The Second Star To The Right And Straight On Til Morning

Distressed. That was one word to describe the utter chaos in Hannah Hodgins’ present day life. As the co-owner of a large chain of beauty salons, she had a rather large responsibility. However, sharing the business with her identical twin sister was really only of her career objectives. She was also a wife, and a Mother to nine beautiful children, ten if she counted her husband. But in this moment, she had a responsibility to finish the payroll for the entire company so her employees would get paid properly. She had a handful of electronic time slips between her, and a two week long vacation at Disney World. She felt a million emotions, mostly anxiety and excitement among many others. The stack of mental notes for packing and cleaning would keep her busy into the wee hours of the night, her responsibilities of payroll was literally a nuisance at this point but someone had to get the job done.

Clicking into the next time slip that she had just completed after signing her electronic signature, and saving her work, she pulled up the next selected employee. The profile had not even loaded when her husband’s ringtone sounded off and the picture of her and Hayden popped up on her iPhone. She smiled, and answered the phone, her head set in her ears. “Hey baby…”

Piping up at the sound of her voice, Hayden smiled as he spoke. “Hey sweetheart… Are you almost done at the office?” He asked as he had just sat down on Junior’s bed and started placing the child’s folded clothes in his suit case.

She smiled at the sound of her husband’s voice. “Almost…I ran behind today. Story of my life, but I just need to finish these payroll documents before I can leave, and I will be heading out for the night. Are the kids’ home yet?”

“Aww… Angel Face. Well, do not rush on my account. I can hold up the packing front until you get home. The children are not home yet. I got here about an hour ago, and sent them off with Miss. Shannon to the trampoline park. Told her to keep them there until about eight o clock tonight… They will be fed, and exhausted which means, no fighting those pesky bedtimes…” He pepped up in his tone. It was clear in his voice just how proud he was of his smart husband decision making moment.

Hannah smiled. “Except for Sophia… you know how cranky and stubborn she gets at bed time…. She takes after her Daddy in that area….” She teased, as she typed her numbers away, and turned to the calculator to get a total.

He gasped, dramatically. “Mrs. Hodgins…? Are you trying to tell me I get cranky in the bedroom?” He paused, placing a hand on his hip completely appalled at the accusation. “Cause I can remind you just how cranky I can get…”

Hannah rose an eyebrow at her husband’s response, holding back a laugh. “Oh really? Pray tell, just how are you gonna show me such a thing, Mr. Hodgins?”

Hayden smirked. “It would not be any fun if I TOLD you….Guess you better hurry that fine ass up, or you will not find out anytime soon.”

Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Fine! I will be home in an hour and a half tops. Don’t burn the house down, handsome…” She trailed off, preparing to hang up on a count that Hayden would rebuttal until day break.

“Listen… I will have you know-…” He was cut off.

“Love you, honey! See you soon!” She hung up, laughing at her husband’s neurotic dirty talk.

A half hour later, Hannah had finished the payroll, shut her computer down, and packed her brief case up. She walked out of the office to find Hayley in the back mixing color for her next customer. “I am out for the count, sis…”

Hayley turned towards her. “Ooh! Okay… Well, have fun in Florida with Hayden and the rugrats, and I will see you next week….Try to remember just how much you love H, when he is driving you bat shit crazy.”

Hannah laughed, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought YOU were the one that he drives bat shit crazy?”

“Yeah, yeah… either way. Have a safe trip, baby sister.” She leaned over to give her a one armed hug, and kissed her cheek

Hannah returned Hayley’s hug, kissing her cheek before she walked towards the backdoor exit. She unlocked the Honda CR-V and sat in the driver’s seat, pulling the seat belt over her body. Officially on vacation, she turned her music up as she drove out of the parking lot into the busy streets of Manhattan, as she made her way home. It was about an hour drive, but she pulled into the drive of her water front property in Sands Point, New York. After parking in the garage, she stepped out of the car, and headed into her mansion sized house through the garage door.

She made her way through the house not seeing any signs of her husband. “Marco!” She yelled as she made her way up the stairs.

