FicWad

"Do you need me to stay?" Her big green eyes shined up at me as her inked arms wrapped around my being. I wanted her to stay but I needed time to myself, to think. She'd driven me to the bank; well, across the street from the bank, to see if they'd release the hostages. Release Gerard; my fiancé as of that morning. We sat there incognito in her white Mazda for a good hour. We could hardly hear the negotiation and I didn't have the heart to listen to the news on the radio, in fear of hearing the worst. We were asked to leave and she didn't hesitate to pull off.

Right then, I didn't have the strongest grip on reality. I knew I should have said yes, but all I could muster was to shake my head and sob some more. I couldn't help but think of the unfortunate turnout to all of this. It was almost as if I was preparing myself to hear the absolute worst. Kim heaves a long sigh and holds my forearms away from her.

"If you don't want me to stay, at least call me if you hear anything," She gave me a long hug, cradling my head on her shoulder. "He loves you, Mia. And for that, he wouldn't give up that easily. " I nod my head against her. We say our goodbyes and she starts down the stairs. I shut the door and almost have to remind myself that I'm in my apartment. I didn't know what to do; I wanted to turn on the television and watch in agony as they released the hostages one-by-one or if they didn't…I needed to stop. My stomach started to burn and flip at the thought. My anxiety level couldn't handle much more as my verbal skills were already failing.

Without even realizing it, my feet made there way to our bedroom, my body gave way. Shaking, screams that shook the wall released from my body. I was kneeling on our bed, gripping our sheets up with tear-stained hands. I could feel my lungs expand and collapse on repeat. This may have been dangerous. It felt like I was hyperventilating and I was home alone. I close my eyes, taking a couple of deep breaths, regaining respiratory stability. I collapse on the bed. My right thigh felt something hard in between my jeans and the bed. My phone.

I had unlocked it, already seeing at least fifteen missed calls. I knew most of them had to be from my dad. I was right; ten of them were from my dad, the five of them were from his parents. My stomach buckled again. I wanted to return all of those calls but my body wouldn't let me. What would I say to his parents?

'Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Way, your oldest son is being held hostage at the job I got him. There's always Mikey?' I was almost sweating at this point.

I shut my eyes and thought of this morning. My hands still gripping the sheets, a small smile grows on my face.
*]
[*'I can't see myself living here, living with, living for anyone but you.'

I exhaled. I was finally calming down. I think I was passing out, in all actuality. I was slightly okay with that, but then I started to think of waking up and not feeling him next to me, not hearing him breathe softly while his hand rested on my hip.

I couldn't keep putting myself through this and I wasn't about to start pacing around our apartment like a mad woman. I was driving myself crazy and wishing I'd asked Kim to stay, after all. I couldn't listen to music because every song would remind me of him. I didn't want to take a hot bath fearing that I might cry myself to exhaustion and drown. I needed to get in a good place. I wanted to project a positive outcome into existence. I needed to carry on the routine of everyday.


Trying to think of something I would normally do If I got off earlier than he did, I slowly got up from the bed. My stomach was still bubbly and upset from all of the tension so I moved slowly. My feet made their way out of the bedroom and found themselves in the kitchen. I started filling a pan up with water and going through the cupboards to retrieve a couple things. Consciously putting the pan on and drizzling olive oil in it; I was making inner because I knew, sooner or later he was going to walk through the front door. And he was going to be hungry.


Who would have thought a hostage situation would push me to finish a three-course meal? I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself. Salad, Spaghetti and red velvet mini-cupcakes with homemade cream cheese icing decorated my counters and my stove top. I had to step back and fully assess the situation. realizing that I'd never been this stressed.

It was almost as if I had gained dog-like hearing when a car had pulled up to our driveway. Dropping the oven mitts, I raced to the living room window. It had been a squad car. My eyes that had finally dried an hour-and-a-half after I started my short-lived chef career, were now streaming with newly established tears as I rushed down to the stairs and headed to the front door.

