Chapter 4: October
MG - You were the one person that reviewed the last chapter. So thanks a bunch for it.
Summary:
3 visits, a birthday party, and Halloween!
October 1, 2004
Anabel looked around her apartment. It was totally trashed. Logan and Tobias (who, evidently, were feeling much better) left everything out on the floor. There were blankets, soda cans, dishes, coloring books, crayons, videos, and video games on the floor. She put on some music, just a random mix, because she didn't like just one style of music, (when people commented on her weird taste in music, Anabel just told them that she was eclectic,) changed into her "cleaning-up clothes (which was a pair of short-shorts and a tank top) because she knew she would get hot.
She started out picking up the blankets first, and folded them; then she recycled the soda cans and put the dishes in the sink. She had just started picking up the dirty clothes when a knock on the door.
Anabel turned the music down to low, and walked to the door, making sure to look in the peep hole. She smiles when she sees it's Ray. Anabel quickly ran her hands over her hair, trying to smooth it out, and then opened the door.
She smiled at him and leaned against the doorframe.
"Technically, this is called stalking, you know," Anabel said casually with a smile.
"Technically, it's only stalking if you enjoy it," Ray replied.
Anabel couldn't help it. She let out a small chuckle and a big smile.
"How are Logan and Tobias?" Ray asked a little loudly.
"Sleeping. So shh," Anabel said as she put her pointer finger to her lips. "I wanted to be sure that they were alright, so I kept them home all week. You can come on in if you want," she said as she left the door open and walked back into the living room. "Sorry, the apartment is messy, but the maid is in the process of cleaning it," Anabel said as she smiled.
Ray followed her into her apartment, smiling as she cracked her joke about the maid being in the process of cleaning. He noticed, for the first time, what she was wearing and smiled again, but this time, appreciatively.
"How was the service?" she asked in regards of his sister's memorial service.
"Good. I shared a story of what it was like to grow up with her and all. My mom told me that I needed to get back to work, so here I am." Ray said as he continued to look at Anabel.
'God, could she be even more perfect. Perfect legs, nice ass, very touchable back and shoulders, kissable neck, and her hands look like they would fit perfectly into mine.'
Anabel smiled to herself. She couldn't help it. She knew precisely what Ray was looking at and it made her feel sexy to get checked-out by a rocker.
"Any more fevers? Vomiting?" he asked Anabel, changing the subject back to the twins, as they sat down on the couch.
"They both have a slight fever of 99, Tobias hasn't puked anything else up, and Logan is still coughing a lot, but not turning purple anymore." Anabel said as she looked down at her lap.
"Well, that's some good news," Ray said.
"Yeah, it is." Anabel said.
"Anabel?" Ray asked.
She turned to look up at him and answered quietly, "Yeah?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you had children?" he wanted to know.
"Would it have mattered?" she asked in return.
"No," Ray answered truthfully. "But why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you have stayed away if you had known that I had kids?"
"Do you always answer a question with a question?"
"No."
"So why won't you answer my question?"
"You want to know why I didn't tell you? Because I'm the kind of person that likes to keep her private life private! I don't go blabbering around that when I 20, I made a really stupid mistake and slept with a guy that I barely knew. And before you think anything, yes he does know that he is a father, and no, he doesn't care. Just sends his child support checks every month like he's supposed to. To Logan and Tobias, all their father is, is a check every month," Anabel confessed to Ray.
"Was he even there when you had Tobias and Logan?" Ray asked curiously.
"Yeah. He picked Tobias' name and I picked Logan's." Anabel answered.
"Do you know where he's at?"
"Last I heard, he was teaching in some high school, lived in California, is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have a daughter together." Anabel answered coolly.
"What was his name?"
"Thomas Castle."
"I'll kill him." Ray said quietly.
"What?" Anabel asked appalled.
"He barely acknowledges you and Tobias and Logan, yet he's got a wife and a daughter out in California! Logan and Tobias deserve a father, not a check every month."
"Ray, I know that Logan and Tobias deserve a father! That's what I've been trying to find for them since the day they were born. Sure, plenty of guys liked me. But none of them liked my kids. You are actually the first guy that hasn't run away from me after you found out about Logan and Tobias. But, I don't care that Tom isn't here! I don't care that he's married with a daughter! I'm happy with my life! I'm happy with just me and my sons! Logan and Tobias don't know their father, they don't want to know him. And he doesn't want to know them. And I'm perfectly fine with that," Anabel said in a sudden out burst of her feelings.
