Hello readers. I hope you've had a nice week and that you'll enjoy this update.
This is the first update of any story since the news of Leonard Nimoy's passing. We lost someone great on Friday. May we all live long and prosper.
Fanfic-Reader-88: It certainly was different, but Freddie was looking at the deeper meaning of love and the holiday as a whole. Telling Ian not to worry could have caused a time paradox, but these stories are walking that tightrope of it happening.
Twilight Warrior 627: Valentine's Day should be sweet as it is sexy. The title and theme of WAMB is meant to apply to multiple characters and relationships (which I'm hoping to get an update to that in the next few days). It is a juggling act to try to keep them consistent across the board, but it is fun. Thanks.
seddieloverfan12: I hope you like this chapter. Thanks.
Challenge King: Freddie has a big heart and I thought he never really got to express that without always getting some backlash from someone or it being returned. L.A. in that sense has turned out to have the greener pasture.
I want to add an additional warning with my usual rating. This chapter is really pushing the T rating for Adult Situations and under FF's rules, technically maybe M, but nothing particularly graphic.
Rating: +T Adult Situations
Special Guest Appearance by Jennifer Connelly as Ruby Lynn West
Special Guest Appearance by Joe Flannigan as Col. Steven 'Loco' Shay
Chapter 4
West Residence
Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, February 12, 2015
Jade was the first through the door into the kitchen in the mid-afternoon and saw that back of her mother pouring herself some ice tea at the kitchen island. The usual sharp dressed business woman was in just a long sleeved v-neck shirt and jeans for the afternoon.
Mrs. West looked over her shoulder to see her daughter and future son-in-law. "Hey sweetie, enjoy your day?"
Jade walked around her mother, leaving a kiss on her cheek in her wake, to the other side of the island towards the cabinet to grab a glass to get a drink, "Yeah, it's been a great day."
The West Matriarch directed a sly glance to Freddie as he hung up his keys on the key rack and commented, "I'm glad. A girl needs to be treated on Valentine's Day."
Freddie walked around the island to get behind Jade just as she was grabbing the pitcher to pour herself some tea. He kissed her right cheek from behind and teased, "I'm hoping it will be better before midnight."
Colonel Shay called out from the living room, apparently over hearing the comment, "What about treating us guys for Valentine's Day?"
Mrs. West slightly leaned to her right to look around Jade and Freddie into the living room, a smirk playing on her lips. "If you treat the girl, she's definitely going to treat you before the night's over."
Shay chuckled from his seat on the couch and muttered, "Some things never change…"
Mrs. West ignored her longtime friend and asked the early twenty-somethings, "So you have plans for tonight?"
Jade turned her head to meet Freddie's eyes, assuming the answer would be yes, but was curious to what he could still have in mind for the rest of the day.
The brown eyed young man easily answered, "Oh yes I do."
The dark haired performer teased, "Care to share them?"
"Regretfully, I do have to spoil it a little so you can plan properly. I was planning for us to dine-in and I was going to cook you a fantastic dinner… then give you the rest of your gifts."
The mistress of the home grinned. "Good, because Steven and I are going out tonight."
Jade playfully questioned, "Planning to come home?"
The older and just as lovely West grinned, easily as coy as her daughter, "Should I?"
Jade looked over her shoulder to her future husband as she answered her mother, "It wouldn't be too inconvenient if you didn't come back until sun up?"
Freddie pursed his lips and immediately formed a healthy flush on his face.
The lovely raven haired mother smile became a near face splitting grin while she casually answered, "I think I can persuade Steven to extend our evening to let you two enjoy your evening."
The former fighter pilot called out from the living room, referring to himself in the third person, "Persuade Steven to do what?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow and a teasing corner of his mouth and nonchalantly remarked, "Oh nothing…"
In knowing the woman for more than forty years told Shay that it wasn't just 'nothing'. However, he could only wait and see what the beautifully devious woman had in store for him.
Jade's eyebrow flicked up and continued in jest, "I just hope you're careful during the night."
The mother's coy smile faded to a look of mild confusion then to an appearance of uneasiness.
The couple noticed the change in her demeanor in an instant. Jade was about to say something, but her mother took a sip from her drink and walked around the island to head back to the living room.
Jade looked to Freddie, silently asking what she had done. He looked just as lost for an explanation. She pulled away and walked to the threshold between the kitchen and living room.
She saw her mother slip back onto the couch, take another sip from her drink then placed the glass on the end of the coffee table before she snuggled up to Shay's right. He naturally wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss on her forehead. An unseen smile to Jade formed on Ruby face as she snuggled up to the man she had known and loved since she was seven.
The former officer had his feet propped up on the coffee table with a PearBook on his lap. "So cupcake, how's the city of love treating you on this Valentine's Day?"
On the other side of the globe through the computer, Carly's voice could be heard answering her father from the webchat.
