Sorry guys, I had a date with a friend of mine. Saw Water for Elephants. It was a good movie. Rob Pattinson never disappoints me. I bought Remember Me and I still cry EVERY time I see it. I hope you like the chapter. Feel free to comment. I always look forward to your opinions and your predictions.

GROWN UP DECISIONS

IN THE MORNING IT WAS JEB WHO WOKE ME.

"Good morning, young lady. I hear you have returned to us alone."

"I'm sorry, Jeb. She didn't want to come back."

"Then we have a problem. Do you know where she is?"

"I know where she was. Whether or not she is still there I couldn't tell you. Why?"

"We have to kidnap her," Jeb said bluntly.

"You can't!" I was distressed at the thought of taking Sunny against her will.

"I can't take a chance that she tells even one other soul."

"She won't. She promised. Jeb, she loves Kyle. She's just hurt."

"What if she does? We'll all be in trouble. I knew trusting you souls would get me into trouble sooner or later." It was the first time I had ever heard Jeb sound angry.

"How could you say that?" I started to cry. "Do you have any idea how hard it is going to be to give this news to Kyle? I can only hope that she will change her mind and come home."

"I hope you're right because I am going to give her two months. If she doesn't come back then I will send Jared out to get her one way or the other. If I wait much longer than that then she may slip up and tell someone. Even six weeks is stretching it but I'm taking your wedding and Mel's due date into consideration here. Also at Christmas she won't be expecting us to come."

"I don't agree with you but I understand your need to protect the family. Jeb, will you come with me to tell Kyle? The last time I trusted an O'Shea not to lose it, I lost. I would feel better if you were with me."

"Sure. You should go wash up first."

I went to the bathing room and who should I run into? Kyle. Crap! Jeb was waiting for me back at the main cavern.

"Wanda! You're back! How is Sunny? Did you talk to her?" The biggest issue I faced right now was that we were in the outer room of the bathing room which is the very place that Kyle tried to drown me once before. I most certainly did not feel comfortable with giving him this news in this place. I shuddered at the thought.

I grabbed him by the hand. "Come with me." I dragged him through the tunnels towards where I knew I had a protector waiting.

"Wanda, where are we going?"

"To the main cavern."

"Why?"

"Because." I didn't have any other answer to give him. What was I supposed to say? Because I was afraid of him?

"Wanda, stop." He pulled me to a halt in the middle of the tunnels. "Talk to me."

My heart was pounding. I couldn't look at him. Huge tears began to slide down my cheeks. "She didn't come back, did she?" I couldn't speak because of the lump in my throat. I just shook my head back and forth.

I looked up at him and his lower lip was quivering like a child that was about to cry. He put his head down and walked swiftly away from me. "Kyle!" I croaked.

He was way ahead of me but I could hear his footsteps pounding through the tunnels. I ran to Sunny's room and found him on his hands and knees on the mattress in their room. He was rocking back and forth. I entered the room slowly. I put my hand to my mouth at the sight of him. "I'm sorry, Kyle. I tried to make her come home."

He spoke softly. "What did she say?"

"She said…" I took a deep breath. "She said love was not enough. She said if she stayed with you, you would eventually hate her for not giving you a baby."

Kyle lowered his head and let it hang. He collapsed down to his elbows and began sobbing. I knelt slowly next to him and hugged him from above. He flipped to his side and pulled me to him and buried his head in my chest. "Hold me." That was all he said. I held him all day while he cried. I cried with him. My heart was broken so I could only imagine what he felt. Jeb had found us pretty early on and saw that I was okay and left us. Melanie came later at the request of Jared. She expressed her sincere apologies for his loss. It was as if she had died. I took the opportunity to go to the bathing room and wash up while Mel stayed with him. I went to the kitchen and made us sandwiches and drinks and carried it back to the room. So many times in the past, it had been me in the fetal position devastated with sadness. Now it was my turn to console the devastated.

"Kyle, please eat."

"Why? What do I have to live for?"

"You have your family. When the souls took over you had a will to live. You still have that. Tonight you and I can go and you can call her from the garage."

"How do I know she would even answer?"

