"Don't open your eyes until I say so," Bash said as he grabbed Kenna's hand, "I'll guide you along."

After months of waiting it was finally time to see their finished home. Bash had come out every couple weeks to check on the progress but he wanted the whole thing to be a surprise for her. Even though the months at court hadn't been very eventful after the first few days, she was relieved when Bash had told her it was time to pack her things for good. A home of their own was something she had looked forward to ever since she got a taste of what it could be like when they had stayed here before. Bash guided her up the front walk and then told her to open her eyes.

"Oh Bash it's like a completely different house!"

The chipped stones had been replaced, the landscaping was neatly groomed, the windows shone, and, her favorite part, there was an intertwined S and K made of brass on the door. She thought back to the tiles she had fought hard to have replaced in Henry's chambers, it seemed like another lifetime.

Bash opened the door and then turned to her with a smile, "Just wait until you see the inside."

Before she could respond he had hoisted her up and carried her through the doorway. She couldn't keep a huge grin off of her face, he was so excited to be taking her into their home. As he showed her each of the rooms on the first floor Kenna couldn't believe the changes that had been made. Everything was furnished to her tastes but with a nice touch of masculinity so Bash wouldn't feel out of place. As they passed by the entrance to the kitchens Kenna breathed in the delicious smells of food being prepared.

"I've instructed the servants to make an extra special meal for our first evening here," Bash told her.

Next, they went upstairs to see the bedrooms.

"I thought these two here would be perfect for visitors," Bash said while gesturing to two large rooms across the hall from each other.

They looked into the smaller rooms down the other wing and Kenna couldn't help but imagine them filled with children someday in the future. Bash didn't say anything but she hoped that maybe he was thinking the same. Finally it was time to see their suite. Bash opened the door and Kenna gasped. Striding across the room she came to the large balcony. The view was extraordinary; she could see out across their property to a large lake that the evening sun was reflecting brilliantly off of.

"Just imagine watching the sun rise and set from here!" Kenna told Bash excitedly.

"Sun rises? Are you ever up at sun rise?" Bash joked, knowing she wasn't overly fond of mornings.

"Who knows? Maybe I'll become a morning person just for a glimpse of the sun rising across the lake," Kenna responded with a smile.

She quickly realized that she had been so distracted by the view that she hadn't paid much attention to their actual room. This room hadn't been anywhere near able to be occupied when they had last been here, so they had stayed in one of the rooms that would now be for guests. Turning to take it all in though she instantly had a sense of finally being home.

"Bash, everything is perfect, thank you," Kenna said, pulling him in for a hug.

"I'm glad you like it, it's not exactly a castle-"

"But it's ours," Kenna interrupted him, "We could live in a tiny cottage and that would be home if you were there."

Bash raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Really?"

Kenna was a bit surprised herself that she said that, but when she really thought about it, she realized how much her attitude had changed. Before, she would have chosen a man based on what he could have offered her in terms of wealth and luxurious living. Now though, she realized that a devoted heart was way more valuable to her than anything else.

"Really," she replied confidently and stood up on her toes to kiss him.

She could feel his smile against her lips as he pulled her in closer and started to tug her dress off her shoulders before a sudden knock at the door broke them apart. A servant walked in and, realizing what she had interrupted, awkwardly announced that dinner was ready before quickly slipping out.

"I suppose it would be rude if we didn't show up for dinner since we're the only ones they've cooked for," Bash said.

Kenna laughed as she readjusted her dress and smoothed her hair. "Hey, you were the one who wanted an extra special dinner prepared."

"Well you were the one who had to look so lovely today," Bash replied with a smirk, as he grabbed her hand to walk down to dinner.

Dinner was delicious, Kenna could tell that the cooks had wanted to impress them and it certainly had worked. It was strange to have the whole dining room to themselves, but at the same time it was nice to be able to talk without competing over the noise of a dozen or so other conversations.

"Care for a walk outside before the sun goes down?" she asked Bash after they had finished. Bash nodded and got up. He offered her his arm and they walked out into the gardens.

"I forgot to show you these earlier anyway," he said.

After the gardens they walked down to the stables.

"There is some really nice trails to ride along here," Bash told her.

"You'll have to show me tomorrow on our morning ride," Kenna responded, "Perhaps we can even ride down by the lake?"

"I think we should be able to, the way looks pretty clear," Bash answered, looking out towards the lake they had seen from their bedroom.

They walked back up to the house when the sun began to slip below the horizon and Kenna said that she was ready to retire for the evening. When they got back to their rooms, Kenna noticed that a servant must have been by while they were at dinner because her trunks were unpacked and everything was arranged in her wardrobe and on her dressing table. She started to hunt for one of her nightgowns when she felt Bash's arms wrap around her waist.

"I believe we have some unfinished business to attend to," he said pressing his lips to her hair.

"Oh?" She replied innocently.

"Mhmm," he muttered as he placed kisses along her neck. She had a feeling she wouldn't need to worry about finding her nightgown that evening as Bash guided her slowly towards their bed.

The next morning Kenna rolled over and was confused to find an empty space where Bash had been lying.

"Bash?"

"Good morning," she heard him call from the balcony, "you're missing your sunrise."

She groaned and buried her head in the pillow. No, not even a pretty sunrise could make a morning person out of her.

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it! I thought it would be good to move time forward to when their house was ready. I have to do some boring writing for school :( but I'm going to hopefully have the next chapter up tomorrow.