The next two weeks go by fast, and i spend most of my days mostly at the new house, keeping an eye on renovations, and when i am not doing that, i am usually sitting on the lawn, under my favorite tree on the estate, reading a book or writing, sometimes just watching a movie.

The works are almost done here, although, a few room still need furnishing. Angelo has been too busy to supervise anything much and so he left that task almost entirely up to me, seeing as i have the time. He is letting me do whatever i want, as long as we get to move in after this coming week. In my opinion, we are good to go even right now, as for the remaining rooms, i think we can take our time and figure that out gradually.

We haven't moved in yet, but i have already gotten used to being here. There is so much green bare land, lots of flowers, trees and other plants, a pool and a small pond, which we added after being inspired by the ponds in Mexico at the resort during our vacation.

I am completely in love with this house. I can already picture all the activities we will be able to do with our baby, and Bella and Ivan when they come over.

Everything is falling into place, and funny enough, moving into a new house and having a baby, is making me feel like Angelo and i are already married. At the beginning of this year, i never in my wildest dreams would have ever guessed my life would end up like this. This is more than i could have ever wished for.

Angelo and I have discussed the house warming party and decided to have it next week. This Saturday we have an appointment to have an ultra sound.

It's almost 6pm, and like every day this week, Angelo is coming to pick me up so we can go back to the apartment together.

Angelo is always punctual, so noting the time, i get up and pick up my stuff and walk to the car park. By this time, all the workers have gone home already, so it's just me and security left.

As expected, he is already here.

"Hey," I murmur, walking into his open arms for a kiss. He lifts me up and spins me around, before putting me down again.

"Hai" he replies.

"How was work?" I ask and he frowns.

He has been having problems concerning his family businesses, mostly with Ben, after his father decided to step down on all his work responsibilities.

"Ok i guess, just glad it's Friday. Ready to go"?

"Yeah........wait, did you drive" I ask, when i notice him open the passenger door for me. Lately he is chauffeur driven.

"Yep"

"Can i drive?" I ask.

"Ok" he says without skipping a beat.

I did not expect him to say yes. I didn't even mean it. I don't want to drive.

But he walks to the drivers side and opens the door for me.

Oh crap!

This is the busy hour when people are driving home from work, the roads ought to be packed right now and i don't want to drive around this time.

But not wanting to back down, i get in behind the wheel with ease and grace.

I am ok driving when i am alone now, i just get nervous when i have an experienced driver with me, because i feel like my driving methods are constantly being scrutinized and judged.

But Angelo, plays it cool. He looks relaxed too, like he has complete confidence in my skills.

*

After driving through the traffic for some time, i finally really relax when I notice Marianne start to relax, and eventually loosen up her death grip on the poor Stirring wheel.

I ought to buy her her own car. I thought about it but just been too busy to look into it. I am not sure what kind of car she would like, and since i want to surprise her with it, i don't want to ask her directly. I will just have to take a chance and make a choice.

The past couple of weeks, have been some of the best for us. I honestly thought there was no way our relationship could get any better, that we hit out peak and was just hoping to keep it going on that level. But with time, it feels like we are getting better together.

I think about my life earlier this year, and the contrast to what it is now is so massive, that i can't fathom how i could have ever been really happy before.

Everything is different now, and it's all about the small little things i never payed mush attention to before that have really made the difference and changed my outlook on life. Like the way the city looks different when look out of the apartment window every morning, or the hours at work that i previously found unbearable but not so much any more.

I am also noticing alot more people at work and find their company quite enjoyable now. And I love how i feel the need to connect more with my family.

Even my apartment that was mostly quiet and empty before, now every time i walk in, i feel a warmth and peace just from knowing she is there.

I can't help how my stomach does a flip everytime i walk out of the bathroom and find her in bed, or hear her voice from another room when she is talking and a laughing with someone or on the phone.

Even the fact that i never have to eat a meal alone, something i rigorously preferred before, or her showing up with coffee or a drink, when i am in the office. Even listening to her complain about how messy i keep my things, or her loosing her phone for the millionth time, or the strands of hair that somehow are everywhere.

My favourite, is waking up next to her. I have found everytime we wake up together, my day is always better.

Everything has really changed.

Even now, as we drive in comfortable silence, there is no pressure to fill the silence. Just contentment witt being around each other.

Stretching my hand, i put it on her thigh and she turns to me and smiles briefly before looking back at the road. This must be the height of what love is.

*

"I am going to look so silly when i am bigger" Marianne murmurs, as she stands infront of the mirror in the living room, her tshirt raised to expose the small swell of her belly.

I smile at her reflection.

I still can't really believe we are going to have a baby.

"You will look even more beautiful and sexy" I tell her.

"Good answer" she utters, before coming to sit down next to me on the sofa, where i am lying comfortably, with my hand at the back of my head on the pillows, as we watch some show on tv.

"So, do you remember that article i told you i wrote for Luke, that he is getting an award for?" She says.

