*To make everyone your friend you must first bury a bunch of bodies*

*

(This is for everyone who kept at me to work on this story; those who begged, pleaded, cajoled, requested, and that rare one who threatened to reach through the internet and beat me so badly my ancestor, who came across on the Mayflower [yes, I do have a Mayflower ancestor], would jump into the Atlantic to spare me the agony. I love you all and you are better than I deserve.)

(Wednesday, one week later)

"Mr. Duarte, you have a lunch appointment today at Cabaros -- noon," Leslie tells me. She'd lean into my office space to say hello and deliver the message.

"Sure thing," I respond. Sadri gives me a look so I shrug. When Leslie departs, Sadri cracks a grin.

"What? No e-mail in her part of the world?"

"I think this meeting is off the books," I sigh.

"You can always tell her to stuff it," Sadri offers. "She's made you pretty miserable and it isn't like she's been doing you any favors recently." She means Gloria of course.

"Saying it is complicated is like calling our work load as a tad intensive," I grin back.

"Don't worry; I won't rent the sofa out just in case," she teases me.

"Thanks. I doubt I'll be leaving soon. I don't even know what she wants to discuss," I admit.

"Let me know when to send out the search parties," she taunts me one more time before work summons us.

I walk into the restaurant with my insides burning as if I'd swallowed a bag full of razor blades. I've almost convinced myself that this is a doomed course of action when I see her. Gloria Hardison is staring at me with an intensity that convinces me she's been waiting for me to walk through that door all day. I approach cautiously and sit down in the chair opposite her because now her look makes me think I can win; not the war, but this battle.

"Hello Mrs. Hardison," I say carefully.

"Good afternoon Eddie," she responds in an equally guarded manner.

"It is good to see you," I add. It really, really is true.

"I have been thinking about you," she replies.

"Ditto ... a lot."

"It hasn't impacted your work," she notes.

"I still want you to be proud of me and worthy of the trust you put in me," I confess. She doesn't respond to that immediately. Instead we order food and drink and wait numbly for the meal to arrive.

"I will never forgive you," she mutters when we are almost finished.

"I understand that. I can't forgive myself," I tell her. What I can't forgive myself for is using her secret against her. I still feel hurting her like she hurt me was my only option besides walking away.

"Stop being so damn reasonable Eddie," she snaps. A fight will give her an excuse to run away from our relationship and lay the total blame on me. I'm not falling for that trap.

"I tried irrational and that really fucked things up," I relate.

"Still joking?" she accuses me bitterly.

"If I couldn't laugh I'd probably walk into traffic," I explain. She seems to think that over.

"Why don't you?" she hammers me with her eyes.

"That would be selfish; I have two more lives to think about now," I answer. "I can't be that goofy college kid anymore; I don't have the luxury." Telling her I think she's being selfish will only hurt the three of us.

"We don't need you," she states.

"You don't get to make that call," I bite back. It is time to fight; I won't surrender my principles on this matter -- I am not going to budge on this. Gloria glares at me.

"This was a mistake," she growls.

"If you say so," I shrug. "I wasn't expecting much from you. You have much to be pissed about and I'm not sure the morning sickness has made things easier for you."

"I'll put you on the birth certificate but you have to promise me that if we split up I get majority custody," Gloria surprisingly offers. I have to mull that over until the underlying implication hits me. She's not only made the first step (our child) but the second one as well (our home).

"You said 'if we split up'?" I question. "That suggests that we will get back together."

"Yes it does," she nods.

"I promise you that if something happens I'll settle for visitation rights," I tell her. "I'll never try to take our child away from you and I'll sign whatever you need to make you sure of that fact."

"Very well," she allows. "The morning sickness is still horrible and...I miss someone helping me hold my hair out of the way."

"I can take care of that for you," I offer. She nods, takes a few bites but remains silent.

"Where have you been staying?" she redirects into the lack of conversation.

"With Sidra," I respond. She shows no chink in her outer calm.

"I thought a different co-worker would have been more convenient," she muses but what she was really saying is 'why a female co-worker?'

"Quite frankly we work together so much we are practically living in each other's boots. I know more about her life than her Mother does. Also, the last thing I need right now is some guy dragging a date home at two in the morning while I'm trying to sleep," I explain. "She isn't seeing anyone and knows enough about my situation to not pry, which is a big plus."

"She has become a far more effective employee since she's been working with you," Gloria observes.

"You handpicked her for the project Gloria and for good or ill it is your leadership that gets things done," I counter.

"You still drive me crazy Eddie," she grumbles.

"That's fair," I confess. "It makes me crazy being separated from you."

"No, those are two opposite forces tearing us apart," Gloria glares angrily.

"Oxygen and Hydrogen, by themselves, are explosive forces but together they create water, the wellspring of life," I try to make my point.

"That response seems far more thought out than normal," she notes.

"I'm trying to be more careful since we are actually taking face-to-face," I nod.

"You keep promising me things and then disappointing me," which seems to be the heart of the matter. I'm not perfect and I'm not likely to become perfect and that's something she needs to understand. I can't be the perfect man who always provides, protects and sustains her; no one can.

