A/N: Hey Everyone! Sorry about the delay on an update, but here it is. For the millionth time, thanks again to everyone who reads the stories and comments back with positive words of encouragement. Just as a heads up, this story will end fairly soon...probably another 3 or 4 chapters to go...haven't decided. But thank you again, and Happy Thanksgiving to all you in the US!

Enjoy,

3 hASHbrown

Chapter 12

There was only three weeks left of summer, and it was like a second new beginning for Callie and I. Concentrating on just being together and drowning ourselves in the love that we never expected to find in each other at all. Thinking back to the day when Callie spoke to me in the hospital chapter, never in a million years would I have thought we'd fall in love. I thought Joanne was the love of my life. I thought she was it for me. I would always love Joanne, she was my first. But Callie, in that moment while I was sitting on the bed watching Callie do her makeup in the bathroom, it hit me. Callie was the love of my life. Still is.

About three hours later, Callie and I were boarding a plane, first class seats I might add, headed for Miami. Sitting on the plane, I still had all those feelings of fear lingering in the back of my mind. Sometimes it felt as though something deep inside of me was talking to me. Constantly reminding me, whispering in the back of my head that Callie was sick and no matter how hard she fought or whether or not she took treatment, there was still that lingering possibility that she could die. When was the mystery.

However, I chose not to listen to the voices. Sure, I was afraid. I was practically scared to death. Pardon the expression. But I had made the conscious decision to not let it interfere with enjoying whatever time I had with Callie.

"So what's the plan once we land?" I asked, turning my attention away from the thoughts in my head to the beautiful woman sitting next to me.

"Well, by the time we get landed, and get to the beach house, it will be too late to do much, so I figured we'd just get settled at the house and have a nice quiet, relaxing night. Tomorrow we'll have some adventures." Callie said to me squeezing my hand gently.

"Will this night involve wine and you know..." I asked with a sly grin.

"Depends on what 'you know...' is." She responded. She fully enjoyed teasing me because she knew that it got me all flustered every time.

"Calliope! you know what I meant."

"I know. I'm just having a little fun." She said laughing.

It was about four thirty in the afternoon by the time we landed in Miami. Callie and I, hand in hand got off the plane and went to grab our luggage. After standing at baggage claim, sandwiched between Callie and some really big, sweaty guy, Callie and I were standing on an escalator heading down to the first floor of the airport. There were people standing behind a belt holding up signs with names of the people they were waiting for.

Just glancing at them not really paying attention, I had to take a double take when I noticed that there was a man dressed in a simple black suit holding up a sign that said 'Torres'. I turned to Callie, looking at her with what I'm sure was a look of shock on my face.

"What?" She asked.

"You have a driver picking us up?"

"Well I don't have a car here seeing as how I don't live here anymore."

"So you hire a driver?" I asked. I wasn't mad. I was just in shock. I had never been treated to such luxuries ever.

"Well I didn't hire him, exactly. He's my dad's driver...don't worry, I'll explain in the car."

We were greeted by the gentlemen standing waiting for us and were shortly escorted to the car that was waiting for us outside. While we were sitting in the back of a black Dodge Charger, Callie explained to me how she basically grew up in money. Her father was a very successful business man, owning a couple hotel chains.

I was a little surprised at first, because that was something that Callie never told me about her family. She then explained that the only reason she never told me sooner was because in the past, she's revealed that she comes from money to the person she's dating at the time and it totally scared them off. I didn't blame her for feeling that way. If it were me, I probably would have ended up doing the same thing.

The driver, who I later learned his was Joseph dropped us off at this marina that was full of docked boats.

"What time would you like me to pick you up tomorrow, miss?" Joe asked as he helped Callie unload our bags out of the trunk.

"If you pick us up for around ten tomorrow morning? I think we're going to have brunch with my parents." She said to him. "And please, call me Callie."

He nodded and we said our goodbyes, as he hopped back into the car and drove off. Callie placed a delicate and sweet kiss to my cheek before grabbing my hand and leading me down the pier. We stopped in front of this speed boat and she quickly hopped in grabbing the luggage from the edge of the dock and tossing it into the boat. She then smiled at me holding out her hand so that I could grab it. She helped me into the boat and as soon as we were settled, she untied the boat, hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine and slowly drove the boat away from the marina.

Once we were into the open water, she sped up causing the marina to gradually become a speck in the distance. The afternoon sun was shining down upon us, it was a beautiful afternoon.

About an hour later, we arrived at this small island. On the island, sat this cute beach house. It was just a simple bungalow, but it had a beautifully designed spacious deck that looked out onto the stretch of beach and ocean. We have views like this in LA but out on the island, this felt more serene.

Callie tied the boat to the dock and unloaded our stuff before getting out. Once again she reached out to help me out of the boat. I looked into her beautiful eyes and looked around, taking in my surroundings I said to her. "When you said stretch of private beach, you weren't kidding."

She laughed and pulled me close to her body. "Nope." Kissing me softly she smiled and led me to the house. Walking in, I took in my surroundings. The walls were a simple and soft white. The living room had a white sofa and chair with dusty, soft blue throw pillows to as accents. Sheer white drapes soothingly blowing in the breeze coming in from the open windows.

It was extremely peaceful there. It was like walking into the typical type of house you would only see in movies. I almost couldn't believe I was there.

