Gary and Libby - Take One

Chapter Seventy Seven

  "I missed you." Gary squeezes my knee affectionately. "Too much." We're in the car, Ethan securely strapped into the back of the car in his car seat, i turn around quickly. just to check hes still there. He is of course, staring aimlessly into space.
"You look exhausted." Garys voice brings me out of my trance.
"I love you too hunny." I smile sarcastically and lean back in the seat, closing my eyes briefly.
"Oi." He squeezes my knee again, before starting the ignition. "You know im joking."
"I know." I breathe, almost a sigh of relief, im glad to be out of the hospital, it was driving me slowly insane in all honesty.
"I honestly missed you though." Gary sighs, his voice is almost pained.
"I missed you too," I whisper, almost half asleep. That hospital bed is way too uncomfortable, and even if it was, Ethan wasnt going to let me sleep. "I missed my bed as well."
"The bed or me in it?" I hear Gary smirk through my closed eyes.
"I think you know the answer to that." I grin. Ethan's gargle begins to decend into a cry as Gary pulls onto the drive.

"Hey, hey, hey you." Gary turns round in his seat and beams at him. "Come on." He stretches his arm out and tickles his stomach gently, making him giggle gently. I smile satisfied, hes so adorable. Both of them. Slowly i slide out of the car ans round to the back, opening Ethan's door ans unfastening the seatbelt. His face falls instantly and tears threaten again as i pull him up away from Gary. I bite my lip in a desperate attempt not to giggle.
"Okay, okay." I sooth, wrapping my arms around him, securing his blanket as i walk through the front door Gary is holding open.
"He wants his favourite." Gary quips from behind me, i just turn round and narrow my eyes in mock anger.
"I think you'll find hes hungry actually." I smirk, walking into the living room and getting comfortable on the settee. God is so nice to be home. Gary sits down next to me, draping an arm behind my neck, his fingers massaging me softly as i begin to feed Ethan.

"Im so proud of you." He whispers softly against my temple, breaking the long and comfortable silence as i lift Ethan up onto my shoulder.
"Hmm." I sigh happily in response.
"Honestly." Gary sighs against my ear again. "Look at him." He reaches his hand up and strokes over Ethans head. "And its because of you. I love you Libby."
"Im sure you helped a little..." I bite my lip gently as Ethan begins to drift off in my arms. "I couldnt have done it all on my own."
"Hmm. Maybe." Gary pulls away from my ear and grin at me. "You tired?"
"Ridiculously." I sigh. Its only half eleven in the morning. Is this what life is going to be like from now on?
"Come here then." Gary slides Ethan into his own arms and stands up. "Lets get you both in bed. You look like you need a proper sleep. Ill see to whatever this one needs."
"You cant feed him though." I sigh as i stand weakly, Gary places his free hand at the base off my back, pushing me gently forwards. A bolt of electricity flies through my body at the contact.

"You need anything?" Gary strokes over my hair as he tucks me into bed. I refused to get in until i was sure Ethan was safely sound asleep in his cot.
"Come and lie down with me?" I mutter sleepily. Garys eyebrow raises. "Please?"
"Baby ive got some work to do, i thought id sit on the laptop in Ethans room, just so he wont wake you if he wakes up."
I furrow my brow at his response. "Gary ive just given birth to your son. Come and lie down with me." I cant keep the sleepy grin off my face. Its too much effort to try.
He breathes a sigh of defeat and walks over to his side of the bed. I roll over to my other side and watch him as he takes off his jeans, the muscles in his arms bulge as he pulls the t-shirt over his head, his six pack clearly visible as he stretches. Before i know it, hes under the covers with me, warming my body completely.
"Mm-h." I snuggle further into him as he wraps two arms around me, my head leaning on his chest.
"Okay?"
"Yes thanks." I whisper, running my fingers over his fine chest hair. Im just about to drift into a deep sleep, when Gary speaks again.
"This is nice isnt it?" He smiles against the top of my head.
"What is?"
"This." He tightens his arm around me, pulling me closer into him. "Being able to cuddle you properly, nothing in the way." His fingers graze my stomache where my bump used to be. I smile to myself and nestle into him, further still.
"I wouldnt change it though." I whisper sleepily.
"Me neither." Gary breathes against my temple, his lips effectively kiss me as he speaks. "Not for the world."

                                                                     ***

I wake feeling refreshed. Refreshed but cold. Theres no sign of Gary. Slowly, i ease myself out of bed and pull on my dressing gown and slip next door into Ethans room. Hes still there. Just sleeping soundly in his cot. I decide to back out again before i wake him, i dont want to disturb him.
I hear the sound of Gary tapping about on a piano in his studio, so i decide to head along the landing until i reach the open door. I stop in the doorway, he has his back to me and cant see me as he continues to tinker on the keys, stopping occasionally to scribble something down on the sheet infront of him.
Without warning, he starts from the beginning of the piece, playing the melody with his long fingers before he begins to sing. His voice fills the room, his soft beautiful voice and all of a sudden i just want to break down into tears. Jesus Christ, talk about hormonal. I manage to hold it together until Gary comes to a natural end.
"That was beautiful."
I think i make him jump, but he spins on the piano stool and grins at me. "Really?"
"Yes." I smile, wandering over to him and Innocently perch on his knee.
"Im glad. How you feeling?"
"Better." I grin. "Ethans still asleep."
"So we've got sometime to ourselves?..."
"It would appear so Mr. Barlow." I smirk, my fingers gently toy with the stubble on his cheek.
Before i know whats happening his lips are on mine, his tongue pressing against my mouth, i part my lips instinctively and his tounge beings to explore. Its been too long. I moan unintentionally as Gary slides from underneath me and lifts me onto the piano. He pulls away breathless.
"Libby are you sure?" He looks me dead in the eye as i lock my fingers at the nape of his neck.
"Yes." I breathe.
"Its been a long time."
"What?" I raise an eyebrow with a smile. "Three weeks."
"Like i said," Gary grins back, parting my legs with his hands and slotting his body between them. "A long time...."