Chapter 36

Kim sighed and stretched lightly. She didn’t really have a recreative night. Thereby the evening started so nice yesterday. When the kids were asleep Jon and she were sitting snuggled up on the couch having a glass of wine. After a while Romeo came into the living room and looked for his dad.

“He’s on the phone right, now.” She told the sleepy boy. “Wanna sit with me until he comes back?”

Romeo nodded and climbed on the couch. Soon he was snuggled up to her just like his father minutes ago and sound asleep. She couldn’t take her eyes of him and softly stroked his dark hair.

“He’s a little heartbreaker, you better watch out.” Jon told her smiling when he enter the living room after finishing his phone call. It had something really peaceful seeing his youngest son sleeping in her arms and somehow he was relieved that Romeo trusted Kim already enough to stay with her without him being around.

She smiled. The little boy didn’t make a sound when they were carrying him back to bed.

Therefore her phone made a nasty sound and woke her up just three hours later. She didn’t stay at Jon’s place on purpose. She wanted to give the kids the chance to talk to Jon in the morning, before they all would meet at her place for the picnic.

Unfortunately she had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. Tyson’s condition got worse and after talking again with her colleague Donald about it, she finally decided to call his family and tell them it was time to say good-bye. She hated it!

She hated taking the last bit of hope from his parents, but she had too. They deserved to be with him and so did his huge family.

Again she shook her head. Now Donald was with him again and she would go over tonight after she spend a funny day with Jon and the kids in the Park. She really hoped she wouldn’t bring them down with her mood. It was hard to be happy, when you knew that a little kid was slowly passing away at the same time.

She checked the two baskets again and realized everything was packed.

“Now we can only wait, boys.” She told her dogs. She kneeled down and pet them gently. “You promise me to be good when the kids show up. Don’t scare them!”

Sambo woofed softly as if he’d understood her.

Just minutes later her phone rang and Ed told her she had visitors. Smiling she opened the door and waited for Jon and the kids to show up. Her dogs were sitting right next to her.

“Oh, look Daddy…the dogs.” Jake clapped his hand happily as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. Jon smiled.

“Remember what I told you don’t rush to them all at once.” He told his kids in a rather strict voice. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I had no idea how they would react.” He pointed out.

“I think they are fine. Come on in, we can leave for the Park in a minute.” Kim stepped aside and the kids followed the dogs into the apartment. Jon stopped next to her and gave her a long kiss. She sighed and relaxed against him.

“Are you ok, honey?” he watched her concerned. She looked tired.

“I’m fine. I just had to go over to the hospital last night.”

“Ahh, shit and now we all show up here.”

“It’s ok really…you are a nice and welcome distraction.” She sighed.

“Tyson?” Jon asked. It was the only case he knew about that was affecting Kim that much.

“Yeah, it’s coming to an end.” She said shortly, not willing to really talk about it. Jon didn’t press. “Come on; let’s see whether all of them are still alive.

They entered the living room and Jon started laughing. The dogs were both lying on their backs and each one got pet by two kids or better four hands.

“They must think they are in heaven.” Kim laughed as well.

“And I had to buy my way into their hearts” Jon pouted lightly.

While the two youngest boys were totally focused on the dogs, Steph and Jesse looked around in the apartment after spending a couple minutes with them.

“Can you play all these instruments?” Steph asked while checking out some of Kim’s guitars.

“Yes, my mother was really into music. I was rather young when she started teaching me different instruments.” Jon looked at her surprised. He didn’t know that.

Jesse walked over to the patio doors. “Wow, what a great view. You sure have a little money.”

“Jesse James Bongiovi!” Jon couldn’t believe his ears.

“What?” his son asked. “This apartment is amazing. It’s even bigger than ours…don’t think I’m stupid. It sure costs lots of money.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to be so damn bold.” Jon told him off. Kim walked over to him and gently ran a hand over his back. He exhaled sharply.

Jesse shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever.” And walked out onto the patio, out of his father sight.

“Jesse!” Jon was really close to explode. Kim squeezed his shoulder.

“It’s ok Jon. He only pointed out the obvious.” She tried to calm him.

“I simply don’t like his new behaviour.” Jon said frustrated.

“I know.”

“Kim.” She turned her head when Romeo called her name. “Where’s the potty?”

“It’s right here…” she started to walk over to the bathroom, but Jon stopped her.

