Emery sat in his office, folding a paper rose to give to Ceony once she woke up. He didn't have much to do to pass the time and this was what he thought of. His select insomnia was up and at it again, and despite wanting to join Ceony in bed, his body would not will him to do so. He recalled the last few days and how much of a rush they were as he did a valley Fold. He only just now sat down and thought about it.
Oh, how he would have so regretted snuffing the feelings he had if he listened to his mind. His heart would have beaten himself over if Ceony was with someone else. It took that long just for him to realize how much of an idiot he was. When she asked for that kiss when he was first hunting for Saraj, he did what his heart wanted and gave it to her.
But he finally did what his heart really desired. He proposed to her. It took so much effort to simply bring himself to even ask for her family's blessing, let alone had been out with her parents several times behind Ceony's back to allow them to get to know him better. He however, had only met them in parks or bakeries.
He only found out that Alfred had given them the first down payment of the estate they were relocated in awhile back when he asked Alfred where they had lived. Alongside that, Alfred helped Ceony's father find a better, more respectable job to help them keep that estate and raise their children well. Ceony's work was spreading in Criminal Affairs, that was obvious enough. He sighed, putting the stem of the rose down and massaging his temples. He remembered when he dropped in for a surprise visit to ask for their blessing, that was when he found out about the permanent relocation. He recalled the event so fresh in his mind.
Emery looked at the address Alfred had given him, then glanced at where the buggy had dropped him off, in front of the gate. They certainly gave the Twill family quite the upgrade, rather than the rundown home in the Mill Squats. It wasn't quite the size of Prit's mansion, but it certainly was larger. The house was only two stories high, but was about the size of the cottage and then some. Similarly to Prit's, ivy covered the majority of the sides of the mansion and had shrubbery in the front, along with three different chimneys. At least here, there were flowers, not paper ones, but flowers nonetheless. He sighed, looking at the policeman who already knew Emery and was opening the gate. There were several other police officers walking around the area. With Saraj still loose, it made sense to keep at least several people stationed here. He could easily go for Ceony's family if they weren't protected.
Emery had way too much free time on his hands. He was tracking Saraj, but it wasn't enough. He thought it would be best to just spend it with Ceony's family. Besides, he did have a question he needed to ask Ceony's parents.
Something that he couldn't just do with a mail bird.
"Are they home?" Emery asked the police officer, who nodded. Emery quickly walked to the front, then noticed there was a large garden in the back, where he could hear humming. He decided to go to the back, where he spotted Rhonda watering the flowers. She seemed content, but her eyes said otherwise. It looked as if she spent her evenings worried. He couldn't blame her, as it was her oldest daughter going off into the world and she hasn't been told much. The police officers must have been a surprise as well. He felt bad, he really wanted to tell her what really was happening, but that would only worry her further. He walked towards her and made his presence known.
"Good morning Rhonda." He said, opening the small gate that separated the garden from the front lawn. The garden was more bountiful with flowers of all the sorts and even had a small sitting area where Margo and Marshall were studying hard. Zina was trying to stay out of sight as she was sketching something on a piece of paper.
"Magician Thane!" She said, almost dropping the watering can in surprise."I didn't expect you to visit, is everything alright?"
"Emery is fine, Rhonda." He said, "I may be a magician, but I prefer Emery."
"Ah, alright Emery." She nodded, testing his name on her tongue, "So then, what brings you here? Any troubles?"
"No, I just-" Emery was interrupted by Marshall and Margo, who ran up to Emery when they noticed him.
"Aren't you my sister's teacher?" Marshall asked, looking up to him. Emery smiled. He didn't spend that much time with Ceony's siblings, which he made a mental note to do so.
"Why yes, I am." He said, looking at the two. They were so interested, it reminded him of Ceony, especially Margo, who really was a spitting image of Ceony. He missed her already, even if it had been only several days.
"Are you going to give us paper gifts like she did?" Margo asked, eyes twinkling with excitement only a child would bear. She seemed to be in her teens now, but nonetheless, was very thrilled to see the paper magician. This family was so loved, Emery noticed, the two children didn't seem to have lost their innocence, besides Zina, who was a sulking young adult.
"Now children, Magician Thane is here for other reasons." Rhonda said, frowning at the kids. "Go back to your studies."
