You Were Meant for Me
Chapter 7: Thinking of ways to Get You Staying the Night
"I can't believe Josh made us all stay and finish the scene," Matthew said as he sat beside Kelly in the hospital waiting room. She was clearly upset, and with good reason. It was killing him, seeing her so sad. He was thinking of anyway he could to try to cheer her up. After the police and ambulance had arrived, and they had told the police what had happened, then Josh had insisted on continuing to film the scenes. Of course they had to switch the filming to a little further down, but they managed.
"Do you think she'll be all right?" Kelly asked, looking up at him, and making no reference to what he just said.
He pulled her close, and gently rubbed her back. He kissed the top of her head. "I think she will be. It could have been a lot worse. She's still alive. We have to be grateful for that."
Kelly nodded, then sniffled again. "It is kind of weird that Josh insisted on us staying, and finishing filming. I think he just didn't want to face what was waiting back at the hospital."
Matthew nodded. "Probably. He's so eerily calm about this whole situation."
"Where is he anyway?" Kelly asked, looking around the waiting room. "He was in the van. He's got to be around here somewhere." They had headed right over to the hospital after filming, which had been done in one take. They had only spend fifteen minutes total on both their scene and Blake and Leighton's scene. After the scenes were done, they had all ridden together to the hospital.
Matthew started laughing then. He couldn't help it. He guessed part of it was from nervousness. He didn't know why, but ever since he was a kid, he always laughed when he was nervous. He also laughed when he was trying not to cry. It had made school tests, acting auditions, and funerals all awkward.
"What's wrong with you? Stephanie's fighting for her life, and you're laughing?" Blake asked. She didn't sound angry; just shocked.
Matthew blushed. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking how Stephanie was hit by a car then Josh is all, 'Let's continue filming!' It's like he was saying, "Stephanie was hit by a car. Oops! I hope she's okay. Well, anyway, we have to finish shooting now."
Kelly smiled a bit, which made Matthew's heart race again.
"I guess it is kind of funny when you put it that way," Blake said. She giggled.
Kelly laughed too then, and soon they were all laughing.
Just then, the doctor came into the room, causing them all to immediately cease their laughter.
William cleared his throat. He stood up. "I'm sorry, Doctor. We're not laughing at our friends' accident. I know how this must seem. We were just..." He trailed off, not really knowing what to say.
The doctor smiled knowingly. "It's quite all right. No need to explain. Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying. I laughed at my grandmother's funeral. I'm sure everyone there thought I was a monster." He smiled and winked.
Kelly gave him a weak smile in return, then stood up as well. "How is she, Doctor? Is she going to be all right?"
The doctor smiled. "I'm happy to say that she is expected to make a full recovery! She has four broken ribs, a broken arm, and two broken legs. She also has a concussion. There was a lot of internal bleeding, but we managed to stop the bleeding. She's going to have to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of weeks, but like I said, she is expected to fully recover."
"Oh, thank God!" Kelly said.
Everyone else voiced their relief.
"Is she conscious?" Leighton asked.
"May we see her?" Blake asked him next without waiting for a response to Leighton's question.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, but only two at a time please. I don't want to overwhelm her."
Blake and Leighton both turned to the rest of them.
"Do you mind if we go first?" Blake asked.
Matthew, Kelly, and William all shook their heads.
"Go ahead. We'll wait," Kelly said with a sweet smile.
The girls smiled back their thanks, then headed out with the doctor so that he could lead them to Stephanie's room.
"Thank God she's going to be all right. I don't know about you guys, but I was praying for her," William stated.
Matthew nodded. "Another one of God's miracles."
"I'm so relieved! I was so worried," Kelly said, clinging onto Matthew.
Matthew wrapped his arms tightly around her, and kissed the top of her head.
"Is she going to be all right?" Josh asked with a sniffle as he entered the waiting room. His eyes looked red, as if he had been crying.
"Yeah, she has a concussion, some broken ribs, two broken legs, and a broken arm, but the doctor said she is expected a full recovery. She's going to have to stay in the hospital for at least two weeks though," Matthew explained.
"Where were you?" Kelly asked.
