Bar Harbor Maine, the next day
"Hi," Elizabeth whispered, unable to stop from kissing her adorable husband.
"Morning."
He opened his eyes, smiled and then closed them again, enjoying the quiet.
"Guess what?" she whispered again.
"Hm?"
"There's a big storm coming so I think we may get snowed in," she told him, all but squealing in excitement.
"When does it start? We should go get extra supplies."
"Tomorrow and you know what that means? That we don't have to go anywhere for hours."
"Perfect."
"I'm going to go make coffee. Want some?" She got up and threw his t-shirt on.
"No. I'd rather have you come back over here."
"You could come with me."
"Its warm under the covers."
She smiled and opened the door. "I'll be right back."
She came back ten minutes later and slipped under the covers but stayed sitting so she could sip her coffee.
She watched the sunrise as Lucas softly snored next to her. It was so different and wonderful to sleep next to someone again. To go to sleep in their arms and feel safe and protected. To be a wife.
To be a mom. She really loved Aria, as if she had carried her for nine months. She loved her exuberance for life, her gorgeous smile and delightful giggle.
"Happy?" Lucas asked quietly.
"Very." She sighed. "You'll think I'm crazy but I miss Aria."
"Not crazy. That makes you a good mom."
"I want to be. I love her so much."
"I know," he whispered, moving so he was using her as a pillow, his arm across her lap. "She loves you just as much."
"And you, Mr. Bouchard?" she asked, running her fingers through his hair.
"My love has no limits."
….
Later
Elizabeth lounged on the couch in warm clothes, wrapped in Lucas' arms as she read a book. He assured her that it was fine to enjoy the book. He would just be enjoying holding her.
She closed the book and turned to look at him. "Let's go use the hot tub."
"Okay!" She giggled at his excitement. The hot tub was outside in the weather however it was under a wood canapy on the deck so they were protected.
She put on her black bikini and then covered herself with a robe and laughed as she pulled on her boots.
"What's funny?" Lucas asked as he walked in, already wearing his trunks.
"I'm wearing a bikini, a robe and boots and we are going outside in a snowstorm. Just seemed funny to me."
"You look amazing. Hot, really. So hot you might melt all the snow."
"Look at you," she pointed out. "Those abs and your strong arms," she said, fanning herself. "Woo!"
He slipped his arms around her waist and gave her a snow-melting kiss, his hands roaming a bit. "Mm, let's stay inside," he suggested.
"Sold!"
…..
The roads were blocked for the next few days but finally, on their fourth day in Bar Harbor, they decided it was safe to leave the house and do some sightseeing.
"We need to get a present for Aria, babe," she told him as they made their way through the still partially snow-covered roads.
"Okay. There are some shops downtown. Let's go wander."
That sounded perfect. Wandering from shop to shop, holding hands, sipping coffee, stealing kisses.
He grabbed her hand as they walked down the sidewalk. "Hon, let's get some coffee," she suggested.
"Sure. That sounds great." It was about 35 degrees and breezy so hot tea or coffee sounded good.
They found a cozy Cafe on the corner of Main and settled into the booth by the fireplace. Instead of sitting across from her, he sat down next to her.
"Hey."
She smiled and kissed his still cool lips. "Hi, sweetheart."
"I've been thinking."
"About?"
"Maybe not waiting until summer to try to have a baby."
"Really?" She stopped herself from getting too excited just yet. "What changed your mind?"
He threaded their fingers together and looked into her beautiful blue eyes.
"Life is short. You and I both know that. I don't want to wait to grow our family. I want to enjoy every single second and every single little person God sees fit to bless us with."
She cupped both sides of his face in her hands and gave him a slow kiss. "That makes me so happy. Let's start!"
"Love, we are shopping and sightseeing today," he laughed as she tried to push him out of the booth.
"True, we do need to get something for Aria. Oh and Helen as a thank you for watching her."
"Exactly."
"But later, it's you and me and a little baby making."
…..
The rest of their trip was magical. Time alone as a newly married couple wouldn't come easy at home with their almost eight year old so they took advantage of every spare moment.
They shopped more, slept in more, used the hot tub, and watched movies. It was perfect.
Lucas took her hand as the airplane took off to take them back to Massachusetts.
"I think we should come back here with Aria one day," he told her. "During the summer and fall when we can go on a whale watching tour and train ride and not freeze."
She nodded and leaned against his shoulder.
"You alright?"
"I'm perfect."
He softly touched her chin to bring her mouth to his. "I love you, Elizabeth Bouchard," he whispered.
"I love you more."
