AN: So here is the final chapter, which would not have been possible without the encouragement of MissyDee and the SUPER AWESOME beta job of RealJena. Read her stuff for hot sexy times. Just sayin'. This chapter is the reason for the ratings change and here I'm going completely into fiction… not a single thing here is based on more than a happily ever after. Enjoy.

He stares at me, looking as though he can't decide what to think. "You're drunk, Sook. We're not even going here tonight."

"Maybe I finally have an idea of what I want. Did you think of that?" I ask, trying not to feel hurt. Why shouldn't he think that this is just an effect of the multiple drinks I've had tonight?

He shakes his head. "What happened to just friends? That you're not ready for anything else?"

I sigh and sit on the bed. "I've been thinking a lot about that… and us. Eric, I'm not as comfortable around anyone else as I am around you. You're my best friend. You put up with me through the past four years: through a pregnancy, dealing with a newborn, Alcide's unemployment and disinterest in his family, leaving everything on me. I don't know what I would have done without you. I thought that, maybe since we have a little time to ourselves, we could see if there's more. If there is, we have time to explore it a little. If there isn't, no harm no foul, we can go back to being just friends and know that we aren't missing out on anything." I gather all my nerve and do what I've wanted to do since we played pool: I lean up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his, just to show him I'm serious.

He responds for just a second before stepping back. "How drunk are you?"

I think for a second. "Drunk enough to have the courage to do this. Not so drunk that you should feel guilty about taking advantage."

"Perfect," he sighs and dips down to kiss me again.

His lips are so soft, but firm against mine. He slides a hand under my chin and tilts my head for a better angle before pressing harder. I let my tongue run over his full lower lip and feel him groan against me. He opens his mouth for me and I let his tongue taste mine. They slide sensuously against each other and his other hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me tighter against him. He pulls back again, panting a little. "I think we can safely say that 'just friends' isn't an option anymore?"

I just nod, trying to catch my breath. "Yeah…" I trail off, unable to break my eyes from his.

He's having just as much trouble collecting himself as I am. "Should I go before things get out of hand?"

Shaking my head, I step closer. "I want to explore a little more, if you don't have any objections."

He closes his eyes and pulls me down to sit next to him on the bed. "Before we do that, we need to talk about a few things. What about the boys?"

It warms my heart a little to know that how my kids feel is the first thing he considers. "They both love you, Eric. You know that. They trust you more than their dad. AJ is scared of him most of the time and Hunter never wants to spend the night with him. AJ fell asleep in your lap last time you came over, cuddled up against you. He hasn't done that with Al since he was an infant. I think the boys would both be in favor of this." Their reaction, whether they would have a hang-up with my closest friend becoming more in our lives, had been one of the things I thought long and hard about over the past few weeks.

He looks astounded. "Not wanting to ruin the mood, we'll get into why a sweet kid like AJ is scared of his father later. Second, what about work?"

"Well," I start, "there's no rule against dating a co-worker. We work on a reliable schedule and have the same hours and days off, but unless we have new hires, we stay out of each other's way. Neither of us is a superior, so there's no conflict of interest. If anything changes, we can cross that bridge when it happens."

Nodding, he looks up at me again. "What about Al? I'm sorry to bring him up again, but I have to ask."

I nod understandingly, even though I don't want to talk about him. "I already filed for the divorce. If he hasn't been served with the papers yet, he should be shortly after he gets back from his parents' house. He is. not. a consideration. He didn't tell me about Debbie; that was AJ. He and I aren't together anymore; a court ruling and six more months are the only things holding up our total separation. I want to try this with you, Eric," I say softly and scoot closer to him. "Any other questions?" I whisper and start kissing the side of his neck.

"Uhh… no, I think that covers it," he groans and turns his head to claim my mouth again.

I haven't been kissed like this in so long. I run my hands up over his biceps and neck, tangling my fingers in his shaggy blond locks, holding him to me. He puts one hand back at my waist and the other at the nape of my neck, letting his fingers play with my curls while his tongue dances with mine. I shift and wiggle, trying to find a more comfortable position since we're sitting side by side before giving up and leaning back onto my pillows, pulling him to lie beside me.

