Chapter 11

T yler slid his hand through Justine's hair said a bit later as she rested her head on his shoulder, content in his arms more than ever.

"I don't want to hide this…us forever, baby. It might be difficult, especially right now. My parents might not want the twins to have anything to do with me but once they're eighteen they can't control what they do as much, and after everything that happened, I don't see them being angry about us being together," he said pulling her head up with a soft smile at him. "I want my life to be with you. Want you as mine forever."

"I want that too, Tyler. It's one of the things I talked to the therapist about, because rationally I was worried that we were heading into this too deep, too fast, but she asked me how much we'd discussed what caused us to part, the rationale I had for doing it, and if we'd actually resolved it or if we'd simply glossed over it and fell back into old habits."

"And did you tell her how much we'd been over it? That we'd been over it to the point that I honestly don't want to ever talk about it again? That while I hated you at the time for it, knowing what you did, for Hailey, for me and my family who hates yours, the only thing I see when I think about it now is just how much you loved me to do that, knowing that in the end, I'd be here with my family while you were out there on your own. That in the end, the love between us won out over any hurt or angry feelings that were once there?"

"Yeah and she told me that I already knew the answer to my own question. That if we'd survived two and a half years of a hidden relationship while our families tried to tear the other down constantly the foundation we had was strong enough to weather the repairs to erase the cracks I caused by not telling you what I was doing ten year ago. And that no matter that the time I've been back is much shorter than how long I was gone, it was no reason to run from what was obvious—that we loved each other enough to handle whatever came next. For me, that's you and me together, always."

"Then marry me," Tyler said making her eyes widen a bit in shock. "Marry me, Justine. Let me have you as mine entirely finally, babydoll."

"Yes, a million times yes, honey-bae," she answered, earning a kiss that sent wild desire all through her being and she clung to his neck as best she could with the cast on her arm.

"We both know there's no way we can have a normal wedding any time soon around here. Our families would try to stop it in an instant. Nothing there has changed in the last ten years, so, how about we try that elopement again?" he suggested, and she nodded eagerly, laughing at the light that filled his eyes. "Yeah, I don't think I'll have any worries about you not being there this time, do I?"

"Not a chance. The only thing that would keep me from it would be my parents locking me in the basement, but since I'm pretty good at picking locks, I could probably break out."

"I'd be there with the calvary to help break down the door. Nothing's keeping you from me this time, nothing and no one," he promised, claiming her lips again, his hands sliding under her shirt, inching towards her bare breasts when a loud shout of his name resonated throughout the house, breaking them apart in shock at it's owner.

"Tyler James Anderson! Why the hell didn't you call me and tell me what was going on?" Angela demanded.

"You can't just walk into someone's home, Angela," Daniel said, almost drowning out Angela's gasp as she stopped short finding them on the couch.

"Holy shit!" Angela said, a choked laugh bubbling out of her. "Well this definitely wasn't what I was expecting to find."

"Remind me to get a new set of locks that lock automatically," Tyler stated, helping her sit up before dropping a quick kiss onto her lips pulling another burst of shocked laughter from Angela.

"Okay, so who wants to explain this," Angela said motioning between them, "to me? I mean, I know I told you that I thought the two of you would be good together, Justine, but I never imagined it'd actually happen."

"When did she tell you that?" Tyler asked her and Justine grinned, shaking her head a bit at him. "Before or after she gave you the letter to give to me?"

"At the same time," Justine told him making him nod in understanding.

"Well, you're about twelve and a half years too late for that, Ang," Tyler said, and Justine's eyes widened in total shock.

"Twelve…oh my god!" Angela shouted, her jaw dropping as she looked between them again. "The girl…your first love, the girl you said you'd never get over or want anyone else over was Justine ?"

"Guilty," he stated his lips teasing her ear and Justine ducked her head as it sent shivers entirely throughout her body.

"You've clearly interrupted something, honey, so we should leave," Daniel stated as Angela laughed softly watching them. "I told you to just call if you wanted to check on Isabelle and if you ever walk into another man's home without knocking, I'll spank your little ass, you hear me? You're lucky you swore nothing ever happened between the two of you or you'd really be in for it right now."

"Well, we already interrupted, and I've got so many questions now I don't even know where to start," Angela countered giving Daniel a grin that pulled a dark look from the man.

Tyler chuckled against her ear, "They definitely belong together the same way we do, don't they, babydoll?"

"They do," Justine agreed, smiling as Angela moved over to sit next to her on the couch. Daniel pulled her to a chair instead, making her huff which simply pulled a grumble from the man in return.

"To fill you in, Isabelle is fine. She's still moving a bit slower thanks to the sprained ankle, but because of Justine, she's home and safe. This one," Tyler said, finding her gaze, holding it for an extra moment making her smile softly at the look in his eyes, "thank god is okay too. The doctor's still monitoring her kidney function since it was damaged…"

"Bruised, not damaged, and the medicine is only a precaution to ensure nothing happens to it," she corrected him making Angela's brows furl in confusion.