"I know I suck at holding up my side of the relationship, but you have to know I'm trying," I offer. "Give me the tiniest bit of respect for my resilience at least. I never stop trying to be there for you despite all my failures. I've never given up on us."

"Should I treat you with the respect you haven't earned Eddie?

"Gloria, I can't both knuckle under and stand as your mate at your discretion; that isn't how it works," I respond with some anger.

"This isn't about my decision-making, Eddie, it is about duties and making our lives easier," Gloria counters.

"Who told you that?" I wonder. "You didn't let me into your world because I balanced your life, made it easier or I was something that would make your career path smoother."

"I let you into my life because I wasn't complete without you," she beats me to the punch.

"I haven't thought about being with another woman since you let me in," I tell her.

"Except Joyce, who you have seen pretty much naked, that cute medical intern in the hospital and I'm sure Sadri walks around her dwelling dressed like a nun," she says dryly.

"I was hoping you missed that incident with the female med student," I gulp.

"No."

"Sadri dresses app...okay, she goes around in a men's sports jersey, but it is her home after all," I confess.

"I'm sure you've suffered appropriately," she states but I catch her smile before she looks down at her plate. She isn't put off by the idea that I've been getting sexually frustrated, not one bit.

We don't talk again until we pay the check (separately) and make our way to the sidewalk.

"What are we having for dinner?" she says unexpectedly.

"Is that an order or a request?" I hazard.

"It is...I would like to see you if that is okay, Mr. Duarte?" she asks while looking at everything but me.

"In that case there has been this nice stuffed crab dish I've been waiting to take a crack at," I respond. "Don't expect to eat until eight-thirty or so. It takes some time to serve right."

"Do you crack open crab shells with a hammer?" she muses.

"Something is getting hammered tonight," I warn her.

"Keep dreaming," Gloria smirks.

"Absolutely," I give back. She takes her limo while I take the bus, but such is the nature of our relationship.

(Thursday)

Last night I woke up to see Gloria standing over my own bed. She put a finger to my lips before I could ask if she wanted anything. I think she misses me as much as I miss her but our issues of how much she can trust me, and how much I can trust myself around her, are still vast. She leaves after five minutes. I make her a thin porridge for breakfast that she keeps down but we make our way to work in our own way.

Before lunch I get a call from Security -- never a good thing. It seems there is a man at the front desk who wants to see me but he doesn't have an appointment and only identifies himself as an old neighborhood friend. Hardly anyone from my old neighborhood would be considered a friend but the list of the ones who know where I work is even smaller. I tell Sadri I'm going to down to see what the story is.

I imagine the guards are a bit shocked to see me race up and hug the guy they've been keeping an eye on. Mainly that is because he looks like some bad-ass drug dealing low life, which he is.

"Jericho, buddy, how have you been?" I greet the man who saved my life from some knife-wielding assailant.

"Stop hugging me Eddie before they think we are gay," he grunts but I'm sure he's not angry.

"I'm sure whether or not you are going to ass-rape somebody isn't at the top of their concern," I joke and nod toward the security guards. "What brings you to the part of town where all the criminals have teams of lawyers?"

Jericho looks down at the ground for an instant.

"I've got a problem," he starts. "Remember Roberto, that guy I kind of worked for? Well he ended up dead."

"Oh crap. I'm sorry dude. What do you need?" is my response.

"I need a place to hide out for a few days," he requests.

"How much trouble are you in?" I worry.

"Well...Roberto died because I put three bullets in his chest," Jericho confesses. "His two brothers are obviously pissed and want me dead, but I swear I can clean this up in a few days."

"My girl and I are in a rough spot," I sort of tell the truth, "but I might have someone who can help." Jericho seems skeptical but he's also desperate. Roberto's brothers are probably beating down doors in our old neighborhood trying to kill him.

"Sadri, can you come down to the front lobby," I say her over the phone. "I have a favor to ask you."

Sadri comes down, sees who I am talking to and looks to make sure Security is close by. She hesitantly takes the last few steps.

"Eddie..." she questions.

"Sadri, this is my friend Jericho and he's got a problem," I start out.

"He needs a place to hide out for a couple of days. Since almost nobody back in the old neighborhood knows me and they have no clue as to who you are I was hoping you would do this awesomely huge favor and let him crash on your sofa for a few days," I beg. In retrospect I'm not the best friend in the world; I might even be considered high maintenance.

"Jericho, you seem like a...nice guy, but are the guys who come knocking on my door going to have badges and guns, or are they going to have guns and more guns?" Sadri says skeptically.

"Most likely guns with guns," Jericho admits, "but how would they find me? Hell, I saved Eddie's life and we'd talked for months but I didn't know his last name until this chick rolled up in a sweet ride and asked for Mr. Duarte; then I figured it out."

"Older lady, dark, dark eyes with great tits and the look of an ex-porn star," Sadri smirks.

Jericho looks somewhat put off his game for a second.

"Well, she was way out of Eddie's league, if that is what you mean?" Jericho guesses.

