Happy March, everybody! Only 18 more days until spring! :D

Sorry for such a long delay between these two chapters. Unfortunately, I just entered my busiest time of the year at work, so my days have been stretched thin. That being said, I did not want to leave this story hanging for months on end, so I chipped away at this chapter, which ultimately led me to 7,100 words! Miracles do happen XD Hopefully that makes up for the delay?

Also, a special thank you to the fabuuuuulous beta and friend, Pia Bartolini. Her amazing edits AND her suggestion for me to expand more on one of the sections below really helped this chapter come alive. And so, I made sure to fulfill the request she's been asking for. Tee hee. Hehehehehe.

I hope you all enjoy!

5:00 comes way too quickly.

The alarm on my phone pulses throughout the room, bringing me out of my coma-like state. I fumble my fingers against the touchscreen, tapping erratically to silence the dreadful noise. Silence fills the room once more, and while I am tempted to give myself a well-deserved nine more minutes of snoozing, I know that I need to get downstairs within the next hour if I'm going to have that room ready for today's meeting.

I let out a grunt as I kick off the covers, skin cooling as it is freed from the confines of the comforter. I extend my arms out wide, taking a deep stretch to wake my body further, before swinging my legs around the edge of the mattress. I trudge to the bathroom and turn on the faucet, routinely feeling the temperature of the water before turning on the showerhead. When steam begins to fill the room I finally begin to wake up.

Nothing beats a nice, hot shower in the morning. Well, except for a cup of coffee.

I shuffle back into the bedroom and flip on the desk lamp. I mindlessly prep the coffee maker with the complimentary coffee kit that came with the room. With a quick switch of the 'on' button, the scent of liquid caffeine fills the room.

I exhale a satisfied sigh; if you think a hot shower is nice, try having your coffee in the shower. It's the ultimate wakeup call.

Coffee in hand I return to the bathroom, placing the ceramic on the edge of the tub as I shuck off my pajamas and slip into the steamy haven I've created. I tip my head back under the spray and compare my own fingers running over my scalp to the memory of Darien doing just that yesterday morning. The thought has me biting my lip with a the twinge of desire. A man's fingers raking through my hair has always been a turn-on for me.

Shaking free from the recollections, I pour shampoo into my hands and begin to vigorously rub at my scalp, dribbles of soap sliding down my body as a result. The sensation from the suds immediately reminds me of Darien's fingers, how they explored my bare skin, fingertips grazing against the most intimate of spots. How he burned trails across me with the heat of his hand.

Whoa. Calm down, girl.

I squeeze my eyes shut and duck back under the shower head, washing the soap from myself in haste. Now is not the time to be working myself up in the shower. Before thinking another sexually provoking thought, I pool conditioner into my hands and finger-comb it through my hair. I reach for my cup of coffee as I allow the hot water to blast me in a final rinse and take in a lengthy sip.

After a couple more swallows I make my way out of the tub, towel off, and immediately reach for my brush and the hair dryer. Once my hair is partially dried, I turn my attention to putting on my routine makeup: foundation and a light sweep of neutral colored eyeshadow. I dab the creamy foundation on my face and begin to work in soft, circular motions to blend the tone into my skin. Once the task is complete, I reach for my eyeshadow palette and work the beige colored powder across my lids before mechanically scrutinizing my appearance. I mean, it's nothing special. Simplistic, in fact. Not head-turning or worth complimenting.

But you want his head to turn.

I frown. Yeah, this look is good for the everyday rush when I'm shuffling two kids out the door. But, I'm not at my house.

It feels oddly liberating to tap my brush against the mocha-colored eyeshadow, and even more exciting as I dab at the corner of my eye. I gently blend the deeper color into the crease of my eyelid, giving additional depth to my features. I finish it off with a thin line of a similar-colored eyeliner.

This time, when I look back up into the mirror, I don't feel as ordinary as I usually do. My makeup is still on the neutral side, but there's definitely more allure. I grin wide; it feels good to do a little extra every now and again.