The change in position makes him bolder and the hand at my waist slowly slides up my body unhampered (since I never did "cover up" as he requested). At first, he just runs his fingers over the black satin of my bra straps, taking in the texture. He removes his lips from mine and starts nipping and kissing my neck, grinning against my skin at the goosebumps I get when he hits that delicious spot behind my ear. I shiver and he runs his palm over my oversensitive skin before nipping my ear lobe. "We need to stop before we go too far," he gasps into my ear.

"I don't want to stop," I hurriedly reply and pulls his mouth back to mine, swallowing his groan of pleasure when I wrap my leg around his thigh to emphasize my point.

He sits up and pulls off his t-shirt; I take the time to fully admire what has been in front of me for years and never paid attention to. He isn't as fair as I thought, his skin still having a faint bronze glow even this far into winter. Pale golden hair is sprinkled over his delectable chest with small brown nipples. Defined abs and perfect hip bones are highlighted by the low-rise waist of his jeans and a bit more hair leads from his navel, disappearing into his pants. "God, you're gorgeous," I groan, running my hands over the torso I've never appreciated appropriately. I graze my nails over his nipples and am rewarded with a shiver and his eyes rolling back slightly. When they return to mine, they're darker and filled with an expression I haven't seen on anyone in a long time.

"Your turn," he growls and I immediately reach behind me to unclasp my bra. He moves my hands away and does it himself, sliding the straps down my arms and tossing it to the side. "Mmm… the reality is much better than imagination," he says, almost to himself. His large hands slide over my tummy and cup my breasts from underneath, weighing them, squeezing gently. He makes my eyes roll back when he mimics my action and grazes over my nipples with his fingertips. "You are so beautiful," he whispers into my shoulder before kissing his way down my chest.

Just the tip of his tongue comes out to play and he slowly circles the bud, speeding up my breathing. He moves back and forth, from right to left, never playing favorites. When he closes his lips around one and sucks, lightly pinching the one not in his mouth, I can't help but exclaim, "Oh GOD!" and arch my back, pushing my breasts more into his face.

Liking my response, he repeats himself on the opposite breast and grunts when I pull his hair a little, holding him to me. My neglected tits get treated to a good deal of his attention before he pulls away, kneeling between my legs. "If we're not going to stop, you're wearing far too many clothes."

I nod. "So are you," I agree and we immediately start working on our own jeans, trying to get them off as quickly as possible. He's faster than me and pulls mine down when I raise my hips. His dark blue boxer briefs show him off, in several ways, far better than the board shorts we would wear swimming in the summer ever did. His attention seems to be captured by the tiny black bikinis that matched my bra. When he joins me back on the bed, I change it up a little.

As much as I like him touching me, feeling his weight against me, I want to feel him. I swing myself on top of him, straddling his hips. When I lean down to kiss him, I can't help but appreciate the rigid hardness I feel against my stomach. When I slide up against it, he groans and I repeat the move. He pulls my head down and this kiss is different; more fierce and passionate than any of the ones before. His hands wrap into my hair trying to regain control. I restlessly roll my hips, feeling him instinctually try to match my movements. His lips break from mine and begin teasing my breasts again; both of us panting desperately.

"I want to feel you, Eric. Please…" I whimper. It's been a long time for me and I'm wound tighter than I have been in more than a year. Surprisingly, I'm not scared about taking this step. Eric has been my best friend for so long, but the chemistry between us proves there can be so much more.

He nods and flips us over so he is again on top. Sliding my soaked panties down my legs, he moans hungrily when he sees me completely bare. Lack of action is no excuse to go ungroomed. He tosses the scrap of black satin to the floor and leans in to kiss me again. One hand cups my breast and the other slides torturously slow down my side to rest on my hip. He leans back to meet my eyes as his palm ghosts to rest between my legs. So reverently, his fingers run softly over my nether lips, making me feel even more feverish. "Fuck, Sookie, you're so damn wet," he murmurs in appreciation.

To have him touching me where I want him to, but not helping relieve this ache burning me from inside out is excruciating. I shift under him, trying to create some kind of friction. "No, little one. Let me do this for you, at my own pace," he orders and begins to ease my suffering. His fingers dip gently into my opening before sliding up to my nub. He just circles around it first, watching my reactions. I'm so on edge that I know as soon as he rubs over my clit, I'm going to fall apart. I just need him to do it.

Seeing the need in my eyes, he gives me what I want. As soon as his calloused finger makes direct contact with my sensitive bundle of nerves, I come, gasping out to God and Eric alternately. He doesn't let me come down though, In the middle of my orgasm, he pushes two fingers into me and curls them, hitting my g-spot with a vengeance, making me come again even though the other one hasn't stopped yet. He keeps pushing, touching me in ways I've missed, drawing out the pleasure as long as possible.

