• Dave sets into a motion a big surprise for his wife.
• A new character is introduced.  We will be seeing more of this person as Dave’s project gets really rolling.  Special thanks to Bella for letting me play with her.
• Carrie gets some answers but is she happy or?
• This chapter is very short, in part because the next one is not and this fun stuff can stand by itself for now.
• Oh and yeah, there’s some sex in this one.  LOL
• Check out one of the many new bitchin’ graphics Nan made.  She’s awesome.  Love you, Nan!

Feedback: always appreciated! In other words, yes please, even if you hate it, let me know.

My heart beats like a drum all night
Flesh to flesh, one to one and its alright
And Ill never let go cause
There’s something I know deep inside
Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man

We got something to believe in
Even if we don't know where we stand
Only God would know the reasons
But I bet he must have had a plan

Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man
    Born To Be My Baby – Bon Jovi

Mike shut the door to his truck slowly, looking around David's home, seeing it again for what it was.  It was crowded and very unsecure.  He didn't normally pay attention to such things, but his buddy's request had brought it to his mind.  Yeah, he could see why he'd like to move, they definitely needed a bigger garage, with all the toys Dave kept buying.  And they needed to be sure that Kris and the kids wouldn't be harassed by some well meaning fans.  That had happened, in spite of them living in a gated community. 

Once last mental check through the contents of his briefcase before he walked up to the door.  As he got closer, he heard music playing.  Rock music playing.  Mike knew it must be loud if he could hear it outside.  He wondered what crazy shit his long time buddy was up to.  He glanced at his watch quickly to make sure he was on time.  Dave said after lunch and it was past 1pm, so he was fine.  He debated about just letting himself in, but decided against it since no one would have heard him drive up with the tunes cranked.  He was still trying to place the song.  He knocked and was surprised that Mikie opened the door quickly. 

"Hey," Mike said to his namesake, tousling his hair affectionately.  He was itching to be able to do the same to his own children someday.  Mikie tolerated the hair nonsense because it was Uncle Mike. 

"Hey,” Mikie responded in kind.  "Dad know you were coming," he asked. 

"Yeah, he said after lunch," Mike said, closing the door behind him.  The music was definitely louder, now that he was in the entryway.  Bon Jovi, his brain finally supplied the name. 

"Well, okay," Mikie said uncomfortably.  "They're in the kitchen, probably doing it right now."  Mikie made a mortified face, as only a ten year old can. 

"C'mon, they're not that bad," Mike teased.  David and Kris having sex right now, when he was expected?  Doubtful.  They were probably just in the kitchen together.  For some reason, putting those two in the kitchen together usually resulted in their own temperatures going up. 

"What ever you say.  Don't say I didn't warn you," Mikie said fatalistically and walked away.  Mike noticed he avoided the kitchen, preferring to go around the room rather than through it.  Mike shook his head at his nephew, walking to the kitchen doorway and stopping in his tracks. 

Kris smiled into her husband's heated gaze, knowing that he must have chosen the song on purpose.  He knew exactly what Bon Jovi's songs did to her.  He slid his hand down, gripping her ass as he pulled her tight.  She slid a leg up to rest on his hip, tormenting both of them. 

"Baby, you drive me wild, you know that," David whispered in her ear as he slowly moved across the kitchen floor. 

"You haven't seen anything yet," she whispered just before she nipped his neck, causing him to growl. 

"Kids," he asked. 

She smiled up into his dark eyes, loosing herself in the heat of him.  She slid her hand from his shoulder to his arm, following his steps to the song.  She could feel him flex his back, trying to dissipate some of his tension and desire.  She dug her remaining hand's nails in to his shoulder, knowing he'd understand her unspoken message. 

"Oh baby, fuck yeah," he whispered.  He lifted his head from her neck for the first time in many minutes and saw Mike standing in the doorway, lost in thought.  His buddy looked like he was feeling the effects of their little impromptu show.  

