Only a relatively short chapter today.
I was going to write more, but I got distracted and shit :D

And for everyone that hasn't read it yet – I posted a new one shot. If you like Shane/Mitchie lemons then my story is the entire lemon orchard. *insert devil horns here*


December 24
6:00 PM

"H-hey Nate," I said, smiling weakly. My cheeks were tear-stained from before and my nose was red from crying.

"What's wrong?" he said, putting one hand on my shoulder.

"Could I maybe come in?" I asked, wiping my eyes with my arm.

"Yeah, yeah, come in," he said, helping me in. As he led me down the hallway, I could smell his mom's cooking in the kitchen. He led me over to the living room and sat me down on a couch.

"I know you probably don't want to see me right now, and I fully understand," I choked out, "...but thanks." He shrugged, sending a blank message.

"What happened? What's wrong?" he said, kneeling down in front of me. His concerned eyes betraying his blank demeanour.

"Shane and I- we- we got into a- a fight," I said, sniffling.

"Oh... I'm sorry," he said, sitting next to me. He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to him. I buried my head in his chest and cried. He rubbed my back soothingly, trying to calm me down. "I'm sure whatever it is, the two of you can work it out," he said gently.

"Why does everyone say that?" I said, looking up at him.

"Are you saying you can't work it out?"

"He said he wants to spend time apart,"

"He did? Why?" Nate looked alarmed.

Not the reaction I was expecting. I was expecting some big-ass lecture about how he was trying to do the right thing.

"So I can get used to it for when he's away? I don't know…" I offered, then broke into another wave of tears. "I don't know...." I choked.

"I know you're upset - but he's only thinking about you," Nate said, rubbing my back.

Ah. And there it is.

"Stay here, I'll go make you some tea," I nodded as he stood up.

How come everyone always says 'he's only thinking about you'?

Because it's true.

Shut up, head.

But honestly, how can time apart, especially on CHRISTMAS be thinking about anybody?

Maybe you should let him explain himself.

SHUT UP, HEAD!

I hate boys.

Stupid boys.

Stupid boys with stupid heads and stupid haircuts and stupid white jeans.

But you love stupid boys with stupid heads and stupid haircuts wearing stupid white jeans.

Grrr. It's true.

"Back," Nate said, coming in with a mug. He sat down beside me and handed it to me.

"Thanks," I smiled, wrapping both my cold hands around it.

7:00 PM

Nate told me I could spend the next couple of days there, with him and his, well my family. I didn't talk to anyone much for that hour, except Nate. I stayed in the living room just thinking. The doorbell rang and my heart began racing.

What if it was Shane?

What am I going to say?

What do I have to do?

I heard Nate walk over to the front door and open it.

"Took you long enough," I heard him say.

"Can I see her?" I heard Shane say.

"Dude, she doesn't want to talk to you," I heard Nate say.

Here's your chance... go talk to him, let him explain himself. Besides, don't you miss him?

THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT!

"I know, but I need-"

"Leave her alone, it's what you wanted, isn't it?" Nate said.

"Nate it's fine," I found myself saying, standing in front of the hallway. I don't even remember getting up from the couch and walking over.

"Mitchie," Shane said softly. Nate looked at me, then back at Shane then back at me.

"Are you sure?" Nate said to me. I nodded weakly and walked towards the two.

"Can we maybe take a walk?" Shane asked. His eyes were sad but looked hopeful. I nodded, walking past him and down the porch steps. He followed. The first minute or so was silent.

"I thought you wanted to spend time apart," I mumbled, looking just past my shoes.

"No," Shane said. "I mean yes, I mean no - not now, I mean like later, after you know, the holidays, and like, I mean, you'll be alone anyway when I do stuff, right? Disregarding James Bond, because, you know, he's a dog and all. I mean unless you want to go on tour with us because you can if you want to, but weren't you talking about like getting a job or something? And you probably want to have a career or something and-"

"What does this have to do with anything?" I said, cutting his rambling off. He looked up at me, his mouth hanging open as if he wanted to say something. He paused for a few seconds.

"I don't want to leave you unprepared," he said quietly.

"Unprepared?"

"What are you going to do when I leave?" He asked. That's when it hit me. I finally realized what he was talking about.

Told you he was right.

Shut up.

What AM I going to do when he leaves? I can't just sit at home all day. I have to do something with my life.

"I don't know," I said quietly. "But being away from you is not going to help me figure it out," I added.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I don't want to think about this right now," I said. "It's Christmas and it's cold and all I want to do is eat turkey, sing Christmas carols and nestle up near the fireplace," I announced. "...and I want to do it with you," I said, looking up at him. I wasn't crying - I couldn't anymore, but I think I still conveyed the same feelings.

