"Pauline," Halt, at twenty-three, could barely get her name out.

The courier looked up from her dinner to her companion, a questioning smile on her face. Halt found himself freezing up. "Would you...um..." he stammered and she raised an eyebrow. Halt panicked, bursting out, "Do you want anything to drink?"

Pauline declined and returned to her food, leaving Halt to blush furiously and mentally kick himself in frustration. He took a deep breath. Maybe next time...

Almost five years later, Halt lay with Pauline by the river, gazing at the stars. His eyes slid over to her, fingering the worn ring in his pocket. He took a deep breath, softly calling her name, "Pauline."

She turned her head to face him, that same questioning smile on her face. In the moonlight her eyes shone, and her hair cascaded around her shoulders and the arm that had her head propped up. Halt once again found himself tongue-tied.

"Yes, Halt?" she asked in that soft voice.

Halt struggled to find the words, glancing at the sky for help. "It's a beautiful night isn't it?" he managed, already feeling his heart sink with self-disappointment.

Pauline smiled and returned to gazing at the sky. "You're right," she agreed, but Halt wasn't listening any more, too busy clenching his fist around the ring that he hadn't had the courage to pull out.

He supposed that it was when he had finally grasped the fact that Will would be leaving soon. It had happened with Gilan as well, but Halt was getting old, and another apprentice was probably not going to happen. He took out the ring he had bought almost twenty years ago and studied it. It was worn from being handled, but it still had the simple beauty that had prompted him into buying it.

Halt had taken a deep breath and forced himself to invite Pauline to dinner, a strong sense of determination filling his mind. She had been getting up to leave, and he had stopped her, dropping to one knee. And he said it. Finally. Halt was pretty sure that some other phrases had slipped out as well, such as what he'd had for breakfast, but Pauline had gotten the point. And if gaining the courage to ask hadn't been enough, she had said yes.

Halt had never grinned as wide as he did that night, the night he had achieved the feat he had been attempting since he was a young man. Even grim old Halt couldn't fail to be happy about that.

"You've got me into this horrible coffee-before-bed habit," Pauline said in a slightly annoyed voice.

Halt didn't turn away from his reports, just mentioning, "Alyss will be even worse off with that old apprentice of mine."

Pauline smiled a little. "They're finally engaged." Halt just grunted. Pauline ignored his lack of response. "And I hear Horace and Cassandra are getting closer in Araluen fief. I think Horace would make a wonderful king." Again Halt said nothing, responding with a noncommittal shrug. Pauline continued, "And Gilan and Jennifer! They make a cute couple, don't you think?"

This time Halt smirked a bit ruefully and answered, "I'd been thinking that the boy would stay single instead of losing his head with love."

"You know, Halt," Pauline remarked. "After all that you went through to finally propose, I think our young friends are doing well."

Halt looked up from his coffee and scowled; his shyness was a sore spot. "You were the one who said that we should focus on our jobs all those years ago."

Pauline's eyebrows shot up in a close imitation of Halt. The Ranger absently wondered why everyone seemed to be copying that signature expression of his.

"Actually," Pauline pointed out. "I recall that it was you who said that."

Halt frowned. "Oh," he muttered. She was right...

Pauline stood then, presumably to go to bed, but before that she walked over to plant a kiss on Halt's cheek. "Well, you've more than made up for it now," she assured him gently. "Good night."

Halt gave her one of his rare smiles. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said softly.

.:.:.:.

...and so these Araluen lovers rekindle their love and compassion, despite any bumps in the road. It goes to show how beautiful life can become, especially when you have someone to share it with, whomever it may be.

Thank you so much to my readers and/or reviewers, and spread the love by reviewing some more! Especially if you smiled at least once while reading!

Happy late Valentine's Day!

-Dodo