Previously in "Pages in Between", Finn reads Mikael's will and Caroline finds out about her mother.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Later…
The farewell party for Mikael was in full swing, with food and music galore. Liam and Carrie were dancing on the dance floor, celebrating his inheritance. Carrie kissed him and said, "I'm glad you got the mansion."
"I am too," he replied. "I consider it an early wedding present from Grandfather. Plus, we'll have room for Alexandria."
"Yes," Carrie said. "It'll be big enough for her and her brothers and sisters." She saw his face. "Yes, I want us to have a big family."
"I don't have any problem with that, love," Liam said with a grin before kissing her softly.
On the stairs, Ruby and Bridget had set up some kind of ramp with mattresses up at the top of them. "Are you sure we can do this, sis?" Bridget asked skeptically.
Ruby smiled at her sister. "Of course we can. It's not like anyone is going to be using these mattresses again."
Bridget nodded before they were turning to their mom and giggling their heads off. "What? What's so funny?"
Bridget continued to laugh and Ruby said, "Nothing, Mum."
Sage raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, hmm; you're up to something and I want to know what it is."
"Well, it's just that Father had this entire romantic thing planned and you're kind of missing it," her eldest daughter told her.
Sage smiled. "You're absolutely right." She looked at her daughters as she continued, "Thanks, girls!"
She kissed their foreheads then, as Ruby and Bridget watched with matching sighs, left the main mansion and they knew she was heading to one of the two extra houses, where she found one door partially open to the first one.
Sage arrived at her destination and opened the door to see Finn waiting for her. He smiled at her. "Good evening, my love."
Sage's green eyes glanced around at the dim lighting as well as spotting the candles scattered around the room. "Is this for…me?" she asked in a whisper so soft that he almost didn't hear it, but he had.
Finn nodded as he stepped over to her, his face close to hers as his warm breath ghosted over the skin of her face. Finn smiled at his wife. "You're so beautiful." He kissed her softly. "I love you, Sage."
Sage tugged him close, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. "I love you too, Finn…forever," she whispered against his lips.
Finn smiled at Sage. "Let's get this evening started, shall we?"
Sage returned his smile. "Yes, we shall."
Finn guided Sage to the table set up for two and she turned to look at him with an awed gaze. "You're recreating our first time?" she asked, smiling widely.
Finn smiled. "Yes, my Irish Rose. I am recreating our first time. I figured it would be appropriate, since we've recently rekindled our passion at the bed and breakfast, thanks to Henrik and Francesca."
"Do you remember what I said to you on our first date? I said that I hadn't been hungry for food and you'd fulfilled my wish," she whispered. Finn gulped when he saw her playing with the hem of her gray T-shirt that said 'I LOVE GREECE' written in navy blue across the front of it.
Finn nodded. "Oh, yes, I remember that."
He watched with wide eyes as she slowly lifted the gray material upward until it's moving above her head and falls onto the floor. Finn stepped closer and lifted Sage until her legs wrapped around his waist, claiming her lips in a hungry, demanding kiss, moaning when she responded just as hungrily.
Finn then reached behind her and undid the clasp of her bra, tossing it to the floor and then leaving her lips to kiss and caress her breasts, gently lifting one up to suck on it.
Sage's head falls back until she feels his hand cup the back of it, underneath her hair and she moves it back until she can gaze into his passion-darkened eyes. "Finn, please…" He nodded silently then moved around the table, going toward the cushions of the couch and sitting down on them with her in his lap.
Sage panted and let out a scream of pleasure as she felt Finn's hands caressing her every curve, not caring if anyone heard her.
Finn's hands dipped beneath the elastic waistband of her cotton pajama/sweatpants combination, finding them rather sexy on her. Sage then helped Finn off with his jacket and shirt, trembling at the feel of his soft skin under her fingers. Finn moaned as he felt what she was doing, slowly pulling down her panties and pajama pants, running his hands across her thighs.
Her husband glanced up into her green eyes, which had turned a darker shade with all the passionate kisses and caresses that were consuming their heightened desire to make love. Finn then helped Sage remove his pants, moving up to capture her lips again. Once they were both completely naked, Finn picked Sage up and carried her toward the middle door, pressing her against the frame around it and kissing her hungrily.
