However, between Darren�s birthday and doing guest appearances across America, �soon� ended up being almost three weeks later.

Paula had indeed kept Daniel company during that time. Darren was grateful for her attention where Daniel was concerned. It took a great weight off his shoulders to know that she came by regularly and that Daniel genuinely enjoyed her company. He had worried about Daniel being left alone, knowing no one, really. Despite Leonie�s claim to be happy for him, she and Daniel just rubbed each other the wrong way. But Paula and her family had welcomed the pregnant man enthusiastically and without reservation.

�Daniel, honey, you need to eat.�� Naomi Anderson, Paula�s mother, urged the young man gently.

He�d been at their house a lot over the three weeks Darren had been gone. They�d become the guitarist�s second family. He understood Darren having to be away from him, but it had left him anxious. After the first week, to combat that, Paula had started bringing him to her house for a bit every day.

He looked at the well-set table. Rice, salad, cooked carrots, and roast beef. A small bowl of gravy sat to the side of the rice. Two bottles of salad dressing � a light vinaigrette and ranch, sat beside the salad.

Daniel smiled weakly. �It all looks really good. I�m sorry��

�Here, Daniel. I make you somesing special. Just for you.� Miko smiled and sat a steaming plate down in front of him. �Chicken Satay.�

She clasped her hands and stood there expectantly.

He looked at the wiry gray-haired woman, eyebrows raised. He still found it hard to believe she was eighty-five.

�Try it!� She urged, motioning with her hands.

He picked up a fork, and speared a piece of chicken. With a small smile, he put the meat into his mouth and chewed slowly. A smile spread on his face as he swallowed.

�This is wonderful, Miko. Thank you.�

Grandmother Miko giggled and sat down next to Daniel to eat her own meal.

They made small talk and Miko kept encouraging Daniel to eat. She put a spoonful of rice on his plate as he was finishing the chicken and he made a face.

�Rice best in juices,� she nodded her head affirmatively and went back to her own salad.

Daniel pushed the rice around in the juices and tried a bite. And another. Soon the rice was finished, too.

�Thank you, Miko,� he gave her a hug as he finished.

�You welcome. Need to eat. Growing baby.� She patted his tummy lightly.

The baby kicked back.

�Woo!� Miko twittered. �Baby say �thank you�, too!� she chuckled. �How long been kicking?�

�Yesterday and today, that I�ve felt.� Daniel blushed, carefully running his hand over his bulging abdomen.

�Daniel, that�s great!� Paula exclaimed. �Darren will be thrilled!�

Daniel smiled widely. �Yeah, he will.�

�Do you need someone to pick him up at the airport?� David Anderson asked.

�No. He parked in long-term parking. I told him I�d get a taxi if I needed anything. Which I haven�t,� he grinned again. �Thanks to all of you.� He blushed a bit. �You�ve all been wonderful. I can�t begin to thank you.�

�We�re happy to do it, Daniel.� Naomi patted his shoulder. �Now do you have time for dessert?�

He sat back in the chair and shook his head. �I have time, but I�m stuffed��

�Well, I�ll have Paula fix some for you to take home. You can share it with Darren.�

�Oh?�

Naomi smiled evilly as she leaned down to look him in the eye. �Devil�s Chocolate pudding.�

Daniel licked his lips subconsciously as his eyes widened. �Oh?� He repeated.

�Paula. Take care of dishing that to go, would you?�

Daniel looked a bit forlorn at that, and everyone chucked. Naomi patted his arm.

�I don�t think it will hurt you to have two helpings of pudding,� she winked. �You still seem awfully thin.�

Daniel brightened immediately. �Thanks!�

Everyone chuckled again, and Miko came out with two goblets of chocolate pudding. She set the smaller one down in front of Daniel with an unashamed grin on her face and sat down beside him with hers.

�This *my* favorite, too.� She explained. �So whenever you want, we always have plenty.�

Smiling back at her, Daniel happily spooned up the treat, closing his eyes as he closed his lips over the spoon.

