Chapter 8: Fly Me To the Moon
Brady gently pulled Chloe into the foyer of the DiMiera mansion. Quietly, Chloe turned and gently closed the doors to the living room, ensuring that they would be left alone. "Well, what is this about Brady?"
"Well, would you just-"Dramatically, he rolled his eyes, seeing that his wife was going to make this difficult. "Sometimes you make me so damn crazy."
"Well, you're no picnic either let me assure you." Defiantly, she wiped her face, still sticky from the tears that had fallen as they recalled the birth of their son.
It was quiet for a long while, Brady just leaning his back against the front door and Chloe leaning a hip against the spiral staircase as she picked invisible lint off of her dress. For two very stubborn people, this was the part they hated the most, when they had to open up to each other and remind the other how vulnerable they both really were. Luckily for them, there was no one else in the world they'd rather open up to.
Looking up at husband eying her from his place at the door, Chloe suddenly felt weightless. He could always make her feel that way with just a look, a simple touch, a kiss. "Sorry about the candleholder," she murmured.
"What?"
"The candle.the candleholder," she pointed to the bruise that had formed on his forehead from when the candleholder was chucked his way.
"Oh," he touched the tender spot. "It's okay."
She nodded and it was silent once again.
"Chloe." Brady trailed off.
Abruptly, she looked up and locked stares with him, willing him to continue.
"Chloe, I." he slowly made his way over to stand before her. He suddenly dropped to his knees, causing Chloe to gasp; he held her hands tightly. "Diva, I want you to come home with me tonight. You and Noah.I need you. I-"
She quieted him with her fingertips on his lips and joined him on the floor, on her knees. She let out a deep breath and smiled as a few tears slipped down her cheek. "That day.that wonderful, amazing, incredibly joyous day," she kissed his knuckles. ".When other guys would've brought their wives flowers or candy, you brought me a turkey. A turkey." She began to cry quietly.
Brady quickly dried her tears with his hands as he gently caressed her face. "No...no Chloe. Don't cry. I didn't even think of bringing you flowers. I'm sorry. I-"
"No, no honey, you don't understand. I told you before. I loved that turkey." She giggled. "Let's face it: That day, I was a little insane."
"A little?" He grinned.
"Just a tad. And it wasn't just me. We all were a little insane that day." Her face grew serious again. "It's just that it seems to be hitting me all over again that you weren't and never have been typical Brady Black. And I can't thank you enough for that."
Brady chuckled. "I could most certainly say the same for you Mrs. Black."
She giggled. "Brady I."
"Diva, I'm quitting Basic Black."
"What? But-"
"Chloe." he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. "I just want to be with you, wherever you are. Whether it be New York, Italy, Paris.I just know that I have to be with you." The sheer desperation in his eyes caused Chloe's to fill with fresh tears. "Basic Black." he trailed off trying to find the right words. "Here I was thinking that Basic Black was somehow giving me things I've always wanted: success, happiness, fulfillment. And I guess, in a way, it has brought me those things but. it sure doesn't feel like it, not when I don't have you and Noah by my side to share it with, not by a long shot. I want you, Noah and I to be a real family again."
"Brady..." Chloe started.
Quickly, he cut her off. "And being a real family doesn't mean we have to be Salem in our house on 745 Honeysuckle Circle (Author's note: I like the name of that street. Doesn't it sound groovy?). It doesn't mean we have to have home-cooked meals every night or watch HBO's Saturday night movies every weekend. Being a family-a real family- means that no matter what, we stick together. We support each other and we compromise and love each other. Because Chloe- no matter how cynical we both know we are- we also understand that when it comes right down to it, love is really all we need. It's all we need Chloe."
"Brady," she let out a half sob, half laugh. "Oh Brady. I love you." She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed.
"I love you." Soothingly, he stroked her back.
She pulled back to look him in the eye, yet her arms remained around his neck. "But I don't want that." She roughly wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"What?" Brady was stunned, hurt...scared. Had he blown it when he let her walk out on him three months ago?
"No, I mean I don't want New York, Paris or Italy. Or cramped dressing rooms or heavy makeup or butt-kissing critics or full opera houses. The only full house I want is ours. I just want you and Noah and our home in Salem." She cupped his face. "I want to wake up Sunday mornings and come down the stairs and see you and Noah making pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. I want to laugh as you try and get him to read the sports page or the comics when all he wants to do is play with your face and pull your hair."
