It seems like I'm always apologizing for the delay in updating, but I truly am sorry. As I said at the beginning of my latest chapter of Lady in Red, the strange thing about pregnancy – my muse/inspiration/willpower completely disappeared. Super ironic thing – taking care of an infant seems to have completely jumpstarted my writing mojo. The tricky part is I'm still taking care of an infant (and going back to work) so my time for writing is significantly diminished. I'll update when I can – that's about the best I can offer.

Huge thanks go to bbwzoey86, cemmia, MamaDCB, foreverwishing, SPF Fan, Ceimartav, Remi Savant, Brooke, An Amber Pen, castlefan83, HarleQuinXUndead for their wonderful reviews. They mean so much to me, and I'm sorry I haven't been able to thank you all personally. Love love love to all of you!

And now, on with the story.

Sean stood in the hallway for a second, not saying a word, until he took a tentative step forward. He nodded his thanks to Katy, my RA, who looked less than enthused to be standing outside my door. I could only imagine what she was thinking, having seen the rumors about me (that I was sure were circulating around campus) being proven true right before her very eyes. She cast one more side-long glance my way before heading back down the hallway to the main lobby. Sean paid no attention to her, however, as he walked into my dorm room and closed the door behind him.

I couldn't bring myself to move, whether due to apathy or simply because I'd been eating less and less every day and just didn't have the energy to do so – today's singular meal was just a cheap little granola bar I'd had for breakfast. Sean crossed to where I was seated on my bed, but instead of sitting next to me, he squatted before me and gently took my hands in his.

"Jesus, Morgan," he said softly. "Are you okay?"

No. No I wasn't okay. I wasn't remotely okay, but I couldn't let him know that. "I'm fine. Just sat up too fast. I'm good," I nodded, hoping to sound convincing.

Sean still looked skeptical, and if I wasn't mistaken, a little...afraid? "Fine? Morgan, I'm seriously worried here," he said, gesturing around my room. I looked around and saw what he did – a pile of unwashed microwaveable bowls, an overflowing basket of unwashed laundry, a mess of books and papers littering the desk. "Where's your roommate?"

Shit. He'd apparently noticed the empty bed and desk, too. "She moved out," I mumbled.

He ducked his head to look me in the eye. "Why did she move out?"

I couldn't answer him. I just shook my head, let it hang until my chin touched my chest, doing my best to hide my tears from him.

I felt both his hands on either side of my face gently lift my chin until I was looking up at him again. "Morgan, honey, what happened? Please talk to me," he implored.

The look in his eyes would have broken my heart if it weren't already in pieces. I finally started talking, or at least trying to between the most recent round of sobs and hiccups to catch my breath. "Because of you...us...I told her about us. She said terrible...awful things, about both of us. I just got sick of her saying everything and I...slapped her. She left, and that was the last time I saw her."

Sean's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You slapped her? What the hell did she say to make you slap her?"

I couldn't answer him. For all I knew, she was absolutely right about him, and I just knew no matter what I said, he'd deny everything and try to convince me that she was wrong. The thing of it was that now I knew better – his conversation with "Melissa" ran through my mind yet again, which caused my stomach to lurch in something like disgust.

"Baby, I need you to talk to me," he pleaded, but I remained silent. He came up and sat on the bed next to me and placed one warm hand on my back between my shoulder blades. After a few minutes, he asked, "Have you really been going to classes like you said?" Apparently my appearance and that of my room indicated otherwise. I nodded, keeping my eyes focused on my hands in my lap. "Eating?" I shrugged; surely he had seen the all the bowls stacked up on top of the microwave. "Morgan, have you eaten anything besides Ramen?" I shrugged again, not wanting to admit just how bad I'd let myself go. He just sighed heavily next to me.

"Okay," he said with a sudden resolve. He got up and went to my closet, found my overnight bag and began packing it, rifling through my drawers and tossing in a change of clothes and other things I would most likely need for...whatever he had planned, apparently. Once he finished, he came back to me, kneeling before me again. "Sweetheart, you have me pretty worried here. We need to get you out of here and get some actual food in you. Have you slept or bathed or anything all week?" My silence was his answer. "Okay. Come on. Let's get your socks and shoes and get going."

