Chapter Fifteen

Sliding out of bed as quietly as she could so as not to awake her sleeping fiancé, an almost eight months pregnant Marissa made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Although her movement made Ryan stir, he was exhausted and just rolled onto his back, letting a slight snore escape his lips. Marissa couldn't help but giggle softly at him. Adjusting the water in the shower so that it was just slightly above freezing so as to cool off her extremely hot body, Marissa stripped off the thin nightshirt she had been wearing and immersed her body into the chilling liquid, immediately sending a jolt through her sleepy body and soothing her warm skin.

It had been an exhausting two days. Waiting to move until the boys finished the school year, they had only just arrived in Santa Rosa facing box after box of unpacking and a new job for her. After almost three months of preparation, selling the house in Long Beach, buying the house in Santa Rosa by the internet and phone, and packing all the while working and taking care of the boys, Marissa and Ryan were both looking forward to finishing the moving process and relaxing for a few weeks before the baby was born. Speaking of which, they were extremely unprepared for the birth of their child.

While Marissa had slowly started to gather supplies for the baby while still living in Southern California, they did not want to buy too much, because that would just mean more packing and required space in the moving truck. Plus, it wasn't as if she had things left over from Garrett and Cooper when they were babies; she had given all their supplies away to charity, assuming she would never have another child. Because the baby would stay in their room for the first several weeks and because Ryan still did not want to know the sex, they had decided to wait and decorate the nursery after the birth. At night, after Ryan got off of work, he would work on the room with the boys' help, both of them learning quickly how to help their future step-dad. They would only continue to learn more, too.

That's because, since Marissa worked during the days at the hospital, they went with Ryan to work while they were out of school on summer break. It saved the little family money on child care, and the three of them enjoyed spending time together. Male bonding they called it.

As she rinsed out the shampoo from her hair, Marissa thought about their new house. It was quite different from anything she'd ever lived in before, the complete opposite of both the ridiculously opulent and large house in Newport and Ryan's charming yet small cottage in Long Beach. There was a large yard, pool free because of the baby, for the kids and Q to play in, an open floor plan which she, surprisingly, liked because it was easier to watch the children, and, her favorite amenity, an attached garage. It seemed strange, but she loved the fact that she could get in and out of her car without her neighbors seeing what she was wearing or what she was carrying. When she told Ryan this, he just chuckled at, kissed her cheek, and went back to working on the unpacking, something she was not allowed to even consider helping with.

Never had anyone taken such careful or considerate care of her. He was constantly worrying about her, to the point where she wondered if he would be grey by the time the baby was born. If he could help it, he at least helped her with dinner. When it came to cleaning, he and boys would do most of it, only letting her do stationary things such as fold laundry. As they unpacked box after box of their belongings, many of which were still sitting in the garage waiting to be unloaded, she was to sit and just be there in case they needed to ask where something went. Needless to say, she had taken quite a few little naps the past two days. Despite Ryan's protests, she insisted that they do some sort of activity as a family every day, even if that meant taking a walk or going to the local YMCA to go swimming, something she found extremely relaxing and comforting in her present condition. Speaking of the Y, Marissa thought to herself as she applied the conditioner to the ends of her hair, I need to find where there is one around her. I feel like a good swim.

To make matters even more hectic, she would begin her classes online the next week, the first week of June, and that would take up much of her free time at night. Although she would not take any classes the month of July because of the baby's birth, she would start again in August even before she went back to work. Ryan had wanted her to wait until the fall, but Marissa reasoned that the sooner she began her classes, the sooner she'd be certified which would mean a larger salary. Even though they were currently comfortable, more income would provide them with the chances to indulge a little and save for the kids' college education.

