"I can't eat anymore." I said, pushing my now empty plate forward and leaning back in my chair. I watched with a small smile as Nathan stuffed another bite of lobster in his mouth and kept eating like there was no tomorrow.

"But there's dessert after." Nathan pouted at me, finishing up and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief as if he were a true gentlemen.

I chuckled. "I'll just have it to go." I grinned as he finished off his meal and leaned forward on the small table between us, a single candle glowing in the middle of it.

I thought these things only happened in the movies. But I was yet again, proven wrong by the guy sat in front of me. If there was such a thing of the most romantic dinner ever, this would be it.

Nathan had made this special night my most favorite, and one I would never forget. He had somehow managed to privately book the entire beach for the night, and had told me the surprise wasn't over just yet.

The tranquil, lovely atmosphere was suddenly interrupted as a recurring thought suddenly came up.

I looked over at Nathan, who had been silently studying me the whole time with a soft smile on his face. The crazy part was, I still got butterflies at that.

I debated even bringing it up, seeing as how beautiful and magical he had made this night for me. But I knew it was important and I needed to know.

"Hey, you never told me what you were doing in Europe for three months." I stated.

Nathan's eyes widened in surprise, before he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I was planning to tell you that later." He mumbled, biting his lip and looking down at the table.

I leaned forward and grabbed his hands, causing his eyes to snap up back to mine. "Sorry, I just kind of blurted my thoughts. It's been bugging me for a while now." Three months to be exact. "But you don't have to tell me right now." I added with a small smile. As much as it killed me to be left in the dark, I didn't want to spoil this amazing night. He had done all this for me. I should just shut up and be grateful instead of putting him in the hot seat with my questions. "Sorry if I ruined the mood." I said sheepishly.

He offered me a small smile, before standing up and holding out a hand.

I wordlessly took it and stood up with him, ignoring the pang of hurt that he wouldn't tell me.

But once again, he proved me wrong as we started to walk barefoot alongside the shore. I still had my poofy dress on, but at least my feet weren't killing me.

"When we finally got away from Ryland, my love for you only grew." He started off with a small smile, looking down at the sand as we walked. "I didn't want to leave your side once it was all over. After what you had done for me, I wanted to make sure you'd be the happiest girl on earth. I wanted to take care of you, treat you the way you deserved to be treated. I wanted you to move in with me, start a life together, maybe even get a cat." He looked over at me with a smirk and I could hear my heart thudding erratically.

I stared back at him with wide eyes, feeling flattered and shocked, but I remained silent.

"I planned on doing just that. But that day when I was at the hospital, I got a call from my dad. There wasn't anyone in my room so I answered. I hadn't talked to him in over a year, so it was surprising. We ended up having a long talk. I told him everything that happened after he left us, just so he knew his daughter was a killer and his son was a criminal because of him." Nathan clenched his fist in anger.

I took his fist in my hand and opened it slowly, before placing my own hand in his. He looked down at me, his eyes softening.

"I hadn't meant to tell him everything, but it all just flew out of my mouth. I told him about you, too. So once I had finished, he was in tears. It took awhile for him to get it together, but when he did, he sounded like the old dad I had. He was concerned and would not stop apologizing. I even considered hanging up at one point because he wouldn't shut up. But then I asked him why he'd left. He told me everything. My mother had been cheating on my dad, and he had found out. At first, I didn't believe him, but then pieced together the puzzle and realized it was true. All the times she left the house and came back late, saying she got caught up in work. When she'd discreetly sneak out to talk on the phone. She was cheating on my father, and no one knew it.

