What he hadn’t expected was an early phone call from Toby.

“Hello?” Leo mumbled, glancing at the clock radio.

“Leo, It’s Toby.”

“It’s six o’clock,” Leo groaned, trying to sit up.

Toby growled down the line at him, “Well it’s not here. So you’ve met Anna then?”

Leo briefly pondered putting the phone down, but this being Toby he was just as likely to get on the next plane.

“Yes.”

“And?” Toby asked, loudly.

“And what?” Leo groaned, trying to focus.

“Are you going to take responsibility for her? Are you going to talk CJ out of this idiotic crusade?” Toby growled. ”Are you going to hurt CJ all over again?”

The last one got Leo’s attention. “Now I know I’ve missed something.”

“Leo!” Toby snapped.

“For Christ’s sake, I woke up three minutes ago,” Leo growled back, “And I’m not sure what the hell you’re getting at…or if it’s any of your business.”

“You broke her heart when you dumped her. I was there.”

Leo glared at the phone, “At the time it was what felt right. By the time I realised I’d screwed up CJ had gone and I had no right to turn her world upside down.”

“Does that mean you’ll keep your distance now?” Toby asked, quietly.

Leo sat in silence. Now that he was faced with the question he wasn’t sure if he could answer it.

“Leo?”

“I don’t know,” he finally said, “Right now I’m here to get to know my child, and take care of her while CJ does what she needs to do.”

“Leo, it’s not safe for her there,” Toby interrupted, more emotional than Leo had ever heard him.

Leo took a deep breath, “But it has to be her decision. And I’ve got friends. I’ll do some checking, increase her protection.” He paused, “I would never let anything happen to her.”

“Good.”

“I need to go, change hotels, make calls,” Leo concluded.

“Have fun in New Hampshire,” Toby snickered.

“You’re having too much fun with that.”

“Yeah, speak to you soon.”

“Bye.”

Once he had showered and dressed he packed up his belongings and rented a car. He had decided if he was going to stick around he at least needed to be mobile.

After getting lost twice he found a small hotel, half a mile from CJ’s townhouse and checked in. Next he went shopping, and picked up new clothes. That done he crossed town to CJ’s building.

Her office, as it turned out was on the fourth floor. Leo took the elevator up and introduced himself to the receptionist. She indicated he take a seat and went back to her work.

Ten minutes later he was getting paranoid. It seemed as though every woman in the office had walked by at least twice and ‘checked him out.’ Finally he took to winking at them and they giggled.

CJ watched the scene from her glass window. She had forgotten how attractive Leo was, the effect his grin had on women, the way his voice sent shivers down your spine. Her assistant smirked at her and CJ stuck out her tongue.

“So?”

“So what?” CJ asked coyly.

“You’re impossible,” Kate groaned. “He’s the first guy you’ve seen outside business in two years. He’s sexy as hell, you’re…attractive, funny, so-Are you?”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“We worked together before,” CJ muttered, glaring at the intern who was flirting openly with Leo.

“You really need to get laid,” Kate acknowledged, going back to her desk.

It was another five minutes before CJ grabbed her coat and joined him, dismissing the intern as she went.

“Sorry, it’s been busy.”

“No problem, I’ve had a great time,” he grinned then lowered his voice, “How old is she?”

CJ followed his eyes, “Twenty,” she snapped.

Leo blushed, “She’s just given me her phone number.”

“Well maybe you can take her and Anna to McDonalds together,” CJ snapped.

Leo followed her to the elevator grinning.

The restaurant was two blocks away and as they walked CJ was silent.

Leo trailed in her wake, debating whether to bring his conversation with Toby up or just leave it. The mood she was in right now, good sense told him to leave it.

She practically barraged into the restaurant and Leo grinned as the poor hostess rolled her eyes. He had seen CJ stomp on many occasions but today had to be one of her better ones. CJ was already sitting at the table when he reached it and the girl was gritting her teeth.

“I’ll just have a water, “Leo said, smiling.

The girl left.

“Bad morning at work?” Leo asked, lowering his voice.

“No.”

