Hi Readers: My apologies for starting so late. I just had some things to deal with here today. It's a long story, but the short version is that I have IPTV and a PVR; but the PVR didn't work today, and I had to figure out why. Then, I reset it and now things are recording again. It's just so confusing and I have no clue just how the thing doesn't record at times, but now it does. So, that's back to normal. And that means that I can finally get this chapter out to you guys. Sorry for the delay, but I am giving you this. Also, I want to note that this chapter has two parts. One part in present time, the other in a flashback.

Chapter Seven, Part One

Alex was not amused at all. Rather, she was disappointed in her fiancé at the moment due to the fact he just completely ruined their plans to take a bath; then again, it wasn't entirely his fault due to the fact that she could've just as easily done it too. But just what might Alex be talking about? Well, it turns out that they forgot to charge the baby monitor before bringing Noah home from the hospital; the baby monitor that they were going to need to use in the washroom while they took a bath, that way they can hear him in case he needs them as the washroom is a bit too far away from Noah's crib for Alex's comfort (which is something that Matt understands). Especially when he takes into the account the real reason behind Alex being uncomfortable with being that far away from Noah (in the washroom taking a bath) without a baby monitor, as it was due to the fact that they weren't sure whether or not they would've heard Noah if he started to cry out for them from the washroom. But thanks to the baby monitor they have; they have the ability to do so; to take a bath with each other while their little prince sleeps in his crib close to their bed this afternoon.

And that'll be the case later, when they get another chance to take a bath; after all, babies need to sleep a lot which gives him and Alex a bunch of alone time with each other. Time to just take it easy and relax with each other as they start this new life as both parents, and as an engaged couple, which is something that he really likes due to the fact that he just loves the sight of Alex's engagement ring whenever he gets a chance to see it on her hand…which is precisely what he has a great view of at the moment as she sat in bed while looking at her future husband. The man who should've known better to charge the baby monitor. But she wasn't going to be mad at him, especially due to the fact that she already knew that (a) he was already feeling guilty over the fact that the baby monitor wasn't charge, and (b) due to the fact that she isn't the only one being punished right now. She can clearly see that Matt (who was just wearing his tight boxers for her, just like she wants, was quite disappointed over the fact that they weren't going to be taking a nice bath with each other. "Calm down baby and take a breath, it's okay." Looking up at his fiancé, Matt sighed as he set the bin down.

The bin of all of the baby electronics and manuals that they've gotten ahead of Noah's birth, and which they still need to sort out right now; they need to take a look at them all and set them up where they want. "I just hate that I didn't think of getting it out sooner. I mean, the one thing that we need is the charger so that we can charge the baby monitor." Alex agreed with her man as he said that, smiling at him as he opened the box of things they have for Noah. "Hey, at least it gives us time to do something else." Confused, Matt looked at Alex so that he could show her that he wasn't understanding what she was talking about, while also expressing that to her. "I am not that sure just what you're talking about babe." Alex sighed. "Babe, this is the life that we've always wanted. We've wanted to be parents for the longest time, and that means that we want to spend time with Noah. And this comes with being parents, being interrupted when you want to get all romantic with each other. So, this is just normal." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, smiling at the woman he loves before deciding to make his way over to the woman he loves as well as their son, wondering if he's done.

"Is this little guy still feeding?"

Alex shook her head, as he wasn't feeding. "No, I was just holding him. Remember, you were about to walk into the washroom to start the bath; then I checked the baby monitor and told you it was dead. So rather than come out here, you went to go get the charger right away all frustrated." Sighing Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, before sitting down on the edge of their bed with her and their son. He then looked at Noah and just smiled as he was all cuddled up to his mom right now, while he placed his hand on the back of his head and stroked it with his thumb. "God, he is so precious." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, while also turning her head and looking at their little boy. She then bent down and kissed Noah softly. "You know, maybe this was faith." Turning his head, Matt was confused. "Faith?" Alex smiled. "Babe, we may want to spend time with each other; but we have a son on wants us too." Matt agreed with Alex, as he was starting to wonder the same thing as he got close to his family. Smiling, he looked at Noah as he was really adorable as he cuddled up to his mother the way he is at the moment. "Damn, he is so adorable like that." Alex agreed with Matt.

