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A Rose By Any Other Name - Chapter Thirteen By Jeremy Spencer
   Getting together to chat with Natalie about Heather's proposal took some
time, not because she wasn't available to talk, but because I suddenly got
incredibly cold feet about the entire event.  I put off talking to her
about it for a couple of weeks until, right before Thanksgiving.
   Shortly after I had my discussion with Katie, she had asked my sister
out on a date.  Natalie was a bit nervous about it, not because she thought
I would disapprove or anything, but because she was still a bit nervous
about "coming out" in front of the whole community.
   "It was difficult enough doing that at home, with Chris," she said one
night.  "And that was Mom and Dad and you...  and I knew you guys would
support me no matter what!"
   "What's so different about this?" I asked.
   "I don't know any of these people," Natalie said with a bit of
desperation in her voice.  "What will they think of me?"
   "Who cares what they think?" I said truthfully.  "Do you know any of
them?" Natalie shook her head.
   "Probably not," she admitted.
   "Do you make all kinds of harsh judgments about people you don't know
and will more than likely never see again?"
   "No," Natalie said slowly.
   "So, what's the big deal?" I asked.  "Look, I can understand if you're
nervous, but it's not like people are going to look at the two of you and
immediately start throwing fits about it."
   "I suppose," Natalie said.  "This has all just been too much.  First you
finding out, then Mom and Dad, then Katie asking me out, and...  has
Heather talked to you about what she wants the three of us to do?" Natalie
asked.  I was a bit surprised by her question, because Heather hadn't
mentioned to me that she had discussed anything with Natalie.
   "Uh...  yeah.  We talked about that a few weeks ago," I said.  "When did
you guys talk?"
   "Last night," Natalie said.  "Pretty crazy, isn't it?"
   "Yeah," I said, laughing a bit to dispel my nerves.  "It is a bit
crazy."
   "So, when did you guys want to do it?" she asked.
   "What?" I asked, almost choking on the can of soda I was drinking. 
"Didn't you want to hear my side of it?"
   "Why?  Don't you want to?" Natalie asked.
   "Uh...  well, it's just that..." I trailed off.  Natalie began looking
at me curiously and I suddenly realized that she was right.  I did want to
do this.  Not all the way, but in my most honest moments I found the idea
incredibly arousing.  I just had a hard time admitting that to anyone, most
of all myself.  It was at that moment that I felt myself become happy, as
if a storm had just passed overhead.
   "What?" Natalie asked, noticing my change of expression.
   "Nothing," I shrugged.  "I...  I guess I do want to do this after all. I
mean, are you okay with this?  It's kind of weird, isn't it?"
   "A little bit," Natalie said.  "But really, you've seen me a couple
times, and..."
   "And you returned the favor," I butted in, remembering the morning
Natalie and watched Heather and me in bed."
   "Yes I did, and it was hot," Natalie giggled.
   "I thought you looked kind of into it," I grinned.  "But seriously, this
is fine with you?"
   "You're not going to tell everyone, are you?" she asked.
   "God, no!" I blurted out.  "In fact, I was hoping I wouldn't have to
tell anybody."
   "Then I'm fine with it.  The way Heather talked about it, it would
almost be like the three of were in bed, but it would be two couples.  You
and Heather together so I could watch, and Heather and me together so you'd
get to watch.  Right?"
   "Right," I said quickly.  "And nobody gets to watch the two of us
together, right?" Natalie nodded and I sighed with relief, happy that
everyone now seemed to be on the same page.
   "Cool," Natalie said.  "Then when should we do this?"
   *****
   Some things take time to plan, while some events seem to be ready-made
with little preparation necessary.  The threesome with Heather and Natalie
seemed to be in the first category.
   Nothing seemed to gel for a couple of weeks.  My teaching and concert
schedule right before Thanksgiving was hectic as could be, and because she
worked in the office, Heather's schedule was pretty similar.  I didn't
really know about Natalie's hours, but the fact that Heather and I were so
busy made it moot anyway.
