The Harder They Fall (13 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Colleen
had been to Central many times, but she never failed to enjoy returning. She
wondered whether they would choose a central spot to relocate all the
government offices and other buildings on the surface. She’d asked her aunt
about it and had been told that issue was being discussed, along with thousands
more, and it would likely take them at least a year to wade through all the
paperwork involved in a mass move of the entire government.

Ace
and Harper, plus their two adorable twins, had ridden the same train as she and
Blaine, but they had their own compartment. Colleen saw them briefly at the
beginning of the ride, but then Blaine had lured her back to the compartment
she was sharing with him by promising pizza and chocolate. How could she say
“no” to that?

They
spent the ten hour ride doing more talking than anything else, but that was all
right with her. She was happy to be with him, and excited to finally meet the
other Weathermen, their wives, and their fiancées in person.

They
arrived late in the evening at their hotel. Ace and Harper made their
apologies, saying they were going to order room service and get the twins down
for some much-needed sleep. Blaine told them he and Colleen were too tired to
go out to dinner as well, and they’d see the four in the morning for breakfast.

Once
they were settled in their suite, Blaine ordered them strawberries and
champagne, then filled the lavish tub with water. She sat with her back to him,
surrounded by warm water, and closed her eyes.

He
kissed her neck. “This is much nicer than the train.”

“And
we have no infants to keep us otherwise occupied.”

Blaine
handed her the glass of champagne she’d placed on the edge of the tub. “Do you
think about that? Having kids one day?”

“Not
really.” She took a long sip, resisting the urge to turn around so she could
see his face. “Why? Do you?”

“That
would surprise you, wouldn’t it.”

She
turned now. “Yes. Very much.”

“I
think about marriage, too. A lot.”

“Holy
shit. What have I done to you, Blaine Parker?”

His
laugh was quick and easy, but she caught the look on his face. He meant it.
“You’ve captivated me, mind, body, and soul, Miss Newton.” Blaine drained his
wine glass. “That’s what you’ve done to me.”

“How
does that make you feel?”

“You
sound like a shrink.”

“Okay,
but I’d really like to know.”

He
placed their glasses back on the tiles and pulled her close, lifting her onto
his lap. “It makes me feel alive, Colleen. Like I’ve been dead for a very long
time, but I was still walking around and functioning. Now I’m awake again.
Completely
awake and ready to embrace my
life for the very first time.”

He
was going to ask her to marry him. She knew it as suddenly as if it had been
written across the tiles on the wall in bright, glittery ink. She didn’t know
how, or when, or where, but she knew he would ask.

“How
does it make
you
feel?”

“You
mean—”

“I
mean knowing I think about marriage and children. Because in case you hadn’t
figured this out yet, I’m not interested in either except with you.”

She
nodded, her voice gone. Despite the fact she was sitting in a tub of warm
water, next to and wrapped up in his hard, hot body, she suddenly felt cool.
She loved this man with her entire heart and soul, but becoming a wife and
mother wasn’t a role she’d ever seen herself in.

“Colleen,
say something.” He looked one step shy of hurt, and she couldn’t bear that.

“I’m
processing it. The whole idea of me being married and giving birth.”

“Harper
and Ace are deliriously happy. So are Liane and Emmett, Angela and Dominic, and
all the others.”

“I
know they are.” She’d seen firsthand how happy Harper and Ace were. As for the
others, Blaine had told her how happy they all were, more than once in the past
week. He also told her not to be surprised when she met her that Liane was six
months pregnant, or that Angela was five months pregnant already.

“We
could be that happy, too.”

“I
agree. We could be.”

He
sighed. “Colleen, are you completely against the idea? Tell me now.”

“No.
Oh, goodness, no. I’m just … I never pictured it. Not once. Not even when I was
younger.”

He
smiled. “Neither did I. Not even once. Not until I met you.” He moved her
gently off him, and then she watched him climb out of the tub. “I’ll be right
back. Don’t move.”

Thinking
he had to pee or something, she sat back against the edge of the tub and closed
her eyes again. She tried to picture herself married. Would it be so different
from dating him? All that would really change was her permanent address. She
was with him all the time now, and might as well live in his apartment. She
didn’t want any other man. Blaine was everything she’d ever desired, all
wrapped up in one gorgeous, charming, romantic package.

Then
she tried to imagine being a mother. That was a little more difficult, but not
out of the question. Harper had two, and she certainly looked blissful. She
smiled more than anyone Colleen had ever met, and Ace doted on her and the
twins. Blaine would be that way, too. She was sure of it. He’d make sure she
and their children never wanted for anything.

When
he returned, he wore a robe and carried another one. “Come on out for a
moment.”

The
look on his face stopped her from asking why. He was terrified, yet excited at
the same time. Had something else happened with HCS? She climbed out and put on
the robe, then he asked her to sit on the stool next to the vanity. She did,
then gasped as he pulled a small velvet box out of the robe pocket.

