Chapter 25

Thanks to everyone for sticking around for this story! I love hearing from you all! I apologize for the long wait, but… as they say, life gets in the way sometimes!

XOXOX

Jack made Sue promise not to look when they were about a block away from their destination. She promised, but Jack caught her peaking.

"Noooo peaking!" He scolded wagging his fingers at her. She giggled. Jack turned into a gravel drive and parked. "OK." He said. Sue struggled to focus with the bright sun. It wasn't long before she noticed they were at a miniature golf place. Sue looked at him curiously.

"What?" He asked. "I thought it would be fun." He said laughing. "Come on…" He held out his hand which she took. He entwined his fingers with hers. The two batted the brightly colored balls through windmills, maneuvered them through sunken ships and along too narrow planks without them falling into the water pits along the way. When the final pitted sphere sunk into the impossible hole, Sue had emerged victorious.

"Is there any ball you're not good with?" Jack asked before he could stop himself. His face instantly turned crimson as he stumbled to cover his slip before Sue caught on. "Uhh, I mean, football, pool, and now golf… should I just stop now before I embarrass myself?" He asked hastily.

"Lacrosse." She stated matter-of-factly.

"You're not good at it?" He asked.

"No. I've never tried it." She teased laughing heartedly.

Jack joined her. He reached down and took her hand in his as they returned the clubs.

"Want to try your hand at the batting cages?" Jack asked nodding toward a group of batting cages to the side of the golf course.

"Ummm, no." Sue said.

"Oh, afraid I'll beat you? Something I might be better than you at?" Jack joked.

"Oh, no. I have no doubt in my ability with a Louisville Slugger, but… not just yet." Sue said smiling at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry." He said with sudden realization, looking down at the ground.

"It's ok. I sort of like that you forgot." Sue said. "I don't think I could handle it physically. Once I'm healed though, I'll take that challenge." Sue teased with a wink. Jack was happy to see his Sue reemerging from her depressed stated. There were hints of her forcing their way out from behind it and beginning to tear down the wall she'd built up.

"Now what?" Sue asked as they walked to the car.

"You'll see." He said with a wicked smile. They drove for a mile before they got out in the center of town. He absently took her hand in his and led her to a side road that was little more than an ally. There he stepped up to a counter and ordered their lunch. Chinese takeout.

"How did you know about this place?" Sue asked as she was feasting on the best rice and sticky wings she'd ever had.

"Jasmine, and the GPS… what a wonderful combination." He answered munching on a chicken finger. "Just keep the food covered or you'll lose it to the seagulls. They're pretty pushy here. And they tag team… keep the cover down and you won't donate your lunch." He joked.

"Thanks for the advice." She said as a dark spotted sea gull landed on her side quickly joined by a pristine white one. Jack chuckled as he tilted his head in the direction of the birds. Sue laughed and latched her cover while she nibbled another wing. They finished their lunch in relative peace with only the occasional glare from their lunch mates. They walked along the boardwalk checking out the shops. Jack bought each of them a sweatshirt that sported "Virginia is for Lovers" VA Beach VA logo circling two 'loving' seagulls. Sue picked up an array of different shirts that were obviously for Jack, and 'modeling' them for him. He smiled and did the same for her. The big difference was, the clothes Sue picked out were T-shirts or sweatshirts with cute or funny sayings on them. The items Jack modeled were little more than a couple pieces of material held together by dental floss that the shop keepers had nerve calling a bathing suit. He would hold up a skimpier one each time, raising his eye brow with a suggestive look, making Sue blush. Finally Sue joined in his game and picked up a Speedo that was little more than a fig leaf. Jack laughed so hard he held his sides.

"OK, you win." He said finally calling truce.

"Good because I will never wear anything like those suits on a beach! They're more like… behind closed door outfits!" She blushed. Jack laughed but added:

"Well, maybe I will get to see you model them one day…" He smiled and they left the shop, headed back to the hustle and bustle of the town. Sue looked at him, eyes wide and cheeks a dark shade of fuchsia.

"How about that ice cream you lured me down here with?" She suggested, desperate to change the subject.

"I saw one on the strip." He said reaching for her hand. They walked, hands firmly settled into one another's to the ice cream shop.

"What can I get you folks?" the man behind the counter asked.

"Chocolate walnut fudge." Sue answered. "Small, on a sugar cone please."

"And I'll take a pecan Nutella swirl." Jack added. "Same as hers please."

"Coming right up." The clerk said as he started digging out the frozen dessert.

"You're not allergic to nuts then I take it?" Jack asked.

"Nope. You either I see." Sue said.

"No." Jack answered nervously.

"Good." Sue smiled as she licked the cone. Jack paid the man and both began to walk along the walk toward the Ferris wheel.