Kris sensed the change before she lifted her head from David's chest.  Something or someone had happened.  She turned her pale blue eyes to follow her husband's.  She smiled into Mike's surprised and embarrassed gaze.  She'd definitely give him shit about that later.  

Mike lifted his briefcase to David, as a reminder of their meeting today. 

"Damn it.  I totally forgot.  Can we do it this evening, after dinner," David asked his friend.  Mike nodded with a grin, knowing his buddy had his hands full for the next few hours.  A nice way to pass the afternoon, having sex with your wife in the kitchen with rock and roll playing.  The more he thought about it, the more appealing it sounded.  Did Carrie have any Bon Jovi?  Did it work on her too?  Only one way to find out.  He left the house distracted, barely noticing that the music was turned up as the door shut behind him. 

"Dave, you're bad," Kris giggled into his chest.   

"What?  He doesn't give a shit.  Besides, you see the way he left here?  He's got plans," David rumbled.  He gripped Kris's leg behind the knee, hitching her leg back up to his hip as he started to move to the music again. 

"Wally, no teasing.  I thought we agreed, no teasing," Kris whispered, knowing that she was already in serious trouble.  She'd passed the point of no return as soon as he started dancing to the music.

 "Baby," David said as his hand slid from her knee to her ass.  "I'm not teasing." 

"But the kids," Kris protested half heartedly. 

"Don't care," David growled.  He glanced around briefly, ensuring that the kids weren't actually in the kitchen and edged his way to their pantry. 

"Wally," Kris whispered urgently.  The thought of him taking her in their pantry for a little frolic made her heart pound and her legs weak.  Oh jesus, does everyone get this way still after years of marriage?  Does everyone get dragged off to any available corner for a fuck from their husband?  She didn't know and right now didn't care.  David reached to flick the light on but she stopped his hand.  He grunted in surprise. 

"Leave it," she said.  David barely heard her over the music, but the thought of sliding into his wife's heated embrace in the dark was electrifying.  His hands shoved his shorts down in a hurry.  He didn't want to have to mess with them in the dark.  Kris smiled as she let her eyes drink in every detail, every ripple of his body.  He reached for her but she backed away, closing the door and ensuring their privacy. 

"God baby, you make me so fucking," was all David got out before her lips on his throbbing length silenced him.  His hands slid down to her hair, gently holding her head as she slid her sinful tongue over the length of him.  No words were spoken for several minutes as David leaned against the wall and enjoyed one of his wife's many talents.  His wife was damn talented and he was a fucking lucky man and he knew it.  He gently pulled her away before their tryst could be rushed. 

"Oh no, Baby.  I got something I wanna show you," he rumbled.  He followed his instincts and slid her top up and over her head, knowing that he loved tormenting her too.   

"Think you can find me in the dark, Animal," she teased him with, backing away. 

"Oh yeah, I know exactly where you are," he said as he reached out and snaked an arm around her waist.  She was highlighted by the light under the door, so he was an advantage, but he wasn't abut to tell her that.  Her surprised gasp at how easily she was caught was reward enough, for now.  She slid her bra off as he peeled his shirt off for her.  He hooked a finger in her warm ups, ready to pull them off when she giggled and slid them down herself. 

"Now, why did you drag me into this closet," she tormented.  Kris managed to stifle her squeal as he picked her up.  She wrapped her legs around his waist automatically.   

"This is why, you evil wench," David taunted as he slid his length into her warmth.  Kris leaned into him and promptly bit his shoulder, sending his tightly held control spinning away.  He began to thrust into her, not caring if he made any noise or if the kids could hear.  All that was long forgotten as he felt his wife envelope him in her hot tight embrace.  She started to groan in response to their actions, but stopped him with a touch. 

"No Dave," she whispered as she untangled herself from him, putting her feet back on the ground.  His wife proceeded to delight and surprise him as she turned around and cocked her ass in the air to him in the near darkness.  Their disparity in height usually hindered some sexual positions, but Kris didn't care about that right now.  She knew what she wanted and she wanted him, deep inside her, now. 

