AN: Music for this chapter (on repeat): Santa Barbara by Benise, Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, Beautiful Day by U2, At Last by Etta James, Power of Love by Celine Dion, Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan
FORTY-ONE
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"Ahhhh!" Sydney squealed with delight, wrapping her arms around her mother's shoulders from behind as they both stood in front of the massive mirror in their hotel suite in Santa Barbara. "You're getting married tomorrow!" She felt tears stinging her eyes with happiness.
"Don't start crying again, Sydney, or I will, too and then we'll both ruin our make-up." Irina laughed, wrapping her own arms over her daughters. "You are so beautiful, my Sweet Girl." Irina smiled proudly as she looked at their reflection in the mirror. They were both wearing dresses made from the same fabric for just this occasion.
Everyone was gathered together in the beautiful city for the weekend to attend the wedding of Jack and Irina. Tonight they were attending a special dinner with their friends and family at the Bacara Resort. It was also an opportunity for the press to get some photos as the actual wedding ceremony was going to be closed off, airspace included thanks to President Bush, who would also be in attendance along with the Putins.
Sydney leaned forward and kissed her mother's temple with a smile, "I love you Mom." She couldn't stop the tears from pooling in her eyes. "To the moon and back, more the stars in the heavens and the sands on Earth…forever and always."
"Forever and always." Irina repeated locking her eyes with her daughters in the mirror before turning in her arms and holding her tightly. "I love you, Sweetheart."
They heard a soft knocking and reluctantly broke their embrace, "Come in." Irina called softly with a smile. Katya and Sophia entered looking gorgeous in dresses made of the exact same material as that of Irina and Sydney.
All of them different in design to fit the style of the woman wearing it and still presenting a united front.
"I'm so happy you're both here!" Irina took two strides forward, smiling as she pulled both of them into her arms.
"Well I missed the first wedding, I'll be damned if I'm missing the second!" Katya laughed with tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you Rina." She kissed her sisters' cheek.
"Thank you both for being here." Irina smiled in return, cupping Sophia's face and kissing her forehead and then cheeks, repeating the move with Katya and holding their hands.
"I came to tell you the limos are here." Katya smiled, extending her hand to Sydney who took it, and the four of them stood in a temporary circle holding hands. "The Derevko women together again." She smiled brightly as they all batted tears. "We will not cry!" She scolded as she blinked her tears back furiously smiling.
"Has everyone arrived?" Irina walked to the nightstand, grabbing tissues for them all to dab their eyes with.
"Marshall and his lovely friend Carrie just arrived as well as Mr. Weiss." Katya smiled brightly, and Sophia raised her eyebrows with approval.
"And Vaughn?" Sydney, dabbed at her eyes trying to keep her make-up from smearing. "Are they back from the airport?"
Vaughn had gone to pick up his father…and his mother, at the Santa Barbara airport an hour or so ago.
"Not yet." Katya smiled softly, cocking her head to the side as she watched her sister and niece, they were so alike.
Sydney scooped up Lena from the center of the bed, wearing a dress like the rest of the women in her family and looking absolutely beautiful.
"Let's go." She smiled, cradling her sister in her arms as she slept.
*Santa Barbara*
The five of them emerged laughing from behind the walk way lined with beautiful Bougainvillea bushes in full bloom with their brilliant pink blossoms, the air smelling of Jasmine.
Vaughn and his parents had arrived and joined everyone else standing in the grass near the beach waiting for the women.
"Rina!" Mikhail shouted with a smile when he saw her for the first time since Christmas. He started walking quickly towards her, as fast as his leg would allow and Irina's face lit into a brilliant smile, closing the distance between them quickly.
Mikhail swept her up into his arms with a smile and hug, laughing as he picked her up and twirled her around, overjoyed for his friend and her happiness.
The others in the group, including Vaughn's mother stood watching the two with happy fascination at their strong bond and connection.
"Imperial Russia!" He kept chanting into her ear, before setting her on her feet again. "Your mother would be so proud!" He laughed, cupping her face softly. "I'm so happy for you…" He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you." She whispered with her bright eyes, clasping his hand in her own.
"Rina," His smiled widened as he turned back to face the crowd, "I want to introduce you to someone…I've been waiting so long for this." His eyes locked onto his beautiful wife, "Bella…" He addressed her softly as he and Irina walked towards the beautiful blonde slowly, her eyes already locked with Irina's as he took her hand in his other, "This is my Rina…and Rina," He smiled warmly at her, "This is my Bella…"
Irina stood looking at the gorgeous woman before her with a smile before closing the distance quickly and wrapping her arms around her."I've been waiting so long to meet you." Irina held the woman tightly, so happy for her friend and the woman in her arms.
They were finding their way back to one another just as she and Jack had.
"As have I." Bella smiled feeling tears stinging her eyes, as she pulled away but kept the contact as she held onto Irina's forearms.
"I want to thank you, for saving Mikhail's life…I know what you did, what you sacrificed for his freedom."
"It was worth it, for this moment." Irina smiled in her enchanting way, looking from Bella to Mikhail and then to their family surrounding them. "We're all together again." Irina cupped Bella's face and kissed both cheeks. Now," She linked her arm with the beautiful French woman's, "My daughter tells me that you and I, are alike in a many ways…"
"Really?" Bella laughed softly, smiling at her husband as they all began walking towards the waiting cars. "Then we should make great friends."
