Disclaimer: I don't own ER, etc, etc
Note: Sorry about the delay in update, just got back from holiday which was fab, everybody must try and go to Reims if they can. Ahh, have got the holiday blues bad, I would go back in a second. Anyway, I digress. Here is what I am thinking will be the final chapter but there may be a chance that as I write, there will be more ideas. Will let you know at the end. Hope this chapter entertains you as much as the previous ones did. Because of the nature of this chapter, I must warn everybody of major storms of unashamed slushiness with possible showers of clichés.
Neela clamped her mouth shut as soon as she had said the words. Certainly, she wanted to get his reaction but at the moment, she just wanted to know that Ray was still feeling well. His eyes had taken on a glazed appearance looking almost concussed and there was definitely no sign of him saying anything any time soon.
Great job, Neela, you've scared him so badly that he's become a vegetable. Neela bit back the sarcastic thought, the last thing she needed to do now was to say anything else that would confirm any suspicions Ray might have had about her sanity.
She looked down at her right hand, so small compared to that of Ray's which was still being held in hers. Not letting go, she gently rubbed the back of his with her left whilst softly saying his name in an effort to bring him back to the here and now.
"Ray… Ray… come on, speak to me. Earth to Ray?" Neela narrowed her eyes at the lack of response. This would take something serious to rouse him.
"Ray, if you don't say something in the next 5 seconds, I'm going to cut all the strings on your beloved guitar!"
Neela smiled in spite of herself at the almost magical reaction.
----------------------------------------------------
Ray had felt like his brain had turned into a foggy mush and although he could see Neela's lips moving, his ears didn't seem to be able to hear anything. That was, until the threat of harm to the one object nearly as precious to him as she was.
He felt his head clear and met Neela's worried gaze with a look of panic.
"Noo, I'll be tidier and clean up and everything and…" The sentence had rushed out, the words familiar as they were the ones he usually used when Neela threatened him when the messiness of the apartment got out of hand.
"Oh." Ray coughed, sheepish, and saw dark eyes soften as the red blush moved over his face when he realised what had happened. It's now or never and she said it first! But what if I've built it up too much and it goes wrong? No, it won't go wrong, this is what you've been waiting for. What to do? Oh, for chrissakes! Never mind what she thinks about me, I think that me is schizo!
"You mean that? I'm not dreaming?" Ray's voice was as soft as Neela's had been, afraid that any unnecessary noise would break the spell and he was more than aware that the touch of her fingertips moving back and forth against his hand was sending thrills of electricity through his body. He lifted his free hand to her brush her cheek, as if to reassure himself that the Neela next to him was the real one and not a fantasy.
-----------------------------------------------------
"It's not a dream."
Typical, I practically declare my love and…nothing. Threaten his guitar and he's all action! Despite the situation, Neela couldn't help but laugh to herself. She closed her eyes as his hand reached her face and all the reasons why she loved him made themselves clear and present. She could have reeled off each of them but all it came down to was that he was her…everything.
When Neela opened her eyes, she was surprised at the depth of tenderness in his gaze and she was taken aback by how strongly she wanted nothing more than to forever be the reason for that gaze. No more running, no more hiding. This is what I want. He is what I want. He is…home.
She moved her face closer to his, tilting up to his, centimetre by centimetre, no words were needed for what she was about to do. With ever-so-slightly parted lips, she made contact with Ray's.
---------------------------------------------------
She's gonna kiss me! As if pulled by a magnet, Ray felt himself lean in to Neela and he wasn't prepared for how much he wanted her when her lips met his and he tasted the sweet warmth of her mouth. This totally beats shooting metal ducks!
After what seemed to be an age where time stood still and the whole world was just he in Neela's arms and Neela in his arms, the kiss ended and they studied each other in silence but with great big grins on their faces.
--------------------------------------------------
Minutes passed before Ray spoke first.
"Hope you had a good day off, then?" He raised an enquiring eyebrow.
Neela paused before answering. "Hmm, it was OK. I've had better." She couldn't keep up the serious tone and she burst out laughing at how crestfallen Ray looked. "Honestly, it was the best ever!"
"Me too." Ray stroked Neela's hair and neither of them minded that the glitter that had come off each other's bodies was making them glint and twinkle in the now-dusky light.