By Didi
Disclaimer: Anyone out there that still thinks that I might actually own anything in association with this story after reading the other hundred disclaimers for every story I've ever written to have their reality checked for stalls. Thanks.
Timeline: I have no idea where the hell the timeline is on this thing anymore. This started out as a ten chapter max story and kind of grew legs of its own and ran with me trying to catch up.
Rating: It's probably R for this chapter. Tell me if you disagree.
Author's Note: Wow are we ever off topic now. It's a long one so be prepared to sit for a while. And sorry that this took so long. Busy schedule.
Summary: What would you do in the name of love? Friends and… more friends.
Whimpering lightly as Matt closed the door behind a delighted bellhop who just received a hefty tip; Jules dropped face down on the bed and bounced once before setting into an eagle sprawl. "Kill me now." Every bone in her body ached.
Climbing onto the bed, Slingerland grinned with exasperation and rubbed her shoulders gently with the palm of his hands. "Care for a bath?" Jules had been a terrible flyer; between altitude sickness, motion sickness and an inability to sleep on the plane, fifteen hours had seemed like a lifetime. It certainly didn't help that he had managed to sleep ten out of those fifteen hours sitting upright and without any need to get up every hour to use the restroom. "Or a nice hot cup of tea? Shall I order one?" he asked reaching for the phone.
Grabbing him blindly, "No, no food," she murmured into the bedcover. She groaned and turned to lie on her side. Matt lay down next to her, running a hand soothingly over her back. He was regarding her with the tender concerns. She wiggled closer until she was curled up next to him. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she rubbed her nose gently against the stiff collar of his shirt. Sighing, she pressed her lips against the hollow grove of his throat. "Let's take a nap, okay?"
Matt smiled as he hugged his sweet Jules to him. There are moments when he just simply wanted to squeeze her to death. She was unbelievably wonderful at times and so heart achingly endearing that he felt as if his heart would burst with joy. "All right, we can take a nap." At this point, he'd give her anything she wants.
"Good," snuggling close and wondering when she became so comfortable in his arms like this because it was certainly not something she did before. "When do you have to meet your friends for dinner?"
"We are meeting them at 7:00 for cocktails and 7:30 for dinner," kicking off his shoes to get comfortable for their nap. He wasn't the least bit tired from their trip but could see that she was the poor thing. And while he may not want to nap, he didn't mind being able to hold her as he's done nightly. There was something vaguely enjoyable about simply cuddling her in his arms. It was never one of his favorite activities with past lovers.
"So I've got about an hour to sleep and half an hour to get ready?" she murmured quietly as her eyes drooped and her hold on him relaxed.
Pressing his lips against her forehead, "Take an hour and a half; you look beautiful just the way you are now."
She smiled hazily and murmured something inaudible.
"I love you, darling," he whispered as he watched her sleep.
"The next person that tells me 'not yet' is getting fired," Harriet warned darkly as she leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and crossed her arms. It was Saturday evening, she's got two premature labor patients who are fast approaching hysterical and her favorite neonatal specialist isn't in town. Plus she had to cancel on dinner for the fifth time with her husband this month. To say that her mood was less than the usual gentleness would have been kind.
Fortunately for the two technicians currently on duty, their predecessors had warned them of what might come up. David Ingmar reached across his desk and pulled the printout from his out-basket. "They were doing the annual maintenance this week on all the machines, the administration wanted it done quickly because of the whole…" he pointed upstairs to where lab eight had been operational until two weeks ago when it was shut down for the investigation and shrugged his shoulder. "We've got a back-log of four days now but we're getting through them as quickly as possible. Emergency room stuff still comes first."
"It's a blood work-up, boys, not brain surgery," she replied smoothly without the least bit of sympathy for them. "Let me see that," taking the sheet from David. Her eyes scanned the sheet quickly, frowning at several particularly odd numbers thrown back at her. "Is this the final report?"
"No," James answered with a shake of his head. "The sythograph is down."
"Get it working then," Harriet advised handing the sheet back. "I want a full report in an hour."
"Doctor…"
"You're not going to tell me no, are you?" she asked a look that dared them to say it.
The two shook their head. Anyone can tell you that the most loved and feared person in the hospital is Dr. Harriet Lanning. One does not go against her orders if one wants to live a long and healthy life.
"Matthew!"
Slingerland barely kept his balance as he was whacked between the shoulder blades by the overly exuberate bridegroom. Why Andrew Rademacher felt the need to greet his intimates in such an overly warm fashion was never to be asked or known. "Drew, old man. How are you?"
"Getting married," came the excited answer accompany by a laugh that was full of something wonderful to hear.
"If he were any happier," Kyle Allens said dryly, "We'd have to tie him down with a string."
"Kyle, old man," Matt reached out and shook hands with Kyle whom he hadn't seen since their school days. "How are you?"
"Losing my hair," came the good-natured reply. At thirty-eight and often in the company of his charming looking friends, Kyle has learned to laugh at his genetic shortcomings and move on. "A problem I see you haven't been inflicted with."
Always happy to see Kyle and his cheerful demeanor, "I didn't even know you were coming to the wedding."