"It's quite alright, Rhonda." He bent down to their level and pulled out a crimson piece of paper and deftly began Folding it into a songbird. Once he was satisfied, he whispered, "Breathe," and the paper songbird came to life. It flew and landed on top of Margo's head. She laughed excitedly. He pulled out a piece of turquoise paper and Folded it into a butterfly and whispered, "Breathe," once again. The paper butterfly flew to Marshall's nose.
"Thank you Magician Thane!" Margo and Marshall said in unison, playing with the paper songbird and the paper butterfly that followed them, seeming to ignore their studies for the time being. Zina watched before turning back to her sketchbook, though she seemed to be paying attention to it all.
"I wasn't kidding when she said she spoke fondly of you. I'm glad you became her mentor." Rhonda said, watching the children play. "I doubt she'd be as happy as she is now if she didn't become an apprentice and now look at her, she's going to be a magician. I never truly thanked you for paying for her scholarship, now did I?"
"It really was no trouble. She almost lost her scholarship. I just helped." The thought of Ceony when she dumped the wine on Sinad Mueller came to mind. He knew how feisty she was at that moment, but it was really a coincidence when she became his apprentice. "She deserved it." And Ceony truly did. She passed Tagis Praff in a year and would get her magicianship soon. Ceony might even surpass himself at the pace she was heading in. Not that he would let her of course, but she might.
"And thank goodness for that. She would be crushed if she had to toss her dream away." She said as she watered more flowers. He paused, debating on if he was to continue on with what he came here for. "Rhonda, is your husband home?"
"Yes, actually. He doesn't work today." Rhonda said, "Though he's very stressed. He doesn't want to lose this place, so he's working really hard."
"If it helps, Ceony is currently in good hands, studying hard. I, on the other hand am working on protecting this family." Rhonda smiled brightly, tears in her eyes. She looked so proud of him.
"You'd make an impressive son-in-law Magician Thane." Rhonda said, putting the watering can down. "You're great with children, you hold yourself well, and overall just a great man. There aren't many in the world like that."
"Why thank you, but..." He paused, "That's actually...what I'm here for." Emery hesitated, looking at Rhonda.
"Oh." The single syllable came from her lips and it was silence, besides the children. She looked up at him and a moment of silence passed before Rhonda just smiled. "Well, to be honest, I'm not surprised."
"I'm sorry?" It was Emery's turn to be surprised. He had expected her to say something else, anything else besides that.
"Well, I know my daughter well and clearly, after seeing her on her birthdays, she seemed to be always talking about you and you only. She always has this dreamy look and I know for sure she's thinking of you. I had that look when I met her father." She paused, sighing, "She's a very selective woman and doesn't wear her heart on her shoulder. You've never done her any sort of wrong, a gentleman in your own aspect. You've protected this family since day one. You make her so happy. I couldn't say no to you at all even if I tried." Rhonda smiled softly, "I know how much she's done for you. You'll do the same, I'm sure. I give you my blessing."
"I-" He was lost for words. "Thank you."
"When do you plan on proposing?" Rhonda asked. Of course she would ask that. Every mother does.
"When she becomes a magician." Emery said and it was true, he did wait. He saved money on the side to buy her that special Smelter ring Juliet told him about before. He wanted it to be special.
"After her ceremony?" Rhonda asked, eyes twinkling just thinking about it. "Oh Emery, now that truly is magical on its own. Ceony will be so happy."
"I hope so." Emery said, "I'm really looking forward to her passing." He didn't doubt it for a single second that Ceony wouldn't.
"Now you should ask my husband." Rhonda said. "He should be in the study." He nodded and walked into the house. The smell of kidney pie was adamant in the mansion and he smiled. This was where Ceony got her cooking skills, he thought, as he walked around, searching for her father. Mr. Twill wasn't terrifying in the least, if anything, he was a jolly man. His answer was what terrified him.
"Ernest?" He asked, poking his head into the first door he found, which was actually the study. Mr. Twill was reading a book, with the cover slightly scratched out, so the title wasn't quite visible.
"Magician Thane." He greeted, putting his book down and got up from his seat and made his way to Emery, who met him halfway and shook his hand, smiling. "The policemen are back, why so?"
"Once again, you may be in danger. But, I am taking care of it while Ceony is studying for her magician's test." Emery said, relaying what he told Rhonda. Ernest sighed, looking away for a second before looking back to Emery.
"Thank you." He sighed, running a hand through his raven black hair. What interesting hair colors this family had. "I'm just scared, but I trust you."
