26

We sampled funnel cake, fried cookie dough, raw cookie dough, muffins, cupcakes, hot dogs and burgers and chicken. I felt so bad because I was already so full. And we had shared everything we got. Otto was still a bit anxious when we happened to find ourselves in a crowd. His hand would squeeze mine as he looked about looking for an exit. He was a killer used to sneaking up on people he had to be on his guard. So I always guided him away from the crowd where not everyone was around her. And then he would continue to smile like a child at the zoo looking around at everyone again. There was more dancing and music playing on instruments brought by the performers. It reminded me of the Prince of Egypt when Brian Stokes Mitchell was singing Through Heaven's Eyes. I let go of Otto's hand and began to dance on my own off on the grass just shaking my hips with the beat of the music. It was not like the late Shantay's pool party, but it felt more cultural.

No one was wearing tight clothes or booty shorts. It was wholesome. Otto watched with a warm gaze as I moved, my hips hypnotizing him almost. I moved up to him twirling around his large form and he just watched me as I did, his cheeks reddening almost.

"Dance with me!" I exclaimed taking his hands. His body tightened and he shook his head.

"I cannot do these dances." he replied looking down almost shyly. I paused now in front of him, his face seemed to drop in almost sadness as if he had ruined the moment. I smiled up at him and stepped closer to him, his eyes avoiding my gaze. With my hand I used it to flatten my palm against his and he looked at our hands as I rose them up between our bodies.

"Follow my feet." I replied and his eyes looked up at me slowly before looking down at our feet. Slowly I began to move from side to side and his large boots began to hesitantly do the same. With my left hand I gently placed my hand on his hip and he looked at me curiously. I kept smiling as I gently swayed my hips from left to right. He picked up on my hand trying to do his hips the same and he accidently moved to the opposite direction and started to recoil. I shook my head raising my hand from his hip to his cheek.

"It's okay to mess up." I soothed, and he looked at me softly and nodded before looking back down to my feet. His body began to sway with mine, my right hand never leaving his left hand he was swaying softly with me now. He looked down at me with an exuberant smile and my smile widened more. I then raised our connected palms so I could gently twirl under it and he held my hand so I could do so. Our chests met again and even though we were not dancing to the beat of the performer's drums, we were in tune with each other. We were moving to the beat of our own drums. He didn't know where to put his free hand and slowly it cupped my side.

I nodded to show it was in the right place. I then gently moved out from him, our hands still together and then spun myself back into him this time my back pressed against his stomach. God maybe 6'5? Either way his arms locked around my chest and we just swayed against each other for a moment. I melted into his warmth and I felt his cheek pressed into the top of my head. I smiled feeling as if we were the only ones here. After a minute or two, I finally turned to face him and he looked down at me with soft eyes. I smiled and leaned up on my tip toes and he smiled and leaned down so our lips could meet in a soft kiss.

Something was different about this kiss too. It was passionate and more caring than before. He wrapped his arms around me pulling me into him. This kiss was gentle and loving. I pulled back and looked up at him with a warm smile.

"If we wait too long the farmer's market will be closed." I replied and he nodded in agreement and with his hand around mine, we walked back to my truck and took off. We made it to the farmer's market and bought enough food to fill the kitchen up. Otto bought fruits and vegetables that he knew he and his brothers would eat. He bought different fishes, eggs, pork and beef. We still made it to the store to get a few other items that I liked. We even got the lasagna ingredients. The back seat was full of bags. We made it back home and I honked the horn to alert the others.

Axel and Oscar came out within a few minutes and moved to the truck to help. Oscar pecked my lips swiftly before moving to Otto's side to help. I smiled at him and then at Axel as he smiled warmly at me approaching to place a warm lasting kiss on my lips as well. We got everything inside in a timely manner and they helped put things away. Now everything was full I nudged Otto's side.

"Everything is full now." I replied. He nodded admiring the kitchen with pride placing his hands on his hips as if he had just finished some big project.

"Everything is perfect." he replied down at me and I smiled up at him then looked over at Oscar and Axel who were pulling out some salmon and fresh broccoli and carrots. They smiled at me and began to remove my pots and pans. I nodded in agreement looking at Otto.

"Perfect."

Two weeks had passed and no word from Commission about an assignment. I was fine with that, but my Swedish lovers were not very happy about it. They liked staying busy and they liked having a purpose. Oscar and Otto would play their violent knife game outside on the grass and I couldn't stop them since it wasn't in the house. Axel would just watch as if he was protector of the land. Oscar got Otto in the inner thigh and he did not like that. They would start fighting and Axel would smirk in approval. I would get up to stop them and when their roughness moved to shoving me out the way, then Axel shut it down.

It usually ended with both younger triplets hugging me and apologizing. It was Sunday now and I had made a large breakfast for everyone. We were at the table eating. My eyes glanced to the window. Soon it would be getting cold and I looked at the boys.

"So October is coming and with it will be colder days. Do you want to go back to Sigtuna during these times?" I asked. All three brothers whipped their heads up at me.

"NO!" they blurted. I blinked rapidly listening to them all explain how they weren't leaving me here by myself in this house. I must be crazy! I raised my hands.

"Okay. I was just asking! So this means we need to get you all some jackets." I replied. Oscar shrugged and pointed to the front door where their coats hung off the coat rack. I shook my head. "You can't wear the same thing all the time." Axel inhaled and exhaled in thought before looking at his brothers and then looking at me and nodding. I smiled and nodded.

"Then it is settled. We will go into town and shop. You all need to get out of here, you're driving each other crazy." I said. The three looked at each other confused as if they didn't know what I was talking about. "Correction you're driving me crazy." Otto and Oscar leaned into their seats some ducking their faces.

"Come on it'll be fun. We've been lucky to not be on a mission during super cold weather, but soon it will happen." I said looking at Axel wanting his approval. His eye scanned my face some before slowly he nodded holding his hand out to me.

"We shop." he replied. I smiled taking his hand and looking at Otto and Oscar.

"And you will behave?" I asked. Otto and Oscar loved fighting that much I was sure, but they could get mean if they took it too seriously, and we could not have that happen in public again. The two looked at each other and nodded before Oscar looked at me and held his hand out to me.

"We will behave." he promised although I felt I'd still have to watch them. But I smiled and took his hand and both he and Axel raised the front of my palms to their lips and kissed them gently. I looked between them both and nodded.

"Good." I replied. After cleaning up the kitchen, the boys dressed in their usual attire and I slid on a white dress peppered in sunflowers.