Chatper 100: Arizona (and Vegas)

It was finally, FINALLY, the week the girls were meeting up in Arizona and Las Vegas. Hath was so happy to be going; she missed David something awful. She was also starting to not be able to wear her normal clothes anymore; she had to go shopping for maternity togs. Ang went with her, to help her pick out fun things. David had left her a credit card to use, and Hath still felt guilty about using his money for her things, and spent a lot of time scouring the clearance racks for good deals.

At the second shop they went to, Ang found a gorgeous flowy top that was black, shot through with gold thread. Hath looked at the price tag and gawped – for that price, it better be REAL gold threads! She told Ang to put to put it back on the rack. Ang grabbed her phone and pressed a button. A few minutes later, she started to talk.

“I know you’re busy, but please talk to your wife-to-be. She won’t buy anything that’s not in the clearance bin.” She thrust the phone at her friend. “Someone wants to talk to you.”

“You bitch!” Hath said, then took the phone. “Look,” she said to David. “I don’t need anything fancy, it’s not like I’m going to be wearing this stuff for more than one season,” she said. “I don’t feel right spending $150 for a blouse!”

“Baby,” David said, speaking softly, “I just want you to be happy. If you’re happy with the castoffs, go for it. If you see something you like, though, or something you think I might like,” his deep chuckle made Hath’s toes curl, “then go for that, too. Please, whatever you want.”

“Oh, baby, all I want is to come and see you,” she said.

“Just a few more days, and you’ll be here. Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything, baby, you know that.”

David chuckled sexily. “Pick out something sexy and filmy to wear the night you get in.” His laugh turned dirty. “Buy me a present, baby.” Hath blushed right there in the middle of the store while he continued. “Something with lots of little buttons or snaps, so it takes me a while to get to your skin. I want to tease you while I undress you slowly.”

“David!” she hissed, and Ang looked at her. She rolled her eyes and leaned in to the speaker.

“I don’t know what yer sayin’, D,” Ang laughed, “but she’s redder than red.”

He laughed again. “And I have to stop this,” he said, “before one of the others comes in and sees just how hard I am thinking about you.”

Hath groaned, “You’re killing me.”

“So,” David countered, “kill me back. Get something that will make my hair straight.”

Hath laughed. “That sounds like a dare to me,” she said.

“Whatever it takes, baby,” David replied.

“Game on.”

“Sweet hell, I can’t wait. See you soon Sexy Mama,” he said. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” Hath replied. “And I can’t wait either, Sweet Papa. Bye.”

Hath hung up and handed Ang back her phone. “C’mon,” she said. “We have to find the lingerie section.”

“Hot damn,” Ang said, making Hath laugh. After that phone call, Hath didn’t have any problem using David’s credit card for her purchases.


A few days later, Hath was talking to Sam about becoming a mother. This was a first for both of them, and they were comparing notes. “I have to tell you,” Sam said, “I was kinda concerned about what kind of mom I was going to be. I didn't really have a good example. I mean...not that my mom wasn't a great mom...I just didn't have a lot of time with her.” Hath could practically see her friend smiling on the other end of the phone. “But, your mom has been a great example. We actually sat down and talked, REALLY talked, Monday night. I told her about my mom. It all started with a simple, innocent question from Pauline. She asked me why my mom couldn't come and take care of me and Lyndsay.” Now, Hath could hear Sam’s voice thicken with emotion. She continued, “I told her about my mom. She was just great. Thank you for sending her here.”

Hath had tears in her own eyes. This is what she had hoped would happen. She was so glad it finally did. “Aw, Sam, you're welcome. I'm glad she could be there for you. Didja make her cry? I'll bet you did. I'll also guarantee she's said a rosary for your mom every day since -- she already says one for you.”

Sam laughed. “No, I didn’t make her cry,” she said, “but really? A rosary?”

Hath nodded, though Sam couldn’t see her, and said, “Ever since you all came into my life, Mom’s added you to her rosary. She laughs that it takes her a whole hour to do it now.” They both laughed. “But seriously,” Hath said, “she considers all of you her kids now, even the guys. She prays for all of you every day. Extra ones for Richie and Lucy, and for you and me because of the babies, but you all get your turn, and now your Mom will too.”

“But why?” Sam wanted to know.

“She loves you because I love you,” Hath said. “That you’re important to me is enough for her to make you important to her. She’s always been like that.”

Sam was quiet for a minute. “You know, Hath, you’re pretty lucky, to have a mom like that.”

