Chapter 18
Spirit's Eve

The soft sounds of Sariel's alarm echoed through her bedroom. She smiled softly when the arm draped over her waist tightened. Her dark red hair splayed around her like a fiery halo. She reached out to the alarm clock and shut the intrusive device off.

The light breathing from behind her was hot on her cheek. She rolled over and turned her gaze towards the figure and fondly ran her right hand through his hair. His eyes were closed and he smiled at the kind gesture. She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead and unwound herself from Elliott's embrace.

She glanced at the calendar and smiled brightly. Today was October 31st, one of Sariel's favorite days. She'd spent half the last week preparing for tonight's festival. As she finally regained full range of motion in her right arm, she triumphantly announced she'd decorated the farmhouse and was offering hayrides through half of her expansive farmland. She and Leah had spent countless hours getting everything ready.

Sariel crossed her bedroom to her Bluetooth speaker. She quickly set the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack to play and flittered about her large farmhouse happily. She made her way into the kitchen and speedily started a pot of coffee and pulled the ingredients for Eggs Benedict from the fridge.

She darted back into her bedroom and snatched her phone from her nightstand. As she was retreating to the kitchen there was a knock on the front door. She checked the chain lock and cautiously opened the door. She beamed when she saw Leon, Chris, and their daughter Lia, standing on the porch.

She quickly shut the door and undid the lock and pulled the door open. The family crushed her in a group hug and Sariel smiled brightly at all of them. She knelt before Lia when the small girl tugged on Sariel's sleeve.

"Good morning, Aunty Winn. Are you and Uncle Ellie still going to the festival with me tonight?" Lia beamed radiantly.

"Good morning, Lia. We absolutely are. Are you looking forward to it?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"Yep! Can I go play upstairs?" Lia asked.

"Of course, sweetie." Sariel stated.

She stood and moved out of the doorway as her niece scampered up the stairs to the large sitting room upstairs. The pale white carpet spanned the entire floor. Sariel kept a toy box and a few small bookshelves full of coloring books, reading books, arts and crafts supplies, and puzzles for her niece.

"How are my boys doing this morning?" Sariel asked as she moved into the kitchen.

"I'll let Leon answer that question." Chris grumbled.

"I've apologized a million times, already, Scott. I'm sorry. I love you." Leon stammered.

"What did you do, Leon?" Sariel teased.

"I might have accidentally ruined Lia's costume for tonight." Leon whispered.

"What? What happened?!" Sariel asked harshly.

"We had it laying on the table to dry, and I spilled a cup of coffee on it." Leon weakly answered.

"Did you bring it with you?" Sariel inferred quickly.

Leon nodded and handed her the paper bag he was carrying. He looked away from her when he saw the disappointed look on her face. He ran his hand through his short blond hair and frowned.

"It's not that bad. I think I can salvage it." Sariel stated hopefully.

"Wait, really?" Leon stammered.

"I make no promises. I'll work what magic I can though." Sariel countered.

Sariel pulled the outfit from within the confines of the bag and grabbed some newspaper and scattered it on the dining table. She laid the golden ball gown, a smaller replica of her own costume for this evening on the paper. She stared at the brown stain on the golden fabric for a moment and darted into the laundry room.

She returned a few minutes later when an armload of supplies. She filled a medium-sized basin with hot water and dumped a scoop of Oxiclean into the water. She started working, meticulously scrubbing the stain with her fingers, as gently as she could to hopefully avoid ruining the delicate fabric.

"Eggs Benedict, Rinn?" Chris called out.

"Yeah, I was going to make breakfast for all of us. I've got to do this quickly, or the stain will set, though." Sariel lamented sadly.

"I don't mind cooking breakfast for us, it's the least I can do." Leon called out.

"Please? I love you guys." Sariel replied sweetly.

"Who are you declaring your love for, darling?" Elliott purred as he pulled up a chair next to Sariel.

"Thing One and Thing Two over there." Sariel stated.

"Good morning, darling." Elliott whispered.

"Good morning, honey." Sariel replied sweetly.

"Is there anything you need help with?" Elliott asked kindly.

"Coffee?" Sariel murmured.

Elliott slid his chair backward and crossed to the coffee pot. He pulled Sariel's favored mug from the cabinet and set about preparing her beverage. As he finished the preparations, he returned to Sariel's side and slid the cup towards her.

"Thank you, Ellie." Sariel smiled at him brightly.

