Chapter Twenty

This chapter comes with a MILD warning. ;) Kiddies...no reading for you! ;)

The flash of Michaela's skirt as she reached the top of the stairs and rushed off down the hall upstairs caught Sully's attention, and he shoved the engagement ring into his pocket as he took the steps two at a time. His heart was racing, and his brain was screening. He didn't know what to expect when he found her, and he was terrified for the first time in a long time. His soul was searching for hers, and he was beginning to worry that he'd lost her forever. He knew she loved him, but Elizabeth Quinn was an awfully strong presence in Michaela's life. What if she'd pushed her too far?

He reached her bedroom and gently tapped on the door, fearing that she'd yell for him to go away, but she didn't. He waited, and he heard her choke out the words to permit his entrance between sobs. He opened the door slowly and immediately spotted her sitting upon her bed, clutching a small book, her diary, to her chest. She was sobbing silently, but the tears rolled down her cheeks and onto her dress. But, she didn't care. He didn't either. She was still the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes upon.

"Michaela," he whispered, closing the door behind him without thinking.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, sniffling and holding her tears back. She reached for a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

"There's nothin' to be sorry about. I'm worried 'bout ya, Michaela." He moved to sit in a chair next to her bed. He'd sit there all night if he had to. He needed her to know he was there and would support her no matter what. She said nothing, however, and she opened up her diary. She began to flip through the pages, her fingers rushing over the pages and her eyes skimming over the words. She was searching, but what was she searching for? He decided to be patient. She'd tell him when she was ready.

He glanced around her room as she searched, and he noticed how well kept it was. Yes, Martha was there to clean, but the way the porcelain dolls were arranged on the shelves let Sully know that Michaela had always been very careful and cautious. She'd been that way since a child, and he knew that it was part of her nature. Part of him knew that Michaela wished she could dare to be different; she wished she didn't have to be so caring all of the time. She wanted to break out of the confines of society and be a free spirit. She'd lived a sheltered life for so many years, and he only hoped she still wanted the chance to start over with him.

When he gazed back over at her, he noticed how red her cheeks had grown as she read a passage silently in her diary. He wondered what on earth she was reading, and he swallowed hard when her head snapped up so she could meet his gaze. She slowly handed the diary to him. She was trembling, but she was serious. Sully gingerly took the book into his hands and stared at her.

"I want you to read that," she said, pointing to a certain passage. Sully looked uncertain. After all, diaries were supposed to be private places to express your innermost thoughts and feelings. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to read it! "Please. Go on. Read it out loud." Sully took a deep breath and looked down at the date on the page. It was dated for the first of May of that year, and judging by the amount of pages she'd written in since the beginning of her diary, she'd had a lot on her mind! He finally swallowed the lump in his throat and began to read.

"The nights grow longer as I dream of being in his arms. The way he makes me feel is a feeling I've never experienced in my life. I blush as I write this, and I know it's improper to think such things, but I can't help it. The way I feel about Sully feels so right, and knowing that he's coming back next month makes the nights longer, because it's just so many more until he arrives. I want to tell him I love him, but the time doesn't feel right. I don't want it to feel forced or like I have to. I need to. I need him to know he's the man I want to spend forever with." He looked back up at her, the last line ringing through his head and his heart. He felt overjoyed and saddened at the same time. It was a shame that Michaela didn't have a supportive mother to share these details with. She'd longed for someone to talk to, and while she had her sisters, the friendship of her mother was something she'd truly missed out on.

"I needed you to read it," she whispered.

"Why?" he asked, his spine tingling with nerves, realizing that Michaela thought about him in such an intimate way.

"Because, I needed you to understand that I'll always speak the truth with you. Honesty is something that matters a lot to me. I want us to always be honest with each other." Sully nodded.

"We will be," he promised.

"Being with you has been the happiest time of my life above everything. I love you, Sully, and nothing would make me happier than marrying you," she explained. Seeing the hope fill Sully's eyes made her smile, and she took her diary back into her hands. She locked it and put it away in her safe place, knowing she could let Sully see. She slowly stood from her bed, and Sully stood to meet her. "I've never shared these kinds of feelings with anyone, and sharing them with you feels right. I've never felt more right about anything in my entire life than I do right now. So, my answer is yes, Sully. I will marry you." She smiled as her tears began to fall yet again, and Sully breathed a sigh of relief, a proud, happy smile filling his face. He pulled the ring from his pocket and placed it on her finger as Michaela bit her happily trembling lip. The ring slid easily onto her finger, and she looked up into his eyes. "It's a perfect fit," she whispered. Sully was breathless, and he nodded.

"Just like us," he noted. He pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist, and they held each other so close for the longest time, looking up into each other's eyes, loving the feeling of being newly engaged and absolutely, exhilaratingly in love. It felt right. It felt good. She smiled as he moved in to kiss her cheek. His lips lingered there for a moment, and she closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him. She held her breath as his lips moved from her cheek to her lips. His kiss was soft and passionate, and for a moment, their eyes fluttered open to stare into one another's soul. They leaned back into the kiss, and Michaela began to open up to him. He felt her gasp for breath, and he pulled away, not wanting to scare her. He was surprised when Michaela's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him back to her.

