For Forever And A Day

[thatgirl]

"Ophelia!" The girl in question turned her head towards her little brother. Ophelia grinned as he ran up to where she was lounging in one of the lawn chairs near the large pool that had a fountain in the center of it.

"Hey, Duncan. What have you been doing all say?" She smiled at her baby brother as he ran up to her. She wasn't expecting him to literally fall into her lap and make himself comfortable. Ophelia cradled him in her arm as he laid his head on her shoulders. The boy was thinner now, not that he hadn't been before, but in the month since they had been at Rhye's house, Duncan had toned his body and spent most of his days playing soccer with the town children. It was a small town, and Ophelia didn't mind him leaving to play with the other kids.

"Playing football." He yawned and nuzzled into her chest, it was getting late and apparently Duncan had just returned home. She thought about the word- home. The thought gave her chills.

Ophelia rolled her eyes at her brother, not that he could see. He had happily wrapped himself up on his sister with his eyes closed. "You do know it's soccer, right?" She chuckled, rubbing his back. He burrowed deeper and mumbled.

"No it's not. America is the only country who calls it soccer." He grumbled. She laughed and held him tight. Laying back and closing her own eyes.

"Can I get you guys anything?" Ophelia cracked her right eye open and a smile split out on her face at Remmy. Remmy was one of the butler's that the Alexendre family had employed, and he was by far Ophelia and Duncan's favorite. And he loved them just as much. Remmy was the oldest staff member in the house. He had been employed there since Rhye's father was a small child, and despite allowing him to retire on numerous occasions, he refused. The man spoke English, but had a heavy French accent. In fact, most all of the house hold staff spoke English due to Rhye's father who spoke English and Spanish.

"No Remmy, but thank you. I don't know why you are still here this late. You ought to retire and get a good nights rest." She smiled kindly at him. He returned the smile and gave a short bow and turned away. He looked tired. Ophelia closed her eyes and went back to rubbing Duncans back.

"Hey Ophelia," he muttered tiredly, "can I ask you a question?"

"Of course sweetie, what's on your mind?" She ran a hand through his hair.

"If- if you and Rhye get married, my last name stays Retchford, doesn't it? And you'll be an Alexendre?" His voice sounded pain filled and Ophelia pulled him closer to her.

"No. Well yes, but I have that all figured out." She closed her eyes and rested her cheek on his head. "You'll always be my little brother." Ophelia had been waiting for this conversation to come up. She knew Duncan didn't want to be left behind in the Retchford family while Ophelia officially joined a new one. "I've discussed it with Rhye already, and we have a few ideas. Don't dwell on it, Love." She kissed his head and began humming hers and Rhye's song. Within the hour, Duncan was asleep and snoring.

Luckily for Ophelia, Duncan was still pretty light, and with only a slight struggle, she was able to stand, holding him in her arms. She walked around to the front of the house, coming upon one of the other later working butlers whom she trusted.

"Roger, could you take him upstairs please." She asked and handed her brother over. Ophelia kissed him on the forehead and bid him goodnight. She was sure he would either sleep until midday, or wake up in a few hours ready to run around the house until morning.

Once she was alone, she turned and spotted the orchards. It was a large maze, and she felt up for a challenge. On her way over to it, she spotted Remmy, who apparently hadn't listened to her suggestions and she waved, shaking her head. She entered the orchard maze and was astounded at it's beauty. It always was beautiful. She lazily walked through it for a while, before she began to get frustrated.

