𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘄 ━━━━ roman kemp

━━━━ nineteen

━━ IN THE BUSH TELEGRAPH ━━

"It's the final!" Mathilda shrieks joyously, tears gathering in her eyes as she blinks them away in rapid succession. "I can't believe I'm still here, to be honest... I mean, Ian Wright and Caitlyn Jenner were in here, for God's sake! Everyone was amazing and true legends, so it is crazy to know that I'm still here at the end of the line. Absolutely bloody crazy!"

━━ IN THE MAIN CAMP ━━

"So we're all taking part in individual trials?" Jacqueline summarises the information the three have just been made aware of. "It's gotta be one person for each course surely?"

Mathilda nods her head in agreement. "More than likely, yeah. I just hope I'm not the one on dessert duty because we bloody need sugar!"

"We'll have all the sugar we want by tomorrow," Roman points out, smiling like a child at an amusement park. There is something remarkably innocent about his excitement which makes Mathilda's heart swell with love and her mind scream at her for not finding this wonderful man sooner. This time tomorrow he'll be meeting her family - meeting Darcy, at long last! - and their life together can finally begin.

With unparalleled restlessness, Mathilda tries to occupy herself as she awaits her turn to head down to the trial clearing. Jacqueline is the first to leave, allowing Roman and Mathilda a blissful moment of silence to lay beside each other and absorb the view of the jungle surrounding them.

"I didn't think I'd like it here as much as I have," she admits quietly, disturbing their easy silence. "The noises and the sights are so comforting now; part of me never wants to leave."

There is a hum from Roman which makes their hands vibrate from their interlocked position on his chest, right above his heart. "Maybe we'll come back someday..."

"Like a holiday?"

"Like a honeymoon," he responds shyly. "Australia, I mean. The jungle is good to visit, but I doubt it comes highly recommended on Tripadvisor as a honeymoon destination."

Mathilda giggles at his words. "So, you want to marry me, huh?"

"Well, yeah," Roman stammers, "of course I do. Someday." They share a soft smile, both allowing themselves to wonder about the beauty of the life that lay ahead of them. "We've already got a daughter and we've pretty much nailed the whole living together stage, so I think marriage is definitely on the table, don't you?"

Her smile becomes lighter, more wistful. "I think so," she confirms. "Someday."

Their moment of serenity is inevitably interrupted by Mathilda's need to depart camp to participate in her own Bushtucker Trial. It fills her with dread and excitement in equal measures as she treks through the forest and to the clearing for the final time. It is most definitely a bittersweet moment: she will undoubtedly miss this.

"Hello, boys," Mathilda greets Ant and Dec warmly as they echo their own greetings. "What do you have in store for me one final time, then?" However they do not have the luxury of answering because Mathilda spots the wooden table nearby and groans audibly. "A table for one, I presume?"

"Afraid so," Dec responds, looking entirely unapologetic. "Maybe we'll join you next time - when the restaurant has a better menu."

"Good call, mate."

"Congratulations on making it to the final," Ant says, beaming. "How do you feel?"

Despite the butterflies running rampant in her stomach, Mathilda cannot resist smiling at the question. "On top of the world, to be honest with you. Like I can do pretty much anything."