Aftermath

Chapter 37

"I missed you too." She says, smiling at him and hugging him again. "Are you going to stay here?"

"Mhm." Marshall nods, and bends down to pick up his bag he left behind.

"For a long time?" She asks him, and we start on our way back inside.

"Yes." He answers and the four of us step inside the house, Thatcher closes the door behind us.

Marshall puts Lola down and sets his bag down by the door.

"How was the tour hotshot?" Thatcher asks him, all of us sitting down on the couch.

"It was amazing." He answers, Lola climbs into his lap. "It's crazy the amount of people that show up. But it's hard to be away, there were times when I thought about just giving up and coming home."

"I'm glad you didn't." I tell him, and he puts his arm around me. "You're doing what you love."

"And now I'm with what I love." He laughs, giving both Lola and I a little squeeze.

"Well Lolly what do you say we get out of here and get ready for our sleepover?" Thatcher asks her, standing up from the couch.

Lola looks at Marshall for some reassurance and he pecks her on the cheek, setting her down on her feet. She holds Marshall's finger for a second and he leans forward.

"I'll see you in a little bit okay?" He tells her and she nods, heading out the door with Thatch.

The second that door closes behind them, I feel his hand pull my leg across his lap. I laugh and put my hands on his shoulders, straddling him. He pulls me down and kisses me for a long time, almost like he's making up for all that time.

"Rach I can't even explain how much I missed you." He tells me. "Three months without you and Lola, that was the hardest thing I've ever done."

"How long before you go back to work?" I ask him, scared of the answer.

"Let's talk about that stuff tomorrow." He says, brushing a piece of hair out of my face. "I want to forget about work for a little bit." He kisses me again. "Lo started school yeah?"

"Yeah, kindergarten." I answer.

"Does she like it?" He asks, holding me against him.

"She got in trouble on the first day." I tell him.

"For what?" He raises an eyebrow and tenses up, I like to call that Dad Mode.

"She called some kid a dumbass for coloring outside the lines." I tell him.

There's a brief moment of silence between us before we look at each other and both start laughing.

"She's ours alright." He laughs, and it's just now I notice how tired he looks.

"You look tired babe." I say quietly, rubbing my thumbs on his cheeks.

"I am." He nods. "But I want to spend time with you and Lo. I'll make it through dinner. And tonight." He flicks his brows at me and pecks me on the cheek before nudging me off and standing up. "I'm gonna shower and then we can go."

***

Dinner looked good but I didn't eat much. I'm so happy to have him back, but I know that it's only going to be a few weeks before he has to start recording again. Lola doesn't seem to remember that part, she's all smiles and laughs right now.

"I don't want to stay here, I want to go with you!" Lola says, clinging to Marshall's leg.

"You'll be fine lala we're going to come get you tomorrow." He says, and she looks up at him with her big blues.

"Daddy I don't want you to go." She whines, and it's only a matter of seconds before the tears start.

She's never been much of a tantrum thrower. She usually just cries to herself without a lot of noise but there's a lot of water. She stands there with her lip puffed out and big tear drops running down her cheeks. Marshall crouches down to her level and pulls her against his chest.

"I'm gonna come get you tomorrow baby." He tells her. "You're gonna have fun with Uncle Thatch I promise. Can you be good for me?"

She nods and rubs her eyes, getting rid of the extra tears. Marshall stands back up to his full height and Lola gives me a hug before taking Thatcher's hand. Marshall and I walk out the front door before she gets another chance to cry.

"I hate leaving her." I say, feeling my own twinge of guilt in my chest.

"So do I." He tells me. "But she's okay, we need this."

***

I walk up the steps to the house, feeling myself get giddy. I can feel Marshall's presence close behind me as I unlock the front door, pushing it open. Both of us step inside and he closes it with force and locks it. I turn around for only a second before he throws me over his shoulder and starts up the steps. I yell at first but then start laughing. He carries me all the way to our bedroom and sets me down before the bed. We take a second to breathe and then his hands fly to my shirt, pulling it off over my head. His isn't far behind and I undo his belt, popping the button of his jeans open and unzipping. I feel him brush against my hand and I drop my hand, touching him.

"Oh." He lets out a slight moan.

My heart jumps and after a minute or two he steps out of his jeans and nudges me back on the bed. I fall to the sheets on my back and he pulls my jeans off, eager to get to the good stuff. His hands trace up my thighs and I feel them snake around to my back, unhooking my bra and taking it off. His hands immediately replace it and he bends down close to me.

"I missed you." He says quietly, brushing his nose on my cheek. I arch my back, pushing my chest into his hands. "Three sexless months...I need you."

One of his hands trails down my stomach and halts between my legs. I feel a shiver go up my spine and he leans a little bit of weight into it. My eyes flutter shut and he peels my underwear off before continuing. I grab his shoulders, I had almost forgotten how good he is at this. I feel my heart pounding in my chest and he leans his hips against me. He stops his hands for a second and I watch him step out of his boxers, tossing them carelessly over his shoulder. My stomach flips and he wastes no time, sinking slowly into me. His eyes close and his lips part, hands resting on my thighs.
My fists ball up the sheets and I try to keep my legs from twisting as he moves. His hand moves to my waist, pulling me to meet his movements.

"Oh..." I whine, arching my back off the bed.

Marshall bends down and leans his forehead against mine. I put my hands on his shoulders again, holding him for support. I hear him grunting lightly to himself and his breath comes out short. He gives me a rough kiss and then holds the side of my face, kissing me on the neck. He speeds up and I hear the struggle in his breath.

"I'm gonna come." He says quietly in my ear.

It's sudden but my eyes shoot open and I feel myself let go. My legs twist around him and I press my front against his. Whines and girlish moans escape my lips which seems to push him over as well. I hold onto him until he's done, and he slows down gently pulling out. As usual we take our breathing period, processing what's been done.

"I never want to wait that long again." He says, still taking in deep breaths. "I can't go that long without you."

I smile at him and move closer, putting my arm across his chest and resting my head on him. He pulls the covers out from under us and puts them over us.

"I love you." I tell him. "I really do."

"I love you too Rach." He says, kissing my forehead. We both look at each other for a minute and a smirk creeps onto his lips. "Love me enough to go again?"

I laugh and he bites down on his lip, throwing back the covers and kissing me everywhere.