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Alette's POV

I hummed while trimming the sides of the hedges in Gramma's garden. Grams had hired a gardener while she was away and I was living with Reece, but I still wanted to come and check up on my flowers and plants.

I had taken a few of my indoor plants to Reece's house, and he had been more than accommodating. I walked downstairs most mornings to him already watering my plants and cooking breakfast.

He also didn't let me clean or cook when I had assignments to finish, or exams to study for.

He was unbelievably perfect.

And he wasn't perfect only because of the things he did for me. He was just an outstanding human being inside and out. He had been working tirelessly to finish the construction of a boys and girls home as well as a refugee housing centre, both at the same time. He was doing all of this on top of the tattoo work at STAMP, as well as his mountain of cases.

I knew he was under a lot of work stress, but he had been transparent in letting me know that his therapy sessions, alongside gym and training sessions, as well as coming home to me each night made his stress practically non-existent.

I usually had morning classes, and I would come home with Josephine, Tai or Uncle Syl while he was still at work.

I had talked a lot to Dr. Esa about feeling like a burden over the years. But slowly, I was working towards getting over my anxieties surrounding that topic. My friends and family loved me and cared for me, and they didn't see me as a responsibility they had to take care of. They did it because they wanted to.

I knew what happened that night at the bakery wasn't entirely my fault. Sure, I should've listened to Tai and waited for him, but it was that man who was the culprit, not me.

Working through my insecurities had helped me let my friends and family in even more. Besides, because everyone offered me rides all the time, it meant that I didn't have to learn how to drive myself.

That was one of my biggest fears, and I knew that I would have to learn one day, but I was allowed to take my time.

I was just grateful for all the wonderful and supportive people I had in my life. I didn't think that I would meet so many new people at this point, but Marah, Niesha and I had gotten closer. More than that, Reece's friends from work, Jerryl, Jakob and Karter, would come over sometimes for work; I would make them stay for dinner and it was wonderful.

Jakob, Karter and Reece were all very quiet, but Jerryl talked enough for all of us combined.

Marah, Niesha and Josephine came over here and there, to study or just hang out whilst Ares wasn't home.

I loved those girls, even if Niesha constantly made me blush as she teased me about Ares.

He had come home earlier one day, and the girls were still over. Safe to say that Marah and Niesha were equally shocked when he walked in the door.

As they were about to leave, Nish had whispered some very suggestive words into my ears, and I almost passed out from embarrassment.

My face turned red thinking about that moment, and Reece being as observant as he was, caught on. He put the watering can down and walked closer to me.

"What happened?" he asked, waving away a fly that was fluttering by his face.

"Nothing," I whispered, going back to pruning the hedges.

He raised his eyebrow disbelievingly, and walked closer to stand behind me, his chest pressed up against my back as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"You're lying baby. You only get this red after I make you com-"

I spun around and clamped my hand on his mouth, my eyes wide.

"S-Stop that," I could barely get the words out through my mortification.

The glint in his eyes was ever so prominent as I took my hand away. He chuckled lowly and bent down to kiss my shoulder, resuming his plant watering.

I ignored the rude man beside me and tried to get all of my thoughts under control. I took glances at him from the corner of my eyes, my sight falling onto his mouth.

Then I thought of how good it made me feel.

I blushed, heat pooling in my belly and looked down, my eyes catching onto his tattooed and ring-clad fingers.

Then I thought of how good they made me feel.

I scrunched my eyes shut, shaking my head, as if trying to physically dispel all of the naughty thoughts and images in my head.

"My bad girl, thinking all those inappropriate thoughts in the middle of her flower garden, what are we going to do about that?"

My eyes shot open and narrowed at the man who stood leaning against the fence, smirking at me.

I pointed a finger at him, "You stay far away from me," I huffed.

He walked closer to me.

I backed up.

My back hit the bushes and I gulped as he stalked over to me like a predator to its prey.

