Apart From You
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Author's note: It's been awhile since I've done any writing. Transferring schools, helping my parents move, working on a tough course load, trying to get ready to take my GREs, and planning a wedding (not to mention helping with several of my friends') have just sapped my time. However, I've missed it immensely. And while I haven't posted in forever, I've got some new chapters to my other stories at least partially done – I need to do final editing jobs and such, but those should be out soon too. It's funny – I didn't intend to write a second chapter to this story, but it just sort of spilled out when I started writing. I figured it was as good a way as any to reclaim my writing time and get going again on fanfiction! It is a romance, just to let you know. Also, the sonnet used at the end is not mine. The credit belongs to Edmund Spenser, and it's from his "Amoretti" sequence. Thanks for reading, and leave a review on the way out, pretty please?
To Josh: you are my love, my life, my dearest. To you I dedicate this story. I love you.
Adam Park unconsciously chewed on his lower lip. Flexing his fingers, he stood up from his position perched by his computer. I never knew there were so many options to choose from! He grumbled inwardly to himself. Adam wanted this Christmas present to be perfect. Too bad Katherine doesn't have email! I bet she'd have some ideas.
~*~
Tanya was trying to reach warp speed as she flung herself around her dorm room, piles of music scattering across the floor as she tore through her bookshelf. "Where in the world can that Messiah score possibly have gone?" she said aloud in frustration. The score in question had a gaudy orange cover, a mistake on the part of the publisher in Tanya's opinion, but it made the book hard to miss. Dropping to her hands and knees, Tanya poked her head under her bed. She sneezed hard at the dust underneath. "Oh, come ON!" she moaned. Frankly, as the beds were built into the wall, it was tough to get under them enough to clean, and the undersides had come with the dust of around forty years of undergraduates shoving it down there. Grimacing, Tanya gingerly stuck her hand under. She could feel a couple of dust bunnies…some grit…ah-ha! Extracting the score, Tanya dusted it off a bit, making a face of disgust. She'd have to remember to talk to Elyse about figuring out a way to get under the beds when they cleaned before leaving for Christmas break.
On her way to rehearsal, Tanya smiled at the thought of the upcoming break. Despite the mild chill in the night air, she warmed at the thought of seeing Adam. Soon! She thought to herself. He would be coming to see her perform the Messiah in downtown San Francisco, then taking her home to Angel Grove. Messiah was her last obligation, a final of sorts for an oratorio performance class. It was a big deal. Quite a lot of San Francisco turned out for the annual performance, which was somewhat of a tradition among much of the city. Tanya could have cared less about most of San Francisco, though. Adam would be there, as would Rocky who had gotten out earlier than Tanya for his Christmas break. Much to Tanya's surprise, Jason had also announced that he was coming.
Tanya hadn't served long with Jason, and though she had some cursory knowledge of the young man, she never felt that she had gotten to know him properly. Jason's time as Gold Ranger had been incredibly stressful for all the rangers: Billy aging and leaving, Jason nearly dying, Mondo stepping up attacks to a nearly unbearable level…Tanya shuddered. Not to mention Katherine and Tommy's incredibly strained relationship and other messy personal relations among various rangers. Rocky had mourned Aisha's leaving to a point of near indecency around Tanya, and it had taken some time for Tanya to establish with Rocky that she had no intentions of trying to take Aisha's place. They'd become better friends for it all, and Tanya now counted Rocky as one of her dearest old friends. Yet it had been stressful nonetheless. Adam had had a hard time with Billy's leaving…Tanya almost groaned aloud at that memory. No, while she had enjoyed her run, Tanya had to admit, slightly shamefully, that she was relieved to be living as a civilian.
Reaching the auditorium, Tanya ducked inside, dropped her light jacket and purse onto a chair, and hurried to her spot in the front of the alto section on the risers. A cacophony of tuning instruments rose from the orchestra section. Tanya could see her roommate Elyse in the first chair tuning her violin. Shaking her curls out of the way, Elyse's expression was so intent as to almost be comical. Tanya chuckled softly. Their first year at Conservatory, they'd meshed well, and had continued to live together for the past two years. It seemed impossible to Tanya that she was already midway through her junior year of college. Almost two years since Adam and I got back together. Tanya tried to brush off the thought and focus on the director, who was beginning to try to encourage the orchestra to finish tuning and get the attention of the choir.
