Angel arrived at the mansion right on time.
She had been dreading this meeting all night and the worry had kept her from sleeping. Right now , she had to admit that this little talk was the last thing she wanted
She knocked on Craig's door and entered. As usual he was seated behind his desk, and as he looked up at her and smiled she could see that the smile was a little
forced.
`Feel like I'm being hauled in front of the headmaster`, she said trying to ease the tension she was feeling.
He starred at her.
` If you were one of them, I'd know you'd been up to something, you look guilty even before you start this conversation`, he said.
Angel looked at the floor.
`Am I really that terrifying? He asked as he saw how concerned she really was.
Angel sat in the chair in front of him.
`You can be a little scary sometimes when you're mad`, she said.
`And you think what you're going to tell me is going to make me mad? He asked.
`Very likely`, she said
Craig sat back in his chair and folded his arms.
`Well, let's hear it then`, he said.
Angel took a deep breath, and sighed.
`I'm seeing John Reynolds`, she said simply.
`I see`, he said `And you thought that would make me mad?
`Figured it might, after what happened before I thought maybe you wouldn't understand how I could love someone else `, she said.
Craig walked round the desk and took both her hands in his.
`Do you really think that I am that much of a tyrant that I wouldn't want you to be happy? He asked.
Angel looked at him , and saw that he was smiling.
`No, not really, I just wasn't sure about this, anything else wouldn't have worried me, I could have come to you straight away , I guess I just didn't want
to hurt you`, she said sadly.
`You really are something else , you know that? He asked her laughing.
`You're my sister and I love you , and if the Major makes you happy then that's fine by me, because I cannot think of anyone that deserves happiness more than you
do Angel`,
`You're not angry? She asked.
`Sometimes you live in a world of your own , do you know that`, he asked ,
`Best place to be sometimes, especially with you guys`, she said with relief.
Angel stood up and hugged him,
`I love you so much, you do know that don't you? she asked
`Always have`, he said.
`Will you come down and have supper with me tonight? She asked.
`Just the two of us?
She nodded .
`Yeah just the two of us`, she said.
`No intruptions? he asked
`No, ` she reassured him, `No interuptions, promise`.
`I would like that a lot Honey`, he said as he plonked a kiss on he forehead.
`Good, then I'll see you at seven and don't be late`, she said
`Just one thing we have to clear up first though`, he said.
`What's that? She asked.
`Your Major does know that if he hurts you he has to answer to all of us, it won't be just me that's after his blood , doesn't he? He asked.
Angel smiled at him.
`That little brother is the first thing I told him`, she said.
`Just so he knows`, he said smiling back at her.
`See you later `, she said laughing at him.
`Take care Honey`, he said as he watched her walk out of the door.
He shivered involuntarily as he looked at the closed door, he had an eerie feeling that she wasn't just walking out of his office but out of his life as well, and he
suddenly knew that Chief was feeling exactly the same way.
…
Two weeks had passed since she had talked to Craig.
Two weeks and as many missions, but at least things were back to normal with them, even Chief had accepted her apology for not telling them sooner about the new
man in her life .
As she sat in the garden at the cottage waiting for John to arrive she closed her eyes and basked in the sunshine .Life was good again. She felt a peace that hadn't
been with her for a long time. There had been something missing in her life, and she realized that she missed the companionship and the closeness she had felt with
David. She realized too that she had found it again with John.
She loved him, she was sure of that now, but still it was if there was a barrier between them, a line that she was not sure that she wanted to cross, the final stage
that would make their relationship complete.
John had said he would wait until she was sure of what she wanted from him, and he had kept his word. He had never pressured her into anything she didn't want to
do, but now, now she wasn't sure anymore. Now when she looked at him she knew how much she needed him, wanted him, totally and completely.
`You are nothing but a brazen hussy`, she thought to herself and smiled.
`Just the kind of woman I love`, said a voice from behind her.
`John`, she said smiling. `Please tell me I wasn't thinking out loud`.
`Would love too , but that would be lying , and I wouldn't want to be accused of that , now would I? he laughed.
Angel turned the colour of beetroot and hid her face in her hands.
`Oh , what must you think? She asked shaking her head.
He laughed even louder and held her to him.
`I think you are a very special person and that you need a man to love you enough to make you believe that, and I'm seriously hoping that you'll let it be me`, he said.
He tilted her head and kissed her gently at first and then with more passion, and for the first time she did not break away.
`Tell me that you love me`, he said.
Angel looked at him and smiled.
`I love you John Reynolds`, she said
He kissed her again,
`Good , because I adore you , and I want nothing more than for us to be together, always`, he said
`It's been a long time John, not since David, there was never anyone else but him`, she said. `I guess a part if me is just plain scared to take a chance .
`I know, but maybe it's time for you to move on now, let someone else love you, care for you, ` he said
He drew her closer too him.
`Let it be me Angel`, he said softly
This time Angel kissed him.
`I think I would like that very much`, she said as they broke away.
He put his arm around her waist and together they walked into the cottage.
…
Angel awoke early and turned to look at the man lying beside her.
