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Post by celticbear on Mar 1, 2013 19:18:56 GMT -5
FALL! My Heart Is Breaking For Neil And Caroline! YOU NEED TO BRING THESE TWO BACK TOGETHER AND KEEP THEM TOGETHER!
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Post by celticsweetheart on Mar 3, 2013 15:43:23 GMT -5
Awe this story is so good, personally I'd love to have a summer romance like that but I'm not sure I could walk away especially with Neil. The flight attendants better have had a huge box of tissues on the flight if I did.
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 4, 2013 12:44:00 GMT -5
Neil unloaded the boxes in the new flat he had purchased in Dublin. He looked around at the currently empty space and sighed, it was a fresh start after the long tour of the previous year and a fresh start over all. She was still there at the back of his mind, he knew she would never leave. But he also knew that he had to start down a new road.
"Next time, hire movers, would ye?", Ryan huffed as he came in carrying a large box.
"I promised ya pizza and guinness for the help", he said going to the refrigerator,"Pizza will be here soon and here's the guinness," he handed him a bottle.
"At least you kept the bargain", he said taking a swig.
"I appreciate the help, mate", he said taking a drink from his own bottle.
"You want to come out tonight? I told Aislin we were in town. Figured we could use a good night out."
"Don't know, kind of want to get settled in."
"It's one night boy'o, this will still be here tomorrow."
"Good point", he said surveying the stacks of boxes still waiting to be unpacked.
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Caroline finished unloading a box of books and looked at the clothes strewn about with more boxes,"Why did I do this again?", she sighed.
"Because you couldn't stand the thought of not moving to Dublin with the best flat mate you've ever had", Aislin stood in the doorway.
"That must have been it", she rolled her eyes with a laugh,"Nothing to do with my miserable year in Sonoma, no nothing at all."
"You know why you were miserable, Caroline", she sat next to her friend,"and you know it was unbelievably stupid of you."
"I don't need a reminder", she shook her head,"We're going out tonight right? Because I seriously need a good night out."
"Uh yeah, we are", she bit her lip,"Ryan's in town and I told him that you were in town and that the three of us should get together."
"Aislin", she groaned as she disappeared into the bathroom to arrange her things on the counter.
"Caroline", she groaned in reply,"Come on, it's one night and I haven't seen Ryan in a while and well, I don't know how he feels about things so having you there."
"Would help you feel less awkward?", she guessed.
"Exactly! So, we'll meet him tonight at eight at that little pub on Moore street."
"Fine, fine", she gave in,"I swear if this is some twisted thing of yours."
"What? Me? twisted? Never!", she grinned.
"And that is why I'm scared", she laughed.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Mar 4, 2013 12:59:20 GMT -5
Caroline and Neil are going to kill Ryan and Aislin!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 4, 2013 14:15:16 GMT -5
The pub was full on that Friday night, music poured from a local group who sang a well known tune. People drank and toasted, ate pub food and somehow talked over the din. Grease from the fried foods coated the bar as the bar tender served the eager patrons.
"How are we supposed to find him in here?", Caroline said following Aislin.
"He said he had gotten a table towards the back," she scanned the room and waved when she saw Ryan,"Come on", she grabbed her hand practically dragging her to where the dark haired man waited.
"Hey!", Ryan swept Aislin into a hug,"How are you?"
"Very well", she smiled hanging onto his arm.
"Caroline, it's good to see you."
"You too, Ryan", she said looking around the room. The last time they had all been together, Neil had been there. She felt an ache in her chest at the memory. She lifted her head, determined to try and have fun.
"Caroline?"
She stiffened and turned slowly at the sound of his voice. It was him, those rich brown eyes drank her in and he stood rooted to where his feet were planted,"Neil", she said swallowing hard, her mouth suddenly dry. A million thoughts and words rushed through her head as they stood staring at each other, neither one of them uttering a syllable.
"Well", Aislin said sttempting to break the silence,"Why don't Ryan and I go get a drink?"
"No", Neil said suddenly,"I think I'm going to head out", he turned.
"If you don't go after him, I will hurt you", Aislin said giving Caroline a shove.
"Okay, Okay", she tried to keep up with the back of Neil's head as he made his way towards the door,"Neil, wait, please!"
"This was their idea", he laughed as he opened the door,"Ryan and Aislin, just thought they would play cupid and you and I would just be together."
"Neil, don't be angry with them." she said as they stood near the busy street,"They had good intentions."
"What are you even doing here?"
"I...... I moved here......with Aislin."
"You live here now? In Dublin?"
