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Emiko saw and heard Ashlea enter, flashing a gentle smile. "I'm OK," she answered softly as she gave Gracy a hug. She pet her nose as she spoke to Ashlea,
"Daddy lets me ride her often. I can talk to her and I always feel better after," she explained. With a gentle pat, she put her hands behind her back and walked over to Ashlea. As she took a lap around her, studying her new friend, the twins were jumping in the hay in the loft above. To them, all was normal.
Emiko then stood before Ashlea.
Emiko was a virtual carbon copy of her late mother. At twelve, she was well into puberty and was quite wise for her age. Her hair was mid-back length and she wore a loose shirt and jeans. "Daddy is right about you," she explained, "he has told me much of you. He said that you are very pretty and kind." She paused a moment to yell up to the twins something in Kusari tongue after a loud crash was heard. For a moment, they stopped.
"They play constantly," she continued, "maybe it's just as well."
She then put her hands together in front of her and managed a weak smile, "He loves you....a lot. He DIDN'T have to tell me that. I know him better than anyone and it's written all over him."
She then looked to where the house was, "He lost his mother when he was fourteen. I think that is why he feels as he does." She motioned to herself and then the twins before placing her hands back together in front of her, "He still misses his mother and now we are going through it. He empathizes."
"Please, tell me, do you love him as he does you?" she asked, "and what does it feel like for I don't yet know that feeling."
She kept mostly still as Emiko walked a circle around her, not quite sure what to make of it, but she let her do it. After she stopped, Ashlea glanced up where the twins were playing. They seemed to be having fun, being none-the-wiser of the situation. She knew the time would come when realization of what had happened hit them, but she didn't say anything about it. She shook her head slightly as Emiko yelled up to the twins. She could see why people mistook her for older then she was.
Ashlea looks down and brushed her hair to the side, blushing slightly as Emiko points out how much he did love her. She managed to recompose herself as she was told about him losing his mother. She nodded slightly, She wasn't going to lie to the girl, telling her she understood, she didn't feel right doing that "I wish I understood how you feel... Both you and him. I never knew my Mother so I can't even imagine what it would be like..... I do make a good listener though, and if I can help at all..."
Her next question throw Ashlea off guard.
what does it feel like
She had to think about how to answer this. Taking a seat on a bale of hay, she offered a spot next to her if Emiko wanted to sit. "Well.... It's really hard to explain..... I guess..." She smiled thinking about it, thinking about him, and shook her head slightly "There aren't any words to really explain how it feels..... But one day you will know, and believe me... It will be the most amazingly powerful, yet beautiful feeling you will ever have.... And you will know."
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She accepted the seat next to Ashlea, putting her hands together on her lap and leaning forward slightly.
"Mother told me that once," she answered, "that you just know, that it just hits you."
She turned and looked at her with a light smile, "You make Daddy happy. He deserves that."
She paused a moment, "He told me that he wishes to marry you but I guess he hasn't had the nerve to propose yet."
She stood up and covered her mouth, looking at Ashlea as she did, "I shouldn't have said that. That is for Daddy to ask." She stood still, thinking she was in trouble, the uh-ohlook upon her face.
Nodding at the comment about what her mother had said, she looked across at Emiko. She knew a lot for her age and she really did care about her Dad's happiness. It was refreshing to see a child care about something more then herself. In a world like today's, it was a rare thing to find in an adult, let-a-lone a child.
"He makes me just as happy." She brushed her hair out of her face, unable to help but grin when Emiko stood, thinking she had spoiled the big surprise. "Hey..... Sit down.... You haven't done anything wrong" After a moment to decide what to say next she continued "He bet you to it.... Hes already asked." She looked down at her ringless finger deciding she should clear that up before causing the girl any more distress. "I said yes."
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"Why I'll...." she quipped, "......he was hiding it from me." She turned back to Ashlea, a gentle smile growing on her face as a tear fell down each cheek, "Please, keep my Daddy happy. It's all I want. He deserves it."
She then put a finger in the air, "And don't let him work so hard! We need him home more, especially if you have more children with him." She again put her hand over her mouth, "I can't believe I just said that."