“I’ll show him; maybe you can find my oldest son out there. I’m not sure it’s a good idea I see him smoking right now.” He grabbed Romeo’s hand and vanished in the bathroom with him.

“I’ll be right back Steph.” The girl nodded and sat down next to Jake and the dogs.

Kim stepped onto the patio and could see Jesse standing at the end of it close to her office. When she walked closer she could not only smell the cigarette but see it in his hands.

Without saying a word she leaned against the wall next to him. He looked at her shortly, surprised that she didn’t say anything about the cigarette. Her being a doctor he really expected she would tell him immediately to put it out. But she didn’t. Why?

“You and your dad clash often lately?” she asked staring down at the Park.

Jesse sighed. “Yeah, it kinda sucks.”

Kim looked at him. “Sorry…” he mumbled. She smiled.

“It’s not easy being a teenager. I know I always had problems with my mom.”

“I just don’t like that he is telling me all the time what I have to do…I’m not a little kid like Jake or Romeo…I can make my own decisions…” Kim looked at him sceptical.

“…well, at least some.” He clarified.

“Like smoking?” she asked softly.

“Dad is smoking too!” Jesse protested.

“I know…but I also know that he’s trying to stop. It’s just not that easy for him after all these years. You on the other hand could still stop from one day to another.”

“I don’t see the point. So many people are smoking and doing fine.” He said defiant. Kim watched him closely for a second. He sure was as stubborn as his dad.

“Do me a favour. Come with me, I wanna show you something.” She finally said and entered her office through the wide open patio doors. Jesse put the cigarette out and followed her slowly.

Kim walked along her huge bookshelf, which only contained medical books. Finally she pulled a huge blue book from one of the shelves and put the on her desk. Jesse gulped when he read the title. “The Human Anatomy – Illustrated and explained with the help of autopsy pictures”.

“Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think…it’s hardly as bloody as everyone imagines…” she told a lightly pale Jesse.

She knew it was a rather brutal way to stop a fourteen year old kid from smoking, but she had the feeling he would understand it better when he could see it with his own eyes. At least it was worth a try, but she needed to be careful. She turned a couple pages until she found what she was looking for.

“This is a perfectly healthy lung…and the heart in the middle.” She pointed at the picture in the book. To Jesse’s relief it really didn’t look so bad. You could only see the organ in the open chest, but not the face or anything else of the person it belonged to.

“I had no idea they were that big.” Jesse took a closer look at the picture. Kim smiled. Something told her Jesse would be fascinated by it. She always had the same feeling during autopsy classes. You reached a point where you no longer think of the person, but only of each single organ or tissue, its damage and the symptoms.

“How old was he or she?” Jesse asked without taking his eyes of the pic. Kim read the little explanation next to the picture.

“He was 69, non smoker, died of a car accident.” She paused shortly. “This Jesse…this is the way your lung looks right now.” The boy nodded and put his hand on his chest. Kim started turning the pages again.

“Here we have a not so healthy lung. The man was in his early forties, smoking since he was a teenager…just like you.” She added softly. Jesse stared at the pic. Again it was only the organ in the open chest, but it looked completely different. It was of a black-greenish color. Really didn’t look healthy at all.

“The color comes from the smoke?” Jesse asked with a little tremble in his voice.

“It comes from the tar which is in the cigarettes. It causes problems in the function of the lung.” Kim explained and watched Jesse rather carefully. The boy sucked nervously on his lower lip and ran his hands through his hair over and over again. He couldn’t take his eyes of the picture. Kim closed the book. Jesse turned to her a bit shocked.

“Jesse, I don’t wanna scare you. I just wanna show you the facts; show you what could be in your future. You can get emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma or cancer from smoking. The chances to survive five years with lung cancer are about 10% and believe me those five years aren’t fun at all.” She paused and watched him again. She could see the inner debate and was sure there was something else.

“How many of your friends at school are smoking?” she asked softly.

“Nearly all of them…” Jesse answered nearly soundless. Just what she thought.

“What would they say when you stop smoking?” She had a rather good idea, but she wanted him to tell her.

“They would probably say I’m un-cool, a coward.” The boy replied lightly desperate. Kim put a hand on his shoulder.

“Believe me, they are the un-cool-ones. I know it’s not easy to say ‘No’ to your friends, but in the next couple years there will be situations like this again. Maybe not about cigarettes, but about drugs or alcohol…and I know your parents raised you with enough…backbone ….to say no to all of it.”

