Chelsy and Hank disengaged from their long passionate kiss to catch their breaths. Hank looked into Chelsy's light hazel eyes and spoke softly and tenderly.
''I love you my little fairy. Are we officially a couple now?''
Chelsy had a warm smile and gave a soft kiss to his lips.
''What do you think?'' Chelsy asked sheepishly.
Hank smiled back and responded. ''That was the best way to say it.''
As they sat there looking at each other in the eyes, Chelsy's stomach started rumbling like a broken lawn mower.
Hank gave a gentle snicker and said mockingly. ''I guess the little creatures in your tummy have started singing for you to feed them.''
Chelsy was so embarrassed. She gave a little slap to Hank's arm.
''That isn't funny Hank.'' Chelsy sneered.
They both chuckled and Hank took Chelsy's hand into his.
''Come. Let me make you some breakfast.'' Hank said.
He held Chelsy's hand, and they walked to his kitchen.
''Well. To my dearest girlfriend, Miss Chelsy Powers, aka my little fairy, I am not very good when it comes to cooking. But my pancakes are always deliciously crispy and good. So sit down while your man make you breakfast.''
Chelsy couldn't help but blush like a teenage girl. Hank, referring to himself as her man, gave a certain warmth to her heart.
Her relationship with Hank was different. Everything flowed easily. He brought out the little girl in her.
Chelsy rolled her eyes and spoke softly.
''Okay mister boyfriend. Can you stop with the talking and start with the cooking?''
Hank just gave a salute and answered with a deep voice like a soldier. ''Yes ma'am.''
Hank and Chelsy spent the whole day talking, catching up and just buried in their own world.
It was evening and Chelsy said she had to go back to her apartment.
''Hank, I have to go now. It is getting late already.''
Hank looked at her and said softly, ''My fairy. Thank you for spending the whole day with me. I haven't had this much happiness in a very long time.''
He took her hand and gently placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm.
''Chelsy? I have something to tell you.''
Chelsy looked at him suspiciously and said. ''I am all ears.''
Hank cleared his throat and said, '' I am leaving tomorrow.''
Chelsy was a little taken aback. She asked nervously. ''Hank. Where are you going to?''
Hank saw the nervousness in her eyes and gave a warm smile.
''My little fairy. I am not leaving you, okay? I have a project in Australia that I have been planning for months now. Our company is venturing into the tourism sector there. My presence will be needed, so I have to be there.''
He tugged Chelsy's loose hair behind her ear and spoke with the most gentle voice he had ever used.
''Don't worry. I will be back before you know it.''
Chelsy just nodded and asked. ''How long will you spend in Australia?''
Hank took a deep breath and said, ''Three weeks. But don't worry, you and I will FaceTime every day. You wouldn't even notice that the three weeks are already over.''
Chelsy just nodded and didn't say anything.
After a few seconds had passed, she asked dejectedly.
''So you won't be spending Christmas and New year here?''
Hank nodded affirmatively.
He let out a deep sigh and said, ''If it wasn't that important, I would have delayed my trip until after the new year. But I really need to go now. So don't worry. I will make it up to you when I get back, okay?''
Chelsy just nodded with a warm smile.
Hank cleared his throat and said.
''Erm, lest I forget. There is something I have been planning to give you, but didn't have the opportunity to do that. I think this is the right time. Just wait here, let me grab it.''
Chelsy was wondering what it could be. She just shrugged her shoulders and was waiting to see what Hank had under his sleeves.
Hank rushed into his study and grabbed a little box. He took out the contents of the box, and held it in his palm.
He walked back to the living room and sat beside Chelsy.
''Close your eyes.'' Hank said.
Chelsy simply obeyed like a little girl.
Hank held out his hand and said, ''Now, open your eyes.''
When Chelsy opened her eyes, she was speechless. She let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hand at the sight of what was in front of her.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she muttered almost inaudibly, ''Coeur de la terre.'' Which meant Heart of the earth.
It was the necklace her father had given her which she had lost over a year ago.
She raised her teary eyes and looked at Hank unbelievably. She spoke inaudibly with a low shaky voice.
''But how? How did you get this?''
Hank, who was so happy seeing the joy in her face, spoke in his usual low and husky voice.
''It must have fallen from your neck back at mount Halo. I found it back in your tent. This is one of the things that kept me motivated to find you. For some reason, I feel connected to this necklace somehow. I don't know how, but I feel like I have seen it before. Maybe it's because it is connected to you, that is why I felt your presence and couldn't forget you.''
Chelsy sniffed, and looked at Hank so admirably. ''This is the only thing I have left of my dad. He told me never to lose it for any reason. I thought I had lost it forever.''
