Chapter 19 Absolute Beginners

[Addisonsgirl]

Absolute Beginners
I've nothing much to offer
There's nothing much to take
I'm an absolute beginner
And I'm absolutely sane
As long as we're together
The rest can go to hell
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
With eyes completely open
But nervous all the same

If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Could laugh at the ocean
Just like the films
There's no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true

Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can't shake
Oh we're absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you're still smiling
There's nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
But if my love is your love
We're certain to succeed

If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Sail over heartaches
Just like the films
There's no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true

David walked into the house ahead of Maddie who was carrying their one week old baby daughter – Jade Elizabeth Addison. He had a video camera in his hands and was taping them as they walked into the house.

Maddie smiled into the camera as she held up the baby to the camera. “Say hi to Daddy!”

“Daddy loves you both.” David told them as he videotaped Maddie carefully carrying the baby through the living room and the kitchen and then heading to the spiral staircase, giving her a tour of her new home; they ended up in the nursery which had been furnished with much joy and love in the progress.

They were both happy to be bringing the baby home but they were nervous too; David more than Maddie. He had heard everything that could go wrong with a newborn and was apprehensive about his role as a father. He knew he would always try his very best to be a great dad – but what if his best wasn’t good enough? Babies grew into children who grew into teenagers. So much joy lay ahead, he knew, but so many worries too. Although he had tried to get ready, had tried to gather every possible bit of information, now he felt like nothing could ever have prepared him for this.

Virginia had already been at the house and had left the house spotless along with a tray of lasagna for the couple. She had told them she’d be over the next day to give them a break, but the first day at home with the baby should be spent alone. David and Maddie were both grateful that Maddie's parents had their condo in L.A. and spent half of their time there. Both had flown in the day after Jade's birth, and Virginia planned to stay for a few weeks while Alex would have to go back to work in about a week.

David continued to tape his girls as Maddie changed the baby and put on a sleeper covered with Winnie the Pooh and his friends. He smiled down at his daughter who was gazing up at him with identical eyes. “Hey Jade. Daddy loves you.” He reached down to touch the baby’s tiny face. Then he turned his smile on his wife which caused a delicious shiver to run over Maddie. “Let me get your suitcase.” He winked. “Don’t miss me.”

“Oh, I’ll force myself.” Maddie laughed as she lifted the infant out and held her up, waving the baby's little hand at David. “Hurry back, Daddy!”

The next few hours were a whirl of confusion as Maddie and David were trying to get used to a baby in the house. Finally, the baby fell asleep and Maddie put her in her playpen. David flopped on the couch and pulled Maddie into his lap. “I love you, mommy.” He kissed her neck. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be blessed with two beautiful ladies.” He pulled something out of his pocket. “Here, for you, wife.”

Maddie took the small box David handed her. She looked down at the box then at David whose green eyes were filled with adoration; his smile was as dazzling as ever. “A gift for me?”

David nodded as he swallowed hard. “Well, you gave mevthe best gift in the world. You and Jade.” He shrugged. “Open it.”

Maddie opened the square blue box and gasped at the heart shaped golden locket inside. “Oh David, it’s beautiful!” She felt tears prick her eyes when she opened it to find a picture of Jade.

“We can change the picture as she grows,” he told her as he took the necklace out of the box. Maddie lifted her hair so that he could put the necklace around her neck. He gave her neck a small kiss before he fastened the clasp and she let her shiny hair fall down over the gold chain. “Perfect.”

The heart shaped necklace was shorter than the cross Maddie wore around her neck that had once been David’s mother’s, so they complemented each other. Maddie gently touched the locket. “I love it.” She bent down to kiss her husband. “And I love you, husband.”

They began to kiss but were rudely disturbed by the cries of the baby. David laughed. “Show time!”

A couple of days later David was no longer laughing. Both he and Maddie were tired and cranky. The baby barely slept and never finished a bottle. Jade also cried a lot which worried David.

She had eaten so well in the hospital but refused to drink more than an ounce or two when Maddie tried to feed her. David was anxious and wanted to call the doctor but Maddie didn’t want to start their relationship with the pediatrician by calling for every silly reason; she was secretly worried too, but was determined not to let her worries get the best of her this time. All her life she had been a worrier and pessimist, and that trait had almost cost her David – she wouldn't become one of those panicky mothers who freaked out every time her baby let out a whimper. She was trying really hard to keep her nerves and tell herself that everything was going to work out great, just like she had learned from David.

“Silly?” David was holding the whimpering baby in his arms. “This child may starve to death and you’re worried about what the doctor will think!” he fumed.

“Don't be theatrical!” Maddie retorted in an annoyed voice, suppressing her own nerves. “She ate a couple of ounces, and I doubt she is in danger of starving, David!”

David glared at his wife. He wasn’t sure of that, and he couldn’t see what was wrong with calling the doctor just to make sure the baby was okay. Wasn't Maddie usually the one who always had to check and double-check everything, and now suddenly that was silly? “Oh, and you know that for sure?! You’re a doctor now?” he snorted sarcastically.

Maddie glared back at David. “We have an appointment with Dr. Barton tomorrow. We can tell him all our concerns then,” she insisted.

The baby began to cry loudly as the couple argued. Maddie grabbed the baby from David’s arms. “See what you did. Are you happy now?”

David was incensed. “I did it? She’s starving. That’s why she’s crying!” What was wrong with Maddie?

What was wrong with David? “She’s not starving! She doesn’t like the sound of our loud voices.”

“Well if she’s going to live here, with us, she better get used to it!” David barked, and the baby cried even louder.

“Not funny!” Maddie snapped, her voice as loud as David's.

“I wasn’t trying to be!”

(Overlapping dialogue)

David: “I don’t understand why you’re not worried! She has barely eaten since we brought her home. Maybe she’s starving! Maybe she’s sick! I want to call the doctor!”

Maddie: “I don’t understand why you’re so worried! She’ll eat if she’s hungry. She’s not starving! She’s not sick! Why do you want to call the doctor?”

David just sneered at his wife as he turned his back, picked up the phone and began to dial. He told the answering service his concerns as Maddie looked at him with blue steel.

Jade ate a couple of more ounces our formula, let out a huge burp then fell asleep in her mother’s arms. Maddie gingerly put the infant down in her carrier. She refused to look at David who was sitting on the chair across the room pretending to watch television. Maddie knew he wasn’t really watching TV; she knew he was still concerned over the baby. Suddenly, she realized maybe she had been wrong. They were new parents and the pediatrician probably expected frantic calls. She approached David slowly. “Sorry.”

David looked up at Maddie. Why was everything always so complicated between them? He was about to speak when the phone rang and he practically dove for it. “Yes, hello, Doctor?” David reiterated to the doctor his concerns. He listened for a bit then hung up.

“So, what did the doctor say?” Maddie inquired.

“Now you want to know?” David fired back.

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Stop it, David! I said I was sorry – although I really don’t know what for. You’re the one who went against my wishes.”

“Against your wishes?!” David echoed incredulously. Sometimes he couldn't believe how self-centered she acted. “This isn’t about wishes or you!” – he shot his left index finger at her like a bullet – “This is about our daughter and what's best for her, and I don't think worrying too much about a baby has ever done any harm.”

Maddie flinched a little under his steely green glare; she knew of course that David was right: there was nothing wrong with double-checking. Still, she refused to admit it and stubbornly folded her arms across her body. “So are you through acting like a 5 year old? Tell me what he said.”

“A 5 year old?” David growled, his eyes were green flames.

Maddie threw her hands in the air in exasperation.“Enough, David! Tell me what he said.”

David ruffled his hair. There were times he really wanted to strangle his wife. “He said that some babies only drink a few ounces and may need to eat more often. And he says all babies cry, some more, some less. But there's no need to worry.”

Maddie played it nice and refused to say ‘I told you so’ – because of course she hadn't really been sure herself, if she was honest; and she too was relieved to have that confirmed.

“He also said,” David went on, “that it's normal to worry and that we can call any time. And that's it's better to call once too often than once too late.”

She nodded. “That's true, of course,” Maddie finally admitted. She didn’t want to fight anymore. She needed her husband’s strong arms around her. “Good.” She put her arms around David’s neck and gazed up into his green eyes. “Let’s not argue.” She rested her head on his chest. “I’m sorry, baby.”