Josh looked down at the floor. "I needed some time alone to clear my head. I went for a walk outside."
"Well, it looks like you're going to have to take over the movie until Stephanie gets out of the hospital at least. Maybe longer with the shape she's in," William stated.
Josh looked up at him, suddenly looking panicked. He shook his head. "Oh, no, I can't! We'll just have to put the movie on hold until Stephanie's well enough to come back to it."
Matthew exchanged glances with Kelly and William. He then cleared his throat. "Why don't you two go see if Blake and Leighton are done talking with Stephanie yet? I'll wait here with Josh."
Kelly and William looked from him to each other.
William nodded. "Yeah, let's go get some coffee from the cafeteria first, Kelly. I don't know about you, but I could sure use one."
Kelly nodded too. "You and I both!" She walked over to Matthew, and placed a hand over his shoulder. She then kissed his cheek, then took off with William without another word.
Matthew watched her leave. He figured from the kiss, she knew what he was going to do.
He turned back to Josh, and placed a hand overtop of his shoulder. "Come on. Sit down," he said quietly.
Josh surprisingly listened, and slumped down in his seat.
Matthew sat beside him, then turned to face him. "Josh, you have to do this for us. We can't postpone the movie. You're also the writer, and this is your movie too."
Josh looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "But I don't deserve to take over. I pushed Stephanie onto the busy street, and she almost got killed because of it!"
Matthew made a face. "Please, Josh! You can't honestly think this is your fault? First of all, you didn't mean to push her into the street, did you?"
Josh shook his head. "Of course not! I was just angry, and meant to make her stumble on the sidewalk a little. I just wanted her away from me and out of my face. I didn't want her to fall into the street and get hit by a car!"
Matthew shook his head. "Of course you didn't! Second of all, the taxi driver was supposed to be watching where he was driving. There was even a road block up, but he didn't see it. So, he shouldn't have been there to begin with."
Josh sighed, and looked down to his lap. "I know deep down it's not my fault. I just feel bad that though I'm finally getting what I want by directing and writing this movie, I got it the wrong way. I didn't want Stephanie to get hurt for it! I mean, she's a bitch yes, but she didn't deserve what happened to her."
"You're right, she didn't. But it was a freak accident. You can't blame yourself for that! You were just fighting with her. It didn't mean you wanted something bad to happen to her. That's just stupid," Matthew said.
Josh looked at him. "But what if people think I did it on purpose just to take over?" He sniffled.
Matthew hit the air with his hand, waving off Josh's worries. "Forget what people say. All of us know the truth, and that is all that matters. People are always going to talk no matter what. There's no avoiding it no matter what you do."
"I don't know. I want to talk to Stephanie first," Josh said. He stood up, and looked at Matthew. "What room is she in?"
"I don't know, but let's go find out," Matthew said, standing up as well. He hoped his little pep talk with Josh had helped. He also hoped Stephanie could talk to Josh and convince him to keep the movie going. If not, the movie may never happen, he knew.
They then left the waiting room, and headed off to find the doctor or a nurse who could lead them to Stephanie's room.
~You Were Meant For Me~
"So, it's official. You and Matthew are finally a couple, huh?" William asked Kelly with a smirk as they sat in the cafeteria with their coffee.
Kelly blushed. "Word gets around fast." She sipped her coffee.
William smirked. "I'm not blind, Kelly. I saw you two kissing."
Kelly blushed even more. "Oh." She took another sip of her coffee.
"Anyway, I think you two were the last to see all the chemistry you two have between you. Everyone could see it, but you guys were in denial, denial, denial!" He smiled and winked, then sipped his own coffee.
Kelly grinned at him. "Well, not anymore. Oh, William, he's incredible! I just wish he and I had gotten together sooner instead of wasting all this time on other people. I honestly believe that he and I are soulmates." She blushed upon hearing her own words out loud. "I'm sorry. I must sound like a total cheese ball now, huh?" She took another sip of her coffee.
