The Dream Is Not Over

Reunion

Sexual activities ahead...

I hold him for as long as he will let me, rubbing his back in an attempt to soothe him. I feel his grip loosen and he pulls back, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry." he says. "I shouldn't be..."

"It's okay. I'm here for you too." He turns away from me and I sigh. I'm afraid he will try to distance himself now. I can tell in his eyes that he feels foolish. He sniffs one last time and all traces of his tears are gone except his slightly reddened eyes. He sits down, trying to choose boxes to go home now.

"I think I might just hire movers to grab everything. It's not much but I've got stuff I obviously can't put in the car."

"Alright." I smile brightly at him and he manages a small smile but I can still see he's conflicted. I lower myself to the floor, massaging his shoulder. "I cannot wait to have you home."

"Really?"

"I miss you when you're away, even if it's just
for a few minutes. These past few weeks have been hell on me and I'm sure they haven't been easy on you either." His head lowers and I kiss his deltoid and the back of his neck. "I love you." I hug him from behind and he rubs my forearms over his chest with rough, calloused guitar fingers.

"I love you too, Steph, and yes, these weeks were the worst of my life. Nothing compares to the emptiness in my life without my soulmate." I'm getting emotional and I kiss his skin again. I press my cheek to his toned back and sigh contentedly. He is my home and even being here in his apartment doesn't bother me so much anymore. I release him from my arms and he looks over his shoulder at me, smiling. "I love how affectionate you are. I've missed this."

"Me too." I nod but my gaze drops to my lap. He can tell something is going on. He's intuitive, just like our son. He may not act on it but it's there. He strokes my face and a single tear spills down my cheek.

"I knew it!" he exclaims, embracing me this time. "We can't keep doing this. One of us has to hold it together." he jokes and I giggle through my tears.

"We've just been through a lot and I dread calling our little boy because he's probably back in San Francisco." We separate so he can let me talk but he takes my hands in his, maintaining that connection I so crave. "They had a dinner with her parents after our party and I bet it went...swimmingly." I begin to cry even harder, upset over the fact that we ruined his engagement party. "He will probably take the planning from me now!"

"He won't. He loves you and Olivia is over the moon about you. He knows how excited you are and I'm sure when we call the kids, they will be excited to hear from you."

"Should we go up there or should we bring them down here?"

"Your choice, my love." He kisses my knuckles and I become consumed in thought. After a couple minutes I gasp. Lindsey's deep blue pools turn an eerie grey. "Are you alright?"

"River doesn't know about—"

"About what, sweetheart?" My eyes dart downward and he gives me a confused expression. "About what?"

I'm exasperated by the fact that he knows when I'm going to cry but has no idea how to take other subtle hints. I smirk, finding this both frustrating an adorable. "The baby" I say in a whisper and he leans in closely.

"Oh...the baby. But why are we whispering?"

"So no one can hear us." He looks around then chuckles.

"There's no one here besides you and me. Well, and the baby but they know about themselves."

I giggle and I run my fingers through the curls at his temples. "I guess that's true." I say, my volume now adjusted and he smiles at me.