Carter sat in the seat of his moving jeep, jerking to the chips and bumps of the roads of Chicago. Carter had decided that he wouldn't think about what he was going to say or do as it seemed to him that as soon as he dwelled on something he built up a mental image of what it would be like and when actually faced with the situation he either felt disappointed with the outcome or lost at the turn of events. In order to distract himself from the forthcoming event that could possibly change his life, Carter had switched on the radio and was currently being aptly entertained by a melody from Mariah Carey's seven-octave vocal range. Carter hummed along to the melody, trying to stop his brain from thinking.

It seemed like 2 seconds ago to Carter that he had left the apartment but he had arrived at Sara's house. Taking a deep breath while still suppressing his brains thoughts, Carter switched off the radio and got out of his four by four. After securing his car he walked up the path to her house and pressed the round circle that announced the arrival of guests. Soon enough Tyrese answered the door.

Ty: hey Carter

C: Hi Tyrese, um.. Is Sara in?

Ty: Yeh sure she's out the back in the garden. Come in.

C: Thanks

Carter walked through the passage of Sara's house past the lounge and through the sliding door into the garden to see Sara sitting on the stone step with her back towards him.

S: Ty, who is it? (Without turning around)

C: It's me Carter

Sara turned around to face him.  

Sara: Oh… hi.

C: Can we talk please?

Ty: I better be off… See you later Sara, I'll call you later

Sara: Sorry about tonight

Ty: It's ok, I only invited you to cheer you up anyway. See ya later Carter

C: Bye Ty.

Carter turned to face Sara as Ty left them alone.

C: Sorry did you have plans?

S: No, don't worry about it. Ty just invited me to go out to a club which I can arrange another time. So you wanted to talk?

C:  um.. yeh. To be honest I don't know where to start, I tried not thinking about what to say because if I did then it was likely to not go the way I had planned so I'm jus going to be honest and tell you everything.

Sara had actually imagined what would happen. In her version Carter ended up saying that their relationship wouldn't work and that they should remain friends while she tried unconvincingly to keep an emotionless expression on her face.

Sara: Go on

Sara stared at Carter intently as he spoke, their eyes locking together in a moment that they would remember for years to come. Carter reached out for Sara's hand and held it while he spoke.

C: Sara, I'm drawn to you; I have been from the day I met you. I wanted to tell you how I felt but I didn't know if you felt the same until that kiss. In that moment I felt, and I don't mean to sound like a hallmark card when I say, that all my dreams had come true. I'd never felt happier.

But then you ran away and I didn't know what to think of it, I mean I thought that I'd done something wrong. I felt like I was being punished and I kept re running the events in my mind thinking of a reason why you had acted the way you did until you explained why. You were afraid and you were protecting me from the truth, but I'm glad you stopped protecting me and allowed me to make my own choice. And I have…

Sara I want to be with you, I can't guarantee that this relationship will last but I've never felt this strongly about anyone before. I want this to work and I think we've got a good chance of making this last.

Sara: John are you sure? I mean have you thought this over long and hard because this could affect your life in a big way?

C: I've never been so sure about anything in my life. I want to be with you and I understand there's risks involved, but they are risks I'm willing to take. I'm not going to lie and say that I won't be worried each time you, Ty and J go out to fight but I know you'll try your hardest out there knowing that you've got me to come back too.

Sara: (smiling)

And I also know that J, Ty and all the other brothers you've got out there wouldn't let anything happen to you because they love you too much.

And if the worst did happen then I've chosen to take that risk and I'm as prepared as I can be for it.

Sara if I don't do this I'll regret it for the rest of my life, I'll know that I would wake up every morning wondering what could have been, knowing that I really want you beside me. I just hope you haven't changed your mind about giving us a chance. Sara?