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Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why

Chris stepped outside of the cabin, his heart crushed into a million pieces as he held the engagement ring in his hands knowing that Eve would never see just how deeply he felt for her. Slowly he opened the box taking one long look at the emerald before tucking it back into his pocket as he took in a shallow breath making his way back to the car. Standing outside the door of his Escalade, he disengaged the alarm before taking one last look at the cabin wondering how it was he was able to walk away from the only thing that ever truly held any real meaning in his life. How could he have withheld his heart from her?

�If only I could�ve told her everything,� he sighed opening the door and getting inside as he turned his eyes away from the cabin realizing that from this moment on life as he�d hoped for it to be would never come to fruition.

But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return

Eve allowed the curtain on the cabin to fall back into place as she was alone again. Rubbing her hands over her arms she closed her eyes feeling a chill sweep through her. Somehow she knew that turning down the proposal Chris had given her was the right thing to do. Clearly she shouldn�t marry a man just for the sake of being married when the love of her life was off with another woman. Marrying Chris would�ve just confused them both, but then again, she was still left with so many feelings of turmoil about the situation.

Placing her hand on her abdomen, Eve took in a slow breath, �We�re going to be okay little one,� she promised her unborn child, �even if your father isn�t here to share our lives with us, we�ll be just fine. I�ll show you a life that I�ve always dreamt about for my child. We�ll have a good life together,� she promised moving across the room towards the sofa reaching for the throw blanket she�d been wrapped up in the evening before as she thought about the look in Chris Ramsey�s eyes as he walked out of the door leaving her with her decision.

[Chorus]
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why

Eve closed her eyes trying to formulate some plan in the grand scheme of things when she heard a tapping at the door. Looking to the entrance to the cabin, she wondered if perhaps she�d imagined it as she rose from the sofa. Clearly Chris should�ve been long gone and no one else knew where she was.

�Maybe Michael has returned to talk with you,� Eve sighed thinking about her new companion, �and right now you could use someone to talk to for sure,� she shook her head tossing the blanket aside as she realized what she was doing, �Talking to yourself is the first sign of a breakdown,� she reminded herself as she walked over to the door opening it while forcing a smile. Much to her surprise she saw Chris on the other side of the door and her smile faded, �Chris, what are you doing here?�

�I couldn�t leave like that,� Chris insisted burying his palms in his pockets as he met her dark, confused eyes. His own hands were trembling with fear as his decision to return had taken a strength he hadn�t known he could possess.

�What do you mean?� Eve questioned with concerned eyes, �is something wrong?�

�What is it,� Eve asked again seeing the tension in his features as he removed his hands from his pockets and she noticed he seemed to be completely on edge.

�This,� he replied reaching out to her drawing her into his arms as his mouth captured hers in a desperate, needing kiss catching her completely off guard as her arms flailed wildly in the air surrounding her. She raised her hands to break herself from his embrace but as she opened her lips to protest, the kiss deepened and she realized that her hands had curled over his shoulders holding him nearer to her.

You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say

Breathless as Chris finally ended their kiss, Eve searched his eyes seeking out some reasoning behind what had taken place. His arms still held onto her keeping her warm within their safe confines as all rational thought seemed to go out the window upon his return. Finally pulling together the strength to speak she opened her mouth feeling the words fall flat.

�Eve, I couldn�t leave like that,� Chris confessed his eyes full of emotion as his throat was tight with tension, �I couldn�t walk away from here having you believe that I wanted to marry you under false pretenses.�

�Chris, I�I don�t understand,� Eve managed to get out as her pulse was spinning wildly out of control. Her head was suddenly heavy, her vision hazy as his kiss had reached down deep to the tips of her toes creating butterflies in her stomach along the way. Sure, she�d kissed Chris before a long time ago, but that kiss, the desperation behind it, wasn�t of that same joking manner they�d shared in the past and suddenly as she looked into his eyes, she saw a man that she was certain she�d never witnessed in her life before.

�I couldn�t leave you with you thinking that I wanted to marry you because I felt you couldn�t handle raising a child on your own,� Chris explained as his hold on her eased up a bit. He reached out to touch her face gently, noticing the color that had risen in her beautiful features, �perhaps we should sit down for this.�

Eve nodded not able to put together the syllables to form a rational sentence as Chris guided her over to the sofa urging her to take a seat beside him. She did as requested as he reached for her hand taking in a deep breath.

�Eve when I told you that I wanted to marry you because I felt you needed me to raise a child with you since Ian couldn�t be there, that was only a half truth,� Chris explained simply, �I lead you to believe that you needed me to be the man in your life because you needed that father figure for your baby and that this marriage would just be based on that logic of friends marrying one another for the sake of a child, but as I said before that was only part of it for me. Eve, I know you are going to make a wonderful mother,� he squeezed her hand gently, �I know in my heart that you�re going to make any child proud to call you mom and that you�ll give your child everything you possibly can. You have a strength about you that most people in this world don�t possess. You�re a fighter and you aren�t afraid to take on the world. You follow your heart and take it where it leads you because you believe that path will lead to a happily ever after.�

�Chris, why are you telling me all of this,� Eve asked a bit puzzled, �why are you saying that and that kiss��

�That kiss gets into why I�m really here,� he took in a nervous breath, �the truth is that I love you,� he watched as she opened her mouth to speak and he reached out to her placing his finger over her lips, �Eve, please just let me finish.�

�Eve, I have loved you longer than you can even begin to imagine,� Chris confessed honestly revealing his heart at long last, �and I know you�ve made your decision, but you haven�t had time to process the truth. I haven�t been giving you that and because I love you like I do, I feel you deserve nothing less. Eve, when you walked into my life, I was a complete mess. I know I�ve been a pain in the ass at times, but from the first moment that you told me to go straight to hell, I knew there was something about you, something special and I knew that my life would never be the same without you in it. Time and time again I�ve watched you pour your heart out to a man hoping that he was the one and time and time again I�ve seen you have your dreams ripped away from you, your hopes for happily ever after fading in a blink of an eye. When you were with Scott and he broke your heart, I wanted to tell you, to show you how much you meant to me, but I was afraid,� he paused taking in a breath, �Eve, I�ve never been good with emotion and honesty hasn�t been easy for me either, but with you, I�ve been able to be more honest about things in my life than I�ve ever been. You opened my eyes to what the world could be like with real love in it. You showed me that being heartless and closing myself off isn�t what�s best for me,� he touched her cheek gently easing his fingers into her hair, �Eve, you taught me the meaning of sacrifice and love and I couldn�t walk out that door without letting you know that you�re the only woman I�ll ever feel this way about�that you�re the only woman who�s ever truly touched my heart and that you�ll always be the only one for me. If I walked out of here not letting you know how I felt about you, then not only would I be lying to you, but I�d be betraying my heart and I�ve done that long enough. I can�t pretend anymore.�

�Chris,� Eve felt the tears pooling in her eyes as he held her with his gaze, �why now? Why tell me this?�

�Because Eve, if I walked away from you, never letting you know how I felt for you,� Chris felt his breath shudder in his chest, �then I�d always live to regret this moment.�

�Eve, I know you love Ian and I know you believe in your heart that he�s the one, but all I�m asking for is a chance,� Chris pleaded with her, �a chance to love you and to show you just how much you mean to me. Eve, I can give you that love you�ve always wanted. I can give you all those dreams you�ve shared with me and I can make them real. I swear to you that there won�t ever be another woman that I would put before you and deep in your heart you know that,� he turned his eyes to the floor, �even that night at my apartment when we talked about making love you felt that.�

�Please what?� he met her tearful eyes, �pretend that seeing you like this doesn�t tear me apart? That I don�t spend every waking minute thinking about you or wanting to be with you?� Chris questioned, �Eve, I�ve spent so much time watching you from the shadows waiting for the right time, but it�s never come and now that we have this moment��

�Chris, this isn�t your baby,� Eve reminded him poignantly, �this isn�t your responsibility.�

�Eve, can you honestly tell me in your heart that you really believe that,� Chris touched her cheek, �Eve, think about that night you came over. Think about the pain you were feeling because Ian had placed you as number two in his life. Tell me that when you were with me that you didn�t feel better�tell me that you didn�t feel the magic between us.�

�Eve, I know you tried to make me believe you forgot, but you didn�t forget,� Chris offered up as she walked towards the fireplace, �you know we were together that night. You know that even though we hid behind martinis that what we shared was real, not just a physical thing.�

�Chris, that wasn�t something that should�ve happened,� Eve turned to face him, �I love Ian and I�ve spent an eternity linked to his soul.�

�And from what you�ve told me if you stay with him, you�ll have an eternity of misery,� Chris stepped towards her, �you could very well face a life of misery if you stay with him. Eve, I know you think he�s what you want, but we have a fifty-fifty chance here about the child. When you wanted to be tested to be a donor for Arianna, I was the one who told you about the baby, the one who thought to test because of that night��

�Eve, you can run away from this, you can run away from me, but you can�t escape what it is we feel for one another,� Chris approached her boldly, �if we deny what�s been building between us for years, then we�re refusing to accept who we are. Look, I know I�m not as noble as Ian is, but all I�m asking for is a chance, a shot in your life. I want to be with you, to love you and I�m offering you my heart. I�m yours if you�ll have me.�

But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for

�Chris, I�m sorry,� Eve opened her eyes the tears streaming down her face at his words, �I�m so sorry.�

�Don�t be sorry. Just tell me that you�ll consider giving us a chance,� Chris pleaded with her, �tell me that you haven�t written me off just yet.�

�Chris, I made my decision,� Eve took in a pained breath, �and I have to stand by it.�

�Eve, please don�t do this,� Chris begged of her the tears swirling in his eyes, �Eve, I�m offering you everything I have to give and a love that will never fade away. I would give up everything, my fortune, my quest for power if it meant that I had a chance for a future with you. You�re the only person in this world that I could honestly say that about.�

�I felt something for Julie,� Chris confessed, �but when it came down to it, there was always only you and I know even if you send me away it�ll always be you. I�ll love you until the end of time and that won�t change.�

�Chris, there are so many things, so many feelings,� Eve started to argue with him.

�Why are you so afraid of my love,� Chris questioned reaching out to her again as he wiped at her tears, �why do you fear what we could have between us?�

�Chris, you say all this now, but what happens when you realize that the dream isn�t everything you wanted it to be,� she challenged, �what happens when you see that I�m not everything you want me to be?�

�Eve, how can you stand there and say that when I know you�re everything I want and more,� Chris offered, �loving you was the only thing I�ve ever done right in this world and in loving you, I�ve given you the opportunity to walk out of my life. I watched you run back to Scott only to have him hurt you and then to Kevin and now Ian. I know you love Ian and I�m sure he�s a good enough guy, but Eve the man married another woman. Even if it was out of a sense of duty, his first duty should�ve been you.�

�He was trying to save her life,� Eve argued with him, �he�s a good, kind hearted man.�

�Eve, if it were me, I�d have done anything in my power to put you first,� Chris offered, �I wouldn�t have let Arianna die, but I wouldn�t have married her, not when I loved you.�

�Don�t make excuses for him,� Chris argued with her, �don�t try to justify his hero complex because there�s no excuse for it.�

�Because he�s the one or because he�s your idea of safety and security,� Chris shook his head, �you know Eve maybe I did make a mistake in coming back here. Maybe I should�ve just left well enough alone because I can see that even the truth won�t change your mind,� Chris sighed as he reached into his pocket, �but for what it�s worth, this is for you.�

�Eve, it was meant for only you,� Chris confessed painfully, �there�s no point in letting something that beautiful go to waste. Even if you don�t want to be with me, look at it as a reminder of our friendship and keep it with you no matter which direction life takes you.�

�Chris,� Eve opened her mouth to speak as he placed it into the palm of her hand curling her fingers around it as he leaned forward kissing her cheek.

�I just want you to be happy Eve,� he whispered in her ear taking a step back as he gave her one last look leaving the cabin once again as Eve was alone again.

Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return

Eve closed her eyes hearing Chris leave down the pathway as the sounds of his car faded in the distance. Looking to the ring in her hand she felt the tears building behind her eyes. There was so much she wanted to do, wanted to say, but in this moment of solitude her walls came crashing down upon her. She was so certain that she and Ian were meant to have happily ever after, that their love could stand the test of time. She�d come to this cabin to remember their love, but now after Chris had left, she felt something that she hadn�t wanted to feel--confusion. Sure, she�d been confused before about running away from Ian when he was all that she�d wanted, but now it had changed, evolved into something different and with tears in her eyes she sank onto the sofa lost in the weight of this moment.

Chris entered his apartment wondering how he�d managed to find his way home after he�d left the cabin. What had he been thinking in going there to see her? Why hadn�t he just left well enough alone when she�d made it known that marrying him was the last thing she�d wanted to do? He�d promised himself that he wouldn�t open his heart to the vulnerability that awakened in him, but then he�d gone and done it anyways--put his foot in his mouth and had probably lost her as a friend. Hearing the storm clouds rumbling outside the penthouse apartment, Chris made his way over to his minibar pouring himself a drink as it was time to face the fact that Eve Lambert could never be the one he�d spend his life with because as much as he loved her, she just couldn�t feel that way about him.

�You�re a fool Ramsey,� he told himself as he took one long look at his reflection wondering how he�d managed to blow things as he had.

I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know

The thunder rumbled outside as Chris was awakened by the pounding on his door. The aching in his head vibrated through him as his hang over clearly was going to take him away from any sense of carefree days for a while. Then again, after he�d risked it all in the big gamble and lost more than he ever could�ve gained. Now as he stammered to his feet, he noticed the ferocity behind the knocking at his door.

�I�m coming,� he grumbled running his fingers through his tousled hair as he opened the door finding Eve standing outside in the hallways much to his surprise soaking wet, her hair glued to her face as mascara stained her cheeks. Blinking twice he wondered if his drinking had effected him more than he thought possible as he wasn�t sure she was real.

�Chris, can I come in,� she questioned breaking through his thoughts as he nodded in response opening the door wider for her.

�Of course,� he offered watching her enter his darkened apartment as he closed the door behind her wondering what had prompted this visit from her.

She spun around to face him, her eyes filled with anger as she spoke up again, �You had no right to do what you did to me earlier. You had no right to come to the cabin and say such things.�

�Eve, look I know I upset you, but I couldn�t keep it to myself any longer,� Chris sighed regretfully, �I�m sorry that it hurt you.�

�Chris, that�s just it,� Eve shook her head, �you didn�t hurt me. You confused me and I don�t like feeling this way.�

�Eve, I got the point at the cabin,� Chris confessed turning his eyes to her again seeing so many things cross over her beautiful features.

