Lab Partner

Epilogue

Five years ago.

"Aren't you a little bit nervous?" Cindy was fixing my hair and putting small hair pins that had blue flowers on them.

I looked at myself in the vanity, the mirror facing back at me was showing the perfection of my make-up and the curls in my hair that were pinned back with the hair pins that Cindy had just put on my hair, "Not one bit. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be."

I stood up and faced Cindy, "Oh my gosh. You look beautiful."

This white dress that was on me was the first choice I had picked when I entered the bridal store down the street, "Thank you." I had no tears. I was ready for this.

I walked down the aisle as I looked at Declan's face; he was standing there in his tuxedo that dawned his handsome side. Tears were running down my face, I was evidently happy.

He stood next to me to greet me, "Nice seeing you here today in this lovely morning."

I laughed, "You too."

The pastor that was giving the marriage ceremony spoke as everyone in the room was silent, waiting for our replies.

"I do, as long as this beautiful woman next to me agrees to stay by my side for as long as I live."

I smiled at Declan's response as tears were still pouring down my face. Get it together Ariel, I don't want to ruin Cindy's make-up. "I do!" I hugged Declan hard, almost leaning against him. "I promise to stay by your side as long as I live. I love you."

"And I love you."

Present.

"Stop." Declan was licking and kissing my neck as we were ruffling in bed, "You're gonna make me want to stay in bed when I clearly have to get up and get breakfast already."

"So stay then."

"Mmhmm, when you have somewhere to be also mister, don't you have that important meeting today?"

"Ugh, yes, don't remind me." Declan stopped his procrastinating and stood up to stretch, "Koyang from China is coming today. We're going to be representing a big author for the year."

"Wow, that is big news. I'm surprised you haven't told me about it."

"I wanted to surprise you." He reached over and bent down on the bed to kiss me on the lips, "I'm gonna take a quick shower okay?"

"I will start on that breakfast." I finally got out of bed and put on my robe and stepped inside the kitchen.

I took the eggs from the refrigerator, "Morning sweetie." Elizabeth sat down on the bar and placed her sleepyhead on the counter, "Want some breakfast?"

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school today", I looked at her messy hair that was definitely going to need a little bit of TLC.

"I know Elizabeth, but we all have jobs to do and yours is to go to school okay?"

"But mommy..."

I placed three plates on the table and orange juice in three cups, "Honey, your five-year-old daughter doesn't want to go to school today. Please explain why it's important to go."

I glanced at Declan who was in his suit already and sat down to eat his pancakes, eggs, and bacon, "Elizabeth, if you don't want to go to school, then you can stay here with mommy."

"Declan!" I quickly shot him a glare, "You are seriously going to get in trouble."

"No, you'll be the one getting in trouble tonight." He winked at me and drank some of his orange juice. "Sweetie, you need to go to school. Don't you want to be smart?"

Elizabeth tossed her eggs around, "Yeah..."

"Well then come over here, give me a kissy on the cheek, and promise you'll go to school until you get a bachelors degree?"

She went over to Declan's chair and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "What's a bach-e-lerrrs degrii?" I giggled at the way she pronounced it, she was way too cute to get mad at.

"You'll find out in about seventeen years, now go to your room and get ready for school."

"You always have a way with words." We both stood and I started to pick up the plates, "Too bad that's not going to get you off my naughty list."

He smacked my butt and continued to get his briefcase at the kitchen counter, "Well, I don't mind that at all."

"See you at work."

"Love you."

"Love you too, bye!"

The great thing about being married to Declan was our beautiful daughter that came almost immediately after our wedding.  The honeymoon was pretty memorable. I went to go check up on Elizabeth who had miraculously already dressed herself, all I needed to do was fix her hair.

"Honey, you look so cute in your uniform, now lets fix that hair."

I parked on my parking spot at H & O Publishing; Declan and I had decided to work together; recently I had taken a month off, but today was my first day back. "Morning Mrs. Hart."

It was always so weird hearing that last name, but I loved it because I felt connected to Declan, "Morning!"

My life was great, but I still had some big news to tell Declan, I was just waiting for the right moment. I went to my office and sat down on my chair, "Everything went awesome! We got the Koyang account."

"Great!" I kissed and hugged Declan, "I'm pregnant."

Declan stood back and looked at me, "What?"

"I'm pregnant..." I looked down, maybe this isn't what he wanted?

"Are you serious?" He picked me up and was twirling me around in excitment, "What are we having?"

"I have a feeling it's a boy."

"A boy!" Declan picked me up again and kissed me deeply, "This is amazing news."

"I was worried you weren't going to be happy."

"We need to celebrate with family and friends tonight, I'll set it up."

Declan left the office to make calls, "I love you Declan."

I guess he must've heard me, because he came back inside my office, "I love you too, Ariel."