Finding Home Pt. 04

She went to him and kissed him. For good measure, she also kissed Andy on the cheek.

"Baby, will you translate that later? It sounded really sweet, but I have no idea what she said," asked Sara.

"Only if Jess says I can," he replied.

"Yes, you can, but later please. Drew can we borrow your truck? It's late and we're both tired. We'll drop you off and head to the cabin. We have a car coming tomorrow from Portland so it's just for tonight."

"Absolutyno," said Andy.

Jessica and Alex both laughed. "Oh Droobie, you're a pain in the ass, you know that?"

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Once they got back to the Commons, Andy took, by his standards, a long shower. Still, after 10 minutes he was ready for bed. Sara joined him in an alluring, but not sexy, pair of normal pajamas. As the two snuggled in for the night, Andy reflected on how absolutely content he was, and just how right all this felt. The feel of her body next to his was something he longed for and craved, maybe even more than the sublime feeling of being inside her. A smile came unbidden across his face. As he felt himself about to drift off, Sara spoke.

"Baby, are you asleep?"

"Close, but no cigar."

"Can we talk for a minute, please. I know you're tired, but I need to talk to you about a few things, OK?"

"I always want to talk to you, Sara. Fire away," he assured her.

"OK, first, Jessica and I were talking. I really want to get married here -- in December. I'd like to have Eden and Jessica and Ellen as my bridesmaids. Jessica thought you'd want to have Mike and Alex and maybe Christopher? And, I would love it if your grandfather would do the ceremony."

Andy turned to face her. He kissed her deeply.

"The only thing I don't like about that plan is that December is six months away. And yes, I'd want Christopher as my third groomsman."

"The next thing is what Cooper said to me."

"Cooper is a nice guy, but he's a bit clueless. I hope he just lost his way, but we'll see. What he did to you and Eden is a dead giveaway."

She giggled.

"Well, I know -- but what he said is actually true. Eden and I knew some people thought we were a couple, and I know some folks will be really shocked. But baby, it's true. I am frightfully happy with you -- so much so I can't stand it sometimes. I can tell I'm a different person. I love you for lots of things, but especially for that."

"Sara, if I can make you even half as happy as you make me, we're going to be insufferable around other people, I'm afraid."

She giggled again.

"Anything else?"

"Why didn't you tell Eden and I you were a great hockey player?" she sat up as she asked him this, and Andy was moved by the love he saw in her brown eyes. He moved his now empty hand to the side of her face, and gently stroked her cheek. "I could not believe all that Jessica was telling me, and then to watch you play. . ."

"Well, for one thing, it was a long time ago. In lots of ways, it feels like a lifetime ago. I've been deployed four times, shot twice, and blown up once since I last played hockey. I've buried friends and brothers, and mourned their loss. I'm not sure if that guy even exists anymore," he paused, and Sara softly kissed his hand.

"Then, I really did have to set all that aside when I was in the Corps. I couldn't think about what Jake, Dre, Filka, or Seamus were doing. I kept up with Mikey at Boston U., but that was mainly because Momma Maggie kept sending me links to articles. I loved playing with those guys, and to be halfway around the world eating shit and sand while they got on with their playing careers was too much for me to wrap my head around."

Sara noted the sadness in his voice as he said this.

"Thank you, baby. Thank you for telling me," she said as she leaned down and kissed him softly.

"Lady, I'll tell you anything you want to know," he replied. "Anything else?"

"Yes. You haven't sung to me today."

"No, I haven't. Any requests?"

"Could you sing 'Isn't She Lovely?' again? But just my verse -- the third verse."

Andy moved her hair from her face, kissed her, and began. When he was done, Sara kissed him, and Andy saw the tears in her eyes.

"Happy tears?" he asked, knowing damn well they were not. She shook her head.

"That last line -- I guess I never paid much attention to it," she took a deep breath. "I was not conceived in love. Lust maybe -- but not love," she said haltingly. "Easy talked a good game and got into momma's pants. That's kinda the bare reality."

"Well, I for one am glad of that fact," he said smiling at her.

"What?"

"Sara Gina, I don't give a shit how you got into this world, I'm just thankful as hell that you're here -- right now -- in my world. Lady, I was an absolute shit show before I met you, well, and Eden. I'm so glad that you exist, I can't even begin to tell you."

Andy saw the first hint of a smile cross her face.

"I know that how you came into the world sucks for you and your mom. I hate that for you. I can promise you this, however: the DeGroat kids will sure as hell be made from love. And, what's even worse for them -- they will damn sure know that fact. They will be embarrassed as hell when they become teenagers and are reminded daily that their daddy has the hots for their beautiful momma," he grinned as he said this to her.

"Thank you, Andy," she kissed him, and pulled up her shirt so she could rub her erect nipples on his chest. Andy groaned in her mouth, and he felt her hand take hold of his rapidly swelling member.

"No ma'am," he said as he suddenly bench-pressed her off his chest. She squealed and began laughing as he held her at arms-length above him. He moved her to the side, and gently laid her down.

He rolled toward her, and took her head in his hands. "This is good for me. I want you so bad I can hardly see straight -- but there's more to life than us fucking like bunnies every chance we get. Your presence in my life is both good and challenging," he paused when he saw her expression change. "Romeo introduced me to a way of viewing the world I had never, ever heard of -- and then he was killed before I got to know more. I know I'm really fortunate to have a woman like you in my life. I might even say I'm blessed to have you -- but I'm still sorting through that. I know Romeo would have said so, and I know he'd tell me God was preparing us for one another even though I had no idea you existed four days ago. That shit is challenging, Sara; but I think giving some of that my full attention for a couple of days a month will help me be the kind of man I want to be -- which, for the record -- is the kind of man you deserve. You feel me now, Chewie?" He grinned madly at her as happy tears had welled in her eyes.

"Thank you, baby. I love you. I love teasing you -- because you see me as beautiful, not just hot. I feel so safe, and valued, and loved. When your woman feels those things, she wants to be intimate with the man who makes her feel those things. Andy, I've never had a boyfriend before -- I've never been in love before. All this is new to me, so thank you for thinking of us and not just how fun it is to get one another naked and hot and bothered."

Andy chuckled, "Lady, you have no idea."

"That's just it, I do. Andy, I hated it when guys would stare at my boobs and my ass -- but I want you to see me. I want to be naked for you. You see me, baby. No one else has ever done that -- and I knew that about you almost immediately," she smiled and kissed him softly.

"Now, please lie back down. I love snuggling with my jacked man. I love feeling your arms around me. I've never slept better in my whole damn life, and tomorrow is a big day. Bitches will be out hunting my man, 'cause bitches be crazy. We need our sleep."

Andy did as he was lovingly commanded, and Sara settled in next to him. They were asleep almost immediately.