A/N: the chapter gets a little naughty so if that isn't your thing just skip over that part.. it's indicated with these symbols at the start - # $%. You have been warned :-)

"Are you feeling alright?" Malcolm asked Kate as they stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil. Kate had her arms wrapped around him and her head laying on his shoulder while he rubbed her back in soothing manner. He couldn't help but notice Kate was looking pale, tired and when she had pressed her face into his neck her skin felt warmer than usual.

"Yeah, why?" Kate asked as she lifted her head from his shoulder, Malcolm cupped her face and frowned as he felt her forehead and under her chin. He couldn't help but feel concerned for her welfare after their day.

"You feel a little warm" He remarked. Kate smiled at his concern.

"Ok, I'm little achy but then it's been a long day" Kate admitted Malcolm took a deep breath as if evaluating her honesty. She wasn't insulted by it as she knew he was just looking after her. He gave her a closed lipped smile and nodded accepting her words.

"Alright but you'd tell me if you weren't" He said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close again. Kate smiled as she took comfort in his arms, soaking up the warmth and strength of him.

"Of course though if you want you can take my temperature" Kate said in a tongue and cheek manner. Malcolm chuckled as he held her close, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Only you would make that sound like a salacious invitation" he told her.

"Who says it wasn't?" Kate asked teasingly as she moved her hands down to his ass. She pulled her head back to look at him, a salacious and incredibly cheeky grin on her face as she pressed her lower half of her body against his. Malcolm gave a half chuckle half groan as a part of his body stirred to life. He returned the smile and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Tempting but I'll wait another 4 weeks to indulge that invitation. How long do you think Alicia and Taylor will be?" he asked her.

"I don't know but I reckon enough time for me to get you to break your abstinence" Kate told him.

"You never know but I was asking because I think we should move the twins into Caleb's Nursery considering he's not using it yet and I think they need to sleep" Malcolm said to her.

"Ok, we put them in the crib and we get back to business" She told him. Malcolm laughed as he released her and moved to where the twins were.

"I woke up in a chair, disorientated from whatever crap Carter used to sedate me. My hands and legs bound. The twins luckily were sleeping…" Alicia continued on telling him the scene, how she heard voices, what she felt from the burn of the ropes as she tried to pull her hands free. What she was thinking breaking it all down for him.

Taylor listened as Alicia paced tears falling down her face, every time he moved to get up she ordered him to sit back down. He listened as she told him Lucas taunted her, his threats, her replies to his threats, about her mental state; how she didn't care what he said to her or if he killed her as long as the twins survived. She was ready to sacrifice herself for them all the while she was cutting through the rope with a knife Carter gave her.

His heart broke as he listen to her recount every detail, he felt her pain, her grief in how she knew she was dying, how she reached for the gun as a last ditch effort to not save herself but to save their daughters when she had failed them before.

"I killed him, I could have aimed for his torso but it still would have killed him. I didn't have a choice, I had to pull that trigger as there was no scenario where our daughters could survive without him dying. The really sick part of all of this is that if I had died. You'd probably mourn me with the same reverence you give Ayani and taken care of our daughters like they were treasures but because I survived you reject me and look at our daughters with pity." Alicia spat as she was angry and fed up, she moved to the kitchen and turned her back to him.

She had purposely left out the hurtful words of how she had selfishly wanted outlive his son and padded it out. She had lied to Taylor but by the stage she was at she didn't care. She had lost him no matter what. She saw his stony expression, he gave her nothing.

Taylor watched her shoulders slumped, her whole posture spoke volumes of how she was suffering from his unintentional yet poor treatment of her. She was right in so many respects. He didn't need to know the truth and she was right that if she had died he would have mourned her loss deeply. But he disagreed with her. He didn't intentionally punish her nor pity their daughters. He rose from his chair and moved to her side. He placed his hands on her shoulders and felt her sink slightly under his touch but she didn't retreat.

