It was a rather cold morning but already everyone in the house was up. Tom was spending what could be his last hours with Marcus, Michael was packing more stuff into our bags and I was lying in bed with Domino – apologizing for having to put him in a pet flight. He would arrive a few days after we would arrive at our new flat in Texas. Michael and I had decided to get his American friend to arrange for us to have an apartment ready as soon as we arrived meaning we wouldn't have to spend any time in a hotel. Marcus had been excited for the past two weeks about starting a new life in America and we had decided that it was a real possibility that when Tom was close to us he could come and visit. But as Tom's career was really on it's peak he was in different locations mostly every month.

"Merida?" Michael called to me from the other room causing me to sigh before sitting up.

"Yes?"

"I have no clue what the hell you want to wear and if you let me decide then you'll have nothing to wear so come and choose... not that I'm bothered." I felt my cheeks begin to blush and turn red, god damn Michael always making that happen.

I turned the corner to see him leaning against the doorway; a big grin spread across his face. Playfully I pushed him out of the way, revealing three suitcases – two of which were closed and ready to go. Those were Michael's and Marcus' whereas mine was only half packed since I was a very lazy packer. I began throwing most of my wardrobe into my suitcase... well everything I would need anyway! Tom was packing the rest of my stuff and would send it over once we gave him the go ahead. Currently there was a lot of tension in the house so me and Michael kept ourselves upstairs for the best part of the morning, trying our best to be out of the way.

"We have a flight to catch my love." Michael smirked his hands around my waist and his lips at my ear.

"That we do..." I remarked trying to seem as happy as possible for Michael and Marcus though in my stomach I could feel the butterflies spreading. "Let's go, shall we?" He asked, taking my hand in his.

I walked down the stairs, taking in the memories and trying to store as many of them as possible. The pictures had been taken down and packed and by far I would miss my games room. That was my pride and joy but we would make one in our new flat... hopefully.

Tom was standing by the door, holding Marcus' hand in his and a few tears in his eyes. I dropped Michael's hand and instantly rushed over to Tom, wrapping my hands around his neck and pulling him close to me as we embraced. "Don't forget me." I whispered in his ear, so sure that his heavy schedule would leave him with no time for remembering minor people in his life. "I could never forget you, even if I tried." He murmured back. Just then it really hit home that this could be one of the last times that we would ever speak to each other, be in the same room or just see each other.

"I should get going..." I groaned, pulling away from Tom while Michael brought down our bags. Marc had rushed to the car and was sat impatiently in the back seat.

"Yes. I wouldn't want you to miss your flight." Tom said stiffly, sticking out his hand as Michael approached. "Take good care of her... and Marc." They shook hands and Michael just nodded, obviously looking forward to getting out of the house.

With a heavy heart I watched from the passenger seat of the car, glumly smiling at Tom as Michael pulled off of the drive way. "Hey." He smiled covering my hand with his. "Here's to our adventure."

"Yep." I said false hope in my voice. I took a deep breath and looked longingly back at my house, wishing ever so much that I was driving towards it and not away from it. Tom was still at the door watching us leave but as we drove further away I could no longer tell the expression on his face. Which left me guessing...

(2 hours later)

"Keep hold of my hand Marc. It's busy here and we don't want to lose you." I raised my voice so Marc could hear me over the bustling noise in the airport. We had arrived with 2 hours to spare, giving us enough time to drop off our luggage and get ourselves to the right gate with some leisure time if we wanted it.

I had drifted off in the car, not because I was tired but because I really didn't want to think. For if I stopped to think I might doubt my decision and make myself turn around and go home – and that was no longer an option. The media had been going crazy these past few weeks over the love 'square' that was going on in our lives right now. This meant that trying to do a simple task like get Marc to school was troublesome and often meant us getting bombarded with questions or junior reporters wanting some gossip. In no way would this be better in the States but less people knew of our past so it would be easier to escape for a while... hopefully.

Tom POV (1 hour and 20 minutes ago)

Domino's head was resting on my knee while I stared at the TV, not really watching what the people on the screen were doing. Merida was already half of the way to London by now and all I'd managed to do was mope around and feel sorry for myself. She was happy... yeah she was happy with Michael and whatever happened with Megan happened.

