PETER AND HELEN MARIDAKOS' HOUSE – SYROS
"Jack! So glad you two could make it." The two men shook hands.
"Peter, I would like you to meet my wife Irina." Jack kept his hand at the small of her back as their host ushered them inside.
"Irina, so nice to finally put a face to the test samples." He smiled, leaning over to kiss both her cheeks in greeting.
"Thank you for the invitation and for taking such a special interest in our case." Irina smiled at the man, reveling in his kindness.
"I'm pleased everything worked out. Please, come meet my wife."
The house had marble floors with rich colors on the walls and beautiful fabrics on the sofa. The house had definitely been built with a North American flare, very little of the European architecture present. Peter escorted them into the kitchen which sported mostly American and German name brands on the appliances.
"Jack, Irina, my wife Helen." Peter smiled at the woman standing over the open oven. She straightened and turned to face her guests with a smile as warm and kind as her husband's. "Helen, meet Irina and Jack Bristow."
Helen was nothing like Jack or Irina had pictured her. She was at least five eight, with dark red hair, fair skin and blue eyes. Her hair had a slight curl to it but had been styled to avoid detection. Her slim body was covered by a spaghetti strapped sundress of bright green and blue, screaming summer.
"It's so nice to meet you both." Helen walked around the counter to shake hands with each of them. Jack and Irina returned the handshake and the smile. "Oh you didn't have to bring anything with you." Peter took the bottle of wine and placed it on the counter, while Helen took the flowers. "These are beautiful. Thank you." She gushed over the colorful arrangement. "Did you find the house easily?"
"It was no problem." Irina spoke gently, easing into the other woman's presence.
"Dinner should be ready in about twenty or thirty minutes." Helen seemed to have the same boisterous spirit her husband did, showing little signs of her age. She was a contrast to Peter in every way. Where his hair was white, hers radiated color; where her skin was pale his maintain a deep olive complexion.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Irina asked kindly.
"Everything is pretty much done; we're just waiting on the roast." Helen looked up at her husband. "Peter, why don't you take Jack and Irina on a tour of the house while we're waiting on dinner."
"Sure." Peter appeared pleased with the suggestion.
"Actually, I think I'll stay here and keep Helen company, I'm sure you two can occupy yourselves." Irina wrapped her arm around Jack's waist, her eyes dancing.
"I don't know, do you think you can manage to stay out of trouble?" Jack teased.
"You're mistaken Sweetheart. I am trouble." Her eyes lit wickedly as she and Jack shared a smile and their hosts laughed out loud.
"I think we better go on that tour Peter." Jack squeezed Irina's hand before they walked out of the kitchen.
"You two are definitely a breath of fresh air." Helen moved about the kitchen, placing the flowers in a vase.
Irina released a bark of laughter. "Is that what you call it?"
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"Juice if you have it please." Irina smiled and sat down at the kitchen table.
"With a three-year-old in the house, I have plenty." Helen got herself a glass as well and sat down at the table. "Peter loves his wine at dinner but I'm not much of a drinker. Half a glass and I'm done."
"Your house is lovely. Not usually what you would find in Greece." Irina took a sip of the strawberry juice.
"When we moved to Greece fifteen years ago we lived on the mainland. It was fun and exciting but after a vacation to the island Peter and I decided to move. Eight years after we bought a piece of land, the house was ready." She smiled. "I had no idea how difficult it was to build anything in Greece."
"I know. Jack was working so the task of building the house fell to me. I just decided to pay the tariffs and bring in a foreign builder and contractor." Irina became more animated as she relaxed into the environment.
"And how do you like it here?"
"I came for the quiet and solitude I wouldn't have been able to find anywhere else." Irina sensed there was more to the question than Helen was letting on. "I was lonely though, when Jack wasn't here. It's a big adjustment to make." She paused before asking her own question. "What about you? Are you close with any of the other women in the town?"
Helen tilted her head, seemingly conceding defeat. "Peter loves it here and I do enjoy it. The weather is wonderful and we have a fairly luxurious lifestyle but I'm not Greek." Irina inclined her head for Helen to continue. "The people are friendly but that doesn't mean they're inviting. I don't really have any girlfriends to speak of on the island."
"Is it the language barrier? Or something else?" Irina sympathized with the woman after spending ten years in a foreign land that her training could have never fully prepared her for.
"I understand and speak Greek fairly well but I don't know if I would call myself fluent. I think a large part of it has to do with Sophia my youngest daughter. Most women my age on the island are becoming grandmothers, there aren't too many people I can associate with that can understand the plight of a three-year-old at my age. They don't condemn me for it by any means, they just don't understand.