"Thank you for telling me" he told her in a low voice. He waited for her to say something but she remained silent, so he turned her around to face him. The tears in her eyes, the desolate look in her eyes nearly killed him as he knew it was his fault. He moved one his hands to the side of her face and tilted her face up to look at him.

"We should probably stop now. Alicia and Taylor both know the code to our house" Malcolm murmured against Kate's mouth before he proceeded to kiss her again. Yet they didn't make any effort to stop or move off the lounge where they were making out in a very lazy and relaxing manner but it was definitely becoming a more heated exchange by the minute. The twins were asleep and Caleb was still sleeping off his milk coma from dinner. It was just the two of them. Kate pulled back from the kiss to look up at him.

"No, they'll knock. So you going to be gentleman all night or are you going to be a cad and ravish me" Kate said with cheeky smile as she massaged his calf with one foot while her other leg stayed on his hip as he nestled his lower body against her. Malcolm laughed out loud and shook his head at her as he stroked one hand up her thigh.

"You read way too many romance novels" he told her.

"Only on your plex. So if Jim ever investigates our deaths then you'll be known as the one who likes reading smutty bodice rippers and not me" Kate said with a chuckle as he gave her mocking look of disapproval.

"Oh you're going pay for that" He said in a tone that said she was going to be punished in a very satisfying and sexual manner.

"Yeah?" Kate asked getting excited. Malcolm lowered his head to her right side and pressed his lips near her ear making her shiver in anticipation.

"In four weeks" he whispered hotly in her ear, Kate groaned in sexual frustration as she squirmed under him. Malcolm chuckled as he placed a kiss to the sensitive spot below her ear.

"Oh you are a cruel man" She breathed as he continued his slow and sensual assault down her neck.

"Says the woman who have framed me for reading dirty novels" Malcolm murmured against her skin.

"It's just porn in words instead of pictures. You know you could read some to me this weekend" Kate said with a wicked grin. He lifted his head and looked down at her.

"Or I could read you the latest Scientific Journal to punish you for killing the spider as we both agreed that Spider relocation is my job" He told her, he only brought it up because he knew it was the least sexiest thing to talk about and they needed to cool themselves down before he broke the six week abstinence rule he had placed on them. It was going to be torture but he was going to make them stick to rule as he wanted her completely recovered and ready for when they did start having sex again.

"Mmm let's not talk about spiders" Kate said before kissing him. He inwardly smiled as he returned the kiss for a moment before pulling back to look at her again.

"Ok, but let's be clear that next time you see a spider-" he started but Kate cut him off.

"I'll holler at the top my lungs and not throw heavy objects at it. In my defence I was planning to go up and squish it" Kate told him.

"Really?" He asked her as he didn't believe she had it in her as every time there was a spider in the house she always pushed him in front her like he was a human shield and told him to kill it.

"Sure, now can we get back to making out?" Kate asked as now in hindsight she really wasn't sure what she would have done. Malcolm laughed as he took her 'sure' as a 'no'. He covered her mouth in a powerful kiss that curled her toes and made her moan.

"Now, I'm going to take a cold shower. You are most definitely not invited as I don't want you to get sick" Malcolm told her. Kate gave him a playful pout before looking serious.

"Speaking of I think I already am which means it's too late for you as you're going to be sick right along with me" Kate said.

"You sure you don't want me to call the infirmary?" Malcolm asked.

"And be that annoying person who wastes their time? No. Anyway they'll just tell me to rest and drink fluids" She told him. He felt her forehead for what felt like the twelfth time and nodded assenting to her request.

"Ok, but if you still have a fever come morning I'm calling Elisabeth. But for now" He unwrapped himself from her pulled a throw blanket from the side of the lounge. He unfolded it and laid it over her. "you can stay here and rest" he told her, he pressed one more kiss on her lips before he went off to have a shower.

# $%

Alicia waited for the rejection but it never came. He placed his other hand around her neck for half a second she panicked as she thought he might strangle her but instead he pressed himself against her, he crushed his lips against hers. Alicia was shell shocked by the kiss for a moment before she caved into his passion as she craved the physical contact that they had been avoiding. She craved him and would take whatever he was offering as she needed him desperately.

