Three years later,Duncan and Courtney were still happily married.They had both graduated from college,and Duncan was in his first year of Med School,even though he was so exceptionally gifted that he had a job already.Courtney was a very famous name in fashion now,and had been making hundreds of thousands a month.The two now had a huge house,and still used the aparment buildings for profit,and everything they ever wanted.Except,(maybe not for Courtney,)children. "Happy anniversary Courtney!"Duncan said as Courtney arrived home.She glanced arond to see everything decorated with candles,rose petals,and small glasses of wine on the counters. "Oh babe!This is so sweet of you!I know we've both been so busy lately,I can't believe you found the time to do something like this!"She said walking over to kiss Duncan."Of course I did!We're married!Now go open your presents."He said beckoning to the new master bedroom which was lined with gifts."Duncan...you shouldn't have!""Well,you've ben so stressed lately,so I thought,you may need a little joy!"He said lightly."Well,you have too,and I got you presents as well!"Courtney said in a cheerful voice,setting down eight large bags in the bedroom."You first!"Duncan said handing her a small.red box.She opened it to see small skull beads."Oh look they're beads!"Courtney exclaimed."Notice anything peculiar?"Duncan urged."Yes!They match the skull I have as a pendant from when we were sixteen!"She clutched the wood skull around her neck."I thought since you wore that on a chain,I could make beads to make a necklace."He smiled,proud of himself."That's so thoughtful Duncan!"She pulled off the thin chain and slid the beads equally on each side,and put it on my neck."Nice?"I asked."Beautiful."Duncan replied kissing her.Courney pulled Duncan's present out of a bag."Here's yours.I know you'll appreciate practicality."She stated with a nerdy laugh.Duncan marveled at the stethescope he had pulled out the box."I know it's not much,and I'm sorry but things have been hard lately and-""Baby,you know I've been eyeing this stethescope since day one!Thank you."He put my nose to his."Okay,prepare yourself!I know you won't mind practicality."He added handing Courtney a huge box.I slowly opened the present,to see a huge drawing pad."OH MY GOD!How did you get something like this!I can use it for-""Fashion designs."We said together.She laughed and hugged Duncan.I gave him a big purple box.It was truly humongous,the size of the bed."I have to open it for you.Close your eyes."She said.He did as he was told."Open."Courtney said.Appearing in front of him was a black Harley Davidson motorcycle."PRINCESS I LOVE YOU!"He picked her up and twirled me around."OH THIS SO BEATS LAST YEAR!"He kissed her,and then asked;"Wanna go for a spin?Is it gassed up?""No,I made sure it wasn't,even though I put it in the box.So we could finish exchanging gifts."Courtney was anticipating something Duncan got me every year;A colored jewel necklace,arranged in the colors of the rainbow,he got since their first anniversary.And he was looking forward to his favorite dessert.Coconut creme,key-lime,chocolate creme,and lemon merangue pies,all prepared by moi.But I was no housewife.Duncan stepped over to the desk,not getting the jewel,but something else.Duncan grabbed a flat prsent,and she slowly tore it open,taking in a large gasp.Courtney's mother was on the picture.She had recently died,and her stepsons and daughters took all we had to remember her by.She started to blink away tears,and her voice was breaking.Courtney held the picture to her heart."How did you get this?"She whispered a tear falling from her eye."The answer comes later.I knew you would like this though."He said kissing Courtney's cheek."Thank you Duncan.She was my best friend.""I know.She hated me."He finished under his breath.She then laughed,dried her tears,and grabbed the next present for Duncan."Mine is sort of sentimental too."Courtney handed him an orange box.He opened it up to see a picture of a baby."Honey,I don't get it!"He told me."It's a promise."She replied."What?""It's a promise that someday,when I'm not scared anymore,we'll have a baby all of our own."He smiled softly."Princess,don't worry,okay?You'll get over it,and if you don't that's okay.Now enough mushiness for now.Let's get to the fun stuff."He grabbed a gold box and handed it to her.It was another huge gift.She shook it up and down,and then opened it up to see...."GIANT COLORED PENCILS!?OH BABY I LOVE YOU!THEY CAN GO WITH THE-""Drawing pad."We said together again.She walked outside,and Duncan followed her.There in the driveway was a large Mercedes