Lilly was in the kitchen getting her surprise ready.
It had been been a long day and an emotional one, so many amazing
things happened she got to see her mother's cancer nurses and exchange
stories with them about her mother, some of which she had never heard
before- like the one Susan told about when they sneaked a few bottles of
wine, terrible eights outfits and music on mp3 players into the hospital to
celebrate her mothers 40th birthday a few weeks before her mother died
and they and her mother had a secret 80's silent rave party in one of the
unused larger storerooms and the janitor walked in on them all dancing like
loony's dressed in tutu's and leg warmers with headphones on or the story
Jackie told about when her mother was staying with them for a few nights
and Jackie found her crying at night because her hair was falling out again
so Jackie stayed up with her all night doing her mother's nails and makeup
to make her feel beautiful- they were really touching stories.
It's wasn't only thinking about the past that made Lilly emotional since
Stefan had told her he loved her Lilly had been overcome with joy but also
fear, she couldn't help but think about a future with Stefan and even though she loved him too she knew things were moving very fast and that frightened her a little. Not to mention the complicated situation they were currently in, Lilly wanted to be with Stefan but she needed to think about how exactly that could be possible and make a plan- that's why she was equally as excited about their talk tonight as she was nervous- it basically would determine how her future would turn out.
"Oh, look at the time you better go get changed you can't have your 'big talk' looking like that!" Aiden said laughing.and interrupting Lilly's thoughts- there seemed to be a lot of that recently, her drifting off into deep thoughts to be interrupted by someone bringing her back to reality.
Lilly looked at her reflection in the glass of the oven no wonder Aiden was laughing she had flour all over her face and in her hair, "wow I didn't realize I was in this much of a state, what time is it?" Lilly asked looking at her wrist before h=she remembered she had taken her watch off to bake.
"It's six," Aiden said continuing to sample the mini test pies Lilly had made him.
" SIX?!! I meant to meet Stefan for dinner at 7, why didn't you say anything?!" Lilly screeched as she pulled off her apron and threw it across the kitchen into the laundry basket.
"I am sorry I lost track of time too tasting all the samples you gave me, they were all delicious but I am glad you decided on apple and Carmel it gives the pie a little something extra," Aiden said as he licked his lips and finished off the last of the samples.
"Thank you I hope Stefan likes it, anyway I really need to go can you
please tell the staff to serve dinner at 7.30 sharps that should give us enough time to talk." Lilly said as she made her way towards the kitchen door, " Oh, and thank you for your help! " Lilly shouted as she rushed not stopping to hear his reply.
Aiden chuckled, he really hoped things went well for her tonight as he had grown really fond of Lilly and as much as the Boss scared him at times he over the years had come to respect him a lot and he knew his Boss deep down was a good guy - for someone from their world and he deserved to be happy.
Lilly ran into the bathroom so fast she almost slipped on the marbled floor, regaining her composure she stripped off the rest of her clothes and jumped in the shower- she was determined to make tonight perfect and she wanted to wow Stefan by making a special effort with her appearance - she just hoped she had enough time!
It was bang on 7 pm and Lilly had showered, dried her hair well most of it apart from the very tips, done her makeup, and had dressed. She was just putting on her shoes when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in! " Lilly shouted expecting it to be a maid.
"Wow you look... wow," Marcu said making Lilly smile at him warmly.
"Thank you."
"Stefan asked if I can escort you downstairs, he's just finishing off a quick surprise for you," Marcus said offering his arm as Lilly made her way over to him.
"Another one? After his romantic and amazingly charitable surprise this afternoon I don't think anything could top that! " Lilly said cooing at the
memory.
"I think he's going to try knowing Stefan." Marcus laughed, "I am
pleased though that he finally told you how he feels, you make him happy Lilly and you bring out the best in him, I hope you two have a happy future together." Marcus said sincerely.
"Thank you Marcus and I know he's like your brother and you care deeply for him, I just want you to know I care deeply for him and I promise I will try and make him happy." Marcus smiled at Lilly, she really was a kind woman and he was so happy she decided to give Stefan a chance.
Marcus escorted Lilly to the dining room doors and Lilly noticed that the usual bodyguards and staff weren't outside, "Where is everyone?" "Stefan sent the bodyguards to the staff room or security posts and the rest of the staff minus the servers home, he said he wanted you all to himself," Marcus said mocking Stefan's deep voice as best as he could making Lilly laugh.
"You sound like your doing a really bad batman impression." Lilly giggled.
"Gee, thanks! " Marcus said as he dramatically rolled his eyes in fake annoyance before his expression changed to a seru=ious one " I really hope everything goes well for you tonight... just remember this is all new to him, you are the first woman he's ever attempted to have a relationship with and whilst he may want to be a better man for you it might be hard for him and he might slip up along the way...be patient with him and remember if he does screw up he doesn't know any better with his childhood and this Mafia lifestyle so if you really want him and think he's worth it don't give up on him and instead help him change, as you have been doing. Good night Lilly,"
Lilly thought about everything he said, " love doesn't come easy to me
either with being an orphan and I have never had a relationship either so I
promise I will try my best to support him and figure out the whole
relationship thing with him because I love him."
"That's all I can ask for," Marcus said as he kissed Lilly on the cheek in a
brotherly manner before he left Lilly standing outside the dining room
doors.
