On the Flight to London.
Chapter 1

This all started when I decided to dump my boyfriend, Keith, but was too much of a coward to do it. All of this because I couldn't gut up the courage to dump him to his face, let alone in the same country. The last six weeks of my life have been hell. Before I tell you more about my situation, I'll start from the beginning so you can come to your own conclusions about this mess.
Valentines' Day, February 14th, 2002, the day my life came into perspective:
It had been a bad day from the start. I woke up late, burnt my hair with the hair-dryer, spilt coffee on my new blouse, my new expensive blouse, missed the 8:30 train to Central, had the boss threatening to fire me because I was late, again (sigh), and on top of all that an unknown kind of rash had broken out on my neck forcing me to wear a turtle-neck in summer, albeit late summer. And that was just the start of the day.
I had been typing up reports for district management when a huge bunch of red roses, brought in by a personal messenger, arrived. There were so many flowers you couldn't even see the messenger and the sweet, sharp scent of roses engulfed the whole office.
Since my desk faced the clear glass doors, which was the entrance, I got the first glimpse of them. When the messenger stepped into the office, he looked around the room, on seeing me at my desk, he started towards me.
My heart started to beat a little faster. Me being the fool I am, thought they might be from Keith.
Setting the flowers carefully on the desk, the messenger asked softly, "Are you Amelia Hardings?"
Disappointment ripped through me. The welcoming smile I had on my face quivered slightly. Reinforcing the smile, I shook my head. I quietly pointed to a woman who was talking into a headset, unaware she was being observed.
The courier gave me a brilliant smile, then deftly pulled a long stemmed rose out of the whole cluster, handing it to me with a bow, winking when he straightened up, thanking me.
I held the rose and absentmindedly stroked the soft petals, bringing it up to my nose to smell. The office went silent as the messenger continued on his way. Amelia, still talking didn't notice the messenger or the silence.
The messenger cleared his throat loudly until he got her attention. When she looked up, she stared at the bouquet for so long until the messenger said, "Amelia Hardings?"
Swallowing visibly, she nodded. Messenger guy smiled indulgently and presented the bouquet with a flourish, handing her an envelope at the same time.
Ripping open the envelope, Amelia gave a surprised but delighted squeal. Then suddenly another man came in, this time with a big, gift wrapped box which hid his face, and he went in the same direction as the first messenger. Before he reached her desk, he set down the package on the floor, took off the lid and pulled a little velvet box from it. Going down on one knee in front of the desk, guy #2 started to say, "Will you m..." but couldn't finish because Amelia had come around the desk and thrown herself at him, joyously sobbing and repeatedly saying, "yes, yes, yes!"
Although nothing as dramatic happened for the rest of the day, bunches of flowers and floral arrangements kept arriving from then on till the end of the work day. Every time an uniformed messenger entered through those doors, I dreaded it, yet hope filled me every time, only leaving me feeling disappointed.
When five o'clock came around I felt drained and ready to curl up on my couch and have a good cry. The train was crowded as always because of peak hour when everyone was going home. I felt someone pressing up against me, so I shifted away a little, but it seemed the pressure was intentional. When I looked over my shoulder to tell the person off, I saw that a middle aged man in a suit, had fallen asleep on my shoulder. Embarrassed and wondering what to do, I looked around and saw that a couple of people were staring at me, sniggering.
A blush crept up my cheeks causing one of my observers to laugh aloud, which dissolved into a fit of coughing when I glared at him.
When I tried to shrug the man off, he started listing towards the floor so I quickly grabbed him. More people had noticed my antics and were openly enjoying themselves at my expense. I tried giving his shoulder a little shake and he repaid me by whacking me in the face with an elbow.
My hands flew to my battered nose, letting him go. But soon enough he started sinking down to the floor again. Grabbing him with one hand, I looked around helplessly, seeing the laughing faces all around me. At that moment I saw the world as it really was: heartless.
When the train stopped at my station, the man suddenly shook himself awake, much to my relief. But when he looked at me, I was still holding his shoulder, supporting him, he shrugged my hand off disdainfully and moved away.
I sighed, picked up my briefcase and walked off the train. On the station I checked the time, then brought up my wrist to check my own watch only to discover it missing. I ran to the closing train doors, stopping jerkily before the yellow line as the train started to move. The abrupt halt caused one of my shoe's heels to break.
Letting out a slow breath, I tried not to cry, knowing that if one more misfortunate thing happened to me, I would crack for sure.
I arrived at my small but comfortable apartment with out anymore incidents, except for the uncomfortable walk home, barefooted.