He stole a moment to press a soft kiss to her lips and ran his thumb over her cheek gently. He stood from the table and turned on the TV. As he flipped to the weather channel he scowled when the reported hinted there might be rain this evening.

"Uncle Ellie!" Lia yelled out from the stairs.

"Good morning, Lia." Elliott replied softly.

Lia charged at him and giggled when he knelt and caught her in a warm hug. She'd adjusted to Pelican Town well. She got along with Jas and Vincent well enough. She ran her tiny fingers through Elliott's hair and smiled at him.

"Uncle Ellie?" Lia asked shyly.

"Yes, Lia?" Elliott replied sweetly.

"Would you tell me a story from my princess book?" Lia shuffled around as she spoke.

"I'd love to. Would you like to sit by the fire?" Elliott asked.

"Okay! Wait for me!" Lia squealed as she darted off to get her book.

Elliott moved to the rocking chair near the fireplace and sat down. He smiled fondly when Lia handed him the book and climbed onto his lap. He cracked the spine of the book open and waited while Lia chose her desired story. He flipped to the page and softly began reading to the small girl.

Sariel cast her gaze towards them and she was overwhelmed by the pure love radiating from Elliott towards Lia. She smiled as his voice rose and fell perfectly as he read the story. The soft giggles from Lia warmed everyone's hearts.

"How's it looking, Baby?" Leon asked.

"Just about fixed." Sariel stated.

Determination bore itself on her face. She'd successfully managed to remove the vast majority of the offending stain. Her fingers ached, but she knew that the reward would be worth it. She plunked the dress into the treated water yet again and started rubbing the stain with her fingers. The heat from the water flushed her pale skin.

She held the garment underwater for several minutes, gently working the stain free. Her stomach growled at the delicious aromas coming from the stove and oven. She turned towards Leon and Chris and laughed when she saw them both covered in flour and biscuit dough.

"Boys, please tell me you're going to clean up after yourselves?" Sariel chided softly.

"Yes, Mama." Leon and Chris stated sadly.

Sariel pulled the dress from the basin and stared at the area where the stain had been. She gently blotted the water from the garment and took it to the washing machine. She configured the washer and tossed the garment in.

"We'll know if I was successful in forty minutes, or so." Sariel called out.

Sariel made her way into her bedroom and shucked off the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing. She pulled a pair of jeans and a soft gray tank top from the closet. She quickly pulled the clothes on and tugged her work boots onto her feet. She slipped into the bathroom and brushed her hair, taming it into her preferred dutch braid.

Sariel made her way to the kitchen table and chugged the remnants of her cup of coffee. She fetched her leather work gloves from the table by the door and tucked them in her pocket. She rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms slightly.

"Working already, Rinn?" Chris asked gently.

"Yep. Such is the life of a farmer." Sariel stated happily.

"Darling, you should eat first." Elliott chided softly.

"The man makes a point, Rinn. Want some help after breakfast?" Leon asked.

"I'd love the help. There's a lot to do." Sariel stated sweetly.

Chris worked quickly, setting out plates of the Eggs Benedict he and Leon had prepared. He pulled a carafe of orange juice from the fridge and set out glasses for everyone. He sat the pot of coffee to the table and grabbed the milk and sugar. He smiled when Lia slid off Elliott's lap and ran to the table and pulled herself into a chair.

Sariel sat on Lia's left and smiled brightly at her niece. The small girl was a spitting image of her father. She had Leon's bright sapphire blue eyes and straw hued hair. Even her nose bore a resemblance to her father.

Sariel speared a bite of the meal onto her fork and devoured the food. The creamy Hollandaise sauce had beautifully developed notes of lemon and garlic. It complemented the poached eggs and smoky bacon well. The tender biscuits Leon had made were buttery and delicious.

"Man, I forgot how well the two of you can cook." Sariel stated.

"Aw thanks, Rinn. You're the better chef out of all of us though." Chris countered sweetly.

"What all needs to be done today?" Leon asked gently.

"Harvests, check on the animals, check the fences, finish up the stuff for tonight, and I've got errands I have to run." Sariel lamented softly.

"What errands do you have, darling?" Elliott inferred gently.

"Clint's working on a mineralogy study and needs some ores I've gathered from the mine; Emily purchased some bolts of cloth from me and I need to deliver them; Marnie needs more Cave Carrots for her animals, and I need to knock out grocery shopping for the week." Sariel listed off everything.

"I'll handle the errands for you if you'd like." Elliott stated.

"Really? That would save me a ton of time, Ellie." Sariel replied lovingly.

