Atlantis held tightly on Matthew's shoulders with her shivering hands, feeling like her heart will jump out of her chest from joy. Warm tears of happiness washed her cheeks as Matthew's arms pulled her closer to him and she leaned her face in the warmth of his neck. As his palm gently caressed her cheeks, wiping the tears away, Matthew looked at Dr. Mike.
"How far is she?"
Michaela warmly smiled at the sight of her son holding his wife, his arms gently pulling her closer and closer to him every second "About month and half, I believe. Everything looks perfectly normal", Michaela was aware that Atlantis was worried because of her health, so she rushed to assure her that everything is just fine "Now, Atlantis, I know that you're afraid because of your first pregnancy and everything that happened", Michaela noticed a shadow passing over Matthew's face and she saw how he gently kissed Atlantis' hair to tell her without words that he's here for her; for better, for worse, in sickness and in health – just like they vowed to each other. Atlantis swallowed hard and nodded. Michaela continued "There's nothing to be afraid. There's no damage. If it was, you wouldn't be able to conceive anymore. We will monitor your pregnancy carefully, don't worry. But, I assure you that you're perfectly healthy and able to have children – lots of them."
Atlantis caressed Matthew's arms that rested around her waist and whispered "Thank you so much, Dr. Mike", as a breath of relief left her, she gazed lovingly at the happy face of her husband and smiling, she said "I wanna send a telegram to Nicole and my parents. And lets have a dinner at our place tonight", as Matthew nodded, he addressed Dr. Mike "Will you tell Sully and Colleen and Brian to come to our place tonight?", chuckling, he added "Lets hope that I won't run into my brother and sister in the street, I won't be able to hold back not to tell them!", as all three of them laughed at that, Atlantis said "Well, than lets go home!"
"Matthew is with Katie at Loren's, I'll pick him up and bring him this evening. You two have some time alone", suggested Michaela.
"Thanks, Dr. Mike", Atlantis hugged her and whispered "For everything."
"Thank you, darling", Michaela silently mumbled and Atlantis knew what she meant. Whole family saw her as a true blessing in Matthew's life. Coming back to Colorado she brought a sunshine back in Matthew's heart, picked him up from the bottom and step by step pushed him back to the surface of life where he breathed the air deeper than he had in a long time.
Smiling gently at Dr. Mike, Atlantis waited until Matthew said his good bye and than they left the Clinic, feeling like they could carry the whole wide world on their shoulders. The wind that was howling around them didn't bother to enamored couple. Matthew hugged Atlantis around her waist with one hand and she leaned her head on his shoulder as they went toward the livery.
"Hello, Robert E. , Grace", Matthew greeted their friends, accompanied with Atlantis' "Hello". As the older couple greeted them back with a smile, Grace slowly raised one eyebrow and asked, mischievous smirk playing on her lips "You two look like you just won the lottery."
"Hmmmm, you could say so", Matthew joked causing Atlantis to chuckle.
Grace crossed her arms, smiling even more as she tried to figure out what was this all about.
"It's a highly confidential issue", Atlantis pulled on her serious face "Until tomorrow."
"You definitely married a lawyer", Robert E. shook his head, smiling and all four of them laughed. Matthew pulled Atlantis close to him, hugging her with both his hands and looked at his friends "I gotta take my wife home. Can you get the wagon, please?"
"Coming right up", Robert E. wiped his hands on a cloth and went to get Matthew's wagon and a horse.
"You two are so mysterious", Grace pretended to be insulted "Fine, I'll leave you till tomorrow. I gotta go, got some new customers. Bye."
"Bye, Grace", both Atlantis and Matthew greeted her. Robert E. brought their horse and wagon in that moment and wishing them a safe trip home, he went back to his work.
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"You are horrible, Matthew Cooper", Atlantis chuckled as her husband placed quick, but loving kisses on her lips, preventing her from going to setting up the table. Kissing him back the same way, Atlantis joked "I still have to finish the salad…Matthew", she smiled against his lips and the warmth exploded inside her as Matthew gently pushed her toward the counter, blocking her way out with putting his hands on the both sides of the counter, capturing her, his lips lazily moving over hers. Atlantis let out a shivering sigh, dropping the vegetables she held in her hands and loosing her fingers in Matthew's dark blond hair in next moment…
Her breathing grew heavy as his body pressed closer to her own, causing her hands to slowly go up and down his back, than sneaking her fingertips over his shoulders and neck, knowing that those movements always send him into the frenzy… She wasn't wrong. She could feel his lips parting at that expert touch and his tongue entered her mouth next moment, exploring its sweetness and Atlantis silently moaned. One hand still sneaked around his neck as her other hand reached down to the buttons of his shirt, eagerly unbuttoning them. She needed to feel the warmth of his skin, needed to get lost in his love…As he continued his loving onslaught on her lips, Atlantis used both of her hands and released him from his shirt in one quick movement. She threw it on the floor and pulled Matthew closer to her, the feeling of his naked skin setting up a flame inside her body. One of his hands sneaked down her back…slowly as a thief in the middle of the night. His lips kissed a soft, gentle skin somewhere between her ear and neck and it caused her head to fall back as she closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. Atlantis could feel her consciousness getting foggy as Matthew kissed the place where her heartbeat could be felt, in the deep valley of her decolletage. Her knees almost betrayed her and she held for his shoulders… Matthew knew what that meant and slowly kissed his way back to her lips, not rushing, taking time to linger on every spot that he knew will set Atlantis on fire…As he came back toward her lips, he pulled back a bit, his breath warming the red petals of her lips…Her eyelids fluttered open and she looked at him as she whispered "Matthew…". His eyes turned to dark blue from the passion and love at hearing her sweet voice uttering his name and he gently wiped small drops of sweat from her forehead, whispering "I love you, Atlantis", kissing her lips the second later, his hands now expertly working on the laces of her dress…The moment his hands touched her naked skin, Atlantis felt her legs betraying her and she moaned against his lips, catching his hand on the counter and intertwined her shivering fingers with his own…As his other hand roamed over her body and touched the sensitive skin of her breasts, Atlantis whispered "Matthew…Make love to me", as those words left her mouth, he picked her up in his arms and carried her toward their bedroom, never stopping kissing her…
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Her eyes glared at the clock on the nightstand and Atlantis hid her face in Matthew's shoulder "We have to get up", she said "They'll be here in an hour", she inhaled a sharp breath to stay focused as Matthew's palms started to roam again over her back. She hovered slightly over him, her brown locks falling on his cheeks as she leaned down to kiss him. When she felt him trying to pull her closer, she collected all her strength to pull back and smiled "Get. Dressed. Now", she smiled widely as he pouted and played along "We can ask Dr. Mike and Sully to watch over Matthew tonight."
