"Alright." Ariala sighed, stepping away and leading him out of the Palace gates. "I need to go now." Ariala said softly. Giving him a quick kiss she added, "I love you." Before turning to go meet her Master in the fields.

"I love you too, Ari, take care of yourself out there. Don't stress, okay?" Dimitrius called after her before heading into Elimlee Market, hoping his Winterglade currency would suffice to get Ari some groceries.

Ariala wandered to the fields with a frown on her small features. "Hello, Ariala." Her master said.

"Hello." Ariala said respectively, bowing her head.

"I want you to start with a light rain and work it to become steadily heavier." Her master commanded to which Ariala quickly obeyed.

Walking pass the stalls before the market, Dimitrius headed into town to purchase bread, fruits, vegetables, milk, and other such necessities that the house was lacking.

* * *

When he'd finished, and his arms were full to the brim, having to force his magic to carry some of it on the wind, Dimitrius made his way to Ariala's house. Reaching the rope ladder. Dimitrius used his magic to carrying the bags up one by one to Ariala's doorstep.

"Hey Dimitrius." Marreck said as he leaned against the rope that fenced the bridges. "Grocery shopping?" He asked as he watched the bags drift upwards.

Climbing up the rope ladder as the last bag slid into Marreck's hands, Dimitrius chuckled, "Someone had to. And with the way Ari's feeling now? I doubt she'd make it to the market without throwing up from the smell."

Smiling as he looked over at Marreck and picked up a couple bags after opening the door, "Help me carry these in and put them away and I'll tell you why she's ill."

"Alright." Marreck said as he carried the bag and followed Dimitrius inside with a curious face. "Where is the newlywed? If she's ill then why would she go to her lesson. I swear she overworks herself sometimes." He ranted as he set the bag on the table. "I tell her to take easy if she's sick but of course she won't. She's impossible." He sighed as he started to put away the groceries.

Dimitrius chuckled as his magic carried in the remaining bag and shut the door before setting the bag on the table. "Ariala is.." Dimitrius began as he put groceries away, letting the suspense heighten, "expecting. She's expecting something with rosy cheeks that hopefully looks just like her."

"She's having a baby!" Marreck exclaimed. "Congratulations, Dimitrius." He said happily. "I know you say you want the baby to look like Ariala but I'm betting anything that she wishes it will look like you or Dimeria." He laughed as he put away milk in Ariala's nearly empty ice box.

Dimitrius blushed, "Thanks, Marreck. If only her father could have reacted the same way.." Sighing, Dimitrius told Marreck of their small interlude in the Palace while putting the groceries away, "I fear for Ari.. if he keeps this up, it's going to ruin her happiness and hurt her more than he thinks.."

"I wouldn't worry about Arvan. He comes off horribly at first but he a real softie after you get to know him. And he loves Ariala more then anything. Try not to judge so quickly, I'm sure he'll be looking for a compromise in a week tops." Marreck assured him as he continued to put away groceries. "Whoa, Ariala really didn't have anything here. Good thing you went shopping." He said as heopened a nearly barren cupboard.

"I just hope you're right Marreck.." Dimitrius sighed. Looking over at the cupboard, Dimitrius chuckled, "She was worse off than I thought. Good thing they accepted my currency. I just hope she can stomach it.. She couldn't even eat eggs this morning.. Speaking of which, how's Emelaide doing? Any better?"

"Yes, I brought her home after the wedding and she's been resting. I planned on visiting her today. I just had some errands to run first." He said shyly, fighting away the blush on his cheeks.

Dimitrius chuckled at his blush as he finished another bag of groceries, "Oh? Errands? Do I hear wedding bells in the near future? And I don't mean the bells of mine and Ariala's official family ceremony either," he teased with a wink as he put another block of cheese into the ice box.

Marreck blushed, not bothering to answer as he stocked the cupboards. "Right, so I wouldn't worry about Arvan. He'll warm up but I should be going." He said shyly, backing towards the door. "Congratulations again." Marreck offered before slipping out the door and heading down the rope ladder.

Dimitrius couldn't help but laugh as he finished stocking the cupboards. Putting the paper bags in the cupboard to be used on the next grocery run, Dimitrius went to the sink and began watching the dishes from this morning.

Marreck ran towards Mr. Redion's jewelry shop, ready to pick up the ring he'd ordered. "Morning." Marreck said as he entered the small shop.

"Hello, Marreck." Mr. Redion said as he picked up a small box. "Did you come in for this?" He smiled as he held up the ring box.

"Yes, sir." Marreck said as he pushed the money across the glass counter.

"Good luck." Mr. Redion smiled as Marreck ran out the door towards Winterglade, the box tucked safely in his coat.

Finishing the dishes, Dimitrius put everything in order before leaving the house and heading off to Winterglade, enjoying the peaceful walk through the meadow as he began picturing the pitter patter of feet running around the meadow.

--

Emelaide sighed as she rolled over out of bed. Stretching, she headed for the bathroom to brush her hair and teach before hopping in the shower.

Marreck ran past the border, never seeing Dimitrius across the meadow, as he ran to Emelaide's cottage. Marreck knocked on the door lightly once he'd reached Emelaide's home. "Em?" He called, nerves shaking through him as he held the ring in his coat pocket. He wasn't sure when he was going to ask her but in case he got a sudden moment of inspiration, Marreck decided to carry the ring with him.

As she turned on the water, Emelaide heard the soft muffle of "Em?" coming through the front door. Figuring it was Dimitrius coming to tell her about the honeymoon, Emelaide called out as she stripped and stepped into the shower, "Come on in! I'm in the shower! How was the cottage?"

"Cottage?" Marreck asked as he walked inside. "I'm Marreck." Marreck sighed as he sat on a counter in the kitchen.

Emelaide blushed as she called out, "S-sorry.. I'm so used to Dimitrius popping in.. I heard he was back and half expected him to show up and want to tell me everything.. I'm sorry Marreck.. You probably think horribly of me now huh," she added in a softer tone, her words barely audible by Marreck.

"Of course not, love." Marreck assured her as he waited, only slightly put off that she had thought he was Dimitrius. "Though I did see Dimitrius today. He was getting groceries for Ariala. They have some exciting news." He laughed as he traced designs along the counter's surface.

Finishing her shower, Emelaide wrapped a towel and tucked it in the front above her chest. Taking a small towel and using it to dry her hair, Emelaide emerged from the bathroom and walked over to Marreck, "Marreck.. I really am sorry.. If it makes you feel any better, whenever it ends up being Dimitrius who pops in, I always think he's you.."

Putting the small towel upon the counter, Emelaide wrapped her arms around Marreck's neck, using her magic to freeze the towel shut so it didn't embarrassingly come undone. "Please forgive me.. Please know that it's not because I love Dimitrius more that I think it's him more often than not.. It's just because he's been around longer, I... Old habits die hard, you know? He's the only one ever came to the house before you came along.."

"But I'm glad you did," she added softly as she lightly caressed his cheek with her palm.

"I'm not upset." Marreck smiled as he pulled Emelaide into his arms. "There's to be forgived for." He said before giving her a tender kiss. "I think I can still love you." He teased lightly between kisses. "I'm just glad you're feeling better. It makes kissing you much less risky." He smiled as he buried his face in her hair.