~Three Months Later~

Kieran nervously adjusted his tie as he looked himself over in the mirror for the hundredth time that morning. He wasn’t used to wearing suits; in fact, he could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he’d worn a suit before and still have one or two fingers to spare. They usually felt stiff and uncomfortable and he always thought they made him look rather silly.

Not today.

The suit he was wearing today fit him like a second skin. Hardly a surprise, since his new bride had personally taken him to her father’s longtime personal tailor to have it made. Not purchased, but made. By hand. And of the finest materials, too. Katie refused to settle for anything but the absolute best, and Kieran privately suspected she’d spent more time making sure his suit was perfect than she did picking out her wedding gown. Still, he couldn’t deny that her efforts paid off. It was the most comfortable thing he’d ever worn, soft and breathable rather than stifling. He thought the tails were a little much, but he as he gazed at himself, he knew he cut a rather dashing figure.

“Ready, son?”

The voice of his father jarred him from his thoughts. Kieran turned and nodded. “Yes,” he said simply. “I am.”

Sean Callaway put a proud hand on Kieran’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you. And somewhere, your mother is too. I only wish she were here to see this.” His eyes watered with unshed tears--not a very common occurrence for him.

Kieran turned and embraced him. “I think she is,” he replied quietly. “I think she’s here, Dad. We just can’t see her. But she’s here. I can feel it.”

“My boy.” Sean gazed down at his only child. “You’re all grown up now. A man, with a wife and soon a child of your own. I am so, so honored to call you my son.”

They embraced once more in a fierce hug as the sound of orchestral music began to swell outside the dressing room. Sean grinned. “Let’s not keep them waiting, eh? This is your moment, Kieran. Yours and hers.” He opened the door. “After you.”

Kieran took a deep, deep breath and let it out slowly. He wasn’t having second thoughts, but it was normal to be at least a little nervous on one’s wedding day. So much had changed since the day Katie Petersen--now Katie Callaway--had strode so confidently into his life, yet all of those changes were for the better. His life was full where it once felt empty, his world filled with color and life where once it had been drab and gray. In a way, she’d saved him.

He steeled himself, squared his shoulders, and stepped out of the dressing room. The wedding venue was breathtaking--a beautiful, almost medieval-looking church with high vaulted ceilings, buttressed arches, soaring stained glass windows, and statues of cherubim and angels carved into the walls. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the panes of colored glass, casting rays of every color onto the stone floor.

And then Kieran saw her. Katie, his bride, his wife, standing there at the altar, waiting for him.

She looked radiant beyond description, a vision of angelic, heart-stopping beauty in a gorgeous white gown that seemed to sparkle even in the dim light of the church. The veil of intricate lace that framed her flawless features cascaded down her back. Her strawberry-blonde hair was swept up into a graceful updo that accentuated her elegant neck and shoulders. She wore no jewelry save for the simple wedding band--his mother's wedding band--that now adorned her ring finger, and the swell of her pregnancy, visible clearly beneath the dress, didn’t detract from her loveliness at all. In fact, it only made her more beautiful to Kieran’s eyes: she looked like an ethereal goddess of fertility, stepping down from the clouds to mingle among mortals..

Her eyes--those impossibly bright, robin’s egg eyes--met his, and the smile she gave him was so full of love and happiness that it took his breath away. The music swelled louder, and everyone in attendance rose respectfully to their feet. Even Katie’s father nodded at him as he walked by. Hannah Mayes gave a huge thumbs-up, and Katie’s entire cheer squad clapped and whistled.

Kieran took his place by Katie’s side, and the reverend glanced at each of them in turn before clearing his throat.

“Dearly beloved,” the reverend began, his voice rich and full of warmth, “we are gathered here today to join Kieran and Katie in holy matrimony. These two young people have chosen to embark upon a journey together, one filled with laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, love and loss. They come before us, hand in hand, pledging their hearts and souls to one another, promising to be faithful, to cherish and protect, to comfort and console, in sickness and in health, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sadness as well as in gladness, to love and to cherish until parted by death.” He smiled. “I can see in your eyes the love you two have for each other, and the bond you have forged. It is my honor to witness this union, to be a part of your story.”

Katie took Kieran’s hand in a firm grip.

