My temper rises, but I don't quite lose it, "Jeez Kel!" Pacing the room I begin to rant, "We all need to pull are socks up, myself included. We've become complacent, lazy, and downright stupid. Our freedom's seduced us, London's blind-sided us. We see all these ordinary people rushing to work, then drinking, laughing, crying, and rushing home, to repeat the same story the following day. And we've began to think, that, that's all we've got to deal with!"

I calm a little, "Truth is, we're not ordinary, we'll never be anything close."

Kelly cuts in, slightly pissed, "Calm down, Kade, I made a mistake, a simple, honest mistake. I didn't willfully jump off a bridge and fly around London, risking everything we've achieved." She immediately lowers her head, "Sorry, that was a low blow," she says, regret in her voice.

Tan comes to my defense, "He's right Kelly. I took my eye off the ball at Darby & Associates and ended up back in Chicago waiting to have Drew's child implanted inside me." Drew lowers his head, unsure if he's in some kinda trouble.

"Yes. I do agree, we have all become somewhat enamored with our freedom here in London, and it is now becoming to our detriment," says Troy.

Kelly stands up, with a positive, 'can do' attitude, "OK. Let's drop the negativity, and deal with retrieving the Imp. The cab was pre-booked, so we call the cab company and let them know. Simples," she smiles.

"Who made the booking?" I ask.

"The lady on the Hospital reception desk," replies Kelly.

Mom remains upbeat and optimistic, "We'll get the Imp back, let's not let this mishap upset Tanya's return and Kelvin and Drew's birthday celebrations," she says, trying to diffuse our tension.

Tan and I make our way to the reception area, while the others settle in Drew; and help with the final touches to the double birthday celebrations. But of course, we know without the Imp, we may all have to listen to a Kelvin tantrum rather than a celebration.

Something Tan said is bothering me, so I spill it in the elevator; "You never told me they were going to impregnate you with Drew's baby."

She looks surprised, "You knew. You saw the 'GROW GIRL' presentation that they showed me in the cell, in Chicago. You knew exactly what they had planned for me," she says, with a questioning face.

"Sure, I did. But I didn't know the baby was going to be Drew's. You could have told me that before you shared it with the rest of the group," I say, trying not to sound too hurt; or am I pissed? I'm not quite sure how I feel about this, to be honest.

Tan's real pissed, and grabs me before we enter the public filled reception area, "Hey Kade, where's this coming from?" She asks.

"It's coming from me."

"Quit the sarcasm, it doesn't suit you."

"And withholding information from me, doesn't suit you."

She shakes her head, "Come on Kade, I withheld nothing. It's irrelevant whose baby it was going to be, what they were gonna do was wrong - period!" she says; frustration and slight fury in her voice.

I shoot back, "It's relevant to me. If you ever get to carry a baby, it should, and will be mine, no question - period!"

She crashes back against the wall and puts her head in her hands, "Kade, I don't get this. We've talked about the fact we'll probably never have children," she says, frustration swamping her fury.

"PROBABLY, being the all important word in our talks, Tan," I reply.

She's about to shoot back, but is interrupted by the elevator door pinging open and Kelly bolting out, "Hey guys, good news. The cabman had my cell number. He just called, he's in reception with the Imp." She suddenly stops, "Tanya, are you OK?"

"I'm fine, I guess jet-lag can sneak up on you, regardless of how well you sleep on the plane," she lies.

Kelly punches the air, "Get yourself a second wind, Tanya. We got the Imp back, so let's get the beast, and get the party started," she says, full of enthusiasm.

The fat cabman is standing at the reception desk with the wrapped up Imp tucked under his podgy arm. As soon as he sees us he smiles, unconcerned about his missing teeth, "What are you youngsters like, leaving a kiddies present in the back of my old wagon. I couldn't pick up me next job knowing a young kiddy's heart was breaking on his birthday," he says, as the three of us approach him.

I'm immediately suspicious, "How'd you know it's a kids present?" I ask, probably a little too defensively.

He looks at the box, then at me, "Look lad, you owe me a thank you, not an accusation," he says, thrusting the box at me.

Jeez, I'm pissing everyone off today, calm it Kade, I say to myself, as I take the box and sheepishly say, "I apologize, jet lag makes me grumpy, I guess." I glance at Tan, she looks away.

I take the box from him and he says, "Apology accepted." He looks at me suspiciously, then Tan and Kel, "Are you kids, alright, like you're not in some kind a trouble are ya?"

Kel chips in, "Thanks to you, we're not now. And you're right, it's my kid brother's birthday gift, so you've saved our bacon, as you Brits say," she says.

"Good to hear it. I'll be on my way, then." He turns to leave, but suddenly swivels back and looks at Tan, "Hey gorgeous, you've dropped something." Tan looks on the floor, then at the cabman, confused, "What did I drop?" She asks. A chuckle bursts from him, "Your smile." He says, as he waddles out of the building.

