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Chapter 42 - Chapter 42 -A Simple Andromedaen Ceremony
Samuel and Karen had come back to their new island home after the softball game. The team went to celebrate their victory, but Karen felt that Samuel needed to rest.
The island home was beautiful. Arles had taken the opportunity to change how it looked when he copied it there. White tile floors with light grey walls and large, open rooms with large windows to bring the island inside.
Downstairs was a lovely sitting room with a blue rug, white modern sofa with two chairs. A beautiful wooden striped table with built in bookcases that held a few books completed the appearance that everything was brand new.
A desk sat in the corner with some notebooks and pens. Karen's bag of school books sat on the floor next to it.
Through double doors was the large kitchen. White cabinets and stainless steel appliances with an angled roof of windows to let in light was the first thing anyone saw that walked in. On the other side of the cabinets and bar, was a large kitchen table. The entire wall behind it was sliding glass doors that lead to an outdoor balcony. Steps lead down to the sandy beach, the ocean only yards away.
The stairs from the sitting room lead straight to three of the bedrooms and a loo. The largest bedroom, simple with light grey walls, a private balcony overlooking the sea, and a large bathroom is the one Karen had picked to be theirs'.
Samuel, instead of resting while Karen showered, was arranging the room to surprise her. The large bed sat low on the floor. The floor was tiled in white and had a chevron black and white rug on the floor. The bed was lovely and inviting with a white duvet, with brown pillows. The side tables were white and modern.
Samuel folded her quilt and laid it across the back of the chair in the bedroom. He hung her clothes on one side of the walk-in closet. He looked up and saw her Goofy doll sitting on the top shelf in there. He picked it up and smiled it as he held in his hands.
He walked into the bedroom, looked around and decided to sit the Goofy doll on the chair with the quilt. He looked around and nodded, satisfied with his work.
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The sun had set as Karen stepped out of the steamy shower and dried off. She rolled her shoulders. Her pitching arm was sore from the game.
After she combed out her hair, and put on a pair of her shorts and a tank top that Samuel had brought for her. She walked out of the bathroom to find Samuel standing on the bed hanging a painting.
She put her hands on her hips. "This is not resting."
He glanced back at her. "Sure it is. Is this straight?"
"No, it needs to come down on the left. Where did you get that?"
"Scott gave it to me."
"Hang on. Scott was here?"
"Yep." He spoke around the nails he held in his mouth. "He lives just on the side of us. Arles and Tony are on the other side. Right, then."
She watched him hammer in the nails and hang the painting. "There. What do you think?"
"I thought it looked familiar." She smiled. "That's one of my favorites of his. Such an imagination."
Samuel turned to look at her. "Imagination?"
"Yeah. I love how that looks. The rain on top of it."
"This is a real place, Karen. This is where Scott's family is from."
"Are you sure?"
He laughed under his breath. "Yes. I've been there. It's called Mersey. It's a cold planet orbiting at the outer edge of its star's habitable zone, but it is kept relatively warm by its atmosphere, which is mostly composed of CO2. It's a damp, boggy world, prone to excessive rain and seasonal flooding. A relatively flat surface prevents water from pooling into large oceans and instead keeps the water table high. There are a number of small seas however, which are fed by wide, shallow rivers - a product of the planet's active weather system."
Karen crossed her arms and looked at him with a questioning face. "Okay, that's odd."
"What? That he breathes CO2? Several people do-"
"No. Just what you did there. That sounded like you just….rattled that out of a book."
He jumped off of the bed to the floor. It made Karen jump, thinking he may have fallen.
She recovered and sighed. "Samuel."
He sat the hammer on the dresser. "I'm fine. Would you please stop worrying about me?"
She rubbed her shoulder. "I'm not promising that."
"Want me to look at that?"
"It's stiff. It's always like this after I pitch a game."
"A shut-out." He told her proudly as he put his hands on her shoulder. "I've never used that expression and find that I like it."
She smiled as he rubbed her shoulder. "That tingles."
"Yeah, it's overworked. I can put this back together. It won't take but a second."
She stood and watched his eyes as he worked. He felt her looking at him, and met her gaze. His face spread into a smile. "What?"
"It just feels….nice."
He kissed her lips quickly. "Ah. Damn. Lost that one. Okay. Stop distracting me."
She whispered, "Right. Sorry."
He put his hands on her shoulder again and looked back at it. She watched his eyes as he worked.
"Can I talk to you while you do this?" She asked quietly.
"Sure."
