Daina reached down to gingerly run her fingers across beautiful orange fur and closed her eyes. These days found her more often at home than not, and there was something beautiful about leaning down to pet one of your best friends, and know that there is beauty in the world, even as she clicks on the video call and smiles at her fiancee.
Alfred's sitting crosslegged on the couch with his German Shepherd half-sprawled over his lap; he looks tired, as his glasses are askew, and he has yet to fix them. His dog is sound asleep, and Alfred every few seconds or so puts him slowly as if to remind him that he's there.
"Is that Heidi?" He squints and points beside her; her small kitty is purring rather contently next to her leg.
"Yeah." Daina answers, "Felix is on the prowl. He'll make an appearance later." Other than her Marmalade Cat, Heidi, she had a tiger striped feline named Felix. He was a bit of a troublemaker and full of restless energy, while Heidi was calmer and more relaxed.
"Ah, my little dude." Alfred smiles, and Daina can't help but meet it with one of her own.
"Yeah, he takes after you." It's their running joke; Felix is a mini-Alfred, and Heidi is a mini-Daina. It's fitting in a way that neither of them ever feel like defining.
"Of course he does." Alfred smiles, as he relaxes.
"How's Doug?" The German Shepherd only seems to cuddle closer.
"Not super protective right now. He's sleepy. I may be taking him on four walks a day, now." It's an admittance that he readily admits to.
"Yeah, I can imagine." Daina smiles, "You still want to get a poodle?" Alfred's pointed out to her in the past that the amount of pets that they own is uneven. Clearly, to 'remedy' that, Alfred wants to go puppy shopping or more like full grown poodle shopping, in order to add another furry companion to their lives. It's supposed to be a wedding gift, but Daina isn't sure whether she's ready to have two dogs living with her yet.
It's taken a back seat right now anyway, as they are still figuring out where their first house together will be. There's a pretty cottage out in the countryside that Daina particularly likes, and that has a lovely view of the woods while only being three miles away from Alfred's parents' house. Alfred loves it, but feels that it will be too small when they have a family together.
He's been eyeing a suburban home, that Daina admits is nicely furnished and big enough to raise a large family, though she's been itching to finally move out of her city apartment and back to the countryside. Alfred's fine with either country life or city life, but Daina having lived both ways, is okay with living either too, just cars became the America that she's used to, lately.
"Yes." Alfred smiled, "She'd or he'd be fluffy and adorable and so mild mannered. You'd love her!"
"A girl one?" Daina teased, relaxing.
"Well, Doug's a boy, gotta even it out somehow."
"Is it because Felix is my boy cat?" Daina shrugged; they had tentatively introduced Doug to Felix and Heidi months ago, and found that Doug and Heidi got along great, yet Felix thought Doug was a huge play partner.
"Maybe." Alfred paused, "Should we head out tomorrow to look around at houses again? I can't help but think maybe there is a bigger house near the cottage or perhaps, we could make the cottage bigger in time."
"I don't want you to settle on a house that you don't want." Daina reminded her fiancee gently.
"I don't want to move into the city, when you want out of it." Alfred answered back, voice softening towards the end, "I want you happy too. I've grown up in the country too, and I do want to stay close to my parents."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Alfred smiled, "I'm sure that anywhere with you would be amazing."
"Don't rush the vows." Daina joked, breathless, slightly dazed at the realization that their wedding is only a few months away. She would become Mrs. Daina Jones, and just the idea of marrying Alfred still sends her belly into jitters.
"I won't." Alfred smiled, "Just don't leave me standing at the altar, alone."
"I won't." Daina repeated, "I'll be there, so don't not show up."
"I'll be there." Alfred smiled, "I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to leave your side."
Daina feels like a soft marshmellow, as she practically melts against her bed. Alfred always manages to make her feel like the most special woman in the world, especially as they anticipate their wedding.