“Katie,” the reverend said, facing her. “Do you take Kieran to be your husband, your partner in this journey? Will you support him, love him, cherish him, comfort him, and protect him, through all the joys and sorrows that life may bring? Do you promise to be his faithful companion, his best friend, and his lover for as long as you both shall live? Will you declare before these witnesses and before God that you will be true to Kieran, that you will never forsake him, and that you will love him unconditionally, as he deserves to be loved?”

Tears rolled down Katie’s face, tears of utter joy. “I do,” she said, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heart hammering in her chest. “I take you, Kieran, to be my husband, now and forever. Everything I am, everything I have, I give to you for the rest of my life. You are my husband and the father of our child, and I will love you, cherish you, and support you with every breath that I take.”

“Kieran,” the reverend said, turning now to him. “Do you take Katie to be your wife, your partner in this journey? Will you support her, protect her, and cherish her as a husband should? Will you promise to love her, honor her, and respect her, for all the days of your life?”

Kieran couldn’t answer fast enough. “Yes,” he said, his voice cracking. “I will, Katie. I will love you, cherish you, and protect you, now and forever. You are my wife, the mother of our child, and the most beautiful, most confident, most amazing girl I’ve ever met. I promise to always be there for you, through thick and thin, and I will make sure that you never doubt my love or my devotion. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, to grow old with you, and to see our family grow together.”

“Then by the power vested in me by the state,” the reverend declared, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!”

Katie all but threw herself at Kieran, seizing his hands and pulling her forward for a long, passionate, heated kiss. The church erupted with cheers and applause and the music began again, filling the air with a lively tune as the newlyweds made their way down the aisle, arm in arm, beaming with joy.

And for just a moment, for less than the span of a single heartbeat, Kieran thought he saw a face in the crowd, a face he hadn’t seen for three long, grief-filled years. A face whose owner wore a fond, proud smile. It was there for only an instant, but that was enough. Kieran recognized it instantly, and the shock of it almost made him trip over his own feet. Katie caught him just in time, but when Kieran looked back, the face had vanished.

“You okay?” Katie asked.

“Yeah.” Kieran blinked back tears of his own. “Yeah, I am. I’m better than okay, Katie. I’m better than I’ve been in a long, long time.”

“Me too.” She gave him a fierce hug. “Now let’s go pig out on some wedding cake!”

“Sounds good to me!” Kieran laughed, and there was much more laughter before the day was done. He and Katie ate and talked and joked, surrounded by friends and loved ones, long into the night. It was a party of special magnificence and even the press was there to commemorate the wedding of Governor Petersen’s only child.

And until the day he died, Kieran Callaway would swear that his mother had indeed attended his wedding.

Over the coming months, Katie’s pregnancy continued to progress. Her stomach grew rounder as their child continued to take shape and form, and as one trimester led to another, the symptoms changed. Morning sickness wore off to be replaced by exhaustion and aching limbs, but Katie took it all in stride and never once complained. She seemed to glow with an inner light that only grew stronger with each passing month. Katie monitored her nutrition with exacting care, took all her vitamins and supplements diligently, and went to regular checkups to make sure everything was going smoothly. She and Kieran hit all the milestones together: they listened to their baby’s heartbeat for the first time on the ultrasound even before the wedding took place, and soon they discovered--to Katie’s glee--that they were having a little boy. Katie was so overcome with happiness at the news that she could barely contain herself, and they threw a gender reveal party and had a baby shower less than a month later. Gifts poured in like a flood: Katie’s mother and father gave them a refrigerator, a microwave, top-of-the-line furniture, and enough baby supplies to take care of five children at the same time. Kieran’s father gave them his trusty old tool set and promised to help with any home repairs that might come up, and the girls on Katie’s cheerleading team gave them a beautiful set of nursery furniture. Even Katie’s teachers sent gifts, and the principal organized a donation drive at school that brought in enough money to pay for the baby’s entire college tuition.

At the same time, the two newlyweds moved into their new home and set about making it safe for a child to grow up in. As usual, Katie had it all planned out. The outlets needed to be covered, the electrical cords tucked away, the chemicals put in their proper places, and all sharp objects stored out of reach. Together they painted the nursery a soft blue, hung up pictures of their favorite characters from their childhood, and filled the room with toys and books. It seemed like a miracle that they even found time to graduate amid so much preparation, but somehow they did. Kieran and Katie both got their high school diplomas near the end of her second trimester, and Katie, whose grades never once suffered as a result of her pregnancy, gave a commencement speech centered around themes of love, happiness, and personal fulfillment. She encouraged all her classmates to find that special someone and to never be afraid to follow their hearts. The speech was so moving that it brought even the principal to tears.

