Tuscany Trip

OOC: moving the thread along a bit.

The next morning, Khaat woke to see she had slept all night with her head laying on Brian's chest, just like she was quickly becoming accustomed to doing. Brian was awake and drinking coffee. The rest of the house seemed quiet.

"How'd you do coffee without getting up?" she asked.

"Magic," he laughed. "We need to change your dressing soon. You're bleeding through it. I didn't wake you because I know it really is not an emergency, but I really do want to get it changed soon, with extra layers. I do hope your dad comes today and checks that thing."

"I"ll be fine. How are you feeling?"

"Much better. I am going to get up and shower and shave and change today. I feel worlds better. I do not need to be in bed today."

"And I was looking forward to having you to myself."

"I'll be here. Just not in bed. I am going to be back at work protecting you. Alright, let me up." He got up and found his t-shirt was a mess from her dressings leaking. He took off the t shirt and cast it aside on the bed. He went into the kitchen and brought her coffee. "Let me change that for you." He made quick work of cleaning up the mess and changing her bandages. "I'll have Jess help you wash up. I'll bring you a fresh gown for you to change into. That will help you feel better."

"I'd rather shower with you."

"Not today. Not until you heal," he kissed her. "Enjoy your coffee for now."

"Somebody had to fix the mess she was making out of the bed," he laughed. "She was getting us both messy. And, before you ask, I feel fine, Jess. Breakfast sounds good. And then I'd like to take 10 minutes for a shower and a shave?" he asked.

"Only if you hurry back," Khaat smiled at him. "Thanks, Jess." Khaat found the simple bowl of cereal with fruit to be refreshing and light. Brian sat beside her on the bed, and they ate their cereal together. Brian talked to her, insisting she stay off her feet until the bleeding had stopped. And they both knew she had some time yet to go.

"Why don't you discuss with Jess your plans for the bedroom across the hall while I"m gone?" he asked Khaat, rewarming her coffee before he took off to go upstairs. "Just try not to spend too many millions before I get back, okay?" He kissed her and went upstairs.

"He is so good to me," Khaat told Jess. "He's talking about my plans to make a nursery in the bedroom across the hall from our room so that when we come heree with the girls on the weekends, they have a room. So, what do you think? Can we come up with an idea for a room for two babies?"

"Well, I really thought I would change these beds back into our sofa again," Khaat said. "Now that Brian is up again, Daddy will never get him back off his feet. His mind is already back on the job. As if it ever really left it. Oh well. As long as he feels alright. That's what's important.

"What do you think about pink walls in the nursery? My other thought, and I know this sounds a bit odd, was a pale pastel orange. Maybe something really different. I never did get a chance to ask you if your room here was alright. Brian surprised me by buying this and putting his name and mine on the deed. You know, we really could escape here for the weekend or just for the day anytime we want.

"If Daddy lets me up today, I'd like to make a big pan of lasagna. I don't know if he'll let me, but that's what I 'd like to do. With all the delicious fresh Italian cheeses here, I could easy make a five cheese lasagna. That sounds really good to me. And maybe a fresh apricot trifle. What do you think?"

'I am," she smiled. "Thank you. Jess is taking very good care of me. Actually, I was just asking for her suggestions. I want to take the bedroom across the hall from mine and Brian's and make it into a nursery for the girls so that when we come here on the weekends, we can bring them along. I was asking Jess about paint colors. I thought about either pink or a light pastel orange, maybe, to be a bit different.

"You both know I have their room at Brian's done in cute little bugs, like ladybugs and butterflies. I don't know what I would use here. Maybe just cuddly little animals. And I thought I would use either antiques in there or reproductions of antiques. A bit of color and elegance maybe. Either that or princesses instead of cuddly animals. Any suggestions?"

"I promise. None of Daddy's bugs," Khaat laughed. "And don't hang in here because of me. Brian is back on duty today. I think he wouldn't mind staying close long enough for you two to have some vacation time...."

"Do what?" Brian asked, coming back, showered, clean shaven, and dressed in jeans and a plain white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up a couple of turns. "What am I doing, now?"

"Sacrificing your valuable time to spend your morning with me," she said.

"Oh," he smiled. "I think I can tear myself away from my busy schedule for that." She laughed out loud at his humor. "I think I can keep her in one piece for a couple of hours," Brian grinned at Jack and Jess.

"If its not too much of an imposition," Khaat laughed.

"I'll force myself," he grinned.

"Do you see what I have to put up with?" Khaat looked at Jess.