Peter found some salty appetisers and took a mouthful right away. For a few seconds, he was only thinking about enjoying his snack, but then he heard “Dad for real?”
He perked up and acknowledged Ben's question with a simple stare. Before he could respond, Benjen continued “You mean your Dad wants to marry my Mom?” and Peter's first reaction was to stuff his face with some sort of cracker, slightly embarrassed. Still, as Ben pushed forward with the subject and mentioned Peter's mother... he resigned.
Peter placed the food back on the table and took a seat on the nearest chair, eyes dim and pointed downward. "I'm not sure... But..." - a slight tear formed on his left cheek - "I think I'd really like it. I'd like it very much. I miss having a mom. I know it's complicated... but dad said eveLything will be ok." He managed to refrain from sobbing, and although he was looking to the ground, a small smile was still visible. He kept balancing his legs back and forth as he spoke, then, when he was done... he leapt up and looked Benjen straight in the eyes with a straight face.
With determination, he added "But you can't tell anyone. I was stupid to tell... Dad wants it to be a surprise and wants me to help him. Please, can you wait until later before talking to your mom about this?"
Benjen was, in many ways, like his mother. Kind, gentle and big hearted. All those talks he had with her had taught him these traits and he was quick learner on how to use them. He sat in front of Peter and placed a kind hand on his shoulder. He felt some of his pain.
“I know Mom loves you. Mom told me that once and I see it in her. For the first time in her life, she is happy and........you and Dad are why.” Benjen removed his hand before continuing. His tone was one of relief. “I never had a Dad. What I know of him makes me glad that didn’t.....until now. He gives me time and treats Mom right.” He then smiled, “and now he is going to give me a gift that I have always wanted, a sibling, you, little brother.” A tear fell down each side of his face over his smile, “It feels good to say that about you.” He then joked, “I’m sure Mom won’t mind me not bugging her to have more kids.”
He then sat a moment in thought about what he had just said and looked at Peter, “ but what if she does?” He just shrugged and re-assured Peter, “Don’t worry, this will be our secret.”
___________________________________
On the deck, Doreen was more enjoying her time alone with Erik than the cruise itself at times. She had just finished kissing him again when she smirked and quipped, “With hands like yours, you would make a great physical therapist.” She then looked out and saw some land, keeping him close. “Is that it?” she asked pointing. Then she she asked, “where are the boys? They’ve been quiet.”
While Peter was hugging Ben for his kind words, Erik and Doreen kept conversing peacefully.
“With hands like yours, you would make a great physical therapist.” - she mentioned slyly, to which Erik could only grin and remark "Sure... Maybe you could teach me more about pressure points in the human body." He quickly darted his hand around Doreen's waist, then tickled her stomach briefly while he chuckled. After they both straightened back up, he noticed the land she mentioned coming into view.
"Yes, I think that's it. Huh, how time flies by..." - he realised it was already past noon now. "We should be landing soon." The beautiful jaded shapes were growing larger by the second, the archipelago's features becoming clearer. He took a moment to think of how the day was progressing, then he registered Doreen's question about the boys.
He smirked while rotating around the balcony towards a computer terminal and then replied "I'm sure they're around... We can find them when we touch down on the beach." He checked a few numbers on a screen and continued "Which will be in about three minutes... three minutes of just you and me..." - he ended that last remark with a loving grin, turning back to Doreen with the intent to kiss or tickle her again, he wasn't yet sure.
After the ship slowly descended on the beach, it's engines finally took to silence. The sound of ocean waves crushing into the sand could finally be heard vividly. After Erik explained how they could exit the ship, but not go beyond the beach and into the plant-covered areas of the island, he took Doreen's hand and went to find Peter and Benjen.
She walked with Erik hand in hand as they went to find the boys and it wasn’t to long before they found them finishing up something to eat. She smiled brightly when her and Erik found them, taking a knee to hug them both. She never tired of it.
Benjen looked at her with excitement, “Look, Mom, the beach and it looks so kool!”
“I know, Sweetie,” she replied, “just listen to Erik’s instructions and we’ll all have a good time.”
Peter was quiet but smiling. She simply smiled back and winked at him before turning back to Erik as she moved her hair from her face, “Well, I think you have three people ready for the beach. I know you have a bit of a safety brief.” It wasn’t long before they found their toes in the sand.
After ironing out some ground rules with the boys - mainly the idea of not going off too far or into the jungle areas beyond the beach - Erik let the two head out and get their bearings. Naturally, they gleefully took it upon themselves to explore every bit of the beach. Meanwhile, the ship's captain came in to discuss some minor details. As soon as that was done, Erik and Doreen were both out under the open sky.
As they were slowly walking along the water's waves, Erik mused "It's quite a lovely place here. There are about six islands close together. After the plant issue gets solved, they plan making a residential area here, as it's close enough to the mainland for quick shuttle travel."
“This is so lovely out here, Erik.” She smiled, coded her eyes and enjoyed the breeze blowing through her hair. Opening her eyes, she then looked out over the water. For the moment, the sounds of the waves rolling onto the sand and an ocean fairing bird were the only sounds they heard. Then she looked towards the island fauna and sighed before looking toward Erik again.
“Maybe the fauna issue will get figured out around the time my citizenship becomes legal and I can get a place here. A short shuttle ride to the medical center.....” She just nodded her own approval.
She saw the boys playing off in the distance. As always, they were happy and frolicking about. For the moment, parents were the least of their concerns. Still, a smile crossed her face every time she saw them. “Those two,” she said with an exhale, smile and the shake of her head, “they can’t get enough of each other.”
She looked back toward Erik, still smiling. She had few words for this day. The sand in her toes, water rolling on and off of her feet, the wind in her hair and the man she loved at her side.
