39 Paris

“We need you in the greenroom, Damon,” an intern of some sort tells me as he motions with his head toward the stage.

It’s been two month since the trial and - after my excursion to Paris and staying with my mum and sister for a while - I’m finally back to work. The trial only lasted a few days, but it took a while to sort afterward. Things are different, but everything takes some getting used to.

“I’m ready,” I tell him, standing and making my way toward him. We make our way to the greenroom easily and I wait for my cue to walk on.

When it comes, I put on a smile and stroll out onto the staged area.

“Damon!” Brikk’s voice boisterous as always as I kiss Gwyneth Paltrow on the cheek. When I get to him, he grabs my right hand with his right and pulls me into a hug with his left. It’s one of those awkward man hugs, but what can you expect? “How’ve you been?” he asks as we both take a seat.

Chuckling slightly, I shake my head, “Been better, mate.”

“We heard about the big court case. How terrible was it?” he genuinely looks interested as he prods for information that I haven’t spoken of yet.

“Well,” I sigh, starting in on the story. “The trial wasn’t long. It was pretty much to the point and everyone involved just wanted it over.” Pausing for a second, I turn to a camera, “And I want to thank everyone who supported me through the whole thing.” Turning back to the host, I explain, “There were people that stood outside the courthouse and held signs. I got letters and tweets and all kinds of stuff saying they supported me. It was madness. I really have the best fans. They made it easier, I’ll tell you that.”

“There are so many rumors as to what the actual verdict was. People are saying you left because you had to, others are saying you wanted to leave because you hate America. You’re divorced, you’re not divorced; everything is so up in the air right now,” Brikk encourages me by leaning forward on his desk. “No one’s talked to you or Topher since the whole thing happened.”

“I heard,” Gwyneth speaks next to me and shrugging a shoulder, “that you ran off to Africa with Angelina Jolie.”

Chuckling slightly, I scrunch my brows, “Did you?”

She smiles and tries to play it off as no big deal, “Yea, but it was from Brad Pitt and they were fighting. They can be such the dramatic pair.”

The audience, along with Brikk and myself, laugh at her joke. But once it quiets, the host gets back to business, “So tell us. We’re dying to know.”

“Well, it could have been worse,” I start, but shrug and continue, “but we only half won.”

“How so?”

“I’m legally an American citizen by blood. Unfortunately, there’s no denying my father. But, our marriage was annulled because they made it seem like a joke,” I explain, sighing afterward.

“You should have called me as a witness,” Brikk volunteers. “I would have socked it to them!” The audience chuckles and I give a smile. He really is a good guy. A big teddy bear, even. “So how is Topher dealing?”

Putting my head down a bit, I close my eyes, “I haven’t actually seen him in a month.”

When I bring my eyes back up, the man in front of me has huge eyes. Shock laces his features when he asks the next question, “Did you two break up?”

That’s when I’m a little shocked and sit up straighter to wave my hands, “No, no, no. Sorry,” I chuckle a bit as Brikk seems to breathe easier. “I just meant we’ve been in different countries. He’s finishing a movie in France and I was in England for a while. I apologize,” holding my hands up in surrender I look to the audience, “I didn’t mean to scare anyone.”

“So what are you two going to do now?” he wonders aloud.

Straightening my collar, I tell him what I know, “Well, we talked about it a bit, but we haven’t really decided anything.”

“And he’s your….?”

“He’s my boyfriend or my ex-husband, if you’re technical. But we still plan to live together and be together and all that. I love him. He’s not getting away all that easy,” I smirk at the host with a shrug.

“You plan to live together?”

“Well, we haven’t been in country in a while. I’m at our flat, but we talked about getting a house when he gets back,” I explain happily.

“That’s wonderful,” he tells me nodding before looking at the camera. “And right after these messages, we’ll talk more about this case and what’s coming next for this superstar.” The break is short and the makeup people come out to brush something across our faces. Then before I know it, we’re being counted back in. “Alright Damon, there’s a big ugly rumor about it being your father that started this whole thing.”

“That one,” I cross my left leg over my knee, “is actually true. We didn’t really know each other; he left the house when I was ten. Out of nowhere all this comes up and next thing I know, I’m in court.”

“Your father did this to you?”

“Yep,” I give him a sad smile, “great man, he is.”

“So what happened to him then?

I pretend to think about it, “You know, I’m not sure. I didn’t follow up.”

But that’s not true at all. What actually happened to him was that he was fired and is currently on trial himself. Apparently you’re not legally allowed to interfere with a case that involves a family member. Charges were also broth against him because of him hitting me. There’s a statute of limitations for the abuse he gave to Mum, but my own statue is ten years or whenever I turn twenty-five. Luckily for me, I turn twenty-five in about four days. I had enough time to enter my evidence and give my statement. That of which was the real reason I was in England; to get the paperwork and medical files they would need.

The best part of the entire thing is that the prosecutor against my father is Halloran. I found a bit of satisfaction in that.

“So what’s next on your agenda, hotshot?” Brikk asks me breaking me from my reverie.

Looking over to him again, I put my hands to my knees, “I have a movie coming out in two months. It’s called ‘Half the Battle’ with Grace Galloway. I’m start filming for another movie in three weeks. After that, I think I’ll take a small break before going to film another that I’m already signed into. Everything’s exciting for me, really.”

“Well, we have something else exciting for you, right after these messages,” he turns to the camera with a smile as we’re announced out.

“You know, I met Topher when he was younger,” Gwyneth tells me as we get re-powdered once again.

“Yea?”

