Disneyland

(by Gaby)

John saw Roma walking hand in hand with Reilly, carrying a big bag with some of the many things she kept in her trailer. They had just finished filming the last episode of season seven and they were looking forward for the summer break they would spend the next weeks. He walked towards the two of them and crouched to be at the same level with Reilly. "So, what are your plans for next weekend, ladies? I was thinking about taking someone to the trolley trip she enjoys a lot in San Francisco."

"Yay!" Reilly exclaimed but her little face suddenly turned serious.

"What, honey?" John asked noticing this.

"Oh, John," Roma said. "It’s just that I had promised Reilly I would take her to Disneyland the first weekend we had free after the show was over, and yesterday I told her I had gotten the tickets."

"Oh, I see..." he said obviously disappointed.

"Why don’t you come with us?" Roma suggested.

"Yes, uncle Johnnie! Come, please!" Reilly said clapping happily.

"Honey, that’s sweet from you, but you and your mommy had planned a little time for you two alone. I don’t want to be on the way..."

"Don’t be silly, John!" Roma said.

"Come, uncle Johnnie, please!" Reilly joined her mother in her request.

"Come on, Johnnie. You’re going back to California too. You know you’re always welcome to join us."

He looked at the two carefully and then accepted with a wide smile. "Ok, I’ll go with you. When are we going?"

"Saturday morning at seven!" Reilly said, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Honey, at nine!" Roma corrected her. "She wants to be the first when they open the park!"

"Tell you what," John said looking at the girl. "If your mommy agrees, I’ll go to your house since Friday night, so we can go out early."

"Yes!" Reilly shouted and the two turned to see Roma looking for approval.

"Your room is always ready, John," she said.

****

It took longer than usual for Reilly to go to sleep that Friday. With the excitement of Disneyland next day and the one of her uncle staying that night, she seemed not to be sleepy at all. It looked like if she hadn’t seen him for months and not only for two days. She accepted to go to bed only when she started to yawn and not before John offered to tuck her in.

After finally taking her to bed, John and Roma came back to the dinning room and spent still a couple of hours talking comfortably. They talked about the show and many other things, and when the clock was approaching 12.00 am, Roma started to yawn too.

"Ok, time for bed for you, angel girl," he said patting her hand and then taking it to lead her to her bedroom. They walked towards her room, and once they were in front of the door, he took both her hands. "Sleep well, Roma," he murmured and then kissed her forehead.

She smiled tenderly at feeling him treating her as if she was Reilly. She freed her hands and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Sweet dreams, John. Thank you for coming."

Her gesture took him briefly by surprise, but he hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. "You’re more than welcome, baby. Now, go to bed, ok?"

****

"Wake up, uncle Johnnie!!!" Reilly’s shout made John literally jump out of the bed, his heart beating wildly.

"What’s up?" he said. In a second, million of thoughts had crossed his mind, like Roma in trouble or sick or a fire in the house. But he sighed in relief when he saw the little girl fully clothed (by herself obviously, as her T-shirt was with the wrong side out and she had done a poor job in combing her hair) and with a small backpack in one hand.

"It’s time!" the girl insisted pushing him to wake him up completely.

He looked at his watch. "Reilly, it’s 5.00 am! You should be in bed!"

Roma got into John’s room at that moment, evidently awaken by their yelling. "What’s happening?"

"Mom, it’s time. You have to get up!"

"Reilly, it’s too early, baby. Now, come on. Let your uncle sleep, and you will sleep at least two more hours." She took her in her arms and carried her away. "I’m sorry, John," she said simply turning to look at him before leaving the room.

"Never mind," he said smiling.

But by seven, Reilly was again out of bed, obediently following her mother to the shower, and by 7.30 she was waiting for her breakfast, this time properly dressed and combed. Both John and Roma enjoyed the sight of her so happy and were sure that she’d never had the bright all over her face that she got when they finally reached the main gate of the park.

"Have you been here before?" John asked wrapping an arm around Roma’s shoulders. She surely hadn’t noticed it, but her eyes were as bright with excitement as Reilly’s.

"No," she confessed smiling at him.

"Great! Then it will be like guiding my two girls. Let’s go," he said taking both Roma and Reilly’s hands and leading them to the gate and into the main street.

Morning went out quickly as they visited Tomorrowland and took the trip on the monorail that runs around half the park. Then they visited some points of Fantasyland, of course leaving Cinderella’s castle for the evening, when they could see the princesses’ show and the fireworks. At Roma’s instance, they got into "it’s a small world" at the very front line of seats of the train. The Irish actress was seated between Reilly and John, and he was sure he had never seen her more happy in the last three years. He had been by her side during the hard times of her divorce and during the long process of her healing, and seeing her hazel eyes free of that trace of sadness filled his heart up with happiness. He practically didn’t see anything of the world wonders in miniature as he followed every single gesture in her face. For months now, he hadn’t been able to help but feeling himself melting at her smile, and what had happened about a month ago had just made it harder. As a part of a rehearsal, he had kissed her. He knew he was hopelessly in love with her since long years before, but that day he had known how much. He hadn’t stood to see her kissing the other actor, he wanted to be the only one with the right to do it... He was lost in these thoughts when a turn in the railroad made Roma lean against him. She yelled in surprise and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to him. Roma turned to see him with a wide that made its way directly to his heart. She saw him drinking in her face and smiled at him. Their faces were inches apart and the seconds they looked at each other seemed much longer. He reached his free hand to stroke her cheek, his green eyes still locked with hers...