He flashed her a sparkling grin. "He will read the sports page one of these days."
Chloe laughed as she realized he could never be very gushy for very long. "No, you don't Mr. Black. You are not going to make light of this. I want to be sappy right now dammit and you're going to take it."
Brady's smile faded and tightened his hold on her to reassure her that he would be as sentimental as she wanted. He stared into her eyes and lovingly caressed her cheek as he leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you."
The feel of his strong arms wrapped securely around her waist, his gentle caress of her cheek, the weight of his forehead pressed firmly against her own and his cool breath against her lips nearly finished her. But it was the simple, breathless way he said 'I love you,' that did her in. She moaned and initiated the gentle, loving kiss. It had been months since they kissed liked this: not incredibly passionate and powerful but soft and sweet, open and pure. The steady sound of voices streaming from the top of the stairs cut through their reverie as they reluctantly turned to see what all the commotion was about.
John, Marlena, Hope and Bo noisily made their way down the stairs completely oblivious to the couple kneeling at the bottom of the stairs. John saw them first. "Oh Brady.Chloe." He took notice of the way they held each other, kneeling at the bottom of the stairs and the dazed look on their faces. "We interrupted. I'm sorry." It was then that the other three noticed the loving couple and abruptly issued apologies as they quietly made their way down the stairs towards the living room. Brady and Chloe chuckled from their place on the floor as the four people kept apologizing and kept giving the lovers the thumbs up and the 'woo-hoo-it's- about-time' faces. When the door shut quietly leaving Brady and Chloe alone in the foyer once again, Brady stood and helped Chloe to her feet.
"So, we're both out of a job hmm?"
Chloe nodded. "So," she beamed. "What now Mr. Black?"
"Now?" He pulled her into his arms and swayed to the song in their hearts. "Now." He gently kissed her lips and tenderly rubbed her nose with his own. "Now we dance Mrs. Black." His voice was low and husky.
As he twirled her around, she giggled hysterically. "Brady!"
He pulled her close and held onto one of her hands as the other snaked around her waist. "What?" He pretended to pout.
She caressed his cheek tenderly with the back of her hand. "Aw, I missed this. I missed us."
"Me too," he said seriously and swooped in stealing a long, unhurried kiss upon her lips.
"Mmmmm.Brady." she nibbled at his cleanly shaven chin.
"Let's get out of here Chloe," he mumbled against her hair.
"Where to?" She looked up at him, her eyes smoky with desire.
He thought for a moment, causing a slight irritation to seep into Chloe's stare. "The moon." he grinned from ear to ear as he eyed Chloe's amused face.
"The moon?" She chuckled. "But the roads are washed out," she sighed with mock frustration.
"Hmmmmm." Brady said disappointedly. He looked around the foyer before turned his mischievous gaze back to Chloe. "Well then, I guess this front closet will have to do."
"Ooh.I like the way you think Black." She led him to the front closet by the door and roughly pulled him in as he slammed the door shut behind them.
Back in the living room.
John pumped his fist in anger. "Dammit! As far as I could tell no one else is in this house. By how in G-d's name is a dead man's body missing? I don't like this at all. This feeling I have. This is all really fishy. And if Brady wasn't out there with Chloe right now, I'd be worrying my ass off. But I think they can handle themselves."
Back in the front closet.
"Uh.oh I missed you Brady," she arched her neck as Brady left light kiss down the length of it.
"Diva, you have no idea.you couldn't.have any idea. how much I've missed you." he whispered between kisses and he tried to take the pins out of her hair to let it loose. "Damn, Chloe, how many of these do you have holding your hair up.ow, and they're sharp little pins too."
"Shut up Brady and kiss me. I'll worry about my hair."
He left her to take her hair down as he roughly pulled up the hem of her dress. Patiently, expertly caressing the length of her body elicited a moan-a rather loud moan-from her lips. "Shhh...baby, take this." He handed her something in the dark closet. "Put it in your mouth." :eek
Through eyes that had to not only adjust to the dark but also through the desire that had overtaken them, she struggled to see what he was handing her. It was..a shoe? "What the-Brady what is this?" she said angrily.
"My shoe."
"No kidding. What the hell do you want me to do with it?!"
"Chloe, I've recently heard some things that would.well, let's just say I don't want the whole house to hear us."
She threw the shoe at his head. "I will not put that in my mouth Brady."