She nods a bit, “Yep, and he was one of the nicest teenagers I have ever met. He was probably seventeen when we met and he was so humble. I’d never met a teenager that was so gracious and talented. Is he still the same way?”

“Always,” I chuckle with a nod. “He’s the best.”

Before she can say anything else, we’re counted back in and Brikk starts right away, “I heard your birthday is in a couple days. Is that right?”

“It is,” I give a slight nod, squinting curiously as to what’s happening next.

His smile increases as he gestures between us where a television monitor rises, “We have someone on the line that is really upset he can’t be here for it.”

Shaking my head, I can’t keep the smile off it. I know who it is because not only did I just talk to him, he’s been complaining about not being home for my birthday for a while now.

Sure enough, my boyfriend’s face appears on the screen with his infamous smirk and the Eifel Tower in the background, “Hey babe!”

“Why did you do this? I told you I would call you later,” I chuckle slightly. At this point it’s pretty much impossible to take the happiness from my face, “You couldn’t wait?”

“I’m really upset I don’t get to be there for your birthday,” he says a put on a pouty face. “But,” he brightens a little, “I gave Brikk something to give to you.”

“Thank you, love,” I tell him because I’m sure whatever it is, I’ll love it. I always do.

“Topher,” Brikk interrupts and leans a bit closer to the screen.

“Yea?”

“While we have you here,” the host begins, “can you tell us your opinion on the whole court scandal?”

“It was awful,” Chris explains. “But Day did an amazing-” a little static interrupts his words, but it sorts quickly and he’s back. “All in all, I wish it would have turned out differently, but we’ll live.”

“Sorry, Topher, I didn’t get some of that. Some static cut you up.”

My boyfriend’s brows push together, “Yea, there’s a storm coming in. I might lose reception.”

“Well then, we’ll let you get back. It’s probably pretty late there. We don’t want to keep you,” more white noise takes over and his picture wobbles some.

A few seconds later the screen is as clear as the smirk on Toph’s face, “Anything for Day. Call me a little later, babe.”

“I will,” I assure him.

Static takes over once more and I can hear him say, “I love you,” before the feed cuts off completely.

“We tried,” Brikk shrugs and then motions toward stage right. “Can we bring out the gift please?” An intern comes in with a small box and hands in to the host. He immediately handed it to me, “Here you go. We got this earlier today. He told me to have you open in on the show.”

When I have it in my hand, I can tell it’s just a regular jewelry box. It’s black and has a red bow wrapped around it. It takes me a few seconds of concentration to get the ribbon off, but when I open it, I get confused.

“It’s just my old wedding ring,” I take it out of the box and hold it out to show Brikk.

“Huh,” he lets out and gestures to the corner of his desk. “Hold it here so the camera can get a good view of it.”

I do, but it’s a bit weird. I left my ring with Christopher in Paris when I went to England. I didn’t want to lose it so I told him to put it in his luggage and I would get it when he got home. I had wanted to continue to wear it, but he insisted that we leave them until we’re properly engaged or married.  Why would he send it to me now?

The audience lets out random excited ‘woos’, each individual, and each around bits of chatter.

“I’ve done this twice before,” I hear his voice and my head snaps up to where my boyfriend stands right next to me. “You would think you would start to catch on sooner or later.”

When did he get here? Was I really that focused on the ring?

“Hell,” he chuckles looking down at me, “you’ve even done it once.”

Before he could say anything else, I’m out of my chair and wrapping my arms around him. I’ve missed him. “What are you doing here?”

After returning the hug, he pulls me off him and backs up. Without saying a word, he grabs the ring from my hand and sends me a smirk as he descends to one knee. Taking my left hand in his, he holds my ring up to me in his right, “Day, you are my world. You’re more important to me than anything has ever been. And even when you were in the biggest jam, you still made sure I was alright. I can’t imagine my life without you.” He lowers his head for a second only to look back up with his stupid haunting grin. “The last couple months not being able to call you my husband has been hell. I should have done this right the first time. No bets, no riddles, no games. Just now, here, in front of the rest of the world, I’m asking you to be my husband,” he pauses and chuckles adding, “again.”

Awes are head all around the studio, but for some reason I just can’t grasp that he’s here, in front of me. Subconsciously my right hand had moved up to my mouth as it gaped open. I look like the girls I was making fun of the first time he proposed; which, in turn, makes me laugh.

Dropping my hand, I look into his eyes, “I really thought you were in Paris.”

His eyebrows pull together, but his smirk doesn’t drop, “Can we talk about that later?” He moves his eyeballs side to side and then looks back at me, “Kind of in the middle of something.”

“Right,” I nod, “back to the matter at hand.”

“Marry me again?” he arches an eyebrow expectantly.

Pulling him up from the ground I wrap my arms around his neck, “Yes.” Next are lips are pressed together and his arms are around my waist holding me as close to him as possible. The studio burst into screams and cheers at our embrace. Inching back slightly, I look him in the eyes once it’s quieter to say, “Not like you really had to ask… again.”

Somewhere behind me, I hear Brikk’s voice, “After these messages, we’ll hear a song from Hot Chelle Rae!”

At the little break, we sit down in the chairs next to the host’s desk. Brikk congratulates us along with Gwyneth and the make-up people. The break’s quick and Hot Chelle Rae smashes it. It’s a good show and I can’t keep my hands off my new fiancé. He was right, though; it was weird not calling him my husband. If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have laughed, but now it feels natural.

~A/N~

To all of you that were mean to me about the cliffhanger.... :P

I didn't make you wait... now that I'm entering hte Watty's I have a deadline!!! Keep voting and commenting!!! I love you all!