A/N: Some mature content.
Owen could not contain his excitement as he got off that plane. There were a lot of families there, waiting for their loved one. He was searching for his own family. He didn't see them at first but he heard their voices. Iris' voice was loud and clear. "Papa!" she yelled. "Papa Owen." He also heard Laurel's voice, too, calling him, "Papa." It was evident that Iris had told her younger sister what to call him. He scanned the crowd of people and saw them. Iris and Laurel ran to him and he scooped both of them up in his arms, hugging them tightly and kissing them. "My babies, you are both getting so big," he said. As he put them down, he saw his wife and he could not contain himself, as his face broke out into this huge grin.
"Cristina," he said. He put out his arms and she ran into them. Their bodies were so close together that there was no space in between them. He pulled back to look at her face and he covered her mouth with his own, loving the taste of her. They clung to each other for a bit before he finally said, "Let's go home."
He held hands with his wife, while the children walked on their sides. "You should see the house," Cristina said. "I fixed it up and I made dinner for all of us."
"Great, I am famished," he said. "It is a long plane ride to get here." They got into their car and drove to the house. Owen looked at the house. It was white with a green roof. There was a wreath on the front door and a welcome mat on the porch. Cristina had lined the walkway with flower pots, so it gave the place a pretty, summery look.
"Really pretty, Cristina," Owen said. "I really do love it. So this is our home." Cristina opened the door and the girls rushed inside the house, each of them holding on to his hands and pulling him inside the house. Cristina had made the place so homey and comfortable for their family. "You did a wonderful job with our home, Cristina," he said. He noticed, immediately, the pictures she had put up on the fireplace. There was their wedding picture, a picture of the two girls, a picture of their whole family and finally, a picture of Josh. Owen didn't resent the picture of Josh there because he knew it was important for Laurel and Iris to remember their daddy. He loved that she put up their wedding picture.
"Why don't the girls show you around the house and I will put the food on the table?" Cristina said. The girls started with the bedrooms. The first one, Iris said, was the guest room. Owen looked at it and wondered if he was going to sleep there. He and Cristina had not discussed sleeping accommodations. They were married nearly a year and they had never consummated the marriage. It was a nice enough room but it was not where he wanted to spend his nights.
Then, they showed him Laurel's room. It was exactly what he would have expected of a three year old girl's room. There was lots of pink and purple with dolls and teddy bears around. He saw the large teddy bear he had bought for her. Then, it was Iris' room, a stark difference from Laurel, with books everywhere. Her room was green and white. She even had her own easel-sized whiteboard. He could tell from the writing on the whiteboard that her handwriting had greatly improved. "Your handwriting has gotten so much better, Iris," he said, as he ruffled his step-daughter's head. She smiled, proudly. Then, they went into the master bedroom.
"This is Mommy's bedroom," Laurel said. Now this was the room that Owen hoped he was staying in. Cristina had bought a four-poster metal bed. He thought it looked very romantic in there. There were fresh flowers and scented candles on the bedside tables. Yes, definitely, he thought, this is my room. He hoped his wife was amenable to the suggestion. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard her voice calling them for dinner.
Cristina and Owen sat opposite each other and while they ate and listened to the children chatter, they just stared at each other with goofy smiles on their faces. They were just happy to be together. After dinner, Cristina took the children to their bathroom, where she supervised the brushing of their teeth. After that, Owen took Iris to her bedroom, where he allowed her to choose a book for him to read to her. She chose a book and as he read, he noticed Iris mouthing the words as he read. "Hey," he said. "Do you know this book from memory?"
"Yes," she said, grinning. "I have read it before and I remembered it." It occurred to him, at that moment, that Iris probably had a photographic memory. No wonder she was so smart in school. He finished the book and he gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Good night, sweet girl," he said.
"Good night, Papa Owen," she said. Owen left the room and sat on the sofa, waiting for Cristina to come out of Laurel's room.
"Fast asleep," she said, as she quietly closed Laurel's door. "Time for bed, now." She gave him a seductive smile.
"About that," he asked, willing himself not to get too excited by that smile. "The last time I was home, I was sleeping on the couch. Where am I sleeping tonight? I mean I know where I want to be but you have to tell me."
She put out her hand and he couldn't get there fast enough to take her hand into his and together, they walked to their bedroom. "Why don't we take a shower? It has been a long day," she suggested. She started stripping off her clothes, right in front of him. As he watched her get naked, he realized that the first time he had ever seen her in the nude. As she went to the bathroom, she looked around behind her and said, "Come on." He almost tore off his uniform, as he followed her into the shower. Through the steam of the warm shower, they both stared at each other, drinking each other in. They both really liked what they saw.