Their kisses were patient at first, but as Michaela's tongue danced at the edges of Sully's lips, he opened up to her, and they explored one another, kissing and pulling one another closer. Soon, the kisses grew urgent, and Sully's hands moved to rest at her waist, feeling her entire being trembling under his touch. But, this wasn't a fearful tremble. She was reacting to her desire, and that added fuel to Sully's burning passion. Michaela felt herself melting under his touch, but her hands moved from his broad shoulders to caress his back, driving them both onward.

Minds were screaming, hearts were yearning, and bodies were pulling and urging one another forward, as souls danced to the timeless rhythm of a lover's waltz. The Spirits smiled down at them, and their hearts filled with such love for one another.

His hand moved up her side and to her face to cup her cheek in his hands. Michaela pulled away from his lips for a minute, and his breaths came in quick, hot pants against her skin.

"Sully," she moaned as he re-captured her mouth with his own. She let out another moan, and Sully's desire was pushed further. His head was screaming at him to stop, but the way she moved against him; the way she kissed him filled him with more love and need than he had ever felt possible. They were moving blindly now, and Sully's kisses matched her urgency, and when Michaela began to fall, his arms pulled her against him, and he cradled her. He was surprised when they landed with a bounce, and he pulled back. They were lying across her bed, and her face was flushed red, and perspiration tinted her upper lip and her forehead. Her eyes sparkled and glowed with passion…need…love. They were both overwhelmed, and Sully couldn't deny the fact that he wanted her. She knew it. She could feel it. She reached up to stroke his cheek, and she smiled a little.

As she gazed up at him, she felt closer to him than she ever had been. It wasn't just the physical closeness. Their hearts and souls were twined together, and they felt more and more comfortable. She wanted to feel his hands upon her skin, caressing her and making her feel things she'd never felt before. She was ready, she knew, and she didn't want to wait. She didn't want to give Elizabeth a chance to try to change her mind. She didn't want David to give her another chance to take away the one thing she wanted Sully to have. At the same time, she couldn't help but feel that she was breaking all of the rules and betraying her own heart. But there was no betrayal in love, was there?

"We shouldn't be doin' this," he said against every feeling and need in his body. She nodded her head slowly, but her hand ran through his hair.

"I know," she replied softly. She let out a soft breath before she leaned up to kiss him again. The soft, slow kisses grew into full-fledged blind passionate ones. Michaela found it hard to breathe, but she didn't care, because he made her feel so wonderful. God, she couldn't believe she was letting him touch her like this. She couldn't believe the way she made him feel, because it was very apparent. It all felt so wonderful!

Sully's hands tangled in her hair, and his mouth moved to her neck. He could feel her rapid pulse against his lips, and she arched her neck, eliciting a soft moan. She gasped for air as her hands moved to the front of Sully's shirt. She helped him pull the coat off of his arms, and her hands began to roam over his torso through the fabric of his shirt.

His hands began to tremble as they moved her arms up above her head, holding them there so she didn't get ahead of herself. She let out a soft chuckle as he did so with such courtesy. His lips found hers again, and his hand forgot about her arms as they melted into one another again.

"Michaela," he whispered with a soft chuckle as he buried his face in her neck. She bit her bottom lip as his hands moved her arms again, and his hands traced their way down her arms and all the way down to the sides of her stomach. Her skin was burning underneath her corset, and she needed to feel more of his touch. When his breath hit the flesh of her cheek again, she was no longer able to breathe. Her corset was squeezing every breath out of her. Sully's hands were moving up again, and her gasps snapped him back to reality. He pulled away as if he'd been bitten, and he sat up on the bed, his back to her, panting for air.

Michaela's eyes flew open, and she slowly sat up beside Sully. The air was returning to her lungs, but her entire body was burning and aching for him. Sully stood and moved to the other side of the room as Michaela gripped the bedpost to gain her composure.

"I'm sorry," he whispered after several moments of silence. "I shouldn't have done that."

"You? I'm the one who urged us onward," she replied, her face turning several shades of red. She placed her hand over her mouth where his lips had been just seconds before. The thing was, she wanted to feel his mouth against hers again. A part of her was grateful he'd stopped, while another part almost wished he hadn't. But, she didn't want him feeling guilty for something she had and hadn't wanted to do in the midst of passion. It was for the best that they'd stopped…he'd stopped.

She moved toward the mirror, and her trembling hands began to fix her disheveled hair. Sully watched her, not sure of what to say at the moment. He kept his distance at the doorway.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. She turned to him with a hesitant smile. "I suppose we got caught up in the moment. It's all right, Sully. It truly is."

"Right," Sully breathed. He looked toward the door. "We better go tell your folks." Michaela's eyes went wide. What! What on Earth was he thinking? Josef would skin him alive, and Elizabeth would have a stroke!