Ophelia sighed. "Dead end again." She turned on her heels and was brought up short by a very beautiful looking Rhye, who stood before her. She blushed at her ability to get lost- it came naturally. She walked up to him, one hand resting on her jawline as she smiled.

~~~ www.polyvore.com/on_occasion_engagement/set?id=45614118 ~~~

[momo]

Rhye pulled the sides of his shirt over his muscular chest, turning around to button them up with the help of the mirror, his heart pounding. After he finished, he hopped over to the other side of his bed, grabbed his favorite navy coat from the rack (with the surprise he needed for later inside), and bolted out of his bedroom. He straightened out his beret on the top of his head, then pulled his jacket on, leaving it unbuttoned for now.

Down the hall and to the left, Rhye skipped down the stairs, taking them to at a time until he got to the dining room. Remmy was coming inside, and Rhye smiled towards him. "Hey old pal, have you seen m'lady?" He walked up to him and hugged him gently.

"Er, yes I have. She just brought her brother in to put him to sleep," he pointed out along the orchards then, "then she went out that way. I think she went to the Almond orchard. It's a maze, you know, and she probably wants to try it out." Remmy smiled warmly up to the taller Rhye, his old eyes full of the memories of when Rhye was just a baby.

Rhye nodded casually and patted Remmy on the shoulder. "Thank you, please, go home and get some rest. Your wife is probably worried about you." With that, the two parted with a typical French kiss to the cheek, and Remmy packed up for the night to leave.

Rhye darted out of the house and towards the orchard, taking it slow as to not alert Ophelia of his presence. He would give her a bit to find a dead end, and then he would approach like her own personal Superman, and take her back inside, well, after his surprise of course. It wasn't long before his plan was in motion, and he stepped out from behind a bush taller than he was, peeking his head towards her. At that moment, she turned around.

The fabric of her dress barely covered her thighs in the front and then swooped further in the back. He cleared his throat and stretched his collar out like men do when they get nervous or hot, and his eyes met hers. Gracefully, he met her halfway, seeing her hand run along her jaw as he got closer. Without a word, Rhye leaned into her, wrapping his arms around her lower back, and twirled her around off the ground.

Setting her down, he sighed happily and couldn't muster himself to break the perfect silence. Before he spoke, he leaned in and kissed her forehead, cheeks, chin, and lips gently before pulling back.

"Good evening my dear." He said quietly, the sounds of crickets chirping filling up the setting sun's sky. "I imagine you might be lost." He said calmly and looked around, a grin on his lips. "Might I help you with that?" He posed his question in such a way that his charm seemed to wrap around every word and tighten its grip. Rhye had been waiting for this moment since the day he decided that he was going to make her, his.

Taking her cheeks in his palms, he caressed her face lightly. "You know you're so beautiful." He said breathlessly. "You make every bird's song seem toneless, you make all the flowers' bloom self-conscious in comparison to your face..." Rhye leaned in and kissed her head, sighing against her hair before pulling back and smiling. "And that is exactly the reason why I came after you tonight."

** www.polyvore.com/proposal/set?id=45634306 **

[thatgirl]

Ophelia watched Rhye at his collar. His eyes met hers and she wondered what mischief he was up to- and rather or not she could join in. She quickened her pace to get to him and he lifted her off the ground and twirled her around and she squealed in laughter.

"You kill me!" She laughed more and held onto his neck until he sat her down. Ophelia ran her hands from his chest up and around his necks where her fingers clasped together. "Where have you been all day?" She smiled and cocked her head to the side. Ophelia hadn't seen him all day, and had even spent the morning searching for him. After lunch she had given up and had taken a book outside to read, that's where Duncan had found her.

Setting her down, Rhye sighed happily. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, cheeks, chin, and lips gently before pulling back. Ophelia giggled helplessly as her sensitive skin rejoiced at his touch. She moved her lips to his jawline and kissed him tenderly.

"Good evening my dear." He said quietly, the sounds of crickets chirping filling up the setting sun's sky.

"It is good, isn't it?" She asked him softly. "Now that my ray of sunshine has entered the vicinity." She laughed at her cheesy line.

"I imagine you might be lost." He said calmly and looked around, a grin on his lips.

Ophelia snorted and looked around her. "It's been what, a month, maybe a month and a half and I still get lost in this place. It so beautiful and wonderful. It's like a fantasy world" She looked up into his big brown eyes and grinned. "I can't wait to raise our children here." She squeezed him tight. A line about getting lost in his eyes threatened to slip, but she refrained from using another cheesy line.

"Might I help you with that?"

"That and a few other things." Ophelia winked and modestly pecked his lips.

Taking her cheeks in his palms, he caressed her face lightly. "You know you're so beautiful." He said breathlessly.

The girl blinked and her eyes looked away Ophelia was blushing. "Stop it, Rhye. You make me blush." She smiled softly.


