Chapter 1

"Landon, is this really how you want this to happen?" asked a shaken Jamie. She was trying to be brave, but how could she? Especially after that reaction. She could still remember it…clear as day.

"You're what!" shouted Cynthia Carter, eyes wide. Her hands were placed on her hips and she seemed to be coming closer to the young couple by every second.

"Getting married," Landon countered back. Jamie smiled at him – he was just so adorable. He seemed so sure of himself, of their relationship, of everything. And he had no problem showing it. "Jamie and I love each other, and we want to be able to celebrate our love like everyone else." She felt him give her hand a gentle squeeze and she squeezed his in reply.

"Landon, you are NOT like everyone else! Your situation is so different from most. I understand that you're in love, but marriage? It seems like you might be going a little overboard here. Maybe you need some time to think about this."

"We don't need time! We don't have any time," Landon stated softly, as if it had just hit him. Without missing a beat, he finally finished just as strong as before. "This needs to happen right now!"

"Landon, clam down. You're not thinking clearly or rationally. You're young and naïve and you can't possible imagine how hard this is going to be."

"Son, she's right," Hegbert chimed in, much more calm than Cynthia. "If you think letting Jamie go now would be difficult, think about if she was your wife. It would be near impossible, and I don't want this to be any harder for you than it's already going to be."

"Sir, I'm not trying to disrespect you, but I wouldn't love Jamie any more or less as my wife. I don't want time to slip away. Reverend, I already feel like Jamie's my wife, and I want it to be reality. I'll never forgive myself if this doesn't happen."

Hegbert started to respond, but never got the chance. Landon got out of his seat and walked across the yard to the driveway. He opened the door to his red Camaro and looked Jamie's way. She gave a sad look towards her father and followed her love. She knew what he wanted to do, and she didn't blame him. It didn't look like their parents were going to support their decision. Hegbert stood with tears in his eyes and watched them until they were out of sight.

"No, baby, I don't." Landon's eyes stood fixed on the road as he passed a sign that read: Boston, 200 miles.

"Then why are we doing it?" Jamie seemed genuinely confused, yet Landon thought certain, both at the same time. If that was even possible.

"Baby, I told you, I don't know. The only thing I know is that I want…" He paused, pondering. "…No, I need you to be my wife. It's what I need to feel whole. You complete me, Jamie."

Jamie smiled at Landon, her heart full of love and a tired expression covering her face. They'd been driving all day and night, so it was expected. She knew Landon had to be getting near pass-out mode, but he wouldn't admit that he was tired. Since he never let anyone drive his car, he'd been forced to drive the whole way. They still had over ten hours to go, so he was thinking about asking Jamie if she wanted to get a room and sleep for a couple hours. Landon didn't know how to approach the subject, though.

They soon spotted a small restaurant slash motel in the distance, so Landon thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bring up his little proposal.

"Baby, do you wanna stop? Are you hungry? Tir-" Landon asked, being cut off by Jamie.

She giggled. "Sure, but I'm more worried about you. At least I slept last night."

"But, Jamie, your illness…"

"Landon, I promise, I'm fine. Let's stop, though. Give our legs a little stretch and you a break."

Landon quickly found a parking spot and stopped. They got out of the car and walked hand-in-hand up to the modest diner.

"Hi, welcome to the Grandview Café. Smoking or non?" the friendly greeter asked as they walked up to the wooden podium.

"Non," replied Landon, looking around the place. There was an elaborate buffet set up on the other side of the room and what seemed to be an arcade next to it. Landon nudged Jamie in the ribs. "James, look at that. We'll have to check it out before we leave." He was as giddy as a little boy in a toy store.

Jamie giggled and slid her hand into his. "Okay, if you really want to," she said sarcastically as they were led to their booth.

"Maya will be your server this evening and should be with you shortly," the girl said as she handed them their menus.

"Thank you," Jamie replied, her eyes still gazing into Landon's. They sat like that for a moment, not saying anything to each other. At least it felt like a moment. Apparently, it had been much longer.

"Excuse me? … Excuse me?" a young Hispanic woman asked over and over, trying to get her customers' attention.

When Landon and Jamie realized what was happening, a blush covered both of their faces. "Oh, I'm sorry," Landon quickly said, trying to recover from his embarrassment.

"It's fine," the waitress responded, smiling at them. Taking out her order pad, she asked, "Do you know what you want or do you need a few minutes?"