Taylor kissed her. He had to kiss her, or everything inside of him, this churning maelstrom of despair and heartache and guilt and grief would erupt from him, tearing him apart, leaving him open and exposed.

He kissed her and he didn't have to cry about his loss. He pulled her close and he didn't need to break things, he didn't lash out in anger, he didn't fall apart with grief. She nearly exploded in his arms, clinging to him as desperately as he clung to her, matching the fury of his kisses, the ferociousness of his embrace.

He lifted her up onto the kitchen counter and stepped between her legs. Alicia's fingers were running through his hair, her hands skimming down his back as if she couldn't get enough of touching him. She kissed him as if she wanted to inhale him. She pressed herself against him as if she would die if he didn't fill her.

She felt his rough hands push the hem of her maxi dress up. She worked on his belt and unzipped his pants, she barely had time to cusp him in her hand when he momentarily lifted her up onto the kitchen counter and pulled her knickers off. He returned to kiss her and stopped thinking as she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him toward her. She kissed him back with fervor, and with one explosive thrust, he was inside her.

Taylor heard himself cry out, his voice mixing with hers.

It was too good, too incredible. He could feel her fingernails sharply against his back as she gripped him, as her legs tightened around him. She wanted him hard and fast and he wasn't about to deny her anything.

She moved with him, meeting each of his thrusts with a wild abandon, a savage passion that left him breathless. And he knew that this was more than mere sex for her, too. This was a way for them both to take comfort. This was a way to reaffirm that they were both still very much alive. It wasn't so much about pleasure as it was about trying to drive away the pain.

He'd always been a considerate lover, always taking his time, giving slow, leisurely pleasure to the woman he was with, making certain that she was satisfied several times over before he allowed himself his own release. He'd always been in careful control.

But tonight, his control had gone out the window along with his good judgment. Tonight, he was on fire.

He blocked her moans and shouts with his mouth as he continued to possess her. He dug his fingers hard into her hips and she knew there would be bruises but she didn't care as she could feel her orgasm building rapidly. He felt her satisfaction as he felt the grip of her intimate muscles, the arch of her back and the spasms of her thighs as she gave over to her orgasm. As wave upon wave of pleasure exploded around her, she kissed Taylor so she wouldn't cry out. He inhaled her in return, driving himself even harder, even more deeply inside of her. She felt him explode, felt him shake with his release.

And then it was over, but it wasn't. Alicia still gripped him, still clung to him as if he were her only salvation and he was still buried deeply inside of her.

Taylor stood, his forehead was resting on her shoulder, they both laboured for breath as they were drenched in sweat and physically spent. He was emotionally exhausted.

Silence lapsed between them, one minute slipped into two, two into three. Alicia didn't move either, didn't shift, didn't stir. She didn't do anything either than just hold him and breathe.

He closed his eyes, afraid to open them, afraid to think. Dear Lord, what had he done? He had used her. She had come to settle their argument, to reconcile and didn't listen to her and used her to vent his anger, frustration and grief. He had to step back and put space between them. He lifted his head from her shoulder and pulled away from her in every sense of the word.

"I'm sorry" he said as he turned his back to her and pulled his pants back up. He zipped up his fly and fixed his belt, he felt he could think again. It was not the best feeling in the world.

Tears burned Alicia's eyes as she felt anything but loved in that moment. She had thought going into it that his possessiveness was about his desire for her to remind of it but now in hindsight it was more about him just venting, or maybe he was apologising because he just wanted one more ride before he kicked you out the door... Alicia thought brutally, she felt cheapened as it appeared he was done with her.

"You're sorry" she said in a low voice. "What for? for treating me like a leper for the past week or for screwing me on the kitchen counter?" she asked in a dangerous tone. Panic rose in her as she felt the urge to run, she couldn't stay and cheapen herself further but she couldn't move except to slide off the counter to her feet. Her dress fell down to her ankles. She pressed her lips together and waited for him to answer.