"You make every bird's song seem toneless, you make all the flowers' bloom self-conscious in comparison to your face..." Rhye leaned in and kissed her head, sighing against her hair before pulling back and smiling.

Chills coursed through Ophelia and she grinned softly. "You always make me feel like the center of the Universe. You're going to make me conceited." She joked.

"And that is exactly the reason why I came after you tonight."

"I love you so much Rhye Alexendre." She said seriously and took his elbow as they began to head off. Ophelia trying to memorize Rhye's turns, but quickly giving up on that notion. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"It feels so good out here tonight. I never want to leave."

[momo]

"You kill me!" She laughed more and held onto his neck until he sat her down. Ophelia ran her hands from his chest up and around his necks where her fingers clasped together. "Where have you been all day?" She smiled and cocked her head to the side.

Rhye laughed with her while they spun. "I would never!" He winked, referring to him killing her. Gentle hands waved through her hair, and he sighed. "Me? I've been..." he paused, thinking, "I've been in town, buying things to fix up the house with. Paint, some food, etc." He smiled, nodding. He was in town, he did by food for the house, but he wasn't buying paint, he was finishing his payments off and picking up his ring that he had in his pocket.

"It is good, isn't it?" She asked him softly. "Now that my ray of sunshine has entered the vicinity."

Rhye blushed at her comment. "You kill me!" He mocked, pretending to faint somewhat in her presence.

"It's been what, a month, maybe a month and a half and I still get lost in this place. It so beautiful and wonderful. It's like a fantasy world." She looked up into his big brown eyes and grinned. "I can't wait to raise our children here." She squeezed him tight.

Rhye gasped audibly at her words, the future of the two finally setting in. This is where they would raise their family, their kids, and this was where they would roam until their last breaths. Rhye squeezed her waist slightly and grinned. "It takes a bit getting used to." He shrugged. "And I can't wait either." His eyes brightened quite a bit at that statement, thinking about his dream from the date Ophelia and Rhye had gone on where he imagined the children and them all sitting in the living room snuggled together.

"You always make me feel like the center of the Universe. You're going to make me conceited." She joked.

"A girl must know how beautiful she is, every day, maybe even five times a day." He beamed, a warm smile on his face. He was serious as he could muster, unlike his normal, goofy, absurd self.

"I love you so much Rhye Alexendre."

Rhye blushed heatedly, knowing what he was planning to do. "I love you more, Ophelia Alexendre." He smiled down to her and nodded softly.

As they began their walk, Rhye had a plan. He was taking her deeper into the maze, not out, but he had a reason. Once they arrived in a big clearing, the soft white pedals of the almond tree blooms laying softly on the ground. His eyes wandered the place then down to her, judging her reaction. His pace slowed to a stop, and he stepped in front of her, releasing his hold on her, twirling around with his arms out like he used to do when he was a kid. A childish smile came across his face and he stopped to face Ophelia, patting his pockets subtly to make sure the ring was still there.

"So, I may have gotten us more lost." He joked lightly, stepping up to her and grabbing both of her hands in his. "I know how to get out, but for what I need to ask you, I feel it is best that you cannot leave so easily." He grinned, raising his eyebrows up, biting his lower lip.

[thatgirl]

Gentle hands waved through her hair, and he sighed. "Me? I've been...I've been in town, buying things to fix up the house with. Paint, some food, etc." Rye smiled, nodding.

Ophelia eyed her boyfriend suspiciously, but let it go and laughed. "Well next time let me go with you. I want to get to know the layout of the town. Paint?" She winked. "Already thinking about painting a nursery? I think we should do Hufflepuff colors." She joked, tapping him once on the nose.

Rhye blushed. "You kill me!" He mocked, pretending to faint somewhat in her presence. Ophelia laughed, as she was sure was his attentions, before playfully running to her side.

"No, don't pass out! We would be trapped in here forever if that happened."

She heard him gasp, and her eyes narrowed in suspicion, though she remained smiling. Rhye squeezed her waist and she gasped with a high pitched laugh. "It takes a bit getting used to." He shrugged.

The Hufflepuff groaned playfully. "Pendant combien de temps?" She said with a faked, but almost natural sounding due to her surrounding companions, playfully.

"And I can't wait either." His eyes brightened quite a bit at that statement,. Ophelia began laughing.

"I can already see it! Walking into the kitchen, both of you trying to sneak food and me yelling, 'Rhye Andrews Alexendre!' and both of you blushing in guilt, matching mischievous grins on your face. He will match his namesake." She grinned up at him, laying her forehead on his and looking into his eyes.

"A girl must know how beautiful she is, every day, maybe even five times a day." Rhye beamed, a warm smile on his face.

Ophelia blushed and looked away. Rhye was always so sweet, and knew just what to say. He was perfect in every way. The day she decided to sneak into that spot at Hogwarts had been the best day ever. The smartest move ever. "You make me feel bad. I don't tell you I love you nearly enough." She kissed his nose whispered, "I do love you."

