Zara sat at the window watching the snowfall while speaking to Ava.   It was one of the few times that she got a chance to talk to her without Roman in earshot.  He went back to his office to work.  The unmistakable joy in Zara's voice spilled out.  It didn't take her best friend long to figure out what had been going on for the last few days. It thrilled Ava to experience the moment. She laughed along with Zara.  "Okay, on a scale from one to ten, how hot has it been?"

"Twenty!"

Ava couldn't stop laughing.  "No shit."

"Everything just kind of escalated.  We were talking one moment and then making out the next.  It was all night."

"Whoa," she shrieked, "good for you.  I told you that it wasn't going to be bad."

Zara traced her fingers across the condensation on the windowpanes. The chill and moisture made it easy to draw snowflakes. She'd drawn several thinking about what Ava just said.  Many times she'd told Zara not to be nervous.  'He only wants to love you,' she would say.  "You don't know what it's like to look in the mirror and hate what you see."

There was a long pause before Ava spoke.  "You're right.  I didn't mean to make light of the situation.  I'm sorry."

Ava was drop-dead gorgeous, with the body that Zara always wanted. Ava's caramel complexion and beautiful, light-brown eyes lit her face. Thick, fluffy spirals of black hair hung down her back.  Makeup only accentuated the features that were there.  She looked like one of the ancient beauties - Nefertiti. Ava dressed stylish and classic. Everything about her personal life and professional life was perfect as far as Zara believed.

"It's okay, I know that you didn't mean anything.  I just wanted you to understand how huge a step this was for me. I risked every emotion that I have last night.  One wrong look would have crushed me."

"You did great and I'm so proud of you.  Hold on a minute there's a truck pulling up in my driveway."  She placed the phone down on a nearby table.

A light commotion blared in the background and then the sound of Ava exhilarated.  "It's a beautiful Christmas tree – come in, come in!"  Then Ava returned to the phone – delighted. "Trevor had a Christmas tree sent to me.  I wish that you could smell it. Oh my goodness – it's like I stepped into a forest. The tree is beautiful."

"That's a nice surprise.  Is the delivery man going to set it up?" 

"Yes, he's working on it right now." Ava pointed the cell phone towards the tree so that Zara could see it. 

"It's huge and beautiful.  I see that you have lots of decorations up in the house.  It looks so nice."

"Thanks, Zara, I wish Trevor could come home for Christmas."

Just then, they heard the door close.  Ava turned and her mouth dropped open.

"Looks like you got your wish," came a sexy voice.

"Trevor!" Ava shrieked.

Zara heard the thud of the cell phone as it hit the floor. Her heart raced thinking about the storm that was about to explode when he found out about the baby.  She wished that she could be there to help her best friend to get through this wild and crazy situation.  Her knees rattled up and down.

OMG - the baby.  Poor Ava.

Trevor picked up the phone.  "Hi Zara, she passed out, we'll talk to you later, okay?"

"I'm so glad that you're home.  Okay, bye now."

***

Marietta, GA

Trevor lit the fireplace and flicked on the 80 in. widescreen.  Ava was still passed out on the plush rust-colored sofa.  He sat back down, lifted her head, and placed it on his lap. "It's so good to be home," he hummed.

Trevor had planned this surprise trip for weeks.  It was difficult to get away from the medical missionary field – so many needs, so many dangers, totally adrenaline rush job.  But it was the best thing to suit his personality after leaving the military.  He'd been a navy seal, who specialized in medics.  He came back to the states after his last tour and got his med degree.

There was nothing that he loved more than Ava and his work saving lives.  It was so much better than killing bad guys as he did in the seals.  Plus the incredible intensity and overwhelming work involved helped to keep his PTSD long at bay.  Ava was his rock, and arms he ran to every time he could get a break.  He'd already placed her Christmas gift under the tree.  They were faithful to each other and she was like rays of sunshine in his intense line of work.

Fingers ran through Ava's hair and he kissed the top of her forehead. "You're beautiful."

Trevor picked up the remote and began flipping through channels.  His fingers stilled when he heard something.  He turned the volume down and listened.  A few minutes later he heard the sound again.  It sounded like a baby crying.  He ignored it thinking that it must be coming from outside.  But when the cries continued he slid from beneath Ava and made his way towards the noise.

