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For anyone left wondering about the Pride and Prejudice phrase, it was "I was in the middle before I knew I had begun", and kudos to the ones who caught it! (:

Chapter 36

I pressed a kiss to her wet head, trying to make it sink in that she was finally mine.

I had hardly believed myself as I poured all of my heart out to her earlier in the night, but once it was all out, I had felt a great weight lift off my shoulders. And a sense of things falling into place. Whatever happened from that moment on, Clark knew what I felt, what I wanted, and it was all laid out and in the open.

And it seemed I had been correct in my assumptions that she may have been holding back the same feelings.

While she hadn't said as much, her reaction had spoken for itself.

I can't say I was as confident in the moment of the declaration, though. When she didn't say anything right away, my insecurities crept up and made me believe she didn't know how to let me down.

After all, I had no guarantee that she would reciprocate, just my own theories about her feelings.

But she had kissed me back with a passion only equal to mine, until we were interrupted by the rain.

And I knew you could have passion without strength of feeling. I knew the passion didn't come right along with love, but it could be a sign of love.

And I don't think, no, I know Lou wouldn't kiss me that way after all I said, if she didn't feel at least moderately the same.

"Look at me" I asked her, as she lay on my chest peacefully.

"No" she replied quietly.

"Clark?" I asked, surprised at her response.

"I can't" she said next, which only peaked my interest further.

"Tough. I need to see that face of yours, Clark" I joked.

I felt her shift beneath me, as a small chuckle left her mouth, then she began to sit up.

We were sitting on the sofa of my hotel room, after she had come to help me into bed.

Except, I felt like sleep could not come any time soon.

There were so many things to be said, to be asked.

As her eyelashes lifted and looked at me, I saw the redness of her face accompany a hiding smile.

For a moment, I forgot all that was happening, and got lost in her eyes. Her eyes that to my mind held nothing spectacular, nothing out of the ordinary. But try telling that to my heart, which was seeing her eyes like they were the first pair of green eyes I had ever seen, and the most beautiful, too.

"I have a question" she stated as she tucked some hair behind her ear.

I hadn't been expecting that. After all, what hadn't I said already? But decided to oblige her.

"Very well" I said kindly.

"Actually, I have a lot of questions" she said with an embarrassed laugh.

"Me too, so I hope you weren't planning to rise early tomorrow" I said lightly.

She just shook her head as she smiled, then looked down.

For some reason, she seemed to have difficulty maintaining my gaze for a more than a second or two.

"In the hospital, I don't know if you remember saying this… but the first time I shaved you, you were not confident at all in my capabilities to not cut you, or irritate your skin" she began and I laughed, remembering that day well.

"Yes, I remember, though you proved me wrong, thankfully" I said smiling at her.

"Well, I asked you if there was a nurse you were trying to impress, remember?" she asked shyly.

"Yes, I remember" I replied, already getting a good guess as to what she was going to ask.

"Well, you said, 'not a nurse'. Were you…?" she began to ask.

"Talking about you? 100 percent" I said, glad to be able to cause the redness in her cheeks to intensify.

"Oh, good" she said, her smile going wide with joy and her eyes almost disappearing beneath her eyelids.

Though I hadn't gotten any of my own questions answered yet, seeing her joy at knowing I had been referring to her brought me a little more reassurance.

"My turn" I said getting a little more serious. "So, does this turn of events mean you won't be handing in your notice?" I asked, suddenly becoming worried.

She looked down, and then met my eyes again.

"Wouldn't it be too weird, with me working for you, and…?" she asked, letting the unsaid words hang between us.

"Not to me… to be able to have you near me, see you every day…" I said, a smile taking over my features. "And it would only be temporary. I'll be better soon, then you can work at whatever you want, Clark. We can even open up our own company together, as partners, like you suggested" I said, remembering when she first brought up the idea. But it also dawned on me that I was sounding like I was planning the rest of my life around her, as if the possibility that we would break up one day, that things simply didn't work out, was non-existent.

And in truth, in my head, it was that way. I knew it wasn't rational. I knew people hardly ever stayed together. All of my past failed relationships were living proof of that.

I couldn't pinpoint what was different about this time, though. But I just couldn't imagine not spending forever with Lou.

Who could ever come along that was better? Who could make me smile more, challenge me, complete me? I didn't need to keep looking to know she was it. I had found my most wonderfully perfect match. Even if it was premature to think it, I simply couldn't help it.

I only wished it didn't scare Lou away. She could very well have a more realistic view on this barely starting relationship.

"We'd be skipping so much… living together from the get-go?" she asked, still not convinced.

And I knew she had a point. But I simply had no interest in following some dating guidelines, not with her. Who cared what the norm was? If living together worked for us, then who cared about the rest? Why couldn't a different start be as wonderful?

I let silence drag on a few seconds longer as I contemplated how to calm her fears.

