"Well...do you think she would accept my proposal?" Jono expectantly asked.
"Of course Jono." Teana chided.
"I fear she shall not. What if she does not wish to wed me?" Jono worries.
"Jono." Teana shakes her head. "You have courted her for nearly three months!"
"Well, yes. I hope she accepts. If she says no than it will be to me, not another..." He frowns. "She has no parents or guardians that I may ask directly for her hand in marriage. I have no one to ask, but herself and well maybe you, as her superior."
Teana narrowed her eyes and waved her hand. "Please Jono. Just ask her and be done with it. As long as you provide the fact that you shall remain a faithful, devoted husband and provide for her with good care, I am in full support of this marriage."
Jono grinned. "Do not worry of that dear Princess. I shall be a most faithful and loving husband! I will care and make sure that she remains happy." He declared making a fist and placing it on his chest.
"Do you promise?" Teana mumbled.
"What?"
Realizing what she accidentally said, Teana quickly apologized. "Sorry Jono. I am sure you shall make a most wonderful husband to Maibe. I can see you would never dare hurt her like.. like... never mind." Teana tried to brush off her statement. Jono raised his eyebrows giving her a questionable look. "Nothing. Ahem. So how exactly are you going to ask her? Do you have something special in mind?"
"Well I was going to give her a purple flower...and give it to her as a token of my love for her and...I...uh... actually wanted your help with this."
Teana gave a soft, quiet squeal. "I have the perfect idea! Jono listen carefully. When you give her the flower, tell her the flower is like a token of your love for her like you said. Jono nodded. Tell her, tell her that um, even though the flower will eventually whither...the love you have for her in your heart will...
"Never whither or diminish." He continued for her. "That is perfect!" He exclaimed! "I shall try it on you. "
Teana nodded and gave him the red rose she had adorned in her hair. He got down on one knee "Sweet, dearest lovely Maibe..." He started until he saw Teana's questionable gaze. "Too much? Hehe... ok."
"Maibe, I think you already know how I feel about you..."
"... I present you this flower as a token of my love and affection for you. Although this flower may eventually whither and fade, my love for you will never wither away and never diminish."
Atem sucked in his breath. WHAT WAS JONO DOING?
"It is why I want to make you mine. I humbly ask for your hand in marriage..."
No! No! What was going on? He would not let this go on! Atem stopped in his tracks, quickly running over to them. His best friend?! If Seto and Julian weren't bad enough, but Jono?
"Will you give me that honor, to be your husband Maibe?"
"JONO!" Atem yelled. 'Wait. Maibe? Maibe!'
Both Teana and Jono flinched. "Atem?"
"Ahem." Atem took a deep breath trying to calm down. "What is the meaning of this?" He wanted to sound confident, but his voice came out quivering.
Jono got up and gave a bright smile. "I am going to ask for Maibe's hand in marriage. Teana was assisting me in preparation!"
"Oh!" Atem's face broke into a tense smile. "Why did you not tell me Jono?" He was actually a bit hurt that his best friend did not tell him first.
Jono shrugged. "Not my fault I do not see you much anymore."
"Come Jono." Teana ordered. "I shall help you find a flower to Maibe's liking." She said as she dragged Jono away giving Atem an angry glare on the way.
"Julian is leaving shortly, it is best that we go now Teana so we can be early." Atem urged her in the hallway some time later.
"Alright." She softly said and was about to join her arm with Atem's when she heard someone calling her name.
"Teana! Teana! Teana!" The person's voice got louder with each time he spoke. Teana turned to see Jono running towards her yelling her name.
"Jono?"
Jono ran to her engulfing her in a hug and spinning her around. Teana giggled as he did that and Jono gently put her down. "That was quite delightful! Jono I know not why you did such a thing, but you should do it more often." Jono was grinning ear to ear.
"She said yes! She said yes Teana!" With that, he picked her up and spun her again!
Teana giggled furiously. "Hehhe, Jono I sure hope you did that to Maibe as well!"
"Of course I did! I just thought maybe you deserved to be spun around too, I am pretty sure boring ol' Atem here is not one to do that!" He chuckled.
Atem could tell Jono was just joking around, but was it true? That he was a bit dull and boring?
She giggled again."Alright, you are right!" She agreed.
"Gosh Teana! You have helped make me the happiest man in the world. Obviously Maibe made me the happiest, but you helped in my asking of her and so for that I am forever grateful!"