Ray just sat there, dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that Anabel had just told him all of that. She was a very private person and had probably just told Ray more in two minutes about her life than in the entire three months they'd known each other.
"I want you to leave, Ray," Anabel said quietly, not looking him in the eyes, instead she looked down at her lap.
"Leave? Why?" Ray asked, truly confused.
"Because you're going to leave anyway. I want you to leave before Logan and Tobias become attached to you. I don't think they can stand having another guy that they like to just disappear. I know that I can't stand it."
"I'm not going to walk out of their lives. That I promise. I will always be their friend," Ray answered genuinely.
"Do you swear?" Anabel asked suspiciously.
"I swear."
With that, Anabel leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was long and passionate, breaking occasionally to kiss and nibble each other's jaws and necks.
Anabel was completely and totally lost. Her entire body was focused only on Ray, and nothing else.
Only when Ray leaned her back on the couch, his body covering hers, did she come to her senses. She abruptly pushed Ray off of her and sat up on the couch, fixing her slightly pushed up shirt.
"Anabel? What is it? What's wrong?" Ray asked confusedly as he stood up off of the couch.
"Ray, we can't do this. Please, leave." Anabel said, not looking at him.
Ray didn't say another word. He just turned around and left her apartment.
As soon as the door closed, Anabel fell back onto the couch, buried her face in a pillow, and cried.
'You're falling in love with him. Why did you push him off, especially when you needed it so bad?' was her last thought before sleep over took her.
Ray, on the other hand, banged his head on the wall next to her door, knowing for certain that he just messed up any chance of him and Anabel having a relationship.
'You're an idiot! You shouldn't have done that!' was the last thing he thought before he made his way to the stairs and out of the apartment building.
October 12, 2004
"What are you doing today?" Ray asked Anabel, who was there to pick up her paycheck, with a smirk.
"Having a birthday party for Tobias and Logan," she responded without looking at him.
"Can I come?" he asked hopefully.
"Ray, this is a children's party. Not a sex party. And don't you say that isn't why you want to come. I know how you think, Ray Barnett. You are hoping that after everyone goes home, you'll get lucky and get me into bed." Anabel said without a doubt.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's true." Ray admitted with a smile.
"I know it's true. You're not exactly the hardest person in the world to figure out."
With that, Anabel walked out of the ER and hurried towards her apartment. After all, the party was in 3 hours, and she hadn't set one thing up yet. Plus, she still had to pick up the birthday cake and ice cream from the store.
3 hours, 15 minutes later: 3:00 PM
There's a knock on the door and Anabel thought it was more people for Logan and Tobias' birthday party, so she didn't even bother to look in the peep hole. So she was shocked when she opened the door and found Ray standing in the hallway with two medium-sized presents.
"What are you doing here?" Anabel asked, surprised to say the least.
"Logan and Tobias invited me. Mind if I come in?" he asked.
"No, not at all. Things are more hectic than I thought possible with just me as the only adult, so another adult would be good."
"Where do I put these?" Ray asked, indicating to the two presents.
"Oh, put those in the living room. There's already a whole stack of presents in there anyway, so you can't miss it." Anabel said with a laugh.
After Ray put his presents in the living room, he went through the swinging doors that led from the living room to the kitchen. He saw Anabel in their putting 12 candles on the cake, 6 for Logan and 6 for Tobias.
"So how old are they now?" he asked curiously.
"Six."
Just then Logan and Tobias came into the kitchen from their playroom, which is where all of the kids have gathered until it was time for presents, games or cake and ice cream.
"RAY!" Tobias and Logan shout happily and throw their arms around him.
"Hey, guys! Happy birthday! Which one of you is older?"
"I'm older," Logan said proudly as he pointed to himself.
"Mom, can Ray stay? Please, please, please, PLEASE?" Tobias begged.
"Yes, Tobias, calm down. He's staying. Now go play with your friends." Anabel said as she shooed them out of the kitchen.
"YEAH!" they said in unison and went back to play with their playroom.
"What happened to me not being invited?"
