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Chapter Text

“I'm...I mean that...whew!...(she flutters her hands rapidly, and tries again): I know two things: I'm incredibly attracted to
you; I toss and turn all night, waiting for morning so that I can see you again...I know that I'm falling for you...HAVE FALLEN
for you..."

Luke grins, and remarks "That's FOUR THINGS, Linda ."

"OK...FOUR THINGS that I know...rather FIVE-I know  that I'm scared, and excited, and nervous, and amazed-about this new,
scary, exciting, future that I see with you...and that I hope that you see too...that's-I lost count, who gives a fuck, please say
that you feel the same."

“I see that...what you see. I started formulating future scenarios the day that we met. I admit that what first attracted me is your
beauty-your heart, the way that you fight to the bitter end for YOUR clients...that's what hooked me, and keeps me hooked."

Emily Lopez is swept off of her feet-again-by this gorgeous, caring, thoughtful Balliff-HER MAN...HERS....

"Really? You have been so patient, and understanding...and this divorce, my insecurity: THANK YOU...and REALLY, REALLY?"

"Objection...asked and answered." "I move that I be kissed, immediately, and that we adjourn for the night."

"Clapping his hands together briskly, Luke says," Adjourned until 8 am tomorrow".

/

//////////////////////////////////

"Really...I mean...it doesn't HAVE to be..." Emily stammered shyly.

"It's a school night, beautiful..."

'Right-RIGHT...I get it; it's too soon, and my situation is so MESSY..."

"NO, Em I promise you that none of that even occurred to me. I'm as anxious as you, believe me. Our time will come, and when it DOES..."

"...LOOK OUT!", Emily finished, laughing. "Thank you for that, baby. But should I be 'scurred'? You know what they saaaay..."

"Might should", Luke said cagily, signaling for the check.

cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

They walk along the beach, hand in hand (barefoot)...they enjoy a companionable silence, during which a song Luke had recorded for
her played in her head:

[WAKE UP EARLY PUT YOUR BREAKFAST ON, ANYTHING YOU ASK I'LL DO...
BRING YOUR COFFEE TURN THE SHOWER ON, RUB YOUR BACK HUM YOUR FAVORITE SONG
I'LL DO...]

(Joyce Irby (Fenderella)/I Love You)

'CAUSE I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY-I'LL GLADly LOVE YOU ANY DAY-I DO...
I GUESS ALL I'M REALLY TRYIN' TO SAY-IS IF I HOLD YOUR HANDS ON A RAINY DAY: THE ONLY THING
I'M GONNA SAY IS I LOVE YOU...I LOVE YOU...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY A LOT OF WORDS; IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT-SAY I LOVE YOU
I.LOVE.YOU...

YOU SAY YOU'RE COMING HOME FROM WORK-RUB YOUR BACK AND YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT-I'LL DO...
DON'T WANT TO GO OUT ON THE TOWN TONIGHT-JUST WANNA STAY AND HOLD EACH OTHER TIGHT
LET'S DO...BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE YOU...

'CAUSE I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY-I'LL GLADLY LOVE YOU ANY DAY-I DO...
I GUESS ALL I'M REALLY TRYIN' TO SAY-IS IF I KISS YPUR LIPS AND STAY IN YOUR EYES-I'LL GLADLY STAND AND TESTIFY
I LOVE YOU...I.LOVE.YOU...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY A LOT OF WORDS; IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT-SAY I LOVE YOU
I.LOVE.YOU...

I GUESS ALL I'M REALLY TRYIN' TO SAY-IS IF I HOLD YOUR HANDS ON A RAINY DAY: THE ONLY THING
I'M GONNA SAY IS I LOVE YOU...I LOVE YOU...

Strolling along beside him, holding Luke's hand tightly Emily suddenly spun around, stood on tip-toes, and kissed him
deeply, after which she whispered "Yo tambien te amo (I love you too). His eyes widened with her declaration
and she clarified "I was spying on you and Sara the other night...I heard you say that you love me, so..."

"Sneaky!"

Returning to tip-toes she kissed him again and said "So what?"

"Yeaah-So what!" he agreed and after a third kiss he murmured, "Are we going to yours or mine?"

"YOURS...Sara has company and I'm tired of trying to be quiet," Emily giggled.

"A'ight: let's go."

"That's a legal term-'a'ight'? she joked with a mischievous grin.

