⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Darling, I Will Always Love You

May 11, 1962

Donna's POV

"Isn't it pretty?" John balanced his head on his hands, smiling dopily.

I looked out of the window and peered at the water within walking distance of the restaurant we were in. "Yes, it really is," I decided, turning back with grin.

"I decided later in the day might be better because there won't be so many people around, y'know?"

"What time do we have to be back at the train station?" I asked.

He looked down at his watch. "Exactly two hours," he responded.

I nodded, looking down with a flustered smile. I'd had more fun today than I had had in months. I'm sure John could say the same. The thought alone made my head swirl with too many emotions to grasp in one take.

"Well, now," said John. "How about we go on out there, then?"

I smiled at him excitedly. "Let's go, then."

He grinned, standing up.

~~~

Next thing I knew, I was ankle-deep in the water with John running around next to me, his feet splashing up water.

"Donna!" I turned around to face him and he splashed a little water up onto me. I jumped, frightened, and then quickly broke into a smirk.

"You'll pay for that one, Lennon!" I yelled, charging towards him, my arms outstretched. Right before I crashed into him, he somehow managed to turn around and catch me from behind in his strong grip.

"Ha-ha," he laughed. "I win!"

I went limp in his arms, dropping my head forward. "You're a menace," I grumbled. "Can't you let me win something just ooonce?"

"Aww, love, cry on, I'll be your crying shoulder."

"Shove it," I scoffed and he dropped me in a heap on the sand, plopping down next to me.

I flipped from my knees to a sitting position next to him, resting my head on his shoulder and staring out into the sea. We didn't say anything at first, just sat side-by-side, his arm around my waist protectively, just taking in each other's presence comfortably. It was times like this I found myself yearning for: just the two of us, no one else around to interrupt anything or to tease us any.

"Donna?" John said after a while. I sat up and looked at him.

"Yes?" I asked.

He smiled widely and pulled a little box out of his pocket.

"You're always going on about how you never want me to leave, and I just thought, until I can make that official, this could win you over a bit. Maybe now you'll believe me." He laughed, opening the box and revealing a promise ring on the inside. It wasn't very big or fancy, but I didn't care. It was beautiful either way. I smiled at him gratefully, a thousand emotions coursing, in a blur, through my body.

He took my hand and slid the ring into place, placing a long and passionate kiss on my lips. "Do you believe me now?"

I nodded with a laugh. "I always did."

He wrapped me in his arms for a long moment. I felt myself relax for what felt like the first time in forever.

Suddenly, he pulled away, peering at his watch with unmistakable embarrassment.

"We've got thirty minutes to get back." He laughed nervously.

We gathered our things and began to scurry off without another word.