Chapter 12
...Before…

Sariel whimpered and stared at the watch on her left wrist. The small display currently said it was 4:00 in the morning. She sat on her parents front porch huddled under her coat. The light t-shirt and athletic pants she wore did little to shield her from the cold. A cold front had descended on Zuzu City, and despite the layers of her coat, she was freezing.

"I'm gonna kick Leon's ass when I see him." Sariel muttered to herself.

Every time the wind surged and swirled around her, another foul curse slipped from her soft lips. She desperately wanted to be back inside, burrowed under the covers of her bed, enrobed in warmth. The travel mug of coffee she held was offering her some reprieve from the chill in the air.

She shucked off the blanket that she was attempting to blend into her own DNA and stood from her vigil on the porch. She stretched her arms gracefully overhead and hopped off the porch. She bent at her waist and felt her muscles respond as she prepared to start jogging around the yard.

An invisible gunshot a bullet in her head and she blasted off from her starting place. When she ran, she felt free. The only place she felt freer was on her Harley, Valentine. The bike had been a gift from Drake and Leon and she cherished it deeply. The three would cruise together every week.

She surged forward on powerful legs like a gazelle. With each stride she took, it seemed she spent more time in the air than touching the earth. Sariel was nearly convinced if she ran hard enough, she'd sprout wings and fly.

On her 28th lap of her parents front yard, she heard the familiar sound of Lilly's SUV as it wove its way down the road towards her. The streetlights lining the driveway softly illuminated the road, casting their pale, warm glow around them.

illy parked at the edge of the driveway, right before it turned into the circular loop Sariel was using as a track. When Sariel finished the loop and started making her way towards her, she waved gently. Lilly quickly pressed the lock on the doors and beamed at her friend as she climbed into the warm SUV and buckled her seat belt.

"Morning, Lilly." Sariel stated warmly.

"Good run?" Lilly asked gently.

"Yeah. Got 28 laps in. Ran out of coffee though." Sariel stated sadly.

"Good thing I'm your best friend and came prepared." Lilly giggled as she handed Sariel a thermos of coffee.

"Coffee! Yay!" Sariel giggled gleefully.

"Just for you. Michigan Cherry, your favorite." Lilly warmly stated.

"Ooh, you know how to spoil a girl. Love you, Gracie." Sariel called out.

"Love you too, Li-Li." Lilly replied lovingly.

Sariel stifled a yawn and cranked the volume on the radio up. She cast a glance to her watch and smiled when she saw it was 4:40. She stretched her legs out and got as comfortable as she could manage.

The drive to the Zuzu City Airport took right at an hour to complete. Sariel and Lilly had parked in the brightly illuminated Parking Garage and hiked into the Airport to find the Terminal Leon was waiting at. Sariel repeatedly called him - yet he either was purposefully ignoring her or hadn't turned his phone back on.

"Piccola gru! Dove sei?" Leon yelled out.
(Little Crane! Where are you?)

"Drago! Terminale B." Sariel replied.
(Dragon! Terminal B.)

"Sìì. Credo di vedervi e Gracie." Leon called out.
(Yay! I think I see you and Gracie.)

"Hai dimenticato come parlare inglese?" Sariel teased.
(Did you forget how to speak English?)

"Colpevole come addebitato. Italiano è così accattivante e bello. Puoi biasimarmi?" Leon returned.
(Guilty as charged. Italian is so captivating and beautiful. Can you blame me?"

"No. Sbrigati però, vero?" Sariel called out.
(No, Hurry up, though?)

"Oi. Leon Michael, stop romancing Rinn." Lilly called out.

"Yes, Gracie." Leon whispered from behind the two women.

Sariel whirled around and smacked him on his chest. Her heart leaped into her ears. The gleeful smile on Leon's face soothed her fear. He was wearing a black leather jacket over dark gray pants and a black shirt.

"Good to see you, too Rinn." Leon laughed.

