In The Shadows

Chapter 8

Harry rolls over, slightly surprised he was able to sleep at all, raising his arm he swipes the hair in his field of view away. What he sees makes him chuckle, Tommy, some time during the night, had crawled in between him and Billie, he is now curled up next to her with his head on her chest, one arm thrown across her waist. Billie has both her arms wrapped around Tommy keeping him safe, Harry rests his head on his hand and just stares at the pair, he always imaged his own wife and kids like this some day.

Billie knew Harry was staring at her, she could feel him looking at her, easing her eyes open, Billie looks up and right into his bright green eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She whispers.

Harry leans down, kisses her. "You're so beautiful." Harry whispers. "I was just thinking, I don't know, I want to wake up and see my wife holding my kids like this some day." He says.

Billie smiles. "I'm sure you will Harry. You're an amazing guy, any girl would be so lucky to be married to you, have your kids." She says, reaching up to push some of his hair out of his eyes.

Harry grabs Billie's hand and kisses it. "What if I don't want just any girl? What if I want you? What if I've fallen in love with you, want you to have those kids with me?" Harry whispers, looking her in the eye.

Billie blinks, causing a tear to escape one eye. "What if I want the same thing?" She whispers back. "What if I've fallen in love with you also, and want to give you those kids?"

"Then I say we need to make plans." Harry says with a smile. "Billie, I know we haven't known each other long, but as far as I'm concerned I know all I need to know about you, to know I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Billie whispers back as she pulls Harry down to her, careful of Tommy lying between them. "I love you too, and want to spend every minute of the day, for the rest of my life with you."

"I hope you don't mind, but when we get back to town I'm buying you a ring." Harry whispers just before he kisses her again.

"Does that mean we're engaged?" Billie grins.

"Hell yes. Now let's get up, I have to piss and I'm starving." Harry says.

Billie chuckles as she carefully unwraps her arms from Tommy's small body and let's Harry help her up. Once they both get done using the restroom, they brush their teeth using a bottle of water then walk through the branches of the willow tree to see Luke and Vance sitting at the camp fire with breakfast already started.

"Morning sis, I knew you'd be the first one up so I'd thought I'd surprise you." Luke says as he flips a piece of sausage.

Billie smiles as she walks over and kisses her brother's cheek. "Thanks, so you two staying or just cooking and leaving?" She asks as she and Harry sits down.

"We decided to stay." Vance says. "Your dad, Jessie, Greg and Willie, will be showing up later."

Billie is about to respond to that when Tommy walks up. "I need to pee, I don't like going out there by myself." He whispers.

"Come on, buddy, I'll take you." Harry says, taking Tommy's hand.

Luke watches Harry disappear with Tommy by his side. "Wow, who would have thought the city boy would take to Tommy like that. I'm impressed." He says, he then looks at Billie. "You like him a lot don't you?"

"I'm in love with him LuLu." Billie says.

Luke nods. "He seems like a great guy, and dad approves so that's a plus."

Harry walks back into the clearing holding Tommy's hand just as Lexi stumbles out of her tent, followed by Karen, Danaka, Mark and the rest of the group.
"God I hope one of you made coffee." Danaka says as she hugs her brother. "Did you sleep well Tom?"

Tommy nods. "I got cold, but when I crawled in with Harry and Bill I was fine, Harry is warm." Tommy giggles as he tries to swing on Harry's arm, letting everyone there know Harry and Billie slept together.

"I'm warm?" Harry teases, picking Tommy up, throwing him in the air making him squeal and laugh at the same time. "You my friend had me sweating." He says as he sets the laughing kid back on the ground.

"Wow you guys are noisy." William says as he, Alex, Greg and Jessie step into the clearing. "Good thing we bagged this beauty on the way in." He says as he drops a small deer on the ground. "You're scaring all the animals off with the racket you're making." He adds as he picks Tommy up tickling him.

Tommy kicks his feet, giggling. "Stop it Willie, you're going to make me pee again." He squeals making William set him down quickly.

Alex laughs. "That's my boy, Tom. Told you that would work."

"Like a dream, Poppy Alex." Tommy grins up at the taller man as he skips over and sits in Harry's lap.

Jessie smiles. "Well looks like Tom has a new friend."

Harry smiles as he wraps one arm around Tommy and the other around Billie. "Yep, Tommy and I are buddies, are we Tom?"

"Yep. Harry is my new best friend." Tommy grins.

"Well, breakfast is done." Luke says. "Tommy you hungry?"

"Yep, starving." He says.