damn, so many pple reviewed i felt like i had to write more...but school sucks so its gonna be super slow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Briar was so nervous before he went to meet Sandry in the gardens. Not that it wasn't beautiful, it was amazing. There were dozens of avenues, filled with fragrant and exotic flowers. Just the place to talk to her, tell her.

Did she love him back? That last mindword she had said, could it be true? "Lov-" he whispered to himself.

He actually changed his shirt. Usually, he didnt do that for a while, unless Niko caught him. And, he wore shoes. The things he did for love. Taking the rose he had purchased from his dresser, he appraised himself in the mirror once more before slowly leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sandry wandered through the gardens. Cursing for forgetting to tell Briar where to meet her, she walked in a large circle. Pausing finally at the rose gardens, she prayed that he would figure roses...Briars...

Her dress, a flowing white silk, shone in the moonlight. "A romantic night," Sandry murmured. She bit her lip. Oh, if only Briar loved her. That slip of her mind tongue...would it scare him away?

"Sandry?" A quiet voice interrupted her reverie.

Turning, her heavy skirts swirled around her legs. "Hey, Briar." She managed a small, yet sweet smile.

The moonlight gleamed in his green eyes. He blushed. "I brought you flowers." Holding out his hand, he offered her a single, long stemmed red rose.

Stepping up to him, Sandry took the scarlet flower. It's blooming petals were flawless, velvety. Shyly, she stepped closer to him.

Plucking a sweet lily from the vine before him, Briar tucked it gently behind her ear. The creamy petals just touched her pale cheek, its silky petals in no way comparing to her flawless skin. It's perfume enhanced his strange excitement. Interestingly, this did not seem like a casual chat.

He wanted to stroke her cheek, just as the smooth flower was doing. In an uncharacteristic gesture, he reached his hand and touched her cheek gently. Then he chuckled at himself.

"Ain't myself today, quite?" he asked softly.

Sandry smiled. Leaning, she rested her head on his shoulder. Then, placing her small hand on his cheek, she slowly raised her face and kissed him.

The soft feel of his lips on hers was almost unbearable. The tingling bliss both of them felt extended to the growing plants, which erupted in a colorful display of blooms. His lethargy over, Briar drew her close to him, as close as possible.

For the moment, he concentrated on the feel of her breath, the way her hair flowed softly over his hands. He swept her up in a passionate motion to kiss her again.

He was holding Sandry in his arms. Briar could hardly believe his good luck. Was this just a dream?

He didn't care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```