Lucius was admiring her long honey-colored eyelashes brushing against her cheeks, her rosy, small, but full, lips, her well defined, flushed cheeks. He sighed and smiled at the thought of waking like this every morning, being together forever.

Ivy’s eyes opened slowly, as if she could see him with them, and she smiled, obviously aware that he was looking at her.

“Goodmorning, Lucius,” she voiced dreamily. Her hand reached out to cup his cheek, and he placed his hand over hers and gently kissed her.

Very suddenly, Lucius was completely aware that he was in bed with Ivy, kissing her. Feeling his traitorous body react, he gently pushed Ivy away from him. Ivy, not understanding at all, bit her lip and cast her unseeing eyes down.

“Ivy, I’m sorry…it’s not anything you did, it’s just…” he trailed off, unable to explain to her why he couldn’t hold and kiss her right now.

“It’s alright Lucius,” a melancholy smile gracing her pretty mouth, “I’ll go tell Mrs. Hunt that you have awoken. She will be so pleased.” Before Lucius could try to explain to Ivy why he had pushed her away, she had exited the room and returned with his hysterical mother.

“Lucius! Lucius my darling son! I have been so worried!”

Lucius smiled at his mother, “I’m alright, Mother, just a bit sore and weary.” By the time he had finished his sentence, his mother was next to his bed, placing her hand on his forehead and straightening his blankets around him. Ivy stood awkwardly in the corner of the room, listening to the thrilled mother fuss over her son.

Once Lucius had had enough of his mother’s fussing, he asked Ivy to walk him to the outhouse.

Ivy blushed deeply and agreed to do so. “Don’t you think it’s a bit cold? Are you sure you are ready to walk?” she asked shyly.

“If you will help me, I’m sure it will be no trouble.” He slowly rose up and winced in pain slightly before placing both of his feet on the floor. Ivy made her way to the bed to take each of his hands to help pull him up.

“Let me get you a sweater and cloak, since you’re going out. This weather is dreadful,” Lucius’s mother quickly retrieved a thick green wool sweater and black wool cloak and helped him dress with haste, “Here Ivy,” she said, handing the younger woman a blue cloak, “One for you as well.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hunt,” Ivy smiled in the direction of the kind older woman and squeezed her hand as Alice draped the cloak over the blind girl’s shoulders. “Take your time now,” she said in a motherly manner that made Ivy grin and Lucius roll his eyes, “Here Lucius,” she handed him a wooden cane, “I think you should use this for a while.”

“Mother, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Please Lucius, take the cane,” Lucius raised his eyebrows in surprise that Ivy had known what it was that he did not find necessary, but decided to listen to his beloved and took the cane from his mother.

“Come Ivy,” Lucius grasped her small hand in his much larger free one and the slowly made their way through the house and out of doors.

“Ivy, I’m sorry. I did not mean to push you away,” he cleared his throat shyly, “You will understand why once we are married.” At the mention of their marriage, Ivy smiled and squeezed his hand and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Alright Lucius, I will trust in you.”

Lucius’s heart warmed at the thought of Ivy trusting in him, believing in him. His thoughts were interrupted by Ivy’s sweet voice.

“Lucius, they built us a house,” she smiled at him and stopped their agonizingly slow journey to the outhouse, taking both of his hands in hers, “They built it while you were recovering. All of the men worked on it and we had good weather until then, so it was finished very quickly. It’s a lovely house, Lucius.”

Lucius’s eyes opened widely and he almost gasped at the realization that he had been unconscious for quite some time.

“Ivy, that’s wonderful news, but…” his voice darkened, as did his color, “How long was I…” his voice trailed off and Ivy’s smile faded.

“A little over a month,” a tear came to her eye as she remembered how she had longed to speak with him and have him speak back, “I missed you so much Lucius…” she was cut off by his lips on hers.

Before she realized what was happening, she had wrapped her arms around his neck, gently, because she was afraid of hurting him, and pulled him close to her and he deepened the kiss. She had never experienced anything like this. He had never kissed her like this before. A warm, bubbly feeling occurred in her lower belly and she gasped into his mouth at the new sensations flooding over her. Then she felt it.

She had thought she felt it earlier, when he had pushed her away, but she was sure of it now. A hardness pressing into her stomach. All of the passion and excitement she had felt flooded from her instantaneously and she pulled away from the kiss.

Lucius mentally cursed his body for it’s dreadful timing and tried to regain his breath. “Ivy…” he panted, “It’s ok, that sometimes happens,” he blushed furiously and nervously looked at her face to gauge her reaction.

“Why? What exactly is it?” her innocent curiosity melted his heart and he smiled at her tenderly.

“I’ll…err…explain it you when we are married.”

Ivy cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy, but decided she had better just agree to wait. “Alright,” she slipped her hand back into his and they finally reached the outhouse.

Ivy patiently waited for him to return and then she attacked.

“When are we getting married, Lucius?”

Her question surprised him greatly, but he was very glad that she had asked it.

“I wanted to discuss that subject with you,” he cleared his throat nervously, “Ivy, I would like to marry next Friday.”

Ivy’s mind raced at his proposal. Today was Thursday! That meant he wanted to marry her in eight days! In eight days she would be Mrs. Lucius Hunt! She flung her arms around his gleefully and kissed his lips soundly.

“Yes Lucius! I should like that very much!” he laughed out loud and hugged her fiercely. Ivy’s eyes widened in wonder at the beautiful sound of his laugh.

She thought back and decided that she had never heard him laugh before and she kissed him with wondrous glee once more before they re-entered the house, a new air of excitement about them.

“Mother!” Ivy heard Lucius call for his mother, she could heard the smile in his voice, which, in turn, made her smile even more broadly.

“What is it Lucius?” Alice Hunt asked, quickly helping her son and his fiancé off with their coats and escorting them to sit down on a love seat in front of the fireplace.

“Mother, Ivy and I have decided to marry Friday next,” Mrs. Hunt’s eyes widened and she bit her lip as a tear escaped her eye.

She had been dreading this day. The day they would set a date for the wedding. The day she would know when she would be losing her son.

“Well, do you feel you are well enough?” she asked cautiously.

“As long as I am with Ivy, I am perfectly well,” he blushed a bit in surprise that he had said that statement aloud and Ivy squeezed his hand lovingly.

“Well, Lucius, I believe you two should go speak with Ivy’s father.”

TBC!