"Warm-ups! Everyone on "Ahhhh! Good tones, now. Sing 'Ahhhh', not 'Aaaaaah'. All right. Ready?" Director Narton sat down at the harpsichord, the closest thing to a piano on stage at the instant to give the opening chords. Tanya tried to keep her thoughts from wandering, unsuccessfully. After years of practice, scales were fairly brainless, and Tanya could do them without much attention.
"'Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates' everyone. Now, sopranos and altos, remember, when we sing the line 'he is the King of Glory', we need energy! You're answering the question the tenors and basses are asking in the bars before, and this is a joyous answer. Don't forget to carry through in measure 18. Now…" Tanya's thoughts were effectively cut off as she concentrated on the difficult music. While many in the choir knew Messiah well, by virtue of only having lived in a western culture for a few years, Tanya had not heard much of the Handel piece, let alone sung it until she came to the Conservatory. She liked it well, but it was taking her time to learn all the ornamentation and pronunciation for the score. Music arced around her, in and out, and Tanya lost herself in the beauty of the classic oratorio.
~*~
Adam smiled as he packed up his car, and bade his roommates Jonah, Andy, and Aaron good-bye for the duration of the break. Having moved off-campus into a small rental house, Adam had discovered the 'joys' of cooking for himself: food that was often slightly singed or didn't taste quite the way it did when his mother made the same recipe. Despite his grumblings, Adam had actually become quite a passable cook, but he looked forward nonetheless to not having to do it over break.
Adam dropped by the English department on his way out of the campus to turn in his final term paper for the Spenser class he was taking. Putting it in his professor's mailbox, he grinned walking away. "Sayonara, Faerie Queene", he murmured under his breath. He enjoyed Spenser, but was glad to be done with the term paper. Jumping into his car, he sped away from the campus, towards home. As he drove, an idea began to form in his mind.
~*~
"Adam, I can't believe you bought him that soda," murmured Katherine in her muted Australian tones, her gaze ruefully fixing on Rocky, who was zipping into a novelty store. At the moment, they were in the Glassdale Mall in Stone Canyon, one of the largest in the region, finishing Christmas shopping and just hanging out. While Kat had not been particularly inclined to run around with Adam and Rocky on their own during high school – that was usually Tanya – she was finding that she enjoyed their company immensely. Finding out that Tommy and Jason were still busy with the classes they offered at their dojo, Kim working at finishing her sports medicine degree to help with her planned career in working with gymnasts, and Billy at a conference for two more days, Adam had courteously asked the pretty dancer if she would like to go with him and Rocky so as not to leave her out of group happenings. Kat, still having shopping to finish, and feeling bored, accepted wholeheartedly. She'd come back early from the Royal Academy, the result of a mildly pulled tendon in her knee. The doctors said it wouldn't get worse, she just needed to not be dancing on it until it healed a bit. Excused from her classes, Kat had come home early for Christmas.
"What?" Adam asked innocently, pulling Katherine's attention back to the conversation at hand. "That," he motioned towards their erstwhile companion, "is perfectly normal Rocky. Not to mention, it wasn't a Jolt or something like that!"
Kat snorted daintily with disbelief. Adam cracked up softly. Katherine gave him an inquisitive look. "I've never heard you snort before," he admitted.
"And you didn't think I was capable of it, I suppose," Katherine jibed jovially.
"Of course not."
Just then, Rocky came bounding out of the store. "Wow! I didn't know they actually sold jewelry made out of pieces of beer-bottles!" he announced "It's kind of ugly, but I guess you learn a new thing every day!" He bounced ever so slightly with enthusiasm. Katherine raised an eyebrow at Adam.
"I swear it was only a Pepsi!"
"Are you talking about me?"
