It was nearing dusk. The breeze had changed from warm and stuffy to cool and refreshing. Families began to wander towards the exit, their exhausted yet exuberant children in tow from an afternoon of scurrying around the various mini-gardens. Will and Emma were enjoying a short pit-stop under the gazebo after a highly competitive match of checkers on the red and black-painted tree stumps a little earlier. It was almost time for them to leave too, but there was one part of the garden left to see. Will had spotted it earlier and steered Emma away from it; he wanted to save it until the very last. No interruptions, no rowdy children, just the two of them.
"Oh Will, this has been such a great day, I really like spending time with you." Emma meant every word. She secretly dared to admit to herself that in only a couple of hours, she had fallen in love with Will all over again. This time however, Emma didn't need to fall very far. She was already there.
"Close your eyes, Em. I want to show you something."
Emma shut her eyes immediately. Will took her hand, guiding her towards a secluded part of the garden where the roses were on display. Her steps were cautious, and being unable to see gave her the giggles, but she knew she was in good hands. Will stopped her in front of a sign, speaking delicately in her ear, "You can open your eyes now."
Emma's eyes flickered open and focused on the sign in front of her. It read 'STOP & SMELL THE ROSES', part of it taking advantage of an old, unused road sign. Regardless of how old it was or the fact that its use in stopping traffic was definitely over, Emma obeyed its instruction. She breathed in the scent that surrounded her, wide-eyed at the numerous roses, all different colours and sizes, laid out before her. A beautiful, blooming, rainbow of roses. She spun around on her heels to speak to Will.
Emma squealed with delight. "Gosh this is amazing! My favourite flower! So pretty!"
Will grinned. "It's time to stop and smell the roses. Walk with me?"
The duo slowly walked up and down the paths lovingly guarded by roses, chatting quietly.
"I've been thinking a lot lately about my life and my future, Em. There are times when I realise everything is going so fast and one day, I'll wake up and 'boom', it'll all be over. I watched the children in Mexico, playing, living, happy, not caring about what they have and what they haven't. All those sunrises and sunsets I saw, you know, I've never taken the time to really look at one and experience its beauty until I went on vacation." Will's thoughts, all bundled in his mind, finally began to tumble out. Being closed up for so long, it was the reprieve he was after. And Emma's rational ear was the only place where his words would be truly heard and empathised.
"We never truly see what we have until it's taken away or we're put into a situation where we have to make do with what's available. You appreciate everything so much more. Like time. Time is oh so precious," Emma agreed.
"I can't have time slipping away anymore," Desperation grew in his tone. "I've got so much to do. So many things to say." Like what you mean to me. What you do to me. How you get me all flustered yet somehow raise my spirits and make me a better person. Even in this light, Emma's beauty shone through.
She took his hand in support. "Start now. You'll regret it if you don't. Believe me." Emma took a deep breath. "My therapist made me aware of how my illness was stopping me from being the person I was meant to be. I mean, I've been that person my whole life. How can I be a different me? How am I supposed to know when I've become the me I'm supposed to be?" Although Emma could see a clear path ahead of her, there were moments she felt absolutely lost when it came to knowing herself. She was scared. She needed Will to help her through the odd entanglements. He was the only person Emma trusted with all her heart.
"You'll know Em. You'll just know. You remind me of a butterfly. Before, when I first met you, you were still the caterpillar, tucked up in your cocoon. It's familiar; it's what you know. But I can see the difference in you now. You're no longer that caterpillar. You've emerged into that beautiful, fragile monarch butterfly, spreading her wings, learning to fly. The wind may blow you every which way, but not long after, there you are, soaring higher than before, catching those wind currents and discovering new things. And loving every second."
Wow. Will's little analogy made her head spin. He knows me so well. "You think I'm a butterfly?" Her eyes danced.
Will's voice became husky. "I do."
