Chapter 1: Live and let Live - Continuation

Elias was sitting in his usual spot in his living room, reading a book to pass the time. As Elias was reading, he looked up and saw that Silky was standing in front of him, along with Ariel. Elias also noticed that Silky has his robe neatly folded in her arms.

"What is it?" Elias asked.

Silky only made a small sound as she extended her arms out to give Elias his robe.

"Am I needed somewhere?" Elias asked, still wondering what was going on.

"Well, of course you're needed somewhere, Thorn. Come on, Chise is waiting for you." Ariel said as she flipped in the air excitedly.

"Chise?" Elias said as he immediately set his book aside. "Is she okay? Did something happen?" Elias asked worriedly.

"What? Ha, no! Just get your robe-thingy on and follow me!" Ariel said as she flew towards the front door.

Elias got up from his chair and took his robe from Silky, allowing her to make his robe look nice and proper. Elias nodded to Silky and headed outside.

"This way! Let's go!" Ariel said as she flew off towards the forest.

Elias followed Ariel, hoping Chise wasn't in any danger or anything bad like that.

Later...

"You know, since I am technically supposed to be your brother-figure or whatever, I should technically be against this whole marriage thing." Ruth said as he and Chise waited for Elias's arrival.

"So, why aren't you?" Chise asked as she looked at her familiar.

"Ainsworth is good for you. Judging by your past, it seems he was one of the only people to truly accept you and see great worth in you. Plus, he's a pretty good person I'd say." Ruth said.

"That certainly is true." Chise said as she smiled.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, he's not perfect or anything. Nothing and no one is." Ruth said.

"You got that right. For instance, my older brother is a dog." Chise said as she playfully patted Ruth.

"Ha, well that's true but that is not what I was referring to. I was actually referring to the whole-." Ruth said.

"I know, Ruth, I know." Chise said as she interrupted him. "I don't really want to think about the Stella incident right now." Chise said.

"I understand. I do have one question for you though." Ruth said.

"Sure, what is it?" Chise asked.

"Why today?" Ruth asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Chise asked in confusion.

"I mean like, why did you decide to have this whole marriage thing today? What's so special about today other than your birthday?" Ruth asked.

"(Sigh) I don't know, it's Tuesday?" Chise asked in a sarcastic way.

"What? Okay, well happy Tuesday then." Ruth said sarcastically.

"(Sigh) Happy Tuesday Ruth." Chise said as she shook her head.

"So, what about today being your birthday? You sure this isn't like a birthday gift to yourself?" Ruth asked.

"No, Ruth, that's not it. Look, I just felt like today was a good day. I am back home after all, back with the people I care for most." Chise said.

"Ah I see. Oh speak of the devil, here he comes." Ruth said as he saw Ariel and Elias approaching.

Chise felt a bit nervous as she saw Elias coming closer. Ruth, sensing Chise's nervousness, gently placed his paw on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. You got this." Ruth said.

"Thank you, Ruth." Chise said as she looked to the sun.

As Elias arrived at the spot where Ariel led him, he looked up to see Chise and Ruth sitting on a large rock.

"Good luck, Thorn." Ariel whispered as she flew off into the trees above.

Elias simply nodded as he approached Chise and Ruth. Chise was still looking to the sun, thinking about the time she had spent in London with Elias, Silky, Ruth, and all her other new friends. Ruth saw that Elias was waiting patiently so he telepathically notified Chise of Elias's presence.

"Yo, Ainsworth is waiting for you." Ruth said.

Chise shook her head and looked to Ruth and thanked him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Elias." Chise said as she looked to him and Ruth jumped down from the rock to watch this event play out. "I was really planning to go straight home." Chise said as she gracefully jumped down from the rock.

Elias said nothing as he examined the dress Chise was now wearing.

"Where did you get that?" Elias asked. "It's not what you were wearing when you left this morning." Elias stated.

"Yeah, um... I saw Stella. She gave this dress to me as a present. It's for my birthday." Chise said as she adjusted her veil.

"Hmm, and the veil?" Elias asked.

"Oh, uh, that's from Angelica." Chise said as the wind gently blew past them, causing her veil and dress to flow very gracefully.

Elias was amazed at how... beautiful Chise looked at that moment. If that was the correct term anyway.

"Are you what... beautiful is?" Elias asked.

Chise quietly gasped at this. She felt a sense of happiness hearing Elias say this. Elias felt his heart fill with happiness as he was glad that he hadn't made things awkward in that moment.

"... I got this for you." Chise said as she dug through her pocket.

"What is it?" Elias asked.

"It's a present. Go ahead and give me your hand okay; your left hand." Chise said.

"Hmm? Fine." Elias said as he casually extended his right hand to Chise.

