To Sunrise from Indigo (UC,K/I,MATURE) COMPLETE - 7/29/06

[jbangelo]

Part 19

Isabel felt as though she’d been shot herself, a sharp pain slamming into her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She was only aware of the pounding of her own heart, as it seemed to reverberate in her ears.

Please, she pleaded internally – to God, to herself… she wasn’t really sure. This can’t be happening again.

“Iz? Isabel?” Emma’s voice broke through the fog that surrounded her. “Sweetie, do you need to sit down?”

“No,” Isabel rasped, shaking her head firmly. She wasn’t even sure when she had risen out of her chair. “I need to get to the hospital,” she said.

“Okay.” Emma nodded, grasping Isabel by the arm for support. “Come on. I’ll drive.”

On the way to the hospital, Emma filled Isabel in on what she’d learned from her short phone conversation with Aidan. The guys had been called in on a domestic dispute around mid-morning after a neighbor had called 911. They had arrived to find a woman threatening her husband with a handgun, and while trying to diffuse the situation, the gun had gone off, hitting Kyle in the arm. Aidan had assured Emma that Kyle was fine and would probably be home by tomorrow.

“Isabel, he’s going to be fine,” Emma assured her friend, reaching across the center console to clasp Isabel’s hand in hers.

Isabel just nodded stoically, staring out the window at the passing scenery. She wouldn’t be able to relax until she saw for herself that Kyle was okay.

After stopping at the reception desk to find out what room Kyle was in, Isabel practically raced down the corridor, Emma right on her heels. She burst into the room without so much as a knock, and her heart leapt into her throat when she saw him.

Kyle was sitting upright in the hospital bed, his left arm bandaged and resting in a sling. His face was slightly pale, probably from the loss of blood, and he looked a little tired, but other than that, he seemed perfectly healthy. When he saw Isabel, he smiled and said, “Hey.”

Isabel drew in a sharp breath, immediately going to Kyle’s right side. She dropped her purse to the floor unnoticed and grasped his hand in between hers. “Are you okay?” she asked in concern.

“Better now that you’re here,” he replied with a smile.

“We’ll just give you two a minute alone,” Emma said softly, gesturing to Aidan, who was sitting in the chair on the opposite side of Kyle’s bed.

Isabel glanced up, momentarily embarrassed that she had ignored her friends in her haste to get to Kyle. “Thanks, guys,” she said sincerely.

“Thanks,” Kyle echoed.

When they were alone, Isabel focused her attention back on Kyle, touching his face gently. “God, Kyle, I was so scared,” she said. “I thought…” she trailed off as the sob that had been threatening to escape for the last half hour was finally released, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“Hey, come here,” Kyle urged softly, and Isabel climbed onto the bed alongside him, resting her head on his chest. Tears leaked from her eyes and her hand fisted in his hospital gown as she tried to reassure herself that he was real… that she hadn’t lost him.

“Isabel, shh,” Kyle whispered, stroking his free hand through her soft hair. “Baby, please don’t cry. I’m fine. The doctor says I can probably go home tomorrow morning.”

Isabel wiped at her eyes and leaned up on her elbow so that she could look into his face when she told him what she was about to tell him. “Kyle, all I kept thinking on the way over here… was that last night could have been the last time I ever saw you… and I never even told you that I love you. I should have told you a thousand times already, and I’m so sorry that I let my fear get the best of me again. I love you, Kyle. I love you so much.”

Now the tears shimmered in Kyle’s eyes, and he reached out to caress Isabel’s cheek. “Say it again,” he implored in a near whisper.

Isabel smiled through her tears and said, “Kyle Valenti, I am so in love with you.”

He lifted his head to meet her mouth with his, their lips parting to allow their tongues to languidly caress each other. With his thumb, he wiped away the tear tracks from her cheek. They parted breathlessly, and Kyle said, “I love you too, Iz. More than you can know.”

“Kyle, I thought I was happy before you came here, but I was wrong. You brought something to my life that I didn’t even know I was missing. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“You don’t have to. I’m not going anywhere,” Kyle told her, his blue eyes boring into hers. With a grin, he added, “You’re stuck with me.”

Isabel let out a little laugh as their lips met once more.

***

Three Weeks Later

“Kyle, have you seen my pillow?” Isabel asked as she walked into the living room of Kyle’s apartment.

