Surprises
After they returned home from the trial Emily threw herself into planning not only her May wedding but Ethan's birthday party. It was his seventeenth and she wanted to do something special for him to mark the occasion. She was using the big room at the local hotel, and she had Louise helping her, when she wasn't feeling under the weather anyway. Finally, one day she said to her friend while they were shopping in the mercantile to get decorations, "Louise, I think you need to go to the doctor and get checked out. This isn't normal."
"Oh it's perfectly normal, I just didn't want it to happen so soon." Louise said. Jesse was only seven months old, meaning that he would only be a little over a year older than his new baby brother or sister. She never imagined that she would have her children that close together. Her comment finally sunk in to Emily. "Oh my goodness. Louise, your pregnant aren't you?" she said, looking at her friend.
Louise pulled her over behind some shelving and put a finger against her lips. "SHHH! Oliver doesn't know yet and I want to surprise him!"
"OOOO!" Emily squeeled. "I'm so excited, though, I get to be an aunt again!"
"Well keep it under wraps ok. Please? I don't want Oliver to find out yet. I want it to be special when I tell him." Louise said.
The girls continued to shop for decorations for the party but Emily just had to tell someone so when Ethan came to visit her later that evening she told him. "Guess what I found out today." She said to him as they sat next to each other on her mother's sitting room sofa, Ethan strumming on his guitar.
"Hmm." Was Ethan's only response as he strummed.
"Guess." Emily demanded again.
"Your having a party for my birthday." He said quickly.
"No." Emily said, keeping a straight face, something she had been worried that she wouldn't be able to do if he asked about it.
Ethan stopped strumming and looked at her, "What then? Someone is getting married?"
"No. Louise and Oliver are having a baby!" Emily finally told him, her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Really?" Ethan said. "That's wonderful for them. Tell them congratulations from me next time you see them."
"I can't. You see no one is supposed to know about it, as Lou hasn't told Oliver yet."
"Really? Why not?" Ethan asked.
"Because she wants it to be special." Emily said.
"Oh, ok." Ethan said and returned to strumming his guitar. "So how are you doing with the wedding planning?"
Emily immediately began giving him all the details of her planning for their nuptuials in May. "Well I've asked Louise to be my matron of honor and of course my sister Alexandra to be a bridesmaid. You can do as you want with your best man and groomsmen."
"Can you find one more smaller girl to be a bridesmaid, then I can ask the boys to be my groomsmen and Slim to be my best man." Ethan said.
"I suppose. You aren't asking Oliver to be in the wedding?"
"I don't know, Em. Slim has been a good friend to me and I want to thank him for that by asking him to be in our wedding." Ethan said. He didn't know that planning a wedding could be so difficult.
Casey walked in then, "Oh, hello Ethan, I didn't realize that you were here this evening. Emily, have you seen Alexandra?"
"No Mama." Emily replied. Then she turned back to Ethan. "Well Oliver is your friend too."
"I'll think about it Em, ok. I mean if you have Alex in the wedding then Caleb, Will and Katie will want to be in it too. I think I should go. It's getting late." Ethan said, putting down his guitar and standing.
"No, don't leave angry Ethan. Please." Emily said.
"I'm not angry Emily. I just think that we should cool this conversation down for now and I'll think about it, ok." Ethan said. He picked up the guitar and turned back towards her.
"Ok." Emily said, looking very much like a small girl.
Ethan let the guitar fall back against the sofa and pulled Emily towards him. "I love you, Emily but I will see you later. I have a lot of work to do coming up, especially since it is getting cold. I will have to be putting out feed now so I don't know how often I'll be getting in to town."
"I'll come to you then." Emily said.
"No, no. I don't want you riding out there with the way the weather is going to change. I can feel it Emily, it's going to get bad. I want you to stay here, snug and safe and warm." Ethan said before he pressed his lips to hers.
They lost themselves in a passionate kiss that lasted for several minutes before they broke apart. "I love you Em."