�No, I don�t think you did,� Eve insisted stepping towards him, �I don�t think you came even close to getting the point especially when you walked out of there making me feel the way you did when you left.�

�No you look,� Eve shoved her hand into his chest, �you had no right showing up there. You had no right telling me those things, making me feel the way you did and most of all you have no business loving me,� she shoved him again, �you shouldn�t have felt those things for me.�

�Eve, I already said�� Chris began again as she pushed into his chest again and he reached for her wrist blocking her fury.

�But most of all, you shouldn�t have made me feel what I�m feeling in this very moment because I can�t turn away from it,� she allowed him to capture her wrist as the tears fell freely down her face, �Chris, I thought I had my life with Ian figured out, but then you had to go and complicated it. You had to go out of your way to love me, to be in love with me when I promised myself that I wouldn�t fall in love with you, that I wouldn�t let myself love a man like you��

�Just shut up Ramsey,� Eve glared at him, �I�m not finished here,� she insisted behind a sniffle, �Chris, loving you was not something I was looking for, but when you left me I started thinking. In fact that�s all I could do. I thought about Ian, about what you said, about our time together and about all those years that you and I spent covering one another�s backs. I thought about when my life hit a low point time and time again and I thought about you bailing me out. I thought about the way you kissed me tonight and the way it felt to be in your arms,� Eve confessed as her lip quivered, �and most of all I thought about what it would feel like to never have you kiss me like that ever again.�

�I�m saying that I love you, you stupid jerk and I can�t turn that off,� Eve confessed with a groan, �believe me I�ve tried to deny it, but I can�t do it.�

�Stupid jerk,� Chris repeated giving her a sideways look, �let me get this right? You love me, but I�m a stupid jerk.�

She nodded in response, �That�s right. You�re a big, irritating, irresistible, handsome, breathtaking, stupid jerk and I can�t seem to get you out of my mind. Even now I want nothing more than for you to kiss me that way again and tell me that it�s not too late for us,� she blurted out as a breath of frustration escaped her lips.

�It�s not too late,� Chris confessed reaching out to her as the tears spilled down her face freely. He pulled her into his arms kissing the top of her head as he held her, �don�t you know by now that it could never be too late for us? I�d move heaven and earth just to have you in my life if only for a brief moment in time.�

�Chris, this isn�t easy for me,� Eve confessed turning her eyes up towards him.

�Nothing worth having ever is,� he whispered gently, �but Eve I promise you that together we can have it all. I love you.�

�I love you,� she blurted out at long last as he leaned in to kiss her sealing the moment between them as she finally realized she had everything she�d ever wanted and ever needed in the arms of the man who�d grown to be her best friend and perhaps would turn out to be the greatest love she�d ever known.

As Eve slowly withdrew from the kiss, she noticed the surprised expression on Chris Ramsey�s features as he reached out to her touching her cheek gently. Breathless she leaned into his touch enjoying the warmth of his embrace as she�d spent far too much time alone these last few days lost in confusion. A smile touched the corners of his mouth as he squeezed her closer to him.

�Eve, honey, you�re all wet,� Chris frowned slightly giving her a strange look.

�I know,� she nodded in response unable to repress the tiny laugh that erupted from within her as her fingers slipped around his waist enjoying the feel of his arm around her, �it is raining you know.�

�I realize this,� Chris nodded in response seeing the amusement building behind her eyes as a tiny laugh of his own came forth, �but coming up here from the parking garage shouldn�t have caused you this much damage.�

�Well that�s the thing,� Eve turned her eyes towards the floor feeling a heat rise over her features, �I didn�t exactly come from the parking garage.�

�What do you mean,� he asked watching as she untangled herself from his arms pacing around the apartment step by step struggling with her words until she finally pulled together enough strength to face him again. Her soft features were flushed by a color that Chris realized was a faint crimson despite the mascara tracks down her cheeks.

�Well, you see when you left, I got to thinking,� she explained shifting on her feet, �and then when I decided to go after you, well I got into my car and things were going alright until I had a blow out��

�A blow out,� his eyes widened as he stepped towards her suddenly very concerned as he reached out towards her general direction, �Eve, are you alright?�

�I�m fine,� she nodded catching his hand mid-movement offering up a light squeeze before she pressed a kiss over his knuckles, �really I am, but I couldn�t let that stop me. I was only a couple of blocks from the apartment and I was going to hail a cab, but it�s just my luck that there weren�t any cabs around, so I decided I�d face the rest of the trip on foot.�

�Ran actually,� she nodded in response as the heat further rose over her features, �I�m sure I looked like a lunatic on the way over here to anyone driving by, but I couldn�t let this wait. Half way through the trip, I ditched the shoes,� she motioned to the floor as it suddenly dawned in on him that she was a great deal shorter than he�d remembered as she was standing barefoot in the center of the room.

�Eve, I can�t believe this,� Chris shook his head, �what could possibly possess you to do something like that?�

�I didn�t want you taking off thinking that I hated you,� Eve confessed with a sigh, �after the way I practically pushed you out the doorway telling you my mind was made up��

�Eve, you�re pregnant,� Chris reached out to her pushing a soaked, stringy piece of hair from her face, �you shouldn�t be ready to run a marathon in this weather especially not to get to me.�

�Chris, I was just so worried,� she insisted, �and besides pregnant doesn�t mean helpless.�

�I never said that, but would you take a look outside,� Chris motioned towards the crackling thunder followed by a bright flash of lightening just beyond the confines of the penthouse apartment, �what if something happened to you? What if some idiot driver ran you over or what if I lost you?�

�Chris, I�m here,� Eve reached out to him placing his palm against her face, �I�m right here and that�s all that matters.�

�Just knowing you�re alright is all that matters to me,� Chris leaned in to kiss her tenderly as he slipped his arms around her slender waist lifting her up off of her toes to meet his level as he kissed her.

�I�m more than alright now,� she breathed against his kiss wrapping her arms around his neck as their kisses continued, �I�m almost perfect.�

�Eve, you�re freezing,� Chris murmured squeezing her closer to him, �you�re lucky that you got here when you did otherwise you might�ve froze to death out in that weather.�

�Chris, it was only two blocks,� Eve argued with him, �not even,� she offered a playful smile, �but then again I�m here now and you were always good at warming me up in the past.�

�You can�t have any of my killer martinis right now, remember,� Chris pointed out as he gazed into her dark eyes a smile sweeping over his own handsome features as he held her close to him.

�Right now the martinis were the last thing on my mind,� Eve couldn�t help but laugh lightly before her tone took on a more serious, seductive note, �I was thinking more along the lines of having you keep me warm.�

�That�s right,� she nodded noticing the surprise behind his eyes, �I was thinking about you and about what it would be like to have your arms wrapped up around me just like this,� she kissed him gently, �so what do you say Ramsey? Man enough to light my fire and take me out of the rain once and for all?�

�Eve, are you sure that you,� Chris began as she placed her index finger over his lips to silence him.

�I didn�t run all this way for nothing,� Eve reminded him firmly, �I know what I want and I want you.�

�What about Ian,� Chris questioned lightly, �Eve, I know you care about him that he��

�Chris, I don�t want to talk about him,� Eve argued with him, �if I wanted to be with Ian, well then I�d be with him. Right now I�m here with you and that�s where I want to be right now, in this moment. This is the only place I want to be.�

�And what about tomorrow,� Chris questioned keeping her in his arms as their kisses continued.

�Tomorrow�s another day that isn�t important right now,� Eve offered up wiggling in his arms as he set her on her feet once again. Slipping her fingers in beneath his sweater, she tugged it up over his body sliding it up his torso before taking a step back to ease it up further, �right now is what is really important to me.�

�Eve,� Chris tossed his shirt aside hearing the rumbling once again in the distant world beyond the penthouse as Eve�s eyes hungrily wandered over him finally seeing him in a new light as she peeled her soaked shirt from her body shaking her hair out with the movement as her hungry eyes traveled over him once more.

�No more waiting,� Eve declared boldly making her way over towards him claiming his mouth with an unmatched desire knowing that the only thing that could quench this desire inside of her was a night with Chris Ramsey loving him like she�d envisioned on the way over to him.

I want you now
Tomorrow won't do
There's a yearning inside
And it's showing through
Reach out your hands
And accept my love
We've waited for too long
Enough is enough
I want you now

�Come here,� Chris whispered her name pulling her up into his arms as their bodies meshed together the raw heat of skin to skin burning them to the core as their passion expanded revealing the secrets long hidden by their denial of the chemistry between them. Squeezing her legs around his torso as his hands slipped over her pert bottom holding her closer still as her fingers threaded through his hair tightly.

�I�ve waited so long for this,� Eve confessed freeing herself from her own set of limitations in her relationship with Chris. For so long she�d denied how right it felt to be close to him, to crave his kiss, but no more. She would never deny his love again not when things felt so very right between them.

My heart is aching
My body is burning
My hands are shaking
My head is turning
You understand
It's so easy to choose
We've got time to kill
We've got nothing to lose
I want you now

Carefully crossing the living room, Chris kicked open the door to his bedroom as Eve�s kisses devoured his doubts, melted away any and all of his resolve about her sudden change of heart. She was with him, wanting him as he�d wanted her for so very long and this time there were no martinis, no outside forces clouding what it was they felt with one another. Easing her down on the comforter, Chris gazed down at her seeing how beautiful she truly was as she lay beneath him, arms extended towards him wanting him to hold her as he�d always wanted. There was no reluctance or denial in her eyes, just the pure, unadulterated heat of passion waiting for him, burning him down to the core as he leaned in over her capturing her full, waiting lips in a slow, seductive movement relearning the magic of her as his skilled hands eased over her smooth skin tracing her curves.

�Chris,� Eve breathed his name feeling his smoldering kisses travel over her body as she arched up towards him offering herself to his ravenous mouth. Her fingers curled over his shoulders squeezing his heated flesh as his fingers tapered off over her abdomen causing her to let out a tiny giggle. He stopped momentarily his eyes fixed upon her as she offered up a tiny smile, �sorry.�

�Ticklish huh,� Chris arched as curious brow before brushing his finger over the sensitive spot near the top of her hip once again.

�Just a little bit. Chris,� Eve blurted out his name wiggling beneath his touch as he let out a tiny amused chuckle, �stop.�

�Why, I think it�s very sexy,� he whispered removing his finger tip replacing it with his soft, sensual lips as he kissed the very vulnerable curve just above her hip bone, �and erotic.�

�Ooohh,� Eve purred as his fingers unclasped her slacks easing them further down her body revealing her to his insatiable gaze. Her pulse quickened as he watched her silently making love to her with his gaze before his lips returned to the contours of her body retracing the path they�d started on earlier.

�You�re incredible,� he whispered placing feathery light kisses over her flat abdomen thinking about the magic of the child growing inside of her as he moved in over her capturing her lips savoring the moment between them.

�You�re the incredible one,� Eve confessed wrapping her arms around him wanting to explore these new feelings between them as their passion expanded devouring the both of them as the barriers between them faded away.

And I don't mean to sound
Like one of the boys
That's now what I'm trying to do
I don't want to be
Like one of the boys
I just want you now

�I�ve wanted to show you so many times just how much you meant to me,� Chris confessed caressing her soft, curving flesh as his fingers traveled over her thigh wrapping her body around him with one solid motion. Her kisses set him ablaze as his tongue dipped inside of her mouth discovering all the magic of Eve he�d wanted to remember for so very long.

�I just wish I hadn�t fought it like I had,� Eve breathed sliding her fingers over his spine pressing him against her as she cupped his bottom offering a light squeeze, �Chris, I don�t want to pretend anymore. I just want to be with you. To love you.�

�I love you,� Chris whispered entered her fully in one deep thrust as she arched up beneath him accepting his body at long last.

�I love you too,� Eve murmured lost in his eyes as they began making love wanting nothing more than to drown in their desire for one another.

Because I've got a love
A love that won't wait
A love that is growing
And it's getting late
Do you know what it means
To be left this way
When everyone's gone
And the feelings they stay
I want you now

Feeling her pulse raging out of control, Eve held onto Chris still wrapped up in the magic of the experience they�d shared with one another as he collected her in his arms holding her close to him. Tracing patterns over his chest, with her index finger, she listened to the sound of his heart pounding with hers as she closed her eyes thinking of what coming here to be with him meant for the both of them.

�Eve,� Chris finally broke the silence between them, �you don�t know how long I�ve waited for this. How long I wanted you to come back to me freely without anything keeping you from being in my arms.�

�Chris, I thought I knew what I wanted before, but I was chasing after the impossible dream,� she sighed snuggling into him, �I thought with Ian I�d found a man who wanted me, wanted to put me first in his life, but now, now I know that wasn�t how it was. He was too busy saving the world that neither one of us realized he lost me a long time ago.�

�Eve, you don�t have to say that,� Chris began feeling her tense up in his arms.

�No, I do,� she insisted shaking her head kissing the center of his chest before she looked up at him bracing herself against him, �Chris, when Ian married Arianna, it broke my heart. I tried to understand what he�d done because I�d run back to Kevin, but Chris, that still didn�t make it right. He was so busy trying to save her, that somehow I got lost in the process. Even when he and I made love,� she turned her eyes away.

�Eve, hey look at me,� Chris reached out to her turning her towards him, �you don�t have to pretend you don�t care about Ian. You don�t have to do this for me in order to validate what we have between us.�

�Chris, it would be unfair for me to tell you that I�m hung up on Ian, that I dreamt of a life with him as soon as I found out I was pregnant,� Eve admitted unable to meet his gaze, �that when I ran away I�d thought my life was coming to an end.�

�Eve, I�m aware of those things you felt which is why I offered you another option,� Chris reminded her.

�An option that would�ve given you a place in this child�s life as a father,� Eve met his eyes once more, �and we still don�t know if that�s truly what you are to this baby.�

�Eve, after what we just shared together, how can I not be sure of that,� Chris challenged seeing the confusion behind her eyes as he touched her cheek gently, �how can you not be sure?�

�Chris, there are only bits and pieces of that night,� Eve confessed with a sigh, �we were so drunk and��

�And we made love,� he wrapped her up in his arms, �much like tonight only it was different.�

�Different because I tried to pretend it didn�t happen,� Eve felt a rush of guilt wash over her.