"The twin's want you here, and today is their birthday. That is the only reason why you are still here Ray Barnett." Anabel said a little menacingly.
3:15 PM
"Ok, kids! It's time for presents!" Anabel called down the hall to the playroom. No sooner than the word, 'presents' had left her mouth, all of the kids, 20 in total, 21 if you counted Ray (who was really a big kid himself), charged out of the playroom and into the living room.
"Ok, kids. I want you to sit in a circle and Logan and Tobias, I want you to sit in the middle. Good. Now which present do you want to open first?"
"The big one on top!" they cried in unison.
"Ok. To Tobias and Logan. From Jake." Anabel said to them as she read the tag.
And so it went. Present after present after present. There were far more than 20 presents. More than 30. There were around 40 of them. Considering how most of the guests just got a big box and put both of the presents in it, it was a lot. The other presents that weren't from the guests were from Anabel's brothers and sisters and her parents. Logan and Tobias were very excited to receive fossilized teeth from their Uncle Joey, and all of the guests were just as impressed with teeth as the twins were. Soon they were down to the last 4 presents, and those were from Ray and Anabel, and from someone else.
"To Logan. From Ray." Anabel read.
Logan eagerly took the package from her and ripped the paper off and opened the box.
"Wow! It's a Gameboy Advanced! And there is also 6 games with it! Thanks Ray!" Logan exclaimed as he ran over to hug him.
"Glad you like it, Logan!" Ray said with a smile.
Logan sat back down in the middle of the circle, after Anabel took the box away from him for the time being.
"To Tobias. From Ray." Anabel read.
Tobias, like his brother, ripped the paper off of the package and opened the box.
"I got a Gameboy Advanced, too! Only mine is green! And look, I got the same games you got, too!" Tobias said happily.
"That's the point. That way you can't fight over which one is yours or the games." Ray said.
Tobias, like Logan, ran over to Ray to and gave him a hug. Then he had his box taken away from him by Anabel and he sat back down in the middle.
"To Logan and Tobias. Love Mom." Anabel said as she put the box down in the center of the circle between the two of them.
They ripped the paper off of the box, and Anabel opened it with a knife because the box was tapped shut.
"MOM! WOW!"
"What did you get?" the kids asked.
"It's the R/C Flying UFO! Two of them! One for each of us!"
"Oh, you guys are so lucky! My mom won't get me one of those!" a boy named Greg said.
A chorus of, "Neither will mine" went around the room.
"Thanks, mom!" Logan and Tobias said happily.
The last box was a small one. It was really thin, and kind of rectangular.
"To Logan and Tobias. From Dad." Anabel read.
They looked at the box in disgust, but took it anyway.
They opened it and inside were two checks for $50 each.
"Jeez. That's what we're worth to dad now. $50." Logan said sadly.
Anabel sensed their sad mood and decided to cheer them up.
"Why don't you guys go play in the playroom while I get the games set up?" she said cheerfully.
That immediately brought a smile to their faces and all of the kids ran to the playroom.
"God damn him!" Anabel exclaimed under her breath as she went into the dining room to get the bags of games and rewards.
"Who?" Ray asked as he helped her with the bags of games.
"Thomas! He's never sent them jack-shit for their birthday or for Christmas, but now, all of a sudden, he does! It messes up their head." Anabel exclaimed again.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Just make sure they buy something they really want with the money. Don't get angry. After all, it is their birthday." Ray said calmly as he pulled her into a hug.
"Yeah, you're right," she said in a soft voice.
"Guys, it's time for games!"
There was parade of boys coming down the hall and into the living room again.
They played games for the next hour, until everyone had one a prize, and then Anabel said that it was time for cake.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, Logan and Tobias! (Some people said Tobias and Logan) Happy birthday to you!" Every one sang as they blew out the candles on the cake.
"What did you wish for?" Ray asked.
"If I told you, it wouldn't come true!" Logan said.
"Ok, time to cut the cake and have some ice cream!" Anabel said as she served up the cake and ice cream.
All to soon, but not soon enough for Anabel, all the guests went home with their prizes. Logan and Tobias ran down to their playroom to play with all of their new toys, leaving Anabel (with Ray's help) to clean up the kitchen, living room and dining room.
"Great party, Anabel. I know I couldn't of pulled it off." Ray complimented.