Leo lapsed back into silence as he scanned the menu.

When the girl returned with the drinks he made a point of grinning at her. CJ glared at him again.

Alone again he leaned across the table, “You have to stop getting jealous every time a woman smiles at me,” he teased.

“I’m not jealous,” she snapped.

Leo smirked behind the menu and muttered, “Could have fooled me.”

“Did you say something?” CJ asked.

“I moved hotels this morning, and I have a car,” he replied, closing the menu. “Should mean I can spend more time with Anna.”

“She’ll like that,” CJ said with genuine affection.

By the time the waitress arrived to take their food order the air had improved and they were chatting about Anna. The plan was quite simple, he would stay in Indianapolis until the week before her trip. CJ would return to Washington with him for a week to make sure Anna was settled before flying out from there. Margaret, he hoped, would be on hand to give him guidance and respite. That also gave him a month to decide how he felt about CJ.

“Toby called me this morning,” he mentioned nonchalantly as the coffee arrived.

“Oh” she immediately said, “What did he want?”

Leo decided to play it down with humour, “He wanted to make sure I wasn’t besmirching your honour.”

“He what?” she asked, her eyes turning lilac.

“I told him it was none of his business what my intentions were,” Leo growled, trying to stifle a grin.

“Of course it’s none of his business.” she ranted, then suddenly realised what he had said, “And what are your intentions towards me?”

Leo played with his cup and avoided her eyes, before he lost himself in them and made a fool of himself.

CJ watched him closely, trying to fathom out why he was stalling. Eventually her impatience won. “Leo?”

Honesty was always the best policy he decided. “Well, I have no interest in your intern,” he smarted. “And I told Toby I wasn’t sure what my intensions were. Two years and fifteen days is a long time.”

CJ looked at him for the longest time, eyes wide.

Glancing at his watch he grinned, “Actually it’s seventeen days, but close enough.”

Her brain was trying to process information that she had no idea how to comprehend. Leo was telling her to the nearest day how long they had been apart,. Did that mean he still had feelings for her? The last thing she wanted was a relationship based on his obligation to Anna, and she didn’t think that would fulfil her needs anyhow.

Dates had certainly been few and far between since Anna was born, mainly because guys were a little floored once she mentioned she had a child, and of course the fact she was still getting over Leo. At least she was admitting that to herself.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this quiet,” Leo commented.

“I need to get back to work,” CJ mumbled, standing and walking towards the exit.

Best idea is to get out of here fast, she thought, saves making a fool of myself.

Leo tossed a wad of notes on the table and grabbed his coat to follow.

Out on the sidewalk he practically ran to catch up with her, his short legs were no match for the 42inches she carried.

“CJ?” he finally called, stopping and clutching his side. “Please slow down.”

At his erratic breathing she halted and walked back to him.

“You okay?”

“I will be,” he assured her, “I’m not as fit as I was.”

“I really need to get back,” she said, turning to look at her office building.

“Well I’ll see you later,” he acknowledged, standing up straighter.

It was now or never, he decided. If he wanted to be sure how he felt and whether there was a future for them it had to be now. She was more than a little distracted, not unlike the first time he had pushed her against her office door and kissed her.

Taking a deep breath he reached for her hand. Her eyes revealed her surprise but he didn’t give her chance to react as his fingers moved up her arm and encircled her waist. His free hand moved to her head and in a split second before she registered what he was doing he kissed her. No tenderness or awkwardness but firmly and passionately until she was breathless.

Releasing her he grinned and walked away.

On the drive back to the hotel he turned the radio up full and sang along, out of tune but enthusiastically.

It was a rare day when CJ Cregg was lost for words. He had refused to turn back and check if she was still stood there. Instinct told him she was, and probably open mouthed at that. He had forgotten what it was like to kiss her, how soft her lips felt. Now that he had experienced it again he wanted more. At least he now knew how he felt.

Back at the hotel he kicked off his shoes and sat back on the bed to watch television. He was surprised when twenty minutes later there was a heavy knock on the door. Muting the sound he padded across the room and opened the door.

