Alan took a deep breath and dialled Ellie's number.
"Hello?"
"Ellie? It's Alan."
"Alan! It's so good to hear your voice, are you home ok? I've been so worried about you."
"Yes sorry, you know me."
Alan rolled his eyes as he was trying to find his words and fumbling as always.
"Yeah I do, what on earth were you thinking? Site B really? Alan, why?"
Alan knew he had to answer and this was his moment.
"Ellie, listen I will tell you everything you need to know, can you meet me tomorrow?"
There was a short silence.
"Anything, anytime remember? Let me get a pen. Is 1pm ok for you?"
Alan, relieved, gave Ellie the details and said goodbye. He knew this was going to be alot but he also knew Ellie. He knew what he wanted to say, he knew it was likely nothing would change but in his heart he would be at peace knowing he did fight for the women he loved and never stopped loving.
He walked over to his desk in the trailer he lived in and pulled out a box, he opened the box and looked at the ring he brought inside and said to himself
"Tomorrow she will know, one more day and she will know"
The next morning Alan dressed. He thought of dressing up a little but then decided to just dress as he would every day. He wanted to show himself and not try to be fancy and fumble every word. He grabbed his hat and left to see Ellie.
At the park Alan got out of his car the clouds had started to gather and he grumbled.
"Damn weather"
"Hey Alan!"
Alan turned to see Ellie, He walked towards her not knowing whether to smile or not.
"You just gonna stand there?"
Alan looked the dreaded thought he had already messed this up with saying anything when suddenly he felt Ellie holding him tightly. She was crying.
"I swear Alan you make me so mad... How could you be so so stupid? You told me once you don't know what you would do without me? Did you ever think what might happen to me if I lost you?"
Alan held Ellie back his arms so tight he feared he would never let go.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm stupid, I met this couple they offered me a check for the dig site it was only ment to be a fly over I swear.."
Ellie looked at Alan. Alan swallowed hard; he knew that look. The last time she gave that look he lost her. Ellie pulled away, still giving Alan the look.
"The dig site?! You risked your life for the dig site?!"
"Ellie, wait it's not."
Ellie cut him off before he could say anymore
"You sacrifice everything for your precious dig site?! And that's still not registered with you has it? Life isn't all rock and bones you know! Your life Alan?! Money?! Funding?! That's what all this was about? Did you get your funding? Was it worth it again?!"
Ellie held back tears as she was about to leave Alan alone again.
"No! No! and No! I was lied to but even if I wasn't I would have said no."
Ellie looked at Alan helplessly
"That doesn't change a thing, still after all this time none of it matters to you does it?! Nothing will ever mean more to you than your digs?!"
Ellie walked past Alan hurt that once again he couldn't care about anything else other than his dig site. Alan realised this wasn't going well. He knew he needed to do something but what? Suddenly he felt the urge to shout from the top of his lungs.
"Ellie. Stop!"
Alan didn't know where that came from but he was glad. Ellie froze. She had never heard Alan shout in frustration like that before. She turned and stared at him.
"Ellie you were right about everything. Everything. I was selfish. I was stupid. I was a jerk! I was stubborn, you were always the one person I could always count on, no matter what. I never told you that not once, I never told you how much you meant to me, I owe you a lot, I realised on that island...I never told you that, not once, and worst of all I lost everything that mattered to me the day you left."
Ellie walked towards Alan and he took her hands.
"Alan.."
"No, please let me finish."
Ellie smiled and nodded.
"Ellie, I know this is late. I know I'm a fool, you deserve the world. I never once looked at you in the way you deserved, when we got back to Montana all those years ago I buried myself away, I pushed you away. The stupidest thing I ever did was not say all this then. I hope you hear me now. I know you're married and a mother, an amazing mother of two kids. I don't want to ruin that for you. I made so many mistakes over my life. Yes I will say I didn't think of what it would do to you if I died on that island. But the moment I called you I did. I knew that if I died at that moment I would regret not telling you, that you are the best thing to have ever happened to me."
Ellie starts to cry. Alan watching her heart break smiles at her.
"Don't you dare cry, this isn't about heartbreak. I've realised this and yes I'm an old fool, but I want you to have this."
Alan hands Ellie the box.
"Alan what is this?"
Ellie opened the box.
"Alan, what? why?"
"Ellie, I know you're married so no it's not that kind of ring. This is your proof that Alan Grant does actually have a heart. This ring symbolises us. And with this I want you to know that I will be forever waiting for you, if that day should ever come. It's you Ellie always has been, always will be."
With that a clap of thunder hits and the clouds start to open.
"Alan, you're the love of my life. But Mark, the kids. Alan I will love you forever but right now I have Mark and my kids and I do love him. I promise though I will wear this everyday. If one day things change you know it will always be you that I promise."
Alan smiled and he had finally told her how he felt. Ellie looked at the beautiful amber ring Alan had brought her. Ellie could do nothing but pull Alan in for a kiss. Alan held Ellie in his arms for a moment. He had everything he wanted and even if that was for a moment he was going to take this moment and treasure it. Alan walked Ellie to her car.
"Ellie, I have to go back to my dig site and you back to your life. Just never forget the rock and bones don't mean anything to me, not compared to you."
Alan stood by Ellie's car knowing he was saying goodbye.
"You will always be the best. Just don't be a stranger ok?"
Ellie started her engine
"That is a promise"
Alan smiled as Ellie pulled away and drove home. He stood for a moment not knowing how he managed that. He chuckled to himself.
"The one and only time I will ever be that romantic again"