"You don't. She asked me to tell you not to call her but since when do I ever listen to what people tell me."

"What am I supposed to say?"

"You just lost the love of your life. There must be something you want to say. Come on, Kyle. Say anything! Don't you want her back?"

"Of course I do."

"You still want her on your terms?"

He didn't answer. I couldn't believe that he was still hell bent on losing her over a child that had not even been conceived. "Unbelievable. You know what? I'm going to the game room. I need to get some of this pent up anger out. When you come to your senses then come see me." I stormed out of the room.

By the time I got to the game room my anger had waned. I understood both sides of the argument and I sympathized with both of them. Some one needed to compromise. Ian and I had gone through the same issues and more but we compromised. Well, I compromised mostly. Then again he dealt with my love for Nate. That was a huge compromise. At any rate, we worked through them. We may have been apart but I never left the humans. My head hurt. I took off my shoes. I changed into a leotard and flowing skirt I had stashed in the game room with Maggie's things. I turned on some soft lilting music and I began to dance. I let the music take my body. After a few minutes I began to stretch my legs. Although I could do a regular split I couldn't do the Russian splits anymore. I was bound and determined to stretch and get it back. I stretched as much as I could without pulling the muscle. I did jumps, turns, and pirouettes again and again until I was sweating. When I finally had enough I slumped to the floor and just laid there staring up at the ceiling. I hadn't thought of Ian all day. Now I thought about us together. I was afraid. Who ever would have thought Sunny and Kyle would break up. I knew that Ian and I loved each other. Now my fear was something that else might keep us apart. Gunshots and car accidents ran through my mind and that old dream, the stabbing at the altar. I hated having all this turmoil in my head.

I went to the kitchen for dinner. Lily was there. She came to me. "I heard about Sunny. Kyle must be so sad."

My anger came back but I tried not to show it. "He is."

Lily and I ate together. "Hey, I want to go and call Ian. Would you like to come along? I know that Burns is just chomping at the bit to talk to you."

"I'd love to come."

"Good."

She and I went right after dinner. The sun was going down. I went to Jamie and asked him if he wanted to come as well but I gave him a time limit with Megan. Lily called Burns first. They spoke for about twenty minutes. I let Jamie go second since Megan was in the game room where Burns was. According to Lily, Ian and Nate were together. Burns said they were plotting and planning. He wouldn't elaborate to her but he said I should call Nate's phone. Jamie got thirty minutes. He hung up literally on the thirtieth minute. Now it was my turn.

"Hello, Beautiful."

"Hi…Nate." I was tense.

"Oh, you don't sound good."

"I'm okay, I'm just aggravated. Can I speak to Ian? Burns said you were together."

"Sure, he's right here." There was a minute before I heard Ian's voice.

"Hey, Babydoll. Still love me?"

"More than ever."

"How did things go with Kyle?"

I sighed. "He guessed that she didn't come back. Then he took off for his room. I followed him and told him what she said. He cried and I held him for a long time. I told him he should call her and he said what for? I am so aggravated with him right now. He still feels like she needs to carry his child to be with him. What kind of self obsessed pig headed idiot would lose the woman he loves for something so trivial? I mean accidents happen. People get pregnant all the time without even trying. Look at Melanie."

"Babydoll, this is not your fight. Leave him be. If he wants to call her he'll have to come to you. Give him a few days. The loneliness will wear on him. Think about how it was when we were apart after the first trip to the mountain. The first day was the easiest. It got harder with every day after that. It took you six weeks to come back and stake your claim."

"It took six weeks because you asked me not to come. I don't like to be reminded of those days."

"I remind myself all the time. It's one of the ways I keep my jealousy in check. That reminds me, it's one day closer to when we can be together."

He made me smile. "I know. I was thinking, when I come back I'm going to bring as many people as I can with me so there will be less to bring later."

"Who are you going to bring?"

"Well, I figured Lily and Jamie for sure. They have reasons to definitely want to come early. I thought I'd bring Kyle and Aaron. Kyle needs his family and Aaron can hang with Kyle. I was going to ask Trudy and Geoffrey if they wanted to come up early."

"What about Mel and Jared?"