“What pillow?” Kyle asked between bites of pretzels.

Isabel smirked and folded her arms across her chest in mock annoyance as she looked down at her boyfriend sprawled across the couch, munching on pretzels and watching ESPN. “The one your head is laying on, silly,” she teased.

“Hm, I knew the couch felt extra comfortable today,” he said with a grin.

“Well, I need it,” Isabel said. “I’m about to take my stuff out to the car.”

“You would take a pillow from a wounded man?” he asked with a mock gasp.

“Wounded?” Isabel asked with a laugh. “This morning you told me you felt fine. In fact, if I remember correctly, you were feeling pretty darn good this morning,” she added with a smirk.

“I’m suddenly feeling very achy,” he said with a mischievous smile, pulling her by the hand until she was lying next to him on the couch. He kissed her deeply, running his hand through her blonde locks. When they parted, he turned serious and said, “Don’t go.”

“Kyle, I haven’t been to my apartment in nearly three weeks. It’s probably pretty dusty. And I can’t keep expecting Emma to go by and feed Freckles.”

“So, bring Freckles here,” Kyle said.

Isabel chuckled and said, “What happened to, ‘I don’t need you to stay, Isabel. I can take care of myself.’”

“You’ve spoiled me,” Kyle told her, kissing her neck.

“And don’t you miss having your own space? No more of my clothes in your closet. No more of my girly things all over your bathroom.”

“I like your girly things all over my bathroom,” he said with a crooked smile.

“So that wasn’t you that was whining about all the different bottles of lotion and cleanser next to the sink?”

“Baby, I’m a man. I had to at least pretend to put up a fight.”

Isabel giggled and said, “You just have an answer for everything today, don’t you?”

“Is it working?” he asked with a hopeful raise of his eyebrow.

“No,” she said pointedly. “Now give me my pillow so I can take my things to the car.”

“You are mean, woman,” Kyle said, pretending to be hurt. But he let her get up from the couch and handed her the pillow, and even helped her take her bags to her car.

“Did you remember to take your pill?” Isabel asked him as they stood next to her car after everything was loaded up.

“See? Who’s going to remind me to take my medication once you’re gone?” Kyle teased.

Isabel rolled her eyes amicably. “Goodbye, Kyle,” she said, giving his lips a brief kiss. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Bye,” he said with a chuckle, opening the door for her so she could get in the car. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” she responded, blowing a kiss and waving to him as she drove away.

***

Later that night, back in her own apartment, Isabel was preparing for bed. She’d spent the evening cleaning up – it was amazing how dirty things could get even when no one was around – and unpacking from her stay at Kyle’s.

As she crawled in between the freshly washed sheets, she couldn’t help thinking how much she missed Kyle already. She had put up a pretty tough front that afternoon, but the truth was she had almost caved when Kyle begged her not to go. She just thought it might be a good idea for them to spend a couple of nights apart.

Just as Isabel was about to turn off the light, the telephone on her nightstand rang, piercing the silence. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw Valenti, Kyle, and picked up the receiver with a smile. “Hey,” she greeted. “How’re you feeling?”

“Not so good,” Kyle answered dolefully.

“Why, what’s wrong?” Isabel asked in concern. Maybe he really had forgotten to take his medication.

“I’m in this big old bed… all alone.”

Isabel let out a giggle when she realized he was joking. “Oh, you are so pitiful,” she said teasingly.

“Mm hm,” he murmured in agreement. “I miss you already.”

Isabel dropped all pretense of being tough when she said, “I miss you too.”

“So I was thinking.”

“About what?” Isabel asked, settling back against her pillows with the phone cradled to her ear.

“Move in with me,” Kyle blurted.

“What?” Isabel asked in surprise, immediately sitting upright again.

“Move in with me,” Kyle repeated.

“Kyle, you’re just saying that because you’ve gotten used to having me around for the last few weeks.”

“No, I’m not, Iz,” Kyle said. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since you left this afternoon. Actually, if I’m being completely truthful, I’ve been thinking about it for a few days now. I want you here… with me… everyday.”

Isabel sat speechless for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. Of course the idea of living with Kyle day in and day out excited her… but it was too soon for that… right?

She let out a half-hearted laugh. “Kyle, this is crazy.”