"I said your left." Chise reminded him.

"Oh." Elias said as he awkwardly extended his left hand.

"And take your gloves off too." Chise said.

"Okay." Elias said as he removed his glove and Chise put a bright silver ring onto his left ring finger. "A ring?" Elias said as he examined the ring.

"The other one is for me," Chise said as she put a ring on her left ring finger. "If anything happens to either one of us, it will let us know. It should help... put you at ease. At least that's what my plan was." Chise said.

"Coincidentally I've heard the left ring finger is also used for wedding rings." Elias said as he put on his flat face.

"Uh..." Chise replied as a bead of sweat fell from her head. "(Sigh) I get that we've only been together for a year, but it seems like so much has changed since the day you bought me. I've met all kinds of people in that time, and all kinds of people have helped me. The world is a lot bigger than I ever imagined it could be. It's not as if I was reborn. To be honest, I still resent being in this body. But now, I can accept the truth and know the only reason I can get to be here, is because I decided not to jump that day. I had help figuring that out, I had more people than just you." Chise said as she smiled to Elias.

Elias simply just looked at her, trying to take in and understand the things she was telling him.

"But, had you been there I'd still be lost. You changed my life." Chise quickly said as she was worried Elias had misunderstood something. "I'm sure... you don't realize-."

"I'm sure I do." Elias jumped in.

Chise just looked up to Elias as he gently put a hand on her shoulder.

"I have no intention of ever doing anything that might cause you unhappiness." Elias said. "That said, due to my involvement with you... I may become monstrous again... is that okay?" Elias asked as he stared deeply into Chise's eyes.

"Stella told me something; language is there to help us learn from our differences and make sure we can connect with each other." Chise said as she placed her hand on Elias's hand. "If we don't understand, we have to communicate." Chise said as she held Elias's hand to her forehead. "So, let's talk through everything together. That way we can come to a compromise." Chise said.

Elias then held Chise's hand as they both looked into each other's eyes.

"Elias... as I move forward from now on... may I please do so next to you?" Chise asked as she gave Elias a small smile.

Chise then gasped as Elias bent down and picked her up in his arms.

"Of course, you are my bride, are you not?" Elias asked as he 'smiled' at Chise.

Chise smiled back and pressed her head against Elias and wrapped her arms around his head for a hug. Elias pulled her closer to him as they embraced each other.

"Yes." Chise said as she smiled and hugged Elias even tighter.

Elias and Chise said nothing as they simply held each other. The Fae could be heard clapping and cheering. Chise had never felt such happiness in her life. Never once did she think she would ever get married. Heck, she never imagined anyone would love her so much. She felt truly blessed to have Elias Ainsworth in her life.

"Well, good job you two. You actually did it." Ruth said suddenly.

"Ruth, you just ruined a very beautiful moment." Elias said as he looked down at the grim.

"Shut up Elias, I was just making a small remark." Ruth said.

"You could have waited maybe 2 more minutes?" Elias asked.

"Elias, now you're both ruining the moment." Chise said.

"Hmm, well I believe anyone who speaks during a beautiful moment is responsible for ruining it. So, you have also ruined our moment, Chise." Elias said.

"(Giggle) Did I really?" Chise asked.

"(Chuckle) Yes, yes you have." Elias said.

After a few moments of silence, the trio just laughed.

"(Chuckles) Come, let us go home. Silver awaits us." Elias said.

"Sweet! Why don't you two take your precious time getting home while I help myself to whatever wedding feast the brownie has prepared for us." Ruth said as he jokingly smiled at the couple.

"Ruth, I doubt Silver is going to let you eat before we get home." Chise said.

"Ha! Watch me! See you newly weds later!" Ruth said as he quickly ran back to the house.

"I can't believe my older brother is a dog." Chise said.

"And your husband is a mysterious lifeform." Elias said.

"(Giggle) What more could I ask for?" Chise said as she smiled.

"(Chuckle) Come, let us go home... my beautiful bride." Elias said as he looked deep into Chise's eyes.

"My amazing groom." Chise said as she placed her hand on his cheek.

"Groom? Chise, I am not a dog like Ruth, I have no need to groom myself." Elias said.

"Wait what? Oh, no silly. I meant groom as in my husband." Chise said as she let out a small laugh.

"Oh, I see." Elias said as he chuckled.

"But yeah, let's go home." Chise said as she held onto Elias.

"Very well. Let's go." Elias said.

And with that, Elias and Chise head on back to their home. However, little did they know, an unwelcome guest had watched the whole thing from the woods.

?: "(Evil Chuckle) You think your life is going to be all happy now, Chise Hatori? Ha, I assure you, from this day forward, I am going to make your life a living hell!"