�Ummm�� he moaned.

When he opened his eyes to scoop more, everyone was looking at him wide-eyed.

�Boy. Darren don�t lie when he say you get off on chocolate�� Miko commented innocently.

Daniel felt the heat of his blush this time and everyone laughed. He sat frozen, unable to look up or eat. He was just glad that David hadn�t come back in with them.

�Momma!� Naomi protested after she stopped laughing.

�What? If Darren didn�t want us to know he shouldn�t have told us. Did I embarrass a big boy like you? I�m-a so sorry.� Miko rubbed his back, her face concerned. �This not embarrass Japanese, you know. We very open about these things.�

�Uh� erm.. oh��

�Dig in. Turned out special good today, I think.� She finished with a wink.

Daniel swallowed a couple of times, then blinked and went back to eating his pudding, reminding himself to do so quietly. �And I think I need to have a little talk with Darren, too. Though it seems a bit late for that.�

Paula took Daniel home later that evening with two generous servings of chocolate pudding in two covered plastic containers.

�How long until he gets home?�

�Late.� Daniel sighed as he unlocked the front door. �I hope he�s not too ti-er�um� late.� He finished lamely.

Paula clucked and winked, a broad smile on her face. �I�ll leave you to get ready for him then. Anything you need me to do before I go?�

�No, thanks.� Daniel answered quietly, his cheeks flushed.

�Okay. Have fun!� She gave him a quick wave and left.

Daniel chuckled in spite of his embarrassment, and waved to her before closing the door and locking it. He turned the porch light on, and then took the bag with the smooth treats into the kitchen. �Hmm� should I eat mine now?� He smiled a bit evilly at the thought and actually went so far as to put his hand on the cover of one container, then he shook his head. �I should wait.� He sighed lightly and put the containers in the refrigerator.

�Mmm.. now to get ready for Dazza.�

The baby began kicking excitedly, bringing a soft smile to Daniel�s face. He placed his right hand over his growing stomach and began to massage it softly.

�You�re happy, too, aren�t you�. I�ll apologize right now, for shaking you up a bit tonight� but you know how much I love him, don�t you? Just wait until you meet your daddy Dazza. You�ll love him, too... just like he loves you.�

He went upstairs, to their bedroom and put out several candleholders. He put apple-scented candles in two of them, and vanilla in the third. The memory of that pudding and Darren�s impending arrival was enough to keep him excited.

He contemplated wearing his birthday suit, but thought perhaps he should make Dazza work a little harder than that. Then he decided to think about it while taking a shower.

He took his clothes off, got a towel and started the water running, adjusting the temperature before he got in.

He sighed as the warm water ran over him. The baby got very active and he couldn�t tell if it was upset or happy. He shifted a bit, so the water didn�t hit on his stomach so much. The baby seemed to calm then, and he smiled.

Daniel moaned as he cleaned himself. He couldn�t help it. Three weeks! And he�d read that being pregnant sometimes made the body more sensitive, more easily aroused. Right now, he was pretty sure his whole body was as sensitive as Darren�s nipples. He�d have to be careful,though, or he�d likely fall asleep before Darren got back.

He finished his shower, got out, and toweled off quickly. He got the edible body oil and firmly rubbed it over his body, hoping it wouldn�t arouse him any more than he already was.

The guitarist decided on silk. Silk boxers and a very short, silk wrap-around robe. Both were a deep green that he knew set off his eyes well and should set the body oil off to advantage, too.

Though he doubted he�d need it. He smirked at the thought. He�d be lucky if Darren held off until the bedroom.

He went downstairs into the living room and started the fireplace, got a glass of caffeine free soda, and curled up on the sofa to await Darren�s arrival.

Darren sighed and leaned back in the driver�s seat to relax a moment before going into the house.� Between the late landing, and the accident he�d narrowly avoided being a part of, he was tense beyond belief. He rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes, a smile soon curling his lips as he tried to imagine how Daniel would look now. It had been a long three weeks. Daniel would be almost five months. They really needed to get to that clinic. He�d told Sharon and Leonie both that *someone* had better see to his remembering and making sure he stayed home long enough to get it done, or there *would* be hell to pay. And he�d collect. Personally.

