So, this is the last official chapter of 'Bailey'- but there will be an epilogue, and I am posting a sort of parallel universe to this story. An alternate universe to the alternate universe- if you can figure that out. If all works out okay, that will be posted tonight (and if all works out it will be called 'A Kind of Fairytale'). Oh, and I have a formal dress! I am excited, if you can't tell. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, please read and review these two last chapters!
Love love love
Rhyleigh xoxox
Ruby's birthday and Christmas were fast approaching, and Nathan took that opportunity, claiming to be looking for presents for his favourite girls, to look for an engagement ring. They had parted on the day Ruby was born, only facing each other to finalise their divorce. Sammy hadn't even given Nathan her rings herself- Trish had done it for her. Nathan was determine to find one that did not remind him of the one he had previously given her- while Sammy had loved it, he didn't want to open old wounds.
So, he made his plans, with Ben. He found the perfect ring- Ben had laughed, telling him that the decision was 'set in stone' (Nathan had glared and told him to never make jokes because they weren't funny), and told him that he was going to propose on Ruby's birthday. it had taken a lot of thinking to make that decision, but he had decided. Ruby's birthday meant a lot to all of them- Ben and Mel had grown as a couple, Nathan and Sammy had split, and Rachel and Jake vowed that they had a future together.
"Ready for Ruby's birthday, Bailey?" Sammy wanted to know, setting a bowl of cereal down in front of her daughter.
Bailey nodded comically, her brown hair bouncing. "I am! We're gonna have so much fun today, Mama!"
Julie and Dave had decided that, until Ruby started school, her birthday would be purely for family. And they had invited the whole family- her grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephew. And it was guaranteed to be an event, much like the others were.
"What kinda presents is she gonna get, Mama?" Bailey queried, looking innocently at her mother.
"I am not giving you any kind of clue about what Santa's giving you for Christmas, gorgeous".
Her shoulders slumped. "Fine..."
"Hey hey hey!" Nathan sang, patting his pocket once more. The box the ring was in had been placed in his pocket only minutes ago, but he was paranoid he'd lose it. He dropped a kiss to Bailey's curls, greeting her with a, "Good morning, gorgeous", and Sammy with a, "Good morning, beautiful". Then he eyed his daughter once more. "Bailey, what's the matter, baby?"
"Do you know what Santa's bringing me?"
"Well, you've been a pretty good girl", Nathan considered, "So I'd say something good".
"Hope so!" and, as if nothing had happened, she went back to devouring her cereal. Sammy and Nathan just shook their heads, laughing internally at their daughter.
When the three of them arrived at the Rafter house, Ruby was in the middle of a game with Logan and Sophie. Upon setting eyes on Bailey, she squealed.
"You know", Ben said conversationally, "It's a little hard to believe that they've only known each other a bunch of weeks". He tugged one of the little's girl's braids as she ran past, enveloping Ruby in a hug.
"Hi darlings!" Julie called from the kitchen, where she was adding the finishing touches to Ruby's birthday cake.
"Mummy, everyone's here!" Ruby announced. "Let's open presents, huh? Can we? Please? Please? Please?"
"You know, those two could quite easily pass for twins", Rachel noted, as the two little girls plonked down beside each other, giggling over something or other.
Ben jabbed his brother in the side, leaning closer to him. "You done it yet, mate?"
"Do you think we'd be sitting here so calmly if I had?" he hissed back.
"Touché".
"Happy birthday, Rubes!" Ted laughed, presenting the newly turned five year old with her first present.
For most of the day, the Rafter house was filled with the shrieks of children, as they celebrated little Ruby Rafter's fifth birthday. It was the first birthday that the little girl had had her entire family around- they may have lost Chel, but they had gained two more.
That afternoon, right after cutting the cake, Rachel and Jake made an announcement- Sophie was going to be a big sister. There had been even more shrieks from their huge, slightly dysfunctional family, as Ruby and Bailey bounced around, high as kites off sugar.
"She'll crash", Sammy told Nathan knowingly, as Bailey practically inhaled a lolly snake. "Sooner rather than later, too".
Nathan grinned. "Hey, Sam, want to go for a walk?"
Melissa winked at him. "Yeah, go on, Sam, we'll be right to look after Bailey for a bit".
"Bye Mama!" Bailey didn't even look up from the game she was playing with Ruby and her cousins. "Bye, Daddy".
"Somehow, I don't think she cares", Dave chuckled, ruffling Sophie's mousy brown hair.
"Where are we going, Nathan?" Sammy wondered, as Nathan entwined his fingers with hers. "I thought you wanted to spend the day at your parents' place?"
"There's enough family there, Rubes won't know what hit her". Nathan chuckled nervously. "you know, five years ago to this day, you left a note on my pillow telling me you were leaving?"
Sammy nodded. "Yep. Remember exactly what it said, too".
"'Dear Nathan'", Nathan almost whispered. "'Maybe one day I'll be able to forgive you. One day, everything will be alright and we can be Nathan and Sammy again. One day, I'll be back, because you're my Nathan and I love you'". He had read the letter enough times over the year to have it memorized. "Sam, I know this day holds memories for both of us- some better than others. I mean, my baby sister was born..."
"I know". She too was quiet.
"Sam, you had no idea how much I had missed you, when you and Bailey lived by yourself. I thought about you every day, and whenever I played with Ruby I couldn't help thinking about the children we had planned to have together. Everything changed when you came back".
They had reached the park by then, the park that they had played in under the darkness of the night. Taking on the slide headfirst, the swings, laughing like children. Nathan had taken both Ruby and Bailey, on many occasions, to that park, and it had seemed perfect. The complete different setting, to where he had previously proposed.
The park was empty, and Nathan led her over to the slide. Sammy sat on the end, and Nathan got to one knee, producing the little velvet box the diamond ring sat in.
"Sam, will you marry me?"
