The twins are 13 and Theo is 14.

98

Out with the Old, in with the New

Friday

8:46 a.m.

Alex moaned, squeezing the back of her neck with her left hand, coffee in her right, closing her eyes. She took a deep breath and then let it out, opening her eyes to find her wife entering from the hallway, floating in with her eggplant purple robe shimmering.

They had just woken up this morning, both still in their robes, both she and her wife with the day off, both barefoot for the month of June. With the last day of school for both she and the kids occurring on the day prior and everything having a chance to settle down and sink in, the blonde was realizing now that she hadn't slept well. Discomfort from sleeping on the antique that was their master bedroom mattress.

"Good morning, Babe," Olivia smiled, moving to stand next to her and reaching for the mug already on the counter. She poured herself a cup of hot java and added a splash of milk from the jug already out, and then sweetened it with Stevia, stirring and looking up at the blonde.

"Good morning, Liv." Alex moaned and closed her eyes beginning to rub the back of her neck soothingly once more.

"Your neck hurt, Al?" Olivia set her mug down, abandoning it for the moment, and nudged her wife to turn around. "Let me help."

Alex set her own cup down, preparing for her wife's strong hands. She smiled as she felt fingers and thumbs begin to knead at her tense, sore muscles.

"What's going on?" Olivia asked, continuing her motions. "Did you sleep wrong?"

"Sleep wrong? Maybe. I just can't get comfortable lately. I think it's the mattress."

"The mattress?" Olivia leaned around, looking at her, still massaging. "You think it's the mattress? But I sleep fine."

Alex smiled. "I know you do, Babe. You never have trouble sleeping…" Alex began giggling, "...mouth open, breathing heavy, drooling, all over the place throughout the night."

Olivia joined in on the laughter now, still rubbing, her thumb digging into a particularly painful knot now. "So, snoring is what you mean?"

Alex could hear the smile in her wife's voice and she smiled, as well. "You said it, Liv. Your word. Not mine."

"How old is that mattress?"

"Well…" Alex moaned, feeling a small bit of tension being released from that one area of her upper back, "...you and I have had it together since we were engaged…"

"OK. So...fifteen years…" Olivia calculated.

"Yeah...and I had it ten years before that. So...twenty-five years?" Alex questioned.

"We've been sleeping on a twenty-five-year-old mattress, Al? Had I known that…"

"Had you know that, what?" Alex turned around now. "What, Liv?" She looked at her smiling wife.

Olivia raised her eyebrows and moved into her, wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling their bodies closer. "Had I known that," she began slowly, "...we would have replaced it about ten years ago. All the mites and dust in it?"

Alex nodded slowly, focusing on her wife's mouth.

"So...our marital mattress…" Olivia started, her smile broadening.

"What, Liv?" Alex closed her eyes. "I'm not in the mood, Olivia. What are you asking?" She opened her eyes again to find the brunette's lips drawn inward, giving her best effort not to smile.

Olivia leaned in closer, speaking in a low voice. "Have you had other lovers on that mattress, Babe?" She winked.

Alex flared her nostrils and grabbed her wife's arms, trying her best to pry them from her body. "Oh, come on, Liv."

"Well?" Olivia smirked.

The brunette let her go and Alex moved to get her mug again, bringing it to her lips and sipping. She looked back at her wife. "That's beside the point. The point is that we need a new mattress."

"I agree," Olivia nodded. "But you're avoiding the question."

"Purposely, Liv." Alex moved to lean her backside against the counter and watched her wife doing the same, now both with their coffee in their hands, facing the living room.

"Why can't you tell me?" Olivia asked.

"The first couple of years that I had it, before I met you, in the penthouse...I had a couple of-"

"Lovers?" Olivia interrupted.

Alex grimaced. "You know I hate that word, Liv." She turned to her left and looked at her wife. "Does that bother you?"

"Bother? No. Intrigue? Yes."

Alex shook her head and smiled. "What about it intrigues you, Liv?"

"Well," Olivia began, shifting to lean her right hip against the counter to look at her, "I know that you don't like to hear about anyone I saw before you…"

"Or in between me…" Alex smirked back.

"Or in between you," Olivia agreed. "But I have no problem with you talking about others...besides me." Olivia wiggled her eyebrows.

"Well, I do." Alex said simply, flaring her nostrils once more.

