Hi Readers: I know, starting fresh again. I apologize for that. However, it seems like I've still been having trouble when it comes to writing a story. However, I at least know what I want to do this time some more. I hope that you guys like it.

Chapter One
Three Months and One Week

Home of Jay & Alex Halstead, Naperville – October 11, 2018
They got married on the day their country was founded earlier this year: July 4th, 2018. Independence Day. The day they officially become independent of their single lives and started their journey as the new Mr. and Ms. Jay Halstead; the new Ms. Jay Halstead's name being Alexandra (Jacobs) Halstead, a model for his family company. Well, a division of it at least, Halstead Intimates and Swimwear. And a majority of the time, she models for the intimates line; something her husband very much likes, due to the fact that he's the only man who gets to touch his sexy lingerie model's body at night (sometimes when it's naked). But, as of late, he hasn't had the urge to do that; even though they've only been married for three months and one week. And that's due to the fact that something happened a week ago that he never expected: his father died of a major heart attack after his apartment suffered a fire. It was so grave; they have a name for the type of heart attack he had; the name is 'the widow maker' as it's one where you're unlikely to live.

He just wasn't willing to accept it until the very end, when his brother (Dr. William Halstead) and his wife had to really tell him that he was gone; basically, dragging him away from his now-dead father in the process. And to say that it wasn't easy for his wife to do was an understatement due to the fact that she hated the sight that came with it: the sight of her husband in tears, crying to go try and save his father; especially when they both knew that there was nothing else that they could do. And even since that day, Jay has just kept to himself and tried to stay quiet as much as he could; even going to see some of their friends (most notably, Mr. Matthew and Gabriela Casey; who, worth noting, are also their business rivals and parents to the adorable Emily Marie Casey as of June 6, 2018) didn't work in cheering him up, so he turned to golf. His second favorite pass-time, with the first being making sweet love to his wife of three months; not that they've done it all that often for the aforementioned reasons, his father dying and him grieving quite hard.

Seeing Bre walk by him, rather than go get the ball like she was told to do, Jay bent down and grabbed her collar; in the process, he got rough and yelled at her. "Hey! What did I say? Go get the ball." Sighing, Alex tried not to be mad at her husband over the fact that he wants their dog (more like his dog, as she's his PTSD service dog) to go get the ball; especially since she knew the anger he was directing towards Bre (as he also got rough with her) was just him trying to let some of his grief out in the form of anger. And while she tried not to rationalize it or make it acceptable around here; as his wife, she understood why he was doing it. However, he just needs to take a breath and take it easy; especially since he's hurting Bre right now, who just wanted to make her way over to her so that she could say hi after she came out this morning. She just hoped that Jay would be okay with that. "Jay, Bre just wants to come see me this morning." Turning around when he heard his wife's voice, Jay soon realized that. "Hey, morning." Alex agreed.

After all, it was a nice morning when she saw her husband out of bed; especially when he isn't holding their dog with a death-grip, which he still is at the moment. "It will be when you let go of Jaz so that she can come say hi to me." Realizing that he was holding Bre quite tight right now, Jay agreed as he let her go; that way, she could go say hi to Alex…just like he was about to do as well, while watching her bend down in the lingerie and bathrobe she was wearing this morning,. "Hi girl. You having fun out here with daddy? Yes, you are. I know, you missed mama too." Smiling as he heard Alex say that, Jay continued to make his way up to his wife so that he could hold her close to him; especially since it was precisely what he needed right now. He needed to hold his wife close to him as they say good morning to each other, especially since he owes her from when he wasn't in bed with her when she woke up. "You just wake up?" Alex agreed with her loving husband as he walked up to her and smiled while he wrapped his arm around her.

At the same time, she wrapped her arms around his waist as she looked up into his eyes and proceeded to take things nice and slow with the woman he loves, who has truly been the best partner in the entire world since they got married this summer. "Hi you." Smiling, Alex agreed with her husband as she was happy to have him close to her right now. "Hi you is right. I missed you in bed, though." Jay agreed with his wife as she said that, well aware that was the case as he looked at her. I mean, how can she not miss him in bed when they love being intimate with each other? Something he hates that he hasn't done with her in a while, especially when he knows she misses him. Misses the feeling of his lips on hers, and the feeling of their bodies moving in sync against one another's in bed; he just has a lot on his mind right now, which he hoped his wife understood. "How are you? You sleep well?" Alex nodded. "Up until I woke up alone in bed. But, I understand." Jay agreed with his wife, glad that she understood. "Thanks." Alex shook her head.