She leaned forward and hugged Hank. ''Thank you so much for bringing back ''the heart of the earth.'' This means more to me than you can ever imagine. Thank you, Hank.'' She whispered in his arms as she cried.
''Shush now, okay?'' Hank said as he lifted Chelsy's chin to look at him.
''I will always have your back, okay?''
He bent down and gently kissed her on the lips.
It had been a week since Hank left for Australia.
Chelsy buried herself in her work and Hank was so busy. It had been two days since they hadn't talked on the phone. They had only been texting due to the time difference. Whenever Chelsy was free, Hank would be in a meeting. And when he was done, she would probably have gone to bed.
It was lunchtime, and Chelsy wasn't feeling too hungry. She had really missed hearing Hank's voice. So she left him a message.
''Hey Hank, or should I say my big pookie bear? I hope your project is going so well. It has been a long day, and I missed you. Hope you are taking proper care of yourself, and you are eating properly too. Talk to you later. I love you.''
She pressed sent and was all smiles.
Chelsy was someone who loved genuinely and openly. She made sure the person she was in love with knew how much he meant to her. She was very romantic, and didn't hold back nor shy away from her feelings. When it came to her love, she was always vocal about it.
Everyone had returned from lunch, and were busy with their various tasks.
As she sat down working on her computer, she received a call from the CEO's secretary. ''Miss Powers, Mister Rivers would like to see you in his office.''
''Okay. I am on my way.''
Chelsy stood and went up to Daniel's office.
When she got into his office, Daniel was all smiles, and said, ''Hey Chelsy, or should I say sister-in-law?''
Chelsy's face grew pale with embarrassment. She gave an awkward smile and said, ''You asked to see me Sir Daniel.''
Daniel shook his head and said playfully. ''Nope. Not me, but your dear gancarnagh.''
As he spoke, he got up from his seat and said. ''You can sit on my chair and talk to your grumpy gancarnagh. He has been whining like a starved baby for minutes now. Please tame that wild cat of yours. I will give you guys some space.'' He gave a wink and left.
Hank spoke through the laptop that was on Daniel's table. ''Daniel, make sure I don't see you when I get back.''
Chelsy walked over to his seat, and saw that Hank was on a video call on Daniel's laptop.
Her face instantly brightened when she saw him.
Hank just muttered, ''Hey beautiful.''
He had a bright smile on his tired face.
Hank was usually very clean, well-dressed and groomed. But today, he was looking all tired, a little disheveled and his usually well shaved face had a little facial hair.
When Chelsy saw his tired look, she looked a little worried. She spoke in her usual soft and sweet voice. ''Hey. Why do you look so disheveled and tired? Oh, my poor gancarnagh. You must have been working so hard. Are you okay?''
Hank just gave a tired look and replied. ''I am fine now after seeing you. I have missed you so much my little fairy. How I wish you had been here with me.''
Chelsy made a pouting face, and responded. ''I miss you too, pookie bear.''
Hank raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, ''Pookie bear, huh? I love that. I hope only I get to be called that.''
Chelsy smiled and responded. ''Of course. You are my one and only pookie bear.''
They spoke a little more and Chelsy said. ''Hon, I have to go now. I am still at work. As much as I would love to sit and talk with you all day, I still have work. Talk to you when you are free. I love you pookie bear.''
She stood up and left before Hank could say anything.
Hank just smiled and thought to himself. I am indeed the luckiest man to have this beautiful woman as mine.
It was three days until the New Year. Rachel had been planning to surprise Chelsy in London. She had earlier on told Chelsy that she would come visit after the new year. But little did Chelsy know that Rachel had planned on spending the New Year with her.
Rachel took a flight from Wolverton, and landed at Heathrow Airport. She called Chelsy and when the call got connected, she spoke with her usual playful voice. ''Hey baby girl. What's up?''
Chelsy was all smiles when she heard Rachel's voice.
''Hey sisi. I am good. How is Wolverton?'' She asked innocently, not knowing that she was in for the surprise of her life.
''Well, Wolverton is fine, my darling. I am just at home binge-watching a crime documentary. So what about you? What are you doing?'' Rachel asked.
Chelsy gave a big humph and said solemnly. ''Honestly Rach, it's so lonely here. Especially now that it is the holidays, I am just at home eating, and watching movies.''
As they were talking, Chelsy's doorbell rang, and she said, ''Hey Rach. Please give me a minute, okay? There is someone at the door. Let me check who it is and I will call you back.''
Chelsy ended the call and went to the door to check to see who it was.
When she opened the door, she was stunned. The phone she held fell from her hand.