| They sat in the back seat of the hired car taking them home, their fingers entwined, as was so often the case. Sue felt somewhat uncomfortable, knowing the subject of where they were going would soon have to be brought up. She sighed deeply, capturing Brian's attention. "Sue, what's up? You have been on edge ever since we landed." She shrugged. "I guess I…" She stopped, not knowing how to phrase her concern for fear of sounding either dismissive of what they had shared or somewhere the opposite of that, wanting to hear a commitment that might not be ready to be given. "You what? Tell me Baby." He looked worried about what she might have to say and it occurred to her, he might be having the same thoughts as she was. She looked at him. "Where are you taking me Brian?" she rushed out and then looked away, taking a sudden interest in the scenery passing them by. Brian pulled her around to face him again and captured her chin in his fingers gently. "You mean home? Which home?" Sue nodded, not trusting her voice at that moment. "Sue, wherever you want to go is where I will take you. I can't lie and say I don't want you with me, in my house, but it also wouldn't be fair of me to pressure you into doing that. It's your choice Baby, but know I want to be with you as much as possible." Sue sighed again. She couldn't imagine not being with him, but this was almost like commitment to marriage or something similar. Although Brian never mentioned anything permanent and that bothered her too. What did she want anyway? She didn't know herself. Her silence was not unnoticed by Brian and he sighed. "Don't you want to come with me?" he asked. His fingers played over hers, but she felt his tension. She closed her eyes. It wasn't that at all. She wanted nothing more than to be with him always, but it was a big step. Travelling with him on tour was one thing, but living with him was another. There were no promises with living together, they could finish at any time. She wanted more she knew it. But she would not pressure Brian for more. The thought of not being with him was too much to bear. Right now she felt she would take whatever time she had with Brian with hopes that it would be forever. "I want…" she paused. "I want to be with you Brian." "I hear a 'but' in there," Brian said to her warily. "No 'but's' in there Brian," she squeezed his hand lovingly. "I don't want to be apart from you. The thought of not being with you tears me up inside. I want to be with you." Brian reached up and slid his fingers into her hair cupping her cheek. He smiled at her not knowing exactly what to say. He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Thank you Sue. You don't know how happy you've made me." She smiled softly at him. "I think I do." She said and kissed him back. Brian understood Sue's initial hesitation. Living together like he had literally asked her to do was a big step. It wasn't the way he had wanted things to happen, but on the other hand he couldn't imagine life without her. He had wanted to do things the right way but events had worked against them for that to happen. He wanted forever with Sue and he wanted it soon. A committed forever. While Spencer was a spectre in the background it didn't seem right. The little bit of time since he had gone had been for their healing. Now it was time to make everything right. It was ironic that they would now be living together seeing he wanted everything so perfect when they first met and he was reluctant to even kiss her till it felt right. Over the next few days they spent moving Sue into Brian's house. She didn't have a lot of stuff so all of it fit in easily. Her bed and bedroom setting was put in the spare bedroom, both of them agreeing his waterbed would be the one they would share. Every time she thought of sharing his bed every night she felt the familiar rush of desire pooling in her belly. She had no problem leasing her house to a young couple with a baby on the way in the next couple of months and it made Sue happy to think of a young family living in the house she had called her own for the past few years. Despite the fact that there was never any talk of making their relationship permanent, the one thing that would complete the dream Sue had to be Brian's wife, she was as happy as she had ever been. She realised she didn't need any more than she had now. To be living with Brian, sharing everything with him was all that mattered. They settled into a truly domesticated life. After an initial period of time where they were happy to stay at home and be alone and not share any part of their life with the outside world like they had to while on tour, Sue began to think she would like to get out a little more. Added to their final week on tour had been the media frenzy trying to get every piece of the Spencer story, at a time when they had both wanted time to themselves. The media had been relentless and it had hampered their healing to an extent, but now, alone at home had been a welcome change. But Sue also wanted to try their hardest at having a normal relationship, which included going out with Brian. Brian picked up on her melancholy mood and wondered what was up. Things had never been better between them. "What's up Baby?" he asked her later in the afternoon after being outside for some time shooting a few hoops. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. He could never get enough of holding her and kissing her. The past few days since Sue had settled in and now called this house her home had been perfect. "Oh nothing," she said her voice trailing off. "Yes there is, I can tell. Aren't you happy?" She turned in his arms. "Of course I am happy Brian. Never happier. Just being with you makes me happy. Why do you ask?" "I don't know. You just seem kind of sad all of a sudden." Sue smiled. "Nothing major Brian. I just thought it would be nice to go out again. I love being here alone with you, but I think we need to get out again." Brian thought for a moment and nodded his head slowly. "You want to go out?" Sue nodded her head now, telling him yes. "How about we go out to Howie's club tonight? I think the other guys are going to be there, Nick mentioned something about it to me the other day. I didn't think you wanted to face the world yet." Sue winked at Brian. "I am sure we could find plenty to amuse ourselves alone," she said running her fingertips up and down his bare chest. "But it's nice to get out. I like to go out with you." She kissed him on the cheek softly. "A night at Tabu would be fun though. Do you promise not to spill any drinks on me?" He laughed at that. "No I guarantee I won't. No nerves this time," he told her. "Do I still need to impress you and be nervous?" She shook her head smiling lovingly at him. "No need to impress me. You are everything I could wish for." They kissed then, before Sue swatted him on the butt telling him to go shower. He was still sweaty from being out in the sun and she had some things that needed doing if they were going out that evening. Tabu was as Sue remembered it. They hadn't returned since the night she had met Brian and he had had that terrible attack of clumsiness. She smiled at the memory. His nervousness had been endearing, one of the many