A/N: Hey y'all! Did you like the first chapter of SIY? I wanted to mention again, that this is AU and the characters might be a little OOC. Also, as per usual, there will be a hefty dose of angst in this story because apparently, my little fanfic heart lives for angst, followed by hurt/comfort, ending with a dose of romance that's usually rated M (perhaps I need to write a romance novel… haha maybe I will one day). Anyway. There will be two Easter Eggies (my version of a Hidden Mickey), from two different fandoms in this chapter. If you figure out the fandoms, you get a virtual cookie (I know a few of you will guess them instantly). I have no idea if a weeping willow is suitable for building a tree house in, so we're pretending that it is. Some of the timeline and details are a little off, but it's fanfiction so, please go with it. This may be my best story yet (not to toot my own horn, but… *honk, honk*). Am I rambling? Haha, sorry. I'm just really excited about this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. The only things that belong to me, are Midnight, future OC's, and the storyline.
Side Note: Does anyone else wish that Natasha Richardson was still alive? She's an amazing actress and I would have loved to see a second Parent Trap movie (and maybe with a new sibling or two for Annie and Hallie).
Now that I'm done rambling on, please enjoy!
When Liz reached the stables, she was in awe. Nick's horse, Midnight was a magnificent Percheron, grey in color with pitch black spots dappled throughout his coat. She thought he had to be about eighteen or nineteen hands tall, if she had to guess how tall the stallion was. "Hey, big guy," Liz cooed as she let the horse sniff her hand, letting him get used to her. Midnight's response was to let out a soft whinny as he gently nipped at her hand. "I'll take that as you saying that I'm alright for a stranger?"
Smiling at the gentle giant, Liz stepped away from the horse and set the picnic basket down before walking into the tack room and grabbing a saddle with a saddlebag on it. It's been so long since Liz had ridden a horse, the last time probably being when she was a child.
Once Midnight was saddled up and ready for riding, Liz led him outside and putting her foot in the stirrup, lifted and swung herself into the saddle. As soon as she was seated, the stallion took off galloping towards the direction of the tree house. The pace was steady; fast enough to get there quickly, but slow enough that Liz could enjoy the view. Her view consisted mostly of many rows of grapes, but there was still something breathtaking about the view. She loved it and thought to herself that she really wouldn't mind spending the rest of her days walking through the vineyard, tasting the wine that came from the grapes, and just being in the crisp mountain air, in general.
After a roughly twenty minute ride, they arrived at the massive weeping willow, which held the tree house. After dismounting Midnight, Liz brought the horse to a small enclosure- a smaller version of the stables. Once the horse was settled into the enclosure, she took the saddle and saddle bag off of him. She then removed the small basket from the saddlebag, and walked toward the stair case she would have to climb.
Staring up into the branches of the tree house, Liz could only guess at how expensive it was to have this built. Was it built all at once or was it added to little by little? She didn't know, but it was an amazing piece of architecture regardless of how it was built. As she was climbing the stairs, she realized that the designs looked familiar. Then, when she reached the tree house itself, it clicked. "It's the tree house we talked about building when we first got together…" Liz trailed off as she started to cry.
~ElizNick~
It was an hour after they got home from their camping trip and Nick couldn't find his ex-wife. He wanted to show Liz, his expansive collection of wine and talk about the kiss they shared. The kiss happened so quickly, but while it was in the heat of the moment, he thought that it felt right. If it felt right to him, did it feel right to Liz? He realized that regardless of his feelings, he probably shocked her and left her terribly confused. One minute, he was with his fiancée, the next, he was telling Liz that she threw the engagement ring at his head after he chose their daughters over her. Then he kissed her deeply. Nick needed to find his ex-wife and have a conversation that was long overdue.
"Hey," Nick said as he walked into the kitchen to find Chessy sitting at the kitchen island, reading a newspaper. "Chessy, have you seen Liz?"
