Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own "ER." The poem, 'The Journey' was written by Maura Penders. "Come Away With Me" is by Norah Jones. No copyright infringement is intended.
Married Life
Mark and Susan Lewis-Greene entered their room at the Solace Inn. Mark turned on the light while Susan looked around.
"This is beautiful!" she exclaimed. Susan walked out to the balcony and saw the wondrous view: the lakes and mountains were breathtakingly gorgeous. Mark joined Susan and she wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you for such a wonderful first anniversary present!"
"This is just the beginning," Mark said as he kissed Susan.
"Oh, really?" Susan smiled as she returned Mark's kiss. "What else do you have planned, Mr. Greene?"
"Well, Mrs. Greene, I have a few surprises up my sleeve," Mark replied slyly. "And no, I won't give you any hints."
"Fine," Susan shrugged. "I have some surprises of my own." She walked into their room and opened her suitcase. "It might be something from a lingerie shop," she whispered to Mark.
"Really?" Mark said, now excited.
"So, any hints as to what my surprise is?" Susan asked.
"Just that you're going to love it," he said. "And that's all I'm going to tell you." Mark hugged Susan close to him and kissed her head. "Why don't you get ready for dinner? I'll unpack and you can take a shower."
"That's no fun," Susan objected. "I'd rather shower now and you can unpack later." She walked to the bathroom, stopped and turned to Mark. "Are you coming?"
"Right behind you!" he said, and they kissed more before entering the bathroom.
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Later that evening, Mark and Susan were enjoying a romantic dinner at the Inn's restaurant. Mark held up a glass of cider and grinned at his wife.
"To us, and our first anniversary as husband and wife," he toasted.
Susan raised her glass and clinked it with Mark's. "To an incredible year, and many more ahead."
"I'd definitely toast to that," Mark said as he sipped his cider.
"And next year, we'll be able to drink champagne," Susan joked. Mark reached across the table and took her hand. "Three more months until our baby boy is here."
"I can't tell you how excited I am," Mark said gently. He stroked Susan's fingers. "This whole year has been magical. It's gone by so quickly."
"Tell me about it," Susan replied. "It feels like we just got married."
"I was more nervous about the proposal," Mark admitted.
"Why? You knew I was going to say yes!" Susan said.
"But I wanted everything to go perfectly, and I was afraid something would mess up," Mark confided.
"That was a perfect evening," Susan reminisced.
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Flashback: it is late in the month of April of the previous year, just a week after Susan had told Mark she loved him. They have already become lovers and pledged to be together for the rest of their lives. Mark has been searching for the perfect engagement ring to give to Susan, and it is now the night he has planned to propose. The couple is walking along the beach, holding hands.
"I love the smell of the sea air," Susan said. She closed her eyes and inhaled. "Before we know it, summer will be here."
"Do you have any plans for the summer?" Mark asked nervously. Susan opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I'm just asking."
"Besides working? Spending every moment with you," Susan answered. She ran her fingers against Mark's cheek and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you," he replied. Mark fidgeted with the box in his pocket. "Susan, I need to ask you something."
"Sure, what is it?" Susan responded.
Mark stopped walking and looked into Susan's eyes. "We started out as friends and that grew into something more. The past week has been the best of my life." Susan blushed and looked down. Mark gently raised her chin so that she was looking into his eyes. "You are the love of my life." Mark took the box out of his pocket, got down onto one knee and took Susan's hand. "Susan Lewis, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?" he asked. Mark opened the box to reveal a diamond engagement ring inside.
Susan gasped, and tears of joy flooded her eyes. "Yes!" she replied. "Yes, yes, a million times, yes!"
Mark, tears in his own eyes, stood up and shakily slid the ring onto Susan's finger. She looked at the ring for a moment, then hugged and kissed Mark. He lifted her up and they spun around in complete elation.
"We are going to have such an amazing life together," Mark said. Susan, unable to say anything, wiped her eyes and kissed Mark again.
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Present time, at the Inn's restaurant. Mark leaned across the table and kissed Susan. She wiped tears from her eyes again.
"Hormones," she said with a laugh.
Mark stood up and helped Susan get up from her seat. They walked out of the restaurant, holding hands.
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Back at their suite, Mark dimmed the lights and waited for Susan to emerge from the bathroom. He had lit candles and placed them around the room.
"Are you ready?" Susan asked.
"Ready and waiting," Mark replied. Susan exited the bathroom wearing a blue silk nightgown. Mark whistled in response.
"You don't think I look silly?" Susan asked uncertainly.
"Not in the least bit," Mark replied. "Sexy, yes. Silly, no way."
"I'm six months pregnant," Susan stated. "I thought I'd look…well, fat, maybe."
"You're pregnant with our son," Mark said as he hugged Susan and rubbed her belly. "And I think you're the sexiest woman I've ever seen."
"You look pretty sexy yourself," Susan noted. "I see you like the silk boxers I bought you."
"They're actually pretty comfortable," Mark replied.
"Yes, but they're not staying on long," Susan said seductively. She and Mark kissed. He broke from the kiss long enough to turn on the CD player. Their wedding song, 'Come Away With Me' filled the room. Susan wrapped her arms around Mark. "I love your surprises."
"Remember our first dance to this?" Mark asked.
"I'll never forget it," Susan answered. "Just like I'll always remember our wedding, and how beautiful it was."
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Flashback. It is June of the previous year, and Susan and Mark are standing in front of all their family and friends in church. They have already exchanged vows and rings, and now Mark is reciting a poem for Susan.
"This poem is called 'The Journey,'" Mark began. "I thought it was perfect for today, and for how I feel about you - and us." Susan smiled at Mark and wiped her eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. "Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be shelter to each other. And now we will feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to each other." Susan swallowed and fought more tears. "Now there is no loneliness. We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home. When evening falls, I'll look to you and there you'll be. And I'll take your hand and you'll take mine." Mark stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. He knew he was on the verge of tears himself. "And we'll turn together and we'll look to the road we traveled to reach this, the hour of our happiness. It stretched far behind us, and our future lies ahead. A long and winding road where every turning means discovery. All the hopes, new laughter, shared tears, the adventure has just begun."
"I love you," Susan said. "You are my very best friend in the whole world. You are my light in the darkness. You are my shelter from the storm." Mark reached over and wiped Susan's tears of happiness away. "I love you with all of my heart and with all of my soul."
Mark, overwhelmed with his love for Susan, reached over and hugged her. He let go long enough for the minister to announce that they were husband and wife.
"And you may kiss your bride," the minister added with a grin.
"I'd love to," Mark said. He and Susan kissed passionately as their friends and family cheered.
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Present time, at their suite at the Solace Inn, Mark and Susan are cuddled in bed together after making love. Mark runs his hand over Susan's belly.
"He's kicking a lot lately," Mark commented.
"A future soccer player," Susan laughed.
"Or a football player!" Mark said excitedly. He bent over and kissed Susan's head. "Tonight has been wonderful."
"Thank you for my present," Susan said. She fingered the diamond necklace that Mark had given her.
"And for my watch," Mark replied. "I love the inscription: to my love, my heart, my soul, happy first anniversary."
"You're all of those to me," Susan stated. She rested her head on Mark's chest and he caressed her hair.
"I love you," Mark said tenderly.
Susan looked up at her husband. "I love you, too," she said. They kissed again. "Happy Anniversary."
"Happy Anniversary," Mark replied. He and Susan, overwhelmed with their love and desire for each other, kissed passionately and made love into the night.