Blame this story on Garth Brooks and Nora Roberts. They both used this same idea and it made me start wondering just what Roy would do.

Roy's eyes were dark, void of the usual sparkle they carried. Johnny looked across the table towards his partner, seated on the sofa, mindlessly petting Henry, while staring at a spot on the floor. His shoulders hung low.

The last three shifts had been hectic and rough. The fire fighting was hard, nasty work. Paramedic duty had no miraculous saves, no daring rescues, and, at one fire, the retrieval of a body. Normally, there were calls during a shift that would provide a light, nearly comic relief. Not during this time. Every paramedic call, and every fire, seemed to result in a victim being taken in for injuries that would result a long, pain-filled stay at Rampart. The mood amongst the men in the station was depressed. The Phantom was too tired to scheme, and the men were all looking forward to going home and getting some sleep.

The past two weeks had been hard on all of them, but Roy seemed more somber than the rest. The only paramedic replacement available when Dwyer had to leave unexpectedly for a family emergency, he was now at the end of a grueling forty-hour shift.

Johnny alone knew that part of Roy's present mood was due to disappointment over plans that had been interrupted by the unexpected overtime. Johnny understood how badly Roy had wanted... no, had needed that time with his wife.

The DeSotos had conned Joanne's best friend into babysitting so they could enjoy an evening together. Just as they had been about to leave for dinner, Headquarters had phoned, seeking a replacement. Roy had been the fifth off-duty paramedic called, and the only one to answer his phone. Duty won out, and had put a halt to the evening the couple had been looking forward to most of the week.

As B shift's crew began to wander in, Johnny started to grin. Today was Friday, and he knew he could help his friend. After saying good-bye to his crewmates, Johnny jumped into his Land Rover, drove to the nearest pay phone, and made a quick call.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Roy struggled to focus on his driving. He was exhausted. Physically and mentally. Life seemed to be getting in the way of... life. His work, the kids' activities, home chores, and Joanne's part-time job were all preventing him from enjoying time alone with his wife. When they would finally get to bed at the end of a day, both he and Joanne were so tired, they would just fall asleep. Once, he had been determined to wait for her to come up stairs, with every intention of showing her just how much he'd missed her. He hadn't been able to stay awake long enough.

That night was only one in what seemed like a series of missed opportunities.

Roy pulled his car into the garage, hesitating before pulling his weary body from the car. When we first got married, we couldn't keep our hands off each other. Now it's been a month, and it doesn't look like anything has changed. If I remember right, that list Joanne made the other day was long enough to keep me busy all weekend.

Joanne and the kids were heading out the door, nearly knocking him over as he walked in.

"Hi, honey," Joanne pecked his cheek, as both kids gave him quick hugs. "Chris just remembered he was supposed to bring paper plates for his class party today. We have to pick some up, then I'll drop the kids at school. I have some errands to run, so I won't be back until after one. Breakfast is in the oven. Eat, then go get some sleep. You look exhausted. Sorry to be in such a hurry, but we're late."

Before he had a chance to say a word, the three ran out to the car, leaving him standing in the middle of the living room.

"Sure." Roy grumbled to thin air. "Run out. We never seem to spend any time together."

Feeling old, he trudged to the kitchen to look for his breakfast. Joanne had left a place setting on the table for him. It looked pitifully alone, echoing his own feelings. He ate only a few bites of the pancakes. His appetite seemed to have deserted him. After pushing the food around, while looking at the empty kitchen and living room, Roy got up and put his dishes in the sink. Dragging himself up the stairs to their bedroom, he sat heavily on the edge of the bed, pulled off his shoes, and quickly dropped off to sleep.

Roy awoke to sounds of his wife going through cabinets. He smiled to himself and checked the time. He lost the smile, groaned, and looked in disbelief at the clock again. He was certain he'd set it to wake him at noon, but the clock showed 2:30. Just great! he griped to himself, slamming his palms down on the mattress. The kids will be home soon. So much for time for the two of us. Nothing is going right. He heard the rare sound of thunder. Rain hit the windows. The dark clouds reflected his own mood. The kids will have to stay inside all weekend, and I won't be able to get any of Jo's chores done.

He pulled his body out of bed, yanked off his clothes, and threw them towards the hamper. On his way to the dresser for a change of clothes, he stubbed his toe against the hope chest at the end of the bed. What is this! I've got Johnny's luck today? Just what I need! He haphazardly dug through his drawer, looking for a comfortable sweatshirt. Roy grabbed one of his favorites out of the drawer, and pulled it over his head.

