• Ion took her hand in his again, his palm covering almost all of it. She blushed as they walked down the hill, toward the road. Ai looked at her old house, watching the cows in the pasture and wondering how her mom was. Ion looked at it too and they stopped. A child scurried outside followed by Cory, and he bowed slightly. Ion bowed back and Ai waved. He smiled and followed after his child, his wife Marie giggled, running after the two with her arms open.
    Ai watched the door way contently, and Ion looked at her. Her mom shot out of the door way, stumbling and waving and Ion grinned as he looked up. He ran to her and they embraced, Ai walking up to them elegantly. She looked at Ion and he smiled, squeezing Mavis. They had a conversation, but Ai only zoned out and watched them with high hopes and happiness. She sat down and let her brothers boy Hector come up and hug her. She stroked his hair and smiled, squeezing him and laughing. She closed her eyes and held him tight, and he smiled big with his rosey red lips. Cory ruffled Ai's hair, and they looked at each other. She stood and hugged him, turning to Marie and curtsying in respect.
    She looked back at Ion and they took hands again, walking away and waving to them as they left across the meadow. Ion picked her up and spun her around and she giggled, pushing him back and he shoved her into the tall grasses. They rolled around a bit, like they were kids again. She stared at him, his hands pinning her wrists back as he straddled her hips. Her hair had come out of its braid and the flowers were scattered about.
    Ion slid his hands up to her palms, clenching her hands and kissing her deeply. Ai blushed and kissed back, closing her eyes tight and tensing beneath him. He pulled his lips away and looked down at her, his eyes scanning her face as she looked up at him. "What?" he asked, but her eyes said everything. Still, he wanted her to say it out loud. He wanted her to tell him everything she was thinking, he wanted her to be open once again.
    He laid on top of Ai and held her, nuzzling her neck and brushing her hair away with his nose. "What is it?" he asked, squeezing her as they laid in the grass together.
    She stroked his hair, letting him rest his cheek on her breasts. He closed his eyes and smiled, holding her tight and taking in the scent of her clothes, thinking how much he longed for this moment. Now, after all these years, it was finally real. It wasn't a dream. Ai was hear, beneath him, breathing and fully alive.
    Ai stared at the sky, stroking his long black hair and running her finger tips through it. It felt like silk between her fingers, and his skin was soft like a child's. She sat up and he grunted softly, making an annoyed noise and looking at her. She kissed him softly and he kissed back. Ai smiled and blushed, standing up and extending her hand toward his. He took it and hoisted himself to his feet. They started walking back to town, to Ion's house. Ai had been staying their for the past two years, with written permission from Ion. It was built for him, in the way a king has a castle. The highest level magic users have houses built for them.
    She kissed his cheek as they walked, arm in arm. The villagers knelt, bowing their heads as Ion walked by. A few glanced up and smiled to Ai, giving her a sort of reassuring look. The villagers all knelt and bowed their heads for the arrival of Ion, and tomorrow was the festival. Truthfully, Ion was told to go straight to his house, but he insisted he see his family immediately. And on his way home, he didn't go back to the house, which was why he had to meet Ai somewhere.
    He looked at her and she looked up, smiling as they were let into the gates. "Will you dance for me tonight? I've never seen it." He said, stroking her hair softly as it bounced on her back. She leaned on him and blushed, forgetting Ion had never watched her contort before. She shifted uncomfortably, looking back up at him. He looked at her and she blinked. "Is their something wrong?" He asked her.
    She curtsied to the guards as they opened the door and knelt for Ion. "I don't think we'll have time." She said, stepping inside. "They still have to make arrangements for the parade," She said as her hand maids came to her, giggling and gossiping already. She turned back to Ion, looking at him as he was measured. "You can see me at practice tonight if you get time." She grinned and looked to her hand maids.
    "Wait Ai!" Ion called to her as she ascended the steps, and she turned back to look at him. She tucked her hair behind her ear and he climbed the steps to at a time. When he reached her he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She kissed back and clenched his shirt. They broke apart and stared at one another for a moment. Ion smiled first, with Ai following soon after. "I love you." he said, letting her go slowly.
    She let go of his shirt, smiling and staring into his eyes. "I love you too." She said, hugging herself as he turned and stepped down a couple steps.
    "I will definitely be at your practice tonight, if I have to kill a thousand soldiers." He chuckled, looking back up at her and he gave her a cute little wink, like he did the day he left.
    She smiled and nodded, turning and walking back up. Her hand maids and her giggled and covered their mouths as they made their way to Ai's room, chattering about how handsome master Ion was.