Sorry for delay , if you have been following Grykon's Callen story you will know i have had computer problems .
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" While we are waiting for the food to be delivered , can i ask you a question ? " Paige asked a big smile on her face .
Walter smiled and nodded .
" When did you actually buy this beautiful ring ? "
Walter lowered his head and said nothing for almost a minute . He eventually raised his head . " Two weeks before you all walked out on me , i knew our one year anniversary was coming up so i booked a weekend break for the two of us at an exclusive spa . It was for the next weekend after we had returned from Africa, i had asked Cabe and Allie if they would look after Ralph . Once there i had intended to ask you to marry me . "
Paige could not speak at first as she was so overcome by what Walter had just said . She tightly hugged Walter and was soon joined by Ralph in the hug as he had listened in on the conversation .
Paige eventually pulled herself together . " Oh Walter that would have been so romantic and i spoilt it all by being a real bitch . "
Walter managed to plant a kiss on Paige's brow as he was held tight with Paige on his right side and Ralph on his left side . The hugs were only broken when they heard the downstairs bell ring .
" That must be the pizza delivery , i will go and fetch and pay for them . "
With some reluctance both Paige and Ralph released Walter . He was back within a few minutes , carrying two extra large size pizza , french fries and garlic bread .
As they sat at the kitchen table enjoying the food , Paige put her third slice of pizza back in the box .
" Can i ask you a serious question Walter ? " A serious look on her face . " If you are staying in America now , will you remain living in the garage ? "
Walter finished the slice of pizza he was eating before he gave her an answer ." I can't since i have been on my own , i can't meet the repayments on the $250,000 owed to the bank and the upkeep on the garage at the same time . When i went to see the bank they gave me two months to remove my things and move out , i have about another six weeks before i need to leave . But up until this afternoon i had already booked a flight back to Ireland next week , just shipping back a few things that were importent to me , mainly memories of you and Ralph . "
By now Ralph had put his food down .
Paige a very sad look on her face . " My stupidity has destroyed your dream and is now forcing you out the home you have lived in for almost ten years . I can only say sorry again . "
Walter looked at her . " All that matters now is you two are back in my life , i managed to build up Scorpion , but it was made even better once you joined with your perspective on the way we should be running it . So i am sure together we can build something up that will be even better . "
" Thank you Walter , you can if you like , no pressure , move in with Ralph and me . I would really like that and i know Ralph would love it . " Paige told him .
Walter a big smile on his face " I would love that , i have already spoken to Ralph , while you were changing , that i might ask Richard for a job , or even start again were i originally started . Ralph however seemed to have even bigger ideas , which would mean you would be an integral part of the new company . If you are interested of course . "
The smile was growing bigger on Paige's face . " You trust me me to work with you again , you never know i could walk out on you again . "
Walter smiled at her again and looked her straight in her eyes . " Then i think i had better get a wedding band on the same finger i have just placed that engagement ring . That should make it more difficult for you to walk out . "
" If that is what you want , i will do what ever you want . Although i would love to wear a proper wedding dress . I can assure you i made a big mistake when i walked out on you , one i will never make again . I also have to admit after my little excusion to full managment of a group of nerds , my finances are almost depleted after putting $10,000 into the business and not receiving any real salary for over a month , i am soon going to be struggerling for money . But i do not want you to pay for all the wedding . "
Walter pulled her into a tight side hug . " I know i said i have to give the garage back to the bank , my personnel account is still very healthy and as nothing to do with Scorpion . But i understand if you would like to wait a little while for a better wedding . The most importent question is , would you like to help me set up a new company ? "
" Before i can answer that , there is one thing i need to do . Paige answered . Which caused Walter to look a little confused .
Paige got her phone out and hit a contact button . " Toby consider this my resignation from Centipede Partners , I QUIT . " She then disconnected the call .
She turned to Walter a big smile on her face . " I would be honoured to help you restart Scorpion . " She leaned over to Walter and planted a kiss on his lips , enjoying not only the kiss but the taste of the pizza that still lingered there .
Before he could answer , Ralph jumped in with . " Can i help as well ? "
Walter smiled " You can , you both can , but it will not be called Scorpion , that cyclone as been broken . "
As Walter said this tears ran down Paige's face and the smile disappeared from Ralph's face .
Paige wiped the tears from her face using the back of her hand , sniffed and turned to Walter . " Please rethink that , Scorpion as been in your life since you were a young boy , can you not be a Phoenix and come back in the flames as another Scorpion . Even if it is only part of your new company's name , maybe something like Scorpion Computer Services , could well serve . "
" Please dad , rethink not using Scorpion again . "
Walter sat there for a few moments going over what both Paige and Ralph had just said .
He put his arms around both Paige and Ralph . " Well i guess i have been out voted by my two new partners . In fact i think we could call this our first general meeting of Scorpion Computer services . "
Everyone began laughing , Paige gave Walter another kiss , before saying . " Motion carried , now lets finish our meal . "
HAPPY'S APPARTMENT
" Who was that on the phone ? " Happy asked Toby .