"Umm, I just wanted the buffet," Jamie said meekly, still a bit red.

"Okay, one buffet," Maya said as she wrote.

"Actually, make that two," Landon said.

"Alright, and would you like anything to drink?"

"I'll have some sweet tea, please," Jamie answered.

"Okay, and for you, sir?"

"Sweet tea, also."

Maya smiled at them. "Okay, you can help yourself to the buffet and I'll be back shortly with your drinks." As she walked off, Landon looked over to her as she whispered, not too quietly, though, to one of her co-workers, "Gosh, they really are perfect for each other." Landon let out a laugh, which was soon harmonized by Jamie's unique giggle.

"I have to agree, we are pretty damn cute together," Landon said, leaning in towards his fiancé.

Jamie gave him one of her "I-heard-that" looks and leaned in herself, lightly touching her lips to his. "Yes, we are."

Soon after, their drinks were brought out and they helped themselves to the large assortment of food. After returning to the table with her plate, Jamie fully realized how tired she was. She could only imagine how Landon was feeling. Jamie was strongly considering asking him if he wanted to rent one of the motel rooms and sleep there for the night. She figured he'd say he was fine and he could keep going, but that was just part of the stubbornness in him which she'd come to love. A couple minutes later, Landon returned. Jamie didn't realize he was having the same thoughts as her. She soon found out, though.

"Jamie, baby, I need to ask you something," Landon said nervously as he took a bite. After swallowing, he added, "I just don't know how."

"Landon, you can talk to me about anything. Go ahead, shoot," Jamie replied, taking his hand in hers.

Feeling the warmth of her skin against his, Landon felt a little more at ease. "Umm, well…I'm getting pretty tired, and…uhh…I know you are, too, and…I was wondering…if you wanted to…umm…" He couldn't bring himself to say it. Jamie, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was trying to spit out.

"Landon, do you want to get a room?" Jamie finished for him, a small smile planted on her lips.

Landon let out a rush of air that he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. "Yeah. That is, if you want to. I don't want you to do anything that you're not comfortable with. If you want to wait until we're married, I'm okay with that…"

"Who says anything has to happen?"

"No one. It's just that it's gonna be tough to hold back, you know? We'll be all alone, with temptation staring us right in the eye. I just want our wedding night," he smirked at this, realizing that that night would be there very soon, "to be special, and I know you do, too." Landon knew Jamie was still a virgin, but she seemed so at ease with their situation.

"You're right," she stated, squeezing his hand a little tighter. "But just because we sleep together doesn't necessarily mean we have to sleep together, you know? I trust you with everything else in my life, so why shouldn't I trust you now?" Jamie said softly, her face flushing with color.

"Because I don't trust myself," Landon responded, laughing. He'd fooled around with Belinda once or twice, and he knew how hard it could be to stop something once it got started.

"Oh, Landon, that's ridiculous…" Jamie said, giving his hand a squeeze. "You've become such a wonderful person in the last few months…" she tried to explain.

Landon interrupted. "Baby, I know, but I don't think you understand how hard it's gonna be for me."

"Landon, I love you, and it's gonna be hard for me, too, but we can work through it together." She gave him one of her sweet smiles and added innocently, "Besides, don't you think we'll be a little too tired?"

He laughed out loud and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb across the back of it gently. He brought it up to his mouth and planted his soft lips on it before setting it back on the table. "Oh, baby, I love you so much." His eyes gazed into her own, causing her chills.

"I love you, too, Landon."

After finishing their dinners and checking out the arcade, Landon and Jamie walked hand-in-hand across the parking lot over to the motel portion of the building to get a room. Landon opened the door and held it, motioning for Jamie to go ahead of him. She gave him a smile as he let go of the door once he was inside and took her hand in his once again. They made their way over to the front desk where a woman sat. She had dirty blonde hair pulled atop her head in a ponytail. She was reading a magazine and had an open can of Mountain Dew next to her. When she heard the young couple's footsteps, she looked up.

"Hi, how may I help you?" she asked, pulling out a reservation book from behind the desk.

Landon smiled at Jamie. "We'd like to get a room for the night, if it wouldn't be too much trouble."

"Oh, not at all." She made her way over to a nearby computer. "You said one night?"

