You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 25

The next day Dean took Chrissy to the doctor. He wanted to respect her privacy, but she asked that he sit with her during her appointment.

He held her hand as the doctor examined her. Finally, the doctor spoke, "I would still go easy, but you can start getting back to normal life. Slowly, resume normal activities and see how you feel. If it hurts to pick up five pounds of sugar, then don't be trying to move furniture, make sense?"

"Yes," Chrissy replied, "We are going to take trip to visit some family. Do you think I'll be alright on the flight?"

"Yes, absolutely. I think a trip will be good for you after all that you been through."

"Thanks, Doc," Dean smiled.

The next day, Dean, Chrissy, Jamie, Craig, Claudia, Gail, and Deana boarded a flight to see Dean's parents. When they landed, the rented two cars which Dean and Craig drove to Guy's and Angela's home.

When the door to the house opened, the smell of Pasta Fagioli flooded out, "Chrissy!" Angela smiled, hugging her, "It's been too long!"

Jamie and the Martin girls came running up the walk while Craig and Dean unloaded the car.

Finally, everyone was in the house enjoying bowls of Angela's Pasta Fagioli with crisp baked bread.

Later that evening, Angela and Chrissy sat together after everyone else had gone to bed. Angela looked tired, but Chrissy has the feeling she wanted to talk.

"Christina," Angela said seriously, "You know I'm sick. I need you to promise me that you'll look after my Dino and my grandbabies, especially Betty's babies."

"Of course," Chrissy replied.

Angela grabbed her hand, "Dino loves you. I hope he realizes it and acts on it before it's too late."

"It'll never be too late. It's Dean or no one for me now."

Angela gave her a smile, "Thank you for coming out here. It means a lot."

"Thanks for having us. The doctor said a trip would be good for me," Chrissy sighed.

"I'm sorry about your little girl. Things like that just aren't fair. I wish I could take the pain in your heart away."

Chrissy let out a little sob, "She was beautiful, Angela. I wish I could've brought her here to see you."

Angela hugged Chrissy, "She'll be the first one I look for when I get to heaven."

Chrissy kissed Angela on the cheek, "I love you."

"I love you too, darling. I'm very tired. Why don't we head to bed?"

Chrissy nodded and helped Angela off of the couch. After Angela had gone to her room, Chrissy tiptoed to Dean's room and opened the door. He was sitting upright in the bed flipping through a Western magazine with a pair of reading glasses on the end of his nose. "Are we really that old that we need readers?" she chuckled.

Dean smiled and patted the spot next to him on the bed. Chrissy crawled in next to him, and Dean wrapped his arm around her. It had become so easy so quickly for them to show affection toward each other.

"Your Mama asked me to look after you and her grandbabies, especially Betty's babies. She thinks that we haven't realized we're meant for each other."

"What did you tell her?"

"I promise I would be there for you and the kids. I also said that it's you or no one for me now. I'm getting into Liz Taylor territory now with how many times I've been married."

"Your first husband sounded like a real ass. Why'd you marry him?"

"We were high school sweethearts. It was dumb puppy love. Our feelings changed when we had to actually be grown ups."

"What about Jack? Would you've married him if it wasn't for Jamie?"

"Out of all of them, I think Jack and I would've  been happy. I think we would've raised Jamie and had a happy little life. Fate had other plans."

"And Frank?"

"Frank was... I don't know. He was the dangerous choice. I guess I thought I could tame him into a family man. You're asking a lot of questions. What about you, Mr. Martin?"

"Me? Hmm. Well, Betty was all for love. I adored that girl. Same as you, we were just kids ourselves and life got too tough for her. She started drinking and disappearing on me. A man can't live like that."

"What about Jeanne?"

"I loved her too. She was a perfect match for me on paper. In reality, we're opposites. I don't know..." he trailed off.

Chrissy was about to speak when Dean's warm voice spoke again, "You, on the other hand, I can't explain why or how, but I've always been able to tell you everything. I've never had that in a person before. I thought that just meant we were good pallies, but I love you, Chrissy. Always have, always will."

"Oh Dino, I love you too. I'm glad we're finally here. There were so many times that I wished things had worked out differently, but I would go through all the heartache and pain again to be right here with you."

Dino began kissing Chrissy passionately. The heat in their bodies began to rise. Dino looked at Chrissy as if to ask permission to go further. Chrissy nodded. Dino said quietly, "I don't want to hurt you, Honey. You sure?"

Chrissy nodded again.

The next morning, Chrissy woke in Dino's bed, wrapped up in his arms. "Shit, shit, shit!" Chrissy muttered.

"What?" Dino asked groggily.

"Dino, we fell asleep in here after we..." a blush filled Chrissy's cheeks.

"So? It's early. The kids aren't up yet."

"But your mother and father!"

"Chrissy honey, if you're worried about them realizing we aren't virgins anymore, I think that illusion was spoiled when we arrived with five children in tow," Dean chuckled. His morning voice was even lower than his normal deep voice. The laugh and the voice sent chills up Chrissy's spine.

Chrissy lightly smacked his shoulder, "Dean! Think! I don't want them to know that we did it in their house!"

"You're pretty when you're angry," he laughed and brushed a loose curl out of her face.

She let out a little laugh. Why was it that all of a sudden she felt so carefree and relaxed, "I'm going to kick your ass!"

"Oh please do."

"Dean! I'm serious!" she laughed.

"You don't sound serious," he replied as he began kissing her neck and collarbone.

"Oh no, you don't. Let me sneak out of here without your Mama seeing."

"Fine, fine. Ruin all my fun," Dean muttered.

Chrissy went to the door, and Dean grabbed her by the torso, turning her so she was facing him.

"In all seriousness, last night was one of the best nights of my life. I love you, Chrissy."

Chrissy buried her face in Dino's bare chest, "I love you, Dino."

Dean let out a sigh, and then released Chrissy. He peaked out the door and signaled that the coast was clear.

Chrissy crept to the other guest room and flopped down on her bed. A moment later there was knock at the door and the door opened, "Smooth move, jackass," Dean quipped, "Dropped your brazier in the hallway after all that." Soon enough, Chrissy's undergarment came flying through the room.

Chrissy stuck her tongue out at Dean which he did in response.

This is what I've been chasing all of my life. Chrissy thought. This is what true love is."