Oh, how I hate pop-ups.

Like Hornets Protecting Their Hive
Four

Clopin watched Semmary as she sighed. "But look on the bright side," he mused solemnly, "you now have a beautiful daughter…whom I'm not sure could make this world any less brighter."

Semmary looked at him with reddening eyes and a thankful smile. "I don't think I ever thanked you for being there for me, Clopin." She wiped her eyes. "You helped me raise Angeliqua—"

"Say no more," Clopin said, standing up. "Since I came back from Karnival—make that since a while before I came back from Karnival—I've been wanting to do something special for you."

Semmary frowned. "What? You didn't have to…."

"But I did. You're like a sister to me."

Semmary looked down.

"Mm," Clopin muttered halfway to himself. "If you were my sister, I'd be sinning by giving this to you."

"As if you've never sinned before in your entire—"

She stopped talking when Clopin turned to face her with a beautiful leather choker in his hand. It had various beads and colored thread adorning the front in a pattern of dots and dashes. A fleur-de-lis occupied the middle of it, and a silk ribbon fastened it in the back.

Semmary was stunned. It looked genuinely amazing.

"Where did you—"

"I made it."

Semmary's eyes filled with tears. "You made it?" she asked incredulously. "You don't make anything!"

Clopin smiled and helped her stand up so he could help her put the necklace on. "I do for people I care for." He waited until Semmary held her hair away from her neck before placing the necklace gently on it. "I want to ask you a question."

Semmary closed her eyes when his hands touched her neck. "Anything," she murmured.

"Do you trust me?"

Clopin was finished, and Semmary turned around to face him, not caring in the least bit that he was running a hand lovingly through her hair and pulling her closer to him. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Of course I do." She looked away, then found she couldn't keep from looking back at him. It then hit her like an anvil to the stomach; Clopin had been in love with her for the longest time…she'd known it self-consciously, but she'd brushed it away for an entire decade. The realization almost doubled her over.

"Then tell me, honestly, why you've been shunning me."

A single tear fell down her cheek. "I blew it with you," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Clopin."

"Mm?"

"You've been trying to convey something to me for ten years, and I've ignored it."

"It's alright."

"No, it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No, it's not!"

"Marry me."

Semmary froze. "Wh-what?"

Clopin wiped the tears from her eyes gently. "I know we both want this. You're right about something; I've been with you for ten years. You were too young then, but now…." He sighed. "Please. I love Angeliqua as if she were my own daughter, yet every day I find myself wanting to find and destroy whoever gave her to you. Not only because it was against your will. A small…call it troubled part of me is jealous of that man…." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Nevertheless, it hurts me to know that you're still hurt…." Then he added, "I'd do anything to find him and stop your pain; like a hornet protecting his hive."

Semmary locked her fingers with his and smiled tearfully. "You're amazing." She squeezed his hand. "Of course I'll marry you."

Clopin cheerfully grinned and kissed her on the forehead. However, Semmary stood on her tiptoes purposely and tilted her head back, causing their lips to touch. Clopin's eyes widened when they parted—Angeliqua giggled, not making it known that she was watching—and he looked down at Semmary.

"Well, it's not as if that caught me off-guard or anything like that."

"No?" Semmary asked quietly. "This will."

She carefully removed Clopin's hat, wrapped her arms around his neck, and captured him in an adoring yet passionate kiss. Clopin returned the kiss, resting his hands on her waist.

Angeliqua mischievously covered her eyes with her hands.

-o-o-

Semmary exited her caravan after tucking Angeliqua in for the night. She waited for a moment, and when she saw a familiar silhouette step out from behind a vending cart, she smiled and swiftly ran towards it.

Clopin immediately kissed her upon contact. "Are you ready?" he asked softly.

"I am," Semmary nodded.

"We must be quick," Clopin warned. "If we don't want anyone to know about this, then we have to do this before I get ready for the Feast of Fools."

"That's tomorrow, though."

Clopin grinned. "That doesn't mean I don't rehearse."

Semmary smiled.

Also, -o-o- means a continuation, so it has nothing to do with flashbacks. Ah, gee, I'm confusing you more! Grr.