Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, my darlings! It means a lot. I wasn't planning on even writing this chapter today, not to mention to update again so soon, but I hope you don't mind. Just a bit of Atlantis and Matthew fluff. :) I'd love to hear what do you think.

Chapter 48

Atlantis tiptoed from her son's room, still listening carefully to any possible sound that would alert her that her child is disturbed. Tender as only a Mother can be. She stopped at the the doors and looked at his little sleeping form. Her lips formed a gentle smile as she watched her little sunshine sleeping peacefully. He was okay now. He was happy, safe and loved.

Picking up the brush from the night-table, she slowly started to brush her long brown hair, her thoughts wavering over to Matthew and Brian. A slight frown on her brow was result of her concern; what was going on? Was Brian okay? Was Matthew okay? Did they manage to dig into that painful spot in their hearts and clean the wounds? Subconsciously, she bit on her lower lip as she reached the bed. She laid down, putting her hair over her left shoulder and placing a brush back on the night-table she gazed through the window, but saw nothing than darkness. Who knows when will Matthew come back?

With her son sleeping, house cleaned up and dishes done, Atlantis didn't have any job left to do. So she picked up on her book to try and shorten the time until Matthew comes home…

A distant coyote's howling could be heard and Atlantis' head shot up checking to see if her son would wake up in fear. Hearing nothing, she laid down a book and got up from the bed to check on him. He just turned on his back and rested his little chubby hand at the stomach of his teddy bear, his slumber undisturbed by coyote's howl. Atlantis heart filled with love. Her son would say now that he is already a big boy now, that he isn't afraid of coyote's howling, but he wouldn't allow a living soul to take his teddy bear away from him…okay, he might just lend it to Katie occasionally.

After she made sure that her son slept peacefully, Atlantis closed the doors of her room and turned to go back to the bed, but than she remembered Cloud Dancing's words that he told her just before her vision quest...

Coyote can tell you that somebody is coming.

Quickly, she picked up a robe that laid on the bed and putting it on, she slowly opened the doors of their home. She didn't need to ask herself who was coming. Her heart knew.

She stood at the stairs, looking into the darkness. The night was warm with a breath of soft and bit cold breeze humming in the trees. Atlantis' eyes rested at the road toward their home and after few moments, she felt her heart skipped a beat causing her smile to grow even wider.

Matthew's horse kept a steady pace ever since he left Sully's homestead. He was relieved that everything was out, said and done. This was needed, very much needed, and he was glad that Brian finally had some closure to all that. Still, Matthew being his old self promised to himself that he will check on Brian to see if he's really okay. Something like that will never slip away from him.

It was than when he looked up from the road and caught a glimpse of his wife standing at the doorway of their home…waiting for him. He felt love and happiness at seeing her, but also concern at the fact that she was barefoot and even though the night was quite warm, still she could catch a cold.

"You'll catch a cold like this", he said coming down from the horse.

Atlantis looked down at her feet and softly smiled "I won't, don't worry", she took in his facial expression; tired, but calm. "How did it go?", she couldn't hold it any longer.

Matthew nodded "Good. It was good. Thank you", last words he said held so much emotions in his voice leaving her speechless. They just stood there watching each other until horse snorted a bit, kicking the ground lightly with his front foot. Matthew glared at him and said "I'll be right back, just to put him in the barn."

Atlantis nodded and as Matthew went to barn, she crossed her hands on her chest, rubbing her upper arms a bit as the wind picked up a little and played with her brown curls. Still, she waited for her husband to come back.

He showed up after few moments and seeing her still standing at the doorway, he quickened up his pace. She watched as he climbed the stairs, the familiar sound of his boots on the wood echoed the rhythm of her heart. Lazily, he wrapped his arms around her tiny form and gazing down at her big brown eyes, gently asked 'You still up?"

