I'm not sure why this novel came into being. I think it was to keep me focused on my end goal result for "The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows". (And a gift from Barnabas & Josette to save my marriage.) I don't have a ton of people to discuss it with, but thankfully I do have a few people now and I do want it to be both my venture and yours. There are things I want to see, but if there is anything you'd like me to add, I'm happy to hear it.(Although I do intend to stop canon-story flow after The Leviathans. No 1970's BIG HAIR! YUCK!)

And yes, I do believe 100 episodes of "The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows" won't be so hard a year or two down the road. As I've been told it's like the soap opera all over again but with a new twist. And my Aunt has done performances on the radio that are over 300 episodes, so... I know it can be done. I'm hoping this scene Carolyn remembers will be in an episode.

What I find fascinating is many writers and readers are becoming more and more touched by Tony & Carolyn b/c of its potential and not seeing it done before or not much. To me where I interrupted Dark Shadows it was obvious. I watched an episode looking for another detail and it was the one where Carolyn was so upset what with Tony being all weird via Cassandra and he was so upset, too. And I almost screamed, "Okay, you two, okay! I'm on it! I'll make it right!"

Dedicated to... Osheen Nevoy: Keeper of the Torch for Bill Malloy!

(And I HIGHLY recommend the Vanessa Carlton song at the end from her album "Rabbits on The Run". It's got that 1960's vibe.)

Chapter 21: Tony's Proposal

The two Carolyn's were wrapping up their meeting. These two, of course were Miss Carolyn Stoddard and Mrs. Carolyn Muir. They were often amused how this could confuse some people, but as like two people with the same first name, they never were confused by it. They simply knew from the context of any sentence which one of them was meant when someone spoke to them.

The publishing business they put together hadn't thrived... yet, but it certainly was bringing in a decent sense of accomplishment from the both of them. The best seller so far was the one that the ghost of Captain Gregg and the ghost of Bill Malloy had told together by combining their tales of sea and shore. It had turned out rather short as the two men had the note-taking women in stitches with all their salty-dog appeal.

At first Captain Gregg was telling the tale and explaining what Bill Malloy had to say about it until Bill finally remembered just how it worked that Captain Gregg created a corporeal and audible representation of his ghostly form. Finally, Bill Malloy was seen again in Collinsport and beyond after such a long absence.

"As the torrents fall among the sails, tossed our vessel through the frosty gales..." breezed ol' Bill in an intoxicated swing of words made in a slight slur with the libation of Madeira the Captain always seemed to have on hand.

"Aye!" Captain Gregg pointed out, "just the title for our novelette."

"Say again?" asked Bill.

"As The Torrents Fall!" Captain Gregg announced.

The ladies picked themselves up from the floor of Mrs. Muir's workroom and began taking notes again. It had gotten to the point where these ghostly men were almost unintelligible in their collection of witty banter.

Now they were in the Carolyn Stoddard's room at Collinwood. As for the current novel they were looking over, it was Mrs. Muir's longest. It delved into the trials and tribulations of ghostly gatherings along the roads betwixt Schooner Bay and Collinsport. The state of Maine just seemed to be flooded with lost souls at times. Then at other times, it was filled with the type of poltergeists that had such a deft sense of humour one couldn't help but join them in the oddities of the mirth they shared with their living and undead relations.

"It's likely time for me to head home," said Mrs. Muir, sliding a cardboard top over the box of her pages, "but you really think it's good, Carolyn?"

"A little sadder than most," Miss Stoddard told her, "but you rarely miss anything when it comes to setting down all the details. That's what I've enjoyed most about working with you."

"You know," Mrs. Muir hesitated, "you never did tell me how that proposal came to be. You promised me you would when I called you today to come by."

Carolyn Stoddard, lying down on her stomach over her bed, looked down at her ring, a fair diamond set in a claw of gold. As many young lovers of the feminine variety do, she glanced there and fiddled with it. An engagement ring; A ring that would never meet its stone-less twin. And so, Carolyn Stoddard explained.

