To Say Goodbye

Chapter 17

Maggie's POV

"Tell me again what he said" Mel asked with a dreamy expression.

Mel, Cass, and I are currently in the car driving home. We are only about an hour into our three hour drive and they have been grilling me with questions.

"Again? I've already told you twice!" I chuckle at her.

"Yep, and I'll probably ask you to say it at least three more times before this trip ends!So, get used to telling the story." She exclaimed waving her hands around.

I just smiled thinking back to earlier this morning.

Flashback

"I want you, Maggie. All of you. Completely. Say you'll be mine... Say you're mine... please... be mine." Xander pleaded in a deep almost breathless tone.

I looked into his piercing crystal eyes shocked. Stunned, that's all I could feel. Did he really just say that? Am I dreaming?

Xander chuckled and gave me another award winning smile. "No, my little temptress. You are not dreaming." he winked.

I gulped, still sitting on his lap. "You... You want me?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Me?" I asked again still trying to recover from shock.

"Yes, Maggie. I. Want. You." Xander confirmed emphasizing the last sentence.

"But... why? I mean, I'm nothing special. You deserve a super model or some other beautiful powerful woman by your side. I'm just short, dinky me. Im sure you have a ton of women falling at your feet that are more your type. I'm not even pretty... I don't even wear makeup on a regular basis and I-" my rambling was cut off by Xander putting his pointer over my lips.

"Don't you dare put yourself down like that. Yes, I have women falling at my feet begging to be given a chance with me." I go to agree with him and tell him he should choose one of those more deserving women, but he shushed me and continued. "But none of those women are you, Maggie. You are the first woman in a long time that has turned my head. You are beautiful in an effortless way that I can't even begin to describe. And who cares if you don't wear makeup regularly. You don't need it. You're beautiful with or without it. You are also the first woman I have met that is genuine in every aspect of her life, other than my mother and Mama Rosa of course. There is something pulling me to you, Maggie. I'm willing to see were it leads." Xander finished scanning my face for a reaction.

I could feel tears gathering in my eyes, but they haven't fallen yet. "Y-you really w-want me?" my light voice quivered.

Xander cupped my face and kissed my forehead. With his lips still pressed against my forehead he whispered "Yes, Maggie I want you."

I trembled slightly at the sincerity in his voice. He really did want me. This handsome, amazing man wanted me... Me! Magnolia Shepherd.

I already knew my answer to his earlier plea. I think I have known it for a while. I just brushed it off thinking a man like him would never be interested in a small town shrimp like me. However here he is. Wanting me. Pleading with me. Almost begging me to be his.

So, I did the only thing that made sense. I said the words that I knew to be true in my heart.

"I'm yours, Xander. Entirely." I whispered with a small smile.

Xander's eyes lit up at my words. "Thank you" he breathed. Then his lips met mine in a breathtaking kiss.

We were pulled from our steamy couch make out session by catcalling and slow claps. All of our friends were standing in the entryway of the livingroom, grinning from ear to ear.

How embarrassing!