"And fabulous grandmothers!" Irina laughed, catching Jack's lips with a quick kiss as he helped them into the car.
They stood for the press for the better part of a half hour before entering the exquisite resort on the cliff over looking the sea. The evening was beautiful with the setting sun lighting the sky on fire with a brilliant orange hue and a cool breeze swept up from the sea. Towards the end of the meal, Sophia leapt from her seat when tall, dark and handsome man entered into the ballroom.
"Papa!" She ran toward her father excitedly as everyone else sat there stunned, save Katya who had an immense glow and look of seduction in her eyes staring her husband.
The man picked up his daughter, holding her tightly, and kissing her cheeks when he set her down. "My beautiful Sophia." He smiled into her face, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too Papa." She turned into his palm placing a kiss in it center.
They walked slowly toward everyone else with Sophia practically dragging him behind her, smile plastered to her face as they came to stand before her mother, still seated next to Irina at the table.
"Hello Mio Amore," He flashed Katya is own seductive grin, with his captivating Italian accent, reaching for her hand and kissing her knuckles.
"Marcelo…" She cocked her head with a smile, obviously smitten with this man as the others watched with rapt fascination, having never heard of Katya speak of her husband and father of her children. He leaned over and softly kissed her lips with a smile.
"Marcelo…" She smiled, turning her attention from him to Irina, "I would like you to meet my sister…Irina. Irina, my husband Dr. Marcello Bernelli."
"Charmed…It is a pleasure to finally meet you…" He took hold of Irina's hand, kissing it softly, and placing a kiss on both of her cheeks.
"Katya speaks very fondly of you. She missed you a great deal…when you were gone." His eyes held a sympathetic gaze between the sisters, remembering the nights he'd come home from the hospital to find his wife crying into her pillow for her lost sister. His gaze fell around the room at the incredible group gathered.
"As I missed her." Irina sought out her sister's hand. "It is a great pleasure for me meet you as well Marcelo. I've heard many wonderful things about you. Thank you for coming. I know it's difficult for you to get away from the hospital as the Chief of Staff."
"We are family, Irina, everything else, can wait. Congratulations on both your wedding and your upcoming Coronation." He kissed her cheeks again, flushing red with her enchanting beauty.
"Thank you." She returned the smile seeing how this man could captivate her sister with charm. She also knew just how much Katya had missed him while he was working so many hours."My apologies for not being able to make it to Russia for Christmas. I asked Katya how I could make it up to you." His eyes danced with light looking to his wife as Katya held a deviant smile. "She gave me a wonderful suggestion…I've brought along a gift for your wedding… that I hope will make up for it." He flashed her another brilliant smile, stepping back to reveal two people standing in the doorway. "Irina, Jack…I'd like you to meet some very good friends of mine."
"Oh Marcelo…" Irina's mouthed gaped in fabulous surprise.
"Who are they?" Weiss whispered in Sophia's ear as she rolled her eyes giggling.
Irina stood on the small circular platform in front of a curved, wall of mirrors, turning in her dress making sure it was absolutely perfect when she heard a soft knocking on the door.
"Mom, can we can come in?" She heard Sydney's voice through the door.
"Of course, Sweetheart." She smiled taking a deep breath as she watched the door open behind her in the smiled widened at the audible gasp coming from both her daughter and her sister as they stood wide-eyed and covering their mouths stunned.
"You…look… so beautiful." Sydney felt her eyes tearing up as she caught her mother's eyes in the mirror and Irina turned to face them, her long train and full skirt whooshing to the side with her moves.
The off-white, strapless bodice clung to her torso and every curve perfectly, before flowing into a massive full skirt and train with delicate designs and diamonds sewn in intricate patterns along its edges and across her chest. The back dipped into a low 'v', exposing almost the entire length of her gorgeous back that had both Katya and Sydney wondering how she was keeping the dress up with enormous 'baby' cleavage. A series of tiny white eye-lit buttons held the back together before flowing into the skirt. Her hair had been pulled up behind a gorgeous Romanov diamond tiara that held her veil cascading down her back. Her ears adorned with delicate diamond studs and neck with one of the most spectacular pieces of the Romanov jewels. All of the pieces matching.A necklace consisting of 240 perfect white diamonds that encircled her entire neck worth tens of millions of dollars; its matching bracelet adorned her delicate wrist. By far the most stunning and spectacular pieces of jewelry Sydney had ever seen in her life.
Irina had never looked more beautiful in all her life and Sydney wasn't sure how her father was going to be able to stay conscious when he saw her walking towards him.
"So you like it?" Irina asked nervous as the butterflies filled her stomach. Her life long dream finally coming true.
"Mom…you're breathtaking. I can hardly breathe and I'm your daughter!" Sydney laughed as the happy tears spilled onto her cheeks. "Dad's going to pass out!"
Irina laughed softly, taking a deep breath as she turned back towards the mirror looking at herself for the final time.
"Oh Rina," Katya cried, her hands clasped together in front of her mouth as if she were praying. "I've never seen you more beautiful in all my life. You look so much like Mama right now." Katya tried blinking back her tears as best she could. "She would be so happy for you today. I know she's here with us…this is what she always wanted for you."
