Chapter 19
Thinking Out Loud

Sariel was buried in the blankets of her large bed. The heavy cerulean blue comforter stood out beautifully in the soft grey and blue tones of the room. She'd taken Elliott's advice to heart and had decided to spend some money redecorating the house. The wind was gently blowing outside as a light flurry of snow fell onto the valley.

She groaned and whimpered when she realized she was awake. She swore she heard knocking on the door and buried her head under a pillow hoping to drown it out. The peaceful, serene silence was again interrupted by a knock on the door.

Sirius, the Siberian Husky puppy she'd adopted stretched and yawned from the foot of her bed. The small puppy was only a few months old and easily wore himself out. When he saw Sariel move, he woke up and happily moved to the head of the bed and started licking her fingers.

"Sirius, stop it. That tickles!" Sariel squealed happily.

She tossed the covers off of her, making sure she didn't cover the tiny pup. She withdrew from the bed and scooped Sirius into her arms. She gently lowered him to the floor and laughed when he scampered off. She pulled a heavy sweater from the closet and slipped it over her camisole top. The thin pants she wore did little to add to her body heat, but they were exceptionally comfortable.

The knocking sound echoed through the house yet again and Sariel groaned. Her hair was a complete mess and she was barely awake. She padded her way to the front door and opened it, revealing Elliott on the other side.

"Ellie! Oh my god, I'm sorry! Get in here!" Sariel blinked wide-eyed as she exclaimed.

"Good morning, Rinn. The cold doesn't bother me." Elliott stated.

"Shh, less talking, more getting inside where it's warm!" Sariel growled.

She stepped out of the way and opened the door fully. Elliott shook a few snowflakes from his coat and hair before he entered her house. He shed his trench coat and hung it on the coat rack near the door.

Sariel shoved the door shut and turned towards her boyfriend. His nose and cheeks were slightly pink from the chill in the air. She smiled brightly at him and quickly ran to her bathroom. She hurriedly brushed her teeth and tamed her dark red tresses into a simple ponytail.

She pulled the sweater off and sat on the edge of her bed. She tugged on a pair of socks and slid on her tennis shoes. She ran outside and hefted a few logs into her arms and dashed back inside. She tossed the logs on the dwindling fire and smiled when the warmth intensified. She moved to the kitchen and washed her hands.

"Good morning, Ellie." Sariel stated as she dried her hands.

Elliott stepped behind her and looped his arms around her slender waist. He kissed the back of her head and turned her gently into his arms. He tipped her head towards his and kissed her softly. He broke the kiss and nuzzled her nose with his.

"Happy Winter Star, darling." Elliott purred in her ear.

"Aww, Happy Winter Star, honey." Sariel stated lovingly.

"This year has been interesting, to say the least. Are you still happy here in the valley?" Elliott asked somberly.

"Of course, Ellie. Why wouldn't I be? The farm's doing great, I own my own home, some of my closest friends live just a few minutes away, but, I have the best thing about the valley." Sariel stated happily.

"Oh? What's that, love?" Elliott asked softly.

"You. You're one of the best people I have ever met. I love you." Sariel purred.

"I love you too, darling." Elliott replied.

Sariel kissed his nose and moved to the coffee pot on the counter. She idly set about making coffee and pulled a few of Lilly's signature Gingerbread Muffins from the freezer. She sat the delicious pastries on a baking tray and slid them into the oven.

She crossed to the living room and curled up on one of the chocolate brown sofas before the television. She palmed the remote and turned on the weather report. She smiled gleefully when the report stated it would be snowing most of today, all day tomorrow, and part of the day Wednesday.

"You still want to make the drive to Zuzu City today, babe?" Sariel called out.

"If you don't mind driving in the snow. I have some business to attend to, unfortunately." Elliott frowned slightly.

"Everything okay?" Sariel asked gently.

"Indeed. I need to have a meeting with my publisher. I called Evynne yesterday and she booked us a room at the hotel. I know it's sort of short notice, but I was hoping we could make a small trip out of it." Elliott stated bashfully.

"That'd be great! Zuzu's so pretty when it's winter. All the decorations and lights are my favorite! I love everything about winter. Snow, the cold, the food. Ooh, it makes a gal happy." Sariel stated giddily.

"It's refreshing to see you so excited about something, love. I was thinking we could leave after the celebration here. Is that alright?" Elliott asked cautiously.

