It Started With 'I Do' (A Creatures/Dexter Manning fanfic)

Chapter 3: Anywhere But Here

-Dexter- 

I woke up early this morning to catch my flight back to Colorado, but I didn't sleep alone. As you could probably guess, Rachel ended up spending the night with me. It wasn't really something we were planning on doing, but neither one of us wanted the day to end.

As I turned off the blaring alarm on my phone, I looked down at the dark haired lady curled up on my chest, her small hands clutching the blanket, and smiled. I rubbed my thumb on her shoulder and stared up at the ceiling, not wanting to move from my position. A few minutes later, I finally felt movement under my arm.

I slid down in bed so I could get a better look at her. "Good morning, love," I whispered as I ran my hands through her hair.

She opened her eyes and smiled back at me. "Good morning, Dexy." I rubbed her cheek with my thumb and we pulled each other close for a kiss. Well, a couple kisses really, but who was counting? After a couple more minutes of laying there, we both got up and she got dressed to go back to her room for a bit. While I was getting dressed, my phone buzzed from a text.

Kevin: Hey! I'm still picking you up from the airport, right?

Me: Yeah, my flight leaves at 11.

Kevin: Cool. I'll be there.

After I returned the message, I checked my room one last time for anything I would have left, then I rolled my luggage out of the room and down to the lobby. Rachel was already down there at the desk, and I sneaked up behind her.

"Guess who?" I whispered playfully.

"I don't know, but he does sound pretty handsome." I chuckled and pecked her on the cheek, then the other lady at the desk called me over so I could check out too. Once everything at the hotel was done, we caught the next cab to the airport together.

"See you later, Congress Plaza!" she laughed as I snickered.

"See you later?"

"Well, one thing you should know about me, I don't do 'goodbyes'. I do 'see you later's'." She paused and sighed. I knew what she was thinking.

For the most part, the ride was quiet. I glanced over at her a few times, and she was looking out the window, seemingly amazed at what she was seeing. She always seems like she's full of wonder, and I hope she never loses that.

We stayed together up until the moment we had to go to our separate terminals. She buried her head in my chest and clutched the sleeves of my blazer. As I held her for the last time in however long we'll be apart, I felt her grow tense.

"I'm going to miss you, Dexy," she mumbled.

"Hey, love," I responded, pulling her up and cupping her cheeks with my hands. "This won't be the last time, I promise. If you want, I can arrange for you to come out to Colorado, or I can go to you, whichever you prefer. Remember, not a 'goodbye', only a 'see you later'. And, you know, Skype. And I'm always a phone call away if you need me." I pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead.

"Thank you, Dex."

She smiled and we kissed one last time before we went our separate ways. "Call me when you land so I know you're safe, okay Rach?"

She nodded and we embraced each other one last time before separating. I turned around and watched her strut away and her boots made a rhythmic stepping sound on the linoleum floor.

Great, now I'm going to miss that sassy lassy.

~~~

After a two and a half hour flight, my plane finally landed in Denver. After checking through security and baggage claim, I finally found my ride, Kevin, and James and Aleks were with him. I was exhausted from the weekend's events and all the traveling, but I had a blast doing it. And I had Rachel to do it all with.

"It's about time you came home," Aleks chuckled as he gave me a quick hug.

"Well, you know... I have my reasons."

"Rachel?" James asked, a goofy grin across his face, as we made our way to Kevin's car.

I just smirked and looked away. "You guessed it."

"Awwww, how cute," Kevin answered with a smile. "Dex is in looooovvveeee."

I wanted to shout "no, I'm not!" but then I knew I'd be lying to myself. To be honest, I rarely ever feel this way about a girl I had just met, but Rachel's... different, you know? There's just something about her that I can't shake. She's energetic, mysterious, talented, gorgeous for sure... wait, am I really in love with her? I mean, she's the total package but she's so far away. And what if she's already in love with someone else? Then again, after last night, I think it's already too late to ask her that.

"I don't know... maybe I am." I looked out the window and shied away. Great, now they know.

"But the thing is, does she feel the same way about you? Did you even ask?"

The thought didn't even cross my mind. All I knew was that I felt something about her, something new and exciting. All I could think about were her kisses and how she made me feel the night before. And all I knew at that moment was that I was going to miss her.

~~~

A couple hours later, I was relaxed at home catching up on some editing and on Skype with Angus. I knew that Rachel was going to call me at any moment, so I kept my phone volume on high. I was looking at my phone every two minutes checking the time.

"You okay, Dex?" Angus asked, finally catching on to my fidgets.

"I'm waiting on a special call." I was waiting for the right time to tell him about Rachel.

"Ooh, is there a girl? Is the famous ladies-man Dexter Manning in love?"

"Yes, there's a girl, and I'm..." I shyly rubbed the back of my neck. "I think I might be." I looked up at the Skype screen and a familiar smirk came across his face. Then he started laughing. "What are you laughing at, Penguin-boy?"

"Nothing... c'mon, mate. You 'might be' in love? Dude, you are. Take a look at yourself. If only you could see how bright your cheeks are." I stared at myself in my camera on the screen and rubbed my cheeks. Yeah, they were a little red. Okay, I'm lying, they were really red. "Geez, she must be some girl to make you fall in love with her."

I smiled thinking about her. "Yeah, she is." Just then, my phone rang and her caller ID appeared on the screen. I pressed the mute button on Skype and picked it up. "Hey there, Rachel May."

"Hello, Dexter Joaquin."

I rolled my eyes at the running joke I thought we left in Chicago. "Okay, Miss Sassy. How was the flight?"

"Long, boring, the usual. But it's nice to be home."

"Same, only it would be nicer if you were here." I winked even though she couldn't see me.

"I'm sure it would. Anyway, my mom's here and we still have an hour to get home. I can Skype you tomorrow when I get off work if you want."

"Of course you know I'd love that. I miss you already."

"I miss you too, Dexy. So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sounds great. See you later." I pressed the end call button on my phone and un-muted Angus. I felt so much better hearing her voice, but thinking about how far away she was didn't help. I talked to Angus for a while longer before he had to go to bed, and I did the same.

I can't wait to see her again tomorrow.

(Song: Anywhere but Here, Safetysuit.)