�Different because it wasn�t how I�d planned on it happening,� Chris confessed, �when I made love to you for the first time I�d wanted it to be this beautiful, wonderful experience that we could take with one another for the rest of our lives, something that would solidify us a two people who�d finally found their way to one another, who�d found love.�

�Chris, I�m sorry that we weren�t able to have that,� Eve began thinking back to that night, �I wish I�d done things differently.�

�None of that matters now. We�ll have plenty of time to have that kind of magic together. Besides,� Chris reminded her holding her close, �if you�re having my child, if it�s my baby you�re pregnant with, then that in itself tells me how right we were that night together.�

�And if it�s Ian�s child?� she questioned thinking of the consequences that might come about beyond Arianna�s stabbing that took place while she�d been with Ian.

�I still want to be with you,� Chris confessed, �that is if you�ll still have me.�

�Chris, if this is Ian�s baby, he does have a right to know,� Eve sighed slumping down against him again as she closed her eyes.

�Hey,� Chris squeezed her in his arms kissing the top of her head, �if that�s what you want, then I�ll be there to support that decision you make. Eve, I�m not going to lie to you. I want you in my life. I want to spend forever with you, but if you�re having second thoughts and this isn�t what you want��

�Chris, I didn�t say that,� Eve argued with him, �I just don�t know what I�m going to do when we see Ian again. If this baby is his, then what kind of person would I be keeping a secret like that from him?�

�You�d be a person who�d be doing what she needed to do in order to survive,� Chris offered as she gave him another disapproving look, �okay,� he sighed, �we�ll figure this out in the morning. We�ll find a way to determine what�s best in this situation and then we�ll decide what�s the best way to approach this.�

�Chris, you don�t deserve this especially not from me when all you�ve ever done was been so loving and caring,� Eve offered up sadly, �all I�ve done is given you grief.�

�On the contrary,� he traced her features as a smile swept over his lips, �Eve, you�ve given me love and you�ve given me life. I wouldn�t trade that for the world. Come what may, I�m never going to stop loving you or savoring how right this feels between us.�

�Chris, I just wish that things weren�t so complicated so�� he placed his finger over her lips to silence her.

�Kiss me,� he urged drawing her up to him once more, �just kiss me and tell me that you love me.�

�I do love you,� Eve confessed her heart full of so many wonderful feelings for him as he held her, �I can honestly say that now.�

�Then that�s all we need to know,� he captured her lips in a long, drugging kiss, �just give in to that feeling and let me love you. Let me be the one to give you the world tonight.�

�Can�t you see you already have,� she offered in response lost in the love he�d provided her as she hoped her past wouldn�t prove to be something that could keep them from experiencing a lifetime of happiness together.

**Warning this chapter has a NC17 moment included in it. Just thought I'd offer up this disclaimer before you read further**

The rumbling outside the penthouse apartment awakened Eve from the dream she�d been having. Gasping for air, she reached out to feel the warmth of Chris beside her as she watched him sleeping peacefully as though he hadn�t had a care in the world. Smiling as she gazed over his handsome features, she wondered why it had taken her so long to open up to the possibility of the two of them together. How had she managed to overlook the prince that she�d had in him time and time again? Well, one thing was for certain. She wouldn�t make that mistake again. Laying back beside him beneath the blankets she felt his arm curl around her as a smile swept over his features.

�Where do you think you�re going?� he questioned in a faint whisper, the warmth of his breath tickling over her skin as she turned her eyes up towards his.

�I was just getting more comfortable,� she confessed with a soft smile feeling the welcome embrace he�d offered her reaching down deep over her to the tips of her toes.

�I was,� she insisted firmly, �I heard some noise outside and then I woke up and watched you sleeping for a while. I was impressed that you weren�t snoring like you usually do.�

�For you I try to make it a habit not to scare you out of bed the first night we share together,� Chris teased lightly kissing her gently, �after all I�m hoping that you get more comfortable with the idea of spending a great many nights just like this.�

�I think I could easily welcome the notion,� Eve admitted feeling a heat rise in her features as a soft rumbling came from her stomach.

�Sorry,� she apologized, �I guess in all the haste I forgot about the little one being hungry.�

�The little one is hungry,� Chris heard her stomach rumble once again as he released her, �how about we work on fixing that?�

�Chris, where are you going?� she asked watching him slip out from beneath the blankets giving her a very erotic view of his beautiful body.

�Just stay right there,� Chris urged casting a look over his shoulder at her, �I�ll find something to satisfy the both of you.�

�Chris, I�m sure we�ll be fine,� she wrapped the blanket around herself as she sat up watching him walk towards the door.

�I�ll be right back,� he promised giving her one last look before disappearing into the darkened hallway.

Eve shook her head seeing him leave as she looked around his bedroom. It had been a long time since she�d wound up in this place and even longer since she�d first started dreaming about a moment like this. Now seated beneath the plush blankets in Chris Ramsey�s bed after having made love to him, she felt a new funny feeling coming over her. It wasn�t a bad thing, but it was different. It had been a long time since she�d been excited about waking up in another man�s bed, since she�d had that giddy feeling over having just shared a new and intimate experience with someone. Even now as she thought of the way she�d run over to see him, only to have managed to find herself wrapped up in his arms, life couldn�t be any better. Here she was with a man who loved her, a man who knew her heart and knew all of her secrets and fears and it felt like home. She didn�t have to pretend, didn�t have to be someone she wasn�t. She was free to be Eve Lambert flaws and all and he still loved her.

Lost in the idea of being with Chris, Eve leaned across the bed reaching for the television remote control as she eagerly awaited Chris and his return with some kind of food. Her stomach was really trying to tell her something and she should�ve thought about it sooner instead of sulking, but now, well now was not the time to worry about it. Turning on the television set, she flipped through channels a few minutes until she happened upon a old X-files episode. Smiling brightly as David Duchovny�s eyes lit up onscreen, she settled back into the pillows watching one of her favorite Mulder and Scully adventures.

�I�m back,� Chris announced stepping into the room as he looked over at her seeing her propped up against his pillows as he held a tray in his hands, �and I see you found the remote.�

�I got bored,� she shrugged her shoulders as her eyes perked up, �what did you bring me?�

�Well you�re in luck because I brought you a few things,� he confessed making his way towards her as she reached for the remote again setting it on the night stand.

�I�m glad to hear that,� he smiled in response before motioning towards the television, �So what are we watching tonight?�

�X-files,� Eve announced her eyes gazing upon the bowl of fruit before her. Reaching for a grape, she plucked one from the bunch before popping it into her mouth.

�Ah, Mulder and Scully,� Chris settled in beside her, �you always did enjoy this show.�

�That�s right I did and so did you,� Eve gave him a knowing look, �I know you have a thing for Gillian Anderson.�

�Guilty as charged,� Chris confessed raising his hands in the air, �I�ve always had a thing for intelligent women and Scully, well she�s as intelligent as they come and hey not to mention pretty hot.�

�Hey watch it,� Eve nudged him before grabbing another grape, �I might get jealous.�

�Oh come on Eve. It�s not like you�re not wishing I was David Duchovny right about now,� he winked at her, �your very own Agent Mulder to get all intense and adventurous with.�

�I�m actually glad you�re not him,� Eve admitted honestly, �I mean sure Mulder has a certain charm to him, but why settle for a television hunk when I have the real deal laying beside me very welcome and very naked,� her eyes trailed down over his body as a devilish grin crossed over her features.

�I thought you were hungry and wanting to watch TV,� Chris raised a curious brow as she reached for the tray moving it out of his lap as she carefully seated herself where the tray had once been.

�I�m not in the mood to watch television anymore,� she reached for the remote turning the television set off with a hint of a smile, �besides I saw this episode already and right now, well I�d like to dive into my own adventure.�

�Oh really,� Chris placed his hands on her hips seeing the mischief burning behind her eyes as she reached for a strawberry, �and what kind of adventure would that be?�

�One that is highly erotic and not made for public consumption,� she whispered leaning in to trace the strawberry over his lower lip squeezing on the fruit gently as a thin line of juice trickled over his sensitive skin. Leaning forward, she removed the berry tasting the sweet juices remaining on Chris� mouth before she placed the berry between her own lips as she kissed Chris offering him a bite as he opened his mouth deepening the kiss between them.

�I love you, Lambert,� he whispered threading his fingers through her hair after he�d swallowed the berry and their eyes met once more. He saw the passion building behind her features and he wondered how he�d lived without her for so very long. She was his sun, his own dream girl and now as he held her, he knew he never wanted to be without her, �I have a confession to make,� he whispered in between kisses.

�Because I brought one of your favorite dishes with me,� he whispered as he reached out towards the tray, his fingers staggering over the blankets.

�I think you�ll enjoy it,� he confessed as his cold fingers pressed up against her spine causing her to gasp in response.

�Chris,� her eyes widened as she felt the chilled sensation over her spine as his fingers traced patterns over her skin, �what did you�.� she asked as he nodded towards the tray and she finally noticed the bowl of chocolate ice cream awaiting her attention.

�I knew you liked chocolate,� he replied bringing his ice cream soaked fingers up to her lips after he�d teased her skin with it.

�I love it,� Eve confessed reaching for his hand taking his finger into her mouth with one soft, suckling motion as she let out a slow moan, �mmm�.so good.�

Chris sucked in a breath watching her lick the traces of chocolate off of his finger tips taking her time to devour every last hint of sweetness before placing a kiss upon each digit. Her dark eyes filled with a primal desire, one he�d always dreamt about experiencing with her, but never fathomed being able to witness first hand as she crawled off of his lap carefully reaching for the bowl of ice cream.

�Hey, where do you think you�re going,� he questioned reaching for her arm tugging her nearer to him once more.

�I think you made a mess that is in need of cleaning up,� she stated simply repositioning herself on the bed as she lay on her stomach holding the bowl of ice cream before her. Reaching for the spoon, she took a bite before tossing her hair to the side revealing the thin line of chocolate Chris had traced over her spine moments earlier, �wouldn�t you agree?�

�I have been known to have a way with taking care of the messes I�ve created,� he grinned catching on as he slid over beside her bringing his finger tips over her golden, glistening skin, �although, I must confess, there�s just something about making such a delicious mess,� he murmured leaning down to place a kiss over the dip over her hips before lapping up the melted chocolate upon her heated skin.

�Oh Dr. Ramsey,� Eve purred closing her eyes as he traced patterns over her skin with his lips and tongue, �there is something to be said about your bedside manner.�

�You haven�t seen the half of it,� he whispered leaning over her as he placed a kiss just beneath her earlobe before dipping his fingers into the bowl of ice cream once again, �perhaps we should explore all the possibilities of the situation that�s presented itself,� he smeared some chocolate over her lips watching her take his fingers into her mouth once again as she let out a low moan.

�Perhaps that would be best,� Eve conceded feeling the cool liquid of the melted ice cream pool over her spine once more as she released his fingers feeling him move over her once again. Closing her eyes, she lost herself to the slow warmth building deep inside of her with each skilled movement of his mouth over her. The warmth of his breath sent chills through her as some of the most erotic sensations built within her at each searching sweep his mouth made over her body.

Feeling his hands slide over her curves, Eve pressed herself against his touch savoring each caress as he urged her to roll over revealing herself to him once more. Eve�s eyes gazed up at his and her breath caught in her throat as he leaned down stroking her mouth to ecstasy with his heavenly kisses. She reached out to him drawing him over her as the warmth of his body filled her inside creating a hunger she�d never imagined could exist before now. As he withdrew from her arms, she let out a disappointed cry wanting him with her as his fingers tapered off over her concave abdomen.

�You�re so beautiful,� he whispered easing his palm over her silky nakedness admiring all of her as his other hand reached over towards the tray withdrawing a strawberry from the bowl. Bringing it to her lips, she opened her mouth tasting it with one tiny bite moaning in appreciation as she swallowed the tender fruit. Reaching for the ice cream, he drizzled some of it over her navel watching her flat abdomen contract even further in surprise as her eyes watched him curiously. Saying nothing, he dipped the remaining half of the berry in the chocolate over her skin before raising it to her lips once more. She eagerly accepted the bite as he watched her mystified by her responses, �you like?�

�Good,� he smiled leaning down to kiss her chocolate laced very vulnerable skin, �I want you to enjoy every second of this.�

�I�m enjoying every moment with you,� she cried out as his kisses tapered off over her body traveling lower as he settled in between her legs creating so many unmistakable, pleasurable sensations deep within her, �oh Chris.�

Arching up against his touch, Eve cried out as his kisses traveled over the passion-moistened depths between her creamy thighs filling her with a desperate longing with each searching sweep inside of her. Her fingers threaded through his hair as he cupped her bottom in his strong hands devoting all of his attention to pleasing her as she cried out losing herself to the pleasures Chris Ramsey had provided her with. No man had ever been so open in their willingness to please her, in their desire to take her to new levels in their love making as Chris had been. As passion spilled over her flushed features, she cried out giving herself to the moment as glorious waves of splendor washed over her. Her body trembled against his touch as he held her drinking up every one of her cries as her climax rushed over her again and again.

Feeling her body relax completely in his hands, Chris offered up a gentle squeeze before trailing a pathway of kisses over her body savoring every exotic taste of her as her very essence spilled over all of his senses wrapping him up completely in the magic of her. Moving in beside her, he pulled her into his arms kissing her shoulder lightly as he squeezed her closer.

�I love you,� she turned her head to capture his mouth in a kiss feeling elated as she pressed him onto his back moving in over him as her eyes filled with delight, �Chris, just being with you like this,� she wrapped herself around him lowering herself gingerly
upon his aching need as she joined them as one, �experiencing this is nothing short of magic,� she purred rocking her body against his as he filled her inside creating a sense of completion as they started making love. Eve fanned her fingers out over his chest squeezing his body with each movement he made inside of her as they were together at long last. His hands wrapped around her hips guiding her movements as their eyes connected revealing things that no words could express between them as their love expanded between them filling the room with the pure passion burning beneath the surface.

Collecting her in his arms, Chris rose up to capture her mouth with his as she wrapped herself around him relishing in the contact between them as his chest pressed against her warm tingling flesh. His fingers fanned out over her spine as their love spun out a dance between them, a steady rhythm of lovers existing only for their souls as their hearts were joined as one. With each caress, every kiss the barriers between them evaporated and all that remained was their love, the magic of what it meant to be together at long last with no more deceptions between them.

�I love you,� Eve repeated over and over again feeling herself melt into Chris again and again as things built between them creating a new world of ecstasy between them. Sinking her nails into his flesh, Eve cried out losing herself completely to the moment as she convulsed around him as the white-hot eruption swept over the both of them.

