*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you so much. = )
That night after the wedding Mason and Charlie went to their house while Charlie's parents took Laney for them since she was staying the next two weeks there while they were on their honeymoon. Mason and Charlie spent the night celebrating their marriage before they left for their honeymoon the next day. Mason had already packed their things and had them ready for them to leave the next morning knowing Charlie could take forever in the morning. They were spending one week in Athens, Greece and one week in Rome, Italy. It was a dream come true for Charlie. She had always wanted to visit Italy and Greece. She couldn't believe that she was going to visit them a week apart.
Their first stop was Athens, Greece. They arrived at the airport and took a limo to the hotel. Their entire trip was going to be done by limo because Mason wanted it to be special. He didn't care how much money he needed to spend as long as Charlie had the best honeymoon of her life. Their first day in Greece was spent in their hotel room as they celebrated their marriage once again but the next day they were ready to start hitting famous tour spots in Athens. The first event of the day was breakfast on the rooftop of the hotel over looking the Acropolis. "Good morning, Mrs. Ryan," said Mason as he woke up to Charlie softly kissing his lips.
"Good morning, Mr. Ryan," she said with a smile.
"So what's on the agenda for today?"
"I have that all taken care of. I just want you to enjoy the trip and be surprised as we go along."
"All right," said Charlie with a smile as she got out of bed. "I'm hungry."
"Breakfast is in an hour," he said. "You and me should probably shower and get ready for breakfast and then we'll head out on the town."
"Okay," said Charlie with a smile. "Sounds like a plan to me." Mason got out of bed with her and they headed to take a shower together and then they got ready for their day.
Charlie had no idea about the rooftop breakfast so it was all a surprise for her when they reached the rooftop and were seated at a table by hotel staff. Mason pulled her chair out for her and then rounded the table to sit down. "So what do you think?"
"It's beautiful," she said, "and a beautiful view of the Acropolis."
"I know," said Mason. 'It really is beautiful. Just like you."
"Thank-you," said Charlie with a smile as they looked over their menus after ordering Orange Juice from the waiter. "Greece is so beautiful and a lot of history here. Do you know this city was named after the Greek Goddess Athena? She is the goddess of this city after beating out her uncle Poseidon in a battle for the city when she produced the Olive tree?"
"I didn't know all that but I figured Athena had something to do with this city. You know a lot about Greece don't you?"
"Yes," she said. "I am fascinated by Greek Mythology and the Greek culture. It's all very interesting to me."
"I see that," he said with a smile. "I love that about you?"
"What?"
"Your book smarts. I love the fact that when you're really into something you're an expert."
"Oh. Thanks," she said with a smile.
"Thanks? That's all you can say after my compliment about your smarts?"
"Yes, Baby," she said with a smile.
"Okay," he said, "so how are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm feeling great no morning sickness at all."
"That's good. I'd say your parents took the news well. Better than my parents."
"I know. Why is your mom so upset? I thought she would be happiest. She wanted us to be fruitful."
"I know. I'm not sure what her problem is," he said, "and I don't care because I'm happy. We're having twins and you're my wife. My life couldn't get any better. I'm not worried about making her happy anymore, I'm worried about making you happy."
"That's really sweet," she said with a smile as the waiter brought their orange juice. They thanked him and ordered a Greek Omelet with Feta cheese. It sounded so good they wanted to try it. Neither of them had the luxury of eating Greek Omelets before. "So we're really having twins," she said.
"We're really having twins," he said, "and while my mom is upset right now she will be trying to control that situation so just brace yourself okay?"
"Okay," she said. "What do you mean control?"
"I mean she's going to want to name them or have some other part in it. But you and me are picking the names all right?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't get to pick out Laney's name. I want some part in these babies names."
"We will," he said. "but I really meant what I said about making you happy. I want to make you happy and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you are happy."
"And I want to make you happy too," she said. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said with a smile before he leaned across the table to softly kiss her lips. "And just so you know Christmas Eve was the best day of my life."
"Mine too," she said, "aside from the day Laney was born."
"I can understand that. She was so excited about being a big sister."
"I know. She's wanted to be a big sister for a really long time. And she asked God and Santa Claus for a baby sister. I hope she gets at least one baby sister if not the kid will be devastated."
"I know," said Mason. "I would like a boy and a girl."
"Me too," she said with a smile as they brought their Greek Omelets to them.
Once they were finished eating they went on their way to venture around Greece. Their first stop was the Parthenon. They admired the beautiful architecture and took in the beauty of the old building one of Greece's most popular sights to visit. They spent their week in Greece visiting many places and enjoying the Greek culture. They had both become fans of Greek cuisines and Charlie had made Mason an expert on Greek history. They visited the Acropolis, the temple of Hephaestus, the prison that held Socrates, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Mars Hill and Mt. Lycabettus to over look the Acropolis. It was a beautiful city with lots of history and Charlie enjoyed every minute of it. Mason enjoyed seeing Charlie so happy and they took plenty of pictures to share with their friends and family. As much as Charlie didn't want to leave she was just as happy to finally being able to go see Rome, Italy. Greece was fun for her but her entire life dream was to be able to visit Rome. Ever since she was a little girl she wanted to visit Rome and she was finally getting that chance.
