Here's the last chapter. Everything comes to an end and so also this story reached its final point. How will Sarah and Derek react to the shocking news about forthcoming wedding? Where is the jacket for John? Is Cameron going to have to look John receiving a gift without getting any?
The answers to above questions are given below …
Chapter 33 – More Surprises
Cameron hung on John's arm and smiled slightly foolishly as they entered the lobby bar. Every now and then her slightly unfocused eyes turned to the finger, graced by the beautiful ring that John gave her. They've just spent two hours in a private whirlpool, they made love, John asked her to marry him … the day simply couldn't get any better.
John's eyes were not that different from Cameron's. In his imagination he relived the last two hours and shared Cameron's feelings … the day simply couldn't get any better.
Making love in Jacuzzi was completely different than what happened between them the last night. The initial shyness, inexperience, which signified the last night, made way for passion, for hunger after the loved one. Making love in the burbling water was forceful, yet full of love. After they finally calmed down enough to let go of each other, they tried to drink a glass of champagne each. But, due to the fact that they busied themselves with other, obviously rather urgent activities before toasting to their new bond, the beverage was definitely too warm and almost without any bubbles left. As he tasted it, John cursed himself not to have done it before. Then he saw Cameron's scrunched face and her tongue, darting out of her mouth, like she'd just tasted something poisonous and had to laugh at her. She looked at him accusingly: "I don't like it! It's warm and flat."
"You're absolutely right! But it's entirely our fault. We should have drunk it before." An idea formed in John's head: "We should go to the lobby bar and order champagne. Nice bubbly and cold! You'll like it."
Cameron wasn't persuaded: "Why would I like it? I've just tasted this famous champagne and I'm not overwhelmed."
"If you like Coke because of the bubbles, you'll probably like the champagne too. It has as much bubbles as Coke, perhaps even more."
A promise to taste something bubbly, obviously persuaded Cameron and she nodded her agreement.
After entering the lobby bar and choosing the table, which, quite remarkably, was the same they occupied the evening before, John gently took Cameron's hand in his and turned it to take another look at the ring. Cameron noticed his gesture and smiled: "It's beautiful."
John nodded: "Yeah. But not as beautiful as you." He peered at the ring and muttered: "It looks much better on your finger than it did in the box."
"What can I bring you?" Waiter's voice disturbed them and as John looked up, he saw the same waiter that served them last night. And again, the guy was fixing his eyes on Cameron. Wait a minute; that's enough! He grinned evilly and tilted his head. "Bring us two glasses of champagne." He lifted Cameron's hand to show her ring to the waiter. "We just got engaged and we should celebrate. Right, honey?" He kissed her hand and looked at the waiter's face. For a second the guy looked slightly disappointed, but regained his professionalism quickly and smiled at them: "Of course! Champagne it is. Maybe anything else?"
John was satisfied with the result his little show-off had on the waiter: "No, thank you that'll be all."
After the waiter left them, Cameron looked at John with a ghost of a smile: "Was that really necessary?"
John acted ignorant and looked at her with large curious eyes: "What?"
Cameron's smile grew bigger and she sighed slightly while rolling her eyes: "Showing off."
John tilted his head like Cameron: "I didn't show off."
Cameron grinned at his gesture. Now I know why he thinks it's cute when I tilt my head. He looks cute too. Maybe I'll allow him to do it again. "Yes, you did." Then she laid her hand on his: "John, you have to know something with absolute certainty. I love you and only you. You're the meaning of my life. No matter how he or anyone else might look at me, I'm yours and always will be."
John smiled back: "Well, I admit to have showing off a little. Just a little." He frowned at her: "I still don't like it when guys look at you that way. You're a perfect woman and not a thing to look at like some kind of a beautiful object to admire. They should see the beautiful person that you are, not just your pretty face and perfect body."
Before Cameron could answer, the waiter reappeared with two glasses of champagne. They were already misty, proving that the champagne in them was correctly cooled. He carefully put them in front of the couple, and stepped back a step: "I hope that everything's fine. Let me congratulate you and wish you all the best in the future."
