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Our baby was growing so fast, and it was so strange how one felt the need to record and enjoy every single minute of every day. My phone couldn't hold all the photos of Julie bathing, Julie laughing, Julie sleeping, Julie looking at literally nothing, and still being super cute about it! Jordan was going through the daddy fever as well; he had tattooed my name and Julie's over his heart – it was so sweet!

As I was on maternity leave and Christmas was merely a week away, I decided to prepare the best Christmas day ever, at ours. Julie's first Christmas would be amazing, and nothing would ruin it! To be fair, the grandparents were behaving, forming a sort of friendship that Jordan was uncomfortable with – he actually had the talk with my dad. I tried to hold my laughter as he asked my terrified dad what were his intentions with Jordan's mother. In the end, whatever relationship they had, they were both having a blast. Angela took my dad dancing every other night, dad took her out for dinner, they came to ours frequently, and I think Benjamin Conrad had finally found some peace.

His retirement was just around the corner, and I knew not long after my maternity leave was over, he would be stepping down as the MD, and passing the torch to his one and only daughter. As terrifying as that was, I couldn't wait.

"Why don't we get you a cute little elf costume for Christmas?" I giggled with my baby, browsing through the aisles and aisles of Christmas decoration, trees, clothing, toys... everything and anything one could think of, really "Daddy can be Santa Claus! What does Aunt Eva think about it?"

My best friend was grinning down at her phone, completely ignoring the both of us. I rolled my eyes and patted her shoulder.

"Sorry, what?"

"Could you please let Mike breathe for a second and pay attention to your goddaughter?"

"I'll have you know he texted me!" Eva tossed her nose high, but she was blushing down her neck "Elf costume? Aw, that's so adorable!"

"Am I going overboard with this?" I frowned, pointing at my cart filled with everything Christmas; it looked like Santa Claus vomited all over us.

"Yes." Eva chuckled "But it's your daughter's first Christmas, you are definitely allowed!"

We finished our shopping and once we were in my brand new silver Tesla X – I had definitely gone overboard with the car, but I wanted safety and stylish – I probed my best friend about her new relationship.

"How's everything with Mike going?"

"Well... good, I think." She frowned "He does travel a lot which makes it hard to schedule anything. But, he's so carefree and honest and... you know, a genuine person!"

"Have you considered accompanying him in one of his trips?" I tilted a brow, turning into my double garage.

"Well, yes, if he asks me too. It's quite early anyway." She shrugged "It's been a few weeks anyway, I don't want to smother him with my presence so early in the relationship."

"Well, some men are different" I shrugged, coming out of the car to pick my baby from the back.

"Yes, but we can't all be lucky enough to have a guy completely gaga for us in five minutes, like you." She winked, helping me take my shopping out of the car "How's daddy, anyway?"

"Good. Stressed. Angela and my dad are away in the Keys this weekend" I chuckled.

"How's Overprotective, brand new dad, Jordan dealing with that?" My friend laughed as we entered my house.

"As expected." I smiled, setting a sleeping Julie over the living room table "We're going to meet him later today to take him out for dinner, aren't you, sweetie? Somewhere close and quiet – she hasn't been out yet."

"That's a good idea." Eva smiled, caressing my daughter's hands as she slept "You're going to be one of those people with a screaming baby in a restaurant."

"She's actually really good." I winked "But I know what you mean – and I hope not! I just feel like we need to go out, you know?"

"Well, I can take her if you two want to go out" Eva offered.

"Are you sure?" I whined "I honestly am so tired I would hire Chucky as my babysitter just so I would go out!"

"I'll keep her!" Eva smiled "Go have a long shower, shave, get your sexy body in a tight dress and heels, and wear a red lipstick. He'll drop dead on the spot. You two need to be Violet and Jordan, not just mom and dad. I've got this!"

***

I did exactly as advised, and got my body in a black tight dress, heels and a simple eyeliner and red lipstick makeup look. I grabbed my clutch and phone, and messaged Jordan telling him I would pick him up and we were going out for dinner – just the two of us. He quickly replied he couldn't wait, and if Julie would be ok with someone else for the first time. She was quite used to Aunt Eva, so I'm sure she would be ok.

I was humming enthusiastically as I drove down the road where my fiancé's tattoo parlor was. They would be closing in under thirty minutes, and the streets started to fill with people ready to go out and enjoy the Friday night. I parked m car just in front of the store and was grinning as I got inside. They had some very unorthodox Christmas decoration, with hanging skulls with Santa hats, biker Santa and Mother Claus on the walls, and tattooed reindeers draw into the front windows.

"Look at you, all foxy!" Rocco grinned, as I entered the empty shop "You're picking your boy up? Ain't that romantic? Why don't you do that to me?!" He tossed at a grinning Stella.

"You haven't given me a baby." Stella shrugged, and we both laughed as Rocco paled "I'm joking. Just a heads up, V, Marisol is in his office. He's giving her an earful."

"Yeah, haven't seen him this angry in ages" Rocco winced.

"Why does she keep coming here?!" I grunted in a low hiss.

"You know why." Stella snorted "But he is not having it anymore, so don't worry."

