Meanwhile the next morning outside Marie's hotel room door stood Johnny and Peter with Janet behind him, trying to listen in on the their conversation.
"Do you hear them both in there?" asked Jan.
"Can't tell, all I hear is Marie laughing," said Johnny.
"Then he has to be in there, unless she is laughing by herself," said Pete
"Yea he has to be in there," said Johnny
All three of them smiled in triumph and gave each other a high five. "Come on guys we should give them their privacy" said Janet
"No I want to eves drop a little bit more "said Pete.
Janet hit him on the back of his head lightly, but hard enough that he made a knock sound with his head against the door. Marie and Daryl stopped talking and both looked towards the front door.
"Who do you think it is?" he asked
"I don't know. It could be Johnny knocking; I took his key away from him. He probably just wants to check up on me." She said
"Why did you take it away from him" he asked
"I'll tell you later," said Marie as she remembered Johnny flying through the air coming right at her in the tub.
Marie hesitantly crawled out of bed and grabbed the fluffy white housecoat provided by the hotel, she put on the housecoat and opened the bedroom door. She walked towards the living room door, but stopped herself from opening it. She knew she had heard voices. She looked through the peek hole in the door and saw three heads huddled by the door. She looked behind her and saw Daryl walk out of the bedroom wearing his boxers. She signaled for him to stop moving, she walked away from the door as quietly as she could and said in a higher than regular voice, "I can't believe we did it all night Greg " she said as she winked for Daryl to play along. "Oh yea, I know what you mean" he said smiling.
"Greg?" whispered Pete Janet and Johnny in unison.
"Who knew Scrabble could be so much fun!," said Marie trying not to laugh.
"What!" said Johnny loudly, and receiving a smack in the back of the head from Janet.
Just then Marie opened the door to see all three of them standing there, looking very sheepish. Marie smiled as she said, "Serves you right."
"Alright, but there really isn't a guy named Greg in there, is there?" asked Peter a little scared.
"Does Greg have a friend" joked Johnny.
Just then Daryl appeared behind Marie. His right arm wound her stomach as the other grabbed the door. "Sorry guy's, but where a little bit busy in here at the moment. We'll give you a call later," he said as he shut the door on them.
Marie turned around in his arms and faced him, her arms wound around his neck, "So what should do now?" she asked. "As long as it's with you, I don't care" he said as he leaned in to kiss her again.
On the other side of the door Peter yelled, "WELL IT'S ABOUT GOD DAMMNED TIME" At that Marie and Daryl both smiled, then continued to kiss each other.
Peter and Janet stayed for a couple of days in Calgary and visited with their family and new found friends. They were so happy for Daryl and Marie but they both had engagements to take care of. Janet was needed at the hospital; there was always a shortage of nurses. Peter's new project required him to work long hours but he couldn't be happier. They talked to Daryl and Marie quit frequently on the Internet, and telephone. And even agreed to meet twice a year and spend a couple of weeks together on a trip. A few years later Janet had given birth to twin girls. Their names where Mary and Jane.
Johnny returned to New Orleans and continued with his business by night and went back to school during the day. See he had taken law in school, all he needed to do was pass the bar exam. After three failed attempts, the fourth time he passed the bar and became a practicing lawyer. He sold his business in New Orleans and headed for California to work for a childhood friends family firm. Pete, Jan, and Marie, are among a few of his clients. Johnny had been on again off again with a guy named Chris, but later settled with a tall dark and handsome bartender named David. He has never been happier. Him and David accompany the twice a year trips with Daryl, Marie, Peter and Janet.
Marie and Daryl dated for about a year, but found the long distance a problem. They had decided to stay in Vancouver together for a while and see how things turned out. Six months after moving to Vancouver they tied the knot on a remote beach with family and friends. Sheryl had decided to sell her home in London and follow Daryl to Vancouver. She has said quit frequently that the only difference is that the people are nicer. Daryl's books where flying off of the shelves. And Marie had opened up her own Gallery in downtown Vancouver. They bought a large home on the beachfront and eventually had two children, Ophelia and Drake. As the years progressed Daryl noticed that Marie's paintings had become lighter, the colors she used where brighter and made the viewer feel at peace. Because for the first time in her life, that's the way she felt. Her inner demons had been slain.
On the last page of Marie's sketchbook was a sketch of Daryl's smiling face and underneath the small-uncolored portrait were the words. "You really are my knight in shining Armor"
Fin