A/N:  Smut warning!  You have been warned.

Lin stayed the night again, but they tried to be careful about Madeline knowing. Kate awoke slowly the next morning to the feeling of Lin up against her back, gently rubbing her side. She became aware of his nose tucked just behind her ear, and then he began to press gentle kisses to her neck.

"Mmmmm..." she smiled at the way she was being woken up. The light was just starting to peek through the blinds.

"Morning," Lin told her in a gravelly morning voice. Kate loved his voice when he first woke up. It was incredibly sexy. Seeing she was awake, Lin carefully snaked his hand under her shirt to rub her bare skin as he continued to lavish kisses on her neck and her shoulder. His fingers eventually made their way to her breasts, gently kneading them in his palm. She let out little whimpers of pleasure, urging him on.

He gently tugged on the bottom of her ear with his teeth as his fingers travelled down to her panties, letting one finger play with the waistband, teasing her. Soon, he slipped his hand inside and she parted her legs for him. Two fingers began to gently push to her folds, teasing and massaging.

"Lin," she whispered, reaching back to run her hands through his hair. He propped himself up on his elbow to allow him to get a deeper angle as she turned her face to him. They captured each other's lips in a sweet kiss as Lin's fingers worked at her clit. Moans of pleasure escaped her lips as he pressed his tongue into her mouth, kissing her deeper.

Kate could feel his hardness pressed up against her back and it turned her on, knowing he was ready for her. With his left hand he pulled at her tiny pajama shorts and panties and began to work them down her legs. Once they were off, he placed his hand under her left thigh, urging her legs open a little more. He reached down to grab hold of himself, aching to be inside her.

Kate groaned as she felt him rub up against her, stroking a few times before he finally gently pushed himself inside her about halfway. He slowly pulled out, then thrust into her all the way, filling her up. He paused for a few moments, just enjoying the feeling of being inside her. He closed his eyes and let out a groan.

He then began to move rhythmically inside her from behind, listening to her little whimpers of pleasure as he moved. Lin reached his hand over her hip and let his fingers find her clit again, giving her more pleasure.

He began to pick up the pace, thrusting into her a bit harder and faster. She responded by moaning louder and raking her hand through his hair. After a few minutes, Lin pulled out and laid on his back so Kate could take over. She quickly crawled on top of him, stripping her shirt off in the process as she positioned herself over his hips. She leaned down to capture his lips in a deep kiss as his hands once again found her breasts. He palmed them a bit more aggressively this time, making her gasp.

Kate lowered herself down on to him until he was deep inside her again, then began bucking her hips back and forth. Lin placed his hands on either side of her hips, encouraging her along. The sight of her on top of him, riding him, was gorgeous.

Both of them felt their climaxes near and Kate leaned down to rest her head against Lin's. He caught her hips a couple inches in the air and held her steady as he began to thrust his hips up into her hard. The sound of their skin connecting, the rhythm slap of their bodies and their groans filled the room. Kate felt the familiar tightness in her belly and then felt a wave of pleasure wash over her as Lin pumped into her hard. She let out a scream of pleasure as her orgasm hit, Lin groaning a few moments later as he came himself. After the ebb began to fade, she collapsed on top of her boyfriend as they panted together. They kissed and then Kate let her head rest next to his. Lin kissed her on the forehead as she rolled off to the side and they just held each other as they caught their breath.

About fifteen minutes later, they heard movement in the hallway. Lin reached for his boxers and his t-shirt and quickly put them on. The plan was for Kate to take Maddie into the hallway to brush her teeth while Lin made his exit. They kissed each other goodbye, promising to text each other later to make plans. Kate made her way to the bathroom and Lin very carefully tiptoed down the hallway and out the apartment.

As Kate made her daughter breakfast, she found that she'd gotten quite a few texts from her ex. He was hoping to get together with Maddie again today. She texted back that she had pre-school then a play date in the afternoon. He offered to take her to dinner and she reluctantly accepted, but made him promise not to make it fast food.

Lin tried to cheer her up by bringing her Chinese. He arrived around six, plastic bag in hand with her favorite – chicken lo mein and crab rangoons. She was already in her sweats, over the world. They put on some crappy reality TV and ate their food.

"The custody hearing is next week," she told him as she twirled her noodles around her fork. "I don't know how fast the visitation starts after the judge rules."

"I imagine pretty immediately," Lin figured, though he was no expert on the subject. "What day is it?"

"Wednesday at 1:00," she said. "I've got a lawyer, but she doesn't think there's any way to stop him from getting visitation, or 50/50 custody. I just can't imagine not having Maddie here all the time. How can he just swoop in one day and decide he wants to be in her life? It's not fair to Maddie."