She left Will's side and began to stick her nose in every single rosebud, drawing in the varying sweet scents, taking her time, savouring each ounce of fragrance. "Butterflies love flowers."
"Emma, you'll make yourself giddy inhaling deeply like that."
"I'm a butterfly, we don't get giddy," She chirped loudly, continuing her fragrant feast.
"Em, Em, Em," Will grasped her arm. "There's a better way to smell the roses." It's now or never, Schuester, he thought, it was great being a kid and all, but now, it's grown-up time.
She paused, a confused look on her face. "How else do you –"
"Come here, I'll show you."
Enclosing Emma in his arms, Will held her firmly against his body. Overwhelmed by the emotion bubbling in his heart and her beautiful expressive eyes, he tenderly pressed his lips to hers. Emma felt a sear of passion whisk through her body, welcoming the kiss she'd been longing for all summer. Her lips were soft and sweet, just as Will remembered. Emma sighed contentedly as his hands leisurely travelled from her hips to the top of her neck, cupping her head. The scent of roses faded away, happily replaced with Will's cologne, which Emma let engulf her senses. Her lily dropped to the ground. This was a hundred times better than cuddling up to any vest.
Pulling away from her mouth was extremely difficult for Will. He could kiss her forever. They paused, releasing breaths unaware that they were holding. Emma gazed into his eyes, losing herself in the haze of heat and love that surrounded only them. Will knew the feeling was mutual. More than mutual.
She begged and pleaded with her mind.
Don't stop.
Will read her face instantly and dove back into the kiss, hungrier this time, wanting to taste her over and over. He promised not to let go again. As if being connected to Emma was the only way he could breathe right now. As if stopping would make her vanish from within his grasp.
As if his life depended on it.
The world began to fade away as the couple continued their long-awaited reunion. He parted her lips with his tongue, sweeping through the inside of her mouth, claiming what he wanted to be his forever. Emma pulled him closer, gripping his shirt, closing the non-existent gap between them. Her heart beat faster, her body trembling from his touch. Will let out a low moan from the back of his throat as she stroked his tongue with her own. Swaying together rhythmically, sinking into each other's bodies, they drifted into the deep, caught in their own powerful undercurrent.
It was time to come up for air again. Will kissed her nose, and with ragged breath, admitted, "I wish I had spent the entire summer with you, instead of just today." He brushed some of Emma's hair behind her ear.
Using her index fingers to draw imaginary circles on Will's chest, Emma replied, "Me too. I've wanted you to kiss me like that for the longest time." She looked up at him, biting her lip.
He kissed her forehead. "I need you in my life, Emma. Not just for a day or a summer, but a lifetime. Stop and smell the roses with me, please."
A single tear rolled down Emma's cheek. "There's no one else I'd rather smell the roses with. I love with you Will, more than I ever thought possible."
Will felt his heart soar. "Em, you mean everything to me. Because, I know you're the one. I love you. I still love you. I never stopped loving you." As he kissed away Emma's tears, he felt his own overflow.
"Oh Will, don't cry," Emma sniffled.
"I can't help it, I've waited so long for this moment, to have you in my arms again. To touch you like I'm doing now. To look into your eyes and just know that you feel the same way. It feels so good and so right. You are everything to me." He wiped his tears of joy and smiled his beautiful lopsided smile.
"You are my one true love, Will Schuester. You've given me wings to fly." Emma hugged him tight. Will was hers, forever.
He left a lingering kiss on her cheek. "Let's go, sweetie."
Emma turned to pick up the lily she dropped during that heart-stopping kiss. Will caught the curve of her waist, tickling with his fingertips. Emma laughed and twitched at his gentle touch, failing to escape from those magic fingers.
"Hey! What was that for?" Emma giggled between words.
"You are ticklish. I was right!"
As they walked to the exit of the Children's Garden, Will put his arm around Emma's shoulder. She snuggled into Will's body, wrapping one arm around his body, clutching her lily in the other. There was no other place she'd rather be right now.