True Love Never Goes Away Ch. 18-19

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"What's up Mel?" Leigh wanted to know.

"To talk to my only sister. How's the apartment search going? Have you found a bigger place yet?" Melanie wanted to know.

"Yup. It's about four blocks away from where Paul works. It's two bedrooms with a den and two bathrooms. It's really cute, I can't wait for you guys to see it," Leigh said excitedly.

"And how are things going for you and Paul?" Melanie asked.

"Really great. He's being so sweet. He even held my hair back this morning," Leigh said. Melanie laughed. "That is sweet; not a lot of guys will do that," Melanie said dryly.

"Do you blame dad?" Leigh asked.

"No, dad needs to move on and get past mom, but he needs to be more choosy," Melanie answered.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Leigh grumbled.

"You okay?" Melanie asked.

"I'm scared Mel. I don't know if I can do this," Leigh admitted.

"Do what?" Melanie inquired.

"Have a baby," Leigh answered.

"Leigh, it's normal to be scared, but you're going to be fine. You're great with the kids," Melanie said softly.

"I'm worried about Paul too," Leigh admitted.

"He'll be fine, it'll just take some time to get into a routine. Just don't forget to make time for yourselves," Melanie said. They both looked up when Jason popped his head back into the room.

"Leigh, Paul says you guys need to go, something about movers," Jason said. Leigh nodded and gave her sister and brother in law each a tight hug.

"Leigh," Melanie called as Leigh reached the bedroom door. Leigh turned around. "I'm here if you need to talk," she promised. Leigh nodded and slipped out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~

-Months later-

"Are you ready for this?" Paul asked as they watched the movers carry their furniture into the apartment.

"I'm scared Paul, I won't lie about that, but I'm looking forward to raising a family with you," Leigh answered.

Paul smiled and gave her a hug. "I'm scared too," he admitted, holding her tight.

"Where do you want this?" one of the movers asked as he and an associate stopped with a large desk. Paul moved away from Leigh and motioned to the den.

"What about this one?" Paul asked a few days later as he and Leigh looked around Babies R Us at the bedroom sets.

"Too masculine," Leigh said.

"So? We're having a boy," Paul murmured.

"We don't know that. What if it's a girl," Leigh pointed out.

"It's going to be a boy," Paul insisted.

"We don't know that, the baby kept the legs crossed, remember?" Leigh reminded him.

"Well, I want it to be a boy," Paul said. Leigh laughed. "How are you feeling?" he asked her, pulling her to him.

"I'm fine." Leigh pulled away and ran her fingers over the rail of a nearby crib. "What about this one?" she asked. Paul chuckled and looked at it closely. "It would work with a boy or a girl," she added.

"It's beautiful and if it's the one you want, then we'll buy it," Paul told her. Leigh smiled and kissed him quickly. "What else do we need?" Paul wanted to know.

"A rocking chair," Leigh said without hesitation. "That one," she added, pointing to a chair in the corner.

"When's the baby shower?" Paul asked as they browsed through the clothes.

"I'm not sure if Mel is going to be able to throw one for me. Things have been kind of crazy lately," Leigh answered. Paul nodded. "OOh, look!" she squealed. Paul followed her gaze and his eyes landed on a Winnie the Pooh sheet set. "It's perfect!" Paul grinned and shook his head.

"Buy whatever you want," he told her.

"But do you like it?" Leigh asked.

"It's cute," Paul agreed.

"I'm hungry," Leigh announced as they walked out of the store.

Paul laughed. "That's nothing new these days," he teased.

"Leigh, is that you?" Leigh looked up to see her friends Carly and Jill walking towards her.

"Oh my God Carly! I haven't seen you since we graduated high school," Leigh exclaimed.

"Look at you, you look great!" Carly said.

"Could stand to lose some weight though," Jill commented. Leigh rolled her eyes.

"Not right now she can't," Paul grumbled.

