Hey everyone,
To be very honest, I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with this chapter. Don't get me wrong, I have ideas for the beginning and they might just make up the entire chapter. But I can't say entirely for certain. I do know this. After the next timeskip to the 5th, I am going to make a few more timejumps. Also I am thinking of creating an OC Time-Shifter – who I admit is going to be a bit of an homage to Sirius Black – and adding them.
You interested,

Venquine1990

Chapter 10
A Relaxing Sunday

4th of May 2418
Goodman Residence, Japan
Merlock's POV

The events of the other day really exceeded my expectations. In some cases yesterday's events even blew my expectations out of the water. I had expected Sarah to accept my feelings, yet I hadn't expected her to already return them. I had expected the Goodmans to be interested in my history, but I hadn't expected them to be as accepting of my darker sides. I had expected Adam to take to Petra, but I hadn't expected their bond to bloom right from the start.
The way that talking about my past had affected me had also been on a much deeper level than I had anticipated, but I don't regret it. It helped me grow closer to the family that I will one day be able to call my own. And the fact that I got to stay in the home of said family for the night was like a wonderful step towards that eventual goal. What is also wonderful is that I got to spend the night sleeping and comforting my One, keeping her from having nightmares.

Sarah fell asleep while tucked against my side, yet it only took an hour or two before her nightmares came. Luckily enough I was still awake and noticed the signs early on. I firmly pressed my lips against hers and had literally kissed her awake. It had pained me that Sarah had dreamed of me abandoning her to Adam's whims, but it had hurt me even more to hear my beloved beg me to forgive her. I had consoled her and then hypnotized her.
She had slept for the rest of the night and I had just spent the same amount of time holding her close and keeping her body calm. What both troubled me and made me smile at the same time was how, as the night passed, Sarah cuddled closer and closer against my side. By now she's almost tucked under my arm like a kitten and it looks just beyond adorable. The sun is close to rising once again and I suddenly remember my idea from the other day.

I trust on my hypnotic abilities to keep her asleep for a little while longer and yet I gently and carefully move myself out of bed. Then, with the same gentle care, I nudge Sarah to lying down straight across the bed. I pull the blanket off of her and halt my movement for a moment to see if this will wake her. But my One keeps sleeping peacefully and I grin as I take my shot. With a snap of my fingers I summon my cloak back on my form.
I grab hold of the fabric and it instantly fills itself with the magic that has been part of me ever since I started growing my powers. I pull off my cloak and let it cover my Sarah instead of the blanket. I feel my magic connecting the cloak to my beloved's form and my heart speeds up in beating as this connection gives me an even clearer picture of her every curve. I mentally shake myself to clear my head and focus on my task.
I summon my cane from a single rose like I always do and aim the ruby that is encased at the top at the cloak. A powerful bolt of lightning strikes the cloak as I put my full focus on my ability to change cloths however I see fit. I feel the power fully sinking into Sarah's night cloths and think: "May my gift with flowers show the world the beauty that is my queen." I whisper count up One, two, three and snap my fingers once again.

The cloak floats off of the bed and a grin of adoring love and personal pride adorns my face as I see the results of my work. A crown of soft pink roses that flows into a veil of darker pink roses and of which the veil goes down a little beyond her long pink hair. What's even better is the dress. The whole dress is made of Bordeaux red Vampire Roses. The top is heart-shaped and sleeveless and the skirt has a light hoop-like shape.
Intense pride overcomes me at the sight and then suddenly I realize that there is someone behind me. I turn my head and see Rocky watching me from around the doorway. I smirk at him and raise my finger to my lips. Silently I tell him not just to keep quiet to keep my Sarah asleep, but also to keep quiet on what he just saw me do. Rocky's eyes close and he nods to indicate that he will happily comply with my little plan.

