Chapter 24

The morning dawned and I looked out to see a cloudless sky of blue. It was always peaceful to look out the window of Brian's bedroom. While we had never been intimate, Brian always insisted I sleep with him, especially after his surgery. He wanted me close to him, to know I was still there.

This morning, he wasn't in bed when I woke and I got up to look for him. I found him in the kitchen making some breakfast for us both. I walked up behind him and slipped my arms around his waist. "How are you feeling this morning?" I asked him.

"Pretty good Sue." He turned in my arms. "Once I see the doctor today I will feel even better. I want this part of my life over and move onwards." He looked me in the eyes. "We can move on."

He kissed me then, and then turned back to his cooking. I looked over his shoulder, reluctant break contact yet. "What are you cooking?" I asked, though it smelled like pancakes.

"Look," he said proudly. I looked at the pan, around his shoulder and they were indeed pancakes which we not long after sat down at the table to eat. As I ate I just watched his every move, I was drawn to him and couldn't break my gaze away.

"What?" he asked after a while.

I smiled at him. "Nothing."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno. Just," he stopped when I put my fork down and gazed at him again. "Like that."

I shrugged. "I just like looking at you."

He smiled at that, rolling his eyes. Then he remembered something. "Hey, I forgot to tell you. Or should I say ask you. I made reservations for dinner down the coast tonight, to celebrate my final doctors visit, and hopefully a clean bill of health, is that okay with you?"

"Dinner? Sounds lovely."

"And I have something special for you. But I don't want you to look till after we get back from the doctor."

"Brian, you know I hate surprises."

"Too bad Beautiful. You have to wait," he said getting up and clearing the table. "Come on, lets get ready, I want this doctors visit over with as soon as possible."

Everything went as we had expected. All the tests Brian was given, to check every tiny detail of his surgery, he passed with flying colours. When he was finally finished and we were walking out of the hospital, he took me in his arms and spun me around, laughing as he did so, stopping to kiss me when he put me down. "Sue. I love you so much. Lets go start the rest of our lives."

At home I was eager to find out what my surprise was. When he handed me a large box, I looked at him curiously. "Go on. Open it."

I opened it to find the most beautiful midnight blue satin, almost black dress, with a sheen of glitter running thru it, like stars on a moonlit sky, inside the box. I pulled it out slowly to have a good look, holding it up against me. "Oh Brian, this is beautiful, when did you manage to find this?"

He shrugged. "Before the surgery. I went shopping just to look for it. Come on, we better get ready to go soon. I want to spend a quiet evening with you, eating, talking, then holding you in my arms on the dance floor."

He left suddenly, leaving me wanting him, to get ready in the guest room. I showered and dressed in record time, wanting to be with Brian, emotions suddenly flowing through me. All day I had felt different. Like this was going to be a memorable day. It already was, but I knew what it was. Tonight, I was going to be Brian's, body, mind and soul. I was ready to give myself to him completely.

I felt so special, dressed in the elegant dress Brian had given me. I walked out of my bedroom to find Brian waiting for me, looking breath taking in a black suit and tie. He stood side on to me, his hands in his pockets. He looked nervous and I wondered why. I was the one who should be feeling nervous seeing I had already decided tonight was the night I would give myself to Brian. I knew without a doubt in my heart or my mind, that Brian was the one for me and me for him. It was way past time that I took that step with him.

He turned and looked at me. I saw him take in a breath and smile at me. He didn't say a word till I reached him. Then he took his hands out of his pockets and held them out to mine. I put my hands in his and he spun me around before pulling me towards him. "You look absolutely beautiful." He whispered. I barely heard him but the words sent tingles down my spine. He guided my arms around his before wrapping his around me. "I love you Sue. You are my strength, my love, my everything," he got out before lowering his lips to mine for a mind blowing kiss. My head was spinning when he pulled away. I couldn't say anything at all, only gaze into his eyes, totally mesmerised.

"We better get going. It's a long drive," he said but dropped another kiss on my eager lips. He kept doing this to me today. Getting me worked up, then abruptly moving on. I was going to have to stop him.

Finally he turned me in his arms and we walked out to the car. He opened my door and helped me in before going around to his side. He looked at me before starting the car. He wanted to say something, but changed his mind. His hand came up and he brushed the back of his fingers down my cheek, cupping my chin. "Sue, you do know how much I love you don't you?"

"Yes Brian, as much as I love you." He was happy with that and turned to concentrate on driving. He started the car and we were off. I lay my hand on his knee, needing the contact, as little as it was. I just wanted to be touching him, in whatever way I could.

He was right it was a long drive we enjoyed in mostly silence. I was caught up imagining what tonight would be like, and feeling just a little nervous. Brian was wrapped in his own thoughts. The drive was worth it when we arrived at a seaside restaurant nestled among palm trees on the beach. It was unseen from the road and I wondered where Brian was leading me when he helped me out of the car. The restaurant had a fairytale aura to it, with fairy lights all over it. The entry was beautiful and Brian leaned down whispering in my ear, "A fairytale castle for my princess." My heart melted even further at his words and I smiled up at him. I didn't know how much more of this romance I would be able to take before I literally threw myself at Brian and want him on the spot.

We were shown to a table set with the finest tableware, candles lit and a view to kill for. Lights shone on the water, coming from a cluster of small boats on the water below. It added to the romance of the evening.