She heard Kyle take a deep breath on the other end of the line. “Iz, all I know is that I love you. I know this might seem sudden, and maybe I am being totally crazy. But this feels right. I feel it in my heart.” He paused briefly before he continued on. “You’re it for me, Isabel Evans. I don’t want to spend another night apart from you.”

The things he could do to her with just his words. It was a good thing she was already sitting down, otherwise her legs would have failed her by now.

She knew in her heart that Kyle was the one for her too. It had taken almost losing him for her to figure it out, but she knew it. And if she was being completely honest with herself, she didn’t want to spend another night alone either.

“Okay,” Isabel finally said.

“Okay?”

“Okay. Let’s move in together.”

“Really?” Kyle questioned again, like he couldn’t believe that he’d actually talked her into it.

“Really,” Isabel affirmed, a smile crossing her pretty face. “I love you, Kyle.”

“I love you too, babe,” Kyle said. “God, I wish you were here right now.”

“I know. I do too,” Isabel said, once again making herself comfortable.

“Guess we could go with the next best thing.”

“And what would that be?” Isabel asked flirtatiously, having a pretty good idea of where this conversation was about to go.

She could practically see his grin through the phone when he asked, “What are you wearing?”

[Ti88]

great parts. i am so glad things worked out btw max, emma, and iz. and you shooting kyle, that scared me. but it was good of iz if that makes sense. i mean with the whole alex dying thing, i think she's scared. or was. and kyle has a dangerous job. non alien related dangers.

looks like max may have a little friend. and its almost over? oh no

[jbangelo]

(Long-Winded) Author’s Note: Before I post the last part, I just wanted to say a few things. When I first started this story, I had absolutely no idea where I was going with it. The only plot I had in mind was that Isabel and Kyle would meet up years later, become friends again, and fall in love. I figured it would be a 5-10 part fluffy feel-good fic. Obviously, it turned into much more than that. So I want to thank all of you who stuck it out through this whole story and went with me on this writing adventure. I sincerely hope that I don’t leave any unanswered questions, though I fear that I might. This fic was quite a departure and a challenge for me, and probably lacking in places. But I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it and reading your feedback. Thanks to all the readers and lurkers and everyone who nominated and voted for this story in various awards. It means more to me than you can know.

If you have any questions as this story comes to a close, please don’t hesitate to ask, and I will explain the workings of my mind as I wrote this story. Hopefully I won’t embarrass myself.

Final part coming as soon as the betas approve it. Thanks. :D

[jbangelo]

Thanks for the fb, everyone! :D Let me say again, that if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and I'll explain anything as best I can.

Roselle, I think Isabel kinda needed a scare to make her take that final leap in her relationship with Kyle. Thanks for reading!


Part 20

One Year Later

“Isabel, for the love of Buddha, will you come on? If we don’t leave here in the next five minutes, we’re going to be late.”

“I’ll be done in a minute,” Isabel called back from the bathroom, and Kyle could detect the slight annoyance in her voice.

“That’s what you said fifteen minutes ago,” Kyle grumbled to himself, looking in the mirror and readjusting his tie. God, he hated these things.

“What?” Isabel called out.

“Nothing,” Kyle responded innocently, though he was pretty sure she’d heard his comment.

True to her word this time, Isabel finally came out of the bathroom a minute later, and all of Kyle’s irritation left him the instant he laid eyes on her. She was dressed in a knee-length charcoal gray dress with spaghetti straps and subtle sequins on the bodice, her blonde hair in loose waves around her bare shoulders. She had dark makeup around her eyes, giving her a sexy, smoldering look. Kyle had to suck in a breath – after all this time, she still managed to take his breath away.

“How do I look?” Isabel asked, doing a little twirl for him.

Kyle grinned. As if there was any question. “Damn, baby,” he murmured, pulling her body close to his. “You’re not supposed to look prettier than the bride.”

Isabel giggled and said, “I could wear a garbage bag and you’d still say I was prettier than the bride.”

“Well, to me, you’ll always be the most beautiful woman in the room,” he charmed, kissing her firmly on the lips.

“Hmm,” Isabel hummed against Kyle’s lips before she pulled away from the kiss. “Save that for later,” she said with a wink. “Let’s go. We don’t want to show up late to Tess’ wedding.”

