To Sweden With Love

I needed a minute to process what he just said to me. I understood every word he said and it made my heart happy. I had tears forming in my eyes. And before I even said anything, I grinned really big.

“Well, we don't have all night,” Carl spoke up.

I saw Liv elbow him telling him to shut up.

“I don't really know what to say…” I started.

“Yes would be a good answer for me to hear,” Derick was still down on one knee holding the little ring box open.

He stood up and continued. “Ellie, you mean the world to me. I don't want to spend another day without you. When I’m having a bad day, I have you to come home to and everything disappears. When something good happens, I love getting to share it with you.”

I stood there smiling and giggling at him with tears rolling down my cheeks.

“You're so cute when you get flustered. Did you really think I could say no to you? I've turned my life upside down for you. I’m in fucking love with you, Derick Brassard. Of course I will fucking marry you.”

He pushed that ring on my finger and stood up so fast. His lips were against mine before he even got on his feet.

“I hate you, you know that?” Derick said we our lips parted.

“I love you,” I hugged him real tight.

I couldn't believe it. Never in a thousand years did I ever imagine getting married.

“Hey El, there's someone who wants to talk to you,” Liv called to me.

I wiped the tears off my cheeks and sat down next to her. She was facetiming someone.

I took the phone from her. “Shane! Oh my god!”

“Ellie bear! Congratulations!”

Tears started forming again.

“Oh my god how many more surprises do you guys have for me?”

“Ellie, I’m sorry I couldn't personally be there for this moment but I'm so happy that all your best friends were. They're the most important people in your life. And even though I’m what? Thousands of miles away from you? I’m glad I still got to be part of this very happy moment in your life.”

Derick came over and sat next to me, popping his head into camera view. He kissed my temple.

“And Derick, you do anything to hurt my baby sister, I will come looking for you.”

I laughed and wiped the tears from my face again.

I had this gut feeling of what Shane was going to say next.

“El, those people around you right now? They are your family. You deserve the best in the world, and that's them. This is a new chapter in your life, the start of a new story, continue to write it with them. Forget about everyone who has ever done you wrong… even mom and dad…” he faded out.

My eyes were welled with tears. Derick put his arm around my waist and Liv’s hand was on my knee.

Shane continued. “Don't even worry about telling them. I'll take care of that. If they care enough about their little girl, they wouldn't have shut you out.”

I tried to get out a “thank you” but I was a jumbled mess.

I tried to pull myself together by taking a few deep breaths. Derick rubbed my back.

“Shane, thank you for being here for this moment,” Derick started. “Do you have any idea how much she admires you? You're her real life hero. She has a picture of you sitting on our mantle and I swear, I swear she says a prayer for you every chance she gets. For the little time I have known you, I can tell where she gets her strength and courage… and I can see why she's so brave.”

“Thank you, Derick. She has always been brave. She has been through a lot in her life. I'm so thrilled she found you. I have never seen her happier.”

I laid my head on Derick’s shoulder and closed my eyes. It has been a really long, but amazing day.

“Take care of her, man. I'm trusting you.”

“No pressure,” Derick chuckled. “We’ll talk to you later.”

Derick ended the call and handed Liv her phone back.

I bit my lip and whispered into his ear. “I love you so fucking much.”

With emphasis on a couple words.

Derick excused us and carried me into the house. He shut the bedroom door behind him and locked it.

“Wait here.” I went into the bathroom to wash my face. My eyes were burning from crying so much.

I sat on the edge of the tub and just stared at the beautiful ring that sat upon my left ring finger. It was so shiny, so sparkly. It twinkled in the light. It was perfect.

There was a knock on the door. “You alright?” Derick asked from the other side.

“I’m wonderful. I'll be out in a minute.”

I stripped out of the clothes I had worn for the entirety of the day. I stood there for a moment staring at my naked body in the mirror. Memories rushed through my head as I thought about what I was put through. Scars were the reminders.

Tears started to roll down my cheek.

Derick knocked on the door again, this time opening it and seeing my naked reflection in the mirror.

“Ellie? Are you okay?” He said rushing over to me as I sunk to the floor.

“I used to hate myself. Did I ever tell you that? I used to be so insecure about my body because he used to tell me how stupid and fat I was, and I let him say it.”

He grabbed the towel that was hanging on the door and draped it around my shoulders.

