Happily Ever After?? (Third in the Through The Dark And Free series)

Chapter 18

Harry looked out of the window as his driver drove through LA towards home.  He was on his way back from the airport.  It was now mid-September and just over three weeks since they had told his mum about the baby.  He'd had to go back to London for some meetings, and Julie had insisted he go.  He'd flown back with his mum about ten days ago.  Amanda had stayed with Julie in his LA house up until a couple of days ago, and he was so anxious to get home.  Julie had told him that she was feeling better, and to confirm he'd even called to talk to Amanda directly just to make sure, and it seemed she was having much better days.  He was excited.  Maybe now they could get on the same page when it came to the baby.  He chuckled a bit as he watched the house come into view.  Probably not, but maybe if she wasn't sick every second, she could allow herself a bit more excitement.

"Baby!"  Harry called out as he dropped his bag in the foyer.  "I'm home!  Finally!"  He took a few steps inside.  "Julie?!"  He looked around and didn't see or hear her.  He grabbed his bag and went upstairs into their bedroom and heard the shower running in the master bathroom.  He smirked as he dropped his bag and went towards the door.  The shower turned off as he turned the door knob. When he stepped inside the bathroom, the shower door opened and Julie stepped out and screamed.  "Surprise! I'm home!"

"You scared the shit out of me!"  Julie swatted him as she grabbed a robe and wrapped it around her quickly.  "My fucking heart."  She looked at Harry who was frozen in place eyes clearly stuck where her bare stomach was just a second ago.  She couldn't help but chuckle.  "Uh, Harry?"

Harry raised his eyes slowly towards Julie's still unable to quite comprehend what he thought he just saw briefly.  "Baby...."

"I know."  Julie reached up and touched his cheek.  When he leaned towards her, she kissed his lips.  "I'll be right out, and I'll show you.  Just, give me a minute, ok?"  She knew he'd want to study every part of her slight baby bump, but she wasn't quite able to handle him doing it while she was standing there naked.  They hadn't been able to be intimate since before they'd left the UK.  She wasn't quite sure she was up to it yet and standing naked in front of Harry would prove difficult to resist for both of them.  She pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top, brushed through her hair quickly and then walked out to where Harry was sitting on the end of the bed.

Harry smiled as Julie walked out of the bathroom in her shorts and tank top.  It was small, but the baby bump was definitely obvious in her tight tank top.  If you didn't know it was a baby bump, you may over look it, but it was obvious to him.  When she stepped up to him, he put both his hands on her stomach and cupped the bump.  "Wow.  I leave for ten days and look what happens.  There was no sign of this when I left."  He couldn't take his eyes from the perfect little bump.  His hands feeling over every inch of her stomach.

"Yeah, literally went to bed one night and woke up with it.  It was crazy."  Julie couldn't help but smile at the look on Harry's face and his gentle touch as he made his way around her stomach.  "You can't feel the baby.  It just feels like I had a lot to eat recently."

"I'm gonna try anyway."  After his hands made their way around her stomach about a half a dozen times, Harry wrapped his arms around Julie's waist and pulled her closer.  He pulled her tank top up and placed his ear against her belly button for a moment and then kissed her stomach.  "Hi, baby.  Daddy's back.  Sorry I had to leave you.  I hated every second of it.  I couldn't wait to get back to you and your mummy."

Julie looked down as Harry talked to her stomach and put her hands in his hair.  "We missed you, too.  But Aunt Panda was just about as annoying as you would have been."

Harry shook his head and looked up at Julie.  "Well, you're feeling better, I can tell, sassy."  He clasped his hands behind her back.  "But I knew she would be the one to take the best care of you if it couldn't be me or my mum."