A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Twelve
Julie is coming out of one the shops downtown when Jacob walks up. "Hi." She says when she sees him.
"Hello."
"What are you doing here?"
"Umm, I have a shop a couple blocks over. You've been on my mind and I haven't spoken to you since the hearing. Will you have dinner with me?"
"You want to have dinner with me. Why?"
"Because I like you and I thought maybe we could get to know each other."
"Dr…."
"Call me Jacob."
"Alright, Jacob. I'm not sure if it's a good idea for us to have dinner. I am just recently divorced. It's not even final yet."
"You're divorced. It doesn't mean that you can't have friends."
"It's not even…."
"It's dinner between friends. I'm not asking you to marry me. We are friends."
"I appreciate you testifying at the hearing and all the help with Marciano, but I'm not ready to start a new relationship. My kids need me. I've recently been told some information about Matthew, that I'm not sure how to handle it."
"What information?" Julie looks away. "Julie, what information."
"I've basically handle the situation."
"Let me take you to dinner and you can tell me about this situation."
"I don't need to be rescued. This situation is handled. I've already explained my feelings to the people involved and they seem to be honoring those feelings. It's just thrown me a little bit. I'm fine."
"If you've handled the situation, then you can tell me about it over dinner." She looks at him. "I like you, and I think we could be really great friends. I'm not expecting anything thing else." She's still watching him. "It's only dinner. We'll go to the Lakeview or drive over to the Beacon in Springfield. I hear they have a great restaurant and there's a new…."
"No, I don't want to go to Springfield." She takes a breath and then says. "Alright, if you want to go to dinner, that's fine."
"Great." He says, reaching to take her arm.
"I can't go right now. I've got to go home, my kids are there and I'll need to see if my Mom will watch them. I'll call you, if that okay."
"That's fine." He turns away as Julie walks towards her car.
Billy opens the car door, reaching in he helps Stace from the car. Slipping his arm around her they walk up the walk to Billy's house. "I had fun this afternoon." Stace says, sitting down on the couch as Billy closes the door behind them.
"It was fun to be with Jeffrey and Sam." Billy says, sitting down beside her.
"Thank you." She says, moving over to him.
"For what?" He asks, putting his arm around her.
"For taking me with you. I doubt that many of them knew we were dating. I mean, Ava knows but I doubt the rest of them knew."
"I wasn't trying to hide this."
"I know. It's just nice to be included with your family."
"In that case, would you want to go to Thanksgiving? I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen. We'll probably have dinner at Reva and Josh's, although it might be a bit uncomfortable, since Reva's invited Jeffrey and Sam and Josh isn't too happy about that or the fact that Jeffrey's our brother."
"Yeah, I don't get that."
"I'm not really sure about it myself. I know that he's afraid that Reva and Jeffrey will get together for some reason."
"Reva and Jeffrey, that can't possibly happen. I don't know much about her and Josh. But Jeffrey is totally in love with Sam. Anyone that sees them together realizes that."
"Like I said, I can't explain Josh's attitude. I only know that he's not happy about Jeffrey being our brother and he's insisting that we keep him out of the family."
"Is it because of money?"
"Money, I doubt it. Josh has never been driven by money."
"Everyone at some point in their lives is driven by money."
"Josh never has. Our father left us with… well he left us very comfortable and Josh has never even thought about that. He works just as hard as the men we have working for us."
"No matter what Josh's attitude is about the money that your father left to you. Anyone would be upset to have someone that's a perfect stranger come in to the family."
"You're making sound like all he cares about is money. Josh isn't like that." Billy says, pulling away from her.
"That's not what I meant. Money affects everyone, even a man as grounded as Josh seems to be. Having a stranger come into the family threatens anyone's personal space add money into the equation and it only complicates matters. That's all I'm saying."
"You don't know Josh. He's not motivated by the money that HB left us."
"Okay." She says, as she settles back against him.
For a while they set there before Billy says. "He's really not motivated by the money. He believes he's protecting…."
"I believe you. I shouldn't have said anything about the money."
"I just want you to understand, Josh believes he's protecting Reva." Billy says moving so he can look her in the face. "Reva and Josh have been married three different times, but besides those marriages, Reva and I have been married and we have our son Dylan and she was married to HB."
