Chapter 9

A/N: One last goodbye

This is mostly just a filler chapter, but sweetness overload.

Benjamin woke up early and took his parents to catch their plane back to New York. He drove back downtown to go to her favorite bakery and buy her the creme filled pastry that she loved so much.

He arrived at her apartment to surprise her, she thought he was leaving straight from the airport. He could not leave without seeing her one more time. It would be a long summer without her and he was not looking forward to their time apart.

She opened the door when he knocked, surprise and delight graced her face. She flung herself into his arms, almost knocking him off his feet. He gathered her into his arms and inhaled her scent that was uniquely her. He smiled in her hair, when he felt the tears on his shirt.

He pushed her back and using his thumb wiped her tears. "Sweetheart, don't cry. It breaks my heart to see you cry."

She finally composed herself and pulled him into the apartment, closing the door behind them. She then stepped back into his embrace and placed her head on his shoulder, pulling him tight to her body.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving from the airport and I wouldn't get to see you today. I was just sitting on the couch, thinking how much I am going to miss you," she told him between tears.

"Sweetheart, I could not leave without seeing you one last time. I also wanted to bring you something," he held up the bakery bag for her to see.

A huge smile graced her face and his stomach lurched, her smile was his undoing everytime. He smiled back at her and she led him over to the couch. "Do you want some coffee, I just made a pot a little while ago?" she asked.

"I better not, I have a long drive ahead of me and drinking too much will cause me to stop more." he said.

She opened the bag and realized he had gotten her favorite pastry from her favorite bakery. He was always doing little things like that. She loved that about him.

She bit into a donut and moaned from the sheer joy and taste. He grinned at her. He reveled in the small things she took joy in and pastries were her weakness. He would make it a point to bring her more in the future, since he so loved her reaction to them. He would also look forward to taking her to his favorite place when she visited him this summer.

"Benjamin, you always know how to bring a smile to my heart with your small gestures. I love that about you, " she said.

Benjamin stepped closer, taking her in his strong embrace. "Suzanne, my future looks so much brighter and better with the prospect of you in it. I don't care where we go as long as we go together hand in hand." Tears were now running down his cheeks also and she reached up to wipe them away.

She brought his hand to lay on her heart. "This heart beats for you and it will until the end of my days and longer. I love you with all that I have and am."

He took her cheeks in his hands and joined their lips. The kiss was sweet and gentle at first, but quickly deepened. She loved kissing him and could not get enough of his lips and tongue on hers. He moaned into her mouth and she returned the kiss. He could not get enough of her taste either and didn't want to ever stop.

Needing air, they pulled back panting. He pecked her lips. "I really need to get on the road, it is a long drive. I really don't want to leave, tell me that I will see you very soon."

"Three weeks, there will be a horse sale in Middleburg and I will be there. It will be a three day sale and we usually stay for all three days. I will call you when we get in town and you can drive up. Do you think you can get off work for a few days? I would love to spend some time with you in your home state." she asked.

"I will make sure to take the time off, I am sure my Dad will understand and if he doesn't I will pull the Mom card and she will make it happen," he said with a grin.

"Okay, as much as I don't want to let you go to leave, you better get on the road," she said sadly.

"I know I should leave, but leaving you is so hard and it is killing my heart," he said as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you Benjamin and I will look forward to seeing you soon," she told him.

She took his hand and led him to her front door. She tiptoed up and kissed him one more time. "One for the road," she laughed.

He regrettably turned and left her standing at her door, making his way out of her apartment building. He looked up one last time before getting into his car and pulling out of the parking lot. It would be a long drive and a long three weeks.