Neal lead Candy to his limousine. A diver readily stood up and opened the rear door.

"I drive," said Neal.

The driver tipped his head and stepped aside. Neal held Candy's hand and she slid into the seat next to him. Candy fastened her seat belt and watched him rather than the view outside.

"I noticed Bebe look healthy and happy," said Neal as he handled the car with skillful control.

"Yes, she is doing so fine," said Candy, happy that he remembered Bebe and brought her up in the conversation.

"Terrific."

Candy nodded. "It's good that our battle with the epidemic has ended. It disappeared as quickly as it came," said Candy then added, "And of course Stear was a great doctor."

"I have to admit that I never thought highly of Stear until recently." Neal grinned.

She glanced at him and laughed. "He makes me feel like going to medical school and become a doctor!"

"I'll be your fist patient." He grinned.

Candy beamed. "Patty didn't believe me when I told her about Stear. Still, she left the island the moment we hung up the phone."

"I can imagine."

They kept chatting until Candy realized they were in an area she's not familiar with.

"Are you using a detour?" she asked.

"I have a new home." He grinned.

"You are not staying with your parents?"

"They are so relieved that they don't have to see me everyday anymore," said Neal as he parked his car.

Candy chuckled.

Smiling, Neal moved up behind her and tenderly put his hand on her back.

"Welcome to Lago De Plata."

"It's beautiful," said Candy, admiring the Spanish style mansion with the asymmetrical shape signature. The wrought iron details at the windows and the balcony looked like the illustration in a history book. They were breathtaking.

Neal drew her close and led the way op the marble steps. The main hall was big with a big chandelier hanging on the ceiling.

"This is the main room," said Neal.

Candy glanced around approvingly. He conducted her across the hall to the dining room. On the wall were hung family portraits. She stopped to see the photo of Neal when he was a baby.

He grinned. "Over here is the library," said Neal gently tugging her to the large room at the end of the hallway.

There was a big painting in the center of the wall and smaller photos scattered around it.

"That is our great-great-grandfather, Thomas P. Leagan. The smaller ones are the paintings of his relatives including us."

"Wow..." Candy was speechless. "This mansion was his?"

Neal nodded. "Yes, although it's been long forgotten. I commissioned a historian to conduct some study about him. I bought his photos and dedicate this library for him."

"Remarkable."

Neal grinned. Then they're back in the main hall and Neal took her climb up a grand staircase to the second floor. He led her through a hall into a magnificent bedroom.

"My bedroom. You like it?" his voice was deep.

"Nice," said Candy. A massive bed sat to the left covered with blue down comforter. The coordination of color with the rest of the furniture was as masculine as the owner. "You really live here, huh? Did your parents agree?"

"Stop thinking as though I am a little boy!"

"You scolded me?"

"Was that a threat?" He squeezed her golden hair playfully. "You have been torturing me mercilessly for eight years, you are lucky all I do is scolding."

She giggled and looked around. "Nice bedroom. It's very-"

Her words hanged unfinished seeing him step away from her. Taking off his light-creme suit, he laid it over the back of a nearby chaise-lounge sofa. Then he loosened his tie, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, his cuffs, and her stomach flipped.

"Very what?" He came back and brought his hands to her face. His face looked so kind.

"Big...," she muttered and instantly flushed at the ribald connotation of the word.

Seeing his wicked grin, he must have thought the same thing. "You like big things?" He pressed her to his chest. The soft way his palm caressing her back felt so sweet that it sent her nerves jumbled.

"I-it's getting late." She pushed his chest to make space between them. "Look! It's almost my bed time!" she cried exaggeratedly. Her cheeks burned for making that blatant lie.

"There is a bed. Sleep here," he said softly.

"No!" she blurted out.

"You would rather go home?" His finger gently traced the outline of her mouth.

"Yes. No! Er... See, I haven't seen the garden." Her heart wanted him, but she couldn't help feel nervous. "I mean, I like it here, Neal. It's just that..." Her face felt burned. It must have turned into a dozen different shades of red, and she looked away.