"No, they need to travel with Doc or Candy just in case she goes into labor early."

"Good point."

"What are you and Nate up to?"

"It's a surprise."

"What kind of surprise?"

"No questions now. Let's just say it's keeping us both busy."

I huffed. "Okay."

"Listen, try not to judge Kyle."

I huffed again. "I love Kyle. I just don't understand his priorities."

"Are you going to take Ice on a road trip?"

"Why?"

"Without Sunny, who will shop for them? Only you and Burns are left."

"I didn't even think about that. Jeb was angry about Sunny. He says he's giving her two months to come back and then he will send Jared out to kidnap her. He's afraid she'll slip up."

"If he kidnaps her, she might just leave again. She knows her way around the caverns. The only way to protect the family will be to remove her from the host and send her to another planet," Ian pointed out. It was something I hadn't considered.

"Ian. I don't want that for her," I lamented.

"It's not our decision."

I started to cry.

"Don't cry, my love. Pray. And don't tell Kyle what we have discussed here."

"I miss you so much. It was hard being away from you when we were fighting but this is even harder."

"That's because you're going through a crisis. I would say to try not to think about it, but I know that's an impossibility. Talk to Jeb. You should get Ice out into society as soon as possible and you should get him a cell phone as well."

"I will. I have to go. I love you."

"I am so in love with you. Oh, I dreamt of you last night. It was a nice dream."

"What was it about?"

"Nate's here. I can't really talk about it."

I smiled. "Oh, one of those dreams."

"Uh-huh."

"Okay, thanks."

"For what?"

"For making me smile," I said coyly.

"You always make me smile."

"All right. Keep smiling. I love you! ...Bye."

On the way back to the caverns I let both Lily and Jamie know that I wanted to take them with me back to the mountain when I left. They were both excited at the prospect of seeing their loved ones sooner than they had anticipated.

The following morning I went looking for Jeb. I found him in Doc's office.

"Hey, Jeb. Can we talk?"

"Sure. I always have time for you."

Doc excused himself and left us alone.

"I want to talk about Ice."

"You want to test him?" Doc was shrewd. He obviously had been thinking about the possibilities as well.

"Yes, do you think he's ready?"

"Do you?"

"Well, I know he's involved with Heidi. That in itself gives us hope that he would be loyal. Can I talk to him and feel him out?"

Jeb stroked his beard. "That's a good idea."

"If Sunny doesn't come back and you kidnap her, what are you going to do? How do you intend to keep her from escaping?"

"I don't think you need to worry about that, little lady," he said flatly.

"You're going to remove her from the host and send her away, aren't you?"

Jeb looked at me with a deadpan expression. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Everyone has choices."

I left the infirmary dejected. I could only hope that if Sunny didn't come back that she would go somewhere far away to a place that no one would be able to find her.

I tracked down Ice in the main cavern. He was sprawled out on one of the love seats. "Hey, Ice." I tried to sound upbeat. "Where's Heidi?"

"I don't know. I think she's doing laundry or something with Sharon."

"What's the matter with you?'

"I'm bored."

"How would you feel about getting out of these caverns for a while?"

He perked up immediately. "You'll take me back to the mountain?"

"I had a different idea. Would you like to go on a road trip with me?"

"You think Jeb would allow that?"

"Maybe I can talk him into it. Would you be loyal to us? You know I would be placing our lives into your hands. I want to trust you."

He sprang off the couch. He walked over to me and pulled my hair off of my shoulders. He was standing very close and he took my hand in his. "You know, when I was on the mountain, I could have left so many times. I've never really had much of a family. My mother died before the takeover. My father was a son of a bitch. He never cared about me until after he was implanted. I couldn't warm up to him. I had too many bad memories. I've had girlfriends but it's hard to settle down and have a family when you've never really felt like a part of a family. When I was on the mountain, even though I was being held like a prisoner in the root cellar, it was the first time I felt like I was needed. Even the smallest thing, like helping you to get away from Nate, made me feel wanted. Please believe that I would never do anything to jeopardize your life here with Ian." He hugged me tightly.

"Thank you, Ice. I'll talk to Jeb and see if we can go after the baby shower."

