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Bells Of Ballintoy

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7

Eilidh sat there, staring at the sea, and the hills around her, and thought how blessed she was to be living here, and at the moment, the company of other people who she was able to talk with, was amazing, she was glad that she met Mark, and amazed how the other girls seeking her out for advice on their love life, and how long had she known them all, was it really only one day. She shuddered at the remark she made yesterday, a lot can happen in one day.

She went inside and upstairs, where she found Mark sleeping on the couch, so peacefully.

She grabbed a blanket and put it over him, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Mmmm, what was that for?" a sleepy voice said.
"Did I wake you? I didn't mean to!" Eilidh said.
"So, what time is it?"
"Just about 4 o'clock!"
"So what time are we eating dinner?"
"Dinner will be at 6pm, and you two are not permitted to be downstairs until called for. We're all doing Dinner tonight, as a thank you for your generous hospitability and worldly advice!" Kian said, dashing downstairs.
"What was that all about?" Mark said.
"I guess we'll find out in a few hours!" Eilidh said.
"So what have you been up to this afternoon?" 
"I've been talking with the girls and solving their problems."
"Gee, you've been busy, and do you think that it worked?"
"God, I hope so. The guys don't know how lucky they are to have such caring partners, all the guys do. I didn't really think that I'd be accepted by the others, but I think today has really shown that they like me, they really like me."
"Eilidh, I knew that they would!"
"This is nice, just the two of us, not a care in the world!" Mark said.
"It is, I think it's so nice to be able to spend time with the one you love." Eilidh said, lying in mark's arms.
"You know, it's been a really long day and I'm probably going to head to bed early tonight!"
"Yeah, it has, but in a way a lot has happened."
"True and I've not really thought much about the bells of Ballintoy today, obviously I don't need the bells to tell me who I'm destined with."
"Yeah, I didn't mean to lie to you, but I felt as though you were going to ditch me for Nicky."
 "Mark, I would never do that!"
"I know how you were so fixated about the legend, and I could see it in your eyes when the bells tolled. I knew that you'd be thinking that you weren't destined with me, as the bells never tolled when we both walked past. So I had to lie, to see how you'd react. That's why I kind of lost it last night, as I felt you didn't love me any more."

"DINNNNEEERRR"

Mark and Eilidh walked downstairs.

The Patio doors were opened, revealing a candle lit deck, and a feast fit for a king.
The sound of an approaching thunder storm didn't really help, though the table managed to be brought inside before the rain hit.
"Well, that's a slight turn-up for the books." Bryan said, closing the doors tightly.
"He he, the thought of dining on the deck was very nice, but I don't think it would have been nice in the rain, or thunder to be more precise. " Eilidh said.

The thunderstorm came closer, and the flashes of lightning lit the room, and then the power went off.
"Glad we've got candles so we're not actually in the dark, totally." Mark said, smiling.
"I was going to wait, but this is a perfect moment to say what I need to say. Mark and Eilidh, I think I speak for all, in saying thank you for inviting us all up here. To Eilidh, we're all thankful for you being Mark's girlfriend. We didn't really think that he would ever find the right one to settle down, but you seem to be the one for him. To Mark, when you invited us all up, me and the lads were a little scared that you might just throw your hat in, and leave the band. But I think in the time we've all been together, I've felt the bond is growing stronger, and we need to hit the studio and finish album # 6. This may be our last album as a group, so we should try and make it the best we've ever done. So I think we should toast to the new album, and the ten of us for being long-lasting friends, always and forever." Bryan said.
"To us all and the album!!" 
"I was a little worried, when Mark suggested that you all come up, because Mark hadn't told you about me, and I didn't know how you would react to me being with Mark. For me, it has been a pleasure to meet you all, and I think you all are amazing people. To the lads, I think you've still got the hunger and the want for the music, and I think your 6th album will be huge, so don't ever think that it's the end, when it may be the start of something beautiful for you all. To the girls, I know it may seem strange to welcome another girl into the fold, but I feel so welcomed by you all, and I wish you all a happy life. God, I'm forgetting someone, someone who I owe this all too. Yep. Mark. You know Mark, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have never been able to say that I've had dinner with the Westlife lads and their partners. It sounds all too weird. So I thank you Mark for being you, and letting me be a part of the Westlife family! To everyone!!" Eilidh said, raising her glass.

8

The rain came down, and the thunderstorm raged on.  Dinner dishes sitting in the sink, waiting to be washed. Mark had gone upstairs and had lit the fire, and had put on the kettles on top of the stove for hot chocolate.

"Everyone upstairs," said Mark.

