Hey! This was prompted by Rebecca, it's really lovely, and Becs, I hope that some day a really nice guy who you're totally in love with takes you on that date :) xx

Enjoy!

"So..." Jerome kicked the leaves as the two walked down the country path. "You're allowed to wear hats, but I'm not?" He held her hand lightly, but firmly, afraid she'd flutter away like all the dancing leaves around them "Just for clarification,"

Mara's free hand rose to her musky purple hat, that sat on the back of her head, so you could see her fringe, and her long curly hair. She smiled, kicking the leaves high into the air, and the wind blew it right back at them. The autumn air was sweet and fine, it smelt of honey suckle and something else, something dainty and soft, like a rose and a dandelion merged together in a soft breeze of tiny dust. "You should never wear hats, the world should see your fabulous hair!"

Jerome smiled, tugging her closer to his side "Talk to me," he urged gently, they looked ahead, and saw an archway of trees, locking at the top, glimmers of the evening sunlight breaking through, as if lighting the path for them. The floor was covered with at least three inches of leaves, autumn leaves, crunchy and the colours of fire. Reds, orange, browns, crumbles everywhere, some perfectly in tact, a few of them still green, taken before their time. They walked into it slowly, hands still locked.

"What shall we talk about?"

"You." He whispered earnestly "I want to know everything about you."

She smiled, letting go of his hand to collect an arm full of leaves and throw them high into the air so it tumbled down around them, light snow, they danced gracefully, before taking the place back onto the ground. Jerome smiled fondly, but he was still curious. "I'm pretty sure you know everything about me,"

"Not everything," he pointed out smartly, eyes glittering. But in truth, he wasn't as comfortable as she was in this wonderful autumn person. Autumn was a kind season, a wonderful collection of the end of summer and the promise of the wonders that winter would bring. And autumn, the kind season, was only meant for kind people. People like Fabian, Nina, Amber...and his Mara. The season where the chocolate brown bark on the trees matched her eyes.

But it wasn't Jerome's season. Jerome's season was winter, where his pale skin didn't seem so pale. Where his blond hair looked spectacular with snowflakes embedded into dark strands. Where his blue eyes glittered at the ice and the white sky. The colder, the better, that was when Jerome shone. So he had been reluctant today to come out, simply because of the season, but to be with Mara...why, he'd even brace spring for her.

"Okay..." she bit her lip thoughtfully, and Jerome held his hand out again, needing to be in contact with her before it drove him to insanity. She skipped across the leaves towards her, her scarf fluttering out behind her, hanging dangerously loosely from her neck. But he didn't have the heart to tell her to tighten it, in fact, he hoped she dropped it, so he could pick it up, loop it around her neck and draw her in for a kiss. "Well, I like melted chocolate on really cold grapes." She leaned up, swiftly kissing his cheek, and pulling him forward through the leaves, that swished up to his knees as he jogged after her.

"Really?" he smiled, perking up a little. He hadn't known that.

"Look up," she whispered, and he saw her up lift her face, to gaze upwards. His eyes lingered on her face for a moment, she was so beautiful. Why would he want to look away? But he did, he forced himself to stare upwards, and saw the tangled, complex, astounding web of chocolate branches and fire leaves. But it didn't hold his attention for very long, but when he turned back, he saw Mara, still gazing at them, in complete awe. He leaned forward, so taken by her wonders, and kissed her lips softly. She chased after him "Who do you think planted these trees?"

"Old romantics," he said casually, pulling out the canister from his pocket, and shaking it, before pouring some into the lid, and handing Mara a little cup of hot chocolate, and he drunk from the canister itself. She took a deep, grateful sip. "Is it as good as grapes and melted chocolate, Jaffray my dear?"

"Jerome, my sweetheart," she nudged him "It's even better, because you got it for me," they linked arms, so they could still be near each other, but enjoy their drink. "I like dates like this, just us. Out in the open autumn air,"

"Ah, the simple things," he joked. But he understood. He understood a lot. Why go out to a man made restaurant, when you could see all the beauties of mother nature, that were always changing, where they would always be altered, and they'd never go back to the way they were. Why once, this entire walk way was ice, and then it was rain forest, and then centuries passed and colonies came, and it was all built upon, and now it was an autumn walkway for lovers to frolic and express their love. "How many children do you want, Jaffray?"

Mara was startled by the question, Jerome wasn't normally so direct with her. She thought hard "Well...I'd like girl, and a boy,"

He nodded, intrigued "Names?"

"Honestly, I'd have to decide with my husband,,"

"So decide with me," he urged, she blushed madly, and he leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek, he smelt of the hot chocolate he was drinking and Mara could literally feel herself rising above the ground.

"How many children do you want?"

"A boy and a girl."

"Are you just copying me?"

"Of course not," he shook his head at the idea, but she couldn't be sure if he was joking or not. They walked for a few moments, nearing the end of the archway, and he sighed. "Talk to me Jaffray," he urged "Tell me everything, everything you feel and everything you want, and I'll give you everything your heart desires,"

"You're too good to me, Jerome," she whispered, turning to him, tiptoeing to kiss him on the lips, he wrapped his arms around her, and they stood there, who knows for how long, wrapped up in each other, warm in one anothers arms. "We should probably get back,"

"Of course not!" he cried loudly, his voice echoing down through the empty archway they had come from "Mara, there are a million archways we need to walk through, a million conversations we need to have, a million million things you need to tell me about yourself, and I to you. So many plans to make about our future, and you want to go home," he scoffed at her, wrapping an arm around her as he led her out of the archway, and out into the clear country lane. "We can't waste our time not expressing our love,"

"I love you!" she called loudly, the leaves rustled around them. Jerome kissed her again

"Walk with me, and I'll never stop telling you the same,"

She stood his hand once more "I'm always by your side."

Review?

something really cute and adorable and autumn-y together, like go for a walk in the woods or park where they kick through piles of leaves and stuff. And go and get hot chocolate together. And they're wearing winter coats and Mara has a cute hat and they hold hands to keep each other's hands warm.