I don't want peace.
I want late nights and
Dark rings, action and
Bright lights, love and
Heartbreak and feeling
And pain. I want you.
I want to breathe in life.
And breathe out poetry.
David Jones, Love and Space Dust
Chapter 1
His hand rests on mine on top of the dinner table, in public for all of them to see. He gives my hand a small squeeze and runs his other hand through his short black hair. His dark eyes move to his pocket and I give him a small nod, turning my attention to the meal in front of me. He moves from his seat to stand and clears his throat, claiming his family's attention.
"Mother, father…" He begins, nodding to each of them. "I have a question I would like to ask someone who's very special to me. And I would like to do it in the presence of my loyal family." His parents exchange a glance and his father sits back, squaring his stern shoulders. My hand is grabbed once again and I turn to see him looking at me.
"Lena, will you stand with me?" I widen my eyes and glance between him and his parents before moving to my feet.
"I know we haven't known each other for very long... but those four months have felt like a lifetime. I feel that you will not be surprised when I tell you I've loved you since I first met you. And I can tell you feel the same for me too. So I guess all that's left for me to ask is…" He looks to his parents once more, before moving to one knee and reaching a hand into his pocket. From it, he withdraws a small black box and when he opens it he asks,
"Lena Flitwick, will you marry me?" Sitting in the box is a very expensive-looking engagement ring. I hear his mother gasp and my eyes fill with tears as I move my hands to my mouth. I gasp and give my best surprised expression. Behind his head I can see Felix move to his feet, an angry look on his face.
"Yes, Li! Of course I will!" I squeal, moving my hands to his. He smiles brightly and slides the ring on my finger before standing and holding his arms out for me. I run into them and hug him tightly, allowing the tears to roll down my cheeks. We break apart as his mother stands, a stern look on her face. I give her my best doe-eyed expression.
"Mrs Gao-" I begin but am cut off as she raises a hand. I'm instantly reminded of Cassiopeia. She says something in Chinese to Li and I blink at him. He responds to her in the same language and I struggle to pick up on the few words I recognise. He then adds,
"Mother, please try to speak English for Lena. She doesn't understand you." He bows his head to her slightly.
"Are Miss Flitwick's parents agreeable to this?" She asks in a heavy accent.
"Mother, remember they're-" Li begins.
"They've passed." I say, keeping my innocent expression. Li and his mother converse for a moment before his mother places one hand on my cheek and her other on Li's.
"If you're happy, my son- then so am I." She says. Li's father walks to his side and Li looks at him expectantly. My hand is on his shoulder and I feel him tense up beneath my palm. I find I'm also drawing a breath for him. His father looks at him with a stern look and I can see his mind hard at work. His father glances over me for a moment before the corners of his mouth eventually turn up. He gives his son a pat on the back and laughs, Li's tension fades away as he joins his father in smiling.
"Beautiful Lena," His father begins. "Would you mind if I stole your fiancé away for a father-son celebration?" His tone implies he's giving me a choice but as I'm used to with his father, there is none. "We may even discuss some business." His father finishes. Li nods to his father before looking at me; for the first time tonight there is genuine excitement in his eyes. I smile to them and nod once more; I find his father prefers it when I don't say much more than I have to.
"I'll meet you later in the evening, darling. We can discuss wedding plans." I don't even finish my sentence before Felix is at my side, itching to drag me away from this. I say good night to the three and walk by Felix's side in the direction of the Li's bedroom in the Gao family estate. Once we're out of earshot Felix begins talking.
"What the hell was that?" He stares straight ahead of him as he asks.
"I couldn't tell you, we needed everyone to seem surprised." I reply.
"It's one thing to imply that you're getting engaged, It's a whole other to announce it in front of his family."
"Felix, it had to be done. His father wasn't buying the whole 'in love' act, we had to seal it with a ring." I bring my left hand in front of me to observe the engagement ring. "And a pretty one at that. This will be hard to part with." I smile to it as we walk and look over at Felix, who's still moping.
"Oh will you cheer up? You know none of it is real."
"It's real to him. You should see the way he looks at you."
"I've seen it and it's completely without feeling. You know how I know?" We stop walking, we're out the front of the bedroom door.
"How?" He asks, slightly uninterested.
"Because it's not at all similar to the look you give me." I raise an eyebrow, folding my arms. Felix looks to the floor.
"Call Laura. You deserve the love of someone who's single."
"I wish you would stop saying that, Lena, I don't love you."
"Is that right?" I raise an eyebrow.
"You're not my type. A go for the sexy hunter who knows where to kick a man. The kind of girl I fell for in Neverland."
"So if I'm not that girl then who am I?" I lean back against the door, placing my hand on the door knob.
"You're a princess." He says the word with distaste and I stand up straight, narrowing my eyes.
"So what? That's not a bad thing." I cross my arms again.
"Believe me, it is." He shakes his head, taking a few steps away from me.
"Whatever. It's your night off, where is William?" I ask, looking up and down the corridor.
"Probably out drunk at some bar. I'll find him." He ruffles his hair.
