I don't own these lovely ladies, but I do love to play with them from time to time.
Jane and Maura eat breakfast in their room admiring the view. Jane is thoroughly enjoying eating such a sumptuous breakfast in a lavish setting while braless and in her 'jammies'. She looks down at her phone to see what time it is, and notices the date.
"Hey, it's New Year's Eve."
Maura looks over to her. "Yes, Jane it is."
"Hrmph. I guess it's going to be a little hard to watch the ball drop in New York this year."
"Well, we can set an alarm for 6:00 am if you really want to." Jane wrinkle her forehead in confusion, then she smack her it when understanding comes.
"Right, the time difference." Jane takes another bite of breakfast. "So, what do they do here?"
Maura already has plans for tonight, but she sounds casual when she answers. "They have fireworks right here by the Eiffel Tower. The crowds are similar to that of Times Square. Do you want to go?"
"Hell, no! Do you know how much crime is committed in crowd situations like that? If someone tries to pickpocket me or touch you in any way, I will be likely to take them down in such a way that I would be arrested!" Maura smiles in relief. This is the exact reaction she expected.
"Well, why don't we enjoy a nice dinner, and then come back to the room to watch the fireworks in comfort from here?"
"I like that plan! So, what do you have planned for us today?"
"We are going to Hotel des Invalides….."
"We're going to check out another hotel?"
"It isn't a hotel in the traditional sense. Napoleon had it constructed with the veterans of war in mind. A few veterans are still housed there. Napoleon's Tomb is located here."
"You mean, like his actual body?"
"Yes, Jane. It rests beneath the golden dome. There is also the Louve, Notre-Dame and Sacre-Coeur. We may not make it to them all, but we'll see what we can see."
"Looks like a busy day. Let's get it started." Jane rubs her hands in anticipation of a full day with Maura as her personal tour guide. Alphonse is available to them so that they will not have to worry about public transportation.
The ladies start early enough and are able to view Napoleon's Tomb in the Hotel des Invalides. As the day progresses, the crowds do start coming out and lines start to form at the various attractions they try to go to. The ladies wander around the outside of Notre-Dame, appreciating the architecture.
"Notre-Dame is considered the 'heart' of France, both geographically and spiritually. It took the original craftsmen 170 years to build this. It was almost destroyed in their revolutionary war, but was rebuilt." Rain begins to fall, so Maura asks Alphonse to take them to the Louve. "We can do Sacre-Coeur another day."
Jane's jaw drops as the enter the Louve. "Wow, I knew this place was big, but not this BIG!"
"Yes, Jane. You can spend several days right in here looking at all the art." They spend a couple of hours looking in the various wings when Maura notices Jane getting fidgety. Maura consults her map and promises Jane that this would be the last painting they will view. As they get close, Maura has Jane close her eyes. When prompted to open them, Jane's eyes focus on the Mona Lisa.
"Ok, now this is really spectacular. I am looking at the Mona Lisa. Wow." Jane is nodding her head as if convincing herself that this is real. Jane looks at Maura, "Thank you, for making sure I saw her." The ladies make their way through the crowds and find Alphonse waiting to take them back to the hotel.
As they change, Maura tells Jane they will be eating in the Eiffel Tower at the Jules Verne Restaurant on the second level. Jane looks outside at the growing crowd.
"How are we getting through that?"
"Alphonse will drive us around to a special gate that has a crowd free path to allow people to get to restaurant." Jane watches as Maura's scoop neck black dress slides down her body. She licks her lips and thinks about suggesting eating in the room, but Maura looks so exquisite, she wants to show her off.
"Jane?"
"Huh?" Jane shakes her head, realizing that Maura was speaking to her as she was staring at how the dress was so nicely displaying Maura's Rack of God.
"I asked if you could zip me?"
"I would love to." Jane slowly raises the zipper, allowing her fingers to caress Maura's back. Maura turns to give Jane a kiss. "Maura, you are beyond beautiful. I am honored that you are my fiance."
