Chapter TWENTY-SIX…Home at Last

Urs lay awake watching Honey sleep in the dim light of the bedside lamp. What was it about this woman that intrigued him so, that made his body react just at the sight of her sleeping beside him?

At first sight, way back in Ireland it had been her smile and her laugh. Within hours he realized how incredibly beautiful she was, both the outer shell and deep inside, as a person. He was lost, right from the start and fought it, tried to settle for what he thought was best for both of them, but nothing had even come close to what he felt for Honey.

He thought about the life they would have now, of the years stretching into the future and knew without any doubts that he would never tire of her, never become complacent, that there would always be an element of surprise to their relationship. He pictured them with a brood of children, taking pride in their small or large accomplishments, sharing moments of tenderness, possibly some sadness for that was part of life, but sharing whatever came to them.

As if she sensed that he was awake and thinking of her, she stirred and reached out to touch his chest, sighed and wiggled a bit closer, nudged his knees apart with hers and inserted her leg over his, pulling his legs closer.

He saw her lips curl in a smile before her eyes opened.

“Hey, mein lieber haber,” she murmured calling him her lover in Swiss German.

“Ja, Schnuki? Erzahlen Sie mie, was Sie wollen.” {Yes, sweetheart?..Tell me what you want}

She laughed and opened her eyes to look in his. He was grinning at her. teasing.

“Mehr…Lassen Sie mich zeigen Sie wie viel, das ich Sie Liebe.”

She answered him with a grin in German and pushed him over onto his back, rolled herself on top of him, perched across his body with her legs on each side of his hips.

Urs reached for her and she batted his hands away lightly.

“In case you didn’t understand my terrible accent, I said ‘More…Let me show you how much I love you.’ It’s my turn Uber Lord.”

He laughed and put his hands behind his head. It was only minutes later that he had to touch her or go insane as she drove him closer and closer to a pleasure he had yearned for all those long lonely months.

**

Once again Urs woke first, this time to feel something light laying on him and when he opened his eyes it was to see Honey stretched out full length on his body with her head just under his chin, the sheet pulled up just to their waists. He smiled as he remembered their night, how they had been like a couple of randy teens but with more stamina. Speaking of which, there were muscles aching this morning that he didn’t even know he had.

He gently rolled them onto their sides, kissed her mouth gently and slid out of bed to stand and coax his muscles into motion. He went into the lav and used the facility, turned the shower on, adjusted the water and went back in the bedroom to scoop Honey up into his arms.

She nestled against him and stayed half asleep until the water from the shower woke her and she shrieked then began laughing as he stood her on her feet and let the spray fall on her head.

“Good morning, Schnuki. We have a meeting at 0800, did you forget?”

“Hmmmm. I tried to but someone wouldn’t let me sleep.”

Urs took his big bath sponge and began soaping her body while she shampooed her hair and then his. They stood together under the spray, so close that they were forced into a giggling kiss to enable the spray to rinse all the shampoo out. She took the sponge and washed the top half of him, nudged him to turn around so she could do his back and butt and the back of his legs and he grinned at her when he turned to get the front finished.

“Why, Herr Buhler…what’s this?” she teased with a grin.

“Sorry, I got thinking about last night,” he answered and leaned against her, pushing her back against the wall of the stall, lifting her up to caress her mouth with his tongue until she moaned and opened her lips to let him in.

A while later they finished their delayed shower and dried each other off with the rough military towels. Urs changed the dressings on Honey’s feet and shoulder, decided that her feet were healing so well she could do without all the padding now and just drew a pair of his own heavy sox on over the dressings. The sling they thought should be worn for a couple of days longer. Just before they left the room Urs picked her up and hugged her close to his chest, nuzzling his mouth against her neck.

“I love you, Liebe. Don’t ever leave me again.”

“Not willingly, Urs. Thoughts of you and the twins kept me going when I thought I was finished. Our love kept me alive. I will always love you.”

They kissed and held each other with such emotion that Urs had to put her in the wheel chair and shake his finger at her, chuckling.

“Woman, we have an appointment. If you’re going to be Swiss, you have to start being on time.”

He opened the door and as she wheeled out past him she casually reached out to pat him on his finally resting crotch, then laughed when he caught her hand and sidled past her, keeping his hips just out of reach.

“Oh you’re bad. Just wait. I’ll get you for that,” he laughed and took the handles of the chair to push her down the hall.

They joined the guys for breakfast in the mess then went for the appointment with the brass to ‘debrief’ Honey. There wasn’t much she could tell them but they liked to be thorough and Urs let it go on until he thought Honey had been through enough, then put his foot down and took her for a rest and lunch.

In the afternoon they went back again but this time the officers were a little gentler and made sure that she had frequent breaks and juice or water always available. Finally at dinner time they were done and thanked both Honey and Urs. The couple joined their friends again for dinner and spent the rest of their time accepting thank yous and good luck wishes from the many military friends they had made.

**

They were finally on their way home. Once more they boarded the large military helicopter and flew south to Switzerland, under a starlit sky, over the snow and mountains, along the winding valleys until, in the distance they could see a field that was lit with flares.

They were all dressed in fatigues, Honey because that was all she had, the guys because they didn’t want her to feel out of place, a sweet gesture that she appreciated.