"Baby, you can't reach," he said in reference to her keeping her feet on the ground if he slid into her.  His knees wouldn't tolerate the strain for very long, so they normally had to be creative when choosing this particular position. 

"I know," she whispered.   

Oh fuck, did that mean? Did she really want him to?   

"Pick me up, Dave.  Show me how strong you are," she teased.  He didn't need to be told twice.  His hands slid around her ass, finding their natural handholds on her hips and lifted her into position.  Kris gloried in the moment as her feet left the ground, knowing her man could hold her all damn day if needed.  She leaned forward, putting her hand on the door to help her balance. 

"God Baby, I love you," David murmured just before he slid in to her again.  He felt her immediately clamp down, letting him know that she definitely liked the little game they played.  She leaned forward more, resting her forearms on the door, giving him some balance so he could do what she kept begging him to do and that was to pound into her.  David was not one to disappoint his wife, and if she wanted him to pound into her, he was happy to oblige... 

As the last of his groans died down in the confined space, Kris giggled. 

"The music stopped," she whispered.   

Oh shit, wonder how long it's been finished, he worried.   

"The kids already know, Wally."   

David grimaced at the thought.  He didn't mind that the kids knew that they had sex and that their parents loved each other, but damn.  For them to have heard some of the things that slipped out of his mouth in the darkness?  That definitely made him a little uneasy. 

"Wally, if you’re that worried about it, we just won't have sex," Kris giggled. 

"The hell with that," David spoke up immediately.  Silence met him for a few seconds before his wife's giggles told him he'd just fallen for her trap. 

“Evil wench,” he teased. 

“And you love me anyway” Kris answered back, reaching for her clothes. 

“Damn right I do,” David said.  Kris flipped the light on, causing both of them to wince in the brightness as their eyes adjusted. 

“Honey, you need to stay in here for a while,” Kris said as she looked at her husband and his obvious heavy sweat.  He nodded as he slid his shorts on, knowing that hiding out in the pantry anyway from the kids was a small enough price to pay for their encounter.  Kris left shortly afterwards, getting dressed quickly and running a hand through her hair, revitalized.  She bounded up the stairs, full of energy.  Stopping at Liz's door, she peeked in seeing their teenage daughter had her head phones on and was chatting away on her computer.  Thank God. 

***

There was a shouted response to let himself at his knock, so Mike did as he was told and let himself in.   He found David in the kitchen, putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher.  A very different view than when he’d left, hours ago.  David sensed his amusement at the change.

“What?  You expected us to be still going strong,” David joked.

“No, even you can’t be that damn lucky,” Mike lobbed back.

“Don’t bet on it,” David quipped, opening the fridge and snagging a beer.  He held one up to Mike in question, but the other man shook his head.  Mike wanted to be stone cold sober tonight.  He’d spent a damn frustrating day, alone at their condo.  Carrie’d left a message before he got back letting him know her meeting was running over.  She’d called again later, telling him not to hold dinner since she was still up to her eye balls in something with a deadline looming.  He spent his time organizing his cd’s.  He found that he did have Bon Jovi and now he knew where it was, so if the time was ever right, he’d be ready.

David ushered his long time buddy and business partner down the stairs to the gym.  It doubled as David’s playroom/den.  Mike snagged the second most comfy chair as he watched his buddy close the door behind them, something he never did.  Mike busied himself with opening his briefcase as David pulled the other recliner and table next to Mike, knowing he liked to spread his shit out.

Mike handed his first stack of papers over to David with the cryptic remark, “I liquidated what you asked and this is the result.” 

David looked at the numbers on the sheet.  His eyes were drawn to the bottom number.  He blinked in shock at the figure.  It was much larger than what he’d expected.  He’d asked Mike to sell a small percentage of his holdings so he could have some cash for the upcoming project.  He never dreamed it would be that amount.

“And here,” Mike said handing over the next stack of papers. ”Is the balance.”