He grabbed my waist and pilled me in close to him, leaning down to kiss my lips.

"I'm just teasing baby," he said lowly.

I didn't smile, keeping my best angry look on my face.

He stepped back and peered down at me, his face now devoid of all emotion.

"If you don't smile, I'm going to tickle you."

He delivered those lines that same way I imagined he delivered threats to criminals when he held them at gunpoint.

The thought made a smile crawl onto my face. I leaned up to kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

We kissed sweetly for moment until his hands drifted lower and squeezed the ever-living heck out of my butt.

I yelped and jumped back, "W-Wha-"

"There was a bug on your pants."

I narrowed my eyes, grabbing the hose before he could move, and sprayed him with some water.

"Oh you're going to get it now," he lunged at me and I squealed, giggling as I ran away from him.

We ran around the garden for a few moments until he finally wrestled the hose out of my hands, and pulled me in to kiss me again.

"I love you my angel."

"I love you Aresius."

I sighed in satisfaction, my arms wrapped around his middle as we hugged.

"Alette?"

"My love?"

"C-Can I meet your parents?"

Hesitancy was clear in his tone, and I leaned away, looking up at him with my eyes widened.

I swallowed, my throat burning.

I couldn't put into words how his request had made me feel.

I had realized at some point, I don't know when or how, but I had realized how important this man really was to me.

With that realization, came the sinking feeling that my parents wouldn't be able to meet him in person.

"Y-You want to?" I whispered, not trusting my voice to speak any louder.

He nodded firmly, brushing my hair out of my face.

I nodded back, my tears tipping over and onto my cheeks.

He leaned down and kissed each tear away.

"I love you Reece."

He was going to be my forever.

We cleaned up the gardening tools but before we could leave the garden, he stopped me.

"Should we take them some flowers?"

I smiled, warmth spreading all over my body. I nodded because he had rendered me speechless again.

I walked towards the forget-me nots and picked some for the bunch, "These represent remembrance usually," I spoke out loud, arranging the flowers in a bunch.

Then I moved to the other side, "I'll do some of these blue irises, because they symbolize hope and faith. These purple irises symbolized wisdom in the Victorian era," I listed off, mumbling as I fixed up all of the flowers, "My mama also just really loved irises," I smiled fondly and finally looked up.

He was staring at me with an undecipherable look on his face, his mouth slightly open.

I cocked my head to the side, "What's wrong lovebug?"

He shook his head, clearing his throat, "Alette...d-did you know?"

My eyes widened when I clocked in what he was talking about, and I felt my cheeks tinge pink. I looked down at the ground, and then peeked up at him through my lashes when he spoke again.

"Did you know what the flowers meant? At the hospital...on our date?"

I nodded timidly, my voice quiet, "I-I knew, I just didn't know if you knew, so I didn't get my hopes up."

He smiled and kissed my head, "I love you Alette."

I kissed his arm and we locked up the garden gate and the front door, walking to his car.

He opened the door and buckled me in as usual and we drove to the graveyard. It was a quick few minute drive.

He parked and we got out of the car. He held onto my hand tightly as we walked; I squeezed his hand to let him know I was okay, and he gave me a small nod.

We reached their joint gravestone, and I let go of his hand, kneeling down. I kissed my fingers and brought them to the stone, feeling the cool marble under my fingers.

"Hello Mama, hi Papa, I missed you," I looked over my shoulder, "There's someone here to meet you."

Reece walked forwards, kneeling down beside me; he placed the flowers in front of the stone.

"This is my Reece," I smiled fondly at him, "The man I've been talking about for so long, I feel like you already know him."

Ares cleared his throat, "Nice to meet you both," his voice was quiet, "Your daughter is the most wonderful person I've ever known."

I felt tears prickling at my eyes and I went to sit down on the bench that was directly in front of their grave.

