TIME FOR TWO

Chapter Four

"This is grand, Yamato!" Mimi leaned over the railing of the hotel balcony, her long straightened hair trailing behind her in the breeze. She put a hand to her face, keeping it from whipping at her eyes. "And so windy." She sighed with such contentment he just had to smile as he watched her from the opposite corner. "I love even this."

He laughed and crossed to her, leaning over just as she had and leaving no space between them. He was thrilled more than he would let on, his joy only exhibited in his near constant smile and the small bursts of affection toward her when the two were alone. He was thankful for the sudden uptick in temperature, making this Autumn day the perfect compliment to their vows.

"You've loved everything about this day. I think I've heard you say it twenty times."

She was done enjoying the nighttime skyline, her focus now on the man beside her. She turned to face him, their bodies now a snug fit as he slid an arm around her small waist.

"It's true," she told him, "and I mean it more and more."

His other hand went to rest gently at the side of her neck. "I'm surprised you went for this."

"Really?" She raised a coy eyebrow. "Don't I always say yes to you?"

"That is a great talent of yours."

Her smile broke into a grin, soaking up his praise. His compliments had always been frequent, but today his admiration of her was tenfold. She was reveling in it.

"You don't miss them? You had them planned into all of this before."

Her eyes showed the regret in her heart for only a moment, too pleased with him to care as much as she should. "I married you for life, not my friends and family. But what about you?"

"They'll get over it, so I'm fine. It was my idea anyway."

"Yeah, but what about Takeru?"

"He'll forgive me. And one day when the time is right for him and Hikari, he'll understand."

"You're right. He's such a sweetie."

"And your parents?"

"Don't spoil the mood. I don't want to think about that. They should understand, but I know they won't. They wanted that big wedding for me as much as I did."

He removed himself from her, his own guilt pushing him away unconsciously. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, taking his turn to view the sprawling city before them. She moved closer, catching the remorse in his eyes before he could turn fully away from her. She wrapped her arms around his torso, snuggling close.

"Yamato, don't feel bad. I don't."

He smiled into the top of her vanilla scented hair. She never hesitated to lift him out of any darkness he was succumbing to, quick with her kisses and words of endearment. Her smile was enough for him to mirror it with ease, and her touch took him to the edge of oblivion.

"Besides, we can have another party just for them some other time. We can celebrate all over again."

"You have it all planned out, don't you?"

She nodded against his chest. "Does it help you feel any better?"

"It does."

"Go inside with me?"

"Let's go."

They clasped hands and made their way back inside. She scanned over the room, her eyes landing on their luggage beside the bed.

"We still have to unpack."

He tugged at her hand. "That can wait."

"Okay."

She let him lead her to the bed where they sat back against the many pillows.

"So comfy!"

He chuckled at her glee before asking, "You love it?"

She made a face at him, stretching her legs out. "You know I do. How long are we staying?"

"Three days."

"Excellent!"

"Should we order room service?"

"Yes, I'm so hungry. After you called me this morning I was too nervous to eat anything."

Concern washed over his features, his eyes transfixed on her. They were no longer holding hands but he needed a connection. He ran his hand through the honey brown hair tossed over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry for rushing you on this, Mimi."

"Why exactly did you want to rush? I never asked, but I have some theories."

He took in a breath and averted his eyes, his hands rubbing together nervously.

"Surely it can't be as base as-"

He cut her off with a quick wave of one hand. "It's not that. I mean, sure it was incentive to push the date up, but I could wait longer. It's not that."

Unconvinced, she pressed him further. "You really never minded having to wait? You've told me that so many times but I never actually believed you."

"And you still don't. I can't believe we're having this conversation."

"Don't get me wrong, I adore you for it. Your patience and dedication, those are what make you such a great guy."

"Did I ever pressure you for sex, Mimi?"

"No."

"Did we ever have sex?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "No."

"And we still haven't."

She broke into a fit of infectious giggles, dragging him to laugh with her.

"That can wait. Room service, Yamato. I'm starving."

"Didn't I considerately ask you about food already? And are you still not convinced I'm a gentleman?"

She tilted her head to the side in mock thought, as if deeply considering his sarcasm.

He found her hand and began tracing his fingers softly over hers as he held it. "You convinced me of its importance. And...I was actually surprised at how much fun we could have waiting it out."

