Hi Readers, here is another chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. Also, I don't own any of the characters and all military related mistakes are my own. Happy Reading!

Chapter 52: New York is for lovers

My eyes are immediately lost in the magnificence of Grand Central Station Terminal, my eyes are drawn to the ceiling, and I'm lost, staring at the different constellations, and I can feel Tobias standing next to me, his eyes are locked on me instead of the beauty I'm absorbing. I can't take my eyes off the ceiling, whispering, "It's like stargazing, but during the day."

I tear my eyes away from the light blue ceiling to watch Tobias's eyes dart to the painting and then back to me. Wonderment fills his eyes as if he's seeing the terminal for the first time in another light.

My eyes meet his while he grins, "I have always wanted to sketch the different scenes in this place, but I have never had time to do it. It's always busy when I come into the city." I giggle, "New York is busy in general," reaching out for his hand. Our fingers interlace while he grins, replying, "It is, maybe one day, I will get to when I retire from the Air Force."

Quipping an eyebrow, I ask with curiosity lacing my voice, "When do you plan on doing that Captain Eaton?" My mind begins to cloud with visions of Tobias and me settling down in a state, never being issued orders to move again, and him never having to deploy again. My heart flutters at the thought. He shrugs his shoulders, truthfully answering, "I have no idea. Before you, I never talked about life outside of the Air Force."

Changing the subject, I smile, "Why do you want to sketch here out of everywhere in the world you have traveled? I know it's beautiful, but I don't understand." Why would he want to draw something that has probably been sketched a thousand times by a thousand different people? Tobias shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know. Maybe because it makes me feel like there is something else or someone else out there in the universe besides us when I stand under this ceiling. There has to be something or someone responsible for all this beauty. If there isn't, then I don't know. When I was lost and feeling alone growing up. I would look up at the stars back home, and I would feel less alone, a little happier even if my life was going to hell in the meantime."

Glancing at him, I ask, "You draw?" My mind recalls the leather book full of drawings he drew of me. The one I stumbled upon when he was missing. That time seems like a lifetime ago. A smile tugs at Tobias's lips, "Yeah, but it isn't something I advertise. I'm not very good at it. It's more like a hobby; I used it to pass the time when deployed."

I smile, "I think you are very talented. I have seen some of your drawings. Is there anything you aren't good at?" Tobias arches an eyebrow, teasing, "There are many things, but I will never tell you. I don't want you running for the hills just yet. You will figure them out eventually once we have been married long enough." Walking through the busy terminals of Grand Central Station, I admire the different views. Tobias smiles, "Are you ready to begin our adventure?" I nod my head while he pulls me out into the city's busy streets through the main door.

The city's bustling streets are filled with people, trying to get somewhere, with everyone bumping into Tobias and me. The feeling reminds me of the airport, the first time we met each other, the time we crashed into one another. A shy smile tugs at my lips when I accidentally step onto Tobias's foot, attempting to avoid being knocked into the road by the masses.

I nervously giggle, while he glances at me, and his dark blue eyes meet mine through his thick black lashes. California had a lot of people too, especially San Francisco, but I never noticed it as much until now. Tobias pulls me against his chest with his arms encircling me while all the people surround us. I feel like a number instead of an individual in this city. Into my ear, his breath tickles it, sending chills down my spine, "Where do you want to go, Tris?" I shrug my shoulders, not knowing, "Surprise me," I whisper, glancing at him from under my lashes. He looks boyish at that moment as his lips move back and forth in concentration, thinking. "How about Central Park?" I shrug my shoulders, not knowing how to answer.

Tobias holds out his hand, and I eagerly take it while we set off down the street, walking and getting lost on the way to the park for a short time. Finally, Tobias and I stumble onto a huge green park in the middle of a cement jungle. Glancing at Tobias, a smile tugs at my lips when our eyes catch one another, neither of us saying a word as we take a step into the park to find statues to look at. Walking along the sidewalk our fingers are intertwined, Tobias seems carefree, and we speak about nothing important, enjoying the day.

The first place Tobias and I find is Bethesda Fountain. The fountain is breathtakingly beautiful. I gasp, "It looks like it does in the moves, Tobias! This place is beautiful!" Tobias marvels at the fountain, grinning, "Yeah, it is." He pulls his phone from his pocket, continuing, "You wanna know what would make it look even better?" Quipping an eyebrow, playing along, I ask, "What?" He answers seriously, "You." I roll my eyes at him. Tobias exclaims, "Let's take a photo with it!" Before I can object, Tobias snaps a photo of me standing before the fountain, pout gracing my lips. I shout, "I want a redo! I wasn't ready!" Tobias laughs, "Okay. Smile, Princess." A smile tugs at my lips, hearing the name he likes to call me. I giggle, "I want one with us," Tobias appears next to me, a sly smile on his lips with his phone in hand, attempting to capture the whole fountain.

After the fountain, Tobias and I continue wandering, around Central Park, trying to find various attractions. While walking, we act like we are on our honeymoon. Tobias will often stop, pulling me close to his chest, and pressing his lips against mine. We find various statues such as Balto, Alice in Wonderland, and Romeo and Juliet. Staring at Romeo and Juliet, I ask, "What is your favorite piece of Shakespeare that you have read?"

Tobias answers, "Macbeth, what is yours?" I smirk, "A Midsummer Night's Dream. Why Macbeth?" Tobias puzzles, "I'm surprised, you didn't say, Romeo and Juliet. Most girls I knew loved that play when we read it in high school. I read Macbeth in high school, and I loved Lady Macbeth. I loved that she persistently taunted her husband for never having the courage even though she knew what he really did on the battlefield. In public, she was able to be a great hostess because it was expected of her since all of Macbeth's victims came to the castle. She really was the mastermind behind it all, even though she goes crazy in the end."

