Hey lovelies,
This chapter was meant to be out sooner....but I've had just had no motivation to write and in a bit of a slump with everything that is currently going on. This chapter needed a little bit of a push, but hopefully I've done it justice.
As usual, if you like what you read - show it some love or leave me a comment.
Thanks for your support as always.
AliciaRuby90 x

Noah POV

I could hear her laughing. I knew that sound better than anything and even though I might not have the same sense of humour that she does, her laughter was catching and it always bought smile to my face. I shoved my hands into the pocket of my jeans as I walked a little quicker through the park and towards 'our spot'. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face as I got nearer to that sound. But she wasn't alone. The sounds of a ball being kicked around along with two very different laughters joined hers - they were younger but just as infectious.

I broke from the path as I walked over to the gazebo. I could see her running and trying to keep the ball from the two brown haired little boys that were chasing her. I grinned as I watched the scene play out in front of me. I crossed my arms over my chest as I leaned back on the gazebo, just watching her. She was older, though not too much older. Her hair was longer, but her body was different. Clearly, they were keeping her busy. I laughed as she collapsed onto the grass, as the two identical boys jumped ontop of her, peppering her faces with kisses, as her arms wove around them keeping them from getting away.

'Okay, okay! Mummy needs a time out! Daddy should be here soon.....', she said as she finally let the boys go, and got to her feet. I saw the two boys start to look around, almost as if they were waiting to see if 'Daddy' would appear. I saw Elle look around and stare my way as her face broke out into a smile. Pointing towards me, she grinned 'There he is!'

'Daddy!' the boys called as they took off towards me. I saw Elle laugh and I couldn't help but join her at their reactions.

They were our boys.

I took that as my cue to push back off from the gazebo and I broke out into a run to meet them, but as I got closer, my pace changed. Their focus wasn't on me, rather on something in the distance past me. I let my feet come to stop as I looked from Elle and then back to the boys, but she wasn't looking at me. I felt the boys run past me as I turned to watch them jump into the arms of their Father.

'Daddy!'

This wasn't my life with Elle.

This was Elle's life, without me.

'Noah! Noah!'

I jumped as my eyes shot open and I realised that it had all been a dream....or a nightmare. I really wasn't sure which one just yet.

The sun was starting to pour through the blinds in my bedroom as I groaned, rubbing my hands over my face.

'Sorry'

'Your covered in sweat. Like, the bed is soaked', Gabi said as she used her hand to move away the wet hair from my eyes. 'You had a nightmare, I guess?'

I pulled my hands away from face as I sat up and grabbed my phone on the bedside. I needed to get to work.

'Noah? Are....are you okay? Do you wanna talk about it?'

I looked back towards her and shook my head, 'Nah. I'm fine. I don't even remember what it was about. Just happens to everyone sometimes I guess', she didn't look convinced and I really hadn't sound all that convincing. I pulled my hands through my hair as I tossed the blanket aside and got up from the bed.

'I need to get to work', as I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, 'Just stay in bed for as long as you want. I'll catch you tonight, okay?'

She nodded, she still didn't look convinced that I was totally okay, but I watched she burrowed back into the covers to try and catch a little more sleep. Gabi and I had kinda been doing the 'serious thing', since we gradated. We thought that since we were still in Boston, both of us having been granted job opportunities then why not?

I pulled my suit from it's hanger as I headed into the bathroom and closed the door. Washing my face, I looked at the reflection that was staring back at me. He looked older and tired. I got dressed and did what I had to do on autopilot, my mind so far away from anything that needed to actually be done. I couldn't shake the image that had woken me up, it was like crystal in my mind.....and the boys. I could still hear their laughter.

I knew that it wasn't real.

But what scared me the most was the pain I felt. Knowing that that even though it had been years since I had seen her, the hurt I had felt when I realised that those boys weren't ours.

They were theirs.

***

'Hey!', Lee's voice rang out into the speaker as I picked up my phone.