I quickly tuck my beloved One back in again and then turn around and join Rocky in the hallway. And because I don't want Tony, Flint or Uncle Bernie to see my beloved and perhaps wake her by vocalizing their shock, I close the door behind me. "The others should wake sometime soon. We should go downstairs and prepare breakfast. Oh, and Sunday is usually cereal day." Rocky tells me after I close the door behind me.
I nod at him yet as he guides me downstairs, my hand strays towards the blood pack in the pocket on my back. I know that the others know of what I am and that they have accepted it. Yet at the same time I can't help myself. After centuries of mortals generally being negative, distrusting and disgusted with what they don't understand, I can't help but keep a close eye on Rocky to make sure he keeps walking ahead as I reach behind me.
My hand moves slowly into my pocket and I cautiously draw my pack from my pocket. I quickly study the amount still left within the pack and I feel relieved that I can still have another three to four days of meals mixed with the fluid before I am going to need to get my next one. "More even if I try to be a bit preserving of this pack. As long as I make sure to drink lots of fluids and water, I should be able to make it till the end of the week."

I quickly put the pack back in my pocket and relief washes over me as Rocky seems oblivious to my actions. He leads me into the kitchen, which is on the right of the living room from the viewpoint of the staircase, and jumps onto the countertop. And with his help I pull five bowls and spoons from the right cabinet and drawer, take a carton of milk from the fridge and get two boxes of cereal, one regular, one chocolate rings, from another cabinet.
I fill four of the bowls with the regular cereal and fill the slightly larger bowl with the chocolate rings. I fill all bowls with the milk and then, just because of my years of living, I send a cautious look at Rocky. The Stone Axe looks back at me confused and I remind myself once again that the axe was once a caveman and that, in the past year, he has seen much crazier than what I am about to do. And yet I feel my arm shaking as I pull out the pack again.
I softly whisper at Rocky not to say a thing and the Axe gives me a soft, silent nod. Then he makes me feel better as he actually hops and turns his back on me. I send him a short grateful smile and then open the top of the pack and drip a few drops into the bowl on the top right. I quickly put the pack back in my pocket and then suddenly Flint comes running down the staircase and into the kitchen. He happily greets me and I feel relieved that he has missed my actions.

I greet him back and put the bowls on a carrying tray. Then, just because I really want to trust my new family and because I want to give Rocky a sign of my gratitude, I decide to take a risk. I hand the tray to Flint and gently tell him: "Flint, the bowl in the top right is mine. Please make sure you remember that. I put a bit of something in that bowl that only I will be able to appreciate, understand?" And luckily enough it only takes Flint a moment to understand.
He nods and Rocky sends me a look of pride before he hops off after his son. I know that my friends are aware of my heritage. I know that they have come to accept it about me. I know I can trust them with the things that set me apart from other mortals. I know that I shouldn't expect them to be either disgusted or distrustful of my need to drink blood. Yet a sense of relief still fills me up from within at how easily Flint and Rocky accept my needs.

A few minutes later Tony and Uncle Bernie have also come down and Flint has made sure to hand me the right bowl after he set down the other four. I naturally made sure that I would be seated at the table in such a way that I would have a clear view of the staircase and now I am eagerly awaiting the last member of the family to come down. And when she descends, my grin expands even more, especially at the fact that she seems too drowsy to notice her clothing.
Yet the same can't be said for Tony, Flint and Uncle Bernie as they all gape at her in amazement and awe. Then suddenly her foot seems to trip over the hem of her dress and instantly I am on my feet. At the speed of a switch being turned on, my mind comes up with both the need to keep her from hurting herself and an idea to charm her at the same time comes to me and I quickly put the plan into action. And so I catch her and move us both.

I keep Sarah from falling and move myself from a standing position to a kneeling seated position and move Sarah so that she is lying sideways across my lap. I quickly, yet gently, make sure that her near fall doesn't keep her beautiful crown-veil from falling off and then lovingly smile at my One as she looks up at me. "Good morning, my queen. My apologies, I didn't expect that you would trip over my little gift for you so early on."
Sweet azure blue eyes blink a few times and Tony asks his sister if she even looked down or in a mirror since she woke up. Sarah shakes her head at him and says that was still drowsy and that she only woke up because she stopped feeling me holding her. This statement makes my heart soar and then finally the sweet girl looks down. Instantly her eyes widen and a gasp of shock escapes her lips, just like when she tripped.
I grin widely as she looks down at the gorgeous sleeveless dress on her form. She gently, tentatively, runs a hand down the roses that are all sown onto a soft Bordeaux red fabric that has a soft golden glitter sown into the fabric as if she's trying to convince herself that she's really wearing it. Awe and amazement cause for her beautiful blues to shine like the ocean when the sun hits it just right and the sight makes my love for her grow.