CJ walked straight passed him and swivelled to look at him.

“How dare you?” she started.

“Hey CJ?” he grinned, “Didn’t expect to see you.”

She rolled her eyes and waved her hands around a little.

“You can’t just kiss me like that,” she groaned.

“I think I just did.” Leo closed the door and made his way over to sit on the bed.

“Are you staying?” he asked, flippantly.

“NO.”

“Okay,” he muttered, laying back on the bed and turning the sound back on.

CJ paced the length of the room and back again.

He had no right, no right to just walk back into her life, and do that. And now he looked just so damn smug about it. She wasn’t going to put herself through it again. She was going to just walk out of the room and pretend it never happened.

CJ glanced over at him. He had his eyes closed but Leo was grinning, that heart stopping grin that had, more than one time, made her lose concentration in the middle of a briefing.

“I hate you,” she said.

Leo opened his eyes, “Do you really hate me or is it just because you were left on the sidewalk damp and horny?”

CJ threw her purse at Leo and it hit the wall behind him.

“That almost hit me,” he whined.

“Well hand it back and I’ll do better next time,” she smirked.

“Or you could come and get it yourself?” he taunted.

“Not bloody likely,” she muttered.

“You’re no fun.”

As they stared at each other the air practically buzzed with electricity.

“You know before you do me bodily harm you might want to ask why I did it,” Leo sighed.

CJ flopped down in the chair furthest from him, “There was a reason?”

“I don’t go around kissing attractive women all the time, ya know.”

Her heart leapt when he called her attractive or was it the fact he was licking his lips. CJ bit her bottom lip. “So, care to share?”

Leo muted the sound and sat up. “So what were we discussing?”

“Uh,” she growled.

“Two years and seventeen days ago I was an idiot. I should never have let you go without a word. By the time I figured it out you were long gone and I had no right to turn your life upside down,” he said smoothly.

“I might not have taken you back, anyhow,” she countered.

Leo dropped the grin. The one thing he had been counting on all this time was that she would have taken him back and loved him.

Disconcerted, he mumbled, “Fair point.”

CJ smirked. Leo really was quite sweet when he was confused.

“What did you figure out exactly?” she asked calmly.

Leo turned his body so she wouldn’t be able to read his face. “That I loved you and I was afraid.”

Okay, so now she wanted to hug him.

“And now?”

“That I still have no right to turn your life upside down. But even if there wasn’t Anna to consider, I’d still be about to do this.”

He stood and walked over to her, gently this time he reached for her hands.

CJ stood, entwining her fingers with his and waited as he reached up. Lowering her head she met him in the middle.

The kiss was gentle and, had it been anyone else but Leo, quite innocent. The fact it was Leo left her dizzy.

When they broke apart after a few seconds CJ refused to release his hands.

“CJ?” he whispered softly, “Are you going to throw things at me again?”

She looked down at him and grinned, “Only if you say something stupid again.”

“Okay,” he said, grinning inanely.

Leo felt like he’d won the lottery, actually it was more like winning the Illinois primary, but close enough. He wanted to kiss her again, but it had to be her choice this time.

“You know Leo, I should get back to work.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled softly, staring at his feet.

“Or we could go home, and talk,” she suggested. Talking seemed like a good idea. Another kiss and she may well have abandoned all sense. Right now the bed seemed to be taunting her.

“Talk about what?” Leo asked, lifting his face slightly.

He didn’t really want to talk, especially if it was about how this was a mistake.

“About the past, Anna, where we go from here, any or all of the above.”

“Where we go from here?” he squeaked, thinking that was the most pressing issue.

CJ laughed and raised their joint hands, “Well as nice as this is, I think we need to move on.”

Leo knew he was grinning, he couldn’t help it. She definitely wanted to be with him. He glanced at the bed and when he raised his eyes to look at her his eyes twinkled.

“You can get that thought outta your head for now,” she muttered, shaking her head and releasing his hands.

They drove to the townhouse in separate cars, each imagining what life could be like, one slightly more realistic than the other.

