Ice and Fire novel Chapter 499

When Derek woke in the morning, he looked over and saw Amy asleep beside him. His heart swelled with happiness because the beautiful woman had become his in a real sense last night. As he gazed down at her angelic face, he felt the primal urge to protect and care for her and knew he would do his utmost to keep her happy in the future.

Amy was used to sleeping alone, and as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up, she found herself gazing into Derek's bright eyes and smiling face staring down at her, which made her feel nervous for a second, and then all she felt was a deep joy.

"Morning sleepy-head, did you sleep well?" asked Derek softly.

"Yes, how long have you been awake?" asked Amy.

"I just woke up, too, " Derek responded grinning at her.

"Are you busy today?" asked Amy suddenly.

"No, I am not busy today at all, why?" Derek replied wondering what was on Amy's mind. Why'd she ask that of all things as they lay there, just waking up?

"I don't have any classes scheduled for today, so I was wondering, would it be a good day to go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs?" Amy stated more than asked Derek.

"Now?" Although Derek had been expecting the time would come, he was at a loss for words and a little surprised.

"Well, not now, but later today, yes, " replied Amy.

The look of surprise on Derek's face was fleeting, but Amy had seen it and heard the hesitation in his voice, so she asked, "Is something wrong? Do...Do you not want to go?"

Hearing the disappointment in Amy's tone and the questioning look on her face, Derek hurriedly explained, "No, no, I want to, I'm just a little surprised. Yes, let's go today."

"Okay, " said Amy, a satisfied smile lighting up her face.

The three members of the Chu family were sitting around the table in their dining room enjoying breakfast.

"Daddy? Mommy? Who will be taking me to school today?" Joe asked in between bites of food. He thought for sure either Daddy or Mommy would drive him since they were both up so early.

"Ask Bill to take you to school, " Jackson stated quickly.

"Why? Why aren't you going to bring me?" Joe stopped eating mid- bite, his chopsticks dangling in the air, still, and he had a look of surprise on his face. He turned to his mother and asked, "Mommy, why aren't you going to drive me to school?"

"Mommy isn't feeling well and needs to stay home to rest, " Jackson stated for Cherry, and then added, "Daddy has some things to deal with today too. So, I can't bring you to school today."

"Why are you acting this way?" Joe asked as his lips puckered curling in a frown and looking as though he would cry at any moment. He was extremely disappointed because neither Daddy nor Mommy would bring him to school today, even though he had asked them nicely.

"What's different? This is still our home. How is it different?" asked Cherry as looking at her son's stiff expression. He looked so much like Jackson and was growing more handsome everyday. As she gazed down at him, Cherry knew her son would be a very handsome man in the future.

Jackson kept silent, had grinned conspiratorially.

Looking from his Mommy to his Daddy and back, Joe deduced that while his Mommy was acting naturally, his Daddy's wicked grin meant there was something they weren't telling him.

"No, look at Daddy's expression! There must be something, " Joe pointed at his father as he declared.

Cherry turned and saw Jackson smirking. Cherry quickly moved his arm and said, "What are you doing? Why are you making a face like that?"

"Babe, there seems to be something you haven't told our son, " said Jackson in a calm voice as he stretched, and leaned back in his seat. He knew Cherry hadn't told Joe since she just told him last night. His cute confused look told Jackson their son had no idea what was going on.

"So, there is really something!" Joe shouted excitedly. He stared at his Daddy, "Daddy, tell me, what happened?"

"Well son, do you remember our bet? Your Mommy is now mine, " Jackson declared triumphantly.

"I remember, " Joe said slowly as it dawned on him what his Daddy wasn't saying and whipped his head around looking at his Mommy, "Is it... Is it!?"