Please review!

"Alright, let me check yar hands." Jude demanded, crouching down in front of Thomas and Julia by the front door. She narrowed her eyes, making a show of examining their hands. The two giggled as she started peering between fingers. "Okay, looks like ya washed yar hands good. Now, give me a kiss. Yar friends are outside waiting."

"Bye, Jude!" Both Julia and Thomas grinned before kissing her cheeks. They rushed over to hug Kit's legs and Lana sitting at the dining table before hurrying outside to meet the Whaley's to walk with them to school.

"They are so sweet." Lana beamed, watching them head off and talking excitedly. "Do they walk to school with them everyday?"

Jude walked over to the fridge, reaching in and pulling out a bag of apples. "Most of the time, yes. Otherwise, I walk them to school on the way to the shop." She chuckled when Kit hummed in agreement. "Gotta make sure this one here remembers where to go since he forgets his lunch all the time."

Kit smirked, giving Jude a wink. "Sure, we'll say I forget it." He turned to Lana, seeing her empty plate. "Ya ready?"

"Let me just get washed up and then we'll go." Lana nodded, heading for the hallway as Kit grabbed their empty plates and walked over to the sink. When she heard Kit and Jude, she paused, hiding around the corner to keep them from knowing that she was eavesdropping.

"I'll probably come by around noon or a little after." Jude muttered, taking the dishes from Kit and placing them into the dish water already filling the sink. She chuckled though when his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back flush against his chest. "Mr. Walker, what are ya doing?"

Kit grinned into her hair, kissing just behind her ear. "I assure ya, Ms. Martin. I'm behaving myself." He groaned softly as he peered down her body. She turned in his arms only to be pinned against the counter by his hips. "It is far too early for ya to be dressed for the day."

Jude rolled her eyes with a soft chuckle. "We have company. I'm not gonna wear that ratty old rope in front of company. Ya just like it so much because it's easy access." Her giggling continued when Kit groaned again, this time lowering his face to her chest. "It's gonna be a long day for ya if yar already like this. If ya ain't planning on being home until after I'm asleep, baby, I'm afraid of the grump who's gonna climb in bed tonight."

"Ya know what would make it better." Kit muttered, pulling back only to peer down into her eyes. "Say yes. Marry me, Jude."

Jude bit her lip, huffing out a breath hearing that question again. "Why do ya wanna marry me so badly? Ya know I'm yars already. I don't need a ring or a wedding. We already sleep together, living under the same roof. Living like heathens. What's a piece of paper gonna do? It's not like it'll change anything."

"Maybe not physically, but ya feel like a real team when yar married to someone." Kit tried to explain. "I wanna marry ya because I love ya, and I want to show to everyone just how much I do. I'm gonna put a ring on yar finger one way or another, because anybody who sees it will know that yar loved and cherished and mine." He grinned when she dropped her forehead to his chest with a giggle. He kissed the top of her head. "When I introduce ya to people, I wanna say 'this is my wife' instead of 'this is my girlfriend.' I want people to call ya Judy Walker, Kit Walker's wife." He nudged her head with his nose, pressing his forehead to hers when she peered up at him. "So, Imma keep asking."

Jude grinned at him, pecking his lips with hers. "I'll start preparing to say yes then. But right now," she reached over and grabbed one of the apples she had just retrieved from the fridge, "I need ya to decide between apple pie or apple crisp."

Lana smiled to herself, biting her fingernail as she turned and quietly closed herself in the bathroom.

"I barely recognize her." Lana muttered suddenly as she and Kit made their way to the auto mechanic shop.

"Jude?" Kit asked, his brows furrowing.

Lana smiled with a nod. "When she was Sister Jude, she was strict and reserved. I thought for the longest time that she got off on the pain she inflicted on us. Then, I remember seeing Timothy Howard order her shock therapy. She was just gone, a shell of who she used to be. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever see her smiling, happy, in love. Never did I imagine that I'd see her transform into the person who makes you happiest."

