A/N: I DO NOT own any part of the Law & Order franchise, or the rights to the song Wake Up by Arcade Fire.

Wake Up

John buried his face in Jodi's hair as she slept fitfully underneath him. All around them the sounds of the jet engine whirred loudly. The absence of her body had left him feeling slightly empty the last few days, and to have her back in his arms was nothing short of incredible.

All he could do was replay the situation in his head. The fact that he head really gotten down on his knees and begged struck him across the face as soon as he realized what he had done. Him? John Munch? Beg?

It was then that he realized just how much he loved her. Of course he already knew he did, but how much had been hanging in the air until now. Even Gwen couldn't make him do that.

Jodi snorted underneath him for a moment before opening her eyes and looking around.

"Hey." John said softly, looking at her beautiful face.

"Hi." she rasped, completely exhausted from sleepless days of running around in disguise. He kissed her on the forehead before looking down into her once-again green eyes. Although her hair was still a dark brown, anything worked for him as long as he had her back again.

She gave him a small smile before entwining her fingers with his and closing her eyes again. He felt her breathing slow once again as she fell asleep underneath him. He looked down at her hand, holding his tightly, and told himself he would never let go.


Jodi walked down the stairs and into her living room groggily, feeling as though her body weighed a thousand tons.

"Hey." John looked up from the TV as she dragged her feet on the hardwood floor.

"Hi." she smiled before sitting down next to him. After sleeping for nearly 24 hours straight she just wanted him to hold her, after the ordeal she had put herself through. It was no one's fault but her own, although she was glad he had come to her rescue.

John put his arm around her before leaning in and kissing her deeply, something he hadn't done in days.

Jodi lost herself in his mouth. It was one of those Casablanca kisses. Jodi heard the romantic music start up in her head and knew that if this was being filmed that fireworks would be going off in every direction.

John's lips broke away and Jodi opened her eyes, confused.

"I think you need to eat something." he looked at her over his glasses.

The sudden rumbling in her stomach reminded her that she'd barely eaten the past three days. For obvious reasons though, she found herself unable to move away from him.

"Just hold me for a few minutes." Jodi whispered before diving back into his lanky arms. He felt the warmth of her body against his and closed his eyes, succumbing once again to the feel of her.


Jodi opened her eyes for the third time that day, and found herself resting tenderly on John's chest. She was momentarily blinded by a haze of white pouring in from her windows.

"It's snowing out." John explained as he opened his eyes as well.

Jodi smiled before scooting up and kissing him. His hands moved around her small waist. Jodi felt her body begin to respond as her hormones began to kick in. She felt warmth begin to blossom through her cheeks and chest, pooling through her breasts and traveling onward.

"I don't think we should right now." John stopped her against his will, feeling himself get hard.

"Please. I need you." Jodi fake-pouted, even though it was the complete truth.

He looked into her dangerous green eyes before pressing his lips to hers once again. Her mouth felt like pure heaven after the hell he had gone through trying to find her before time ran out. His tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting her usual hints of cinnamon and cherry. Her warm hands traveled down his body, running over his clothes and leaving him breathless.

She stopped before gently grabbing the bottom of his sweater and lifting it over his head. He tossed it on the ground before pulling her body completely on top of him and losing himself completely.

Jodi pressed her lips to his chest, working her way slower than molasses and taking her time on his chest and stomach. So light he couldn't feel it, she carefully unhooked the clasp of his pants before unzipping them. It was only when he felt the material drag down his legs that he noticed she was pulling them off.

He watched her as she lifted the waistband of his boxers before pulling them down as well and pressing her full lips to his inner thighs, working around everywhere except where he needed it most.

Briefly and deftly she pressed them to his shaft, making him tense momentarily before planting small kisses along his hardened member.

Just as he began to pull her shirt off, her new phone vibrated loudly on the nightstand.

"No..." John groaned into her mouth before she leaned over him and answered it.

"Hello?"

"You know, if I wasn't in the hospital, I'd beat your ass." Anthony said fiercely on the other end.

Jodi smiled before getting out of the bed with shaky legs. John began to sound off but she silenced him with her hand before walking out of the room.

"Don't you want to know how my trip went?" she asked as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her,

".....Wait so.....did you meet with him?" Anthony asked quietly.

"I was on my way before John caught up with me. I'd assumed you would have met him."

"I'm only an associate. Besides, we went through this already. When they took me to him I still had no idea where we went etc."

"Hm. Well...the last person I spoke to was the Consigliere's son, then I got a phone call to meet some guy at the airport and hop a flight to Cleveland."

"Huh." they were both silent for a moment before Anthony said anything else.

"So...what are you up to?"

"You actually caught me before I was going to have sex with John." Jodi smiled.

"Wow. Bye." Anthony hung up the phone before she could get another word out. Jodi giggled before walking back to her bedroom, where she found John getting dressed again.

"What the hell?!" she exclaimed.

John zipped up his fly before walking up to her and kissing her forehead.