The due date for their infant son arrived one crisp November morning just before Thanksgiving. Kieran and Katie both woke up early and immediately began preparing to go to the hospital.

“Scared?” Katie teased.

“God, yes,” Kieran said fervently. “What if something goes wrong?” It was a possibility he’d forced himself not to think about, and for the most part, it’d worked. Until now.

She laughed. “Oh, don’t worry! It’ll be fine, I’ll be fine, and the baby will be fine. I’ve been preparing for this for a long time, Kieran. I’ve got it all under control. We’ll be back home with our son before you know it!”

After a short drive, they arrived at the hospital and were promptly admitted. The nurses were all sweet and light as if they’d been expecting them for hours. Kieran paced the halls, worry etched into every line of his face. Katie, on the other hand, seemed to take it all in stride. She joked with the nurses, chatted with the other women in the waiting room, and exchanged pleasantries with some of the other dads-to-be. Her strength and resilience never failed to impress him, and Kieran, as always, drew strength from her example and found his courage. Katie was admitted to the maternity ward, and Kieran was allowed to stay with her as they waited for her to go into labor. Not that he would’ve left her side even if they wanted him to. He and Katie passed the time by watching TV, holding hands, and talking: talking about everything and anything, and reaffirming their love all the while.

Katie had her first contraction at exactly 10:02 a.m.

“Ow!” she suddenly yelped, clutching her middle. “Dammit, that hurts.”

“What? What is it?” Kieran asked worriedly.

“Contraction,” Katie said in a strained voice. “And it’s just the beginning. This is going to be a long day.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to ride out the pain.

“Call the nurse,” she whispered after a few minutes had passed. He nodded, squeezing her hand reassuringly, and pressed the call button.

The nurse bustled in, checking Katie’s progress and confirming that she was indeed in labor. She instructed Kieran to stay with Katie and told them both to remain calm while she prepared the delivery room. As the contractions became more frequent and intense, Kieran did his best to comfort Katie, rubbing her back, holding her hand, and whispering words of encouragement into her ear. It hurt Kieran to the core of his being to see her in such growing discomfort, but he knew that this pain was necessary for them to welcome their son into the world.

“The delivery room is ready,” the nurse said when she returned a few minutes later. She took Katie’s hospital bed and rolled it toward the door. “This way, please.”

Katie blew out a puffing breath and held Kieran’s hand in a white-knuckled grip as another contraction ripped through her. “Okay,” she managed to croak.

“How long will the labor last?” Kieran asked the nurse. “Will it really take hours?”

“It can vary from woman to woman,” the nurse replied, “but for first-time moms, it’s usually several hours at minimum. You’ve got a strong one here, so hang in there.” She gave Katie a reassuring smile before adding, “We’ll have the doctor in as soon as we need him. For now, just focus on pushing and breathing. Don’t fight the contractions when they come, and above all, stay calm. You and the baby are both going to be fine.”

Katie nodded. Despite her growing discomfort, she wasn’t afraid. She’d asked for this, planned for it, and longed for it for so many years. It was hardly fair for her to start complaining now. She looked up at Kieran as sweat began beading on her forehead. “This...this is part of it, Kieran. I knew...when I asked you to impregnate me, I knew that...aggh...this was part of it, that there would be pain before the end.”

She looked up at him, her blue eyes blazing with a ferocity that almost made him take a step backward.

“But I don't regret it," Katie all but snarled. "I don't regret any of it, and I'd do it all over again if it meant I could be with you! I...I will endure this for you, and for our baby...OH GOD!”

She screamed as another contraction, a much stronger one, took hold of her. Kieran held her tightly and kissed her forehead. “You can do this, Katie. I know you can.”

“I don’t regret it!” Katie howled again. “I want this! I want this! I want this! AAAGH!”

Her words were lost in another contraction. Kieran’s eyes filled with tears as he watched the muscles in her abdomen tighten and relax, and saw the pain written clear on her beautiful face. Katie was enduring one of the oldest and greatest trials of human endurance, but she was, as ever, facing it head-on with all her trademark boldness. She arched her back and screamed as the contractions continued, her body tensing and relaxing again and again and again. This continued for several long hours, during which the doctor came in periodically to check her dilation as Katie’s body continued to push their child into the world.