Rhye blushed heatedly. "I love you more, Ophelia Alexendre." Ophelia smiled.

"I love it when you call me that. It makes me feel like I belong." She wrapped her arms around his chest and burrowed in. "Ophelia Alexendre. Mrs. Ophelia Alexendre. It sends chills up my spine." She confessed. "The day you make me yours is a night you won't soon forget." Ophelia pulled back and wiggled her eyes playfully.

Ophelia gasped as she was led into a big clearing. White pedals littered the ground like snow. Her eyes widened and her mouth pulled back into a large open mouthed smile. "Rhye, I love it!" She said, running and hopping up into his embrace. Once he set her down and spun around like a little boy. Ophelia laughed and did the same. The lower parts of the fringe on her dress expanding outward, and she cared not a bit. She stopped before he did, and her grin widened like a child's as he approached her.

"So, I may have gotten us more lost." Rhye joked lightly, stepping up to her and grabbing both of her hands in his. Ophelia leaned in to kiss his soft lips.

"You won't see me complain." She stepped further up against him. "Getting lost in here with you may just be worth while." She winked and licked her lips with a laugh.

"I know how to get out, but for what I need to ask you, I feel it is best that you cannot leave so easily." He grinned, raising his eyebrows up, biting his lower lip.

Ophelia, still oblivious, laughed heartily. "Rhye, my most wonderful and only love- the love of my life- father of my children," she continued exaggeratedly, "There is nothing in the world you could say that would make me want to leave your side. I would follow you to the end of the world and back." She grinned, kissing him sweetly on the lips, and looked up brightly into his eyes- radiating confidence.

[momo]

"I can already see it! Walking into the kitchen, both of you trying to sneak food and me yelling, 'Rhye Andrews Alexendre!' and both of you blushing in guilt, matching mischievous grins on your face. He will match his namesake." She grinned up at him, laying her forehead on his and looking into his eyes.

Rhye shrugged in acceptance and grinned. "I can't say I disagree." She had him pegged- that would be him and his child or children, no matter how many he had. "But we'd both cuddle up to you and kiss you because we love you and we know you forgive us." He winked down at her.

"You make me feel bad. I don't tell you I love you nearly enough." She kissed his nose whispered, "I do love you."

Rhye snickered cutely and nodded. "I love you too, and don't worry." He motioned to his ear and nuzzled into her hair. "I know that you think about me all the time, when you love someone, they are on your mind constant."

"I love it when you call me that. It makes me feel like I belong." She wrapped her arms around his chest and burrowed in. "Ophelia Alexendre. Mrs. Ophelia Alexendre. It sends chills up my spine." She confessed. "The day you make me yours is a night you won't soon forget." Ophelia pulled back and wiggled her eyes playfully.

"You always belong, you shouldn't have to feel that way from things I say." He said matter-of-factly and kissed her head. "When you say it, it sends currents through my spine." He nodded happily."That's good to know," he paused, "really good to know." She had no idea.

"You won't see me complain." She stepped further up against him. "Getting lost in here with you may just be worth while." She winked and licked her lips with a laugh. "Rhye, my most wonderful and only love- the love of my life- father of my children," she continued exaggeratedly, "There is nothing in the world you could say that would make me want to leave your side. I would follow you to the end of the world and back."

Rhye nodded slowly at her statements and smiled warmly, seriously. "Good, because I don't think you're going to want to leave, ever." His hands gripped tight at hers quickly before he slipped one free from hers and slipped it inside his pocket where the ring lay.

"The arms of love encompass you with your present, your past, your future, the arms of love gather you together." Rhye said softly, a smile on his lips. "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said this." He stopped slowly to caress her cheek, a gentle grin on his face. "In the words of one of my favorite poets, I wanted to start out this moment with my favorite quote from him." With a thick breath, he clutched her hand that was still in his before letting it go and dropping down to one knee.

His left hand pulled the velvet box out slowly and he clasped it in his hands, opening it slowly. Inside, there were two rings. One of which was a plain silver band that had three diamonds on it, the two on the ends their birthstones, and the middle one a white diamond that was more classic. The band behind it was a vine-like woven texture that had the words: 'Jusqu'à maintenant et pour toujours.' engraved in a soft black color.

Rhye's eyes became wet- but he wasn't crying yet. His pupils grew a bit and the sparkles on his irises shimmered under the setting sun that was dipped against a romantic sunset. He smiled up to her and began again. "Ophelia Faye Retchford, you are my circle of life." He smiled at his Lion King reference and gripped the box tighter, pushing it a little further towards her. "Everything begins and ends with you, much like life begins and ends with the rising and setting of the sun." He controlled his breaths and nodded to himself. Everything sounded perfect. "I would like for you to be my Ophelia Alexendre, for the rest of my life, starting today." He stood up slowly and leaned in to kiss her. "Ophelia," he paused, pulling back with a hopeful gleam in his eyes, "will you marry me?"

