~*Swear It Again*~

Chapter 10

**Shelby**

Stephanie ran over to me, I knelt down giving her a hug tickling her a bit “You! What did I tell you about running off like that! I didn’t have Billy to find you this time.” The little girl smiled “Scott found me he’s nice mommy!” I smiled. Daisy spoke up “Peter! Why don’t you and me go introduce Stephanie to Sophie?” Peter agreed.

I talked to Stephanie before she left with them “Steph you be good. No running off.” They then left.

I turned to look at him “Hey Scott it’s been a long time.”

He nodded his head smiling slightly “Yeah it has. You look good Shell it’s good to see you. Your daughter she’s beautiful. Looks just like you.”

I smiled a bit “Thanks, it’s good to see you too. I sent you a letter a few days ago. I don’t know if you got it or not.”

He shrugged “I wrote back to you but you probably won’t get it till you get back, I sent the letter out when I left.”

“Oh...” there was a moment of silence between us. I finally broke it.

“Scott?”

He looked up at me I knew I had his attention. I look up into his eyes “Why didn’t you ever say goodbye?”

**Scott**

I knew the answer to this question I saw the tears welding up in her eyes “Guess you never gave me a reason to.” With that I walked away, I couldn’t stand there and talk like strangers.

Night soon came I walked into the party looking around. I talked to a few people I felt my hand being tugged on. I turn around looking down to see Stephanie smiling at me, I knelt down asking her “Can I help you?” she giggled.

“I can’t find my mom, there’s too many people here and I can’t find Daisy either.” I chuckle “I’ll find her for you.”

I stand up as she grabbed my hand walking around the room looking for Shelby. I found Daisy instead.

“Have you seen Shelby?” She shook her head.

“I think she’s over by the refreshments, I’ll take Stephanie.” She took Steph’s hand walking off I sighed walking over to the refreshments. I looked for Shelby she tapped me on my shoulder. “Have you seen Steph?”

It was the first time I saw her that night, even after 6 years she was the most beautiful woman to me. I laughed a bit.

“Yeah she found me looking for you or Daisy I then found Daisy and she took her.”

She sighed, “That’s good. Stephanie likes Daisy a lot, they get along well for perfect strangers!”

I smiled a bit agreeing with her I then sighed as we were yet again in an uncomfortable silence. “Do you wanna dance?” I asked her motioning to the group that was dancing in the middle.

**Narrator**

Shelby smiled a bit when he asked her. She nodded her head “I would like that.” He led her to the dance floor they started dancing. Shelby laid her head on his shoulder closing her eyes loving being in his arms Scott felt the same way.

Scott chuckled a bit Shelby glanced at him the best she could. “What’s so funny?” she asked, he pulled back smiling slightly “After all these years you’re still the most beautiful woman I know, I almost have to forget who I’m holding.”

Shelby laid her head back on his shoulder whispering, “I almost have to forget whose holding me.”

So you should know this love we share was never made to die

I'm glad we're on this one way street just you and I just you and I

Shelby giggled Scott followed her gaze to where Stephanie was dancing around with Peter. Scott smiled “When I met her earlier she just giggled and it reminded me of you.” Shelby sighed “She’s actually nothing like me…she reminds me more of my ex, of you.” She whispered, Scott pulled away looking at her questionably.

Scott didn’t wait for an explanation walking out of the party. Shelby ran after him. She found him outside “Scott, please talk to me.” He looked up to the sky then to her.

“What do you want me to say Shell?” He turned around walking towards her slowly. “Do you want me to forgive you? For running and not even tell me why, for lying to me? Or do you just want me to say goodbye?”

Tears were streaming down Shelby’s face looking up at him “Oh that’s great, do you even know how all of this has hurt me?”

“No Shelby I guess I don’t know how it’s hurt you. You never told me! How could you do it?” he sighed continuing.

“How could you tell someone you love them and then walk right out on them?”

Shelby sighed “I got scared Scott you know that.” Scott threw his hands in the air. “You got scared! Like that’s supposed to make up for it? You knew I would never hurt you I swore to you that I wouldn’t, but you ran anyway. I swore to you that I would die for you and that I would never leave you. I still swear it to you and I’ll swear it again and again until I know you’ve heard it, because I love you I have never stopped loving you and I never will!”

“It wasn’t like that Scott! You obviously don’t understand. I didn’t want to face the reality that I could be with someone forever. I don’t live in fear of life anymore though Scott. I love you and I will never stop loving you I never have. I swear that I will never say goodbye again. I’m not running from anything anymore, but if you think it is goodbye I want to hear? Say it now please.”

Scott looked at her bluntly in the eye. “Goodbye Shelby” He then turned around walking off.

Shelby fell to the ground crying watching him go. Scott walked up getting in his car breaking down hitting the steering wheel.