I numbly sat and watched as he slid a pair of socks over my feet then helped me put my shoes on. He took my hands and pulled me off the bed then held my jacket for me to slip my arms into. "Got your keys?" he asked, and I grabbed my key ring from where I'd thrown it when I got back from classes today. He nodded, held the door open for me, and followed me into the hall where I shouldered my purse and locked the door. My heart throbbed and broke when he tentatively took my hand in his and lead me down the hall and towards the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" I wondered out loud once we got to his car.

"I've got a room at the Marriott. Thought we could use some privacy away from your roommate. Didn't realize..." he trailed off. "Sounds like you could use some time away, though," he added after a moment, glancing over at me. "You gonna tell me what happened?" I just kept staring down at my hands as my fingers played with the toggles on my jacket. Another moment of awkward silence passed. "So, I was thinking of just getting room service, maybe order a pizza. Anything sound good?"

All I could do was shrug.

Once we got into his room, he helped me out of my jacket and invited me to sit on the bed while he made a phone call for pizza delivery. God forbid you be seen in public with me, I couldn't help but think. When he finished his call, he turned his full attention to me, pulling a chair up to the bed to sit right in front of me at the foot of the bed, his forearms resting on his knees. He placed his fingers beneath my chin and urged me to look at him. "Morgan," he began, "I don't know what I did to get the silent treatment, but it's killing me to see you like this and not know why or what to do. Please, baby. Please talk to me."

I looked at him through my watery eyes for a long minute, not exactly sure where to start. Did I call him out on being involved with another woman? Did I tell him exactly what Hailey had said and done? That I might be pregnant? Either way, I had to tell him something. "I...there's a lot, a whole fucking lot, and I don't know what to do. And it's not just you, but you are part of it."

Sean nodded. "Wanna start with why you slapped your roommate?"

I sighed heavily. Here goes nothing. "She said some pretty terrible things." I looked at Sean, who looked confused and not a little pissed, and somehow found my voice before he could ask any questions. I just had to get all this out on my own. "That...first time I spent the night with you...I was still with Tyler. And in my head it wasn't cheating on him, because it was to make him feel good...at least in the long run. As awful as it sounds, I knew I was using you, but figured it was okay because you were at least getting something out of it, too. Well...Hailey didn't see it that way. She only heard that I was two-timing Tyler with a gross old man. And then when I told her about us being together, and let it slip that you asked me to marry you, and everything that happened with mom and dad. She said she didn't blame dad for kicking me out, that us being together was gross, and...God, Sean, she said we were just this side of statutory rape and incest and that I'm just a cheating bitch." I looked back down at my fingers and mumbled, "That's when I hit her. She cleared all her stuff out while I was at class the next day, and left a message for me on the wall...bright red lipstick... 'Enjoy the room, slut.'"

"Morgan, that's awful," he said softly, his voice full of emotion, and leaned forward to hug me, but I leaned back out of his reach.

"That's...that's not all that happened." I took another breath, but had long since given up trying to control my tears, forcing myself to just push through and get it all out at once. "So, the first day of class, and it turns out I have Basics of Marketing with Tyler. Guess Hailey got to him and told him, well, her version of everything, so who knows what she said to him...but I was sitting there in the classroom and he walked right by me and all I said was 'Hi,' and clear as day for everyone else to hear, he called me a slut, right as the professor was walking in." I swallowed hard, trying not to start out right sobbing at the memory. "I've been getting looks from everyone...everywhere I go, I can just hear them whispering. Between Hailey and Tyler, I have no idea how many people have heard their story or what they think of me." I could feel Sean getting ready to say something, but before he could I held a hand up in front of me, "And before you start with 'who cares what they think of you,' well apparently I do. It's easy to sit there and say don't worry about other people, but when it's you they're talking about, it's really fucking hard not to care."