Isabel couldn’t believe it had only been a year since she’d sat at a table with Tess and convinced her to take her life into her own hands. Tess had taken Isabel’s advice almost immediately, heading out of Roswell with no particular destination in mind. Six months later, she’d shown up in San Francisco – with a new fiancé in tow. Isabel and Kyle had both been wary at first, thinking things were moving way too fast. But Isabel had never seen Tess so happy, and after she got to know Caleb a little and decided he was trustworthy, she gave them her blessing. (Max and Michael, as per usual, were much harder to convince.) Caleb had been let into the ‘I Know an Alien’ Club soon after, and the whole gang had been invited to Seattle to help them celebrate their special day.

The ceremony was very small and intimate – just family and close friends of the bride and groom. Jim Valenti gave Tess away, who looked radiant in her simple but beautiful gown. A small reception followed at a quaint country club, where everyone mingled with old and new friends and offered congratulations to the newlyweds.

Now Isabel was wrapped in the arms of her boyfriend on the dance floor, swaying softly to the music. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt more content. She was happy, her friends were happy… it felt like everything was right with the world.

The last year with Kyle had been everything Isabel had hoped it would be. It had gotten off to a rocky start right after they moved in together, as they adjusted to each other and sharing their space. They’d had their share of lover’s spats in the beginning – at times making Isabel question whether or not they’d made the right decision by living together so soon – but in the end she knew that they had come out stronger. It had undoubtedly been the best year of her life, and she had fallen more in love with Kyle everyday.

“Can I cut in?” a voice asked, interrupting Isabel’s musings.

Isabel smiled when she saw her brother, and Kyle graciously handed her over, saying jokingly, “Guess I’ll go dance with your woman then.”

Max and Isabel just laughed as Kyle wandered off, and they danced slowly to the ballad that was drifting over the speakers.

“I have some big news,” Max told her.

“Oh yeah?” Isabel asked curiously.

“I’m moving to San Francisco.”

Isabel’s mouth opened in surprise. “You are?”

Max nodded. “Chris and I have been talking about it for a while… you know, wanting to be closer to each other. And it was time for me to move on from Dad’s firm anyway, so I started submitting some resumes, and I’ve gotten a very nice offer from a small law firm in San Francisco.”

“Oh my god, Max!” Isabel exclaimed. “I had no idea you two had gotten this serious.”

Max and Christian had kept in touch after their initial meeting last year. They had hung out during Max’s two visits to San Francisco and Christian had come to Roswell with Isabel for Christmas. It took forever for Isabel to just get them to admit that they were more than friends, so she didn’t even realize how serious they were about each other.

Max cast a discreet glance in his girlfriend’s direction, who was dancing with Kyle and laughing at something he’d said. “I’m ready to give this relationship a real shot. She’s really special.”

Isabel knew that was Max’s way of saying that he was falling for Christian. She smiled and said, “I’m so happy for you, Max.”

Max and Isabel had been slowly rebuilding their relationship over the last year. They’d kept their promise to each other to stay in touch, talking on the phone at least once a week and making visits whenever they could. Isabel was ecstatic that they would once again be living in the same city. If there was anything that she had learned from everything that had happened, it was that her life was better with Max in it.

“What about you and Kyle?” Max asked. “Any wedding bells in the future?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Isabel said with a blush. “We haven’t really talked about that.” Even though she knew that she and Kyle were both in it for the long haul, marriage was one topic that had never come up. And that was fine with Isabel – she was more than happy to take things one day at a time.

“I know I’ve never said it, but I think you guys are really good together, Iz,” Max said sincerely.

“Thanks, Max,” Isabel responded with a smile. “That means a lot.”

***

Later that evening, after the day’s celebrations were over, Isabel and Kyle came back to their hotel room for some much needed rest. Kyle blissfully shed his jacket and tie, and Isabel sat on the edge of the bed to remove her shoes, much to her relief.

“Maria asked if we wanted to have lunch with her and Michael tomorrow,” Isabel told Kyle. “I told her we’d meet them in the lobby at noon.”

“Okay,” Kyle said noncommittally, falling down onto the bed next to Isabel.

“Tired?” Isabel asked. She lay down on her side next to Kyle, sliding her hand under the edge of his shirt to caress the taut muscles of his stomach.