As soon as I opened the door, all the tension I didn't even know I had been feeling, flowed out of me, leaving me relaxed and even a bit cheerful. Dropping my briefcase and heels on the floor and closing the door, I made my way over to the lounge room and collapsed on the sofa, curling up, ease sweeping over me at the familiar surroundings.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remembered was the sound of my apartment door being unlocked. Sitting bolt upright, I tried to see the face of the figure who had opened the door, feeling slightly unnerved. Light shone in from the hallway, silhouetting them.
"Makenna?" a mild male voice queried.
"Keith!" I said a bit shrilly, relieved beyond belief.
He entered the room turning on the light. "Makenna darling, you wont believe the day I've had!"
"Keith, what are you doing here?"
He looked at me quizzically. "Why darling, because I wanted to see you," he smiled indulgently, making me want to smash his perfect teeth. "You know what happened today? All the office was caught up in this Valentines' trash. Flowers, chocolates, e-mails, someone even got a singing telegram. Some of the copy girls, and secretaries even sent me a few secret admirer gifts. It was such a laugh! Poor girls have infantile crushes on me. The thing I can't get over is how people can fall for such a commercialized holiday. It's a card manufacturers' dream. At least you and I aren't caught up in such nonsense."
I couldn't look into his eyes as I made agreeing noises, giving a little mocking laugh, not sure if I was mocking myself, or the other girls who'd fallen for him.
"Listen darling, I did have another reason for coming over here. It is rather appropriate, in an artless kind of way." Reaching into his GQ suit pocket, he pulled a black velvet box out. "Will you marry me, darling?" he asked with a charming lopsided grin. He opened the box to reveal a large square-cut solitaire diamond on a gold band, rather plain in my opinion and it didn't even have the advantage of elegance in simplicity. The diamond overtook the whole ring completely, giving it a gaudy and rather glassy look.
I gave him a big (and obviously fake in my opinion) smile, but I didn't have to pretend my surprise. "Keith! I don't know what to say. When did we....how did you....why?" I ended up confusing myself.
He laughed as if it were obvious. "Darling, don't you love me?"
"Yes, of course I do...."
"Well that settles it, you love me and I am very fond of you. We do very well together. We agree on practically everything and we have been together for four years." It was actually nearer to six years but I wasn't going to correct him. "Darling, you'd be a great asset to me, as I would be to you. We'd make a happy marriage. And when then time comes, though not for a long while, think of what beautiful children we'd have. With your black hair, lips and eyebrows and my blue eyes, nose and height. They'd be magnificent, either boys or girls."
The way he talked about marriage made it sound so clinical. But I did love him and maybe he'd even grow to love me in time, especially after we had children.
He took my silence as acceptance. "So now that we've settled it, when would you like to have the wedding?" he didn't wait for an answer. "I was thinking about a spring wedding, but then the weather may be unpredictable. And it is rather close to you and your family's birthdays. Don't you find it annoying that all your birthdays are all exactly ten days apart?"
"Well not really, just comical, since our birthdays come in ascending order also, you know youngest to ol...."
"Yes, well, that's all good but when are we going to have the wedding?" he cut me off again as usual. Usually I didn't mind but for some reason, it was really bugging me today.
I really had no idea why I did it, but I put my fingers to his lips when I saw he was about to talk again, and shook my head. Maybe it was because I decided I wouldn't settle for anything less than a man who loves me. Not even if he was very fond of me.
Keith raised an eyebrow at me and I blushed. Taking my fingers away from his mouth I bit my lip.
"Well?" Keith said expectantly.
"Uh...well, Keith, I'm not sure I want to marry you..." Seeing the look on his face she quickly added, "yet! I'm not sure I want to marry you yet! It has nothing to do with you." It has everything to do with you! "I just think I'm not ready to spend the rest of my life with someone." With you. Ever. "Could you just give me some time," A lifetime, "to put my life into perspective," See how much better my life is without you, "to travel the world," meet hunky exotic guys, "broaden my horizons," Stop going to the same restaurant every Friday night.
He looked at me for a second, then nodded. "Sure, I must admit I would like a little time to myself before I get leg-shackled." If I hadn't been so relieved I would have frowned at him. "How about we give each other two months to ourselves, then we get married. Deal?"
"Deal." Now I had two months in which I had to find a way to break up with him.

"Mum, I'm going to go away for a while, I just wanted to tell you not to worry," I called my parents. I made up my mind what I was going to do and decided I should tell someone.
"Where am I going? Well, mum, I'm not exactly sure, I'm at the airport now, I was just going to check where the next flight was going..."
A sudden tirade exploded from the earpiece. Moving the mobile away from my abused eardrum, I waited for her to run out of breath.
"No mum, I am not insane. I'm just being spontaneous for a change..."
