*Disclaimer:  I am in no way affiliated with Passions, NBC, or JER.  I don't own these characters so don't sue me!

CHAPTER 45

            Martha's Vineyard

She sat up in bed, looking at the newspaper in front of her.  Ivy laughed to herself.  "This will make Julian and Alistair crazy."  On the front page of the Harmony Herald was a picture from the wedding the previous day.  Sam was carrying Ivy out of the church, kissing her cheek and she was laughing.  Not only was this picture on the front of Harmony's most prominent newspaper, but it was also the feature on the front of several nationwide papers.  All of the publicity she and Sam were receiving was sure the make Julian and Alistair seethe with anger.  "I don't care," Ivy said to herself as she got up and slipped on her robe.

Sam was in the shower and Ivy resisted the urge to call and check on the children.  She knew they would all be fine, and this was her honeymoon.  It was a new experience for her.  So far, it had been more than she had ever dreamed it could be.

It certainly paid to be the ex-governor's daughter.  It was a little known fact that Ivy Winthrop-Bennet was a cousin of the Kennedy's.  Of course the Crane's had known; that had been one of the reasons Julian had married her.  Anyway, the Kennedy's still had a lot of political pull, and they were more than happy to help out their recently remarried cousin.  The Kennedy's had been delighted to be rid of their Crane family ties, and also wanted to make up for not being able to attend their cousin's wedding.  Martha's Vineyard had been their wedding gift to the happy couple, along with a large bouquet and three days on a yacht while Sam and Ivy were on their honeymoon.

Ivy was deliriously happy.  After the reception last night, she and Sam had hopped on the private plane that took them directly to Martha's Vineyard.  And last night, 'Oh God,' Ivy thought to herself.  Sure she had been married to Sam for a year, but sleeping with him after becoming his wife had been so different from when they had been together before.  They still had the same passion, but knowing that the actually belonged with him had made it so much more special.  She had thought that it couldn't get any better, but she had been so wrong.  Last night had been phenomenal.  Yes they had been married for a year, but a wedding made it more official.  Being together after an actual wedding had made everything they shared better.

Ivy heard the shower stop, so she decided to get back into bed and wait for Sam.  "I think we need to spend the day inside," she said to herself as she removed her robe and climbed under the sheets.

A moment later Sam entered the bedroom.  He looked at his wife, "You're not even up yet.  I thought we were going to spend a casual day in town."

"Oh, I don't think that's such a good idea considering all of yesterday's publicity," Ivy motioned to the newspapers on the floor.  "I don't want to share you with anyone.  Besides, when was the last time we spent all day in bed?"

Sam thought for a moment, "Remembering how many kids there are around our house, I'd have to say it was the day you were released from the hospital.  You know, after…"

Ivy interrupted him as she saw that the memory was making him uncomfortable, "That was well over a year ago.  It's about time then, isn't it?"  She smiled coyly and held the sheet up so he could get in next to her.

"You always did have the best ideas."  Sam began kissing her neck.

Ivy closed her eyes and replied, "And you were always so smart to agree with me."

THE END