Over the course of the rest of the afternoon, Mrs. West had spent her time with the former flyer doing really nothing but enjoy each other's company and denying Jade the opportunity to figure out why her mother had apparently gotten so upset with her joke. Her mother really couldn't be described as a 'prude' and she was teasing about what activities Jade and Freddie could be up to that night, so she didn't think her joke was necessarily crude or offensive.
Jade finally got her opportunity to talk with her mother as the time was approaching seven that evening and the matriarch was getting ready in her room. She approached the entrance of the room and softly knocked on the door. "Hey."
Mrs. West was standing in front of the full length mirror, checking her appearance in her black lace and bouclé dress. She looked into the mirror to meet her daughter's gaze behind her and replied, "Hey."
Jade glanced to the floor and muttered, "Mom, I'm sorry."
Mrs. West turned from her mirror and looked to her daughter with an expression of confusion. "For what dear?"
"For what I said that upset you back in the kitchen. I didn't mean to be… too personal… too crude."
The raven haired beauty lovingly smiled and reassured her daughter, "It's alright. There's nothing to be sorry for."
"Then why did you get upset? Freddie and I saw the look on your face and you were quick to escape the kitchen."
The older West slightly tilted he head to the side and countered, "Lynns don't run away, we just… tactically withdraw."
Her mother's explanation sounded as if it came straight out of Jade's grandfather's mouth. "Then why did you make a 'tactically withdrawal'?"
The dark haired business woman glanced to the floor and took a few steps to have a seat on the edge of her bed. She forced a smile and answered, "It hit a sore spot."
Jade took a seat next to her mother and gave her a perplexed look. "I don't understand."
Ruby West took a deep breath then slowly let it out to explain, "I haven't really seen the need to talk about it, but… I hit menopause a few months ago, so… I couldn't get pregnant even if I want to—you know, short of hormone therapy and all those fertility treatments. I know it was just a joke with me and Steven, but it made me think about my age… more years behind me than in front of me and what's now out of reach."
Jade's stomach sank, the joy of today leaving her faster than a gust of wind blowing away leaves. "I'm sorry."
Ruby smiled to her daughter, one filled with hard earned wisdom. "It's okay. It's just part of life. We grow up… and we grow old… if we're fortunate."
Jade didn't like to think about that line of thought. If anyone really paid attention to her old Slap page videos, they would know that she was feared death despite having a morbid fascination with it… having witnessed her own death in a future that could have been drove home the point. She didn't like thinking about her own mortality and she still had her whole life ahead of her with Freddie, but thinking about her mother's mortality was a scarier thought.
The twenty year old cleared her throat and cautiously asked, "Is that the only reason? Knowing that's no longer a possibility for you or… did you want to have another child… with the Colonel after you got married?"
The raven haired beauty paused, looking as if the thought really hadn't occurred to her about having children with Shay. She actually laughed for a moment, throwing Jade completely off with the reaction. "At my age, I never gave it much thought about us having children. We have you, Carly and Spencer. You're our children. Our relationship isn't like yours and Freddie's or any of your friend's parents' relationship, so I don't think children would come into play." She glanced away and looked as if she was forcing a smile. "Besides, it's a moot point. I'm getting too old… we're getting too old to start over and we'll… we'll be too busy for the next two years then… maybe the next four years."
Her mother and the Colonel's relationship wasn't traditional. They love each other, very deeply and true and were very happy with one another, but they weren't 'in' love with one another. Maybe they were and they wouldn't admit it to themselves, perhaps due to the passage of time or perhaps the ghost of Mrs. Shay haunted them both. It was hard to say, but she didn't have time to rehash that in her head.
"Mom, I don't care about that and I'm sure as hell know he wouldn't care. Have you talked to him about this?"
The older West cracked a smile and countered, "Jade, I just said I really hadn't thought about it, so no, I haven't talked to him about it. I never thought we would ever get together, least long getting married. Having another child has been the last thing on my mind."
"Okay, fair enough. You getting together wasn't exactly expected, so thinking about children wouldn't be the first thing on your mind, but… you know we know somebody that could fix that if you wanted. I should be dead or worst, but I'm here. I think you would deserve to get a little miracle."
Mrs. West gave her daughter a contemplating expression then cautiously remarked, "It's something to think about, but I'm not sure if I want to be Sarah."
Jade slightly parted her lips and slightly furled her brow, unsure of the reference.
The head of the household stood up and motioned for her door. "I need to finish getting ready and I'm sure you need to get ready for your night with Freddie, so off you go."
Jade sighed and stood up, acknowledging that the conversation was over for the moment, however, she would get the last word. She stopped at the door and slightly turned to look over her left shoulder. "Mom… I know I can speak for Carly and Spencer too… I wouldn't mind having another sibling."
Ruby half smirked and pointed out the door. "Go."
Jade laughed while she exited the room while the older West shook her head, knowing exactly where her daughter got the attitude.