"I suppose it would be difficult with such a small population to draw from." Irina leaned forward almost conspiratorially. "When I found out I was pregnant I was terrified. There are of course all the normal concerns, then I started thinking about all of the problems babies of older mothers can face and now that those fears were assuaged I've been left terrified that I just won't be able to be a mother at fifty, mentally or physically."
"You're not fifty." Helen shook her head.
"I am." Irina smiled.
"Please tell me you've had plastic surgery and you colour your hair." Helen's eyes were wide with surprise but her smile remained.
"No surgery and definitely no dye." Irina took another sip from her glass.
"That is just not fair." Helen joked.
"You're one to talk." Irina admonished. "From what I can guess by Sophia's age, I would say you are in your early fifties as well; however, no one would believe you."
"Ah, the benefits of staying out of the sun." Helen pressed her hand to her cheek.
"I try to tell Jack the same thing but he still insists on lying outside for hours without sunblock." Irina furrowed her brow in dismay.
"Peter can spend all day in the sun and not appear even flushed. Five minutes and I'm cooked." Their smiles abated slightly as Helen once again opened the topic of motherhood. "I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. Trust me when I say it's more trouble than its worth. I think most people would be surprised at life's propensity to work itself out." Helen said seriously.
"I think I may finally be figuring that out." Irina glanced in the direction Jack and Peter had gone.
"Enough of the dismal talk." Helen nearly clapped her hands together. "I want to know the important stuff. When are you due? And what are you having?"
"November and a boy."
"That would be the reason you are carrying out front." Irina tilted her head in confusion. "I know people think it's an old wives tale but I haven't been wrong yet. I've had two boys and two girls, with both my girls I felt as though my behind had tripled in size, I got round, with my boys I my stomach would turn the corner before I did."
The buzzer on the oven went off, signaling the completion of cooking time. Helen got up to tend to their dinner while Irina followed suit. She placed her glass on the counter and turned to speak to Helen when suddenly a streak of red, yellow and pink bolted into the room, barreling headlong into Irina's legs. Irina steadied them both as one of her arms instinctively wrapped around the little girl's back.
"Sophia!" Helen scolded.
"It's alright." Irina assured her, bending down to address the young kamikaze. "Hello Sophia. It's a pleasure to meet you." Irina held out her hand, which the little girl shook delicately. "My name's Irina."
"Say hi Sophia." Helen prompted.
"Hi." The small girl said softly. Her red hair was thick and wavy down her back and she was dressed in a yellow and pink shorts and tank set.
"What was it you were running from so quickly? You were going so fast I almost didn't see you." Irina's eyes widened dramatically, capturing the little girl's attention.
"My sister, she's after me. And she's going to send me to the monsters!" Her tiny voice reminded Irina of Sydney as a child.
"Sorry Mom, she got away from me." Another voice entered the kitchen.
"Ahhh!" Sophia screamed, launching herself back into Irina's arms. "The monsters!"
"What did you say to her Maria? You've scared the child half to death." Helen crossed her arms as she faced the young woman.
"Nothing. We were just playing." Maria defends her actions. "I know I'm supposed to keep her occupied for the night but she ran."
"Irina, allow me to introduce my other daughter Maria. Maria, this is Mrs. Bristow." Helen shook her head at her children.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Bristow." Maria smiled at Irina who was still bent to the ground with Sophia clinging to her.
"Irina, please." She smiled back at the girl.
"Maria's 22, and home from University. She attends school in the States." Helen turned back to the oven.
"What school are you at?"
"Georgetown. I'd like to go into medicine; do you know the area?"
"My husband and I both graduated from UMBC." Irina's response seemed to delight the girl.
"Come on Soph, time to go upstairs." Maria coaxed.
"No! You'll take me to the monsters." Sophia cried.
"She's fine for now Maria. I'll bring her upstairs in a little while." Helen dismissed her daughter.
"You know what Sophia, I'm starting to get a little stiff down here. Is it alright if I sit down?" She felt her nod against her legs and sat down in one of the kitchen chairs.
No sooner had she seated herself than Sophia climbed into her lap and snuggled against her. Helen turned to look at the sight and stifled a laugh.
"One thing my children are not is shy. Sorry you had to witness that little drama." Helen sighed, knowing half the time her family was out of her control.
"Not a problem." Irina wrapped her arms around Sophia to secure her in her lap. "I'll take all the practice I can get."
Jack and Peter reentered the kitchen sniggering about something. Jack's eyes were immediately drawn to Irina who had a tiny girl inhabiting her lap.
