Making Up For Lost Time

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own neither Saving Hope nor Daniel Gillies.

Pairing: Joel and Alex (or vice versa if you prefer)

Rating: M

Summary: Alex has a surprise for Joel.

Alex Reidmissed her husband. Between their hectic schedules at the hospital and the kids, it felt like they barely had enough time to kiss each other goodnight. And lately it seemed like all their attempt had been thwarted by work, exhaustion, or some other minor crisis.

We would've had a whole weekend to ourselves if it hadn't been for that stupid car accident at the soccer field.

She missed Joel so desperately that sometimes when he worked late and she was alone in bed, or naked in the bathtub, she'd close her eyes and touch herself, imagining that the hands caressing the most intimate parts of her body were Joel's instead of her own.

But not tonight.

Tonight she had a plan.

She'd worked the early afternoon shift at the hospital, while her four year-old son Luke was at preschool. She'd taken her eight-month old daughter Charlotte with her to work and left her in Hope Zion's childcare center until the end of her shift.

By five o'clock, she was home with her children making dinner.

Seafood risotto.

Joel's favorite.

By eight thirty, the children had been bathed, fed, and tucked into bed.

Chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese for Luke.

A bottle for Charlotte.

After that, she went into the nursery, and pumped the milk from her swollen, full, breasts so they wouldn't be tender to her husband's touch.

Thank God, I won't have to do this for much longer.

Alex's goal was to stop breastfeeding her daughter before she was a year old. She'd already started to gradually wean her off of the breast milk, and introduce other food sources.

And at just eight months old, Charlotte was right on track.

After that, Alex showered and shampooed her hair. She was still a little self-conscious about the extra baby weight she carried, so she tried not to let her gaze linger to long at her reflection in the mirror as she rubbed lotion all over her naked body.

She sprayed on her most expensive perfume. The Chanel Mademoiselle that Joel had given her for her last birthday. She usually wear this much perfume but she purposefully sprayed more than was necessary on all the parts of her body that her husband lavished his attention on whenever they made love.

At the sides of her neck.

Between her breasts.

On her wrists.

Behind her ears.

Even behind her knees.

She pulled her shoulder-length dark hair up into a topknot, leaving a few tendrils hanging loose on either side of her face.

Just the way he likes it.

She stepped back from the mirror and smiled at her reflection.

She wanted to look good for him.

She wanted to smell good for him.

She wanted to feel good for him.

Wrapping a towel around her body she walked into the bedroom, slipping on a pair of black silk panties and the negligee he'd given her just after Charlotte was born.

She pulled her diaphragm from the night stand drawer and inserted it.

I'm not ready for another baby.

Not yet, at least.

When she was satisfied with her appearance, she went into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of red wine, and sat on the leather sofa in the living room and waited anxiously.

It was after ten o'clock when she heard his car pull into the driveway in front of the house.

Finally.

She got to her feet, when she heard his key turning in the lock of the front door.

"Alex? Are you still up?" Joel called as he opened the door.

She met him at the door, running into his arms so quickly that it knocked him backwards half a step and he had to grab the doorjamb for balance.

And then her lips were on his, his arms instinctively wrapping around her body.

She looks like a million bucks.

And she smells amazing.

He pulled away slightly, to catch his breath, but he was still close enough that she felt his warm breath against her lips when he spoke, "That was quite a welcome, Reid." He said, with a smile. "What's gotten into you?"

She shrugged, "I've missed you, lately. Haven't you missed me too?"

I need you.

I love you.

Joel looked at his wife, with an expression that radiated pure, unadulterated, love. "Yes," he whispered, tucking a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

And it was true.

He had missed her.

Kissing her.

Touching her.

Holding her.

"Lately, it seems like every time we try to have any time alone together, something gets in the way." Alex said, kissing the side of his face.

Joel smiled, "Our last few dirty weekends haven't exactly turned out the way we've planned, have they?"

She shook her head, "No, they haven't. And the kids are already in bed. So what do you say we make up for lost time?"

Joel flashed her that trademark grin that always took her breath away. "Give me five minutes to take a shower? He asked.

Alex shook her head, pulling him to her, "No excuses, no interruptions, just us, please..." She whispered in his ear, kissing the mole behind it, because she knew it would drive him crazy. "I need you, Joel. Make love to me."

He followed her up the stairs, his arms still wrapped tightly around her waist. "Yes ma'am," He whispered, in her ear, biting gently on her earlobe, until she keened with pleasure.

He took the stairs two at a time.