"Yes, she's the one. Well Jericho, your resume sucks, you only have Eddie as your highly questionable character reference and you most likely have never filed your income tax," Sadri rambles, "but what the hell. You can use Eddie's key and I'll give you the address."

"Eddie, you've hooked me up your drug-dealer friend who is clearly on the run from some damn dangerous people. You owe me a lot more than one -- in fact, I'll let you when your grandkids have paid this one off, do we understand one another?" Sidra glares at me.

"Gotchya Sid," I sigh. She gives her address to Jericho then she glides off.

"Brother, if that is how your co-worker treats you, I hate to think how your old lady does," Jericho chuckles.

"My lady's a ball of fire alright. We have literally come right off of a big fight and I'm trying to make things work and any stressor could be devastating," I confess.

"Thanks Bro," we bump fists, "I swear I'll be done in three or four days and that will be that. You'll never see me again."

"Jericho, I'd have a jig-saw face or no face at all if you hadn't come running," I point out. "You need something anytime, anywhere, you let me know." Jericho nods, departs, and leaves me to deal with the security types.

(Saturday)

"You are making a big deal out of what is essentially hot dogs and stir-fry," Gloria taunts me over my choice for dinner.

"It is kielbasa with Greek kabobs," I sigh with patience. "Besides, you love garlic and since we aren't 'doing' anything tonight, I figured you wouldn't mind."

"Who says you aren't getting anything tonight," she looks my way.

"Am I getting something tonight?" I perk up.

"No, but I want you to keep thinking you might," she states haughtily. "Your suspense is pleasurable to me."

"Gee-whiz, another happy night of internet porn," I groan.

"Eddie, you had better not being doing that on your home computer and since you can't have porn on your work computer I have to assume you are trying and failing to get under my skin," Gloria lectures me.

"A ghost directory and a flash drive," I tease back. She arches an eyebrow but her retort is interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Are you expecting someone?" Gloria asks with un-barbed curiosity. I shake my head so she gets up and goes to see who it is.

"Ms. Gupta?" Gloria greets the visitor.

"I..." Sadri stammers, "Could I talk to Mr. Duarte for a minute?"

"Of course," Gloria sounds a bit forced and brittle, "come in. Eddie is in the kitchen. I'll go spot him so that dinner doesn't burn and let the two of you talk."

"Umm...Mrs. Hardison, you might want to be here for this," Sadri gets out.

"This sounds interesting Ms. Gupta," Gloria stays stiffly as if 'interesting' implies getting a nail driven into her foot.

"You can call me Sadri," Sadri gets out in a hurry.

"Interesting; you may call me Mrs. Hardison," Gloria responds coolly. She moved directly to the kitchen as I am turning down all the relevant heating surfaces and join her on our return trip.

"Hey Sadri," I greet my co-worker and kiss her on the cheek. "What's wrong?"

"Your buddy came by with his girlfriend and their kid and by kid I mean one of those rug rats that wear diapers," Sadri blames me. I can feel Gloria's eyes bore into me, not out of jealousy but out of some dark amusement at my predicament.

"I...uh...I'll go over there and tell Jericho that he's got to go," I rapidly think up a plan. "I'll get him a motel room somewhere for a few days."

"Eddie, there are a few problems with your little plan," Sadri smirks. "You don't have that much money, your buddy isn't at a motel right now for the same reason you can't put him in one later tonight and there is the problem that he's nineteen and his girlfriend is somewhat younger; how much younger we shouldn't get into."

"Eddie, why am I only now hearing about this crisis in your life?" Gloria sounds a bit peeved.

"It was a private matter I tried to deal without worrying you," I turn and tell Gloria.

"When you chose to involve Ms. Gupta it became a work-related matter," Gloria snaps back.

"Shove it, Hardison," Sadri growls. "Assume that we have lives outside of your hellish gulag."

Oh yeah, that made the conversation so much better. The two women glare at one another.

"This conversation is for another time," I interject. "Sadri lets go back to your place and we'll figure some other people who can help."

"Eddie you aren't going anywhere right now," Gloria commands. "It has it taken you less than one week to forget your obligations; truly pathetic."

I take a deep breath before facing her because that was uncalled for and disrespectful as well as degrading in front of company.

"This is the guy who came running up the block and into the alley to drive off the psycho who was trying to carve me up with a knife," I try to keep my anger down. "Why in the hell was he trying to kill me again? Oh, I remember; do you?"

Jericho had left his comfortable drug dealing location because he saw me running for my life from some bastard who was much bigger than me. He'd arrived just in time to fire off a warning shot and drive my attacker away. The attacker was the same guy who nearly raped Gloria the first night Gloria and I met outside the office and he'd worked for Joyce Cook, a corporate enemy.

"Wait," Gloria holds firm. "You still should think this through."

"We need to get the drug dealer, his squeeze and her brat out of my apartment," Sadri points out.

"You have already pointed out why that is not feasible, Ms. Gupta," Gloria lectures which doesn't do Sadri's mood any good.

"Hey, I'm doing Eddie a favor here. It isn't like he rewards me with sex in order to get things done," Sadri taunts Gloria.

"I don't offer him sex and he still does what I want him to," Gloria counters.