Drew made a face. "If you'd bother to keep in touch with a bit more regularity…"
"Oh come now," Melissa Devone-Kittridge tisked as she made her way to the loud men. "Matthew has been ever so dutiful in sending Christmas cards, birthday cards and other sorts of other cards when the occasion warranted, unlike some that I can name." She gave the other two a look that had them grinning.
"Missy," Matt leaned over and kissed her cheek, inhaling a mass of heavy floral fragrance that he nearly choked on. He had forgotten her propensity to bath in perfumes. "You look delightfully maternal."
Rubbing her five month stomach, Melissa made a face. "I look fat."
"You look radiant," Slingerland corrected as he took in her new form. She was softly rounded and looked impossibly lovely. "Positively glowing. Motherhood becomes you, luv."
"I keep telling her that but she simply won't hear of it," Liam Kittridge informed him as he stepped up behind his wife. "Stubborn woman, isn't she?" kissing her cheek with affection. "Now why did I have to chain myself to such a horrid mule I ask you?" and rubbed her belly with a gentle hand.
Matt laughed. It was good to see Liam and Melissa; they reaffirm the belief of happily ever after in a world where divorce seem the normal when it came to marriage. Having met in grade school, teased and prodded each other through middle school, flirted and dated through their university days, gone through several failed relationships apart from one another through grad school, the two finally managed to tie the knot just before Matt had left for the Americas. More than a decade later, it would appear that their love continues to flourish.
"Blimy lads," Joseph Descandes shook his head at them and mockingly frowned. "You're making horrid spectacles of yourselves in public. What would your esteemed mammas think?"
"Joseph!" Drew clasp hands with the tall gangly man with the horn-rimmed glasses and drew him into a hug. "What are you doing here? Not that I'm not exceedingly happy to see you but I was given to think that you'd be in Spain this time of year."
"Change in plans," Joseph replied breezily with a grin. "How can I possibly miss the wedding of the decade? Andrew Rademacher, Cambridge Terrors' playboy, leg-shacked. What delicious horrors!"
Cambridge Terrors, Matt winced at the name. In a drunken stupor during their first year of hell at the university, Joseph had proudly proclaimed them to be the terrors of the professors at Cambridge. Drew, Kyle and Liam had enthusiastically agreed to Matt's horror and they were unfortunately enough to have been overheard by several fellow students. The nicknamed suck and the five men had carried it with great deal of responsibilities, challenging their instructors with great fervor. The only good that came of that episode was that they all graduated with honors and went on to prestige careers of their choosing.
"So what beauty have you managed to snag, Drew?" Kyle asked as he motioned the gang toward the sitting area.
Matt hesitated a second, looking up to see if Jules had finally joined them in the lobby. It was almost seven now and he had awoken her fifteen minutes before from a sound sleep. After arguing with him for a moment, she had shooed him out the door so that she may dress for the occasion. He had been reluctant to leave her, having found that he rather liked to watch her go through the ritual of feminine preparation work before leaving the door, but he knew that Andrew would have his head on a silver platter had he been late. Now he was doubly regretful of not having stayed with Jules. He couldn't be completely sure that she would be joining them.
"Matthew?" Melissa called her eyes curious as she took in the rest of the lobby. "Is something wrong?"
"Of course not," he replied easily.
"So where is your fiancée?" Kyle inquired of Drew.
"Coming this way right now," Drew said standing once more and held out his hand to the approaching woman.
Melissa groaned, much to her husband's alarm, and then had to take a moment to reassure Liam of her health before muttering, "How predictable."
It took everything in Matt's powers not to nod his head in agreement. "What is her name?"
"Delilah Levean," Missy replied with a half whisper as she watched Drew hurried to her fiancée's side.
"Now, darling…" Liam began.
"Oh don't tell me you were expecting anything less?" she asked with great mocking doubt. It was not hard to discern her feelings of the bride-to-be.
Liam was honest enough not to lie.
Delilah Levean was everything that Matthew had suspected and expected to have the power to chain Andrew Rademacher to her side, for Andrew was a notorious lady's man of old. Juggling four or five women at a time was neither new nor difficult to the Rademacher heir. Tall, leggy, pencil thin, sun-kissed blonde and cornflower blue-eyed, Delilah looked to be the mortal incarnation of the American Barbie doll. She was, in simple terms, stunning. And by the look in her eyes, she knew it too.
"This is going to be fun," Matt muttered and turned to catch his friend's reactions. Oh this was definitely going to be fun. "Gentlemen, a little decorum please?"
Kyle had the grace to blush but the other two merely grinned good naturedly. "Well, Matthew? You always had an eye for the ladies as well. If Andrew wasn't so quick with the smiles and faster with the wallet, you would have been named the playboy. What think you of his new found love?"
Diplomatic as usual, "She's pretty," was his only response as Andrew eager came over to introduce his bride to his friends.
