Blessing: a continuation of Luck and Fortune

The first time he met her, he was already struck by the expressiveness of her eyes.

FangYan had brought his newly arrived mother and sister to XueShiFu to meet the Fu family. It was easy to see the resemblance between mother and daughter, both in their features and the confident way they carried themselves. They were gracious and genuinely believed that it was a blessing for the Fu family patriarch to have taken FangYan under his wing, but ErTai couldn't shake the feeling that they were not the least bit intimidated, neither by the Fu family standing nor their wealth.

FangCi was the picture of a demure young lady, but her eyes gave away her curiosity as they darted about her surroundings on the tour of XueShiFu.

"How do you find BeiJing?" He asked her politely.

"Oh it's such a big city, but less colorful than DaLi had been."

"Oh?"

"DaLi is the confluence point for many ethnic groups. Merchants from other countries such as Burma and Tibet also pass through there."

"You have seen more of the world than I have."

"YunNan is a world onto itself. Not only because of the myriad of people that call it home but also because of its geography." She went on to expound upon the attributes of her homeland. Her obvious affection for YunNan loosened her tongue. Her words painted such vivid images he felt almost as though he had been to that wondrous land himself.

"You must miss it."

"I do," she admitted freely, "but I'd much rather have my family together again."

"Is that important to you?"

"Is family not important to you?" There was no judgement in her gaze, just genuine curiosity.

"Of course it is. Upholding family honor is my filial duty."

She made an impatient motion with her hands, "that's not what I meant at all."

At his questioning look, she explained, "though he is so much older than me, though he is in many ways as much father as he is brother, brother is also my friend."

"And your mother?"

"Mother…" she paused a little as she looked forward on the path where her mother was chatting with his, "mother and I are not as close, but we also haven't had much time together. The trip from YunNan to BeiJng has helped. And we do share the commonality of caring for brother very much."

"I'm sorry."

"Hmmm?" She returned her attention to him.

"I should not pry into your family matters."

She shrugged, "it's not really much of a secret. Besides, I expect you know more about my family matters than even I do."

"Oh?"

"Mother and brother have only ever told me about father and our family's misfortune in the most vague sense. They wished to protect me...and I might have pried more except it all seems resolved now. Moving here to BeiJing is a new beginning, why would I bring them sadness in demanding details of a past that cannot be altered?"

"That's a very philosophical way of looking at it."

She smiled, "shifu would be proud."

"Shifu?"

She nodded, "technically brother's shifu who taught brother not just martial arts but also ways to lead a good and upright life. But he always did have a soft spot for me too."

"So you managed to acquire some lessons too?" ErTai could feel the corners of his lips twitch.

"Shifu was generous, yes."

ErTai smiled at her answer. He suspected that FangCi was someone who could accomplish and obtain anything she truly set her mind to.

He was able to sample some of what she had learned from her shifu when he visited the Fang estate to deliver some papers to FangYan. He was shown not to a sitting room or even FangYan's study as he expected but rather to a courtyard in the more private area of the estate. He heard the unmistakable sound of an arrow hitting a target before he turned the corner and saw brother and sister with bows in their hands.

"Ah, ErTai!" FangYan greeted him.

FangCi nodded at him but her focus remained on pulling back the string of her bow. Her arrow whistled through the air before landing in the middle of the red bulls-eye.

"Bravo!" Her brother praised, causing her to grin broadly.

"FangXiaoJie has great aim."

"She is one of the best," her brother said easily, "the neighboring lads back in YunNan all knew better than to challenge her to target practice. Mother says it's the only time XiaoCi is quiet and focused."

FangCi rolled her eyes at her brother's teasing, "it's the only thing I can best you in."

"It's too bad FangXiaoJie wouldn't be able to participate in the spring hunt. I expect you can even give ErKang a challenge."

She wrinkled her nose at him, "please call me XiaoCi. FangXiaoJie sounds like some fussy stranger who wouldn't possess the strength to even pick up a bow."

ErTai looked towards her brother and at FangYan's slight nod, obeyed, "XiaoCi then."

"You owe me now."

"Oh?"

She nodded, "I'm sure you have important business to discuss with brother, but you're interrupting our training time. How do you plan to make it up to me?"

"XiaoCi!" Her brother scolded.

But ErTai found himself smiling again, "if it's a sparring partner you seek, then I would be glad to offer my services."

