“I wasn’t kidding, Carly. I know I probably shocked you silent earlier, but I’m going to marry you. As soon as I possibly can. I can’t wait any longer. I’ve wanted to be with you from that first night we spent together over two years ago. The hardest thing I’ve ever done was walk away from you that night. That night was life altering for me. I wasn’t the same after it. That was the night I fell hopelessly in love with you. That was the night we created a miracle. We created our daughter. And I want to create more just like her. I want everything with you because you are everything to me. Do you want that, too?”
“More than anything,” I choke out over the lump in my throat.
“Good, because I wasn’t letting you go anyway. You’re stuck with me now. Forever.”
“Forever.”
I snuggle in closer and let my eyelids flutter closed. This is heaven, right here. Wrapped up in his arms with his warm breath fanning out across the top of my head. Nothing will ever compare to the way I feel with him, the way he makes me feel inside.
I’m finally home.
Epilogue – Happily F’ing Ever After
Blake
Today is a big day. I’ve been out of the hospital a little over two weeks now, crashing with Carly at her apartment. She couldn’t get rid of me if she tried, and falling asleep with her every night sure beats the hell out of alone in my brother’s guest room. Carly had nursed me back to health as much as she could those first few days, even when all I wanted to do was sleep. It took me just over a week to convince her that I was well enough to submit to the nurse and patient fantasy that I had. And with her playing the part of nursemaid, she fulfilled every aspect of the fantasy to perfection.
Carly is driving to our appointment with the realtor. When we got back to her place after being discharged, I told her that I was buying us a house. I want the sandy backyard and plenty of rooms to fill with a growing family. I want roots and a home. I want that for Carly and Natalia.
Together, we scoured through dozens of listings online. This place, we both fell in love with instantly. I didn’t make any other appointments. I don’t need to. I can feel it in my bones. This is the place for us.
I haven’t brought up getting married anymore since leaving the hospital, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a plan up my sleeve. I want to catch her completely off-guard when I get down on one knee and ask her to marry me. I’ve been in cahoots with Luke this past week. Carly stayed home that first week to care for me, and even though I didn’t really need it, I enjoyed the hell out of her being there and doting on my every need, so I didn’t bitch.
Luke took a week’s vacation following his mandatory sabbatical from the agency. Whenever a big case comes to an end, we’re required to take downtime to recharge and relax. Luke spent his with me mostly, and helped me plot out this weekend, driving my wounded ass all over Vegas to make all of the necessary preparations. Of course, in true Luke fashion, he hasn’t let me forget all that he’s done for me these past few days. I’m sure I’ll be hearing about it for years to come. I just hope that someday, someone knocks him on his ass like Carly did to me. I can’t wait to return all the shit he’s been dishing out lately.
Carly is driving my Camaro for the time being. She drove one of her boss’s cars for a while after hers was stolen, but hated being a burden to Reid, even if he has more cars than a small town. We intend to car shop to replace hers, but figure for the time being, since I’m not able to drive mine, she can use it to get around. Plus, seeing her drive my old muscle car is fucking hot. Every time she’s behind the wheel, I can picture her climbing over and straddling me like she did that night we never made it up to the apartment.
I adjust my too-tight pants as we get closer to our destination. The subdivision we’re looking at is not too far from her work, and while I’d love for Carly just to quit and stay home with our impending family, I know she’s a worker and wants to contribute to our income anyway she can. My salary as an eight-year veteran of the FBI is enough that we could get by on a single income, if necessary, but I know that’s not what she wants. And I’m not going to fight her on it. For now.
I’ve been on sabbatical from work since I was shot. I started therapy this past week to keep my muscles loose and to aid in the healing process. Those first few days were fucking hell. I ached at night in ways I didn’t know were possible. It took some serious painkillers to get me relaxed enough to fall asleep, but I’m slowly weaning myself off them. The last thing I want is to become dependent on drugs.