Destined To Be With You

Chapter 19

Forehead to forehead, nose to nose, Ben and Liv lay on their sides facing each other with their eyes closed.

Ben slowly ran his hand up the side of Liv's rib cage as he allowed the feeling of ultimate contentment and happiness fill his soul. Liv had finally told him that she loved him. Never in his life did he think he would ever hear her utter those three little words. His life no longer felt empty or incomplete, everything was how it was supposed to be. He was suppose to be with Liv for the rest of his life. His eyes remained closed until he felt her soft hand lovingly caress his cheek.

Slowly, Ben's eyes fluttered open to meet Liv's loving gaze. He smiled at her until he noticed her face contorting into a sad smile.

"What's wrong?" he whispered softly as he brought his hand up to her face and stroked her cheek with the pad of this thumb.

He noticed unshed tears beginning to pool along the rims of her eyes as she exhaled deeply and said, "I should've told you sooner."

His eyebrows knitted together as he asked, "Told me what?" He was worried there was something she had been keeping a secret. He didn't know what it could be, he had no clue what it was about. But the way she was looking at him made him believe it was something terrible.

"That I love you." She cried quietly.

Immediately, relief washed over him as he tried to comfort her and assure her that she didn't need to worry. "Liv, that doesn't matter anymore. It's okay."

"No it's not. I should've told you years ago. I was just scared. And because of that I hurt you. And I hate that I did that" she said in a rush as the tears fell freely from her eyes.

Quickly, he began to sprinkle tiny kissed all over her face, "Liv, baby. It's okay. Please don't feel bad."

"But I can't help it."

"Stop." He requested, "Please stop feeling this way. I understand that you were scared. But do you understand how happy you've made me?" He stared at her straight in the eyes as he continued, "You've made me the happiest man on the face of this planet just by existing and being apart of my life. You have no idea what your existence has done for me."

She looked at him still remorseful and unconvinced.

"And to add to that, you're giving me a daughter." he said with his voice somewhat cracking. She noticed his eyes glaze over as he continued, "A beautiful baby girl who's probably going to look just like you. Do you know how incredibly lucky I feel because of you? You've given me more than I could ever dream of, Liv."

"Please believe me", he pleaded. "Because even when we weren't together, just the fact that I knew someone like you made my life that much more complete. I promise you, all the hurt I felt before, I would feel it all again just to get to where we are now. With you, me and our baby girl here in this room like we are now."

She shook her head and began, "Ben-"

"No. None of what happened before matters. I love you and I'm only looking forward from now on. Please do the same." He pleaded. "Okay?" he asked as he cradled her face in his hands.

"Okay", she whispered. He gave her a small comforting smile that was completely genuine that it gave her all the reassurance she needed to know that it was in fact okay. "I love you" she told him for the second time meaning every single word.

"I love you!" he proclaimed placing emphasis on the second word to make sure she heard him. She smiled and he said it again but louder and more playfully causing her to roll her eyes and laugh at him. "What?" he asks smiling and enjoying the way it felt to just say it to one another without having to worry.