I stood on the stoop sobbing into the air. It got windy as the sun started to set so my hair was going in every direction as I tried to peak through the backseat of the vehicle. It was all in slow motion. Like the ending of a short, yet suspenseful, film. The officer in the passenger side never minded me sobbing like a lost child on the steps and went to open the door to the back seat. And out he emerged. I ran down the stairs pushing the officer out of the way and latched my entire body onto him.

He'd been unscathed,thankfully. He was a little pale, slightly tense, and somewhat non-responsive. I bury my head into his chest, thanking the forces that be for his safe return. He began to sniffle, resting his chin on my head. He finally wrapped his arms around me. Our cries could probably be heard from the next block over. Well, at least mine could. I hadn't really heard him cry. But I was sure that if they knew us, they'd understand. If they were ever put in that position, they'd have no choice but to react as we did.

The officer just stood there, trying not to look at us and convey awkwardness. He was an older man who looked like an average New York City cop; handle bar mustache, kinda plump, blue uniform, what have you? He'd pull out a business card and slowly moved near Gerard who wasn't planning on letting me go anytime soon.

"This is the contact information of the detective investigating the heist. You can also get the number to a good shrink from him, if you need one," He slipped the card in between his fingers. "Remember, don't leave town unless it's a dire emergency. If we call, we're going to need you to take all of our calls or return them as soon as possible, Mr. Way." He nods. "Mrs. Way," He nods at me. I beam like a fucking idiot, of course! With that, he got in his car and drove away.

"You hungry?" My words muffled by the argyle of his vest.

"Yeah," He sniffles and laughs lightly.


"Wow," He stood in the doorway of our kitchen and gaped at everything I'd prepared.

"I-uh-thought you'd be hungry when you came home," It was going to take a little to get back to normalcy. "You usually are." I give weakly.

"This is," Something was off, he wasn't giving me eye contact. "It's perfect," His eyes snapped back to mine. He was traumatized and more than likely, under immense stress. "Thank you. Thank you so much." He engulfed me in the tightest of embraces and I'd began crying again. I thought I'd honestly be fresh out of tears at that point. I swear I could fill a reservoir!

"I'm so glad you're home," I whisper against his chest. He lifts my chin up, blotting away my tears with his hands. His eyes were dry, not even any redness was left.

"You know I wouldn't give up that easily, right?" I nod. He brings my face closer to his with hand under my chin. His lips take a hold of my top lip and I follow suit with his bottom. I tasted his smile against my lips as his hands pressed everywhere down my body. They were getting ready to post themselves down my pants until I halted him…not that I ever wanted to, but he hadn't called his parents and told them he'd been home. I back away.

"Baby," I breathe.

"Yes," He almost starts on that spot under my chin, to shut me up. No. No. No.

"You should call your parents," He nods, retreating to his bag in the living room. I step back needing the edge of the counter to support myself. I wondered if it would have been wrong for me to inquire exactly what happened. I decided to wait; that is, until I seen something slip from his messenger bag. I walked up behind him without a sound, he'd put it back in by that time. "What was that?" He turned to me, startled, with childlike eyes. His mouth was open but no words came out. He straightened up and I almost knew that something wasn't way off.

"I guess there are somethings I should let you know," Now I was completely confused. This whole time I was afraid for him, crying for him, damn near stopped breathing for the man. Everything not being as they seemed was just what I needed. "Well, first off, they'd given the promotion to someone else,"

"What? You had that in the bag, they told you the position was yours. How could they have taken it away the day after?" Shock couldn't explain it. I was furious. He'd been working his ass off for that Supervisor position and they'd finally given it to him; to know it got taken away was heartbreaking.

"They'd hired a temp from an agency that they could contract and pay less an hour," I had to cover my mouth. Those fuckers deserved to get robbed. "That's only the half of it," What happened next, you just had to be there to see. What he'd retrieved from his bag nearly made me faint. It definitely weakened my knees a whole lot. He breathed, waving it around.

