Thanks everyone for the responses! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your continued support for this story. It's truly inspiring.

Rhonda – I didn't expect for this story to go this long either (LOL), but it sort of took on a life of its own and now here it is. It's great to know that you're still reading and enjoying this journey, despite the storyline you weren't too fond of. :) Thanks again for responding!

Okay, short chapter coming up...

Chapter Fifty-four

Sean entered the guest room, his eyes instantly finding Marita. Her gaze stopping him in his tracks, taking his breath away. So beautiful he thought, in every sense of the word, from the physical to the depths of her soul. Sean was so thankful that she'd been spared, that he was able to save her from that fire, cause God knows that had she perished, his world would've been destroyed, his soul crushed, dead forever. Sean's heart ached at how close he'd come to losing her, deepening his yearning for her, compelling him to move, to resume his trek forward, as his gaze remained bound to hers, saying so much without words...

"Hey." Sean whispered once he reached the bed, his eyes still locked with hers. His heart thanking God that she was all right.

"Hey." Marita breathed, her voice trembling at the powerful feelings that were threatening to overwhelm her.

"How are you feeling?" Sean asked with a tenderness that marked Marita's soul, causing her to briefly lower her eyes in an attempt to maintain her waning composure.

"I've had better days." She then quietly answered; after lifting her gaze back to his.

"I can attest to that." Sean responded huskily, further igniting the intensity between them as they both thought of the times they'd had in years past, the times they'd had just more than a month before. Minutes went by, and they remained quiet, their eyes fixed on one another, emanating longing and amour, before Sean then moved the chair that stood in his way and took a seat on the bed next to Marita. He continued to hold her eyes, wanting so much more, wanting so much to touch her, to taste her lips, as Marita struggled with his closeness, aching to feel his touch. She then lowered her eyes needing for a moment to escape his blue stare, before Sean then suspended the silence and spoke. "Dr. Williams, said that you asked for me." He uttered softly in a questioning tone as he still watched her, wanting her, now thinking of her utterance about the baby.

"I did." Marita quietly admitted, emotions rushing her heart as she lifted her eyes back to Sean's face. For a moment Sean bound her with his stare, before he then briefly looked down, finding her hand that lay at her side; then slowly, gently clasped it in his. Marita instantly gasped at the heat that surged through her, drawing Sean's gaze back to her face, just as she closed her eyes, while he trembled with that same heat, which now rushed to every nerve in his form... "I want to… thank you..." Marita continued after a few moments, her voice uneven with emotions. "For saving my life." She uttered as she opened her eyes and nearly crumbled at the adoration in Sean's stare.

"You know that you don't have to thank me for that." Sean whispered, love in his voice "I would do anything for you. I would do anything to save you." He then stated impassionedly. His gaze still steady, unwavering on her as she again dropped her eyes. "I would do anything… to save our child." He added quietly, prompting Marita to instantly raise her eyes back to his face. Her gaze reflecting shock as she then faintly uttered...

"How..."

"When I got to you inside…" Sean softly interjected. "You were...a little jumbled... mumbling…you said my name…and then you said… 'the baby.'" He revealed unevenly, emotion wavering his tone, causing Marita to lower her gaze once more. "Is it...is it true?" He cautiously asked, hope in his voice. "Are you...with child?"

Silence –

"No." Marita whispered in pain as she returned her gaze to Sean's face, and was hurt even more by the angst she saw emanating from his eyes.

"Are you sure?" He questioned with grief, still hoping that there was a chance that she was wrong, that she still may be expecting their child.

Marita briefly closed her eyes, struggling through the pain that was swelling in her heart, and the anguish and disappointment she'd seen in Sean's eyes. "Yes." She then answered in a hushed tone. "I thought...that I might be." She continued. "But, Dr. Williams...concluded that my symptoms were likely caused by stress." She ended as Sean lowered his gaze and drew a deep breath, trying hard to quell the ache in his heart over losing their child, a child that never existed. A child that he'd hoped for, a child that in just the few hours he'd suspected existed, he'd grown to love so much. "I'm sorry that you..." Marita uttered shakily then paused, nearly overwhelmed by her own emotions, her own angst over losing this child that she'd hoped was growing within her. "I'm sorry...that I'm not carrying your child." She stated softly, honestly, drawing Sean's eyes back to her face, causing love to spike in his heart. "I'm sorry that I won't have more...than just memories... of that time that we'll never..." The words ceased on her lips, crushing her heart...

"No..." Sean quickly asserted – fervently, before she could continue. "I can't accept that. I can't accept that we'll never have that time back, not anymore." He uttered softly. His voice unsteady as he bound Marita's eyes to his, stirring her soul, leaving her too touched to respond. "These past few weeks..." He continued with poignance and strength. "...I've been trying... to forget, the future that we planned, the vows that we made to face whatever may come together, but I can't...I can't forget..."

"Sean what are you saying?" Marita questioned weakly, tears choking her words.

"I'm saying I want to marry you." Sean passionately answered. "I want to spend my life, with the honor of being your husband. I want to watch your belly, swell with my children." He uttered emotionally as he gently touched Marita's stomach, flooding her with amour, causing her to helplessly crumble in tears. "And I want to raise them with you, and together, I want us to grow old." He continued ardently as Marita buried her face in her hand, futilely trying to stop the tears from flowing. "I love you." Sean uttered impassionedly, his voice cracking from the feelings rushing through his soul. "I love you." He uttered again as he gently pulled Marita's hand from her face, drawing her eyes back to his, wiping the tears from her cheek. "And I don't want to be without you." He ended shakily.

"I don't want to be without you either." Marita croaked, struggling to speak through her tears. "I love you." She whispered. "And in spite of everything that's happened, I still want to be your wif..." Before Marita could finish her words, Sean took her in his arms, drawing her to him, holding her tightly, uttering his love again, causing her to lose her composure once more, to melt in his arms, overwhelmed by the feelings his words and his gesture had stirred, while tears now helplessly streamed from Sean's eyes, due to her love flooding his heart, moving him beyond words. They remained in the moment. Quiet and unmoving. Lost in their rapturous embrace. Consumed by the peace and the hope emanating from their souls, surrounding them and protecting them. Reaffirming their future as one. Reaffirming their love.