"She was married to all three of you."
"Yes. It was a long time ago and complicated but she's married all three of us and Josh is afraid that she'll decide that she wants Jeffrey and that's why he doesn't want Jeffrey to be in the family. It's got nothing to do with the money."
"If she was married to both you and your father. I can understand why Josh is concerned about her deciding that she wants Jeffrey, although I doubt it would happen, but I can see his concern. I would be concerned."
"But if you voiced that concern and you were told that it would never happen, would you still insist that someone be kept out of the family because you're afraid of what might happen?"
"You can't judge a persons fear. And you can't say what you would do if you were in the same position. I understand what Josh is afraid off." Silence fills the room as she moves back into his arms, laying her head on his chest.
Richard walks into the bedroom. Cassie on the bed, looking at catalogs for the nursery. He sits down beside and asks. "What are you looking at?"
"I was trying to figure out how we're going to decorate the nursery."
"These ideas are all for little girls."
"I know."
"Maybe we should consider the possibility that we might have a little boy."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I know we're having a little girl."
"How can you possibly know we're having a little girl?" Richard says, picking up one of the catalogs.
"I just know we are." Cassie says, turning her attention back to the catalog that she was looking at.
For a moment he watches her and then he asks. "Is there one that you like the most?"
"I've got a few in mind." She says, looking at him
"Let me see them." He says, as she picks up one of the catalogs.
"I really like this one, but might be too unisex."
"I like the colors. We can switch the green paint with a light pink."
"I sort of like the green, but light pink would be okay. I would switch out the chandelier with a mobile or something."
"Is this the only one you like?"
"No, there are others." She says, reaching for another catalog. "I don't necessarily like the balloons, but I like the crib and dresser."
"We've already picked out a crib and the rest of the furniture. Maybe we should design the room around that."
"We could do that. Do you want to see the other ones?"
"Sure." She hands another catalog to him. "I don't like this one. It's too dark and nothing in there says that it's a nursery for a little girl."
"It wasn't one of my favorites either." She says, putting the catalog down. "But I like this one because of the versatility of it. "You can see how the room could end up after she's out of the nursery and into a toddler bed or even older."
"It looks more like a guest room than a kid's room. Tammy had bright green extraterrestrials in her room." He says, as Cassie smiles.
"So this is the last one, maybe we can take ideas from all of these and design the nursery." She says, handing him the last catalog.
"This is for twins." He says, looking at her.
"Yeah I know." She says, looking at the picture.
"You want to have twins?"
"Why not? We have two boys. Wouldn't it be nice to have two girls too?" She asks, looking at him.
He looks at her and then back down at the catalog. "I guess it would be okay. I hadn't thought about us having twins."
"We might not have twins."
"We'll have to come up with another name and another bedroom."
"It won't hurt them to share a bedroom, especially at first. RJ will be going to college in about ten years. One of the girls could have his room after he goes."
"What about when he comes home for the weekend or breaks?"
"Its ten years in the future." She says, leaning over to kiss him. Sitting back, she picks up the catalogs and puts them on her night stand before she turns to him.
Putting their pillows against the headboard, he leans back against them as she lies down beside him. "You realize that girls are going to be expensive. We have to pay for the wedding."
"Pay for a wedding for two girls. Maybe we should stick with boys."
"Richard."
"I'm only kidding Cassie. I'll pay for anything my girl/s need." He says, kissing the top of her head. What did you think about Billy and Stace?"
"I thought it was nice to finally see him with someone."
"What did you think about Stace? She's a little bit younger than him."
"I don't think it matters. If she makes him happy then I don't have a problem with her age. I'm younger than you. Sam's younger than Jeffrey and Ava's younger than William."
"I never thought of our age difference."
"Well, you are a little bit older than me." She says, looking up and smiling.
He leans over to kiss her. "I like my women younger." He says, nibbling on her lower lip.
"Why?" She asks, leaning back.
"Ummm, I don't know. I just do."
"You know they say older women make better lovers."
"There isn't a older woman that could ever match you."
"Good answer." She says, lying back down beside him as he laughs softly.