Breathless and holding onto one another, Chris kissed her shoulder holding her against his damp skin not knowing where she began and he ended as he remained inside of her a part of the woman he�d loved for so very long. Keeping her in his arms, he placed tender kisses over her neck reminding himself that this was real, she was really here and that they were together at long last.

�I love you, Lambert,� he whispered vowing to himself that after tonight he�d never let her go again as being with her face far too magical to let go of her now.

Eve stepped off of the elevator taking in a nervous breath as she anticipated what she had to do. While Chris had tried to talk her into taking him with her, she knew that having him around would cloud things and it would complicate the situation with Ian. While he�d hated the idea of her going on her own to see Ian, Eve knew that she needed to find a way to tell him the truth on her own. Knowing that Chris hated the idea completely, she promised him that she�d return to the apartment later to tell him everything, but now, now was about telling Ian where she stood on things.

Thinking back to how she�d called the apartment only to discover that Ian had returned to the hospital with Arianna as there had been a donor for her, Eve took in a breath knowing that today may not have been the best of days, but she�d made a promise to Chris. Stepping down the hallway Eve noticed Frank in the lobby. Taking in a breath, she decided to bite her tongue and make pleasantries with him.

�The surgery was a success,� Frank answered honestly, �Karen�s in recovery right now as is Arianna.�

�Then they�re both going to be alright,� Eve couldn�t help but feel a moment of relief wash over her.

�That�s right,� Frank nodded eagerly, �and now it feels like everything is going back to normal again.�

�That�s what they tell me,� Ian�s voice interrupted as Eve spun around to find him standing behind her. She noticed he looked tired as he rubbed his own shoulders and let out another breath.

�Ian,� Eve spoke his name feeling nervousness overtake her as she took in a breath.

�Lambert,� he nodded in response offering up a smile, �what are you doing here?�

�I came by to see you,� Eve admitted honestly, �when I heard that Arianna was here, well I just thought��

�She�s going to be fine,� Ian offered up with another smile, �Monica said I can see her shortly.�

�So was I, but I was also worried about you,� Ian confessed, �after we ran into one another the other day I wondered where you�d gone to.�

�I needed some time to think,� Eve admitted taking in another nervous breath.

�Now I�m back,� Eve shrugged, �I guess you could say I started to get things together in my mind.�

�I see,� Ian glanced over at Frank momentarily before turning his attention back to Eve, �you know Lambert, I think you and I should go somewhere and talk.�

�I think you�re right,� she nodded in response rubbing her hands together, �that is probably a good idea.�

�The on call room is open right now,� Ian suggested waving his hand out towards her.

�Sounds good,� Eve agreed looking back over at Frank, �good luck with Karen. Tell her I�m going to stop in and see her later.�

�I�ll do that,� Frank promised as Eve followed Ian down towards the on call room.

Once inside, Ian turned to face Eve again as a moment of thick silence hung over them. She watched as he seemed to be struggling for the words to say to her as she thought of how she was going to tell him how things had changed for her.

�Alright,� he took in a breath, �obviously you know what�s happened here with Arianna.�

�She�s going to be alright and Victor is going to help me have her moved as soon as she�s healed,� Ian continued rubbing his hands together, �she knows that it isn�t safe here as long as her family is after her.�

�I�m glad to hear that,� Eve offered up a soft smile, �she deserves to have one after all she�s been through.�

�She�s not the only one,� Ian stepped towards her extending his arm to her, �Lambert, when you left last time I know I�d said some things that I shouldn�t have said. I shouldn�t have pushed you away, but now that Arianna is going to be on her feet and healthy again��

�I�m saying that once Arianna is settled in,� he reached out to touch her shoulder placing his hands over her, �well, maybe then we�ll be able to push all of this behind us and we can get back on track again.�

�Back on track,� she repeated seeing the hope behind his eyes as he touched her cheek.

�Lambert, I know I�ve pushed you away lately, but that doesn�t mean that you haven�t been on my mind,� Ian confessed painfully, �through all of this I couldn�t stop thinking about you, about being with you or how I missed holding you.�

�I missed holding you too,� Eve admitted honestly, �when I thought I could never be with you again��

�Lambert, we can be together now,� Ian insisted, �now that Arianna is on the road to recovery, we can be together and have that life we talked about with one another.�

�Eve, I�ve waited a lifetime to find you,� he smiled at her, �a great many lifetimes and nothing is going to stop the connection we have with one another. You are the woman I want to be with, the one I want to spend this lifetime with.�

�Ian,� Eve started taking in a nervous breath, �there�s something we need to talk about. Something I need to tell you, that you should know��

�Ian,� she placed her palm into his chest breaking the kiss as her stomach was tied in knots, �I really need to talk to you.�

�Somehow this looks serious,� he replied releasing her as he eyed her closely, �Eve, what is it?�

�Ian it�s just that over the last few days,� she took in a breath, �well you see I left town to give myself time to think about what�s been going on with me and after everything that�s happened with Arianna�.well�.you see life hasn�t been easy for me��

�Eve, I realize that, but now that Arianna is going to be okay we can start again. We can get back on track where we left off before this whole ordeal.�

�That�s just it,� Eve met his eyes, �Ian things have changed. You see I left town because I found out that I was having�.well, that I�m�� she stammered as the door to the on call room opened and Colleen burst inside.

�It�s Arianna,� Colleen offered up, �while Dr. Quartermaine thought the surgery took with her, it seems that she�s having some complications that they weren�t planning on. It appears that someone was in her room and they tampered with her IV and now��

�Arianna,� Ian gasped pushing his way past Eve as he rushed out into the corridor seeking out his wife leaving Eve with Colleen.

�We had security on the door, but a man somehow stepped in claiming to be her specialist.�

�Did this man look anything like Arianna�s brother Ben?� Eve questioned in confusion.

�That man isn�t around anymore,� Colleen pointed out, �not after he and Ian��

�I know that, but if it�s another member of Arianna�s family�� Eve shook her head, �you have to alert security.�

�Right away,� Colleen nodded as she left the room and Eve realized that the danger for Arianna was anything but over.

Half an hour later Eve found Ian down by the cafeteria, his hands buried in his head as he sat at a table by himself. Taking in a breath, Eve approached him realizing that she needed to speak with him even if right now she was feeling conflicted inside. Seeing him in so much pain still bothered her as she�d never wanted him to experience this kind of misery.

�Ian,� Eve interrupted his thoughts as he rose his head from the table finding her standing before him, �hey are you alright?�

�My wife almost died, Eve,� Ian answered flatly, �so no I�m not alright.�

�I talked to Monica,� Eve offered up taking a seat across from him, �she told me what happened with Arianna and that they were able to stop any of the damage that the intruder had intended upon Arianna.�

�Don�t you understand Lambert? She�s not safe. She loves me and in being here, she�s at risk,� Ian grumbled shaking his head in disbelief, �and where was I? Once again I was off with you when I should�ve been with her by her side.�

�Ian, we were just talking,� Eve pointed out, �you couldn�t be there every second.�

�Talking or not, every time you�re around something horrible happens to her,� Ian snapped back at her.

�Every time I�m around?� Eve repeated in surprise, �Ian, that�s not how it is.�

�Eve, think about it. When we�re together, something awful happens. First Arianna is stabbed when I refuse to go home and be with her. I was with you when I should�ve been with her taking care of her, but instead I let my hormones take over and we wound up making a mess of everything that night. If I�d only gone home��

�A mess of everything,� Eve�s eyes widened, �is that what you see our making love as being?�

�Can you argue that it was anything but a mess,� Ian challenged gruffly, �even now as I�m telling you that we have a future together, Arianna is nearly killed. She needed me and instead I was putting you first.�

�Ian, you thought she was safe both times,� Eve reminded him, �and you love me. You wanted to be with me because I�m the woman you love and that was what put me first in those moments we were together.�

�Don�t you get it,� Ian shook his head, �it doesn�t matter if I love you or not, Arianna comes first. She�s my wife.�

�But what about us? What about everything that we shared, Ian? Doesn�t that hold some weight on things?� Eve questioned watching the darkness cloud over his features, �don�t we hold some weight in this situation?�

�Not enough for me to behave so carelessly,� Ian shook his head, �I should�ve put her above what was happening with us.�

�But you love me,� Eve insisted, �you and I were supposed to have something special.�

�Lambert, none of that matters anymore,� Ian cut her off, �Arianna is the most important thing in my life and she needs me. She needs me to save her from her family and if I�m not there��

�Then she�ll have someone else help her,� Eve snapped back at him, �Ian, no one asked you to play her hero. You can�t save the world especially not when it�s at the risk of losing the things that mean the most to you.�

�Arianna�s life is the most important thing to me, Lambert,� Ian blurted out as he met her dark eyes seeing the pain reflected behind them as he reached out towards her, �Eve, wait�I didn�t�.I didn�t mean that��

�No,� she pushed his hand away from her, �I think you meant every word of what you said,� she rose from the table, �you see me as the thing getting in the way of you saving the world. Well Ian, I�ve got news for you,� Eve tossed her hair over her shoulder, �you can spend your life going after the bad guys in the world playing hero to everyone and anyone who needs you, but at the end of the day when it really matters, you�re going to see that you are overlooking the one thing that should mean the most to you.�

�Lambert, I didn�t mean what I said. I love you�.� Ian stood up reaching out to her.

�No,� she shook her head firmly, �Ian you don�t love me. You love the idea of being in love with me, but only when it�s not getting in the way of you saving the world.�

�Lambert, this is who I am,� Ian reminded her, �you knew before we got into a relationship that I was put on this earth to help others.�

�I understood that and that was part of what I loved about you, but what I can�t sit back and tolerate is when it�s always put at our expense,� Eve sighed, �Ian, I tried to be understanding. I tried to find a way to come to terms with the fact that you�re a noble man who wants to save the world, but what I want�what I need is someone who�s willing to put me first in his life. A man who wants to be my hero who�s there to save me from the disaster that comes my way and who�s not afraid to stand up to me when I�m ready to challenge him or his take on things. I want to know that when someone is in trouble that the man I love is going to try to help, but not at the price of our relationship or our future.�

�Lambert, Arianna had no one. She needed someone to help her,� Ian objected.

�And there you were,� Eve forced a smile, �ready to play her white knight and ride to the rescue.�

�No, that�s not what I would�ve wanted, but I wouldn�t have expected you to marry her either,� Eve snapped back at him finally letting go of some of the feelings built up inside of her, �I wouldn�t have expected that you�d go rush off to become her husband as means of saving her.�

�There was always an alternative, but this was what you felt was the right way to go about doing things. This is what you felt you needed to do so that you could be in control of what was happening in the situation,� Eve argued.

�Lambert, what was I supposed to do? You were marrying Kevin and I saw someone who needed me,� Ian reminded her, �you didn�t remember that we were in love and you were ready to start over with Kevin again.�

�You never made a point to try to remind me after the accident,� Eve pointed out, �you stepped aside and decided to let the amnesia take it�s course never once thinking about how much I meant to you.�

�I was doing the right thing,� Ian countered, �any man in my position would�ve done the same thing.�

�No, that�s where you�re wrong,� Eve shook her head, �any man who loved me would�ve found a way to show me that he was the one I loved. Even if I couldn�t remember the moments we shared together, you could�ve tried��

�And ruin the happiness you thought you had with Kevin,� Ian challenged, �how was I going to get in the way of that?�

�If we had true love, then how could that have been considered getting in the way,� Eve sighed regretfully, �but then again maybe all of this happening has been a blessing in disguise as it�s shown us both that we have different wants, different needs��

�I�m saying that I�m not going to need you riding to my rescue all of the time. I�m not a wounded sparrow and with a man like you, that�s going to lead to a life of boredom and for a woman like me us together would lead to a life of misery.�

�Ian, you�re the one who�s always chasing after the damsel in distress,� Eve reminded him, �I wasn�t the one chasing that dream. I spent my life trying to break away from that helpless feeling that I had growing up. I fought to make it to where I am with all that I had in me and I promised myself that I wouldn�t let a man turn my life upside down. I told myself that I wouldn�t let love play me for a fool and that�s exactly what I was doing with you. We were playing games that I vowed I�d never allow myself to do.�

�But this isn�t a rescue mission either,� she stepped out of his reach, �Ian, I came here today to tell you that it�s over between us.�

�Over?� he repeated in confusion, �Lambert, if this is about what I said before, I already told you that I�m��

�Ian, this isn�t about before,� she paused, �at least not entirely,� she thought it over, �the truth is that I�ve been holding onto this dream of you and me for far too long and it�s time that I woke up and saw that�s all it ever really was. I was searching for this dream of happily ever after with you, but I was forcing my own hopes and wishes onto this situation wanting it to be perfect, but the truth is that it�s not. We�re not nearly what I�d hoped we�d be together.�

�Ian, we were drugged up with something that neither one of us could explain,� Eve shook her head, �the levels of hallucinations that we were experiencing were beyond anything that I could even comprehend as a medical doctor.�

�You know it was a glimpse of our lives together in the past,� Ian insisted firmly, �of how our souls are connected.�

�And if you look hard enough into that you�d see that our souls were destined for misery each time we were together,� Eve shook her head poignantly, �Ian, I don�t want to be destined for that kind of life this time around. I don�t want to end up in misery, not when love is out there waiting for me.�

�Ian, I think deep down a part of me will always love you too,� Eve took in a breath, �but I�m not in love with you. I stopped being in love with you a long time ago. I don�t really even know if I was in love with you or if it was just the idea that had me running to you.�

�You�re saying that you don�t love me,� he questioned in confusion, �Lambert, I know that can�t be true.�

�Ian, I�m sorry, but it�s just not going to work for us,� Eve took a step back, �I�m not in love with you and I�m ready to move on with my life.�

�But what about what you just said about us loving one another? What about our lives together?�

�Ian, we can�t have lives together not when you�re off making a life with someone else,� Eve shook her head, �Ian, you belong with someone who�s going to need you to pull her out of whatever jam she ends up in time and time again and I need a man who facilitates my strengths and shows me that it�s okay to be strong even if it means having a moment to cry on his shoulder along the way.�

�I can be that man for you,� Ian reached out to her again, �you know I love you.�

�Ian, that�s what I�m trying to say,� she sighed, �you only think you�re in love with me, but you love the idea of me. The me you think you�re in love with isn�t the me that I am at all if that makes any sense.�

�I�m saying that it�s over and hopefully one day you�ll understand that,� Eve reached for her purse, �now if you�ll excuse me I have some things I need to take care of.�

�I love you,� he offered up with one last look hoping she�d turn around and return to him.