"It's just what?" he asked softly.

Candy exhaled summing up the courage to tell him the truth. "It's too much of a rush, Neal. I am not ready for this. I didn't even expect I would see you today."

He would mock her now, knowing that she's inexperience. She felt so embarrassed. Luckily, he didn't.

"I didn't expect I can be in Chicago today. I was too impatient to see you and rushed mom, dad, and Eliza all morning to board the train yesterday. Eliza then forgot to take her hat. And since the train was already moving, her maid wasn't allowed to enter the platform so I got off from the train to fetch it from her maid and jumped into the train."

"A nice brother," said Candy.

"That's what a brother for."

Candy couldn't help to smile. The two always had a strong bond as long as she could remembered. "Good that you hurried them. I'm glad I can see you sooner than later," she said.

"How about we take a walk outside?" he asked. "You want to see the garden you said. I'll show you why this place is called Lago de Plata or The Silver Lake."

It helped that he didn't mock her and Candy was back to herself. She nodded. Somewhere in her heart felt disappointed when he let her hand go and put his suit back on.

Pressing his hand at the small of her back, Neal led her outside crossing impressive garden to the lake side. The birds were chirping preparing to wrap up the day. The lake, calm and clear, reflecting the silver color of the moon.

"I love this place," Candy said. "I see now why it's called The Silver Lake."

"It's closer to the city too so I can commute easier to my office." He touched her face. She thought he would kiss her and felt disappointed when he didn't. Confusions sank in, not sure what she had to do.

"You move permanently to Chicago?"

"Not exactly. But one can commute. There are airplanes now which is much faster than the train. I think I might buy one."

Candy nodded. "I didn't know your family owns this mansion."

"We didn't. It's among a few that my great-grandpa sold to raise cash that the Andrews didn't buy. I bought back with my gold bricks." Neal grinned.

Candy laughed.

They kept on walking. And she felt closer connection with the man for each step they took. So it was real, she wasn't just imagining it. Here they were, hands linking together, and she felt so happy.

Soon, the were standing in an open area. She put her head against his shoulder. They were staring for a long time looking at the lake. She closed her eyes, didn't really understand this. But, whatever it was she's happy that he's here.

"Lets go back. There's something else I want to show you." He nudged her gently.

Neal took her to a large room, made entirely of glass. The rich scent of roses entered her nose as soon as she stepped into the room. She saw roses after roses filling the whole room.

"I prepare this for you." His tone was warm and kind. "I remember you love flowers, roses especially. " He picked one up and tucked it in her thick blonde curl above her ear.

"I do." She was deeply moved by his attention. "Thanks. T-this is wonderful."

"You're welcome," he whispered then quietly gazing out of the glass window. "When I was in Florida, I'd sit by the bay, looking at the sea missing you. I hope, if I were lucky, we would meet again and perhaps someday, I could give you roses and you would accept. Like now."

Slowly he turned to face her and caught her hand in his, watching her with every part of his being. "I'd watch people dance, couples walk hand in hand on the beach and I'd imagine what it would be like to have you next to me and hold your hand. Like now."

It sounded so sad. She remembered all rejections she gave him. But she would never guess that he truly loved her. Her throat felt so dry she barely could speak.

"But we're here now. Together," she said, forcing through the lump of her throat.

"Yes." He pressed his forehead against hers. "I've shown you my home. You want to go back now?"

Suddenly her legs were shaking. "No." She didn't care to hide it anymore. She leaned into him bury her face in his throat to let him feel even more. "I want to stay... with you. I'm just afraid that..." she swallowed. "I am not good."

"Candy." He stroked her cheek gently. "You just need to tell me to stop and I will, okay?"

