Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciated it.

Just a personal note to GraceC14 – Although Tony and Michelle will have a part in much of the rest of the story, they will not have a major role. If you are a big T/M fan, (no, I'm not above shameless self promotion) you may want to read my other fiction Escape to Argentina, which is all about T & M.

Enjoy this chapter. I have the rest of the story outlined, but I probably won't get much chance to write for the next few days, so it may be a while before I update.

Chapter 13: All That Glitters

As expected, the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were like an eternity. Kate and Jack both kept busy during the day, but nights were long and quiet and lonely. About ten days after Kate returned to Seattle, Jack's doctors pronounced his internal injuries adequately healed for him to go to a rehabilitation center where they could concentrate on getting him walking and living independently again.

The facility that was chosen was considered the best in LA. It was somewhat of a novel concept. Patients essentially had their own studio apartments within the facility which included a private bath, living area and even a tiny kitchen. These were fully handicapped accessible so patients could begin learning to live on their own regardless of their disability.

Patients had hours and hours of physical and occupational therapy specially planned for each of them. Almost like a baby, Jack needed to learn again how to walk, but he also needed to regain strength. With this is mind he was scheduled for sessions of weight lifting and swimming in addition to the physical therapy. The challenge seemed daunting at first, but never in his life had he shrunk from a challenge and this one seemed more important than most. He had to get better for Kate and the baby. Kate was not going to have a helpless, needy partner. They would take care of the baby together; they would take care of each other.

Even for someone as focused and motivated as Jack, the first few days were unbearably frustrating. He hadn't worked this hard since his special forces training. He spent most of his day in some form of therapy or taking meals in a group with the other patients. When he would return to his own apartment at the end of the day, he was so tired he could barely function. Patients were pushed to do as much as they could on their own. Jack was expected to navigate the small apartment using either walker or wheelchair and be able to wash and dress himself. That all sounded simple when they explained it to him. After all, he thought, the apartment wasn't much bigger than the living room in my condo, but at times it seemed as wide as the Grand Canyon and as difficult to cross. Talking to Kate every evening helped. He made sure that none of the frustration came through in their conversations. He stressed how well he was doing and how pleased his therapists were with his progress. That was all true, but Jack was impatient.

The three weeks were equally busy for Kate. Not only was she still behind at work from the time she had spent in LA, but she was trying to anticipate some of the work that would be due in January and February and March, the months she would be on maternity leave, so that she could get some of that done ahead of time. She was working long days, including the weekends. At least the time was going quickly, she thought. She couldn't wait to see Jack. Christmas simply could not get here soon enough.

Kate arrived in Los Angeles on December 23rd ready for some time off and anxious to spend time with Jack. She was unhappy to find that much of her first few days in LA had already been planned for her. Kim and Chase expected Kate and Jack at their home for Christmas Eve and Bob expected the two of them for Christmas Day. Kate wondered if she and Jack would get to spend any time together.

9:09pm December 25th

Kate hated to admit it, but both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had been wonderful. Kim and Chase were a beautiful couple and Chase's daughter, Angela was adorable. Christmas at her father's house had been equally nice. Several of Bob's friends and some family members were there for cocktails and a sit down dinner. Kate and Jack had both enjoyed themselves, but were tired and ready to spend some quality time together by the time they arrived at Jack's condo.

As a surprise to Kate, Jack had arranged two days away from rehab for Christmas and the day after so that he and Kate could be together. They were welcome to stay with Kate's father, but Bob Warner's big house on multiple levels was simply too hard for Jack to get around in, so they decided to stay at Jack's condo.

Jack turned on the light as the two entered the condo. Once inside with the door closed behind them, Jack pulled himself out of the wheelchair and stood with the help of his walker. He turned his body, supporting himself with one hand and reached for Kate with the other.

"Come here for a minute," he said to her. She smiled and went to him. Their arms slowly wrapped around each other and they kissed. "I have wanted to be alone with you for the last two days." Jack told her.

Kate laughed. "We're never really alone any more." She said looking down at her belly that protruded between them. "I can't wait until we don't have to kiss across a watermelon." She said wistfully.

Jack rubbed her abdomen. "No," he said with a tender look on his face. "Watermelons are cold and hard, but you, my dear, are warm and very soft." He kissed her again. He sensed that her constantly enlarging figure was making her insecure about how really beautiful she was. "You look so pretty today. Do you know that?" She smiled an embarrassed smile and averted her gaze. Kate did look pretty. She was dressed simply but elegantly in a white silk blouse and black velvet pants with a red silk Christmas scarf tied loosely around her neck.

"Did you have a nice Christmas?" Jack asked.

"I was with you. What more could I want?" She said lovingly then kissed him again.

"Sweetheart, I don't know about you, but I am exhausted. How would you feel about just curling up in bed and snuggling for a while until we go to sleep?"

"That sounds great. My legs and feet are killing me."