The door was open when Leo pulled up behind her car in the driveway. Climbing out he made his way up the path and went in search of her.

CJ had discarded her coat and had made herself comfortable on the couch. Leo stood in the doorway for a minute watching her as she nibbled her lip and fidgeted with her hands.

“Where’s Anna?”

CJ looked up, “Jessy will pick her up at four and bring her home.”

“Okay, so you wanna go first?”

“I don’t have anything prepared so bare with me,” she began hesitantly. “When you told me it was over I was really angry, then I cried a lot.”

Leo reached for her hand, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I knew how much you loved Jenny. But it hurt. I really thought we had something special,” she raised her hand to stop him interrupting. “But I knew that day in your office it was time to walk away. And I had this great job, new house, new friends -- I put it behind me. Then I discovered I was pregnant, and I thought of calling but the news on the grapevine persuaded me otherwise.” She paused and squeezed his hand. “I still had feelings but I wasn’t going to destroy your new life.”

“And now?” Leo asked quietly. “How do you feel about me now?”

CJ went quiet for a second, “The same. I still care about you. But I don’t wanna get hurt again.”

“I’m not going to hurt either of you,” Leo promised. “I’m making a commitment to Anna, and to you if you want me too.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I love you, I always have,” he shrugged, “It just took a while for me to realise that.”

CJ’s jaw dropped and she stared at him wide eyed. He had just said he loved her.

“It’s not going to be easy, and I don’t expect you to trust me.”

“I trust you.”

“Yeah, but it’s always going to be at the back of your mind that I’ll go again,” Leo explained.

CJ laughed, “I’m the one leaving. At least for a while.” She watched as his guard went up. “Toby told you he doesn’t want me to go to Qumar.”

“If I’m honest I don’t want you to go, but it’s your life,” Leo said, stroking her arm. “I’ll stand by your decisions, I’ll take care of Anna. What happens when you get back?”

CJ leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek, “I don’t know.”

“But we have a future, right?” he asked in a voice barely audible.

CJ’s fingers stroked his cheek as she kissed him on the nose. “Can we leave that discussion until after we’ve been to New Hampshire?”

“Ah, yes, the weekend from hell,” he groaned.

CJ kissed him on the nose again, then lightly pressed her lips against his. As he increased the pressure her hand tangled in his hair and she worked her way onto his lap.

When they broke apart he looked up at her eyes wide, his hand on her breast.

“You’re having those thoughts again,” CJ teased.

“Can you blame me?” he moaned glancing to his lap.

“No, but we could go somewhere more comfortable,” she whispered, flicking her tongue across her bottom lip.

CJ stood and extended her hand to him, apprehensively.

Leo looked up, focusing on her eyes, and seeing that this really was alright with her. Taking her hand he allowed her to pull him up.

They walked in silence through the house and up the stairs. It was only when they reached the bedroom that she turned back to him and smiled.

“If you don’t want to do this, you only have to say,” she explained. “I won’t be offended.”

He stared at her for the longest time before pushing the door with his foot.

Leo followed her as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of the pale blue comforter, her hands clasped in her lap.

Sitting beside her he gently reached across and covered her hands with his own, turning his head to grin at her.

“Jed once told me it’s just like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it,” he said confidently.

CJ smirked and turned to look at him, “He rode your bike into a tree.”

“Ah, yes.” Leo glanced down at their joined hands. “It really has been a long time since I did this last,” he confided.

“How long Leo?” CJ asked, quietly.

He blushed as he mumbled, “Not since you.”

CJ was taken aback by his confession, and more than a little relieved.

“So we’re both rusty, it’ll be fun,” she tried soothingly.

Leo twisted on the bed and tucked a leg under him, “Under the circumstances,” he paused and concentrated on the picture above her bed, “Have you got anything? Do we need?”

CJ shook her head, “I hit the menopause last year. We’re safe.” She fell silent before she added, “But I’m glad we didn’t before, that we have Anna.”

He nodded.

Lightly at first CJ walked her fingers up his arm, stroking his throat as she moved to cup his cheek. “We’ll take this nice and slowly.”