"Of course. Is everything ready?" Elliott queried.

"Yep. All the boxes and packages are loaded up into the truck. They're labeled and everything. The grocery list is pinned to the fridge. Thank you, baby. I love you." Sariel cooed.

"You're welcome, darling. I love you too. I'll be back as soon as I can, so I can help load the produce up as well." Elliott replied.

He pushed his chair back and kissed Sariel gently. He pulled his coat on and slipped the truck keys from the hook by the door. He slipped out the front door and quickly bounded towards the waiting vehicle and set off on running Sariel's errands for her.

"What crops are ready, Rinn?" Chris asked.

"Artichokes, Beets, Bok Choy, Corn, Cranberries, Eggplants, Grapes, Pumpkins, Wheat, and Yams. There's thirty of each crop planted. This is thankfully the last large harvest of the year." Sariel stated gratefully.

"You mentioned the fences need looking at, right?" Leon inquired.

"Yep, there are a few places that are starting to show some weakening. Need to replace the posts and beams before they give out." Sariel answered.

"I can handle that. Where're the weak spots?" Leon replied.

"There's a large laminated map of the farm inside the shed I keep Valentine in. I've circled the spots on the map. All the materials are in that shed, too." Sariel answered.

"On it, Rinn. Lia, want to help Aunt Rinn and Daddy pick the crops and take care of the animals?" Leon asked sweetly.

"Can I help, Aunty Winn?" Lia inquired quietly.

"Absolutely, Lia. Would you like to help get the eggs from the chickens?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"Yes, please!" Lia squealed excitedly.

Sariel crossed to the small storage cabinet in the kitchen and pulled extra work gloves and sunscreen from within. She pulled out a hat for Lia. She palmed her sunglasses from the top shelf and slid them on her face.

She quickly covered her face, ears, neck, shoulders, and arms in sunblock and smiled when Chris did the same for himself and Lia. She pulled a beautifully crocheted lavender and gray apron from within the cabinet and tied it around her waist. The apron had several pockets on the front for storing eggs inside. She pulled a similar apron, in a much smaller size out for Lia and handed it to the small girl.

The group made their way outside and sat about getting to work. Leon bounded off to the west to start working on the fences, while Sariel, Lia, and Chris started checking on the animals. Sariel maintained an expansive chicken coop and barn on the property. The coop housed eight Barred Plymouth Rock hens and eight Golden Comet hens.

Leon was already at work tearing down the worn fence post when the group made their way towards the coop. Sariel pushed the gate open and led Chris and Lia inside. The warm air was well-ventilated and Lia giggled when she spied her favorite chicken, Chica. She and Sariel made quick work of collecting the eggs, while Chris checked the automatic feeder and waterer.

Pleased with their progress, Sariel, Chris, and Lia exited the coop and made their way towards the barn. The bright blue exterior of the barn made Sariel happy. Robin had done an amazing job with everything.

They quickly jaunted into the barn and Sariel and Chris scrubbed their hands clean and milked the four Jersey Cows inside. Chris followed Sariel's lead and they carried the large buckets to the back of the barn and loaded the milk into the industrial equipment to pasteurize and bottle the liquid.

Sweat beaded on Sariel's brow and the group made their way back to the crops. It was close to eleven now. The trio worked efficiently and was soon joined by Leon. As the hours dragged on, stacks of produce crates were growing. When Elliott returned at noon, he helped load all of the crates.

"Heck yes!" Sariel exclaimed when she loaded the last crate.

"Damn, Rinn. How do you do this every day?" Leon panted.

"Been doing it for ten months. Kind of grows on you after a while. The money's great too." Sariel answered.

"Sariel's determined. Every day she wakes by six and by six thirty she's out here working." Elliott added in.

"This harvest should bring in about twenty-five grand. Paired with what everyone paid Ellie for the errands this morning, I'm probably bringing in close to thirty grand." Sariel stated proudly.

"Thirty thousand dollars? In a day? Holy shit, Rinn!" Leon blurted out.

"Yeah, I told you the farm's doing great. I wasn't lying. By April, I had made my salary at Joja." Sariel laughed.

"Damn, Rinn!" Chris proclaimed.

"I don't particularly feel like cooking lunch, y'all want to go to the Saloon?" Sariel asked.

The men all nodded. Lia tugged on Chris' pant leg and smiled when he scooped her up. Sariel caught the keys to the truck as Elliott tossed them to her. She climbed into her truck and turned the key in the ignition.

