2.5: Picking Up The Pieces

Chapter 12: A new beginning and a sorry ending.

Just over a month later and it is the day before Sera's second birthday. Alexander rushes around, trying to get everything ready, with Adi's help of course. They have been relatively happy over the past month and already seem to be functioning quite well as a couple, although Alexander doesn't want to change their status to that yet. He doesn't feel ready, which is understandable as four weeks is not really long enough. Unfortunately though, in Adi's head, they are officially partners, he's fallen shamelessly fast for Alexander and everyone else can see it, except for Adi. There was also another pairing at the wedding reception, Darina and Leto began talking shortly after she was finished with Alexander. He was bold enough to approach her and after a few drinks and a long talk, they hit it off very nicely. A few days later, he asked her out on a date and she accepted enthusiastically. They have been on six dates in the past four weeks and are now on their seventh. He's pretty much smitten already, she is too but very unlike her, she hasn't slept with him yet.

They are out for an evening stroll together at the moment as Leto will be going home in a couple of days, he doesn't want to leave her though. They are walking down by the banks of lake Erihad with a picnic for their dinner, walking hand in hand, he looks down at her as she's five feet six and he's six feet tall.
"I am honestly so glad I met you... You are the most unique and beautiful girl I have ever had the pleasure of dating..."
She squeezes his hand and looks back at him with a flattered smile.
"Thank you... I've had a wonderful month with you too... I mean, you're fascinating, stupidly intelligent... Gorgeous, your accent makes me go weak at the knees... You're a talented and skilled mage... And you're a kind hearted romantic... Pretty much the whole package."

He chuckles softly, very flattered.
"Hah thank you Darina, as are you... All of the above... But as you know, I must return home in a couple of days... After meeting you... I really do not want to..."
He lays the blanket on the grass and then sits down first and opens his legs, he pats the space in between them, suggesting that she sit there. She smiles warmly and obliges him, he wraps his arms around her and rests his head on hers as they just sit for a moment admiring the beauty of the lake in the beginning of the winter months.

He strokes her hair.
"Your hair is just like the moonlight, a beautiful glimmering white... It smells lovely too..."
She smiles to herself.
"That is the most poetic way in which someone has described my hair... But thank you, I use a sweet vanilla oil to soften it..."
He nuzzles into her hair again, inhaling the scent.
"Mm... Hey... I have my poetic moments... And I love vanilla... I am serious though, I do not want to leave you now... Something about this just feels right... Like I have already fallen for you a little... My mother likes you... And your parents like me... I think..."
She smiles again and turns her head back to kiss his cheek.
"That was actually beautiful to hear... And yes, they do... These past few weeks have been the best of my life... And honestly... I've fallen a bit for you too... But I don't think I could deal with a long distance relationship, Leto..."

He kisses her cheek this time.
"Nor could I... Which is one of the reasons why I asked you to come with me tonight... I have thought about it over and over... I wanted to ask you to wait for me... I only have six months of college left before I become a doctor... Then I would happily move here to be with you..."
She looks up at him, genuinely moved.
"You are serious? You would do that... For me?"
He strokes her hair again.
"Of course I would... I do not want this to be the end of us... Every moment spent waiting to come back to you would be absolutely worth it in the end..."
She smiles excitedly.
"Then yes... I will..."
She then turns herself around so that she's facing him and moves herself so that she is kneeling over his waist. She strokes his cheek and admires his big, bright violet eyes.
"However... There is one thing that I will not wait any longer for..."