After all, there's no need to thank her when she's here to support him. "Jay, there's no need for you to thank me. It's my job as your wife to be there for you, which is precisely why I'm here with you right now; here, outside in the cold as you play with Bre for a bit." Turning around, Jay smiled as he looked at Bre who just came back with the ball he was throwing for her. "I thought I could bring her out here, keep her quiet for you since you were still asleep." Alex agreed with her husband, especially since she appreciates that he did that for her. "And I appreciate that more than you'll ever know, except for now when I'm worried about you." Stepping close to her husband, Alex wrapped her arms around his back and leaned in to kiss him softly. "How are you baby?" Jay sighed as he placed his hand on the side of Alex's face. "I'm okay for now. It's still weird not having him here, I guess. It's just…it's a hard time." Alex agreed with her husband as he said that, well aware that he's been having a hard time of late. "Listen, you eat already?"

Jay shook his head, as he didn't eat breakfast yet. "No. I wasn't hungry." Alex agreed with her husband once more, as he hasn't been hungry that much for the past couple days; yet, he still needs to eat for his health. "I know Jay, I know you're not hungry. But, we both know that you need to eat for the same of your PTSD medication, and for your health in general. And that's why we need to talk about Monday too." Jay sighed, as he knew that this was coming up. "Not yet, I promise. I just…I'm worried about you Jay. I keep telling you that I'm here to talk to you, but it seems like you aren't hearing me when I say that; it's my sign to tell you that I want to talk to you, after all. I want you to talk to me so that I can help you out, which is my job as your wife. I even spoke to Hannah and Annaleise, told them that I am not taking part in the Spring/Summer campaign next year for Halstead Apparel." Halstead Apparel being the company Alex models for, which is led by Hannah Taylor, who is the division's President and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

And let's just say that she does a great job with that division, due to the fact that she runs it out of New York City; very much independent from the main company due to the fact that Jay just has no idea what to do when it comes to the Apparel division. So, as long as they don't cause any trouble or cost them money, then he's more than okay with putting his trust and faith in Hannah Taylor to run the division independently of the rest of the company; just as long as she provides reports to the board whenever there's a meeting. Oh, and on the condition that his wife gets to do her photoshoots in Chicago; due to the fact that he needs her here with him when he gets stressed, or when he's dealing with stuff (just like he is right now in the aftermath of his father's death). And that brings up a thought he has to tell his wife as he grabbed his hand. "I spoke to Jeff this morning…" Jeff being Jeffrey Adams, his personal assistant. "…and he said that we're getting a lot of condolences at the office." Alex agreed with her husband, as she was aware.

After all, she does have friends who still work there on a daily basis; fellow model friends, who try and get her to talk to Jay sometimes so that they can be heads of the ad campaign. However, she's resigned herself from that part; she refuses to play favorites due to the fact that her husband's job is already stressful enough. Add in the fact that his father just died, and she doesn't want to touch work right now with a ten-foot pole, which is why she's actually starting to consider retiring from modeling so that she can turn her attention to being a full-time wife and partner to her husband. She just hasn't said anything yet, due to the fact that he already has too much on his mind as it is. He's still thinking about his dad all the time, while also trying to deal with his PTSD and everything all at once, which is one of the reasons she thought he might be out here in the first place, thought she now believes this is just about his dad rather than his PTSD (which he has as a veteran). "Just curious, no PTSD, right?" Jay shook his head. "No, just my dad."

Jay said, keeping his attention on Bre, rather than turning his head to look at his wife as he said it; something Alex really hoped he would've done, as it would've allowed her to look into his eyes and check on him. "Hey, can you look at me when you talk to me baby?" Turning his head to look down at Alex, Jay agreed as he wrapped his arm around her more; prior to bending down and kissing the woman he loves more than anything in the entire world. "I love you." Alex agreed with her husband, well aware that he loves her. "I love you too, which is why I came out here in the first place. You need to tell me when you need me to wake up, okay baby?" Jay looked at Alex as she said that, while also grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers. "I'm okay babe." Alex shook her head. "Jay, you're mourning the loss of your father. Please, just let me be there for you; let me hold you close like you clearly need to be." Jay nodded, well aware that was the case. "I know, I need to open up more." Alex agreed, glad that he came to realize that right now.