Rrrriiippp!

"Damn!" was the uncharacteristic response. That was it. This was now officially a wasted day! He threw the shirt across the room and grabbed another one, slamming the dresser drawer closed. Then he stomped down the stairs, not caring that he sounded like his nine-year-old son in a pout.

"Joanne! We have got to...." His jaw dropped as he stepped into the kitchen. Roy stared, blinked, then stared again.

Joanne had her back to him, busy fixing a salad for lunch. What had left her husband of ten years with the inability to finish a sentence was her attire. The full lacy apron was a flimsy, frilly white thing that some aunt had given her as a birthday gift. Too light to be practical, she normally only wore it on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"Um, uh, Jo?" Roy tried to get his voice to work. He stepped closer. In some corner of his mind, he noticed all of the downstairs' drapes and blinds were closed.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, holding her own breath as she heard Roy's breathing become a bit ragged. She briefly wondered if she had been wrong to try this.

"Joanne? Is the washer broken?"

The nervousness Joanne was feeling made her giggle. She turned her head back to the salad, willing herself not to be embarrassed. "No, honey. Why would you think that?"

"Because you're wearing an apron."

"Yes, I am."

"Uh..., aren't the kids due home?"

"No, honey. Johnny is picking them up from school. He's keeping them all weekend."

Roy came up behind her, swept aside the apron tie, and stroked her bare, firm cheek. "You starting a new holiday?" he whispered. His left hand reached up, lightly brushing against her breast.

The material added a pleasant texture to his touch. Joanne leaned back against him, guiding his right hand forward to her heat.

"I think I want this day to be unforgettable," she whispered back.

Joanne moaned as Roy's fingers continued their movements, with his manhood pushing against her back. She squirmed against him before turning around and giving Roy a deep kiss, thrusting her tongue to meet his. She then slowly pulled away, his hand caressing her back as she left. She had seen the amount of breakfast Roy had thrown away, and was determined that he should eat.

"Now, honey, you need to sit down and have some lunch. It's going to be a long two days, and I want you nourished and fit."

Roy thought about grabbing her and taking her to the kitchen floor, but Joanne looked like she had a plan. He decided to let her take the lead. Her part-time job was giving her more confidence, and if this was any indication of what she had in mind, he was ready to play along.

For now.

Joanne set a salad down at Roy's spot on the table. He sat and watched Joanne open the refrigerator, then bend over to pick out some dressing from the bottom shelf. She turned and smiled as she saw how intently Roy was eying the view. She brought the dressing over to Roy, but just before handing it to him, placed the cold jar against both her breasts. Her nipples, already hard from his earlier touch, and now from the cold, strained against the apron lace. She smiled at Roy.

"Sorry, dear. This needs to be shaken."

When she shook the bottle, her full breasts jiggled, sneaking back and forth beneath the apron. Then, standing next to him, she bent to pour the dressing on his salad. Roy turned his head, and discovered her side right in front of his face. He leaned forward and licked the side of her bare breast.

Joanne straightened up and wagged her finger at him. "No dessert until you've eaten your salad, dear." She looked at his salad and said with mock dismay, "Oh, no. I got some dressing on your celery. I know you like it plain."

She grabbed the piece of celery, and put the end with the dressing in her mouth. She slowly pulled it out, her tongue in the groove, meeting Roy's eyes, watching the flames rage.

"Here, dear. Now eat."

Roy picked up his fork and began eating. He had no clue what it tasted like, and was sure that if the bowl moved, he'd never find it. His eyes were focused on his wife. All the blood in his body was rushing to his groin. Joanne moved to the living room and began dusting the furniture. His mouth went dry as she reached high, providing him with a provocative side view, the apron pulling away from her breasts as she moved higher. Then she pushed in an eight track, and began slowly moving to the sounds of a jazz trombonist as she bent over to straighten up the papers on the coffee table. Roy reached for the water, having to search with his hand slightly, for he couldn't turn away from the vision in front of him.

He was ready to explode. Breathe, Roy, he reminded himself. This would be a bad day to end up in Rampart.His heart nearly pounded out of his chest when Joanne knelt on the floor to pull some toys out from under a chair.

Suddenly Joanne felt fingers drawing through her wet folds. She stayed down, leaning on her forearms, feeling the movements of Roy's hands, and the warmth of his breath against her back.. Then he kissed the small of her back, moving down with his lips and tongue dancing across her buttocks.

