Chapter 33

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Sara hummed as she checked on the cinnamon rolls in the oven. Yep, they were almost done…

"Those smell good, baby." Liam said as he padded into the kitchen, dressed in a tee shirt that clung perfectly to his defined body and plaid red and green pajama pants. He yawned suddenly, stretching his arms over his head, and his shirt rode up, exposing those deep v-cuts that men get between their stomach and their legs when they're insanely ripped. Sara flushed and turned away quickly, trying to distract herself. "Whatcha thinkin' about?" Liam asked, a teasing note in his voice as he slid up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Nothing." Sara said quickly, but her voice was significantly higher, like it always was when she was lying.

"When do I get to unwrap you, my favorite Christmas present?" Liam asked, his voice deepening as he slid her shirt up, touching her skin with his big warm hands.

"Liam…" Sara tried to admonish him, but it came out in a breathy moan when his fingertips scraped against the undersides of her breasts. Then the oven beeped, indicating that the cinnamon rolls were done, and she chirped, "The cinnamon rolls are done!" Liam stepped back and she pulled them out of the oven. She tried to hold back the drool that immediately filled her mouth as she breathed in the smell of melted butter and cinnamon.

"Amazing." Liam said immediately, handing her a plate and a spatula.

"A little eager, are we?" Sara teased.

"Yep," he grinned back, nuzzling her neck with his face. She giggled and then swatted him away.

He'd gradated two weeks earlier and having him home, actually living with her, had been amazing… their relationship felt complete now that they weren't doing long distance anymore. She had been extremely grateful that he had found an athletic trainer job at their local college… she couldn't stand doing long distance any longer. Luckily he had felt the same way. For the first time in a long time, she was happy on Christmas Day. "Eat up, baby." Liam ordered as he grabbed a cinnamon roll off her plate. "There are presents to unwrap." He winked at her and then popped part of the roll into his mouth. Her mouth dropped open to tell him that they were too hot, but his eyes immediately watered and he whimpered, "Too hot!"

"I was just about to say…" Sara made a sympathetic face and passed him a glass of ice water.

They finished their cinnamon rolls and coffee together and then headed into the living room where their Christmas tree stood, surrounded by presents. They passed presents back and forth and oohed and ahhed appropriately over the watch she'd bought for him, the necklace he had bought for her (not a real diamond, he'd told her sadly), the sweater for him that was as blue as his eyes, the pair of furry boots he had bought for her… and then the presents were done and they leaned against the couch, sipped their coffee contently as they listened to Michael Bublé sing about "being home for Christmas." Sara felt like Liam's home now felt like her own.

They couldn't linger forever, they were dropping by Chloe's parents' house to see Chloe's family, which had become Sara's surrogate family after her parents had died, and then they were spending the rest of the day with Kelly, Mike, Jayden, and Jayden's new girlfriend ("He has a girlfriend, I'm so old." Liam had moaned when he had found out). She looked outside and vaguely wished that they lived somewhere that actually snowed on Christmas… oh well, California was amazing in many other ways. Liam rose and said he was going to the bathroom when she looked up questioningly. She was still gazing absently out the window when he returned, holding a small wrapped box in his hands. She smiled and then asked, "What's this?"

"One more present." Liam answered, passing her the box. It fit in the palm of her hand… she set down her coffee cup on the coffee table and carefully unwrapped it.

It was a black velvet box.

It was a black velvet box that was about the size of an engagement ring.

She gasped and dropped the box in surprise. It fell and landed softly onto her pajama pants that were covered in silly reindeer.

Liam only smiled as he scooted closer and picked up the box from her lap. "I was hoping you'd open this… but I don't mind doing the honors," he said lowly, smiling as he slowly cracked open the box. She gasped as the sight of the ring… it was a simple diamond, round cut, in a silver setting, and it was perfect. As she stared at it, he whispered, "It was my mom's." She jerked her head up and found him smiling. "So… it's a real diamond." She nodded, her heart swelling. Then he said the most perfect words: "I love you, Sara. Will you marry me?"