"That's because you're not a mom. Mom's can do anything they set their minds to."
"Hey, guys can do things they set their minds to, too!" Ray defended.
"Oh, really? Like what?" Anabel questioned.
"Like this," and then Ray pulled her to him for a very passionate kiss.
Meanwhile, in the doorway, Logan and Tobias just stared at their mom and Ray kissing and smiled.
"Well, I just got my wish," Tobias whispered into Logan's ear and they tip-toed out of the room back to theirs, just as Ray broke apart from the kiss.
"Good-bye, Ray." Anabel said as she pushed him to the door and then closed it in his face. Ray smiled on the other side of the door and then walked down the stairs.
Anabel smiled on her side of the door, and then proceeded to clean up her apartment from the party.
October 31, 2004
"So what are you to again?" Anabel asked her sons.
"Mom, for the thousandth time. I'm a pirate, he's a zombie." Logan whined.
"Oh, that's right. So are you two going to have fun at this Halloween party?"
"Yeah," Tobias said.
"Who's all going to be there?"
"Timmy, Keith, Greig, Graig, Johnny, Justin, Cody, us, Matt, Eric, Travis, Jason, Billy and Timmy's parents."
"Are you going to go trick-or-treating?"
"Of course mom. It's not Halloween unless you go trick-or-treating." explained Logan.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"That's Timmy. Bye, mom. Love ya." Logan said.
"Love ya, too. Don't forget your candy sacks." Anabel said as she kissed Logan on the cheek.
"Aw, mom!" he complained.
"Love ya, Tobias." she said as she kissed him as well.
"Bye, mom," they both called out as they opened the door, ran out with their candy bags in tow, and practically slammed the door.
Anabel then saw two bags next to the door. She quickly stood up, picked them up, and ran down the stairs.
"Hey, you two will need these!" she called to the twins as they got in a van.
"Oh, yeah! Thanks mom." Logan said as they took the bags from Anabel.
"Have a great time!" Anabel called as she closed the door and the van started to pull away. As soon as the van was out of sight, she started walking back up the stairs to her apartment.
'This is just sad. My six-year-old sons have a better social life than I do,' she thought as she entered her apartment. 'They're going to a Halloween sleepover and I'm stuck here doing nothing.'
As soon as Anabel sat down on the couch, there was a knock on the door. She thought that Logan or Tobias forgot something, so she opened it without looking to see who it was. She was shocked to see Ray standing in her hallway.
"What are you doing here, Barnett? Because Logan and Tobias aren't here," she asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I know. I came here to see you."
"Oh, really?" Anabel asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Ray replied with a nod and a smile.
"Come on in, you're letting all the heat out," she said with a hint of irritation.
Ray didn't think twice. As soon as she had her back turned, Ray rushed into her apartment and closed the door, making sure to lock it to prevent any unwanted visitors.
"What're you doing now that Tobias and Logan are out of the house?" Ray asked curiously as they sat down on her couch.
"Relaxing until you knocked on the door," she said as she leaned her head back on the sofa and closed her eyes.
Ray noticed the game of "Candy Land" on the floor and smiled.
"Do you wanna play Candy Land?" he asked with a smile.
"You do realize that that is a little kids game and it might ruin your reputation if I go to work and tell them how you wanted to play it, right?" Anabel asked him like he was stupid.
"Yes, I know it's a kids game. But, I'll let you in on a little secret. Sometimes, it's ok to act like a little kid." Ray answered her as if she were 5.
"Ok, fine. You're on."
An Hour Later
"This is the 3rd game you've lost, Barnett," Anabel proudly stated as she crossed the finish line.
During the hour that they played the game, they've changed positions. Anabel is on one side of the board, propped up on her right forearm. Ray is on the other side of the board, propped up on his left forearm.
"I'll never live it down. I got beat by a girl. Not once. But three times!" Ray whined loudly.
"Oh, you're one of those guys!" Anabel rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.
"Yeah, well forgive me. But it puts a major blow on a guys ego to get beat by a girl."
Anabel and Ray just laughed.
At that moment, awkwardness melted away. At that moment, things became right between the two young doctors.
They felt the change, and stopped laughing. They looked into each other's eyes and Ray slowly leaned across the board towards Anabel. Anabel did the same towards Ray.