"I love you too, Ethan." Emily said.
Ethan was right about the bad weather coming in, the next morning when Emily awoke it was snowing and you could tell that it had been snowing during the night as well.
"What a horrible thing to happen the week that I want to have a birthday party for Ethan!" Emily said aloud to no one.
Ethan awoke with the sun that morning and looked out the window. Snow, he thought to himself, wonderful. That would make his feeding a little easier as the cows would not waste so much of the hay that he planned to put out for them. He knew that a lot of cattlemen didn't feed hay in the winter but Ethan was willing to take on the extra time and cost if it helped his cattle stay in prime condition during the long Kansas winters. He was just about finished when his father came riding over the hills.
"Morning!" Elliot called as he rode up to the corrals and dismounted his horse.
"Morning Pa. What's new with you this morning?"
"Oh nothing. Your Ma just wanted me to ride over and invite you to supper for your birthday on Friday, for your birthday." Elliot said. "We'll meet in town at the café about six, okay."
"Do you want me to invite Emily?" Ethan asked. He had a sneaking suspicion that his mother and his fiancé were up to something but he would play along to make them happy.
Elliot looked confused and then said, "Uh, no, your mother already invited her so she'll be there already, with Louise and Oliver."
Ethan went along with that and said, "Ok."
Elliot mentally wiped his brow. Emily and Olivia had been planning this party for Ethan's birthday after his rough year for over a month now and he didn't want to be the one to spoil the plans. The plan was to meet with Emily, Louise, Oliver, their children, Ethan and themselves at the café in town. They would eat together and then go down to the hotel were the rest of the guest would be waiting for them to arrive and surprise Ethan. Olivia and Emily were beside themselves with excitement over the idea and Elliot supposed to women it was a pretty big deal. All his daughter had been talking about was the new dress that her mother was making her for her "Etan's birthday."
"Pa do you want to have some coffee with Slim and I?" Ethan asked. "Pa?"
Elliot came back to his senses. "Sure. That sounds great."
They walked into the house where Slim was busy making the coffee. "Morning Elliot." He said.
"Morning Slim. Say, I hear congratulations are in store."
"Yes sir. I start the sheriffin' in Rock Springs the first of next year. Right now Sheriff Munch has been teaching me the basics of things." Slim said.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad we're going to be keeping a few young men around here. They seem to leave more than they stay around." Elliot said. "I'm also glad that new young men are wanting to take over the business of law."
"Pa was the sheriff before John took over." Ethan supplied. "After Ma passed on John came and took over and Pa and I started building this ranch up."
Slim looked at Ethan in suprise. "Olivia's not your real Ma?"
Ethan looked at his father and then at his friend, "No. My real Ma was killed when I was four. Then when I was eight, Pa married Olivia. She's been my Ma in every way since."
"Ethan's right. Olivia has been very good to us, the best." Elliot said, thinking of the woman that he loved more than life its self.
Slim then said, "I don't plan on getting married, ever."
Ethan laughed at that, "You just wait until the right gal comes along, then you'll change your tune."
"Is that what happened to you, Ethan?" Slim asked with a smile before taking another drink of his coffee.
"Nope. Emily Munch has had me at her will since she made chicken for a church deal when we were only seven years old."
Elliot laughed at that. It was true though, Emily had been the only girl in his son's eyes since that day. That was also the day that Olivia had become the only woman for him. "That's the truth I'm afraid, too, Slim."
"Aww, I know. I remember when we trailed those cattle for you. Ethan pined for that gal the whole time we were gone. We couldn't even get him to go and buy a drink for a saloon gal in the Longbranch with us. The bad thing was that he wouldn't tell us her name!" Slim said as he stood and slapped his friend on the back. "I'll see ya this afternoon Ethan. I have to go in and get educated on the business of sheriffin'."
Once Slim walked out the door, Elliot looked at his son, "He'll do a good job of bein the Sheriff of Rock Springs."