"Of course." Sariel answered happily.

She unwound herself from the couch and dashed into her room. She pulled her trusty luggage out from the closet and sat about packing for the trip. She pulled several sweaters and tunics from the closet, laying out coordinated outfits. She shucked off all her clothing and pulled a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a heather gray short-sleeve sweater dress from the closet. She quickly slipped on a matching set of underwear and dressed in the warm clothes.

She perched on the edge of the bed and pulled on a pair of dark brown leather boots. The knee-high boots complemented her outfit and afforded her extra protection in the snow. She pulled her beloved Lotus flower necklace from below the dress and laid it over her heart. She crossed the room to her jewelry box and put on the pair of matching earrings and bracelet.

"Hey, baby?" Sariel called out.

"Yes, love?" Elliott replied.

"You said a small trip. How long are you thinking?" Sariel asked.

"Hrm. Five days. Arrive today and return on Friday. Does that work?" Elliott replied.

"Fine by me! I just needed to know how much stuff to pack." Sariel returned.

She gently folded up seven outfits, making sure she had enough clean underwear to go with all the clothes as well. Nothing was worse than taking a trip and running out of clean underwear. She tossed her tablet into her largest suitcase and unplugged the charger and threw it in as well.

She took a tiny bag to the bathroom and loaded her toiletries up. She typed out a note on her phone reminding her she needed new body wash and shampoo after they returned. She took one last look in the bathroom and her bedroom before deciding she had everything she'd need.

Sariel retrieved Sirius' harness and leash from their hooks near the door. As she moved to the door, the tiny pup bounded over to her and wagged his tail. She quickly affixed the harness and leash to the small puppy.

The warm pleasing aroma of ginger filled the air in the house. Sariel dashed to the kitchen and pulled the freshly warmed muffins from the oven. She gently transferred them to a plate and pulled fresh butter from the fridge.

Sariel pulled out two travel mugs she had and quickly filled them with hot coffee. She handed one of the mugs to Elliott and she took the other for herself. She moved to the coat rack and pulled her trusty leather jacket on and slipped the leather gloves in the pockets on her hands.

"Would you like to talk a walk with Sirius and I?" Sariel asked gently.

"I'd love to. How are you getting along?" Elliott replied.

"Awesome. I still can't believe Leon got him for me. I love this little guy." Sariel stated happily as she scratched Sirius' ears.

"I can." Elliott laughed out.

Leon was close friends with a breeder that specialized in Siberian Huskies. This litter had been a special gift, as the breeder unexpectedly passed away shortly after they were born. His family was insisting on getting rid of the pups by any means, and Leon decided he and Chris would take one. He surprised Sariel with Sirius as an early birthday present.

Sariel opened the door and lead Sirius outside. She cast a smile to Elliott as he pulled the door shut behind them. As she made her way down the stairs she smiled at Sirius as he played in the snow.

The couple started making their way through the farm. Sariel would occasionally hand the leash to Elliott as she darted inside a barn or coop to check on the animals she maintained. She was pleased with the condition of all the animals. Their houses were exceptionally well made, courtesy of Robin, and the heaters installed provided more than enough heat to counteract the cold in the air.

Their second to last stop was the stables Sariel had Robin construct. Inside the spacious quarters were four horses. She and Elliott tended to them and enjoyed spending time with them. A snowy white Andalusian mare gently nudged Sariel with her muzzle. Sariel laughed and stroked the girl on her neck.

"Good morning, Nimue." Sariel purred sweetly to her beloved horse.

Nimue nickered faintly and took a step towards Sariel. The large mare stared at her, hopeful she'd retrieve a treat for her. She took another step forward and softly nickered again.

Sariel retrieved a few bananas and some strawberries and two sugar cubes from the chest they were stored in. She laughed when Merlin, Elliott's stallion whinnied to get their attention. The large midnight black Arabian was craning his neck over the gate to his stable and was snorting slightly.

"I think he wants a banana." Sariel laughed warmly.

She handed Elliott a banana and a few of the strawberries and watched him fondly as he fed the treats to Merlin. She turned her attention towards Nimue and laid a strawberry in the palm of her hand. She giggled happily when the horse gently scooped the fruit up and devoured it.

She repeated this process a few more times and finally gave Nimue her desired treat. She gently tore the banana into chunks and happily fed them to her. Nimue responded by licking Sariel's fingers and her cheek slightly.

