Vows and Promises
Part One
By Susan
lilichild@aol.com

ARCHIVE: Sure, just tell me where
TIMELINE: Well, this part takes place in the summer before season 7 and goes from there, the other parts will take place later, it’ll make more sense once you read the fic.
SPOILERS: I don’t read ‘em. You shouldn’t either J That said, anything that I didn’t beyond the latest aired episode is pure speculation.
DISCLAIMER: The story is mine, the characters aren’t. They belong to Warner Brothers, don’t waste your time suing, I have no money
NOTE: This is part one of a series and is my first fic, be kind J Comments welcome

SEATTLE

She stood by the water. It was a relatively cool day considering it was June. She marveled at the climate, it was surely hot in Chicago at this time of year. Yet, it was only in the low 70’s. Although the weather was cool, her love life certainly wasn’t these days.

She marveled at the path her life had taken only a month ago she was livingi in Chicago, lonely and as a single mom. Now, she was reunited with her one true love and she couldn’t remember a time she had been happier. She suddenly felt his hands on her shoulders. She smiled and relaxed against his solid form.

“Finally got the girls to sleep” Doug whispered in her ear, his breath was warm and she felt his strong arms around her.

“I would have helped” Carol said, but certainly took delight in his interest in their twin daughters. She had always known that Doug was good with children but his pure love and gentleness with their children warmed her heart.

He smiled. “Nah, wouldn’t want to disturb your reflection time.”

“Very funny, Doug” She laughed at him.

“Well, gee if you’re not going to be nice, then I guess I should go away.” Doug pretended to be insulted

“You can’t go anywhere, buddy. I’d come after you.” She mock punched him.

“And I’d enjoy your pursuit.” He grabbed her around the waist, and lifted her into his arms.

“Doug!” She protested while laughing. “Put me down!”’

“Maybe you’d like a swim” He teased and moved closer to the water

“No!” She shrieked “Doug, don’t!”

“Come on, Carol.” Doug kidded “It’s summer”

“Doug” she pleaded “NO!”

“Oh, okay” Doug placed her on the deck

Carol lunged toward him and pinned him down. “That’s where you made your mistake buddy.”

“And a worthy mistake that was” he laughed.

“You know, I was thinking” Doug began

“Doug Ross thinking, that’s a first” Carol said still pinning him to the deck

“Very funny” Doug retorted “Anyway, I was thinking that technically we’re still engaged.”

“You proposed three years ago and then moved across the country. I think that called the proposal off.” Carol responded, dodging the issue. They’d been through this so many times and it’s not that she wanted to get into all of that again. It could spell a big fight and Carol knew it.

“Yes, I left and I asked you to come with me” Doug responded. He was hoping she wouldn’t start fighting over that again. They’d agreed that they both were incredibly foolish and had made mistakes and agreed to put it behind them. Why was she bringing that up when he finally felt that he had something in his life that was stable?

“Yes, and I was a fool” Carol said and grinned at him. She certainly was a fool she realized. At least she came to her senses and joined Doug, she was lucky he still loved her, still wanted her. She certainly was a lucky fool.

“You’re a beautiful fool, Carol” Doug flirted “And I was a fool for leaving you”

“We’re just two fools in love” Carol laughed.

“That brings us back to what I was saying, Carol” Doug tried to steer back to his original topic, of course, that wasn’t always easy with Carol.

“Oh, yes. The fact that you think we’re still engaged.” Carol mused. She wanted to torture him a little, prod him to say what she knew deep inside he would.

“So, you’re not my fiancée?” Doug asked turning on all of his legendary charm.

“Nope” Carol flirted. She wouldn’t let this get too far, but she decided to have a little more fun with him. It wasn’t easy to make Doug Ross squirm and when Carol found something that accomplished that she loved to use it just to tease him a little.

“Gee, Carol, you still wear my ring, I thought you were my lady” Doug feigned innocence. He knew her game, she was going to make him squirm, going to make this hard for him. He hated it and loved it at the same time.

“Your lady?” Carol scoffed “What are you Kenny Rogers?”

“If I were I’d be able to cook without burning everything” Doug teased

“Which is why I don’t let you in the kitchen” Carol responded. She used the subject of Doug’s horrible cooking as a way to derail his topic. She could see he was visibly squirming now, and she was trying not to laugh at him.

“Anyway, you’re not my fiancée?” Doug asked. Doug knew Carol was going to make this difficult for him and he was losing patience with her attempts to change the subject. Damn, no woman could ever make him squirm like her. No woman could ever make him melt like her either.

“Not officially” Carol responded enjoying his increasing squirming.

“Shoot” Doug said, “Then I guess I can’t ask when you want the wedding to be”. Doug attempted to be casual.

“What!” Carol shrieked and hit him. She knew she did want to marry him, make it official, she wanted it very much. Yet, his casual attempt at it was less than romantic. Yes, she knew he had proposed to her before and had accepted but she wanted the romance that made Doug Ross famous.

“Ow!” Doug said rubbing his arm “You don’t want to marry me?” Doug pretended to be shocked. In reality, it was all part of his plan. He knew Carol would never accept a proposal like that, but he was going to have his fun with her too.

“That’s romantic, Doug” Carol scoffed, getting off of him. “A good story to tell Tess and Kate when they get older.”

Doug stood up and followed her across the deck. He reached into his pocket for the present he had hidden there.

“Okay, Carol” he said, getting down on one knee. He pulled out a small velvet box.

Carol gasped, realizing this was the real thing.

He opened the box, and produced a small gold key on a delicate chain.

“A key?” Carol asked in wonder.

“Yes, Carol, a key.” Doug said gently “It’s the key to my heart. I think you’ve always had it, but I figured I’d give it to you officially and for keeps.” He got up and put the necklace around her neck, then returned to one knee. By this point Carol was so touched that and knew she was very close to tears. What he said next opened her floodgates.

“Carol Hathaway, I love you. I have always loved you, you are the mother of my children and you make me a better man. I probably don’t deserve you, but nothing in the world would make me happier than waking up next to you as your husband for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?” He smiled up at her.

Carol was crying and laughing at the same time. She looked at him, her heart full of love and she knew then as she had always known that he was the love of her life, her soulmate.

“Yes” She said, “Yes, Doug Ross I will marry you”

He jumped up and they kissed passionately.