I redirect my thoughts and self out of the bathroom and into the closet, selecting a crimson flutter-sleeved blouse and a skirt that falls just above my knees. One hair clip, a final fluff, and a tease of my bangs later, I nod at myself in the mirror, pleased with the polished look I've managed to assemble before 6am. I slide my hands down my curves and over my abdomen, twisting my body gently as I look over my profile. This looks okay, right? Will Darien like how I look in this? Or is it too plain? Should I wear a dress instead? I did bring that new one with the black and turquoise. I was thinking of maybe wearing it to that dinner. Ugh, should I even go to that dinner? I mean, I know he encouraged it, but I don't know. I don't think it makes sense. No one will talk to me and I'll just be standing there all stupid. Ok, that's decided. I'm going to not go to that dinner. Besides, I have my massage. I'd much rather have that. Too bad Darien can't be my masseuse. Now that could be fun.

My giggle jerks me back as my eyes land on 6:10 with a wince. Where the hell did the time go? Wasn't it just 5:15 when I hopped in the shower? I mean, I wasn't in there that long, was I? Or did I spend too much time getting ready? Shit, did I even finish my coffee? Or was that left abandoned in the bathroom?

Stop daydreaming about Darien, dumbass, and get to work.

Ugh.

#

The atrium is filled with soft chatter to match the early hour. About 80% of the partners have already arrived and are working through their breakfast as they talk about this and that. I take note of the few faces I have not seen yet, including a certain senior partner I can't stop thinking about. I check at my watch, noting there's about 15 more minutes until today's session begins. Rather than fret, I turn my attention to the breakfast spread, rearranging the pastries and bagels as neatly as possible to cover up any sparse areas.

"So, what's on the menu for today?" My heart pounds from the timbre of his voice. I feel my cheeks tinting, the proximity of him immediately reminding me of the heady thoughts I had this morning.

"Oh, you know, some pastries and fruit," I respond lightly, hoping that I don't sound every bit as flustered as I feel. "Bagels, coffee," I list, doing my best to act as nonchalant as possible. Unfortunately, I can't stop my eyes from widening as I feel him shift closer to me. I suck in a sharp breath as his arm brushes against mine and he leans in for what appears to be a cinnamon-raisin bagel. Shit, why is the simple task of him grabbing a bagel unraveling me? We both straighten in unison, and I can't help but watch as he brings it to his mouth, a mischievous smile peeking out from the breakfast treat.

Lucky ring of carbs.

He takes a sizable bite, and I'm surprised to find myself flustered and fuss over a Danish. He looks so playful, so boyish, so, so…

"So, what is on the agenda today?" he asks. Thankful for the redirection, I nod my head and begin cataloging the day's events.

"You mean besides the presentation of doom?" I giggle while I recall the reactions we shared the night before. "Once the speaker wraps up, you go into your breakout sessions. I have you signed up at Surety Bonds for Session 1 and," I pause I turn to my notes, "Construction Contract Law for Session 2," I confirm. "After that you have golf, and then dinner."

"So what you're telling me is that today is a long, long day."

I shrug and nod. "Yup. Let me know how that awful presentation works out for you," I snicker.

"Fan-freakin-tastic," he frowns. "Wait, you're not sticking around?"

I shake my head no. "Only to make sure it starts properly. I have to get all the afternoon breakout rooms set up while you guys are in this part."

Darien frowns briefly before taking in another bite of bagel. "Alrighty. Sounds like I am going to need a lot of coffee," he laments. "Guess I best be getting a move on then, huh?"

"Yup, you guys start in," I pause to look at my watch, "five minutes or so."

"Okay. I'll see you around, then," he replies before stepping around me to get to the meeting area. Just as he walks past me, however, he pauses and leans in. "You look great, by the way," he says softly, causing my heart to pound, before he continues on his way. I feel my cheeks flush, both from the complement and the stealthy delivery. I try my best to suppress the grin forming on my face, but fail. He noticed! I really want to do a happy dance, but instead I do a little giddy shoulder shrug, grab a muffin, and make my way in the opposite direction to corral the remaining breakfast stragglers.

