We Belong Together
Ch. 1:
"I love you"
Author's Note: Before we start, I just would like to say happy birthday to my good friend LiveFoREVer93. This is my gift to her. Happy Birthday my dear friend.
It was December 6, 1939. It was the last of the 1930s. In Greenport, New York which is a village located within the town of Southold, was a place like many other small towns. It had award winning vineyards, buzzy restaurants, and hip hotels, plus the charm of the neighboring Hamptons without any of the pretension. However, due to the great depression of the 1930s, almost everything was still shut down and business was slow. A man was walking down the street to the local diner. That man was none other than Moe. Just as he was approaching the diner, a woman's scream could be heard. Moe rushed to the woman's rescue and saw some masked assailant trying to take her purse and have his way with her.
"You leave her alone, wise guy!" Moe said, as he tackled the creep down.
The two men struggled for what seemed to be an hour until the women grabbed an empty beer bottle and broke it over the assailant's head, knocking him out. Then, she tended to Moe, hoping he was going to be alright. After all, she wanted to thank him properly.
"Sir? Sir, are you alright?" the woman asked, while fanning Moe's face with her hand.
"Ohhhh! My head. I-I-" Moe was starstruck when he saw the woman who he saved just moments ago, leaning over him.
"Sir, are you alright?" the woman asked, again.
"I-I'm better now. I just hope you're okay." Moe smiled at the woman.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Actually, I'm thankful that you saved my life. I don't know how to repay you." the woman smiled.
"Think nothing of it, kid." Moe looked into the woman's eyes.
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Deidra. What's yours?" the woman introduced herself.
"My name is Moe. Moe Howard to be exact." Moe grabbed Deidra's hand and kissed it, "Deidra is a very pretty name."
"Ah shucks." Deidra blushed.
"Well, it's been nice meeting you, Deidra. Ummm..." Moe was at a loss for words as he continued to stare into Deidra's eyes and admire her beauty. Never before had he seen a girl this beautiful and especially a southern belle. To him, she was a goddess.
The same went for Deidra. Never before had she seen a man as handsome and kind as Moe was. To her, out of all the men of New York, Moe was the best looking and a hero. After all, he saved her from a mugger.
'Oh dear God, I think I just might've found my soul mate! This Moe fella is pretty nice and he saved my life. I've never had a man to that for me, let alone have a man be that friendly to me. However, I musn't rush into anything just yet. Maybe we should become good friends first then go from there.' Deidra thought.
'Success! I think I may have been bitten by the love bug. Love at first bite, am I right? Wait a minute, Moe! You don't know how Deidra may feel towards you. She may already be with someone else or if she isn't, she may not reciprocate your affections. Careful pal, you must take it one step at a time. You can't just assume every girl will like you. Yeah, become her friend first, then let it play out.' Moe thought.
"So, Moe, thanks again for saving me. You're truly the best." Deidra told him.
"You're welcome. Plus, I couldn't and wouldn't idly stand by and let some wise guy hurt ya. I don't like it when cowards hurt women. I don't roll that way." Moe told her.
"You truly are the definition of a gentleman." Deidra nodded.
"I appreciate that, Deidra. Really I do. Not many women have been complimentary of me. I guess I wasn't good enough for many women, but anyways, I do appreciate the nice compliment." Moe smiled.
"Well, I guess, I'll be on my way." Deidra said.
"Same here." Moe told her, before he started to walk away, only to gather up some courage and turn around, "Hey..um..Deidra?".
"Yes?" Deidra turned around.
"Would you um...would you like to take a walk in the park?" Moe nervously asked.
"Oh my word! I never thought you'd ask. Yes, I would. I-I think I'd like that." Deidra was taken aback by Moe's offer.
"Well, then, let's go." Moe hooked his arm into hers and off they went into the nearby park.
They had spent almost the entire night walking around the entire park, just talking about their lives and back stories. However, besides the walking and talking and getting to know each other, one could tell that despite only knowing each other for a brief moment, the two were instantly drawn to each other and attracted to each other. Something was starting to spark between them and despite knowing that they were feeling for each other already, Moe and Deidra both knew two things: One, they barely met and nobody just fell in love before the snap of a finger and Two, they both didn't know whether the one felt the same way and they didn't want to rush into something that could end up in heartache for both of them. They figured that if they just gave it more time, maybe, just maybe it would manifest itself and they could confess their feelings to each other.
Finally, after all the walking and talking and star gazing, Moe and Deidra decided to part ways and hopefully meet up tomorrow.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Deidra." Moe waved goodbye.
"See you, Moe." Deidra also waved.
The next day would turn into many more days, then weeks, and before one knew it, it was Christmas Eve, which was followed by New Year's. As they were at his apartment watching the ball drop in Time's Square, Moe and Deidra's bond was starting to become closer and closer, but even if that was the case, they still wanted to take their precious time through it all.
"Look, the countdown!" Deidra saw the clock beginning to countdown.
