Shalimar and Brennan were completely in love. They had been going out for a long while now and both felt the most amazing connection, unlike anything ever before. They both put their entire heart, body and soul into their relationship and made no effort to hide their affection, as both felt no need to.
Unfortunately, Jesse felt the exact same way about Shalimar, although of course, she did not return his love. Emma was Shalimar's best friend, but secretly she was extremely jealous of her. Not only did Shalimar have a man to love and love her back, but she had also won the heart of Emma's beloved Jesse, whom she loved more than life itself.
Each day she followed Jesse, showed an interest in everything he did and tried to flirt as often as possible. Still, it had no effect on Jesse as he only had eyes for Shalimar. Although he kept being pushed aside, he still had high hopes that Shalimar and him would get together eventually, as Adam, Shalimar's father, approved of Jesse but despised Brennan.
Still, although Shalimar's father liked him, Shalimar wouldn't give Jesse the time of day as long as Brennan was around. Jesse knew that Shalimar was happy, and that was fine, he just wished she'd be happy with him. Jesse was well aware that Emma liked him, but he only thought of her as a friend, yet she still tried to win his heart, although it was useless.
Shalimar knew Jesse liked her, and she sort of reciprocated his affection, but Brennan had something Jesse could never give her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but her heart ached more for Brennan, even though her father disapproved. Jesse was a smart choice, he was handsome, smart and really kind, but her heart's true wish was Brennan.
Adam had forbidden for her to see Brennan anymore, as he felt that all Brennan could bring his daughter was pain and an unhappy life. Adam wouldn't even try to hide his dislike of Brennan; it was easy to see by anyone. Shalimar always felt hurt that her father and boyfriend didn't get along, but when it came down to it, she would choose Brennan's side.
Brennan was never happier when he had Shalimar in his arms, but it always saddened him that her father had such an obvious dislike for him. Many a time he had tried to win Adam over, but every time he failed. Brennan knew Adam thought that he was an unworthy choice for his only daughter and much rather she go out with someone like Jesse Kilmartin, who was rich, smart and had a very productive future ahead of him. Brennan didn't know Jesse very well, but it was easy to see that he was as much in love with Shalimar as himself. Watching Emma, whom he only knew by association with Shalimar, go after Jesse and seeing him ignoring her was a tragic disaster and he wished Emma could find someone else to love and to love her back, so that she could be as happy as himself and Shalimar.
Shalimar and Brennan were lying beside each other on Brennan's bed, just resting and stroking each other tenderly.
"Bren?" Shalimar said, looking up at him.
"Yeah." He replied holding her affectionately.
"I love you." She smiled and kissed him, while Brennan's other arm came around to hug her.
"And I love you more than anything in the world." Brennan said as he sat up. Shalimar looked slightly worried and sat up beside him.
"Is something wrong?" Shalimar asked with a worried look on her face.
"No, nothing like that, but I need to ask you something." Brennan looked at her with reassuring eyes, but Shalimar could sense that he was quite nervous about something.
"Ok. Is this something I'm gonna like?" She laughed nervously.
"I don't know. Ok, here it goes," Brennan crossed his legs on the bed and took Shalimar's hands in his. "We've been going out now, for what, 6 months? Although I've known you for like a year. Anyway, every moment that I'm with you, I feel happier and stronger than I've ever been in my life and I know that I always want you in my life, to always be with me." Brennan rambled and Shalimar was only understanding like every other word. Seeing her confused face, Brennan gave an embarrassed look. "I guess what I'm trying to say here is, Shal, will you marry me?" Shalimar just sat there, speechless and shocked, staring at Brennan. Silence filled the room for a few seconds too long and that was all the time Shalimar needed to pull herself together.
"Brennan, of course I'll marry you!" She lunged herself at him and kissed him passionately. When they broke off, Brennan smiled, as did Shalimar before they resumed kissing. As they made love that night, a feeling of utter completion and love filled their entire minds, bodies and souls.