"This is my darling soon-to-be wife, Delilah. Deedee, these are the Cambridge Terrors," Andrew said her name with so much glee and pride that the others had to wonder at it. "To you left is Kyle Allens, the brains of the operation and all around dangerous in the political world. Next to him is Joseph Descandes, our technical wiz. Joseph owns and operates a computer company that's about to expand beyond the European markets. Stocks are up and can only rise higher." Next to our dear Joseph is Liam Kittridge and his lovely wife Melissa. Liam was the good boy amongst us; he stuck with one and held on the whole way. Liam and Missy are expecting their first bundle of joy this coming summer and have just recently acquired in a new publishing company that will…"
"Where did you hear that?" Missy demanded with great surprise. It was not public knowledge; she had made sure of that.
"I have stocks in your title company," Andrew answered with a superior grin as Liam laughed. "Don't you think I should support my friends in their financial endeavors? It makes for a very profitable relationship." He grinned and then shook his head at Slingerland. "Unfortunately, Matthew chose to leave his father's circle of business and found himself in a position where I cannot be of any contribution."
"Oh I don't know," Matt mused with a grin, "The five hundred thousand dollars you donated to the children's wing at Presidio Med was a great contribution. Pediatrics was ready to erect a monument to you." In fact, he remembered correctly, Jules had sent off a personal note for the new neonatal incubators they were able to purchase with the donation.
"It was a good tax write off," Andrew amended.
Matt laughed and held out his hand to Delilah. Money was not a subject that Andrew was comfortable with. "Matthew Slingerland, at your services ma'am."
"Ma'am?" Delilah mocked with a toss of her golden hair just before she took his hand limply. "Do I look like your mother?"
"Hardly," Matt forced himself to laugh as Andrew did and attempted to kiss his fiancée though she leaned away from him.
"Andrew," she admonished with a light swat on the hand he had on her arm. "My makeup."
"Sorry, love," Drew replied with an easy smile and then looked at Matt. "So, I hear from my mother who heard from your mother that you brought a date to the wedding." He glanced around slyly apparently delighting in this little tidbit of information. "Where would you be hiding the lovely one?"
"I'm not hiding her anyways," giving Andrew a quick shove. "She was tired from the trip and I didn't have the heart to force her into joining us sooner than need be."
"Really?" Kyle asked with raised brows.
"Stop it guys," Missy admonished with a mocking shake of her head. "I'm sure Matthew has perfectly logical reasons not to introduce his companion to his friends."
This coming from the most mild-mannered of the group really put Matt in the hot seat. "I don't see any of the other bachelors with their escorts tonight. After all, the wedding isn't until tomorrow."
Joseph raised a finger. "Mine arrives tomorrow morning for the wedding."
"I couldn't get one," Kyle admitted with a self-deprecating grin.
"Why didn't you call me?" Missy demanded with a huff. "I've got plenty of girlfriends that would love to date a nice, sweet, handsome…"
Kyle gave a bark of laugher at that.
"Stop that!" she said sharply.
"I do adore you, Missy," he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "If Liam would only gallantly step aside…"
"Not on your life, old man," Liam gave his friend a gently push and pulled his wife to him. "And please note the gentle and expert way that Matthew managed to deflect the conversation from himself and his ladylove?"
"Until you ruined it," Matt laughed.
"Oh come now, old man," Andrew said with a quick tug on his fiancée's arm. "Deedee and I would love to meet this mystery woman of yours. Must be quite a beauty the way you hold out on us."
A quick smile and a glance at Delilah cautioned Slingerland to tread lightly. "Oh but how can she possibly compared to the bride-to-be? After all, this is your special days. And everyone knows that nothing stands up against the bride, not even the groom or Cindy Crawford. And we are but witnesses to…" the rest of the thought was lost as something pretty caught his attention.
Jules stepped out of the elevator, completely oblivious as she searched her purse for some errant thing. The light in the lobby picked up the red highlights in her hair and set off her peaches and cream skin making her glow. She wore a light dress in shades of mossy green that complimented her sweet pixie beauty. Looking up, she searched the lobby for a moment before her eyes caught Matt. Then she did what she did best: she smiled… and took Matt's breath away.
"Well, well," Missy crossed her arms and raised her brows. "I do believe we are now seeing Matt's mystery woman."
"Stow it," Matt told her before left them to their own devises. He honestly didn't care what they thought at the moment.
Jules stopped a good three feet before he reached her and just stood there with her hand on her purse. "Hi."
"Hi," he leaned over and kissed her cheek, making a mental note that she didn't flinch at having her makeup smeared by his lips. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," blushing at the public display of affection. She felt just a wee bit nervous now, especially since all his friends were staring at them. "I got a phone call from the front desk that says there are messages there for us."
He smiled. He could stand there and look at her all day. "It can wait."
She bit her lip, destroying the lipstick she had just applied. "I guess I can't get out of meeting your friend now, can I?"
Shaking his head, he decided to give into his impulse and kissed her full on. She tasted like sweet waters of the mountain springs. "Come," tugging on her arm.
"I'm nervous," she blurted out.
Matt laughed. "Don't be. They'll adore you."
"And if they don't?" she wanted to know as she forced a smile on her face though all she wanted to do was turn and run the other way. She was still feeling achy and tired from the plane right and the last thing she wanted to do was play nice with Matt's friend. But he had been so excited about her meeting them that she really didn't have the heart to disappoint him… especially after he's been so good to her of late.
