The next morning, I woke up to find that Josh was gone. I heard the water running and he probably was in the shower. I yawned, stretched and then got out of bed, I was going to go downstairs, but the door opened and out came Josh in his towel. He smiled when he saw me.

"Feeling better today?" I asked him.

"Much." He smiled and walked over to me. I kissed him on the lips and pulled back.

"We get to go shopping today." I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"That's right." Josh laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Can I come?" A voice asked. We both took our hands off of each other and looked at the person who was at the door. It was Tori.

"Ugh, why aren't you Tess?" Josh asked.

"Because I was born first. Hi Reed!" She left the conversation to happily greet me.

"Hey!" I smiled back.

"Well anyways, I came back to apologize for my behavior towards Tess. And I'm going to have her come back to our room." Tori shrugged.

"You are my hero." Josh laughed.

"I know she's a pain I'm happy I'm not that way." I took a seat, these Hollis siblings can talk for hours.

"Uh, you may want to reconsider that." Josh laughed at Tori.

"Whatever, but can I come shopping with you guys?" Tori asked again.

"Don't you have someone to be in love with?" Josh asked.

"Yes, and don't you too?" Tori raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but that's already done." Josh smiled at me. And I just let out a laugh through my nose.

"Aw!" Tori said.

"Ok, seriously go!" Josh said. She left in a flash.

"Why are you so mean to your sisters?" I laughed.

"We went over this yesterday." Josh smiled, "Their just annoying."

I shrugged and wrapped my arms around his neck again and kissed him. Soon enough, I forgot where I was for a while. That kiss was intense. I didn't bother on ending it. Then we heard a bang and two giggles. I pulled away but I didn't get to see what it was, because Josh said,

"Just ignore it,"

Then his lips where back on mine, and we where laying on the bed. Nothing really happened just us kissing and a few short stops to get a little bit of breath. The kiss was somehow different than any other; it was all the same somehow though. The love, the passion, our tongues searching each other's mouths. All the same to me.

I pulled away, out of breath so much I was just about to choke for air. But I didn't, that would be very embarrassing. I just looked into Josh's big blue eyes as our chest would rise and fall and repeat. We where both sitting up on our elbows, tucked into our side. He broke the support and laid down on his back. I just laid on my side, looking at him with my head resting on my hand. I just wanted to look at him staring at me and then the ceiling.

About 5 minutes later, our breathing was under control again. And I wanted to experience that kiss all over again. But I knew that if that lasted any longer, my top would be off. Josh looked at me again and took my free hand in his.

"I love you." He had a big smile on his face.

"You haven't said that in a while." I observed. "I like hearing it."

"Good, because it's true. And after everything we've been through, you know I will still never stop loving you right?" He asked.

"Well it depends, if you go get a new girlfriend." I pointed out frowning.

"That will never happen again. It's you and me." He told me. "Forever."

"Forever." I nodded. He kissed my hand and clutched it in his. Neither of us wanting to stop the physical contact.

"Ohmigod! That's so sweet!" We heard someone say, it sounded muffled though.

"Tess, I can hear you breathing." Josh laughed.

"You too are so cute!" The muffled voice said again.

"We are aren't we?" I whispered to Josh. He chuckled, his voice filling the room. I smiled at the beautiful sound.

"We are." He was smiling.

"I think I'm going to take a shower so we can start our shopping spree." I laughed.

"Ok." Josh smiled and we kissed one more time before I went in the bathroom.

About an hour later, I was showered and dressed. I was wearing an outfit Noelle gave me while I was in the hospital. It was a pair of blue Miss Sixty jeans, a plain pink Chanel top, and to top it all off, a khaki Burberry trench with a traditional Burberry scarf. But I didn't have the trench or scarf on yet. I was applying my make up in the huge bathroom. It had tiled floors, a huge shower, and separate room for the toilet. There was a big counter with two sinks, a little TV, a magnify mirror. I was in heaven.