David could never stay angry at Maddie for long, especially when she seemed so repentant. He sat down on the couch and pulled her in his arms with a deep sigh. “I’m sorry too. I was just worried.” He stroked her back and held her closer.

She sighed. “The truth is, I'm just trying so hard not to worry all the time,” she admitted, “and I'm so used to you telling me everything's gonna be all right.”

He pulled here even closer. “Oh honey. Of course it's gonna be all right! We just need to get used to all this...”

Maddie agreed and sighed as she snuggled into his arms – the safest place in the world.

The following day the doctor gave Jade a clean bill of health. He told the couple that she was a healthy baby, and to David’s relief she had even gained a couple of pounds. He made a secret vow to worry less.

The next week passed in a flurry of long sleepless nights, a crying baby and a tired Maddie and David. They couldn’t believe how such a small little person could take over the house. Virginia had been over to help out a few days here and there, and they were grateful for her help. David had finally – but reluctantly – returned to Blue Moon a week after they had brought the baby home. Maddie admitted guiltily to herself that she was happy in a way when David went back to work. She wanted to get herself and the baby into a routine, and with David home it was impossible.

David was happy that it was Friday and he could spend the weekend with his family. He couldn’t believe how much he missed Maddie and the baby when he was at work – he had been used to spend most of his waking hours with Maddie since the day they had met. When he walked into the house he was met by a harried Maddie. She kissed him perfunctorily. “We have to get another car, David,” was the first thing she told him. “Do you know how hard it is to be home all day long with a screaming baby?”

“I missed you too, Maddie.” David told her snidely as he threw off his jacket and went to pick up Jade who was sleeping peacefully.

When Maddie realized what he was up she ran over to him and pulled his arm. “She just fell asleep, David! You can’t wake her up! You know how long it took me to get her down?” Maddie’s eyes were blue flames.

“I just want to hold her.” David told Maddie as he smiled down at the baby. “I missed her.”

“David Addison, if you wake that baby!” she hissed, but her heart melted when she saw the genuine love shining on David's face, and she added softly: “Please.”

David held up his hands in defense, knowing she was right. “Okay okay.” He walked over to Maddie and pulled her in his arms. “I did miss you, baby.”

Maddie relaxed into David’s arms. She didn’t mean to be so shrewish, but she was tired and irritable. Jade had been crying most of the day, and Maddie was stuck in the house without a car. At least if she had a car she could go to the mall and walk around. They really needed another car.

“I missed you too, David,” she murmured into his neck. “Sorry I snapped at you.”

“S’okay, honey,” he soothed and tenderly kissed her temple. “And you’re right, we do need another car. Tell you what, let’s go looking around tomorrow. Maybe we can find something you like. Now that the business is making money we can afford another car.”

“Yes, good,” Maddie nodded. “Don't get me wrong, I love being with Jade but being stuck in the house sometimes drives me crazy, and not being able to even run to the store for a container of milk has been difficult.”

“Well, let’s not make things harder than they have to…” David took her hand and placed it on the bulge in his pants. “Talking about hard...” he purred. “It’s been so long, baby.”

Despite her tiredness, Maddie’s blood began to boil when David began to rain slow kisses over her neck. She moaned softly as his hands ran over her body, and her fingers began to pull down David’s zipper all by themselves. She needed to feel him; he was right: it had been too long. They had been so busy with the baby they hadn’t made time to just be together. She hadn’t even realized how much she missed David’s hands on her until tonight. She felt her loins catch fire when his hand moved between her legs.

David helped Maddie pull down his zipper and gasped as her hand released him from the confines of his clothes. His dick was rock hard and needed the attention of his wife. He lay Maddie down on the sofa then kicked off his pants and boxers. Maddie sat up and began to unbutton his shirt as she planted hot wet kisses over his chest. And when she licked his nipples David moaned deep in his throat. “God, Maddie...”

He pulled off his socks then slowly began to undress Maddie until she was writhing next to him. They began to play with each other’s bodies like they were horny teens – fondling, caressing – their mouths locked together in deep, slow delicious kisses.

David’s hands were wandering over her body that was still a little fuller than before her pregnancy and maybe a little softer and rounder, but in all the right places, and he didn't forget to tell her how beautiful she was; his magic fingers were gently stroking Maddie’s tender nub just the way she loved; his other hand was fondling her breasts and rubbing her rock hard nipples. Maddie knew it wouldn’t take long for her to come. Her legs were opening and closing as she neared her orgasm. She could feel her climax slowly building up until she exploded with wave after wave of passion. David’s kisses successfully silenced her screams of ecstasy as she fell to pieces under his hands.

When Maddie came to her senses after her amazing orgasm she smiled into David’s amazing eyes. “God, I missed that.” She couldn't wait until Dr. Hill gave them the green lights to resume their normal sex life again, but they had still a few weeks ahead of them.

He smiled back with a teasing twinkle in his eyes. “Maybe now you won’t be so cranky.”

“Your turn, Romeo.” Maddie slid from the couch and fell to her knees between David’s legs. She ran her hands up and down his muscular thighs. David spread his legs and pushed Maddie’s head into his lap. When she took him in her mouth David closed his eyes and laid his head back as his hands played in her hair. Maddie licked, sucked and stroked David into an incredible orgasm. Just as he finished exploding in her mouth the baby let out a cry.

“At least she has good timing.” David quipped as he pulled on his boxers.

***
The next two weeks passed by in a whirl of emotions, diapers and exhaustion; happiness and crankiness wereside by side, but each day it got a little better and a little easier: Maddie and David became more confident in themselves, in their abilities as parents. They learned to understand Jade's behavior and interpret her crying, distinguish whether she was hungry, in pain or just tired. David became a little calmer and didn't call home every hour when he was in the office, and seeing that David’s nervousness was diminishing helped Maddie relax a little too. Gradually, they got into some routine; but it was still pretty challenging.

Disagreements and differences of opinions often led to loud shouting matches and fiery tempers as was David and Maddie’s way but they usually ended as quickly as they began and often lead to a hot session of almost sex which both had become quite adept at. Just because they couldn’t have intercourse didn’t mean they couldn’t pleasure each other. Not that the sex was as often as it was pre-Bean due to lack of opportunity and tiredness from lack of sleep but when they did find the time and the energy to indulge it was steamy and hot which was also David and Maddie’s way.

When Jade was about four weeks old, David's father flew in from Philadelphia with his pregnant wife Stephanie to welcome his first grandchild. David Sr. was more than thrilled that his once wild and confusing son had finally settled down and grown up. He was also grateful that both of his sons had forgiven him and allowed him into their lives.

David and Maddie contemplated taking them out for a nice dinner, but then decided that with a four weeks' old infant still suffering from loud crying spells that it might be safer and more relaxed for them if they stayed home and ordered in from their favorite Italian restaurant. They invited Richie and Terri who would bring Nathan, of course; Junior, as Richie called him, was already three months old. He was a chubby easygoing baby who seemed always to be happy and relaxed unlike Jade who seemed to be hell bent on getting her way even at her tender age.

When David Sr. and Stephanie showed up, the two couples were in the kitchen, chatting – exchanging baby and work news – and sipping red wine. Both babies were peacefully asleep in the nursery. A big hello erupted, many compliments, hugs and backslaps were exchanged, and Stephanie's 4 ½ months' baby bump was thoroughly admired.

“And yesterday we found out if we need to buy blue or pink paint.” she told them beaming.

“What is it?” Maddie asked eagerly, and Stephanie turned with a smile to her husband; everybody else was looking at Addison Sr. too now.

“Tell them, David!” Stephanie urged softly.

He cleared his throat and looked at his sons a little nervously. “The doctor is pretty sure that it's a girl,” he told them almost shyly.

David and Richie exchanged a look, and their father's eyes flew to and fro between them, and after a short moment an identical crooked grin split their handsome faces and they high-fived each other. “A sister!” Richie exclaimed. “I always wanted a little sister, but I got this cockroach instead!”

David punched him hard in the shoulder, and everybody laughed. “She'll be pretty like you,” he said to his stepmother and kissed Stephanie's cheek; she was clearly moved.

“Paired with the Addison charm she'll drive all the boys crazy,” Terri commented with a smile, and to her surprise, Richie and David shot her deadly glares.

“We're gonna break their necks,” they said in unsion, and everybody laughed again.

“Poor girl,” Maddie said. “Good thing you'll be miles away, so she'll be able to breathe freely every once in a while!”