"What about it?" I ask, facing the TV and not really looking directly at her.

"Well, the awards are you next weekend and, he invited me to accompany him to the award show, since i kind of did write the story after all."

"I thought we are doing the party next weekend."

"We are moving in next week, or weekend, so we can have the party the other weekend." She says quickly.

"Baby, i had a fundraising event last weekend, you refused to go, you also refused to have dinner at ambassador's house the other night too, and yet you want to go out with Luke?" I ask, finding her reasoning unbelievable.

"I didn't really refuse, it was just bad timing." she says faintly and i scoff.

"We agreed to keep a low profile, especially since people are still talking" she adds.

"No, we agreed we didn't care what people have to say." I retort.

"So are you saying no?" She asks.

"Are you asking for my permission?" I ask and she just stares.

"I thought so" I mutter, knowing she has already made up her mind.

We sit quietly for a while, both staring at the tv screen.

"Just forget i brought it up" she says, out of the blue.

We are usually very cuddly in bed, but later night, we lie quietly next to each other, each facing their side.

"Can we not do this, i don't want to go to sleep with you mad at me" she says, sitting up and pulling the bed covers down with her movements.

I lie on my back and face her.

"I am pretty excited that a whole professional media association looked at my work and thought it was worthy of an award, out of the hundred other stories. You have never taken any interest to find out more about what i wrote, just because it involves Luke, but you know what? this is also about me, and my writing and how important it is to me. I am sorry i didn't attend your events, i honestly didn't think it was such a big deal." She mutters then lays back down, facing away from me.

"I did read it and thought it was great. I even shared it with dad without telling him you wrote it and he loved it too. Your are amazing Marianne, your talents never cease to amaze me." I say truthfully to her back.

She is right though, everytime his name comes up, it blokes out everything else she has to say, but the fact the she does the work, while he gets all the credit bothers me alot. It pisses me off.

"Why can't you write using your own alias." I ask.

She turns to face me.

"Because, at first, i had alot of time on my hands, and he had alot of work, so i offered. He was supposed to edit and make changes before submitting the work, but over time, he decided he liked it the way it was he and just went with it. Neither one of us expected it to get this far. Besides, he has the platform and i love to write, so it just....works."

"What if you had your own platform?" I can make that work.

"I don't want my own platform. I like the way things are right now." She mumbles.

Lorenzo, is into media. If Marianne wants to pursue her talent, i can make that happen. She is just too stubborn to let me make that connect for her. But i have decided to do it anyway, there is no way he is getting any more award at her expense.

"If it is really that important, you should go" i say, surprising her.

"Really?" Her face lights up.

"Really" I utter, pulling her to straddle me.

"So where is the award show going to take place anyway"

"Uuhhmm, Boston" she says faintly, biting her lower lip cautiously.

"Boston? As in the different state Boston?"

"Yes."

"You are out of your mind"

"Angelo......"

"..........Fuck no! That's no longer a discussion we are going to have. No."

"Angelo?"

"No!"

"I don't need your permission." She mutters.

"Good. Because you don't have it. There are a hundred reasons, which i am sure you can figure out on your own why you can't travel right now, so i am not even going to get into that. No. You are not going to Boston. End of discussion."

*

During the school break, i had often wondered what it would be like when schools open and well, i don't have to wonder anyway. It's Monday and i arrive super early at work to avoid mingling with alot of people as students are being dropped off, but even from my position inside the school building, i can see a few reporters across the street and you don't have to be a brain surgeon to figure out why.

At lunch, the guys invite me to the usual restaurant down the street and when i decline, one of the teachers implies that i am now acting as if i am suddenly too good for them and so i eventually accept.

We usually walk the short distance down the street and this time, immediately we walk out of the school premise, we are bombarded by the press. Our group of five which consists of three ladies and two men is suddenly attacked by flashing camera's and non stop questions.

We make it to the restaurant without me answering any questions, although the guys i am with, did engage with them abit.

They wait outside the restaurant and later walk back to school with us again, but this time, Sam and Tamara are here too, following closely behind us.

This goes on almost all week, Everytime i make a move, someone is there to take a picture and right about it.

Angelo and i haven't discussed the Boston issue since last Friday. I was too mad to bring it up afterwards, and he didn't either. Now that it's Thursday, i feel like we need to come to some sort of conclusion because i still want to go, but not without his blessing, so to say.

I get why he feels the way he does, i did refuse to go out with him when he invited me, and so i understand why he would feel my actions are unfair, but i think i know just how to make it up to him.

*

"Hey" I murmur, as he walks out of the bathroom, his body wet from having a bath.

"Hai" he replies, drying his hair, a towel wrapped around his waist.

"What time is the auction again?" I ask.

"7pm." He murmurs.

"I was thinking that, if you want, maybe i can come with you" I utter.

"To the auction?" He asks, his surprise evident.