Irina turned and extended her hand, stepping carefully off the small ledge as she took her sisters hand smiling. "Thank you for being here with me, Katya." Irina spoke softly to her sister in Russian. "This means the world to me, to have your forgiveness and your blessing on my marriage."
"Oh Rina," Katya carefully pulled her sister into a hug. "You deserve all the happiness in the world. I love you." She cried, before shaking her head, sniffling and Sydney stepped into to embrace her mother.
"Enough with this crying. Your groom is waiting for you!" Sydney handed Irina her beautiful bouquet of hot pink and fuchsia flowers, the perfect combination for their outdoor wedding in such a spectacular setting.
"Are you ready?" Dmitri met them at the door with an adoring smile, his own breath stolen by her beauty.
"All my life." Irina smiled, kissing his cheek as he took her arm in his.
*Time To Say Goodbye*
A Lutheran minister and Orthodox Priest stood side by side, smiling at a nervous Jack in his brilliant tuxedo on the most beautiful, perfect, day near the edge of the cliff overlooking the expanse of the mighty Pacific Ocean.
The sun was shining, on the verge of setting and cast a spectacular warm glow of light dancing across the ocean, crashing into the shore below them.
The guests in attendance filling a couple of rows of white chairs that lined an aisle made of a long white silk fabric, lying over the brilliant green grass. An enormous wall of Bougainvillea bushes with their brilliant pink flowers behind them, created separation from the hotel and giving them privacy on the sea-cliff.
An eight-piece orchestra sat off to the side playing one of Irina's favorites songs as Marcello's surprise guests, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli, sang their wedding march, apparently Marcello and Andrea had grown up like brothers.
Weiss and Sophia were front row with Lena, Sark and Sergei sitting just to the left. Marshall, Carrie, Dixon and his children were behind them.
The Presidents Bush and Putin and their wonderful First Ladies sat in the front row of the other side with Mikhail, Amelie, Kendall and Marcello behind them.
Jack could hardly contain his excitement waiting for his bride and kept trying to peer around the opening and arch in the bushes trying to see her.
Jack's long time friend Ben Devlin stood as his best man just as he had in their first wedding and Vaughn his future-son-in-law, was his groomsman.
Katya appeared under the archway looking absolutely beautiful with a brilliant smile as she began her march up the aisle, earning a smile from Jack, happy to have her apart of this ceremony as Irina's sister.
Sydney as the Maid of Honor appeared under the arch next and Jack felt tears stinging his eyes as his beautiful 'baby-girl' walked towards him, looking as beautiful as the day she was born and Vaughn held his breath staring until he heard Weiss clear his throat with a big smile.
An audible gasp sounded like thunder when Irina on Dmitri's arm appeared under the arch, her eyes locked with Jack's and no one else's.
"Oh. My. God…" Kendall gaped with mouth wide open, his eyes bulging as his face lost all expression seeing Irina.
"Mamma Mia!" Marcelo added, slapping Kendall on the back as he felt the breath sucked out of him.
Irina was absolutely the most gorgeous bride that 'any of them' had ever seen, like she walked straight out of a fairy-tale.
Sydney was already crying watching her mother walk towards her father and Jack couldn't breathe. He hadn't taken a breath and refused to blink since she first appeared and felt his heart and stomach simultaneously drop to his toes.
"Wow." Marshall couldn't pick his chin up as his mouth hung open.
"You said it brother." Weiss's eyes were as wide as saucers and Sark stared wide-eyed having never seen Irina like this before. The most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"Oh Mikhail," Bella gasped when Irina approached them, her eyes filled with tears for the couple she just met. "She's breathtaking."
Everyone had tears in their eyes before Irina was even down the aisle.
Irina's smile was infectious as Dmitri kissed her cheeks and placed her hand with Jack's. She was staring into his pooling eyes and noticed he was turning slightly blue.
"Breathe Jack." She smiled in her sweet voice, she had literally taken his breath away. "Breathe Jack!" She commanded again when he hadn't and nudged him, causing him to sway backwards with his locked knees and gasp loudly making everyone laugh watching the exchange.
"There are no words." He whispered staring straight into her dazzling dark eyes.
Jack couldn't think of any word in any language that would due her beauty justice in this moment standing before him.
"Oh Mama." Marshall inhaled sharply when Irina's back was exposed to them for the first time and Carrie scrunched her eyebrows trying to ignore his 'lusting' after Irina. The woman was spectacular after all; she couldn't blame him.
The minister began the ceremony and everyone faded into the background as Jack and Irina saw only each other. Irina handed Sydney her bouquet when they were about to begin their vows with the most brilliant smile Sydney had ever seen on her mother's face.
Irina turned back to Jack and took both of her hands in his as the Orthodox priest wrapped their hands in the traditional cloth, binding them together as he spoke in Russian of the sanctity of marriage in the eyes of God.
The sunlight cascading onto Irina's diamonds sending out waves of light making her glow…
"I, Irina Nikolaevna Alexandra Dmitrievna Romanova Derevkova," Irina began, her eyes liquid pools of happiness saying her real name this time, "Take you, Jonathan Donahue to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold," She inhaled a long shaky breath staring at the man she loved, "To love and to cherish, in good times and in bad," Her voice was quivering with emotion as she looked into his own tear filled eyes, thinking about how they had already survived through the good and the bad, "In sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.".