She looked him up and down and he held himself still beneath her scrutiny. "I suppose you'll do."

"XiaoCi…"

ErTai turned to FangYan, "I really don't mind."

FangYan also studied him for a long moment before nodding, "shall we adjourn to the study?"

FangYan had just restacked the papers in a neat pile when he paused and cocked his head, "ah, XiaoCi has finally grown impatient."

"Hmm?"

FangYan just smirked as he looked towards the doorway and soon enough, ErTai heard the sound of hurried footsteps as well and had just a brief moment to marvel at the connection between the two siblings before she burst into the room.

"Are you done now?" FangCi fairly demanded.

"Is that truly up to us?" ErTai hid a smile at FangYan's stern expression.

She seemed to deflate a little, "I'm sorry, brother."

At her brother's raised eyebrow, she turned towards ErTai, "I'm sorry for my impoliteness in barging in on your conversation, Fu er shaoye."

"ErTai," he told her, causing her to blink in surprise.

"What?"

"ErTai," he said again, "Fu er shaoye sounds like someone who is much too proper to hit a lady."

She blinked again and he grinned a little to let her know that yes, he was purposefully teasing her. She lifted a fist in response but at her brother's cough, lowered it again.

ErTai turned towards her brother, "with your permission, FangYan?"

At his nod, ErTai walked past her and out the doorway before turning back, "you do still want to spar?"

He wondered, as he defended himself against her attack, if it was wise for him to have provoked her. By might, he could overpower her, but she was agile and, as she landed a kick on his side before dancing again, sneaky. She cared not for proper form or proper rules, but fought with a single minded determination to win. He wasn't prepared for such a way of fighting and earned bruises that he otherwise would have avoided. The match ended in a draw.

"Oh, that was fun!" She was out of breath but her smile had replaced her earlier look of focus, making her seem so harmless.

But he knew better than to underestimate her now, "a rematch."

"What?"

"Not today, but I want a rematch."

"Winning is that important to you?"

"No, it's not about winning. I've never fought anyone like you. And I have to admit that it's forcing me to think on my feet and adjust my approach quickly; I think it'll make me a better fighter to practice more this manner of sparring."

"You don't think I fight dirty?"

"Why shouldn't you use your smaller frame to your advantage? If someone truly wished to do you harm, you should use all the means of self protection at your disposal."

"Huh."

"What?"

"Thank you," her tone was earnest but she offered no other explanation.

He shrugged, "I dare say it must give your brother more peace of mind to know you're so capable of defending yourself."

A friendship soon developed between them and ErTai found that he spoke more freely with her, shared more of his most private thoughts with her, than he ever did with anyone else.

"I think my brother is in love."

She paused in tying the skates he had gifted her, "What?"

"He hasn't been the same since returning from the temples. I catch him just staring up at the moon at times."

"He seems to be prone to bouts of poetic moods. And the moon can be rather pretty."

ErTai shook his head, "but for hours at a time?"

"Oh, that is odd." She shrugged as she managed to secure the ties of her skates, "but so what if he is in love? Didn't you say HuangShang has always planned for him to become an EFu? Why shouldn't he fall for one of the princesses?"

"It's just strange to see my brother show such human emotion."

"You put him on a pedestal too much."

He reached out to steady her as she moved to stand. She let him help her at first but then swatted his hands away, "I have to learn to stand by myself."

He frowned but released her. "It's hard not to. Everybody else does."

She didn't answer as she focused on balancing on the ground. When she felt more steady, she said, "do you think she does too?"

"Hmmm?"

"Whichever princess he has fallen for."

"I don't know."

"Based on your observations though, surely you can hazard a guess."

"Both QingGeGe and HuanZhuGeGe may appear meek and obedient at first glance," he shared thoughtfully, "but they are LaoFoYe's wards."

"So?"

"So I find it hard to believe that the dowager empress would have raised weaklings."

"She seems frightful."

"LaoFoYe?"

XiaoCi nodded.

"She holds much power in the palace. And HuangShang has always listened to her counsel. Your mother reminds me of her at times."

She looked surprised.

"They are both fiercely independent in their own ways."

XiaoCi looked thoughtful a moment before shrugging, "maybe your brother can marry one princess and you the other."

"What?"

"HuangShang also wants you for an EFu, no?"

ErTai blinked. He had honestly never given much thought to his own marriage.

XiaoCi took a tentative step towards the pond and he moved to hover over her protectively.

