Say Yes

Two weeks. Fourteen days. He'd listened to the voice mail Vivian had so kindly left him every day, just to hear her voice. She plagued his mind and he didn't hesitate to go about torturing himself listening to her over and over again. He'd plucked up the courage after a few more words from Stu to call again, unsurprisingly getting no answer. So this time he left his own voice mail, letting her know he'd be in Boston for a couple of media days promoting the next pay per view. He was staying at the Marriot next to the harbour, perfect views into North Atlantic ocean. Asking her to meet him at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park he knew he'd taken a risk, unsure whether she would actually bother showing up. She had. He'd wandered around the park, hoping she would show. He'd been approached by fans and he'd gladly signed autographs and take pictures, but he was always keeping an eye out for her. He'd spotted her sat on a bench, wearing another white sundress. Clearly she was cold, the breeze from the ocean at this time of the day wasn't at all warm. He thought back to the day she'd wandered into the pub wearing the same, soaked to the skin and clearly not a local Dublin lass.

Trying to focus his mind as he neared, he cleared his throat. She hadn't noticed him yet so he watched her as he approached and saw she was playing with the plain silver band on her middle finger. The evening next to the harbour brought with it a cold chill and she sat there without a jacket, rubbing her arms to try and get warmed up. He unzipped his sweatshirt and shrugged it off as he got closer. She'd lifted her head up, noticing him but stared with no expression, not even a smile. "How're yeh, lass?"

"Hey." Vivian eventually smiled when he smiled, standing up from the bench she was perched on. He was happy to see her. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, wanting to feel her lips on his again. Though he knew if he did that there would be consequences.

"Yeh actually came." When he stopped in front of her she looked into his eyes, soft but full of caution. He took it upon himself to drape his sweatshirt over her shoulders, just like he had done when he'd first met her.

"I shouldn't be here." Vivian said and Stephen couldn't help but shake his head no in response. He expected her to pull off the sweatshirt and slap him across the face. Maybe even yell at him and storm off in a rage, but she didn't. She stood there with her head held high, then to his surprise she threaded her arms into the sweatshirt.

"Why not?" He stepped closer to her, shielding her body from some of the wind the evening brought with it.

"I want you and I can't have you. I'm just driving myself crazy by doing this."

Stephen reached for her arm, an act of compassion but really he just wanted to remember what she felt like. He wanted to see if she'd react to his touch like she used to. "But yeh still came to see me."

"Call me a fool." Pulling her arm back, Vivian tried to move away from him.

"Vivian-"

"I don't know what you did to me in Ireland, Stephen."

Unable to stop his lips from sliding into a knowing smirk, Stephen wasn't surprised when he felt Vivian punch him in the arm. He grunted and rubbed the spot, making her think she had some strength behind her throw.

"I'm being serious. I was confident and independent. I had a hold of my life, I knew where I was going." Vivian pressed her fingers against her temple, "And then I met you, and without knowing you turned my life upside down." She laughed at herself, "I only saw you, what, four times?"

"Ah didn't realise." Stephen felt his body flood with guilt, but what for he wasn't quite sure. He knew he couldn't give her what she wanted, could he?

"I didn't either." Vivian sighed, "Not before it was too late."

"Ah'm sorry."

"What for?" Vivian smiled when he struggled for words, "I'm glad we both got home safe, Stephen. Goodnight."

"No." Stephen reached for her, taking hold of her waist so she couldn't walk away from him. Not again.

"What?" Vivian was searching his eyes but Stephen could see nothing but confusion and disappointment in hers.

"Ah can't let yeh go." Stephen moved his hands to her face. She was so beautiful, and he'd caused the painful look in her eyes. He couldn't stand that, but he couldn't look away.

"You don't know what you're saying." He started down at her, those words ringing loud in his mind. He leaned forward, able to feeling her shallow breath blowing across his neck. "You know what you want Stephen. You also know what you don't want and you made it clear that was me."

Stephen brushed his thumbs across her cheeks and she wrapped her hands around his wrists, gently pulling him away from her. "Ah can't make yeh happy Vivian."

"Wow." Vivian laughed, "I didn't know you could look into the future. Why are you doing this?"

I want you. I don't want anyone else to have you. "Ah don't know."

Vivian smiled softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're a remarkable man, but the next time you're in Boston, please don't find me."

Stephen had a determined look in his eye, and Vivian couldn't hold his gaze any more. "Ah want yeh again. Ah haven't stopped thinking abou' yeh."

Reaching for her, he quickly had his arm around her waist, tucking her into his body. She tried to resist, her hands pressing against his chest but she soon softened in his grasp. Vivian looked up at him, voice quiet as she said, "Please don't do this."

"Ah can't help meself." Stephen framed her face with one hand, sliding his thumb across her cheek. "Yeh so beautiful."

"Stephen-"

"Tell me to stop and ah will." With those words he kissed her lips, gently at first, wondering if she would pull away. She didn't. He tilted his head and traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. He felt her hands grip onto his shirt, the soft curves of her body pushing against him.

Pulling away from her slowly, he didn't want to make her do anything she didn't want to. Her eyes were shut, wet lips parted as she took shallow breaths. Stephen kissed the corner of her mouth and she opened her eyes. He'd seen that look before. One of lust and longing. Her hands moved up his chest and she whispered, "Don't stop."

"Come back to me hotel?" Stephen knew he was playing with fire, taking a huge risk. A bout of deja vu was going to hit them, but he couldn't help but want to have her again. "We don' have to do anything yeh don' want to."

"I..." Vivian took a deep breath and she just stared at him.

"Yeh can just fall asleep in me arms like yeh wanted to." Stephen smiled, half joking, but wanting her next to him more than anything.

"I can't do this. I don't want you to hurt me."

"Ah won't."

"You already have, Stephen!" Vivian tried to take off the sweatshirt that he'd made her wear but Stephen grabbed hold of the two halves, fumbling with the zipper. Even with her protest he managed to zip it up.

"Yeh'll get cold."

"Why do you do this?" She grabbed hold of his hands that were still on the sweatshirt, "You act like a complete insensitive jackass, and then you're so sweet and caring."

"Ah'm a typical bloke?" Stephen gave her a sheepish grin, hoping she wouldn't stay mad at him forever. Her hands held onto his and he couldn't help but squeeze them, tempted to pull her into his arms.

"You're something alright." Vivian mumbled.

"Ah'm sorry for how ah acted." Stephen tugged her a little closer, "If yeh can forgive me, ah'd like to take yeh on a date. A real one this time."

"I don't know..."

"Look, ah don' know how this will work between us, but if ah don' try ah'll regret it." Stephen sighed as she remained silent, obviously thinking things over in her head. "How abou' a drink and we can talk things over, if yeh willing to give me a second chance?"

"Just a drink." Vivian nodded and took a deep breath. Her answer wasn't a disappointment at all, he just wanted to get in her good books again. Smiling to himself he was starting to think he'd do anything it would take.

"Anythin' yeh want, lass"

"Okay."

She looked up at him, deep brown eyes sucking him in. He wanted to lean down and kiss her again but he feared that he might just scare her off. Having come so far he didn't want to risk that even though she hadn't resisted, in fact she hadn't wanted him to stop. Instead Stephen said, "Thank yeh."

Knowing she was holding back, he realised she didn't trust him and he didn't blame her. He'd have to win her trust back, but he had just the plan for that.

A/N – Thank you SoulSoother59, ThatGirl54, shakeitsalome, Blackhat, housesbabe1 and xthefirestillburns (and anyone else that reviews, I know this was a quick update :D) for the lovely reviews! So glad you're all still enjoying the story :) Lou x