Shelby blinked awake with the sun shining bright on her face through the window. She was lying in her bed on her side. She closed her eyes as she recalled the night before and the fight between her and Scott. She looked over to the other side of the bed and half expected Scott o be asleep next to her. She wanted the night before to be just a bad dream but she knew that it wasn't. It was real.
A sigh left her dry lips as she threw the blankets off of her. As if she woke up just in time, Jena came into the room and jumped on the bed next to Shelby.
"Mommy!" Jena nearly screamed. "Phone."
Jena handed Shelby the house phone. Shelby took the phone from her daughter with a puzzled expression. With any luck, it was Scott calling, but she highly doubted it.
"Hello?" Shelby said.
"Shelby, hi, it's Susan," Susan said from the other line of the phone.
"Hi, Susan."
"Hey, I was wondering if it would be okay if I took Jena out today and then she stayed over at my house tonight. It would be a nice chance to get to know her."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Shelby replied and didn't sounds very enthused.
"Is something wrong, Shelby?" Susan asked, obviously picking up on her tone.
"Your son and I got into a big fight last night," Shelby answered.
"Bigger than your previous ones?"
"You know about those?"
"Scott tells me everything."
"Is he, by any chance, at your place then?" Shelby asked with a little bit of hope showing in her voice.
"No, I'm sorry, sweetie. Did he leave last night?" Susan asked.
"Yeah after the fight," Shelby answered.
She leaned back again as another sigh left her lips. Once Susan called, Shelby thought Scott might have been there but her thoughts disappeared and her hopes of it were crushed when she heard that he didn't go there after all.
"I'm sorry," Susan said apologetically. "Would you rather I not take Jena then?"
"No," Shelby replied. "Taking Jena is probably the best thing for her right now. She doesn't need to be here for all that drama between me and her Dad."
"That's very true. Well, what time would you like me to come and pick her up?"
"When ever is good for you is fine."
"How about an hour? I think it would be good for you to be a lone for a little while," Susan said.
"Sounds good to me," Shelby replied. "Oh, and, Susan, thanks for listening to my complaining."
"It was no problem, Shelby. I'll see you soon," Susan replied with a smile. "Bye."
"Bye."
Shelby sat up in her bed again and looked to Jena, who was looking to her in a questioning manner.
"What's goin' on?" Jena asked.
"How do you feel about spending the day with Grandma and then sleeping over at her house?" Shelby asked with a smile.
"You mean, she really wants to see me?" Jena asked as her face started to glow with happiness.
"Well of course she wants to see you," Shelby replied. "You're her grand daughter."
Shelby couldn't keep a smile off of her face at that moment. Jena was too adorable for her not to smile. She was so naïve at times. Especially about people liking her. Then again, she was only five years old so it was to be expected.
"When's she gonna be here?" Jena asked.
"In about an hour," Shelby answered. "Come on, we have to get you ready."
Jena practically jumped off of the bed and ran into her room. She started to pack a bag for herself before Shelby was even fully out of bed. Shelby walked into Jena's room and chuckled as she watched her daughter pack. No one could ever say that Jena relied on people. She was a very self-dependent child.
Scott woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. He was, once again, asleep on a couch but it wasn't his couch. Scott groaned in a sort of protest at being woken up and heard Daisy's voice come through the air.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey, Daisy," Shelby replied from the other line of the phone softly.
"Shelby, you sound like hell. What happened?" Daisy asked, even though she knew very well what had happened between her and Scott.
"I don't really want to talk about it," Shelby replied and sounded tired. "Hey, um, have you seen Scott recently?"
Daisy bit her bottom lip as she walked into the living room and sat down in a chair by the couch. She looked over at Scott and kind of glared at him before she looked away from him and towards the ground.
"No, I haven't seen him," Daisy replied, completely lying to Shelby.
"Okay, well, if you see him can you tell him that I'm looking for him?" Shelby asked and sounded like she wanted to cry.
"Yeah, I'll do that."
"Thanks," Shelby replied and hung up the phone.
