Chapter 21
"Max!" Cristian cried, bursting through the front door and racing to the excited, wriggling mass of blond fur. The puppy lavished sloppy, wet doggy kisses all over the kneeling little boy's face, causing him to laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Much to his parents' and big sister's amusement. Luis entered the living room, Ali safely tucked against his chest and his wife by his side. Sheridan gave Ali's scarf a gentle tug and pulled it from her neck, placing it beside her hat on the coffee table. Ali's golden hair tumbled free, forming a disheveled curtain around her sweet, drowsy face as mother and daughter shared Eskimo kisses. Luis brushed his lips against Ali's temple before transferring her to Sheridan's arms. "Daddy," Ali murmured when Luis walked toward the door. "Yes, AliCat?" he paused. "I'm glad to be home," she told him with a smile. "Me, too," he answered her. "Keep Mommy warm while I rustle up some more wood for the fire, 'kay?" "'Kay," Ali promised. Nestling against Sheridan as the two took a seat on the sofa.
The soothing beat of her mother's heart soon lulled Ali to sleep, and by the time Luis had returned, he found Cristian curled up against Sheridan's side as well. Not quite asleep, but well on his way. "Sorry," Sheridan laughed softly as Luis looked on his family in amazement. "I know this isn't exactly how you wanted things to go tonight." Luis finished putting the rest of the logs on the fire and knelt in front of her, stroking Ali's silky hair, smiling at Cristian's relaxed posture and slightly open mouth. "You think maybe Max taught him that trick?" he joked, nodding at tiny stream of drool making its way down their son's chin. "They have been spending an awful lot of time together," she said with sparkling blue eyes. "Luis." "Shh," he hushed her with a finger against her lips. "It's okay," he told her, leaning close to capture her lips in a lingering kiss. "You look like you could use some rest yourself." "Should I say thank you or something?" she teased him. He chuckled as he climbed to his feet, and his amused expression slowly turned serious. "Get some rest. I'll wake you all in time for dinner." "Oh," she whispered with twinkling blue eyes. "He's going to cook. Tonight must be really special." "Anytime I'm with you," Luis breathed as he tucked a quilt around them, "anytime.special doesn't even begin to cover it. Sleep," he ordered after brushing her tears away. And she did.a smile gracing her lips.
"Daddy?" Ali's quiet voice startled Luis, and panic immediately welled inside of him as he whirled around to face her. "What is it, AliCat? Are you.do you." "Daddy," Ali looked up at him with those impossibly big blue eyes of hers, and he felt the worry subside a little. "I want to help make dinner for Mommy." Luis smiled at her as he lifted her easily in his arms and set her down on the kitchen counter. "Well," he told her, tweaking her nose and making her giggle, "there's not much you can do since it's almost finished, but I was thinking." "What, Daddy?" Ali's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You know those Christmas cookies Grandma makes that you and Mommy like so much?" "Yeah," Ali's face lit up. "Well, I was thinking." Luis pretended to ponder it further. "Oh, Daddy," Ali rolled her eyes at him. Not fooled at all. "Stop that." "Stop what?" Luis tried to act innocent. "Okay," he laughed when she crossed her arms across her chest and blew out a slightly impatient puff of air. Shades of her mother, perhaps? "But we need the recipe. Think you could call Nana and get it?" He reached to help her down, wholly conscious of how different things now were, but Ali didn't need any help. She hopped down from the counter and was across the kitchen in a shot, dialing up his mother. Luis watched her with a mixture of pride and disbelief. Watching her tonight.he could almost forget.
He winked at his children, arranging pillows and quilts in the firelight for a fireside picnic. Fireside indoor picnic, he thought with an amused smirk. Max eyed him warily out of the corner of his brown eyes as his hands lowered the quilt from Sheridan's shoulders and trailed his hand down her arm to clasp her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Luis," Sheridan sighed in her sleep. Cristian giggled behind him, and he glanced back just in time to see Ali cupping a hand over his mouth. An adoring smile on her face as she watched them. Sheridan's arms slipped around his neck unconsciously, and his dark eyes smiled at her sleepy relaxed face, her blue eyes still closed as he kissed her gently. Max rest his head back on his paws, his tail thumping against the sofa cushions, content with the knowledge his beloved companion was safe. "Mmm," she dazzled him with a brilliant smile as they parted. "My favorite way to wake up." "Really?" Luis arched a dark brow at her. "I thought." "You," she ducked her head in slight embarrassment, playfully shoving him aside and wagging her finger at her giggling children. "And what do you find so funny?" she huffed. "Nothing," Ali shook her head. Biting her lip to hold back her beaming smile. "Your hair's all funny, Mommy," Cristian pointed. "Cristian," Sheridan gasped in mock horror. "I'm so hurt," she said. Turning her back on him. Cristian flew to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist. "But you're still the most beautifulest mommy in the whole entire world," he insisted, his worried brown eyes gazing up at her. If Luis was a fool for blue eyes, she was a sucker for those brown ones. She melted, scooping her son up in her arms and tickling his tummy mercilessly, even as they fell back against the pillows and became a tangle of arms and legs, and shrieking laughter.
Ali and Luis interrupted their tickling session, and they enjoyed their dinner. Smiling. Laughing. Just being together. And Sheridan was happier and more peaceful than she'd been in several weeks. It was the perfect moment, she decided, to break the news to her children that they would soon be welcoming yet another new member to the family. Max, the new kittens.just what were they going to say about a new baby, she wondered as her lips curved upward into a smile. It was a whole new ball game. "Isn't she beautiful, Mommy?" Ali grinned. Holding up a tiny, smoky gray kitten. "She is," Sheridan agreed. Stroking the animal's fur. She laughed when she noticed Luis and Miss Priss giving each other the evil eye. A low growl rumbled in the cat's belly as Luis scooted closer for inspection. Sheridan burst out laughing when Miss Priss slapped his hand away as he reached for one of the kittens-a tiny Miss Priss clone. "Okay. Look," Luis held his hands up and backed away. "Hands off. I didn't lay a hand on any of them, but you're living under MY roof. I could leave you outside to fend for yourself." "Cute, Luis," Sheridan laughed. "What would the guys at the station say if they knew you regularly argued with a CAT?" she teased. "I thought you and Miss Priss turned over a new leaf." "Apparently NOT," Luis grumbled. "Pain in the ass." "DADDY!" Ali's blue eyes went wide as she lay the kitten back in its basket. "You just said the." "Ali," Sheridan cut her daughter off warningly. "Mommy, where's the soap?" she asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I know where it is!" Cristian exclaimed. Luis chuckled as Cristian tore down the hall toward the bathroom. "You're not going to let him do it, are you, AliCat?" he asked pleadingly as he tugged her onto his lap. "No," Ali giggled. "Well.maybe," she admitted. "Don't worry, Daddy," she told him as she looped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. "I'll protect you." "Did you hear that?" Luis quirked a brow at Sheridan. "AliCat'll protect me."
Ali didn't have to protect Luis because the moment Cristian graced them with his presence again.Sheridan grabbed hold of his little waist and pulled him down onto her lap. "Mommy," Cristian protested weakly, but it didn't take him long to be quiet. He loved it when she held him. Even if Jake and MJ did make fun of him for it sometimes. And he REALLY loved it when she combed her fingers through his hair. Her nails tickled, but it was nice. "No soap," she whispered in his ear as she hugged him tight. "Daddy promises to be good." "I wasn't really going to do it," Cristian insisted. Wrapping his arms around hers and leaning his head back and tucking it beneath her chin. He sighed happily when she kissed his temple. He'd missed her. "I believe you," she said softly. "So." Luis spoke, reluctant to break the moment of peace and calm. But bursting at the seams to make the announcement. "Sheridan?" Ali watched her mommy intently, hanging on every breath. Then every word. "So," Sheridan answered him back, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "We.Ali.Cristian.I'm going to." "We have an early Christmas present for you two," Luis interrupted her. Grinning at the uncertain expression on her face. Her nerves certainly weren't amusing her any, but he found it utterly adorable.
"An early Christmas present?" Cristian said with growing excitement. "Where is it? Me and Jake looked.where is it?" he babbled. His cheeks flaming guiltily. "Well," Sheridan laughed slightly. "You can't see it yet." Cristian's brows knit in confusion. "I don't understand." Luis's lips twitched in amusement. "You're going to have to wait a few months," he explained. And Cristian looked from him back to Sheridan. Then to Ali. She was smiling. Like she knew something he didn't. Sometimes he felt like such a baby! "I still don't get it," he pouted. "I don't want it. You said early. But I can't see it for months. Not fair. What is it? Take it back," he mumbled. Hiding his face behind his hands. Sheridan gently pried his hands away from his face. "I'm afraid I can't do that," she told him with smiling eyes. "Why not?" "They don't give you receipts for babies," she laughed. "A baby, Mommy?" Ali squealed excitedly, scrambling off Luis's lap and crossing the room. "Cristian! A baby.you're going to be a big brother," she jabbered as she grinned down at her mommy. "Cristian? You're not saying anything," Luis prodded. "We get to keep it?" "Yeah," Sheridan laughed. "We definitely get to keep it." "Good," he smiled up at her. "But Mommy." "Yeah?" "How's Santa going to get the baby here? It won't be Christmas when it's born." "I hadn't thought of that," Sheridan managed to answer before erupting into a peal of laughter, along with Luis. And Ali. "What? What's so funny?" Cristian asked with an adorably befuddled expression on his face. He never did get his answer. He finally gave up and laughed with them. A new baby might be nice, he decided.
Chapter 22
Joshua stood in front of Abby's oddity of a Christmas tree, entranced by the blinking, colorful lights. "I think we finally got it," Kay announced. Carefully descending the step ladder and gazing up at her handiwork. Abby regarded the perfectly placed angel at the zenith of the tree. "Nope," she shook her tawny head slightly. "Abby, it's perfect," Kay cried as Abby tottered at the top of the step ladder in her efforts to 'give the angel a little character.' MJ stood beside Joshua, brown eyes darting to and from Abby and his mother. When he knew for certain neither was watching, he'd slide another piece of popcorn off the ornamental string and pop it into his mouth. "All that trouble.why didn't you tell me you WANTED the angel to be CROOKED?" Abby shrugged her shoulders as she hopped down.
