Chapter Fourteen Sabryn was just finished brushing out her hair when she heard the front door open. Glancing at herself in the mirror, she grabbed a bottle of zit cream and placed little white dots on any potential problem areas. When she was done, she washed her hands and tugged up her sagging socks. Anton was already in the bedroom undressing by the time she came out of the bathroom. He glanced at her once as she climbed into bed, doing a double-take when he noticed the baseball jersey and cut-off sweatpants she was wearing. He didn't say a word but climbed into bed as well. Sabryn lay on her side, back to him. He settled on his side as well and stroked his hand over her arm. She pulled away slightly. Anton leaned a little closer to kiss behind her ear. "Don't." Bryn said softly. Anton grunted and rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He waited for her to do or say something to end the chilly silence between them. When five minutes went by without a word, he sighed. "You're mad at me." "For a man who's lived over a thousand years, you sure don't catch on very quickly." "What do you want me to say?" She turned over until she was facing him, with space between them. "Do you remember when I told you that if you couldn't trust me, this relationship wouldn't work?" He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Yes." She pressed her lips together, staring down at the blankets. "I know I can't make you believe me, Anton, and I'm not going to try. But I'm going to tell you something about myself and I want you to listen to me." "All right." "I lived for ten years with people who didn't believe me. They didn't mention it, but it was feeling that constantly hung over me. And the first chance I got, I left there and swore I wouldn't look back. Do you know what it does to a person to live every day in that kind of situation? It kills your spirit. It might take a while, but eventually it happens." She took a deep breath, clenching her eyes shut for a moment. "The Bryn that you met on the beach a year ago--that wasn't the same person that lived with my parents. That was me, after years of my brother and his family showering me with love and an unwavering belief in me. Before I moved in with him, I was dead inside. I had no interest in anything, I hid myself from the world, and I was also very suicidal. "I know you don't mean to hurt me, Anton, but if you can't trust me and believe I'm telling you the truth, I don't know if I can trust you to believe anything I ever say. And that makes me very sad, because I think we could be really good together. But if that's not possible, I will walk away from you, Anton. I can't love someone and know they don't believe me. Not again. I don't think you'd like what I would become." "You'd leave." He swallowed, sitting up to look at her better. "Then please, Bryn. Help me believe." "I told you, Anton--" "Bryn, please listen. All my life I've trusted myself and my senses. I could take leaps of faith in relationships because I *knew* what I was feeling. If I could see it, touch it, I would have no problems with it. I was raised without the shackles of superstition. I didn't even believe in werewolves until I met one. I've never seen a ghost, or a zombie, or a bigfoot, or the Loch Ness Monster. I don't believe in them because I have no direct experience with them." He was shaking at this point, afraid that even being honest he'd drive her away. "I'm terrified at the thought of losing you. I don't know how, but I want to believe." "I don't know what to tell you, Anton. I don't even remember most of it, myself. I just--I've never seen a million dollars, but I believe it exists. I believe it because people have told me so. Not because I wanted to believe, or because someone has shown it to me." She shook her head, pressing her forehead against her bent knees. "I know that sounds stupid, but I can't explain it to you any better than that. I can't prove it, I know that much. I can't take you outside and show you a spaceship." She was silent for a moment, before taking off her ring and tossing it onto his lap. "If you'd told me a month ago that red diamonds existed, I probably would've had a hard time believing it, too. But then you found one. They're exceedingly rare, so much so that only a few people in the world have ever laid eyes on one. And it's the same thing with the aliens, Anton. I can't buy one for you. But they do exist." He picked up the ring, blood running cold. "Bryn, I--" "Be quiet and listen, you stubborn idiot." She took his hand and laid it palm flat against her stomach. "This is your child I'm carrying, right?" "Yes." "How do you know that?" "You told me." "Exactly Anton. I told you. We haven't had any tests done to prove that this baby's yours. I told you, and though it took you a while, you believe me." She waited for him to nod. "So how's me telling you that I'm carrying your child different from me telling you I was abducted by aliens?" He opened his mouth to argue, but couldn't. She was right, and it was time for him to take a leap of faith. "I believe... that I am the biggest fool mankind has ever known." The next words were harder for him to say. "And I believe