William smiled knowingly, and shook his head. "You don't sound like a total cheese ball. Well, maybe you do, but I understand!" He winked at her, a grin on his face. "I feel the same way about my wife. You and Matthew have worked closely together for over five years, and have been great friends for even longer than that now. It was inevitable that it turn into something more between you two. It took you long enough! I mean, it's been almost nine years! Sheesh, Woman! It's about damn time!" He grinned again, his eyes twinkling.
"Well, at least no one can accuse us of rushing into anything, right?" She grinned as she sipped her coffee.
William laughed as well, and tilted his coffee cup to her as if in a toast. "Touché!"
Kelly grinned, and clinked her mug with his, then they both took another drink, the smiles still on their faces.
Once their coffee was done, they put their mugs in the bin for dirty mugs, then headed back up to Stephanie's floor.
"Excuse me," William asked the nurse at the nurse's station, "can you please tell me what room Stephanie Savage is in?"
The nurse smiled at him. "Of course, Mr. Baldwin! She is in that room right over there." She pointed to the room and winked, still flashing him her perfect smile. William nodded at her. "Why thank you, Gorgeous!"
The nurse giggled. "Anytime."
Kelly smirked as they headed to Stephanie's room. "Someone's a fan of yours."
William grinned his Cheshire cat grin. "What can I say? When you got it, you got it!" He popped the collar of his dress shirt.
Kelly rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless.
They headed to the room, but stopped outside of it when they saw Matthew and Josh inside. They listened in.
"Stephanie, I am so sorry! I never meant to push you out onto the street! And I certainly didn't mean for you to get hit!" Josh said, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course you did! In fact, I believe that was your plan all along! You just wanted the movie all to yourself, and you didn't like the way I was running things, so you pushed me. You're only sorry I survived."
Josh looked startled. "What? No! I—"
Stephanie cut him off. "Well, I survived, and I am going to sue you for every penny you own!"
Josh's mouth dropped open, and he visibly paled.
Stephanie then burst out laughing. "Ow! Gosh it hurts when I laugh!" She then took Josh's hand in her hand, and smiled kindly at him. "Chillax! I'm just Joshing you! Get it? 'Joshing' you?" She laughed again, then winced. "Ow. I've got to stop doing that." Her expression softened. "Don't feel bad, Joshie. We both said things we probably shouldn't have. You got angry and you pushed me. It happens. I know you didn't mean for me to fall out onto the street and get hit."
"I didn't!" The tears streamed down Josh's face again. "Oh, Stephanie, you had no idea how scared I was when we didn't know if you were dead! I swear I never would have forgiven myself if—" He sniffled. "If—"
Stephanie squeezed his hand. "Sh, Joshie, it's okay. I'm fine. I have a few broken ribs, but the meds they are giving me work wonders for the pain. Well, except when I laugh." She smiled and winked at him. "And, hey. At least my writing hand is still free to write!" She removed her hand from his, and held it up for emphasis. Her other arm had a cast on it, which wrapped around the hand.
"You broke your hand too?" Josh asked, nodding toward the cast.
Stephanie shook her head. "No, but they decided to cast it was well just for better support for my broken arm. I guess this arm was broken worse than my other arm." She looked at her elevated legs. "It sucks having two broke legs though. I didn't even cast them to be in the movie, yet they still got casted," she joked. She grinned, but didn't laugh this time, obviously for fear of the pain returning.
Josh laughed, and shook his head. "Stick to the script writing, not joke writing."
Stephanie grinned. "Deal! So, you're going to have to take over for me now."
Josh shook his head. "No. I'm going to wait for you to be better and come back."
"Are you kidding me?" Stephanie shook her head. "Uh, uh! No way! Who knows when I'll get out of this place? We cannot put the movie on hold for that long. You're going to have to take over."
Josh looked panicked. "But it's not done being written yet! I need you to direct! We need to just wait for you to be better, and then—"
Stephanie shook her head, cutting him off. "You need to do it, Joshie. Despite what I said in a fit of anger, you are not a shitty writer. In fact, you're an amazing writer. I was just jealous of your writing. The fans loved your couple more than they ever loved any of mine. I also have major control issues. I'm not sure if you noticed or not." She grinned and blushed.
Josh grinned too. He held up his thumb and his index finger just inches apart. "Maybe just a little."