"This bitchiness is counter-productive; let's find a way fix this instead," I remind the women even as I separate them. I love Gloria and really like Sadri as a friend and letting them work out their mutual anger issues won't help anything right now.

"Sadri stays with us until this blows over," Gloria insists with her normal aggressive clarity. "I will take her to her apartment; we will pack up a few of her belongings and return to our home. Eddie, you will have dinner ready when we get back."

"Hey...wait, do I have a say in this?" Sadri asks. She doesn't know Gloria like I do.

"If you have a better resolution to the problem I am willing to listen," is Gloria's response. Putting Sadri in a hotel is an option but that doesn't do anything to balance my debt to Sadri, or so I think Gloria reasons.

"Fine," Sadri concedes, "where would I sleep?"

"You can use Eddie's bedroom," my girl informs Sadri. Seeing my poorly hidden hope, she adds, "Eddie will sleep on the sofa in the study." Sadri shoots me a curious look.

"Don't sweat it," I sigh to Sadri. "We aren't sharing the same bed right now anyway." Sadri looks from me to Gloria.

"Well, that's a pity," she snorts. "Living with someone like Hardison and not hitting that on a nightly basis is a tragedy. It has to screw with his work performance too," Sadri grins at Gloria.

Gloria chokes and I try to not laugh. The 'screw with his job performance' was a nice touch; Gloria obsesses on productivity.

"Do not assume that while I am resolving this matter we have any sort of relationship outside of work whatsoever," Gloria simmers. "It certainly does not allow this level of familiarity."

"We won't have to worry about that because, Gloria, you are staying here," I demand. "It is dangerous...which is why Sadri is staying as well. I'll go alone and pick up whatever Sadri needs."

"You are not rummaging through my drawers," Sadri shakes her head.

"I have no desire to eat burnt food," Gloria countermands, "and since I have no idea how well, or poorly, Ms. Gupta cooks that task remains firmly in your hands. If there was any doubt, this discussion is now over. Ms. Gupta, we'll take my car."

"That's fine by me since I arrived by taxi," Sadri mocks me with her smirk. I mollify myself that Sadri's place should be a perfectly safe place for both of them. I also am reminded that I'm hardly a martial hero, so forcing myself to go along with the ladies would be pointless. Lastly, Gloria is right; Gloria is lethal to anything that involves a stove and I've never known Sadri to cook outside of a microwave.

An hour later they both return safely and dinner is ready. We are elbow to elbow around the kitchen table. I almost try the 'kiss the cook' line but falter. Instead we eat in silence.

"Great eats like always Eddie," Sadri thanks me. "I'm going to miss your home cooking."

"You supplied your grandmother's recipes and ingredients; I provided the muscle power," I smile.

"I'll get the dishes," Gloria states in a clipped tone.

"I'll help," I offer.

"I don't need your help," Gloria replies dismissively. Sadri snorts in disgust, pushes away from the table and walks out.

"Gloria..." I sigh.

"There is a strange woman in my house and before you say 'but you invited her', please recall that she is at my doorstep because of a decision you made," Gloria regards me icily.

"You are right; I apologize for the inconvenience," I look down at my feet. "I will have a solution by tomorrow." I am not going to get in a fight over her discomfort right now. She's pissed for a number of reasons and it is going to take time for me to deal with each one.

I hear Sadri cut the TV on so I migrate out there to try and put my mind somewhere else than here. Behind me I hear the water come on in the sink. Two minutes into channel surfing Sadri stands up.

"I'm going to get something to drink," she tells me. "Can I get you anything?"

"No," respond softly. I need to bury my head in a pillow and get some sleep so I can figure a way out of this cluster-fuck. Sadri goes into the kitchen, opens the refrigerator and get something out.

"Gloria..." Sadri starts. I hope I don't regret eavesdropping.

"Mrs. Hardison," Gloria corrects her.

"Mrs. Hardison, show some damn mercy," Sadri growls.

"It is not your place to speak on this matter unless you are confessing to me you have some affection toward Eddie," Gloria reposes.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't mind developing something with Eddie," Sadri admits, "but he's more of a fixer-upper boyfriend than someone who sweeps you off your feet. It doesn't matter because he's crazy-mad for you and no one else."

"I do not recall asking your assessment of Eddie's relationship with me," Gloria states.

"What do you have on him?" I can hear Sadri's anger rise. "As horrible person as you are, as kind as Eddie is; I can't understand how Eddie isn't staring down the bottom of a bottle as cruelly as you've been treating him. Show an ounce of human compassion and let him go." The dishwashing stops and I have little doubt Gloria has turned to face Sadri.

"What we have together is not your concern," Gloria growls. "I certainly didn't hold anything over his head when he chose a relationship with me. I tried to drive him away but he wouldn't accept my insistence...sort of like you."

"Young, vital people go after things they want and aren't easily discouraged," Sadri remarks snidely. "Only when you get...older...do you become more bitter and vindictive."

Yeah, bringing up the age difference is not going to help either Sadri or me.

"He is free to leave whenever he likes," Gloria bristles, which is the problem...she thinks I can leave her at a moment's notice. That terrifies her with a child on the way.

