Faith watched outside the window as they drove past, lulled contentedly by the hum of the car beneath her. She was wondering just how it was that a city that had once been so vile to her was now so beautiful, and then she knew the answer. It was Jane. Jane had changed her life compltely. Not that she could remember a time before being sold as a sex slave. That only made her more thankful about the here and now; how she was, for the first time she actually remembered, safe. Loved. In love. There was no doubt in her mind that Jane had an attraction to her, and her own attraction was growing more and more obvious by the day. She didn't know how she would bear if Jane got hurt when she went back to that place again. As she mulled these thoughts over, the detective turned down a separate road, off of the rout home. Faith turned towards the woman that caused so many outstanding emotions inside of her, cocking an eyebrow.

"Where are we going?" She whispered, afraid to ruin the tranquility of the night. Jane's features flickered as they passed streetlights, smoothly going from shadow to light and then back, but a bit too fast to look as if that was what was happening. Instead, the effect was more like a flickering candle was held between them. The detective smiled.

"It's a surprise." she whispered, that giant smirk painted across her features. Faith let her own smirk play across her own lips as they turned towards what seemed to be a garden. In the center, however, was a massive tree. She tilted her head, furrowing her brow as she tried to figure this all out. Jane put the car in park, opening the door for the other woman and helping her out. They were beside a stone walkway boadered with some of the most dazzling flowers Faith had ever remembered seeing. They curved around, walking slowly as they did so.

"Its beautiful here." She whispered, again afraid that this was all a dream, that if she spoke too loud the dream would shatter, and it would all end up with her waking up on a pillow in some beautifully crafter cage with iron bars behind a curtain. "Do you come here often?"

"Every now and then. This place is... Well, I suppose it would be considered special, but I prefer to call it magic." Faith grinned, shaking her head.

"Logic states that there is no such thing as magic." She stated, coming through a vine- covered archway to a larger path; one with a few others connected to it by similar looking archways. She took a deep breath at the sight before her though. The tree that you could see from the road was even moe astounding up close. The tree was sitting on the bank of what could be considered a small pond, its gnarled, massive branches sticking out in twisted, protective lines from a massive base. But she couldn't figure out what was hanging from the branches; at first they kind of looked like leaves. But then... "Its an Emu Tree."

"Yes it is. You've heard?"

"Of course! Though I have never seen one much like this. Not that I've seen one at all, actually." She stepped forward, resting a hand on the ancient bark. "You write your wish on a card, though traditionally a wood block, and then seal it, and hang it on the branches. Traditionally speaking, it was done only in temples, to ask the Gods for help. Now, though, its roughly the same, only changed to being on a tree." She took a deep breath, before looking down to the box at the tree's base. "I... I want to write one." Faith finally whispered. Jane nodded, looking out over the lake as she lifted the pen, taking a card. But what to wish for? She wasn't normally one that believed in wishing, in reality. Faith closed her eyes for a moment. Would she wish to remember her life? To have known her family, if she had even had one. She turned her head, when a small grin spread across her lips. She wrote the simple statement, before folding the card, tucking it into an envelope and sealing it. "Where should I hang it?" Faith whispered, approaching the tree once again. Jane smirked, and let her eyes trail upwards.

"The best are always the highest." She whispered, and Faith smiled.

"Give me a hand, would you?" She whispered, and Jane laced her fingers together, all but tossing the smaller woman up into a crevace between two branches, jumping up herself a moment later, careful not to disturb the other branches. The detective followd her, finally leaning against the last branch they could safely climb and both stay on, leaning against one of the others. "Why are there candles?" She asked. Jane smiled.

"Those are for the wishes that have been fulfilled. I don't know if its only done in Boston, or if its done anywhere else, but for every wish filled, the one who placed the Emu sends a candle boat out over the water." Faith couldn't keep the grin from her lips; it was all so beautiful. All of this.

"Close your eyes." Jane glanced at her, before nodding once, and shutting her eyes tightly, leaning against the large branch. The blonde turned, looking upward for where to hang her wish. She spotted another one, hanging from a fragile banch; all alone to the side of the tree. She reached forward, slipping her own on a nearby branch so that thy were hanging nearly on top of one another. When she glanced at the detective, she couldn't help her feelings. Faith leaned forward. "Trust me."

"Of course." The answer was automatic, and she blushed. Their lips touched, before everything seemed to explode at once. There was so much built up passion, so much need. Faith could feel Jane as she asked for more, and then again when she demanded. And the blonde was more than happy to oblidge, hrowing herself into the kiss. When she finally pulled away, it was only for air, and then she was trying again. The second was slower, Faith winding her fingers into raven hair. Then it all changed, again. Jane pulled away, shaking her head. "No. No more."

"What do you mean? I thought-" Jane shook her head, unwinding Faith's fingers from her hair.

"No. We can't do this. We can't be together." Faith knew she was crying, knew that tears were sliding down her cheeks. That was not what shocked her, but the tears that had slipped from Jane's eyes. The pure agony that was clearly evident there.

"Why? Why do you say that? You led me on, and then you tell me... Is it because I'm a woman? Or because I was used before I came to you? Or is it-" Jane's hands caught her shoulders, made her look into those pained eyes.

"Its not what you think. I swear, it isn't." Faith shook her head, unable to believe this.

"Then what the Hell is it, then?" Jane pulled back, trying to find the words. She bit her lip, before locking gazes with the other woman.

"Faith, I'm engaged."

AN- so that part about how beautiful their time together is, and how the night is so tranquil? You know how you write the style of what music you were listening to at the time? Tranquil = death metal. Cool. I made a new connection in my brain! ... Probably not the smartest song choice for this chapter, but oh well. Pandora has brought me back to Epica again, so I'll just finish it up to Symphonic metal. XD

Anyway, sorry this one is kinda short, I couldn't help it. If I went any further, the effect would be lost. This chapter is built to totally piss you off, and I'm pretty sure it does a good job at it. Plus, I think I might have to go to work now, which means... No more updates today. Which sucks, I know. I thought that maybe I would get one of my three in- progress' completed, and this would be the one. But nope, my mother has to stick her nose in where it doesn't belong. Oh well.

After five updates,

~SnapTobiume