"I love you too, Nimue." Sariel cooed softly to the horse.

She again retrieved a few more snacks and turned to the remaining horses. A beautiful chestnut mustang neighed loudly as Sariel approached. She smiled and held her hand out.

"Hi, Phoenix." Sariel stated softly.

Phoenix lowered his head and watched Sariel carefully as she approached. When he saw the large bits of cantaloupe she was holding he nickered loudly and blew a steady stream of air towards her. He calmed down and waited patiently for the incoming treat.

Sariel palmed him a chunk of cantaloupe and beamed at Elliott when he turned his attention from Merlin to Thor, Chris' golden Andalusian horse. The couple worked quietly, tending to the horses peacefully. As they finished Sariel washed her hands in the large farm sink and smiled when Leon entered the stable.

"Good morning." Sariel called out.

"Morning, Rinn. Phoenix give you any trouble?" Leon asked warmly.

"Only a little. He'll warm up to me though. It'll just take some time, is all. He's quite pleased with me currently, as I just gave him some cantaloupe and a few sugar cubes." Sariel replied.

"Oh, is that so, Phoenix? Bribery is the way to your heart?" Leon asked his horse softly.

"How's Lia enjoying having Belle?" Sariel asked.

"She loves it. Belle sleeps in her room. Lia's quite enjoying having a puppy. She and Chris are outside if you want to go say hi." Leon answered.

"That's where we're heading to next. When you get done here, breakfast at the farmhouse?" Sariel asked as she scooped up Sirius' leash.

"Of course. Elliott, can I talk to you a minute?" Leon asked.

"Certainly. I'll catch up with you in a moment, love." Elliott called out.

Sariel nodded and departed the stables, making her way towards the forest behind her farm. Chris and Leon had convinced Lewis to sell them a small portion of the land to construct their house. Robin had outdone herself and built a beautiful two-story home for the happy couple. They were thrilled they lived close to Sariel.

Leon stuck his head out the stable door and double-checked Rinn's location. Pleased she was well out of earshot, he turned towards Elliott. He cast a knowing gaze towards the author and smiled brightly at him.

"Did you convince her to take the trip with you?" Leon asked quietly.

"Indeed. We're leaving after the Winter Star celebration." Elliott replied softly.

"Great! Do you have everything you need?" Leon inquired.

"I believe so. I'm taking her to dinner tonight at the Peachtree. I'm hoping I can get her to take a walk with me." Elliott replied.

"Do you remember how to get to the waterfall?" Leon asked gently.

"Yes." Elliott replied.

"Excellent. Chris knows the plan as well. Her parents don't, as we wanted them to be surprised when she calls to tell them." Leon stated.

"Thank you." Elliott replied softly.

"Are you nervous?" Leon asked kindly.

"Honestly? No." Elliott answered.

Leon pulled the writer into his embrace and hugged him softly. He knew in his heart everything would go as planned. He smiled brightly and loosed the writer from his embrace.

"You better go catch up to her. I'll see you in a few minutes." Leon softly spoke.

Elliott nodded and quickly made his way out of the stables. The walk to the forest took a few minutes and he found himself smiling when he saw Sariel playing with Lia. The tiny blonde girl was laughing warmly as she and Sariel were having a snowball fight.

"Uncle Ellie, come play!" Lia giggled happily.

"Yo, Elliott, I could use a hand. The girls are kicking my butt!" Chris called out from behind a tree.

Elliott laughed heartily and scooped some of the crystalline white snow into a ball. He watched Sariel for a few moments and smiled devilishly when he caught the chance to lob the ball towards her. His throw connected and the snowball exploded in a brilliant white poof as it hit Sariel's chest.

"No! Aunty Winn!" Lia pouted.

Sariel dramatically fell backward, clutching her chest. She winked at her niece and rolled her head to the side and closed her eyes. Silence fell over the forest and Sariel had to fight giggling when she heard Chris' heavy boots on the snow.

He knelt by her side and examined her carefully. He pressed two fingers to Sariel's carotid artery and faintly smiled when he felt her pulse. He sighed and shook his head slightly.

"Death by a snowball, what a way to go. Such a shame. She died so young. Rest in peace, Sariel. I call dibs on the farm." Chris playfully called out.

"Lia, now!" Sariel called out.