"Because she's crazy," MJ piped up with a naughty grin. "Aww," Abby cooed as she ruffled the child's dark hair. "I can always count on Hallmark sentiments from the Demon Seed." MJ rudely stuck his tongue out at her after she'd stolen a kiss. "Stop eating the popcorn off my tree, Kid. There's pizza in the kitchen." "So?" MJ rolled his eyes. "I don't want pizza. I want popcorn." "MJ!" Kay scolded. "You better listen to your mom, Kid. Or I'm going to call up all your little school friends and tell them about our 'dates'." MJ scowled at her and retreated to a distant corner. Kay picked Joshua up, propping him against her hip, and walked over to join Abby's slumped form on the sofa and admire the fruits of their labor. "Quite a change from last year," Kay commented after a few minutes of silence had passed. "Gotta rope in potential roommates somehow," Abby told her with a twinkle in her hazel eyes. "Who wouldn't want to live with that tree? We can hang the mistletoe later."
"Okay," Kay said slowly. A tiny smirk on her lips. "That makes sense. In Abby logic, I guess. Any new takers since." "No," Abby groaned. "Word gets around fast in Harmony. My only hope is if Marvin the Martian decides he wants to live on planet Earth.that reminds me.MJ? Were there any new messages on my machine?" MJ thought back.there were some. But he wasn't going to tell. He was mad at Abby. Not telling her about the man who'd called about the apartment was as good a way to get back at her for threatening to tell all his buddies at school about their 'dates' as any, he thought. He shook his head vigorously. His mom eyed him suspiciously a moment, but then she turned back to Abby like she'd forgotten all about it. And they started talking. AGAIN.
Women. Ugh! All they did was talk and talk and talk. And talk some more. Always with the talking. If he had to listen to this all night.he was going to have to sneak out and walk all the way to Grandpa and Nana's house. One woman was better than two. He plopped himself down in the floor opposite his mom, little brother, and Abby and glared at them. He wished Dad wasn't in Boston working, and they didn't have to stay the night with Abby while he was gone and the exterminators were doing something to their house. Exterminators killed bugs, and he liked bugs. Just another thing to be mad about. And Abby.she was always aggravating him. He didn't like it when people aggravated back.
"MJ," Kay sighed heavily. "Your dad's going to be home in time for Christmas so you can lose the attitude. I know you miss him, but it's not even been a full day." "Your face is going to freeze like that," Abby warned. Shooting an identical glare his direction just to show him how silly he was being. "MJ.get yourself and Joshua ready for your bath." "But Mom," MJ protested. "It's too early!" "MJ." "Okay," he muttered. Walking up to them and taking Joshua's hand. Joshua followed him into the bathroom dutifully. "I better get in there," Kay told Abby with a smile. "Bath time is an Olympic sport with MJ." "Him, too?" Abby grinned. "That's fine. I'm going to go ahead and change. Are the boys going to sleep in the bed with you, or would you rather I pull out the sofa bed?" Kay laughed. "Are you kidding? Miss the adventure? You'd better hide all incriminating materials, though. MJ's part bloodhound. I still don't know if he gets it from Luis or from my dad."
From the sounds of things, Kay wasn't kidding about bath time with the boys, Abby thought with a tickled grin as she padded into the kitchen on bare feet several minutes later. It sounded like WWIII in there. A quick glance at the microwave made her sigh. Pathetic. Abso-freakin-lutely pathetic. It WAS early. Not even eight o'clock, and she was already in her pajamas. "At least they're cute pajamas," she muttered under her breath as she withdrew the pint of Rocky Road from the freezer, immediately scooping out a mouthful. "Too bad they're two damn sizes big," she grumbled as she nearly tripped on the leg of her fuzzy blue flannel pjs. Rocky Road ice cream smeared across the front of her white tank. She snorted at the bizarre appearance of the Curious George look-alike on her chest. "Frightening. Who the hell is that?" she swore when someone knocked at the door, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. The spoon totally missed her mouth, and she ended up with chocolate streaks across her cheeks. "This better be good," she growled as she grabbed the baseball bat behind the door and yanked the door open.
Nick dropped the box in his hands and backed slowly away. "Training for the major leagues?" he tried to joke. Abby just stood there. Mouth agape for several moments. Dr. Nick was here? Back after she'd nearly blinded him such a short time ago? With boxes. Bags. He looked like he was going. Oh God. She was going to pass out. The wooden bat fell to the floor with a thud, and her hazel eyes frantically searched for a jacket, something to cover herself up. If the man had had even a smidgen of interest in her before, what with the near-fatal attack on his life and such, seeing her looking about as unsexy as humanly possible was the final nail in the coffin holding all her hopes and dreams. "Abby!" Kay called. Emerging from the bathroom, looking battle-worn and weary and toting a drowsy Joshua. "Is someone at the.Dr. Nick," she smiled. "What a nice surprise," she said. Pinching Abby's arm when Abby failed to do so much as breathe.
"Surprise?" Nick looked to them both with confused gray eyes. "Didn't you get my message?" he asked Abby. "Message? What message?" Abby finally found her tongue. Dammit! Did he have to look so.edible right now? To hell with Rocky Road! "I didn't.MJ!!!" she roared. Nick started laughing when he saw a towel-clad little body scurry into a bedroom. Hurriedly locking the door. "I'm so sorry," Abby apologized. "What exactly did the message say?" she asked him carefully. Almost afraid to ask him. What if he.oh geez! He was going to sue her for all she was worth! "It was about the apartment," he finally said. Abby exhaled in relief. Then breathed in sharply as she looked at Kay with widened hazel eyes. "The apartment?"
"Yes. I'm willing to pay you." "Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "YOU want to live with ME? Are you sure?" she babbled. "Abby," Kay laughed, turning to Nick. "I think she's a little stunned. That's all." "Stunned doesn't even cover it. Last time you showed up I blinded you with pepper spray. This time I had every intention of swinging for a home run.I'm.are you positive you want to live with me?" "So sure I let Grace rent out my room at the B&B," Nick answered her. "But I can see I've caught you off-guard. Damned answering machines. I should go so I can find a decent hotel room."
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Abby yelled. Nick's amused gray eyes twinkled down at her forceful hand on his arm. He resisted the urge to laugh when she tugged him inside the door. "You don't have to go. The apartment's yours. I mean, mine and yours. You can sleep with me. No, that's not right! I meant you can sleep in my bed. Not with me, obviously. Because that would be.I don't expect sex. I mean, I may not look like it," she indicated her rather.juvenile attire. "But I'm a sexual person with.urges." "Abby." Kay tried to interrupt her friend's nervous ramblings. If she didn't shut up soon, she wasn't going to be able to stop herself from howling with laughter.
Nick's lips twitched as he let her talk. She was quite hilarious actually. This living together thing might actually be fun. IF she didn't kill him by mistake. "I'm not much of an adult, but.dammit," she finally cried out in frustration. The man made her flustered as hell. "Obviously, I'm insane. But if you still want the apartment." Abby and Kay held their breath as Nick thought the decision over. "I still want the apartment," he grinned at them. "We're just here until my husband." "You don't have to explain," Nick shook his head. "All right," Kay smiled. "I'll take the sofa bed with the boys, and you can settle in to your new bedroom. NO hotel rooms." "I couldn't." "You can," Kay wouldn't leave room for disagreement. "Think of it as a kind of trial." she told him when it became apparent Abby wasn't good for mumbling more than monosyllables around the man at the moment. "That's actually a good idea." he answered her.
Sandwiched between MJ and Joshua hours later, Nick pushed away all the niggling little doubts in the back of his head and stared at the crooked angel in fascination as colorful lights blinked before his eyes. This was without a doubt the craziest thing he'd EVER done. But, he realized, as his eyes drifted closed and the boys' soft snoring faded to nothing.he needed a little bit of crazy in his life. Abby Stone with kid's pajamas and merry hazel eyes, quirks and BIG, bumbling mouth more than fit the bill.
Chapter 23
"Mommy," Ali giggled as she flapped her arms around in the air. "I can barely move." Sheridan finished draping the soft, creamy scarf around Ali's neck and made sure the ear muffs were in place before leaning back to admire her handiwork. "Ali," Cristian exclaimed in awe. "You look like a snow angel." "Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" Sheridan smiled at her little son. Then her husband who was watching them all with such a look of wonder on his face.it made her heart ache. But in a good way. "You guys look pretty snazzy yourselves," she quirked a brow at Luis, "almost like twins." "Really?" Cristian asked with more than a touch of pride in his voice as he stood a little taller. "Of course, you have more muscles than Daddy," she teased Cristian as she tugged his hat down to cover his ears. "Mommy," Cristian rolled his brown eyes.
"What?" she asked innocently, causing Cristian to snicker. "These aren't muscles," he cried. Lifting up his bulky black sweater to reveal another sweater under it. And another. "Why do I have to wear so many clothes?" "You don't want to turn into Frosty the Snowman, do you?" Sheridan said as seriously as she could. It was hard. The expression of REAL panic that flashed across her son's face nearly made her double over in laughter. THAT wouldn't have gone over very well. Not very well at all. Her baby was really taking offense to being laughed at these days. And she was a notorious repeat offender in that department. She couldn't help it. Kids DID say the darndest things. "To stay warm, silly," she smiled, patting his flushed cheeks. "Are we all ready?"
Luis's hand shot out to grab her arm, and just a hint of a smile was on her lips as he tucked her scarf securely around her neck. "Thanks for taking care of me," she whispered against his lips. "You're welcome," he said. Tracing her lips with the pad of his thumb and leaning back in for another kiss. At that precise moment, the front door burst open. "Oh geez." they heard a very familiar voice mutter. "Figures. Sometimes you guys are just too.GROSS," he told them, shuddering from head to toe. "Good morning, Jake," Sheridan greeted with an amused smile. "Jake," Luis waved, chuckling slightly at the perturbed expression on Jake's enormously Hank- like face. "Glad you could join us."