They walked slowly back to his bedroom. Once there Kate dropped on the bed and kicked off her shoes. She propped pillows against the headboard and then leaned back on them. She pulled up her feet to massage them, but by then Jack was sitting on the edge of the bed and started doing it for her. Kate put her head back and closed her eyes clearly relishing his touch.

"Does that feel better?" He asked. Kate smiled and nodded without opening her eyes.

"Hey," he said gently, "before you fall asleep, I have something for you."

"We already exchanged presents, Jack." She laughed. "Now what do you have?"

"Just a little something I thought you might like." Kate sat up while Jack opened the bottom drawer of his nightstand to retrieve a box that he had instructed Kim to leave there.

"Oooh! You are so sweet! Those are my favorites." Kate cooed as Jack handed her a box of chocolates. The same kind he sent her in Seattle last month.

Jack sat down close to her on the bed. Kate pulled the ends of the gold ribbon that held the box closed. "I'm craving a butter cream." She giggled like a little girl. "Women who say they don't crave things while they're pregnant are lying." She proclaimed as she took the lid from the box and laid it down on the bed.

She looked into the box only to find that the four chocolates in the center had been removed and replaced with a black velvet, hinged box from a jewelry store. "What is this, Jack?" She asked as she picked it up and set the box of chocolates on the nightstand. She carefully opened the box to reveal a stunning round cut diamond with smaller round diamonds set on either side of it all in a thick platinum band. "Oh, Jack!" she breathed as she closed her eyes.

Jack took the box from her and removed the ring. His hands shook as he took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. Even in the low light of his bedroom, the diamonds sparkled. "Marry me, Kate." He whispered. It was a statement, not a question.

"Oh, Jack! It's beautiful." She reached over to kiss him. "Oh, Jack." She said again as the kiss broke.

"You don't have to answer right now. There is no statute of limitations on that offer. It will be there whenever you are ready."

"Oh Jack, I don't have to think about this. Of course I'll marry you. I love you so much." She leaned over to kiss him, gently at first, then more deeply. Jack ran his hands under Kate's blouse and onto the bare skin on her back. She groaned softly and caressed his face. They covered each other's faces and necks with kisses. Jack reached up and untied the scarf from Kate's neck and gently caressed her face with it letting her feel the slipperiness of the silk.

Kate let Jack take over. He laid Kate gently down on the pillows. He kissed her again, on the lips at first, teasing her with his tongue. He slowly worked his way down her neck and onto the top of her chest. He reached for the top button on her blouse. He held it between his fingers for a few seconds waiting to see if she would object. When she didn't, he unbuttoned it and lowered his head to kiss her. He pressed his mouth into her cleavage which had deepened considerably now that she was pregnant. Kate moaned and wrapped her arms around him. Jack opened the remaining buttons and pushed her blouse open. He began covering her bare skin with kisses and he ran the tip of his tongue along the lace edge of her bra. Now he moaned, unable to conceal his excitement.

"You sound like you're getting turned on." Kate said softly and sounding a bit surprised.

"Why wouldn't I be turned on?" He asked her as he kissed her neck again. "I've got a beautiful, sexy woman who I love with all of my heart, partially undressed on my bed. I'd have to be dead not to be turned on!" He smiled at her but could see the doubt in her eyes. "Kate, I didn't fall in love with you because you had a great figure. I fell in love with you because you are an incredible, loving, special person. Right now, you are as beautiful and desirable as I have ever seen you." He kissed her to emphasize his words.

"If that's the case, then maybe I should slip into something more comfortable." She teased him with a long kiss, her tongue forced deeply into his mouth.

He groaned. "That seems like a good idea." He told her. They both got off the bed and went to different bathrooms to get ready for bed.

Jack finished washing and changing into a clean pair of boxer shorts. He decided to put a Frank Sinatra CD in the stereo knowing that Kate found that very romantic. Then he slipped into bed while Kate was finishing up in the other bathroom. How can it possibly take women so long to get ready for bed, he wondered. While he waited he played with the lighting in the room. He didn't want it too bright, but Kate needed enough light to see when she came back from the bathroom in the hall. If Kate was self conscious about how she looked, Jack was equally self conscious about the surgical scars that now crisscrossed his body. I look like Frankenstein, he thought, like I was put together with spare parts. He usually wasn't vain, but the scars really bothered him, especially knowing that Kate had to see them. He thought about wearing a tee shirt to bed, but he never slept in a shirt and Kate knew that. She was going to see the scars eventually and it wasn't as if it was any kind of surprise, Kate knew what happened to him. He finally decided to go to bed bare-chested as he usually did.

Kate walked back in the bedroom wrapped in a white satin robe. "You have to promise me you won't laugh." She said looking very embarrassed.

"Laugh at what?" He asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"The lady at the maternity store talked me into maternity lingerie. I know, that's like an oxymoron. I'm as big as a house, I have no right to put on lingerie. But I did it anyway, so don't laugh."