"Both" he told her as he should have shown her more care. Instead of using her to vent his emotions, he watched as the light disappeared from her beautiful eyes, her lips formed a thin line as he watched her emotionally steele herself.

She gave a shake of the head and then walked away. She moved to their bedroom and quickly discarded the dress and threw on fresh underwear with a pair of cargos and t-shirt before she started packing a bag.

"Where are you going?" Taylor asked as he followed her to see she had changed clothes and was packing an overnight bag.

"To Kate and Malcolm's, I love you but I'm not going to stay here and allow myself to believe it's going to be better or cheapen myself by being your play thing while you go through the motions of grief over Lucas only to be kicked out the door when you're done" Alicia told him, tears flowed down her cheeks but she didn't care. She moved into the nursery and haphazardly packed some diapers and clothes.

"Alicia-" Taylor started, he wanted to correct her misconceptions as he realised she had taking his apology completely the wrong way. But she cut him off, her eyes were brimming with tears as she gave him a dark look.

"No, don't even bother because whatever you say now would be complete trite. So when you're ready and I mean really ready to move on, to make our marriage work and love our girls like they deserve instead of pitying them and punishing me then come to me and we'll talk" Alicia told him, she haphazardly zipped the bag.

"We're talking now" he told her.

"No, we're not. You-" Alicia stopped and shook her head. He reached out to her and she stepped away. "Don't touch me, just let me go" she said, her words sliced through him, she just shook her head and left the house.

# $%

"I'm thinking Gnocchi tomorrow night's dinner. Mmm thoughts?" Kate asked in a sleepy yet content voice, she had her head resting in Malcolm's lap as she laid on the lounge. The fingers of his left hand were slowly massaging her scalp as he read his plex with his right hand. She gave a sigh that was half chuckle half moan as she loved getting massaged no matter what part of her anatomy was invovled. It relaxed her and right now she was nearly asleep under his ministrations.

"Sure, I'd li-" Malcolm stopped mid sentence as Alicia opened the door with a wild and distraught expression on her face. Kate sat up and her spun slightly from the moving too quickly. When her vision cleared of stars and speckles she saw Alicia's state and knew that it was not good.

"Alicia?" Kate asked as Alicia turned around and without asking permission changed the code on their front door locking it.

"Sorry, ah- would it be ok if I crashed here for a couple of days?" Alicia asked, she was completely disoriented as she couldn't think clearly. She knew changing the code would not stop Taylor from coming over to the house but she had to do something. She couldn't face him. Not after she gave herself over to him in the most intense pleasure she had experienced in weeks only to have him apologise. To turn a moment of hot sex into something wrong.

"Of course" Malcolm said immediately before Kate could say it. In fact Kate was pleasantly surprised at how fast he agreed as she would have assumed he'd tell Alicia to go to her brother's. It made her warm with appreciation for him.

"Thanks, the twins?" Alicia asked.

"Nursery" Kate said, Alicia nodded stiffly and went into the darkened nursery. Kate looked to Malcolm.

"I'll turn down our bed and look after Caleb" Malcolm told her, his silent way of saying it was alright for her to go talk to Alicia. Kate smiled and gave her husband a quick kiss.

"I love you" she whispered before she carefully got to her feet and moved to the Nursery. She knocked softly on the door to announce her presence. Alicia gently kiss the twins on the forehead before straightening her back. She wiped the tears from her face and sniffed, she like Kate hated crying. It was a feminine weakness in their opinion as there was absolutely nothing to be gained from it.

"So what's the new locking code?" Kate asked casually as she gave Alicia a kind smile. Alicia stepped away from the crib where the twins were sleeping soundly.

"Your marriage anniversary" Alicia told her before she gave an aggravated sigh as tears continued to fall on their own volition.

"Nice, just letting you know the guest bedroom is already set up, and you know where the fresh towels are" Kate told her. Alicia nodded as she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat down.