"Mommy, look!" Reilly said pulling her mother’s t-shirt to call her attention. Both actors looked at the pyramids of Egypt in miniature. John had still his arm around Roma’s shoulders and she leaned back slightly to rest over his chest until the end of the trip.

Right after lunch, they continued their excursion in Mickey’s toontown. Reilly insisted on visiting Goofy’s Bounce House and Roma and John waited for her outside as both were certainly higher than the 3 feet that was the maximum allowed. Roma was licking deliciously an ice cream as John enjoyed her relaxed sight.

"Have you had a good time, Roma?" he asked.

"Are you kidding? I haven’t had a better time in years! Thanks for coming with us, John," she said looking at him. "I’m sure this has been so great ‘cause you’re here."

He blushed lightly and smiled. "Well, a visit to Disneyland is always great, but being with you and Reilly had made this much better. Your face with that ice cream is worth everything!"

Roma chuckled at his comment. "It’s delicious! Wanna taste it?" she said offering it.

John looked at her mischievously. He then took the ice cream, but instead of tasting it he touched her nose with it.

"Hey!" she yelled in surprise.

"That was what was missing in your face!" he exclaimed taking a picture with the camera they had taken.

She continued giggling while she tried to clean her nose. "All right?" she asked.

John chuckled at seeing a small spot of ice cream left. "No, but allow me," he said, and instead of cleaning it with a napkin, he kissed her nose. "Mmm... definitely delicious!" he said with a devilish grin.

"John!" Roma said blushing deeply.

****

The kiss with the ice cream made its effect on both actors as they spent the rest of the afternoon walking hand in hand or with arms wrapped around her shoulders and his waist. By 6 o’clock they reached Cinderella’s castle again. Reilly had insisted on wearing her Bella dress to go to the Princesses’ show, so John waited for them outside the ladies room. Reilly looked radiant in her yellow dress. "Wow!" the blond actor said when they joined him. "If I were the Beast, I’d certainly take out such a beautiful princess to dance!"

"You can’t be the Beast, uncle Johnnie," Reilly said seriously.

"Why not?" the actor asked.

"Because you would have to be in love with me, and you’re in love with my mom." John blushed deeply and couldn’t say anything; Roma just took a sharp breath and looked at him, blushing deeply too. "Now, come on!" the girl said exasperatedly. "The show is about to start!"

They couldn’t get seats already but that was lucky for Reilly, as she was invited by the Beast to dance with him when music started. John and Roma had not say much after Reilly’s comment and still seemed quite embarrassed when Celine Dion’s voice filled up the place. Gathering all his courage, John decided he’d take advantage of every chance he had with Roma, so he offered her his hand. "May I...?"

Roma looked around and saw everybody paying attention to the stage. She then looked at him... "Here? John..."

He smiled and shrugged his shoulders as saying ‘why not?’. He then took her hand and circled her waist pulling her closer... Roma abandoned herself in his embrace and rested her head over his shoulder. John leaned down to smell her hair. "Just a little change, small to say the least... Both a little scared, neither one prepared..." he murmured in her ear following the lyrics of the song, and she was happy not to be looking at him or he would’ve been able to see the pleased smile on her face. Could it be true that he was in love with her and that she was in fact falling in love with him? "Thank you" he murmured when the song finished and he released her.

"No," she replied. "Thank you."

****

"Reilly, come finish your dinner!" Roma shouted to her daughter that was playing at the playing area of Granville’s restaurant. "I guess this was an unexpected night for you too, Johnnie."

John chuckled and took another sip of his coffee. "Who could have known that there would be that accident on the highway? Thanks God we heard on time and we decided to stay. Otherwise we might’ve been stuck in traffic right now."

"Lucky we still found the suite available," she commented.

"Yeah... And now we can finish the visit to the park."

"You know what I would’ve wanted?" she said looking through the window to the reserved area where guests were elegantly dressed and some were already dancing. "I wish we would’ve known so we could’ve gotten the right clothes for the night."

"What? Didn’t you like your Minnie Mouse nightgown?" he teased her referring to the emergent pajamas they had bought.

She chuckled at his comment. "I’m pretty sure you will in fact look great in your Goofy sweat pants!"

He smiled and after a second of silence, he said, "Well, we can plan that for a new trip here, or for any day you want to."

"Yeah... sure," she replied still quite disappointed, but John made a mental note for later.