"Come on, I gotta drop most of this at Pierre's. The rest is going to Gus." Sariel called out the window.

The quad quickly joined her inside the vehicle. She made the short drive to Pierre's and pulled her work tablet from within the truck and opened Pierre's order form. She and the three men quickly unloaded Pierre's purchase and Sariel hugged the older man as he handed her the payment.

"I don't know how you do it, Sariel. Thank you! Enjoy the winter break!" Pierre called out.

"Thanks, Pierre!" Sariel replied kindly.

She climbed back into the truck and waited until Chris, Leon, and Elliott had buckled up before departing for the Saloon. The extended family made their way inside towards a table. Gus dropped off their menus while inspecting the produce Sariel had brought him. He quickly slid her a check and smiled when Leon and Chris helped him bring in everything.

When they returned they ordered pizza and chicken nuggets for Lia, while Sariel opted for Salad and blackberry mint water to drink, and Elliott ordered Tom Kha Soup. The group happily ate and enjoyed their time together. Elliott departed and headed towards his cabin after they finished lunch.

They returned to the farmhouse and Sariel checked on Lia's dress. She cheered triumphantly as she tossed the delicate garment into the dryer. She pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and shook her braid free. Leon led Lia upstairs to the guest bathroom to get her ready for this evening's festivities.

"I take it you saved Leon's ass?" Chris asked jokingly.

"I did! I'm going to take a shower and get dressed for tonight." Sariel replied.

She dashed into her room and kicked the door shut. She shucked her work clothes off and pulled her costume for tonight from the closet. The thick, heavy, protective garment bag shrouded the costume contained within.

She sauntered into the bathroom and took her time in the shower. By the time she finished grooming herself, over an hour had passed. She shut the water off and exited the shower, gracefully pulling a towel from the rack to her body. She scrubbed herself dry and perched on the chair by her vanity. She donned her costume quickly and checked her reflection in the mirror.

The shimmery golden gown she wore fit her perfectly. She'd bound her long hair in a half-bun and curled the tresses that hung free. She was wearing gold colored gloves that covered her arms to just above her elbows. The off-the-shoulder gown perfectly matched that of Princess Belle's from Beauty and the Beast, Sariel's favorite Disney movie. Sariel glided across the floor in her costume as she entered the living room.

"How do I look?" Sariel called out.

Chris and Leon turned from where they were sitting on the couch and both their jaw's dropped. Leon blinked a few times at her and struggled to find the words to describe how elegantly beautiful she looked. Chris gave her a wolf whistle and a thumbs up in approvement.

"Rinn, you look amazing! Damn girl. You're breathtakingly gorgeous!" Leon stammered.

"Thanks, boys!" Sariel replied genuinely.

Sariel moved to the dining table and started filling a large bucket with candy. She laughed warmly when Lia squealed from upstairs and flew to Sariel's side in her own Princess Belle dress. The small girl was wearing a replica of the Live-Action styled dress.

A soft knocking on her door drew her from her thoughts. She set the candy bucket she was filling down and made her way to the front door. She opened the door slowly and gasped in delight when she saw Elliott on the porch.

He was wearing Prince Adam's royal blue and gold outfit from the final scene of the movie. His long hair had been tamed in a ponytail and he was holding a single red rose in his hand. He bowed deeply to Sariel and smiled at her when she curtsied.

"My god, darling, you look incredible!" Elliott exclaimed.

"You look incredible too, Ellie!" Sariel replied brightly.

Elliott pulled her into his embrace and spun her gently. He was mesmerized by the flowing golden gown. The shimmery fabric suited Sariel well. He pulled her into his arms once again and pressed his lips to hers.

He smiled as he broke the kiss and licked her pomegranate flavored lip balm off his lips. Her brilliantly radiant gray eyes sparkled in the candlelight. He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and laced his fingers with hers.

"Are you ready for this evening, my love?" Elliott asked gently.

"I believe so. Leah took the truck over earlier. I've got the last item here." Sariel stated cheerfully.

"Uncle Ellie, you look handsome!" Lia called out from behind Sariel.

"Ah, Princess Belle, you are radiantly beautiful this evening." Elliott smiled brightly at her.

"Silly Uncle Ellie, I'm not Princess Belle, Aunty Winn is!" Lia explained.

"Elliott, you look good, dude. Where'd you get the costume at?" Chris asked.

"I had Emily craft it for me." Elliott answered.

"She did a great job!" Sariel squealed.

"Would Princess Belle enjoy an escort to the festivities?" Elliott inquired.

