You guys are just so great. I don't know what to say anymore...
So this one is especially for those who have been so kind. Enjoy

Chapter 2

The sensation of a calloused hand sliding beneath her silk top and coming to rest on one of her breasts awoke Emma. On pure instinct she cuddled closer to the man beside her, causing him to grunt and nuzzle her neck. His grip on her breast tightened causing a ripple of desire to travel through her whole body. She turned around, her eyes still closed dislodging his hand. Emma tried to get closer to him wrapping one arm around his neck. Instantly his lips found hers softly nibbling at her lower lip. One of his hands found her lower back and she felt one of his legs sliding between hers. In a matter of seconds she was pined under him, her senses overloaded, clouded with passion. His lips made their way down her throat stopping at the hem of her top.

Baby wails startled Emma and completely woke Brennan up. The elemental opened his eyes only to find Emma staring at him a slight smirk playing on her lips. Sighing he collapsed beside her, nearly falling off the too small bed.

"I'm…"

The frustration coming from him was so evident that Emma had to smile. She leaned on her elbows and kissed him a last time before getting up.

"Don't worry about that. It was a pleasant wake up call and trust me we're going to finish this as soon as we get the opportunity."

The young woman put her robe on and took Luke out of his cradle carefully whispering little nothing in his ear. Brennan watched her stunned as she changed the baby with precise moves. The normality of the situation was almost overwhelming. She seemed to have done it all her life and the role of a mother suited her so perfectly. Would have it been like that if Luke had been their biological son?

"Where did you learn how to take care of a baby?"

"The last family I lived with had a two months old baby. I was old enough to baby-sit. It wasn't easy at the beginning. But I've learned."

The new diaper was in place and she buttoned Luke's pajama back with a satisfied grin.

"There we are my little frog! Now let's get you both something to eat."

As Jesse and Shalimar got near the kitchen both stopped in the entrance and watched their two friends silently completely entranced by the scene playing in front of them.

Brennan was preparing eggs, a cloth on his shoulder, softly humming. Meanwhile Emma was bottle-feeding the baby a happy expression gracing her lips. The scene playing in front of them held such normality that neither dared interrupt the couple.

The elemental carefully placed a cup of tea in front of Emma, together with a plate full of omelet. The young woman looked up smiling. Luke had finished eating and was starting to play with the bottle. So without a word, he took the baby and settled him on his shoulder softly patting his back like Emma had showed him a few hours ago.

"We need to do more shopping for Luke. And we need a decent bed. Yours is really too small for the both of us."

The psionic coughed on her food upon hearing his words. What had come over him? He was not seriously meaning that… They had decided at the beginning of their relation not to change their habitudes too quickly. A sudden change would be too much for the team so each had kept their bedroom.

"Bren don't you think you're moving a bit fast? I don't want you to do something you might regret later. You really want to move in?"

He smiled slightly caressing her cheek. She was such an angel.

"We're both moving fast Emma. I will not regret anything. And yes, I'd like to wake up with you wrapped in my arms every day. I want us to be a real family with Luke."

In the hallway, Shalimar leaned on the wall. There were days when she was jealous of the openness of Brennan and Emma's relationship. They were always discreet, nothing too obvious. But their love shined in small gestures, touches and looks, in the way they always worried about the other without saying a word. They seemed to be two pieces of a same puzzle independent and yet relying on the other. The feral sighed. She wanted this, the freedom to be together, to show what she felt for her only love. Jesse's fingers briefly caressing her cheek got her out of her reflections.

"Shal, you ok?"

She sadly smiled. She needed time alone to think. If she really wanted that life then why had she asked Jesse to keep it a secret for so long? What was holding her back?

"Yeah go ahead. I just need some fresh air. I swear. I'm fine."

The molecular watched her retreating in the dojo direction. He would have to talk to her eventually about their decision. It was slowly killing her inside and he couldn't see her in pain. It was something he hated.

Emma knocked on Shalimar's door and cautiously entered in the room. She had perceived Jesse's worry about her during breakfast and she wanted to check on the feral before her little shopping trip with Brennan. The feral was folding clean clothes, making two distinct piles on her desk. She seemed completely enthralled by her activity; but Emma could feel her uneasiness clearly.

"Shal? We missed you at breakfast. Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I'm ok. I just needed to finish this before installing that new safehouse with Jesse."

The psionic slightly frowned. Since when were laundry chores so important for her friend?