Hayden had just finished counting shirts, pants, socks, and underwear for his oldest son when he heard the sweet sound of his wife’s voice, and smiled. “Polo!” He yelled back.

Hannah finally got to the top of the staircase, spotting a picture of their wedding day, admiring it for a moment, before she responded. “Marcoooo!”

Hayden had been waiting for his wife’s return since she left the house that morning. He left the pile of clothes and emerged into the hallway, spotting her eyeing their wedding picture. He moved quick, and quietly, and made his way up behind her, his lips inches away from her ear. “Polo…” He spoke a hushed tone, before he wrapped his arms around her.

She jumped as he had successfully snuck up on her, but she managed to bounce back quickly as a smile immediately emerged on her lips as she leaned back into his arms. “Ah! There’s my husband! You’re a sneaky bastard, you know that?”

A light hearted laugh left the ogre sized man’s lips. “Yes, here I am, Mrs. Hodgins….” He chuckled as she jumped, clearly his stealth practices were paying off. “Were you…admiring this photo of that weirdo with a long mane of hair, and oversized schnauzer for a nose that really probably belongs on a horse?” He said, avoiding her question.

Hannah scrunched her face and turned to look up at him. “You do not have a horse face, or a nose….or anything…unless you’re referring to that….sea monster below your belt…” She sassed off, clearly his motives of quickly changing the subject worked to his advantage. “Sneaky bastard.” She thought to herself.

Hayden buried his head into her neck. “Ithinkyouhavespenttoomuchtimewithme….” He mumbled the words out, allowing his voice to be muffled against the skin of her neck.

Hannah laughed, his breath tickling her skin. Her laugh almost matching a child’s. This man she called her husband made her feel like she was going to live in a forever young orb… they were truly the Peter Pan and Wendy Darling of the real world. They made dreams come true for not just themselves, but also each other. “Oh…I don’t think I could ever have enough time with you, Peter…” She spoke, an English accent peeking through her tone of voice.

He pulled her further into one of his arms, as he ran his fingers through her perfect, curls, brushing her hair over her right shoulder, before he leaned in and planted gentle kisses against her neck. Her head fell back against the front of his shoulder. Her head fell to the side a soft moan escaping her lips as he went straight for her hotspot.

He pulled his lips away from the soft skin of her neck. As much as he wanted his alone time with her, he knew that they needed to pack the children’s luggage up, and get ready for their trip to Orlando the next morning. “Is that so, Mrs. Hodgins?”

She turned her head to look up at him. “I could never have enough time with you, my love…”

A curve slipped between his lips as he smiled down at her, his hazel colored hues filled with love for the woman in his arms. “We have all the time in the world, my Wendy darling….”

No words needed to be spoken after that. She stared back up into his blue-green eyes in a long pause, cupping her dainty hand on his cheek. “I sure hope so Peter…” She spoke just above a whisper, locking her eyes into her husband’s letting the moment linger in bliss-filled silence.

Part 1.2: Mr and Mrs Hodgins prove to be quite the duo

Later that night, the accomplishment of packing the children’s luggage was coming to a close finish. Hannah currently sat on the floor of the twin’s nursery double checking to make sure the toddlers would have more than enough clothes for the trip. Pulling out a pad of paper from the diaper bag, she quickly started writing a list of necessities the twins would need once they arrived in Orlando, and remembered that Hayden had volunteered to go get these items when they had previously talked about it. As she finished the list, she tucked it into the side pocket of the bag. She stood to her feet walking to find her husband, and perform one last cross-check for their children’s luggage. As they walked out of Karise’s room, she looked back at him as she heard the door shut. “Should I even bother asking what you have managed to pack?” She said, raising an eyebrow, she instantly filling with regret for asking such a question.

Hayden laughed out loud, almost like a maniac. “HAA! No…. Honestly, the thought had not crossed my mind until morning…” He said, in a simple tone after the crazy laugh wore off.

Hannah shook her head. It was typical for her husband to wait until the very last second to pack, or even think about packing. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pack your stuff when I pack mine… But, would you mind starting dinner for us?”

“Of course not, my love. What’d you have in mind?” He said as he pulled her into his arms from behind, making a promising attempt not to show how he was jumping up and down on the inside after his wife volunteered to pack for him.

