Chapter 68: Clarke

Asher's Dune Buggy's adventure was incredible. Lexa was cautious at first, not wanting to go too fast or bounce around too much, but eventually, mom and I convinced her the baby would be fine. So, then she enjoyed herself and had Asher and Sabrina screaming in delight. She really is good with kids, and I know she is going to be a great parent.

I'm thrilled that Ash is bringing Dr. Stenbeck to meet with us. It will be beneficial to have her input on everything. Plus, I know Asher and Callie will be glad to see her. Lexa said she could stay until Sunday after the fight, and we would drop her off in Kyiv on the way home. Of course, that is if Lexa and I don't stay. Either way, Morrigan will drop Ash off so that she can meet with her new contact in Kyiv.

I wish that Lexa would let me go with her to pick them up, but she insists that I need to stay here and rest. She's probably right. There isn't any reason for me to risk it other than I want to be where she is. I'm also worried that she isn't focusing enough on the fight. I know she is excited about the baby, but I don't want her to lose her focus and get hurt. I should probably have a conversation with her about that.

When Ali drops us off at the hotel, Lexa asks him to hang out for a bit. She then looks at Callie, "I have something that I need your help with tonight, and it will probably take all night. Is it okay if Asher stays with Clarke?"

Callie gives her a funny look, "I guess, as long as Clarke is okay with it. Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"Yes, but once we are on the way. Can you get Asher's stuff and bring it to our room in a few minutes, and then we will meet Morrigan and Lincoln back down here?"

"Sure," Callie says.

On the ride up the elevator, it's just Lexa and me. I look at her and say, "Sweetie, I'm worried that you are concentrating too much on me and the baby and not enough on your fight."

"Of course, I'm concentrating on you and the baby. You two are my family and the most important thing in the world to me. I could care less about the fight now."

"But, babe, you are under contract to fight, and you and the baby are the most important thing in the world to me. I need to know that you are taking this fight seriously because I don't want you to get hurt. Do you understand?"

She leans in, kissing me. "I hear you, Ya Amar. When I get back, I promise to concentrate on the fight while you and the doctor's concentrate on you and our gummy bear. I have plenty of time to train tomorrow when we get back. All I have the rest of the week is dinner with Dr. Al-Mubarak, the fan thing on Wednesday night, and weigh-ins and fan greet on Friday. We have the tattoo appointment on Wednesday. Other than that, I can train and relax on the beach with my beautiful baby momma. Besides, I've been training for the last two months. I'm ready."

I laugh but smack her for that comment about being her baby momma, although I think I might like it. "I'm guessing that you will have to let Callie in on the secret tonight, but please tell her to keep it to herself until I figure out how to tell everyone."

"Yes, ma'am. I love you, Dr. Clarke Griffin, my baby momma."

"I love you too, idiot!"

Lexa

After getting Asher settled in with Clarke and promising him a big surprise in the morning, Callie and I head downstairs to meet Morrigan and Lincoln. On the elevator, I look at Callie and say, "I'm going to tell you something, but you CANNOT tell anyone else. Understood?"

"Of course, I'll keep your secret if you tell me what the hell is going on."

"Clarke is pregnant."

"What? How?"

"I will tell you, but don't let Clarke know that you know what happened. She's trying to figure out a way to tell everyone about the baby, but I'm not sure what she will come up with about the conception. Before, we actually got together, but after she broke up with Finn, we're all out at the Dragon's Den. It was the night that I sang to her. Finn came in and heard me sing to her and then he saw her kiss me. He flipped out and made a scene. Long story short, he followed her home and raped her. I tried to get her to let me take her home, but she wouldn't. So it's my fault it happened."

"Lexa, it isn't your fault. Did she not take the emergency contraceptive?"

"She did, but I guess it didn't work. The point is, I think we have figured out a way to change the DNA of the baby so that Finn can't make our life hell, but we need the information Ash has collected and input from her contact Dr. Anny Stenbeck. I was able to talk to Ash today, and that's where we are headed to pick them up. I just thought if you came with me, it would give you a couple of hours together alone."

She grabs me in a tight hug, "Thank you, Lexa. I can't believe this. How long will I have with her?"