Chris was blindsided by the snowball the four-year-old launched at her father's face. The large ball collided perfectly with his nose and sprayed snow all over him and Sariel when it exploded. The gleeful laughs from Sariel and his daughter warmed his heart.

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?" Chris asked as he scrubbed the snow from his face.

"Can't catch me, daddy!" Lia yelled as she waddled across the snow.

Elliott seized the opportunity to catch Lia as she walked past him. He scooped her up into his arms and swung her around. She giggled happily and begged Elliott to swing her again.

"Uncle Ellie, again!" Lia begged happily.

Elliott obliged the small girl and swung her around a second time. Her straw blonde ponytail bounced as she moved. He finally sat her down and smiled when she hugged his leg.

"I love you, Uncle Ellie." Lia stated with her sweet sing-song voice.

Elliott knelt before the young girl and gently hugged her back. He was quite fond of little Lia. He smiled at her when she fondly ran her tiny hands through his hair.

"I love you too, Lia." Elliott replied sweetly.

"Aunty Winn! Aunty Winn! Uncle Ellie says he loves me!" Lia happily proclaimed as she ran towards Sariel.

Chris pulled Sariel to her feet and dusted the snow from her back and hair. He loved his sister-in-law deeply. He was grateful his daughter had such a strong, positive female role-model in her life. He was waiting for the day Sariel announced she was having children of her own.

"Is that so, Lia? Can I be the flower girl at your wedding?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"Okay! Daddy, I'm hungry." Lia pouted slightly.

"Well, Princess, would you like to see if Aunt Rinn has breakfast ready?" Chris asked lovingly as he scooped his daughter into his arms.

He swung her over his shoulders and smiled. He saw the loving look on Sariel's face and winked at her. He giggled when Sariel scooped up Belle's leash and led them all back to her farmhouse.

As they entered, Chris knelt low to the ground to prevent bonking Lia on her head. He gently lowered her to the floor and smiled at his husband when Lia bounded over to him and crawled into his lap. He took the leashes from Sariel and freed the puppies from their harnesses.

"Daddy! Did you miss me?" Lia called out softly.

Leon wrapped his daughter in his arms and hugged her close to his heart. He and Chris had used a surrogate mother and egg donation for Lia's pregnancy. Lia was biologically Leon's child. Their surrogate was currently pregnant with their second child. They had used the same egg donor as before, and this time the child was biologically Chris'.

"Of course I missed you, Princess. You and Daddy are my favorite people." Leon cooed to his daughter.

"Uncle Ellie played snowballs with us! He got Aunty Winn. She fell down and daddy looked at her. I got him with a snowball!" Lia proudly exclaimed.

"Right in the face, too. I'm proud." Chris stated.

"Is that so? Did you have fun with Aunt Rinn and Uncle Ellie?" Leon asked softly.

"Yes. Uncle Ellie swung me around. It was fun, but now I'm hungry." Lia pouted.

"It just so happens I have breakfast ready. Would you like a gingerbread muffin?" Sariel called out from the kitchen.

"Yes, please." Lia replied sweetly.

The extended family all made their way to the large dining table. Sariel curled her legs under her as she sat in a chair and handed one of the muffins to Elliott as he sat next to her. The large white dining table and matching chairs had set Sariel back a decent amount of money, but she loved being able to have enough space to invite people over for meals. She, Leon, Chris, Leah, Elliott, and Willy would frequently get together to play Poker and they were all grateful Sariel had the space for them.

"I have to admit, you were correct in your statement that Lilly's food is the best in the world." Elliott stated between mouthfuls of muffin.

"I know, right?" Sariel replied happily.

Sariel took a butter knife and gently cut Lia's muffin into manageable bites for the little girl. She pulled a banana from the fruit bowl on the table and sliced it for her. She smiled when Chris sat a glass of milk down for her.

"Thank you, Aunty Winn." Lia stated politely.

"You're very welcome. Would you like a fork or a spoon today?" Sariel asked sweetly.

"A fork, please." Lia answered.

Sariel unfurled herself from her chair and retrieved a small fork from her silverware drawer. She returned to the table and handed her niece the utensil. She smiled brightly at Elliott when he laid his right hand on her thigh.

"The two of you are great with kids, man. Have y'all thought about having any?" Leon asked.

