Odette sighed looking for something to wear for her evening out with Louis, she didn't know why but today felt special for some reason. It wasn't just because of the late February breeze or the tone in his voice when he said that he was taking her somewhere. It all seemed routine but something today was a bit different.

So after looking for a little while, not because they were that many but because she had been lost in thought, she found a simple but elegant navy blue floor-length dress, with a greyish blue bodice, ivory cuffed sleeves with an off-shoulder neckline, a lace navy blue shawl, and the last thing that she was a bit hesitant to take it out, it was a diamond teardrop-shaped necklace with small sapphire stones around the small jewel the color of which almost perfectly matched her dusky blue eyes, it was a small gift she had received from Louis quite some time ago.

At the time it was given Odette had thought it was like a very sweet good luck gift or something to that effect but little did she know why he gave it to her, she had kept the necklace for a long time now and almost forgot about it because before it had just been a mere bittersweet memory until now, it was special in a way to her and it also had matched her outfit, so she put it on and looked in the mirror at the whole outfit, she hadn't worn the dress before, but she thought the dress had fitted her figure quite nicely.

It wasn't the best of the best she liked it, she had felt such a different way, a way that she hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity, she just did a small twirl in the lustrous golden light of the sunset which just made everything look enchanting, then Fèlice popped in and spoke up. "Hi Odette, wow you look really pretty in the dress!"

Then she smiled at the girl. "Thank you very much Fèlice, "

She smiled back. "So where are you going?"

"Well, I don't know, but think that it might be somewhere special, "

"Is Mèrante taking you?"

Then Odette answered In a faux surprised tone. "Oh, how did you guess?"

Then Fèlice shrugged as she was playing along. "I don't know, it was just a hunch I guess!"

Then both of them just started laughing then Fèlice said. "So when are you going?"

"Just a little bit from now."

"Okay, " Then Fèlice asked another question. "How long will you be away?"

"Well, I don't know, " she answered. "But please also make sure that you come back to the house before 8 o'clock tonight okay? I don't want you out too late. But don't worry, I'll try to come back as early as possible."

"Oh okay, ooh! That means I have to get going now, the sun is almost down now, see you later!" Then as she dashed out the door she peeped back in and said with a smile. "Have fun!"

Odette just gave a warm smile sighed, she considered herself so fortunate to have such a ray of sunshine in her life. and now she just sat there waiting for Louis to arrive.

Where was Louis? He was pacing the floor in the lobby and to be honest, looked pretty nervous, Fèlice had just come and as she was passing she thought it was kinda strange to see Mèrante almost pace a trench into the ground, Fèlice hesitated, but then he stopped pacing she went over and hugged him which really surprised Louis so much so that he almost gasped but then instinctively embraced the girl back with a hand placed on the top of her head.

"What is this for Fèlice?" he said but not in a sharp or irritated tone but calmer than anything else.

Fèlice laughed, she had heard that before. "Well, just for pretty much and...everything I've never been able to say thank you for the past few months, but also you seem a bit worried about something."

He sighed. "Well yes, I suppose you could say that."

"So what is it?"

Then he tried to explain it the best way he could. "Alright, so here's the thing, I..." then he thought. "I'm to ask Odette an important question and the crucial thing is her answer. Yes, or no."

Fèlice was confused. "Well, what makes you think Odette will say no to you?"

Louis thought for a bit. " You're right, but this is not the type of question your thinking of Fèlice, it's not a finalized decision, as much as I want it to happen, it's Odette's choice."

Fèlice stood there perfectly confused and then she asked. "What is the question you want to ask her?"

Louis dropped his gaze. "Well...It's something that I've been wanting to ask for the longest time and...I don't know what I'm going to do if she says no."

Then Fèlice answered. " It's a secret, isn't it? "

He nodded. "Yes, yes it is. "

Fèlice smiled and shrugged. "Oh okay, but I'm sure whatever it is, means so much to you she'll definitely say yes!"

Louis gave a small smile. "Well thank you, but it's not necessarily the question that means anything, it's Odette." He signed and then flipped open a gold watch. "Well, speaking of which I have to pick her up right now so I have to go, but please do make sure that your safety back at the house before it gets too late alright?"