“I know,” Hath answered wryly. “She reminds me of that every time I see her.”

The girls shared a laugh and made their goodbyes. Sam told Hath to have a good time in Arizona and Las Vegas, and to give Jon a hug for her.

The whole flight to Arizona, Hath was white-knuckled on the armrest. Because of the LJs, she couldn’t take her customary Valium, so this was extra nerve-wracking. Once she landed, though, her fright and panic were forgotten. David was there waiting for her. He had his hair tucked up under one of Richie’s hats and dark sunglasses, and was holding a sign that read “Sexy Momma”.

David’s breath caught when he saw her. She looked beautiful in a light flowery dress and low-heeled sandals. Her hair was up in a high ponytail, and her face lit up like Christmas when she caught sight of him. He smiled back. How could he not? Hath ran the last few steps to his waiting arms. “David!” she exclaimed.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here!” David said, spinning Hath around and kissing her soundly. “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you more,” Hath said, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt.

Arms wrapped around each other, they went to get Hath’s bags and went out to the waiting car. David raised the privacy panel and pounced. “Did you bring me a present?” He kissed Hath’s neck, nibbling and sucking his way down to her collarbone.

Hath laughed. “I sure did, baby,” she said. “It’s packed back there in my bag with all my lingerie. When do you have to go to sound check?”

David sat back, looked at his watch, and smiled. “Not until three. That gives us a little more than four hours.”

Hath made a disappointed face. “Well, if that’s all the time we have, I guess it’ll have to do. C’mere,” she said, grabbing for David. “We should get started.” She drew him to her and kissed him deeply, making him groan. He sat back, pulling Hath with him, and she shifted to sit on his lap, feeling his arousal. She slid back to his knees so she could reach the buckle on his belt, and began unfastening it.

“What are you doing?” he rasped.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Hath asked. “I just finished telling you my lingerie was all packed,” she said, evilly. “What do you suppose that means I have on under my dress?”

David growled and raised his hips so Hath could slide his pants down. She hitched her skirt to her waist, and sunk onto his hard length, making him groan loudly. Hath chuckled and shushed him. “Jesus, Hath,” David hissed, as she held onto his shoulders and rode him hard. He snaked a hand under her belly and between their bodies to massage her clit. He could feel it swell under his touch, and captured her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue into her mouth in time with her thrusts on him. His finger moved faster on her flesh, and Hath’s breath started coming faster. David smiled around their kiss, and moved even faster, making Hath’s grip on his shoulders harder.

She screamed into his mouth, and clamped down on his dick. David growled low in the back of his throat, and pumped into her, his vein pulsing in time with her clenching muscles.

Hath sat on his lap for a while, kissing and hugging her fiancé. She couldn’t believe that in little more than a month, she’d be married to this wonderful man. And a few months after that, she’d bear his children. Those thoughts made her warm inside, and she snuggled in closer to David.

“At the risk of regretting it forever,” David started, “I should tell you the driver has circled past the hotel three times already.”

Hath gasped and started to laugh. “Oh my God, what must he think of us?” She put her hands to her cheeks to find them flaming.

David chuckled. “He thinks I’m the luckiest sonofabitch on the planet,” David said. “I saw him checking out your legs when you climbed into the car.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hath said, not believing him. Reluctantly, she climbed off of David, and reached into her purse for the wet naps she had put in there specifically for this reason. She gave David a couple and used a couple herself, then stowed them in a plastic baggie back in her purse.

David laughed. “Always prepared, huh?”

Hath shrugged. “May as well be,” she said. They straightened their clothes as best they could, though the tell-tale wrinkles at Hath’s waist would surely give away what they’d been doing in the backseat. Nothing to be done about it now, she thought, and she didn’t regret for a moment their lovemaking. She cuddled into David’s side, and he lowered the panel. Hath caught a glimpse of a smile on the driver’s face and blushed.

After what seemed to be a LONG time, they pulled up in front of the hotel again. Head held high, she thanked the driver for his discretion, and followed David into the hotel. She had to laugh when she saw the others standing there.

“Man, what the hell? We saw the car go by at least three times before you stopped,” Richie’s eyes were twinkling.

“Well,” Hath said, giving each of them a peck on the cheek, “I had to give him a proper hello, now, didn’t I? And that took the drive from the airport plus three trips around the block to finish, and we were still rushed.” She looked at David who was shocked. He thought she’d be all embarrassed. So did his friends. They were all surprised. “Now,” Hath continued, “if you don’t mind, I’m ready for the next round, a lazy one, and would rather not start right here in the lobby.” She winked at Jon. “Don’t worry, I’ll have him back to you in mostly one piece by the time you have to leave for sound check. Tell Sam I’ll be ready for them at four or so. Coming, David?”

