CHAPTER ONE

Laura and Remington stood in the darkness waiting for the other to say something. As they gazed into each other's eyes, both felt as if they were looking into the other's soul. No words were needed, no attempt at seduction. It was just them, alone, steps away from the waiting bed. They moved in harmony with precision that was so perfect it seemed as if they had been lovers for eternity. When the passion finally overtook them, tears flowed from both his and her eyes while they held each other tightly in the early morning hours, wondering if this blissful feeling would stay until dawn or perhaps even forever.

As the sun rose over the Irish countryside, she slept peacefully snuggled in his strong, yet gentle arms. He was already awake and softly stroked her beautiful hair as he felt the warmth of her breath against the side of his chest. It was the first time he watched her wake up knowing that she was completely and totally his and he savored every moment. A few more minutes passed and then he felt her lashes flutter against his skin.

Laura moved her head and was met with the ocean blue eyes that she had lost herself in four years before. He leaned in and kissed her but he did so with a feeling he hadn't experienced until that very moment. It was a feeling of never wanting to let go, never wanting her to be more than an arm's length away, and suddenly he couldn't imagine spending a day without hearing the soft lilt of her voice. As their lips moved away from each other, she took a deep breath and exhaled with a sigh of pure contentment and the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly with the hint of a smile.

He looked at her face, her eyes still closed and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"So many things... I'm thinking about never wanting to leave this room. Never wanting to go back to the 'real world'. Wondering how long it will be before Mildred or one of the servants knocks on the door and disturbs our magical moment."

He laughed as he traced the shape of her face. His touch made her open her eyes again and they both smiled with a mixture of joy and anticipation.

Laura's face then turned to one of nervous hesitation. "So Mr. Steele, I guess the moment of truth has arrived. What happens after the magical moment?"

"This..." Equally nervous, he turned away from her and reached for a drawer. Removing a small velvet box he turned back to face her. Her eyes lit up as he opened the tiny box and revealed a ring. "I know this isn't exactly the best place in the world to do this, but if we want to beat Mildred, Mikeline and the others, then there's not much of a choice."

He removed the ring from the box and slowly slid it onto her finger. "Laura, I know there have been moments when you've regretted ever allowing me into your life. I know that I've done things that have made you doubt my loyalty, my sincerity and my commitment to you. I never want you to feel like you can't trust me, like you can't turn to me when things go wrong and above all else, I never want you to think that just because you haven't heard me say it, means that I don't love you, because I do. More than anyone or anything I could have ever imagined. What comes after the magical moment is a lifetime of more of the them. I don't want to leave today unless it's with you truly as my wife. Marry me Laura. Forget about the INS, the sham marriage, Shannon and Tony. Think with your heart instead of your head and let me spend the rest of my life showing you how very much I care."

Laura wiped away tears as she listened to his words. She knew by the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes that he meant every single word. As much as she wanted to answer him, her own words failed to come. She could only nod in agreement as she pulled him closer and rested her head against his chest. Before the end of the day, she would become Mrs. Remington Steele.