Sammy and Ilna, love you guys to the moon.

REAL McRollers and Readers, we are always so touched when you share a personal experience that you relate to a story. Love you all.

Little More Than a Dream

"Mommy!" Angie burst onto the deck looking for Catherine with Cammie hot on her heels, and Elizabeth a step behind. Seeing her father, she pulled up short and lifted her arms for a hug. "Where's Mommy at?"

He laughed. "Some people just say hello." He kissed her cheek when she giggled and said, "Hi Daddy!" then set her down.

"Mommy and DJ went to the store. They'll be back in a little while." He glanced up at Elizabeth. "Did you thank Grandma for dinner?"

She nodded vigorously. "We had chicken fingers and fries. Den we went to da soap store. I got bubbles."

Elizabeth's grin was unrepentant. "She helped me pick out new guest soaps for the bathrooms, and they had the nicest selection of sample sizes."

Steve grinned. "And you got some bubbles, hmm?"

"I got somet'ing for you and Mommy an' DJ."

Elizabeth held up a bag. "Here you go. Save them for bath time." She knelt to hug and kiss Angie goodbye. "I'll see you for gymnastics, sweetheart," she said with a wave, and was escorted to the deck door by Cammie when she left.

Steve stretched out on the bed while Catherine exited the bathroom, tossed a towel in the hamper and joined him. "Bathing suited bubblefest …" She shook her head. "Who'd have imagined?"

"That the soaking tub would become a kids' bubblefest? Definitely not us."

"And how cute was it that she got us all something?"

"Very. Superman soap." He smiled at their daughter's choice for him. "And DJ loves that expanding towel," he said of the tiny square that blossomed into a full sized towel when introduced to water. The eight year old was quick to say he'd pack it in his baseball bag because it was blue and red, making his sister clap with delight.

Catherine held up the kid sized bottle she'd been proudly handed and told to use "fo' later so you smell pretty when you go to sleep." Angie had seen her apply lotion before bed enough times to know her mommy's routine. "Let's see what Sparkling Princess Lotion smells like," she said while uncapping the lid.

When the scent emanated into the air, she smiled softly at a memory, catching Steve's eyes as he remembered as well. "Bubblegum." She blinked rapidly. "Long time ago, hmmm?"

His gaze held hers, remembering when shopping with Grace had yielded shampoo of a similar scent. "May, 2014."

"And you still remember every scent I've ever used." She shook her head. When he'd revealed that he knew everything he'd ever smelled on her, she'd thought he was teasing; until he had rattled them off with ease.

She also remembered his expression of awe, gratitude and love when it dawned on him that she'd never used any scented products when they'd been together while he was active with the teams. Scents could cause enemy detection. She leaned in and kissed him softly.

"I realized you'd done whatever you could to keep me as safe as possible," he said. "I don't know how I hadn't made the connection before that night." His brow furrowed slightly at the idea. "You've had my back forever."

"When you thanked me that night," her smile lit her eyes and she leaned down for another kiss, "your expression took my breath away."

"What I should have said that night was 'I love you.' From day one, and more every day."

Shaking her head and placing her palm against his cheek, she smiled knowingly. "You did. Just like you always did, with actions. Long before you said the words. Besides," she sighed. "You said it out loud when you were ready. At the right time on our path."

He kissed her back, softly. "Thank you for that, too." When he pulled away slightly, his eyes were lit from within. As he leaned back for another kiss, they chuckled against each other's lips because little footsteps were padding down the hall.

"To be continued." Steve placed his forehead against hers for a second before leaning back, saying, "Come in," at the hand-slapping knock at their door.

"You're supposed to be asleep, baby girl," her mother said as the four year old stepped up to Steve's side of the bed.

Peering over him at her mommy, Angie grinned. "I was sleepin' den I woked up to see if you tried you' princess lotion."

Holding up the bottle that was still in her hand, Catherine motioned her now beaming little girl up on the bed. "I did, and you know what?"

"What, Mommy?"

"This is my new very favorite lotion, because you chose it for me, it smells very pretty and it reminded me and Daddy of a very nice memory."

"You 'membered dat princess lotion?" She pushed her hair out of her eyes as she looked between her parents.

"Something very much like it, from a long time ago," Steve told her and ran a hand over her head before kissing the sleep tousled curls.

"A long time ago when I was little?" The phrase made them share a grin.

"A long time ago when you were little more than a dream," Catherine said and placed a dab of the sweet-smelling concoction on the tiny nose, making Angie giggle. With a kiss to her cheek, she said, "I love my princess lotion and I love you for picking it out. Now how about if I walk you back to your room and you have some sweet dreams?"

Angie nodded happily. "I love you, Mommy," she said as her little arms wound around her mother's neck in a hug before doing the same to Steve. "Love you, Daddy, night, night. Have good dreams," she repeated the phrase to her parents that they often told her and DJ at bedtime.

As she slid off the bed, Catherine got up to follow. When they moved towards the door, she glanced over her shoulder, smiled at Steve and whispered, "Thank you, baby girl. Only good dreams, promise," indicating the sweetness of the moment shared with their four year old, who had no idea she'd triggered a beautiful memory.

"Thank you, Angie." Steve's lip twitched with his smile as he added, "Love you both."

# End. Thanks for reading!

This story references my story BUBBLEGUM published in May of 2014

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