The three of us heard Jordan's voice getting louder. Yep, pissed – which would be good, especially if he was talking with his ex. I would normally be happy he was angry regarding this issue, but I loved him, and I didn't enjoy his misery at all, not even related of her.

"I'm going in" I decided, before any of my friends could dissuade me.

I got to the door, took a deep breath and knocked twice. Jordan grunted and said 'Yeah?'. As I got in, tall and tanned and perfectly shaped Marisol made me feel like a Troll – my tights were getting in my butt cracks, my belly was tucked in by the help of a professional waist trainer, and my breasts were lactating – sexy...

"Wow..." Jordan whispered from behind his desk "Hey, baby. You look... so beautiful."

I couldn't help to smile at that. Deciding I was a lady, I decided to ignore her and went around the desk to kiss my fiancé. His hands came around my waist and he had the nerve to caress my ass and make an approving moan sound. I chuckled against this lips and forced him to back off.

I swallowed hard as Marisol, the gorgeous tall and tanned ex, squinted at him. Was this... a show to make her jealous? My heart shrunk at that thought, and Jordan grabbed my hand to intertwine our fingers in such a gentle gesture.

"Didn't you say you were happy to be friends?" He tossed at her; what was he talking about? "Didn't you just promised you were here to be my friend? Or was that another lie?"

"Jordan, this is not you!" She tossed, gesturing at the both of us "You're not the picket fence suburban house, ball and chain kind of guy! Where's the wild and fun Jordan I knew? He would be ready for a night out of partying and drinking with his friends, not going home and change diapers!"

"We're going partying." He gestured at the two of us and I frowned "We're going out for dinner, a drink, maybe dancing, and at exactly ten thirty we'll be home tucking our daughter in, then have amazing sex, and ready to sleep at exactly eleven thirty. And that's hot."

I couldn't help to chuckle at that. The funny thing was, he actually thought that was hot. I loved him so much...

"Are you ready?" I asked him with a smile "We have reservations at this Cuban restaurant. And I need a cocktail – I left milk with Eva so I'm good."

"I feel like I'm in Twilight Zone! Jordan Marshall discussing breast milk?!" Marisol laughed loudly "Baby, you still have my number, right? Keep it, you'll definitely need it!"

"Ok, that's it." I snapped, tossing my clutch to the desk and taking my long earrings off "You and me, outside, now!"

Marisol's eyes widened and she frowned. I heard Jordan laugh like this had been the best joke he had ever heard. I took off my blazer and was going to take my heels when he stopped me and hugged me from behind. He gave me a loud kiss on my shoulder and I felt his teeth graze my skin.

"Baby, I love you so much." He smiled, tucking me to his side "Marisol, you better go. She's small, but she's mean. Also, I can tell you are definitely not interested to be my friend, so I would appreciate you never put your feet in my shop ever again. If you do" He gestured at me with his shaved head "I'm gonna unleash my wife on you."

The girl huffed, cursed in Spanish and left; as soon as she did I grunted.

"Sorry you had to see that." Jordan sighed, leaning his butt onto the desk and tucking me to his chest "she won't come back, ok? I promise."

"Bitch." I grunted, and heard his laugh on his chest "She's gorgeous and tanned. I hate her."

"Let me look at you again." He grabbed my naked shoulders and made a growling sound in his throat as he eyed me up and down "Yep. I'm making love with you with that dress on, tonight. And the heels."

"Yeah, but I don't look like that, do I?" I tossed, gesturing at the door Marisol had gone through.

"Honey, I'm here, with you, we have a baby and we're getting married... What more can I do to show you that you are the one I want?" He laughed, caressing my chin.

"Will you do a tattoo, if I asked you to?" I considered, after long seconds of silence.

"I already have your name on my chest!" He reminded me with a confused face.

"Not on you!" I rolled my eyes "On me."

"Excuse me?" He frowned "On you? Your body?"

"Yes" I nodded, confident of my decision.

***

Jordan seemed nervous and I thought it was hilarious. Rocco and Stella had closed the shop and it was only the two of us, alone, now. He put some gloves on, prepared the needle and ink and was actually sweating a bit. I saw him tremble and I chuckled.

"You're not tattooing me with trembling hands, are you?" I tossed.

"I just need to... focus." He smiled, shaking his head and taking a deep breath "Ok. You do know this is permanent?"

"So is our marriage and our baby" I crocked a brow as he placed the decal on my left ring finger.

"Alright. It won't hurt too much but if you feel uncomfortable just let me know, ok?" He smiled.

With a final nod, he started. He was incredibly sexy as he focused on his work. I giggled a couple of times as it tickled more than it hurt. He cleaned the reddish skin, went back with the needle again and carried on. When he was happy with it, he stopped, rubbed a clear lotion all over my finger and winked at me.

"What do you think?"

I turned my hand and smiled. Along the inside of my left forefinger he tattooed 'Mrs Marshall'. I looked up at him and grinned.

"I love it. It's nice and simple."

"And fucking hot." He chuckled, taking his gloves off "Ok, you need to keep the area hydrated. Vaseline will do it – just keep it covered with a thin layer at all times."