It was a ripening sunset along the shore and Tony Peterson had more on his mind than any of the usual dates Carolyn and he had enjoyed since he was released from the schemes of Roger's annulled wife. How it all came about he was never sure, but sometimes he'd hear a tongue twister and be reminded of this terrible hypnotist act he'd gone to see one night. It was never quite clear to him what had happened to him. However it was clear to him what was happening now. He was in love and in love with a staggering hope. Would she say yes? And... might she say it tonight?

What Tony was happy about is that, for once, Carolyn was not in a blasted mini-skirt or short dress. No. He'd come to her house and saw that she was doing some wall papering in the East Wing. Somehow Carolyn Stoddard in olive overalls, a long sleeved white shirt and a bandana scarf to cover the top of her head was endearing enough for him to think: Yes, perfect.

Carolyn hadn't gotten so much paste along herself nor her clothes and she was pleased to know there was a distraction downstairs to take her away from the work. Really, there were just so many cobwebs in that place they could start a collection in the Family Diaries about where they found them all and likely how they came about with what happened in all of those rooms.

"Well?" Tony asked, giving her a kiss on the ear.

"Well?" she lightly giggled in response.

"How about a walk along the shore?"

"Sounds wonderful," she answered, moving up to wrap her arms over his head for a lengthy kissing embrace.

The gulls were in force and thankfully not asking for tid-bits from the couple, nor dropping any unwanted refuse in their way. Sand in the shoes as they pressed about the shore was of little concern.

"Thank you, " Carolyn breathed, "it's been such a long day. Good way to wrap it up like this. Makes me want to take my sneakers off."

"Why don't you?" Tony asked, grinning.

Carolyn almost nodded in kind, "You know? I think I will." Then she sat on a rock untied and pulled away her sensible shoes, neatly placing the pair, socks rolled into them, to her left. She wasn't prepared for what came next...

As she was leaning down she felt the pull and she was lifted up, barefoot, upon the boulder she had been sitting on and there was Tony looking up at her, with his arms around her middle. Carolyn Stoddard wasn't sure what to expect, except that she was very happy... right now...and pressed her lips against his to express it.

Their lips parted and he breathed, "I thought this might be the right time..."

"Oh?" Carolyn asked, "The right time for what?"

"It's why I wanted you above me," Tony said, reaching into the pocket of his trench coat. (No kneeling for this gentleman. Why have his trousers soaked in salt-water sand?)

"Oh..." Carolyn almost whimpered, "now? Tonight?"

Tony was facing down to make sure he was reaching for the right box in his pocket, "Of course, Carolyn, of course."

"Oh, no..." Carolyn hesitated, feeling she wasn't dressed for it, and Tony knew what she was thinking.

"Don't worry about those things, Carolyn... I think this was the right time and I think you look perfect just the way you are."

The box snapped open before her.

"I hope it's enough... to offer everything I have to give... you...Carolyn Stoddard."

There she stood, on top of that boulder, which could just as well have been on top of the world. Her face was touched with the sea breeze as her heart was touched more at this yearning of romance. She stared into his adoring hazel-brown eyes, the dark lashes blinking out echoes of her own feelings for him. Her silvery blonde hair were tended to by wisps of enchantment in the softly moving air. The ocean waves lapped and crashed behind her sweetheart, and she stared down at the ring he was offering her along with his passion. Locked together in harmony and matrimony... but... what did that mean, exactly?

"Be my bride, Carolyn Stoddard," Tony begged, looking up at her from where he'd placed her on the rock, "please... be my bride..."

She looked down, as she would a million times again and again at that ring.

"Don't make me answer... just put it on."

He did.

"It's beautiful, Tony... and it's as special as we are..."

"Is that a yes?"

Carolyn gave a sad simper, "I don't think you understand..."

Tony was worried, "What is it, Carolyn? What could make you say no?"

She giggled and snickered and kissed him to which he responded in kind but with some confusion.

"Tony Peterson, I could never say no to you... but what I want to tell you is going to be very different ... to what... you might be expecting... now let us sit down together..."