A few minutes after Jade left her mother's room, Shay was patiently waiting in the kitchen, dressed in dark blue suit and white dress shirt, but missing the tie. Freddie and Jade were with him, ready to see them off.
Freddie curiously asked, knowing the dress code to the restaurant that his future stepfather-in-law was taking his future mother-in-law, "Are you sure you don't need a tie?"
"I have one in my pocket and I'll throw it on if I have to, but I think I look pretty good this way."
"At least you're not missing any self-confidence," Jade verbally poked.
"No, I have plenty of that to spare."
A black dressed figure caught the edge of the former Air Force officer's eye and he turned to see Mrs. West strutting over to them. "Well doesn't someone look gorgeous?"
Ruby smiled while approaching him and stopped just in front of her lifelong friend. She brushed a hand over the left breast of the dress blazer. She teasingly mocked, "You don't look too bad yourself, though you could use a shave."
He playfully threw up an eyebrow and questioned, "You're not digging the five o'clock shadow look?"
"It does make it harder for me to kiss you." She completely ignored her own words and planted a kiss on his lips.
Freddie glanced to Jade with a grin on his face.
Shay grinned into the kiss then once she pulled away, he lazily remarked, "That's right."
Jade took a step towards them and shooed them away with her hands, "Okay, save the kissing for later. You have a reservation and you can't be late."
"Sounds like to me that you just want the house to yourselves," the older West was quick to counter with a smirk on her face.
"I won't deny that, but I'm right."
"Right…" her mother answered as Shay helped her put on her coat.
They older couple turned and headed for the door with Shay waving back and laughed, "I'll try to bring her home before curfew."
Ruby playfully warned, "You better not."
The former flyer just laughed and opened the door to the garage for her before they exited the kitchen.
Jade waved and called out, "Bye, love you."
Ruby answered back, "Bye."
As the door closed behind the older couple, Freddie looked to his love and motioned her out of the kitchen. "I need you to shoo so I can have the kitchen and you can get ready. Dinner will be ready by eight, so don't be late."
She kissed his cheek and overdramatically replied, "Fiiinnee, I'll get ready." She trotted towards the stairs and winked over her shoulder before heading up them, drawing a smile from the man she planned to spend the rest of her life.
The time was approaching eight in the evening as Jade was wrapping up getting ready for the dinner Freddie was preparing for them. She looked herself in the mirror and smiled at her appearance. She wore a form fitting spaghetti strap black top that reached past her hips and flared out a quarter down her thighs which allowed her to show off her shoulders, upper chest (that wasn't covered by her dark curly hair) and a fair amount of cleavage. The lower half of her outfit consisted of a pair of pants with the first half to her knees being black leather and black embroidered lace that reached her ankles that could be mistaken for an ankle length skirt. Her outfit was finished with a pair of open-toe heels.
Jade thought she would turn his head tonight and that was her intention. She looked over to the foot of her bed to see the bags that contained Freddie's Valentine gifts.
After all the paperwork of buying the home on Thursday, she did some shopping of her own. There were two bags, one being a plan bag holding Freddie's secondary gift, something physical and tangible, while the other one was the main present in a high quality pink shopping bag with the words 'Victoria Secret' printed on the side. Obviously the item inside that bag wasn't something she was going to hand him, but…
Once the internationally recognized musician and actress was satisfied with her appearance, she turned away from the mirror and walked down the stairs. She was halfway down the stairs when she spotted Freddie standing at the foot of the stairs. He was dressed sharply with a blazer jacket, a dress shirt and blue jeans.
He smile and just gazed at her, his breath begin taken from him. He was able to gather enough to sweetly greet her, "Hello."
A playful little smile danced on her face and she answered in a sweet tone that only her closest friends have heard, "Hi."
She finished walking down the stairs and he offered his arm to her. She graciously accepted and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
He led her to the dining room table instead of them heading for the door to the garage as planned. Since her mother and future stepfather would be out for the evening, it would leave the house to themselves. She didn't mind at all staying in for the evening as she got to spend uninterrupted time with her fiancé, be treated to his cooking and allow her to give him a very special Valentine's Day present without distraction.
He stopped at end of the dining room's long table and pulled out the seat on the right side of table from the perspective of the end of the table to the kitchen. The end of the table was prepared with a rectangular tablecloth draped over on end to indicate that they would be sitting across from one another. The scene was complete with a small bouquet of flowers in the center, a silver candle stick holder with several candles lit and the silverware already placed.
She took her seat and he whispered, "I'll be right back."
As cold and distance as she could sometimes appear, something which had greatly reduced over the years since her graduation, she did enjoy the romantic gesture of a candle lit dinner.
Freddie returned in only a few moments and placed a plate in front of her of a Mediterranean Salad with seasoned chicken and set a set a glass of ice tea. He turned to return to the kitchen then came back several seconds later with his own plate and drink to take the seat across from her.
Jade laughed just above the sound of a whisper, "You're really treating me today."