It takes a few minutes, but I eventually succeed at shifting the attendees away from the food and into the meeting room, especially when I reiterate that coffee is available to them in the room. I stand off to the side and watch as everyone situates themselves in their same seats from yesterday, the din quieting once John Dowers introduces the facilitator we flew in from Chicago.

Ken Listenbee is an exuberant man. He immediately greets the room with a jolly hello before diving in to his rehearsed opening, coupled with lively hand gestures and energetic questions. After five minutes or so, he turns to his presentation, and I suck in a breath. Please work, please work. I feel relief course through me when the presentation successfully loads on to the screen, animations and all, before I slip out of the room.

Once I close the door behind me softly, I let out a breath of reprieve. Thank goodness. Now that my nerves are starting to calm, I make my way over to the breakfast area, pluck a container of yogurt, and take a seat at one of the abandoned tables. I savor the vanilla-flavored yogurt, knowing this will be the only time I'm not on my feet for hours. I have four conference rooms to set up, each with their own presentations and handouts, and only 90 minutes to do so. Swirling the spoon around the container once more, I hum and scoop up another bite.

As I calculate the schedule of the day, it hits me that I won't really see Darien outside of passing by one another in the hallway. Between the meeting he's in now, the breakouts, the Partner experiences, and the dinner, his day is filled to the brim. I sigh in disappointment at how unlikely it is we will spend much more time together before we return to reality. Hell, I don't even know what tomorrow holds for this little rendezvous we're having, but I would have liked to remain in this bubble for another twenty four hours.

I tap the bottom of the yogurt, another wave of disappointment hitting when I realize I've mindlessly eaten all of it.

Time to get back to work.

I lift myself out of my seat and make my way to the back of the room. The materials immediately greet me and I bury myself in work, separating all of my meeting handouts, signage, and thumb drives accordingly. Once I make sure all items are accounted for, I gather my supplies for breakout room number one and make my way down the hall to set up.

As soon as reach the room I drop all my paperwork on one of the tables. Fortunately the room was set up lecture-style per my request, so at least I don't have the hassle of tracking down an employee to help me shuffle tables. I busy myself with separating out my documents when I'm startled by a pair of hands grasping at my waist, papers fluttering down at the surprise.

Before the door has even closed, Darien wraps his arms around me from behind. One inhale of that musky scent and I want to turn around. It blows my mind; it has only been a few days and already I can tell when he's nearby. "You scared me!" I stammer. He murmurs what sounds like a sorry against my neck, but the apology falls on deaf ears. His right hand drops to my thigh, pulling up the skirt that hangs so loose just above my knees. I couldn't move even if I tried, like his fingers have short circuited my mind in the best possible way. He turns me around lifts me on to the table, the skirt now sliding up my thighs as Darien positions himself between them, eyes searching mine. I smile and pull him in for a kiss, raking my hands through those styled, ebony locks. With my lips I feel his mouth stretching wider than it should, fighting between a grin and a kiss.

With the door closed every pretense falls. In here, I don't need to pretend. I don't need to look away or avert my eyes; I get to be as greedy as I want. To trace every inch of him. Soak in the tingles that rise up my arms, down my legs, deep into my core as his fingertips brush against my skin. Every kiss is pure intensity; breathing fast, heart rates faster. But time is of the essence. It doesn't take long for me to unbuckle his pants. I want him, all of him, so badly. Our tongues are entwined in a deep kiss and I distantly register the familiar sound of tearing foil before he's inside, changing my breathing with every thrust. His hands roam against my clothed curves as I drape around him.

I grip at his hair while wrapping my legs around his hips, bringing him deeper, somehow closer, and the feel of him so overwhelmingly near Is my undoing. I pant into his neck as he rocks against my orgasm, my body shuddering beneath his taut frame. He lets out a grunt of his own moments after, dropping his head into my shoulder as I revel in the feel of him against me. My fingers are still twined in his hair as I sober up from our intense, extremely sneaky moment. I suspect that his absence is likely noticed at this point.