Kat and Adam exchanged looks and doubled over simultaneously with laughter at the childishly indignant look written across their friend's features. Rocky glared for a moment, but couldn't hold it and started laughing too. "Listen," gasped Adam finally. "I actually have an errand I need some help with. Would you mind?"
"Of course not," said Rocky happily. "How often do I get to give you advice, at least advice that you actually might take?"
Katherine, sensing the importance of the question, caught Adam's eye for a second and confirmed her suspicions. She placed one hand lightly on Rocky's shoulder, cueing him to settle down a bit. "I'd love to help. Which stores did you have in mind?"
~*~
Jason kicked his foot lightly, shaking out the mild tingling coming from it. He was finishing up bills to be sent out to students and writing out the accounts. Jason found this to be skull-numbingly boring most of the time; he always preferred being up and active. However, Tommy had no experience in business, and while he was working on acquiring the knowledge, Jason with his associate's degree in business was stuck with a good bit of the paperwork for the moment. Feeling a draft from behind him, he turned around.
In the doorway to the office stood Katherine. The statuesque blonde grinned widely at him. "Jason! So good to see you!"
"Katherine," he responded, feasting on the glow that seemed to surround her. She looked in good health, happy, and, (he mentally kicked himself for the thought) lovelier than ever. He stood up to give her a friendly embrace, and when he stepped back, he murmured sincerely, "What a wonderful surprise. I didn't think you would be back until sometime next week."
"Neither did I. I hurt my knee a bit, nothing serious, but the doctors suggested a little time off just to make sure it heals and doesn't become more serious. Though I'm a touch upset about it, it's been nice having some extra time off." She rolled her eyes. "I love dancing, but I was getting pretty stressed out. Always do at the end of the semester."
Jason smiled. "Is your knee doing all right now?" he asked, concern in his tone.
"Oh, yes. A little pain every now and then, but should be good as new by the time I have to go back in January."
"I'm glad."
"How is Billy? I saw him about a year ago, and he writes occasionally, but his letters mostly consist of technical details of his work." The two shared a wry grin. Billy truly desired to keep in touch with his friend overseas, but not being particularly keen on sharing life details or emotional moments in letters, often wound up writing about whatever project he happened to be working on at that moment. Katherine had once theorized to Tommy that perhaps the formal letters had nothing to do with Billy's well -known shyness, but the fact that Billy – despite his genius – had a decidedly one-track mind. Whatever his current project was consumed all his waking hours, and (Kat had sighed) probably most of his dreams as well. Heaven only knew the reason, but that didn't change the fact.
"Well…" A look came over Jason's face that Katherine could only have described as a smirk. "He found a…shall we say…young lady?"
Kat clapped her hand over her mouth in delight. "Really? That's fantastic!"
Jason shook his head, chuckling. "I don't know how he does it. Girls find Billy – he had a date for almost every dance he attended. Marge, Laura, I heard about a Violet, and of course, Cestria."
"Not too serious, then?"
"Actually, it is. I think Mercy has a shot at ending Billy's bachelor days."
"What?! I never heard about this!"
"That's because guys don't gossip," announced Jason slightly smugly.
"Then what are you doing now?" Jason stopped abruptly. Katherine felt a small leap of fear. She hoped she hadn't overstepped her boundaries with her old friend. To her relief, he laughed out loud.
"You're right, you're right. I stand corrected."
"But as long as we're on the subject, what's this Mercy like?"
Her curiously eager tone held no malice, so Jason continued, careful to avoid anything told to him in trust. Jason was nothing if not honest and unwilling to betray anyone's, especially Billy's, confidence. Besides, Katherine would probably meet Mercy soon enough, so he knew it wouldn't hurt to tell some of the things Katherine would learn immediately upon meeting the girl. "She's a literature major at AGU, about a year younger than Billy. Really, really bright – a right-brained genius. She's introducing Billy to things like ballet and music, literature of course. I mean, he's always had a cursory knowledge and appreciation of the arts, but he's always been so focused on science that he never really takes much time to just enjoy them. He actually isn't in school this semester. He finished a PhD last year in physics at CalTech, fast tracked, and when Mercy came around, he decided he wanted to have some time off to enjoy life."
