A Long Nights Journey Into Day

5. What kind of day it has been…

The seconds seemed like minutes. The minutes seemed like hours. And the hour, taking the world from 5am to 6am seemed like an eternity. But finally the dawn broke and just after 6:10am, the young male doctor came into the chapel and told Danny that not only was the baby being moved out of NICU, but Jordan was reacting well to the antibiotics and was practically out of the woods.

"What does that mean?" Danny asked, rising to his knees. "Out of the woods? What does that mean?"

"It means that your wife is going to be okay." The doctor answered proudly with a smile. "She's being moved to her own room now and we'll have to keep her and the baby here for a couple of days- till Monday at the latest…."

"…but she's okay?!?"

"She's okay."

And with that the doctor left, leaving Harriet and Matt to congratulate a very stunned Danny. After a few minutes of hugging, and crying and jumping up and down Danny excused himself and went to see if he could be with Jordan when she was moved to her own room- leaving Harriet and Matt alone in the chapel.

Together they sat before the altar in a quiet silence before Matt finally took the initiative to speak up.

"You know Harry…" He began quietly, not meeting her eyes. "…I should have done something a long time ago."

"And what would that be?"

"I should have asked you to marry me." Matt answered simply. "Years ago- I should have asked you."

"Yes…" Harriet sighed. "…you should have."

"If I had-" Matt asked curiously. "-do you think that we would have lasted?"

"Marriage is a sacred union-" Harriet answered stoically.

"-and we would have lasted."

"No." She disagreed shaking her head. "Probably not. We're too different…"

"We are," Matt agreed sadly. "-far too different."

"Way to different."

"But you know," Matt began, his voice perking up. "-there's always been one thing that has kept us together, even when we were broken up."

"And what was that?"

"The fact that we're madly in love with each other."

"Oh Matt…" Harriet sighed as she looked away. "-love isn't enough. It never was enough-"

"No," He argued. "Don't you see? Love IS enough! Look at Jordan and Danny. All they had tonight is their love for each other and for their baby and it was that love that will help them all heal, and help their baby to grow--"

"What are you saying?" Harriet interrupted genuinely curious at what Matt was talking about.

"I am saying that I love you Harriet." He answered simply, a smile breaking out onto his weary features. "I love you. I always have, and I always will. I love your strength and your wit and your beauty…. I love it all Harriet, even the parts of you that get right under my skin. Do you want to know why?" She couldn't answer, she merely nodded and Matt continued. "I LIKE you under my skin!" He answered with a smile. "I like the way you keep me off balance and honest and I love you for it and because of it. You're also my muse Harry, but I need you to know that I loved you long before you were…and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together."

"Matt-" Harriet began, too shocked for words at Matt's confession but he merely cut her off with a passionate kiss before continuing.

"Harriet Hayes-" Matt began, his voice shaking. "Will you do me the honour of being my wife?"

"You're wife?" Harriet asked in wonder as Matt took her hand. "You want me to be your wife?"

"Say yes-" He pleaded, placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. "-oh please say yes…."

"You don't even have a-" Harriet paused as Matt produced a mahogany box which she took gently. "-a ring. You have a ring…" Her wonder filled voice trailed off when she opened the box and saw the sparkling diamond within it. "How long have you had this?"

"I've had it for years." Matt answered honestly as he took the ring from her and slipped it on her finger. "I just never could say it…. So what do you say?"

Harriet studied the diamond on her hand for a moment as she tried to make sure that the moment was real. Once she was sure that she wasn't dreaming she answered him. "Yes..."

"What?" Matt asked, almost unsure of what she had said.

"Yes." Harriet answered again gleefully as Matt stood to place his arms on her shoulders.

"Really?"

"Yes!" She answered once more with joy as he picked her up and spun her around. "Yes!"

-Fin.

A/N- And so it is over. Thank you to all my beloved readers for reading and reviewing. I'm glad that someone has been reading this little ficlett of mine. I again apologize for the long delay but my life has been kinda crazy lately, just count yourselves lucky that I actually got it updated. :D Anyhoo- ta ta dear readers, this ficlett is over and its sad to say but so it Studio 60...