Six months later...

I waved frantically as I gazed adoringly at Rafe pushing his trolley towards me. There was a huge grin plastered on his face. His eyes were trained on my face as mine were on him. He looked so handsome. I swear he's filled out in all the right places. Broader shoulders, bulkier chest that was ramrod straight as he strode towards me. His legs looked muscular, more defined in his figure hugging jeans. He looks so__so. My palm closed over my mouth. I was in a state of crazed euphoria.

Finally my baby is home.

'Querida, it's wonderful to see you,' he gazed into the depths of my eyes and hugged me fiercely.

'Welcome home darling,' I murmured against his lips, as Rafe kissed me so tenderly.

'You are my home Katy. I love you.'

'Oh Rafe, ___ I love you too,' I whispered.

I did not tell Rafe that his mom and Cade were patiently waiting behind me to greet him as well, but some sixth sense seemed to have alerted him. Still with his arms possessively holding onto me, his head lifted and locked directly with his mother's. My whole body tensed. My thoughts were reeling. I did not know whether Rafe was going to blow a fuse because his mother was here. Instead his eyes dropped to mine, his mouth dipped a little as his lips brushed mine softly, like the touch of a feather. He smiled at me and said, 'excuse me a moment.'

'Mamma,' he smiled at her, and hugged her for a long moment.

'Raphael, you are all grown up my boy,' she spoke proudly.

'Cadelaria, you are looking more beautiful,' he laughed.

'Rafe,' she flung her arms around his waist. 'I missed you. Did you remember Rafe? Did you remember?'

'Remember what?' he asked draping his arm around his sister's shoulder.

'It's__okay. I'm glad you're home,' she choked back her disappointment.

'Are you referring to this perhaps?' he grinned, dipping his hand into the front pocket of his luggage and hauling out a gift bag.

'Rafe! You remembered. Oh you're the best,' she hugged him again.

I stood and watched the Vega family. I don't know when Rafe had made peace with his mamma, but I was thrilled beyond measure that he had. I watched now as she smiled adoringly at her children. Like a proud mother, she reached out, touched his upper arm as if testing his muscles. Show off that he was, he was flexing it for his mamma. She smiled tenderly, her palm cupped his face. He reached out and kissed her cheek.

Oh I love you Rafe!

As if he'd taken the necessary time to pay homage to his parent and sister, his long fingered hand reached out for me without looking my way. I reached out, twining my fingers between his, as he drew me to him. There seemed to be an exchange between Rafe and his mom. His mamma slowly nodded at Rafe, then looked at me and smiled widely. I looked from her to Rafe curiously.

'She is your lady, Raphael?' his mamma enquired in Spanish, her eyes soft with emotion.

'Si mamma. Katy understands Spanish, although I've yet to hear her speak it.'

I looked down, as I felt my cheeks become flushed.

'Mamma meet Katy Michaels. Katy, my mamma, Gabriela Vega.'

Rafe concluded the introduction, as if it had some formal significance. I tried to fleetingly analyze it. Perhaps it was a cultural necessity. Eventually my conscious mind decided to bank the confusion, just as I caught the tail end of Rafe's words. Something about would I like to go?

'I'm sorry?'

'Mamma would like you and I to have dinner with her and Cadelaria tonight.'

'Oh sure. Thank you. That would be lovely.'

'I would like a shower querida, but mamma told me on the phone, she cancelled my lease four months ago and has my stuff stored in her town house.'

'You can shower with me__. I mean at my house.' If you needed clarification on the colour of beetroot, it was plainly visible on my face.

'Yes I will shower with you,' he laughed unashamedly, curving his arms around me, even the presence of his mamma was not a deterrent.

Er ___ my mother would so not be allowing that joint shower Rafe.

'Cadelaria you want to join us?' Rafe invited.

'Thanks, but mamma's taking me to the boutique. I'm having a makeover,' she artfully threw her hair over her shoulder.

Rafe threw his head back and laughed, 'You have grown up too quickly little one,' he fondly ruffled her hair.

'Ciao, see you later Katy,' Cade waved to me.

I handed my keys to Rafe, he opened the passenger door and assisted me in. Rafe ran across to the driver's side, slid in, then drew me into his arms.

'You won't believe how many times I checked the time on my wristwatch all through the flight,' he groaned pulling me into his arms.

'You're here now,' I whispered before my lips parted to receive his kiss.

