Chapter 7

They rode in silence for quite a while. Their hands still clasped together. He had soft music playing on the stereo. She began to think back to her relationship with Burke. It had never felt this peaceful. This serene. She knew that this was different. She felt different. She loved him. She knew her feelings were strong, but sitting here at this very moment she knew that she loved him.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Christmas….what are you doing for Christmas?"

A slow smirk began to form on his face. "Hopefully….you"

She smiled back at him as he raised her hand and kissed the back of it. She leaned her head back in the seat to watch him. She had not ever remembered feeling this way. A lump began to form in her throat as her eyes began to fill with tears. She wasn't sad. She was happy. The feeling of happiness that makes you so emotional that you cannot breath.

"I am on call on Christmas Eve so I am not leaving town this year."

He stole a glance in her direction before he spoke. "Can we spend Christmas together?"

There is no place in the world she would rather spend this Christmas than with him. "I would love to spend it with you."

He knew he had a surprise for her and this conversation had just perfected his plan. He pulled into the parking garage connected to his apartment building and pulled into his usual spot. He opened his door and told her to wait. He came around to her side and held her door for her all the while impressing her beyond belief. She thought to herself how kind he was. How sweet he was without even trying.

They walked hand in hand to his apartment door. They had not spoken since leaving his car. Just held hands and enjoyed being together.

He put the key in the door but quickly turned to her. "Can you wait one minute?"

He did not wait for her answer but entered the apartment and left her standing in the hallway. It scared her a bit. What was he doing? Hiding his girlfriend!! She only had a moment to think before he opened the door while asking her to close her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Just take my hand and let me guide you"

She did as he asked and let him lead her into his apartment. Once inside he gently guided her by her shoulders further into the apartment.

"OK. Open your eyes"

Cristina opened her eyes to the most beautiful Christmas Tree she had ever seen. It stood at least 9 feet tall and twinkled from top to bottom with tiny white lights. She stood in front of the tree and looked at it as if she were a child in the middle of Rockefellar Center. She was overwhelmed. It was magnificent.

She turned toward him and could not speak. In all of her life, no one had ever done something so special for her. He held a small box in his hand wrapped in red foil paper with a red ribbon tied around it. "This is for you"

"But, it is not Christmas yet"

"I don't care. I want you to open it now"

She took the box from his hand and slowly removed the red ribbon. She stared into his eyes while she began to remove the paper. He was staring back at her while smiling at her. She lifted the lid to the box and nestled inside the red tissue paper lay a solid crystal heart. She looked at the heart and back to his eyes several times but could not speak. He moved closer to her and took her face in his hands. He kissed her lips so softly.

"I want you to know that you have my heart and there is nothing in this world I want more than to be with you"

A rush of joy came over Cristina that she had never experienced before. She felt faint. She could not feel her legs underneath her. She looked up into his eyes and his eyes were also filled with tears.

She swallowed with great difficulty before she spoke.

"I Love You"

"Cristina, I love you too"

He took the box from her hand and set it on the table beside them.

He took both of her hands into his and drew her into him. He kissed her with a passion that he had never felt before.

They kissed until neither could breath. This was a moment that neither would ever forget. It was time. They both knew it was time. They had professed their love for one another and wanted nothing more than to make love to each other. He took her by the hand and led her to his bedroom. Led her to what would become one of the most special moments of both of their lives.