Toby just sat there for a moment before he answered . " Paige , she just said accept this phone call as my resignation , i quit . She then just disconnected the call . "
" I could have told you that she would do that , once she read the letter from Florence this morning , it was obvious she was unhappy . I knew as soon as she got a chance to speak to Walter he would accept her back . " Happy told Toby .
" Were will that leave us . " A very sad Sly asked , who had been listening to the conversation .
" We can manage perfectly well on our own , we can use a temp agency , for any typing and accounts work if we need help with that sort of thing . " Toby told him .
Sly stayed silent for a few moments , then spoke up again . " I am still going over to speak to Walter tomorrow , if you will still take me Happy ? "
" Of course Sly , i have apologized for myself , which i think he accepted , but i am certain he will never want to work with us again . " Happy told him .
" Well i am still not going over to say sorry to 197 , until he his ready to apologize to me . " Toby told them both .
" You can do as you like as i said i am sure Walter will not want to work with us again . Now it seems Paige as made up with him , i would imagine he will be staying in America and either go work for Richard Eli or he might even be tempted to start up Scorpion again with Paige . Then go after the same sort of coding jobs as us , without all the overhead costs of the original Scorpion he will be able to reduce his prices , to compete with ours . With Paige pitching we won't stand a chance . " Happy told both of them .
Sly looked at both of them , his face full of sadness . " I think there is something you both should know . "
" Spit it out . " Told him in a snarky voice .
Both Toby and Happy shook their heads to say no .
" Did either of you read all the conditions of the last contract we signed when Walter gave us shares in Scorpion , after the ball game ? "
BothToby and Happy shook their heads to say no .
" I Guessed as much , well once we left and decided to start our own company . I decided to go over it all . One condition was obvious if we left Scorpion in any acromonious way we would immdiatly lose all our shares in Scorpion . But there was one clause that could still be implemented by Walter , that is a no competion clause . "
" What the hell does that mean ? " A now angry Happy asked .
Sly pulled back a little from her before answering . " It was a no competion clause . "
"So , you have already said that what the hell are you takking about ? " A very snarky Toby almost shouted at Sly .
" It states we are not allowed to work for or set up a company that is in a similar or same line of business as Scorpion in the State of California for at least five years . " Explained Sly .
" Then why as he not done that yet ? " Happy asked .
Sly looked down at the floor and simply said . " Paige ! "
Happy suddenly realized . " Of course he would want to make sure Paige and Ralph were still able to have money coming in . "
" Do you think he might implement the clause now ? " Toby asked .
Sly just shrugged his shoulders .
Back at the garage .
Once the meal was finished , Ralph went down to the airspeed to do some homework , leaving Walter and Paige alone upstairs .
Once Paige had tided up the kitchen and put the left over pizza in the fridge , she joined Walter on the sofa and cuddled up close to him , as Walter put his arm around her . Paige rested her head on his shoulder .
" Thank you Walter , for welcoming me back into your life , that is the most food i have eaten in the last four weeks and i feel happier than i have since i walked out on you . "
All Walter said was . " You are welcome . "
For the next twenty minutes nothing was said they were both just enjoying the warmth and feel of each other .
Paige was first to speak . " I am so happy just sitting here , but do you think we should maybe talk a little bit more about the business you want to set up . "
" Well i suppose we should , but should we not wait for Ralph , he is a partner , if only at the moment a sleeping one . " Walter replied a large smile on his face .
" I suppose you are right , but how about your living arrangements ? " Paige asked an equally large smile on her face .
" Well i don't want to rush back into the relationship , i know i now have you as my fiancee , i don't want to rush anything and make a stupid mistake again due to my low E.Q. Walter explained .
" Oh Walter , i know i hurt you , i will do all i can to make sure i do my best not to be stupid again . Which is why i suggested earlier we should have some dates , making each one as if it is our first date . II you want to moan about unnecessary bits of green on the plate , i will be willing to accept that . If you want to take me for a romantic evening stroll along the beach and spend part of the time giving me a marine lecture , i will be fine with that . I went to the beach today before i picked Ralph up from school and you know what i actually missed the sound of your voice , i realized it was your way of showing me how much you loved me , because all you were doing was sharing part of your life with me . "
Walter remained silent for a minute . " That is what i missed the most over the past four weeks , our time together , just walking on the beach , not that i have not missed the sex . I think we could start the beach walks as soon as possible , but the sex i think we should leave that until we feel comfortable with each other again . But not to long . " Walter said with a cute smile on his face .
Paige looked at him . " I agree , but sex i cannot wait to long , i may have told you the night i walked out , you had an E.Q. of a sixteen year old boy . When it comes to sex i have never been treated better , even that first real kiss we had by your desk , i can still go into raptures just thing about it . What i told you that night was actually your first experiance of a white lie ."
Walter looked at her his face a little stern , but as began to speak to her the corners of his mouth began to curl up . " Then i guess i also told my first white lie , without reallizing what it was i was saying . Because i felt something i never thought i had ever experianced and at that i never thought i would . However i think our first couple of dates should include Ralph as well . Maybe tomorrow evening we could go for a family meal at Kovelsky's . "
" So thoughtful of you Walter , your E. Q . is certainly not that of a sixteen year old boy , i was certainly wrong about that " Paige told him before she moved so she could plant a kiss on his lips .