After which, she cuddled up to him and smiled as she wrapped her arms around his muscular torso; while he wrapped his arm around her and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You hungry?" Alex looked up at Jay as he asked her that. "It's okay babe." Jay looked at his wife. "You want me to go make you something?" Alex shook her head. "No, I got it for the both of us." Jay just looked at Alex, as he likes to make breakfast for the both of them. "Alex…" He said, trying to convince her to not do that. However, Alex wasn't having it. "Jay, I'm going to make us breakfast; that's final. I love you and I'm going to make you breakfast today so that you can rest and just take it easy like you need to do right now." Jay agreed with his wife as she said that, deciding not to argue with her due to the fact that he just wants to live a happy life with his wife. So, he instead moved his hand to the back of her head; prior to bending down and kissing his beautiful wife softly. "I love you." Alex agreed with Jay, as she loves him too. "I love you too. Now, you want pancakes?"

Jay was surprised when he heard Alex say that. "Did you really offer to make pancakes? You?" Alex smiled. "Jay, I'm your wife first. Right now, we both need comfort foods and to take it easy. Plus, it's not like I'm modelling anytime soon. Right now, you're my only concern because of how much I love and care for you." Jay smirked as Alex said that. "You sure it's not because of how much you crave me?" Alex smiled as she heard Jay say that, before getting close to him and wrapping her arms around his waist, which led to Jay wrapping his arm around her back as he bent down and kissed his beautiful wife softly. "I love you." Alex agreed with her husband as he said that, as she loves him too. "I love you too Jay, which is why I beg you…let me take care of you and help you right now. You're my husband, I love you, and that's what you do for the man you love when you're married to him…you take care of him during the hard times he faces. And right now, that's precisely what I plan and want to do for you baby." Jay agreed with Alex.

After all, he could clearly see it in her body language that she was being serious about that; so, he placed his hand on her side and brought her body against his chest, while also wrapping his arm around her waist as he looked down at her. After all, he was taller than her, which meant that he always had to look down at her (literally) when he stared into her gorgeous eyes, which always mesmerize him and make him very happy to stare into. I mean, damn are her eyes gorgeous and everything he wants to stare into right now as he bent down and took things nice and slow with the love of his life. "I love you." Alex agreed with Jay, well aware that he loves her based on the way he was kissing her right now. "I know you do, because I love you too. Now, I need to go make us some pancakes so that you can get some real food into you. And I don't care if it's carbs, you can get it off in the future. Right now, you need to take it easy and relax." Alex said, as she walked back inside to go make breakfast for her and her husband as they mourned his loss together.

Coming inside after Alex told him that breakfast was ready, Jay couldn't help but smile a bit as he looked at the sight in front of him; the sight of his sexy wife standing in the kitchen wearing nothing but her sexy lingerie. And damn, does he have plans for what he wants to do right now; he wants to make his way over to her and move his hands to her body so that he can hold her close to him and then kiss her. But first, he needed to feed Bre, which he proceeded to do shortly after closing the door to the back patio. "C'mon girl, let's get you some breakfast." Making his way over to her bowl, Jay smiled as he bent down and went to grab some of her food; prior to setting the cup he just grabbed down in the bowl. After which, he got up; but only after glancing at his sexy wife as she stood there in some very little lingerie for him. And damn, did he love the sight that came with her wearing that lingerie. Well, almost; after all, he could also tell that Alex wasn't warm enough in her lingerie as she was shivering as he made his way over to her.

So, rather than let his wife be cold just because she wants to tease him; he decided to take off his sweater so that he was just wearing his jeans this morning. That way, she can wear his sweater and stay warm while they eat breakfast with each other; something she's more than ready to do when her husband is which her. "Here, you want my sweater?" Jumping as she turned around, Alex looked at Jay. "God, you startled me baby." Jay agreed with his wife as she said that. "You didn't hear me talk to Bre when I came in and fed her?" Looking at Jay as he walked up to her, Alex shook her head. "I guess not." After which, she proceeded to grab his sweater and just smiled due to the fact that her husband is a real hunk; especially when he's shirtless. "Now, this is a sight I like." Jay agreed with Alex as she said that, smiling as he got nice and close to her. Smiling as well, Alex placed her hands on his toned chest as they cuddled up to each other here in their kitchen. In the process, Jay put his hands on Alex's arms and felt just how cold she was right now.

