Epilogue 2 – Nate Has a Plan
Madrid, Spain – Three months and a week later:
Elena, Sully, and I decided to catch a plane to Madrid for a week and a half of nothing but relaxing and sightseeing. Elena had made me promise her to not even think about treasure hunting while we were here, saying she didn't want to have to, and I quote, 'save my ass while on vacation'. I have to admit, doing nothing but relaxing in the pool, roaming the beautiful streets of Madrid, and spending romantic nights with Elena was pretty incredible. I could really get used to it…even the random knockings on the wall from the direction of Sully's room, telling us 'rabbits' to keep it down.
I grinned again at the awesome plan I had concocted. Two days ago I had an idea about planning a surprise dinner for Elena. Yes, I actually have a game plan! I got the idea when she had told me about Fiona's invitation to come visit her, Michael, and Sam in Miami after our vacation was over. I wanted to make the last few days of our stay here the most memorable that I possibly could. I made Sully help me, bribing him with fancy Cuban cigars and Spanish beer. I set up a dinner for two on the northern end of the lake in Retiro Park. I picked the perfect spot: right next to the lake, facing the crystal palace with a beautiful backdrop of the lake, fountain, and waterfall. Sully had just left to go change into his fancy suit so he could retrieve Elena. I was holding my phone in my hand thinking of things to say to get Elena here without giving away the surprise.
A particularly devilish idea crossed my mind as I dialed the phone. She answered after two rings, "Elena! Thank God…" I made my voice sound hushed and hurried.
"What's wrong?" she sounded worried.
"I…I'm sorry, but I broke my promise to you, and now I am in serious trouble with a few Spanish thugs involving a certain priceless artifact that belonged to a nobleman…" I pulled the phone away from my ear to snicker a bit, and to save my eardrums from the verbal onslaught I knew was coming.
"YOU WHAT!?" she was definitely pissed. "Dammit Drake! I'm really-"
I cut her off with a hint of desperation in my voice, "Shit, look Elena I'm really sorry but there's no time! Sully is on the way to get you right now; I need you to get yourself looking snazzy and come save my ass…again."
She didn't reply right off, leading me to believe that she had caught the 'looking snazzy' part and was confused, probably wondering why I needed her to get dressed up. I decided to explain myself before she could question me, "I need you to look your best so you can blend in with the rest of the crowd."
I heard her sigh, "Ok so, where are you exactly?"
"It would take too long to explain over the phone. Just please hurry!" I clicked the end button before she could question me further. I straightened the table cloth and lit the candles before ducking behind the nearest bush to change into my suit jacket.
I ignored the nonstop buzzing of my phone; pretty sure Elena was leaving about forty angry voicemails. After about half an hour or so, I could hear Sully's and Elena's voices as they approached. I could just barely make out what they were saying:
"And why are we in the park again? Do you know how freaking hard it is to hike in these heels?" Elena grumbled. I smiled. She was probably going to leave a nice bruise on my shoulder later for making her hike in the new expensive heels she had bought not long ago.
Sully chuckled, "Nate said the fastest route there was through this park. He said he was at the Crystal Palace, remember it? It's the big pretty place on the lake with a big fountain in front?"
I could see them coming into view, Elena was holding up the hem of her custom-tailored designer dress looking down at the ground most of the time with an angry scowl on her face. Sully was in the lead, an amused smirk plastered on his face, apparently the ride over was just too funny for him to hold back anymore. I quickly placed myself beside the table, a goofy grin playing at my mouth.
"I don't care if he's in Madrid City Hall! I'm still going to kick his promise-breaking…" Elena's snarky remark died in her throat when she spotted the rose petals I had trailed down the path from the table. She followed them until her gaze fell on the table, then on the scenery, and then on me.
"Surprise, Elena!" Sully and I shouted in unison. She looked shocked and pleasantly surprised at the same time.
"It's so beautiful. Wait, you actually planned all this?" she asked as she closed the gap between us.
I smiled down at her before kissing her lightly on the forehead, "Yup, all by my lonesome…well, I did make Sully help."
She smiled before looking around, "Speaking of Sully, where did he run off to?"
"Don't worry, he'll turn up." I said with a grin, leading her by the hand to the table. I pulled her chair out for her and made sure she was seated before taking my own seat across from her. She looked around at the lake and palace in complete awe.
"This is so romantic Nate." she couldn't stop smiling as she laced her fingers with mine on top of the table.
"Yeah, and there is no other lady I would ever want to bring here." I placed a soft kiss on her hand right as Sully reappeared holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"Your wine, Señorita." Sully said elegantly as he poured us each a glass. "I will return shortly with your dinner. Please enjoy the beauty that is España."
I gave Sully a quick thumbs up as he walked away before returning my attention to my wife. She was beaming. I loved seeing her happy.
"This is just incredible Nate. How did you ever talk Sully into being our waiter for the night?" She joked, taking a sip of wine. "Or to get him into a fancy suit no less!"
"Well, I might have bribed him with some expensive, and highly illegal, Cuban cigars." I took a drink before Elena could give me her trademarked 'Really Nate?' look. I quickly changed the subject. "So, were you really going to kick my promise-breaking ass tonight? Or were you just playing hard to get?"
Elena smiled knowingly at me from behind the rim of her wine glass. She set it back onto the table before taking my hand again, "You know, the entire ride over here I was thinking of many different ways that I could wound you, but now that I have seen your most romantic idea to date all I want to do is kiss you until the sun comes up."
I couldn't help but laugh, "Well now, that doesn't sound like a bad idea." I picked my chair up by the bottom and scooted it as close to Elena's as I could.
"What are you up to Nathan Drake?" Elena laughed as I pulled her closer to me. I rested my hand on her neck and tilted her chin up with my thumb before kissing her, slow and sweet.
"The sun hasn't come up yet…You'll find out then."
Annnnnd curtain! We hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as we've enjoyed writing it! Maybe one day if enough peeps like it we will write a sequel! ;)
~Reio und Sydney~