"Sophia strikes again." Peter moved toward his wife and helped her with the last details of dinner. "She takes up residence in the lap of everyone who walks through the door. You'd think we never paid her any attention."
"She does this with everyone? And I was just starting to feel important." Irina teased. She felt the small body lean heavier against hers.
"Well, she doesn't usually nod off like that with people." Peter indicated his snoozing daughter.
"The monsters were chasing her; they tired her out." Irina shifted the girl carefully.
"Monsters?" Jack raised his eyebrows at his wife, enjoying the picture she presented.
"Our older daughter Maria. She told Sophia monsters were chasing her." Helen explained. "That's fine; she can be the one to get up with Sophia when she has nightmares tonight."
"I'll take her up to bed." Peter picked his daughter up out of Irina's lap, carrying her upstairs.
Dinner had been an animated affair with both Peter and Helen entertaining the Bristows with family stories and interesting occurrences on the island. Irina was pleased to see Jack getting along so well with Peter; the two seemed to have the same twisted sense of humor and delighted in egging the other on. Soon enough the conversation turned to Jack and Irina, much to their apprehension.
"So, I never did ask if this will be your first child or not. I suppose I assumed not." Helen asked the other couple.
"Our second actually." Irina smiled.
"We have a daughter. Sydney." Jack supplied with a certain measure of pride.
"Is she living here on the island with you?" Peter questioned.
"No, she's back in the States. Her work keeps her there." Irina shrugged
"How old is Sydney?"
"Twenty-eight." Jack replied. "What's a little thirty year age difference between siblings." He deadpanned. Once the table had stifled their chuckles adequately the questions continued.
"What does she do?" Peter retained his smile.
"She worked for a bank while she was writing her dissertation, and now she's teaching at UCLA." Irina lied. It was more like a wish she prayed would come true, for her daughter to be a simple professor.
"Did you work after you graduated?" Helen asked, knowing Irina had gone to University.
"I taught at UCLA while I worked on my PhD." Irina decided that sticking to as much of the truth as possible was the best strategy for this situation.
"And you Jack?"
"Boring Corporate America." He smiled stiffly.
"And the two of you have been married for-"
"Thirty years." They said in unison, garnering a smile from the other couple.
"I meant to ask you Jack, what happen to your arm?" Peter indicated the raised scar on his forearm. The stitches had been taken out by Irina the day before.
"I surprised my wife while she had a knife handy. Not a mistake I'm bound to make again." He joked. Irina ducked her head in embarrassment.
"It appears as though you had a nice stitch job done. I doubt they'll be much of a scar there after it's healed. Who did the work for you?" Peter had shifted quickly to the persona of doctor.
"She who does the maiming does the stitching." Irina admitted sheepishly. "It was on his first day here too. He should never have come up behind me like that, but I felt horrible."
There was a lull in the conversation for a moment and it appeared as though Peter was working up the nerve to say something, finally he opened his mouth.
"You know, the most bizarre thing happened today. After I uploaded the RFLP results to your file and called you, I went back to make the adjustments once hearing that you weren't ill but your files were no longer in the computer. There wasn't even a deletion record."
"Well that's odd." Irina replied with feigned interest.
"I was just wondering if someone came around asking about you if I should mention the tests and your presence on the island." Peter watched Jack and Irina staring back at him calmly.
"It would likely be better if you didn't." Jack said simply.
"Alright then." Peter nodded his head in a silent promise.
"I notice a slight accent Irina and your name is most definitely not American." It seemed Helen had her own questions she wanted answers to.
"I was born and raised in Russia." Irina acquiesced. "I moved to the US when I was eighteen."
"Not boring corporate America." Peter began piecing the picture together.
"Boring and corporate, not really. America, yes." Jack held Irina's hand securely under the table, knowing their hosts were bright enough to pick up the hints.
"Do you both enjoy politics?" Helen raised her eyebrows at her dinner guests.
"It's somewhat of a necessary evil don't you think?" Irina tried to contain the smile blossoming on her face.
"Absolutely. But it's just not for me. Too convoluted. I'd just as well look the other way in many situations." Helen shrugged.
"I was thinking Helen, given that Jack is returning to the States in a few days, I'll have some time on my hands. I could help you learn the nuances of Greek; we could have you speaking like a villager in no time."
"I think that sounds wonderful. How is Tuesday for you?" Helen held Irina's gaze.
"Three o'clock, my place, we can do tea." Irina squeezed Jack's hand.
"I'll be sure to bring my Greek/English dictionary." Helen's comment was just the thing to lighten the mood as they left the topic for the rest of the evening.
VILLA – SYROS
Jack and Irina walked through the front door, kicking their shoes off and dropping onto the couch. With both their heads resting against the back cushions, they found his wife's hand and twined his fingers with hers.