John was slightly surprised over his friendliness and smiled at him: "Thank you." Then he turned to his fiancée and saw her smiling at the waiter while thanking him too. The fact that they knew what awaited them in the future didn't diminish the importance of the moment. They both knew that Judgment's day was coming, but for a short time they were just Cameron and John, a girl and a boy, who found their love.
After the waiter retreated, they rose the glasses and looked into each other's eyes deeply. "We should toast to our joint future. Whatever may happen, we'll manage it together." John's voice was soft and his eyes never leaving hers.
"Yes, to us, John." Cameron was to the point again. Then she took a sip of champagne from the foggy glass. She tasted a little, allowed her eyes to linger on the glass for a second thoughtfully and looked at John surprised: "This is much better than that in the whirlpool. It's quite enjoyable."
John grinned: "Will you believe me next time when I tell you something?"
Cameron pouted a little: "I always believe you John." Then she grinned mischievously: "Well, that however, doesn't mean that I always believe you're right."
Before John could answer, a voice, coming from behind, interrupted him: "Ah, here is my lost son. How the hell did you manage to vanish without a trace?"
John turned to see Sarah and Derek approaching. They were both in obviously good mood, grinning at them, although Derek eyed him and Cameron slightly suspiciously. He was still wondering why John left the ice hall so abruptly. But now, seeing the champagne in the glasses and obviously very intimate mood between them, he began to suspect something. Then his eyes fell on Cameron's hand, still holding the glass and saw the ring that wasn't there before and his eyes widened uncontrollably. What the hell? He gave her the ring? He already wanted to say something, but decided to let Sarah be the one to ask. He had no doubts she would, as soon as she'd notice the ring.
Sarah meanwhile also noticed the intimacy between her son and Cameron and after she saw the ring on Cameron's finger, she quickly understood the situation. She stepped closer and stared at Cameron's hand with narrowed eyes, making even the terminator wince slightly.
Cameron felt uneasy, maybe even slightly afraid, however unbelievable it may seem, in anticipation of the, according to her previous experiences with Sarah, inevitable explosion and carefully put her glass down, just to have her hand snatched by Sarah, who held it tight, lifted it closer to her face and thoroughly inspected the ring. Cameron felt the urge to pull her hand back, but decided to allow Sarah to inspect it and wait for her reaction. But Sarah's reaction, after she finished with her inspection, caused another shock for the cyborg girl. Instead of yelling and looking at her with hate, Sarah sighed and turned to John.
Seeing the ring on Cameron's finger was a heavy shock for Sarah. And yet she couldn't say that it was completely unexpected. She suspected that something like this would happen ever since her talk to John after they came here. She was just hoping it wouldn't happen so quickly. But now, after she saw the happiness on Cameron's normally so stoical and blank face, John's beaming expression, she knew that she could never do anything like she tried few days ago. She could never bring herself to split them apart. As weird as it was, it was obvious that Cameron succeeded where everyone else failed. She managed to make John happy.
"Are you sure John?" Just a simple question. Just four small words. Nothing drastic, no going ballistic, no yelling. Just one calmly asked question. John was beyond surprised after her question. For a brief moment he looked into Cameron's eyes as if seeking reassurance and saw that she was as surprised as him and he couldn't hope to get any help from her. He turned to look into his mother's face and saw no hate, no disappointment, just question. He took a deep breath: "Yes mom, I'm absolutely sure."
"You're still very young, John. I hope you two have considered it." Sarah couldn't restrain herself completely from acting in her best mother hen manner.
"We know mom! It's not like we'll be getting married tomorrow. We'll wait until the right time. But definitely before the Judgment day." John was calm and satisfied that his mother took the news so good.
Sarah nodded and whispered: "Then I'm happy for you." She then turned to eye Cameron who was looking at her slightly defiantly and yet insecure. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. She really seems to care what I think about her relationship with my son. Just proves how much she evolved from the blank terminator. "I hope that you will make my son happy. Because if you ever hurt him, I'll disassemble you bolt by bolt, part by part."