"Yes, ma'am," Landon responded, not taking his eyes off of Jamie. She gave him a cute smirk as she stood on her tiptoes to plant a light kiss on his cheek. Now, any other time, this would have been considered a sweet, loving gesture, and only a sweet, loving gesture in Landon's mind, but with all of the emotions running through him and the thought that they were going to be spending the night together, Landon realized that he was losing control. He took a deep breath and released it slowly as the woman behind the desk finished their transaction. She handed Landon the key to he and Jamie's room.

"Alright, you'll be in room 27 for the night. Enjoy your stay and if you need anything at all, don't be hesitant to ask."

"Thank you," Jamie replied sweetly, before heading out the door with Landon.

The woman smiled at the happy couple. They couldn't have been more than eighteen, so she figured what they were probably going to be doing for the evening. Boy, was she wrong.

Landon slid the cheap plastic card into the slot in the door, and hearing the small beep as a green light came on, he took the key out and turned the door handle. As the door swung open, he let go of Jamie's hand so he could pick up the two suitcases that they had brought along for the trip and set them inside the small room.

Jamie flipped on the light switch and looked around the room. There were two queen-sized beds and a bathroom adjacent to them. A small television sat across the room on a low-height dresser that was situated just outside the bathroom door. The walls were off-white and a cheap, blue curtain covered a window that had a small air conditioner sitting under it. The room smelled cold, like the air in the room had been set on forty degrees for a few days.

"So, here we are," Landon said, as if it needed announcing.

"Yep," Jamie replied, looking at Landon and walking over to him. She leaned against his chest as his arms wrapped around her thin frame. She yawned – it was so soft and innocent.

"Tired, baby?"

"Mmmm…" Jamie mumbled, pulling away from him. "I'm gonna go get ready for bed and turn in early tonight."

"That sounds good." Landon leaned down and picked up their luggage and set both suitcases on the nearest bed. Jamie got into her own and pulled out her toothbrush, a comb, and a light blue nightgown. She headed over to the doorway of the bathroom, and turned around once more before walking in.

"I'll be right out.'

"Okay," Landon said nervously. He knew that he and Jamie couldn't do anything, but she always had to make it so hard for him. As she closed the door, Landon shivered, not just from the coldness of the room, but from the thoughts of being with Jamie in that certain way. It was only a day away. They would arrive in Boston tomorrow, head over to The Wedding Chapel where a minister had agreed to marry them, and after the ceremony, they would go back to their hotel to show each other just how much love they were blessed with.

"Landon, are you getting cold feet?" Jamie asked with concern. She and Landon were laying in bed together, watching a little t.v. before they turned in for the night, but Landon didn't seem all there. It was almost as if he wasn't sure about what they were actually going to go through with.

"No, absolutely not. I can't wait to marry you," Landon answered, smiling at his fiancé, "have babies with you, spend my life with you. … You know what?"

Her eyes met his in a passionate stare. "What?" she asked playfully.

Landon answered in all seriousness. "I want you to give me a daughter that looks exactly like you, so you'll always be with me."

His lips brushed against hers as she said, "I'll work on that," finishing with a small giggle. That hand that had been resting on his stomach began to draw small circles on his chest and Landon pressed his lips to Jamie's neck, planting light kisses up and down the length of it. He finally reached her lips and he felt her part them for him. He tongue slid into her mouth, stroking the inside of her cheeks in sheer passion. Jamie felt for the bottom of Landon's t-shirt, and upon finding it, she reached her hand up under it and began to stroke his back lovingly. Landon felt himself harden, and he heard Jamie's small gasp at the evidence of his arousal, which was resting against her thigh. Landon knew that if they didn't stop in the next few moments, he wouldn't be able to control himself. He pulled away from Jamie, her mouth still parted in preparation for their next embrace, eyes wide with excitement.

"Tomorrow, baby," Landon said, trying to explain. "Tomorrow."

Jamie seemed to get it. "Okay," she said, smiling. She gave him one last peck on the lips and stood up. She walked a couple of steps to get to the other bed and climbed in after pulling down the sheets and comforter. Jamie rolled over to face Landon, and they stared across the room into each other's eyes until they fell asleep.

A/N: Okay, I know that when Landon said, "I want you to give me a daughter that looks exactly like you…" I stole that line from Guess Who, but I was watching that movie as I wrote this, and it seemed so fitting for that moment in the story. So please don't sue me! Also, The Wedding Chapel and Bay Colony Bed and Breakfast are real places in Boston.