Kawaii-Cherri: So this is the original chapter 25. This is the one I think you'll really enjoy. Also, Leon is a babe and I love him so much xD. There are happy times and sad times, both of more to come. Mwhahahaa.

Chapter 27: Tell me that you love me.

'You don't have to go back to the city?' Rina asked as they made dinner together, some vegetables that she had grown, along with some rice that she had milled herself. A vegetable curry was the idea though they had gotten distracted by talking. It was taking a while to make. Sebastian had arrived just after lunch so it made sense that he stayed for the evening. 'It's been so long since you were down, even longer since we did something like this,' she said, without malice or accusation, it was just the way things were.

They had laid in bed for a few hours, at some point having fallen asleep together. It was a refreshing nap and had soothed some of the rawer wounds that had occurred recently. Simply holding one another and feeling safe had been cathartic. The time spent together at the office had been a whirlwind and there had been no time to wind down since. For the first time in months, both Rina and Sebastian felt comfortable in their own skin. Something that they didn't realise was that being around one another was what felt natural, being apart was the opposite.

Once their stomachs started to grumble and Mochi started to yell at Rina to be fed did they get up. Now, Sebastian was chopping some herbs and nodding to what Rina was saying. He had gotten changed into some clothing that he had spare in her wardrobe; he hadn't brought anything as he wasn't sure if she was even going to see him, let alone let him stay over. 'Tomorrow is Saturday and I don't work on alternate weekends, so I won't have to go back till Monday,' he explained. 'So, I'll stay here tonight and then go to my mum's until Monday,' he said as he walked over to the sauce that Rina was stirring and brushing the herbs off the chopping board into the saucepan.

Rina bit her lip and gave the sauce a more vigorous stir than needed, 'you don't need to go to your mum's, you could just stay here for the weekend,' she said, quietly but loud enough for him to hear as he was right next to her.

'Are you sure?' He asked as he looked at her with a little surprise.

'Yeah, totally, I mean you used to do it all the time. Also, it would be nice,' she admitted. 'Half of me is thinking that the reason the whole thing, y'know, blew up is because we've naturally drifted apart because of distance. It's easy to assume things when you're not attached at the hip,' she mused. Sebastian didn't like the idea of them having drifted apart but he knew what she meant. At times he had found himself wondering what she was doing without him and if there was a possibility of… someone else. 'So, if you wanted, we could make a weekend of it, films, shitty food, we can go to the Saloon and obviously, you can spend some time with your family. Don't feel like just because you're staying here that you have to hang out with me,' she chatted as they cooked.

'I'd really like that, Pheebs,' he nods, smothering the urge to give her a hug and kiss from behind. He really needed to knock this obsession on the head and give her some actual space so that she could find someone. Not that he'd like it but he'd have to just grow up. 'Any idea what film you'd want to watch?'

'There's the part two of that clown film-'

'You hate scary films, why do you insist on doing that to yourself,' he said as he laughs watching her shimmy around the kitchen. He helped out by straining the rice once it cooked and holds the plates while she dishes up some food for them both.

'I hate watching them alone and if you're going to be here all weekend, it's the perfect time to watch it and have horrid nightmares while you're here. You can beat the crap out of any imaginary ghoulies that I convince myself I see,' she teases as she grabs a couple of forks for them both and they take a seat at the dining table.

Sebastian grins and rolls his eyes as they begin to eat. 'Alright, fine but if I get woken up more than twice then you're sleeping on the sofa,' he jokes making Rina snort in amusement. His eyes drift over the paperwork that was spread over the top. He hadn't read it earlier but had time now. Oblivious to Rina's chatting, he picked up a piece of paper, a printout of her grandfather's will. 'What's this?' He asks as she's highlighted bits and pieces, here and there.

'Oh that,' she said as she swallows her mouthful. 'Read it,' she shrugs, there was no need to explain it to him. If he read it, he'd understand. They sit in comfortable silence eating, while Sebastian does just that and she waits for his reaction. He had clearly finished it when he put it down on the table, a slight frown on his features. 'I've got to increase my sales, though I'm hoping that the magazine article will help there, if not… well, I'm pretty limited on my options,' she said conversationally. 'I really don't want to let my grandfather's deal dissolve and have my father involved in my life again. We already know that he's trying to make plans, what with this Zach guy. He must know that I'm only a few points away from being able to get all the "candles" I need. Although to be honest the whole candle thing is annoying. I mean, come on! Candles? That's such a random thing, it aggravates me.'

'What were you thinking?' Sebastian asks as he scans over it again.

'I was gonna hire you, actually,' she said with a cheeky grin. 'Perhaps a basic website with ordering details, so I can increase my range as it were,' she babbles.

Sebastian rolls his eyes, 'you don't need to hire me, I'll just whip up something to your tastes,' he said simply.