Kit grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "At one point, I probably thought the same thing. But, she's tough, stronger than anyone gives her credit for. She can be no nonsense and so confident about who she is, but then insecure at the same time because of everything life has thrown her way. Trust me. When I brought her home, I had no thoughts of her romantically. We just became friends, and I couldn't let her stay there as a tortured soul. It took a while, but once I started to see the real Judy Martin. . .it's pretty easy to fall in love with her."

"I've seen that." Lana breathed, nudging his side playfully when she leaned closer to him. "Helps she's gorgeous. Who knew she was hiding those legs under a habit? If she went both ways, I'd fight you for her."

Kit laughed. "Ya'd go down, Winters. No way am I giving her up." He glanced over at her. "But, yar right about her legs. Even last night before ya showed up, Jude came down to the shop to keep me company til I was done on this great car owned by some asshole here in town. Her intentions were good, and I loved having her there. But, her legs are distracting. I just wanted to lay her down on the hood, but there's no way I would feel comfortable giving the car back to the guy. He's hit on Jude a couple times, and if he ever found out what we did I'm afraid of what he'll say to Jude or try to do to her. He's not a good guy."

"Lay her down on the hood, huh?" Lana bit her lip, shaking her head. "Well, let me meet this guy. Maybe I can strike up a deal with him."

"No way. Lana, the car is beautiful. We don't need a car that nice." Kit refused, stopping them both from going any farther by grabbing Lana's arm.

Lana smirked, removing her arm from his grasp gracefully. "My gift, my choice, Kit. If I think it's for you, it's for you."

Kit grinned, head dropping between his shoulders when he heard his work buddies start hooting and hollering. He pulled his upper half out of the truck engine he was working on and turned to see Jude walking up to the show in one of the sundresses he'd gotten for her, hair tied neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck, and a fresh apple pie in her hand. She laughed freely and opening as the guys continued their antics, groaning in mock annoyance when she walked up to him and pecked his lips. He wrapped his arms around her before looking at his co-workers. "Alright, alright, she's taken. I'll share the pie with ya mongrels though." He chuckled when Cory hurried over to grab the dessert before turning his full attention to Jude. "Hey darlin', yar looking awfully pretty today."

"Why, thank ya. Yar looking. . .dirty. What have ya been getting into? Ya got oil on yar face." Jude chuckled, seeing the black smudges on his face and down his neck. "Ya look like ya've been sweeping chimneys."

"For yar information, I've been working hard to make those dollars." Kit winked. "I need every penny I can get, because I plan on doing something real special for ya."

Jude sighed. "Kit, I don't want ya spending all this money on me. Ya've already done enough, and our little family is happy. It isn't worth all these late nights ya've been working." Her attention was diverted when Lana walked out of the office, a set of car keys in her hand. "Hey Lana, I'm sure ya've been bored to death here."

"Actually, quite the opposite." Lana smirked. "Pretty proud of what we've accomplished this morning."

Kit kissed Jude's temple, smiling into her hair and she leaned into his chest. "Too bad, Jude. Two against one. Don't worry about the money. I've got it all taken care of." He turned to Lana, taking the keys when she held them out for him. "I owe ya."

Lana shook her head. "We're square. I owe you for taking such good care of Jude."

"Jude!" Charlie called out her name from the other side of the garage, halfway through a piece of the pie she brought. "Ya deserve a field of roses for this pie. Put me out of my misery. Leave that dipshit and marry me."

"At least this dipshit knows what her favorite flower is, and it ain't roses." Kit smiled, pulling Jude's back against his chest as they watched the men act like they'd been starved. "Save me a piece!"

Jude giggled, resting her hands over Kit's. "I've got another one at the house, baby." She shrieked when Charlie ran and slid across the floor to them, making her laugh as he took her hand and kissed it. "Ya should save yar energy for a girl ya have a chance with, Charlie. Or better yet, save it for the dance floor. Ya can't even make it as long as Kit when the band starts playing."