that you... were abducted... by aliens." "I don't want you to lie to me just so--" "I--I'm not lying to you." He tightened his fingers around her stomach. "It took some adjusting to get me to believe this, right? Just give me a little while to adjust to the idea, okay?" She took a deep breath. "But if any part of you doubts me--" "I don't, Bryn. It took you a while to adjust to me being a vampire, right? And that was when you had proof right in front of your face. I don't have any proof now...I'm trusting my instincts, and I'm trusting you. Just let me let it simmer for a while." She sighed, but nodded. Settling back down on the bed, she laid her head on the pillow and watched him twirl her ring between his fingers. "Are you gonna give that back?" "You want it back?" "Of course. I was only trying to get your attention." Hands still shaking lightly, he placed the ring back on her left hand. He then held her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. She gave him a shaky smile, squeezing his hand. "Thank you, Anton. I know it's not an easy thing to believe, for a lot of people. And I know I didn't have any right to try to change your mind. It means so much to me that you're willing to try. I'm going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I appreciate this, and how much I love you." He grinned a little at that. "I thought that was my line." Anton bent down to where his face was inches from hers. "I'd kiss you, but I don't know what that goop is on your face." She frowned for a minute, before staring cross-eyed at her own nose. "Crap. Hang on a minute." She got off the bed, and hurried in the bathroom to wipe the white dots off her face. When she was done, she threw the tissue in the garbage and bent over to take off her saggy socks. Deciding to leave the rest up to him, she walked back into the bedroom and resumed lying down next to him. "As you were," she said, grinning. He leaned back over her. "Much better," he murmured, stroking the side of her face. He brushed his tongue across her lips before pressing theirs together. Anton put all the passion he could into the kiss, trying to express the love he felt for her, and his fear of ever losing her. She moaned softly, tangling her fingers in his hair. She sucked lightly at his lower lip, meeting his gaze. After a moment, she pulled back to look at his face. "I didn't really want to go to sleep without you holding me." She glanced down at her clothes, gesturing with her chin. "But you might have to get used to this outfit...at least for the month before the wedding, anyway." He groaned. "The month from hell, you mean?" She grinned. "Somehow I doubt either one of us will survive a whole month." She looked down at his hand as he ran his fingers over her stomach. "You're shaking already, Anton." He slowly started undoing the buttons of the jersey. "Are you saying I have no self-control, my dear?" He parted the fabric just far enough to see the bare inside curve of her breasts. "Because I seem to remember several times I've had you trembling." "I don't mean to imply anything of the kind. You probably have far more self- control than I do." She seemed to emphasize her words by arching her back and pressing herself against his hand. "And believe me, you've had me trembling a lot more than just several times. Try every time." Anton slid her shirt off her shoulders. "I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to the month before our wedding. Because I'm going to miss doing this." He kissed her bare shoulder. "This." He licked between her cleavage. "And especially this." He bent over and took one nipple between his lips, pulling lightly. She let out a small shriek, making him look up at her. "They're getting more sensitive," she said, shivering beneath him. "Did that hurt?" "Nooo..." Her voice was shaky, but her lips were starting to curve upwards. "It felt really, really good." Grinning himself, he lowered his head and sucked at her again. She whimpered, her back arching helplessly beneath him. She cried out at the feeling of his teeth nipping at her. Her legs parted, her feet tracing up his calves and back down again. "Mmm...maybe we don't have to make it a whole month...maybe just a week." She cried out again, clenching her fingers in his hair. "Or maybe a day?" He chuckled, feeling her squirm beneath him. "Whatever you wish, my dear." One of his hands crept up her inside thigh to stroke just above the hem of her cutoff sweats. "But did you think we'd actually be able to keep our hands off each other for a whole month?" She bit her lip, shaking her head. "I get anxious just waiting a few hours for this." She swiveled her hips, trying to encourage him to move his hand up a little further. She scooted down a bit on the bed, pulling him closer to kiss his mouth. Her right hand reached down to take hold of his cock, fingers lightly tracing the prominent vein beneath. "I have daydreams about you pushing inside me. It always feels so good...like we're one person. I love that." He shivered as her hand moved over his cock. "I love how your muscles caress me, Bryn, whether it's your hands, your sex, or your mouth." He began tugging at her sweats, peppering her face