Chapter 37
"I really am all right. And I'd much rather be at home than here."
He kissed her fingers.
"Just be patient, okay? If Meredith wants to watch you for another twenty four hours, she must have a reason. Let me be certain you're okay before you leave. I need that."
There was naked emotion in his face. Damon was wide open, not bothering to guard himself. After what he had been through, he would never again try to control his feelings for her. He had almost lost her the night before; he realized why people say life is too short, too uncertain, to do anything but live it to the fullest. His expression was serious as he smoothed her hair away from her face.
"Are you still mad at me?"
A little smile curved her mouth.
"No."
"I swear to God I didn't string you along just to stay on top of the situation. The only thing I thought about being on top of was you."
She snorted.
"Gosh, that's romantic"
She deadpanned but the smile remained.
"I don't know how to be romantic. All I know is that I want you, and I can't let you go. I've never run into this type of situation before, not like this, so I probably messed up in the way I handled it"
She bit her lip, bemused by his words. Could it be that Damon was too hardheaded to know when he was in love? She knew that falling for him in a week was the root of all her anger and betrayal so maybe they were both in the wrong...
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"No idea. Originally I'd be packing to get the hell out of dodge but I can't pack until I no longer resemble Sally Stitch. Why?"
"We're getting married this weekend. And then we're going on a cruise around the world"
Bella's mouth fell open...
"I'm the one that got slashed. Did you get my happy pills?"
Damon frowned
"You're shooting me down?"
"I can't marry you"
"Why not!?"
He shouted.
"Because you've never told me you loved me"
"How can you not know that?"
She rolled her eyes toward the heavens.
"Lord help me, the man's as thick as a tree. How am I supposed to know if you don't tell me? Say it in plain English, Damon. Do you love me? That's what I need to know."
"Of course I love you!"
He roared, his temper flashing.
"Then say so!"
"I love you, damn it!"
He surged to his feet and stood over her bed, hands on hips.
"What about you? Are we in this together, or am I soloing?"
She thought of punching him, but decided not to put that much strain on her stitches. She contented herself with saying,
"No, you aren't soloing."
"Then say it!"
"I love you, you moron!"
She said it just as belligerently as he had. His chest heaved with the force of his breathing as they faced each other down in silence. Finally the tension eased out of his coiled muscles.
"That's settled, then."
He sat down again.
"What's settled?"
"That I love you and you love me"
He jumped back up and opened the hospital door. A family of originals and a wolf pack plus a guest and Liz fell inside like dominoes. Bella couldn't control her smirk
"Did you get all that or do we need to repeat it?"
"Nah we got it. Hi Bells"
"Who's he?"
Damon questioned as the half dressed Indian man walked to Bella handing her a single violet flower.
"This is Seth, my self appointed baby brother. Seth that's Damon. The vampire that wants to marry me"
"Can't you find a normal human? With you I'll have a heart attack before I reach thirty!"
"Humans are boring"
Bella said seriously.
"What are you doing here Seth?"
"I came the minute he showed up in Forks. If a vampire was asking about you, then you'd need help"
Bella smiled softly and patted his head
"You weren't exactly useful last night, but thank you"
Seth grimaced at her but he had a blush on his cheeks that made Bella chuckle under her breath. Damon snorted and led a group of kindergardeners inside holding sketch papers made by Liz. Each kid raised one with a brilliant smile
M-A-R-Y-H-I-M
Bella spelled the word and laughed
"Fine. But if we don't work out, I'll bitch at you for the whole eternity"
Damon smiled brilliantly
"Join the club"
He muttered under his breath and got head slapped by the two blond vampires that already were planning on bitching at him for the whole eternity