Authors' note: This chapter is a little short, but we hope that you guys will enjoy it just the same. We know a few people have been confused about ages and things, but we are working on putting something up in the next few days on the orkut group to kind of clear things up. Thanks so much for the great responses to the time jump chapters. This week gets you caught up with Darla. As always, we thank you guys for continuing to read and we just ask that you leave a review to let us know what you think!
And for those of you who would like something to read while you wait for our next chapter, we highly recommend Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. A great series that hooked both of us right from the start.
"Rafe!" Darla said, laughing as her four year old son ran away from her. "You need to put your shoes on!"
"Catch me first!" Rafe called out over his shoulder.
The little boy had almost gotten to the door when he was swept up. "Are you causing trouble again?" Liam asked with a grin.
Rafe laughed. "Put me down!"
"Only with shoes on," Liam told him. "You know you can't go outside without them."
"Where are we going?" Rafe asked as Liam set him down.
"We're going to the park," Liam told him.
Rafe grinned. "I love the park."
Liam hugged him. "I know you do, buddy."
Darla smiled from the doorway. She and Liam had been dating for three years and things had been great. Hans was still busy with his career, but he saw Rafe when he could. She and Hans were friendly, which Darla knew was good for Rafe. It had taken them a long time to get where they were, but they both wanted to give Rafe a happy childhood.
Rafe had come to love Liam and it made Darla's heart swell to see the way the two of them interacted with each other. She gave them one last look before heading downstairs to make sure she had everything packed and ready.
"Can you push me on the swings?" Rafe asked Liam.
Liam pretended to think about it. "I think that can be arranged." He looked over his shoulder to make sure that Darla wasn't around. "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about, Rafe."
"What?" Rafe asked curiously.
Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it up to reveal the ring he hoped to give to Darla that day. "You think your mum will like this?"
Rafe's eyes widened. "That's big!"
Liam grinned. "Well, I was thinking of giving this to your mum today. But, since you're the man of the house, I thought I would run it past you first. To see if you'd be okay with me asking her to marry me."
"Would you get to live here all the time?" Rafe asked.
Liam nodded. "Only if it was okay with you, buddy."
Rafe tipped his head to the side. "I think it's okay. Mummy really loves you."
"I really love you and your mum very much," Liam said.
"We love you too," the little boy hugged him.
"What's going on slowpokes?" Darla asked from the doorway.
"Nothing," Liam shoved the ring back into his pocket. "Rafe's just going to put his shoes on."
Darla grinned. "I just finished loading up the picnic basket."
"YUM!" Rafe shouted. "Eat now!"
Darla laughed. "No, buddy. We have to wait until we're at the park. We'd get there faster if someone would put his shoes on though..."
Rafe ran into the kitchen and Liam laughed. "Nothing like the promise of food..."
"We're Weasleys," Darla grinned reaching for his hand. "And this was a perfect idea you had. It's been ages since I had a picnic."
"Same here," Liam drew her close. "And nothing like spending the day with the people I love."
Darla smiled. "And the night?"
"I'll always spend the night when you want me to," he said softly.
Darla leaned in for a kiss.
"Love you," he said with a grin when they pulled apart.
"Love you," Darla echoed, just as Rafe called out for them from the kitchen. "Come on. Let's go!"
"You are a very impatient little boy," Darla teased her son.
Rafe grinned up at her. "Come on, Mummy!"
"I'm coming," Darla took his hand as Liam grabbed the picnic basket.
The three of them headed for the park. Liam was uncharacteristically silent and Darla wondered what was on his mind. Perhaps, he had heard from his parents?
"You okay?" she asked.
"Fine," Liam replied.
He wasn't telling her something, Darla figured.
"So," Darla said to her son. "What are you going to want to do first?"
"The slide," Rafe said immediately.
Darla grinned. "Your favourite..."
"And then after I eat, you can push me on the swings," Rafe sent his mother a charming grin.
Darla laughed. "Oh, that would be an honour."
"I know," he said, laughing.
It seemed as if there were other people with the same idea. The park was nearly full with people enjoying the sun and warm weather. They found an empty space under the trees and set up the blanket.
"You go play until we're done getting everything out," Darla told her son. "But don't go far."
Rafe nodded. "Kay, Mummy."
"He's such a good kid," Liam said, watching as the little boy ran off.
"He is," Darla said, setting the food out on the blanket.
Liam stuck his hand in his pocket and felt the little box. Was this the right time, he wondered.
"So, are you going to tell me what's going on?" Darla asked.