He pushed the door open, and his eyes got assaulted by a barrage of pink everything.  Three-D pink flowers popped from the walls. Pink and grey carpet with swirls covered the floor, a pink rocking chair and tucked away in the corner of the room was a pink crib.  The shock that hit Trevor's body left him incapacitated. He was heaving trying to breathe as he inched towards the crib.  "Oh God! Dear Jesus!"

He peered over at the tiny noisemaker.  When the squirming little being saw him, she screamed louder.  Trevor grabbed hold of the crib to keep himself from falling.  His knees felt like twigs breaking.  One glance in that baby's dazzling blue eyes confirmed paternity.  She had Ava's skin tone and a mass of black-curled hair with his ginger highlighting through the thick of it.

His breath was gone, and heart pounded. Nerves fired through him that couldn't compare to the worst day on the battlefield.  This was a shock on overload.  He inched over the crib, lifting the wiggle worm.  The baby settled down, as he rocked her against his chest.  Trevor threw his head back and cried. 

After he composed himself, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.  "You're as pretty as your mama."  The overwhelming sensations flooding his body were too much.  He sat down in the rocking chair and rocked his daughter – a child that he didn't even know the name of.  Then he looked above the crib and saw - Glory Rose.

He kissed her on the cheek, still tearing up. "Hi, Glory, I'm your dad."

***

Trevor's military instinct felt Ava as soon as she entered the room.  Remembering that he and the baby had fallen asleep in the rocking chair, he locked eyes with Ava.  Her tears disarmed his fury.  He eased up and put his sleeping piece of joy back in the crib.  The horror on her face got to him.  He couldn't lose it by laughing.  He'd put the fear of God in her so that she would never do something that stupid again.  She backed up as soon as he laid the baby down, trying to ease out of the room.

Trevor ran his hands through his hair. How am I going to deal with my rebel? He slipped out of the room and eased the door closed.  My God, she's beautiful.  Best thing I've seen since setting my feet back on my countries soil. I love you for trying to protect me.

Ava gulped looking at the fury in his eyes.  "Are you mad  - totally - mad at - me?"

I wish that I could be. "What the hell, Ava!" he snatched all 5 foot 8 of her up against his 6 foot 5 wall of solid steel muscles, knocking the wind out of her.  Ava's breath hitched. "This is my surprise!"  Always one up with you, Ava - isn't it!"

He snatched her head back and hammered violent kisses on her lips.  That is all he'd been thinking about – the taste of her, the smell, that feeling of utter security, and being home.  He deepened the kiss winding his hands in her hair, drawing her closer. Ava was hot wax in his arms, and he loved it. Her groan mixed with the salty tears as he kissed and licked her face and neck and anything else his mouth could touch set him on fire. 

He cupped her face and glared his threat into her eyes. Ava was undone.  He'd gotten his point across. "You owe me for this - big time," he said in a firm and even tone, backing her into the wall.

How could he stay ticked off with those remorseful eyes wide and intensely staring back at him? He couldn't stay upset with her and slowly felt the upset fading. Ava's eyes bulged with anticipation of what he'd say next.  

"What – what – do – you - want?" stumbled out of her scrunched face.

He slammed into her mouth again. God, I've missed you. Her whimper was absolute music to him.  Dragging his mouth down the side of her neck he whispered, "Giving me an open option – not wise.  I will not let you take it back."

"Trevor!"

"Don't you call my name unless you're screaming it in our bed, because I'm too upset with you right now," he breathed in her ear.  And I love the hell out of you. Ava trembled underneath him. Her body hyperventilated. Their kisses smoldered and lingered.

"I'm going to make you pay," he whispered.  "We're getting married before I leave here.  Marry me, Ava.  How would you like to say yes, baby?  Nod, speak, or spell?"

"Trev..."

"I told you when I want to hear my name from your lips," he said, nipping at her ear.  He smiled feeling Ava nod into his neck. "Is that yes?"  Yes, that you will marry me?"

She nodded again.

"Good. I know why you did it, but don't you ever do anything like this again," he said trailing kisses across her shoulder.

Ava nodded once again and he knew that she'd honor what he said.

Trevor roamed his hands across her trembling body.  Grabbing and squeezing things he'd wanted to touch and taste for months. "I fed our child and changed her diaper. How long will she sleep?" he whispered again, cupping one of her breasts.

"She should – be – content - for 3 or 4 – hours."

Trevor kissed Ava hard one last time, and then lifted her.  "Plenty of time, he whispered, scorching her skin.  "I am dying to get you stripped and in our bed."