"Yeah"

He smiles.

"Is this about Boston?" He asks.

"Look, i just thought that it would be nice to go, but if you don't want me to go, then it's fine, forget it." I mutter.

He eyes me for a second,

"Ok"

"Ok yes?"

"Yeah. If you really want to come"

"I do"

"Ok..get dressed then"

I stand up from the chair and start walking to the bathroom. When i reach him along the way, I grab his and pull him in my direction.

"Come shower with me" I say softly.

Even though he just walked out of the shower just now, he allows me to pull him along with me into the bathroom and the shower again.

*

I am still a little surprised about Marianne's change of heart and i hope it's not about that trip to Boston because i still allow it.

This week has been a little rough on her since she started work, with most of the media attention coming off abit too strong. Then again, this is only the first week, so maybe, it will tone down soon.

Which is why i am surprised she agreed to accompany me to the

Museum exhibit and auction. I had asked lana to accompany me, but after i told her Marianne was coming, she happily withdrew.

Now waiting impatiently in the living room for her to come down, I drown down on a glass scorch to start the night and stare at my watch again. She's late, which means we will both be late and i don't like to be late . It's mostly my fault anyway, i should not have joined her in the bathroom.

But it was worth it.

My eyes linger on the watch she gifted me and i smile, taking out my wallet to look at her picture again, studying every feature on that adorable angelic face like i have done a million times in before already. If our baby is a girl, she most likely will look like that I figure. After tomorrow, we will find out the sex of our child and i can hardly wait. Marianne wanted to wait till birth to find out, but God knows i don't possese such kind of patience.

"Madam's ready" Mario utters, as he stands by the door and i put the wallet back in my pocket and walk out into the foyer.

Marianne is walking down the stairs and i stop at the landing, watching her. She looks very elegant and classy.

"Stop smiling, you look silly." She chuckles. When she stops in front of me.

"You look very very.........I don't think there is a work for it yet"my I murmur, loving the soft loose bun on top of her head, that is allowing soft strands of hair to fall off the sides of her face.

"Thank you. C'mon, let's not be late."

*

I Walk into the exhibition hall with a spring in my step. There is just something about having the right woman besides you, that makes a man feel like he is on top of the world. Tonight, I feel all that and then some.

I am aware of the attention our arrival has drawn, but Marianne is taking each stride with confidence. We walk around the room, and i introduce her to some people every here now and then, until we come across Eva, and Lorenzo, who remembers her from that night at his house party that she crushed.

*

Despite the stares and whispers we are getting from people around the room, everyone here is acting quite distinguished and class, even the press and Media people are not trying to get into my personal space, or trying to make me uncomfortable with unnecessary questions, like i have been used to lately.

I am glad to see some familiar faces also, such as Nick, although Ally isn't here, Eva and Lorenzo, who although i do not know very well, is extremely friendly and easy to get along with.

I also notice Max Denning here, but i have not met him directly.

Sitting down after some time, i am happy to finally rest my feet for a while, while Angelo and Nick dissappear for a bit, leaving me with Eva and Lorenzo and a few other people at our table.

Eva, whom i find myself liking more and more each time i spend time with her, and Lorenzo make conversation with me about the people in the room and we laugh and talk abit more until Eva and i drift off into our own conversation when Lorenzo talks to other people.

"I am really glad to see you out and about" She murmurs.

"Yeah, me too. I am actually surprised to find that this crowd is minding their own business. Everytime i have stepped outside, i have been swamped left right and center." I say and she chuckles.

"It's good to see i don't have to worry about that here." I add.

"Well, as long as you have Angelo by your side, you don't have to worry about that. He is notoriously known for keeping his private life private, no one will dare bother you in here, with him around." She says.

Oh, good to know.

Our talking eventually leads us to our plans for the weekend, as she invites me to attend a tennis tournament with her.

"I may not not in town on Saturday. I want to accompany a friend to Boston to a journalism and media awards show." I utter.

"Ohh, is this the same friend you write stories for" she asks and i remember mentioning it that night she and some others were at the apartment going over a case with Angelo.

I hoped she had forgotten I had said that.

"Yeah" I say simply.

"That sounds like a lot of fun. I have never been to Boston, by it always wanted to go someday. I hope you have a great time" she says sweetly.

"Well,.it's not really set yet, i am not sure if i will go, but if i don't i will hold you up on that game"

"Ok, but why not" she asks curiously.

I shrug, not want to talk about it further and change the subject.

She smiles knowingly.

"What?"

"No no.....never mind. So what award is it exactly?" she digresses and i laugh.

I go on to rave about the article and eventually talk about how brilliant Luke really is.

Even though he didn't write it himself, he is incredibly good at his work and is an amazing editor and if i developed any skill at writing, it's because he taught me.

"What???" I ask again, noticing her face.

"The way you talk about him, i see why Angelo would be jealous. ......" She utters.

"Oh c'mon, not you too." I frown.