David Sr. and Stephanie exchanged a secretive smile that went unnoticed by the two couples. He cleared his throat again. “About that...”

David frowned. “About what, dad?”

“About being miles away...” he exchanged another glance with his wife, and she nodded with a smile. “We're moving to L.A.,” the Senior Addison went on.

“What?!” Richie exclaimed in an incredulous voice. Maddie and Terri threw their men quick sideways glances to see how their reaction was.

“I'm going to sell the business,” David Sr. explained, “and the house. I'm 62 and don't need that stress anymore, especially not now.” He threw his wife a loving smile, and she blew him a kiss in return. “Maybe I'll open up a small business here, I don't know.” He looked at his grown-up sons a little nervously. “Do you mind?”

“No, of course not,” David replied and Richie shook his head.

“My family lives here,” Stephanie chimed in and shrugged.

“And mine too,” David Sr. added quietly. Maddie smiled to herself when she saw her husband and brother-in-law look at each other and doing that weird brother thing she had witnessed only once or twice so far – they exchanged a few barely readable looks nobody understood, but obviously they managed to communicate that way. She had the feeling that they were much happier to have their father near than they ever would admit.

“Speaking of family,” David said after a few moments of not really awkward silence, “dad, I'm going to check on the Bean, so if you want to take a look... she'll still be asleep though. Later when it's her feeding time we'll bring her down here.”

“Sure,” his father replied with a huge grin, “I want to meet my granddaughter!”

“I'll see her later,” Stephanie said quickly. “Too many people in the nursery would wake her up.” She just wanted to give father and son a moment alone.

When David and his father entered the nursery on tiptoes, they were surprised to find Jade wide awake while Nathan was sound asleep beside her. David smiled at his father's expression and carefully lifted her from the crib; Maddie probably would tell him not to take her out and hope she'd fall asleep again, but he didn't care. With the baby on his arm, he turned to his father.

“Say hi to pops, Beanie,” he said softly and enjoyed the look on his father's face; the pride and emotion was clearly readable and touched a string deep inside his chest.

"She has your mother's eyes,” the older man said in a croaky voice, barely able to speak. “Like you."

"I know," David replied in a similar voice.

His father gently touched the baby's cheek. “Jade,” he said with awe, “that's perfect.”

“I call her Beanie most of the time,” David admitted sheepishly. “Maddie tells me not to, but... oh well.”

They shared a laugh, and after a few moments David put Jade back in the crib again; she whimpered a little, and David put a pacifier in her mouth. Happily and thankfully, she started to suck on it and fell asleep almost immediately. David Sr. cleared his throat. "Thanks for letting me in," he said.

David shook his head. "Dad..."

"No, I mean it." David turned to his father, and they hugged a little clumsily but very fondly. David had the feeling that they had taken another step towards each other, and he was genuinely happy about it. Before the moment got too emotional, they let go of each other and turned to the crib again where the two infants were sleeping side by side again.

David Sr. motioned to little Nathan. "And this young man is the one who disturbed your wedding?"

David chuckled. "Yes."

His father nodded and commented dryly: "I like him already." Both laughed, knowing what the older one was hinting at. Then, the father asked in a serious tone: "What about your brother?"

David frowned. "What do you mean, dad? What about Richie?"

"Is he doing good?" he wanted to know.

David nodded fondly. "He's doing great, dad. He's got an apartment, a car... his business is taking off, and he's taking it very seriously.” he smiled and added: “And Terri is great."

"What about Terri?" Richie's deep voice came from the door.

David had the feeling their father should have a moment alone with his elder son too and went to the door. He slapped Richie's back. "I was just telling dad that you have more luck than brain, as usual."

Richie punched him. "Schmuck!"

David just laughed and left the room. Richie approached the crib and threw a glance inside, checking on both babies. His father watched him and liked what he saw. He cleared his throat before he addressed his tall oldest son. "So, son... you're about to finally settle down?” Richie looked at him, and he motioned to the crib. “Become a family man?"

Richie raised his hands as in defense. "Whoa dad, easy. I'm not getting married yet."

David Sr. chuckled. "No, no, of course not." He motioned to Nathan again. "But you took over quite a bit of responsibility..."

Richie nodded thoughtfully. “Guess I did...” he said, more to himself. He liked the ring of it. Yes, of course he had asked himself if he was really ready to settle down with only one woman, especially one who came as a 'double package', as Terri had put it. But it had been like David had told him: he hadn't seen it coming, but once it had happened, he had known.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" his father's voice woke him from his thoughts, and Richie flashed him a slightly angry look – really, they were trying to slowly build a relationship, and Richie was as happy about it as David was, but it was really not called for that his father was criticizing his life decisions. But then he saw that it wasn't criticism at all from his father's side, but genuine concern, and he softened.

"Can you ever be sure of that?” he asked back and shrugged. “All I can say is that it feels right."

David Sr. smiled and slapped Richie's back. "Then you're doing the right thing." He felt his heart sing with joy – his older son who had made so many poor choices in his life was on the road to success; and he was finally settling down and seemed to be happy with a wonderful woman. What more could a father want?

***
Maddie practically skipped out of the doctor’s office. Dr. Hill had given her a clean bill of health – everything had healed perfectly – and he gave the green light to resume sexual relations with her husband. A huge smile covered her face as she thought about calling David with the news but then she remembered he was out in the field with Bert again today. Better to surprise him she thought mischievously. Her mom was babysitting Jade for the afternoon so Maddie decided to do a little shopping for that night.

Her mind thought quickly – a delicious steak dinner with a bottle of good wine and then a night of wild sex. Maybe she would ask her mom to take home Jade for the night so they wouldn’t be disturbed. A bolt of heat landed between her legs as she got into the slightly used car that they had bought for her use. Maddie drummed her fingers on the steering wheel thinking – first stop would be the new lingerie shop that had just opened on Melrose. She had overheard the women in the office talking about the erotic outfits the shop sold and she was eager to see what it offered.

***
Maddie stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room at Sexy Kate’s. She had found the perfect outfit to make David’s jaw drop. The get-up was a short sexy black see-through mesh baby doll with two hot pink satin ribbon-ties – one tying the robe together at the breasts and the other wrapped around the butt like a bow on a gift. Maddie was also wearing a matching g-string and mesh black thigh highs. The outfit was drop dead sexy. Maddie looked at herself from all angles in the full length mirror.

Suddenly as Maddie looked at her post baby body a knot of worry filled her stomach. She ran her hands over her body – even though she had tried to eat right and exercise her body was no longer as taut or firm as it had been before her pregnancy. She turned to look at her butt and her brow creased as she perused her bigger, fuller ass. Did the bow tied around her butt look sexy or ridiculous? Maddie felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe her body wasn’t ready for such a skimpy outfit yet. The only thing she was happy about was that her breasts were now rounder and larger. Her hands ran over the sheer material that outlined her voluptuous breasts; she knew David’s tongue would be hanging out when he saw her taut nipples straining against the sheer material that barely covered her breasts. Her hands tied the ribbon sash that tied the short see through robe at her breasts. The sheer robe was open revealing her stomach and hips. A hot pink G-string which left her butt bare – and only covered by the pink ribbon tied in a bow led to the sexy lace thigh highs.

Maddie turned to stare at her butt and legs. Was she still sexy? She sat down on the stool in the dressing room as unwelcome thoughts ran through her mind. Sighing she realized that she probably would never regain her old shape. She only hoped David would still be turned on by her post baby body. They had had already a few discussions about this same issue before Jade's birth, and she had believed him when he had told her that he always would adore her body; but now that she was confronted with the sight of it, being only one step away from resuming their sex life, a little nervousness came back. Even if he had indeed worshipped her body those past few weeks.

Something else occurred to her now that she hadn’t thought about before. The thought stabbed fear in her heart. Maybe she wouldn’t enjoy sex the way she used to!? Maybe her body was still healing despite what the doctor said, and maybe it would hurt? She shuddered at the thought that she wouldn’t feel pleasure making love to her husband. Even though sex wasn’t the entire measure of their love, it sure was a huge part of it. Maybe it would feel uncomfortable. Maybe she wouldn’t be as tight as she used to be, and would that affect David's pleasure? How would he react if things were different than he was used to? Oh, she knew he would probably hide any disappointment he had with their lovemaking, but Maddie knew she would sense his unhappiness.