On top of everything else, it was Cooper's birthday that weekend. Because she had to work, there was no chance the new girl who had to take maternity leave in a month's time would get a weekend off, she would not be able to go away with Ryan, Garrett, and Cooper. Per Cooper's request, Ryan was taking the boys camping in the Redwood forest. They were going to go to the national park, go fishing, and, because she couldn't go, do manly things. Rolling her eyes as she thought about what that meant, Marissa couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Shaving quickly, she made a mental list of everything she would need to pick up for the party they were going to have for Cooper Sunday evening after they got back from their camping trip. While she was out and Ryan was not there to patrol her every move, she figured she would stock up on groceries and start picking up baby supplies. It would be something to keep her entertained. Despite the fact that she playfully complained about all the attention Ryan paid her and that it would be nice to have a weekend to herself to do girl things, Marissa knew she would be bored and lonely without them. This would be the first time since she and Ryan first spent the night together that she would not have either him or the boys with her at night, and she was not looking forward to it.

Putting her razor away and reaching for the loofa and body wash, Marissa began to wash her body when all of a sudden the shower door opened and Ryan stepped in with her, completely naked and smiling widely, surprising her so much, she dropped the loofa as her hand flew up to her racing heart. Picking it up, Ryan positioned their bodies so that she was leaning into him, immediately taking over where she had left off, gently washing and stroking her body as he placed tender kisses along her neck and shoulders, letting the scent of her soap, lavender, envelope him in a private oasis.

"Is this water cold enough," he teased her before reaching down and turning the cold off, steam immediately filling the tight enclosed space of the shower. "I was lonely in bed," he continued, changing the subject rapidly, his lips, filled with desire, sucking on her neck in between his spoken thoughts. "You don't know how much I hate waking up without you in my arms."

"So you decided to join me," she teased, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the sensations his touch were invoking in her body. "Who said you were even invited."

Turning her around and dropping the loofa to the floor, he took her mouth in a leisurely kiss, biting down on her bottom lip slightly before replying. "You don't seem to be complaining too much."

"Well," Marissa began, her hands moving achingly slowly down his wet, slippery body until they found their destination, "a girl has to get her kicks when she can. Someone won't be home this weekend to entertain me."

Laughing, he backed them up so that she was pushed up against the wall, his mouth eagerly finding its way to her breasts. Dropping delicate kisses on them while he talked, Marissa could barely maintain her composure long enough to listen to what he said. "Just think about the reunion," Ryan sighed dreamily. "We'll have almost 60 hours to make up for."

All Marissa could do was nod in agreement, her body to overwhelmed by the sensations he was invoking to utter even a sound. Moving his mouth back up to her own, taking it again and again, their tongues massaging the others, continually so both had to gasp for air in between embraces, she guided him to her, pushing her hips out to meet his, inviting him to enter her. Through the fog of passion clouding her mind, her motherly instincts appeared suddenly.

"The boys," she gasped.

"Sleeping," Ryan grunted into her mouth. No other words or explanations were necessary. Picking her up off of the ground, he hoisted her up against the wall, supporting her with one arm as she wrapped her legs around his torso. Moving his other hand in between their two bodies, he stroked her hungrily before inserting two fingers into her core, increasing her desire and making him ache with want for his fiancé. Rhythmically moving his fingers inside of her, Ryan couldn't help but notice the look of pure bliss on her face, eyes closed, mouth open as her breathing steadily increased. Wanting to feel even closer to her, he leaned in and slipped his tongue into her mouth, startling her as she opened her eyes. Keeping their blue irises locked on each others, they kissed as he continued to stimulate her, finally breaking away when neither could take one more second without oxygen.

Gulping for air, Marissa spoke up, her voice husky and deep. "Fuck your hand, Ryan," she began only to have him interrupt her.

Laughing, he complained, "no thank you," before she continued as if she never heard him.

"I need you now," she demanded, reaching her hands down to his ass to pull him to her. Obliging her wish, Ryan withdrew his fingers from inside of her and entered her, merely resting inside of her for a few moments as they adjusted. Just watching her smile contentedly as he filled her, Ryan couldn't help himself from letting go of her with one hand to trace the delicate jaw line of her face before trailing his finger down her neck, over her sensitive chest, and across her swollen stomach, only stopping when his hand once again took hold of her hips.

Eyes closed once again, Marissa could not speak through the haze of lust in her mind to let Ryan know that she was ready, that she wanted him to move inside of her, that she wanted their bodies to rock in sync. Instead, she laced her arms around his neck, wrapping her long, slender fingers through the damp locks of his hair, tugging on it playfully and tightening her grip with her legs around his waist.

