The next day, Cassandra was fast asleep, cuddled in next to Jake, when the doorbell rang. The couple had moved out of the Library and into an apartment together a few months prior.
She rolled out of bed, threw on a bathrobe, and stumbled to the door. She opened the door and immediately screamed, as someone threw a handful of rice in her face.
Jake, hearing this, came immediately running from the bedroom, half-dressed and wielding an axe. His sister Sophie, standing in the doorway, jumped back in horror.
"Goddamnit Soph!" he panted "What the hell?!"
"I might ask you why you're carrying an axe!"
Jake hesitated. He couldn't very well tell his sister that he was given axe-wielding skills by a magical storybook.
"It's New York" Cassandra exclaimed, thinking quickly. "It's dangerous here. We need to protect ourselves"
Sophie, who had never been outside of Oklahoma until now, seemed confused at first, but then nodded. Jake breathed a sigh of relief. That was his Cassie: always thinking one step ahead.
"You still haven't answered my question Soph" Jake continued. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, right!" she remembered. Just like Cassandra, he was met with a handful of rice to the face.
"SURPRISE!" Sophie yelled. "We're throwing you an engagement party!"
"What?" Cassandra grumbled, wiping sleep from her eyes.
"The whole family came down here to visit, and we're having an engagement party for y'all…tonight!"
"Soph" Jake muttered. "You realize that it's 6 o'clock in the morning on a weekend right?"
"Oh Jake you silly goose!" she laughed, smacking his arm. "I guess you got out of practice waking up early, being off the farm so long."
Jake and Cassandra looked at her, stone tired and unamused.
"Oh come on" she pushed "You used to get up at 5:30 and drive the tractor 'round"
It took Sophie a few more moments of awkward silence to realize that she was not going to be met with any laughs.
"Anyway" she sighed. "Here's the information" She handed Cassandra a piece of paper. "And if there's anyone else y'all need me to invite, just let me know"
"Oh no we'll take care of it." Cassie rushed her words. "Thanks so much Sophie. This was really sweet of you all"
"No problem! Do y'all wanna go out for breakfast?"
"Oh no" Jake insisted, already grabbing the apartment door and starting to swing it shut. "I think we'll manage on our own."
"Oh ok…" Sophie stammered. Jake continued to shut the door.
"Night Soph!" He called, too tired to realize what he was saying.
"But…"
"See you later!" Cassandra called. Then, the door was closed and the space was their own again.
The couple looked at each other for a moment, knowing that there were a ton of things that could now be done with their morning.
"Back to bed?" Jake suggested.
"Way ahead of you"
That evening, Jake was putting on his shoes, ready to head out the door. He moved frantically, knowing they should've been out the door fifteen minutes ago. They were going to be late to their own engagement party.
"Cassie!" he called to the bedroom. "Come on darlin' we gotta go!"
When she walked out, he froze. Time did not exist in his mind any longer. How could it, when he was looking at the most beautiful woman in the world?
She was wearing a white dress covered in butterflies, all full of bright pinks and blues. He had never seen her in it before, which was strange, because he thought he had seen her in every outfit she owned.
Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, another rare occurrence, with curls falling by the sides. She smiled at him and her bright blue eyes lit up. Even before he knew he loved Cassandra, that was always the one thing Jake noticed: her eyes.
He couldn't believe it looking at her. He was marrying this woman, who he was sure could be the only beauty that any poet had ever described. The way they spoke, they couldn't possibly be talking about anyone else; there was no one else more beautiful than her.
Jake chuckled.
"What?" Cassandra asked, always nervous that something was wrong, that one day all of her happiness was going to crumble right before her.
"Nothing" he muttered. "I just…every time I look at you I'm in awe all over again at just how beautiful you are"
Cassandra stared at him, tears filling her eyes as the words came out of his mouth. He was the first person to ever see her in this way, to really love her for all she was. Every time he said something like that, it was like the first time. She remembered all over again why she loved him. She still couldn't believe that it was all actually real. Finally, happily ever after had happened to her.
She walked over and kissed him, getting lost in the feel of his lips against hers. Love smelt like old books and the country, a sensation Cassandra had discovered when she started dating Jake. She would look at him and smell fresh cut grass, or hay, or the rustic cologne that covered his collar.
After they pulled apart she reached down and squeezed his hand, never willing to let go of what she never wanted to lose.
"Let's go" she smiled, and the couple headed off in bliss to their celebration.
They arrived to the address Sophia had given them a half hour later. They walked in and gave their names to the matordee, who led them to a back room. They were in awe at the sight.
The restaurant was right off of the water, and the back room looked right out on the gorgeous view of Manhattan Harbor. It was like a backyard enclosed in glass walls. Pavement lay below their feet. The restaurant kept the area heated for the winter, so it was almost like they had stepped into another season.
All heads turned to them immediately when they entered. Cheers erupted, and soon, friends and family were rushing them. This was definitely more than they were expecting.
Harper came running over to them first.
"Surprise Jakey!" she exclaimed.
"What did you guys do?!" Jake marveled. "Booking this room, with a view of the water? That would cost a small fortune here!"
"Oh don't be silly! All the siblings pitched together, because we wanted to do this for y'all! Besides, we didn't reserve the room, just the tables. We're just lucky 'cause it's not busy tonight and they haven't needed to fill up the rest of this space yet."
"Thank you Harper" Cassandra interrupted, expressing what no one else yet had. "This is lovely"
She and Jake walked even further into the room and were even more amazed. A few steps towards their table and they were surrounded by the people they loved. On a small stage in the corner, a lounge singer was performing.
"Wow" Cassandra remarked. "When your family says they're throwing a party they really mean it!"
"What, you didn't get that from the Christmas celebrations?" Jake replied snarkily. Cassandra rolled her eyes and linked her arm through his.
Eve and Flynn approached them next, also arm in arm.
"Congratulations you two!" Flynn exclaimed.
"We're really just so happy for you" Eve added.
"Well thank you two for coming" Jake replied. "We're so happy you could be here"
"Some party" Eve marveled.
"It's so much more than we were expecting" Cassandra remarked. She looked around the space and swallowed hard.
After three years of being their Guardian, Eve could read her Librarians like a book. She knew every expression and what it meant. Example: she knew immediately that Cassandra was nervous.
"Overwhelmed?" she asked.
"Just a little" Cassandra admitted.
"There are two seats right across from us" Flynn said.
Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, happy to know she'd be spending the night around those she felt most comfortable with. Jake gave her a quick kiss and led her to the table. She smiled. She was convinced now that this would be a great night.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter LITs! 17 days until season 2 can you believe it?! More engagement party coming! It's been a little while so I wanted to give you guys what I had now! Check the tumblr tag for Cassie's dress! Until we meet again! I'm about to start work on the next chapter!
