Martin was upstairs brushing his teeth when he heard a banging on his kitchen door. Quickly rinsing his mouth out, he went downstairs, turned on the light in the kitchen and opened the door. His breath caught in his throat, as he saw Louisa standing there, tears in her eyes.
Their eyes met, and without warning Louisa threw her arms around Martin's neck and kissed him.
Startled, Martin reacted instinctively and wound his arms around her waist, lifting her feet off the ground, moved them into the kitchen, closing the door behind them.
They kissed for what seemed, to Martin, too short a time, when Louisa pulled back and smiled at him. She lent in again, murmuring words of love while showering his face and mouth with kisses.
Pausing her kisses, she held his face in her hands and looked him in the eyes. "Martin, you silly man. You haven't mucked it up again. We're on this journey together… to teach each other how to be together. We're bound to fight occasionally, it's just part of being a couple! Thank you for saying you'll try not to talk down about the villagers. I know they can be annoying, but they're just excited for us. The gossip will die down soon."
"I love you so much Martin. I love your dedication to helping people, even though you find them annoying. I love how loyal you are to those you care about. I even love how much dogs love you. I love you Martin Ellingham, and don't you forget it!"
Overcome with emotion and without thinking, he said the first thing that came into his mind. "Louisa, I love you so much... Please... marry me?"
Startled, Louisa pulled back. "What did you say?"
Martin, looking down at her, lent his forehead against her, and whispered. "Marry me?"
Louisa pulled her head back and looked into his eyes. He had such expressive eyes, and they were currently looking at her with such love and uncertainty that it made her heart ache. He was such a complex man. So taciturn, so rude, so sensitive, so loving. So perfect for her. His proposal had caught her off guard, but looking into his eyes, she knew, without a doubt, that she wanted to spend the rest of her life trying to figure out this puzzling, contradictory, frustrating, kind-hearted man.
"Oh yes, Martin. I will. Yes!"
Martin released the breath he didn't even realise he was holding, as a wave of an unfamiliar emotion washed over him. Contentment. He closed his eyes, kissing Louisa again and revelled in the feeling of contentment... Knowing that for better or worse, they would be together, that they would figure the relationship out. Martin could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest, as he pulled back and buried his head in her neck, inhaling her scent.
They stood like this for a while, before Martin pulled back, running kisses down her face and shoulders. "Stay with me tonight?"
Taking a step back from him, grabbing his hand and walking to the stairs, she looked over her shoulder at him.
"You, Martin, have my heart, now and forever.
The end.
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Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed my little story... I really enjoyed writing it, and I really appreciate the time everyone has taken to reviewing my story. Thanks :)