Sara started nodding before the words came to her. "Yes. Yes." She jerked forward and their lips collided awkwardly as she kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and they tumbled backward… he let out an "oof" when she landed on top of him. When he tried to pull back, she whispered, "I love you. I love you. I love you." Then she went right back to kissing him.

"Baby." Liam finally managed to pull away. "The ring. Let's put the ring on your finger. Make it really official."

She grinned, climbing off of him, and grinned wider as he sat up, grinning as well. He pulled the ring out of where it was nestled and slid it onto her finger… a perfect fit. Then he looked up at her and said, "I love you."

"I love you too." Sara breathed and then practically attacked him.

He tumbled backward again and she climbed on top of him, pulling off her shirt. He caught sight of her bare breasts and let out a groan, low in the back of his throat. She quirked an eyebrow back and then grinned before grinding her hips against his as she kissed him. He pulled back and teased, "Not in front of the tree."

"Then where?" Sara shot back, pushing up his shirt to reveal his amazing six pack. She licked her lips and then licked a line from his belly button down to the waistband of his pajama pants.

He sat up, almost hitting her in the head with his torso, and shot back, "I'm thinking there's a perfectly good bed where you'll look amazing laying against the sheets." He effortlessly tossed her over his shoulder and headed down the hall. She laughed as he deposited her on the bed and then stopped laughing when he moved in and kissed her hard. Soon their clothes were gone and it was just them, skin against skin, moving together…

Forever.

Liam's hands shook a little as he opened up his paper. He glanced up at Sara and his mouth went dry as he stared at her and forgot what he was doing. She beamed back, clothed in a simple white lace wedding dress, and then she whispered, "I love you." It was the day after New Year's Day, and they were standing in City Hall, sealing the deal.

"I love you too," he whispered back then he remembered what he was supposed to be doing: saying his vows. He took a deep breath and then began to read: "I, William Andrew Peterson, promise to love you, Sara Elizabeth Keller, all the days of my life. You're the best thing that ever happened to me and I love you for making me the better man I am. I'll love you through everything, through good times, through bad times, rich, poor, sick, healthy… as long as we're wed. Forever." He let out a silent sigh of relief when he made it to the end. He had managed to get through that without crying… he'd been trying to ignore the lump in his throat that had formed ever since he had seen Sara in her wedding dress for the first time.

When he looked up, Sara beamed back at him as he took her ring from Aidan and then slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly…

They fit perfectly.

Then the officiant intoned: "Your turn, Sara."

She passed Chloe her small bouquet of roses, took a piece of paper from Chloe, and then said to him, "I, Sara Elizabeth Keller, promise to love you, William Andrew Peterson, all the days of my life." They had promised each other to say that in their vows. The next part was all her choice: "I love you." She looked up at him and beamed at him. "You're the most amazing person I know, the strongest person I know, and I will love you." Then she paused and added the last thing they had promised they would both say: "Forever."

Their officiant said a few more words, something about the state of California, but Liam barely heard him as they grinned at each other. Then, finally, he heard, "You may kiss." He grabbed Sara, unable to keep his hands off his beautiful bride, his new wife, any longer, and kissed her, sealing their union. Aidan, Jen, Chloe, Daniel, Chloe's parents, Kelly, Mike, and Jayden all cheered and clapped.

"I love you." Liam muttered against her lips.

"I love you too." Sara muttered back. "Forever."

"Forever." Liam pulled back, tucked her hand into the crook of her arm, and they walked out of the courtroom, eager to start their new year and their life together.

THE END

Author's Note: Yes, it's over! I thought I had more editing to do, but it turned out I was pretty happy with what I had written! Thanks for reading, please leave me a review and tell me what you think! As for future writing, I'm working on some other stuff right now, but I'm not wild about it... it will be a while, there's a need for lots of editing. But thank you for reading!

until next time,

a smile that explodes