   Then, just after Thanksgiving break I got a call from Heather.  It was
her day off and her quick message was simple and to the point.
   "It's tonight," she said.  "Get here as soon as you can."
   I chuckled as I put down the phone.  As antsy as she sounded, it
wouldn't have shocked me if the two women were already going at it when I
walked into my apartment after school.  And this time, I thought.  I'll be
ready for it.
   I still had one thing to do though, before that happened.  The time was
right, and I walked into Dr.  Bergerud's office, informing him of my
decision.
   "I've decided that you're right," I said as he sat there expectantly. 
"I do want the job.  If the school agrees, I would love it.  Absolutely
love it." I had expected Dr.  Bergerud to be grateful, perhaps even
ecstatic, but his reaction surpassed even that.
   "That is fabulous!" he said, jumping out of his chair to shake my hand.
He laughed loudly, sounding completely thrilled with my decision.  "Oh,
there's so much to do now, so many people to call." Almost immediately it
was if I wasn't there as he began hurrying all over his office, digging up
notes from piles of papers and calling out to Katie to bring him his
coffee.
   She grinned at how happy her father was and gave me a big hug.
   "Thank you for this," she said.  "I know it means a lot to him.  He's
really wanted nothing more than for someone he liked and respected to take
over the work he's done here.  Thank you."
   I returned her hug as best I was able, considering my hands were full of
books of my own.
   "Hey," I called out to Dr.  Bergerud, completely forgetting the phone
call from Heather only hours before.  "You want to come over?  Have a drink
or two?  Celebrate?"
   "Can't.  Busy," was his brusque response.  "Take Katie with you.  She
needs to get out more."
   Katie laughed as I looked at her, slightly bemused.
   "Is that true?" I asked.  "Do you need to get out more?"
   "I think he's just sick of hearing Natalie and me in bed," she grinned.
   "Oh really?" I asked.  "That's going well then?" I asked.  Before Katie
had a chance to respond the events planned for this evening came rushing
back to me.  "Oh shit," I said, grimacing at my memory lapse.
   "What?" Katie wanted to know.
   "Um...  I suppose I can tell you," I stammered.  "Remember the plans
Heather and Natalie had for the three of us?" I asked.
   "Yeah...  are they on?" she asked.  I nodded in response.  "Cool, when?"
   "Tonight."
   "What's the problem?" Katie asked.
   "I just asked you over for drinks.  I don't know if that's such a great
idea!"
   "Nonsense," Katie laughed.  "I already told you I like to watch.  Now,
forget the whole thing and just let it happen." She tapped me on the head,
making a hollow sound with her mouth.  "You think too much, dummy.  Just go
with it.  Besides, I told you to invite me, now let's go!"
   Deciding she was right, I told Katie I would just be a minute.  I went
back to Dr.  B's office, where her father was busy making phone calls and
frantically scribbling on a pad of paper in front of him.  I waited until
he paused in his conversation and mouthed 'goodbye' to him.
   He acknowledged me with an impatient nod and motioned for me to get out.
   I laughed as Katie and I walked out of the building.  I was nervous,
anxious, scared and excited all at once.
   *****
   It was actually somewhat disappointing to find Heather and Natalie
simply chatting on the sofa, when Katie and I entered the apartment,
although that was probably a good thing.
   "Hey, what's up?" Heather said uncertainly when she saw Katie was with
me.  "Daniel?" she asked.
   "She wanted to be here," I said nervously.  I saw Natalie glance back
and forth between Heather and Katie and wondered if this had somehow ruined
the evening.
   "Yeah," Katie chimed in.  "I wanted to watch you three perverts.  Now
get to the fucking!"
   The three of us burst into laughter at Katie's enthusiasm, which
magically worked to ease the tension in the air.
   "Just like that, huh?" Natalie said, getting up from the couch and
walking over to her new girlfriend.  "You want to watch me get it on with
another girl, do you?" she asked.  The two young women stared at each
other, leaning closer and closer until their lips met.  They seemed
oblivious to the fact they were not alone, but neither Heather nor I said a
word as they kissed.