"You say irresponsible, I say spontaneous. Mum...mum! Just listen! Argh! Mu-um!" I sighed resignedly. "Mum, I'm going and you can't stop me. I'm an adult, you can't tell me what to do like a little kid anymore."
I looked up at the flight lists. "Ooh! Yes, could I book a ticket on the 11am flight to England..." a shriek from the phone partially deafened my left ear.
"Business or economy?" the woman at the counter asked.
"Economy. Mum will you shut up for a sec? If you won't, put on Dad. Economy is fine, I don't have to drink champagne or eat caviar to be comfortable....fine mum, I promise I won't eat the fish." Handing over my credit card, I paid for the ticket. "Do you have any information on accommodation?"
"We have a number of brochures at the "flight center" area after you go through customs."
"Thank you," I said to her. "Mum I have to go, I'll call you when I get there. Don't worry Mum, the reality of plane crash is highly unlikely," though under my breath I muttered, "though with my luck I wouldn't say impossible. What? No mum, you must be hearing things, it must have been the noise in the background."
I rang off after leaving assurances ringing in my mother's ears. Heaving the small suitcase on to the conveyer belt, I gave the attendant a smile that was more of a grimace.
"Don't worry honey, at least you know they care." She gave me a sympathetic smile.
"Ha! Well I wish. Instead of caring I get the feeling of overbearing."
The attendant laughed, handing my ticket over the counter. "Have a good flight....and enjoy your spontaneity," she added, her eyes twinkling.
I wish I could, I thought as I gave her a smile and headed for the flight gate.

I looked at my ticket, then at the seat number again. Yep. This was my seat alright. A seat that three, what could be described as adorable, rug rats were crawling all over, all trying to peek out the window. Groaning inwardly, I put on what I hoped was a motherly smile.
"Excuse me, kids," three blond boys, triplets, whirled about to stare at me, all with enormous brown eyes. Innocent eyes. Oh no, I wasn't gonna fall for that! "Uh, boys, where's your mummy or daddy?"
The little faces looked perplexed, teary even.
"Uh, did you want me to call a stewardess?" I asked worried.
"Boys," a light baritone sounded behind her, "your in the wrong seats."
"But...but...these better! We see people on ground. Other has wing in way!"
I couldn't help smiling. Man, they must be a handful.
His tone was exasperated, yet affectionate. "It doesn't matter that yours have the wing in the way, that is not your seat."
I turned around ready to negotiate, only to stop cold. Oh my! Was he one drop, dead gorgeous dad or what!. And he was carrying another adorable boy, slung on his back as well. Man! Why does that saying about all the good ones have to be true? "Either taken, or gay," she murmured to herself unconsciously. And by the looks of things he definitely wasn't gay. Quadruplets! Sheesh! His poor wife.
"Excuse me?"
"Huh?" Great Makenna! Make it sound as if you don't have enough brains to fill that skull of yours!
"Sorry, did you say something to me?" He took a step forward and she realised just how tall he was, 6'4 maybe 6'5. Darn, but she loved tall men. Too bad. His looks were exotic, making her wonder where he came from. Darkly tanned, definitely not from a salon! Black windswept hair (shiver, I love windswept hair, and dark colouring), lean muscular body (drool), and sparkling emerald green eyes that really were a shame his sons hadn't inherited (sigh).
"Um, no sorry, I guess I was talking to myself." My Gosh! Make yourself sound even more pathetic why don't you! An idiot, and crazy! "Listen, I don't mind if one of your sons swap seats with me, but I'm not sure about the other seats though."
He smiled gratefully. "Thanks, you don't have to worry about that though, we've got the rest of the row and the one behind as well, so you don't have to move far, just one seat back," his grin took on a mischievous boyish quality. "Us guys are gonna have you surrounded I'm afraid. By the way, I'm Romeo Rodriguez," he held a hand out to shake, still holding the child on his back securely. "The name's a cliche, I know," he laughed.
Word! His laugh! It was like being in high school again, when the popular guys came up to talk to you, and you got all flustered and lost track of what they were saying because you were imagining a whole different scenario.
"Makenna James," I said taking his hand. His hand was warm, he had long, lean fingers, which were lightly calloused. His large hand seemed to engulf mine.
"Great to meet such a generous person, don't usually see many these days. Boys, what do you say to Miss James for kindly giving up her seat for you?"
"Thank you Miss James!" the foursome chorused, bringing attention to them from the other boarding passengers. I heard murmurs of, "Delightful!", "How cute!", and "Adorable!" from all the passing passengers, and I had to admit, they definitely had a way of bringing a smile to my face.
"Your absolutely welcome!" I said laughingly. "You can call me Mac if you like. Miss James makes me feel old!" I whispered playfully to the boys like it was a big secret.
