Page 31 of Clean Sweep
"She has nothing to thank me for," I replied as the footage moved to our cleaning Erik's kitchen. "He did all the hard work."
The episode continued with his family ribbing him when they showed the storage container footage, and sorting through his mess. It showed me educating him on stain removal for the boys, and discussing the fifteen minute a night rule for cleaning – the one I used so I didn't let mess pile up and waste my weekend.
The footage rolled, showing the final day of filming before I left. It was me talking about my experience and what I hoped for Erik and his twins.
"I hope that he finds a little piece of peace in what I've taught him. It's not easy being a single parent, and I have nothing but love and admiration for him."
The final footage showed me hanging the St Louis jersey I'd had framed in his office before leaving.
"Why don't you do something like that for me?" Suen asked Jemma.
"Because you support the Bruins." She returned, not even offering him a glance.
I sniggered.
"Is that it?" Astrid asked as the screen went dark. She leaned forward, snatching the final handful of popcorn from the bowl.
"No, there's the recap where Laura returns a few weeks later for a visit," Liv replied, rubbing her hands together. "It's always the part where people cry."
I glanced at Erik, raising an eyebrow in question. He shook his head, rolling his eyes.
"Don't get your hopes up."
I laughed, snuggling into his side.
The footage began and I frowned, glancing up at Erik. "This isn't the recap."
"Isn't it?" He asked, giving me a surprised look. "It's what I remember filming."
"Hey, I'm Erik," said the image of Erik on the TV. "And I'm a recovering mess-a-holic."
I laughed delighted.
"Thanks for watching this episode where the Queen of Clean comes in and bails out my dorky daddy butt. Laura, you've changed my life. Completely."
The footage cut to a montage of him and his boys with… me. The images and video were taken from the weeks we'd cleaned his house, and ended with Erik and I kissing on the deck, the morning sun behind us.
"Erik," I whispered looking up.
He grinned but nodded at the screen. "Keep watching, Queenie."
"Just to be perfectly transparent, Laura's moved herself in." Screen Erik said. "And thank god for that because I love her."
There was a photo of us, holding the boys, laughing over hamburgers the night I'd moved in. It cut back to Erik.
"Laura, you may have cleaned out my house, but you've filled my heart." Screen Erik got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?"
I looked up, finding Erik watching me. "Are you serious?"
"Completely." He pulled a ring out of the gap between the sofa seat cushion and arm, holding it up. "Laura Sweep, Queen of Clean, my Queenie. Will you marry me?"
I may have stuttered the word. Or maybe I shouted it. Or maybe I didn't say anything. I couldn't remember. Just like the day we'd first met, my mind went blank and all I could see, taste, smell, feel was him.
Erik. My Erik.
He slid the ring on my finger as he kissed me, tasting just as wonderful today as the first time we'd kissed. Tears of joy ran down my cheeks as his family squealed and leapt about, showering us with congratulations and slowly pulling us apart.
Someone retrieved the twins, and they were passed around, making their way to Erik and I as his mother squished us together for a photo.