Finn grabbed Sage's hips as he entered her and began to thrust hard and fast against her. His wife's hips bucked involuntarily against his as her legs locked around his waist, tearing her mouth away from his to let out a scream so loud that she was afraid it might shatter her vocal chords.
Finn smiled and then kissed her throat, feeling the vibration of her screams against his lips. "That's right, Irish Rose, scream for me. Let me know you're enjoying this."
"Oh god, Finn, do you know what your words alone do to me?" Sage asked as she began to tremble within his embrace.
Finn nodded. "Yes, I do. It's the same thing your words alone do to me."
Two Hours Later…
Sage put the ice cream carton down on her husband's chest then settled over him, holding out a spoon for him to take.
Finn smiled and took the spoon from her. Sage returned his smile and used her spoon to take some ice cream, Finn doing the same half a beat later. "I love this ice cream. And I was so glad that no one saw me sneaking in the back door of the main house to get it from the freezer," Sage said after she ate her bite.
Finn nodded. "I remember when Ruby was five years old. She knew she couldn't have sweets before dinner, so she tried to take some cookies from the pantry."
"Oh, she was so mad when we took them from her!" Sage said with a smile as she nodded her head, taking another bite of ice cream.
Finn smiled and took some more ice cream. "I know, but we couldn't let her break the rules."
Later…
Ruby and Bridget went to check on their parents' progress, peeking into the window of the second addition house on the property and smiling at each other when they found Sage sprawled on top of Finn, an empty carton of ice cream on the coffee table, two spoons lying beside it.
Bridget and Ruby silently gave each other high fives. They were definitely proud of themselves, especially since their parents had recreated their first time.
Inside, Sage stirred on her husband's chest then opened her eyes to find him waking up as well. "Good morning, you," she said in a husky murmur, scooting up to kiss him softly.
Finn smiled and kissed her. "Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?"
Sage nodded. "Oh, I definitely did." The redhead turned when she heard a soft rustle in the bushes outside and raised an eyebrow. "I think someone is spying on us."
Finn heard the rustle as well. "Yes, and I think I know who it is too."
Ruby and Bridget heard that and made a run for it, heading back into the main house's back door, sliding to and fro in their house slippers and trying not to fall on the slippery tile floor. They reached the kitchen and stopped when they saw their Uncle Elijah drinking his morning coffee. "Good morning, girls," he said with a knowing smirk.
Ruby giggled. "Good morning, Uncle Elijah."
"What are you girls up to?" Elijah asked before taking another drink of his coffee.
Ruby and Bridget looked at each other and then Ruby said, "We were spying on Mum and Father."
Elijah nodded. "I figured that from the way you ran in here."
Bridget poked her older sister and pointed behind her. Ruby glanced quickly before she ran out of the kitchen but Finn grabbed his other daughter instead, tickling her. "Father, no, no, don't!" Bridget squealed in the attempt to get away.
Finn refused to give in and said, "You spy on us, you get the Tickle Torture."
Bridget continued to laugh and squeal as her father continued to tickle her.
Meanwhile, Ruby was hiding just inside the study when she heard footsteps coming her way. She quickly retreated in the opposite direction, but was snatched around the waist before she could get very far.
Ruby then felt Sage tickling her. "Mum, no, please, not the Tickle Torture!"
"That's what you get for spying on me and your father," the older redhead replied. "Your sister is getting the same punishment as you are."
Meanwhile…
Katherine stirred from her spot on the couch when she heard voices as well as giggles coming from the kitchen and the hallway just outside the living room.
Katherine scowled and then went toward the kitchen, where Elijah was still drinking coffee. "What's going on?"
"Ruby and Bridget spied on Finn and Sage," her husband replied. "So, as punishment, they're being subjected to the Tickle Torture."
His wife gave him a knowing smirk before removing the coffee cup from his hands then leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Maybe you should punish me with the Tickle Torture?"
Elijah smiled at her words. "Are you sure?"
Katherine licked her lips. "I'm definitely sure."
The gleam in her husband's eyes when she pulled away encouraged Katherine to get a head start, running out of the kitchen and up the back set of stairs, which led to the attic/storage unit.
Elijah smirked and went after Katherine. He arrived at the attic/storage unit, where he caught her and began to tickle her, earning him a squeal and laughter from her.
Back downstairs, Sage and Finn finally met in the kitchen, their eyes both drifting upward to the ceiling when they heard the familiar squealing laughter coming from Katherine as well as Elijah's deep chuckles.