Finally, after coming for what feels like half an eternity, he slows his strokes and lets me coast down. My mind spins with the pleasure he's given me; ecstasy my body hasn't known in so long. When I open my eyes, his turquoise ones are locked on my face. He seems to be looking for something in my expression. I don't know what it is, but I know for sure that it isn't regret. I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him down for another kiss and he releases a breath I didn't known he was holding. He slides his palms up my body and holds me to him tightly. "That was… God, that was amazing, Eric," I whisper against his cheek before moving my mouth to press soft kisses against his neck.

He's very hard and heavy against my thigh; his boxer briefs showing the strain his size puts on them with his arousal. I want him to feel as good as he's made me, so I smooth my hand down his torso, letting my fingers dance over the well-defined muscles and smile when they flex at my touch. Gently, I cup his erection through the cotton and revel in his moan. Softly, back and forth, I stroke him and can feel his pulse speed up under my lips at his neck. Moving up to the tender spot below his ear, I breathe, "Take them off."

His arms move swiftly and smoothly, releasing their hold on me to pull his constricting underwear down his long legs. I use my legs to help get them off and immediately start stroking him again. His length and girth are slightly intimidating as he's bigger than Alcide (who was by no means average). His lips return to mine, tongue thrusting against mine in time with my hand. I swallow his pleasured moans, feeling his hips flex in counter-rhythm to my movements.

"I can't wait, Sookie. I want to feel you around me. Fuck, please tell me you have something," he grunts, removing my hand from his cock.

I think hard. I haven't had the need to have condoms since I left Al. On a hunch, I open a box near my closet that has remained unopened since I moved. BINGO! I reach in and hold up the foil square like a treasure hunter finding gold. Smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, I hand it to him and climb back on the bed, thankful that the night isn't going to end early.

He rips it open eagerly and rolls it on. Hovering over me, he braces his weight on one of his forearms while his unoccupied hand probes between my thighs. Assured that I'm still wet, he lines himself up with my opening and slowly sinks into me. After so long, the stretching I have to do to accommodate him is slightly uncomfortable, but he is patient with me. When the fullness transitions to pleasure, I grind my hips up, urging him wordlessly to move with me.

He pulls back until just his tip is inside me before slowly thrusting forward again. Placing soft kisses over my breasts and neck, he sighs into my skin, "I've wanted you like this for so long…" Trailing off, he kisses me with more passion than before, emphasizing his statement.

I think "just friends" is definitely off the table now.

I nestle one hand into his hair, holding his mouth to mine while the other strokes down his back, feeling his muscles stretch and relax as he moves in me. I want more. Lifting my legs to wrap around his narrow hips, I lock my ankles together. "Faster, Eric, please," I plead against his lips before kissing him savagely.

I feel his guttural moan throughout my entire body before he changes positions to grant my request. He breaks our kiss and shifts onto his knees, resting my ass on his thighs. Holding my hips tightly, his thrusts get faster and harder. "Sookie, I don't know how much longer I can hold out. Come for me," he growls, bucking against me, his thrusts becoming erratic.

I want him to come, to have that nirvana that blocks out everything else, that he's already given me. I know he won't until I come again. I reach between my legs and begin rubbing tight circles over my nub with one hand and pinch my nipple with the other. Seeing me touch myself excites him further and he ruts into me even harder. I know his grasp on my hips will leave a bruise, but I just don't care; it feels like heaven right now. Tightness coils in my belly and I only need a little more to push me over.

"Fuck… Sookie… Now… Please," he groans driving into me hard and that is all I need. I feel nothing but bliss as my thighs quiver and back arches up. Floating in a cloud of pleasure, I can feel him swell even larger inside me before he howls my name, jerking as he has his own moment. As we both come down, he collapses to my side. I scoot closer and rest my head on his chest breathlessly.

"I have to say… I never knew it would be like that with you," I mumble, suddenly very drowsy.

He runs his fingers through my sweaty, tangled hair. "I can't say the same. I always knew you'd be amazing." I nuzzle my cheek against his chest, wrap an arm around his waist and throw my leg over his, wanting to feel him as close as possible. I don't quite to know what to say. He dips to kiss my forehead. "This isn't going to be awkward. We know each other too well for that."

