Colour Me Red

Chapter 34: The Final Chapter

The Final Chapter

5 months later

"What are you doing here?" Stephanie's voice sounded from behind me.

"Hey!" I stood from my chair with a smile on my face to embrace her. "I totally forgot that you work here! I'm meeting someone for lunch."

Stephanie gave me a cheeky smile.

"Ooh, you got a hot date?" She winked at me and I laughed.

"Something like that," I eluded.

I saw my 'hot date' arrive over Stephanie's shoulder and told her I would catch up with her later.

Marc smiled at me warmly and pulled out the chair opposite me.

"Hey Ellie, how have you been?" Marc asked.

We spent the first five minutes making small talk, but as usual our conversation quickly turned to the dark-haired assassin that had captured my heart.

"So...how is he?" I asked tentatively.

"He started working at the bakery he applied to. He even has to wear one of those funny hats," Marc chuckled.

"He's given up his...original profession. I think he realised that it was turning him into someone he wasn't proud of. Especially after what happened with you," Marc winced at the memory.

"I'm ready to see him again Marc. Will you take me to him?"

Mark was visibly shocked by my question.

"Ar-are you sure? We both thought it would take a lot longer for you to get over what happened. And Dune is willing to wait."

"I know," I replied. "But I'm not – not anymore. I need to see him."

Fifteen minutes later I was standing outside the bakery Dune worked at, tugging at the hemline of my dress with nerves.

I slowly reached for the door handle as Marc gave me a reassuring smile.

"I'll give you two a minute."

I nodded at Marc and took a deep breath before opening the door. I was greeted by an array of smells, both sweet and savoury as expected. What I did not expect to see was Dune Airaldi wearing a baker's uniform and hat, delicately arranging shortbread bunnies in the counter.

"Welcome to Nancy's, what can I get-" his sentence cut off abruptly as soon as he looked up from behind the glass and met my gaze.

"Ellie?" his voice filled with disbelief.

"Hi." I suddenly felt as if all the confidence I'd built up over the years had vanished. "Have you got a minute?"

"Sure," he replied, dusting flour off his apron. He stepped outside with me and in the bright sunlight I could get a proper look at him. His hair was longer, and his eyes seemed darker, if that were even possible – I felt as if I would fall into them.

He was watching me carefully, observing the changes that had taken place over the last 5 months. We had both changed.

"You cut your hair," he said, gently tugging on a single strand.

I was surprised he'd noticed considering I'd only had a couple of inches cut off.

"I need to tell you something." I felt my voice waver and I internally kicked myself for allowing him to have such a powerful effect on me.

He looked sad as soon as the words left my mouth.

"Marc told me you were planning to leave the country."

I nodded in confirmation.

"I thought a fresh start would be good for me," I said. "I've been working my ass of the past few months and saved up enough money to make a start. In Barcelona. But that's not what I wanted to tell you." I paused as he stepped closer to me to move out of the way of a passer-by and my breath caught in my throat.

"I'm ready to forgive you."

Dune was frozen like a statue and I tried to envisage what was going through his mind.

"I want you to come with me, to Spain. Will you come with me? We can start again." My voice was level and I felt relieved to say the words I had been hanging onto for so long.

Dune didn't say a word and I feared that he may have moved on since I last saw him.

I started to panic. Had I just made a huge fool of myself? What if he was seeing somebody else? What if- my trail of thoughts was abruptly broken as Dune pressed his lips against mine with such fever that my knees buckled, and if it wasn't for his supporting arm around my waist I would have fallen to my knees.

We broke apart with laboured breathing and I raised one hand to brush the hair from his eyes.

"Is that a yes?" I asked, breathlessly.

"Always."

~ Fin ~

A/N: So here it is! The final chapter of Colour Me Red. I hope you all enjoyed the story and thank you to everyone for all your support, it honestly means the world to me <3