David’s eyes were drawn again to the bottom of the page.  His eyebrows reached his hair line in his shock at the figure.  He had no idea.  He knew Mike was a genius with money, seemingly able to get blood out of stone, but this was the first real example of it on such a large and personal scale.

Mike misinterpreted David’s silence and jumped into fill the gap.

“Sorry it’s not as much as I’d hoped, but I did warn you about a few of those investments.  We’ll bounce back though,” Mike said quietly.  David blinked again and turned his surprised eyes to his buddy.

“You dumb fuck.  I’m not pissed.  I’m overwhelmed.  I had no idea you were talking about this much,” David said with his grin threatening to take over his face.

“Oh,” Mike said quietly.  He personally was a little disappointed at the end result, but he always set a high bar for himself, particularly with other people’s money.  David tipped his beer back, swallowing the entire contents easily.

“You have no idea what a burden you just lifted.  I thought I was going to be putting us in the poor house with my plan.  God damn, Mike.  Thank you,” David said, slapping his buddy hard on the back.  Mike nodded, suddenly shy about receiving a compliment.

A few awkward moments passed as David rethought out his plan and made some mental notes to himself, knowing he had a lot freer hand than he had envisioned before tonight.

“So, tell me your genius plan,” Mike ventured.  David’s grin answered him before he even said a word.

“I got some recommendations from a few of the guys.  You know, Edge, Jericho, and Christian.  They said she was the best and her firm will work with you, no matter what,” David said.

“As long as the price is right,” Mike said sourly.

“Oh, I’m sure of that.  But now I don’t have to fucking worry about that.  I got my kids’ future secured and thanks to you, I can make my wife happy too,” David said.  Mike privately thought that Kris was very low maintenance and his long time friend didn’t need to go to such great lengths to make her happy, but David had a plan.

"Okay, tell me her name and I'll make the initial contact, and see what she can do and if it's even feasible, given the fact that you want to incorporate some of Kris' designs,"  Mike said slowly, grabbing pen and paper at the ready.

"It's only fair, Mike.  It's gonna be her house.  Don't you think she should have some say in some of it," David asked rhetorically.  Mike shook his head.  His buddy knew his opinion of his plan.  Mike thought a new home for them was a great idea, but trying to surprise his wife with the final result, all the while traveling on the road and trying to juggle everything else and over see construction of a new home a thousand miles away in Florida.  Mike thought he was crazy, but David sometimes did crazy shit, having it paying off later.  His wrestling career being one of many.  David pulled his wallet out from his back pocket, flipping it open as he did so. 

"Here's her card.  Keep it.  You'll be talking to her most of the time anyway.  Remember, don't tell Lil' Sis.  She'll blow the surprise and I want this to be a surprise, no matter what," David stressed.  Mike nodded absently, as he eyed the gold lettered business card.

He lifted a brow, "Miz Bella….um.  I take it she’s Italian, eh?"  David smiled at his friend.  "Let's hope she is all that you think she is, because I know you and you'll want this to be perfect," Mike said. Because it's for your wife, he finished silently.   

Nothing was ever too good for Kris in David's eyes and he went out of his way to make her happy, spoiling her in small ways whenever he could.  She resisted his obvious attempts at showering her with lavish gifts, so David had to come up with different ways to spoil her, even though she didn't seem to want or need it.  Must run in the family, Mike mused.  Carrie didn't like being fussed over period and he struggled with that concept, sometimes on an hourly basis.

 Several hours later, Mike was closing up his briefcase, armed with a clearer view of David’s vision for the house and some stolen sketches of Kris’s that David had managed to snag.

“You sure she won’t miss these,” Mike asked as he tapped his closed brief case.

“No, I haven’t seen her look for her sketch pad in months, so we should be in the clear,” David assured his friend.  Mike nodded and followed his buddy up the stairs in preparation for going home.  A few minutes later, after a quick kiss to Kris, Mike was sitting in his truck, mulling over the feasibility of their plan.  It had huge catastrophe written all over it, but David wanted to go through with it in spite of that.  Crazy bastard was Mike’s last thought on the subject as he backed out of the drive to head home.