I had started almost panting, trying to just catch my breath in between sobs. "So that's been my week. I've been avoiding everyone as much as I could, getting to classes just as they start and staying in my room the rest of the time. Not that going to class does anything for me, since I can't concentrate on anything at all other than how absolutely shitty I feel. So yeah, all I've had all week is Ramen and granola bars. I can't remember the last time I had a shower or a full night's sleep. I just...I just don't care anymore."

I finally allowed myself to break down crying; with as much as I'd been doing these past few days, I was surprised to still have any tears left...well, I would have been if I cared. Instead, all I cared about was Sean's arms that had found their way around me and were holding me so tight, just shy of painful, but it was just what I needed. To finally feel secure and protected, even just for a moment, as he let me cry it out into the front of his shirt.

Eventually, the crying stopped, or at least eased itself into hiccupping sobs. A sharp knock broke the silence in the room. I wasn't sure how long he'd held me like that, but it was apparently long enough for the pizza guy to make his way to our door. Sean slowly released me, but only moved after looking me right in the eyes, silently telling me he'd be right back.

When he returned, Sean placed the pizza box and bottles of soda on the dresser next to the TV. "Didn't think about plates," he said, almost apologetically. "Hope you like supreme. We'll at least pretend to get some vegetables in you." He grinned at that and offered me a slice. I had to admit, the feeling of eating solid food was really nice, but I still didn't have much of an appetite. I nibbled and sipped, trying to ignore Sean watching me as I ate.

Once he was apparently satisfied with my being fed, he started questioning me, always gently so as not to upset me any more than I already was. "So...incest?"

I shrugged. This one was easy to answer, at least. "Because you and dad are so close, like brothers. Because you're like family."

He frowned and nodded solemnly. "And that's why you couldn't talk to me? Why you've been avoiding me?"

"No," I said emphatically, shaking my head. "I knew...know...better."

His face relaxed a little in relief, then returned to genuine concern. "So...why were you avoiding me?"

Dammit. I should've known he'd get right to the point. I shrugged and played with the cap to my bottle of soda, trying to buy myself some time. I wasn't sure I could just come right out and accuse him of cheating on me...or at least of using me like Hailey suggested. He said my name again, softly, and waited until I was looking at him again. He obviously wasn't going to drop the subject.

I took one more deep breath before beginning, "It's just...a lot of what Hailey said makes sense. I mean, we hardly ever went out in public together. It's like you didn't want to be seen with me. Not that you were ashamed of me, but like...like you knew this was wrong or something."

"We were in the middle of an ice storm," he countered flatly.

"Yes," I conceded, "but not the whole time I was living with you. The first time you took me out, we went to the next town over."

"The restaurant was also close to the movie theater," he added. "And, I'm just thinking back here, but the grocery store and the mall are pretty darn public places, don't you think?" He had me there. Just because it wasn't an actual date didn't mean those trips were any less important. He was absolutely right about being stuck indoors because of the ice storm. "I know we ate in a lot," he continued, "but I'm not one to go out for every meal. I just...prefer eating at home. Morgan," he took both my hands in his, setting my soda bottle on the mattress, "I hope you'd know I'm never ashamed to be with you. I never have been. I'm not trying to hide you away or anything. I'm proud and consider myself incredibly lucky to be with you." He made sure I was looking at him again before going on. "I'm floored that such a beautiful, smart, down-to-earth...genuinely remarkable woman is with me, and I would love to parade you around, showing off the woman I love to all the world." He tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. "It just hasn't worked out that way for us yet. We only had a week and a half together, really."

I blinked up at him. His side of things made a lot more sense than what Hailey had said. Still...

"She's right about me, though. I threw myself at you. I practically begged you to fuck me." My cheeks reddened in shame as I admitted the ugly truth about myself. "Who begs someone to take her virginity, other than a slut?"

Sean nodded thoughtfully. "We might have moved a little fast, not that I put up much of a fight or anything. But sweetheart," he readjusted on the edge of the bed, "it's not like we're in a 'normal' relationship here. We've known each other for a long time. The love was already there, it just...changed into a new kind of love. Could we have waited a while to have sex? Sure. But I'm not going to sit here and lie and say I never thought of you like that before you came over that time. Christ, Morgan, you've been on my mind in all kinds of scenarios since the day I kissed you the first time."