"How did your kidneys get bruised? I mean, the broken arm I can see happening," Angela asked.

"Kidney, singular, and it was from one of the bastards hitting her with a metal pipe after surprising her," Tyler stated pulling a little glare from her his way.

"Wow, but even if there is some damage to it it's not dangerous is it? I mean, you can live with just one kidney," Angela mused giving Tyler another curious look.

"True, but since it's the only one she has…"

"Tyler!" Justine warned staring at him in shock.

"Wait, what? What happened to your other kidney?" Angela asked as Justine stared Tyler down wondering what on earth he was thinking.

"It's working perfectly fine…for Hailey," Tyer said pulling a loud gasp from Angela as her jaw dropped.

" What?! " she flustered out.

"Are you crazy?" Justine added softly to him, and he dropped a soft kiss onto her lips giving her a soft smile filled with love that made it impossible to be upset or angry with him.

"If anyone can keep a secret it's Angela. After all, she didn't blab to the entire town that I had no desire to even touch a woman when we decided to start fake dating to get everyone off our backs."

"I'm still processing the fact that the reason for that was Justine. I mean, what happened? If you two were dating during high school behind all of our backs…what split you up and when exactly did the two of you get back together because you're all very comfy here," Angela added, her brow lifting as a hint of a smile slipped onto her lips.

"Let's just say that your ‘Dear John' letter didn't upset me in the least and was actually a relief to get to explain why the wedding wasn't going to happen," Tyler replied.

"That doesn't tell me anything," Angela huffed.

"Well, let's just say I nearly lost my shot to get her back in my life when you gave her that Sunday paper after just one night," he stated, and Justine couldn't quite manage to stop the giggle that slid out seeing the expression cross her face.

"Hold up, that was…we were still engaged!" Angela shouted pulling a snort from Daniel that sent her head back around to look at him.

"You were still engaged to him when I convinced you to come home."

"Fine, but you're seriously telling me that the two of you have been…this whole time?" Angela said looking between them.

"Yes, at first she was adamant that it wouldn't be anything more than physical but that's just because she's been dealing with some stuff from work. Now that she's worked through the worst of it, she's all mine, aren't you, babydoll? Finally mine again and this time, there's no little sister that's sick and needing a kidney you're a perfect match for, is there?" Tyler said and she smiled leaning her head against his before explaining everything that happened ten years ago to Angela who simply sat watching them in silent disbelief.

"And now?" she finally questioned.

"Now, I'm finally marrying the only woman I've ever wanted to grow old with, to have a family with. It might still have to be an elopement, but I won't complain about that when it means having her as mine forever soon," Tyler said, making Justine smile entirely as he wrapped her up in his arms, flooding her with love she never wanted to lose.

"If you need any help, I have experience with that having done it twice myself," Angela joked pulling a grunt from Daniel.

"Just tell me when, babydoll. I'd marry you in Vegas tonight if you'd agree to it."

"Not Vegas, but maybe we can take a little trip up to Seattle next week?" Justine mused.

"It'll take two trips unless you get your license down here," Angela said surprising them. "There's a three day waiting period. Pretty sure you have to apply in person as well. You could go up to Vancouver and do it the same day there instead. Oregon is three days while Idaho doesn't have any waiting period, so if Vegas is out, those are your closest options."

"Do you have your passport still?" Tyler asked, making Justine grin and nod. "We could make an overnight trip of it. You could claim you have to go up to Seattle for something work related and it might take a couple days. If we did late next week, I can rearrange my work schedule and have others cover for me."

"You'll need two witnesses and if you're wondering, we have passports too," Angela teased, making Justine's heart jump as Tyler looked to her for a response.

"I'd say that sounds perfect."

"If you want to get away for a bit, I have a cabin out near Seawahl that you can use," Daniel said pulling their attention over to the man. "If I hadn't learnt that you and Angela were supposed to be getting married, I likely never would have woken up, made it my mission to get her back however necessary. Since you easily let her go, it's the least I can do."

"We might take you up on that," Tyler said, and she nodded knowing whenever their families learnt the truth, they'd need somewhere to hide out for sure.

"We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your Saturday. When you have an idea of when you want to have the wedding just let us know and we'll be there," Daniel added as he stood them up, shooting Angela a warning look when she started to argue.

"Fine, but I still have a ton of questions. If you don't find anything to wear maybe we can go shopping in Vancouver and I can ask them," Angela mused, and she didn't argue that in the least.

Or when Tyler slid over to the door behind them as they left, turning the lock before heading back her way, carrying her upstairs to feast on her body.