She offered up a smile, �That�ll pass for you,� she replied turning around as she walked away from Ian realizing a page in her history had just passed before her very eyes.

Chris looked around the apartment not knowing what to do in order to take his mind off Eve as he checked the time again. She�d been gone for a few hours already and he was starting to wonder if she�d changed her mind. He�d listened to her promises about returning after she�d ended things with Ian, but still he had his doubts. Knowing how much Ian had meant to Eve he feared that she�d step out of his life and never return once she was reunited with Ian again. Now as he looked to the dinner he had simmering on the stove, he wondered if the kiss he�d given her before she�d left the apartment was the last kiss they�d ever share before she walked out of his life.

�She said she�s be back,� Chris tried to reason with himself as he paced around the room once again. Hearing the phone ring, Chris rushed over to answer it only to discover it was a telemarketer trying to sell him something he didn�t need. Hanging up the phone, Chris turned off the stove realizing that she must not be coming back. Painfully he made his way into the living room sitting down on the sofa as he wondered what he�d done wrong to push her away.

�Oh Eve,� he sighed her name as he closed his eyes thinking about the magical night they�d shared together.

�Mmm�.what smells so good,� Eve questioned breaking through his thoughts as she entered the apartment carrying a few grocery bags in her hand.

�Eve,� he opened his eyes surprised to see her standing before him as he nearly leapt off of the sofa, �what are you doing here?�

�I told you I�d be back,� she replied making her way past him into the kitchen, �and clearly not a moment too soon, huh?�

�That what?� she spun around to face him, �that I�d forgotten about you,� she turned back to one of her bags withdrawing a bouquet of wild flowers and handing it over to him, �not a chance, Ramsey.�

�It�s a gift,� she urged him to take it, �I picked up dessert and I thought I�d bring something a little extra for tonight.�

�Can�t a girl be romantic,� she challenged meeting his eyes, �you�d do it for me, so why can�t I do it for you?�

�It�s great, Eve,� he offered with a soft smile, �really it�s wonderful.�

�Not as wonderful as this,� she stepped towards him wrapping her arms around his neck giving him a tender kiss, �I missed you.�

�I missed you too,� Chris confessed gently, �I was afraid you wouldn�t be coming back.�

�Well you were wrong to think that ye of little faith,� Eve turned her attention to the pies she�d picked up on the way back to the apartment, �I told you I�d be back and here I am.�

�Arianna had a visitor and she nearly died today,� Eve shrugged her shoulders, �I stayed to make sure she was out of the clear before I came home.�

�He was upset, but I think we both learned something today,� Eve offered up.

�Such as I saw that Ian was always going to play the hero and that he and I weren�t as compatible as I�d imagined we�d be,� she admitted honestly.

�So there wasn�t a moment there when you�d thought about going back to him,� Chris searched her eyes.

�Honestly, there was a moment when I thought about what it would be like to be with him again,� Eve confessed, �when he started talking about us being together again and being free to love one another, I found myself imagining what it would be like.�

�No, I don�t think you do,� she reached out to him again, �Chris, while I thought about what it would be like to share my life with Ian, when I thought about how wonderful I thought it would feel, reality set in and I knew in my heart that in being with Ian, there would be misery in my life. He can�t change who he is and I can�t change who I am. I don�t want to change as I like who I�ve become and you like me for me. Ian can�t understand that and I don�t think he ever could.�

�That when it gets down to the heart of the matter,� Eve wrapped her arms around his neck, �you were meant for me and I was meant for you. That�s how it always should�ve been, always should be for us��

�I didn�t tell Ian about the baby,� Eve confessed with a sigh, �Given all that happened today I thought it probably wasn�t a good idea. Besides, I think that maybe you and I should figure things out on our own before we go around telling him that I�m pregnant. I mean if he thinks that he�s having a child with me�.well, I just don�t want to complicate things.�

�No, I�m not sure and I�m sure it�s probably wrong on a million different levels, but right now I just want to think about what the future holds for us,� she insisted firmly, �Chris, this is where I want to be and you�re the man I want to share my life with.�

�Even if,� she nodded, �Chris, I love you and that isn�t going to change. You were with me from the moment I found out about this baby and you�re the man I want to raise this child with even if it turns out that Ian�s the father.�

�Then we burn that bridge when we get there, but right now I was thinking along the lines of maybe dinner and a movie,� she smiled up at him, �what do you say?�

�It would be a shame to let my culinary masterpiece go to shame,� Chris agreed reaching around her, �after all I made some of your favorites.�

�It smells delicious,� Eve rubbed her stomach, �I can�t wait to try some.�

�In that case, why don�t you go get cleaned up and I�ll show you a night that you won�t ever forget,� Chris offered with a smile.

�Every night with you is a night I�ll never forget,� Eve offered up in response giving him one last kiss as she took off to change eagerly looking forward to the special moments that a lifetime with Chris Ramsey offered her.

Eve took one last look at her appearance after she�d finished pinning up her hair. Feeling her breath catch in her throat, she realized that she was nervous about dinner, which was something entirely new for her. She and Chris had shared oh so many candlelit dinners in the past, but never before now had he been her lover. He�s been her best friend which meant she had the choice of showing up in sweats or a cocktail dress, but somehow tonight just didn�t have that same air to it. Placing her hand over her abdomen she took in another nervous breath trying to calm the feeling building inside of her.

�So this is love,� Eve murmured to herself a smile touching over her beautiful features as she reached for her perfume knowing it was one of Chris� favorites as she dabbed some on her pulse points. Somehow dressing up for Chris had never felt so wonderful and so erotic as she thought of the way it felt to be touching him, making love to him as her eyes cast upon the bed she�d spent the night in holding him. A warmth filled her up inside as she could sense the magic brewing out in the other room. Smiling as she assured herself that tonight would be wonderful, she reached for the doorknob opening it as she stepped out into the hallway.

The smooth sounds of jazz filled Eve�s ears as she made the walk through the apartment leading into the living room. Noticing that the lights were dimmed and the sweet, enchanting aromas of dinner awaiting her had managed to seduce her senses. Turning her eyes to the small table set up in the corner of the room, she noticed Chris had placed her bouquet in the center of it offering up a hint of color to the otherwise darkened surroundings. Slowly, she stepped towards the table seeing the various dishes awaiting her arrival.

�I hope you don�t think it�s too much,� Chris called out to her as she turn around to see him standing in the kitchen doorway dressed in a navy colored suit as a smile swept over his handsome features, �I just thought we could use something special considering.�

�It�s wonderful,� Eve smiled in response as she saw the sparkle behind his eyes as he approached her.

�You�re breathtaking,� he confessed his gaze casting over the silken lines of her dress before his eyes fixed on hers once again, �you look beautiful.�

�What in this old thing,� Eve offered in response a heat building behind her features as he stepped in towards her, �it�s nothing.�

�On the contrary,� Chris shook his head as he moved in beside her, �it�s nothing less than exquisite.�

�Chris,� Eve smiled feeling her blush deepen as he reached for the chair holding it out for her.

�Milady,� he offered extending his hand out to her as he helped her into her chair carefully scooting it in towards the table before circling around to take his place across from her, �I hope you brought your appetite with you tonight.�

�Well, I am eating for two now,� she confessed with a tiny shrug of her shoulders as a smile touched over her lips.

�That you are, which is why instead of our finest wine,� he rose from his seat again uncorking a bottle, �I was thinking some of our best non-alcoholic White Zinfandel for the occasion.�

�Chris, you shouldn�t have,� Eve smiled touched by his gesture as he poured her a glass, �this really is so much more than I deserve.�

�On the contrary, you deserve the world and I intend to give it to you,� Chris poured himself a glass before moving to his chair once again, �a toast to happily ever after.�

�To happily ever after,� Eve raised her glass in response sipping the wine as she felt at ease in this moment they were sharing with one another.

�I hope you�re hungry,� Chris smiled at her raising the lid off of the dish before her revealing the plate before her, �I decided to do something simple with dinner since I was sure that we�d find our way back to lavishing dessert.�

�We do have a habit of doing that, don�t we,� she inhaled the aromas as she looked to her plate savoring the spices as she licked her lower lip, �I love Italian food.�

�I realize that, which is why,� he took a lid off of another plate revealing a pasta dish to her, �I thought I�d try a little variety tonight.�

�That looks good too,� Eve insisted reaching across the table towards the plate.

�Allow me,� he sunk his fork into the pasta capturing a piece for her before reaching across the table offering the bite to her.

�Thank you,� she smiled accepting the taste of the chicken ravioli as a purr spilled from her lips, �oh god that�s good.�

�I�m glad you approve,� he offered retrieving another bite for her as she eagerly accepted savoring the hearty flavors as they danced around in her mouth stirring up sensations with each tickle over her taste buds.

�You�ve got to try some,� Eve urged dipping her fork into the plate again before offering him a bite. Chris accepted swallowing the offering she�d given him as a smile touched over his lips.

�This is good,� Chris watched her rise from her chair making her way over to his side of the table as he extended his arms to her bringing her into his lap, �but this is even better.�

�So it is,� Eve reached for a thick piece of bread dipping it into the olive oil sauce before bringing it up to his lips smearing the slick tip of her offering over his lips, �try some.�

�Mmmm�� Chris bit down on the bread relishing the taste as Eve wiped at his mouth capturing the traces of oil with her finger tip. Raising her index finger to her lips, she dipped the tip of her finger into her mouth enjoying the taste of happiness Chris had whipped up for them in her time away.

�Dinner was a good idea,� Eve breathed leaning down to kiss him gingerly, �a very good idea.�

�I�m glad you approve,� Chris returned her eager kisses, �though I think we should work on getting you to eat a little bit more as we wouldn�t want this going to waste.�

�It�s not in our nature to waste all the sinful pleasures laid out to us,� Eve offered in response reaching for a piece of pasta plucking it up from the dish it was on before raising it to his lips, �have some more baby.�

�Only if you�ll try some more,� he offered her a bite watching her eyes fill with excitement as she tasted it eagerly.

�Chris, you�re culinary skills are untouched by any other man that I�ve ever crossed paths with,� Eve murmured, �you work magic with those hands of yours.�

�I�d like to hope that my culinary talents aren�t the only magic that comes from these hands,� Chris winked at her raising his fork to her lips again.

�Oh not by a long shot,� Eve shook her head eating another piece of pasta as she and Chris savored the moment between them exploring the joys of sharing dinner with one another. Taking their turn feeding one another they gave in to the pleasures of the meal Chris had created for them.

After a short while Chris raised the last bite of food to her lips urging her to open her mouth and accept the bite before setting his fork down with a smile, �All done.�

�Ready for dessert?� Chris questioned raising a curious brow as he began to move beneath her on the chair.

�Not yet,� she placed her hands on his shoulders, �I don�t think I�m ready to let you out of my arms just yet.�

�Hmm, well in that case, I suppose you could consider me your willing prisoner.�

�You can�t imprison those who are exactly where they want to be,� Eve leaned down claiming his mouth in a hungry kiss, �on second thought maybe I should go get dessert so that way we can have my two favorite things all at once.�

�Hmm�there is something to be said about that combination, isn�t there?�

�More than mere words can even begin to express,� Eve nodded in agreement as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, �so what do you say we make our way back into the kitchen and check on dessert?�

�We could do that,� Chris offered with a hint of a smile, �but the question is when we get to the kitchen will we be able to make it to dessert?�

�One way or the other,� Eve winked at him, �I think we�ll find our way to paradise before this night is through, don�t you?�

�I�m learning all the different, pleasurable ways to heaven in having you here,� Chris confessed capturing her lips in a hungry kiss, �you awaken so many things inside of me I didn�t even realize I�d kept locked away for so long.�

�Does this mean that we�re finished with the days of you keeping your heart in that lockbox?� Eve questioned running her fingers through his hair.

�My secret�s out,� Chris whispered holding her in his arms, �you always had the key to my heart. The reason why I�d had it stored away was because it�s been waiting for only you.�

�And now that I have your heart,� Eve half questioned unknotting his tie as their kisses grew in intensity.

�It�s yours for eternity,� Chris promised her as his fingers moved in over the zipper on the back of her dress, �and there�s no place I�d rather it be.�

�With such a treasure, I promise I�m going to cherish it for the rest of this lifetime,� Eve murmured disposing of his tie, �because I�m going to delight in knowing that you�re mine all mine.�

�There�s no place else I�d rather be,� Chris confessed dropping kisses over her shoulder as he held her in his arms.

�I�m so glad to hear you say that,� Eve whispered popping open the buttons on his shirt before diving in for another desperate kiss knowing that her love for him could no longer be denied.

�What about dessert?� Chris questioned effortlessly sliding the sheer material of her dress down her soft, silken skin.

�The chocolate can wait,� Eve mused with a smile, �as I�m about to indulge in my favorite delicacy of all,� she confessed leaning in to kiss him as they explored the passion burning between them.

�Oh Chris,� Eve purred as she accepted the bite of the chocolate mousse pie from his fork, �this is divine.�

�The pie or the experience leading up to it,� he questioned placing a kiss on the curve of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her snuggling in beneath the blanket.