"Well, it is a six-hour flight from Kyiv to Dubai, so…but she is going to stay in Dubai until Sunday after the fight, and we will drop her back in Kyiv on the way home."

"So, she will have a couple of days with Asher and me?"

"Yep!"

Six hours later, we landed in Kyiv. Ten minutes after that, Ash and Dr. Stenbeck were onboard, and we're waiting for permission to take off. Ash couldn't believe that I brought Callie, and they both kept thanking me. Ash introduced me to Dr. Stenbeck and then says, "Lexa, I would like to hear the story of this plane, but first, please tell me that there's a bed so that I can make love to my beautiful wife."

Callie says, "Ash!"

I can't help but laugh and take them down to the master suite. "You two have fun. I'm going to talk to Dr. Stenbeck. Take your time. There is water and snacks in the small fridge over there."

I leave the newlyweds alone to have their fun. Then, when I get back upstairs, I ask, "Dr. Stenbeck would you like something to eat or drink? I have a full bar."

"Please call me Anny, and yes, a drink would be great."

"What's your preferred drink? Mine is tequila."

"I've been in Russia and Ukraine so much that I prefer Vodka, but whatever is fine."

I pull out a bottle of tequila and a bottle of vodka. "I usually drink mine straight. Do you need a mixer?"

"Nope, just some ice. Ash has told me a little bit of the story, but I would like to hear the whole story."

"Sure, but you will have to be more specific. I have lots of stories. I have a feeling you are talking about the research, though."

"For starters, yes."

As we sit and drink, I tell Anny about Clarke and her pregnancy. I tell her about the idea I have and ask her if she thinks it will work. I also explain the research facility that Abby and I are opening and what we hope to use it for."

She sits quietly and listens until I'm finished, and then she seems to be deep in thought. Soon she speaks, "I think that what you are proposing will work. I just don't know if we can target just the father's DNA. It may be that when you introduce the third DNA that it overwrites some of both parents' DNA, giving the child three sets of DNAs, which is called a chimera."

"Is that safe? Will it create issues for the baby? Will the DNA still match the fathers?"

"There are always risks, but it should be fairly safe. The child's DNA wouldn't match the father's completely but could still have some similarities. If we have a good geneticist, they may be able to figure out a way to target just the father's DNA."

"I do, in fact, have a geneticist in Dubai. When is the best time to perform the procedure? How far along in the pregnancy, and can you help us with it?"

"In the experiments that I was involved in, they usually implanted the wolf and other DNA between 10-14 weeks."

"Great, Clarke is 12 weeks. Can I ask why you left the project and why you are helping Ash try to shut it down?"

"Sure, when I began work at the facility, I was told that we were running hypothetical tests to see if it would be possible to merge two different animal DNAs. We were also trying to see if we could get the bone marrow of extinct animals to merge with a descendant of said animal in order to bring back extinct animals. I worked with them for years until we finally got wolf DNA to merge with that of the extinct Dire Wolf. Then, one day, I found some information that didn't make sense to me. When I dug deeper, I realized that they were using pregnant women and experimenting on the fetuses at another facility. They were using our research to experiment on humans! I tried to gather as much information as possible without being detected, but somehow, they caught on to me, and I had to run. I was able to get out of Ukraine to Belarus, where I met Natalia. At the time, I had no idea she was working for the CIA. We met at a bar and just hit it off. Eventually, as we became closer, we opened up to one another, and I told her what was going on."

"So, you and Natalia were…."

"Eventually, yes. We fell in love, and she used the information I had to get approval to open an investigation into the facility near Chernobyl. She had been investigating for months, and then one day, she just disappeared. She missed her check-ins with the agency, and I haven't heard from her since. I just know that she was captured by them and used her to experiment on or…they killed her. Either way, I have to find out what happened to her. That's why I'm helping Ash. Unfortunately, I have been identified and have to leave the country. Ash has a meeting set up with the buyer at the facility next week, which should get her in. Once she is inside, she can get the layout and then call for the troops to come in and shut it down."

"Would you be interested in coming to work for me on the project that Abby and I are setting up? We are going to be evaluating everyone that Ash can have extracted."