William slips his arm around Ava's waist as they walk down Main Street. After leaving Jeffrey and Sam's they take their advice and they go out. He takes her to a small restaurant close to CO2. They are walking out of the restaurant, when he asks. "What do you want to do now?"
"I don't know." She says, looking around.
They are standing there as a man comes up to them. "Your Highness." He says, as William turns to him. "I'm James Prescott, Springfield Journal. I was wondering if I could speak to you about your plans now that you're no longer Prince of San Cristobel."
"I have no comment. I'm not longer in the public eye and I would appreciate if you would respect that."
"Did you give up the throne to be with Ms. Peralta? Is she the reason…?"
"I told you that I have no comment. Please go."
"Ms. Peralta, did you demand…?" William releases Ava and turns to the man, putting himself between the man and Ava.
"I've asked you politely to leave. If you can't abide by that wish I will forcibly ask you to leave us alone." Mr. Prescott looks at William and then turns to leave. Once he's gone, he turns to Ava. "I'm sorry about that. I know you don't want to be involved with anything that pertains to…."
"It's fine William." Ava says, looking up.
"I'm sure that once the novelty wears off they'll find something or someone else to report about. So, what do you want to do?"
"Do you mind if we go home?"
"He's not going to harass us."
"I'm not worried about him. I just want to go home. I'm actually feeling tired."
"Of course you are. I should have thought about that. We don't want to push you, especially after the pains you were having…."
"Those pains were nothing serious. It was false labor, just like Sam said. I'm fine. I'm just tired from moving all that stuff."
"Yes, of course. Here, sit here and I'll be right back with the car." He says, leading her over to a bench.
"I can walk…."
"Just wait here, I'll be right back." He says, leaning over to kiss her. He leaves her alone, returning a few moments later with the car. Getting out, he helps her into the car and then they leave.
Jeffrey watches Sam for awhile before he moves away from her. Laying her head on his pillow, he pushes the covers back and then gets up. Pulling on his boxers and a pair of sweats, he goes back into their closet to finish what she has started before the pizza arrived. When he's finished with that, he goes downstairs. Starting in the living room, he begins putting things away. Leaving the things he's not sure what to do with and that he knows she'll want to put away. He's going through one of the boxes when Sam comes downstairs. "J." She calls.
"I'm in right here." He says, looking up from the box.
"What are you doing?"
"I wasn't tired so I thought I would start on this." He says, as she walks over to him.
"You did this while I was sleeping?"
"Yes."
"How long was I sleeping?" She asks, looking at the clock.
"A few hours." He says, looking at the clock too. "You had everything pretty much organized, I just had to put is away. But if you want to move…."
"It's fine. What are we going to do tomorrow?" She asks, sitting down beside him on the floor.
"I still have to unpack my study and you have the kitchen." He says, putting some books away.
"Where did you put your music stuff?"
"For right now, it's in my study. When Billy and I get the garage built I'll move it out there." He says, pulling out the folder that contained his evaluations from the agency. "How did this get down here? I thought I had it in a box upstairs."
"You did, but it's all your personal papers, I thought they belonged in your study. I guess one of the others put it in here." She says, looking in the box.
"I guess it does belong in my study." He looks down at the folder for a moment before he lays it back in the box.
"What are you thinking about?" She asks, watching him.
"It's nothing." He says, reaching for something else. She lays her hand on his. "I was thinking about my father and his name?"
"What about it?"
"Well, I've always used O'Neill because that's the only name I ever knew and I'm the last of my mom's relatives. The name dies with me.
"Okay."
"But I also feel like I should use my father's name now that I know what it is."
"I think your mom would understand that."
"I know she would. What would you think if I had our name legally changed?"
"Our name, what would you change it to?"
"I was thinking of changing it to Lewis-O'Neill. Would you mind having both names?"
"I don't care what our name is. I didn't marry the name. I married you. If you want to change your name then change it."
"You're sure."
"Yes. Do what you think you should do?" She says, as he leans over to kiss her.
"Good. I'll talk to Mel about it on Monday."
"Do you want to finish putting some of this stuff away?"
"It will wait till tomorrow." Jeffrey says, sitting down on the couch and pulling her down beside him.
