"I'm glad I'm feeling better too," Emelaide smiled as she placed a tender kiss upon his lips, "I've missed it."

Leaning into him, Emelaide's fingers tangled gently in his hair as she pulled his lips closer. "I love you," she murmured softly between kisses.

"I love you to." Marreck smiled against her lips before hopping down from the counter and tighenting his grip on Emelaide. Pressing her slightly against the counter, Marreck wound his fingers into her hair. Giving her tender kisses, Marreck moved his lips to the length of her neck and across the smooth skin of her shoulder.

Sighing, Emelaide slipped out of Marreck's hold on her and picked up the towel off the counter and began drying her hair again, "Marreck, that's not fair. Kissing me like that when I'm not even dressed.."

Taking the small towel to the hamper in the bathroom, Emelaide quickly ran a brush through her hair before heading back out towards her bedroom, "I'll be dressed in a minute.. Will you put on a pot of tea?"

"Sure." Marreck sighed as he moved to the stove. Filling a kettle with water and putting it on the stove to boil. "Sorry about that, love. I didn't mean to upset you." He called to Emelaide as he found teabags in a drawer.

Emerging from the bedroom wearing a simple light blue button up blouse with a short black skirt and flats, Emelaide smiled at Marreck and carried her towel tot he bathroom hamper.

"Nonsense. You didn't upset me one bit, dearest. It's just.. kissing you like that, and being with you as I was.. I can't help it.. A few more minutes of that and I would have stopped using my magic and I'd have led you to the bedroom right then and there. But," she added as she wrapped her arms around his waist and placed a tender kiss upon his lips, "I'm not going to make a fool of myself yet again by suggesting anything. So, I figured I'd better stop myself before we got carried away and I did something you'd be angry with me for.. I'm sorry I made you think otherwise.."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Emelaide placed a tender kiss upon his lips, standing on her toes to deepen the kiss as her tongue slipped between his lips. "I seem to be apologizing a lot today... huh.." Emelaide whispered as she rested her forehead against his.

"Quite a bit actually." Marreck smiled as he pulled her closer against him to give her a tender kiss. "I'm sorry that I tempted you so but I can't truthfully say I regret it." He smiled against her lips. "I love you, Em. And if I could I'd take you to the bedroom myself but not yet." He sighed as his hands stroked her lower back gently.

Smiling against his lips, Emelaide brushed her nose gently against his, "I know, not for quite awhile, right? When there's no risks? I'll wait for you, I promise. You haven't a thing to worry about dearest."

Placing a tender kiss upon his lips, Emelaide deepened the kiss slightly before whispering, "I love you."

Slipping out of his embrace, Emelaide placed a quick kiss on his forehead before going about getting the tea ready for them as well as getting out some of the cookies she baked the previous evening.

Matthew smiled as he watched Emelaide walk about the kitchen. Maybe it was that he hadn't seen her since she was sick but to Marreck, she looked absolutely beautiful. Thinking of the ring that seemed a few pounds heavier in his pocket, Marreck smiled as he imagined her as his wife.

Setting two cups of tea on the table before going back to the counter and grabbing the plate of cookies, Emelaide smiled at Marreck. Looking at him curiously, Emelaide sat down in her usual chair and inquired, "Marreck? What ever is the matter with you.. You're looking at me so strange.. Do I really look that awful today? I admit, I was a bit lazy in getting ready, but I wasn't really expecting anybody today. Not that I mind dearest! I'm very glad you surprised me, I've missed you.. a lot," Emelaide admitted with a blush.

"You don't look bad." Marreck laughed, blushing slightly that she'd noticed him watching her. "You look incredibly beautiful actually." He admitted, taking a seat at the table and sipping his tea.

Blushing, Emelaide took a bite of her cookie, "You really are too kind to me.. Thank you. You mentioned Dimitrius and Ariala had news?"

"Right." Marreck said, snapping back to reality. "They're expecting." He said as he took a cookie. "I'm personally curious to see if they're child will resemble Ariala or Dimitrius." He said as he took a bite of his cookie.

A wide grin spread across Emelaide's face, "Truly? Oh how wonderful for them! I admit, I'm a tad jealous they're already having children, but I couldn't be more happy for them! How are her parents taking it? Do Dimitrius' parents know? What about Lina, have they told her yet?"

"I know that Ariala's parents know but I believe that's it." Marreck laughed. "Dimitrius was in a mood because Ariala's father didn't take it so easily that he met Dimitrius and then the next day he finds out that his daughter is pregnant. But Arvan is tough when you first meet him. He always comes around." Marreck smiled as he took another bite of his cookie. "But I think Dimitrius is overjoyed about it. I haven't spoken to Ariala yet though. She had her lessons today." He said.

Emelaide sighed, "Poor Dimitrius, and poor Ariala too.. And knowing Dimitrius, he didn't say a word of what happened to Ariala if she wasn't in the room at the time of their fight. Do you really think Arvan will come around? I truly hope so, not only for their sake but for the baby's sake as well.. It won't do for the child to grow up with the maternal grandparents hating his or her father. On the subject of parents.. would you consider staying for dinner tonight? My parents are coming home, and I'd like you to meet them.. if you will?"

"Of course." Marreck lit up happily. "I'd love to meet them." He said, deciding it'd be best that he impress Emelaide's parents before he asked her to marry him. The last thing Marreck wanted to do was upset her parents the same way Dimitrius had upset Ariala's.

Emelaide's face lit up as Marreck agreed, "Perfect! Would you like to come shopping with me and help me make it? We're having Caesar Salad, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and chocolate chip fudge swirl cheesecake for desert."

"Sounds delicious. Of course I'll help." Marreck smiled. "Someone has to make sure you don't try to posion us all." He teased, giving her a wink as he took another cookie. "These cookies are delicious by the way." He said. "Did you posion them?" He joked.

Laughing, Emelaide sighed, "You're absolutely terrible to me today! First you tease me wretchedly, and now you're saying my cooking is poisonous! And besides, why would I poison you. If you're poisoned, I won't get to keep you forever. Not to mention I'd miss kissing you," she added with a wink before taking a sip of her tea.

"You know I'm teasing." Marreck laughed. "I love you, Em." He said, trying to keep the conversation light but weighed down by the ring in his pocket.

Finishing her tea and bringing her dishes to the sink, Emelaide flashed a smile over her shoulder at Marreck, "I know you're teasing, dearest, as am I. You feeling alright?" she inquired as she began washing the tea things, "You seem a little off today.. Then again, it could just be me being strange, just getting over a cold and all," she added with a laugh as she rinsed a saucer.

"No, I'm fine." Marreck said, wrapping his arms around Emelaide's waist from behind. "I'm just glad that you're feeling better. You're much more fun when you're not yelling at me and dead on your feet." Marreck teased as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

Leaning back against him as she rinsed another dish, Emelaide smiled, "And you're much more fun when I'm able to kiss you as much as I want without worrying about killing you. Speaking of which," Emelaide added as she finished the dishes and dried her hands off. Turning around to face Marreck, Emelaide wrapped her arms around his neck as she rested her forehead against his and lightly brushed her nose against his, "I've missed your kisses and you holding me quite a bit the past couple of days.. I don't like it when you stay away so long.."

"I'm sorry, love." Marreck sighed as he pulled her closer to him. "I've missed you to." He admitted, giving her a tender kiss. "I love you, Em." He said quietly between kisses, his hands tightening on her lower back.

"I love you too," whispered Emelaide against his lips as she leaned back against the sink and pulled Marreck closer, their kisses deepening as they stood their, Emelaide's tongue slipping between Marreck's lips to softly brush against his.