"Rebecca Guyton?" Olivia began laughing. "Marla Overton? Your post-law school flings?"

"You know those are the two people I was with right before you, Liv. So stop. And they weren't flings. They were legitimate relationships."

"So…" Olivia set her cup down and moved up to her again, standing in front of her, "...you have done the dirty with others in that bed…"

Alex closed her eyes now, trying to compose herself. "Can we drop this? Please?" She reopened her eyes to find Olivia's expression resigned.

Olivia rubbed her lips together and then took Alex's face in her hands. "OK. I'll drop it." She leaned in and pressed her mouth to Alex's, kissing her gently before pulling away. "Maybe we do need a new mattress then. Get one that's just ours…" she chuckled.

Alex only looked at her wife, thinking. "I think we could try turning it or flipping it first and see if it makes a difference before we go through the trouble of getting another one."

"Trouble? Where's the trouble? We go to the mattress store, pick one out, and have it delivered, Al. Where's the trouble? Or…" Olivia grabbed her waist now, "...maybe you like the other memories you've made on it?" Olivia wiggled her eyebrows.

"Jesus, Liv." Alex removed herself from the wedged position between her wife and the counter. "Please...you're sick."

"Maybe." Olivia smiled. "But that's why you married me, right?"

Alex smiled. "That, among other amazing qualities."

Olivia returned the grin. "That's what I thought." She leaned in and kissed her again.

This time, the slowness, the sensuality, weakened the blonde's knees and arms, causing the blonde's mug to struggle to stay in her hands. Alex moaned and smiled through the kiss, smelling her wife's shampoo, her faded perfume.

A shuffling of feet now and the two ladies broke the kiss.

Theo entered, yawning and rubbing his eyes before stopping, his dark hair every which way. And even though summer hadn't yet arrived, he still had a copper color from playing soccer almost daily over the past couple of months.

He finally opened those blue eyes. "Can we have those awesome pancakes Mama makes this morning? You know…" he grinned shyly, "...to celebrate summer?"

Olivia spoke, "You mean your Mom's famous whole grain banana pancakes?" Olivia looked back at Alex and smiled, squeezing her waist. "That's your Mommy's original recipe. Just so you know. I learned it from her. And maybe, one day, my boy, you and your sisters will inherit the recipe like I did." Olivia winked.

"That'd be awesome," he chirped.

"Hey…" Olivia finally moved away from Alex and took her mug, letting it hover in front of her mouth, "...go see if your sisters are ready for pancakes or if we need to wait a little while." She took a sip.

Theo nodded. "OK, Mama." With that, he headed out of the room, running, sliding in his sock feet to the bottom of the staircase and then disappearing up the stairs.

Alex looked at her wife again and took a deep breath. "Two weeks and we'll have the house to ourselves for three weeks."

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "I know, Al. The kids at the beach house with your parents, you and me playing house here...I can't wait." She winked.

"But we have a matter to fix in the meantime."

"Alex narrowed her eyes.

"The mattress?" Olivia questioned. "You forgot already."

Alex pursed her mouth. "No, Olivia. I haven't forgotten."

"You haven't forgotten all your other loves…" Olivia chided.

Alex reached her left hand out and got in a firm pinch to her wife's waist.

"Ow!" Olivia squealed, rubbing her side.

"Then stop talking about it, Olivia." Alex couldn't help but smile at her wife's winced expression.

"OK, OK." She moaned. "Let's try turning it and flipping it after breakfast, OK?"

"Sounds good, Babe." Alex took a sip of coffee and smiled at her wife.


12:07 p.m.

"No, your side, Al. pull it to the ground." Olivia began lifting her side of the king mattress, not remembering it being as heavy as it was.

Alex lifted her side now and began pushing it toward her. "Like that?"

"No…" Olivia huffed and grunted, "...down...not up…"

They had eaten breakfast and changed—Alex in dark jeans and a white button down, a beige cardigan over it, and Olivia in a pair of hole-ridden, faded jeans and a black t-shirt, fitted Adidas hoodie on-and were testing out the flipping of the mattress while the kids got ready to go to lunch and run their errands.

"You're going down?" Alex asked.

"No, Babe…" Olivia stopped, letting out a sigh. With her mind on the last thing her wife said, she began giggling. "Do you want me to? Right now? " She raised her eyebrows.

"To what, Liv?"

Olivia cleared her throat. "Go...down…"

"Jesus, Olivia," Alex said, exasperated.