They sit there for a while before she turns to him. "We might as well do something. We can't watch TV because it's not hooked up yet."
"We haven't christened this room yet." He says, turning to look at her with a smile.
"Is that all you think about?" She asks, pushing his hands away as he reaches for her.
"Are you saying you don't think about it?"
"I may think about it, but I'm not solely focused on getting in your pants." She says, as he pulls her onto his lap
"I happen to like it when you try to get into my pants." He says, kissing the side of her neck, under her ear.
"You really are oversexed." She says, leaning back.
"And you really don't want to." He says, loosening his hold around her waist.
"I would like it if we can sit here and you behave."
"Then we'll sit here and I'll behave. Do you know what I used to think about this?"
"Think about what?"
"Sitting on our couch, holding you, in our home. I never told you that before. But before you left, I would think about us and picture us in a house somewhere, and we would be sitting on the couch and I would be holding you. We weren't really talking, just there together."
"Where did you see this happening?"
"At the time, it was in DC after we retired from the agency."
"In this vision, did you see children?"
"At that point, no I didn't. That came after you left. What did you think about when I was gone?"
"At first, staying alive and then I focused on Med School. It helped me cope with momma's death and loosing you."
"Did you ever see us together, like we are now?"
"I did after Belfast. And when I let myself wish I had someone to come home to, instead of an empty apartment. I didn't let myself think about it often because it hurt too much when reality came back."
"You know you could've remedied the empty apartment thing."
"I told you, if I couldn't have you I didn't want…."
"I'm not talking about another person. I'm talking about a pet. You loved cats. You used to fall in love with every stray that came around."
"The same reason we never got a pet is why I didn't get one. I was never home for more than a few hours. It wouldn't be fair to an animal."
"You could've gotten a fish or bird."
"I killed my gold fish when I was eight. And birds are annoying."
"Well, we've settled down. We could get a pet now."
"Maybe we should stick to one new baby in the family at a time."
"Speaking of babies, do you think Ava's going to be alright?"
"Of course she is."
"She passed out and they had to take her to Cedars."
"She passed out. I could pass out. Grant it, it's not good that she passed out because she forgot to eat, but they only took her to Cedars because she was at work when she passed out and she's pregnant."
"Why would she forget the eat? She knows it's important that she eat."
"I'm sure she had a good reason. She's had a lot to deal with in the last month and she and William have to get adjusted to each other now that he's here permanently."
"Why do I feel like I have to defend her?" He asks, looking at her.
"Because she's your daughter."
"William is a good guy, better than some of the other men she could've ended up with, but I have this feeling that I have to protect her."
"From William?"
"More from the hurt that could come from her being involved with William."
"You remember what William was before and you're afraid that he'll do to Ava what he did to Camille."
"I don't want her hurt. If I feel like this about her, what am I going to feel like when this one gets here?"
"You'll be just as protective over it as you are of Ava." Sam says, leaning up to kiss him. She pulls away from him, laying her head on his shoulder.
"You know, I love you Mrs. O'Neill."
"And I love you Mr. O'Neill." Sam replies as she snuggles closer to him, tucking her head under his chin as silence falls again
He leans over, gently kissing her as he wraps his arms around her a soft moan escaping as she pulls him to her. After a couple minutes he breaks the kiss, gasping for air as she leans up, nibbling on his neck and ear. Catching her mouth as he slips his hands under his t-shirt, working it up as she lifts her arms. Pulling it over her head, he sighs softly when he feels her breasts pressing against his chest.
Reaching up, she wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him again. He wraps his arms around her, holding her against him. Moving his hand up her back, she pulls him closer to her; wrapping her arms around him she arches her body towards his. While she nibbles on his chest and neck. Finding his nipple she stops to softly kiss it as he groans.
Gently nibbling at him as he draws her into a sitting position. He leans back, slowly moving his gaze down her body, watching her take a deep breath, the way her breast rise and fall. He leans forward, hovering over her. She feels the warm heat of his breath rushing over her and she feels the nipple of her breast harden, reaching for him. He flicks his tongue over her nipple and she sucks in a deep breath, holding it. She releases it in a soft moan, as he takes her breast into his mouth, playing with her. "J." She cries, reaching up and burying her finger in his hair.