It was very dark out, for seven anyway, but the street was lit up by all the Christmas lights. Neither of us said anything. I walk past him and sat down on the curb, rubbing my arms with my hands. I felt him standing over me. He sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should've waited 'til after." I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed.

"You meant well..." I admitted quietly. "I'm sorry too." He wrapped his other arm around me and kissed my forehead.

"I love you," he said.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"I thought you said that stopped being funny when we got off the plane?" He looked at me accusingly. Lovingly accusingly.

"Only when you say it," I said, grinning up at him.

"...and I thought you said you'd stop making fun of me every time I try to be romantic?"

"Was that supposed to be romantic?" I said, laughing. He knew I was joking.

"You're not funny."

"Oh? But I am."

"Not."

"So."

"Not."

"So."

"Not.

"So."

"Not."

"So."

"So not," he said. I stood up and put my hands on my hips.

"I so am, and you enjoy my comedy," I stated. "Let's go back, I'm hungry," I said, helping him up.

"I've got to go back to my mom's," he said, shrugging. "Are you coming?"

"I can't, I'm staying at Nate's," I said, half-smiling. "Pick me up tomorrow?" I asked, raising my shoulders. He smiled, taking my hands. He lowered his head towards mine and kissed my lips softly. His warm lips sent their familiar goosebumps sensation throughout my body. I smiled as we broke apart.

December 25
11:00 AM

After over a month, I finally got a phone call from my parents. I was sitting around the living room with Nate and his parents and other cousins when my cell phone rang. I politely excused myself into the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas!" My mom's voice rang over the phone.

"You too mom," I said, a bit less enthusiastically.

"We tried calling the house, where are you?"

"I'm with Nate's family - they invited me," I said.

"Oh, well that was nice," she commented. She didn't really sound too interested.

"So where are you right now?" I said, shifting my weight onto one foot. I was just being polite. If it took her this long to even remember she had a daughter, I really didn't care where the fuck she was.

"We're in Sri Lanka - oh my goodness it's beautiful here! We've got a suite that looks right over the ocean and," she said. I heard laughing in the background.

"That's nice..." I cut in.

"So I hope you had a happy birthday, yes?"

I'm glad she finally remembered. Fuck.

"I was in Australia," I said.

"Australia? What? Why? "

"Well, after you and dad ditched me, Nate felt sorry for me and invited me out," I stated truthfully. Albeit harshly.

"Oh... well I hope you had fun," she said, as if I didn't totally mouth off to her.

"Yeah... I did."

"Well I've got to go, your father sends his love," she said. I could just imagine her on her end of the phone, waving her arm around and being more interested in everything else but the conversation.

"Bye," I barely got in before she hung up.

That was SO not a conversation worth waiting a month for....

December 25
8:30 PM

I was just about to call Shane when he showed up at the door. Since we hadn't formally decided on when we would meet up, I was going to call, but I guess I didn't have to.

"Ready to go?" He asked me, after he said his hello's to the family.

"Yep," I smiled, putting my jacket on. After I followed him out the door, he waited for Nate to close the door all the way before grabbing my shoulders and forcing a rough, but passionate kiss onto my lips. As we pulled apart, the grin that lit up his face echoed onto my own.

"Merry Christmas," he breathed, looking into my eyes, and then kissed me again. This time softer, sweeter.

"Merry Christmas," I said, and pecked his lips.

"Come on, I have a present for you."

"No, Shane no..." I pleaded. "You do too much for me,"

"I don't do enough for you," He grinned cheesily. "...go ahead, laugh. That was a failed attempt at romance."

"No, it was sweet," I said, and kissed him on the cheek. "I have one for you too... but I left it at your place... or Shaun's place... you know, there…" I said, trying to figure out what to call that house.

"Come on," He said, going to his car. I went around and sat in the front passenger seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked, as we started out of Nate's neighbourhood.

"It's a surprise," he grinned, his eyes glinting mischiviously.

"I love surprises," I said, sarcasm dripping from my mouth. He grinned a toothy grin, and took one hand off the wheel, placing it around one of mine. "So guess what," I started.

"What?"

"My mom called me."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I dunno. I guess... she's in Sri Lanka or something. I didn't even know they were going to Asia... anyway, I told them I was in Australia when she asked about my birthday... she wasn't really mad or anything. I'm starting to think she doesn't care what I do..." I said, rambling. "Sorry, you probably don't care." I shook my head.

"No, no," he said softly. "I care about whatever you care about."