Cameron nodded seriously: "I would never hurt my John. If I would, I wouldn't want to live anymore and I'd disassemble myself prior to you attempting to do it."
Sarah snorted: "Don't be a smartass, Cameron. It's so not you."
John, relieved that everything went so well, snickered: "Oh, mom, you're so wrong. In fact it so IS Cameron to be smartass." Then he looked at Derek, who was eyeing him thoughtfully. "So, uncle dear, what about you? No preaching about the killer machines? No loud protesting? No telling me that she's going to kill me someday?"
Derek shuddered as if John would have woken him from a dream and refocused on his nephew. After few seconds of silence, he grumbled: "It's your life, John. If you think that you will be safe and happy then I'm happy for you. I may not approve of it, but I'll accept it. I just have to warn you that in the future some people won't be exactly happy with your relationship." Then he turned to Cameron who was watching him curiously. Her expression was a mix of different emotions, curiousness being the most pronounced. Then Derek did something that no one expected. Something so unlike his previous actions, behavior and words that he caused everyone to ask themselves if they're being stuck in an unbelievable dream. He stretched his hand towards the cyborg girl: "I congratulate you Cameron. Make him happy, but don't forget that I'm looking over your shoulder. Ever have and ever will."
Cameron was shocked again to see Derek's outstretched hand and hear his words. Her eyes darted between his hand and his eyes. After few seconds she finally processed her answer, accepted his hand and nodded: "I know you are, Derek. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Nevertheless, thank you."
Sarah and John looked at them and their astonishment over Derek's change of behavior and attitude towards Cameron wore out only slowly. "Why don't you two sit down and drink a glass of champagne too? We have something to celebrate." John insisted and Sarah didn't resist. She sat down beside Cameron and her eyes remained glued to the ring. After a second she turned to John and smiled at him: "Well, at least I have raised a son with good taste. The ring is really beautiful."
John, never expecting such words from his tough mother even blushed. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."
Sarah snorted: "I think that it's more important that she likes it." She turned to Cameron, who looked at her wide eyed with obvious astonishment in her big brown eyes: "Do you? I mean … like the ring?"
Cameron nodded: "Definitely. I like everything that John gives me." She fumbled something under the table and pulled out the rose, which John left for her in the locker. "He even gave me a rose." She presented the flower proudly.
"Did he, now? Well, well, well, I think that my son's capable of surprising even his mother, used to everything." Sarah said in slightly mocking voice, but couldn't hide that she was proud of John. "I'd never expect you to become such a gentleman, John."
John meanwhile managed to hide his slight embarrassment and answered in similar voice: "You never stop learning mom. You of all people should know that. But … for Cameron, I'd do anything." He paused, opened his mouth to say something more, but stopped as they heard a familiar voice.
"We thought that we'd find you here." Andrea's merry voice interrupted them. After she and Tim, who was carrying a large bag, came to the table, her eyes darted between the occupants and saw that they were obviously in the midst of something, so she suddenly looked worried: "Did we interrupt something?"
John grinned at her: "No, nothing. We were just about to celebrate that Cameron and I got engaged." He reached for Cameron's hand to present the ring to their friends.
A low whistle emanated from Tim's mouth while Andrea gaped at the ring with open mouth, unable to say anything. After a long moment of complete silence, Andrea finally managed to pull herself together and screeched, directed at Cameron: "Are you really engaged? Cameron! Why didn't you tell me anything before? Show me the ring!"
Cameron smiled at her satisfied: "I had no idea that John is going to give me the ring."
"So that's why I had to …." Suddenly Andrea clasped a hand over her mouth.
If anything, Cameron wasn't stupid. She quickly assessed the situation and grinned at John: "You convinced Andrea to take me shopping so that you could prepare a surprise for me." It was a statement, not inquiry.
John nodded, slightly ashamed. He opted for better remaining silent than to get into discussion with Cameron, Andrea and his mother. Sometimes even the aspiring savior of the human race must take a step back to avoid being involved into discussion he couldn't win under any circumstances.