But Olivia could see the smirk starting, which turned into a smile, and then led into a full-blown grin, before the brunette watched her wife's body shake with laughter.

"Actually, yes. I would. But first...let's do this."

Olivia gripped her side of the mattress again. "Yes, let's…OK...you take a step back and let go for a second." She pushed the mattress towards her wife now, the blonde's side dipping to the floor, "...and then I'll stand like this…" Olivia stepped onto the box spring below and then lifted the mattress again, up towards the ceiling, "...and you hold it right there and I'm gonna step off this side and come around. Just hold it for five seconds." Olivia stepped backward, off of the raised platform, and moved around the bed to her wife's side. "Be careful of the ceiling fan, Al."

Within seconds, the brunette had the mattress flipped and rotated. She let out a deep breath and looked at Alex, putting her hands on her hips. "OK. Test it out. See if it feels different."

Alex moved to sit on the bed now, laying down flat and looking at the ceiling as she spoke. "And I have no idea why your little display of Herculean strength just significantly turned me on." She smiled. "But it did."

"Because you're a sex maniac, Al. Now how does it feel? Better?"

"I love it when you call the kettle black. Of course, I'm the sex maniac..." Alex moved onto her side, adjusting her back, shifting a few more times before stopping and letting out a frustrated sigh. "No different, Liv. I still get this place, right in my middle back, that aches. Even though we flipped it, I can feel the indentation." She reached her hand out and to the right to the space next to her-Olivia's side. "And you can see how it dips on this side, too." She looked back at her wife. "I think it's just time for a new one."

Olivia lay on the bed next to her, mimicking Alex's reclined position, folding her hands on her lower belly. "OK. How about tomorrow?" She turned her head to the left. "We can go have lunch with the kids and then go to get a new one?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah, Liv. Even though the last thing I want to do on a Saturday is be high-pressure sales pitches by a sleazy used car salesman mattress vendor. But I think it's a necessity. Tomorrow sounds good. Thank you."

Olivia rolled onto her left side. "Out with the old, in with the new, right?"

"Yeah, Liv." Alex began chuckling. "You know we'll have to break it in, right?"

"Oh, I can't wait to do that, Babe…" Olivia smiled. "My sex maniac."

Alex moved closer to her and rested her right temple on the brunette's shoulder, Olivia wrapping her arm around her and kissing the top of her head, smelling her shampoo.

"Me, neither, my love. Me neither."


"Is this the mattress place where Fluffy Floyd rips up the mattresses and all those feathers are all over him?" Theo asked as they entered Mattress Mania in Midtown Manhattan, the bell ringing on the handle, a digital door chime announcing their arrival.

Olivia smiled. "I think so, Theo." The brunette looked up at all of the TV monitors located near the ceilings, all displaying the aforementioned commercials of Fluffy Floyd, an over four-hundred pound man, sitting on a mattress, jeweled gold crown on, surrounded by feathers and dollar bills, and laughing like a madman.

She knew her wife wouldn't like this place, but they offered free next day delivery and were currently having a sale that couldn't be beaten according to the circulars and advertisements she had perused just that morning.

Olivia stepped to the first mattress on the floor, Theo right next to her and automatically sitting on it.

Grace joined him and the two bobbed up and down momentarily.

Alex slowly approached, Isabel close to her, their little girl currently in an Alex-is-Queen mood, while the other two children's affinity was currently leaning towards the brunette.

"What do you think, guys?" Olivia questioned.

Theo patted the sides and bobbed again. "It's really soft."

"I like firm, Liv. I need firm for my back…" Alex's gaze continued scanning the showroom, her arms folded. "God, it's so obnoxious in here."

And it was.

Loud music from that same commercial blaring, flashing disco and strobe lights, some other sort of music trying to be heard over all of that. Her wife was uncomfortable and would want to rush this trip. She could see it on her face. And Olivia thought it endearingly comical, as usual.

"Well, we'll try to make this fast, Babe," Olivia promised. They began on to the next mattress-a pillow top. "I just realized, Al...I never knew your mattress preference...even after all these years."

Alex smiled as they continued walking slowly past the pillow top. "That is true. I guess we never had a reason to talk about it." They kept moving at a snail's pace. "No pillow top, Liv. I hear it's really hard to buy sheets that fit. People have told me they're either too baggy or don't fit the corners. No pillow top."