"I ate too much." She groaned.
"There was so much food." Jack added.
"Were we really made by two civilians?" Irina closed her eyes against the overhead light in the living room.
"They are parents of three grown children and one three-year-old and we both know that parents make the best spies. Or is it spies make the worst parents?"
"What are you doing?" Irina asked as Jack got up and grabbed the phone.
"Programming Peter and Helen's number into the phone. He said if you need anything while I'm gone to call them."
"They're wonderful people." Irina sighed.
"Yes they are. We forget too easily that there are people like them in the world." Jack collapsed back down on the couch, only this time he was sitting snuggle against Irina.
"There aren't generally people like them in our world. They don't live in the world of kill or be killed." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I want what they have Jack. I want to be making dinner while Sydney terrifies her little brother with stories of monsters or….Sloane." They shared a laugh at that, remembering too soon that the monster was real and the biggest obstacle in their life together.
"We deserve to be happy Honey. I don't know of anyone who deserves it more. We've paid the price not only of our own sins but the sins of others. We need to take Sloane out." Jack brushed her hair from her forehead before placing his hand on her stomach. "You're getting bigger."
"I'll be huge by the end of the summer." Her hands covered his over their son. "I could draw Sloane out-"
"No!" Jack interrupted forcefully.
"-if I wasn't pregnant and would risk hurting the baby." She looked at him pointedly.
Neither said another word, the night stilling to give them the moment of peace. When Irina's tears began soaking through Jack's shirt, he looked into her eyes.
"Tomorrow's you're last day here." She made no attempt to wipe the evidence of her sadness.
"I know, but we'll be together again before you know it. The time will fly by." Jack pulled her up and held her tight as they made their way upstairs.
"You're right. After twenty years, a few months is nothing."
Day 14
Jack felt the bed shift in the morning, as Irina rolled out and used the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later and snuggled back into his side, closing her eyes against the dawn of morning.
"Are you awake?" She asked Jack from her position against his side.
"Yes. Irina, I'm not leaving yet, you don't have to squeeze me so tightly." Jack rubbed her bare back. They had not worn cloths to bed since the night of their 'first date', pleasing Jack to no end.
"I already miss you." Her moist breath caressed his warm skin.
"Am I that boring?" He smiled softly.
"Boring is not a word I would associate with either of us. And you know that isn't what I meant." He could feel her frown and turned until he was on his side facing her.
"I know I'll miss you too but I'm not letting today slip by thinking about it. I have you for another twenty-four hours and I want your undivided attention."
"Woke up bossy today did you Action?" Irina smirked, kissing his palm as he ran it down the side of her face.
"Last night you were quite pleased with my bossiness." He grinned wickedly at her. "I believe you're exact words were- harder Jack, harder. That's right baby, you're the boss, God Jack you can be my boss any time." His tone rose and feigned breathlessness to imitate her. "Then it was a lot of Jackjackjack, after which I must admit I don't remember much."
Irina slapped him on his arm, trying and failing to stifle her laughter. "Damn it; guess I can't argue with fact." Her lips sealed over his, turning from gentle to passionate quickly.
"What would you like to do today, Mrs. Bristow?" He asked when they had to pull apart for air. Instead of answering, Irina looked down at his crotch. "Yes, we'll do that but surely there is something else you'd like to do." Jack waited for a response but received only raised eyebrows and a skeptical look.
"Irina-"
"Shhh. I'm savoring being called Mrs. Bristow." Irina closed her eyes and allowed a satisfied smile to light her features.
Watching her with sentimental joy, Jack smiled as well. "Are you done yet?"
Her eyes opened and regarded him with a scowl. "Yes." She relaxed against his body, kissing him again. "And as for how to spend the day, I want to stay just like this."
"You're not hungry?" Jack asked innocently, to which Irina's stomach growled.
"I am now." She pouted. "I suppose we could move downstairs. The couch is comfortable and that way you'll be closer to the kitchen to fetch me food."
"From husband to fetching boy in three seconds flat." Jack teased.
"Of course not Action, you can be both." Irina grinned indulgently before jumping from bed. She pulled on a thin tank top and shorts, foregoing underwear of any kind. "You better get out of bed Jack, before I begin looking for another fetching boy."
Jack followed her downstairs after making a quick stop at the room he had occupied during the beginning of his stay with Irina.
"Jack, could you get the fruit out the fridge we cut up yesterday." Irina placed a kettle of water on one of the gas burners to heat for tea.
Wrapping one arm around her growing waist, Jack held the other behind his back. "I bought you something." He kissed the side of her neck, holding her back tightly to his chest.