Eilidh walked upstairs, to find the fire lit, and the smell of hot chocolate simmering away on the fire top.

"Wow, so cosy, and smell of hot chocolate gives it a wintry feel." Gillian said, sitting down on one of the couches.
"This is exactly why I like living here, in this house. It's so versatile in any season. It's cool in summer, and warm in winter. I've always said that home would be in Sligo, but Ballintoy has to be a second home, I know it's not much, but with Belfast only 2 hours away, its sure feels right." Mark said, pouring the hot chocolates, and adding marshmallows.

Everyone sat there chatting away, drinking hot chocolate.  Soon it was midnight and everyone felt as though it was time for bed.

The next morning, the sun was out, and there were no clouds in the sky.

"Morning, Eilidh!" Mark said, rubbing his eyes.
"Morning, and isn't a beautiful morning!"
"I think we'd better get up and start breakfast, if those downstairs want to get a good feed before they go back to Dublin."
"Yeah, is it Sunday already?"
"It is. Right I'll race you down."
"Mark, I do think you'd better get some clothes on."
"Oh, yeah, good idea."

Mark and Eilidh raced each other down the stairs, nearly colliding with Nicky and Georgina coming out of their room.

"Sorry!"
"Jaysus, Mark, what are you in a hurry for? Don't you know that Breakfast isn't ready yet?"
"We were on our way to make it."
"Nah, Shane and Gill are there already, making breakfast."

Mark walked into the kitchen.

"Morning all." Shane said, seeing who was there.
"Shane, I can't believe you're already up and cooking breakfast."
"I couldn't help myself, and well, you do know I do the best fry-ups."
"Yep. Is there anything we can do?"
"Nope, if you'd like to sit down, or get the other lads!!"

Soon everyone was tucking into breakfast, and it was great to be in such wonderful company.

"You wouldn't think that we had rain last night, with the sun shining so brightly."
"I think we'll head off at noon, giving us plenty of daylight to get back to Dublin." Bryan said.
"Sure, if everyone hurries up with breakfast, I would actually like to take you somewhere before you travel home" Eilidh said, winking at Mark.
Mark drove them in Bryan's people mover, to the cliffs. 

"Mark, where are we going?"
"You'll see!"
"I don't see anything!"

Rounding the final bend of the road, they came into view of a small group of people, standing there.
"Eilidh, you made it!"
"Sorry, I had to bring a few other people with me, who couldn't miss out on this."
"It's my great pleasure to name this point as Westlife Point. It wasn't a hard decision but we needed a name, that was special, and the fact that we had a member of Westlife living in the village, kind of proved that we needed to thank Westlife for putting Ireland on the map, not just Westlife but all the other Irish musicians who have made it around the world, so in honour of the artist, every point from here to the borders each side will be named. So here's to Westlife, may they never give up the fact that they're Irish, and that Ireland loves them."
"Wait one minute; you're naming all the points along the coasts after music artists. I won't stand for it." Maud Feather protested.
"Maud Feather, you don't even live in Ballintoy, you only come here at the weekends, and when you're here you're always moaning, so the people of Ballintoy don't
wish to see you here again, and if I had the high authorisation to bar you and your husband from all the pubs in the village, I would!"
"On behalf of Westlife, and the other musicians named, I am deeply honoured that you have done this. Its seems like a grand honour to have a part of Ireland named after us. So we'd like to thank everyone for giving this gift to Ireland, and may there always be Irish music, whether it's pop, rock or traditional in every house, in every street, in every town, in every city, and in every county in Ireland." Bryan said, feeling pretty proud.
"To Ireland"
"TO IRELAND"

Mark stood there, staring at the plaque, and he embraced Eilidh into a hug.
"I actually didn't know that this was in the works, I thought it was something else." Mark said.
"I did, but I wasn't allowed to tell you," Eilidh said.
"You know this might be a good time to ask what I need to ask." Mark said, dropping to one knee.
"Mark!!!!!!!!" 
"Eilidh, will you do me the honour of marrying me?" Mark said, pulling out a ring box.
"Mark," Eilidh said, breathing. "Yes I would love to!"
"WOOOOHOOOO!! GO MARK!!!" Bryan and the other lads said.
"Eilidh, I know it's only been a few months, but the love I have for you, is real. I don't want some high-classed girl, who wants me for the fame, nor do I want a celebrity, all I want is you!"
"Mark, you know what, all I could ever want is you as well, from the moment we firstly actually met, all those months ago. I felt something different, I felt as though you and I were meant for each other.  I truly still believe this, even to this day!"