Head in the clouds.

Chapter nineteen.

Five years later:

A wave of hot air smacked me in the face as I entered the apartment, trying to escape the frigid breeze and copious amounts of snow that had mounted on the pavement over the past couple of days. I stripped off my coat, scarf and gloves, laying them on the table near the door almost knocking over the stack of letters i hadn't had the energy to reply to.

"Cara?" I shouted into the kitchen. My footsteps echoed around the space like the thumping of heavy rain. No one replied, a knot formed in my stomach thinking of where she could be, only an hour ago she had called me at work telling me to come home, now I was here and she wasn't. With a frustrated sigh I ventured into the kitchen to dig into the fridge for something to eat, It had been a tough day. Instead of being in the comfort of my own home with free will over my creative licence I was now stuck in an office (granted it is my own office) editing other people's work. Not that i didn't enjoy helping out my fellow writers and reading their work but there's nothing like getting lost in your own world, putting the words trapped inside your head down on paper. Grabbing two slices of cold pizza I settled down at the counter and looked out of the window at the white flakes of snow cascading down from the dull grey sky. The empty plate splashed as I placed it into the sink, droplets of hot water dotted my arm. If Cara wasn't here how was there hot water in the sink? My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I tentatively made my way up the stairs not really sure what I was going to find.

"Cara?" I asked again, quieter than before. When there was still no answer I went to the bedroom hoping to take off my dress and get into something more comfortable. I pushed open the door, one lamp was on in the corner of the room creating a calm atmosphere, seeing the room made me instantly relax. Only after taking a couple steps into the room did I notice a figure curled up in the sheets. That's why I hadn't been getting an answer, I should have known she was going to fall asleep, especially as it took me an hour to get home. She looked so calm, calmer than she had in weeks. I wasn't the only one stressing out over work. A strand of her hair had fallen over her face and I instinctively brushed it away as if it was second nature, the ring on my left hand glinted in the soft glow of the lamp. Her eyelids fluttered open at the feeling of my fingers touching her silky skin.

"Hey beautiful." I breathed.

"Hey there gorgeous." Her voice was huskier than usual, she was clumsy in her tired state and completely adorable. She sat up resting her back against the headboard, she absentmindedly drew patterns on my palm. The sheet fell from where it was covering her body revealing the black lace lingerie she had worn on the first night of our honeymoon. My breath caught in my throat, even after all this time her beauty took my breath away.

"Planning something special?" I questioned after a long moment of trying to compose myself, my cheeks were flushed and hot. She looked down at what she wearing following my gaze, she laughed whilst wrapping her arms around my neck and I pulled her up, there wasn't an inch of room between us. Her vibrant blue eyes focused on mine.

"I have something to tell you." She announced playfully.

"You're cheating on me, aren't you? I bloody knew it!" I joked.

"Damn I didn't think you'd find out about my secret lover, you're too good!" She joked back, our laughter melted together. "I seriously do have something to tell you but if you can't be mature I may decide not to tell." We were slow dancing in the centre of the room, timing our steps to imaginary music, moving together as one. I buried my face into the crook of her neck, I could smell her passion fruit shampoo mixing with her perfume.

"Okay, i'm sorry what did you want to tell me?" I felt her shiver as I kissed under her jaw lightly.

"I'm... I'm pregnant." The wind had been knocked out of me, my mind was frozen. "The treatment worked, there's going to be a little mini me running around soon." I was still processing, the only image in my mind was a little toddler with bright blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, lumbering around the apartment. Unfathomable elation spread through me, words weren't enough to tell her what I was feeling. I crashed my lips to hers in a moment of heated passion. I could feel her touch over the fabric of my clothes sending a flash of heat over my body and settling in my lower abdomen, her delicate fingers unzipped my dress letting it fall to the floor in a heap.

Skin on skin. Breathing each other's air. Creating indescribable pleasure.

Finally there was the comfort of home and a sure future in my grasp. I never thought I wouldn't need my imagination to dream of something better, but better was the life I was living now. Looking at her, there was no where else I would ever want to be than in her arms.