Chapter 40: The Future Together
The Parisian dream had felt like a fairytale. Yet, now that they were back in their everyday world, everything felt different. It was as if the time they spent together in the city of love had elevated their bond, transforming it into something deeper, more powerful. The memories of their time there—full of love, laughter, and tenderness—were etched in Elvis's heart, and the realization that she had a future with Alex was enough to make her believe in the beauty of tomorrow.
As she sat on the balcony of their new home, looking out over the quiet streets, Elvis felt a sense of contentment wash over her. For the first time in a long while, she felt at peace. The world around them was still filled with uncertainty, but with Alex by her side, she knew they could handle anything that came their way.
"Hey," Alex said softly, his presence behind her a comforting warmth. "You okay?"
Elvis turned to look at him, offering a small smile. His eyes were soft, full of understanding, and the affection in them made her heart flutter. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm just… thinking."
"About what?" Alex asked, taking a step closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.
"I was just thinking about everything that's happened," Elvis said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We've come so far, Alex. From the moment we met, to everything we've gone through, it feels like… a lifetime. But now, it feels like we're finally in a place where we can truly be happy."
Alex smiled, moving to stand beside her. "We are happy, Elvis. And I'll make sure it stays that way. I don't care what happens, we'll always have each other. No matter what comes our way."
Elvis felt a rush of emotion, the love and devotion in his words lifting her spirits. "You're right," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We've been through so much, but together, we've made it. We've survived everything, and now… we get to build our future."
"We already are," Alex replied, his fingers brushing against hers, the simple touch enough to send a wave of warmth through her body. "We've got everything we need—each other, our love, and now, we've got a home. But there's more, Elvis. I've been thinking about the future too, about what comes next for us."
Elvis raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the seriousness in his tone. "What do you mean?"
Alex took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity she had never seen before. "I mean, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want us to build a family, a future, and a legacy together. I want you to be my wife, Elvis."
The words hit her like a wave. For a moment, Elvis could barely process what he had just said. She had imagined this moment before—wondered if Alex would ever feel the same way she did—but to hear him say it so plainly, so honestly, left her speechless.
"You… you want to marry me?" she whispered, her heart racing in her chest.
Alex smiled softly, cupping her face in his hands. "More than anything. I've always known you were the one for me, Elvis. And I want to spend every day with you, making memories, building our life. Will you be my wife?"
Tears welled in Elvis's eyes as she nodded. "Yes," she said, her voice shaky but filled with certainty. "Yes, Alex, I will. I want to be with you, forever."
The moment stretched on, both of them standing there, connected not just by their love, but by the shared understanding of what their future held. They had faced so much, and now, together, they were ready to face anything else that came their way.
Alex's face broke into a grin, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I can't believe you said yes. I promise, Elvis, I'm going to make every single day count. I'm going to love you with everything I have."
Elvis buried her face in his chest, feeling the weight of everything that had happened—the battles, the pain, the uncertainty—all melting away in this moment of pure love. They had both fought for this—fought for each other, and now they were finally going to have the life they deserved.
"I can't wait," Elvis whispered, pulling back slightly to look up at him. "But first, there's something I've been wanting to do. I know we've been through a lot, but we've never had time to just be us, to really enjoy each other without any distractions. What do you think about going on a vacation? Just the two of us, somewhere far away from everything."
Alex smiled, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I'd love that. Where do you want to go?"
Elvis thought for a moment before an idea struck her. "Paris. I've always wanted to go there, and it feels like the perfect place for us. It's romantic, beautiful, and it's where we first really opened up to each other. Plus, I've heard there's a place there that we could make our own."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "A place? What do you mean?"
Elvis took a deep breath, trying to keep her excitement in check. "I've been thinking. While we were in Paris, I found a house—a beautiful place. It's just waiting for us. If we're going to start our life together, why not have a place that's ours, in a city that means so much to us?"
Alex was quiet for a moment, clearly processing her words. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. "I love that idea. Let's make it happen, Elvis. Let's start our future together in Paris."
The idea of starting fresh in a new city, a city full of romance and history, filled Elvis with a sense of possibility. She had never imagined that her life could take such a turn—that she would go from a world filled with chaos and danger to one filled with love and peace. But now, with Alex by her side, she was ready to face whatever came next.
"Let's go," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Let's make our future, Alex."
And so, they made their plans. They would leave for Paris in just a few days, the start of their new chapter. But even more than that, they would begin the journey of building a life together—one filled with love, laughter, and everything they had dreamed of.
The future was uncertain, yes, but with each other, they knew they could take on anything that came their way.