She took the body wash, gave him some and took some into her hand, as they allowed themselves to explore each other. As their hands slipped over the other's body, he pulled her in close and kissed her, first softly and then passionately. He could feel himself, hardening and he desperately wanted to know what it felt like to be inside of her. "I think we are clean enough," he whispered into her ear. She laughed, as they washed off the body wash. They toweled each other off and then, slipped into fluffy robes. Owen had never owned a fluffy robe like this before. He chuckled because it was probably the benefit of having a wife, who would buy such things. They walked back into the bedroom, where Owen whipped off his fluffy robe and got under the covers. Cristina lit the scented candles and switched off the lights. The glow from the candlelight illuminated her lovely face, as she came to him, dropping off her robe, as she did. She climbed under the covers and took his face into her hands and kissed him. He quickly flipped her over on her back, as they deepened her kiss. He had dreamed of this, all those lonely nights in Iraq. He was so hungry for her. This night was a year in the making, as their bodies thrashed underneath the covers. He pushed open her legs and she arched her body upwards, signaling that she was ready for him. He entered in one strong thrust, both gasping as his entire shaft was inside of her. As he made love to his wife, it was the closest he ever felt the two of them was. He loved this woman. They hadn't fallen in love in the traditional sense, through dating and courting and then, getting married. They had gotten married first and then, fallen in love. And even so, they fell in love, thousands of miles apart. He wanted her to come first, before he would release himself inside of her. With the physical act ended, he lay on top of her, his head against her chest, as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"I love you," he said, as he listened to the beating of her heart. "I know," she said. "Because I feel it, too."
"You love me?" he asked.
"Yes, I love you so much, Owen Hunt," she answered. "I never thought I would say that again to another man. I always thought that Josh was my one and only. But you've taught me that I can love again." He reached up and kissed her, as they started to make love again.
Owen slept, peacefully, that night. The first night he had done so in many months. He was home in his own bed, so of course, he slept like a baby. He was so deep in sleep that he didn't even notice, when Cristina got out of the bed and left the house. He was only awakened by the sound of the doorbell. He reluctantly opened his eyes and reached out for his wife. She wasn't there and all he could feel was a piece of paper on her pillow. He rubbed his eyes and read it, "Going for an errand. Will be back with breakfast." Where in the world was Cristina going at this hour of the morning. The person at the door seemed persistent, so he found his pajama pants and put it on. But before he got out of the bedroom, he heard Iris' clear voice.
"Hi, Mr. Madison," she said. Mr Madison? Who the heck was Mr. Madison? He hurried out of the bedroom to find Iris at the front door, speaking to a bespectacled, brown-haired man in his thirties. "Is your mommy home, Iris?" the man asked.
"I don't think so," Iris answered. "I heard the car start this morning. But my papa is home." The man looked to be a in a state of shock, when she said "papa."
"Your papa?" he repeated.
"Yes," Owen answered. "Me. I am her papa." The man looked like he had seen a ghost, staring at Owen, who was shirtless and barefoot, wearing only a pajama pants. Mr. Madison caught himself and changed his expression.
"Oh, I didn't know Cristina's husband had come home," he said.
"Well, I have," Owen said, emphatically. "I am home for 30 days." Who was this guy, he thought. He came to the door and stood next to Iris.
"I am Paul Madison, a teacher at the middle school," the bespectacled man, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Owen Hunt. Major Owen Hunt," Owen replied, offering the man his hand to shake. The man gingerly shook Owen's hand.
"Well, I was just passing by and brought a cup of coffee for Cristina. It is the one she likes," Madison said, handing over the Starbucks coffee cup. Owen took it from him. He really just wanted to throw it back in the man's face but he restrained himself. Instead, he said, "Thank you."
"I better get going, now. Could you tell Cristina I will be by at 3.30 p.m. to pick her and the girls up," he added. "Goodbye, Major." Owen wondered why this man would be back at 3.30 to pick up his family. He did not like the sound of that.
"Goodbye, Mr. Madison," Owen said, firmly. He closed the door and looked down at Iris. "Iris, you should not be opening the doors. You are only five years old. I know we live on the base but you should practice some sort of caution. We never know what or whom could be on the other side of the door."
"Okay, Papa," she said, softly. "You're not mad?" He smiled. Iris was so smart. It was sometimes hard to remember that emotionally, she was still very much a little girl.
"No," he said. "I just want you and your sister to be safe. It would kill me if anything happened to the two of you or your mother. Iris, who is Mr. Madison?"
"He is a teacher at the school where Mommy works," Iris said. "Sometimes, he brings coffee for Mommy."
"Hmm," Owen said. "I think I am going to have a chat with your mother. Okay, let's get your little sister up for the day."
"Yay," Iris said, as she ran into Laurel's room. His mind was a flux of emotions, as he pondered exactly what type of relationship his wife had with her co-worker.
A/N Please leave your thoughts and comments. I do appreciate when you do so.