The Little Stranger

Epilogue

(Three Months Later)

"I still can't believe you did that to me!" Gemma scolded Jake a little indignantly. Both of them were snuggled up together in Jake's bed, feeling a little tired  after the celebrations of Ellie's first birthday party earlier that evening, "Or the fact I knew nothing about, it until now, though I did have think Fiona was acting a little weird that day" she then recalled

They had been surrounded by close friends and family including Tanya, and Jake's old bandmates.  When the subject of how Gemma and Jake finally got together came up, Fiona had revealed how Jake had plotted to get  Gemma on her own, by getting them all to go away and trapping her in the den, so she couldn't escape from him, and he could confront her, once and for all.

"Well, it worked," Jake grinned, "And I was hardly going to let you in on it  at the time when there was a chance you might change your mind, and run of to Australia still" he reminded her, "After all, it took another twenty-four hours before  you actually said yes, to becoming my wife. But I don't care if you know now, because we finally made it official" He  smiled as he idly grabbed her left hand,  where she now wore the engagement ring he had bought her, a few weeks after they  had returned to England.

"So all that stuff you said at the time, about how bad you felt about Ellie and explaining about Caroline, had you already it planned it all in your head,  just to get my sympathy?" Gemma frowned suspiciously at him

"Well, not exactly," Jake replied with a sigh, looking a little more sober "It was something playing on my mind at the time, along with the fact you might disappear out of my life again, so I decided to just bear my soul to you about everything, and  I just hoped I could get through to you" he then explained before squeezing her to him tighter "But I meant everything I said, and I still do. You do believe me now don't you?" he blue eyes  searching  her face hopefully

"Yes, I do," she replied with a smile and kissed him, "I am sorry I took so long to come round and realise it, I was just so scared if I opened myself up to you or anyone again, I would end up getting hurt or rejected or left again. though I feel a bit silly now" she admitted

"Don't be Gem, its understandable after all that had happened," Jake told her, "I am just glad I could convince you to trust me, I will never take  you for granted ever again, now you gave me this chance" he assured her.

"I know, you have more than proved it, after insisting on paying for my mum and the family to come over from Canada for the wedding, you didn't have to do that" she chastised him lightly

"I wanted to, its only right your family is here also to celebrate our big day in three months time" Jake replied. "I know you told me that you have barely kept in touch with her, over the years since she went away. So I decided this was the perfect time to reunite us all properly, and make up for lost time, and put the past behind us"

"That's what I love about you the most, Your generous heart, and that you always try to find the good in people" Gemma confessed, she was just so happy she was lying next to him, and still enjoying, and getting used to the intimacy  and the openness of their new relationship. That she could talk about anything with him

 "Even where Caroline was concerned, the rest of us thought she was not worth the bother, and some sort of crazy attention seeker. But you seem to know there was more going on with her, and tried to help her and be there for her" she then realised sadly.

"It all seems a bit crazy now when I look back on it," Jake replied, "I can't believe I came through it, I am only sorry it ended the way it did"

Gemma looked directly at him now, recalling her last conversation with Caroline.

"She said something a little odd to me at one time, I never really understood exactly what she meant, until now" she then admitted.

Jake just stared back at her questioningly.

"She said you were trying to fix her, but that she would probably end up breaking you," Gemma now recalled,  looking a little anxious as she grabbed Jakes hand, "But she didn't break you, did she?"

"Pondering for a moment, and thinking back on the time and how bad it had got at one stage, Jake chose his answer carefully

"At once stage back then, I would have said yes; it was a close call. But now, I can honestly say, no, she didn't break me" he assured her, then kissed her, "and I know with you and Ellie in my life, things are just going to get better, and we can all just finally move on with something positive to look forward too for a change" he was happy to turn the conversation to something more cheerful.  He was done with regretting the past.

"Yeah, I am still  getting to going to Australia, only now its for our honeymoon" she chuckled.

"And I am so looking forward to having you those whole two weeks to myself" Jake grinned his hand starting to stroke her bare shoulders, "But until then, I guess I will just have to make do with having you all to myself tonight, before Ellie and every one else claims you tomorrow" he added huskily

"hmm, sounds like a good idea to me," Gemma agreed happily, and as his lips claimed hers again,  she only too willingly let herself surrender to the desire, that she had so long tried to hide from him. just glad that was no longer the case any more.....