"That depends. Is Prince Adam offering?" Sariel asked kindly.

"He is." Elliott answered proudly.

He moved past Sariel and effortlessly hefted the large candy-filled bucket. As he slid past Sariel again, he trailed his hand along her lower back. The devilish smile that crept on his face caused Sariel to blush slightly.

Sariel grabbed the spare set of keys she kept on a hook by the door and glided out to the front porch. When Lia, Chris, and Leon joined them she gracefully turned and locked the sturdy door behind her. Elliott took the keys from her and slipped them into his pants pocket.

He held out his right elbow and smiled brightly when Sariel gently held onto his bicep. He gently lead her down the steps, making sure she didn't trip over her dress as she walked. He kissed her softly on her cheek and fell into a comfortable pace beside her.

As the group made the short walk to the town square, they could already hear the festivities. Carved pumpkins adorned nearly all of the corners. They cast a soft, warm halo of light all around them. As they entered the square, Sariel swore she heard everything stop as everyone focused on them.

She smiled brightly and took the bucket of candy from Elliott and sat it on the table with all the other treats. She waved to Leah and started making her way towards her friend. As she rounded the corner of the table, Jas ran up to her and smiled brightly at her.

"You look very pretty, Miss Sariel." Jas stated sweetly.

Sariel knelt to the young girl's height and took her tiny hands in hers. The young raven-haired girl was dressed like a cat. Sariel smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you very much, Miss Jas. You're a very beautiful cat. Are you having a good time?" Sariel calmly asked.

"Oh, thank you, Miss Sariel. I'm having a lot of fun! I think I'm gonna go find Vincent and play some more. Mr. Winchester, can Lia come play with us?" Jas called out sweetly.

"Of course. Have fun, girls!" Chris replied.

"Thank you, daddy!" Lia squealed with delight.

The two girls bolted off towards Vincent and their lilting laughter brightened everyone's smiles. Sariel gracefully stood up and smoothed out her dress. She glanced at Elliott and flashed him a dazzling smile. He seemed slightly distracted.

"A great idea can pass through your head when you least expect it… but if your mind is too busy you might miss it." Sariel stated softly.

"You're amazing around children, love." Elliott said warmly.

"Thank you. I love kids, they're amazingly complex individuals." Sariel returned.

"Have you given any thought to having children of your own?" Leon asked softly.

"I'd love to be a mom, I think. When I was working for Joja, I didn't want kids. My hours were crazy and I couldn't bear doing that to someone I love unconditionally. Now though? I'd love it, I'm sure. Do you want children, Elliott?" Sariel asked shyly.

"I do. Always have. Family is exceptionally important to me." Elliott stated proudly.

"Me too. I wouldn't be here without my family. Both biological and surrogate. I'm sorry your parents haven't been kinder to you." Sariel stated sadly.

"Sariel, I love you. The amount of concern and compassion you hold for other people is remarkable. In the ten months we've been dating, you've done a multitude of things to show me love and kindness." Elliott stated lovingly.
"I love you too, Elliott. I'm excited to see what the future holds in store for us." Sariel replied brightly.

"As am I, darling. For now, though, I believe our future is leading us to say hello to more of our friends." Elliott laughed warmly.

Sariel nodded in agreement and again to her place at Elliott's side. The group finally made their way to where Leah, Emily, and Shane had gathered. The redhead and bright blue-haired woman were engaged in a light conversation. Shane looked positively bored.

"Oh my god, Sari! You… wow." Leah stammered.

Sariel curtsied brilliantly and beamed at her friend. Even Shane seemed to change his demeanor due to Sariel's appearance. Emily smiled softly and bowed at Sariel's gesture.

"Thanks, Leah." Sariel replied.

"Elliott, you look amazing." Emily stated.

"Thank you, Ms. Adams. You and the delightful Ms. McKenzie both look radiant." Elliott stated politely.

Leah had dressed as a woodland fairy. Her normal braid had been loosely curled and flowers adorned her hair. She wore a green dress that looked like it was made from several large leaves. Emily was wearing a dress styled after a Greek Goddess.

The group stayed at the table for a few moments, enjoying their time with their friends. Eventually, Sariel and Elliott departed and made their rounds to all their groups of friends. As the evening was drawing to a close, Mayor Lewis tracked the happy couple down.

"I have an odd request for the two of you." Lewis stated quietly.

"What do you need?" Sariel asked equally quiet.

"There's been a bet placed on the two of you. I'd very much like to prove Marlon wrong and win the bet." Lewis confided.