Slowly, at first, only to increase quickly in pace, their bodies moved as one, dancing the lovers dance of need, want, and desire, but it was not enough. She craved more of him, and as her swollen abdomen prevented him from pushing into her fully in their current position, Marissa tore her mind away from the pleasure to beg quietly to Ryan. "Move….please…sink."

Not even bothering to turn the water off, neither one of them capable of concentrating on anything besides the others body, Ryan, never pulling out of her, carried her out of the shower and over to their double sink, setting her down on the edge of it so she could lean back, arching her back and bucking her hips almost immediately to let him know they needed to continue NOW. Not needed to be told twice, Ryan thrusted even deeper inside of her, making her moan his name out immediately, her voice low, deep, and lust filled.

Watching her so out of control with passion only increased Ryan's thirst for her, urging him to move faster and push harder, the very thing Marissa seemed to crave. Neither knew why, but, unlike the past few months where their love making had been sweet, tender, and gentle because of the pregnancy, this time it was wild, hard, and fast. Although Ryan attempted to wait for Marissa to orgasm first, the sheer power and magnitude of their actions drove him over the edge before her. As he pulsated and throbbed inside of her, Marissa finally came, as if she had been waiting for him to be satisfied first, as if she had wanted to feel the extent of how thoroughly she could please him.

It took them both several minutes to get their bodies under control, for the quivering of pleasure to cease. Once again taking her in his arms, Ryan carefully laid Marissa down on the floor of the bathroom, making sure she laid on her left side as recommended and rolling a towel up and placing it in the small of her back for support, covering her vulnerable and suddenly chilled body with an oversized towel before turning off the shower and joining her with his own towel. For as long as they could, they were going to stay as close as possible, savoring their last private moment together before the boys got up and their day would have to begin.

Lying down beside her, her distended belly preventing them from holding each other too closely, they let their hands roam the others body, tickling and teasing the others most sensitive areas, enjoying the reactions their partners had. Oddly, Ryan found this position slightly erotic, the feeling of just Marissa's stomach pressed into his lower abdomen, occasionally feeling the baby kick her, beautifully symbolic of their love and passion while at the same time taunting him because he could not hold her any closer. As the early morning minutes ticked by, too quickly in their opinion, they talked softly about the baby, about Garrett and Cooper, about their new lives, and about each other, letting their lips meet every few seconds in gentle, tender embraces. It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

"Ryan," Cooper spoke up softly, his voice thoughtful and contemplative as they sat around the camp fire Saturday night, "is Mommy having a girl or a boy?"

"We don't know," Ryan answered him, curious as to where this conversation could lead them and slightly nervous as he thought back to his last really serious conversation with one of the boys, the one he had shared with Garrett while they went Christmas tree shopping. Just thinking about it made him shutter at the memory. "I want it to be a surprise," he continued, anticipating the next question the young boy would ask.

Taking his answer in, Cooper sat there contemplating what Ryan had told him before he continued his line of questions. "Well, what do you want," he pondered out loud.

"I really don't care," Ryan answered diplomatically. "As long as the baby and your Mom are healthy, that's all I want."

Slightly worried, Garrett looked up at Ryan and posed his own question. "Will it hurt, Mommy," he inquired, his voice laced with concern.

This is getting dangerously close to 'how are babies made,' Ryan thought to himself as his mind raced to come up with an honest answer that would not scare the little boy.

"It will hurt her a little bit," he replied honestly, "but your Mom's done it before. It'll be a piece of cake. I hope, he added silently, his own worries beginning to eat away at him.

"I want Mommy to have a girl," Cooper interrupted the serious discussion. "You don't need to have a boy, because you already have us."

"Ew, no," Garrett shouted loudly, making Cooper giggle. "Girls like to shop, and paint their nails, and play with dolls. I want Mommy to have a boy."

"There are good things about having a little sister," Ryan pointed out kindly. "For instance, she'll never play with your toys, when she gets older, she won't eat as much which means there will be more for us, and you'll be able to beat up the boys who try to date her and I won't care." His last positive attribute to having girls made both boys laugh. "Just don't tell your Mom I said that," he added, putting his hand out for the boys to shake in a silent agreement to keep that idea a secret between the three of them.