"Even if they don't – which is a completely unrealistic idea – I will still adore you."
"Oh terrific," she replied dryly.
"Well, well, well, this is a surprise," Joseph murmured as they approached. "Doesn't look like his usual type, does she?"
"Good," Missy replied with a nod of approval. "Matthew has always been the smarter one."
"What does that mean?" Kyle asked as he raised a brow at the held hands.
"Not exactly what I had in mind," Andrew added.
Delilah shrugged her shoulders, feeling some pity for the good looking man. "Maybe she's got money."
Liam elbowed his wife before Melissa had a chance to say something. "Matthew has enough of his own," he replied with a stern look at his wife. A fight now would be a terrible thing to happen.
"He looks extremely happy," Kyle pointed out without envy. The smile that graced his face was too wide for anyone to argue with.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Matt said happily. "May I present…"
"Julia Keating, how are you?" holding her hand out easily to the blonde beauty with the assessing eyes. She could almost feel herself being weighed. But she was nothing if not ready for a confrontation; Mrs. Keating's little girl was no coward. Always face a problem head on was their motto. Besides, it throws people off balance that way.
Looking at the hand held out in front of her, Delilah forced a smile and nearly had her hand crushed in the grip. "Ouch!"
"Oh, sorry," making an apologetic face that was as insincere as the other woman's smile. "Didn't know you were so fragile," smiling up at the taller woman before turning to face the surprised man next to her.
"Andrew Rademacher," he responded to the questioning looking on the pretty woman's face. From the twinkling green eyes, he had a feeling that she was going to be a great gun. Taking hold of the offered hand and shaking it firmly, he repressed the sudden urge to kiss her hand. "And his is Delilah, my fiancée."
"Congratulation!" she said, "And thanks for letting crash your party."
"Oh please," waving that away. "Any friend of Matthew's…"
"Doesn't usually stay very long?" she asked sweetly, peeking up at Matt who blushed.
"Now darling…"
Melissa laughed with delight. "Oh, I like her."
Jules's smile widened and she took a step forward. "Hi. How far along?" she asked with preamble, glancing down at the soft mound.
Missy held out her hand. "Melissa Kittridge, five months all together and an eternity to go. I can't wait for this child to be out of me. Feel like a blanking beach whale." She gave Matt an approving look as Jules gave a trill of laugher. "Has Matthew been treating you well?"
"Like a queen," Jules answered honestly as she shook Melissa's hand with more care than the others. "Boy or girl?"
"Personally, I am hoping for a boy but Missy wants a girl so we're praying twins. Liam Kittridge," Liam said as he took the charming girl's hand. "And I must say it is a most definite pleasure to meet you."
"Speak for yourself, mon," Missy bristled with mock horror. "While I do agree that it's a pleasure to meet you, dear, I do not want to be carrying two at a time."
"In complete agreement," Delilah said with a nod as she flipped her hair over her shoulder once more in an increasingly annoying habit. "I can't imagine ruining my figure with one much less two little buggers." She shuddered with at the thought. The others stared for a second, wondering if she was serious… which apparently she was.
Deciding that the descended silence was not a good thing, Slingerland clapped his hand and asked, "So where are we off to for dinner, lads? I'm starving."
"Matt," Jules tugged at his sleeve in a most indiscreet manner. She cleared her throat delicately and nodded toward the remaining two men that were left nameless to her. "Where are your etiquettes?"
"Oh, sorry," he could feel himself blushing but choice to ignore it as Andrew gave his fiancée an exasperated look. "Kyle Allens and Joseph Descandes. My darling Jules."
"A pleasure," Kyle said as he took her hand with both of his. "Matt's told us…" he paused in his practiced speech and frowned.
"Absolutely nothing?" she offered helpfully with an impish smile.
Pressing his lips into her hair and thanking the lord that Jules was such an easy spirited person that could play along with the best, "Only because I want to keep you all to myself."
Looking up, "Did you know that you're accent just sudden went three times heavier?"
"We're on English soil, luv," he replied with a grin so wide that she had to laugh. "Dinner anyone?"
"Oh good," Missy sighed and shook her head. "I thought I was going to starve."
"We're off to the dinning room then," Andrew said and pointed to the doorway.
"So, Julia," Kyle began as they made their way slowly through the slightly overcrowded lobby. "What do you do for a living?"
"It's Jules" told him with a smile as Matt pulled her closer, "And I do this and that," shrugging her shoulders delicately and ignored the fact that Matt had somehow managed to snatch her hand again in his. He's gotten into the habit lately to always holding her hand when they walked. It was strange; she had never been a real big hand-holder.
"Evasive, isn't she?" Delilah commented as she sashayed with Andrew along her side. She knew they were the best looking couple in the lobby, what with the turned heads and all, and she enjoyed the lovely attention.
"Only a little," Jules mockingly protested. "I just prefer not to talk about work outside of work. We're on vacation," she looked to Matt for confirmation of that.