Lilly took a few deep breaths then opened the doors and both Lilly and
Stefan gasped at the same time as the doors opened- Lilly looking around
the room which was filled with hundreds of red roses and vanilla-scented
candles- her favorite and Stefan gasping at Lilly who looked breathtaking in
one of her new cocktail dresses.
"
Wow Stefan this is so amazing- I can't believe you went to all this
trouble," Lilly said as she stepped into the room and twirled taking in the
romantic glow and heavenly scent of the candles and beautiful vivid red.
and the sweet scent of the roses.
Stefan was hypnotized by Lilly's beauty, she had gold shimmering eye
shadow that made her blue eyes pop even more than their usual
mesmerizing beauty, thick dark eyelashes coated in mascara and a small
touch of bronzer on that made her cheekbones even more prominent. To complement her classy make up her hair hung in loose curls and she wore her beautiful knee length 1920's style flapper dress that was made out of gold silk and embodied with gold sequins, small diamonds, and glass beads that made it sparkle. The neckline plunged down to near her navel revealing her firm and large breasts and her long, shapely legs were on display. Her dress was complemented by a pair of metallic gold Gucci heels that had the signature G on the clasp in diamonds and a thin lace gold shawl- Lilly looked like 1920s goddess, a look that suited her classic feminine beauty and figure.
"I promise before you scream again I am not having a stroke, you just look so beautiful it's impossible not to drool like an i***t," Stefan said walking towards her and handing her a rose. " And this was no trouble at all a woman like you deserves no less."
Lily accepted the rose and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss Stefan and he kissed her back passionately before he broke then kiss and pulled out her seat tucking her in and after pouring her a glass of champagne he took his
own seat.
"I am sorry I thought it was best we ended our kiss before I got carried away, I could quite easily spend the whole night kissing you but I know we have important things to talk about," Stefan said making Lilly understand exactly what he meant as she felt the same.
"We have always been direct with each other so shall we get to the point?" Stefan asked making Lilly smile- that was one of the things she liked about Stefan he like her was direct and honest.
"Let's you go first," Lilly said taking a sip of her drink and smiling at
Stefan.
"Okay then, I have only ever said I love you to one person before in my
life- my mother so when I said it to you today I meant it. I know it seems crazy since we haven't known each other that long but both of us have been through more in our youth than one person has in their whole lifetime and I think that has made us both realize that life is short and we both know that time is precious and we don't waste time- we are both direct people and because we have both experienced the worst in life and great sadness. We have learned that when something good comes along that makes you happy to grab it and not let go, and that's exactly what you are Lilly- you're my happiness. Before I met you all I had ever known was pain, cruelty, and survival and apart from Marcus I had nothing good in my life and you - you made me feel human again, you make me feel happy and I want to change to be a better man for you as I know it's very soon but I love you Lilly and I want us to have a future together." Stefan said looking at Lilly with so much love it made Lilly cry with happiness.
"I feel exactly the same, I haven't experienced much joy, love or happiness in my life apart from that of friends too and I love you too- it terrified me to admit it as it doe feel very soon but your right we have experienced so much loss in life that we have learned that when something good comes not to let it go and I want to have a future with you too- I am just unsure if that's possible because of all the obstacles," Lilly admitted returning Stefan's look of love.
"I know that's why I wanted to have this talk with you to be completely honest so we can try and work out together if we have a real future together, It's going to be difficult I won't lie with this situation with your brother-I can't let him walk away unpunished no matter how much I may want to for you or it will be open season on me but not just me Marcus, Aiden all my men and their families as well so I don't know what the outcome will be and
I don't know if you can ever forgive me if I have to kill him," Stefan said waiting nervously for Lilly's reply.
"Honestly I don't know if I can either, he might be a bad one but he's still my brother, and although I understand why you may have too and I know he brought this on himself the thought of him being killed breaks my heart. There's nothing much we can do about this though until the end of the week and we see what the outcome is and then you can make a decision from there." Lilly said thinking logically and Stefan agreed.
"The next obstacle is this lifestyle- Lilly your too our to be part of this world and whilst I will give it up without a second thought for you I don't know if an exit from the Mafia is even possible for me. My uncles won't like the prospect of letting me go as it might make them seem weak and if I went it would mean our family had no more influence in London and it would be a huge financial loss for them- I will speak to them to and ask them to let me go but if they don't I will have to look into other options that may take a while."
"I understand Stefan and I would never ask you to give up your empire or power for me- power isn't something I am interested in all I want, is you. I know you though and I know that you are more than a Mafia Boss and I know you were forced into it so if you wanted to leave not for me but for you, I would wait however long it took and I would support you all the way." Stefan smiled at Lilly, she really was an amazing woman.
"That's the two hurdles we need to overcome this situation with your brother and my family/ the mafia world but I think if we do it together we will make it and I will do anything to make a future with you work," Stefan said.
"I agree I love you and I want to make this work," Lilly said and she and
Stefan sat and ate a wonderful meal together that Lilly had cooked and
discussed everything in depth making a plan together for their future, both
completely unaware that there were bigger obstacles to come such as Mia,
Mr. Sinclair and other enemies waiting in the shadows for the right time to
strike...and one of their attacks would proof fatal...but for who?