"You should be getting back," I whisper against him before gently kissing his clean-shaven cheek. He grunts a 'no' in return. I drop another kiss, and then another, traveling down his jaw, relishing the response of his fingers grasping my hips. "Duty calls," I murmur. He eventually complies and pulls away from me, discretely cleaning himself off. I slip off of the table and adjust myself quickly, making sure that I don't appear too disheveled. I snicker at my once-organized papers now sprawled across the table and a few on the ground.

I am about to crouch down when a tidied-up Darien grabs my hand and pulls me into him. With laugh I comply, enveloped in his embrace. He places a kiss on my forehead that turns my knees into mush.

"Sorry I messed up your paperwork."

I shake my head, smile widening in humor. "I have extras. Besides, it was worth it."

Darien softly chuckles before tipping my chin up and giving me one final, soul-shattering kiss. Before I let him slip away, I reach up on my toes and tuck the last bit of loose hair back into place. "Ok, you're good to go," I observe. One more core melting smile and he is out of the room.

Once the door clicks behind me, I lean up against the table and place my hand over my pounding heart. Holy shit, did that just happen? Because that was fucking HOT.

#

I am all smiles as the day wanes on, and before I know it the time comes for the Partner dinner preparations. All of the Partners were out and about, be it at the salon, golfing, or starting early at the bar, but within the next hour they would be making their way over here for refreshments. I nod my head once I walk into the room, the space set up exactly as the event planner communicated with me. Make sure to follow-up with Emily and give her accolades for her effort I scribble on my notepad, one more to-do added to my endless list.

I circle around the tables, noting everything in place, including a firm-branded tchotchke at each seat. I roll my eyes; the marketing department insists on these every year in hopes that the Partner will either use it or gift it to a client. This year it's a phone power-bank with our firm's logo on it. Practical, yeah, but slightly cheesy. But, that's my opinion. I'll likely never use mine, but instead gift it to one of the kids when I get home. In fact, I bet I can pluck one of the leftovers tomorrow so I can give one to each of them.

My heart warms at the thought of my kids. I've really missed them the last few days. With everything that has gone on lately, I feel like I haven't seen them as much as I should. I slow my steps as the thought crosses my mind. Between school, work, sports, and now them living with Seiya part-time, our quality time together really has gone down. I frown. That's not good; not good at all. And at a time in their lives when they really need some sort of stability? I close my eyes as guilt washes over me.

Fuck. I feel absolutely awful. I know that life has been tough on them lately. They didn't ask for this shitty situation with Seiya and I. There's a lump in my throat and the overwhelming need to do something for the kids. Do I take them on a trip? Play hooky one day and spend time together? Make some kind of weekly ritual in the house where we all do something fun?

"Serena, are you okay?"

My eyes snap open, suddenly face-to-face with Anne. With an embarrassed flush I try not to wince as I reply, "Yeah, just, lost in my own thoughts." She doesn't seem convinced, crossing her arms and eyebrow arched.

"Are you sure? You look… conflicted," she assumes correctly. I am NOT divulging my problems to you, I mentally chide. Anne has never been my favorite person. Hell, we barely speak outside of necessity. But how can I get her to move on?

"It's nothing, really. Just," go the kid route, go the kid route! "My kids' sporting schedules have been crossing quite a bit lately, and my nanny just started a night-class, so I need to figure out some sort of alternative transportation on Thursdays," I lie. "I just got the text from the nanny a moment ago, so, yeah," I finish with a wave of my phone. Sure enough, Anne shrugs, like I figured she would.

"Ah, gotcha. That does sound complicated. Good luck," she adds as she makes her way over to the bar. I let out a puff of air once I see her back turned. It's not that I hate the woman or anything, I just never cared for her. Plus, she seems like a gossip. And given that she wants to get into Darien's good graces the less she knows about me, the better.