"Where the fuck did you get that from? Were you in a rap video, or something?" I couldn't believe what was happening! I was feeling everything from puzzled-to pissed-to absolutely, unequivocally livid. And he laughs. I had a feeling that all of the stress I'd just been through wasn't worth it and that there had been a reason why he'd come home without a scratch to bear.

"You remember Frank from last night, right?" Ugh. I hate when you change the subject.

"Kim's Frank? Umm…Duh, I only had to hear about him all day today. And don't you go changing the subject, either. Where the fuck did you get that?" At this point I was nearly screaming at him. He'd hushed me and pulled my arm into the bedroom. I couldn't take my eyes off of it though. Who would have known just looking at it in large quantities would be so hypnotic.

"Well, he's not just a sound guy and he says 'you're welcome'," He had placed it in my open hand. I couldn't believe how light it felt. As soon as I had it in my hands, it felt like all of my problems melted away. Flipping through I counted it, as if it already had a purpose. Then I remember it was stolen. I threw it back into his hands.

"How is this, in any way, okay?" I awaited a response.

"You know, it wasn't exactly a hostage situation," I couldn't even think straight anymore. I'd never been this way with him, ever. And four years is a long time without ever being mad at someone. I think what made me the most frantic is that he was most confident that he would perusal me into thinking that this was practical. And then it happened,

"Leave," His eyes bugged out in bewilderment. He still remained standing there; his head crooked, his eyebrows cocked. "Now, Gerard. Go!" I pointed to the door, almost to tears again. It was as if everything we had worked for in this relationship meant absolutely nothing to him anymore. A completely different man proposed to me earlier; where was the man that made love to me earlier and made me feel that we were worth the struggle? Was he locked somewhere inside of this smug, piece of shit, part-time criminal accomplice? Maybe he was locked inside of that bank vault? All I knew was that he hadn't been standing in front of me. Right then, I wished he'd given me a ring so I could throw it back at his dumb ass!

"You want me to leave," He began to close in on me. That fucking smirk. You're strong, Mia, you can overcome it. I stood there, with my hands crossed over my chest. I wasn't going to look him in the eyes. "Where do you want me to go, huh?" His middle finger made a warm trail down my right arm. I had to pretend it wasn't making my spine tingle and my toes curl a little.

"Anywhere but here is fine," I pushed past him "Move," He takes a firm grasp of my arm with his right hand a ripped the band open with his left. Spilling all of it over the our spread and pillows. Something inside of me submitted, not in fear, but in lust. He still wore that smirk.

I lie back relaxed and just as confident as he. Making angels out of it by expanding my arms out wide and closing them in again. A giggle rolled inside of our throats and before I knew it, my pants were ripped down to my ankles. I swear he knew exactly what he was doing. Part of me hated that just a touch could bewitch me. That part of me crept out quietly as he left soft kisses up my thigh. His hands made their way inside of my lace. I was undone. There was nothing that he couldn't do now. This man could have brought home a full-grown elephant, all he had to do was this and I'd be naming the damned mammoth! It all starts with that one kiss, every time. It's not that I was an easy target, and I dared never to wonder if he would get his way with other women like this. But this is just how he reasoned with me. It seems kind of fucked up but this is how our relationship worked. Never have I submitted to something this unreasonable but I guess I didn't give him time to explain the entire thing.

His head is next to mine but his hands still remain. He invites his chin in the crook of my neck. My eyes close. His fingers maneuver. I lose everything in his touch. He whispers,

"I wouldn't ever imagine doing anything to hurt you," He goes from that spot under my chin. The bastard. I'm close. "I just need you to trust me," He goes deep, I gasp. "Do you trust me," I was really close. My throat was tight and my brain was fuzzy. I could barely comprehend what language he'd been speaking.

"Yeah," I growled. I was almost there. My left hand greeted his.

