“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked stroking her hair.

“This is the best day of my life. Thank you for dreaming this up.” She said with a smile.

“You are welcome.” He said reaching into his pocket. “There is one last thing I hope you like it.”

“John there can’t be more. I mean we had breakfast at Tiffany’s then dinner at the Rainbow room. That is too much. This is too much. I haven’t had a chance to give you your present yet.”

He paused and pulled his hand out of his jacket, and sat up a little, “You got me a present?”

“Of course I did. What did you expect?” she asked turning around to face him.

“You didn’t have to get me anything. Being with me, being patient with me for a year is present enough. You taught me to love again Evangeline, and I will forever be indebted to you for that.”

“John you taught me to love too, and I want to show you how much I love and appreciate everything you have done for me. That is why I got you a present. But since you decided to kidnap me and bring me to New York City then you won’t be getting your present till we get back to Llanview.” She said smiling at him.

“Well could you at least tell me what it is?”

“Nope.”

“Why not!” he asked looking into her eyes.

“Because it is a surprise. It was going to be a surprise if we were in Llanview and it is still going to be a surprise.” She said patting his chest.

“Evangeline you know I hate surprises. So just tell me what you got me okay.” He said leaning in towards her and placing a soft kiss on her lips.

“Ha, nice try. But that is not going to work. You are going to have to wait till we get home to find out what I got you.”

“Fine then, I guess I will keep your last present in my pocket then.” He said sitting back against the seat and placing his feet on the seat opposite him.

“You got me something else?”

“Yes I did, but if you are going to make me wait then I am going to make you wait too.” The box was burning a whole in his pocket, and he would have given it to her by now if she wasn’t so stubborn and refused to tell him what she got him. He didn’t think he could hold out as long as she could in keeping a surprise a surprise.

“That is fine with me, I can wait. I have the patience of a saint you know.” She said taking the same position he did.

Damn it! I knew she would pull something like this. All I want to do is give her this present, why does she have to be so damn stubborn. “Why do you have to be so stubborn, just tell me what you got me and I will give you what is in my pocket.” He said with a sigh.

“That is one thing that you love about me.”

“Ha ha.” He said laughing at her. “I hate the fact that you are stubborn, but lord knows I do love you. And because I do I am going to let you surprise me when we get home. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

“Really?” she asked holding her hands out and closing her eyes.

“Yes, really. Are you ready? Are you eyes closed?” he asked reaching into his pocket.

“Yes John now come on!” she said shaking her hands up and down. John pulled the box out of his pocket and placed it in her hands.

She opened her hands and saw the small blue box sitting in the palm of her hands wrapped with a white ribbon. “John McBain what did you do?” she asked looking over at his smiling face.

“Go ahead and open it, I know you want to.”

“Good!” she said slowly untying the ribbon and then opening the lid to the box. She pulled the black velvet box out and looked back over at John before opening it. She took a deep breath and started to open it. He placed his hand over hers and she turned to look at him.

“Wait.” He said before letting her open it. “Do you remember when I told you are the woman I wanted yesterday, today, and tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” She said as tears started to form in her eyes.

“I still believe that and I want to let you know that you are my past, present and future Evangeline. I love you so much that I could not, and would not want to survive if we were not together.”

“John….:” her voice trailed off some.

“You made me a whole man again, and I will always love you for that. I just had to say that before you opened the box.” He said picking his hand up off of hers and kissing her gently on the cheek. “Now you can open it.”

“Now?!” she asked with excitement in her voice.

She smiled back at John and then took a deep breath before opening the box. She closed her eyes took another deep breath and opened the box. Her eyes opened slowly and then started to sparkle at the sight of the necklace that lay in the box sparkling back up at her. “John McBain… what have you done?” she said looking at him with wonder and amazement in her eyes.

“Do you like it?” he asked taking the box from her. He took the necklace out of the box.

“Like it? I love it John. When did you…” she started to ask.

“Just turn around.” He whispered to her. She did as she was instructed and turned around with her back to him. She picked up her hair and he placed the necklace around her neck. He ran his thumb along the clasp and the back of her neck as she let her hair fall back down.

“John this is amazing, you are amazing.” She said looking down at the three diamond stone past, present and future necklace that lay across her neck and chest.

“Wow!” he said looking at her and then down at the necklace.

“What?” she asked placing a hand on his cheek.

“I never thought it was possible for you to be more beautiful, but with that necklace on you absolutely sparkle just like it.” He said smiling at her and placing his hand over hers.

The handsome cab pulled up to the hotel and the driver reluctantly interrupted his passengers, “I am sorry to disturb you Mr. McBain but we have arrived.”

Both John and Evangeline hadn’t noticed that they were sitting in front of the hotel; they were so enraptured in each other. “Oh, okay. Thank you for the ride it was great.”

“Yes thank you.” Evangeline said taking John’s hand and getting out of the carriage. They both thanked the driver again and walked hand in hand into the hotel. John pushed the button for the elevator and he smiled back at her stroking her hand with his thumb. She moved closer to him wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his chest she closed her eyes.

“Long day huh?” he asked when he looked down and saw that her eyes were closed. She nodded her head yes and didn’t say anymore. He started to walk in to the elevator when the doors opened up. She followed his lead and rested against his chest with her eyes closed. They rode this way all the way up to their room. When the doors opened he kissed her on the top of her head and walked slowly down the hallway to their room.

He stopped at the door to their room and fished the key out of his pocket. He opened the door with one hand and held on to her with the other. When he got the door open, he scooped her up and carried her into the room. He didn’t want to turn the lights on and risk waking her so he walked slowly through the room and found the bed. He gently placed her on the bed and leaned in to kiss her on the lips.

He gently stroked her hair and kissed her again on the lips, this time she reached up and pulled him on top of her. “I thought you were asleep.” He said running his hands through her hair.

“You thought wrong.” She said kissing him on the lips and placing a hand in his hair. “I want to thank you for tonight.”

“Just seeing you smile is thank you enough” he said falling to the side of her and tracing the outline of her lips with his finger. The moonlight from the room came flooding into their room and shone down on Evangeline. John’s breath caught as the moonlight highlighted ever feature he thought was beautiful. His eyes started to sparkle and she saw her own reflection in his crystal blue eyes. He didn’t say anything but his eyes spoke volumes.

She placed a hand on his face and ran her thumb over his lips and sat up some to kiss him. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Yes, but you can tell me again if you like.” He said removing his jacket and throwing it to the floor. He started losing the tie and she reached up to help him. He smiled down at her and removed his hands and let her take over undressing him. She started unbuttoning his shirt and ran her hands over his chest. “What are you doing?” he asked as she started gently rubbing her hands over his chest and inching closer to him.

“If I have to tell you what I am doing, then obviously I am not doing something right.” She responded slapping him in the chest and then kissing him harder this time.

“Umm, is it time to make me moan?” he asked running his hands over her body and gently making circles over her dress on her stomach.

“Yes it most definitely is mister.” She side rising from the bed.

“Wait, where are you going.” He asked watching her walk around the bed and head into the bathroom.

“Let’s just say, since you are willing to be surprised and let me wait to give you your present, I figure I should reciprocate in some way.” She ducked into the bath room and closed the door behind her. John raised an eyebrow at her statement. He then kicked off his shoes and lay back on the bed. He placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes while he waited for Evangeline to come out of the bathroom.

“How much longer are you going to make me wait?” he yelled to her still with his eyes closed.

“Well, if you would open your eyes you would see you don’t have to wait anymore.” She said standing at the end of the bed with a smile.