"Are you seeing what's under my skin? Is that how you do that?"
He moved his fingertips across her shoulder. "Yeah. Well, sortof. It's hard to explain."
She continued to watch his eyes. He looked completely focused on the task at hand.
"When I have the baby…"
He looked back at her and smiled. "I'll be able to repair everything. And it won't hurt. Well, not terribly. I don't want you to go through that."
She nodded. "Okay-"
"Be still. I'm nearly done. This last bit. Oh, that's tight."
"Just leave it if you need to-"
"No. That will make it hurt. It really needs to relax. Gosh, it's tight."
She smiled and told him quietly. "Well, I have no more plans to pitch tonight. Just to clean up this mess."
"I've already done it." He told her as he continued to work on her shoulder.
She looked surprised. "You have?"
"Yeah. If I put something where you don't like, just move it. There wasn't much. We probably need to go back to your parents' place in Florida and actually get some stuff you can use here. Or just buy a new wardrobe. Whichever you prefer." He thought, "Well, probably need to do that. Maternity stuff."
"I don't think I'll need that for a bit."
"Yeah, that's true. Umm. And your phone has been going mental."
"Yeah. Mom said I got a million texts through the softball game."
He stopped working on her shoulder and put his hands on his hips. "And how's that?"
She rolled her shoulder and rubbed it. "That's amazing, Samuel."
He told her quietly as he smiled, "Nah. It's nothing. Let me know if I need to look at it again in the morning. That's rather normal for it to be a bit stiff again. I don't want you to be in pain or uncomfortable."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled. "Thank you."
They kissed quickly. He looked into her beautiful, blue eyes. "You're welcome."
She looked around the room. "So, we have this beautiful, island home. Arles suggested the rooms needed to be bigger. Different."
"He should be an architect, or an interior designer. He's really good at this. I love it."
She smiled. "I love this room. It has a great view."
"Right now it does. I'm looking at you."
They stood, holding one another and smiling. Karen's phone dinged as it received another text.
"Let me see who this is." She walked over to the dresser and picked up the phone.
Samuel moved to the door. "Umm. Meet me downstairs, when you finish that. Alright?"
She read over the texts. "Okay."
He left the room and walked down the staircase to the sitting room in his bare feet. He walked through to the kitchen and made himself and Karen glass of wine each. He stood, leaning against the cabinet and drank the entire glass as he listened to the voices that he heard in his head again. As usual, he could almost focus on one in particular, but it wasn't quite clear enough for him to understand what it was saying.
Karen's touch startled him. "Are you alright? You looked like you were a million miles away."
The voices had stopped again in his head. He looked down at his glass, and all of his wine was gone.
Karen smiled, "And you made us wine. Great idea. But, this is my only glass tonight."
She had put her wet hair up. She reached into the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine.
"Doctor's orders, huh?"
She giggled and refilled his glass. "Yes. A cute Doctor, too. Although, this is a celebration."
"Of what? Winning the game?"
"My last glass of wine, until Blueberry is here, safe."
"Sure? One glass a day is alright."
She shook her head. "I don't feel right about that. I don't have to drink it. Now, if you tell me I can't have coffee, we're going to have a problem."
He laughed, "No, you can have coffee."
She held her glass up, and they clanged them together. "The last one."
"For just a few months. And I'll stop with you."
She laughed, "You don't drink anyway!"
"So, it will be easier for me." He teased.
They sipped the wine.
"Everything alright with the texts?" Samuel asked.
"Oh, the oddest thing. It was my old roommate."
"Emily? The one that Arles was seeing?"
"Yeah. She wanted to know where I was. If I was okay. I haven't been in class and such. She's never been that interested in me before."
"What did you tell her?"
"I didn't say anything. I thought I'd talk to you about it first. Arles returned from there, hurt, and wouldn't tell me what happened."
Samuel sat down his glass. "She knows he's an alien."
"He told her?" She asked in shock.
"No. He…phased. Accidently. He disappeared and reappeared, all over the room. It frightened her and that other girl. One of them hit him with a chair."
She sighed, "Gosh. He could have really gotten hurt!"
He shook his head, "Don't worry about Arles-"
"Someone needs to! He's just….off out there doing whatever the hell he-"
Samuel took her hand in his. "Hey. He's alright."
"How do you know that?"
"Well, I don't-"
"Exactly my point!" She threw her hands up and drank some more of her wine.
Samuel leaned against the cabinet and crossed his arms. "Maybe, we need to rethink this drinking thing."
