Spark held her hand over her mouth to keep herself from crying as she watched from behind the glass, Connor's surgery taking place. Spark couldn't fathom it to herself that in the last few years, she had to go twice to the hospital for surgeries on a family she was supposed to protect. First it was her original partner, Jacob Moreland, who had his arm ripped off, and now it was Connor. She knew that it was in no way her fault that he had ended up in this situation, but a little voice in her head was telling her it was. She thought back to a time not too long ago she was really happy with Connor.
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"Heh, I'm sorry, but you can't be serious about this." Spark said shaking her head as she sat on her bed with Connor kneeling on the bed beside her.
"I am. Spark, will you marry me and become Mrs. Spark Moreland?" Connor asked her again as Spark held Connor's hands.
"Connor, be reasonable. It's only been a week since your father....since we got the news about your father. Why do you want to marry me now?"
"Spark, since he's been gone, I've been thinking about my future and about the two of us. We've known each other since I came into the family, and these last few years that we've getting closer to each other, I see you as my partner in love and life. When my parents married they weren't much older than us, but I can't see myself marrying anyone other than you. Beyond the dance we shared, my heart yearns for nothing more than to be your devoted husband. So I ask you once again, Spark, would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?" Connor asked speaking from his heart.
Spark looking at him and gave a little smile and they both saw a twinkling in their eyes as she got on the floor with him to be at eye level.
"Connor Moreland, nothing would make me happier than to be your wife." Spark answered as the two of them shared a passionate kiss.
After the two of them kissed, they smiled and then hugged each other for what seemed like a while.
"Let's tell your mom when you're ready. She's still missing your dad badly." Spark said.
"I know, I am too. But this is part of growing up, taking the good with the bad. Now, how about I practice carrying you into our wedding bed?" Connor joked as he picked up Spark and the two of them fell down onto Spark's bed and laughed together.
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Spark was now taking deep breaths remembering that day as Nina came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, hi Mrs. Moreland." Spark said almost emotionless.
"It's okay to call me 'Nina' now you know. You are going to be my daughter in-law now. Another Moreland woman in the family worried about her husband." Nina said as Spark looked at Nina and raised her eyebrow her.
"I'm going to tell you something. Something told to me by Jacob's mother, which I told Julia. Its the same thing I'll probably tell Gloria one day too. Every Moreland woman despite how tough we are, has a lot of worry for our significant others. Each time I told Jacob to go out there fighting, I would whisper to him to come back alive. Julia hasn't dealt with that much, but with her girl now and with....with Jacob gone, Rick is going to help step up and help Caleb and the boys with the house and everything." Nina explained.
"I guess that means that the women are stuck on diaper duty." Spark joked.
"Hey now, after you and Connor get married, I expect a lot of grandbabies from you two. How does....four sound?" Nina asked as Spark blushed and rubbed her arm thinking of herself and Connor in bed together. "Umm....that's a lot."
Nina and Spark then noticed the doctors finishing up as Julia came out last and came over to her relatives.
"Well.....we've managed to stop the internal bleeding. But Nina, he will have to have that hip replacement soon. His .....activities in the family business will be limited from now on. He's stable, but passed out for the moment. Once he's feeling better we're going to get his hip replacement started. Unfortunately, he's going to be a long recovery. " Julia explained as Nina nodded then looked around for someone.
"Nina, where's Caleb?"
"He....went to go handle sone family business" Nina replied.
"God damn it, Nina. That is just the Moreland man way isn't it? He might get himself hurt or worse!" Julia argued.
"I know Julia! Better than anyone! My husband's gone, I have one son in the hospital and the other he's.... he's doing what Morelands have done for centuries. It frightens me, breaks my heart. I can't imagine what Chase will be like. Julia, am I.....am I a bad mother?" Nina asked her sister in-law hold back her tears.
"Oh, Nina, you're not a bad mother. The world sometimes just likes to kick our asses. But we gotta remember to stay strong, that's how our relatives want us to be. Jacob, my parents. We have to stay strong for all of them who are gone and who are still here. You have to be strong for Chase and Charlotte, just like how I am for Tammy." Julia said encouragingly to her sister in-law as Nina gave her a hug.
"Connor just needs to rest, but once we get him settled into a room, you can visit him." Julia said as Nina and Spark nodded.
"Dr. Harris? We need your help a few doors down." Another doctor asked.
"Coming! And I told you a million times, it's Dr. Harris-Moreland." Julia replied as she walked off with Nina and Spark holding onto each other's shoulders as they looked back at the sleeping Connor.
"It never does get easier, does it?" Spark asked as she looked at Connor and put her hand to the glass.
"No honey, it never does." Nina said as Spark stared into the room.