"Good night." I nod to him. He nods back before walking off and I push the door open to the room. When I walk in my eyes are first drawn to the new bouquet of bright blue tulips on the vanity. I approach the flowers and grab the card attached to them. I smile so wide it nearly hurts and my heart flickers as I read it.
'-Forever yours' It reads. I run the back of my hands gently along the tulip's outer petal and hear the door open and close behind me. Li sighs as he sees the flowers.
"Your lover really has to stop sending those." He says as he slides off his jacket.
"He never includes his name- if someone saw it they would just assume you sent it. It's fine." I pick up the bouquet and walk with it to the bedside table.
"How was your meeting with your father?" I ask as I place it down.
"Great. I was right, too- the engagement really reassured him that we're serious." He replies.
"Mhm. But isn't this going to break your mother's heart when this whole thing is over?"
"By the time this is all over I'll have gotten her a nice place with a lake and a garden and she'll be so happy that I've taken over the family business that she won't mind if I wait a bit longer to get married."
"Right." I walk over to the room divider and slip into some comfortable pyjamas.
"By the way- your William friend was hitting on my cousin again today. You need to tell him to rein it in." Li says, after having dressed in black pyjama pants. He goes without a top as he climbs onto the king bed. He's got very little chest hair for someone in their mid-twenties, and he's quite attractive.
"Believe me, I've tried. I swear he's not usually like this- he's just taken to drinking a lot lately and he refuses to explain to me his reasoning for it. I suppose I can call my aunt." I sigh, walking over to Li's wardrobe and retrieving one of his cotton shirts. I walk over to the bed and toss it over to him. He picks it up and raises an eyebrow at me.
"What's this?"
"It's a shirt, put it on." I climb into the opposite side of the bed and smile at my tulips once more.
"Why?" He asks.
"Because sleeping in the same bed was your idea and sometimes you hug me in your sleep."
"You're the one with the Veela pheromones, I'm only human." He shrugs, placing on his reading glasses and grabbing some of his work files.
"Step lying to me, Li." I roll my eyes at him and he smirks at me.
"Speaking of..." I turn to face him. "Any luck with your connections?"
"You know I'll tell you when I hear something new. It'd be more encouraging if you told me why I'm finding out where the witch covens of the world reside."
"The gratitude of your beloved fiancé isn't enough encouragement?" The pillow my head is resting on is soft and pleasant and my eyes are beginning to droop; Li chuckles.
"You're adorable."
"Don't call me that I may be a queen one day."
"And by then I'll be the one calling in these kind of favours from you, but for now you're still a teenager who's very interested in my grandmother's friends but won't give me an explanation."
"I'm eighteen, actually. And I'm only interested in the ones who were like her- the witches." I roll over on my other side and close my eyes. "We can continue this discussion tomorrow. Good night." I add.
"Sweet dreams, wifey." I hear his pen scratching on the paper in his lap and suddenly my phone buzzes on the night stand. I retrieve it and smile at the text I've received.
'Did you get my flowers?' The text reads.
'Haven't heard from you in a month, thought you'd disappeared. How did you know my favourite colour?' I reply.
"Tell your boyfriend I said 'hi'." Li says, not taking his eyes off his paper work. My phone buzzes.
'It was instinct. I miss you.' Peter responds.
'I miss you too.'- I pause before decided if I should add my latest surprise news. Ironically the diamond shine of my engagement ring catches my eye. -'Can you call me?.' I hit send.
'Can't. I'm incognito currently. Long story.' He responds. I bite my lip, remembering our last conversation.
'Is Laura still hanging around you?' I ask.
'She's still helping me, yes. Can't respond any more, sorry.' He texts. I sigh, placing the phone back on the table.
"Trouble in paradise?" Li asks. I roll back over to face Li and nod.
"I've never been jealous before. It sucks." I pout my lips.
"Is there another woman?" He asks, still not taking his eyes off his work.
"Just an annoying little blonde who hates me. I wouldn't put it past her to try something." I respond.
"Well you trust him don't you? Has he ever cheated on you?" I think back to the image of him and Emmeline intertwined on her bed and have to rub it out of my eyes.
"Sort of. Not really, no. But also-" I shake my head. "I don't know" I add.
"Doesn't sound like there's a lot of trust." He shrugs, finally moving his eyes off his work and to me.
"Our love is worth it." I pout my lips as I look up at him. He rolls his eyes.
"You sound really girly right now." He chuckles slightly.
"Shut up, no I don't. What I mean is that what we have is different to a regular relationship. We've been through a lot. No matter what happens we'll get through it..." I close my eyes, and pull my blanket over my shoulders. I think about this and add, "I mean, there's nothing that can break love, right?" Li remains silent for a moment before he responds.
"People change. They can always change their mind." He says eventually.
Author's Note: New series is here! Taking a new approach in the creation of this one so about 80% of the planning is already set out and I've left plenty of room for change. Haven't decided on a title yet but that, as well as the next chapter, may be a short wait while I tackle exam week. Happy reading!