As they parted from the kiss , they heard Ralph coming up the stairs to the loft . As Ralph came rushing into the loft , both Paige and Walter smiled .
" Hello sweetie , all your homework done ? " Asked Paige .
" Yes , do you want to check it ? " Ralph asked a big smile on his face .
" I doubt i would even understand it , but maybe your dad could . " Paige told him .
Walter looked between both of them . " I am sure Ralph as gone back to doing his homework correctly , i think we should trust him . " A smiling Walter answered .
Paige a smile on her face turned to Walter and planted a kiss on his cheek . " Mr O'Brian that was a perfect answer . "
They spent the next thirty minutes talking about their new business venture . Paige was very impressed by some of the ideas that Ralph had come up with . Once both of them had explained everything to her , Paige stayed silent for a couple of minutes . She then gave a big smile to both of them .
" I love all the ideas , but i do have one question , were will you run it from ? "
Walter a grin on his face . " Again the practical one . I only thought of it a few hours ago , when you came back into my life , i suppose the first thing i will have to do is rent a storage unit . So i can dismantle all the computer systems in the garage as they will certainly come in useful when the company starts up . I have also got a lot of projects that are all around the garage , which need to be finished some could actually turn out to be worth a lot of money , once finished and i can get patents on them . "
Paige had a look of pride on her face . " You never fail to amaze me , how long have you been working on them and just what are they , seeing as you have never mentioned them before ."
Walter looked a little sheepish . " I have always messsed around with projects , the biggest one being the rocket . But when you were with Tim , i began then as a form of distraction for me . You have seen a few of them , the U-Tube hot dog and lead lined hat , both were really stupid . So i started a lot more , even once Tim left you were still cold towards me , so once everyone had gone home , the garage always seemed so empty i would work well into the night working on things . Trouble was i got bored with what i was doing and move on to another project . When we got together i just put them at the back of my mind . "
Paige had tears running down her cheeks as Walter finished speaking , she turned his face towards her . " Oh Walter i have hurt you so much in the time we have known each other , yet you always have been there for both of us , even though i never realized that .
Ralph sat down next to Walter on the sofa , put an arm around him . " Maybe i could help with some of these projects and we could get them finished . "
Walter turned to him a smile on his face . " I would really like that . But to answer your mom's earlier question , i or should i say we will need to look for a place locally with both a shop area and a fair size workspace out back . But as i have said before the rental of a storage unit needs to be found first . "
Paige smiled at him . " Can i come over tomorrow maybe we can start looking for somewere not to far away from the garage . "
" You will be most welcome , to come back , maybe as soon as you have dropped Ralph off at school . I still have things to sort out and your help would be appreciated . " A smiling Walter said .
" So it will be done . But although i don't want to i need to get Ralph home , it is a school day tomorrow and it is already past his bedtime . " A smiling Paige told him as she planted a kiss on his lips .
" Oh mom can't we stay here tonight ? " Ralph almost pleaded .
" Sorry Ralph but your dad and me have decided that we are going to take things slowly for a little time . But if you like we want to go for a family meal at Kovelsky's tomorrow night . Would you like that ? " Paige explained .
" Ok , i understand and yes i would love to go for a family meal . " Ralph replied .
All three of them got up off the sofa , Paige put her arms around Walter's neck and pulled him towards her and planted a kiss on his lips . Ralph walked out of the room and down the loft stairs .
Paige backed away from Walter . " Thank you again for letting me back into your life , i know i will sleep better tonight than i have since i walked out on you . I will count the hours until i see you again . "
Walter smiled back at her . " I need to thank you for forgivening me and coming back into my life . Drive safely my love and make sure you drive carefully , I do not want to take any chances now i have held you in my arms again . "
Walter and Paige walked out of the loft and down stairs and after one more kiss Paige and Ralph walked out of the garage . Walter stayed at the door until Paige's car was out of sight .
Thirty minutes later Walter received a text . " We are home safe , sleep well my love , your still excited fiancee . "
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Grykon Thank you , not really sure who is more excited about Walter moving in .
Marti Thank you , Walter certainly deserves some happiness espicially after what Florence put him through . . Toby it is a case of wait and see .
Champagne 42 Well everything as not yet come to an end , hope you will keep on enjoying the story .
Pearliegirl Thank you . not an ending just the begining .
Da Toad Yes Happy did seem to be more sensitive in the later stories , until of course she walked out on Walter . I did not want to drag Waige getting back together as i want to involve C.P more in this story . Paige certainly was who pushed Walter to involve Florence more in Scorpin's work , Sly tende to act more like a spotty teenager with a crush on someone , unlike when he got involved with Megan
LouBe96 Well we will have to wait and see just how far the fix it will go ,glad you enjoyed the double proposal , i find it more difficult to find new ways for Walter to propose .
Mariefrance . Merci , j'espere que vous avec apprecie ce chapitre .