Olivia saluted and they continued on.

"Well, howdy, ladies. You lookin' to buy a mattress?" a voice said coming toward them.

Olivia looked at the tall, thin man with the dark greasy hair in a ponytail, salt and pepper goatee, and tan brown suit who was approaching them, smiling, and looking the brunette, then Alex, over. "Yes. We want something firm? You're having a sale and you have overnight delivery, right?"

"We are, and we do…" he winked. "I'm Lloyd, Floyd's brother, by the way. And we have another brother named Boyd." He smiled.

"Of course, you do," Alex mumbled nonchalantly.

Lloyd continued, unfazed, "Everything is fifty percent off today only."

"It's always a today only sale, isn't it?" the blonde said under her breath.

"Is Fluffy Floyd here?" Theo asked excitedly.

"Sorry, son. Fluffy Floyd ain't here right now," he drawled. "Won't be back in until Monday. He's in Padre Island with the missus."

"What a shame." Alex mumbled, moving to a mattress across from the pillow top and studying it.

"You two ladies...together? I mean...you married?"

Olivia glanced at Alex, who was no longer present in this conversation, and then back at Lloyd, holding up her ring finger. "Fifteen years, Lloyd." She watched his expression, now-awed and intrigued.

"Well, ain't that something?" he offered, his mouth hanging agape in wonderment.

Olivia looked back at her wife who was now sitting on what appeared to be an adjustable mattress that resembled two twins pushed together, each with its own position. She moved closer and stopped. "What about one of these? On the commercials it shows everyone gets their own firmness number, everyone is happy." She looked back at Lloyd. "And isn't this the one where the lady jumps on the bed with a glass full of red wine and it doesn't spill?"

"No ma'am...that's the Tempur-Pedic. These are the sleep number beds."

Alex looked up. "We're not eighty-years old, Liv. We don't need adjustable mattresses yet." She squeezed the foam beneath her, next to her thighs.

"Then what about the wine glass one? You can drink wine in bed while the kids and I jump on it and it won't spill?" Olivia raised her eyebrows, giggling.

"Ha, ha…you're incorrigible." Alex deadpanned. Her eyes scanned to Olivia's right, where Lloyd was hovering, and then back at the brunette. She stood abruptly and then moved to the next offering in the store.

"You ladies have an idea of what you want? Memory foam, pillow top, adjustable? I can walk you through all the options…" Lloyd continued following, continued hovering.

Olivia watched Alex's demeanor now, her flushed cheeks, the way the jumping muscles in her temple told the brunette that she was currently clenching her jaw repeatedly. She looked back at Lloyd, the six-some still moving slowly. "I think we're just gonna walk around and test some out and probably just get something simple." Olivia nodded firmly. "Just a plain old mattress, Lloyd." She grinned broadly.

"You'll find those back there…" He pointed to the left, back of the store, "...nice, simple, plain mattresses."

Olivia gave him her best smile again. "Thanks." She moved to follow her family, but turned back. "You'll get the commission, don't worry."

Lloyd only nodded and Olivia turned and caught up with her family. They headed to the back where there was a giant red and yellow banner that read: CLEARANCE. ALL SALES FINAL!

While the kids went off to another mattress, the blonde stood in front of a blue, sateen-covered mattress with quilting. She leaned forward and pressed on it with both palms.

"Jeez, Al…" Olivia whispered. "What are you so irritated about?" Olivia sat on one side of the mattress, watching her wife move around to the other side and sit.

"I haven't slept well, my neck and back still hurt, our salesman is a little much, it smells like dirty feet and Drakkar Noir in here…"

Olivia brought her lips inward and began giggling. "Drakkar Noir?"

Alex joined her on the mattress, lying down, both now staring at the ceiling.

"Like Lloyd bathed in it and then spilled the bottle all over the carpet in here."

"What else, Al?" Olivia turned her head to look at her wife.

Alex closed her eyes. "I'm just tired. And since our delayed start to this day and you deciding to shop and then eat, I'm starving. Oh, and...I'm probably in need of some action because of your display this morning and how you look today...I just...I'm…" Alex's mouth parted.

Olivia waited a few seconds for her wife to finish her sentence before speaking. "Al?"

Nothing.

Now more loudly, "Alex?"

The blonde jolted and gasped. "Jesus. I fell asleep."

"Just like that?" Olivia smiled.