"Yes", she nodded,"I was miserable back home."
He took a step back and nodded, he wasn't being fair to her and he had missed her. God, had he missed her, just being this close to her took every ounce of his self control to not kiss her or even reach out to her. Those emerald eyes pleaded with him to listen. He let out an audible sigh,"Let's go somewhere and talk?"
"Okay", she smiled.
"My flat isn't far from here, I just moved in."
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 4, 2013 15:09:00 GMT -5
"Sorry, there are boxes every where", Neil said as he unlocked the door.
"It's fine", she shrugged following him in. It was a spacious two bedroom flat, the walls were a cream color and currently bare.
"I don't have much, just some guinness or tea. Also have some cold pizza."
"Tea is fine."
He cleared a space for them in the living room and made them each a cup of tea. They sat in silence sipping on their tea, each trying to find the right words or not sure of what the right words would be,"Last year was hard", he began.
"I Know", she agreed,"I think we can both agreed we made a mistake."
He nodded,"Caroline, I was willing to try, why weren't you?"
She picked at the carpet and shook her head,"Because I didn't know myself, I didn't know if I would be able to be with someone and not be with them. It was my first year teaching, I had a lot going on."
"You didn't think that I did?"
"So, I was being selfish?"
"I think, a little, yes."
"But you agreed to end things too!"
"Because I didn't want to be the selfish one", he said with a slight laugh.
"Truth time?", she said taking his hand.
"I think we've been pretty good at that", he made small circles with his thumb over the back of her hand.
"I shouldn't have said to end things, I should have come back out that day at the airport. I love you Neil and I have missed you and thought about you every single day since I left."
"And you kept the ring", he smiled as he noticed the green glimmering stone.
"I did", she nodded.
"I gave you that ring because I fell in love with you and I haven't stopped falling for you. This last tour was the most miserable I think I have ever been. And I don't want to feel that way again."
"I don't either", she said as tears pricked her eyes.
"I love you, Caroline", he said reaching across and stroking her cheek.
"I love you too", she smiled before closing the distance between them. It was if she had finally come home after long months in the cold and uknown misery of being without him. Her heart felt as if was going to burst through her skin as his arms held her,"I don't want to ever be apart again."
"Me either", he murmered against her lips,"You can't leave again."
"I won't, I promise."
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Mar 4, 2013 15:15:13 GMT -5
Awwww! I needed a smile today.
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Post by celticbear on Mar 4, 2013 22:07:36 GMT -5
Hooray! for those two scheming matchmakers Ryan and Aislin! They knew what had to be done and they did it! NEIL AND CAROLINE FOREVER! You know Fall Neil's song from Mythology Carolina Rua fits this story right now!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 5, 2013 11:00:52 GMT -5
**************1 Year Later******************
The summer sun beat down over the Liffey, the tide had gone out and the river was beginning to smell under the relentless rays. Caroline and Neil stood, leaning against the railing,"Get a whiff of that", he laughed.
"Can we go now?", she said putting a hand over her nose.
"Come on, this is your home now, better get used to it!"
"No", she turned as he put and arm around her waist.
He laughed as they walked away from the river,"You'll get used to it eventually."
"Doubt that will ever happen!", she said leaning into him,"We should head back to Bray for more time at the beach."
"We could or we could go back home and figure out this whole rehearsal dinner thing tonight."
"Can't we just run away?", she grumbled.
"Ya know, you are the oddest woman I have ever known. Most can't wait to get into all the wedding details and you complain about it."
"I am happy to be getting married and especially to you, but there is just so much. Plus between my mom and yours I am going to look like a cream puff pastry tomorrow."
Neil held his stomach as he laughed,"Now that is a vision I cannot wait to see!"
"Just hush", she shoved him playfully,"We should have opted for a barefoot beach wedding."
"The church will be lovely and stuffy."
"We are excited to get married aren't we?", she grinned.
"Of course", he kissed her,"I think we're doing the big thing more for our families though."
"Me too", she sighed.
"What if we....", he looked at her with a glint in his eyes.
"What if we what?", she shook her head.
"Let's go home, get a couple of things and then head to Bray."
"Are you going to tell me anything?"
"You'll like it, I promise."
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Mar 5, 2013 11:08:48 GMT -5
Seriously...this is the first thing that has made me smile in days. Thank you.