'How's it going bro?', I asked as I gently kicked the door to my very small office shut. Even though I was working at a pretty good law firm in Boston, I was still surprised that as a graduate I was given an office. I know it was small, but I was grateful that it wasn't a cubicle.

'Not too bad. Usual, just about to wrap up with school, so it's been kinda crazy', he droned on. I could hear the sound of a pencil sketching away in the background, typical Lee.

'Fun. Fun', I continued typing away as we caught up on the usual stuff - school, work, Mum and Dad, before something reminded me.

'Oh, hey - speaking of Mum. She mentioned something the other day that I needed to ask you. She said you had started talking to Rachel again.....', I grinned as the silence on the other end of the line answered everything I needed to know.

'Okay, so I'm going to take that as a yes.....', I laughed as he muttered a few choice words into the phone, before he sighed. 'Yeah, we've been talking. She was back in LA for a weekend and I happened to be down as well and we just caught up......'

'And.......', I could feel my grin getting even bigger. If this was me, he would be doing the exact same thing.

'Annnnnnnnd, nothing. We're just talking, Noah. She's coming back to LA when school finishes and I'll be moving back home, so you never know. Maybe, things might happen again....', the sketching in the background had stopped and I could tell he was now pacing around his room.

'Would you be okay if that happened?', I asked as I opened and email and rolled my eyes, typing a quick reply before looking at my watch. Don't you just love last minute meetings?

'I....well, yeah. I guess. Times have changed Noah. I don't know if we can just pick up where we left off, I mean we can't just jump straight back in....'

'Why? What's wrong with that?' I asked, standing up and grabbing some files.

'So your telling me, if you and Elle got back together....you would just jump straight back in. No dates, no starting from scratch?'

'Or relationship was very different to yours bro......but, yeah I would. Why waste anymore time right?'

'Ah ha....' he replied 'Interesting.....'

'I've got to go Lee, meetings. But speaking of Shelly. How is she?' I asked, trying to be as casual as I possibly could be. I could still hear her laughter ringing in the back of my ears.

'She's good. Same as usual. Busy with school and internships....but she is killing it. She's got a few job offers lined up for when she has finished and USC has even asked her to maybe stay on as tutor for the new students starting the program.'

'Wow', I muttered as I heard a knock on my door. I waved to one of the other Harvard grad's and nodded. He laughed as he tapped his watched and I waved him on. 'So, killing it as usual'

'Yeah. Everyone is really proud of her...anything else you want to know?' he laughed, 'I promise I won't tell her. Just play dumb if you ever see her. Be surprised and be like 'I had no idea.'

I grinned into the phone, 'Is she.....you know what, don't worry about it. Tell her congrats, if you get the chance. I gotta go!'

'Okay, no problem Noah. Later....'

'Later bro!', the line disconnected as I quickly grabbed my files and headed out of my office and into the boardroom. My main job over the next couple of hours was to take notes and input if they asked. I should have picked up coffee.

As we waited for the last of the workers to get themselves seated and organised, my phone vibrated from my suit jacket. Taking it out, I quickly looked at the message from Lee. Letting out the breath I didn't even realise I had been holding, I turned it to silent and shoved it back into my suit, trying to downplay the relief that had just flowed over me.

Lee: To answer the question that you didn't ask - no. She's not seeing anyone. I'm your bro, you CAN ask me you know.

***
A few weeks after Lee and Rachel's wedding.

'You do realise that you had an audience', I finished running a towel through my hair as I eyed Elle, lounged out looking glorious in a navy bikini. We had headed off to Hawaii for a week to just rest and recharge. It had been a hectic couple weeks with Lee and Rachel's wedding and signing the documents needed for our brand new home.

I grinned as I wrapped the towel around my waist and sat down on the edge of her longe chair, 'Just as long as your were part of that audience, that's all I really care about.....'