"I think so too, Pa. Slim has a lot of guts and he won't back down from anything." Ethan said. "I trust him."
"I know you do son and pretty soon, the whole town of Rock Springs is going to be trusting him too. You supporting him will mean a lot to the doubters of the town." Elliot said.
"I sure know that Pa."
Then Elliot changed the subject. "Would you be willing to watch the kids and the place for about a week or so later this fall?"
"Sure Pa. Are you goin' somewhere?" Ethan asked. He was at his kitchen counter, making a sandwhich. He decided it would be easier to eat lunch now than waiting until later. He finished the sandwhich and then took a bite.
"Yeah, I'm taking your Ma on a trip. She doesn't know about it but we're taking the train to the big city of New York, just her and I."
"Wow. Any special reason Pa?" Ethan asked, after swallowing.
"Nope, we've been married for a while now and I just wanted to do something special for Liv." Elliot said. "After you and Emily have been married for a while you'll understand."
"I think I understand now Pa. I can see everytime you look at Olivia Benson-Stabler that you love her. I've always known from watching you two that that was what I wanted with my wife."
Elliot stood and clapped a hand over his sons shoulder. "That's good, son, real good." As he was walking out the door he said, "When I tell your Ma, I also let her know that her wonderful oldest son is willing to take on his three younger siblings for a whole week."
"Alright Pa. Yeah you just send the milk cow and the kids over here when you decide to go and I'll watch out from them."
They made light conversation for a few more minutes and then Elliot left, claiming he had his own work to do at home.
Ethan went out to the barn and did some repair work on a saddle and then he went back into the house. He had been working on adding trim to the windows and doing some other fix-it-up type projects. He wanted this house to be perfect for Emily when she moved in as his wife in a few months. A few more months and they would be living here together as husband and wife. He would get to wake up beside her every morning and go to bed with her every night. To bad his Pa hadn't waited to take his Ma on their trip until after they were married, he was sure that he could Emily's help watching the kids, no matter how confident he tried to be in front of his Pa.
That morning, Louise decided that it was the perfect time to tell Oliver about their baby. She was setting in front of her dressing table, watching him in the mirror as she brushed and braided her hair. "Oliver?"
"Yes dear." Oliver said, as he fixed his tie in front of another mirror.
"Come over here Oliver, I have something to tell you." Louise said softly.
Fearing the worst Oliver stopped what he was doing and went to his wife. He knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. "What is it? Are you sick? Is Jesse sick? Your not leaving are you?"
Louise pulled one of her hands out of his and touched his face, "Dear sweet Oliver. No nothing is wrong, everything is right. I'm not sick, well other than the little bit in the mornings and Jesse is fine."
"Then what's wrong?" Oliver asked again. His mind was fearing the worst and coming up with horrible situations.
"Do you think Jesse would like a brother or sister?" Louise asked softly, her hand still resting on Oliver's smoothly shaved cheek.
"What?!" Oliver asked and exclaimed at the same time. His eyes were wild as he leaned back and looked at Louise. "Your not saying, that we, that we, that we're going to have a baby are you?"
Louise could tell that her husband of less than a year was in a great deal of shock. She ran her hand down his cheek and smiled, tilting her head to the side. "Yes, Oliver, we are."
"WHOOOOPEEEEEEE!" Oliver yelled out, jumping up and grabbing Louise into his arms. "Oh Lou, really? We're really going to have a baby?"
Louise relaxed at her husband's exuberant demonstration of his excitement over the baby. "Yes, Oliver. Really a baby."
Oliver already had his wife in his arms so he didn't say anything, he just leaned his head down and kissed her. He was so excited, a baby, his and Lou's baby! Not that he didn't love Jesse like he was his own but there was something about finding out that you were having a baby of your own that did something to a man. It made him feel vibrant and alive. When he released Louise from the lip lock they were in he asked, a little breathless, "Does anyone else know?"