"I, Jonathan Donahue," Jack began speaking in Russian, wanting to promise himself to her in the language of her heart.
"Take you, Irina Nicholavena Alexandra Dmitrievna Romanova Derevkova," He said each part of her name slowly and Irina's tears spilled out of her eyes and down her cheeks, shaking as she heard him say her name, in her own language. "To be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in good times," His thumbs were running over the backs of her hands holding them in his own beneath the satiny fabric binding them. Tears coursing down his own cheeks looking at her, hearing Sydney and Katya sniffling behind Irina, "And in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live."
She was smiling so brightly Jack felt his heart about to explode with love.
"I love you." Irina whispered to him in Russian, her eyes dancing with light.
"I love you." He mouthed back to her as the minister began speaking and the Priest unwrapped their hands for the exchanging of the rings.
Jack turned to Devlin sniffling and not bothering to wipe his tears as he took the ring and Devlin shook his hand with tears in his own eyes. Devlin thinking about the 30 years of Jack and Irina's relationship; the happiness when they were first married as Jack and Laura, the joy when Sydney was born, the anguish when she 'died.' He thought of their reunion 20 years later and Jack trying to execute her, her escape, their reunion, the birth of a second child, the tragedy of watching her die, the miracle in bringing her back and the love that brought them here…
Irina turning to Sydney at the same time, her tears dripping off her chin as they rolled down her cheeks.
Sydney reached up with her beautiful dimpled smile and gently wiped her mother's tears and Irina grabbed Sydney with both hands and kissed her as a new wave of tears started down her cheeks.
"I love you." She whispered to her daughter, causing Sydney's face to scrunch up as more tears washed over her eyes.
"I love you, Mom." She returned the sentiment, kissing her mother back as she placed her father's ring into Irina's palm. Her parent's love had been tested time and again, separated for twenty years and held fast. There had been anger and hate, hurt and pain but always revolving around their love. Her parent's bond, was unbreakable. Their souls were one and Sydney realized this now more then ever. Both of them, had only ever really lived, when with the other… Without each other, they had walked the world empty and alone. Only when reunited did their souls come back to life, together they can conquer the world.
*Beautiful Day*
Irina's hand was shaking when she slid the platinum band over Jack's finger sucking in a shaky breath as she smiled and a fresh round of tears filled her eyes, spilling over and Jack reached up and gently brushed them away smiling.
He held her long slender fingers in his hand and slipped her wedding band into place next to her engagement ring, completing it, making it one. His own hands shaking as he held both hers, in his.
The Priest anointed and blessed both of their heads smiling madly as the Minister announced them and Jack's eyes were already going to Irina's lips.
"You may now kiss your bride."
He didn't even have the words out of his mouth before Jack's hands went to Irina's face and his mouth came crashing into hers', sending out a wave of laughter, whistles and applause as he was kissing Irina like there was no tomorrow and only stopping when they both could no longer breathe.
"Wow." Irina smiled against his face and grabbed it with her own hands, attacking his already swollen lips with her own.
Jack wrapped his arms around her, literally lifting her high off the ground as she held his face in her hands, fully exploring each other's mouths as their audience cheered again loudly, crying and laughing with joy at Irina and Jack's long awaited happiness.
"I love you Mrs. Irina Bristow." Jack smiled widely with new tears in his eyes staring at his beautiful wife.
"I love you Jonathan." Irina's tears matched his own as they met in the middle of soft, sweet kiss before finally turning to face their guests with enormous smiles.
More whistling ensued and Sydney engulfed the both of them into her arms.
"I'm so happy for you. I love you both, more then I could ever say." She cried and Jack and Irina simultaneously kissed each of her temples, the three of them wrapping their arms around each other and Sophia smiled as she handed Irina the baby and they made it a family hug.
Kendall felt his eyes tearing up, watching as the family was finally reunited.
He only prayed that it would stay that way… He wouldn't ruin their day by telling them a massive bouquet of flowers had arrived at Ops last night from Arvin Sloane wishing them well on their 'short lived happiness.' That son-of-a-bitch was going to die…and soon, but for now, they would celebrate life and love, he could wait until tomorrow.
*At Last*
"I never thought I'd say this about them, but they're so adorable." Weiss smiled widely watching Irina and Jack dancing to their first song, foreheads pressed together, Jack's hand on her naked back pressing her to him as his hand held guided her around the floor with enormous smiles on their faces.
"I would have to agree with that assessment." Sophia smiled alongside him, her hand on his thigh. "They are adorable."
"Irina would spit nails if she heard you say she was 'adorable.'" Sark smiled softly watching the obliviously happy couple.
"But she is!" Sophia launched back at him, still upset about him pulling her hair when they were five and four.
"I did not say she was not, in fact I rather agree with that astute observation at this moment, she does look rather adorable." He picked up his champagne flute, grateful to have the use of both arms again. "I only stated the fact that Irina would hate the title of 'adorable."
"Do you always use so many words when you talk?" Steven, Dixon's son, asked from across the table.
"It's a hazard of growing up British. You get the prissy accent and a plethora of ridiculous words that you try to cram as many as possible into one sentence." Vaughn answered the boy smiling while Sark glared at him.
"I will refrain from a retort as I promised Irina I would be on my best behavior." Sark downed his champagne with a sly look and smile.