"Seriously expect me to believe that? You have the emotional warmth of a hedgehog and the sex can't be that good with a brittle, corrosive ice queen like you," Sadri taunts.

"I've never had him complain," Gloria snarls.

"I bet you haven't," Sadri's tone shifted to warmth and compassion. "He's crazy for you Gloria and I'm not running a game on you. He loves you, you occasionally make him happy and I'm pretty sure he took a stabbing and a bullet for you. Yes, he's a fuck-up on occasion but you are never going to find that level of devotion to you, body and soul, for as long as you live."

"Mrs. Hardison," Gloria responds but she knows she's been out maneuvered. Sadri is manipulating Gloria on my behalf...which is why she lured Gloria to Sadri's place to support her story then lets her challenge Gloria's and my relationship.

"Mrs. Hardison, one day some manipulative bitch is going to trick him and pry him away using his pain you cause him," Sadri continues. "He'll hate himself when he wakes up but that won't do either of you any good."

"If he's going to betray me, why would I want him in my life?" Gloria inquires.

"Ummm...in my experience and that of my Mother, it is up to women to keep the men in line," Sadri sighs in an exasperated manner.

"Maybe in India," Gloria shakes her head (I imagine), "but not here."

"Mrs. Hardison, can you really imagine Eddie taking care of himself? He's a sweet guy and he means well...and apparently he's an excellent lover but do you think what a disaster his life would be without you?" Sadri prods.

"Eddie is quite capable, as are you, Ms. Gupta and it is not lost on me that you two make a great team," Gloria notes. "It is also not lost on me that my people are more productive when they work with Eddie."

"Eddie receives five times as many e-mails and tweets than I do," Sadri chuckles. "People are always asking him for favors and he always tries his hardest to help. The trade off to his immediate loss of productivity is that Eddie gets other workers to help him out when he needs it. He is really a good guy and I'm not alone in thinking that. Give him another chance."

"Ms. Gupta...Sadri, do you really believe I wasn't aware of Eddie's potential when I gave him this project?" Gloria informs her. "His lack of punctuality and his laze faire attitude toward his work environment were major stumbling blocks for me to deal with but when I looked to his finer qualities I...I learned to trust him with things he was good at."

"Does he trust you?" Sadri asked softly, realizing a crucial moment was upon us all.

"It isn't that simple," Gloria states, then, "why do you feel the need to talk about this with me? I would think that you would want to deepen the rift between Eddie and me so you could have him for your own."

"There is no chance of that Mrs. Hardison," Sadri says, "As I said, he's madly in love with you. If all I can be is his friend, I'm going to be the best friend I can be for him."

"Very well; tonight and tomorrow Gloria will suffice," my girl allows. "Why are you talking about this anyway?"

"Do you have any lady friends -- sisters, a mother, women you know from college - if they haven't gone extinct with the rest of the dinosaurs?" Sadri teases. By the silence I can tell Gloria is teetering on rejecting this whole advancement.

"Eddie made the same erroneous assumption," Gloria muses. "I have never needed friends; I have the job...and now Eddie, but I imagine you are referring to someone I can talk over 'women's issues' with. The answer is: no, I don't."

"I would rather put my hand in a bag filled with rabid rats and the spiciest curry than befriend you Gloria," Sadri taunts, "but I know that if Eddie gets mopey at work I'll have to pick up his slack."

"He'll accomplish his task no matter what," Gloria counters, "He never lets..." she doesn't finish the sentence. She was about to say 'he never lets me down' and she knows it.

"What I am trying to say is that, to me, Eddie is worth bathing in your abrasive as all-crap personality -- if you are willing to put up with my clever irreverence," Sadri smiles.

"Your insubordinate attitude was holding you back and it was only Eddie's charm that made me assign you to him. You are one of the best in the field in software but most of your previous co-workers were very unimpressed with your cooperative skill sets," Gloria reposes.

"I think we can both agree that neither one of us would help the other off the train tracks if Eddie wasn't around, but will you bend a bit to stop dropping all your pent-up emotional baggage on him alone?" Sadri keeps going. "Trust me, when you mention 'spotting' or cramps that hundredth time he's bailing out the window. He's a man; it is how they keep sane."

Gloria remains quiet as Sadri gets the longest drink of water in the history of kitchenettes everywhere.

"I would be remiss to disregard your proposal on strictly emotional grounds," Gloria accepts being outmaneuvered a tad more graciously than expected. I would almost swear she's trying to make me happy. After that, the rest of the evening is gravy.

(Around Midnight)

I wake up to find her standing over me. Gloria has waited for me to stir so she can sit down at my hip. She ghostly glides down, her silky, mid-calf robe parting to reveal everything up to her thigh right below the panty line. She is working something over desperately in her mind.

"Eddie, if I asked -- asked you -- to leave me would you?" she manages to say once she's re-established eye contact.

I have to sit up until our faces are only inches apart. I want to growl at her that I'll never leave her but that is something my soul rebels against. It is something you can't explain to someone who hasn't been in love. My eyes tear up; one rivets down my left and one follows another down the right. I hate it; not because of the macho factor but because I want to be strong for Gloria.