I can't help but feel nervous. Our chemistry is obvious, but I don't want a few months of awesome sex to ruin one of the best friendships I've ever had and Eric tends to have a short attention span. I think back and in the four years we've been friends, the longest relationship he's had was eight months. My nerves suddenly come back with a vengeance. How can I let my kids get attached to him only to have him bow out of their lives (and mine) when this runs its course? How could I jeopardize everything?

Sudden sobriety is a bitch sometimes.

My tension is palpable; he sits up and tilts my chin up so I'm meeting his eyes. "Get out of your head, Sook. Talk to me."

I sigh and look down. "What's going to happen when you get bored with me? After my boys get even more attached to you than they already are? Are we ruining everything here? I can't lose you as a friend, Eric."

When I sneak a peek up, he's frowning. "What makes you think I would get bored with you?"

"Pam, Liz, Yvette, Tara, Angel, Kate, and Ginger," I remind him sullenly. Yes, I know the name of every single girl he's dated in the past four years.

His eyes roll. "Pam was an extended fling. Liz had no sense of humor. Yvette was here on a Visa that expired and left the country. Tara realized she was more into girls. Angel was married and informed me that she had no intentions of leaving her husband. Kate moved to L.A. to become an actress on a whim. And Ginger… well, you know why she and I ended. Besides her, Liz was the only one I actually broke up with. The others… unavoidable situations came up and things just fell apart. But none of them had the base with me that you have. I think I can safely say that I know you better than just about anyone and all that does is make me want to learn even more about you. I can't wait to know you in every way," he says with a lascivious smile.

"I'm serious, Eric," I say, swatting his arm slightly. "I can't start this if this is just going to be a fling or something short term. I would manage, but I can't involve my kids otherwise."

"Sook, look at me." I raise my chin and meet his gorgeous aqua eyes. "If I didn't want something long-term, I never would have agreed to more than going out tonight. I think we have what it takes to have this for the long-run, but we'll never know if we don't try."

I realize that I have to suck it up and take a chance. I nod my agreement and relax against him as he pulls me into a hug. We settle back into the bed and kiss and cuddle until sleep takes us both.

Three years later…

EPOV

"AJ, you need to call your dad. Hunter, go grab the bags by our closet door. Come on guys, it's time!" I call out to my step-sons. Hunter enthusiastically runs back into the bedroom I share with their mom, my wife of ten months.

Throwing me a look of disgust, AJ grumbles, "Why do I hafta call him? Why can't me and Hunter come to the hospital with you guys? We'll be good, I swear!"

Sookie answers for me, panting to control her pain. "We already talked about this, sweetheart. We don't know how long this is going to take. Gram is going to be in the room with Eric and I, and Pop can't get off work until later. I just don't think you are old enough to wrangle Hunter when our attention will be elsewhere. I'm sorry honey, but you need to stay with your dad, at least until Pop gets off work. He'll pick you guys up on his way to the hospital."

Completely out of character, AJ starts cackling wickedly. "That'll be funny. Dad is still scared of Pop. He always goes all white and quiet whenever Pop's around shooting him those dirty looks of his."

Fortunately, I've never been on the receiving end of Corbett's dirty glare and I fully intend to keep it that way. After Sookie and I started dating, I was subjected to a Stackhouse Inquisition over Sunday night dinner. Michelle and Corbett shooed the boys to the playroom to watch TV after dessert and I was questioned about everything I'd done or thought since high school. Luckily, my answers passed some kind of test and I was welcomed into the family fold.

My mom Alice was welcomed soon after, alone after being a widow for more than a decade. Once Sookie and I were engaged, we decided it was a time for our families to meet. Mom fit right in: not only does she adore Sookie, but she spoils the boys as if they were her grandchildren by blood. She and Michelle, within minutes of meeting, got on like friends for years. Unfortunately, she lives several hours away and isn't able to visit as much as either of us would like.

AJ reluctantly grabs the phone to call Alcide. Two months after the divorce was final, Alcide and Debbie had a quickie wedding at the courthouse while the boys were at school. They didn't tell anyone until the next scheduled weekend when the boys visited. To say they were not pleased would be an understatement. Six months after that, she was filing for divorce and moving out. Apparently, his inability to keep his temper came out in full-force once he signed a marriage license.