"This song is perfect for them." Carrie smiled, changing subjects as she watched Irina singing the words to Jack, making him smile and laugh. "I never knew she could sing…do you hear that?"
They all listened closely and could hear Irina's voice mixed in with Etta James.
"It's beautiful."
"Oh yes, Irina has quite the fantastic voice. Of course, she passed that on to Sydney." Sark smiled genuinely at Sydney, still trying to break the ice with her.
They had remained cordial when needed but she never spoke to him or looked at him unless need be. He knew it was going to take time with her.
Sydney's eyes met Sark's and she saw he was being genuine and that annoyed her even more.
A 'snarky Sark' was one thing; a 'genuine Sark' was something else entirely.
"She also plays a mean piano." Weiss poured himself and Sark another glass of champagne. He was trying to find some common ground with the man since the day in the bathroom. Sark was obviously going to be in their lives for the remainder of it, so he thought…might as well 'move on.' "She was tearing up the ivory at Christmas."
"Is there any damn thing Irina Derevko doesn't do and well?" Kendall raised his eyebrows, watching the beautiful woman glide around the floor, continually seeing her in a new light.
"Irina Bristow." Sydney corrected him immediately and then gave a small smile, seeing one on his face.
Champagne was having funny effects on everyone.
"It is easy to see, watching them, how they could have survived so much…Their' love is very powerful." Bella watched with fascination holding a sleeping baby Lena against her chest, hoping that she and Mikhail would find their way back to one another that completely one day…soon.
"This is their anniversary too isn't it?" Laura Bush asked with rapt fascination of her own, watching the intriguing couple that demanded attention.
"Yeah." Sydney's smile was radiant with pride. "Director Devlin," She turned her smile across the table,
"You were the only here, besides my parents, who was present at their first wedding… What was that like?"
"I remember thinking, that your mother was impossibly beautiful…" He smiled with a small laugh, "And impossibly young as came she walking down the aisle. Your father was so nervous, he was shaking all day and the night before, worried, that your mother would realize who she was marrying and runaway screaming."
Everyone at the table burst out laughing and caught Jack and Irina's attention.
"Something was obviously funny." Irina smiled brightly, "Seeing that its Ben telling the story, I can only assume they're talking about us."
She turned her attention back to Jack and noticed he hadn't taken his eyes off of her.
"Many years from now…I will die with the vision of you, on this day in my mind." Jack felt his breath catch again, staring into her dark eyes as her flesh burned hot beneath his hand. "There really are no words Irina…that would do you justice."
"I love the way you love me." She admitted, feeling tears prickling her eyes with how much love she felt for this man.
"For the rest of my life…you have my everything." Jack leaned down and kissed her lips, slowly seeking entrance as his tongue parted her lips in a sweet and sensual kiss.
"I don't think they care if we're here at all," Vaughn laughed looking at his future in-laws, "Look at them. They haven't taken their eyes off each other since she appeared under that arch. Like they're the only two people that exist in their world right now." He smiled warmly at Sydney, seeing her glow with happiness.
"That's the way its always been with them." Devlin laughed softly, "For the entire 11 years they were together before her extraction…they only had eyes for each other, no matter how many people were in the room. There was always the chemistry, that electricity flowing through them and everyone around them felt it. When we learned the truth about Irina. I knew that no matter what her real name was or what the assignment, she had loved Jack just as much as he had loved her. No one could 'play-pretend' that long, not with that much love and devotion." He smiled at Sydney seeing her tears building. "I know that Jack knew it, too. I think that's why he was so terrified when you're mother turned herself in twenty years later. He'd spent all those years trying to tell himself he hated Irina but when he saw her…he knew he still loved her as much as he ever had. He was trying to fight it, I think they both were. Both scared of getting hurt so deeply again."
"Well obviously they got over that sometime in Panama." Kendall deadpanned pointing with his eyes to the baby and everyone burst out laughing, except for Sark who'd just realized 'when' that baby was conceived and 'how' Jack Bristow managed to plant that little tracker on a very specific body part of Irina's.
Finally, he shook his head and laughed at the crazy couple.
"Say, I always wanted to know how you managed to cut the tracker signal that Jack put into Irina, so fast. How did you do it?" Marshall's eyes lit up looking to Sark and everyone else's eyes fell on him as well.
A few knew what he was talking about, the rest hadn't a clue but listened to what sounded like a fantastic story.
"I electrocuted her. Overloaded the circuit." Sark shrugged and sipped his champagne as their eyes bugged out.
"Jeezus!" Kendall gasped looking at Sark then out at Irina.
"You..you, you did what?" Marshall fumbled with words in shock.
"How?" Dixon asked just as alarmed, all of them realizing Irina was pregnant at this time.
"I used cardio paddles on her." Sark replied matter-o-factly and those present at Irina's execution simultaneously had a flashback of her bouncing off the table as they tried shocking her back to life over and over again.
"Maybe that's why Lena came out glowing?" Weiss snickered and everyone laughed hysterically again.
*Power of Love*
When Jack and Irina arrived back at their suite, the entire room was bathed in soft candlelight; hundreds of candles and thousands of various colored rose petals covering the entire room.
"Oh, Jack, it's beautiful." Irina gasped in awe as she entered their suite with Lena sleeping in her arms, tears already coming to her eyes when Jack placed a soft kiss to the back of her bare shoulder.