“Everything seems to be going smoothly,” he finally said, ignoring the sounds of her discomfort. “After three and a half hours of labor, your cervix is almost halfway to full dilation, Mrs. Callaway. You’re doing an amazing job--you’re halfway to the finish line.”

“Just halfway?!” Kieran asked in disbelief. “She’s only halfway, after all of that?”

“Childbirth is a long and laborious process,” the doctor said calmly. “Sometimes it takes up to twelve hours to achieve full dilation. For a first-timer, your wife is doing remarkably well. I have no doubt that you’ll both be holding your baby soon enough.” He checked her vitals again and then turned to Kieran. “She’s doing great, but she’s not out of the woods yet. It will be several more hours before full dilation is achieved.”

“Water?” Katie asked weakly.

“No, dear,” the nurse said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. “We don’t want you drinking any more water at this point. Your body needs to conserve fluid. But we can give you an ice chip if you’d like.”

Katie nodded eagerly and was given a cup of ice chips to slake her thirst. She swallowed only a few before another contraction tore her apart from the inside out, or at least that’s what it felt like. Kieran, never wavering, did not leave her side and did his best to comfort her. Katie's pain was great, but she bore with determination and an iron will that he could only envy. She never once whined or protested, never once asked for relief. She was strong, unyielding, and utterly focused on the task at hand. Just like always.

“I love our baby,” she panted, over and over. “I love our baby, I love our baby, I love our baby!" She gripped his hand so tightly he thought the bones would break. "We...we're gonna be...the coolest...parents..."

The ordeal ground on, and time seemed to lose all meaning. Minutes, hours, they all blurred together from Kieran's point of view. The doctor and nurses came in at regular intervals to check Katie's progress, give her more ice chips if she wanted them, and offer words of encouragement, but for the most part, they left her alone. They could sense that Katie was not the type of woman who needed to be coddled or babied. They ensured she was stable and monitored her vitals, but otherwise kept their distance.

And slowly but surely, the infant child inside Katie’s body made its way down her birth canal. And throughout the whole ordeal, Kieran never left her side, not even to eat or drink, for he knew that she drew strength from their connection.

Finally, the doctor came back after what felt like forever and inspected Katie one last time. “Full dilation,” he announced. “Get ready, you two. You’re about to meet your baby.” He glanced at the nurse, who nodded in agreement, then turned to Kieran. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to need you to step back for a moment. I’d like to see if I can help her guide the baby down a bit.”

Kieran hesitated for a moment, but Katie gave him a reassuring squeeze on the hand and said, “It’s okay, Kieran. It's okay. L-let me do this."

Kieran knew better than to try to argue. He kissed her forehead and took a step back, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

The nurse handed the doctor a tube of clear liquid. He squirted some into his gloved hand, then reached between Katie’s legs to help guide the baby as it emerged into the world.

“Almost there,” the nurse said soothingly to Katie. “Almost there, sweetie. You can do it. You’re almost done.”

Katie threw her head back as her birth pains reached a crescendo. There was a squelching sound, and then the doctor said, “The baby is crowning! I can see the head now. One last push, Katie.”

Katie gritted her teeth and reached deep within herself, summoning up all her energy and strength and formidable will. She took it all channeled into one final, Herculean burst of effort: an all-consuming and terrible final push! Every cell in her body burned, and every fiber of her being was consumed with a single thought: to finish her task and bring the child into the world safely.

With a final shriek, Katie pushed with all her might and felt, actually felt, the baby boy slide out of her with a wet plopping noise. The doctor deftly caught him, and Kieran gazed in awestruck wonder as he hurriedly cleaned the baby off and wiped away the blood and amniotic fluid from his eyes before cutting the umbilical cord. The baby, as far as he could tell, was a wrinkly, squirming, little thing. He was covered in a fine sheen of translucent goo that was hastily mopped away while he squalled.

He was also, Kieran decided at once, absolutely and utterly perfect. Love, deep and abiding and terrifying in its scale and power, welled up inside him as he gazed down at the tiny, wriggling little life in the doctor’s hands. He felt as if he could feel every hair on the baby’s head, every beat of his heart, every tremor that ran through his tiny, delicate body.

