4/2016 Revised Chapter
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Christmas wasn't a Japanese tradition, but it was certainly one of Sora's favorite holidays.
She admired the huge tree in the lobby of the Kaleido Stage, the colorful lights making it an impossible beacon to ignore. The lights, the trees, the gift giving, and songs...She breathed in the smell of gingerbread, the cookies off to the side for guests to decorate and consume. It made her feel like a kid again. Not that she ever really lost her inner child.
"Ms. Sora?"
She turned around, seeing a couple with their little girl. "Hi! Did you want an autograph?"
"Oh no, not this time," the mom smiled. "My Susan has something for you."
The little girl looked up at Sora shyly. With a gentle prod from her mother, the girl quickly handed her the folded paper and then stepped back towards her parents. Sora curiously unfolded it. It was a crayon drawing of their Nutcracker show. She smiled widely.
"This is amazing! Thank you!"
Susan bashfully smiled back.
"She has one for Mr. Leon as well."
"Ah, well you can find him wherever there is a crowd of teenage girls." Sora winked. "Just go up to him. He'll be glad to see you."
The parents laughed and then said their byes. Susan gave her a wave. Then, Sora walked around the tree, looking for the hormonal fan group of Leon's. She stifled a laugh. It was actually mostly women in their 40's today. But he was being a good sport about it, signing and answering a question or two. Honestly though, he wouldn't have such big groups if he did signatures more regularly like her. Because he didn't come out frequently after shows, they really mobbed up on him when he did come.
"It's pretty big today."
Sora looked at May and then back to Leon. "I've warned him before."
"He doesn't care for crowds," May murmured.
"Yeah, but he's a performer. It goes with our line of work."
May slowly nodded.
"I wonder why he's kept with it." He started because of Sophie, then continued to fulfill her dream. That dream was now answered. He really didn't have to be a performer anymore if he was tired of all the crowds. "I'm sure he's saved enough to live comfortably."
May looked at her incredulously. "You honestly think he's going to quit with your engagement in the works?"
Sora blushed a little. "I mean before that! Like right after Swan Lake he could have stopped." She knew he enjoyed performing on stage, even if he wasn't so vocal about it like she was. But he was very talented. He could have found something less 'social' and still be happy. "I'm sure the Boss could have found something else for him."
"It wouldn't be the same."
"Huh?"
May gave her a flat look. Engaged and still clueless. "If he would have taken up a more office-like position and not a performing one, he wouldn't have the same relationship with you that he does now."
Sora's face reddened as her insides did a backflip. It was just May's opinion, but it made her heart warm. May saw the secret smile and shook her head. It was something anyone could see, even on Leon's face. He was smitten to the highest level. May doubted there was anything that would change the way he felt about her.
She was a little jealous - not that May would ever admit that out loud.
Silently, they watched the little girl approach Leon. She looked so small next to Leon's tall form. He crouched down to her level to try to look less intimidating. A thought appeared in May's mind, not having considered it before - but there hardly was a reason for her to have thought of it before, giving the nature of the thought.
"Does he want kids?"
Sora snapped out of her heart melting feelings as the two interacted. "What?"
"Do you know if Leon wants kids?"
"I...haven't asked..."
"..."
"...It's not exactly a 'first date' question!"
"Oh my freakin..." May put her hands on her hips, "It's an engagement question!" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Are you going to a marital counselor?"
"No. We're not even married yet May!"
May smacked her forehead. "There's pre-marital counselling you nimrod! It's to help you two dimwits figure out the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship." She pursed her lips. "Have you discussed where you're going to live? Joint bank accounts or separate? Are you both staying full time even if a bundle of joy comes along?"
"I hadn't thought about that..."
May relaxed her pose. "At the very least, think about what you guys are looking for in a marriage and then discuss it with each other so there's no misunderstandings." She looked to the side, looking at the tree's ornaments. "I had a couple of cousins that didn't talk about any of this and they're either unhappily married or not even together anymore."
Sora nodded idly. What I want in a marriage...
It was definitely something to think about.
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Sora was on the couch, typing away. Leon was loading the dishes into the washer.
