Run, Girl (If You Can)

Chapter 500: New Research

Keeley walked by the entertainment room and saw Violet and Noah cuddling through the crack in the door. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. It appeared those two had always been meant for each other after all.

There was no doubt in her mind that they would get married eventually now that Noah had finally made a move. Violet and Noah had always been perfectly in sync, which was a big part of why her brothers had always teased her about being married to him. They had been acting like husband and wife for a few years now. It was only a matter of time before that actually happened.

She shook those thoughts free so she could finish up her paperwork meant to be submitted to the Nobel Prize judges. The deadline was coming up and she wanted to get it done sooner rather than later.

Sometimes it was still hard to believe this was actually happening to her. Keeley knew her odds of actually winning were slim—tons of people got nominated every year—but it was still an honor to even be considered.

She had done her best and the rest was up to the panel of experts who would evaluate her work. Her dream of helping people with cystic fibrosis had already been fulfilled.

There had to be some other project she could get started now that she was nearly done with her paperwork. Helping Erica with her research was better than nothing but Keeley wanted to lead her own team again. The problem was coming up with an acceptable topic.

A scientist of her standing couldn't pick any old research project. Her reputation had preceded her too much already. If she didn't do something else groundbreaking, her fans would be disappointed.

Keeley laughed out loud thinking about the fact that she actually had fans. That certainly hadn't ever been something she considered when she chose this as her career.

Her last project had taken more than twenty years to complete, though admittedly she did take several long breaks from researching. There had to be something she could do that would take less time. She hadn't thought about still working in a lab in her sixties. Aaron would probably want to retire by then.

As much as she loved her work, she had to admit the thought of retirement and spending the rest of her life traipsing around the globe with her husband was appealing. But that was a very long time away. She shouldn't be daydreaming now when there was paperwork to complete.

Over an hour later Keeley stretched with a satisfied smile on her face. She had sent over the doc.u.ments to the appropriate people and now all that was left was waiting for the results. If she won, she would be informed in October though the award ceremony wouldn't be for another two months.

"You seem awfully satisfied with yourself," Aaron said with an obvious smile in his voice as he leaned down to hug her from behind. "Finished with your paperwork?"

Keeley craned her head to grin at him. "You know me too well. Now comes the best part—waiting on the edge of my seat for almost ten months."

He kissed the top of her head. "I think I know of a few ways to distract you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Do enlighten me."

"It's a secret. But if you really want to know…" Aaron trailed off suggestively.

"Violet and Noah are here!" Keeley hissed, catching onto his meaning.

He shrugged before beginning to give his wife a shoulder massage. "I checked on them on my way up here; they're both asleep."

That sounded so much like days gone by when the Singleton kids were sleeping over at their house. She had to laugh. Some things never changed. But since they were asleep there was no reason to reject Aaron's suggestion. Keeley pulled him closer for a kiss and allowed her husband to distract her.

When she woke up the next morning and began preparing breakfast she realized that she didn't ever hear Noah leave the night before. It was around 7 AM and he usually needed to be to work at 8 according to Violet.

Keeley didn't want to infringe on their privacy but if he was still here, he really needed to wake up. She hesitantly made her way to the entertainment room and covered her mouth to stifle her laughter when she saw how they were sleeping. They used to fall asleep on the floor in a very similar position when they were little.

"Vi," she whispered as loudly as she could.

Her daughter stirred, her torso about six inches away from Noah's and her arm stretched out across his neck as their legs were tangled together. How on earth was that comfortable enough for them to stay asleep?

"Wha?" Violet asked sleepily.

"Noah has work today, doesn't he? You might want to wake him up. It's nearly seven," Keeley pointed out.

That woke her up. She immediately began shaking her still unconscious boyfriend as her mother discreetly slipped away. This was the first time Noah had stayed overnight since they had started dating but Keeley had no doubt that since it had happened once it would now happen more often.

The hazards of living together with your parents while dating was that they could walk in on you any time. It would be nice if one of them could get their own place before Keeley or Aaron was forced to witness something they would rather not see.

They were a.d.u.l.ts. Violet was around the age Keeley had been when she gave birth to the twins. Once the awkward puppy-love stage passed, she was sure they would engage in more a.d.u.l.t activities.

Ugh, it was so weird thinking of your child and a child you thought of as your own doing that. Keeley could still remember them chasing after each other when they were babies. She was willing to bet at this point that they would be having babies of their own within the next few years. Ah, her little girl was growing up.

**If you are reading this work on a site other than , it has been stolen. Please support the author at this link #Run%2C-Girl-(If-You-Can)