   It was one of the more erotic things I had ever seen, as they seemingly
lost track of themselves in front of us.  As their hands busily slid up and
down each other's backs, stroking gently at the other woman's smooth
bodies, I walked over to Heather, pulling her up from where she was
sitting. My cock had already begun swelling at the sight and sounds the
other two were making, a fact that Heather was quick to notice.
   "Hey guys," she called out to Katie and Natalie, who broke their kiss
quickly, although their hands were still very busy.  "He's ready."
   I grinned in embarrassment at having my condition pointed out like that,
but the other two women just laughed and went back to their kissing.
   "Come on," I said, pulling on Heather's hand to get her moving with me.
"They'll come in when they're ready."
   After Heather and I managed to drag ourselves into the bedroom, she
wasted no time in trying to drag my pants down around my ankles, almost
whimpering in her desire.
   "Slow down," I said, trying to pull her back up to her feet.  "Give me a
kiss." Heather made a face but obliged me, quickly, then tried to once
again remove all my clothing at once.
   "Hurry up," she groaned.  "I'm so hot for you."
   "Don't you want to wait for Natalie?" I asked.  Heather shook her head
as her fingers fumbled with my zipper.
   "Didn't you see the way she was kissing Katie?  Those two will be out
there for hours!"
   "Then maybe we should go out and join them," I said as Heather finally
undid my fly and yanked my slacks down around my ankles.  I stepped out of
them, dressed only in my shirt and briefs.  Slowly, I began unbuttoning the
thin teal-colored blouse Heather was wearing.  If she didn't want to wait,
who was I to complain?  This was her idea, after all.  She was setting the
rules.
   Suddenly though, Heather seemed to slow down, and batted my hands away
from her chest.  I had managed to undo half the buttons and the tops of her
breasts were now visible through the gap I had made in her blouse.
   "Kiss me," she said, taking my hands and draping them around her
shoulders.  I quickly obliged, leaning in for an open-mouthed kiss that
left me reeling.  Heather's tongue was like an eel inside my mouth,
slippery and hard to catch, but I did my best to keep up.  Heather must
have decided I was wearing too many clothes and yanked down my underwear
with one hand, causing my prick to bend painfully before snapping back
upright.
   My groan of displeasure quickly turned to one of ecstasy however as
Heather reached down to fondle my shaft.  At her touch I began moaning in
earnest as her fingers wrap around my cock.  I was semi-hard already, and
her gentle manipulation soon had me at full mast.
   Lowering my hands from around her shoulders, I slid my fingers up and
down Heather's spine, causing her to shiver at my touch.  I traveled even
lower, gently cupping the firm globes of her ass, one in each hand,
squeezing in rhythm with my tongue, which was insistently probing in and
out of Heather's mouth.
   Suddenly we were interrupted as Katie and Natalie, both naked now, burst
into the room.
   "God, you guys are still dressed?" Katie exclaimed, giving the two of us
the once over.  "Nice cock, Dan," she giggled, looking down to where my
erection was jutting out from between the tails of my shirt.
   "Isn't it great?" Heather smiled.  She had somehow managed to remove my
shirt most of the way, all the while continuing her stroking of my cock.  I
shrugged the sleeves off my arms and stood there completely naked.  I
turned my head and noticed Natalie standing there, a shy look on her face
as she watched the two of us.
   "Go," I heard Katie say to my sister.  She looked at me as if for
approval, which I gave with a quick nod of my head.  Having the affirmation
she desired, Natalie quickly walked over behind Heather and started
unbuttoning the buttons I had left fastened.  Heather started in surprise
as she felt the extra pair of hands on her body, but quickly realized who
it was and moaned in appreciation as Natalie paused between buttons,
squeezing Heather's breasts from behind.
