As always, thank you for the lovely reviews. You guys are awesome! I'm so happy we finally got our happy ending on Thursday... I'm still squeeing over the whole thing even though we only got to see Shane for like 20 seconds. Closure, finally. Yay! :) I think this is the end to this story as I have a few ideas for some other stories swimming around in my head.
The sun peeked into Neela's room early the next morning. Neela rolled over to face Ray and found he was still sleeping. She smiled to herself amused t
hat even with the sun beaming down on his face he was still deep in slumber. She propped herself up on one elbow and leaned her head onto her hand
and she continued to watch him sleep.
Damn, he is gorgeous and he's all mine. She thought still smiling.
Today was definitely going to be different. Today there would be no arguments or avoidance. They would simply discuss their future together as civil
adults. Ray's voice broke into her thoughts,
"Ughhh" he groaned and covered his face with his hands trying to shield out the light. He parted his fingers to reveal an eye that had spotted Neela watching him. He lowered his hands from his face and propped himself up as he scooted closer to her.
"Good morning" he said as he trailed kisses from her ear, down to her neck and then her shoulder. Neela groaned,
"Mmmmm morning" she mumbled as she became lost in his touch. She ran her fingers through his hair as their mouths met for a deep kiss while their bodies closed in on one another.
"Are you hungry?" Neela asked in a brief moment when they parted lips.
"Hungry? Well that depends on what you're referring to..." Ray said suggestively, his voice was still husky and full of sleep as he stretched out and yawned.
"Oh shut up, you wanker. Your mind is always in a naughty place" Neela said as she playfully swatted him across the face before kissing him once more and getting up from the bed.
"Oh no no no, where ya going?" He said as he pulled her back down onto him.
"It's my turn to bring you breakfast in bed remember?" he asked.
"Well, actually we're going to have to go out to get some breakfast that left over pizza is about all I've got left by way of groceries around here... So I was actually getting up to take a shower and get dressed" Neela said.
"Out for breakfast? Nonsense lets' go get some groceries and I'll whip you up a breakfast you'll never forget!" Ray bragged as he sat up in bed.
"Okay, sounds good to me" Neela smiled as she got up and headed to the washroom. As Ray waited for Neela to return he thought about when would be a good time to have their all important discussion. He remembered what Morris said,
"The sooner the better". Damn Morris for being Mr. Know it all all of a sudden... Maybe after breakfast we can talk.
Ray told himself not wanting to just jump right into it so early in the morning.
After all, that's kinda what happened yesterday and we all know how that ended up.
Ray decided to get up and do some cleaning while he waited for the shower. He made the bed. Fluffed the couch pillows and refolded the couch throw. Took the coffee mugs they had both abandoned the night before into the kitchen and washed them along with the coffee pot. He put on a fresh pot of coffee and put the half full pizza box into Neela's empty fridge. He was just pouring Neela a fresh cup of brew when she stepped into the room.
"Wow, someone's been busy" she said smiling approvingly at him as she came over and pecked him on the cheek.
She was only wearing jeans and a knit sweater with her hair still wet from the shower falling over her shoulders in a wavy mane but she looked beautiful as always.
"Yeah, thought I'd do some clearing up, words I bet you thought you'd never hear me say" Ray smiled at her as he pointed towards the washroom,
"All mine?" he asked.
"Yup, I'm all done" Neela smiled as she drank her coffee and stood near the kitchen table starting to open the newspaper Ray must've brought in from outside the front door.
"Okay, I'll be quick" Ray said passing by her and swatting her playfully on the butt as he disappeared into the washroom. Neela turned and smiled as she watched Ray's retreating back and got comfortable sitting down at the kitchen table with her coffee and the paper.
"Okay, so I'm thinking pancakes maybe... or French toast?" Ray asked Neela as they pushed their cart around the grocery store.
"Hmm... I dunno, I kinda feel like eggs" Neela announced indecisively.
"Alright, eggs it is" Ray said as he stopped to pick up a carton of eggs smiling at Neela.
"This is a first eh? Us actually agreeing on what to buy for groceries?" Ray kidded remembering the battles they use to have as roommates when they would go shopping for food.
"Yes. I can't believe you haven't tried to sneak a package of hot dogs in yet" Neela smiled at Ray and hooked her arm through his as they walked through the aisles of the store.
"Maybe pancakes wouldn't be so bad..." she started to rethink her choice of eggs again.
"Neela! If you keep this up you're gonna be making us breakfast" Ray teased and raised an eyebrow and looked down at her.
"Ok, eggs are good" Neela smiled up at him as she tossed some fruit into their cart and they headed to the checkout.
"Mmm hmm. That's what I thought" Ray mused smirking at her.
"Mmm, this is so good. Is it just me or have your cooking skills improved even more" Neela asked rhetorically and glanced at Ray in between bites of the delicious breakfast he had whipped up for them.
