Chapter 14
Petrichor

A sunbeam fell across Sariel's face causing her to stir from sleep. As she was roused from her slumber she immediately noticed she was naked, not in her own bed, and someone was pressed against her body. Her thoughts turned towards last night's events and the smile that spread on her face was sublime.

Elliott snuggled against her and nibbled on her neck gently. He pulled the comforter around them tighter and ran his right hand across Sariel's body. He whimpered slightly when Sariel shifted against him.

"I love you, Sariel. Last night was amazing." Elliott whispered.

"I love you too, Elliott. I completely agree." Sariel purred.

"How did you make it back last night?" Elliott asked concerned.

"Valentine." Sariel stated matter-of-factly.

"Your motorcycle? Dear Yoba, do I want to know how fast you rode to get here?" Elliott frowned slightly.

"It's probably for the best that you don't know. Definitely not the speed limit though. I… couldn't let things end like that between us. Losing Drake taught me that when you find love, no matter what you fight for it." Sariel admitted ruefully.

"...You made it here forty minutes after my train did. Oh Yoba. That means you were easily pushing 100mph." Elliott's eyes went wide in shock.

"I told you not to think about it! It was 125, for the record." Sariel admitted bashfully.

Elliott responded by wrapping her tightly in his embrace and hugging her to his body. He cursed at the few tears that slipped from his eyes. The wave of realization that dawned on him terrified him. He could have easily lost Sariel last night.

"You could have been hurt or killed! Why would you do something like that?" Elliott lamented.

"Ellie, baby, look at me." Sariel softly commanded.

The pain in his seafoam green eyes cut Sariel like a knife. She stroked his cheek with her hand and kissed him softly. When she broke their kiss she took his left hand and placed it over her heart.

"Elliott, I'm okay. Look at me. I'm here, in bed with you. I'm okay. I willingly drove like a demon to get to you, because you are worth it. I'm sorry I scared you." Sariel stated sweetly.

"I can't lose you, Rinn. You're everything to me." Elliott whimpered.

"You won't, Ell. I won't ever give up on you, or us, without a fight. I've gone through hell to find you, and I'm not about to lose you." Sariel spoke calmly.

"Everything's still back in Zuzu City. Should we go back?" Elliott asked quietly.

"We should. We can take Valentine. I'd like breakfast first though." Sariel answered.

Elliott slid from their bed and growled when the cool air hit his naked body. He rather quickly threw on an outfit and scowled when he noticed Sariel's clothing was still soaked. He rummaged in his closet and withdrew a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt that would do for now.

"Sorry, it isn't much. Your outfit is still drenched from yesterday's storm. Shall we head to the farmhouse?" Elliott asked.

Sariel slid out from beneath the thick blanket and she smirked when she caught Elliott staring at her. She took the clothes from Elliott and quickly dressed. They were a bit a large on her small body, but they were infinitely better than chilled, wet clothing. She perched on the edge of the bed and tugged her socks and boots on.

She ran her fingers through her long hair, attempting to tame the wild tresses. She scooped all of her wet clothing into a pile and folded it all neatly. She and Elliott began the walk to the farmhouse. They took the back road and cut through the forest that connected Sariel's farm to the small town.

As they made their way across Evenstar's spacious farmland Elliott looped his arm around Sariel's waist. He spun her into his embrace and kissed her passionately. They stood near the large pond on the farmland. They could hear the sounds of machinery working as the Iridium Sprinklers were busy dousing all of the crops. The soft squeaking of the windmill blades in the distance added to the farm's ambiance.

Sariel reluctantly broke their kiss. She threaded her fingers with Elliott's and gently tugged on his arm, urging him forward. As they made their way across the paved walkways towards the Farmhouse Linus waved at them.

"Why, good morning Sariel! I wasn't expecting you back until tomorrow. Is everything okay?" Linus asked gently.

"Good morning, Linus. We're actually getting ready to head back to the city, now." Sariel replied sweetly.

She waved goodbye to the older man and quickly made her way towards the front door of the large house. She moved to the firewood storage bin and reached inside the small alcove. On the far right wall, she felt the familiar small metallic box she'd installed. She quickly entered the lock's combination and retrieved the spare set of keys concealed inside.

Sariel turned back towards the door and deftly unlocked the house. The large mahogany door swung open easily. Elliott and Sariel quickly slipped inside and shut the door behind themselves. When she heard the familiar click of the lock, Sariel nearly tore the clothing on her body free as she made her way towards the master bathroom and the warm sanctuary of a shower.

Elliott stood awestruck, staring after Sariel as she stripped naked. The seductive look she cast over her shoulder towards him caused a deep blush to spread on his cheeks. He heard the soft sounds of a shower starting and saw Sariel disappear into the steam-filled shower.