Uncle Syl had the bench installed a year after they passed; it took me some time to actually go to their graves after they had passed, and once I felt comfortable, I used to come every single day. He wanted me to have nice place to sit and chat with them.

My parents were my best friends; we spent almost every second together, and losing them was like losing a piece of my heart.

I missed them, and I don't think that I would ever stop missing them.

I don't think I would ever fully heal from their loss.

I knew life would move forwards, and I would be okay, but the need for them to be present wouldn't ever go away.

Reece sat down beside me, putting his arm around me. I immediately cuddled into his side.

"Grasso, Reece's kitty that I told you about, he's on a diet now because apparently the vet is worried about his health," I mumbled, still talking to my parents.

I heard him chuckle lowly, as I looked down and played with his fingers.

"I wish you could've met Grasso in person Mama, you would love him," I paused, "Papa...you wouldn't love him honestly because you don't like pets."

"What's there to love?" Reece grumbled out, and I poked him in his side.

"Reece likes to pretend that he hates Grasso, but I've seen him give Grasso extra treats all the time," I teased him.

"He was being annoying, I did it to shut him up," he grumbled, sounding very much like a child.

I giggled, and kissed his hand, telling him about my parents and my favourite childhood memories.

"I always distinctly remember how in love they were. It just really stuck to me," I said, smiling softly, "They would always hold hands, or dance in the kitchen. Papa had no bad days when Mama was around, and Mama never frowned when Papa was around. It was beautiful."

I laughed sombrely, "Papa always talked about how it was love at first sight. Not only in the sense that he thought she was beautiful and he wanted to be with her, but how he was frozen in shock the first time he saw her. How he felt time slow down, and his heart pound in his ears. How he knew that she was his one true love."

The breeze danced around us as we fell into a silence.

"Do you believe in it?" he asked after a few minutes.

I looked up at him, seeing the whole universe in his eyes.

"I believe in our love."

He brushed stray piece of hair back, pressing his lips onto the top of my head.

"Do you believe in a one true love?" I asked him, staring at the trees in the distance.

"I do now."

My eyes found his again, and I felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders.

I leaned my head on his shoulder, and he nudged me slightly.

"Tell me more about them, about when you were younger."

I nodded earnestly, feeling as though my heart was going to explode from his attention and care.

I told him about how they met, how Papa built Mama her dream house, how he was her only family because her parents died when she was young and she only had a distant aunt that she lived with. I told him about their proposal, and how Papa's friend said it was too soon in their relationship

Ares hummed, "Did your Mama think it was too soon?"

I shook my head, "They both were firm believers in the saying. when you know, you know. It didn't matter that everyone thought that it was too soon, or that they were both too young and foolish. They didn't care for the world's timelines on their love. They didn't care for people's opinion. They both just knew."

I stared at him for a moment, my heart faltering in my chest.

"Like right now..." I swallowed, "I know right now."

He looked down at me, shock clear on his face.

"You'd marry me right now?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"Well...I would want to put on some lip gloss first," I teased, nudging my shoulder with his.

A smile bloomed on his beautiful face and it left me feeling winded.

"Yeah," he said, tucking a piece of my hair back, "Me too."

I raised an eyebrow, unable to hide my smile, "You want to put on some lip gloss first too?"

"Yeah of course," he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I laughed out loud, leaning my head against his shoulder.

"Reecie?" I said after a moments pause.

"Angel?"

"I'd marry you right now."

And it was the truth. I didn't need anything else. I had never wanted the finer things in life; shiny rings, big dresses and a party full of people wasn't what I needed in order to get married.

He was all I needed.

"Baby I want to...I want to give you the most perfect proposal and the most perfect wedding, the most perfect life," he sighed, his voice picking up an insecure tone, all hints of teasing gone.

I used my hand to turn his face to look at me.

"I just want you Ares."

I leaned up and kissed him gently, hating to see that insecure look on his face, "I'd wait forever for you my love, take your time, but don't think that you have to go above and beyond for me. I love the man that you are."