"Ow, okay.you win." He pulled off his jacket and tackled her in the closet causing Chloe to shriek with laughter.
Back in the living room.
Marlena gushed to John. "Oh, John didn't they look absolutely sweet by the stairs?"
"That's a fact Doc. They did. They sure did." He had to smile, breaking the steeliness that had hardened his features.
Belle breathed through another contraction and loosened her death grip on Shawn's arm. "Who did?"
Marlena turned her warm smile to her daughter. "Oh Belle, honey are you okay?" She wrapped her daughter in a hug.
"I'm fine.I'm fine. I'm just extremely tired."
"Oh, my poor baby." She turned her attention to her son-in-law. "Shawn, Shawn how far apart are Belle's contractions?"
"Uh.about twelve minutes Marlena." He continued to rub his wife's back.
Belle ran a hand through her sweaty hair. "I want drugs.I need them.I have to have them.oh." she started to sob.
Shawn stroked his wife's hair and John and Marlena held each one of her hands. "Honey, remember you said you wanted a natural pregnancy?"
She glared at her husband. "Well, I've changed my mind Shawn! You don't know what I'm going through. You just get to knock me up and watch as I blow up for nine months and then get to watch me pop this little sucker out! And while I was suffering through backache after backache and incredibly irritating hemmoroids, you're out there fooling around with Cynthia! Damn you! You son of a b&tch! You did this! You did this to me!"
"Belle!" Marlena blushed at her daughter's frenzied outburst. She'd never heard worse than 'hell' out of Belle's mouth.
John placed a comforting hand on Shawn's shoulder. "It's okay son. All women go through this during labor. Just try and remember she doesn't mean anything she says right now and will probably be kicking herself later for attacking you like this. You gotta just stick with it kid."
Shawn gave his father-in-law a slight smile. "I sure hope so," he muttered.
John smiled. "Well I-" He heard a noise and raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear that?"
"What?" Shawn asked as he stilled himself in an effort to hear whatever it was John was hearing.
"I don't know, it's kind of.muffled."
Back In The Front Closet.
"Oh Brady.oh Brady.oh"
"Chloe.uh oh baby."
Back In The Living Room.
Shawn cocked an eyebrow. "You know what John? I do hear something. But aren't Brady and Chloe out there?"
"Oh yeah." How had he forgotten? "I forgot. They're probably fighting or something. Although, right before we came in here Brady and Chloe looked pretty cozy by the stairs." He grinned widely.
Belle sighed and tried to roll into a ball on the couch. "Brady and Chloe? Where are they? I need them. I need them to sing me a song."
John volunteered. "I'll sing for you honey."
"Daddy, you can't sing."
He ignored her and cleared his throat extracting a groan from the guests in the room. "Aww, alright. I won't sing. But what can I do to calm you?"
Marlena pulled her husband on a couch opposite her daughter. "Just sit down and be quiet honey. Once Brady and Chloe kiss and make-up and get back in here we'll ask them to sing. I think we could all use a little calming."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Aside from the rhythmic thumping and the bevy of muffled moans that escaped Brady and Chloe's throat, their sexual escapade in the front closet had gone, for the most part, unnoticed by the group outside.
Brady led Chloe into the living room, joining the other guests who appeared to be bored out of their ever-loving minds. They had resorted to singing Frank Sinatra tunes. "Fly me to the moon and let me play amongst the stars. Let me see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars. In-Brady! Chloe!" Belle cried happily. "Where have you been?"
Brady smiled. "Belle, we've only been gone for." he looked at his watch, "for twenty minutes."
Shawn eyed his brother and sister-in-law suspiciously: the way they held each other's hands lovingly.the crumpled dress shirt Brady wore, his ruffled hair, the smeared lipstick stains on his neck and chin. And Chloe: her wave of curly locks that spilled haphazardly down her back, her flushed cheeks and swollen red lips. "Brady.Chloe.did you just have sex?" All guests turned to face the reddening couple.
Chloe choked on the air. And Brady merely smiled and said teasingly, "Something like that."
A horde of 'Congratulations" and 'Way-to-go''s were issued to the reunited lovebirds and John smiled knowingly. "So this night hasn't been a total loss."
The lights flickered off and on and voice coming from the entryway of the living room interrupted the suddenly joyous group. "No, it hasn't. It's been quite fun."