“This is perfect,” she said softy, “it doesn’t get much better.”
Hearing Doreen's consideration about living on this island, Erik's heart started racing somewhat. He had hoped she'd come to say that. A few weeks ago, he had asked Benjen what his mother likes in terms of landscapes and eventually realised this archipelago would be perfect. It's why he already had plans made for the Corvin Estate to be rebuilt here, whenever the flora issue would be resolved. The rest of the family didn't mind. Everyone else appreciated the choice, since it was quite a tranquil set of islands and not too far from the main business centers.
All in all, his plan was going - at the very least - as expected.
The next hour went by without much happening. The boys eventually settled for trying to build a sand sculpture while Erik and Doreen kept each other company, discussing various topics of little relevance, other than to hear the other speak. At some point during this time, Erik decided to lose his shoes near the ship and continue walking on the sand barefoot.
As the first threads of twilight were starting to show, the view from the beach took an interesting turn. The islands's plant-life shifted slightly in colour too, as if preparing for the day to end, even though there were at least a couple of hours left of sunlight. You could now see the calm waves sparkling now with a fiery touch. Looking around and taking in a deep breath, Erik built up a bit of courage, then pressed a button on his wrist-device. He had preset this function a few days prior and discussed it with the ship's captain in advance.
Suddenly, a slow and steady musical tone began to rise above the sound of ocean waves. Eventually, a classic guitar boomed clearly. Before the song's verses could begin, Erik took Doreen's hand and asked with love and determination in his eyes "Would you allow me this dance...?"
And behind the attention of the two adults, Peter had heard the music starting and realised his cue. As such, he took Benjen with him back into the ship to look for something.
At his request, she just turned to him smiling and placed her arms around his neck, “Erik Corvin, I would be honored to have this dance. It was only through the corners of her eyes that she noticed the beauty of the setting sun and it’s reflection upon the water. For the most part, her eyes were fixed on his.
The smile never left her face. The fact that it would be dark in a couple of hours never entered her mind.
Work and even the kids were a distant thought. The only thing that mattered was the man holding her close.
She gave him a kiss and simply commented, “A perfect choice in music.” She then rested her head on his shoulder. She could here his big heart beating without issue. The doctor in her listened intently but found nothing of error. She just gave a big sigh on this perfect evening and looked back at Erik before she again rested her head on his shoulder. As she lay it down, she gently said, “Erik I so love you.”
He held her tight, right hand over the shoulder, the other around the waist. Trying to match the music's rhythm, he began swinging in a steady pace. He stayed quiet and maintained the dance... and a second later the verses started pouring.
One step after another, one verse after the other, one chord in between... they danced for a couple of minutes, sand rippling beneath their feet. Eventually - the music slowly subsided and, except for the ocean waves, silence reigned once more. At that moment, Erik shifted. He took one step back from Doreen, but held her hands in his. "I love you too." - he said, with some emotion, reminiscent of shyness, in his voice.
He kneeled on one foot, hands still steady, and continued "I wanted to ask you a question today. But I realised that no matter how much I love you, it would be a selfish one. So I found other questions that needed to be asked as well..."
Having run back outside, Peter and Benjen were just behind him when Erik said "I want to marry you, Doreen." - he then kept his right hand clutching Doreen's, and with his left hand turned to pick Benjen's small arm - "But I must ask Benjen, too, if he wants this... if he wants me as a father."
From beside Ben, Peter took a few shy steps forward, to Doreen, then presented a small box, clearly meant for jewelry. "And I also have to ask if you'll accept my son as your own." - then Erik took the box, opened it to reveal a simple golden ring with a ruby on top - "So, Doreen Angela Naggar, will you marry me?"
”So Doreen Angela Nagger, will you marry me?” Upon bearing these words, the smile on her face was replaced by a look of shock. Sure, they had been together for awhile now and deeply loved each other but she didn’t expect this so soon. At least, it seemed soon to her from a man who was a widower. As she took a deep breath, her hand came up to her face and covered her nose and mouth. Her eyes welled up and tears started falling. She looked first at Peter and the box in his hand, then to Ben and finally, Erik. Memories began to flood her.
Trying to find her father, exhale from Rheinland, being left for dead and nine months pregnant in the radiation fields of Omega 41. The prejudice she and Ben faced on Houston and her time medical studies to become a doctor. Thoughts of her family produced more tears as she caught her breath with a large breath. Her hand left her face. Her mouth was moving but no sound came from it as the words weren’t yet there. Her face wet and tears still falling, she knelt before Peter.
“I can’t replace what you have lost nor can I fill her shoes,”her voice wavering a bit as she drew a cross on her heart, “but I promise to you that I will be the best Mom to you and for you that I can be.” Being careful ever of the ring he was holding, she drew him forward and just held him. “It’s my honor to have you for a son.” Finally, she released him and him hold the box for a moment as she then knelt before Ben who had tears of joy of his own through a smile. “I can’t answer for you, Son, but I think I know it.”
“I already call him Dad, Mom,” he softly admitted before looking up at Erik, “You are the only Dad I’ve ever had.” He then turned back to his mother with a light smile through his own tears, “You deserve to be happy. We all do. Please say yes.” She then held him and said gently, “I needed that from you.
She then took the box from Peter with a soft smile and stood before Erik. “Erik Corvin I would be honored to be your wife and a mother to our children.” She then held out her left hand so that he could place the ring on it. Once he did, she looked at it and how her hand now looked. She smiled and hugged him. While she held him, she softly said, “you deserve to be happy too.” She then stood befor him, kissed him and standing with all of them around her, enjoyed the scene of the sun on the calm water.