Ice walked with his arm around my shoulders to the game room and we settled on the couch and watched a movie together. Near the end of the movie Kyle came in and sat next to me and put his head on my shoulder. He didn't say anything. He had his arms folded across his abdomen. I wasn't sure how to approach Kyle. I had left him in frustration yesterday. I knew he was hurting and Ian told me to be gentle with him. I slid closer to Ice on the couch and pulled Kyle's head into my lap and stroked his hair. That's where he fell asleep. I didn't know when the last time was that he slept. When the movie was over Ice popped in another movie and went to the kitchen to get us some snacks. I was very comfortable hanging out Ice. Kyle started to snore lightly and Ice and I found it amusing and we laughed. We shared popcorn and joked about the movie and talked about other movies we had seen. It was a complete reversal of the last two days. I was grateful to have him with me and I looked forward to our road trip.

After speaking with Jeb, he seemed cautious but willing to let me take him on a road trip after the shower.

The following day was Friday. We wrapped the gifts for Melanie's shower which was planned for tomorrow night. We decided to make a buffet for dinner. Aunt Maggie volunteered to make a cake for her niece. Sharon volunteered to help with the wrapping and decorations. Jared kept Melanie busy while we gathered in the game room to wrap the gifts. The wrappers included myself, Lily, Sharon, Trudy, and Heidi. Candy, Violetta, Lucina, Lacey and Lydia were going to prepare the buffet. They planned on making a salad, grilled chicken breasts, and oven roasted potatoes for the party.

That evening after dinner, Kyle came to me.

"I want to call Sunny," he sounded desperate.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, I have to let her know how much I love her."

"What if she won't answer?"

"I have to at least try."

"Okay. Let's go."

Kyle and I ran to the garage. I dialed her number and gave him the phone.

To my surprise, she answered. "Sunny! Please don't hang up."…"I love you."…"Won't you come back to me?"…"How much time?"…"Who is Jonathan?"…"He only wants you for one thing."… "We have a history together. It was a good history."…"I'll never stop loving you."…"You want the truth?" I was worried now that he wouldn't budge from his dream of having a family. "The truth is I would rather have you without children than to not have you at all. There is no point in having a family without you."…"You couldn't love him. It's only been a few days."…"I can't sleep. I need you. I want you."…"Please Sunny." He started to sob. My heart was breaking. "Okay, just tell if you still love me."…"Can I call you again?"…"I will. Good bye." He hung up the phone and completely broke down. I held him while he cried.

"What did she say?"

"She said she needs time," he blubbered between his sobs.

"How much time?"

"She didn't say. Who is this guy Jonathan? She said you would tell me."

I dialed Nate's phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling Ian."

"Why?"

"So, he can tell you."

"He knows who Jonathan is?"

"Yes, I kept him up half the night when she met him."

"Hello, Beautiful!"

"Nate, is Ian with you? Kyle wants to speak with him."

"Sure, you know we've been joined at the hip lately. I think I love him."

"You're so funny. This is serious."

The next voice I heard was Ian's. "Hey, Babydoll."

"Hi. I have Kyle here. He wants you to tell him about Jonathan."

"Why don't you tell him?"

"Uh-huh. We are out here by the garage. All alone." I spoke deliberately.

"You're afraid of him," Ian surmised.

"Uh-huh."

"Let me talk to him."

I handed the phone to Kyle. He paced back and forth while he listened to Ian. Finally he handed the phone back to me and started walking back to the caverns.

"Hello?"

"Is he gone?" Ian asked.

"Yes, why did you send him away?"

"I told him that you were afraid he might do what I did to you. I asked him to separate himself from you until he was sure he could maintain control."

"Ian!" I groaned.

"I won't apologize. He is like me. We are the same. I need you to remind him of that. Remind him that he does not want to be self destructive as I have been. Reassure him that she will come back. Tell him Jonathan cannot hold a candle to him."

"I will. Ian, I love you."

"I love you more."

"Bye."

I took off running trying to catch up with him. "KYLE!" By the time I caught him he was walking very slowly with his head down.

"You're wrong about me. I needed you and you were afraid I would hurt you."