"Is your facility in Dubai?"

"No, it is in San Francisco. I am in Dubai to fight in a UFC match and recruit an OBGN and geneticist to work with Abby on the project. I would also really appreciate your help with Clarke's procedure."

"Sure, I will do all that I can to help. But, once Ash extracts the subjects from the Chernobyl facility, will they be taken to your facility in California?"

"Yes."

"Then I will accept your job offer at least until I find out what happened to Natalia."

Chapter 68: Lexa

About four hours later, Callie and Ash emerge from their marathon session. I smile and say, "So, how was it?"

Ash smirks, "It was amazing as always! So, what did you and Anny decide?"

I look over at Callie, her face is red, and she is trying to hide. "What's wrong, Callie? Are you dehydrated? I can get you some water or…."

"Shut up, Lexa, stop embarrassing me!" Callie snaps at me but smiles.

"What fun is it if I can't tease you and Ash a little bit. Ash didn't seem to mind."

"Yeah, well, you and Ash don't embarrass that easily."

Ash says, "Leave her alone, Lex and tell me what's going on?"

I spend the next hour or so catching Ash up on everything that has happened since she left. I explained how Julian approached Abby about working for the CIA, but we decided to open our own facility instead. I explained that I had formed a company and named it AST Enterprises and that Abby was going to handle the medical research and Marcus Kane was going to be the head of the applied science division.

"Wow, you have been busy since I left!" Ash says. "How do you have the money for all of this?"

"Well, I had the money from winning the tournament, and the UFC fight winnings was $250,00 for winning the fight. Then there was the merchandising, which came to $109,268,292."

"I understand that, but you bought a jumbo jet, and I'm assuming you already have or will be buying some sort of facility to house these projects, plus salaries to pay. So how are you going to keep the business going?"

"Ash, I have it covered. I already have a few contracts for some of Marcus's prototypes, and if we can get this procedure to work, we will be able to use it to bring in money, as well. Plus, I had another fight with Mickey's club and won $500,000 for winning. In addition, I won eight million on playing the odds to win the fight in under a minute and then $80 million on a side bet to win in under thirty seconds. So, I think we have enough start-up cash, at least for now."

Callie gasps and says, "Holy shit, Lexa!"

"What? What's wrong?"

"I-I just can't believe you can make that much money on a fight, that's all?"

"Oh, yeah. I made it in exactly 18 seconds. Now I have the contract for this UFC fight. With this fight being a pay-per-view, I stand to make a lot more. Not only do I have merchandising rights but also PPV points."

Ash says, "Alright, smart ass, what is it that you need from Anny?"

Anny speaks up and explains to Ash what we talked about while she and Callie were…you know. She explains the procedure, and she thinks it is brilliant and will work even if we aren't able to isolate just Finn's DNA, the baby's DNA will be different enough so that a DNA test would be inclusive as to if he is the father or not.

Ash looks at me and smiles, "So, you are going to have a baby. How do you feel about that?"

"Well, Clarke is going to be doing all the work, and I hate the way it came about, but I'm fucking excited! I hate not telling everyone right now, but…that decision is Clarke's to make. I'm only glad she decided to keep it even if the procedure wasn't possible. It's funny. I never thought about kids until hanging out with Asher and then being with Clarke. I mean, even when we were together, the thought never crossed my mind. I guess because really, who would have carried the kid, not me."

Ash, Callie, and I all laugh. Callie says, "We know it wouldn't be Ash because she has already informed me that we were having more, but she wasn't going to be the one to carry them."

"At any rate, lately, I have been thinking about having kids a lot, and well, I can't wait to have one of my own. However, there is one thing that I could use your help with, Callie."

Callie looks at me, confused. Finally, I say, "We both know that Ash isn't romantic, and I have to come up with an epic proposal for Clarke after what I did for the two of you, and I'm coming up blank. I mean, I can't sing her a song because that's what I did for you, Callie. I can't take her to a romantic oasis in the desert, cook for her and talk about the stars and how she saved me because that's what I did for you, Ash. So, can someone please tell me what I can do for Clarke!"

Anny speaks for the first time, "Wait, so Lexa, you have proposed to both of them, and now they are married to each other, and you're having a baby with Clarke, who you now want to propose to."