He held up his glass of ice tea and answered, "I'm just trying to show you how much you mean to me."
"I know how much I mean to you, I just hope you know how much you mean to me."
He put on his charming smile and casually answered, "I figured if you've put up with my geeky ways for this long, then I'm pretty safe."
She beamed a smile and bowed her head. He was right in many ways as in the first glance of them, they really shouldn't have fit together. She was the dark, sometimes described as gothic, morbid girl with a quick temper (something that had eased up over the years) and pretty abrasive personality while he was the typical boy-next-door with his head in plenty of nerdy and geeky things. They shouldn't have fit, but they did, drawing strength from their surprising commonality and balancing out their weakness.
They began on their meal and started chatting about lighter stuff, setting aside any heavier issues that could weigh on them such as her actually buying their future home and about changing their original wedding date. He mentioned that his classes were still going well and didn't feel any real pressure with them. He mentioned that his sister may want to visit during her spring break in a few weeks and he was looking forward to it. Jade in turn talked about she was looking over some scripts for some minor appearances in movies and television, but was going to take the majority of her time between now and the summer to wrap up her third album and possibly do a short two month tour during the summer.
While Freddie finished the last bite of his chicken, he asked, "So, did you enjoy today?"
Jade took a sip from her drink to wash down her last bite and blissfully answered, "Absolutely. It certainly was an unexpected one."
"So you really didn't mind turning our day out into kind of a 'family day out'?"
She answered while setting her glass down, "No, I don't. What made you think of doing that though?"
"As I told Ian, this doesn't necessarily have to be a day about just your romantic feelings. I know how much you love him—I know if things had spiral out of control between you and your dad and stepmother a few years ago… we'd be raising Ian right now—so it seemed natural for you to get a chance to spend time with the ones you love."
She slightly tilted her chin down to look at her empty plate. "We wouldn't have won that fight."
He flashed her a grin that melted a lot of girls' hearts that would never get a chance with him and answered, "Don't underestimate yourself Jade West. You were willing to kill Fate herself, a court case would have been a breeze in comparison."
Jade didn't look so sure, recalling memories that haunted her when things had deteriorated to a dark point between her and Ian's mother.
Freddie reached over and cupped over her hand. "We would have won and you would have been a fantastic mother to him… you are a fantastic mother to him. Don't doubt that for one moment."
She lifted her chin and met his confident eyes, showing no doubt of his words. She had her doubts on such a thing, but she didn't doubt that over the years she had grown to love the one that in practically replaced her in hr father's heart. She didn't trust herself to speak and could only mouth, "Thank you."
He continued to smile in support of her and asked, "Okay, now that has been established, are you ready for dessert?"
Jade's face lit up, glad they could turn away from heavier issues.
Freddie wiped his mouth with his napkin then stood up to head for the kitchen.
The talented musician patiently waited, taking the last few sips of her tea.
The college junior returned with their desserts of vanilla ice cream topped with fudge and a cherry and surrounded by strings of chocolate.
She immediately gathered some ice cream and some of the fudge on her spoon then brought it to her lips. She closed lipped smiled to him at tasting the familiar, but quite satisfying taste.
"Simplicity at its finest," Freddie remarked before taking his spoon and dipping into his dessert.
The couple continued their desserts, idly chatting about nothing important. They chatted about Cat's tour that was going to start in about two weeks with a brief mention that even Jade found it cute that Cat included Robbie with her at the end of her last music video. Freddie found he felt obligated to point out some of the problems with the premise of the video from a scientific standpoint about a comet over L.A., but tried not to spoil the meaning of the video.
They turned to the topic of television shows and movies, nothing that Jade was interested in perhaps auditioning for role, but observations. They threw around theories about future plot developments of Tori's show on MTV since she refused to spoil anything about the show.
Once they finished their ice cream, Freddie stood up and picked up the bowls. "I'm happy that you like the dessert, but that isn't the last treat for you today."
"I loved the breakfast in bed, new nose-stud and the day was unexpected, but I've loved it. I'm happy, you're happy, Ian's happy… my parents are happy, so you really didn't have to get me anything else."
"I'm glad you feel that way, but I'm smart enough to know when a lady says that, it really is code for 'you better get me something nice' or I'm going to be very upset."
She smirked and playfully mocked him, "I didn't realize my cynicism rubbed off on you."
"It's isn't cynicism, just good old fashion common sense."
"Okay, fine. What is my last gift?"
"Before I get it, I do have to warn you, it might be a little… shocking and I think this present will make it an unforgettable day… which makes it impossible to top this next year."
"Wow, you're that confident about this gift?"
"Yes I am. I'll be right back."
Jade followed him with her eyes as he headed to the kitchen to put away the bowls in the sink then pick something up from the kitchen island. He returned carrying a new model of PearPad, a rectangular one that was nearly transparent, and a manila envelope. He took a seat at the end of the table to sit cattycorner to her.