Sariel responded by warmly wrapping Leon in her embrace. The blonde man towered over her five-foot-six frame. She nestled her head against his chest and smiled brightly.

"It's always good to see you, Leon." Sariel replied.

"I'm starving. Shall we collect your other halves and eat?" Leon asked gently.

"Yes, please. I need more coffee." Sariel lamented.

"Thank you for picking me up, Rinn. I know you're plotting my demise for waking you up so early." Leon laughed as he spoke.

"You're welcome. I was plotting your demise this morning, but I'm awake now, so I'm good."

Sariel felt the all-too-familiar buzzing of her phone in her pocket. The soft tones of her ringtone flittered through the air of the Airport. She smiled softly at the ringtone, knowing without looking at the screen who was calling her. She instinctively removed the device and answered it in a single motion.

"Happy birthday, Elliott. Did you sleep well?" Sariel asked softly.

"Good morning, darling. Thank you. I did, thank you for asking. Did you get enough rest? Were you able to make it to the airport safely?" Elliott asked equally softly.

"I did too, all things considered. Managed to get a decent run in while waiting for Lilly. We're here now. Would you like to get breakfast with us?" Sariel asked gently.

"I'd love to. I'll get dressed at meet you in the lobby. Take your time. Au revoir." Elliott stated.

"Okie dokie. We'll be there soon, Ell. Bye!" Sariel called out.

She disconnected the call as she, Lilly and Leon started weaving their way through the mass of people in the airport. Leon kept the two women close to him and stared menacingly at anyone who dared come too close to the trio. Sariel laughed as she expertly guided them back to Lilly's waiting SUV.

"Stop laughing, Sariel. You're my kid sister. It's my job to protect you." Leon challenged.

"I know, Leon. I just find it humorous that you haven't once tried to scare off Elliott." Sariel stated.

"He's good for you. Passed the Big Brother Test™. Hell, you could marry him, and I'd gladly give you away at the ceremony.' Leon replied.

"Wait, really?" Sariel asked shyly.

"Yep. You love him, he loves you. Even if you can't admit that we all know you love each other. He's not a twatfuck like Lucian. Winner, right there if you ask me." Leon chortled.

"Thank you for your stellar insight about my love life, Leon." Sariel groaned.

"Rinn, he means well, you know that. We all adore Elliott. You deserve your happiness with him." Lilly stated warmly.

The trio arrived at Lilly's SUV and loaded Leon's bags into the back of the vehicle. Leon jogged around the passenger's side of the vehicle and opened the door for Sariel. He smiled warmly at her when she climbed in. He took his seat behind her and stretched his long legs out slightly. Lilly hopped in the vehicle and swiftly started the car and began navigating towards her condo.

"I know. I do love Elliott, I'm just… scared to tell him." Sariel admitted sadly.

"Why?" Leon asked gently.

"Leon… I've romantically been involved with two people in my life and had feelings for four. I don't have the best track record with romance." Sariel whined.

"Ha. I remember when you had the biggest crush on me. I was deeply flattered. I know you loved Drake, too. Then there's Lucian and Elliott, right?" Leon asked.

"...Yeah. I've only dated Lucian and Elliott. I'm… stupid, aren't I?" Sariel asked sadly.

"Rinn, you've got a reason to be doubting things. Lucian fucked everything up. I can't imagine the hell you went through with him, in fact, I'd like to not imagine that. No man would treat a woman or man the way Lucian treated you." Leon spat angrily.

"I feel safe around Elliott. Like I'm protected and loved. I love him more than I loved Drake. I… haven't had a nightmare since I started dating Elliott." Sariel admitted weakly.

"Rinn! Have you told Elliott that?" Lilly exclaimed.

"No. I don't want to scare him off." Sariel replied.

"I think you should tell him. He seems to understand you well enough." Leon stated.

"I'll consider it. Lilly, have you decided what dance you want to do at the wedding?" Sariel asked effectively changing the subject.

"A simple waltz while you're singing. I think I can manage that." Lilly answered.