"Just Emily. I'm going to the doctor this morning though, to confirm it." Louise said.
"You told my sister before me?" Oliver asked. "Why are you sure the whole town doesn't know now, telling her?"
"I'm sure and I didn't really tell Emily, Oliver. She guessed."
"Oh." Oliver said.
"She also promised to keep her lips sealed. She knew that I wanted to tell you first. Besides I was worried that you would be upset, I mean the children will only be a little over a year apart in age."
"So?" Oliver said. "Emily and I are that way. It just helps make them closer."
"So you're not upset?" Louise asked again.
"No. I'm so happy Lou. So happy." Oliver said, hugging her to him again. "You'll tell what the doctor says won't you?"
"Of course I will. I'm going this morning so I can tell you when I bring you your lunch."
"Wonderful plan." Oliver said. He finished dressing and then told Louise that he had to hurry and get to the bank to count out the teller windows before everyone else arrived. "I'll see you at noon." He said and kissed her and then Jesse whom she was holding in her arms.
Louise set Jesse down on the floor and he instantly went and pulled himself up and tried to get in a few steps before falling on his bottom. Louise laughed. "Not quite ready to run yet, are you son?" she asked him. Later that morning she went to the doctor and found out that she was about six weeks along in her pregnancy and then she went to see Oliver.
That morning sitting in the bank behind his big new shiny desk, Oliver Munch was flying on cloud nine. Life couldn't have been going better, he had been promoted from a teller to assistant to the vice president of the bank. They told him that they liked his style and his sense of fairness. The day got much better when his father came strolling through the door on his morning rounds. "Father!" Oliver said and stood up from behind the big cherry desk.
"Oliver, Why I see you've moved up in the world." John said to his son, taking in the cherry desk and nice office.
"Yes I've been made the assistant to the vice president of the bank."
(A/N: I don't really know anything about banks and I don't know if their vice presidents have assistants or not so just go with me here ok? Thanks!)
"That's quite an accomplishment son, I'm proud of you."
"Thank you." Oliver said, barely able to contain his excitement at his other "accomplishment". "I have more news father."
"Oh, what is that?" John asked, taking a seat in one of the plush chairs that were now in the office.
"Louise and I, we're expecting a baby. She's at the doctor now confirming it."
John stood then and shook his son's hand while saying, "Congratulations again son! My that is quiet a lot to be going on so early in the day. Would you like me to tell your mother?"
"No. I'll send Louise over to do it when she brings my lunch. I am so excited father. So so very excited."
"I'm sure you are son. And just think, I'm retiring in another couple months so I'll be able to enjoy my new grandson or daughter."
"Yes father."
They visited a while more until Oliver had customers again and then John left, whistling as he walked the streets of Rock Springs. He met Emily on the street and called out to her, "Emily!"
"Oh, hello Papa." Emily greeted coming to kiss her father on the cheek. "What are you out and about doing today?"
"Maintaining the law and order of our fair city." John told his daughter while releasing her from a hug and taking her arm. "What are you out and about doing daughter?"
"Buying more decorations for Ethan's party. Oh I do hope that Elliot has asked him to come and eat supper here in town." Emily mussed.
"Don't worry about Elliot, honey, he'll get the job done." John said, then remembering the news that Oliver had told him said, "Have you heard your brothers news yet?"
"No. What?" Emily said, always up for good gossip.
"He was promoted at the bank and he and Louise are having a baby next summer." John said proudly.
"My that is an accomplishment. I'm very proud of him Papa." Emily said. She knew about the baby but she hadn't heard about the other news.
"So am I." John said. He looked up then to see that they had reached the mercantile, where Emily needed to be. He released her arm and kissed her cheek before saying, "Here you are my dear. Now remember that I am proud of you too."
Emily smiled at him and said, "I know Papa."
"I'm going home for lunch now." John said and started in the other direction. He had great things to tell his wife when he got home.