She then proceeded to grab his hand and smiled at the man she loves. "Listen, how about this. You plug in the baby monitor for later and charge it, then come out here and join me and Noah in bed; we can cuddle as a family and just relax right now." Matt agreed with Alex, as that was precisely what he wanted to do; god, that just sounds like paradise. Which is why he decided to get up and place his hands on her neck. Leaning over Alex, he smiled as he proceeded to take things nice and slow with the woman of his dreams. "How I didn't propose to you and only you is still beyond my belief." Alex smiled as she heard Matt say that, before placing her hand on the side of his face and kissing him softly. "Well, we don't have to wonder anymore as I am your future wife Mr. Casey." Matt smiled as he heard Alex say that, as that most certainly is the truth. "Well, not just my future wife; you're also the future Ms. to my Mr. Casey." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, as that was the truth as well. "And don't you forget it." Matt smirked and agreed with Alex.

Leaning over her, he smiled as he proceeded to kiss the woman he loves more than anything in the entire world before getting up; only to feel that his boxers were down at bit. So, as he stood up, he tugged them up, which turned Alex on. "Tease much!" Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, well aware that was the case. "Oh, shut up. You aren't wearing a bra!" Alex looked at Matt as he said that. "Yeah, because I'm feeding our son!" Matt agreed with Alex, smiling at his future wife. "Okay, take a breath now and just relax babe. There's no need for yelling as you feed Noah." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, smiling as she turned her head and looked at Noah once more; leaving some kisses on his forehead, she smiled due to the fact that she was really happy here in bed with their son. "Listen, can you get the charger out now?" Matt agreed with Alex as he made his way back over to the box, before opening it and looking for the packaging which had the baby monitor in it; once he found it, he then opened it so that he could check and see that everything was there, which it was. And that was when he went to grab the charger. "Ok, I got the charger." Alex agreed with Matt.

Smiling at him for a moment, Alex admired just how handsome and kind her future husband is; that was, until she had to concentrate when he asked her a question. "Which side of the bed do you want it on?" Alex bit her lip. "How about we put it on my side of the bed since we have all of Noah's things on my side of the bed already?" Matt smiled as he heard Alex say that, before making his way back over to her side of the bed only to realize that she leaves her power bar on the ground. "God, I am going to have to set you up like I do on my side of the bed." Alex was confused as she heard Matt say that. "What are you talking about?" Matt sighed. "My power bar is attached to my side table." Alex agreed with her future husband as he said that, smiling as that was smart. "Smart." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, while also setting up the baby monitor charger on Alex's side of the bed; that way he can bring the baby bin back into the closet. "Listen, you want to go over the things we have in here before I bring the bin to the closet; or are we good?" Alex smiled as she thought they were good. "I think we're good. No need to keep it out longer than we need to." Matt agreed with Alex.

After all, that was precisely how he felt as well. He felt like there was no need to keep the bin of Noah's things out longer than he had to, as that means that they can just take it easy and relax. "Good, then let me put his away and then I will join you two in bed." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, while he leaned over her and placed his hands on the side of her neck; kissing her softly in the process, Matt smiled as he was very happy with his new life now. "I love you." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, as she loves him too. "I love you too, and I am ready to cuddle as a family when you're back." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that. "Want me to put my shirt on? Or are you going to keep your bra off?" Alex bit her lip as she thought of what she wanted, before realizing that she wants him and Noah to get skin-to-skin bonding time. "Keep it off, I want you to get skin-to-skin time with Noah to bond." Matt smiled, as that was exactly what he wanted as well. "I love that idea, and I'll be right back." Alex agreed with the man she loves as he said that, watching as he walked away in those tight boxers of his. "Yummy." Laughing, Matt agreed with Alex as he shook his butt for her.

And now that was just too much, because it was an extra tease. "Oh, Fuck You!" Matt laughed as he heard Alex say that, before turning around and looking at the woman he loves. "Just getting payback for all the times you wore those sexy outfits at the office." Alex smirked. "Last time I checked, I always gave you payback in the penthouse." Matt smirked as he heard Alex say that, while continuing his journey into the closet so that he could put the bin of electronics away. Meanwhile, Alex thought of the time she and Matt got sexy on her birthday.

Chapter Seven, Part Two
Flashback: A Weekend of Birthday Romance

Casey Home, Barrington – October 19, 2012
He told her that if she was ever missing him, that she could always come here; come to the place where they were always able to sneak away with each other and just be together as they showed each other how much they love each other…even if they were the only ones (apart from some of their close family and friends) who could know about their relationship. And that was why Alex was here, because she was missing the man she loves on her birthday; a birthday which she would much rather be celebrating with him than alone. She'd rather have him holding her in his arms, as they held each other close and took it easy with each other. Maybe they could even take a swim with each other here in the pool ahead of their son's arrival this December. The baby boy that she can't wait to meet and (hopefully) raise with the man she loves. And that's actually one of the good things she just found out, Matt is finally ready to end thing with his fiancé; he just needs a couple more weeks. She just wishes that one of those weekends wasn't this weekend.