"In Judge Greg Mathis' court, it is!" her man quipped with a grin of his own.

Chapter Text

Carina DeLuca finished cleaning her face, taking her time; she wanted time to consider what her blonde "Fire-
fighter Barbie" announced, minutes before. Unable to delay any longer, she said "You have been in love before,
Maya?"

The response: "Actually...NO. I haven't."

"And what makes you so certain that you are falling in love with ME, hmmm? Why now- Perché ora ?"

"I can't answer that," Maya responded. "It's because I haven't felt like this...it's okay if it doesn't make sense-I'm not sure that
I understand it myself."

" Io stesso sono stato -I myself have been and that experience...cautioned me; I have been cautious since. It does
NOT mean that I am averse to allowing myself to feel that emotion again."

"SURE, yeah", Maya said. "I don't mean get married today, only that my feelings are deepening and you should be aware of that."

"Now that I am aware... Più sesso : more sex!"

"I kinda figured that one out on my own!" Maya grinned, her arms open in welcome.

SOFT LIPS MET SOFT LIPS...light, feathery touches explore both over and under suddenly constrictive clothing...Maya did a slow strip-
tease, smiling seductively she undid her bra clasp and let the gossamer, semi-see-through garment slide off her shoulders - sitting
almost naked in front of her girlfriend, the familiar, oh-so-round-and-lovely breasts were just as Carina remembered them - they
still appeared to defy gravity as they strutted towards me, crowned by the tiniest, darkest areolas one could imagine with a nipple
you could cut glass with, it seemed.

The comely OB eagerly cupped her hands over them, sighing as the feel of her warm, soft flesh sent a jolt through her fingers and
palms. Arching her back and thrusting her chest forward, Maya giggled. "Ummm- that feels GOOOD..."

Even though the foreplay was not nearly enough for Carina, she reluctantly moved her hands down her lover's sides, inching her finger-
tips under the hem of her boyshorts and pulled them down her shapely thighs, exposing her mostly smooth mound save a tiny tuft of
blonde hair just covering the top of her slit.

xxto be continuedxx

Chapter Text

Wednesday after-shift at the Side Step is sort of a "thing" now at The Texas DPS aka Texas Department Of Public Safety, head-
quarters of the Texas Rangers. The group consists of Captain Larry James, Cordell Walker, his brother Liam Walker (Travis County DA)
and Micki Ramirez. Cordell's wife joined them this night, which she usually DID NOT do, a long-running case had come to an end, which
kept all of the principals away from home for long stretches and she missed her husband. Seeing them together reminded Micki of HER
FAMILY...HER HEART, whom she hadn't spent much time with in the past weeks. She excused herself and rushed to her truck...

you

Before entering their rental home she paused in the garage and quietly slipped off her underwear and bra; she left her boots
on a tool table and carried her pistol belt slung over one shoulder, slipping into the house in stocking feet...when she arrived
at that bedroom door, she burst in shouting "SURPRISE! Ehhh?!... HIJO DE TU PINCHE PUTA DESGRACIADA MADRE-que significa eso !"
(You lousy low-down motherfucking son of a raw bitch!-what is the meaning of this?!)

Trey appeared to be humping away at some unseen BITCH in THEIR BED! He flipped off the covers, revealing a clutch of large pillows, laughing like
like an idiot!

"Baby, Baby-its a joke-I heard you drive up-SEE!"

"Your ass nearly was shot, ¡ Mamon ! (Asshole) But, I guess I deserve it, neglecting you for so long," she admitted. She slid onto the bed,
while Trey made room, tossing the pillows to the floor. "It was kinda funny."

"Oh, yeah it was...OH, SNAP: braless?" His hands verify what his eyes suspect.

" Y sin calzones ," she said sultrily, guiding his hands to her open fly. (Without panties).

"That's what's up!", Trey huffed, immediately rising to the challenge.

Shifting to welcome him into her sex with a tiny gasp, she muttered "Haz lo que tu quieres, Cariño...TODO LO que tu quieres..."
(Do whatever you want my Love...EVERYTHING YOU want)...

Trey awoke to a very nice breakfast, which he appreciated as he's famished after last night. The meal Micki's prepared is fit for a king and
Trey helped himself to second of everything. "Goddamn, Woman! That was as clsoe to Mom's finest as you can get!"