A knock at the door didn't really improve my mood so I decided to ignore it. It's not like they'd know I was in. But then the door swung open, Domino jumped up and rushed to greet Sam – who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey Tom, where's Merida?" He asked happily scratching behind Domino's ear.

"You missed her she already left."

"Ahh well, I'm going to visit her in her new place in a few weeks so I'll see her soon... hey what's got you so down?" Sam furrowed his brow as he sat in the chair to the left of me.

"Don't want to talk about." I grumbled, awfully tired of being polite.

"It's Merida."

"I said I didn't want to talk about it."

"I don't care. Merida is what is getting you down and I don't get why."

"Because she is moving to America with the wrong guy!" I almost shouted, gesturing angrily in the general direction of the road. "And I have no god damn chance to fix this." I was slumped back in the sofa again and wondering why the hell Sam was grinning at me. "What?" I snarled.

"You two are so fucking dumb! God give me strength! She. Loves. You. And you. Love. Her. But you are so bloody concerned about what the media will think or whether it will work out that you don't dare give each other a chance. You know where the airport is, you know the flight so go and get her. Don't let her go without a fight. Tell her everything that you have ever felt and make her have to stop and think for a minute. Make her have to weigh up her options because if you get her to question her decision then you are a better man than most." Sam was looking giddy with joy, I have no clue why but I'd never seen him so happy before.

"I-"

"GO!" Sam shouted, rushing up to grab my jacket and throwing it back on me.

"I won't get to her in time."

"Then follow her!"

And before I knew what I was doing I was sat in Sam's car, starting up the engine and driving the fastest I'd ever driven before to reach her. Sam had agreed to stay with Domino until I got back home but I was mostly sure he just wanted to stay so he'd hear gossip when I got home.

Merida POV

20 minutes till boarding

Michael was tapping his foot to the music that was playing through his earphones and Marcus was sat in the seat next to me, looking curiously around the airport for something interesting. Apparently the bag of Haribo was no longer entertaining enough.

"Merida!" Marc urgently whispered pulling on the sleeve of my hoodie.

"What's the matter?" I asked wanting to know what had gotten him in such a fuss.

"Tom." Was all he said and I felt my heart sink. He was missing Tom.

"I know you miss him buddy but I'll make sure you see him soon-"

"No, I mean Tom is right over there!" He pointed behind me. I turned around, quick as a flash and scanned the airport floor. The place was pretty crowded. There was a family sorting out their luggage, a couple arguing, a coffee kiosk and there waiting for me to see him was Tom. People were looking at him and whispering; some beginning to realise who he was. Suddenly I could see cameras and phones being taken out of people's pockets to capture Tom on screen.

He made his way over to me, almost in slow. Marc was grinning next to me, "He came." He said enthusiastically. I raised from my seat and wandered around the row, leaving Marc and Michael – who still hadn't realised anything was different.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed in a low voice as I reached Tom.

"Not letting you go without a fight." Tom said in a rather confident voice. "I've let you go one to many times for my liking and I won't let you go without you knowing all of your options. I know Michael loves you, I see it in the way he looks at you but please hear me out?" I nodded, wanting more than anything to have Tom convince me to come back home with him but also wanting nothing more than for him to vanish and to leave me.

"I can't tell you how to feel and I can't tell you what to do. But I can beg you from the bottom of my heart. Please stay. Over a year now I have known you and in that space you have changed my life so radically that it is unfair for you to leave it now. I want you to keep changing it. I've never felt this way about anyone... ever. Whatever obstacle is in our way we'll get over it because Merida I really don't see why I do anything without you because you are the love of my life; my true love. And you don't give up on your true love. Marry me?" Tom's speech left me speechless, it left Michael speechless who had clued into what was happening when everyone started standing up and above all it left everyone who was watching speechless.

"I have a boyfriend!" Was all I could say but underneath that I was considering it and Tom knew it because he was smiling this boyish grin that I couldn't refuse.

"I know. But we are meant for each other."

"But-" I started before being interrupted by Michael.

"Merida he's right you know. I said to you once that I'd give you up if you would be happy with Tom. And I can't keep you away from him any longer, it breaks my heart to see you two apart. You are no longer tied to me, you are free to be with anyone you wish. I will never stop loving you but I think I can learn to love you as a best friend would." Michael had tears in his eyes but from his smile I could tell they were not tears of sadness but tears of joy.