Oh, why had she been so happy? She sat there for a few more minutes until she finally pulled herself together and laughed at herself. Why had she been so happy?! Now, if that wasn't a typical statement of former Maddie she didn't know. It would all be fine, of course! With determination, she pushed the unpleasant thoughts out of her head. Even though they hadn’t had intercourse since Jade was born they had fooled around quite a bit, so David knew the state of her body and he didn’t seem displeased – she blushed a bit when she admitted her husband still couldn’t keep his hands off her – AND seemed to enjoy her softer, curvier body. And as for her other fear... Maddie knew that she still had a major damp problem whenever David touched her – well more than damp – and he would definitely go slow the first time around. She felt happy again. Damn, were her damn hormones still wreaking havoc with her wits?

A few minutes later Maddie was walking toward her car with her purchases wrapped in a hot pink and black shiny shopping bag. Everything was going to be fine. She smiled as she headed for the grocery store for the steaks and wine.

***
Maddie looked at the clock – it was half past 8. David was late – very late. He had called earlier to tell her he was on to a hot lead and would be home a bit late. HA! A bit late? He was supposed to be home at 6 and here it was 2 and one half hours later! Another thing that irked her was that he seemed to have completely forgotten her appointment with the doctor that afternoon – she knew he she had told him about it, and also that she would get the news if they could start to have intercourse again! Wasn’t he as eager as she was to resume their sex life? She felt the steam coming out of her ears. Their special dinner was ruined! The steaks were still in the fridge and the bottle of wine was half empty. Hurt and angry Maddie threw a robe over the ridiculous outfit she had worn for David. She was just about to go upstairs to take a shower and go to bed alone when she heard David’s key in the lock. Damn that man!

When David walked into the house he saw immediately that a storm was brewing behind his wife's cornflower blue eyes. Maddie was waiting for him with her arms stiff at her sides. He couldn’t imagine what he had done now? He wrecked his brain and ruffled his already tousled hair as he thought about what could have put that frown on his wife’s face, but the tiredness he felt after an exhausting day in the field with Bert didn't help. He went over to kiss her but she turned her face and stepped back.

Maddie watched David approach her, and despite her anger and hurt her hormones went into overdrive. His tie was gone, his shirt’s top buttons were undone and he was carrying his jacket over his arm – and he looked hot and sexy and totally bangable. Feeling aroused when she wanted to strangle him only made her angrier at him.

David looked at her with annoyance and confusion draped over his handsome face. “What’s got your panties in a knot?”

Maddie was too hurt to tell him the real reason for her anger – that he had forgotten her visit to the doctor and maybe wasn’t as eager to resume relations as she was, so in her Maddie way she picked on something else. “You’re late!”

David threw her a clueless look of irritation. “Yeah, and I was working. I told you I was gonna be home late. Remember?”

“You said a little late, not almost three hours!” She fumed. How could you not remember I was going to the doctor?? She inwardly screamed at him.

“Yeah well, sorry!” he replied with sarcasm in his voice. “The lead we were following didn't respect my schedule!” David shook his head at her. Could he ever win with this woman? “You want a hard working partner, you want Blue Moon to be a success, but you resent the time I spend on the business?” He ruffled his hair again. “What is it you want, Maddie?”

She just stared at him with cold blue eyes. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t admit what she was really feeling. Although she knew that they had promised each other to always tell the truth and to share what was bothering them before it turned in to a major problem, she couldn’t voice her hurt at that moment. Maybe when she calmed down she would be able to tell him all she felt.

With a look of annoyance because of her stubborn silence, David headed upstairs. “Fine. So don't talk to me. I’m gonna take a shower. I’m beat.”

She fired a furious glance at his back when she watched him climbing up the spiral staircase. A few seconds later Maddie heard David shouting from the baby’s room. “Where is the baby, Maddie?”

Damn! She hadn't had the chance to tell him that Jade wasn't home. “Calm down, David,” she replied more nonchalantly than she actually felt. “I asked my mother to watch her for tonight.” Maddie walked slowly up the stairs.

David came out of Jade’s room in a huff. His face was red, and his eyes were filled with fury. “What? Are you kidding? How the hell could you think that I would be okay with Jade not being here when I got home?” David was beside himself.

“Calm down, David,” Maddie repeated. “I said I asked my mother to watch her!”

“I heard you!” David’s face was aghast. “But why? I don’t understand how you think I’d be okay with this?!” He knew if she told him again to calm down in that patronizing way, he would explode.

Maddie clenched her fists. “She’s with my mother, David!” she pointed out for the third time, conveniently ignoring what his real point was. “Not Charles Manson!”

“I don’t care if she’s with Mother Teresa!” His left index finger shot at her like a bullet. “I want her home.” He looked at Maddie with green chips of ice. “How could you leave her overnight? She’s only six fucking weeks old!” What was wrong with Maddie?

Maddie didn’t understand why he was so upset. Didn’t he think her mother was a responsible sitter? Now, she started to fume. Her eyes threw darts his way. “I’m sure my mother can handle it, David. She’s not some doddering old fool!”

“Don’t put words in my mouth!” David’s hands were moving quickly in his agitation as he tried to make his point. “I'm not saying anything like that!”

Maddie placed her hands on her hips. “Then what are you saying?”

David tried to count to ten to calm down, but the angry look in Maddie’s eyes was only fueling his fury. Now she was mad? Why the hell was she mad at him? Cause he didn’t want to have his baby daughter away from her home for even one night? Didn’t she see how hard it was for him to be away from his wife and his baby all day long, and especially if a working day turned out to be as long as this one? And didn't she miss her at all? “Don’t you think you should have asked me before you made the decision to have our daughter stay overnight away from home?”

“So this has to do with asking your damn permission?” Maddie snapped.

“Not my permission, but at least my opinion!” he snapped back. “I'd really like to see you in my shoes, now how would you like that? If I organized such a thing without even bothering to inform you?” Maddie blinked nervously; it dawned on her that he had a point. “It has to do with I want my daughter here when I get home, okay?” he went on. “Don't you understand – I only see her in the morning, and I look forward to seeing her at night when I get home. I miss her!” David ruffled his hair again in exasperation. “You could have at least told me your plans.”

Maddie knew he was right – he had a right to what he demanded; and normally, she would have told him about her plans, of course – the problem was only, that she couldn't tell him about her plans today, as she had intended to surprise him. As usual though, for Maddie offense was the best defense. “I’m telling you now, Addison,” she spat through gritted teeth.

“Too generous of you.” David threw her a look of disdain. She really was a piece of work. “Well, I guess you’re not missing her at all.” His voice dripped acid. “What is it, Maddie – already looking for some quiet adult time?” He knew he was going over the line here, but it drove him crazy that she still seemed to be moody – wreaking hell because he came late from work, seriously?? – and that she acted like she was the boss of their family and he had to humbly accept whatever she decided.

Maddie wanted to kick him hard. “Maybe I was looking for some frenzied adult time, you jerk!”

For a moment David had no clue what Maddie meant, and then it came to him. Uh oh. Today was Maddie’s 6 week check-up – and with that the possibility that they could once again make love. How could he forget about that? He had thought of it in the morning, but with all the running around with Bert today it had completely slipped his mind. No wonder she was angry.

“Oh my God, Baby! I’m sorry. I forgot,” he told her unhappily. “I am a jerk.”

“How could you, David?” Maddie blurted out. “I was so excited, and you don’t seem to care at all.”

David pulled her in his arms. “Of course I care, honey.” He nuzzled her neck. “But I told you, the day was very long and confusing. Please forgive me, babe.” He pulled away from her and gazed at her with a half-smile. “So what did the doc say?” He chuckled. “My sharp detective skills are telling me that we got the go ahead.”

“You did tell me you were the best when we first met,” she replied, already a little mollified.

“I meant at fucking, babe – but yeah, that too.” He smirked at her but she could see the desire in his eyes.

“Well, your detective skills weren't very sharp today,” she replied ironically.

He chuckled. “I suppose that's the reason you asked your mother to watch the Bean?”

She elbowed him. “Of course, dope. And don't call her Bean.” Secretly, she was happy about his admittance of how much he loved and missed their baby and craved to be in her company. Every time David proved wrong one of her initial reasons she couldn’t see herself in a long term relationship with him it made her feel all warm and safe. Of course he adored her and their baby and wanted to be home with them. She inwardly smiled.

“Yeah well, and how could I know that?” He pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

“And how could I tell you? I wanted to surprise you.” She pouted in a totally un-Maddie-ish way. “You ruined the surprise.”