Jake shrugged his slim shoulders as he regarded Ali out of the corner of his brown eyes. "We drew straws, and I got the shortest," he told them with that ever-present mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Is that good or bad?" Sheridan asked as she zipped up Jake's parka, ruffling his mop of brown hair affectionately. "Good, I guess," Jake ducked his head bashfully as she smiled at him with those blue eyes. "Yeah," he grinned a second later. "Good. Sara got the longest one and had to go to Grandma's with Mom. Emmy's spending the day with Dad at Uncle Sam's." "Very efficient system you got there," Luis grinned down at his best friend's son. "You always get the short straw, don't you?" "What? Me? No way," Jake tried to act nonchalant. "Jake." "Aww, come on, Uncle Luis," Jake rolled his eyes. "A man's got to be resourceful. Can we go now?" he sighed, changing the subject. "We'll pick this back up later," Luis promised as he followed them to the car.
"Wow," Jake breathed as they stood before the Crane Mansion. "Sheridan." "Yes, Jake?" she laughed softly, knowing whatever was coming would have that unique Jake Bennett perspective. "When you were growing up here, did you ever get lost looking for the john?" "Mommy," Ali's nose scrunched up in confusion. "What's the john?" "No, Jake," Sheridan explained patiently. "I never got lost looking for the bathroom." "Your old bathroom was named 'John'? Do all bathrooms have names?" Cristian asked cluelessly. Jake started laughing so hard he had to stagger through the front door when the maid answered it. "Daddy?" Cristian huffed in annoyance.
Ali's blue eyes twinkled at her little brother as she clasped his hand tightly with her own and led him inside. "Jake's just being Jake," she told him. As if that explained it all. Luis hid his smile from both his children as he ushered them into the living room. Where Ivy and Ethan waited. All mysterious smiles. "Wow, Mrs. Crane," Jake admired Ivy's faux fur coat. "That's a cool coat." Ivy set the tumbler of brandy in her hand down, smiling at the young boy. Gwen's son. "How many skunks did you have to kill to make it?" The smile froze on Ivy's lips. Er.definitely Hank Bennett's son. "It's not." Jake shoved his hands in his pockets, wandering around the living room in exploration. "Is this IT? Why'd I have to dress like this if we were just going to stay in here all day?"
"We're not staying in the Mansion all day," Ethan answered him with a smile. "I'm not too late, am I?" a nervous voice made them all turn around. "Beth?" Sheridan asked with raised brows as she lay eyes on the brunette. "Hi, Sheridan. Luis," Beth greeted absently. "Ethan?" "You're not late," Ethan assured her. "Well." Ivy cleared her throat. "Looks like we're all here. Ali," she offered her hand. "Would you care to escort me to the stables?" "The stables?" Ali said excitedly. "We're going to go riding?" "No, Darling. We're not going riding," Ivy let her down gently. "I don't understand." Ali's pretty face fell. "We're doing something much better," Ivy stroked the soft skin of Ali's cheek before tapping her nose affectionately. "But." "It's a surprise," Ivy whispered as she nudged Ali forward.
Jake hurried after Ali and Ivy with the rest of them trailing behind a few steps. Cristian walked alongside Beth and Ethan. Sheridan watched the easy comraderie amongst the three with growing amazement. Cristian HAD spent a lot of time with Ethan lately. And from the looks of it, he was pretty comfortable with Beth as well. What that meant she wasn't sure. But it wasn't an altogether troubling revelation. A bit unexpected, yes. "Do you think." "So what if it is?" she challenged Luis playfully. "Sheridan.you know I don't." "Calm down, Luis," she laughed as she laced her arm through his and brushed a feather-light kiss along the side of his jaw. "I'm perfectly confident that you're don't have those kind of feelings for ANY woman beside me anymore. And to answer your question. No. I don't think they're anything more than friends. Good friends, it seems. But nothing more than friends. I think it's nice, Luis. They both need someone. Why not each other?" "When it put it that way.but Ethan?" She fought the urge to pelt him with the universe's largest snowball and instead settled for a simple shake of her head. "I guess some habits die hard no matter how much happens."
"MOMMY!" Ali squealed a moment later, and Sheridan and Luis both instantly panicked. Rushing forward to make sure everything was okay with their daughter. "Ali! AliCat, what is it?" Luis checked her over from head to toe. "Look, Daddy," Ali pointed, beaming at them. Sheridan followed her line of vision, a brilliant smile to match Ali's taking over her entire face. "A sleigh ride," she breathed. And Ivy was pleased to find two identical pairs of crystal blue eyes sparkling back at her. "I take it the surprise is a success." "I love it, Aunt Ivy," Ali told her. Hugging her fiercely about the neck. "Ali, hurry up," Jake yelled as he raced ahead to one of the sleighs. The horses nickered in response to their arrival, and Ali giggled with delight as one of them nuzzled its nose against her palm. "Mommy! She remembers me!" "Of course, she remembers you, AliCat," Luis called to his daughter as he slipped a supportive arm around Sheridan's waist. "Thank you, Ivy," they offered their gratitude in unison. "The pleasure's all mine," Ivy sighed as she and Sheridan exchanged an embrace. "What are you waiting for? Why don't you two ride with Jake and Ali? I'm sure Cristian won't be too disappointed."
Jake's face said it all as he sat beside Luis across from Ali and Sheridan. He was sorely disappointed. And Luis figured he knew the reason why.he wanted to sit by Ali! "No fair," Jake grumbled under his breath. "Just because they're girls and all pretty doesn't mean they should get all the blankets. What if I was cold, too?" "I could trade places with you, and you could share with Ali," Sheridan suggested helpfully. "You don't have to," Jake pretended not to care. "Trade or else," Luis said sternly. Hiding his smile as Jake immediately jumped up from his seat, diving under the blanket tucked beneath Ali's arms and making her giggle wildly. "Daddy!" "Jake," Sheridan laughed as she snuggled up against her husband's warm body. "I think you can come out now." "Is it safe?" Jake's brown mop of hair popped out from under the blanket. "It's safe," Luis promised with a grin. "I'll come out, but you have to promise.NO kissing." "What about holding hands?" Sheridan bargained. Jake winced, then shrugged his shoulders. It sure beat the alternative. "That's okay. But that's all. Deal?" "I'm sorry, Jake," Luis said. Dead serious. "No deal." Jake groaned and hid his face behind his hands. Great. They were doing it again. Making out. Grown-ups weren't supposed to be so disgustingly mushy. "Don't they bug you?" he looked at Ali in question. His brown eyes drawn to a tiny white snowflake clinging to her pale lashes as she blinked at him. "No," she answered sweetly. "Maybe they're not THAT bad," he conceded when she smiled at him. He smiled back, the magic of it all sweeping him up. Snowflakes, blue eyes, and Ali's smile. For just a second, time stood still, and he knew he'd always remember that moment.
"Cristian," Ivy patted the space beside her. "Sit by me." Cristian obliged, sitting beside her, but soon finding himself perched on her lap as the sleigh started to inch forward, finally sliding across the snowy landscape. "Do you like my surprise?" she asked him, as his dark eyes took in everything in wonder. "Yeah," Cristian said softly. Beth laughed when Ivy tucked Cristian beneath her coat and only his dark head poked out. "Are you warm enough?" "Uh huh," Cristian nodded. "You coat doesn't stink," he smiled at Ivy a few moments later. "Why would it.oh," realization dawned on Ivy. "It's not made of skunks.it's made of." Ethan laughed out loud at Cristian's incredulous expression. Whatever Mother had whispered into his ear.it had to be good.
"She's really setting Jake up, isn't she?" Ethan heard Beth's soft voice beside him. "Expertly. Gwen's going to kill me for filling his head." "You two are really still friends then?" Beth asked quietly. "We're not close," Ethan said, looking into her dark eyes. "Obviously things ended badly between us," he sighed, his gaze searching out the sleigh ahead of them. The one carrying the proof of just how far he had pushed his former best friend away. "But we've grown past that now. Gwen was such an important part of my life. It's just taken me years to figure that out," he admitted sheepishly. "There's always going to be SOMETHING there, even if it's just a slightly awkward not-quite friendship." Beth smiled at him in understanding, and Ethan found himself smiling back. Ivy whispered something else in Cristian's ear after a long look at the pair, and they both puzzled over it for a while, until some of the same bewitching magic that had seemingly taken over Jake swept all thoughts from their minds. And they enjoyed the moment.
Chapter 24
"So." Kay ventured with a teasing grin on her lips as she stepped closer to a bleary-eyed Abby. The edges of the sheet in their hands meeting before Abby grabbed it and doubled it once more, ignoring Kay's question and crossing the open room to the linen closet. "Does he still want the apartment? I mean, he realizes he won't spend every night sandwiched between two kicking little boys, doesn't he? Abby? Abby, are you even listening to me?" Kay laughed at the comical expression emblazoned across Abby's features. "Abby?" she queried.
The muted noise of the shower was the only sound in the apartment at that moment. Which reminded her.MJ and Joshua were scarily quiet. She could never be too careful with her precocious son. Later, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Abby's voice came out as a squeak when she finally answered her, "There is a NAKED man in my shower." Kay burst into laughter. "Well, Abby.people generally don't wear clothes when they.Geez. This is only the first morning, and you already look like hell. Did you sleep at all last night?" she asked, shepherding Abby into the kitchen.
Aha! Where the boys were. MJ busied himself shoveling Corn Pops into his mouth, looking just as guilty as ever. The cereal tumbled into the bowl easily as she upended the box, but the milk was a whole different story. "MJ." "What?" MJ shrugged his shoulders, giving her the innocent act. "What happened to all the milk?" "I dunno," he looked at them both with wide brown eyes. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Joshua's tall glass wobble unsteadily as he put it back on the table, and she reached a hand out to right it. It was then that she noticed. "Mmm. Corn Pops AND chocolate milk," Abby grinned, stealing MJ's glass away and making loud, slurpy sounds that had MJ scowling in disgust. Joshua smiled and pointed at Abby's chocolate milk mustache.
"So.corrupting the innocent little brother again, Demon Seed?" Abby teased with a ruffle of his sleep-tousled black hair. MJ ignored her, knowing that bothered her to the extreme. Abby HATED not being noticed. But then.she'd known him, MJ Lopez-Fitzgerald, practically his whole life.there weren't many of his tricks that she didn't know by heart. She just gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek and popped a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster. "Do you think I should cook for him?" she asked Kay with wide, worried hazel eyes. "Maybe not," Kay smirked, stopping her with a hand. "Pepper spray. A baseball bat. The man might think you're trying to poison him." "Oh, you're just so damn funny," Abby muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm to spare.
