Chapter 23 - Holding A Heart

Deep blue eyes looked in the mirror. The dress was clinging to her curves. It was white on top, light blue around the torso, royal blue around the hips and indigo blue around the thighs. Her blue 3 inch peep toe heels shoed off her pedicured and blue polished toes. Her toes matched the tips of her fingernails as well. Ayana never colored her whole nail it was always too much so she only always got the tips done.

She was still running through everything in her head. Roman had come home from the gym and showered. Once the kids got home from school he had made sure they were finished with their homework before gathering them all up and took them to Lisa and Sika's then came back and informed her they were going on a date that night.

They hadn't been on a date; an actual date in...forever.

That had been a month ago. The date had actually been great from dinner to some dancing to even walking along the beach. No expectations were given and it was a nice peaceful evening that got the couple out of the house by themselves.

Of course Ayana's only request was that if Roman wanted to take her on a date he had to ask her like a gentleman; he was not a Neanderthal and his father had raised him better than that. Roman fully agreed and they had since been on 3 other dates, making a grand total of four. Tonight would be number five and for some strange reason Ayana had butterflies in her stomach. Like suddenly she was 15 again and this was their first date again and they hadn't been married for the last umpteen years with four kids.

Date two consisted of going to the movies and then dinner afterwards. Roman couldn't have been happier when she allowed him to actually hold her hand during the movie; after he asked of course.

Date three Roman took her on a night time drive; it was actually quite peaceful and enjoyable. He opened the sunroof and turned on some slow quiet music, before they stopped at a roadside cafe and had a small bite to eat. Once again she allowed him to hold her hand during the drive.

Date four Roman had taken her to a carnival. He knew the kids probably would've enjoyed it too but he wanted it to just be him and Ayana. He loved that he got Ayana on the ferris wheel. She was deathly afraid of heights and snuggled into his side and held onto him for dear life for the entire ride. He more than made it up to the kids on his second day off the following night when he took all of them with Uncle Dean's help.

Tonight for their fifth date - Ayana hadn't a clue what was going on. He just told her to make sure she was ready by 6:30. It was still light out the sun was just above the horizon and probably by 7 it would be pitch black out. Roman had left the house with the kids packed up to drop them at his parents' house. She already knew he had come clean to his parents about everything that happened; so they fully understood why Roman was trying to start all over again with his childhood bride.

Ayana grabbed her blue shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders as she turned and headed downstairs. She got to the bottom just about the time Roman came in the front floor. A low wolf whistle slipped through his lips as a soft smile came to her face. "Kids get settle in ok?" She asked as she walked towards the door.

"Absolutely." Roman murmured as he walked towards his wife before he walked around her; taking in the curves of her body under the dress.

"Do I look okay?" She asked suddenly feeling self conscious about her dress choice.

"Okay? Do you look okay?" Roman repeated her question. "Baby you look beautiful and normally I would suggest we stay home and let me figure out how to get that dress off you without wrinkling it." He chuckled when she blushed. It had clearly been a while since he had made a sexual innuendo towards her. "But we have plans and you are completely over dressed my beauty."

"Wait what?" Ayana asked. "I don't understand."

"Go get into your jeans and sneakers. We are having another fun night. No heels required." Roman informed her. He watched as she looked at him skeptically before she turned and went back upstairs.

Ayana kicked her heels off into the bottom of her closet as she grabbed her jeans and slipped them on as she was pulling her dress up and off. She had to admit she was happy to give her feet a rest from the heels. She grabbed a blue form fitting t-shirt and pulled it over her head before she sat on the foot of the bed and pulled her blue sneakers on with some socks.

She would not admit how much she enjoyed Roman's beard that he had grown over the last month; his hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the nape of his neck. He kept it clean and nicely trimmed so he didn't look all wild. The black v-neck t-shirt was tight on his chest and arms and let part of his pectoral tattoo peek out just enough to tease her. Plus his jeans were nicely wrapped around his rear end and muscled thighs; admitting her husband was well put together in a nice package was something she hadn't thought about in quite a while.

"Hurry up woman!" Roman bellowed from down stairs.

"I'm done! I'm coming!" She yelled back as she laughed before she shook her head and bounced down the stairs. Now she felt every bit the fifteen year old girl she was when her and Roman first started dating; he used to rush her back then too - apparently some things never change. "Okay let's go."

