Chapter Eight

Sunlight streamed through the curtains as Molly drowsily opened her eyes. She blinked several times before recognizing the face of her lover hovering over her as he lightly stroked her arm. She smiled, reaching up to touch him, making sure he was real. John nuzzled her palm with his cheek, placing a chaste kiss in it. Molly's smiled broadend as she pulled him down for a passionate kiss.

"Now that's a good morning I could get used to," he murmured, pulling her over to lay, half on top of him. Holding her tightly, John couldn't believe how fantastic he'd felt, waking up with Molly in his arms. He hadn't lied the night before when he told her he'd never wanted another woman the way he wanted her. With most women he was gone long before the sun rose, but with Molly it was different. He had lain there that morning, watching the sunrise crawl across her shoulder and touch the delicate beauty of her sleeping form. John had been perfectly happy to lay there staring until the pretty little diva had woke up.

Seeing the glow that brightened John's eyes, Molly instinctively knew that her feelings about the night before were the same as his. She smiled,running her fingertips lightly across his jaw. "Sleep well?"

"Like the dead." John said, turning to capture her questing fingers in a gentle kiss.He sighed and sesemed to settle deeper into the bed. "So, Marvelous Molly, what are we gonna do today?" She rested her head against his shoulder, her voice muffled.

"Stay in bed all day." John laughed, tugging her closer to him. He nuzzled the top of her head, forcing her to look up at him. When she did, he captured her lips in a soul-searing kiss leaving Molly breathless.

"As you wish."

They lay there, drifting in and out of sleep for the next hour before John awoke Molly, making slow, gentle love to her body. Then each showered and dressed, giggling and laughing like children. Downstairs, John went to the fridge, looking for something to fix them for breakfast.

"How about I make you one of my famous omelets, baby?" Molly smiled, enjoying the endearment he'd taken to calling her. She nodded and a short while later they sat down to steaming plates of fluffy eggs with cheese, jalapenos, sausage, onion and tomato. They talked about things from their pasts, who they had been as children and what their childhoods had been like. Molly smiled and reached across the table, taking John's hand in hers.

"Thank you." He smiled, bringing her hands to his lips to gently kiss her knuckles. "What for?" Molly blushed and pulled her hands away, rising to take their empty plates to the sink. She sat the dishes down and turned, her arms across her chest, as though trying to keep her feelings from slipping out.

"For being so understanding and gentle with me last night. And this morning." she pushed away from the sink to step over to John's chair. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head just below her breasts. Molly hugged him to her, running her fingers through his disheveled hair. After a moment she felt, rather than saw John sigh and stiffened. She knew that this would have to end today. John had told her just the day before that he wasn't ready to be a "one woman man" and Molly knew going into it that this was more of a "best friends with benefits" deal. He may have never wanted a woman the way he wanted her last night, but that didn't mean she was the only one he wanted. She steeled herself against the tears that suddenly welled up behind her eyes and pasted a fake smile on her face. Pushing back from John, she turned to start cleaning up the mess they'd made while fixing breakfast. Trying for a nonchalant attitude, Molly tried to let him know that she understood.

"So, I guess you'll want to get home soon. I mean, this is your vacation and all and Isaac and I have been monopolizing your time..." She heard him laugh and could just imagine him tilting the chair back on two legs. She didn't dare turn around, knowing that her face told everything.

"I like being around you and Isaac...but you're right. I do have to go see someone today." Glancing up at the clock her saw that it was already 10:30, and his mother was usually out shopping until 11:00 or so. "I should get ready." He came up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. Molly allowed herself the luxury of leaning into him, knowing that it would be the last time. "Can I come over to see you tonight?" She closed her eyes, willing herself not to let him see her cry. If only he really meant it...

"Uh, well, I'm suppose to take Izik to a birthday party.." She felt his chest rumble behind her as he chuckled.

"Okay. Well, I'll call you then, how about that?" Finally she turned and smiled weakly at him.

"Of course." John took her by the hand, pulling her into the front hall with him. When they stopped, she stumbled, directly into his arms.

"Hhhhmmm...now this I could get used to." Molly didn't have time to respond, as his mouth assaulted hers. His tongue ran lightly across the seam of her lips and when she gasped, it slid into the dark recesses of her mouth. Their mouths fed off of one another... anyone watching them would assume that they were madly in love.

John broke the kiss and stared down at Molly. Her eyes opened slowly, holding that slumberous look that made him instantly hard. He groaned, pulling her back into his arms to ravage her sweet mouth again. He stopped, gasping for air.Leaning his head down to meet Molly's, he looked into her eyes. And it was at that moment John knew what was happening: He was falling in love with her. His eyes took on an almost trapped look and he stumbled away. Grasping the door handle he managed a "I'll call you later, baby." and left, oblivious to the tears trailing down Molly's cheeks and the sobs wracking her body as she slid down into a heap after the door had closed.

"So you finally come to visit your mum." John laughed as his mother, Sophia Cena opened the door reaching for her baby boy. "It's about time." He hugged her close, savoring the familiar smell of jasmine she always wore. He grinned, having missed that and her lilting Scottish accent. Though she'd lived in the states for almost thirty years, Sophia had never lost the brogue of her native tongue. Sophia pulled back from her son and said, "Now tell me, who is she?"

