It was the smell that lulled her further upstairs. Their house always had a faint smell of him lingering, but when she started up the steps that smell hit her hard, made her smile, and eased every worry she had. Her whole body laxed and she had felt truly happy for the first time in about 7 days when she got to the foot of her bedroom and there was a note taped to the door saying "I'm in the bathroom..."

3 seconds later she was pushing open the bathroom door.

Steam filled her face and surrounded her like a huge cloud. The lightening was dim, candles lit all on the counter. She could hear the shower running but when she looked that way, she didn't see anyone through the glass. She stepped further in the bathroom.

"J...Justin?" She called out.

The only response she got was the light click of the door behind her. She turned around hoping she would see him standing there, smiling at her. But all that was there was steam, that was thickening, fast.

She sighed, wishing this little hide 'n go seek game of his would end. She knew he was there, but she didn't know why he was hiding from her. She turned sharply on her heels once more when she caught movement in the foggy mirror; but that was just her on reflection.

And then came the noise, the music, the song. She thought it was sorta stupid that Justin wanted to have a stereo system put in their bathroom, but she was soon proven wrong by the fact and they both enjoyed it.

She was about to really enjoy it.

She jumped when words were whispered into her ear along with the music, breathy, softly, sexy.

"Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire..."

She sighed and a moan escaped her mouth feeling his hands touch her upper arms. Yeah it had only been a little more than a week, but it had been so long to her since she had last had him touch her, in any way. His breath tickled her other ear as his hands slid down her arms to her hands.

"My love is blind, cant you see my desire...that's the way love goes."

And then lips touched the skin of her neck. Her head fell back on his shoulder and one of her hands lifted up to his head. She wrapped her fingers in his short curls and turned both their heads so that she could kiss him.

That's exactly what she did.

He took her breath away as soon as their lips touched. She fell back against him, listening to the music and letting his body sway with hers as his lips kissed her over and over.

She jumped when his fingertips brushed against her stomach. She looked down and saw that somehow, someway in their kissing he had unbuttoned her short sleeve white shirt. Her eyes watched as his fingers trailed up her skin, between her breasts and to her shoulders where he slowly pulled the shirt down her arms and tossed it away.

"Jus.."

She didn't get the chance to speak. His hands were fumbling below her stomach and she knew he was untying her draw string pants. A few seconds later she felt them slipping off her hips and puddling at her feet. All she had to look at was a foggy mirror in front of her that only showed a blur.

"I missed you."

The words were purred into her ear, and the next thing she knew he was turning her around. She kicked her pants off to the side while slipping off her flip flops. And then it happened; his eyes met hers and her smile met his.

He was singing along, quietly, humming parts, singing some words. "You feel so good I'm gonna cryyy...ohh I'm gonna mmm mmm oh yeahhh..."

She bit her lip at his appearance. Smiling, standing tall, licking his lips, bare shoulders, chest and stomach, bare...

"You're..."

"I'm?" He drawled out.

Her eyes were round staring at a particular part of his body. "Naked." She whispered.

He stepped closer and the skin of his chest pressed into her own. His fingers tickled up her back and toyed with her braclasp. "Uhhh huhh...and you are about to be."

"What?" As she said the word she felt her plain flesh colored bra pop, lessen its pressure and finally watched as his fingers pinched the middle material in the center of her chest and casually pulled it off her, tossing it over his shoulder. He smiled the cheesy, happy, sparkling smile that he had perfected.

"What are you trying to do Mr. Timberlake?"

He pursed his lips and shrugged. "Seduce my wife. Has it worked?"

She sighed, rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed with his antics. He pouted.

She cocked an eyebrow. He whimpered.

She put her hands on her hips. He made his lip tremble and eyes wide.

She pulled down her underwear and stepped out of it.

His jaw dropped a tad and he just stared at her as she slowly sauntered to him. She kissed him briefly and felt his hands wrapped around her and squeeze her naked body to his. "That's a yes Justin."

"Good. Now you ready to get all nice and clean."