"You didn't answer my question," Kay reminded her before gulping down the last bit of orange juice in her glass. Abby drew her legs into the chair with her, tucking them beneath her chin, then hiding her face against her knees. "No," she mumbled. "And why not?" Kay prolonged the torture. "Do you really have to ask?" Abby hissed, cutting her hazel eyes at MJ in warning. The kid was a born and bred tattletale. MJ caught her glance and stuck his tongue out at her, then resumed his torture of his little brother. That's what kid brothers were for, right? "Have any interesting dreams last night, Abby?" Kay arched a dark brow devilishly at her. "Go to Hell," Abby mouthed silently.
"That's four," MJ waved his hands above his head in triumph. "Four? Umm.Kid, I think we need to work on your math skills." "Yeah, right," MJ rolled his dark eyes at her. "You said two curse words.$1 for 'hell', $3 for 'damn', $5 for the really bad one.oh, and $2 for sh." "MJ!" Kay snapped in embarrassment, clasping her hand over his mouth. "Honestly.does one tiny hell every now and then count?" Abby grumbled as she and MJ engaged in a semi-lengthy glaring contest. "What are you? A lip-reader? See what my association with the Bennetts and the Lopez-Fitzgeralds is going to get me?" she rambled, making Kay smile despite herself. "In a few more months I'm going to have to file bankruptcy and live my life in squalor like a poor church mouse." "MJ!" Kay cried out, when MJ's elbow unceremoniously bumped Joshua's glass out of his hands, toppling it to the floor, and drenching her youngest son in chocolate milk in the process.
Abby was out of her chair in a flash, waving Kay off as she moved to get a towel. "Don't bother. I'll get it. Where are his extra clothes?" "In the guest bed.Abby," Kay called out, dark eyes widening in realization as she remembered Nick's very presence in the same room. "Yeah?" Abby's tawny head poked around the corner. "Nothing," Kay answered her without turning around, a mischievous smirk on her lips. MJ wiggled his black brows at her, and a tiny laugh slipped past her lips as she grabbed him and planted a kiss on his forehead. Much to his ire, of course. Joshua's hands clapped gleefully in the pooling puddle of chocolate liquid on the table. "Abby and Dr. Nick are never going to invite us back," she said. Smiling. She liked the sound of that. Abby and Dr. Nick. Somehow, she just couldn't call him plain old Nick. His whole identity was wrapped up in the fact that he was Ali's doctor. Hopefully, the whole doctor thing would fade into the background once Ali got better, and that little wall of near- formality between the good doctor and everyone other than Sheridan would crumble like dust. First step in progress, she thought to herself as she tugged Joshua's soiled navy shirt over his dark head.
"I found it!" Abby called, coming from the bedroom with arms full seconds later. Kay bit her lip to contain her grin when she saw Nick emerge from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, one of Abby's fluffy lavendar towels hanging low on his hips. She had to admit.Dr. Nick didn't clean up so bad. Taller than Luis, she assessed. Lankier than Miguel, but still quite.fit, she thought with an embarrassed rush of color to her cheeks (what the hell was she doing looking this guy over? She was a married woman, for goodness sake, and even if she weren't.). "Ab." Abby's hazel eyes twinkled at her as she launched the new tee-shirt into the air, sailing it across the room like a football. "Has anyone seen my." Nick trailed off at Abby's stunned expression.
Oh my friggin'.Jesus, Abby thought as her jaw went slack in open admiration. Kay bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing out loud. Yeah, Abby was definitely.IMPRESSED among a few other things, she shook her head in amusement. Nick's gray eyes were smiling down at her as he advanced on her, backing her up against the couch. Abby gulped as he leaned in close, her eyes fixated on the knotted towel at his waist for just a moment before she raised glazed hazel eyes to his face and. Nick's breath was a whisper against her skin as he reached behind her to grab his duffel bag. "My bag," he smiled at her as he straightened back up. Kay snickered at Abby as she tried to stammer a suitable response. Nick chuckled, running a rough hand through his wet dark hair as he spoke to her. "You might want to breathe every now and then. I've heard it's quite beneficial to your health," he advised her as he sauntered back off in the direction he had come. Not even two seconds later, Abby hit the floor with an audible thud, having slid from the couch's arm in a boneless heap. And Kay erupted into helpless laughter as her two confused children looked on.
Chapter 25
"So Sweetie," Sheridan smiled as she gently rubbed the towel over Ali's golden hair, making it shine and shimmer in the pale light emanating from the open bathroom door. "Did you like Aunt Ivy's surprise?" Ali's smile was bright and genuine as she nodded her head, and she giggled when Sheridan wrapped the fluffy towel around her shoulders and tugged her close. "Uh huh. It was fun. Can we ride the sleigh again tomorrow, Mommy?" "Well, I don't know," she tapped Ali's nose with her index finger, standing up and lifting her daughter into her arms. Ali wrapped her arms loosely around her mommy's neck and studied her with blue eyes that sparkled, even in the shadows.
"Don't you remember, Silly?" Sheridan teased as she twirled them around. Until they both were dizzy. "Remember what?" Ali giggled as they collapsed onto her twin bed, sending stuffed animals flying and Miss Priss caterwauling. "Tomorrow's the big Christmas party, and." "It's our turn," Ali's blue eyes grew wide with remembrance. "And everybody's coming," Sheridan smiled. "Everybody?" Ali questioned excitedly. "Everybody," Sheridan affirmed. "Nana and Grandpa Martin promised to come early, too." Ali sighed happily as she snuggled close to her mother. "Do we get to tell them about the new baby tomorrow?" "That's the plan," Sheridan said, giving Ali an extra tight squeeze before scooting off the bed and picking up the pair of pajamas laying across the back of Ali's tiny vanity chair.
The towel slipped from Ali's slim shoulders, falling to the floor, and she held on to Sheridan's shoulders as she stepped into the pants. The tiny white buttons were fastened, and Sheridan swept Ali's lavendar satin encased arms to grasp her small hands. Ali giggled when she brought each palm to her lips and kissed it. "Mommy.that tickles. Mommy!" she squealed as Sheridan planted loud kisses all over her face and neck. She smelled like baby shampoo after her bath, her hair still framing her sweet face in damp waves. "Get your brush so Mommy can brush your hair," she smiled, cupping her silky cheek in the palm of her hand. "Okay, Mommy," Ali chirped. She emerged from the bathroom moments later, arm outstretched with the ivory-handled brush as she scrambled onto the bed and settled between Sheridan's legs, leaning back against her chest. Sheridan brushed Ali's golden hair in gentle strokes, smiling slightly as Ali stretched her legs out along hers, wiggling her toes back and forth. They had matching red toenails. The holiday spirit and all. Ali hugged Cristian's bunny to her, tucking it beneath her chin. "Mommy," she murmured contentedly. "Yes, Baby?" "I want to sleep in Cristian's room with him and Jake tonight. Please," she pleaded. "You can fix me a bed on the floor. I don't have to sleep with Cristian. He makes a funny noise with his teeth, Mommy. It's so annoying," she huffed, making laughter spill from Sheridan's lips. "Will you, Mommy? Will you fix me a bed?" Ali twisted in her arms, gazing at her with expectant blue eyes.
"Oh, I think I can do better than that," she answered her. "I bet with a little convincing I can get Daddy to let all three of you sleep in the living room, and we'll stay up all night long, watching all your favorite videos and drinking hot chocolate until the sun comes up." "Really?" Ali's blue eyes twinkled with happiness at the thought. "Really," Sheridan nodded her head. "All you have to do is go give Daddy lots of kisses. Daddy can't resist kisses," she winked. "Scoot," she smiled, standing up and waving her out of the bedroom, her eyes suspiciously bright as she looked at the hairbrush in her hand.
The bathroom tiles were slightly cold under her bare feet as she pulled the golden strands from its bristles, depositing them in the waste basket beside the sink. "Mommy," Ali's glossy head peeked back around the corner. "Daddy said he's waiting." "Tell him I'll be right there, 'kay Sweetie?" Ali darted back down the hall, and Sheridan brushed the tears from her lashes as she studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Teary eyes and a red nose just would not do. She splashed cold water onto her face and dabbed at her nose with a tissue before walking out of Ali's room.
Luis smile was replaced with a look of worry, and she smiled reassuringly at him as she sank into his warm embrace, cuddling closer as he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. "Mommy," Ali smiled between sips of her hot chocolate. "We're going to watch the Aristocats next. It's Miss Priss's favorite movie." Luis chuckled beside her, and his softly muttered "I bet" had her elbowing him in the ribs, fighting her own laughter. There WERE certain parallels. Miss Priss's blue eyes glittered suspiciously at Luis in the firelight, and a hateful meow rumbled in her throat.
"Ali, do we HAVE to watch Lady and the Tramp? Don't you have thousands of other movies?" Jake grumbled. "I like Lady and the Tramp," Cristian piped up, earning himself a dark scowl. "You just don't like it 'cause your dad said." Cristian started, but was cut off by Jake's hand clamped over his mouth. "What did Hank say?" Luis smirked. "That Ali was the Lady and Jake was the." Cristian mumbled behind Jake's hand. "Can we watch the movie? NOW!" Jake bellowed embarrassedly.
Lady and the Tramp AND Duchess and O'Malley lived happily ever after, but Luis and Max were the only ones left awake to witness it. Sheridan watched him, woken more by his absence at her side than his quiet movements, uncertain if it were dream or reality as he turned the television off and knelt before the children. Cristian lay half-sprawled across Jake's legs and Ali slumbered comfortably next to the young man himself while the fire crackled behind them, her golden hair spilling across the pillows and her face relaxed and peaceful. Cristian mumbled something incoherent in his sleep as Luis straightened him out next to Jake, tucking blankets around them all before climbing to his feet and crossing the room to her side. She nestled close to his heart as his arms closed around her, already asleep as he carried her to their bed. Their long day finally at an end.
