The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 9

Rated: PG

Spoilers: Season 4

Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. You know the drill.

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

Jarod paces around Miss Parker's living room, trying to get the baby to sleep.  He looks at the drowsy baby and wonders to himself it that was the last time he'd be able to see her like that.  Miss Parker was very angry when she left.  She was very hurt.  He just hopes he was able to reach her the last time he talked to her.  He didn't even want to think about what would happen if she asked him to leave.  For good.

 

A set of keys begin to open the front door and Jarod looks up in time to see Miss Parker stroll in. 

 

"You're home," he says with some surprise.

 

"You're still here," she says in an undecipherable tone.  She stares at him for a few seconds before walking across to him and taking the baby from his arms.

 

"Hey sweetheart.  Mommy's home."  She hugs the baby tightly and breathes in her sweet baby smell.  "I'm going to put her down."

 

Ten minutes later, she returns and finds Jarod sitting uneasily on the couch. 

 

"Did you get her to sleep?" he asks, trying to strike up a casual conversation but still feeling uneasy.

 

"Yeah, she went out like a light.  She must have been tired."  She can tell he's nervous about what her decision will be.  She just has to try to find a way to tell him that things have to change.

 

"She was tired.  I think she was waiting on you to get home.  She misses you when you're not here."

 

"I miss her too."  She looks down and starts to fidget with the ring on her finger.  Without looking back up she speaks again.  "Jarod, I think it's time we finished our conversation."

 

"The one from this morning or the one from this afternoon?"

 

"The one from our entire life, Jarod.  This is the point in time when we have to make a move in one direction or another.  All the events in our lives have led to this point.  And it's time for us to do something about it.

 

"For almost 6 months, we've been doing this dance, Jarod.  That night you called me when it all began.  I realized that I'd been missing something in my life.  A void that not even Thomas could fill.  I was missing you.  And then Kara came into our lives and we became some sort of family.  But still we avoided what was really going on. Until last night. When you kissed me.  I felt like the book on our lives had finally been closed.  That we were about to live happily ever after.  Everything fell into place for me.  I knew that there was an unspoken forgiveness for what each of us had put the other through.  And I felt that I didn't need to bottle up my feelings for you anymore.  Because last night I could see that you love me as much as I love you."

 

"You love me?" he asks quietly, not believing what he's hearing.

 

"Yes.  I love you.  I've always loved you.  Even when I didn't want to.  But it hurt me when I thought this morning that you didn't want my love.  Because I was finally able to admit to myself that I was ready to give it to you.  You told me today that you wanted to make sure we weren't making a mistake.  That we both knew that anything that happened would be forever.  But I knew that.  I knew it when we kissed.  And I know it now.  We can't go back to what we were before.  No matter how much time you think we need to think about things.  I love you. And I know you love me.  And I don't want to waste anymore time not being with you.  There's nothing I want more in this world than for us to be forever.  I want to be with you in good times and bad.  I want to be your friend, your love, your life, your soulmate.  Mrs. Jarod Olsen has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"  She smiles at him, wondering when he's going to catch on to what she just said.

 

"Who's Jarod Olsen?" he asks slowly.

 

"You are.  That's your name," she smiles again, sliding closer to him on the couch so that he can feel that she's right next to him if he needs her.  "Broots found some files buried deep in the Centre's database today on your father.  We've always been so busy trying to track you, that we never did any serious research on your family.  But we found records today for a Charles Olsen.  We even found a copy of your birth certificate. Yours, Kyles, and Emily's.  And all bearing the last name 'Olsen'."

 

"My name is Jarod Olsen," he states matter of factly, trying to absorb the information.     "I have a name.  I have an identity."

 

"Jarod, are you okay with this?"  Miss Parker puts an arm around him.  His reaction to the news was kind of surprising.  She thought he'd be happy with finally knowing about his past.  Instead, it seemed to be confusing him.

 

"I don't know," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.  He leans into her embrace and grabs onto her with both hands.  "Can you just hold me awhile, Allie?"

 

"Of course I can."  She tightens her arms around him and protectively holds him, rubbing his back and drying his tears as they fell.  "I'll hold on forever if that's what you want."

 

 

Miss Parker wakes up several hours later and finds Jarod still wrapped in her arms.  He's a lot calmer than he was before, but she can tell that he's isn't asleep.

 

"Allie," he whispers quietly.

 

"Yes, Jarod."

 

"Were you serious about that thing you said earlier?"

 

"Which thing, Jarod?  I said a lot of things.  We both did."

 

"That thing you said about loving me," he starts.

 

"Of course," she replies.  "I love you with all my heart."

 

"And that thing you said about wanting us to be forever," he adds.

 

"That too, Jarod.  You're everything I ever wanted.  And more. We were meant to be together.  It just took me awhile to realize that," she says with a smile.

 

"And that thing you said about wanting to . . .," he pauses, taking a breath and trying to find the courage to go on.  " . . . be my wife?"

 

She gets another big smile on her face before leaning over to kiss him.  "I especially that thing.  I wouldn't have it any other way."

 

"So what do you say?  Let's get married," he suggests.

 

"I thought we just established that I wanted to marry you," she says.

 

"No, I meant right now.  Let go right now and get married."  He sits up and looks at her, praying that she'll say yes.

 

She looks at him and sees that he's serious about his proposal.  He really was ready to marry her.  At that very moment.  And she couldn't think of any reason why they couldn't.

 

"Okay," she says.  "Let's go get married!"

 

 

Jarod and Miss Parker drive for about an hour before they finally find the perfect spot to exchange their vows.  It's a small inn where the innkeeper doubled as the local justice of the peace.  It took some convincing on Jarod's part, but the judge agreed to perform the ceremony at that late hour.  The judge just couldn't resist the course of true love.  He led them in a simple service to exchange their promises of love and dedication to each other and to Kara.

 

Afterwards, the judge and his wife were delighted to take care of little Kara for the night while they prepared their best room for the couple spent their first night together as man and wife.  Loving each other they way they were meant to.  Realizing that their whole life had been lived in vain without each other.

 

The next morning, Miss Parker awakens and finds Jarod in the bed next to her, propped up on one elbow and staring at her.

 

"Didn't you sleep any?" she asks him, yawning and stretching her tired muscles.

 

"I couldn't.  I couldn't resist watching you fall asleep in my arms for the first time.  And after that, I watched every breath you took while you were sleeping.  You were so content.  It was just as peaceful for me to watch you sleep as it would have been for me to actually sleep.  Then, I made it my mission to see your eyes when they first opened this morning.  It's something I've always wanted to do," he adds with a grin.

 

"All that was worth a night of no sleep for you?" she asks curiously.

 

"It's worth all that I have and more.  I'd give anything for just a minute with you.  But I'm the luckiest man in the world now that we have the rest of our lives together."

 

"If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you were just trying to get me in bed.  You know, you don't have to say things like that to get me.  We're married now.  You can have me anytime you want me," she says with a sly grin.  She bats her eyes seductively at him while running her hands across his chest.

 

"Anytime, huh?  I might just have to take you up on that offer, Mrs. Olsen."  He tilts her face up towards his and leans in for a deep kiss.

 

"Oh, you better," she murmurs through the kiss.  "Starting right now."

 

He complies and they spend the rest of the day in bed learning everything there was to know about each other physically.  And cementing the spiritual bond that was always there.  They didn't think anything about the Centre or the live they left behind in Blue Cove.  All that could wait.  The only thing that mattered to them was each other on their special day.

 

 

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