"Sweet talker!" Micki kissed him as thanks for his compliment. "I j=have a free day today and you could play 'hooky'; we can hang out if you
want...what do you say?"

"I say if you'll pass my phone to me ['cough, cough'] and I'll make the call."

Vacation day secured, they shower, then pack their 'hiking gear', water, trail mix, and a picnic lunch; they load everything into Trey's truck
and head toward the Hill Country: Lake LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson). As they travel along, Micki said "Your mom...she brings up us starting a
family every time that we speak...I'm not complaining; I jsut...I've been thinking about it: have you?"

Trey glanced at her briefly before he answered. "I have. I don't HATE the idea. A little you."

"Or a little YOU," she laughed. "Rememner me saying that we have plenty of time maybe a year ago? With the world being what it is...I'm not so
confidant in that view anymore...a little boy! I think I'd love that."

"NOT 'Junior' though," he insited. "Maybe...Andrés, o Dario-(Andrew or Sario) I like those names."

"Hmmm. Andrés...o Leo. O DANIEL-I really like Daniel." She sighed, and smiled broadly. Just talking about it with you-I'M GIDDY, and Micki Ramirez doesn't do
giddy."

'I've seen you giddy."

"Have not."

"HAVE TO!"

"N.O.T. I.T!" The Latina insisted.

They stopped once on the outskirts of fMarble Falls for soft drinks and to stretch their legs, then finish the drive, continuing their
discussion about starting a family. The couple agree that having both sets of parents 'on board' with them continuing their relation-
ship and that they plan to make what they have permanent. Trey's parents expect this road to end in nuptuals whille Micki's widowed
mother Adriana would be happy either waymarriage or life committment-as long as BABIES result.

Both are in great shape; even the steeper parts of the hiking trail give them no trouble. At midday they have a break under a shelf
of rock that offered a cool place to rest. Rejuvenated, they start the trek back down to the truck, ready for a late lunch. They eat
heartily (Micki packed cabrito-goat meat; potato salad, sourdough bread and iced tea. Sitting by the lake they talk more about
their potential future family: "How many do we have and when do we start?" MIcki wanted to know.

Trey: Two and how about next year?

Micki: I can agree to TWO...if we start next year I don't want to be pregnant during summer in Texas. Mom said that carrying me
from June to September was pure HELL. So we should plan for me to be pregnant no later than...April or May?

T: That sounds like a plan. Would you look into how long the Rangers allow for maternity leave, please? And how long would
you WANT to be out?

M: Yes, of course baby. I'd want to stay out a year, minimum, I think. That gives me time to bond with him/her. That first year
is so important-important enough to..walk away from the Rangers if need be. Or even be an investigator for Liam.

T: That takes the danger level WAY DOWN, Mick! Yu'd...do that en serio (For real?!

M: Even six months ago I would have said no...NOW...I'm 29 Trey-late for a Latina to not have her own children. And thatcultural
pull is very strong. It isn't sudden or out of the blue. Since our brunch with our mothers-and deciding that YOU are the one I have
thught about it more and more.

T: I'm ready, and you are two, it seems. We'll keep talking, or is it decided?

M: Decided.

Chapter Text

Family dinner at the Rosewoods: it was decided by 'Mama' Donna Rosewood (and supported by her husband Beaumont Sr)
that the principals would meet every Sunday evening, and they know better than to cross her. The first to arrive are Pippy,
her wife Tara, and their little boy Beauregard, or Beau. An hour later Rosie, Annalise, and their twins Marcos and Daisie
(Donita) made their entrance; since the children are within six months of age of each other they take off immediately into
their Grandparents' spacious backyard, screaming to beat the band.

"Mom, dad; my parents called yesterday, FINALLY...they say that they want to see Beau, but I don't know," TMI announced.

\

"Have you let go of your resentment, My Heart?"

"I...I'm trying."

"Remember the GOOD TIMES-keep those close to your heart," her husband offered.

"Talk to them more on the telephone; let them know that if they're not coming correct then you can't see an in-person
meeting", said Villa.

Her Brother In Law says "BABY STEPS, TMI. Any of this is at YOUR PACE."

And lastly, Pippy: 'I'm behind you 100%, whatever you decide, Bae. He IS gonna need to know his other GrandParents, sooner
or later, though."

'My children are all so wise!" Donna beamed. "Particularly YOU, Tara for taking your parent's call. That's a big step."