Charlie smiled, standing up and glancing between the couple. "Which reminds me, Shorty's band will be in town next Friday and Saturday. I'm headed to my parents upstate Saturday morning, but we could dance the night away on Friday."

Kit grinned. "What do ya think, Jude? Wanna show us up again? We'll get drunk on whiskey and sing the wrong words to all our favorite songs."

"I'll see if the Whaley's are free." Jude smirked, laughing when Charlie pumped his hands up before kissing her forehead. "I love ya, Jude. Yar the best."

Kit leaned down to her ear as Charlie jogged back over to the pie. "That's what I keep telling ya." He loosened his grip on her, pecking her lips again when she turned. "Not that I don't love ya being here, but I ain't gonna get nothing done if ya stay. I'm already looking at a late night."

Jude smiled. "Don't worry. I'll let ya get back to work. I gotta head to the store and pick up stuff for the babies' cake anyway. My afternoon is full." She looked to Lana. "Hope ya didn't have anything planned for this afternoon."

"Helping you with a cake sounds fun." Lana grinned, patting Kit's shoulder. "I'll come by later tonight to help ya."

"Thanks, Lana." Kit replied, smirking when Jude's eyes stared at him suspiciously. "I love ya, darlin'. I'll see ya tonight."

Jude rolled her eyes but accepted another kiss from him. "Love ya too, baby." She turned, walking with Lana towards the open garage doors and waving to the rest of the guys. "See ya later, fellas. Enjoy the pie and make sure Kit brings the dish home."

"Bye, Judy!" The boys called back.

Lana chuckled as she waved to them as well. "I think any one of them would give you their car if you asked for it."

Jude laughed, turning with Lana towards the town instead of back to the house. "They probably would as long as I brought it back. They're nice fellas."

"So, the whistling and flirting doesn't bother you?" Lana asked, genuinely curious. She'd been hit on by men before, and there'd been many times it made her uncomfortable. She didn't want their attention, and it wasn't going to get them anywhere with her just saying she looked hot enough to fuck.

Jude bit her lip, her eyes twinkling as she peered over at Lana. "Them? Nah. They're harmless. They know I love Kit, and what they do is in fun. They enjoy teasing him, and they know I get a kick out of it too. I've dealt with enough asshole men to know that they do it out of love and affection and not just to get up my skirt."

"I didn't know ya had that much experience with men." Lana muttered, surprised by Jude's words.

"When yar a nun, ya don't usually talk about what ya did before, especially me." Jude smirked. "Before I was a nun, I was a jazz singer. Drank myself to near death more times than I can count, woke up to a strange man's bed even more times." She shrugged. "I spent decades trying to forget what I was before that. Just an innocent girl in love with a cheating dog. After I woke up and realized who he really was, it was too late. Felt like I couldn't find another man, because I couldn't have kids after what he did. So yeah, I have a lot of experience with men. Really, really bad men. After everything, it was easy to see the bad in everyone and everything. Kit is the first good guy I've known my whole life. Took me in, helped me heal even when I probably acted batshit crazy. I don't deserve him."

"You deserve a lot more than you think." Lana smiled. "I've been Kit's friend for a long time, and I can honestly say I've never seen him happier than when he's with you. You may have done bad things in the past, we all do, but that doesn't make you a bad person. And, you're definitely not a bad person, Jude." She reached over, linking her arm with Jude's. "If you think that I'm still mad, just invite me to your wedding with Kit. I'll be in the front row with more pomp and circumstance than the President."

Jude tried. She really did. Her day had been full, not even a moment to sit down hardly. After stopping for groceries, she and Lana had come back to the house and made the cake, having just enough time to decorate and hide it from the babies when they came back from school. Helping them with homework and changing them out of their school clothes, she'd changed tasks to making dinner. Lana and the kids helped her clear up after and wash the dishes before dragging her into playing a board game. When three rounds had been won and lost, Lana even assisted Jude in getting the kids ready for bed, putting them to rest in Thomas's room so Lana could use Julia's.