"What I need to quit, now?"
"No, that you need to have another one. What's with you and Arles?"
She sighed. "He. Samuel. I can't find the words."
He rose his eyebrows at her.
"We just became close when you were gone."
"Really?"
"Not, that close-"
"Well, I wasn't thinking that-"
She put her hand on his chest. "He's….he's your brother. So, he's also going to be mine. I just don't want him to get hurt."
He grinned. "I'm not a jealous sort. Well, particularly of my brother. I trust him."
She sipped her wine. "He was…..so great, when you were gone. Anything I needed. He was right there."
He nodded. "Want me to ring him then?"
"No." She shook her head as she traced her finger around the top of her wine glass.
Samuel rose his eyebrows at her. "Sure?"
She sighed. "Is that terrible? I'm just worried."
He shook his head. "It's not terrible at all." He took his phone out of his pocket and rang Arles. He put him on speakerphone so they could both hear him.
"Hey, Sammy!" He answered.
Samuel smiled. "Hey, man. Karen and I were just talking about you. What are you doing?"
"Ummm." He sounded like he was completely unprepared to answer. "Walking."
"Walking?" Samuel laughed under his breath.
"Yeah." He said slowly.
"Walking where?" Karen asked.
"To a theatre." He told them. "Kelly and I are going to see a movie."
Samuel looked back at Karen with wide eyes to show his surprise.
Karen danced in the same goofy way that Samuel did when he got excited.
Samuel laughed. "Alright. Well, we won't keep you. Umm. About the other night…ummm. You know, with the chair."
"Yeah. Hear something about that?"
"Yeah, man. Umm. Probably need to avoid the area. I'll fill you in later."
"Right." Arles agreed.
Karen picked back up her wine and sipped it.
Samuel grinned at her. "Alright. Later, man."
He ended the call.
Karen smiled. "Kelly and Arles?"
Samuel nodded, "Yeah, she asked him out at the softball game. You should have seen his face. Took him completely by surprise."
Karen giggled. "How many times has he been asked out by a girl?"
"Never to my knowledge. Once by a guy. And, I'll never let him forget that."
Karen giggled.
Samuel laughed. "Yeah. Although, he would have had to ask her out anyway."
"Why?"
He took her hand in his. "The bet we had. The results came back this morning. It couldn't find what you are."
"What does that mean?"
"Well, it really doesn't mean anything. It can't determine my species, either. Dad maintains that you are human, and from here."
"What do you think?"
He rose her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I think, that it really doesn't matter. You've lived your entire life as a human here, and never had any problems. No doctors or anyone suspected anything, did they?"
She smiled and relaxed, "No."
He nodded, "See, everything is fine. Dad can tell what species someone is just by looking at them. I trust what he says."
"That, I'm human?"
"Yeah." He told her and kissed her hand again.
"Then, why wouldn't the computer label me as that?"
"I don't know, Karen."
"Well, what about Blueberry?"
He smiled warmly at her. "She's fine. Really."
She was obliviously disappointed, but didn't want to show it. She sipped her wine and smiled. "Well, too bad. I had already picked you out another name to add to your collection."
He grinned at her, "Yeah? What was it?"
"Doctor Samuel Alistair Peter Angus Bennett-"
"Angus?!" He burst. "Are you barking mad?"
She laughed hysterically.
He smiled and looked away as he shook his head. "Angus. Where does that even come from?"
She covered her mouth and continued to laugh so much she couldn't speak.
He grinned, "Let me guess. You favorite bit of beef?"
She laughed and brought her glass back up to sip her wine again.
He rose his eyebrows at her and smiled. "You are mad."
She grinned, "I used to watch a movie when I was a little girl. Gosh, over and over. I'm sure it drove my Mom crazy. There was an English character in it named Angus. It's just what comes to mind because of your accent."
He groaned. "Wow. I'm getting voice training."
"Oh, no you're not!" She insisted. "I love your accent. And your name."
"Without Angus. We're clear. I won that bet, so I don't need another name."
She smiled. "I'm sure. You're planning on keeping Alistair, aren't you?"
He picked up his glass and rubbed his chest. "I don't know. I really don't like it. Samuel Peter Bennett? I mean, it would make it easier for the other Samuel."
She smiled. "Samuel, it's completely up to you. I really don't mind."
"Well, maybe you should have a say in this."
"Why?"
"Because, we're getting married."
"No one's wife picks their name."
"My Mum picked my Dad's name. Well, sortof. I never have heard why he picked Alexander."