"If you quit though… you'd have to be fine with another girl moving in" I said, one eyebrow raised, hoping this would close the conversation.

"Girl? You're mad, right?" she said laughing.

"You can pick her if you like" I said teasing.

"Really? No, thank you. We know how well that worked out for your last girlfriend" she said laughing.

"You're right" I said, as I traced her jaw bone from her ear to her chin slowly, my eyes falling to her lips which were forming her beautiful smile, then back to those shiny eyes, glistening beautifully like only her eyes could. "I think we have no choice to let you finish out your contract, Clark" I added, acting as if her argument was undefeatable.

She smiled at me as she realized what I was doing.

"You… you are something else, Will Traynor" she said with a joyful smile.

I didn't know how to reply to that. All I knew was a feeling was growing inside me, and I had to kiss her lips again.

As I approached her, I saw her eyes close, and her lips come up to meet me.

I felt a tingling as her mouth touched mine, as if electricity were passing between us, a magnetism sending waves of attraction that only intensified more with each second.

I had imagined what kissing her would be like so many times. And I had always envisioned that it'd be like nothing I'd ever felt before. What could it be like to kiss someone you love so much, that there is no doubt in your mind they are the only one who could help achieve complete and total happiness?

It's safe to say my imagination, as wild as it got, could do no justice to the actual feeling of having this woman in my arms, kissing her and having her kiss me back, making me smile as I tried to focus on the kiss, but unable to keep myself from grinning from happiness, as I captured her lips in mine again and again.

I brought my hand to her waist, pulling her closer to me, as I heard her intake of breath at the touch. She obediently brought herself as close to me as I was asking, as I softly put pressure behind her lower back.

As her body shifted closer, two of my fingers delighted in the feeling of her skin beneath her night shirt, and I grasped it, making sure that I wasn't letting go of the opening in her clothes.

"Will" she said barely above a whisper, as she broke the kiss that I was about to deepen.

I tried to catch her mouth again, but she evaded me, making me realize she had said my name because she actually wanted to say something.

"Yes, darling" I said, the words leaving my mouth without my having thought them. At the moment, I was feeling like a drunk person, except not on alcohol. I was drunk on her- her closeness, her scent, the feelings of her lips on mine-, and I couldn't keep away any longer.

I watched her smile in delight at my words, and I smiled too, at knowing my endearment had gotten such a reaction, but knowing it wouldn't be the last time I referred to her as the dearest thing I had.

"I nearly forgot what I was going to say" she said with a giggle, looking as high on her emotions as I was.

"That's alright" I assured her, as our foreheads met, and I closed my eyes, just to take a moment to feel her close to me.

"I love you, Will" she uttered. And I wouldn't have admitted it to another soul, but my heart skipped a beat at that moment.

I opened my eyes to see hers, looking deep into mine, registering every expression.

"Good" I replied, as a smile forced itself onto my features.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

…5 months later

My eyes opened lazily as my consciousness awakens.

The bright morning light hits my eyes, making me flinch, as they struggled to adjust.

As my vision became more accustomed to the brightness of the morning, I began to register the warm and soft yellow sunshine, as it came through our white curtains in streaks. I observed the miniscule dust particles, floating in and out of the light in all directions, peacefully, and gracefully.

I became enraptured in their swirling, as I began to become more and more aware of the breathing form beside me, lying next to me under the blankets, her leg brushing up against mine, the miniscule leg hairs on the turn of her knee that often evaded her razor, so softly tingling against the side of my thigh.

I turned to her now, watching her sleeping face on the pillow, her cheek squished against it, making her mouth onto an odd shape that brought a smile to my features.

Her hair was twisted into incoherent turns and twines as made me grateful not to have long hair. And her naked shoulders were peeking out from under the sheets, looking as soft and sleek as the day I first saw her in the Chanel dress I bought her, ascending and descending gently with every sleepy breath.

It reminded me of the first day I woke up next to her on the same bed, when we had fallen asleep together, the night of Clara's wedding after hours and hours of talking, about everything important and nonimportant, about all the weeks of wondering, of misinterpretations and burning questions, of telling phrases that lent themselves to the confidence of interpreter, before our mental, physical and emotional tiredness overtook us, and at some point or other she transferred me to the bed, and stayed there with me on it.

And even after five months, the feeling was the same, if not better- intensified by our growing attachment to each other. Waking up next to her instantly made me feel the luckiest man alive, and like I could take on the day, whatever came, because I had her by my side.

I didn't want to wake her, but I couldn't help myself.

I reached out to some stray hairs which were obstructing my view of her, and carefully brushed them back and away from her beautiful face. They were resilient though, and kept falling back into place, until I tucked them behind her ear.

That's when her eyelashes began fluttering, and her eyes tried to discover what was disturbing their sleep.

"Shhh… I'm sorry, go back to sleep" I whispered to her, regretting that I had bothered her.

