Chapter 8: The Look

"Hey Sook. Got some time to talk?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen on Monday morning.

"Always," she says slowly in her best Snape impression, followed by a loud giggle. "Boys, leave us!" she informs her staff loudly. When they all leave the kitchen, Sookie giggles, "I love how well trained they are."

I roll my eyes at Sookie. "They are not dogs, you know."

"I know," Sookie giggles, "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Well," I drag out, "Luke and I had the talk."

"You mean, about that night?" Sookie asks carefully.

"No, the safe sex talk," I reply sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her. "Of course about that night, Sookie," I sigh.

"Eeep!" Sookie exclaims as she quickly wipes her hands off on a towel and walks over to me. "So you two are back together?" she asks with a sparkle in her eyes and a broad smile on her face. She looks as if she's ready to hug me.

I lift my eyebrows at her and wonder why she would think that. "No, we're not," I say sadly and Sookie's expression immediately changes. "Don't you think I'd have been a lot happier if we were?"

Sookie sighs and shakes her head. "Yes," she says softly, before looking back up at me, "I don't understand."

I shrug my shoulders as if I'm already over it. "Luke made it very clear there's no hope for us. At least I can finally really move on, right?" I smile.

"But then why did he… y'know?"

"Sleep with me?" I finish for her and Sookie nods once, "He said he shouldn't have, that it was a mistake."

"Okay," Sookie trails off before she takes a moment to think. "You know, sometimes I really don't understand that man," she finally tells me.

I let out a single laugh. "Why not?"

"The way he looks at you. The way he still looks at you," Sookie explains.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask Luke, bumping my fist playfully on his arm. We are seated on the sofa closely together. It's only seven in the evening. I've had a busy day overseeing the renovation of the Dragonfly and I've been home for about an hour now. When I got home, I immediately changed into a more comfortable outfit, after which Luke had dinner ready. It was a regular day, only for once during this busy renovation I was home early, and I was actually able to enjoy some of our normal day family life. I really missed it. I hated having to eat leftover food and coming home to a quiet house because the girls were already asleep. But not today.

"Looking at you like what?" Luke asks with a smile. With his eyes focused on my mouth, I know he wants to kiss me.

"Like I'm a cup of steaming Luke's coffee," I giggle.

"Then I wouldn't be looking at you like this."

"Well, if you were me," I say dismissively. "So, what's up?" I ask, not letting him out from under this one.

Luke leans in closer and whispers in my ear, "I just think you're beautiful."

I'm wearing sweatpants and a unisex Luke's shirt, but when he moves back to look into my face again, I smile broadly at him. "You're just saying that because you want something," I tease, before I climb on top of his lap and straddle his thighs. My hands go around his neck. Luke's hands automatically encircle me and hold me in place, one trailing up and down my spine, and the other firmly on my butt. I angle my head and press my lips softly to his, before pressing more firmly. Luke soon opens his mouth and I feel his tongue begging for permission. I give it to him and we let them dance together for a little while. When I think it's getting too passionate, I pull back to lean close to his ear. "I want the same thing," I whisper.

"Yeah?" Luke asks in a hoarse voice.

"Oh yeah," I say flirtingly, "You wanna know what I'm wearing under these sexy sweatpants?"

Luke swallows, trying to keep control over his body. "What?" he whispers.

I lean in even closer, so my lips touch his ear. "Absolutely nothing," I answer slowly and seductively.

"Oh God," Luke sighs, squeezing my buttocks tighter. His other hand travels up the side of my body again and he feels that I'm not wearing a bra either. "Oh God," he grumbles again, "You're killing me".

I scoot a little bit further back and I smile mischievously at him. "But that's for later," I say in my regular volume again, before I press a few more kisses to Luke's lips and place my hands on his chest.

"Mommy, daddy, look!" my four year old yells excitedly at us. I look behind me to see my children. Elly had learned a little dance in class with a paper ribbon and she was teaching Abby.

Abby makes a few circles with her arms, the ribbon following elegantly, before turning it into a wave movement. "Wow, that's really good, Abby!" I exclaim.

"Now together!" Elly says, also wanting to show her abilities to her parents. While Abby does the same thing she did before, Elly steps it up a bit by adding some feet movements.

I clap enthusiastically, still looking over my shoulder at them. "That looks really good, ladies."

Elly bows and then tells Abby to do the same and they bow together. "Very good," Luke agrees, his hand moving up and down on my thighs.

"I learn Abby the steps too," Elly says with a big smile.

I turn around and look at Luke's watch, before turning my attention towards them again. "That's great, sweetie, but it's going to be tomorrow. It's late and it's sleepy time," I tell them.

"Aaaaaawh," Elly says and Abby immediately follows suit.

"Will you tuck us in, mommy?" Elly asks.

"Yeees," I say leadingly.

Abby shoots her fist in the air, just like I would do. "Yay!" she exclaims, making a pirouette.

I turn back to Luke and stare into his smiling face. "They are happy," I say with a big grin.

Luke nods. "They've missed you. We've all missed you," he tells me.

"Me too," I say with a pout. "Alright, time for some mommy/princesses time," I continue tiredly.

"Don't take too long," he says in all seriousness.

"I won't," I promise him with another peck on his lips.

"I love you," Luke says, holding my arms as I attempt to stand up.

I smile lovingly and stand up as he releases me. "I love you too," I say bending over and kissing him once more, before I take the two excited little girls upstairs for their bedtime story.

"What about it?" I ask eventually.

"It's obvious he still loves you," Sookie replies.

"He says he does," I say with a nod.

"Men and their pride…" Sookie continues, shaking her head, and I just laugh. "Sometimes, I really hate Luke," she concludes.

I give her a genuine smile, "Sometimes, I really wish I hated Luke too," and she nods her understanding. I shrug my shoulders dismissively, "It's time for me to move on," I say again.

"Move on with Max?" Sookie asks, trying to be subtle, but failing miserably.

I laugh. "No, not with Max. It's not going to work between us," I tell her.

"Too bad," Sookie pouts exaggeratedly, "With that hair."

"Yeah…" I agree, "But who knows. Maybe I'll move on with someone else. We'll see. I'm back in the dating game."

"Yes, we will see," Sookie says, again not so subtly pointing out that she wants me to tell every juicy detail about a future date.

"And if the dating thing doesn't work out…"

"Yeees?" Sookie wonders when I don't continue.

I walk towards the kitchen door and hear Sookie call my name. With my hand on the door, I tell her, "I've got three beautiful daughters. What more could I possibly need?" before I exit the room completely.

I've got a free week and an idea for chapter 9, so hopefully I will finish it soon as well.