"Wow."
"Yup. They've been casually dating or good friends or whatever you want to call it around a year – none of us heard much about it, I might add, typical Billy – then started getting closer in the last six months. That's when we all really found out how serious he was about her."
Katherine nodded. "Ah."
Jason considered for a moment, and then spoke. "He hasn't said much – so don't get me wrong. I guess it's interesting. When I see them together, though, I just…know. Maybe it's the way he actually jokes with her on occasion, or the way he holds her hand whenever they're walking around or the way he lights up when he mentions her name. Maybe," he muttered sheepishly, "I'm just being a romantic and drawing completely the wrong conclusions." He blushed, much to his dismay. His breakup with his girlfriend Emily felt awfully fresh, which was the reason he'd accepted Adam's invitation to go hear Tanya sing. Jason wasn't a huge fan of baroque music, but he'd taken a music appreciation class during college for his fine arts requirement (the only fine arts that didn't require painting, dancing, singing, or playing an instrument, it seemed to him!) and deep down, he felt as though there was no point in moping for another evening alone in his apartment, haunted by Emily's ghost when he could go out with some friends. He figured at least Rocky would probably be cheerful and entertaining. Despite the initial enmity between the two, they'd actually become good friends. Jason loved Tommy dearly, but Rocky had a way of cracking up just about anyone (whether this meant making them laugh or driving them insane was anyone's guess, but it worked). And Jason knew he needed a good night out.
Making small talk about London and the dojo lasted for a little while in a casual, easy banter, but eventually, conversation ground to a slow halt. It took Jason a moment to realize the silence, as he'd been slightly transfixed by the lovely face before him and was staring. Katherine gave a slight cough, jarring Jason quickly.
They stood staring slightly awkwardly at one another. Finally, Kat spoke. "Well, I just wanted to stop by and say hello." She began to make small motions of rifling through her tiny, stylish black purse, presumably for car keys.
"Oh," she said suddenly, abandoning her search. "How is Tommy these days? I haven't heard from him at all in ages."
Jason chuckled. "The forgetful Oliver strikes again. He's fine."
"Liking teaching, eh?"
"Like a duck to water." Silence fell again, but this time there was almost a dash of pain to it. Jason surreptitiously sized up Katherine's body language. She'd almost imperceptibly stiffened. "Tommy's been pretty busy, what with a full class-schedule here and of course, running around with Kim."
"It's been about two years since they started dating again." Katherine tried to make the statement sound neutral, but Jason caught on immediately to the question behind it.
"I expect them to get engaged very soon." Jason hated to give the truth so brutally, but there was no sense in beating around the bush with more polite questions and answers. It's been a little over two years. Isn't Kat over Tommy yet?
Katherine shook it off. "Don't worry, I'm not still pining over him," she said, a little more sharply than she intended. She sighed. "It's just that everyone's paired off. I'll be fine, I promise. It has less to do with Tommy and Kim than…" she trailed off.
"Than that you want someone waiting for you under the mistletoe."
"Exactly." Kat's face brightened. "I hear Tanya has a performance coming up."
Jason noted the deliberate change of subject and tactfully didn't press. "Yes, The Messiah. I'm going, actually." A sudden thought sprang to his mind to cheer up his friend. "It's sold out, but my mom's friend gave her ticket to my mother when her Christmas plans changed abruptly. Mom can't go either, as it turns out, and I know she'd let you have it if you wanted to go. You could see Tanya," he added.
A genuine smile broke over Katherine's features. "I'd love that. Speaking of Tanya, guess what…"
~*~
The performance was beautiful. Katherine's knowledgeable comments prior to the show and at intermission heightened the enjoyment for the foursome as she explained a few of the key features to the oratorio, helping the young men understand better the music and the wording. When Jason and Rocky had stopped by to pick her up, Rocky had let out a wolf whistle, which had promptly earned a dark look from Jason. Kat was much too classy for that…or was it something else that pushed him? Shaking off the thought, Jason had also appreciated Katherine's lovely fashion sense. Dressed in a simple lavender gown that fell to just above the knee and her hair swept into a chignon with a few tendrils curled and loose, with her only jewelry a pair of dangling silver earrings, Katherine looked every inch like the sophisticated ballerina she was.