Roman chuckled when she bounced to a stop next to him. "Okay, but first, you have to put this blindfold on."

Ayana's eyes shot open. "Wait! What's the blindfold for?"

Roman held his hand out and smiled as she placed her hand in his. "Well, I don't want you to know where we are going or you'll know what I have planned for tonight. So do you trust me?" He swung the blindfold around his index finger.

"Okay, I trust you." Ayana agreed. Roman walked her out to the Tahoe before he put the blindfold on but made her keep her hands in her lap for the entire ride. She smiled softly when Roman took her hand and kissed the back of it. Her skin prickled; she almost forgot what his lips felt like against her skin.

The drive probably took about fifteen minutes, Roman parked the Tahoe and killed the engine. He told Ayana to stay put as he got out and walked around to her side as he opened the door and helped her out and then towards the back of the Tahoe before he picked up a few things and kept her hand in the crock of his elbow. They walked a little before stopped and Roman let her know she could remove the blindfold.

Ayana chew the corner of her bottom lip as she reached up and pulled the blindfold off. She looked around and recognized the local park where she and Roman used to take the kids when they were much younger. They hadn't been here in a while. She could see about 20 to 30 other couples sitting around on blankets before she looked towards the back of the park and smiled. A huge sheet was hanging up; she looked up at Roman. "Movie in the park?" She asked.

Roman nodded. "They are having a double feature tonight; Casablanca and I Remember Mama."

"Oooo black and white double feature!" Ayana exclaimed. She pushed up on her toes and kissed Roman's cheek; before she looked down and noticed he had a huge ice chest with a big blanket and two pillows.

Roman chuckled. "Pick a spot; oh wait, let me guess - under the tree." He watched as a huge smile brightened up her face as she nodded.

Ayana stood by and watched as Roman threw out and spread the blanket under a tree before he tossed the two pillows onto the blanket. Roman squatted down and carefully removed her sneakers and socks, he knew she hated wearing them. He also removed his socks and shoes as well before they both sat on the blanket.

After they had some dinner; which Roman had pre-made and stashed in one half of the ice chest - the other half was filled with tons of ice and a couple of beers a piece for them. Just after they finished the first opening credits began to roll for Casablanca. Roman pushed one of the pillows under his head as he laid back.

Ayana looked down as Roman looked up. He smiled softly as he crooked his index finger at her before he pointed to his chest. She returned his smile before she scooted down and laid next to him; her head on his chest. She couldn't stop the smile as she felt his arm wind around her waist; pulling her closer to his body. He body tingled when he softly kissed the top of her head.

She inhaled his scent; a scent that was all his all the time - twenty-four seven. It was always intoxicating.

This was definitely by far her favorite date.

"ARGH!"

"DAMN IT TO HELL!"

"MOTHER FUCKER!"

"Babe..." No response.

"Honey..." Still no response.

"Dean?" Nada.

Nala walked into the baby's room with a giggle. Dean was sitting on the floor shirtless with his baseball hat on backwards; the baby's crib in a thousand pieces all around him with a pile of screws. nuts and tools. "Honey you want to take a break?"

"How long have I been at this?" He asked in a grumble.

"16 Growls, four Damn It To Hells, and about 6 mother fuckers ago." She stated with a smirk.

Dean shook his head. "You have to be a fuckin rocket scientist to put this fuckin thing together. You might as well cross your legs because you're not having that baby until I can get this damn thing together." Dean warned. "This fuckin thing reads like stereo instructions but they forgot to pack the fuckin wires."

"Honey take a break." Nala insisted. "You are going to make yourself crazy. Then once I have this baby we'll have to visit you in the insane asylum and explain why he can't grow up with daddy." She teased.

"Yea well if I can't get this thing together and soon. I'll be in the nut farm and you'll be in the fat farm because you're not having that kid until I can properly put this damn thing together - the baby is going to set up shop and start getting its own furniture in there." he growled. "Because daddy can't put a fuckin crib together." Dean snarled through his clenched teeth.

Nala frowned. "Fat farm?"

"Yes Darlin' fat farm; f-a-t-f-a-r-m." He spelled it out just to make sure she understood what he said.

