8 MONTHS LATER
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

Chloe wriggled in her sleep. She yawned and blinked several times before opening her eyes. It took a moment for her brain to shed away remnants of sleep and once she was awake, she felt his hot breaths fanning her neck and saw, his arms protectively wrapped around her. Slowly, she turned and found him sleeping peacefully. She gently removed few hair from his forehead and placed a soft kiss at the same spot, right above his scar.

She smiled and tried to get up but felt him tightening his hold. She turned and found his eyes closed. She tried to move again but to no avail.

"Quit moving." She heard him speak in his deep and husky morning voice.

"You're up early." She replied, laying  down. He breathed her in, slowly opening his eyes. 

Ever since Chloe got approval of her parents, Sam and Chloe moved in together in his–now their house, where they met for the very first time. Chloe returned to her job while Sam and Markus started working as personal trainers.

"Happy birthday, baby." He said, placing a kiss on her neck. "Is it my birthday that woke you up so early ?" She joked. He smiled and rolled over her, "Perhaps." He replied, pecking her lips. She chuckled. His eyes darted to the clock, placed at the nightstand beside their bed. 6:00 a.m. It said. Sam rolled off her and stood up on his feet. Having an idea that he was upto something, she asked, "What are you upto ?" Instead of answering her, he strolled out, downstairs, into the living room

"Are we expecting someone ?" She questioned, following him.

"Uhmm." He hummed, Her brows knitted in confusion.

"Who ?"

"It's not someone...but something and a surprise for you." He answered her walking by the door.

"A surprise." She whispered. Her eyes gleamed with the newly found excitement and lips twitched up. She was about to question him further when the door bell rang.

"And it's here." Sam said, immediately opening the door.

"Your parcel, sir." A young boy said. Sam grabbed the parcel and shut the door. Meanwhile, Chloe was standing there, oblivious. Sam chuckled looking at her perplexed expression.

"Here, baby." She took the parcel from his hand, then, they seated down on the sofa and Chloe began to unbox her present. Once she removed the shining gift wrap and opened the box, she was left in awe.

"Wow..." She whispered, gently lifting the beautiful black and white off shoulder, full sleeved, knee length gown.

"As much as I love to see you wearing my shirts...." He said, his eyes roamed up and down her figure, covered in his black shirt that stopped just above her knees. "...I really want you to wear this on our date." Her head shot up.

"A date ?"

"Yeah."

"When did you plan everything ?" Her smile seemingly widened.

"Just did. Now, go freshen up. I'll prepare us breakfast." She gave him a zealous nod and rushed back to their bedroom.

After taking a quick shower and changing into the beautiful dress Sam had bought her. She completed her look with a nude make up.

"You look good, Chloe." She mumbled to herself and twirled infront of the mirror when she saw Sam leaning against the wall by the door, looking at her with sheer adoration.

It was almost a year they had been living together and yet she couldn't figure out what about his look makes her feel so different.

"You look gorgeous." He whispered.

"Thank you very much." She replied with a dramatic bow. "..Now you hurry with your morning business." She scampered towards him and began to push him towards the bathroom earning a melodious chuckle from him.

Once he was done, Sam was changed in a pair of blue denim jeans along with maroon full sleeved shirt paired with a black jacket.

By the time he came down, Chloe was dishing their plates. Upon hearing his footsteps, she turned her head. One look at him and she couldn't avert her gaze it was as if her eyes were glued to him.  A tiny smirk appeared on his lips while his eyes were shining with mischief.

"Not in hurry now, are we ?" Playfully, he said, bringing her back to reality. She immediately refocused her attention on the plate in an attempt to hide the rosiness of her cheeks.

Sam neared her and held her from behind.

"You don't hide that from me." He whispered in her ears, placing a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"Okay...now let's hurry up." Smiling, she said and sat down on a chair.

After having delicious hash browns in the pleasant ambience of their home, they walked to their car.

"Ready ?" He asked, igniting the engine. She nodded in excitement and he drove them off.

DURING RIDE

"So where exactly are we going ?" She asked.

"Didn't I tell you it's a surprise ?" Sam answered her with a question of his own, looking at the road ahead.

"Atleast give me a hint."

"All I can say is.....have a little patience, baby." Annoyed, she huffed and looked away, at the passing pedestrians, cars and stores. He took a quick glimpse of her before intertwining their hands. She tried to get her hand off his hold but failed. He smiled and a few minutes later pulled off infront of a coffee shop.

"Why are we stopping here." Perplexed, Chloe asked. Again, instead of answering her, he stepped out and walked across to her side of the door, trailed by her gaze. He opened the door and gestured her to step out.

Her eyes wandered around before resettling on the coffee shop, whose front was composed of glass panels. They trudged along the pavement and stopped infront of it's entrance.

"It's still closed." She said and at the same time, Sam took out a key from his pocket and forwarded it to her.

"So open it." He said to her. It took Chloe a minute to realise what he meant and once she did, her hands automatically reached to cover her mouth while her eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Are you...are you serious ? How ?" Surprised, she muttered. "Father helped me. You like your surprise ?"

"Are you crazy. I love it." Saying it, she hugged him tightly. "Thank you..."

"You don't wanna see inside ?"

"I do." She laughed.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, gaping openly at the wonderful interior. Cafe had a big and spacious seating area. It's walls were covered with red bricks wallpaper and was filled with lush greenery all around while the floor gave a rustic touch. Wall lamps were placed above every seating spot. However, it was devoid of any furnishings.

"It's beautiful."

"I am glad you like it. We can decorate it, as you like."

"You know what ?"

"What ?" He asked, embracing her in his arms, however, she wriggled in his hold and freed herself. "We can set up the counter here." She walked to a certain spot, such that her back was facing him. "Hire a sweet barista. And you know,..." She began to tell him all her ideas. "...I am thinking of a tag line....Bringing moments of joy in a sip. How's it it ?" She questioned, looking outside the window. She waited for a response but got nothing, "Sam.." She called. No response. "Sam." She called again, turning around.

"Oh God." In surprise, those words came out of her mouth instinctively and over again her hand reached to clasp her mouth.

"I love you, Chloe, and I want to spend rest of my life only with you. Will you marry me ?" Sam asked, kneeling down infront of her, with a beautiful smile on his face and a ring in his hand. His heart was hammering in his chest. He knew she loved her but the thought that she might not be ready was making him nervous.

"Will you marry me, Chloe ?" Softly, he repeated. Her eyes were glossy, however, the way the corner of her eyes crinkled, he knew, she was smiling. She nodded her head hysterically, before running in his arms. He stood up from his crouched position and caught her.

"I love you, Chloe." He whispered, against her neck. "I love you too." She replied and kissed him while Sam placed the ring in her finger. Just in time, they heard sound of hooting coming from, behind a wall parting the main cafeteria from the kitchen and staff rooms.

She turned and once again was surprised to see her parents, Markus and Lewis there.

"You all were here, all the time ?" She questioned, her glance flickered back and forth between them and Sam.

"When did you come ? When did you even plan everything ?" She threw questions back to back.

"Does that really matter ?" Markus interrupted. "Exactly." Natalie added, supporting Markus.

"You're happy ?" Sam asked.

"I have never been happier." She replied, squeezing him tightly in her arms. He placed another kiss on her head when Lewis brought a chocolate cake, kept on a movable table.

"Let's cut the cake." He enthused.

"You grew up pretty quick, princess." Steven said, exactly the same words he had spoken on the day he was driving her for the airport. Chloe chuckled and blew the candles.

Thereafter they all celebrated and enjoyed that memorable day.

___________________________________________

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