She nodded and he swept her in a deep kiss that she never wanted to end. It felt perfect to be in his arms. Kissing him and feeling him was the best thing and that had ever happened to her. She felt him pull her dress over her and she unbuttoned his perfectly white shirt. Still kissing her, he pushed her to his bedroom and the night turned magical. She was calling his names, he called hers and not once did she ever ask him to stop...

oOo

The following day as they ate breakfast in their bed Neal told her everything. He set up a company with a different name and worked to release his parents and Eliza. Unlike what Daisy claimed to intimidate him, they were not sick. After gruesome court battles and mounting evidence, she admitted her mistake and the Leagan's name was cleared.

"I'm glad all goes well with your family," said Candy generously. "What's next with Daisy?"

"Considering my friendship with her in the past, I didn't charge her too heavily. But, if she ever does something like this again, she'll be toast!" Neal clenched his jaws, before looking down at the love of his life. "Will that be okay with you?"

Candy pushed him back to the bed and replied, "Of course." Why spread bitterness in the world?

Neal smiled. Holding her tight, suddenly he turned quiet just gazed thoughtfully up at the ceiling.

"Pen for you thoughts?" she kissed his shoulder.

"Would you want to visit Florida? I can't live if I can't hold you for too long," he planted several kisses in various places on her.

"The influenza threat is over. Yes, I think I can," she whispered.

"You can? Say for one weekend?"

"Only a weekend?" Candy frowned. "I heard you say forever to Daisy. Weren't you saying that just to make her leave?" She climbed off of him and crossed her arms across her bare chest, but he grabbed her hips.

"Y-you mean?" he muttered.

She giggled and pressed a lingering kiss on his lips. "What I meant was-"

"MOMMY!" Suddenly they heard a loud bang at the bedroom door.

"Bebe? How come she is here!" Candy sat up instantly. "Dear, just a second," she yelled, scrambling to look for her dress.

"Uncle Stear and Archie said I can find you here."

"That's nice sweetheart!" cried Candy.

"Stear and Archie," growled Neal. "They'll pay for this."

"He said daddy is here, too," Bebe continued. "Can I see him?"

"Yes...!" Candy burst out. She gathered her dress and jumped off the bed. "As long as you call him Mr. L-"

Neal pulled Candy's skirt.

"Marry me," he held her. "I love you. I love Bebe and will always do. Say yes. Tell Bebe she can call me daddy. She'll like that, I'll be ecstatic."

Candy stared at him in disbelief. The happiness was enormous. "Oh, Neal yes. Yes.. Yes!" She jumped into his arms.

oOoo

EPILOGUE

The following year Candy and Neal were married.

Then fifteen years later. The Andrews had moved to London. Stear and Patty with their children moved to France. Ever since his plane was shot down and he was saved by the civilians, Stear regarded the place his home. Archie, Annie and their children went all over the world with Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell. Terry and Suzanne lived in California. Eliza lived in Argentina with her own family.

The Leagans business was flourishing. Their banking business needed to open a branch in New York. James was reluctant to leave his hometown and asked his son to do it.

And what about Doug?

Doug became a chef. He owned a successful restaurant in Chicago. Guests had to line up to dine. On one occasion when Candy visited him she asked, "You want to come with us, Doug? New York is a very good place for a young rising chef."

Doug looked around his cottage and sighed contently. "We have lived here since James and Sarah gave this cottage to us at our wedding. I and my wife can't think of living somewhere else. I don't have parents. Emma's parents died from the flu. To me, James and Sarah are my parents. They looked after me then, I'll look after them now."

And of course, Neal and Candy lived happily ever after.

- THE E N D -

Thanks for reading.

Sabrina, Elsa, Claudia, Rosyfdz: Hugs from here. Thanks for giving me the happiness to share stories about Neal.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, my friends.

Sabrina: Thank you, my friend. Thanks for liking the Stear part. I appreciate it. Always... Thanks so much. Daiys: She's Eliza's friend. So I thought... oh well...

Claudia: Thanks for reading until the end. This is it. Thanks so much.

Elsa: Haha, thanks. Money... important for power, eh? Hoho. Nice to have that much gold. Thanks, my friend.