She rolled her eyes, as she went back to scrolling through her phone. Her book was beside her as well as her laptop. This was supposed to be a 'relaxing' holiday....but I guess we were both guilty of bringing along our laptops....just in case for work.

'Hey', I said, tickling the underside of her foot. 'I thought we were checking out a bit from work....'

She looked up at me through her sunglasses, 'I'm not working. I'm just looking at furniture for the new place. Knowing our luck...everything that we like will be out of stock'

'You know we aren't in any rush right?'

'I know, I'm just getting some ideas', she grinned as she went back to scrolling. 'I promise I won't scare you with all the things that I am picking out. You know me, the creative genius that I am....'

'You are video game designer, not an interior designer', I grinned as I ducked out the way as her hand came to swat at my arm. I heard her mumble something under her breath, as I chuckled.

'Love you!' I called as I undid my towel and lay it in the sun.

'Yeah, yeah.....', she laughed as I grabbed my sunglasses and book and went to try and soak up some much needed sun.

***

'Can't we just go back up to the room?', she asked as she grabbed my hand and tried to pull me towards the direction of the elevators. 'I'm so full from dinner and I really just want to crawl into bed with you.....'

I shot her a pointed look as she grinned, 'No? That didn't work.....'

Laughing, I wove my arms around her waist, 'Let's take a walk first and then I promise you we can head back to the room....'

She huffed as I took her hand and lead her down the pathway that opened up to the beach. It was a gorgeous night and the weather was perfect. The sky still hand tinges of pink to it from the heat of today. It was funny how much the setting reminded me of the beach house and how we always managed to find ourselves looking out at sensational views. I could see people out in the distance, enjoying each other's company...but for the most part it was just Elle and I.

We pulled off our shoes and headed onto the sand, the waves crashing onto the shore.

'Kinda stuns doesn't it?' she said after a while as we kept a slow pace, just enjoying the sounds. I nodded as I squeezed her hand.

'Yeah, it does. I was just thinking how we always manage to find ourselves infront of these places - like the beach at the beach house, the Hollywood sign....'

'True' she agreed as she kicked up the sand around her feet not caring if the sand caught in her dress.

I bit my bottom lip, as I pulled her closer to me spinning her around so that she was directly infant of me.

'Funny how we end up with all these gorgeous views, but all I can manage to keep my eyes on is you', she rolled her eyes but I could see the lightness in them and the faint blush in her cheeks. I pulled her even closer as I tried desperately to get across what I was saying.

'You know I have no idea how to be romantic, but I'm going to try my best....given where we are and what I am about to do....' I felt her still in my arms as her eyes grew wide.

'What exactly are you about to do?', she asked as the words caught in her throat and the last little bit came out as a whisper. I reached into my suit jacket and pulled out the black box from pocket.

'Noah.....', she called but as I started to bend down on one knee, she grabbed me and started shaking her head.

'Nope, no. Nope....' and wrapped her arms so tight around me. She was freaking out.

'Elle?', I laughed as tried to loosen her grip, but she had me in a lock. 'I'm trying to do this properly....'

'I know you are' she half mumbled from where her face was pressed against my chest, I heard her take a deep breath before she leaned back a little bit as she met my gaze. 'Oh god, please don't think I'm freaking out cause I'm going to say no.....', before she buried her face back into my chest. 'I'm so ruining this....'

I looked up to the sky as I held her and tried desperately not to laugh. In all the scenarios that I had envisioned when I had asked Elle to marry me, this was not how I thought it would have turned out.

'Hey Shell, look at me', I said as I tried to nudge her away, 'Elle, C'mon'

Finally, I managed to look at her and she just shook her head, 'Your not ruining this, I promise. Anything we do is never so straightforward, so why should this be any different?'

She let out a strangled laugh as she wiped her eyes, before she took a deep breath and looked at me dead on. 'You wanted to ask me something?'

'Are you going to let me?

'Noah!'