Daisy hung up her phone and held it in her hand before looking back to Scott. Daisy couldn't believe that she had just lied to Shelby. However, Daisy promised Scott that she wouldn't tell her where he was. Scott showed up at her house the night before, completely filled with anger and told Daisy the whole story before asking to stay there for the night. Daisy obliged and let him sleep on the couch.
"I can't believe I just lied to my best friend," Daisy said, her voice sounding a little distant.
"Thanks," Scott said .
"Yeah, well, you owe me big time," Daisy said with a deep sigh.
"I know. I just can't see her now."
"Well, you can't avoid her forever."
"I know, I know. But I can for a little while."
"Why don't you just see her and talk to her?" Daisy asked with such simplicity.
"And say what? 'I'm sorry I put you through the hell you put me through almost six years ago'?" Scott asked back.
"Sure," Daisy said with a shrug. "I don't know. But I know that I'm not going to lie to her again. You have to talk to her Scott."
"I know!" Scott stated, almost yelling.
"Then, stop your bitching and do it already!" Daisy retorted forcefully.
Daisy walked away from him. She knew that they were going to end up getting into a big argument if they continued talking and she didn't want that. Daisy walked into her bedroom and left Scott alone. She knew that he was going to go back to her eventually. Whether Scott would like to admit it or not, Daisy knew that he couldn't live without Shelby. The sooner he realized that, the sooner he would go back home.
Scott looked towards the direction Daisy walked and a sigh left his lips. He wanted to go home, he did, but he didn't want another fight. He was tired of fighting with Shelby over nothing. He didn't think that going home would cause another fight but he did think that there would be another soon. But, that was a part of being in a relationship, wasn't it? Fights happened and there was nothing either of the people could do to prevent them.
Scott threw the blanket off of him. He moved so he was sitting on the couch and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He ran one of his hands through his hair as another sigh left his lips. Scott looked off to nowhere and simply thought about everything and anything he could say when he finally went back home.
Home, Scott thought. Scott didn't realize until then that it really was a home, not just a house. The life he had with Shelby and Jena, in that house, really made it a home. Shelby was part of his life, a part that he couldn't afford for loose; a part that he didn't want to loose, not again. Scott wanted Shelby forever, for the rest of their lives. He always wanted her there. Not as a belonging or even as a girlfriend but as a partner, as a wife.
Scott stood up abruptly and made his way to the door. Scott walked out of Daisy's house and practically ran to his car. He got in on the passenger side and opened his glove compartment. Scott moved several things around until he finally found what he was looking for. He grabbed a little, black, velvet box smiled to himself. He opened the box to find the ring that he had from almost six years ago.
The ring was a white gold band with 3 square diamonds placed carefully on it. A large one in the middle and a smaller one on each side. Scott remembered when he first bought the ring and the feeling he had inside of him that day. He was feeling the same way he felt then; like he always wanted Shelby there.
Scott smiled to himself. He closed the box and after a few moments, kissed it.
Daisy was looking out her bedroom window and saw Scott in his car. She saw the box and smiled to herself. She knew what he was looking at. Daisy had helped Scott pick that ring out almost six years before. She didn't know he had kept it though. She nodded in a sort of approval and moved away from the window.
"There ya go, jocko," Daisy said to herself just as much to Scott.
Daisy walked out of her bedroom and made her way towards the living room. She carefully rested herself on the door frame between the living room and the dining room. She was waiting for Scott to come back. Daisy knew what he got from the car so she wasn't going to bother to ask but she did, however, want to know what brought on the sudden change.
Scott walked back in the house with the little, black, velvet box in one of his hands. He was completely oblivious to Daisy standing in the doorway. He had a huge smile on his face as he moved quickly around the living room, grabbing what things he had brought with him.
"It take it that went well," Daisy commented.
Scott stopped his movements and looked to Daisy with confusion written all over his face.
"You going to the car," Daisy added, hoping to clear up the confusion on Scott's face.
"Oh!" Scott exclaimed. "Yeah. Very well."
"So, I don't have to lie to Shelby anymore," Daisy assumed.
"Actually, you do."
"What? I thought you were going home!"
Scott closed his eyes when Daisy practically yelled and had to stop himself from doing a 'wow' type of whistle.