That caught my attention. I looked up at him and blinked away my tears. "Really?" I whispered.

"First I just wanted to keep kissing you. I would have, too, if we hadn't been at your parents' house. And when you went off to college, I just kept wanting to call you or...anything just to talk to you. I missed you more than you know for those first two months. I just wanted to be with you. I even tried dating someone just to get you off my mind, but the whole time I was out with her, I just thought of you." Well, that explained the box of condoms. I wondered briefly if Melissa was this other woman. He continued, "When you called and asked to give me a blow job... I would hope you knew me well enough to know that under normal circumstances, I would never help someone cheat on someone else, but that night...I couldn't care less how this Tyler would feel. I wanted you, and wanted you for myself. I still do.

"And I swear to God, Morgan, if I catch wind of this Hailey or Tyler and find out they actually have been spreading these kinds of terrible things about you..." he trailed off. He was visibly upset, which made one of the knots around my heart loosen just a little bit. He actually did care about me. "This Hailey bitch has another thing coming if she thinks she can get away with shit like that. And Tyler just sounds like a little punk who's pissed that he got replaced."

He took a long breath before beginning again, this time in a much softer voice. "Morgan, I love you. It's not like I just propose to any girl...woman...that comes along. I can't wait to marry you, to call you my wife." I grimaced at that, and Sean obviously noticed. "But I'm going to stick to my promise before going any further," he said, his voice adamant.

I was a little confused. I wracked my brain for what promise he could be talking about, but everything was stuck in a fog.

He looked down at the bedspread between us, my hands still in his. "Do you...do you still feel the same way about me?"

His voice was shaking now, ever so slightly. I'd never heard him sound so unsure of himself. It almost broke my heart to hear. Still, I didn't know how to answer him. I had my own questions that hadn't been answered yet. I wanted to ask about a ring, but that just made me feel even worse, like I was some kind of gold digger. I supposed the only real question left was about Melissa. The way Sean had just laid all of his feelings out like he had made me think maybe I had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

So now I was stuck. I couldn't give him an answer either way. I did still love him, but even with him explaining away most of my doubts, and even if I was wrong about whoever Melissa was to him, could I honestly say I felt the same way as I had a week ago? But then, if I lied and said yes, I would never have those questions answered. How could I bring them up if not right now?

Then there was the question that he couldn't answer for me: was it possible I was pregnant?

Just the idea of telling him made me feel nauseous...which I took as an excuse to get out from under his scrutinizing gaze. I mumbled a quick apology and climbed off the bed, headed for the bathroom. After using the toilet (thankfully not getting sick), I went to wash my hands. I had barely glanced at myself in the mirror and immediately took a double take. God, I looked awful. I could carry any number of things in the bags under my bloodshot eyes. My hair hung limply around my face, shiny with oil from my not having bathed in...I didn't even know how long.

In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to take a shower, but I knew Sean was still out there, waiting for me, for my answer, and I still didn't know exactly how to tell him. Hell, I didn't really know what to tell him.

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to move it away from my face, and took a deep breath, deciding that I might as well go and give him my answer. Sean's words, him talking about wanting to marry me, spun around and around in my mind and wrapped themselves around my heart. That man loved me, and I loved him. Fuck Hailey for putting all this doubt in my brain. I had told her that she just didn't know Sean, that she was only seeing the surface of our relationship. He'd supported me since even before we'd become a couple, every step of the way. He gave up his best friend to be with me. If I was pregnant, we'd figure it out. It'd be scary as hell, but we would manage, work everything out together.

Feeling about a million times better than I had moments ago, I held my head up high, straightened my shoulders, and reached for the doorknob to return to the main room and tell him exactly how I felt.