Settling back into their foldable camp chairs, Garrett was the one to break the silence next. "But," he pushed on, "if Mom had a boy, it would eventually make even teams for when we played sports."

"Oh, that's a good point," Ryan agreed, speaking without thinking. Quickly, he covered. "But we'll let your sister play, too, if that's what your Mom has."

"Mom will probably make her be a cheerleader," Cooper grumbled in complaint.

Confused, Ryan responded, "but your Mom wasn't a cheerleader."

"She always tells us how cute they are after our football games," Garrett contributed to his brother's argument. With a mocking voice, he continued. "She always says how adorable their little skirts are." Going back to his normal voice, he added, "cheerleaders are annoying. I don't want a sister if she's going to be a cheerleader."

"You won't think they're annoying when you're in high school and you want to date one," Ryan teased, immediately changing the subject when he realized what he said and noticed the boys' pondering faces. "Let's call your Mom and ask her what she thinks, whether or not she'll want her maybe daughter to play sports or cheer."

Standing up quickly, Ryan made his way to his bag in the tent, pulling out his phone, and hitting speed dial to the house, waiting for Marissa to answer.

"No phone sex," Marissa greeted him instead of saying hello.

Laughing, he teased her, his back turned to the boys hoping they wouldn't hear. "You better be glad it's me and that I didn't let the boys call you. You would have had fun explaining that one."

"The boys are still up," she asked, ignoring his taunting.

"Yeah, we were talking about the baby, but we're going to bed in a little while…after dessert. Before I let them talk to you," he continued, changing the subject, his tone becoming serious, "what are you up to? It's late. I hope you're in bed relaxing since you're not asleep."

"Actually," her voice completely void of humor, "I'm hard at work, slaving away into the late hours of the night. I figured since you weren't here to stop me, I'd take care of a very important task."

"Marissa," he chided her, his voice stern with alarm, "how many times do I have to tell you, you're not supposed to do anything exerting. If something needed done, I'd do it when I got home."

"Oh calm down," she giggled, "I'm just playing with you. I'm actually narrowing down baby name options."

"But I don't want to know what we're having," he complained.

"And that's why I'm only looking at names that can be used for both a boy and a girl. That way, we only have to pick one yet it will work no matter what we have."

"Are you sure I won't be able to tell the baby's sex by the names," he continued to press her, nervous and hesitant.

"I'm positive, Ryan," she answered him exasperated. "Now let me talk to the two sane men sitting around the camp fire with you."

"Okay, here's Cooper," Ryan told her as he handed the phone off to the younger boy.

"Mommy," Cooper jumped right in. "If you have a baby girl, are you going to make her be a cheerleader or will you let her play sports with us?"

"I'll let her do whatever she wants," Marissa answered honestly, biting her lip so that she wouldn't laugh at her son's concerns.

"Make her play sports, Mom," he shot back without a blink of an eye. "Cheerleaders are annoying."

"We'll see," she dismissed, making him pout when she changed the subject. "Are you having fun? Did you catch a lot of fish?"

Instantly his annoyance was forgotten. "Yeah, I got a bunch of fish, and we gutted them and had them for dinner. It was so cool! We're having campfire pies for dessert before we go to bed."

"Well just make sure you watch Ryan while he cooks," Marissa teased. "We don't need him burning himself. You better be in charge, Cooper." Chuckling loudly, he agreed before saying he loved her and handing the phone over to his brother. "Hey honey," Marissa greeted her older son. "How were the trees at the park," she asked him, knowing that he really wanted to see them. "Did you get some pictures for me?"

"We got lots and lots of pictures, Mommy," Garrett answered her excitedly. "Ryan even got one of me and Cooper on his phone. He said something about how it helped him remember that we're still little kids." She could almost hear him shrug his shoulders in confusion, but she knew what Ryan had meant, the sentiment making her smile brightly. "Did you remember to wrap my present for Cooper," Garrett brought her out of her revelry by asking.

"Yes, I did," she responded, "and I used the wrapping paper you picked out, too. It's sitting on the dining room table with the presents from Ryan and I."