"I'm sure whatever you do, Red's going to love it." Leon added.

The trio arrived at Lilly's towering condo building. Sariel hopped out of the vehicle and ran around to Lilly's side of the car and practically flung herself in the backseat. The air had gotten even chillier than it was this morning.

Audrey exited the building and quickly made her way to Lilly's SUV. She tugged the passenger door open and climbed in, buckling her seatbelt while kissing Lilly on the cheek softly. She waved to Leon and Sariel in the backseat.

"Good morning guys. Did you have a good flight, Leon?" Audrey asked in her singsong voice.

"Morning, Audrey. My flight was long, but I've had worse." Leon answered.

"Good morning, Red." Sariel called out from the backseat.

Sariel's phone started ringing in her pocket. She lifted her hips slightly so she could pull the device from her back pocket. She furrowed her brow when she saw Serah's number on her screen. She answered the call and put the phone on speaker.

"Sariel, you need to get to the Peachtree quick. There's someone here causing a scene with Elliott, and I think he needs your help." Serah spoke rapidly.

"Serah, what the hell's going on?" Sariel asked harshly.

"Dunno, one of the guards called from the lobby. There's a woman haranguing Elliott. I'm on my way to find out what's going on. How close are you?" Serah panted.

"Five minutes, sis." Audrey called out.

Lilly threw the car into gear and floored it, speeding down the road towards the Peachtree Hotel. She expertly wove the car through traffic and navigated the streets with ease. She'd occasionally cast her glance to the rearview mirror to assess Sariel's well being.

Leon took Sariel's hand in his and gently squeezed, giving her the silent reassurance she needed. He gave her his trademark smile and winked at her when he saw her small smile in return. He loosed her hand from his grasp and turned slightly towards the window.

Sariel rapidly called Elliott and frowned when he didn't answer. Her fingers flew over the screen of her phone as she swiftly typed out a series of text messages to her love. She groaned when Lilly took a corner too sharply and caused her phone to fall from her hands.

"Sorry, sorry! We're here, though!" Lilly called out.

Sariel practically ripped her seatbelt free and bolted from the car. She focused her gaze on the main entrance to the Peachtree and saw Elliott's familiar silhouette. Her breath caught in her lungs as she saw the woman he was talking to reach out and strike him.

Sariel urged her body to carry her forward faster, lamenting over the fact the jeans she wore bound her movement slightly. Her mahogany ponytail bounced with each bounding step she took. She hurriedly closed the distance between Elliott and herself.

The blonde woman threw a punch towards Sariel and glared at the red-head intensely. Sariel growled and grabbed her extended wrist and expertly flipped her over and pinned her down, pressing her knees to her chest. She blocked the second feeble attack the woman launched and pressed her weight down more.

"And who the fuck do you think you are?" The woman spat.

"I could ask you the same question." Sariel fired back.

"My name is Brooke. I'm Elliott's girlfriend." Brooke stated coldly.

"Ex-girlfriend. Sariel, my darling, would you like to introduce yourself?" Elliott asked lovingly.

"Do I have to?" Sariel spat.

Sariel rolled off Brooke and stood slightly in front of Elliott. Sariel spied Serah out of the corner of her eye and smiled slightly. She focused her steel-grey eyes on Brooke and bore her gaze down intently. She felt the familiar presence of her friends near her and knew Lilly, Audrey, and Leon had caught up to her.

"God damn, Rinn. I always forget how fast you can run." Lilly panted breathlessly.

"Is your name Sariel or Rinn?" Brooke huffed as she stood up.

"My name is Sariel Lia Shade. I am Elliott's girlfriend. I can count on both hands the number of people allowed to call me Rinn, and you can bet your ass you're not on that list. Now that we know each other's names, let's get right down to the thick of it. You can start by explaining why you slapped my boyfriend and tried to a throw a punch at my face. Or would you prefer settling this like men, because I could really use with beating the shit out of a preppy little tart like yourself." Sariel spat out viciously.