I chuckle, "Well, when you say it like that, it sounds bad, but…really, it's just complicated. I did propose to Ash a long time ago under what I realize now were questionable circumstances, but I'm glad she is with Callie. I just helped Ash propose to Callie, and yes, now I very much want to marry Clarke."

Ash says, "Do you have a ring?"

I pull out the box and show them. Callie says, "Holy shit, that is beautiful."

I smile, "Thanks, but I can't take the credit for it. Clarke picked it out."

"What?" asks Ash.

"We were picking her out a charm for her bracelet, and I caught her looking at it, so I went back and got it. She doesn't know about it, though, and I don't know when I want to propose, just that I do, and it needs to be epic. I do have a plan as to how to tell everyone about the baby if I can talk Clarke into it."

Before long, we have landed in Dubai and are on the van headed to the hotel. I get Anny a room, and she says she is going to go sleep but call her when we needed her. I look at Ash and Callie, "Let's go up to my room, and you can collect Asher. I know he will be excited to see you, but I would like to use him to have fun waking up Clarke first if that is okay."

Ash smiles, "Sure."

It's about 6:45 when we walk into our suite, and I tell them to just hang out for a minute. I tiptoe upstairs, hoping that Clarke is asleep and not sick in the bathroom. When I walk into the bedroom, I see Clarke, Asher, and Sabrina sleeping soundly in the bed. I stand there for a minute, thinking how cute they all are and how much I'm looking forward to having a baby. Then, I sneak in and wake Asher up, making sure he knows to be quiet and whisper, "Want to help me wake up Clarke like we did last time?" He nods. "Alright, but don't jump on her this time. I will hold her hands while you tickle her, okay?"

He whispers, "What about Brina? Can she help?"

"Sure."

He proceeds to wake up Sabrina while I sneak over and take Clarke's hands and move them, so the kids have access to her underarms, and then they pounce like jungle cats. One on each side, tickling and laughing. Clarke screams, which makes everyone laugh even more as they continue the onslaught. I smile and say, "I guess you should get used to this now that…."

She cuts my sentence short with, "Don't you dare say it! You know they repeat everything. Now make them stop!"

I let her hands go, and then I grab Asher and begin tickling him, and Clarke does the same for Sabrina. Finally, Asher starts yelling, stop and that brings Ash and Callie upstairs and into the bedroom. Ash rushes in and scoops up Asher saying, "I'm here to save you!"

Asher then squeals, "Mommy? You're here. I thought you were working?"

"I was, but I needed to come to save you from Aunt Lexa and spend some time with you. Is that okay?"

"Of course, but Xa not hurting me. We just playing."

"I know, buddy. She would never hurt you. Why don't you and mom and I go to our room."

"Okay, but can Brina come too?"

"Sure. Hey Clarke, congratulations. Lexa, we will meet up later."

Chapter 69: Clarke

Asher, Sabrina, and I have a sleepover while Lexa is gone to get Ash. We order room service, then go out for ice cream and watch movies until they fall asleep in the bed with me. I enjoyed it, but I'm tired. The next thing I know, I'm awakened by Lexa holding my hands and the two kids tickling me. I want to be mad, but I can't. Lexa looks so happy.

After Callie and Ash take the kids and leave. I grab her by the back of the neck, pulling her into bed with me. I can't believe how much I missed her even though she was only gone a few hours. I kiss her deeply until I need to pull away to breathe. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I have an idea on how to tell everyone if it's okay with you. I just…I just want everyone to know. I'm just so excited, and Anny said the procedure would work and that she would help perform it, so I just want to tell everyone."

"Babe, I know you are excited, and so am I, but I just know that everyone will want to know how it happened, and I'm not sure I want everyone to know that. But, hold on, did you say that it will work? We can rewrite the DNA?"

She smiles, "Yep! Anny said it would work and is as safe as any medical procedure. The only thing is that she isn't sure that we can target just Finn's DNA. So it might be that the baby ends up with three different sets of DNAs instead of two, but the baby would be fine, and the DNA wouldn't match Finn's."

"Cielo, this is amazing!"

