Hannah's Hero Ch. 06

As a rewarding bonus for running together, we got to shower together afterwards. That was always a sensual treat even when we didn't fool around. That morning, we lathered each other with my favorite body wash, and then held each other close. We kissed tenderly while the steamy spray from the shower head rinsed us off.

Again, I felt Chris press his hand tenderly against my belly, offering our growing child a tender caress from Daddy. I smiled at him as he held me close. I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh at how silly he was or cry at how tender he was. We both had to get our mornings back under way though, so with regret we stepped out of the shower, dried off, and dressed. Even after living together for a while now, I still marveled at the way Chris could dress faster than me, even though he wore a lot more clothes than me. He had his base layer, socks, boots, and ACUs on while I was still struggling into my t-shirt and scrubs. He slapped the velcroed name-tapes on his jacket and settled his beret on his head and waited while I tied my shoes, grinning wickedly the whole time.

Our goodbyes at the front door after breakfast lingered a little longer than usual, but Brad and Jennifer were very understanding. Afterwards, I slid into the back of Brad's Jeep Liberty and off we went. I couldn't help watching as Chris's truck dropped away behind us, taking the turn-off for the base. I was going to be a mother, and Chris a father. I was excited and happy, but also a little scared. What do I know about raising children? I know how to change diapers and fill bottles, but how do you actually raise a child?

I resolved to study the matter as soon as I was off that afternoon. My child wasn't going to lack the support of an enthusiastic mother – or father! I was so deep in my thoughts I didn't even realize we'd arrived at the hospital until the doors opened and the cold air startled me.

That morning was a whirlwind of activity. The other nurses were eager to hear how my little announcement had gone, and were delighted with the tale. In addition to my regular duties, during my lunch break I scheduled my first appointment with my OB/GYN. I was sure that was going to be...interesting. In all, there was so much to keep me busy that I almost for got that the next day was Christmas Eve. Thankfully I already had my Christmas shopping done, but there were still the things I needed for Christmas dinner. I had invited Dad. (Mom was already involved with somebody else, and hadn't even answered my invitation.) We were going to have a crowd this year as I had also invited Chris's best friend Mike Kirkland and Debbie Crenshaw from the hospital. They'd apparently been dating a while now and it was getting serious enough that Debbie was in danger of becoming attached to just one man.

That shift flew by and before I knew it I was fighting crowds at the market after work. When I finally made it home, I was beat. I collapsed on the living room sofa while Jennifer made supper and Brad "helped." Chris got home just as she was serving, and we enjoyed delicious spaghetti with homemade meatballs and garlic bread.

Christmas Eve dawned clear and cold. After our run, Chris tenderly rubbed me down in the shower, and kissed me while we rinsed off. I pressed myself close to him in the warmth of the shower stall, my mouth firmly locked against his. Again after breakfast, we parted, but today was slightly different. By the luck of the draw, Chris had a rare treat: he had managed to get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. Jennifer, Brad, and I weren't so lucky. At least I was supposed to get New Years off.

The workday passed quickly, thank goodness, and soon Jennifer, Brad, and I were headed home. When the three of us finally arrived, I laughed out loud. Chris had cooked supper for us. He had made each of us our own little meatloaf, putting them each in their own little pans like little babies. He'd also fixed roasted red potatoes, and green beans.

Later that night after Jen and Brad had gone to bed, Chris and I lay together on a blanket by the fireplace, watching the twinkling lights on the Christmas Tree, and listening to Christmas music so old it was actually recorded on vinyl albums. We were facing the beautiful tree, my back pressed against his chest while he caressed me. I noticed with amusement that while he stroked me all over, his hand always lingered over my belly, applying the tiniest amount of extra pressure there. It was so precious that I just couldn't say anything. I was sure he didn't realize he was doing it and I didn't want him to get embarrassed and stop.

The clock on the wall quietly chimed, signaling midnight. That made it official. "Merry Christmas, Christopher," I whispered, turning my head back towards my husband.

"Merry Christmas, Hannah," he replied. We kissed each other then, and his hands slid beneath my blouse to glide over my silky skin. His gentle touch was loving and tender, offering but not demanding. When the kiss ended, I stared into his loving green eyes.

"I love you," I said, stretching out a hand to cup his cheek. "I'm yours forever, Chris. I hope this child is just the first." His arms tightened, squeezing me gently against him.

"I love you, Hannah," he said. "You're the reason I get up every day. You're the light of my life. The little one you're carrying is the most perfect example of love I can imagine." He stroked my belly again, and kissed me again.

"He – or she – is part of both of us. We've started a brand new life. I can't think of anyone I would want to do that with, other than you." Chris rolled me over to face him, pulling me close and staring directly into my eyes.

"You've made me happier than I've ever been, Hannah. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else." He kissed me. Once again I was caught in the intensity of his emotions, and I basked in his love and returned it with interest.

"You're still my hero, Chris. You're my world!" My hand dropped to my belly. "I love you so much, Chris. No matter where life takes us or what it throws at us, I will love you." We spent the night there on that blanket, enjoying the warmth of the fire, the sound of the music, the glow of the lights, and heat of our love. Deep inside we both knew this perfect moment couldn't last, but that didn't matter. Time froze for me inside this moment of true happiness. Some of you out there reading this may have felt similar in your own lives. At least, I hope you have.

