- Love, Peace and Harmony

Looking back into the past...

A few years had passed since Lara and Kurtis had shared that passionate kiss that night on her balcony, where they were celebrating the defeat of Eric Copper and his malicious plans he had not only for Earth but the whole universe in general. Subsequently Lara and Kurtis's relationship grew as time went by and blossomed. Kurtis promised her that he would not disappear unexpectedly out of the blue, not without letting her know first if he was going away for a while. Lara in the meantime took a long deserved break from all the escapades she had undertaken over the decade. Though it was only a year or two until the call of adventuring beckoned back to her.

It was on that day in December when Lara's world began to change for her. A soft blowing wind rustled the few trees in the gardens of her home. The time was nine o'clock in the morning, and Lara slowly awoke from her slumber. The comfort of her own bed was so irresistible that if it had not been the sound of Winston coming in, she would've fallen straight back to sleep. Lara rubbed her weary eyes as he came round with a tray of her breakfast along with today's newspaper. She turned to her side only to find out that Kurtis wasn't there.

"Good morning Lara, and how are you this morning?" Winston cheerfully greeted her as he placed the tray by her bedside.

"I'm okay thank you Winston, and a very good morning to you too, are you okay?" Lara asked one of her best and personal friends.

"Yes thank you Lara, a bit cold but I suppose it is the season for it. I got you one of your favourite meals, beans on toast."

"Ah great, thanks very much Winston, you haven't seen you-know-who around have you?"

"Strangely he left the manor without saying a word earlier on. I haven't seen him since though."

"Hmmm, okay don't worry about it, we'll interrogate him later if he comes back." Lara winked at Winston and he smiled back at her.

"There is another thing that came for you in today's post, this postcard...but there's something mysterious and off-putting about it as I don't know who it's from." Winston gave a puzzling look at the postcard and handed it over to Lara. She examined it intently. The cover picture featured a landscape picture of the Himalayas, while the other side was nothing more than Lara's address and a scribble of these initials:

'V.K.T'

"Do you recognise the handwriting Lara?" Winston queried after a moment's silence between them.

"...No...I don't know who would have sent this, I'll take another look at it a bit later." A confused Lara answered.

"Okay Lara, I'll leave you to your breakfast" Winston replied, he turned around and headed to the exit, only to be taken completely surprised when Kurtis had appeared out of nowhere through the doorway.

"Morning both, and what a terrific day it is going to be!" Kurtis ecstatically stated.

"Wow you seem to be in a very happy mood, is everything alright?" Lara had to chuckle at his erratic entrance.

"Of course my sweet, why wouldn't I be with my two favourite people beside me!"

"Where did you go to earlier?" Winston questioned him.

"Ah ha, you will find out shortly. Now Lara, before you start tucking into your breakfast, I have an announcement to make."

"What is it?" Lara worryingly asked him. Kurtis then reached out for Lara's hand and gently brought her up from the bedside. As soon as she was stood up, Kurtis gave her a beautiful rose and knelt down before her.

"Lara...These past few years have been like a dream with you, and I want that dream to continue. You have become the most important person in my world and I know in my heart that I will commit, cherish and love you for as long as I live...Lara Croft, will you marry me?" Kurtis proposed, nearly filling up with tears of joy as he said it. He brought out the diamond engagement ring that he had got earlier from his hiding place.

Winston immediately gasped at the proposal. Lara herself was just emotionally speechless...This was so unexpected, she didn't know what to say. Indeed she loved Kurtis and would go to the end of the world for him, but was she ready for marriage... In that moment everything slowed down and after giving it some thought she knew what her answer was.

"Yes!" She shouted at the top of her voice, with the feeling of delight and happiness overwhelming her. The newly engaged couple embraced as they tenderly kissed and hugged each other. Winston was overjoyed with this fantastic news. Though due to the sudden proposal, Lara had completely forgot about the mysterious postcard that had come earlier.