"Rinn." Leon and Elliott called out softly.

Sariel's intense gaze softened slightly at the sound of desperation in their voices. She drew a breath into her lungs and slowly exhaled, letting the air hiss between her lips. She relaxed nearly immediately when Elliott wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back towards him.

"Rem, you should really learn to not associate with someone so uncouth." Brooke stated.

"Brooke, I've already told you everything you wanted to hear. I can't explain anything in a way that would make sense to you. I haven't wanted any sort of relationship with you since before I left and moved. That hasn't changed just because I'm back in Zuzu City for the time being. I'm here because Sariel's very dear friends are getting married tomorrow." Elliott spoke calmly.

"Elliott, il y a sûrement un moyen de te convaincre de quitter la putain de rousse et de me rencontrer pour un repas?" Brooke spat.
(Elliott, surely there's a way to convince you to leave the fucking redhead and meet me for a meal?)

"Non." Elliott replied flatly.
(No.)

"Ellie, je peux la frapper?" Sariel asked sweetly.
(Ellie, can I punch her?)

"Ugh. How many languages can you speak?" Brooke asked icily.

"Six." Sariel answered.

"Gru, si prega di cercare di evitare di essere arrestato. Quello sarebbe un orribile regalo di compleanno. Amate Elliott. Calmati." Leon whispered.
(Crane, please try to avoid being arrested. That would be a horrible birthday gift. You love Elliott. Calm down.)

"Grazie, Leon. Scusa." Sariel replied genuinely.

(Thank you, Leon. Sorry.)

"Brooke, what do you want from me? I can't give you what you're after. My heart belongs to Sariel." Elliott stated warmly.

"I just… miss you." Brooke stated sadly.

"I don't miss you. I'm sorry, Brooke. I've been the happiest I've ever been the last twenty-one months." Elliott replied.

"Does she make you happy?" Brooke lamented.

"Very much so. I'm happy with her, Brooke. Happier than I ever was with you. That's not to say you were a bad person, we just weren't right for each other." Elliott stated gently.

Brooke sighed and hung her head. Defeat washed over her face. She turned away from the crowd of people and walked away dejectedly.

"Are you okay, Ell?" Sariel asked softly.

"Yes. I apologize you had to see that. I haven't been romantically involved with Brooke for well over three years." Elliott admitted.

"Ellie, we all have our demons. It's okay." Sariel replied.

"Rinn, can you get us breakfast?" Leon asked sheepishly.

"Benefits of being my mother's daughter. C'mon." Sariel answered.

The quintet made their way into the extravagant hotel. Evynne was behind the front desk and she waved happily towards her daughter. She rushed out from behind the desk and warmly wrapped Sariel in a hug.

"Good morning, baby. Have you eaten yet?" Evynne inquired.

"Good morning, Mom. We haven't yet. Leon's asking if we can head to the restaurant and eat." Sariel replied lovingly.

"I swear, Leon. You would eat me out of house and home if I let you. Of course, you can eat here." Evynne returned.

"Thanks, Mom." Sariel replied sweetly.

"Elliott, happy birthday, dear." Evynne stated warmly as she lightly hugged the man.

"Thank you, Evynne." Elliott said calmly.

Sariel threaded her fingers through Elliott's and gently lead the group towards the Grove, the restaurant located inside the hotel. The host immediately recognized her and lead them to a table. Sariel smiled when Elliott held out her chair for her.

"I never forget how beautiful this place is. You did a great job, Rinn." Audrey warmly spoke.

"Thanks, Red. All I remember are the hours of sweat equity we poured into this place to get it ready. Now, look at it." Sariel chuckled softly.

"It was definitely something, Rinn. I remember you and your mom spending as much time here as you could possibly muster." Lilly stated.

"Right? I lost count of how many hours I sat helping Mom design everything." Sariel laughed heartily as she spoke.

"You designed this?" Elliott softly asked.