This was why AJ had been scared of his dad. Without Sookie's knowledge, Alcide had been badgering and yelling at his oldest son during their nightly phone calls for his own various failings. During a pre-bedtime chat, he confessed to me that he looked forward to the day that he was big enough and old enough to tell off his dad and make his own decision whether or not to see him. For such a gentle, big hearted boy, he had a lot of anger issues with his father, mostly having to do with the fights he would have to witness between Al and Sookie. His mom and I worked with him to help him deal with his issues.

Our wedding went a long way to help give him the family foundation he wanted, solidifying my place in the boys' lives. From the moment my relationship with Sookie went from friendly to romantic, I knew her kids would be priority one and I felt that was only right. I knew that she had to keep some kind of civil relationship with their father for the boys and didn't let myself worry when she would linger at pick-ups and drop-offs. There were issues, like AJ's dyslexia and Hunter's preschool, which had to be discussed. Although she no longer wanted him in her life in any capacity, she would stay long enough to keep him updated as to the kids' lives.

About a year after the divorce was final, Sookie and I began house hunting, as both our homes were too small. One day while the boys were at school, we met with a realtor to look at some affordable properties that would be in close proximity to her parents and our job. After a full day of searching and finding nothing that fit our needs, we were feeling disappointed until the agent pulled into the drive of the last showing. The brick ranch house appealed to us both at first sight. Off a country road, there was a huge yard where the boys could play, lined by woods. A two-car garage, eat-in kitchen, living room, den, office with built-in bookshelves, dining room, 3 bedrooms with a master suite that was bigger than I'd ever seen, a finished basement with storage and a workshop, plus an additional bedroom and bath. Both of us loved it immediately, but knew it was slightly out of our price range. The realtor assured us that it wasn't; the owners were on the verge of foreclosure and the bank was willing to accept a short-sale and gave us the price. Sookie and I just stared at each other for a few silent moments before agreeing to buy the house. When the agent went out to her car to get some paperwork, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a ring.

I had spoken with Corbett, Michelle, AJ, and Hunter during the previous night's dinner. When I told them my plans to propose, all four of them enthusiastically approved. Michelle, wiping her cheeks, retreated to her bedroom and returned a few moments later. Holding out her hand to me, she said, "This was the ring my father gave my mother. When she gave it to me, she wanted me to offer it to the man who would love my baby the way my dad loved her: without bounds. The boys' father (she never mentioned Alcide by his first name) never mentioned his plan to propose and when I offered him this ring after the fact, he seemed to think my girl would want the new ring over a 'hand-me-down', showing me just how little he truly knew her. You'll have to tell me what her reaction is when you offer this ring to her; I know she's wanted it for years."

When I knelt on the shiny hardwood floor of what would be our new house, she gasped and started sobbing when she saw the ring I held out to her. Kneeling down next to me, she wrapped her arms around my neck and thanked me before I could even say a word. I managed to ask her to marry me through her tears and she nodded emphatically, holding out a shaky hand. Her grandmother's ring seemed made for her slender finger and fit perfectly.

After signing the necessary paperwork to lay claim to our new house, we left to pick the boys up from their summer day camp. Once in the car, they were both bursting at the seams, wanting to know their mom's answer to the question they knew I had asked. When she showed them the ring on her left hand, they both cheered like little maniacs. AJ wanted the "pleasure" of breaking the news to his dad during the phone call that night. It was granted by his smirking mother and we all went back to her house to have dinner.

We had a small ceremony just a few months later, only having family and close friends in attendance. My buddy Sam was my best man and Sookie's cousin Hadley was her maid of honor. Her father gave her away, breaking his self-proclaimed rule of only attending "one wedding and one funeral" per person in his life. She wore a very light sea foam green dress, feeling true white wouldn't be appropriate for her second wedding and carried pale pink roses for her bouquet. I was fairly casual, wearing dress slacks and a button-down white shirt without a tie. We said our vows before a justice of the peace and took our small group of guests out to dinner to celebrate.

The one thing I insisted on was a honeymoon that would surprise her. She agreed and was assured by her parents that they had no problem seeing the boys off to school while we were gone. Once our post-ceremony dinner was done, I took our pre-packed bags and drove to the airport. When she saw our destination at the gate, she gasped. "Greece? Really? You're taking me to Greece?" she squealed.

I was taking her to the place she had told me that she's always dreamed of going to. We spent a week sunning ourselves on the Mediterranean beaches and sightseeing during the day and making love to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore by night. We returned home and our regular lives tanned, relaxed, and truly happy.