"How did you manage to buy something without me noticing, I haven't been fifteen feet from you for over a week." She turned her head enough to catch his eye.
Placing his other arm around her, he held the book out in front of her. "I picked this up on my second day here." She grasped the leather bound book in both her hands, tracing the edges carefully.
"You bought me something then?" Her voice was softened with awe.
"It's not much but it made me think of you the moment I saw it." He watched over her shoulder as she opened the cover and read the title and Chaucer's name.
"A forth addition of 'The wife of bath'." She smiled. "I hated Chaucer and his Middle English without reservation when I first picked up this book, but it was a requirement for my major. I made you spend an entire weekend with me, trying to figure out what the hell he was saying."
"I recall that weekend." Jack hoped she liked the gift.
"After that weekend, I loved Chaucer; couldn't get enough of him. Or maybe it was you I couldn't get enough of." She turned in the circle of his arms. "Thank you, Jack. I love it." The hand not holding the book drew him in for a grateful kiss. "I don't know how you happened upon a forth addition copy; they're scarce."
"Chance." Jack dropped a kiss on her forehead then moved away from her to retrieve the fruit from the fridge.
Taking a seat at one of the kitchen chairs, Jack was pleasantly surprised when Irina placed herself on his lap. "Hungry Jack?" She held a piece of melon to his lips, dripping with ripeness.
"Famished." His voice was rough with desire. Irina held tight to the fruit slice as his teeth and lips closed over half of it, sucking the juice from her fingers. The half he didn't eat; she popped into her own mouth.
With a third of the fruit devoured Irina finally acknowledged the growing bulge in Jack's lap she was sitting over. "Would you like to play Action?" She ran her tongue up his neck and sucked greedily at his ear.
"Like I said Irina, I'm famished." His hands grasped the hem of her tank-top and lifted it over her head, tossing it at their feet. The fruit had made their fingers and mouths chilled from the refrigerated air, heightening every touch. "Have I ever told you how much I love your breasts when you're pregnant. Not to say I don't love them all the time but when you're pregnant they're just-" Irina moaned as his lips covered her nipple, sucking on the sensitive tip with determination.
"Loose the shorts Jack." Irina's breathless response urged him to nip at her breast, pinching the other nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
"I'm the boss remember." The roughness of his cheeks and chin played against her soft skin when he smiled.
With shaking hands Irina lifted Jack's face to hers, imploring with her eyes what she needed. "Now Jack. I need you right now."
Shifting around as little as possible, Jack discarded his boxers and helped Irina with her own shorts, fitting her legs on either side on him. Seeking out the warmth between her folds, Jack ensured she was ready for him before lifting her off his lap. Her hands anchored on his shoulders as he slowly impaled her upon his hard member.
"I'm coming back Irina. I'll always back for you." He watched as her eyes filled with tears as he remained unmoving inside her.
"I know." Jack couldn't recall a time he had ever heard her voice so small. So unlike the fearless warrior she had been forced to mold herself into. "But I'm scared. Scared of everything." Her conspiratorial whisper was meant only for him as weakness was not a luxury she allowed herself. "Some things I'm scared of are irrational and completely unjustified but the things that terrify me most are the things that are real." Her muscles clenched around his dick, forcing him to grow harder within her. "Promise me you'll be careful. I can't live another twenty years without you."
"I promise. I'm not going anywhere. I have some of the best things to live for." Jack kissed her again, wiping away the lone tear that had escaped her soulful eyes and whispered in her ear. "Now be quiet, I'm trying to make love to my wife."
Irina squeezed her thighs muscles igniting a groan from her husband. His hips began moving, thrusting in and out of her hot wet core. She met him time and again, loving the feel of him as she sunk all the way down, rotated then pulling up, only to start the rhythm all over again.
It didn't take long for the thrusts to grow impatient and untamed. Each desperate to drive the other to their release while trying to reach their own oasis of pleasure. Irina closed her eyes, savoring how far they had come in two weeks, knowing everything she had ever wanted was only inches from her grip. But this time the life they were building would not fall through the cracks of her fingers like fine grains of sand. This time their future was that of stone; it would get chipped and scratched at times but would always remain solid.
"Open your eyes Irina. I want to see you." Jack kissed under her chin as he felt her orgasm build. With eyes trained steadily on one another, not a sound passed between them. Feeling him explode within her sent Irina off, the only thing grounding her was the look in his eyes; the look that said he loved her.
Sharp movement within her stomach alerted the lovers to their unintended audience. Suddenly Irina looked up with eyes wide, scrambling off Jack's lap, taking the warmth that surrounded his deflating member with it.