with light kisses. She lifted her hips up to allow him to pull the shorts all the way off. Once naked, she pulled him on top of her and bent her legs, pressing her heels flat on the bed. Between her legs, she continued to stroke him. Teasing herself as much as him. Deliberately making herself wait for the moment he pushed inside her. "I missed you, Anton. I'm sorry I was a bitch earlier." "I deserved it, Bryn." He paused to kiss the hollow of her throat. "Now are you ready for your daydream to become reality?" "Please." Slowly he inched his cock inside of her. "Hold still," he whispered when he was fully embedded. "I want to enjoy this for a moment, my dear." "Mmhmm." She nodded, biting her lip, her muscles squeezing and relaxing around him. It was an amazing sensation, that moment when their breathing was perfectly in sync. When she felt totally meshed with him, filled and surrounded, sheltered and embraced, all in one instance. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back on the pillow. Despite being so energized with desire for him, she could've fallen asleep that way. And the truly astounding thing, as he met her gaze, was that she knew he felt it too. "Perfect." He held perfectly still, except for the trembling he couldn't seem to stop. He only felt this way making love to Sabryn. They were so perfect together, both physically and mentally. Even when they fought, they always seemed to be able to find middle ground and work their way back to each other. She kissed him softly, her hands sliding down his back and up again. Starting to shake beneath him, she tightened her thighs around his hips. He could feel her rhythmically squeezing him inside of her, a little ripple of desire making her limbs twitch with every pull and release. After a moment, her hips jerked against his, a sharp breath leaving her mouth. And he felt the liquid warmth of her orgasm surrounding him, bathing him, as she shuddered below him. With a blissful expression of her face, she slowly opened her eyes. "So much better than a daydream." "Yeah," he whispered a bit breathlessly as he began to move his hips. "So much better." He could feel Sabryn start to curl around him, her hips pumping to meet his. One hand began circling her breast as he nipped at her neck. She wrapped her legs around him, her hands rubbing over his chest and shoulders. She glanced at the ring on her hand, smiling, before tangling her fingers in his hair. "I can't wait for you to be my husband. Two months seems like far too long away." "I know, my dear, I know." He kissed her lips, his thrusts becoming more urgent. His hands began stroking everywhere he could reach - over her shoulders, down her arms, around the small of her back. He groaned when she locked her heels over his ass, pulling him in tighter. Moaning, he felt his orgasm building. And when Sabryn's nails dug into his ass, he came, pushing as deep inside of her as he could get. She shuddered beneath him, more as a result of his orgasm than her own, but she still felt the little waves of pleasure wash over her. Loosening her grip a bit, she wrapped her arms around his back, pressing her face against his shoulder, allowing them both to stop shaking. After a moment, she reached for the blankets and pulled them up to his shoulders. Relaxing even more as he lazily pushed himself onto his side, pulling her with him, staying connected with her body. She snuggled tighter against him, pressing her lips to his chest. "I love you, sugar booger." One of Anton's eyes opened. "What did you just call me?" He could feel her shaking with suppressed laughter. "You heard me, sugar booger." "That's what I thought you said." He pushed up on one elbow to look down at her. "I don't mind pet names, my dear, but... sugar booger?" "Would you rather I came up with something more creative?" "I'm not sure which frightens me more." "Just trying to be original, Anton. You've probably been called about every pet name that exists. I can't help it if you've been around forever." He laid back down beside her. "Sugar booger," he murmured doubtfully. "Would you prefer Sir Lance-a-lot?" He mock shuddered. "I think I'll stick with sugar booger." He frowned. "My God... if Lindy ever heard you call me that--" She grinned ferally, pushing him onto his back. She climbed on top of him, moving her hair to one side as she looked down at him. "Don't worry. It'll just be our little secret." Settling down on to his chest, she nuzzled his neck and prepared to go to sleep right where she was. She sighed contentedly as he wrapped his arms around her. "Sweet dreams...Sugar booger." The drive down to Saratoga the next evening was uneventful. They had left almost as soon as the sun went down, and forty minutes later they pulled up to the adobe buildings just off the freeway. After parking, they followed the signs to the offices of Dr. Anne Leahs. The waiting room was empty of other people, except for someone at the receptionist station, a short woman with her strawberry blonde hair pulled into a long braid. She looked up at the pair when they entered. "You must be Mr. Rudenko and Ms. Jaegar." When they nodded, she stood up and offered her hand to them both. "I'm