***

“Please have a seat, Miss Martin.  I’ll explain the results to you,” the doctor said quietly.  She recognized that her patient was both excited and terrified of the information that she was holding in her hand.  Most patients exhibited similar reactions, but her current patient was a little extreme and she didn’t want to have to sedate or catch her if she fainted.

Carrie sat as she was bid and tried to calm the nerves fluttering in her stomach.  It was important that she find out now, she kept telling herself.  She needed to know now.  It made sense that they test the DNA when she went for her recommended amniocentesis.  She’d done her research and found that the fluid could be tested and typed for DNA as well as all the other tests that were being run.  It just made sense to her.  She made the appointment on her own, in part because she didn’t want to kick up a fuss with Mike.  He’d worry that they’d find some horrid disease or he’d grill the doctors and ask to see their credentials before they’d be allowed to touch her.   He was too protective sometimes and she felt stifled by his attentions, more so recently.  Kris was right, the little bit she was showing was making his protective streak a mile wide.  God help her when she was showing when she was fully dressed.

The doctor took a seat opposite her patient and cleared her throat in preparation for sharing the good news.  Carrie turned wide eyes to the doctor, braced for the worst possible news.

“Carrie.  It’s alright if I call you Carrie, isn’t it,” her obstetrician asked.  Carrie nodded in silence, her eyes never leaving the other woman’s face.  “I have some great news.  Your babies are fine and healthy,” she said. 

Carrie went limp with relief.  Thank god the sins of the parent hadn’t been visited on the child.  Carrie continued to listen in silence as the doctor explained that she was having healthy twins.  She sent a silent prayer of thanks for only two.  She knew she wouldn’t be able to handle more than two.  Most days she wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle one, two was stretching it, and any more was frightening.  As the doctor started to open her mouth to tell her the gender of the babies, Carrie held up her hand.

“Please, don’t tell me now.  I’d like to wait and share that with the fathers,” she said quietly.  The doctor nodded in silence, she’s almost forgotten about her patient’s peculiar circumstances.

“Okay, I can do that.  Do you want to know what kind of twins,” the doctor asked.  Carrie blinked.  Kind?  What the fuck was she talking about?  Kind?  Puppies?  Kittens?  What?  “Fraternal or identical,” the doctor supplied.  Oh, no shit?  They could tell that at this early date?

“Yes, please,” Carrie spoke in barely a whisper, overwhelmed by all the good news. 

“Identical,” the doctor said helpfully. 

Carrie listened in silence and shock as the doctor explained about some things they’d need to watch for as the pregnancy progressed, since the babies were sharing a placenta.  Carrie had done some research of the different types of twins so she understood most of the doctor’s news.  It wasn’t completely new, but she now had a very good idea what she was going to be researching next.

“We were able to pin down a better due date range.  According to their growth, you should be having these babies the week of April 25^th,” the doctor said.  Carrie blinked in silence as she sat and did the math in her head, still trying to figure out who the biological father might be, taking that date into account.  Oh shit, that was so close to his birthday.  Plus, after ‘Mania things were always hectic.  “That is of course if they go full term…”

Carrie barely heard the other woman as her head started swimming, chasing too many thoughts around, tripping over all the possibilities.  Twins, for sure?  Identical?  Oh my God, it really was real.  Oh my God, what if?  What if I fuck them up?  Oh my God, what did they ever do to deserve a mother like me?

“Miss Martin?  Carrie,” the kindly doctor said, taking hold of one of her patient’s wrists to get her attention.  She also felt the other’s pulse hammering away.

“Yes,” Carrie asked in a daze.

“You okay?”

“Yes, sorry.  I got a little side tracked.  I’m ready for more now.  Sorry,” Carrie apologized.

“Okay, well I thought I’d give you the news, but I’ll let you read it.  Here are the DNA results.  Mister Adams is patient A and Mister Cena is patient B,” the doctor said as she passed the paper over to the small woman’s shaking hands.