The muscles tightened around Jade's eyes and lips while glancing to the PearPad. "You got me a PearPad?"
"No, I have something on the PearPad that I want to show you."
She flicked an eyebrow up, teasing him while intrigued with what he had to show her. "You made me a video? Breaking out those creative talents of yours."
"Kinda. I did make you a video… one you will not believe—at least at first, but you need to know that this isn't a joke. I'm not playing a joke on you and this isn't a gag gift."
Jade slightly turned her head and eyes slightly narrowed at studying Freddie's face. He was solemn with a hint of fear in his eyes as if she wouldn't believe him. She dipped her chin slightly in a barely perceived nod and answered, "Okay. It's not a joke. I won't get mad. I'll take this serious."
He sat the PearPad on the table then carefully pulled out a folded piece of construction paper from a manila envelope then dropped the envelope on the pad. He handed her the card.
The blue eye singer laughed at the childish and unexpected absurdity of the card. "You made me a Valentine's Day card?"
"No, someone else. Just read it."
His expression and voice was still somber, causing her further curiosity. She opened the card and read what was clearly a child's message, but quite sweet. As she read, she thought it was simply from Ian if it was just a tad bit too childish to have come from him, but when she read the signature and the date, the humor turned into shock: Sapphire, Valentine's Day 2022.
She looked up from the card, but before she could question him, he held up the rectangular PearPad and started playing a video:
A male teenager with a slightly muscular build with messy front brunette hair was sitting on a couch with a child sitting on his lap. Jade guessed that she was four or five years old at most with mostly straight brown hair with pale skin and blue eyes. She instinctively recognized the unknown pair despite never having met—or so she thought—either of them. Her brain went into overdrive in realizing that something was familiar with both of them.
The teenager started off with a smile, "Okay Sis, your brilliant husband wanted us to record you Valentine message. I hope you have a fantastic Valentine's Day…" He grinned teasingly as he finished, "…and we might be celebrating a little brother or sister for Sapphire by Thanksgiving."
The child turned her head and up to give the teenager a curious gaze. "Why would mommy have a baby on Thanksgiving?"
Ian shrugged and suggested, "Early Christmas present from the stork?"
"Stork?" She looked to her father and questioned, "I thought angels brought babies?"
The onetime cameraman awkwardly chuckled from the background that Jade recognized as Freddie's voice, "They kind of do… I'll have your mom explain it to you when you're older."
The answer left the girl a little perplexed, but she accepted the answer.
The teenager's expression turned serious and finished, "Thanks for always being there for me… I love you Sis."
Sapphire eagerly spoke with a wave, "Hi mommy. I love you. I want you to have the bestest Valentine's Day ever! I can't wait to give you your present!"
The pair waved at the phone and shouted, "We love you."
Ira hopped into the frame and barked a few times.
The video ended and Jade remained staring at the screen. Freddie brushed his fingers over the screen to bring up a picture of Ian and Sapphire sitting together. Jade breathlessly asked him while gazing at the picture, "Freddie?"
"What you just saw is real. That is Ian and that is Sapphire… our daughter. I spent the last week, especially Thursday, trying to wrap my head around trying to figure out a present for you. I looked through the entire mall, hoping that something would catch my eye, but I couldn't find anything to show you how much I love you."
Jade covered her mouth and blinked several times while she felt her eyes started watering. She swallowed, still trying to take in the fact that she was looking at a picture of her unborn child and Ian several years older. She muttered on autopilot, "You said you found me something when I called you?"
He grinned, thankful that he had stunned her with happy silence. "I was kind of stalling. I couldn't think of one thing to get you—I mean, something meaningful besides flowers or candy or some jewelry—that would expression how much I still love you. Someone apparently heard my distress and showed up to help me."
She finally looked away from the pad and asked, "Anna visited you?"
"No, ah… ah cupid showed up. He pretended to be a jewelry sale's clerk while I was looking for something for you before you called to meet at our future house."
"A cupid?"
"Yeah. They really are real. I took a little trip that day to the future and I met Sapphire and Ian. I know you would have loved to have seen them, so I did the next best thing and had them record a message for you."
She attempted to clear her throat several times, so overcome with emotion, then asked, "So this is real? What I saw really happened?"
"Yes, that's Ian at fifteen and that's Sapphire, our daughter and that doesn't capture how beautiful she is."
He sat the PearPad down and scooted the chair closer to her to take one of her hands.
She surprised him by throwing her arms around him and pulling him close, practically planting her face against the side of his neck.
He embraced her in return and ran a hand up and down her back. "I know. I can hardly believe it myself. She's real. She has your beautiful eyes and smile. She's smart and… she loves her scissors. I just wish I could have done more than bring you a video and picture and let you hold her like I got the chance."
She lifted her face up and crashed her lips against his lips, pouring her feelings into his mouth.
He smiled into the kiss, feeling the same nearly overwhelming feelings at the prospect of their daughter.
