Kelly

Spring 2007

Kelly froze in place, still holding onto Nikolas, as she waited for his response.

He had just walked into his living room and she had flown across the room and thrown herself in his arms. She couldn't help herself.

When she saw that he had placed a picture of her on his desk, right there among the photos of the other people he loved, it made her feel like they were real. Like he did love her.

Like she was more than just a fling.

She clung to him, during the hug that still hadn't ended, and took in his smell, his feel, his essence- loving this man down to her bones.

Nik had said "Wow. Some greeting, Kel. I'd love to come home every day to this."

She had whispered, "That could be arranged."

Now he moved back so he could look in her eyes. "You don't think that's rushing things?"

She slipped from his arms and tried to look casual. "Oh, yeah, you are probably right. I meant one day... so where are we having dinner tonight?"

"Kel." He tried to catch her eyes but she moved to grab her purse and coat, readying to leave and pretend like she hadn't just asked him if she could move in.

Nikolas caught her wrist , lightly, and ducked his head until he could see her eyes. She straightened and they looked at each other.

He said, "Do you want to move in here?"

She sighed. "Not like this. I don't want to force myself into your life. You had a whole huge life before you started dating me. A child, an ex-wife, siblings, and cousins and your aunt. A huge family and best friends and.."

"So?"

"So you had it all before you even knew me. I can't expect to be the only thing on your mind...like you are on mine."

Nikolas gently stroked her cheek. Softly he told her, "You are the best thing I think about each day... your beautiful eyes... the way you light up when you smile...the way you make me forget all my problems and worries and past..."

She bit her lip.

He went on, " I did have plenty going on in my life before I met you but none of that made me as happy as you do. So one day, when we are both ready, I do want you to live here with me and my son. You are who I see when I close my eyes and think about my future. I've fallen in love with you, Kelly."

"You have?"she asked in an equally scared and awed voice.

"Yes, I have. I love you," Nikolas said. Then he captured her lips in a kiss full of passion and commitment.

She could barely catch her breath when he pulled away. Their dark eyes locked on each other and she spoke from her heart, "I love you too."

(Go on, go on, come on- leave me breathless.
Tempt me, tease me, until I can't deny this
loving feeling,

make me long for your kiss.


Go on, go on
Yeah, come on...

Go on, go on, come on- leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on, come on- leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on, come on- leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on ) ( The Corrs)

Fall 2007

Kelly stood in the living room of Wyndermere and said, "Lucky, you can put that box in the Paris suite."

"The Paris suite?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He sighed, shifting the weight of the box.

"Oh, I redecorated the suites so that each one looks like a place Nikolas and I visited together," she said. "The Paris one is the last one on the left."

As Lucky wandered off to find that, Nikolas and Milo came in carrying boxes.

Nikolas had hired a moving company who moved all of Kelly's things to the island, now she was telling the guys which room to place each item. Nikolas couldn't understand had she had accumulated so much in less than thirty years of life but she had container after container of clothes, shoes, books, jewelry, and god only knows what else.

Emily was hanging out with Kelly, watching the guys work, and sneaking in whispered comments about their sweaty rippled bodies when they weren't in the room.

Emily winked at Milo as he headed off to the French Rivera room with his box. When he was out of hearing range she whispered, "I give his ass a ten."

Kelly laughed and nodded. They had already rated Lucky's abs and biceps both a ten. Nikolas was rated off the charts for his brooding eyes.

The girls giggled there way through the rest of the afternoon, taught Alfred how to make the perfect blended frozen margaritas, and then Milo, Lucky and Emily headed off to the launch to go home.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Kelly and Nik lay together in bed, naked limbs intertwined, as they drifted off to sleep they heard Spencer cry, it crackled through the baby moniter.

Since there was no overnight nanny, Nikolas started to crawl out of bed but Kelly stilled him by placing her hand on his arm.

"I'll tend to him this time," she said.

He raised on eyebrow.

Never before had Kelly been the one to take care of Spencer in the middle of the night. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries. Now that they lived together she hoped Nikolas wanted her to form a closer bond with his child.

She studied his face, holding her breath, as she waited for his answer.

"You sure?" Nikolas asked

"It feels right," she said

He gave her a quick kiss. "Thanks, Kel."

She slid into a robe and made her way to the nursery. After changing his diaper, Kelly held Spencer close to her body and rocked him until he was calm once more.

Nikolas came in and found them that way 10 minutes later. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she leaned back.

Kelly couldn't help but think that if anyone saw them now they would look like a family. And for her, that is what they were. This was the start of forever, if she had anything to say about it.

"I missed you," Nikolas murmured, close to her ear.

"I'm here to stay, Nik. Do you think you can handle that?"

He smiled, with an intense desire for her but also with a ever growing love, "All I know is I can't handle losing you. You and Spencer are the twin lights of my life. You both give me hope and love and more than I think I deserve but I'm going to take it all and be grateful for it."

When they were back in bed, his lips connected with hers, and his hands roamed down her body.

Nik said, "You surprised the hell out of me when you asked me out that first time and you keep doing it. I will never be bored with you, Kelly, and if I ever push you away, make me a promise, right now, do not leave. Just hold on to me and don't ever let go. I need you," he kissed her again, slow and sweet as there bodies came together, "I need you so much..."

"I'll never walk away from you, Nikolas. You're my dream come true..."

And they stopped talking and started to create their future, one kiss at a time.

(Rain falls,
angry on the tin roof,
as we lie awake in bed.


You're my survival.
You're my living proof
that love is alive,
not dead .

And tell me, that we belong together,
dress it up
with the trappings of love.


I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips
instead of the gallows of heartache
that hangs from above.

I'll be your crying shoulder,
I'll be love's suicide,
I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your life ) ( Edwin McCain)

Coming up- Emily