Jesse nodded lightly and took the package of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket; he stared at it before throwing it in Kim’s wastebasket. She smiled.

Suddenly clapping came from the door. Jesse looked up shocked. His father was standing in the door with a smile on his face. “I’m proud of you, Jesse.” He said and walked over to pull him into his embrace. Jesse didn’t pull back and told him he’s too old for a hug, but literally pressed himself closer to his father. Jon smiled and kissed his hair.

“It’s ok, buddy.” He said and soothingly ran his hands across his son’s back when he felt him trembling stronger. “I know you can make it…you ain’t alone…Mom and I will help you with it.” Jesse turned lightly.

“And Kim too.” He whispered.

Chapter 35

Steph and Kim started to wash and cut the different vegetables for the salad and wrapped the huge potatoes into aluminium foil to put them on the BBQ.

“We will get used to seeing you and Dad kissing and hugging.” Steph suddenly said. Kim looked up from cutting a cucumber.

“It takes just sometime; I guess…normally it was Mom.”

“I know. That’s why I wanted to…well;…keep it away from you guys until you know me a bit better. Seems your Dad sees it differently.” Kim explained.

“It’s ok…really…” Steph assured her and added red pepper to the salad bowl. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What do you wanna know?”

“Did you ever cut your hair?”

“Oh no, Steph not again!” Jon interjected when he entered the kitchen.

“What I can ask, right?” his daughter said a little snappy.

“Yes, you can….” Kim told her and gave Jon a stern look. “And the answer is…yes.”

“What?” Jon asked shocked.

“Really?” Steph smiled happily.

“Sure, when I was sixteen…I cut them this short.” Kim held her hand up to her chin.

“You gotta be kidding?” Jon stared at her. “Why?”

“Why?...because I wanted it. I was going to college, everybody already saw the Baby in me, I sure as hell didn’t want to look like one too…it was a big change in my life and my hair needed to follow.”

“I wanna do it too.” Steph said excitedly.

“No.” Jon answered. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I don’t think you should have any saying in that, Jon.” his mouth fell open, but Kim continued without paying any attention to it. She knew very well, it wasn’t Jon’s opinion that was counting in this, it was some else’s.

“What is your mother saying about it?”

“Well, she said it’s my decision, all she wants me to do, is go to her hairdresser.” Kim nodded.

“That’s a good idea…and honestly you should take your Mom with you. It helps a lot when questions about the cut or color come up. You have another opinion and she will make sure you will still look like a woman and not like a man.” Steph listened interested.

“That’s always very important when you cut your hair very short. You wanna look tough, but still feminine.” She pointed out.

“You’re right.” Steph said and turned to her Dad. “I really wanna do it.”

He sighed. “Baby you have such beautiful hair…”

“It will grow back Jon.” Kim said softly and pointed at her long tresses. He frowned. Now he had three women against him, shouldn’t at least Kim be on his side?

“I don’t get it…why do men want women to have long hair?” Steph asked suddenly a little frustrated. Kim bit her tongue and grinned at Jon, who stared at his daughter. He couldn’t tell her. No way!

“Well, Steph …” Jon looked at Kim with huge eyes, paling lightly. She wouldn’t right? Kim nearly laughed out loud. What the hell does he think I would do, she wondered.

“…it has something innocent…and well, the rest you will find out on your own in a couple years.”

“No, she won’t.” Jon said demanding. Kim shook her head and put the knife down.

“Could I talk to you for a second?” she asked and walked back into the living room. Jon followed her frowning. Steph watched the interaction between them lightly amused. It wasn’t any different from her parents, just like they had been together for years. Maybe she is good for him.

“Kim, don’t even start…I already had a real long talk with Dot about it and she didn’t convince me either.” He said a bit angry when they were alone. She looked at him for a second.

“Ok, if you don’t want my opinion or get involved in anything that has to do with your kids…” she said calmly and tried to walk back into the kitchen.

She wasn’t angry or mad, but they needed to define how much she should be involved when it came down to his kids. If he didn’t want her input and just wanted to talk with Dorothea about his kids, she had to live with it.

He stopped her. “That’s not what I said, Kim.

“Look Jon, she will do it…it’s just a matter of time. She is a very strong young woman, even when her mother would be against it, I’m pretty sure she would surprise you both with a new look one day….if you wouldn’t go so much against it, then she would maybe listen to some of the stuff you are saying.”