"Merlock, you – you shouldn't have –." Sarah tries to tell me, but I move my face close to her ear and whisper softly about my specialty. At the same time I try not to let my growing sense of humor increase the size of my grin as I can't help but think: "Oh my princess, if only you knew." And I silently decide for myself that I will tell her and her family about my actual wealth at earliest convenience, if only because they deserve it.
Yet for the time being, I just stand up and happily lift Sarah back in my arms as I head back to the breakfast table. I sit her down on the seat next to mine and take my own while Tony and Flint still grin at Sarah with looks of awe and amazement. I grin at this and say: "Boys really, what's with the amazement? All I did was let Sarah's outfit exemplify the beauty that I always considered her to be. That's all."
Rocky and Uncle Bernie laugh while Tony and Flint finally turn away and return their focus back to the bowls in front of them. Sarah, in the meantime, turns beet red and mumbles that she doesn't look this good. But I grab her chin and firmly pull her face so that I can look her straight in the eye. "Yes. Yes, you do. When I used my magic, I thought May my gift with flowers show the world the beauty that is my queen. You are this beautiful."

To my befuddlement Sarah's beautiful blues are full of awed disbelief and I silently determine to myself that, now that we're together, I am going to make sure that she will acknowledge herself for the beauty I have always considered her. Then I rub my slightly pointed nose across hers and this motion brings me a sense of content and loving amusement. Sarah's eyes sparkle and she tweaks her nose back across mine.
I start to act on pure instinct as I find my enjoyment and loving content grow each time our noses rub back and forth and Sarah's giggling again sounds as sweet as the chirping of hummingbirds. I also know that there's probably a huge goofy grin on my own face, but I don't care for this. I really just enjoy this simple activity way too much and I don't feel like stopping anytime soon. And delightfully enough Sarah just keeps responding as well.

"Eeeh, you two okay?" Tony suddenly breaks me out of the content sensation I was going through while rubbing Sarah's nose with my own and the two of us break apart. And when Flint says that we have been rubbing our noses together for over five minutes, my eyes widen for a reason other than shock, unlike my beloved. Instead of shock, a sense of delight fills me from within as I realize what really just happened.
Sarah rubs the roses in her hair and mumbles how she just lost track of time. The other two boys look from their sister to each other and back, looks of great confusion on their faces. I smile and say: "It's a vampire thing, boys. Every Vampire and their One has this one gesture that, whether simple or complex, can bring them an intense sense of content, joy and love. I've seen a few of my brethren discover theirs and now – we've found ours."
Tony mentions how it's just rubbing noses while his tone is curious and I remind him that the gesture can be simple. Sarah, in the meantime, beams at me and the sight of her happy delight fills me with an intense and pleasant warmth. "Vampires are supposed to be cold-blooded, but our Ones can negate that like no other. You really weren't lying when you told me this, Henrietta." I think to myself as we return our focus to our meal.

I quickly make sure to swirl the milk a little to ensure that the drops of blood I mixed with it earlier are properly mixed and then just simply start to enjoy my meal. A part of me feels a little saddened as, before today, Bindi would always join me for my morning meal. But while I dearly miss my sweet little friend, I still deeply enjoy the presence of the others instead. Then suddenly Sarah's head shoots my way and my eyes widen as she bites down on my spoon.
My heart feels like it's stopped beating entirely and Rocky mumbles the words Uh oh, not good. I know I don't really need to breath and yet, I can't help but watch my One with baited breath. Sarah blinks and seems to sample her suddenly stolen bite on her tongue. And after this, her own eyes widen as she seems to realize what she just did and what she's tasting. Her head turns to me and we stare at each other for several minutes.