'Okay, okay', I said as I pulled her back to me as I ran my fingers along her jaw and caressed her face. The ring box was still tight in my hand.

'I've never been too good at this whole 'romance' thing, but you've known me for a very, very, very long time and you know that I'm good at knowing what I want. And usually when I know what I want I do everything that I can possible can do to get it.....' I took a deep breath as I continued, 'I know our relationship hasn't been easy and I know that I won't be able to make you smile every day all day everyday, but I do promise to love you. I've loved you for a very long time and I promise to keep on loving you, hopefully no longer as your boyfriend.....but as your fiancé, followed by husband. So.....', I said as I wiped away her tears and slowly opened the ring box.

'Elle, will you marry me?'

She nodded and as she whispered her reply. I laughed as I took the ring from it's confines before slipping it onto her finger, 'A little bit louder Shelly!'

'Yes!', she squealed as she jumped up into my arms and wrapped her arms around my neck as her lips locked with mine.

'I love you! Thanks for saying yes'

'Thanks for asking' she laughed, as she looked down at her ring. She was still in my arms and I had no intent of letting her go. 'I love you to. More than anything'.

We were quiet for a few minutes as we watched the waves crash up and down the shore. Elle was tucked into my chest, as I buried my face into her hair.

'I love this place', she said after a while.

'I love this girl' I said as her eyes met mine, a blinding smile on her face 'And I get to make her mine forever'

***

I ran my hand through my hair as I sat up in bed, the sun was already up for the morning. It had been a late night. After Elle and I had finally made our way back to our hotel room and we had announced our engagement to our nearest and dearest, we celebrated in our own way and didn't really manage to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

Elle's engagement ring kept catching the morning light, sending sparkles around the room. I could tell she was trying not to watch them, but I kept catching her. She cuddled into my side, as she pulled her glasses from her hair onto her face as I grabbed my phone.

'Shall we make it social offical and let the rest of the masses know?' I asked and she nodded. 'Sounds good. Know what your going to say?'

I thought about it for a second, before me fingers started flying over the screen. I tagged her into it and showed her the screen. She laughed and nodded as I quickly pressed 'post'.

'And now we wait', I said as I put my phone face down on the bedside table. I could already hear it vibrating with notifications, but there would be time to read them later as I pulled Elle towards me. I gently removed her glasses and placed them next to my phone, before I grabbed the covers and pulled them over us.

Back to celebrating.

****

NOAH FLYNN: @ElleEvans When forever begins by saying yes! #mrandmrsflynn

Lee Flynn: About time you two! I'm so happy for you both. Love you guys. Congrats again! x

Rachel Flynn: Crying because I am so so happy for you both! Cannot wait for another Flynn wedding. All my love! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tuppen: DUDE!!!!! I always knew you two were endgame. So happy for you both. @NoahFlynn - you are one lucky man! Can't wait to celebrate. :)

Miles: @Ollie and I are so happy for you guys! The Kissing Booth did change a lot of things for a lot of people, in such a good way. We can't wait to see you both and celebrate!

Mike Evans: Congratulations! We are so happy for you both. x

MatthewJuneFlynn: Congratulations Noah and Elle, we are so so happy and excited for this next chapter of your lives together. Let the celebrations begin. We cannot wait to give you both a hug! x

Brad: Congrats sis and I can finally say it - Bro! Love you guys. :)

Chloe: Stop it! Finally! I'm so happy for you both. The love that everyone has for you as a couple is coming at you in spades. I hope you enjoy this time and celebrate the love that you both share. To your next chapter as Mr and Mrs Flynn! I can't wait to see you both so very soon. All my love! xxx

Marco Pena: Congratulations Noah and Elle! :)

Olivia: Finally! Congrats x

Mia: Congratulations! x

Gabi: Congratulations Noah and Elle! x

David: Congratulations Elle and Noah. Every happiness to you both as you start your next chapter! :)

***

The proposal was a fun one to write. Hope you enjoyed it.

See you soon. xx