"I am going home," Scott answered. "But not until tonight. I have to work first but I don't want her to know I stayed the night here."
"Fine," Daisy said and sounded upset. "But you better get your ass home tonight because you are not sleeping here again."
"Deal," Scott said and stood up from the couch after putting his shoes on. "Thanks."
Scott turned and looked at himself in the mirror on the wall. He was still wearing his work clothes from the day before save for the tie, which he left at home the night before. He didn't mind not wearing a tie though. No one at work would bother him much about it anyway. They would all understand.
"So, what brought on this sudden change?" Daisy asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, where should I start?" Scott asked and looked at her with a small chuckle.
"The beginning would be good."
Scott sat back down on the couch as Daisy followed his lead and sat down on the chair next to the couch. She watched Scott carefully and waited for him to speak. He didn't know where to start. Daisy said the beginning but the beginning was 7 years ago when they first were together.
Scott smiled softly to himself and said, "I was sitting on your couch and thought about when I was going to go home and it hit me that the life I had with Shelby, really made that house a home. And I basically came to the conclusion that I always wanted her there and I always wanted that life with her. So, I went out to my car and grabbed the ring from before when I was going to ask her."
"Why did you keep the ring?" Daisy asked carefully. "I mean, after so many years, most guys would have returned it."
"I know but I didn't want to," Scott answered and looked to Daisy with the smile still on his face. "I guess, part of me always hoped that Shelby would come back to me and that we could live that life together."
"And now you can," Daisy added with a smile.
"Exactly. And I'm not going to let it pass me by again."
Daisy patted Scott on the knee with the smile on her face growing a little. She was proud of Scott. He finally realized what she and everyone else knew for a long time; that he needed Shelby and that he loved her too much to loose her. It was sweet, really. Daisy had to admit that she was happy for them.
"Good thinking, Barringer," Daisy approved with a nod.
"Thanks, Daisy," Scott said with a grin.
Daisy grinned back to him and shrugged her shoulders lightly. She was giving her best 'what?' expression as if she didn't say something slightly degrading to him. Daisy didn't say another thing before turning on her heels and walked back into her bedroom. She was going to let Scott finish getting ready for work and leave.
Scott walked into work more than a little late. He sat down at his desk and started to flip through the file folder that was waiting for him.
"Was there another fight with the girlfriend or something?' Anita asked from her desk with a cup of coffee in her small hands.
"Huh?" Scott questioned as he comprehended what she had asked. "Oh, no. Well, not really. There was a fight last night, which is why I didn't sleep at my house last night but things are different today."
"How so?"
"I'm gonna ask Shelby to marry me tonight," Scott stated with a smile.
Anita coughed as she nearly choked on her coffee upon hearting Scotts statement. She looked at him with wide eyes as she was nearly overcome with shock.
"Are you serious?" Anita asked, the shock evident in her voice and on her face.
"No, I was joking," Scott replied sarcastically. "Yes, I'm serious."
"Wow," Anita said, her voice sounding a little distant but she quickly recovered. "So, did you get the ring?"
Scott nodded. He reached his hand in his pocket and grabbed the velvet box. He pulled it out and rested it on his desk as he looked out the window.
Anita grabbed the box and opened it. A quick gasp escaped her lips at the sight of the gorgeous ring.
"Scott, it's beautiful," Anita said. "When did you find the time to go shopping for an engagement ring though?"
"Six years ago," Scott answered.
"So, since before she left you," Anita said and remembered how Scott had found out that Shelby was gone when he came to purpose and she wasn't there. "You kept the ring this whole time?"
"Yeah," Scott said with a sigh as she looked to Anita. "I should've gotten rid of it when I was with you…"
"No. I'm glad you kept a hold onto that bit of hope you had. You and Shelby are together and happy now. And I'm pretty content with Dave."
Dave was Anita's new boyfriend. After having not been with Scott for almost two months, Anita realized that she had to move on and she's happy that she did. Anita and Scott talked to each other and were friends and partners just like they were before they ever dated. They both agreed that they were both better off that way. After all, one should always keep their personal lives separate from their professional lives.
"I'm happy for you, Scott," Anita said with a smile.