"Thank you" Alicia said in a hushed tone. Kate moved towards and wrapped her arms around Alicia holding her close. Alicia accepted the hug and held onto Kate tightly as her fragile control on her emotions snapped. The tears ran down her face and Alicia dropped her face onto Kate's shoulder. She leaned heavily on Kate and they sunk to the floor as Kate didn't have the strength to hold them up as Alicia broke down. She bit her bottom lip trying hard not to cry but it was useless as the tears streamed down her face. Kate's hold tightened around her and Alicia clutched her just as tightly.

"I got you, I got you. Just let it all out" Kate whispered in Alicia's ear, and she continued to murmur words of comfort "You're going to be ok" Kate said to her, somehow hearing the words comforted her as she cried.

Malcolm could hear Kate talking to Alicia in soft comforting tones, he knew Alicia was a mess and Taylor was to blame. Malcolm had half a mind to go over but knew it was a waste of time trying to get the older man to wisen up that and he didn't know exactly what happened between Alicia and Taylor. It was best to let them work it out then put his nose into their marriage.

He changed into a t-shirt and his cotton PJ's, he moved to the cot and looked down at Caleb who was snoozing peacefully. He smiled and gently touched Caleb's open hand with his index finger watching as his son grabbed hold as a reflex action. The little boy was definitely an exceptional distraction as Malcolm could watch him all night but sadly he had some research papers to read over before tomorrow.

"I'm a mess. Are you crying?" Alicia asked as she had pulled away from Kate to see she had tears in her eyes. Kate gave a shrug.

"I'm hormonal and it's been a long day ok? I cry when other people cry, ok? I'm hoping it's a phase" Kate said. Alicia couldn't help but smile even though she felt like the world had chewed her up and spat her out.

"You're a goose" Alicia told her as they both wiped the tears from their eyes and chuckled.

"I know" Kate said, silence lapsed between them and Alicia looked to the crib. A forlorn look on her face as she didn't know what was going to happen to her and her Daughters in the long term.

"I don't know what I'm going to do" she admitted feeling another rush of emotions and tears ready to overwhelm her. The confession was shocking yet true as she felt lost at what she should do. She had walked away from Taylor No, you ran like a coward... Alicia corrected in her head.

"You could help me off the floor for starters" Kate told her. Alicia gave a watery laugh and got to her feet and moved to Kate holding out her hands. Kate took hold and Alicia helped pull her to her feet.

"Thanks" Kate told her as Alicia helped her to her feet. Kate wavered on her feet but Alicia grabbed her by the elbow to stabilise her.

"You ok?" Alicia asked as she noted how pale Kate was looking.

"Yeah fine, just got a little head rush" Kate said dismissively, Alicia reached out and touched Kate's forehead out of habit as Kate was one to push aside warning sides of sickness. "Why does everyone feel me up for a temperature when I say I'm fine?" Kate asked.

"Because when you say you're fine. You're usually lying. You do feel a little hot, are you sure you're feeling ok?" Alicia asked, she found focussing on Kate in that moment helped her ignore her own situation.

"Of course my internal thermostat is a little outta wack because of the hormones. That and it's be a long day I'll be fine after a nap" Kate said. She stressed 'fine' just to be sarcastic and Alicia shook her head smiling briefly but it didn't touch her eyes.

"Well then you should go to bed. Get some rest" Alicia told her. It wasn't like she had anywhere to run to.

"Are you sure? Cause I can make us a pot of tea" Kate told her.

"Yeah, to be honest I need some headspace to sort myself out" Alicia told her.

"Ok but if you need to talk or anything, I'll be up in a couple of hours to feed my grumbly guts of a kid" Kate told her, Alicia smiled and nodded.

"Ok, go get some rest" Alicia told her. Kate nodded and left Alicia to her own devices.

Malcolm looked up from the plex he had been reading and watched Kate close the door to their room. She shrugged out of her clothing and changed into one of his t-shirts before she crawled into bed. He turned off the plex and placed it on the bedside table and turned out the lights before he sunk down on the bed so he was lying down. Kate snuggled up against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Alicia ok?" he asked as he couldn't help but notice how warm she was feeling. He knew she was coming down with a cold or something but wasn't going to say anything until the morning as he knew Kate wouldn't get angry and he'd rather she rest.

