Beth just finished frying up some bacon and eggs over easy and took the baked French toast out of the oven. It was her last day at Jake's house before heading back to her mother's house to spend the rest of her stay in the Philippines there. Jake was heading back to California the following morning while Nick, Beth, and Lizzie will follow three days later. Jake sauntered into the kitchen after having just woken up, the delicious smell of cooked bacon wafting throughout the house woke him up.
"Hi, babe, mukhang busying busy ka dyan," he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Hindi naman, tapos na. Come on, let's eat?"
He moved behind her and started kissing her jawline. She reached up behind her and let her fingers tangle in his hair.
"Pinapapak mo naman ako eh."
"I'd rather have you for breakfast, I think," he whispered into her ear.
He spun her around and kissed her on the mouth, their kiss getting deeper and deeper. He lifted her up into his arms and was about to lay her down on top of the island when her stomach grumbled. She moved her lips away from his, clutched her stomach, and laughed.
"Sorry, babe, I'm really hungry."
"It's okay, sayang din naman ang effort mo if we don't eat it," he chuckled good naturedly.
He helped her up and led her to the breakfast nook. He sat down first and just as she was about to pull out a chair and sit next to him, he grabbed her waist and sat her on his lap. She allowed him to do the sweet gesture and picked up a sliver of bacon with her fingers. She took a bite first before feeding Jake, repeating taking turns until he got the last bite, sucking on her bacon flavored finger in the process.
"Sarap," he grinned and winked.
"How about some French toast, babe?"
"You feeding me with your hands again?" he smiled playfully at her.
"No, with a fork! The maple syrup's too sticky and messy."
"Like this?" he stuck his finger in the syrup on his plate and smeared it on her cheek. She gasped in surprise and gasped again when he licked it off of her.
"Baby, our food's gonna get cold..." she turned her body closer to him.
"Microwave."
He carried her to the adjacent entertainment room. He carefully laid her on the couch before laying on top of her, kissing her passionately on the lips. His hands started to wander, touching her front through her thin camisole, and wedged his thigh in between her legs. When she started to move against his thigh, he lost it. He decided she was the most delicious breakfast he's ever had.
They stayed in that position afterwards, his body on top of hers, acting as a human blanket. His one hand cradled her head and as his elbows supported his weight on top of her.
"Maybe I should extend my leave too."
"Babe, I'll be back before you can even have time to miss me."
"Love, you go to the bathroom, and I already miss you," he laughed.
"You're so silly, babe. This will be good for me, to stay with Mama and my brothers before I leave again. I've been holed up here with you while busy taking care of legal things here in Manila," she reached up and kissed his lips.
"I'm just scared to leave you. What if..." his face grew serious.
"Nothing's gonna happen, babe."
"You don't know that. We didn't expect you to get in a car accident last time."
"I know, but we can't live our lives in fear, babe. As much as I love being in our own little world, we do have jobs to do, other people to see, we can't always be joined at the hip. Quite literally, if I may add!" she teased.
"Sorry. I'm just making up for lost time," he rubbed his nose on hers.
She sat up and picked up her clothes from the floor and put them back on.
"I want you to live with me when you get back to Malibu," he lie on his back, using a pillow to cover himself.
"I can't, baby. Not until I'm annulled."
"This is gonna be torture, baby!" he whined.
"Just a little bit more time, babe. Then we can get married, and move back here; be closer to everyone."
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes! I want my old job back working with Jen, buy my mom a house closer to us, and raise our own family right here in this very house."
He sat up and kissed her shoulder.
"I love you so much, my Love."
"I love you, too! Come on, let's finish breakfast so we can head out to my mom's. You still have to drive back home tonight."
"Teka..."
"Ano?" she asked, eyes smiling.
"Just one more time..."
He picked her up over his shoulder, her body bent so that she was facing his bare naked butt. She laughed as he ran to their bedroom and one more time turned out to be two more times.
***
"Ma, sana po makabalik ako soon," Beth said as she hugged Gloria. "Mamimiss po kita ng sobra!"
"Ako din, anak, mamimiss kita. Magingat ka sa America," Gloria said, tears running down her face.
Lizzie hugged her two Uncles, and Joshua carried her up in his arms. "Grandma, I'm gonna miss you!"
Joshua carried Lizzie to Gloria so the little girl can hug her.
"I will miss you, too, Lizzie. You can visit us again anytime."
"Daddy, can we do that? Can we visit Grandma Gloria again with Yaya Beth?"
"Of course, my princess, but first we have to go home because school is starting soon."
"Oh yeah. Grandma Gloria, I'm starting kindergarten soon."
"Maybe on your next summer vacation then," Gloria kissed Lizzie's cheek.
Nick took Lizzie from Joshua and gave Gloria a hug and kiss.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Gloria."
"You're welcome. Thank you for taking care of my daughter."
"It's my honor. Beth is worth taking care of."
Beth hugged her mother and brothers one final time before walking with Nick and Lizzie to their waiting car, tears flowing down her cheeks. She waved at them through her window and wiped her tears with her fingers.
"Nick, thank you for this. It was exactly what I needed. Spending time with my mother has been a Godsend. I restored so many memories of her and me."
"Good, I'm glad. But for now, are you ready to go back to your pretend life?"
"Nick, my life with you and Lizzie is not my pretend life. Just another chapter in my book, where great new characters were introduced," she touched his forearm and smiled.
"It's great seeing you this happy."
"I am happy."
And the three headed to the airport and went back to their beach house in Malibu.
***
Beth and Jake were walking along the beach after dinner one evening, hands intertwined, enjoying the sound of the crashing waves and the seagulls overhead.
"Are you free this weekend?"
"Yup. The last weekend before school starts for Lizzie. We've already gone school shopping, so we're ready."
"Do you think Nick will let you take a weekend off?"
"I don't see why not. Why? Where are we going?" she asked excitedly.
"New York."
"Wow! I've never been there!" she beamed up at him. "What's the occasion?"
"The occasion is I love you," he stole a kiss from her lips.
"Babe!" she chortled. "Really, why the sudden trip?"
"We're gonna visit my mom and dad."
And the big booming voice of the giant of a man named Joseph Miller rang in her ears, his intimidating face flashed in her memory.