“You miss them don’t you?”
Eve turned around to gaze at Julian.

“I’m sorry if I woke you.” She whispered.

“You didn’t dear, but when I noticed you weren’t next to me, I knew you were checking on them.” He said touching her shoulder.

“I do miss them Julian, I miss being able to talk to them, I know Simone and I haven’t been especially close, but Whitney and I were, and I miss being able to talk with her, asking her how her day was, just anything.”

“I’m sorry, maybe Whitney will move in here with us, you could always ask her.” Julian said.

“You think that’s a wise idea?” Eve asked.

“Of course, I hope that one day Whitney will feel like she can come to me as a father. I don’t expect it any time soon, but maybe one day Eve.”

“But she is an adult, she has the choice who she wants to live with.”

“I know Eve, but maybe she would rather live with her mother.” He said smiling.

“Maybe.”

“Ask her sweetheart, maybe she is afraid to ask you, thinking we have our own little family now and she doesn’t want to get in the way.”

“She never would be Julian, neither of them would be in the way.” Eve said.

“No they wouldn’t be, not at all, in fact, I would love if they were here, if I am going to start being a better father, I should start by being a good step-dad to them. Eventually, they will be my step-daughters.”

“That would be nice Julian.”

“Honey, why don’t we go back upstairs, I mean I love talking with you, but I don’t want to wake them up.”

“What time is it?” she said crawling back into bed.

“About six.”

“I am not really tired Julian.”

“Do you want me to make you something, I can run down to the kitchen Eve.”

“No it’s okay, I had something else in mind.” She said tracing his lips with her finger.

“Oh.” He said smiling.

“Is it too early?”

“Never, little Julian is on duty day and night.” He said laughing.

Eve laid her back against his chest for a moment, expecting him to kiss her neck, but to her surprise, he tried something a bit different, making it more comfortable with the baby and to please her in a different position. Julian tried to mix it up to keep things interesting and Eve enjoyed it.

“Oh honey.” He said.

“Julian.” She said softly.

“I want you over and over Eve, you are my addiction.”

He then turned her around to kiss her deeply, hugging her at the same time. She gazed at him, lovingly, not wanting him to stop, he pushed himself deeper and her moaning became louder, it made him want her more and he switched again, continuing to satisfy her needs. Finally, with one last movement, he let himself go once more.

“You are so incredible, it seems to get hotter every time Eve.”

“Yes.”

“One thing is for sure Eve, we certainly will never lack passion in our relationship, not to mention it’s lots of fun and it will keep us in great shape won’t it?” he said smiling.

“Sounds like a plan.” She said kissing him.

“Why don’t you go back to sleep Eve, you need your rest, and it’s not even seven yet, I am going to get up and check to see if they need anything.” Julian said.

“I can do it.”

“No let me, have a sleep.” He said kissing her forehead.

Julian put on his robe and walked down to the kitchen, Whitney was sitting at the kitchen table.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I poured some orange juice Julian.”

“Of course not, our kitchen is your kitchen, how about some breakfast?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“Dear, you should eat, breakfast is an important part of the day, how about some cereal or toast?”

“You sound like a father, do you know that?” Whitney said smiling.

“Well, I don’t want to see you go hungry Whitney, that’s all.”

Julian grabbed the bread from the cupboard and put in two slices for her.

“So, are you staying for a few days then?” Julian asked.

“I don’t know, my dad and Liz probably want us to come home.”

“Listen Whitney, you and Simone are more than welcome to stay here anytime and as long as you want, it’s not a problem.”

“We don’t want to be in the way.”

“You wouldn’t be, if you want to move in, your mom would love that and of course I would too.” He said smiling.

“Move in?”

“Just a thought, I just want you to know that I may not be T.C., but I would still like to be a part of your lives, as weird as that may seem.”

“I don’t know Julian, that is a big step.”

“Well think about it, the door is always open if you decide.” He said grabbing her a plate.

“Alright.”

“Well, I will let you have your breakfast, if you need anything, just holler.” He said.

He went back upstairs to see Eve was fast asleep. He crept quietly across the room and shut the bathroom door. Disrobing, he turned on the water, testing it until it was a good temperature and stepped in. As the shower ran, Julian was in a trance for a moment when he felt Eve’s hands upon his back. He turned around and smiled at her.

“I thought you were sleeping Eve.”