“I'm sorry,” he said again and pulled her in for a kiss. Feigning e little reluctance, she followed his lead. “And I'm very happy about your surprise. Can we pretend I just came in from work?”

“I guess we can...” she grumbled.

“And can you not rip off my head for being late?” he asked in an amused voice.

“I can't promise that,” she replied gruffly, but the smile in her voice was clearly audible, and he knew it was her very own way to tell him she knew she had been wrong. Finally, Maddie pulled out of his arms. “I have two steaks in the fridge waiting to be grilled.” She shooed him toward the shower.

David laughed as he pulled her back against him and placed her hand on his dick. “And I have a big dick in my pants waiting to be fucked.”

Maddie shook her head but he could see from the look in her eyes she was definitely no longer angry – horniness was taking over. “You are the crudest man I know,” she snorted, but he clearly heard the amusement in her voice.

“I practice.” He tilted his head as his hand ran down her back over her butt then slowly, leisurely his fingers moved back up to that spot on her neck.

Maddie moaned as hot lava raced through her veins. Almost all by themselves, her arms went around David’s neck, and she gazed adoringly into his amazing eyes which were two green flames now. “Go take a shower, big boy,” her hand moved lightly over his boner, “then I got something for you to warm up.” She moved away from him.

David tried to snake his hand up her robe but Maddie scampered away quickly with a sultry smile. “I bet it’s hot already,” he drawled as he undressed slowly in front of her. Finally naked, he stroked his huge dick as he headed toward the shower.

Maddie took off her robe and waited for David to come out of the shower. She looked at herself in the mirror and knew she looked sexy and hot. She giggled as she turned her ass to the mirror and saw the bow covering her butt. Her juices began to flow when she thought about David unwrapping his gift; she couldn't wait to feel his hands on her. She heard the water stop and took her place in front of the bathroom with her ribboned ass turned towards the door, waiting for David to emerge. When she heard his whistle of appreciation she looked over her shoulder at him with a wink. “You want to unwrap your gift, fella?”

“Oh do I.” David’s voice was husky and low with lust. He slowly approached Maddie who was standing with her legs spread and her curvy ass wrapped in a bow gyrating to a silent beat. Damn, she was hot. The babydoll robe she was wearing barely covered her naked butt… he saw the ties of the hot pink g-string she was wearing, and his dick twitched in her direction. First things first… he put his hand around her waist and pulled her bow covered butt against his throbbing dick. He moved his boner slowly against her. “This is your gift, babe, but I ain’t got a bow,” he purred. Maddie responded automatically and rocked her hips against him. He bent his head and began to plant soft baby kisses over her shoulders and neck while his fingers moved over the pink ribbon.

Maddie threw her head back against David’s chest as her legs spread to relieve the ache between them. David’s tongue on that spot, his slow kisses over her shoulders and his fingers fondling her butt were driving her crazy. She moaned and heard David chuckle as he untied the bow; his hands cupped her ass as he moved against her with his hard dick. And when David’s fingers crawled between her legs and moved like butterfly wings over her swollen nub, caressing it in slow circular motions, just the way she loved, she convulsed into an earth shattering orgasm, chanting David’s name with each spasm of passion.

“Sounds good, babe,” David whispered smugly as his other hand fondled her fuller breasts, and he turned her around to face him. His eyes were glazed with passion when he purred: “Now honey, you’re gonna get fucked good and hard. I missed my dick in your hot pussy.”

“Oh God, yes please,” she panted; the sound alone of his voice saying those words made her insides liquefy again, and she couldn't wait to feel him inside her.

Now that she no longer had the baby bump, David was able to push her against the door as he ground his hard dick against her loins. “Yeah babe... God, you are so damn hot!” His fingers moved over the wet lace covering her core, soaked with the remnants of her orgasm, until he couldn’t take it any longer – he ripped off her flimsy thong and threw it aside.

Maddie heard the sound of David ripping off her panties which made her blood boil. The feeling of the wood of the door pressed into her back intensified her arousal, and she was glad to be trapped between the door and David's hard body, because her legs were so weak she didn't trust them to hold her up anymore. She instinctively moved her leg over David’s hip as her hands went around his hard ass – cupping it and pushing him against her throbbing core.

He gently pushed himself into Maddie, deliberately holding back and making sure she was comfortable with his size and girth. He was a tiny bit nervous she would still be sore from the birth or maybe she wouldn’t enjoy their physical union like she used to, even though it had been six weeks ago. But when he heard her gasps of pleasure and her voice urging him on, David’s desires took over and he thrust into her until he was buried to the hilt in her tight wet hotbox. “Oh God baby, this feels so good...” he groaned.

Slowly at first in order for Maddie to once again get used to having him inside of her, David began to move inside of her. As her cries of passion rose, his thrusts became more frantic until he was almost banging her through the door. The feel of her tight hotbox gripping him so tightly like it used to before the birth, the feel of her long leg wrapped around his waist, the feel of her soft body against his along with the cries of her ecstasy sent David spiraling out of control moving hard against her until the both came with their screams echoing through the house.

Maddie would have surely fallen to the floor with the strength of her orgasm turning her legs to mush even more. She held on to David’s shoulders until she could once again make sense of her surroundings. When she opened her eyes she found herself gazing into David’s incredible cat eyes which were wide open in what looked like awe. She smiled up at him somewhat shyly. “David... that was wonderful...” Her hands were still holding on to his strong shoulders. She loved the way his muscles felt under her hands. For a split second she thought Oh God, what if for him it wasn't as wonderful as it was for me? but the moment passed when she savored the adoring expression in his eyes.

David nodded. “Oh baby, it was more than wonderful,” he told her hoarsely. “It was epic. I missed that so much.” He winked as he picked her up easily and moved across the room with Maddie in his arms. He gently tossed her on their bed then stood over her with his eyes running over her body. At first Maddie was uncomfortable with David’s perusal – she couldn't help it, it was the ever-present worrier in her – , but the adoration and lust in his amazing eyes made her lose any sense of embarrassment over her body. Instead she reached her arms up to him. David moved into her arms and lay beside her, his eyes still running over her.

He loved Maddie’s post baby body. His hands followed his eyes and moved slowly all over her body, caressing, fondling, worshipping every part of her like he wanted to discover it all anew, until she was once again moaning with desire. “I love your body, Maddie. You are my sexy woman. You are so beautiful.”

Maddie loved hearing how David cherished her body, and his moves and looks proved his words; all her insecurities left her as she relished the attention from her husband. “And you are the sexiest man I’ve ever met,” she told him as her hands began to glide over his body appreciatively.

David’s lips moved across her lips slowly. “And I know you love my big dick, honey,” he purred. “And I know how much you missed it inside of you.” He knelt between her legs as he placed one of her legs around his waist. “I fucked you hard and fast, and now I’m gonna fuck you nice and slow,” he promised, knowing that his words alone were able to set her afire. His voice was melted caramel. He covered her mouth with his, engaging her in a deep passionate kiss. They kissed for a few minutes just enjoying the taste of each other until David pulled slightly away and began to use his tongue and lips as a paintbrush over her voluptuous body. “So sexy, so hot,” he murmured as he moved his tongue over her body – kissing, licking, nipping from her throat, lazily loving her breasts. “God, Maddie... I love your tits, honey.” His hands and mouth spent time fondling, licking and kissing her round mounds and hard nipples until she was writhing under his ministrations.

The feeling of David’s tongue and mouth moving over her body was making Maddie squirm, her hands clawing the sheets in passion. “David... oh David,” she kept moaning over and over. Her legs were spread wide in anticipation of his magic tongue and fingers pleasuring her aching core. “Kiss me here,” she pleaded as she moved her loins against his leg. “Please.” She whimpered low in her throat.

David loved the sounds that Maddie made as he made love to her. The noises she made and the way she screamed out his name when she came were pure heaven to his ears. And the way her face looked when she came was the stuff his dreams were made of. He constantly was amazed at the passion that he had awakened in Maddie Hayes and the way that she had learned to let herself completely go when she was with him and trusted him enough to show him her every weakness.

“Ask me real nice, honey, and maybe I’ll think about it,” he teased as his tongue moved over her now flat belly.

“Oh please, David,” she begged.

David’s tongue moved in circles down her belly to her pubic mound. “Please what? I don’t know what you want, honey?” He loved to make her show him her desire for him over and over again, and she knew better than not to do as he told her.