David laughed and kissed his woman firmly on the mouth. “I’m sure if I’m not right now, I soon will be. Now, about that present…”

Hath laughed. “I told you, the lingerie is all packed in there, she said, indicating her bags. “Well, except for the ONE piece I have right here.” She pulled a little corner of expensive black lace from her shoulder bag. She looked around the lobby and smiled. “Hang on.” She aimed for the Ladies’ room, and disappeared.

“Jesus, David,” Tico said. “What the hell has gotten into her?”

David shrugged. “She missed me, I guess,” he said, eyes sparkling and dancing. “Seriously, though, she’s like this ALL the time. This pregnancy is the best thing to happen to my sex life since, well, meeting her in the first place.”

“SO did not want to know that, bro,” Richie said, laughing.

Hath emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, adjusting her dress. David could just see a hit of dark lace under the light fabric of her clothes. He stared at her as she approached. “Did you just --” he started.

“Yep, sure did, and damn but those little ties were annoying. So were the snaps, and the hooks. And the bell.”

“The bell?” He grabbed Hath’s hand and strode for the elevator, making her have to run to keep from being dragged. She laughed gleefully as he pulled her into the elevator. “Is there really a bell?”

“Shhhh,” she said, then shook her ass, and David heard a faint tinkling sound.

“Holy shit, Hath,” David said, his eyes darkening.

“Did I pick out a good present?” She batted her eyelashes at him coquettishly.

“Sure did,” he answered, grinning widely. “I can’t wait to unwrap it.”


David just barely made it down to the lobby in time to catch a ride with the guys to sound check. “I’m not even going to ASK you how you lost track of time,” Jon said, looking at his watch. “You had two minutes, and we were coming up to get – is that a bell?”

David had taken the tiny little bell from Hath’s lingerie and threaded it onto the necklace she had given him for Christmas.

“Yep,” David said smugly. “She told you it had a bell.”

“Jesus, she was serious? I did not need to know that,” Jon said, shaking his head.

Richie asked, “Where was it?” He was barely holding in his laughter.

“Just where you think it was,” David answered, wagging his eyebrows at his friend. “Damned thing was making so much noise; I had to take it off her.” He laughed as Jon groaned and scrubbed at his face with his hands.

“Stop it,” Jon said. “You’re putting images in my head I just don’t need to have.”

Halfway through sound check, the girls came in, passes around their necks. They sat in the front row quietly, just listening. The guys thought something was up, and saw identical goofy grins on their faces, and they were all looking at David. Staring at him, actually.

“What the hell?” Jon asked into his mic. “What’s gotten into you girls?”

Ang stood up and turned to the girls. “Ladies? Shall we?” They all giggled and stood and pointed at David.

“You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell,” they sang together, making David burst out laughing, and the others groan. David climbed down off the stage and hugged each of the girls in turn, saving an extra long hug for Hath.

“I can’t believe you told them,” he said in her ear.

“I can’t believe you’re wearing the bell,” she said back.



Las Vegas was more of an adventure than Arizona. The girls had a great time shopping up and down the strip, and they all did a fair share of gambling. They all came out ahead, in more ways than one. The show, of course, went off without a hitch.

After the show, everyone went back to the hotel and up to Richie’s suite. Lucy and Hath were cuddled up with their men, and Stephanie and Ang were talking with Tico and Jon. Jon excused himself from the conversation, and went to the bathroom. When several minutes passed, with no return, they chuckled.

“Guess he misses Sam, and went to call her,” Stephanie said.

Ang laughed. “He thought he was being sneaky, ducking into the bathroom first? He has a thing or three to learn about being sneaky.”

They all laughed when they checked in on the boards before going home. Sam had sent them a PM.

I'm just curious...didn't any of you notice he just up and disappeared? He said that Hath and Lucy wouldn't notice because ya'll would be too involved with Rich and David...but I told him that Queenie and Ang would notice...we actually have a bet riding on it...so I would appreciate ya'll telling me which of you noticed and which of you didn't....lmao

The girls let her know they all noticed, so Sam won her bet. She gets to keep her hair the way she wants, and can blonde Jon when she wants to. The fannish part of them hoped she wants to soon. To a woman, they all missed the golden hair!