“I was, but I thought a shower with you might be a great stress reliever.” She said, soaping up his body.

“You are stressed darling?” he said concerned, pushing back her wet hair.

“No, that’s just an excuse to hop in here with you Mr. Crane.” She said smiling.

“Eve, you are being such a naughty girl.” He said, lowering his hands to rest on her waist.

“Do you really mind?”

“Do I have to justify that with an answer?” he said kissing her neck, quiet sensually.

He leaned her against the back of the shower wall to the best of his ability, and pressed his body against hers, loving every minute of it. He ran his hands up and down her back, smiling at her as he grabbed her bottom. Eve then slid her hands around to his front, allowing very little space between them and when she caressed him, he kissed her very passionately, loving how she touched him. She couldn’t help but smile at him when she noticed what she did to him.

“You are such a tease and I love it.” He said smiling devilishly.

“That is all you are getting, leave you wanting more.” She said smiling.

“That’s not fair, you bring little Julian up to bat and he can’t even swing for home.” He said laughing.

“Isn’t it better to leave you at the boiling point?” she said running her nail down his firm chest.

“My God, what you do to me, I can’t even put it into words Eve.”

“You will just have to show me some time.” She said kissing him firmly and then getting out of the shower.

“I think I better stay up for a while.” He said.

“What?” she said surprised.

“I mean stay up here for a bit, I have to make a call, what were you thinking my dear.” He said looking at her.

“Julian!” she said laughing.

“You know something Eve, I think you are becoming more of a Crane than I am, who knew such a lovely lady could have such a dirty mind? I am quite an influence aren’t I?”

“No comment, see you downstairs.” She said shutting the bathroom door.

Eve spent the day with her daughters, working on getting things completely ironed out between them all. She thought a lot about what Simone had said and she was right. She loved Julian dearly and she wanted to set a good example for their baby. Sure many people lived together and were common-law, after all times had changed. But she still had old-fashioned values and if she was going to be a loving and caring mother, then she wanted to be the same kind of wife. It was time to talk to T.C. so she took it upon herself to face him and Liz, and she did without Julian. She wanted to show them she wasn’t afraid to face them on her own. She made sure they were home, checking with Whitney and when she knocked on the door, Liz just glared at her.

“I heard you were coming over, just don’t try to steal him back Eve, you had your chance and you blew it.” Liz said dryly.

“I am not going to stoop to your level, you have him, so shut up and move on.” She said glaring at Liz.

“Move on Eve, now you are really sounding like Julian, you two do belong together.”

“He was right to tell you that a long time ago, but anyway, I am here to see T.C., where is he?”

“He’s in the kitchen, come in then.”

She followed her; T.C. was under the sink, fixing a leaky pipe. He looked up at Eve when he heard her come in.

“Yes, can I help you?” he asked.

“Yeah you can T.C.”

“Look Eve, if the girls want to move in with you, then that’s their choice, so don’t try to come over here and lecture me.”

“I am not here to talk about them moving in.”

“So, where’s Crane, I thought you two were inseparable.” He said rolling his eyes.

“For your information T.C., this is about you and me, not Liz and Julian.” Eve said leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Ok, shoot.”

“Alright, I want a divorce.” Eve said.

“And?”

“And let’s do this.”

“Why all of a sudden?” he asked.

“Probably so she won’t be living in sin carrying Julian’s seed.” Liz said laughing.

“Shut up Liz.” She said irritated.

“Hey, we may be living together, but I am not pregnant, well not yet, right baby?” she said rubbing his back.

“Liz, you shouldn’t gloat, after all, I could call Jerry Springer and get you on there.”

“What the hell for Eve?”

“Well you figure you are shacked up with my husband, which in turn is your brother-in-law, now that’s nasty.”

“Not as nasty as sleeping with Julian Crane.” She said smiling.

“Just grow up already, I love Julian, anyway T.C. are we going to do this or not?”

“Hey, whatever, I will be glad to have you lose the Russell name, enjoy being Mrs. Crane.” He said.

“I don’t want to fight about this okay? We have to set a good example for Whitney and Simone.”

“A good example, I am not the one who is still married to me and having Julian’s baby.”

“Like I said to Liz, move on T.C., I want to start proceedings.” Eve said bluntly.

“Fine, whatever, is that it?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay, you can show yourself out then.” He said going back under the sink.