Carrie braced herself for the news, not sure how she’d feel.  Her eyes traveled down the page and stopped at the results.  99.9998% chance?  Oh God.  Oh God.  Oh God.  Breathe, she reminded herself.

“Carrie, are you okay,” the doctor asked, seeing her patient go pale and still.  Carrie nodded in silence.  She blinked, trying to ignore the tears starting.  “Can I get you something,” her doctor asked.  Carrie shook her head as the tears started to flow un checked down her cheeks.  Carrie wasn’t aware of anything until a nurse came in sometime later with some tissues and a glass of water.

After she’d cleaned herself up, she looked at the clock.  How long did she sit in her doctor’s private office and cry, for shits sake?  She’d lost a couple of hours there somehow.

“All better, now,” a matronly nurse asked.

“Yes, thanks,” Carrie lied. 

She’d been gone longer than she’d planned and if she didn’t get home soon, Mike would start to get suspicious.  She sighed to herself, suspicious or worried.  Now she had to pretend like she didn’t know.  She’d been keeping secrets her entire life, so this shouldn’t be any different.

“We’ll see you next week for the ultrasound,” the doctor waved at her from behind a stack of charts lined up on the counter.  Carrie nodded as she wiped her eyes again, preparing to go into the world again.  “Have a good Thanksgiving,” the nurse called after her.  Carrie responded in kind, waving at them as she left.

Sitting in her car, she knew she couldn’t go home yet.  She wasn’t ready.  She glanced at the clock again, doing some shifting of her priorities for the day.  She made a decision.  She started her car and hit the button for the condo on the phone.  Thank God, he wasn’t home or didn’t hear it.  She left a message stating that she was still busy at work and wouldn’t be home for hours still.  That should satisfy all for now.

She drove on autopilot for an hour or more before she realized where she was.  She’d driven to the beach.  The beach where she used to run, the beach where she used to pretend she was somebody else when she was a kid.  She’d hide in the dunes, away from her mother, hoping that one day she’d just give up trying to find her and leave her to herself.  It never happened and she never really pushed it because of Wease.  She had to look out for him.  Who would protect him if she ran away?  Stupid.  Shoving those thoughts aside, she grabbed her jacket, keys and phone.

The wind was mild for late autumn so she felt the need to get out and stretch her legs.  After a few steps, she slipped her shoes off, preferring to risk stepping on something rather than trying to walk in the sand in shoes.  She watched some of the birds floating above, seemingly without effort, just a twitch of a wing occasionally.  Must be nice to just hang around, she groused to herself. 

She found a spot over looking the waves, but sheltered from the breeze that had started to pick up, sitting down on large piece of driftwood, shoes in hand.  Almost without thought, she flipped open her phone and dialed the number from memory - a number that was burned into her brain.

‘Taker looked at his phone before he answered it.  He’d been warned several times by his lawyer to be circumspect; his wife was paying some dumb ass to follow him.  He wasn’t very good since he’d spotted him a couple of weeks ago.  He walked away from the crowd backstage, returning to the sanctuary of his room.  He locked the door before he answered his cell.

“Hey, Min,” was all he said, recognizing the number immediately.  He heard a shaky breath being drawn in before she answered.

“Cliff,” she asked in a small voice.  ‘Taker gulped, running a hand over his hair and cursing silently.  If Mike hurt her in any way, that dumb ass just signed his own death warrant.

“Yeah baby,” ‘Taker forced his voice to sound normal, knowing she’d pick up on anything else.  Silence met his words.  God damn it, he was dead.  That’s all there was to it.  Mother fucker was dead.  “You okay, sweetheart,” he asked in the continuing silence.

“Talk to me, love.  I’m near the edge,” was all she said.  ‘Taker clenched his jaw as he looked around the room, trying to find something to talk to her about in great detail.  His eyes fastened on his singlet and tights next to his boots.  That’d have to work for now.  He proceeded to tell her about his new ring gear in detail, explaining how he had the graphics designed especially for him and how he needed to buy another pair of ring boots.  Ten minutes later, he wound down, after telling her about how much of a pain in the ass it was going to be to replace his boots and gear.  It was always a worry, trying to find something to fit and she was well aware of it.  He looked around the room, frantically searching for something else to babble at her about when he heard her giggle.