Rina gave him a look, 'hey,' she said waving a bit of broccoli at him, 'if you're good at something, don't do it for free,' she pointed out. 'Friends or not, you deserve to get paid for your hard work-…'

An idea hit Sebastian; he was aware of Rina talking to him but he wasn't concentrating on her words. He wasn't sure how she would take the idea, but it seemed silly not to say, given the opportunity. 'Pheebs… there is another thing you could do,' he said carefully as he ran his finger along a certain sentence to make sure it was crystal clear in understanding. She took a sip of her drink and looked at him expectantly. Sebastian breathed in deeply and took her hand in his, causing her to raise an eyebrow. 'We're best friends, right?'

'Right?' Rina replied, wondering where this was going. He seemed serious. 'Of course, we are. What's that got to do with anythi-?'

'You could marry me,' he said in a rush, trying not to stumble over his words. The nerves hit him like a baseball and he had to hide his jittery leg with his other hand.

Rina was very glad that she had already swallowed her water. Instead, her mouth dropped open. 'What?!' She said in a blunt, high pitch.

Sebastian clears his throat and nods, 'you can marry me, Pheebs. We're best friends. I wouldn't expect anything from you and you'd keep your father out your life,' he turned to face her properly and reached over to take her other hand.

'D-Don't be… you're being silly,' Rina said shaking her head, her cheeks pink.

'It would work. I work in the city and you'd still be able to have a life here. If you then met someone, we could just get a divorce, I wouldn't mind,' he said, even though he knew he would. This was a purely selfish notion and he hated himself for it.

'Bastian, this is… this is big… I mean, you'd be legally tied to me… we'd have to act like we were, like, in love. Around others I mean… The assessor, they're not going to accept some fake marriage just so that I can keep this place,' she said, her heart beating extremely fast and she felt dizzy. 'We would be lying to everyone and it wouldn't be fair, you should marry someone you love-'

He hushes her gently, 'Pheebs, you know that I love you,' he said softly, causing a deeper pink tinge to her cheeks. Sebastian reaches up and brushes her fringe from her face, trying to calm her. He knew deep down that to her; it was a love of friendship, nothing more. It did feel good to say it out loud though. 'Would it be a lie if two best friends married?' He asks softly, cupping her cheek with his hand. 'I mean, in public we'd have to be a little more affectionate to each other but everyone thinks we're dating anyway. It wouldn't really be a surprise to them. Also, my bosses kinda think we're married,' he pointed out. She leans into his touch and averts her eyes from his.

'I can't believe I'm even considering this,' Rina admitted. Mentally, she screamed in delight. Sebastian would marry her? Even in friendship, it felt wonderful. Knowing that he cared for her so much he was willing to do so. 'It would give me enough points,' she added quietly. 'I don't know, Bastian. It feels so selfish to ask you to do such a thing,' she sighs as she pulls her hand out from his and moves away from him.

Sebastian pushes away from his chair and got onto one knee. Rina looked at him in horror as she twisted in her seat to face him. She tried to get him to stand but instead he took both her hands.

'Bastian, stop it,' she began.

'Ophelia Karrina Tyrell-'

'Bastian-!'

'Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?' Sebastian continued, ignoring her protests. She looks down at him and saw only sincerity.

'Sebastian… I can't,' she whispers, feeling her tears well up in her eyes.

He moves closer, releasing her hands and pressing his forehead against hers. 'Let me be the one to help you, Pheebs,' he whispers, cupping her face gently. 'Please, I want to,' he said softly, watching her eyes open to look into his. He could see her tears and how scared she was. 'Marry me,' he said gently.

She breathes in deeply and nods, only slightly, making him wear a one-sided smile with her shyness. Rina spoke softly, 'are… are you sure?'

Sebastian moved away to give her room to relax and breathe. 'As your best friend, I feel that I'm the only one suited to handle your crazy,' he said in a tease.

Rina gasped and shook her head, 'that started off really sweet and then was just mean,' she said with a tease in her voice. Her hands shook as he held them and she bit her lip, 'and you're sure you're not going to feel… resentment or like, hatred towards me because of this?' She asks quietly as she looks at his earnest expression.

He chuckles and shakes his head, 'I promise, I'm doing this out of my own free will and under no obligation or pressure,' he assures. 'So, do I get a proper answer?' Sebastian asks, feeling his heart skip as she bit her lip.

Rina sits up straight and nods. '…Sebastian Joseph Vance, I agree. I will be your wife,' she said in barely a whisper. Sebastian grins and they both laugh as she helps him stand and rises out her seat as well. He hugs her tightly, allowing himself the moment. 'I can't believe we're going to do this,' she whispers to him, holding onto to his top tightly, her arms around his neck. 'Thank you, for this. I promise that somehow… I'll repay you,' she adds.

'You have nothing to repay,' Sebastian shakes his head, there was no need for her to pay him back. There was a guilt twirling around his stomach, like he had tricked her under false pretences. He knew that one day he would have to come clean about his affections but for the moment, he could do this and help her keep the life she wanted.

He finally put her down and she smiles, shyly at him. 'So… how do we go about this?' Rina asks, both still a little giggly about it all.