When he found out, he was heartbroken and wasn't thinking. He immediately left her, wanting nothing to do with her and too hurt to consider his kids. He thought he'd come back with divorce papers and try to get custody of us, but was too heartbroken to go through with it. So he moved halfway across the world to Belgium. He had a lot of time to recollect himself and figure things out, and was planning on coming back here, ready to divorce my mother and face us all. That was why he called me. At first I was angry. For having him dump all this on me just as my life was starting to get better. Also at my mother for lying. And for him being so cowardly to abandon his own kids to starve on the streets. But after a lot of yelling, arguing, and understanding, he asked me to come visit him there. After hearing my story with Ryland and you, he was concerned for my safety. He said it would be a good idea to get out of the country for a while, while the case was still open and investigation was still on. I automatically said no, refusing to leave your side and risk putting you in any more danger. But then he convinced me that you'd be in less danger without me. I realized he was right, I would be putting us both in danger while Ryland could still point fingers and the police could find me with you. So I decided to go there. It would be good for the both of us. We'd be safe, I'd get to talk things out with my dad some more, and I'd probably be back in a couple of days." Nathan let out a sigh, looking pained as he relived the story.

Before I could tell him he didn't have to do this right now, he continued on.

"Once I got there, my dad and I sorted most things out. I still couldn't forgive him for leaving us like that, but at least we were talking and he was making an effort. He even gave me a nice job under his company and I made good money from it. On top of it, he began sending Max, Jordan, and Dustin generous weekly allowances, paying for Hana's rehabilitation programs as well. But once I decided it was safe to go back home, he tried to get me to stay with him. He said he wanted me to live there with him, even invite Max, Jordan and Dustin too. I refused though, telling him how I wanted to spend my life with you. He wasn't too happy about it and did just about everything to get me to stay. He even went as far as to buying me a new car. I told him nothing he could do or buy would stop me from going back to you and my family.

That's when the bastard took my passport and all my cash the night before I was about to leave, hiding it away. I was pissed off and felt betrayed that he'd do that, but he kept telling me it was for the better. I soon realized he was only trying so desperately for me to stay because he was worried about his business and needed an heir to his throne. He told me if I wanted to leave, I'd have to work my way towards it.

So being left with no other choice as I knew involving the authorities could be risky, I spent the next couple of months trying to scrape together as much cash as I could. It took a while, but one night when he was out with some buddies, I snooped around his stuff and found my money and passport in a volt. I packed my bags as fast as I could and got the hell out of there, away from that psycho. And so here I am." Nathan finished with a sigh, looking at me, awaiting my reaction.

I blinked a few times and realized we had stopped in front of the ocean. "So you're saying you were gone for three months because your father convinced you to come to Belgium to protect us both, but instead took all of your money and forced you to work for him for three months?" I asked.

"Yeah, basically." He rubbed the back of his neck.

Well that explained why his father was always arguing with him in the background every time I called.

"And you didn't tell me any of this why?" I raised a brow.

"Because I didn't want to worry you. I had almost given you a heart attack when I was shot, I didn't want to stress you out even more." He admitted honestly.

"You did give me a heart attack when you were shot!" I corrected. "And you need to stop thinking about me all the time. It doesn't matter if you're putting me in danger; it's better than being left in the dark." I said with a hint of hurt in my voice, despite my attempt to cover it.

Nathan seemed to notice it too, and wrapped his arms around my waist, looking down at me.

"I wanted to. I honestly did and it killed me so much already not being with you for three months. I could only imagine what you were going through. So I didn't want to dump this on you too. You'd probably be in fear for my safety and your expectation of me coming back would die down." Nathan admitted.

"Yeah the truth hurts. But it won't drive me insane like not knowing did. If you had told me all of this from the start, I wouldn't have been running through all the worst possibilities and spending countless nights awake, wondering if you were okay." I spoke quietly.

"I know." Nathan whispered looking away.

"Then why?" I asked quietly. "If you knew that then why would you keep the truth from me?" I felt the tears well up in my eyes.

"Because I was afraid you'd realize I wasn't coming back and move on." Nathan blurted out.

I stared at him blankly, before whacking him on the forehead.

"Ow! What the hell woman!?" Nathan yelped, looking more shocked than pained. I don't think he was expecting that.

"Nathaniel whateveryourlastnameis." I started off in a threatening tone.