things she had liked about him almost instantly. If she hadn't agreed to come that night she might never have met Brian. She didn't want to think of where her life would be now. They walked in together and were noisily greeted by Nick and AJ sitting at one of the larger tables set away in the private lounge. That was one of the things about this place that appealed to all of them. They could come out here and not be bothered by anyone, yet still have a great time. Hugs were shared between them all and drinks ordered. Before long everyone was there and the table was being loaded with an array of light finger foods for all to share. It was like a belated end of tour party that they had never had once the tour had finished, most of them wanting to get home as quickly as possible. "Let's dance," Brian whispered into Sue's ear. He'd been very quiet and Sue wondered if their coming out tonight was indeed a good thing. Maybe he really hadn't wanted to come out and only agreed for her sake. "Love to," Sue said to him. Just the thought of being held in his arms was enough to make her sigh with delight. She noticed Nick watching them and wondered what was going on. The moment Brian pulled her body against his all thought of Nick disappeared. Brian still seemed tense but danced with her, holding her lovingly. Sue frowned. "Brian, is there something the matter?" she asked him lifting her head and looking up at him. When she saw the look of desire and love in his crystal blue eyes she was overwhelmed. She grasped his shirt where her hands lay in his back for added support. Her body suddenly felt weak with desire. "Sue, there is nothing wrong. In fact everything is right. Holding you so closely in my arms, moving our bodies together to the music. What could possibly be wrong? Oh God I love you so much," he said and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with a built up desire. Sue reached up and touched him on the side of the face delicately. "Brian, I love you too. More than I ever thought I could possibly love anyone. But I do. I have never been so happy." "Sue. Will you marry me?" Sue heard the words but thought she had imagined them. "What…. What did you say Brian?" she asked him needing to be sure she had heard him. "I…" he took a steadying breath. "Sue, I love you with all my heart. I would do absolutely anything for you. I need you in my life forever." He looked down at her, his eye glistening with unshed tears. "I wanted to ask you this for so long but the time never seemed right. Here, tonight, in the place where we first met seemed the perfect place." He looked around the room full of happy people. "I love you so much Sue. Will you marry me? Will you do me the honour of being my wife?" Now Sue's eyes were filled with tears and he wiped them away. He knew these were nothing like the tears he had been drying of late and he smiled at her. "Brian…" she struggled to get her words out. "Yes," she answered him simply. "Yes? Did you say yes?" Sue nodded a chuckle coming from her at the look on his face. "SHE SAID YES," Brian screamed above the music before lowering his head to hers to kiss her again. Unaware of the crowd gathering around them they kissed passionately confirming their commitment to each other. Moving apart again their eyes gazed into each other's before they realised people were cheering around them. Sue looked up and around seeing the happy faces of their friends. "Did they know?" Brian shrugged. "They have all known I wanted to ask you. I guess in my excitement when you said yes they guessed I had finally asked you. I love you Sue. Everyone knows that." She smiled at him as the congratulations from everyone began. Nick had been watching them from afar while they had danced and knew Brian would ask. The time was right, the atmosphere perfect. He knew his friend would grasp the opportunity to finally ask Sue to marry him with both hands. He sat smiling, watching them dance, cluing in the others sitting at the table. The moment Brian had yelled out he had known. He smiled contentedly with the news his best friend was going to get everything he wanted. He deserved it. They both did. He pulled Brian in for a hug and congratulated him. "I'm happy for you buddy. How are you feeling?" Brian looked over at Sue who was talking to Howie, her eyes wandering back to Brian every so often. She wanted to be in his arms right now. "Nick, I have never been this happy. The only day that will top this is the day she becomes my wife, and every day after that." "I'm glad the time finally came to ask her. The two of you have been through so much. You've proven you can get through anything now." "Nick, Kevin has already stated he will be in the wedding party along with Harold. He said way back when we met he would one day be best man at our wedding. And now it is going to happen. But I would like to know if you would also be a groomsman?" "Brian, I would be honoured," he said as Sue came back to Brian's side. Nick leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, congratulating her and pulling them both in for a hug. "Be happy Sue, I know you will be." "Thanks Nick," she said to him. Kevin chose that moment to come over. "So, I have a duty to perform soon then?" he laughed at them. "Hate to say I told you so, but…" "Don't say it Kevin," Brian warned him laughing as he did. "Will you be my groomsman with Nick?" "You better believe it. I feel responsible for bringing you two together," he said to them winking. "And for that we will be forever grateful Kevin," Sue said to him. Slowly the crowd dispersed and Brian was left with Sue again. He pulled her into his arms. "You happy?" "Yes Brian." "I have something for you," he said delving into his pocket and pulling out a jewellery box. Sue's breath caught in her throat. "I have been carrying this around everywhere since I bought it a while back, hoping the perfect moment would come for me to ask you." He opened the box and revealed an engagement ring that matched the bracelet and necklace he had given her for her birthday weeks earlier. Had he bought the ring that long ago with ideas of asking her? She was speechless and wordlessly allowed him to lift her hand in his, sliding the ring on her finger. It sparkled brightly, the many facets capturing the dance floor lighting brightly. He leaned down and kissed her hand. "Do you like it?" She nodded her head, her voice too choked up to speak. Brian smiled and pulled her back into his arms as a new song began to play. He began to sing to her and Sue again felt overwhelmed with love as she heard the words to the song he was singing. She had always loved this song dreaming that some day someone would love her as much as the lyrics Brian now sang to her indicated. As Brian sang the final words to Lonestar's Amazed into her ear she looked up at him. "Can we go home Brian?" she asked him. Right now all she wanted was to be alone with him to show him exactly how much she loved him. "Let's go," he said pulling her into his arms and walking towards the exit. Nick watched them from the table he was sitting at. He tipped his glass towards them in a toast. "Congratulations you two," he said as they walked out of the room, unaware of anything but each other. |