Finally he unfastened his seatbelt and got out. It was almost two A.M. He hoped Daniel had gone to bed and wouldn�t be too upset about them not getting together that night. He got his suitcases, and closed the rear door quietly. He unlocked the front door and opened it gently, then set the suitcases inside.

�D�j� vu.� Darren held the door as he closed it, keeping it silent. The bolt slid home with a light thunk.� He walked into the kitchen to get some juice and immediately spotted the plastic containers. He opened one and smiled before closing the lid and putting it back.

He walked into the living room and stopped in the doorway. He inhaled sharply at the site of his sleeping husband. Apparently Daniel had tried to wait up. His skin glowed in the crackling firelight. The half-robe he wore had fallen open, the bulge of his stomach even more prominent as it glistened in the soft light. Darren blinked his eyes several times as he thought he saw it move on its own. Quietly, so as not to startle his love, Darren moved to the couch. He noticed with amusement that even though his angel was sleeping peacefully, a part of him was either awake, or waking, as the tight silk stuck out noticeably.

He ran his fingers lightly up Daniel�s leg and watched the material jerk. He knelt down by the couch and the belly twitched again.

�Hello to you, too, little one.� He whispered, his mouth close to Daniel�s stomach. �Now you just relax. Daddy Daniel is going to be just fine.�

He pressed his lips softly to the supple skin, smiling again when he licked his lips and tasted the flavor of apples. His own cock jumped to attention as he began to feather small kisses up the smooth expanse of Daniel�s chest while one hand lightly caressed Daniel�s cloth-covered hardness. He had just touched the tip of his tongue to one of Daniel�s nipples when the lidded green eyes opened, the haze of sleep quickly clearing as they focused on him.

A sleepy smile followed.

�Welcome home,� Daniel�s voice was slightly coarse from sleep. �I�m sorry��

Darren pressed his lips to Daniel�s, effectively stopping the apology while his hand continued it�s gentle massage against the boxers.

The guitarist brought his free hand up behind Darren�s head, pulling it to him, their lips now pressed with bruising force. Tongues tasted, teased and touched. Teeth nipped lips as they tried to fill three weeks of longing.

The baby kicked as Darren�s arm pressed against the swelling.

�Hey!� Darren mock complained as they ceased their kiss, gasping for needed breath. �Behave, you.� He pouted, before kissing the soft skin again.

Daniel moaned loudly as he closed his eyes and his back arched, a sensual movement that brought a corresponding groan from the depths of Darren�s own being.� Daniel�s hips began to move, thrusting against the still tender movements of Darren�s hand. His tongue darted over his lips as he moaned again. It wouldn�t be long.

�Dare� ooohhh� Dazza��

One of Daniel�s hands grabbed the back of the couch, the other Darren�s shoulder. The suddenness surprised the singer, but he didn�t stop.

Daniel�s body tensed, the muscles contracted around his swollen belly, his hips thrust one more time and the movement continued like a wave as his back arched and he threw his head back, his cry as he came almost a lament.

Darren began to worry. This orgasm seemed awfully hard on Danny. When Daniel finally collapsed on the couch, his breathing was extremely ragged as he labored to fill his needy lungs. Darren gently brushed sweat heavy hair back from the younger man�s forehead, placing kisses on his sweaty skin, his temple, his nose, and stopped to gently suck on his lower lip.

He chuckled when the baby began kicking again. Daniel laughed between breaths.

�I warned her� I just� didn�t�� he rolled his head weakly. �That was� Dazza��

Daniel motioned weakly with his hand and Darren smiled as he leaned forward.

�Thank you.� Daniel whispered before finding the energy to pull the singer�s head down, capturing his kiss-swollen lips with his own.

The kiss was tender yet passionate, bringing a weak moan from Daniel and a stronger moan from Darren.

�You aren�t tired� are you?� Daniel asked quietly.

