I'm starving... of course!

I rolled over some, curling more against Jackson's side, but no matter which way I turned I couldn't ignore how hungry I was. Yes, we had had dinner, but I was really dying for a pickle.. and maybe some chocolate.. and a sandwich. I gently pulled away, enough not to wake him up and slid my feet in my slippers. I tugged the covers back over Jackson, kissing his forehead.

I headed out of the bedroom, shutting the door and pulling my robe closed around my stomach. I walked down the steps, glancing at the clock. It was two am.. and even though I was exhausted I really wanted something to snack on. I opened a cupboard, tugging out some chocolate candy thing with nuts. I wasn't sure of the name, but I loved it. I opened the bag, popping a few in my mouth and opening the fridge. "I hear you.." I told Audrey as I bent over and she kicked my side. I tugged the pickles out, some strawberries and a juice box before kicking it shut with my foot.

I set the stuff on the corner, catching site of the frosting. i grabbed it, tearing it open and dipping a spoon in it. I took a big bite, moaning softly as I switched off to the pickles, taking a bite of that. I turned my head slightly to the side, licking some frosting off my hand that had dripped. "Momma loves it too.." I said, taking another bite of a pickle.

All of a sudden, I got cold. Stretching slightly, I found that the bed beside me was empty. I was sure all that had happened earlier today, or maybe it was yesterday, I didn't now what time it was, hadn't all been a dream. Abigail had come home with me. We had put JJ to bed and we had gone to bed ourselves. We hadn't made love. I just held her. But now, she was gone. Where she was, I didn't know. She wasn't in the bathroom. The door was open, more than the usual crack we usually had it at when we went to sleep, so I knew she had to be somewhere. Sliding out of the bed, I walked out the door. Checking to see if she had gone to climb into the guest room bed, I opened the door and found the bed empty, still neatly made as always. Shutting the door, I walked across the hall to JJ's room. Maybe she went in there to spend sometime with him. I pushed the door open more than it's simple crack and found him fast asleep in his bed. Abigail was not with him. Pulling the door back to it's usual position, I headed downstairs. She wasn't in the living room, but there was a light on in the kitchen. Walking in, I saw her with a plethora of food, chowing down. Smirking, I came up behind her, kissing her shoulder. "Hungry again?" I slid my hands over her stomach. "My baby girl has an appetite like her daddy." Usually I was Pops. To JJ, I was pops. But to my baby girl, I was Daddy. I had always wanted to have a Daddy's Little Girl. And I knew Audrey would be my Daddy's Little Girl.

I jumped slightly when I felt Jackson grab onto me, not expecting it, but smiled big when I heard what he said, my cheeks blushing as his hands moved over my stomach. "Yes.. I am." I turned slightly, licking at frosting left on my lips. "She really does.. I was never this hungry with JJ. I feel like all I do is eat now.." I giggled slightly, stuffing another bite of frosting in my mouth. I swallowed it and took in a deep breath because I had forgotten to breathe there for a second. "You didn't have to come down.. I didn't want to wake you.. sorry." I said, taking another bite of a pickle, smiling softly as I felt a kick against Jackson's hand. She was as content as could be. She had her daddy's hand and food, I think she was even happier than I was being home.

"It wasn't you that woke me," I whispered next to her ear. "It was the empty bed." I felt Audrey kick against my hand and smiled brightly. Turning Abigail to face me, I leaned down by her stomach, kissing it softly. "Hey there, baby girl! You keeping your momma awake? Making her eat in the middle of the night?" I laughed, rubbing my hand over her stomach. "It's ok. There isn't anything that your momma and I wouldn't do for you."

I smiled softly, curling my fingers in his hair. "You're so good with her.. you are the most amazing father in the world, have I told you that before?" I asked, licking some frosting off my lip that had dripped. "Because you are." I closed my eyes, smiling as she moved some, trying to show her dad she loved him too. At least that's what I liked to believe.

I stood, smiling at her. "Yeah, but I love hearing it." I winked at her, leaning in and licking the frosting off of her lip. "You had a little," I brushed my lips over hers, "frosting there." I didn't usually like sweet things, but damn, if it wasn't sexy.

"Hey, don't make up frosting on my face just to kiss me..." I said smirking as I licked my lips and stepped back some. "I know how you work, Mr. Trickster!" I said, pointing my half eaten pickle at him before taking a bite. Some juice ran down my hand so I lifted it up and licked the side of my hand. "Are you hungry?" I was sure he wasn't. I was the one who had to constantly ate when he never ate... lucky bastard. He'd never get fat.. unlike me!

I shook my head. "No, but I'll eat with you so you don't have to eat alone." I walked over the fridge, seeing the beer reserve and took a deep breath. "Maybe I should..." I took a deep breath and walked over to the sink, taking out the garbage can from beneath and walking back over to the fridge. I started to throw away every last bottle.

