1.
Corso looked at the room he'd just painted and was satisfied. He'd gotten up after Miriah went to sleep to get this done, mostly because he didn't want her around the paint fumes or up on a ladder. Akaavi had helped him at first, but he made her go to bed when she started yawning. He was restless, even though he'd worked around the ranch all day. The vague worry that had started as a joke by Aric at their last cookout had nagged his subconscious, even though it shouldn't have. He'd been staring at Miriah and not listening when Aric said, "She's not going anywhere, man." He thought nothing of it at first, then in the past week since he'd be doing something and letting his mind wander, and there it would be. He really didn't think she was going anywhere, but she was getting a little antsy about being planetside. He'd seen her yesterday looking at the sky, and he could almost feel her longing to be up there, on her ship. He sighed, he knew she'd not said anything and that he might be assuming something not true, but it didn't make that feeling in his stomach go away.
He slid into their bed, not wanting to wake her. She rolled toward him, putting her hand out to touch his chest. She smiled in her sleep, and slowly brushed her fingertips over his skin, up to his face. She scooted closer, hooking her leg over his, causing his hearbeat to pick up. He was confused, because she still didn't seemed awake at all. He rolled to face her, kissing her forehead, and her eyes fluttered open. She gave him a sultry smile, and pulled his head down, kissing him deeply. He groaned and tried to speak, but she quieted him with her fingers on his mouth. She ran her hands over his hair, and whispered to him, "I want you." He felt a rush of pure desire, was suddenly acutely aware of her now-lush body against him. He didn't need any encouragement, really, he'd been ready since she'd first touched him.
Later, as they lay pressed against each other, she looked up at him with a quirky grin, "I'd been dreaming about you, sugar, and suddenly I opened my eyes and there you were." She was still lightly running her fingertips over him. He caught her hand and kissed her fingers.
"I should be thanking you, love, that was amazing," he whispered, "and just what I needed. I – I don't ever want to be without you, ever. And I worry about that, a lot, actually. That you're unhappy but won't tell me, or that you wish you hadn't taken this path with me"
"You shouldn't," she murmured to him, kissing his neck, her voice husky with passion, "you are the first and only man I've ever loved, the only one I ever let touch my heart." He kissed her, savoring her words, memorizing this moment, this feeling. "Wherever you are, I am. " He felt his son, kicking against him, and smiled, his mind at ease. "But why do you smell like paint?" He grinned in the night.
2.
Aric was awake as well, but not enjoying himself very much. Calleigh had an ear infection, and the only place she was happy was lying on her daddy's chest, so instead of being in bed with Maura, he was on the couch. As if thinking of her had called her, Maura tiptoed out to where he was with the baby, wearing only her nightshirt. He shifted uncomfortably, careful not to wake his daughter.
"She's sleeping, at least," his wife said with a smile. "I couldn't, I miss you in there." He growled at her, pulling her to him with his free arm.
"You could at least stay out here and make out with me," he whispered to her, wrapping his hand around her leg and pulling her to him. "It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I'll take what I can get."
She knelt beside the couch. "You know that's not how it will go. It'll start out like that, but you know how it is with us." She touched his cheek. "Besides, Elara said the medicine should have her eased by tomorrow." She had a point, he thought. Even before they kissed the first time, her pure sensuality had his senses on overload. Just thinking about her in her armor, assault cannon on her shoulder….no, gotta shut that down right now, he thought, even as he savored the memory. He sighed, knowing he'd do anything for his kids, but wishing he could just go with Maura now.
Maura felt the tiny girl's face, and grabbed a scanner. "No fever, and the inflammation in her ear is a lot better." She smiled at her husband, "I think it might be safe to put her in her crib now." She lifted the sleeping child and took her to her usual bed. The baby shifted around a little when Maura put her down, but didn't wake. She was straightening when she felt Aric's hands around her waist.
"Now, come put me to bed, beautiful," he purred at her.
3.
Felix watched Magdalane sleep, still amazed that she was so calm about the baby. He'd asked her many times now if there was anything wrong, but she insisted she was fine and their daughter was fine. Still, something was , if not wrong, not entirely right either. It was early yet, but Mags had been asleep for an hour. He got up, thinking a shower would relax him and help him sleep.
When he got in bed, she woke, sitting up suddenly, startled. She glanced at him and started crying, not able to tell him anything. He just held her, feeling her sorrow in her force aura. He was truly worried now, she was usually so calm and reasoned. When the sobs had lessened, he turned her face to him.
"It's okay to tell me what's bothering you, sweetie. Let me help."
She drew her knees up, hugging them, like he'd seen Miriah do many times. "I feel like I took something from Miriah and Corso, something precious. I didn't intend for things to happen the way they did." She broke out in sobs again, against his chest.
"Shhh sweetie, I'm sure they're only happy for us. You can tell when someone is lying, you know Miriah wasn't when she said how happy she was at the news. Remember?" She nodded, and gave him a weak smile. "Now, stretch back out, and put your head right here," he patted his shoulder. She did as he requested, and he sighed happily. "Please, Mags, don't keep this stuff inside, share it with me, okay?" She nodded, and he gently rubbed her back, feeling her relax against him.