"You've been staring at that picture for the past hour," I said to Alex, hugging him from behind. He'd placed the ultrasound photo on the fridge, another one in our room and another in the restroom. The heart beat had been strong, and now that I had moved in with him he was taking care of me like no other.

He would barely let me lift a finger. 

The doctor said that once we were past the twelve week mark, we could relax. The cramping had subsided a lot and that eased my worries. 

We hadn't told Adeleine about the pregnancy and she was back to ignoring me the moment that she heard that I'd be moving in. It was obvious to me that she was jealous of both my relationship with Alex as well as with Lucas, who had also returned to the house. She would fume every time she'd see us walking out of the same room together. 

"It's a boy," Alex said thoughtfully. 

"You think so?"

"Yes," he said turning me around and lifting me up. Automatically, my legs wrapped around his waist. It wasn't recommended that we have sex until the bleeding stopped for at least a week. It had only been three days. 

Alex carefully laid me on the bed, not without first removing the shirt of his that I was wearing. 

"Stop it," I whispered. "I'm cold."

"Not a problem," he said with a smirk, taking off his boxers. 

I covered my face. This man was impossible.

"We're not at your dad's anymore, we don't have to be careful," Alex said with a chuckle.

"But Luke and Addie are here," I said, giggling. 

"Mmm, I know. It's not like we can do much right now, baby. But, as soon as the doctor gives us the all clear they should leave the house. They're not going to want to hear what I do to you."

"Promise?" 

Alex smirked, hiding his surprise at my words. Again, I blamed it on hormones. His hand went down between my legs and I let out a satisfied sigh at the feel of friction I needed. "I promise."

He traced kisses down my body until he arrived at my belly. He gave me a cocky grin when he saw me panting, needing his lips somewhere else. 

"Your mom seems a bit impatient," he murmured as he pressed a kiss to my stomach. Just the contact made shivers form throughout my body. It had been such a long time since I felt the release that only he could provide, and Moretti, he was a tease. "Anything you need, mia cara?"

I uttered the only word I could think of:

"Please." 

Something flicked within him when the single word left my lips. He lowered his lips placing them where I needed them the most. My hips bucked instantly, needing the pressure that he was going to provide. My hands latched on to his hair as the overwhelming pleasure began taking over my body.

"Oh God.."

"Mm, no, it's Alex," he mocked while stopping. 

"What- Alex why are you stopping?" I asked desperate. 

"My name, Eileen. I don't think God appreciates you calling out for him as I give you an orgasm." 

As much as I fought back the laughter that threatened to escape, I couldn't. Alex chuckled with me, his hands stroking my thighs. It was moments like this, where everything was right that had me falling more and more for him. 

"Alex," I murmured. I ran my fingers through his hair and though the mischievous glimmer was still there, his gaze softened. 

When his name left my lips again, he smiled proudly, and lowered his head determined to give me what I needed. He was gentle this time, his tongue flicked in all the right places and quickly became my undoing. This time, I was sure to call out his name. 

I wanted to please him just as much, but he insisted that tonight had been about me. He could wait. I felt spent, and sleep soon pulled me under as I settled on his chest.

Alex woke me up just before leaving. He was enjoying teaching. The fact that he didn't have to focus on a job that had held him down for so long made him smile more often, and even though the piles of papers he had to grade was immense, he didn't mind. The subject interested him and it turned out that he had quite a bit of knowledge on politics and government.

After choosing my outfit of the day, which ended up being once again sweatpants and a t-shirt, I walked downstairs. Alex had cut some fruit for me to eat so I settled down at the table to eat it. Anything tasted better when his hands had been the ones to prepare it. 

"Oh... You're here," Addie's disappointed voice came. 

"Yes, just like the past days. I'm not going anywhere," I replied. 

"Is Luke here?" I lifted my face to see her. She was transferring to work at a local school and would be staying with Alex for a while, I had no idea how we would all live here without having problems.

"No, I think he had a meeting."

She began taking some of the fruit that Alex had prepared for me and that was something I was particularly happy about.

"That's mine. There more fruit in the fridge if you'd like," I snapped. 

"What? What the hell is your problem? Why don't you get the fruit from the fridge? I shouldn't have to do it just because you think you have more rights here than I do."

"Because Alex took the effort to prepare it for me," I said, snatching the bowl from her hands. "And pregnant women don't share."

I smiled when I saw how speechless the news had made Addie. I typically took no enjoyment in hurting or annoying people, but she was the exception. I continued eating while Addie stood there in shock. After two more servings, I stood up satisfied an washed the dishes. She was still immobile.

"He hasn't said anything," Addie finally said.

"Maybe if you weren't such a bitch Alex would have shared the news with you because he's ecstatic."

"Did you do this to get him to marry you?"

"I'll let you think whatever you want." Out of instinct, I settled my hand over my belly. She followed the movement and took a step back. "You don't have to congratulate me, but try to be sincere when you congratulate Alex. He's happy, you should be happy for him too."