John chuckled at that. She'd always known when he was upset or confused about a girl when he was in high school and now that he was an adult, things hadn't changed. His smile faded, though as he thought about the woman he was involved with at the moment. Figuring out that he was in love with Molly had hit him like a ton of bricks. "Love" wasn't a word he used freely...in fact, he'd never uttered those three little words to any woman, save his mother. But he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt that love was what he was feeling towards the little diva. Taking in her son's frown, she pulled him into the house, starting toward the kitchen. "She must be someone you're serious about." John shook his head to clear it of his thoughts.

"I love her."

Sophia stopped abruptly, causing John to run into her. She turned and John saw the tears that brightened her eyes. "Ach, baby, are you sure?" He nodded, perfectly aware that his mother knew he'd never before said those words. She laughed, hugging him close. "I'm so happy for you, baby. When do I get to meet her?" John pulled out of his mother's grasp still frowning.

"That's just it, mom. I haven't told her yet." He led her over to the table. sitting down still holding her hand. "She's got a son." Sophia's eyes welled with tears again as she sniffled.

"A grandson? I get to be a grandmother already?" John grinned, settling back in his chair. Obviously his mother took it for granted that he would "get the girl" and that Molly would have the same feelings. As far as marriage went, well...if his admission of love didn't scare her away, that would. There's was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to marry Molly. It was the natural progression of things in his mind: meet a girl, fall in love, get married.

"Yep. He's five and his name is Izik." He went on to tell his mother about meeting Molly in the airport, the flight home, swapping laggage, and spending the day with Molly and Izik. Idley, he pulled at the edge of the tablecloth, uncertain how to go about this next piece of information. "Mom, Molly's had it pretty rough these last five years. Her parents died on her 20th birthday, she moved to a strange new city and started a new job as a professional wrestler...all the time having Izik." Sophia asked the question he knew had been coming.

"Well, what about Izik's father? Didn't he help out?" Taking a deep breath, John relayed the story of Izik's conception to his mother. Her eyes widened as the story progressed so that by the end of it, they were more than twice their normal size.

"That brute! What a jackass! Why, if I could get my hands on him..."

"You'd have to wait in line." He smiled and leaned across the table to kiss her cheek. "Thank you." She looked at him, startled.

"And what are ye thanking me for?" Her accent becoming thicker during her angry outburst.

"For accepting and caring enough to want to beat hell out of this asshole." The anger fled Sophia as quickly as it arose.

"John, love, I trust your judgment. And I know that I'll love Molly, simply because of the fact that you chose her and she is the woman of your heart."

John told her of his plan to win Molly over, explaining that he wanted to take his time and not scare her away. He told her about Izik and how he had come to love the little boy, and how he always made John smile. Hearing the clock chime the hour, he looked up, startled at the sound. "It's already 2 o'clock? I better go, I've got some stuff to finish at the house." He rose and accepted the huge hug his mother smothered him in.

"I'm so happy for you, baby." She squeezed hard once, then pulled back to look into those eyes, so much like his father's. "I want to meet her as soon as you tell her, understand?" He smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Don't worry, you'll be the first person to know."

Tossing his keys on the counter as he came in the front hall, John stopped abruptly upon seeing the flashing red light on his answering machine. An overwhelming feeling of dread crept into his bones as he reached over to press the play button. Immediately Molly's hysterical voice came through the speaker.

"John. Please , if you're there, answer... okay, Aunt Nora's had a heart attack. I'm taking Izik and we're catching the first flight to Alabama. That's were Bob and Crash are." She paused, as though unsure of what to say next. "Please. I need you." The message ended. The machine quoted the time of the call, some 2 hours ago.

Making a mad dash up the stairs, he hurriedly threw some clothes into his duffel and headed out, phoning to tell his mom what had happened. He drove like a mad man to Molly's house, only to find her car gone. This must mean she's at the airport. he drove stealthily towards the airport, knowing that there was very little possibility of her getting a flight out that quickly. Finally finding a parking spot, he ran into the building, up to the desk of the airline they had flown on earlier.Praying that she had stuck with this company, he asked the man behind the counter if they had any flights heading for Alabama.

"Yes, sir. There's a plane leaving in and hour for Huntsville. Would you like me to book you a ticket?"

"Maybe. I need to know if you have another passenger that's bought a ticket."

"I'm sorry sir, that information is class--" His words were cut off as John reached out, grabbing up a fistful of the man's shirt, drawing him closer.

"Listen, chump, you are going to tell me right now if you have a Molly Holly on board that flight. And if you don't...I'll rip your tonsils out through your asshole. Got it?" The man nodded, terrified as he looked the information.

"There is a Miss Holly that purchased two tickets earlier...One for herself and a child." John quickly pulled out his wallet and tossed his platinum card and a fifty dollar bill on the counter.