"Oh good lord." Sariel blurted out as she shook her head.

"No, no. It's nothing horrible. I promise. Marlon's convinced that even though the two of you are dressed for the part, you aren't capable of ballroom dancing." Lewis whispered.

"I am quite capable of dancing formally." Elliott stated indignantly.

"Rinn can dance too. So can Chris and I." Leon stated proudly.

"That's what I thought. We have the square cleared out, mostly. I'll win the bet if the two of you dance. Would you mind?" Lewis asked sadly.

Elliott and Sariel looked at each other. The playful look on her face soothed his irritation. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight and Elliott felt himself falling even more in love with her.

"No, we don't mind, Mayor Lewis." Sariel stated brightly.

"Thank you. You're the best." Lewis replied.

Elliott offered his hand to Sariel and lead her to the square. Music was playing softly and he smiled slightly. He spun Sariel into his embrace and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

Lewis moved around them and changed the music that was playing. Soon the soft notes of a classical waltz started playing. He smiled brightly at the couple as they looked slightly embarrassed.

Leon sneakily made his way towards the Bluetooth player. He kept glancing around as he shut accidentally disconnected the speaker and connected it to his phone. He shot the most mischievous smile he could to Sariel as he started playing Beauty and the Beast (A Tale As Old As Time). He laughed triumphantly when he saw Elliott shake his head slightly.

"You're incorrigible, Prince!" Sariel exclaimed with exasperation heavy in her voice.

"I love you, Rinn!" Leon yelled back gleefully.

"Why do you torture her so much, honey?" Chris asked.

"She's family. That's what I do. I love her to death though!" Leon answered.

Elliott took a few steps away from Sariel and turned to face her. She gracefully curtsied before him and smiled at him when he bowed. He offered her his hand and smiled even brighter when she took it.

He held his arms perfectly in front of him and focused his gaze on Sariel. She expertly took her position and smiled radiantly when he slipped his hand to her side. She laid her left hand gently on his right shoulder and held his left hand with her right hand.

The two expertly moved together as Elliott lead them through an intricately delicate waltz. As the two moved, Elliott gently spun Sariel and pulled her close to him. The look of admiration and love in her eyes radiated with him. They danced intimately for several minutes.

As they finished their performance Elliott dipped Sariel low to the ground. When he helped her up he tightened his hold on her waist and lifted her into the air, easily spinning around with her. When he sat her back on the ground, he pulled her to him once more and kissed her passionately.

Applause broke out around them and the happy couple were pulled from their intimate moment. Elliott cradled Sariel to him, almost protectively, and smiled when she nestled her head against his chest. He took her hand and threaded their fingers together before turning towards Mayor Lewis.

"Absolutely superb! Where did you learn to dance like that?" Lewis asked happily.

"My parents insisted on making me learn." Elliott stated flatly.

"I started taking lessons when I started Kung-fu training. It helped limber me up. Elliott's an amazing partner though." Sariel stated lovingly.

She shivered when a blast of cool wind surged through the town square. She noticed other people were starting to pack up and head back home. Hoping to avoid a sudden change in the weather, Sariel bade the elder man farewell and ran to the table to grab the bucket she'd brought.

Elliott followed closely behind her and slipped his costume jacket on her slender frame. He took the bucket from her and laughed slightly when she pulled the warmed fabric around her tightly. The two hurried back to the farmhouse just as raindrops started falling. They heard Chris and Leon's footsteps behind them and bade them goodnight as they parted.

Sariel threw open the farmhouse's door and ushered Elliott inside. She directed him to set the bucket on the dining table as she headed to her room to change. Twenty long minutes later, Sariel returned from her room wearing a pair of soft gray lounge pants and a tank top.

Elliott made his way to the dresser he kept at Sariel's and pulled out a pair of soft cotton pajama pants. He quickly doffed his costume and changed into the loose pants. He pulled Sariel into his embrace and hugged her.

As the minutes ticked by Sariel stifled an impressive yawn behind her hand. She nestled her head against Elliott's chest and relished being held. When a second yawn crept up she resigned to her fate and removed herself from Elliott's embrace. She moved to the bed and threw the thick comforter and sheet back.

Elliott moved to the right side of the bed and climbed under the covers. He patted the bed next to him and smiled when Sariel turned off the light and slid into bed next to him. He pulled her body against his and lovingly wrapped his left arm around her waist. His dreams that night were occupied with images of Sariel dancing in her golden gown.