"WELL YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME AND THE BABY WHEN YOU ARE IN THE INSANE ASYLUM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AT OMARS FAT FARM WILL TREAT US JUST FINE!" Nala screeched before a sob escaped her mouth and she walked to their bedroom and slammed the bedroom door.

Dean cringed and then jumped at the slamming of the door. "Now what the hell was that all about?" Dean suddenly registered the fact that his wife just yelled and then started crying. What the fuck had he said that set her off?

'Fat farm'

"Jesus Christ!" Dean gasped as he scrambled to stand up and get down the hallway to the master bedroom. He was two steps from the door and could already hear the sobs coming from the other side of the closed door. He cringed again before he smacked himself in the head. "Stupid Stupid Stupid!"

Dean reached out and turned the door knob to the master bedroom. He peeked around the edge of the door. He frowned as he saw Nala sitting on the floor by the foot of the bed crying. He hit his knees and walked on his knees closer to his weeping wife. "Babe..." He softly said.

"No."

"No what baby?"

"No you can't stay in here. I'm getting fat and ugly and this baby is going to wreck my body." Nala sobbed. "The fat farm is just going to start calling me before I even have this baby." She rubbed her six month pregnant belly.

Dean's eyes widened as he moved closer. "Baby I didn't mean the fat farm in that way. You haven't even gained any weight from the baby. I said fat farm because if you cross your legs the baby will have no choice but to stay inside of you for the rest of your life. I am not a carpenter it's going to take a miracle or an act of God for me to get that crib put together. You'll be at least 16 months into the pregnancy before I can get the first screw to go in properly. I honestly didn't mean anything by it darlin'."

Nala looked up at Dean's electric blue eyes. "Are you sure? I swear I feel like all I have to do is look at food and my ass gets fatter."

Dean chuckled as he finally moved next to her and carefully lifted her before placing her between his thighs; wrapping his arms around her. "Baby I don't care how big or small you are you are my wife and you're carrying my demon seed as Roman put it. I love that you are taking this adventure with me. Hell I'm still shocked you married me." He stated as he softly kissed her neck.

Nala shook her head. "Just tell me if my ass starts getting too big; I'll have it lipo'd or you can trade me in for a thinner model."

Dean slid his index finger along her jaw before he hooked her chin and lifted her face so their eyes could lock. "You are perfect in every way. I don't want a different model; you are mine until I take my last breath because I'm pretty sure if I don't die before you I won't know what I'll do without you." He leaned down and caught her lips in a soft kiss.

"Nice save Mr. Ambrose."

"Yes ma'am Mrs. Ambrose." Dean smirked. "Don't worry I'll ask Roman for help."

Grey eyes looked up at the dark house with no lights on before he turned his eyes to his wife. They had had such a wonderful time watching the double feature. He had never seen her smile so much in his life. He was really hoping this whole dating and getting reacquainted thing was working; he felt like it was but as of yet he just couldn't tell.

Roman stepped up to the front door as he unlocked it and stepped aside letting Ayana walk in first. He closed up the front door and locked it. "Can we talk for a minute?" He asked.

Ayana wasn't expecting her husband baritone voice to cut the silence in the empty house as she looked back at him. "Sure - what's up?" She asked curiously.

Roman gently steered her into the living room as he sat down on the couch and watched as Ayana kicked off her sneakers before sitting on her knees directly next to him. She had NOT sat this close to him in a very long time. tonight as he was holding her during the movies he remember what it really felt like to have his wife be an important part of his life and suddenly couldn't remember why he had given her up so easily 2 years ago.

"I am going to be taking a couple of weeks off work and I'm going to be spending it with you or at least I am hoping you would want to. I know we still have a lot to work out and talk about but I would really like for us to get away together; just the two of us. I've already spoken to my folks and if you agree to come with me, they are willing to watch the kids while we are gone." Roman stated; his voice had dropped an octave which meant he was calm and relaxed.

"I don't know Roman..."

Roman sighed softly. "For so long I just took your heart and I never realized losing it would be this hard to not only accept but to get back as well. So as of right now, you are holding my heart and you get to make the decisions. Whatever you decide I'll be good with; I'm at your mercy. If you don't want to decide right now or even tonight you can take as much time as you want. Just let me know so I can put the time in with the corporate office."

Ayana watched as Roman started to get up from the couch when she grabbed his forearm. He stopped and looked back at her.

"Roman, I..."