I watched her lips form into a sleepy smile as she tried to shift her body from face down to sideways, while trying to awaken.

"Good morning" she uttered, with her eyes still closed.

"Good morning, my love" I said back to her smiling at how adorable she looked when she was waking.

I heard her take in a deep breath, after which she opened her eyes more fully this time, and looked into mine.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked tenderly, knowing she was still adjusting her senses to being awake.

"Good" she said, lazily.

"I'm sorry I woke you" I offered.

"It's alright, it's good to hear your voice" she said with a smile.

I lifted myself onto my elbows and drew close, till my lips bestowed a small peck on hers.

I heard a miniscule giggle emanate from her mouth as I drew back, and even though I didn't know what she was laughing about, her laughter was as always too infectious for me to resist smiling back.

"What?" I asked her, wondering what she would say.

"Your breath smells" she said, giggling some more.

"How rude of you!" I said, feigning offense. "And here I was trying to wake you with a loving gesture" I added, amused by her.

"And wake me up you did!" she expressed quite passionately, but still smiling.

I had no reply, except to look at her, and think of how lucky I was to wake up next to a woman who could produce the most wholesome happiness I had ever felt in me, within the first five minutes of her being awake.

I watched her wiggle out of bed, laughing at herself, and me possibly, when I reached out quickly and smacked her arse, which she tried to escape, but was not quick enough to avoid.

"Ey!" she said, jumping at the action and looking back to me, looking like glory itself exemplified in the human form. "That is domestic violence, sir!" she said teasingly at me, as I laid across the bed, watching her walk away.

"You deserved it!" I argued back.

"What for?" she asked, already from the bathroom, but from the sound of her tone of voice, I could tell she was smiling.

"For saying that about my breath, Miss Clark. I could have you fired" I responded jokingly, in increasing suspense.

Our banters were probably one of my favorite parts of our relationship. Never knowing what clever, funny thing she was going to say next, wondering how she would challenge my wit next, and gracefully accepting defeat when she was just too much to keep up with. But it was also one of the things I loved about her the most.

How she continued to support me each day, challenge me, love me… I didn't know. What I did to deserve her? It still eluded me.

"Well, it's a good thing today is my last day, then. So, fire me if you like" she said daringly as she popped her head out of the bathroom to give me a defiantly sexy look, raising her eyebrows at me and motioning towards her body with the movements of her eyes, knowing I was helplessly in love with her, and the effect that she had on me.

"You know, I don't take that kind of lip from my employees" I cautioned her, rising from bed and making my way to where she was. "Even on their last day!" I exclaimed getting closer.

I heard her laugh from inside the bathroom, as I imagined her brushing her mess of her bedhead, then gasp.

"I know you're not walking without your crutches!" she threatened as she heard me get closer.

"Of course, I am! How else am I supposed to get some respect around here?" I demanded in an exaggeratedly rough voice as I came through the door, and came up behind where she was standing in front of the mirror.

I heard her squeal as I grasped her waist between my hands and lifted and turned her around, sitting her on the bathroom granite surface next to the sink.

"Will!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "The doctor hasn't given you the final word that you can walk around on your own, much less pick up a one-hundred-and-something pound body!" she reproached me playfully, even as she placed her hands around my neck, as I now stood eye to eye with her.

"We're still leaving the -something- bit in a question mark, aren't we?" I asked feigning some uneasiness with the possible digit.

"Yes, we are" she said defiantly. "And if that makes you uncomfortable, you'll just have to live with it" she said playfully.

"It's a cross I'll have to bear" I said dramatically.

"Yes, it is" she said laughing, her eyes squinting between her smiling cheeks and eyelids.

"I love you, Louisa Clark" I uttered after a short moment.

"I love you, Will Traynor" she said, shifting her head sideways, smiling adorably at me, before placing a kiss on my cheek.

"I tell you 'I love you', and all I get is a peck on the cheek, really?" I asked, teasing her.

"No matter how little your concern about your breath is, I will not subject you to mine" she said smiling as she twisted her torso to grab her toothbrush and toothpaste.

I rolled my eyes at her jokingly before grabbing my own, as she climbed down, and stood beside me, as she meticulously brushed her teeth.

"You'd better give me an earth-shattering kiss once my breath is fresh" I said before putting my own toothbrush in my mouth, raising an eyebrow at her.

"That and more, my dear" she said smiling through her foamy mouth, and raising her own eyebrows suggestively.

Suffice it to say, I brushed my teeth as quickly but efficiently as I ever had.

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Do forgive me that this chapter is a bit shorter, and that it took a while to be ready.

I feel I struggle the most at writing when I approach the end of stories, and I am sad to say, we are approaching the end of this one.

Now, we still do have a few chapters more to go.

We may even make it to Chapter 40, but we will see (:

Thank you all for reading and accompanying me through this journey. I hope you all will stick around till the very end! (:

With all my love…

-your author-