"Max!" Cristian cried, bursting through the front door and racing to the excited, wriggling mass of blond fur. The puppy lavished sloppy, wet doggy kisses all over the kneeling little boy's face, causing him to laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Much to his parents' and big sister's amusement. Luis entered the living room, Ali safely tucked against his chest and his wife by his side. Sheridan gave Ali's scarf a gentle tug and pulled it from her neck, placing it beside her hat on the coffee table. Ali's golden hair tumbled free, forming a disheveled curtain around her sweet, drowsy face as mother and daughter shared Eskimo kisses. Luis brushed his lips against Ali's temple before transferring her to Sheridan's arms. "Daddy," Ali murmured when Luis walked toward the door. "Yes, AliCat?" he paused. "I'm glad to be home," she told him with a smile. "Me, too," he answered her. "Keep Mommy warm while I rustle up some more wood for the fire, 'kay?" "'Kay," Ali promised. Nestling against Sheridan as the two took a seat on the sofa.
The soothing beat of her mother's heart soon lulled Ali to sleep, and by the time Luis had returned, he found Cristian curled up against Sheridan's side as well. Not quite asleep, but well on his way. "Sorry," Sheridan laughed softly as Luis looked on his family in amazement. "I know this isn't exactly how you wanted things to go tonight." Luis finished putting the rest of the logs on the fire and knelt in front of her, stroking Ali's silky hair, smiling at Cristian's relaxed posture and slightly open mouth. "You think maybe Max taught him that trick?" he joked, nodding at tiny stream of drool making its way down their son's chin. "They have been spending an awful lot of time together," she said with sparkling blue eyes. "Luis." "Shh," he hushed her with a finger against her lips. "It's okay," he told her, leaning close to capture her lips in a lingering kiss. "You look like you could use some rest yourself." "Should I say thank you or something?" she teased him. He chuckled as he climbed to his feet, and his amused expression slowly turned serious. "Get some rest. I'll wake you all in time for dinner." "Oh," she whispered with twinkling blue eyes. "He's going to cook. Tonight must be really special." "Anytime I'm with you," Luis breathed as he tucked a quilt around them, "anytime.special doesn't even begin to cover it. Sleep," he ordered after brushing her tears away. And she did.a smile gracing her lips.
"Daddy?" Ali's quiet voice startled Luis, and panic immediately welled inside of him as he whirled around to face her. "What is it, AliCat? Are you.do you." "Daddy," Ali looked up at him with those impossibly big blue eyes of hers, and he felt the worry subside a little. "I want to help make dinner for Mommy." Luis smiled at her as he lifted her easily in his arms and set her down on the kitchen counter. "Well," he told her, tweaking her nose and making her giggle, "there's not much you can do since it's almost finished, but I was thinking." "What, Daddy?" Ali's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You know those Christmas cookies Grandma makes that you and Mommy like so much?" "Yeah," Ali's face lit up. "Well, I was thinking." Luis pretended to ponder it further. "Oh, Daddy," Ali rolled her eyes at him. Not fooled at all. "Stop that." "Stop what?" Luis tried to act innocent. "Okay," he laughed when she crossed her arms across her chest and blew out a slightly impatient puff of air. Shades of her mother, perhaps? "But we need the recipe. Think you could call Nana and get it?" He reached to help her down, wholly conscious of how different things now were, but Ali didn't need any help. She hopped down from the counter and was across the kitchen in a shot, dialing up his mother. Luis watched her with a mixture of pride and disbelief. Watching her tonight.he could almost forget.
He winked at his children, arranging pillows and quilts in the firelight for a fireside picnic. Fireside indoor picnic, he thought with an amused smirk. Max eyed him warily out of the corner of his brown eyes as his hands lowered the quilt from Sheridan's shoulders and trailed his hand down her arm to clasp her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Luis," Sheridan sighed in her sleep. Cristian giggled behind him, and he glanced back just in time to see Ali cupping a hand over his mouth. An adoring smile on her face as she watched them. Sheridan's arms slipped around his neck unconsciously, and his dark eyes smiled at her sleepy relaxed face, her blue eyes still closed as he kissed her gently. Max rest his head back on his paws, his tail thumping against the sofa cushions, content with the knowledge his beloved companion was safe. "Mmm," she dazzled him with a brilliant smile as they parted. "My favorite way to wake up." "Really?" Luis arched a dark brow at her. "I thought." "You," she ducked her head in slight embarrassment, playfully shoving him aside and wagging her finger at her giggling children. "And what do you find so funny?" she huffed. "Nothing," Ali shook her head. Biting her lip to hold back her beaming smile. "Your hair's all funny, Mommy," Cristian pointed. "Cristian," Sheridan gasped in mock horror. "I'm so hurt," she said. Turning her back on him. Cristian flew to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist. "But you're still the most beautifulest mommy in the whole entire world," he insisted, his worried brown eyes gazing up at her. If Luis was a fool for blue eyes, she was a sucker for those brown ones. She melted, scooping her son up in her arms and tickling his tummy mercilessly, even as they fell back against the pillows and became a tangle of arms and legs, and shrieking laughter.
Ali and Luis interrupted their tickling session, and they enjoyed their dinner. Smiling. Laughing. Just being together. And Sheridan was happier and more peaceful than she'd been in several weeks. It was the perfect moment, she decided, to break the news to her children that they would soon be welcoming yet another new member to the family. Max, the new kittens.just what were they going to say about a new baby, she wondered as her lips curved upward into a smile. It was a whole new ball game. "Isn't she beautiful, Mommy?" Ali grinned. Holding up a tiny, smoky gray kitten. "She is," Sheridan agreed. Stroking the animal's fur. She laughed when she noticed Luis and Miss Priss giving each other the evil eye. A low growl rumbled in the cat's belly as Luis scooted closer for inspection. Sheridan burst out laughing when Miss Priss slapped his hand away as he reached for one of the kittens-a tiny Miss Priss clone. "Okay. Look," Luis held his hands up and backed away. "Hands off. I didn't lay a hand on any of them, but you're living under MY roof. I could leave you outside to fend for yourself." "Cute, Luis," Sheridan laughed. "What would the guys at the station say if they knew you regularly argued with a CAT?" she teased. "I thought you and Miss Priss turned over a new leaf." "Apparently NOT," Luis grumbled. "Pain in the ass." "DADDY!" Ali's blue eyes went wide as she lay the kitten back in its basket. "You just said the." "Ali," Sheridan cut her daughter off warningly. "Mommy, where's the soap?" she asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I know where it is!" Cristian exclaimed. Luis chuckled as Cristian tore down the hall toward the bathroom. "You're not going to let him do it, are you, AliCat?" he asked pleadingly as he tugged her onto his lap. "No," Ali giggled. "Well.maybe," she admitted. "Don't worry, Daddy," she told him as she looped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. "I'll protect you." "Did you hear that?" Luis quirked a brow at Sheridan. "AliCat'll protect me."
Ali didn't have to protect Luis because the moment Cristian graced them with his presence again.Sheridan grabbed hold of his little waist and pulled him down onto her lap. "Mommy," Cristian protested weakly, but it didn't take him long to be quiet. He loved it when she held him. Even if Jake and MJ did make fun of him for it sometimes. And he REALLY loved it when she combed her fingers through his hair. Her nails tickled, but it was nice. "No soap," she whispered in his ear as she hugged him tight. "Daddy promises to be good." "I wasn't really going to do it," Cristian insisted. Wrapping his arms around hers and leaning his head back and tucking it beneath her chin. He sighed happily when she kissed his temple. He'd missed her. "I believe you," she said softly. "So." Luis spoke, reluctant to break the moment of peace and calm. But bursting at the seams to make the announcement. "Sheridan?" Ali watched her mommy intently, hanging on every breath. Then every word. "So," Sheridan answered him back, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "We.Ali.Cristian.I'm going to." "We have an early Christmas present for you two," Luis interrupted her. Grinning at the uncertain expression on her face. Her nerves certainly weren't amusing her any, but he found it utterly adorable.
"An early Christmas present?" Cristian said with growing excitement. "Where is it? Me and Jake looked.where is it?" he babbled. His cheeks flaming guiltily. "Well," Sheridan laughed slightly. "You can't see it yet." Cristian's brows knit in confusion. "I don't understand." Luis's lips twitched in amusement. "You're going to have to wait a few months," he explained. And Cristian looked from him back to Sheridan. Then to Ali. She was smiling. Like she knew something he didn't. Sometimes he felt like such a baby! "I still don't get it," he pouted. "I don't want it. You said early. But I can't see it for months. Not fair. What is it? Take it back," he mumbled. Hiding his face behind his hands. Sheridan gently pried his hands away from his face. "I'm afraid I can't do that," she told him with smiling eyes. "Why not?" "They don't give you receipts for babies," she laughed. "A baby, Mommy?" Ali squealed excitedly, scrambling off Luis's lap and crossing the room. "Cristian! A baby.you're going to be a big brother," she jabbered as she grinned down at her mommy. "Cristian? You're not saying anything," Luis prodded. "We get to keep it?" "Yeah," Sheridan laughed. "We definitely get to keep it." "Good," he smiled up at her. "But Mommy." "Yeah?" "How's Santa going to get the baby here? It won't be Christmas when it's born." "I hadn't thought of that," Sheridan managed to answer before erupting into a peal of laughter, along with Luis. And Ali. "What? What's so funny?" Cristian asked with an adorably befuddled expression on his face. He never did get his answer. He finally gave up and laughed with them. A new baby might be nice, he decided.
Chapter 22
Joshua stood in front of Abby's oddity of a Christmas tree, entranced by the blinking, colorful lights. "I think we finally got it," Kay announced. Carefully descending the step ladder and gazing up at her handiwork. Abby regarded the perfectly placed angel at the zenith of the tree. "Nope," she shook her tawny head slightly. "Abby, it's perfect," Kay cried as Abby tottered at the top of the step ladder in her efforts to 'give the angel a little character.' MJ stood beside Joshua, brown eyes darting to and from Abby and his mother. When he knew for certain neither was watching, he'd slide another piece of popcorn off the ornamental string and pop it into his mouth. "All that trouble.why didn't you tell me you WANTED the angel to be CROOKED?" Abby shrugged her shoulders as she hopped down.