"Thanks," Scott replied, even though he wasn't fully expecting her to be happy about it.
Scott thought that Anita would hate the idea of him marrying Shelby. After all, he did leave her for Shelby. However, Anita seemed truly happy for him. She was happy with her new lover, no doubt about that but he still thought she would be bitter about the situation considering everything that happened. But she wasn't. She really was happy for them.
Shelby walked out of the bathroom with nothing but a lilac colored towel wrapped around her body. Her blonde hair looked darker than usual for it was still wet and it was wavy. She didn't know why or how but her hair started to get natural waves in it in the few years before. Shelby didn't mind the waves though so she worry about them.
Shelby walked into hers and Scotts room and rummaged through her dresser to find comfortable clothes for her to wear. After several moments, she got dressed into grey tie-string pants and a black, formfitting, V-neck shirt. She was trying to impress anyone, she wasn't having anyone over and she sure as hell wasn't going out so she didn't really about what she looked like. She did, however, still wear a bra for she couldn't bring herself not to. It was a personal thing that she had.
Shelby walked out of her bedroom and down the hallway until she reached the living room. She sighed deeply at how empty the house was and sat down on the couch. She pulled her legs under her and sat Indian style with her arms hanging over the side.
Shelby reached her hand out and grabbed the book she was in the middle of. She opened Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard and continued to read from where she left off before. It was a romantic book but Shelby didn't mind because it had a good story away from the romance.
Shelby got so involved in the story that she forgot about the world around her. A new position, an house and a half and over 100 pages later, her head shot up from the book as she heard the front door open. Shelby kept the book in her lap as she turned her head towards the direction of the small hallway that led to the front door.
Scott walked through the door way and into the living room with a mix between a happy and a scared expression on his face.
"Scott," Shelby breathed.
"Hey," He said. "Look, about last night—"
"Just forget about it," Shelby said as she closed her book and set it down on the table next to her.
"I don't want to forget it," Scott stated.
Shelby gave Scott a confused look. She didn't understand why he wouldn't want to forget about something like that.
"I don't want to forget about it because it helped me realize how much I love you and how much I want you," Scott said and took a few steps closer to Shelby. "It helped me finally admit to myself that I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
Scott was basically pouring his heart out. He came into the house having no clue what he was going to say. But, once he saw Shelby, it was as if the words just came to him. He didn't have to think anymore, he just had to feel and let his emotions and love for Shelby do all of the talking.
"Shelby, I love you," Scott stated with a small smile. "That's why, when I say this, I know I'm not making the mistake of my life like most men are."
Scott grabbed the little, black, velvet box out of his pocket and held it in his hand for moment. He looked at the box as an almost nervous smile crept onto his face. He looked back at Shelby but she wasn't looked at him anymore, she was staring at the box he held in his hand.
"I don't really know how to say," Scott said and took a few more steps towards Shelby.
Shelby stayed on the couch as Scott walked closer. She looked at him once he was in front of her. Her gaze followed his movements as he went down into one knee in front of her. Shelby, at that point, knew what he was doing and she had to stop herself from screaming like a little girl. Instead, she decided to let a smile creep onto her face.
"Shelby, will you marry me?" Scott asked in the most sincere tone possible as he opened the box in front of her.
Shelby glanced at the beautiful ring before her before quickly returning her gaze to the beautiful man before her. She opened her mouth to say 'yes' but nothing came out. She swallowed twice and willed her voice to return. The smile stayed on her face through out this whole ordeal.
"Yes," She finally breathed.
Scotts smile grew enormously and he pulled Shelby into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the hug. He picked her up off the couch and spun them in a circle before putting her back down onto the ground. He gazed down at her with loving eyes and she could do nothing but do the same to him.
Scott let go of Shelby and opened the box again for it had closed when he hugged her. He took the ring out of the box and lightly took Shelby's left hand. Scott slid the ring carefully onto her ring finger and returned his gaze back to Shelby with a huge grin on his face.
Shelby looked down at the ring on her finger and the smile on her face grew. She felt like a little girl again. She was completely happy and almost giddy but above all, she felt completely in love. Shelby looked back to Scott with the smile still on her face.