Dr. Leahs. Jess gave me a rundown of the situation earlier, and I've got a lot of questions for both of you. But first I need to get some paperwork and family histories from both of you." When she handed over the clipboards, Dr. Anne noticed the look on Anton's face and said, "Is there a problem?" "I was adopted," he said, quietly. "Well, just fill it out the best you can. We'll worry about the details later." Sitting down in the reception area, they started filling out the charts. Bryn rested her left hand on his thigh, rubbing her fingers back and forth over his slacks. There wasn't a whole lot of information he could give—not even a definitive birth date. Bryn, on the other hand, was wondering just what information to keep to herself. "You think I should write something on here about my abduction," she murmured, "or tell her in the examining room?" "They say patient records are confidential. I guess you should write it down." She sighed, scribbling down a brief note about her abduction and possible concerns. As he watched her write, he leaned over and whispered, "You think I should write something on here about being a vampire?" She couldn't help but giggle. "Probably. Otherwise they'll just think you're *really* old." He made a few notes on the forms, filling out what little information he could. Once Sabryn was finished, he handed the clipboards back to the doctor. Anne started flipping through the sheets. "Give me a few minutes to go over these..." She paused, frowning at one of them. She then gave the second clipboard a once over, her frown becoming more pronounced. She blinked once, and looked up at the pair. "All this is accurate?" She blinked again when they nodded. "Well, Jess told me to expect the unexpected. And she's right." Bryn glanced at Anton, fighting the urge to blurt out "We're everybody's favorite party couple!" Instead, she stood up and was about to grab a magazine when the doctor opened one of the side doors and waited. "I'll show you to one of the rooms so we can get started." Swallowing nervously, Bryn grabbed Anton's hand and followed the doctor down the hall. She hoped she wasn't shaking nearly as badly as she thought she was. She hated doctors, even if they were women. And the fact that this would be the second woman in the Leahs family to see her naked from the waist down didn't escape her either. Inside the room, she took a seat in the chair nearest the counter, looking expectantly at the blood pressure cuff and the thermometer. Her leg bounced lightly as her foot tapped the floor, her heel making a repeated clicking sound until she consciously tried to control it. Dr. Anne pulled out a hospital gown and handed it to Bryn. "Go ahead and change into this, Ms. Jaegar. I'll be back in a moment." Anton squeezed her hand as the doctor left the room. "You okay, Sabryn?" "Oh yeah, sure," she mumbled, setting her purse on the floor. "This is my favorite part." She took off her clothes, folding them and placing them on the chair next to him. "See, men have the easy part...turn your head and cough. But women, we get poked and prodded all over the place. Usually by some creepy old balding man with freezing cold instruments. And just when you think it's over, he brings out this thing that looks like one of those metal picks that dentists use--what are you grinning at?" "You. You can't take off your bra until you take your shirt off the rest of the way." She glanced down at herself, muttering obscenities. Fixing the problem, she continued talking, "We have breast exams, mammograms, pap smears...and that's if everything is healthy!" "You forgot prostate exams." "We don't have prostates, Anton." "No, I'm saying that you forgot men have to go through prostate exams. Think about the little balding man you mentioned before, only picture him snapping on latex gloves and lubing up his finger." She wrinkled her nose at that, pulling on the ugly blue gown. "All right, you've got me there, but that's still two procedures compared to about twenty." "You have a point, my dear." Anton kissed Bryn's forehead. He put his arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay, Bryn." He held her like that until the doctor knocked on the door. "All set?" "Ready as I'll ever be," Sabryn muttered. "Okay. I see that your previous doctor already did a full exam, Ms. Jaegar. But if you don't mind, I'd like to examine you myself." "That's fine," she said, softly, stepping up on the little shelf and sitting on the examining table. She held Anton's gaze as Dr. Anne took her temperature and other vitals. She didn't mind that part so much. She could even remember times, as a little girl, when she'd enjoyed going to the doctor and showing off how healthy she was. Her pediatrician had always given her a lollypop before she left, reminding her to brush her teeth. Lost for a moment in the memory, she didn't hear what Dr. Anne said next. "Excuse me?" "Go ahead and lie back on the table, and scoot towards me until I tell you to stop." She nervously pushed her hair out of the way as she lay back on the crinkly white paper. She hated that feeling, the crisp paper shuffling below her, the sudden rush of cold air on the bottom of her thighs as she