About twenty minutes later, we arrived at a really grand hotel in the city. I figured it was best not to ask any questions, with Shane, I never really knew what to expect anyway, so something as random as a hotel wasn't really too strange for me.

"Okay, close your eyes," he said, parking the car.

"What? No! ...and have everyone looking at me like I'm crazy? No way," I said, crossing my arms.

"Please?" he begged. "Otherwise I can't make it a surprise... pleeeease?" He begged. I looked at him.

Oh, that face! I couldn't refuse it. I sighed.

"Fine..." I stepped out of the car and closed my eyes. Five seconds later I felt him lace one of his hands with mine and he began walking.

"Okay, now walk straight." He said. He led me like this for about five minutes, and then there was a five minute break. I figured it was because we were in an elevator - I could hear the beeping of the numbers and I felt it as we went up. Finally, we stepped off and he led me out. He led me clumsily up a flight of stairs and then through a door. I instantly felt the cold wing whip past my body. I knew exactly where we were, and I wasn't excited. "Okay open your eyes," He said.

"No."

"Come on..." he said.

"Shane, I'm sorry that I'm ruining your surprise but I know we're ON THE ROOF of the hotel and just in case you forgot... I HATE HEIGHTS!"

"Please?" he said, squeezing my hand tighter. "I'm here, okay? Nothing bad will happen,"

"You promise?"

"I promise," he reassured me. I was still a bit hesitant, so I slowly opened one eye - then the other.

Oh -- My -- God.

There were white roses spread out all around the roof and white candles, lit and encased so the wind wouldn't blow them out. I looked up - the stars were glimmering extra brightly. I looked out at the city - the lights coloured the horizon elegantly. I had completely forgotten about the fact that I was hundreds of feet in the air. That's when I looked up at Shane.

"This is so beautiful," I whispered. He smiled, taking my hands.

"You'll probably think this is irrational...which it might be, and maybe it's not the right time with everything going on, but I've never been so sure about anything in my whole life and I'll be completely devastated if you say no, here it goes," he said in one big breath. He put my hands together and wrapped his around; he got down on both knees and looked up at me.

Oh god.

Oh god, oh god, oh god.

Oh my fucking god.

"Ohmygod," I choked in a whisper. My eyes were filling up with moisture – but none of it overflowing.

"I honestly don't know why you like me so much; I don't know what I did to be so fortunate - I am the luckiest person alive - I'm not letting you go - please, please marry me?" Shane stared up at me, his eyes hopeful eyes locking with my tear filled ones.

My hands started shaking and I felt my knees getting weak. I couldn't describe what was going through my head - sure, I could name a million of reasons to say no, but that would be listening to my head - and if there's one thing I learned about happy endings, it's to never be rational.

I nodded my head up and down so quickly, if anyone had been watching they probably would have thought that I was having a seizure. Shane stood up, and could not have been smiling wider. He wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up, spinning me around a dozen times. He set me down and didn't even pause to look at me. He placed his hands firmly on my shoulders and pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was the most passionate I'd ever experienced. He held his lips there for a good minute at least before slowly pulling back to study my face. We stood there silently - grinning, but silent. There were no words to express what I was feeling - I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I couldn't even utter 'yes' to him.

It didn't matter.

Words weren't needed.

"Oh wait," he said, letting go of me. He stepped back and stuck his hand in his pocket. He dug around for a few seconds before pulling out a small, velvet black box.

"Shane," I began.

"I can't believe I almost forgot," he said, opening it towards him. He looked down at it and then turned it to me. My jaw dropped. It was a platinum band ring with a huge cone shaped diamond. He took it out of the box and grabbed my left hand. Before I could protest to the extravagance of it, he gently slipped it onto my ring finger and pushed it back past the knuckle. He kissed my cheek softly.

"Thank you," he said. Shane's eyes now mimicked my own, but I knew I'd cry before he did.

"Shane… for what? I didn't do anything,"

"I wish I could tell you - but I can't explain the way you make me feel." I smiled, shutting my eyes. A tear quickly slid down my cheek as our noses touched. I sighed and melted into his chest. Shane grabbed my waist and simply held me.


Hurrayyyy!
Finally, right? Yeah, I don't like them often, but once in a while it's good to have a wedding story :)
Only a few more chapters of this story to go. It's highly unlikely there will be a sequal, sorry. But then there will be more time for me to work on It Had To Be You. (If you haven't read it yet, go, go, GO!)

If you didn't read at the start, I'll just remind you that I've posted the lemon orchard under the title 'Just Friends…?'. When you read it, you'll understand ;)