Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Having confided her secret desires to 'Brees', Sonia decided to come clean to her husband, Darius, of what is her heart of hearts;
he was sleeping when she slipped into their bedroom and beneath the light blanket covering 'D' from the waist down. "Darius," she
whispered, leaning close to kiss his bristly cheek. "Wake up, Baby...🎵 Despierta, Amor🎵 ...WAKE UP, you Unkillable Roach!"

Her shout finally woke the gun for hire, and he sat part of the way up with a groan. "Goddamn, Baby!" he complained, wiping a hand
across his eyes. "SHIT - what the fuck is it, Sonia?!!"

"We have to talk, Darius."

"If you're 'bout to admit that you let Bryce fuck you in your ass hold up whie I get my goddamn gun!"

His wife rolled her eyes: "Do you know how you SOUND? Like a chingado imbecil : like a fucking imbecile! Of course, that has not and
WILL NOT HAPPEN...although..."

Darius responded by racking his pistol; his wife hurriedly blurted "OKOKOK! I am pulling your balls - of course I didn't fuck Brees in my ass or
ANYWHERE...it's serious. About our life."

Relaxing, her husband responded, "Huh. 'K. What's on your mind, Baby?"

"I want to be out, Cucharachita. NO - not out of the marriage - out of this...LIFE, if you can call it that. I told you again and again that I want a
baby, and I mean it. So bad that--"

"That what? WHAT, Sonia? SAY IT."

Mi amor. I will have the baby; however I have it. I don't want that; I DON'T. No lo quiero but...do not make me choose, Baby.
PLEASE."

Darius muttered, "We're at the ultimatum stage, I see."

Sonia shakes her head, her expression mournful: "Don't call it an ultimatum. We are always honest with each other. And open. I can tell you
anything and the same on the reverse. I am presenting a CHOICE--I also know what I am risking by presenting that choice to you. And saying
out loud...maybe I...cannot risk losing us."

Darius leans close to say, "You never have to worry about losing us, MariaSol Sonia Ruiz Kincaid." He pauses and adds "It won't be so bad to
have a Little Darius or Sonia causin' havoc and shit. I see that you really want this, which means YO TAMBIEN " I want it too."

Beaming happily, Somia scoots closer and circles his bare waist and chest with her slender (by comparison) arms. "Oh, mi Cucharacito FEO :
You make me so happy! COME...put THIS" (she grasps his sizeable cock and strokes it lovingly) where it belongs!"

When they couple, it is much more tenderly than in a long while: loving licks, careful fondling...prolonged, targeted kissing...lips suckle and
tongues probe until they explode again and again - until both are, at least for a time, sated...Sonia lay with her head on Darius's chest,
smiling like the cat who got into the cream...with one hand, her husband strokes her mass of dark, messy curls with one hand: the long
fingers of the other whisk the perspiration between the cleft of her buttocks (where perspiration, he knows, always collects during sex).

Yawning, Sonia mutters, "NO, Darius...tonight is my PUSSY only. Until further notice and until I am pregnant--GOT IT, Buster?!"

(An unintelligible gruble from Darius in response).

//////////

Across town, Michael relaxes next to a drowsy Amelia (their luxurious Airbnb is equipped with a very comfy California King bed, courtesy
of Hiro Tanaka, the AAA-rated Protection Specialist's latest client). Bryce shifts carefully to read the text sent by SKinc36:
'Wonderful news Brice! You will soon have a little Brother!'

"OH MY FUCKIN' GAWD!" Bryce groans aloud.

Chapter Text

[The Bishop-DeLucas (or DeLuca-Bishops - whichever) are in a better place than they have been in months, a testament to Dr. Diane
Lewis's EXCELLENT counsel...]

/////

They've discovered that:

1-Open and honest dialogue is essential--especially active listening helps partners understand each other better. ("You asked me about
building trust, please understand that to get to that point takes time and consistency. What happened with Gibson deeply fractured the
foundation of your relationship, and I'll be honest: I had doubts as to whether that break could be repaired. Happily, you've proven
me wrong").

2-As much as any of the other tenants re successfully navigating the many pitfalls that may occur within a relationship, MUTUAL RESPECT is
as important as any of them. (Mutual respect DOES NOT INCLUDE the way that you spoke to Dr. DeLuca after the incident came to light, Bishop," the
therapist emphasized to Maya. "Complete transparency has to be intentional. Ladies, to have an environment where both parties feel safe)".

