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Disclaimer: I do not, I repeat, do not own The 4400. Not that they'd let me anyway.
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My Life in Snippets and Phrases: You Can't Turn Back the Clocks
Chapter Two
by: phoniexchild
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Diana stretched, feeling her muscles shift. That felt nice. She put her keys on the counter, careful not to make too much noise. Maia had a friend sleeping over and Diana was sure that Marco was trying to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Diana had returned to work a few weeks ago and her schedule had quickly picked up. Which was starting to mean that, Diana would return home after everyone, sometimes even Marco, was already asleep.
Sighing slightly, Diana went to check on Maia and her friend, Becca. Peering into the room, she saw that both girls were asleep in sleeping bags. There was a flashlight - still on - between them. Smiling, Diana silently went over, picked up the flashlight and turned it off. She put it on Maia's dresser as she left the room.
Walking into her own room was a slightly different affair. The lights were on and a mix of funk rock and classical music was playing quietly from the CD player. Half-laying on the still-made bed was one sleeping Marco Pacella, a copy of H.P. Lovecraft's Mountains of Madness discarded nearby, with baby Bella positioned comfortably on his lap.
Diana smiled. She turned off the CD player and moved the book to the dresser. Gently picking up Bella, she sighed. Shortly after Diana started working again, Bella started having trouble sleeping. And the only thing that could help Bella sleep seemed to her father. Not that Marco minded, Diana thought, he greatly enjoyed being his daughter's teddy bear.
After putting the infant into her own bed, Diana returned to the master bedroom. She quietly undressed, getting ready for bed. Just when she was almost finished, two arms encircled her.
"Hey."
"I thought you were asleep," Diana turned so that she was facing her husband.
Marco grinned, and Diana knew he was going to say something he thought was witty and romantic, "Why dream when you're here?"
Diana laughed, "Very nice, Romeo."
He just smirked at her, "I do try."
Diana reached her arms around Marco and started twirling her fingers through the hairs of his nape, "How was everything?"
"Maia and Becca went to sleep at ten-twenty, but didn't actually fall asleep until after eleven."
Diana smiled, knowing that would happen.
"And," Marco continued, "Kerry is coming over after breakfast. I've already gotten a solemn promise from Maia about babysitting in the near future."
Diana laughed out loud at this, knowing exactly what Marco wanted to do while Maia babysat. "You seem to be thinking ahead."
Marco answered this by kissing her rather passionately.
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Word Count: 432
Date Posted: 9.18.05
Date Written: 9.17.05
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This story is beta'd by the ever-wonderful Mary, who helped with exactly what type of music and books a certain lovable genius would enjoy.
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Author's Notes: I have to give props to scifigate . com / the4400 - not only do they have a ton of screencaps, but also transcripts. Only up to Carrier, but that's forgivable. That's how Mary and I found the title of H.P. Lovecraft's book (even found out the exact story Tess quoted, but I didn't use that in the story).
Again, I have to credit Mary (my beta) with helping me find the book title and type of music Marco would listen too. This girl stayed up with me into the wee hours of the morning. That is dedication. …Or quite possibly addiction. Both work, she helps out a lot. Much kudos to Mary. Especially concerning the "sentence from hell".
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