Karen and Steven left Alex's home, which left the couple alone together.  Alex didn't want to just blurt out what she was feeling, there had to be a more subtle way to go about it.

"I should get Julia up to bed," Alex said, her heart began to beat a little faster.

Very carefully, Mort picked up Julia and handed her to Alex.  "I'll bring him up," he said, motioning to the bear.  The two went upstairs to Julia's bedroom and Alex began to take off the frilly pink dress Julia had been put in for the day.  Mort placed the bear next to Julia's crib, then leaned against the doorway.  "Won't you wake her?"

Alex smiled.  "She's down for the night – she had herself a very busy day."  She changed Julia's diaper and dressed her in her pajamas.  Before she placed her daughter in her crib for the night, Mort walked over and placed a gentle kiss on the top of Julia's head.  Now?  Is now the right time to just…say it?  Alex repeated the action and put her daughter in her crib.  She covered her, then turned to Mort.  "I need to talk to you."  She took Mort's hand and led him out of Julia's room.  Alex took Mort to her bedroom and began to pace, nervously. 

"Is everything all right?" Mort asked.

"I hope so," Alex answered, her voice soft.  "Could you stay?  For the night, I mean?"

Her request being nothing new, Mort smiled.  "Sure."  He walked to her, putting his hands on her shoulders.  "Are you going to tell me what's on your mind?"

She looked into the russet eyes before her.  Those eyes…  Her hands found their way into his hair and she kissed him, her heart now racing.  She couldn't let go of his lips, but did, eventually, force herself away.  Her voice no more than a faint whisper, she said, "I love you."  So much for not blurting…

Did you hear that?

Of course I heard that.

You're being quiet.  Say something before she thinks she made a mistake.

"I love you, too."  Mort's voice was equally soft.  "You and Julia are very important to me."

Alex smiled, tears shining in her eyes.  "You scared?"

Trying to lighten the mood, Mort smiled and said, "Shitless."

Alex laughed, then hugged him.  "Me too."  She felt so incredibly safe and comfortable in his arms that she didn't want to move from where she was.  Her head resting on his shoulder, she said, "I'm going to jump in the shower, make yourself at home."  She kissed him one final time, then went into the adjoined bathroom.

Mort walked to the bed and sat down.  He took off his shoes and focused on what had just happened.  She loves me.  She loves me and he's gone and…I have a life again.

Feels good, doesn't it?

"Feels wonderful," he said to himself.  Mort looked around the room.  He'd been in it many times before, but now it looked…different to him.  The room was painted a soft grey, which was strangely comforting to him.  He chuckled a bit, taking in how, unlike in his bedroom, everything matched.  The furniture was made of light birch wood and all of the hardware was silver.  The comforter was a rich blue and quite possibly the softest material Mort had ever felt.  He looked at the far wall of the room and realized that even Alex's stereo matched the décor – it was blue and silver in color.  "Actually, music doesn't sound like such a bad idea."  The remote control was on the nightstand closest to him and he picked it up.

He turned the stereo on and hit the button labeled "CD."  Within a few seconds, a strangely soothing beat had begun to bathe the room.  "Surround sound and everything," he laughed.  He reclined on the bed and listened, letting his mind drift to thoughts of what could transpire in his life.  A few songs played before he heard the water in the bathroom stop.  He heard the hairdryer and smiled.  I love her.

Alex emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later.  "Bored?" she asked.

Mort sat up, "Not at all.  Feel better?"

"Yeah…would you believe I had icing in my hair?  I wonder how that happened?  Oh, I remember, somebody thought it would be funny to let Julia stick her hands in the cake."

Mort looked around innocently.  "Who would have done something like that?"

Alex sat on the edge of her bed, clad only in her robe.  "Well, there was this guy that I invited to the party.  Kinda quiet, sweet smile, this crazy hair that I can never seem to keep my hands way from…Anyway, he got this loopy idea to take her hands and…"  Mort was looking at her a bit differently.  "What?" she laughed.

"You."

"Me?"

Mort nodded.  "You're incredible."  Alex blushed and moved closer to him.  Mort pushed her hair way from her face and looked into her eyes.  He wanted to say something – something that would sum up everything she'd done for his life – but the author was without his words.  As if on cue, a new song began to flow from the speakers.

To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned

What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow

I'm just an angel
Driving blindly
Through this world

I'm just a slave here
At the mercy
Of a girl

Mort's lips met Alex's and the kiss, while familiar, felt new, almost electric. 

I think you know now…

***

Author's Note:  O.K., here's the deal, guys: I don't want to change the rating of this story because the "R" rated fics don't come up automatically, so here's what I'm going to do. If you want to see what happens next, head over to - adultfan.nexcess.net - The chapter has been uploaded. Mine is the only "Secret Window" fic there.

If you have no interest in the Mort/Alex "love scene" (as I'll refer to it), "the morning after" chapter will be the next one in the story.

If you don't read the "love scene" don't worry, it won't take too much away from the story. If you do read it – please please review it. Thanks! Oh, and for those of you who think Alex should meet Shooter – remember, this story is far from over…

Oh, I totally don't own the song that's "playing." It's called "When the Body Speaks" and it is on the Depeche Mode album, "Exciter."