That night, as Danny kneaded her legs, ankles and back, Lindsay studied the newest yet oldest piece of jewelry she wore. Was she ready? Had he made things right as well as he could in the last few months? She loved him, she knew that. He loved her, she knew that. And he has even proven his love and excitement for their baby girl. She had become accustomed to introducing him as fiancé, and she hadn't even accepted his proposal yet.
Slipping the ring off, she turned enough so she could get his attention and held the ring out to him.
He panicked. She was giving the ring back? Why? What had he done wrong this time? He's done everything he can think of to get her to trust him again, prove himself to her. You've got one of two options, Messer. Beg her to keep your sorry ass, or take it like a man and move on.
Without saying a word he took the ring from her fingers, rolled out of bed, and slipped his jeans, shirt and shoes back on.
What was he doing? Where was he going? Was this all another awful game, lull me into a sense of false security and leave me again? Don't cry Monroe, just talk!
"Where are you going?"
"Home," he said softly, not able to look at her.
"I thought you were home," she replied in a meek voice, trying to fight back the tears.
"So did I," he said in a low voice.
"Then why are you leaving?"
He turned and looked at her, "You gave me back your ring."
Now she understood, he thought she was telling him to leave. She rolled out of the bed and pushed herself up. She walked over to him, and touched his face, gently tracing her thumb over his new black and blue mark.
He closed his eyes at the contact.
"Look at me," she spoke softly.
He opened his eyes, and saw nothing but pure love.
"Ask me."
He thought about it for a minute, and then he realized what she meant. Digging the ring out of his pocket, he dropped to his knee.
"Lindsay Monroe, will you marry me?"
She smiled at him, the brightest smile he had ever seen on her, she took his face in her hands and kissed him.
"Is that a yes?" he husked when she pulled away and let her forehead rest against his.
"That is a yes, and a 'you better take your clothes off now'," she said helping him remove his shirt.
Thirty minutes later, they lay curled up next to each other, their skin glowing, still panting.
"You sure I didn't hurt ya, or the baby?" he asked stroking her hair with one hand and her belly with the other.
"I'm sure," she sighed contently, placing kisses on his bare chest.
"So does this mean I can kiss you whenever I want now?"
"I think I can live with that," she looked up at him, a soft smile on her face.
"Good," he smiled and kissed her, "because I really missed your soft lips."
"Now I can call you my fiancé and mean it," she snuggled into him again.
"I've always been yours," he whispered and kissed her head.