My heart beats wildly in my chest as we do and then suddenly Sarah hums and mutters two words I really hadn't expected. Not bad. Those two words almost floor me, yet instead they fill me with a sense of relief. Sarah moves herself back to her own seat and softly whispers an apology. Yet I just smile at my One and tell her: "It's quite alright, love. I only added a few drops, only just enough to add the tinge to the taste, no more."
Then suddenly Flint asks if he can have a bite as well. The question startles me, but then Rocky hits his son on the head and reprimands him. I feel a sense of contentment fill me up as Rocky explains to his son how I have grown to feel uncomfortable sharing my traits with others, how it took a year for me to do so and for his son to respect that a bit more. Flint looks down at the end and apologizes just like my Sarah. And just like my Sarah, I easily forgive him.
"If anything, Flint, your easy acceptance of everything is like a balm to my soul. But considering the rollercoaster of emotions we all went through the other day, perhaps it would be better to take all of this one step at a time for now." Yet as I say this, I am quite sure that there will be a few more moments today where I might be forced to share bits of my past with them. My plans for the day, however, make me actually excited for this.

Flint nods in acceptance and Uncle Bernie, who has finished his bowl, asks what we're going to do today. Tony says that he managed to fix a computer game that Flint apparently broke accidentally a few months ago and that he's going to teach Flint how to play it. Sarah turns to me and asks: "Merlock, is it okay if I write in my journal about the other day? It's not public, but I wouldn't want to –." Yet I gently press a finger to her lips.
"Sarah my love, write to your heart's content. As for me, I'll probably make a quick trip home. I know I can rely on my power to change my cloths, but I prefer a fresh set all the same." The others nod and Sarah and I finish our bowls quickly. Once done, Tony and Flint carry the bowls to the kitchen before they disappear up the staircase. Uncle Bernie stretches himself and says that he's going to check up on some old research of his.

I turn to Sarah and give her lips a sweet but short peck as I whisper: "Wait for me, I'll be back soon." Sarah beams at me and I leave the dining room and the house. I know I can be much quicker if I, again, jump from building to building. But the street is pretty crowded and my own apartment is surrounded by grass fields. Because of this, I just calmly walk to my destination. My eyes may be closed, but my senses are sharp.
Because of this I am both able to ignore the stares of a few of those who pass me by as well as ensure that I don't bump into anyone. And the whole time I walk, my mind goes back to all the wonderful moments of the last 24 hours. Sarah arriving at our meeting place in her gorgeous dress. The fact that she returns my feelings. The many kisses we have been sharing since the other day. And naturally her beautiful form wrapped in that gorgeous dress.

"One made entirely from Vampire Roses that cannot wilt unless my feelings for my One were to expire. Something that even the Uglinator wasn't able to achieve." I think to myself and a sense of pride and love rush through me. A few minutes later I reach my house. And just like so many times before a sense of melancholy and envy almost overwhelms me. I've only been living here for about 5 years and I know I will only be able to stay for another quarter century.
"Another thirty if I can get lucky. Unless these ingenious mortals find a way to make an old timer look like a teenager I will never really have a permanent home. Heh, such is the life of an eternal being. Still, Sarah sure made the last 900 years of waiting worth it." As I think this I head upstairs and up to my bedroom. But as I reach the upper landing of the staircase, my eyes fall on another door, which is opposite to my bedroom door.

Suddenly a thought occurs to me that halts me in my tracks. "My last Heat was almost four years ago. I'm due one any day now." I think to myself and quickly focus inward again. After almost 900 years of experiencing the symptoms that precede a Heat, I have learned to recognize them. I have also learned to analyze my own body well enough that I can almost accurately determine the date of my next Heat.
And to my sheer relief, my analysis determines that my next Heat won't take place for another month or so. I sigh relieved as I had been waiting on this one to occur ever since I first laid eyes on Sarah. I had been almost positive that finding my one would trigger my Heat prematurely, but it hadn't been the case so far. Yet the thought of going in Heat when my friends are still so new to my kind and their quirks fills me with the same sense of dread as earlier this morning.