Collecting myself, I resume my check of the area, wrapping it up as more Partners fill the space. Darien walks in with a few of the Senior Partners, laughing at something one of them said. My heart warms as I watch his cheeks merrily crinkle, the distinct sound carrying over the crowd noise like the finest melody. I smile to myself as I drink in the noise, doing my best not to look at him to avoid someone noticing. Once I observe that the room is starting to fill, I make my way towards the exit. After all, it's my turn to get that massage. I giggle inwardly as I shuffle towards the door, thoughts of the next hour's total relaxation flooding my mind. It doesn't last. The sound of my name carries and I pause my steps.

"Hey, Serena, come here a second, if you don't mind?"

I look over in the direction of Rubeus Prism, one of our newly promoted Partners, and concern washes over me. I don't think I've spoken more than five sentences to this man. In fact, he has always been kind of intimidating to me.

As I approach him and a few members of his team, I immediately respond with a "is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah," he quickly waves off my concern, "I just wanted to say thank you."

"Thank you?"

"Yeah. Darien told me about the PharmaMed deposition and how you basically cracked the case."

I feel my cheeks burn from the compliment. "Oh... yeah. I'm happy I was able to help," I downplay.

"No, seriously," he adds as he bites the olive from his martini. "If it wasn't for you, that would have cost PharmaMed millions of dollars. You should be a lawyer."

My eyes widen at the suggestion. "What?"

"Seriously. That catch was huge," he continues. "Have you ever considered it?"

"I... um," I stumble, my eyes darting over to Darien. Did he put Rubeus up to this? "I actually was in law school. But, surprise pregnancy," I allude, letting him figure out the rest.

"Oh!" he exclaims. "That makes so much more sense now!" I raise an eyebrow to him. "I mean, you really seem to get it. No wonder everyone always goes to you," he compliments. I am about to thank him once more, but he throws me another curveball. "Have you ever thought of going back?"

I try my best not to blush as I reflect on the encouraging words Darien offered weeks ago. "Actually, I am. Thinking about it. Very early thoughts," I add with a laugh.

"Well, you've got my vote of confidence," Rubeus adds with a lift of his drink. "Let me know if you need a reference."

My eyes widen, taken aback by the offer. "I appreciate that, thank you!" I exclaim in surprise. He smiles and nods before turning back to the group he was previously speaking with, but I am in shock. I have received praise for my work in the past, but nothing, nothing like that. For a new partner who barely knows me to say something so inspiring? It almost competes with what Darien said the night he took me to dinner.

With the thought of Darien resonating in my mind, I immediately search him out in the crowd. He's at the bar, a glass tumbler in hand, sipping at an earthy-colored liquid and laughing at something John said. I can't help but wonder if it's this strange connection we're developing, or if he could feel eyes on him, but we suddenly catch each other's gaze. He flashes me a dazzling smile, leaving my heart pounding.

Almost competes. But not quite.

My eyes look out to my colleagues. They all appear to be having a good time; laughing, conversing, a drink in their hand. I purse my lips in thought; should I stay?

No. No; it's not my place to stay. I mean, I've always been told that I could, but never really felt comfortable doing so. Like I said to Darien the other night, I handle the administrative side of our work. What could I possibly have to contribute to a conversation? At least, beyond how to properly format documents or how to use Macros in Microsoft Word?

Yet my feet are unmoving.

Maybe it's because he's waved at me to come join him. Or, maybe it's because I feel like I could belong if I stop beating myself up over my hiatus in school. But for the first time in the years I have planned this event, I decide to stay. At least for the social hour. Honestly, staying for dinner? I think that would be more intrusive.

But, hey, at least it's a step in the right direction.

I do a quick about-face before I change my mind and make my way toward the bar. It's magnetic, the pull he has on me. I feel confidence bubbling up as I weave through my coworkers. But just as I am about to approach him, I hear my name being called from another direction. I pause my steps to look around, noticing Birdie from the Government Regulations practice waving me to her. My eyebrows raise in surprise, but I change my direction over to her, a polite smile stretched across my face as I reach her and a few additional partners from that team. Once again, I can't help but feel as if something is amiss, so once I approach her, I immediately proposition her with a "Is everything alright?" After all, she's another Partner in our large firm that I don't speak with on a regular basis. Her smile catches me off guard, especially when she shakes her head no.