"Coming, Ellie?" Sariel called out sweetly.

Elliott groaned and lightly scrubbed a hand over his face. He quickly doffed his clothing, leaving it neatly piled on Sariel's large bed. Just as quickly as he stripped, he entered the shower and pulled Sariel into his arms.

"Ah, much better." Sariel whispered.

"Indeed. How are you feeling?" Elliott lovingly inquired.

"Honestly, I'm a little sore, but really happy. How are you feeling?" Sariel asked.

"Amazing. It almost seemed like a dream, but I'm glad it wasn't." Elliott purred.

Sariel moved through slowly scrubbing her body clean. The soft, sweet notes of her usual pear and apple scented soap filled her nose. When Elliott started rubbing the thick green soap onto his skin, goosebumps formed on Sariel's arms. She quickly ran shampoo coated fingers through her long tresses, working to remove the hair products and tangles from the previous night.

Soon she and Elliott had rinsed themselves off and were standing in the shower enjoying each other's presence. Hesitantly, Sariel shut the shower off and drew two fluffy towels off the towel rack. She handed one of the thick towels to Elliott and sat about drying herself with the other. As she wrung the water from her hair she caught Elliott staring at her intently.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"Just trying to figure out how I was blessed with someone as beautiful, caring, compassionate and loving as you, darling." Elliott replied.

Sariel smiled warmly and exited the shower. She marched towards her closet and pulled on a matching set of emerald green underwear and bra. She tugged a pair of light blue bootcut jeans on and slipped on an emerald green tank top. She quickly bound her hair into a long dutch braid and pulled her trusty leather boots back on.

Elliott pressed a soft kiss to her neck and rubbed her shoulders slightly. He finger-combed his long auburn hair and tamed the messy waves into a single braid. He adjusted his green tie and made sure the silk was bound with a tie clip.

"Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?" Sariel asked gently.

"Er, no. I haven't. I typically prefer safer modes of transportation." Elliott replied.

"Fair enough. I'll sit in front, you sit behind me and hold onto me like you love me." Sariel teased.

"I do love you, though." Elliott replied, nearly painfully.

"Ellie, I'm teasing you. You need to not be afraid to hold onto me. I've been riding for nearly eight years now. I was taught by Drake and Leon. Leon's been riding since he was a kid." Sariel stated.

"I see." Elliott replied flatly.

"Are you scared I'm going to drive like I did last night?" Sariel asked sadly.

"No." Elliott stated as he crinkled his nose slightly.

"You're a terrible liar, Mr. McCoy. You crinkle your nose when you lie." Sariel chirped.

"I am, just a little though." Elliott admitted.

"Ellie, I promise I'll be careful. You mean the world to me. Val's going to need a fill-up before we leave though." Sariel countered lovingly.

She pulled her lover into her embrace and held him tightly against her small frame. She nestled her head against his chest. As his heart beat steadily in his chest, she closed her eyes and smiled slightly.

Elliott stroked Sariel's back through the thin cotton of her tank top. Feeling her listening to his heartbeat brought warmth to his heart and soul. He noticed her breathing had subtly shifted to match his.

"Comfortable?" Elliott whispered.

"Very much so. Your heartbeat is calming." Sariel replied sweetly.

She drew her head from his chest and kissed him ever-so-gently. She lightly caressed his cheek and nuzzled her nose against his. She withdrew from their embrace and took Elliott's hand in hers as she lead him outside.

The couple made their way to the storage shed closest to the farmhouse. Sariel pushed the door open and scooped her beloved leather jacket from the floor. She easily slipped the coat on and turned the key in Valentine's engine. The sleek black motorcycle roared to life and Sariel began wheeling the mechanical beast outside.

She laid the bike on its kickstand and she turned towards Elliott. The look of admiration on his face made her smile. She swung her right leg over the bike and settled herself on the comfortable leather seat.

"Sit behind me!" Sariel called out over the roar of the engine.

Elliott gently sat down behind her and pressed his body close to hers. He looped his arms around her slender waist and leaned into her body. He kissed the back of her head when she leaned back against him.

"Hold onto my waist as tight as you can. Don't fight it when I turn. You'll want to, it's natural, just try not to. I promise I'll be as gentle as I can. We're going to stop in Apple Creek to get gas and breakfast. From there, it's a straight shot to Zuzu City. If you need to stop and stretch, pat my thigh or my back, okay?" Sariel yelled out.

"Okay." Elliott replied.