There were several marriage counselors around Cape Mary. She clicked on one and then scrolled down. There was a section of sampler questions for the pre-marital counseling. She double clicked it, eager to get ideas. She read the little intro first and then skipped it entirely, getting the gist of it. She wanted the questions.
1) Kids: Are you going to have them? Is adoption an option?
She scrolled down. She already wrote that one down. Two to four were similar things May already asked her about. She idly wondered if May had looked this stuff up before. Maybe she tried being a counselor for a family member?Considering how she had helped her see that Leon was hitting on her, it didn't seem too far fetched.
5) Sex: How comfortable are you with each other? How often do you plan-
"What are you doing?"
Sora eeped, nearly slamming his laptop shut. "Nothing!"
"You are blushing at nothing?"
She stammered, not really finding anything she could say instead of what she was actually looking at. He leaned over the back of the couch, taking in her flaming face. Then, he calmly walked around the couch, sat down, and took his laptop out of her hands. She stopped talking as she let him. It was better than having him think she was doing something suspicious. In the end, they were going to have to talk about this pre-marriage stuff anyways. She just didn't think she'd be able to talk about number five anytime soon...
He perused it, quirking a brow. "What is this?"
"Ah..." she cleared her throat, "questions to ask um, your fiance..."
He scrolled down more, pausing on one.
8) For holidays, who's family are you visiting? Are there any situations that make one or the other uncomfortable?
"There are some valid questions..." he murmured, not having thought about some of them before.
"Leon, do you mind if we ask each other stuff to, ah, better understand how to merge our lives?"
He looked amused. "How long have you been looking into this?"
"I just barely started, thank you very much."
"Alright." He closed the laptop and put it on the coffee table. "What are your questions?"
"Wait, right now?"
"Unless you require more time to think."
"Well, I guess we can at least start tonight..." She grabbed her notebook next to her, skimmed the questions and then looked back at him. "I think you know this one already, but, I still need to say it." She took a breath in. "I want kids - maybe not like a whole army of them, more like three or five at most..." She rubbed her ring nervously. "It's really important to me that you want 'em too. I love you. I really do, but," she looked at his shoulder, not quite able to bring herself to look at his face, "I need a family, so I don't think that we can get married if...you don't feel the same."
He was silent for a moment. Then he took her hand, making her look up.
"Continue."
She felt her shoulders relax. That was the deal breaker question.
"Ok, ah, I want our bank accounts joined so we're a team all the way."
He lightly shook his head at her wording. He had planned to give her access to his account if she was not up to a joined account.
"Proceed."
"Alright, we're on a roll," she grinned. "When I'm, um, carrying a bun in the oven, I still want to help out around the stage."
"Mm." They were two for three. "I would prefer that you rest at home."
"I'm not going to do anything crazy. Just like teaching or something."
"With our helpless child at the mercy of your clumsiness."
"Hey! I'm not a complete klutz!"
"..."
"Most of the time. Come on. I'll go nuts in the house all day."
"...Until you are in your last trimester," he reluctantly suggested, which wasn't much of a suggestion as an ultimatum.
"I could live with that. My feet would probably be all swollen to walk by then." Pause. "Speaking of home..."
"We could start in my apartment."
She looked around the place, slowly nodding. There was enough room for two. But once they had a baby she was sure they were going to have to move. "I like your place. Needs more decor," she teased, leaning up against him, "but it's home."
Home. He liked the sound of that.
"...I want us to share a room."
She stiffened, her face blooming a dark pink. Question Five was starting to come into the conversation. She wanted kids. They couldn't very well have kids if there wasn't that sort of intimacy. She did get some sex ed in school, so she wasn't an idiot. But it was one thing to read about and another to do...
"Ok."
She winced when the answer came out high chipped. She felt his hand along her knee. He liked touching her and she liked the feeling. She tucked a hair behind her ear. At the very least, she didn't think they'd have problems with chemistry. More like when it actually happens. She felt her face flush hotly. This wasn't something she wanted to think about at the moment. Honestly, she still had some time before she had to fret over their wedding night. No use in getting worked up so early in the engagement.
"Don't be frightened," he chuckled, leaning down to her ear, "I'll only bite when you want me to."
"Leon!"
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AN: He has too much fun with her.