2020-03-17 - The Question

Marianna's home was a one-story, small two-bedroom house not far from the clinic where she worked. The fro yar was surrounded witha picket fence painted a soft blue color, the gate closed, the walkway leading up tot he front door was lined with pits which in the spring and summer would no doubt hold brightly colored flowers. The porch light was on and light could be seen in the house itself, as Kyle approached the door the barking of some sort of small dog could be heard.

Kyle had his survival gear still in the truck, pistol at his hip and looked like he was trying hard to come to terms with some of the ideas kicking around in his head.he was dressed in hunting camo with heavy hiking boots on. Maybe he should have changed, or gone home and called her... no he needed to do this.

When Marianna opened the door she was carrying a small black French Bulldog in one arm and was still dressed in scrubs from her day at the clinic. zShe smiled at Kyle, but as she took in his expression and how he was dressed that smile slowly faded becoming an expression of worry and concern. She set down the dog, who barked once before running back into the house. "Kyle?" she blinked and stepped aside motioning for him to come inside. Once he had and the door was closed behind them she turned to face him. "What happened?"

"Hi Beautiful.... can I come in?" Good Kyle start there, use words. He followed Mari in as she motioning him to and rested his back against the door. He blinks slowly. "I went with some of.the family up to the sawmill. I think i mentioned that to you." He made sure to lock the gun in place. "That was more than i thought it would be. Hell i did not even know what it would be. I... i was ready to step into some shit, and if someone was going to end up left behind, I was prepared for it to be me. "My little cousin looks like she got engaged recently. I did not want her in danger." He cleared his throat.

"The old abandoned sawmill?" The one everyone said to stay the hell away from. " You mentioned it to me yes, but why did you go up there? You didn't tell me that part." Whatever had happened had shaken Kyle, shaken him badly, she could see that. Reaching out she took his hand, leading him away from the door and over to the couch, sitting him down, and sitting down beside him. "Of course you were ready to step into trouble it is what you are used to doing." She didn't sound completely pleased by it, but she sounded as if she understood. She had been married to someone n the military before after all. One thing all of them seemed to have in common is that they were ready to lay down their lives for other people. She frowned slightly. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, moving so that she could reach his shoulders, starting to rub them slowly in an effort to calm him. "What happened?"

"We ran into some stuff on the other side. We all came home." Kyle let out the breathe he had not realized he was holding. "It put a couple things into perspective. I was so angry that i.stepped into this shit. Angry that I might not make it home to you. I thought about Katy and her husband to be waiting. I did not want us to be like them. Well ok I do but I don't." Because rambling helps. "What I am trying to say." He cleared his throat.

"I am glad you all came home." She sounded relieved, afraid by the way e was acting that they had lost someone. She kept her hands on his shoulders massaging gently as he spoke. "You did what you thought you needed to do for your family." She didn't sound completely happy about it, but once again she understood, she had gotten dragged into things by her own family after all. She paused and looked at him when he said that he was angry that he might not make it home to her, looking at him, searching his expression. She took a deep breath to calm herself and looked at him "What are you trying to say?"

"Look Mari the other night was magic. We felt so right together... we both said I love you." Kyle took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I do not want to marry you because something happened. We both know it's to early to know for sure." Brethe Kyle. "I want to marry you because I love you. I love your firecracker ways when someone gets your blood boiling. I love your sense of worth. I love your passion when it comes to me and all the things you care about. But it all traces back to Inlove you. I know you lost your husband once. I would love for you to try again. Please Marianna Velez, will you marry me?"

Her hands stilled on his shoulders and she set back on the couch, her legs curled up beside her as she looked at him. As he took that moment to gather his words she felt almost as if her heart was going to stop in her chest. The way he was phrasing things. Past tense. Was, felt, then the words I do not." she swallowed her expression becoming less open, harder to read, still, so that he couldn't tell what she was thinking. Then the way he was speaking changed again, back to present tense, Love. Want. His question made her blink, and her expression softened. Both of her hands went to her mouth covering it as her soft brown eyes well up with unshed tears. She all but flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, her face going against his neck. he would be able to feel her shaking. When she spoke her voice was muffled against his neck. I thought, for a moment you were going to tell me that it had all been a mistake." She hugged him a little tighter. Sitting up slowly she took a deep breath and looked at him. Kyle Addington. I would be the happiest woman in the world if you were to marry me."

