The cool fall air was refreshing and the leaves were colorful shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Fred laid outside with his head in Fina's lap, pretending to read his bio textbook but he was really trying not to fall asleep. But it was hard not to with Fina gently caressing his forehead and humming softly under her breath. The bracelet he gave her made a soft clink every time her arm moved.

Fred looked up at his girlfriend and smiled. She was so incredibly beautiful to him, especially against the back drop of the trees above them. He couldn't decide which was prettier; the warm sunny color of her hair, the bright blue of her eyes, or the pale pink rosiness of her lips. She noticed him staring at her and a light blush spread across her face.

"You don't look like you're studying." She giggled. "You aren't even looking at your textbook."

"That's because I like looking at you a lot more than some boring textbook." Fred sighed and closed his book. "Besides, I'm going to have to head for work soon."

Fina sighed. "Yeah and I'm supposed to meet with Joe soon."

"I'll skip if you skip." A smirked tugged at Fred's lips. "We can head to the dorm and take advantage of Joe being gone."

Fina's eyes widened and a darker blush spread across her face. "R-really?"

"Nah, I'm just messing with you." Fred chuckled and sat up.

"Oh." Fina looked away. "I knew that."

Fred gave her a quick peck on the cheek and helped her stand up. They wrapped their arms around each other and headed to the parking lot towards his car. Living in the dorm with Fina wasn't at all like Fred thought it would be. He and Joe both imagined an apartment like dorm complete with their own kitchen and personal bathroom.

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

The room was actually about the size of a small living room with two beds and two desks. Instead of a kitchen, they had a mini fridge, a microwave, and a hot plate they weren't technically allowed to have. And Fred and Joe had to use the community bathroom down the hall. Fina always chose elsewhere. It was also more than a little awkward when Joe walked in on them cuddling in bed. Needless to say, after the third time it happened Fred and Fina spent a lot more time making out in his jeep.

Which was why Fred was all the more eager to marry Fina and move out. There were several apartments that he had an eye on, but the best ones were the ones offered by the campus for married couples and families only.

"So if you could have any kind of wedding, what kind would you want to have?" He asked.

Fina shrugged. "I don't really care. I've been to thousands of weddings before. Formal, informal. Traditional, exotic. I've pretty much seen them all."

"What? A girl who doesn't care about her own wedding?" Fred teased. "What kind of girl are you?"

"One that only cares about being with you." Fina smiled up at him, making his heart flutter.

By time they reached the parking lot, Fred saw Joe just pulling up in his own car.

"Hey," Joe smiled at them. "Glad I caught you, Fina. Ready to go?"

"Yes, sir."

Fred tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her in for a long, lingering kiss before she went into Joe's car.

"See you guys at dinner." Fred waved.

"Probably not," Joe shrugged. "We might be busy til late. Don't wait up for us."

Fred's smile became tight but he waved them off as his best friend drove away with his girlfriend.

A few hours later Fred stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Fina still hadn't returned and he was still super excited to see her. There was a certain way that her beautiful blue eyes lit up that made him feel warm all over.

Fred walked down the hall and went into his room. As soon as he opened the door he noticed a dark shape on his bed.

"Fina?" Fred tried peering into the dark room. "Sweetheart is that you?"

"Hello, Fred."

Joleena clicked on the light, making him scream.

"Joleena!?" Fred jumped, clutching his towel. "What the heck are you doing here?"

Joleena raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be asking where your girlfriend is?"

"I already know." Fred shrugged. "She's with Joe. Working on something with him."

"Yes. Again, oui?"

"Yeah? What's your point?"

Joleena sighed and tossed her hair. "I'm not sure if you noticed Fred, but I haven't been in the, um, best mental state since we got back from the dreadful island."

"Yeah I've noticed." Fred mumbled, going into the dresser for some clothes.

"So normally I would pay no attention to Fina constantly being with Joseph but lately," Joleena took a deep breath as Fred's alarm clock started to shake. "It's gotten me a little agitated to say the least."