"I almost forgot I have an appointment with my doctor today." She checked the day book that sat on the kitchen counter. An object so mundane for someone of her international status yet surprisingly fitting of her contradictory nature.
"You have a doctor you can trust on the island?" Jack pulled his boxers back on, picked up Irina's cloths and followed her hurried steps upstairs.
"Yana and I have known each other since childhood. She became a doctor and I well…I became me." Irina had put a short red silk robe on to peruse her closet for something to wear to the hospital. "She was coming to my house in Russia to check on the baby and was willing to follow me to Syros for the remainder of the pregnancy." Selecting a white skirt that sat on the lower part of her stomach and travel to just above her knee, Irina placed it on the bed.
"This seems like a trend with us, but is she trustworthy?" Jack set about brushing his teeth.
"Her father was abusive. She spent a lot of time at my house; she was my only true friend growing up and I was her refuge." She explained.
"Was there a reason for the appointment?" Jack asked around his toothbrush.
"Nothing other than a check up. I'm high risk so I should see her as often as I can." Joining Jack in the bathroom, Irina took her turn brushing her teeth while Jack shaved.
"I was thinking we could eat lunch at the café at the beach. Seeing as though we'll be out anyway."
"Okay." Irina's muffled response made Jack smile.
"Are we sharing the shower?" Jack asked as he finished shaving and Irina dropped the robe and he his boxers.
"It will save time." She opened the heavy glass door, entering the granite cubicle.
"Whoever thought up sharing showers as a time saver was either extremely stupid or-"
Pulling on Jack's hand, Irina brought him into the shower with her. "-incredible brilliant." Kissing him, they moved under the spray.
HOSPITAL – SYROS
"Irina, good to see you again. How have you been feeling?" A petite black haired doctor entered the room, her accent much thicker than Irina's
"Wonderful. The baby has been more active and I've had more energy in the past few weeks than the first trimester."
"That's good to hear." She spotted Jack and looked between her patient and unknown man. "And who is this Irina?" She smiled.
"Yana, I'd like you to meet my husband Jack." Yana shook Jack's hand firmly. "I told you he really existed." Irina whispered loudly.
"I was starting to wonder Rina." Yana teased. "It's nice to meet you Jack."
"Nice to meet you as well."
"Alright, I don't have much time before my boat leaves, so let's get this done." Yana pulled out a chart she kept of Irina's pregnancy with her at home.
"Going back to Germany?" Irina laid down on the bed.
"Only for a two and a half weeks. I'll be back on the island for a few weeks after that." Yana felt around on Irina's abdomen.
"You don't live on the island?" Jack wondered aloud.
Yana laughed. "No. I love Rina like a sister but even she isn't enough to keep from wanting to spend time with my husband. He's a lawyer in Germany."
"I'll be fine Jack." Irina's assurance was not enough to ease the worry creeping over him.
"Ready for the ultrasound?" Yana pulled the machine around beside the bed.
"Yes. Let's do it quick; I have to go to the bathroom." The gallons of water she had to drink while they waited for Yana were beginning to demand attention.
"Here we go then." Moving the wand and gel over the distended surface, Yana watched the monitor. "There he is." Yana pointed in a U shape at the screen. "The head is right there and the spine and feet." Her finger followed all of the appendages she had named. "He's a great size for almost twenty-three weeks. And cute too. Only you could have a beautiful baby in-utero Rina." Yana shared a laugh with the parents to be.
Neither parent had taken their eyes off the screen and held tightly to the other's hand.
"You know, it isn't healthy to have sex passed the third month of pregnancy right Irina." Yana drew their startled attention from the monitor.
"What? No, but when I had my daughter it was-" Irina blanched at the thought. Jack paled thinking of the numerous times they made love ever day.
"I'm kidding." Yana's roar of laughter seem to startle them further. "I just wanted to make sure you two had a healthy sex life. The best mothers-to-be are the happiest and based on your response I would have to assume you're surpassing happiness and moving right onto elation." Yana continued to smile.
"That was cruel Yana." Irina glared at her doctor.
"Just repaying the favour. When we were six Irina convinced me I would turn into a tree because I ate a leaf when she dared me to." She informed Jack.
"Apparently holding a grudge is a learned trait in Russia." Jack raised his eyebrows.
"You would think." Irina pulled him down for a kiss.
"I should run if I'm going to make my boat. I'll see you in two and a half weeks. It was nice meeting you Jack." Yana kissed he and Irina on either cheek and blew out of the room as quickly as she had blown in.
"Interesting friend." Jack leaned over Irina on the bed.
