Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Forty Three. Luke

The rest of the afternoon goes by in a flash and before I know it, Cooper and I are walking in the front door to see our girl.
It's quiet. Almost too quiet as we step inside.
"Scarlett?" Cooper says. We walk inside but don't hear anything. Panic mode sets in and I call her name louder.
"Scarlett!"
We look at each other for the briefest moment before we run down the hall to the bedroom. When we open the door, she is sleeping peacefully on the bed with headphones on.
I sigh in relief.
We don't waste any time moving on the bed. Cooper nudges her shoulder and she opens her eyes and looks back and forth at us completely confused while taking off her headphones.
"What?" She asks sitting up and stretching.
"You scared us." Cooper tells her.
"How?" She looks at the clock.
"We called out to you and you didn't answer." I smile.
"I'm sorry. I'm okay." She smiles. "Just sleepy."
"Can I get you something to eat?" Cooper asks.
"Can we go out? Maybe walk somewhere close?" She asks.
"Of course." He says.
"Thank you." She smiles and stands. She kisses us each briefly before retreating to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, the three of us hit the sidewalk together. We walk a couple blocks to a little Italian restaurant where we end up telling Scarlett about our weird lunch. She rolls her eyes and brushes it off quickly, but the rest of dinner she seems off.
After we are done, we walk back together, but she is too quiet.
"What's the matter?" Cooper asks as we head into the kitchen.
"Nothing." She shrugs. She heads outside to the balcony. We look at each other and follow.
"Spill." I say as I sit and pull her into my lap.
"It's just that I am waiting for you two to get annoyed with sharing me, and then one of you, or both, will find someone else." She frowns.
"That's not going to happen." Cooper says.
"Yeah woman, you're stuck with us." I smile.
"Until you realize how fucked up we are and find someone you won't have to share."
"We are fucked up, but I don't care. Cooper doesn't care. We could fuck the whole city and nobody would compare to you." I say.
"There are far better women." She sighs.
"No there aren't. We love you." Cooper says.
"I'm hormonal." She says as she wipes away a tear that trials down her cheek.
"We know, but you have nothing to worry about." I say.
"Okay. I'm sorry." She smiles weakly.
"Want to watch a movie?" Cooper asks.
"Can we cuddle in bed?"
"Of course." He smiles.

We all head to the bedroom together where we take turns getting ready for bed. After I change into some shorts, I walk into Scarlett's closet just as she pulls her dress over her head. I smile and walk behind her to unclasp her bra.
"Thanks." She says.
"Anytime." I smirk.
She turns around wearing only a red lace pair of panties, and I desperately want to rip them off.
I pull her to me and kiss her deeply. My hands roam down her body and I pick her up. She gasps as she wraps her arms around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist. She smiles right before I reclaim her lips.
I love the way I feel with Scarlett. Whether we are talking, kissing, making love, sitting quietly, or even fighting; I love it all.
"I was thinking a comedy, but porn is okay if you want." Cooper laughs from the entrance of the closet. Scarlett's face flushes and I have to laugh.
"Since when do you watch porn?" She frowns.
"Only the videos of you I have saved." He smiles.
"How have I never seen them?" I ask looking between them. "And why have I never gotten any?" I laugh.
"Oh gosh." She moves so I set her down. She instantly crosses her arms around her chest and I frown. "I'm always with you." She shrugs.
"Well dammit woman, I want some sexy pictures." I tease.
"Whatever." She laughs. "I'm naked right now, doesn't that count as something?" She asks raising an eyebrow and smiling seductively.
"Yes." I say and pull her arms down. "That is better."
"Animal." She smiles.
"Your animal." I tease as I pull her hand. She follows me out of the closet.
"Clothes?" She laughs.
"No!" Cooper and I both say.
"I'm cold." She says.
"We will keep you warm." Cooper smiles.
"I bet you will." She smiles as she shuts off the light and climbs into bed. "Are you coming?" She asks.
"Yes." Cooper says.
"Soon." I tease and they laugh as I climb in next to Scarlett.
I grab her hand and start placing kisses up her arm; stopping at every scar. She sighs quietly right before Cooper kisses her lips.
I work my way up, until I kiss each breast. One of her hands finds my hair and she runs it through, pulling me closer.
I feel Cooper move so I don't waste any time moving to her lips. She moans as Cooper moves in between her legs. She arches her hips as he continues driving her wild.
"Fuck." She breathes and I smile against her warm skin.

An hour later, we all collapse on the bed.
"Fuck woman." I smile as I catch my breath.
"What?" She giggles. "That was fun."
"Just fun?" Cooper breathes as he kisses her.
"Great. Amazing. Hot." She laughs. "I could go again." She says and we laugh. "Oh come on, after we have the baby what if I lose my sex drive?" She pouts.
"I don't see that happening." I tease.
"Maybe it will. Maybe this is the best sex we will ever have." She says.
"Sex with you is always the best." Cooper laughs.
"What he said." I laugh.
"Ugh fine I'll go shower alone." She says.
"No need to get dramatic!" I laugh.
"We are coming." Cooper says.
"Yeah we are." I laugh and I know he is shaking his head."

After we are clean... then dirty... then clean again, we climb into bed together. Scarlett throws on a tank top and some panties, but once she's on the bed I pull the shirt up over her belly. While we watch TV, Cooper and I both keep a hand over her bare stomach. It's a comforting feeling, knowing another piece of our family is growing under her tan skin.
I can't wait to meet the little person. April can't come soon enough.
I absentmindedly rub circles on Scarlett's stomach as she drifts off to sleep. I smile at Cooper who is smiling.
"I'm so excited." He whispers.
"Me, too. Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" I ask.
"I don't know. Maybe a girl?" He shrugs. "It could be a boy. I don't care as long as it is healthy and Scarlett is happy." He smiles.
"She's going to be the best mom." I say.
"That she is. God is it crazy how fucking sexy she is? Like is it just me?" He laughs.
"No. She makes pregnancy look good." I laugh.
"I think I'm going to stay home tomorrow. You can, too." He says.
"You spend some alone time with her." I tell him.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
"Yes. Maybe I can have her for a while this weekend." I laugh.
"Sounds good." He nods. "You're still coming to the party this Saturday, right?"
"The stuffy boring party where I get to gawk at our girl in a dress? Yeah I will be there." I smile. My heart tightens a little knowing I'll never go to one of these as hers, but I'm only going to make sure she stays safe, so it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
"Good." He says pulling me from my thoughts. "I'm glad we have you." He smiles.
"Me, too." I say. And I mean it. Cooper has become my family. Maybe this situation isn't ideal, but it's enough for me. I smile in the dark as I think about our future together. I fall asleep listening to the sound of Scarlett's steady breathing.

A little girl with green eyes and Scarlett's smile haunts my dreams.