And not cold, as in cold-hearted; but, literally cold. And that's precisely why he gave his sweater to her. "Here, put on the sweater. You're cold baby, I can feel it on your skin." Alex nodded as she proceeded to put his sweater on, grateful to her amazing husband for giving his shirt to her. "Thanks." Jay agreed with his wife as he moved his hand to her neck and leaned in and to kiss her softly. "No thanks needed. All you need to do is be warm. I don't want you to get sick." Alex agreed with her dreamy husband as he told her that, as she felt the same way. "I feel the same way about you." Jay agreed with Alex as he placed his hands on her hips as they both held each other close here in their kitchen, while also leaned in and kissing his wife softly; meanwhile, Alex placed her hands on his toned chest as they took things nice and slow with each other. "Can you promise me something?" Jay agreed. "Depends, what is it?" Alex smirked. "Shirtless day in bed?" Jay smirked, as he loves the sound of that. "Sweatpants and lingerie." Alex agreed.

After all, she loves it when he's shirtless in sweatpants; especially when they cuddle up to each other and hold each other close. "I want to do something first though, to heat up." Jay smirked as Alex said that. "A sexy shower with each other?" Alex agreed as she leaned in and kissed the man of her dreams softly, while also placing her hand on the side of his face as they took things nice and slow with each other. "I love the sound of that. But first, we need to eat and enjoy some breakfast. Let me help you, then we can eat and get in the shower faster." Alex agreed with Jay as he said that, as that was precisely what she wanted. "Coffee?" Jay agreed. "I'll make it for us." Alex agreed as she turned around and went back to making pancakes, but only after she jumped when Jay reached down and squeezed her butt. After which, she turned around. "JAY!" Laughing, Jay made his way over to the coffee maker as he smirked due to the fact that it wasn't his fault that she was wearing something so sexy for him. "Hey, you wear it, I get to touch it." Alex agreed.

While, at the same time, she flirted with her husband a bit. "And I get to touch that body all day." Jay smirked as he agreed with Alex, before going to grab some coffee for the both of them. That way, they can eat ahead of the two of them going to take a shower with each other; well, only after he does the dishes of course. "I'll do the dishes." Looking at her husband, Alex was surprised due to the fact that Jay rarely offers to do the dishes. "You rarely offer to do the dishes. Are you trying for something?" Jay laughed. "No." Looking at her husband, Alex gave him a bit of side eye. "NO! I just want you to go start the shower, since it's very sexy when my wife is naked in the shower when I get there." Alex shook her head. "So, you are trying for something." Jay laughed, as he guessed he was. "Ok, so what if I am? Just means that you get me faster." Alex agreed with Jay, as that's what she wants anyways: she wants her husband as fast as possible. "Except when you make love to me, then I want you to take things nice and slow with me." Jay smirked.

Meanwhile, Alex went to grab some plates for the both of them so that she could plate them. "I'll make us some plates?" Jay agreed with Alex, as he loves the sound of that. "Sounds good. I'll make the coffee and bring them to the table. Join me there?" Alex agreed, more than ready to join her husband for breakfast; right after he gives her one last kiss, which is precisely what he did.

He was on his phone as she made her way to the table due to the fact that he, as always, had to check on the company prior to breakfast; something that always annoyed Alex, especially when he's on break due to the fact that he's mourning right now. So, rather than let him do that he was in the midst of doing, she decided to grab his phone so that he couldn't do it. "Hey! I was looking at that." Going to look at her husband's phone, Alex saw that it was his work e-mail. "Last time I checked, you're on leave after Pat's death." Jay sighed, well aware that was the case. "I know, it's just…a habit." Putting his phone in her bra, Alex made her way over to Jay as she nodded; prior to moving to sit down in his lap and placing her hands on his chest in the process. "Why, hello there." Smirking, Alex cuddled up to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, while also leaning in and kissing him softly. "I'm here for you, I promise." Running his hands up Alex's back, Jay smirked due to the fact that he's very happy right now because of her; his gorgeous wife.