Jon sighed. “You really got her in the little time you are here.” Kim smiled.

“She’s a lot like you Jon…” he looked at her surprised. Normally the people were comparing her to Dot. “She knows very well what she wants and she will do anything to get there.”

Jon nodded and stared at one of the family pictures. Kim’s gaze followed his. Jesse and Steph were small kids on the photo. Maybe three and five years old. Softly Kim put her hand on his arm.

“She’ll always be your little girl…” he smiled sadly at her. “…age or hair cut won’t change it.”

He sighed and pulled Kim into his arms. “I know…there was just so much change going on in the last year…I guess I wanted to at least keep my kids the way they are. I know Dot would never get her a hair cut that looks terrible…and my baby will look great, she always does.”

“Yep, she got that from her Daddy, too.” Kim teased him. He looked down at her and smirked.

“You are really good for my ego.” He kissed her gently.

“I know, come let’s go back and tell Steph.” She took his hand in hers.

“Ok, ok.“ he sighed and prepared for a massive scream attack from his daughter.

Chapter 34

Nervously Kim was knocking at Jon’s door. On the other side of the door was not only the new man in her life awaiting her, but his four kids as well.

FOUR! She wasn’t sure she could handle all of them. Jon already told her that they were all rather different in character, except from the stubbornness they all got from him.

He was sure the two little one would fall for her immediately. Steph and Jesse would be the tricky ones in his opinion. Kim had to admit she was extremely nervous to meet Steph. She was always able to deal better with boys and a teenage girl sure was a challenge, especially for the new girlfriend.

“Hi, honey.” Jon greeted her with a small kiss when he let her enter his apartment.

“Are you ok?” he asked concerned when they walked into the living room. She looked a little pale and was chewing on her bottom lip. Kim sighed.

“I’m just so nervous. What if they don’t like me?” she said, setting the huge bag she was caring down and ran her fingers nervously through her gorgeous blond hair.

“They gonna love you. You’ll see everything will be fine.” Jon said and pulled her into his arms. She so wanted to be more relaxed, but she couldn’t.

“Dad?” Kim jumped away from him immediately when she heard the girl’s voice. Jon chuckled and put his arm around her waist to pull her back.

“I’m here, Steph.” He replied and his daughter was rounding the corner.

“Oh, hi.” She only stopped lightly in her walk when she spotted the woman next to her father. “You must be Kimberly…nice to meet you.” She extended her hand and Kim shook it thankfully.

“Hi Stephanie. You can call me Kim.”

“Then you call me Steph…makes it much easier.” The girl laughed and Jon had to smile. His daughter was great. She promised him to give his new girl as she was referring to Kim a fair chance, but she also told him, she would tell him when she didn’t like her. So far the chemistry seemed to fine.

“So, dad said you are a doctor.” Steph asked and sat down on the couch, observing every move Kim made.

“Yeah, I’m a pediatrician at Harlem Hospital Center.” Kim answered and sat down as well. Jon watched the scene amused. Let the interrogation begin!

“Well, you are definitely welcome here. The boys get hurt nearly everyday.” Steph said lightly annoyed. Seems it wasn’t easy to live with three younger brothers.

“Oh, come Steph…it’s not that bad.” Jon interrupted them. His daughter turned around with raised eye browns looking a lot like her mother in that moment.

“Well, let’s see…running against door frame yesterday…Jake,… trying to get cookie jar from top shelf and falling off chair…Romeo,… cutting himself when trying to scratch the few plugs of his face…Jesse…should I go on?” She asked lightly sarcastic.

“Ok, ok…I get it … they are your annoying brothers.” Jon said chuckling. Kim grinned.

“She’s the annoying one…” Jesse said while entering the room. Steph shot him a look immediately.

“Hi, I’m Jesse.” He greeted Kim.

“Kim. Nice to meet you.” She said smiling.

“Where are Jake and Romeo?” Jon asked.

“Your room…TV.” Jesse answered without major interest. Jon shook his head. Teenagers! He could be happy they weren’t talking in SMS short cuts to him.

“I’m back in a minute.” He told Kim and she nodded smiling.

“So,…dad said you’re a living next to Central Park.” Jesse said.

“Yeah…it’s really nice and great for my dogs.” Kim told him.