She took a swig of her coffee, before she answered him. Chessy gave her word to Liz that she wouldn't tell Nick where she went, but that didn't mean she couldn't at least give him a hint. She wanted to see both of her best friends be happy, and felt that her hint would nudge him in the right direction so that he and Liz could talk about whatever they needed to.
"I gave her my word that I wouldn't tell you, but I didn't say that I wouldn't give you a hint. She needed to be alone to think about some things; like you do sometimes."
"So… she's at the tree house?"
Chessy stood up and after placing the newspaper on the table, grabbed her coffee cup, "I'll make some sort of excuse to tell Hallie and Annie that you will both be gone for a couple of days."
"Thank you, Chessy. I owe you one."
"Give me an invite to the wedding," she started walking out of the kitchen before tossing over her shoulder, "What are you waiting for, Nick? Go get your girl."
~ElizNick~
Since he decided to walk instead of riding a horse to the tree house, it took Nick roughly an hour to get there. He used the walk to clear his mind and to think of what he should and wanted to say to his ex-wife. Nick knew that he loved Liz, had done so since he first laid eyes on her on the Queen Elizabeth 2, thirteen years ago. He remembered it like it was yesterday; the way her eyes sparkled in the light of the fireworks, her laugh when he joked around with her, the light banter between them, and lastly, the way she willingly gave him her heart. Nick thought or hoped rather, that if she was willing to give it, he would win her heart again. He really did miss and crave the things that used to be, and the things that could be.
After quietly climbing the stairs, he softly rapped his knuckles on the oak wood door. He has never been this nervous. Unless, you count the time that Liz went into labor and the twins were born.
The door opened and there stood Liz. She had tears in her eyes, and dried tear tracks, trailing down her cheeks. Liz had changed into some of his clothes; a pair of sweatpants that sat low on her hips, and a plain black hoodie.
Nick's heart felt like it had been punched. She looked so beautiful, yet so sad. "I thought I might just find you here," he punctuated every word with the point of his finger.
"What do you want, Nick?" she asked quietly.
"I realize that I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I wanted to talk to you."
Liz's response was to open the door wider, then step aside to let him inside. She had figured that he would eventually find her, whether it be because he did it himself, or the fact that Chessy told him.
Nick sat down at the table in a chair that was already pulled out. "You know, I was actually wondering something. Actually, two something's. One, why did you run away? And two, why are you wearing my clothes?"
Blushing a light shade of pink, Liz answered, "I left because I was so terribly confused about the kiss and didn't know what to think or how to feel. As for the clothes…"
"Yes?"
"It sounds silly, I know. I just wanted to feel comfortable and if I'm honest, closer to you."
"What do you think and how do you feel?" Nick asked.
Liz pushed herself off of the counter she was leaning on, "I was going to tell you as soon as I saw you in the threshold."
"And now?"
Aware of every movement and breath she took, Liz sat in his lap. His hands ever so gently braced her hips as he studied her face, trying to find the answer. "And now I want you to know, Nick, that I love you. I want you to know that…" she took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she felt her lip tremble and felt him wipe away tears that fell down her cheeks. "I want you to know, that… every piece of my heart that was broken by our divorce is starting to slowly heal by being around you and seeing how you interact with Hallie and Annie. Every healing part of me, I will willingly give to you. I'd be honored, Nick if you'd like to try a relationship with me, again."
"I'd love nothing more than to try again," he whispered as he moved his one hand to where it was nestled in the soft, short waves of her hair, kissing her deeply.
After several minutes of lips moving over lips, the kissing came to an end. "Liz," Nick paused a moment to brush a few kisses to her forehead, "Is there… anyone I should go to, to ask permission to propose to you?"
"Well, aside from my father, why don't we…"
"Ask the children" they said together.
They both laughed softly before leaning in to kiss each other, again. And in that moment, to them, everything felt right. After a long time of being apart they were finally together again. The two of them thought to themselves that perhaps despite the way things went wrong all those years ago, they must have done something good to deserve a second chance.
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Stay tuned for Chapter Three!