∞∞∞

"Wow," Tyler said as Justine came out of the bathroom with Angela trailing after with a huge smile on her face taking in his expression. "You look…you're always beautiful but god damn babydoll, you look incredible."

"Thank you and you don't look too shabby yourself, honey-bae." Justine accepted the compliment with ease, loving the dress they'd found yesterday after arriving in Vancouver. They'd made a quick stop by the office to get their marriage license so they wouldn't be rushed today to get to their appointment, before Angela drug her out to the shops where she drug pretty much their entire relationship from her before they'd found the dress she wore now.

It was a tea length dream that reminded her instantly of the flowers that Tyler had planted for her. The tulips she'd loved immensely.

The top had the sheerest shimmery illusion neckline in the palest cream color that gradually darkened as the dress went down her body. The bottom an array of reds creating patterns all around it that was perfect.

Tyler looked amazing in a suit, his scruffy facial hair trimmed up neatly, along with his hair making her heart flutter, especially when he handed her a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with soft creamy roses and tulips. Tears filled her gaze, and she blinked them away, glad for the waterproof makeup she wore.

"I still can't get over hearing such mush from Tyler," Angela teased breaking into the spell weaving between them.

"It's nice to be able to say it even when other people are around," Tyler returned, pulling her towards him gently and Justine nodded in full agreement. "The number of times I almost slipped up, past and present, would astound you."

"I can't believe that all the times that you used to call her ‘baby' wasn't you actually being mean but you almost slipping up," Angela stated as they headed down to the waiting car, and Justine rested in his hold, unable to keep a smile from her lips knowing that he'd very soon be all hers. No matter when they told their families, he was going to be hers starting today.

The bouquet was the perfect distraction to the cast, her hair covering the red spot on her neck, and when Tyler slid the single band onto her finger, the light catching the diamonds that ran it's length, a feeling of absolute peace settled over her. She loved the intricate details of it, how the diamonds alternated different shapes, the platinum metal molding around each of them perfectly delicate. The complete opposite of the one she slipped onto his finger. His was thicker, made from black tungsten, with a row of black sapphires running all around the middle. It reminded her of the creek where he'd first kissed her, making her fall completely for him. It also reminded her of the beauty that could still survive even when everything was thought to be destroyed, burnt and ruined. How it was still repairable if given the chance.

His lips covered hers in a slow, silky kiss when the officiant announced them man and wife, and she laughed with joy when he lifted her up off her feet, holding her against his chest, carrying her out of the room when it ended. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, never wanting to be anywhere else.

"So I paid for the photographer for another hour but if the two of you have other ideas…" Angela said breaking into the spell wrapped around them, and Justine turned her face into Tyler's neck fully, shocked she'd forgotten there were others around so easily.

"I do, but I also want another thousand photos of my girl to hold onto forever," Tyler said, dropping another kiss onto her lips and they headed over to a park, spending about thirty minutes taking photos before they all agreed they'd gotten the best and most amazing shots possible.

Justine's body was vibrating when they got back to the hotel, every little brush of Tyler's hand against hers made her need him to an insane degree and she could barely handle it when he led them into the dining room rather than upstairs. "Are you trying to torture me?"

"Not even close, babydoll, but if I don't feed you now, I never will because once I have you in my arms, you're not leaving them until we have to leave tomorrow."

She didn't argue that too much and especially not as the sun peeked through the curtains the next morning, her body completely spent, and there wasn't a single trace of pain anywhere in her body. Her face rested in Tyler's neck, a smile on her lips as his hand slipped up and down her bare back.

"We're definitely going to have to take Daniel up on his offer soon, babydoll. I want to be able to have you wrapped around me like this for days on end and that isn't going to happen back home."

"Definitely not right now…or after we tell our families about us," she added with a sigh, certain once they knew they'd be even worse about interrupting them because it'd be on purpose.

"Let me take a look at my upcoming jobs and see how many days and when it'll be best to get away. If we both leave town at the same time, they're going to know something's fishy so it'd probably be easiest to just tell them we're married and going on a honeymoon and don't want to hear anything about it than to try and be sneaky about it," he added pulling her face up to his and she smiled more than ready to tell them to simply stop hiding how much she loved him—how much she'd always loved him.

"I guess the only thing we need to figure out then is where and how to tell them then because everything else sounds absolutely perfect, honey-bae. I want to be able to go out with you in public and not worry who might see and tell on us. Hopefully our families come around but even if they don't, I'd rather live with you and just you than spend the rest of my life without you. I love you."

"I love you too, babydoll, and hope they do too, but right now, I think we need a shower and something to eat so we have enough energy to drive home," he stated, and she didn't argue any of that at all. Not when he sent pleasure entirely through her while they washed up, and especially not when he settled her into the passenger seat, tucking a blanket around her letting her nap most of the way home.