Benz with a large red ribbon."HOLY S*** PRINCESS!"He kissed Courtney all over."I GUESS ALL THE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OLD CAR WORKED!Can I take this for a drive?"He asked.Courtney stuck up her nose and tapped her foot impateintly."Oh,yeah.Gifts."They ran back inside,and Duncan handed her a gold card.I looked at him puzzled.We never bought cards."This is part of the surprise.About the picture.Courtney opened it up and slowly read Duncan's scratchy writing."Baby,I know things have been hard for you since your mother died,especially since her stepchildren inherited everything.But they're young and didn't know that they had everything stored in their house.Their father put it there to pick up later.How do I know?I talked to them,and they had no idea.They gave us the stuff back,and I talked to them,they said in return for not suing,they will help support any financial needs if we ever need help.With no paybacks."She was crying now,and looked up to see Duncan smiling sweetly at her."Thank you."She set the card on the bed, then ran over into Duncan's embrace.He held her head in his chest."The rest of your presents are stuff from your mother.Except for the one thing you knew you were getting...."He teased." A yellow jewel for the necklace?"Courtney asked."Oh,I don't know...It's our third anniversary and I've gotten you red and orange...that's enough right?""BUT YOU PROMISED TO GET ME THE WHOLE RAINBOW!PLUS MORE!"Courtney responded to his teasing."Well,I guess I really can't get you the real rainbow can I?And I can't really give you the moon,or the stars,or the sky,so I guess jewelry will have to replace it."He finished excuting a perfect tease."Wait,did you say moon,stars,and sky?"Duncan smirked and pulled out an entire jewelry box,and opened it up to show Courtney the intricate sun,moon,and sky rings,all expertly labeled,shall I point out,and the new jewel for Coutney's necklace."OH MY GOD!Duncan,you're really gonna go bankrupt because of me aren't you?"Courtney exclaimed,surprised."You're worth it."He replied slipping the rings on her fingers.She kissed him smiling."Oh,thank you babe!I love you even more for this.Brownie points.""Wait,there's one more thing."Duncan said smiling.He was holding something behind his back.Duncan gave Courtney a peice of paper.She read it aloud."What's this?One first class ticket to....HAWAII!?Duncan thank you!"Courtney hugged him tightly."I alwas promised to take you back there didn't I?And I am a man of my word.We leave in a week,and I took care of everything.We'll be there for a two weeks.""Thank you so much....I really need to just...unwind.""I know you do princess.That's why I'm taking you here.""Wow.You know if we would'vehad that baby all those years ago,we wouldn't have never gotten to where we are now."Courtney said.Duncan bit his lip."St-still too soon?"Courtney asked."Always too soon.""I'm sorry.I din't think."Then Duncan grabbed Courtney's shoulders and looked in her eyes."I'm sorry I have to put this for you the hard way,but I'm going to give it a try.Look,I know how afraid you are of childbirth,but it's no use wanting a kid if you're too scared to have one.If you know you're not going to get pregnant again,you won't.So if you can do it,go ahead and hope.But if you can't,get a grip and check back into reality.You get me?"Courtney stared into his burning eyes,then looked down."Do you understand Courtney?"He asked again."Yeah.Of course." THE DRAMA WILL START SOON!LAUNDRY DETERGENT SELLERS ONLY EAT WORMS!LOTION BOTTLES ARE REALY MADE OF PRESSED SEQUINS!SEE YOU NEXT TIME!
Duncan's POV
We had arrived at my house, and Courtney left with tears in her eyes.
I called on of my best buddys, and waited for him to answer his cellphone.
RING. . .
RING. . .
RING. . .
"Hey it's _____" he finaly answered.
"Hey dude it's Duncan"
"Hey dude, what's up?"
"Nothing special, wanna go with me to Calefornia next weekend?"
"I would love to, but i can't!"
"Why?"
"I'm gonna hang out with my brother, nothing special."
"Why can't you just say you can't?"
"Sorry, i just can't! I gotta go, see ya!"
And then he hung up. . .
We had arrived at my house, and Courtney left with tears in her eyes.
I called on of my best buddys, and waited for him to answer his cellphone.
RING. . .
RING. . .
RING. . .
"Hey it's _____" he finaly answered.
"Hey dude it's Duncan"
"Hey dude, what's up?"
"Nothing special, wanna go with me to Calefornia next weekend?"
"I would love to, but i can't!"
"Why?"
"I'm gonna hang out with my brother, nothing special."
"Why can't you just say you can't?"
"Sorry, i just can't! I gotta go, see ya!"
And then he hung up. . .