"Just like that," Alex grinned before looking at her. "And this one makes my back feel great."

"Do we have a winner?"

"Winner winner, chicken dinner, Liv. Let's get this and go have an early chicken dinner somewhere. OK? Fried chicken or chicken fried chicken sounds amazing."

Olivia nodded, "Whatever you say, Al."


10:33 p.m.

"Uhhhh…" Alex moaned, leaning her head back.

She was currently sitting towards the edge of the side of the bed, knees up, propped on her arms, legs spread, while her wife knelt in front of her on the floor. Olivia's mouth was working overtime, Alex's body just almost there.

"Ahhhh...I'm...uhhh, Liv…"

"Say my name, Alex...cry out for me…" Olivia uttered only pausing momentarily to make that request.

"Olivia…" Alex continued, "...Liv...my amazing, beautiful...uh…." she squealed, her body tensing momentarily, her face scrunching in pleasure, "...I'm coming…"

Alex felt the slow, warm roll of her orgasm begin at her core and spread throughout her entire being, her center contracting quickly before gradually slowing. Panting, she let her upper body drop back onto the mattress, letting her limp hands rest on her naked rib cage.

Olivia began kissing her way up the blonde's body, taking her time, before she carefully climbed on top of her.

Alex smiled, feeling her wife's weight, her wife's breath, smelling her wife's being. And then she felt those amazing, warm, soft breasts press to her own and she moaned.

"Am I the best you've ever had on this mattress?"

"Stop, Liv," Alex panted, opening her eyes.

"When you avoid answering, you make me w-"

Alex stopped her with a hand over her mouth. "Don't, Liv. You, my love, are the best lover I've had in my life and I've told you that time and time again. You do things to me...satisfy my body...make me crazy with desire twenty-four seven…" She smiled and cocked her head to the side. "Don't ever doubt it, Baby. You're the best lover I've ever had."

Olivia leaned closer now and kissed her gently, Alex's toes curling from the numerous sensations invading her body.

The brunette pulled away slowly, her eyes still closed, and husked, "Our last night on this mattress, Babe." She opened her eyes. "So many memories of you and me, before marriage, after marriage."

Alex nodded, feeling her emotions. "I know," she whispered. "But a new one for the next twenty-five years, right?"

Olivia nodded, smiling. "The next twenty-five years. I like the way that sounds."

She leaned in and kissed her once more before Alex inched back toward the headboard and lay on her pillow, Olivia following and cuddling up close to her.

"New mattress celebration tomorrow, Al."

Alex opened her eyes and furrowed her brow. "OK, Babe. Whatever you say."

"We're gonna celebrate...you'll see." Olivia mumbled before fading away into sleep.


Saturday

6:32 p.m.

Mattress delivered. New sheets put on. Everyone in pajamas—per Olivia's request—pizzas were on the way, popcorn popped, and they were just about to settle in for a famous Benson-Cabot movie night.

On the screen for tonight would be "The Fault in Our Stars"—the twin's decision—and "E.T.", Theo's choice.

Alex took her glass of Chardonnay and then gathered her wife's, as well, just as the doorbell rang. She set them back on the island and then stepped to the hallway. "Liv?"

No answer, her wife still upstairs.

She headed to the door and peered through the flanked glass to find a crowd of people. Furrowing her brow, she opened the door to find her brother, Casey, Kimberly and Katie, and Melinda, Fin, and J.J. following.

"Wh-what's going on?"

"Olivia didn't tell you?" Jonathan asked, smirking.

"Do I look like she told me something? Do I look like a woman who is aware of this situation?"

Her family and friends began entering, Fin with two pizzas in his hand, a bag in the other, Melinda with a baked something or other, and J.J. and Katie with wrapped presents in tow—one medium-sized, one tiny.

Alex closed the door after them just as Olivia was coming down the stairs.

She spoke in a low, controlled voice, moving up to her wife. "What the hell is happening, Olivia?"

Olivia smiled, rubbing something into her elbows, her red and black flannel pajamas adorable, black slipper socks on her feet. "This is the celebration, Al. I told you we were going to celebrate. I invited our friends and family to join in on this momentous occasion."

Alex brought her lips inward. Olivia kissed her cheek and then started toward the kitchen where their guests had congregated.

"I brought Shiner," Fin offered, unwrapping the plastic bag and setting the six pack on the counter.