“Lick me,” she panted, and her hips started to rotate rhythmically as she tried to bring her throbbing core in contact with his magic mouth.

“Lick where? What?”

“My pussy. Lick my pussy,” she told him throatily, feeling no shame in front of her man, as she pushed his head between her long legs.

David loved to hear dirty talk coming from Maddie’s sassy mouth. He moaned loudly as he begin to pleasure her with his long tongue lightly brushing it over her throbbing nub as his fingers moved over her inner thighs and butt until her body began to buck over the bed as she came in wave after wave of desire. Her cries filled their bedroom and echoed off the walls.

David scooted quickly up the bed and before her orgasm was through he pushed into her with one deep thrust of his cock. He couldn’t get enough of feeling her tight wetness on him, her core still quivering with the last waves of her climax. “Oh God, baby... this feels so good,” he moaned as he moved his hips slowly at first in a circular motion, making love to her with his entire body; making sure he was giving her the most pleasure possible.

Maddie began to move along with David as if the six weeks' absence from making love had never happened. They were totally in sync, like they had been from the first time they had ever made love almost a year ago; their bodies danced together in the rhythm of their love until they fell to pieces together.

They spent the remainder of that night making love, talking and laughing with a few short cat naps sandwiched in between.

***
A couple of weeks passed and things were getting easier and easier. Although it was still sometimes daunting to have such a small demanding being in their midst, the Addisons were learning to roll with the punches. David was especially happy to see how well Maddie had taken to motherhood. And now that their love life was back on track they were happier than ever. The work week led into a busy weekend. Maddie marveled once again how her life had changed it such a short time. Was it less than a year ago that she had dreaded her long, lonely weekends? Now she looked forward to spending times with family and friends. Life was great.

Maddie and Agnes were spending that Saturday afternoon together, searching for a wedding gown for Agnes. Agnes’ mother was on an African Safari but would be flying in for her daughter’s wedding. Terri was joining the women on their day of shopping and lunch while the men, including Bert, were at the Addison house on baby patrol.

“Oh Maddie! Terri!” Agnes bubbled over, “look at this dress!” Terri and Maddie smiled at each other; the dress, although not one that either woman would pick, was perfect for Agnes. It was very frilly with a long train and long sleeves with lace and beads covering the front of the dress, making Agnes look very playful and girlish, like the romantic that she was.

For a second an unexpected feeling of longing hit Terri – she wondered if she would ever be shopping for her own wedding gown. And who would she be marrying and when? Her heart sang out Richie and please soon, but she pushed her longings quickly aside to concentrate on Agnes. Today was her day, and she was more than happy to be part of her new friend’s joy.

Maddie took the dress off the rack and held it up in front of Agnes. “Try it on, let’s see how it looks on you,” she suggested, handing Agnes the dress still on the hanger. “It looks like it's made for you.”

Agnes nodded as she headed toward the dressing room. A few minutes later she emerged wearing the dress. Maddie and Terri’s jaws dropped. Agnes looked spectacular in the dress. It looked indeed like it was made especially for her. Any pattern that might have looked overly fussy on any other woman just brought to the outside her special personality, her innocence and charm, just like the fanciful earrings she loved to wear would have looked ridiculous on any other woman, but not on her.

“Oh Agnes, you look divine!” Maddie exclaimed with a broad smile.

“You look magnificent!” Terri agreed. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”

A huge grin broke over Agnes’ face as she spontaneously grabbed the two other women in a group hug. “Oh, thank you so much for coming with me today!” Agnes told them with a catch to her voice. “You two have become like my sisters!” And it was true. She was blessed with two wonderful women who had become like family to her.

Maddie and Terri hugged Agnes back, and it became an emotional scene with the women crying happy tears that they had all been lucky to meet and becomes so close.

After the successful shopping expedition, the ladies were chatting happily over burgers at Agnes’ favorite burger joint. Maddie took a huge bite of her burger then wiped her mouth guiltily with her napkin. “This burger is delicious, but I really shouldn’t.” She looked down at her body. “I’ve been trying to eat right to get back in shape, but with David around cooking and filling the house with snacks and junk food it has been so hard to lose any weight.”

Terri looked over at Maddie. “I have the same problem with Richie!” she giggled. “Who knew he loved to cook – and eat!”

Maddie grinned with a shrug. “The Addison brothers love life with all their senses, I guess.” It sounded like a compliment, and Terri just nodded with a knowing smile.

The women laughed. Agnes stared at both Maddie and Terri. “You both have wonderful figures!” she told them honestly. “You both look great after having babies.” She shook her head, “I only hope that I have the same luck after I …” She stopped realizing she may have let the cat out of the bag, but it was too late.

Maddie was the first to react. “Agnes, is there something you want to tell us?”

Terri’s eyes got wide. “Agnes. Spill!” The two women leaned forward curiously.

Agnes began to giggle. “I was going to wait until we got home... Bert and I planned on telling all of you together.” Terri and Maddie smiled at their friend anticipating the happy news. “I’m... well, we’re going to have a baby!!” Agnes blurted out and clapped her hands in glee.

“Oh Agnes, I’m so happy for you!” Maddie cried reaching over and hugging her friend.

Terri also clapped her hands. “Oh, another baby! This is great news! When are you due?”

Agnes patted her flat belly. “Not for another 6 and a half months,” she told them. “We wanted to be sure before we spilled the news.” She grinned. “We’re so happy. I want lots of babies!”

Terri and Maddie laughed. “How many?” Terri wanted to know.

“At least 3 or 4.” Agnes beamed thinking of her future and nodded. “We want a big family.”

Maddie was thoughtful; they had never talked about having another baby, but right there and then she realized she wanted a brother or sister for Jade, but she didn’t think she wanted more than two children since she planned to eventually go back to Blue Moon full time. “Oh Agnes, that’s a wonderful plan!” she told her, snapping out of her thoughts.

Terri was also wrapped in her thoughts. If she and Richie did work out she would surely want another baby, and from the way he acted with and took care of Nathan, she could tell that Richie surely would be more than open to that thought – she would want one that looked just like him, but for now she was happy with Nate.

Agnes looked at Maddie fondly. “And I have you, David and Blue Moon to thank.”

Maddie tilted her head. “What do you mean, Agnes?”

“Well if it wasn’t for David convincing you to keep Blue Moon open I would have never met Bert – or,” – she grabbed Maddie’s hand – “have you for a friend.” She gazed at Terri and reached for her hand too. “And now I have two good friends. I am so lucky!”

Maddie smiled at her quirky friend and thought how wonderfully life had changed indeed – from being a lonely, frustrated woman with no passion, no love, no friends and hardly any fun in her life she had turned into a happy one with a child, a drop dead sexy husband that adored her, an extended family and friends she really cared about. “And I have to thank you, Agnes,” she repaid the compliment, “for putting up with David and me over the years and steering us toward one another. I know we couldn’t have been easy to deal with at times,” Maddie admitted to the other woman who was wiping tears off her face.

Agnes grinned at Maddie. “You’re telling me! Some days I had to stop myself from banging both of your thick skulls together.” She shook her head, her earrings tinkling, “I mean everyone could see you were crazy about each other – except you two knuckleheads.”

Maddie nodded with a sigh. “Sometimes I think it was a good thing that Sam came to town, or we may never have gotten together. Or God knows how long it would have taken us.” She shrugged. “That situation kind of forced our hand.”

Terri looked from one woman to the other with confusion written on her face. “Sam?” She inquired, “who’s Sam?”

A look of distaste flashed over Maddie’s face. “A long yet short story.”

Terri waited. She was curious. “And one that you’re going to share with the class, right?”

“Well when you put it that way.” Maddie pushed her hair behind her ear. Another of the wonderful changes in her life: she didn't have to put up with everything alone by herself now; she had people to share her emotions with – whether they be happy or painful, present or past. “I knew Sam since I was 5…”

As they finished their meal, Maddie had told Terri the entire story about Sam and David.

“Wow.” Terri shook her head, causing her brown curls to bounce around her head. “Knowing you and David a bit by now, I suspected that your story couldn't possibly have been an average one, but this is really...” she looked around the room, as if she were searching for the right words.

“We were knuckleheads,” Maddie repeated Agnes' words dryly. “There's no better way to put it.”

All three chuckled, and Terri said: “Guess things worked out after all.” She took a sip of her soda. “And the best man – the right man won after all.”