When Elliot reached home he couldn't wait to tell Olivia that Ethan had fell for the plan, hook, line and sinker. This was going to be much fun. He walked in and hung his hat on the peg and was just removing his coat when he felt a pair of small arms wrap around his legs. "Hi Papa." Came the sweet voice of his youngest child, Katie.
Elliot finished removing his coat and then reached down and lifted her up. "Hi Katie. Where's Mama?"
"In the bedroom." Katie said.,
Elliot put Katie down and went in search of Olivia. She was in there, hanging clothes back under the curtain. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. "Hello Liv."
"Oh Elliot! Did you see Ethan this morning?" Olivia asked, turning into her husbands embrace.
"Yes I did."
"Did you ask him?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"he said that he would be there. What did you expect him to say?"
"Well I have a feeling that he is suspicious of something." Olivia said.
"No, I don't think he suspects a thing." Elliot said. He was just about to lean in and kiss Olivia when they heard a scream come from the kitchen.
They both ran that way to find Katie holding her arm, a nasty burn mark across her forearm. Olivia instantly picked her daughter up and held her. "Katie, honey, what did you do?" she asked.
Katie had stopped screaming but was now crying uncontrollably, "I was," more crying, "going to help you Mama." Then more crying as she buried her head in her mothers shoulder.
"How Katie? How were you going to help Mama?" Elliot asked, kneeling beside them.
Katie had stopped crying so hard now, but she still had tears running down her face. "I was going to take the potatoes off the stove. They were done" hiccup, "cooking", hiccup, "I thought."
While Elliot looked at the burn Olivia tried to sooth Katie. "Oh sweetie, you don't have to help Mama. Especially with things like that. You could have really hurt yourself."
Katie buried her face in her mother's shoulder and Elliot looked at his wife. "I think we should rub some butter on this and then wrap it in a clean cloth."
"You don't think we should take her into town to see the doctor?" Olivia asked, concerned.
"Not for now. Liv, we already have a huge bill there with him, due to Caleb breaking his arm." Elliot said. "If it starts to look like it's getting infected then we'll take her in ok." Then he took Katie from Olivia's arms so she could finish their dinner and he explained to his daughter what he planned to do. "Ok Katie, Papa is going to rub some butter on your burn to make it feel better and then we are going to wrap it up in some cloth, ok?"
Katie just nodded and sat quietly while her father played doctor and fixed her up. When he finished he said to her, "Now, you have to keep that very clean, ok. And, sweetie, don't ever try to grab anything off of the stove top. You could really hurt yourself."
"Yes Papa." Katie said. She always did what her Papa told her.
Louise finished up at the doctor and then headed straight to Oliver's bank. After Jesse got his feet under himself this morning, he did a little better with walking and Louise desperately hoped that he would just take off and go on his own and soon. Especially before the new baby came and she started showing.
When she got to the bank she went in and looked around and didn't see Oliver. She asked one of the new young tellers and he told her. "Mr. Munch is in his office ma'am."
"Thank you." Louise told the young man with the big ears standing behind the counter. She looked the direction he had pointed out and found Oliver sitting behind an impressive desk. She went and knocked on the outer edge of the door.
Oliver looked up from what he was doing and smiled at his family, "Hello. How was the visit to the doctor?" He stood and came towards them, planting a kiss on Louise's lips before she could answer.
"Very well." Louise said, setting Jesse on his feet and hanging on to his hand.
"What did he say?" Oliver said, escorting his family inside the office and closing the door.
"He said that everything looks fine, and that I'm about six weeks along, which means if he is right, then our baby should be born sometime in May."
Oliver gave her a chair and picked up Jesse. "We're going to get a wedding and a baby all in the same month."
"Well it certainly sounds like it." Louise said. She pulled Oliver's lunch from a basket and took Jesse from him. "Now eat your lunch so you can get back to work.