They landed in the center of the flares and Seb, Carlos and David exited the chopper but Urs held back for a moment, taking Honey’s hand and holding her still.

“I hope you aren’t going to be upset with me but there’s a stop I wanted to make before we go to the house.”

“A stop? Urs you have that look…what are you up to?”

“Liebe, do you know what the date is?”

“No, not really. I don’t have my watch anymore. Why?”

“It’s Christmas Eve. I would like to stop at the church for a few minutes.”

She stared into his earnest eyes and nodded. “Alright. The boys will be asleep anyway, I suppose.”

He just smiled and they exited the heli, without boots it was necessary for Urs to carry her and now she realized that indeed they were in a field just behind the church and that he must have arranged this since the flares were lit and a wide path had been plowed from the makeshift landing pad to the church.

As they got nearer she could see cars and sleighs parked outside the small church, a few people outside and they could hear the soft tones of an organ playing inside.

Urs slowed as they neared but the other three sprinted on ahead to be hugged and kissed by Anna, Holly and Geraldine, the people who waited outside. They disappeared inside the church doors and Urs and Honey were left alone.

Urs sat her on a small bench that had been swept clear just at the bottom of the steps and crouched in front of her.

“Do you remember I asked you when you would be able to stand so we could be married?” He asked her with a sweet smile.

“Yes….you said maybe you were asking me to marry you.”

“Well, I’m asking again, Honey Harper. Will you be my wife, stay with me forever, love me and no other to the end of days?”

“Beyond the end of days, Urs. I love you and will never leave.”

“Now?”

She laughed at the eager look on his face and the surprise of it. He must have planned this since they arrived in Germany.

“Yes, gladly.”

He pulled a small box out of his pocket, opened it and slipped one of the rings inside onto her finger.

“Now you get your surprise. There, it’s official, and with those sore feet you can’t run away from me.”

“Oh, it’s so beautiful,” she cried as she held her hand out to admire the square cut Emerald in a platinum setting, plain but perfect. “Urs when did you get this? There hasn’t been time.”

“In Osaka, on the tour. I picked it to match your eyes….I’ve been saving it until we found you. So, what do you think of your surprise?” He grinned at her and she slipped her arm out of the sling, took his face in her hands to kiss him.

He picked her up and kissed her again, tapped lightly on the church door with his foot and David opened the door to let them enter.

The girls had all gone ahead to sit with the witnesses, family, friends, neighbours who had come early for midnight services and Urs carried Honey to the altar where the pastor waited, trailed by his Divo brothers, all five of them still in fatigues but not caring.

Urs gently let Honey stand in front of the pastor and helped her to kneel and there on this blessed night when all the Christian world celebrated the birth of the Christ Child, they were joined forever in marriage in the sight of God and their friends.

It wasn’t until after the service was over that they received the well wishes of their friends and family and that, briefly. Urs spirited Honey away in the Audi which someone had parked in the lot while the others all went into town to their reserved Hotel rooms. They sped to the house, entered to be kissed and hugged quickly by Katja and Jonas who then left them and finally they were alone.

Urs kissed her the moment the door shut, a gentle kiss of promise and love, then without being asked he carried her up to the nursery where their sons slept. He set her feet on the floor and let her approach the two cribs alone, the room lit softly by a night light. She stood beside the cribs, arranged in an L shape against the wall and watched them sleeping, silently weeping with joy.

Urs left her alone for a moment then took her by the arm and led her to the comfy big rocking chair near the night light, pushed her down in to it and brought first Peter, then Lucas to her waiting arms.

Peter wiggled and made sucking faces as he slept on in his mother’s arms and she looked up at Urs and just said, “Peter”. He nodded and smiled at her, waited a moment more then handed Lucas to her.

Luke stretched, opened his eyes, smiled and went back to sleep. “Lucas”

“They’ve grown so much, Urs.” He knelt down in front of her and reached to her face to brush the tears away with gentle fingers.

“You gave them a good start, Liebe. Their doctor says they’ve caught up with other babies this age. And they’re exceptionally good babies.”

“I’ve missed so much. They won’t even remember me.”

“They should remember your voice, Love. Miles had a CD of various tracks he had taped of you and I played it everyday for them. Remember they didn’t know me when Dr. Prentice brought them here, now I swear they know I’m their Papa.”

“Will they wake for a night time feeding?”

“Not anymore….they sleep right through now.”

She sighed and handed Peter to him. “Then we should let them sleep. I want to be up early to help feed them, to watch them, to get to know them again.”

They put the boys down again for the night and left the room for the master bedroom. Honey was a bit apprehensive at first until Urs showed her the Baby Monitor and she listened to the soft sounds of the boys breathing.

She was nearly falling asleep when they showered, the emotions of the past few days just now catching up to her. Urs helped her dry off and gently placed her in the big, soft bed with a hug and kiss, climbed in beside her and snuggled her into his arms.

“Happy, Frau Buhler?” he asked with his mouth against her short curly hair.

“So happy I can’t believe it’s not a dream. If it is, I don’t ever want to wake up.”

He chuckled and hugged her. “Welcome home, Little One.”

They fell asleep twined together in contentment in a closeness more intimate than any physical act could ever be.

**