Chapter 30.

He has not said anything, he's silent but just staring ahead, at what I've presented him with.

I'd planned a special dinner just for us two, I had prepared myself on how I'd go about telling him how I felt,  but of course everything else happened and I found myself confessing anyway. Keith then telling me that he felt the same way.

I can't even describe how I feel right now, I'm bubbling with relief and happiness, even though there's a little bump in the way. There is so much I want us to talk about but right now, I just need a moment with him, for us to focus on only us and nothing else.




" You don't like it do you? "

He turns to me and pulls me close to him, leaning forward and stealing a kiss." I love it, thank you." He says against my lips.

" I um kinda had everything planned out,  so I would um," I drop my eyes to my feet. " I would tell you how I felt."

"You know, you kind of beat me to it." He mentions.

" What?"

" I was planning on expressing everything to you, but you know everything else just kept getting in the way. "

" I thought - you know what, let's just enjoy dinner and then we can talk. I want no interruptions. I want you all to myself." I tug him with me, to the table.

" Ooh Mrs Salvatore, so possessive."

I chuckle at that, settling down on my seat and facing Keith, who sits opposite me. His eyes sparkle as he looks around.

I ring the bell and soon Joe and Mrs Davies attend to us, both dressed in waitressing attires. I can't help but giggle when Keith arches his brow towards Joey, who's walking in confident stride towards us, food in hand.

Joe meets my eyes and I smile at him, answering his question and I notice his muscles relax. I know how much he'd been worried after the whole news gossip thing.

It wasn't enough though, for it to diminish the love I have for him. Yes I was shocked and a little hurt over what I'd seen, this I won't lie. I just refused to believe or conclude on anything else then what Keith would say.

I just wanted to hear everything from him. His word is enough for me. Maybe it's me trusting him blindly, but I trust him and love him and will support him. My love for him is not limited and I don't want it to ever be.

I can't keep my eyes away from him, I just can't. It's so unbelievable that we're now here, feelings clear and with no misunderstandings. No feelings being kept under carpet, all out on the table. The whole time, throughout dinner my smile has been easy and moment fulfilling.

I'm just loving tonight, not wanting it to end but unfortunately it will happen.

                          ******

"We need to talk." I mention.

" I know." He sighs, pulling me close, where I lean my back against his chest.

A moment of silence takes over before he sighs again, running his fingers through my hair.

" I didn't see today coming, I had planned to just get all meetings and the first day of the business conference over and done with. I had just finished with a meeting when I saw Elena, surprisingly drunk out of her mind. She was rather causing a scene and I just had to intervene. I tried to calm her down and get her to her room but out of nowhere, she kissed me." My body seems to tense at the mention of the word kiss, being reminded of what I saw.

A small squeeze on my arms and kiss on my temple relaxes me, releasing all recent tension.

" I swear to you baby, I pushed her as fast as everything clicked in mind about what was happening. I don't know how the reporters got a hold of that but I intend on finding out and making them pay, they almost messed up everything I've been trying to make right." He trails off on the last sentence, but I'm able to pick up on it.

I lean forward, glancing over my shoulder at him." What do you mean?"

His eyes drop to his lap." I've made a mess of things." He mumbles.

Frowning, I turn my body around and with my legs hanging one side of his lap, taking his head in my hands and tilting his face up, so his eyes meet mine.

"Tell me." I encourage in a small voice.

"Please don't hate me." His eyes plead with me.

My heart hammers against my chest.

" Tell me." I repeat, pushing through the nerves.

" The divorce, I never planned on going through with it."

" W-what do you mean?"

" What I mean is, I've been in love with you for such a long time but never knew how to show it, I was just being a coward, hiding behind a stupid idea. I lied and made up the divorce, it was never my intention for us to divorce- ," I try move off his lap but he rolls us over, switching positions where now he hovers above me.

" Let me go." I struggle against his grip on my arms. My eyes already moist.

"No listen please, everyone else told me about how much you cared about me, but that's not what I wanted, I wanted more. It's because I'd fallen for you, something I've never done for anyone. In the month process, I had set a goal for myself."

" Goal?" I sniffle.

"Yes, I wanted to use the time to win you over, for you to have feelings for me, just like I do and if you didn't feel the same way by the end of time, as much as it would have hurt me. I would let you go and not let you be tied up in this marriage any longer."

All I do is stare at him through my blurry eyes, before I start crying. Not hysterics but just small cries, because I'm so overwhelmed by everything.

" Baby I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He wipes away my tears, peppering kisses on my face.

" Why d-didn't y-you just tell me?"

" And have you be obligated to return my feelings?...No I couldn't. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that were to happen. What if you fell in love with someone else?"

" No don't say that, I love you and only you." I say fiercely, vigorously shaking my head until he cradles my face.

" I love you and only you too." He steals a kiss, resting his forehead against mine after.

"Your plan didn't work because you hurt me." I feel him tense above me.

" I know."

"I am already in love with you, so you can't doubt anymore, talk to me if need be but don't do something like this to me ever again." The tears are just flowing down and I can't help it.