   Soon enough, the three of us were naked.  My hands were quickly full of
Heather's ass cheeks as we kissed passionately.  My sister still stood
behind Heather, reaching around to cup and tweak my girlfriend's full
breasts and now hard nipples.  I almost jumped in surprise as I felt one of
Natalie's hands reach down Heather's front to cup her pussy, bumping into
my cock in the process.  She gave an embarrassed grin and continued rubbing
around the outside of Heather's vulva, pressing lightly on the edges of her
labia as Heather groaned in between us.
   "Sorry," she said as the back of her hand once again brushed against my
erection.  I smiled and pressed my shaft more firmly against her fingers,
groaning at the sensation.
   "Don't worry about it," I hissed as Heather began kissing down my chest.
   We were forced to reposition soon enough and took the opportunity to
fall onto my bed.  Katie had apparently removed the bedding, leaving but a
single sheet and now sat on a chair, mere feet from our activity, a
captivated look in her eye.
   "Lick her pussy," Katie groaned, although I couldn't be certain who she
was speaking to.  I knelt between Heather's widespread thighs, preparing to
feast on her swollen pussy.  Heather, in turn, was lying on her back as my
sister positioned herself above my girlfriend's mouth.
   I timed the first swipe of my tongue in time with Heather's first
tentative lick of Natalie's already soaked labia and the two women groaned
in unison, Heather's cry muted slightly by Natalie's thighs.  I found that
I was able to ignore the presence of both Natalie and Katie as I gently
brought Heather higher and higher.
   Her squeals of pleasure increased as I added a finger to her pussy,
while my tongue rapidly lashed over her clit.  She was leaking her juices
onto my face and the bed now and I could already feel her pussy muscles
begin to spasm around my finger as I thrust into her.
   "Oh shit," she hissed as I felt the first real spasm of her orgasm
overtake her.  As she began shaking, Natalie reached down, pushing me out
of the way and began licking wilding at the fat outer lips of Heather's
pussy.  I wasn't sure if Natalie was able to come, or if Heather had
stopped all her movements with the onset of her orgasm, but I know I was
close to shooting my first load of semen just from watching the two women.
   When Heather had finally settled down a bit, Natalie quickly sat up, her
face shiny and wet from Heather's orgasm.  She twisted around onto her back
with her own legs spread, beckoning for my girlfriend to eat her in return.
   "Go for it," I said as Heather looked at me for some sort of approval.
Once she had it, Heather wasted no time in diving in and soon it was
Natalie screaming and writhing on my bed.  It occurred to me that Heather
was pretty good at what she did, and I grinned over to Katie, who was still
sitting and watching the proceedings.
   "She seems pretty into this," I mouthed.  Katie grinned, her eyes glassy
and unfocussed as her fingers plunged rapidly into her pussy.  I could hear
the liquid wet sounds as her juices squeezed out around her digits, coating
the chair below her ass.  Thank God the chair's vinyl, was my observation,
a though quickly pushed aside as I felt a hand firmly grasp my cock.
   "Stop ogling your sister's girlfriend and fuck me," Heather hissed over
her shoulder, a smile playing on her lips as Natalie grinned up at me.
   "Yes, ma'am," I said, saluting the two of them as I got into position.
Heather's ass was presented to me, and it took only a second to find the
gaping opening to her pussy.  I needed but a single swipe in her opening to
coat the head of my cock and began slowly pushing forward.
   A gentle bout of lovemaking was evidently not on Heather's mind as she
lunged back at me, imbedding my cock in her steaming pussy in one hard
stroke.
   "Oh shit," I gasped as my cock was suddenly surrounded by her smooth,
wet tunnel.  I grabbed Heather by the hips and began thrusting almost
violently into her opening.  I was mildly worried about my frantic motions,
but Heather's groans and hisses of pleasure soon allayed any fears I might
have had.
   Suddenly Natalie was crawling out from under Heather as I continued
fucking her from behind.  She reached out to Katie, who was slumped over on
the chair, glowing from the after-effects of a self-induced orgasm, and
pulled her onto the bed.