"Guys, this is my husband Paul. Paul, you already know Carly, but this is Jill. She moved away at the end of Junior year, about three weeks before you moved in," Leigh introduced.

"We used to be inseparable," Carly added. "What are you up to these days?" she asked Leigh.

"Well, lately, I've been feeling like an incubator, but other than that, I've been finishing up school and spending a lot of time with my nieces and nephews," Leigh answered.

It was then that Jill took a closer look at Leigh. "How far along are you?" Jill wanted to know.

"A little over five months," Leigh answered. She blushed as her stomach growled.

"I hate to be rude, but it's past lunch time," Paul said, wrapping his arm around Leigh's expanding waist.

"My cell phone number is still the same, call me sometime," Leigh told Carly, giving her friend a quick hug goodbye before following Paul to the car.

"Your friend Jill seems obnoxious," Paul stated.

"She can be," Leigh agreed. "What's for lunch?" she asked.

"Whatever you want babe," Paul told her.

"Hmm, how about Japanese?" Leigh murmured.

"You can't have sushi," he reminded her.

"I know, but I can have Teriaki and tempura," Leigh said.

"Then Japanese it is," Paul said. They drove in relative silence to the restaurant. "Leigh," Paul said before they got out of the car.

"Yeah?" Leigh murmured.

"Thank you," Paul said.

"For?" Leigh looked confused.

"You gave me a second chance when you didn't have to," Paul told her.

Leigh smiled and reached over to hug and kiss him. "That's what you do when you're in love," she whispered. "Now take me in for lunch so we can go home and fuck like rabbits." Paul's eyes widened for a second and he laughed before climbing out of the SUV.

"Mel?" Jason called. The call he had received at work from his mother had him in a panic.

"She's in the bedroom," Carol told Jason as she patted Jessica's back gently.

"What's wrong?" Jason asked.

"The twins were acting up and Mari has the flu so she's home from daycare and Jessie's been colicky all day," Carol answered. "She needs a break Jason, and you need to start being careful, if she gets pregnant again anytime soon, Mel is going to lose it," Carol said.

Jason nodded and headed for the bedroom, frowned when he saw Melanie laying on the bed in a fetal position fast asleep; her face red from crying. "Mel?" he asked softly, sitting down next to her. Melanie's eyes fluttered open and she managed a small smile. "You okay?" Jason asked.

"I need a break Jace. Can't we go back to San Diego and stay in a hotel room for a week?" Melanie asked. Jason sighed. "I love the kids Jace, but I can't do this anymore. I need something to do, I don't even know who I am anymore," Melanie added, her eyes filling with fresh tears. "I hate feeling this way, I can't stand it!" Jason pulled Melanie in for a tight hug.

"What do you want me to do love?" Jason asked.

"Take me away from here for awhile," Melanie pleaded.

"I'll see what I can do," Jason promised. "Go back to sleep love, mom and I can handle the kids," he added. Jason held her until she fell asleep and then slipped back into the living room.

"Mom, I need a favor." Carol looked up at her son and smiled as Jason explained his plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well?" Jason asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

"I can't believe it Jace! Are we really in Israel?" Melanie asked in surprise.

"You said you've always wanted to come visit," Jason said with a shrug.

"How can we afford this?" Melanie asked, her eyes wide.

"Mom and Dad finally got us a wedding present," Jason answered. Melanie threw her arms around Jason's neck and hugged him tightly. "Mom, Dad and Julie are taking turns with the kids and Leigh is going to get lots of field experience before her little one comes," Jason told her. Melanie laughed. "She'll need it," Melanie said.

"Yes, she will, but let's not talk about your sister anymore, let's enjoy our vacation," Jason murmured. Melanie nodded and kissed Jason. "First stop is the hotel," he said with a wicked smile.

"What, you mean we can't just fuck against the wall over there?" Melanie asked with an innocent smile on her face. Jason laughed.

