This chapter has not been revised by any beta readers. Please help me improve my English by contacting me if you find any grammar mistakes.

The cold sensation inside my stomach remembered me that, in a couple of minutes, I'd be hugging Joey again. I parked precariously and didn't have the patience to wait for the elevator, so I climbed the stairs to the first floor of the airport. I walked in a quick pace to the exit destined to people arriving from other countries.

I sat on a chair, but got up immediately hereupon. I couldn't keep myself quiet for sixty seconds in a row, so I kept walking from one side to another, squeezing my fingers until they hurt. I checked the panel showing the flights status and my heartbeat fastened when I saw that the plane bringing Joey had already landed.

My phone vibrated and I jumped with surprise. My hands were shaking when I held it to my ear.

"Joey!" I breathed.

"I'm here, honey." he said in a soft voice. I noticed he was smiling.

"Hurry!"

"I still have to wait for my luggage to appear on this carousel. And then I got to go through the immigration section. Do you want something from the free shop?

"No, thanks. I want you, that's all."

"In a minute." he chuckled.

We hung up and I remained on my feet, beholding those who arrived. Airports had always touched me; I liked to witness the happiness of a meeting, as well as the tears of a farewell. From where I stood, I witnessed the delight of meetings and second meetings. People hugged and kissed, some of the luckiest also had their dogs waiting for them, wagging their tails in frenetic joy. I smiled to myself.

Suddenly, there he was.

He came behind a line of people, and was staring at me with an enormous crooked smile on his face. I had almost forgotten how elegant Joey was when he wore that black V shirt that valorized his chest and shoulders. His hair had grown and reached his neck. Did Joey really look like a prince, or were my eyes playing tricks on me?

He struggled to cross the mob and ran to me. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck, and Joey grabbed my waist so tight that he took my feet off the ground. I hid my face on the side of his neck beneath his ear and smelled that natural perfume, a personal aroma that made my heart beats faster.

"Finally!" he breathed, his face hidden in my hair.

"Yes! I can barely believe it's you!"

"It's me. I'm here." he whispered as he caressed my face and stared deeply in my eyes. "I'll always be with you."

Joey held my face gently, and kissed me in a manner as if he was savoring my love directly from my lips. Oh God, I was so in love...

I felt a tickling in my ankle and looked down by reflex. A friendly shitsu puppy left its owner to greet us. Joey laughed and stared at me.

"Let's go?"

"Yep."

We held hands and headed to the parking lot; Joey kept talking about the trip and how excited he was when the plane began to land.

"And then, when I felt that funny thing inside my stomach, I didn't know if was the effect of the plane losing height, or if it was expectation! I'm sure it was both." he sounded like a boy telling a friend about a new video game.

"I could barely eat, and I'm sure it was expectation." I said. "I can't eat when I'm anxious about something."

"Me neither. But I tried to push some food to my stomach or you wouldn't have even approached me today."

"Why not?"

"I'd have a really bad breath."

I was laughing really hard when we reached my car. Joey had the talent to make any ordinary thing sound funny.

We had arranged Joey to stay in my apartment, which would be great for us both - No money wasted in hotels, besides we could be together the whole day - so I drove us to my place in Copacabana.

"It's a pity we can't view the beach from here, but it's pretty close. I walk only three blocks when I want to go to the beach.

"Three blocks?" he sounded alarmed.

"In Rio, it's not much. We can go there later."

"Sure-" he said vaguely as he approached me and hugged me from behind. His face touched my hair and he inhaled the smell of my shampoo. The warmth of his body so near to mine it gave me goose bumps. It has been three months already since we...

I sighed. Joey chuckled and kissed my neck. I turned my face to meet his lips kissing the corner of my mouth.

Joey grabbed my waist tight and turned me to face him. His lips were pleasantly warm and moist. His embrace was stiff. His hands were full with my hair.

"I've missed you so much-" he breathed against my lips.

My lungs didn't have enough air to allow me answer in words, so I nodded in silence, kissing him again and pushing him to my room. Joey accepted my silent invitation willingly.

Joey's hand was playing with my hair as I cuddled with him on my bed. The day had been too short. I wondered if all those days we'd spend together would be as short; I sighed - yes, they would probably be.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked gently.

It took me a moment to answer. I didn't want to sound weak or needy, so I gave him a false response. "I'm thinking that maybe we could take that walk on the beach now."

Joey approved the idea immediately and in twelve minutes we were leaving. We walked by the wet margin of the beach, with the sea softly caressing our feet. The temperature of the air and water were so flawless that we lost count of time.

"I guess if we walk a little more, we're going to reach Ipanema." I said. "Let's stop a bit and sit?"

I sat in front of Joey and fit my body between his legs. As he nestled me in his chest, I could feel his heartbeat against my back; a very comforting sensation.

We watched the sunset in almost complete silence. Joey caressed my arms with the tip of his fingers.

"There's something I want to ask you." he murmured.

"What is it?"

"You love me. Real or not real?"

I giggled. That Hunger Games reference fit perfectly for our moment. We could even pretend we were in District 4, for instance.

"Real." I mumbled, blushing furiously.

Joey broadened a wide smile and kissed my cheek.

"I love you too, baby." he gently stroked my arms and kissed my cheek again.

A warm and cozy feeling took over my body. I felt complete. I couldn't have foreseen what was coming next though.

"So you love me and I love you." Joey said "In account of this, I believe we have enough reasons to... hmm... get married."

I turned and stared at him, absolutely startled.

"What?" I mumbled, totally aware I looked dumb with my eyes so wide open.

Joey touched my chin and looked deep in my eyes. When the words came out of his mouth, he was staid.

"Do you want to marry me, Bella?"