"Happy birthday, Kaz!"

He only raised his eyebrows at Inej.

She sighed, sitting on the edge of his desk, holding her present for him. "Are you going to say anything?"

He shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

She put the box directly on top of his papers. "Open it."

He sighed, peeling the paper off of the box and opening it. "Woah."

She smiled. "Do you have an answer?"

In the box was a ring with a note in her writing. A note with a very important question on it.

He looked up at her with wide eyes. She slowly reached out with a shaking hand.

He removed his gloves.

He took her hand.

Kaz pulled the ring out of the box. "I was supposed to ask you."

Inej was starting to grow impatient. She wanted his answer. She needed his answer.

"My answer," he leaned forward, brushing the hair out of her face, "is yes."

She practically fell off the desk into his arms, a big grin on her face.

He smiled at her, his arms wrapped around her lean frame. "What about your time at sea?"

Inej shifted awkwardly. "I don't know. But we'll make it work."

He slowly pressed his forehead to hers, his eyes flickering closed. She took a deep breath. This was what she wanted.

"Kaaaaaaaz!"

They broke apart, Inej rolling off of Kaz and falling onto the floor. He leaped to his feet, pulling his gloves on and straightening his jacket.

Wylan burst into the room, his eyebrows furrowed. "Kaz!"

Kaz sighed, relaxing. "What is it?"

Wylan coughed awkwardly, glancing at Inej, who was laying on the floor. "I thought we were all going to dinner together."

Inej laughed at the look on Kaz's face. He looked bewildered and confused. "Uh... yeah... I guess?"

Wylan finally noticed the ring in Kaz's hand. "Oh... yeah... we'll be at dinner. You can meet us there if you want."

The boy scrambled out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Inej glanced back at the ring. "Dinner?"

Kaz pulled her close. "I suppose, my dear."

****

Nina crouched in the vents and watched the scene play out. She watched Kaz take off his gloves and hold Inej's hand. She watched him say yes. She watched Wylan run into the room.

She wanted to squeal. It was so adorable to watch Kaz and Inej finally agree to get married. For the past three years, she had been watching them, prepared for the day it would happen.

Nina quickly exited the vents, excited to meet her friends at dinner. It would be her first time seeing them in a year. Other than just now, watching Kaz, Inej, and Wylan.

****

Inej skipped down the snowy street, her hand in Kaz's gloved one. She was wrapped in one of his wool coats, a scarf pulled around her ears.

Kaz smiled at her. He couldn't help the joy he felt when he was around her. When she had been gone, he forced himself to try to be better. For her. And for Wylan and Jesper. But mostly her.

She laughed that laugh, the laugh that made him melt. The streets were empty, so he allowed himself to pull her close, pressing his lips to hers.

He was immediately warmer. Kaz had always hated the cold season, even though he had been born during it.

Inej's mittened hands cupped his cheeks. When she pulled away, a smile creased her beautiful face.

They continued on down the deserted street, Kaz's arm wrapped around Inej's shoulder, as he was too tall to hug her around the waist.

His cane clicked on the ground, an almost pleasant sound.

"When will we... you know?"

Inej laughed again and Kaz fought against the urge to pick her up and carry her all the way back to the Slat. "Would you like a spring wedding? We could have fresh roses. Perhaps we could get married in Wylan's gardens. And I could wear a fancy dress!"

Kaz smiled back at her. He could just imagine her in Wylan's gardens, flowers shrouding her, her eyes lined with kohl. "I would love a spring wedding."

As they reached the restaurant, Inej went to pull away.

"Afraid of people thinking we're a thing?" Kaz asked quietly.

She shook her head. "Aren't you concerned about people knowing your weakness?"

Kaz ran his gloved thumb over Inej's caramel-brown cheek, tracing the corner of her lips, her cheekbones, then the outline of her eyes. "You are not a weakness, Inej."

Her cheeks turned light pink, her dark skin doing little to cover it up. Her smile broadened, stretching from one coffee-brown eye to the other. "I love you, Kaz."

Kaz was sure that his heart had stopped. Only Jordie had said those words before. But they were nice to hear. He took a step closer to her. She stepped back. He kept walking until she was pressed to the brick wall of the restaurant, her slim frame tall and pointed.

He walked even closer. His body pressed against hers, his tall build next to her small one.