Kelly and I smile at his humor, Tan doesn't.

She's real angry with me.

And I can understand why. I've been a jerk; my jealousy's an issue I need to work on, and soon.

I lead Tan, silently into our bedroom, and close the door.

I lift her chin gently upwards to meet my gaze. The hurt in her eyes is evident, but I remain silent. My earlier words were harsh, so my sorry will be sweet and wordless; it will be: soft, sensual and tender.

My eyes don't leave hers as I open the buttons to her shirt, gently parting the soft fabric and slipping it off, of her shoulders.

The back of my hand gently skims down the warmth of her body, pausing at her navel - I unbutton her jeans.

Laying her on our bed, my mouth finds the nape of her neck. I nibble, nuzzle and caress her shower warm, soapy smelling skin. My attentive tongue causes her body to gently tremor; while quiet, quivering breaths escape her slightly parted mouth.

Tan's involuntary movements and sounds let me know she's ready. I make sure she feels every pleasurable ounce of my sorry - I owe it to her.

Our lovemaking was healing.

Showered, refreshed and dressed, Tan and I make our way to the decorated birthday room, with matching, happy moods.

We're hit with a definite atmosphere when we walk into the birthday room, which is at odds with the vibrance of the brightly colored balloons and décor.

Troy and Kelly are sitting on the sofa, their heads bowed, "Where's the birthday boy?" I ask.

They don't have time to answer, because little Kelvin bursts through the door, a look of abject terror on his face. He runs towards Tan, circling her, his eyes searching every inch of her, "You seem to be unharmed," he asks, perplexed.

"Why would I be harmed," asks Tan.

Kelvin steps back, looks at Kelly and Troy, then back to us, "We heard you being attacked, you were screaming, screaming real loud. I tried to get in, but your door was locked," he says, concern etched on his little face.

When I look at Troy and Kelly, I realize their heads are bowed because they're trying to stifle embarrassed giggles.

Tan tries to compose herself, "I've not been attacked, I just slipped on something. Now, let's get on with your party," she says, a hand covering her rapidly reddening face.

Kelvin shakes his head, "No Tanya, I heard you, it was like you were being stabbed, over and over again. And you were crying out, 'Kade, Kade, Kade' shouting for him to rescue you. But I think he was in the shower and didn't know someone was attacking you!" His voice raised and agitated.

Drew provides a welcome distraction, entering the room, looking fresh and relaxed in a pair of Troy's sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Hey, they're a perfect fit," says Kelly, jumping from the couch, fussing over Drew, in an attempt to deflect attention away from Kelvin's insistence.

But dad won't drop it, "Did you hear Tanya's screams and pain, Drew?"

He sits on a chair, "Yes, your pleasure was most audible, Tanya," he says, politely, and with a refreshing lack of judgement.

Kelvin erupts, "Pleasure - NO! I heard pain. I will get to the bottom of this, Tanya," he stomps.

I decide to step in, "OK dad, it's party time - go get mom and Tony, let them know we're all ready," I say.

His face switches in an instant, "Yesssss!" He squeals, and shoots out the door. His concern over taken by thoughts of gifts and good times.

With Kelvin gone, we all dive into peels of unfettered laughter. I hug Tan into me, as she tries to apologize between red-faced giggles. She's no need to say sorry for our love making, we just need to remember not to express it so audibly, next time.

The atmosphere is fantastic as we all join in singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Drew and Kelvin at the top of our voices. Even Tony takes a break from his computer terminal to join the festivities.

It's the little things that touch me most, like seeing the pure pleasure on Drew's face, as he tastes chocolate for the first time. And Kelvin, my dad; his face smeared in Rees's Peanut Butter Cup, dancing around the room, buzzing on the copious amounts of Mountain Dew he's been allowed to drink.

Then Kelly enters, holding aloft the star of the show, "OK dad. Here it is, come and open your Imp," she says, placing the wrapped box on the table.

We all stand around, while dad makes short shrift of the ugly wrapping paper. "You're the fist kid in the world to have this moment, Kelvin, enjoy the experience," says mom, beaming with happiness, and a scientists interest.

I feel my heart start to thump as the brightly colored box is revealed.

"WOW!" Is dad's immediate reaction. His attraction to the bright graphics is obvious in his excited face.

Tan and I are standing behind the box and we both see the instruction in large, child friendly font: TWIST THE TOPKNOT ON THE IMPS HEAD, AND MEET YOUR NEW FRIEND FOR LIFE.

Tan looks at me and mouths, "The Topknot."

I nod my head, knowing she's thinking the same as me. This Imp may give us information that Topknot guy is still not willing to divulge...