"I have. I want children. I didn't before. When I worked for Joja I only had one day off a week. By the time I'd get home from work, I'd be emotionally dead. It wasn't a healthy environment for children to be raised in." Sariel stated sadly.

"I too, want children someday. It's brought me a great deal of joy getting to know Lia. The valley finally looks like home. I owe that to Sariel." Elliott stated wistfully.

The large grandfather clock in the hallway chimed eight times. Sariel smiled and withdrew from the table. She darted into her room and came out with an armful of wrapped presents.

"Is it present time?" Lia squealed.

"It is. Would you like to help me hand out the presents?" Sariel asked her niece.

"Yes, please! Can we open them by the Winter Star Tree?" Lia asked shyly.

"Of course, Princess." Leon called out.

Lia climbed out of her chair and carefully bounded up the stairs to the second floor. The large sitting room upstairs housed the rather large Winter Star Tree Sariel had bought and decorated. The large dark green tree was decorated with various shades of silver and blue ornaments. Silvery-blue ribbons were loosely draped all around the tree. The silver star on the top had been a gift from Drake when Sariel got her first apartment.

Sariel and Lia sat about placing the gifts around the base of the tree. The deep midnight blue tree skirt contrasted brightly against the pale white carpet. Lia was happily humming to herself as she helped her Aunt.

"I think that's all of them, Lia. Are you ready to help me hand them out?" Sariel whispered.

"Yep! Uncle Ellie, Daddy, Papa! C'mon!" Lia called out.

The three men made their way upstairs. Elliott brought the recycling can with him and a small basket containing a set of screwdrivers in various sizes and assorted packages of batteries. He set the receptacle near Sariel and sat down next to his beloved.

Leon and Chris sat on the floor across from Sariel. Chris threaded their fingers together and kissed his husband on his cheek. Lia flittered about happily.

Sariel pulled a small package from the pile and handed it to Lia. She smiled when the small girl turned the box over in her hands and found the box was addressed to her. She gleefully sat down between Chris and Leon and started opening the package.

She revealed a small jewelry box. When she opened it her eyes went wide with excitement. Inside was a replica of the Enchanted Rose from Beauty and the Beast strung on a gold chain. Sariel had purchased the small pendant from the Disney Store in Zuzu City.

"Aunty Winn! Thank you. It's so pretty! I love it!" Lia exclaimed happily.

"You're very welcome, Lia." Sariel replied.

Sariel passed several boxes around to Leon, Chris, and Elliott. Leon and Chris opened theirs and gasped at the holsters included in the boxes. They were beautifully crafted leather holsters. Leon's was dyed a deep ebony color while Chris' was a soft light brown.

"Rinn, these are gorgeous! Thank you so much!" The pair stated happily.

"You're welcome." Sariel replied sweetly.

Elliott focused on the box in front of him and gently sat about opening it. As the wrapping fell away he gasped at the contents of the box. The brand new typewriter was the exact same model as the one he currently had.

"How'd you find one new?" Elliott asked, dumbstruck.

"Put in some requests to the antique stores in Zuzu. Told the owners I'd pay for one, and a finding fee if they found one. It took a few months, but this one was found at an Estate Sale. Everything's there, and it's in mint condition." Sariel stated.

Elliott pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. The thoughtfulness of her gift amazed him. He cradled her to him and hugged her.

"I love it, Sariel. It's perfect. I love you, darling. Thank you." Elliott stated.

"I'm glad, Elliott. I love you too.

"Okay, Rinn. Your turn." Chris called out.

Lia pushed a large flat box towards her Aunt. The little girl's bright blue eyes sparkled just like Leon's when she smiled. Sariel pulled the box to her lap and started gently unwrapping it.

The blue and purple iridescent paper was shed to reveal a plain white box. Sariel undid the tape holding the box shut and pulled the sheets of tissue paper out of the box. Inside was a fleece lined soft gray leather saddle blanket. It was beautifully decorated with clouds and blue swirls.

"Oh my god, guys! This is gorgeous! Where'd you find it?" Sariel asked.

"I made it." Leon answered.

"Wait, what?" Sariel stammered.

"You heard me, woman. I made it with my own two hands. Chris helped some. It'll go well with Elliott's gift." Leon stated proudly.

"Indeed. Sariel, would you join me for a walk to the stables?" Elliott asked.

"Sure. Want to head to town afterward?" Sariel asked.

"That would be lovely." Elliott replied.

