A/N – My continued thanks for reading and reviewing. While I don't think this warrants an M, these are grown-ups doing and saying grown-up things, so be advised.

Laughing, she put her arms around him, and cradled his head to her chest. "I love you, you idiot."

"I love you too, you bitch."

He pulled his head away just a little to look up at her. Their eyes locked.

She smiled as she lowered her head to his, kept smiling as their lips touched softly, a bit hesitantly. It didn't matter. The warmth the Scotch had brought to her stomach was a pale shadow of this. His arms tightened around her, and he deepened the kiss, gently opening her lips with his tongue. He tasted of Scotch, and intensity, and Bobby.

After what seemed forever, they pulled away, both breathing heavily and both smiling. "Wow," she said, looking into his eyes. "Wow," he agreed. He gently took hold of her hands, bringing them in front of his lips, kissing her wrists. "Damaged goods, my ass, woman." She laughed, a sound so rare of late, and one he treasured. She framed his face with her hands, and leaned in to capture his lips again, whispering "I love you" just before kissing him with a passion she hadn't felt since the early days of her young marriage.

His large, graceful hands were trembling as he unbuttoned the top of her pajamas. Her kiss wasn't helping him concentrate, and those buttons were tiny. He moaned at the loss of her hands on his face, then felt them cover his and assist in undoing the last of the buttons. With her top open, she looked at him, a little nervousness beginning to show. I am not one of his Amazon goddesses. He kissed her shoulder, his stubble marking a hot trail along her neck, as he gently, almost reverently, removed her top. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see if he was disappointed. He gasped, "Eames, you're beautiful," before wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing his way down her chest. He paused at her breast, waiting to see if she would resist or change her mind.

She felt goosebumps rise on her flesh, and placed one hand at the back of his head, giving him permission to continue. His mouth was hot and moist on her, and she felt the last of her doubts crumble into a desire so strong it would be frightening were she with anyone else. Pulling away from him, she ignored his groan of protest, taking his hands in her own to hoist him to his feet. Silently thanking him for having removed his tie before coming over, she began to unbutton his shirt, needing to see and feel all of him. His hands wandered her torso as she caressed him, not wanting to lose contact for even a moment. His sharp intake of breath when she began to undo his belt served only to increase her haste. "Eames," he warned, sure that this experience would be all too brief if she moved too quickly. A slight mocking tone in her voice, she leaned up to breathe heavily in his ear, "Goren."

He growled at her, deciding to take back some control before it became impossible. She found herself short of breath from just the sound of that growl, and its promise of things to come. Oh, I am in for it now. With seemingly no effort, he lifted her off her feet, bringing her face to his and kissing her fervently. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him as close as possible, feeling his heat meet her own. In two long strides he carried her over to the futon, one arm across her back holding her safely in place as he brought the futon into bed position. Gently, he placed her down, his senses reeling at what they were about to do. Eyes locked on hers, he finished undressing, then leaned down and placed his hands at the waistband of her pajama bottoms. Almost imperceptibly she nodded, giving him the encouragement he needed to continue.

As he removed her last barrier of clothing, he closed his eyes, almost overwhelmed at the sight of her. Her eyes wandered his body, seeing all of him for the first time, wanting to memorize the contours of flesh, wanting to hold on to the moment. Carefully he laid himself out on top of her, knowing he needed to keep from resting too much of his weight on her. Again he kissed her deeply, hands roaming her body, learning its secrets from the soft sounds vibrating from her mouth into his.

"Condom?" he asked.

"Pill," she answered.

"Thank you." She almost giggled at his courtly manners even now, but stifled it, realizing that she wasn't yet sure how open to silliness he might be at this moment. A thought to explore for later. A man who can't laugh in bed will need some training. Her wandering thoughts became thoroughly focused in a heartbeat as she felt him position himself over her. She looked up at him, nervous, aroused, and relieved all at the same time. His eyes promised her that next time he would draw out this moment, but for now, they both needed to take this step quickly, finally.

Partners.

6:02 AM

Alex woke to a tiny sliver of light in her eyes, blinking away sleepiness, automatically looking over at the clock, assuming a time she did not see. Tears sprung up unbidden as she realized the significance of what time it wasn't. The heavy weight had moved up from her abdomen to just below her shoulder, but its hands still protected her belly, in a gesture almost primal. Her soft crying woke him.

"Eames…oh, no, please don't cry. I'm sorry, so sorry. I should never have…"

She realized in a flash he thought she was feeling regret. Dear God, is he kidding me? "Bobby, look at the clock," she whispered. His eyes, still burning with fear, followed her gaze to the alarm clock on a nearby bookshelf. Brow furrowed, she watched him try to figure out why she was worried about time. Today wasn't a workday. Then she saw his face relax into a broad smile. "You slept through the night."

"Robert, if that's what you call sleeping, it's no wonder you always look so damn tired."

His laughter was like a salve on her skin, a rarity that she prided herself on being one of the very few to inspire. "Alexandra, if you think that's a sleepless night, I have a lot to teach you."

His hands were beginning to wander again, skimming over her flesh in a whisper. "You know," she said, "I'm not really so much of a morning person." Her hands were wandering now as well, bearing out her lie, proving that she was an anytime kind of person, with him.

He lifted his head from her neck, stopping his nuzzling long enough to remind her. "Tough shit."