"Yana is the perfect example of how to have an abnormal life without the fear of losing it." Closing the space between them, their lips met. "I think I'm ready for lunch."
"Okay, I'll bring the car up to the front of the hospital while you get changed."
Lunch at the café was relaxing and comfortable, but with Jack's departure a known inevitability. Their spot overlooking the water had also given them a view of their villa and the busy beach.
"Jack, I'm just going to run to the bathroom." She said after they had paid.
"Irina we're two minutes from the house." He rolled his eyes.
"Two minutes Jack." She responded and rushed in the ladies room.
"Jack?" He heard his name being called and turned around to face three young men.
"Do I know you?" His defenses were immediately up.
"Are you the Jack that lives in that house right there?" One of the guys pointed to the villa.
"Yes." He was suddenly more intrigued then anxious over the question.
"Dude, you're like a legend at our house. None of us had ever heard a woman scream that loud during sex man."
Realization dawn on him, with embarrassment quickly on its heals and finally good humour. "Well, you obviously weren't doing it right."
"How the hell do you do it?" The tallest of the three leaned in and dropped his voice.
"Can you gentlemen read?" He question.
"Yeah, we're all in University, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"All you have to do is read her body. It will tell you exactly what to do." The thought struck him that this may one day be his son, standing on a beach asking some guy about ways to make a woman scream. The image made him chuckle.
"That's it?"
"It's also good to remember that it was likely a woman who coined the phrase, 'slow and steady wins the race'; you're best route to go unless instructed otherwise."
"What does she look like? Did you like trade up?"
"Shut up Kyle. That is so rude." One of the other guys pushed 'Kyle' hard.
"Trade up?" Jack intoned.
"Yeah, you know, like trading in for a younger model. A younger woman." Kyle explained.
"Alright, I'm ready. I told you I would be two minutes." Irina returned to his side.
The three boys adopted smiles at getting a look at the other half of the couple. Their friends would never believe them when they told them.
"Irina, these are the boys staying across the inlet from us." His tone held an underscore of meaning which Irina picked up on.
"Really." Her eyebrows under her sunglasses. "Nice to meet you boys." She pulled the glasses up on top of her head, her gaze boring into them.
"Ni-ni-nice to me-meeeee-meet you." Each of them stumbled over the words, instantly smitten with her.
"It's getting a little too warm out for my taste Jack. We should go home and cool off in the pool." She turned back to the boys with her sexist smile. "Have a wonderful vacation boys." She sauntered up toward the parking lot, her long legs glistening brown in the bright sun.
"We've been married almost thirty years gentlemen. My suggestion to you is never trade up." He patted the shortest boy on the shoulder before walking to catch up with his wife.
"Dude was she pregnant?" Kyle asked.
"Who cares, she is so totally hot."
"I think she was pregnant." The tallest boy answered.
"Jack is definitely the man." Kyle said with the agreement of the other two. "Hey man, if they've been married for almost thirty years than she's old enough to be our mom."
"I wish I had a mom like her." The shortest boy said.
"No way man. If she was your mom you couldn't fantasize about her." The tallest boy watched with his friends as the couple drove away in their Mercedes convertible.
"Fine. I wish you had a mom like so I could fantasize about her." The shortest boy replied.
"You're sick dude. You better never look at my mother again."
LATER THAT NIGHT
"The pool seems a staple in our relationship. I remember seeing you on the deck for the first time at the swim practice. I had never seen anyone so beautiful." They were naked swimming floating in the water, darkness a perfect cover for their nervousness of the coming morning.
"You were just as a rewarding a sight when I arrived at the end of your practice. You were the most defined swimmer on the team." Irina ran her hands over his chest and stomach.
"The guys on the team took a poll that day on who would do you." Jack grinned, thinking about the envious looks he had received as they walked out to his car after practice every night.
"And what was your vote?" She held fast to his hands as they began treading water a foot from each other.
"I didn't really answer them. Just said that you weren't the type of girl you 'do', or something to that affect." Jack watched her face closely, mindful of the minutes slipping by on their last night together.
"Well then, what type of girl am I?" They began moving back toward the shallow end.
"I don't really remember what I said." Jack furrowed his brow in an attempt to resurrect the answer. Irina glanced down at the water and away from his steady gaze. "I'm almost certain I told them you were the type of girl a man falls in love with." Sliding against his body, she kissed him softly then rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Irina." Jack spoke after a long and comfortable silence.
"Yeah." She murmured, eyes closed in a sweet surrender to the night.
"I love you." Her eyes popped open as his words washed over her but she remained still otherwise; content to be held by her husband.