It was a great plan while it lasted.

The first few kisses were gentle as they became reacquainted with each other’s lips then as Leo tasted her he deepen the kiss.

CJ whimpered from somewhere deep inside and her hands were pulling at his sweater.

His hand moved inside her blouse to cup her breast through her bra and she moaned. Her blouse followed his sweater across the room. Pants ended up twisted together in a corner, clothes discarded as senses became re-awakened. It was only as they lay side by side on the bed, CJ in her panties and bra, Leo in his shorts, that the movements became more gentle.

Leo traced her ribs with his fingers, lowering his head to kiss her collarbone. His hands glided over her stomach as his mouth covered a satin covered breast.

CJ writhed on the bed torn between the ecstasy of his loving her and the torture of his slow exploration of her body. Her hands reached for his hair, pulling him closer as her leg tried to wrap around him.

For once in their lives they forgot about words and concentrated on letting their senses guide them.

Leo’s hand moved back over her stomach and snaked around her back to release the clasp on her bra. As the fabric fell away to reveal her pale and taut breasts he nuzzled against her, gently caressing each breast until she lifted off the bed.

CJ was aching for him. It was all so familiar, the way he could take her to the precipice and hold her there almost indefinately.

Leo was hard and throbbing but a part of him wanted the first time to be right. He needed to prove to her that his words of love weren’t false, that he was ready to make love to her --to be in love with her.

Her fingers scraped down his spine as his hand lightly brushed against her panties, and she bucked against him.

Leo moved up the bed and captured her mouth in a kiss. “Are you ready?” he asked as he lightly kissed around her lips.

“Yes,” she breathed, her fingers pushing at his shorts.

In one deft movement Leo had his shorts off and tossed her panties after them. Using his knee he pushed her legs apart and positioned himself over her.

As he entered her she gasped and her eyes flittered shut. Silently he waited for CJ’s body to adjust to his invasion.

CJ used her hands to guide him further in. It had been so long that before he was even half way in she was shuddering and clutching at his shoulders.

Leo grinned as he stilled himself and watched as she tried, unsuccessfully, to fight her release. When her body went limp beneath him, he gently thrust further into her opening until he filled her completely.

It was CJ who set the pace, raising her body to give him better access, clenching her muscles around his shaft. Without hesitation she rolled her hips and increased the pace.

Leo was digging his fingers into the comforter as she took him closer to the edge, her own body writhing beneath him. When his release came there was no warning as he spiralled over the edge and cried her name. Collapsing against her he exhaled deeply as he felt her fall with him.

They lay, wrapped around each other, safe in the knowledge that any expectations the other had had been more than fulfilled.

A key turned in the lock and CJ’s eyes opened wide. “Jessy!”

Leo lifted his head and cringed. Rolling onto his back, he watched as she stretched to the floor and grabbed her robe. Pulling it tightly around her CJ walked to the top of the stairs.

Crawling across the floor Leo located his pants and pulled them on, before he followed.

“Jessy, I’m up here,” CJ called.

Jessy appeared at the bottom of the stairs with Anna in her arms. She looked up and flushed noticeably when she saw CJ’s dishevelled state and Leo topless behind her.

Protectively Leo wrapped his arms around CJ’s waist and grinned. “Hey Jessy. Anna.”

His daughter wriggled in the babysitter’s arms and begged to be put down.

Jessy lowered her to the bottom stair and they all watched as Anna raced to her parents.

“I’ll go, shall I?” Jessy asked, innocently.

"It's not what it looks like," an embarrassed CJ tried to explain, holding her robe closed with one hand and trying to dislodge Leo's arms with the other.

"No, I'm sure it's not," Jessy smirked, "You go girl. See ya tomorrow Anna."

Her departure went unnoticed as Leo bent to pick his daughter and gently tugged CJ back towards the bed.

Part Fourteen

Placing Anna gently onto the bed, Leo held fast to CJ’s hand.

“So do I need to apologize?” Leo asked quietly.

CJ looked between him and her daughter bouncing up and down on the bed, “For what?”

