After a few moments in Doug's arms, Carol pulled away, But just
far
enough to be able to look him in the eye. She could sense that he wasn't
ready to let go yet anyway. He, like her, was afraid that as soon as she
moved out of her the circle of his arms, they would wake up and be alone
once again. "Are you really here?" Doug whispered. Smiling, she nodded
happily. "For how long?" he asked.
By the tone of his voice, Carol knew what he was really asking.
How
long before she left and he was alone again. She looked up at him and
whispered, "I was hoping forever."
Doug looked at her in shock. "You mean... you... the girls..."
he
stammered.
"Yeah," Carol whispered
"But what about Chicago? And your mom, and, hell, your whole
life?"
"You're my life." she whispered. "I didn't realize it 'til
today, but
without you there, those things don't mean anything to me."
So you'll move, all the way out here, for me? Just to be with
me?"
"Well, not just for you. Also for me. And the girls. They need
their
father, you, in their lives. Neither of us had much of a father growing
up, and I don't want to repeat that cycle. I want the girls to know you.
I want you to read them bedtime stories, and teach them how to ride a
bike, and to help them with their homework, and to interrogate their
dates. I want you to be, not just their father, bu their dad. We love
each other, and the girls, so why our making ourselves miserable by
being apart?"
"I never told you I was miserable."
"You didn't have to, I could hear it in every phone call; in
everything
you never said, in the longing in your voice, in the stony silences, in
the strained good-byes. It was always there, for both of us, but I was
to proud to admit that I wanted to be here. And to scared." she said the
last part softly.
"Why were you scared?" Doug asked, already knowing the answer.
"I was afraid that if I came out here, you, you would go back,
to how
you use to be. And this time there'd be no one here to pick up the
pieces."
"What made you change your mind?" he asked.
"A patient came in today, a DNR. But she started to code, and
she
hadn't said good-bye to her daughters. I convinced Luka, to bring her
back. However the woman had been Kerry's patient, and she was pissed.
Anyway, as they were leaving, the patient's husband came to me and asked
me if I believed in soul mates. After he left, I realized that you're
mine. I rushed out of the ER, dropped off the girls, and caught the
first flight out."
"What about your stuff, and the girls?" Doug asked.
"I was hoping that we could go back, together, get them,
together, take
care of everything at work and at home, together. Then we could come
back here, and live happily ever after." she looked up at him as she
said the last part.
Burying his face in her hair, he whispered, "That sounds
perfect."
Pulling back, he leaned in and kissed her again. And at that moment,
they both knew they'd finally said forever.
TBC
So should I continue this series? Feedback, good or bad is
greatly
appreciated (even if some of it may not be welcome. Hint, Hint-FLAMES!).