Stephanie smiled and winked at him.
"But you're not a shitty writer either!" Josh then continued. "In fact, I'm jealous of you being able to handle things that come your way. If something goes wrong, I panic. You however, know just what to do to fix things."
Stephanie smiled at him. "You can do it, Joshie. You don't give yourself enough credit! I know a lot of that is because I don't give you enough credit myself. The truth is, I need you just as much as you need me. In fact, I might need you more than you need me. And, in a way, I'm glad this accident happened. Well, I'm at least glad you had the guts to finally tell me off. This is a wakeup call. I was a terrible bitch to you, and you didn't deserve it."
"Well, you didn't deserve to be hit by a car," Josh quipped. "And I was a jerk myself as far as that goes."
"Well, we've both made mistakes, but now we can fix them. I'm giving you Rufus and Lily. You're right. They belong together. You can take soul writing responsibility for them. As far as the others, we're basically on the same page. I'm still coherent, so if anything, you can call me, or stop by here for any questions or writing help." Stephanie smiled and winked at him.
Josh grinned. "Really? I can have Rufus and Lily?"
Stephanie nodded. "Really! After all, they were yours from episode one." She winked at him again, the smile still on her face.
"I'm going to come in here with my laptop and type out the script for you. All you have to do is tell me what to write," Josh promised.
"We'll write it together," Stephanie said. "How's that?"
Josh smiled at her. "That sounds perfect! And, I know you're a firm believer in the show must go on, so, while the ambulance was rushing you to the hospital, I had the gang finish filming their scenes. We got them both done all in one take!"
Stephanie grinned. "That's my partner! Good job! You did well, Joshie."
"I just feel really bad seeing you like this," Josh said, getting teary-eyed again.
"Stop that! There will be no tears, and that's an order!" Stephanie said, her tone stern. "This isn't your fault! You are my friend, and I know you'd never do anything to hurt me."
"And you're my friend. I'd hurt myself before I hurt you," Josh told her.
Stephanie's expression softened. "Likewise, Buddy. I'd hug you, but that might hurt." She grinned at him.
Josh laughed. "I'll take a raincheck for when you're out of your casts."
Stephanie grinned even bigger. "It's a deal!"
"I'm really glad you guys worked that out, and I'm even happier that you're going to be okay, Steph," Matthew said, walking closer to her.
She smiled up at him. "Thanks, Matt. I'm glad I'm okay too."
Kelly was touched. Matt had talked to Josh, and went with him to see Stephanie. It warmed her heart to see what a good friend Matthew was to Josh. She cleared her throat, and walked into the room despite the two people per visit rule. "Knock, knock!" she said, knocking on the door as she entered, William on her heels.
Stephanie grinned. "Kelly! William! Did you hear the news? Joshie here now owns you and Matt, which means, Rufus and Lily it is!"
Josh grinned as well.
"Oh, sorry. Force of habit. I mean, Josh," Stephanie said, remembering Josh's loathing for the nickname Joshie. "I really only mean it as a term of endearment. I didn't mean to offend you."
Josh swatted the air with his hand. "You know what? It kind of grew on me." He turned to the others. "But if any of the rest of you ever call me Joshie, you're fired! Stephanie is the only one who can call me that."
They all laughed.
"Ow," Stephanie complained, which made the rest of them laugh some more.
As they all continued to visit, paying no mind to the two a room rule, Kelly pulled Matthew aside. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
Matthew smiled at her. "Well, Josh gave us a couple days off for him to gather his thoughts on where the movie is going, so I'm free." He raised an eyebrow at her. "You?"
"Well, I was going to take the kids out and spend the day with them. I'm not sure where to yet, but I'll figure it out. Would you like to join us? Maybe you can bring Aven, and we can have a play date! We haven't had one of those in forever." Kelly grinned.
Matthew grinned as well. "I'll call Naama and ask her. I'm sure it won't be a problem. Just call me later, and we'll set something up!"
"Okay," Kelly agreed, still smiling. She pulled him close, and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. She then gently stroked some hair out of his eyes. "I'll be looking forward to it."