He removed his tuxedo jacket and tie, laying them over the back of a chair as he watched Irina, absolutely stunning in her wedding gown and diamonds, place their sleeping baby into her little basket.
Irina's smile as she dropped a feather light kiss to their daughters cheek, radiant, and Jack found it hard to breathe again, taking her in.
Her eyes met Jack's when she looked up and the smile only grew. He looked so handsome, her husband. He'd unbuttoned his shirt and was removing his cuff links as he walked towards her. He set the diamond links on a dresser as eyes locked onto hers, his hand extending asking for hers. Irina's fingers closed over his as he pulled her to stand in front of him.
Jack's eyes roaming over the gorgeous woman before him, taking it all in and committing it to memory. His fingertips dragging slowly up her arms following the contours of her muscles and sending shivers through Irina with his light touch; over her shoulders and delicately down the length of her spin, until she was encircled in his arms. Irina's ample chest, pushed up with her dress hid most of her scar and the last few remaining inches took nothing away from her beauty.
Jack bent his head and placed a soft kiss in the middle of her chest, over the scar and started a trail of kisses up her neck and over her collarbone, his tongue trailing lazily around the diamonds and over her impossibly smooth skin and he heard Irina gasp lightly as his kiss landed on a sensitive spot below her ear.
He pulled his face back slowly to look into her eyes and found them glistening with unshed tears of happiness. She tilted her face to his and Jack's eyes went to her lips, leaning forward slowly until he captured her bottom lip between his own.
Irina slid the tip of her tongue lightly over his upper lip, seeking entrance into his sweet depts. Jack's mouth opened wider and their tongues brushed lightly as they met in the middle starting a familiar dance.
Irina's hands pressing up his chest and curling around the back of his neck bringing him closer and the kiss deepened with the building passion.
Jack felt her warm tears against his face, brushing his nose softly against hers as he pulled back with uneven breath, their eyes immediately seeking out the others.
"I've waited for this day all my life." She smiled softly as another tear fell down her cheek. "Thank you." She took a deep breath. "For loving me, 'Irina' and all my imperfections."
Jack's heart-ached with love and a small wave of sadness, that in spite of their love when they were married before, there was always a part of her she was never allowed to show him and it hurt her to hold back. That he was never able to love all of her, that part of Irina that she held back in Laura.
"I love you, Irina, all of you and only you. You are my life…you are my love…you are my everything." He smiled softy, gently wiping her tears with his thumb. "I meant what I said that night in Russia, " His brown searching hers, "Every time I look at you, every time you smile. I fall that much more in love with you. Just when I think I couldn't possibly love you any more, you surprise me." His smiled grew. His hand moved behind her slender neck and his lips melded with hers once more.
Carefully, he helped her remove the tiara and veil, kissing her neck softly from behind at the newly exposed flesh. Soft brown wisps of hair creating small curls that he let his fingers play with as his mouth moved over her shoulder and down her back.
His hands moving to undo the row of tiny buttons as his mouth kept tracing every line, every muscle curve in her back.
Irina closed her eyes, smiling and savoring his every touch. When he had finished the task at hand she turned slowly to face him and her dress made a soft whooshing noise as its massive skirt kept her dress from falling off completely.
It was Irina's turn to pay him special attention. Her seductive eyes catching his as her fingers slowly worked to undo the rest of the buttons on his shirt, her knuckles purposely dragging against his hot flesh and she heard his breathing deepen the lower she got until his shirt was finally open. Her hands open as she softly pushed up his abdomen and chest with her finger tips, her arms pushing the material back and over his shoulders.
Irina stepped closer and lay soft kisses, letting her scorching tongue barely touch his skin as she worked around his neck and shoulders slowly pushing his shirt down his back and off of his arms. Jack felt himself growing painfully hard inside the confines of his pants and inhaled sharply when he felt her teeth nip the flesh at the base of his throat.
Her tongue swirling the small indention there as her long fingers undid the button of his pants and slowly unzipped them, his arousal pressing against the fabric. Irina smiled feeling him harden beneath her touch as she caressed him lightly over the material and he gasped in pleasure.
Her fingers threading under the elastic waist band, from the front and dragging them around to his sides pulling his pants and boxers off simultaneously, leaning down with her eyes locked to his as she slowly pulled them down the length of his body and freeing him.
Her eyes smiling appreciatively seeing his cock standing at attention against his stomach and Jack moaned loudly when she leaned forward and placed a kiss to the under side of his shaft at its base.
The only attention she gave it before kissing the sensitive area around it and up his stomach, now defined with hints of the muscles beneath from all their new abdominal -workouts in lovemaking.
Irina smiled against his skin as she felt him tightening with her every kiss as she slowly made her way back up his body, her tongue swirling over his nipple, nipping at them and making Jack mew.
Everything in him wanted to grab her by the arms and pull her mouth to his, when she trailed her tongue under the edge of his jaw. Kissing every part of his neck and face, around his mouth but never kissing it.
His hands pulled her to him and he cupped her face crashing his mouth over his in a hot wet kiss as hit tongue plunged into her hot depths, making love to it with his tongue, thrusting and sucking as Irina's hands gripped his back, pulling her to him in the desperation of the moment, her fingers digging into his skin until they were both panting for air.