"I-I... I." Great I was utterly speechless. I so wanted to be with Tom, I wanted to just accept his proposal and never look back. But there was one person I had to ask.

I turned to Marc who was sat with his packet of Haribo in hand. "What do you think buddy? Should I accept?"

Without a word Marc took something out of the packet and handed it to Tom who grinned at him before whispering something in his ear. Then Tom produced from his hand a jelly ring which Marc had handed him. I couldn't help laughing and neither could the people around us.

"Is this what we'll tell our grandchildren. That you proposed to me in an airport with a Haribo ring?" I asked smiling the biggest grin I had in a long time.

"Absolutely my dear." He said, taking my hand and slipping the ring onto my finger. I admired it so pleased with the newest addition to my hand. "You like it?" Tom asked, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close to him.

"No... I love it." I whispered closing the gap between our lips. The crowd all 'awwed' and we could hear cameras going crazy in the background but the one cheering the loudest was Marc who I had never seen looking so happy.

"You what?" The voice from the end of the phone shouted.

"I proposed to her."

"What the hell happened to us?" Megan was not very pleased to hear that Tom was now engaged to me. In fact she was not pleased one tiny bit.

I zoned out of the conversation happy to sit on the sofa and stroke Domino who was loyally wagging his tail, oblivious to the new change. Listening in to my new fiancée tell his girlfriend about us was not one of my main hobbies.

"Blasted woman." Tom muttered as he put down the phone.

"What's the matter?" I asked cuddling into Tom's side as he wrapped and arm around me.

"She says she is coming over to try and 'fix' us."

"Well I'll probably retreat to upstairs and work on unpacking my stuff when she arrives." I said sheepishly, really trying to avoid any arguments.

"No! You don't have to hide and she won't be here for long at all... not if I can help it anyway." He muttered the last sentence, obviously looking forward to this confrontation less than I was.

My hands were ringed together while I was waiting with Domino on a dining room chair. Tom had just heard the door go and had anticipated it being Megan.

"Baby!" She cried, I could hardly contain myself from wanting to gag.
"We need to talk..."

"Damn right we do. I hear you've been getting engaged to other women while I've been away." She laughed as if the whole thing was a lie and he was just going to tell her it was his twin.

"Ha yeah about that." Tom said awkwardly, I could almost sense him rubbing at the back of his neck. "Let's go and take a seat."

Before I knew it Megan and Tom were rounding the corner to see me, sat at the dining chair trying not to make eye contact with either of them.

"So... Merida. Looks like you've stolen my boyfriend." Megan chuckled, sitting down in the seat opposite me while Tom took the seat next to me. I half chuckled trying my best to not let the awkwardness spread through me.

"Megan. I am truly sorry about this... I really didn't think that I'd get back with Merida but the thought of her leaving absolutely tore me to pieces." Tom really did look upset by his actions and I knew that this was hard for him.
"I know Tom. You're a good guy! You wouldn't have done this if you could've helped it; feelings really can't be helped." Okay this was going much better than expected, why in god's name was she being so nice to us.

Tom looked at me – the same look on my face was plastered on his – absolutely shocked. "We didn't expect you to be so... okay with this really!"

Megan smiled a knowing smile and placed her hands in front of her. "Look. At first I was so angry, but on the drive over here I just realised that I can't really make you love me so if you love Merida then I shouldn't be mad at you for something you can't control."

"Thanks Megan." I spoke up, ever so slightly confused by the situation. This really didn't sound right at all but I didn't want an argument to spur up. "I'm just going to go upstairs and unpack."

Tom looked at me with a worried look on his face but I affectionately placed a hand on his shoulder before retreating to the stairs. I walked to the bedroom, ignored the cases on my bed and threw myself onto it... making sure to curl around the cases. Today had been the strangest day of my existence and to be honest it had really taken it out of me.

Surprise I guess. Yep they are engaged to be married, Michael is okay with it and so is Megan. Just proves true love rules out... maybe I've been watching to must Once Upon A Time. Once again thank you for reading and I hope this chapter was up to scratch. Please review for me and give me your thoughts and ideas, I am always looking for inspiration or help :)