have both my boys wrapped around your finger."

"What's that mean?" Athena asks, piping up.

"Don't worry about it," I say, patting her shoulder.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Maggie echoes.

"Is that April I hear?" Dad asks boisterously as he makes his way into the room. "I'd know that voice anywhere. Hey, honey!" He envelopes her in a big hug and claps her on the back. "You know this is a casual event, right? You could've left the suit at home."

"She was caught up at your restaurant," Mom says.

"So, her being late is your fault, Grandpa!" Athena says. "Say you're sorry."

Dad chuckles. "I'm sorry, April. I'm glad you're here now. We all are, I'm sure."

"We are, we are!" Athena cheers. "Can we do cake now? Please, please, please?"

Everyone agrees, so me and my dad retreat into the kitchen to bring it out. I hear Athena campaigning to sit on April's lap; I can't help but wonder what Maggie must think about that, but I try to put it out of my mind. "You know what's funny," Dad says. "I've mentioned you to April in the past. I tried to set her up with you."

"I know," I say, setting the cake on the center island. "She told me."

"You two are great," he says. "I have the eye for it." I nod and roll my eyes. "Really though, your mother has told me a lot. Well, what she knows, at least. I know you and April have something going on, whatever it might be. And I need to tell you two things." I look up to acknowledge him. "Don't hurt her," he says, then blinks solemnly. "And do not hurt your daughter."

"I know," I say. "I don't plan on it."

"Good."

We light the candles and dim the lights, then make our way to the dining room where everyone sits around the table. Everyone joins in singing 'happy birthday,' and Athena grins like I've never seen before perched on April's lap, face illuminated as she presses her small hands together. When she leans forward to blow the candles out, April holds her hair back and everyone cheers. "What'd you wish for, baby?" I ask her.

She leans her head on April's shoulder and throws an arm over the other one. "I can't tell you or it won't come true, Daddy," she says.

"Oh," I say. "Of course. Sorry."

We all eat cake exchanging light conversation, and towards the end, Athena and April start whispering to each other. When they stop, April sits up straight and my daughter hops off her lap. "We've been preparing something this week," April says. "A special song for everyone."

"Both of us, together!" Athena says.

"Yep," April says. "So, if you don't mind, we'd like to play it for you now."

"Of course," Mom says.

I watch my girlfriend and my daughter sit at the piano together, giving each other knowing looks. "This is called Andante and Variations in G Major by Mozart," Athena says. "And we're really, really good at it. So, just listen!"

We all become enraptured by the sound coming from the instrument that laid dormant for so long as soon as it starts. No matter how many times I watch Athena play the music that was her mother's life, it doesn't stop being amazing. This is exactly what Myla wanted for her, music running through her veins, and when I see our daughter's face light up as she listens to what she creates, I can't help but feel a bit of Myla in her blood.

Everyone else is hypnotized, too. They've never heard Athena play before, nor seen her this carefree and joyful. Right now, she's just a child. A prodigy, but a child all the same. Her face isn't sodden with grief, her shoulders are light, the way she carries herself is completely different - and April had everything to do with it.

When they finish, we all stand and applaud. They both beam proudly, happy with what they've done, and Athena runs to me for a hug. "My talented girl!" I say, squeezing her.

"That was amazing," Maggie says reverently, her voice serious. "Really… I've never seen anything like it."

"She's a genius," April says demurely, giving all the credit to the girl on my lap.

"Well," Maggie says. "You probably had something to do with it, didn't you?"

"Oh, I don't know," April says, brushing it off. "Athena is the amazing one."

Maggie studies April for a while, then nods towards the kitchen. "Can I talk to you?" she asks. "Just us."

"Sure," April says, then shoots me a quick, subtle look before following my sister.

I don't know what they exchange in the other room, but they both come out nodding, curtailing the topic. I don't ask and neither of them bring it up - I decide it's not the right time. I'll get the details from April later. For now, though, everyone can enjoy each other's company until the night is over.