Jude was even going to offer a nightcap, but Lana left shortly after to help Kit. She left to walk the short distance to the shop, leaving Jude alone in the quiet of the house. The quiet didn't bother her, neither did the dark. But, the idea of going to bed without Kit made her feel odd. It was a feeling she'd never had before. She hoped it would fade as she got ready for bed herself: changing, brushing teeth, turning out all but the porch light, and sliding under the covers. But, her mind began to wander to other things, what Kit had planned, what they would do on Saturday for Lana and the babies, what she would do if Kit ever left her and she was faced to deal with this feeling every night.

The last thought she didn't dwell on, knowing that Kit wouldn't leave her. There was too much between them to just leave or walk away from. The knowledge of that settled her racing mind, but the odd feeling in the pit of her stomach kept her heavy eyes from closing though. Just when she forced herself to curl up and relax, her eyes flung open hearing a car engine coming closer to the house. One glance out the window confirmed what she'd heard. The headlights shone onto the grass and trees just outside. It was late. They didn't have a car, and Lana had walked to the shop.

Springing up from the bed, Jude quickly opened up Kit's closet and grabbed the shotgun he'd taught her to use in the event he wasn't around to use it himself. Neither one of them were particular of guns, but they'd seen and experienced enough to feel safer with one close by. She confirmed that ammunition was loaded before slowly walking out tot he dark kitchen. The headlights were still on, but she recognized the car from the shop the night before. It was Rob's car. "Fuck."

Jude stepped out onto the front porch, lifting the gun up enough for whoever was inside to see. Barrel facing the heavens. "Alright, ya got three seconds to get off my lawn!"

"JUDE!"

"KIT?!" Jude walked along the porch towards the other side of the car, seeing Kit climb out of the driver's seat. "What the fuck, Kit? Ya gave me a heart attack."

"You! How do ya think we feel?" Kit asked as Lana climbed out of the other side. "What the fuck are ya doing with the gun?"

"I thought ya were Rob!" Jude argued, lowering the gun to point at the ground. "What was I supposed to think with ya driving up in his car? And, why do ya have his car? Kit, I swear to God, if ya stole this from him, I'm too old to live on the run. I've done that before; I'm not doing it again."

Kit held up his hands, stopping her from continuing. "I did not steal it. Lana helped me get it from Rob. This is the surprise we were preparing for ya today." He studied her reaction as she glanced between them skeptically. "I promise, darlin'. It's ours now. But now that I know yar that worried about Rob, I ain't letting ya drive it until I change the plates and paint it a different color."

"But if ya bought it from him, wouldn't he still know we have his car?" Jude asked, raising her eyebrows.

"That's the beauty of Lana." Kit began, gesturing to their friend. "Lana made the deal and bought the car for us. What Rob doesn't know won't hurt him. She knows we ain't engaged yet, but she knows I'll get a yes one of these days. It's an engagement present and eventual wedding present. We both wanted to do this for ya, Jude." He winked at her, leaning against the car. "I am happy though that yar so quick to protect the house and kiddos. Yar pretty hot as a 'take the law into your own hands' woman."

Jude rolled her eyes, not yet amused with him. "Honey, ya think I'm hotter than hell. Ya'd try to fuck me even if I put my habit back on."

"Well, now that I know what's under it." Kit muttered.

Lana clapped her hands. "Alright, I think that's my cue to go to bed and. . .away from here." She walked up onto the porch and over to Jude, slowly taking the shotgun from her. "I'll just put this back for you. No need for firearms tonight." She gave Jude a hug, holding the gun away from the both of them as if it would bite her with no warning. "You deserve this, Jude. You both do."