"Silly, I would never say that. You do have a choice to make. Do you want to wait, invite people, big party? Or do want to go now?" Kyle glanced out the window. "Ok maybe not now, maybe in the morning." Kyle chuckled at that pulling Mari into his lap.

Reaching down she gently pinched his side. Sitting up she looked at him and smiled. "Elope? You are an Addington, are they just going to let you Elope? Are they going to be happy that you aren't marrying someone from their social standing for that matter? Or someone they have never met. Well, I have met Patrick." she allowed herself to be pulled into his lap, curling against him happily, her arms still around him. "I vote for just going tomorrow and doing it, but what do you want? Do you want the large party with lots of people, or do you want it to just be you, me and a couple of witnesses? I am just happy to Marry you, Kyle."

"Sounds like we can talk in the morning at breakfast. Then we can get your ring and go on to the next chapter of our lives. What do you say? Maybe we should pack you a bag tonight." Kyle laughs and hugs his soon to be wife. Life is moving forward.

"We have a lot of things to talk about, like who is moving in where. I figure you wilwant me to move in with you but do you like sogs, and des your apartment allow them, and..."She just stopped shok her head and kissed him happily. "Tomorrow we can ask all of that tomorrow. I will go pack a bag. She kissed him deeply and then slid out of his lap so that she could go pack a bag.

"Its a house love, you have been there. Yes we can have dogs, yes I like dogs." Kyle chuckles under her kisses. "I would say my house is more comfortable. We can always rent this one if youd like." He let's Mari off his lap. "Yes pack a bag, I'll gather the dog food and bowls." He raises from the couch.

"They are in the kitchen. The bowls are by the back door, the bag of food is under the sink, the soft food is in the cabinet closest to the back door."She called out as she vanished into the back room of the house pulling a bag from beneath he bed and starting to throw clothing to it that she would need for the next couple of days, adding a garment bag with a nice dress in it. Even if they were just going to elope she wanted a nice dress. As kyle was gathering the bowels and food he would find a small black faced dog looking at him from under the kitchen table, as if it were trying to decide if he were a friend, or if he was just stealing its food.

Kyle reached under the table to pet his little helper, watching the dogs expression when he was moving the food and dropping treats. He wanted the pup to get comfortable with him since he was about to have a new environment. It took a little time but everything they would need to take care of the dog was packed. Now to get the dog ready to go.

The treats were what one the little butterball of a dog over. she wasn't unhealthily chubby just a bit and with the way the breed was built, it made her look even more chubby. She scarfed the treats in one bit and wagged her little nub of a tail, soon she was following along as kyle packed the rest of her things finding her bed, leash and harness easily enough. Gy the time Marianna came out with her bags he had the dog sitting at his feet looking expectant as if she thought they were going to go on a walk or something. Marianna smiled. "She liked you, yopu must have given her treats." she laughed softly, handing him one of her bags before she reached down and picked up the dog. "I am ready. Let's go home."

"That was the plan, win her over before I uproot her." Kyle smiles brightly. He kissed Marianna and took her bag but looked to her with a grin. "I enjoy it when you say that, say it again. Oh you can have the garage spot so please take your car. I know you will need it for stuff since I am springing this with zero planning."

She leaned over and kissed him deeply, pulling back slowly to smile at him. "Let's go home." She nodded picking up her purse and grabbing her keys out of a bowl beside the door. "I will need to call into work tomorrow, but I have a little time off saved up so it will not be an issue at all. She smiled at him. "No planning, no warning, but somehow it seems more genuine this way. She opened the door, holding it for him, and then closing and locking it behind her.