"I think the IDF would have an issue with that," Jason said with a grin.

"I think they'd enjoy the show," Melanie purred. Jason laughed again. "All kidding aside, let's hurry up already," Melanie said. Jason nodded and reached for her hand and together they made their way through the airport and hailed a taxi cab.

~~~~~~~~

"Jason, did you remember the condoms?" Melanie asked.

"Yes. They're in the small black bag inside the blue duffel," Jason answered. Melanie pulled the bag out and headed back towards the bed. Jason covered Melanie's lips with his as he slid his hands through her hair. "I love you," Jason breathed as he lowered his hands to her blouse and began undoing the buttons.

"I love you too," Melanie murmured; she moaned when his hands found her breasts and fondled her nipples gently. They both quickly dispensed with the rest of their clothes, too impatient to take their time. Jason slid the condom over him and thrust hard and deep inside of her. Their cries of passion mingled together and the bed shook with the force of their thrusts. Melanie screamed loudly as her climax washed over her like a wave, Jason following soon behind with a loud moan as he emptied his seed into the latex sheath. Jason reluctantly pulled out of her warm core and went into the bathroom to take care of the condom.

"It's been awhile since we made love like that," Melanie commented, propping herself up on an elbow as she watched Jason walk back into the bedroom.

"Made love like how?" Jason asked.

"With a condom. I don't like it," Melanie answered.

Jason laughed. "Would you rather risk getting pregnant again?" Jason asked.

"No, not really. I'd like to think we're done having kids," Melanie murmured. Jason studied her closely and she caught his gaze. "I love our kids Jace, but we have four and while I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world, except maybe more sanity, I really don't think I could handle any more," Melanie murmured.

"I love you Mel, and if you say we're done, then we're done. I can get snipped if you want me to. Considering giving birth to two of our children vaginally and two of them by c-section, it's the least I can do," Jason offered.

Melanie smiled and gave Jason a hug. "That means a lot to me," she whispered.

"Then as soon as we get back to the states, I'll set up the appointment," Jason promised. Melanie smiled again but the smile turned to a pout as Jason began pulling on his close.

"We're going to dinner and then we can stay naked for as long as you want," Jason told her.

~~~~~~

"Paul, where are you?" Leigh called, struggling with the bag of groceries. He appeared in the doorway and quickly took a bag from her.

"Are you okay?" Paul asked.

"Just sore and tired and I still have three and a half more months left," Leigh mumbled.

"You look great though," Paul said, grabbed a slice of apple, dipped it in a dish of honey and popped it into his mouth.

"Yeah right," Leigh muttered, snagging a piece of apple.

"Seriously Leigh, you're beautiful," Paul told her. Leigh sighed and shrugged.

"If you say so," she murmured.

"I do say so," Paul said with a grin. "And I love you," he added.

