Thanks to those of you who are hanging in with me. Things are about to get interesting. I hope that you love this post as much as I do. It's a favourite of mine.

The Guided Tour

Ryan and Marissa managed to slip outside of the hotel unnoticed and because it was still light Ryan suggested that they walk along one of the back streets that ran parallel to the strip until the sun started to set. That way they would have a lot less chance of being recognised. The intention was, as soon as dusk fell they would make their way back up Las Vegas Boulevard and hopefully the darkness of the night would help them keep their anonymity.

They had been walking hand in hand for a few blocks, chatting and just enjoying one another's company when they both were startled by the flash of a camera. Thinking the worst – that someone had followed them and that their cover was blown, Ryan gripped Marissa's hand preparing to run and looking for some sort of safe haven when he realised that the flash was not directed at them. They were outside a wedding chapel and a newly married couple were just emerging … the photographer and a video cameraman both preceding them. Ryan and Marissa both stopped and watched as the happy couple posed for photos – totally lost in one another. They couldn't help but hope that when the time came that they would look just as happy. At least Seth and Summer had now set a date. It was only a matter of time until they got their own turn.

But they both knew that this was nothing like what Seth and Summer were planning. The 'wedding of the century' as Ryan and Marissa had nicknamed it was going to be all bells and whistles. Marissa felt like she had already looked at hundreds of wedding gowns with Summer and yet Summer still hadn't found what she was looking for. But this bride wore a simple white dress and yet Marissa knew that she had never seen anyone look more radiant. The fact was that it wasn't the dress that mattered but how you felt about who was standing beside you.

She turned to Ryan and spoke softly". "When the time comes …" she prefixed her thoughts "I only want a small wedding."

He nodded.

"Just something with only our closest friends." She added.

"Sounds good to me. You know that I'd do whatever you wanted but I'm not really one for much fanfare. So small sounds great." He added.

Marissa looked back longingly at the happy couple and she couldn't help but wonder when they would get their chance.

Taking in the happiness of the couple in front of them, neither wanting to move … they stayed there watching as innocent bystanders until the couple and their companions had left. Pulling Marissa along, Ryan could see that her thoughts were similar to his. "We will get our turn." He assured her.

"Not if my mother has her way." Marissa replied wanting to emphasise to Ryan that she still had reservations about just what affect Julie would have on them.

"Well she's a long way away. Even she isn't powerful enough to bother us when she's in England and we're in the US." Ryan added.

"But we're about to go to Paris. That's only a short distance from London." Marissa replied. "And you wonder why I'm scared?"

It was now dusk and the lights of the main strip were beckoning. "Don't be." Ryan assured her. "She can't do anything to us. But come on let's go and have a wander down the main street. You haven't been to Vegas unless you've seen the volcano erupt at The Mirage." He laughed pulling her with him but still wondering how he could reassure her that nothing her mother did would ever come between them again. He couldn't help but think that maybe if she had more confidence in their relationship then she would have been prepared to talk to her mother. It was her insecurities that were getting to her.

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After taking in the volcano show and wandering passed the canals of the Venetian, they continued on down the street stopping to buy a hot dog from a street vendor on their way. Marissa couldn't remember how long it had been since she had had so much fun. There were people everywhere. It was as if as soon as the lights came on, the people emerged. But everyone was lost in their own business and they didn't give the two tourists in baseball caps a second glance. They wandered around Treasure Island and continued until they got to Circus Circus and walked inside. Marissa spotted the Ferris wheel and instantly started pulling Ryan towards it.

"Oh no. You know … just because I'm older doesn't mean I've gotten over my fear of heights." He stressed to her pulling her back.

"Come on. You travel in planes all the time now." she urged him forward.

"Yeah. But I have a little more around me than a few flimsy pieces of metal." Ryan replied.

"Please …" she pleaded. "I promise I'll do something to help to take your mind off it." She teased.

Ryan smiled. He knew fighting her was a lost cause but he still felt he should try. "Isn't there something else that you would rather do? Something that doesn't require us leaving the ground?" he asked. "Maybe we could go back to the room and try out the bed?" he suggested.

"Later." She assured him. "But right now I want to go on the Ferris wheel. I promise to look after you." Marissa replied and then whispered. "I'll even double the tip to make it worth your while." She added.

Ryan's face broke into a huge smile. "Well why didn't you say so." He replied and started pulling her towards the ride.

Marissa laughed as she followed him. All of a sudden she felt like she was 15 again at the Harbour School kick off carnival. As they sat down and were locked in, a shadow crossed her face as she thought, if only she could turn back time. Then she would make sure that she and Ryan would never part. There were so many things that she would have changed if she could have turned back the clock.

Ryan noticed the concerned look on her face. "What's the frown about? Don't tell me you're scared too?"

"I just don't want anything or anyone to ever come between us again." She replied as she put her hand on top of his that was clenched firmly on the safety bar and they began their ascent.

"Well in that case how about moving a little closer and then it will be virtually impossible for anything to come between us. There'll be no room." He suggested as they neared the top of the ride only to have a sudden jolt and the ride come to a complete halt. Ryan looked down concernedly. "What's going on?" he asked.

"You tell me, but I have a strong feeling of déjà vu." Marissa replied smiling. "I'm impressed Attwood. I didn't even see you pay them off to organise this. But you do know that you didn't have to do it. I'd already promised you a make out session to give you something else to think about up here and to keep your mind off the height."

"But I didn't …" Ryan started only to be cut off.

"Sure. I believe you but thousands wouldn't." Marissa replied as she lent her head to one side and brought her lips to his. Gently at first, she sucked his bottom lip … taking it in to her mouth and then pulling back only for a moment before she repeated the movement over and over, teasing him until she could sense his frustration and then she finally deepened the kiss … their mouths colliding as her tongue entered his mouth searching for his as she tried to show him what he meant to her. As their tongues met the sparks between the two threatened to ignite. Nothing had ever felt so right.

Ryan couldn't believe what was happening. He had a strange feeling of dizziness and he started to wonder if it was because of the height or because of the sensations that Marissa's tongue was evoking on his senses. But it was more than that. Images constantly flashed through his brain as if trying to give him hints of what he should be doing or thinking and it finally came to him. It was as if fate had decided to take control. The dress, the wedding, the Ferris Wheel, they were all trying to tell him that he could deal with Marissa's insecurities once and for all. It suddenly seemed so simple. He pulled back slightly and said breathlessly. "Marry me."