"Everything I said earlier, I meant. There is only us," His words got me closer. My right hand grabs a handful of his hair. I'm losing all control. I'm a trembling, pleading mess. Biting my lip, I regain poise. "And there's nothing I wouldn't do to make you happy,"

"You know, maybe you should try this with your boss," He gives a loud cackle as I move his head lower, and lower, and lower…

I swear what he gave me decimated stars and helped the planets align. He could make my body tense and relax all in one swift move. It was a cacophony of electricity from his lips to mine, his fingertips to my bare skin.

My head contorted seeing the face next to mine; it wasn't Gerard's and it was me looking back at myself. There were many faces, come to think about it. All over our bed.

The noble faces of dead presidents stared back at me.



"So let me get this straight," I sat at our kitchenette wearing just his shirt, finishing a plate of spaghetti, ready to move onto the batch of red velvets I whipped up. "The bank collects illegal interest, and you know this how?"

"They automatically collect twenty-percent interest on every credited Savings account," He slowly works at the paper around the cupcake. "Ten-percent goes where it should and the other ten-percent goes without being accounted for," He sits across from me, bare-chest digging into his cupcake.

"In retrospect, my best friends new boyfriend steals invisible money," He nods. "And my fiancee believes this is a good idea?"

"Mia, what is there left to do?" I sat in deep thought. Something about the thrill of doing something illegal just thrilled me. "Every time my foot is in the door, it gets slammed shut in my face," He saunters over, giving me a kiss. "I'm not saying I want to do this for the rest of our lives but something's gotta give," Maybe it was hereditary. Being that my biological mother had been doing 25 to life on Rikers Island since I was barely three months-old. The irony of it all got me caught up in thought. What if I ended up like her? What if we ended up like them? I couldn't put Gerard through the anguish Dad faced. And if he found love somewhere else, I'd be broken. I tried not to rest my mind on it too much.

"Does Kim know," He zoomed from the kitchen back to the table.

"No, no, no," He softly takes my hand. "Whatever you do, you cannot, by any means, let her find out,"

"But she's--"

"I know she's your best friend but can she honestly keep secrets," I didn't have to think about that. Kim couldn't keep her mouth shut if her life depended on it. "Promise," I sigh in difficulty.

"I promise," He leads me off into our bedroom. I take my slippers off and peal my side of the covers back. We are enveloped in darkness, comfortably settled and warmed next to each other. "Gee,"

"Yeah," He cuddles closer.

"What does this mean, for us?"

"I can't say for certain," My head lie on his shoulder. "But no matter the circumstance, I'll do absolutely anything for you,"

"And I'll never leave your side, Clyde," I smile up at him. I wasn't too sure what I was getting myself into, but I had this odd urgency of confidence and security. I went to sleep with not much on my mind that night.




That Saturday was Liv's baby shower. I got ready in the mirror as Gerard packed Kim's car full of pink and mellow yellow items. A lot of which were polka dot. I spent time in the mirror twirling around in my newly purchased sundress. He'd warned me about spending frivolously, so I didn't go all out but I got a few nice pick-me-ups. This mint chiffon sundress had been one. The collar tipped in gold accented the jewelry I wore. My hair precisely curled hung down my shoulders. I finally knew what it felt like to have no worries. Dare I quote a nineties Disney film but, Hakuna Matata.

I grabbed two large gift bags that were filled with anagram onsies and bibs which varied in colors. Baby Gracie was going to be the fiercest in the Maternity Unit. I couldn't wait to see her rock her soft-bottomed Hello Kitty Vans and all of the bows, skirts and dresses we'd bought her. I was also anticipating the shock and awe on Dad and Liv's face when they see how we made out. It felt almost euphoric giving back to the people who had given me everything.


"You ready," Gerard appeared in the door way.

"Yep," My black wedges click out of the room. Wrapping his right arm around my hip, he leans in for a kiss.

