Frantic claps were raising everywhere and lifting a deafening noise. Donna wiped her teary eyes, smiling widely and never breaking eye-contact with her husband. Once the shouting had somehow diminished, she ran down the stage and back into Sam's arms. Knowing her wound would still hurt, Tanya tried to stop her, but Donna was so quick she couldn't get a grip of her, and her friend didn't even seem to notice. She just straightened and smiled to herself: she had failed several times, so seeing her friend so devoted and happy was heart-melting beyond what she thought romance could ever be. It didn't fit her, but it seemed to fit Donna quite well.
She slid her arms around her husband's neck, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his forehead against hers, staring silently into her eyes. Slowly, he placed his finder under her chin to raise it and brushed his lips against hers. The touch was soft and sweet, but just as meaningful as the first one they ever shared. There wasn't urgency or passion in it, but a promise of undying love, a promise he will never leave her side again.
"Are you still happy we got married, Mrs. Carmichael?"
"If I'm happy?" she giggled, shaking her head "I think this will be the happiest day of my life for a very long while. But... what about you...?" she asked doubtfully and biting her lower lip. For some reason, it brought a knot to her throat thought that he could not be as happy as she was.
"What can I say, darling? Happy would be an understatement. You are my key to paradise"
"Aw, you're such a sweet talker. I love you, Carmichael"
"I love you too. This have been a wonderful year and it's just about to get better"
"Yeah, how com...?" she smirked, but before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her with a forceful passion, wrapping her tighter in his arms. With a quiet moan, she closed her eyes and gave him the access he was begging for, feeling quite dazzled when he broke apart and looked into her eyes again.
"Wow... I see how" she managed to answer, running her hand through his hair.
She was slowly approaching his lips too when the music suddenly changed and it started to play "Everything I do", so Sam smiled and extended his hand to her:
"Can I have this dance with my beautiful wife?"
Facing his charming smile and his deep loving blue eyes she was mesmerized, and for a second, she couldn't gather an answer. Everything was just too perfect to be real. Finally, when his smile was starting to disappear and he was about to take his hand back, disappointed, she took it and smiled.
"I would love to"
He pulled her closer and kissed her hair, taking a strand of hair away from her face.
Silently, they enjoyed the feeling of swaying at the sound of the music, wrapped in each other arms and love. When the song ended, he spun her around and held her tight against him.
"Sam, what are you doing?"
"I´m just showing you how truly happy I am"
He left her for a few seconds to come back with two glasses of champagne and handed one to her.
"Happy Anniversary darling. To this, and the many years together to come"
"To our happily ever after"
Once again, their lips find the way to each other and they kept moving slowly with the songs.
"I think I'm already tired" Donna whispered into her husband's ear.
"Don't tell me that, I had something different in mind"
"Don't tell me... you always have the same thing in mind"
"Oh, you're exaggerating"
"But I never said I didn't love it"
She kissed him slowly until they heard someone clearing her throat.
"Good to see, you're not actually attached together" Tanya smirked, hitting Rosie with her elbow as she was already giggling.
"You two will never change, right?" Donna shook her head laughing and placed her hands on her hips, before hugging her friend "Thank you Tan for being here and taking care of my daughter, it means a lot to me"
"It was a pleasure, honey, you have a lovely little girl. I´m delighted to see you so happy"
"Oh, thanks. I think this was really worth waiting for. AND... I´ll take your word for those vacations to LA, huh?"
"You bet" the tall brunette grinned and Donna moved to her other friend.
"Thank you so much Rosie, for the lovely meal and for being here. It means... so much"
"It wasn't sacrifice at all darling, you deserve all this and much more"
"You'll both be here for Julie´s christening next month, right?"
"Of course, who do you take us for?"
Donna smiled when she felt Sam´s arms sliding around her waist and his head on her shoulder.
"Thanks for coming girls. This was quite a night"
"I would rather say it WILL be quite a night" they giggled, walking away.
"They are crazy, you know?" he said with a sigh, making a smile bloom in her face.
"But they are great friends" Donna answered, kissing his cheek.
She then took his hand to head looking for her parents.
"Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot to see you both again and having you back in my life and in my children's life" she smiled hugging them "I love you both"
"We love you too, baby girl"
"Mom...!"
"Thanks for calling us Sam, take care of our daughter and granddaughters"
"I will" he answered, kissing his wife´s softly.
A tear ran down Liz´s cheek seeing how her daughter was indeed so happy. Because despite everything happening between then, she loved her and had been praying all this 22 years long to know somehow, that she was indeed this happy.
"Now there´s only one person left before we can run away babe" Donna whispered, looking around until she found Sophie talking to Pepper next to the Bar and she left him to walk to her.
"Hey mom, you want to talk to me?"
Looking at her daughter up and down, and noticing how beautiful and grown up she looked, Donna was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange feeling of loss, as if Sophie wasn't her little girl anymore. Speechless, she hugged her tight and let the tears run down her face. Sophie remained silent, holding her mother too for a while, until she break apart and wiped her tears.