I want to ignore this for the time being, but then I remember something else. And my whole body feels like it got frozen solid with horror as I suddenly realize the implications behind a decision I made a few months ago. Instantly I rush for the study room door, undo the magic that previously kept even Bindi out of the room and dash inside. I spot the object in question and rush over. I grab it, take it from the frame I had – foolishly – put it in and quickly activate my paper shredder. And with a sense of relief I watch the picture get shredded.
"What ever was I thinking when I took that picture? Let alone when I framed it? Was I even thinking in the first place?" I mentally berate myself and I angrily snarl down the voice of my inner desire that whispers how tempting our Sarah's shapes looked in that picture. I growl, put the frame back in one of the many drawers that are set around the study and then proceed onto my own bedroom. Thankfully enough packing my cloths takes only a few minutes.

Yet I still feel a surge of adrenaline that had been left behind by my need to fix my grievous error and so I start jumping and leaping back to the Goodman Residence. I use a couple of trees and keep to the lower buildings of only two to four stories high as I jump. I know I'm again attracting attention, but my focus lies solely with getting back to my One and spending the rest of the day with her. But then suddenly a sparkle in a window sill catches my eye.
I halt on the edge of a two-story roof and look across the street. A jewelry store is situated in a huge, 10-story high flat and it appears that some kind of necklace caught the light as I reached my current spot. I quickly observe the area and when I see that there aren't any pedestrians, I just easily jump down from the building I'm on. I cross the street and my full focus is on the object that caught my eye, which I can now see clearly.

A necklace that is made of 15 beautiful plates of pure gold with the two on the outer edge being the smallest and the one in the center being the thickest. There are bits of aquamarine encased between the plates of gold and a single precious stone, shaped like a heart with a rose carved into the center is embedded into the center plate. It was also the beautifully engraved stone that caught my eye as it sparkles in the sunlight.
I stare at the incredible bit of jewelry for a few minutes and then remember a conversation I had with my account manager about a week after my return from the Land of Time. An impish grin grows on my face and I take another look around to make sure that I'm not being watched. I determine that this is the case and, with a quick snap of my fingers, my cloak adorns my shoulders once again. I fully secure the cloak on both shoulders and enter.

"Whatcha want, ya punk? I ain't got nothing yeh can afford so yeh better jus scram if yah know what's got for yeh, yah hear?" The owner of the store is an old timer with incredibly tangled grey hair and with wrinkles all over his face. Yet while he appears to be half blind on one eye and is missing all his teeth, the man also wears a very nice, black and white, two-piece suit at the same time. Together with his gruff voice and the way he talks like a sailor, he baffles me.
Yet I've dealt with more than enough stubborn and obnoxious mortals and it takes me only a second to realize that the man might just be faking, that he is taking on this kind of language, because of his low opinion of teens and young adults. And because I am centuries older than him, I feel a sense of shame well up in me over the old man's behavior. Yet I don't let it affect me or show and just approach him on the other side of the counter.

I carefully move my hand into my suit and pull out my gold card. The man's eyes widen upon the sight of it and I calmly tell him: "Forgive me for disturbing you, my good sir. But I couldn't help but notice and admire that beautiful bit of gold and aquamarine that you have displayed in your window display case. Please, take my card and ring it up for me, if you'd be so kind?" And my manners seem to shock the man even more.
"You – you're not from around here – are you young man?" The man's voice almost makes a complete 180 as it now sounds a lot smoother and more in line with someone who owns a jewelry store. I keep my smile friendly but professional and answer negative before I explain that I have my own apartment on the outskirts of town, near the grass plains. The man seems genuinely impressed with this and he takes my card as he says:

"Well then, let's see what we can see." I nod and quickly I ask if he would be willing to wrap the necklace as well. The man nods and a few minutes later I have a square shaped box covered in midnight blue wrapping paper in my hand. There is also a dark pink bow in the shape of a corsage on the top and a soft purple rose-shaped bow is tucked within the corsage and covers the better portion of the box's top.
I smile at my new purchase and quickly rush back for the Goodman residence. Uncle Bernie lets me in and jokes how he should get me a key of my own. The fact that the man already trusts me enough with a responsibility like that pleases me greatly and I ask where I will be able to find my Sarah. The man's grin widens as I call my One mine and he tells me that she's up in the study on the right of the staircase. I nod at him and happily head up.