"Yes ma'am." Oliver said and began to eat, still holding Jesse on his lap.
Ethan spent the whole afternoon working on putting up plaster board in his sitting room. Then Emily could put up that fancy paper stuff or whatever after they got married or before they got married, he didn't really care. He hadn't seen her since the evening they had spent at her house. He could definitely say that he missed having her around everyday, waking up and seeing her in the kitchen. Knowing she was right upstairs at night. Ethan sighed and lugged another sheet of plaster board up onto the wall. He put all the nails into and sighed again. The stuff was a pain in the butt but it looked nice when it was up. Ethan figured that it would look a lot nicer once it was papered and the room had been decorated all nice.
Decorating was not his strong point. He thought of his bedroom, the only thing in there other than the furniture, something that you would call decorations, would be the picture of Emily. He would be plaster boarding in there next, if he ever got the sitting room done. By the time he got one wall done it was time for him to do chores so he left off there and went outside. The air was heavy that night, making Ethan figure it would snow again or maybe rain. He didn't see Slim and figured that he would be staying in town that night, leaving him alone.
Elliot waited until after supper to tell Olivia about his planned trip for them before Thanksgiving to New York. He hoped she would be excited, as she came from a big city before marrying him and taking on the trials of being a rancher's wife. Elliot had been saving for this trip since he and Olivia had gotten married, each year putting away a little more money.
He waited and waited, for the boys to finish doing their homework, for Olivia to put them all to bed until finally they were alone. Elliot was sitting in his chair, reading the paper when she came back in. "The kids miss having Ethan here." She said as she walked into the room. "Every night Katie asks me to play the weasel song."
Elliot put his paper down and looked at her, "Oh, well I'm sure he'll play it for her when they go and stay with him." He said as casually as possible.
"The kids aren't going to stay with Ethan." Olivia said, sitting down in her own chair and picking up her sewing. She was darning a pair of Caleb's socks.
"Yes they are Liv. Next month." Elliot said.
"For what?" Olivia asked, confused, setting the sewing in her lap and looking at her husband.
Elliot took the opportunity to reach over and take Olivia's hand, "Liv, I hope you know how happy you've made me these past few years. You've been a wonderful mother to our children and I want to repay that."
He had Olivia's attention now and she looked at him like he was crazy. "What are you talking about Elliot?"
"I'm talking about you and me going to New York next month. Liv, I've been saving for this trip since we got married and now we finally have enough money to go. I have the tickets and everything all planned out, we're going the first week of November. I already asked Ethan to watch the kids and the place." Elliot said, standing and kneeling in front of his wife.
"Oh, El. Really?" Olivia said, reaching over and running a hand down the side of his face. "You really planned a trip just for us? To New York City for a week."
"Yes." Elliot said.
Olivia leaned forward and kissed her wonderful, thoughtful husband. "Thank you honey."
"Your welcome darlin'." Elliot said.
The night of Ethan's birthday supper came upon them all a lot quicker than they wanted or expected. The day had been incredibly busy for Emily as she was decorating and preparing for the surprise party later that night. Before she knew it was time to go and get ready for dinner with Ethan and his family. She hadn't bought him a gift because she had been clueless as to what to get him.
Ethan had been busy too. Working on the house, taking care of cattle. After school the boys stopped by to see what he was doing and then it was time to get ready to go to town. He took a bath and cleaned up and then he dressed in his best clothes. He had a sneaking suspicion that tonight would be more than dinner with his family, fiancé and friends so he figured he better look his best.
Emily was nervous. She was sitting in front of the mirror with her sister helping her carefully unwrap the curls from her hair. "I hope this works out ok tonight." She said to Alexandra who was only eight years old.
"It will be wonderful sissy." Alexandra said as she continued to help her sister. "Ethan will love it."
"I hope so Alex." Emily said.
Then she went to dress and even though it was a cool night she wore the yellow dress that she knew that Ethan loved so much. When she finished dressing she turned to her sister, "How do I look?"