"You're safe again, and duty calls. Actually more like Cragen calls."

"Not funny, and I really want you here."

"Sorry. I love you." he kissed her quickly before walking out of the room, feeling like he was being dragged.

Jodi watched him before sitting down on the bed. Back to normal.

*******************

John awoke, feeling something shaking him awake. He opened his eyes to find Jodi over him, shaking him excitedly.

"What?" John mumbled as he pushed her away.

"Get up!" she exclaimed before ripping the bedspread off.

John groaned before getting out of bed with her. She grabbed his arm, nearly yanking it out of its socket.

As she ran down the stairs with him in tow he had a chance to actually pommel himself into waking up.

"Where the hell are we going?" John asked.

Jodi said nothing before opening the front door and stepping outside on her front step. Fluffy white snow covered nearly everything in sight. Both of them had been to preoccupied to even look at the news or paper. It was only when Jodi had found herself unable to sleep that day and turned on Good Morning America to find news of this "Snowpocalypse."

"You do realize I'm wearing nothing but boxers and a t-shirt right?" John mumbled as he felt his skin freezing on contact.

Jodi couldn't hear him because she was squealing happily as she frolicked in the snow like a puppy. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her. So much like a child. He leaned against he door frame and ignored the cold drafts of air hitting him as he watched Jodi run around in the snow.

He saw something furry run past him and looked down as Sadie bolted past him outside into the snow to join her mother. John chuckled as her small bark rang into the street. Sadie disappeared in the snow, only to resurface a few feet away, as though she was swimming.

Jodi giggled before getting down on her knees and kissing her little head. She whimpered and lifted one of her legs as her paws froze in the snow.

"Oh no, come here baby." Jodi picked her up before carrying her back into the house. John closed the door behind them and watched Jodi as she tenderly massaged Sadie's paws.

It was then that he realized how great a mother she would really be. The way she took care of everyone she loved. She was absolutely amazing, and she'd make a wonderful mother.

"What?" Jodi asked once she saw him looking at her, before kissing Sadie and letting her down.

"Nothing." John smiled before walking over and kissing her. She grinned before pressing her body against his.

"You know....we didn't get to finish what we started yesterday Jodi whispered seductively into his ear. He looked at her before kissing her again. At the thought, warmth began to stir in his body.

"We should get started on that right now." John grinned before wrapping his arms around her body.


Jodi dug her nails into John's shoulder as he hammered into her, making her scream loudly. They hadn't even been able to make it to the bedroom and had settled for the living room couch.

"Harder!" Jodi cried, tossing back her brilliant mane. John plowed into her as hard as he could, mesmerized by her shaking breasts. He watched them, feeling himself become even more turned on which he didn't know was even possible. He leaned over before taking one of her large breasts in his mouth and sucking roughly.

Suddenly, everything was over as Jodi tensed around him. Her fingers clutched the couch and they heard the seams give way slightly as she tugged at the fabric fiercely.

John fell against her body, limp, before planting a kiss on her sternum and resting his head on her chest. She stroked his head before sighing. It felt so good to have his body against hers again.

"John?" she asked a few minutes later after she had caught her breath.

"Yeah?"

"At the airport....how did you find me?"

He looked at her in surprise before getting up and kissing her again.

"Because I really wanted to." he replied resolutely before grasping her hand in his. He kissed it, intent on having it in his forever.


"What the hell do you mean I gained five pounds?!" Jodi exclaimed as she attempted and failed to zip up her wedding dress. She had barely eaten in the past few weeks. It was February 19th and the wedding was just over a month away, and here she couldn't fit into her dress.

"If you're not eating your body is going into a starvation mode and your metabolism is slowing down." Betsy mumbled nonchalantly as she snacked on a bag of potato chips.

"No! Bets, what the hell am I going to do??!!!" Jodi screamed before collapsing on the couch. As she did so, she froze in horror as she heard a loud ripping noise and looked down to find a tear in the thing fabric.

"Oh God!!!!" she moaned before tears welled up in her eyes. She buried her face in her hands before letting the tears fall.

"Hey! We're not doing this right now. Here's what we'll do..." Betsy began rubbing her back.

"Bets, I only have a month to find this dress and finish the entire wedding!" Jodi persisted.

Betsey clapped loudly before standing up and putting her hands on her hips.

"Okay Jo....speaking as one of your best friends, I'll do you a favor. I'm going to get you a new wedding dress, on the house, and it'll be even better than that one." Betsy assured her.

"Fine, but it has to be within the next three hours because afterward John and I are going cake tasting."

"I give you my word."

"Well...where can we go on about...half an hours notice?"

"I know just the place."


Oscar de la Renta

772 Madison Ave.

New York, New York

February 19th


"Miss Roshav. Haven't seen you in awhile. What can I do you for?"

"Hey Floyd. Remember that wedding gown I mentioned when I came in last week?" Betsy pulled off her sunglasses.

"Yes?"

"Well, meet the bride who is going to wear it." she extended a hand to Jodi.

