Early the next morning, Faith was lying wrapped up in Bosco's arms, listening to the galloping of his heart as they came down from their post-orgasmic high. They'd had sex the night before and it had been soft and gentle, so different to how she'd imagined it would be with Bosco. He had worshipped her body and left her feeling like every nerve ending had short-circuited. Then he'd held her in his arms as they'd gone to sleep, stroking her back and whispering nonsensical words into her ear.

She'd woken up an hour ago, still lying in his arms. It had surprised her. She and Fred slept like bookends, each hugging their edge of the bed. It felt amazing to wake up wrapped in a warm body. She'd woken him with a kiss and they'd had sex a second time. This time had been a little wilder, a little more like she'd imagined, but no less powerful than the first. She couldn't remember a time when Fred had been up for two rounds in one night and then she cursed herself for even thinking that. She would not ruin this moment by thinking of her deadbeat husband.

"You okay?" Bosco asked, still sounding a little breathless.

"Yeah," she replied, wrapping an arm around his waist. "I'm perfect."

"Good."

She could hear the pure masculine pride in his voice and couldn't help but smile. He had a right to be proud of what he did. Hell, she was in awe of how well he'd seemed to know her body, even though they'd never been together before. She tried not to think that it was probably because he'd had a lot of practice, instead choosing to believe that it was because of how well they knew each other and how close they were.

"You up for some breakfast?" he asked, nuzzling her hair.

"Yeah, mind if I take a shower first?" she asked.

"Go ahead. The towels are under the sink." He gave her a final squeeze before slipping out of bed. "I'll get the coffee started."

She watched as he leisurely pulled on a pair of sweats, not bothering with a shirt. He gave her a final grin before heading out of the bedroom. Faith laid there for a little longer, wondering how this was supposed to work. Bosco seemed so relaxed about the whole thing, but she was scared to get out of bed and let the real world intrude. She guessed she just wasn't as experienced in dealing with the morning after scenario. Did he expect anything from her? Did she expect anything from him? She just wasn't sure. The previous night had been exactly what she'd needed and if she was honest, she needed a whole lot more from him. But she couldn't think like that. Bosco was her partner and friend, that was all.

Faith finally made a move, getting to her feet and collecting her clothes from the chair where she'd laid them the previous night, before heading into the bathroom. She took her time showering, in no hurry to leave the sanctuary that the bathroom provided. How was she supposed to act when she walked into his kitchen? Was she supposed to touch him? Kiss him good morning as she accepted a cup of coffee from him? Pretend it didn't happen? That they were still just friends?

She shook her head. There were far too many questions in her head and too few answers. She had to just go out there and take her lead from him. Getting out of the shower, she dried off and dressed in the clothes she'd shown up in the night before. She ignored the bruises that reminded her of the reason she'd turned up at her friend's place in the first place; reminded her of the fact that she was a married woman who had committed adultery.

"Hey," she heard Bosco call from the door. "You haven't been washed down the drain, have you?"

She started at his voice. "Uh, yeah... I mean no. Uh, I'll be right out," she stuttered.

"Breakfast's ready," he called, and she was pretty sure he was smiling. She didn't have to see him, she could hear it in his voice. He was probably highly amused at her being so uncomfortable with the situation.

Faith waited a minute before she left the bathroom. Bosco wasn't in his bedroom and she wandered out to find him sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. She almost stumbled at the normalcy of it. How many times had she walked into her own kitchen and found her husband eating breakfast while reading the paper?

Bosco looked up at that moment and treated her to a smile. Her heart - which was generally immune to his charm - did a little back flip at the image. "Breakfast's getting cold," he told her, pointing to the plate of eggs sitting opposite him.

Okay, I can do this, she thought. If I shovel enough food in my mouth, I can't say something stupid, right?

Breakfast passed quickly but quietly, though Faith remained tense the whole time. She took her lead from her partner, putting up an air of relaxation but it was hard when he kept looking up and smiling at her in a way that made it clear he'd gotten lucky last night. Normally, she'd be teasing him by now, but it was a little different when she was the one who put that look on his face.

"You want me to clean up?" she asked, taking their plates over to the sink.

Bosco got to his feet and folded the newspaper. "Nah, I'll do 'em later."

She nodded and turned back to him. "I guess I should get home," she said at last.

He looked down at the floor, kicking his toe on the linoleum. "Yeah."

She sighed. "Bos..." she paused until he looked at her. "I don't regret last night. It was amazing and I'll never forget it."

He smiled. "I'm here for you, Faith, in any way you need me."

She felt the almost overwhelming urge to drag him back into his bedroom, but that wouldn't help her with what was to come. It was bad enough that she was going to have to talk to Fred while remembering Bosco. Instead, she gave him the largest smile she could muster. "Thank you."

Turning and leaving his safe-haven was one of the hardest things she had ever done, but she knew that she had to. She had to face her life and not stay wrapped up in the dreamland he had created for her. It was time to face Fred.

The apartment was quiet when she stepped inside. She'd considered picking the kids up on her way home, but she just didn't want to put them through seeing another fight between their parents. She was putting her coat on the rack when she heard his quiet voice.

"Where are the kids?"

She turned to see that Fred was standing at the end of the hall, shoulders slumped and face sad. He looked like he had the hangover from hell and Faith couldn't help but feel he deserved it. "They're at a friend's," she replied. "I didn't think they needed to see a repeat of last night."

He slowly walked into the room. "You don't know how sorry I am about last night. I was completely outa line, I know."

She swallowed hard. "I want you to leave, Fred. I can't go through that again. I can't put the kids through that again."

"You know I'd never really hurt you, right?" he asked.

Faith shook her head. "You did hurt me, Fred, and I'm not just talking about the bruises."

"Come on, Faith," he pleaded. "You can't just kick me out after fourteen years."

"And I can't live with someone who's a time bomb, waiting to go off." She shook her head sadly. "I won't live like that. I've seen too many women destroyed by abusive husbands and I won't allow myself or our children to go through that."

"So that's it?" he asked. "End of story?"

"I need some time away from you, Fred, and you need to sort yourself out."

"And then maybe we can try again?" he asked, hope in his eyes.

She remembered the way Bosco had loved her only hours before, the way she'd felt as they'd fallen asleep together. How could she be with her husband ever again after knowing all that she was missing out on? "I don't know," she settled for.

He sighed. "I guess that's better than no." He looked at her for a long moment. "What about the kids?" he asked.

"If they want to see you, I won't stop them," she replied. "But--"

"But they're pretty pissed at me," he finished for her. "I can't say I blame them." He stepped toward her. "God, Faith, isn't there someway--"

"Don't, Fred," she interrupted, holding up a hand to him. "Please don't make this any harder."

He nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat. She tried not to feel for him, but he was still her husband, still the father of her children. There would always be a place for him in her heart, not matter what.

TBC