__________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 11

**Shelby**

I walked back inside to find a dead party most of the people had gone back into town to the hotel nearby. I walk over to Daisy smiling a bit seeing Stephanie’s head on her lap sleeping. “Do you want me to move her?”

Daisy smiled “It’s alright I can, she’s such a sweetie. If I were the motherly type I’d have one just like her.”

I smiled as Daisy laid her on a couch in the lodge nearby we sat down to talk. She took a sip of her coffee. “So what happened?” She asked me.

I sighed, “It’s over. He doesn’t want anything to do with me. And you know what I can’t blame him.”

“Why not?” she asked I shook my head a bit, “I was always the one leaving, saying goodbye. Like when he asked me to marry him, when I found out I was pregnant. All of those times though not once did he say goodbye back. He never said goodbye until tonight, it just hurts that he waited to say goodbye.”

Daisy asked me “Why did you get so scared of him in the first place Shell? I think I’d understand the first time you had your doubts after someone told you something like that and you got cold feet. Why the second time though? At the last reunion I asked him where you were, he was cold. I then found out you had Steph the same time he did. He left, but I went to look for him. When I found him he was a mess and broke down. All because you pushed him away, he was blaming himself for not going after you.”

We kept our voices down I was crying a bit “I was scared of what would happen. I was not ready for marriage or even a baby. I know I could’ve gotten help from Scott but I wasn’t going to say ‘Hey I’m a package deal now, take me and my baby or take non.’ So I backed out, I finished school, moved, got a life. Did I look back? Of coarse I did, it was hard for me because every time I looked at that little girl I saw him, I had to block him out. I don’t even remember how many times I broke down, my neighbor Bob and his wife Susan helped me out the best they could. I finally got through it until I found all my memories I had lost and everything came flooding back to me.”

Daisy handed me a box of Kleenex, I wiped my eyes looking up at her “How did I make my life such a wreck?”

She leaned over holding my hand “That’s the way life is Shell.” She sat up grabbing a glass pouring some soda in it.

“Tell me, is the glass empty or full?” I sighed speaking the words the best I could “Half empty.” I sat there breaking down Daisy hugged me comforting me.

**Scott**

The next day I went back to Horizon to say goodbye to everyone. I chuckled walking over to Daisy she smiled “Well see you at the next reunion.” I smiled “Yeah sure count on it.” I gave her a small hug.

Stephanie ran up jumping in Daisy’s arms “I’m going to miss you Daisy!” Daisy hugged her tight you could tell she was touched. “I’m going to miss you too kiddo! You take care of your mom for me okay? I’ll come visit when I can, I promise.” Stephanie nodded and turned to look at me. “I’ll see ya around Scott!” I knelt down to her. “I’ll see you later Stephanie.” She leaned over giving me a hug bringing tears to my eyes I smiled. She giggled “Thanks for finding me! Mommy didn’t need Billy at all!”

I laughed a bit “Your welcome, I hope you do well in the game okay?” She giggled nodding. I heard Shelby call for her. “Stephanie! We have to get going if we want to make it to your game!” she smiled at her, the little girl jumped up and down running up to the car. Shelby stood right in front of me after saying bye to Daisy, I sigh “Guess I’ll see you at the next reunion?”

She nodded “Yeah I guess.” She looked up at me “I’m sorry.”

I sighed, “I’m sorry too.” She leaned up giving me a hug I held onto her tight a tear falling out of my eye. She then backed up walking up the gravel path towards her car.

**Shelby**

I sighed as I got in the car, making sure Steph was strapped in then started the drive waving to everyone I saw on the way out. I had tears in my eyes Stephanie looked at me strangely “Mommy why are you crying?” She sounded worried.

I shook my head a bit “I’m just sad because I’m going to miss them hun. Mommy doesn’t do well with goodbye’s.”

We got into our neighborhood I drove down the street. I smiled because she had a minute to change into her team’s outfit I walked over to the mailbox grabbing the stack of mail sticking it in my purse. She ran jumping into the car we drove to the park. I parked the car, she ran to tell the team she was back in time. They were happy to have her back. I walked over to where I saw Bob and Susan smiling at them. They greeted me and we sat down to watch the game.

Throughout the game while the other team was up to bat I read my mail, bills, brochures, magazines, and ad’s. I was only gone a day and a half. I chuckled finally when I came across something that wasn’t any of those. There wasn’t a return address on it only a name. I sighed getting ready to open it when a whistle from the umpire snapped me out of it, I stuffed my mail back into my purse. I stuck the letter in my back pocket getting up to see what was going on, it was a foul ball. I sat back striking up a conversation with Susan about her predictions for this game.

**Scott**

I had left Horizon shortly after Shelby I finally arrived back at home. I got my mail real quick sifting through it, nothing important. Getting back in my jeep driving down by the park I spotted her she was reading her mail. I smiled hoping she’d get the letter I sent her soon. I chuckled talking to myself “Time to get you back Shelby Merrick.” I then drove home.

