Katie woke in Tom's arms and smiled. She slept on his shoulder before, but it was usually damp when they were both clothed.

He loved her. How they shared a bed and never found the passion they shared was a miracle or a shame.

Tom's hand moved on her back and she felt him kiss the top of her head. She lifted her head and smiled. "Good morning."

"Morning. I think I'm the happiest man alive."

Without warning, he rolled her onto her back and kissed her. Her body was once again longing for him.

Sated in his arms, she didn't want to get up. Tom must have been thinking the same.

"Laurie's not going to knock on the door, is she?"

Katie giggled. "She knows you're home." She wanted them to make a baby. It sounded like a good idea.

"Do you want to know a secret?" She propped up on her elbow to see him as he spoke. "Last night was the best night of my life."

Katie teased. "We've been sleeping together for a long time."

"You've been the only one I wanted for so long."

She felt the warmth spread throughout her body and settle in the one place that had lied dormant for so long. Now it had awoken she was hyper aware of the constant longing. "What happens now?"

"I have the day off, so we search online for an apartment and then the beach?"

She smiled. "I was thinking about us, although the beach sounds like a plan."

Tom moved their bodies, so they were face to face on their sides. His hand was on her hip and she had trouble concentrating on anything else. He kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes. "We're already married, so unless you want a do-over with the dress and cake?" She shook her head. She didn't need him in his uniform, although she would like to see him in that suit again. Right then, she enjoyed seeing him in nothing at all.

"I can't believe I slept with this body and didn't know what I was missing out on."

He laughed. "I knew. Every morning I ran until my frustrations passed. Well, that and the shower." The idea of him jerking off in the shower, because of her, sent a new wave of excitement through her body. "Maybe today after the beach, you can join me in the shower instead."

She giggled. "Seriously, now that we aren't pretending, what do we do?"

"Do? No one, but Jon knew we were pretending. He also knew how much I loved you."

"Is there anything he doesn't know?"

"That you love me too." He smiled like a kid on Christmas morning. "You want a serious conversation. We need to get out of this bed and I need coffee."

"Are you going to run?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure I have the energy."

She laughed. She loved him and still couldn't believe he loved her too. She had experienced incredible sex and her belly clenched when she thought about it. She watched as Tom got out of bed and put on his shorts.

He noticed her blatant stare. "Your turn. Get up, wife." He pulled back the sheet and scanned the length of her.

Being referred to as his wife took on a new meaning. It suddenly felt real like it was their honeymoon.

Together they made breakfast. "I need to call my mother before the beach."

"What are you going to tell her?"

"I'd like to break the news to her in person, but I won't have time off for a while."

"Will she be upset?"

"No! She'll love you. My father and brother worry me."

"Why? Will they hate me?"

"No one could hate you. They just worry about things I don't, like prenups."

Katie forgot he was rich. "I don't want your money."

"It's our money, because I'll never let you go."

"But I don't belong in your world." She protested and suddenly worried they made a mistake.

"You do, and someday we'll dance together with you in a beautiful gown."

She wanted that, but it scared her. "We need a place to live."

"I thought maybe two bedrooms." He smiled.

She looked at him suspiciously. "What now you don't want to sleep with me?"

He shook his head. "I never want to sleep without you. I was thinking that Laurie might have a good idea."

"What idea is that?" Katie knew the one thing Laurie had been encouraging her since the day they met.

"I want to be a family."

"You want a baby?" He shocked Katie because she felt the strong desire for a baby.

"I want your baby. I have imagined you as a mother for a long time. The thought of you carrying my child is so sexy."

"Sexy. I've worked maternity and seen what it does to women's bodies."

He shook his head. "You'll always be beautiful to me. What do you want?"

She smiled. "To be a mother. We weren't worrying about it last night."

"Or this morning. Is it too soon? Our first anniversary is next week."

"A pretty unique first year." She laughed.

He shrugged. "I was happy to be with you." He stood and took his laptop out of his bag. "Let's find a two-bedroom apartment."

There was one close to base but not near their old complex. Katie looked at the rent. "Can we afford it?"

"Luce, we have money."

"You have money."

He took her hand. "What's mine is yours. Are you planning to work?"

"I'd like to, but maybe not the same hospital." She didn't want to run into people who remembered she lost Paco. She felt the guilt close in. How could she feel so happy?

"Luce, baby. We deserve to be happy. He would want us to be, but we'll never forget him. You don't need to hide your feelings. I know how much you loved him."

She nodded and felt angry at herself for crying when she should be happy. "I love you."

He brought her hand to his lips. "You make me so happy. We can name our son after him."

"Francisco Hayes? I don't know."

"Paco Hayes."

"Your mother would hate me!"

"I won't let her. She's not like Mama C."

"Can we talk about something else?"

"How about you go put on your sexy little bikini while I call about this apartment?"

Her belly flipped at his words. Maybe going to the beach was a bad idea. As they walked to the car, Laurie came running out of her house.

"Tom! Welcome home! Look at her smile. She missed you."

"Hi Laurie. I missed her too." He winked at Katie.

Laurie smiled. "The lovebirds are back together."

Tom laughed as Katie felt her cheeks turn pink. "We'll see you." Tom knew not to reply, or she'd have them talking for a half an hour.

"Have fun!" She waved at them.

Just like always, Tom spread their blanket. "Go swim!" She pointed to the water.

Katie sat on the blanket, but when he turned to swim back, she walked to the water to wait for him.

She heard a voice behind her. "You're back."

She turned and smiled. "Hi Amelia and doctor."

"Alone again. I thought your husband was coming back."

She smiled and pointed to the water. "He is." She watched as Tom stood and started walking toward her. She was so enthralled she forgot she wasn't alone.

Tom said, "Hi." He put his arm around her and rested his hand on her waist. He felt wet, but she didn't care.

"This is Amelia and..." She didn't know his name. "A doctor at the hospital."

"Welcome home. My daughter literally ran into your wife here, and our paths crossed again. She was busy counting down the days."

"I was too." Tom pulled her into him. "Nice meeting you." He led her away from them as she waved at the little girl.

Once at the blanket, Tom laid next to her. "If we hadn't confessed our love, I would have been jealous."

She laughed. "I don't even know his name."

They hadn't been on the blanket long when Tom said, "How long do you want to stay? I keep thinking about the shower."