Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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Chapter 37

Soul Mates

Shane paused at the top of the steps for a moment as Mitchie emerged from her hiding spot against his chest and put her arms around his shoulder. Looking over her head, he could see Brown coming from the lake and caught his eye.

His uncle grinned and nodded, before disappearing in the direction of his office.

Shane returned his attention to the girl in his arms and his broad grin softened in to the smile he seemed to have reserved exclusively for her.

"Where are we going, Shane?" Mitchie settled even further into his embrace as he adjusted his hold on her and started down the steps. She looked up at him through her eyelashes, raising one hand to brush his hair out of his eyes.

"It's a surprise." He replied, leaning down slightly to press a kiss to her forehead.

"I take it that part of this surprise does include food." Mitchie asked with an assumed tone of innocence in her voice as she lowered the hand had been still holding to his cheek and resting it on his chest.

"How... oh Connie stopped you snacking." Shane shook his head. "I suppose I couldn't have kept everything about your surprise completely quiet."

"Well, you did actually." She stuck her tongue out at him; the gentle smile he adored lighting up her eyes and making him smile back at her again. She looked around her once more, enjoying the way it felt being carried in his arms.

She most definitely preferred this way of being carried rather than over the shoulder as Jason had done earlier – an act she silently swore she would get her brother back for.

"Just what are you thinking now, Mitch?" Shane murmured as he caught the wicked glint in her brown eyes. "And why do I get the feeling that I would be better off being on your side rather than against you."

"I'll let you know." She replied with the same tone, adjusting her arms around his neck slightly, "I just need to think about it a little."

Shane just shook his head, an amused smile playing on his lips as he realised that she must be planning revenge on Jason for earlier. He adjusted his hold on her slightly making her tightened her hold on him again.

Looking round to see where they had got to, Shane stopped suddenly and dropped Mitchie's legs to the ground.

"Shane!" Mitchie actually squeaked as she caught hold of his shirt to steady herself.

"Sorry Mitch." Shane pressed a kiss to her forehead, holding her by the upper arms as he helped her regain her balance. "But I need you to close your eyes for a little bit."

Mitchie actually rolled her eyes but did as she was asked. Shane then took her hands and started to lead her to their mystery destination. He then realised that Mitchie needn't have shut her eyes after all as even he was surprised by what was in front of him.

"You can open them, Mitch, my surprise just surprised me!"

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A couple of hours later, Shane leant back against the cushions that had been piled up against the willow, arm around Mitchie who was curled up at his side, head in the curve of his neck as they watched the sun set over the lake.

The couple were shielded from the rest of the camp by a tent wall that actually managed to give them sense of peaceful quiet.

When he planned this surprise picnic for Mitchie, he had merely asked his uncle to help set up a small picnic. He had not expected the mini desert tent set-up.

Somehow Brown had managed to shield the entire dock area around the willow with purple hangings, put several rugs down on the docking area and piled up cushions at the base of the willow. Candles had been safely secured around the area, adding to the aura of romance.

'Uncle Brown is a closet romantic.' Shane thought to himself as he rested his cheek on Mitchie's head, taking in the scent of strawberries and vanilla she was wearing. 'But so am I apparently.'

"Shane..." Mitchie's voice was soft and in keeping with the atmosphere that surrounded them. "You know that thing I said earlier..."

"Yes, Mitchie," Shane's voice was equally as soft as he pulled her onto his lap, both arms around her as she settled her head completely on his shoulder, curling into him. He immediately turned his head so that he could press a kiss into her hair. "And..."

"I really don't think there is a word to describe what we are." She leant into him, one hand resting against his chest as the other played with his hair. "This... connection we have, it's almost as if it's..."

"...Soul deep." Shane finished for her.

"Yes... exactly." She sighed, almost as if hearing the word was enough to answer the question that had been playing at the edge of her mind. She settled even further into his embrace, suddenly peaceful, "Soul mates."

She suddenly felt herself being moved from his embrace and resting amongst the cushions, Shane leaning over her. She looked up into his eyes, a shy smile and blush gracing her cheeks as she raised her hand to press it to his cheek.

"Shane?" She asked with a note of puzzlement in her voice.

"Not that long ago, I told Jason that I didn't have the words to describe how I felt about you." Shane said quietly as he ran a finger over her blushing cheeks. "I know why now. I knew that the first person to hear those words had to be you."

He settled into the cushions beside her, still leaning over her as he rested his hand on her cheek. "Mitchie..."

She ran her thumb over his cheekbone. "Yes..."

"I'm in love with you." He said softly, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her lips. He released her lips but she held him close, running her hand into his hair to do so.

"Shane..." She whispered.

"Yes Mitchie." He leant his forehead against hers, as a wave of anticipation ran through him.

"I'm in love with you too."

Shane closed his eyes as he shuddered before leaning down to kiss her as he had never done before. Mitchie's arms slipped around his neck as she held him to her, returning the kiss.

After a while he broke the kiss and turned to lie back against the cushions again, holding her against his side, her head on his shoulder and arm resting across his chest. He gently ran his hand along her arm before resting his hand on hers.

This time it was Shane that murmured the word to the sunset as Mitchie smiled and closed her eyes, listening to his heart beat.

"Soul mates."

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There's only one word for this chapter and that's: SMITCHIE SMITCHIE SMITCHIE

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it and Mitchie still thinks boyfriend is not the right word to describe Shane!!! ;0)

As always look forward to all your delighted comments!!!! ;0p