"You're feeling better, huh?" I laughed as my horse nudged me with his oversized nose. I rubbed his head for a second before he started munching at the grass I was sitting on as if there wasn't any more right under his feet. I shook my head and scooted back to lean against the nearby tree. It was now early Spring, and it was already warm enough for plants to be flourishing again. I was glad that I'd be able to make more money now, and Phantom and my other animals were glad to be able to go outside and eat grass. Phantom contentedly munched on the grass where I'd been sitting and proceeded to leave me to my thoughts. I closed my eyes and began to think.

I had recovered from my sickness a week or so before, though I'd lost a lot of weight from being unable to eat. Recently I'd began eating like a garbage disposal, much to Chase's pleasure. Though he'd left my house after I was able to take care of myself again, moving back into his own, though he visited often. I spent my days taking care of the farm, fixing it back up after my lack of attention. I was glad it had been Winter, because if I'd chosen any other time to sulk around, I would've lost a lot of money on crops. I worked hard at getting my life back together and earning everyone's trust back. I worked part-time at the bar, where I was (somewhat surprisingly) welcomed back whole-heartedly by Yolanda, and I got to talk to some of the regulars again. I also spent more time in the mines, and therefore at the blacksmith's, becoming friendly with Owen and Chloe and even Julius once again. It took me a few weeks, but by the time Spring had rolled around, I had regained the trust of everyone in town. Well, except for Gill, but he never really liked me in the first place.

Most of all, though, I realized how lonely I was without Chase around.

As a matter of fact, I almost never stopped thinking about Chase. Even when I was doing something with someone else, he was always in the back of my mind. I frowned, thinking this, my stomach fluttering just thinking about him. I thought about how easy it was for him to make me feel awkward, and how easy it was for him to make me blush. Was I just easily embarrassed or was he just good like that? It was probably the former… I knew that I was slightly mental, sometimes, and I'd have to remember to do something nice for him for putting up with me.

"There's no need for that. I quite enjoy it, actually," a voice said, startling me. I opened my eyes to see Chase standing over me, smiling with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I should really learn not to think out loud…

"Hi, Chase," I said, blushing. "… how much of that did you hear?" I started fidgeting with my shirt as I waited for his answer. He laughed.

"Only the part about you being mental. Which you're not, by the way," he added, offering a hand to help me up. I smiled and took it, pulling myself to my feet.

"What brings you out here today?" I asked. It was midmorning on Sunday, so most of the town was at church. I obviously believed in the Goddess, but I didn't feel like I had to go to church to acknowledge the fact. It was between me and her, after all. I wondered briefly if Chase believed in the Goddess before he continued talking.

"Just wanted to take you on a date, seeing as it's such a beautiful day outside," Chase said, smiling. "How's a picnic under Alan's tree sound?" I nodded, blushing as usual. "Come on, I'll make the food." He grabbed my hand, making me think about how I had calloused hands while his were smooth and, well, feminine. It was so backwards! In any case, he led me into my house and asked me what I wanted to eat.

"Surprise me," I said. His eyes sparkled, and I wasn't entirely sure I should've said that. "… I'm going to get ready." I glanced at him once as he turned away, and then I gathered up some clothes and took a shower. By the time I came back out, Chase had already packed our lunch in a picnic basket, though where he'd gotten it I had no clue. He sat in my chair, dressed almost exactly like he had been at the Firefly Festival. So was I, actually, and I chuckled to myself for a moment upon noticing this.

"Where did you…?" I asked, smiling, gesturing at his clothes and the picnic basket. He smiled.

"I'm magic," he said, trying to sound mysterious. I stared at him blankly for a moment. Then, realizing that he probably shouldn't have said that, considering all that had happened, he grimaced. "Sorry, Ange… didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," I said, waving it off. "When are we leaving, exactly?"

"Now, if you want," he said, standing. "And, by the way, I left some stuff here when I was staying with you. That's where it came from. Except this." He gestured at the basket. I waited for him to continue, but he didn't elaborate so I just followed him out the door in thoughtful silence.

"Have you ever met Alan?" I asked after we settled down under Alan's tree. Chase raised an eyebrow at me skeptically.

"No…" he said. He watched me for a moment to see if I was serious, which I was, but I decided that we'd be better off if I pretended I wasn't, so I laughed like it was a joke. After all, I didn't want to have to explain the existence of a harvest sprite that lived in a flower. Though, I thought, he probably didn't live there anymore now that the Goddess was back. Chase shook his head. "You are a tad mental…" he said. I grinned at him before taking a bite out of my sandwich, only to start spitting it out again. Was that… a feather? What, had Chase forgotten to pluck and cook the turkey before putting it on my sandwich? I looked inside my sandwich to find that there was indeed a feather inside. I froze, though, once I laid my eyes on it.

It was blue.

I carefully slid the slightly-bit-into feather out of my sandwich, noting that Chase hadn't put mayonnaise (or much of anything) on it, probably to keep from harming the delicate feather. I turned it in my hand in wonder, looking at it in disbelief. I glanced over at Chase, who was pretty red faced by now, and he smiled nervously at me.

"Angie," he said quietly, taking my free hand and kissing it. "I love you. Will you marry me?" I stared at him in shock, and then looked back and forth between him and the blue feather. He wanted to marry… me? I couldn't believe it. Who in their right mind would want to spend the rest of his life with me?

"Are you… are you sure?" I asked, still stunned. He gave me an incredulous look.

"Of course I'm-" Chase started, but I kissed him, cutting him off mid-sentence. How rude of me.

"Yes, Chase, I'd love to!" I said, pulling away. His face brightened.

"Are you sure? I mean, all I can do is cook," he said. Now it was my turn to stare at him, unbelieving, before I laughed.

"That's a good thing! I can't cook!" I said.

"Don't underestimate yourself. You cook better than Maya." Chase cringed just thinking about Maya's horrid cooking and I laughed. "But seriously… you will?"

"Yes, Chase, yes!" I laughed, and he kissed me. When he pulled away, his smile was so big that I thought his face would split in two. I leaned against him, turning the feather in my hands some more before laughing at the method he used to propose to me. Of course it would have to do with food…

But I wasn't complaining. I would get to live with the person I loved for the rest of my days. I had never been this happy in my entire life! I was finally getting married! I would have to call Jill… couldn't forget to invite her. After all, hers was the only family I had left. Well, I supposed, looking up at Chase and smiling. Not anymore.

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Author's Note: The end! There's an epilogue, in case you were wondering. I hope you all liked it. Reviews appreciated as always! Thanks for reading!