Livy looked into Declan's eyes as he broke the kiss. She looked at the rain dripping off of him and was reminded of a year ago when he had come to save her. It had been raining that night as well, but instead of seeing anger in his eyes as she had then, she saw a tenderness that warmed her soul. Suddenly, she didn't feel the rain or hear it as it pounded on the umbrella that he was holding over both of their heads.

He reached up and tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear, letting his finger trail down her face and chin. "Please don't leave Livy," his voice was low and hoarse as he uttered the words that she wanted more than anything in the world to hear.

"You don't really want me Declan." She could no longer fight the tears as they started to stream down her face. Maybe he didn't notice, maybe he thought they were rain drops.

He reached up and wiped them away.

"I want you more than anything in the world."

"Physically maybe, but not long term, you're only honoring a promise you made to my father, but you don't have to, I'll be alright. I've learned a lot this last year. I'm all grown up now." Livy wasn't yelling and she wasn't angry. She loved the man standing before her and she realized that in loving him she only wanted what was best for him. She didn't want him to be stuck with her when he would rather be with someone else.

"Livy, I want you, body and soul. I want you sleeping beside me every night and waking up next to me every day. I want you beside me as we raise our children, both the ones we have now and the ones that we will make together."

"No, you don't, you want Theodora, I heard you on the phone, and Darlene was right, you won't want me long term. I'm not who you want, just who you got stuck with because of a promise you made to my father."

"Tell me what you heard on the phone."

"You were talking about going away with Theodora and that she needed to save the dates." She couldn't hold back the wobble in her voice.

"Yes, the dates for a meeting that she and Garrett are handling with our investors. We're opening up a new hotel and she is designing it. I'm not taking point on this one. I've decided to take my wife away, on a honeymoon."

"A-a-honeymoon?"

"Yes, do you know how hard it had been for me to keep my hands off of you all of these months?"

"No, I thought you were being noble, that you didn't want to hurt me because you had no intention of keeping me." Livy was confused. "Why did you hang back when we were leaving then? I thought you were calling Theodora because you were so pleased that I was leaving and the two of you could finally be together." Livy looked at him eyes wide with confusion and Declan couldn't help but kiss her up turned lips once more as he remembered what Gabriel had told him.

"Gabriel overheard our conversation and was upset at the idea of your leaving. I told him you weren't going anywhere and he told me not to lie to him; that you told him we don't lie to people we love." He watched her as she blushed. "Did you say that?"

"Yes, she said so softly he could barely hear her over the pouring rain which neither one of them felt or heard. Did you say that about me Livy?"

Livy looked up when she heard his voice break. Declan looked scared, for the first time he looked as if he really cared what her answer might be and it gave her the confidence to speak the truth.

"Yes, Declan, I love you, that's why I have to leave." This time her voice broke on the words.

His response was to kiss her hard and when she tried to pull away he wouldn't let her go.

"Don't you want to hear how the rest of my conversation with Gabriel went?"

Livy bit her lip and nodded, upset that Gabriel had overhead their conversation.

"I told him that you weren't leaving-"

"Yes, I am-"

"I told him," Declan continued as if she hadn't spoken, "that I don't let people I love go that easily."

Livy froze at his words, was he saying that he loved her?

"I love you Livy, I have since the moment I brought you home. You're so beautiful and honest. You make me see the good in the world again and that's something I haven't seen in a very long time, if ever." He took a deep shaky breath. "If you want to go I won't stop you because no matter what, I want you too be happy. But I know that you are the only person in this world who will make me happy."

"Theo-"

"She is with Andie. She has been for a very long time. Even when we were dating."

"Andie?"

"Yes, she was shocked when I contacted her after your arrival. She and Andie had just announced their relationship, and she was convinced that I wouldn't want anything to do with her."

"Why?"

"Because everyone knew that our relationship was a sham, we were only ever good friends that helped each other out at social events on occasion."

"Really?"

"Really, Livy. I have never told a woman that I love her, I have never wanted to marry a woman before you, but I did want to marry you. Why do you think I delayed the marriage so long?"

"To make it look real for the court." That was the reason he had given her.

"In part, but it was primarily because I didn't want only two years with you, and the longer I waited the more likely it was that you would decide to stay."

"Declan?"

"I'm sixteen years older than you Livy, I don't want you to feel trapped or that you're missing out on life, that's why I pushed you out into the world with school and a possible job. I wanted you to have a life of your own. I wanted you to live not just survive."

"If I left you Declan, all I would be doing is surviving."

"Then don't leave, stay."

"But-"

"No more buts Livy. I love you. I don't want to live without you."

"Forever?"

"Forever, Livy. I find that just the nearness of you makes me better, it makes me stronger."

The rain had stopped and only a gentle dripping could be heard.

Livy looked at the man who had won her heart. She hadn't expected to like him much less love him but she did.

"I love you Declan, I don't want to go to school or have a career, I mean I know that I can if I want and you'll support that, but all I want is to be your wife and a mother to our children. It's as if I found my calling and I have never been as happy as I have been the last few months, but I thought you didn't want me. I kept waiting for you to come to me and you never did."

"I want to romance you Livy, I want to give you everything you deserve and more. So, we'll take our trip, go on our honeymoon and I will show you just how much I want you. Waiting for you has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do."

Livy reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Just the two of them, it sounded like heaven. "When can we go?"

"Tonight, if you want." He grinned and she could hear laughter in his voice and his eyes crinkled as he smiled with joy. She was the one who brought that smile to his face, her and only her.

She grinned in return. "After we let Gabriel know that everything's alright."

"Yes." He agreed.

Livy's heart felt so full that she thought it would burst. "How could a man like you love a screw-up like me?"

"For the record, I find that I have become fond of digging you out of the holes that you dig for yourself. The real question is how a beautiful sweet angel like you could love a moody stubborn brute like me."

"How could I not, when you put it like that."

He pulled her close and landed a toe curling kiss on her lips as the clouds parted and the sun streamed out from behind the clouds but neither one of them cared. Because rain or shine they were together, forever.

The End

****Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one. I know it took me awhile to find Livy and Declan's happily ever after, but I'm glad I did!