Floyd looked at Jodi before smiling and nodding. They walked into the back of the famed boutique, one of Jodi's favorites before stopping in front of a beautiful lace, ivory, and silk wedding gown. Lace extended from the sweetheart neckline to the hips and followed with a three yard train of silk and netting.

"Jesus." Jodi muttered breathlessly before touching it gingerly. She turned to Floyd, her eyes positively sparkling. "Can I try it on?" she asked.

"Of course, it's for you." Betsy smiled before slipping her hand to the small of Jodi's back. Jodi ignored it before gingerly taking the dress off its hanger and walking back into one of the dressing rooms.

She closed her eyes before stepping out of her clothes and sliding the massive dress of her head. To her surprise, it fit perfectly. It glided over her body effortlessly, not too big but not too small.

"Get this for me Bets." she said as she opened the door and turned around. Betsy hesitated for a moment before grasping the zipper of her dress and zipping it up. Jodi sighed before turning around to face Betsy.

"How do I look?" she asked.

".....You look incredible." Betsy smiled before pushing her in front of the mirror. Jodi automatically felt tears flood her eyes as she saw herself, only this time they were tears of joy. The dress was a thing of true beauty. It was the most amazing thing she had ever seen and to say she felt like a princess would be a bit of an understatement.

"God...Bets....this is amazing. How much is it?" Jodi asked before looking over at the tag and blanching. $22,000. That was less than her beloved Camero had cost. It usually wouldn't be an issue but she hadn't been working lately given certain events and John made it no secret he wanted her to quit after the wedding.

"Don't worry about it. Dress, shoes, and all accessories are on me."

"Betsy, I really can't let you do that. I mean, it's so sweet of you but I-"

"Okay Jo, I'm fucking paying for it okay? It's my wedding gift to you. Now, we need to go."

"What? Why?"

"You'll see."

"Wait? I'm supposed to meet John for cake shopping in an hour."

"Relax, John knows all about this. We're just going to stop by your place and drop off this dress then you'll see where we're going."


"SURPRISE!!!"

Betsy removed the blindfold from Jodi's eyes leaving her staring into the beautiful faces of dozens of women she considered her friends. She looked around, realizing that they were at none other than the Plaza and smiled. All around were balloons in various shades of white along with candles and hundreds of flowers and lights. On a table in the corner was a mountain of gifts

"Bets! What the hell is this?!" Jodi asked, in complete shock.

"Well...naturally news about you getting married got around so I called a few people and we decided to throw you a surprise shower."

"My god....wow. Bets...I can't believe this. I love you!" Jodi cried before throwing her arms around her best friend and running down to greet people. Betsy stared after her the slightest bit longingly. She spent most of her time because of her job alone, and seeing Jodi almost fawn over John kind of depressed her. She was lonely, it was that plain and simple.

Several of the young women looked down at her tattoos before turning up their heads up and walking away. Betsy hated half these women just as much as Jodi did. Just because of her appearance she got sneered at, when the fact was she had more money then most of the women here. She was the one who had organized this entire party.

She rolled her eyes before heading straight for the bar. Like she cared. At least she had one decent friend.

****************

"I think it's time for presents!" someone yelled the moment they finished their meal, which was a beyond-delicious seafood-salad sandwich on a croissant, fresh fruit, and a lemon curd cake with buttercream frosting along with Cristal.

Jodi smiled sheepishly before standing up and walking to the table full of gifts. One of the girls placed a tiara on her head before pushing her down into a chair.

"Okay, here's the first one. It's from...Angela." Carrie smiled before handing Jodi the rectangular box. Jodi tore off the gift wrap hastily before lifting the lid. Not at all to her surprise, she grinned when she looked at one of dozens lingerie sets she would get.

"Thanks Ang!" Jodi yelled before handing the gift off the Carrie who placed it on the empty side of the table and handed Jodi the next gift.

Time flew between a ray of designer lingerie, kitchenware, and various gift baskets. An hour and a half later Jodi was going from grateful to cranky and she stood up just in time as the guests began to file out.

"Hey um...you've got one more gift." Betsy walked up to her, a box underneath her arms.

"Oh. From who?" Jodi did all she could to keep from groaning.

"Me."

Jodi looked up at her friend before smiling.

"Bets, you just spent about 100 grand for me in wedding stuff. I can't accept this."

"Jodi, just take it." Betsy said before shoving the bag into her hands.

Jodi glanced at it before putting it down on the table and opening the box. As soon as she looked inside she gasped. Nestled inside of tissue paper was the most beautiful ivory corset she had ever seen along with a matching thong and various other accompanists.

"Bets this is beautiful." Jodi smiled as she held it up.

"Well, the wedding night is just as important as the wedding so I thought I'd have it made for you."

Jodi threw her arms around Betsy before squeezing her tightly.

"I couldn't have done this without you." she whispered in her ear.

"Yeah..." Betsy said before closing her eyes. Why were things so complicated?