***A few hours later***
Jonathan pulled up and parked and walked inside.
Luke was back on the couch, asleep.
Jennifer and Savanna and McKenna were all asleep in the big bed.
McKenna woke up when Jonathan came into the room and smiled really big at him.
She held her arms up and he took her and then leaned down and kissed Jennifer's forehead.
She slowly woke up.
"Hi".
"Is the worst over?"
"God I hope so. I gave them both more Emetrol, so hopefully they are done throwing up."
She sat up and looked at the clock. 1:19.
"Ok do you want to go to the grocery store, or do you want to do the laundry?"
"I'll stay with the kids and do the laundry, you go to the grocery store".
"Great".
She got up and took a quick shower and got dressed.
"Can you strip the kid's beds upstairs and bring that down? That's the most important laundry. I put the pajamas they were wearing in the washer already, so hopefully, it will just be one load".
She quickly made a grocery list.
"If they get sick again while I'm gone, get them to the bathroom as soon as possible. The puke bucket is in there. I rinsed it in the tub after Luke was done with it, so it should be ready. And you can move the jumperoo to the bedroom and stick McKenna in that, if you need to".
"I'm quite confident that they won't be throwing up while you are gone".
"Do you need anything from the store?"
"Not that I can think of".
She kissed him a few times and gave McKenna a few kisses as well, and then headed to the grocery store.
She was back in about 30 minutes, and had picked up more grape juice, juice that the kids liked, and some cans of chicken noodle soup, bananas and some more Emetrol, just in case.
When she walked in, Jonathan looked frazzled. Savanna was crying very loudly, and Luke was now sleeping in the bed.
"What's going on?"
Savanna came running to Jennifer.
Jennifer picked her up and quieted her down.
"She woke up and wanted you, and Luke woke up and wanted to sleep in the bed but he didn't like the blankets and the pillows, so he moved back to the couch. But he wasn't happy there either, so he went back to the bed. Savanna started crying and then she was telling me to sing to her but she didn't like it. Luke went back to sleep as soon as he got in the bed the second time. McKenna is the only one still on team Jonathan".
"No, she isn't". She blew him a kiss as she and Savanna went and sat on the couch.
"Do you think you are going to be sick again?"
"No".
"What songs do you want to sing?"
"Sunshine. But Uncle Jonathan wasn't singing it like you".
"Well lovebug, he was trying. And that's all he can do, because this is all new to him. He isn't going to do it like me because he isn't me. So, we need to be nice. I know you don't feel well, but you can still be nice".
They spent the rest of the day snuggling on the couch. Jonathan took over taking care of McKenna, and Jennifer made everyone soup and grilled cheese. She was drinking grape juice and getting up to do the laundry, but other than that, she was on the couch with Savanna or in the bed.
Jonathan changed into some sweat pants and a t-shirt and put on a movie.
Jennifer came out around 8:45 and moved Savanna to the couch.
She checked both of them for fevers, and thankfully, they didn't have one.
She cleaned up the kitchen, switched out the laundry and then went and sat by Jonathan for a few minutes.
"Darling, you're exhausted. Why don't you go to bed? I can handle McKenna if she wakes up, and the other two are passed out".
"I wanted to spend some time with you".
He put his arm around her and they snuggled under the blanket and finished the movie.
When it was over, they quietly locked up the house, kissed the kids and went to bed.
Jennifer took the first wake up call with McKenna and had just gotten back in bed when Jonathan woke up.
He was moaning and saying he was achy.
"Darling…you're going to be sick. Go to the bathroom".
He made it just in time.
She got up and got him washcloths and Emetrol and water bottles.
She laid behind him in the bed and rubbed his back.
He was sound asleep for the next bottle, so she did that one too and got him a fresh ginger ale when he woke up. Just in time for round two.
She decided to let the kids stay home one more day just in case, and spent most of the day cleaning the bathrooms and bedroom and den and kitchen with Lysol.
He emerged around 1 with the blanket wrapped around his shoulders and came to the kitchen.
"Want me to make you chicken noodle soup?"
"Please".
She heated him up a can of chicken noodle soup and made him a fresh grilled cheese.