"Probably after Alexander the Great."
"I don't think so. He's more of a fan of Ancient Rome, rather than Ancient Greece."
"See, I'm surprised you know that." She smiled proudly at him.
He grinned as he looked back at her. "I actually really enjoy history."
"We might have something to talk about then."
"Years of study. Yes." He chuckled.
"For example? The Hundred Years War."
He grinned. "Last a lot longer than one hundred years."
"It did." She confirmed.
He counted on his fingers, "The official French language began because of that."
She looked surprised. "Didn't know that."
"Taxes began to pay for the standing army that was needed. That's when that started."
"Didn't know that either." She grinned.
"Neither side won, although both the British and the French claimed victory. Well, at different times."
"I did know that. And the longbow changed the way the military fought."
He rose his eyebrows. "Impressive."
"My Dad told me that bit. Military history and the Lieutenant. It was a way we were able to connect when I was a teenager."
He nodded. "With armor piercing arrows. Ended the era of the knights."
She sat down her wine glass and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He smiled as he held onto her hips. "And that's the end of that glass."
"The last one. It was really nice. Thank you, Samuel."
"One of my favorites. If I'm picking what we're drinking."
"Good. You will have to finish the bottle on your own."
He smiled and shook his head. "But, not tonight."
"No." She giggled, "Not tonight."
He became lost in her eyes.
She asked. "How was your day?"
"One of the best."
"How are you feeling? I should probably get you to bed-"
"Actually." He began. "I have something for you."
She looked surprised. "Me? What?"
"Two things. First." He took her hand and led her to the kitchen table. From one of the chairs he pulled out a gift bag and handed it to her.
She giggled, "What is this?"
"Open it."
She sat it on the table and pulled out a plush, blue elephant. She held it up and looked at him.
He smiled, "For Blueberry. I had an elephant that I loved when I was a boy. That's for her."
She held it up and smiled. "It's blue."
"For the Blueberry." He teased. "And there's something else for you."
She smiled and sat the toy on top of the table. She looked back in the bag and pulled out a blue box. "Tiffany's?"
He nodded and held out his hands. "Open it, Karen."
"You are spoiling me."
"That's my job." He grinned.
She opened it and gasped. "This is beautiful."
"You wear it on your ankle. You walk around in your bare feet all of the time. I thought it would be nice."
She looked at it and smiled. "With blue stones?"
"For the Blueberry. Just thought it worked. They didn't have a lighthouse, but they are making one for me. Well, for you. I don't want to wear jewelry on my ankle."
She giggled. "Are you sure?"
He smiled, "Yes. Completely certain. Not a fruity guy."
"Just like you aren't a gushy guy?"
He nodded and grinned, "Okay, I might be a bit of a gushy guy."
She laughed and put her foot on the chair.
Samuel helped her on with the ankle bracelet.
"See, now that's lovely." He smiled at her.
"Thank you, Samuel. I love it. I've never had one of these before. It feels strange."
"Strange, huh?"
"Good, strange." She picked up the elephant. "This is so soft."
"Yeah, I used to sleep with mine. Mum probably has it in my cot with me. Or Samuel. This, is going to take a bit to get used to."
She smiled, "A cot. A crib?"
"Yeah. Umm…thing number two is in here." He pointed to the bedroom that was just down the hall from the kitchen.
She took his hand and he led him to the closed door. He stopped and put his hand on the doorknob. "Alright. You will probably like what's behind this door, but…you don't have to open it if you don't want to."
"What have you done?"
He smiled. "Nothing. Well, something. Well." He took the elephant from her and sat it on the floor. He looked around. "Do you like the flat?"
She smiled, "Love the flat. I love that we're here together. Finally, a place of our own-"
"Here on our own." He said as he rested his forehead to hers. "You smell so good."
"So do you. You didn't shower. Why do you smell so nice?"
"I had to go to the ship. The scrubber cleaned me off." He told her without opening his eyes.
"Samuel." She told him quietly. "You have to be tired."
"I'm not tired." He smiled, "Are you?"
"Yeah, a bit." She admitted. "But, I'm not the one who is recovering between us."
"How tired?" He asked.
"Like I just pitched a softball game?" She reasoned.
He stood up and took something out of his pocket. It was the ancient box that Tony had given him.
"What is that?" Karen asked.
"It's not what you think." Samuel told her. "But, I want to show you. Is that alright?"
Not sure what to expect, she looked at him with suspicion. "Maybe?"
He laughed, "Maybe? Don't you trust me?"
