Chapter 24

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Jack woke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee mixed with salty ocean air. He rubbed his face, yawned and stretched, trying to shake the cob webs out.

He made his way to the kitchen, following the wafting fresh brew fragrance. Levi sat patiently at his bowl waiting for his breakfast. Well, maybe not so patiently. When Jack approached the canine's food, Levi began to wag is tail as if he would wiggle right out of his fur. Jack chuckled as he opened the bag, giving him a scoop which Levi began to devour. Jack poured himself a mug and asked Levi where Sue was. The loyal companion of his love trotted to the French doors that led to the back deck. Once Jack opened the door, Levi bolted onto the deck and right to Sue.

Jack watched for a minute, smiling. She was wrapped in a blanket nursing a cup of coffee- the curls of steam rising until they dissipated into the cool morning air.

"Hey Buddy, how'd you get out here?" Sue asked. scratching his ears. Levi sat putting his head on her lap. Jack appeared at her side. She couldn't hide the smile that turned at her lips.

"You OK?" Jack asked.

Sue nodded. "Uh-huh. I woke up early, thought I'd catch the sun rise."

"Did you?" Jack asked taking the chair next to her.

"Not a chance. It was well above the horizon by the time I got out here." She said. "I didn't want to wake you. Did I?"

"No, the smell of fresh coffee woke me." Jack said with a smile.

"Sorry." She smiled back. "What's on tap for today?"

"Anything you want." He answered sipping his coffee.

"How about… pancakes, a walk along the beach? Maybe you can take me for that ice cream you promised me last night?" She hinted. Jack smiled trying to look innocent, but it wasn't working in Sue's eyes.

"Why don't you go shower and I'll make your pancakes and we'll get a jump on the day." Jack suggested. Sue smiled and went back into the house. Less than a half an hour they were both showered and ready to eat fluffy pancakes and sliced fruit.

As soon as the warm sun hit Sue's face, the stress from the past month vanished. Sue looked relaxed, comfortable with herself, comfortable with Jack.

The pair made their way into town for a bit of shopping. They stopped for lunch at a little out of the way deli then to the pier to watch the activity happening at the fairgrounds. They sat at the very end of the pier for hours sipping drinks watching the waves crash below them. Ships passed off in the distance. They compared notes as to what they each thought they were. Cruise ships headed to the Caribbean full of vacationing patrons. Working cargo ships carrying containers of goods to companies in the northeast. It was so relaxing just sitting at the café style tables chatting, enjoying each other's company. Jack slipped his hand in Sue's as they got up from the table and began to walk along the shore.

Jack wrapped his arm protectively around her waist, pulling her to him as they walked at the water's edge. The sun began to set, the soft wind turned brisk and the couple decided it was time to turn back to the house.

Once back at the house, Jack brought the makings of a wiener roast and built a fire in the pit on the deck while Sue gathered the ingredients for s'mores. Levi begged for his shared, but neither human would give into his begging. Mugs of hot chocolate soon joined their fire.

The sky was pristine, clear from all the city lights and smog. The stars glistened from the heavens forming designs on the black curtain above them. Sue toasted a marshmallow, burning it black. She offered it to Jack, but he made a face. She settled back onto the swing for two, pulling her feet up under her. Jack stirred the fire adding another log and joined Sue on the swing. He pulled a thick blanket over the two of them and wrapped his arm around Sue's shoulder. She rested her head in the crook of his arm. His free hand found hers in her lap and tangled his fingers around hers. She smiled looking him deep in the eyes. She longed to feel his lips on hers again, but thought it wouldn't happen- not on this trip.

Jack tipped his head toward the sky watching as a jet left a trail behind it. He looked around until he found a form he recognized, and he pointed up to it.

"Do you see that? Those three really bright stars in a row?" He asked. Sue nodded.

"Orion's belt." He declared. Sue smiled, not sure why he told her that.

"Is there some significance to that?" She asked sincerely.

"I- I don't know. I just know that's what it is, and other than the big dipper and little dipper, that's really the only other thing I can pick out in the sky." He laughed. Sue laughed with him.

"This is nice." Jack said.

"Yeah, it is. Thank you for taking me." Sue said kissing him on the cheek before she could stop herself. Jack smiled.

"You're welcome. I was actually talking about you laughing. It's nice to see. I can see the stress just wash away from you here." He said. "I've missed you."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be gone for so long…" Sue said shyly.

"So, this bucket list of yours… can you share it with me?" He asked. Sue nearly choked on her cocoa.

"Uhh… some of it, I guess." She said softly. She thought for a minute. Jack's stare was intense. "Most of it's just silly things… things like eating ice cream on top of the Ferris wheel." She said hoping that would satisfy him. It didn't.

"What else?" He asked sweetly.

"Just silly stuff." Sue whispered.

"It's not silly if it's something you want to do." Jack tried to reassure.

"I want to travel a little bit. I would love to see Hawaii and Alaska, Paris… Italy." She smiled dreamily. Jack chuckled. "What about you?" trying to take the focus off her.

"Me? Like I said, there isn't much I haven't done that I really want to." He said.

"What about that family? Do you want it by yourself?" She asked.