"You look gorgeous, babe," He muses. He kept it casual; a fitting flannel, dark blue denim and a pair of pastel yellow Vans tennis shoes.

"You don't look too bad, yourself," She honks the horn, I roll my eyes.

We make it down to the car to see the half of her head pinned with purple and black flowers. Face done up with rosy cheeks and a thick coat of black eyeliner. Her bangs were poised asymmetrically on her forehead. The car was full as Kim pulled off in a haste. It was difficult to be around her all day and lie to her about what happened. I felt the worst about keeping secrets from her about her own boyfriend. Gerard had to remind me from time-to-time that it wasn't for meant for me to tell her. We hadn't even told my parents about the proposal. The last time I spoke to Dad was the day after the heist; he scolded me about not getting back to him that night and how they were worried sick. But what would I have said?
/]
[/'Everything's just fine, Daddy. Gee lost his promotion and decided to help Kim's boyfriend rob a bank. Not to worry, it's money the bank illegally collected,'

That wouldn't have been exactly ideal. I did talk to Gerard about getting Dad's permission to make things official. He kissed me on the forehead and left the room with a coy 'of course'.


We arrived in a timely twenty minutes to pastel balloons covering the house and 'It's A Girl' on Mylar in silver and pink.With three girls and Aiden, I honestly didn't think it was a huge surprise on what Liv was having. Working our way passed the balloon trail, we met the cherry red front door. This had been the home I grew up in. It was almost routine for me to just turn the doorknob and walk in but this wasn't my home anymore. Gerard rang the doorbell. Dad had fixed it to the tune of 'Close To You' by the Carpenters. That had been the song Liv walked down the aisle to. The door quickly opens and Dad greets us with a warm smile. His hairline had been receding, his eyebrows slightly bushy but the smile never left his face.

"Daddy!" I nearly dropped everything in my hands and wrapped both of my arms around his neck. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, I seen the twins descend down the stairs.

"Hey, sweetheart," He returns the kiss as he moves on to greet Gerard and Kim. The twins run to us. Aiden in a navy argyle vest with dress pants to match. His trimmed dark hair swept neatly over his hazel eyes, Aria in a white sundress with scarlet and navy anchors all over it. They shared the same facial features, eyes and thick, dark, wavy hair.

"Mia!" They greeted me with open arms.

"I miss you guys," I give each a kiss on the cheek. I had to miss Aiden's game and Aria's recital do to unforeseen circumstances that week, but I knew how to make up for it. "Are you excited to have a new little sister?" They nod in unison.

"When she gets old enough, she can play with my dolls and I'll teach her perfect poise," She stood on her tiptoes imitating a ballet pose. Aiden rolls his eyes and greets Gerard.

"You guys remember Kim, right?" Aria's face lit up. Kim embodied everything she wanted to be. She was girly, she liked makeup, and she knew how to do hair and paint nails. For as long as I knew her, she made it her mission to make Aria as much of a girly-girl as she possibly could. Aiden took more to Gerard in his artsy, yet secure sense of self.

"Where's Liv?" Aria takes my hand.

"Upstairs. C'mon," She drags me up the stairs as I look back to Gerard who was in a deep conversation with Dad. He definitely wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Her red Mary Janes clicked up the large wooden staircase to my parent's bedroom. Liv had been sitting in front of her vanity with Nicole on her lap. Brushing and forming her long chestnut curls. Nicole watches in awe as she works in precision. We stand in the doorway just smiling and waiting for them to take notice. I place a soft knock on the door. Nicole turns her head, hops off her lap and leaps onto me. Her curls were scented of strawberries as they hung from a ribbon placed proudly at the crown of her head. She looked most like Dad whereas the twins favored Liv.


"I miss you so much," Her tiny voice whispers. She had been three but she was thirteen in her head. I kissed her on the cheek and withdrew her from my arms to look at her. She was getting so much older right before our eyes. I missed her being infantile and being able to hold her all day and sing to her when she fussed. But now she was a big sister and it was her turn to reciprocate that love.