"Eh, yes and no. I helped Mom come up with the design for the restaurant, and the entranceway and lobby." Sariel answered lovingly.

"Why didn't you go into Interior Design? This looks amazing, Sariel." Elliott asked.

"Lucian. He wanted someone that could steadily provide for him, so I went into Computer Programming. He said there was no money in art or interior design. I... gave up a lot for what I thought was happiness." Sariel lamented sadly.

"For what it matters, I greatly appreciate everything about you, and I'd never ask you to compromise your dreams or aspirations for mine." Elliott stated warmly.

Sariel beamed at him and snuggled against him, relishing in the safeness he exuded. As they all ordered their food and sat conversing, Sariel realized she was completely and irrevocably in love with Elliott. Everything about him drove her to make herself a better person and she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

The hours dragged on as Sariel and Elliott moved through eating breakfast to spending an hour with one another snuggling on the couch in his Penthouse Suite. She knew the time was steadily approaching to join Lilly, Audrey, Serah, and Evynne in the Spa for their massages. As they snuggled, Elliott stole a minute to stare into Sariel's eyes as he prepared for what he wanted to say.

"Rinn, would you like to take a walk with me?" Elliott asked softly.

"Sure, where would you like to go?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"A stroll through the gardens would be lovely." Elliott answered.

Sariel unwound herself from Elliott's arms and slid off the spacious couch. She tugged her bomber jacket on and flipped her hair out from beneath the collar. She flashed Elliott a quick smile.

Elliott stood and pulled his trench coat on. He too pulled his hair out from beneath the collar. He cast his gaze towards Sariel and swore her eyes were sparkling in the soft light overhead. The smile on her lips warmed his heart. He offered her the crook of his right elbow and he found his thoughts turning to her as they made their way down to the gardens.

The expansive walkway was shrouded overhead with sweeping limbs from well-maintained willow trees. The cool autumn breeze caused the limbs to sway peacefully. All around the pair were various plants, adding to the lovely charm and serenity of the gardens.

They made their way towards the dock near the small lake. Elliott climbed into one of the boats and offered his hand to Sariel. Her small hand in his felt fragile as he firmly held her grasp and eased her into the boat with him. He slipped the two mooring ropes from the posts on the pier. He sat down at the aft of the boat and began rowing them out towards the center of the lake.

Minutes ticked by and Elliott finally stopped a decent ways away from the pier. The water was a deep, beautiful shade of blue and sparkled in the sunlight. Sariel stared lovingly at Elliott as he seemed to be working up the courage to say something to her.

"So, my book's been out for a while now… It's not a best-seller or anything, but it's been getting some good reviews from the critics. And I really couldn't have finished it without your moral support." Elliott stated as he blushed deeply.

"I'm really glad, Ellie. I'm proud of you for accomplishing your dreams. I loved Blue Tower." Sariel stated.

"Actually, that's not true at all. I would have finished it either way. But I am grateful that you believed in me… in my vision And, well… Um… Sariel… How do I say this… Well, we've been friends for a while now… But I'm not sure if I feel that way about you anymore." Elliott stammered and blushed yet again.

Pain and hurt flashed across Sariel's gray eyes and she felt her heart tighten in her chest. She felt panic starting to set in and she seriously contemplated jumping overboard and swimming back to shore. She felt the familiar sting of tears building in her eyes.

"No! I'm not saying I want to cut all ties with you! In fact… quite the opposite. ...Let's see, how do I put this…? For once, I'm at a loss for words…" Elliott stammered.

"Ell?" Sariel asked weakly.

"I love you." Elliott stated.

"Wha?" Sariel queried.

"I love you. You mean the world to me, Sariel. I can't imagine my life without you in it." Elliott stated.

He pulled Sariel into his embrace and kissed her passionately. He felt her small body trembling beneath him and broke his assault on her mouth. He brushed her hair from her face and rested his forehead against hers.

"Rinn? You're trembling…" Elliott spoke with concern in his voice.

"I'm happy, Ellie. Really happy." Sariel whispered.