She's everything any man could ever want in a wife, as she's the dream wife; however, she's not his dream wife…she's his actual wife. This isn't a dream, it's his reality; and he doesn't plan on ever giving it up due to the fact that he's madly in love with his gorgeous wife. "I love you." Placing her hands on Jay's face, Alex agreed with him due to the fact that she knew that he loves her. "I love you too. Now, I want to talk about what our plans are for today." Jay smirked as he heard Alex say that, while watching as she got up so that she could go sit down; that way, they can have breakfast and start the rest of their day with each other. A day where they're just going to relax and take it easy with each other, which is everything they want to do with each other right now. They want to hold each other close, due to the fact that they need to relax. "Well, I think that we both know I want my hands all over that." Laughing as she went to take a bite of her pancakes, Alex agreed as that's something her husband will already have; that's a guarantee.

I mean, how could she not let him do that, when she wants to have it too? She wants to have his hands all over her body, and she's going to make sure that she gets them there somehow. "Whether you wanted to do it voluntarily, or I had to force you to do it; I think we both know that I would've gotten your hands all over my body at some point." Jay smirked, well aware that was the case. After all, his wife is a very sexy woman, who he loves more than anything in the entire world. And one of the ways he shows her that he loves her, is by running his hands all over her body as he makes her feel like the most beautiful woman in the entire world, which she most certainly is to him, and always will be. She's the most beautiful woman in the entire world both because of her beauty on the outside, as well as her beautiful heart. He loves her more than anything, especially since she's been his rock, which is something he needs to tell her as he reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "I want to do that, so that I can show you something."

Alex looked at Jay, unsure of what he was talking about. "What are you talking about baby?" Jay smiled as Alex asked him that question. "Today, I want to show you how much you truly mean to me. Alex, I love you more than anything; especially right now, when you've truly been my rock. I never knew just how much I truly depended on you until now, and I am so grateful that I'm here with you by my side." Alex agreed with her husband, not that she'd ever be anywhere else right now. "Jay, you never need to worry about me being anywhere other than with you as we get through this together. After all, I'm your wife and part of the family. And family grieves together, just like we did when both of my parents died in the car wreck." Jay sighed. "Yeah, when we were still dating 2 years ago. I'm just glad that my dad had the strength in him to walk you down the aisle." Alex agreed with her husband, as she really appreciated that. "I really appreciated what he did for me. What he did for us." Jay agreed and smiled at his wife.

While, at the same time, he heard his phone ding. "Jay…" Jay sighed. "May be another condolence." Alex agreed as she let go of his hand, prior to starting to eat breakfast; while Jay took a bite of breakfast as he went to read the text he just got. 'Hey, I heard the news through the grapevines. I'm sorry about your loss Jay. I've already told my teams to lay off Halstead for a bit. Truce for now.' Jay agreed with Matt as he said that, glad that he did that for him. 'I appreciate that Matt. But, I am not doing business right now. I'm on leave at the moment. Wife's orders. How are Gabby and Emily?' Matt replied pretty quick after that. 'Really good. In a meeting right now. Sorry, just heard the news and I needed to send a message. Talk another time.' Jay agreed when he read that message, before setting his phone down. "Who was it?" Jay smiled. "Matt Casey." Taking a bite of her breakfast again, Alex was confused. "Of The Casey Group?" Jay agreed with Alex. "We grew up in the same circles, same neighborhood and similar circumstances." Alex agreed with Jay.

Still, she was a bit confused. "Yet, you guys are rivals. Hell, they even tried to poach me." Jay looked at his wife as she said that. "They did? When?" Alex laughed. "Right before we started dating. The moment they saw me on your arm, they stopped." Jay laughed. "Good. Because you, Alexandra Halstead, will never model for anybody other than Halstead Intimates and Swimwear. You're my wife, and you have an exclusivity contract with Halstead." Alex was about to take a bite when she heard that. "I didn't sign any exclusivity contract with Halstead!" Jay snickered, as that wasn't true. "Called, you're married to the CEO. No way in hell are you making money for any other company, not when we're the majority owners of our family company. You're mine." Alex laughed, as she most certainly does belong to her husband for the rest of their lives. "For the rest of my life, with pleasure." Jay agreed with his gorgeous wife, as he loves the sound of that. "Speaking of pleasure…" Alex laughed, as she knew that this was going to come up at some point.

I mean, he may be grieving, but he also wants to have some sex with his wife. "We'll talk about it. I mean, you're already getting me in the shower. We'll see where else you get me, if you get me anywhere else." Jay agreed with his wife as she told him that, smirking as he went ahead and ate breakfast; after all, the sooner he eats breakfast, the sooner he gets to take a shower with his sexy wife.