A/N: So this chapter is not as long as the others but I still think it is pretty good and ties everything together but definitely review and tell me what y'all think. This is the last chapter. I really appreciate all the reviews and comments. They definitely helped me be motivated to keep writing and finish it.
Chapter 4
"Wha-..What are you both doing here? I thought you guys were still at the dance hall. Where's Tim? Is he waiting outside? Did you guys forget something?"
"We decided to leave early. Although the real question is, where are you going?"
"Oh! uh..you know..got called for a job. Big paycheck but they needed me to fly out immediately. The team doesn't need to be there. I would have sent a note in the morning."
"Oh, really. You know Walter, if I didn't know you any better I might have believed you, but I do, so I know that you are lying. Now, why don't you tell me the real reason you're leaving."
"You always could see through me, but I don't have to give a reason. It's personal and just something I have to work through on my own."
"Really. So it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you thought you could just disappear and that no one would care where you went. Nor the fact that you would have been missed and Scorpion would have crumbled without you." She stepped closer and spoke in a low whisper. "Or it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you love me?
Walter stood stock still and closed his eyes. No. No. There is absolutely no way she knows my feelings. She is just fishing for an answer. "Lo-love you. Love is just junk science. I'm a robot. I don't feel love. I don't feel anything. Also if I were to leave for good and disappear, Scorpion would be fine without me. No one would miss me." Walter looked into Paige's eyes and he could practically feel his heart break. Her eyes looked disappointed for a moment but then he could see determination and anger flare up within them. Just as she started talking, an unexpected voice spoke up.
"NOBODY WOULD MISS YOU! Are you absolutely out of your mind, Walter?! What about me, huh? I would miss you. You're my partner, my best friend, my dad. What would happen to me if you were gone. There would be nothing tying mom to continue working for Scorpion. If it weren't for the fact that she and Tim broke up tonight, then they would have gotten married and taken me with them wherever they went and I probably would have closed up again and I can't go back to that. I won't go back to that." Ralph had tears running down his face as his voice became a whisper and Walter collapsed into the chair opposite Ralph and pulled him into a hug.
"Ralph. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I know you would have missed me and I would have missed you too. I had set up plans for just that scenario. I would always be available for you. You and I think alike so I would have left you a way to contact me without being traced."
"That still doesn't explain why you think that you could leave Scorpion and not be missed. I know for a fact that the entire team would have searched everywhere for you and that they would have worried themselves sick trying to find you. Every single one of us cares for you. We all love you and we would have stopped at nothing to figure out what happened to you and bring you back home. Back where you belong."
Walter was speechless. How could I ever think of leaving this wonderful kid and only talking to him every once in a while. I'm as bad as Drew. Drew…OH GOD.. He probably thinks I'm as bad as Drew. He probably thought he did something that pushed me away when that would have never been the case. "Ralph, buddy. I'm so sorry. I'm so unbelievably sorry. You must think so low of me right now. I didn't't think things through. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
"Of course you're forgiven. You're my dad and I love you." He got close to my ear and whispered "Now, it is time for you to apologize to mom. She loves you and you love her. It is time to make our family a reality." With that, he gave one last squeeze and pulled away. "I think it is my bedtime, so I will go upstairs, get ready for bed and go to sleep. I think you two need to talk and work things out." He walked upstairs to the loft.
There was an awkward silence for a moment before Paige spoke. "He's right you know. We would have all missed you and we would have found you someway, no matter where you went. We all do love you." She took a deep breath. "I love you, Walter O'Brian."
Walter looked at her intensely and asked. "Bu-but what about Tim? Don't you love him?"
"No. I never fell in love with Tim. Don't get me wrong. I tried to but it just never felt right. It never felt like it does with you. In fact, ever since we left tonight, I had been having doubts and I realized for the past couple of weeks that I'd been questioning our relationship. While we were at the ball, the vision of the future family with Tim and his parents just didn't feel right. The ball could be considered a family outing but I realized that the only family I needed and belonged to was one with the geniuses all around me and with you by my side as my boyfriend and possibly my future husband. It reached a point that I realized I needed to break up with Tim. it made it a little easier when i got your call and you said that you love me."
"Wait. When did I call you? I haven't touched my phone to call or text anybody tonight."
"Oh, I know. I could hear when you were at the beach with the waves as background noise while you poured your heart out and confessed to your sister that you felt like you had missed your chance with me."
Walter took at his phone and checked the call history. Sure enough, there was a completed call to Paige right about the same time when she was at the ball. Based on the timeline, she arrived back at the garage shortly after that. "So..so you now know how I feel about you?" She nodded. "Wait, so what Ralph said was true. You broke up with Tim and then came here to stop me?" She nodded again. "So, where does this leave us?"
"Well, I think the best thing for us to do would be to start dating. We could take it slow and at our own pace but I'm tired of hiding my feelings for you and I know you feel the same." He nodded as she came closer and straddled him. She put her face close to his and whispered. "I want us to be together. I want everything that you spoke to Megan about. I want a family with you. I want to raise Ralph with you. I want to be able to give Ralph siblings and I want them to be your biological children." She ran her fingers through his curly hair. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. "I want to be in your arms when I go to sleep and when I wake up in the morning. I just want you Walter O'Brian. I love you."
She kissed him and he responded enthusiastically. When they broke for air he looked into her eyes and he saw the love and adoration that she had for him. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest. He responded
"I love you too, Paige Dineen. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to figure it out. You don't know how long I've wanted to say that. I love you and I will spend the rest of my life trying to show you just how much."
She smirked. "I look forward to it." She kissed him again and they spent the rest of the night discussing their plans for the future, with the occasional make-out session in-between.