"What?" he jumped. "What are you talking about?"
Darla giggled. "You didn't say anything on the walk over here."
"Just enjoying the weather," Liam covered.
Darla did not believe him for a moment, but she decided to let it go for now.
"Rafe!" she called.
The little boy ran back over to them. "Ready?"
"Dig in, mate." Liam told him.
Rafe grinned and reached for a sandwich.
"Don't you eat too fast," Darla said. "You can play after you're done."
Rafe happily dug into the peanut butter sandwich. "I didn't miss it, did I?"
"Miss what?" Darla asked him.
From behind Darla, Liam was shaking his head.
"Nothing," Rafe said impishly.
Darla looked over at Liam who wore a matching expression on his face. "What is going on here?"
"Nothing," Rafe said again, laughing.
Darla couldn't resist laughing, too. "Apparently this is some boys only secret that I'm not
supposed to know, eh?
"Not yet," Rafe said before taking another bite of his sandwich.
"Juice?" Liam asked, eager to change the subject.
"Yes please," Rafe nodded as Darla looked suspiciously at them both.
Liam grinned and handed Rafe a juice box.
Darla closed her eyes as a soft breeze blew by. "This is absolutely lovely..."
"Perfect," Liam agreed.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"You know what might make it even better?" Liam asked.
"What's that?" she asked.
"If you'd stand up," Liam told her with a grin.
"What?" Darla was confused.
"Stand up, please," Liam told her.
Darla uncertainly got to her feet. "Okay..."
Liam stood up, too. He tried to collect his thoughts. He had spent hours thinking over how he would ask this and now that the moment was here, he wasn't quite sure what to say. He smiled at Darla and slowly got down on one knee.
Darla gasped as she realised what was going on. "Liam!"
Liam pulled the ring from his pocket. "Darla, these last three years have been the happiest of my life. I feel like I finally have a home and a family with you and Rafe. I was hoping that you would do me the great honour of being my wife. Will you marry me?"
"You should say yes," Rafe told his mother.
Darla looked over at her son who was grinning. He obviously knew about this and he obviously was okay with it. She turned back to Liam and felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yes," she answered. "Yes."
Liam looked up at her. "You will?"
Darla nodded. "I love you, Liam."
Liam slid the ring onto her finger. "I love you too, Darla."
Rafe made a face. "Are you going to kiss?"
Darla laughed. "Just a quick one, love."
"Eww," Rafe replied.
Darla put her arms around Liam and hugged him tightly.
"Come here mate," Liam said to his soon to be stepson. "You deserve a part in this one."
Rafe set his sandwich down and walked over to them. He was engulfed in a hug and he laughed. "This is about like Nana Molly's hugs!"
"Yes it is," Darla kissed his cheek.
Liam mussed Rafe's hair. "I asked his permission before I asked you."
"Cause I'm man of the house," Rafe recited.
Darla smiled. "Yes, you are."
Rafe grinned at his mother. "It's a big ring."
Darla held out her hand and looked at her ring. "It's beautiful."
"Like you," Liam tucked a strand of her long red hair behind her ear.
Darla gave him a kiss. "Oh, Liam."
"I'll make you happy," he whispered to her as Rafe went back to his meal.
"You already have," Darla told him.
"Happier, then." Liam told her.
Darla leaned against him. "So this was why you were so quiet on the way over here. Nervous?"
"A little," he confessed.
Darla smiled. "You did brilliantly."
He gave her another kiss.
"Mummy, when are you going to get married?" Rafe asked.
Darla laughed. "I don't know. What do you think?"
Rafe thought this over. "Tomorrow?"
Liam laughed too. "It doesn't happen that quickly, mate."
"He should know since he sees his aunt and me put them together," Darla said tugging affectionately at her son's shoe.
"It's girly stuff," Rafe made a face.
"Don't you want to be in the wedding?" Darla asked him.
"What do I have to do?" he asked suspiciously.
"Wear a nice suit and have your grandmother gush about how cute you look," Darla teased.
Rafe made another face. "Mummy!"
Liam laughed. "How about something even more important then?"
"What?" Rafe asked.
Liam looked at him. "How about best man?"
Rafe's eyes widened, as did Darla's.
"Isn't that supposed to be your best mate?" Rafe asked.
Liam had several friends he could have asked- including his brother, but he shook his head.
"If you're up for it, I think you're the best man for the job."
"Really?" Rafe asked excitedly. "That's pretty cool."
"That's really nice of you," Darla said to him.