“Yes,” Maddie agreed with a smile. Sam had been useful in the end. She quickly pushed away the sickening thought of that short period of time when she was worried that Beanie could be Sam’s. All of that was quickly forgotten as the women decided to splurge on dessert as a celebration of Agnes’ pregnancy.

On the other side of town the men were busy with the two babies. Nate was cutting a tooth, so the normally easy going boy was crying in pain while Jade was her usual demanding self. The men had thought they could watch the boxing match on TV but the babies had other ideas. Richie was out of his head with worry while David was trying to keep a bottle in Jade’s mouth and hold on to the lively baby at the same time. Meanwhile, Bert was the only one watching the boxing match on the television. Richie was bouncing Nate on his knee trying to get the boy to stop sobbing.

David shook his head and ruffled his hair with one hand while he held Jade tightly against his chest with the other. He looked frazzled. He sure hoped the women would be home soon. How long did it take to buy a damn dress, he thought unkindly but then realized that Maddie deserved some time alone without the baby and felt ashamed of his thoughts. It dawned on him how demanding it really was for her to take care of an infant all day, and he made a mental note to show her a little more how much he appreciated it.

David tried to keep Jade from jumping out of his arms he turned to look at Richie with worried eyes. “What’s wrong with Junior?” he asked, automatically using the nickname Richie had given the boy – just like Richie usually called his niece Beanie, much to Maddie's dismay. David hoped Nate wasn’t sick, especially if it was something he could give to Jade. He held on to the baby tighter.

Richie was rocking Nate in his big arms which usually the infant loved, but the boy still looked miserable and his sobs were heartbreaking. “Poor little guy is cutting a tooth.” Richie motioned to David with his head toward the baby bag Terri had packed for Nate. “Do me a favor, bro, and look in that bag over there for the teething meds.”

“A tooth?” he echoed. “Already?” David looked nervous. “All this about one small tooth?” He wasn’t looking forward to Jade going through what looked like agony to him.

Richie shrugged. “Imagine something forcing its way through your gums, Dave. Can’t be pleasant.” He motioned to the bag again. “Can you get the medicine?”

David handed his feisty daughter to Bert who was quietly sitting on the club chair, taking everything in. “Here Bert, hold her will ya.” He pointed his finger at him in warning. “I’ll be right back. And you better not drop her.” David placed the bottle on the end table and sprinted to the bag which was on the floor by the sofa.

Bert held on to the little girl tightly. He was nervous but would never let his idol down. Anyway, he knew he needed to get used to holding a baby. “I will guard her with my life,” he promised in his best solemn voice.

“You better!” David tossed over his shoulder as he picked up the bag and placed it on the sofa so he could look through it. “What am I looking for?” David ran his hands through his already tousled hair.

“A small brown bottle with the name Orajel on it,” his brother told him.

David located the bottle; held the brown bottle in his hand as he tried to read the label. “What do you do with this?” he inquired.

“I gotta teach you everything?” Richie quipped as he grabbed the bottle from David’s hand. “And I do mean everything.” He wiggled his eyebrows at his brother, but David was too agitated to react. He didn’t understand how Richie was taking this all in stride.

Richie unscrewed the cap and pulled out a small dispenser. Then he put a bit of the liquid on his finger and pushed his finger in Nate’s mouth, rubbing the medicine on the gum with the half erupted tooth like a pro.

“Whoa, Rich?” David exclaimed. “Why are you sticking your finger in Junior’s mouth?” He looked aghast.

“It’s medicine for teething, dummy. It numbs the gums,” Richie told him in an amused voice, sounding like a know-it-all big brother. The men stared at Nate as he seemed to think about the taste of the medicine in his mouth. Everyone laughed at his expression of disgust as the medicine settled on his tooth. After a few minutes Nate seemed to calm down and actually dozed off in Richie’s arms. The older Addison flopped on the couch with the baby still in his arms. He smiled at the sleeping infant with love.

David shook his head and stared at Richie with admiration. “You’re really good at all this baby stuff,” he grudgingly admitted. “And you didn’t flake out when the kid was screaming bloody murder.”

Richie was secretly pleased that he had David’s respect. He looked up at his younger brother with a grin. “To tell the truth, when Nate first started these crying jags me and Terri were both scared and we took him straight to the doctor. But he assured us it was just his teeth coming in and that he was fine. So now we know that it’s the tooth, and hopefully it will come through quick.” He laid his head back on the couch.“Until the next one. But the doc did say some teeth hurt more than others.”

“I guess we have a lot to learn with all this baby stuff, huh bro?” David laughed. “whoever would have thunk we’d be going through it together?”

David looked over at Bert who was sitting as straight as a statue holding on to Jade; the baby girl was trying to wriggle out of his arms. He laughed as he retrieved his spirited daughter. “You did a great job, Bert!” David punched the short man’s arm. “You’re going to make a great dad.”

Bert’s chest puffed out as he looked at David with a proud smile on his scruffy face. “Oh, I hope to be. How did you find out?” He stood up and looked almost like the cat who ate the canary. “My love bunny and I were going to tell everyone tonight.”

“Hold the phone!” David cried delightedly. “You knock up Agnes?”

“Nice job, man!” Richie chimed in.

Bert preened resembling a peacock as a grin split his face in half. “My cuddle bear and I are expecting a little cherub.”

David slapped Bert on the back as he guffawed loudly. “Good going, Viola. Welcome to the club.” He looked down at Jade who had finally succumbed to sleep. He carefully put her in the playpen.

“And an honorable club to be part of.” Bert nodded. “We are over the moon with this new development. Of course we wanted to wait until after our nuptials, but this child is in a hurry to be part of our happy lives.”

“So curlyhead is having a bambino.” David smiled broadly flopping on the couch next to his brother who had placed the sleeping infant beside him with pillows all around to keep him from toppling off the couch.

Bert nodded proudly. “Yes.” Bert’s chest puffed out even further. “And I can’t wait until the proof of our love is displayed to all the world by her growing stomach.”

David tilted his head back and laughed. “Yeah well, it’s not all wine and roses, Bertie boy,” he told his short friend. “Stay tuned for mood swings, always having to be near a bathroom, and your love bunny worrying over the loss of her shape.”

“Me and Terri weren’t a couple when she was preggers with this bruiser here,” Richie nodded to the sleeping boy, “but yeah, her mood swings were tricky too, although you wouldn't think that of her.” He laughed deeply, “and boy, could she eat!”

David nodded his head up and down. “Oh yeah... boy, Maddie was always hungry for food... among other things,” he added and smirked. “Now let me tell you the out of control hormones making them crave boinking is NOT a bad thing.” He licked his lips unconsciously. “But you also have to be prepared for the times where sex is the furthest thing from her mind and yours.” He had wicked fun watching the expression on Bert's face change from a sparkly delight to worry.

Richie looked over at his brother with a teasing leer. “Talking about boinking... you guys crossed that ‘closed’ bridge yet?” He smirked. “I know that Terri had a lot to make up for...”

David wiggled his eyebrows. “That bridge was opened a couple of weeks ago, but even before that I was able to steer the car and go for a nice drive.” He winked and elbowed his brother, “if you get my drift?”

Richie and David laughed lewdly together with Bert joining in but not really understanding what they were talking about. Bridges and cars – until it finally dawned on him and a bright red blush covered his stubbly face. He always had known his idol was a stallion in the bedroom. “Oh,” he stammered, “I am sure my sexy kitten will embrace her surging hormones.” He blushed deeper. “She is more of a wild cat than a kitten though.”

“Surging what?” David teased. Wow, he really couldn’t picture a sexually wild Agnes, but then he thought of ice cold personified Madolyn Hayes and knew the cover didn’t always show what was in the book. He leaned a little forward and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial purr. “Let me tell you I bet your wild cat will keep you busy under the covers, if you know what I mean.” David winked. “And you have to keep up with her which I always did. I know how to please my woman,” David bragged. “Never had a complaint yet.” He wiggled his eyebrows and added: “from any chick I’ve flattered with my attention.” He leered.

“You can thank me for that, little bro,” Richie reminded David nonchalantly. “You learned from the best.”

David nodded reluctantly as he put his feet on the coffee table. Maddie hated when he did that, but she wasn’t around to nag him. “Yeah well, you may have told me to always make sure first the girl feels real good, but I of course perfected my craft with lots of practice.” He smirked at his older brother. “But yeah, your advice was gold. Word must have spread about how I could make a chick happy 'cause I sure had them lining up for the big D.” He patted his crotch area.

