Hello, here's another chapter.

Disclaimer: Wolf's Rain and its characters are the property of their respective owners.  This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 4: Our Decisions

I smile as I watch her, sitting sideways across my lap with her arms encircled around my neck.

"Cher, was there anything you wanted to do today?"

She looks away from me with a thoughtful expression.

She turns her face towards me and replies, "It's been a while since we've simply walked together in the park."

I shake my head yes in agreement.  While I remain still, she unwraps her arms and gets up so that she is standing before me.

I smirk and say, "Help me up."

She gives me a quizzical look, but then smiles and holds out her hand.  I place my hand in hers but make no movement to get up, which surprises her.

She leans forward with a mischievous expression and says, "Well, if that's the way you're going to be," before pointedly dropping my hand and turning around. 

I do not move and remain silent, and, soon after, she turns her head so that she is looking at me again.  She sighs and then laughs and turns back to me and holds out both of her arms, which I take, though I use mostly my own effort to get up.  I release her hands and then embrace her.  As we stand silently, I decide that tonight will be the night.

She steps back and says, "Shall we go, Hubb?"

"Of course," I respond as I hold out my arm, so that she interlaces hers with mine. 

We walk together out of my apartment and onto the sidewalk.  There is an old park nearby where I live that we have been to before, so I lead us there.  Our walk is mostly in silence, but we have been together long enough that I no longer worry about it.  Cher is always full of life, but does not always express it in words.  Even now, she actively scans the scenery, pausing her sight on things that catch her interest.

When we arrive at the park, she moves her arm away and walks ahead of me.  She notices the bench that we often use when we come here, and rests her hand against it.  I watch as her hair and dress drift in the slight breeze.  She turns her head so that she is looking at me and smiles, and I smile in return. I approach and stop when I am standing near her.  She takes hold of my hand and smiles before starting to walk.  I suddenly start sneezing, oh, wonderful, there must be a dog around.

She looks at me worriedly and says, "Hubb, are you all right?"

I take out my handkerchief and hold it in my hand as I say, "It's this terrible dog allergy, I think I may have told you about it before."

While I sneeze more into the handkerchief, she responds, "Yes, I think I recall this happening before, actually, right in this park."

We look around and see a man walking a dog.

"Why don't we walk this way, Hubb?" she says as she points in the direction opposite of the dog.

"All right," I say, though I am somewhat startled, because, when I look at her, her expression seems somewhat annoyed, I wonder why?

After walking together for a while, Cher looks at me and says, "We should probably be going, Hubb, we don't want to be late for tonight."

I nod my head in agreement, and we return to my apartment.  She then drives back to her apartment while I return inside mine.  I walk to my desk and open the drawer, and take out the small box that I placed there recently and open it.  I glance at it momentarily, and then shut it, but, this time, place it on top of the desk.  After I change and am ready for the evening, I pick up the box again and place it in my right pocket.

Cher and I had planned to meet again at the event, and I walk towards her as she approaches.

I stand before her and say, "Cher, you look beautiful this evening."

She blushes slightly and smiles as she looks up at me and says, "Thank you, Hubb."

I take hold of her hand and we walk into the ballroom.  A person walks by with a tray of champagne glasses and each of us takes one.  We clink our glasses together in a toast and take a sip.

I move closer to her and smirk as I say, "I didn't think I'd ever be back at one of these again."

She smiles slightly and nods her head in agreement.

I take hold of her free hand and say, "But now, I'm happy to be here, Cher, because I'm with you."

She responds, "I feel the same way, Hubb."

In a less serious tone, I say, "Do you think Marion will be here this evening?"

"I spoke with my aunt yesterday, I understand that Marion has fallen ill, so will be unable to attend, she's 'dreadfully' upset about it."

"What a shame," I answer with a grin, causing Cher to laugh quietly.

After cocktails and dinner, a band begins to play near the dance floor.

"Cher, would you like to dance?"

"All right," she answers with a smile. 

I escort her to the floor and hold her close as we begin to dance silently.  After a few songs, I decide that it is the appropriate time, and I move away slightly.  Surprised by my action, she looks up at me with a questioning look.

"Cher, why don't we go outside?"

Still looking confused, she responds, "That's fine."

We hold hands and walk outside.  When I think we're a good distance away, I take her other hand, and she looks up at me in surprise.

I breathe deeply and say, "Cher, this time with you has been the happiest of my life, and I hope that you feel the same way."

Realizing what I will be saying next, her facial expression turns to one of surprise.  I remove my hands from hers and take the box out of my pocket, and open it in front of her to reveal the ring.

"That's why I'm asking you, Cher, to please be my wife."

Tears begin to flow down her face, and she moves her hand to wipe them away.

She smiles through her tears and says, "I will, Hubb."

Overjoyed with her response, I remove the ring from the box and place it on her finger.  She looks at it and then embraces me, which I happily return.