[thatgirl]

Rhye nodded slowly at her statements and smiled warmly, seriously. "Good, because I don't think you're going to want to leave, ever." His hands gripped tight at hers quickly before he slipped one free from hers and slipped it inside his pocket where the ring lay.

Ophelia op[opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it when she saw his hand slip into his pocket. She looked into his large round eyes and she cocked her head to the side with a smile. "What do you have up your sleeve, Mister?" She laughed lightly, her eyes narrowing on the pocket, "Or better yet, in your pocket." She made like she was going to retrieve the item herself.

"The arms of love encompass you with your present, your past, your future, the arms of love gather you together." Rhye said softly, a smile on his lips.

She shook her head. "You always have a way with words, my Love. You should write these things down." She bounced with excitement and kissing his nose. She really had no idea what he was planning.

"Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said this." He stopped slowly to caress her cheek, a gentle grin on his face.

Ophelia sobered up quickly as he said this, his hand touching her cheek. She calmed immediately when she realized his serious mood. Her eyes widened as he grinned. She still wasn't sure what was going on. But she knew he was trying to have a serious moment.

"In the words of one of my favorite poets, I wanted to start out this moment with my favorite quote from him." With a thick breath, he clutched her hand that was still in his before letting it go and dropping down to one knee.

With a gasp, Ophelia understood, and tears streamed down her cheeks instantaneously. With her free hand, she covered her mouth. "Rhye," She whispered.

His left hand pulled the velvet box out slowly and he clasped it in his hands, opening it slowly. Inside, there were two rings. One of which was a plain silver band that had three diamonds on it, the two on the ends their birthstones, and the middle one a white diamond that was more classic. The band behind it was a vine-like woven texture that had the words: 'Jusqu'à maintenant et pour toujours.' engraved in a soft black color.

She may not know French well, but she knew it well enough to know that translated the words said, 'Until Now and Forever.' She resisted strongly the urge to go to him. She saw his eyes glitter with moisture and she moved her hand from her mouth to rest against his cheek while he spoke.

"Ophelia Faye Retchford, you are my circle of life." He smiled at his Lion King reference and gripped the box tighter, pushing it a little further towards her. Ophelia let her thumbs rub against his cheek. She had imagined this moment in her head a million and one times, but still this moment paled in comparison to all the others put together.

"Everything begins and ends with you, much like life begins and ends with the rising and setting of the sun." He controlled his breaths and nodded to himself. "I would like for you to be my Ophelia Alexendre, for the rest of my life, starting today."

Ophelia finally let out a small sob, it was far from a sad one. Her entire life had prepared her for this very moment, and her heart fluttered. Her stomach held butterflies by the thousands and she felt as though her feet never touched the ground. Her mind was foggy, yet she took in absolutely every detail, willing the memory to sink in, and to never forget it. Rhye stood slowly and leaned in to kiss her. Ophelia's body seemed to move again. Tears streamed down her face and she flung her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately and lovingly, as if it were the first time she had really gotten to kiss him- and the last time she would kiss him as her boyfriend. She had to make it count, because the next time she kissed him, they would be engaged and he would be her fiance.

"Ophelia," he paused, pulling back with a hopeful gleam in his eyes, "will you marry me?"

A noise escaped her, and she wasn't sure what it was. But it had to represent her happiness. "I- We- Us- You- Babies!" She pulled him tighter in a hug and took a few deep breaths, so she could speak with a steady breath. She pulled back to look into his eyes.

"There is absolutely no way I could ever say something that poetic. But Rhye Andrews Alexendre, I, Ophelia Faye Retchford, would be honored to become Ophelia Faye Alexendre!" She smiled widely, her eyes and cheeks wet. "Yes!" She said in finality with a small sob. "I love you so much!" She kissed him with passion, her first kiss as an engaged woman.

[momo]

"Rhye," She whispered.

He knew he had her at that moment. His eyes began to tear up even more as he spoke, the expression on her face matching the one he had expected. His hands wrapped around her after he was done with his speech, and the kiss was beautiful and thrilling.

A noise escaped her, and she wasn't sure what it was. But it had to represent her happiness. "I- We- Us- You- Babies!" She pulled him tighter in a hug and took a few deep breaths, so she could speak with a steady breath. She pulled back to look into his eyes.

Rhye's hands were tight around her as her hands were tight around him. She was so happy that she couldn't speak. His fingers traced her spine, down to her lower back, and he smiled when she pulled him back. "Yes?" He grinned, knowing that finally she would be calm enough to speak.

"There is absolutely no way I could ever say something that poetic. But Rhye Andrews Alexendre, I, Ophelia Faye Retchford, would be honored to become Ophelia Faye Alexendre!" She smiled widely, her eyes and cheeks wet. "Yes!" She said in finality with a small sob. "I love you so much!" She kissed him with passion, her first kiss as an engaged woman.