The doctor wrapped the infant in a blue, fuzzy blanket and placed him in Katie’s arms. Katie was pale, drained, utterly exhausted, more spent than she’d ever been before. She was shaking with the aftereffects of the labor, but when she held her baby boy for the first time, she knew it was all worth it--and would gladly do it again if given the choice.

“Our son,” Katie whispered, her voice trembling as she gazed at her husband. “Kieran...this our son.” She felt his warmth, his weight in her arms, and the softness of his skin. She inhaled the scent of his hair, the soap the doctor had used to clean him, and the unmistakable aroma of her own body that still lingered on him. At that moment, Katie knew neither her life nor Kieran’s would ever be the same. She would lay down her life in a heartbeat if it meant her son would live. There was nothing she would not do, no line she would not cross, to keep him safe. A love as fiery and intense and blazing as the sun surged within her, consuming her very being. Everything she did, every action she took, and every choice she made from now on would be with her child’s wellbeing in mind before all else.

“Connor,” Katie said, her voice weak and thready. “His...his name is Connor. Just...like I promised, Kieran.”

Kieran went to her side and they both watched the child with reverent awe. They gazed in rapture at the perfection of his tiny hands and feet, the delicate lines of his nose and brow, the soft wisps of hair on his head. “He’s beautiful, Katie,” Kieran whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Just like you.” He brushed a calloused finger over her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, her eyes never leaving their son’s.

“He looks more like you, though,” she replied softly. “He has your nose, see?”

Kieran looked more closely and saw she was right. The baby did have his nose, a tiny, button nose that was just as adorable as the rest of him. He touched the baby with a finger, and the child reached out and grabbed it with one chubby little fist. Kieran smothered a surprised laugh.

“He’s got quite a grip,” he said, astonished.

Katie nodded. “Babies always seem to know who’s important, don’t they?” She laughed softly, her gaze never leaving Connor’s face. As she looked at him, she felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness wash over her, a fierce urgency to keep him safe from harm. Even though she knew that was impossible--life was full of risks and dangers--she couldn’t help but feel that nothing, absolutely nothing, would ever be allowed to hurt him. She gazed down at their son, so small and perfect in her arms, and knew that from this moment on, her life’s purpose was to protect him, to love him, and to make sure he had everything he ever needed.

“I’m so happy,” she whispered. “So completely, utterly happy. Thank you, Kieran. For everything. I’m so glad I chose you--and that you chose me in return.”

Kieran was about to reply, but then the nurse came in and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Callaway, your parents would like to see the baby. Shall I send them in?”

“Absolutely,” Katie said. “Kieran’s dad, and my parents too, deserve to meet their grandson.”

Gregory Petersen was the first one into the room, with Sean Callaway and Mrs. Petersen following close behind. “Oh, my God,” he said, as he hurried to Katie’s bedside. “Are you all right? We heard the screaming--”

“I’m fine, Daddy,” Katie said with a tired smile. “Look, see? Your grandson is here, and eager to meet you all.”

“Oh, Katie, he’s perfect,” her mother exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to the baby’s forehead, then looked at Kieran. “You did a wonderful job, Kieran. We couldn’t have asked for a better man to help bring our grandchild into the world or a better man for our daughter to spend her life with.”

“I admit, I had my doubts,” Gregory added. “But, as much as it pains me to admit it, I was wrong about you, boy. You’ve done right by my daughter ever since you got engaged, and I hope you realize that I plan on thoroughly spoiling my grandson.”

“I’m going to spoil him more,” Sean declared. “Just you wait, Gregory. We’ll see who’s the better grandad when the polls come in.” He winked at Mr. Petersen, who rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

“Connor,” Katie said. “His name is Connor.”

“Connor.” Mrs. Petersen said, trying out the name. She leaned over the child, who smiled up at her and burbled happily. “Hello, Connor. I’m your grandma!”

Sean Callaway sat down on the bed next to his son and held out his hands to hold the baby. Katie passed the child carefully to him, and Sean took a moment, studying his features. “He looks just like you, Kieran. I’m proud of the man you’ve become, and I’m proud to be your father.” He looked over at Katie and smiled. “And Katie, you’re a wonderful mother already. I’m so happy for you both.”

Connor squalled a little, and Katie gave a sheepish grin. “I think he’s hungry. Would you guys mind...?”

“Of course,” Gregory said. “We’ll be outside. Call us if you need anything.”