Jade pulled her pink lips away and breathed against his cheek, "Thank you. She's real… our little girl is real."
Freddie breathed out in an equally soft and warm breath, "Yes she is."
Jade stood up and slipped onto his lap and wrapped her arms behind his neck. She kissed him and pulled him tighter to herself, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her. He allowed his left hand rub up and down her leather covered thigh while his other hand held her hip.
After what seemed like an eternity without breath, she pulled away and rested her forehead against his forehead. She took several deep breaths before muttering, "Do you know her birthday?"
"Yeah, I was able to look it up while helping her make your card. A kid of a celebrity's birthday is public information. Why do you want to know?"
She wickedly grin as she teased, "Well, we need to know when…" Her grin grew bigger as she let her left fingertip trail down his chest. "…when we need to conceive her."
Freddie had to take several seconds to process of what that meant then uttered with a raised brow, "Oh…"
"Is it tonight?"
The college junior did a quick calculation in his head and whispered in surprise disappoint, "No…"
Jade kissed away his frown and lovingly reassured him with a stroke of his cheeks. "Okay, but don't you dare forget that date, but in the meantime, it doesn't mean we can't have a little loving."
Freddie smirked, agreeing with her sentiment, "No it doesn't."
She stood up and took his hand then gently pulled him to follow her. He paused only a moment to turn to the candles and blow them out. He felt the strong tug on his hand and she led him out of the dining room and towards the stairs.
They stopped at her room, simply because hers was before his down the hallway. She led him inside then turned to let her delicate fingers took the collar of his jacket and pulled it over his shoulders. She tossed the jacket idly away, not caring if it became wrinkled in the process.
While her fingers went to unbutton his shirt, he distracted her with kisses down her smooth and delicate shoulder, stopping only a moment to pull over the thin spaghetti strap of her top to continue kissing across her skin. He pulled the thin strip over her shoulder to kiss along her porcelain skin to reach the curve of her shoulder. He peppered it with several kisses before moving back up to his neck.
She lulled her head to the side and sighed as she undid the last button on his shirt. Her breath shortened and her mind started to cloud from the haze of love and lust. She was able to utter before her mind could become further clouded, "I did have a plan for tonight… another present for you."
He smiled and whispered against her skin, "Oh, and what's that?"
She kissed his cheek just in front of his left ear, "I went shopping… at Victoria Secrets."
Freddie's brow rose as his mind started imagining all the possibilities of sexy wear she could have bought. He set aside any fantasies that could start and focused on the reality in his arms. He captured her lips for a deep kiss then pulled away to steal some of her breath. He huff against her pink lips, "As much as I would love to see what you got me, we have all night."
"And we—we have tomorrow morning," she kissed into his mouth.
She pulled his dress shirt off his shoulders and tossed that away, leaving him in his under athletic shirt. She dive her mouth to the bare skin just above the neck of his shirt and under his neck, placing gentle pecks and moving up until she reached the left side of his neck. She bared her teeth and playfully nipped at his skin, but careful not to break his skin.
Freddie laughed, "Wanting to suck my blood?"
She grinned across his pink skin and muttered, "You're the one that's dressed up as a vampire Mister Fredward Cullen."
His hands moved up and down her back and laughed, "Oh I know you like it even if it's goofy."
The blue eyed singer laughed, unable to argue against his point. "I guess you would be my vampire boyfriend."
He tilted his chin down to meet her eyes. "I don't see you as any Bella or Idiot Farm Girl, but someone strong and fierce… maybe you're a Buffy?"
She looked up to him with a look of a predator and whispered, "Nope, if I wasn't your dark lady of the night, I'd definitely be your Faith."
Freddie chuckled, glad she got the reference then kissed her forehead before resuming their lip locking. They finally reached Jade's bed and she leaned backwards to rest on it and he traveled his lips further down, pulling her top down to expose more of skin for his lips to kiss. He kissed over her heart and turned his eyes up to look into her blue one, pulling a trick he had done to her several times to symbolically trying to pour his love directly into her heart.
The dark brunette playfully smiled, acknowledging that she understood his meaning.
He traveled further down her smooth skin and pulled more of the material of the shirt down, exposing her breast. He left butterfly kisses all long her flesh and inhaling her natural scent that caused his hormones to flare and drive him to make her happy. After peppering every spot with a few licks over her center, he kissed along her sternum and repeated the process on the other one, drawing out approving moans past Jade's lips.
She cupped the back of his head and massaged his scalp with her fingertips, the tips of her nails threatening to dig into his skin as he continued giving her pleasure. Her breaths became shallower and she felt the heat on her cheeks. "Freddie…"
He left a trail of kiss down between her valley and moved towards her stomach to reach the bunched material of her shirt. He pulled away and gripped her sides to help her sit up. She took hold of her shirt and lifted it up and over her head then tossed it away.