"No, of course not; everything is fantastic," she reassures. "I heard about what you did with the PharmaMed deposition. That's amazing that you caught that!"

"Oh, yeah," I stammer once more. Seriously, has everyone heard about this or something? "I'm glad I was able to help." I downplay the compliment with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Help? You did so much more than that!" she exclaims into her glass. "You were Damien's legal secretary prior to Darien's, yes?" she inquires, continuing on when I nod my head in confirmation. "He always bragged about you; about how talented you are."

"Oh, wow. Really?" I stumble out, both embarrassed and humbled. I knew Damien liked working with me, but to hear it come from someone else I barely know?

"Absolutely," she confirms. "Seems to me you could be an asset to the firm if you ever considered moving up."

I blink two, three times in surprise. She's the second person today to say this. What's going on? "I'm thinking of it," I shyly admit, not entirely sure if I really should be. However, when her sky blue eyes widen with a look of delight, I feel a bit more at ease.

"That's wonderful!" she exclaims. "If you ever have any questions or need any pointers, don't hesitate to stop in my office, okay? You're a bright girl, and I think you have a bright future in front of you. Truly."

My jaw drops but I quickly compose myself. "Thank you. Really, thank you." When she turns back to her group, I make my way back to my original destination. I am blown away by the level of support I have at this company, especially at my current position. As soon as I reach the bar and ask for my choice scotch, my mind buzzing with confidence.

Yes.

I can do more.

I am an asset to W&S, not just some secretary who dropped out of law school.

A smile stretches across my face. Not once have I thought of myself this way. And boy, oh boy, it feels… amazing. Sure, I know I'll likely never be a Partner of a law firm. I have come to accept that, given my family. Nor do regret or resent it. But, I damn well know I am capable of doing so much more.

Like, maybe... paralegal?

The bartender sets my drink in front of me. Mechanically lifting the drink and taking a lengthy sip, I ponder the idea that just came to light. Going to school to be a paralegal wouldn't be unfeasible. In fact, it would probably be ideal. Given my prior studies and my employer, I know what goes into such a position. Plus, when the kids are grown or in college, if I wanted to pursue my studies even further it wouldn't be as hard.

"You appear to be lost in thought."

My eyes snap to Darien, who orders himself a drink. He flashes me a dazzling smile. "Everything okay?"

I nod my head enthusiastically. "Yup. All is good." I smile into my drink before taking a sip. He looks at me to elaborate further, but I opt not to. The idea is so premature, I'm not sure if I want to even admit out loud yet. Not until I look into it further. But in the spirit of not leaving him hanging, I turn toward Darien. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"It seems a bunch of people know about the deposition thing I caught. I'm assuming you told them?"

He give me a knowing look and sips at his drink. "Of course. You're the one who spotted the lie, not the team assigned to it."

I smile as I look down at my own beverage. "It just took me by surprise, because it seems everyone knows, not just that department."

Darien sets his glass on a cocktail napkin, staring into it as he confesses, "That's because I brought it up today as an example."

"Example?" My eyes are wide as I take this in.

He turns towards me. "About recognizing talent around us." My jaw slackens, but quickly snaps shut when Darien shifts closer. "I was serious when I said that you could do so much more," he says in a voice just above a whisper. "And they are as well," he affirms with a flick of his eyes out towards the crowd. "Really."

My heart is pounding at this point from the belief radiating off of him. He has only known me for such a short time and he already believes in me this much? The urge to tell him my idea overpowers my earlier thoughts, but as I open my mouth to tell him my plan of maybe-starting paralegal studies, we are interrupted by my least favorite person.

"So, Darien," Anne interjects as she slips between us, placing her empty martini glass on the table. "Did you hear that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain?" I watch as he furrows his eyebrows, his soft lips curling into a perplexed frown.