Glancing at him, I tease, "You have a thing for Lady Macbeth?" He smirks, "No, I have a thing for you! Although, I suppose you could argue, she was the mastermind behind everything. Maybe, a younger fifteen or sixteen-year-old version of myself found that attractive in a lady, the fact that she knew what she wanted and went after it no matter what it cost her. So, tell me, why A Midsummer Night's Dream?"

I giggle, "I like Puck. He's a mischievous fairy. The play is about a magical love. The type of magical love that can transform our lives, but also reminds the reader that love can be excessive and foolish at times. I read it for the first time during my sophomore year in high school after my parents died. I wanted a love like my parents had or like I thought my parents had. My father died trying to protect my mom, and now, I have a so-called magical love. I can say it does transform your life." I shoot Tobias a grin while the tips of his ears flame a bright red. He takes a sip of water, handing me the bottle to take a drink to quench my thirst on this overly warm summer day. Our eyes meet, and he changes the conversation, "Do you want to go find the Carousel?"

I shyly smile, "Sure," glancing at him. Walking along the path, Tobias and I wander upon the Mall and the Literary Walk, and Strawberry Fields. When Tobias and I finally reach the carousel, my feet are aching from all the walking. This day is only beginning. He smirks, "Here it is," pulling me to stand in line to purchase tickets to take a spin on the antique-looking horses. Tobias shoots me a surprised look as he pushes me up onto a horse, and he climbs onto his, grinning, "I bet my horse can beat yours."

I giggle, "Oh, you are so on!" Tobias and I pretend to race one another on our wooden horses as the carousel circles around and around. When the ride ends, my horse is high in the air, and I'm stuck, unable to get down. I laugh, "A little help, please." Tobias gracefully hops off his horse, grinning, "What's the matter, shorty? Can't you get down?" I roll my eyes playfully at him. He strides over, and I'm slightly higher than he is at the moment, Tobias moves my hair, whispering into my ear, "Now you are the perfect height."

I murmur, "For what?" Staring into his eyes, and his lips brush against mine in a slow, gentle kiss while he pulls me from my horse. My body slides down his, and I feel every hard muscle of his, leaving me panting. When my feet finally hit the ground, a squeal leaves my mouth. Today feels like a dream with Tobias walking next to me, his hand in mine. We wander around Central Park, viewing the architecture of New York City. Along the way, we point out different things to each other. Suddenly, Tobias stops, a huge smile on his face, "We need to get a photo in front of this!"

He tugs me to a stop while I ask, "In front of what?" Spinning around, looking at what he is pointing at, only for my eyes to land on the word LOVE spelled out in giant, red, capital letters. A smile tugs at my lips while I pull him to me, and I plant a kiss on his cheek. He snaps his picture of us, smiling, laughing in front of the sign, and looking in love. Tobias and I continue to walk, feeling lost in the city. There are so many people in this city, but I feel safe next to him, knowing he won't let anything happen to me. Tobias and I are swallowed into a mass of people, and we end up in the middle of a shopping district. Tobias whispers into my ear, glancing at a building, pointing, "Look above you." When I do, all I see are a ton of tall buildings in front of the setting sun. Wonderment fills my voice, asking, "Are we in Times Square?

Moving my hair out of my eyes, he laughs, "Yup." I reply in awe, "It looks straight out of a movie or a storybook. It looks magical. I can't believe Chris never took me here!" My eyes rapidly move, taking in all the lights, as my ears try to absorb all the sounds. Tobias grins, "Well, I'm glad she didn't, otherwise, I wouldn't be getting to experience this look on your face right now watching you encounter all the sights and sounds of Time Square for the first time."

A smile tugs on my lips as Tobias catches the corner of my eyes. He looks happy and free, and his smile, if possible, becomes even larger when he catches my hand within his. As he spins me, Tobias pulls me into his chest, and even though we are surrounded by hundreds of people, it feels like we are the only two people in existence. He whispers into my ear, "I love you," his breath ghosting over my ear. Our eyes meet. I hold his attention while I smile, taking a deep breath, answering, "I love you too, Tobias, so much. I want to start a family with you. I know you are scared, but we have this opportunity that has presented itself in front of us. Through IVF, we can start a family, we can have the family we both have been dreaming about." The lights bounce off his eyes from all the signs. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. Without him, I would be lost in this world.

Tobias declares, "Okay, of course, if IVF is what it takes to start a family with you, then I am all in for the long haul, as long as that long road is with you." He spins me, pulling me into him once more, my lips smashing into his with excitement. When we part from the kiss, I whisper, "Thank you for today." Tobias smirks, "You are most welcome, my love." His lips brush against mine once before asking, "Are you ready to find somewhere for dinner tonight?"

I exclaim, "Yes!" Wondering where he is going to take us for dinner. His eyes wander around the lights of Time Square, a look of wonderment on his face. He asks, "How do you feel about the Hard Rock Cafe?" I tap my chin, replying, "Sounds great. What do they have? I have never been there before." Tobias's face lights up while teasing, "Well, Mrs. Eaton, in that case, we are going to have dinner there. Then, we are going to have another adventure to find our hotel in the dark." Tobias pulls me into a crowd of people as I giggle, and he laughs, pressing his scruffy face against my cheek, and brushing it with his smooth lips, guiding me playfully in the direction of the restaurant.

That's it for this chapter. Any thoughts? I'll be back next month with another chapter. Until Next time.