The evening "dawned" slowly, with as keyed up as I was for tonight... and I woke up, took my shower, took care of my garden, and prepared for my "day" as best as I could.
Sighing, I found a human wandering around the town square looking very lost, and... steeling myself, I tried hypnotizing him as my blood told me how to do. It worked, and he grinned up at me emptily... so I leaned in, and took a bit of his plasma. It tasted a good bit better than the plasma packs - which, of course I had run out of.... but I didn't like the guilty feeling I got afterwards, since he hadn't been willing before I hypnotized him, only after. He walked away muzzily (I hadn't drank enough to make him tired)... and I frowned to myself for a moment, watching him drift away. I hadn't even asked his name! How rude of me...
Finally, I cleared my throat, picked up my phone, and invited Mariko to meet me at the Von Haunt Chalet. I'm not sure why, but I felt drawn to that place... and since I didn't really know the town all that well, it was still the most romantic spot I could think of.
I arrived before she did, and took a deep breath before starting to pace back and forth at the entrance of the gardens - which was where we had arranged to meet. It felt like it took forever for her to come around the corner of the building, but finally, she did. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to her, caressed her cheek wordlessly, and leaned in for a kiss.
She looked a little shocked, and a little bemused, but I tried not to let that mess with my nerves. Taking a deep breath, I began talking slowly, consideringly. "Mari, I'm so sorry. I wish Alex hadn't blinded me to what real love is. I thought the puppy dog crush I had on her was real. But it wasn't. Love is comfortable, it's feeling safe, it's being best of friends, and knowing you'll always be there for me, the same as I will be there for you... it's... what I feel for you. I don't know why I confused the two. I can only say how sorry I am that I hurt you in the process."
Mari didn't say anything, just gazed at me, letting me talk. So I took yet another nervous breath, and dropped to my knees for the second time in a week.
"Mariko, love.. will you be mine? I know you picked out this ring for me to propose to Alex, so if you want to go pick out another, I'm all for it.... but .. you did pick it out, so maybe you saw something you liked in it?".. I paused, gulped, and took a deep look at her, trying to see past her surprise.
"Please, Mari, marry me. I can't tell you how things will go for us, and I won't make you change who you are for me. You're beautiful just as you are - it just took me a while to see past Alex. There will never be anyone else for me, I can promise you that. Just... please. Say you'll be mine. I know I don't have a home yet, but I was hoping you could help me with that. We can build it together, and make a life for US."
Still, she didn't reply, but I could see the smile forming on her face. Without saying a word, she took the ring, slipped it on (wryly I realized that she'd even picked out the exact size she needed - it had been loose on Alex's finger, but it fit perfectly on Mari's)... and pulled me to my feet.
For half a moment I felt a little bewildered, but then our lips met for a long, heady kiss. She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders, and looked at me with a smile for a moment before finally answering me.
"Yes, Dušan. I will marry you. As long as you do one thing for me."
Confused, I looked at her questioningly.... "What's that?"
"Never mention Alex's name again."
With a laugh, I promised we could forget Alex had ever existed. I then asked her what sort of a wedding she wanted, and sheepishly mentioned that we could do a big church wedding if she wanted, but it would mean that I would need some time to paint to get the money for the house if we spent it on a wedding.
Snickering, Mari took my hand and pulled me through the garden maze. We followed the paths, and I wondered where we were going... until we broke into a small clearing with a wedding arch. She pointed at it with a smile, then pulled me over to the arch and looked at me expectantly.
"Mari? Are you sure??"
"Of course I'm sure, you silly man. I don't want to wait another moment. We've wasted enough time as it is."
I leaned in, kissed her cheek, and promised her the world. I promised her all of myself, and all of the rest of both her years, and my years... even though I knew my years would be far more than hers.
Then, I slid the ring onto her hand, and held out the plain gold band I'd picked out for me. She took it, and then carefully placed the ring on my finger. "I love you, Dušan. Forever. No matter what you or I am and no matter how many years we have left. I will be there for you."
In a daze, I leaned in and kissed her, and I swore I could feel confetti falling on us, even though there wasn't a single other person in the garden that night. Blinking in confusion, I watched the confetti drift away in the wind and vanish. Mari giggled, shrugged, and pointed at the arch.
"I suppose it's magical." she mused.
"Magic?" I said, wrinkling my nose.
"You have found that Vampires are real... why shouldn't Magic be real, too??" Mari pointed out.
I thought for a moment, then laughed with her, "I can see your point. I suppose I'm going to have to re-think what I thought reality was while I was growing up, huh?"
"I guess so!" she replied, as we started walking hand in hand back through the garden.
By the time we reached "home", her heart was pounding in my ears, and I wasn't sure whether it was from excitement, anticipation, or nerves.. but I wasn't about to ask. I ducked into the tent, and motioned for her to follow me.
I had already strewn rose petals around the tent ... and Mari laughed at their wilted appearance. I gave a rueful smile, then leaned in to kiss her. She kissed me back, then reached out to dust the silly petals off the two sleeping bags I had zipped together. She pulled back the covers, and motioned me in next to her. Nervously, I followed.. and that was the start of the most magical night of my life....
At least, until I heard (or felt?) someone outside the tent.. and then a whoosh of something hot.
Worried, I carefully slipped out of the sleeping bag, leaving Mari sleeping, and peeked out of the front flap of the tent. There was no longer anyone there, but what I did see was a fire... far bigger than the little one we'd left in the firepit, and it was coming towards us! Panicked, I pulled Mariko up and we fled the tent, running to the road.
We then morosely watched the fire burn up our chairs and cooler, and some other things we'd had in the area. Luckily, it stopped just short of the tent.... but it certainly left a big mess. The sun was starting to come up when the fire finally burned itself out, and we decided to move the tent away from the smelly mess, and get some much needed rest. Tomorrow, as they say, was another day.
Wow! What excitement! Glad the tent was saved.