"Exactly," pulling her closer as the crowd got bigger. He couldn't think of a better way to have introduced her to his friends, who all seem to take to her immediately… well, except for the bride-to-be, who didn't seem to take to anyone but Andrew. "Two weeks of nothing but rest and relaxation for my girl. No talk of work. No thought of work either."
"And what do you do, Mr. Slingerland?" Delilah asked as she pulled her hand from Andrew's. The man had an annoying habit of wanting to hold hands all the time. "I believe that wasn't divulged in the introduction as the others had."
"Matthew was the foolish one," Andrew said with a laugh. "He went against his father's wishes and became a doctor. I still say you did it just to spite the old man."
"That's what my mother says too," Matt laughed. It was an old joke that was made only funnier by the fact that there was so truth in it.
"You're a doctor," Delilah repeated with somewhat renewed interest. "How splendidly delightful."
Jules rolled her eyes discreetly because she caught Melissa mimicking the same action. The two traded laughing understanding looks.
"And what do you do, Julia?" Delilah asked.
Smiling, Jules shook her head. "Not much at the moment.
"Between jobs?" she asked politely but there was nothing polite about the triumph look in her eyes.
Matt cleared his throat delicately. "Well actually, Jules is…"
The hotel overhead speakers came alive with a soft gently chime. "Attention ladies and gentlemen and esteemed guests. Will Dr. Julia Keating please come the front desk, you have an emergency phone call. Will Dr. Julia Keating please come the front desk, you have an emergency phone call. Thanks you."
"No, no, no," Matt wanted to give into the urge to stomp his foot. "This isn't happening."
"Now Matt…" she said trying to placid him.
"We're on a bloody vacation, Jules," he pleaded with her as she made to go across the room. "Just ignore it."
She looked back at him apologetically. "It might be Jenna."
He let go at that with a sigh. "Okay, but I'll bet you it isn't. She wouldn't call you like this." Jenna's reaction to the loss of the baby had been even worse than Jules's. There was a lot of blame being self directed and she had even offered to pay for their trip out of town. "Oh bother."
Missy was enjoying the disagreeable look on Delilah's face and feeling not a whit of guilt over her own delight. "So she's a doctor, is she? Of what field?"
"Pediatrics," Matt answered absentmindedly. If this was the pattern in which they can exact the next two weeks to be, they might as well have stayed in San Francisco. No, this will not be of such. He will put his foot down on the manner… just as soon as she gets back. "She's a neo-natal specialist."
"Really?" Missy nodded her head, dutifully impressed. "So how did you meet? A medical conference?"
"We work together," he answered and frowned as Jules made an agitated movement. "Excuse me a second," and left his friends with their mouths hanging open on that last little tad-bit of information. Jules was just hanging up the phone when Matt reached her. "Something the matter?"
A small frown graced her face. "One of my patients came through the emergency room and they cannot find Dr. Cummings."
"And?"
"Primary physician sign off," she explained with a sigh. "Dinner?"
"Of course," holding her still for a moment. "Is something else wrong?"
"No," shaking her head and the feeling of exhaustion off. "Oh, the messages..."
"Later, darling," he advised with a nod of thanks to the waiting clerk. "Let's get something to eat first before you waste away." He kissed her then, just to feel her lips against his. "I adore you, you know that don't you?"
Smiling, she nodded. "I like your friends."
"And they like you."
"… and then he ran the drawers up the flag pole and tied the base with an Indian knot so that no one can unstring it," Kyle laughed until his eyes were streaming. "You should have seen the coach's face. I've never seen a man more livid or more embarrassed in my life. I thought for sure we were all going to be expelled."
"Speak for yourself," Matt swallowed the fine French brandy and felt the warmth to his toes. The jovial party had gone from polite inquires into each other's life to reminisce of the boys' unruly behavior in their school days. "I was never a part in that little scheme of yours," though he had been part in many others.
"It was your idea!" Joseph recalled.
"It was a hypothetical plan that I did not know would be carried out," he protested greatly much to Jules's delight.
Andrew shook his head, touching his lips with his napkin. "How could you not? Liam all but asked you to draw a detailed map of the plan."
"Don't blame this one on me," Liam fended off as he cut a small piece of veal for his wife. Her protein intake had to be monitored carefully. "I was with Missy all that evening."
"Wasn't that during one of our many breaks?" Melissa asked with a sly smile as she forked up the veal and savored the taste for a moment. There were certain things she had give up for the sake of a healthy child and her husband was taking the doctor's word as gospel.
"Shh…One of my moments of insanity, I assure you." Her husband kissed her cheek. "But that's my story and I'll call out anyone that contradicts it."
"Now, explain to me why you guys decide to…" Jules wanted to know.
"The man was a smarmily prick. We lose one game and he was determined to torture us to death," Joseph complained with a grin, remembering all the other methods of revenge they visited upon the man. "Lord, remember the itching powder in the man's car?"
Andrew almost spewed his wine as he desperately swallowed before bursting into laughter. "Oh the sweet agony of that little trick, I was scratching for days after."
"You?" Liam made a face. "I was the one that Kyle spilled the powder on."
"Ohhh…." Melissa giggled. "So that's why you had that…"
"Shh…" Liam was quick to cover his wife's mouth with his hands.