But what Alex didn't know was that she wasn't going to be alone this weekend. And no, not due to the fact that she was going to have a friend come over for the weekend; but due to the fact that Matt may have told a little lie when it came to just how long he would be on a business trip to both his fiancé and the woman he loves. Because Matt Casey was not really on a business trip but was instead with Alex here at their home in Barrington. The home that he will one day share with his girlfriend and son. But even better, he's going to share a bed with her this weekend as they celebrate her birthday together. And that all starts with him giving her a glass of wine, which is precisely what Matt decided to do now that he was also on the back porch of their home. "I think someone could use a drink." Turning her head when she heard Matt's voice, Alex was really surprised to see him there. "Matt?" Matt smiled as Alex asked him whether it was really him, as it most certainly was. "Hi baby." Smiling at her boyfriend, Alex was just incredibly happy to see him.

To have him here with her, alone at their home in Barrington, which is where they both want to be right now as they celebrate her birthday. However, Matt could also see that Alex was starting to cry. "Hey, why you crying baby?" Walking up to the woman he loves, Matt smiled as he went to give her a glass of wine that they could enjoy with each other. "What's wrong?" Grabbing one of the glasses of wine from Matt, Alex smiled as she was really happy at the moment. Happy that she had him here with him. "I'm crying because I'm happy baby. I didn't know if you were going to be able to make it." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, well aware that was the case as he got close to the woman of his dreams. "I had a feeling that was the case." Alex agreed with Matt as she wrapped her arm around him, holding her nice and close to him as she leaned her forehead against his. "Sorry if I want to hold you right now, I am just so surprised to even see you here." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that. "I know." Alex took a breath and got worried. "You okay?"

Matt smiled as Alex asked him whether he was okay, as he most certainly was; simply due to the fact that he had her in his arms once more. So much so, that he stepped close to her and put his hand on the side of her neck. Leaning in, he smirked as he started to take things nice and slow with the real woman he loves. "I'm more than okay, because I'm here with you and the pups." Alex laughed as she heard Matt say that. "Yeah, I may have brought Cassie and Theo from Chicago." Grabbing Alex's hand, Matt smiled as he intertwined their fingers as that was more than okay. "That's more than okay babe, especially since I want you to have a happy birthday. Another reason why I'm here. Happy Birthday babe." Alex smiled as she heard Matt say that, while stepping close to the man of her dreams. She then proceeded to wrap her arm around his back and smiled as she cuddled up to the man she loves more than anything in the entire world. "I swear, I am so happy that we're here together." Matt agreed with Alex, feeling the same way. "Want to sit down?"

Alex smirked as Matt asked her that. "Actually, I think I want to do more than just sit down." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, as that was something that he wanted too. He wanted to take her in his arms as he made love to her. As he made sweet, passionate love with her in a way that would make them both extremely happy, which them making love to each other always does. They always feel happy when they make love to each other as it means that they're together. "Listen, let's go do that, okay? We can be together and just take it easy." Alex smirked as she looked at Matt. "Well, if we're going to do that then I want something." Matt smirked as Alex said that. "And what might that be?" Stepping close to her man, Alex smiled as she put her hands on his chest. "I want you in your boxers since I'm already wearing lingerie." Matt smirked as he heard Alex say that, as that was something that he most certainly could do for Alex; especially since it was precisely what he wanted too. He wanted to get all sexy with the woman he loves and craves.

She was currently standing in the washroom making herself look all sexy for her man, the man who literally cut his business trip short just so that he could be here with her. So that he could be here, as they celebrated her birthday in the privacy of the home where they would one day raise their family. And speaking of their family, Alex decided to fill someone in on her plans. 'Hey Jess, no need to come tomorrow. I had a surprise guest come here and join me for my birthday.' Setting her phone down after texting her friend (and her and Matt's surrogate), Alex smiled as she adjusted her lingerie as a way to make sure that she looked nice and sexy for her man, which is when she got a text message from Jess. 'NO WAY! Matt's there!' Alex agreed with Jess, as he most certainly is. 'Yes. And I want to have one last birthday without kids or pregnancies involved. So, see you next appt.' Jess agreed with Alex once more. 'Have fun XO.' Alex laughed as she read Jessica's last text until she heard Matt at the door. "Damn." Looking up at him, Alex smiled at her boyfriend.