�How about both,� she mused with a hint of a smile, �tonight�s been nothing short of perfect between us.�

�I�m so glad to hear you say that,� he eased a strand of hair from her eyes, �because I want you to experience nothing short of magic between us.�

�I think magic is putting it mildly,� Eve confessed taking another bite of the chocolate before holding out a forkful for him. He accepted eagerly as she continued thinking about their time together, �How is it you managed to keep such a treasure concealed from me all this time?�

�Eve, I told you from day one that I was going to rock your world,� Chris boasted proudly, �I told you once you had a taste of my good lovin� you�d never go back.�

�Ha ha,� she swatted at him lightly, �I wasn�t talking about making love per se.�

�I could say the pie, but seeing as I�m the one who picked it up earlier, I may as well fess up,� she leaned into his arms, �I was talking about this feeling between us. You know the whole love thing.�

�Ah the love thing,� he teased gently, �somehow I�d imagined we�d get back to that once you�d had your fill of ravishing me.�

�Oh I�m no where near done with you,� she pinched at his chest lightly, �that�s a promise Ramsey, however I do think I�d like to get back to that whole thing about you loving me.�

�I do love you,� he reached for her hand kissing it tenderly, �I�ve always loved you, Lambert.�

�Even when you were chasing Julie around wanting to tear her apart from Frank?�

�Eve, that was about money,� Chris sighed, �that was about finding a way to stay in the lifestyle that I thought was right for me.�

�So am I,� he shrugged seeing the look on her face, �look Eve, I�m not going to lie to you. There was a period in my life that I was a real creep. I did what I thought I had to do for the almighty dollar, but it didn�t change the way I felt about you,� he reached out to touch her cheek lightly, �the way I do feel about you.�

�Chris,� she offered up a soft smile, �this is just all so new for me. I mean here we are enjoying just being in one another�s arms without you having to run off and save the world or there being some complication why we can�t be together.�

�I told you that one day you�d come to terms with the fact that you�re crazy about me,� Chris winked at her as he wrapped his arms around her more securely, �and see here we are finally owning up to that.�

�Eve, I�ve never had moments like these before you,� he admitted honestly, �I waited so long just to find the courage to share with you what you mean to me, but time and time again I stopped myself short of doing it because I didn�t want you to walk out of my life. I didn�t want to lose you forever just because I was too stupid to show you what it was I felt for you.�

�Eve, you know my history. You know what kind of life I had growing up. Nothing I�ve ever wanted has come my way without a fight and I was starting to think that in this situation it wouldn�t ever happen.�

�Well, when I walked out of that cabin, I started to remember what it was like when I let you walk out of my life before. I thought about what it was like when you moved in with Kevin and how I�d hated ever letting you go. I thought about the times when your heart was broken by the man in your life and how I just stood back and watched it happen. I could see how hurt you were and I promised myself that I wouldn�t just do nothing again. I couldn�t bear the thought of losing you and even if it meant losing you I had to let you know why I wanted to marry you.�

�That�s right,� he nodded, �loving you was the only thing I�ve ever done right in my life and I couldn�t let the moment pass us by without you knowing the truth.�

�I wonder why it took me so long,� he sighed closing his eyes and thinking back, �Eve, for so very long I wanted to share my world with you and I didn�t do it because I never felt worthy enough to be with you. Here I was Chris, a guy with a less than upstanding history and there you were this rising star who was so close, yet so far away. You joined the ranks of the high and mighty and you were someone that the people of Port Charles took to. You started to really make something of yourself and I was just going to be the thing to hold you back, the man who wasn�t worthy of all that you are.�

�Eve, you were searching for the hero, and that wasn�t me,� Chris sighed, �Ian stepped into your life with his Irish charm and his heroic, good guy tendencies and what was I? I was just a schemer and a chronic pain in the ass that you considered heartless��

�Chris, I knew you weren�t heartless,� Eve shook her head poignantly, �I know I spent a lot of time teasing you about that, but deep down I knew��

�Eve, I gave you plenty of reason not to think that I was someone who could care about anything other than himself,� Chris cut her off, �I know I did some really stupid things��

�But you learned from them. That�s what made you, well, you,� Eve laced their fingers together, �Chris, look I know you did a lot of what you did because you were lonely. You were isolated from the world and you needed something else to fill that void.�

�Chris, look at me,� Eve faced him again, �it doesn�t matter anymore. It�s all in the past and as you can see we both made a series of choices that somehow wound up with us being together in this moment right here, right now and I wouldn�t trade that for the world.�

�Neither would I,� Chris confessed kissing the top of her head, �I do love you, Lambert.�

�I love you too,� she closed her eyes leaning back into his chest, �in fact, even when I left town I was thinking about a future with you.�

�That�s right,� she nodded in response, �I know at the time my thoughts were clouded because I was still very hung up on Ian, but I did have this one fantasy in particular��

�Very funny,� she opened her eyes gazing up at him, �but no, this one was a little more �G� rated.�

�About us,� she wrapped his arms around her tighter, �about our family. I dreamt we had a beautiful little girl and she was the apple of your eye. We were all together one day after you came home from work and when she heard you coming in, she was so excited to see you that she ran to you. She leapt into your arms and she was so happy to have her daddy home.�

�It was and even now when I think about how right it felt,� she let out a sigh, �Chris, I want that. I want something like that for us. I want to be able to spend my years with you watching our child grow up and seeing her every step of the way as we raise her together.�

�I�m sure that she�ll be beautiful,� Chris kissed her again, �Just like her mother.�

�Oh she was so beautiful,� Eve closed her eyes remembering her daydream, �but she had your eyes I must admit and more of your coloring.�

�What was her name,� Chris questioned seeing how at ease she was talking about her fantasy child.

�I don�t know, but what I could see is that she was so happy,� Eve smiled again, �we were a wonderful little family just the three of us and we didn�t have a care in the world.�

�It was,� Eve reopened her eyes looking to him, �only at the time I hadn�t even considered the possibility of you really being her father.�

�Eve, you were set on the dream of being with Ian,� Chris stroked her hair gently, �I know how much you wanted that.�

�I did,� she nodded, �I really wanted to believe in that fate and eternity that we�d talked about on the island, but even then, each time we were together, it lead to misery for one of us. The glimpse that we had ended badly��

�Now I think that it ending how it has is how it was meant to be,� she stroked his chest lightly, �Chris, I never dreamed that I�d wind up here with you, that I�d be lost in your arms after having made love to you. I never fathomed the idea of us winding up in this position sharing our dreams and hopes for the future together.�

�It was beautiful,� Chris admitted freely, �I mean I know I teased you a lot about wanting a piece of you so to speak, but it was beyond sex for me. I knew the night you came to me upset about what was going on with Ian and Arianna that somehow it was my chance to show you everything that I couldn�t before that moment in time. I knew when your heart was breaking that seeing you hurting was the last thing I�d ever wanted for you, so I had to make a move.�

�I just wish it had gone down with a bit more romance than it had,� Chris sighed thinking back, �when I wanted to be with you, I wanted us to have something beautiful, not something as reckless as it was.�

�Chris, it wasn�t all bad,� Eve decided remembering the past, �Granted it wasn�t what I�d imagined for us either, but it was pretty wild.�

Chris couldn�t help but smile thinking back, �Yeah it was. I�ll give you that,� he shook his head at the memory, �you caught me off guard.�

�Well you�d started it,� she closed her eyes again thinking back as she lay in his lap feeling him stroke her hair gently, �you asked me and I�d accepted��

�So you decided to take me home,� Eve wrinkled her nose, �if you could call the hotel home.�

�But on the way to the elevator you had some other ideas,� Chris continued lost in the past.

�I didn�t think we�d make it to that closet like we did,� Eve almost laughed at the jumbled memory.

�I knew the elevator was out of the question at that point,� Chris stroked her hair gently.

�And still we managed to share something wonderful,� Eve reopened her eyes looking up at him, �that night in a linen closet we could�ve very well conceived a child together.�

�I don�t think that�s going to be a story we�re going to want to share with our son or daughter should they get to asking about things in the future,� Chris pointed out with a tiny laugh, �I�d hate to think of the ramifications of that one.�

�It would be better than saying that he or she was the product of a random moment of lust while a woman was being stabbed near the point of death,� Eve shuddered at the thought as she felt her body tensing up at the memory.

�I�m here,� Eve opened her eyes seeing his concerned stare, �really I am.�

�Eve, you don�t have to pretend that what you shared with Ian meant nothing,� Chris sighed touching her cheek, �we both know that you�d be lying to yourself if you did that.�

�Chris, I�m not saying that it meant nothing, but maybe that was just a sign of how wrong Ian and I were,� Eve continued painfully, �I mean every step of the way in our relationship there was always something, always someone else getting in the way and even with the Arianna situation, she�s really a good person. She deserves help and someone who�d bring her through the darkness in her life��

�No, it didn�t and when I think about the sacrifices he made in order to help her out, I wonder why he didn�t think about me,� Eve sighed, �I think about all those beautiful words he weaved together promising me eternity and how it really didn�t mean anything as he left me in the end.�

�Eve, I won�t make that same mistake,� Chris promised her, �I would never leave you or make you feel like you were second best in my life.�

�I�ve spent most of my life being second best to someone,� she sighed searching his eyes as her insecurities came through to the surface.

�Not to me you won�t,� he shook his head determined, �Eve, with me I don�t want you to ever feel that way. I want you to know exactly where you stand with me. I made the mistake of being silent once before, but I won�t do that again.�

�Please don�t,� Eve urged with a soft sigh, �because I don�t think I could take being someone who is just a passing phase in your life.�

�That�s something you�ll never be,� Chris promised hugging her in his arms, �because Eve, this isn�t a phase for me. This is the real thing and I�m ready and willing to do my best to make you see that. You�re everything to me and I want to prove to you how much you are in my eyes.�

�Eve, it�s the truth,� Chris insisted firmly, �you are the one thing in my life I�ve waited to find and now after having experienced even a moment of this, it was worth a lifetime of misery that I may have faced to get me to you. If someone would�ve told me that I�d wind up here with the woman I loved, I would�ve told them that they were crazy, but now that you�re here, well Eve, it�s as if all my dreams have come to life and the idea of having a family with you, well it�s something that I want to hold onto from here on out. I want to be the man to make your dreams come true.�

�You�re off to a great start,� Eve snuggled into him basking in the warmth of his arms.

�Then let me continue this journey with you. Let me show you all the reasons why a life with me is something that will make you happy. Let me prove to you that marrying me will provide you with all you�ve ever dreamed of,� Chris offered his voice impassioned as he touched her face gingerly, �Eve, I want to be the man who loves you each and ever day of your life always showing you that you�re the world to me.�

�I want that,� Eve confessed with a soft smile, �at one time I couldn�t even begin to think of us doing something like that, but now it truly makes sense. Our being together truly makes some kind of cosmic sense and it�s something that I really believe is what we were meant for.�

�Good,� Chris tipped down to kiss her, �I want you to feel that way and when I ask you to marry me again in the future, I hope that when that time arrives that you�ll consider offering a yes this time around.�

�Chris, I�ve already thought about it and,� she started as he placed his finger over her lips to silence her.

�I made the mistake in proposing all wrong last time,� he shook his head, �next time I won�t repeat it. This next time I�m going to do it the right way, but until then, I want you to take this time between us and consider it the road to discovering just what it is you mean to me.�

�Good and when the time is right, I�ll show you a love that you never even imagined possible,� Chris kissed her once more, �I�ll give you the world, but only when you�re ready for it. Until then I�ll do what you ask of me being what you need to make it through this time in your life.�

�You�re all that I need right now,� she cuddled into him lost in the warmth of his embrace, �I�d be lost without you.�

�I was lost until I found you,� he kissed the top of her head, �but soon I want to show you just how incredible things will be for us together, but only when you�re ready.�

�You are, but you aren�t,� Chris sighed closing his eyes, �as much as I�d like to believe Ian�s out of your system, you�re not going to move forward until you know for sure about this baby and until then you�re always going to be questioning things, always wondering what if��

�Chris, I already told you that I want to be with you despite what happens with the baby,� Eve pointed out with a frown.

�I know that, but I think once you know for sure that�s when you�ll know where your heart is. I believe that you love me and that you want to be with me, but what happens when Ian offers up one more promise of forever?�

�Chris, Ian�s not what I want,� she shifted in his arms seeing the doubt in his features, �he�s not the man I want to spend my life with.�

�No buts,� she shook her head, �Ramsey, I�m in love with you and that isn�t going to change. I want to be with you.�

�It is that simple,� Eve insisted firmly, �I want happily ever after with you, just like this and nothing is going to change that. This child�s paternity isn�t going to change my mind.�

�Eve, all I�m saying is that I want you to be sure before you wind up doing something you�ll live to regret,� Chris offered up not wanting to force her if she wasn�t ready to be with him completely.

�Listen you moron,� Eve glared at him, �have you not heard a word I said to you from the moment I followed you back from the cabin? I love you and it�s you that I want to be with. I know in my heart that this is where I belong. This is where I want to be and nothing will change that�not now, not ever. You�re stuck with me Chris Ramsey and if you even think I�m going to let you go��

�You�d better not,� he smiled hugging her in his arms as the realization of how much she meant to him rushed over him and fear struck at his core realizing that losing her would be the end of him, �because I�d be lost without you.�

�You won�t ever have to worry about that ever again,� she promised holding him as if she�d never let go, �we�re found our way home with one another and I wouldn�t trade that for the world.�

�Neither would I,� Chris confessed hoping that whatever the future may bring for them that somehow they�d be able to face it together remaining as close as they were in this very moment together desperately holding on to the idea of a happily ever after.

Eve opened her eyes hearing the faint sounds of the shower in the distance as she curled beneath the blankets in the bed. Feeling the comfort of the cotton sheet against her skin, she stretched out enjoying these few moments of silence laid out before her. Turning her head, she noticed the time realizing it was just after nine as she could hear Chris singing in the shower. A smile touched over her features as she thought of the night they�d spent together. Somehow being back at the apartment again was doing wonders for her as she contemplated taking a trip into the shower with Chris savoring the morning with him. As the thoughts swirled in her mind, Eve slipped out from beneath the blankets making her way towards the bathroom as there was a knocking coming from the front door.

�Who could that be,� she thought to herself reaching for Chris�s robe as she wondered if he�d already started planning another surprise for her. With a hint of a smile, she tied the sash of his robe around her waist and decided she�d do a little investigating of her own while he was in the shower as she made her way towards the front door, �we�ll just see what you have in store for me Ramsey,� she decided firmly unlocking the door opening it with a bright smile only to discover Ian standing on the other side.

�There you are,� Ian frowned pushing his way past her into the apartment, �when I�d gone to the hotel and they�d said that you checked out, it worried me. I�ve been searching all night for you,� he explained making his way into the living room, �I was starting to think that you�d up and vanished again and left without telling me where you�d gone. Considering that the last time you did that it had me worried, I was starting to wonder if something happened, like one of Arianna�s family members followed you home from the hospital and��

�Ian,� she tightened the sash around her waist, �what are you doing here?�

�Haven�t you heard a word I said,� he spun around to face her again finally taking a long look at her, �Eve, what are you doing here?�

�I moved back in here,� she answered matter of fact, �staying at the hotel was beginning to be far too expensive so I came back to the apartment.�

�To Chris Ramsey�s apartment,� his voice questioned gruffly, �Lambert, why on Earth would you consider a move like this?�

�Ian, look, it�s none of your business,� she folded her arms in front of her chest, �what I do with my life isn�t any of your concern.�

�The hell it isn�t,� he shook his head defiantly before his gaze traveled over the loose fitting robe, �Lambert, is that Ramsey�s robe?�

�I didn�t think it seemed right to answer the door naked,� she shrugged nonchalantly.

�Naked? You mean you and Ramsey,� Ian shook his head looking around the room in confusion, �you and he�.�

�He and I,� she nodded in response seeing the utter repulsion cross over his features.

