April 8th, 1992
Staufen im Breisgau, Germany
"Watch your step," Johann warned as Eliza placed a trembling foot down onto the uneven stone step that led down to the street in front of the Fausts' renowned family clinic. Her hand was tense and heavy in his as she leaned on him for support. Eliza had led most of her life from her bed and her thin, birdlike legs were good for little more than decoration. But at least she was finally able to go outside and walk about like a normal lady should be able to, and she had finally achieved to where she could walk and stand supported for up to ten minutes before needing to sit and rest. And Johann was more than happy to be her support as he led her out and about the little town with her hand happily resting in the crook of his arm.
"You look very handsome today, Johann," Eliza said sweetly. As she had recovered, her voice had become stronger as well, but retained that feathery quality that never failed to touch Johann's heart. He smiled bashfully and watched as Eliza steadied herself on the cobblestones. His glasses were still as thick as could be but his eyes shone brightly and cheerfully from behind the lenses. The tired shadows under them had faded dramatically over the past five years as Eliza had slowly recovered thanks to his experimental treatment and the donation of her mother's bone marrow.
"How about we go have a crepe in the park together?" he suggested, tucking Eliza's hand securely against his elbow. They often went to park since there were many benches for Eliza to sit and rest on. She nodded eagerly and with determination set in her focused expression, they started to make their way down the street. It was a bright morning, a bit warm for the time of year, but pleasantly so. Eliza still wore a jacket, but mainly to conceal her birthday surprise to Johann in, as she could not yet carry a pocketbook.
Little did she know, however, that he had a surprise of his own for her that day. As they slowly proceeded in the early spring sunshine, he felt his heart leaping in his chest as he fingered the small box in his pocket. As a result, he was even quieter than usual and Eliza found herself wondering if he was feeling down about something. Shyly, she reached up to fidget with the plump bow she had carefully placed above her ear. She hoped her present might at least be able to cheer him up. For the first time, she had been able to go out and choose something to give him from a store instead of only having her clumsy handicrafts to offer. Of course she had no way of knowing that Johann treasured what she viewed as "clumsy handicrafts" more than he valued his own life, but finally feeling that she had a dignified gift to offer, she was truly excited to see him open it. Absently, she wondered if he was starting to feel old and perhaps that accounted for his strange silence. Though he was only turning twenty-six… She laughed to herself. Johann had grown into a very gallant and handsome man. Even his mess of blond hair, looking every day as if he'd just woken up from a crazy dream, had certain flair to it. She stared at him, smiling fondly. Of course she knew that he loved her and she loved him back with all her heart. But sometimes she wondered if his kindness and chivalry towards her could be owed more to her pitiable condition than to any particular intentions or feelings that he held for her. Their relationship had been always sweet, as long as she could remember, and she knew that she was special to him. But she could not name Johann's intentions toward her as they had a very unique history with each other. Eliza gently squeezed his arm to beckon his attention and she offered him the prettiest smile she could muster. He blushed. Eliza watched as his nose and cheeks reddened and she giggled, which made him turn even redder and she felt comforted.
The silence between them grew more comfortable as Eliza focused on her steps and Johann focused on calming his racing heart. It took them fifteen minutes to reach the park and Eliza, quite out of breath, settled onto the nearest bench to rest while Johann went to buy the crepes. He already knew that she fancied the kind with caramel and fresh bananas. While she waited, she savored the warm air and the green fragrance of new spring leaves. Her hands clutched the parcel in her lap tightly. She had asked the shopkeeper to wrap it in beautiful paper and ribbons, tired of looking at her own dowdy homemade wrappings.
Johann soon returned clutching two filled crepes. As she accepted hers with a grateful smile, she casually laid the flashy package in his lap as he sat down. "Happy birthday, Johann," she said, beaming. Immediately, he could tell that it was store-bought and he smiled, a hint of sadness tingeing his expression. He had been truthfully looking forward to what sort of handmade thing she would offer him this year but he supposed it was only natural that she would choose to buy it from a store now that she could go outside. She always apologized for not buying him something from a store and he knew that she felt embarrassed about it.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "May I open it?" Eliza nodded eagerly and held out her hand to hold his crepe. He handed it to her and gingerly unpeeled the fancy wrapping paper. Inside was a very handsome fountain pen with a gilded cap. It was indeed, a very dignified gift. Johann found it beautiful and he would certainly use it every day and think of her, but somehow, he wanted something more. He looked back into Eliza's expectant face and smiled at her, a pure smile that earned a blush from her this time. He leaned in close and kissed her cheek.
"It's very beautiful. Thank you," he said. "But there is one little thing missing. May I?" His fingers reached up to touch her golden hair. Blushing wildly, Eliza had no idea what he was wanting when she nodded. Slowly, he pulled the end of the silk ribbon she had tied above her ear and took it away to tie to the chain of his pocket-watch. She watched him with a quizzical expression and he smiled at her again, contentedly. "It was missing something of yours," he said finally, and she turned bright tomato red from the tips of her ears all the way down to her toes.
They sat for several minutes then, simply enjoying each other's company as they ate the crepes. Finishing his off, Johann could finally wait no more. Eliza, apparently daydreaming, had a splotch of cream stuck to her upper lip. As he looked at her, his heart about to leap out of his chest, he suddenly snorted with laughter. She jumped and he reached out to wipe it off. "We are in public, my dear," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Though we can certainly return to the days of me spoon-feeding you at your bedside if you would prefer." Eliza scowled petulantly. "Did you get it off?" she asked insistently, scrubbing her whole mouth area with the back of her hand. "Yes, don't worry," he said, still grinning. Eliza pouted, now embarrassed. "Don't be such a ninny, Johann, you should know better than to tease girls." Johann's grin turned into an apologetic smile. "Of course I do," he said gently. Caught off guard, Eliza looked away but he reached out again to catch her face in his palm and turn it back towards him. "Beautiful Eliza," he said, love apparent in his eyes. "Please don't look away." Her face grew warm again and he grew closer. She barely had time to register what was happening before his lips pressed against hers and he was kissing her in earnest but it ended as soon as it had begun and the only proof that it had happened was the dizzy, giddy feeling it left behind. Eliza's eyes widened at the realization that she had just experienced her first kiss and it was with the man she truly loved more than anyone else. She was so happy that she felt that her heart could burst. But her happiness was soon replaced by surprise as Johann slid off the bench onto the ground where he sat on his knees and took her hands in his. Quite sure she had stopped breathing, she stared as he took a small box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a glistening ring.
"My dear Eliza," he said, looking up at her, suddenly a bit concerned that all color had suddenly left her face. "Would you do me the great honor of marrying me?"
She swooped down with more force than she reasonably should have been able to summon and kissed him again, once, twice, three times, throwing her arms around him and bursting into extremely unladylike tears. "Of course I will, Johann," she cried, her heart screaming with happiness. "The honor is mine."
Their wedding followed soon after and was short, very simple, and very sparsely attended, but not a happier couple could be found in all of Germany.