“Enough.  You sound worse than Liz,” Carrie teased.

“Damn it, I didn’t have anything else,” he teased back.  So help me God, next time he saw her supposed boyfriend he was going to beat the shit out him first, ask questions later.  He never wanted to hear her small lost voice again.

“Thanks.  Thanks for being here,” she said quietly.  Ah hell, now she’d gone and thanked him.  What the fuck was he supposed to say to that? 

“Anytime, sweetness.  You know that,” ‘Taker said sincerely.  As the silence stretched, he debated about asking her what had caused tonight’s episode.

“Thanks,” Carrie said, embarrassed that she’d bugged the one man she was trying to stay away from, for everyone’s sake.

“Care to share,” was all he asked.

“Not really,” Carrie said, getting up and grabbing her shoes.  She glanced at her watch and was startled at the time.  It was also almost dark and she knew without a doubt Mike would be pacing and worrying.  Just because he didn’t like to drive in the dark because of his contacts, didn’t mean she had bad vision too.  He just liked to worry, that’s all there was to it.

“Is it Mike?  Did he do something,” ‘Taker asked, cursing himself for even going there with her.

“No, it’s not like that.  It’s just…it’s just everything.  All this shit,” Carrie said, fishing out her keys.

“You sure, Min? Because if you need me to straighten his ass out, I will,” ‘Taker said quietly.  He felt his temper climb as he envisioned Mike’s protests in the face of his own accusations.  “I’m here for you, Min.  Always.”

“Thanks love, but no.  It’s not him.  It’s not that at all.  It’s just everything,” she said raking her hair.  She unlocked her car, listening to the silence on the other end.  He didn’t believe her, she could tell.  As her thoughts skipped to how she had interrupted his evening with her childish call, she started to chastise herself and get embarrassed. 

“Listen, I’m sorry I called you. I’ve got no right to bug you.  If you want to yell at me, go ahead.  I know you have your own shit to deal with, and I’m sorry I butted in,” was all she got out before he interrupted her.

“Min, what part of I’m here for you don’t you understand?  I’m always going to be, so you better get used to the idea,” ‘Taker said. 

He knew the moment he saw her again last summer that his heart was still tangled up, he wasn’t able to pretend that she was a casual fling.  She’d never been that.  She’d been a part of his life that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, still did if he was honest with himself.  But he missed his opportunity and she was with someone else, someone that loved her.  And the issues they used to fight over hadn’t gone away.  He still traveled and she still worked too much.  He still left the seat up and she still forgot to eat.  They were two different people, they always had been.  Yeah, but that was what made it fun, he remembered.  They’d fight, they’d make up and move on.  They never took their fights to extremes, unlike his soon to be ex wife.  She’d done some shitty things, but he’d been away a lot of the time, so he had been able to ignore most of it.  Looking back, that was probably not the smartest way to deal with Sara but he did the best he could at the time.

“I’m just sorry to bug you, Old Man.  You have enough on your plate without me throwing more shit on,” Carrie said, trying to wipe the images that kept rising in her mind.  Images of him, naked in their bed together, of him laughing with her in the car, chasing her in feigned anger around the house.  She needed to get a fuckin’ grip.  He was married and that door was closed, period. 

“I can handle it, honey.  You’re not a burden,” he said quietly.  He glanced at the clock, knowing he had to get dressed soon.

“I have to get going,” she said quietly.  ‘Taker heard the change in her voice, the shift in her attitude, like she was pulling on a coat.  He closed his eyes to the pain that image caused him.  The fact that felt she had to close him out or that she closed anyone out, especially now.

“Yeah, okay.  Me too,” ‘Taker said, trying to sound light and casual like always.  Carrie blinked at the phone and his thickened accent.  He didn’t normally sound like a big scary Texan unless he was upset or pissed.  Damn it, she was a piece of work.

