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Peter laughed as his father finished an anecdote and commented, "Sounds just like Lo Si, doesn't it, Kace?" When she failed to answer him, he looked down at her. "Kace?" She was sleeping soundly once more, one arm curled beneath her, and the other hand resting on his knee.
Peter raised anxious eyes to his father's calm ones. "See what I mean, Pop? She does this all the time lately." He kept his voice low, but it was husky with emotion. "She drags out of bed in the morning, and falls asleep on the couch or in a chair almost every night. Do you think she could be sick like my mother was, Pop? Can you tell?"
Caine rose from his chair and approached the couch. Hovering his hands over Kacie, he moved them slowly over every inch of her body. Peter was anxiously watching his father's hands and failed to notice the excited glimmer in Caine's eye. The priest carefully schooled his features to reveal nothing and shook his head. "I do not sense any sickness. Her chi is strong, and her body is in harmony." He shrugged and smiled at Peter. "Perhaps you just worry too much?"
"He sure does," Kacie interjected sleepily, awakened by their talk. Yawning, she sat up and stretched her arms overhead before reaching around Peter to cuddle under his arm. "That's my man, worry wart to the core." Turning her face to her husband, she kissed Peter. "But I think I'll keep him, anyway."
Peter flushed guiltily for talking about Kacie where she could hear it. Putting an arm around her, he teased, "I'll bet you weren't sleeping at all. You were just playing possum and eavesdropping."
Kacie laughed and tickled Peter's ribs, making him jump and squirm. "Yeah, sure. I kept waiting for you to say something good that I could hold over your head."
"That's entrapment."
"Call it what you like, Baby."
Peter laughed helplessly and fended off her assault as best he could. "Kacie, stop it! You know I can't stand being tickled there!" Finally trapping her hands with his, he entreated, "Pop, help me out here!"
Caine chuckled at their easy banter, their obvious happiness giving him much joy. "I cannot help you this time, my son. I am afraid your opponent is one you will have to handle by yourself." Getting to his feet, he smiled at them benevolently. "Thank you for sharing your meal and your home. Now, I must go."
Kacie and Peter walked to the door with Caine. Kacie hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for helping with dinner, Dad, and for being so understanding."
He smiled at her and turned to Peter as his son asked, "Pop, you need a ride home?"
"Thank you, no." Putting on his hat, he continued, "I will walk."
"Oh, wait, Pop." Peter tried to signal unobtrusively with his eyes. "You were going to leave us some new tea, weren't you?"
"Ah." Caine started to reach into his pouch, but thought better of it. "I will work on it, and have some ready tomorrow." He tipped his hat to them both and walked out the door, a wide grin splitting his face as he closed it behind him.
Patting his chest, she gently scolded him. "Peter, I'm fine. I've just been a little tired lately, that's all."
"A little? Sweetheart, you fell asleep for almost two hours today, and then again tonight on the couch. It's not like you to drag around like this."
Kacie laughed and teased, "Peter, don't you think it's possible that I just need to sleep a little more at night instead of…" She broke off in surprise when he abruptly pushed her away and rolled over on his side, turning his back to her.
She sat up and put a placating hand on his shoulder. "Sweetheart, come on. I was just teasing you."
Jerking away from her touch, he spoke in wounded tones. "I don't think it's funny."
Reaching over his body to turn on the lamp, she pushed on his shoulder, forcing him onto his back and making him look at her, his expressive face like that of a frightened little boy.
Catching her breath, she sobered instantly, and touched his cheek tenderly. "Peter, what's wrong?"
Swallowing hard, he stared into her eyes, willing her to understand. "My-my mother died before I was two years old. I told you about that."
Kacie nodded solemnly and waited for him to continue.
"My father told me that when-when she first got sick, that she was tired -- all the time." He caught his breath raggedly. "I love you so much..." His voice trailed off into a whisper, and he had to swallow again. "I couldn't stand it if anything like that happened to you. I just couldn't."
Seeing the stark fear and pain in his face, Kacie dropped her eyes in shame. "Oh, Hon. I'm sorry. I never thought about that. I didn't mean to make fun of you for worrying about me." She brushed an unruly lock of hair from his face. "Tell you what. I'm due for my annual work physical in a few weeks, anyway. Tomorrow, I'll get a complete checkup. Head to toe, blood workup, everything." Her eyes took on a mischievous twinkle. "I'll even pee in a cup, just for you, OK?"
He laughed at her last comment, and gently yanked her down into his arms, sighing in relief. "OK." Kissing her forehead, he hugged her tightly. "I'd sure feel better if you did."
"So...are we friends again?" she asked impishly, tracing lazy circles over his chest, lightly scratching her fingernails over his pectoral muscles in a way that made shivers run all through him.
Sliding his hand up her arm and inside the short sleeve of her t-shirt, he glided his palm around the curve of her shoulder. His fingers explored soft flesh, coming close to, but not quite touching, the sensitive area she tried to squirm into his caress. "Hmm. Well, I guess I'm feeling more friendly."
"So-o-o," she drawled silkily, stretching herself out to straddle his long, lean form. "Just how friendly are you feeling, hmm?"
Peter reached out and flipped off the lamp, and Kacie gasped sharply in the darkness. "Oh-h-h. This friendly. I like it when you're this friendly."