Their lips met softly and uncertainly. The kiss was like that shared between two teenagers, kissing on her front porch after their first date. Unsure. Hesitant. Ray was unsure of what Anabel wanted. He knew what he wanted, but he didn't want to push the matter.
He opened his mouth, letting his tongue slip out and run along her bottom lip, seeking permission to enter. She granted it when her mouth opened and let her tongue slip out to reacquaint with its old friend.
Ray knew, that just because they were kissing didn't mean he should do what he really wanted to. Slide across the board, pin Anabel to the ground, and make love to her throughout the night. He knew he had to take it slow.
Anabel moaned softly as Ray continued to kiss her. Their kisses, however brief, have never been this soft or gentle. They were always passionate and rough, but in a good way. She wanted Ray to touch her, but knew why he didn't.
'I guess I'm just going to have to take the initiative.' she thought to herself.
As she broke their kiss and Ray looked at her questioningly, Anabel moved across the "Candy Land" board until she straddled his lap. Anabel then leaned over to kiss Ray once again as she ground herself into him.
Clothes came off slowly, piece by piece. First went the shirts, then went the pants (Ray having took off his shoes about halfway through the first game of Candy Land). Ray took Anabel's hair down from her high ponytail.
As soon as they were down to their underwear, Anabel noticed something about Ray. She noticed just how nice of a body that Ray had. Six pack, pecs to die for, killer biceps. She had known from their few kisses that Ray had a great body but this went even beyond her comprehension.
Ray moved his hands all over Anabel's body. He loved to fill his hands with her soft, but large breasts just as much as he loved to run his hands over the soft skin of her back. Ray cupped her breasts once more before slowly moving his hands along her bra to the hook in the back.
Before he could get his grip on the bra to unhook it though, Anabel sat straight up and smiled a naughty smile as she shook her head.
"Not here. My bedroom's at the end of the hall," Anabel half moaned, half groaned.
Ray just smiled at her before he flipped her over to where he was now on top. Anabel expected him to take her right there, but Ray surprised her when he just lifted himself up onto his hands and knees, then lifted his knees until he was on his feet. He then balanced himself on the balls of his feet as he stood up, grabbing one of her hands and taking her with him. Ray then pulled her close to him again and grabbed her under her thighs and lifted her up his body.
He kissed her again. This time, a little rougher than the previous ones. He slowly walked through her apartment until her got to the door at the end of the hall. The door that promised him he would finally be able to make love to the woman in his arms.
Ray pushed Anabel against the door and was about to open it, but Anabel beat him to it. With a flick of her wrist, the door opened and the couple practically fell in. Ray quickly regained their balance and kicked the door shut.
Anabel pushed forward, making Ray go back towards the door. He broke their kiss and looked at her puzzled. She just smiled and reached behind him to lock the door.
Understanding spilled over Ray, and he smiled as he kissed her again and took her to the bed, then, ever so slowly, lowered her down onto it.
Anabel broke their kiss as she pushed on Ray's shoulders. But that didn't stop him form kissing other parts of her body. He slowly worked his way down her.
He kissed her neck, then her breasts, the space between her breasts, her ribs, her stomach. He stopped just above the hem of her black lace boy brief panties. He sucked on her skin their instead of going down further.
Anabel moaned, but then a blaring noise went off inside of her head. She twisted herself until she rested on her left forearm, reached over to her bedside table, and pulled out a string of condoms, instinctively knowing that one wasn't going to be enough.
When Ray felt Anabel turn on her side, he looked up, but still continued to her kiss her stomach. Once he saw that Anabel had pulled out a string of condoms and not just one, he smiled and gave a slight chuckle into her bellybutton.
"God, Anabel, you are so beautiful," Ray whispered into her stomach.
Anabel smiled, laid back on the bed pulling Ray up to meet her face, and after making sure that a condom was on Ray, let Ray give her the most intense pleasure she'd had ever known.
Later that night:
"Mmm…that feels good," Anabel groaned as Ray nuzzled her neck and rubbed her stomach with his hand.
"You feel so good, Anabel," Ray whispered in his ear.
"Was it worth the wait?" she asked softly.
"Oh, yeah," Ray said as he slid back over top of her and began the whole process of making love to her again.
Next time:
"Slumber Party?", Hot Couple, and the Janitor's Closet