Cradled in his arms, I slept peacefully. Chris gently woke me at 5 on Christmas morning. "I decided we'd take just this day off from running," he said mischievously. "We'll make up for it with a different form of exercise tonight!" His gorgeous eyes were shining as he helped me up from the floor. I leaned against him for a moment and enjoyed his warmth.

Holidays at work are a little hard for me. I love Christmas – most people do for one reason or another. So many of the people in my wing, though, did not get a single visitor. I hoped it was because they didn't have families, because as sad as that would be, it would be better than having a family that just didn't care enough to see them on Christmas. I hate to see people in pain, whether it's the physical kind or pain of the spirit.

This year though, we brightened things a little bit by adding a 13-inch tree to the counter top at the Nurses' Station. We'd also hung stockings at the foot of each patient's bed. Every time one of us went on rounds, we dropped something in each stocking. Sometimes it was sugar-free candy, sometimes it was a puzzle book or magazine, sometimes it just a comfortable pair of slipper-socks. We just wanted each of them, both the ones with visitors and the ones without, to feel loved and remembered.

One patient I was particularly concerned about was Norma Wilkins. She was 91, and had chronic lung disease. She'd been in a nursing home for years, but they had sent her to the hospital when she developed a respiratory infection they weren't prepared to deal with. She wasn't responding to treatment, or anything else for that matter. She just lay there day after day, staring at the ceiling, or the wall, never seeming to notice visitors.

"Good morning Norma!" I said as I stepped into her room. "Merry Christmas! The cafeteria has something a little special on the menu for today. Or if you'd like, they can send you up some soup, or even a cup of hot chocolate." Not seeing any response, I checked her vitals, adjusted the drip on her I.V. antibiotics, and took her hand in mine. I hoped maybe some human contact would help, but it didn't seem to. Just as I was about to let go however, her hand squeezed mine. It wasn't much. In fact, I thought it might have been a muscle spasm at first, before I saw the ghost of a smile pass across her age-lined face.

I squeezed her hand in return, and gently brushed a strand of her silver hair away from her eyes. "You're still with us, aren't you Norma," I said quietly. "I'm glad. If you need me just press the call button." Her eyes closed but I'm sure that for just the briefest second they flicked toward me. If it really happened, it would be first time since she'd developed that nasty infection. I let go of her hand and finished my rounds.

When I got back to the Nurses' Station, Debbie was standing there grinning like a fool. Jennifer, Brenda, and Dawn were standing there too, all with barely contained laughter on their faces. What are they up to? I wondered silently. Before I could ask the question out loud though, Chris, Brad, my Father, and Chris's best friend Mike popped up from behind the counter and showered me with confetti from a little plastic bucket.

"Merry Christmas, Momma!" they said together.

Surprise is too weak a word to describe how I felt. But before long I was laughing along with everyone else, and I helped them to sweep up the confetti. First my Dad, then Chris squeezed me tightly for a moment before Mike claimed hugging privileges. "You get to hug her all the time," he pointed out to Chris.

After everyone had their hugs, Dawn Williams passed around foamy mugs of fresh hot egg nog. "Don't worry, it's non-alcoholic," she said, grinning at me. "It won't hurt the baby, and it won't turn him," she nudged Chris with an elbow, "into an uninhibited fiend!"

"No uninhibited fiend?" I asked, my face drooping with mock disappointment.

"Well, not here. Later though..." Chris said as he held me again, kissing me lightly. After that moment of Christmas cheer, I kissed my husband and started on my paperwork. Brad went back to radiology, and Chris and Mike wandered off. Dad took my key and said he'd wait at the house. The other nurses returned to their duties. I spent more time at the computer than I realized. By the time I'd finished it was time to do another tour of the wing.

A few hours later the shift was over. Jennifer, Debbie, and I found our men in the downstairs visitors' lounge watching "It's A Wonderful Life." Brad had arrived just before we did, and was still putting his coat on. Chris was watching the screen half-heartedly. When he saw me and Jennifer, he moved to get up. All of a sudden Mike grabbed his arm, pulled him back down and snuggled into his side. "Oh, don't leave now, this is the most romantic part!" he said, and made smooching noises at him.

Chris jabbed him playfully in the ribs. "If you want to get romantic, there's a plunger in the men's room!" Jennifer and I giggled, and Mike laughed. "You ladies ready to leave?"

"More than ready!" I said for the three of us. Together, we moved out to the lot. Jennifer and I had prepared most of Christmas dinner ahead of time. The turkey had been slowly roasting since before Chris and I had cuddled by the fire. The potatoes were peeled and diced, waiting only to boiled and mashed. The pies were baked, and the other dishes wouldn't take long to prepare.

When we arrived home, everyone, even our guests pitched in. Dad hadn't been idle while we were gone. He'd started boiling the potatoes, and had the green bean casserole ready to throw in the oven. I kissed him gratefully on the cheek and leaned into him for a brief moment.