Matthew's eyes lowered with love for her. "Me too." He kissed her again.
"Ugh! Get a room!" Stephanie complained. "And not mine!"
Everyone laughed. Even Matthew and Kelly had to laugh at that one.
Kelly smiled, and rested her head on Matthew's shoulder. She was so in love with him, she felt she could burst! She sent a silent prayer of thanks to God for both letting Stephanie be all right, and for Matthew, whom she truly felt was her soulmate.
~And I Was Meant For You~
They decided to take the kids to Luna Park, or as most called it, Cony Island. It had been Matthew's idea. He had called Kelly up upon getting the okay from Naama to have Aven for the day. Kelly had asked her kids, and of course they had both instantly fallen in love with the idea. So, off to Coney Island it was! Matthew had picked Kelly and the kids up. Surprisingly, both of her kids still remembered him. They were talkative little ones. Helena and Aven hit it off like besties right away since they were only three months apart. As for Hermés, well, he was practically talking Matthew's ear off. Matthew didn't mind though, for Hermés was a sweet, mature kid. Also, know knew? One day, Hermés could end up being his stepson he knew.
When they arrived at the park, they parked, then headed straight for the ticket booth to get tickets, or as the park called them, "credits." Then, they looked around, deciding what ride they would go on first.
"Well, I can point out a couple right now that there's no chance I'll ever be getting on," Kelly quipped as she eyed the Sling Shot and the Zenobio
Matthew smirked. "Aw, you mean you don't want to be shot up into the air while sitting in a giant sphere or be tossed around in a somersault high up in the air at sixty miles per hour?"
"I'm gonna pass on that one, but I'll stay with the kids if you'd like to try," she said with a smirk and a wink.
"I totally would. I just wouldn't want to go by myself," he said.
"I'll go with you!" Hermés said. "It looks like fun!"
Matthew raised an eyebrow at Kelly. "Yes?"
Kelly looked at her son. "I don't know. I think you'd be too scared once you were on it."
Hermés shook his head. "No, I wouldn't! I wanna ride it! Uncle Anthony took me on one like that one before." He pointed to the Sling Shot. His eyes then widened, and he quickly slapped a hand over his mouth.
Kelly crossed her arms over her chest, and raised an eyebrow. "Oh he did, did he? And when was this?"
Hermés blushed. "When I stayed with Grandma in LA, he took me to Magic Mountain. I wasn't supposed to tell about the ride."
Kelly sighed, and shook her head. "Remind me to kill him the next time I see him," she joked to Matthew.
"Well, Hermés obviously wasn't scared if he wants to do it again," Matthew said, a smile playing on his lips. He liked a kid with guts!
"Please, Mom?" Hermés asked, looking up at his mother with pleading eyes. Kelly sighed. "Go ahead, since you've already been on one anyway. I suppose it's better now than after you've had lunch!"
"Yay!" Hermés jumped up and down with excitement.
"This I got to see," Kelly smirked. "You're going to scream like a girl," she said to Matthew. Hermés will be braver than you."
"We'll just see!" Matthew said, gently nudging her. The truth was, he was a little worried about feeling nauseous, but he wasn't afraid to ride it. Anyway, even if he was afraid to ride it, he'd rather pull out his own hair than admit it to Kelly.
And so they headed over to the Sling Shot, and handed the ticket taker their tickets. Matthew was glad he could ride this with Hermés. He liked that he was bonding so easily with Kelly's son.
"You just made the height requirement, Kid," the ticket taker said after measuring Hermés. He grinned down at him.
Hermés grinned back at him, then ran over to the ride, apparently even more excited to ride it than Matthew was.
They got strapped in and locked in, then the ticket counter counted down. Matthew was starting to get a little nervous, but only for the initial shooting upward. Then, once you were in the air, you didn't have time to recover before you were shot back down, then up, then down again. He swallowed hard, then gave Kelly a smile, and a thumbs up sign.
"Better you than me!" she yelled out, a big grin plastered on her face as the girls gripped the railings and watched them intently.
Matthew laughed. "Thanks!"
The ticket taker continued to count down. "Five, four, three, two, one, blast off!"