Terrified, Belle screamed above the rain that fell comparatively silent against the windows. John rose angrily from his place on the couch and pointed at the person in the entrance to the living room. "You!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brady gently pulled Chloe into the foyer of the DiMiera mansion. Quietly, Chloe turned and gently closed the doors to the living room, ensuring that they would be left alone. "Well, what is this about Brady?"
"Well, would you just-"Dramatically, he rolled his eyes, seeing that his wife was going to make this difficult. "Sometimes you make me so damn crazy."
"Well, you're no picnic either let me assure you." Defiantly, she wiped her face, still sticky from the tears that had fallen as they recalled the birth of their son.
It was quiet for a long while, Brady just leaning his back against the front door and Chloe leaning a hip against the spiral staircase as she picked invisible lint off of her dress. For two very stubborn people, this was the part they hated the most, when they had to open up to each other and remind the other how vulnerable they both really were. Luckily for them, there was no one else in the world they'd rather open up to.
Looking up at husband eying her from his place at the door, Chloe suddenly felt weightless. He could always make her feel that way with just a look, a simple touch, a kiss. "Sorry about the candleholder," she murmured.
"What?"
"The candle.the candleholder," she pointed to the bruise that had formed on his forehead from when the candleholder was chucked his way.
"Oh," he touched the tender spot. "It's okay."
She nodded and it was silent once again.
"Chloe." Brady trailed off.
Abruptly, she looked up and locked stares with him, willing him to continue.
"Chloe, I." he slowly made his way over to stand before her. He suddenly dropped to his knees, causing Chloe to gasp; he held her hands tightly. "Diva, I want you to come home with me tonight. You and Noah.I need you. I-"
She quieted him with her fingertips on his lips and joined him on the floor, on her knees. She let out a deep breath and smiled as a few tears slipped down her cheek. "That day.that wonderful, amazing, incredibly joyous day," she kissed his knuckles. ".When other guys would've brought their wives flowers or candy, you brought me a turkey. A turkey." She began to cry quietly.
Brady quickly dried her tears with his hands as he gently caressed her face. "No...no Chloe. Don't cry. I didn't even think of bringing you flowers. I'm sorry. I-"
"No, no honey, you don't understand. I told you before. I loved that turkey." She giggled. "Let's face it: That day, I was a little insane."
"A little?" He grinned.
"Just a tad. And it wasn't just me. We all were a little insane that day." Her face grew serious again. "It's just that it seems to be hitting me all over again that you weren't and never have been typical Brady Black. And I can't thank you enough for that."
Brady chuckled. "I could most certainly say the same for you Mrs. Black."
She giggled. "Brady I."
"Diva, I'm quitting Basic Black."
"What? But-"
"Chloe." he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. "I just want to be with you, wherever you are. Whether it be New York, Italy, Paris.I just know that I have to be with you." The sheer desperation in his eyes caused Chloe's to fill with fresh tears. "Basic Black." he trailed off trying to find the right words. "Here I was thinking that Basic Black was somehow giving me things I've always wanted: success, happiness, fulfillment. And I guess, in a way, it has brought me those things but. it sure doesn't feel like it, not when I don't have you and Noah by my side to share it with, not by a long shot. I want you, Noah and I to be a real family again."
"Brady..." Chloe started.
Quickly, he cut her off. "And being a real family doesn't mean we have to be Salem in our house on 745 Honeysuckle Circle (Author's note: I like the name of that street. Doesn't it sound groovy?). It doesn't mean we have to have home-cooked meals every night or watch HBO's Saturday night movies every weekend. Being a family-a real family- means that no matter what, we stick together. We support each other and we compromise and love each other. Because Chloe- no matter how cynical we both know we are- we also understand that when it comes right down to it, love is really all we need. It's all we need Chloe."
"Brady," she let out a half sob, half laugh. "Oh Brady. I love you." She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed.
"I love you." Soothingly, he stroked her back.
She pulled back to look him in the eye, yet her arms remained around his neck. "But I don't want that." She roughly wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"What?" Brady was stunned, hurt...scared. Had he blown it when he let her walk out on him three months ago?
"No, I mean I don't want New York, Paris or Italy. Or cramped dressing rooms or heavy makeup or butt-kissing critics or full opera houses. The only full house I want is ours. I just want you and Noah and our home in Salem." She cupped his face. "I want to wake up Sunday mornings and come down the stairs and see you and Noah making pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. I want to laugh as you try and get him to read the sports page or the comics when all he wants to do is play with your face and pull your hair."
