Chapter 1

Alex

Alex and Willow were up at the cabin again. It was spring again, and it had been almost three years since the Great Angle Battle at Pawntucket. Alex always knew Willow could make him happy, but he hadn't realized exactly how much until it was almost certain that they would have a long and happy life together. He still couldn't believe that she was his, despite everything they had been through together since they had met. They had been up at the cabin for a month, and were planning to stay for another. It seemed neither of them could get enough of the simple life and peace that the mountains provided. They had been lying just outside of the cabin, watching the sunset as they talked, or sometimes just lying there, content to be in each other's arms in the calming, peaceful silence of the mountains. Willow cuddled in closer to his side for a moment before sitting up. Her hair was back to its usual waist length, and at its natural colour. It had slipped out of its loose ponytail and now hung down her back against her simple white cotton dress. No matter how long they were together, Alex thought to himself as he ran his figures through its silky length, he would never be able to get used how beautiful she was.

But it didn't hurt telling her. "You are so beautiful, you know that?" he asked, rubbing her back. She glanced down at him and smiled, shaking her head in that disbelieving way and running a hand across his chest. "We should get some more fire wood and cook dinner outside," she said, pressing a hand to her stomach. "I'm starving." He laughed and tickled her side. "You're always hungry these days, babe. Is it hard work being up here, doing nothing at all?" She giggled and swatted his hand away from her waist. "Did you just call me fat?" she teased, mock outrage in her voice, and a cheeky pout on her lips.

He simply grinned and launched himself at her, tackling her back down so she was lying under him. He kissed her mouth, slowly, playfully at first, before deepening it. He nibbled at her ear, and his pulse went through the roof when she ran her figures up his back, under his shirt.

He was just about to pick her up and carry her back into the cabin when her stomach gave an almighty growl. He pulled away as he burst out laughing. Willow laughed too as she pushed him off of her, the tips of her ears going red with embarrassment. "Well I told you I was hungry didn't I? And now look. You've got grass stains all over my dress. I actually liked this one." She cheekily stuck her tongue out at him. Alex was still laughing. "Hmm, so did I. Don't worry though; I'll get it off later, stains and all." She laughed again and he winked at her.

After a minute he sighed and stood up. "Come on then, I'll just go inside and get a jumper then come and find you." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before she headed off into the forest that surrounded the cabin. He went inside the cabin. When he grabbed up a jumper from his bag, he dislodged a few things and noticed the small red velvet box tucked inside, right at the bottom of his bag. He picked it up and stroked the smooth top of it gently before opening it. Inside it laid a simple engagement ring. He had bought it when he had gone into town a few days ago. He had gone back down the mountain to the nearest town, using the excuse that he was going in for some last minute supplies. He wanted to propose here, where they had first officially gotten together, all those years ago.

In fact, he was going to do it tonight, right after dinner. The only thing that had been stopping him so far was that Willow had been feeling unwell for the past few days, and he didn't want to do anything too major until when she was at her best, so they could both be completely happy.

If she said yes.

He sighed and tucked it back into his bag, throwing a few clothes on top of it to hide it. When Alex headed back outside, he began to look for Willow around the front part of the cabin. He was just coming round the back of the old building when he heard the faintest of retching noises. His heart sped up along with his footsteps as he followed the sound.

Oh god, what if Willow had been sick again? She had thrown up a couple of days ago, pretty badly, and then again yesterday. After both times she hadn't been able to eat anything other than apples for hours, claiming the smell of anything cooking made her feel worse again, and she had only been able to take small sips of water every now and again. He was really starting to get worried about her and wanted the take her back down the mountain to get her seen to by a doctor, but she insisted that she was fine, and that the mountain air would be good for her. He had reluctantly let the point go.

Now he found her keeled over the stream that ran around one side of the cabin, throwing up into it with horrible, choking noises. He rushed to her side and dropped to his knees beside her, pulling her long hair away from face, telling her that it was going to be all right.

As Alex knelt next to her, rubbing her back, he felt her shaking, despite the warm weather. When she finally sat up, she looked as pale as a sheet and was breathing in short little pants. No, they weren't pants, Alex thought, they were great, gasping sobs as tears grew in her eyes and fell down her face.

Silently, he pulled her into his arms and held her until she could breathe again normally and had stopped shaking. She kept murmuring to him, Willow trying to comfort him, kept telling him that she was going to be all right, that he shouldn't worry. That she was ok.

Eventually he pulled away and took her face in between his hands. "Willow, you are not ok. First thing tomorrow morning we are going down to the nearest hospital and getting you checked out." He could see her gearing up to argue, and he stopped her before she could start. "Seriously, babe, I'm not taking no for an answer. I love you more than anything else in the whole world. I need to know if you are really ok or not. All right?"

She looked into his eyes for an agonizingly long minute before finally nodding. He sighed gratefully and pulled her against him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder, nodding and saying: " Ok, ok, I'll go to the hospital."