Being inside her heated mouth made Jack yearn to be buried deep inside her as his cock pressed into the soft satiny fabric of her dress. His hands moved down her back and to the edges of the fabric, pushing down with enough pressure to slide over her hips and Irina helped him by wiggling.
Jack's mouth broke contact with hers and a slight whimper escaped from her lips at the loss of contact. Pressing the dress to the floor and leaving her completely naked much to Jack's surprise.
"Surprise." She smiled down at him devilishly with her husky voice. Panties under all that dress fabric were, a waste of time.
Jack dropped forward on to his knees and brought his hands up to her hips, pulling her towards him.
His mouth met the searing skin of her abdomen, and Irina's hands threaded into his hair as he assaulted her with his flaming tongue, his kisses getting lower and lower making her pant.
Jack moved his hands over the curve of her hips and lightly brushed over her perfect behind before forcefully squeezing when the thrust his tongue into her belly button.
Irina felt her core calling to him as it began to swirl and twist with desire. His mouth kissed around the delicate skin surrounding her apex of pleasure and causing Irina's breath to hitch.
His hands slowly sliding her legs further apart as his wet kisses worked her inner thighs.
She was already wet with desire from his lingual assault and bit her lip, letting her head lull to the side when she felt Jack place the first kiss against her folds, his tongue darting in and out, tasting her scent and flicking her throbbing pulse, making Irina moan loudly inside her mouth almost humming with anticipation.
His tongue rolled her swollen bundle of nerves against his upper teeth and Irina's legs began to quiver. Slowly Jack brought one hand up to her center and let two of his fingers play in her folds, lightly grazing her skin, spreading her wetness as his mouth continued to taunt her pleasure point.
The feel of his mouth against her aching flesh causing small sounds to escape from the back of her throat, his fingers mercilessly teasing her with their delicate dance.
Jack felt her desperation and slowly inserted the fingers into her hot core making her mew as he wiggled them back and forth caressing her internally.
Irina felt herself about to explode as he worked the bundles of nerves inside and out simultaneously and her breathing turned into quick pants. Her hands shaking as she gripped his hair, her legs began trembling and Jack thrust his fingers deeper making her throw her head back and gasp loudly as a strangled cry burned inside her when she exploded and convulsed around his fingers.
Jack continued to taunt her as her muscles constricted around his fingers, pulsating as she road the waves of her climax and his tongue swirled in her juices.
His desire raged inside him watching her fall over the edge and his cock painfully throbbed against his stomach, demanding attention. He quickly extracted his fingers and Irina inhaled sharply at the sudden loss of contact.
His hands returning to her hips as he pulled himself to stand before her, his mouth colliding into hers, letting his tongue explore the well known. His hardness pressing into her stomach and his balls tickled by her soaked curls causing him to quiver with excitement.
Irina tasted herself on his lips and tongue and she moaned with need for him to be buried inside her quickly. His hands slid under her ass and he forcefully picked her up, and Irina wrapped her arms and legs around him, attacking his mouth with her plundering tongue.
Jack walked them to the edge of their bed and walked on his knees carrying her around him to the center of the bed. Her drenched lips surrounding his dick as their bodies pressed together and he moaned into her mouth dying to be enveloped in the heat he could feel radiating from her core.
Sitting on his knees, his hands lifted Irina higher against his body, holding her with one hand while he aligned his rock hard shaft with her entrance, moaning and gasping when his sensitive head played in her dripping folds.
He pushed himself in just an inch and felt Irina trembling with excitement. His mouth moved down to her sexy diamond adorned neck and he thrust himself quickly into her making Irina inhale sharply with a soft cry as he pulled himself deeper inside her.
Her tight muscles pulsating and stroking his length inside her as she adjusted the angle of her hips, allowing him to penetrate her deeper until it was almost painful.
Jack's hands gripping her firm ass and sliding up Irina's back feeling every muscle and bone beneath her smooth skin cupping her slender body just over her ribcage. His mouth dipped to her breasts, sucking, flicking and biting their' tortured peaks, tasting the sticky sweetness that nourished their daughter as Irina's muscles continued to caress him inside.
She closed her eyes, digging her fingers into his shoulders as he brought her closer to the edge just being inside her and assaulting her nipples. She began gyrating against his hips forcing his length to move inside her and both she and Jack moaned in pleasure from the sensation it was creating.
Jack's cock twitched inside of her and he held her to him with one hand while he leaned forward, slowly lying on her down on the bed. He wanted to be able to look at her while they made love and Irina had no objections wanting to see his face and feel his welcomed weight on top of her again.
His cock had almost pulled out completely with the move, remaining hovering just inside her secret place. His strong arms braced against the bed so that he was just above her with the support of his knees.
His eyes sought hers' and was hypnotized by their swirling black depths, overwhelmed with love and reflecting the electricity building inside her. He dipped his head to seize her swollen lips in a sweet passionate kiss as his tongue trailed slowly overthem, spreading the wetness of their mouths.
Jack pulled back slowly to gaze in her face with a small smile as he slowly pushed back inside her, watching the ragged intake of breath and wash of pleasure the contact brought her. Her eyes tearing when he was fully buried in her warmth.
Her hands rose to his sides and he slowly reversed his length pulling out with measured pace before rapidly plunging back inside and making Irina gasp for breath. He found his rhythm and picked up his pace thrusting inside as she clenched around him matching his rhythm.