With a sly smile her eyes slipped close again, her reply a sigh. "Oh, okay."
Jack tensed against her and moved one of his hands down her spine to rest on her bare ass.
"Jack." Her voice held a warning tone.
"Yes."
"I love you more than I ever thought possible." Her whispered words, sent a rush from his ear to the rest of his body, but he didn't move, instead them reveled in their final truth.
"So, where the hell are the fireworks?" Jack eventually said. His gruff tone making her smile.
"I don't think that-" Irina stopped herself suddenly. "Oh my God." Jack looked at her wide eyes, focused on the landscape behind him. He turned, wanting to see what had captured her attention, only to be left speechless.
Flames danced daringly across the inlet at the house the university students had rented. Music suddenly boomed from their speakers; although its intensity eased upon reaching the other side. The flames grew higher as the music got louder.
Beside him, Irina had covered her mouth with her hand but could not maintain her control any longer. She released a deep laugh.
"Those kids are certifiable." Jack shook his head at their antics.
"There are our fireworks Jack."
The flames continued to burn, creating the words, 'Do It Up Jack and Irina!'.
"Where are you going?" He asked as Irina pulled away from him and got out of the pool.
"I'm just going to show them a little appreciation. They obviously worked very hard on their flaming sign." Wrapping herself in a towel, Irina moved to just inside the doors of the house and flickered the outside lights a few times. The music died down and an electrifying cheer went up across the water.
"You're just spurring them on." He scolded as she reentered the water.
"I think it's very sweet." Irina kissed him to silence any further comments. "I love you." She reiterated to ensure he remembered.
"I love you." He stole another kiss and chuckled. "I just hope they thought to buy fire extinguishers.
"Come on Action. Let's enjoy our personalized fireworks from the bedroom." Irina's hand wandered to his penis, giving it a light tug in an effort to get him to follow her.
"You have some of the most brilliant ideas Action." Jack stole the name, settling his hands on her hips as they climbed out of the pool.
"I've had a muse for the past two weeks. Let's go 'do it up' Jack." She threw a wicked grin over her shoulder as she walked into the house.
MORNING
Neither had slept, hoping the night would last forever and halt the coming of morning. Jack packed up the bag he arrived with, leaving the new toiletries and most of his clothing in their bathroom and dresser draws for his return.
They had made love intermittently throughout the night, content to just hold one another for the majority of it. Jack had whispered loving words in Irina's ear and to her stomach, promising them both he would return as soon as he could. Irina had been the one to leave their bed first, making a beeline for the bathroom and returning in his shirt.
"I should get showered and dressed. I need to get back to the mainland in time for my flight." His tone was sullen.
"I'm going to grab something to eat and get dressed to take you to the airstrip." Irina sat on Jack's side of the bed, closest to the window, taking his hand.
"You should get some sleep, don't worry about taking me." Her eyes closed as his fingers brushed hair from her face.
"I want to take you. I'm fine; I'll sleep when I get back."
"Promise. I need to know you'll take care of yourself."
"I promise. I'll be fine Jack." Irina bit her lip, desperate to reign in her sadness. "When do you think I'll see you again?"
"I'd be back here next week if I could but I think it would be better if I waited until the baby is due. That way I won't put either of you in danger and hopefully I'll be here for his birth."
"Three and a half months." She whispered. "Don't forget me." Her lips quirked.
"Not a chance. I've thought of you every day for the past thirty years, I've come to the conclusion that you're unforgettable Sweetheart." His lips sought hers until her smile caused them to lose coordination.
"What?" He frowned.
"What did you do on your vacation Jack?" Irina lowered her voice in an imitation of Kendall. "Called an international terrorist Sweetheart. But it's alright; I slept with her first, countless times."
"You're incorrigible." He admonished with a stunning smile. "And I'd rather my answer sounded more like…." he stroked her hair, catching pieces between his fingers every so often. "Actually Kendall, I fell in love a few hundred times. Every time my wife smiled, rolled her eyes or even just looked at me. You should really try it some time, but if you value your life I would suggest finding a different international terrorist to experience it with."
"I love you Jack." Unable to stop them, tears filled Irina's eyes.
"I love you too Irina. And before you know it, Sloane will be gone and I'll be back with you." He leaned in to kiss her eyelids.
"Give Sydney a hug and a kiss for me. And take care of our little girl." She smiled through the tears.
"You know I will, and I know you'll take care of our little boy." Nodding her head, Irina let out a breath as Jack bent over to address her stomach. "You be sure to take care of your Mother little one and remember that Daddy loves you very much."
"Three months?" Irina held him close.
"Three months." Jack confirmed softly.
TBC