Runaway Love

"I have the furniture!" Sarah said as she walked into the living room.

"Yay! The room can be set up and decorated." I said, moving from the counter.

"Yes, I'll run and grab the first box so we can start to assemble it." She said, turning back to the door.

Her body froze as her gaze swept over the living room. I watched her body go rigid and stiff, as Sam met her gaze. I was about to say something when he stood.

"I'll get it, you girls go ahead and get set up." He said, grinning as he took her keys from her hand.

I watched as her body relaxed and she turned and followed him.

"I can get it. You don't need to worry yourself." She said grumpily as they closed the door behind them.

I chuckled to myself as I grabbed a few water bottles from the fridge and headed to the nursery. I had been excited to see how they interacted today. I had noticed that they had a pull to each other and feelings for each other. No one else seemed like they noticed it, but it was there. She hadn't spoken about him, but I figured when she was ready she would say something.

I sat in the glider that had been delivered a few days before. I took in the neutral walls and dug my toes into the soft, thick carpet. I closed my eyes and rocked back and forth. Soon my girls would be here, and I could hold them in my arms. As much as I wanted them to keep growing, I wanted to be able to hold them and kiss them. A sudden thought made me frown. Soon they would be here, and in the world.

They wouldn't be protected inside me. I wouldn't be able to carry them everywhere I went. I would leave them babysitters and trust that they would be safe and cared for. I blanched at the thought. My eyes burning with unshed tears. I quickly stood and rubbed my eyes. Anger following the wave of sadness. One thing I wouldn't miss is the emotional roller coaster that hormones controlled. I knew that they would be replaced with fear, doubt that motherhood brought, but tried to focus on the joy and laughter that would fill the house as the girls grew. A smile grew on my face, as my hands settled on my belly, getting a kick in response.

Arguing from the hall pulled my attention to the door. The door opened and Sarah walked in, grumbling about being a strong and independent woman, not needing an over muscled meathead to lift things for her. I giggled, and pulled her fiery gaze on me. I schooled my face, and walked toward them.

"Here is the first of the cribs. While you girls put this together this over muscled meathead grab the second, make some lunch." He said with a grin as he shot a heated look at Sarah.

She turned red as she realized he heard her grumbling earlier.

"Thank you." she said, pushing him out the door and turning to face me, mouthing what the fuck.

I laughed and grabbed the box to open it. We pulled out all the pieces and sorted them by type. Grabbing the instructions I studied how to put the puzzle of a crib together, and started gathering what we needed for the first step. Sarah settled beside me as we started placing screws and pieces together.

"So, what was that awkward scene about?" I asked, my eyes flicking to her.

Sarah sighed, and her eyes filled with tears. I dropped my allen wrench and moved closer to her, pulling her into a hug. She returned the hug and quickly straightened herself. Pulling her down, she focused her gaze on her hands.

"I've always had a crush on the silent, broody coder since my brother hired him. When I started flirting he would flirt back, but when things started moving more toward a dating relationship he shut me down. He said he couldn't date his best friend's sister. That it wouldn't be fair to anyone. He didn't want to come between me and Oliver, and didn't want to ruin his relationship with Oliver.

I understand that I do, but he's hot one minute and cold the next. I went on a date at the bar the other night and he was there. He went all caveman on me and all but marched me out before we'd even ordered. He wouldn't give me a solid explanation, just drove me home and told me not to see him again." Sarah sighed and flopped back, laying on the floor staring at the ceiling.

I nodded and hummed a response, the tension between the two was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Looking at them as an outsider I could see they both cared about each other. Over the past few months I had noticed that she would look at him when he wasn't looking, and he would look at her. They tended to gravitate together when we all went out as a group, and he did seem protective over her.

She sat back up and grabbed her pieces, signaling that she was ready to move on and focus on the crib. We worked quietly completing the first crib and moving it into place, then completing the second crib.

We took a break for lunch, and while we ate Sam moved the boxes that held the dressers and nightstands to the nursery. We were just finishing as he pulled the last box into the room. Heading back to the nursery, Sarah glared at Sam as we passed him in the hall on his way back to the living room to where his laptop was set up. He gave her a grin but didn't say anything.

"So have you tried talking to him?" I asked as I settled in the glider with the instruction manual.

Over lunch Sarah had noted that I looked tired, so she insisted I provide direction while she worked. She argued that she could move around easier than I could so it would be easier for everyone this way. I didn't say anything, but I was kind of glad. The floor was hard to get up from and move with the belly in the way.

"No." She grunted as she pulled the parts into order.

"Are you going to? It may help. Maybe he's changed his mind." I hinted.

"Alright Dr. Phil, more directing and less shrinking." She threw over her shoulder with a smile.

I shot her a glare, but smiled. She was back to her sarcastic, fun self. We spent the rest of the afternoon building the furniture, finishing just in time for Sean and Oliver to get home with take out for everyone. After eating Sam stood and grabbed his bag.

"I should head out and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow Josie." He threw over his shoulder as he walked to the door.

"I should head out too." Sarah said, scrambling to grab her purse and sweater.

"Good night!" I called, shooting her a knowing look as she waved and followed Sam out the door.

"I want to see all the hard work you guys put into the nursery today. Sam mentioned that it was all set up and ready for the girls." Oliver said, as he pulled me to my feet, while Sean cleared the table.

The three of us walked down the hall to the nursery and stepped inside. Excitement filled my chest as I took in the almost complete room. Inspiration hit me as I realized what I wanted to paint for the girls. The two pieces of wall art that would pull the room together and make it perfect.

"I'll let you guys take in the room. I need to go." I said, turning from Oliver's grasp and moving to the living room.

A look of panic took over Sean's face. His gaze quickly took me from head to toe. He settled not seeing anything wrong.

"Are you ok?" He asked, stepping forward.

"She's fine, I know that look. Haven't seen it in decades, but that look I would recognize anywhere. That's her inspired face. She's going to sketch while it's fresh." Oliver said, stopping Sean from following me. "She doesn't like distractions." He said, throwing me a wink of his shoulders.

I grinned and took off down the hall back to the living room to my sketch pad and pencils. My pencil flew over the page, shading here and smudging there with my finger. It didn't take long before I had what I pictured in my head on paper. Two pieces that would complete the room, smiling as I stood and closed my book. I stretched and moved to the bedroom, exhausted from the long day.