Savanna woke up and wanted to watch a movie so she put one on for her, and then Luke woke up and wanted to go upstairs to play his video games.
Jonathan finished his soup and then went back to bed, while Jennifer gave McKenna a bath.
Savanna and Luke were back to normal by dinner time, so Jennifer made them grilled chicken for dinner.
When she finally climbed into bed, she wrapped her arms around Jonathan and kissed the back of his shoulder.
***A few days later***
They were all finally back to normal, and today was the kids last day of school before Christmas break.
Jonathan had told Jennifer they were getting a babysitter for the evening.
"Is this a dress up date?"
"Casual".
"Where do you want to go?"
"Somewhere quiet".
He kissed her goodbye when the kids weren't looking and headed to the office.
She took the kids to school and then came back home. McKenna was in her jumperoo, and Jennifer sat down and started to work on an article.
Jonathan called a few minutes later.
"Hello?"
"Hey. I forgot to ask you-do you want to go have dinner with me tonight? I can get us a babysitter."
"Jonathan, we just talked about this before you left the house".
"Just seeing if you were paying attention".
"Well, I was. Where do you want to go?"
"Somewhere quiet with lots of music".
"Want me to call a sitter?"
"No, I will".
"Ok. I love you".
"I love you too".
They hung up and she got back to work.
She worked till it was time to pick up the kids from school, and then everyone came home.
She was ready to walk out the door when Jonathan got home.
"Hi".
"Hi".
He kissed her forehead.
"What time is the sitter coming?"
"What sitter?"
"Jonathan, don't you remember our conversation this morning? You said you wanted to go to dinner and you were going to get a babysitter".
He sighed.
"I'll call Kaitlyn right now".
She finished making the kids mac and cheese and chicken nuggets, and salad, while he called their regular babysitters.
"Kaitlyn can't do it, but Rebecca can. She will be here at 6".
"Good".
As soon as Rebecca got there, they kissed the kids goodbye and left.
"If they want to fall asleep in our bed, that's fine. They don't have to go to bed at a specific time because they don't have school tomorrow but they need to be in their pajamas by 10".
After giving them kisses and hugs, she and Jonathan headed out.
He drove them into the city, and they went to the restaurant that was in the lobby of his hotel, Blue City.
They had a very nice dinner, and were sitting there waiting on the check.
"Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired".
"You know, you've gotten up with the baby every night this week, plus you were up in the night when you were sick. I can do it for a couple days so you can sleep".
He paid the check and then they left the restaurant.
Jonathan took her hand and led her to the elevator.
They rode the elevator to the top.
"What are we doing?"
"This is where my apartment is. I want to get something".
He had a few issues letting them in the apartment, but he finally got the door open.
"Oh Jonathan, it's beautiful".
"So are you".
He leaned forward and kissed her passionately.
He finally broke the kiss and just held her.
"I just need to hold you for a few minutes".
She rubbed his back while he held her, and kissed his neck a few times.
She took her coat off and he did too, and she put her purse on the couch.
He took her hand and led her to the bedroom.
"I want to show you something".
He closed the door and turned off the lights, and climbed into bed. He reached up and turned on the lamp next to the bed.
She was still standing next to the bed.
"Come here".
She kicked her shoes off and climbed into bed and snuggled up to him.
"Now watch this".
He picked up a remote and the blank wall of his bedroom became a TV screen.
"How awesome".
"This is something new my company is working on. We can change it, and move it to the ceiling, so that when you are laying in bed, you won't strain your neck to see the TV."
"That's cool".
"Do you hear that?"
"What?"
"Peace and quiet".
"My favorite".
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah".
She had on a green wrap sweater, and some boot cut jeans. She had put ½ of her hair up, and left the other half down.
He turned the tv off and took her in his arms.
He gave her a few romantic kisses and started untying her sweater.
She moved and straddled his waist and started unbuttoning his shirt.
She leaned down and started kissing his chest.
She got his shirt off him and then he rolled her onto her back.
She shrugged her jeans off and he stood up and took his pants off.
He climbed on top of her again and cupped her breasts through the fabric of her bra.
