First kiss (Gaby)

John pulled the car in front of Roma’s door and quickly went to help her.

"Wanna get in?" she asked and smiled at seeing him somewhat nervous.

"If that’s ok with you" he said timidly.

She chuckled at his expression. "Of course. We can have a decent cup of coffee now. The place you chose was great but the coffee..."

John smiled at her comment, knowing that addiction to coffee was something she had inherited from Monica’s days.

They got into the house and found Julie, Reilly’s nanny, still awake waiting for them in the living room. "Hey, Julie" Roma said as soon as she saw her.

"Hey, how was the night?"

"Wonderful" John replied with a wide smile that made Roma blush lightly and Julie looked at them mischievously.

"Reilly’s already in bed. Do you want me to prepare something for you?"

"No, Julie, thank you. I can handle it" the young actress answered. "Good night".

"Good night."

"I want to check on Reilly first," Roma said when they were alone. "Get yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a minute."

"Roma, would you mind if I go with you?"

She was a little surprised, but the love she knew her friend and her daughter shared made her smile. "Sure, let’s go." She offered him her hand and climbed the stairs towards the girl’s room. She opened the door carefully trying not to awake her, but she soon realized her bed was empty. Roma got in, her eyes searching for her daughter and she saw her sleeping over the couch that was in front of the window.

"Looks like she was waiting for her mom to come back sound and safe," John murmured.

Roma approached the sleeping girl and put some strands of her curly hair behind her ear.

"Don’t wake her up," John whispered behind Roma. He took Reilly in his arms and smiled when she automatically wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her forehead before placing her on the bed and covering her.

Roma saw him without saying anything but she felt something very special at seeing him with her child in arms. When he turned to see her, she was sure tears were glistening in her eyes and somehow she managed to whisper a ‘thank you’.

"Can we have our coffee now?"

She giggled at his comment. "Sure. You’ve earned it, ‘uncle Johnnie’."

It was half past one AM when John looked at his watch and announced he should leave. They had spent more than three hours talking comfortable in the kitchen, and every moment was now recorded on their minds. Roma offered to walk him to the door and before he left, she asked him. "Why are you doing this, Johnnie?"

He was about to ask ‘doing what?’ but her expression told him what she was talking about. He looked away for some seconds, sensing her eyes fixed on his face and trying to decide what he should tell her. Finally he decided that the truth was his best bet. He turned to face her and his gaze fixed on hers. "Because I love your daughter... and because I love you."

She was expecting this response, still the emotion was way too strong. "Johnnie..." she murmured through the lump in her throat.

John cupped her face tenderly and brought one finger to her lips to silence her. "Please, don’t say anything. I know you love me at least as a friend. But I’m in love with you, Roma, I’ve been for years. I’m not using Reilly to get to you. My love for each of you is different. Still, this is my chance to tell you the truth, a truth I find more difficult to find everyday." His green eyes were bright with the emotion and he caressed her cheek with trembling fingers. "I love you. I’m not asking you to tell me right now that you love me too. There’s only one thing I’m asking you to let me do: let me show you how much I love you, baby, please?"

Roma nodded weakly and a single tear crossed her cheek. She suppressed a sob that was half surprise, half emotion to feel such a strong love. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, she saw some tears glistening in John’s eyes. She smiled knowing he was happy and brought a trembling hand to caress his cheek too. Slowly he leaned down and kissed her on the lips tenderly, his kiss sweet and slow.

Roma was surprised: she was feeling butterflies fluttering in her stomach as if this were her first kiss ever; John had told her he had been in love with her for years, yet his kiss was not demanding anything beyond the delicate caress. The moment seemed long for her, but from the second they parted she knew she would be looking forward to kiss him again as many times as possible.

"Johnnie..." she murmured again.

"Shh... Don’t say anything, please. You’ve made me so happy today." His quiet voice was as soothing as his fingers on her hair.

Roma brought her hand behind his neck and pulled him down for another sweet kiss. "Can I at least ask you if you’ll come tomorrow?" she said shyly, her brown eyes shining with a very special bright.

He took her hands and kissed them feeling his heart bursting with happiness and love. "Of course, baby, I’ll see you tomorrow."