after the celebration [closed to John]

[5thcolumnfed]

John and Erica, having been invited to a renewal of wedding vows at the beach, took the opportunity to have their first child-free date since Madeline was born. It's also the first time Erica's dressed up since having the baby, and she's just a little self-conscious about her middle. Especially after looking at Zoe in her wedding dress - it was

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[yippiekiyaymf]

"Oh, is it?" The voice is casual, but the eyes are crinkling. "I'd no idea." Yeah, he's lying. He walks with her quietly for a few more steps. "Man, it's been quite a year."

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica squeezes his hand.

"A lot can happen in a year."

Losing her son, having a baby. Being held hostage by Gruber. She shakes her head. "And look at us. Still raising hell," she smiles, bringing his hand to her lips and kissing his knuckles.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He stops and turns as if to say something, but as he looks her over, his mouth closes, then his eyes settle on hers, deep and dark, and what comes out of his mouth is,

"My God, you're beautiful."

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica's smile is slow and warm, and she steps closer to him, forehead pressing against his. "You think so, huh?" she asks with a soft tease to her voice.

[yippiekiyaymf]

His voice is soft, molten, and he threads his hands through her hair as he gazes into her eyes a little more.

"Yeah, I do." Then he leans to kiss her.

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica sighs against his mouth, melting against him, tongue gliding over his bottom lip.

"This has been a good year with you," she murmurs.

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Even when things got crappy, being with you made it good." John, the master of romance. He rests his forehead against hers, and wraps his arms around her.

[5thcolumnfed]

He's so right though, and she's never been one for deep words. Just what's on his heart.

"You know. You clean up pretty good yourself," she smiles, fingers stroking his cheek.

[yippiekiyaymf]

"You make me feel like a fucking movie star when you look at me that way."

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica kisses him deeply, one hand sliding up and under his shirt to rest on his stomach. This is pretty perfect, just the two of them in the dark on the beach.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He moans ever so quietly into her kiss at her touch, and tightens his arms around her as he slides his tongue along hers.

"I have some Champagne cooling in the boat," he says huskily when their lips finally part. Yes, he'd been hoping.

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica can't help but laugh quietly against his mouth.

"You schemer," she says. And they haven't been to the boat in a while. But she kisses him back, just as deeply as before. His hoping definitely wasn't in vain.

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Shame to waste a baby-less evening. Even if you don't want to have sex, it'll still be nice to speak in un-interrupted, complete sentences for a while."

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica looks at him, hands moving down to rest at his sides.

"Let's go see what happens. Personally, I'm hoping for sex," she smirks.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He chuckles, one hand sliding down to her hip, the other resting on her shoulder, thumb stroking her neck.

"You do know, how much more than that I love you for? Right? The sex is pretty damned good though." He stops talking then, because there needs to be more kissing.

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica kisses him, her own love backing the kiss as her hands move up his chest and around his neck.

"I know," she says when she finally pulls back, nuzzling. "I know, John."