Rose and Sandy flew through the air on the dream sand cloud towards Sandy's Island, Sandy holding Rose in his lap and tight against his chest. Both just enjoying each others' presence. Neither knew what this relationship was, nor where it would lead, but at the moment, they didnt care. After centuries of feeling alone they both reveled in the feeling of closeness that being in the other's arms brought. Willing to explore this newfound...more than friends status, they fell into a steady routine. Over the months that followed, Rose would help Sandy dispense dreams during her time inbetween her duties and Sandy would fly with her during her flights. When they had the time, they would explore the world together. They ate on the top of the Effiel tower, the walked through the Louve, they explored Irish castles, walked the Great wall of China, explored the pyramids in Egypt. They played with leopards in the rainforests and saved a baby elephant from poachers. They rode the rapids and down the falls at Niagra. They did it all. Laughing and smiling, growing closer as each day passed, sharing fleeting kisses and brushing against each other at every opportunity. Neither one acknowlegded these little touches, but both felt each one, both very aware of the other.

Today, as Rose sat on the dream cloud with Sandy, watching quietly as he sent a mermaid to a little girl, she had a thought. "Sandy?" she asked softly. "Hmm?" he replied, he had grown used to using his voice around her. "Can you make me a mermaid tail? Since I first watched you make one for the dreams, I have longed to be one. Swimming in the ocean with the wales and dolphins, jumping with narwhales and watching the funny little puffer fish." she said dreamily. Sandy watched her face as she stared off into the distance, obviously daydreaming. He smiled and flicked a stream of sand at her. She jumped in surprise as the silky sand wrapped around her legs, gasping in delight as they formed a beautiful golden mermaid tail, the scales shining brightly. She giggled as she tested it, twitching her foot, she made the large fin flick up, the sand flying off in droplets like water. She clapped happily and beamed at Sandy, who smiled at her antics, silently commanding the dream sand to speed towards the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Rose was twisting this way and that when they arrived, admiring the pale yellow swirls that continuously moved along the tail, only glancing up and around them when Sandy ahem-ed softly. Rose leaned over the edge of the cloud, scanning the bright, clear water, looking back at Sandy with a mischevious little grin as he watched her. He shot forward with a small gasp as she dived off the cloud into the turquiose waves. Rolling his eyes at her apparent need to give him a heart attack, he fashioned a snorkle and goggles out of the sand and followed her, jumping into the ocean in a cannonball. He blinked his eyes open as he floated just under the water, not needing to come up for air, being a spirit and all. He turned in a slow circle, looking for Rose. He finally spotted her swimming a ways above him. He stared at her, struck by her beauty as her hair streamed down her back, moving with her body in a wave as she stretched her arms in front of her, rolling her entire body to move her tail, the sun shining around her in a halo, shimmering and fracturing in the water. He blushed as he realized she had shed her shirt and was now in just a bright red bra with lace details that matched her hair She looked magical. She swam faster towards a group of dolphins who nudged her curiously, squeaking at her. she shot Sandy a huge smile before turning back to the playful animals, touching their backs and gripping one of their back fins, she held on as they shot off with her. Sandy sped after, intent on keeping an eye on her, as he knew she could forgo any semblance of safety as she got wrapped up in an adventure, forgetting that she could actually be hurt due to being half human. He caught up with her and found her having abandoned playing with the dolphins for exploring the reef. he watched as she peeked around huge lumps of brain coral, poking into holes in the rock (he had a moment of panic as a sea snake shot from one as she peered into it, but it swam off in search of a better hiding spot). He smiled as she giggled when a kelp plant tickled her chin, following as she swam with a humpback whale and petted a sea turtle, puffing out her cheeks when she scared a puffer fish and it swelled up. She turned to him and waved at him to come over when she bobbed next to a mantee. He swam up next to her, thinking again how gorgeous she is as her deep red hair floated around her, making her pale skin and pink cheeks stand out as she flicked her arms up to keep herself under the water. He peered around her curiously as she excited pointed to something behind her. He saw this little gray blob floating next to the huge mantee, and noticed it was a tiny baby, peeking shyly from being his mother's tail. He glanced at Rose's face and was struck at the look of compassion on her face making her eyes soft as she drifted nearer. She motioned for the baby to come closer, smiling kindly at it, excuding love and warmth. The little baby slowly come out, nudging her hand with its head quickly before darting back. She giggled and reached out, gently stroking its back. The baby closed its eyes briefly before swimming around Rose in circle, appearing to decide she was alright and was ready to play. She and Sandy played for hours with the tiny creature, Rose occasionally having to surface for air. Finally, Sandy pulled Rose to the surface, figuring it would be about time for her to bring nightime to the eastern hemisphere. Rose popped her head out of the water, panting. "Oh Sandy! This has been the best day ever! Thank you so much!" she hugged him tightly, her hair tickling his sides as it drifted on the surface of the water. "Your welcome, love" he said, his arms wrapping around her as well. Sandy heard he soft intake of breath and blushed as he realized what he had said. He quickly let go and scooted back, glancing at her face. He was stunned as he saw a bright pink blush flushing her face as she met his brown eyes with shy blue ones. "You love me?" she asked softly, barely a whisper as she touched a trembing hand to her burning cheek. A sudden confidence flooded through Sandy as he watched this beautiful, strong woman reduced to a blushing schoolgirl at the notion that he might love her. Taking her hands in his he floated them up to their sand cloud, dispensing the sand that made up her tail as transfiguring it into a light sundress to keep her covered, he met her eyes "Yes, Rose, my dear, I love you. I love you with all that I am, all that I will ever be. I adore you. You make my heart soar when you are near me. It leaps with joy whenever I see you. You are the first thing I think about when I wake and I fall asleep to dreams of you. You are my whole world." He pulled her close, their bodies flush against each other, his hand moved to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear as it slid down her cheek. His heart dropped "Why are you crying?" Rose looked up at him, (his 6'4" form his norm now) and choked out a sob "Oh Sandy! I love you too!" She threw her arms around his neck as their lips met in a passionate kiss.