Aaron woke up to the sensation of someone shaking him. He opened his eyes blearily to see Jack smiling down on him. "Good afternoon, Daddy. Will you come down and play with me?"

He sat up and looked over at Erin, She was curled up next to him, his shirt hanging off her slight frame. How she'd managed to sleep through his son's prodding he had no idea, but she looked so desirable laying there that he felt himself stir. "In a little bit, buddy. Miss Erin and I have to do some waking up first."

"Okay, Daddy." He grinned at him before running out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Erin stirred and stretched net to him, her breasts straining against the fabric of the shirt. Aaron watched her blink a few times as she tried to orient herself.

"Aaron?"

"Yes?"

"I ache in a most glorious way. Thank you for being patient with me." Erin turned and kissed him and he buried his fingers in her tousled hair. Aaron let one of his hands drag through and then slip down her back to cup her ass, bringing her close to his body. "We can't. Jack's in the other room. What if he hears us?"

"Then you'll just have to be a little quieter this afternoon, my dear." She blushed and ducked her head a little as he chuckled. Aaron looked over at the clock and saw the light would be perfect. "One second," he said as he climbed out of bed and threw open the curtain, letting the bright sunshine spill in on the bed.

Erin giggled slightly, a sound he was quickly recognizing as her nervous release. "Aaron, what if I'm not pretty in the light?" She held the shirt closer together and looked down at the covers. "You're surrounded by beautiful people day in and day out and then you end up with someone like me in your bed."

He watched her shoulders begin to shake and knew he had to prove her wrong. "Erin," he said softly as he sat on the bed, close to her. "Look at me." Slowly, she lifted her face and he reached out to caress her cheek. "I am so sorry no one ever told you how beautiful you are."

She smiled and looked away once more. "Yeah, right."

Aaron kissed her gently. "You are. You keep this element of softness and curves hidden beneath your façade of aloofness." He unbuttoned the shirt, making sure to brush his knuckles over the swell of her breasts and the dip of her belly button.

"Oh," she whispered as her thighs opened for him willingly. "I suppose you make me beautiful."

"No, that's all you, sweetheart. You respond to me so well, you light up with an inner fire that makes you breathtaking. After Haley, I never thought I'd find someone who makes my body sing so." He took hold of her hand and guided it to his erection. Aaron bit back a groan as her hand closed around him, stroking softly. 'You'll completely undo me before I have the chance to pleasure you."

"Heaven forbid," she said archly before gasping slightly as he removed her hand and none too gently flipped her onto her back. "Aaron?" she asked nervously, the look of fear on her face hitting him in the stomach.

"Oh, honey, I am so sorry." He bundled her up in his arms, running his fingers through her hair.

"I'm so stupid," she muttered as she kneaded her fingers into his chest.

"No, you are not. I was too aggressive with you." He kissed her forehead and then the ting mole on the bridge of her nose. Slowly, he covered her face with delicate kisses, smiling when he heard her sigh in pleasure. He moved down the column of her neck, nipping at the pulse point before continuing on his journey. He peeled off his shirt from her body covering her arms in the same sweet busses.

Softly, softly, he told himself as he kisses along her collarbone, enjoying the feel of her heightened pulse beneath his lips as he made his way down her chest. Aaron nuzzled the underside of her breasts, eliciting a soft moan from Erin. He opened his mouth and drew one erect peak inside, suckling strongly. As he went to manipulate her other breast with his hand, she took hold of him, drawing him down to her core.

"I can't take much more," she said breathlessly. "My nerves are fire." Aaron slipped his fingers between her legs and found her slick and ready. Gently, he nudged her legs apart and entered her. "Aaron," she keened, before burying her head in his shoulder. The vibrations of her moans drove him wild, but he tried to keep the pace steady so as not to alarm her. He felt her orgasm build around him and as she came, she screamed against him, his flesh muffling the sound.

They collapsed on the bed and she snuggled into him. "You're amazing."

"So are you."

"What's wrong?" he asked when he saw that she was crying again, and he reached out to wipe the tears away.

"It's my first Christmas without Erik. I shouldn't feel so happy, should I?"

"I can't tell you how to feel, Erin. Grief takes so many forms. Do you miss him?"

"Yes, a lot, sometimes. Does it mean I'm a bad person if I find you filling that hole more and more each day?" He shook his head and she kissed him tenderly. "Thank you." She slid out of bed and padded over to her bag, pulling out a set of clothes. "Um, would you turn around please, while I get dressed?"

"Okay," he said, confusion wrinkling his brow.

"Honey, I know you've seen me naked, but, oh Hell. It's another stupid hang-up from Wyoming. Frak it." He smiled to hear Penelope's go to swear word spill from her mouth. "I need to move on." She went over to the bed and put her clothes on top of it. Erin never took her eyes off him as she dressed and he smiled encouragingly at her, even as she began to cry a little once more.

When her skirt was zipped, he opened his arms to her and she fell into them, taking a deep, shuddery, breath. "You did it."

"I did." He released her, kissing her forehead as he climbed out of bed to get dressed himself. Aaron watched her brush her hair as he pulled on khakis and a polo shirt. He held out his hand to her and she accepted it, letting him lead her out into the living room. He finally got a good look under the tree and noticed there were quite a few new presents there. "Penelope helped me bring them over. There's still one for each of you at my house."

"Miss Erin! Are you going to stay with us until Christmas?"

"Until the day after, actually. Though Josh and Becca would like to see you again while they're here. They offered to make Christmas dinner for us, all we have to do is show up."

"That would be awesome! Can we go, Daddy?" Jack looked up at him, his eyes begging Aaron to say yes.

"Of course we can, Jackers. We need to spend more time together so we can learn to be a family." Erin smiled up at him, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Are you hungry, or did Aunt Jessica give you lunch?"

"I could use some lunch." Erin laughed a little at the matter of fact way he replied. "Could we go to Panda Gardens?"

"If that's what you'd like, sure, I guess." Aaron looked at his lover. "Erin?"

"Chinese sounds wonderful, especially since I am so ravenous." Jack beamed at them and then ran out of the room. He returned minutes later with their coats.

"Well, let's get going, Daddy. Miss Erin and I are hungry." Jack pulled on his coat and looked at his father expectantly. Aaron motioned out the door and he took off, Erin and Aaron following at a more leisurely pace.

I didn't mean to spring dinner on you at the last minute," she said quietly as they went outside to the car.

"You didn't. Josh called me two weeks ago and asked if Jack and I were free on Christmas. You have a wonderful, caring, son, my dear, who loves you very much. I see now, why you favored him."

Erin smiled at him and opened her mouth to say something when her phone went off. "It's Georgia." He nodded and opened the car door for her as she answered. "Hello, Georgia. Merry Christmas to you, too, sweetie. O, you are? All right, I won't be at the house until after Boxing Day. Yeah, I'm with Aaron and Jack. But we're having dinner tomorrow at my house, with Becca and Josh. I don't know if Molly will be there. Of course, you're welcome, you're my child. We'll meet you there around one and start the introductions. I don't know how it will go, sweetie. I've never even breathed a word of you to them, Erik wouldn't let me. I love you, too, Georgia. Never doubt that. Until tomorrow."

"Georgia's going to be there, too, Miss Erin?"

"Yes, honey."

"Great! Do you think she'll tell me another story? I really love her stories."

"We'll have to see, Jack. Honey, do you mind if we stop at the mall afterwards? I have to pick something up for Georgia. I wish shed given me a little more notice than this."

"Of course, dear. I need to pick up a few things as well." He smiled and reached out his hand for hers, grasping it tightly as he drove along.