It was nearly eleven that night before my husband decided to grace us with his presence. The children had long since gone to sleep and I sat in my favorite chair in our living area, sipping my tea as I caught up on my reading. One of my friends in the colony had turned me on to the subject by offering me one of her favorite fiction pieces. I was surprised to find the plot so interesting and blazed through the book at record speed.

From that point on it was very rare that someone would catch me without a book in my hand. There had been many nights that John had found me in the very position I was in now. I always wanted to be left alone as I read. John wanted me with him. It took a while, but I finally got him to leave me to my fantasy world. "I'm starting to resent the fact that I ever taught you how to read." he grumbled as he stalked away. I had smiled into my novel. I knew he didn't mean it. He never did. However I knew that sometimes I did chose literature over my husband. I would simply have to make it up to him later.

Once again, this was how my husband found me when he walked through the door of our cabin late that night. I glanced up briefly as he entered. He looked tired. No doubt the governor and probably run him ragged with not only his assigned duties, but personal favors as well. John sighed as he tossed the bag that he carried aside and met my gaze with a weary smile. "Hello, my love I'm so sorry that tonight didn't work out for us." I said nothing, only set the book aside and watched as he approached me.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead before collapsing on the sofa across from me. "I swear that man is out to make my life miserable." he muttered, eyes closed with exhaustion. "He must have sent me to fifteen different locations, nine of which, were for his personal business. Can you believe he sent me to the general store to pick up some fabrics for his wife's new dress? I swear, if it weren't for the money that it brings in I would walk away tomorrow and never look back." He sighed and finally opened his sky blue eyes. "Aside from my night, how was your day, love?"

I didn't know how to respond. Part of me wanted to be angry with him. He knew how much I had been looking forward to our time together. He could have taken the night off if he truly wanted to. Sometimes it seemed like all he did was work. Didn't the governor know that he had a wife and two children that needed him? He should be home with us instead of going to the general store to get fabric for the governors wife!

But then I stopped. What was I saying? What kind of wife was I being to him. It wasn't his fault that his job was so consuming. I knew he certainly didn't love It. He was the provider of our family. If it weren't for his income, we couldn't make the living that we now had.

It wasn't that it would be a bad thing to go without income. After all, I had grown up in the tribe where we had never even heard of money until the settlers came. I could really care less whether we had money or not. But John did and that was what mattered. To be able to provide a good life for me, Cria and Josh. And if it was important to my husband, then it mattered to me as well. John's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Pocahontas? Is something wrong?"

I rose from my chair and went to join my husband on the sofa. "It was alright. I was disappointed that we did not get our time together, but I had a nice visit with my father and Nakoma. Cria and Josh had quite the argument over who got to wear my father's "hat" today. Nakoma doted on those two as always." I chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if they had more fun then I did today." John laughed. "I swear it's a miracle those two aren't scared to death of your father. I know I was when I asked for your hand. That man is strict. I'm surprised he didn't scold them for fighting."

I met his gaze. "Well, there's no doubt that Cria has her grandfather wrapped tightly around her little finger. And Josh is the apple of his eye. Let's face it, John. Our children are simply too adorable." His deep laugh blended with my higher pitched one. "I suppose so. As long as they don't figure it out or we don't let it et out of control, we should be fine."

His gaze clouded and his expression became somber. "I truly am sorry about tonight." he whispered. I sighed and lifted his arm so I could be closer to him. After his arms was settled comfortably on my shoulders and I was snuggled close to his side, I finally gave my feelings.

"I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but it's part of the job description. You know, get married, raise a family, sit home while your husbands works." I smiled up at him. "You can't control your job, John. I understand that. I know that providing for myself and the children is important to you. You know I love you. I know you love me. We'll simply have to keep trying.. One time we should be able to find time."

I placed a hand on his chest. "Come. I don't know about you, but I am famished. I think a good night's sleep is in order for the both of us." My husband closed his eyes and allowed his head to fall back. "Amen to that, my dear." He leaned over to kiss me. "You go ahead. I need to grab something to eat quickly and I'll join you."

…0000.…

It was nearly twenty minutes later before John decided to join me in our bedroom. He stopped dead in his tracks the moment he walked in, shooting me his infamous raised brow. I could only smirk. I sat propped up against my pillow, my book from earlier in the evening lay in my lap. My finger was marking my place that I had abandoned when John walked in. I could only smile and shrug.

John's gaze never left me as he crossed the room. "Pocahontas, I swear You are worse than me when it comes to reading. My mother will never let me live this down." I chuckled. John's mother's quickly became my friend. She and her husband had come two months early for our wedding, wanting to meet me and visit their son, whom they hadn't seen for sometime. His mother had warned me early on of her son's passion for books and maps. "Do not be surprised if you come home one night to find him stuck with his nose in a book. He's done it ever since he was a boy and if I still know my son, that is one thing time has not changed." We had had a good laugh over this and something told me that my mother-in-law would be amused to know that the roles had suddenly been reversed.

John could do nothing but sake his head as I returned to my novel. A few moment later the covers beside me lifted as John climbed in next to me. "Words can not express how good it feels to be home." he murmured. "If I've said I had hard days before, this one most defiantly tops them all." I glanced over in his direction. "I'm sure, my love. I know you work hard, I'm sorry I was upset with you earlier.' My husband cocked his head. "Upset? You never said you were upset with me."

I cringed inwardly. I had not ment to say that. I finally sighed. "I suppose I didn't." "yet you were." John stated. I bit my lip and nodded silently. "Yes. I was ready to give you a healthy piece of my mind because your job seemed to be more important to you than time with your wife. After I had finished with you, I was about to do the same to the governor ad tell him what he could do with his precious fabric." I muttered. Simply thinking about it had brought back the bitter feelings from earlier that evening.

John watched me with a surprised countence. "I had no idea, Pocahontas. I honestly don't know what else to say except that I am sorry and will try to be home more often." I shook my head. "No, John. No. I was wrong. You do so much for us, I was simply being selfish." He pulled me into his embrace. "Being selfish is not necessary a bad thing, my dear." His grin grew. "I quite enjoy it sometimes. Like now. The kids are in bed, the house is quiet.." His voice trailed off. "We're finally alone."

I smiled. "It looks as thought we are." I met his gaze, seeing the low fire that burned within. "What are you suggesting we do about it?" He said nothing, only closed the distance between us and coved my mouth with his own. His hand came to my waist, holding me firmly in his grasp while the other came to cradle my shoulders. Surprised by his actins, I gasped slightly, but allowed him to deepen our kiss, moving his jaw against my own, my hands tangling in his blond hair.

Before either of us got the chance to go any farther, our passion was interrupted by a knock on the door and a small voice. "Mama? Daddy? Please let me in!" John and I untangled ourselves from one another just in time to see our daughter enter, her face streaked with tears. "Mama! I need you!" John and I bolted up in alarm and I held out my arms as she came running toward me. "What's wrong, Cria?" John asked as he pushed a piece of hair out of her face. More sniffles came before her reply. "Bad dream. Monsters coming to get me. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

John and I looked to each other, our eyes still holding the passion we felt for each other. We both shrugged. "Of course you can, dearest." I said. Cria's face broke into a smile and she snuggled down between us. Josh joined us a few moments later, complaining of being woken by his sister. I met John's gaze across our children and he smiled a blew a kiss to me. I smiled and lay back down. I had to face it our life was hectic. John and I both knew that. Yet somehow, this crazy life seemed to fit us, our aradise with our small family. As I watched all of them, I knew in my heart that John felt the same way I did. Despite the craziness, it was home. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.