Adam, however, while interested by the music, was focused much more on a certain young lady in the chorus. While he'd noticed Kat (mostly by following the appreciative gazes of the young men as she passed), his attraction to her beauty was more on par with admiring a pretty painting, no more than a passing glance. A different image of pure beauty was formed in his mind, filling it with the thoughts of soft, curly ebony hair, and mocha skin.
Adam had good reason for his preoccupation. Tanya quite literally shone. Her dark hair was pulled back into a formal French twist, with a couple of curls highlighting her face and the small, sparkling earrings in her lobes. Her makeup was formal, but she'd used a touch of bronzer to add a tiny bit of glow to her features. Even clothed in the same dark robe as the rest of the choir, Tanya's face reflected the immense joy she found in singing. Her bright smile stood out from those around her, and it seemed especially to Adam as though the spotlights shone directly on her. He barely noticed the soloists, as fantastic as they were, or the intricate weave of the orchestra's sound. Adam found his worship in the sparkling dark eyes, the smooth deep skin, the pleasant, strong, earthy voice and sat back in his seat in awe. At the end of the performance, leaving a bemused Katherine, Jason, and Rocky in his wake, Adam hurried back stage.
He spotted her shrugging off her robe and congratulating the other members of the chorus. Pushing through the crowd, he embraced her without any of his customary shyness, burying his face momentarily in her shoulder where he caught the light scent of her lavender body lotion. Tanya hugged him back. When they finally drew apart, Adam stared at her. She wore a simple but elegant black wrap dress, and a necklace previously hidden under her stole accentuated the loveliness of the outfit. Tanya laughed softly. "What?"
Adam slipped abruptly out of his reverie. "Just thinking…" he blushed. Tanya hugged him again.
"Come on, let's go find the others, sweetheart."
And she laughed a laugh of joy aloud when he whispered so only she could hear: "Do we have to?"
~*~
Tanya stretched and yawned. "Mmmm," she sighed aloud, luxuriating in her own double bed, much larger and softer than the twin bunk she inhabited at school. Kicking out her arms and legs, she reveled in feeling none of her limbs hang out over the side of the mattress. Snuggling down into the sunny comforter and a large mound of pillows, Tanya grinned. No eight o'clock classes! She thought to herself. And I'm home. Such a good feeling.
Tanya had felt elated since her performance the previous night. Katherine's surprise appearance put her in an even more excited mood. They'd had fun catching up in the car on the way home, since Rocky had decided to borrow his mother's mini-van for the trip, to prevent the necessity of two cars what with Tanya's luggage and all. However, Adam…well…Tanya giggled out loud. She could hardly believe that he'd hugged her the way he had – in front of a large number of fellow oratorio members, and so close. All she had wanted to do was run a hand over his newly shorn locks, pull him into her arms, and kiss him. In fact, if it hadn't been Rocky driving and that she didn't want to be rude to Katherine and Jason, she knew she would have probably tried to steal a kiss or two in the dark vehicle as they headed back towards Angel Grove, especially since Adam had been so uncharacteristically bold right after the performance in his comments and actions. A stolen kiss…You are so bad, girl!
Looking at her alarm clock, she sighed. It was just about time for her to get over to Cherry Hills to volunteer. Cherry Hills, one of the nicer Angel Grove nursing homes, had asked her if she would be willing to sing for chapel that day and then help out with a Christmas program. Tanya had started volunteering there for her social structures class at Angel Grove High School, and when she came home from school, she often called and asked if she could volunteer. They were always happy to have her, and Tanya enjoyed working with the elderly people. With her upbringing in Africa, she respected and valued elders, and had been shocked to see how few of her peers had the same feeling.
Sliding out of bed, Tanya pulled on her bright yellow terry-cloth robe and headed downstairs. Her parents were in the kitchen, animatedly discussing something. When Tanya walked in, her mother smiled. "Good morning, darling. What are you up to today?"
"Off to Cherry Hills for the afternoon, and Adam's taking me out this evening for dinner."