She smiled. "I do, but…what is that?"
He opened the box and showed the two rings to her. "Rings. See?"
"Oh." She said as she watched him take them out of their box, and slip one on his finger. He looked back at her and slipped the smaller ring on her finger.
"So, rings?" She asked and looked at the metal around her finger.
"Special rings. You'll love this." He told her and sat the box on the floor. He stood up and held his hand up in front of her. She put her hand to his and the rings started to glow.
He grinned. "Now, tell me what you're feeling."
"Nervous. Wow. Why am I nervous?" Karen asked.
"Because, that's what I'm feeling. You're feeling my emotions and I'm feeling yours."
"Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm trying not to mess this up. Gosh, you love me a lot."
She blushed and laughed. "Of course, I do."
He shook his head and looked down at the floor. "I just feel….love. It's over powering everything else. Even how tired you are."
"You can feel that, too?"
He nodded. "What else do you feel from me?"
"Gosh, love. Yes. I feel that. My heart wants to dance out of my chest. Samuel, why are you so nervous? It's only me here."
He took a deep breath. "Well, I…just-"
"And you're not tired. You are excited. Why? What is behind this door?"
He cupped her face with his hands and stepped in to kiss her. She held him around his waist and opened her mouth when she felt him lick her lips, slowly. It made her lips tingle like they always did when he touched her. She gripped the back of his shirt in her fists.
He looked back at her and smiled. "What do you feel from me now?"
She laughed. "The same thing you are probably feeling from me."
He took his phone out of his pocket and sat it on the floor next to the elephant.
She giggled, "What is this?"
He smiled back at her, took her in his arms again, and began to snog her. Her knees became weak. The feeling of love washing over her was as strong as the electrical current that always moved through her body when they touched. She wanted him so much. No, she was feeling that he wanted her. She held him and moaned under his touch. "Samuel."
He kissed the end of her nose and whispered, "Do you want to know what's in this room?"
She grinned. "Yes."
"Oh, you'll like it." He smiled and opened the door.
The room was dark, but illuminated by small, electric candles everywhere. Rose pedals lay on the floor and lead her to the bed. The entire room smelled of roses, which was probably because of the huge vase of roses that sat in the middle of the room at the end of the bed.
She turned to him and looked surprised. She could feel his nervousness peak. "Are you better?"
"Completely better." He smiled as he felt her relief and excitement.
She smiled and squeezed her eyes together tightly.
He laughed, picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom. He lay her down on the bed and whispered. "And I'm feeling my emotions now. The rings stopped."
"Don't be nervous, Samuel. There's no reason to be that way with me."
He nodded, "I just…want this to be perfect."
She grabbed his head and laughed through her happy tears. "This is perfect."
He leaned down and snogged her, tasting the wine in her mouth. She pulled off her tank top. He looked down at her bare breasts and grinned. He took her nipple in her mouth and sucked it. She held his head close to her.
He kissed her breast, gently.
She giggled and ran her hands through his hair.
He pulled his shirt off and tossed it in the floor. She ran her hands across his chest. He closed his eyes and moaned. "Oh, I love how that feels."
"I can feel it, too. I'm going to stay, once."
He laughed in surprise. "Once?"
"Yes. Once."
"Okay. Well, you're tired. So, once."
"I know you and you'll keep yourself up all night-"
He growled proudly, "All night, baby. Just for you."
She giggled. "I didn't mean that."
He pulled her shorts and knickers off her hips as he whispered, "Yes, you did."
"You are going to hurt yourself." She teased.
He smiled as he kissed down her to waist and began to suck and lick between her legs. The current of electricity changed. She wrapped her legs around his neck and moaned loudly. She ran her hands through his hair sending shock-waves through his system but nothing like he sent through hers.
He surprised her as he looked up and said, "Ouch! Gentle."
"What did I do?"
"You pulled my hair!" He laughed.
She giggled. "Sorry."
He wiped his mouth and kissed her lips. She lost herself in kissing him. He had always been excellent at that. She unzipped his jeans and pushed them down with his pants. She wrapped her hand around his erect staff. Feeling her smile, he stopped kissing her to look at her face. "Yeah?"
"Oh, I've dreamed of this."
He crashed her lips back into hers and began to snog her again as she put him inside of her. The current changed, just as it had before. It began to center around their cores and rotate around their bodies. He stroked inside of her slowly. Savoring the feeling it sent through them.
"This is better than I remember." He told her quietly.