"Clean?" She pulled her head away and looked at him strangely.

"Yeah, a shower. Me and you."

A smirk played on her lips. "There wont be any cleaning going on."

"soooooo..." He dragged out and began shuffling them towards the shower.

"You're a dork."

His head tilted and he kissed her nose lightly. "You're an angel."

"Smooth."

He pulled away and opened the shower door, stepping inside and letting the water run all over him. He slicked his hair back and opened his eyes. "I know."

"God, you look so good right now."

He gave her a funny look. "I do?"

She nodded and grinned. "yeah, but then again you'd look good in a trash bag."

He reached out of the shower, and pulled on her arm, growling. "Get in here."

----
morning...

There is was.

That smell again. It surrounded her and woke her up and made her smile. She grinned, giggled and rolled over with out opening her eyes, ready to hold her husband tight and cling to him. After he had pull her in the shower and they had made sweet love, he wrapped her in a towel and carried her to bed, slipping in after her and holding her. When she went to speak, he shushed her, said he loved her, kissed her, and said "just sleep."

So she was ready to hear about his time away, hold him, and just listen to him talk.

But he wasn't there. She groaned thinking maybe this was another one of her vivid dreams. She opened her eyes and sighed. He wasn't there at all. She rolled over on her back and that's when it hit her.

Either it was really cold in the room or...she looked down at herself and realize she was indeed topless. Her hands lifted the sheet covering her from the waist down and her eyes widened at her naked other half.

She pulled the sheet and comforter all the way up to her chin and laid there wondering if she was having mental lapses or if he WAS there but left. She didn't know what to think, so she just laid there hoping a solution would present itself.

And it did.

A few light brown curls poked up from the end of the bed, then two twinkling navy eyes, and then a smile, a mischievous, adorable white smile. "What the-"

He giggled. "Hehe, mornin'."

Meredith sat up, and tucked the covers under her underarms. "What are you doin?"

He bit it lip, looked around and smiled. "nuttin."

"oh really?"

He stood up, a tray in his hands and a smile on his face. "Just bringing you breakfast."

She gasped. "Oh my god."

"What?"

She giggled as he sat the tray on the end on the bed and then smiled at her, wiggling a little. "You're wearing a trash bag!"

"Well last night you said I'd look good in one." He looked down at himself. He had punched 3 holes in an oversized black trashbag for his head and arms. The bag came down to right above his knees.

All she could do was smile and open her arms to him. "Come here."

He shuffled over to her and picked up the covers, the trash bag swooshing around him. He laid down in bed beside her and she immediately held on to him, clutching. "Take it off."

"Why? I look good in it." He said proudly.

Meredith kissed his lips quickly and rubbed her leg against his. She whispered, "I wanna feel your skin."

"Well in that case..." He chuckled pulling the black material over his head, fumbling with it and finally throwing it so it fluttered to the carpeted floor.

Justin pulled her close into his arms, holding her. "Mmmm, god I missed this."

"Me too. I'm so glad you are home." It was quiet in their house, nothing but the sounds of their own breathing.

Her fingers made circles on his chest, little designs, watching his chest lower and raise with each steady breath he took. She could feel his eyes on her, looking over her face. It was nothing new to her after all these years she was use to him staring at her. Her finger traced a small shape of a heart in the center of his chest and then she looked up and met his eyes, smiling.

His hand moved from her waist to her hair which he tucked behind her ear. She bit her lip and leaned down, pressing her check to his chest, curling up to him. "Justin..."

"mmhmm..."

She sighed, contemplating to ask her question and finally she got up the nerve. "Why didn't you ask ME?"

"Ask you what?"

She stuttered. "About..about kids."

"What are you talking about?"

She buried her head in his shoulder and mumbled, breathing in the smell that was him. "Nothing, just...forget it."

"Angel, what's up?"

"Nothing. I just..." She looked up and saw that his blue eyes were looking at her confused, brow connected and forehead wrinkled. "...I love you."

"I love you too Meredith. Damn I don't wanna go back."

Her face went from elated joy to shocked sadness. "Go back where?"