Cameron stretched her hand and cupped his cheek: "Two white lies in one day. One for you, one for me." She grinned. Then, after a second, she added: "La Bionda, 1978."
Blank stares from everyone elicited her to mouth the addendum to the statement: "Italian group La Bionda released a song, titled 'One for you, one for me' in 1978."
John grinned at her: "My, if I'll ever want to know something about any song in the history I'll just have to ask my fiancée. How do you know so much about the music?"
"I don't sleep." Cameron's answer was immediate as was her realization that she almost revealed her true nature to Andrea and Tim and she added hastily: "Much."
Relieved that Cameron understood why he had to distract her from showing too much of her vast knowledge and even more relieved that their secret remained what it was - a secret, John looked at her thankfully.
"So you two really mean it? You're planning on getting married?" Tim asked as if he wouldn't believe it and his eyes darted between Cameron and John.
John turned to him and nodded: "Yeah, we do. But we won't hurry. When we're ready, we'll do it."
Andrea meanwhile managed to get over her slip and almost bounced anxiously in anticipation to finally be able to take a close look at the ring. Now she finally got the chance to grab Cameron's hand and look at the new ring, gracing her slender finger. Cameron smiled at her and allowed her to inspect it thoroughly. "It's so nice! I wish someone would give me such ring." She looked at Cameron, slightly dreamily but clearly happy: "You're a lucky girl, Cameron."
Cameron nodded: "I know, Andrea." Then she looked at John: "I'm lucky that John loves me the way I am."
The hidden meaning of her words was clear to John, as well as Sarah and Derek. John stroked her hand tenderly: "Oh, I guess it goes both ways. I'm lucky that someone like Cameron loves someone like me."
"Well, guys, I have to congratulate you. It's not every day that your friends decide they want to get married." Tim grinned at John and Cameron. Then he turned to Andrea: "We have something else to do, right?"
Andrea nodded, grabbed the bag from Tim's hand and pulled out a nicely wrapped present. She ignored the stunned looks from Sarah and Derek and a knowing smile from Cameron and pushed the present into John's hands: "We may have started the wrong way with you, but I think that you're really a great guy and as our thanks for accepting us as your friends, we'd like to give you this present." But before John could answer, what was more or less a questionable matter after all, for he was simply gaping at Andrea, she pulled another wrapped present out of the bag and handed it to Cameron, who, again, looked just like the moment John presented her the ring. She stared wide eyed at the present and slowly shifted her gaze up to Andrea.
Andrea grinned at her: "What? Did you really think we'd get a present only for John? Sheesh!" Then she got serious: "I'm really happy to know you, Cameron. I've never had a friend like you. I can talk to you about anything and you don't see just a dumb blonde in me, you see me as I really am. I'd really like to remain your friend."
Meanwhile Tim turned to John: "Yeah, buddy, I must join my sister's ranting. I'm glad that our paths crossed and that you accepted us regardless the not so subtle beginning."
John finally managed to overcome his surprise and looked up at Tim: "Well, that's something I definitely didn't expect. Thank you both very much."
Tim grinned and nudged his sister: "Stop ranting with Cameron. Let them open their presents."
Cameron was still gazing at the siblings in utter surprise. Today was definitely the best day that she ever had. She became intimate with John, she got proposed by him, Sarah and Derek accepted their relationship, or, at least they didn't oppose it openly, her friends gave her a present. She was happy. For the first time in her life she felt like she could explode from happiness. She jumped up and did something completely unexpected. She hugged Andrea: "Thank you so much!"
Then she eagerly tore the wrapping paper off of her present, just to hear the matching sound coming from John's direction. She already knew what John's present was, but she had absolutely no idea what could be in the packet she got from the siblings. She didn't bother to inspect the contents of the wrapping; tearing the paper and looking inside was quicker and more effective. She suddenly realized that her behavior was absolutely unlike her machine nature. She definitely behaved like an eager teenage girl, who just got an unexpected present. In a second she pulled out a leather jacket, not unlike the one she already had in purple. This one was in black and it suited perfectly to the one she chose for John. She slowly raised her look to John, just to see him inspecting the jacket with a huge grin on his face. "Did you have something to do with this John?"
