True to his word Chris came over Saturday immediately after landing. Belle jumped in his arms the second he walked in the door wrapping her legs around his waist, she kissed him deeply.

"Wow!" Chris chuckled, "I could get use to this homecoming." He hugged her tight against him. "Ughhh you smell like....home." He inhaled her intoxicating scent.

"You smell like.....a stale airplane." Belle laughed. "But baby you can pull it off." She kissed his neck.

"Ohhhh. You gotta let me shower first." He pleaded as she continued to kiss his neck and slipped her hands under his shirt.

"It's ok." She murmured. "I don't mind."

"I feel gross." He said as he tilted his head back enjoying every moment of her lips on his neck.
"OK." She slid off him and he groaned. "I have an idea." She grabbed his hand and led him into her bathroom. "We can shower together." She raised a seductive eyebrow.

After a long relaxing shower, they finally lazily got dressed and after hearing Chris's stomach growl for what Belle swore was the tenth time she went into the kitchen to make him something to eat.

"I'm going to go away more often if this is what I get to come home to." Chris leaned back in his chair clasping his hands behind his head. Belle sat a huge BLT sandwich with a pickle on the side down in front of him on the table.

"Yeah?" Belle sat down in the chair next to him, "Well I don't like when you leave."

"I don't like it either." Chris admitted.

"Well at least I'm not being photographed with beautiful co-stars." Belle rested her chin on her hand.

"No but you're pictured with your ex-boyfriend."

"We were leaving the stadium. I'm surprised you even saw that story."

"I have you on google alert."

"Shut up." Belle laughed.

"Ok you're right. I have myself on google alert." He took a big bite of his sandwich.

Belle laughed and stood up to grab him a napkin. "But why does she keep posting pictures with you?" Belle leaned back against the counter.

"I don't know...maybe she's got a thing for me." Chris gave her a charming grin. Belle didn't crack a smile

"Babe I don't know." He stood up before reaching out and pulling her into his arms with just a tad bit resistance from her. "Does it matter? Really?" He stuck out his lower lip.

"Yeah it matters. I just don't think it's appropriate. You're dating me. She shouldn't be pursuing you so blatantly."

Chris laughed "Pursuing me? First it was Anna and now Karen. You don't need to be so jealous." he pulled her into his chest

"Don't laugh at me." Her voice was muffled from being pressed against him.

"What?" He pushed her back some.

"I said don't laugh at me"

"Well I can't help it. You're ridiculous. Cute as hell but ridiculous."

"Anna is your ex-wife! You have a child together! You've never been photographed with her since your split."

"You been stalking photos of me again?" He teased. Her blank expression told him she didn't think he was funny

"Ok. I know I haven't. I haven't been comfortable enough to be around her. But since I've been with you it doesn't...it doesn't hurt as bad."

Belle looked up into his eyes, her face softening. "You're still hurt about your divorce?"

"Not over her specifically. But mourning what I thought was my forever. And the fact that Jack won't have 2 parents who are still together."

"Oh." Belle placed her hand on his heart. He took his hand and put it on top of hers.

"But from the moment I saw you that day at the gym I don't know I just felt better. and when you laughed it was the best thing I've ever heard. I knew I had to meet you. I went home and googled you-"

"You did?" Belle asked softly.

Chris nodded, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. If you wouldn't have agreed to go out with me I don't know what I would have done." He finally looked her in the eyes and Belle could see how vulnerable he was.

"I don't understand how someone as perfect as you can be so crazy about me." Belle reached up softly rubbing his cheek with the back of her fingers.

"I think you have that backwards. I'm not near good enough for you. I know that you're feeling insecure about us, but I can promise you I will never intentionally hurt you. I will never have behavior that will humiliate you or embarrass you. Your heart is so big and the way you love me blows my mind. I will never take your love for granted."

"I do love you. So so much" Belle leaned up to kiss him.

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They spent the rest of the day and evening holed up in Belle's condo only venturing outside to let Killen use the bathroom.

Chris was leaving on Tuesday for New York and Belle's nerves were starting to get to her thinking about him leaving.

Sunday night Belle was laying in bed watching tv while Chris took Killen out one last time. When he walked back in Belle brought up New York.

"How long are you going to be gone?" She wanted to know.

"Till Saturday."

"Oh....Well that's not bad." She turned the tv down. "Then when do you leave again?"

"Well I start filming in Atlanta at the end of June."

"Oh." Belle pulled her legs up to her chin wrapping her arms around them. "I wish you didn't have to leave this week."

"Come to New York with me." Chris asked as he plopped down on Belle's bed leaning over her shoulder.
"I can't." Belle sat up away from him knocking him back some as she pulled her long dark hair over her shoulder and started to braid it.
"Oh come on! You can take a few days off"
"I have to work. I can't just fly off to New York in the middle of the week"
"Well you could if you wanted to. It's not like you don't have connections."
"Is that what you think?!" Belle whipped her head around and narrowed her eyes.
"No, I mean, I was just saying that your dad owns the team. If you wanted a couple days off I'm sure you could."
"I'm an employee just like everyone else. And it wouldn't be fair for anyone else to just up and leave in the middle of the week unplanned."
"Ok." He laid back on her bed his voice apologetically despondent. "I just miss you. And I hate seeing you so insecure about us." He gave the pillow behind his head a little punch to fluff it.
"Wow. You think highly of me, don't you? I guess I'm just your pathetic little groupie waiting for you to come back and grace me with your presence."
"What?! No. Belle!" Chris sat back up a puzzled look on his face.
Belle finished braiding her hair silently.
"Guess I just can't say anything right today." Chris sighed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She snapped.

He shrugged, "You've just been irritable today. I feel like everything I say gets you upset. And yesterday everything I said had you wanting to jump in bed with me." He grinned teasingly, "You've done a 180."

Belle ignored his comment and pushed herself off the bed. "I'm going to get a drink."

"Uh oh, am I causing you start drinking?" Chris had a playful look on his face.

"What's THAT supposed to me?" Belle asked through gritted teeth stopping at her door not amused.

"I was kidding." He said. "Geesh." He laid back on her bed again.

Belle left the room without saying another word leaving Chris to mentally calculate exactly how much Belle had had to drink that day. He was teasing when he had said it but if he were honest he was a little worried about her alcohol intake as well as her behavior. She seemed unsteady. Pushing the thoughts from his mind he jumped up and followed Belle to the kitchen.

"Hey." He came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. "I'm sorry I don't want to argue with you. I love you."

"I love you to." She melted back into his arms.

"Good. I don't want it any other way. Can we go to bed now?"

"Of course." Belle smiled grabbing his hand she led him back to the bedroom.