"Two please." Jack said as he tried to pay for the tickets for them to go on the ride.

"I'm sorry sir, no food allowed." The young girl explained.

"Oh, well… we'll just wait then." He tugged on Sue's hand toward a bench.

"My bucket list?" Sue smiled still licking the sides of her ice cream. Jack nodded.

"I thought I could help you cross off some of the list. I'm sorry they won't let us take the ice cream on. Do you still want to go up?" He asked.

"I would love to. I have always loved sun wheels, especially on the water." She said. "You can see for miles."

Jack bought their tickets and let her go on first. As their chair reached the top, they looked out over the entire park and strip. It was so peaceful and beautiful from where they sat. Sue turned to notice the ocean. The sunlight bounced off the cresting waves making it look like God had sprinkled glitter over the peaks just for them.

"God's work never ceases to amaze me." She said smiling and pointing. Jack watched as birds flew below them, but above the waves. Some of the birds were diving deep into the water and coming back out with fish. They noticed someone parasailing off the shore the bright pink shoot twisting and turning as the wind changed directions, pitching and diving. He put his arm around Sue's shoulder and took his eyes from the sea to rest on the beauty before him- Sue. He smiled. Sue looked in his direction, looking at him curiously as to why he was smiling. "What?" She asked.

"The view I have from here is gorgeous, absolutely perfect." He whispered as he moved toward her. Sue blinked trying to keep him in focus, but finally gave in and closed her eyes as Jack's lips claimed hers.

Jack's free hand reached to her cheek gently pulling her to him. His lips played on hers softly, slowly. He took advantage of a slight gasp Sue let out and pressed his lips harder against hers. He hesitantly brushed her bottom lip with his tongue. Nearly in slow motion she granted him access, effectively deepening the kiss, heightening the passion between them. Their ride was coming to an end all too quickly, when they parted for much needed air.

"Uhh, I guess we missed most of our ride." Jack blushed as he apologized. "Want to go up again?"

"No, I'm good with my feet planted right here on the ground." She said smiling. I think I'll need lead weights for that! She thought to herself.

"I'm sorry Sue." Jack said.

"For what?" She asked.

"Did I ruin that for you? If I did, I would feel awful." He said looking and feeling quite guilty.

"No. You didn't ruin it." She began. She hesitated, not sure if she should confess or not. "As a matter of fact, that's on my bucket list…" She said blushing.

"It is? Hmm…" He said smiling. They walked along the water's edge in silence holding hands. They came upon a large piece of drift wood and decided to sit and take a break. Neither uttered a sound. The silence lingered on as Sue dug her bare toes into the sand piling it higher on the opposite foot. The light breeze tousled her hair around, helping the lazy curls dance off her shoulders, enticing Jack. She lightly bit her bottom lip as her conscience argued with itself.

"Jack?" She finally whispered.

"What is it?" He asked in return.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked. Jack swallowed hard.

"Yeah, of course." He answered nervously.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asked.

"I thought this would be fun…" He answered.

"No, I mean, here to Virginia Beach." She corrected.

Jack took a deep breath, not wanting to say the wrong thing, but also not wanting to lie to her.

"Because you needed it. You were stressed out and I noticed the past few days you've been down. I didn't want that to turn into a downward spiral. I just thought if I could get you away from all of that…" He began to ramble.

"Jack…." Sue interrupted. "Thank you for caring so much." He smiled and blushed.

"What is it?" Jack asked Sue. She hesitated, not wanting to ruin the moment. "Sue?"

"This weekend… I can't help but wonder… is it just about my cancer?" She asked.

Jack sat quietly for a long minute. He looked out at the Atlantic Ocean as the waves roared toward the shore churning up the surf. The sun was now fully above the horizon, nearly dancing on top of the waves. "Yes." He admitted. "Well, it's not just about the cancer. It's complicated." He said honestly. Jack stood and held out his hand for her. "Keep walking?"

Sue accepted his hand and stood. Jack entwined his fingers with hers as the pair began to walk along as the tide lapped at their feet. "This whole experience has defined my future." He began. "When I heard the word cancer and your name in the same sentence, it was like a punch to the gut, ya know? I couldn't fathom my future without you there. I can't. I nearly lost it when I heard the news. If they didn't get it all, or if it was too late, how was I supposed to get up in the morning? How could I ever go back to the office and not see you sitting across from me, sneaking looks in my direction?" He paused as Sue blushed. "Sue, you're so special to me…" He began to choke up.

"Jack?" Sue began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"Please, I have to say this." He said smiling at her. "When you were going in for your surgery, I asked God to keep you safe, to give you back to me. He's given me another chance. He's given us a chance. I would be a damned fool if I didn't recognize this second chance. I'd be a damned fool not to capitalize on this wonderful gift." He whispered.