'Uh, well in this town, things happen fast,' he admits as he clears his throat.

Rina's eyes narrowed, 'how fast?'

'Like, three days?' He said causing her to inhale in shock. 'Also, you kinda had that magazine interview and they said that you were married, plus my bosses think we are-'

'Oh, for fuck's sake! I totally forgot about the damn magazine and my father will probably see it!' Rina began to panic. 'I wouldn't be surprised if he's on his way here now!' She said in a flap, their dinner forgotten. 'Forget three days, we need to be married, like, right now!' Rina whines, seeing their entire plan disappear into the abyss before it even began. 'Oh Yoba, look at me. I put up such a fuss about it but now when it benefits me, I'm suddenly okay with it all?! I'm such a terrible person-'

'Woah, hey, hey,' Sebastian caught her in passing while she paced and held her still. 'Look at me, breathe,' he says softly as he inhales deeply, motioning her to mimic him. They took a moment and he helped her lower her blood pressure with a minute's worth of concentrated, controlled breathing. 'This whole marriage thing is really only going to be a surprise well, for us,' he said honestly. 'I wouldn't be shocked if everyone else, "saw" it coming,' Sebastian said a little sarcastically. 'They've assumed we've been dating for the last year,' he said honestly.

'Yeah… yeah that's true,' Rina said with a nod as she breathed in deeply. 'Three days away is Monday though,' she adds. 'That would be awkward. I wouldn't want you to have to take a day off work to attend a wedding to a woman you're already supposedly married to,' she points out. 'So, what do we do?' She asks.

'Sunday,' Sebastian said with a shrugged shoulder. 'We'll just have it on Sunday. Have the afterparty in the square, move to the Saloon later in the evening, then just… come back here? I'll travel to the city on Monday morning,' he suggests. 'I know it's not too fancy and probably not what you'd have for your real wedding-'

Rina placed a finger to his lips, 'honestly?' She said with a smile, 'a small, family orientated wedding, with the people we love, Sam, Penny and all the others… sounds perfect,' she admitted, her smile going shy. 'I think it would be wonderful. Is it weird that this isn't weird? This should be weird shouldn't it? Maybe we shouldn't do this-'

'Pheebs,' Sebastian said softly, taking her hand. 'If you're not comfortable with this, we don't have to do it. At all. For the record though, this isn't weird but yes, it is weird that it's not weird,' he said as he tried not to confuse himself.

Rina sighs, 'I just… this feels selfish. It's a marriage, Bastian. An actual legal ceremony and you'd be legally my husband and I just… it feels deceptive,' she mumbles. Not to mention that I'm pretty sure the fact that I'm in love with you makes this all kinds of wrong, she thought to herself.

He shrugs a shoulder, 'I'm the one who suggested it,' he says simply. 'I didn't think I would ever want to get married but being married to my best friend-?' Someone who I adore with my entire heart? He thought with a mental sigh. '-Sounds perfect, honestly.'

Rina exhales and rubs her eyes. 'Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm totally overthinking all of this,' she sighs. There are such things as a divorce and people get married for worse reasons, she thought. 'Okay, yes, let's do this. No more questioning about it all.'

Sebastian can't help himself as he pulls her into another hug, making her giggle. 'As fake wives go, I think you're going to be the best,' he teases making her squeal in indignation. 'Well, we had better get ahead of this and unfortunately that basically means we're going to have to make some phone calls,' he said as he put her down. 'I'll tell Mayor Lewis, tomorrow,' he said as she begins to clear up their dinner plates, it was clear that neither of them were bothered about eating anymore. 'For the minute though, we should probably call my mum,' he said with a smile.

'Invite her over, I'll call the others and get them around as well, that way we can knock it out in one go,' she said as she put the dishes in the sink. Sebastian picked up the notebooks and the copy of the will, they didn't need anyone to see that. They clear up and make some calls before Rina wanders into her bedroom, she was shaking all over. She stared into the mirror and mentally screams at herself, what the fuck did I just do?! Her mind reels over what had happened in the last couple hours. Sebastian proposed. Proposed! Admittedly… it wasn't real, not really but still, they were going to get married!

She only had about half an hour before people started to arrive and she looked down at herself. Not exactly dressed for company, she would need to change. For some reason she couldn't get herself to move and just looked into her own reflection. Sebastian knocked on the bedroom door before entering and spotted her, 'hey,' he said as he walked over. 'What's wrong?' He asks.

Rina sniffed and forced herself to smile at him, she was still shaking and tried to talk some sense into herself. 'I'm sorry, it's just a lot,' she admitted. 'I just… I don't want you to regret this and I don't want this to ruin our friendship. People are going to expect us to kiss and be… intimately physical with each other,' she said quietly. 'At least in public or show affection and I'm just worried that this is going to ruin our friendship-' she repeated before he cut her off.

'Pheebs,' Sebastian said as he wrapped an arm around her waist, 'relax.'