He rested his forehead against her temple and dozed along with her for the short trip home. He was perfect too.
….
"Mommy! Daddy!" Aria yelled as they walked in Elizabeth's house. "I missed you sooooooo much!"
Lucas picked her up and hugged her tight. He had missed her too but he tried to concentrate on Elizabeth for that week.
"We missed you too, bugs," Elizabeth said getting her hug. "Tell me what you and Nana did while we were gone."
"Let me show you!"
Helen walked in and smiled at both of them, accepting a kiss on the cheek from her son. "Hello, dear."
"Hi, Mom."
"You look happy."
"Shouldn't I be?" he asked, rolling their suitcases down the hall.
"Of course you should. Just making a statement."
He walked into the laundry room and started dumping dirty clothes in the washer. His phone rang as he was adding detergent. His former boss at Charlton Memorial Hospital.
"Cameron? How are you, sir?"
"Just fine. I was wondering if you could work today?"
"Well, sir, I just got home from my honeymoon plus I don't work at Charlton anymore." Had he forgotten?
"Congratulations and yes, I know that you don't technically work here but you still have privileges here. We have a serious case that I know that you would be perfect for."
"I am scheduled to be at Rose Memorial tomorrow. I'm knee deep in my research and since I've been gone for the last week, I really need to head there. I'm sorry, sir."
"Let me explain what we are dealing with here and maybe I can change your mind."
……
Lucas leaned back against the wall in the laundry room, his mind turning and trying to grasp the case Cameron just told him about. The head cardio-thoracic surgeon's wife had breast cancer. Not the easier to treat kind. Angiosarcoma. She had breast cancer almost 20 years before and now it had returned and had spread to her lungs and bones. Stage 4.
"Sweetheart?" Elizabeth said, finding him in the laundry room. "What's wrong?"
"Cam Carver called me."
"From Charlton?"
"Yeah. He wants me to consult for him on an Angiosarcoma case. I want to help but I'm needed at Rose."
"Can your team be without you a little longer?"
"Yes but I am working on that research article and I don't want to just drop the ball."
"Well, babe, as amazing and wonderful you are, you can't split yourself into two people," she told him, hugging his waist. He wrapped his arms around her too.
"Too bad." He sighed, loving that he got to hold her whenever he wanted. She smelled good too.
"Not to bombard you but you should see what Helen and Aria did to her room. Its looks really great."
"I'll come see but I need to call my team and see if they can do without me for a few more days."
"Hey," she said quietly, looking at the doorway.
"What?"
She smiled and shut the door and then wrapped her arms around him again. "I love you. I hope that after you call your team, you can relax for the rest of the day."
He leaned down and captured her mouth with his, slowly making them both forget about everything else for a moment.
He started to lift her t-shirt over her head but she stopped him. "Babe, your mom and Aria are out there and this door doesn't lock."
"Let's go to our room then."
They opened the door and almost ran into Helen, making Elizabeth turn bright red. "Um we were just…."
"What's for dinner?" Lucas asked, changing the subject.
"I want pizza!" Aria yelled from down the hall. "Please!"
"I'll go check to see if we have the ingredients." She kissed him quickly. "You go call your team, okay, babe?"
"But I thought…"
Elizabeth winked and walked away.
They decided to head out to get pizza instead of grocery shopping. Elizabeth would do that the next day after dropping Aria off st school. She had one more day off work so she would get the house clean and do errands, including taking Helen to the airport.
"Night, Nana. I'll miss you," Aria told her as she was getting ready for bed.
"Night, baby girl. I'll miss you too."
"Maybe you could move here."
"My house is in San Diego. But I'll visit and you and your parents can visit me."
"Okay!"
Helen walked to the kitchen to make her nightly tea and found Lucas doing the same.
"Lucas?"
"Mom."
"Are you worried about work?"
"Not worried. Feeling like I want to be in three places at once but I can only choose one."
"You're an important man, dear."
"I feel like my job is important anyway."
"It is." He hugged her for a moment.
"Thank you, Mom. For watching Aria. We really appreciate it."
"My pleasure." She patted his shoulder and continued making her tea.
Elizabeth walked downstairs a bit later after story time.
"I'll head to Aria's room to get some rest," Helen told them, squeezing Elizabeth's hand.
"See you in the morning."
"Honey, do you want tea?" Lucas asked Elizabeth.
"Nope. I think we need to go to bed."
"I agree but I still want tea."
She smiled at him and started walking away. "Remember that white lace teddy you liked so much?"
"How could I forget?"
"I'm going to put that on. Wanna join?"
"Forget the tea! Let's go!"
