Sorry for keeping you wait for this chapter so long. I had a very hard exam, studied whole February and I passed it so here is a new chapter, finally! I really hope that you will like it and would love to hear some comments as I rarely write stuff like this and gotta admit that I am quite nervous! :)

Chapter 43

Everything seemed like a dream to her. The sun that shone on everybody who came to share their happiness on this wonderful day…the meadow decorated beautifully by her family and friends, band playing all the tunes she loved, Katie and little Matthew playing hide and seek with Loren who tried to wipe the cream of wedding cake of their faces – it sent Atlantis to fits of laughter as Katie startled old storekeeper while he tried to get his hands on little Matthew and Loren yelped in fear "What the tarnation!". Than there were Nicole and Colleen deep in conversation, Atlantis' parents laughing with Michaela and Sully, Brian finally going off to help Loren with those two mischiefs and catching Katie. Clapping her hands to the sound of a music, Atlantis smiled happily as her eyes caught a sight of her husband as he scooped up her little son and surrendered him to Loren's hands, laughing.

She swayed to the rhythm of the song as she left the table and walked among the people who enjoyed themselves dancing, eating and talking. She was stopped by several townsfolk who offered congratulations and best wishes to her. Her face beamed with happiness as she thanked them.

Her long dress rustled as she half – danced and half – walked to the sound of music as she neared the hide and seek playground place where Loren finally wiped Katie and little Mathew's faces and let them go. The children were now chatting about the game with Brian and Matthew and Atlantis smiled at Loren as an old man grumbled straightening up "I am getting too old for this", but the twinkle in his eyes and smile that crept up on his lips told her that he actually enjoyed every second of the game.

Atlantis joined in as she helped Loren to straighten up "They both love you so much."

Old face of the man whom Michaela called "a heart of Colorado Springs – and Atlantis now knew why – lightened up with a wide smile. He playfully fixed his tie and watching the children, he said "I knew Katie since she was born. She got me wrapped up around her pinky the first time she looked at me. And that kid of yours is no different", stuffing hands in his pockets, Loren added "You chose a good name for him. He is a good boy…just like Matthew always was."

Atlantis was lost for words. She knew everything about Matthew's life, but beside Colleen and Brian, there were barely any people who knew her husband ever since he was born. Loren was one of those few people.

"That young man didn't have it easy practically his whole life. First that scumbag of their Father abandoned them, than poor Charlotte died and all that time he never shed a tear, always kept a watchful eye on his brother and sister. Brian felt like he betrayed Matthew back when Ingrid died. To see those two boys shattered like that nearly killed me. Matthew was totally lost. Totally. He lost so much and everybody always expected him to be strong, to handle everything without a fuss. It can make a person bitter, I would know that ", Loren sniffed to hold the tears back in his eyes "But, they grew up to be good people. All three of them. Thank God that they got all genes from Charlotte and nothing from Ethan. They are all good, honest and loyal", he mused with a tone of a proud Grandfather when he talks about his grandchildren. Because that's how he saw all Cooper kids, ever since that rainy night when him and Olive got woken up to the sound of knocking at the front door. He still saw Charlotte with three children wet to their bones, baby Brian crying loudly in his Mother's arms while little Colleen was holding to her big brother, shivering from winter. Charlotte's face was tearful…but, young boy's eyes were clear and determined. Loren still remembered how he admired Matthew's strength back than…

Nodding to his thoughts, Loren looked at Atlantis and warmly smiled "He finally got what he deserved – happiness", he gently squeezed Atlantis' shoulder and with a soft smile, he slowly walked away to find Jake and Hank.

Atlantis was moved beyond words by the things she heard and her heart swelled up with love for her husband. Just few minutes ago Grace whispered to her how glad she was to see her making Matthew so happy. It was obvious that all townsfolk loved Matthew Cooper as their own child and it pained them to see him suffering from one heartache after another for such a long time. All of them saw what Atlantis did for Matthew...and what she gave him. the most beautiful thing of all - love.

She watched as Matthew walked towards her, leaving Brian with the kids and she smiled as his hands encircled her waist and he silently asked "May I have this dance?"

She nodded and as they danced, she closed her eyes, leaning her cheek on his shoulder.

xxxxxx

One lock of her hair fell on her shoulder, caressing the bare skin as a soft moan escaped her lips at the feeling of Matthew's fingers slowly tracing the invisible line down her neck as his lips followed. Atlantis' shivering fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and at the feeling of his skin under her hands, she suddenly felt nervous, so nervous…

He sensed her tensing up and he whispered near her ear "Don't be scared…We'll take it ever so slowly..."

The warmth of his breath on her ear made her close her eyelids, surrendering to his sweet torture. His fingers undo her dress on the back, sending warmth through her veins as his fingertips touched her naked skin. In one move, she freed him of his shirt and her eyes opened to gaze at his blue ones, clouded with love and passion she knew mirrored hers. She inhaled a breath and he stole it with his lips as he kissed her lovingly. It elicited another silent moan from her mouth and she opened her lips eagerly and his tongue gently caressed hers. Her skin was on fire from his touch and she instinctively moved closer to his body. Her breathing fastened up from the sensations that swirled her in the ocean of his love. Her left hand caressed the nape of his neck as his lips kissed her more passionately. The fingers of her right hand crept down his chest and stomach and her legs moved a bit. She softly whimpered, loosing her breath for a second as he slowly entered her, only to close her eyes in next minute, her head falling backwards a bit as a passionate moan escaped her throat while his lips kissed the sensitive skin of her neck as their bodies moved in the rhythm of their lovemaking…

Atlantis felt beads of sweat washing her face and hair as she brought her head back up, meeting Matthew's lips again. Not in her wildest dreams could she imagined that being with him could be so perfect, so amazing, so strong, yet so gentle and loving. He left her completely breathless, aching for more and more every second and she pulled him closer to her, nearly going over the edge when she felt his tongue entering her mouth again. Her body arched closer to his, causing both of them to moan out loud as their lips never stopped kissing…

In a dim light that moon cast through the window he watched mesmerized as her eyes closed and her lips whispered his name, sending him over the edge. He hid his face in the her silky hair as she cried out in pleasure, holding him close. It was his undoing and she captured his lips with hers, catching his moans, her fingers roaming through his hair as she pulled him closer to her. Their bodies shuddered and Atlantis held onto Matthew's shoulders for a dear life as they laid spent on the bed, trying to catch a breath.

She let him pull her in his embrace and she curled up beside him, her breaths warming his neck while his fingers caressed her body, their legs still intertwined. She lazily cast her hand around his waist as the sleep won over their senses.

xxxxxx

"I am NOT eating this on an empty stomach, Matthew Cooper, and I am NOT having this conversation with you again", Atlantis huffed, trying to sound serious as she watched her husband dipping one strawberry in a dark chocolate.

"Come on, Atlantis, you know you want this", he teased her as he slowly brought a fruit toward her lips, deliberately causing a drop of chocolate to fall on her shoulder – just so he could kiss it away with an excuse that otherwise it will ruin her satin nightgown.

"You did that on purpose", she tried to sound offended while laughter threatened to erupt from her lungs. She licked her lips at the closeness of strawberry and took one sweet bite of it, meeting Matthew's lips at the end of it. Chuckling, she kissed the warm chocolate from his lips and mumbled "You are horrible", and she shrieked with laughter in next moment as he tickled her side while they both lazily sat on their bed.

He looked at her smiling eyes and cupping her face, he whispered "I love you, Atlantis Cooper."

Her eyes shone with love and tears and she whispered "I love you, too."