“Mhhm.” Jesse agreed and looked over at his sister. It was obvious that he had no idea what say next. Steph looked uncomfortable as well. It wasn’t that easy to keep a conversation going. Kim had pity on them.

“Do you like it to be outside? Maybe doing sports?” she finally asked.

“I play field hockey and I just love football.” Jesse immediately exclaimed. Steph sighed. Kim looked at her grinning.

“You don’t Steph?”

“Well, I like it…we’ve been to a couple games and are watching it with dad on TV, but my world doesn’t crash just because the season is over…Jesse and dad on the other hand start to suffer.”

Kim laughed and Jesse pouted lightly. “You couldn’t live without your make up and clothes either.” He rejected. Steph blushed lightly.

“You like fashion?” Kim asked. The girl nodded.

“Yeah, I like to create outfits, try to make them my own…I draw some designs…I even got lessons for it. It’s not so easy to get the proportion of the different clothing parts right on paper.”

Kim was impressed. She sure knew what she was talking about. “So, do you wanna be a designer?”

“Yeah,…maybe…I don’t know…I just like it.” Kim smiled at her noncommittal answer.

“Well, maybe you can help me from time to time with some outfits. I’m not really good at that stuff.”

“Sure.” Steph nodded.

“Ok, Kim…here are the last two monsters.” Jon suddenly said behind them. They all turned around and watched Jon walking closer with his two youngest sons. Kim knew immediately who was who, because Jake was having a rather nasty bruise on his forehead from the doorframe.

While Jake was walking next to Jon, Romeo was on his arm and pressing his face shyly against his father’s shoulder. Kim smiled and got up.

“This is Jake…” Jon put his hand gently on his sons head. “…and this shy guy here is Romeo.”

“Hi Jake, I’m Kim.” She kneeled down in front of him and he reluctantly shook her hand.

“Hi.” He whispered, before leaning coyly against Jon. His father smiled and softly rubbed his shoulder. Kim turned her attention to Romeo.

“Hi Romeo.” The five-year old gave her a shy smile before hiding his face in his father’s shoulder again. Jon shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Kimi normally they ain’t that reserved.” He tried to put Romeo down, but his youngest held on tight to him. Jon started to worry a little. He expected the first meeting to go much easier, especially with the little ones.

“Well, that’s ok…maybe I have something to wake their interest.” She picked up the huge bag and took out some neatly wrapped presents.

“Oh, Kim you didn’t have to get them something.” Jon protested lightly when she handed each kid a present.

“But I wanted to.” Kim said smiling. Jon paused surprised. Jesse and Steph chuckled softly about their father’s face. Normally that was his saying.  He shook his head and sat down with Romeo.

“Wanna open it, buddy?” his youngest nodded excited. He smiled; maybe this was a good idea after all. “Then go ahead.”

Kim and Jon watched when the kids unwrapped their presents.

“Daddy, look…it’s a Lego Police truck!” Jake showed the box excitedly to his father.

“Wow, you can open it and it has its own quad bike.” Jon got excited himself. Kim grinned and watched Romeo fighting with the paper.

“Uhm…Jon...” she pointed at Romeo. He turned his attention back to his youngest.

“Oh, here…let me help you, buddy…there you go.” Jon ripped the paper apart.

“Fire Helicopter…” Romeo beamed. “I wanna be a firefighter.” He told Kim all of a sudden no longer shy. She smiled at Jon. Mission accomplished.

“Well, then I surely got you the right present.” Thank God, Dorothea gave her some hints.

Jon leaned down and whispered something to his sons. “Thank you Kim.” They suddenly said in unison. She laughed.

“You are welcome.”

“Can we start building it up?” Jake asked.

“Sure.” Jon answered and just seconds later the two boys were sitting on the floor and started to put their presents together. Jon got up and sat down next to Kim.

“What did you two get?” he asked Steph and Jesse curious.

Jesse held up a book with a huge smile on his face. It was the Football Book in its expanded edition by Sports Illustrated. His father pouted.

“I’m looking for that book for weeks! Where did you get it? I need one too; he will never let me read his!” Kim laughed out loud.

“I’m sure I can get you one too…I have connections.” She said mysteriously.

“Come on tell me.” Jon begged.

“Uh, uh...” she rejected him. Jesse and Steph both grinned. They were kinda funny together.

“Thanks a lot, Kim.” Jesse said.