She leaned back into him. “Something simple… I know you’ve had a long day. Penne and meatballs? With some salad, and garlic bread?”

“I’ll call you when it’s ready, beautiful…” He spoke quietly before he leaned in and pecked her cheek, brushing his fingers up and down the sides of her waist.

“Thank you, baby.” She turned around, and pushed her fingers through his hair, before she leaned in to kiss him, holding her lips against his in a gentle appreciative lip lock. His eyes closed, and he returned the gentle kiss, pulling her body against his. Her fingers grasped a gentle hold in his hair, as she continued to gently kiss his lips. She managed to break the kiss a moment later, leaning her forehead against his. “I love you, Hayden…” She spoke the words as if it was the first time confessing her feelings towards the man.

A smile cracked through his lips, as he slowly opened his eyes to look back down at her. “I love you, my tiny dancer…” He spoke just above a whisper.

A wide smile cracked through her lips. ‘Tiny Dancer’ had been his pet name for her as long as she could remember. “Don’t forget it, Hodgins…” She sassed off.

He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at her, having half the nerve to forget their responsibilities and take her right then and there. He knew they wouldn’t have much spare time between the current time, and when the children arrived home, so he painfully resisted through a growl towards her. “I’m going to go start our dinner before my appetite changes for everything but food….” He said, an edgy tone in his voice.

Hannah pulled away from him with hesitance. She knew what was on his mind, cause the same subject was on her own mind after his tone changed towards her….but mindless, passionate sex was gonna have to wait as they both had responsibilities to tend too before they got anymore alone time. “Go! Cook! I’m going to pack… and don’t follow me, or we won’t get a damn thing done, husband!”

He crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow at her. “Walk away then! Cause pray tell if you don’t, I will do the unspeakable, Mrs. Hodgins.”

Hannah had to muster up every ounce of strength not to challenge him. She narrowed her eyes at him as she separated herself from him more by walking backwards towards their bedroom. “Fine!! But… you should know I’ll miss you!” She called out as she turned around and playfully stomped the rest of the way to the bedroom.

Hayden watched her, a half ass smirk on his face as he noticed her swaying her hips back and forth even through her tantrum of stomping away. She always had a way to tease him, even if it was not on purpose. Right then in that moment, he promised himself she would pay for her teasing ways later on. He knew he did not need to voice a threat, because she already knew how much trouble she would be in. “I’ll miss you too, Tiny Dancer…” He hollered back, before he forced himself to walk down the staircase before he let his irresponsible brain take over.

Heading into the bedroom, Hannah saw that their suitcases laying out on the bed. “I guess he DID think about it…” She rolled her eyes and shook her head, going into the closet. She gathered the section of clothes she set aside for this trip in particularly, and brought them out. Setting them on their king sized bed, she then returned to the closet, and started going through Hayden’s clothes. She grabbed extra socks, underwear, undershirts, every piece of clothing that she knew he might want on their vacation including his swimming trunks, and laid everything out on the bed before she set off to folding, rolling, and packing.

Part 1.3: Goodnight My Love, Goodnight My Everything.

By 9 pm, the children had returned home. Hannah paid Shannon the money they owed her for the week, and thanked her for bringing the kids home safe. Hannah allowed the children to settle in, and unwind while she and Hayden were eating, and visiting with their children, letting them ramble off about how much fun the trampoline park was. When dinner, and dishes were said and done, Hannah sent Junior, Paisley, and Karise to take their showers, while she coached Lily, and Sophia upstairs, and carried Raiden, and Riley on each of her hips.

Hannah ran a tight ship when it came to bedtime. She managed to get the kids bathed, and allowed Hayden to take each child to get them dressed, and settled into bed when she was finished. Together, they really were one hell of a team when it came to being parents, and taking care of each other, and their children.

Once the children were all settled into bed taking their one half hour to play on their tablets, with the exception of Raiden, and Riley, she made her rounds to each of their rooms, and kissed them goodnight, promising them that the next day would be a big one, and they would need as much rest, and sleep as they could get. She left Sophia’s room with Hayden behind her, watching as he said one last goodnight, and shut the door.