   Very quickly there were four sets of groans as the four of us, almost
synchronized in our actions, were thrusting and licking at each other all
at once.  I doubt our orgasms were simultaneous, but the explosions we felt
couldn't have been all that far apart, based on the sounds we were making.
We were loud enough that I began to worry about the neighbors, but the
thought quickly passed as I felt Heather began to twitch almost
uncontrollably beneath me.
   "Harder, harder, harder," she panted as the spasms hit with a fierceness
I could feel through my prick.  I tried to oblige, although my legs were
beginning to feel like jelly at this point.  I held on as long as I could,
until I felt the onset of her second orgasm.  The power of her tremors and
the thrusting of her hips managed to force me away and I fell back on the
bed, watching as Heather writhed on the bed, her fingers now plunging
desperately in her pussy as she attempted to prolong her climax.
   Katie and Natalie paused in their lovemaking, watching in amazement as
Heather seemed to go through not one but two consecutive climaxes, each
leaving her limp and happy on the bed.  A trail of juices leaked from her
pussy, coating the sheets on the bed.  Natalie grinned at me before
releasing Katie and leaping to Heather's prone form.
   She began to lap up the copious juices and soon her face had taken on a
slipper sheen from the effort.  I sat back, idly stroking my cock while all
this was going on, my eyes focused solely on the action between my sister
and my girlfriend.  I was so intent on their play that it came as a shock
when I felt my hand pushed aside.  I looked down in shock to see Katie
grinning up at me for a moment before plunging her mouth down over my
erection.
   "Oh fuck," I gasped as her tongue began lashing at the sensitive
underside of my prick.  My outburst roused Heather, who was now lying back,
her fingers trailing through Natalie's hair as the younger girl nibbled at
Heather's nipples.
   "Look at them," Heather whispered in Natalie's ear.  My sister paused in
her ministrations to Heather's breasts and looked our way.  Her own eyes
grew glassy as she watched me receive Katie's expert blowjob.  Her
excitement seemed to be increased by watching this and she quickly
redoubled her efforts on Heather's tits, causing the older woman to reach a
hand down and begin thrusting furiously in her pussy.
   The action was interrupted suddenly when Katie, with a loud slurp that
made all of us giggle, pulled away from my cock.  She reached out and
grabbed Natalie away from Heather, pulling the two girls together in a
heated embrace.  The two started kissing and fondling each other hotly
while Heather and I watched.
   When Heather noticed my hand was once again stroking at my erection as I
watched, she leaned back on the bed, spreading her legs wide in invitation.
I needed no second request and had soon buried my rod in her hot tunnel and
was quickly stroking closer and closer to another orgasm.
   Beside us on the bed, Katie was busy between my sister's legs, licking
and probing with her fingers and tongue.  In her excitement, Natalie had
reached over and was pulling on Heather's nipples, sliding her fingers over
the full breasts.  She would occasionally reach down to tweak Heather's
clit, sometimes bumping into my prick in the process.
   Suddenly I felt Heather go tense beneath me as what turned out to be her
final orgasm of the night rocketed through her body.  I felt the slick
walls of her pussy begin pulsing around my cock and I pulled out as a
stream of clear liquid sprayed onto my crotch.
   "Holy shit," Natalie whispered as she watched Heather ejaculating from
her orgasm.  In her excitement Natalie reached down to catch some of the
slippery liquid and to my surprise my sister grabbed my cock, coating my
shaft with Heather's cum.
   "Do it," Heather whispered when she saw where Natalie's hand was. 
Natalie got an embarrassed look on her face, but commenced stroking my
erection.  I leaned back, closing my eyes, and as the sensations washed
over my groin, I could feel my orgasm building inside me.
   Soon a second set of hands, I can only assume they belonged to Katie,
reached down and began fondling my balls and running over the clenched
cheeks of my ass, once dipping down to stroke over the puckered ring of my
anus.  This was enough to trigger my orgasm, and it was all I could do to
hold on as long as possible before I released stream after stream of my
semen onto Heather's waiting pussy and belly.