"Kyle, I'm sorry. I've just been hurt so many times before. I'm not the brave girl I was in Melanie's body."

"Again, you're wrong." He turned to me in the middle of the desert. He took my face in his hands. "For you to forgive and love my brother after what he has done to you makes you the bravest woman I know."

"Or the most foolish," I responded.

"Do you trust him?"

I smiled. "Yes."

He hugged me tightly. "I have a confession to make. Do you know how you used to call me your 'Ian fix'?"

"Yes, I still feel that way."

"Well, for me, you are my Sunny fix. Do you know the only time I slept in the last two days is when my head was in your lap?" I took that as the plea it was meant to be.

"I'll help you sleep."

That night I slept in Sunny's room with Kyle. As he had comforted me so many times before, I was his comfort.

The next day, I woke happy with the knowledge that I was yet another day closer to being with my true love. That evening, the baby shower was a success. Melanie was thrilled with all of her gifts and all of the ladies in the caverns attended. That evening, Kyle waited for me in the main cavern and I again accompanied him to his room. I hadn't spoken to Ian since the night before and he was unaware of the sleeping arrangements. I hoped he would understand. On Sunday evening, Ice and I left for his first road trip. Kyle decided to take the overnight watch just as Ian had done when I was away. Watch was boring and sleep was welcome by morning light.

I let Ice drive and I reminded him several times to remember to turn on the lights when we got to the highway.

As soon as we were safe on the road, I called Ian.

"Hey, Beautiful. I suppose you want to talk to Ian."

"If you don't mind."

"You know, you owe me."

"I'll let you take it out in trade," I teased.

"Oh! You did not just say that!"

I giggled. "I'll give you a great big hug. How about that?"

"Indian giver!"

I heard what sounded like a tussle on the other end before I heard Ian's voice.

"Hello, Wanderer?"

"How's my sexy Superman?" I was in a great mood.

"Are you drunk?"

I giggled. "No!"

"Then why are you telling Nate he can take it out in trade?"

"I was messing with him."

"Oh."

"Guess what cute guy is driving me to town right now?"

"Ice? Jeb let you take him?"

"Yes."

"Let me talk to him."

"Ice, Ian wants to talk to you." I handed the phone to Ice.

Ice didn't say anything for a long time. Then he finally said, "No problem."

He handed me back the phone. "What did you say to him?"

"Nothing. Just good luck."

"Okay, I'm going to go then. I love you."

"I love you more."

When I hung up the phone I turned to Ice. "What did he say?"

"Nothing." He stared at the road.

"I know Ian better than that. What did he say?"

"He told me that just because we will be sleeping in the same bed doesn't mean I can touch you."

I shook my head. "He's so stupid."

"Why?"

"You are a soul. We can check in together and get two beds."

Ice started laughing. "Well, don't tell him that. Let him stew thinking we shared the same bed."

Everything went as planned with Ice. We had a great time at the phone store getting a new phone and then we shopped for food as Burns and I had done many times before. Ice was so pleasant to be around. The last stop was to pick up the tuxedos. When all was complete we drove home. I took the opportunity to call Ian again.

"Hello Beautiful!"

"Let me speak to Ian please," I demanded.

"You sound angry."

"I'm just a bit perturbed with him."

" Uh-oh." He handed the phone to Ian.

"Hey, Babydoll. How did it go?"

"Everything went well except the sleeping arrangements."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it seems they only had rooms with two queen size beds in them so poor Ice didn't even get to share my bed," I said lyrically.

"Why would that be a problem?"

"I don't know, maybe because Ice was threatened for nothing. Ian, we are both souls so like Burns we can check in together as brother and sister and get two beds."

"Oh."

"Do me a favor? Don't threaten people that I am trying to help…and that includes your brother," I scolded.

"Why would I threaten him?"

"He asked me to help him sleep so I have been spending the nights with him. I am his Sunny fix. I don't want to hear anything about it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Fine, just make sure he doesn't make any stupid phone calls."

"He won't. I promise you that. You know it's only one more week till I get back."

"Seven long days followed by seven long nights."

"Dream of me."

"I will. I love you."

"And I, my sweet Superman, love you more."

