Chapter 12- Because I love you too much

The place they went to that night was the best, most romantic and most importantly most thoughtful place that Alistair had ever taken her. Their candlelit terrace overlooked the Eifel Tower. The moonlight shone brightly above them. It was a perfect night, or it was beginning that way. And Judy rather hoped that it would end in the same fashion. But something deep inside her urged her to give up on the one thing she wanted to happen that night. The one thing she'd wanted long before they had a baby, before they'd even known each other all that well; now she felt as thought she'd known him a lifetime, maybe longer.

After dinner they simply sat there and gazed out into the Parisian night. It was indeed a beautiful night. As Judy stood there she felt an arm wrap around her waist. She placed her hand in his, and somehow, with this action, their hands were intertwined. He turned her around to face him. Their faces were barely an inch a part, if they were that far a part at all. A few seconds passed before their lips met with such passion that Judy felt as though she were about to faint. When he pulled a way, she closed her eyes and struggled to catch her breath, but the kiss did not seem to faze Alistair one bit. When she regained her breath and opened her eyes once again she could hardly breathe from what she saw. Alistair? Was this the same Alistair? Was he, of all people really doing this? Was he, of all people, really serious?

When she looked down there he was on one knee, her hand in his. He smiled sweetly at her, knowing how much of a shock this had all been. She began to cry for yet another time that night.

"Judy," he asked. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes. Yes oh, yes!" He placed the ring on her finger, jumped up and they shared another passionate and truly love-filled kiss. When he pulled a way he just looked at her, smiling for a few moments. He paid special attention to her eyes. They were loving eyes, filled with joy. He could detect a bit of doubt and sadness in them as well. He too felt like he'd always known her. He ran his fingers through her hair as he studied her face and eyes.

"Alistair, why do you want to marry me?"

"Because I love you. Because you are the best thing that ever happened to me, ever."

"I am?"

"Yes, yes you are."

"What about the baby then, did you want to marry me because of the baby?"

"It helped a little. It helped me overcome my fear of marriage. Remember the moonlit garden we spent so much time in a few nights ago?" She nodded. "Before you told me you were pregnant?"

"Yes, yes I do?"

"That's when I was originally going to ask you. But it just didn't happen that way. I had the ring, everything, I was just too scared to say it. I was going to marry you long time ago, the first time I laid eyes on you. But I was scared and I.......I didn't deserve you and by marring you, I would have already hurt you more than I was and I had to spare you that because, just because I love you too much. If you don't believe me you don't have to, but..."

"Hush, Alistair, I won't hear of such things. Of course I believe you."

"Thank you."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Mrs. Deacon."