He put his hands on either side of her face, gently pulling her to him. He watched her for some sign to tell him to stop. Softly his lips caressed hers, placing butterfly kisses along the sides of her mouth kissing a trail to her full waiting lips. The light tender caresses lingered, melding into longer kiss. She responded eagerly, opening her lips to invite him to deepen the kiss. Sue needed him, more than he could ever understand. She needed to feel him, to taste him, to touch him. Beyond her own comprehension, she needed Jackson Hudson to make the hurt and fear of the recent weeks fall away and dissipate into the sand they stood on. She needed his touch to make her feel whole again- to make her feel like a desirable woman. Sue's hands snaked around his neck pulling him closer encouraging him.

Jack's hands traveled slowly down her arms to her waist, pulling her tight against his body. He fully took advantage of her parted lips by slipping his tongue into her mouth, feeling her, wanting her. Jack moaned into her passionate embrace, their tongues exploring each other's. Sue smiled as she felt the rumble in his chest. Jack's hands explored Sue's back to her back side. His hands made their way to her hips and slid past to the softness of her bottom. Sue gasped at his advances but Jack pulled back before she could protest. His fingers locked at her hips and pulled her to him once again.

Sue tangled her fingers through his thick dark locks of Jack's hair. Her stomach began to fill with butterflies. He could sense their kiss needed to be reeled in some as their lust was bubbling to the top. He broke the kiss, but didn't relent just yet. Jack skimmed kisses along her jaw to her neck and the hollow place where her shoulder and neck came together. He pulled back from her, leaning his forehead to hers, trying desperately to catch his breath. Jack placed a soft caress on the top of Sue's head. Sue brought her arms down and wrapped them tight around him, holding him close. Their chests were heaving, lips beginning to swell from the passion of their kiss. The warmth of Jack's body against hers made her tingle deep inside.

He kissed the top of her head, pulling back from her enough so she could read him, but not letting go of her hands. "I think maybe we should finish that chat now." He said breathlessly.

"Maybe we should." She blushed. They walked a little bit until Jack's voice was steady, and his breathing under control.

"Sue… first, I have a confession- and I owe you an apology." He began.

"Apology, for what?" She asked.

"I lied to you." He said. "I'm sorry." Sue's heart sank, the hurt written on her face. "When- about what?" She urged, hoping she could forgive him. Trust was the most important thing to Sue, could he rebuild that trust? Would she be able to get beyond it? Why would he lie to her? What would he lie to her about? Her mind sped forward at the speed of light trying to figure what he would have betrayed her about or for.

"That night we spent together. That night we…" His voice trailed off, he blushed, unable to make eye contact with Sue. "I told you I could do those things, be with you that way, no strings. I- I lied. I couldn't." he explained, shaking his head. He paused, letting Sue grasp the full meaning of his words. "Sue, I tried. Honest to God, I tried. When you first asked me, I thought I could. I thought for you, I could do this. I could do anything you needed me to do. I didn't mean to lie to you. I thought I could, I wasn't lying. I really believed I was capable of controlling my feelings." He said. He walked slowly toward her. "The minute I touched you, the second my lips touched yours, it was over for me, I was done." He chuckled.

"Why didn't you stop?" Sue asked softly. "You could have stopped, I would have understood."

"No you wouldn't have. Besides, I made you a promise; I couldn't break it, no matter how much it killed me." Jack said. There was a long silence. He crept closer to her, she stood her ground. "Sue, I'm sorry if this is too fast, or too soon for you. I know I should probably wait, but I can't. God gave me a second chance, and I can't blow it." He said taking a deep breath. "I love you Sue." He whispered. Sue blinked to make sure she saw what she thought she saw.

"What?" She asked softly.

"I- I love you. I've always loved you. I can't remember a time in my life that I didn't love you." He paused to catch his breath and arrange his thoughts. "That's crazy, I know it is… it's nuts, right?" He asked. Sue laughed at his confusion. "But…I'm going to guess from that kiss we just shared, that this is OK with you…" He started. "But, if I'm wrong, and you don't have feelings for me… then, I can deal with that… I will deal with that. I only ask that you tell me now." Jack said brushing his thumb against her cheek. Sue reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, running her hands through his thick hair. As he opened his mouth to speak, Sue pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. Sue tentatively pressed her tongue to his mouth. He eagerly accepted her advances and pulled her deeper into the kiss. Sue broke their kiss and pushed herself from Jack. She bit her bottom lip to stifle a grin threatening to make its way out. With her tongue firmly pressed into her cheek, she announced:

"I'll think about it." She said finally allowing a wide grin and walked away from a very stunned Jack.