Chapter 16: Everything To Me
Mark's POV
There was a knock on the door but Rachael and I just ignored it and kept kissing. Another knock. Her hands went through my hair. Another set of knocks. I pulled her closer to me, no part of us not touching.
A voice pulled up apart, "Woah, oh god."
Roger was standing there, his hand over his eyes. "I came in here to see if you were dead or something. I mean its noon and you weren't out yet. But I guess you're busy. Man I never want to see…ugh." Then he spotted the ring on her finger as he slowly let his hand down, "Ohhh, I get it now." He yelled out the bedroom door, "Collins!!"
He came running in, "What is it?" He turned to us then with eyes wide then looked away, "Roger I don't want to see that…"
"No he proposed, dude look!" Collins turned back with a wary eye. His large smile appeared when he saw the ring.
"Congrats. Do you guys want to go out and celebrate or something?"
"Sure." Rachael said with a smile. "But can umm you two go so I can get out of bed without flashing you?"
Roger nodded, pushing Collins out, and walking towards the door, "Right, sure."
I smiled as she snuggled closer and whispered, "I really don't want to get out of bed."
"Me neither. We don't have to you know…." I whispered back.
She kissed my lips softly before pulling the covers away and getting out, "We do have to face the day sometime I guess."
"I guess." I sighed, grudgingly getting out from underneath the sheets too.
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Roger patted me on the back causing me to almost slip on the icy sidewalk. His pats were as gentle as a lion's.
"I'm so happy for you two man." He said, pulling his leather jacket closer to him.
"Thanks." I felt my cheeks turn pink as I straightened my glasses.
There was a sudden yelp behind us and we both turned to see Rachael was getting a piggy back ride from Collins.
I laughed, "Collins, you're going to break something!"
He smiled, "I'll be careful don't worry."
"Yeah baby, don't worry. Be happy!" Rachael said with a giggle as we approached the Life.
I switched my camera on and faced the lens towards on them as she giggled her arms around his neck holding on tightly. Then I panned on Roger who growled at the camera as usual then panned straight ahead to where Maureen and the kids were coming down the street.
She was holding Ella in her arms and Ryan was tugging on her arm. She looked so tired but as she got closer I could see she was smiling.
"Hey!!! I heard we have something to celebrate, what is it?" Maureen asked excitedly even though her brown curls were nearly frozen to her head while Ryan wore her hat.
Rachael smiled from up above, "I found out what the boys were planning and why Mark was acting so weird."
"Ohh why?" She asked impatiently
She let her left hand dangle in front of Maureen who gasped.
She grabbed Rachael's hand, looking close at the ring, then back up at me. "Oh my god!!!! Marky!!!!" She sounded like a teenage girl watching a romantic movie.
She pulled me into an unexpected hug, "I can't believe it. You two – wow, I have to call Joanne." Maureen pulled out a black cell phone from her bag.
"Where'd you get that?" I asked not thinking any of us could actually afford one.
"Pookie gave it to me when she left." Her voice hinted exasperation, "In case something should 'come up'."
"That reminds me…" I heard Rachael say from behind me, "I should call my mum to tell her."
My heart sank. Parents, I had completely forgot about them. Did they really have to know? I sighed, knowing I should call my parents later too.
I was aroused from my thoughts when I heard Maureen's voice, "He proposed!"
Knowing Mo, all inhabitants of Alphabet City would know by tomorrow at the latest. I shook my head in amusement as we all got inside the Life.
Ryan tugged my scarf, "Marky?"
I knelt beside him, "Yeah buddy?"
He pointed to Maureen who was still on the phone chatting away, "She said you pwoposed. What's that?"
Mark smiled as Ryan tried to say the word 'propose'. "Well, I asked Rachael to marry me."
His eyes got wide as he jumped up and down, "You're getting married?"
"Yep." I smiled.
"Ohhh, congwatuations." He said proudly thinking he had said it right.
I laughed, "Thanks Ryan."
Rachael's POV
I watched Ryan hop up on Marks lap asking him questions about the wedding, a quiet family moment as the café filled with a flurry of people and the waiter rushed everywhere.
Maureen sat down next to me and begged, "Can I see it again?"
I smiled, blushing, "Sure" I showed her my left hand and her eyes softened seeing the ring.
"Rachael, its so beautiful. Have you thought about the wedding yet?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, looking back down at the ring. It was gorgeous.
"Like what dress you want and stuff like that?" She asked obviously wanting to help plan.
"I've thought about it a bit, but I don't see any point in rushing it. I think I want a spring wedding."
Maureen smiled, babbling about different flowers and dresses. I just stared at Mark as her words went in one ear and out the other. He was everything to me and now would be forever.
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I picked up the phone at the loft, my heart beating faster as I wrapped my fingers around the phone cord.
"Hello?"
"Hi mum!"
"How are you darling?" I could hear the tap turning on, she was probably washing her paint brushes.
"I have good news."
"Oh you do?" The water had turned off, her attention fully on me.
I felt Marks arms wrap around me as I replied softly, "Mum, Mark proposed."
"H-he did?" I could her sniffling.
"Yeah. Why are you crying?"
"I'm just happy for you darling. You're all grown up now…" I could her smile though her sniffles
"Thanks mum." Mark gave me a small kiss on the cheek.
"Oh what your fathers going to say – have you told him yet Rachael?" She asked, her cheery voice a little less happy at the topic of dad.
"No I haven't yet." I said, my voice a little crisp at the thought, "I should be the one to tell him right?"
"I would think so darling. I'll let you call him. Talk to you soon darling. I love you, congratulations."
"Thanks mum, I love you too. Bye!"
I set the phone down and dialed my dad's number, my hands shaking a bit. Marks hands around me calmed me slightly.
"Hello?" His voice was far away and business-like.
"Hi dad, its Rachael." I said softly.
"Oh." His voice changed slightly, it was now warmer. "Is something the matter?"
"No, I just- well umm, I have some news. Good news." I said nervously.
He sounded a little hesitant, "Okay. What's the news?"
"Well remember Mark, my boyfriend? Umm, this morning he, he asked me to marry him and I said yes." I said.
There was a very long pause, "Wow. I –well just wow. Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah, I love him and he's good to me."
"Well, I think it's a bit early, but if your happy. I-I guess that's good enough for me too." He sounded like a tired old man and had finally given in.
"Thanks Dad. I'm gonna go, but I thought you'd want to now. Bye!"
"Bye Rachael."
"How'd it go?" Mark asked quietly as I put the phone down again.
"Good. Mum was crying she was so happy. And dad, he just well, he's not exactly overjoyed but he wasn't upset."
"That's good though right?" He asked, his eyes showed his worry
I nodded and pressed my forehead to his, "Yeah, it is."
He pressed his lips to mine "I love you."
"I love you too Mark. I love you and always will."