ONE MONTH AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE RETURN OF KELLER

Climbing. It was an exhilarating sport, and he was starting to see why his soulmate was so taken with it. Miles had invited them climbing with him and wild dogs couldn't keep Maggie and Delos away – not even those with the intelligence of a human and under Galen's and Thierry's instructions – no doubt when they got back, they'd be thoroughly told off, but neither cared.

What Night People were there on the mountain anyway? Except for him and Miles.

Every so often, Miles would show off by changing into a bird and going to the far-off placed that Maggie wanted to go to, she just laughed. And now was one of those times. She and Delos were sitting on a bank, tired out from climbing, or at least Maggie was tired and Delos was being a gentleman.

He remembered Rashel and Quinn, if Quinn had convinced Rashel-vampire-hater to change, maybe he could do the same for Maggie. He tried to think not much beyond the next half-century or so, but it was a pain in the ass knowing you were going to live forever, unless you faced a terrible accident, and that your soulmate couldn't hope to live nearly as long. That she had only a human life before her, and that he was going to have to change her in the next year or so or he couldn't…

Damn it! He was going to have to ask her, seeing Galen lose Keller, even for a brief time. David thinking he'd lost Gillian… Mary-Lynette after she'd lost Ash forever…he couldn't not ask. What did he have to lose, after all? She couldn't leave him, she loved him too much.

"Maggie," he found himself choking the word, great, that's going to make her agree – turn on the waterworks, he thought to himself sarcastically, "have you changed your mind about…what you discussed during our time in my kingdom?" he had difficulty saying the last two words, because, of course, it hadn't really been his kingdom since Hunter came along and warped the whole thing.

"about everyone deserving freedom?" she asked, and he blanked. Had she actually said that, or was she just – as modern culture put it – jerking his chain?

"No…that's good too, but no…" he paused, "I was talking about becoming a vampire."

"Rashel and Quinn inspired you, huh?" she asked, and already he knew the answer was going to be no.

"I suppose," he said, scratching his head, "the answer's no, isn't it?"

she nodded, "but I'm only seventeen, there's another three years almost to go before we miss the deadline, maybe my answer will still be no, I don't know…"

"I understand."

Now, she was the one who looked like she was going to turn on the waterworks, "I want to be with you, Delos, I just don't want to have to drink blood and…"

"I said I understand…"

"Don't think I don't love you, because I do," she went on, ignoring his words.

"Maggie…"

"Marry me," she said the words in a rush, so it came out 'Marimay,' he stared at her for a moment, cleared his throat, "what did you say?"

"Err…Delos Redfern, would you marry me?" she said cheerfully now.

"I can't…it's improper of you to ask, I should be the one asking," he stated.

She rolled her eyes, he had learnt this gesture now: she was impatient, "well, I've waited months…I got bored, goddess help me. It's not a leap year, but so what? Women's independence and all…"

"yes," he muttered.

"What was that, I couldn't HEAR you!"

"Yes, Maggie, I'll marry you," he grinned, then leaned forward and kissed her with a force that knocked her over, they kissed for ages, and it felt as though only a moment had gone by.

"Oh errr…I'm sorry…didn't mean to intrude," there was a voice at the ledge and Maggie glanced up, "Miles!" she stood, adjusted her shirt so it wasn't halfway up her abdomen anymore, and ran a hand through her messed up hair. Delos glared, "you pick your moments."

"He doesn't seem happy," Miles observed, "have you asked him yet?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"Yes," Maggie repeated, a smile on her face.

"Wait!" Delos yelled, "it's a conspiracy! The whole damn world knew but me!"

"We all wanted to surprise you, darling," Maggie said in a drawl as he climbed to the next ledge. He pretended to be angry, but he couldn't have been happy. it had been predetermined, which meant she hadn't just said it because she was upset at disappointing him.

Too bad it wouldn't be forever.