Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I started writing this as a fic reader and wanting more out there so this fic is made completely for you readers. Please leave reviews and comments with what you would like to see happen since this is a story for you. XD
"You're back." Mary choked as tears streamed down her face. "You're alive." She held him tighter. She felt Dickon's arms wrap around her.
"Aye, that I am. It's alrigh', Miss Mary." He stroked her back gently. Dickon reveled in how perfect this moment was. It was the exact homecoming he had wished for…almost. When he finally heard he was going home from the long and tiresome war only one picture entered his mind. He wanted to return to the garden and fix it up before she got home. He didn't expect her to already be there but time had slipped past him as fast as the bullets in the trenches. He wanted to wait for her in the garden and when she came in he wanted to garden again with her. In that time he wanted to give her a rose and confess his long-standing feelings for her, even though he was but a gardener and she was a lady. He couldn't keep them a secret any longer, not after the fear of losing her and never telling her had overcome him when he left for the war. But for now, this moment was perfect ecstasy to him.
"Everyone was so afraid, I was so afraid that you were lost. No one had heard anything for months." She cried into his chest.
"Aye, I dinna get a chance to write befor' I left. It took a long time to ge' back." He stroked her head gently. "I dinna expect tha to be 'ere until I saw Martha at home. She tol' me tha was at a party." Mary finally loosened her grip of him.
"I was but, oh I don't want to even think of it now that you're back. Everything is perfect again." She looked up to him with desperately happy and wanting eyes. He felt himself being pulled right to her.
"Dickon?" Colin's shocked voice came from the entrance quickly breaking Dickon away from almost kissing the girl of his dreams. He looked up at the well-dressed boy who once screamed and kicked in a bed. "Dickon!" He ran forward and gave a quick manly hug to his friend. "You're back! When did you get back?"
"Jus' now, Master Colin. I came to see tha garden. I dinna expect the two o' you to be back."
"Yes, well, we're glad your back." Colin patted him on the shoulder before looking to Mary. "Mary, you need to come back inside. The Duke feels terrible for what he said after I explained to him. Will you come back in?"
"Only if Dickon can come too. I'm sure Uncle Archie would love to see that you're back." Mary beamed up at Dickon and he knew he could never refuse her.
"If tha wants me to, I shall." He smiled and was taken immediately to the party. The music stopped as they entered and everyone stared at their new military addition.
"Why Dickon, you've returned." Archie said gesturing for the maid to push him to Dickon. Seeing the warm welcome from the host of the party everyone returned to talking, noting that it was not a disturbance of an unwelcome guest.
"Lord Craven, I apologize for interruptin' tha party." Dickon bowed.
"Your coming home could never be an interruption but as another reason to celebrate." He patted Dickon on arm. "We've all been terribly worried about you."
"Thank ye, sir. I'm very glad to' be home." Dickon smiled at his friends, his eyes lingering on Mary's angelic smile.
"My apologies for breaking up this happy reunion," Duke Buescher came in much to Mary's dismay. She instinctively moved closer to hid behind Dickon. "I thought I should pay my respects to the decorated soldier."
"Of course, Duke. This is our Dickon. He's Mary and Colin's childhood friend." Uncle Archie introduced him.
"He's our dearest kindred spirit." Mary emphasized and beamed at Dickon again, trying to forget the existence of the Duke.
"I see." The Duke looked slightly jealous but kept his smile. "What will you be doing now that the bloodshed's over?" The Duke said uncaringly of the wincing Dickon made upon hearing the word 'bloodshed'.
"I s'pose I'll return to my work 'ere at the manor." Dickon said.
"Oh, you work here? Interesting." The Duke smirked and Mary's face was hot with anger as he spoke to Dickon in such a condescending tone.
"Speaking of which, Dickon, I'd like to have a few words with you about it if you don't mind. Follow me to my office."
"Of course, sir." Dickon followed obediently but not before glancing back at Mary who seemed saddened by his departure.
"I'm going to go speak with Lord Garnett." Colin said abandoning his cousin in obvious favor of Duke Buescher. Mary wanted to open her mouth to excuse herself but was blocked by the Duke.
"Miss Mary, I do apologize if I offended you earlier. I did not think you had an acquaintance of lower status in the war."
"I do not think of Dickon as a lower acquaintance." Mary snapped back.
"Still, I would like to make it up to you. " He offered his hand to her and Mary glared at it. She couldn't be impolite, not again and he seemed to be sorry for what he did. And it would pass the time until Dickon returned. She took his hand and began dancing with him once more.
"I see you are very glad to have your friend back." He commented.
"Yes, I'm very relieved his in unharmed and safe, back where he belongs."
"As a worker." The Duke finished her sentence incorrectly.
"No, where he belongs at home, with his friends and family."
"Of course. I'm sorry. He is quite a handsome man for a worker though, I must say." Mary blushed. She confessed that she did find Dickon quite handsome, but it wasn't a good enough word to explain what she thought of him. He looked beautiful and as enchanting as ever. His eyes had not lost their sparkle which Mary had feared he would lose from the war.
"Yes, yes he is." Mary said.
"I'll be staying in Thwaite for a few weeks now, I should like to come visit again." The Duke smiled down at her and Mary felt as though she might throw up.
"I'm sure my Uncle and cousin would be very glad if you were to return." She said as politely as she could. Thankfully the song ended and Mary saw Dickon come back in with her Uncle. He looked surprised and flushed. "Excuse me." She said to the Duke and hurried to him.
"Dickon, are you alright?"
"He's just a little overwhelmed. Why don't you take him out for some fresh air?" Her uncle suggested. Mary took Dickon by the arm and the two walked outside and sat down on a bench. The moonlight smiled down around them and the trees swayed lovingly around them in the cool breeze.
"Dickon, what happened?" She asked him and rubbed his back to try and coax the air back in his lungs for he didn't appear to be breathing.
"Oh Miss Mary, I dunno 'ow to repay tha Uncle."
"What do you mean?"
"He tol' me tha' Ben was to be retirin' and tha' he wanted me to be head gardener. He's gonna give me a cottage nearby."
"That's wonderful, Dickon!" Mary said happily. "But you seem confused or contemplating something."
"I am but tha does not need to worry 'bout it. Tha should go an' enjoy tha party."
"I'd rather sit here with you." Dickon looked at her in amazement. She would never know how happy it made him for her to say those words. "Have you been in to see Martha and your family?"
"Aye, jus' before I came to see tha. Mother was righ' mad tha' I hadn't gone ta see tha yet but I dinna know tha was back. Almos' as soon as I go' home did she shove me back out to find tha." He smiled.
"Your mother was always a very kind woman, to be sending you off to see me after not seeing you for so long. I should like to visit them again soon."
"If tha wishes it, it shall be." He winked at her and Mary beamed at him.
"It's good to know that magic in garden does still work. I asked it to bring you home to me and then there you stood."
"If tha believes in it, then the magic will always' be there to help tha."
"I used to think that you were the magic, and maybe you are." She looked at him more seriously as if trying to read the thoughts in his eyes. Dickon looked down at her now sadly but almost helpless against her.
"Mary." He leaned closer to her and Mary waited for him, waited for the one thing she wanted him to do the most.
"Pardon my intrusion." The Duke's voice came and Dickon quickly snapped away. "I've just come to find Miss Mary, shall we return to the party, Mary?" He offered her his arm. Mary looked to Dickon.
"I should be gettin' back to my family." Dickon stood up and Mary followed.
"Will you be by tomorrow?"
"If tha wishes it." He smiled but it seemed pained leaving Mary in confusion as she was led back to the party.