A/N: My, oh my. It's me, can you believe it? I can't either. So sorry about the gap folks… well I guess it's more like a crevice, between updates, but what can I say? I did at least warn you that this could happen. Let's just hope we don't have to wait as long for my muse to come around again between updates now. Thanks so much for your continued support and patience. Cheers.
Ps- This would have been posted yesterday if stupid had been cooperating… grumble, grumble
Nick sat lost in thought at the kitchen table, watching through the sliding glass doors as his sons played tug-o'-war with the family's yellow lab, Dixie, in the backyard. He snorted a quiet laugh when the dog easily dragged both boys across the lawn for the umpteenth time, ensuring grass stains galore. Oh well, that's why God invented Tide.
He was feeling detached from his surroundings. It was like he had just woken from a deep sleep, experiencing everything that was happening around him but not really registering it. Seeing Sara today had certainly thrown him, and he wasn't quite sure how to land on both feet without shattering the new life he had slowly and painstakingly constructed after she was gone.
Nick had always been one to scoff at the term broken heart. When a relationship ended he had always told himself that there were plenty of fish in the sea and you could always pick up and move on, no problem. And he always had... until Sara. Yes it was true he had eventually moved on from her too, but god how it had hurt when she left. She had not only broken his heart, but had taken pieces of it from him as well, leaving a void that until now he had thought Natalie and his boys had completely filled. Now he was starting to doubt whether he really had ever let Sara go.
"No, actually Nick and I were thinking of hosting Christmas next year for a change."
He looked over his shoulder as Natalie came into the kitchen and went over to the stove on the other side of the island. She continued yammering away to her sister while she stretched to reach for the kids' favorite ceramic bowls from the top shelf and Nick, almost without thinking or even turning his head, let his eyes roam over her body. The portable phone cradled expertly between her ear and shoulder, Nat began serving the pasta he had made earlier for supper.
"Hang on just a sec… yeah, just a second. Nick?" Nat turned to look at him, holding the mouthpiece of the phone to her chest. "Can you call the boys in please, babe?"
"Huh? Oh, sure." He rose and slid the door open, stepping out onto the deck. The sun was low in the sky, but its heat still hung in the air like a bad smell. Dixie came running up to see him, tail wagging happily against his leg. "Hey, pup. Okay you crazy kids, supper time."
Both boys scrambled up the steps, pink-cheeked and out of breath from playing. Brandon stopped in front of Nick and pulled up his sleeve, revealing a tiny scrape on his elbow. "Dad? I hurt my arm; can I please have a Spiderman Band-Aid? But not a Winnie the Pooh one though, 'kay?"
Nick bent to examine the wound, holding onto Brandon's arm and shooing the dog to keep her from licking his ear. "Oh, jeez buddy, this looks serious. I think we might need to cut it off. We'll have to go to the arm store, get you a new one. "
"No, Daddy!" Brandon giggled, trying to wrestle his arm away. "I just need a Band-Aid!"
"Me too!" Ben insisted, intently searching his limbs for some sort of mark he could pass off as a wound.
"Are you sure? Okay, inside and get washed up guys. No not you Dix!"
Nick eased her out with his foot and closed the door. He went over to get a band-aid for Brandon, reaching on top of the refrigerator and intentionally pinning Natalie against it before she could open it to get the milk. She turned and smirked, the phone still held to her ear. Softly, he placed a kiss on her neck. "Pardon me, madam. Hey, Suze."
Grinning when he heard his sister-in-law's tinny voice greet him through the ear piece, he winked at his wife and moved away to see what the boys were up to. Six clean hands, two band-aids and one water fight later, the Stokes men returned to the kitchen to join Natalie at the table. She took one look at their dampened state and sent Nick a look.
"What?" He pointed at his sons. "They started it."
"No we didn't!"
"Did not, Dad!"
"Did too!" He stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry, which in turn caused raucous giggles and a contest to see who could make the loudest noise.
Natalie sighed and closed her eyes, reaching for her wine glass. "I swear it's like having three children."
Nick grinned and took a mouthful of his pasta. Throughout the meal though, he was strangely quiet, just watching his family, taking in every move and interaction they made animatedly sharing stories about their respective days. He spoke up once to protest a near food fight, but otherwise remained silent. Natalie noticed and finally reached over to rub his thigh.
"You okay, bud?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Yeah, why?" He knew exactly why, realizing Sara was still on his mind, and felt guilty for it.
"Don't know. You just seem…" She shook her head and shrugged. "Far away."
He smiled and took her hand in his, kissing the back of her fingers. "Just thinkin' I guess."
"About me?" she asked coyly, batting her eyelashes.
It was meant to be teasing, but he sensed something else in the question. For a moment Nick felt as if he'd been caught; that Natalie knew damn well it was Sara Sidle filling his thoughts, a place she truly had no right to be. His mouth opened to answer her but he wasn't sure what he was going to say. And looking back it was in that brief moment of hesitation that he saw the true confusion and doubt flicker in her eyes for the first time. He took a breath to try again when Benjamin accidentally knocked his cup over, sending noodles in a tide of milk across the table. Both parents jumped into action, armed with a dishcloth and paper towels and for the time being the moment was forgotten. Nick highly doubted it would remain that way.
By the time dinner and dessert were over, the hands on the clock had found their way around to the seven. Nick took a last swig of wine, wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood, clearing the table. "I gotta go or I'm gonna be late."
"Sure, get them all riled up and full of sugar and covered in spaghetti sauce and ice cream and then leave," Natalie ribbed, bringing the remaining dishes and cutlery over to the sink. "I knew I married you for a reason."
"You married me for my body," he murmured in her ear, resting his hands on her hips. She laughed as he left a tender kiss on her lips. "Bye. Have a good night."
"Boys, be good for mom, or else I'll come home and hang you upside down by your toes," he threatened playfully, kissing them both on the top of their heads. "Good grief Benny, how did you get ice cream there? I love you guys, see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Daddy."
Nat followed him down the hall to the front door, saying over her shoulder, "Now I want you gremlins to go upstairs and get undressed in the bathroom; it's bath time. And please try not to touch the walls or the carpet!" She added, hearing them tearing up the stairs, yelling all the way. "They must get it from you. I was so innocent."
Nick chuckled and shook his head, sliding his arms into his jacket. "You, ma'am, are anything but innocent." He started his habitual search for his keys in all his pockets.
"Well, you're the only one who knows that." She wrapped her arms around him, running her hands up and down his back. "So, do you think you might be able to bring this body I married you for home early tomorrow?" Bringing her mouth to his, she softly let the tip of her tongue touch his lips. "Before the boys wake up?"
"I might be able to work something out," he smirked, holding her closer and kissing her deeply. "At the usual rate, of course."
She swatted him and pushed herself away. "You wish. Now get out of here before I change my mind."
"Promises, promises." He paused and looked her over. "I love you, Nat."
"Love you too." There was a loud bang, followed by shrieks and laughter upstairs. Natalie sighed again and laughed. "I'd better go see what that was. Bye, hon. Don't forget."
"Not a chance. Bye."
Nick waited for her to close and lock the door before sauntering over to the driver side of his truck. Climbing inside, he double checked to make sure he had his cell phone and plugged in its charger. He wanted to make sure the batteries wouldn't die on him, just in case he received a certain call.