The last week at the caverns was thankfully uneventful. Kyle slept in his own room and I stayed in the game room. Ice and I went on another road trip together. He had proven himself to be loyal to the clan. He was one of us now. Sunny did not come back. Kyle called her again five days after the first time. She spoke to him again but did not offer any promise of returning. She did say that she was not in love with Jonathan which was encouraging because she admitted that she did still love Kyle.

The day finally came when we were leaving. We took the van. It was decided by Jeb that eight of us would go. There was me, Kyle, Lily, Jamie, Trudy and Geoffrey, Ice, and Aaron. The plan was for Ice and Aaron to return to the caverns in one week with the van. Ice could get enough food for those being left behind and drive the van again when it was time to bring the final group of humans to the mountain. Burns would also go back to the caverns with the truck to transport the last of the family that planned to attend the wedding. We stopped over at the campground which I still hated. I stuck very close to Kyle the entire time we were there. I made him accompany me to the bathroom even though Lily and Trudy were with me. I wanted someone who knew how to handle a gun.

Ice, Kyle, and I slept while we were at the campground since we were the ones who stayed awake all night. Well, Ice slept part of the time but we wanted to make sure he had enough sleep before driving. It was cold. We snuggled together as we slept. Of course I was in the middle. The others woke Ice after two hours and he drove the rest of the way. Jamie had a map and he was familiar with the drive. By the time we arrived at the mountain, it was late. Everyone was asleep except Ian, Nate, Burns, and Megan. I was driving again. I jumped out of the van and ran to Ian. It was so good to see him. I had no coat on because it had been warm in the van and it was near freezing here. The cold air hit me like an ice cube.

"Oh, Ian!" He picked me up off the ground and spun me around. Our lips met almost immediately. We were desperate to taste each other's lips. He had his arms wrapped around my waist. I pulled my hand around the back of his head and ran my fingers through his hair. His lips were cold from waiting outside for us. There was a barrage of open mouth kisses before he pierced my lips with his tongue and we hungrily tasted each other not seeming to get enough. He nibbled my lips which left me in wanting more.

"I missed you so much," he said as we finally stopped kissing long enough to talk.

"Don't stop kissing me," was all I could say because all I wanted was more of his lips. He obliged and the slow burn kiss began again. He put me down so he could hold my face in his hands and he turned his head in several directions so he could nibble my lips and use his tongue to invite me into his mouth. My head was swimming. I knew there were others around us but I was oblivious to them. By the time we finished we were panting and our foreheads were pressed together so only we could hear each other.

"No more days to wait till we can be together," I said breathless.

"We still have minutes. We can wait minutes, right?"

We both laughed. "I love you, Superman."

As we pulled away from each other I saw Nate sitting on the back steps. He looked so all alone. "I'm going to say hi to Nate."

I pulled away from Ian's unwilling hands. Kyle came up to him as I turned to walk away. Nate was quietly sitting and he smiled as I approached. "Hey, Beautiful." He said in a soft voice. I took his hands and pulled him off of the steps. He stood and put his arms around me and gave me a long tight hug. As he pulled back he ran the back of his fingers along my cheek and cradled my chin in his hand. He leaned in and kissed me on the lips. It wasn't a peck but a short kiss with slightly parted lips. This kiss could have easily become more but he stopped and whispered. "Glad to have you back where you belong." My eyes fell upon Kyle who witnessed this kiss. He started to come towards us with anger but Ian stopped him. He didn't see the kiss but he obviously knew. I pulled Nate by the hand towards the rest of the group. Jamie and Megan were talking a mile a minute to each other as only teenagers could. Burns and Lily were standing together. I was freezing by now and my whole body was shivering. Aaron had grabbed my coat and was coming towards me with it.

"Won't be much of a wedding if the bride's got pneumonia," he spouted as he helped me put my coat on.

"Thanks, Aaron."

I walked back to Ian and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

Nate spoke up now. "Most of you will be sleeping in the new bunkhouse. I'll need you to be as quiet as you can because Tom and Maggie are already asleep in there."

I looked up at Ian. "When did they move in there?"

"Today. They knew Lily was coming and they felt that it was time to give Burns his room back."