It was his voice that stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey there, hon. ... Yeah, I made it okay. ... No, not yet. Let's just say I had a change of plans once I got here. ... Still working on that, actually. ... I don't know. ... I don't know! ... No, I don't think that'd be a good idea right now. ... What about on your end? ... Yeah, that's about what I figured. ... He's gotta know by now, though, right? ... Wait, you didn't tell him?! ... Oh, come on! ... You really think waiting til the last minute is a good idea? ... Have you met the guy? ... Alright, he's your husband. I just don't... Fine, I'll let you handle it. ... I was, but now... At this point, I don't know. I hope so, but...things aren't going exactly as I planned. ... Let's stick to the plan and if things aren't working like we want, I'll let you know as soon as I can. ... Alright, thanks, hon. ... See you soon, I hope. Bye."

I stood there frozen, eventually hanging my head and letting yet another batch of hot tears run down my face. My suspicions, as far as I was concerned, had just been confirmed. Surely that was Melissa yet again, and they were in fact planning something...something that his being here with me was screwing up. He's your husband. He was messing around with a married woman? Or, rather, was he messing around with me?

I felt sick all over again. I ran to the toilet and threw the seat up, banging it loudly against the tank, and emptied my stomach into the porcelain bowl. I was sobbing uncontrollably in between retches. I jumped back violently when I felt a hand on my back; amid all the noise I was making, I hadn't heard Sean come into the bathroom with me.

"Get away from me!" I shouted.

He looked shocked, confused, hurt, and I didn't care. "Morgan...honey, what's..."

"No!" I yelled back at him. I tried pushing myself to my feet, but was far too shaky to support myself yet after getting sick. He caught me, wrapping his arms around me, and held me against him. I summoned what little strength I had to push myself away from him and leaned heavily on the counter. "Who was that?"

"Who was..."

"Who were you just talking to?!" I screamed in near hysterics. I didn't even wait for his answer. "Was it her?"

"Morgan, who..."

"MELISSA!" I yelled back at him. "I know you've got something going on with her!" I could feel bile rising toward my throat again and fought to swallow it back down. "It's one thing to talk to her on the phone when you're already Skyping with me, but to call her when you're here with me?!" He went to reach for me again, but I slapped his hands away, losing my balance in the process. The next thing I knew, my feet were lifted off the floor and I was being carried back to the bed. As soon as my back hit the mattress, I curled into the fetal position and sobbed hysterically, screaming my throat raw into the pillow.

I was just beginning to calm down when I felt him sit next to me on the bed. I wanted to move away from him, but my energy had all been sapped out of me, so I was forced to just stay where I was.

"Morgan," he whispered and gently put his hand on my back, his thumb stroking over my shoulder in a slow, soothing motion. I tensed underneath his touch, which must have clued him in on the fact that I was still awake. "Morgan, look at me," he said calmly and waited for me to do as he asked. "I guess we aren't done talking things out, huh?" He smirked a little, and I just stared right back at him. I sure as hell hoped he was asking rhetorically. "Look, I will tell you everything you want to know about me and Melissa, but sweetie, I need you to calm yourself down. All this can't be good for you. I've run you a bath...will you let me help you?"

The last thing I wanted was to be naked in front of him right now, but the idea of actually getting clean along with his promise of information was too much to turn down. Rather than answer him verbally, I just nodded and lifted my arms for him to take my hands. Instead of pulling me up, he slid his arms beneath my body and lifted me, cradling me against his firm chest. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his neck and let my head rest on his shoulder.

We returned to the bathroom, where Sean had in fact run a bubble bath for me in the whirlpool tub (I was apparently too upset to notice it when I had been in there earlier). He asked if I needed help getting into the tub, to which I simply shook my head 'no.' To his credit, he didn't question or put any pressure on me to let him stay. He simply turned and left, closing the door behind him. I peeled my clothes off; a tiny part of my brain wondered how many days in a row I'd worn the same pair of sweats. I eased myself into the swirling water, practically melting into it. The sudden warmth surrounding me instantly helped to relax my back and shoulders, now sore from crying so hard. There was a low throb pulsing at my temples, but even that began to fade as soon as I noticed it thanks to the lavender scented steam rising around me.