"I am too." Elliott smiled.

"I love you, Elliott." Sariel stated confidently.

"You do?" Elliott asked shyly.

"Elliott, I feel safe around you. Safer than I have in years. My heart soars when I'm near you. I've fallen for you completely." Sariel admitted sweetly.

Elliott pulled her closer to him and lamented at the ringing of Sariel's phone. He knew it was Lilly and the others coming to whisk Sariel away for the time being. He felt the small sigh escape Sariel's lips as she too, realized their time together was drawing to a close.

"Dinner when we're done? Just you and me." Sariel asked softly.

"I'd love nothing more." Elliott purred.

Sariel unwound herself from Elliott's embrace and fished her phone from her pocket. She answered the call as Elliott rowed them back towards the dock. She cast a gaze towards Elliott and slowly spoke to her friends.

"About time, Rinn! Were you two up to no good?" Lilly inquired.

"Because I can count on one hand the things not to do in my mother's hotel. That includes sleeping with my boyfriend." Sariel taunted.

"Where are you? We went to the Suite, but you're not there." Audrey called out.

"The Lake. Elliott and I took a walk." Sariel stated.

"Did you have a good time?" Lilly asked softly.

"We did. It's nice and peaceful out here. I'm ready for some pampering though." Sariel admitted sheepishly.

"So are we! Meet you at the Spa?" Audrey asked.

"Sounds like a plan." Sariel called out as she disconnected the call.

Elliott steered the boat towards the dock and hopped up on the walkway. He quickly threw the two mooring lines over the posts and offered Sariel his hand. He gently helped her out of the boat and threaded his fingers with hers.

They walked back towards the hotel in complete silence, taking the scant moments to enjoy each other's presence. When they reached the expansive door Elliott quickly tugged it open and ushered Sariel inside. He spun the small woman into his arms and kissed her softly. As he broke the kiss he moved towards Sariel's left ear.

"I love you, Rinn." Elliott purred in a faint whisper.

Goosebumps spread on Sariel's arms and chest at his words. She cradled the back of his head and pulled his face towards hers. She kissed him gently and rubbed his nose with hers.

"I love you, too Elliott." Sariel whispered back.

Butterflies surged through her stomach and her heart fluttered. She melted into Elliott's embrace as he pulled her into a tight hug. She could almost hear Lilly calling out for her.

"I'll be back soon. We're getting massages and our nails done today. Tomorrow we're getting our hair and makeup done. Lilly and I are bunking together. I'm on babysitting duty." Sariel frowned slightly.

Sariel bade Elliott farewell and jogged into the Spa. The rest of the party was waiting for her when she arrived. Her mother sat with a magazine, critically scanning the articles. Audrey and Lilly were standing near the wall of polish deciding on what colors they wanted, while Serah was watching everything.

"Well, don't have fun on my account." Sariel teased.

"Rinn! You're here!" Lilly and Audrey exclaimed.

"That I am. Red, pick the green in your left hand. Lilly, take the green in her right. They'll look great on you both." Sariel stated happily.

"Ugh. Thank you. What color do you want?" Lilly asked.

"I'm doing a gel mani/pedi. Do they have the OPI Less is Norse?" Sariel asked hopefully.

Lilly searched through the rack of Gel polish bottles and triumphantly pulled one free. She pumped her fist in the air. She laughed when Sariel rolled her eyes and waited for the bottle.

"Thanks, Lilly. Mom, Serah, have you picked your colors?" Sariel asked softly.

"I'm too old for fashionable colors, Sariel." Evynne stated.

"I'm wearing a silver dress too, what do you recommend?" Serah asked.

"You need a color that can stand up against your black hair. Something that'll compliment both your hair and the dress. This one." Sariel stated as she plucked a bottle from the rack.

She handed Serah the dark cranberry red polish and saw the smile form across the older woman's face. Her emerald green eyes shone brightly. Sariel flashed her a smile.