Jade's arms flew back around Freddie's neck and pulled him into a hard kiss while his hands ran across her smooth back. His fingertips danced up her spine, recalling what he wanted to do after the first time they made love during their summer together when they found each other again. One hand eventually reached her locks and rand her fingers through them to cup the back of her head.
He groaned and she moaned as their tongues became reacquainted and dueled, neither giving way. They 'battled' this way for perhaps several minutes, causing their blood to flow and still each other's breath until Freddie broke away to kiss along her jaw line. He brushed his lips down her skin until he reached over her jugular. He licked and teased, feeding into her playful fantasy and fascination of vampirism.
Freddie lips started their journey downward again, passing over her collarbone, down the left side of her chest to place a few more kisses over her heart. His lips trailed playfully across her soft curves, flicking his tongue out at any sign of goose bumps and having another taste of his love.
Jade smiled and moaned at the attentive attention to her flesh, finding the sensation tingling throughout out her upper body. She brushed over his head, allowing her fingers to mess up his neatly combed hair, to thank and encourage his actions.
Freddie's mouth finally left her chest and reached her upper abdomen and kissed zigzag across her skin. He took his sweet time, driving the rock star further on edge and want for his affection.
He nuzzled the tip of his nose against her bellybutton, teasing her again before continuing his journey. He reached the waistband of her pants and unbuttoned them, slowly opening the fly to expose the black material of her panties and her aroma. Once opened, he gently took the material of her pants by his fingers to pull it over her hips.
Jade grinned at feeling his strong hands move down the sides of her legs while pulling her pants down. He reached her ankles and she lifted her legs to help him take them off after slipping off her shoes. He tossed the pants towards her burgundy chair and the shoes to the floor.
He took a second to admire the beauty lying in front of him, only clad in her black panties that contrast lovely against her near porcelain skin, which was something he didn't see as often as many may have believed.
She smiled a temptress smile, teasing him and bringing a finger up and curling it as a hook, promising with just a look to fulfill both their desires.
Freddie took a second to pull his undershirt from the waistband of his jeans and pulled it up and off his body to toss it away. He crawled back up the bed on his knees to move back to her. He ran the palms of his hands up and down the top of her thighs, gently massaging her legs and driving back the very goose bumps that his actions were causing. He placed a kiss on her right knee then slowly trailed up her smooth limb. He kept his eyes focused on her eyes, trying to convey with a look and deed of his attention to her.
The college junior reached her right hip and kissed all around the band of her panties, teasing so the skin underneath would miss out of his affection and subconsciously scream to her to be touched. After teasing her long enough in that spot, Freddie shifted so he could start making a slow and arching trail along her side and over her smooth abdomen then down towards her navel.
He smiled against her skin before he poked his tongue out to dip into and tease her bellybutton, something adorably cute amidst the canvas of her pale skin. The action sent a shiver through his angel and caused laughter to escape her lips, playful and joyful to expose that sweetness she kept hidden inside most of the time, "Freddie?!"
The brown eyed boy just smiled to his love and let his lips continue to trail down her lower abdomen until he kissed just beyond the elastic band of her panties, treating the skin to the attention he thought it deserved. His fingers hooked over the band and gently pulled them over her hips, kissing his way down with every millimeter of skin until he pulled far enough to show her world to him. He pulled at the moment the offensive material that separated them down her legs. She pulled her knees up to let him take them off her ankles and tossed them away.
Jade straightened her legs back out on the bed and Freddie kissed at the joint of her leg to her hip, trailing up and down before moving back to her center.
Jade slumped back against the pillows and mattress, staring up at the ceiling as she surrendered into the feelings that he started giving to her. Her nerves started becoming electrified underneath her heated skin and her breath became even shallower with her chest rising and falling the same way as when she poured her heart and body into a performance on stage. Her left hand palmed over the crown of his head, having something to hold and encourage him. She whimpered as she started loosing focus on the ceiling, "Fr-Fre-Fredward…"
Freddie smiled against her world at hearing her caress his full name, knowing that he was doing a fine job in pleasing his love. He continued his tender ministrations with his tongue and rubbing his hands up and down the top of her thighs.
Her hips started pushing forward, wanting more of his touch from his mouth, which he was eager to give her. He moved his left hand up and found her right hand desperately grasping for anything. He laced his fingers with her, reassuring her that he was not just giving her pleasure, but he was there every step of the way in her pleasure.
She squeezed his hand, thankful for not only his physical, but emotional presence as she started purring and moaning deeper as she approached her finish, "Freddieee, Fre-Fredddd-Freddieeee…"
The next moment, her world faded into white bliss.
Maestro's Restaurant
Hollywood, CA
Ruby and Shay sat across one another at the high class restaurant and just starting on their deserts of chocolate cake. They had shared small talk throughout the meal and evening, but the Colonel could easily sense that something was troubling his longtime friend.
After taking a sip from his tea, Shay cautiously asked, "You've seen distracted all night; what's wrong?"