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 5, 2013 11:14:20 GMT -5
They returned home and packed up a small bag to take with them. They drove with the windows down and music playing, Caroline''s feet tapped the dashboard as the wind rushed through her hair, tangling the loose tendrils from her clip. She couldn't help but admire the man who sat next to her, the man she would be calling her husband in a little less than twenty four hours. Those brown eyes hidden behind sunglasses, his hands roughened from his years of playing, but always as soft as a feather when they held her. Since their reunion they had barely spent more than a few hours a part, a vow both of them had made that first night. She leaned back against the headrest and watched the countryside flash by in hues of green and blues. She felt Neil take her hand and looked at him,"What?"
"Well," he said as they approached the city marker for Bray,"We both wanted something simple right? No big dresses or tuxedos."
"Yeah, so?", she shook her head.
"So let's get married now, we'll do this for us and tomorrow for our families."
"You've lost your mind!", she laughed.
"Our rings are in the bag, you can look for yourself."
"Fine", she pulled the bag from the back seat and there the black velvet box sat on top,"You're serious?"
"Absolutely", he grinned,"We can get someone to marry us on the beach and then be back in time for dinner tonight."
She was smiling so hard, her cheeks hurt,"This is insane and perfect!"
"I knew you'd like it!"
"I love it", she leaned across the seats kissing his cheek,"It's scary how well you know me."
"And yet, I can still surprise you", he gave her hand a squeeze. As he said, they found a justice of the peace who agreed to marry them on the beach. The waves lapping at the shore, the late afternoon sun washing over them on a golden glow, with hints of orange and pink mixed in. He lifted her off her feet as they shared their first kiss. They thanked the woman and paid the money. Neil held their certificate in his hand as they walked to the car,"Mrs. Byrne", he held the door open for Caroline.
"We're married", she said throwing her arms around his neck as they kissed,"We're married."
"And", he said running his hands down her sides to her hips,"We did it the way we wanted too."
"Yes we did", she grinned as they climbed into the car.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Mar 5, 2013 11:16:21 GMT -5
I love it! I wish I could find someone like that *sighs* lol
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 5, 2013 11:19:45 GMT -5
you & me both LOL!!!
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Post by celticbear on Mar 5, 2013 22:41:03 GMT -5
Fall! I love these last two updates! And I love the fact that they eloped on the evening of their rehearsal dinner. The whole elopement thing sounds like something Keith would do!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Mar 6, 2013 9:47:51 GMT -5
Caroline stared at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized herself in the poofy white dress with a sweetheart neckline. The makeup turned her cheeks a gentle pink with a darker eye. A strand of pearls from Neil's mother hung at her throat. This was a special day and she knew it was but the other part of her treasured what she and Neil had done the night before with saying their vows on the beach as the sunset around them. This day was more for the people they loved and who had been there for them throughout their lives and during their relationship. She turned as the door opened.
"We're all set", Aislin said with a smile.
"Let's do this", she said slightly swaying with the weight of the dress,"The sooner we do this, the sooner I get out of this thing."
"You look lovely, though", she laughed holding the train of the dress as they went to meet her father. She put her arm through his as he smiled warmly at her as they began their walk down the aisle. She looked to everyone who smiled and nodded as they made their way towards the alter. She caught Neil's eye and had to keep from laughing at the smirk her wore.
"You're a beautiful cream puff", he whispered taking her hands in his.
"You're sweet", she laughed. They both stood at attention and listened as the minister gave the ceremony. The followed instructions and exchanged the customary vows versus the ones they gave the day before when they spoke from their heart.
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The reception was held in the ballroom of a nearby hotel. The food and drink flowed as people mingled together on the dance floor and at the tables. Candelight glimmered from the center pieces of vases with floating flowers.
Neil held Caroline as they moved to the soft music, her soft skin was warm under his fingers and she smelled like a mix of lilac and vanilla,"How are you holding up?", he kissed her cheek.
"Good so far", she said with a smile,"I did eat something, Aislin made sure of it. I've danced with pretty much everyone and now I'm happy right here."
"Me too", he spun her playfully,"But I think we should start thinking about leaving."
"You read my mind", she replied as he kissed her tenderly,"I think we have put in our due time."
"Exactly", he laughed leading her off the dance floor. The dj announced the newlywed couple were about to leave and everyone gathered to see them off. They bid their farewells and climbed into the awaiting car.
"I just want to get into my pajamas", she yawned.
"I love the fact that you aren't the typical bride", he grinned,"Our wedding night and you are yawning and wanting to be in your pajamas."
"I know", she sighed,"You should have married someone more exciting."
"Sarcasm, Mrs.Byrne?", he slid his arm around her shoulders.
"Maybe a little", she said pulling his face to hers.
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