RACHEL
We've been waiting. Waiting anxiously, and worrying. At first we tried to really pull together, all of us. Dad, Emily, Kim, Paul's mom, and everyone else who was here. We talked about our fears, our concerns, and worried, and for a while it worked. But as time passed, we each seemed to slip into our own little world, and all we really wanted was for the wait to end so that we could see our loved ones again.
It feels like it's been forever since Paul and I made love. I find myself desperately clinging to everything we talked about, our wedding day, to keep holding onto the faith that he'll return.
And then I hear a shuffle of activity around me. Emily rises to her feet. I look up too, my eyes darting towards the window to catch a glimpse of anything going on outside. And that's when I see him. Like I did in my daydream, running towards me. I let out a squeal as I burst out of the house and it takes all my willpower to just stand there, outside the door. I stand there, watching with tears in my eyes as he comes back to me.
PAUL
I can hear her squeal from inside the house and it makes me smile. I can't wait to see her either. I push myself to run harder. Faster. I feel the burn in my muscles, the strain that comes with continuing to pull air in and out of my lungs. I just can't seem to get to her fast enough. And for the large part, I know that if we were sharing a mind, the rest of the pack would feel that way too. Happiness to be back home to our loved ones would be filling all of us to the brim. Jared beats me up the stairs to hold his crying Kim who doesn't even have to say words for me to realize that he's in for wild times. It still blows my mind how Kim cannot say two words to us, but she can be such a tiger in the sack. I give Jared a look that says lucky man and Kim turns beet red. All around me, everyone's reuniting with their loved ones. Mandy flies to mom. And Brady picks Jenny up, holding her tightly.
And then I finally reach Rachel. I scoop her up into my arms and pick her up off of the ground and into my arms, twirling her slightly. "It's so good to be back," I whisper to her, wiping away her tears, knowing I'm crying my own. I kiss her softly. "Don't cry, baby," I try to reassure her. "Everything worked out fine. We didn't even really have to fight."
RACHEL
There's an explosion of emotion all around me as they all start coming home, but all I can think about, all I can focus on is Paul as he comes running towards me. It feels like a lifetime before he gets here. And then he does, and I'm in his arms again. My Paul's arms. He tries to wipe my tears away, but they're flowing like a river. I reach up and touch his cheek, studying his face, making sure he's not the slightest bit hurt. And he assures me that everything worked out okay and that there wasn't even any real fight.
I feel my heart burst with relief. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, holding onto him as tightly as I can, sobbing as I feel all the fear and tension melt away. I never want to let him go again. For a while, I just hold him, and let him hold me. When I finally pull back, I look deep into his eyes. "You kept your promise," I whisper, smiling through my tears. And then I lean back in, pressing my lips to his.
PAUL
"Of course I did," I say to her gently. I don't want her thinking I go around making promises that I can't keep. Even though this could have been one that I would break. If there had actually been fighting. I pull back to look down at her. I lean into her ear and whisper. "So I guess we only have a few months to get this wedding planned."
RACHEL
My heart melts at the look in his eyes, so full of love, love that I never honestly thought could be mine before I met him. I close my eyes as he leans in to whisper in my ear. And then my eyes shoot open again. I pull back to stare at him in wide-eyed surprise. I know we talked about our wedding. And that he said he wanted to have it in springtime. And while I would've been content to have any future with him at all, no matter when it took place, well, yes, I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping it would be this spring. But to hear him actually say it, to know that it's exactly what he wants too, blows me away. Half-smiling, I look at him questioningly, as if to ask him, Really?
PAUL
She looks so shocked. Isn't that what we discussed? Spring time? I laugh softly at her questioning look. And I nod without hesitation. If this whole ordeal has shown me anything, it's how important her and her love is in my life. And it's not something I'm willing to lose. Or something I want to live without. And it makes me eager to make it official. "Yes, really," I answer her unspoken question, "In the spring time. Just like we said."
RACHEL
I hear him confirm it, with more conviction than ever. Spring time. Like we said. I feel my smile break all the way and I burst into peals of happy laughter, my arms tightening around him as I hug him close. Then I pull back and nod, unable to stop smiling. "Spring time," I affirm. "Can't wait." I can't wait to make it official. To be his wife. To embrace our forever.