“My performance,” he said quietly, his skin tinged with red.

CJ focused her attention on him, “There was nothing wrong with that Leo. In fact it was pretty amazing. It was like we had never been apart.”

Gently Leo slipped his free arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “It was the last thing on my mind when I saw you in the restaurant. I never expected to feel like this,” he said softly, leaning forward to kiss her lightly on the mouth.

On instinct CJ’s arm snaked around his neck and deepened the kiss.

Oblivious to Anna in the room Leo’s fingers began to explore her body, his hand slipping inside the robe.

CJ moaned as his fingers caressed her breast.

“Urgh,” came Anna’s voice as she flopped back on the bed and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

Leo pulled away as if he had been burnt.

“Hell, I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he groaned, putting as much distance between them as possible.

“It’s okay, “CJ said reaching over and tickling her daughter’s tummy, causing a shriek and giggles. “She’s never seen her mommy kiss a man before.”

Leo’s jaw dropped and he stared at her, “You’ve never been on a date?”

“No, like I said I’ve been busy.”

“I’m not handling this fatherhood thing too well, am I?” Leo asked sadly.

CJ shook her head and continued to have their daughter in hysterics. Quietly she said, “Leo, she’s eighteen months old. All she really wants is to watch Disney videos, play and listen to stories. I think you can handle that.”

“But I was making out with her mother, in front of her,” he grumbled.

“So,” CJ shrugged, “Next time we’ll shut the door. But I’m certainly not going to hide shows of affection from her. ” Reaching out she grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards her. Briefly she cupped his cheek and kissed him.

“So Anna, what do you think?” CJ asked mock seriously, “Can Daddy come and stay with us?”

Anna looked up at Leo and gurgled.

“I guess that’s a yes,” CJ said, grinning. “Why don’t you go back to the hotel and pick your stuff up?”

“Is that a good idea?” Leo asked, sternly. “We go away tomorrow and I don’t want to rush things.”

CJ lifted Anna up and balanced her on her hip. “So now you’re going to disappoint not only me but your daughter too,” CJ whined.

“CJ?”

“I want you to stay. We’d like for you to live with us while you’re in town.” CJ focused her attention on Anna before whispering, “We don’t want daddy to be apart from us, do we? Daddy can stay in mommy’s bed.”

Leo ruffled Anna’s hair and was rewarded by a grin, “You really want this?”

“We wasted two years, let’s not waste any more.”

Kissing them both on the forehead Leo began searching for the rest of his clothes.

“Don’t be long, Anna and I are going to pack then we can all have dinner,” CJ said, propping Anna up against the pillows and turning on the television.

Once Anna was settled with the cartoons CJ started to walk between the two rooms gathering an endless stream of belongings.

Leo arrived back thirty minutes later, carrying his case and a selection of carrier bags.

“I’m back,” he called.

“Come on up, I made space in the wardrobe,” CJ yelled back as Anna tried to lean around her to watch television. “Okay, I’m moving.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Leo stated, entering the bedroom and taking a step back at the scene. “How long are we going for?”

CJ tutted at him, “The bag is mine. The case is Anna’s. She needs at least three outfit’s a day, plenty of underwear in case of accidents, her wash stuff, books and some toys.”

Leo folded his arms across his chest, “And you don’t think by now Jed’s been out and bought up the local toy shop?”

“Ah, I didn’t consider that,” CJ admitted, removing a few toys from the case and placing them on one side. “She’ll want Boo though, and you’d better grab the Monsters video and 102 Dalmatians video from downstairs.”

Leo rolled his eyes and disappeared downstairs, muttering about women. When he returned CJ was sorting through his belongings and repacking the essentials for the trip.

“I coulda done that,” he complained.

CJ took the videos and stuffed them into the case, locking it. Boo, she placed in a carryon, before turning back to Anna. “You want pizza for dinner?”

Anna nodded and stood up on the bed hands aloft.

“I’ve got her,” Leo said, picking his daughter up and spinning in circles. “Now Anna, we need to have a little chat about tomorrow, “he began.