"Okay, cool Mom, and thanks," he added quickly. "I'm going to go open the cans of fruit. Ryan wants to talk to you again. Love you." With that, he handed the phone over to a patiently waiting Ryan before going to help his younger brother with their dessert.

"I wish I were there with you," Marissa said ruefully as soon as Ryan was on the phone. "You have no idea how much I miss the three of you."

"I think I have an idea," he responded. "I know that I barely slept last night and tonight is surely going to be another restless evening without you here beside me."

"Liar," Marissa taunted him, her voice playful to show him that she was just teasing.

"But we'll come back again with you and that little guy or girl you're carrying, make it a complete family adventure.

"Sounds good," Marissa agreed, "but I better go soon. I'm only on the P's, so I have quite a bit of browsing left to do before I go to bed. I want a completed possibilities list waiting for you when you get home. This…not having a name picked out….is driving me bananas." Ryan laughed at her choice of words before she pressed on. "Plus, I have to get up early and bake Cooper's birthday cake. Don't worry," she added before he could interrupt, "it won't be chocolate. Chocolate has too much caffeine," she mocked him, using a scolding, deep voice to make herself sound like him.

"Good girl," he picked at her. "We'll see you tomorrow afternoon. I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied back, clicking off the phone and settling her eyes back on her book, the covers tossed off of her hot and sweaty body, her mind reading, her heart camping with her boys.

Finally alone, Ryan sighed to himself as he crawled in bed and watched his fiancé rub lotion all over her body, completely naked except for the pair of boxer shorts of his she was wearing below her belly. Normally, she would sleep in a t-shirt, but the closer she got to her due date, the more sensitive her breasts were, and, tonight, they were extremely sore. Wearing a shirt would just add to the irritation. He knew it was uncomfortable for her, but he would never complain about the sight.

After hours of celebrating Cooper's birthday with a meal that consisted of tacos, Spanish rice, and refried beans, because he loved Mexican food, birthday cake, vanilla just as Marissa had promised Ryan, and the unwrapping of presents, they had finally got the boys settled in their rooms and asleep, several stories later. Only two days away from their mother and they did not want to let her out of their sight. Ryan could sympathize, but he was also ready for some alone time with Marissa, and watching her in front of him, her silky smooth hands caressing her own body as she applied the lotion, was only heightening his desire for her.

"Baby," she called out softly, "would you please get me a warm, wet washcloth? My breasts are leaking again."

Smiling to himself, Ryan got up off of the bed and went into the bathroom, only to reappear with the cloth to find her already in bed, back propped up against some pillows for support, hands holding her stomach as the baby kicked her. Sliding in beside her, she went to take the wet towel from him, but he stopped her. "Let me," he said huskily, lowering his hands to wipe the thick fluid up for her, softly cleaning her swollen breasts and darkened nipples, planting air light, soothing kisses over the exposed flesh after cleaning it.

Kissing his forehead briefly, Marissa took the washcloth from his hands and set it aside. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," he laughed deeply, scooting his body down the bed to kiss up her thighs, but before he could even begin to seduce her, she playfully pushed him aside with one of her legs.

"Don't even start," she warned, "I have something better in mind."

"Better than foreplay," he taunted, "aren't we impatient. You really do want to cut to the chase, don't you? Well, let me just get rid of this," he replied going to remove his boxer-briefs, but, again, her voice stopped him.

"No, no sex tonight. I want to go over these baby names I picked out." Her tone was final, and Ryan knew there would be no convincing her otherwise. Knowing he had nothing to complain about for Marissa, despite being pregnant, was generally just as amorous as he was, he shrugged his shoulders good naturedly, repositioned them in bed so that she was sitting between his legs as he supported her back, and settled in for a comfortable, quiet night in bed.

"Alright, tell me what you found," he offered, unable to keep his own excitement over the prospect of picking a name for their baby out of his voice.

"Okay," Marissa began," but before you say anything about them, let me warn you that they might seem strange, but I like to look at more than just the name. Sometimes the meaning is important to me, too." He kissed he shoulder tenderly to show her that he understood, telling her to proceed. "I'm going to go alphabetical, so that you'll have no idea which ones I prefer. I want to know what you honestly think."