He flashed her a sparkling grin. "He will read the sports page one of these days."
Chloe laughed as she realized he could never be very gushy for very long. "No, you don't Mr. Black. You are not going to make light of this. I want to be sappy right now dammit and you're going to take it."
Brady's smile faded and tightened his hold on her to reassure her that he would be as sentimental as she wanted. He stared into her eyes and lovingly caressed her cheek as he leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you."
The feel of his strong arms wrapped securely around her waist, his gentle caress of her cheek, the weight of his forehead pressed firmly against her own and his cool breath against her lips nearly finished her. But it was the simple, breathless way he said 'I love you,' that did her in. She moaned and initiated the gentle, loving kiss. It had been months since they kissed liked this: not incredibly passionate and powerful but soft and sweet, open and pure. The steady sound of voices streaming from the top of the stairs cut through their reverie as they reluctantly turned to see what all the commotion was about.
John, Marlena, Hope and Bo noisily made their way down the stairs completely oblivious to the couple kneeling at the bottom of the stairs. John saw them first. "Oh Brady.Chloe." He took notice of the way they held each other, kneeling at the bottom of the stairs and the dazed look on their faces. "We interrupted. I'm sorry." It was then that the other three noticed the loving couple and abruptly issued apologies as they quietly made their way down the stairs towards the living room. Brady and Chloe chuckled from their place on the floor as the four people kept apologizing and kept giving the lovers the thumbs up and the 'woo-hoo-it's- about-time' faces. When the door shut quietly leaving Brady and Chloe alone in the foyer once again, Brady stood and helped Chloe to her feet.
"So, we're both out of a job hmm?"
Chloe nodded. "So," she beamed. "What now Mr. Black?"
"Now?" He pulled her into his arms and swayed to the song in their hearts. "Now." He gently kissed her lips and tenderly rubbed her nose with his own. "Now we dance Mrs. Black." His voice was low and husky.
As he twirled her around, she giggled hysterically. "Brady!"
He pulled her close and held onto one of her hands as the other snaked around her waist. "What?" He pretended to pout.
She caressed his cheek tenderly with the back of her hand. "Aw, I missed this. I missed us."
"Me too," he said seriously and swooped in stealing a long, unhurried kiss upon her lips.
"Mmmmm.Brady." she nibbled at his cleanly shaven chin.
"Let's get out of here Chloe," he mumbled against her hair.
"Where to?" She looked up at him, her eyes smoky with desire.
He thought for a moment, causing a slight irritation to seep into Chloe's stare. "The moon." he grinned from ear to ear as he eyed Chloe's amused face.
"The moon?" She chuckled. "But the roads are washed out," she sighed with mock frustration.
"Hmmmmm." Brady said disappointedly. He looked around the foyer before turned his mischievous gaze back to Chloe. "Well then, I guess this front closet will have to do."
"Ooh.I like the way you think Black." She led him to the front closet by the door and roughly pulled him in as he slammed the door shut behind them.
Back in the living room.
John pumped his fist in anger. "Dammit! As far as I could tell no one else is in this house. By how in G-d's name is a dead man's body missing? I don't like this at all. This feeling I have. This is all really fishy. And if Brady wasn't out there with Chloe right now, I'd be worrying my ass off. But I think they can handle themselves."
Back in the front closet.
"Uh.oh I missed you Brady," she arched her neck as Brady left light kiss down the length of it.
"Diva, you have no idea.you couldn't.have any idea. how much I've missed you." he whispered between kisses and he tried to take the pins out of her hair to let it loose. "Damn, Chloe, how many of these do you have holding your hair up.ow, and they're sharp little pins too."
"Shut up Brady and kiss me. I'll worry about my hair."
He left her to take her hair down as he roughly pulled up the hem of her dress. Patiently, expertly caressing the length of her body elicited a moan-a rather loud moan-from her lips. "Shhh...baby, take this." He handed her something in the dark closet. "Put it in your mouth." :eek
Through eyes that had to not only adjust to the dark but also through the desire that had overtaken them, she struggled to see what he was handing her. It was..a shoe? "What the-Brady what is this?" she said angrily.
"My shoe."
"No kidding. What the hell do you want me to do with it?!"
"Chloe, I've recently heard some things that would.well, let's just say I don't want the whole house to hear us."
She threw the shoe at his head. "I will not put that in my mouth Brady."
"Ow, okay.you win." He pulled off his jacket and tackled her in the closet causing Chloe to shriek with laughter.