"Yes," I say with a far steadier voice than I imagine I could muster.

"Why?" she comes right at me before I can recover. I don't have time to think of the 'perfect' words that will make this alright.

"I love you. I love you so much that I want to do whatever it takes to make you happy," I relate.

"What of our child?" she continues barely above a whisper.

"What life is our child going to have if I make you unhappy Gloria? I will figure out some way to touch their life," I sigh, "but your happiness always comes first."

"How do you justify..." she lets hang out there. That memory -- that desk -- making her go back to that place in her mind where she was raped.

"You were taking our child because you were afraid of what I represented and you weren't giving me a chance to be a true mate for you. I am not 'that guy'," by which I meant her old boss, Mr. Vance, "or your former husband who didn't try to understand you when you were in trouble. I'm Eddie Duarte, I'm not the best guy who has ever walked the planet but I think I'm the best man for you and I'll do whatever you want if it is only for you and our child."

"You look positively miserable," Gloria has this haunted look but still manages a slip of a smile aimed my way.

"That would be reality crashing in on me," I confide in her. "It is one thing to say 'I love you' but another to think I'll next see you in the Delivery Room." Gloria blinks then nods.

"That won't be a problem Eddie," she murmurs, "unless you get lost in the parking lot."

We hug each other and I can't imagine she's ever felt better in my arms.

"Gloria?"

"Yes Eddie," she starts nibbling my neck just above my shirt collar.

"You had better tell the onboard navigation system where to go because I have no idea how I got to the last hospital I was in and the one previous to that rated emergency room service on the caliber of your gunshot wound," I tease. She pulls back far enough to thump my forehead with her forefinger.

"Would it kill you to allow me one romantic moment Eddie," she looks longingly at me. I just hug her gently and keep quiet. I let her set the tempo as she hugs me back and kiss the other side of my neck. I rubbed circles over her robe and short back nightgown with this lacy pink trim. Gloria slowly bares me down on the sofa, her legs straddling my body as Gloria unties her sash.

"Please," Sadri yawned from the entranceway, "go upstairs. Watching sofa-sex was painful enough in college -- you two need to grow up." Gloria shoots up and glares at the intruder. "Honestly Gloria, when a girl sneaks downstairs to where a guy is trying to sleep, it rarely ends in a poetry reading," Sadri yawns again.

"We were not going to have sex," Gloria insists.

"Sure," Sadri sighs, "but would you two go up to your room, or he can go to my room, but I'm going to stay on the sofa because I'd like to get some sleep tonight and I'm terrified one of you is a screamer."

"Sadri..." Gloria begins to growl.

"Stop Gloria," I sit up, "we are going upstairs and going to bed. I've missed you -- am I clear?"

Gloria turns on me and tries to formulate an angry reply but I stop her with a deep kiss and deftly grab her right hand and use it to stroke the bulge in my pajama bottoms. "I want you," I whisper, "in case there was ever a doubt."

"Eddie, you are very crude," Gloria purrs, protesting but far from angry.

I am maneuvering my lady around both the sofa and Sadri when my work-partner speaks.

"Congratulations Gloria and Eddie," she teases.

"What are you...?" Gloria recovers flawlessly.

"You have cotton balls on top of your tampons Gloria," Sadri announces decisively and with the tension that rolls through Gloria, Sadri's evidence is incontrovertible. "I was looking for your rubbing alcohol and there it was -- so why wasn't my buddy wearing a raincoat?"

"We are not having this discussion," I tell Sadri but I give her a wink as I lead Gloria past and toward the stairs.

Gloria does a quick glance then sprints for the top with me grabbing her waist as we round the turn at the stop of the stairs -- she's tired and I'm horny. By the look Sadri gives me, she's both disturbed and aroused. She likes me but this is the woman she hatefully calls The Bitch and Gloria's acting like a sex kitten -- the inexperienced mind boggles.

The final rush to the bed is a twist of hands running over one another's bodies, her robe slipping to the floor and my shirt being violently yanked off over my head. Gloria tumbles back on the bed looking terribly hungry for me and I...hesitate. I hover there, worried and uncertain. Gloria's eyes follow mine and came to rest on her form, with a tiny bit more weight. She wonders if that turns me off but it turns out she knows me better than my words can express.

"I'm not porcelain Eddie," Gloria gives a deep, throaty laugh. "You can jump on me and the baby will be just fine." With obvious relief, I fall on her, kissing and sighing with relief while she wriggles beneath me. As normal, we struggle to determine who will be on top. I announce that she has a 'baby handicap'. She laughs, fails to deny it then uses it against me to seize her cowgirl status.

"I am on top," she trumpets. "You had better get used to the view." The look on my face must be priceless because Gloria becomes all misty-eyed as she pulls off her slip-like nightgown and tosses it somewhere near the head of the bed -- those magnificent breasts, already swelling up with milk, or so it seems. She leans down and dangles them each in turn into my slurping mouth.