He nodded, his hand reaching out to run through her hair. “But not too tired,” he said with a suggestive raise of his eyebrow.

Isabel giggled as Kyle pulled her body closer to him and began peppering her neck with tiny kisses. The ringing of Isabel’s cell phone, however, prevented him from going any further. Kyle let out a small groan of frustration as Isabel reached over to the nightstand where she’d left her phone.

“It’s Emma,” Isabel said after looking at the caller ID.

“Tell her you’re busy,” Kyle said.

“I’ll be quick,” Isabel promised as she answered the phone. “Hey, Em.”

Her relationship with Emma was another thing Isabel had been working on over the last year. They’d spent a lot of time just talking and getting things out in the open. They’d promised each other that from now on out, they would be completely honest with each other about everything. Despite everything, Isabel found that it was actually a great weight off her shoulders to not have to hide her origins from Emma and Aidan anymore, and it gave her one more thing to bond with Emma about. And Kyle had been very instrumental in helping Aidan come to terms with the new knowledge about his wife.

“Hey, Iz, I know you’re probably busy,” Emma said on the other end of the line. “But I just couldn’t wait to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Isabel asked curiously.

“I’m pregnant!”

“Oh my god!” Isabel exclaimed. “Emma, that’s great. Congratulations!”

“God, I’m still shaking,” Emma said with a little laugh. “Aidan and I are about to go out and celebrate, but I wanted you to be the first to know.”

“I’m glad you called,” Isabel said, smiling. “I’m so happy for you.”

The two friends said their goodbyes, and Isabel conveyed the good news to Kyle. Emma and Aidan had been trying for a while, so Isabel knew how happy they must be.

“You’re so cute when you get all excited about something,” Kyle told her with a grin, pulling her body back to him.

Isabel giggled again, meeting his lips with hers. Kyle kissed her deeply, until they both had to part for need of breath. He looked into her eyes, and it nearly took Isabel’s breath away with all the love and devotion she could see shining in his blue depths.

“Marry me,” Kyle said suddenly.

Isabel’s heart skipped a beat. “Wh-what?” she stuttered.

She watched in confusion as he jumped off the bed and went over to his suitcase, rummaging through its contents. When he turned around, he held a small black box in his hand.

“I’ve been carrying this around for the last two weeks,” he explained, coming back to the bed and sitting on his knees. “Just waiting for the right moment.” He lifted the lid of the box, revealing a stunning princess-cut diamond ring.

“Oh my god,” Isabel gasped, her hand flying to her mouth and moisture filling her eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Kyle said softly. “That I’m only doing this now because it’s been a pretty eventful day. But that’s not it. When I was looking at you just now, I just knew I couldn’t wait another minute to ask you to be my wife.”

“Kyle…” Isabel choked out, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“I know life isn’t perfect, and it never will be,” Kyle said. “But, Iz, being with you is as close as it gets. I never thought it was possible to love another person this much. You’re not just my lover… you’re my soulmate… you’re my best friend. You make me happier than I ever thought possible.” His voice dropped to a near whisper as he made his final plea. “Make me even happier and say you’ll marry me.”

Words failed her. She wanted to tell him that she loved him too. That he made her life complete. But the only thing she could manage was the only thing she really needed to say anyway. “Yes,” she said through her tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Kyle released the breath he’d been holding and his face broke out into a grin. With trembling hands, he took the ring out of its box and slid it onto Isabel’s finger. Isabel held out her hand to admire the luminous gem, saying, “It’s perfect.”

“I love you so much,” Kyle whispered, his hand brushing away the tears from her face.

“I love you too,” Isabel returned, closing the distance between them with a kiss.

As they made love, Isabel reflected on the fact that it wasn’t so long that she had resigned herself to being alone forever. But then Kyle walked back into her life, bringing something with him that she didn’t know how she’d ever lived without.

And now, with her relationships on the mend and the man that she loved forever by her side… now her life was finally complete.

THE END

[Ti88]

i enjoyed reading this and leaving feedback. i loved how you tied everything up. everyone is happy. totally a uc fic. well unles you count m/m. but the they're unconvential anyway. i gald the bonds between isable and those closet to her are healing. excellent job.

[jbangelo]

Thanks, Roselle! I'm so glad you enjoyed. :D