______________________________________________________________________ Chapter 12

**Shelby**

I sighed as I finally got home I was exhausted carrying a sleeping 6 yr old. I chuckled at her she was all grungy from playing and had a pizza face. I carried her up getting her dressed for bed. I walked back downstairs looking for something to eat. I sighed sitting down, feeling the corner of the envelope poking me. I took out the letter reading it.

Shelby,

It has been long you’re probably not going to get this until after the reunion anyway. How’s Stephanie? I’ll give you this, she’s as beautiful as you, know that for a fact. I don’t know what will go on at the reunion since I’m only leaving for there tomorrow morning. Please know that I will love you forever no matter what. My offer still stands will you marry me? I would never hurt you or Steph, I’ll swear it again and as many times as you’d like. Please let me know Shelby.

Love always and forever,

Scott

P.S. I live across the street Shell!

**Narrator**

Shelby read the last part of the letter, she had been crying through the whole thing. Shocked she stood up picking up the phone she heard him answer “Bob? Could you come over and keep and eye on Steph please?” Hearing him chuckle. She grabbed her jacket as it had started to rain outside running outside getting wet. Bob came over to her with a worried expression on his face “What’s wrong?”

Shelby talked frantically “Which house is Scott’s?”

Bob smiled a bit “That one.” He said pointing to a house down the street. Shelby smiled through her tears giving Bob a peck on the cheek then running down the street to his house. Bob laughed watching her go.

She knocked on the door but got no answer, she then started banging on the door “Scott!!” She then fell down on the step crying.

Shelby walked back across the street to her house, she wiped her tears away soaking wet from the rain. Walking inside closing the door “Bob? He wasn’t home I blew it-“ She got caught off guard turning into her living room. Scott sat there in a chair smiling a bit Shelby fainted.

~*~*~Dreaming of different flashbacks~*~*~

Scott, “You know how much I love you don’t you? So much I would die for you?”

“…You are the one I want to be with you and only you.”

“Shell, I can’t fight the way I feel for you. That’s why I can’t be around you, every time I look at you I see what we had, what we could still have.”

“Shelby I swear that I will never leave you…I don’t care whose baby it is I can raise it as my own! I love you. I just swore that I wouldn’t leave you, please don’t push me away let me help.”

Stephanie, “Mommy where’s my daddy?”

Shelby, “Why didn’t you ever say goodbye?”

Scott, “Guess you never gave me a reason to.”

“…I swore to you that I would die for you and that I would never leave you. I still swear it to you and I’ll swear it again and again until I know you’ve heard it, because I love you I have never stopped loving you and I never will!”

Shelby, “…I’m not running from anything anymore, but if you think it is goodbye I want to hear? Say it now please.”

Scott, “Goodbye Shelby”

~*~*~*~*~*~End of Flashback~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m never gonna say goodbye, cause I never wanna see you cry, I swore to my love would remain and I’ll swear it all over again.” Scott was singing to her, her eyes fluttered open to look up into his. He smiled “Hey, have a nice sleep?” Shelby just looked up at him still shocked a bit “I think I’m still dreaming…you’re here.” She reached up touching his cheek to make sure he was real.

Scott smiled a bit holding her hand “You didn’t really think you could get rid of me that easily did you?”

Shelby shook her head smiling a bit “I’m sorry for everything Scott”

“I am too…I love you Shelby. I’m never going to hurt you or leave you, I swear forever.”

Shelby smiled “I think I’m the one who should swear that, I do. I love you Scott, without you I’m nothing.”

She then leaned up kissing him he kissed back a bit. Shelby pulled back smiling a bit “If you’re not too busy, will you marry me?” Scott chuckled. “You don’t even have to ask.” They then started kissing again until they were interrupted by a little voice. “Mommy I can’t sleep.” A sleepy Stephanie walked out to them in the living room. They turned to look at her then to each other smiling.

**A Month Later**

There are something's in this life won't be denied won't be denied…

The late spring early summer air flew all around. Shelby walked with Bob down the isle smiling up ahead at Scott. They finally met, Daisy smiled standing next to Stephanie as Shelby’s matron of honor. Ezra and Auggie stood behind Scott as they said their vows. They kissed when they were pronounced husband and wife and the whole room cheered.

…And the more that you love me, the more that I know

oh that I'm never gonna let you go

gotta let you know

that I

They walked together back down the isle on their way out, Stephanie jumped into Scott’s arms “Daddy!” He chuckled catching her smiling at Shelby. She smiled back leaning over giving him a kiss in which he returned. Stephanie giggled at them they got into a bit of a group family hug. Everyone was hugging and congratulating them. They chuckled kissing again the first moment they had. Shelby smiled whispering to him “Will you swear it?” Scott laughed a bit looking in her eyes “I’ll swear it again until the end of time!” He then kissed her.

They pulled away a moment just smiling at each other.