Hannah stood outside of the door waiting for her husband in the hallway, and as Hayden emerged, he smiled at his wife before he turned his attention to closing the door and looked back at Hannah as he moved towards her standing against the wall and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. She looked up at him, placing her hands on his chest. “We did it… the kids luggage is fully packed and prepared, their all tucked into their beds off to dream land… What do we do now?” She asked in an innocent-unknowing tone.

God only knew that Hayden had a thousand options running through his head, especially since it was still before their “normal” bedtime. “Well, we have options now don’t we my tiny dancer? What would you like to do?” He said, as he started walking her back towards the master suite.

Hannah took slow steps, more than trusting Hayden not to put her in any serious danger. “Well… we could take a nice hot shower, and get into bed and snuggle….” She suggested this with a total innocent mind.

Hayden’s eyes glistened with love down at his wife. “Then that is what we’ll do, my dear Wendy…” He took her hand, and guided her back to the bedroom. With the on suite bathroom attached off their bedroom, he lead her right where they needed to be, before he gently undressed her, and allowed her to get in, and start warming up the water for them. His clothes disappeared off his body, and soon he was joining her in the shower.

A few minutes later, the couple steamed the bathroom up with their hot shower, and Hayden was stepping out, placing a towel around his waist, and grabbed a towel, wrapping it over Hannah’s body, and tucking it in. “Go on in the bedroom, I’ll grab pajamas for you, and meet you in there, sweet pea….”

Hannah smiled at him, and leaned up to peck his lips. “Thank you baby…” She gave him a loving look with a small smile, drying her feet before heading off to the bedroom, grabbing her hair towelette to dry her hair. Sitting down at her vanity in the bedroom, she tied her hair into the small towel.

Hayden dried himself off, and quickly shaved the stubble off his face, before he made his way into their closet. He then grabbed a pair of boxers, and pajama pants for himself. Making his way to the other side of the large walk in closet, he snatched underwear, and a cappuccino white silk night gown for Hannah before he made his way to the bedroom. He set the clothes down on the bed, and turned his attention to his wife, offering her a hand up to her feet. She took his hand, and stood to her feet, padding across the wooden panels on their bedroom floor before she stood in front of him. Taking her undies from the bed, he kneeled down at her feet allowing her to step into them before he slowly pulled them up her legs which seemed to never end along with his attention to detail when it came to her thin yet fit physique body. With his fingers still under the straps of the thong, he grasped her thin waist in his hands gently as he trailed his fingers over her waist. His fingers pinched the thick material of the towel, removing it from her body before he started drying away the remaining water droplets on her body. Hannah tilted her head to the side, a soft satisfying moan left her lips as he pampered her body with the utmost care.

Her satisfying moan tore at his decision making, but he decided to think with the northern hemisphere of his brain for now, no matter how easy it would be to do otherwise. Once she was fully dry, he took her nightgown, and placed it over her head, and pulled it down her body. This was not a new routine for the married couple. Hayden and Hannah knew how hard their spouses worked between being home with the children, and their careers. No words needed to be spoken as they had a mutual silent appreciation for one another.

Once she was dressed, he pulled the blankets back, and fluffed her pillows up before he walked back to her, and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Go ahead, and climb into bed baby girl… I’ll be right there…”

She placed her hands on his chest as he approached her, and closed her eyes. “Okay… don’t take too long…” With that, she climbed into the bed, turning on the small light above their bed, and laid down facing his side of the bed, and curled up on the mattress, deciding not to pull the covers up just yet.

Hayden watched her for a moment before he got himself dressed, and threw the clothes from the bathroom in their laundry basket. He turned the lights out in the bathroom, and in the bedroom once he was ready to settle into bed. He grabbed his comb, and her brush, before walked over to his side, and slid into bed, pulling the blankets over himself, and Hannah before he looked down at her. “Come here, sweet girl…We need to brush that that beautiful hair of yours.”