"No. I would like the complete picture. Wife, 2.5 kids and a dog, house and the white picket fence." He admitted. There was an awkward silence between them for a long moment. Jack unconsciously brushed a hair behind her ear, trailing his finger down her cheek bone. Sue let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her cheeks shading pink. Levi pawed at Jack then walked to the door. The spell was broken.

"I think Levi's trying to tell us something." Sue smiled.

"Yeah, I think so. You coming in?" Jack asked. Sue nodded. Jack offered his hand, which Sue took. As soon as their hands touched electricity could be felt in both of them drawing them together. Jack smiled as he stopped and gathered up the blanket and put the cover on the fire pit.

"Jack?" Sue turned to him. She wanted to tell him more of her list and how he could fulfill most of her wildest dreams, but lost her nerve at the last minute. "Who's got the kittens?"

"Lucy." He answered, smiling. "She was willing to take Levi for us too if we needed."

"Should have known." Sue smiled and walked toward her bedroom. She turned to Jack. "Good night."

"Good night.' He said as he ducked into his own room.

Jack lay awake for hours staring at his ceiling, thinking about Sue. He needed to find the courage at some point during this weekend to tell her how he feels. He needed to explain to her that the 2.5 kids he wanted to share with her, and the dog… well, it would be Levi. The sandman finally took mercy on him and claimed him in the wee hours.

His dreams were filled with flying kites along the shore line with a blonde little boy and sandy haired little girl with curls that made her hair dance on her shoulders. The kids, 3 and 5 years old were running along with him, giggling in high pitched voices. Suddenly, Jack tripped over Levi and landed in the wet sand. It wasn't long before he was pounced on my both of the children and Levi.

He woke just before five with a wide smile on his lips. An idea sparked. He tip toed down the hall to Sue's room. He didn't know why he bothered trying to be quiet when his object was to wake her, and the fact that she couldn't hear him anyway. He shook his head at how quickly he forgot she couldn't hear him. He gently opened the door and walked slowly to her bedside. The floor creek beneath his carefully placed steps. Levi poked his head up from the far side of Sue, wagging his tail.

"It's me, Levi." He said quieting the dog. "Stay boy." Levi put his head back down on the extra pillow of Sue's bed. "Sue?" Jack said instinctively as he gently shook her shoulder. Sue groaned but didn't really stir. Jack softly stroked her shoulder nudging it as he did. Sue rolled onto her back to find herself staring up at Jack's sexy chestnut brown eyes. Her heart skipped as she stared silently into his face. She finally shook out the cobwebs enough to focus.

"Jack?" She whispered, thankful for the darkness which hid the blush on her cheeks. She instinctively pulled the blanket up higher to cover herself. Even in the darkness, she could see the want in his eyes. She could feel his body heat as he got closer to her so she could read him, her mouth went dry, her mind blank until he finally spoke once again breaking the spell.

"Morning." He said, his voice a bit raspy with obvious desire, grateful for the fact that she couldn't hear him. He was also grateful for the darkness of the predawn to cover the darkening shade of pink on his face.

"Is it yet?" she asked with a laugh.

"Sorry." He began.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"No. I wanted to know if you wanted to watch the sunrise with me?" He asked.

"Yes!" She said excitedly. "Do I have five minutes?"

"You might be able to squeeze out ten." He answered. Jack left the room and Sue hurried to get ready. She quickly threw her hair in a ponytail, put on her sweat pants, a t-shirt and a hoodie.

Jack poured two mugs of coffee and waited for Sue. He heard her clamoring down the stairs.

"Not bad, eight minutes. That has to be some sort of record." He said as she came into the kitchen. She gratefully accepted the steaming cup.

"Funny." She said sipping the coffee. "Mmmm, good, thank you." She said.

"Come on, we don't want to miss it…" Jack said.

Jack opened the door and led Sue to the beach. He had a blanket set up already on the sand. Sue smiled.

Sue got comfy on the blanket then Jack took his place behind her. He sat with one leg on either side of her. He pulled out another comforter and wrapped it around himself, then extended it over Sue's shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her, effectively enclosing them in the blanket. She smiled softly and slowly let herself lean into his chest.

The fragrance of Sue's hair permeated Jack's soul as he closed his eyes enjoying her relaxing in his arms.

Within a few minutes, the first inkling of sun began to show. A soft hue of color began to spread over the horizon. Dark pink and orange joined shades of yellow as the orb began to break up the darkness of the sky. Slowly night gave way to day.

Sue stared back at Jack smiling.

"It's beautiful… absolutely beautiful." She said, her breath taken away by the sight before her eyes.

She turned back to the rising sun and watched in awe as Jack wrapped his arms just a bit tighter around her.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, it's … it's … wow…" Sue said as her voice faded. She lifted her eyes and made contact with Jack's. His warm chestnut brown eyes beckoned to her. His want for her obvious once again in his eyes. He slowly leaned forward and sweetly pressed his lips to hers. Sue fought a smile that threatened to cross her lips as Jack's slowly played on hers. She closed her eyes and leaned into Jack and the kiss. It seemed like an eternity until her breath returned, but also like a millisecond when their lips separated.

"What an incredible way to say good morning." Sue said blushing nearly the same shade as the morning sunrise. Jack smiled in agreement. Jack wrapped his arms around her as they sat there watching the sun until it was well above the horizon.