"I dunno, I think they're about the same" Ray smiled at her modestly as they continued eating. They had come back from the grocery store and unpacked the groceries and Ray had cooked up a fantastic meal and they were just kicking back on the couch enjoying the meal and each other's company as the television played in the background.
As they finished up Neela got up to take their plates to the sink.
"Dishes are on me, it's the least I could do" she said as she took his plate and lovingly kissed him on the top of the head before disappearing into the kitchen area.
Ray turned his focus to the television as he waited for her to return.
"Wow. I'm stuffed" Neela said returning to the couch a few minutes later and flopping herself down right next to him.
She rested a hand on Ray's thigh and gently rubbed his leg as she turned to look at him. He wrapped the arm he had draped up over the couch above her around her body and looked down as he placed a soft kiss on her lips while cradling her face. They sat there for a moment just looking at each other and gently kissing each other. When they eventually took a break from the canoodling Neela decided it was time to finally bring up the elephant in the room.
"Alright, we might as well get this out of the way so we can move on..." she started pulling away from Ray a bit to turn and face him on the couch. Her expression was eager and apprehensive Ray thought as he looked back at her.
"Just wondering where your head is at? Where do you want things to go next with us?" she asked a little scared to hear his answer.
"Well..." Ray paused for a moment trying to find the right words to say what he wanted to say and make sure that no signals were crossed this time.
"I want us to be together. Neela I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't want a long distance relationship, I feel like we've already wasted so much time..." He said as he looked sincerely at her.
Neela felt tears coming to her eyes.
He wants to spend the rest of his life with me.
The words brought an instant smile to her face and she just stared at him for a moment. He was looking at her intently awaiting her response.
"No long distance eh?" she laughed as she reached for one of his hands and took hold of it.
"Uh yah no. I think we've had enough distance between us for a lifetime, don't you?" Ray asked with a chuckle.
"I agree. Okay, so you're in Baton Rouge, I'm in Chicago..." Neela started.
"Who makes the move?" Ray butted in eagerly.
"Alright. Now don't get mad but I've been doing a little research" Neela said as she got up and opened a drawer on her television stand and returned with some papers. She bit her lip as she looked down at the papers and shuffled them hastily.
"So... uh... umm, John Hopkins has an excellent rehabilitation program and they accept residency transfers" she said as she passed Ray some papers to look at and waited to see his reaction as she sat back down next to him on the couch.
Wow. She really has been thinking about this, about us.
Ray thought truly touched as he looked through the pamphlets and email correspondence she had had with the department head of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program at the same hospital she was considering taking a surgical attending position at.
"Neela, why would I be upset? I can't believe you did all of this for me" Ray said as he turned to look at her, but the smile he offered was weak and distracted. It appeared he had more on his mind. He paused for a moment and looked deep in thought and then took a deep breath,
"Uhhh, I dunno how to say this so I'm just gonna say it..." Ray said as he shifted his gaze between her and papers he was holding.
"I know Baton Rouge isn't exactly known for the quality of its' medical centres but I really love the group of people and patients I work with down there. I've started a new life down there. I don't know if I can leave it just yet" he blurted out quickly.
"Oh, I see." Neela said flatly looking down as she took the papers she had just given to him out of his hands and threw them down onto the coffee table in front of them.
"Hey." Ray pleaded as he raised her chin so they were looking at each other.
"No it's okay. I get it, it was a stupid idea. I'm sorry" she said quietly.
"Stop" Ray said sweetly as he stroked her hair.
"I have a great job down there but the only thing missing is you. Any chance, I can convince you to join me in Louisiana?" he asked with all of his heart.
"I know, it's not some fancy teaching hospital, but maybe just for a year or two until I finish up my residency and become more experienced in my new specialty?" Ray said quietly, half asking, half pleading with her.
Neela looked up and smiled at him as she passed him more of the papers she had still been holding onto from her lap. He looked down and saw the name of the hospital he was working at and some correspondence she had had with their surgery department. There was also a letter offering her a surgical attending position there that had yet to be answered.
"Oh my god! Are you kidding me???" He asked turning to her and shaking her excitedly.
"Really, you'd do that for me?" he asked as now he was the one with tears in his eyes.
"Of course I would. I was just waiting to see what you wanted to do before I accepted or declined their offer" she said as she grinned at him.
"Neela, you are amazing" he beamed as he pulled her towards him and into a tight embrace and then a passionate kiss.
"Okay, so then it's official. Louisiana, here I come" she smiled at Ray as he looked at her gratefully and with love in his eyes.
"Alright, it's settled then. Enough talking" Ray said definitively as he threw the papers he was holding up in the air as he kissed Neela and she giggled. The papers rained down on them as they lost themselves and fell down onto the couch and into each other's arms.