Ruby looked up from her cake, midway through chewing a piece of it.
Shay saw the look of surprise in them as if he had caught her unawares.
The dark haired beauty finished the piece of desert in her mouth and debated whether she should be honest, not wanting to potentially spoil their evening. She decided to go ahead with the truth as stalling wouldn't do anything good as he wouldn't have let it go. She sighed and answered, "Jade and I had a conversation before we left and it got me thinking."
"About what?"
The dark haired woman spoke in a deliberate tone, as if recalling dry facts yet a hint of tribulation, "We know how the next few years are going to play out for us. We're going to get married, gruel through a campaign and maybe end up in the White House."
Shay threw on an impassive expression, one honed over the years to not give away any emotion, but knew Ruby would easily be able to see right threw it. He asked in a flat voice, "Have you changed your mind?"
She reassuringly smiled and answered sweetly, "No, I'm still going to marry you. You're not getting rid of me that easy flyboy."
"What is it then? Do you want to postpone the wedding until after the campaign?" He wasn't thrilled with the idea as that would put off their nuptials for nearly another two years. "Do you not want me to run?
"No, we'll get married when we get the opportunity, it's that… I never gave it much thought until today, but… with our marriage, do you want us to have children?"
Shay eyes flew open, completely caught off-guard by the question. He remained that way for several more seconds, trying to get the concept around in his head. "I… I never thought about it. I never thought about having any other after Carly… it was a miracle just to have her. About us having children… wow…"
"I hadn't given it much thought either, but…"
The combat veteran remained flabbergasted, "Do you want to have children?"
Ruby took interest in her dessert and poked it with
"I don't know. I guess I wanted your opinion whether you wanted more, because it would take the two of us… and maybe more."
"More?"
She patiently smiled, forgetting sometimes that he could be slightly thick at times. "Steven, we're in our early fifties, not teenagers anymore. It wouldn't exactly be easy for us… for me."
They had taken their trip on the river of time, going along with the flow as every other being. He was in excellent shape and physical health. He didn't feel his age through the combination of what had to be good genes as his father was in his eighties and was able to do walking handstands and his own physical conditioning through the service. Ruby looked as beautiful as ever and could easily pass for someone ten years younger, but apparently things weren't the same underneath.
Shay reached over the table and took her hand. "Ruby, I'm sorry, but if you wanted one with me, we would find a way. There are… possibilities."
"But would you want another child?"
He turned to some deep contemplation over the idea about another child. His mind naturally led to the regrets with some things about raising his children, more so about Carly with Spencer doing most of the raising—one of the many reasons why he thought his son was a far better man than him—and not being there more for Ruby and Jade to have a more positive male influence in Jade's life. Would he make the same mistakes again with another child?
He grinned and stated his honest thought, "To have a child with the woman I love? That would be more of a blessing than I deserve."
Ruby's mood brightened, thinking that perhaps contemplating having another child was something to seriously consider for the future.
West Residence
Los Angeles, CA
An hour or so later after Jade and Freddie were finished being intimate in their own way just short of doing what was necessary to conceive Sapphire or any other child, Jade was peacefully sleeping on her left side with the dark purple sheet pulled up with her right arm to cover her modesty despite having put on his white dress shirt and buttoning a few buttons of it. Her hair framed her face in a lovely fashion and rested on her shoulder, making her a very lovely sight to Freddie's eyes.
Freddie had grabbed a fitted T-shirt and boxers from a quick trip to his room and sat about nicely gathering Jade's discarded dress and other garments to rest across the back of and in her burgundy chair as he was unsure of how to hang up the dress. After neatly gathering up her clothing up, he took a moment to just watch her, appreciating these hard earned peaceful moments where they could forget about the world—her an internationally recognized musician and actress and the pressures of college—and drop all their emotional shields.
He thanked anyone that listened for being in this moment, being with someone that loved him just as much as he loved her and finding peace in what had been a pretty chaotic life.
Freddie wasn't entirely truthful with Jade that he had given her the last of her Valentine's Day presents. He left the room to get one last Valentine's Day for his love then returned less than a minute later. He walked back to Jade and gently kissed her forehead. He stood up and sat a framed picture of Sapphire and Ian on Jade's nightstand before gently crawling onto the bed and slipping behind to hold her close to him.
Jade slightly stirred from his contact and gentle embrace of his strong arms. "Freddie?"
He kissed her cheek and gently whispered, "It's okay. I was just joining you. Go back to sleep."
The dark haired singer thought about arguing, but his loving embrace felt just too good. As she drifted off back to sleep, she realized that she could treat give him the treat she planned tomorrow night and make it a Valentine's Weekend.
Author's Note: Okay, I hope you enjoyed this little story. I do have a short epilogue to this story in the next couple of days. Thank you for reading. Oh, Pear products have advanced since the ends of the respective shows and 'Who are My Brothers?' as I'm borrowing the advancement from Henry Danger.