"Tell my parents?" she asked.

"About the engagement, I mean," he replied quickly, feeling a little foolish.

"Oh! Yes," she said, feeling relief throughout her body. "Yes. We should." Michaela was blushing again, and one of her hairpins dropped from her hand. Sully stepped forward and picked it up. Their eyes met as he straightened up and placed the pin in the palm of her quivering hand. "Thank you." Her words certainly took on more than one meaning. Sully picked her hand up into his and gave it a soft kiss.

"I'll wait outside," he assured her. She nodded and watched him leave. She quickly locked the door behind him and leaned against it, trying to catch her bearings. She moved across the room and sat down at her bureau. Her hand was placed over her heart, and it was still beating away feverishly. Her lips tingled from his tantalizing kisses, and her arms felt wobbly from his caresses. She smiled, thinking of Sully and the way he'd touched her. When she realized she was grinning like a schoolgirl, she cleared her throat and sat up straight. She quickly unlaced her gown and removed the corset that had been confining her. Her skin beneath it was clammy and damp from perspiration, and goose bumps rose up upon her flesh. She closed her eyes and laced up the rest of her dress by memory. She needed something, perhaps a drink of water to cool the flame.

Michaela finally finished adjusting her hair, and she took a look in the mirror. Satisfied with her touch up job, she moved toward the door, walked into the hallway, and prepared to join Sully in telling her parents of their engagement.

Elizabeth stared across her cup of tea at Josef. He'd finally come back inside, but he'd been silent since he returned. He was seated in front of the fireplace, and a fresh fire was blazing inside. He stared into the flames with a thoughtful expression upon his face as he puffed on his pipe. Elizabeth was growing more and more frustrated by the silence that filled the room.

He had debated on taking a stroll, but he'd come back inside, knowing that it was best not to leave Michaela and Sully alone with Elizabeth. He knew his wife's temper, and he knew how short his youngest daughter's fuse was when it came to her mother, so leaving a match with a stick of dynamite didn't seem like the smartest idea. Poor Sully would be blown to bits in the midst of it all! He knew all too well. He'd been there and done that many times before!

"For Heaven's sakes, Josef! Say something," Elizabeth said after what seemed like an eternity of chilly tension.

"What is there to say, Lizzie?" he asked with disappoint dripping from his voice. Elizabeth flinched, knowing her husband well enough after all of these years, but still feeling somewhat distant, as if she was a stranger.

"Something. Anything! The silence is terribly thick." Josef pursed his lips together and took another puff on his pipe. He was searching for the words.

"What did I ever do to make you think I never loved you?" he finally questioned.

"Oh Josef, I knew you loved me. But, we're husband and wife. It's an obligation." Josef was stunned by his wife's remarks. How could she be so…so blasé about it all?

"You think I loved you because I had to?" He shook his head. "Maybe it would've been easier. But, that's not the way it worked. Lizzie, I fell in love with you forty-two years ago. When you gave us Rebecca, it was the proudest day of my life aside from the day I took you as my wife. When the rest of the girls came along, I felt that I wasn't home enough, because I was so busy working at the hospital. I never meant to be a bad husband. I focused more on being a good father while I was home, and I'm afraid I must have focused less on our marriage. When Mike came along, I knew she was probably the last child for us. I had made my mistakes with all of our girls, and I had learned from them. I wanted to do right by Michaela. I didn't favor her. I loved all my girls equally." He gently placed his hand on his wife's. "And I love you more now than the day I first met you." Elizabeth had tears in her eyes. "I only wish you'd see it."

"Oh, Josef. I'm so sorry," she whispered. Josef swallowed hard. He knew she meant it. When her eyes twinkled like that, and her lower lip quivered, he knew she was truthful.

"So am I." He eyed her. "But if you're truly sorry, you'll back off of Mike. You'll let her make her own decisions." Elizabeth began to protest, but Michaela and Sully came walking into the room. Josef stood, and Elizabeth quickly pulled herself to her feet. Josef hoped she would stay quiet for now.

"Mother, father," Michaela said with a beaming smile, completely disregarding the unhappy grimace coming from Elizabeth's face.

"Yes, Mike?" Josef asked, glancing between Michaela and Sully. He noticed the way Michaela's hand fit perfectly inside of Sully's. They both looked so happy, and Josef knew this was wonderful news! Michaela looked up at Sully, and he gave her a nod and a smile.

"We're getting married!"

"What!" Josef asked, a grin spreading over his feature. "Getting married? The two of you? Both of you? You're…you're getting married!" Michaela nodded with such excitement, and Josef practically leapt for join. "Sully? You're marrying my baby girl?" Sully nodded, straightening up a little. "I couldn't have picked a better man!" Elizabeth held her tongue and watched her daughter. Michaela's eyes met her mother's, but not for long, because Josef rushed to his daughter, picked her up in his arms and twirled her around. Elizabeth watched on with shock and anger brewing in her eyes. To her, this was anything but wonderful.