…

When my family leaves, Maggie surprises me by giving April a quick, congenial hug. I watch the interaction, paired with hushed words, and look away. I still have no idea what went on in the kitchen, but words were definitely exchanged. What kind of words, I can't be sure.

"Thanks for coming!" I say, calling after everyone as they leave.

April lingers at the door after it's shut, then says, "I'll help you clean up."

I don't bother refuting her; I want her around as much as she wants to stay. So, I lead the way back into the house where Athena is lying on her stomach on the living room rug, looking through her presents. I watch her for a moment, wondering how in the world she got to be 8 years old, and feel April's hand swipe along the small of my back. "Go," she whispers. "I'll clean up."

"You sure?" I ask, and she nods. Then, paired with the sound of the running water, April turns on some music. Right away, I recognize Vincent by Don McLean, and there's only one thing I want to do. "Thena," I say, catching her attention. "You wanna dance with your daddy on your birthday?" She blinks up at me, those big eyes round and sleepy, and I extend my arms. She stands and I lift her up, hands laced together under her thighs, and she rests her head on my shoulder. Her arms are light as they're strewn over my shoulders, and she smells sweet - like all the candy she ate today. I haven't held her like this in a long, long time - maybe since she was a baby. I missed the soft weight of my daughter on my chest, the feeling of her depending on me.

It brings me back to when she was an infant, those midnight feedings that I swore I would never miss. I'd been a heavy sleeper until Athena came into the world, and after that everything changed. The first note of her cry would send me rocketing up in bed, spine stiff, ready for action. I kept her crib next to the bed, moving it from where we had painstakingly set it up in the nursery. I couldn't have her that far from me.

But the weight of her now brings back the weight of her then. A tiny loaf of bread with big brown eyes, blinking up at me from the crook of my elbow. I used to watch her eyelashes as she blinked, studying their slope and the way they curled. She was a work of art that I was sure I didn't deserve. A masterpiece that I would surely ruin.

But now, with her in my arms on the night she turns 8, I don't think 'ruin' is the right word at all.

Starry, starry night… flaming flowers that brightly blaze, swirling clouds and violet haze, reflecting Vincent's eyes of China blue… colors changing hue… morning fields of amber grain, weathered faces lined in pain, are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand. Now, I understand… what you tried to say to me. And how you suffered for your sanity, and how you tried to set them free. They would not listen; they did not know how. Perhaps, they'll listen now.

"It's a pretty song," Athena murmurs, so soft. "But it makes me feel sad."

"I know," I say, cheek against her forehead.

"Why does it do that?"

I shake my head a bit. "I'm not sure," I say. "But Mommy loved it."

"She did?"

I nod. "And you know what," I say, feeling her run the fabric of my shirt through her fingers. "I think she was watching today. Looking down on you, wondering how that baby of hers got to be so big. I think she was right over your shoulder, whispering 'happy birthday' in your ear."

She nods slowly, drifting to sleep. "I think that, too," she breathes.

A while later, I bring my baby upstairs and help her into pajamas, then lay her down with a kiss. I linger at her bedside and watch her for a moment, stroking her cheek as I think of birthdays past and all the ones to come. I don't know what kind of life Athena will lead or what kind of person she'll turn into, but I feel hopeful for the first time in a while. Like I might be doing something right by her.

I go back downstairs and find April on the couch in the front room, looking exhausted but content. "Hey," I say, sitting down.

She leans against my shoulder instantly, resting all of her weight there. I wrap an arm around her and kiss the top of her head, smiling. "Hey," she says. "Good day?"

"Great day," I say, rubbing my thumb in circles. "How about you?"

"Really good," she says.

"You spent the whole day around my family and no blood was shed," I say. "That's impressive." She nudges me roughly, slapping my stomach with an open hand. "Really, though," I continue. "What did my sister say to you in the kitchen?"

"Oh," April says, sitting up. "It wasn't a lot. She just said that she could see a change in Athena, and she wasn't going to pretend like it didn't come from me being here. She still didn't seem all too happy with me, but…" She shrugs. "She thanked me, for the strides Thena's taken."