Richie snorted with laughter. “Yeah, me too, bro.” He mimicked David's gesture. “We always aimed to please. How many times did we have to sneak chicks out of our bedrooms when dad came home early?”

Both brothers laughed and high fived each other. “Yeah, wild times.”

Bert was listening to this with wide eyes. He wished he would have had an older brother to steer him in the right direction. He had never been very popular with the girls in high school or women in general. Oh, he had had his share of lustful ladies over the years, but now he was happy to settle down with his love. Also as an adult, he had never really had a friend to share his experiences or insecurities with; all the happier he was that he had grown on his idol, and he was thrilled to have the older Addison brother as his friend too.

“I had years of wild times with wild chicks.” David shook his head. “But I got all that out of my system.” He got serious. “I got my wife now, and she is more than enough for me to handle.” He looked over at Richie who had suddenly grown unusually quiet. “Hey, you feel that way about Terri? Is she The One?”

Richie swayed his head thoughtfully from one side to the other. “Her birthday is coming up soon. I’m thinking of giving her mom’s earrings.” A slight blush made his cheeks redden.

A smile covered David’s face, and he punched the older one's shoulder in that rough brotherly way of theirs. “She’s The One.” He nodded. “Good choice, but...” David pointed his finger like a loaded gun first at Richie and then at Bert, “if either of you dumbasses hurt one curly hair on either of your women’s heads you will have to answer to me. Got it?”

The other two men nodded together. “Got it.”

***
“Is the monster asleep?” Richie asked with a grin but kept his attention to the sauce pot on the stove.

“Finally,” Terri sighed and stopped for a moment at the door to take in the scenery. Richie was standing at the stove in her tiny kitchen like he belonged there, stirring a pot of sauce he had been simmering for the last hour. It was Terri's birthday, and since they had planned to invite Maddie and David for a belated birthday dinner the following weekend and Nathan was still cranky with first signs of teething, they had decided to spend the evening at home; Richie had taken an extra evening off from the bar and had promised to provide a romantic dinner for them to celebrate. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt and his shoulders were slumped a little because he was so tall.

Obviously, he sensed her stare on his well-toned back and purred in his deep, slightly amused voice: “See anything ya like?”

Terri just smiled, walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. When she leaned her cheek against his back and enjoyed his smell, the top of her curly head barely reached the level of his shoulders, but the height difference between them never bothered her. She thought they fit perfectly together, in every sense. Sometimes, she still couldn't believe her luck.

“Here, try it,” Richie said and turned around, presenting her the wooden spoon with the aromatic pasta sauce.

The sauce was tasty and spicy and almost burned her mouth. “Relishioush,” she managed and tried to cool her mouth off by waving her hands frantically in front of her face.

“Wait till we get to the dessert,” he chuckled. It sounded like a promise, and a delightful tingling ran down her spine.

Almost an hour later, they had finished everything and even cleaned their plates with crusty Italian bread. Terri sighed: “This was about the best birthday dinner I ever had.” She threw him a sparkly look. “Nothing as sexy as a man who can cook.”

Richie smiled the Addison trademark half-smile he had mastered as well as his brother, but she was surprised to see that he seemed a little distracted, as if he was trying to concentrate on something that needed his whole attention. She hadn't noticed where he had gotten it from, but suddenly he put a small rectangular cardboard box on the table with golden letters imprinted on its top and handed it to her.

“Happy Birthday, Knowles.”

Terri looked at him with an almost shocked expression; this was obviously a jeweler's box, and her first thought was that he was giving her a ring, but before her whirling thoughts got the better of her, she noticed that the box didn't seem to have the right shape to contain a ring and that it looked a little battered at the edges, as if it was about twenty years old. Her eyes not leaving his, she took the box from his hand. “Thank you...” she murmured, and he smiled.

“Open it,” he urged her softly.

She looked down at the top of the box, and the golden letters read the name of a jeweler in Philadelphia. Slowly, she opened the box and saw a pair of beautiful emerald earrings, not too small and not too big, in a classic elegant shape. Her jaw dropped. “Richie... oh my God, you're crazy!” she panted.

He shifted on his chair a little nervously. “What, you don't like 'em?”

Terri finally managed to unglue her stare from the earrings and looked up at him again with an incredulous look. “Don't like 'em?” she echoed and shook her head. “Richie, they are wonderful! But you can't... this is too...”

He interrupted in a very quiet voice: “They were my mother's.”

“They belonged to your mother?!” In Terri's head, her thoughts were whirling. He was giving her earrings that had belonged to his mother – his beloved mother who had died when he had been just a teen. She knew that meant something important; this was not just an ordinary, random birthday gift – the fact that he wanted her to have jewelry that had belonged to his mom, and she knew what their mom meant to him and David – this meant she had to be very special to him.

Richie slowly rose from his seat and rounded the table with a smile, taking her hand and pulling her up too, he lead her to the small mirror in the tiny entrance hall of her apartment. “I would love to see them on you,” he told her in a low voice.

Terri saw the seriousness and also nervousness on his face, not hidden by a smirk or goofy grin this time; it warmed her heart, and she just couldn't object anymore. She was feeling a rush of emotions herself, and her hands trembled when she fumbled to put the earrings into her ears. Richie watched her over her shoulder in the mirror, and she didn't see the look of raw emotions on his face. Finally, she managed to put them on. The earrings glittered and shone and looked great on her. She still thought this gift was much too grand, but his obvious joy about it made them even more precious to her, and she smiled happily.

Richie was relieved that she liked the gift and obviously didn't shy away from the seriousness of it; he had been a little afraid of that. After all, they hadn't been a couple for that long, and giving your girlfriend a piece of jewelry that had once belonged to your mother was surely something serious. He smiled at her in the mirror and put his big hands on her once again slim waist. Leaning a little forward and down, he whispered into her ear: “Not bad, honey.”

Terri turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips brushing over the bare skin just below his hairline and her eyes glittering. “They are so beautiful,” she whispered in her husky voice. “I really don't know what to say...”

Richie felt he was going to get emotional and didn't want to overdo it – maybe she still had her qualms and would think it was going too far too fast, so he quickly decided to play it light – Addison style. “Well,” he shrugged nonchalantly, “you could express your gratitude in other ways than with words...” He tightened the grip around her waist, and she loved how his hands felt on her – so firm and secure, and so very sensual.

Terri saw, of course, what he was doing – going a step at a time, not rushing anything, maybe trying not to rush her. For a moment, she felt the overwhelming desire to tell him that she loved him, but she suppressed it and decided to wait a little longer; not because she wasn't sure of her feelings, but because she didn't want to overbid her hand. Instead, she pulled his face down for a long kiss and then whispered breathlessly: “Let me unwrap my other gift now...”

***

David and Maddie had spent that beautiful Sunday afternoon walking along the boardwalk on the Santa Monica Pier with Jade. David loved to push the baby in her stroller as his gorgeous wife walked beside them. Sometimes he had to pinch himself to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming. The couple decided to stop for lunch at a child friendly restaurant overlooking the water. Jade was a perfect lady for a change as David held her in his lap and fed her a bottle. After she was done eating she looked around with her cat green eyes before she succumbed to tiredness. With Jade asleep, David and Maddie were able to enjoy their lunch. They talked and laughed and spend a wonderful day together.

The phone was ringing as the Addisons walked into their house later that day. Maddie ran to pick up the phone as David took Jade out of her carrier and held her in his arms.

“Iris!” Maddie was thrilled to hear from her old friend Iris Lane. They had been close friends during her modeling days and still spoke to her a few times a year. Iris had moved to Ireland after marrying a popular Irish actor. Brian O’Malley was a huge star in Ireland but had just gotten a part in an American film which was a big break for him. Maddie and Iris made plans to meet for lunch the following day to catch up on their lives. Discovering that Maddie Hayes was now Maddie Addison and married to the green eyed devil that had driven her crazy for years made Iris laugh hysterically. The other woman was happy for Maddie and was dying to meet Jade.

When the two women met for lunch the following day Maddie soon realized that the meeting was more than just pleasure. Iris was having trouble with her husband and suspected him of cheating and hiding his assets. She knew Maddie ran a detective agency and she knew she would be discreet. Iris asked Maddie to find out what her husband was up too – financially and socially.