"I brought a cake…" Melinda smirked setting it on the island, as well.

"OK...and what's with the presents?" Alex eyed the gifts that were now being set on the island, as well, everything now crowded on the surface-pizzas, wine, beer, cake, gifts.

"Liv told us not to, but we got you a sheet set, girl," Melinda declared. "Baby blue. We hope you like them."

The doorbell rang once more and Olivia disappeared from the kitchen. Alex looked back at her sister-in-law. "And you? You guys didn't have to do that, Case, Johnny."

"We wanted to Allie." Jonathan smiled.

Casey held out a small, thin package. "And Jonathan and I got you guys a gift card your favorite online store, Garnet Hill," Casey rasped.

"W-well, they have great linen sheets." Alex admitted, taking the gift. "Thank you, guys." She smiled, feeling the warmth, the love. "Anyway…" she looked at her wife who was now coming in with two more pizzas that had just been delivered. "Liv?"

"I told you we were gonna have a celebration, Babe." She winked.

"Twenty-five years is a long time to have a mattress," Jonathan proclaimed. "Kinda gross, Allie." He grimaced.

"Shut, up, Johnny," Alex smirked. "Well…" she looked around at her friends and family, "...this is nice. We haven't gotten together in a while, so...this is a really good thing."

"Yeah?" Olivia questioned, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah." Alex looked around at the eleven people standing around. "And you're all in pajamas?"

"I told them to, Al," Olivia smiled. "Let's just relax and eat and drink and be merry."

"I can do that, Liv."

"Party's on!" Fin said boldly, holding up an opened bottle of beer.


11:02 p.m.

The evening had been wonderful. Watching movies, eating some of the best pizza in the city, alcohol and chocolate cake enjoyed, and their guests had left at a perfect time—enough time to get the kids in bed and allow the ladies relax for a little while, just by themselves.

After all was said and done, they found themselves in their bedroom, still in their pajamas, and Alex eyed Olivia as the brunette began peeling her flannel clothing off, now standing in the nude.

Alex watched her momentarily, taking a deep breath before she, herself, began disrobing.

"Time to christen our new mattress, Babe," Olivia smirked.

Alex only nodded, the vision of her wife naked, in front of her, in all her caramel, voluptuous glory on display. She circled around the bed and moved up to her wife, slithering her arms around her. "I thought we'd just wait until the kids went to my parents."

"Why wait, Babe? Olivia reached up and cupped her face.

Alex took a deep breath and let it out, their naked bodies now pressed to each other's. "You're right." She cocked her head to the side. "Why wait?"

"You liked tonight?" Olivia asked, kissing the corner of her mouth softly and then pulling away, looking her face over.

"I loved it, Babe. Thank you." Alex studied those warm, chocolate eyes, the humility, the humanity in them.

"Good."

"I can't wait to make love to you, sleep with you on this new mattress…"

"So…" Olivia began giggling, "...Floyd, Lloyd, and Boyd did a good job?" She smiled.

"I'd say...and there's probably a fourth brother out there...Freud...the genius of the family." Alex smiled.

"You think?" Olivia placed a kiss on Alex's other cheek, just at the corner of her mouth.

Alex only nodded. "Not really." She smiled. But…they say there's usually one smart one in every family. Right?"

Olivia nodded then, moving in to press her mouth to the blonde's.

The kiss was slow, mouths opening, tongues moving in, languid.

Alex moaned as the kiss broke. "Let's break this mattress in, Liv."

"I thought you'd never ask, Al." She grinned back. "I thought you'd never ask."

Alex moved to place her wife against the edge of the bed and then shoved her forward, the brunette falling backwards with a bounce.

"Nice firmness," Olivia chuckled.

Alex climbed on top of her then, their bodies working in tandem to inch towards the pillows.

"And now…" Alex kissed Olivia's collarbone, "...let me show you…" she kissed her wife's right nipple, "...the future memories that we're gonna make…" She looked into her wife's now dilated pupils and smiled.

"Let's celebrate and christen, Babe."

As soft warm sensuality melded together, they made love on their new mattress—one that they would share for the next twenty-five plus years together.


A/N: Thank you for reading. Two chapters left. I love writing a snarky, sexed-up Alex. That was one of my goals for the last three chapters. They might be long, like this one, as this couple and their love just seems to flow when I write them. I hope you enjoyed and would love, as always to hear what you thought. Until the next chapter.