I didn't think she would say anything, but when her voice called out for me, I forced myself to stop.

"Does Julia know?" 

I shrugged. I didn't know and it really didn't matter, it was none of her business. Alex and her were over and according to what he'd told me, the few times they had sex they had used protection. I believed him. I had no reason to doubt him, he'd never lied to me.

"It doesn't matter, we don't need her approval."

The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly.

I worked on homework and took a nap which was no essential to my physical and emotional well-being. Though Alex didn't want me doing much of anything, I was going crazy just sitting around so I decided to cook him a meal.

Once he arrived, Addie and Alex fought. They were in her bedroom but I could hear them arguing. I knew then that dinner would be uncomfortable so I served both Alex and I and took it to our bedroom. Alex gave me a small smile when he saw me but didn't speak.

I sat the food on the small table by the large window and waited for him to take a seat before starting to eat. The anger radiated from his body but he did the best he could to hide it.

It wasn't working.

"How was work?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"It went well," he said. "Has she said anything to you?"

"No, not really. Not that it matters," I said. "What she says doesn't bother me."

"No?"

I shook my head. "She's immature and you're not responsible for her words or actions. Or Luke's for that matter. Let them deal with their own things. You've done the best you can with her.. She'll grow up some day."

"I'm a lucky man, Eileen," he said kissing the back of my hand.

Though he wasn't angry anymore, his mind was elsewhere. The situation with his sister was frustrating to say the least. He held me until I drifted off to sleep, but none of the usual playful talk occurred.

I awoke only to find his side of the bed empty. He was standing by the window, looking outside. It gave me the impression that he hadn't slept at all.

"Alex, what's wrong?"

I heard him sigh, one of those in which a person tries to pour out their frustration.

"I've always tried to do everything right," he began. "It's been innate for me. I took care of Lucas, was his friend, his older brother. I cared for Addie, made sure she got through school and settled. And then I looked for women, that was the only thing I ever did for me."

I opened my mouth to say something but he stopped me. He was still standing by the window but now he was looking at me. The room was dark, but the light from the city outlined his shape to perfection.

"Then I met you," he said quietly. "And all of a sudden, I didn't need to please anyone else. I didn't care for the things that had been important anymore. I stopped planning when I met you because I realized it's pointless. You plan and shit never turns out like you hope. This shit with Addie... It was never the plan. I never thought she'd be like this with you but I honestly don't give a fuck what she thinks."

Alex walked towards me, and I could see a hint of a smile on his face. His worried expression was there but he was happy. He was calm.

"I had planned a huge thing, Eileen, I really had. It didn't go as I hoped, at all. And I was going to plan something else and was waiting for the perfect time and I realise that there is no perfect time. There's only now... And as I watched you sleep, I just fucking knew I had to do it, that I had to stop waiting and just...do it."

"Oh my..." Alex knelt down, with a small box on his hand. My heart raced.

"I'm not going to ask you to marry me," he said. "Instead I will tell you the reasons why you should. You've made me a better fucking man, from the moment I met you. You were already an extraordinary woman then but I saw you blossom into what you are now, so selfless and so sure of your self. You've given me so much Eileen, much more than I deserve and I will spend every single second of my life giving you everything and I don't mean material, I mean the attention you deserve, the love, the care. And because," Alex took the ring out and smiled widely at me, "Because as a wise man once told me; puzzles aren't easy to solve, but I've found my missing piece, Eileen. And I believe that I am yours. Marry me."

I stared amazed at the man in front of me. Some women dreamed of a big surprise, helicopters, fields of flowers, a party, something over the top but this, the sincerity of his words, the way that he was handing me his heart in a silver platter, that was all I needed.

Alex had been my savior, my healer. He was the man that showed me that life could be good, the man who took my daughter and I in without question. The man who despite the way I had pushed him away, stayed by my side and made love to my soul with every caress of his words and actions.

He was mine just as I was his.

"Yes," I whispered. "Yes, Moretti, I'll-"

The words weren't even out of my mouth when he pulled me into a kiss. I kissed him back with just as much passion, giving him all of my love. He laughed against my lips, taking my hand in his and placing the beautiful ring where it belonged. He'd chosen the perfect ring.

"Do you like it?" He asked, kissing my hand.

"I love it, Alex. I love you."

"I love you, Eileen," he murmured.

"I don't want to wait," I said. His gaze met mine and he frowned, confused. "Let's get married soon, let's go to the courthouse, Vegas, I don't care. I don't need a party, I don't need a big wedding dress. I don't want to wait anymore, Alex. We've waited too long."

"Are you sure? If you want-"

"This," I interrupted, "This is what I want. I don't need anything else."

He smiled, placing a kiss on my forehead and then on my lips.

"Courthouse this week then?"

"Yes, Alex. Let's get married."

A/N: If this does not make you happy, I don't know what to say.

The end is fast approaching!

I, for one, can't wait.

Their journey has been one of my favorites. 

What do you think of them not needing or wanting a big wedding?

Comment your thoughts!

Thank you, as always:)

-Luz<3