"And this is why I was never in lacrosse." Matt pointed out as he watched Liam wrestle with his wife for a moment while Jules cut a piece of her fish for him. "Thank you, darling," when she place the piece on his plate.
"Why do you guys do that?" Delilah asked with a frown.
"Do what?" Jules replied as she forward at the vegetables to the side. There was something wrong with the little pile of greens; she just wasn't sure what it was yet. "Matt?" pointing to the greens with her fork.
He frowned at it at a moment. "Oh," and picked the purple beets off with his fork. "Beef?"
She made a face.
"Right," nodding his head and tucking heartily into his fillet.
"That," Delilah said pointing to their plates. "Push food around."
"They're just sharing, luv," Andrew explained not without a bit of envy. He and Deedee don't share much but their beds. But still, looking at her, who can complain.
"That's utterly unsanitary," Delilah made a face and shuddered.
Raising a brow, "So are public facilities but that hasn't stopped anyone from using them," Jules said with a prettily sweet smile before turning to Matt again, "More fish, honey?"
Kyle and Joseph both choked on their wine. Melissa bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Liam and Matt both turned to Andrew for what to do next. Andrew did the only thing he knew how, he laughed. "Jules, you really are a gem."
Missy wiped her lips to hide a grin. "So Dr. Keating…"
"Please call me Jules," she implored.
"Jules," Missy corrected with a smile, "Matthew tells us that you and he work together." The look on Melissa's face seemed to indicate her slightly disbelief in that particular statement.
Frowning delicately and with a quick look at Matt, who shrugged his broad shoulders, "Yes, we do."
"At the hospital?" Kyle asked with eyes that went slightly wider.
Curious now as to what could have caused this reaction, "Yeah. Why?"
Liam and Joseph both choked on their water, Melissa patted her husband helpfully on the back and Kyle elbowed Joseph non-too-gently to get him to stop. Drew grinned widely and turned to his fiancée. "Allow me to inform you ladies of new why our beloved friends here just had an epoxy."
"I don't think that's necessary," Slingerland interjected hurried as he finally gleamed where this was going. It was embarrassing to say the least and he rather not have Jules hear any more embarrassing stories of himself… there had been too many vocalized tonight as is.
"Oh, but I think it is," Kyle added his two pennies in.
"What is it?" Jules asked then kicked Matt under the table when he opened his mouth to interrupt once more. "I want to hear," she informed him when he turned to glare at her for that little love tap.
Drew wore the most mischievous grin, rather like eight year old one he's bested someone or other. "You have to understand something, darling. While I had my share of admirers in the female variety, Matthew was like honey to the bees."
"It's that pretty face of his," Missy informed her with a sure nod. "More than one poor girl had taken one look at that pretty face and simply fell into his charms."
"I protest these…"
"Hush," Melissa said sternly.
"The poor dears would trample over each other for a date with our dear Matthew," Drew belabored and grinned when Matt scowled at him. "But he would usually give them his edict of conduct."
"Edict of Conduct?" Jules asked turning to Slingerland with raised brows. "Do I even want to know?"
"Probably not," Matt assured her quickly. "So shall we drop all these inquiries and return to the usual mode of polite conversation."
"Eager isn't he to change the topic?" Joseph pointed out, which earned him a kick under the table by Matt. "Ow…"
"Serves you right," Slingerland growled.
"So what were the edicts?" Jules asked thoroughly enjoying herself.
Matt groaned.
"Edict No. 1: Never drink the night before an exam, it clouds the mind," Kyle announced with all the starchiness of a headmaster conducting class.
"Edict No. 2: Never put off today what will come back to bite you in the arse tomorrow, god knows what will come up tomorrow that you may have to put off another day," Liam continued.
"Et tu, Brutus?" Matt groaned.
"Edict No. 3: Never date a friend, a friend is more difficult to come by than a lover," Joseph pronounced with a pointed look at Liam.
Liam scolded, "Missy was never a friend."
"Just a lover, correct?" she wanted to know.
"Well… we're friends now, but that's only because we're married."
"Right," rolling her eyes.
"Edict No. 4: Never date a co-worker, business and pleasure does not mix," Drew informed Jules with great emphasis. Obviously, this was edict worth mentioning. "And Matthew never weaved from these edicts."
"Never?" Jules asked.
"NEVER!" the four men answered.
Turning to Dr. Slingerland, who was silently cursing his nearest and dearest friends, Jules poked him on the shoulder. "Excuse, Slingerland, but if I recall correctly, we were friends first and foremost. And we're definitely co-worker. So I kind of fall into edict nos. 3 and 4, correct?"
Deciding that his was best if he played it out completely, "Yes, and?"
"And they just said that you never weaver from there, correct?"
"Yes."
"So why did you break your own rules of thumb?" noting that she wasn't the only one eager to find out.
He considered it, truly considered it for a moment before he decided on how to respond to his without betraying his own principles. And in the end, he laid the blame exactly where it should be. "Because," turning his body to face her and tilting her chin up with his hand so that he may look into her eyes when he said it. "You didn't give me any other choice."
She was stunned for a moment. "Good answer."