�Lambert, I know you better than that. You two,� he shook his head again, �no way.�

�Why is it so hard for you to believe that I�ve moved on in my life,� she challenged brushing past him, �and now that you know it, you can leave.�

�Wait just a minute,� Ian reached out to her grabbing her arm, �is this because of Arianna? Is that why you�re doing this? To punish me?�

�Ian, why do you insist that everything is about you,� she shoved him away from her as she spun around to glare at him, �you don�t dictate every move I make these days and speaking of Arianna, why aren�t you with her now?�

�She�s with Karen at the hospital, but�� he shook his head again, �That�s beside the point. Lambert, what do you think you�re doing?�

�What does it look like?� she challenged shaking her head after a moment, �on second thought, don�t answer that. It�s called living my life.�

�You call this living?� Ian looked around the apartment, �Eve, I can�t believe for one moment that you could find any kind of happiness here with Ramsey, especially if you and he�� he shuddered at the thought, �there has to be some logical explanation for this.�

�Ian, I think it�s fairly obvious what�s going on here,� Eve sighed making her away across the room, �I don�t think I need to rehash the details of it with you because you�re a smart guy.�

�Eve, is this because of what I said yesterday? Is this because I pushed you away?�

�I�d like to say that it didn�t play a part in any of this, but that�s not entirely the truth,� Eve confessed with a sigh, �The truth is Ian when you pushed me away, I started thinking about my life, about where I was with things and where I wanted to be. When you and I weren�t working I started thinking about the possibilities out there for me.�

�So you ran to Ramsey?� Ian blinked back at her, �knowing that I love you and want to be with you, you ran into his arms? Into his bed?�

�Ian, I didn�t know anything about your love for me,� Eve snapped back at him, �your love seems to fit your moods. One moment you�re desperately in love with me, the next I�m the reason your wife is fighting for your life, then I�m back to being your soul mate again�Ian, I can�t take that kind of confusion in my life.�

�Lambert, if you think I�m just going to walk out of here letting you leave my life like this especially to be with Ramsey��

�Ian, you don�t have a choice,� Eve announced firmly, �I�m the one whose made my decision.�

�Based on mixed emotions,� Ian stepped forward, �Eve, I know I upset you and that you were hurting, but there are still so many things between us, so many feelings��

�Lambert, you can�t expect me to walk out of here without you. That would be like asking me not to breathe,� Ian reached towards her.

�Ian, you�ll find it�s not that great of an ordeal for you,� Eve chortled in response, �after all Arianna is waiting for you to rescue her.�

�I knew this was about Arianna,� Ian huffed in response, �that�s why you�re acting so irrational.�

�Irrational? Ian, you don�t know the half of it. You have no idea who I really am or what it is that I need in my life.�

�Somehow I sincerely doubt that,� Ian argued with her, �Ramsey only knows how to hurt people and manipulate situations to his advantage.�

�Really? Gee, then tell me Eve how long it took him to sweep down upon you when he found out we were having problems. How long did it take him to prey on your vulnerability and get you into bed with him?�

�It wasn�t like that,� Eve argued with him, �you don�t know the first thing about my relationship with Chris.�

�I think the robe speaks for itself there,� Ian glared at her, �a desperate woman tends to find herself in equally desperate situations.�

�I am not a desperate woman and desperation had nothing to do with my being with Chris,� she seethed back at him, �You have no business being here right now Ian.�

�I think it�s good I arrived when I did, so that I could stop you from making an even bigger mistake than you already have,� he stepped forward, �why do you want to ruin your life like this Eve?�

�Ian, I�d be ruining my life if I sat back and waited for you to put me first in your life because you and I both know it would never, ever happen,� Eve snapped at him.

�So that�s why you�re doing this? Because you don�t think I�d put you first? Lambert, everything I�ve done since I came to town was because I was putting you first. When we were chasing off after Rachel and all of her attacks on those poor, helpless victims, I urged you to back off when it was too dangerous. When I was falling in love with you, I didn�t want to complicate your life so I was going to leave town,� Ian argued with her, �when we were trapped in that compound with Harris holding us prisoner, I put my life on the line for you��

�Ian, just stop,� Eve interrupted, �this isn�t about then. This is about now and we�re not those people anymore. We�ve changed, I�ve changed and I can�t go through this anymore. The adventures may have brought us together because I have a thing for danger. I have a thing for getting in over my head, but this time I�m only going to drown if I stay in the relationship with you. I�m going to wind up miserable and alone in my own way and I can�t live that way.�

�I thought our love was supposed to be enough to get us through anything,� Ian reached out to her, �our love is never ending.�

�Our love ceased to be when you decided that Arianna�s life was worth more than what we shared.�

�Eve, I made a judgment call to save someone�s life and I don�t regret that.�

�As you shouldn�t,� Eve folded her arms in front of her chest, �but don�t tell me that I�m wrong in making this decision.�

�It is wrong,� Ian announced firmly, �and you�re only doing this because you want me to show you how wrong it is.�

�This is a test, isn�t it,� Ian questioned with a confident smile, �this is your way of getting me to put you first, to save you from the impending evil you have here with Chris, right?�

�Oh you wish,� Eve rolled her eyes, �Mr. Ego, this isn�t all about you like you�d like to believe it is.�

�Sure,� he shook his head as a confident grin swept over his features and he stepped towards her, �Alright Lambert, I�ll play this game if that�s what it takes for you to start behaving like a grown up again.�

�Ian, just get out of here,� Eve glared at him taking a step back as he moved in closer to her, �just leave.�

�Not without you,� he rushed forward extending his arms out towards her as he pulled her off of her feet tossing her over his shoulder.

�Put me down,� Eve screamed at him kicking her legs into his chest as he fought to restrain her in his arms, �Ian, put me down.�

�Not until I have you far from this place,� Ian shook his head squeezing her tighter in his arms as he made his way towards the door.

�Ian, put me down right this instant,� Eve continued kicking wildly at him fighting his hold on her as he reached out towards the door.

�Not a chance,� Ian argued with her as a loud sound crashed through the apartment causing the moment to freeze as Ian spun around to see Chris standing behind him holding a gun in his hand.

�Put her down, Thornhart,� Chris warned sharply, beads of water still upon his damp skin as his towel was tied loosely around his waist, �I�m only going to ask you once more.�

�What is this?� Ian blinked back at him, �have you lost your mind, Ramsey?�

�Put her down or else the next time I won�t be asking,� Chris insisted firmly, �and it won�t be a lamp that comes crashing in your direction.�

�Well, would you look at this,� Ian chortled in response patting Eve�s behind as he squeezed her over his shoulder, �Romeo has decided he�s going to make a play for your affections by trying to shoot me.�

�Put me down, Ian,� Eve wiggled out of his arms finally freeing herself as she plopped down on the ground with a huff.

�I don�t believe this,� Ian blinked back at Chris, �Eve, are you going to sit here and let your lover try to shoot me?�

�She doesn�t need you telling her what to do anymore, Thornhart,� Chris answered sharply as Eve stepped over towards him reaching for his arm.

�Chris, it�s okay,� she offered up in a soothing tone, �he let me down. You can put the gun away.�

�Eve, I want him out of my apartment,� Chris kept his eyes on Ian, �he has no right busting in here and manhandling you like this.�

�You�re the woman I love and I won�t leave you with this lunatic,� Ian insisted stepping forward as Chris kept his gun aimed at Ian�s chest.

�Look Ian, it�s over,� Eve sighed in frustration, �I don�t know how many different ways I need to say it.�

�Lambert, it won�t ever be over for us,� Ian pleaded with her, �Deep inside you realize that and you know that there isn�t any getting rid of what we have because we were destined to be together. We belong with one another and not even a loser like Ramsey here can change that.�

�Lambert, I�m not going to beg you, but you know in your heart you belong with me,� Ian reached out towards her, �Don�t make a mistake in giving up your chance of happily ever after for this loser.�

�Ian, it�s over,� Eve insisted standing taller as she moved in beside Chris. Turning her attention to Chris she touched his shoulder, �Chris, he�s not worth it. Give me the gun.�

�Lambert, I want him out of here,� Chris replied feeling her fingers slip over the gun as she withdrew it from his hand.

�He knows that,� Eve nodded taking the gun as she turned back to Ian, �now I think we�re finished here.�

�This isn�t over,� Ian warned simply turning his attention to Chris, �and you, well you�ve just made a big mistake one that I promise you that you�ll live to regret the moment I walk out of here.�

�Ian, don�t make me regret not letting him shoot you,� Eve glared at him, �now go.�

�Lambert, this will be continued,� Ian threw her one last look before leaving the apartment as Eve expelled a breath she hadn�t been aware she�d been holding.

�Hey,� Chris stepped in beside her touching her shoulders, �are you okay?�

�Am I okay,� Eve blinked back at him, �Chris, you just pulled a gun on Ian. You threatened to shoot the man. How can I be okay?�

�Eve, he was trying to kidnap you,� Chris reminded her, �if you were going of your own free will, that would be one thing, but he was ready to drag you back to his cave and beat you to submission metaphorically speaking or hell knowing him maybe even literally��

�Still, bringing a gun into it?� she repeated, �Chris, do you have any idea what he could do to you now?�

�Eve, Ian�s just filled with idle threats,� Chris shook his head, �he�s not going to do anything, but sulk about this.�

�Chris, you pulled a gun on the man,� Eve repeated with a huff, �Clearly he�s not going to sit back and do nothing.�

�Eve, did you take a good look at the gun,� Chris challenged raising a curious eyebrow before nodding at her, �Eve, take a look.�

�Chris, a gun is a gun,� she argued pulling it out of the robe�s pocket as she finally took a long, hard look at it. A frown touched over her features before she met his eyes again, �Chris?�

�It�s a lighter,� he reached for it pulling on the trigger as a flame came out the front of the gun, �it was a novelty I got back in college.�

�Well, if push came to shove I would�ve had no problems setting his hair on fire,� he shrugged in response unable to suppress the grin building behind his features.

�Chris, you moron,� Eve shook her head unable to repress the laugh building up inside of her, �what if he had challenged you or attacked you?�

�Then you know that song �chestnuts roasting on an open fire�, well we might�ve had a different variation going on in Ian�s case,� he let out a tiny laugh, �I�m sorry, but the guy needed to come down a few levels there Eve.�

�Clearly, but still�� she shook her head making her way over to the sofa, �I can�t believe how fast things with him have gotten out of hand.�

�I told you he was a hot head,� Chris followed her taking a seat beside her on the couch, �it�s a good thing you didn�t tell him about the baby.�

�Chris, that only makes this worse,� Eve groaned, �what if it turns out that he is the baby�s father? If you think what happened today was bad, then it�ll only get worse for us. That much I can promise you because with Ian, he�s not going to back down. He sees you as a bad guy and he sees me as someone he needs to rescue��

�Which is Ian�s ultimate aphrodisiac,� Chris finished, �but Eve, you don�t have to worry about him. We�re going to get through this together. I promise you that.�

�With your lighter,� she motioned towards the gun, �Chris, while your heart was in the right place, that was an impulsive decision that could�ve gotten someone seriously hurt.�

�I know and I�m sorry, but it was one of those split second decisions,� he confessed with a sigh, �Eve, I just thought of him taking you away and I had to react before I never saw you again.�

�At least it wasn�t a loaded gun,� she let out a breath of relief resting her head on his shoulder before letting out a tiny squeal, �Chris, you�re wet.�

�Have you taken a good look at me lately,� Chris challenged, �Eve, I just got out of the shower.�

�You did, didn�t you,� Eve couldn�t help but smile as she wiped her finger over his damp skin.

�That�s right I did,� Chris nodded in response, �which leads me to my next question. What are you doing out of bed?�

�I heard the door and I thought maybe it was another surprise you�d have planned for me,� Eve confessed with a sigh, �but that wasn�t the kind of surprise I was looking for.�

�Nor would it be one that I�d give you,� Chris wrapped his arm around her, �that much I can promise you.�

�Hey, we�ll figure something out,� Chris promised kissing the top of her head, �Granted it might not be as simple as we wanted it to be, but we�ll come up with something.�

�Eve, you�re talking to a man who�s sitting in the middle of his living room wearing a bath towel and threatening someone�s life with a lighter,� Chris couldn�t help but laugh, �confidence might be something I have to a degree, but most people would consider it more a serious bout of insanity.�

�Insane or not, I know you did it because you love me,� Eve couldn�t help but smile, �and as insane as it makes me, well, I love you too,� she confessed realizing that this morning was just a sign of things to come for all of them now that Ian was determined to win her back again.

Chris stepped into the living room noticing Eve sitting on the sofa looking distracted after the morning has passed and Ian�s memory still lingered on. Knowing that Ian Thornhart was going to cause them quite a few problems in the future with his caveman mentality, Chris decided that now was the time for him to do what he needed to in order to distract Eve for a while and give her something better to focus on. Reaching for his jacket, he fished his keys out of his pocket before standing before her.

�Hey beautiful,� Chris spoke out to her interrupting her thoughts, �grab your jacket.�

�What?� she blinked back at him looking up to see his dark eyes upon her, �why?�

�Because, I�m taking you out for a while,� Chris answered matter of fact, �we both have some time off at the hospital thanks to the generous chief resident and I think it�s about time that we�ve made the most of this vacation.�

�That�s right,� he nodded reaching for her hand and pulling her up from the sofa, �absolutely right now.�

�It�s a surprise,� Chris announced making his way across the room reaching for her jacket before turning to hold it out towards her, �tempted yet?�

�With you I�m always tempted,� she offered up a soft smile making her way across the room to retrieve her jacket as he helped her into it, �but really what do you have in mind, Chris?�

�That�s for me to know and you to find out,� he whispered kissing the top of her head, �I promise.�

�Somehow I have a feeling that�s supposed to curb my curiosity,� Eve gave him a pointed look.

�It is,� he nodded in agreement, �but if it doesn�t work, well it�s going to have to do for the moment.�

�Not a chance,� he shook his head taking one long look around the apartment, �I�ve taken the liberty of packing an overnight bag for you in the event we don�t make it back here by the end of the day. I hope that won�t be a problem.�

�You�re packing me a bag, huh?� Eve searched his features, �this must be something very interesting indeed.�

�I guess you�ll have to go with me to find out,� Chris winked at her, �ready for an adventure?�

�That�s my girl,� Chris accepted her hand in his leading her out of the apartment as he vowed to show her a day she wouldn�t forget.

�So do I get any hints yet?� Eve questioned from the passenger side of Chris Ramsey�s SUV as they made their way down the wooded back roads leading out of town.