"Yeah," he answers with obvious disinterest. Anne doesn't seem to pick up on it, though.

"So, the guideline comes on the heels of a nationwide focus on opioid use and abuse. You know, because of all of the epidemic deaths attributed to them? I want to pick your brain about the recommendations, if you don't mind."

At this point I'm lucky Anne can't see me, because I roll my eyes and shake my head at the ridiculousness of the situation. Darien must have seen me, because I see the corner of his mouth twitch slightly as he holds my stare for a second. Unfortunately, I know that to keep up the charade, I need to move on, so I grab my glass and move out into the crowd. The sound of metal lids lifting distracts me, the aroma of herbs and spices wafting through the space. Deciding now is a good time to take my leave, I make my way towards the exit just as John Dowers stands at the podium and asks everyone to be seated.

I linger in the doorway, watching Anne as she follows Darien like a puppy dog to the table, naturally plopping herself right next to him. Eyes narrowed, I fish out my phone as I turn to leave. There is no stopping my smirk as I type.

My eyes scan the empty atrium and land on a shadowed space; more importantly, a perfectly placed Ficus. I quickly look around, spotting no one, and slip into the area. As I study the nook I'm surprised to see a latch. Broom closet! Yes! I quickly pull it open, slipping in to the small, dark space. I leave the door slightly ajar, and just as I had hoped, I see him turn the corner, tapping into his own phone before looking around. I bite my lip as he begins to walk by me and snag his arm the moment he is in my line of attack.

If he was startled, I never would have known, because the moment I pull at him he is against me in an instant. The door closes with velocity, our lips pressed against each other, as if we're each other's air supply. His fingers weave their way into my hair, unraveling what was left of my styled hairdo from earlier. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my body up against his and sliding my leg up his hip. When he lets out a low groan, I start to kiss at his jaw, to his ear, to his neck. He pants against me as I mark him with my lips, branding him with my kiss. Once I've traveled up and down his right side, I run my fingers through the back of his hair and pull him against me once more.

After a few moments we press our foreheads against one another, panting in sync. And while I know I could convince him to take me here, to repeat what we did this morning, I want him thinking of me. Only me.

"For when you're done," I whisper as I reach into my purse and pull out the second keycard that the hotel provided me, slipping it into his breast pocket.

He lets out another groan before capturing my lips once more.

#

"You've got to beeelieeeEEEEve, in the POWER OF LOVE!"

I can't help it. I am belting out some ridiculous, cheesy song from the 90s, but I am just... Wow. Renewed.

It's a strange revelation, the shift in emotion I feel as I arrive back in Seattle. What a retreat. Oh boy what a retreat it was! I feel like a completely different woman. Tired, sure, but mostly inspired.

The last few hours with Darien, before begrudgingly leaving his side, were intense. He was at my door within the hour, and in my bed seconds later. Two, three times last night… and twice this morning. Once in the shower. I can't help but giggle at that thought. Fuck coffee in the shower; Darien is a much better alternative.

Unfortunately we never got a chance to talk about what comes next. He was pulled into a sudden meeting with the practice leaders, so he had to dash to his room and change before meeting with the team. When I return to work in a few days, it will be interesting to see where it goes from here. Will it be a relationship? Will this remain a weekend tryst? I shrug, not too concerned. Regardless of what happens next, I don't regret it.

I pull into the apartment complex and laugh as I think of the complete flip in my demeanor. Just a few days ago I sat here, completely dejected. My kids were unhappy, I was a nervous wreck about leaving them, and was conflicted about seeing Seiya's new place and what feelings that might bring up. Feelings, oddly enough, that pushed me into a different way of thinking. I focused on how Elsie and Alex might respond to being there, instead of how I felt not being there. I'm not entirely upset that it's not the four of us. It's a peculiar, calming sentiment. Does this mean I'm really beginning to accept that this separation really is what is best for our family?