"What's wrong, mom? What had happened?"
"Nothing, princess. I love you. You'll always be my baby girl, right?"
"Aw, of course I will" she answered giggling and cuddling her mother again "I am a princess because my mom is a queen. I love you too mom"
Laughing Donna kissed her cheek and grabbed her face in her hands "And don't you ever forget we will always be here for you darling, you are not alone. Someone who'll make you cry does not deserve your tears"
"I know" the girl sighed "Thank you because you've always been the best mom, and I have not always been the best of daughters"
"Of course you have been" she answered, moving Sophie´s face from side to side "Why would you say that?"
"I just... don't want to be a burden to you. You have a new family now, and I was supposed to be married and settled by now, this should be my wedding anniversary and..." her voice trailed off between her sobs "I've been so stupid that day, saying... saying I didn't want to get married and screwed it all"
Then, Sam took Sophie in his arms and kissed her head, rubbing her back.
"Don't cry, darling, and don´t have any regrets. You made the right choice. He didn't deserve you, princess. And you're not a burden, not now, not ever. You are part of our family, you will always be our first daughter, and we're delighted to have you here"
"Thanks... dad" Sophie whispered.
"See... that's it" he replied, smiling at her and wiping her tears.
"He's right Soph, you made the right choice. We wouldn't want you to leave! I may have Julie now, but you will always be my baby girl"
"Thanks mom. I love you"
"I love you too. Now you go have fun young lady!"
Donna rested against Sam's chest and placed her hands over his on her belly when he held her, as they watched Sophie walk away and start dancing with Pepper.
"You know? He was her boyfriend before Sky showed up and she dumped him. I always told her she shouldn't, but couldn't do anything but supporting her when she decided to get married. After all, I'm now beyond glad she did"
"So am I babe. She´s just like you and she´ll be alright"
"She will, I know, she will. Shall we...?" she asked pointing to the stairs.
"Your wish is my command, your majesty"
"Oh, stop it" Donna said, hitting his chest slightly as he scooped her up in his arms "Just take me there"
Donna leaned over the crib looking lovingly at her sleeping daughter. She was mesmerized by the heart-lifting thought that she and her beloved husband had conceived a child so beautiful. She was dragged out of her thoughts when the little girl started crying and she took the baby in her arms.
"What´s wrong, sunshine? Why are you crying?" she whispered, stroking her tiny arm until the girl clenched her little hand around her finger and calmed down slowly "Aw, you missed your mommy" she added, kissing the baby´s button nose and walking to sit on the bed.
She cleared away a lonely tear falling down her cheek and looked up, to find her husband resting against the doorframe on the bathroom door wearing only his underwear and smiling lovingly at her. Another tear escaped her eyes at the sight of the pure devotion in his eyes. She was madly and deeply in love with him, so much she was even scared. And miracle was the only word she knew to describe the fact he certainly loved her back as much.
God, I´ve been so silly and emotional lately...
Smiling, she took off her shoes and raised her legs to the bed, signaling to her husband to come and take a seat beside her.
He rested against the headboard and Donna placed herself between his legs, resting against his body and closed her eyes with a sigh. It had been a long exhausting day and all she wanted was to be back to the peace of her husband´s arms. A wide smile crept into her face when she felt his protective arms around her.
"Isn't she gorgeous?" Donna whispered, looking lovingly at her daughter again.
"Just as gorgeous as you, sweetheart" he replied, kissing the side of her head.
She turned to place a soft thank you kiss on his inviting lips.
"I think if I´m still this happy tomorrow morning, I´ll burst"
"No, because I´m just about to make you happier" he said, kissing the way down her neck and her back to the zip of her dress.
"Give me a minute" Donna hardly whispered, looking back at the peacefully sleeping baby and walking to place her back in the crib. She covered her with the soft pink blanket and stroked her cute little face, watching her sleep like an angel.
"Sleep well, my beloved angel"
She leaned to place a last kiss on her head and walked away.
We´re back were we begun...
Smiling sexily, she undid the zip of her dress and let it slid to the floor slowly, revealing to her husband her perfect curves bottled in a magnificent piece of lingerie. She giggled seeing his eyes widening and her own body flinching under the strong anticipation.
"So, what was your plan?" she asked, crawling over the bed to reach him and placing an alluring kiss on his lips.
He rolled her to be on top and quickly removed her slip, so she was only wearing the stockings. She moaned when she felt his body pressed against hers and slid her hands down his back to remove his underwear, wrapping her legs around his waist.
"You really want me tonight, huh?" she whispered, fighting hard to restraint a scream when his mouth reached her breasts.
"Oh… busted" he answered, his lips back to hers "And tonight, the stockings stay darling"
"Oh, you maniac" she replied laughing.
*** THE END ***