Tony lifted her again and they sat upon the sands, the sunset turning red before their changing lives. An orange glow spread over their questioning faces.

"Tony... is it possible I could wear this ring... forever?"

"Of course it is... I don't care what your answer will be, if you only wear it."

"That's what I was hoping, Tony... you see... "

The waves continued crashing and the gulls squawked...

"After everything... between me and Buzz... between Jason Mcguire and my mother... between her new fellow now... and between you and I..."

"What is it, Carolyn?" he asked, carefully.

Carolyn looked to the setting sun that was almost gone now, and then turned to him again, "I don't want to be married... ever..."

Tony listened and he didn't understand except to wonder why all of his yearning so seldom turned out to fit his desires.

"You'll never be mine, will you, Carolyn?" he asked, sorrowfully, accepting defeat already.

Carolyn twisted her new ring and smiled at him, "Of course, I will, Tony."

Tony's world suffered dreadfully in his lack of understanding. A simper tried to come out but the awkwardness of the moment made even this small expression difficult.

"Carolyn... what can you mean?"

"I want to wear this ring forever... and be yours... forever... but I don't want to marry... do you understand?"

Tony's eyes brightened, "No, but I'm waiting for you to tell me."

She looked upon him and stroked his glossy dark hair, "With everything my mother has gone through, and what I've been through... well... it's just that... paperwork nonsense. You know? Can't we be happy and together without all of that?"

Tony Peterson reflected on this, at first believing he was receiving a refusal, but in all of his legal studies and profession he recognized precisely what Carolyn meant in grueling paperwork. He became elated, stood and lifted her upright back to the boulder and into his arms. Tony looked up at her and understood.

"I see," he said, " you don't want me... you want... us."

"Yes, Tony... that's what I want... so... how about it?"

"How about what?" he questioned, almost reaching her conclusion.

Carolyn Stoddard stared carefully at him, "How about I wear this ring to my dying day... how about I'm yours forever without all that paperwork nonsense? ... how about us being engaged and that's as far as it goes?"

Tony Peterson smiled widely and kissed her passionately, then said, "Engaged? Forever? ... I'll take it."

And both Carolyn and Tony knew, that in all of their future, with whomever might voice that all they were doing were "shacking-up"... they knew better...

Tony held her up about her middle, her knees around his, and swung her around on the beach, kissing her intently. It doesn't make any difference now, he thought, this is what I want, this is what I have, and this is what always will be.

"I Don't Want To Be A Bride"

I like your company

Got a fresh philosophy

Never knew

Such a gentleman

You can take me on a cheap vacation

I don't wanna have expectations 'cause you

Could be the end of me

And I don't need a house on a hill

A swing on a tree

Grandfather Clock

Porcelain for tea

A garden

With rose and Jasmine

Gonna get drunk on a bottle of wine
No better way to pass the time
Forever by your side

But I don't wanna be a bride
Apologies to your mother
I wanna be your girl
And spend this life with you
But I don't wanna wear white
You know it's too late for that
But can we keep the ever after?
Oh could it be

Don't need no golden ring
It'd be no match for the love it brings
From London
To Tennessee
We could
Catch a train to another life
On a whim, under the moonlight
I promise you
Will you promise me?

Our last names on a wooden sign
Arm in arm, where the river starts to wind
Forever by your side

But I don't wanna be a bride
Apologies to each other
I wanna be your girl
And spend this life with you
But I don't wanna wear white
Oh, you know it's too late for that
But can we keep the ever after?
Oh could it be
Just you and me?

I, I, I
We will live like kings
Under lavender
Skies
Skies
We will live like kings
Under lavender
Skies
Skies

Built a poem, we kept a rhyme
Wrapped our love in golden twine
We wrote
We wrote a legacy
Just you and me

Just like kings under lavender
Skies
Skies
We will

By the by, I know Dark Shadows has a TON of problems to fix, but if there are any Ghost & Mrs. Muir fans who want to see a corporeal Captain Daniel Gregg and Mrs. Carolyn Muir married in The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows, do let me know! I aim to please. *wink*