"You're getting so big, Nicki!" I had to embrace her once more. I remember the first time I put her to sleep, the first time I fed her a bottle and even the first time she spit-up on me. I couldn't wait until she had those exact memories of her new little sister.

"Is Gee here?" Her eyes widened with excitement. Gerard had been the older brother-once-removed. He wasn't blood, exactly but he matched my love for them as a big brother.

"Yep, he's downstairs with Daddy," Aria takes her hand as they hop down the stairs. I take a deep breath and watch the lady of the hour sat fancy in her vanity chair.

"You look breathtaking!" She lifts herself off of her chair to give me a huge hug. She was my mother. We didn't have to be blood related to feel the way we did about each other. Since I was two years-old, she'd treat me as if I were her own. Every night, she made sure I was fed, bathed, clothed, and rested all the way up until I left for college. She wasn't the reason I didn't have a relationship with my biological mother but she made sure I didn't feel devoid of that motherly love. She was everything I strived to be in a woman; as a best friend, a wife and as a mother. Though, we had our rough patches here and there, but there was nothing that could atrophy the admiration that I had for her. I wanted to make Gerard as happy as she made Dad. I wanted to be able to have that unconditional maternal love that she showed me was possible. I wanted to give my children that secure feeling that she gave me when I leaped into her arms.

Her honey eyes were misty and her full face always held that overjoyed expression. Her bump had separated us mid-hug but it still had so much warmth behind it.

"You look, stunning," She extended my arm, twirling me. "Especially after the week you had," Her soft, plump hands graced my cheeks as a long awaited sigh left my throat. There had been so much I needed to tell her. She was one of the most important people in my life and to be keeping something from her didn't exactly make me feel good. No amount of money would change that.

"Yes, the week I had," I shook my head as those thoughts rushed into the recesses of my brain.

"He's alive, Mia," Never taking her hands off of my cheeks, she angles my face so we're eye to eye. I could feel my eyes water. "I know exactly what it feels like to think he might not come home. Hell, three months into dating your father, I had that feeling everyday," She sounded a lot like the voice inside of my head that calmed me down from time-to-time. "That's not going to be the first time that you're going to have the absolute shit scared out of you but you learn to live with it, because you love him," I nodded as I could feel a tear cascading down my nose. So bad, did I want to just release and tell her everything that happened and that he really wasn't being held captive. But none of that mattered, because everything she'd said to me, it was like she'd already known what happened.

"Yeah," I sniffed. "I guess," She blotted my tears with her thumb.

"Now, now. You're much too pretty to be crying," She led me to her vanity chair. "Least you're not pregnant," She shrugged. I couldn't help but giggle. "I tried telling your father that this is the last one but he keeps hinting how he wants another boy," She reapplies my eyeliner. "So, I'm getting him a puppy after Gracie's born. That's a good idea, right?" She takes her attention off of my face and starts to play in my hair. I am the most relaxed I've been all week. "What do you think?"

"That's a great idea," She nods with soft giggles. Pulling my hair up into a high ponytail, we lock eyes in the mirror.

"How did Daddy propose to you?" She pauses in her tracks. A nostalgic smile places itself upon her face.

"We were up one night, after you'd gone to bed and he put that Carpenters record on. We sat there, shooting the breeze and he put his Grandmother's ring on my finger," She shrugged again, tying a satin ivory around my thick hair. "Let's face it, babe, your dad's not the most romantic person…ever." She smoothes my edges up.

"Gerard told me he wanted to marry me," Her hands had taken a firm grip on my shoulders. Her eyes widened in excitement.

"What? When? How, dammit!" I couldn't help but giggle.

"He'd made me breakfast at 5AM and we'd just been talking about everything and he told me,"

"Told you what?"

"He told me he wanted to marry me,"

"Oh my!" She squealed.

"Ssshh! Please, I haven't told Daddy yet," Her smile didn't wain, it just held a lot of wisdom.