Sitting beside me, he said:

“For what it's worth, I think you're beautiful. The first time we made love, the very first time, I was so mesmerized by the curves of your body. Until this day, the touch of your bare skin against mine still sends shivers down my spine. If I could trace your body every moment of every day, I would. You're so perfect.”

I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his bare chest.

“So we can either do it here, on this cold bathroom tile, or we could go somewhere more comfortable.”

“I don't know, I'm up for some spontaneity.” I giggled. “I mean, you already have me here, why waste anymore time?

As I laid back on the cold bathroom floor, it sent shivers all through my body. But I knew in a moment, I would have a warm body on top of me.

Derick slipped out of his boxers and took a stance over top of me as if he was going to do push ups.

He came down and kissed me. Kissed me all down my body. Around every edge and curve he could find.

I just laid there hopelessly, letting him take control of my body.

There was that touch. The touch of our bodies against each other.

But this time was different.

This time it was passionate.

----

I woke up the next morning wondering if what happened last night was a dream. And then I looked at my left hand.

Nope, definitely wasn't a dream. That really happened!

I rolled over to face Derick and he opened his eyes and smiled.

“Do we have to come to Sweden more often so I can get morning snuggles?” I giggled.

“I just wanted to wake up to my beautiful fiancée.” He kissed me.

“Fiancée. I like the sound of that.” I moved closer to him and snuggled into his chest. “Your body is warm, don't ever move.”

He laughed as he kissed the top of my head.

We laid there for a little bit longer before Derick’s stomach started to growl. I hope there’s food left over after the party.

I moaned as we both rolled out of bed.

I went over to my suitcase to find a T shirt to pull on and a pair of shorts.

Derick had already gone down for breakfast before I could find clothes to put on.

Before I left the room and snapped a picture of my ring to send to Janie.

He did something right! :) can't wait to have you as my sister!

I bounced down the steps to see everyone sitting around the kitchen table.

“Good morning, future Mrs. Brassard!” Malin exclaimed as she hugged me.

A big grin came across my face as I saw Liv smiling at me.

“Liv, thank you so much for calling my brother for him to see that. That meant so much to me… to us,” I nodded toward Derick who was stuffing his face with Swedish pancakes.

He looked up at me with a puzzled look on his face. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

“Ellie, you know I’d do anything for you,” Liv said as she hugged me.

Patric brought me a plate of pancakes and I took a seat next to Derick. I elbowed him and asked if he even know what he was eating.

He shrugged. “Sure, Haggy made them for me all the time when we were in New York.”

“Oh, speaking of New York… Who has our dog?”

“Uhhhh…”

“Derick… Please tell me you had someone watch him.”

“Well, uhhh…”

“Don’t worry, I asked Mac to puppy sit.” Liv interrupted.

“I’m never putting you in charge of making decisions,” I teased.

“Hey, I decided I wanted to marry you! Isn’t that enough?” He was offended.

“Probably the only good decision you made this summer,” Carl jeered.

Derick glared at him. He was ready to jump out of his chair.

I put my hand on his leg to stop him from doing anything stupid.

“Let’s try to enjoy this last day before we have to go back home.” I took a bite of my pancakes. “Herregud, dessa är så bra.”

Derick stared at me in amazement. “En français s'il vous plaît.”

This was going to be fun.

We finished eating our breakfast and I went back upstairs to pack up my bags. A few minutes after I had gone upstairs, Liv joined me.

“You know, El,” she plopped down on the bed. “Don’t listen to anything Carl says. Derick might have made some stupid decisions this summer, but I think he did what he thought was going to be best for his future.”

“I wouldn’t say they were stupid, but decisions that didn’t involve me…”

“Hey, this last one involved you!” Derick hollered from just outside of the door. “I did what I thought I needed to. Besides, we’re way past that now, aren’t we?”

I gave him a small smile. “We are, and I’m much happier.”

I sat down on the bed next to Liv.

“And exhausted,” Derick snickered.

She made a face at him. “Ew, I’m out of here.” She gave me a hug and jumped up off the bed.

As she was walking down the hall she shouted, “Don’t do anything I would do!”

I finished packing up my bags and cuddled up next to Derick on the bed. He groaned something about being the little spoon.

“Hey, I never complain,” I squeezed him.

“Yeah, but you’re better at being the little spoon.”

“I didn’t realize it was a competition?”

I finally gave in to him and let him be the big spoon. He was right, I do sacrifice a lot for him.