10 glances- Ash and Mary-Lynette Night World series- 3 flower; rose

Ash was running around the Redfern house like a headless chicken.

"Ash, What in the name of Goddess are you doing?" Jade laughed as she watched her brother run down the stairs, only to run straight back up them again before he had even reached the last step.

"I am trying to get ready." he said as he raced down the stairs and tripped over the last few steps.

"Stupid, crappy, ancient house!" he growled as he got gracefully to his feet trying to cover up his klutziness.

He glanced angrily at Jade who was bent double with laughter.

"What is so god damn funny?" he spat brushing dust from his coat.

"You!" she giggled, trying to compose herself. "I've never seen you so flustered before."

"It's the first time I've ever hadan anniversary! So forgive me for being slightly nervous on our one year one!" he spat.

"Slightly?" she sniggered.

"Ok, fine I'm very nervous. You happy?" he asked. "What if she hates it?" he worried.

"Aw Ash don't worry she's gonna love it!" Jade reassured him.

He had spent nearly 5 hours trying to find Mare the perfect gift and was now a bundle of nerves in case she hated it.

"Well, I hope so." he muttered as he headed for the door, with her gifts in his hand and an anxious expression on his handsome features.

"Oh and Ash?" Jade asked, unable to resist. "Watch out for the porch."

Ash scowled at his sister and slammed the door.

Mary-Lynette was pacing around her living-room. To say she was nervous was an under-statement. It was her first-year anniversary with Ash. And what an amazing year it had been! She wouldn't change it for anything! But now here she was, feeling extremely uncomfortable in a dress, worried that he would hate his present. She had gotten him a silver watch that was engraved with the words "My soul mate." But what if he hated it? They were going out to a restaurant and Ash was coming over to Mary-Lynette's house to pick her up.

"Eugh. I hate this stupid dress!" she complained glancing down at the deep blue dress she was wearing. It wasn't anything fancy- she didn't own many dresses- but it would do. It had short sleeves, came to just above her knee and had black ribbon around the waist, tied into a bow at the back. And was very uncomfortable,

"Ash, hurry up." she moaned just as there was a knock at the door.

She ran to answer it and saw Ash standing in the doorframe looking.. Well looking even more beautiful than usual, if that were even possible.

"Um wow." she stuttered. "You look-"

"Gorgeous? I know." he teased, shrugging his shoulders.

Mary-Lynette laughed as he stepped into the living room.

"But not as gorgeous as you." he said with a smile as he took in her appearance.

"You look beautiful Mare." he smiled and his hazel eyes were bright as he looked, lovingly, at her.

"Thanks" she blushed. "You ready to go?" she asked trying to hide her flaming cheeks.

"Whoa there hold your horses!" he laughed. "You sick of me already? You sure know how to make a guy feel good." he joked.

"Ha Ha." she smirked heading for the door.

"Wait! I have to give you your present!" he cried pulling her back into the living-room.

"When a guy spends 5 hours trailing around shops looking for the perfect gift with his annoying sisters throwing out stupid suggestions every 2 seconds, he expects a bit of enthusiasm and acknowledgement." he smirked pulling from inside his jacket a small velvet box .

"Happy anniversary, sweetheart." he said pulling her in for a kiss.

Mary-Lynette opened the box and gasped.

"Oh Ash!" she cried. "It's beautiful!" she sighed.

Inside the box was a small brooch. It was silver with blue gems and was in the shape of a shooting star.

"Now you'll always have a star to gaze at. And then you'll think of me." he said giving her a hug.

"I love it!" she whispered glancing up at him. "I love you. Thank you so much."

"Wait. There's more" he smiled and took from behind him a bunch of different coloured roses that she hadn't noticed.

"Each one has a different meaning to us." he said as he started to point out different roses.

"The red one is for our everlasting love as soul mates. And of course the fact that I'm a vampire and drink blood." he smirked.

"The yellow one is for the sun because you brighten up my day when I see you." he blushed as he pointed to the beautiful rose.

"The blue one is for your love of the night sky and nerdy star-gazing." he said with a laugh as he gestured to a dark blue one, the exact colour of the night sky.

"The white one is for your pureness and innocence." he teased "I can barely even kiss you without you getting all flustered!" he laughed, kissing her cheek.

"The pink one is for our two hearts which are forever connected. And for that time you made me wear a pink jumper. I will never get over the embarrassment." he laughed.

"The purple one is for how deeply happy you have made me." he grinned as he pointed to a deep purple rose. "And for the time we both turned up to that BBQ wearing purple and everyone thought it was so cute that we matched" he laughed.

"And last but not least" he began, "And my personal favourite. The black rose." he said and pointed to a striking midnight black rose. "It represents the Night World and Circle Daybreak and how I can't wait for you to join me in it so you'll be safe and mine for eternity." he finished smiling up at her.

"Do you like them?" he asked her sheepishly.

Mary-Lynette hadn't said a word as Ash had described each rose. She was so overcome with emotion she didn't seem to be able to operate her vocal cords.

"Oh, Ash." she whimpered, tears in her eyes. "I love them! They're beautiful! Thank you." she managed to choke out. "I loved the representations. They were perfect" she laughed.

"Mine's embarrassing compared to that!" she blushed as she handed Ash his watch.

He examined it and smiled as he read the engraving.

"Oh, Mare. I love it. Thank you." he whispered squeezing her hand,

"I'll never take it off." he promised as he put it on, clearly delighted with it.

He pulled her into a tight hug and was kissing her forehead.

"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me." Mary-Lynette said into his chest.

"Well it was my pleasure." he said into her hair.

And they stood in Mary-Lynette's living-room in an embrace both thinking the same thing.

"I love you."