“You are welcome, Jesse.”

“I love it Kim.” Steph said and hugged her shortly. Jon looked over at his daughter and groaned when he spotted a small pink make up set on her lap.

“Look Dad, it’s like a little suitcase I can take it everywhere with me.” Steph told him grinning and grabbed it by the handle. Her father tried to keep a normal face. He would never understand what girls find in make up.

“That’s great, baby…care to show me the inside?” He really hoped there wasn’t too much stuff in it that Dot would disapprove. To his surprise it only contained light soft colors of eye shadow and nail polish, fruity looking lip glosses and the tools and a mirror to apply all of it. He looked at Kim.

“Do you really think I would buy her make-up she wouldn’t be allowed to use? I told you Dorothea and I talked about the kids…and Steph and make-up was one topic.” She smiled at the girl, who grinned. Yeah, she already had a couple fights with her mother about make-up.

“I’m sorry, honey.” Jon placed a small kiss on her lips. Kim pulled back and looked immediately at the kids, but all three boys were busy with their presents only Steph saw it. She had a small smile on her face.

“Daddy, can we grill Burgers for lunch?” Jake asked before Kim could say anything.

“Sure, buddy. We just need to check whether we have everything that we need.” Jon said.

“We have.” Steph told him. “I checked it this morning.”

“Thanks, baby.” He kissed her cheek. “So, how about the boys and I try to get the grill going and you two make the salad and the potatoes?” Jon looked at Kim questing.

“Sure…” she got up and walked together with Steph over to the kitchen. “What kind of salad? Coleslaw?”

“Ehhhh…nooo!...Disgusting!....Nooo!” she got her answer from all five Bongiovi’s. Jon shook his face grimacing slightly.

“Mixed salad…coleslaw is something you won’t find here.” He tried hard not to look too disgustedly. Kim laughed.

“Ok, ok… I can live with that.”

Chapter 33

Jon watched Kim walking downstairs. She sure looked a little worried and tired.

“Is he asleep?” he asked. When she sat down next to him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Yeah, finally. He was worried Richie wouldn’t be there anymore when he would be back home.” Kim shook her head. “He really likes him.”

“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” Jon asked and kissed her temple.

“Yeah, sure it is.” Kim answered. “I just hope things are still fine when Rich brings Ava into the picture. She was used to having him on own all her life and Jason got attached to him very much too…hopefully they will not be jealous at each other.” Jon smiled softly. There she was again, thinking and analyzing anything.

“Well, that’s something we should let Rich and Fran work out.” Kim looked at him surprised.

“I’m his aunt!”

“Yeah, I know honey and you’ll be there for him when he needs you, as I will be for Ava, but when we add more opinions or advice to those huge changes in their lives, things will probably not work out.” Jon explained calmly.

Kim sighed. The idea of just sitting there and doing nothing wasn’t really something she’d like to do. But maybe Jon was right. When she would fuse over Jason now as well and would get involved, he wouldn’t have a neutral person to come to when he wouldn’t work things out with Fran or Richie.

“Maybe you are right.” She finally admitted after several minutes of internal debate. Jon chuckled. She sure didn’t like it to just observe a situation; she was used to do something. He knew from own experience that it would take a couple more years before she could stay a little bit more relaxed.

Softly his fingers ran over her bare arm. “So, how about we take this nice hot bath now.” He murmured in her ear. She smiled when his breathe tickled her.

“What about Jason?”

“Well, we can leave the bedroom door open and just lock the bathroom door, then we will definitely hear him when he is looking for us.”

“You’re already perfected the nightly bath, I see.” She said smiling while pulling him to his feet.

“Damn right…nearly 17 years of training…” he told her laughing, while they were entering her bedroom. “God, I feel old.” Kim laughed softly.

“I’m not sure I wanna have a bath with an old man. Maybe you better go to bed?” she closed the bathroom door behind her.

“Oh no…you don’t….I earned this bath after dealing all day long with Mr. Mad!...Honey, please!” he begged when she wouldn’t let him in and he could already hear the water filling the tube.

“Ok, ok…you can wash my back.” She opened the door and let him in.

“That’ll I do with pleasure.” He said and kissed her gently. Before grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head. Her fingers were working on the buttons of his shirt and she frowned when they wouldn’t open as fast as she wanted it. He grinned and helped her with the last buttons.