She bit her lip in concentration as her skates met the ice. She wobbled but did not fall. "You make it look so easy," she murmured, her eyes cast downward to stare at her feet.

"Look up, you won't get far if you keep looking down. And don't walk, let your feet glide. "

"I feel like I have no control of my legs...I can't reliably say they're beneath me."

He skated closer, "come on, let me help."

She met his eyes and tentatively reached out to hold his offered hands. Her grip tightened as she wobbled again.

"I've got you," he said quietly.

Her eyes were so wide and he clearly saw her apprehension, but then she blinked and her stubbornness showed itself as she set her chin stubbornly.

He skated backwards and she let him pull her across the ice.

"Get a sense of how it feels," he told her, "trust your feet."

She nodded.

He paused, "ready to try by yourself?"

She took a deep breath before nodding.

Slowly he let go of her hands. She took a few experimental steps and when she didn't fall, gained more confidence.

"That's it! Skate towards me now."

She did, her eyes locking on his. He moved backwards as she skated forwards.

"Now shall we turn?"

She made no response but continued to follow him.

When they had returned to their starting point, he let her catch up at last and smiled at her proudly. "Bravo!"

She looked about them and saw the trail of skate marks they had left in their wake, "I really did it?"

He nodded.

She threw her hands up in a cheer and abruptly lost her balance.

"XiaoCi!" He knelt at her side.

"Ow…"

"Are you alright? How many fingers am I holding up?"

For some reason the sight of his worried expression struck her as especially hilarious and the giggles bubbled out of her.

"XiaoCi?"

She couldn't stop. She felt as he helped her to a sitting position and felt his fingers inspect the back of her head.

"I'm fine," she at last managed to say.

He still frowned.

"Really." She got her feet beneath herself and, with his help, stood again, "I'll try to be more patient this time."

"You're certain you wish to continue?"

She nodded, "what do you take me for that such a little tumble would stop me?"

In retrospect, their meeting was probably always inevitable. Spring had come and she had shown up at XueShiFu with two kites in hand.

She had burst into his study the way she usually did, "ErTai!"

She suddenly paused when she saw that he wasn't alone, "oh."

He stood, "XiaoCi, this is WuAhGe."

She dipped a curtsy, "I'm sorry. I'll come back another day."

The prince shook his head, "so you are the XiaoCi I've been hearing so much about."

He expected her to make some quip but instead she just fidgeted with the spool of string. Her uncharacteristic behavior should have been a sign.

"ErTai and I weren't doing anything important. If guniang wishes to fly kites, we can both accompany you."

"I…" she bit her lip, "such a silly thing is surely beneath WuAhGe."

"Not at all. The weather today is perfect for it."

"But I've only got two kites."

"It's alright," ErTai said quickly, "I'll just watch."

"Wonderful," WuAhGe stood, "shall we?"

XiaoCi seemed to regain her spirit as the kites caught the breeze. It was easy to laugh and fall into their usual banter when faced with her smiles and open delight. But ErTai couldn't completely ignore the sense of foreboding at the way the prince looked at XiaoCi.

"I think my brother is in love."

He paused in stringing the arrow to his bow, "What?"

"Do you know where he is today?"

"Isn't he accompanying QingGeGe on her ride?"

"Precisely."

"Oh."

"Do you mind?"

"Mind?"

"That he's trying to steal your bride?"

"My bride?"

She rolled her eyes, "What's wrong with you today? You're usually not this dumb."

How was he to tell her that the sight of her holding the bow that WuAhGe had gifted her for her birthday made his heart squeeze painfully? "I'm sorry," he said instead.

She huffed before explaining, "and she's not so indifferent to him."

"No?"

XiaoCi shook her head, "I may have just met her once at your brother's wedding, but I could tell. Mother agrees with me."

"Then congratulations are in order."

"You're sure you don't mind?"

"Why would I mind?" He was genuinely confused now.

"I thought…"

He frowned at her before realizing what she was trying to say. "My brother is the one who fell in love with a GeGe. Not me."

"Oh. Good."

"Good?"

"You may be able to best me in a fight, but you'd never be able to beat brother."

He couldn't help but laugh, "true."

"I think I'll like having her as my saosao."

"Yes?"

XiaoCi nodded, "not just because brother will be happy. You were right."

"About what?"

"LaoFoYe did not raise simpletons. Even if your brother did not love ZiWei so much, she would have managed him quite well. And I expect Qing-er will likewise manage brother just as well."