"Because she's crazy," MJ piped up with a naughty grin. "Aww," Abby cooed as she ruffled the child's dark hair. "I can always count on Hallmark sentiments from the Demon Seed." MJ rudely stuck his tongue out at her after she'd stolen a kiss. "Stop eating the popcorn off my tree, Kid. There's pizza in the kitchen." "So?" MJ rolled his eyes. "I don't want pizza. I want popcorn." "MJ!" Kay scolded. "You better listen to your mom, Kid. Or I'm going to call up all your little school friends and tell them about our 'dates'." MJ scowled at her and retreated to a distant corner. Kay picked Joshua up, propping him against her hip, and walked over to join Abby's slumped form on the sofa and admire the fruits of their labor. "Quite a change from last year," Kay commented after a few minutes of silence had passed. "Gotta rope in potential roommates somehow," Abby told her with a twinkle in her hazel eyes. "Who wouldn't want to live with that tree? We can hang the mistletoe later."
"Okay," Kay said slowly. A tiny smirk on her lips. "That makes sense. In Abby logic, I guess. Any new takers since." "No," Abby groaned. "Word gets around fast in Harmony. My only hope is if Marvin the Martian decides he wants to live on planet Earth.that reminds me.MJ? Were there any new messages on my machine?" MJ thought back.there were some. But he wasn't going to tell. He was mad at Abby. Not telling her about the man who'd called about the apartment was as good a way to get back at her for threatening to tell all his buddies at school about their 'dates' as any, he thought. He shook his head vigorously. His mom eyed him suspiciously a moment, but then she turned back to Abby like she'd forgotten all about it. And they started talking. AGAIN.
Women. Ugh! All they did was talk and talk and talk. And talk some more. Always with the talking. If he had to listen to this all night.he was going to have to sneak out and walk all the way to Grandpa and Nana's house. One woman was better than two. He plopped himself down in the floor opposite his mom, little brother, and Abby and glared at them. He wished Dad wasn't in Boston working, and they didn't have to stay the night with Abby while he was gone and the exterminators were doing something to their house. Exterminators killed bugs, and he liked bugs. Just another thing to be mad about. And Abby.she was always aggravating him. He didn't like it when people aggravated back.
"MJ," Kay sighed heavily. "Your dad's going to be home in time for Christmas so you can lose the attitude. I know you miss him, but it's not even been a full day." "Your face is going to freeze like that," Abby warned. Shooting an identical glare his direction just to show him how silly he was being. "MJ.get yourself and Joshua ready for your bath." "But Mom," MJ protested. "It's too early!" "MJ." "Okay," he muttered. Walking up to them and taking Joshua's hand. Joshua followed him into the bathroom dutifully. "I better get in there," Kay told Abby with a smile. "Bath time is an Olympic sport with MJ." "Him, too?" Abby grinned. "That's fine. I'm going to go ahead and change. Are the boys going to sleep in the bed with you, or would you rather I pull out the sofa bed?" Kay laughed. "Are you kidding? Miss the adventure? You'd better hide all incriminating materials, though. MJ's part bloodhound. I still don't know if he gets it from Luis or from my dad."
From the sounds of things, Kay wasn't kidding about bath time with the boys, Abby thought with a tickled grin as she padded into the kitchen on bare feet several minutes later. It sounded like WWIII in there. A quick glance at the microwave made her sigh. Pathetic. Abso-freakin-lutely pathetic. It WAS early. Not even eight o'clock, and she was already in her pajamas. "At least they're cute pajamas," she muttered under her breath as she withdrew the pint of Rocky Road from the freezer, immediately scooping out a mouthful. "Too bad they're two damn sizes big," she grumbled as she nearly tripped on the leg of her fuzzy blue flannel pjs. Rocky Road ice cream smeared across the front of her white tank. She snorted at the bizarre appearance of the Curious George look-alike on her chest. "Frightening. Who the hell is that?" she swore when someone knocked at the door, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. The spoon totally missed her mouth, and she ended up with chocolate streaks across her cheeks. "This better be good," she growled as she grabbed the baseball bat behind the door and yanked the door open.
Nick dropped the box in his hands and backed slowly away. "Training for the major leagues?" he tried to joke. Abby just stood there. Mouth agape for several moments. Dr. Nick was here? Back after she'd nearly blinded him such a short time ago? With boxes. Bags. He looked like he was going. Oh God. She was going to pass out. The wooden bat fell to the floor with a thud, and her hazel eyes frantically searched for a jacket, something to cover herself up. If the man had had even a smidgen of interest in her before, what with the near-fatal attack on his life and such, seeing her looking about as unsexy as humanly possible was the final nail in the coffin holding all her hopes and dreams. "Abby!" Kay called. Emerging from the bathroom, looking battle-worn and weary and toting a drowsy Joshua. "Is someone at the.Dr. Nick," she smiled. "What a nice surprise," she said. Pinching Abby's arm when Abby failed to do so much as breathe.
"Surprise?" Nick looked to them both with confused gray eyes. "Didn't you get my message?" he asked Abby. "Message? What message?" Abby finally found her tongue. Dammit! Did he have to look so.edible right now? To hell with Rocky Road! "I didn't.MJ!!!" she roared. Nick started laughing when he saw a towel-clad little body scurry into a bedroom. Hurriedly locking the door. "I'm so sorry," Abby apologized. "What exactly did the message say?" she asked him carefully. Almost afraid to ask him. What if he.oh geez! He was going to sue her for all she was worth! "It was about the apartment," he finally said. Abby exhaled in relief. Then breathed in sharply as she looked at Kay with widened hazel eyes. "The apartment?"
"Yes. I'm willing to pay you." "Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "YOU want to live with ME? Are you sure?" she babbled. "Abby," Kay laughed, turning to Nick. "I think she's a little stunned. That's all." "Stunned doesn't even cover it. Last time you showed up I blinded you with pepper spray. This time I had every intention of swinging for a home run.I'm.are you positive you want to live with me?" "So sure I let Grace rent out my room at the B&B," Nick answered her. "But I can see I've caught you off-guard. Damned answering machines. I should go so I can find a decent hotel room."
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Abby yelled. Nick's amused gray eyes twinkled down at her forceful hand on his arm. He resisted the urge to laugh when she tugged him inside the door. "You don't have to go. The apartment's yours. I mean, mine and yours. You can sleep with me. No, that's not right! I meant you can sleep in my bed. Not with me, obviously. Because that would be.I don't expect sex. I mean, I may not look like it," she indicated her rather.juvenile attire. "But I'm a sexual person with.urges." "Abby." Kay tried to interrupt her friend's nervous ramblings. If she didn't shut up soon, she wasn't going to be able to stop herself from howling with laughter.
Nick's lips twitched as he let her talk. She was quite hilarious actually. This living together thing might actually be fun. IF she didn't kill him by mistake. "I'm not much of an adult, but.dammit," she finally cried out in frustration. The man made her flustered as hell. "Obviously, I'm insane. But if you still want the apartment." Abby and Kay held their breath as Nick thought the decision over. "I still want the apartment," he grinned at them. "We're just here until my husband." "You don't have to explain," Nick shook his head. "All right," Kay smiled. "I'll take the sofa bed with the boys, and you can settle in to your new bedroom. NO hotel rooms." "I couldn't." "You can," Kay wouldn't leave room for disagreement. "Think of it as a kind of trial." she told him when it became apparent Abby wasn't good for mumbling more than monosyllables around the man at the moment. "That's actually a good idea." he answered her.
Sandwiched between MJ and Joshua hours later, Nick pushed away all the niggling little doubts in the back of his head and stared at the crooked angel in fascination as colorful lights blinked before his eyes. This was without a doubt the craziest thing he'd EVER done. But, he realized, as his eyes drifted closed and the boys' soft snoring faded to nothing.he needed a little bit of crazy in his life. Abby Stone with kid's pajamas and merry hazel eyes, quirks and BIG, bumbling mouth more than fit the bill.
Chapter 23
"Mommy," Ali giggled as she flapped her arms around in the air. "I can barely move." Sheridan finished draping the soft, creamy scarf around Ali's neck and made sure the ear muffs were in place before leaning back to admire her handiwork. "Ali," Cristian exclaimed in awe. "You look like a snow angel." "Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" Sheridan smiled at her little son. Then her husband who was watching them all with such a look of wonder on his face.it made her heart ache. But in a good way. "You guys look pretty snazzy yourselves," she quirked a brow at Luis, "almost like twins." "Really?" Cristian asked with more than a touch of pride in his voice as he stood a little taller. "Of course, you have more muscles than Daddy," she teased Cristian as she tugged his hat down to cover his ears. "Mommy," Cristian rolled his brown eyes.
"What?" she asked innocently, causing Cristian to snicker. "These aren't muscles," he cried. Lifting up his bulky black sweater to reveal another sweater under it. And another. "Why do I have to wear so many clothes?" "You don't want to turn into Frosty the Snowman, do you?" Sheridan said as seriously as she could. It was hard. The expression of REAL panic that flashed across her son's face nearly made her double over in laughter. THAT wouldn't have gone over very well. Not very well at all. Her baby was really taking offense to being laughed at these days. And she was a notorious repeat offender in that department. She couldn't help it. Kids DID say the darndest things. "To stay warm, silly," she smiled, patting his flushed cheeks. "Are we all ready?"
Luis's hand shot out to grab her arm, and just a hint of a smile was on her lips as he tucked her scarf securely around her neck. "Thanks for taking care of me," she whispered against his lips. "You're welcome," he said. Tracing her lips with the pad of his thumb and leaning back in for another kiss. At that precise moment, the front door burst open. "Oh geez." they heard a very familiar voice mutter. "Figures. Sometimes you guys are just too.GROSS," he told them, shuddering from head to toe. "Good morning, Jake," Sheridan greeted with an amused smile. "Jake," Luis waved, chuckling slightly at the perturbed expression on Jake's enormously Hank- like face. "Glad you could join us."