"Okay, fine! But he needs to know," I looked down.

"I know," She takes my chin with her long, manicured fingers.

"He won't be able to wait to walk you down the aisle," Her voice remained excited but now it was lowered.

"Hey, honey, guests are starting to arrive," Dad came to the doorway, completely oblivious to our moment. Liv and I just give each other the look and I escort her out.



Time passes and she's opened all of her gifts, we've had cake and I've had a few Mimosas myself. I loved watching their eyes shine opening countless outfits, bottles and playpens. I loved watching Dad's eyes get glassy while he rubbed her belly. I often thought of Gerard and I in their shoes some day. It was amazing seeing them almost going on twenty years and still having the same excitement for their fourth child as if it were their first. It was so inspiring. Of course I wanted to be that couple but more than that, I wanted to have that love that dared never falter. I wanted to be his picket sense, and I wanted him to be mine.

After everyone who hadn't been immediate family and Kim left, we sat at dinner. Dinner was prepared by Gerard's mother, Donna, who threw the Baby Shower together. Both of his parents and Mikey had joined us. We lost ourselves in senseless chatter as we devoured baked Ziti by the bowl. Being that all I had all day was cake and h'orsderves, a complete meal was nice. Gerard sat next to me with his hand in mine. His leg had been slightly trembling under the table. I hadn't thought anything of it, really. He did that when he was deep in thought or when his nerves got the best of him. If I would have inquired about it, he would have told me that everything was fine.

He was currently engrossed in the conversation Dad had brought up about me as a baby. And how he taught me how to tie his ties and pin his badge on him. I blushed.

"Is that dessert?" Kim's eyes became glued to chocolate mouse cake in martini glasses. It honestly looked so good I hadn't even heard anything Dad had said further.

"Yes," Donna said proudly as she passed a martini glass over Gerard and onto the table in front of him. She winks, makes her way back around the table and I'm the last to be served. I didn't hesitate to grab my spoon and destroy this decadent dessert. Before the tip of my spoon could crack the chilled dark chocolate, Gerard gives my hand a firm grip catching my attention.

"What," In his eyes I saw urgency and sincerity. His body was turned fully toward me on his seat as he lowered himself down to kneel on the dining room floor. My eyes widened as I swiftly turn to Liv and Dad who sat next to each other with gleaming faces. He held my hand out to him as he began to speak.

"I know the first time was unofficial and not as planned but I meant every word of it. Mia, I can't see myself spending the rest of my life with anyone else," Tears begin to flow freely from his eyes and I can't help but follow through. Our families were witnessing this as well as my best friend who'd been hyperventilating next to me. "I wouldn't imagine hurting you, mistreating you or displeasing you. And now that I have the permission of the man who fell in love with you first, I want you to know that more than anything, I want to spend every waking moment of my life with you," He pulls his dessert off of the table fiddling the spoon through the whipped cream. Out pops a silver band. He wipes the dessert debris off of the ring and positions it to go on my ring finger. "Mia, will you marry me?" An agonizing silence whipped through the room as I looked down at the ring. I wasn't observing the specs of it but the inscription on the inside. I took it out of his hands, twirling it around,

'Without You I've Got Nothing To Lose'

This summed up everything we were. We weren't perfect, and we were much too broke to be cliche, but what we had couldn't be duplicated. I couldn't find someone else that could do what Gerard has done for me in the past. I couldn't find someone that would make me feel the way he made me feel. I knew, for him to find someone that did for him the things I did, he would literally have to clone me. This meant more than just a marriage proposal, it was the end of our search; we'd both found the person that completed each of us There was nothing or no one left to find.

"Say yes!" Shaking me out of my train of thought was Ki'm hand on my shoulder wildly shaking me, along with Nicole's voice ringing.

"Yes," I answered proudly. With tears cascading down my face and my makeup ruined for the second time that day, I was the happiest girl in the entire world.