Eve opened the front door, but Liz grabbed her arm.

“What do you want Liz?”

“Just think what you gave up Eve, such a fine and respectable man like T.C. for Julian Crane, love is blind.”

“You know damn well you have been trying to break us up forever anyway Liz, besides Julian truly loves me, and I do love him. I am not the one who was lusting after my husband, you don’t love him, you just want his body.”

“And what a fine body it is, but sorry to say you will never see it again, it’s all for me.” She said smirking.

“I used to think T.C. was a respectable man, I still would never deny he is a good father to my girls, but I lost respect for him when he shacked up with a bitch like you.”

Before Liz could say anything, Eve slammed the front door. She didn’t mean to get uptight with her, but Liz deserved it. But in all seriousness, she didn’t want to fight with either of them; she wanted to keep the peace so that Simone and Whitney would have two loving homes to come to, even if Liz was in one of them. She couldn’t stand the sight of her sister and she wasn’t crazy about T.C., but he was still their father and she didn’t want to badmouth him in front of her daughters and she didn’t want to create tension for their baby either. After all, she wanted Simone and Whitney to be able to have a good relationship with their new baby brother or sister. When she arrived at home, Julian was sitting on the computer.

“Honey, you okay, you look a little upset.”

“I just went to see T.C., we are starting proceedings Julian.”

“Are you sure you want to do that right now? You don’t need any added stress.”

“Julian, the faster T.C. and I are divorced, the better it will be for all of us.”

“Are you sure it isn’t because of what Simone said?”

“Partly.”

“Oh sweetheart, don’t worry about that, I will love our baby with all of my heart even if we aren’t married.”

“Julian, this is fine for now, but you don’t want to live together forever do you? Or are you not sure what you want? Maybe you would rather not get married, after all you had a loveless marriage with Ivy and Rebecca almost hooked you.”

“Oh Eve, of course I want to get married, I love you, you are the only woman I have ever loved. Whatever you want is fine, I am just saying, if you don’t want to rush everything at once, I am okay with that.”

“Well thanks, but I just want to move things along, I am ready to start our great future together and that includes tying up any loose ends if you know what I mean.”

“Yes I do dear.”

When Eve wanted to do something, she was true to her word; she wasn’t going to procrastinate on this. It was most important to her to get legally divorced from T.C. before the baby was born. As the proceedings began, Julian was incredibly supportive and she was so happy to have him by her side. One afternoon during them, Julian had taken Eve for lunch and when they came out of the restaurant, they came face to face with Alistair. Eve stared at him coldly. He just looked at both of them.

“Come on Eve, let’s get out of here.” Julian said putting his arm around her.

“So I hear you are getting a divorce from T.C.” Alistair said looking at Eve.

“That’s none of your damn business!” Julian said glaring at him.

“It’s no secret Julian.”

“Of course not, you know everything don’t you Alistair.” He said.

“Alistair? Don’t you mean father Julian?”

“I don’t have a father, so you are nothing but a stranger to me, if you will excuse me, we have to get going.” Julian said annoyed.

“How are doing financially son? You can’t be that well off without any of my influences.”

“We are just fine, and even if we weren’t, I wouldn’t take one damn cent from a crooked loser like you!” he said raising his voice.

“Julian.” Eve said touching his arm.

“You better listen to your woman, you are pretty whipped I see, you have become a milk toast.”

“Oh shut up, at least I have a real woman who I love, not like half of the hookers you date in Harmony.” He said irritated.

“Julian, let’s go please.” Eve said.

“See you around son.” Alistair said waving.

“I’m sorry Eve, he just makes me so angry.”

“I know hon, just let it go, you are so much better off without him in your life, we both are and our baby too.”

“He wouldn’t give a damn about our baby dear, you know that.”

“Yes considering what a racist he is.” Eve said.

“I know.” He said rubbing her back.

“Alistair is such a lost cause, he has destroyed so many peoples lives, and he is so destructive, look at Sheridan and your mom.” She said.

“He will never change Eve, that is one thing I have learned in life. To never be like him and thank God I am not anymore, at least now I can have a happy life, the one I have always dreamed of with you my darling.” He said kissing her cheek.

Time had passed and Eve was divorced from T.C. and they were nearing the arrival of their bundle of joy, the seasons had passed and it was summer again. Julian decided that Eve could use a break; he wanted to do something really special for her.