Chapter Text
“I love you, Belly.”
“I love you, too.”
For a moment, neither of them moves.
They stand in the aisle for a moment longer and Conrad gently ushers her to the seats behind them. When he notices her shivering, he shrugs off his jacket and gently drapes it around her. She leans into his chest and he wraps his arms around her like he’s afraid she might disappear in any moment.
“I – I – I’m so sorry Conrad, I let my insecurities get to me. I’m so, so, sorry.” She whispers tearfully, eyes red and glassy as she slowly looking up at his face. “I should have never let you leave. I can’t even imagine the pain you must have been going through. I’m so sorry for hurting you…again.” She hyperventilates through her tears.
Conrad cups her cheeks gently wiping her tears away with the pad of his thumb. “Hey,” he murmurs softly, “Hey, its ok. You’re here now.”
“No, no its not,” she says immediately shaking her head against his chest. “I basically kicked you out.”
“But you did chase me onto a moving train,” he says gently a faint smile appearing on his mouth. “And told me that you’d choose me in every universe. I think it counts for something. Don’t you? ”
She keeps shaking her head against his chest, tone uneven. “No, no, I should have never let you walk out that door.”
She looks up again at him and readjusts so she’s looking directly at him. Now more firmly, “I want to be with you. It’s always been you. You’re it for me Conrad.”
“I want to be with you too, Belly.”
“I love you Conrad”
“I love you, too”
Their kiss is soft and trembling, tears mixing against each other’s cheeks. When they finally pull apart, Belly brushes her fingers lightly over the exhaustion across his face.
“You must be exhausted,” she whispers. “When was the last time you slept?”
“Maybe 48 hours ago.” He responds sleepily.
“Come here.” She says as she pulls him into her. “I’ll wake you up when we get to Brussels in about an hour.”
He presses a light kiss on her forehead and slowly relaxes. He dozes off moments later.
She can’t stop looking at this beautiful man who she loved so much for so long. Her fingers drift softly through his hair. It’s darker than it was last summer. He looks older. Tired from carrying too much alone for too long.
Beautiful.
And now hers again.
An hour later, the train comes to a slow halt at Brussels-Midi station.
Conrad wakes blinking against the morning light. Belly gives him a shy smile the second his eyes meet hers. He kisses her immediately. The kiss is brief, instinctive. Like he can’t believe this isn’t a dream.
Then he grabs her hand and Belly feels it instantly - the electric shock running through her veins. They make their way out of the station toward the hotel he booked for the conference a few blocks away.
By the time they check in, exhaustion starts to settle into both of them, physically and mentally.
Then Belly’s stomach growls loudly. She groans. Ugh, why?
“Do you want to grab a quick breakfast before heading to the room?” she asks him.
“Breakfast?” he says lifting an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out on a breakfast date, Isabel Conklin?”
“Yes, Conrad Fisher, would you go on a date with me? I found a café a block away while you were sleeping…we could go then come back later to rest. Only if you want to.” She says shyly shrugging.
“Of course I’d go with you Belly.”
The hotel clerk offers to bring Conrad’s bag up to their room. Belly reaches for Conrad’s hand and gives him a squeeze before making their way back into the quiet Brussels morning. The cobblestone streets glowed with soft golden sunlight as shopkeepers set up their cafés, and flower stands overflowing with buckets of roses, tulips, and peonies spilled onto the sidewalks of the city.
The café is small and tucked in a quiet street. The city is only starting to wake up to start their day, so the café isn’t crowded yet. They slide into a booth across from each other, knees brushing beneath the table. Both of them smile.
And for the first time in what feels like forever, everything feels simple.
A waiter hands them menus.
“I’m getting waffles.” Belly explains as she continues looking at the menu. “You?”
Conrad laughs. “Of course you are.”
“Hey, we’re in Belgium, they’re famous for their waffles here!” she states closing the menu and putting it down on the table.
He orders an omelette, potatoes and black coffee. Belly orders the Belgian waffles and a café latte. They’re both starving - for food and each other - but neither of them rushes the moment.
He looks over at the counter, “I’ll be right back – restroom.”
Belly nods. “Ok.”
He makes his way to the waiter quietly. “Hey,” he says, “Can you please make the waffles into the shape of Mickey Mouse…and maybe add a candle?” He shows the waiter a photo on his phone.
The waiter looks up at Conrad.
“Of course, monsieur.”
“Thank you.” He nods politely.
When Conrad returns to the table, Belly doesn’t suspect anything. Conversation flows as she moves her hand towards his on the table intertwining their fingers.
“How long is your conference?” she asks.
“Today’s opening remarks and welcome drinks. Starts at 3pm, should end by 5pm. Tuesday and Wednesday are full days and Thursday only half day.” He explains.
“I can stay until Thursday morning with you. Only if you want me to.” She says carefully.
“Belly, no. You probably have plans for your birthday. I don’t want to ruin that.”