"I can do that," Ryan teased her. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let you forever embarrass our child with a crazy, ridiculous name."

"The first one is Breckin."

"Breakin," Ryan asked, the dislike evident in his tone. "It's like 'I'm breakin' in this new glove here'.

"I knew you'd mock that one," Marissa complained, "but this is the one I liked for its meaning. It means freckles…in Gaelic, and, if the baby takes after me, it will definitely have freckles. I think it's cute."

"Yeah, just what a little boy would want his name to mean," Ryan continued to tease her, "freckles." When she went to protest, he interrupted her. "I'll admit that if we had a little girl and she had freckles, it would be….tolerable."

Sighing, Marissa continued. "The second one is Cory. I just liked this one. The meaning wasn't important."

"How would we spell it," he inquired, thoughtful.

"We can figure that out later…if we like the name. What do you think of Loren, spelled L-O-R-E-N.? The spelling matters to me on this one."

"A little feminine, but it's not bad," Ryan answered her. "What else do you have?"

"Even I, the woman who knows nothing about football, knows you'll like the next one, Peyten, but, "she added before he could say anything, "I'd want to spell it with an e and not an o."

"It would be a good omen, if the baby is a boy," Ryan chuckled, "our own little MVP quarterback."

Marissa just rolled her eyes before pressing on. "The last one I like for the first name is Tegan. I actually got it from a band."

"No doubt one I've never listened to," Ryan shot back with a smirk, expecting the pinch she gave him on the arm. "Do you have anything for the middle name?"

"Yeah, I like Shae," Marissa answered. "I'm pretty sure, if you agree to it, that this is what I want for the middle name. It means gift, and this baby is a gift….to us…from each other." She blushed as she spoke, making Ryan stroke her face lovingly.

"Shae works for me," he agreed. "There was a baseball player, third baseman, with that name. He played a season with the Red Sox. He wasn't bad."

Giggling, Marissa snuggled closer to him, putting his hands low on her abdomen so that he could feel the baby kick and covering his hands with her own. "I think they like it," she said referring to the middle name as the baby played inside of her.

"So now we just need to figure out the first name," Ryan sighed, knowing it would be no small feat for them to agree on one name.

"Why don't we sleep on it," she suggested, turning her head to look at him, their hands still caressing the baby, "you know, give the names time to sink in, ruminate. We don't have to finalize the name tonight. We have a least a month, if I go by my due date, to decide."

Leaning down, he playfully kissed her nose, making her wiggle it as he tickled her. "I think that's a good idea," he acknowledged. As she yawned, he let go of her and slid his body out from behind her, easing her back down onto the pillows on her left side and snuggling behind her, the blanket pulled only over him. "But, for now, you need your rest."

Content, Marissa let her eyes drift shut even as she talked. "I'll be late Thursday afternoon. I have my first appointment with the new doctor," she explained.

"Why didn't you tell me," he asked her, sitting up in bed to look down on her, pushing the pesky strands of hair behind her ear which were falling into her beautiful face. "I'm going with you."

"You can't go with me, Ryan," she dismissed. "The boys aren't in school, and we don't know anyone who could watch them."

"Then they'll go with us," he argued.

Eyes wide, voice elevated, she protested. "They are not going with us to an appointment with my OB-GYN. That's just….no!"

"I didn't literally mean into the room with us," he laughed at her. "I'm sure the receptionists would keep an eye on them while we're in with the doctor, and they're good boys; they'll behave. There is no way I'm not going with you," Ryan pressed her.

"Fine," Marissa conceded, "but if they ask any questions, I don't care how detailed they are, you're answering them."

Swallowing nervously, Ryan could only shake his head in agreement as he leaned in to give her a lingering kiss before lying back down and pulling her body as close to his as he could, his hands instinctively going to her stomach to feel the baby move. As they drifted off to sleep, the 'I love you's' of their partner lingering in their mind, the child they made together, perhaps sensing her parents' state of exhaustion, settled down herself, resting peacefully and giving her mother a respite of comfort.