"Adam is such a wonderful boy," remarked Gabriel. Nantale seconded it with an enthusiastic nod. Tanya did not notice the secret glance the two exchanged, nor the wink.
After giving both parents a hug and kiss and grabbing a breakfast bar, Tanya showered, changed and drove out to the nursing home. Hurrying through the electric doors, Tanya breathed in. Hospitals had never bothered her like they did Adam. The scent in the air was a combination of soap and disinfectant with just a tiny hint of mustiness, and even the air seemed aged. A woman in a wheelchair stopped her. "Which way did they go?" she croaked.
Tanya placated the woman and led her back towards the lounge area. She was used to dealing with the dementia residents, something she had been forced to learn very early on in her volunteer days. She checked in at the nurses' station, and then hurried down a corridor. Knocking on one door, she let herself in at the murmur of assent she heard inside the room. "Mrs. C?"
"Pretty girl, is that you?"
"It's Tanya.
"How are you, dear?"
"I'm great, and you?"
"Oh, I'm getting older as usual, but other than that, well." She reached out and touched Tanya's face. "My goodness, you are so beautiful, dear. Do you have a sweetheart?"
"Yes, I do." An involuntary smile crossed Tanya's features.
"So young and in love," murmured the old lady. "That's wonderful, dear. I'm so glad for you."
Tanya impulsively reached out and lightly hugged the old woman, who hugged her back. "I came to ask if you wanted to go to chapel, Mrs. C."
"Oh, yes. I would love that. Would you mind pushing me down there?"
"Not at all," said Tanya. Mrs. C was a favorite of hers, someone she always visited when she came to volunteer. Lost in her tasks with plenty of people to greet, the rest of the afternoon passed quickly.
~*~
"Argh!" Tanya yanked at her hair, attempting to tame it into an informal updo that would keep it out of her face during the evening. She had gotten home from Cherry Hills later than usual, and now was faced with a very short time to prepare for her date. Her clothing, laid out on her bed, consisted of a short, black skirt, black tights, kitten heels, and a maroon sweater with gold threads woven through it. Small dangling gold earrings and a delicate chain necklace completed the ensemble. Stifling a yelp of pain as she pushed the pins into her hair hard, grazing her scalp with one, she checked her watch. Finally, the bobby pins stayed in place, and Tanya bolted into the bedroom to change. As she did so, she could hear the doorbell chime.
"Tanya! Adam's here."
"Just a minute!" Tanya hurried. She knew Adam hated being late, and they had restaurant reservations. Not, she knew, that he would ever have complained to her about it, her being on time was simply out of love and respect for him. She knew, though he rarely said anything about it, that he appreciated it when she was ready and on time. Yanking her tights up, as she did so grumbling aspersions about the character of the ass who had invented hosiery, she slipped into her shoes, and nearly tripped in her haste to get downstairs. When she reached the bottom of the steps, she paused as she caught sight of Adam.
Dressed in neatly pressed black slacks, a black, collared shirt, and a hunter green vest, he looked stunning. His cheeks colored slightly when he saw her. Tanya loved that about him, his gentle treatment of her. Oh, make no mistake, when provoked, even gentle Adam could get very angry, as Tanya knew to her sorrow. Adam could hold his own in a verbal spat. However, those incidents were rare, and for that, Tanya was glad. Though college had changed Adam some – he was much more likely to join in a conversation or to interject some dry humor than before – he still occupied the quietest edge of any group he was in. More extroverted Tanya had wondered more than once at their unlikely relationship. She supposed that she was drawn to Adam's inner strength. Quiet though he was, he never stood for wrong and had little problem standing up for his beliefs when he needed to. Tanya respected this immensely.
"Baby girl," her father's voice broke into her contemplations, "have a great time."
Tanya kissed her father. "Love you, Daddy. Love you, Mom. I'll see you later." She and Adam strode hand in hand towards Adam's waiting car.
"You look nice," Tanya remarked once settled comfortably in the front seat of the car.
"Thank you." Adam bit his lip slightly, the way he always did when he received a compliment and felt pleased but unsure of how to respond. "You too. I really like that sweater."