lifted her feet into the stirrups. She reached out blindly for Anton's hand, staring at the poster on the ceiling, fighting the shivers that coursed through her body. Once she was scooted down far enough, the doctor sat down on her stool and began the examination. Anton squeezed her hand as the Dr. Anne adjusted the light. "How far along do you think you are, Ms. Jaegar?" "About five weeks." The doctor nodded. "And there's been no spotting? Cramps?" "No" "I'm sorry, this may be a little cold," she apologized, picking up the speculum. "How about any tenderness? Discomfort during sex?" "No...but I do get violently sick every once in a while." Dr. Anne looked up. "During sex?" Sabryn could feel herself turning bright red. "No, sorry...I meant, uh, since I've gotten pregnant." "I see." She didn't miss the hint of a smile as the doctor lowered her head once more. Looking up to meet Anton's gaze, Bryn couldn't help but blush even more. She mouthed the word 'sorry' to him, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand. He squeezed her hand again, and winced when her grip tightened at the doctor's next question. "How long ago was it when you were abducted, Ms. Jaegar?" "Eighteen years ago. I was seven." "And are you a multiple abductee?" "As far as I'm aware, no." Anton could feel her hand tremble beneath his. "Is this really necessary, Dr. Leahs?" "Yes, Mr. Rudenko, it is." The doctor removed the speculum and placed it to one side. "I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable with these questions, but given the uniqueness of the situation, I'm afraid I have no choice but ask." She turned off the overhead light and slid off the stool. "Go ahead and get dressed, Ms. Jaegar." She pulled out another hospital gown and held it out to Anton. "Your turn, Mr. Rudenko." He looked a little dumbstruck. "Me?" "That's right." She gave him a wry grin as she stepped out of the room. Sitting up, Bryn arched an eyebrow at him. "You want me to hold your hand?" The look he gave her made her grin. Slipping off the table, she started getting dressed as he began unbuttoning his shirt. That examination hadn't been so bad. Now that it was over, she could admit that much. Still, she was glad she wasn't still lying there. Once she was dressed, she neatly folded Anton's clothes for him and watched him undress. Couldn't quite take her eyes off of him, was more like it. [Get a grip, girl...this isn't a seduction, it's a doctor's office.] Once he had the gown on, she stepped behind him and neatly tied a little bow to close it, giving him a light kiss on his back before sitting down once more. Anton stepped away from her. "Don't do that, my dear, or I'm going to be really embarrassed when the doctor returns." He turned around, grinning a bit sheepishly. Before Sabryn could respond, Dr. Leahs returned to the examination room. "If you'd have a seat on the table, Mr. Rudenko?" As he took his place on the examination table, she placed the ear pieces of the stethoscope around her neck. "Do you have a doctor?" "No, never had the need." Dr. Anne shook her head, positioning the blood pressure cuff on his left arm. "Pity. It would make my job so much easier if there were already some sort of medical record." She checked his blood pressure, took his pulse and listened to his heart and lungs. "All sounds normal. Now, are vampires in general supposed to be sterile, or are just you supposed to be?" "Vampires in general are. I appear to be the exception to the rule." She nodded. "I want to check your pupil's sensitivity to light. Just stare straight ahead," she said, pulling out a small flashlight. "Speaking of that, what about sunlight?" "Brief exposure leaves second degree burns. Anything over a few seconds and we turn to ash." Again she nodded, scribbling something else down. "And how often do you require blood?" "Myself, 6 pints every other day under normal activity. If I have to solely exist on it, 7 every day." "And if you're deprived of blood?" "I starve, but I do not cease to exist. If it gets bad enough, I'll go into an almost hibernation until blood is available." He paused, remembering. "It's not at all pleasant." Bryn winced at that, hoping she didn't ever have to witness that herself. The doctor looked to Bryn. "I'm going to need to take a few vials of your blood in a moment, just as a precaution. I noticed on the chart your previous doctor sent that you'd had your blood taken last time, but it's normal to do so again after the pregnancy is confirmed, to check for any defects or abnormalities." She nodded, dreading that part a bit. More than anything else, that was the most likely time the doctor would tell her there was something wrong. Checking Anton's reflexes, Anne nodded towards Sabryn. "I noticed the scars on her neck...you've fed from her before, or was that someone else?" He lowered his head a bit. "No, that was me." "Is this a regular thing?" "No. Once was stupid enough." Although she smiled at that, she said, "That's good to hear. She might need all of the blood she has, and then some." "What do you mean?" Bryn asked, uncomfortably. "Well," Anne said, sitting down once more, "I honestly don't know exactly what to expect from this