Chapter twelve: Picnic for the senses.

Clef and Umi sat on the hill together under a large tree with a dense well-shaded canopy that allowed slivers of sunlight to penetrate it. They were separated by this tree from the other happy couples. Clef sat with his arm draped around Umi's shoulders, her head on his shoulder. He careful cover her with his cloak, smiling down on the sleeping Umi, gently he kissed the top of her head and sighed contentedly.

When Umi woke she flicked a glance up at Clef he was looking into the sunlight, she watched the shadows play across his soft face as he watched the clouds in the sky, Umi could only imagine what he was thinking about. He turned his head to look down at her and when Clef saw that she was awake he smiled a huge friendly smile at her. "Your awake."

"Yes." Umi smiled back at him.

"Did you sleep well?" Umi merely nodded her reply. "Good I'm glad."

Clef tightened the arm he had round her, and Umi hugged him in response, she looked out at the beautiful scenery, with the sun beginning to set as she did so and then spoke. "This is the best time I have ever had."

"Umi." What made her jump and look at Clef was the serious tone in his voice.

"What is it is something wrong?"

Clef shook his head. "No there is nothing wrong in fact quite the contrary."

The sun was going down, bathed in its auburn rays, Clef looked even more handsome to her. As for him, Clef found that he was even more enchanted with Umi than he had ever been before. "Everything is just so perfect I don't want to let go, Umi I love you."

Umi smiled up at Clef "I love you to Clef. . .but before you ask me. No I can't leave my family behind." She moved away from him to stand and look at the view

Clefs eyes clouded over for a moment he stood behind her and then he spoke. "You don't have too leave them completely. . . you can go back when ever you want, you can say I live abroad. I can give you everything you need to keep your parents in comfort. Tell them I'm a political adviser or something and if you will tell me how to dress I will come back to earth with you and they can see me."

Umi turned and looked into Clefs eyes, no one had ever wanted her this much, no one had ever loved her like he did and always would. "All right Clef you win."

Clef beamed down at her. "Good, in which case." He dropped down onto one knee before her. "Umi would you do me the greatest of honours and be my wife."

He held the ring out to her, a gold band surmounted by two diamond waves and a blue sapphire heart between them, Umi gasped as he was surrounded by the setting sun, she had never dreamt that a romantic proposal like this would ever happen to her. "Yes Clef yes."

He took her hand and gently slipped the ring on her finger, he rose and opened his arms to Umi, she moved into them and Clef brought her close, there purple and blue hair twining together in the wind his cloak billowing around them. After a moment of silence he spoke in a soft and slightly husky voice. "I'm yours forever more Umi, my heart, my body and my soul all belong to you from now onwards, I will always love you no matter what happens."

Umi gasped and then spoke gently. "And I am yours I love you know and I will love you always Clef it will only ever be you for me." Umi put her head back against his chest she could hear his strong steady heart beat, that calmed her, he was here and he was all hers no one else's and he would never be any one else's.

The rest of there friends who had just witnessed this erupted into loud 'yahoos' and 'finally' s. Umi looked up at Clef and blushed, a mischievous glint came into his eyes and he brought his lips down to Umi's. Umi's hands flew up to his shoulders and grasped them; Clef moved his hands down to her waist and pulled her in. Quietly the others left Umi and Clef alone on the hilltop, framed by the setting sun, dragging Caldina as they went. As they walked they felt very relived but also happy that Umi and Clef were finally together and would soon be they hoped, be happily married.

When Clef and Umi finally parted they smiled at one another, finally knowing they were going to be with one another forever, that there love would last as long as the stars and possibly longer. Umi lent against Clef looking up into his eyes, Clef smiled down at her, looking into her eyes adoringly and then slowly he placed his hand on the back of her head. They knew this day would live forever in their hearts and that nothing would ever tear them apart.