Josh walked in because I had the door wide open, and he knew I was putting on my make-up. He gave me a hug,

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I just have to finish up this." I said and applied some gloss. I smiled at my reflection. Noelle would be so proud.

"You look beautiful." Josh smiled. I smiled with him and said,

"Let's go!" I walked over to the bedroom, and grabbed my Chloe bag, my trench coat, and the scarf. I walked over to Josh, and grabbed his hand. We walked out of the room, down the hall and once we got to the foyer, we got on our coats and Josh shouted,

"Tess, Tori, we're leaving! Bye!" He shouted up the stairs. "Hurry, go!" Josh hissed and dragged me out the door. "I'm sorry, but I don't want to be around them anymore."

"And you're dad said that you and your brother fight around this time of year. I would of never of guessed really it's your sisters!" I said sarcastically.

"Whatever." Josh chuckled and opened the passenger door of his car for me. I got in and set my bag on the floor by my feet. He got in and started to car. Within seconds, we where on our way to NYC. Our hands where entwined on the center console.

"Do you really want me to drive you around everywhere?" Josh asked.

"I don't care, if you want to you can. I got my licenses though." I told him.

"When?"

"It was the summer I turned 16, my dad finally took me a while after my birthday I only had a permit when I first started Easton. So I was excited." I smiled at the memory. Then I gasped.

"What?!" Josh asked worried.

"I forgot to call my mom when I got off the plane!" I said in a rush.

"Why didn't you call her?" Josh asked, looking at me for a second.

"Because, I was too busy making out with you when I first got here, remember?" I giggled.

"Yeah." Josh laughed. "You can call her right now."

"No, I'll just call her tonight,"

"Reed, really it's ok." Josh laughed.

"No, right now it's our time." I told him.

"It's not like I can kiss you or anything, I'm driving." Josh smiled, and glanced at me again.

"I think I see a red light up there. And I'm not sure if this is true, but I hear that's where you're supposed to stop the car and kiss your girlfriend." I smiled pointing to the red light.

Josh started laughing. "Too bad that red light just turned green!"

I smiled and looked out the window.

"Reed, call your mom." Josh told me.

"No it's our time. Red light right up never mind." I sighed.

Josh just laughed at me again. "Seriously Reed, call her."

I looked at the car ahead of us. A Toyota, just like my dad's. It was a sign.

"Fine." I let out a deep breathe and grabbed my phone. Soon enough it was against my ear, and my elbow was on the leather that was just next to the window.

"Reed! Thank god you're alright!" She shrieked in the phone.

"I know I'm sorry I didn't call you. I got busy… really busy." I smiled and looked at Josh, he smiled back at me.

"It's ok, are you having a good time so far?"

"Yes, I love it here. My host over here is very nice." I told her.

"Whose house are you staying at again?" My mom asked.

"My friend Josh." I said. I kept on looking forward at the car in front of us, reminding me why I called her.

"Your 'friend' huh?" My mom said suspiciously.

"Mom…" I whined. Did she have to do this right now?

"I'm sorry. I know he's more than a friend though Reed. And that's fine; you're old enough and responsible enough to stay at your boyfriend's house." I could hear the smile in her voice, and tears?

"Thanks and mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you crying?" I asked feeling bad.

"I'm just so proud of the woman you've become." She said.

"Thanks mom." I smiled. "And, mom?"

"Yeah?" She sniffed.

"Could we… not tell dad?" I asked.

"About Josh? I won't tell him as far as he knows; you're just at a friends. And I think he's pretty sure it's a girl." She laughed. I laughed along with her.

"Well I think I'm going to go now." I told her.

"Ok, that's fine."

"I'll call you later, I promise." I guaranteed.

"Ok, I'll talk to you later then. Bye Reed, I love you." She told me softly.

"Bye mom, I love you too." Then we both hung up. I tossed my phone back in my bag and laid back in my seat. "Ohmigod."

"It could not have been that bad." Josh smiled.

"I made her cry!" I shouted.

"How?"