pregnancy. But you are carrying a child that's part vampire. There's a chance you could require more blood in your system than you can provide." At the queasy look on Sabryn's face, she added, "Which can be provided through transfusions, Ms. Jaegar." "Would it be possible for me to be the donor?" Anton asked. The doctor shook her head. "I'll keep that in mind as a possibility, but I'd rather stay with O-Neg that has tested clear of disease." Getting up once more, she walked over to another set of drawers and pulled out a vial and a disposable needle. "Ms. Jaegar, if you'd sit down at the table over there and roll up your sleeve?" Once she had drawn the necessary amount, she quickly labeled the vial and disposed of the needle. "I'll have this rushed for testing and call you tomorrow night as soon as I hear back. Do either of you have any questions?" When they both shook their heads, Dr. Anne started writing down directions. "I want you to keep up the vitamins the other doctor prescribed. I also want you to keep a journal - just note down when you get sick, feel dizzy, anything unusual. I'll see you both back in about two weeks." She handed the papers to Sabryn. "The phone number is my pager, which is on 24/7. Call me if you even suspect anything might be wrong." "Thank you very much," Bryn said, shaking her hand. Anton did the same, as she headed for the door. "You know the way out, right?" "Right." "All right. Bye." "Bye." Reaching for his clothes, Anton pulled loose the bow on the back of his gown. "That wasn't too bad, was it?" Bryn shook her head. "You're looking pretty sexy in that hospital gown, Sugar booger. I think we should sneak it out of here, and I can play nurse. How about a nice sponge bath?" He flashed her a feral grin. "But remember what happened the last time we tried to take a bath together? I'm still finding whipped cream in the plumbing." "Mmm, but it sure was fun," she said, pressing her lips to his chest. "Besides, sponge baths aren't nearly the same thing. You stay in bed the whole time...while I make sure, by any means possible, that you're nice and squeaky clean." Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, drawing his full attention. Taking off the blue gown, he handed it to her. "I'm sure they have plenty of extras around here." She giggled. "Think they have any nurses outfits?" He smiled, slightly shivering at the mental image of Sabryn in a skin-tight white uniform, the top unbuttoned to the point where her breasts were threatening to spill out. "We'll have to get you one on the way home." He leaned forward to brush her lips with his. "But if we don't leave soon, we're going to have to spend the day here. And I'd much rather spend the day in bed, making you moan." "Ooh...guess you'd better hurry up and get dressed then." She gave him one more quick kiss before handing him his boxers. "I think I'll go wait in the car...so I don't decide to make good use of that examining table." She grinned at the look on his face, grabbing his keys and stepping out the door. Lindy leaned against Nathaniel in the back of the cab, eyes drooping. The flight back from Washington DC had exhausted her. "I hate jet lag," she murmured. "So are you going to tell me what Alex said to you?" Nate looked away from the window. He hadn't stopped thinking about that moment they left the airport. It had been early morning in Washington, ensuring they'd arrive back in San Francisco under the cover of darkness. And although practically the middle of the night, the whole family had seen them off. He'd been surprised to feel tears spring to his eyes. Although they were still almost strangers, he'd begun earning their respect. And more. Standing in the terminal, the voice coming from the speakers saying it was time for rows 10 through 19 to start boarding, Nate glanced over to see Lindy hugging her mother. For a moment, he stood there awkwardly, wondering what to do. He shook Walter's hand, thanking him for his hospitality, and turned just in time to take the full force of Amanda's hug. It was a moment he knew he wouldn't soon forget. He hadn't gotten to know her very well until the last day of their stay. Playing board games with her brought out more of her personality than he'd seen in the previous week, and her dry sense of humor startled him. He knew he'd like having a little sister. Reluctantly pulling away from her, he looked up to see Alex hovering near his shoulder. Extending his hand, hoping for the best, he waited expectantly for the older man to tell him goodbye. He was surprised when he was pulled into a bear hug. "Dobro pozhalovat' v nashu sem'iu, Nathaniel." Alex patted him once firmly on the back and then stepped away. Jess stepped forward to take his place, stretching up to hug his neck. "Take good care of her, Nathaniel." Still reeling from Alex's words, Nate bent to hug Jess, still staring at the other man over her shoulder. He couldn't quite help the smile that crept to his face...but he really hoped the stinging in eyes wasn't signaling tears as well. Kissing his soon-to-be mother-in-law on the cheek, he reached for Lindy's hand. The other passengers in line were moving along quickly, and they had to pick up their