Chapter 2

Sylvie arrived at Athos' apartment and let herself in as per is instructions. "Athos?" She rubbed her hands together trying to get them warm. It was late November and they were having a surprisingly cold fall.

"Hello," Athos appeared from the kitchen smiling at her. He walked over to her helping her out of her coat. "Happy Birthday," he brushed a quick kiss over her lips before hanging up her coat.

Sylvie took in the lovely smells coming from the kitchen. "My favorite restaurant? How did you manage that?" Carlo, the owner of the restaurant, didn't do catering. He insisted his restaurant was where his food was to be experienced.

"He made an exception for you," Athos offered her his hand and led her into the kitchen. "Carlo's daughter Amelie brought the food over with some of the staff."

Sylvie looked at the food spread over Athos' kitchen counter. Spaghetti carbonara was the first thing she noticed. It was her favorite. "How did you know?"

"That it's your favorite?" Athos smiled. "You told me the first time we were at the restaurant and you had it for dinner that night."

Athos picked up a bottle of wine sitting on one end of the counter. Sylvie watched him open the bottle and pour a glass for each of them. She took the glass offered to her. "What shall we drink to?" She asked.

Athos raised his glass. "A happy birthday, I hope you find it satisfying."

"Satisfying?" She raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that the best you can do?"

"I guess I'm out of practice with these toasts. How about, many happy returns?" The laughter in his eyes had her smacking his arm playfully. The corners of his lips turned up as he offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

Sylvie took Athos' arm walking with him to the dining room. He told her to sit down and he would bring the food in.

While Athos was in the kitchen Sylvie felt a yawn coming on and tried to stifle it with little success. She had told Constance she was just tired from being with a room full of seven year olds all day, but she had been getting the same hours of sleep and she had been tired for the last couple of weeks on and off.

"Here we are, mademoiselle," Athos set her plate in front of her and then his down.

Sylvie took a bite and felt as if she was in heaven. She let out an appreciative sigh. She took a few more bites before she noticed Athos looking at her. "What?"

"You are really enjoying your food," he said.

"It's delicious," she said.

They continued to eat while discussing their day. She wiped her mouth on the cloth napkin. She shook her head. He really went all out.

Another yawn started and she really tried, but she couldn't stop it.

"The children must have really run you ragged," Athos said standing next to her. "Maybe we should cut this short so you can get some sleep."

"No," Sylvie said. She stood up wrapping her arms around his neck. "What else did you have planned?"

"I have a couple of gifts for you," he said.

"You shouldn't have," she insisted.

"I wanted to," he took her hand walking her into the living room. He sat her down on the couch leaving to go to his bedroom briefly. He came out holding two small boxes. One was longer than the other.

"Open this one first," he handed her the longer box.

It was wrapped simply. It was definitely not a professional wrapping.

"I wrapped it myself," he said.

He looked a little self-conscious so she leaned over pressing a gentle, but quick kiss to his lips. She returned to the package. While she did not tear into the package she kept the paper mostly intact.

She grinned up at him when she opened the box. It was a pair of leather gloves she had wanted for a while.

"Now you won't freeze your fingers," he said.

She looked a little chagrinned. He must have noticed her cold hands when she arrived.

"Now, I promise it's not too extravagant," he said.

She eyed him, but opened the box. Inside sat a gold bracelet with a simple, but elegant setting of three diamonds in a row. The center diamond was slightly larger than the two on either side. "Athos, it's beautiful. But I can't…"

"Sylvie, you know I promised I wouldn't start giving you extravagant gifts all the time. It's your first birthday since we've been together and I just want you to have this simple bracelet. The setting actually has a special meaning."

"What does it mean?" She asked curious now. She knew he had money, but she hoped he understood that the money didn't matter to her.

"It's similar to a ring my grandmother had," he said.

She took in a breath feeling it catch a bit. She knew how close he had been with his grandmother and she couldn't deny him this, that he would give her a little piece of his grandmother. "Thank you, I love it," she handed it to him. "Help me put it on," she offered him her wrist so he could place the bracelet on.

Their lips met and they kissed. It was passionate, but not too much. It was gentle at first and then became more demanding. Athos took her hand and pulled her up off the couch with him guiding her to the bedroom, all the time not breaking the kiss.

TM

Athos lay in bed next to Sylvie who was sound asleep. He couldn't believe all the changes in his life in the last six months. He really never thought he would find love again or that he wanted to.

But Sylvie was just the person he needed in his life. She got him out of his head reminding him of the things that were important to him, but had put aside for his first marriage and then because of the pain of how it had ended.

He felt Sylvie move. She suddenly sat up swinging her legs off the bed standing up. He became a little concerned as she looked shaky. "Sweetheart?"

She suddenly ran to his bathroom connected to his room. A moment later he heard the familiar sounds of vomiting.

TBC