I took a deep breath, watching him, my smile filling up to my ears. "You're perfect." I told him, walking over and kissing his cheek. "And strong. So very strong." I rubbed his back as he tossed the last bottle out. "I love you, Jackson. I really do. And I'm so glad you didn't give up on me, on you, on us." I pulled back after an arm squeeze and went back to my food.

"I will never give up on any of us, baby." I put the garbage can away and went back to the fridge, deciding that I didn't want anything in there. I pulled a banana from the bushel and started to peel it, walking over and leaning up against the counter next to her. "Never. That you can count on. More than blue sky and green grass."

"I wish I had your faith, your drive, sometimes I let things go to easily. I guess it's because it's easier. But still..." I closed the pickles, popping a few chocolate covered nuts in my mouth and opening my juice.

I chewed the bite of banana in my mouth and swallowed it, lifting my hand and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I have enough faith for both of us." Faith was a huge part of who I was. I always had faith in things. But then again, at the same time, because I had so much faith, that was also my weakness too. I'd get scared that my faith wasn't strong enough for anything, but then my faith would overpower that fear and be stronger than ever. "I love you, and I have faith in our love." Shaking my head, I brushed the backs of my fingers against her chin. "That's all I ever need."

I took a sip of my juice, stepping up against him so my front was against him. I let my hands lean on the counter and kissed his neck. "Good, you can have enough for the both of us." I told him, wrapping my arms around him and letting my head rest on his chest. "I love you, Jackson Frost. Always and forever."

I breathed her into me, kissing the top of her head as I held her against my chest. "I love you, Abigail Frost. Always and forever." And I did. Nothing would ever compare her or what she was to me. "I can't tell you how good it is to have you here with me, baby. Here in my arms. I am NEVER going to mess this up again. I swear it to you."

I yawned. "Let's go to bed. You can hold me there." I leaned up, kissing him as deeply as I could, letting my tongue massage against his before pulling away. "Hmmm, you still got it. Able to take my breath away." I rubbed his neck, smiling softly before pulling away and putting my stuff away. I drank the rest of my juice before tossing the empty pouch away. "Okay, bed?" I asked smiling.

I nodded my head, tossing my banana peel in the garbage, walking over to her and wrapping my arm around her. "Back to bed." I flipped the light switch off and we both headed through the living room and up the stairs. I don't think anyone in the world knew just exactly how I felt, having my family back under one roof again. I pushed the door open for us and then pushed it back to it's usual position before walking back over to the bed with her. "Would you like my help disrobing?"

I kicked my slippers off and stopped in my untying of my robe. "Oh, sure..." I said, stopping and sliding my foot over my bare leg. "Go ahead." I said, holding my arms out so he could untie my robe and leave me in just my nightgown.

I untied her robe and slowly slid it off her shoulders, looking down at her. Slowly, I tossed her robe to the chair and let my hand slowly move over her arm to take her hand. I slowly helped her into the bed and wrapped my arms around her, pulling the blankets up around us. I kissed the back of her head. "I love you, baby. SO much."

I must've been getting the wrong signals.. part of me thought that his disrobing me meant he wanted... to make love. But I guess it wasn't that at all. I felt like an idiot. It was me mistaking the moment. So it was my fault. But I decided I wasn't going to let that bother me. I was just going to be thankful I was tired and my husband was holding me. I turned some, flipping the light off and curling up against his side. I hugged his arm to me, kissing his hand. "I love you too, Jackson. Night." I said, yawning.

"Good night, baby," I whispered, holding her against me. I needed her badly. So very badly, but what could I do? Go back on my word? I didn't like doing that, especially with Abigail. I wanted to make love to her more than anything, but I had promised her all I would do was hold her. "Are you..." I took a deep breath, "comfortable, baby?"

I nodded. "Very." I said softly. "Actually," I turned toward him, cuddling up to his side and letting my head rest on his chest. "Much better." I said softly, hugging him and closing my eyes.

I swallowed hard, trying to stifle a groan. I had to do something to stop thinking about how much I wanted to make love to her. There had to be something What could I do? "I uh..." I cleared my throat, shifting slightly. "About the custody..." I swallowed again. "I know we're working on things, but can we just forget about all that. Drop the proceedings?" I thought talking about the kids would be something to get my mind off of how I was feeling, but we'd see.

I glanced up at him, trying to focus on him in the dark. "Yeah, of course. I never really wanted to fight over the kids in the first place. I'm fine with dropping it. I'd prefer it. I want you to see the kids anytime you want." I said, letting his hand rest on my belly. "And I hate the court stuff. It's so draining."

I let go of a heavy sigh. "Thank God." I shifted again slightly. "I just want things to go back to normal." We weren't far from it, but we weren't quite there. And it was on Abigail's timetable, not miine. I had to do my part, but until she was ready, things wouldn't be completely back to normal.

I leaned up, giving him a kiss. "It's almost there. We're almost back to normal." I gave him another kiss before burying my face in his neck and kissing the space behind his ear. "I missed this.. you."