I followed Callie into the bedroom and, it too was just as tastefully decorated. Walls white just like the rest of the house, with dark wood furniture. It was cozy. I turned to the curtains that I could see moving from the corner of my eye and there was a patio door that went out to the deck looking over the ocean. I put my bag down and headed out onto the deck to look over the scene before me.

About a minute later, I felt a pair of arms snake their way around my waist. I turned and smiled up at the beautiful woman who brought me to this incredible place.

"I'm so happy you're here with me." She whispered in my ear as she rested her head on my shoulders and looked out into the water with me.

"Thank you for bringing me here. This place is incredible." I turned once more so that my eyes could meet with hers. bringing my hand to rest behind her neck, I gently pulled her head down and brought our lips together. I relished in the feeling of kissing her, till she gently pulled away.

"My dad stocked up the fridge before we got here. Why don't I fix us some dinner." She said, placing a sweet kiss to my forehead.

"Sounds wonderful. Do you mind if I take a shower, while you make dinner?" I asked.

She smiled to me. "Not at all. It's right through there." She said as she continued to hold me and turned me around in the direction of bedroom, pointing to the door that lead to the bathroom.

I must have lost track of time while in the shower because, when I came out of the bathroom and walked into the bedroom to put on some clothes, I heard Callie yell across the hall. "When you're ready come on out. Food's ready."

I walked out into the living area and looked out the patio door that was situated between the living room and the kitchen. I walked out towards the sound of soft music playing outside Callie had lit candles and placed them all along the railing of the deck. She set up the table outside with our plates of food and a bottle of wine with two glasses.

I was in complete awe. Nobody had ever done anything like this for me before. I'm sure by now that I've made rather clear and obvious that I had never met anyone like Callie.

She walked up to me and grabbed my hand. She led me to the table and poured me a glass of wine before doing the same for herself and sitting across from me.

"This is beautiful Calliope. Everything is just perfect."

"You're perfect." She responded.

With a laugh, I said "Calliope, I'm far from perfect."

She moved her chair so that she was almost right next to me. She grabbed my hand, holding it in hers and placing close to her chest. I could never forget the way she looked at me in that moment. "Imperfection is perfect to me. I never knew that I could love a person this much. Never knew that I wanted someone as much as I love and want you."

"Calliope, I love you so much."

"I love you too." She said and pulled me in, closing the gap between our lips.

We continued to enjoy the night and our dinner as we gazed into the night sky. After finishing what must have been my third or fourth glass of wine, Callie got out of her chair and stopped right in front of me. She stretched out her hand, inviting me to grab it. "Come, dance with me."

With the music playing in the background, she led me to a clearing on the patio and pulled me into her embrace. She slowly started to sway to the music and my body followed suit. I couldn't help but drown in her essence. The sweet smell of her skin, made me weak in the knees and I found myself completely melting into her. After taking a moment to relish the feeling of our bodies swaying in perfect unison, I pulled away to look into her deep brown eyes. Ever heard the expression that eyes are the window to the soul? I used to think that was a load of crap. But Callie made me a believer.

"When did you know?" I asked her.

"Know what?" She said kissing me sweetly on my neck.

"When did you know that you loved me?"

"I knew I loved you the first night you and I went to dinner. I'm going to let you in on a secret. I wanted that dinner to be more than just two friends having a meal together."

"Why did you say that it was just a friendly dinner then?" I asked her. She looked back at me with her eyes that, told me everything the second I opened my mouth. "You were trying to protect me."

She simply nodded, a tear falling from her eye. In the blink of a second, I pulled her in and crashed our lips together with a gentle yet firm force. "I'm in love with you, Calliope."

"I'm in love with you too."

I pulled her back into me, and slowly led us back into the house and into the bedroom. The only light illuminating the room and its contents was coming from the moon outside. I pulled her just to till I could feel the backs of my legs meet the edge of the bed. Slowly, while I looked right through her eyes, I pulled her shirt over her head and dropping it on the floor next to me. Removing her bra with just one hand, I tossed it swell, exposing her bare chest. I kissed her skin starting at the base of her neck, working my way down her chest. A gentle moan escaping her lips as I did so.

She reached for my chin and gently pulled me up so that my eyes could meet hers. She brought our lips together once more, then slipped her fingers under the bottom of my shirt, and dragged her fingers up my torso as she pulled my shirt over my head. We rid each other of the rest of our clothes taking in every opportunity to feel the other's skin against our own. It was by far one of the most sensual things I had ever experienced. I turned us around and gently led her down onto the bed.

I sat myself on top of her pelvis and looked down to the sight before me. Her chest heaving in anticipation, was driving me mad, my arousal escalating till I was completely on fire. With one hand resting next to her head, I come down so that my lips are a mere inch apart from hers and I take my other hand and reach down slowly underneath me and rest my fingers in the folds of Callie's heated centre. I start to rub and rock my body back and forth. The core of my arousal rubbing against the back of my hand while my fingers dance with hers was driving us both nearer and nearer into oblivion. Both of our bodies entwined and moving together like a synchronized dance, Callie released her one hand that was clenching the comforter of bed and slid it down gently pushing two fingers inside me. I remember letting out this guttural moan out of my throat as she did this and I in turn reciprocated by thrusting two fingers inside her.

Our bodies continued to thrust against each other, chests heaving and moans escaping into each other's ears, the sensation had become too much to contain as I made her scream my name in ecstasy the whole night through.