He watched her stripping off her jeans and shook his head amused when she turned around to slip out of her panties and the bra. He stepped close to her when she put her hair in a do so it wouldn’t get wet during their bath.

“Shy again, my love?” he asked while placing small kisses on her neck. She sighed and shrugged her shoulder lightly.

“I’m not used to it, I guess…” he could barely hear her voice. Gently he turned her around and smiled at her.

“Then we should do this more often…” her cheeks flushed when his gaze travelled over her naked body. God, he so much wanted to grab her and show her how much she really meant to him, but he had to control himself. Maybe, maybe…the right time would be soon.

“”What’s the essence …peaches?” he guessed when they carefully sank into the hot water.

“Mango.” She corrected him. “I just love the smell.”

“And it also tastes good.” He said after kissing her shoulders. Her giggling turned into moaning when his strong fingers started to massage her shoulders.

“Geeh, honey…that must hurt badly…” he couldn’t remember ever meeting someone with such tensed shoulders.

“Don’t stop, Jon…please.” She leaned forward to give him better access to her neck and for a while all you could hear were her soft moans and Jon’s movement in the warm water.

“What are you normally doing for your birthday? Any traditions?” he asked when she was relaxing after his massage and he was gently holding her pressed to his chest.

“No, not really. Normally I take the day off and spend some time with Fran and Jason. Why?” she looked up at him and moved her hands to his arms making the water splash a little.

“Well, I have a surprise for you and I would like to whisk you away to a still secret place for maybe a day or two.” He said with a smile. She sat up and turned half around to face him.

“Why?”

“Why?” he looked at her irritated. “Because it’s your birthday, Kimi.”

“You don’t have to get me anything or get me anywhere. It’s not necessary.”

He frowned. “Ok, maybe it’s not necessary, but I would really like to do it for you…” She sighed and got out off the tube. She wrapped herself in one of the fluffy towels and sat down on the small armchair she had in her bathroom.

“Kimi, what is it?” he asked still sitting in the tube. Every time she was bringing some distance between them, something seemed to bother her. As if she couldn’t find the right words when she was still close to him.

“Why are you really doing it?” she asked with a little tremble in her voice. Jon watched her for a second, then it finally hit him.

“Kimi, I’m not doing it because I wanna bed you down.” His voice was rather harsh. She looked at him shocked. He sighed. 

“I thought we were beyond the point where you worry every time we meet that I wanna get you into bed? Did the thought cross my mind? Hell, yeah…but that doesn’t mean I will drag you into the bed when we are alone.”

Tears were shining in her eyes. She didn’t want to make him mad and she sure didn’t want to cry. She hated it! And normally she was very much in control of her emotions, but when she was with him everything was just out of control. She never expected someone would turn her world that much upside down.

Kim really tried to understand why he was still with her; after all he was a man. How long could a guy handle only foreplay?

Jon saw the tears in her eyes and sighed deeply. He wasn’t used to it. It always hit him hard. He could count the few times Dorothea had cried in their long relationship and actually Kimi had already beaten her.

Slowly he raised and stepped out off the tube as well. He wrapped his towel around his waist, took her hands in his and kneeled down to look her in the eyes.

“Kimi…please look at me.” Reluctantly she turned her head. “I could never do anything you don’t want to.” Why couldn’t she trust him? He really thought after their last time together, she was fine with it.

“I know, Jon.” She ran her hand gently over his right cheek. “I just wonder how much longer you can deal with my…fear.” He smiled softly.

“As long as it takes, honey……. I love you.”

She gasped at his words and tears started to shine in her eyes again. “Oh, I love you too.” She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He smiled happily, but turned serious when he saw her face after they parted.

“There’s something else, right?” She only nodded.

“I take it; we would have to fly, right?”

“Uhm...yeah…?” Jon watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip.

“Jon, I’ve never been on plane again since my parents died.” Jon stared at her.

“Did you try?” he finally asked. She shook her head.

“No. Fran is not really into flying either. Normally it was me who was trying to keep her busy when we were flying. She wouldn’t be any help, so I didn’t try.”

“But honey, then you don’t know if you are afraid and can’t handle it.” He told her squeezing her hands softly.

“You won’t be alone. I’m with you. If you want you can hold on to me the whole flight.” She nodded with a small smile. “I love you Kimi, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know.” She simply said.

“So, we do it?” he asked.

“Yes.” She answered and kissed him deeply.