*******026:

That first night was fine. Felicity started out in our bed, watching TV and holding my phone. She drank a fruit smoothie with us--- explored the house--- and went out to look at the beach. Tiffy hid from her and wouldn't come out, so that was of no interest. And because of the time change and the fact that she'd slept on the plane most of the way, she was wide awake. We decided that one or the other of us had to be awake if she was awake.

We secured all the house doors and locks, making sure that extra doors into the basement or guest rooms were locked or secured somehow. Rafe taped them shut up high with duct tape. He didn't want her to run off and hide and not get found.

It became patently obvious that this house was in no way child proof. What were we thinking? Besides the lack of conventional furniture--- this house held some weird accouterments--- especially the things hanging from the ceiling in the lower den. Rafe made plans to have the den refurnished tomorrow along with the bedroom next to ours as Felicity's room.

She fell asleep at three. Between us. Thumb in her mouth, mermaid in her arms.

Rafe looked over the top of her head at me. Our eyes glittered in the moonlight coming in from the windows that overlooked the ocean.

"Get some sleep." He whispered.

"Slip out and meet me in the room across the hall."

He nodded, and we both, making as little noise as possible, as little movement as possible, slipped out inch by inch so as not to wake the four-year old between us.

This time... we were successful.

I pulled him into the closest room and closed the door. Moonlight streamed in the window which did not have a blind. I was again reminded that this had been a guy's home--- a guy who had chosen to live here alone and had not had the chance or the desire to furnish each room at all. There was nothing in here. Not a bed, or a desk or anything. I pulled him into my arms and pressed myself up for his kiss.

Rafe exploded in passion almost instantly.

Still kissing we worked our clothes off quickly---

"Aubrey--- she'll wake up."

"We'll hear her." I mumbled against his lips as I bit the bottom one, sucking, pulling him down with me to the carpet.

"I need you, baby."

I needed him too.

There had been restraint--- after the miscarriage.... And while we stayed in my parent's home in Montana. But life with a child could not change us that much---- we had to learn how to make it work. This was an aspect of our lives that we needed.

And it was frenzied--- rushed and desperate.

We lay together afterward, panting, snorting in amusement at our crazy antics--- as if we'd never have time to be together again.

"I think we just christened this room." He snickered and I curled into his side, rolled over on top of him, and fondled him till I got the desired reaction even though we were almost completely sated. In the dark, we listened. Reassured that we were free--- we made love again, slower, taking our time, giving instead of receiving.

Drenched in sweat, we parted, barely, swallowing hard, no words left.

I felt this huge emotional release--- and gave way to the tears. They'd happened before. I lay against his chest as he shook with the effort not to cry himself.

"Aubrey--- is it Felicity?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry, baby."

"What if we made a mistake? What if we can't--- if I can't handle her? She is culturally so different from us too!"

"I know. I've thought of that."

"And she requires so much thought."

"We need to be on the same page. We didn't even have time to open the book." He kissed my sweaty forehead.

I sat up. "I want to raise our kids healthy. You can't be slipping around behind my back trying to be the nicer parent. Healthy snacks."

He grunted and pulled me back to him, rubbing his palms across my breasts, exploring and gently caressing. "Okay. You're in charge of food."

"If it's important to you to stay home with her the first little while, then we will. Or we can come with you to the studio."

He shrugged, and I leaned up, tracing my fingers around his nipples as well, as long as he was going to perform this tickling thing for me. "I have a better idea. What about we make your house next door into the studio? We've been looking for a venue, and haven't found one we liked. We don't need anything huge. We can remodel it. We can be in business in a week."

"A week?"

"I know a contractor."

"A different one?"

He laughed, "You mean than the one in Montana? Yeah. I know a guy down here. What do you think?"

"I think I need to work to pay for that place."

He shoved me back playfully. "I already paid it off. I don't like having debt."

"You did what?" I was shocked.

"I paid it off as soon as we got home from Mexico. It made sense. Then if we wanted to sell it, we were free and clear."

"You don't intend for me to ever go back to work?"

"Aubrey--- work has nothing to do with it. It makes sense to pay it off. Business."

"You didn't ask me. Didn't I have to sign something?"

"Yes. You signed it. The marriage certificate." He pulled me down for a kiss, a long—glistening, gliding, forgetful kiss. "Listen you're in charge of food, and I'm in charge of big money. I promise to ask you about all expenditures in the future. I'm new to this. Usually, if I have that kind of idea, I just call John, or Rocketman, and tell them what to do for me."

I knew that he did do that. I knew Rocketman was his financial advisor.

"Anyway--- didn't you tell me last night you were going to be a stay at home mom?"

I nodded soberly--- picturing the hospitals I would never work in, the deliveries I would never witness.

"Is that not your plan?"

"No--- it's my plan."

"But you pictured still working?"

"Maybe."

"You've been kicking around not going back to your practice."

"Yes."

"You've been kicking around not working out of USC."

"Yes."

"You've tried out the three days a week thing for ABCSC. Did you like it?"

"It was okay."

"Not a lot of surgery there?"

"No."

He wrapped my fallen strands of messy hair behind my ears. "Aubrey. I want you to do what makes you happiest."

I leaned down and kissed him. One kiss--- not enough--- I had to make up for all the time he existed and wasn't in my arms. I smoothed his chest, kissed him there, moved lower.... Kissed him there, and heard his sigh of pleasure. Time for more forgetfulness.

*******