A soft knock sounded on the door. "Come in," I allowed Sean in with a low, ragged voice once I was sure the bubbles were strategically placed so he wouldn't see anything I didn't want him to right now. He was wearing a pair of swimming trunks; apparently he planned on joining me in the tub. I was glad he at least realized I wasn't in a good state of mind to try anything physical at the moment. He carefully stepped into the tub, sitting opposite me, letting our legs tangle in the center, between us.

"So," he began after a long, quiet moment. "What do you want to know?"

"Who is she?" was the only question I could come up with. Sean thought a minute before speaking, his mouth quirking up in a smirk, then a grimace paired with a snort of derisive laughter. "What?" I challenged him. How dare he laugh at me!

He shook his head, "It's just...I know you've been through a lot this week, more than you've told me, I'm assuming...so I'm trying not to feel hurt that you don't trust me, that you think I'd sneak around on you." He met my eyes again, sighed, and began explaining. "Melissa and I go way back. We met in college, actually. Had the same major for a while, so we had almost all our classes together. We joked that I was on the productive end, she was on the producing end." He saw my look of confusion and continued, "She works at a publishing company...the publishing company that offered me a book deal this past week. She'd been pushing it for me for a while now, and her boss kept squashing the idea...but he retired, effective since the first of the year." He leaned forward and took my hands in his, wrinkled though they were. "That's why she called that night we were Skyping. She couldn't officially offer me the contract because his retirement had just gone into effect, but she's taking his place in the company. This is a huge step for me, Morgan. I've wanted to tell you all week, but someone's been avoiding me," he cocked an eyebrow at me.

My head swam a little as I processed everything he'd just told me. A book deal? An actual book deal? I could feel my heart swelling with pride and happiness for him...all while plummeting into my stomach. How could I have thought such an awful thing about him? Now I felt like sheer and utter crap for letting Hailey get to me so badly...so much that I'd doubt Sean, whom I'd known all my life, rather than question a girl I'd known for a few months. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Sean, I...I'm sorry," I apologized, feeling incredibly lame. "I just...Hailey said all that and then I heard you tell Melissa you wanted to kiss her and I...I'm sorry."

"That's what this whole week was about?" he asked incredulously then laughed softly and shook his head. "I'll admit, when she first gave me the news, yeah, I probably could have kissed her. She's been working a long damn time to get this through for me. I owe her a lot, but I have a feeling if I would have kissed her, Tom would have had an issue with it."

"Who's Tom?"

"Her husband," he said in a deadpan voice.

I looked down at the layer of bubbles floating on the surface of the water, not wanting Sean to be able to see how terribly embarrassed I was. Any of the awful thoughts I'd had about her over the past week were completely uncalled for. If I ever met this woman, I would definitely owe her a great big thank you.

"Was that really all that's bothering you?" I raised one shoulder, still too humiliated to speak. "Morgan, come on. Let's have it," he encouraged me.

I took in a deep breath and released it right away. "It's stupid," I tried to wiggle my way out of having to tell him, but the look on his face told me that wasn't going to work. "I was wondering about...a ring." My voice faded as the sentence spilled out of my mouth. I brought both hands up to cover my face. God, I felt awful even bringing it up.

Sean took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. "Sweetheart, I told you already, I've got some things I need to do to fulfill my promise to you. Just give me some time. Things got a little screwed up the way we did them, and I want to do this right." I nodded solemnly. "That all?"

There was one more thing, but when I tried to form the words, they just died on my tongue before they could pass through my lips. Instead, I chickened out and said, "Yeah. I think so."

"Good," he said, his smile growing warmer by the second. "Turn around and scooch over here." I did as he asked while he leaned over the edge of the tub and reached for a bottle of shampoo. "Let me help clean you up, okay?"

He took his time scooping the warm water over my head, wetting my still greasy hair but avoiding letting any water run onto my face. His fingers worked nimbly against my scalp as he worked the lather around; I sank deeper against him as my mind and body relaxed more and more. He washed my hair twice then used my favorite conditioner; he must have brought both bottles from my dorm room without my noticing. As he worked, we talked about other, lighter things. I congratulated him on his book deal, and he told me what the book was about. He asked how classes were going, all things considered, and I told him at least what I remembered, which admittedly wasn't much.