I can't begin to explain to you what torture the last six months was. To get an idea, of the value of time ask somebody who'd missed their flight by one minute. Or ask the winning soccer team, who are patiently waiting for the final whistle, praying the opposition won't score against them. My arms draped around Rafe, hugging him to me. Silently thanking God for returning my soul mate to me. Yes I know he is my soul mate as surely as I know that if I inhale deeply, I can freely draw oxygen from the atmosphere.

'I love you querida,' Rafe murmured huskily against my ear.

'Tell me that in Spanish,' I whispered

'Te amo mi amor.'

'Te amo mi amor,' I repeated in a very bad accent.

Instead of laughing at me as I thought he might, Rafe cupped either side of my cheeks, and his mouth covered mine as if sealing our love.

4 Years later...

'Rafe, honey what are you doing here?'

I looked at Rafe suspiciously. We'd spoken on the phone this morning. I'd called him to cancel our dinner date tonight, as we were having an extended session with our Faculty Professor. He said he'd chill at home. We'd finished an hour early than expected, so I thought I'd come home, shower and surprise him at his mom's town house. I was so proud of Rafe. He was going through his modules at law school at supersonic speed. Roger was constantly teasing Rafe that he wanted credits for all Rafe's distinctions, and my gorgeous boy has so many distinctions.

'You're early,' he said, looking guilty.

'Mr. Vega,' I draped my arms around his neck and our lips brushed against each other's, 'why do you look like you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar?

'Who me___what___?'

'Ah Katy, congratulations sweetheart__.'

'Roger not yet!' Rafe interrupted.

'What are you congratulating me for dad?' I laughed, dropping my hands from around Rafe's neck. 'My results are not out yet.'

'Er __ excuse me,' Roger escaped.

'Urrgh!' Rafe slapped his forehead irritatedly, and kept his palm there.

'Darling what on earth's going on?' I pulled Rafe's arm away from his face.

'Come,' Rafe clasped my hand to his and marched me outside.

'Rafe, I was on my way to shower. What __where are we going?'

We were standing in mom's flower garden. Rafe coiled his neck to the left, then to the right, then seemed to find what he was looking for, nodded to himself and tugged my arm.

Come,' he repeated.

'Rafe Vega, I swear I'm going to hit you over the head if you don't start speaking___'

My jaw dropped, my heart stopped beating. I think the earth stopped its rotation on its axis as I looked  stunned, at Rafe dropping on his right knee.

'Katy__sweetheart, I was supposed to do this at a romantic dinner I planned for tonight, but Roger ___. He finished the rest in Spanish. I'm too much of a lady to repeat Rafe's curse words.

'I love you. Be my wife Katy. Marry me, and I want children too. Beautiful Katies and beautiful Raphaels,' he hauled a magnificent ring with sparkling diamonds from his pocket and extended it towards me.

He wants to marry me? I thought he'd stop loving me once he saw the attractive beauties in uni. OMG, my Rafe is proposing to me!

'How many Katies and Raphaels?' I asked, enjoying the adorable picture of MY Rafe on his knees.

'Querida, how long you plan on keeping me on my knee? It's most uncomfortable. I'm glad a man only has to do this once in his lifetime.'

'You better make sure it's only once,' I pulled him to his feet and circled my arms around his waist. 'I will marry you Rafe, only if you promise, you will love me, and only me for all of our lives,' I whispered.

'You are the only one for me querida. You stole my heart the first day I laid eyes on you.'

'Mmm... could have fooled me,' I murmured.

He smiled at me sheepishly.

'When I was doing my six month military stint querida. I had opportunities. There were beautiful women in the village, but none of them appealed to me. I only had a hunger for your beautiful eyes, and delightful body,' his palm closed over my breast, 'and your lips,' he murmured, kissing me.

'Is that a yes then?' he urged as I kissed him back.

'Yes, oh yes. You stole my heart the first day I laid eyes on you too.'

Rafe slid to the grass and pulled me with him. I was only too pleased to follow him. I would follow him to the ends of the earth. He was mine, as I was his.

'Rafe,' I tore my lips away from his. 'I am so sorry that I was not able to gift you with my innocence,' I looked away guiltily.

There was a momentary flash of something in his eyes, but he quickly masked it.

'I did not come to you as a virgin querida, so I cannot judge you.'

'I did not love Jamie, or Jeff, Rafe. I've always only loved you.'

'It's my fault, I pushed you away, said hurtful things to you.'

'No,' I covered his lips with two fingers. 'I should have had more self respect. I should have waited, abided my time.'

