Wirt and Beatrice's mother sat across from one another at the dining table. Warm sunlight poured in from the windows and bounced off of the recently polished table surface, illuminating the room. Not another soul resided within the room, only the two of them, a serious discussion to be had. Wirt tapped his fingers anxiously upon the table's edge to which his partner of discussion reassured him with a soft, caring smile.

"I always knew there was something between the two of you considering how much Beatrice jabbered on about you… I know what this place is and how you came back. It sounds like Beatrice does too now. She's taking it pretty well, all things considered. You know I love my daughter very much, and that I want her to be happy. I can't always keep her from living the life she never had, and it sounds like you're the key to unlocking it. Beatrice loves you, and after all that you lost to come back for her, it seems you love her just as much. I don't think you came back on a whim. Your young heart didn't lead you astray. You know that what you have with my daughter is something special, something beyond a little crush. If that's true, we'd be happy to welcome you into our home and as a part of our family.

"I… thank you," Wirt whispered, turning his eyes down as tears welled up inside them.

"You're welcome," she said softly, pushing herself from her chair and rushing around to his side. His vision blurred, Wirt gazed up at her curiously and was soon embraced in hug from the caring mother.

"I meant everything I said to her. It was all true. I wouldn't have… well, done what I did if I wasn't sure I wanted this. Thank you for being so understanding and accepting me into your family," he said, halfway standing from the chair and patting his hands against her back. Tears began to travel down her plump face as well, a joyous, contented smile forming on her lips.

"My Beatrice can finally be truly happy here. It's what I've always wanted for her," she said with a sniffle, patting her hands against Wirt's small back. "Now, I think Beatrice would be more excited about this news than myself, and I don't think she'll be able to bare much longer waiting for it. You can be the one to tell her. I think you'll enjoy the hugs and kisses a bit more than I would."

Wirt broke away from her hug with an eager smile and turned his attention to the window. Outside, Beatrice sat in the grass at the edge of the forest with her faithful canine companion, gazing out into the forest. He watched the soft motions of her hand as it stroked up and down his furry back. "Think I can get all the way out there and surprise her before she notices?" he asked, turning back to the mother with a smirk.

"Nope," her mother said with a laugh.

"Well, that's discouraging," Wirt said with a shrug as he stood and walked to the door, slightly stumbling over his untied shoelaces.

Beatrice's mother moved to the window and watched as Wirt made his way outside. Not long after taking a few steps into the grass did the dog's ears perk up, his tail beginning to wag as he turned. Beatrice turned to the boy even more eagerly than the dog, her brow furrowed and a look of what seemed to be fear upon her face. What was fear quickly turned into joy. Although her mother could not hear exactly what the two were saying, she could experience what her daughter was feeling. She grinned as Beatrice did the same. Tears streamed down both of their faces as she lunged up from her sitting position and towards Wirt. He stumbled backwards, nearly falling as they made contact, her body slamming against his. The woman was sure she had never seen such a wide smile upon the boy's face before. Nor had she seen such a spring in his step as the two spun in circle, locked in their blissful embrace. She was also sure that she had never seen her daughter as carefree and in the moment as she was with Wirt. Beatrice's happiness was pure and without worry of future or past. Such a sensation would not last forever, but would likely return often while with the boy. A happy sob escaped the woman's mouth as she watched the two kiss while an excited canine danced around their feet.

"So… Wirt, did you ever write a poem about me?" Beatrice asked as she pulled away from the kiss, causing the boys mouth to drop upon.

"Uh… I…. well, sort of," he muttered, a sheepish smile upon his face. "A few…"

"I'd be pretty interested in hearing those."

"I don't really remember them off of the top of my head."

"You sure about that?"

"Uh…"

Although both Beatrice and Wirt always remembered the truth of strange land in which they resided, it was often easy to push the thought deep into the back of their mind and almost forget but not quite. It was the time in which they spent together, whether on an errand or adventure or doing nothing at all that the two could most easily forget. Together, they could appreciate the most wonderful lies that the land which they called The Unknown had to offer. Although a part of an existence much happier than what once was, Wirt continued to look back upon the previous and those most close to him that still presided within it. He would be overtaken with joy when he could look upon their faces again, no matter how different they had become, but he hoped that it would still not be for some time… unless, of course, the lies could offer them something better as they did for him.