   Drained from the activity, I slumped down into Heather's waiting arms.
She smothered my face with kisses and we held each other, our bodies slick
with the results of our sex.
   I don't know if I managed to crawl off of Heather and down onto the bed
before I passed out...  I just don't remember.  All I know for certain is
that it wasn't too long before I felt myself drifting away, and then it was
dark.
   *****
   "Wake up, sleepyhead." The words were scarcely more than a whisper,
barely loud enough to be heard from the darkness of sleep.
   "Go away," I mumbled.
   "Wake up, sleepyhead." Louder now, but still quiet.  The person was
obviously close to my ear.  I pretended ignorance, but as the sound
continued I spoke up again.
   "Too tired," I said.  "Go away."
   I tried to keep my eyes closed, pretending I was still sleeping, but the
insistent tapping on the side of my face eventually became to much and I
cracked open one eye.  Heather was looking intently at me, a smile on her
face.
   "Time to get up," she said in a singsong voice.
   "What time is it?" I asked, craning my head to look at the clock on the
bed's headboard.  "Is that morning or night?" I asked when I saw the clock
read nine thirty.
   "Night," Heather whispered.  "Come on," she said, grabbing my arm and
attempting to pull me off the bed.  I finally staggered to my feet,
noticing for the first time the two of us were now alone in my bedroom,
although still naked.
   "Where are Katie and my sister?" I asked as we walked down the hallway.
Heather stopped and pointed into the spare bedroom.  Natalie's room.
   "Aren't they cute?" she asked.  The two girls were sharing the bed, arms
and legs all akimbo under a thin sheet.  They were cute.
   "They make a nice couple," I said.  "Now, why the heck did you wake me
up.  I was enjoying quite the nice dream," I added grumpily.
   "Was I in it?" Heather grinned.
   "Yes."
   "Ooh.  I should have let you sleep, I guess," she giggled quietly as we
walked into the living room.
   "What's up?" I asked as I sat down heavily on the couch.  Heather
carefully sat down on my lap before she answered.
   "I just wanted to talk," she said.
   "And we couldn't have done that in bed?" I wondered.
   "Ick," she grimaced.  "Wet spot,"
   "Ah...  so, what did you want to talk about?"
   "Us."
   "Oh?"
   "It's just...  where are we?" Heather asked, and I thought I could hear
anxiety in her voice.
   "Wait a minute.  Are you worried about the two of us now?" I asked,
hoping Heather hadn't somehow had a change of heart.  It was my worst fear,
that this whole event would have made her change her mind about us. 
"Because that whole threesome...  foursome...  whatever...  that had
absolutely nothing to do with how I feel about you right now.  I love you,"
I said.
   "Thank God," Heather said, throwing her arms around me as she peppered
my face with kisses.
   "Were you worried about me?" I asked.
   "Kind of," she said.  "But about me, and what you'd think of me."
   I was about to launch into a lengthy dissertation about my undying love
when the girls walked in.  Thankfully, Katie and Natalie had decided on
some modicum of modesty and were both wearing t-shirts which had apparently
been secreted from my dresser.
   "Hey guys," Natalie chirped, blushing a bit when she noticed the two of
us were still naked.
   "Hi," Katie chimed in.  "What's going on?"
   "Just talking," I said, not sure how much I should reveal of our
discussion, a question Heather quickly answered as she jumped in.
   "I'm trying to figure out if he loves me," she said.
   "God!  A whole lot, I think," said a frustrated-sounding Katie.  "I wish
I could find someone to love me like that." She looked mildly dejected for
a moment before Natalie wrapped her in a hug from behind.
   "I could love you like that," she whispered, barely loud enough for us
to hear from the couch.
   "You think so?" Katie said, turning slightly to kiss the other girl on
the cheek.  "You did a pretty damn good job earlier tonight."
   "I think it's in the genes," Natalie giggled, running her lips up the
back of Katie's neck, causing her to shiver.