"Kate," he said in a serious voice, "I already told you, you are beautiful and desirable and you are turning me on just sitting there. I love it that you did something as sweet as buying lingerie when you obviously weren't comfortable doing it. That just tells me how special you are."

Jack reached over and opened the tie on the robe then pushed it off of her shoulders. She wore a white satin tank top with a deep V-neck that revealed much of her cleavage and left a part of her abdomen uncovered above the waistband of the matching shorts. "Wow," he whispered as he moved closer to her. "Trust me, the lady in the maternity store was right." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Jack turned off the light that he had been so concerned about and they slowly sank down under the covers overcome by their passions. They kissed and touched and caressed with hands and mouths and tongues. Jack pressed his face against Kate's belly and covered it with kisses. Kate explored the scars on Jack's chest and stomach and back softly tracing them with her fingers. At first he was horrified, but as she kissed them and ran her tongue along them he understood that she was just trying to tell him that it was okay. She wasn't concerned with the scars, she was just getting used to them.

After much foreplay, they undressed each other and searched for a comfortable position. As they found one, their bodies moved together and they became one. They made love slowly and tenderly, moaning softly until they were both satisfied. They lay still afterward, neither one of them wanting to move away. Neither of them wanting to go to sleep, but unable to fight it any longer, they drifted into a peaceful sleep.

4:18 am

Jack woke from a pleasant dream to find Kate getting back into bed. "Is everything okay?" He asked her.

"Oh, yeah. Just a bathroom trip. I make about three of them a night. I'm sorry, I tried not to disturb you."

"Don't worry about it." He said as he put his arm around her.

They were both lying on their left side. Kate pressed her back firmly against Jack's body. His arm was around her belly and their fingers were laced together. "Jack, it feels so good to be here with you. Tonight was incredible. I can't wait until we can spend every night together."

"I feel the same way. We'll be together soon, Honey." He tipped his head forward and kissed her hair. They were both quiet for a while but Jack eventually broke the silence.

"Kate?"

"Hmmm?" she answered sleepily.

"I've been thinking...I mean...I know this is sudden and all, but..." Jack was completely tongue tied. He sounded like the math geek in high school trying to ask the captain of the cheerleading squad to the homecoming dance.

Kate was awake now. She turned over to look at him. "What are you trying to say, Jack?"

"This is going to sound stupid. I know I just proposed to you, but I'm a little old fashioned, I guess..." He trailed off again. He finally took a deep breath and continued. "I'd like us to be married before the baby is born, before you go back to Seattle next week."

"Jack, are you kidding?" Kate asked as she sat up. "I'm going back to Seattle January 2nd. How can we possibly have a wedding between now and then?"

"That's just it, Kate. Why do we need a 'wedding'? All we need is a marriage license and a Justice of the Peace and two rings. I'm not talking a couple hundred people and a sit down dinner here. I'm talking us, your dad and Kim and lunch afterward. We can have some kind of reception in a couple of months if you like. Honey, think about it. We've been apart for too long and I know that's my fault, but I'd like to try and make it up to you. I've talked to my therapists and there is a good rehab hospital in Seattle. They looked into it for me and I could be transferred. That way we would both be in Seattle, maybe not in the same house for a while, but still we could see each other every few days and I could see the baby regularly. Kate, think about it."

Jack was very persuasive and the more he talked, the more Kate started to agree. They were both sitting up now and Kate was leaning against Jack's bare chest considering what he had to say.

"I guess we could go to the courthouse tomorrow and apply for a marriage license. I don't know how long it takes to get one."

"It's a 48 hour wait." He answered. "I already called to find out."

"How long have you been planning this, Jack?" Kate asked in an amused voice.

"Since the minute you left after Thanksgiving." He was clearly pleased with himself. "Kim took me out to get the ring and I had her plant it here for me in the candy box. I bought your wedding ring at the same time."

"You were pretty sure I would say 'yes', weren't you."

"I didn't know if you would say 'yes' initially, but I hoped that you would one day. Actually, it took you much less time than I thought it would. Once you said yes, I saw no point in waiting. We should have made it official years ago, Kate. I don't know why we didn't."

"Maybe it was better that we didn't. Maybe we appreciate each other more now." They kissed gently as if sealing the deal.

Kate started to laugh. "What are you laughing about?" Jack asked clearly amused by her.

"Us," she giggled. "A month ago I swore to myself that I would not go back to you. Now I'm in bed with you, engaged and talking about getting married in the next few days. The whole thing is just amazing. It all happened so fast, but I'm not sorry it did." She stopped laughing and became more serious. "Jack, I haven't been this happy since we first started dating. Promise me it won't end. Promise me we'll never be apart again."

"Sweetheart, I'm happy, too." He kissed her. "I promise you I will never leave you again. I love you so much."

They were both tired. They slipped under the covers and slept dreaming of their future together.