“Blaine
… what on earth…”

“Let
me get this out or I’ll be too afraid to do so. I bought this before we left
NorthCentral.”

“Oh
my God…” Tears spilled down her cheeks. She couldn’t help it. Now that the
moment was here, she realized how much she’d wanted this with him. There was no
other man on the planet she’d ever marry, and she knew it. He was the one. He
always had been, from the second he’d tipped that imaginary hat at her.

Blaine
got down on one knee, then opened the box. His eyes blazed with excitement and
uncertainty, and that killed her. She’d never say “no” to him. Never. “Colleen,
I know this isn’t what either of us thought we’d do, but I can’t imagine
spending the rest of my life any other way. And I can’t wait any longer to ask
you. I love you. I love you so damn much. Will you marry me? Please?”

“Of
course I will. Oh, Blaine. I love you, too. I can’t imagine spending the rest
of my life without you.”

He
slipped the ring on, and of course it fit. It was exquisite. Tiny rubies and
emeralds surrounded the diamond.

“Your
eyes and your hair,” he said. “The stones, that is. That’s what they reminded
me of.”

She
laughed through her tears. Then he picked her up and twirled her around until
she begged him to put her down. His face was so full of happiness and love, and
she vowed to make sure that’s how he always looked. She had no idea what would
happen as they rebuilt the surface, but she knew one thing without a doubt.

She
knew she would spend the rest of her life making sure he never doubted how
very, very much she loved him.

Epilogue

December 25, 2130
 

Five years after The Madeline
Project was stopped

Blaine
placed his arm around Colleen’s shoulder as they walked into a banquet hall in
the city now known as Harrison, in the province of Central. President Blake
Harrison had died in office before this city was completed, and everyone in the
new administration, which Charlene O’Leary now presided over as Commander-in-Chief,
had agreed it be renamed after him. It had been his design, after all, and he’d
pushed to have it built as soon as possible.

The
Weathermen, plus their wives and children, were gathered here not only to
celebrate the holiday together, but to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the
day they took back their planet.

They’d
invited Dave Perry, but he was touring the world, above ground this time, to
give another series of lectures to middle school students about the importance
of taking responsibility for the coding they might one day write. As a gesture
of thanks to the late President Harrison for pardoning him, Dave had devoted
his life to promoting safe cyber techniques.

Blaine
smiled down at his beautiful wife. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”
She placed her hand over her abdomen, which barely showed her pregnancy. He and
Colleen had only been trying for a few months, even though they had been
married three years ago. They’d been the last of the couples to marry, and she
was the last to be pregnant, but that didn’t matter to them. It had been their
choice to wait.

They
were blissfully happy, and had been very busy rebuilding Blaine’s company on
the surface. Colleen had left the AFSR after they were married to work for
Blaine. Her background in urban planning and design was invaluable to him, and
Clear Channel Industries was now fully functional on the surface. He was in the
process of transferring everything from NorthCentral underground to Grand Forks
on the surface.

Harper
saw them first. She let out a war whoop and ran over, followed closely by two
school-aged children and two toddlers. Two sets of twins. Two boys and two
girls, who all had Ace’s dark eyes and Harper’s blonde hair.

Colleen
hugged Harper first, then bent down to give Michael and Eva each a hug. The
younger two, Charles and Kathryn, weren’t so sure, but once their mom whispered
in their ears, they both gave her a hug as well.

“They’re
all getting so big,” said Colleen.

“I
know. I can barely keep up.” Harper eyed Colleen’s abdomen. “You don’t look
pregnant yet.”

She
laughed, her face full of delight. “But I am.”

Ace
walked over and shook Blaine’s hand, and then Blaine watched others come over
to greet him and Colleen. Emmett and Liane led four year old Emory and two year
old Belinda in tow. Both had blue eyes like Emmett, and a combination of hair
color from both parents. Blaine wondered whether his and Colleen’s child would
have his or her coloring.

Dominic
and Angela had their hands full with Teresa, three years old, Dominic, two
years old, and Lucy, who had just started walking. Angela was pregnant again
and due in two months. She talked non-stop, and Dominic beamed like he’d never
be sad again. It was impossible not to smile around those two and their
gorgeous dark-haired, dark-eyed children.

Emmett
and his father had finished moving Radcliffe Enterprises to the surface, and
Ace was nearly finished moving ACE Communications topside. Both had built them
close to Blaine’s company, which suited him fine.

They
had all talked a lot about where they each would live, and had decided in the
end to live in two locations on the surface. Near the Grand Forks area, in the
province now called Dakota, and in the province called New California, near the
city of Bakersfield.

Ace,
Emmett, Kane, Barclay, Oliver, Atticus, and Blaine had chosen Grand Forks.
Dominic, Damien, Addison, Grayson, and Viggo were rebuilding in or near
Bakersfield. The cities were about twenty-eight hours away by car, but by plane
they were much closer. Air travel hadn’t been restored yet, but they all knew
it was only a matter of time.

