cupid's arrow » bill anderson | mamma mia

twenty

"I still don't get why we're here." Bill huffed, leaning back in his seat. I'd dragged him to the nearest medical place I could find in the small Grecian town we'd docked in.

"Because it might get infected, Bill, and then we're in much worse trouble." I spoke sternly. I put my hand on his and squeezed it, causing him to have an adorable little smile. Only seconds later, however, it turned mischievous. He slid his hand out from under mine and put it on my bare leg, squeezing it a little.

"How about it?" He winked, leaning in to kiss me.

"You're such a flirt." I teased, grinning. His lips lightly brushed mine but were prevented by going any further,

"Anderson!"

I pulled away and stood, Bill's scowl appearing. "Come on, then." I spoke. He huffed and put an arm around my waist as compensation for the lack of a kiss.

We followed the man who'd called Bill's name and were brought to a secluded room, both of us prompted to take a seat opposite the man's desk. He smiled at us both and took his seat. He was a bald man in his late fifties with glasses, the black thick rims unmissable.

The room was painted a light blue with a window at the opposite end to the door we had just entered and a hospital bed just under the aforementioned window, which let in a considerable amount of light. There was a painting above the bed and pictures, presumably of family members, dotted around the wall.

"Is the problem the cut on your cheek?" He asked. He had a thick Greek voice and his English was impeccable.  Bill nodded to confirm. "It looks like it'll need stitches."

I heard Bill sigh, causing me to elbow him in the abdomen. He stifled a small yelp and the man eyed us, stifling his own smile. I smiled at him kindly and nodded.

"It would be great if you could stitch him up, doctor. Bill here has been somewhat reluctant to come." I informed him.

"Well, Mrs Anderson, we'll have him stitched up in no time." He responded, grinning. I felt my cheeks go scarlet, blushing immediately. I was ready to correct him but Bill did some of his own nudging, preventing me from making the correction.

Once the  had explained everything, he left us alone his office to collect the necessary equipment. I turned to Bill and began to talk,

"Why won't you let me correct him?" I asked. Bill chuckled, though his cheeks went pink from the question.

"No reason."

"You wouldn't have nudged me that hard if there was no reason. Tell me!"

"I just like it when you're referred to as Mrs. Anderson." Bill shrugged, clearly embarrassed. My cheeks mirrored the scarlet of his.

"Sop." I giggled, placing a light, gentle kiss on his uncut cheek. "My sop."

"Now and always." He smiled at me warmly. His words, for the time being, had silenced any previous fear I'd had of him forgetting me — though I knew they'd returned eventually. Even Bill didn't have the power to silence my negative thoughts forever, no matter how much I wanted him to.

"I didn't think you were the type of man to get married." I admitted, looking away.

"Why?" I heard him ask in a concerned tone. I chuckled and looked back, holding his gaze.

"I guess I've always seen you as this wild, adventurous sailor who'll never settle. Marriage is settlement, Bill. Settling for one girl.. I don't know. You just don't seem like you're that."

"Haven't I already settled?" Bill spoke as if we were bound together eternally. "I've asked you come to Sweden, to meet my parents, and you know I have not asked anyone else that, ever. Marriage is just a legal formality."

"Wild card." I replied, acknowledging him. I, without thinking, placed a hand on his cheek as I always did. He flinched and I removed it immediately, grimacing. "Oops."

"Forgot your handiwork?" He smirked.

I knew, by that point, Bill would never let me forget this day, for good or bad.

The doctor, thankfully, managed to patch Bill up seamlessly. The stitches would gradually fall out themselves and he'd be sorted, though there was no word on whether he'd be scarred physically from this incident. We'd have to wait and see.

I had to admit that Bill suited the stitched-up look. He looked hot as hell and he knew it, winking at me every so often as we made our way back to the boat. I'd been tasked with keeping the wound clean, a bottle of medicinal disinfectant sitting in my purse and ready for use. I'd bought some cotton pads to use, though I knew actually using them on Bill would be a chore in itself. He was like a child when he didn't want to things and I'd have to chase him around the boat to even get near him with a bottle of disinfectant.

"Thank you for coming today." I spoke, sitting on the bed. I was watching him cook. He was an excellent chef and we both knew if I even tried, I'd burn the boat down. We didn't want to risk that eventuality, it was too dramatic.

"It's not like I had a choice." He chuckled to himself, pottering about from counter to counter.

"Bill," I responded, smiling. "You totally didn't."

"See!" He exclaimed, walking over to me. He put his hands on my shoulders and knelt down, kissing my forehead gently.

"Did you mind that much?"

"If it's for you, I could never mind." He spoke softly. "Mrs. Anderson."

"I'm too young to be married." I scoffed, scowling at him. "And you said it was just a legal formality."

"I know, I know." He acknowledged his earlier words.

"Has your view changed?" I questioned, eager to know more on the topic. His expression was indecipherable and it bemused me, only made more curious as to the thoughts that were swirling around in his head.

"I wouldn't mind so much if we did." It was Bill who avoided eye contact this time, looking at my sunburnt hands and fiddling with the tips of my fingers like they were delicate paper that could so easily tear.

"If we married?" I was taken aback by this revelation. "Bill, what are you saying?"

"Would you?"

"Would I what?"

"Marry me."

I was not hesitant in my answer. I knew what I wanted. I had found all that I had ever wished for in Bill. We both had flaws and we loved each other's flaws because we loved each other for who they were and without those flaws, they wouldn't be themselves.

"Yes!"

His face lit up upon hearing my answer. I threw my arms around his neck and he pulled me up into a bearhug, hugging me tightly.

"We could do it this week." He whispered. I could tell ideas were floating around in his brain. "Tomorrow."

"Does this count as eloping?" I chuckled.

"Who knows?" He shrugged.  "Do you want to? Or do you want to do it at home, the big charade and the big white dress."

"Bill, I'd marry you no matter where we were or who attended. It doesn't matter, none of that does. All that matters is that it's you and me, together."

"Sop." He teased, repeating my words from earlier in the day. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"Getting married?"

"I never thought I'd settle with a wife and all that but.. well, it's for you, Nancy. I know how much this means to you and I want you to be happy."

"But are you happy, Bill?" I questioned. I didn't want him to become unhappy by trying to make me happy.

"I'm just happy to be with you, no matter what happens, Nancy."

His words only made me love him more, something I hadn't thought possible. I was filled with such love I thought I'd explode.

"Bill bloody Anderson, I am so in love with you that I can't put it into words."

We're getting friggin' hitched in Greece. Spontaneous is becoming my middle name.