Jake shrugged his slim shoulders as he regarded Ali out of the corner of his brown eyes. "We drew straws, and I got the shortest," he told them with that ever-present mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Is that good or bad?" Sheridan asked as she zipped up Jake's parka, ruffling his mop of brown hair affectionately. "Good, I guess," Jake ducked his head bashfully as she smiled at him with those blue eyes. "Yeah," he grinned a second later. "Good. Sara got the longest one and had to go to Grandma's with Mom. Emmy's spending the day with Dad at Uncle Sam's." "Very efficient system you got there," Luis grinned down at his best friend's son. "You always get the short straw, don't you?" "What? Me? No way," Jake tried to act nonchalant. "Jake." "Aww, come on, Uncle Luis," Jake rolled his eyes. "A man's got to be resourceful. Can we go now?" he sighed, changing the subject. "We'll pick this back up later," Luis promised as he followed them to the car.
"Wow," Jake breathed as they stood before the Crane Mansion. "Sheridan." "Yes, Jake?" she laughed softly, knowing whatever was coming would have that unique Jake Bennett perspective. "When you were growing up here, did you ever get lost looking for the john?" "Mommy," Ali's nose scrunched up in confusion. "What's the john?" "No, Jake," Sheridan explained patiently. "I never got lost looking for the bathroom." "Your old bathroom was named 'John'? Do all bathrooms have names?" Cristian asked cluelessly. Jake started laughing so hard he had to stagger through the front door when the maid answered it. "Daddy?" Cristian huffed in annoyance.
Ali's blue eyes twinkled at her little brother as she clasped his hand tightly with her own and led him inside. "Jake's just being Jake," she told him. As if that explained it all. Luis hid his smile from both his children as he ushered them into the living room. Where Ivy and Ethan waited. All mysterious smiles. "Wow, Mrs. Crane," Jake admired Ivy's faux fur coat. "That's a cool coat." Ivy set the tumbler of brandy in her hand down, smiling at the young boy. Gwen's son. "How many skunks did you have to kill to make it?" The smile froze on Ivy's lips. Er.definitely Hank Bennett's son. "It's not." Jake shoved his hands in his pockets, wandering around the living room in exploration. "Is this IT? Why'd I have to dress like this if we were just going to stay in here all day?"
"We're not staying in the Mansion all day," Ethan answered him with a smile. "I'm not too late, am I?" a nervous voice made them all turn around. "Beth?" Sheridan asked with raised brows as she lay eyes on the brunette. "Hi, Sheridan. Luis," Beth greeted absently. "Ethan?" "You're not late," Ethan assured her. "Well." Ivy cleared her throat. "Looks like we're all here. Ali," she offered her hand. "Would you care to escort me to the stables?" "The stables?" Ali said excitedly. "We're going to go riding?" "No, Darling. We're not going riding," Ivy let her down gently. "I don't understand." Ali's pretty face fell. "We're doing something much better," Ivy stroked the soft skin of Ali's cheek before tapping her nose affectionately. "But." "It's a surprise," Ivy whispered as she nudged Ali forward.
Jake hurried after Ali and Ivy with the rest of them trailing behind a few steps. Cristian walked alongside Beth and Ethan. Sheridan watched the easy comraderie amongst the three with growing amazement. Cristian HAD spent a lot of time with Ethan lately. And from the looks of it, he was pretty comfortable with Beth as well. What that meant she wasn't sure. But it wasn't an altogether troubling revelation. A bit unexpected, yes. "Do you think." "So what if it is?" she challenged Luis playfully. "Sheridan.you know I don't." "Calm down, Luis," she laughed as she laced her arm through his and brushed a feather-light kiss along the side of his jaw. "I'm perfectly confident that you're don't have those kind of feelings for ANY woman beside me anymore. And to answer your question. No. I don't think they're anything more than friends. Good friends, it seems. But nothing more than friends. I think it's nice, Luis. They both need someone. Why not each other?" "When it put it that way.but Ethan?" She fought the urge to pelt him with the universe's largest snowball and instead settled for a simple shake of her head. "I guess some habits die hard no matter how much happens."
"MOMMY!" Ali squealed a moment later, and Sheridan and Luis both instantly panicked. Rushing forward to make sure everything was okay with their daughter. "Ali! AliCat, what is it?" Luis checked her over from head to toe. "Look, Daddy," Ali pointed, beaming at them. Sheridan followed her line of vision, a brilliant smile to match Ali's taking over her entire face. "A sleigh ride," she breathed. And Ivy was pleased to find two identical pairs of crystal blue eyes sparkling back at her. "I take it the surprise is a success." "I love it, Aunt Ivy," Ali told her. Hugging her fiercely about the neck. "Ali, hurry up," Jake yelled as he raced ahead to one of the sleighs. The horses nickered in response to their arrival, and Ali giggled with delight as one of them nuzzled its nose against her palm. "Mommy! She remembers me!" "Of course, she remembers you, AliCat," Luis called to his daughter as he slipped a supportive arm around Sheridan's waist. "Thank you, Ivy," they offered their gratitude in unison. "The pleasure's all mine," Ivy sighed as she and Sheridan exchanged an embrace. "What are you waiting for? Why don't you two ride with Jake and Ali? I'm sure Cristian won't be too disappointed."
Jake's face said it all as he sat beside Luis across from Ali and Sheridan. He was sorely disappointed. And Luis figured he knew the reason why.he wanted to sit by Ali! "No fair," Jake grumbled under his breath. "Just because they're girls and all pretty doesn't mean they should get all the blankets. What if I was cold, too?" "I could trade places with you, and you could share with Ali," Sheridan suggested helpfully. "You don't have to," Jake pretended not to care. "Trade or else," Luis said sternly. Hiding his smile as Jake immediately jumped up from his seat, diving under the blanket tucked beneath Ali's arms and making her giggle wildly. "Daddy!" "Jake," Sheridan laughed as she snuggled up against her husband's warm body. "I think you can come out now." "Is it safe?" Jake's brown mop of hair popped out from under the blanket. "It's safe," Luis promised with a grin. "I'll come out, but you have to promise.NO kissing." "What about holding hands?" Sheridan bargained. Jake winced, then shrugged his shoulders. It sure beat the alternative. "That's okay. But that's all. Deal?" "I'm sorry, Jake," Luis said. Dead serious. "No deal." Jake groaned and hid his face behind his hands. Great. They were doing it again. Making out. Grown-ups weren't supposed to be so disgustingly mushy. "Don't they bug you?" he looked at Ali in question. His brown eyes drawn to a tiny white snowflake clinging to her pale lashes as she blinked at him. "No," she answered sweetly. "Maybe they're not THAT bad," he conceded when she smiled at him. He smiled back, the magic of it all sweeping him up. Snowflakes, blue eyes, and Ali's smile. For just a second, time stood still, and he knew he'd always remember that moment.
"Cristian," Ivy patted the space beside her. "Sit by me." Cristian obliged, sitting beside her, but soon finding himself perched on her lap as the sleigh started to inch forward, finally sliding across the snowy landscape. "Do you like my surprise?" she asked him, as his dark eyes took in everything in wonder. "Yeah," Cristian said softly. Beth laughed when Ivy tucked Cristian beneath her coat and only his dark head poked out. "Are you warm enough?" "Uh huh," Cristian nodded. "You coat doesn't stink," he smiled at Ivy a few moments later. "Why would it.oh," realization dawned on Ivy. "It's not made of skunks.it's made of." Ethan laughed out loud at Cristian's incredulous expression. Whatever Mother had whispered into his ear.it had to be good.
"She's really setting Jake up, isn't she?" Ethan heard Beth's soft voice beside him. "Expertly. Gwen's going to kill me for filling his head." "You two are really still friends then?" Beth asked quietly. "We're not close," Ethan said, looking into her dark eyes. "Obviously things ended badly between us," he sighed, his gaze searching out the sleigh ahead of them. The one carrying the proof of just how far he had pushed his former best friend away. "But we've grown past that now. Gwen was such an important part of my life. It's just taken me years to figure that out," he admitted sheepishly. "There's always going to be SOMETHING there, even if it's just a slightly awkward not-quite friendship." Beth smiled at him in understanding, and Ethan found himself smiling back. Ivy whispered something else in Cristian's ear after a long look at the pair, and they both puzzled over it for a while, until some of the same bewitching magic that had seemingly taken over Jake swept all thoughts from their minds. And they enjoyed the moment.
Chapter 24
"So." Kay ventured with a teasing grin on her lips as she stepped closer to a bleary-eyed Abby. The edges of the sheet in their hands meeting before Abby grabbed it and doubled it once more, ignoring Kay's question and crossing the open room to the linen closet. "Does he still want the apartment? I mean, he realizes he won't spend every night sandwiched between two kicking little boys, doesn't he? Abby? Abby, are you even listening to me?" Kay laughed at the comical expression emblazoned across Abby's features. "Abby?" she queried.
The muted noise of the shower was the only sound in the apartment at that moment. Which reminded her.MJ and Joshua were scarily quiet. She could never be too careful with her precocious son. Later, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Abby's voice came out as a squeak when she finally answered her, "There is a NAKED man in my shower." Kay burst into laughter. "Well, Abby.people generally don't wear clothes when they.Geez. This is only the first morning, and you already look like hell. Did you sleep at all last night?" she asked, shepherding Abby into the kitchen.
Aha! Where the boys were. MJ busied himself shoveling Corn Pops into his mouth, looking just as guilty as ever. The cereal tumbled into the bowl easily as she upended the box, but the milk was a whole different story. "MJ." "What?" MJ shrugged his shoulders, giving her the innocent act. "What happened to all the milk?" "I dunno," he looked at them both with wide brown eyes. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Joshua's tall glass wobble unsteadily as he put it back on the table, and she reached a hand out to right it. It was then that she noticed. "Mmm. Corn Pops AND chocolate milk," Abby grinned, stealing MJ's glass away and making loud, slurpy sounds that had MJ scowling in disgust. Joshua smiled and pointed at Abby's chocolate milk mustache.
"So.corrupting the innocent little brother again, Demon Seed?" Abby teased with a ruffle of his sleep-tousled black hair. MJ ignored her, knowing that bothered her to the extreme. Abby HATED not being noticed. But then.she'd known him, MJ Lopez-Fitzgerald, practically his whole life.there weren't many of his tricks that she didn't know by heart. She just gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek and popped a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster. "Do you think I should cook for him?" she asked Kay with wide, worried hazel eyes. "Maybe not," Kay smirked, stopping her with a hand. "Pepper spray. A baseball bat. The man might think you're trying to poison him." "Oh, you're just so damn funny," Abby muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm to spare.