Jack's eyes started to tear looking at the woman below him, thrusting his manhood into her heat and overwhelmed with love and elation that they'd found one another again.
Her little pants for breath quickened with their pace and Jack's head dipped to capture her lips, his tongue thrusting into her mouth as his cock pulled away creating a wash of sensations for the both them and shoving them violently towards the edge.
Jack's tears spilled over his lids and onto her cheeks as he pumped furiously inside her feeling his body about to explode.
Irina felt his warm tears and her body began trembling violently before suddenly tensing as she flew over the edge of passion and screamed his name into his mouth, her body convulsing around him and she dug her nails into his flesh at the intensity of the nirvana ripping through her entire body.
He kissed her cheeks and eyes with every rapid thrust on her heels of pleasure and his last forceful drives, his eyes burning into hers as he told her he loved her in her language with every thrust.
"I. Love. You. Irina. Forever. And. Always…" And on the last word he exploded inside her spilling his seed deep into her depths gasping for air with a strangled cry of her name, his head falling into the crook of her neck, his arms and ass burned continuing to pump into her with every last ounce of energy wanting to stay inside her forever, he rode out his waves in heaven.
Irina felt his warm breath against her neck as he pumped until spent, her muscles milking his shaft as is deflated inside. Slowly, and carefully he collapsed onto her body, his head buried into her neck as his arms locked Irina into his embrace. Irina didn't mind his weight at all, feeling safe and loved beneath it, his body covering hers and filling it up with a blanket of love and security.
*Ice Cream*
"I love you, Jonathan Donohue Bristow…" She whispered with labored breaths into his hair as his breath continued to tickle her neck. "Happy Anniversary." She inhaled a shaky breath with a smile as new tears formed.
Jack pushed himself up onto his elbows to look at her, his wife…the woman he loved staring up at him flushed, surrounded by rose petals and a smile came to his sated face. "Happy Anniversary Irina."
Irina tilted her head up and met his mouth in a hot languid kiss, spending several minutes caressing and expressing their love for one another through the kiss.
When he pulled out of her warm confines, he moved only slightly to shift the majority of his weight off to the side while his head rested against her chest, listening to the thundering beat of the heart beneath, his arm lazily draped over her abdomen as the lay half covered in a tangled mess of sheets and rose petals until their bodies had calmed down.
Irina's arm draped over his back and playing with the hair at the base of his neck while her arm covered his, lying over her belly.
Jack watched the refracted candle light bounce around the room every time Irina moved her diamond-covered wrist.
A smile lit his face when he heard Lena start to snort with frustration before crying out in hunger.
She had perfect timing, a very good baby. He rolled off Irina to let her up and propped himself up on his elbow, head in hand watching her retrieve their baby with a big smile.
Irina's naked retreating form gliding across the candle lit room, her hair still pulled up in a French twist with only a few stray wisps that had escaped during their lovemaking, diamonds dangling from her ears and around her neck.
She was certainly exotic.
Irina smiled softly at her baby, soothing her with her words as she picked her up, holding her up to her shoulder, whispering words of love and tenderness in her tiny ear as Lena nuzzled the soft flesh in Irina's neck.
She turned smiling and walked back towards the bed, one hand cupping the baby's head the other just under her little bum. Jack pulled back the sheet as Irina slipped inside, laying down on her side carefully and guiding Lena down to her chest.
The baby's eyes completely focused on Irina, listening to her speak to her as she ate, watching her mother with fascination now that she could see the woman the voice belonged to.
Lena palmed Irina again with her tiny hand and fingers and Jack's face broke into a big smile watching his daughter looking up at her mother, holding onto her tightly as she nursed. His hand ran down Irina's side, resting on her hip as he moved towards them.
Lena's little legs and feet poking out of her sleeper and he laughed softly as she fanned her toes.
"She is so cute." He cooed taking one little foot in his hand, smiling happily.
Lena seemed disturbed by this and pulled away from Irina suddenly, moving her little face with that famous scrunched eyebrow to look at Irina with both eyes.
"It's not me!" Irina laughed softly with bright eyes, looking into her baby's.
Lena suddenly pulled her legs up into the fetal position and turned her face back to her mother, resuming her eating and Jack and Irina both laughed at how funny she already was.
"She's got a great personality." Jack smiled watching as Lena eyed the light refracting off Irina's necklace and slowly closed her eyes, falling back to sleep.
"I can't believe she's already three months old today…time is going so fast." Irina smiled warmly as her fingers caressed the soft skin and hair at the nap of her baby's scooted down slightly and pulled her arm under her head, using the bent limb as a pillow and Jack did the same.
They looked at each other for a long time, smiling having entire conversations without saying words…something very easy for them to do and slowly, Irina's eyes got heavy with exhaustion and fluttered shut, a smile still on her face when her breathing evened out.
Jack smiled brighter as he studied his wife with their baby, both in sleep, for a few minutes before closing his own eyes with a smile.
They spent all of Sunday morning and afternoon in that room, making love over and over and only saw the others when it was time to head back to Los Angeles later that evening.
There would be no honeymoon until after they found Sloane, time was running out for them to find him; both of them agreeing that the real honeymoon would be when it was all over with and they now longer had to worry about the rat bastard-asses.