After which, he made his way over to her so that he could give her the attention that they both know she deserves whenever they're alone; especially right now as she wants to celebrate her birthday with the man she loves. "So, who were you texting?" Turning around to face Matt, Alex smiled. "Jess was going to come over tomorrow." Matt agreed with Alex. "She should've come, you told me that he was kicking." Alex thought about it. "Shit, I just thought of that. I'm so sorry. Let me text her." Matt shook his head. "We can go to her. I don't want her to come all the way out here unless she has to. We need her to stay calm for our little guy." Alex thought about it and agreed with Matt. "Ok. New rule. No more baby talk for the rest of my birthday." Matt smirked as Alex said that, before kissing her softly. "Or no more talking whatsoever. We can go do something else as we concentrate on each other tonight." Alex smirked, as that was precisely what she wanted. She wanted to have him concentrate on her as they held each other close in the comfort of their bed.

And even better, she wants to feel Matt run his hands all over her body; which is something that he's more than ready to do on his own due to the fact that his girlfriend looks so damn sexy and makes him want her so much; which is why he placed his hand on her neck as he stepped close to her, before kissing her lips as well as her neck. And let's just say that really turned Alex on, as she soon started to moan for him as he sucked on her neck. "Oh baby!" Smirking as he heard Alex say that, Matt leaned in and proceeded to suck on her neck some more. "Oh, does baby like that feeling?" Alex agreed with her boyfriend, as she most certainly does. "Damn babe." Matt agreed with Alex as he continued to give her exactly what she wants from him, up to and including him picking her up in his arms so that he can carry her to bed; all the while, he continued to suck on her neck as a way to continue teasing his future wife. Well, that's only something he knows though due to the fact that only he dreams of them being married, and always will want her.

He wants to have her in his life forever, and that's something that will never change due to the fact that she's the real woman he loves. The only woman he can see himself being with for the rest of his life, and that excites him more than anything in the entire world, which is why he is more than ready to get in bed with her so that he can take her in his arms; something that they both want him to do today. They both want him to take her in his arms and make love to her, as they celebrate her birthday here in the home that they will one day live in with their son. The little boy who is truly a part of both of them as he is their biological son, their little boy.

She decided to take off her bra after she finished drinking her wine, the lingerie model wanting to tease her boyfriend when he came back upstairs from putting their wine glasses away since he hates leaving them up here; especially when they have dogs who can break them. But never in a million years did he imagine that he would be coming back upstairs to the sight of Alex topless in bed. "Woah." Alex smirked as Matt said that. "Does daddy like?" Matt agreed with Alex as she asked him whether he liked the sight of her braless as she sat in their bed, which he most certainly does. "Oh, I most certainly do." Alex smirked as she heard Matt say that, while watching as he walked over to their bed; after which, he opened the covers and proceeded to climb into bed with her as they both wanted him to do. They both wanted him to get in bed with her, with the hopes of them taking things nice and slow with her. And well, that just makes Alex really happy as it's precisely what she wants. It's how she wants to be treated by the man she loves more than anything.

The man of her dreams, sand her future husband. "God, I love the way you're crawling into bed on top of me right away." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, before smirking as he crawled to the center of the bed before laying down. "Oh, I am not laying down on top of you yet. I want to kiss you tonight. I am exhausted tonight babe, and I thought we could wait for the fun for tomorrow as we spend the day in bed with each other." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, clearly able to see that her boyfriend was quite tired. "Let me guess, really tired?" Matt agreed with Alex, as that was the truth. He was really tired and was just hoping that they could relax as they took it nice and easy with each other, starting with them sharing a kiss; which is something that Alex is more than okay with doing. Just getting close to the man of her dreams, as they take things nice and slow with each other as they celebrate her birthday.

Anyways, they always have tomorrow. "How long do I have you to myself?" Matt smirked. "Maybe a couple days. Just know that this is your last goodbye." Alex was surprised as she heard Matt say that, while also getting close to him. "What do you mean by that?" Matt smirked as he put his hand on Alex's back as he held her close to him. Stroking it, he then ran his hand up her body and grabbed the back of her neck. Placing her hands on his face, Alex smiled as she stared into Matt's eyes; while at the same time, he leaned his forehead against hers. "I promise you this. I'm telling Hallie that we're over soon. Before our son is born, so that I can be there all the time. I promise." Alex agreed with Matt as he said that, while also staring into his eyes. And there was just something about the way that he just spoke to her that made her believe that it was the truth. So, she leaned in and kissed him softly. "I love you Matt." Matt agreed with Alex as she said that, smiling as he ran his hand up and down her back. "I love you too babe, forever." Alex agreed.

She then leaned in and just smiled as they both took things nice and slow with each other, which is exactly how Alex wanted to end her night anyways. She wanted to end her birthday in Matt's arms taking things nice and slow with him in the comfort of their bed.