"Now, that's a good idea", Matthew smiled at her and they both chuckled, reluctantly getting up.
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"Matthew, can you open the doors?", Atlantis looked up from the table, lighting up the candles. She smiled at her husband as he took in a deep breath and opened the doors with a smile. She put out the match and looked up, smiling as she saw Colleen entering with little Matthew in her arms, followed by the rest of the family.
"Were you a good boy to your Aunt Colleen?", smiled Atlantis, taking her little son in her arms. As a child snuggled to her embrace, Colleen nodded with a warm smile "He was the best. We had so much fun, didn't we, Matthew?", she warmly smiled at her nephew as a child eagerly nodded his head and started to inform his Mum about the day.
"Wow, what's the occasion?", asked Brian as he saw all the food and the way the table was decorated. Quickly, he went over the birthdays in his head, scared that he forgot, and let out a small breath of relief when he realized that it wasn't the case.
"Well…", Matthew looked at Atlantis, raising his eyebrows, the impatience getting better of him. She nodded, smiling widely "Yeah, we can tell them now", she replied to his unspoken question.
Michaela smiled at the confused looks from the whole family. Matthew went toward Atlantis who still held their son in her arms. With one hand around her waist, Matthew looked at his family "We invited you because we wanna tell you something", he stopped his eyes on Colleen and Brian who sat next to each other, wishing that his Ma could be there as well. Atlantis saw the sadness running across his eyes and knew instantly of whom was he thinking. She took his hand and gently squeezed it, letting him know that she is here. Matthew looked at her and smiled thankfully.
"Oh, tell us already!", Collen jokingly huffed, she and Brian shaking her heads at their brother. Matthew smiled at them and said "Well, you two will become Aunt and Uncle again", as Colleen and Brian gasped, Atlantis added with a smile "I'm pregnant!"
Colleen and Brian both screamed from happiness and jumped out of their chairs, running toward Matthew and Atlantis, nearly knocking them down. Colleen hugged her older brother tightly, holding onto him for a dear life and Matthew hugged her back "Congratulations, Matthew", he heard her whisper. As he looked down at the tearful face of his sister, Colleen added "Ma would be so proud of you. And so happy."
This caused Matthew to hug his sister again and he whispered "Thanks, Colleen."
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Matthew closed the doors after his family and turned to see Atlantis standing near a fireplace, holding something in her hands. He slowly went toward her and she looked up at hearing his steps.
"She would be so proud of you", Atlantis whispered. Looking down, she caused Matthew to look at her hands and his eyebrows slightly creased as he noticed a small package in her palms. "It's for you", she handed him a small package, wrapped in a light blue paper "Open it."
Matthew took the package and unwrapped it revealing a photo frame…with a photo of a young Charlotte Cooper. His eyesight blurred…he never even saw this photo of his deceased Mother. Looking up, he tried to utter a question, but the voice wouldn't come out. But, Atlantis understood.
"Mr. Bray gave it to me. He found it while he was cleaning the room of his late sister Olive. He said that it took him years to clean her room of her stuff and he found a photo of your Ma in one of the drawers. Mr. Bray told me that it was taken when she was expecting you", by now, she came an inch far away from her husband and gently wiped the tears of his cheeks "I am sure that she is watching over you, Matthew. I wish that she could be here with us."
From the smiling, radiant face of his Mother on a photo Matthew looked at the understanding face of his beloved wife Atlantis. His hand took a hold of her palm and kissing the inside of it, he whispered "Thank you so much. I… I never even saw this photo of Ma…", tears silenced his voice and in next moment, Atlantis gently whispered "Come here", she pulled him in her arms and hugged him tightly…sending a silent promise to Charlotte Cooper that she will love her oldest son forever. That she will take care of him. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health. 'Rest in peace, dear Charlotte. I will watch over Matthew for you.'
Outside, the stars shone brighter and the leaves hummed their evening song. As the moon shone over the road, a little bird flew into her nest under the roof of Matthew and Atlantis' home. She let out a last cheerful sound and hiding her little face in the soft feathers of her wings, she closed her eyes and fell into the sleep.