Matthew and Hermés both screamed all the way up, and all the way down, and didn't stop until the ups and downs started easing up a bit.
When the ride was done, Hermés was smiling big. "That was awesome!" He looked at Matthew. "Let's do it again!" he said, his eyes filled with excitement.
Matthew laughed. "I think one time is enough for me, Buddy."
Hermés pouted. "Aw!"
They got off the ride, and then Hermés ran out the gate to his mother. "Mom, that was so awesome! You have to ride it!" He tried tugging her into the gate.
Kelly shook her head. "No way! Sorry, Honey, but that is not Mommy's kind of thing." She smiled at him, and gently stroked his hair.
"Well, can Matthew and I go on that one now?" He pointed to the Zenobio.
Kelly looked at Matthew, an eyebrow raised. "If he wants to, I suppose."
Matthew laughed. "Dude, let's wait a bit! That last one left me feeling kind of light headed and nauseous." He pat his stomach for emphasis.
Hermés pouted. "Please? I really wanna go now."
Kelly placed a hand over her son's shoulder. "Honey, you heard what Matthew said. Not now. Maybe later."
Hermés looked beyond disappointed.
Matthew sighed. He guessed it ran in the family, for he didn't like seeing Hermés disappointed anymore than he enjoyed seeing Kelly disappointed. "Well, I suppose I could do one more ride like that."
Hermés' expression suddenly turned to excitement. "Really?"
Matthew smiled. "Really."
"You don't have to do this, you know. I won't think any less of you if you don't ride it now," Kelly said to him. "Hermés can learn to wait."
Matthew shook his head. "I'll be fine. Besides, like you said, it's better to do now than after lunch, right?"
Kelly nodded. "I suppose, but if you're not feeling well..."
"I'll be fine. No worries!" Matthew put on a brave face, and ignored his nauseous stomach. He could do this. He didn't want to disappoint Hermés.
"Come on, Matthew! Let's go!" Hermés said, tugging at Matthew's shirt.
"Be patient," Kelly gently ordered Hermés.
"It's okay. Let's go!" Matthew said, running off with Hermés.
They then headed toward the ride, and gave the ticket taker their tickets.
Matthew was nervous getting strapped onto this one. Mainly because his stomach was already starting to protest. But again, it was worth it if it made Hermés happy. He'd do anything to make Kelly and her kids happy.
And so began the ride. It whipped them up and down in somersaults high in the air. Hermés was squealing in delight the whole time. Matthew, however, was trying his best not to vomit up the breakfast he had had before picking Kelly and the kids up.
After the ride, Matthew practically stumbled off the ride, whereas Hermés was jumping up and down with excitement.
When they got back to Kelly, Hermés was beyond excited. "Can we do the Boardwalk Flight now?" he asked her.
Matthew audibly groaned. The boardwalk Flight was a ride where they strapped you in and dropped you from over 200 hundred feet in the air. "I'm sorry, Buddy, but I can't do any more wild rides. At least not for now." He wanted to make Hermés happy, but even he had his limits.
Kelly grinned. "It's past lunchtime. Let's get some lunch. After that, the girls want to do rides of their own. You had your fun. Now it's their turn."
Hermés pouted. "Aw, Mom!"
"Aw, Mom nothing. Let's go," Kelly said, but her smile showed she wasn't angry.
"Thanks. I guess I'm getting too old for all the spinning and dropping," Matthew said. He normally wouldn't admit to such a thing, but he knew Kelly wouldn't judge him.
Kelly took his hand. "Hey, you have a better stomach than I do! I would never go on those rides you just went on."
"Your son is fearless, Kel," Matthew said.
"Which scares me," Kelly quipped.
"I hear ya!" Matthew said, imagining Aven wanting to try dangerous and scary things. Luckily, she wasn't quite at that age yet. He didn't need the heart attack.
They stopped at Nathan's Hot Dogs for lunch since it was quick, and frankly one of the only two places that served food other than snacks in the park. There was a BBQ place as well, but with the kids, Matthew and Kelly figured hot dogs were a better choice since kids can sometimes be picky (and messy) eaters.