Félice nodded. "Okay. " Then after he left, she was still confused, but then she walked away figuring that she'd probably find out later.

Later, Louis arrived at the exact time he had said he would, then he walked up to the door and knocked, then as he looked down at the watch to make sure he wasn't too late or too early the door had just opened and then a soft feminine voice spoke.

"Hello, Louis." Then as he looked up he was almost lost for words as he saw her standing there in the simple navy dress, but what took his breath away, wasn't just the fact that she just looked remarkably elegant in it, due to the fact of how graceful she was as a person, but now there was this look on her face, how her eyes sparkled as they reflected the dusk, it was something that Louis thought he would never live to see again but there she was with the same lovely smile he had fallen in love with and after a loss of words he sighed and then spoke up.

"You look absolutely gorgeous darling."

Odette blushed then gave a coy smile. "Oh, It really isn't much Lou, it just a simple dress that found."

"But you look beautiful it none the less, you always do."

"Well, thank you, and you're not looking to yourself, Lou."

He gave a warm smile. "It's just the usual casual outfitting, but thank you."

Then after they got into the carriage, Odette spoke up. "So where are we going? It's not like a large gathering or ball is it?"

Louis retorted. "Heavens no! I wouldn't do that to you it's too stressful and we don't have to, besides, I want to be just us."

Odette smiled. "Okay, sounds just perfect to me."

As time went on Louis had just noticed the necklace she had been wearing.

"Odette?"

"Louis, what is it?"

"You...still have that necklace?"

Odette dropped her gaze and looked at the diamond necklace. "Yes I do, "

"Do you know long it's been since I gave you that thing? It's been about eleven years now, and you still have it?"

"Yes I do, it's special to me even with all that had happened I still have it, even though I may have tried to forget it for brief moments in the past I still kept it..."

Then Louis inquired. "Why did you?"

She sighed. "It was very special to me, it was one of the first meaningful gifts that had ever received..." then she paused. "But, I also kept it because...I still loved you...even though with what had happened, I tried to forget you but I couldn't."

Even though Louis was dumbfounded, there was still a light blush across his face which he hoped wouldn't be seen. "You...still did?"

Also, a bit flushed, Odette nodded as held the necklace close to her chest.

"Well...l have to t-" But before Louis could say anything more the carriage had just stopped.

"Where are we, Lou?"

"I think you might remember once we get out."

Then Louis carefully helped Odette out of the carriage just then the driver called out. "Here's your stop!" slightly annoyed with how loud the young driver was which had startled them Louis still acknowledged. "Thank you, Curtis." then he replied. "No prob mates! I'll Be back later!" then he took off.

Then as they got closer to their destination old memories had started to pour in and then Odette remembered.

"Oh, Louis, this where we'd always go together and look at Paris when we were finished with class isn't it?."

Louis nodded. " I couldn't think of anywhere else at the moment, but then I remembered here, but I wasn't so sure what you'd think about coming here, so I asked you if I should let you know where I was going to take you but then you said it was okay if you didn't know."

She shrugged with a small playful smile. "Well, I kinda knew it was going to be special hence the new dress, but wherever you were going to take me I would be alright, just as long as you're the one taking me."

Then Louis smiled. "And I'll always be right here."

Then they both exchanged warm smiles, but just then Odette remembered. " Oh, Louis wasn't there something that you wanted to say to me while we were in the carriage?"

"Oh yes, well what was going to say is that I..." then he thought for a bit. " I was just so astounded that I wasn't the only one."

"What do mean Louis?"

"Well, on the day I first met you, even though due to the unfortunate circumstances, and separation...I still loved you...and I still do."

"Wait...so for all of that time when we were separated, you still loved me?"

He nodded. "I could just never forget you I wanted to stay, I was willing to give up everything and I still am. "

Odette just stared in disbelief. "Oh, Louis...if I only knew, if I just...wasn't so..." Just as her eyes were filling up with tears, Louis reached out and tilted her head up and spoke in a soft and low voice. "No Odette please don't go back to blaming yourself, it wasn't your fault, nobody knew what was going to happen or how things would turn out, but that all has passed, and now here we are..."