Two hours later pizza eaten and Anna tucked up in bed CJ sat down next to Leo on the couch. Wrapping one arm around her shoulder he pulled her against him, and rested his chin on her head.

“I’ve got to hand it to you, CJ,” he whispered, “She’s a great kid.”

“She has great parents, “ she sighed. “It’s a shame there will never be a brother or sister for her.”

Leo sat up and turned her face to him, “You’re not trying to tell me something?” he asked, surprised.

“NO,” CJ cried, “I can’t.” She waited a beat before she added, “Although I quite enjoyed the practicing earlier.”

“Are you telling me you want to go to bed?” Leo whispered, nuzzling her nose.

CJ stood and held out her hand, “Well we might as well enjoy the peace, cause tomorrow we won’t get a second alone.”

Leo took her hand and silently followed her upstairs.

When Leo awoke the next morning he reached for the alarm clock and grabbed a handful of hair instead. The owner giggled. Opening his eyes Leo grinned at the little face.

“Well good morning Anna.”

“Da.”

Leo widened his eyes, “Did she just say what I thought she said?”

CJ rolled over onto her side and looked over her daughter’s head, “Anna, who do you want to make breakfast?”

“Da, da,da,” she giggled.

“CJ smirked, “Yeah, she said it. And by the way I’ll have two rounds of toast.”

Leo leaned across and kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “So that’s why you wanted me to move in,” he mock whined to CJ.

CJ shrugged, “It’s not like either of us can cook. I might as well take advantage of you while you’re here.”

“You took advantage of me plenty last night,” he teased, leaning over Anna and kissing CJ firmly on the mouth. “So, Anna, you going to help daddy make breakfast while mommy has a little snooze?”

Ten minutes later Leo was in the kitchen, feeding his daughter with one hand and making CJ breakfast in bed with the other. “You know we don’t want mommy getting too used to this,” he grumbled. He paused, “Actually, Yeah, we do.”

“So can we eat?” CJ asked, entering the kitchen wearing only his shirt and a grin.

Leo stared at her legs and blanked out. Everything came back to him, the months of her walking naked around his hotel room, the all night chats about what they wanted from life and especially how alive she made him feel.

“Leo, stop looking at me as though I’m chocolate cake,” CJ teased.

Crossing the room Leo scooped her in his arms and planted a kiss on her lips. The feel of her pert nipples had him hard in seconds.

“You know, you enjoy breakfast, I’m going to get dressed,” he growled, practically running out of the kitchen.

CJ turned to her daughter and shook her head, “Funny daddy.”

“Da,” Anna cried tossing toast on the floor.

“You know we really must keep you away from Uncle Josh and Uncle Sam, I can’t have them encouraging these habits of yours,” CJ grumbled, disposing of the food and settling down for breakfast.

Once Leo emerged fully dressed CJ disappeared with Anna to finish getting ready. The task took longer than expected with Anna writhing in excitement about going on a plane. They still made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Leo took them all up to the lounge and stood with Anna, Boo tightly wrapped in her arms, watching the planes take off.

“Next time you’re going to be leaving us behind,” Leo said wistfully.

CJ wrapped an arm around his shoulders, “For six weeks. But I’m coming back. And now I have two reasons for coming back.”

Leo grinned, “Does that mean what I think it means?”

CJ turned serious, “I’m not making any promises. I will say I’d like to explore the possibility.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Leo stated, turning to Anna, “I’m sure we can convince her, hey pumpkin?”

Anna pointed with her finger at the plane.

“What are we going to tell them this weekend?” Leo asked, taking Anna’s finger and kissing the end.

She giggled and wriggled in his arms.

“That we have a daughter, and right now you’re getting to know her. I’ll tell them about Qumar,” CJ said quietly, “And wait for the inevitable lecture. And if they ask about us you can tell them it’s the last thing on our minds right now.”

Leo shook his head as the announcer called their flight, “Like that’s going to work with Abbey.”

Picking up the carry on CJ followed Leo up the ramp to the plane, wondering herself whether it was going to be enough.

The End