" I won't. Just please forgive me and give me a chance to be a worthy husband to you." He pleads against my forehead.

I nod against his forehead, earning a few stolen kisses from him.

"Thank you." He breathes out.

We stay like that for a while until I start feeling sleepy. I feel him lean back and get off me, soon I'm picked up and held bridal style, my arms wrap around his neck.

" Where are we going?"

" To our room."

" But we don't have one."

" Oh yes we do." He plants a kiss on my forehead.

I'm then placed onto my feet where my forehead leans against his chest. "Don't fall asleep on me now sweetheart, we need to get you dressed for bed."

I nod against his chest, halfway opening my eyes and stepping back. Right then he starts moving around and I hear shuffling.

"Here." He tells me, holding out a shirt and boxers for me.

With no questions asked, I start walking on to where I believe the bathroom is. He chuckles behind me.

" Wrong door." With his hands on my shoulders, he guides me to the bathroom where I take off my dress and get into the shirt and boxers.

" Are you done baby?" He's called me that more then once tonight.

This causes for my heart to flutter.

" Yes." The door opens and in he  enters.

His arms wrap around me, burying his face in the crook of my neck." I love to see you in my clothes."

I blush hard.

Pleasurable tingles travel throughout my body as he plants kisses on one spot. My breathing starts to get laboured.

"We need to sleep." I try say and thank God he actually listens, leaning back, as a smirk appears on his face.

I start to walk off when he pulls me back to face the mirror, I open my mouth to ask him why we're standing here again but then I'm soon answered when he takes a pack of wipes and wipes off my makeup.

He doesn't stop there, adding onto brushing my teeth." Open up. "

" You don't have to do that."

"Let me take care of my wife."

Without another word, I let him do whatever he pleases, brushing my teeth and then picking me up, taking me to bed.

Hitting the soft covers, my eyes start to droop low when I feel him join me,  his arm pulling me close. Fingers comb through my hair and I find myself sighing in contentment. "My heart, my Angel. I love you."

I snuggle into his chest, in response.

I love you too.

                            ******


The smell of bacon and eggs jolts me awake, I stretch out my hand, expecting to feel him next to me but all I receive, is the feel of something rather soft. Opening up my eyes, in my view is a beautiful white rose, resting on my pillow.

A smile takes over, memories of last night invading my mind. Throughout all that was said, five words remain dominant, demanding attention.

He's in love with me.

I push the covers off me and get off the bed, heading on to the bathroom for my morning routine. I can't believe we've finally reached this point. It feels like yesterday was just a dream, one I'd longed so hard to be true and I simply dreamt it to reality. The rose itself is indication enough that all was true.

I was a bit upset however hearing about his plans and truth, but I still listened. I let him explain and gave him a chance to give me reason as to why I shouldn't leave.

He loves me and I love him.

Coming down the stairs, with the rose in hand, the urge to see him becomes strong when I hear his voice, coming from the kitchen. I stop to admire his tall frame, while his back is to me and his attention is on both the  stove and phone in hand.

"No Rick, I want it done as soon as possible." His lawyer?

I wonder what this is about.

" Yeah, nothing must stand in our way. I just, "he sighs. "I don't want anything else upsetting my wife anymore. "

That's me.

" Just make it happen, yeah. I'll call you later." He says before hanging up.

I take this time to sneak up on him, wrapping my arms around his waist and planting a kiss on his back.

"Morning to you too." He says, turning around and picking me up, leaving me with no choice but to wrap my legs around his waist.

I steal a kiss just as I'm placed on the counter.

" I got your rose, it's beautiful." I bury my nose into it, appreciating the fresh and lovely smell.

" Oh that's just the beginning, I want to spoil you rotten and take you to see the world." He kisses my forehead.

" You don't have to do that, I'm content with just being in your presence."

" I do too, but there's so much more I want for us. Just please let me have my way."

His beautiful pleading eyes have me melting and nodding in agreement before I can think.

" Thank you." He steals another kiss before getting back to making breakfast.

" Where is everyone?" I've just noticed that it's just us two.

" Oh I gave them the day off." He shrugs, pulling out plates and dishing up for us.

" So it's just us two?"

" Only you and I." He confirms, placing our food on the table.

He picks me up and places me on his lap and without another word, he starts to feed me. I'm not given a chance to protest when he shoots me a playful glare, so I return the favour and also feed him.

I want to take this moment into memory, an easy morning with us feeding each other, stealing kisses every now and then and just enjoying each others company.

I wouldn't trade this moment for anything.

" What do you want to do today?" He asks me.

"Anything is fine with me."

" Well because I'm feeling quite selfish, how about we stay in today, away from everything? "

I smile." I like that idea."

His smile widens.

Being done with breakfast and having washed the dishes, we start towards the living room when there's a knock on the door.

" Expecting someone?" I ask, turning to him.

He shakes his head no, heading over to answer. A small tug on my hand gestures for me to tag along.

He opens the door and I tense in place.

"Hi." Elena says on the other side.