The Balance in Love Ch. 04

I apologize for the delay in this update, I've had a severe case of writer's block and a bit of mild off and on depression. I'm doing better now and slowly chipping away at the writer's block.

Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy the chapter! As always, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is welcome.

Ashira





"Oh my God Shane!" Ayla breathed when she saw what he held in his hand.

"I love you Aya, and I know we haven't been together long, but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without you. Will you marry me?" Shane asked, suddenly nervous when he saw the look on her face. Several moments went by before Ayla sank to the floor. "Aya, what's wrong?" Shane asked her, setting the box down on the floor next to him and reached for her hands.

I ... I don't know what to say," she whispered.

Shane chuckled a little and squeezed her hands gently. "Say yes," he prompted with a teasing smile. His heart clenched when Ayla's eyes met his. "I love you so much Ayla," he added. His smile faltered when he saw tears fill her eyes.

"I love you too Shane. I can't wait to marry you," Ayla whispered, her voice shaking. She laughed when Shane scooped her up and kissed her hard. When he released her lips, Shane reached behind him for the ring box and with shaking hands, pulled the delicate ring out and slid it onto her finger.

"Why are you crying?' he asked and kissed a tear away.

"I'm happy," Ayla answered.

"So don't cry," Shane teased, standing up. "C'mon," he added.

"Now what?" Ayla asked, her eyes shining, her excitement obvious. Shane kissed her again, slid his hand down Ayla's body and dipped his fingers past her clothes and flicked at her clit; she moaned and arched against him. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Shane murmured, lifting her into his arms and carried her laughing into the bedroom. "What are you laughing at?" Shane wanted to know, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You've never carried me before," Ayla reminded him, giggled when his fingers brushed down her arm as he set her down gently on the bed. Shane grinned at her and captured her lips with his. His tongue eased past her parted lips and met hers; he cupped the underside of her breast and squeezed it gently. She moaned into his mouth, her eyes closed.

"You're over dressed," Shane growled as his hands fumbled with the buttons of her blouse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Rachel! Carly! Wait up!" Ayla exclaimed as she launched herself across the lawn outside of the dining commons.

"What in the world?" Carly asked as she stopped walking and turned to look at her friend.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked.

"I'm better than okay!" Ayla said. Her friends looked at each other, eyebrows raised, wondering what had gotten their friend so excited.

"What's up?" Rachel wanted to know.

"Shane asked me to marry him!" Ayla exclaimed.

"And!?" Rachel and Carly prompted. The girls screeched loudly when Ayla held out her left hand, revealing a simple but elegant opal ring that was encircled with glittering diamonds in a tasteful white gold setting.

"Oh my God Ayla!" Rachel's voice was quivering with her excitement for her friend.

"I'm so happy for you!" Carly exclaimed.

"You aren't pregnant again are you?" Rachel asked suddenly. Her words had the same effect that dumping a bucket of ice water over someone's head.

"No Rache, I'm not pregnant," Ayla answered, some of her excitement slipped away.

"I'm sorry Ayla," Rachel said softly. "I didn't mean ..."

"I know Rache, it's fine. I'm glad, in a way that I'm not pregnant. I'm not remotely ready for a baby," Ayla told her friend. She took a deep breath and gave a shaky smile. "So, who wants to help me go dress shopping?" she asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ayla? Is something wrong?" Peter Ivonova looked up in surprise when Ayla walked into his office.

"Does something have to be wrong for a girl to surprise her favorite father for lunch?" Ayla asked, setting the cloth bag down on the side table.

"No, of course not. You just haven't been by the office to visit since you started seeing Shane," Peter explained.

"Shane's at work, and I wanted to talk to you," Ayla said, nibbling on her lower lip nervously.

"What is it Ayla, you know there isn't anything you could do to upset me," Peter reminded his daughter.

"Shane proposed to me," Ayla blurted out. "And I said yes," she added before her father could say another word.

"Does he make you happy?" Peter asked, sitting back in his chair.

"Insanely happy," Ayla answered and a small smile flitted across her face as thoughts of Shane raced through her mind.

"Then that is all that matters," Peter declared. Ayla's smile widened and she gave a sigh of relief as her father stood up, walked around the desk and gave his daughter a hug. "Why the sigh?" Peter asked.

"I was afraid you would be against my engagement since Shane isn't Russian or Jewish," Ayla murmured.

"None of that matters to me as long as you're happy," Peter assured his daughter.

"How was lunch with your dad?" Shane asked, later that night as they cuddled on the couch watching a movie.

"It was good, he seemed generally happy for us," Ayla murmured. A pounding at the door had them both sitting up in surprise.

"Stay here," Shane said as he made his way to the door. "Mr. Ivonova, it's good to see you," Shane added as he opened the door.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! HOW DARE YOU! I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY DAUGHTER EVER SAW IN YOU, BUT THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH!" Peter shouted.

"Daddy, what in the world is wrong with you?" Ayla wanted to know.

"Wrong with me? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you Ayla!" Peter exclaimed. "How could you stay with a man who forced you to have an abortion?" he roared.

"An abortion? I never had an abortion," Ayla said, the confusion genuine enough to cause Peter to pause.

"Then explain this note," he instructed, passing it over to his daughter.

Mr. Ivonova,

I know for a fact Ayla was pregnant. Shane told her to get rid of the baby and poof! She's no longer pregnant. Do you really want someone like that for a son in law?

"Daddy, I did NOT have an abortion! I would never do that! Ever!" Ayla exclaimed, her eyes blazing, her whole body shaking with fury.

"Then why would someone say you were pregnant? You're obviously not pregnant," Peter growled, shooting daggers at Shane with his eyes.

Ayla sighed. "I was pregnant, six months ago. I had a miscarriage. I hadn't even known I was pregnant," she answered, her voice quivered; Shane found her hand with his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Peter asked. "You've never hidden anything from me," he added.

"Personally, I was afraid you'd try to take Shane's head off and I needed time to think it over. Whoever sent you that note, I don't know what their game is dad, but you should have known I would NEVER allow someone to force me to abort my own child!" Ayla exclaimed, her sorrow turned to anger; she extended her arm and her hand connected to her father's cheek with a loud SLAP! Instantly, Ayla regretted her action and clamped her hands over her mouth. "I'm sorry daddy!" she gasped.

Peter sighed and took a deep breath. "It's alright Ayla, I deserved that. But rest assured, that is the ONLY time you will ever hit me," Peter told his daughter. Ayla nodded and allowed Shane to direct her back to the living room.

"Mr. Ivonova, I love Ayla. If I didn't, I wouldn't still be here and I sure as hell wouldn't have proposed if I didn't. I get your anger, but that doesn't mean you can come in here and accuse me of something without having actual proof. I'd like for you to leave now, and please do not come back to my home until you can speak with me and about me respectfully," Shane said, deliberately, he kept his voice low and even. He was angry, but he knew that showing how angry would do nothing but hinder the relationship he had with Ayla; he'd rather cut his arms off with a spoon then hurt her.

Mr. Ivonova smiled sadly. "You have earned the right to call me Peter. I'm sorry, I never should have jumped off the handle like that. You're both in the right to be angry at me." He looked past Shane towards his daughter. "I love you Ayla. Please call me when you've calmed down so we can fix this," he murmured, just loudly enough for Ayla and Shane to hear.