Maura actually blushes. Maura's mouth waters at Jane simple, yet elegant and sexy choice of clothes. "Thank you, my love. May I say that you are looking quite sexy yourself?" Jane is dressed in black dress slacks and tight black, cowl neck sweater, her curly black hair draped over her shoulders. All black, I wonder if she knows what that does to me, especially after the night she told me I was going to be her wife.
A short while later, the ladies are being seated at a table. "Wow, Maura. The view is amazing at night. Look at the city lights!"
"As a matter of fact, Jane, Paris is known as the City of Light. It is known as that because of its leading role during the Age of Enlightenment and also because Paris was one of the first European cities to adopt gas street lighting." Maura smiles as she adds one last fact. "Paris is also known as the City of Love." She reaches over and entwines her fingers with Jane's.
A waiter comes over to present Maura with a bottle of champagne. She nods her head and he proceeds to release the cork and pour the champagne into their glasses. Another waiter approaches with plates of food. Jane leans close to Maura to whisper, "Don't we get menus?"
Maura whispers back, "No, the restaurant is only offering two menus, the Experience Menu and the New Year's Eve Menu."
Jane smiles at the waiter and then stares at her plate. "Fish."
Maura laughs. "You don't have to eat the whole thing, but please try it, Jane, it won't be like any fish you have had before." Jane scrunches her nose and takes a tentative bite. She looks surprised. "Ok, I don't hate it…" and takes another bite. Diner continues through several more courses that Jane sums up as duck, macaroni au gratin, more fish, a chicken dish, shortbread, and finally a chocolate dessert.
"Did you enjoy your dinner, Jane?"
"I admit that was pretty amazing. Thank you, Maura."
"Are you ready to go back to the room?"
Jane looks out the window at the growing crowd, "Yes, I really don't want to be in that crowd when the new year rings in." Maura sends a quick text to Alphonse and he is waiting for them as they exit the Tower. Back in the room, the ladies find a bottle of champagne chilling and a small plate of strawberries waiting for them.
"Jane, can you open the champagne while I freshen up?" While Jane gets a pair of glasses and opens the bottle, Maura takes a ring box from her luggage and places hides it beneath the leaves of a plant near the window facing the Eiffel Tower.
Jane walks over to hand Maura a glass. "Here's to us, my love." They clink glass and take a sip. Maura leans in to kiss Jane and tastes the champagne lingering on Jane's tongue. They hear the crowd begin to chant, at 00:00, the fireworks begin. Jane watches the fireworks in awe, "Wow!" Maura reaches for the ring box. She tries to go down on one knee to propose romantically, but realizes that her dress is too tight. Maura thinks for a moment. Jane is dressed all in black. She smiles, thinking the best way to propose. She kneels down on both knees and holds out the open box.
"Jane?" Jane looks down at Maura in confusion.
"Jane? Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
"Didn't I propose to you?" Jane is still confused.
"Actually, Jane, it was more like an order. We both deserve a proposal. Now, do I get an answer?"
"Yes! Of course, Maura!" Jane helps Maura to her feet and pulls Maura into her arms for a kiss. They break from the kiss as Maura slips a traditional Tiffany diamond ring on Jane's finger. "It's beautiful, Maura."
"Shall we elope in Paris, Jane?" Maura has a sparkle in her eyes.
"Yes! No! Ma would KILL us if we eloped without her!"
Maura nods. "You have a point. We'll get married back at home, but we plan the wedding, not the mothers."
Jane grunts. "Good luck with that! Maybe we should elope." She kisses Maura again.
Well, all, I was going to write The End! at the end of this chapter, but I've received a few PMs saying they couldn't wait until the wedding plans. That is a possibility. What do you think? Thank you for sticking with me for all this time. It's been fun! Happy Valentine's Day! Love you all!
My love to Belgium