Then Louis gently held both of Odette's hands and intertwined in his and continued. "Ever since then, you have always been just as elegant, smart, kind, patient, and beautiful as before and even more now, and that lovely smile, absolutely no-one or nothing else, could ever replace that, that beauty, that grace...and no matter what has happened or will happen, I'm never giving up on you."

"Oh Lou, you don't understand how much you've done means to me, what you mean to me, " then she smiled. "When first met you I was a little skeptical because I never really had any friends and family and it was hard for me to trust anyone, but then one day I was met by this handsome young man, he was kind, smart, reliable, refined, he wasn't snobby or self-absorbed although he was stubborn, then that also meant he was loyal, he would stay by your side and he had the warmest smile, rich amber eyes that were deep and sincere...and here he is now the same as before, and nothing will ever change that."

They both just smiled at each other trying to contain the overflowing love and warmth which probably was the most difficult thing at the moment, then Louis spoke up looking the most flustered as he'd probably had ever been and it was very noticeable.

"Are you okay Louis?"

"Oh, yes, I'm just fine more than fine actually, why do you ask?"

"Well, for one your face is pretty flushed, and despite the fact of how precious you look, I see something behind it."

Louis laughed. "Well, I guess but you should see your face, it is perfectly flushed and you just look, adorable darling. "

Odette just slightly put a hand on her face to try and hide the fact that she was even more flushed, then she gave a faux scowl which Louis thought made her look more adorable. "Oh, stop it, Lou." then they both gave soft laughs and the Louis spoke up.

"Alright now to the point, I admit that I have been hiding a question that I've been wanting to ask you for way too long now." Then Louis took one of her hands and got on one knee which had Odette gasp in disbelief.

" Odette, you are the most beautiful, strong, and intelligent woman I have ever met in my entire lifetime, the grace and elegance you possess and I just respect who you are as a person, and what you mean to me can't be put into words. If I could I would just be saying the same thing over and over again, gosh, I think I might be doing it now, but I can't help it, and just to let you know, I gave you the necklace just because I was too nervous to ask you this question when I was a lad, but now I won't hold back for all that you've been through and that all can and has happened, I never want anyone or to hurt you ever again...Odette Milliner. If I could fly to the moon and back, just to be by your side I would but I'm limited, but with all of my being even my entire life, I'd give just to love and protect you.

Then Louis took out the ring and asked her the special question. "Will you...accept my hand in marriage?"

Odette nodded trying to contain the overwhelming joy inside. " Yes...gosh, of course, Louis, yes!"

Then they embraced each other, with Louis' arms around Odette's waist and her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder for some time then Louis whispered.

"Je t'aime." then she smiled and whispered back placing her hands on his shoulder then lifting one to his jaw. "Je time aussi." then after gazing into each other's eyes they softly fell into a deep kiss, it felt new like they had just fallen in love, but it was also passionate and genuine like there had never been a separation between them.

"So, when do you want us to get married?"

"It all depends on you chère."

"Well, I don't know but as soon as possible and as long as it's small and private the only thing I'm concerned about marrying you."

Louis gave a warm smile. "I couldn't agree with you more. Well, it's getting late so we have to get back."

She nodded. " Oh goodness, you're right, Fèlice should be back at the house now."

He nodded. "Right, when will that carriage get here?"

Just then they looked as they heard the carriage pull up in the distance,

"Right on cue."

Then as they both started walking Odette let out a quiet moan for she had just realized that she been standing up for a while, then without hesitation, Louis scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the carriage.

Then as they got back and as Odette was about to open the door she turned around and looked at Louis.

"Thank you, Louis, I knew tonight would be special but I didn't think it would be like this, thank you."

"Well it wouldn't be special without you." she smiled and then they kissed, then after they both spoke in a voice barely even a whisper.

"Good night, Odette."

"Good night, Lou."

Then they went their ways then as she entered the door she quietly walked through the hallway and as she entered the room she found Fèlice already sound asleep, then she covered her up and gently stroked her bright orange hair.

"Sweet dreams Fèlice."

Whew, I'm finally done! That took a long time...Thanks so much to everyone who still read this! Now on to my next project, Merry Christmas season!