I do apologise for the stupidly 'long' amount of time for this update. London has been having a bit of a heat wave as of the last week or so and so when I get home from work – I just want to sleep! Strange how it makes you so tired huh?

Anyway, I was debating with myself weather to leave this as the last chapter… but I'll let any reviews decide that for me lol

18. Will you?

Nick woke later in the morning as the sun pierced the darkness of his room through the slight gap in his curtains. Rolling over, his hand rested on the spare pillow, staring at it in confusion, wondering at first why he was alone, and then what he had done in order to offend Belle so much that she would rather spend the night by herself.

Gradually he sat up, resting on his elbows looking around his dishevelled bedroom. Scuffing his hand through his hair, he wiped away at the sleep in his eyes deciding whether he should get up or not, before groggily forcing himself up into the bathroom for a shower.

Emerging half an hour later, after taking the time to shave, and style his hair he got dressed in a plain black t-shirt that subtly showed his muscular physique and some casual jeans. Looking around his room, he let out a heavy sigh as he started to pick up the discarded items of clothing, and other things organising his possessions back into a more recognisable state of array.

"Hey, err – Nick?" Matt's voice came from the hall outside.

"Yeah?" Nick replied as the door opened and his miniature clone stood before him.

Matt walked into the room, taking in his surroundings as he settled upon Nick's black bass. "Oh my god, is that…?" He paused in admiration. "A guild 'M85 II' bass?"

Nick blinked in surprise at his son's knowledge. "Yeah, it's a Nineteen seventy-three vintage."

Matt whistled. "Amazing… It's in such good condition." He walked over to it and delicately ran a finger over the strings.

"You know… I still owe you that guitar I promised." Nick told him pointedly, and then laughed at the look of Matt's eager face as he looked astounded at the Bass. "Not that one, that's a keeper." He continued to chuckle as Matt's face dropped some. "Get your coat; I know a great dealership in the city."

******

After spending the day alone in the big house, Antonio had gone to work around Eight, Nick had come seeking her permission to take Matt out around midday, and since then Belle had been left to her own devices.

Unsure as to what to do, she found herself wondering from room to room in the large house. From exploring the rooms on the upper floors; to practicing her snooker skills in the games room in the basement. She lingered by Nick's bedroom for a while, just intent on standing in the doorway, taking in his familiar scent, yet not daring to step over the threshold. With a shake of the head as tears stung at her eyes she retreated back to her room, and took an afternoon nap.

She was awoken by strange noises coming from down stairs. A sound that was all too familiar in her house back in Wisconsin. She trudged from her bed, and followed the noise to the living room, where Matt and Nick sat opposite each other. Each held a guitar, Nick with his vintage bass, and Matt with a brand new one, as he strummed a tune enthusiastically on the strings.

He stopped as he noticed his mother appearance. Nick glanced at her, but avoided her gaze completely as he carried on plucking at the strings of his bass, he didn't want to upset her anymore than he somehow had already.

"Mom, guess what Nick bought me?!" Matt declared excitedly. "It's a Fender VG Strat electric!"

Belle's face showed that she had no idea what he meant by that, he might as well have been speaking French – but replied with a thankful smile. "Wow, Nick – you shouldn't have." She responded, as he gave her a shy smile. The awkward tension in the air didn't go unnoticed as Matt looked nervously from his mother to his father. "Have you guys eaten?" Belle asked walking to the kitchen opening the fridge.

"Yeah we got a Subway." Matt replied distractedly, he looked at his mother and narrowed his eyes as if to ask if she was okay, she responded with a slight nod as Nick's cell phone rang giving him an excuse to leave the room.

******

Belle once again slept in the guest room the following night, and once again her thoughts rested on her own future. Matthew's future was set; lying before him, an entire family ready to lay down their lives for him as he was part of the Pack. But, what of her own life? She had pretty much committed herself to moving back to New York State – for her son. As much as she enjoyed being with the company of the Pack at Stonehaven, yet at the Sorrentino estate, she still couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong here. Her son, yes… herself – no.

Angrily she wiped away the tears that spilled from her eyes, using the duvet cover as a tissue as she sat upright in bed, sighing at her own delusions. She sat there for a while until her hiccoughs subsided, dabbing the remaining tears from her face.

"You don't have to stay out there all night you know." She mumbled into the silence.

After what seemed like hours, but merely a couple of minutes - the door slowly opened. The room was dark, but a sliver of moonlight shone behind the thin curtains giving Belle the shadowed impressions of the furniture. The shadow that she knew to be Nick - smelling his musky scent she felt goose bumps raising up her arms. Closing the door behind him he moved forward into the room.

She felt his weight depress the mattress as he sat in front of her, cupping a hand to her face a he rubbed away a stray tear with his thumb.

"How do you do it?" He asked, barely above a whisper, a smile to his tone of voice.

Belle struggled to find her voice, her throat still constricted from her fit of crying. "Do what?" She asked, putting her hands over his.

He replied by brushing his lips against hers, teasing the skin as he took in a deep breath to steady his thoughts. "Be so utterly overpowering."

"Excuse me?" She almost laughed as a smile tweaked at the corners of her mouth.

She felt Nick smile rather than see or hear it, as he claimed her mouth delicately with his own, playfully letting go with a bite of her lower lip.

"I…" He started. Belle shushed him and kissed him.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered, giving him a peck on the lips, before kissing him again.

It started off the same as before, soft, gentle, and tentative – before the hunger of the contact took hold, putting her arms around the back of his neck she pushed herself forward so as to straddle his lap. In one fluid motion he hoisted her up off the bed, and lay her down beneath him.

"I want you to know something…" He said breathlessly as he pulled back. He saw her as his night vision afforded in the silver light the moon spared looking straight at him, her gaze feeling like it was piercing directly into his soul - They still looked puffy as he could smell the salt of her tears on her skin.

"What?" She asked meekly brushing her fingers down his stubbly cheek.

He hesitated, moving his arm down to rest gently on her stomach. The feel of her warm flesh against his fingertips gave him strength.

"I'm not loosing you again… I won't let them separate us. I can't."

Belle paused furrowing her brow. Obviously - them - being the Pack. "What do you mean?"

"I love you Belle."

Her breath caught at his words, as he shifted his weight to lay by her side as he placed something in her hand.

Confusion swept over her as she sat up and switched on the bedside table lamp. In her hand rested a small leather bound box. She looked up at Nick, who sat across from her – working his jaw in a nervous fashion as she opened the box to reveal a thin gold band adorned with three simple diamonds. Eyes wide and disbelieving she looked up again at Nick.

She failed to notice that at some point in the last minute he was now kneeling on the floor in front of her, eyes hopeful, and a glimmer of a smile playing on his lips.

"I want you to know how much you mean to me Ms. Smart, I need you to know that I cannot, and will not let you walk out of my life again…"

"Oh, Nicky…" She gasped but found her vocabulary decidedly empty.

"I'm asking you – Annabelle Smart, if you will do me the honour of becoming my wife… If you'll have me, that is." He added the last bit with more of a chuckle.