Author's note: Did I forget to mention that I've completed the entire story? ;P The rest to be posted as soon as it's edited.

Chapter II

Brenda awoke the next morning with the sun shining brightly on her face. The bit of warmth against her skin felt just as lovely as the flannel pajama shirt of Dylan's she still wore and the thick downy covers that were on the bed.

She stretched her body like languorously before even opening her eyes. Last night had been wonderful. She couldn't have asked for a better first night to their vacation, even after the fight she caused.

They'd stayed up practically all night talking, remembering the past (some things still left unsaid, but probably best as it was too painful for both), joking and enjoying being together. Even though they live together in London, neither of them have the time to lounge in bed and talk all night. The performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company were on a hectic time schedule and owning and operating one restaurant in London is a full-time job, Brenda couldn't imagine how Dylan operated three simultaneously.

When they did have a chance to be together for more than six hours, they usually ended up having sex or going out with friends. Brenda can see now how that only perpetuated their cycle of not talking. Why talk when you can go have fun and pretend the problems you face don't really exist?

That was why his marriage proposal frightened her so much. In order to be married, they would have to come to terms with their painful past. They would have to confront it head on and deal with it. Brenda wasn't so sure she could do that. Wasn't so sure she wanted to relive the worst experience of her life.

Determined to not let the bad thoughts ruin her mood, and hopeful that she's staved off his desire to get married (at least for the time being), Brenda reached to the other side of the bed for Dylan. She opened her eyes slowly when she felt that side empty and found a note written in Dylan's distinctive penmanship and a beautiful red rose on his pillow.

Smiling even winder now, if not a bit confused, Brenda sat upright in the bed. She picked up the rose and note, smelling the rose first before reading what the note said.

"Gone to get breakfast, Beautiful. Get up and get dressed after reading this. I have a surprise for you. I love you."

She figured he was up to something since they could have just ordered room service. Buzzing with excitement for whatever surprise he had in store for her, she climbed off the bed and headed for the shower.

Dylan was back by the time she emerged back into the suite wearing nothing but a towel. Seated in one of the chairs at the table, he looked up from the newspaper he was reading with a smile on his face, and a lascivious look in his eyes. Brenda was sure her looks matched his. He looked incredibly yummy wearing that brown turtleneck and those dark blue jeans. His boots were off and over by the fireplace. The tips were covered in snow, telling her that it hadn't melted like everyone thought it would. She was glad for having blow dried her hair now

"I'll be dressed in a second then we can go," she said and crossed the distance to kiss him. He cupped the back of her head to hold her in place for a longer kiss. They parted reluctantly with smiles, and no less desire running through either of them. She suspected his surprise meant a lot to him if he opted not to make love right then. That only seemed to make her even more excited now.

"Take your time," he told her, folding the paper back and setting it down beside the domed food dishes. "Besides, we should have breakfast first since we're going to be gone all day."

"Ooh," she exaggerated the word with the excitement she felt. Smiling so much now she thought her face would start to hurt. "Where are we going?"

"Better question would be where aren't we going," he replied with a waggle of his eyebrows. "Last night we said that neither of us got to see much of Dublin our last respective visits so…" His voice trailed off when she dropped the towel and went about putting lotion on her body. "I figured why not see everything."

Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembers her telling him that because her skin is so pale, it chaps easily in the winter. She'd learned that that hard way growing up in Minnesota. He remembers that, yet all he can see are the patches of pale skin he's like to get his hands on. God, would he always want her this much? He couldn't imagine not.

It takes Brenda only a few minutes to get dressed: jeans, a black turtleneck sweater and thick socks. Then she's sitting down in the chair opposite him. She looks up at him with a smile. He's staring at her in a weird way, but she doesn't think anything of it. He's probably got something cooked up when they leave that will take her breath away and he's anxious.

Dismissing it, she reaches for the top of her food's cover and pulls it off. The red velvet box sitting open, displaying the large diamond ring in lieu of the food she was expecting takes her by surprise. She stares at the ring for a long moment, a lot longer than she expected to, but it's so beautiful and the way the sun shines against the diamond makes it look other worldly. Never, ever in her life did she imagine that she would see anything so beautiful. That anyone would ever love her enough to give her something so breathtakingly gorgeous.

"Did you know that Ireland has some of the best diamonds in the world?" Dylan asked casually. He smiled at her stunned expression. "Who knew?"

It takes Brenda another minute to find her voice. When she does, it still sounds odd to her ears. "Dylan," she begins with a breathy timber. Tears sting her eyes. "It's beautiful."

He's at her side in mere seconds. Kneeling before her and looking up at her reverently. He looks at her like she's more beautiful than anything else in the world. And she is. She's the most beautiful creature in his world and he would just die if she didn't become his wife.

He picked up the ring out of the box and Brenda can see that it has two smaller diamonds on either side of the larger diamond in the middle. It's still sparkling in the sun and looking other-worldly and she feels now like she's going to cry at any moment.

"I know that we still have things to discuss and overcome," Dylan began, his own voice resonating with a deep emotional timber. "But…I couldn't love you more if I tried. I wouldn't change one single thing about our past because it makes us who we are now."

Brenda touched his face lovingly, aware that she was now in fact crying. He took her hand gently in his and placed the ring on her finger. It looked more lovely against her pale skin than it did in the box. Never, ever had Brenda imagined she'd have someone love her this much.

"I'm hoping," he began again, his dark eyes looking lovingly into her. Dylan felt his heart thundering in his chest. Whether she said yes or no, whether they participated in the hand-fasting ceremony or not, he knew for certain, without any doubt and hesitation that he would love this woman for the rest of his life. "…that this makes up for my 'lame-ass' proposal…" They both laughed at that. "…last night. And if you don't want to get married now, I understand. I just…" he sighed, sure that he was making a complete fool of himself. "I want you to be my wife, Brenda….someday."

Unable to do much else, Brenda bent down and kissed him soundly. Never ever had she expected someone to love her this much. But she'd hoped…