Dominic
shared with them the happy news that his transition was finally complete. He
patted Angela’s swollen abdomen. “And just in time for this one’s arrival.”

Colleen
and Blaine made small talk, then excused themselves and walked over to where
Kane and Julianne sat with Sela and Damien. Kane and Julianne were parents to
two year old Keith, who had Julianne’s eyes. Sela and Damien had four-year old
Esther, who looked exactly like her mother, and two year old Daniel, who was
the spitting image of Damien.

Colleen
asked Sela whether she would move her dance studio to the surface, and she said
she would, but not right away. She beamed at her children. “Damien and I want
to have a few more first, and then I’ll begin teaching again.”

Blaine
and Colleen had discussed whether Colleen would keep working once they had
children, and both wanted her to. What she did, as far as Blaine was concerned,
was just as important as his role, and it made her happy to work.

Damien’s
company was nearly moved to the surface, and he and Blaine talked for a while
about the difficulties they’d encountered in the transitions. He and Colleen
then made their way to another table where Nadine and Addison, Grayson and
Valerie, Barclay and Rissa, plus Oliver and Blair sat together with their
children.

Nadine
and Addison were parents to three year old Abbott, and Nadine was due again in
June. Abbott looked just like Addison. Addison’s company was already on the
surface, about twenty miles north of Bakersfield.

Grayson
had moved his company above ground as well, and both Barclay and Oliver were
nearly done with their transitions. Grayson and Valerie were parents to two year
old Victoria, and Valerie was due again in August. Victoria looked more like
Grayson than Valerie, but Blaine still thought she was beautiful.

He
told Grayson so, who simply shook his head at Blaine. “You can say that now
you’re finally the same as us.”

Blaine
kissed Colleen. “If you mean happy, you’re right.”

“We
knew it would happen, eventually,” said Rissa.

Rissa’s
and Barclay’s three year old daughter Larissa looked exactly like her mother,
and Blair’s and Oliver’s son William, almost two, looked like Oliver. Blair was
due again in September, having just found out she was pregnant again.

The
last table they walked over to was where Atticus and Emma, plus Viggo and
Madison sat. Viggo patted two chairs. “Been saving them for you two.” Viggo had
two year old Mark, who looked like him, on his lap. Madison was pregnant again,
and was due the following month.

They
took their seats, and Colleen and Madison bent their heads together with Emma.
Emma and Atticus were parents to two year old Kimberly, who looked like Emma,
and one month old Lilly, who was currently sleeping in Atticus’s arms.

Viggo
poured a glass of wine for himself and one for Blaine. Atticus raised his
glass, and Viggo and Blaine did the same.

“Did
you ever think this would happen?” asked Viggo. “All of us, together like this,
married with kids, on the surface?”

“Never,”
said Blaine, draining his glass. He closed his eyes. “God, this tastes good. I
don’t care what anyone says. Grapes grown on the surface for wine just taste
better.”

“Hear,
hear,” said Atticus, filling his glass again. “How are things going with Clear
Channel’s move?”

“We’re
almost there. What about yours?”

“We’re
there.”

“I’m
almost done, too,” said Viggo. “Did you think it would take this long?”

“Yes,”
said Blaine. “I took one look at that site on the first day, before I even had
permits…” His voice trailed off as he cut his glance toward Colleen. That was
the day he’d met her. “I took one look at that mess and I thought ten years
would be more like it.”

“Well,
there’s still a lot to do,” said Viggo. “And some things will never be the
same.”

“Some
things
should
never be the same,”
said Atticus. “I hope everyone has learned something from all this.”

“Charlene’s
working hard to make sure laws are put into place that will be tougher than the
ones we had before. She has her hands in every industry trying to do that.”

Atticus
and Viggo raised their brows. “You’re on a first-name basis with the President
now?”

Blaine
laughed at the tone in Viggo’s voice. “Well, she is my aunt-in-law, after all.”

“Only
you would end up related to the President of the United States.”

Colleen
turned to face him, her grin making his dick hurt. She got more beautiful every
day, and pregnancy definitely agreed with her. “Are you talking about my aunt
again
?”

The
others laughed, but Blaine kissed her. “Only in the most complimentary way, my
darling wife.”

She
shook her head, then returned to talking with Emma and Madison. The guys drank
another toast, and then Blaine leaned back, crossing one leg over the opposite
knee. He surveyed the room, filled with the eleven men he’d come to love as
more than friends. They were brothers. Warriors and comrades in arms, who had
worked tirelessly for eight years to save their planet.

And
they had done exactly that. Now, slowly the surface would be rebuilt. Better
this time. With smarter technology, and people more aware of the dangers of
dabbling in code and software they couldn’t completely understand or control.

Blaine
massaged Colleen’s shoulder next to him while he, Atticus, and Viggo talked. He
was happier than he’d ever been. He had been since the day five years ago
Colleen had said “yes”. And he’d spend the rest of his life making sure she
knew how very, very much he loved her. Blaine was a man of his word, after all.

The End

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