"Elyse convinced me that I needed something in my wardrobe besides yellow. The gold strands helped. I still feel like I'm wearing what I'm familiar with."
"Elyse has good taste," Adam commented. It was true. The deep maroon suited Tanya's skin well since the red undertones drew out the richness of Tanya's coloring. The sweater fit snugly, but was not tastelessly tight. He reached out and gently caressed a soft hand. Tanya squeezed back in a wordless understanding. Satisfied, Adam started the car and backed down the Sloan's driveway.
"Mmm, that was fantastic." The pair was meandering through Angel Grove Park after a sumptuous dinner, looking at the light display set up around the park in honor of the coming holiday. The air had turned slightly chilly. Tanya snuggled in close to Adam, relaxing into his warmth. Adam slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to him, then leaning down to brush his lips lightly against the top of her head.
"You liked it?"
"Oh, yes." Adam laughed. Tanya had eaten quite heartily, after a few comments about bad cafeteria food. Adam had taken a certain pleasure in the relish with which she devoured her food, and silently thanked his father for recommending the eatery. Everything through dinner had gone exactly the way he had planned it: an enjoyable meal, a romantic walk through the park…this was a night he hoped she'd remember. He hugged her gently again.
"I love Christmas," murmured Tanya. "I mean, I love Kwaanza too, but this is all sort of…new…to me. I guess it's just something different and interesting to explore."
"I've had it around all my life," said Adam thoughtfully. "I mean, I always enjoyed the season and all the activities and such, but I've never really thought about it much. I think I take most of this stuff for granted. Besides, I've always thought Christmas was overly commercialized, so I've grumbled about that. It's a lot more fun seeing it through your eyes."
"I know these are just lights," said Tanya, gesturing to a display, "but we didn't really do anything like this in Africa. I mean, there's Christmas, and even some decorations around some of the mission compounds, but we were usually celebrating Kwaanza. Not," she added, "that that's a bad thing. Kwaanza has so much cultural heritage for my parents and I, and there's a large amount of meaning tied up in it for me. I'll always celebrate primarily Kwaanza. But I think that there are always new things to learn in different cultures, and to enjoy. Christmas is one of those here in the United States".
Adam smiled. Tanya knew quite a bit about western culture from some things she'd studied, but the previous life she remembered before the time stream had been messed up was one of being in Africa since she was quite small and growing up in a small, tribal village. It sorrowed her sometimes that she couldn't share those memories with her parents, who, as a result of the changes made in time, had different ones. Tanya was both at once impressed with her new culture and the many advantages it offered yet she was not blind to its failings either, of which there were plenty as well. Adam always found himself approaching things he'd taken for granted from birth from new angles thanks to Tanya's enthusiasm and genuine curiosity. He smiled inwardly, feeling a warmth wash over him.
Walking slowly, the two hardly noticed the cool night air, wrapped in one another's arms. Though ostensibly the holiday lights were the reason they'd come, both were simply luxuriating in being together, something that happened all too seldom with the two at different schools. Tanya had talked about transferring at one point to be closer, but after a long discussion with Adam and her parents, had decided that she needed to be at the Conservatory. They both knew, however, there was only one more year of school left for them to be apart. An unspoken promise hung in the air between them. Tanya shivered slightly in anticipation at the thought. She knew, though she wasn't sure how, that Adam was the one she wanted for the rest of her life. I suppose that's how love is, she mused. You just know when your heart's come home. Her thoughts were broken when Adam stopped abruptly.
They had come to one of the more fantastic displays in the park: a large grouping of lighted stars decorating the trees and one large star hanging between two taller trees. Sending up a prayer of thanks for that in the darkness, Tanya could not see the nervousness in his face, he sucked in a deep breath.
"Adam, is something wrong?"
"No, not at all. Listen, I, uh, have a Christmas present to give to you."