"Mom, here. Try this and tell me what you think." Sariel stated.

She sat a small bottle of a shimmery blue polish down in front of Evynne. Her mother cast a harsh, critical gaze towards the color. Nearly instantly her facade faltered and she smiled broadly at her daughter.

"Rinn, that's perfect! How do you do that?" Evynne stated, flabbergasted.

"It's my superpower. I don't know about you all, but I'm going to enjoy my hour massage." Sariel stated giddly.

"Darling, I've paid for each of us to get two-hour massages. I booked you a Shiatsu massage with Lian. She's your favorite, right?" Evynne asked softly.

"Mom! Thank you so much! She is my favorite!" Sariel exclaimed.

"Lilly and I are getting a Couple's Massage. I think Serah decided on a Swedish with a Hot Stone afterward." Audrey called out.

"That I am, sis." Serah called out warmly.

"Sariel and I are doing one hour of Shiatsu and one hour of Hot Stone. Elliott and Leon are joining us for the Hot Stone portion. We're all getting them. I thought they'd be nice for everyone." Evynne spoke.

"Oh. Thank you so much, Evynne!" Lilly exclaimed.

Lian poked her head around the corner and waved to Sariel. Her raven black hair was tightly bound in a ponytail and swung freely behind her. She nodded towards her co-workers and giggled when they all descended on the women waiting.

Lilly and Audrey were led out of the room by their team of therapists. Serah's massage therapist was a lovely Scottish woman who greeted her gently. Lian and Liu, her husband happily greeted Sariel and Evynne.

"Ni hao, Sariel! So good to see you again!" Lian called out.

"Ni hao, Lian. I've missed you! Am I lucky enough you're doing my Hot Stone massage later?" Sariel asked.

"You are. Evynne asked for me specifically. I can't believe Lilly finally asked Red to marry her." Lian chuckled softly.

"I can. She's been agonizing over this for the last two years." Sariel laughed cheerfully.

As she and Lian made their way into Lian's studio Sariel was handed a robe and a pair of lounge pants and a tank top to change into. She quickly slipped into the changing room and reappeared moments later wearing the outfit. She returned to Lian's side and proceeded to lay down on the blue mat on the floor.

Sariel's eyes fluttered closed as Lian began expertly working through ministering to Sariel's tense body. Every well-practiced stroke and movement felt amazing to Sariel. She'd forgotten how nice a massage from Lian felt. She tried to routinely get a Shiatsu massage as it afforded her the ability to recenter herself and find her inner focus again, something that had started when she began training under Mei.

As the hour of the massage waned Sariel felt rejuvenated and alive. Her thoughts felt clear and she felt completely calm. She smiled brightly at Lian as she helped her stand.

"Give me just a few minutes to get prepared for your Hot Stone massage. Hydrate, please. I'll be back soon." Lian stated cheerfully as she darted off to get the supplies she needed.

Sariel grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge for both she and Evynne. She padded through the spacious studio towards the waiting area near the front. When she rounded the corner she was excited to see Elliott waiting. He was engrossed in a copy of his book.

"Salut Elliott. Je t'aime." Sariel whispered.
(Hi Elliott. I love you.)

"Bon après-midi, Sariel. Je t'aime aussi." Elliott replied lovingly.
(Good afternoon, Sariel. I love you, too.)

Sariel sat on the couch next to Elliott and curled up against his left side. She was eagerly awaiting her hot stone massage. Being in close proximity to Elliott made her feel even calmer than she already was.

Elliott closed his book and laid it on the arm of the couch. He took Sariel's hand in his and lovingly rubbed her hand with his thumb. The sweet smell of her shampoo filled his nose and he smiled softly.

"You mentioned to Brooke that you're capable of speaking six languages. French is obviously one of them, what are the other five?" Elliott asked softly.

"English, French, Italian, Dutch, Latin and …" Sariel started speaking.

"Greek." Leon finished.

"Quite remarkable, darling. How'd you learn them?" Elliott inquired.