Oh, my! I can't believe this. In my LIVING ROOM.

Joanne's next thought was one of pure desire. Roy had turned onto his back and had his head between her legs. He pulled her down onto his mouth and began licking and sucking at her very point of pleasure. His hands moved up to her breasts and began caressing her, a little rougher than she was used to. She knew it was because of the fire she had stoked in him, and it excited her more.

She felt his tongue thrust into her opening. Joanne shuddered and pressed down just a bit more, trying to get more from him. Roy's hands moved to her nipples, tweaking them as he sucked and nibbled on her clit. She moaned and tried to move down to get to Roy, to get his clothes off so he could take her, unaware he had already dropped his sweats. He finally grabbed her hips and set her on top of his erection.

Both felt an urgency they had never experienced before. They moved as one, both cumming at the same instant, Joanne calling his name as they both slid over the edge.

Roy slowly became aware of Joanne still laying on top of him. He hugged her, smiling when he realized he still had his sweatshirt on, and she was still wearing... that apron!

"Oh, Joanne," he whispered. "I can't believe what you just did to me."

He rolled her to the side and went to the small bathroom off the kitchen. He brought back a warm washcloth and gently cleaned Joanne.

She was surprised, not only to note her own excitement mounting again, but at the obvious sign that Roy was this quickly aroused again. She had been so nervous to try this but hadn\rquote t been sure if it would work. It had just been so long, and she had been afraid Roy didn't find her attractive anymore. Joanne smiled to herself, Okay. That fear is gone!

Roy leaned down and kissed her, slowly moving his hand down the front of the apron, using its texture to create a new sensation, as he began to encircle her breast. He leaned down and suckled it through the fabric. Joanne arched her back at the feeling, wanting more. Roy moved his lips to the other breast, his hand continuing its torture of the first. Roy turned around so his head was at her thighs again, leaving his hands to continue the ministrations on her breasts. Joanne hiked the apron up into a bunch at her waist, giving him a clear view of his target. He turned her to her side so they were facing each other and laid his head on her thigh, her other thigh laying lightly against his cheek. Roy used one hand to separate her folds as his tongue ran along them. He loved feeling the shudder of Joanne's body as she reacted to his treatment.

Then, it was Roy's turn to shudder. Joanne had begun to caress his erect manhood. As he blew cool air across her button, Roy felt her hand slide down to his balls and tease.

Oh man, this is new! We've never done it this way before,Roy thought, as she kissed him along the length of his throbbing member.

Roy abruptly rolled so he was now on his back with Joanne on top. He continued plying her with his fingers, tongue, and breath as she began to lick his balls. She ran her hands down his inner thighs then brought one up from where his backside touched the floor. She ran her fingernails lightly up to his penis, encircling it with her whole hand. Roy sucked harder, tasting her sweetness, as Joanne put him in her mouth, slowly moving him in and out. Reaching the point where their oral sex had always ended, Roy tried to move Joanne so he could change their positions. He knew he was ready to come.

She refused to move, and placed her arms around his thighs and continued. He managed a weak, "You sure?" and felt her laughing around his engorged rod, before she lightly slapped the side of his butt. Roy used his tongue to enter her just as he exploded into her mouth. She jerked slightly but when Roy expected her to roll off she continued to suck him dry. Then as she came close to finding her own release, Joanne knelt on her knees and sat upright over hime while Roy pulled on her nipples. She moaned as her orgasm shuddered through her body.

Waiting until she caught her breath again, Roy turned around so they were face to face. He reached behind her, undid the apron tie, and pulled it out from between them.

"Thanks, Aunt Gladys."

They lay there quietly, just holding each other for a long time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eventually, they made it to their bedroom. Roy had brought up a couple of glasses of wine, and some grapes and strawberries to snack on. Joanne lay against the pillows, nibbling on the grapes that Roy fed her, occasionally nibbling on an errant finger that ran around her mouth. She had her right arm around Roy who, she noted, had a very relaxed smile on his face. Joanne realized she hadn't seen that for a while.

"Roy, are you happy?" Joanne asked.

Roy chuckled. "What do you think?"

"No, honey. I mean with life, I mean with everything. I guess even with us."