"My full name isn't even Nathaniel." Nathan muttered half heartedly.

"When will you realize that I love you more than anything and I am not going to leave you? Not now, not ever." I continued on, reaching up to grab his shirt. "Through thick, and through thin."

His eyes turned serious as he stared back.

"What part of 'I love you' do you not get? What do I need to do to prove it?" I asked helplessly.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm stupid--" Nathan started.

"Yes, you are. But tell me why you're so scared of me leaving you. Was it something I did?" I asked worriedly.

"No, you did nothing princess. You're perfect." Nathan quickly reassured me.

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"I just knew what I was doing to you, what I put you through, was so hard and a the complete opposite of what you deserved, especially after having fought a long hard battle against Ryland. I thought eventually you'd realize how stupid I was and get tired of waiting." Nathan admitted sheepishly.

"I did think many times that what you were doing was very stupid and unnecessary." I admitted, his eyes focused on me. "But if you'd told me you were there because of your dad from the very start, it would have made waiting for you that much more easier." I said genuinely, reaching up to place a hand softly on his cheek. "Of course I'd understand you and not blame you. You basically ended up getting kidnapped by your own father and him making you work your way towards freedom is almost slavery." I shook my head. "I know you had the purest intentions, and I really am sorry that you got tricked and let down by your father. You don't deserve that at all. I was upset with you while you were gone not for leaving, but for the way I felt in your absence. But it was a blessing in disguise. I reconnected with my friends, finished my school, and did a lot of productive things for myself. Waiting for you only made my love grow for you. It taught me strength and patience, and it made this moment that much more special. But just know you can trust that my love for you will never change, no matter the situation, the distance, the time. It doesn't matter to me, because my love for you goes beyond everything." I finished, feeling a tear escape from my brimming watery eyes

"You're too good for me Sky. I don't deserve you." He looked down at me in awe, wiping away the tear that had escaped.

I wanted to erase that. I wanted to erase any doubts of me loving him. I wanted to show him that he was loved. That he was so much more than he thought. That he was a rare piece of treasure that I had the honor of discovering.

"Do you know why I love you?" I suddenly asked.

He silently watched me, not knowing what to say.

That only fed my determination.

"I love you because you helped change me in the best way. Because you kept me safe in a time of fear and entrapment. Because you make me laugh and smile and feel like the happiest girl alive without even trying. Because you act all cocky but inside you're so full of love and compassion. Because you have this tragic past and you have gone through so much in such a short period, but you can still smile and laugh. Because you are strong, inspiring and help everyone around you no matter what. Because you care. God, you care so, so much, that even if the whole world worshiped me, I still wouldn't feel as precious as I do with you. Nathan, I love you truly, deeply, and eternally." By the time I finished, there were multiple tears streaming down my cheeks.

I was surprised to see a few tears had escaped Nathan's eyes as well as his striking emotional eyes gazed into mine. Suddenly I was being enveloped in a hug and I instantly clutched on to him.

Words could not describe this feeling. This moment. It was all so perfectly imperfect. I felt a calming shift between us as we held on to each other.

We probably would have stayed that way for the whole night, had there not been a couple of waiters walking towards our little table that we had left behind us a couple meters back.

"Hey, the date isn't over yet." Nathan spoke softly in my ear, pulling back slightly to look at me with a small smile.

"You're the boyfriend that just keeps on giving." I shook my head with a large grin on my face. "What more is there?" I asked.

"We still need to dance. I did kind of crash your school dance." Nathan smiled apologetically.

I chuckled. "Not like I would've danced anyways." I rolled my eyes.

"You can't seriously tell me that no guy asked you to dance." Nathan gave me a disbelieving look.

"Well there were a few. But you really think I'd dance with another man?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Sorry, I know. Insecurities. I'm working on that." Nathan smiled sheepishly at me.

"No, we're working on that. Come on." I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the lit up gazebo.

We walked back with dried tears on our faces, peaceful smiles, and love-struck expressions. I wonder what the waiters would think of us.

