Engravings

Prompt 32: Meadow

It was a universally known law that when things just went wrong for too long it was time to take so time out and simply enjoy the scenery. Balthazar had been having a crappy day and David's wasn't any better. If anything, it was worse. So both girls decided to make their afternoons a little better and packed up a complete picnic to take to the park.

Balthazar was the first to arrive, actually dragging himself through the training grounds, and complaining about his car having broken down. But it was silly, no? His car was an old Rolls Royce... "She doesn't want to drive through tunnels again," he murmured after Veronica had asked what was wrong with the car, dropping his tired body in his recliner. But Becky just waved away the words and urged the woman to tell Balthazar about the plan.

"Balthazar? Becky and I have been thinking Why don't we go to the park and have a picnic? It would be so refreshing to leave the house for an evening, don't you think?" she said, sitting on the arm of the recliner and hugging Balthazar to her. There was a moment of silence.

"Whatever you want to do, just… I'll do whatever you want to do."

So he was having that bad a day huh?

Upstairs, the sound of someone falling was heard and everybody looked up... Dave was on the floor of the long metal catwalk, struggling to get up. He was growling, positively angry, but he couldn't get up because his zipper had gotten stuck to the metal floor. He pulled too hard… and ripped his new sweater's zipper apart. The scoff he let out could have been a sob for all the others knew, but he just got up, left the sweater behind, along with his spilled backpack, and made his way down the stairs. "I've had had the crappiest day anyone could ever had."

"Likewise," murmured a discouraged Balthazar, who was still leaning against Veronica's head, while the girls hoped Dave wouldn't fall down the stairs.

"My train pass expired. I was late for that killer test. My professor said I was being sloppy. I left my calculator home and discovered Tank had slobbered all over it. Then I realized my wallet was home too. And then a gargoyle jumped me." There was a moment of stares and silence. "A literal gargoyle just decided to come to life as I was walking by and jumped me!"

"So that was the girly scream I heard an hour ago," mused Balthazar, making Veronica part from him and slap the back of his head, softly, though, so he wouldn't think she was been too serious. After all, he couldn't end this day fighting with her, right?

"Funny. Ha, ha Balthazar." Dave dropped to the chair next to Balthazar as the girls finished their basket and turned to his master. "I can't take the train today. I need a drink and to just sleep until the day just ends."

"We weren't going to practice anyway, remember? I was going to paint the apartment tonight."

"Oh, yah. Are you?"

"Doing it as we speak," murmured Balthazar, and Dave gave him the thumbs up.

"Dave are you really going to go to bed?" asked Veronica as Becky came to kiss her boyfriend hello. The younger couple turned to Veronica, who seemed hopeful.

"Veronica came up with the idea of having a picnic. Are you game?" Becky asked. They waited for Dave's answer. Dave turned from Becky to Veronica and then to Balthazar, who didn't react and seemed to be waiting as well.

"Well, sure. I'll go to bed after the picnic."

"Or you can take a little nap in the park," said Becky moving to the kitchen. "I'll get the ice."

"And I will fetch a blanket," said Veronica, moving quickly to the makeshift room at the back of the lab. Balthazar also got up and walked to the table.

"With my luck I'll get mugged in the park." Said Dave when they were alone.

"Dave," said Balthazar, walking quickly to his apprentice with something cupped in his hands. "I'm going to give it a try today."

"To what?"

His hands unfolded to show Dave a small velvet box with a ring inside. Dave frowned at him. This couldn't be happening, but it would be the perfect ending for a crappy day. "I don't want to marry you Balthazar."

Balthazar, apparently offended, hit Dave on the forehead. "I'm going to ask Veronica to marry me." Dave nodded, understanding. "Idiot."

"Balthazar, I don't know man. It's been a bad day."

"Which is the reason why if you don't see me ever again, it means I've moved to some faraway cave in Ireland to become a thousand-year-old hermit, alright? So don't come following."

"Only if Becky refuses me too."

"Alright guys, let's go!"