bags and move to keep up. "We'll call soon," he said, looking purposefully at Jess. "And believe me, she's taking care of me, not the other way around. I can barely tie my shoes." She returned his lopsided grin. "You're sure you have everything with you?" He looked around quickly to make sure. "Everything but you guys. I'll have plenty of room once the townhouse is finished. You're all invited to come over anytime you'd like." Setting down his suitcase, he reached for his wallet. Flipping it open, he grabbed a scrap of paper and collected a pen from one of his coat pockets. Scribbling down his phone number, with the area code, he handed the paper to Jess. "Call anytime, even collect." "I will." She nodded to the gate, which was now right in front of him, the stewardesses waiting in annoyance for him to hand over his ticket. "You'd better hurry." Lindy still held onto Nate but gave Jess one last hug. Tears were in both their eyes. "Take care, both of you," Jess said, stepping back. With a few longing looks from both groups, Nathaniel and Lindy finally boarded the plane. Looking over at Lindy now, the darkened interior of the cab obscuring most of his view, he could feel his emotions just as clearly as he had at that moment. "He told me...'Welcome to the family.'" He couldn't see her smile, but felt it when she squeezed his hand. They hadn't let go of each other once since boarding the plane. He didn't really feel like letting go at all—despite their earlier plans. The townhouse was finished enough for him to move in, meaning there was no reason for him to return to her couch. For the first time since he'd arrived, he'd be sleeping in his own bed tonight. And suddenly that sounded incredibly lonely. "I, uh, I think I'll call your mom when I get in the house, to let her know we arrived OK." "Sounds good to me." She frowned as the cab pulled over and a fire truck, overhead lights on and sirens going full blast, passed. "Wonder what's going on?" He nudged her lightly in the ribs. "Don't you mean where's the fire?" She giggled, but the sound died as she looked up through the windshield. "Oh my God... that's my *house!*" "Shit..." Nate was opening the door before the cab even stopped, barely letting his feet hit the ground before he was moving, staring in awe at the sight before him. The house was nearly cinders. Most of the firemen were standing around watching the flames die down. There was nothing they could do but make sure the fire didn't spread. He felt a little ripple of panic go through him, looking at the charred building, and turned quickly to see Lindy standing right behind him. "Where's Montel?" "At the neighbor's--" she said, barely a whisper. He let out a sigh of relief, but it didn't last long. Brushing the hair out of her face, seeing her utter shock and horror, he told her to stay put and went to talk to the firemen. They couldn't tell him much until the fire died down, but they suspected arson and that word alone was enough to leave him cold. He glanced around at the small group of neighbors and onlookers, expecting to see Natasha's amused face staring back at him. He didn't spot her. Walking slowly back to where Lindy stood, he put a hand on her shoulder...unsure just how much comfort she was willing to accept at this point. When she barely looked at him, he slid his hand down her back, pulling her closer, offering himself as support. She leaned against him, watching the last five years of her life go up in smoke. She just stared, not even responding when the fire chief started talking to her. When Nate nudged her, she focused on the question. "No, we were out of town for the last week. I have no idea how this could have happened." "I'll need to ask you some more questions, miss," the firefighter responded. "Do you have friends you can stay with, or do we need to make arrangements for emergency housing?" "She'll be staying with me," Nathaniel said possessively. Lindy nodded confirmation. "Nate, why don't you get Montel and go home? This will probably take a while, and I'm sure I'll be able to get a ride to your place." "No, I'll stay with you." "Nate--please?" He could see she wasn't going to budge. She was upset and most likely didn't want to start falling apart at the moment. His presence would only make her feel all the more vulnerable. Nodding, he squeezed her shoulder before walking towards the neighbor's house. All he could smell was smoke. The cat was probably frantic by now, with all of the commotion in the neighborhood. Once inside the neighbor's house, he picked up Montel and hugged the cat. Although they hadn't exactly started out under good terms, he was glad the animal was still alive. He could only imagine how devastated Lindy would be if anything happened to it. Thanking the neighbors, he turned and headed back to the cab. He stood for a moment, watching Lindy talk to the fire chief, before climbing into the vehicle and giving the driver directions to the townhouse. On the way there, leaving the cat with the somewhat disgruntled cab driver, he stopped at a store and picked up some cat litter, food, and a new bed for Montel. Finally settling in the backseat once more, he set the cat in his lap and