Life Will Out

Chapter 32: When You Finally Find Forever

Thursday, February 13

They had made it to New York, Link had a penthouse in the middle of Times Square. It was late at night, Amelia was asleep and the lights from the city shined on her face. She was smiling in her sleep. Link stood in the window staring out into the city, it was busy and bustling.

He thought of every moment with Amelia, the stupid fight over children, the moment he made her his girlfriend, when she met his family. She didn't want the money, the gifts, the parties, she wanted him and all he was. She wanted his love and the endless laughter, she wanted the stupid arguments and tears, she wanted to grow old with him.

He stood there thinking back on all his life was, how he had vowed to himself he would make it out the El Royale, how he would become something, how he would find the love his childhood was deprived of. He thought of Amelia and how she filled that void in his heart. He searched the world for things that could be the home for his heart, through that he learned it wasn't a place- it was a person, Amelia was that person. He had never slept in the same bed with her because he was scared, scared of the memories it would bring up.

She loved him but he didn't want to let her love him. But being around her, he felt at peace. It was a strange feeling but he liked it. He asked Kate what that meant, she told him.

"That's the feeling of when you finally found forever Atty." Forever. That had a nice ring to it, he could see himself spending the rest of his life with Amelia, he wanted the white wedding, the honeymoon, the children maybe, the anniversaries, the growing old together. He wanted it all. He wanted to let Amelia love him, he wanted that home for his heart forever.

Breaking down his walls of defense and safety nets, Link took of his shirt. He had his pajamas bottoms on and he made his way to where Amelia was sleeping. This was being vulnerable and letting her love him. He carefully pulled the covers on the other side of the bed down, and he laid down. He carefully wrapped his arms around Amelia. So as her hand landed right on his chest. She stayed sound asleep with her head on his shoulder.

It made him scared and he tensed up. He took deep breaths and then that's when it happened. This love and warm feeling invaded his heart when he felt a very light kiss on his collarbone. He looked down and saw those damn blue eyes shining back at him. They had tears in them and she barely made out.

"You let me touch you Link." Amelia's eyes were full of tears, her hand was on his chest, on those cigar burn scars but he wasn't pushing her hand off. He pulled her closer and kissed her head.

"Only for you Amelia. You're my forever." He whispered. Her eyes fluttered with sleep and she smiled in her sleep once again. Forever. She liked the sound of that. He did too.

"I'm gonna marry you one day." He whispered, knowing she had given into sleep, but he didn't care. He meant it, he was going to marry her.