"That boarish oaf over there. He's a Linguistics specialist with the government. Started teaching me when I was but a wee lass." Sariel chortled.

"At least I'm a devilishly handsome boarish oaf. Chris still finds me attractive after all these years, so I must have something going for me." Leon laughed heartily.

"How are Chris and Lia?" Sariel asked softly.

"Great. I'm working on transferring out of the military sector, actually. I want to be home more. Missed too much having to go on assignments." Leon stated.

"Who are Chris and Lia?" Elliott asked Sariel quietly.

"My husband and daughter." Leon answered.

"How can you speak French so fluently, Ellie?" Sariel asked.

"Victoire. She was born and raised in France, then moved here and met David." Elliott answered flatly.

"Crane, what's your favorite language?" Leon asked warmly.

"Italian. It's the culmination of all of the most beautiful dialects in Italy being blended together to form a new language. It's beautiful and romantic." Sariel said wistfully.

"Hrm, Rinn?" Elliott asked gently.

"Yes?" Sariel replied.

"Think you could translate something for me?" Elliott inquired.

"Of course." Sariel answered happily.

With a slight flourish, Elliott produced a letter from his pocket. Sariel recognized it immediately. The elegant blue handwriting on the front was her own. Her heart fluttered in her chest and a small blush crept across her cheeks.

"There's a phrase here, that's been driving me nuts. This one, here." Elliott stated as he pointed to her handwriting.

Ti amo, Elliott. Con tutto il mio cuore e tutto quello che sono.
(I love you, Elliott. With all my heart and everything I am.)

"It means I love you, Elliott. With all my heart and everything I am. I've been signing my letters to you with that for a while now." Sariel whispered softly.

"Sariel, je t'aime plus que la vie elle-même. Tu es la lune à mon soleil. Je t'aime avec tout ce que je suis et tout ce que je serai." Elliott purred.(Sariel, I love you more than life itself. You are the moon to my sun. I love you with all that I am and all that I will be.)

"Okay, stop romancing Rinn." Lilly called out.

"Wait… You just told her you love her." Leon looked at the pair confused.

"As did I, Leon. We uh told each other how we felt earlier." Sariel blushed brightly.

"Rinn! That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Audrey squealed.

"What's all the commotion about?" Evynne asked critically when she joined the group.

"Rinn and Elliott finally admitted their feelings to each other!" The trio called out at the same time.

Sariel hung her head in her hands. She felt Elliott loop his arm around her and pull her closer to him. He lovingly stroked her side as she continued hiding.

"Lia, is that true?" Evynne asked sweetly.

"Yes, Mom. I told Elliott I love him." Sariel quietly replied.

"I love your daughter very much," Elliott stated proudly.

Their conversation shifted between subjects frequently. After another fifteen minutes had passed, each person was slowly taken back for their Hot Stone massage. Lilly and Audrey were gifted a Couple's Massage.

When they were all done, Leon and Elliott departed for their rooms, leaving the girls to get their nails done. By the time they had finally finished, they were all hungry. Sariel and Lilly retreated to their shared room and Lilly opted for Room Service, while Audrey and Serah drove back to the condo.

Sariel sat on the balcony of Elliott's hotel room and stared down to the gardens below. The cup of hot tea she was nursing warmed her body gently. Occasionally the screen of her phone would light up as Lilly replied to her text messages.

They were enjoying a quiet, romantic dinner for Elliott's birthday. Their conversation was light-hearted and Sariel was completely enthralled by her love. The cake she'd crafted for him was french vanilla with a pastry cream filling and raspberry frosting. After they finished eating, Sariel gave Elliott the Quill Pen she'd purchased for him, much to his delight.

They spent three hours together, just enjoying each other's company. By 10, when Sariel finally decided to turn in for the night, Lilly was already in bed snoring softly. She moved through the room, quietly double and triple checking everything they'd need for the wedding. Pleased everything was where it should be and accounted for, she collapsed into bed.