Disclaimer: I'm on my way to return them back to CBS, Alliance, Jerry and all...so not mine anymore. A/N: I was going to say: "here's a new chapter", but then I'd be forgetting something. So: "here's the LAST chapter". Yes, you're reading it right, this story is from now on, officialy and definitely complete, finished, over, whatever you want to call it.
Title: Home is where the Heart is.
Author: Dutchie, or Nikki.
Summary: He wipes away her tears when she cries, makes her smile when she's feeling down, and he's just always around when she needs him. But then why is she trying so hard not to be with him? CaRWash
I want to give a big thank you to all my (loyal) reviewers, you have no idea how I appreciate your compliments, critiques and hints. Love you all very much, there's definitely gonna be more stories from me so look out for those ;)
This final song is from a Disney show called 'Tale Spin'. I might have watched it when I was little, but honestly I just googled 'home is where the heart is' in search of good lyrics, and found this fitted.
Enjoy this last chapter, and be sure this isn't the last you've heard of me. Thanks so much for reading!
Home is where the heart is
Wherever you may be
There'll always be a home for you
Here inside of me
Home is where the heart is
Here my heart's at home
And you'll never be alone
And you'll never be alone
Remember where my heart is
And you'll always have a home
Chapter fourteen: Home is Where the Heart is.
"You missed a spot."
"…Don't you go all OCD on me."
"You know me. Besides, would you really want a white spot on your brown wall?"
Calleigh placed her hands in her sides, causing a brown smear to appear on her already dirty overall, which she was wearing over an old white shirt, her hair in two plaits.
"No, mister keen-grasp-for-the-obvious, I do not want a white spot on my brown wall."
"Hey, how do you know about that comment I made?"
"Oh please, Ryan, you do know Alexx and I talk about everything, don't you?"
"You discuss everything I say?"
"We discuss everything everyone says. Which, yes, includes you."
Using her paint brush, Calleigh painted the tiny white spot Ryan was pointing to in the same brown color as the rest of her walls.
"There. You happy now?"
"They're your walls; I'm only trying to help you."
"I know that. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Are you nervous about the transfer?"
Calleigh let out an amused yet tired sigh.
"Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I feel."
Ryan took the paint brush from her and put it away, then took her hand and made her sit down on the plastic-covered couch. Holding onto his hand, she ticked a loose strain of hear behind her ear and looked at him.
"Now tell me, what does describe how you feel?" Ryan asked.
"I…I don't know, I'm…relieved that there's a way to get him away from me, scared that it's not going to work and he's staying here…frightened that he'll do something to me as punishment."
Ryan took her face in his hands.
"Hey, remember, I told you I'd never let anyone hurt you again. Especially not him. And I stick to my promises."
"I know you do."
"I'll keep you safe if I have to."
"I just…I just want to…to…never mind."
"Don't 'never mind' me. You just want to what?"
"I just want to be loved…"
A smile formed on Ryan's lips as Calleigh diverted her eyes from him, shyly looked to the ground.
"That can be arranged."
"You are not setting me up on some blind date, are you?" Calleigh asked, looking up at him.
Ryan laughed and brushed her cheeks with his thumbs before letting go of her face.
"I wouldn't dream of that. No, Calleigh, you don't need to go on a blind date to be loved. You are loved in so many ways by so many people…"
"I want to be loved in that way, the way everyone seems to be loved, except for me."
"Oh, no. You're wrong. You're loved in that way, every single second of every single day."
Calleigh stood up abruptly and walked into the room, turning to face him.
"Then why hasn't this person stepped up to me yet?"
"He has. He's been here all along. He's just careful."
"How do you know? Careful for what, I don't understand…"
"Careful not to hurt you, Calleigh. It's really soon after you broke with Jake."
"Jake means nothing to me, not anymore. In my eyes, the whole wedding thing hasn't ever happened."
Ryan followed her example by standing up and walking towards her, grabbing her hands as she tries to walk away, giving them a light pull to make her look at him.
"That's your choice, Cal. But he doesn't want to rush things. He doesn't want to push you into things you don't want any going in to. And he hasn't yet had a sign that tells him you feel the same. That's why he hasn't…that why I haven't told you: I love you, Calleigh."
Tears sprung into Calleigh's eyes as she listened to his confession. Though she'd known all along that his behavior was so much more than just friends, actually hearing it filled the space in her chest that had felt empty for her, for what was probably her entire life. Hearing him say 'I love you'…just made her life complete.
"Jake…never told me that."
"Then he probably didn't feel it."
"Do you really love me?"
"With all I have inside of me, Calleigh, seeing Jake hurting you ripped me apart. I jumped in to be your shoulder to lean on, to prove to you that I'm here, and I love you, and I mean it."
Calleigh sobbed and threw herself into his arms. He pulled her close against him and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. He buried his face in her hair as his relief of telling her made a weight lift off his shoulders.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." He whispered.
"It's alright. You were thinking about my feelings. And that's probably the first time a man has done that for me."
"I'm confused about one thing though." Ryan said.
"What is it?"
"What are your feelings?"
Calleigh pulled away from him slightly, yet not completely. She smiled at him through her tears and ran her fingers through his hair. Her hand moved to the back of his head and she suddenly pulled him towards her, brushing her lips against his.
"Why don't you find out?" She whispered against his lips.
His eyes widened but they contained a curious and excited sparkle. His hands moved upwards over her arms until he held her by the upper arms, then wrapped his arms around her and cupped one of her cheeks. He leaned in and Calleigh closed her eyes as their lips slowly and softly locked with the other's.
The kiss started out gentle but grew passionate soon enough. When they pulled back they were both out of breath, but Ryan immediately pulled her back in for another short kiss, which made her chuckle into his mouth. She separated their lips and took a deep breath in.
"Well you sure know how to take a woman's breath away." She joked.
"I love you, Calleigh."
"I love you too, Ryan. I love you too."
She leaned her head on her shoulder and they remained standing there, holding each other close.
"I can't believe this happened." Calleigh said.
"Me neither, but I have to say that I don't mind, at all."
"Oh no, me neither. Me neither."
They smiled.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Ryan?"
"Are you kidding me? I've been wanting you for so long now…I'm not going to let you go, ever again."
"I'm so sorry I chose Jake over you."
"Shh, don't mention him now. He's going to be gone."
"I'm ruining the moment, ain't I?"
"You are." Ryan grinned. "Now you must make it up to me."
Calleigh gave him a devious smile and kissed him again, their arms still wrapped firmly around each other, with no intentions to let go. Calleigh glowed, she finally knew true love. She remembered what her parents had told her when she was just a little girl, inexperienced in life and love.
They told her home is where the heart is, and after all, her heart had been with Ryan the entire time.
"Cal?"
"Hmm?"
"I think you missed another spot."
The End.
A/N: How about giving me one last review for this story?