Both women are quick to agree that Maya has been better about not disrespecting her partner since that fateful night. It helps that the blonde
has found it in herself to apologize for her actions (albeit nearly one year later). "Why so long, Lieutenant?" Diane asks. "To apologize, I mean."

"For Dad, apologizing was a sign of weakness. I've been taught since the age of four or five that 'to apologize is to capitulate '...and I've
taken that lesion with me until recently."

CONTINUEDx

Chapter Text

'Look at us baby, up all night--Tearing our love apart--Aren't we the same two people who live--through years in the dark?
Tearing our love apart--Aren't we the same two people who live--through years in the dark?...Ahh...
Every time I try to walk away--Something makes me turn around and stay--And I can't tell you why...

When we get crazy, it just ain't to right--(try to keep your head, little girl)--'cause I get lonely, too
You don't have to worry--Just hold on tight--(don't get caught in your little world): 'Cause I love you
Nothing's wrong as far as I can see--We make it harder than it has to be--

And I can't tell you why...no, baby, I can't tell you why...I can't tell you why
No, no, baby, I can't tell you why...I can't tell you why..I can't tell you why'...

City of E. Miami Chief Pathologist Adrian Webb stared wordlessly at the woman who had (HAD) shared his bed and his life for the past
six months, able only to shake his head. "I-I suspected as much," he finally admitted. "I didn't want to face it or see the signs because by
that time I was in too deep. It didn't help that you agreed to go with me to LA - not to assign blame, just sayin'..."

Annalise returns his weak, equally sad smile. "I never should have gotten involved with you, KNOWING how I feel about Rosie. I don't say that
to hurt you, Aid...it's completely my fault, and I knew better: KNEW that my fondness and appreciation of you would never overcome the deep
love and desire I feel for him. It was and is unfair...I'm so sorry."

Adrian sighed, then replied, "SHOULD I be pissed?" he asked semi-rhetorically. "I get that you don't love me - no one can control who they fall
in love with. To quote 'Whitney: it's not alright but it's ok.' As long as you're happy, Annalise."

"I...You're being so gracious about everything, Adrian...I wish"- and the rest of her sentence drifted, then ended.

"Don't, Babe," Webb urged gently. "Don't do that. It's really OK." He gathered himself and approached Villa, briefly hugging her. When they
pulled apart, he brushed a tear from each of her cheeks and whispered, "Getting over you will be hard, but I'll be FINE. After all: Ladies Luv
Adrian Webb!" he cracked before departing. Annalise sniffled wetly, wiped her eyes, and texted Rosie:

He responds less than one minute later: R-> 'I'll wait up❤

V->❤ U
//////
Rosie sips wine before remarking, "Did you expect him to react so...calmly?"

"I expected more...fireworks, to be honest," Annalise admits. "In his position - after a last-minute change in plans: like the one I sprung on him.
I explained to him that to stay with him...KNOWING WHAT I KNOW...FEELING THE WAY THAT I DO...would show a monumental lack of respect,
especially toward him and 200% unfair to all of us ."

"Not much you could have done, Lis."

"That's what HE said...he wished us well, for what it's worth."

Refilling their wine gobbets, Rosie says, "I accept my share of the blame for you even having to deal with any of that. Had I stepped up when
I should have"-

"Hey, hey, hey." Villa reaches over to link their fingers together after placing both of their wine glasses onto the coffee table. "Mama Donna
and Pippy told me about your fears and doubts--how scared you are about leaving me a widow for the second time. I GET IT: I do, but do
you know what I told them? That you are the best man I have ever known and that I love you more than any other man...including Eddie.
I'm all in . For the duration."

He smiles, embraces her, and lowers her to the sofa cushions...

'Nothing's wrong as far as I can see--We make it harder than it has to be--And I can't tell you why
No, baby, I can't tell you why-I can't tell you why

Every time I try to walk away--Something makes me turn around and stay--And I can't tell you why
No, no, baby, I can't tell you why--I can't tell you why--I can't tell you why...:

🎸🥁🎹

Every time I try to walk away--Something makes me turn around and stay--And I can't tell you why
No, no, baby, I can't tell you why--I can't tell you why'...🎸🥁🎹