Dinner was a blur for me. My mind was racing, thinking about the decision I had made. We ate slowly, we talked, he seemed as distracted as I was. Music was being play on the grand piano in the corner. Brian stood up unexpectedly. He came beside me and held out his hand. "Would you like to dance?"

I smiled, "I'd love to."

I stood and walked into his arms and he swirled me onto the dance floor. Being in his arms like this was Heaven. I could have stopped time and I would have been happy forever to be exactly where I was. The song we were dancing to was slow and sensual. It finished, and then another, and we kept on dancing. My head lay on Brian's chest, as I listened to his healthy heart beating. I wanted him so much. I needed him.

I looked up at him and his eyes glittered with love. I moved my head up and whispered in his ear, "Brian, I want you." By now my breathing was coming in heavy breaths.

He looked down at me to see the desire in my eyes. "Sue, what are you saying?" he asked.

"I want you to make love with me Brian. I need you so much," I whispered again. "I don't want to wait any longer."

Brian didn't answer but steered me towards the outdoor dance floor, over to a darkened area where no one would see us. There was champagne cooling there, with two glasses and I looked at Brian with confusion. There was a breeze blowing softly around us and a strand of hair blew into my face. Brian captured it and tucked it behind my ear. He poured two glasses of the golden liquid, handing one to me. I took a sip, watching him sip and swallow his.

"Sue, I want you to be sure about what you just said." He said, one arm still holding me close, the other hand laying on my cheek. I leaned into his hand and closed my eyes.

"I am sure Brian. I want you to love me, I want to be yours and yours only."

"You are mine, and I am yours." He stopped and thought for a minute, as if choosing the right words. "Sue, I love you with all my heart, you know that don't you?" I nodded my head. "And you know now that I regret our missing years?" I nodded again. "I never want that to happen again. I want to be with you always. It will be crazy with my hectic schedule to do that."

I waited for him to continue. I had no idea what he was trying to say. He sighed. I guessed this wasn't coming out like he had expected.

"Sue, what I am trying to say is I want you with me always, and forever. I love you. When we are 75 years old I will love you as much as I do now." He looked into my eyes and took a deep breath. "Sue. Will you marry me? Will you be mine forever?"

My mouth opened in shock. Whatever I had expected him to say, this wasn't it. Tears came rushing to my eyes and my whole body hummed with joy. He wanted to marry me, after all we had been through, he wanted me that much to marry him. I always imagined being married to him. "Are you serious Brian?"

He laughed. "Yes I am serious Sue. I hate being away from you and I know now the hurt you went through. I don't want either of us to go through that anymore. I love you more than anything, I would give everything up, just for you. Please say you will be my wife."

"Yes Brian." I said to him.

"Yes? Did you say yes?" I nodded laughing at him and he let out the loudest "Wooo hooo I had ever heard in my life. His arms wrapped around me, crushing me to him. "Oh Sue, you have no idea how happy you just made me. I asked you when you came back to me if we were going to make it. We have haven't we? I would give you the world."

"Yeah Brian, we've made it. My heart always belonged to you."

"Sue," he breathed into my ear, "my heart always belonged to you too, I just had to realise it." He suddenly reached into his pocket. "Oh Man, I forgot."

He took out a jewellery box and handed it to me. I took it and he kept his hands on it, both of us holding it. He snapped open the box asking me again, "Sue, my beautiful princess, will you marry me?"

Inside the box was a ring more beautiful than I had ever seen before. "Oh Brian." My fingers were shaking as I held the box. This was our future, it evaporated every tear I had shed, every hurt I had felt in those traumatic years. I looked up at Brian my eyes shining with tears. He reached up and wiped my tears, smiling down at me lovingly. I took a shuddering breath. "Yes, Brian. Yes." I smiled back at him. "I will marry you."

He took the ring out of the box, taking my hand in his. As he slipped the ring on my finger he leaned down and slid his lips over mine. I moaned aloud wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me, running my tongue along his bottom lip. "Brian. I want you so much," I sighed into his mouth.

"Oh Baby," he growled before plunged his lips down on mine forcefully. I opened my mouth to his, needing him desperately, his tongue duelling with mine. My mind was devoid of anything but the feelings running rampant through my body.

"Brian, do we have to go home?" I asked him, my voice husky.

He looked at me, his eyes glazed. "No Beautiful. We can stay right here. I can book in to their hotel. Just down there. Look" he said pointing out towards the ocean. Down by the beach I saw another building, lit with more fairy lights. He kissed the top of my head.

I smiled up at him. "Can we go there? I don't want to wait Brian."

He nodded, kissing me softly again. I tried to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away. "Wait here." He told me and turned to leave. I felt strangely alone, abandoned. I walked over to the edge of the balcony, the twinkling lights the only illumination out here, setting off a romantic glow.

I smiled to myself. Brian wanted me in his life forever, he wanted me as his wife. We had been best friends our whole lives. Even in that 4 year separation I always considered him my best friend, my soul mate, my one and only. Now there was a commitment. A promise. Brian had promised me many things before, and now I knew he meant it. He gave me a fright when he returned and slipped his arms around me. "Are you ready Sue? Tonight is the beginning of the rest of our lives. I Promise you."

Epilogue
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