For the last two weeks Tessa's been a nervous wreck. Ever since I gave her those plane tickets and she agreed to come back home with me, she's been nervous about meeting my mum.

We're leaving for the airport soon and Tessa's been running around the apartment all morning trying to finish a few last minute things.

"Tess?" I call out softly as she pushes past me and makes her way to the nightstand. "Tess?" I ask again. "Tessa!"

"What?" she gasps.

"What are you doing?"

"Just trying to find the cable for my cell phone. I think I left it in this drawer."

"You need to calm down, baby. Everything is going to be fine. I told you, my mum already loves you."

"I know what you said, but I'm still nervous. She only knows the version of me you told her about. She might not like me when she actually meets me."

"Are you crazy? How could anyone not absolutely love you? I know I've sure had to fight off a bunch of assholes who wanted you. Let's see... there was Zed, fucking Noah, Trevor... Oh, that guy at the gala."

"Stop!" Tessa says as she playfully swats at me.

"No. You need to understand just how amazing you really are." I gently brush Tessa's hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"Are you almost ready?"

"Yes. Now, if I could just find that cable... Here it is!"

"Crisis averted." I chuckle.

Tessa takes a moment to look at the collection of photo frames that sit atop our nightstand. "I still can't believe you actually framed this calendar page." She laughs.

"I told you I would. And now it's a binding contract. You have to marry me on June 24th, or else."

"Or else what?"

I wrap my arms around her waist as I look into her brilliant eyes. "Or else I'll have to teach you a lesson... again." I smirk.

"Oh? That's fine. I really enjoyed the last lesson." She grins.

"Well, then maybe it's time for another," I say seductively as I nuzzle into her neck.

"I thought we had a plane to catch," Tessa says as she tries not to moan.

"My mum will understand."

"She will? She'll understand her only son missed his flight to England to see her because he was trying to fit in a quickie?" Tessa giggles.

"Fine..." I groan against her neck. "But we're making this up on the plane!"

"Hardin! I'm not having sex with you on the plane!" Tessa warns as she storms out of the bedroom.

Twenty minutes later, Tessa's still not ready. Instead, she decides to repack some of her suitcase. "Hardin, which outfits should I pack?"

"Whatever you already packed is fine, Tess."

"I just want to make a good first impression. I don't want your mom to think I dress too slutty or—"

"Tess, my mum isn't your mother. She would never judge you. And she definitely would never insult or criticize you. Despite the little hellion she raised, she's actually a really wonderful person."

"Hardin..." Tessa says softly.

"What?"

"I've just never really heard you talk about anyone, other than me of course, like that. I love this sweet, loving side of you. I think I'm really going to enjoy seeing you with your mom this week."

"I'm going to regret this trip, aren't I?" I chuckle.

"No. I promise I'll only tease you a little. Got that, mama's boy?" Tessa giggles.

"If you don't have that sexy ass of yours dressed and ready to go in ten minutes, I'm going to put you over my knee and spank that sass right out of you."

Tessa runs to the bathroom giggling as I chase after her before having the bathroom door slammed in my face.

Another fifteen minutes later, we're finally ready to leave for the airport.

"You know, if you didn't waste our morning lipping me off, we could have fit in two quickies."

"Hardin," Tessa warns. "No more sex talk! I'm anxious enough about getting on the plane. Got it, mister?" she asks as she pinches my face in her hand.

"Yes ma'am," I mumble.

A very anxious Tessa and I drive to the airport, make it through security and find our seats on the plane. Unfortunately, I'm seated between Tessa and some creepy, unpleasant man. Tessa offered to switch seats, so I would stop complaining, but there's no way in hell I'm letting him near her.

During take off I hold Tessa's hand and smile to myself as I watch her eyes screw shut and her grip on my hand tightens. I love this girl so much. She's one of the bravest people I know. She's already been through and survived so much, but a simple plane ride has her freaking out.

"Hardin? Is it over?" Tessa asks timidly.

"Yes, baby. We can enjoy the very, very long flight now."

"Why were you smiling to yourself?"

"I just love you is all." I give her a quick peck on the lips.

"How much longer?"

"About ten hours."

"Great..."

A few hours later, I notice Tessa still seems a little jumpy. "Tess, you know, we could pass the time by joining the mile high club." I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

I notice the creepy, unpleasant man sitting next to me seems to like the idea of picturing my girl pressed up against the bathroom wall because a dirty little grin spreads across his face. "What the fuck are you smiling at?" I ask as I shoot daggers at the guy.

"Hardin..." Tessa's small voice says from beside me.

"Yes, baby?"

"Is asking me to have sex in the airplane bathroom loud enough for the..." Tessa lowers her voice to a whisper, "Creepy man beside you to hear supposed to help me relax?"

"I just thought..."

"Please, stop with the airplane sex fantasy. It's not happening."

"Fine." I pout and cross my arms over my chest.

Tessa eventually calms down enough to enjoy the plane ride and the view from the window before falling asleep for a few hours.

As I watch her nap, I can't help but smile to myself again. She looks so peaceful and beautiful, even in her sleep.

Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so because I catch the creep next to me staring at her again and I swear he even licks his lips. "Okay, buddy... What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

He clears his throat before bringing his eyes to meet my intense glare. "N-nothing."

"If I catch you staring at my fiancée one more time, you'll be going sky diving," I threaten.

The creepy guy quickly turns away from me and puts his earphones in.

"Hardin?" a sleepy voice next to me asks.

"Yes, baby?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."

"I've slept enough. How much longer?"

"Only a few hours."

Tessa and I spend the rest of the excruciatingly awkward and long flight by talking about all the places she's always wanted to see and things she's always wanted to do in England.

I hold her hand again as we get ready to land. And I make sure to flip off the pervert sitting next to me after Tessa and I get up from our seats, and are ready to get off the plane.

After we grab our luggage, we get the keys to our rental car.

As we start to drive to my mum's house, I find it extremely adorable how fascinated Tessa is by driving on the opposite site of the road.

As we continue to drive by all the sights and landmarks, Tessa's eyes have a light in them I haven't seen before. I'm so happy she gets to experience something new because of me and that I get to be right by her side the whole time.

After I let Tessa know we're getting closer to my mum's, she begins to nervously fidget with her hands.

"Baby, she's going to love you," I reassure my sweet, beautiful girl as we pull up to my mum's house.