"I know the park closes at eight, but I don't want to stay until closing. We can go on whatever rides the kids want, and maybe play some games, then I say we head home," Kelly stated.
Matthew was a little disappointed that she didn't want to make more of a day of it, but he had an idea. "So, how long is your mother staying with you?"
"She's staying until the end of the week, then she's going to head back home," Kelly replied absentmindedly as she looked over the menu board that was hanging up on the wall.
Perfect! Matthew thought. Maybe going home early wasn't such a bad thing after all, he figured.
They had a nice twenty minute lunch together, even getting ice cream for dessert. They then went on some rides together, sticking to the milder ones first while they waited for their food to settle.
Kelly took the kids on the teacups. Matthew passed, only because he was pretty sure he would vomit if he had to spin around in circles on a spinning track. However, he enjoyed taking a video of Kelly and the kids laughing, and enjoying the ride. He didn't know who was cuter, the kids or Kelly. Kelly's laughter was infectious in a good way. She looked absolutely breathtakingly beautiful when she laughed, he noticed. Then again, she always looked breathtakingly beautiful to him. When she laughed, it was even more so.
Yes, tonight would be the night, he knew. He just hoped that Ann would agree to it, though, if she really felt about him the way Kelly said she did, Matthew knew it wouldn't be a problem. He licked his lips. Tonight couldn't come soon enough!
~You Were Meant For Me~
Kelly waved to her kids and Matthew waved to his daughter as they watched them ride the speed boat ride. Of course it wasn't actual speed boats they were riding, but rather little metal boats that spun around on a carousel like contraption at a moderate pace.
Matthew took a video, and Kelly took a picture.
"It's funny how when you get older, the things you once thought were so fun and cool when you were a kid just suddenly top being fun," Kelly said, watching her children with a little sadness in her heart. "Soon they'll grow up and be too old and too cool to go places with their parents." She sighed.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Aven has stopped aging. She is going to be seven forever," Matthew teased in a serious tone.
Kelly laughed. "If only that were true," she said with a sigh. She then looked at Matthew. "On the other hand, do we really want our children hanging around us twenty-four seven for the rest of our lives?"
Matthew looked at her. "Oh hell no!"
They both laughed.
"But I will enjoy it while it lasts, even if it is only for another eleven years or so," Matthew said, watching his daughter dreamily.
Kelly placed her arm around him, and rested her head on his shoulder. "Me too."
Hermés enjoyed the Big Top Express train ride after that, and the girls were giggling, and clapping their hands with glee as they road the Mermaid Parade ride, which took them in a little boat around a small track, and went under small tunnels.
The kids insisted on going on all the kids' rides, which was in total thirteen rides, including of course all the ones they had already gone on.
"Are you guys going to go on any rides?" Helena asked Kelly and Matthew.
"Yes, come ride with us!" Aven said excitedly.
"Oh, I don't know. I'm not really much of a ride person," Kelly said.
"Ah, come on, Kel! Where's your sense of adventure? Don't you want to have fun?" Matthew asked.
Kelly looked at him, his eyes pleading with her. She sighed. "Oh, all right!" She didn't want him thinking she was too old to want to do anything fun. She supposed a couple of rides wouldn't kill her.
"Yay!" Matthew and the kids all said in unison.
Kelly laughed, and shook her head. She really loved Matthew's playful side. She really couldn't resist!
"I want to get you on a roller coaster!" Matthew said to Kelly, taking her hand, and leading her toward a roller coaster called The Tickler that had a dip and all sorts of twists and turns.
"Oh, I don't know," she said.
"What are you, chicken?" he asked.
She glared at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Let's do it!"
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean right here, with the kids and people around?" he teased.
"Sick!" Hermés said, catching onto Matthew's joke.
Matthew looked at him in surprise. He then looked at Kelly. "How did he...?"
"I watch TV. I know things," Hermés answered for Kelly.
"What TV shows? I never let you watch anything like that!" Kelly said to him.
Hermés shrugged. "Uncle Anthony had it on." He then gasped, and covered his mouth. "Oops! I wasn't supposed to tell."
Kelly rolled her eyes. "That brother of mine is going to get a talking to the next time I see him," she grumbled.