"Of course Jono! Anything for you!"
Jono grinned and then immediately teared up and started sniffling and hugged Teana. "I love you Teana. You are the best!"
Teana hugged Jono back and patted his back. "I love you to Jono." She shook her head smiling. "Maibe will sure have her hands full with you!" She laughed. Jono let go of her and a grin was still present on his face. It seemed as if he could not stop smiling. He was truly overjoyed with Maibe's acceptance of his proposal.
Atem stood back, just in shock. Teana...Teana, she just told Jono that she...that she... loved him. That she loved him! She couldn't say that she loved Atem, but she could say that she loved Jono.
"Oh my Ra!" Teana exclaimed. "Julian! Come quickly Atem! Goodbye Jono!" She called out dashing in a starting slow sprint grabbing Atem's arm to bring him along.
Outside the throne room, where Julian was supposed to be, Teana stopped, breathing heavily with Atem. "I never knew you could run so fast!" Atem commented. Teana shrugged as her breathing intake slowed down and she straightened her dress and clothes and motioned for the guards to open the door who were quite amused with seeing the royal couple so out of breath and running like that.
"Oh there you are!" Pharaoh Aknamkanon exclaimed.
"Sorry your majesty." Teana apologized. The Pharaoh nodded.
"I could not leave without having said goodbye to you sweet Teana." Julian commented.
Teana smiled as Julian opened his arms wide to allow Teana to embrace him. Atem reluctantly let go of her arm. Teana slipped her arms around Julian. "Be safe Julian." She told him.
"I will Teana as long as you remain in good spirits Teana." He said as he flicked a tear off of Teana's cheeks."Send my love to your mother and father once you see them." He smiled.
"And to your mother and to cousin." She responded smiling. "I wish you many blessing on your engagement. She is lucky to be chosen to be a bride to such a wonderful person like yourself." She complimented.
'Julian is engaged?' Atem wondered in shock.
"When you come to Rome, next time I shall introduce you." He promised. "Just remember to visit." Julian looked to Pharaoh Aknamkanon and nodded and then looked back to Teana. "Egypt is in alliance with Rome now. You have nothing to fear. It is thanks to you such an alliance has been met. I would not want anything to happen to my sweet Teana would I?" He winked.
Teana blushed shyly smiling. "No we would not."
"I will be waiting for your visit Princess." He told her as he took her hand kissed it and bowed. He nodded to Aknamkanon and Atem. "Your majesties, a pleasure. This is goodbye for now." He walked away to leave as he gave one last smile to Teana.
Atem and Teana returned to their chambers afterwards to get some sleep for the night. Teana yawned covering her mouth and sitting on the bed. "I am so tired." She declared. Atem silently nodded, not caring that Teana did not see his agreement as he sat on the opposite side of the bed. Teana slowly piled into bed as Atem joined her, after blowing out all the lights.
Teana shifted into bed trying to find a comfortable position and quickly fell asleep. Atem, stayed awake reminiscing about how Teana became so distant from him and so close to these others. Were his duties really getting in the way of their marriage? Atem loved Teana. He could not deny it. His jealousy and protectiveness of Teana had extremely increased. Teana, however did not return Atem's affections. She did not love him back it seemed.
Teana gave a soft moan in her sleep and shifted over more, right next to Atem and cuddled into him. Atem was taken a back a little, but then realized Teana was not doing this out of her own free will. She was sleeping. Teana and himself had become extremely distant with each other, only remaining civil with each other. Atem missed Teana's presence. Before it had been him unintentionally avoiding her and now she was the one intentionally avoiding his. Atem sighed and let his wife cuddle him as he looped his arm under and around her waist. At least he could be close to her at night while she slept.
Julian finally leaves, but the drift he caused between Teana and Atem remains. Yes, Julian had no intention to drive them apart. :P It was entirely the couple's own doing. Him and Teana are very close friends from their childhood since Teana is half Roman. Poor Atem! He's realizing the error of his way. Teana is just being difficult. This was probably my longest update time, thank you for being patient with me. Hopefully I'll update more regularly once the new year starts. I'm really busy until then, but will update slowly.
** Special thanks to all my readers/followers and especially my reviewers! This story has just reached and even gone over 10,000 views! You guys are all awesome! :')
Please Review! (And thank you to those who did before ^_^)
~Startistica