   "Mmm..." she replied.  "I think I'd like seeing exactly what's in those
jeans again," she laughed.
   "Ahem," coughed Heather, causing the two girls to break apart in
surprise before quickly falling back together in laughter.
   "Yes?" asked my sister.
   "We're also talking about what just happened," Heather said.
   "You mean where I said I wanted to get into Nat's jeans?" Katie joked.
   "No," Heather grinned.  "Before that...  with the four of us...  three
of us...  whatever."
   "It was great," Natalie said, kissing Katie on the cheek once again. 
"Really great."
   "Are we going to do it again?" I asked, seeing where Heather was going.
I got the idea she was a little insecure after it was all said and done,
and might have been trying, despite the good time we'd all had, of avoiding
another moment like we'd all just shared.
   "I dunno," shrugged Katie.  "Do you want to?" she asked me before
quickly turning to Heather.  "Do you want to?"
   "It was fun," agreed my sister.  "But do we need to figure that out
right now?" she asked.  "I'm getting kind of cold!"
   "I'll warm you up, fair damsel!" laughed Katie, spinning in my sister's
arms so the two ended up in a hug.  "I'll get you as warm as you've ever
been."
   "You know you get me hot," my sister giggled, her laughter fading to a
small moan as Katie began nuzzling at the tops of her breasts before slowly
moving up to plant kisses all around her neck.  "Oh, God," she whispered.
   "Okay," I called out.  "Back to the bedroom for you two.  Out!" The
girls looked up guiltily at me before laughing and scurrying back to
Natalie's room.  The door slammed behind them with a satisfying thud, and
although Heather and I could hear their moans through the door, the sound
was thankfully muted.
   "Where were we?" I asked, raising my eyebrows as Natalie, or maybe it
was Katie, gave a very satisfied-sounding shriek from the bedroom.  Heather
giggled, snuggling into me more tightly.
   "I think I was about to start bugging you, trying to figure out if last
night was a mistake," she said.
   "Why would you think that?" I wondered.
   "I don't know...  I just...  I worry that you might feel differently
about me after all that."
   "I think of you the same way I always have," I smiled.  "Well...  except
for a few weeks during the summer when I thought you were a depraved slut."
   "And a whore," Heather interjected, but I could tell by the smile that
she was joking.
   "Right.  Can't forget that," I laughed.  "I did think you were acting
like a whore.  But seriously.  I've loved you almost from the minute we
met."
   "I just...  I don't know if I'm right for you."
   "You are!"
   "I don't know if I'm what you want."
   In frustration I turned the two of us around so we were looking at the
book case on the back wall of the living room.  One shelf was lined with
nothing but nicknacks and photographs.
   "See that picture?" I asked.  "The one in the middle."
   "Yes."
   "Who's in it?" I asked.
   "You and me," Heather answered quietly.
   "That's all I want.  I want you," I said.  "And I need to know if I can
have you."
   "For how long?" Heather whispered, her arms tight around my neck as she
nuzzled against my chest.
   "Forever, if you'll have me," I said.  There was a short pause and what
almost sounded like a sob before Heather answered.
   "I'm yours," she replied.
   *****
   It was a few months later, right after Valentine's Day, when I popped
the question.  I wanted to recreate the night more than a year ago when I
surprised Heather with all those roses.  Pablo's didn't have flower girls
selling roses anymore, of course, but there was a pretty little floral
boutique on my way home from school, and I decided it would do just fine.
   "They're so beautiful," Heather sighed when she saw them.  Once again I
had spread the flowers all over the living room, the heady scent of the
roses almost overpowering.
   "This one is special," I said and handed her a single rose.  "Careful
though, the thorns are still attached."
   "I will be," Heather said as she smelled the rose.  I knew the moment
she saw what I had hidden on the rose from her little gasp.  "Oh my God,"
she whispered as she pulled the ring from the stem, careful not to catch
herself on the thorns.  "It's beautiful."