Both guys turned to the girls. Becky was holding the basket with both arms, apparently struggling to keep its weight, while Veronica held the large square blanket in both arms. Balthazar got up, followed closely by Dave, and they allowed the girls to walk up the stairs first. Without the girls noticing, Balthazar lifted his hand and slapped the back of Dave's head calling him an idiot once again.

"Oh Balthazar! This is the most refreshing meadow!" said Veronica, hurrying towards the large expanse of Central Park's grass. Balthazar didn't run after her, but he followed, carrying the basket and a smile.

"I've heard Central Park called many things, but never a meadow."

Up ahead, Veronica selected a comfortable spot. They set down the large blanket, securing the corners with some makeshift objects (the basket, some plates, the guy's pointy shoes) and settled over it to have dinner. It was a simple dinner of sandwiches, a salad, some fruit, a few smuggled candy bars, juice, and water, but it was a calm finish to their hectic days. Veronica sat to one side with Balthazar's head snuggled on her bended knees, the man eating grapes and whispering something that made Veronica laugh. Dave sat next to Becky, showing her how he could now create Merlin's circle in almost every surface.

The bell of an ice cream cart was heard and Becky turned. "Come on. Let's get some ice cream," she said, quickly getting up and taking Dave's hand, pulling him to his feet, before hurrying away.

"Wait! Wait, Becky, I'm barefoot!" he called after his girlfriend while Balthazar and Veronica turned to watch them go.

"Get me a strawberry cone! And vanilla!" called out Balthazar, wishing Veronica to try the dessert. He saw Dave giving him the thumbs up. "Right," he said softly to himself. He turned to Veronica and saw that she was watching the two kids buying ice cream, almost like a mother watching her young. "Veronica?"

"Yes?"

"Now that we are free…"

"I'll have two vanilla and two strawberry cones, please," said Becky to the ice cream man, who nodded and started to fill the order while humming. Dave turned, trying to watch the scene they had just left out of the corner of his eye. Becky turned to him and, following his gaze, turned to watch Balthazar take Veronica's hands on his.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing, really," said Dave, chuckling nervously and turning back to the ice cream. Becky frowned.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. It's just that… I was checking on them you know. I worry."

"You worry about two grown adults…?" she started, turning back to the couple... "Oh my God! He's proposing to her!" she cried out, making Dave turn to see Balthazar showing Veronica the ring he'd seen before. Both youngsters, the man serving the ice cream, and two woman jogging by turned to see Veronica cover her mouth with her pale hand. "And the verdict is…" murmured Becky excitedly. The small crowd watched the woman fall into Balthazar's arms, head nodding as she spoke to him. Balthazar smiled...

"I guess we'll be eating wedding cake soon," said Dave as he turned to Becky and noticed the small crowd.

Veronica was watching her ring with total enthrallment when the young ones returned, Balthazar was resting on his back, head on Veronica's lap, and eating grapes when he noticed his apprentice. "Here we go," he said, getting up and taking the cones Dave offered.

"So?" asked Dave to his master, making the man stare up at him. Balthazar responded as if nothing had happened.

"So what?"

"What did she say?"

"Oh, that." And Balthazar offered Veronica a cone, the vanilla, while he licked the strawberry one. "Try this one first." Veronica smiled up at Dave and mocked to push Balthazar. "What?"

Veronica turned to address the two young people. "Balthazar has asked me to spend my life with him, and I have said yes." She showed Dave her ring and Becky squealed with delight. "Here, in this beautiful meadow, I have decided to share my life with Balthazar. I'll never forget this day."

"Neither will I," Balthazar said honestly, taking her hand and kissing the soft palm.

"Even after loosing a shoe to a train and having your car brake down?"

"Yes, even after that. Thank you, Dave, for reminding me how bad my day had been. By the way, how is your zipper?"

"In pain."

Master and student started a battle of wits while Veronica continued to smile. Around her finger, in the inside of her ring, the words 'With Every Beat of My Heart' adorned the white gold. Her heart felt the same way.

Author's notes: Well here it is, the first of many fics to come. A big, huge, hug to Arlothia, my faithful never tiring Beta Reader. Love ya! To all those who reviewed/alert/like my story be sure to watch out for the next installment: Preparations, and some other one shots I'll be posting soon. Again thanks for reading and happy writing!