Alternate Ending 1 Chapter 7

"After all the time we've waited to say these things to each other, I just don't want anything to hinder us now," AJ said.

"What things?" Mac questioned.

"I'll tell you at your apartment," he closed her door and walked to his Escalade without waiting for her to start her vehicle.

Sighing she started the 'Vette and as her arm moved to turn the key she caught a whiff of his aftershave. With a groan she cuddled into his jacket and wondered what AJ had to say to her in private. Couldn't he just tell her what a fool she was and allow her to go home and cry in miserable solitude?

Mac arrived home and catching sight of herself in a mirror still in her aqua body paint decided to wash it off. She was drying her hands and face when the doorbell rang. Reluctantly opening the door, she found AJ standing there. "May I come in, Sarah?"

"I doubt I could stop you!"

Walking inside AJ said, "As cute as your costume is, I much prefer seeing your beautiful face."

"You can stop with the flowery words and let's get to the matter at hand."

"Well, Sarah, I'm sorry I deceived you at Wal-mart, but I couldn't believe how you truly felt about me."

"I think we've said all that we need to about that subject. You said at Bud and Harriett's that you had something to tell me, could you just please do that and then leave?" she pleaded trying to keep her tears at bay.

"If that's what you want, Sarah," he replied softly. "What I wanted to tell you was, that I love you," with that he turned and walked back to the door, opening it he started to leave.

"WAIT!" she cried.

"Yes Sarah?" he asked standing in her doorway, but not turning around to come back.

"What did you just say?"

"I said 'I love you'."

"How can you just say that and walk out?" she demanded.

"Because you asked me to say what I needed to and then leave. I was doing what you wanted."

"But I didn't know you were going to say THAT!"

"So you're saying that you don't want me to leave now?"

"Yes that's what I'm saying. Please come back in."

"Are you sure, Sarah?" he asked playing with her just a bit. "I wouldn't want to do anything you didn't really want me to."

Taking him by the hand, she pulled him back into the room, "Oh get back in here!" she insisted.

"Why, Sarah? Why do you want me to come back?" he asked.

"Because I want you to say that to me again…Please…"

"I love you, Sarah Mackenzie and I have for years," AJ told her looking directly into her eyes with all the love in his heart shining from his.

"I just can't believe I'm hearing this!"

"Why, Sarah? You said that you loved me, why is it so hard to believe that I could have the same feelings in return for you?"

"Because you'd never given any indication of your feelings!"

"Actually I can remember a few occasions, but if by your logic that were true, then I guess I shouldn't believe that you love me either."

"But I do!" she protested pacing around the room.

"Then why won't you believe that I love you, Sarah?"

"I want to," she whispered stopping in the middle of the room to look at him.

AJ couldn't think of anything else to do but open his arms to her and was so grateful when she ran into them.

"Oh, AJ, am I dreaming?"

"Forgive me, Sarah," he said with a grin.

"For what?" she asked innocently.

He didn't answer her with words, he just reached out and lightly pinched her.

"Ouch!" Mac exclaimed, rubbing the spot on her arm, "You pinched me!"

"Isn't that the usual response to 'Am I dreaming'?" he teased.

"I would rather have had you kiss me," she pouted.

"But then you might have still thought you were dreaming. I know that kiss at Wal-mart was like a dream come true for me," he told her as his arms drew her closer to him.

To be continued…