Luckily we didn't have any awkward encounters with them, because by the time we reached the gazebo, they had cleared up everything and placed the dessert under a silver case, now almost disappearing out of sight. They probably tried to avoid any encounters to give us some privacy, which was appreciated.

I let go of Nathan's hand as he walked over to a small doc station placed on the ground and chose a song.

A slow smile crept onto my face as I instantly recognized the tune. We didn't have a certain song to call ours like most couples did, but I think we just found our song.

My thought was correct as I looked up at the intense look in Nathan's eyes as he stepped to close the space between us and placed a hand on my hip, the other holding my hand. I stared back and placed my free hand on his shoulder, not being able to take my eyes away from his.

We swayed slowly to the beat, not really paying attention to our feet. Our attention was solely on each other. It was an unbreakable connection I felt.

A small smile slipped onto my face and Nathan returned it, pulling me closer as we danced the night away.

We kept dancing like that and lost track of all the songs playing. We danced until my feet were hurting and Nathan had to break away for some water. We agreed it was time to call it a night and silently walked back hand in hand, Nathan leading the way.

I wasn't expecting any more surprises, so when my eyes landed on the huge resort in front of us once we reached it, my jaw hit the floor.

"Nathan..." I trailed off in shock. He had once again, left me breathless.

"Come on princess, we best get to bed if we want to spend the whole day tomorrow out." Nathan tugged my hand as if we were retiring back to some cheap motel.

I shook my head, following him through the doors.

It took less than five minutes to get checked in, have these polite foreign men carry our bags up, and enter our room on the top floor.

I stepped into the room, still in a daze. Partially from all the dancing and talking we'd done, but now mostly from this huge resort, and now huge room in front of me.

"Make yourself at home. I'm gonna take a quick shower." Nathan spoke, walking off to the side.

The room consisted of a spacious living room with a large couch and TV, which had double doors off to the side that opened up to our room with a king sized bed with white marble tiles and beautiful flowers everywhere. It was truly a dream vacation come true.

And all because of this guy. This guy who was treating this as if it were nothing and walking away from me before I could even say a single 'thanks'.

"Hey!" I yelled, running after him. Just as he turned to face me, I attacked him with a hug, catching him off guard.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and threw my arms around his shoulders, burying my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar cologne that instantly calmed me and excited me at the same time. He took a few steps back from the impact and grabbed my legs at the last second, preventing us from falling.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" I repeated over and over again excitedly, clutching onto him.

I felt his chest vibrate in laughter as he lifted a hand to cup my cheek, making me look at him.

"It's the least I can do after ditching you for three months." He shrugged.

I widened my eyes at that. "Nathan, the least most guys would do is buy some nice chocolate and flowers with an 'I'm sorry' balloon. This is something couples envy for their honeymoon!" I exclaimed.

"Well I guess you'll be blown away for our honeymoon." Nathan winked at me, causing my breathing to stop and my heart rate to go into overdrive.

Before I could respond, he let go of my legs and gently lowered me to the floor, before making his way over to the washroom.

"Wait, what's your last name?" I suddenly blurted out.

" Already planning our wedding cards?" Nathan shot me a smirk over his shoulder. "I guess you can know what your last name will be soon. It's MacCallum."

I watched his retreating back as I stood there, and could not stop the next words from coming out. "Skylar MacCallum."

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A/N

HEY so this was unexpected.. I was sure this would be the last chapter, but somehow I ended up typing this. Welp, the end will probs be either next chapter or the one after, plus an epilogue.

Anywhooo, hope you all enjoyed. HIS LAST NAME IS FINALLY REVEALED! Hehehehe.

I got a new laptop so it is easier to work in this story noww :D K I need some sleep now I'm so drained. Happy Friday. PEACE

Please vote also, it was 9 pages on word D:

Love you all! Have a good one :)

PS I haven't forgotten about the dares, I will post the winner and new one here when I can. But idk when that will be.. K BYE

~Ghostface