Charlie was like a kid on Christmas morning when they arrived in Rome. She was so excited. It was a surreal moment when she stepped off the plane into the most famous city in Italy. She didn't waste anytime getting ready to go out and venture the town. Mason was just as excited as she was not only because they were in Rome but because he could see the true happiness on Charlie's face.
Their trip to Italy was just as wonderful as their trip to Greece except Charlie was even more into it and so was Mason. They visited the Colosseum, which has housed many gladiator, slave and wild animal battles in the past. They spent some time at the Pantheon where they learned about its architecture and the history of the building. It was interesting to them that it was still a church to that day. They even went to an opera show. As much as Mason hated the idea he did it for Charlie. He wasn't the opera going type but he could handle it for one night and found out it wasn't as bad as he thought. They visited a winery where they each had a glass of Italian wine. It was all right for Charlie to have just one glass because like the man at the winery told her; "Italian women drink one glass of wine a day while being pregnant." Charlie couldn't pass it up so she had a glass of Italian wine. After all it wasn't everyday that she could get a glass of real Italian wine; one of the best wines in the world. Mason also invested in a couple bottles of wine to take home to save for after Charlie had the babies. They also visited the Vatican, had gelato which they had to eat from a tub because the Italians believed eating them with cones drain the flavor. It was probably some of the best ice cream they had ever had in their entire lives. They were in Heaven as they ate real Italian food from real Italian chefs. It was so much better than the food they had gotten in America. They even got to eat real Italian pizza. There was nothing better than having a slice of pizza from Italy. And the chocolate! Charlie was in Heaven as they visited chocolate shops in Italy. They had everything from candy to hot chocolate. It was exquisite. The babies enjoyed the chocolate as well because they wanted Charlie to eat more and more of it.
They visited Trevi fountain where they each tossed a coin into the water and made a wish. Neither of them told the other what their wish was but Mason had wished for many years of happiness with Charlie while Charlie wished for many years of happiness with Mason. They visited the Capitoline where they viewed many beautiful paintings and as an art fanatic it was one of Mason's favorite places to visit. Charlie had no idea that Mason was so into art until they visited The Capitoline. The paintings were absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. Charlie and Mason had never seen anything so beautiful in their lives.
Like their time in Greece it had all gone so fast and they were on their last and final day in Italy. This day they chose to visit the Gardens of the Villa Borghese. It was one of the most central public parks in Italy. It was filled with joggers and dog walkers but they went to enjoy the beauty and spend one last romantic day together. "So was this everything you dreamed of?" asked Mason as they walked through the park holding hands.
"It was so much more. Thank-you," she said with a smile.
"I'm glad," he said with a smile. "And this garden is so beautiful. I'm glad we saved it for last."
"Me too," said Charlie, "and the picnic we had was beautiful. Remember when you took me on a picnic in Mississippi?"
"Yeah," he said. "That was beautiful too."
"It was and romantic too. How are you so romantic?"
"I don't know. It's a gift I guess," he said. "I guess I just know how to handle women."
"Yes you do," she said, "you Mason Ryan are one of a kind. There is not a man in this world that is better than you. I am so glad you are mine."
"I'm glad to be yours and I plan to be yours forever. And I am going to adopt Laney. I want to be one family."
"Me too," she said, "but I think we already are."
"We are but I want to make it official. Our life together is going to be great. Living in Wales in one of the most beautiful houses, two beautiful babies, a wonderful little girl and we have each other. It's going to be great."
"Yes it is," she said. "I couldn't have asked for a better life. It just goes to show you the best things come to those who wait and when are you going to let me see this beautiful house?"
"When we arrive in Wales," he said. "I want you to be surprised but believe me you are going to love it."
"I'm sure I am," she said. "But I am so anxious to see it. I'm dying to see it."
"You're just going to need to wait," he said. "You only have a little over a month before you get to see it. I think you can wait. Remember the best things come to those who wait."
"Way to turn my words around on me," she said with a smile. "I guess I can wait a little while longer."
"It won't be that long. I promise," he said kissing the top of her head. "We're going to be so happy together."
"I don't doubt that for a second," she said, "because when I'm with you everything makes sense to me and you make me a better person. You make me everything I want to be and you're everything I need. I love you so much and life without you would be unimaginable."
"I feel the same way. My life without you is unimaginable. I could not imagine my life without such beauty, grace and intelligence. You are the best thing to ever happen to me and I'm really looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I love you."
"I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you," she said as she rested her head on his chest and continued walking through the park enjoying her last day in Italy before heading back to Mississippi.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.