Dae was over for tea again in what seemed to be becoming a new tradition. Not that I minded and Dad would just joke that his little family felt a little bigger. The three of us sat around the table nibbling at sandwiches while each doing our own things and merely being content to sit in each-other's company. Dad was working on reports while Dae had his work mat out to make adjustments on one of Dad's Sneakoscopes. I was elbow deep in notes and study guides for my Certification exam. If I passed I would be able to start shadowing Healers and begin my practical training. As much as he insist that it doesn't bother him, I haven't had a free night in weeks to go out with my boyfriend. Which would explain why he seems to be around for almost every meal. Something Dad is thankful for. Dae may have only received an Exceeds Expectations in potions, but he knows his way around the kitchen. Without him we would be living on tinned soup with my father's kitchen prowess.
"Hey Ari." Dae broke the silence as he opened a hatch in his mat and traded one tool for another.
"Hmm?" I replied, letting him know that he had a portion of my attention. I was in the middle of working out a rather tricky bit of diagnosis. From the corner of my eye I saw him shake his head as he continued working.
"I'm not overly fond of how your name sounds." Alright that came out of nowhere. I looked up to see Dad cock and eyebrow at my suddenly tactless boyfriend, who responded with just a hint of a nod.
"Come again?" I inquired. I couldn't have possibly heard that right.
"I said I'm not partial to how your name sounds." Came his reply as he deftly replaced the glass top to the device. "Well not your whole name really. I like the first and second names." I was pretty sure that he must be confounded or something because he was sounding very much a nutter. "I guess I just don't like how the last name sounds with the first two. No offence Conor." Dad just shrugged but there was an odd twinkle in his eye.
"So you don't like my last name?" Damian just shook his head as he finished up with the Sneakoscope.
"Nope." Alright, he's playing at something and Dad knows it. I can't see him starting a fight just to get me to take a break but so far it seemed to be working. I was no longer studying and he had my attention.
"So what do you propose I do about it?" I asked while crossing my arms.
"Well change it obviously." Came his response as he handed the dark detector over to my father, who in turn seemed pleased with the work.
"And what would I change it to pray tell?" Fine, I'll play your game. Lets see where you take this. Dae simply opened another compartment in the surface of his work mat and began to put his tools away. His face held the ghost of a smile as he took out a small object and placed it in front of me.
"Well, mine of course." He pulled his hand away to revile a small satin covered box. I just stared at it for a moment. There were no words that came to mind in that moment. There was a tightness in my chest accompanied by my heart beginning to race.
"Dae..." I took a second to meet his gaze before returning to the box "Are you asking me?" I couldn't bring myself to finish. He nodded at the simple black cube.
"Open it." he whispered. Gingerly I lifted the lid to find a simple silver band with beautiful clear blue and black marbled stones set into it. Black lighting opals, leave it to Damian to put my favourite stone into an engagement ring. Biting my lip I took a deep breath before closing it and thrusting it back at him.
"Ask me properly." Damian's look of panic fled as quickly as it had appeared. Taking the ring from it's satin bed he walked around the table and held out his hand to me. I accepted it and he pulled me to my feet. He didn't kneel down, he knows I hate that, instead he faced me as an equal.
"Aria Selene Reswick." He paused for just a moment with the ring poised at the tip of my finger. "Will you marry me?" I nodded, giving him permission to place the ring on my finger before giving him his answer.
"Yes you sweet idiot boy!" I said before throwing myself into his arms, nearly sending us crashing to the floor. "I was wondering how you would eventually ask. Though I was expecting you to wait until I was done with my apprenticeship."
"That will be another three years." Dae replied placing a kiss on my forehead "That is a very long time to go with only seeing you a few times a week. I figured that we could at least double that if we live together."
"So marriage was the only option?" I raised an eyebrow at my now fiancé. Not that I minded this arrangement, in fact I rather liked the idea.
"I told him that I was not about to let my single daughter move in with our old neighbour boy." Oh right, Dad's still here. Wait.. I am all over Dae... Bloody hell, he's my fiancé now, I'm entitled to kiss and snogg him in my home.
"So I just had to make sure that you weren't single." Dae smiled and Dad laughed with him as I rolled my eyes. "Think you can miss a night of studying and come to dinner? Gran wants to make sure you're eating ok." Such a sweet half truth, though it is saturday and it has been some time..
"You just want to show off don't you?" I teased as he pulled me closer
"I don't plan on saying a thing. Let them figure it out."
"I'm happy for you both." Dad called "Now go find somewhere else to be before you two go any further." I pulled away enough to stick out my tongue before my gaze fell on my study materials. "I said get. You can put off one night of studying." before I could protest further he had summoned our jackets and was pushing us out the door.
"So where do you want to go on your first night off in weeks? It's still a bit early to go to gran's." Dae asked as we make our way down the stairs
"I'd like to visit Mum if you don't mind." My idiot just nodded in reply before offering his elbow
"I guess you have a lot to tell her." he gave me a gentle smile before we disapparated.