`Good morning`, he said smiling at her
Angel smiled back at him
`Hi`. She said
`Are you alright? He asked her
Angel snuggled closer to him.
`I'm just fine thank you `, she giggled `And you?
He kissed the top of her head.
`Never felt better`, he said smiling.
Angel kissed him again.
`Why don't you stay here and I'll go and make us coffee`, he said.
`Won't argue with that`, she said laughing.
As she watched him leave Angel sighed with contentment, she hadn't felt this good for a long time. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
`Here we are `, said John as he put the breakfast tray across her lap.
`I could get used to this`, she said.
`Actually that is just what I wanted to hear`. He said .
They drank the coffee and she noticed that John didn't say much , but just starred into his cup.
`You alright love ? She asked.
He smiled at her and nodded.
`I didn't come yesterday with the intention of getting you into bed, you know that don't you? He asked seriously.
Angel turned to face him.
`As I recall it was a joint decision, ` she said, `Is it one that you regret?
`Oh God no Angel, don't think that, it's just that I had another reason for coming by.` he said.
`Oh and what was that? She asked.
He got out of bed and walked to the chair that he had put his jacket on and bought a small box out of the pocket.
He turned to her and opened the box and took out the diamond ring.
`I came to ask you to marry me`, he said.
Angel looked at him and then at the ring and then again at him.
`Oh John it's beautiful`, she said.
`Is that a yes? He asked hopefully.
She looked at him ,
`I don't know what to say, I never thought for one second`, Angel stopped talking.
`Do you love me? He asked her.
Angel looked at him.
`With all my heart`, she said.
`And I love you , I want to spend the rest of my life with you, take care of you, raise a family with you, so would you please just say yes`. He asked.
Angel looked into his eyes and smiled .
`Yes`, she said,` Yes , I would love to marry you, `
He took the box from her hand and taking the ring was about to place it on her finger when he saw the wedding band.
`Are you sure you're ready to take that off? He asked.
Angel looked at him and then at her hand, and then slowly she tugged the ring off her finger and slipped it lovingly onto her right hand,
`I can't put it away, not yet, ` she said. `I need a little more time for that,`
`I understand , ` he said as he took her hand and placed his ring on her finger. `I love you so much`, he said as he kissed her.
`I love you too`, she said smiling lovingly at him
`How do I know there's a but coming`. He laughed.
`I wondered if you would mind if I told the guys first, by myself I mean`, she said.
`Still your first concern, aren't they? He asked.
`They're my family`, she said. `I love them too`,
`Guess that's something I'm going to have to get used to then isn't it? he asked.
`Could make it worth your while to co-operate`, she teased.
`Oh you'll resort to blackmailing a Major now will you? He laughed.
`Angel reached out and pulled him closer to her and kissed him.
`Oh most definitely , yes.` she said.
`Would you come back to London with me, today? He asked
`Now you wouldn't be propositioning a lady , would you Major? She teased.
John laughed at her.
`I'm beginning to wonder just what I've let myself in for, because I get the feeling that you are going to be nothing but trouble woman`, he said with mock
seriousness.
Angel smiled and nodded as she pulled the sheet back over them both.
…...
John looked at Angel as they had lunch together in a small café in London and could see that something was worrying her.
`Why don't you just call him and let him know you're staying here for a few days? He asked her.
Angel smiled at him.
`That obvious is it?
`'Fraid so`, he said smiling at her.
`I suppose I should let him know where I am, just so he doesn't worry`, she said.
`You afraid of what he might think? He asked .
`Maybe a little,` she said.
`Why don't you tell him the truth, that we are getting married and want to spend some time together`, he said.
`Oh I couldn't tell him over the phone, `, said Angel shocked at the thought.
`But can you face him and tell him? Because right now it seems that it's the last thing you want to do. You're making it sound as if we're doing something terrible,
we're only getting married you know. Isn't that a good thing? He asked her seriously.
Angel nodded.
`Go home love`, said John.
Angel looked shocked.
`I don't want this to cause you to be unhappy, so go home, tell Craig and the others in your own time , and then when you feel right about this, the come back and
tell me you want to marry me`. He said.
Angel looked sadly at him.
`I'm sorry `, she said, `It's just that we've been through so much together I guess I feel a little guilty about walking away from him, leaving him alone.` she said.
`You make it sound as if you're going to be miles away. It's only a two hour drive you know, you can see them every week if you want to , treat them all to Sunday
lunch, I'll even stay away if it makes it easier for you, but I would like the chance to get to know him , who knows we might even get to be friends, we do have at
least one thing in common you know`, John said .
`What's that? Asked Angel
`We both love you Angel`, he told her .
She smiled at him
`And I love the both of you`, she said.
`Well then, there's nothing to worry about, go home , sort things out and come back when you're ready, I'll wait as long as you need me too`, he said.
Angel leant across the table and kissed him.
`You John Reynolds are one very special person, and I am very lucky to have found you`, she said.
As he returned her kiss he put his hand on hers.
`I love you, and I'll wait until you're ready to be mine, `, he said. `Now come along woman, you have a train to catch,`
As he helped her on with her coat Angel knew that this man was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
…..