rested his head on the seat behind him. And he couldn't prevent the welling tears from leaking from his clenched eyelids. [God, Lindy...I'm sorry.] It was eleven in the morning before she made it back to Nathaniel's townhouse. She was exhausted, and every step reflected that fact. She had spent the night numbly talking to the fire inspectors, giving the police what little information she could, and going over her policy with the insurance adjusters. She opened the door just enough to step inside, and was surprised to find Nathaniel asleep sitting on the couch. More surprising was that Montel was also curled on his lap, one of Nate's hands resting on his back. The gray cat never cuddled, let alone stayed on someone. [Guess we're all in shock.] She walked over to them and lightly shook Nate on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm back." Nate startled awake. "Wha... oh." Blinking rapidly in the shaded darkness, he stood up, displacing Montel. "How'd it go?" he asked, not sure what else to do. Lindy shrugged. "Everything's a complete loss..." She trailed off. Saying the words finally broke through her shock and tears started trailing down her cheeks. Nathaniel pulled her close, wiping at her tears with his thumb and tucking her head under his chin. He held her there for a moment, slowly swaying in place and murmuring in her ear. But as he felt her strength start to give way, he lifted her up into his arms and began climbing the stairs. She didn't say a word as she buried her face against his neck, and didn't see the bed until he'd already set her down on it. Lying down next to her, he slipped off her shoes, and pulled the covers up over her shocked body. Trying to coax some warmth into her, he pulled her close and rubbed her back. As if in need of comfort himself, Montel hopped up on the bed and spread himself out behind Lindy, rubbing his chin against Nate's hand. Nate pressed his lips against her forehead, rubbing her cheek with his other hand. "I called your mother. I talked her out of flying over here, at least until she has a chance to talk to you herself. But she wants you to call her as soon as you're able." He glanced over at Montel. "I also got some stuff for the cat, so you don't have to worry about him. Just relax and let me take care of everything." "Take care of everything?" Lindy sniffed. "I thought you told Jess you couldn't tie your own shoes." "Yeah, my shoes. I didn't say anything about yours." She smiled a bit, snuggling a little closer to him. "Okay, I'd better call Jess before she books a flight here anyway. Where's the phone?" Nate handed her the cordless handset. Lindy rolled onto her back, dialing as Nate resettled beside her, combing his fingers through her hair. "Hey, Jess... yeah, I'm okay, I think. Nate's being a big help... Yeah, I thought about that, and I'll keep an eye out... No, you don't need to come out. I'll be okay... Let me know if Alex or Walter find anything else.... I'll call you back when I find out more... Love you too..." She looked at Nathaniel. "You want to say anything to her?" He nodded and grabbed the phone. "Hi, Mom...told you so." Lindy lifted up on to her elbow, staring at him in disbelief. Nate merely grinned. "I will," he said, in to the phone, and then smiled. "All right. Take care. Bye." He rolled over and hung up the phone, before turning back to her with a big grin on his face. "What was that all about, Nathaniel?" "Nothing...just family bonding." When she continued to stare at him, her look bordering on glaring, he added, "We were talking about whether or not you'd tell her the details. I said that you'd probably try to act brave and not tell her how much it was bothering you. I was right." Lindy shook her head. "You know me that well already?" she asked, eyes tearing up again. "Yeah, gorgeous." Nathaniel leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But I want to spend the rest of my time getting to know you even better." She sniffed again, turning her head to catch his lips. The kiss was chaste, more an act of comfort than of arousal. Eventually they pulled away, and Nate kissed her forehead again. Lindy closed her eyes. "You haven't called Anton by any chance?" When he didn't answer, she opened her eyes to see him grinning. "You're kidding, right? Me, call Anton? I think he'd rather get a phone call from Satan." She made a face. "Hand me the phone, please." "Do you have to call him now?" he asked, a bit of a whine in his voice. "I kind of like just laying here. We didn't get to do this, this week. I spent most of the time hugging the edge of the bed, just to keep my hands off of you." "Yeah, I guess you're right. He's probably sound asleep right now. And it's not like there's anything he can do." She snuggled back down beside him. He was right. It was nice to just lay there and be held, not worry about facing tomorrow. "Damn right...nothing I'm not already doing. And he better not even dare doing this," he said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. Pulling the covers up tighter, he closed his eyes. "Get some rest, gorgeous. When you wake up, you have some serious shopping to do." 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