"OK, here goes!" Moe was excited.
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five...Four...Three...Two...One! Happy New Year! Goodbye 1939, Hello 1940!
"Happy New Year!" Deidra hugged Moe very tightly, never wanting to let go.
"New Year and hopefully, a new life." Moe had the uncontrollable urge to kiss her, but managed to control himself.
"You bet. Hopefully, the great depression, won't be so...well, great." Deidra commented.
Moe laughed and shook his head.
Deidra smiled when he laughed, showing that she loved his laugh and would want to hear it a lot.
"You know, Deidra? You're very beautiful." Moe was mesmerized at her beauty, like he always was and he even admired the twinkle in her beautiful eyes.
"Awwww. Do you mean that?" Deidra blushed.
"Every word of it." Moe couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"Well, then I just have to say that you look handsome as always." Deidra took the opportunity to tell him, while she still had a chance, "You know, Moe, I'm glad I got to spend New Year's with you. There's really nobody else I would much rather spend it with."
"The same goes for me. You know, Deidra, there's been something I have been wanting to tell you, but the moment hasn't been right." Moe looked away.
"What is it, Moe? You can tell me anything." Deidra put her hand on Moe's shoulder.
"Deidra, there comes a time where someone needs to confess something and there's something that I have been needing to confess." Moe started.
"Go ahead." Deidra nodded.
"Deidra, I need...to...tell you...that...I...l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-love you." Moe had a hard time saying it.
"What?" Deidra thought she heard what she heard, but wanted Moe to say it again.
"I said that...I l-l-love you and I don't m-mean in-in a friend-friendly w-way." Moe was nervous and beginning to sweat.
Deidra, completely awe struck, just stood there and tried to let the words 'I love you' sink in. Her heart was beating out of her chest and she was taken aback by this, as no man had ever said this to her before and to her, it was a total shock, despite feeling happy that a man said it to her.
"I'm sorry." Moe, believing that Deidra found it to be weird, got a sad look on his face and looked down.
"Wait, Moe." Deidra grabbed his arm.
"No, no, it's ok. I'm sorry I made you feel weird. I know it is weird for someone to just say 'I love you' out of the blue. I'm sorry I said it. If you think I am weird, I totally understand and you probably don't feel the same way, so, I guess this is where we part ways." Moe was very sad, as he was convinced that Deidra didn't reciprocate the affections.
"Moe, wait, please. I-" Deidra was cut off when Moe grabbed her jacket and gave it to her.
"I'm sorry, Deidra." Moe didn't even face her.
"Moe, wait a minute. You haven't let me answer you. I mean fair is fair." Deidra put her stuff down.
"Fair shmair. You already gave me your answer by just standing there like a statue." Moe told her.
"Moe, you don't understand. I-" Deidra was cut off, again.
"What's to understand? You clearly think I am weird or something." Moe remained glum.
"Moe, I l-like you, too and I don't mean in a friendly way. I like you in a romantic way. I always have. Ever since you saved me. No other guy has ever been as kind to me as you have. I have never gotten a warm and fuzzy feeling around just any guy. You're special to me which is why I froze up when you told me that you loved me. No man has ever confessed their love me." Deidra lifted his chin with her finger, so that way they could be in eye contact.
"Do you really mean that?" Moe started to smile.
"Every word." Deidra rubbed his face with her hand.
"Wow. I never thought a girl would take the time to profess their love to me. Usually I get either: 'Please, get a life' or 'No, thank you'. Where-Where do we go from here?" Moe asked.
"Well, let's keep building our relationship. Let's take it a day at a time. What do you say?" Deidra suggested.
"That sounds good to me." Moe said.
"Oh, it's getting late. I had better head back to my place. I'll see you tomorrow." Deidra grabbed her hate and coat.
"You sure? The weatherman said there would be a blizzard." Moe told her.
"Oh, I'll be fine, Moe. I can make it home before the blizzard." Deidra tried to reassure him.
"You sure?" Moe raised an eyebrow, as a look of concern came over his face. He didn't want her to go out in the oncoming blizzard for fear of her getting sick or hypothermia or freezing to death.
"Relax, Moe, I'll be fine. However, I do thank you for being concerned." Deidra walked over to him and rubbed his cheek, before giving him a peck on that same cheek.
Moe's heart started beating out of his chest and he blushed, clearly not expecting her to do that, especially since they planned to take things slowly. However, he didn't care, because he loved the peck on the cheek and most importantly, he loved Deidra. He stood there, dead on his feet and mesmerized.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Deidra whispered in his ear.
"Oh...uh...I'll see you tomorrow too, Deidra." Moe's face was red, as a smile spread across his face.
With that, Deidra put her coat and hat on, then left while the going was still good. Moe watched her from his window until she disappeared into the night fog. Then, he decided to turn in for the night in order to prepare himself for what tomorrow would bring.
To Be Continued...