It was not more but 8.30 p.m. when they went back to their suite, Reilly hardly walking as she was more than tired. "I’ll take her to bed and I’ll be back, ok?" Roma told John taking in her arms her almost asleep daughter. When she left the bedroom, she was surprised with what she saw: the lights of the living room were turned off and her breath caught in her throat and she brought a hand to her mouth when she saw the dinning table. A pair of candles were burning there, and there were two champagne glasses, a cold bottle of the same liquor, a tray with strawberries and two pieces of tiramisu waiting for two people at the table.

"You don’t need a coctel dress and high hill shoes here, ma’am," John murmured at her back as he made his way from the stereo in the living room. "I think jeans and tennis shoes are perfectly suitable."

"John, what’s all this?" she asked still surprised. He took her hand and kissed it. "You didn’t have to..." she added though she was really flattered with his surprise.

"I want this weekend to be perfect for you," he said stroking her cheek. "You wanted a romantic dinner... I just hope you agree with the company."

She giggled happily and told him, "It couldn’t be better..."

Their gazes met for long seconds in silence. Feeling a pleasant excitement, Roma stood in the points of her feet and kissed John technically on the cheek but closer t his mouth. "I case I forget to tell you later..." she murmured still close to him, "I had a great time today, all day."

His heart felt like jumping inside of his chest at her words. "I’m glad you did." His lips still felt like pleasantly burning. "Now, would you honor me with this dance? ‘Beauty and the Beast’ just wasn’t enough." He blinked at her as Rod Stewart’s voice started to reach them with ‘I only have eyes for you’.

His arm around her waist felt so perfectly nice and still after a long day of walking, he smelled good. The warm of his body make her so comfortable that she pressed herself against him as he murmured the next song, ‘Crazy she calls me’, in her ear. She rested her head over his chest and buried her face in the nape of his neck.

They had danced easily for one hour when they finally took a seat to get the tiramisu he had ordered. He served the champagne and proposed a toast. "To you" he said simply.

"To us," she corrected. "May this night be repeated soon... many times" she added seductively.

During all the time they spent eating their desserts, John looked at her in detail. Her eyes, her small hands, the way her lips twisted in her smile... It was like if just now he was discovering her and discovering how much he wanted her physical contact. For a second he left his reverie and paid attention to the lyrics of ‘The way you look tonight’. He pulled his chair closer and leaned over to cup her cheek with a trembling hand. He sang again quietly.

He smiled when he felt her covering his hand with hers and leaning over his touch. He then took her other hand and brought it to his lips before continuing the song.

His selection finished and he sighed in regret when he had to go change the discs. He was busy in his task when Roma walked slowly to him. "Can I choose one?" she asked, her dark eyes fixed on his. He was surprised when she chose ‘The way he makes me feel’. "Now, would you honor me with this dance, Mr. Dye?" she whispered taking the CD box and the remote control out of his hands.

There’s no chill and yet I shiver
There’s no flame and yet I burn
I’m not sure what I’m afraid of
And yet I’m trembling
There’s no storm yet I hear thunder
And I’m breathless why I wonder
Weak one moment then the next I’m fine

I feel as if I’m falling
Every time I close my eyes
And flowing through my body
Is a river of surprise
Feelings are awakening
I hardly recognize as mine

It was now she the one whispering the song in his ear. The blond actor felt he was living a dream with her in his arms, corresponding at his flirting. ‘My endless love’, ‘Unforgettable’, ‘Put your head in my shoulder’ and ‘Lady’ followed and both were lost in the prolonged hold they shared as John let his hand ran all over her back and waist, and she did the same, guessing his warm and strong muscles under his shirt.

Colored lights coming through the window surprised them and hand in hand they walked to the balcony to admire the fireworks illuminating the sky. The music continued and John held her again to keep on dancing. ‘That’s all’ was now playing and they swayed with its tender notes.

John shivered when Roma wrapped both her arms around his neck and he tightened his hold on her, pulling her even closer to him...

As the music died he pulled a little apart and looked at her eyes. She was incredible... and almost unconsciously he leaned down to find her lips in a loving kiss that released all their contained feelings. Roma corresponded to his kiss as she had stopped analyzing these feelings long before during the night. All that mattered to her in those moments was the sweet contact of his mouth and the pleasant stirring that was running all over her body.

"That was awesome," she whispered when they finally parted long minutes after.

"Oh yes..." he accepted before he kissed her once more.

"What’s this, John?" she asked looking deeply into his green eyes in between kisses.

"My sweetest dream came true," he whispered in reply. "You know how long had I dreamed of kissing you like this?" He kept on trailing kisses along her cheek to her earlobe and her neck.

"No..." she was having a hard time to think about anything else.

"Years... From the very moment I saw you walking in the set," he said locking his gaze with hers.

"John..."

"I love you, Roma Downey. You’re kissing a fool that has been loving you in silence for years."

She smiled tenderly and cupped his face stroking his cheeks. "You’re crazy, John Dye."

"Crazy she calls me," he murmured the song they had listened before getting closer to her face again. "Sure I’m crazy, crazy in love am I..." He kissed her once more sure that this was in fact a dream...