We entered the building and there was a long hall with five doors. The first room on the left was where Nate led us. There were four bunk beds set up and the two dressers were there as well. The floor was carpeted in a warm brown on the concrete slab floor. The walls were painted a pale blue. The wall with the dressers had a weird mosaic painted from top to bottom. It didn't have a pattern but a myriad of strange objects. Some were recognizable and others were just random shapes and colors. The color palette coordinated with the soft blue of the other walls. One could probably sit in here for a long time and stare at this wall and not get bored.

Nate spoke in a low tone. "Kyle, Jamie, Ice, and Aaron, you four will sleep in here. You have first choice of beds but remember by the time the wedding is here, most if not all beds will be used, so choose your spot carefully."

"The next room is just down the hall if you will follow me."

The next room on the left side of the hall had two queen sized beds in it and only one dresser. This room also had the same carpeting but the room was painted a lovely rose color. There were no murals in here but I suspected that was only because Victoria hadn't gotten here yet.

Nate spoke again. "Tom and Maggie are in the room like this one across the hall. Trudy and Geoffrey, you have your choice of which bed you prefer in here. The other two beds will be reserved for Melanie and Jared and for Doc and Sharon. You have the room to yourself for now. Let me show you all to the bathroom."

We went back to the hall and at the end was the door to the bathroom. It was not a large bathroom like the one at the house. It was modest but it had all the necessary facilities. The tub was a decent size but not like the Jacuzzi in the house. There was a double sink which was nice if two people were sharing the bathroom and a large mirror that covered the width of both sinks. Of course there was a toilet. The walls and the floor were unfinished. "Sorry, we haven't had the chance to finish this room but we have been working under a time crunch. The last room with the bunk beds is also unfinished."

Ian piped up, "We still have two weeks though."

Burns spoke up for the first time. "Breakfast is pretty casual around here. The kitchen is in the house. If you are an early riser we ask that you keep it down to a minimum because some of us like to sleep in." Burns shot a look at me.

I felt the need to defend myself. "I can't help it if I have a hard time falling asleep."

Everyone laughed at my comment. It took me a minute to get it and then I felt my face go hot with embarrassment. Ian pulled me close to him. He whispered in my ear. "It's okay. You won't be sleeping tonight anyway."

The tour had ended and everyone went their separate ways. Nate came to say good night to me and Ian. "I guess it's safe to say we won't be working tomorrow."

Ian retaliated. "Oh, we'll be working all right. We just won't be starting at seven. Burns said some of us like to sleep in so how about we meet at ten?"

Nate replied. "Sure, the special project?"

"Yes, if you don't mind."

"No problem." They gave each other a high five. "Be good to each other." Nate directed his statement to me and disappeared into the night.

As Ian and I walked back to the house behind Burns and Lily, I turned to him. "What's the special project?"

"You ask too many questions. I told you it was a surprise remember?"

"I remember."

"Now, do you want to go and ruin my surprise?"

"No."

"Good, then no more questions and no snooping!" He brushed his finger off the tip of my nose.

In the house I immediately headed to the bathroom. "Will you bring me my robe?"

I went to the bathroom and then jumped into the shower. I hadn't showered since yesterday and I felt icky.

"Mind if I come in?" Ian asked.

"Aren't you the one who said we should respect Burns's house? He might be trying to sleep."

"Right, Lily's with him so I don't think so."

"She might want to take a shower too."

He stuck his head in the shower and pouted. I kissed his pouty lips.

"That's it. I'm coming in!"

"No! Wait for me in the bedroom."

He grunted and closed the shower curtain. I finished quickly and as I passed through the living room I knocked on Burns's door. "The bathroom is open if you want to freshen up!" I heard them both yell 'Thank you!' from the other side of the door.

I entered the bedroom and Ian had candles lit. It was romantic. I slipped out of my robe and slinked my way onto the bed. "Stop!" he ordered.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just want to look at you for a minute. You are more beautiful than I remember and I thought I had every detail down pat."

"So, what's different?" I was still in a crawling position even though I wasn't moving.

