Something Gained

Chapter One Hundred & Twenty Six

Daniel POV

I spent the whole of dinner talking to Alex but not actually being able to concentrate, it was a lovely dinner, in a lovely place on a secluded private beach in St Tropez, the sun was setting and it was time. She looked absolutely beautiful, I knew what I wanted to do and I knew I wanted to do it, I was scared I would mess it up, but I could tell she knew something was off. I had been off for a few days.

"I'm going to be really soft and sappy now, are you ready" I said to her, I was ready. A feeling come over me and I knew. It was the same feeling that come over me when I went to visit her parents grave on my own, to ask their permission. Alex shuffled around in her chair and adjusted her dress, which she looked absolutely amazing in, it made him smile as she played the joker.

"Right yes, now I'm ready" she responded, I rolled my eyes at her in humour before speaking. I took her hand again and stood her up, as I stood in front of her. I placed a soft small kiss on her forehead.

"Not long ago, I was just an idiot boy who messed about. Never truly knowing if I would find the right person, I almost gave up. Thinking I had sacrificed so much in my life and there wasn't a single girl on this planet who I would be completely and insanely in love with, but also someone who understood the toll my job took on my life, the fact I would be away from home for so much time, I wouldn't be able to be there for them 24/7, and I certainly wouldn't have a normal life. Then one sunny warm day in Bahrain, the first race of the season, my first race for McLaren, you knocked on my door, I gave you a hug which you hated and you bossed us about in your usual style. I knew there was something about you the minute I saw you. Our relationship went deep really quickly. I suppose being in such an environment where you spend practically every single day with someone will do that to you. I knew I had to know you, everything about you. The more I knew the more fell in love" I spoke, she watched me the whole time, smiling, I could see her eyes welling up a little at my words. I didn't want her to cry, but the smile on her face told me they weren't sad tears, so I continued.

"You flipped my whole life around, I wanted to be around you every single second of every single day. Whether it was just to eat crappy food to cheer you up, or go all the way to Australia with me to meet my entire family. You fit in, like the last piece of the jigsaw that was missing and we finally found. I knew you were the one by the way my mum looked at you, the way my dad instantly fell into conversation with you, the way Blake, Michael, everyone sung your praises, the way Issac and Isabella love you, and the way you would gladly sit there for hours playing with them. Alex you're my whole entire world, and I'm so in love with you, your smile, your humour, your laugh, the way you treat people around you, everything about you is absolutely beautiful. And everytime I think I couldn't fall in love with you anymore, that I couldn't adore you anymore. You walk into a room and that's it, I've fallen over again. I went to see your parents when we were last in England, to ask them something. I knew it was the right decision when the sun came through the clouds and shined down on me. I knew this is what I wanted to do for a while, but it become completely concrete when I achieved my absolutely dream this year, and you were the one person I looked for, the one person I wanted to share it with" this was it, this was the time. I gulped, I held onto her hand and bent down so I was kneeling. Never did I think in my life, I would be getting down on one knee. All nerves and worries went out the window, I was suddenly the calmest person in the world. She gasped at me and her free hand flew over her mouth, her eyes wide, I knew her pretty well, and I knew she was surprised, but she didn't hinder, she didn't run away, she didn't stop me.

"Alex Rose Walker, everyday is a blessing with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" I pulled the box from my pocket and opened it up in front of her, the perfect ring for the perfect girl. Tears were rolling down her face, her hand moved from her mouth and she went to speak but no sound came out, she resorted to one simple gesture. She nodded. She nodded her head. I smiled and stood up and her arms flung around my neck.