"I love your friends," Jules laughed as she tossed her purse on the bed and did a little dance around the room. She felt wonderful except for the slight aching across her back.
"And they positively adore you," Matt informed her with a grin. "I believe Kyle wanted to take you home with him." He didn't add the fact that Kyle had privately asked if Jules had a sister and had been positively delighted when Matt had told him yes and then crestfallen when informed that she was already married. Joseph too had been more than a little enthralled by the pretty doctor with her infectious smile, bright disposition and dry humor.
"Why didn't you take him up on staying at his place for the weekend?" Jules wanted to know as she kicked off her shoes and headed to ward the wide dressing mirror. "I would have thought you'd like some more time to catch up with your old friends."
"Because I want you to myself," he replied coming up behind her as she removed her earrings. "And Kyle, bless his heart, only wanted me there so that he may have the pleasure of your lovely company."
"Well, at least they have good taste," she teased as Matt dropped kisses on her cheek. "Stop that, I want to get ready for bed. I'm dead on my feet here."
"That's what I'm doing," nibbling on her jaw line.
Laughing, she turned in his arms and held him for a moment. He felt solid and strong and gentle and kind and… simply too good to describe. And tonight, she got to see a whole new side of him. The stories of his youth were filled with laughter, fun, loyalty and a great deal of hard work. Matthew Slingerland did not get by with his charm, good looks and his daddy's money; he sweated blood for most of what he accomplished today. "Jenna was right."
"About?"
"You're a keeper," she informed him with a giddy grin.
"A what?" wondering how he could keep that beautiful smile on her face forever.
"A keeper," she repeated with a quick light peck on his lips. "One of the few she's ever allowed."
"May one ask what a keeper is? And please tell me it has nothing to do with Quidditch."
Jules's eyes went saucer wide for a moment before she let out a squeal of ecstasy and threw her arms around Matt's neck. "You read Harry Potter!"
As ridiculous as it was, Matt adored Jules's moments of girlish insanities. There was something horribly endearing about the way little tiny things send her into raptures. A ten cent lollipop in the middle of the day, little hart shaped smelling soaps at Kmart, Gardenia candles, gaudy silver rings she never wears, a decorative Strawberry Shortcake throw rug, baby booties knitting kits; the list can go on forever. "Yes, I read it; it came highly recommended," but only because there had been a small debate on the declining morals of children's books a week ago that led up to a discussion on the infamous novel. "It's all the rage, you know."
She buss his cheek and leaned back. "So, what did you think?"
"It was..." searching for the correct word for it, "lovely."
Rolling her eyes, because she knew that's all she was going to get, "Are you going to read all of them?"
"Are you going to avoid the question of 'Keeper' all night?" he countered.
Making a face that was suppose to be of annoyance, "A keeper is what women call men that we would like/should keep around. They are the good ones, the smart ones, the ones that your family and friends like and wants around you. That's a keeper."
If the grin on Matt's face was any wider, he might hurt himself. "I'm a keeper?"
"Don't look so smug," she warned before turning to continue her preparation for bed.
Wrapping his arms around her and feel like a well fed sleek cat, Matt rest his chin on the top of head, watching the two of them in the mirror. They look so …good together. "Jules?"
"Um?" removing makeup easily with a handy-dandy make-remover wipe. She loved these things; she'll have to remember to write Ponds a thank-you note when she got back to the states.
Matt felt a little trepidation. "Darling, I know that when you considered having a child, it was due to circumstances that were… less than ideal," to put it oh-so-mildly.
Her eyes met his in their reflection, "And?"
"And now that things… haven't exactly worked out the way you wanted them to," he mentally winced at the way it might have sounded but Jules didn't even react, "and I seemed to have made myself a permanent fixture in your life," he searched her face for any reactions to that as well but found nothing but mild curiosity as to his line of thinking, "I was thinking maybe… maybe you and… that is to say, we… we can… um," This was a lot more difficult than he had thought.
A tiny frown appeared. "Matt?"
"Seeing Missy and Liam today, and how happy they were, I began to consider that maybe… well, I have gotten so use to the idea that…" maybe putting himself first wasn't the best way to go. "I think that…"
"I think you need to spit it out," she told him.
"I want to have a baby," he got out in a rush.
That left a pregnant pause. "Scuse me?" she asked in bad Italian.
Dropping a kiss on her temple, he moved away from her, finding it much easier to think straight and in an orderly manner when he's not looking into those pretty eyes. Women were dangerous. "We had it planned out. Well perhaps we did not have it all systemized and ready for the arrival of a newborn but we had a tentative strategy of completing that task within the next nine months of gestation. And then something like this…" making an agitated gesture that told her little but made perfect sense, "happens and all our pretty plans are shot out the window. And I just thought that maybe... maybe despite or in spite of the delay that perhaps I could interest you in continuing with the endeavors of extending both our family lines."
She stood where she was and held still, watching him carefully. He was like a caged tiger, stalking the space around him with strides that ate up the carpet and woe to anyone that got in his way. "Um… Harriet says that I can't go back on the hormones until…"
"I wasn't thinking of another round of in vitro," he informed her in no uncertain terms. Matt came to a halt in the middle of the room and stared at her. "I was hoping we would follow a more time-honored fashion of producing a child."