Sariel pushed the kickstand up and slowly eased Valentine forward. Pleased with how well Elliott was listening to her advice, she picked up speed and expertly navigated them out of Pelican Town. When they hit the Highway, Sariel was careful to keep her speed around the speed limit and she easily fell into a comfortable ride with Elliott behind her.

Twenty minutes after they set out, they reached the town of Apple Creek. Sariel pulled into a Gas Station and killed the engine. She popped the kickstand down and motioned for Elliott to hop off the bike.

"Doing okay, honey?" Sariel asked with concern in her voice.

"I do believe I am. Valentine's very gentle." Elliott answered.

"She's a good girl. Hasn't done me wrong in eight years. There's a Café here I think you'll like." Sariel stated sweetly.

Soon Valentine's six-gallon tank was full yet again. Sariel snatched the receipt from the pump and shoved it into her back pocket. She rubbed her hands together to give them a bit of warmth and straddled the motorcycle once again.

Elliott climbed onto the bike behind her and looped his arms around Sariel's waist. It was then he noticed Sariel's jacket smelled intrinsically like Eucalyptus and Tea Tree. He also noticed the remarkable sheen to her jacket and his curiosity was piqued.

Sariel started the motorcycle and eased onto the street near the Gas Station. She kept at the speed limit and nearly as shortly as they'd set off, they'd arrived at a small café named The Orchard. Sariel pulled into a parking spot and plopped the kickstand into place. She killed the ignition and waited for Elliott to climb off the bike before dismounting herself.

"This looks charming. I like it." Elliott stated warmly.

"You'll like the food even more, hopefully." Sariel chuckled.

Elliott noticed Sariel's cheeks were flushed from the cold wind. He furiously rubbed his hands bringing warmth to them and softly laid his palms on her cheeks. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes.

"Normally, I wear a helmet that prevents that, but I was in such a rush to get home to you, I left it." Sariel lamented softly.

"The valley does look like home now, doesn't it? They say home is where the heart is. My heart belongs to you, so wherever you are is home." Elliott purred.

"Who knew you were such a hopeless romantic, Mr. McCoy?" Sariel teased.

"Hopefully only you, Ms. Shade." Elliott quipped.

Sariel looped her arm around Elliott's and lead the two of them inside the quaint restaurant. The warm, comforting scent of apple pie filled their nostrils. Sariel's stomach growled lightly as she and Elliott made their way to a table.

"Apple Creek is famous for their apples. They're a big deal here. I found this place on the way back from Zuzu City the second time." Sariel politely whispered.

A waitress made her way to their table. Her pastel pink hair was styled in a curled ponytail. The white apron she wore over her work uniform had an adorable Junimo embroidered on it.

"Hi. My name's Anna, welcome to The Orchard. What can I get y'all to drink?" She asked softly.

"I'll have a Chai Cider and a coffee." Sariel stated.

"Coffee and a water, please." Elliott stated politely.

"Sure thing. Y'all need a few minutes to order?" Anna asked.

Both Sariel and Elliott shook their heads. Sariel flipped open a menu and pointed directly at her choice, a warm baked Apple and a side of Caramel Apple Breakfast Casserole. Elliott ordered Apple-Maple French Toast.

"Anna, I have a quick question, actually. I know you run a store here, too. I live over in Pelican Town, would it be possible to have y'all ship me some Apple Butter?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"Absolutely. I'll get your orders in and bring you an order form." Anna stated cheerfully.

When she turned, her ponytail bounced freely and swung in the air. Sariel found herself idly rubbing Elliott's right hand. She noticed her right hand was resting on the pendant Elliott had given her.

"You seem distressed, my love. What's on your mind?" Elliott asked gently.

"You'll think I'm stupid." Sariel replied.

"Hardly. Stupid is never a word I could fathom using to describe you." Elliott countered.

"I'm worried you aren't happy with me." Sariel whispered faintly.

"What on earth would make you think that?" Elliott asked softly.

"This is so not a breakfast conversation. I'm… ashamed of my past. Of Lucian." Sariel lamented.

"Darling, we all have demons and skeletons in our closets. I love you for who you are. That woman was shaped and forged after your ordeal with Lucian. Your flaws and imperfections are lovely and wonderful to me. I see Sariel Lia Shade before me. A woman forged from fire and iron. Her passion is only tempered by her determination. I chose you, as you are, I would never want you to change. I am quite happy with you, darling." Elliott lovingly stated.

"Thanks, Ellie." Sariel replied.

"You know, no one else calls me Ellie. I've always been Elliott, Eli, Rem, or Remington to people. I love that about you. You found something special and unique about me and made it yours." Elliott smiled as he spoke.

"You're the only one that affectionately calls me Lia. When the middle name is dropped, it typically means I'm in trouble." Sariel laughed as she spoke.