Hannah slowly sat up, and moved herself in between his legs, removing the twisted towel from her hair, allowing her long wet honey blonde hair fall down to the middle of her back. Hayden watched, and waited for her to get situated, before he gently started to brush her hair. Hannah felt her body relax, and come down as she was undoubtedly prepared for some much needed sleep. “Mmmmm, so, how was work today baby?”

Hayden ran his fingers through the smoothed locks of hair as he brushed her hair out. “It was alright. We’ve been pretty busy. I got a call from some organizations today that help newly released veterans find their groundings with housing, and jobs, and stuff like that…so, I’m probably going to be breaking ground on some new developments here soon…”

Hannah smiled, listening to her husband talk about the empire he built from the ground up was always interesting. “Baby, that’s so awesome… I’m happy that your work makes you feel so satisfied at the end of the day… it counts for a lot, you know?”

Hayden continued to pull the brush through the smoothness of her long locks of hair, knowing it relaxed her. “I know… God, when we first met, it was literally a mirage in my head.” He teased, more himself than her.

“I always knew you’d be successful.” She pivoted herself to look back at him, pressing her chin into her shoulder.

Setting her brush to the side, he pushed the comb through his hair, before he tossed it on the back on his bedside table. He leaned back against his pillows, and pulled her down with him which domino effected Hannah’s body to lay on her stomach, landing gently on top of him. Her body relaxed into his as she buried her head into his neck. Hayden pulled the blankets over them, and used the pads of his fingers to swoop her hair to the side, before he started rubbing her back gently. “What about you, princess? Work isn’t stressing you out too much is it?”

Hannah smiled, closing her eyes. “It’s going well. We’re still switching off the responsibilities between running meetings with the franchises, administrative work, and working appointments, and we just grandfathered Mom’s store into our chains, being that her store is literally just a salon, we’re paying for it to be upgraded.”

Hayden smiles. “Awe, honey. That is so sweet of you and your she-devil twin to do…”

Hannah giggled, before playfully hit him in the arm. “Be nice…”

Hayden smirked, and bit back a laugh. “I am being nice… she-devil is putting it nicely.”

Hannah rolled her eyes, letting his smartass comment roll off her back. It was typical of Hayden and Hayley to privately bash each other while conversing with Hannah any day of the year, nowadays. “You just better watch it, she will beat your ass if she knows that you call her that.”

Hayden was trying not to laugh, but his attempt failed. “She can try, if she can catch my ninja arse.” He didn’t want to rile her up, so with integrity, he decided to change the subject. “Fine, placing my undeniable douchebag brother in law status aside, what are you most excited about with this upcoming vacation, baby girl?”

Hannah smiled as he slyly changed the subject, and she started caressing her nails against his bare chest. “That is easy… Watching the girls transform into little royal princesses at the Bibbity-Bobbity Boutique… I think that will always be my favorite part… well, and watching their little faces as they see the Cinderella Castle for the first time. Remember when it was just you, me, Junior, Paisley, and baby Karise?”

Hayden closed his eyes, picturing the memory. “Of course… Paisley was like what, six when we went down?”

“Yeah, and I think Karise was only a year… That was right before our wedding…” She smiled, thinking about the memories. There were so many happy, life fulfilling memories that made her life changing struggles worth reaching her happily ever after.

Silence filled the room, and Hayden gently turned, and laid her down on her back before he leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips. She returned the kiss, linking her arms around his neck. It would have been entirely too easy to get carried away with his wife, but Hayden resisted, and broke the kiss, laying his forehead against hers. “We should get some sleep, princess…” His voice was an audible whisper at this point.

Hannah lied underneath of him, her eyes still closed, groaning softly. “Mmm, ok… but, you will still cuddle with me, right?”

Hayden smiled, and took his spot on the bed, wrapping her up in his arms. Naturally, Hannah turned into him, and buried her head into his neck as she draped an arm over him. Combing his fingers through her hair, he moved it behind her ear. “Of course, Mrs. Hodgins… Get some sleep, baby girl…” He reached up and shut their light off before wrapping an arm around her once more. “Sweet dreams, Han...”

“Sweet dreams, handsome…” She mumbled the words out, as she started dozing off.

With the confirmation that she was falling asleep, Hayden closed his own eyes before he slowly found his own slumber state of mind.