Crete had already faded away into the distance by the time it occurred to Sirius to pull himself away from Marlene's lips. He'd devoted far too much of his efforts and energy to not kissing her to react any differently to her declaration that she chose him.

Someone was choosing him! Not just anyone. Marlene! She was brilliant and beautiful. She could have chosen anything or anyone. The whole world should have kneeled at this woman's feet. She could crack chairs into bits with her mind, for one. But she chose Sirius. Sirius had to take a deep breath in and pinch himself to be assured that he wasn't dreaming.

She shook her head and laughed. Her mass of dark spirals bounced in time with her chuckles.

"You are laughing at me, Miss Fate! Explain yourself." Sirius ran his hands around her waist, enjoying that there was no longer any reason for him not to.

"You offered to be my dog." Marlene laughed harder.

"Well excuse me for being completely hopelessly in love with you and also sometimes a dog!" Sirius tried to look offended, but it was very hard to feel that way when she looked so happy.

"I don't believe I will excuse you. I rather like you this way." Marlene ran a gentle hand over his face as she managed to still her laughter.

"We should get married!" He heard the words come out of his mouth before he considered that perhaps she wouldn't agree. But there was no unsaying them, so he smiled down at her with all the excitement and hope of a puppy.

The silence went on for too long for his liking as she stared up into his face, blue eyes wide, so he had to fill it. "Since you weren't in the market for a dog after all, I figured perhaps you were in want of a husband?"

Marlene laughed at him again, but her smile seemed to shine through her eyes with such intensity he wouldn't have been surprised to have found himself blind. "That was quite the proposal!" She held onto him to keep from laughing herself onto the floor. "But I quite like the idea of being your wife." She was still laughing, but Sirius didn't care as he kissed her again.

"Good. My father will throw us the wedding of the century!" He managed to speak while peppering her skin with kisses.

"He won't see it as an affront?" Marlene sighed contentedly and leaned into him. "Isn't he rather against the whole concept?"

"I'm not sure but I think he's a fan of love in all its forms. To be honest he'll be thrilled as long as there's a proper big party to celebrate." He stopped kissing her long enough to look down at her still smiling face. "We can have a party, can't we, my darling?"

"If I was not prepared to enjoy a party or ten, I wouldn't have accepted you as my dog, much less my husband." She smirked and pulled him back down to her lips.

After a moment Sirius pulled back. "Will your mother be alright with it? Should I ask her permission or is that a little silly seeing as she knows exactly what everyone is going to do before they do it?"

"I'm sure she's more than thrilled. She obviously knew. I'm sure it's why she sent me. She made lots of vague comments about finding my destiny on this journey. It was hard to decipher at the time because that's just what she's like but now it seems almost comically obvious that she was talking about you." Her hands had climbed into his hair and Sirius was finding it took a great deal of effort to concentrate on what she was saying when she pulled her nails along his scalp.

It took a monumental effort to step away from her, but he managed. He knew now that there was time. He'd have all the time in the world to feel her hands on him and show her exactly how much he loved her. He had some pressing questions, and also they were on a boat in broad daylight where any of the 12 Athenian youths or crew could happen upon them at any moment.

"Will what's-his-name kick up a fuss about the broken engagement?" Sirius asked, realizing again that he had no idea what the man's name was.

"Giannis?" She laughed as she tangled her fingers with his. "I think perhaps he'll be relieved."

"He has a name! That's the first time I've heard it, you know. I wondered if maybe you'd forgotten it, yourself." He laughed as she rolled her eyes.

"You're ridiculous."

"Do you think your father will be upset?" He pulled her closer to him. "Do you think he'll like me? I could meet him as a dog. I'm quite likeable as a dog, I hear." She laughed at him.

"That will not be necessary." She rested her head against his chest and sighed. "He might have a hard time understanding, but I'd like to think that above all he wants me to be happy. You make me happy. As a person." Then she smirked up at him. "Also as a dog, occasionally, because you really are a very good boy." She reached up and ruffled his hair, "but mostly as a person." She stood on her toes and kissed his lips sweetly.

Sirius laughed against her as he returned her kiss. He much preferred being with her as a person as well.