'I forgive you querida, as I forgive myself. Now you do the same hmm. The past cannot be reversed. We have each other and the future. Si?'

'Si.' I snuggled into his arms and leaned my cheek against his chest. 'Mom told me the most precious gift a lady could give her husband, is her virtue.'

'A man would treasure such a gift querida, but I honour and respect you Ms. Katy Michaels,' he smiled, planting a kiss on my lips.

'Thank you,' I smiled. 'Now I'll have that diamond,' I extended my left hand.

'I was wondering if I was going to have to return it,' he grinned.

'It's beautiful. I love it. How did you get the size right?'

'Er__I shall not go down alone. Your mom is an accomplice.'

I laughed. 'So you told mom and dad before me,' I murmured, shutting my eyes sleepily.

'I had to ask Roger's permission to marry you. I needed your mom's help as you do not wear any jewelry, or I would have been able to steal a ring as a sample.'

'My apologies then for not being a jewelry horse,' I smiled.

'Katy, there are one or two things we will agree on before we marry.'

He was not asking. This was going to be cast in stone.

My eyes flew open, 'I'm listening,' I shifted away from his arms.

'We will live off my salary. What I cannot afford, we will do without.'

His eyes were as grave as the expression on his face was sober.

'You are not going to allow me to work?'

'Yes you are. You graduate at the end of this year. You will become a social worker like you intend to.'

'So what do I do with my salary?'

'Anything your heart desires querida, but we will not be accepting houses, cars, etcetera from your parents.

Ah I see, no handouts because my proud Spaniard will not accept charity.

'What's so funny querida,' he tickled my earlobe with a blade of grass.

'You're so arrogant, I should be cross with you, but I love you so much.'

'I will make our way for us querida and I will make our first million before I'm thirty.'

'So when are we getting married my love, because I graduate and the end of this year. I already have three job offers? You still have one more year at Uni.'

'We will marry in December next year. Then I shall start my apprenticeship with Roger. 'We will live in an apartment in the first year until I complete my apprenticeship,' he continued with his prenuptial commandments.

'Darling why can't we pool our resources and get a house__.'

'We live of my salary or we don't get married Katy,' his tone was deadly quiet, but rigid.

'You're sounding draconian Rafe!'

'With your salary, you update your wardrobe as often as you desire. Have makeups__'

'You mean make over,' I corrected. 'And have you noticed the makeup I use?'

'Not much,' he grinned, 'and I love your simplicity,' his long fingers feathered down my cheek.

I turned my cheek, pressing into his fingers.

'We will rough it up for a year hmm,' his lips touched mine teasingly.

'You mean rough it out,' I whispered, and pulled his head down so I could kiss his irresistible lips.

'So we have a deal?' he dragged his lips across my cheek.

'Yes Your Highness, I love you too much to risk losing you.'

-      end chapter twenty nine-

EPILOGUE

A year later Rafe and Katy were married in a lavish ceremony paid for by the groom.

On their first wedding anniversary he bought his wife a five bedroom home in lavish Double Bay, close to the pink sanded beach, and spectacular view of the Atlantic.

Two years later Katy gave birth to beautiful, hazel eyed, dark haired Antonio Vega.

Three years later Antonio was blessed with a beautiful blond haired sister, named Jacqueline Gabriela Vega.

Katy continues to enjoy her career as a thriving, sought after social worker.

At age twenty eight, Rafe Vega made his first million from investments on the stock exchange and real estate development.

Katy following Rafe's example forgave her estranged father and now enjoys a closer relationship with him.

He is a doting grandfather to Antonio and Jacqueline.

Andy is a thriving venture capitalist. With an amazing flair for figures. He's currently enjoying bachelorhood and showing no signs or desire to settle down just yet.

And their school mates...

Jeff and Ally married two years after Rafe and Katy.

Channing married April a year after Jeff and Ally.

Tom is engaged to somebody from the racing circuit.

Nate is still HIV positive but living a healthy and very happy single life, and is doing a lot of benevolent work for their local HIV/ AIDS centre.

Cadelaria is a fifth year med student, studying to become a pediatrician, she is also engaged to a fellow med school student.

A note to all the young ladies who have read this story...

Respect yourself. Embrace who you are.

You are unique. There is only ONE of you in this world.

You do not need to validate yourself by sleeping with a guy.

Your virtue is yours, and yours alone. Treasure it until YOU are ready to surrender it.

                          -the end-