She held onto him and wrapped her legs around his back. "I love that feeling."
The current between them began to scream, and so had she. Finally, to themselves. Finally, able to be together. She felt him kiss her neck and continue to stroke inside of her as he panted.
She pushed him over on his back and straddled his waist. "You are going to get tired and sick-"
He threw his hands out. "I am not!"
She began to move on him and saw his eyes roll back in his head. "I'm not complaining."
She leaned down and kissed his chest.
"Just, do that all night." He told her as she continued.
She twisted her hips and he grabbed her quickly and sat up. He was driven deep inside of her. They looked into one another eyes and in that moment, for the first time in weeks, Karen felt as though everything would be alright.
She held onto him and became lost in that sea of brown. "I love you."
"I love you, too-"
"No. I mean, I really love you, Samuel. I can't wait to have this baby. I want to have more with you, and I'm so thankful you are home. That you're really alright."
He slowly smiled at her. "Me too."
She beamed at him. "We're engaged-"
"I'd rather be married."
"You wanted to wait until-"
"I don't want to do that anymore. I want you. So much. I want us."
She held onto him. "What do you have in mind?"
"We could marry, right now. Right here. What do you think?"
She looked surprised. "I don't think that's how it works."
"It's different on every planet. Every culture."
She giggled, "Do you always have to go fast?"
"I'm recovering! It wasn't going to last long-"
She rolled her eyes. "Wasn't talking about that-"
He smiled. "What do you think?"
She lay down on the bed. He lay down next to her and pulled the duvet over them. He faced her and ran his fingertips up and down her chest, sending relaxing electricity through them both.
She smiled, "How is our Blueberry?"
He put his hand to her stomach. "She's moving around a bit. I would have thought we would have rocked her to sleep."
"Should we be having sex?"
"Making love. Not sex."
She nodded, "Right. Should we be making love with her in there?"
"Sure. The rhythmic motions are good for her. And a million other reasons."
"One being you want to." She teased.
"And so do you. I felt your emotions." He grinned. "And that's probably the most important reason. I always want to lay here in the bed with you."
She smiled and played with the hairs on his chest. "Just like we did in New York."
He closed his eyes and grinned. "Oh, I remember that. It was amazing. You were amazing."
She giggled. "Okay, Blueberry is alright. Tell me about this marriage thing."
"The Andromedaens have a very interesting tradition. Logan and Ashena will do this. They believe that no one should lie to a child. So, they promise the youngest member of both of their families that they will always take care and love the other person."
She smiled, "That's beautiful."
"Want to do it?"
She giggled. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. Just agree."
She ran her hand through his hair.
"This is real. I'm really asking. You can tell me no."
She looked in his eyes and shook her head. "I'll never say that to you."
"You probably should."
She pointed at him. "Okay, no racing cars with your Uncle Tony-"
"Fair enough. Okay, this? Thoughts? Honestly?"
She lay on her back.
He looked confused at her. "What's that mean?"
She smiled back at him and pointed at her stomach. "The youngest member of this family right there."
He nodded, "That's true. That's who it would have to be."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't think you're getting out of an actual ceremony so easily."
"I'm not wearing a tux-"
"I won't make you do that." She agreed.
Samuel's attention went to Karen's stomach. He kissed her stomach and then said, "Blueberry, you are the youngest member of our family. And you are already so loved. I'm your Dad, and I want you to know that it's my honor to love your Mum. Always. Even when she's cross. When she's sick. Especially, when she's sad. I promise I'll always be there for her, and I'll love her forever. I do this because she's so special, to us both. Life is so fragile, sweet Blueberry, and Daddy is here to protect both you and Mum. I promise that I'll respect her. She deserves so much better than I am, so I'll try to be the best I can to hopefully rise to her. I will let you, and of your siblings you might have, know that she is my best friend. Because I know, you will be watching how I treat her, and that's how you should treat your spouse one day. There's no one, in the entire universe, that will ever love you more than me and you Mum do. Because you are a reminder of how much we love one another. Love created you. Love will be the center of anything we ever are."
Samuel looked back at Karen to see her wiping her tears.
"Are you really crying?" He smiled.
She sat up and hugged him tightly.
He held her and laughed. "It's alright to cry." He kissed her cheek and closed his eyes tightly, "I love you."
She wiped her eyes as she sat back. "Samuel. That was…. So sweet."
He kissed the end of her nose. "Love, is the beginning of this family. I want it always in everything. Anything we ever are. Anything we ever become."
She nodded her head and they embraced again.
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