Time after time

Today is the day...

Noah POV

Today is the day that all my efforts of the last 6 years have come to fruition. I finally handed in my final exam at law school. I can hardly believe that I finally made it. Even though I still have to pass my bar exam this fall before I can officially become a lawyer, I am proud of what I have accomplished.

I calmed down on my walk from school to the apartment. I was especially stressed during the last week studying like crazy for these final exams. As I entered the apartment, I was greeted by an excited Shelly waiting for me with a bottle of champagne.
- Congratulations Noah! Your Master of Laws is complete!
- Thanks Shelly! I could never have done it without you!" I said to her, taking her in my arms and putting my nose in her hair.
- But yes! You are one of the smartest people I know!" she said to me with one of her most beautiful smiles.
- Thank you for the vote of confidence, my Shelly, but I preferred to live this wonderful adventure with you!" I said to her, placing a kiss on her lips.
- And celebrate with me?" she said to me, shrugging her shoulders and showing me the bottle of champagne.
- And celebrate with you too! Do you need help opening the bottle?" I said to her, laughing at my wife's spontaneity.
- But treat yourself, future Master Flynn!" she said to me, handing me the bottle of champagne.

The weather was nice outside and we were able to have dinner outside on the patio. Elle had ordered sushi that went perfectly with the bottle of champagne.
- So how do you feel now that law school is over?" Elle asked me once we sat down to our feast.
- It's like I don't realize it yet!" I told her as I took a sip of champagne. "It'll probably be more concrete for me after graduation. I still have the bar exam to take. And I seem to have a hard time thinking beyond that point." I told her honestly.

I saw a hint of embarrassment pass through Shelly's eyes before she said :
- I know we still have things to accomplish like your bar exam and finishing my master's degree in a year but..." she said as she looked at her hands, hesitant to continue.
- What's on your mind, Shelly? I don't want you to be afraid to tell me what you want." I told her as I took her hand. " I told you when we left Los Angeles after our wedding that your plans would become our plans too.
- Since Lee and Rachel finished their studies and returned to California, I thought that maybe we could think about moving back to Los Angeles too." She said to me, shyly raising her eyes.
- I admit that it would be something to consider. I would also be happy to go back to California and have warm weather all year round again...
- ...And to be able to ride your motorcycle all year round!" Elle told me with a triumphant tone at the idea of having scored a point.
- Oh!! You're upping the ante, Mrs. Flynn!" I told her with a big smile. "Agreed! We'll start taking steps to move to Los Angeles after you graduate." I told her, raising my glass.

The rest of the evening was spent on plans for the future. Elle told me she was starting to look at her final internship in LA, maybe at UCLA pediatric care. For my part, the law firm I am currently interning for has an office in LA. A transfer probably won't be that hard to come by. We also talked about where we would like to live. Lee and Rachel have an apartment in Manhattan Beach. For my part, I would like to be not too close but also not too far from them. We talked about Whittier, Passadena, and West Hollywood. The possibilities were endless.

At the end of the evening, after drinking the last drop of the bottle of wine, Elle was slightly tipsy and seemed to want to laugh at every one of my jokes. The evening was delightful outside, we sat in the lounge chair on the terrace, Elle sitting between my legs with her head against my chest. We watched the sun set over the horizon while I gently stroked Elle's bare arms with my hands until she started to shiver.
- Do you need me to get a blanket from the house?" I asked her.
- I'll go! It'll be easier for me to get up than for you." She said as she stood up.