"She's safe. You all are." Magician Thane sighed, deciding to just go for it. He couldn't delay anything. "I know this isn't the greatest time but..." Emery saw a slight smile form on Ernest's face. He knew too, didn't he?
"Magician Thane, are you interested in my daughter?" Emery felt his cheeks rush to a bright red. Emery hadn't prepared for Ceony's father to be equally as direct as her mother, if not more.
"Y-yes." He stuttered. He's never stuttered before.
"I assume Rhonda has told you everything I would say, but, I like you, Magician Thane. You allowed Ceony's dream come true. That, on its own, is enough to make me approve of you." Ernest said, "You seem to be a family man. I hope you are." Ernest put a hand on Emery's shoulder and laughed, noting Emery's uncomfortable look. "No need to be all tense Magician Thane, you're like family at this point!" Emery smiled sheepishly, more in his eyes rather than his mouth.
"Thank you. Just, thank you." Emery thanked him profusely. "I didn't expect you both to say yes."
"Why wouldn't we?" Ernest asked, "You're everything in a son-in-law package, wrapped around an indigo coat."
"I suppose I am. Thank you, really." Mr. Twill removed his hand from Emery's shoulder. "Have a good day, Ernest."
"You too, Magician Thane."
"Please, just call me Emery." He said as he walked off, making his way through the front entrance. He just walked through the front door when Zina's voice surprised him.
"You're popular in this family, you know." Zina said and Emery turned, finding Zina leaning besides the door frame. "They really do love what you've done for Ceony."
"Really?" Emery asked, looking at Zina. If someone had told him Zina and Ceony were sisters, he would dismiss the notion. Zina was so different from Ceony. He wondered why.
"My mother and father love that you helped Ceony up the steps to be a magician. Marshall and Margo became interested in origami because of you both." She shook her head, "I"ll have a great time trying to live up to my amazing sister." She really seemed to dislike Ceony.
"Zina, you're great in your own merit." Emery said, frowning.
"Easy for you to say! You're a magician. I'm...nothing compared to you or Ceony or anyone in this damn world." She huffed, tucking a piece of black hair behind her ear.
"Zina, that's not true and you know it." He remembered Ceony talking about Zina, how she was always jealous of Ceony earning the limelight.
"It doesn't matter. You're marrying my sister, aren't you?" Zina asked and Emery nodded slowly, unsure where Zina was going with this. Did everyone in this family know about his interest in marriage? "Just...make her happy, will you? As much as I really don't approve of you two, I've done nothing but envy her. I've been getting myself in worse situations because I can't help myself. I'm no good. I might change my ways, but right now, that's looking slim." His eyes slowly looked down at the piece of paper Zina was waving around as she spoke, as if to make her point. The drawing on the ivory piece of paper was a flawless copy of the garden and the back of the house, along with Margo, Marshall, and Rhonda in the drawing. It looked like a black and white photograph. She was was an impressive artist, despite hardly believing in herself.
"I know you don't like me at all, but Zina, you can do the same. It might not be magic, but nonetheless, you can do it." Emery placed a hand on her shoulder, but she reflexively pushed it off.
"That's all I wanted to say. Goodbye, Magician Thane." She said his name with a slight malice, but he knew she didn't mean it. She walked off, heading back inside. He sighed, walking back to the buggy that was waiting for him still. The policeman nodded to Emery as he left and the buggy rode back to the cottage.
He was going to protect them. He had to. For Ceony.
"Emery, you're going to kill yourself with these sleeping habits of yours." Ceony, in the present, said, stood in the door frame. He looked in front of him, noticing he had made two bouquets of paper red roses while thinking heavily.
"I wouldn't want to leave you so early, now would I, Magician Twill?" He asked. Ceony walked closer, Fennel following her.
"Of course not, Magician Thane." She chuckled, giving him a kiss across the desk. "But seriously, Emery, you need to sleep."
"I know Ceony. I promise I'll turn in soon. I just have to finish this rose." She nodded, obviously not believing him. She started walking off, then paused at the door.
"If you don't turn in, I'm not going to make you food, ever. You'll have to fend yourself." Emery mocked shock and Ceony rolled her eyes, picking up Fennel, who was running around her legs.
"You would never!" He said, a sparkle of playfulness in his emerald eyes. Ceony turned around and nodded with a smirk.
"I would." She walked off and he sighed, watching her head back into the bedroom.
What a woman.