"I hope so" Kate said with a yawn, he kissed the top of her head and started to massage her back in a soothing manner to help relax her. "I told her she can stay as long as she needs to. I hope you don't mind" She added.

"Not at all" Malcolm told her.

"Mmm that feels good" Kate murmured as she was starting to fall asleep. Malcolm smiled as he continued to rub her back and listened as her breathing evened out and knew she was asleep as her body grew heavy against his.

A couple of hours later,

Alicia was scrubbing the bathroom tub as it silenced the vicious cycle of thoughts running through her head. She had cried her eyes out for a good hour, taken a hot shower and laid down again. Gotten restless and the tears threatened to again. So she got up, mentally told herself to stop being emotional and to shut down the tears as they were only making her more miserable than helping. Then went to cleaning, it wasn't like there was anything else she could do and the bathroom was to the back of the house. So she wasn't going to disturb anyone. She heard a rush of foot falls around the house and a moment later Malcolm appeared at the doorway

"Oh, there you are" Malcolm said in relief, Alicia stopped scrubbing and looked up at him. "Why are you scrubbing our bath?" he asked her but before she could answer he shook his head and continued "forget I asked, not important. I need your help. Kate's burning up, I'm really worried as I can barely get her to wake and it's time for Caleb to feed" Malcolm explained.

"Ok, have you called the infirmary?" Alicia asked as she took off the gloves she was wearing.

"Not yet, I want to make sure I'm not overreacting and you know how Kate gets" Malcolm said.

"Ok, I'll have once over" Alicia said as she got to her feet and followed him.

"Kate" Alicia said gently as she rocked Kate's shoulder. She sat on the edge of the bed, she felt Kate's forehead and found her skin hot and clammy indicating a fever but Kate was pulling the blankets around herself like she was cold. She was definitely sick in Alicia's books.

"Mm just let me sleep" Kate complained as she felt truly retched, her body ached and she felt cold as she pulled the doona around her. She was pretty sure she had only been sleeping for 10 minutes and couldn't understand why Malcolm was trying to wake her up and now Alicia.

"Can't do that, you got a hungry baby and a concerned husband" Alicia told her as if on cue Caleb started cry and the noise filtered through Kate's doona covered ears. She groaned as gave in and turned over to face Alicia. Light filtered through the open bedroom door.

"I'm awake, I'm awake. Just give me a second" Kate grumbled as she pushed down the doona from her chest. A sickening shiver raced through her body and she could barely keep her eyes open she was tired. She watched as Malcolm lifted Caleb into his arms and soothed the boy.

"Kate, when did you get this rash?" Alicia asked, Kate looked down and saw she had a rash growing from under her top to her collarbone and upwards. She hadn't noticed it earlier but then Kate had been wearing a t-shirt whereas now she was in a singlet top.

"I don't know, man I think I have the flu. I feel feral" Kate said pressing a hand to her forehead.

"No, I think you may have mastitis. This hurt" Alicia said as she poked Kate gently in the side of the left breast as that was where the rash was fanning out from. Kate made a noise of discomfit and placed her hand over her chest to protect herself.

"Yes! why are you poking my boob?!" Kate exclaimed. Alicia quirked her lips in amusement as she felt for Kate, she knew from personal experience that the next few days were not going to be fun. At least Kate only had one hungry mouth instead of two.

"She'll live" Alicia told Malcolm in an amused tone as if some crisis had been averted.

"Gee your bedside manner could use some work. Where's the sympathy?" Kate asked her in a dry tone.

"You'll get it later. I'm going to call infirmary have them run over a medic to confirm my diagnosis and prescribe antibiotics. I suggest you try to nurse on the infected side. It'll help" Alicia said to Kate who nodded unenthusiastically. Alicia got up from the bed and watched for a moment as family scene tugged at her. She turned away and went to her room to call the infirmary as she didn't think she had it in her to watch them be happy without it tearing at her.