Lawrence couldn't be happier to have Holo at his side after everything they'd been through. He loved her, and knew she loved him in return but still wasn't sure when, if ever, she'd accept him. No, he told himself, she was just holding back that kiss to spite him for running off to the the forge that afternoon. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and knew he'd have to state it explicitly at some point. Just like Holo had to spell out that she loved him, he'd have to tell her how much deeper his feelings grew, even if he knew she already knew.

In the days that followed celebrations were had throughout the town, and one night before heading out to one of them, Lawrence still injured and in bed, spoke to Holo.

"Holo," he softly looked at her and smiled, "finding you in my wagon was the best thing that ever happened to me."

She sat on the bed next to him, "Have you had too many already? You state the obvious." Her tail wagged as she smiled. But her facial expression changed when she saw how serious he was despite his blushing.

"I didn't know how to enjoy life or my money before I met you..." as he spoke, he looked directly into her eyes, "I never realized how lonely I was until one day I wasn't alone anymore. I know you know what that feels like and I don't want you to ever feel lonely again. You're the only one I want to travel with."

She was taken by surprise at this. He was struggling to maintain his composure but it was so rare for him to ever be this direct. Then he took her hands in his.

"I know my lifespan is mere seconds in your eyes, but I'll gladly devote all that's left of it to you," then with one hand he reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and placed it in her hand, "If you'll let me."

She gave him a puzzled look. Then he explained,

"It's customary for a man to give a ring to the woman he'd like to marry, so she'll have something to sell if he runs off. I figured I could do one better," he placed her other hand on his wallet.

"You..." he wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or angry right now, "Were you a proper male you would not-"

"find this acceptable?" he finished her sentence as he cut her off, "No," he smiled and reached into his pocket again, "I figured you'd like something prettier than that, even if what you hold is the best insurance a merchant could ever give anyone." He opened his hand and revealed a small gold ring. "I had it cast yesterday." He held her hands again, "Holo, will you-"

She was fighting back tears, "Fool, why must you be so soft-hearted?"

"marry me?"

Now she wasn't fighting the tears back anymore, and looked away, "I do not know..."

His heart sank, she had said she accepted their difference in life spans. She knew she would outlive him and had accepted that. Had he really not done enough to prove himself? Then Holo spoke again,

"I do not know if I can conceive." She fell into his arms, "That bird had no children in her marriage, that half bear had no siblings. He was not able to have children of his own with his wife. We may never have children, and even if we are so lucky to have one we will never be grandparents," she shook as she cried, "I know you also want children-"

Lawrence held her tightly, and wore a sad smile and he told her, "It will be fine," he stroked the back of her head, "having you is all I need to be happy, children or no children." It was true, he wanted children, perhaps almost as badly as she did, but not at the expense of having them with anyone else. If Holo was all he could have, he'd be more than happy.

She pulled away and looked back at him, he was smiling now,

"Besides, we can always adopt Cole or a foundling that's to our liking if we absolutely must."

"Why... must you be so good natured?"

"Even if that's not to your liking and I can't give you any children, I promise to haunt you once I've passed. I won't let you be lonely again," he said that jokingly, but she knew he really meant it, "Please marry me Holo."

Her tears stopped "... Aye," she was smiling now too. She gave him her hand and he slid the ring on her finger.

"Does it fit well?"

She played with it a little as she responded, "perfectly."

He held her once more and kissed her forehead.

"I intend to hold you to that promise, you know," she poked his chest, "the one about you haunting me."

He nervously smiled. Yes, he would gladly do so if he was capable, but he wasn't even sure of that. Just how was she supposed to hold him to it if he were dead? She answered before he could even ask.

"Else I shall blindly squander your estate as soon as you have gone!" she laughed as her tail happily swished back and forth. He laughed kissed her on the forehead again.

"I love you Holo,"

"And I you,"

Her face moved closer to his, their eyes closed, and their lips finally met.

A/N: That's it for the first part. I apologize if it was horribly cheesy and cliche. Feel free to be brutally honest in any reviews. More is coming, I'm not sure how much more, and I'm not sure if the rating will get bumped up to M or not. But there will be at least 1 or 2 more chapters.