"That's gonna be hard with Julie" I smiled, jumping off the chair and rearranging my dress.

"You do look incredibly hot, you know?" He mumbled, as he put his hand on my waist.

"I was going for that" I smiled back, caressing his chest.

"And you just gave me a hard-on with that tattoo" He lowered his lips to the side of my neck.

"Jesus, you're crude!" I chuckled "We're going to miss our reservation."

"Hum... I don't care... I miss this" He whispered as he caressed my butt and squeezed it in his hands.

"Well, it has been two months" I reminded him, kissing his hot lips.

"Is that all?! Seems like years!" He grunted, grabbing my ass and pulling me up to his chest; my legs quickly went around his waist.

He lay me over the chair again, and tried desperately to take the dress off my body.

"Aren't we violating the health code?" I chuckled.

He smiled and grabbed me in his arms again. Jordan took us to his office again. He closed the door with his boot, and quickly lay me over his desk. We both tried to remove each other clothes, but we were in such a rush we gave up on that. Jordan literally ripped my tights apart, kissed and nibbled up my calves, and I moaned as he found his eyes in-between my thighs. I was less that comfortable with my body after birth; everything changed, things had to heal for weeks, and we were both exhausted enough to even consider having sex. But this... God, this raw need had been what first gotten us into trouble, hadn't it? Seemed only fitting we picked up after the entire pregnancy and being parents skit. We were now a real couple, the whole will-they won't-they was over, and we could finally have a normal relationship.

"I fucking love you, Mrs. Marshall" He whispered in my ear as he entered me slowly.

"I love you too, Mr. Marshall" I smiled, my hands holding his face to mine.

He chuckled after a few minutes and I frowned.

"Remember I told you, you would end up marrying me, and that I would do a tattoo on you?" He grinned "You didn't believe me."

"Wanna know a secret?" I whispered into his ear, and bit his lobe; he moaned "I kinda had the feeling you were it, even before I knew I was pregnant."

He looked at me with surprise on his face. I shrugged.

"You were pushy, and I was so attracted to you... not just physically, but everything about you made my skin crawl and I was always eager to see you" I smiled.

"Well, well... You do have the best poker face I've ever seen" He assured me.

After that was out of the way, he made love to me as wildly and incredible as the very first time.

"I'm really hungry" I admitted, still breathless, my face hiding in his neck, where I could feel his heart racing.

"You know what? So am I. Also, I really miss going out with you." He smiled gently, helping me get up from the desk "Well, you look even more sexy with your eyes cloudy and smelling like me."

"Hum..." I grinned, kissing his lips deeply "Give me a minute so I can retouch my makeup in the bathroom."

***

It was incredibly late when we got home. We stayed over at the restaurant having cocktails and dancing. Jordan wanted us to have a good night out as a couple, to relax. It was the best idea ever, I felt exhausted but soothed; being Violet and Jordan was the best thing ever, flirting with him and kissing him and enjoying a good meal out was everything I always wanted. When we got home, felt the smell of baby, our own home and the peaceful silence of a family home, we smiled at each other and went up the stairs.

Now, we were mommy and daddy, and our little baby was fast asleep in her crib. Eva was sitting in the rocking chair, on her phone – definitely chatting with Mike.

"Oh." She saw us and smiled "Can I call you later? Yeah, Violet and Jordan just came back. Ok, talk to you later. Yes, I'll call you when I get home." She chuckled, and I grinned "I miss you too... Have a safe trip, ok? Bye. Hey you two. You look rested!"

"Thanks for staying with her." Jordan smiled, after kissing Julie's head "We owe you."

"Yeah, you do." She winked "Ok, so Christmas. You're making the turkey?"

"Yes, ma'am." I winked, caressing my daughter's sleepy face "Can you make the pecan pie?"

"Oh, I love that" Jordan moaned.

"One pecan pie, coming up" My friend winked.

When Eva left, we both went back to our bedroom and took our clothes off, changed into comfortable sleeping garments, said goodnight to our baby girl, and finally settled in bed.

"I've never been happier in my entire life" I heard Jordan whisper.

"Me neither" I smiled.

"I love your tattoo" He admitted as well, and I could see him looking at me in the darkness.

"I thought about it a while ago, but I just didn't think I was the kind of person who should get a tattoo. I thought it could look I was trying too hard" I smiled, embarrassed.

"Baby, I told you a year ago you would look fucking sexy with one. Maybe more, in the future?" He wiggled his brows at me and I chuckled.

"Do you think we can make our going out a weekly thing? I mean, not every week, but..."

"Anything you want." He winked, his arms coming around my waist, as he tucked me against his body "I love going out with you. We'll go out any time we feel like we need it, deal?"

With that agreed, we embraced in the silence of our family home. I remembered the long way we had to walk to get here. From a tense first meeting, to him shamelessly trying to get my attention, to our one-night-stand... to the second one-night-stand. When I found out I was having Julie, how scared I was, how terrified and confused and lost. All the months Jordan had been there for every single step, every hiccup on the road, every issue, big or small. He was my rock and my partner in life.

"I'm so glad you never gave up on me" I whispered against his heart.

"And I never will."