Neither of us thought anything when she started waking up nauseous about six weeks later as there was a flu bug going around. However, when it carried over for more than a week, she knew it was no virus. She drove to a 24-hour pharmacy after the boys went to bed and with a simple test, confirmed what she already pretty much knew.

So here we are, thirty-two weeks later, ready to bring our child into the world. Hunter runs out of our room dragging the duffle bag down the hall, looking proud. AJ huffs a sigh after hanging up the phone and retreats to the room he's temporarily sharing with Hunter to collect the bags with their clothes for their mini-vacation with their Gram and Pop. I take the bags to the car while trying to remember if we have everything. The boys run past me and get themselves settled into the car while Sookie waddles out, breathing deeply and shooting me the dirtiest looks I've ever seen from her beautiful blue eyes.

We drop the boys off at Alcide's apartment on the way. He stands on the landing, glaring at us while the boys morosely slump out of the car. I gather their bags from the trunk and hand them off, ignoring the resentful looks I receive from their father. Each boy gives me a hug and leans in the passenger window to kiss their mom. I assure them both that we'll see them in a few hours so they can meet their new brother or sister this evening. I get another group hug before they stomp off unhappily to meet their dad.

At the hospital, I help Sookie from the car and head for the maternity ward, our registration already done in advance. A nurse gives her a gown to change into and moments later, we are greeted by Dr. Ludwig who kindly explains all of the straps, monitors, and tubes that are being connected to my wife. Although necessary, I'm not entirely comfortable with so many people checking an area of her body that only I have had access to for the past several years, despite her assurances that it's normal. Since her water broke at home, she's already in active labor and once told she's five centimeters dilated, she demands the epidural.

To take her mind off her pain while waiting for the anesthesiologist, we go over our choices of names. For a girl, we decide to honor my mom with Alice but have no idea for a middle name. If it's a boy, both grandfathers will be namesakes: Jason for my late father and Corbett for hers. Once that's finally agreed on, the epidural is administered and I am able to see my wife finally relax.

Michelle shows up a bit later while we're watching game shows on the television. When the nurse checks the tape from one of the monitors and states how the contractions are getting stronger, Sookie laughs at the downright filthy look her mother gives her. Apparently it's been a joke for the past eleven years: Michelle was jealous of her daughter getting epidural pain relief for labor since she did Lamaze and had nothing but breathing techniques. The nurse checks again and tells Sookie she's close – eight centimeters.

It's hitting me that before then end of the day, I will be a dad and hold my child in my arms. I'm no longer young – closer to forty than thirty – but I'm gaining everything I've wanted and looked for unsuccessfully for years. Sookie looks up at me with her bright blue eyes and smiles, able to practically read my thoughts with just a glance. She squeezes my hand and kisses my knuckles.

An hour later, a final check from the nurse shows that she's fully dilated, so Michelle and I take our pre-assigned positions. Sookie has requested that I go no further down than her chest; for her comfort, I agree. Michelle assumes her standard position, ready to help with the pushing and counting. Dr. Ludwig arrives to play catcher and the delivery of our child begins.

It takes longer than anyone expected, especially for a third child. My stunning wife pushes continuously for ninety minutes before we are told the baby is almost out. With a Herculean effort on the final push, the baby joins the world and we're told we have a daughter, little Alice. Our bloody miracle is placed on Sookie's chest before I cut the cord.

Sookie is exhausted and her mother wipes her brow while I follow the doctor and nurses to watch over my baby. I don't want to miss a single one of her moments. Once she's swaddled, she's given to me to present to my wife and she is the only one I will willing let go of my new daughter for. When she rests in her mother's arms, we peek under the pink and blue striped hat. "Blonde peach fuzz… just like Hunter had," Sookie muses. A Cupid's bow mouth opens wide in a yawn and deep blue eyes blink sleepily. "I don't think we'll be able to tell who she takes after for a while. She's average length and weight and the eye color will change. Either way, she's absolutely perfect."

Her mother takes her at Sookie's request and my wife tugs me down onto the bed with her. "I wanted to mention something before we officially name her," she says, surprising me as I thought we had this decided. I nod for her to continue. "I want to make her middle name Jace for your dad. Alice Jace Northman," she says with a tentative smile.

