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Waking up in the cabin several months later, Tony looked over at his wife. Her cherubic face with the mass of blonde hair spilling on the pillow had him holding his breath for fear of disturbing her. She opened her eyes, blinking at the light. Focusing on him, she smiled.

“Hey, you,” she said softly.

“Hey back,” he answered.

Leaning in to kiss her, he then pulled back and lifted an eyebrow.

She huffed as she said, “Yes, of course,” and moved to get out of bed. Returning a few minutes later, she climbed back under the covers. “It cuts down on the spontaneity when this baby is sitting on my bladder,” she groused.

Chuckling, he kissed her again before turning her over and pulling her back to his front. Reaching down, he noticed her lack of panties. “Ummmm, you are ready,” he murmured in her ear.

“Always for you,” she whispered back.

Sliding into her, he curled one arm under her neck with one hand down cupping her swollen breasts while the other rested on her protruding belly. Slowly and deliberately he moved in and out, not willing to hurry the process.

It did not take long for the delicious friction to build and she began to pant as she climbed toward ecstasy. His cock was touching so deep within her, she could feel the tingles as her inner walls began to convulse, grabbing tighter to him as she flew over the edge. Screaming out his name, her orgasm rushed over her as she squeezed her eyes tightly, the electricity sending jolts to her whole body.

With only a few more strokes, his neck corded as the veins stood out, grimacing through his release. He felt his child kick and he could not help but chuckle.

“Mmmm, you woke the baby,” she said, pretending to grumble. He nuzzled her neck as they panted their way down from shared breathlessness.

“I love you, Mrs. Alvarez.”

She rolled over to face him, placing her hand on his jaw. “And I love you, Mr. Alvarez.”

Later that day, they walked to the pier and sat on the edge, feet dangling in the water. “This will be such an amazing place to bring our kids for vacations,” she said.

“We’ll need to add a bit to it,” Tony said, looking back at the small cabin.

“It was big enough for the Marks and they had two kids.”

“Yes, but we need a bedroom off to ourselves. One where when you scream out my name, the kids can’t hear.”

Giggling, she playfully slapped his arm. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. She turned toward him and looked into his warm eyes, handsome with the little laugh crinkles out from the sides. “Are you glad you followed me to this cabin in the storm?”

Taking her face in both of his hands, he gazed deeply into her eyes. Kissing her lightly, he pulled away, saying, “More than you can ever know. Baby, I may have come out here to save you, but that storm, this cabin, and you…saved me.

* * *

Hand in hand, Tony and Sherrie walked through the cemetery. Stopping first at Charisse’s gravestone, Sherri smiled. Tony had purchased the beautiful marble stone engraved with her name and the title, Beloved Sister.

She knelt and brushed some grass from the base. Holding her large stomach, she said, “Oh Charisse, I wish you could have been here to be with me. But all I can wish for you is peace. I love you, sis.”

Tony assisted her up and they made their way to the other graves. Stopping in front of Marla and Sofia’s headstones, Tony also knelt to brush away some grass. This place used to represent all that he had lost. All that had been taken away from him. And now? He smiled, realizing how lucky he was that life had given him a second chance at love. At living. At being a husband and a father. “You two will always be in my heart,” he said softly. Standing, he turned to see Sherrie smiling at him. “And you, baby,” he said, moving closer to take her face into his hands, “have crept into my very soul.” Leaning in he kissed her. A kiss of promise. Of life. Of love. Of forever.

* * *

Tony pushed Sherrie’s damp hair from her face, waiting for the next contraction. They were coming fast and furious now and the doctor looked up from between his wife’s legs and said, “Not much longer.”

He was a wreck. In the past few months so many of their friends had had babies. Annie and Shane, as well as Jennifer and Gabe, had baby boys, Matt and Lily had a baby girl, and Suzanne and BJ had twins. With each one, he was reminded of having been in the delivery room years before, but this time was different. No other thought went through his mind other than Sherrie and this baby being healthy.

The contraction came once more and he assisted her forward so that she could bear down. “Only a few more like that and your baby will be here,” the doctor called out. They had decided not to learn the sex of the baby, preferring it to be a surprise.

Helping her lay back down, he wiped her brow and stared into the eyes of the woman who had saved him. Brought him back. Brought him forward. “You’re doing great, babe,” he encouraged, awed by her strength.

“This is it,” the doctor said. “Push.”

With one more push, Tony’s son was born. A big, healthy, boy.

And life began again.

Are you ready for Vinny’s story!

Vinny