John looked up from his jacket to see her inquisitive gaze and a beautiful jacket in her hands. He shook his head: "No, nothing." His eyes fell to the jacket to inspect it thoroughly: "It's beautiful. It suits perfectly to mine." Then he grinned to her: "Did YOU have something to do with this Cameron?" He lifted his jacket and didn't miss a slight look of mischievousness on Cameron's face.
"Maybe." She answered vaguely, but confirming his suspicions completely. Then she turned to Andrea and opened her mouth, but was cut short by the blonde: "Yes, I bought it after we finished our shopping trip. I guessed that your taste wouldn't differ much in choosing female clothing. Do you like it?"
Cameron smiled at her: "Yes! It's a tight present!" Then she quickly slipped the jacket on and looked at John, who was already wearing his: "We look like a couple now."
"Indeed! Not just look like one; we ARE a couple." John grinned at her. Then he turned to Andrea and Tim again: "Thank you. I really didn't expect something like this."
Cameron joined him: "Thank you very much. I appreciate it."
Sarah and Derek were watching the whole scene unraveling itself before their eyes quietly. Now Sarah finally managed to add her five cents: "Andrea, Tim. I think that this really wasn't necessary. It must have been expensive and the last thing we want is to pull the money out of your pockets."
Tim turned to her and shook his head smiling: "No problem, Sarah. They weren't that expensive. But we really wanted to give something to Cameron and John for making our vacation so much better."
"But we have nothing for you," Cameron pouted a little.
"You don't have to! You gave us some of the nicest days we ever had and that's worth more than just the money." Andrea tapped Cameron's forearm with her hand and smiled at her. Cameron wasn't completely persuaded, as John wasn't either, but decided not to pursue the matter at this moment.
John, who in the meantime took the new jacket off again, nodded at the siblings: "Take a seat, guys. We should toast to our decision. Waiter!" He saw the waiter just passing by and stopped him to order four more glasses of champagne.
While Tim and Andrea discussed the news with Sarah and Derek, completely oblivious to the fact, that they both seemed slightly reserved, Cameron bowed to John and whispered: "John? When did you get this ring?" She looked into his eyes inquisitively.
John grinned at her: "You remember when I sent you shopping with my mom and Andrea? That's when."
Suddenly realization dawned on Cameron: "That's why your clothes were folded differently as I came back."
John nodded and smiled sheepishly.
Cameron now looked at him with her best blank 'scary robot' look: "It seems that I wasn't the only one to have lied to the one I love."
John's face turned red and he shook his head, looking even more sheepish than before: "I wasn't lying, Cam. I was only deceiving you to be able to surprise you. Another little white lie, you see?"
Cameron maintained her expression for another second and let John squirm a little more. Then she smiled at him brightly: "I know John. I know and that's one of the reasons that I love you." She leaned to him and kissed him gently, not caring that there were four other people, sitting at the table.
THE END
A/N
The end of this story, however, not the end of this little universe, or story arc, I created by starting the story. As I've already announced, I'll first write the prequel to this story. I'm not sure when, but probably within a month. It won't be such a long story as this one, just a short one (presumably only three chapters), but after reading it, John's and Cameron's behavior in this story that may have seemed strange, should be explained.
I've also announced that I'm probably going to write a sequel to this story. Staying in this universe, but presenting a completely different type of story/plot. However, I haven't reached the final decision yet. There are so many things that influence my writing, as most important … I've no idea if I'll have enough time to write. But if … and I stress IF! … the sequel should be started, I don't expect to start posting it before late summer.
Last but not least; a huge THANK YOU! to all who reviewed this story. I'm really thrilled to see so much positive response and can only hope that you'll stay also with prequel and possible sequel.