"Thank you, Lana." Jude breathed before seeing her walk towards the door with nervous looks to the gun. "It goes in Kit's closet. Don't worry. It's not going to turn on ya." When Lana disappeared inside, she turned her gaze to Kit, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't believe ya let Lana buy us a car."

"Like I could stop Lana from doing it anyway." Kit retorted before jumping up and grabbing the railing. He shoved his feet in between the spindles so he could be face level with her, even if she was on the other side of the railing. "I'm sorry we scared ya. I was hoping ya'd be asleep so I could sneak ya out here like a teenager."

Jude smirked at that but was still trying to hide it. "Like teenagers, huh? If ya'd done this when I was a teenager, ya would've knocked me up and been forced to marry me."

Kit smiled. "Maybe enforced, but nobody would've been pointing a shotgun at me to marry ya." He hopped back down to the ground, holding out his hands. "C'mon, Martin. We may not be teenagers, but we can still pretend yar sneaking out with me. Now, hurry up before yar parents find ya escaping with the Walker boy."

"Yar a real riot." Jude chuckled, shaking her head as she grabbed the banister and threw a leg over the railing.

Kit grinned getting a glimpse into what they could've been like if they'd met in another life, holding his hands up higher for her when she had her backside against the railing. "Wrap yar legs around me. Grass is wet and I don't need ya catching a cold in this chill." He grunted when he reached under her arms, gently lifting her as her legs wrapped around his waist. His pride swelled further when she chuckled. She detangled herself from him as she slid into the car, scooting across the seat so Kit could get in himself and close the door.

"I can't believe ya got this car. Why now?" Jude asked, looking around the interior as if viewing it for the first time.

"Well," Kit shrugged, "I told ya this morning, and many times before that, that I want to marry ya. This is just another thing to cross of the list before we get to 'I do'."

Jude turned to him, laying her head on the leather seat. "Ya really thought a car would make me feel differently enough about ya to finally say yes?"

Kit quickly shook his head, reassuring her he knew she was and never had been that shallow. "No. But, ya know that we decided on a car before a ring. I had way too many fantasies about ya and this car last night to give it back to Rob. So, Lana helped me out with it even when I told her this car was too much for her to get for us."

Jude blushed, pushing back the stray hairs that had fallen from her ponytail. "She was probably wondering why ya wanted it so much."

"Oh, I told her." Kit stated, chuckling when Jude covered her face in her hands as embarrassment flooded her. "Jude, darlin', she completely understood. Hell, she even said she'd make a run at ya if she thought ya'd ever be into women." He saw her glare as her hands dropped, but he quickly deescalated. "I didn't tell her that ya'd woken up with women before. Ya don't remember what happened anyway. Lana was just admiring yar legs this morning, and she made a comment about how gorgeous ya are when I told her I wanted to plow ya against the hood of the car."

Jude snorted, shaking her head as she smiled. "Good to know I'm still turning heads." She reached over, resting her hand on his shoulder and letting her fingernail tickle the side of his neck. "So, what did ya fantasize about?"

Kit shrugged, playing with his hands. "You."

Jude smirked. "Obviously. Ya fantasize about things ya want to do with me when I'm in the same room." She giggled when he blushed, but she scooted closer to him, bringing her legs up onto the seat. "Where were we? Ya said the hood, but ya also said ya had more than one fantasy. Here in the driver's seat, by the trunk-"

"The backseat. I respect our privacy." Kit stated almost as if it should've been her first guess.

"Okay," Jude planted her feet on the leather seat before climbing over and settling herself in the larger backseat. She giggled when he looked back at her. "Well, are ya joining me or are we playing the woman who can't pay her driver?"

Kit grinned as she leaned closer and kissed his lips. "I love ya more and more, darlin'." When she pulled away, he followed, sliding over the top of the seat and laying on top of her. "I'm guessing asking you to marry me right now would still end up with you saying no?"

Jude smiled as she wrapped her legs around his waist, his hands reaching for the waistband to her shorts. "I look forward to your next proposal."

Please review!