Shinorah laughed as she patted Lucina gently upon the knee, "Darlin', ye must look yer best. After all, a woman only gets married once ye know. How abou' this, love. I'll find a few designs, 'n' ye can tell me which ye like fer th' gown, alrigh'?"

"Shinorah, I couldn't ask you to do that." Lucina said as she turned to Shinorah with a guilty expression, she'd already done so much for her.

"If I don't, who else will, love? No sense in spendin' money on a seamstress when I can do it just as well, if not bet'er. Consider it me thanks fer comin' 'ere 'n' teachin' me boy t' love," Shinorah said warmly as she picked up her knitting and began her work once more, "Tell me, love, d' ye want a wedding set after yer own religion 'n' country? 'r d' ye want an Irish wedding?"

"Irish." Lucina said through her brilliant blush before turning back to the fireplace. Glancing at the clock, Lucina let her eyes wander to the door before back to the clock again.

"Don' worry, love. They're probably jus' sittin' in silence watchin' th' stars righ' now. It's their usual. Fight, watch th' stars, fergive each other, 'n' all is well in th' land of the Sarlin siblings," added Shinorah with a laugh.

In truth, that was precisely what was happening. Lori's tears were long since dried, Adrian had long since talked her out of her foul mood, and now they were at peace with each other; and Lori was now going to work harder to try and tolerate Lucina, for Adrian's sake.

"Do you think she hates me?" Lucina asked, not particularly caring if Lori did. She wanted to marry Adrian and the last thing she was going to allow was let Lori come between them. If Kaylynn couldn't do it then Lori didn't have a chance at tearing them apart.

"Not really, love. Think o' it this way; yer takin' th' only father figure she's ever truly known from 'er. It's like takin' her lungs 'n' tellin' 'er t' breathe," Shinorah explained with a sigh as she finished her scarf and began working on the details along the hem.

"I'm going to go bed." Lucina said quickly, fustrated how everyone was suddenly on Lori's side. She wasn't taking Adrian away, it wasn't as if Adrian would never see Lori again. They lived there for goodness' sake. Standing from the chair, Lucina hurried out of the living room and returned to her own room where she fell against the bed. Lucina punched her pillow a few times before finally burying her face in it, the old Lucina starting to show slightly.

* * *

"Where's Lori?" Shinorah called from the living room as Adrian took off his boots.

"In th' barn with th' colt," called Adrian, "Where's Lu?"

"In 'er room, she went t' bed early," said Shinorah with a sigh as she put down her knitting went went back to darning, "I'm just goin' t' finish up this darnin' 'n then I'm headin' t' bed as well. G'night love."

"G'night mum. Sleep well," called Adrian as he headed upstairs and opened Lucina's door just a crack to see if she was sleeping.

Lucina heard the door open slightly and debated for a moment on what to do. Part of her wanted to turn and rant about how unfair it was for Lori to take away a happy moment for her like that while the other part told herself to calm down, that Adrian deserved better then a girl who cried over one moment. Turning to her side, her back to the door, Lucina kept her breathing even as she hoped that Adrian would think she was sleeping.

"I'm sorry, Lu," Adrian said softly, wondering if she could even hear him, "I'm so so sorry fer wha' 'appened; fer Lori takin' our moment with Mum away like tha'. I'll make it up t' ye somehow, I promise. Fergive me," Adrian whispered as he shut the door and headed to his own room to wash up and change for bed.

Lucina sighed as she smacked the pillow again. It wasn't Adrian's fault at all but she had managed to make him shoulder the blame. You're going to make a great wife... She thought sarcastically.

Lucina stood from the bed, straightening her clothes before heading to Adrian's room and knocking lightly on the door. "Adrian?" She asked softly, hoping he hadn't gone to sleep yet.

"Lu? Yer still up? Come on in, love," Adrian called softly as he finished getting dressed and went about turning the bed down and lighting a lamp, "Ye alrigh'? I hope I didn't wake ye," Adrian added with a blush as he sat on the bed and motioned for her to come sit beside him.

"You didn't." Lucina smiled as she sat gracefully beside him and cupped the side of his neck, bringing his lips to her's for a soft kiss. "Don't apologize anymore, alright?" She smiled against his lips. "I shouldn't have let Lori get to me." She said, forcing herself to remain clam while the old part of her fought to rant about how unfair Lori had been. "We'll have plenty of more happy moments." She said before bringing his lips back to her's for another kiss.

Tenderly caressed her cheek as the other slid around her waist and scooted her closer to him, Adrian smiled as he agreed, "Aye, plenty o' happy moments are t' come, love: a lifetime full o' them, 'n' all with you 'n' our children if we ever decide t' 'ave any."

After a few more kisses, Adrian rested his forehead against hers and sighed, "'n' Lu? Ye 'ave every right t' be angry with Lori. She 'ad no right t' act tha' way. I don' blame ye fer gettin' upset, love.. I'm sorry I went after Lori instead o' takin' care o' you first. Fergive me.."

"Adrian." Lucina warned as she put a finger to his lips, fighting away the urge to agree with him as she did so. "Stop apologizing and kiss me." She suggested before replacing her figner with her lips.

Eagerly returning her kisses, Adrian whispered softly against her lips. "Yer no' angry with me? Ye don' know how 'appy I am t' hear tha', love," Adrian murmured against her lips between kisses as he held her closer to him, hand hand gently pressing against the small of her back as his tongue slipped between her lips to caress her own.

Lucina let out a small laugh as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, allowing herself to enjoy every moment of her goodnight kiss.

Adrian smiled as he rested his forehead against hers, trying to keep his breathing even and his heartbeat under control. "G'night, love. I'll see ye in th' mornin'? I'll miss ye," Adrian whispered against her lips between kisses as he tenderly caressed her cheek with his palm.

"Until tomorrow." Lucina smiled as he gave Adrian a last kiss before slipping out of his room and heading back to her own bedroom.

Smiling, Adrian slipped beneath the sheets and headed to bed. Shinorah following a few hours later once Lori came in from the barn and talked with her about the engagement. All now in bed, the Sarlin house was peacefully dreaming as the starts shined bright in the sky above, dawn's early light the only thing powerful enough to block out the stars as morning came.

Lucina woke early the next morning, stretching in the bed before curling back up into a ball. She didn't have any intention of getting out of bed until someone asked her to, preferably Adrian. Though she considered moving if she smelled breakfast, her stomach growling quietly in response.

As Adrian awoke, Shinorah could be heard moving through the hall down to the kitchen to begin breakfast. Yawning as he stretched, Adrian rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stumbled out of bed to wash up before dressing.

Once finished, he headed down stairs to kiss his mother good morning before heading outside to begin the morning chores.

As Shinorah began making breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes with fruit, Lori continued to sleep, tired out from the previous evenings events.

Lucina's stomach growled with hunger a second time as the smell of chocolate filled her room. Hurrying out of the bed, Lucina combed through her hair and dressed in a clean dress before heading down the stairs. "Good morning." She said happily as she entered the kitchen, her long hair bouncing against her lower back. "Do you need any help, Shinorah?" She asked politely.

"I would love some, my dear. Would you like to cut up a bit of the different fruits on the counter and in the icebox?" Shinorah said with a warm smile, "If you'd like, I can teach you how to use the knife after I put this batter on to cook."