| Fan Fiction |
by bratinella
Ariel gently pulled away from Joe. She reached for the drawer and opened it. She took the letter from her jewelry box and gave it to him.
"This is a big mistake, Ariel. I didn't wrote this."
"That... was your handwriting," she said confusingly.
He shook his head. "No. Whoever Tiffany paid to wrote this letter really did a good job. Except from some strokes, it can be mistaken as my handwriting. Except for two important things you failed to notice, my sweetheart." He looked at her affectionately. He drew her closer to his body again and laid her down on the bed.
"What two things?"
"I haven't used your name on the heading of all my written communications with you. Isn't it always sweetheart? Second, my name..."
"Yes! Joe was signed here!" Ariel sat quickly on the bed and took the paper from Joe's hand. She crumpled the letter then, threw it on the floor.
"I've always signed all my letters for you with just a J, right?" he whispered so softly as he drew her close again, wrapping her in his arms.
"Why didn't I noticed it? Why?" She hugged him, trying to hide her sobs on his chest.
"Hush..." He kissed her hair softly. "I also haven't thinked that you'll relay your message to me through other people. We have wasted so many years, sweetheart, but we have a lifetime to compensate it. We'll straighten out all the wrong things that the people here believed in."
"Why did my parents allowed you to stay here in my room and where are they?" Ariel asked, pulling away from Joe's embrace.
"Because I promised them that we will be married very soon. And my parents will come here later to talk to your parents about our wedding."
"How did your parents find out?"
"When I left your house last night, I called my parents long distance and explained everything from A to Z. Believe me, sweetheart, I had a hard time telling them the truth. We were burning lines and they are so mad at me 'coz they said and I quoted, I've damaged you," Joe said, laughing.
"What did they say?" From the bottom of her heart, Ariel felt an overwhelming happiness.
"They won't forgive me if right at this day, I can't bring their granddaughter to our house. I had a hint that your parents will be going home without Athena. Mama and Papa wouldn't agree that our daughter won't be left with them."
"Oh, Joe!"
"Ariel, I have loved you long enough that I didn't know if there's another emotion that can describe what I'm feeling right now. You're my love, my great love. When I lost you, there's a part of me that died. Now, you made me whole again." Joe buried his face on Ariel's hair and whispered words of love.
I do, too, Joe, I do. I can never be whole without you. You are part of me as I am part of you, Ariel wanted to say aloud, but words weren't needed that time.
=====+++=====
Three pairs of feet were pacing back and forth on the hallway of the hospital. They couldn't seem to stay at one corner.
Patrick Lin, his face were worried.
Joseph Cheng, if you'll look closely at his face, you can see the excitement.
And Joe, mixed emotions were plastered on his face.
"Can you please, sit down, the 3 of you. Our heads were already spinning with all the pacing you're all doing," Laila said. She's sitting beside Cristina Lin on the long chair at the waiting area.
"Yeah. You should all sit down," Cristina agreed. "Ariel had been through this before, she will be okay."
Ariel's currently on the delivery room, giving birth to her and Joe's second baby.
The 2 older men sat beside their respective wives, while laughing, but not Joe. He continued walking back and forth. He then, pulled his hair when he couldn't take the anticipation anymore.
"Why are they taking so long? Something might have happen to my wife. We need to help her, Ma."
Laila just laughed at her son. "Ariel's gonna be okay, son. It's normal for the woman giving birth to take hours before the baby comes out," she said as she walked towards Joe and patted him on the back.
"But why are they taking so long? They've been there for almost 3 hours now," Joe asked again.
Just then, the door of the delivery room opened. The doctor came out, smiling. Joe walked stridingly towards him, followed by his parents and in-laws.
"Congratulations! It's a healthy baby boy."
Joe smiled wide. "How about my wife, doc? Can I see her now?"
The doctor smiled. "Did you know, hijo, that your wife didn't stop calling your name, while giving birth? She's okay now. We'll be now transferring her in a private room."
That's when Joe only let out a deep sigh.
=====+++=====
Joe's the first person Ariel saw when she woke up. He's smiling and his eyes that's staring at her, were misty. He's sitting at the side of her hospital bed.
"Joe, where's our baby?"
"He's in the nursery. You'll be breastfeeding him when you're already okay. How do you feel?"
Ariel smiled. "Happy. Thank God!"
"Right. Me, too. But did you know that I was so worried about you, while you're giving birth? I can also feel the pain you're feeling. Now, I know what you've been through when you gave birth to Athena before. It's a mixed emotions, sweetheart. I'm happy, but scared as well."
Ariel was touched by what Joe said. She gently caressed his face. He took her hand and kissed it lovingly.
"Thank you for coming back to my life and for giving me another angel, Joe."
Joe grinned sheepishly at her, eyes twinkling. "Get well soon, sweetheart. I want us to have a second honeymoon as soon as you step out of this hospital. I missed you so much!" he whispered on her ear.
Ariel blushed. "Joe! I just gave birth to your son, Mr. Joe Cheng," she said, pouting her lips at him.
"I'm just telling the truth, Ariel. Anyway, it's worth waiting for. What do you want to eat?"
"Just kiss me on the lips, sweetheart. Like you always do."
Joe's eyes twinkled in delight. "See? You also miss me, sweetheart. Don't you dare deny it."
"Of course not. Why? Don't you want to kiss me?" she asked flirtatiously.
"I'd love to kiss you till you ran out of breath," he whispered on her lips, just before he claimed it for a very deep and long kiss.
Outside the window, the birds are chirping. The wind gently caressed the petals of the newly bloomed roses outside. And the sun is smiling, a good start for a new beginning for Joe and Ariel
=============== THE END ===============
THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS AND FOR LOVING THE STORY GUYS! HOPE YOU'LL ALSO SUPPORT MY NEXT STORY. I'LL BE POSTING IT NEXT WEEK.