The extended family made their way towards Sariel's stables. Elliott smiled when Sariel tucked a long, thin wrapped present under her arm. He threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand.

Elliott pushed the large double doors to the stable open and gestured for Sariel to join him. She turned and handed the package to Lia. She stood and focused on Elliott and joined him at his side.

"Could you get me Merlin's tackle, please? I think I put my reins in Nimue's cabinet." Elliott asked.

"Uh, sure." Sariel answered with confusion on her face.

She turned towards the storage unit that Merlin and Nimue shared. They kept their horse tackle in two large double saddle cabinets Robin crafted for them. They were each a deep mahogany red color and stood opposite from each other.

Sariel opened the door for Nimue's half of the shared cabinet. Inside was a brand new shiny saddle that matched the blue color Leon had used on her new saddle blanket. The elegant leather hackamore he'd crafted matched as well.

"Happy Winter Star, darling." Elliott purred from behind Sariel.

"Elliott, oh god, this is beautiful! How'd you afford this? This is the saddle I wanted!" Sariel bounced happily.

"I used part of the money from the Blue Tower payment. Do you like it, love?" Elliott asked gently.

"Do I like it? I love it! I love it so much! Oh my gosh, Ellie! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Sariel gleefully giggled.

She took the blanket from Leon and threw it over Nimue's back. She immediately pulled out her new saddle and hackamore and reins and sat about equipping her horse. She smiled brightly at Elliott when he stole a moment to take a picture of Sariel and Nimue.

He, Chris, and Leon all sat about dressing their respective horses. As they finished, Leon and Chris exited first, with Elliott and Sariel following behind them. Leon mounted Phoenix and smiled when Chris hefted Lia onto Thor and climbed onto his golden horse behind her.

Sariel climbed onto Nimue and lovingly stroked the mare's neck. She laughed when Merlin nickered softly to her and licked Nimue's hind quarter. Sariel took the point and lead the four through a gentle walk towards town.

As they arrived Lia excitedly squealed when she saw the decorations. Sariel led the quad to a shaded plain and dismounted. She secured Nimue with a loose rope and smiled as the others followed.

Elliott moved to her side and looped his arm around her waist. He lead her through town towards the celebration. He smiled when Sariel palmed some of Gus' candy canes and started eating one of the confectionaries. They made their way through the square greeting everyone. By ten Sariel had given her secret gift to Penny. A new set of school books and teaching tools. Maru surprised Sariel with a new porcelain tea set.

Elliott pulled Sariel close to him and rubbed her shoulders through her leather jacket. Leon stepped up beside them and pulled Sariel into a tight embrace. He kissed her forehead and smiled brightly at her.

"We'll take your tea set to the house for you. You two should get a move on, I think the weather's supposed to get worse. Drive carefully, Rinn. Call us when you get there, okay?" Leon asked gently.

"Of course, Leon. Thank you." Sariel stated.

She handed the box carefully to Leon and made the short walk to where she'd left Nimue and the rest of the horses. She mounted Nimue and gently spurred her with her heels. She looked back at Elliott as he mounted Merlin and caught up with her.

They made the comfortable ride back to the farmhouse at a slow trot. She dismounted outside the stable and led her horse inside. It took her a few moments to remove all of the tackle from her horse.

She and Elliott bolted inside the farmhouse and gathered her luggage. She palmed the keys to her truck and grabbed her phone and charger cord. As they made their way to Sariel's truck, she spied Elliott's luggage in the back already.

"Ready to leave, babe?" Sariel asked softly.

"Indeed." Elliott replied.

He opened the door for Sariel and gently shut it behind her as she climbed inside. He ran to the passenger door as she started the engine. He shucked his coat off and tossed it on the seat next to them. He climbed into the vehicle and buckled up while pulling the door shut.

He turned on the radio for Sariel, setting it to her preferred station. Soothing spa sounds filled the cab of the truck. He smiled at Sariel as she navigated the truck out of town towards Zuzu City.

"I was thinking that when we get to town we can check in at the Peachtree and eat dinner." Elliott stated.

"Sounds great, honey. Are you warm enough?" Sariel asked with concern in her voice.

"I am. I love you." Elliott purred.

"I love you too, baby. What are you reading today?" Sariel inquired.

"I didn't bring a book this time. I've been working on the outline for Blue Tower 2. I'm happy to read you some of what I've written though if you'd like." Elliott replied.