"So, you guys are basically best friends now?" I ask, smirking.

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, no," she says. "I feel like she might hate me a little less, though."

"Good," I say, tucking hair behind her ear. "That's great."

"Mm-hmm," she says, then kisses me softly.

"Stay tonight," I say quietly, out of the blue after our lips part.

The look in her eyes mirrors the tone of her voice. "What?" she says.

"Sleep with me," I say. "We can set the alarm early and you can leave before Thena gets up." I caress her cheek with the back of my knuckles, admiring her soft beauty as I always do. "I just want you here," I say. "I don't want you to leave tonight."

With a smile, she agrees wholeheartedly. "Okay," she breathes, kissing me again.

She doesn't have pajamas of her own, so when I find April's body in bed, she's dressed in a pair of my old boxers and a purple T-shirt from college. "Where are you under all these clothes," I say playfully, kissing her neck. Quickly, I take the t-shirt off and she's left just as topless as I am, but she doesn't say anything in protest.

"They smell like you," she says, tilting her head to one side so I have leeway to more skin. "I like it."

"It's just hair product," I mimic, copying her line from before.

"Shut up," she says, lifting her body to straddle my stomach. "You have no hair. It's all shaved."

"Hey," I say. "There's some."

"Barely," she teases, ridding me of my shirt. My shorts come next, and soon we're both naked pressed against each other, kissing until we run out of breath. I love the way her lithe fingers feel framing my face, how her lips feel against mine, tongue tracing my bottom row of teeth as she breathes hotly onto my skin. Of their own accord, her hips begin to scoop against mine and it doesn't take long for my half-erection to grow into something fully-fledged. "Can we?" she asks.

"God, of course," I say, watching as she sits up. I skim my hands over the smooth dips in her sides, then map them over her belly.

"Where do you keep the condoms?" she asks. "We didn't use one last time, and I don't really wanna make that a thing."

"Drawer," I say, then smack her ass as she lifts off to reach them.

After the condom is on, she sinks onto my length and braces her hands on my chest, arching her back with feeling. "Oh, fuck," she moans, and I get a firm grip on her breasts.

I can't help but feel a boost of confidence hearing her sound like that. "Feel good, baby?"

"Uh-huh," she groans, undulating her hips in a way that drives me crazy.

We don't rush this time. It isn't hurried or sloppy - every move is thought-out and refined. Soon, she removes my hands from her chest and intertwines our fingers, pinning me down with my arms on either side of my head. She tucks her face into my neck and bites softly, licking the spots after she leaves them. And after that, she curves her back further and gets her mouth on my nipples, sucking so hard that a shock reverberates through my system all the way to the coiled feeling in my groin.

When I feel that she's close, I unlace one of our hands and reach between us to rub her clit. The movement of her hips comes slower, more disjointed, and she can barely keep her eyes open as the feeling begins. "Shit," she breathes, widening her knees so I can hit it deeper. "Mm…"

I can't last with her looking and sounding the way she does, so I shoot off inside her and watch her unravel seconds later. As her muscles twitch, she goes boneless and collapses on top of me, head over my hammering heart, and I drag my fingernails softly down her back. The top of her head is sweaty, but I pay it no mind as I drop a kiss to her hair and let it linger.

"You are so…" she says, losing her words halfway through.

"So are you," I say, swiping wispy, damp hair from the back of her neck so I can stroke her there, too.

"Oh, god," she sighs, rolling off while keeping one arm and one leg around me. She kisses my shoulder and I pull the covers up, winding an arm around her body to keep her as close as possible.

It dawns on me as I'm drifting off to sleep that we didn't set the alarm. I tell myself to open my eyes and do it, but my arms won't cooperate. I'm so comfortable with April's small form so close, radiating heat, that the last thing I want to do is move.

But then, I hear soft, shuffling footsteps in the back of my mind. And after that, there's a gentle, sleep-slurred voice in the doorway that murmurs, "Daddy? Is Mommy in bed with you?"