"Since we're gonna be sitting together this flight I suppose I should introduce you to the guys, huh? The cool dude with the red shirt is Matthew, the shy guy in the blue is Marcus, my amigo in the orange is Maximus, and this fella that's breaking my back is Michael. So in other words it's Matt, Marc, Max and Mick."
"And I'm Mac," I laughed. "Poor Romeo, the only one without a 'm' although that isn't exactly a bad thing, because if you did, people might think we were a travelling circus."
"Call me Rome or Meo or Roe or maybe even Moe, Romeo just seems too..."
I grinned. "Cliched?"
He grinned back. "Yeah. Just like Matt, Marc, Max, Mick, and Mac."
I laughed at him and then I realised that I was flirting! With a married man! Who had four kids! Four kids who were witnessing every second of it! My word, what was coming over me? I don't flirt with married guys!
"Boys you better take your seats now. Mick, you wanna sit next to me or you wanna swap with one or your brothers?" Romeo asked over his shoulder.
"You!" Michael tightened his short arms around Romeo's neck. "Can I have da window? Pwease?" he begged.
"It's up to Mac."
Michael turned his huge chocolate brown eyes on me and I knew I couldn't say no. "Yeah sure, I guess I'll sit on the isle seat then."
Roe grimaced slightly. "Well, the problem with that is whenever one of the kids wants to get up or go to the toilet, I'll have get past you every time. And though these guys are well behaved for little kids, they are still kids, so I'm afraid unless you could put up with me stepping on your toes every time I have to get past, you have to put up with the middle seat."
"Oh well, when your doing something, never do it only half way, I'm sure that applies to acts generosity as well. Middle seat it is."
"I like the way you think." He ginned at me and my heart fluttered in my chest. "Alright, everyone buckled up? No one needs help? No one needs to go to the toilet? Sure? Okay then, settle down until take off and we're in the air, then you can take off your seatbelts."
The boys wriggled around a bit more but eventually settled down. A stewardess came down the isle checking passengers. Stopping, she bent down to softly say, "Sir, would you like colouring books for your children?"
His smile conveyed a desperately grateful father, although there was a glint in his eye telling of his joking nature. "How did you know? Are all flight attendants life savers or is it just you?"
She blushed at the compliment, her eyes darting to me briefly. "I'm sure you and your wife could handle these darlings without any help from a life saving flight attendant." She laughed lightly.
"Oh! Um, he isn't my husband."
She looked quickly at his left hand, my gaze following hers. No ring. No ring! Oh my word, he was single. I quickly regretted my hasty correction.
I looked up and found him watching at me, a funny smile quirked his lips. I felt myself blush.
"What?"
His smile widened. "What?"
"Nothing."
"Ditto."
"Okay." I stifled a laugh.
"Alright."
"Alright." I bit my lip.
"Okay." His laugh made me want to laugh with him.
We heard a discreet cough. "I'll just go get those colouring books for the boys," the flight attendant murmured and walked back down the aisle quickly. But not before I saw a flash of jealousy on her face.
Ha! Sweet victory. Victory over what I was not certain, but it was sweet none the less.
"Now what put that smug smile upon your face?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Smug? Me? Whatever for?" I returned, hoping to sound and look the picture of innocence.
His shout of laughter drew attention from female admirers. He grinned at me. "That's what I'd like to know!"
Mick turned to Romeo, a small frown marring his angel-like face. Putting a chubby finger to his lips, he said, "Shhh, Uncle Womeo! Mama said not to be woud awl da time!"
Roe looked suitably chastened. "I'm sorry Mick. Your mama was right. I promise I'll try to be quieter if Mac promises too." He looked at her, his eyes twinkling.
When I turned back to Mick, his eyes that were adorably serious, were on me waiting for an answer.
"I promise too," I said putting my hand up in a honorary girl guide pledge.
Something suddenly occurred to me. "Uncle Romeo?" I asked, puzzled.
He looked slightly chagrined. "Sorry, I forgot to mention that. They are actually my best friend's boys. I'm taking them to their aunt in England. So many people think they are mine, so I've stopped correcting them. It's a tiring business, telling people they're wrong." A small smile played around his mouth.
I felt a fluttering sensation in the pit of my stomach. The plane hadn't even taken off the ground yet and I was already having to fight my attraction. I didn't know how I was going to survive the whole trip.

~*~*~*~*~ A/N: I know, I know. Really stupid, hey? Oh well, I guess I'll have to post something that's actually good sooner or later. This story is actually based on real life. My sister's life to be exact. I just thought it would make a cool romance. If anyone actually reads this and reviews that they like it, then I actually might be bothered to post some more of it - Peace out!