"You are so very hungry tonight Eddie," Gloria moans. She becomes even more excited when after much wandering; I slip both hands under her panties and grips two handfuls off ass. Gloria playfully grinds against my pj bottoms as my hands go lower. When my handholds feel difficult, she pushes herself up my body. Her tight, pointy nipples now brush my eyes but I can circle two fingers of my left hand around her anus and rub three from my right hand along her swollen, drenched lips.

"Clothes," Gloria whispers and like a well-oiled machine, I scoot to my right and the foot of the bed while Gloria rolls onto her side to my left. Her panties languidly descended down her smooth thighs, calves, ankles and finally the feet. My bottoms fly off my body as if they are on fire. Gloria's eyes light up and laugh at me, but it is a playful flame of heat, hunger and warmth and she holds no condemnation for my wild desire for her.

I knee-walk up the bed towards her as Gloria twists her body until her head is almost on a pillow. I grab her left knee and push it onto the bed then place a hand to do the same to her right thigh.

"No you don't," Gloria challenges me. "I am doing more than watching you make me writhe and orgasm on this bed while you have all the fun. Come up here." I opt for a compromise because I feel parched without her juices on my tongue and going down my throat.

I start moving and by the way Gloria is soon running her hands down my ribs to my waist and finally grasping my buttocks before taking the top of my cock into her sweet lips and steamy mouth. I am busy fulfilling my promise to slake my thirst. By the sounds of Gloria's labored breathing, I am making her terribly happy too. With Gloria though, it is never as easy as it should be.

"Eddie -- mmph -- mmph -- what do you think about a limited time window -- mmm -- mmph -- for internet porn at work? What would it do for productivity?" Gloria mouths her thoughts around her fellatio technique.

"Mmmm -- slurp, slurp -- I think having a -- lap, lap, lap, slurp -- free internet Thursdays -- yum-yum, lap -- give each section a thirty -- slurp, tongue-waggle -- minute window and we can ramp up -- slurp -- mmmm -- security and create a -- mmm, lap, lap, slurp -- blind data engine to keep track of the sites -- yum, slurp, lap, lap -- but keep the identity's of the users safe," I gasp out before returning to work.

We are getting a good rhythm where one of us is vitally active while the other keeps their partner's sex humming along. I feel good about getting her to climax first; she's come so far since that first awkward time but I'm still an inch more comfortable with my sexuality. I hear that as a woman advances in her pregnancy she becomes more sexually aggressive and demanding; I'm in trouble.

She surprises me by pinching off the base of my penis before I can ejaculate. She goes back to a strict hand job that gets my attention.

"This does not count as working lunch though I am giving serious consideration to your suggestion," Gloria smiles wickedly.

"Wait -- did you just make a work-related joke?" I babble. Gloria doesn't answer; she doesn't have to.

"You don't think I can add levity to our relationship?" Gloria studies me seriously. She shows me how seriously when she bares her teeth and puts my cockhead between the upper and lower set. I am not in pain -- yet.

"You are a laugh riot," I stammer -- the wrong thing to say as those teeth bite down painfully. "I only want to make you feel as wonderful as you make me," I try next -- the right answer.

"I believe you Eddie," Gloria purrs, "now get up here and let me give you your reward." I let Gloria set me where she wants because I'm on my back with several pillows propping up my head and shoulders. I'm thinking a low, gentle ride with her breast in my mouth once more. The moment she pours the thick oil on my penis I know what Gloria's plan is.

It shouldn't be a surprise, she can masturbate but since she's uncomfortable with sexual toys, she won't engage with anal stimulation. That is something she enjoyed when she was back in college and she had rediscovered that joy with me, despite my own inexperience. I am still rather indifferent about anal plundering because Gloria's womb felt so good to me but I am more than happy to do the things that make Gloria glow. Of course I'm still a young man.

"We are not going to -- you know -- I don't want to hit his head or something like that," I worry.

"Stop!" Gloria demands, "You are not a doctor or even a life science major. I talk to the OBGYN and -- next time Eddie you can come with me," she suddenly inserts. Maybe she's worked this shared responsibility in her head and maybe this is the hormones talking. "I have actually asked what acts and positions are allowed and the best."

"That's rather bold for you," I muse.

"Eddie," Gloria sighs in exasperation, "she already knows I am having a child out of wedlock; she's seen the stretching of my anus so I feel I can talk to her about sexual matters in clinical manner."

"I'd be happy to go with you and see my son, Paul the firefighter," I nod. Gloria mounts me revere-cowgirl, her thighs throbbing as she uses one hand on my stomach to balance with while the other places my cockhead against her anus; her rather tight anus -- no prep or anything.

"Our daughter, Sara Marie, the astronaut, concert pianist, award-winning author and renowned criminologist will be fine on the first ultrasound," Gloria lays down the genetic law.

"No press -" I gasp as her sphincter gives way and lead elements of my cock enter her snug heated rectum. The liberal coating of lube helps somewhat, "- pressure G. I just want our kid to run into burning buildings. You want them to live without sleep or a social life."

"You achieve great -- ness," she slips and over two inches is forced down her shaft. "Comes from discipline and hard study -- but we will create some options for our child because I will not discount the happiness -- oh yeah -- yessss -- you bring me."