"Oh, I have to go back to New York this weekend."

Her bottom lip trembled and she felt him stretch lazily underneath her. "Wha..why?"

"Because, JC wants to do some tracks over." He yawned and smacked his lips together, closing his eyes and rolling his head to the side of the pillow.

"So...all of you are goin back up there?"

She felt his arms wrap around her and he pulled her close to him, hugging her to his body as he rested. "No just me and him."

"oh..."

She was quiet. He was falling asleep. She couldn't handle this. She couldn't handle him leaving her alone again. She couldn't handle all the questions on her mind about children and a family and what was on his mind.

She threw the covers off her causing Justin to stir into consciousness.

"Where are you going?"

She slid her robe that was hanging over the chair in the room over her shoulders, tied the belt tightly and roughly picked up the tray of cereal he had brought her. "Going to eat.." With that, she turned and went out of the door.

----

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Got a tampon I can borrow."

Meredith reached down into her purse and looked at the girl sitting in a rolly chair on the other side of the doorway of her office. "Catch." Kristina had to slide her chair back and she caught the item successfully.

Moment's later Chris Kirkpatrick showed his face. "Did a tampon just fly past my head?"

Both girls smiled. "Yes."

"Oh my god, I have GOT to get a new job."

Meredith crossed her arms over her desk . "Well I heard that Wal Mart was looking for greeters."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Ohh, ya know that might just be a good idea. "Hello, welcome to Wal Mart...extra low prices...always..."

Kris laughed from outside of the office. "I think that is Food Lion's slogan."

Chris pushed himself off the doorframe and looked between the two. "WHAT? no it isn't."

"Sorry Chris, you didn't get the job." Meredith giggled as she shook her head in mock disappointment.

"I'm outta here. I'm going to the front desk where people are nice."

Meredith smiled thinking about all the times Chris had hit on...Chris. "ooo, Christina..."

"Shutup." He mumbled walking away.

"What are you trying to do Chris, see how many time you can get turned down." Kris sneered and he just pouted walking away.

Once Chris had left Kristina walked in the office. "Hey I thought you were raggin last week, why you carrying these puppies around."

"I thought I was too but Aunt Flow hasn't visited."

Kris's eyes widened and she smiled secretively. "Uh huh."

"What?"

She shrugged off Mere's inquisitive eyes. "Well I know how you are miss regular since you are on the glorious orthotri-whatever. You might wanna get it checked out."

Meredith gulped knowing where she was taking this. "s s ooo..."

"Uh huh, Justin's been gone about 3 days...So I bet you two were getting all nice and freaky. The birds and the bees Mere, the birds and the bees."

She shook her head nervously and leaned back in her chair in disbelief. "I..I cant be Kris. I'm...I'm on the pill."

"It's not fool proof."

Her shaky hands ran over her face and she looked up at her friend. "Dammit now I'm freaking. What if...what if I am..."

"Check it out. Just get one of those pregnancy test things and see. No harm done."

She was almost confused as to why her friend was so calm about this. Her thoughts were raging. Maybe she was just thinking irrationally but she wasn't ready for someone to tell her she might be pregnant. "Y...yeah..."

Kris stood up and walked towards the door. She turned back looking concerned at her friend. "You ok? You look pale."

"Fine, just..." Kris ran out of the room when the phone on her desk rang.

"Hello?" A second later she called into the office. "Justin; line 1."

Meredith's breathing stopped for a moment. Finally when Kris looked back in the room and gave her a weird look she answered the phone. "Hi..."

"Hey babe. So what's shaken."

"Well..." She started with a sigh, but he interrupted her.

"Oh my god, JC is doing some mad changes to Tearin up my heart. Girl it is going to be off that hook."

She had to smile at the sincere childlike excitement in his voice. "Really?"

"Uh huh...How you doin sexy?"

She was always, always baffled by the way he could cheer her up and make her mind at ease with just a few words or just he sound of his voice. All of her doubts and worries disappeared and she was ok. She was, "Just..fine.." Back Forward