Rhye listened as his own tears broke over his eyelashes and he blinked them away. "You don't have to really say anything." He cooed into her ear, kissing her neck tenderly. "Well, consider yourself Mrs. Ophelia Faye Alexendre." He said just as quietly, and hugged her against him tight, his hands resting on the curve of her lower back. "Yes?" He mimicked and grinned, "I love you so much more!" He growled playfully and picked her up off the ground as they kissed, twirling her around under the blanket of the tree tops, a few pedals falling and time slowed down for them.

As he laid her down on her own two feet, he kissed her forehead softly. "Mine." He said breathlessly, "My soon to be wife." He shook his head while slipping her rings onto her finger, kissing her finger before and after, then all of her knuckles. "You are so...." he shook his head and trailed off, a grunt of exasperation overtaking his voice. "You are so beautiful." He grinned again and kissed her lips as an engaged man, brushing her hair from her face.

Once he calmed down, he pulled back and took her hands in his and slipped the box back into his pocket. Twirling her around under his arm after she settled down, he remembered something. "Oh!" He said with a sense of urgency, "I have some news as well." He laughed. "Apart from this proposal, I have some documents for you." He nodded happily. "I know you've been concerned with Duncan remaining a Retchford, so, I took it upon myself today to get everything ready for his name change." Rhye shrugged and eyed her coyly. "I mean, if that's okay with you."

[thatgirl]

As Rhye laid Ophelia down on her own two feet, he kissed her forehead softly. "Mine." He said breathlessly, "My soon to be wife." He shook his head while slipping her rings onto her finger, kissing her finger before and after, then all of her knuckles. Ophelia watched intently as the rings, her engagement rings, were slipped onto her fingers. She couldn't get over how perfect they were. She looked up into his eyes and took his hand, pulling him down to the ground. Her butt resting on the end of her dress. She actually wore a two-piece swimsuit below. She had been considering going for a swim, but when she hadn't been able to find Rhye, the only person she felt comfortable swimming with, she decided against it.

"I think you should be the one to tell him about it." She smiled softly at him. "We could tell him about this tomorrow at dinner. I'll make us something." Her eyes twinkled at the thought of cooking for her family.

Ophelia leaned back against Rhye, resting her head on his chest. "They really are beautiful." She held her hand out in front of her to look at. She sighed and closed her eyes, just enjoying the moment as she relaxed against her fiance. She would never be able to say that word enough times. It would always send chills up her spine. A thought struck her and she picked herself up off of Rhye and turned around to face him. "I- we get to plan a wedding!" She said excitedly. "Should it be a winter wedding? Or a summer, or spring or fall?" She said the last sentence with quickening speed. "A dress, I get to pick a dress." Her eyes closed heavily as she thought about all the things that went into arranging a wedding. She simply couldn't wait. Her eyes snapped open. "Should we have it right here?" She motioned to their surrounding area. "Or is this too much out spot?" Her excitement was building. "Should we invite lots of people, or just a small group. Should it just be a town thing, or should we invite other Witches and Wizards?" Her mind buzzed with excitement.

"You are so...." he shook his head and trailed off, a grunt of exasperation overtaking his voice. Ophelia chuckled. "Come on Rhye, think about it. I have never seen you speechless before. It will come to you." She teased, leaning forward on her hands to kiss him on the lips softly.

"You are so beautiful." He grinned again and kissed her lips as an engaged man, brushing her hair from her face. Ophelia grinned and pushed her fiance onto his back, kissing him softly. She laid down, and settled herself into his side, his arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closed.

"Oh!" Rhye said with a sense of urgency and Ophelia opened her eyes again, "I have some news as well." He laughed. "Apart from this proposal, I have some documents for you." He nodded happily. "I know you've been concerned with Duncan remaining a Retchford, so, I took it upon myself today to get everything ready for his name change." Rhye shrugged and eyed her coyly. "I mean, if that's okay with you." Ophelia had laid there in stunned silence the whole time. But now a smile broke her featured and she flew into a sitting up position, twisting her body to look down at Rhye.

"You- you are just damned perfect aren't you? It's like you have some secret way of knowing everything. Before you found me here, before I came out here, I was with Duncan and he finally voiced his concerns about that matter. I knew he was having them, but he hadn't said anything until today. He seemed really torn up about it." Her eyes took on one of pain as she thought of the pain her baby brother felt. "He will love it! Love that you thought about him. I know the age difference isn't that far off, but I know he thinks of you as more then just an older brother." She hinted, but didn't want it to freak him out too much. "You mean a lot to him, and I'm glad you are thinking about him." Ophelia wanted to know if he was doing this for her, or for Duncan, but she didn't want to cause any trouble if he felt she was questioning his motives. She was truly just curious about where Duncan was on Rhye's "radar."