She pulled him closer to her and he began sucking on her neck.
"I want you, Jonathan".
"Tell me again".
"I want you, Jonathan".
He took her bra off and tossed it to the floor.
His mouth found her taut nipples, and sucked on them a few minutes. She kissed his forehead and then he moved his kisses back up to her neck.
He quickly put a condom on and then returned to her.
He peeled her thong off very seductively, and she started tugging at his boxers.
He finished taking them off, and then leaned down and kissed her belly button.
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him as he quickly entered her.
"Oh, Jonathan".
"Don't hold back, baby".
It was loud, fast, intense, exciting, and full of passion and love.
After a week of barely having any time to themselves, it was exactly what they both needed.
He took her over the edge a few times, and then laid in her arms afterwards.
She was rubbing his back and he was kissing her neck.
"Want to do it again?"
"Do we have time?"
"Maybe…she can't go home till we do".
"That's true".
They fooled around a little longer, but ultimately decided to get up and head back home.
He laced his fingers through his as they walked through the lobby to the parking garage.
He opened the door for her and then drove them home.
Just before they went inside, she turned to him and kissed him.
"Thank you for a lovely evening".
He kissed her back and they went inside.
Savanna was still awake but Luke and McKenna were passed out.
The babysitter looked upset.
"What is it?"
"You had this phone call. A guy named Tim. And I told him that you weren't available, and he started screaming and yelling and cussing at me and said he was going to come here and slash all our throats. He sounded way over the top angry just because you weren't available to talk to him".
Jonathan was incensed.
"What time did he call?"
"About an hour ago. I spoke to him the first time, and then after I hung up on him, the phone rang again, but I didn't answer it because I was afraid it was him".
"I'm sorry sweetheart, he's harmless. I know he didn't present himself that way, but he is. He and I dated, and he has a problem with alcohol. I promise you, he was never going to come here because he doesn't know where I live. My phone calls have been forwarded to this one."
Jonathan paid her extra and then called his lawyer.
"I want the calls we received tonight between 10 and 11 traced, and I'm specifically looking for a guy named Tim".
He looked at Jennifer.
"Bates".
"Tim Bates. Trace his number and then get back to me, please".
He hung up the phone.
"What are you going to do?"
"We are going to block his number, that's what".
Jennifer volunteered to walk Rebecca home, but Jonathan insisted on doing it since it was late.
When he got back home, Jennifer was in bed with Savanna.
They were making up a story about a princess and a prince.
"One day when you get older, you will meet a prince and you will get to have the fairytale wedding just like a regular princess".
Jonathan changed into his pajamas and then climbed into bed next to them.
"Aunt Jeffer, did you find your prince?"
She looked over at Jonathan and smiled.
"Yeah, lovebug, I did".
"What did you ask Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
"I don't need anything. I have you and Luke and McKenna and Jonathan. That's all I need".
"Jennifer, you have to want something".
"I really don't though. I have all I need. I mean, if I won the lottery, I might get myself a new mattress, like the one that you can adjust to make it firm or soft or whatever or take a trip somewhere, but otherwise, I have everything I need".
Savanna had fallen asleep on Jennifer's chest, so she took her upstairs and put her in bed. Jonathan took Luke upstairs to his bed.
They both came back downstairs and got in bed.
She snuggled up to his chest and he wrapped an arm around her.
"Darling, what do you want for Christmas?"
"I haven't really thought about it, honestly. A quiet day with you, I guess".
"Do you think the kids have figured out that we are together?"
"No. I promise you if Savanna knew, she would be all up in our business".
"Do you want to tell them?"
"If you do".
She was just about to kiss him when the phone rang.
She reached over and grabbed it.
"Hello?"
"Baby….I love you. I miss you so much".
"No, Tim. This is your last chance. Leave me alone or I'm going to get the police involved".
"Why would you do that to us? You miss me too, I just know it".
"Tim, listen to me. I'm happy. I have a very good life right now and I'm not changing things. We are done. Goodnight".
She hung up the phone and returned her focus to Jonathan.
"I love you".
"I love you too. My lawyer is going to send him a threatening letter, I promise".
She nodded and fell asleep on his chest.