"You didn't answer my question," Kay reminded her before gulping down the last bit of orange juice in her glass. Abby drew her legs into the chair with her, tucking them beneath her chin, then hiding her face against her knees. "No," she mumbled. "And why not?" Kay prolonged the torture. "Do you really have to ask?" Abby hissed, cutting her hazel eyes at MJ in warning. The kid was a born and bred tattletale. MJ caught her glance and stuck his tongue out at her, then resumed his torture of his little brother. That's what kid brothers were for, right? "Have any interesting dreams last night, Abby?" Kay arched a dark brow devilishly at her. "Go to Hell," Abby mouthed silently.
"That's four," MJ waved his hands above his head in triumph. "Four? Umm.Kid, I think we need to work on your math skills." "Yeah, right," MJ rolled his dark eyes at her. "You said two curse words.$1 for 'hell', $3 for 'damn', $5 for the really bad one.oh, and $2 for sh." "MJ!" Kay snapped in embarrassment, clasping her hand over his mouth. "Honestly.does one tiny hell every now and then count?" Abby grumbled as she and MJ engaged in a semi-lengthy glaring contest. "What are you? A lip-reader? See what my association with the Bennetts and the Lopez-Fitzgeralds is going to get me?" she rambled, making Kay smile despite herself. "In a few more months I'm going to have to file bankruptcy and live my life in squalor like a poor church mouse." "MJ!" Kay cried out, when MJ's elbow unceremoniously bumped Joshua's glass out of his hands, toppling it to the floor, and drenching her youngest son in chocolate milk in the process.
Abby was out of her chair in a flash, waving Kay off as she moved to get a towel. "Don't bother. I'll get it. Where are his extra clothes?" "In the guest bed.Abby," Kay called out, dark eyes widening in realization as she remembered Nick's very presence in the same room. "Yeah?" Abby's tawny head poked around the corner. "Nothing," Kay answered her without turning around, a mischievous smirk on her lips. MJ wiggled his black brows at her, and a tiny laugh slipped past her lips as she grabbed him and planted a kiss on his forehead. Much to his ire, of course. Joshua's hands clapped gleefully in the pooling puddle of chocolate liquid on the table. "Abby and Dr. Nick are never going to invite us back," she said. Smiling. She liked the sound of that. Abby and Dr. Nick. Somehow, she just couldn't call him plain old Nick. His whole identity was wrapped up in the fact that he was Ali's doctor. Hopefully, the whole doctor thing would fade into the background once Ali got better, and that little wall of near- formality between the good doctor and everyone other than Sheridan would crumble like dust. First step in progress, she thought to herself as she tugged Joshua's soiled navy shirt over his dark head.
"I found it!" Abby called, coming from the bedroom with arms full seconds later. Kay bit her lip to contain her grin when she saw Nick emerge from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, one of Abby's fluffy lavendar towels hanging low on his hips. She had to admit.Dr. Nick didn't clean up so bad. Taller than Luis, she assessed. Lankier than Miguel, but still quite.fit, she thought with an embarrassed rush of color to her cheeks (what the hell was she doing looking this guy over? She was a married woman, for goodness sake, and even if she weren't.). "Ab." Abby's hazel eyes twinkled at her as she launched the new tee-shirt into the air, sailing it across the room like a football. "Has anyone seen my." Nick trailed off at Abby's stunned expression.
Oh my friggin'.Jesus, Abby thought as her jaw went slack in open admiration. Kay bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing out loud. Yeah, Abby was definitely.IMPRESSED among a few other things, she shook her head in amusement. Nick's gray eyes were smiling down at her as he advanced on her, backing her up against the couch. Abby gulped as he leaned in close, her eyes fixated on the knotted towel at his waist for just a moment before she raised glazed hazel eyes to his face and. Nick's breath was a whisper against her skin as he reached behind her to grab his duffel bag. "My bag," he smiled at her as he straightened back up. Kay snickered at Abby as she tried to stammer a suitable response. Nick chuckled, running a rough hand through his wet dark hair as he spoke to her. "You might want to breathe every now and then. I've heard it's quite beneficial to your health," he advised her as he sauntered back off in the direction he had come. Not even two seconds later, Abby hit the floor with an audible thud, having slid from the couch's arm in a boneless heap. And Kay erupted into helpless laughter as her two confused children looked on.
Chapter 25
"So Sweetie," Sheridan smiled as she gently rubbed the towel over Ali's golden hair, making it shine and shimmer in the pale light emanating from the open bathroom door. "Did you like Aunt Ivy's surprise?" Ali's smile was bright and genuine as she nodded her head, and she giggled when Sheridan wrapped the fluffy towel around her shoulders and tugged her close. "Uh huh. It was fun. Can we ride the sleigh again tomorrow, Mommy?" "Well, I don't know," she tapped Ali's nose with her index finger, standing up and lifting her daughter into her arms. Ali wrapped her arms loosely around her mommy's neck and studied her with blue eyes that sparkled, even in the shadows.
"Don't you remember, Silly?" Sheridan teased as she twirled them around. Until they both were dizzy. "Remember what?" Ali giggled as they collapsed onto her twin bed, sending stuffed animals flying and Miss Priss caterwauling. "Tomorrow's the big Christmas party, and." "It's our turn," Ali's blue eyes grew wide with remembrance. "And everybody's coming," Sheridan smiled. "Everybody?" Ali questioned excitedly. "Everybody," Sheridan affirmed. "Nana and Grandpa Martin promised to come early, too." Ali sighed happily as she snuggled close to her mother. "Do we get to tell them about the new baby tomorrow?" "That's the plan," Sheridan said, giving Ali an extra tight squeeze before scooting off the bed and picking up the pair of pajamas laying across the back of Ali's tiny vanity chair.
The towel slipped from Ali's slim shoulders, falling to the floor, and she held on to Sheridan's shoulders as she stepped into the pants. The tiny white buttons were fastened, and Sheridan swept Ali's lavendar satin encased arms to grasp her small hands. Ali giggled when she brought each palm to her lips and kissed it. "Mommy.that tickles. Mommy!" she squealed as Sheridan planted loud kisses all over her face and neck. She smelled like baby shampoo after her bath, her hair still framing her sweet face in damp waves. "Get your brush so Mommy can brush your hair," she smiled, cupping her silky cheek in the palm of her hand. "Okay, Mommy," Ali chirped. She emerged from the bathroom moments later, arm outstretched with the ivory-handled brush as she scrambled onto the bed and settled between Sheridan's legs, leaning back against her chest. Sheridan brushed Ali's golden hair in gentle strokes, smiling slightly as Ali stretched her legs out along hers, wiggling her toes back and forth. They had matching red toenails. The holiday spirit and all. Ali hugged Cristian's bunny to her, tucking it beneath her chin. "Mommy," she murmured contentedly. "Yes, Baby?" "I want to sleep in Cristian's room with him and Jake tonight. Please," she pleaded. "You can fix me a bed on the floor. I don't have to sleep with Cristian. He makes a funny noise with his teeth, Mommy. It's so annoying," she huffed, making laughter spill from Sheridan's lips. "Will you, Mommy? Will you fix me a bed?" Ali twisted in her arms, gazing at her with expectant blue eyes.
"Oh, I think I can do better than that," she answered her. "I bet with a little convincing I can get Daddy to let all three of you sleep in the living room, and we'll stay up all night long, watching all your favorite videos and drinking hot chocolate until the sun comes up." "Really?" Ali's blue eyes twinkled with happiness at the thought. "Really," Sheridan nodded her head. "All you have to do is go give Daddy lots of kisses. Daddy can't resist kisses," she winked. "Scoot," she smiled, standing up and waving her out of the bedroom, her eyes suspiciously bright as she looked at the hairbrush in her hand.
The bathroom tiles were slightly cold under her bare feet as she pulled the golden strands from its bristles, depositing them in the waste basket beside the sink. "Mommy," Ali's glossy head peeked back around the corner. "Daddy said he's waiting." "Tell him I'll be right there, 'kay Sweetie?" Ali darted back down the hall, and Sheridan brushed the tears from her lashes as she studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Teary eyes and a red nose just would not do. She splashed cold water onto her face and dabbed at her nose with a tissue before walking out of Ali's room.
Luis smile was replaced with a look of worry, and she smiled reassuringly at him as she sank into his warm embrace, cuddling closer as he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. "Mommy," Ali smiled between sips of her hot chocolate. "We're going to watch the Aristocats next. It's Miss Priss's favorite movie." Luis chuckled beside her, and his softly muttered "I bet" had her elbowing him in the ribs, fighting her own laughter. There WERE certain parallels. Miss Priss's blue eyes glittered suspiciously at Luis in the firelight, and a hateful meow rumbled in her throat.
"Ali, do we HAVE to watch Lady and the Tramp? Don't you have thousands of other movies?" Jake grumbled. "I like Lady and the Tramp," Cristian piped up, earning himself a dark scowl. "You just don't like it 'cause your dad said." Cristian started, but was cut off by Jake's hand clamped over his mouth. "What did Hank say?" Luis smirked. "That Ali was the Lady and Jake was the." Cristian mumbled behind Jake's hand. "Can we watch the movie? NOW!" Jake bellowed embarrassedly.
Lady and the Tramp AND Duchess and O'Malley lived happily ever after, but Luis and Max were the only ones left awake to witness it. Sheridan watched him, woken more by his absence at her side than his quiet movements, uncertain if it were dream or reality as he turned the television off and knelt before the children. Cristian lay half-sprawled across Jake's legs and Ali slumbered comfortably next to the young man himself while the fire crackled behind them, her golden hair spilling across the pillows and her face relaxed and peaceful. Cristian mumbled something incoherent in his sleep as Luis straightened him out next to Jake, tucking blankets around them all before climbing to his feet and crossing the room to her side. She nestled close to his heart as his arms closed around her, already asleep as he carried her to their bed. Their long day finally at an end.