"Yes, please! I love it when you read to me." Sariel stated lovingly.

The couple fell into a comfortable drive as Elliott read the first few chapters of Blue Tower 2 to Sariel. He willingly accepted her criticism and ideas and jotted them down in his moleskin. By five they had arrived in Zuzu City.

Sariel easily navigated the streets towards the Peachtree and smiled brightly at all of the holiday decorations on the streets. As she pulled into the Parking Garage her spirits brightened when she saw all the trees decorated.

She and Elliott pulled to a stop and hauled their luggage out of the back of the truck. Sariel quickly sent a text to Leon letting them know they'd arrived safely. They made their way inside to the check-in desk and retrieved the key to their room. It was then Sariel realized her mother had booked them a single room.

"Uh. Ellie, are you okay with sharing a room with me?" Sariel asked cautiously.

"I am. Is that a problem?" Elliott asked slightly saddened.

"Not at all. Just surprised Mom booked us a single." Sariel stated brightly.

They made their way to the elevator and ascended to the floor their room was on. As they departed the elevator, Elliott slipped his arm around Sariel's waist and led her down the hallway to their room. He deftly unlocked the room and held the door open for Sariel.

They deposited their belongs and quickly unpacked. When they finished, Elliott checked the contents of his left pocket and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt what was concealed inside. He smiled at Sariel when she popped out of the bathroom and threaded their fingers together.

They made their way downstairs towards The Grove and realized their stomachs were growling. It was nearly six p.m. now. They were led to a table and quickly ordered drinks and their meals. Their conversation was light and Elliott smiled when the sun set and night fell.

As they finished their meal, Elliott left money on the table with a sizeable tip for their waitress. He gently took Sariel's hand in his and stared into her brilliant stormy gray eyes. He was overcome with love for her.

"Would you do me the honor of accompanying on a walk, darling?" Elliott asked softly.

"I'd love to!" Sariel replied sweetly.

Elliott stood and held out his hand. He smiled at Sariel when she took his hand and linked their hands together. Her hand felt infinitely smaller than his in the present moment. He idly rubbed his thumb over the skin on the inside of her left wrist.

He led them across the street to Peachtree Park. Snow was falling gently and it sparkled in the night sky like tiny glittering jewels. He checked the map to verify he remembered how to get to their destination and began leading Sariel along the paved walkways.

Thirty minutes after they set out, they reached a small waterfall that was illuminated by the moon. The silvery water rushed over the edge of the cliff and tumbled into a river below. A small gazebo was set up to view the waterfall perfectly. Elliott placed his hand on the small of Sariel's back and guided her to the gazebo.

"This is one of my favorite places! When life was crazy I'd come here and draw or read. Somewhere to get away from everything." Sariel stated happily.

"This is remarkable, Rinn! Simply breathtaking." Elliott smiled as he spoke.

Sariel turned towards the railing and laid her arms on it and stared into the rushing water. She shivered in the cool winter air and started rubbing her arms for warmth. She smiled when Elliott wrapped his arms around her and held her against his body.

They stood together in the light of the moon for hours. Just standing and being together. Gentle kisses were traded and declarations of love were made.

Elliott withdrew his arms and took a few steps away from her. He knew that this moment was the perfect chance to ask her the question burning in the back of his head. He cleared his throat gently.

"Mm, Rinn. May I have your attention?" Elliott asked.

"You know, the last time you said that you kissed the life out of me." Sariel teased, with her back still turned to him.

Elliott went down on one knee behind Sariel. In a single instant, his brain flooded with feelings of love as he saw Sariel bathed in the moonlight. He retrieved the small grey velvet box from his pocket. He ran his fingers over the soft velvet and felt his heart surge into his throat. He opened the delicate box and turned it around in his hand to present to Sariel.

"Darling. Turn around." Elliott whispered.

Sariel turned and gasped at Elliott. Inside the small box was a radiant engagement ring in the shape of a lotus flower. The brilliant silver band shone brightly. A large diamond sat nestled between silver leaves and the band itself was adorned with three leaves on the left side. The diamond captured the light and refracted it in a gorgeous swirl of colors and sparkle. Her hands flew to her face in shock.