After a moment, she slips her hand between them and down to his waist, resting them there. Even as he plays with her breasts, he's completely aware of her hands and how close she is to him. He groans loudly as he moves against her. She reaches into his pants he reaches down. Both reach inside caressing the other, nails softly scratching, fingers gently rubbing against the other each silently crying for release.
Sam arches her back as he removes his fingers from within her. Pulling away, he looks up as she looks at him. She immediately reads the desperate need in his eyes. She leans in to kiss him as she moves to stand up. Arching his hips, she reaches down and pulls his pants and boxers down. He reaches up and pulls her panties down. They both kick them off before she kneels over him. He looks up, slowly moving his eyes down her body. He reaches up and pulls her down to him, kissing her.
Pulling away, she watches him. She feels him harden even more as he watches her. "Beca, I need you now." He groans, leaning in.
She kisses him for a moment and then pulls away. Lying against him, she slowly rubs her body against his, driving them both crazy with need and desire. "Ahhh… Please now." He groans helplessly.
She continues as he pushes his body against hers. She can't take it anymore, realizing that she needs him as much as he needs her, lifting up she slowly guides him into her, groaning against their bodies react each others. Soon the need for movement overcomes her and she moves over him, slowly at first then with each caress faster and harder. She cries out. "Yes, J! Yes." She takes him deeper into her body, possessing his mind and soul. With each thrust they come closer to their release and just as they are about to reach it he stops her and she cries out. "J, please!" she cries, arching her body against, begging to continue.
"I love you. Do you know how much I love you?" He replies
"Yes, and I love… you too… but I… need… you. Now!"
Releasing her, he thrust into her as she moves with him, then again, then once more as waves of release crash within her. He pushes his body against hers, holding himself deep within her. She collapses against him, feeling gentle waves of release swarm over her as his release course though him, filling her. "I love you." He softly whispers as he laid a gentle kiss on her still throbbing pulse.
"And I love you." She replies in a breath of a whisper.
They lie there wrapped in each other's embrace, holding to the last remnants of their pleasure. Wrapping his arms around her, he moves onto his side as he pulls her against his body, and with a soft sigh she closed her eyes. After a few minutes he notices a change in her breathing pattern, gently shaking her he whispers, lightly kissing her. "Beca, wake up.
She mumbles something in her sleep and he smiles. Releasing her, he pulls away and stands up. Reaching down, he lifts her into his arms and carries her upstairs. Laying her down, he lies down beside her and pulls the covers over them.
Once Julie got home, she got busy with her kids. It wasn't until they were in bed that she remember Jacob. Reaching for the phone, she dials her mom's number. After a couple rings, Maggie picks up. "Hello."
"Mom, it's me."
"How are you?"
"I'm good. How are Michael and Missy?"
"They are settling in."
"That's good, what did the doctor say about the baby?"
"He's doing quite well for what happened. They will continue to monitor him for any complications, but he's cautiously optimistic that he'll be fine."
"That's great. I'll go over there tomorrow. I need to ask you something."
"What?"
"I was wondering if you'll watch the kid's tomorrow night. I won't be long."
"No, I don't mind watching the kids. Will you tell where you're going?"
"I'm having dinner with a friend."
"Alright, when will you be here?"
"I'm not sure. I wanted to see if you would take the kids before I made any permanent plans. I'll call you back after I talk to them."
"Alright."
"Thanks Mom."
"You're welcome." Julie hangs up and then she immediately calls information and then dials the number they give her for Jacob.
After a couple rings, he picks up. "Julie."
"Yes."
"I thought you would call earlier."
"I've been busy with my kids. I spoke to my mom and she's willing to watch the kids so maybe we could go to dinner tomorrow afternoon."
"That's fine."
"Say around six, I need to be home in time to get them ready for school."
"Are you sure you don't want to go over to Springfield?"
"Yes, I would rather stay here in Oakdale. That limits our choices, I know but…."
"Staying here in Oakdale is fine. I'll pick you up at six."
"I'll see you then."
"Good night."
"Night." She hangs up and then sits back. She takes a deep breath.
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