Anna appeared and gently interrupted their quiet moment to give them their drinks. She quickly sat about handing them out. She pulled an order form and a pen from her apron and gave them to Sariel.

"Just fill this out and when you're ready to pay, hand this to the cashier. They'll get you taken care of." Anna beamed as she spoke.

"Thanks!" Sariel stated brightly.

"Might I ask you a question?" Elliott asked softly.

"Of course." Sariel replied sweetly.

"Your jacket. Eucalyptus and Tea Tree seem out of place. What do you use on your jacket?" Elliott inquired.

"Oakwood brand products. It's a guilty pleasure of mine, fully enabled by Leon. He used the cleaner for his holster and coat and I grew fond of the scent. This jacket was a gift from him a few years ago. I use the same products he does as a way of keeping him close." Sariel stated lovingly.

Elliott groaned and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. The tiny device was softly vibrating. Elliott scowled at the number displayed on the screen before handing the device to Sariel.

"I believe this call's for you, darling." Elliott stated flatly.

Sariel looked at the display screen and rolled her eyes. She quickly answered the call and brought the device to her ear. The roars and noises from the other end made it hard for her to discern what was being said.

"Oi, Michael, turn that racket off! I can't hear myself think, let alone speak!" Lilly bellowed.

"Lilly? Everything okay?" Sariel asked urgently.

"Oh, yeah. Everything's peachy!" Lilly stated.

"RINN! WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" Leon bellowed.

"Oh, Jesus. I'm fine, guys. Elliott's fine. I'm fine. We're all fine." Sariel stated.

"You didn't call us! We were worried!" Audrey called out.

"Christ, Red, it's only 9. Elliott and I… had a decent… uh… talk last night." Sariel stammered.

Elliott was chuckling as Sariel blushed heavily. His bright seafoam green eyes shone radiantly. The glare and glower from Sariel humored him even more.

"You raced like a bat outta hell to get back to him and all you did was talk?! Good god, woman!" Lilly scoffed.

"Cut her some slack, Lillyandra." Leon taunted.

"Oh, you wanna go, Leon Michael?" Lilly challenged.

"Sari… Did you sleep with him?" Chris asked boldly.

"Ohmygod. We seriously are not discussing that, Christopher Scott Winchester." Sariel stated firmly.

"She's too salty to have slept with him." Leon blurted.

"Are you guys still DRUNK?!" Sariel whispered loudly.

"Oops. Cat's out of the bag on that one." Audrey chortled.

"Ohmygod. I can't believe the four of you! I hate you guys so much." Sariel growled.

"Uh-oh. Ri-Ri's angry. Dragon, calm her down!" Lilly called out.

"Leon Michael Winchester, if you value your life, you'll immediately re-think this decision." Sariel growled out.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. I'm going to get a gallon of water and go for a walk. I'll make sure we all sober up. Please don't kill me, Rinn." Leon whimpered.

"We're eating breakfast. Once we're done we'll be on the way back to your hot mess. All of you, drink some water. I'll hopefully see you all soon." Sariel called out as she disconnected the call.

She tossed the phone back to Elliott and thumped her head on the table. She repeated this action a few times before Elliott slid his hand beneath her forehead and prevented her from thwacking the table yet again. Sariel cast her stormy gray gaze towards him and she sighed heavily.

"They love you, darling." Elliott stated softly.

Anna returned to their table carrying a tray of their breakfast. She expertly sat the plates down and topped their coffee cups off. She handed them a small stack of napkins and left them the check.

Sariel speared a bite of her casserole on a fork and devoured the rich food. The warm cinnamon and caramel flavors melted in her mouth. The sweet vanilla, bourbon, and apple paired well together. She and Elliott sat in silence as they finished their meals.

Sariel quickly filled out the order form Anna had left her. She finished her coffee and washed the bold beverage down with her Chai Cider. She deftly grabbed the receipt from their meal and made her way to the register to pay for the meal.

When she finished paying for the meal and the apple butter she found Elliott browsing the small store and hugged him gently. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. She tugged on Elliott's arm slightly, drawing his attention towards her.

"If we want to beat traffic, we should hit the road." Sariel stated softly.

"Shall we?" Elliott asked gently.

Sariel nodded and took Elliott's hand in hers. They made their way back to Valentine and once again Sariel climbed on the bike. Elliott sat down behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pressed a chaste kiss to the back of her neck as he leaned against her.

Sariel eased her beloved motorcycle off the kickstand. She turned the key in the ignition and smiled when the bike roared to life beneath her. She nestled herself against Elliott and began the drive towards Zuzu City.