�Nope, not yet,� he shook his head flipping through the channels on the radio for a moment before looking over at her, �have a preference?�

�Hmm�.nope,� she shook her head, �unless of course you feel there�s some kind of mood music we should listen to in order to lift our spirits for the day you have planned for us.�

�Hmm, in that case, how about something romantic,� he suggested turning his attention to the road ahead of them.

�So it�s a romantic adventure you have in mind,� Eve watched him closely realizing his face wasn�t revealing a thing as he drove along the road, �hmm, with the spirit of romance that would mean you�re taking me somewhere that is pretty special, yes?�

�You know this is not fair at all,� she sank back into her seat, �here I am asking you all these questions about the day ahead of us, and you�re leaving me completely in the dark��

�You�ll enjoy it when we get there,� Chris promised her, �but until then maybe we should talk about something else.�

�Maybe I don�t want to talk about something else,� Eve feigned a pout, �I�d really enjoy just a little hint.�

�You know me well enough to know the answer to that one Ramsey,� Eve offered with a teasing wink, �don�t you?�

He nodded, �It means that I�m not going to get a moment�s peace until I give you a clue, huh?�

�We are going to do something that I�m fairly certain you haven�t done in a long time,� Chris offered up with a teasing grin, �there�s your clue.�

�Well then I guess making love is out, huh,� she teased lightly, �seeing as it hasn�t been a long time since we�ve done that��

�Now that�s purely subjective,� Chris argued with her, �a long time for one person could feel like an eternity you know even if it was something that was as incredible as what we shared last night and earlier this morning��

�So you do plan on us making love,� Eve grinned eagerly, �which means we won�t be in a crowd of people.�

�Maybe I�m thinking we�ll go for being exhibitionists,� he teased again.

�Hmm, well we could try that, but it would probably create a lot of jealousy among the people surrounding us because they�d see just how good you�ve got it baby and you�d have to fight them off with a stick.�

�Ugh, why did you have to do that,� Eve sank further into her seat, �just when I was enjoying myself here.�

�You�re right, I blew it,� Chris sighed, �let�s try this again. Eve, where I�m taking you, no we�re not going to be in a large crowd. Better?�

�Good then it�ll buy me some time,� he teased lightly, �so tell me something, how are you feeling?�

�In general or just about today,� Eve asked after a moment�s contemplation.

�I was thinking more in general with the baby,� Chris admitted giving her a quick once over, �how are you feeling? Tired at all?�

�Well, I think the worst of it is starting to pass with the morning sickness,� Eve confessed, �at the cabin I had a few experiences, but I think those were more stress related than anything else.�

�Well, I�m not the size of a house yet, but I�m sure I�ll start showing soon,� Eve placed her hand over her abdomen, �which is going to open up a whole new world of issues I�m sure.�

�It won�t be anything that we can�t handle,� Chris promised with a hint of a smile, �so tell me something, what did you do while you were in that cabin by yourself?�

�Aside from making myself miserable thinking about Ian,� she questioned as they exchanged glances once more, �Sorry I know we weren�t going to bring that up.�

�Well, I�d rather not seeing as I think I�ve pretty much gotten it out of my system there,� Eve confessed looking to the road beyond them, �I spent a lot of time thinking about my life and trying to figure things out, but then when I wasn�t making myself miserable, I made a new friend.�

�A priest,� Eve shrugged her shoulders, �his name was Michael and he was good at listening. He probably was happy to finally get rid of me when I left.�

�Then clearly he didn�t have eyes because I don�t think any man would enjoy letting you walk away,� Chris piped in.

�Even so,� she felt the heat rise in her features, �he is very dedicated to the church and in between my rambling about Ian and about you, well I think he saw that I had more than enough on my plate.�

�I did,� she nodded, �though I think he�d be very surprised to see how things turned out considering��

�Considering that my hormones must�ve been clouding my mind,� Eve nodded in response, �I don�t know what I was thinking.�

�And I found it where I least expected it,� Eve turned to look at him once more, �you know Ramsey, I�m glad I was wrong.�

�Well, I�d wanted so much to find love and happiness with Ian, but now that I�m here with you, all of that seems so trivial, so foolish��

�You were never foolish,� Chris argued with her, �Just in denial of where you really were meant to be.�

�I stand corrected,� Eve couldn�t help but smile, �but I won�t make that mistake again.�

�Thank heaven for miracles,� Chris winked at her, �that�s music to my ears.�

�Eve, I�m glad we�re able to have this time together,� Chris glanced over at her, �I missed you while you were gone.�

�I missed you too,� she confessed watching him as he drove along, �I really did think about you for a long time when I left town.�

�Of course you did,� Chris winked at her, �after all I was asking you to marry me. It�s not every day that just anyone gets that offer.�

�Or the chance to spend their time with you, loving you,� Eve added enthusiastically, �Chris, how is it that you can be so understanding about everything?�

�I�ve waited a long time for this,� Chris admitted, �I wanted to be with you for so very long that I couldn�t help but be patient as you figured this out. If I hadn�t have found that rush of courage when I�d walked out of the cabin the first time I�d probably be kicking myself until the end of time for not sharing all of this with you, but now that you know how I feel, I�m trying to give you what you need.�

�You�re what I need,� Eve smiled leaning back into her seat again, �I�m seeing that more and more as time passes.�

�I�m glad you�re finally realizing it,� Chris looked over at her momentarily, �so getting back to this priest guy. It sounds like the two of you made a real connection there huh?�

�I suppose,� Eve thought it over, �he was just a friend when I needed one since I was running away from my best friend in the whole world.�

�Now I�m the luckiest girl,� Eve kept her eyes fixed on him noting the ease that they had with one another, �not only do I have my best friend with me, but I have my best friend and the love of my life rolled into one.�

�So do I,� Eve confessed, �and when we tell our grandchildren all about the road to finding one another I know we�re going to have an incredible tale to tell.�

�As long as you don�t tell them that their gramps there was on the brink of insanity threatening people with a lighter,� he teased with a wink, �I wouldn�t want them to think that I was a complete whack job�at least not for that.�

�Well, I suppose we could skip over that,� Eve agreed with a tiny laugh, �though it does show that you�re a complete romantic.�

�Now that�s a title that I might be able to live with,� Chris decided with a smile, �but let�s not let it get around the hospital otherwise I might lose my tyrant reputation there.�

�Your secret is safe with me,� Eve winked back at him feeling at ease with the man she loved as life seemed to be getting back on track once again.

�And it seems we�re here,� Chris announced brightly turning his attention to Eve as she looked around the wooded area.

�Chris, there�s nothing but trees around here,� she frowned slightly, �why are we parking in the middle of trees?�

�Trust me on this,� Chris pulled his keys out of the ignition and unlocked the doors before throwing a sexy smile in her direction, �feeling adventurous?�

�Of course I am, but still,� Eve gave him a curious look, �what do you have on your mind, Ramsey?�

�You�ll see,� Chris promised stepping out of the car as he circled around the front opening the passenger side door with a smile, �milady.�

�Chris you never cease to amaze me,� Eve couldn�t help but laugh as he helped her out of the SUV. Watching as he circled around the back, he pulled her bag out along with his own before motioning towards a pathway up ahead.

�This way to destiny,� he winked at her as Eve couldn�t help but smile wondering what Chris had in store for her as they started down the wooded path.

�So where does this romance lead us,� Eve questioned eyeing him closely as a smile touched over her features.

�Okay it�s to somewhere very special,� Chris confessed motioning up ahead as there was a clearing before them.

Eve followed the direction of his eyes and she noticed a garden before her filled with various colors of the rainbow. Taking in the sweet floral scent, her pace quickened as she approached the glorious offering nature had presented her. A smile touched over her lips as she looked up ahead seeing a large white house just beyond the flowers.

Turning to face Chris with a curious look, she questioned, �What is this place?�

�This is the back yard of that home you see up there,� Chris reached out to her setting the bags on the ground before stepping in behind her sliding his arms around her waist securely, �and that over there is where you and I are going to have lunch,� he pointed to a soft, white gazebo complete with vines crawling up the side of it twisting and turning with life ahead of them, �I hope you don�t mind.�

�Of course I don�t mind,� Eve couldn�t help but smile as she sank into his arms, �but Chris won�t the owner object to us having lunch on his property?�

�The owner has been wanting to show you this place for a long time,� Chris confessed with a hint of a smile as she turned her head up towards him taking in the sparkle in his eyes.

�Wait until you see inside,� Chris nodded eagerly, �I know you�re going to love the place, but that will have to be put on hold until after lunch.�

�A while ago,� he nodded again, �real estate is always a good investment and when you and I talked about possibly getting married, well I guess you could say my enthusiasm got the best of me. This place was just somewhere that I could imagine us growing old together, filling the house with children.�

�Almost,� he shrugged, �but I never really believed I�d have the chance to bring you here.�

�Chris, it�s so beautiful,� Eve admitted with a soft smile, �like a page out of a fairy tale dream or a romance novel.�

�A romance novel huh,� Chris couldn�t help but smile at her, �and we haven�t even gotten to lunch yet. I think that says I�m doing good.�

�You�re doing more than good,� Eve tipped up on her toes to kiss him, �Chris, this is beautiful.�

�You�re beautiful,� he hugged her into his arms kissing her gently, �so how about that lunch?�

�I could go for something right about now,� Eve confessed, �what did you have in mind?�

�I guess you�ll just have to wait and see,� he said taking a step away from her before extending his arm to her, �after you.�

�You�re up to something, aren�t you,� Eve couldn�t help but tease, �there�s some ulterior motive in getting me out here with you, isn�t there?�

�I�d say it�s probably a good one,� Eve couldn�t help but laugh making her way into his arms as they headed over to the gazebo.

As Eve squeezed him closer to her, she enjoyed the warmth of him beside her knowing that he was there for her. She felt a happiness swell inside of her as she looked to the small white table set up in the middle of the gazebo. On top of the table sat a large silver tray with a bright, red floral arrangement in the center of it. There were two chairs beside the table and an old fashioned juke box set up on the opposite side of the gazebo. Eve released Chris making her way up the steps as a smile touched over her lips once more.

�Chris, when did you have time to set this all up,� she questioned curiously glancing over her shoulder at him.

�I was going to get a live orchestra, but I figured that might not fly on the spur of the moment,� Chris offered with a soft smile, �but I thought the jukebox might work instead.�

�It�s�well, it�s something that I never imagined stumbling upon,� Eve turned to face him again, �though I�m not stumbling upon it, am I? It�s more so that this was a very planned moment huh?�

�It was a little planned,� Chris nodded, �but not entirely. There are some things that are from impulse,� he continued reaching for a rose from the floral arrangement and handing it over to her, �for you.�

�Thank you,� she smiled at him feeling a sense of joy wash over her as she sniffed the flower savoring the moment between them as he extended his arm out to her.

�Starved,� she confessed making her way over to the small table as the day was full of promise for them.

Ian grumbled as he stepped off of the elevator at GH thinking about what had just taken place at Chris Ramsey�s apartment. Still reeling from the idea that Eve was blindly walking away from him for someone like Chris, his mixed emotions clouded his mind. He looked towards the hall leading to Arianna�s room knowing that she was safe for the time being and he still needed some air before going to see her. With that in mind, he made his way past the lobby to the terrace just beyond the cafeteria wanting to clear his thoughts. Looking to the world below he let out a labored breath feeling his anger ball with his fists as he clenched the railing on the balcony tightly.

�I thought I saw you in the hall,� a voice called out as Ian glanced over his shoulder seeing Lucy standing behind him, �Ian, is something wrong?�

�Lucy, not now,� Ian looked away from her focusing his attention to the world below as he tried not to tear the railing on the balcony apart with his anger.

�Ian, don�t tell me not now,� she stepped up towards him, �I can see something is wrong. What is it? Did something happen to Arianna?�

�Well, that�s wonderful news, isn�t it?� Lucy questioned placing her arm on his shoulder, �Ian?�

He finally looked over at her, �She�ll have a second chance at happiness in her life.�

�It was, but it doesn�t appear to be that way,� Ian sighed lost in the sea of regret at the thought of letting love slip by him.

�Ian, how can you say that,� Lucy reached out to him again, �after all we�ve been through together, this only shows that there are good things ahead of us. I know Victor�s working on Arianna�s new home and well now that she�s going to be safe, well you and Eve��

�Lucy, that�s just it,� Ian huffed at her, �there is no me and Eve. It�s over.�

�It�s true,� Ian sulked, �she�s moved on in her life and she�s decided I�m not what she wants anymore.�

�She pretty much shouted it from the rooftop,� he nodded, �it seems like she�d rather go back into her past and find love with another man in her life.�

�Who?� Lucy questioned in a panic, �she didn�t tell you she still wants Kevin, did she?�

�Thank God,� she replied letting out a breath of relief as she realized that she was trying to support Ian, �then who?�

�Chris Ramsey,� Lucy couldn�t help but choke on the words, �you�re kidding right?�

�Not at all,� Ian shook his head, �I found them together at his apartment earlier.�

�Now I can�t believe that. They were friends, but she never would�ve��

�Lucy, I saw it with my own eyes,� Ian snapped back, �the man even had the nerve to pull a gun on me when I tried to take Eve away from his apartment��

�He pulled a gun on you?� Lucy repeated, �Ian, the man is a no good, slimy piece of��

�I know all this,� Ian cut her off turning to face her, �and the love of my life is off with him ruining her life.�

�You can�t let her do that,� Lucy urged him, �you have to go find her and let her know she�s the one for you. You can�t let her go off with a worm like Chris Ramsey.�

�I tried Lucy, but she pushed me away,� Ian sighed, �I don�t know what to do.�

�You march on back to his apartment and you make sure that he doesn�t get away with brainwashing her like he tried to do with Livvie. You do whatever you need to do in order to get Eve back. Don�t let him win.�

�You know,� Ian thought it over, �you�re right Lucy. You�re absolutely right. Eve and I are meant to be together and there is no way that I�m letting her go like this. One way or another I�ll make her understand what a mistake she�s making.�

�There�s the spirit,� Lucy cheered him on hoping to secure her position with Kevin if Ian still chased after Eve.

�I�ll keep an eye on her,� Lucy promised, �you just go do what you have to do in order to have your love beside you.�

�Thanks Lucy,� Ian scooped her up into his arms hugging her tightly, �I�m glad I have you in my life as my friend.�

�I�m glad you�re my pal too,� she whispered hugging him in response knowing that she would have things how she wanted them, one way or another as she sent Ian in Eve�s direction once again.