She closed the door and leaned against it wearily; glad the day was almost over. Now all she had to do was make it to the bedroom and she could collapse in a heap to regain her strength for tomorrow. Lucy was her dearest friend but she was excruciatingly hard to read when she was excited and even more difficult when she was upset and today she had been both - in spades.

The relentless rain had thrown her roommate, her former roommate she corrected herself, into a tizzy. She had burst through the door as soon as Sue opened it talking ninety miles an hour, stating that she couldn't get married, that God had sent a sign. At least that is what she had been able to piece together from the snippets of conversation she could actually see. Lucy had made no attempt to sign anything in her agitated state. Sue had spent the rest of the morning and into the evening trailing her friend around the hotel's ballroom while she made contingency plans in case the rain lingered.

Smiling as she inhaled the subdued fragrance of the small vase of plumeria she had kept after Jack's fiasco, she pushed away from the door with a sassy, "Honey, I'm home."

Her steps faltered and her voice faded as she rounded the corner from the entry into the sitting area. "Mom? Dad? Wh...what are you doing here?" She looked around anxiously, seeing no sign of Jack.

"Why we came for the wedding, dear." Her mother rose from the couch and enveloped her in a hug.

"W...wedding?" She pulled back from her mother to be swallowed in her dad's embrace.

"Yes, dear. Did you forget that Lucy invited us?"

"Oh! No, I didn't forget. I'm just surprised to see you. I thought you were flying in on Thursday."

Her mom shared an amused look with her dad. "Today is Thursday. We've been here for a few hours. That nice young gentleman, Jack, picked us up at the airport."

Sue laughed nervously. "It's been such a crazy day, what with the rain and all. Lucy has dragged me all over trying to make plans in case the sun refuses to...Jack? Jack picked you up at the airport?"

"Yes, dear. He's such a gentleman. He's kept us company while we've been waiting for you."

Sue nodded mutely, her teeth searching reassuringly for her lower lip. "Wh...where...do you, uh, know wh...where Jack is now?"

"He's in the shower I believe. Said he wanted to be out of your way when you returned."

"Oh." The oxygen in the room was definitely diminishing, she could tell. Not only could she not come up with a distracting topic of conversation, her mother had delivered Jack's whereabouts calmly, as if his using her shower were no big deal. "So..."

"Oh good grief," her mother rolled her eyes, taking Sue by the arm. "Come sit down. You look like you're about to faint." She paused, glancing over her shoulder before continuing.

Sue turned to look at what had captured her mother's attention, sucking in her breath at Jack's appearance. He was obviously fresh from the shower, his skin glowing and his hair damp. His face lit up in a smile when he noticed her, his hand giving a small wave as his fists settled over his heart. He wiggled his thumbs up and down, repeating his greeting verbally when he stood in front of her. "Hi Sweetheart."

Her eyes darted nervously to her parents and back. She gave Jack a tight smile and uttered a whispered hello in return.

Jack pursed his lips at her obvious discomfort. "I missed you today," he told her, leaning forward, his intent clear. He frowned when she turned her head self-consciously and his lips landed on her cheek.

"So..." she hurried toward where her parents had once again settled on the couch. "You must be exhausted after the long flight. What room are you in? I'll walk you there and get you settled." She paused as she noticed her mother hold her hands out one over the other and then flip them. She then moved them to the side in a series of small arcs. Sue frowned. "What change of plans?"

Carla Thomas rose from the couch, straightening her jacket as she stood. "Well, I thought it might be nice for us to have a mother-daughter night. Our room has a couch too so Jack can stay with your dad and I'll stay here with you."

"Orrrr Jack can stay here, on the couch like he's been doing, and we can talk tomorrow."

Jack grinned, ducking his head so his spitfire of a girlfriend wouldn't see his amusement. He was glad she was back in form. He'd been worried for a few minutes at her apprehensiveness. Waving to capture her attention, he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm okay with it, Sue. Your mother asked me before you got back if it would be okay. I've got my overnight case and I'm ready to go."

"But...but...you don't have to leave just because she doesn't trust me." She glared at her mother defiantly, silently daring her to refute her statement. Instead it was Jack's face that popped in between her and her mother.

"I really think everything will be okay. Let's give your mom and dad a moment to say goodnight. Come on." He grabbed her hand and half led half dragged her out the door. He pulled the door shut behind them and immediately gathered her in his arms, his lips searching for and finding hers. He tantalized the tender flesh, sensuously tickling it with light strokes of his tongue before groaning and crushing her to him so he could assuage the hunger that was flaring in the pit of his stomach. Instead, the flames erupted, scorching them both, leaving them panting for breath when they drew apart.

"I've been wanting and waiting to do that since we were interrupted this morning. It seems like days since I last kissed you." He tenderly brushed some hair behind her ears, watching the war of emotions play across her face.

"You don't have to go to my parents' room, Jack. I don't care if my mom and dad don't approve of us staying together. I'm a grown woman and can make my own decisions."

His hands settled on her waist, pulling her close and dropping his forehead against hers. Moments later he lifted his head so she could read him. "It's just for tonight, Sue. I think we can humor your mom for now. Besides, I think I know you well enough to know that if you did deny her this opportunity to be your 'mom' you would lay awake all night feeling guilty, thinking that you could have made more of an effort to keep the peace."

She pulled away, folding her arms across her chest. "I hate it when you're right," she mumbled grumpily. "Why can't I just throw away my convictions and do what I want? Not care what my parents think?"

"Because then you wouldn't be you, the Sue I adore, the woman I love beyond measure and want more than my next breath."

She was back in his embrace, her arms wound tightly around his waist. "I love you, Jack." She felt his hands stroke her reassuringly before his hands gripped her upper arms to set her away from him. He nodded his head sideways, indicating the presence of her father.

"Goodnight, munchkin. I love you." Her dad hugged her close, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. "Don't be too hard on your momma. She just might surprise you."

"Night, daddy. I love you. And I'm not making any promises I can't keep."

Her dad chuckled, dipping his head in acknowledgement of her comment. "Fair enough."

Jack leaned in for a quick kiss before she could react. "Sweet dreams." And with a wink and a squeeze of her hand he was following her father down the walkway to another room.

With a sigh of resignation she re-entered her suite, steeling herself for the battle she knew was to come.