I have a bad feeling that when I wake up it will all have been a dream or that Chloe will have heard my omission and bolted at first light. But as I lazily come out of my sleep and put my glasses on I see that she is still beside me, snoring quietly. I easily slip out of bed and head for the shower. I've overslept and am late for work.



As I come out of the shower, Chloe is sitting up in bed looking at me. I feel my face flush instantly. "Good Morning."

"Isn't it?" She says and laughs. "I haven't slept like that in years. I felt so safe last night."

"I'm glad." I tell her and avert my eyes to my closet to pick out some clothes. I cannot look at her if I expect to make it to work at all.

"Brady!?"

"Mmm hmm?" I mumble laying out gray slacks.

"Did you tell me you loved me last night?" She asks and there is no humour in her voice.

"Chloe-I....Yes." I figure why lie. It was the reason I came back in the first place wasn't it?

"Say it again." She whispers and I turn to look at her. I can't help notice the flush of her cheeks or the swell of her breasts accentuated by the ruffled pink button down, that has come undone at the first few buttons in her sleep.

She steps off the bed and comes closer, throwing the tie from my hand so she can take it. "Please, say it again."

"I-I love you, Chloe." And as if it is too much for her, she buries her face in my chest. "What is it?"

She sobers for a minute and stares up at me. "That's the first time someone other than Mom or Craig has told me that and really meant it."

"Philip?"

"No. He never meant it. Brady, I...even before you came back...God, even when we were in highschool...maybe when we were still kids...I-I've always loved you." She whispers against my cheek and kisses me softly. "I just never knew how to tell you."

I'm stunned. Frankly, I can't believe this is really happening. I hug her to me tightly and she responds with just as much force.

"Marry me?" I ask and I admit it isn't very romantic.

She pulls away and looks at me. "What?"

I hold her shoulders and I can feel her trembling. "I know that's not the way it should have come out. You deserve more than that. Hang on." I let her go and fish for the box I brought with me in hopes of just this. I open it to make sure the ring is still there. Thankfully it is.

I smile sheepishly and kneel in front of her, only for Chloe to kneel down beside me. We're eye to eye on the small throw rug. "You don't know how long I've waited for this day. Mom-Marlena said she knew one day it would come down to this." I pull the ring from the box and take a deep breath. "This ring, it was my birth mother's, she died when I was just a baby, but dad kept her ring. He told me to give it to someone special and ever since I've had it, I've known it belonged to you. I even had it engraved." I smile and I can feel a deep blush on my cheeks and ears. "Chloe, would you marry me?"

"I've never wanted anything more." She says softly and helps my shaking hands put the ring on her finger. "What does it say?" She asks as she wipes the tears from her eyes.

We read it in unison. "You are my sight, Love Brade."

She grabs me and pulls me toward her, making us both aware that I'm still only in my towel. Her kiss is soft and tender against my lips. I know in my heart I'll never love anyone as much as I love her and I'm so thankful that she feels the same. My lips part to invite her tongue as it invades my mouth, I retaliate and get a wonderful taste of her. She's magnificent and for once I feel normal.

I pull away even though everything in me is saying not to, but I have an obligation to those kids at the blind centre. I can tell Chloe understands because she gives me some distance.

"Tonight..." She rasps. "I'll make dinner, here. Don't be late." She smiles.

"I won't." I take a few minutes to pull myself together and then I stand to get dressed. I hear Chloe in the shower and am tempted to stay.

At work I'm on edge all day. By the tone of Chloe's voice this morning, I know she has more on her mind than dinner.

It's one of the happiest days of my life, but still I'm saddened because Justin's mother has come from Canada to take him back with her. I knew this day was coming but saying goodbye proved harder than I thought. I know he will do well in life and I plan to keep in contact with him.

Locking up for the night, I decide that before I go home, I'll pick up some flowers for Chloe.

Stepping out of the cab, I look up at the building I live in to the top floor, the penthouse. It's a nice feeling knowing that Chloe is there waiting and from now on will always be waiting.

"Brady, is that you?" Chloe asks from the kitchen and I laugh at her enthusiasm. "I told Craig and Nancy about us and they didn't seem the least bit surprised."

I hesitate when she walks out of the kitchen. She's practically glowing and I feel my heart swell with pride. "You look amazing."

"I feel amazing." She replies and comes to me for a slow sweet hug.

"Dinner smells good."

"So do you." She says and it comes out as a growl. At this rate I don't see us making it to dinner.

We eat with lingering stares and small touches passing before us.

After I help with the dishes, we sit on the couch together. I see the look she gets in her eyes and I excuse myself to use the bathroom.

I look at myself in the mirror. I'm breathing hard, I know what Chloe wants, what I want, but I'm just not sure if I'll be enough for her.

"Brade!? Are you okay?"

I open the door and step out. "I'm fine, I'm just nervous. I want to give you so much, Chloe."

"You will." She purrs into my ear, leading me up the stairs.

Her hips shake in a hypnotic rhythm that has me losing my reserve fast.

Laying down on the bed, we kiss and I know I'm clumsy but I feel safe as Chloe guides us along.

She takes my shirt off and the chill of the air hits me hard, but I warm as I watch her touch my shoulders, sending sparks down my spine.

She kisses me hard and I respond as best as I can, naturally wanting more of her. She leaves me wanting as she trails her lips and tongue over my jaw and down my collarbone.

Her lips are soft as they still over my chest, at the very spot where my heart is beating fiercely looking for a route to escape. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I am. I'd never had this type of uncontrollable impulses and unchecked desire that I seemed to be experiencing in all my life.



She brings my hand against her straining breast. The desire sparks in her eyes and she pushes her body heavy against my hand, forcing my fingers over the peak of her nipple. Her skin is warm and I can feel the radiant heat even through the thick fabric of her sweater. I look at her as I bring the fabric over her head with her approval. She presses against me and I feel all my blood rush to my groin. I let her take off the rest of my clothing and I do the same for her, stilling to take in her beauty.

"You're shaking." Chloe whispers against my ear.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it." I tell her and I can't. I can't stop the tremble that is coursing through my body from my head down to my toes. There is no stopping the way I react to her. I guess it is a mixture of nerves and anticipation and that surreal euphoria of actually being with her in this way.

She flips over so she is on her back and pulls me down to her, taking another deep kiss from my mouth. Her hips buck against me and I curse softly. She laughs against my ear and brings me even closer to her. Our bodies are so close, closer than I've been with anyone my whole life and I shake a little harder at the thought of being with her like this for the rest of our lives. She takes me in her hand and my body jerks in response, I want nothing more than to slip inside her, but I wait for her to sheath my erection in a condom before I move forward and she takes me inside. I still immediately and I can't breath. I rest my forehead against hers and can't help the tear that trickles onto her brow. "You're okay. You're doing fine." She reassures me and begins to move underneath me, taking my hand and placing it against her womanly form. I move in her and am overwhelmed at the sheer intensity of it.



Later as we lay together, she smooths her fingers through my hair and I run my fingers down her back. "That little church was never meant for Philip was it?"

"Of course not." She says, pushing her hair out of her face. "I've only ever loved you and that's the way it will stay."

"Then let's not wait. Let's get married as soon as possible."

"I would love that." She sighs and squeezes my side.

___

We're standing outside the small church that Chloe picked long before she met Philip and we're married. I can't believe it myself and the way she looks I know it will last forever. There are some things that are too good to dream and others worth waiting for. This was definitely one of those things for me.