Sarah is seated in the windowsill and looking outside. And the sight of her seated with one leg tucked underneath her form and the other with her foot on the floor, her hair slightly flowing in the soft breeze that flies through the gap in the window and her eyes a dark shade of azure blue as she seems lost in thought is just breathtaking. I take a few minutes to appreciate her stunning elegance and natural beauty and then head into the room.
Sarah seems so lost in thought that she doesn't hear me approach and I can't help but think: "You want me to accept my role as the youngest in the Clan? Adam, I will be happy to comply and you are going to wish you were here to watch me comply." And my usual charming smile turns into an impish grin as I approach my beloved from the back. Sarah still doesn't notice me, but I am too amused by my plan to be upset.

And so, while I quickly put the little box on the windowsill on the other side of my girl, I swiftly cover her eyes with one hand and whisper the words guess who in her ear. Sarah giggles and she happily turns her head. And I pleasantly wrap both my arms around her slim neck as we share another kiss. "I missed you." Sarah whispers and my heart sings at the sound. Sarah cuddles up against me and I wrap one arm around her waist.
With the other, I reach behind me and take the box from the windowsill. I notice Tony and Flint passing the open doorway, both of them with their hands behind their heads. I feel a loving sense of amusement at how similar the two look and then Flint spots me. "Hey Merlock, you're back. We just finished our game and are going down for a snack. Want to join us?" I shake my head, but then Tony's eyes widen and he asks:

"Merlock, is that from the Mikimoto Jewelry store? Those stores are crazy expensive." I feel a little miffed that he ruined my surprise for me, but then my amusement returns as I feel my cellphone ringing against upper leg. I already know exactly who the caller is and so I happily pull the device from my pocket and answer it. "Merlock old boy, about damned time that you made a big purchase. Good on you, lad."
A jovial voice comes from the other side of the call and I quickly made sure to press the speaker button after I answered the call. I grin and say: "Thanks Neville. Now you're on speaker and I'm currently here with the recipient of my purchase. Tell me, can I make more purchases like this this year and still reach a similar amount of spending as last year?" I quickly wink at Sarah and use my free hand to keep Tony and Flint quiet.
The voice on the phone groans and Neville asks: "Merlock, dude. I love you, but you are so bloody good at saving, people would say that you were the one who inspired Disney to create Scrooge McDuck. And I know, I know, you weren't anywhere near him around the time. But still my boy, can you please, please spend more than 20% of your savings this year? Please Merlock. It hurts my heart to see your money just lying there."

Sarah and Tony are utterly gaping at me and Flint is looking between me, his friend and my One in confusion. I snicker and say: "Neville, all I can say is this. I've found my One and she's mine." And just as I press the button to end the call, I interrupt the other guy as he yells: "OH THANK THE –." And while I can only imagine what my account manager is currently screaming to himself in his office, I burst out laughing.
"Merlock – what – but – how – I mean –." Tony stutters and Flint asks if he should understand what's going on. Rocky quickly tells him that I am just proving to the others that I'm really, really rich and the boy turns from his father to me with a curious look on his face. I shrug at him and say: "Remember, Sandy is an excellent teacher. She once saw an opportunity when I was about 230 or 240 years old and we all took it.
She and Henrietta constantly – well, they make sure we constantly move our money to where it can prosper and be kept safe. And if you keep that up for little over 700 years and your money managed to survive two economic crises, you end up with more money that you will ever know what to do with. And, in order to keep a low profile, I only spend as much as I need and live a moderate life, which just further favors my savings. Do you still follow me, Flint?"

Flint nods and I can tell by the look in his eyes that it's true as well, which in turn makes me smile in pride at the younger man. Then I return my focus where it belongs and hand the box to Sarah as I gently encourage my princess to open it. Sarah looks from the box to me and back and tries to argue. But I firmly press my lips against hers to silence her and then mutter: "Remember, you are my queen. And I like to spoil my queen."
And then Tony proves that he's on my side as he tells Sarah that she might as well accept my gift and that she's not going to be able to win this one. I grin at the brunette while my beloved sighs with a resigned grin on her face. She takes her gift from me and gently pries the wrapping paper off the box. Her eyes widen a little in awe as she sees the soft velvet the box is made of and then, after one last look at me, she opens the box.