   She turned to thank me, her face turning almost ashen when she saw I was
down on the floor on one knee.  Before she could move I grabbed her hand
and held it in mine.
   "Heather Morris, will you do me the great honor of allowing me to become
your husband?" I asked, watching her face move from emotion to emotion,
from surprise to anxiety and finally to happiness.
   "Yes," she laughed as she jumped into my arms, knocking us both to the
floor.  "Yes, I'll have you!  Forever and ever and ever!"
   *****
   That was almost a year ago now.  A few months after I proposed, the end
of the school year rolled around.  Even with the distractions, I was able
to graduate with honors, making the college happy in its decision to allow
Dr.  Bergerud to push for me to be his replacement.  I had a lot of
questions to answer from the board of regents about my age and
inexperience, but there were still quite a few people in charge from when
my mentor had started his career, and I think that they were maybe hoping
I'd turn out to be as successful and that my career here would be just as
long.
   I know I do.
   The wedding was in late June, a few weeks after all the busy times
surrounding graduation.  Heather was gorgeous, but of course I knew she
would be.  She walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of roses, walking
on a carpet of rose pedals.  I just stood up at the front of the church and
stared.
   My sister and Katie moved in together.  It had been a bit of an
emotional time for the two of them.  Katie was losing her parents as they
prepared to move to the west coast.  Dr.  Bergerud was taking over at a
high school named after one of the presidents.  Kennedy, I think.  I know
he was excited, but a little worried about leaving Katie, his "little
baby," as he called her, all alone.  So I think it was comforting to know
she would be watched over and loved.
   Heather and I are still in the apartment I've lived in for the past few
years, but it's quickly gone from being my place to being ours, and I
wouldn't have it any other way.  It's getting a bit crowded now, even more
than normal after all the wedding gifts and new furniture we received from
our parents.
   The spare bedroom is in a state of flux too.  After setting it all up as
a study and practice room, Heather came to me one morning with a happy grin
on her face.
   "I think we're going to need to remodel that room," she said.
   I didn't have a clue.
   "Don't you like it?" I asked.  We had just gotten the apartment to our
liking, and the last thing I wanted was a fight over interior decorating.
   "No, it's great," she said.  "But we didn't leave enough room for the
crib.
   "Crib?" I asked, a bit slow before I'd eaten breakfast.  "Crib?"
   Heather grinned, putting both hands on her belly.
   "Oh my God," I said, jumping up from my chair.  "You mean?  We're... 
you're...?"
   "You're going to be a daddy," Heather smiled, melting into my embrace.
   The nurses and doctors at the clinic are probably sick and tired of us
by now.  Heather protests that she's perfectly fine, but I'm paranoid and
know it, and any little twinge I see from my beautiful bride is cause
enough to rush us to the doctor's office, just in case.
   We had an ultrasound the other day.  Heather didn't want to know the
results, but I did.  I wanted to get going on the new paint in the baby's
new room.  We've talked about names for the baby, and have settled on two.
We were going to name it after my father if it was a boy, but that will
have to wait until our next one, although Heather doesn't know that yet.
   It will be a surprise, because Heather is officially banned from the
baby's new room until after the birth, but I just bought three cans of
paint, but Heather doesn't get to see it until after the baby's born.
   One thing is for certain though.  The room is going to be pink
everywhere.  Pink walls, pink curtains, pink bedding in the cradle.  It's
going to be the best room for a little baby girl you've ever seen.
   And everywhere...  flowers.
   I wouldn't dream of anything less for our little Rose.
   *****
   I know it's a pretty cliche thing to say, but my life with Heather
really is like a rose to me.  It's said that every rose has its thorns, and
believe me, I think the two of us managed to find at least a few, if not
most, of them, and no doubt we'll find even more along the path of our
lives.  I have to say though, that even with all the pain and anxiety and
uncertainty we've faced, right now life smells incredibly sweet to me.
   And I wouldn't have it any other way.
   The End
  
Rose13