"I told her that you where my boyfriend." I mumbled.

"So your parent's don't know about me? Or you don't want them to know?" Josh asked.

"I don't really want them to know?" I asked like it was a question.

"I feel so unwanted." Josh pouted.

"I didn't mean—"

"Reed, it's ok. I'm just kidding. You can tell your parents when ever you want. Just don't tell them about me when I propose." Josh smiled.

"Propose?"

"Yeah, did you hear a word I said this morning?" Josh chuckled.

"Every breath."

"I said we're going to be together forever. That means marriage Reed." He smiled and squeezed my hand.

"Oh." I said confused. How could I miss that? I talked about it before with Noelle.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just thinking."

"I'm sorry I brought that whole marriage thing up a little too quickly." Josh apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine. I mean, I would love to be with you forever." I told him.

Josh looked at me with a huge smile on his face. He looked back on the road. "Red light." he told me.

I looked at the light and smiled. Then I leaned in to kiss him. After our conversation, we had another kiss like the one this morning. But obviously not as long, and a lot more passionate because all of our feelings where being poured out in a short time. I could feel the cars pull ahead behind us, Josh pulled away feeling the same. Then he put his hand on the steering wheel and drove again.

"Wow." I said smiling.

Josh started laughing at me. He grabbed my hand again and held it there on the center console again. We drove up a wide street, with huge skyscrapers, advertisements for Broadway musicals, and stores had decorative windows involving Christmas and sales. I was in awe. Josh found a place to park at. There was snow on the ground, and a bunch of people walking up and down the sidewalks, and trying to catch taxis.

About 3 hours later, we put all of the bags in Josh's car. If we hadn't, then I we would have had a lot of bags to carry around. Next stop was Bloomingdales. I was putting all of the gifts on the Billings account. Josh kept on tell me that he wanted to pay for some of my gifts but I refused. He kept on offering though.

"Reed, I'm serious. You have to let me buy at least one present." He begged.

"No, Josh I'm not dating you because you have money, I'm dating you because I love you. I'm not taking your money." I protested.

"Reed, come on. Just one store! I'll buy everything you want!" He said. He was walking next to me, holding my hand. He wrapped his arm around my waist and looked down at me. "Please?"

"No!" I rejected his offer.

"Reed," Then before I knew it, I was against a brick column. Josh had both hands on the column. Giving me no place to escape. He was smiling when he said, "One store,"

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's your money!"

"It's actually my dad's money." Josh said.

"That makes me feel even worse!" I bent over to free myself.

"That he gave me! To spend on you!" He told me jogging up to me.

"Your dad didn't give you money to spend on me." I didn't know why he wanted to pay for everything. I was fine on the Billings account. And I had an additional 900 left of the money I got. I should buy something with it to show him that I was fine.

"Reed, I'm serious." Josh said as we walked into Bloomingdales. "Who are you shopping for now?"

"Noelle." I said looking at a jacket on the center rack.

"Even though I despise Noelle beyond belief I will still buy her gift for you because I love you." Josh said. I was walking all over the place, but Josh was still following me very close, and talking to me. I looked up at him while I looked at a pair of shoes. I sighed.

"Fine." I said giving in.

"Thank you!" Josh told me and kissed my head.

"Yeah yeah." I mumbled Josh smiled. "So you just want to buy someone's present for me to show you love me?"

"And be a good boyfriend." Josh smiled.

"You're already a great boyfriend." I smiled and turned around so my back wasn't facing him. "You're the best boyfriend any girl could ever wish for."

"I am?"

"Yes."

"Me?"

"Since when did you become so conceded?" I asked laughing.

"I'm not conceded. But I do have an amazing girlfriend myself." Josh said taking both of my hands.

"Really? Are you talking about me? I'm like the worst girlfriend." I sighed and turned around.

"Do you think that if you where the worst girlfriend I would be with you this long?" He asked.

"Maybe you just feel bad for me."

"Why do you think you're so horrible?" Josh asked turning me to face him again.