"Sariel Lia Shade, you are the light of my life. My sun and stars. You are my best friend and my soulmate. Everything about you drives me to become a better man. You have supported me through good times and bad. You have loved me so freely and passionately that I can not imagine my life without you in it. You are everything I have ever dreamed of and so very much more. My life irrevocably changed when you moved to Pelican Town. I thank Yoba every day for bringing you into my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me, Rinn?" Elliott asked softly.

"Yes! I can't think of anything I want to do more than spend the rest of my life with you!" Sariel exclaimed as tears fell down her cheeks.

Elliott slipped the small ring from the box and slid it on her finger. He stood and wrapped her in his arms kissing her passionately. He brushed a few tendrils of hair out of her face lovingly.

Sariel laid her hand on Elliott's chest and lovingly gazed at the ring now adorning her finger. She was crying softly and Elliott was busy kissing her neck gently. She moved her head to his chest and relished being held in his powerful embrace.

"I love you, Elliott." Sariel whispered.

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

"How fast do you think a wedding can be arranged back home?" Sariel asked quietly.

"I'm unsure. Are you wanting a short engagement?" Elliott replied.

"I am if you're alright with that. I don't want a fancy wedding, either. You, me, someone to make it official. That's all I need." Sariel replied lovingly.

Elliott glanced at his watch and saw that it was only 8:00 P.M. He slipped his phone from his pocket and dialed Lewis' number. A short minute later, their call had connected.

"Ah, Elliott, how are you this evening?" Lewis asked.

"Excellent. How fast can a wedding be organized in town?" Elliott asked.

"Oh, well, about a week. Why? Are you thinking about settling down with someone?" Lewis chided softly.

"The only someone is Sariel, and yes. I proposed to her earlier this evening." Elliott responded.

"Oh, well, I'll be. I thought for sure you and Leah were together." Lewis replied.

"Sariel and I have been dating since shortly after she moved to Pelican Town." Elliott replied.

"I understand. I'll get everything in the works. I'll get ahold of Robin and she'll send you some plans for adding a room to the farmhouse for you." Lewis stated.

"Excellent! I look forward to it. Thank you, Lewis. Have a good evening." Elliott replied as he disconnected the call.

"A week, love. That's how fast Lewis can get the ceremony together. That's your birthday, too. Are you alright with that?" Elliott asked softly.

"Completely. Best birthday present ever. I love you." Sariel lovingly stated.

"And I, you." Elliott replied lovingly.

The newly engaged couple made their way back to their hotel room. Sariel stripped her clothing off and cast a seductive gaze towards Elliott as she disappeared into the bathroom. He heard the familiar sounds of the bathtub filling with water. He could smell the aromatherapy candles burning and enjoyed the pleasant lavender smell.

"Ellie, are you coming?" Sariel called out.

Elliott stripped naked with near superhuman speed and entered the bathroom. Sariel had drawn a bubble bath and had several softly glowing candles lit. Her back was against one of the walls in the expansive tub. He gingerly climbed into the tub and quickly pulled her into his arms.

The two laid together, basking in each other's presence. Sariel laid her head on Elliott's right shoulder and started nibbling on the skin beneath his ear. The pleased whimper and moan that slipped from his lips spurred her onward.

Eventually, Sariel drained the water in the tub and dried herself off. Her skin was perfumed by the scent of the lavender bubble bath. She led Elliott to their shared bed and quickly took his length in her mouth. He whimpered again and speared his fingers through her dark red tresses.

"Rinn… ungh…" Elliott moaned.

"Mmm?" Sariel replied around him.

"Feels… really… fuck." Elliott growled out.

Sariel released him with a soft pop and stared into his eyes. She wasted no time in climbing up the length of his body and straddling him. She positioned him at her entrance and sank onto him fully.

He grabbed her hips tightly and bucked into her. The pleased moan from her lips drove him to repeat the gesture. After a few moments, he flipped her onto her back and began mercilessly thrusting into her.

He bit her neck, drawing a deep mark on her skin. The minutes waned on as the two celebrated their engagement privately. Elliott whimpered as Sariel climaxed beneath him. Her warm, soft walls squeezed tightly and he felt the dam of his willpower start to crumble and break.

"Ellie… I love you." Sariel panted heavily.

"Fuck… Rinn, I love you too." Elliott moaned as he climaxed.

He collapsed against her and pulled her into his embrace. A thin sheen of sweat covered their bodies. The two sated lovers happily fell asleep in each other's arms.