"Do they need to be managed?"

"Well of course. They may know that they love their wives, but they'll need to be trained in the right ways to show it."

"And what are the right ways?"

"It's different for each woman, hence there has to be individual training."

"I expect you'll be able to manage your future husband quite well too." He wasn't sure why he said it.

His words did earn him an odd look, but she just nodded at his almost forgotten arrow, "still your turn."

His brother and FangYan were sent to ShanDong for the drought. He and WuAhGe were sent to JiangNan for the flood.

He stopped by FangFu, intending to bid farewell to XiaoCi, only to be told that the young lady had another visitor. He waited but then shrugged and made his way towards her quarters. He almost missed them, but by then he knew the estate as well as he knew XueShiFu. He walked backwards through the doorway again to make sure he hadn't been wrong.

And there, in the pagoda, he saw WuAhGe standing so very close to XiaoCi as they exchanged words. He took a step forward, intending to find out what was said, but then stopped himself. It was none of his business. Yongqi was the honorable sort. And XiaoCi...XiaoCi should surely make her own decisions.

He passed a servant on his way out, "don't tell your xiaojie that I was here, please."

"As shaoye wishes."

He nodded and made his way home. He missed FangFuRen shaking her head as she watched him depart.

He took out the handkerchief from the hidden drawer of his desk. XiaoCi had accidentally left it the last time she visited. He meant to return it to her but...

She had become fast friends with the two princesses. He hadn't thought much of it; XiaoCi made friends so easily, and it made sense that she would want to get to know QingGeGe better. But now...ZiWei surely knew of WuAhGe's feelings too.

It wasn't fair. He met her first. He loosened his grip on the handkerchief as he realized that he was in danger of ruining it. It wasn't fair, but he was used to it. He was the spare son. Whatever he did, whatever his accomplishments, ErKang's achievements would always shadow them. He didn't mind, not really, had accepted it a long time ago. It's the way it has always been. And in truth, he could admit that it was nice, not having to live up to so many expectations. And though he thought on WuAhGe as a friend, he never forgot that Yongqi was a prince. Not just a prince but very possibly the next emperor. He, ErTai, was a loyal subject. It was his duty to serve his liege even if...even if...even if it meant breaking his own heart.

He smoothed the handkerchief. As long as XiaoCi was happy. Yes. As long as she continued to smile and laugh. Whatever her title, he would always be her friend.

They were almost back to the capital when the prince received a letter from the emperor.

"I'm to be married again, this time to a FuJin rather than just a ceFuJin." The prince told him.

ErTai froze, his heart clenched in sudden icy despair.

"Aren't you going to congratulate me?"

"Of course," ErTai said quickly.

"It'll be announced the same day my new title is."

"It's well earned and well deserved."

"You are my best friend, ErTai."

ErTai didn't know what to say.

"So I can admit to you that sometimes I wish I could throw it all away." The prince paused, "and I have never been so tempted to actually do it as when I'm with..." his voice trailed off. But ErTai knew what he meant to say. "I envy you."

"Envy me?"

"You can give her all that she deserves."

ErTai felt like he couldn't breath.

The prince sighed, "it's a lonely path. I cannot walk it without true friends to support me...and as your friend, how can I 夺人所好? Especially when she has made it clear that she wants no part in my destiny?"

"What are you saying?"

"You are my best friend, but I am no longer yours, am I? I was, until you met XiaoCi."

"Yongqi…"

"I went to see her, before we left, because she had returned every single gift I had ever given her. I knew what she meant by such an act, but foolishly I wanted to hear her say it. She never mentioned your name, but I knew she meant you."

ErTai couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I'll ask HuangAhMa for the edict of marriage, it'll be my wedding gift to you. More than that...you'll forgive me if I do not attend the actual ceremony. I just ask that...that you care for her, love her, treasure as she deserves to be cared for, loved, and treasured."

"Yongqi…"

"Do not make me regret it."

"I won't."

"Good. Good."

"Yongqi?" ErTai turned back from the doorway.

"Yes?"

"You'll make an excellent emperor."

The prince smiled sadly, "thank you, my friend."

He found her at target practice.

"It's not like you to miss so often."

"ErTai." Her arms lowered to her side.

He had never seen her look so serious.

"I thought you'd be happier to see me."

"You didn't say goodbye." Her tone was accusatory, "even though you were here."