She shrugs. “I took a few days off from work to relax and explore some new parts of Paris. My next shift isn’t until Friday afternoon. But I want to be here with you.”
Her voice softens.
“Can I spend my birthday week with you, Conrad?”
His entire face brightens. “Only if you’re sure. I won’t take offense if you want to go home, Belly. I’ll really only be able to see you in the evenings after the conference ends each day.”
“I want to be here, with you, Conrad.”
“Ok.”
She grins “Ok. Then it’s settled.”
The food arrives a minute later. His omelette. Her waffles. Both their beverages.
She stares at him. The stack of waffles are shaped like Mickey Mouse with a single pink candle on top between the mixture of berries. The waiter leaves a small box of matches on the table before walking away.
“…you did this.” She says softly looking up at him.
Conrad strikes a match and lights the single pink candle. He shrugs, holding the plate up to her. “It’s officially your birthday. Happy Birthday, make a wish.”
She looks at him eyes wide, smile even wider. She looks down at the flickering candle between them and looks back up at him again. At the boy who remembered. The boy who always remembered.
Slowly closing her eyes, she makes her wish.
Please… let him say yes.
She blows out the candle and opens her eyes again, smiling directly at him.
“Did you make one?”
She nods.
Before she can think too much, she goes for it and blurts out the question.
“Conrad… will you be my boyfriend?”
The question hangs. Conrad blinks once, then twice, not expecting that at all. He reaches over and gives her hand a quick squeeze.
“Belly,” he starts with a hinting smile, “I thought that was implied.”
“What?” She frowns slightly.
“We said ‘I love you’ two hours ago on a moving train,” he says gently. “I kind of assumed we weren’t doing this casually.”
She stares at him.
“…So that’s a yes?”
He laughs quietly.
“Yes, Belly, I’ll be your boyfriend.”
“OK.” she breathes. Her chest relaxing.
Conrad tilts his head slightly. “OK?”
“OK. I just wanted to be clear.” She reaches for his hand again and intertwining their fingers.
“What did you wish for?” he asks.
A small smile pulls at her lips.
“Can’t tell you, but it came true.”
He smiles and huffs a gentle laugh, shaking his head.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
She nods.
Belly cuts into her waffles and immediately takes a bite. “Mmmm, God, these are the best waffles I’ve ever had.” She smiles to herself as she cuts another slice.
A dusting of powdered sugar clings to the corner of her mouth. Conrad notices immediately. He leans forward brushing it away gently with his thumb.
She stills at his touch.
“Thank you.” She says shyly.
He lingers for a moment longer than necessary, then he leans in across the table. The kiss is soft and not rushed. Like they’re still getting used to doing this now that they’re allowed. When he pulls back, Belly smiles a little less breathless.
She cuts off another slice of waffles and holds it out to him.
“Try it.”
He raises an eyebrow and leans forward to take the bite.
“Huh.”
“What?” she asks.
“I was expecting it to be much sweeter but it’s not. It’s just the right amount of sweetness.”
She nods. “I know. My sweet tooth has toned down a bit. They don’t go crazy with sugar as they do back home.”
“You’ve changed,” he tells her.
“In a more sophisticated, classy, European way?” she jokes.
A second later, she reaches over without asking and steals a few potatoes off his plate.
He looks down at the empty spot.
Then at her.
“You have your own food.”
“They taste better on your plate,” she says as she chews the potato.
“That’s not how food works.”
“It is now.”
He shakes his head, but he’s smiling.
When the check comes, Conrad reaches for it immediately but Belly is faster.
She grabs it before he can.
“I’ve got it,” she says.
Conrad frowns. “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s your birthday.”
“Exactly,” she says. “My birthday, my rules.”
He leans back laughing, clearly not thrilled.
“You’re not paying,” he says.
Belly meets his gaze. “I am.”
“Consider it my first official girlfriend move,” she adds.
That stops him. Girlfriend. He can’t believe he can call Belly his girlfriend again. But he can’t help but torment her for a second more.
“Oh, so now you’re my official girlfriend? Hmm, Belly?” he teases.
She panics, “Well if you’re my boyfriend. I thought…”
“Will you be my girlfriend, Isabel Conklin?” he interrupts her in a more serious tone.
“Yes, Conrad, I will accept your girlfriend proposal.” She replies rolling her eyes at him.
“Fine, you can get breakfast,” he says. “But I’m not letting that happen again today.”
Belly smiles. “We’ll see.”
He shakes his head.
“No,” he says. “We won’t.”
“I’m taking you out tonight.”
Belly pauses, eyes lighting up slightly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he says. “Proper birthday date. Dinner tonight. My turn to take my girlfriend out.”
She leans back in her seat, smiling in that soft, pleased way she gets when she’s trying not to show how much something means to her.
“Okay,” she says.
A pause.
“I’ll allow it.”
Conrad laughs under his breath.
“Good,” he says. “And thank you for breakfast.”