He finally smiled, it was slightest bit shy and it made my heart fawn over how perfect he was.

I smiled wide, and gestured with my eyes at where we were, "Do you want me to go wait in the car?"

He raised his brow, and then smiled in understanding, kissing the top of my head.

"Yeah you can wait in the car, I have to ask your parents something."

I giggled, my cheeks heating up. I kissed his forehead, and brushed a piece of hair out of his face.

I placed my hand to my lips, giving it a kiss, and then touched my hand to their gravestones.

"I love you Mama, love you Papa."

With one last look, I walked away, feeling my heart skip a beat at the thought of what he was talking to them about. I felt my heart skip another beat when I thought of how sweet it was that he would talk to my parents, despite them not actually being here with us.

The wind picked up as I walked to the car and I smiled at the breeze flowing through my hair.

They were always with me in spirit.

I waited patiently in the car for a few minutes until he finally got up and walked over. He buckled up and reversed, driving towards the city, our hands joined. I laid my head against the headrest, admiring him.

"Thank you for that Ares."

"Don't thank me, I'm glad I got to meet my in-laws."

I turned red and giggled, feeling frivolous.

We drove through the city on our way to STAMP, as a podcast played softly in the background.

"I told Jerryl to grab you some food, so you can eat," he glanced at me while we stopped at a red light.

I nodded, playing with the rings on his fingers.

"You ready for your tattoo?"

I looked at him, grinning, and nodded earnestly, "I'm so ready, I can't wait to see what it is."

"You don't have to use the design we made you know, if you don't like it."

I shook my head, "You worked on a design with Tai's help, there's no way I won't like it lovebug."

I had told him the placement for my tattoo, and then told him to surprise me. I trusted him completely, and I know that he had enlisted Tai's help to create the perfect piece for me.

I was so excited.

We arrived at STAMP, and he parked the car, walking to my side to open the door for me.

He parked around the back, his designated parking spot, and we used the back door to go inside. We walked up to his office, and I felt myself bursting with anticipation.

We walked into his office and I watched as he shrugged off his leather jacket, placing it on one of the chairs in the room.

I leaned back into the sofa, stretching out my arms above my head.

"Reecie?"

"Baby?"

"You're going to give me the tattoo right?"

He pulled out his chair and sat behind his desk that was directly across from the sofa that I sat on.

"Of course I am, you think I'd let anyone else put their hands on you?"

We both fell into a silence, and I turned red.

He cleared his throat, "That came out more aggressively and controlling than I intended. I apologize, I just meant that I would feel more comfortable if I was the one that would give the tattoo, specifically in the place that you decided on."

I quickly shook my head, trying to ease his apprehension.

"D-Don't apologize, I understood what you meant," I smiled shyly, "I want you to be the only one putting your hands on me."

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt myself seize up in mortification.

That sounded way more naughty than I intended.

His eyes darkened and I knew that his thoughts had gone the same place that mine did.

A knock sounded on the door and we both snapped out of our intense stare down.

"It's me!" a voice sang from the other side.

Ares clenched his jaw, shifting in his seat and I giggled, "Come in Jerryl," I called out, because Ares didn't look as though he was going to say anything.

"Hello my fair maiden, how are you on this exquisite evening?"

"It's 3:00 PM."

Jerryl glared at Ares, "This is why I didn't get you any chicken nuggets."

He walked over and handed me the brown bag that contained fried goodness inside. I smiled in gratitude and he gave me two thumbs up, leaning down to whisper, "Don't give him any. He's rude."

I giggled and nodded.

"Leave."

Jerryl spun around to look at Ares, "And what if I don't?"

"You're fired."

"Actually I'm not so you're wrong," Jerryl gave me a small salute and walked out of the room.

He stopped at the door and looked at the two of us again.

"You're too beautiful for this ogre, my fair maiden, but I guess love makes people do crazy things."