"No it's not," Lin agreed. "But I guess it's good he wants to be in her life."

Kate sighed, not really wanting to hear that, but knew it was true. Having both parents in your life was important for a kid.

"Look on the bright side," Lin ventured. "If Maddie spends weekends away, maybe we could go on a little trip together."

"Like where?"

"Somewhere special...like New Jersey," he teased. She laughed in spite of the mood she was in.

"Maybe we could go upstate. Get a cabin," he said.

"I didn't know you were the type to rough it," Kate teased.

"Hey, I never said the cabin wouldn't have electricity and WiFi," he said. "I have needs."

They both pushed around their food for a few more minutes as the TV droned on in the background.

"Do you want me to come to the hearing?" Lin asked gently.

She thought for a moment, looking down at her food. "I don't know if that would be such a good idea. I don't think Jason likes the idea that I have a boyfriend. He probably thinks he's being compared to you."

Lin nodded in understanding. "Let me know if you change your mind. I can be there."

"Thanks, Lin," she said, giving him a half smile. How did she manage to deserve this guy?

They cleaned up the Chinese take out boxes and snuggled up on the couch. At around 7:30, Madeline came bounding in, followed by Jason. She launched herself into her mother's arms.

"Mommy!!" She said gleefully, sitting in her lap.

"How was dinner?"

"Good. Daddy let me get ice cream."

"He did?" She stroked her hair back away from her face. "That was nice of him. Did you tell him thank you?"

"Thanks, Daddy," she said.

"You're welcome, munchkin," he said, tucking his hands in his pockets. "Kate, can I talk to you for a minute? Privately?"

"Sure," she said, lifting Maddie off her lap. She immediately crawled into Lin's lap for more cuddles. Kate led Jason down the hallway to the master bedroom and closed the door.

"What is it, Jason?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"I just wanted to check in with you about the custody hearing," he said, obviously a little nervous. "Umm...I'm planning on asking for joint custody."

"I know," she spat.

"But...I don't want this to be a problem. I know I haven't been around, but I love Maddie and I'm her father."

"I know," she said again. "You have every right to want to be in her life. I just don't see why you need to race ahead to full-blown joint custody. Couldn't you start with Wednesdays and every other weekend? She's four, Jason. She's very attached to me and she barely knows you."

"I know that's my fault," he said. "But I'm planning on living here now, so I'll be around. I want to be with her as much as I can. I've missed out on a lot."

"And whose fault is that?" She asked bluntly.

He sighed and shook his head. "Sorry to put you through this," he said. "I just wanted to get that out in the open."

"Duly noted," she said flatly and opened the door.

"One more thing," he said.

"What?" she asked shortly.

"This Lin guy..." he rubbed at his jaw. "Is he going to be around all the time?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business," Kate quipped.

"Well if he's going to be around my daughter a lot I feel like I have a right to know," he said.

"You don't," Kate said simply. "My personal life is none of your concern. Anything else?"

He looked at his feet and then began to walk away. As we walked down the hallway, I could hear the sounds of Lin and Maddie playing together on the floor. Her giggles always lifted my mood.

"I'm gonna head out, munchkin," he said, squatting down. Maddie walked over to her father and gave him a quick hug.

"Bye, Daddy," she said softly.

Jason stood up and looked at Kate. "Maybe I can take her out again tomorrow?"

"She doesn't need to be eating out every night, Jason."

"Maybe just to play in the park or something," he said. "I can cook her lunch or dinner at home."

Again, Kate felt like she couldn't say no. She nodded and told him to pick her up around 11. Kate closed the door behind him and locked it.

"Are you okay, mommy?" Maddie asked. Kate looked at her and smiled.

"I think we need some chocolate," she announced, which caused Maddie to cheer. She'd already had ice cream that night, but it just felt right. Maddie followed her mother to the kitchen, where she kept the stash of chocolate, way up high in the pantry where her daughter couldn't reach it. Kate broke off a row of Hershey's chocolate for each of them. They all sat down on the couch and enjoyed their treat.

"Is Lin sleeping over again?" Maddie asked innocently. Lin almost choked on his chocolate and coughed to clear it.

"What do you mean again?" Kate asked her.

"I saw him leave this morning," she said. "Were you having a slumber party?"

Kate and Lin looked at each other and smirked. "Something like that," she said. "Finish up your chocolate, then it's time to brush your teeth and go to bed."

The little girl laughed, happy, as she looked between her mom and Lin. Kate and Lin realized they probably needed to be a little more careful.