Protective

Them

Yeremy

"You never told me where the land you bought was," she said, looking over at me from the passenger seat of my car.

She was wearing the earrings I got her. They looked nice on her but I thought everything looked nice on her.

"It's not so far from your father's estate but it's a very large amount of land so technically it really depends where you are on it," I explained, "The house is being built in the middle."

Lana shook her head, "I still can't believe you bought so much. What are you even going to do with all of that?"

I shrugged, "To tell you the truth I just felt like the money was burning through my pocket at the time."

I glanced over at her before returning my eyes back to the road, "Is it too much? You can tell me if it is."

"I don't know," she breathed, "It's like in my head, we've only just started. You're eighteen and I'm about to be soon. We're so young and already we have two houses and you're talking about marriage."

"I'm sorry," I said, "I don't mean to overwhelm you."

"No," she put a hand on my knee, "That's just the thing. I think these things but I don't feel them. I know we're too young to talk about these things but it feels right. It feels like we've been doing this forever instead of just starting."

"Still," I smiled, "I think we should slow things down. I want to appreciate the beginning with you. I don't want to rush through anything."

She smiled back, "There are things we need to know about each other still. Like?" she pressed a finger to her lips, "What's your favorite color?"

"Oh," I shrugged, "Purple, maybe."

"Mine is blue," she said, "Dogs or cats?"

"Dogs," I said, "You?"

"Both."

"Kids?" I asked.

"As in do I want them?" she raised an eyebrow.

I nodded.

"I think I do," she said, "I wasn't so sure before but looking at you," she smiled, "We absolutely need to make more of you."

If I had a mirror in front of me I'd tell you that I was blushing. I didn't even think I was the type before, but being with her made me experience all sorts of new things.

I laughed even despite the fact that I knew she was serious.

"What about you?" she asked with a smile, clearly pleased with herself.

"I do want them," I started, "I know it sounds selfish but I want a family. Not to make up for the one I didn't have but, instead to actually experience one."

"I know I have you and your father and brother but—

"You don't have to explain, Yeremy," she cut me off, "I understand you. I want you to have that too. We'll make it together."

"How many?"

She shrugged, "Two or three maybe."

That's what I was thinking, too.

I didn't know if it was because we had just hadn't started to be sick of each other and we were still feeling the fuzziness of our new relationship but something felt different between us.

At least for me.

Maybe it was because I didn't have to wear that mask she could see right through anymore.

"We're here," I said, stopping the car right in front of the construction site that was about to be our house in a few months.

"Yeremy," she breathed, "It's huge."

I grabbed her hand, helping her out of my car, "This is the house? I'll probably lose you in it."

I laughed, walking her over to the front of it, "It's going to have a few wings, a few library's, an office for each of us, ten bedroom, fifteen bathrooms—

"With all of that we might as well have twenty kids," she laughed.

I kissed her cheek, "The one in Russia is smaller."

"I don't know if I can trust your opinion of small," she smiled, leaning against me, "Will it have ten bedrooms, too?"

"Nope," I shook my head, "Only five."

She was right. I did go a bit overboard when I bought these things but what did that matter. I'd buy double if that's what it would have cost to win her over.

"I know I said it already, Lana, but I love you," I wrapped my arms around her, "I once told you that I couldn't be who you wanted me to be but that's not true. I can do it all and I will. I'll be exactly who you need me to be until the day I die."

Lana looked at me blankly, "You know I never know what to say when you tell me things like that."

I smiled, I knew that. I have always known that. She wasn't the best with feelings. So when she spilled her heart out to me in Moscow I was surprised.

How it must've hurt when I lied to her then.

She put her hand on the side of my face, "I love you, too."

"You don't have to be anybody else other than the person you are right now," she said, "I'm already in love with that one."

"That wasn't that bad," I laughed, "I think you're getting better."

"Oh, shut up," she said, slapping my shoulder, "It's not my fault, you know."

"Of course not," I said, kissing the hand she slapped me with.

We fell into a comfortable silence as I held her in my arms. I loved the way she fit in them—as if she was the puzzle piece I had been missing all my life.

How I went so long without my other half is something I didn't understand at all.

The way she made me feel was a way I don't think I could live without. I couldn't live without her smile, her laugh, her happiness, her sadness, her anger. I wanted to live with all of it for the rest of my life.

"We can get married after I turn twenty two," she announced, "I don't suppose I should be marrying anyone if I can't even legally drink."

I nodded, "Five years. I can wait five years."

"I had to wait a few months for you to change your mind, you know."

"Please," I winced, "Don't remind me."

She laughed, "I mean it was horrible when it happened but in hindsight it's kind of funny, don't you think?"

"You have a strange sense of humor," I said.

"Maybe," she shrugged, taking one last look at the house, our house.

"Can we go home now?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll drop you off—

"No, not my house," she looked up at me, "Take me to yours."

- - End of Chapter - -