Tanya felt mildly surprised. With both of them on extremely tight budgets, they had decided to stick to small things or items that could be made with much love poured into the production. Tanya had written a song she planned to present to Adam, had lettered the music and lyrics carefully in beautiful calligraphic hand, and decorated the margins of the page with lovely, colorful designs. She'd then bound it together, and purchased a fancy glass ink pen to slide into the package, an homage to Adam's love of writing. She also hadn't thought they were exchanging gifts until later that evening when they went back to Tanya's house to visit with the Sloans and maybe watch a movie.
Adam handed her a medium sized package without any further preliminaries. Tanya noted that his hand shook slightly when he extended the item to her. What? She wondered. Adam got nervous sometimes, but this was a bit unusual. Curiosity overwhelmed her. Opening the wrapping paper, Tanya could see in the dim light that it was something in a lovely silver picture frame, with a silk ribbon tied in a bow around the middle. Suddenly she caught sight of the much smaller item tied on the ribbon. Oh, my. Tanya couldn't speak, couldn't move. She was peripherally aware of Adam going down onto one knee. Her gaze darted between Adam and her present.
In the light of the stars, a diamond gleamed against the softness of the yellow silk ribbon, its facets sparkling even in the dimness. She stared at Adam. "Tanya Eleanor Sloan, will you marry me?" All the wordy speeches and declarations of love Adam had carefully prepared earlier flew from his head. The only thing he could get out was the most simple, pure expression of his love to the woman standing with tears forming in her eyes before him. His heart pounded and blood rushed into his head. He ceased breathing as he waited for her answer.
Tanya tried to find the words. Her entire mind and body screamed, "Yes!" At the same time, she felt as though she had lost the power of speech, could not force her lips to say the word with the explosion of joy flying through her. Finally, she managed to stutter, "Yyyes!" After that, the words came to her easily. "Yes! Yes! Oh, Adam, yes, love, yes!"
Adam breathed with relief. Wild, unbridled happiness raced through him. He lifted her as though she weighed nothing and swung her around, not caring if anyone saw or heard them. "Yes," she cried again, "Yes, I'll marry you!"
"Tanya, I love you," he replied fiercely. "I love you more than I can express. God, I love you!"
Tanya pulled away momentarily so that she could see his face. Lit from within, she felt the tears building from the moment she had seen the ring spill onto her cheeks. "Adam, I love you too." Her boy- no, fiancé! – reached down tenderly and caressed her cheek with his thumb, wiping away the joyous tears. His delicate fingers nimbly undid the bow and extracted the ring. Tanya held out her hand, and slowly, Adam slid the ring onto her finger, lightly raising her hand to his lips when he finished. Tanya held out her hand to marvel at. The ring was perfect. Made of yellow gold, the setting shone against the lights. Four tiny diamonds on each side of the larger gem flanked it. On the top of the setting was cut a tiny heart. "Adam, it's perfect. How did you pick it?"
If the lighting had been brighter, Tanya would have seen Adam flush once again. "I had a little help," he confessed. "I e-mailed Elyse, and then when Katherine got home early, I asked for her opinion."
It was a ring Tanya would have chosen herself. "Katherine was in on this?"
"Well, naturally. She is one of your best friends."
"Adam, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She danced lightly in place, bouncing on her toes. "What's this?" she asked, gesturing to the frame which she now saw held a cream sheet of beautifully engraved writing instead of a photograph.
"Read it. Here, come over this way, the light's better."
Tanya held up the object to the lights and read:
For my dearest Tanya, a woman unmatchable in grace, beauty, courage and strength:
To all those happy blessings which ye have
With plenteous hand by heaven upon you thrown,
This one disparagement they to you gave,
That ye your love lent to so meane a one.
Ye whose high worth's surpassing paragon,
Could not on earth have found one fit for mate,
Ne but in heaven matchable to none,
Why did ye stoop to such lowly state?
But ye thereby much greater glory gate,
Than had ye sorted with a prince's peer;
For now your light doth more itself dilate,
And in my darkness greater doth appear.
Yet since your light hath once illumined me,
With my reflex yours shall increased be.
~*~Edmund Spenser~*~
Love always, Adam
Not another word was spoken between the two for a long time as their lips met for a gentle kiss and the promise of a new beginning - together.