He ran his fingers from my side under my arm down my breast to the tip and held it in his hand. I shivered from his touch. "Your breast is a bit fuller." Now he took his hand and he slid it around my buttocks to the back of my thigh. His hand on my thigh made me want to pounce on him. "And here, your thigh. It's leaner, stronger. Have you been dancing?" I had been dancing every day but how could he see the difference especially in this light?

"Ian, I want you so bad."

He looked at my eyes. "How bad?" He didn't ask in a teasing voice. He was serious.

I touched him. "Please," I whispered.

"I need you to beg. I need to know you want me more than Nate." Kissing Nate had hurt him even if he didn't see it. I traced his lips with my finger.

"I've never wanted anyone more than I want you and right now if you don't take me I may die from the anticipation. Please, Ian. I'm begging you to make love to me the way that only you can. Please." He began to kiss me and in between each brief parting of our lips I repeated my plea. "Please." Suddenly he lifted me off the bed and onto my back and he was on top of me kissing every part of my body. By the time he got to my thighs I was quivering. I wanted him to go between my thighs but he prolonged the anticipation. I was in agony. I tried to force him there but he resisted.

He stopped kissing my thighs to ask me, "Am I the only man who's ever been here?"

"Yes. You're the only man I want."

"What about Nate?"

"He's only a friend. Please Ian!" I pushed my body towards him and he obliged. The touch of his tongue sent me into sheer ecstasy. He didn't hold back now. Our love making was explosive and he responded to my vocalized pleasure. I was glad Tom and Maggie were not sleeping in the house.

It was early in the morning when we had finally gotten enough of each other and we settled into each other's arms.

"Ian?"

"I hate when you do that."

"Do what?"

"When you say 'Ian?' after we have made love. It's almost like you've been waiting for the right moment to ask me a question and you are choosing when I am most vulnerable."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I won't ask you the question but then don't you ask me to have a baby."

"What?" I had obviously peaked his interest.

"I love you, good night." I rolled away from him.

"Oh no. You can't throw something like that at me and then expect to just roll over and go to sleep."

"Are you going to let me ask the question?"

He rolled me towards him and hovered above me. "Come on, ask me the question."

"Well, when I was talking to Sunny, she told me that when a woman gets pregnant, her breasts swell up and then they sag and her belly gets fat and you get stretch marks that won't go away and you just get fatter and fatter."

He chuckled. "Are you afraid I won't love you?"

"No. Well, maybe. Tonight you noticed the smallest changes in my body. I don't want to be fat and saggy after I have a baby. Will you make me a promise?"

"I promise to love you no matter what."

"I want you to promise me that you will be my personal trainer. I want you to promise me that you will work me till I drop and even if I get mad at you that you won't stop pushing me until I am beautiful again."

"Babydoll, you will always be beautiful to me."

"Ian! I mean it! If you want me to have your baby I need to know you will help me get this body back."

"If that's what you want, I will do that for you."

"Promise?"

"I promise." I snuggled into his chest and he held me. "I love you. I'm sorry I made you feel like you couldn't ask me a question. I've been feeling a little jittery lately."

I looked at him. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

"No, I'm not. I'm just afraid you might."

"Why would you think that?"

"It's nothing."

"No, Ian. If something is on your mind, I'd like to know about it."

"It's Nate."

"What about him?"

He took a deep breath. "It's just that I gave you that ultimatum about the amount of physical contact I expect of you when you are married and clearly you still have this bond with him. I'm afraid that you'll bail because you can't honor my expectations."

"Ian, I am not going to bail on you. I fully intend to honor your wishes. Nate and I are friends. I told you that earlier and I meant it."

"Do you know he has worked as hard as I have to get everything ready for this wedding? He's not doing it for me. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. He kissed you tonight. Kyle saw it. He was about to take Nate's head off."

"I know but the kiss wasn't what Kyle made of it. It's just our way. I can't explain it any better than that. Neither of us expected it to go further than that."

"I find that hard to believe. I see how he looks at you."

"And he sees how I look at you. Ian, I love you and I can't wait to be your wife."

He leaned in to kiss me and we would have made love again had Ian not reminded me that he had to meet Nate in less than eight hours. I nestled into his arms and happily fell asleep.

14