"Beautiful, Emily. You always do." Alexandra said.
Emily pulled her little sister to her, "Thank you sissy. Your beautiful too."
When Ethan got to town he went to the Munch household first, to pick Emily up. He knocked on the door, flowers from the store in hand. Casey answered the door. "Well hello Ethan. I didn't expect to see you tonight."
"Oh, well I came to pick up Emily, we're having dinner with my family tonight at the café."
"I know, she told me that, but she's already left to go down there. She told me that she was meeting you down there." Casey told him.
Ethan thanked her and drove down to the café. Once he got there he saw his family's buggy and he could see them already seated. He also saw Emily. He pulled up and stopped at the hitching rail and tied up his team.
When he went in his family and Emily all stood and said, "Happy Birthday!"
Ethan smiled at them and said, "Thank you." He stepped forward and hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek and then shook the hands of his father and brothers. Katie was next and she flew right into his arms, kissing both of his cheeks and knocking his hat off his head. When Katie got done showing her exuberance and love for her older brother, Emily stepped forward. Ethan wasn't sure if she should kiss her right in front of his family and in public. So he kissed her on the cheek and whispered into her ear, "I'll give you a proper one later darlin'."
She smiled and Ethan knew he wasn't in trouble.
They sat down and had a nice dinner and then it was Olivia that suggested that they all go down to the hotel to see if anything was happening. So the family strolled down the boardwalk, the children running in front Elliot and Olivia, their arms wrapped snuggly around each other behind them and then Emily and Ethan. Once outside, Ethan pulled Emily close to him and kept her there. "So what's going on darling?" he asked.
"Nothing." Emily said, with as straight a face as she could munster.
When they walked into the hotel, it seemed that half the town was there and they all turned and said, "Surprise!"
Emily looked at Ethan and said, "Happy birthday."
Ethan was speechless. Emily had gone to so much work for him and he didn't have a thing to say about it.
There was food and music and even a little dancing.
When it was all over, Ethan drove Emily home. Before he let her get out of the buggy he turned to her and said, "Thank you for all the work that you did for me, Em. It was really special."
"Your welcome. I'm glad that you enjoyed it." Emily said.
"Cem here you." Ethan said to her, pulling her closer to him. "Do you realize how much I've missed you?"
Emily turned her head so she could see his face. "No. How much?"
"This much." Ethan said and began kissing her. He kissed her lips, her eyes, her neck and down towards her breast which were exposed to her much lower cut dress. It was the first time that he had ever ventured that far down and if Emily hadn't stopped him he was afraid that he may have gone lower.
"Ethan." She said in a voice that didn't sound like hers.
"What darlin'."
"I better go in the house now." Emily said.
"I'm sorry Emily. I got carried away." Ethan said, looking like a reprimanded little boy.
"No, it's not that, Ethan. I've missed you too. I miss getting up and knowing that you'll be there waiting for me to cook your breakfast. I wish we could move our wedding up."
"We could you know." Ethan said. "There is nothing saying that we have to wait until May."
"I know but I don't want anyone to think that we're rushing."
"Emily I don't know how anyone can say that we're rushing. I've been waiting to get to this point for a long time and I know you have been too." Ethan said, taking her hands. "I'll do whatever you want to darlin', if you decide you want to move it up then we'll do it but if you want to leave it in May then we'll do it ."
Emily wrapped her arms around him then and said, "Ok. I'll think about what I want to do ok."
"Ok. I better get going now. I love you and I'll see you later ok."
"Ok. I love you to Ethan, happy birthday."
"Thank you." Ethan said.
He thought about what he and Emily had talked about the whole way home. He really hoped that Emily would decide to move their wedding up, he was getting antsy and wanted to get things on the move. He wasn't sure he could hang on until May.
Ok sorry for such a long chapter. Please R&R and let me know if you think they should move the nuptials up or if they should just leave them as is.