She never fails to stun me. Unable to come up with a verbal reply, I simply lean over and kiss her… probably harder than I should since we won't be able to go much further than that for at least six weeks… the longest dry spell of our relationship.

Looking down at Alice's mouth puckering, she holds the baby to her breast and coaxes our daughter to suckle. It is one of the most beautiful sights I've ever witnessed. I manage to fit my frame behind hers on the narrow bed and let her recline against me. I slide my arms under hers and help her support our daughter's weight.

Several hours later, the boys and Corbett arrive, ready to meet the baby. I kneel down holding Alice and introduce her to her brothers before handing her to her Pop. I leave Sookie with her parents and take the boys down the street for a quick dinner and to grab some take-out for everyone else.

We grab a booth with our burgers, fries, and milkshakes and I speak to them seriously. "You guys know that with a new baby, your mom and I are going to be a little pre-occupied, right?" Both boys nod, AJ rolling his eyes a little as if to say "Do you think I'm stupid?" I cock an eyebrow at him and continue. "I want you guys to know that no matter how tired or busy we seem, if you need anything from either one of us, just say the word. If your mom can't help, you know I'll step in to do what I can. Just don't think that having a baby in the house means that we're going to neglect you in any way."

Hunter, at six, clearly doesn't fully understand and seems content to munch his fries and play with his new toy. AJ, on the other hand, understands and remembers more than we'd realized. "When Hunter was born, Dad was off by himself all the time and ignored her and me and the baby. If you hadn't been coming around back then, I don't think Mom would have been able to keep up with anything. You'll help all of us out to make sure everything gets done? Mom's not going to have to handle everything by herself again?"

He's a perceptive little guy. "That's exactly what I'm saying. Your mom is going to be on maternity leave from work for about another two months, so she'll come pick you up from Gram's and Pop's house after school, just earlier than usual. But this is going to be a team effort. If she asks for a favor from you guys when I'm at work, please help her out as much as you can." At their ages, they are old enough to be assigned chores to make the household run smoother and I tell them so.

The boys appreciate me talking to them one-on-one about what to expect over the next couple of months. We place the to-go order and head back to the hospital. Corbett hands Alice off to me after I give Sookie her meal. She proceeds to inhale the first solid food she's been allowed in almost twenty-four hours while I sit in the rocking chair to stare at my daughter. AJ and Hunter say their good nights to us, leaving with Michelle and Corbett. When Alice starts making the puckered, lip-smacking face again, I hand her to Sookie and settle behind her again.

"Thank you for her," I whisper in her ear and smirk at the goosebumps that erupt on her shoulders and neck. "You are breathtaking."

She drops her head back against my chest with her eyes closed. "Thank you for her, for AJ and Hunter, our new house… thank you for everything," she breathes back, a single finger gently stroking our daughter's cheek as she suckles. "Thank you for loving me, for waiting for me… just… thank you."

"I didn't have to wait long," I chuckle softly against her neck.

"I know, but the fact that you said you would wait for me to be ready to move on, to accept someone else into our lives… that meant everything."

I smile and kiss her shoulder lightly. "And now we get to start a whole new adventure with a gorgeous little girl… by the way, how high should I mount the shotgun rack by the front door?" I ask with a smirk.

"You've been spending too much time with Daddy. Don't let him fool you… he only brandished that shotgun at a date once. It was more for decoration and hardly ever loaded." Unfortunately, I can tell she's completely serious and I'm suddenly glad that Corbett liked me from the start.

"Maybe," I agree and change topics. "You know I'll always wait for you, right? Anything you want, I'll do everything in my power to grant, no matter how long it takes."

"Well…" she hedges, clearly having something in mind. "I looked over the bills and when you factor in daycare and gas, it'll actually be cheaper for me to be a stay home or go to part time. Mom said she'd be able to watch Alice a few days a week while the boys are in school. That way I can spend time with them in the evenings and help with school stuff."

"I wanted to tell you before… I put in for a transfer: regular 8-5 hours, Monday through Friday. Salary stays the same, just no second shift schedule," I tell her and she has to restrain her squeal so Alice isn't startled.

"So if I go to part time during the day, we'll actually be able to be at home – together – every night?" she asks excitedly.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. I don't want to miss a single second of this adventure."

She cuddles back into me affectionately. Just Alice, Sookie, and me in the bed; no one else in the room. Waiting for the woman I love was the best decision I have ever made.

AN: The end. Please leave me thoughts!