"I couldn't sleep", she whispered back and in the next second felt herself melting into his embrace as he gently kissed her lips. She let out a soft squeal as he picked her up in his arms with words "Don't want those feet to get too much cold", and he caressed her lips with another kiss, so slow and loving that a shivering sigh escaped her mouth. Her lips parted, opening up to him and as she felt his tongue lovingly caressing her own, she silently moaned pulling him closer to her, wondering how could he make her feel so amazing with just a kiss?

Matthew slowly closed the doors behind him and placed his wife on the bed, never letting go of her. Emotional trip that he endured today was necessary, but left him completely worn out and he was aching for Atlantis' love. She sensed that and as she quickly took off his jacket and shirt, her fingertips slowly played against his stomach until she felt his breathing fastening up. That was when her hands sneaked on his back and she pulled him down, closer to her warmth, their lips never breaking their loving dance. Her back arched and her left hand searched for Matthew's hand as her moan was silenced with his kisses in a moment when their bodies and hearts united once again in their unconditional love…

She was so beautiful to him. The most beautiful sight he ever laid his eyes on. His lips sneaked down toward her neck kissing the creamy silky skin and than back up to her rosy lips. He could feel a life coming back into every part of his being, something that Atlantis managed to do with just a smile or saying his name. He loved how she said his name… and as if she had read his mind, she silently gasped, trying to calm down her breathing "Matthew", and in next moment closed her eyes, loosing herself in unbreakable circle of his love and passion…Loving him more and more with every second that a clock on the wall ticked…

xxxxxxx

Atlantis hair warmed the skin on his shoulder and upper arm as his left hand caressed the small of her back. She gazed up at him from leaning her face on his chest and lovingly smiled. Oh, how he loved that smile! 'I'll never get tired of holding her in his arms like this.' With his right hand, he picked up one of her palms and gently kissed each of her fingers. Her fingertips softly caressed his lips and she asked "Is Brian okay?", she snuggled closer to him and he saw concern in her eyes.

Matthew nodded "Yeah. He is. We talked it through and through. I took him to a place where Pup got bitten by the raccoon. He recognized it immediately and it just showed me the depth of anguish he fought with all this time", shaking his head, Matthew absently caressed his wife's long hair, falling silent.

"Matthew, don't do this to yourself", Atlantis gently pressed "You didn't know that he was still blaming himself. But, now you talked. And I know that you will check up on him just to make sure", she smiled at the surprised look in his eyes. 'How did she know?' Atlantis put her nose up a bit and playing dead serious, she explained "Woman intuition", causing him to laugh. She smiled at hearing that darling sound and moved a bit under the covers to kiss his smiling lips. After few moments she pulled away and gazed at now completely relaxed face of her beloved husband. As his hand found its way again on her back and caused her skin to tingle as he made small circles with his fingers on it, she asked "And you? How are you feeling now?"

For a moment he just watched her face taking in every bit of her beauty; long eyelashes that shaded two big hazelnuts of her eyes, small birthmark close to her ear, her lips soft and bit swollen from his kisses…'Does she know how breathtakingly gorgeous is she?' – she was the most beautiful sight he could wish for early in the morning when he would wake up and just watched her sleep.

"I am so calm. Relieved. Happy", he silently replied "We went through so much together, good stuff and bad. I would do everything for two of them", he stated seriously.

"And they would do everything for you, they both adore you", whispered Atlantis. As she rested her eyes on his face, she smiled again and silently added "I am so glad to see you like this. You look so relaxed and happy."

"That's true", Matthew replied with a smile. She felt his both hands enveloping her in a hug and he pulled her closer to him "Thanks. Thanks for telling me about your talk with Brian", he whispered as she laid down next to him, her hand absently caressing his shoulder "And not just for that...Thanks for everything. You made me happy and complete", he softly kissed her hair, than her brow, slowly traveling down her face, kissing every spot, even that tiny birthmark close to her ear that he loved…to end his trip again on Atlantis' lips taking them both to paradise again...