Fie and Laura strolled side by side through the quiet streets of Trista, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over the quaint town. They walked in comfortable silence, their hands brushing occasionally as they moved past familiar storefronts.
Laura was mid-thought when she noticed Fie slow down, her steps faltering as they passed by a wedding store. Fie's gaze was fixed on one of the mannequins in the window—a petite figure dressed in an elegant, flowing wedding gown.
Laura thought of Fie in it the dress almost immediately. She glanced at the ground quickly, then looked to Fie, who was still fixated on the dress.
"You're awfully quiet," Laura said, giving Fie a light nudge on the arm. "What's on your mind?"
Fie didn't answer right away. Her green eyes lingered on the dress before she finally spoke. "Me in a wedding dress one day."
The statement was so plain and direct that Laura blinked, her usual composure momentarily slipping. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone gentle but curious, inviting Fie to say more.
Fie shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Well... I'd be lying if I said it hadn't crossed my mind before." She paused, then added, almost nonchalantly, "I even asked your dad for his blessing, y'know, if we ever got married."
"You what?" Laura said, coming to a stop.
Fie glanced up at her, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Yeah... I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. He was onboard," she said, her voice quieter now, as though second-guessing herself.
For a moment, Laura simply stared at her, processing the revelation. Fie rubbed the back of her neck and looked away, her blush deepening. "I mean, this would be a while away, obviously. I'm not trying to jump the gun or anything. Just, you know... thinking about the future," she added.
Her words hung in the air, almost like a question, as though she worried she might have overstepped.
Laura reached out, gently taking Fie's hand in hers. Her voice was steady, calm, and reassuring. "Of course. We both want to spend our lives together, Fie. A wedding in the future would naturally be a part of that."
Fie's shoulders relaxed, and she let out a small breath she hadn't realized she was holding. A soft smile spread across her face as she leaned into Laura's arm, her head lightly resting against her shoulder.
"Y'know," Fie said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, "the thought of me and you in wedding dresses, surrounded by all our friends and comrades... it makes me feel warm inside. So warm."
Laura's heart swelled at the sincerity in Fie's words. She gave Fie's hand a gentle squeeze, her smile unwavering. "I feel the same," she said softly.