"How do you know?" He asked in surprise.

"Mother saw you."

"Oh."

"Why didn't you say goodbye?"

"I...you were otherwise occupied."

She frowned.

"I saw you two and I...I didn't wish to disturb or be a third wheel."

"You wouldn't have."

"No?"

"No. Besides, it's not like the two of you aren't friends."

"And what about the two of us?"

"What do you mean?"

They have been that close to each other in the past, but it was different this time. "You and me."

"Of course we're friends too. I can even say that you're my best friend."

He pulled out her handkerchief, "I've been meaning to return this to you."

"I hadn't even realized I lost it."

"You should be more careful with your belongings." He held on tightly to her hand when she reached for it. "I brought back a present for you."

"Did you?" She also seemed to recognize that something was shifting between the two of them.

"I hope you'll find that it's harder to lose than a handkerchief."

"What is it?"

"Close your eyes."

"Such secrecy," she complained but complied.

He just looked at her for a moment. Her mother had been right, it was truly a blessing that his father had been the one assigned to her father's case.

"Well?" She said impatiently.

He smiled and bent to press his lips lightly to hers.

Her eyes flew open as she stared up at him.

"Will you train me in the right ways to love you?"

"I'm not a princess."

"It doesn't matter."

"But…"

"HuangShang wishes to reward me. I'd like to ask for something I truly want."

"Oh."

"So?"

"You should have fought for me."

"What?"

"Even though he is a prince. You should have tried."

"I know."

"But I forgive you." She said magnanimously, "your sense of duty would never have allowed you to be so selfish. You'll just have to make it up to me."

"Alright," he agreed easily.

She slipped her other hand into his and then guided his arms to wrap around her waist, "starting now."

He pulled her closer, "gladly."

"XiaoCi!"

She just threw another snowball at him before laughing in delight as she darted out of his reach.

She turned back to enjoy the look of snow covering his features and ended up tripping.

"XiaoCi!"

She looked up to see his worried face. "I'm fine. At least this time I didn't hit my head."

He knelt to help her up but she just pulled so that he landed in the snowbank with her.

"XiaoCi!"

She turned and grinned at him, "what?"

She looked so lovely, her cheeks flushed from the cold, surrounded by the expanse of white snow, that he couldn't help but kiss her deeply.

"ErTai!" She exclaimed in surprise when he suddenly rose and picked her up in his arms.

"Is this your way of training your new husband?"

"Depends."

"Depends?"

"Is it working?"

He grinned back at her and strode towards their rooms, her laughter in his ears.

He was a patient man, which her brother had told him would be a much needed attribute when he went to ask for her family's blessings on the match. Her mother had agreed and also added "My husband and I had also been good friends before we wed...it made a world of difference."

Patience was not one of XiaoCi's strengths. It was obvious in the way she squirmed as he undressed her. He had found that he delighted in making her wait and though she uttered words of complaint against the 'torture,' he had learned that the anticipation added to her pleasure.

"I should have known when you left those bruises the first time we sparred," he told her as his lips passed over her skin, "that you were marking your claim."

"And yet you still let RongQinWang pursue me." Her tone was still accusatory.

"Just because I have always been yours did not mean you were to be mine." His voice remained calm.

"You think too little of yourself."

"No." He shook his head, "I know my place and I am satisfied with it."

"You shouldn't settle for being second."

"I don't think of it that way." It was an odd sort of conversation to be having as he teased her with his fingers and mouth.

"Winning isn't everything?" She managed to say amongst her moans.

"Self betterment has ever been my goal." He agreed.

"Besides," he added, his eyes on hers as he ran a finger down her slit, "I convinced myself that it was what you wanted."

She tilted her hips towards him in response, "what a silly thing to do."

"Silly?" He pressed more firmly and felt her wetness coat his finger, "I don't know, you blushed so prettily in his company. I had never seen you so shy. Are those not signs of infatuation?"

"Well he is a rather handsome man," she managed to whisper before he found the pearl of her pleasure.

He didn't think he was a possessive man but by heavens her words stirred him to jealousy. He paused and drew himself up to crush his lips to hers.

She wrapped her legs around his waist in response, "I admit that I was flattered by his attention. But what would I do with a prince when what I wanted was a husband?"

"Can a prince not be a husband?" He lined himself up and pressed shallowly into her entrance.