"Whatever section she's in, I want the seat next to it." Taking the fifty dollar bill and sliding it into the breast pocket of the man's suit, he said ,"That's for your trouble." As soon as the ticket was purchased John grabbed his duffel and went in search of Molly. he found her at the gate, waiting patiently, with a sleeping Izik nestled against her side. John's throat tightened at the sight. God, he loved her -- them. Coming up quietly behind her, he softly placed a kiss on the exposed patch of skin on her neck where her hair was lifted off it in a ponytail. Gasping , she turned quickly. Her eyes welled with tears unchecked as she gently slide out from under Izik's sleeping form and stood for John to wrap her in his strong arms.

"Oh, John! I'm so scared! What if someting happens before we get there? What if I don't get to tell her I love her one last time? How am I gonna make it without her? She a major part in the family I've got left." Molly sobbed into his chest for a few minutes, occasionally hiccupping. When she pulled back, he brushed a kiss across the tip of her nose and wiped away her tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"Molly, baby, she'll be fine. I'm here and you don't have to go through this alone." He pulled her close to lightly kiss her lips. "You don't ever have to go through something like this alone again." Molly gave a quivering smile as John led her back to the bench where Izik lay sleeping. Sitting down and pulling a reluctant Molly onto his lap, he gestured toward the small boy. "What did you tell Izik?"

She looked down at her son, her eyes watering again. "I told him that Aunt Nora was very sick and that we had to go see her." She covered her mouth in an attempt to hold back the sob that escaped her. "He asked me if she was gonna die...I had to tell him the truth, John..." He rocked her, cradling her in his arms and murmured nonsense in her ear calming her. "He cried himself to sleep."

John's heart ached at the thought of the little boy crying. Izik had come to mean so much to him in such a short period of time. He pressed a kiss against Molly's forehead, causing the diva to look up. It was as if a shield had been dropped over her eyes and her manner changed abruptly. Scooting off his lap, she sat down and lifted Izik into her arms once again, careful not to disturb the sleeping child. Settling herself, she turned and took in the bewildered look on John's face.

"I'm sorry I dragged you out here, John. I was histerical and didn't know what I was doing. Please, don't let me spoil your vacation." Sliding closer to Molly, he slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him.

"Spoil my vacation? What are you talking about, Molly?" She looked up at him and allowed a tiny flicker of hope to start in her heart at the emotions she saw playing upon his face.

"I know you had better plans than this...like this morning you went to visit..."

"My mother." he finished for her, frowning. "Baby, what does this have to do with my vacation? I always go see my parents when I'm home." Realization dawned when Molly bit her lip at his admission and turned her head, blushing twenty shades of red. "You thought I was with another woman?" She nodded, keeping her head down. Chuckling, he raised her chin with his fingertips, brushing his lips across hers softly. "Molly, believe me when I say you don't have to worry about that." He hesitated, knowing he had to let her know at least part of his feelings for her. Slipping off the bench to kneel at her feet, John braced himself on her knees, grasping her hands tightly. "I know we haven't known each other but three days, but Molly, I have never wanted another woman the way I want you. I can't get your face out of my head, or your taste off of my lips. I feel as if we've known each other our whole lives, but at the same time feel like I could spend the rest of mine getting to know you even more." Bringing her hands to his lips, he kissed the palms, leaning into them when they found their way to his cheeks. He glanced up and saw the tears that brightened her eyes. "Aw, damn, sweetheart, I didn't mean to upset yo--" he was cut off by a finger pressed to his lips. Molly pulled him closer and kissed him , pouring everything in her heart into that kiss.

John felt like he couldn't breath. His head was floating and the buzz in his ears was deafening. Pulling away before he could take the kiss deeper, Molly smiled at him. "I -- I feel the same, John. I've never felt the way I did when I woke up in your arms this morning." He brushed the hair from her eyes, gazing deeply into the cobalt blue depths. His heart flip-flopped at what he saw and he grinned.

"Well, Miss Molly, you are defintiely gonna feel that way again, 'cause I don't plan on waking up with you not in my arms."

They settled in, waiting for the plane to arrive and discussed what all Molly had been told about her aunt's condition. She explained that Crash and Bob were in Alabama at the "old homestead" trying to fix it up. Aunt Nora had been fine, fixing breakfast in the old kitchen when Crash had walked in, finding her gasping for breath on the floor. She'd had a heart attack, the doctor's said, but that's all that Crash had been able to tell her before he'd had to go.

Hearing their flight announced a short time later, John gently lifted Izik and carried him onto the plane, all the while in a deep sleep. They found their seats and strapped themselves in, waiting to take off. Feeling the plane move underneath them, Molly's hand snaked out, grabbing John's and entertwining their fingers. He smiled to reassure her that they were fine and she just couldn't hold back the question that had been going through her mind since earlier.

"Di--did you mean what y-you said earlier? About me sleeping in your arms?" John smiled and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to his side.

"Absolutely. As a matter of fact, you can feel free to start now if you like." Molly giggled, bringing an answering chuckle from him. She snuggled deeper against him and breathed deeply, savoring his scent. It would be a while before they reached Huntsville and she knew that she'd be in John's arms when she awoke.

John watched as her eyes drifted closed and her breathing evened out in sleep. he kissed the top of her head and reveled in the feel of her against him. Yeah, things would be okay. He would win her heart, before she knew it.