Roy sat up and looked at Joanne, trying to determine if she was unhappy. He only read concern in her eyes, and hesitated a moment as he began. "Always, always with you. Never doubt that." He took her hand and kissed the palm. "Of course, tonight I'm on Cloud Nine with you." He leaned over and gave her a slow kiss, designed to show love and devotion, not necessarily passion. Joanne hugged him, then pulled him back down, so she was face-to-face with him.

"But, not with other things? Can I help?" Joanne watched as Roy struggled to find the words to explain.

"I guess it's me. Lately, I feel like I'm never where I am supposed to be. Never putting first what should be first." He sighed, a long drawn out sound. He put one arm under his head and looked at Joanne.

"While I'm at work, it seems I'm thinking of a Scout meeting with the kids that I'm missing. When I go to a Scout meeting, I'm thinking I should be here - with you, or that I'm spending too much time with one of the kids and not the other." He suddenly sat up, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Joanne scrambled over the covers to sit next to him.

"Even now, Jo. Even now, I'm feeling like we should be with Chris and Jennifer, not leaving it up to Johnny to watch them."

Roy raised his anguished eyes to look over to her. Did she understand? After this incredible afternoon, would she understand the guilt he felt?

She moved into his lap, and slipped her arms around him. "Sweetheart, I hate to tell you this, but the kids were overjoyed at the chance to stay with Johnny. He spoils them - and THEY love it! They look at time with him as a mini-vacation, almost better than Disneyland."

Joanne put her fingers to his lips when he started to interrupt. "Plus, I know Dads with 8-to-5 jobs who don't get to as many Scout meetings or events as you do. Our kids are alwaysproud to say when you aren't there, that their daddy is saving lives." She made sure he was looking her directly in the eyes. "And, you and I deserve this! In fact, we deserve some back pay for all we've done for our family, and for Johnny. I'm now declaring that once a month, one night - THE WHOLE NIGHT, Mr. DeSoto, is now Joanne's and Roy's night. Not Mommy and Daddy's, not homeowner's, not even Johnny's best friends. It will be Joanne's and Roy's Loving night."

Roy's lips curled into a smile. He held his love in a tight squeeze until Joanne poked her finger in his chest.

Roy looked at her, not quite ready to give up his guilt yet. "But, it seems selfish."

"Roy DeSoto! Tonight was not selfish."

Joanne stood up in front of him, hands on her hips. "Do you remember telling me just a few months ago that I should think about going to school, or getting a job? That I needed to do something just for me? Well this, tonight, was for us."

She saw that Roy was considering her words. Her selfless husband who always tried to think of her and their family, had forgotten to look out for himself. As a new thought struck her, she sat down and pulled on a couple of his chest hairs. Over his yelp, she continued. "You big goof! Is that why you haven't gone camping with Johnny recently?" One look at the sheepish grin on his face gave her the answer. "Okay, in exchange for our monthly night, you and Johnny get at least one monthly campout."

Roy rubbed his chest, and smiled at the wonderful woman he'd been lucky enough to marry. She was right, as usual. Johnny and Joanne both had their own way of getting him to relax. Not spending time with either of his favorite people had kept him from reducing his stress level.

Struggling to maintain a straight face, he asked Joanne, "Ya think Johnny'd look good in an apron?"

Joanne growled, and threw herself at him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sunday evening finally rolled around, and Johnny brought the kids home. He looked at his favorite couple as they sat on the back deck, pleased with himself for volunteering to take the kids. The spark his partner had been missing these last few weeks seemed to have returned with a vengeance. While the kids were busy in another room, he asked the the happy couple if he needed to call the fire department. They looked at him blankly, until he laughed.

"You two are setting off more sparks than most campfires do." Joanne laughed, too, and Roy threw his napkin at him. Johnny noticed they looked at each other, as if sharing a private memory.

When Roy walked him to his Rover at the end of the evening, Johnny couldn't resist asking.

"Okay, Roy. Just what did the two of you do this weekend?"

The answer, and the grin Roy gave him, was definitely not what he had expected.

"Housework."

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Writer's Note: I really want to thank Wild Rose and Foxy Lady for aiding and abetting my first foray into this type of writing. They kept me steaming most all the time I wrote it!

Editor's Note: Yousers. She kept Us steaming, and squirming, and just in general.... Wow is it hot in here? Just like Sin City Girl. Hot! Woohoo! This was one hot story. And, we read it again and again to make sure all those commas were in the right place. Again, and again, and, again. It was such a *hot* er, tough job but we're dedicated. No job too hot, no sheet unrumpled.... *VBEG*

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