The two leaned into each other and shared a passionate kiss. There was no need or desire behind the kiss. The kiss was full of love, plain and simple. When the parted, after several moments, they simply gazed into each others eyes.
"I love you, Scott Barringer," Shelby stated in a soft tone.
"I love you, Shelby Merrick," Scott replied just as softly as Shelby had.
Scott and Shelby stayed in each others arms for several moments before they made there way to their bedroom. Most would think that they would have sex at that point and enjoy each others bodies but they didn't. They lied in their bed together and simply enjoyed each others presence. They didn't speak to each other or tease each other; they cuddled with each other and feel asleep in each others arms.
Both were completely happy and content with each other. But above anything else, they were both completely in love with each other. And they both knew that they person they were with in that moment, was the person they would be with for the rest of their lives. That was the person they loved and wanted to be with forever. That person was their soul mate, in every way possible. They had the type of love that would last a life time.
Scott and Shelby really did have a life long love.
(A/N)- First off, thank you: Melms213, ScottandShelby334, hdrox, Linkie, keke1, twin muse, Ishbu girl, Ghostwriter, OliverWoodsGurl4life, Gabriela, iluvtv2much, OthfanAnna, nefftys, tribaltaisan, Ashlyn Alexis, Natalie Skywalker, Tracy, ScottandShelbyfan, Mandy, LilSoccerBaby20, Ems, Grey Daze's Nirvana, Jessa Faerie, Neptunes Princess, 2008ccampbell, sweetgirl,Lavender Brown-Halliwell, mary-023, angel, Saun, HCLvr, SethxSummer4Evah, CracKHeaDwitskillz, LJSkywalker, ffff, N.Ottingerand jessmerrick. I'm so happy that you all enjoyed this story and I thank you all so much for your support through out it all.
So, this is the last chapter. The Truth Comes Out has come to an end. I must confess, I didn't want this story to end. This story was my baby and I loved it. I still love it but it's not continuing. I think that's one of the reasons it took so long for me to get up. I kept delaying writing this chapter for that very reason. I didn't want this story to come to an end. Not to mention, I was never really satisfied with it. I wanted it to be so perfect. I hope I didn't disappoint.
And, this story is definitely having a sequel. The sequel will be called A new Life and it will have about a two year gap. I don't know how long it will take for me to get this up though. I know everything I want to happen but I don't have it planned chapter by chapter yet and this is one of my stories that I want to do that with(just like I did with TTCO and ABOAP) I don't really know how long the story will be either. I don't want to give much away but I will give you all a little taste though. All I will say though if that the first few chapters will consist of lots of flash backs and a wedding. Also, take the title seriously! Anyone who can figure that one out, my hats off to you. ;)
As for me as a writer, I plan on writing a 'Memories' chapter next. I don't know how long it will take to get up though because I have no idea where I plan on going with that story. I know I don't want it to end with that happy ending though. Who knows? Maybe my twisted mind wont let it have a happy ending at all. After I update that story, I plan on writing a chapter of 'All Because of a Play' and then one for 'Haunted'. My 'Haunted' chapter has a small chance of it being the last but it's still a small chance. Hopefully, I can keep that story going and end with chapter 10 but as with everything else, we'll see. After that, I'm thinking about writing a new story(probably a one shot) based completely around Scott. It's by Debbie's request that I write so I'm hoping to get that up with in the next couple of months. I don't have a title yet but I know pretty much what I plan on doing with it. If I think of more, it might be a continued story but as of right now, it's a one shot. Then, I will start the sequel to this story. So, if all goes well, this is how it happen. If all doesn't go well, then, I'm not sure what will happen.
Another thing, if anyone wants to see the S&S engagement ring, click on or copy and paste thisURL: http/img99.imageshack.us/img99/4354/ttcoring2cw.jpg I got the idea for this ring from my sister-in-laws engagement ring that I fell completely in love with.
Okay, well, I really hope that you all enjoyed this story and liked the last chapter. Please review and let me know how I did. And, once again, I thank all of your for following me through out this whole story and being so supportive of a young writer. Thank you, everyone!