Liam grinned. "There's no one else I could imagine standing up there with me."
"Cool," Rafe sent his soon to be stepfather a grin.
Darla squeezed Liam's hand.
"I would like a small wedding," Darla said to him. "Nothing big... just family and some close friends."
Liam nodded in agreement. "Whatever you want. You are the expert after all."
Darla laughed. "When did you want to be married?"
"Well, it's May now," Liam replied.
"August?" Darla asked.
"Sure," Liam replied.
"It's always a nice month for a wedding," Darla told him.
"August it is," Liam said.
"The fourth," Rafe said.
"The fourth?" Darla asked. "Why the fourth?"
"Cause I like that day," Rafe said innocently.
Darla reached for her bag and pulled out her planner. She flipped through until she reached August and grinned. "It's on a Friday."
"I think that sounds perfect," Liam said.
"I can't wait to tell Drew!" Darla said excitedly.
"I hope she'll be happy too," Liam replied.
"Are you kidding?" Darla asked. "She's going to be over the moon. She kept asking me when you were going to propose..."
"I thought about mentioning it to her, but I did go see your dad about it," Liam told her.
Darla smiled. "You did?"
"He was pretty happy to see me ask," Liam said.
Rafe finished his sandwich and reached for some crisps. "Mummy, is Daddy going to come?"
"Umm... probably not." Darla replied.
"Oh," Rafe said thoughtfully.
"If your daddy gets remarried, I wouldn't go to his wedding," Darla said. "It doesn't work that way."
"Is Daddy going to marry Michelle?" Rafe asked, referring to his father's current girlfriend.
"I don't know," Darla smoothed his hair back. "I hope he does, if that makes him happy."
"Like you and Liam?" Rafe asked.
"Just like that," Darla told him.
Rafe spotted one of his friends from school and he asked Darla if he could go and play.
"Go ahead," Darla said. "But don't go far."
Rafe gave her a kiss on the cheek before running off to join his friend.
Liam chuckled. "He's a funny kid."
"He is," Darla said turning to look at Liam. "And you were so sweet to ask him to be your best man."
"He's important to me," Liam said as they leaned back on the blanket together. "I want him to know that."
"He does," Darla said touching Liam's cheek. "And it meant a lot to me that you asked him first, too."
Liam leaned in and gave her a kiss. "I wanted to do everything right."
"You did," Darla said. "You sure you haven't done this before?"
Liam shook his head. "I always thought I'd be retiring before I wound up getting married."
Darla smiled. "You just hadn't met the right girl..."
"Not until you walked into my exam room," he said, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger.
"I'll have to thank Lizzy for going into practise with you," Darla said softly.
"And for being late that morning so you had to come see me," Liam brushed his lips over hers.
"And my mother always told me that being late would only lead to trouble," Darla grinned.
"In this case--" Liam began jokingly.
Darla cut him off with a kiss.
"I was going to say that the early bird catches the worm," Liam said when they pulled apart.
"I know what I'd like to catch," Darla said huskily.
"You already have me," he said softly.
"Well," Darla said. "Tonight after Rafe goes to sleep, I think we can celebrate our engagement properly..."
"I like the way you think," Liam replied. "I'll bring the champagne."
Darla smiled and leaned against him again. They watched Rafe playing happily with his friend.
"I hope this will cheer Maddie up," Darla said. "Maybe helping us out will take her mind off Gregory."
"How's she doing?" Liam asked.
"Okay," Darla said. "Drew goes over there nearly every day and Maddie just cries on her shoulder. I think Ethan's at his wits end- he doesn't know what else to do."
"She should talk to someone," Liam said. "She and Ethan both."
"They have," Darla replied. "She's doing better than she was. Last week she was still moping in bed, but this week she's been up and about. Her other babies need her, and I think she finally realized that."
"That's a big step," Liam said thoughtfully.
"I'm proud of her," Darla said. "I can't imagine what I'd be like if I lost Rafe."
"She's lucky to have such a good support system," Liam said.
Darla nodded. "It wasn't easy on Drew when it happened to her. She only had me."
"Hope," Liam said quietly.
Darla nodded.
"How old would she be now?" Liam asked.
"Ten or eleven," Darla replied.
Liam put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
"It was a tough time, but we got through it," Darla said. "Maddie will be okay... eventually.
It's just going through the healing process."
Liam nodded.
"Anyway," Darla said. "It's a happy day. I'm engaged to the man I love."
Liam grinned and gave her a kiss. "This is just the beginning, Darla."