He sat in anticipation. Waiting. Wondering. Hoping. Watching. His companion oblivious to his observation. Her long feet nestled next to his thigh on his chair. He, sitting slightly hunched over with his elbows on his knees, hands clasped, fingers interlaced, waiting, wondering, hoping.

They'd been living together for three months, sleeping together for six, and had loved each other from afar for so much longer than that. They had danced around each other for eight years, never finding fulfilment with the other until one fateful night in November. It had changed his life forever. The unobtainable, elusive, graceful political nymph was finally within his reach. He'd answered his door, offered her his hand, and she'd taken it, and entrenched her claim of his heart.

The inferno released between them that night had lead him here to today, this moment, now.

They sat out on the patio, enjoying the warm California sun. The breeze caught the loose tendrils of her hair, entrancing her companion with their spontaneous dance. Caught on the breeze, the dark strands intertwined with the light strands, ebbing, flowing, to and fro, mimicking the delicate dance that he and the owner of these wispy dancers had performed for years.

Engrossed in her book, she took a sip of wine from her glass. Oh, how he ached to be a drop of wine, caressing her lips. Her tongue darting to keep a wayward droplet from dribbling down her chin. She returned the wine glass to the table with a quiet clank. Her had moved to the bowl of goldfish crackers, he held his breath in anticipation. Her nimble fingers plucked a few goldfish from the bowl, and brought them to her mouth. He exhaled.

He watched her chin, up, down, up, down, up, down. A slow, steady pace. The muscles of her throat created a wave down her elegant neck. God, everything she did was elegant. Her lips parted slightly as her hand reached for a few more golden crackers. Her tongue peeked out from behind her captive lips. He watched as the next victims of the enchantress's mouth were sent to their death.

Her had reached again for her cheddar nourishment. Nimble fingers reaching blindly into the bowl of golden treasures. His goal obtained, his eyes looked to hers for recognition. For the first time, her eyes leapt from the white wash pages filled with black marks. Words left unread, abandoned to discern the unfamiliar texture her lithe digits had descended upon.

There, nestled among the dozens of tiny, golden, cheddar fish was a different gold. Her hand recoiled slightly in recognition. Startled of what this treasure might mean. Confusion, hope, nervousness, anticipation, love. She looked to her companion. His blue eyes shining, asking his unvoiced question.

His right hand abandoned his left, reaching and grasping for the treasure he had planted not long ago. His thumb and finger plucking the delicate ring from its golden bed. The sun's warm rays caught the stone's radiant cut, sending a blinding light off in multiple directions. His knee touching the ground, he grasped at his amulet of hope. Taking her hand in his, her willowy fingers enclosed in his solid grasp.

"Danny?" a whispered question of tomorrow, forever, together.