End Flashback

~~~~~~

Xavier's POV

ring ring ring

"Hello?" I answered my phone without checking the caller name.

"Hi sweetie! How is my baby boy doing?" came my mother's sweet voice.

"Hi mom! I miss you! I'm good, I just had the most incredible weekend." I replied in excitement. I haven't told her about Maggie yet. Or about how Xander took off of work for the first time since... well, ever.

"Awe... I miss you too! I'll be home in a couple months though. It will fly by and then I'll be back to bug you and your brother again. You'll both be begging me to take another trip, hahaha! Although I'm sure your brother has been running you ragged. Maybe you'll be wanting to come for the next trip! So, tell me about your 'incredible' weekend. Does this happen to be because of a girl?" She inquired. I could hear the giddiness in her voice. I can just see her grinning like a mad woman.

Mom has been dreaming of the day that Xander and I would settle down. Mostly she wants grandchildren, but she is excited for possibly adding new daughters to her life full of boys. She once told me the women she envisioned for each of us. Including for Andre and James. They are as much her sons as Xander and I. She was incredibly drunk when she told me in great detail about each woman she foresaw. It was amusing to watch her attempt to describe each woman while using exaggerated hand motions. She fell over from the couch twice that night because her hand motions were throwing her off balance.

However, over the years, I think she gave up on Xander meeting his 'predestined'. She used to help me in every scheme to get him out of the office and socializing. Unfortunately, every failed attempt would take a toll on her heart. She desperately wanted Xander to enjoy life instead of living for the company. She never wanted this for him and I think she blames herself in a way. After, several attempts she quit helping me. She would still encourage me when I would talk to her about a new scheme, but she never got involved.

I can't blame her. If I hadn't met Maggie, I probably would have given up too.

"Yes, actually!" I chuckled. "But she isn't a girl. She is a woman. A short woman, but still." I laughed.

"hmm.... A short woman? I never envisioned that for you." She said skeptically.

"Oh, she is just a friend for me. A good friend. Maybe even a best friend, or more like a sister." I try to explain. I'm not really explaining this well though.

"Okay... So how did this sister best friend make your weekend so incredible?" She asked confused.

"Well, are you sitting down?" I ask cause I know what I say next will be a shock.

"Yes, son, I'm sitting. Now please tell me." I can hear worry in her tone.

I took a deep breath. "She was able to get that workaholic brother of mine to take the weekend off. The Xander King took the weekend off mom... and actually had fun!" I was grinning like a goof.

she was silent for a long while and then I heard her sniffle. Is she crying?!

"Oh my! This is the best news Xavier! How did she manage it? Who is she? What is she like? How the hell did your brother ever meet her in the first place? He never leaves to office!" she asked incredulously while sniffling between sentences.

"Woah, woah, calm down mom. One question at a time." I chuckled. "Her name is Maggie. She is absolutely incredible mom. You'll love her. I met her at the charity ball a few weeks ago for the wheelchair accessible swing, remember? Well, that's where I found her. She was the one who decorated the event and after I met her, I just knew. She was the one. The one to bring Xander back to the land of the living. Long story short, her and I became fast friends and I invited her to spend the weekend in town. She came, and the best part is... she didn't even really DO anything to get Xander to take the weekend off. He just met her, and the rest was history. He took it upon himself to cancel his whole weekend so he could spend time with her while she was in town. Gosh, mom, I wish you could have seen him this weekend. He was smiling, laughing, cracking jokes... It was like old times. Before that witch... before dad... he was himself again." I rambled out.

Mom was silent, then she sniffled again and I heard a soft sob.

"Oh, mom... please don't cry. I didn't want to make you cry, I thought this would make you happy." I cooed trying to calm her.

"T-these are happy tears my boy. I can't believe it! You... you did it. You never gave up! You found her! I can't wait to meet her! Give me all the details of this weekend. I want to know everything! I know it is way too early, as this is still a new relationship... but finally... there is hope." She sobbed again.

"I know mom, and I don't want to jinx it, but I've got a good feeling about her. About them. Seeing them this weekend only solidified my beliefs that she is the one for him. She is perfect. I have no doubt." I stated with a smile fighting back my own tears. I proceeded in telling my mother all about Maggie and Xander. Every detail. She loves the details!

Mom laughed a lot when I told her how Maggie handled a lot of this weekend's situations. Like how Xander mistook her for a prostitute, when he refused to let her dance, or how she ratted the boys out to Mama Rosa. Mom would hum or 'awe' when I would describe the more tender interactions between Xander and Maggie. For instance, when Maggie sated Xander's rage over her bruises by the pool. I could tell that mom was impressed with Maggie.

"So, your telling me that this woman literally saved your life and is now slowly saving the life of my other son figuratively... I already love her." Mom sighed in contentment.