... ... ... TO SHARE AND POSSESS ... ... ...

Antonio was distracted from the joyful fuss by a phone call and moved to another room to answer his mother. Nothing urgent for real, as Camila Dawson casually and kindly inquired about her granddaughter's birthday in a month and the plans for it - that was her original excuse which could pass for truth, but she talked to the detective. Never even slightly an intrusive person, nonetheless, her female curiosity recently won over, and so, in that amicable lamely artful way, reaching her son late in the evening on his day off, she rather wondered when she'd be able to meet his mate, everyone already got acquainted with. That, of course, also didn't come out of the blue, since a few hours ago Eva sent her the photos with Diego and the happy couple at the music show. That's why the woman, who was proud of her mature kids and grandchildren grown up enough but in no need of her guarding anymore, while her marriage suddenly ended, leaving her to herself... well, all that made her feel sadly out of the picture... if not for Eva sometimes, mostly by virtual means, to enthusiastically fill that gap.

Damn. His bad. He was so focused on being mad with his father, then, still shattered by his own divorce, down because of parting with Sylvie, along with that challenged by dissatisfaction due to job at the State's Attorney's Office too boring, and right before he returned to the Intelligence Unit with crazier days and schedule someone else sneaked into his thoughts in two months after to take a permanent place next to his desk... and in his heart to heal it. Thus, while himself blessed and finally recovering, he once again missed the fact that, so far, his mother was going through the same hard times he had experienced.

"We'll do. If not earlier, then on Eva's birthday for sure..." Though, with unexpected turns of life, he better not to promise anything like this, but he couldn't help being optimistic, especially now, looking at those three in the kitchen of his apartment, chatting and laughing, his girl getting on so nice with both his kids.

It was their first get-together in this "double date" set, and she was so funnily agitated while apprehending the meeting, so, she literally asked to fuck the anxiety out of her 'till she sore... Whether that helped, but she managed her worry the same good as he her appeal. Everyone's pleased and relaxed. That was easy as for a start gathered at the cafe to refresh themselves with food, then entertained through the show they took his brood to as the main goal, and even after, as Eva suggested to dine home with takeout, the carefree effect still lingered. Or it was long natural. Anyway, hung up with his mother, he stood, mesmerized, aside and kept watching for a while.

Could he be happier? Yes. To complete the picture with two more women, his sister and mother, he loved.

That's it. That's how he felt. To hell with waiting for a special moment or some emergency to happen. He got to tell her this tonight.

"Everything's all right?" she inquired as he rejoined the merriment in the kitchen.

"Perfect... almost," a serene enigmatic smile of his caused a tickling and intriguing sensation to spread over her entity, but then he addressed to Eva. "Your grandma called... We should have taken her with us."

"Shit! Oops, sorry, dad. I mean - yes, we... screwed... up. It's not a swear. But would she like that music? Whatever. We can do something else next time," animated, a teener looked at all the attenders and noticed the only one, who didn't have the same name and blood, as if choked. "Don't worry! You'll like grandma. She already likes you!"

But the girl, subtly fidgeted on a chair, stared at Antonio, and they both knew what she was thinking. He would have to work harder on her tizzy prior to meeting Camila Dawson. Yep, so sinfully inappropriate mental images at table and around kids, but those two excitedly got themselves involved into programming another big holiday and, thank God, had no psychic powers.


Their drive to her home was silent. Her mouth hurt from smiling and laughing - three adorable Dawson people were too much. Exhausted in a good way, she, though, saw Antonio had something on his mind, something beguiling, but she didn't dig for answers as merely wished to cuddle with him. So, once they parked and exchanged those mute enticing gazes, she got out of his car to wait for him, and hand in hand - so simple and innocent but so meaningful gesture she relished - to walk inside. But in few steps he stopped them in their tracks.

That was on impulse, as he just realized he didn't want it to be said within the walls. He either didn't design it to occur on the very spot they kissed for the first time. But that aligned perfectly. Falling asleep Chicago, breezy air, probably a starlit sky above...

"I love you," he pronounced so softly while looking into her eyes and holding her close, he could bet he felt the creeps running through her.

True. Touched to goosebumps she was, with a lovely smile to slowly broaden until she quietly spoke, "Move in with me."

His amazement shot up to incredulity, and she borrowed her face into his chest at her silly response. But that's what she aspired to. Before they left Eva and Diego, when watching him repacking his bag to spend another uncertain number of nights with her, she selfishly understood that she needed him on a constant basis.

"I want you with me. Not a shade of you at my place, not you visiting me, but living together, sharing all that is mine with you and having things as ours," straightened and hiding no more, she delivered her message.

"Okay..."

Beyond delighted with her explication he passed the bewilderment back to her in even worse degree.

"That easy?! Not trying to brush it off?" she exclaimed to his amusement.

"Should have I? You laid it so tempting," teasingly serious or vice versa he talked, but her tiredness's gone. "Yet, kids..."

"Almost independent. Eva for sure," she finished for him. "Regardless, sooner or later that will have to happen... So, let it be a proving test for them and for us... But I'm not pressing, Antonio."

"Okay..."

"Stop! Gosh..." they both chuckled, still in the arms of each other. "I love when you say okay in that calm and firm tone. But now you're killing me with your laconism."

"I know," aware he played with fire, but a bit of sly harmless tantalizing aroused spirits and flesh not less than open suggestions.

"I hate you," giving up, she again hid her face into his chest to deaden this blatant lie of hers.

Dismissive of that phrasing, in a split second he used a chance to repeat his inmost confession, sort of neglected, "But I love you." Not to force her to return it, since she already told more with her genuine invitation to officially, completely and utterly, share her space with him.

"I know," not nearly mocking in his style, but to convince him she did hear him and accepted it fully with every part of her being, gratified.

"But kids planned out our next day off, so, when to start moving in?" he wondered in a while, as they kept staying in the street, snuggled in embrace and enjoying these voiced conceptions, one as a given, another to accomplish.

"Tomorrow and every day after work," not distancing an inch from the warmth of his body, was her square and ready answer, with the following cautious reminder. "But I'm not pressing..."

That's when instead of a witty remark of his, in a snap he grabbed her to throw over his shoulder, despite her antic shrieks, and in that manner with gleeful determination brought them inside the building - to their cozy home of love, lust and bliss.