As I twist down the roads of the complex my thoughts continue. I mean, duh, I must be on board to sleep with another guy, right? I've never been 'that girl' who just has sex with someone for the sake of temporary satisfaction; there has always been some sort of emotion tied with my decision to become intimate. And I've never, ever cheated on Seiya. Ever. And I never would have, either. I mean, I know I almost shared that almost-kiss with Darien at that holiday party, but nothing actually happened, nor would I have let myself. At least, I don't think I would have? But to actually sleep with Darien, somehow I must be progressing toward some sort of peace in the separation.

I pull into an open parking space and quickly turn off the car, a small smile stretching my lips as I nod to myself. The change has been hard. But to keep resisting it? It was evident this weekend that once I stopped trying to resist it, different things started to happen. I connected with a man who made me feel passion that has been absent in my life for so long. I took a leap of faith and went to that networking dinner for longer than I had expected to and discovered that I have the respect of my colleagues. But most important of all, that my dream of becoming a lawyer doesn't have to be over. And I've decided to run with it.

I'm going to do it. I am going to look in to both paralegal and legal studies.

Adrenaline pulses through me as I walk up the stairwell to the apartment, especially evident by my quick rap at the door.

"Hey guys!" I exclaim, drinking in the sight of my babies. Man, I know my mind has been somewhere else the last couple of days, but seeing my kids after being away always brings me such immense joy. I ruffle Alex's hair before pulling Elsie into an embrace, and I want to gush even more when she returns it. "You guys ready to take off?"

A duet of "yeah" answers my question, both kids reaching for their bags. As I watch them, an idea percolates. Between all of the shuffling around lately and the odd fact that no one has anything going on this evening, I have this inexplicable urge to do something fun with them. A glance at the microwave says it's only 6:00.

"Did you guys eat yet?" A shake of their heads solidifies my next thought. "Because I was thinking we could go for some hibachi. What do you guys think?"

Alex's eyes widen, and I want to let out a victory cry when I see a smile twitch his mouth. Elsie immediately lets out an enthusiastic "yes!" as she slings her duffle bag under her arm.

"Bye, Dad!" she exclaims while she gives him a quick hug and shuffles to the doorway, the bounce in her step obvious. Alex gives his typical wave, a softer version of goodbye, and makes his own trek to the door. I turn my head to watch the kids, my heart leaping for joy at how eager they are, when I turn to look at Seiya and thank him for his help. I notice he's looking at me kind of odd, but I shrug it off, chalking it up to the fact that three days ago I was miserable and today I am quite the opposite.

"Thanks again, Seiya," I say with a cheerful smile. I know I need to tone down the happiness here, but what can I say, it's been a damn good couple of days!

"Yeah, no problem," he responds with a cross of his arms. "Everything good?"

"Yup, everything went really, really well," I reply, inwardly giggling at how well everything went. Just as I feel my cheeks begin to tint, I turn away so he doesn't catch on to anything. "So, Saturday, right?" I say, hoping that a change in conversation stops my thought train.

"Yeah, Saturday," he confirms.

"Ok, see ya then. I'm gonna go, ya know, feed them," I say with a bunch of awkward hand gestures as I back down the hallway. Gosh, why am I acting so damn neurotic? Act casual… act… normal. "So…" I flounder with one hell of an awkward clap followed by even more embarrassing finger pointing, "I'm gonna... head out."

Seiya raising an eyebrow at me wasn't completely unexpected, so I mutter a vague explanation. "Sorry, just, you know, haven't seen them in a few days, and I'm excited," which isn't completely untrue. I mean, I'm pretty damn sore between my legs right now as well, but he doesn't need to know that. He nods his head in acquiescence and I give him a small wave goodbye.

Both kids are bouncing as I approach the door, Alex thrusting it open with an impatient heave. "Can I get the steak and the shrimp?" he asks as we walk into the cold, and my heart sings from the excitement in his voice, and for the first time in months, or maybe years, I feel at peace with everything in my life. Maybe, I daresay, things are on the upswing from here on out?

"You bet!"