"I know that's why I want to tell everyone. Anny also said that a geneticist may be able to figure out how to target just Finn's DNA. She also said the procedure is usually done between weeks 10-14, so whenever they can figure everything out, it can be done. I'm going to text your mom and Dr. Al-Mubarak and see if they can get together with Anny this afternoon after she has some time to rest. That way, we can get things moving. I would like to go out and celebrate this evening if you feel up to it, even if you won't let me tell everyone yet."

"What did you have in mind for your big reveal? I know you well enough to know that you have something big planned."

She laughs, kissing the tip of my nose. "You do seem to know me pretty well. There is a bar down the street that is having karaoke tonight. I thought that I could get everyone to meet there, then you and I would sing the song by Paul Anika, Having My Baby. Then if you don't want them to know about the…incident, we could just say that you had a procedure because we wanted to have a baby. Although, it is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Babe, I don't know that song, and I don't like to sing."

"Here, look at the lyrics. The song really fits, and you wouldn't have to sing very much. It would be so cool, please." She pulls up the song lyrics for me to read.

When I finish, she looks at me with her best puppy dog eyes. "You don't play fair looking at me like that. Fine, we can do it on one condition."

"Anything!"

"You let me decide how to answer ALL the questions concerning the conception of the baby."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm going to text everyone, and then I have to meet Jose and Lucas for a training session. When I get back, I'm taking my baby momma to the beach. If you want to go, I mean."

"Yes, I will go to the beach with you, but right now, I'm going back to sleep."

Lexa

I'm so wired up that I can't even think about sleeping even though I was up all night. I text Jose and Lucas and tell them to meet me in the conference room set up with mats for a training session. Then I text Abby and Dr. Al-Mubarak to see if they can meet with Anny later this afternoon. They both agree, and Dr. Al-Mubarak is going to bring her partner along. I also invite them to celebrate with us tonight. Then I text everyone else to meet at the bar at eight.

Once everything is set up, I head to the gym and spend the next three hours training. Jose and I work on some capoeira moves while Lucas continues to help me with my wrestling. When I get back up to the room, Clarke has a massive spread of food waiting on me. I smile, "Man does my baby momma know what I need or what."

Clarke laughs, "Whatever, just eat so we can go to the beach. I'm going to change while you eat."

"Babe, you need to eat too. I mean, you're eating for two now."

"Haha, very funny. I already ate."

About ten minutes later, Clarke comes out in a bikini. "Hey, sexy," I say when I look up from my food. "You look amazing. Let me get changed, and we can head out."

"Do you think this shows too much?" Clarke asks. "Maybe I should put on my one piece."

I look at her, confused. I think the suit looks amazing on her, it shows a little cleavage, but that was it. "I've seen way skimpier bikinis. Are you worried that someone will be able to tell you're pregnant? I promise you can't. You look beautiful, and you're in great shape."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Clarke says softly. "I'm worried that I look too good."

"Huh? Too good? How can you look too good?"

"If-if I go out there like this, men will look at me and think…they'll think…."

"Whoa," I say, walking to her. "I'm sure men will look at you and think you're sexy, and some women too, but that's never bothered you before."

"It never seemed like a threat before," Clarke says, tears glistening in her eyes. "When Finn…" Her breath started coming faster. "He wasn't sure if he could get aroused with an unwilling partner, but when he ripped off my clothes and looked at me, he did. He did get aroused. I was hoping he wouldn't be able to, but…."

"Oh, Clarke." I pull her close and hold her as the tears fell.

"I didn't want him to," Clarke sobbed.

"I know you didn't, baby, I know," I say as I stroke her hair. "But sweetie, you need to understand, there was nothing about you that made him do that. He wasn't able to do it because you were so good-looking. He was able to do it because he was a monster, a horrible person."

"He said I was too attractive to be a dyke…and that he was going to make it so that no one would want me…."

"Clarke, listen. I happen to think you're the sexiest human being alive. I'm crazy in love with you. I mean, I probably appreciate your good looks more than anyone else does. But I could never get aroused by you in a situation where you were scared or upset. I mean, I've always thought you were sexy, and I've been attracted to you since day one, but I still managed to control my arousal. That's what decent people do. I know society says horrible things about women's bodies making men lose control, but you know as well as I do that's not true. What happened to you happened because Finn is a horrible person and wanted to hurt us both."