And just like when she heard the full amount of my financial status, her mouth drops at the sight of the necklace. Her hold even turns slack and I quickly catch the box to make sure that it doesn't fall on the ground. "Merlock, I – I swear I – I can't just – I mean – that – that necklace – you – I –." And this time she seems truly too baffled and unable to do anything other than stutter. She doesn't even seem to realize that she's no longer holding the box.
The sight has some level of adorability to it, yet I also feel my heart going out to my precious One. I put the box down again and lift her onto my lap. "Sarah my love, have you never dreamed of being treated like a Disney Princess growing up? Considering that you and your brothers are more into traditional music over modern day music, has there really never been a Disney Princess that you compared yourself to? Who you wanted to be?"

Sarah actually wants to argue this, but I silence her with another kiss before I change tactics and so I ask her: "My love, my One, why do you think I have been saving all this time? I don't need it, so why should I? Why would I not just answer Neville's needs to see my money used unless I had a personal goal that, until now, I just hadn't gotten to yet?" Sarah stares at me for a few minutes and slowly a loving smile grows on her face.
I smile back at her and again present the box to her. And this time Sarah happily takes the necklace from the box and secures it around her neck. And just like I expected, the golden plates look divine against the tan of her skin, the chain makes her slim neck look exquisite and the aquamarine stones fit both her dress and the gorgeous azure blue of her eyes. And with her finger, my One delicately caresses the rose carving.

I grin at how beautiful my beloved looks and how my gifts for her have been accentuating her natural beauty. Then suddenly a thought occurs to me. I gently lift Sarah's face so that she is looking at me once more as I ask her: "My darling love, so far I have been simply answering my need to spoil you and show you my love however I can. But tell me, is there something – anything – that you have ever wanted? A dream that I can help you realize?"
Sarah turns from me to Tony and the two seem to share a silent conversation with each other for a few minutes. Their close bond as twins is a sight of behold and I find myself making a soft personal vow to myself that one day my bond with my One will be close to being just as strong. "We may never have a bond like the bond between twins. But I will do all it takes to have my bond with my One grow just as deep, just as strong."

I think to myself. Then, after another minute of Sarah and Tony silently discussing something between each other, the two seem to come to a silent agreement with each other. Sarah turns back to me and lovingly tells me: "We do have a dream, Merlock. One that Tony and I have never really been able to realize, because Uncle Bernie just don't make enough money." Instantly I want to start asking her about this, but this time she's the one to interrupt me.
"But not now, Merlock. Not yet. What Tony and I dream of is really big and really life-changing. And – and for now I just need a little more time to come to term with what happened a few months ago. We're also in the last month before our final exams, we need to focus on those. And of course, my new relationship with you is of equal importance to me and I want to give that proper attention as well. Can you understand that?"

And yet again her melodic voice is full of emotion as she speaks and I feel as if I am being carried by said emotions, as if I am floating on a cloud made of the emotions and the strength of my beloved's voice. I happily smile at my sweet One and whisper: "My darling, we have eternity together. I have waited almost 900 years for you and you made it worth the wait since the day we met. So yes, I can understand. Just tell me when you're ready."
Sarah beams back at me while she looks up from where she is leaning against my front and she mumbles how I am the most patient man she has ever met. I lovingly remind her of what I said the other day and we share another kiss. And in this kiss I can almost taste various promises. The promise I made that I will wait. The promise that she made that she will tell me when she's ready. And a promise that we will always love each other.

Aaawww, how sweet,
And WOW! I hadn't even noticed how long this chapter turned out to be, but it's a total of eight pages and that makes it the longest chapter so far. And yet I don't regret it as I absolutely LOVE this chapter. THIS was why I wanted to write this story. Because I love this pairing and because I want to do it justice. And some people might say that Sarah is acting a little old for her age – I aged her up a year from canon – but still.
I love it,

Venquine1990