Chapter 15 Loving

Nick POV: Hefting Kelly's carrier into the loft, Nick breathed a sigh of contentment while he watched Adalind leading Diana in hand in hand. That was worth all the sacrifice and agony he had just endured. Adalind was the happiest he'd ever seen her as she lavished attention on the other female joy in Nick's life.

It was late and Kelly was already all asleep and in bed as Adalind dressed Diana in one of her T-shirts to sleep in. Nick made his final security checks having even more to love and protect in his home than before. Then Adalind and him sat next to Diana's bed and gave her a hug. Adalind lingered seeming to soak up the moment. Then Nick kissed Diana on the forehead and gave her a wink which made her giggle. "Don't stay awake too late with your light show. I saw you playing before bed the night we meet, little one," he admonished with a smile.

"What did she do?" Adalind asked a little worried and Nick threw his arm around her in reassurance.

"She just creates her own fun, don't you sweetheart," said Nick stroking Diana's cheek, "but don't worry, all the shutters are closed. It will just look like someone's watching TV if you can see anything from the outside."

Then taking Adalind's hand, Nick turned towards their bedroom saying, "Goodnight little princess."

"Mommy loves you. Call us if you get scared," Adalind finished looking back at Diana. Nodding the child snuggled down into the covers.

Closing the doors of the bedroom, Adalind turned to him slipping her arms about his neck. "Do you notice anything different about me?" She questioned with a sly look. Nick felt his temperature rise as she pressed her body into his which made it awfully hard to focus on what she was asking. Then something dawned on him.

"Where's your sling?" He asked noticing both arms were around his neck with both of her hands in his hair.

"Rosalee took me to the doctor's this morning. She thought it would distract me and I had an appointment. I didn't want to go because I was so beside myself, but I'm glad I did," she continued with a sexy smile. "We can't be our usual athletic selves, but I'm clear to make you growl a little," she finished bringing his mouth to hers as she deepened the contact of their hips by wrapping a leg around him.

Nick indeed growled as he scooped her up and gently laid her on the bed. With a combination of passion and restraint, he peeled her top off and buried his face in her neck kissing her as her arms tightened around him and her hands once again threaded through his hair. He trailed his wet mouth down to the red jagged scar on the left side of her chest and bathed it with open mouthed gentle kisses. Then Adalind growled as well when he continued with his mouth further down her body.

In the drowsy delicious aftermath of their fulfillment, Nick buried his nose in her hair as they spooned. Never tiring of her scent, he realized they had moved beyond pure sexual gratification into love making. He had almost dozed off, when he heard her whisper, "I love you, Nick." There was no gushing declaration or sappy feel to her statement. It was expressed as if it was just Adalind's reality, matter of factly. Nick sighed.

Adalind POV: It just came out true and right. She had no regrets admitting it. For once in her life, Adalind felt safe and secure enough to be completely vulnerable.

Kelly stirred and started to cry just as they would have fallen asleep. Adalind let out a breath of resignation turning to Nick with a shrug. "You go get his bottle and I'll change him, okay?" Nick suggested.

Padding bare feet over the cold floor to the refrigerator, Adalind once again regretted Kelly wasn't still breastfeeding. After five and half months, Kelly seemed to decide he could get his food by spoon and the occasional bottle, so why did he need to breastfeed and weaned himself. He exhibited a frustrating level of independence, she thought, as was displayed by his escape from her grasp at Rosalee's. He would have face planted if she hadn't caught him mentally, the daredevil. Kelly was going to be a challenge that's for sure.

Adalind opened the refrigerator and froze. Sitting right in front of Kelly's bottle was a tiny velvet box of a terrifyingly familiar shape. She felt Nick come up behind her and slip his arms around her. "So what do you say?" He queried placing a kiss on the pulse of her neck.

Reaching out shaky fingers, she took the box and opened the small clasp which revealed a four carat diamond, by her estimation, surrounded by a glittering cluster of smaller gems. It must have cost a huge chunk of his cop's salary, she thought with a sharp intake of air. She couldn't stop her next question, "Why?"

"Because I've never loved anyone more," he stated simply. "Look, I was going to wait and do something more memorable and fancy, but after what we've survived recently, I decided this couldn't wait," he explained. Diana sat up, not asleep at all, giving Nick a knowing smile which he returned with a grin. Adalind realized her daughter knew all about this and she definitely approved. That was just like Nick to do everything so perfectly.

"When did you get this?" She puzzled.

"Monroe helped me exchange a ring I had and pick this one out the day I left for Chicago," he continued. "Now are you going to marry me or what?" He smirked.

Adalind's laughter bubbled up complete and pure, as she melted into his arms. "I guess I better before you wake up and realize what you've done," she ended in a husky voice as her eyes held his with blatant heat. They were startled by Diana's squeal and her little hands clapping. Nick and her both spontaneously let out a hushed laugh, as Adalind put a finger to her mouth with a "Ssh."

The End.

Once again my thanks and appreciation for all my readers and reviewers. You make my day! Also my absolute gratitude belongs the best beta reader out there. He's definitely helped make this story the best it could be! :-)