Tilting her head and suppressing a grin with much difficulty. "The old fashion ways, huh?"
His sense of humor came to his rescue. "After all, getting there is half the fun."
Jules rolled her eyes at him. "Right; and you probably forgot the condoms too, uh?" moving towards him and the bed.
Matt blushed with embarrassment.
She couldn't help it; she laughed. "Oh god, you did forget them didn't you?" She continued to giggle as Matt stood there looking distinctively uncomfortable over the fact that had had forgotten one little item during his packing that was usually so crucial to a man's happiness on vacation… or anywhere else.
"We hadn't needed it before," he said defensively.
"And so because you don't want to go buy some now…"
"No!" coming over and taking her by the shoulder. "That's not it at all."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," giving her a light shake. "Maybe subconsciously I didn't want to pack them because I expected us to be making ourselves a bundle of joy this trip," he informed her thoughtfully. It wasn't at all out of the realm of possibilities.
"Matt…" trying to placid him now that she's realized there were one too many buttons she may have accidentally pushed.
"Jules, I love you," he repeated. "I wanted that baby with you when you didn't want me around for it. In fact, there was a royal roll with my parents over that little issue if you would but recall. Is it really such a shock to think that maybe I still do simply because there is a choice in the matter now?" When she was silent, "Darling, will you at least consider the idea?"
Arching a brow, "Are you saying you'd be willing to sleep apart tonight?"
"I said no such thing."
"You're planning to keep your hands to yourself in bed then?" she asked with a little too much sugary sweetness.
Matt made a face. "We both know that's not going to happen."
"So…"
"All right, all right, it was a bold face lie of a request. Happy?" completely disgruntled over the fact that she was making light of this.
"Ecstatic," she replied pressing a kiss on him before turning to give him her back. "Want to help me with this dress? I nearly dislocated my arm trying to zip it up earlier."
He undid the closure, "So?"
"So what?"
"Are you going to tell me your answer or are you simply going to make me suffer some more?"
"I was actually leaning toward the latter of the two," she teased, dropping her dress and stepping out of her shoes.
Matt closed his eyes and leaned his head back toward the ceiling. "Darling…"
"By the way, when were you planning to start this… endeavor?" she inquired softly, tugging gently at his tie until it came loose enough for her to remove it. The first three buttons were quite easy to undo, one flick and they were detangled. He looked good when neat and orderly; but slightly mussed and he was down right sexy.
He was sure she was trying to drive him insane. "To completely on the up and up…"
Laughing, she gave his belt a firm tug, bring him closer without ever allowing them to touch. "Did you notice that you fall back in your uppity British proper speech patterns the longer we're on English soil?"
"It's in the blood, luv," and then had to hold his breath as Jules yanked the belt off with one single fluid move.
"Is this Louis Vutton?" glancing at the emblem imprinted gold tone buckle. "Boy, you really do know how to live it up, don't you?"
His brain was having a bit of trouble keeping his thought patterns together; though in its defense, it might have something to do with the lack of blood in the upper regions of his anatomy. "Can we save the lecture and discussion on my choice of apparels for another time, darling?"
"Sure," she agreeably. She wondered how long he could possibly stand still while she enjoyed the delightful task of undressing him. The undoing the button of his trouser drew a gasp from him. She couldn't help but smile. "So you were saying about your start time?"
"I hadn't thought that far in advance," he answered honestly, deciding that the task of supplying witty answers or half truths was simply not in the realm of his ability at the moment. "Darling, if you keep this up…"
"How about tonight?" she suggested.
"Tonight what?" he asked as he felt her hand slip around his waist, her arms encircling his middle as she leaned herself against him. He should have known she wasn't going to make this easy for him. Opening his eyes, he looked down at the delightful girl that's stolen more the just his clothes, she's stolen his heart.
Hazel green eyes reflected mischievous fun, quiet respect and grateful thanks, "How about we go about making that baby your way tonight?"
Matt was no fool. He decided then and there to take charge before she changed her mind or drove him over the edge of insanity.
She wasn't sure what had awoken her but something did. It was well pass the witching hour and she felt extremely tired and yet here she was, awake. Lifting her head, she caught the lines of Matt's profile in the limited light of the room and simply stared for a moment.
He had a beautiful face. Not femininely pretty, but just simply classically beautiful The perfectly straight nose, the wide set eyes topped by winged brows, high cheek bones and a squared away chin that was neither too masculine or feminine. And even in the dead of night, she couldn't really see the stubbles that she knew would appear by morning, the ones she liked to rub with the palm of her hand before he began his morning toiletry and whisked them away. For some unexplainable reason, she found that roughness against that perfect face to be terribly arousing.
Jules couldn't remember a time when she's been more… content. Even with the loss she's suffered and the hardship she's faced, she was content.
Reaching up, she rubbed her hands gently over his cheek, feeling the tiny prickling of the facial hair and smiled. He made an intelligible sound and tightened his arm around her. Settling into the crock she's made for herself in his embrace, she snuggled close and sighed, "I love you, Matt."
To be continued….