"Do you really want to know?" I asked. I was a horrible girlfriend. Now that I think about it.

"Yeah." He said.

"I'll tell you when we get back to your place." I told him. "I have to buy Noelle something."

"Ok." Josh sighed. I grabbed his hand and brought him around the store, I finally found the cutest black BCBG shirt for Noelle. I knew she would love it. I walked up the cash register.

"Is this all for today?" The lady asked.

"Yup."

"That's a total of $106." She said.

"Ok." I went to pull out my Billings card but before I knew it, the lady was gift wrapping the shirt and handed it to me in a Medium Brown Bag. I was so happy all of my shopping was over with.

"Ohmigod!" I gasped as we walked out of the store.

"What is it? Did you loose something?" Josh asked me.

"No, I just haven't gotten a gift for you." I said.

"I don't need a gift. And besides, you already bought me those paint brushes, it's hard to top that amazing gift." Josh pointed out as we crossed the street.

"But I was assigned to get you that gift. It wasn't out of free will." I reminded him.

"How about, you just be you for the rest of the vacation. That would be the perfect gift." He smiled.

"That's a horrible gift." I complained.

"I would like it." He said.

"I'll just buy something online." I shrugged.

"Ok then." Josh said.

"Did you get me a gift?" I asked.

"Yes I did. When you where in St. Bart's." Josh said.

"Is it a good gift?" I asked.

"I wouldn't settle for less than amazing when it comes to you." He smiled.

"Ok." I sighed. I should really get him an amazing gift too. Maybe something to go with those paint brushes.

"One more store right?"

"To buy my dress? Yeah." I said. We went into Sacks 5th Avenue and I picked out the most gorgeous dress. It was a Jay Godfrey Estelle Ruffled Silk Dress. It was black, with a silk ruffle on the top. It was up to my knees, sexy yet appropriate. I walked out of the dressing room with black Cole Haan patent sling backs on. I loved the look, now all that was left is the approval of Josh.

"What do you think?" I asked him.

He just looked at me, his mouth slightly hanging open.

"You hate it?" I asked.

"No! I love it! I'm just concerned…" He trailed off.

"Is it that it's black?" I asked.

"No, it's not the dress. It's the fact that I won't be able to keep my hands off you all night." He smiled and I laughed at him.

"Well maybe you could get a sexy suit and we'll be even." I raised an eyebrow smiling.

"I just might, it's going to have to be one hell of a suit though." Josh chuckled. I smiled and walked over to him and sat on his lap.

"I think you have to will power to not attack me until everyone's gone." I told him and poked his chest. He rubbed his hand up and down my back.

"I think, I'll find us a place to just you know go to for like five… ten minutes. To l catch up because you know, we're probably going to be split up in the night." Josh explained.

I just laughed. "You're probably going to be with me the whole time. And besides, where would we really 'catch up'? I asked.

"The coat closet's pretty big." Josh smiled.

I smiled and laughed through my nose. I leaned in and kissed him. He grabbed my waist and I twisted myself so I was practically straddling him. Then I pulled away.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"We're in a public changing room, you are aware of that right?"

"Uh, yeah." Josh said.

"We can save the kissing for the red lights." I smiled.

Josh chuckled. "Ok, get off of me then."

"You make it sound bad." I giggled and got off of him. "I'm going to change."

"Ok."

I walked back into the dressing room and hung the dress back up, I quickly put my clothes back on and walked out with the dress and shoe box.

"Ready?" Josh asked.

"Yeah." I replied and he took the shoebox. I found his hand and he gave mine a squeeze. I looked up at him and he smiled. We bought the dress and shoes, no Josh bought it. Then we left.

We where in the car on our way home a half hour later. We ate at a restaurant in downtown and I was falling asleep in the passenger seat. Josh's hand was on my knee and mine was on top of his. He soon clutched our hands together and rested them both on my knee. My phone's ring tone woke me up. I moved my head to the side and moaned. I picked it up out of my bag and gave it to Josh.