Back in the living room.
Marlena gushed to John. "Oh, John didn't they look absolutely sweet by the stairs?"
"That's a fact Doc. They did. They sure did." He had to smile, breaking the steeliness that had hardened his features.
Belle breathed through another contraction and loosened her death grip on Shawn's arm. "Who did?"
Marlena turned her warm smile to her daughter. "Oh Belle, honey are you okay?" She wrapped her daughter in a hug.
"I'm fine.I'm fine. I'm just extremely tired."
"Oh, my poor baby." She turned her attention to her son-in-law. "Shawn, Shawn how far apart are Belle's contractions?"
"Uh.about twelve minutes Marlena." He continued to rub his wife's back.
Belle ran a hand through her sweaty hair. "I want drugs.I need them.I have to have them.oh." she started to sob.
Shawn stroked his wife's hair and John and Marlena held each one of her hands. "Honey, remember you said you wanted a natural pregnancy?"
She glared at her husband. "Well, I've changed my mind Shawn! You don't know what I'm going through. You just get to knock me up and watch as I blow up for nine months and then get to watch me pop this little sucker out! And while I was suffering through backache after backache and incredibly irritating hemmoroids, you're out there fooling around with Cynthia! Damn you! You son of a b&tch! You did this! You did this to me!"
"Belle!" Marlena blushed at her daughter's frenzied outburst. She'd never heard worse than 'hell' out of Belle's mouth.
John placed a comforting hand on Shawn's shoulder. "It's okay son. All women go through this during labor. Just try and remember she doesn't mean anything she says right now and will probably be kicking herself later for attacking you like this. You gotta just stick with it kid."
Shawn gave his father-in-law a slight smile. "I sure hope so," he muttered.
John smiled. "Well I-" He heard a noise and raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear that?"
"What?" Shawn asked as he stilled himself in an effort to hear whatever it was John was hearing.
"I don't know, it's kind of.muffled."
Back In The Front Closet.
"Oh Brady.oh Brady.oh"
"Chloe.uh oh baby."
Back In The Living Room.
Shawn cocked an eyebrow. "You know what John? I do hear something. But aren't Brady and Chloe out there?"
"Oh yeah." How had he forgotten? "I forgot. They're probably fighting or something. Although, right before we came in here Brady and Chloe looked pretty cozy by the stairs." He grinned widely.
Belle sighed and tried to roll into a ball on the couch. "Brady and Chloe? Where are they? I need them. I need them to sing me a song."
John volunteered. "I'll sing for you honey."
"Daddy, you can't sing."
He ignored her and cleared his throat extracting a groan from the guests in the room. "Aww, alright. I won't sing. But what can I do to calm you?"
Marlena pulled her husband on a couch opposite her daughter. "Just sit down and be quiet honey. Once Brady and Chloe kiss and make-up and get back in here we'll ask them to sing. I think we could all use a little calming."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Aside from the rhythmic thumping and the bevy of muffled moans that escaped Brady and Chloe's throat, their sexual escapade in the front closet had gone, for the most part, unnoticed by the group outside.
Brady led Chloe into the living room, joining the other guests who appeared to be bored out of their ever-loving minds. They had resorted to singing Frank Sinatra tunes. "Fly me to the moon and let me play amongst the stars. Let me see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars. In-Brady! Chloe!" Belle cried happily. "Where have you been?"
Brady smiled. "Belle, we've only been gone for." he looked at his watch, "for twenty minutes."
Shawn eyed his brother and sister-in-law suspiciously: the way they held each other's hands lovingly.the crumpled dress shirt Brady wore, his ruffled hair, the smeared lipstick stains on his neck and chin. And Chloe: her wave of curly locks that spilled haphazardly down her back, her flushed cheeks and swollen red lips. "Brady.Chloe.did you just have sex?" All guests turned to face the reddening couple.
Chloe choked on the air. And Brady merely smiled and said teasingly, "Something like that."
A horde of 'Congratulations" and 'Way-to-go''s were issued to the reunited lovebirds and John smiled knowingly. "So this night hasn't been a total loss."
The lights flickered off and on and voice coming from the entryway of the living room interrupted the suddenly joyous group. "No, it hasn't. It's been quite fun."
Terrified, Belle screamed above the rain that fell comparatively silent against the windows. John rose angrily from his place on the couch and pointed at the person in the entrance to the living room. "You!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*