"Brennan and I are going shopping for Luke."

Shalimar kept on silently folding her clothes a slight pouting frown playing on her lips. She didn't want to talk to Emma right now. She wanted to be alone or better wrapped in Jesse's arms. Hearing her best friend talking about her family was not something she was ready to face.

"Shal. Something is worrying you. I can feel it."

"Stop reading me ok. I… the arrival of Luke in our life just made me think back about some of my life choices. This morning I saw you and Brennan with Luke in the kitchen and I realized I wanted everything: a man who loves me, children, a real family, a normal life."

Emma got closer to her friend and hugged her. They all wanted that kind of life. Ever since Richard, Shalimar was very sensitive about the subject. Emma suddenly felt blessed. All her dreams had come true in less than a year.

"You'll find a man who truly loves you Shal; and you'll have half a dozen of little ferals jumping everywhere, wrecking havoc in the Sanctuary and giving us a hard time."

Shalimar burst out laughing thinking of what a breed of her power and Jesse's would do. The mere thought of having a child with him gave her hope. Emma was right. She just needed to find the courage to talk to Jesse and then to Adam.

"Feeling better now? Would you like something from the mall?"

The older woman smiled and resumed her laundry chore.

"Yeah. And no. I'll ask Jesse to make a stop when we get back home. Did you came here just to talk with me or do you have something to ask me?"

"Both. Do you have any of those sari; I could use one to carry Luke."

The feral left her desk and began frantically rummaging in her closet. That's when Emma spotted them, two shirts belonging to Jesse hanging in her dresser, mixed with her clothes. What were they doing there? Looking around surreptitiously she spotted one or two of his books and a few pairs of socks scattered around the place. Shalimar's exclamation prevented her from taking her analysis further.

"There it is. It is a bit crumpled but it's clean."

"Thanks Shal. "

The alignment of baby clothes left Emma speechless. Gently she kissed the top of Luke's head. The moment the baby had found his place in the harness on her stomach, he had fallen asleep peacefully. She had left Brennan to pick up a new bed because he had insisted to choose it as a present for her. 'A good way to start our life together' as he had put it. The thought made her smile.

The young woman went through the rows pushing her cart, dreamily picking one or two pajama, a few pants and small sweaters, small shoes and socks. By the time she had reached the part dedicated to the baby furniture, the elemental had joined her and was wheeling the cart by her side a very satisfied grin playing on his lips.

"Did you find all the clothes Luke will need?"

Emma silently nodded and picked a mobile with colorful flying animals to show it to Brennan. He chuckled softly before kissing her quickly and putting the object with the rest of their purchase. They resumed their shopping quietly talking about their new life as a family.

A group of four men came their way playing with toys and small clothes, noisily speaking. Upon seeing the couple they abruptly stopped.

"Mulwray? Is that you?"

The elemental diverted his gaze from Emma and found himself facing one of his old school friends. The sight of the men facing them rushed the past back in front of his eyes. The memories were not the bests, but he could not avoid them. Cautiously he took the offered hand and shook it.

"James, it's been a long time."

Instinctively his other arm brought Emma closer to him as if to protect her. The three other men eyed her from head to toe, causing an unpleasant shiver to run down her spine. Luke seemed to feel his mother discomfort and wake up making displeased sounds. She gently shushed him sending a comforting feeling his way. She didn't like Brennan's old friends. The elemental looked at his son and softly brushed his cheek.

"Yeah. You seem to be doing fine. You have a baby boy?"

"Yes. And this is Emma. Those four here are James, Mac, Pat and Rick. We grew up together. What are you doing here?"

"You remember Sam? Well he's getting married soon and he's going to be a dad too. So we're here to make him a small joke."

Brennan nodded and watched the men who used to be his friends. He had changed so much compared to them. They were probably living out of bank robberies or other small thefts maybe even drug dealing. In that instant he felt like he was the luckiest man on heart. That day in the club Emma had given him a second chance and he was going to make the best of it. A smile crept on his lips and he tightened his grip on her waist.

"Well guys it was nice seeing you but we have to go."

"Ok. See you one of these days Brennan. And if one day you need some work, just call this number. Was nice meeting you Emma."

The elemental took the card Jimmy was handing him and absentmindedly put it in one of his pockets. As the couple resumed his shopping, he drew her closer and kissed her.

"Thanks Emma for loving me."

TBC