"It builds the anticipation, right?"

"That too."

"Let's order cake!" She raised both eyebrows in excitement, pulling her hand from his as she linked her fingers in front of her chest. "Let's look at the menu. We'll have time for all that married stuff after. And champagne, we need that too."

He watched as she got off the bed in search. He was in awe of her ability to adjust to his request of eloping. It was all sprung on her so fast yet she still managed to enjoy the day to its fullest despite all that it lacked. Even her outfit, so perfect for the day as if she had this planned as a back up just in case. She wore white heels and a white flowy dress that stopped just below her knees, with long sleeves of lace. She had sworn she wasn't cold every time he asked, insisting her wool coat was enough. At first she had chided him over his low key outfit of all black, not giving him a pass until they went on a quick shopping trip to fetch him a blazer to dress it up and complete the look.

He smirked to himself at the memory of her pulling him through the aisles of clothes. He recalled how her eyes lit up when she'd found the perfect match, making him try it on right there on the spot.

"There is something else," he told her. "I was waiting to tell you just in case it didn't work out."

She had the phone in hand, about to dial. "Something else? Yamato, what is it?'

"Come here."

She put the phone back and hastily made her way over, kneeling on the bed before him. He was leaning back into the white pillows, his arms crossed atop his chest and one leg bent at the knee. Her hands gripped the fabric of her dress over her thighs, apprehension building as she observed the disquiet of his face.

His sudden smile threw her off and her insides jolted in expectation of his words. "If you don't come with me, you'll miss out on a lot of fun. But I know how important school is to you."

"You guys got it!"

He grinned at her exuberance as she bounced up and down in her kneeling position. He hadn't mentioned the contract opportunity with his band in so long, he had honestly thought she'd forgotten about it. It had been just a little over a year since he first told her, and she hadn't brought it up either. He had been too nervous to set his heart on it, and he figured she had been too preoccupied with college and her plans for the future to care beyond their initial talk.

"I'm going with you. That's so obvious, Yamato. I don't know why you would think anything else. I'm thrilled for you- wow!"

She was on him before he could respond, her arms around his neck as she kissed him. He took her offered lips with a smile, winding his arms up her back to press her into him and deepen the kiss.

She broke away to look him in the eye, her face held inches from his. "Let's order quick, okay? Then we'll really celebrate."

He still had her locked in his embrace, not wanting to let her go. This was all too right to pass up. She was his, it was final, and he had waited three years. She smiled slyly down at him.

"You're such a gentleman, so chivalrous, right?" She used one hand to pat his chest lightly. "We'll wait and have our champagne first."

He relented, letting his arms drop to his sides. She slid off the bed and went once more for the phone and menu. He sat up with a groan, pulling rough fingers through his blonde hair in frustration. This certainly wasn't new, he was used to waiting for her. And tonight, with her loss of a fairytale wedding, it was the least he could do.

He outstretched a hand. "Let me see the menu."

"Don't be grumpy, you know you're hungry too. Did you eat today?"

"No, Mimi, I didn't."

"Then we're in the same hungry boat. Here." She handed it to him with a wide smile. "I'm thinking chocolate."

"I really wanted vanilla."

"Now you're just messing with me."

"I am, you're right. Like you said, I'm grumpy."

"Don't ruin my fun. You told me this morning that we could do anything I wanted."

"Haven't we? Aren't we?"

She nodded once. "Yes."

"Then let's continue. Get the phone. We need more than cake and alcohol. What else do you want?"

"You can decide that part."

"Pizza then."

"I'm pretty sure they don't have pizza. Yamato, don't be difficult."

"I'm being honest."

"More like honestly exasperated."

"That's true."

"Never mind then, I'll pick the rest too."

"Are we fighting over a meal? This is stupid."

"If you'd just drop the brooding thing we'd be good."

"I'm not brooding."

"You're not smiling either."

"Mimi, really?" He got up from his comfortable spot and held his hands in the air. "I'm taking a shower. Order for us, we'll eat and be happy, and then maybe we'll finish the day off right."

"Of course we will."

He gave her a last glance before shutting the bathroom door quietly behind him.

"Poor Yama-kun," she murmured, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. "He's perfect."