Miguel roused from his deep sleep and put his arm out to take Caitlin in an embrace, only to come in contact with the sheets instead of her smooth skin. He opened his eyes and saw she wasn't by his side. He prompted himself on his forearms and looked around the room.

"Caitlin?"

He then heard her vomiting from behind the closed bathroom door. He removed the sheets from off his body and slipped out of bed. Upon opening the door, he noticed her on her knees, face over the toilet bowl.

When he reached her, another wave of nausea hit her, and she threw up again. As she did, he pulled her long hair away from her face, holding it in a ponytail and squatted behind her, soothingly caressing her back.

After a few minutes, she resumed a straighter posture, he released her hair and stood to fill up a glass of water.

"Are you alright, mi amor?" he asked as he helped her stand and handed her the glass from which she took a small sip.

She exhaled deeply and sat down on the edge of the bathtub. "Ask me again when I can actually keep food down," she replied sarcastically. He joined her and put his arm around her, pulling her against his bare chest.

"The doctor said that it would subside with the end of the first trimester."

"That was last week," replied Caitlin. "And before you say anything, I know it's not an exact science. It's just there are more interesting things to wake up to or do when you start your day off."

"Like what?"

"You, taking me in your arms, kissing me and making love to me."

He raised an amused brow, and she picked up on it. "Don't do that."

"What?"

"Look at me like that. I imagined that I'd least I'd have enough energy for that. Now, half the time I fall asleep in the sofa or in bed before you even have a chance to join me. I thought that pregnancy was supposed to increase my sex drive, not diminish it. You're going to think I don't want you."

He burst out laughing then placed his hand on her slowly, yet visible, growing baby bump. "Mi amor, I don't think that. You are busy creating a human being, our child, and that is what matters. So, we're not having sex as much as we were before…"

She looked at him, "You mean not at all."

"Regardless, the point I'm trying to get across is that I know you love me and that it has nothing to do with your desire for me. Never question that. I'm a very patient man, and you know that."

"You're lucky, my level of patience has hit rock bottom just about now."

"How about we go down and have a light breakfast?"

She nodded. "I'll meet you downstairs, I need to brush my teeth."

"OK." He, planted a sweet kiss on the tip of her nose, stood and walked out of the bathroom.

She stood in turn and stopped in front of the sink and mirror. She brushed her teeth, then her hair before heading for the dressing room so that she could get dressed. She turned to the side as she stood in her bra and panties and looked at her bump, caressing it. "You are worth the nausea and vomiting, mi bambino. Mama te ama."

She put on a pair of black leggings and a white t-shirt before heading downstairs.

Miguel was waiting for her at the table outside where Benito and Alba had set a nice breakfast. When she was seated next to him, he leaned in and planted a tender kiss on her lips.

"Orange juice?" asked Benito.

"No, thank you, Benito, I'll just have some water."

Benito nodded and poured her a glass of water. He then served Miguel his coffee, then returned to his position not far from the table, ready to assist or serve if necessary.

"What are your plans for the day?" asked Miguel as Caitlin took a piece of toast and spread a thin layer of strawberry jam on it. "Any baking?"

"Considering how certain aromas impact my ability to keep food down, it's safer if I stay away from baking until further notice. Gavin and Armando are keeping up with the flow of orders and shop demands, so I'm not worried."

She looked around. "It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, I think I might lounge around outside and read for a while. What's on your agenda today?"

"A meeting with that agave supplier whose been giving you a hard time. After everything that happened, I forgot and well, it's time I gave him a piece of my mind."

"Look, I can find another supplier, don't got out of your way just for me."

"I'm not doing it just for you, I'm doing it because we made a deal."

"That was when I was supposed to facilitate the transfer of your product through his delivery. He hasn't been getting his share of the profit."

"I still pay him what he'd get if we hadn't stopped the deliveries to the shop."

Caitlin frowned. "Why would you do that?"

"Because he and I have a deal and I respect the terms whether or not the deliveries were made to the shop."

"Basically, he was making money off both our backs."

"Exactly, which is why I need to go and settle things."

"Why do people get so greedy?" she asked shaking her head.

"When people grew up with nothing, once they get a taste of the freedom money can buy them, it gets addictive. People always want more of everything. More money, more time, more love, more affection, more possessions…and inevitably it ends up consuming them."

"I know my love for you is consuming," she said smiling.

"As is mine for yours, but it's balanced and healthy. When it turns into obsession, that is when it gets dangerous."

"Are you saying you're not obsessed with me and my body."

He laughed whole-heartedly. "Mi amor, I've been obsessed by every aspect of you from the minute I laid eyes on you."

"Therefore, obsession can be healthy."

"Only because it is reciprocated. If you didn't feel the same way about me, you would feel as though you were suffocating. Immaterial things can't show you in return what you feel about them."

"That's deep," she said laughing. "But I understand what you mean." She finished her toast and leaned back in her seat. "You'll be gone for most of the day."

"Yes."

"I might go do some clothes shopping…most of my clothes are starting to become a bit tight. I'll take Matteo and Luca with me, if that's alright?"

"Of course."

He noticed Romeo and Stefano coming toward the terrasse. He wiped his mouth with the napkin and stood, placing it on the table. He bent over to kiss Caitlin, his hand resting on her bump.

"I'll see you later, mi corazon," he said as he walked over to meet the men, then disappeared inside the house.