Clarke nodded her understanding, trying to blink her tears away. "It's just…when I go out there like this, people will look at me…."

"People have always looked at you. Don't let that ruin your fun. None of them are going to touch you because I would hurt them if they even thought about it." I kiss her. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world. Please don't start seeing that as a bad thing. You didn't deserve what happened to you, and it's not fair. But I promise you that you're going to be okay and that this will make you even stronger."

"Thank you," Clarke says quietly. "Although I think you're the sexist."

"Well, we can have that argument later. Put your one-piece on if it makes you more comfortable, but if you want to wear the bikini, then I think you should."

"I will," Clarke says. "But you'll stay close to me, right?"

"Of course. I'll make sure everyone knows you are not an eligible woman and if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, you let me know, and I will take care of them, okay?"

Clarke smiled and dried her eyes, then gathered their beach things while I changed into a pair of board shorts, a matching sports bra with a tank top that shows off my shoulders because Clarke loves my muscular shoulders. I'm glad Clarke was going to wear what she wanted to, but I am infuriated that she even considered changing out of fear that it was no longer safe to look so amazing. Clarke has always turned heads for long as I've known her. It had never seemed to bother her before. I can't stand the thought of her feeling differently about herself because of what that bastard did to her.

We gathered up all our stuff and went to the beach. Once there, I grabbed a couple of beach chairs for us and spread out our towels before taking off my shirt. "Wow!" Clarke gasped. "I never get tired of looking at you."

I grin. I knew that shedding my shirt would get Clarke's attention and hopefully make her forget her insecurities.

"I must admit, I am very aroused right now," says Clarke. "But I can control myself."

I laugh, "Maybe, but you don't have to. Will you take off your cover-up and get in with me?"

Clarke nods and takes hers off. Damn, she is beautiful with the sun reflecting off of her golden hair. I gasp and stare. "Clarke, you are beautiful." I lean over to get the sunscreen out of the bag because she has fair skin, and I don't want her to burn. When I stand up, I see a couple of guys looking our way, so I walk over to Clarke, take her in my arms, and kiss her deeply.

When she pulls away, she says, "What was that for, to torture me because I said I was aroused?"

"Nope, just letting people know that you are taken. I want everyone to know that the most beautiful woman on the beach is with me. Now let me put some sunscreen on you." She sits down on the lounge chair, and I sit behind her and slowly massage the sunscreen on every piece of exposed skin.

"Lexa, you're killing me."

"Am I?" I lean in and kiss her neck, then nibbled her earlobe.

"Lexa, stop. Everyone is going to see us."

"So, I don't care. I love you, and I want everyone to know that you are mine."

She pushes me away playfully, and I scoop her up and run for the water. She is laughing as I run into the water until it is about waist high, and then I start to throw her in, but…I think better of it and just squat down so that we are both in the water. When she finishes laughing and splashing me, I wrap her in my arms and kiss her, taking her hand pulling her out until we are chest-deep.

When we are deep enough, I hug her from behind, kissing her neck, and whisper, "So, are you still aroused?" I run my hands slowly down her sides and back up and kiss the other side of her neck.

Clarke says, "Yes, but what are you doing? There are so many people."

"Do you trust me?"

"What? Of course, I trust you."

"Then just relax. I've got you." I start kissing her neck, then her shoulder as I run my hands down her sides and around to the front of her stomach. I take her earlobe into my mouth and nibble on it as I lightly run my fingers up her stomach until I reach her breasts. "Squat down so that the water covers your boobs."

She does as she is told, and I palm her left boob in my left hand, gently tweaking her nipple between my thumb and finger through her bathing suit. My right hand lightly traces down her stomach until it is between her legs over the bathing suit bottom. She gasps, starting to breathe faster as I run my hand between her legs, and she opens them, giving me better access.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I continue to rub over the top of the suit between her legs and kiss her neck again.

"Yes, you feel so good."

