Chapter Text
(Short Last chapter)
*** Two years later ***
Somewhere in the middle of a beach in Monaco, France.
No P.O.V.
Chester and Ana were spent from their 14 hours flight to Monaco.
Mr. and Mrs. Clemonte enjoyed the country so much, they started doing vacations twice or thrice a year in the same location, in the same hotel. What's worth working so much if you can't enjoy your own money?
This time, they had everything prepared to go, but a last-minute deal stopped them from going. So, instead of canceling, they told Ana she could go with Chester and enjoy the wonderful beaches by themselves.
Ana has been working with Richard for two years now and has become his right arm. She has been developing her own field of research and she has been accomplishing exceptional results, and that is why Chester couldn't be prouder of her.
Chester, on the other hand, continues teaching music at the university, but his mental health has improved significantly, mostly due to having Ana in his life, but also because he has seen how happy he can feel and how life can be good for him. Mike is becoming a close friend of him, but he still feels guilty for everything he put Chester through. The group of old school friends is together and complete, at last, frequently going out together like old times.
Besides that, Ana still needs to help him go through some hard stuff, like, forgiving his parents. It has been a gradual process, but Chester is walking on baby steps towards his family. Rene has been a great help, trying to connect him with their family, but Chester was the one in charge and he was the one who could decide if he was comfortable or not around them. Nevertheless, he started going to family dinners, and that was lifting a tremendous pressure off Ana and Chester's shoulders.
So, their lives are going better than expected.
And those paid vacations in Monaco were more than welcome since they have been feeling exhausted due to their workload.
After their long flight, they were tired and needed to take a nap before exploring the small country. The suite booked was huge, too big for just the two of them. After exploring every corner of it, the first thing they did was try the jacuzzi and go to bed to get some rest.
Obviously, they ended up getting more tired and, only after ravishing each other, they finally rested on each other's arms.
When they woke up, Ana - a beach lover - wanted to walk through the beaches, so she dragged Chester from the bed and forced him to dress up in his swimming trunks. It was almost 7 P.M. local time, so they were only able to enjoy one more hour of the hot European sun as they walked on the sand. The time didn't stop them from wandering for more than two hours though and it was such a relaxing moment that Ana wished she could repeat several times.
Chester walked behind Ana, a little slower than her, cherishing the beauty of the sea, and how Ana's long dark hair was flying with the soft beach breeze. The direction of the wind made him feel her coconut shampoo in the air, a scent that he adores because it assures him he has Ana by his side, that she wasn't just a dream. A delightful dream.
Ana took her phone in her hands and opened the camera, not resisting the urge to take a picture of the beautiful landscape in front of her. The calm and warm Mediterranean sea, the thick but soft sand and the charming lights of the buildings, particularly the famous casino Monte Carlo.
"I'm hungry," Ana ended up saying, spinning around and walking back, facing Chester who had the most delicate smile on his face. She couldn't help but smile too, as she noticed his carefree expression and the look of peace in his eyes as he took mental pictures of the serene sea.
Chester finally looked at her.
"I was thinking about buying food and come back to the beach," he said, with a pinch of anxiety in his voice that Ana noticed. "I bet the sky here is beautiful."
Ana looked up at the sky and nodded her head.
"That's a good idea," she grabbed his hand and pointed to the road near the sand line. "I think I saw a market up there."
They bought food and used their beach towels as a table cloth. They bought several snacks, not minding the lack of healthy food around. They were on vacation, that's not the kind of thing you worry about.
After finishing their dinner, Ana leaned back on her elbows and gawked at the sea quietly and lost in her own thoughts.
Chester took some things to the trash bin nearby and walked back to the towel, stopping a few inches away, looking down at Ana. Her eyes were glued to the horizon with such a captivating gleam that he couldn't wait to have her again, under Europe's moonlight.
Suddenly, he felt nervous again. He felt anxious.
He searched for something in his backpack with his hands oddly shaking. Ana didn't even acknowledge his near presence. Instead, she wheezed excitedly when she observed a shooting star, lightening up the sky and vanishing seconds later in the line of the horizon.
"Chester, make a wish!" She said, the pure enthusiasm behind her voice melting him to the core.
He didn't reply, though.
"Ana," he called her name softly.
"What???" She asked without turning her head to him.
"Ana," he said again, clearing his throat.
Ana finally looked at him and covered her mouth in shock and surprise as she sat down in the towel.
"Ana Clemonte," he said on his knees, revealing a silver wedding ring inside a small velvety box. "I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone, and I can't imagine living a life you're not in. I want to share every moment with you, the good and the bad, if you'll have me. Six years ago, I had the great honor of calling you my girlfriend. It would be a greater honor to call you my wife. Will you marry me?"
Ana's breathing became heavy and her dark eyes became teary. Her throat became dry and she could swear her heart stopped beating for some moments until it started beating faster than ever.
"Yes, yes! I want to marry you!" She replied, kneeling in front of him, pulling him to a deep and emotional kiss.
Chester pulled away and took her hand, putting the ring on her finger.
"I wanted to propose a long time ago, but I wanted you to enjoy what you didn't enjoy before. I wanted you to finish your studies, build your career, and now, you're this amazing, perfect, wonderful woman -- strong, independent -- and I couldn't wait any longer..."
"I love you," she simply said, smiling as a tear of joy strolled down her cheek.
"I love you too," he said, huffing a laugh in his throat. "I'm so relieved right now."
"Why? Were you nervous?" Ana laughed and Chester nodded, the seriousness in his tone making her expression melt. "You thought I could say no?"
"Obviously," he said, playing with the ring in my finger nervously.
"I'd never," I said honestly.
"Besides, I planned this trip with your parents, it would be a waste if you'd said no," Chester said, a devilish smirk on his lips.
"What??? What do you mean planned?"
"Well..." He started speaking in a guilty tone and Ana's smile grew wider. "They didn't have any vacations planned. This was all for us. I asked your parents for their blessing to ask you to marry me and they offered us this trip. You loved the photos they took when they came here... so, I couldn't say no."
"This is perfect," Ana said, sitting on his lap and kissing him intensely.
"You're perfect," he muttered as he slowly and barely brushed his lips against hers. "I can't wait to be married to you."
"Me neither," she chuckled.
"I'm glad you didn't say no," he smiled, kissing his fiancé slowly and passionately, as he leaned forward, laying Ana on the beach towel.
The night wasn't over for them just yet, nor their love story.