"I know exactly what you mean." Fred sighed. "But I guess we just have to deal with it."

"But maybe not." Joleena gave him a cunning smile. "Fina has mentioned that you two plan to get married one day. Tell me, have you proposed or discussed any plans?"

"Not yet. I haven't had the chance to but," Fred smiled excitedly. "I'm even making enough from work to support us. And when I graduate, I've been guaranteed a job that will pay even more!"

"Ah! Merveilleux! So when do you plan to propose?"

Fred's smile fell. "That's the problem. It'll take me a while to save for a ring, a wedding, and a honeymoon. I mean, I guess I could spring for a decent ring now if we got married in the court house-"

"Inacceptable." Joleena dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I will pay for it all. Hell, I'll even plan it for you."

"Really!?" Fred stared at her in astonishment. "You'd actually do that? That's great, I- wait a minute." He looked at her suspiciously, "Why would you do this for us? I can pay for a wedding myself you know, it would just take time that's all."

"But that would take far too long!" Joleena said impatiently. "Fred, I'm at my wits end! Every time Joseph and I have a moment alone, even if its to study magic, Fina is there. Je deviens fou!"

"I still don't know what that has to do with us."

"It's simple. If you marry Fina and you two move out of the dorm together, Joe wouldn't make Fina spend time away from her husband." Joleena stood up and started pacing. "Besides if Joe's two best friends are settling down- Sam has a family with San-Li, you marrying Fina- then maybe it will prompt him to take our relationship to the next level."

"Maybe." Fred sighed. "Look Joleena, I appreciate the offer but, I'm pretty sure I can afford to pay for a simple wedding and ring for Fina. It's all she wants."

"But wouldn't you rather give her more than what she wants." Joleena insisted. "Wouldn't you rather give her everything, wonderfully possible?"

Fred pressed his lips together in thought. Fina did deserve a lot more than he could ever afford to give her. They would already be living pretty simply as it was, so why not jump at a change to give her the wedding of any girl's dreams?

"Alright," Fred smiled. "I'll let you plan and pay for our wedding. But you also have to help me find the perfect ring."

"Bein! What jewelry store did you want to go to?"

Fred smiled. "Oh we're not going to a jewelry store."

"Why did I let you talk me into this!?" Joleena yelled.

The cirmec roared and aimed another blow at her head. It towered well over her with its massive body but Joleena still fought back. She rolled underneath its claws and fired at its stomach. Its fur hardened, deflecting the blast at the ceiling of the cave.

"Hurry up!" Joleena screamed, shielding herself from the debris.

"I'm almost got it!" Fred yelled back.

He used the laser blade he had "borrowed" from San-Li and tried to cut the cluster of gems out of the bedding of floor. The stone held firm though and he struggled not to damage the gems. The cirmec gave another loud roar and knocked Joleena to the ground with its tail.

"Fred..."

"Got it!" Fred yelled triumphantly when the cluster finally popped free.

"Fred!"

The cirmec had Joleena pinned against the wall with its massive paw. It leaned close to her, baring it's teeth and drooling. But just as it roared again Fred was able to sneak up behind it and hit it over the head with a large rock. The cirmec reeled back, howling in pain and Joleena used the opportunity to blast it with her magic, knocking it against the wall and knocking it out.

"Well," Fred smiled. "That was easier than I thought it'd be."

Joleena shot him a look. "Easy isn't exactly how I'd put it."

"Well it was definitely worth it." Fred said eyeing the gemstones in his hand. "Fina's going to love this."

The gemstones were large and diamond like, but if you looked closely you could see multiple colors swirling within it. It also gave off a sort of faint light. Besides Fina, it was the most beautiful thing Fred had ever seen.

"You were right, the gems are très beau." Joleena admitted with a sigh. "It would make an exquisite engagement ring. Any particular setting or cut you would like?"

"Uh..." Fred dug in his pocket for the magazine clipping he brought. "Can you make it look like this?"

Joleena eyed the picture and nodded. "Excellent choice. My jeweler will take care of everything."

She then pulled out The Book and warped them out.