I move my hand up her stomach and slip it under the waistband of her bottoms, where I begin stroking her clit with two fingers, one on each side. Clarke moans, and I give her nipple a tiny pinch as I increase the pace of my fingers. I use my thumb to circle her nipple as she begins breathing faster. "You're so beautiful," I say softly, pressing my body closer against her back. I continue caressing and stroking her soft folds until my fingers find her center and slide inside. Clarke gasps as I begin working her slowly, moving in and out in measured strokes, until Clarke begins moving her hips in a desperate attempt to take me in deeper. I speed up, moving faster and faster until she was almost in a frenzy, then I feel her close up around my fingers. She muffles her scream so that it comes out more like a snort or laugh.

"Damn, you're good at that," Clarke says hoarsely, turning to face me. "I can't believe you just did that here with all these people around."

"They could care less what we are doing. You bring the best out in me, and I couldn't wait until we got back to the room," I say, grinning brightly.

Clarke takes my head in her hands, tilts it back, kissing me fiercely. When she pulls away, she says, "Thank you for always knowing how to make me feel better."

"You don't have to thank me; I love making you feel good. But can we get out of the water now before I get eaten by sharks?"

"What?"

"I don't like being in the water for too long. I've been to the aquarium. I've seen what lives in here, and I don't want to be eaten alive by a shark. So, can we please get out?"

She starts laughing at me, "Are you telling me that you are scared of the ocean?"

"No, I'm telling you that I am not happy about what lives in the ocean and what they can do to me."

Clarke takes my hand, leading me toward the beach, "I can't believe the big bad Stryker is afraid of fish."

"I'm not scared of fish; I just don't like sharks!"

When we get out of the water and head toward our chairs, we run into Ash, Callie, Asher, and Sabrina. Ash looks at us and says, "Clarke, how did you manage to get Lexa to go that far out into the water? You know she is scared of fish, right?"

Asher and Sabrina have wandered off toward the water, and Clarke says, "It was actually pretty easy, I enticed her with sex. I guess she forgot about the fish for a while."

Everyone just laughs, "For the last time, I'm not afraid of fish! I just don't like sharks. So, Asher, want to build a sandcastle?"

"Yes," he says.

Clarke

Even after our conversation in the room, I'm still feeling a little uncomfortable in my bikini. That is until Lexa claims me in front of everyone by kissing me passionately before she rubs sunscreen seductively all over me. Then she takes me into the deep water and makes love to me, which was amazing. I can't believe we did that with all the people on the beach, but it was unbelievably sexy.

Once we get to the beach, we run into Ash, Callie, and the kids. Ash starts kidding Lexa about being afraid of fish, so she goes to play with Asher while pouting. Her pouting is kinda cute and sexy.

I sit and talk with Ash and Callie while Lexa plays with the kids in the sand, building sandcastles. Callie looks from where the kids are playing to me and says, "She really is good with kids. How far along are you?"

"Twelve weeks and four days. Lexa really is good with them, and she's so excited about the baby that she can't wait to tell everyone. I'm just worried that she isn't concentrating enough on the fight now that she knows about the baby."

Ash says, "You don't have to worry about her when it comes to fighting, she can hold her own."

"I know, but I don't want her to be so distracted that she gets hurt. I don't know what I would do if something happened to her." I look over to find Lexa buried up to her neck in the sand with Asher and Sabrina standing over her, laughing. I just shake my head. "I may be getting myself into trouble. She can be as much of a kid as they can."

Ash and Callie laugh. Ash says, "We may need to go rescue her. She's going to have sand in places that sand should never be."

We all walk over there, and I look down at my wonderful girlfriend and say, "Babe, you know that you are going to have to get into the water and wash off all that sand, right."

She looks up, "What? No, I can just take a shower."

Everybody laughs at her. "No, ma'am. You have to rinse off before we go inside."

"But what about the sharks? They will eat me!"

Ash speaks up, "I made a huge mistake taking you to the aquarium and letting you see what lives in the ocean."

I take her hand and lead her towards the water, "I will protect you against the fish, babe."

She looks at me and sticks her lip out at me. I look at Ash, "I'm going to have two kids in six months, aren't I?"

Her reply is, "Yep, most definitely."