Part 12: "Of Course I Will"
See Part 1 for disclaimers
Okay, so this is now 4 chapters in less than 10 hours lol. Dang I'm good. :P Anyways, this is just a short, sweet Nikey chapter that I am now in love with. Enjoy! Manda
When Shane was five months old, Natalie had finally agreed to leave him with Viki and go out with Michael. She had lost all of her baby weight thanks to a strict diet and lots of exercise, and now as she was getting ready for her date she was very grateful she had. Michael had promised her that they could go anywhere she wanted, and she had chosen a simple date at the diner, where they'd had their first real conversation. She was wearing her nicest pair of blue jeans with her prettiest pink shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a simple yet beautiful ponytail.
"Do I look okay?" she asked Viki. "Darling, for the hundredth time, you look beautiful. Michael's not going to know what hit him." Natalie flushed with pleasure, and Viki held Shane up. "What do you think? Doesn't Mommy look gorgeous?" Shane gurgled in what sounded like approval, and Natalie giggled, kissing his forehead. "Aww, he's such a little charmer." Just then, the doorbell rang and Natalie ran to answer it. "Hey, Michael."
"Hey, Nat." He hugged her, kissing her cheek. "You look beautiful, as always." She laughed and kissed his cheek in return, loving the attention as usual. "You look especially handsome tonight, Michael. Now let me just get my purse and say good-bye to Shane." She walked into the library and grabbed her purse, kissing Shane on the forehead. "Now Mom, remember—" "Bed by nine, no milk an hour before," Viki recited, smirking. Natalie laughed. "Have I become the kind of overprotective mother I couldn't stand when baby-sitting?" "Not at all, darling. Now go and have a good time."
At the diner, Carlotta pulled Natalie aside for a moment. "I just wanted to let you know that I approve of your relationship with Michael, mija," she said, kissing Natalie's forehead. "And I really think Cristian would too." Natalie smiled, her eyes filling with tears of happiness. "Thank you; that means a lot to me." They embraced, and then she returned to her date.
After they left the diner, they went to the quarry to have a little time to themselves. As they sat under the stars, Natalie lying down with her head in Michael's lap as he played with her hair, he said, "I have to ask you a question." "Anything." He pulled a ring box out of his shirt pocket and opened it to reveal a gorgeous princess-cut diamond ring. "Will you marry me?" Natalie sat up with a gasp and took the box, looking at the ring in awe as her eyes filled with tears. "Of course I will!" She threw herself into his arms and kissed him passionately as she put the ring on.
TO BE CONTINUED