Katie nodded, and when she and Kieran were alone again, took out her breast and held it out for the baby to suckle. It latched on eagerly and began merrily feeding while Kieran watched, utterly enthralled. He couldn’t believe that this was their child, that they had created this tiny, perfect being together. He reached out and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, admiring the way her face glowed with maternal pride and love.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you,” Katie said, turning adoring eyes to him. “Now and forever.”

Utter contentment, total and complete satisfaction settled over her, the sort of satisfaction that comes only after achieving a goal long-sought. At long last, after years of waiting, she’d finally achieved her goal. It was finished, accomplished, done. After so long spent planning and preparing, after years of patiently biding her time, she was holding, at long last, a child of her very own, made with love in the arms of a man she’d come to adore more than she’d ever thought possible. The future for all three of them had never looked brighter.

~Epilogue~

Eight years later

Twenty-six-year-old Kieran Callaway strode into the kitchen to find a scene of merry chaos awaiting him. Katie was ladling a steaming helping of scrambled eggs and sausage onto a plate, while their son, Connor, sat at the kitchen table with his nose buried in one of his school books. Already, he was a voracious reader and reading at a level several years above his grade.

But he wasn't sitting alone. Three years after he and his wife had welcomed Connor into their little family, their daughter Deirdre had been born. And three years after that came the fraternal twins, Cara and Quinn. Their little family was not so little anymore.

He glanced at his wife lovingly. Katie handled the pressure of four small children with a grace and serenity that others could only wish they possessed. Her natural maternal instincts made her an incredible mother, and Kieran, for his part, was a devoted and loving dad. He modeled himself on his own father, and no matter how busy his work became (Callaway Auto Repair had opened up three new locations so far, and was preparing to open a fourth) he made sure to be there for school plays, for Little League games, for all the important moments that mean so much to children.

Kieran's gaze turned hungry. Despite the stress of bearing four children, Katie was still stunningly beautiful. Somehow she still found the time to exercise regularly, and she was able to keep the post-baby weight off with a strict diet of exercise and healthy foods. Their sex life, even after eight years of marriage, was still off the charts. Not that their kids needed to know that.

"Daddy!" Deirdre squealed. She clambered down from her seat to run to him and hug his leg.

"Hey, sweetie," Kieran said, bending down to pull her into a hug. "Ready for school?"

"Yup! Mrs. Williams says we're doing inger-painting today!"

"I think she means finger-painting," Connor put in.

Deirdre poked her tongue out at him. He rolled his eyes.

"Just as long as you paint the paper and not the other kids," Kieran laughed. "You know, I got in trouble for that when I was your age!"

Deirdre's eyes widened. "Daddy got in trouble?"

"Yup," Kieran nodded. His eyes twinkled with humor. "Got sent to the corner, no snack time, and they kept me inside at recess."

Deirdre looked horrified. To a kindergartner, that was the equivalent of being sent to the gulag. "Well, I'm not going to let that happen to me," she declared. "I'm a good girl! Right, Mommy?"

Katie smiled and turned away from the stove. "Yes, you are, sweetie," she said. "One of the best little girls in the whole wide world!"

"Yeah, right," Connor snorted.

Katie gave him a look that warned him not to push it, then gave her husband a wry smile. "He gets that from you, you know. You and that dry humor of yours."

"Happy to help," Kieran replied sweetly. He checked his watch. "Ooh, I've got to go. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

Katie took off her apron and went to kiss him goodbye. It was something she always insisted on, and Kieran wasn't about to complain. She locked her lips against his and let herself melt against him with a soft moan.

"Ewww!" Deirdre squealed. "Mushy stuff!" Connor just rolled his eyes again, while the twins, still too young to understand what was going on, contented themselves with throwing handfuls of scrambled eggs on the floor.

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you too, Katie," Kieran whispered back. "I'll be home around five, okay?"

His wife nodded, but then, instead of pulling away to let him walk out the door, she leaned in closer. "Before you go, I want to tell you something." Her voice was husky now. Seductive.

Kieran's cock twitched with anticipation. "What is it?"

Katie leaned in further, so close her lips almost touched his ear. "I'm ovulating," she said, drawing out the word. "And it's been, like, two years since we had the twins. Almost three. So when you get back..." she pulled back just enough to let him see the excitement on her face and ran a seductive finger along his jawline. "What do you say we start working on baby number five?"

Kieran smirked and reached up to cup one of her breasts. "I say....that sounds like a fantastic idea."

~The End~