Finn smiled and said, "Looks like we weren't the only ones administering the Tickle Torture."
"Yep," Sage said as she sat down on top of the kitchen counter, picking up her cup of coffee and taking a drink.
Finn picked up a mug and poured some coffee. "I had a great time last night, Sage. You were and still are amazing."
"As are you, Finnegan," his wife said as she leaned over to press her face against his before he could drink his coffee.
Finn smiled against her lips and returned her kiss. "I love you, Sage."
"I love you more," Sage said as she wrapped one arm around his neck and her legs around his waist.
Finn smiled as he saw what she was doing and kissed her again. "What would you say if I told you that I wanted to renew our vows?"
"I'd say that was a wonderful idea," she replied. "Klaus and Caroline already renewed theirs, so why not?" She paused then put down her coffee before taking his cup and setting it down next to hers, wrapping her other arm around his neck. "But…if we're going to do that, I want it to be here, where you grew up."
Finn smiled. "I'd love that."
Sage nodded again then later, when everyone else woke up, she gathered herself, Katherine, Caroline, Rebekah, Lexi and Francesca along with all of their daughters into the study, closing them all inside of it. "Finn asked me if we could renew our vows. And I said yes," she said simply.
Caroline smiled. "That's wonderful, Sage. I had a feeling that after Nik and I renewed our vows, you and Finn would soon follow."
Sage smiled back at Caroline. "That is why I'm going to need you all to be my mini wedding planners. I'm going to put one in charge of decorations, one with music, one with the dresses and a fourth with flowers. Caroline, you'll do the music. Um, Lexi, you and Katherine can do the dresses. Rebekah, I'd like you to do the decorations. Ruby, Bridget, you can help Aunt Rebel with decorations, can't you?"
Caroline nodded. "Music is no problem. I'll ask Nik and Liam if they wouldn't mind playing for you."
"That would be lovely, Caroline," Sage said with a smile.
Ruby and Bridget nodded and Ruby said, "We'll definitely help with the decorations."
Katherine smiled. "Those dresses are as good as done."
Sage nodded. "Francesca, you and I can work on the cake samples, okay?"
Francesca smiled. "Ooh, cake!"
Caroline went to find Klaus and saw him transposing a sketch onto the canvas. "Nik, may I have a word with you?"
Klaus looked at her. "Sure, love, what do you need?" He got nervous. "Is the baby all right?"
"No! No, the baby is perfectly fine. I was actually just appointed by Sage as one of her mini wedding planners and she asked me to do the music. I was hoping I could persuade you and Liam to play for the ceremony and the reception," Caroline replied.
Klaus nodded upon hearing that. "I can definitely arrange that, love."
"Arrange what?"
Klaus and Caroline turned and saw Liam in the doorway. Klaus cleared his throat and said to his eldest son, "Your mother was just appointed to be a mini wedding planner for your Aunt Sage, and she wants us to play at the ceremony and the reception."
Liam smiled. "That sounds perfect. I'll definitely do it."
Meanwhile…
Katherine, Lexi, Maria and Lexi and Kol's daughter Nadia walked into the dress shop owned by Vicki and April, who had moved back to Virginia to help with her mother-in-law's health.
April smiled at the women. "Hello, everyone; is there anything in particular you're looking for."
Lexi nodded first. "Yes, Sage asked for dresses in these specific colors," she told April as she handed the sheet of paper to the brunette.
April took the piece of paper from Lexi and nodded as she saw the list of colors Sage wanted for the dresses. "You know, we just got the colors you have on the list, so this shouldn't be a problem."
Lexi smiled. "Awesome. April, you are an angel. Sage is going to be ecstatic when I tell her that you have the colors she needs."
While April got the material for them, Lexi and Katherine sat down in chairs next to each other while their daughters sat in chairs across from their mothers.
"These are beautiful," said Katherine. "Sage is going to love these."
"She is! April, if we showed you the designs of the dresses she wants, would you like us to help you make them by hand?" Lexi asked the brunette.
April nodded and smiled as she replied, "Oh, definitely."
Author's Note: Third update of the day! YAY ME AND ERIN! The next one will probably show some flashbacks for Sage & Finn, so if you get confused, let us know! ~Katie and Erin~