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Chapter 17: Quill and Gina

What does Quill have planned this time? Gina wondered as she walked out to the pavilion on the Woodside Manor property. It was newly constructed in memoriam of the Lia'unnians who had passed away on Earth. There was a plaque with each of their names. Gina had initially thought she would find it creepy, but she didn't. It was merely nice. Nice to remember what had happened those many months ago that led up to when they had taken out the Fu'nas. Could it really have been two years? She was eighteen now.

Well... she amended. Some things were nice to remember.

Quill stood waiting for her at the pavilion entryway. "A good afternoon to you," he bowed and took off his hat. He smiled. "Are you up for a picnic?"

"I'm up for anything with you," she told him honestly, taking his extended hand.

"I have your favorite; roasted mushrooms, and some potatoes. I brought some tea too, for afternoon time. I know neither of us had the luxury of tea before, but now that we have all of this, I figured why not?"

"Why not indeed..." Gina murmured.

"Quill," she started slowly, "what if we turn into the same people with money that never give it to anyone? People passed me everyday back at the market and they knew the conditions we lived under at the orphanage. They turned a blind eye to the suffering because it was inconvenient to them to have to help. What if I become that way? What if having all this money and these things corrupts me? And what if-"

"Gina," he pressed a finger to her lips. "What if's never get anyone anywhere."

His face grew softer when he saw her eyes.

"You don't want to become like the rich people in Braxonshire, do you?"

"Of course not!"

"Well there you are. We'll do everything we can to help other people that are suffering like we did. Abused orphans, scammed homeless children used for their money collection by greedy men, and babies that are left all alone with no one to love them. We'll make it our life mission to save these abandoned people. But you can't question your future with 'what ifs' because it's a great way to worry so much you do nothing. Don't question, just do."

"Thanks, Quill," she snuggled into his side. "You always know what to say."

"Gina," he said, his tone suddenly becoming more serious. "I have something I want to ask you."

"Oh, sure, what do you need-"she trailed off at the look in his eyes.

Adoration swam in the green depths, along with love and loyalty. Wait.

Is he going to ask the Question? She thought frantically. What do I do? I know I love him, but this is such a huge thing to ask. Can I commit to be his wife?

An overwhelming peace washed over her an instant after the thought entered her mind. You can, her mind said, giving her strength. No more what ifs. Just I do's.

He pulled out a small ring, just a golden band really, although it made her stomach do loops all the same, and sat up on his knees. "Will you spend the rest of your life with me, G? I've thought about this, and I know that I want to spend mine with you. To me, a future without you by my side isn't one I want to face."

She smiled a huge, happy smile, and leapt into his outstretched arms. "Yes!" she screamed, her heart full of joy, "Yes I'll marry you, Quill, you darlingest dashing young man. You've just made me the happiest woman in the world! In all the worlds!" She laughed.

He kissed her right there, just as Ro peered around the bushes.

"Hah!" She cried in triumph. "I knew it! I knew you two would be together."

"Ro!" Gina yelped. "What are you- what are you doing here?"

"I followed you two love birds. Obviously." She clapped her hands together in a very un-Ro-like manner. "What should I wear for being the maid of honor at the wedding? A blue dress? Green? White is quite in style right now too," Ro mused to herself.

"Ro! How do you even know you're going to be the maid of honor?"

"Gina honey," Ro sighed. "Let's be honest here. Amryn isn't going to be the maid of honor, so who does that leave? Me. There, now that that's settled." Ro continued to rattle off dress styles and fashions and hats to wear.

"What if I have another friend that I want to do it? Someone I met somewhere else." Gina interrupted the tyrant of words. How could such a small person have so much air? She didn't have another friend of course, but it seemed presumptuous of Ro to simply assume without being asked. After spying no less!

Ro raised a dark red eyebrow. "Well then I would be very upset, and you would have to go on the list for people on my bad side. And I'm sure you don't want that, do you?" She asked with a devious look.

"Uh, uh, no," Gina stammered. "Ro would you like the honor of being my maid of, um, my maid of also honor?"

Ro looked around her dramatically with wide eyes, as if searching for someone else Gina was talking to. "Wait. Who me?" She held a hand over her heart. "Oh, I would be honored beyond expression, dearest Gina. I'm so pleased to be your choice over all of the other-", she coughed loudly, "many, many candidates."

Gina rolled her eyes to high heaven. "You should be an actress Ro. It would certainly suit you."

Quill simply watched the exchange, amused.

"I'll leave you two to figure out what you would like to wear and other things. I want to settle an account for a house for the two of us."

"That sounds perfect," Gina smiled.

Her life felt magical; a wonderful bliss she could never have imagined. Even after so many years of hardship and suffering she had been delivered into a bright and very love-filled future.

The doors to the next stages of her life lay wide open in front of her. And she faced them without fear.