Chapter Fourteen

Linka woke early, and for a moment she didn't know where she was. The soft, rhythmic breathing beside her reassured her however, and opening her eyes she smiled, gazing at the slumbering form of her handsome partner. They were in his childhood bedroom and it was Wheelers 21st birthday. The other planeteers would be arriving in a few hours for an informal party, but the couple had decided to spend a couple of days visiting the fire-planeteers parents beforehand.

Manoeuvring within the space of his arms, Linka lent across his chest to reach for the bag she had placed under the bed. Unable to find it, she wriggled a bit further to look over the side, and swore softly in her native tongue when she realised it had been pushed further back.

While she was trying to stretch a little further in order to reach it, Wheeler woke up. Laughing softly he asked, "What are you doing Babe?"

"Trying to reach one of my bags," she replied, "Got it! Can you pull me up please?"

Chuckling again he sat up and carefully lifted her back up into his arms, "There that's better." He said kissing her, "Good morning."

"Good morning Matthew, and Happy Birthday!" she replied happily, giving him a squeeze before rummaging around in her bag to retrieve his present and giving it to him, dropped the bag back on the floor. "I told your mother what I wanted to get you and she helped me pick something relevant for your culture, I hope you like it."

He kissed her head and scooted them both back against the pillows, so that they could sit upright with his arm still around her. "Thanks Babe." He removed the wrapping paper to reveal a small square box and opening it was surprised to find a silver necklace with a pendant, obviously one intended to be worn by a man. "A Saint Christopher!" he exclaimed, recognising the design.

"Da, to protect you when you are from home." Linka explained sounding a little worried. "You're mother said it was appropriate for a 21st…"

The fire-planeteer was gazing at her in wonder and now he raised his hand to lovingly caress her cheek, "It's perfect Lin, and it means so much that you care for me that way."

"I love you." She said simply.

Linka put the charm around her lovers neck and then they kissed for a while, holding each other as if they never intended to let go. As their lips parted Wheeler said, "I have something for you too."

Smirking a little the wind planeteer asked, "Is that an innuendo?"

Wheeler laughed, "No, but if that's an offer, just hold the thought for a few minutes okay." He opened his bedside cabinet and retrieved a small box, handing it to the beautiful Russian.

"But it is your birthday Matthew, you should not be giving me things…" Linka protested.

Looking a little nervous he said, "Well it's for me too, open it."

Doing as she was told, the wind planeteer gasped. The box contained a very beautifully cut diamond ring in a dainty setting.

"It was my Grandmothers, I hope you don't mind?" She shook her head but didn't say anything so he continued. "Look I'm not good a speeches so go easy on me okay? I'm in love with you, I have been since we met and I know I always will be. I call you beautiful because you are, not just on the outside but in your heart and it radiates out. I need you to be with me forever Lin, I know I don't really deserve you but I swear I'll do everything I can to make you happy… Will you marry me?"

He was more nervous than he had ever been in his life and seeing her start to cry didn't help. God I hope that's because she's happy… say something!

"Should I get down on my knee's?" he added.

Raising her eyes to meet his she gave a watery chuckle, "Nyet Matthew, it was perfect just the way you did it. And da, of course I will marry you, if you do not deserve me it must be because you deserve better but I don't care, you are mine and I'm not letting you go ever."

As her words sunk in, a grin spread across the fire planeteers face and he pulled her into a tight embrace that left them both breathless. Then he took the ring from the box and slid it onto Linka's left ring finger. "It is so precious Matthew, are you sure you trust me with it?"

"Don't be daft of course I trust you with it, besides you're more precious than any ring anyway." He was going to kiss her again, when the door opened.

"Oh, I'm sorry Matt, Linka." His mother said cheerfully, not sounding in the least bit sorry, but much to Linka's relief, obviously not bothered about finding them like that either. "I thought you might like to be woken up so that you have time to get ready before your friends get here." Then she headed back out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Wheeler sighed and Linka stroked the side of his face, "Come on LyubOv," she said sitting up, "we can be alone later."

"Is that a promise?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows and making her giggle, but she nodded and winked at him, before heading to the bathroom.

Linka had kept her left hand hidden as well as she could until all their friends had arrived, although when Wheelers' Grandfather had joined them and taken an instant liking to her, she asked him if he minded that she was wearing his wife's ring. Delighted by her news, he had risen and given her a hug, demanding that she call him Grandpa.

Trish and her mother had come over too, which Linka wasn't entirely happy about, but given the announcement they were about to make, she'd decided not to let it bother her. A fact she reminded herself of when Gi came over and asked her quietly, "Isn't that Trish a bit too friendly with Wheeler, I mean I got that they were old friends but does she know you're going out with him?"

Linka shrugged, "Probably not but I do not think it would make a difference if she did. She is an old girlfriend and… they are very comfortable with each other but Wheeler says it is all in the past."

"Yeah I could just see him saying that if it were Greg being friendly with you like that!" Gi replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Linka laughed and nodded but said, "I trust him." Then after a moment, "But I do not have to like it." She walked forward and deliberately put herself between the two old friends, taking his hand as she did so, much to Wheelers amusement.

When Wheeler had opened his presents and thanked everyone, (and blown out the candles on his cake at his mothers insistence and his own embarrassment), the fire planeteer looked at his girlfriend, with a question in his eyes. She nodded in response.

"Hey guys," he called to get everyone's attention. "I have something to tell you." Smiling, he took his fiancée's hand in his and looking into her eyes as she smiled lovingly up at him, announced, "Lin and I are engaged."

THE END

A/N: All done! Please let me know what you think and my thanks to those who have been reviewing as I went along, you're the reason I finished so quickly it has to be a record for me!