Matthew grinned. "Remind me never to tell Hermés a secret."
Kelly couldn't help but smirk at that. She then sighed. "All right. Let's get on the roller coaster." She shot Matthew a look, silently warning him to behave. She didn't need her son knowing more than he should about certain things. The kids all squeezed into one car, and Matthew and Kelly rode in another.
Kelly cried out when the roller coaster took off. "I used to do these all the time in my twenties. Now they kind of freak me out."
"Aw, this one is a mild one. You'll be fine," Matthew said as their car slowly climbed up the hill.
"Can I hold your hand?" Kelly asked, looking up at him, and batting her eyelashes. She was a little nervous, but she was playing it up more than she had to. She just wanted an excuse to hold his hand.
He took her hand in his and kissed it. "Of course, my Love."
She smiled, and quickly kissed his lips. Then, she held on tightly to his hand and winced as they swooped down the hill. She laughed as her hair flew up behind her. They twisted, turned, spun, and even went backwards at one point.
Matthew smiled, watching her.
She looked at him. "Why are you watching me instead of where the ride takes us?" she asked him.
"Because you're more fun to watch," he said simply.
She smiled, then managed to kiss him quick before they spun around fast, causing her to throw back her head and laugh again.
When the ride ended, she got off it, still laughing. "That was so much fun!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said, pulling her close for another kiss.
"Ew, guys, get a room!" Hermés said, showing up behind them with Helena and Aven. He wrinkled his nose.
Kelly looked at him in shock. "Also your uncle?" she asked.
"His girlfriend likes Days of our Lives," Hermés said with a shrug.
"Let me guess, you weren't supposed to tell he let you watch it with her," Kelly said, an eyebrow raised, and her arms crossed over her chest.
Hermés' avoiding her gaze said it all.
"The kid has a great idea about getting a room," Matthew murmured into her ear.
She blushed. "Don't encourage him." Though, not so deep down, she had to admit that she thought Hermés had a good idea as well. In fact, it was a really good idea indeed.
~And I Was Meant For You~
Matthew couldn't take it any longer. He had to be with Kelly, and it had to be tonight. He hoped that Ann would be willing to watch the kids for them. "I have to go to the bathroom. Why don't you take the kids to the Air Race ride, and I'll meet you there? Then we can go on some other things together," he said to Kelly.
Kelly nodded. "All right."
He kissed her cheek. "I won't be long."
He then ran off toward the bathrooms. Only, he didn't have to go. He dialed up Kelly's home number, and was happy when Ann picked up.
"Ann, hey, it's Matthew."
"Hello, Matthew. Is everything all right? Did something happen to Kelly or the kids?" Ann sounded worried.
"No, nothing like that. I just broke free from them for a minute to call you up and ask you a favor."
"Sure, anything."
"I was wondering if you would stay with the kids tonight so that Kelly and I can have a little time to ourselves at a hotel?" Matthew knew how wrong it seemed to ask Kelly's mother of all people if he could take her daughter to a hotel, but he needed someone to watch the kids, and Ann was the perfect solution.
Ann was silent for a couple of seconds. "That depends on what your intentions with my daughter are."
Matthew froze. "I, uh..." Did she really expect him to tell her he wanted to sleep with her daughter?
Ann burst out laughing. "Relax, Matthew, I'm joking! I'd be happy to watch them for you."
Matthew instantly relaxed. "Thanks, Ann. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. I love spending time with my grandchildren, and I love having you be with my daughter. But you better treat her right. If you don't, you're going to wake up one day with three less body parts of the lower region of your body if you catch my drift."
Matthew swallowed hard. Knowing Ann, he had no doubt. "I catch it."
"Good! You have a good rest of the day now. I know you'll have a good night!"
Matthew paused for a second, and blushed. "Bye, Ann, and thanks again."
Ann chuckled, apparently knowing she had made him uncomfortable. "Goodbye, Matthew," she said in a singsong voice.
Matthew hung up, still blushing. He then grinned, and shook his head as he headed off to find Kelly. Ann had been right about one thing—he was most definitely going to have a good night tonight!