In all it was the best Christmas I can remember in a long time. Chris gave me a beautiful gold necklace. I don't even want to know how much it must have cost, but the weight of it told me it had to have been a lot. I gave Chris a new set of steel-toed boots with Gore-Tex liners. They were approved for military use, but were far more comfortable than the standard-issue ones (only the best for my man.) Other fits were exchanged.

After the gifts were given, we all sat in the living room around the fire. Jennifer snuggled against Brad, speaking quietly. Dad drank coffee while he and Chris and Mike talked about goings on in the Middle East. Debbie and I were looking through our movie collection for something suitable for Christmas night, and finally settled on "A Christmas Story." After the movie, Debbie and Mike headed home. Dad retired to the guest room and Jennifer practically dragged Brad to hers.

When we had the room to ourselves, Chris made sure the house was locked up, then joined me by the fireplace. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close. I'd put on some soft music, and we danced together. There was small sprig of fake mistletoe hanging in the archway leading to hall, and every time we danced close to it he kissed me. "I have to say I love that tradition," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh please, like you need an excuse to kiss me!" I said, laughing.

"No I don't, but it's still a nice tradition," he said with mock seriousness. Finally, we doused the fire, shut off the music, and headed to our room to make beautiful music of our own. I didn't have to work the next day and Chris had a half-day, so there was time to relax and enjoy ourselves.

In our bathroom, I started the tub filling with hot water and shed my clothes. Chris surprised me with a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne. I smiled as he set the ice bucket and glasses on the ledge of the tub. "Christmas will be over in less than an hour but I still feel like celebrating," he said, stripping off his clothes.

"Me too," I said softly, pulling his nude form against mine. We kissed, and it lit a fire deep inside the two of us. It felt like our first time together; I didn't want to take my hands off of him. Chris pulled me hard against him, his hands grabbed my ass and lifted me. He pressed me against the wall, devouring my mouth with his before he moved down to kiss and suck the sensitive spot at the base of my throat. I moaned and wormed my fingers into his close-cropped hair. Steadily moving downward, my husband suckled each nipple to a hard peak.

I gasped as he worshipped my tender breasts, savoring the feeling. He caught me by surprise when he suddenly spun around and set me down on the ledge of the tub and dove between my thighs. Knowing how hot I was, he didn't tease me. Instead, he licked the outside of my lips to get them pleasantly wet, then slid his tongue between them to get at my clit. I almost screamed in pleasure when his tongue made contact with my hot little button, and Chris wasn't done yet.

Even as I was gasping in pleasure he gently sucked my hard little clit between his lips as if it were a tiny little cock. I came almost instantly, moaning in ecstasy, my hips bucking wildly. Chris held on tight and kept pleasuring me until I literally screamed my way into another orgasm. He backed off after that, knowing that I could easily get over-sensitive if he didn't.

Desperate to have him inside me, I grabbed his cock and found he was already rock hard. He got up from the floor, and as soon as he was standing I took his thick cock in my mouth. I sucked him lightly, using as much spit as I could work up. I wanted him nice and slick, but I didn't want him to cum. After a few minutes I released him and stood.

We started kissing hungrily again, and he lifted me into his arms as we did. Chris rested one leg on the ledge of the tub with the other still on the floor, while I wrapped my legs around him. I reached into the narrow space between us and grasped his manhood, guiding the head of it into my sopping wet entrance. Chris eagerly sank his shaft the rest of the way inside until my groin came to rest against his raised thigh.

I grabbed my husband's strong shoulders and pushed off, levering myself slowly up and down on his rigid cock. Gasping, he helped me, lifting me by my ass. I could feel my internal muscles gripping him hard: I've never been so tight! I threw my head back, an animal moan escaping me as I impaled myself again on Chris's rigid pole.

"Oh God, baby, I love you so much! It feels so good, oh Chris," I gasped as we made love.

"Hannah," he whispered back, "Oh baby yeah, it feels so good!"

My orgasm snuck up on me and I was cumming before I knew it. My head fell forward as I buried my face in the crook his shoulder, growling in pleasure. He held me against, riding the waves of my orgasm with me. Then, he gently lifted me off of him. Knowing exactly what he wanted, I stood up and turned around, giving Chris a wicked grin over my shoulder while I bent at the waist and held on to the edge of the deep tub.

Chris surged forward and buried his cock inside again. Even knowing it was coming, I still gasped as his cock slid into me. He was huge, bigger and harder than I've ever felt him! He held my hips firmly as he rapidly thrust in and out of my eager pussy. I moaned and gasped, pushed back at him, helping him slam into me.

"Hannah I'm cumming," he gasped, his voice barely audible.

"Yes Chris, fill me! Cum for me, lover!" I said, pushing back at him as he thrust deep into me. In seconds I felt his seed spilling into me in hot, thick spurts. When he finished, he gently pulled out. I stood up again and pulled him close to me.

Together, the two of us stepped into the hot water and I started the jets. "Now there's the uninhibited fiend I was looking for," I said with a laugh. Chris grinned back and held me. It was the perfect end to the perfect Christmas. Chris snuggled me close, kissing me and giving me sips of the champagne. "Now," he said, "We need to figure out some baby names!"

END PART 6