“Thanks, love,” was all she said as she hung up on him, not wanting to piss him off any more. 

‘Taker shut his phone off and tossed it in his bag in disgust.  God damn it, he’d done it to her again.  Pissed her off, made her retreat from him even when he wasn’t even trying.  What a dumb ass he was.  He rested his forearms on his knees and hung his head down, as he attempted to empty his mind.  Who the fuck was he kidding?  It was something he’d learned from her, years ago.  That and all his funky stretches that were helping to prolong his career.  He owed that and much more to her and all he could do was piss her off enough to make her retreat from him.  He hadn’t changed or learned a God damned thing in all the time they’d been apart. 

***

Mike closed his book at the sound of the garage door opening, signaling that Carrie was home.  He worried that she was over doing it, working too much, not eating enough and then driving  home in the dark.  Thank God she made it home safe.  He vowed that he wouldn’t pounce on her as she walked through the door, he’d stay on the couch and try to appear casual.  He knew jumping her ass as soon as she walked through the door was the quickest way to get her to shut up. 

Carrie closed the door from the garage and looked around, breathing a small sigh of relief at not running directly into Mike as she stepped in to the kitchen.  She set her keys down, left her bag of shit on the table and walked into the living area before she spotted him.  Oh fuck, he was trying to appear calm, but she knew the signs.  He was far from calm.  The way his lips were clamped, his eyes bore into her, demanding an explanation.  Tough, she wasn’t up to sparring with him, not now, not after everything today.  She smiled at him briefly and walked past him and up the stairs without a word.

Mike watched her retreat in silence.  His temper simmered just below the surface.  God damn it, what does she think she’s doing?  He had a right to know, he had a right to be told why she was late.  He eased off the couch, trying to stomp down on the temper that was doing more than just simmering at her latest actions.  He needed to know.  He needed to know where she was, why she was late and if she bothered to eat.  It was his right, damn it.

He opened the door to their bedroom and stopped.  He heard the bath water running.  Did he want to tackle her while she was in the bath?  Would he be able to wait until she was finished?  Not likely since she tended to take hour long baths since she became pregnant.  Mike paced in the room, trying to decide how and what to say to her in a couple of minutes.  He knew he needed to keep his temper in check, he knew he needed to keep calm and controlled or he’d never get anything out of her.  The sound of the bathwater being shut off snapped him out of is reverie.

Carrie just finished pinning her hair up as the door opened.  Oh fuck, he looks like he ready for a fight.  Why now?  Not now, please?  Just go away, leave me in peace.

“You okay, Babe,” Mike asked.  He was proud of himself for sounding calm and opening the conversation with that.  Carrie sighed as she slipped into the deep tub.

“Yeah,” she said quietly.  She knew more was coming, there always was with him.

“I was worried about you, honey.  You make me worry,” he said quietly.  He leaned against the vanity, trying to appear as calm as his voice.

“I know you do, but I can take care of myself sometimes.  Give me some credit,” Carrie said.  As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw his jaw clench as he fought for control.  He barked a laugh that was devoid of any humor.

“That’s rich!  This from someone who ends up in the hospital?  She says she can take care of herself.  Yeah, right.  In case you forgot, I’m here.  I’m here to help you and our babies.  Or does that not even register with you,” he snapped.  Carrie blinked at his words, the shock of the news today and his words were the last straw.

“Get out!  Get out of this room right now!  I don’t have to report everything to you.  You are not the hall monitor!  Get the fuck out and stay out.  If I wanted to take a bath with you, I would’ve asked you.  Now get out,” she screamed at the man who’d gone from angry, to shocked to appalled in the span of a few seconds.

Mike closed the door behind him, hearing her sobs start.  Smooth move, asshole.  So much for staying calm.  The fact that he’d upset her enough for her to yell at him appalled him more than her actual words.  He stomped down stairs and headed directly to the kitchen, hoping to find solace in cooking.

***

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