�What did you have in mind?� the singer quirked his eyebrows, and grinned.

�Well, I was hoping you could help me up, and I can welcome you home properly once we�re upstairs.�

�Mmm� I think that could be arranged.� Darren smiled, placing a quick kiss on Daniel�s lips, before he stood up and held out his hands to Daniel.

He pulled the younger man up, putting a strong arm around his waist to steady him when he wobbled a bit, and pulled him close.

�I missed you.� Daniel said honestly.

�I kind of noticed that.� Darren replied cheekily. He kept his arm around Daniel�s waist as they slowly climbed the stairs.

�I think I ruined my shorts.�

�I�ll buy you a dozen more.�

�Only a dozen?�

Darren raised his eyebrows as the corner of his lip turned up. �Demanding sort, aren�t we?�

�But you love me, don�t you?� Daniel�s voice held a hint of petulance, but he leaned over and nibbled the older man�s ear.

Darren�s body shook from the laughter he tried to hold inside.

Daniel moved his lips to suck on the soft skin where shoulder and neck met, as his hands worked at Darren�s pants. He raised his head and looked at the candles. He had wanted this to be special.

�Hold on� please?�

He kissed Darren quickly, then pulled away to light the candles. Gingerly pushing off his soiled boxers, he padded back to Darren�s side and pulled the singer�s t-shirt over his head. As the smell of apple and vanilla began to fill the room, Daniel pushed the older man�s pants to the floor, to be followed by his boxers.

He pushed Darren back and the singer flailed a bit as his feet tangled in his pants. He squeaked in a quite unmanly manner and Daniel grinned before he knelt to remove Darren�s shoes so the man could pull his feet free of the restriction.

Daniel straightened up, but stayed on his knees, as he ran his hands up Darren�s bare legs. The singer�s breathing immediately hitched, then became ragged as Daniel leaned in and began licking and kissing the soft inner thighs, rubbing his nose through the coarse groin hair as he moved from one side to the other.

Darren began to writhe, groaning with frustration as his cock hardened further. He shuddered when Daniel teasingly ran his tongue up its length and paused to tease the weeping head. He thought he would die as the conflagration swept up from its center in his groin to engulf his trunk and limbs when Daniel�s equally hot mouth engulfed his throbbing shaft. It quickly settled in his brain, destroying all rational thought as Daniel�s head bobbed enthusiastically, his lips and tongue driving Darren higher.

The singer was incapable of articulate speech. His head thrashed. He fisted the sheets, not quite able to reach Daniel�s head. Meaningless sounds and moans poured from his throat as his passion spurted down Daniel�s eager throat. The next thing he knew, Daniel was draped over him while he struggled to regain his breath and come back down to earth.

�Welcome home,� Daniel whispered again, gently nuzzling under Darren�s chin.

He absently ran his fingers through the sweat-slicked locks, his chest still rising and falling heavily. The baby began kicking again, and Darren didn�t hold back his chuckle.

�Feisty little thing, isn�t it?�

�Going to take after Daddy Dazza, I think.�

Darren smiled tiredly at that. Slowly Daniel pushed himself off his husband so he could get up and blow out the candles. Darren scurried up onto the bed properly and threw back the sheets to welcome his love. He patted the bed.

The guitarist carefully climbed in, sliding over to lay his head on Darren�s chest.

�I missed you,� he said as his fingers played with the damp chest hairs.

�I missed you, too, babe.� Darren replied, pulling the sheet and blanket up over them, pulling Daniel close to him. �Tomorrow I�m calling that hospital, California Pacific, and making you an appointment with one of those doctors. I�m sorry we didn�t do it sooner.�

�I feel fine, Darren.�

�And I�m glad, but all women get regular checkups when they�re pregnant. You need them too.� He explained as he rubbed his hand up and down Daniel�s arm.

�Whatever you say, Daz.� Daniel mumbled and snuggled closer.

Daniel�s breathing soon evened out, and moments later, Darren�s hand stilled as well.

�tbc