The next thing I knew, Sean was running a soapy washcloth over my shoulders and neck, scrubbing gently as he washed me clean. His hand drifted over my chest and down my torso, but there was nothing sexual about it. He was simply taking care of me in a way that I desperately needed. It felt absolutely heavenly, not just to be clean, but to be so close to him again, both physically and emotionally. I was already dreading when Sunday came around and I'd have to face reality without him again.

Well, that wasn't the only thing I was dreading. I still needed to find a way to tell him I'd missed my period. I missed my chance when he asked if there was anything else bothering me. I was just so afraid of how he'd react. We'd talked briefly about having kids one day, after I'd finished school and we were married. I knew no matter what, I'd want to keep this baby, even if it meant raising it by myself, though somehow, deep down, I also knew that Sean would never leave me if that were the case. He wouldn't strand me to raise his child alone. I definitely knew that now. Still, this would be a shock to him; I could only hope he'd take the news in stride.

After he was done cleaning me, head to toe, he brought his strong hands up to my shoulders to begin working the knots and kinks out of the muscles there. I melted like butter against him, moaning when he hit a particularly tender spot.

When he'd finished, I turned slowly and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my chest against his and smiling when his arms came around my waist. "I love you, Sean."

"I love you, Morgan," he whispered. "Promise me, please, if something is ever bothering you, no matter what it is, that you'll tell me. I can't bear thinking how close I came to losing you because of some idiot girl running her mouth and scaring you. Promise me you'll talk to me." I nodded against him and he tightened his grip around me. "Come on," he said as he carefully stood up to get out of the tub. "Let's get you out of here and into your pajamas. Think you can eat a little more? I hardly think one piece of pizza did all that much to get you full," he said, drying himself off. When he finished, he tossed his towel on the floor and held a fresh one to wrap me in once I'd stepped onto the bathmat.

The heat from the bath mixed with the emptiness of my stomach made me lightheaded, so Sean helped me dry off then dress before guiding me back to the bed, which looked more than comfortable at this point. Once I was tucked in, he brought me a large piece of cold pizza, which I practically inhaled. It's amazing how, when one clears the air of a bunch of things that had been bothering a person, one's appetite picks up. I didn't want to overdo it on the pizza, seeing as how I hadn't had any real solid food for close to a week, so I stopped after the one piece, deciding already that I couldn't wait for breakfast.

Sean double checked the door and turned off all but one of the lights then crawled into bed next to me. He took a moment to get settled under the covers, but didn't turn off the lamp closest to us just yet. "Morgan?" he asked, almost nervously. I looked over to him and waited for his question. "I don't know how much longer I can go, but you were so upset earlier I didn't want to assume, but...can I kiss you now?"

I smiled and flung myself (as best I could from a seated position) into his arms and pressed my lips to his. His hand came up behind my head, the other across the small of my back, pulling me closer to him as our lips met again and again, kissing like long lost loves finally reunited.

As badly as I wanted him, wanted him to make me feel good as only he could, I was hit with a sudden wave of exhaustion. He started kissing down my neck, but I had to pull away from his embrace to yawn, and blushed furiously when he started chuckling. "I'm sorry, Sean. I just...I'm so tired. Can we just...hold each other tonight?"

Without saying a word, he leaned over and turned off the light, then snuggled down beneath the covers and pulled me against him so I could feel his warm body spooning behind me. His arm draped over my side with his hand landing on my belly. I knew I'd have to tell him, that he deserved to know that there was a possibility. No time like the present, right?

"Baby?" I started, barely louder than a whisper. My voice was shaky and my mouth had suddenly gone dry. He hummed his response, indicating he was listening. "Um...there's one more thing, and I didn't know...I still don't know how to tell you." He shifted behind me; I could feel him leaning over and looking down at me through the darkness, waiting for me to continue. I took one last, low breath and told him, "I'm...I'm late."

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