[momo]

Her face was priceless as he slipped the rings on, and he couldn't forget how her eyes sparkled at his touch. She was beautiful, she was his, forever- from now and on.

"I think you should be the one to tell him about it." She smiled softly at him. "We could tell him about this tomorrow at dinner. I'll make us something."

Rhye smiled and rested his lips into her hair as she laid against him. "I'll be sure to tell him. Hopefully he'll be excited." Rhye chuckled. "You making dinner? Good! Remmy can have the day off tomorrow. His wife is quite sick at home- he'll be relieved."

While the newly engaged couple rested midst all the pedals, Rhye wrapped his hands around her waist and tangled his fingers through the spaces in her own. "I've seen you cry and I've seen you smile- I've watched you sleeping for a while. I'd be the father of your child. I'd spend a lifetime with you." His lips pressed against her head and his knees came up protectively on her sides, tugging her against him tightly. "I know your fears and you know mine, we've had our doubts but now we're fine," he nuzzled into her and closed his eyes, "and I love you, I swear that's true. I cannot live without you." Those were the lyrics to one of his favorite songs, and he couldn't help but note how perfect they were for the moment.

"They really are beautiful."

Rhye grinned. "Not as beautiful as the person they're forever to lay on."

"I- we get to plan a wedding!" She said excitedly. "Should it be a winter wedding? Or a summer, or spring or fall?"

Rhye giggled at her excitement as she sat up. He sat up with her and watched her carefully. "Springtime is beautiful in Avignon, but so is Winter."

"A dress, I get to pick a dress." Her eyes closed. She was in deep thought. Her eyes snapped open. "Should we have it right here?" She motioned to their surrounding area. "Or is this too much our spot?" Her excitement was building. "Should we invite lots of people, or just a small group. Should it just be a town thing, or should we invite other Witches and Wizards?"

Rhye's hands went to her cheek and he pulled her face to his with a light kiss. "As long as you're there walking down the aisle, I don't care who comes, who sees, the cake we have, the weather outside, or anything." Rhye chuckled, "Hell, I'll even stand out here in a lightning storm in the pouring rain waiting for you." His lips pressed against hers again, longer this time. "You plan it out with what your heart desires, and things we can agree upon, but at the end of the day, I just want to see you there holding my hand, swearing to eternity that we'll love each other through life's hardest struggles."

Once they were finally laid back down and she was on his chest, he sighed happily. But when he brought up Duncan's name change, she shot up excitedly.

"You- you are just damned perfect aren't you? It's like you have some secret way of knowing everything. Before you found me here, before I came out here, I was with Duncan and he finally voiced his concerns about that matter. I knew he was having them, but he hadn't said anything until today. He seemed really torn up about it." Her eyes took on one of pain. "He will love it! Love that you thought about him. I know the age difference isn't that far off, but I know he thinks of you as more then just an older brother." She hinted, but didn't want it to freak him out too much. "You mean a lot to him, and I'm glad you are thinking about him."

Rhye's heart throbbed at her. She was so protective of her brother and was so sympathetic to his feelings- it made Rhye wish he had a sibling to take care of like that. When she mentioned him thinking Rhye as an older brother, a few tears threatened to spill over his eyes. "Duncan is like the baby brother my parents could never have." He sighed, taking her hand in his. "I want to help raise him with you, like my own brother. I want to be the strong male figure in his life." His eyes closed for a moment as the tears fell back. "I think about him all the time, and you." He nodded, squeezing her hand. "I want him to be an Alexendre."

With that, he sat up by her again, and smiled her way. "We should head back inside, it's getting late, and dinner is probably getting cold." He chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead, then standing and helping pull his fiance up.

[thatgirl]

Rhye smiled and rested his lips into her hair as she laid against him. "I'll be sure to tell him. Hopefully he'll be excited." Ophelia gave her usual snort at Rhye's humor and she turned to look back up at him.

"Did I not tell you." She laughed again as if her story had just happened. "It made me mad at the time. When we showed up and were walking up to the house, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me aside, well you saw that part, and very seriously," she dramatically mocked a serious face, "he told me, 'Ophelia, I love this place and I don't want to leave. Don't fuck this up for me.' I was so shocked and appealed at his language." She chuckled and laid back down against Rhye. "I think he will be more please that I managed to keep you. Even he can see how one-of-a-kind you are." She tilted her head back to kiss his chin.

Rhye chuckled. "You making dinner? Good! Remmy can have the day off tomorrow. His wife is quite sick at home- he'll be relieved." Ophelia's eyebrows furrowed together. 

"He's been with your family how long? And he lives alone with his wife? The house is big enough? Why don't you just move them in? Remmy loves to work here, I bet it would be relieving for him." She suggested casually, wondering if she had any place to make the suggestion. Rhye wrapped his arms around her waist and she rested in, entwining her fingers into his as they rested on her stomach.