"Not just to one person. Even without other wives, he is married also to the country. How does one compete with that?" Her heels pressed into his back and her arms tugged at his neck but he could be stubborn too.

"So I was a more convenient choice."

She frowned both because of his resistance and his statement, "yes and no. I knew I could trust in you never to hurt me. With him...he may have appreciated me but I wouldn't have been allowed to stay just myself. And I happen to like myself just the way I am."

"As do I," he told her as he slid in a little bit further.

She grinned up at him, "besides, I've only ever wanted to kiss you."

"XiaoCi?"

"It's hard not to see ErKang and ZiWei be affectionate with each other. Even brother and Qing-er...and I got curious at what it'd be like. And I could only ever think of one person I wanted to try it with."

"And that person was me?"

She nodded, "if only to see what you would do."

"Why don't you find out?"

She laughed and leaned upwards to press her lips to his. She meant to draw away but he caught her gasp as he sank into her fully.

She made sounds deep in her throat that made him smile. He loved that he could give her this type of pleasure.

"ErTai…" she tilted her chin up and offered him her throat. He complied with her wishes and was rewarded as he felt her starting to clench around him.

"XiaoCi, you are my blessing." He told her as he felt her come undone, his own completion not far behind.

"You are a good husband."

He smiled at her as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "it's only been a week."

"Just take the compliment."

"Alright."

She rose to a sitting position, "so agreeable."

"You're full of good ideas."

She rolled her eyes at him but couldn't hide her own smile, "come on. I still want a snowball fight. Maybe ErKang and ZiWei will want to join."

"ZiWei is with child, ErKang wouldn't risk it. Besides, they retired early today."

"Then we'll go bother brother and Qing-er."

"At this hour?"

"Oh right." She pouted.

He sat up too, "come here."

"Hmmm?"

He wrapped the comforter about her shoulders, "it's cold."

"Is it?"

He passed his palms over her hardened nipples in answer, "yes."

"ErTai…"

"I've got an idea too," he said quietly, watching her pupils dilate as he continued to fondle her. Her mother was wrong. Target practice was not the only time that she was quiet and focused. The way she was looking at him through half lidded eyes...he could feel himself stirring again and bent his head towards her chest to distract himself.

Her fingers closed about his head to press him to her. The comforter had slipped off her shoulders, but neither of them paid any attention. She made a sound of protest when his lips lifted from her hardened nipple. He just chuckled lightly before turning his attention to her other breast.

He had been brought up to be a filial son, a dutiful subject. It was in his nature to serve his family, his prince, his emperor, his country. But everything paled when compared with her. Maybe he let her have too much power over him, maybe he should be sterner with her, as her brother could be. But he was not her brother or her father or even just her friend.

"Kiss me."

He straightened at her words and smiled before complying. He was her husband and saw no reason not to serve for the sake of his wife's pleasure.

Besides, his smile remained intact even as she pushed him down onto the bed and straddled him before trailing her own lips down his skin, she had chosen him. As her lips closed about him, he couldn't help his own sounds of pleasure. She never told him in words that she loved him. But he didn't need to hear her to say it. He could tell in the way she looked at him, the way she said his name, the way she touched him.

"XiaoCi, I'm close…"

She rose and pressed her lips to his, making him shudder. He had just enough wherewithal to flip them so that she was beneath him once more before pressing into her again.

She sucked his earlobe into her mouth in response and the graze of her teeth on the sensitive flesh proved his undoing.

"You have good ideas too," her breath against his ear tickled.

He slipped a hand between them in answer and was gratified when his touch earned him a moan.

Her expressive eyes were closed, but he still found himself entranced at the way her features shifted as he pressed insistently against her. Her arms tightened about him before she made a sound that he would never tire of hearing. He stopped the movements of his fingers, knowing that she was likely oversensitive, and pressed a kiss to her temple.

Her eyes opened again slowly and she stretched against him like a satisfied cat. "Definitely good ideas," she told him again.

He kissed the tip of her nose, "I'm glad you think so."

"But snowball fight tomorrow?"

He laughed, "alright."

She grinned and snuggled into his chest.

His hand passed soothingly through her hair.

She was usually not one for silence, but his steadiness, his calmness, had always grounded her. She let the sweetness of the moment warm her as much as the comforter he had drawn over both of them.

"ErTai?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm glad to be your wife."

She felt him press a kiss to her hair and smiled. She knew that he understood her true meaning. He was her blessing as much as she was his.