"Answer it." I mumbled and closed my eyes.

"Hello?" Josh must have answered the call. He was a great boyfriend.

"Yeah it is, but Reed's sleeping. No, no, we are on our way back from the city. Yeah Noelle she bought you a gift. Yeah, well I'm going to go. No I'm not going to wake her up. No, ok bye."

Josh placed the phone on the console and I smiled. I took his hand.

"Thanks." I mumbled again opening my eyes a little.

"Anytime." Josh said. "Reed, go to sleep I'll take anymore calls that you get."

"Don't answer the ones from my house phone, or my mom, or my dad, or my brother, Scott. I don't really care right now." I told him. But really I didn't want them to be shocked that my boyfriend was answering my phone. And with Scott or my dad, they would just jump to conclusions. I didn't even want to think about it.

"Got it. Now really, go to sleep." Josh told me.

And so I did, still holding his hand.

"Reed, Reed." I heard Josh's voice. I opened my eyes slowly to see his face.

"What?" I asked.

"We're home. Do you want me to carry you inside?" He asked chuckling.

"No, it's ok." I said and got myself out of the car. Josh just wrapped his strong arms around me and led me inside. When we got to our bedroom, I was awake a little more. So I got to change into my pajama's while Josh went to check if Tess or Tori where here.

"Nope, their gone." Josh said. "Thank god."

I just gave him a closed smile. I didn't even brush my teeth, I quickly brushed my teeth and fell onto the bed. Josh chuckled and came and laid next to me.

"Reed?" He asked me.

"Yeah?" I asked opening my eyes.

"Why do you think you're a horrible girlfriend?"

I scooted closer to him, we where both laying on our sides facing each other, very close now. "Because." I sighed. "I'm always leaving, I sometimes put Billings first, and my friends, and I get drunk, and I just… am so disappointing." I said, a few tears streamed down my face. I just realized what I said, I'm worse than a horrible girlfriend, the worse one could ever be stuck with. Then I really started to cry. Ok mood swing much?

"I'm sorry Josh!" I blubbered.

"Reed," Josh pulled me to him and I put my head on his chest, his arms where wrapped around me protectively. I just laid there and cried.

"Reed, you're none of those things. Not anymore." He told me kissing my head. Then he whispered in my ear, "That was all a while ago. That wasn't you. That wasn't my Reed." Josh told me. But his voice mixed with his kindness made me cry more.

"I'm sorry you had to put up with that." I told him finally calming down a little.

"It's ok, we found ways to be together. And you where just lost. But you're all good now. Now, you're the best girlfriend."

"So I wasn't before?" I asked.

"No, you where. Just not as great as you are now." Josh said. "Hey, it's ok Reed. Don't cry."

"I feel so bad though." I told him, the tears just slowly falling down my cheeks. He just nodded and we laid there for a few minutes then he broke the silence,

"I love you Reed." He told me.

"I love you too." I said, I looked up at him and smiled before I went in and kissed him. I was half out of it so I was happy when I felt his soft lips on mine. We continued to kiss for a while. Then we stopped and I couldn't sleep.

"I seriously can't sleep now." I laughed.

"Then I'll stay up until you do." Josh told me.

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes I do, I don't want you to be up all alone." He told me.

"Ok."

So we sat there until 12 midnight talking about everything and nothing. It sounds cheesy and over used, but it was actually nice.

Because we didn't have to wait for a red light to kiss.

OMG! This is the longest chapter I've ever written/typed on Fan Fiction! I'm so proud of myself! 9 pages long! I hope you guys liked it! It's all Josh and Reed! I told you I would update again, it jsut took longer than I thought! And Reed's dress is real and it's on Sacks website! So if you want you can look at it, and the shoes. I still can't get over the fact...9 pages! I hope you guys really enjoyed it, I worked hard. I think I'm even sweating!LOL! But it's ok, I'm just waiting for this guy I like to sign on to AIM! :]

peace out,

Lauren