"I love you too," she said with a smile.

~~~~~~~

-2 weeks later-

"Mommy!" Marine shouted as Jason and Melanie walked into the house. "i missed you!"

"I missed you too sweetie," Melanie told her daughter, lifting her into her arms and squeezing her tightly. Melanie put Marine down as Seth and David launched themselves at their parents as only toddlers can; Carol walked behind them carrying Jessie.

"She's been fussy today," Carol said, passing the baby off to her mother.

"Thank you Carol, for staying with them," Melanie murmured.

"No problem, you needed a break, anyone could see it," Carol said. Melanie smiled and knelt down before her older children and gave them all a big hug.

"We brought you back something," Melanie told them.

"Presents!" Seth and David exclaimed together. Jason laughed and dug around in his bag and pulled out several plastic bags. He handed a bag to each of the kids and watched as they pulled out tee-shirt after tee-shirt and other items out of the bag.

"Thanks dad!" Marine exclaimed, giving Jason a big hug. "Thanks mom!" she added, shoving everything back in her bag and running off to her room.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"How are you feeling?" Melanie asked her sister as Leigh set the oversized table.

"I'm feeling good," Leigh said with a smile. She looked up as Seth and David raced into the dining room with Marine on their heels.

"What in the world is going on here?" Melanie demanded to know.

"Seth and David went into my room and they broke my piggy bank!" Marine complained.

"We didn't mean to!" David exclaimed. Melanie knelt down in front of the boys.

"What have your father and I told you about going into your sister's room?" Melanie asked gently.

"Only to do it if we had permistion," Seth answered. Melanie nodded and Leigh giggled at her nephew's mispronunciation.

"Did Marine give you permission to go into her room?" Melanie asked. David shook his head. "And did she give you permission to play with her piggy bank?" This time it was Seth that shook his head. "Then why did you go into Marine's room and break her piggy bank?" Melanie wanted to know.

"We wanted to see the new sea shell that grandpa Jack gave Marine for her birthday," David said.

"And I accidentally hit Marine's piggy with my elbow," Seth chimed in.

"You need to apologize to your sister for going into her room without permission, and for breaking the bank." Melanie looked at both boys sternly. "You also need to pull your allowance together to replace the bank that you broke," she added.

"But we didn't mean to!" David protested.

"It doesn't matter. You did something you were not supposed to do by going into your sister's room and in the process, you broke something of hers. Even though it was an accident, you still need to replace it," Melanie said firmly. Marine looked expectantly at her brothers as they turned to face her.

"We're sorry Marine!" they said together.

"I'll forgive you," Marine told them.

"What color piggy bank do you want?" David wanted to know.

"Yellow with white flowers on it," Marine answered.

"I'm a good painter, I can do it!" Seth exclaimed as the three kids left the kitchen for the playroom.

"Wow, I wish I could handle things that easily," Leigh commented.

"Practice," Melanie said as she turned back to the broccoli she was chopping.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You look terrible!" Leigh exclaimed as Jason walked in the door, later that evening. Melanie looked up from her book in concern.

"Jace, what happened?" Melanie wanted to know.

"Long day and a torturous doctor's visit," Jason answered, dropping down onto the couch. Melanie gave him a sympathetic smile. "I thought that wasn't until next week?" Melanie murmured.

"The doc had a cancellation and I figured it was better to get it out of the way," Jason said.

"Leigh, can you get an ice pack?" Melanie asked. Leigh nodded and finished her trek to the kitchen. Melanie set her book down, pushed herself out of the rocking chair and sat down gently on the couch next to Jason. "What are we looking at in terms of your recovery?" she asked softly. Jason handed her a few papers. "No sex for a week? No bathing for two days?" Melanie raised an eyebrow.

"I won't be able to pick up the kids for a few days," Jason said.

"Fun times," Melanie murmured.

"I really want a shower right now," Jason groaned.

"I'll give you a sponge bath later," Melanie promised with a wink.

"No!" Jason protested.

"No?" Melanie asked in surprise.

"I can't have sex for a week so having you touch me like that would be torture," Jason complained. Melanie grinned and looked up as Leigh walked back into the living room, Paul on her heels.

"You got fixed?" Paul asked with a wry grin.

"Can it," Jason snapped. Melanie laughed.

"Not a good time to joke Paul," Leigh observed.

"What made you do it?" Paul wanted to know.

"Four is more than enough," Jason said with a wry grin.

"I bet," Leigh murmured.

"I'm going to bed," Jason announced. He let Melanie help him into the bedroom and he dropped to the bed. "Thanks," he murmured. Melanie smiled, leaned over and kissed him.

"That's what I'm here for," Melanie told him before she walked back out to the living room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leigh slipped in bed and pulled the covers up over her before snuggling against Paul's shoulder. Paul wrapped his arms around her, savoring the feel of her, thanking God that Leigh had given him a second chance. He watched Leigh's eyes flutter closed as sleep took her, pressed a kiss to the top of her head and whispered, "I love you."