Well guys we're at the end of this little story. I can't thank you enough for the reviews and follows you posted throughout the story! You make writing so much fun! I look forward to writing something new soon and hope you all will be there to read! Thank you again! - M

Ch.35

It was always beautiful this time of year in New York.

The leaves falling, the cool air a relief from the summer heat in the city.

Olivia and Alex walked arm in arm in Central Park.

Runners, kids playing, people enjoying their Saturday in the fall sun.

It had been almost a year since Alex flew to Dublin to be with Olivia.

It had been almost a year they had been side by side.

Good times and really bad times.

"I have to be honest when they said someone was coming to be with Kate, I thought it would be the man she spoke of so fondly."

"A man?" Alex asked inquisitively.

"Yes, she mentioned his name was Alex."

Alex's expression changed as she smiled widened as she looked straight ahead and away from Martin.

"Oh, oh you're… you're a woman." Alex looked back at him. "I mean obviously you're a woman, I apologize for the assumption that you..."

Alex smiled again.

"It's a common mistake I get it all the time… and I'm glad to hear she spoke fondly of me."

"She mentioned that she was in love with you." Martin said as he watched as the grin on Alex's face fade.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no I'm actually in love with her as well. I've just never had the chance to tell her."

"What are you grinning about?" Olivia asked.

"I was just thinking about meeting Martin for the first time."

"Martin? What made you think of Martin?"

"It's been almost a year since I flew to be with you in Dublin."

"Oh, I guess it has. So what's the smile about?"

"When I met Martin he thought I was a man?"

Olivia stopped walking, looking at Alex puzzled.

"Ok, how in the world would Martin mistake you for a man?" Olivia asked laughing.

Alex laughed.

"He told me you had mentioned being in love with someone named Alex."

"Ahhh. You quickly corrected him?"

"He was embarrassed."

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him with a name like Alex it was a common mistake, and that I was in love with you too.

Olivia smiled as they began to walk the path again.

"So Martin knew your name was Alex the whole time?"

"Yeah he did."

"I hope he's doing well."

"Me too." Alex said seriously as she pulled Olivia a little closer.

"My name is Caroline Hutton," Alex said emotionless, "you're new alias is Kate Taylor."

"Why do you want to be here with me? Why would you do this to yourself? To your life?"

"Because I got your letter." Alex said giving Olivia a shy smile.

"Alex." Olivia began to protest.

Alex leaned down to Olivia placing a soft kiss to her lips.

Olivia went to open her mouth to speak, but Alex quickly quieted her.

"Liv, I've wanted you too for a long time, I've been in love with you for an incredibly long time. I've denied it, ignored it, hell I've run from it. But after your letter, I promised myself I wouldn't miss another chance when you came back." Alex said caressing Olivia's cheek. "I just had to get you back, to tell you I felt the same."

Olivia gave Alex a soft smile.

"So you came for me?"

"As soon as I could."

"I don't want you getting hurt or something to happen to you, or for you to regret coming here."

"I've regretted too much already. Being here with you is the best decision I've ever made."

"When I woke up in the hospital and I saw your face… seeing you there beside me, I was so happy and I was so scared to see you. I couldn't believe you were there for me."

"I was going to fight tooth and nail to get to you. The CIA probably figured it was less painful to just let be with you." Alex teased.

"You a relentless pain in someone's ass?" Olivia laughed.

"I know right! Me never!"

"Thank you."

"For?"

"For being a relentless pain in the ass."

"Ha, no problem." Alex said rolling her eyes.

"If you hadn't been, where would I be right now?"

"I hope that you would have come back to New York, come back to me."

Olivia was silent for a moment.

"I'm not sure I would have survived if you hadn't come for me."

This time Alex stopped them from walking, looking at Olivia.

"Liv, yes you would have. You would have survived." Alex said adamantly.

Olivia shook her head trying to agree with Alex.

"I'm just grateful to you everyday for coming to Dublin for me, for never leaving my side.

Alex smiled, "now look at you, you're stuck with me!"

"Happily," Olivia said leaning for a quick kiss to Alex's cheek.

They stopped grabbing a pretzel, sitting on a bench.

"What do you think about the ocean?" Olivia asked, pulling the pretzel apart to share with Alex.

"I like the ocean. You thinking about a vacation?"

"It seems nice, serene. I was thinking we could get married on a beach somewhere."

Alex stopped mid chew, trying her best not to choke.

"Married?"

"I know it's been a while since you asked me, but I was hoping your offer still stands."

Alex grinned.

"Of course my offer still stands." Alex said. "What made you change your mind?"

"I think I needed time to assure myself that I'm the person you think I am. Assure myself that I could give you everything you need, everything to make you happy... Maybe I just needed time to make sure I wouldn't do something stupid like freak out and try and break your heart… "

"Liv…" Alex said now holding her hand in hers.

"I thought it would happen, I thought I would push you away. I thought that you would give up on me. " Olivia took a deep breath. "But you didn't. I know there were days in the last year you were frustrated with me, tired of… maybe everything… But when you asked me to marry you, you said you love me and wanted to protect me, and make me happy. And then you said you would wait for my decision because you hoped that your love would take away my hesitations. At that moment, I never thought I could be in love with you more, but I was afraid…"

"You know I would have given you forever as long as I was with you."

"You don't deserve that. And you know what? I don't deserve that. You were right we've wanted each other for so long and we shouldn't waste time when we know what we want. I just had to get over being afraid."

"So you're FINALLY saying yes you'll marry me?" Alex grinned.

"Yes I would love nothing more in the world more than to marry you."

Alex grinned as she kissed Olivia.

Alex pulled away the grin gone from her face.

"Honey what is it?"

"I still haven't bought you a ring."

Olivia laughed.

"It's not funny!"

"Well, I bought you one."

"Olivia… what?"

Olivia reached in to her jeans pocket.

"It's been in your pocket the whole time?"

"That's why I couldn't leave it in the box! Because you can't keep your hands off me!" Olivia joked.

"Well that's true!" Alex laughed.

Olivia pulled the ring from her pocket, holding it up to Alex.

Alex's hand covered her mouth as she looked at the sparkling diamond.

"Without hesitation and as sure as I've ever been, I promise to be by your side forever, and I will do everything possible to make you happy." Olivia said wiping the tears that had escaped her eyes. "Alexandra Cabot will you be my wife?"

Alex shook her, "Yes baby, I will absolutely be your wife."

THE END