If I didn't have most of my dick up my girlfriend's behind I'd do a handstand with sparklers between my toes. Gloria just admitted that happiness is a deciding factor -- in our child's life and in ours. Sure, I'm promising to do childhood ballet, music lessons and gymnastics but we are also making play-dates and kid's movies and maybe regular family walk in the park.

"Eddie," Gloria exhales deeply, "that's fantastic! Whatever has inspired 'my' cock, keep it up and get to pounding me Honey." I obey. This is definitely one of those times I obey and I do so with thunderous stamina. She's slowly toppling back onto my chest. I tilt my hips up and bring my hands around to her breasts. I'm pushing my dick up her asshole using my legs, hips and abdominal muscles.

Gloria is driven breathless each time my rod hammers to her greatest depths. I'm pulling her nipples up and she is giving weak squeals for over a minute before she strokes my arm.

"That is a little too much," she wheezes. I start massaging the weight of her mammary instead of abusing the nipples and slow my pace of drilling her ass. She nods her thanks.

We slowly build up my action until she starts twitching then, "Yes, yes, Yes!" and she climaxes. The tightening of her rectal muscles has me flooding her ass with my seed. Gloria rolls onto the center of the bed and I stay with her, my cock still up her butt and that makes her sigh contentedly. She lets her tension bleed off and I know she's lost in thought.

"What's up Love?" I inquire softly.

"I'm thinking about our future," she whispers, "about you and me then you, me and our child."

"Do you want there to be a serious 'us'?" I ask.

"Yes," she struggles to confess.

"I know we have only just saved ourselves from destruction, and I've said it before, but Gloria Hardison, would you marry me, for better and worse, forever and ever," I throw myself out there. I'm persistent if not overly bright.

"Let me think about it," she responds, but she reaches back with her free left hand and strokes me from waist to thigh. "I always factored in happiness in the workplace Mr. Duarte. I could count the percentages that happy workers produced over neutral or unhappy workers. I never considered the tangible aspects before I met you -- and I've been refusing to look that way ever since."

"But Eddie, you had a friend risk his own well-being on your behalf and then you paid him back, despite the risk to us," Gloria is currently trying to put her thoughts in order.

"Then you got Sadri to come over tonight..." she continues.

"Honestly," I swore to Gloria, "I didn't put her up to this."

"I know you would never ask her to fight your battles, but I know if she's late, or leaves early, or flirts with a co-worker, you will cover her and she knows it," Gloria forgives my interruption. "You would never ask her and that is why she felt obligated to help you on her own."

"Please don't hold it against her," I request.

"That will not be a problem," Gloria muses. "I doubt we will be close friends Eddie but she is more symptomatic of your charisma as well as your influence in the company. You are liked Eddie but more important to me Eddie, you have always been reliable to your co-workers and that is the difference between a friend inviting you to a wedding and a co-worker giving you privileged access or making your requests a priority when they shouldn't. Everyone knows you will pay them back."

"You said it best," she looks over her shoulder at me, "I can't expect you to be reliable to me and not be reliable to them. I have to expect you will do your best and from time to time you will let me down because," she a pause for a long time, "you may not be the best man but you are the best man for me." I hug her tightly and kiss the back of her neck along the hair-line.

"I'll marry you Mr. Duarte but with some conditions," Gloria snuggles into me. I have to bite down on a comedic but highly inappropriate comeback.

"We will get married after our child is born -- your name will be on all the appropriate documents, so don't worry," she tells me. "I don't want us to rush into marriage and four months is just not long enough to do this right."

"I will not take your last name; I've done this once and I don't want to do it again," she explains, "Our child will have your name but hold the option to take a hyphenated last name when they become older. Are you okay with this?"

"I'll have to consider this Mrs. Duarte-Hardison," I tease. She elbows me.

"That is not part of the deal buddy," she mock-protests, "and it would be 'Duarte-Belmont' based on my maiden name."

"Hell, I like the sound of that," I nod confidently. "Maybe I'll take that -- I'm serious."

"Really," she twists so much my cock flops out of her ass finally spent. "I will consider it as well because I like the sound of it too," she yawns. "Let's get under the covers and sleep. If not, Ms. Gupta -- Sadri, will really think we had sex and I don't need the teasing."

"Trust me Gloria, she knows. Sadri acts like a Boar, sneaks like a Tiger and enjoys her luxuries like a Dragon. A few minutes after we came up she returned to her room," I sigh. "She's heard everything."

"No," Gloria whispers fearfully because she is normally so private and likes a wall to exist between her person and her employees.

"If you don't believe me, make a little pig snorting noise at breakfast tomorrow and watch her hit me," I whisper as quietly as I can into Gloria's ear. After a moment, Gloria agrees to the test. We snuggle under the covers and my exhausted love is asleep inside a minute. I stay up for a few minutes longer praying to God this isn't some fevered dream of mine.

Gloria spun our relationship out of control and I drove it off a cliff, but we pulled our way back together. There is a lesson in there somewhere. Right now I have her in my arms so I'll think about that means in the morning.