"Just two questions though, what do I call you and um...." She became a bit shy before asking her next question. She put her hands behind her back and looked over her shoulder at Ashlea, "....may...I.....be....your maid of honor?"
"Your Dad wants what's best for you..." She looked away for a moment, knowing this to be true. The children had enough going on in their life at the moment, her coming into it was something else for them to adjust to. She hoped it wasn't going to be too hard on any of them, or that he wouldn't mind she had told her he had done it. "All I want is for him to be happy.
Ashlea couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at the mention of more children - and Emiko's reaction to her comment. [i]"He still has a lot of work to do.... But I'll try my best to make sure he finds a good balance." Children wasn't something they had discussed. To be fair, there was a lot they hadn't discussed. After losing her first child she was hesitant - It wasn't complications with the pregnancy or birth, in fact she had grown to love the girl. Despite it still being painful to think about, it was something she would consider again.
Her next question was something even Ashlea hadn't thought about. After a moment, she nodded "You know what. I would love nothing more then for you to be my maid of honor. Will you?"
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Emiko about knocked her over when she ran up to her and hugged her. "Yes," she cried, "thank you." For the moment, there was a little girl before her, especially when she yelled into the loft, "Mika, Henry, Daddy is getting married again."
The others ran down the stairs and hugged Ashlea. For the moment, things were happy.
Back at the house, Doc had his moment. He had changed into something more comfortable. Figuring everyone would be hungry, he began making a meal. He smiled as he worked, the smells of what he was making lofting from the house. He wanted to make it special as tomorrow he had to get back to work. He wanted everyone to enjoy some time together. He could only wonder what was going on in the stable as he heard children cheering. He smiled, knowing that for a moment anyway, they were happy....but what about?
Taken back by the force of the hug, almost being knocked over, she hugged her back. Once the other two came down, she returned the hug to the twins too. The fact they were happy about this was a relief. Something she could stop worrying about. The fact Emiko seemed to be happy was even more of a relief. She hated seeing her so somber, no child should ever have to go through that - not that young.
She noticed Doc walk into the stable, still mid hug with the children. The smile and the shrug she gave seemed almost apologetic as she hoped the noise hadn't disturbed him. She didn't let on as to what had happened to cause the change in mood, leaving Emiko to share the news of being maid of honor. Ashlea thought it was only fair for her to share that, and she deserved the moment of happiness - even if it only lasted a short while. Leaning forward slightly she spoke quietly to the three of them "Daddy is here, go on... Go give him a hug."
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He lowered himself to the floor as his happily screaming children jumped on him to save a hard fall. They were happy and for the moment, the loss of their mother wasn't evident. Doc didn't mind and he laughed with his kids. It had been too long since he had. Before long the twins would again start chasing each other and Emiko would wrap herself around him after he stood up.
"I'm so happy for you, Daddy," she said looking up at him, "for all of us." She gave him a squeeze and then went back to George and Gracy.
With that, he took Ashlea by the hand and began to walk with her outside, stopping at the water's edge. He then pulled a small box out of his pocket and took her left hand.
"I figured," he said softly and slowly in his old world accent, "that if we are to be engaged that you should have a proper ring." He then slid it on her finger and smiled at her. "I picked it up on my recent trip before all of the bad news hit." He paused a moment, "I do hope you like it."
The diamond was 3 caret, and had smaller ones on the band around it set in Bretonian gold. He just smiled as she admired it. Yes, it was one more step in a life together.
She watched the children, and him. Despite what news they had received, they all looked happy. She held her arms over her stomach and smiled. Seeing the twins carry no playing, and Emiko talking to her Dad, she stayed back, letting them have their moment together.
As he took her hand and they walked together, she smiled "I'm sorry.... She thought she had let the secret out by telling me that you wanted to propose.... I couldn't let her be upset... Especially when she did nothing wrong." Knowing the children were ok with the idea made her happy, she had spent most of the time he was gone wondering what to do if they didn't approve - after all, she was a Rogue, many people didn't approve of anything she did, even if it was right.
She looks down at the ring he had put on her finger, not sure what to say. "I.... I love it." After admiring it for some time she wrapped her arms around him, cuddling in close. "It's beautiful... Thank you."