"What's your favorite story from your childhood? Well maybe that's too broad, how about just in this orchard?" She asked curiously, wanting to know what her kids would likely experience.

"I've seen you cry and I've seen you smile- I've watched you sleeping for a while. I'd be the father of your child. I'd spend a lifetime with you. I know your fears and you know mine, we've had our doubts but now we're fine," he nuzzled into her and closed his eyes, "and I love you, I swear that's true. I cannot live without you."

Ophelia blushed and nuzzled the back of her head into his chest before pulling his hands up to kiss each knuckle and the palms of his hands. 

"Have I ever told you how sweet you are? When the sun falls, you are the moon that gives me light. I've seen you at your worst hour and your happiest hour. You make me smile and blush on my saddest of days. When I feel threatened I feel safety in your arms and your eyes. You mean the world to me Rhye Alexendre, and I know you'll mean the world to our children as well." She smiled warmly.

His lips pressed against her head and his knees came up protectively on her sides, tugging her against him tightly. Ophelia snuggled into his hold happily. Here she sat, in a beautiful orchard as the sun set peacefully with the man she would spend every day with until the day she died. Her breath caught audibly and tears streamed down her face. "Not a day in my life have I been as happy as I am right now." She wiped the tears from under her eyes.

Rhye giggled at her excitement as she sat up. He sat up with her and watched her carefully. "Springtime is beautiful in Avignon, but so is Winter." Ophelia bit her lip naturally.

"I don't know. I love them both. I keep picturing a soft snow fall, and a white dress to match it. But then I also picture bright colors and the orchard in bloom."

Rhye took her face and kissed her, a kiss which she easily deepened. Her eyes closed as she rested her forehead to his. "As long as you're there walking down the aisle, I don't care who comes, who sees, the cake we have, the weather outside, or anything. Hell, I'll even stand out here in a lightning storm in the pouring rain waiting for you."

"I sound so selfish." She blushed. "Talking about all the material aspects. I too can't wait to see you at the end of the isle. I think," she smiled confidently, "I think I'm going to ask Duncan to walk me down the isle- to hand me over." Rhye's lips pressed against hers again, longer this time. 

"You plan it out with what your heart desires, and things we can agree upon, but at the end of the day, I just want to see you there holding my hand, swearing to eternity that we'll love each other through life's hardest struggles."

"An eternity," Ophelia confirmed, "none of this 'until death do you part' nonsense." She wrinkled her nose up and kissed his cheek.

Once they were finally laid back down and she was on his chest, he sighed happily. "I could stay here all night." She breathed. There was a small rustle to her side and she turned her head. A gaggle of small bunnies came hopping into the edge of the clearing, two bigger ones following. The smaller of the adults stopped, and the larger male nuzzled him face into the females neck. She covered his head with hers as one of the bunnies hopped began to hop closer and closer to the two humans who lay in the center. Ophelia slowly put a hand out to pet the small creature. It let her and she giggled, looking up at Rhye. The bigger bunnies noticed and hopped a pace or two closer. The bunny nuzzled into Ophelia's palm and then turned towards its family and together they all disappeared into the orchard line.

"Wow. That was beautiful." Ophelia watched the metaphor of her future leave, and it left her with a sense of warmth. The small bunny approaching her- she hoped it was a good omen.

"Duncan is like the baby brother my parents could never have." Ophelia's heart swelled. Duncan was so very important to her, and to hear Rhye be so sensitive about the subject made her fall so much deeper in love with him.  Rhye sighed, taking her hand in his. 

"I want to help raise him with you, like my own brother. I want to be the strong male figure in his life."

"Good," Ophelia whispered, kissing him gently, "Duncan is, well he's like my own. I practically raised him myself. My parents were too busy for a child. And how you handle Duncan, it just shows me how you will be with children of our own." 

"I think about him all the time, and you. I want him to be an Alexendre." Ophelia attacked his lips hungrily, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her hands through his hairs. She pulled back for a breath.

"That's how a real man is supposed to think. I just- I don't know how to explain it! Seeing you act so protectively, and fatherly, it just makes me love you so much more, and I didn't know I could love you anymore then I already do. Seeing you act like a father, it just does something to my heart. You are the perfect man Rhye Alexendre. Don't ever doubt yourself." Her kiss deepened.

With that, he sat up by her again, and smiled her way. "We should head back inside, it's getting late, and dinner is probably getting cold." He chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead, then standing and helping pull his fiance up. 

"Are you sure you know your way ?" She questioned with a grin. Her eyes darted to the orchard and back at Rhye's face. "Catch me." She teased and took of into the maze with a bright smile and a laugh escaping her vocals.