(This takes place after the "No Girls Allowed" RR )



A tired Emma Barclay struggled to get the key in the lock of her London apartment.  Her overfull briefcase was slung over her right shoulder and under her left arm she carried the remainder of the briefs she planned to work on that night.

Finally she got the door opened and walked into her hallway.  Dropping her paperwork onto the hall table she unhooked the leather strap of her case and let it fall onto the floor. Taking off her coat she saw the flashing light of her answering machine telling her she had two messages.

Clicking the machine into life she heard the monotone recorded voice. "You have two new messages, first message received today at 1630."  It was her mother reminding her that her cousin's birthday was the following week and she should remember to buy a card. Making a mental note to call her parents later that evening she fast forwarded to the next message. Her stomach lurched as she heard the familiar voice.

 "G'day love. It's me. I just wanted to let you know that I was okay and I'm behaving myself, really. I'll explain later. I love you, Emma. Goodbye for now."

Jason, damn it all, she hadn't spoken to him for days and she they had missed each other again. The distance between them was always an issue; they were after all on opposite sides of the world.  For a few moments she let herself dream of what it would be like to feel his arms around her again, to savour his smell and the feel of his lips on hers.

Leaving her coat and case on the floor she walked into her bedroom and opened the top draw of her tallboy. She took out the envelope and smiled. Her tickets had arrived the day before, she was going to Australia in four days, and suddenly working late into the night to clear her case load didn't seem so bad.    


Meanwhile:

Jason couldn't stay at Jack and B's house forever, especially now that Emma was on her way. Yes he could have gone back to Sydney to be with her but he wanted to stay by his family now. Bridgid was at the Glen with Jack and they were the only branch of the family he was comfortable with.

He was older now and he saw the value of it all, of having those who loved him close by. Bringing Emma to the Glen was the final line in his plan....... He could only hope she loved this place as much as he did.

As the few days passed that he had left before her arrival, he searched and hunted for a place for them. He wanted a house but he found nothing that suited him. Building would be the only answer however this would take some time. Jason settled on a two bedroom bungalow he found on Cal and Colleen's property. With Emma's touch and a few dollars of fix up dosh it would be pretty nice.

He paid the deposit and started to work on the place, hoping it would be done by the time she arrived. No such luck. There was one day and counting before he had to go to Sydney to pick her up and he was dog tired.

At least the master bedroom was done.

Later:



She was seven hours into her flight and try as she might she couldn't sleep. Leaving her parents at Heathrow had been harder than she had expected even though she had given them tickets to come and see her in two months time. 

Her farewell party from work had been hard too. So many cards and presents, so many good wishes along with the collective view that she had definitely landed on her feet bagging a man like Jason Morgan.  Rich, good-looking, mad about her...  Truth be told she couldn't have cared less how much money he had, the way he looked was indeed an added bonus and time would tell when they were living together if he remained mad about her.

Emma had always been fiercely independent and she would remain that way.  She would work and earn her own money exactly as she always done.

Sighing she accepted a drink from a member of the cabin crew. Maybe a Jack Daniel's and coke would let her close her eyes and sleep. She didn't want to look like death warmed up when she landed in Sydney.     

Later:

The day arrived and for the first time in what seemed like yonks, Jason Morgan was nervous. He hated being apart from her but he knew how important her work was for her too. She was giving it all up to start a new life with him and he knew at that point she was finally seeing that it was time they settle down together. Jason had been ready but she balked until now. It made him feel a bit strange but it was a good strange. He knew now that she loved him more than words could say.

He stood anxiously waiting outside the baggage claim for her. Pacing back and forth, he lit a smoke and inhaled it deeply. His Emma would be there any moment.

His back was turned but she knew it was him.  Tapping him on the shoulder she smiled. "Hey you, if she doesn't turn up will I do?"

"Emma," he said under his breath. Throwing his arms around her he lifted her up and turned her around several times. If she were not dizzy before from jet lag she'd have to be now.

"I have missed you so much that it was painful," he admitted as he set her down. Breathless or not he kissed her soundly and it nearly made his heart stop.

All her worries left her as she felt his heart beat against hers. "I can't believe I'm here, finally," she said as he let her go.  "I've missed you to darling you'll never know how much."

As they stood in the middle of a busy airport the only person she could see was him, no one else mattered. Australia was not her country but she felt like she was home, home was now with Jason.

"Come on, I've got a car waiting, and I have a surprise for you, a couple of surprises."

Taking her hand, he motioned for the driver to fetch the trolley with her bags. Jason helped her into the limo then he slid in behind her. Before he said another word he took advantage of the privacy of the big car to kiss her again, this time more suggestively.

"There are quite a few things that I've missed about you, love," he stated in that husky dark voice of his. Not the least of being the feel of you, of your touch."

He could have made love to her right then and there but the driver slid into the limo and the divider was open.

After a short exchange with the man they were on their way to the first of her surprises. "I thought it would be best that we stayed in Sydney tonight. It's a long drive to Coffs and I have arranged a private jet to bring us to there in the morning. Emma, I haven't told you how much I love you yet and I thought this might just say it."

Reaching into his coat pocket he produced a small aqua blue box. "It is what you think it is, love. I think its about time."

Her heart lurched into her mouth. She had only just arrived, she was jet lagged, unsure of her future and yet here he was handing her a Tiffany box that either held a pair of earrings or a ring.

She opened the box and the band of platinum encrusted with diamonds caught the light. "If you are asking me to marry you, you'd better get down on one knee Morgan."  

"If you insist," Jason obliged. He cleared his throat and did his best to get down on one knee on the floor of the limo. It was roomy enough its just that he was only slightly below her eye lever.

Taking the ring from the box he reached for her left hand. Jason slid the ring onto her finger, just part way. He looked her right in the eyes and smiled. "Emma Barclay, would you do me the honor of being my wife? Nothing would make me happier. Not even a winning season for the Rabbitoh's"

Tears welled in her eyes before they began their decent down her cheeks. Her throat had a lump in it that she couldn't move and she was sure she was going to be sick. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and bit into her lip. "Yes," she managed, "yes I'll marry you but on one condition."  

The look on his face changed to one of being slightly perplexed. A soft smile followed.

"Anything, Emma. Anything you ask. I would do whatever you desired."

"I want to work," she said quietly, "I know you and your family have money but I want you and them to know that I am not marrying you for that. I love you Jason. It took me a long time to admit it but, you can be scary sometimes you know?"

He was still on one knee. "You can get up now but, you'd better call my dad when we get to the hotel, he likes you but he's old fashioned, ask him for my hand."