Inej closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly. Don't even think that, Kaz! You're the most feared man in Ketterdam. You can not waste your time doing something like this!

The other half of him told him to stay right there. So he did. After moments of silence, Inej stretched up on her tiptoes, still only up to Kaz's chest.

He leaned down, his hand fitting to her waist. He could feel her heart thrumming against his chest, her breath on his cheeks.

If Kaz moved at all, their lips would touch again. Before he could do that, though, someone shouted his name from down the street.

Inej squeezed away from him, vanishing into the restaurant. Kaz felt cold again.

"What?" He snapped at Jesper.

The sharpshooter was walking down the street, his hand clutched in Wylan's. "I didn't want to watch... that."

Wylan kicked Jesper's shin. "You were the one who forced me to lay on top of you at my house while Kaz was there. So I don't think it matters if he and Inej decide to kiss on the streets."

Jesper grinned, finally arriving in front of Kaz. "Where did your investment run off to?"

The words infuriated Kaz. He slammed his cane in Jesper's shoulder. "Inej is not an investment. She is my... my girl."

Wylan hid his laugh behind a mittened hand. Kaz didn't feel inclined to yell at the kind boy.

Jesper rubbed his shoulder. "Chill, I didn't mean to offend you."

Kaz hissed, turning and stalking into the restaurant, Jesper and Wylan following him.

He marched over to the table where Nina and Inej were already seated at and slid into the seat beside Inej.

Nina grinned slyly. "Congratulations, Kaz."

"What?"

The girl clucked her tongue. "Inej was telling me about your engagement."

Wylan's jaw dropped. "What?"

Jesper laughed. "I knew it would happen sometime soon!"

Kaz awkwardly shifted in his seat. "We... uh... it was just..."

Inej grinned. "I asked him this morning."

Nina squealed. "I'm so excited!"

Though Kaz glared at her, he was also excited. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms, know that she was his and that he was hers.

*****

"Kaz! Are you kidding me?"

Kaz glared at Wylan. "What's wrong with my hair?"

The boy shook his head. "I was talking about your gloves. You don't need them for the wedding."

Kaz scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yes, I do."

Wylan suddenly gripped Kaz's wrists with iron fists. Before Kaz could fight back, his gloves were tucked into Wylan's waistband.

"Give them back, Wy."

The boy shook his head. "Nope."

"Please?"

Wylan laughed. "Not a chance, Kazoo."

"Kazoo?"

Wylan nodded. "The instrument?"

"I know what a kazoo is, you podge! Why are you calling me that?"

The boy grinned and before Kaz knew it, he was trapped in Wylan's embrace. "Because it sounds less... murderous?"

Kaz sighed, patting Wylan on the back before pulling away. "I'll see you in a little bit, Wy. It's time for me to go get married."

****

Inej took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing nerves. She had never been so nervous in her life. Her fists were clenched in the folds of her beautiful dress. It was something Kaz would like: a long black dress with swirling white embroidery. Her hair was braided and her eyes were lined with kohl.

Her father placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, little one. You'll be fine."

Inej nodded. "I know, Papa."

He connected elbows with her. "It's time."

They slowly walked towards the doors to Wylan's gardens. Two servants pushed them open, allowing them to enter the garden.

Inej would have stopped in her tracks, had her father not forced her to keep walking.

Kaz was dressed in an all-white suit, his black hair slicked back, his beautiful eyes glowing.

When Inej reached the platform, her father kissed her cheek, then turned to sit beside her mother.

Inej stared only into Kaz's eyes, her fingers lacing with his ungloved ones. The officiant began speaking, but Inej didn't pay much attention until he stepped back, allowing them to pledge their vows.

"Inej Ghafa, you have been fighting by my side for years. We have defied death many times. But more than that, we have forged an intricate relationship. If you would have me, I would have you, without armor, without a shield."

Her vows disappeared from her mind. Kaz's vows were a restating of her requests all those years ago. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do.

He looked at her expectantly, his eyes glowing.

"I..."

Everybody was staring at her. Though she loved performing, this was the performance of her life. And she was failing miserably.

"Kaz Rietveld." The crowd gasped. Even Kaz looked startled. "Years ago, you and I embarked on a journey with you to Fjerda. Little did I know, I would find the love of my life on that journey."

Inej decided to stop following her script. "You and I have always had a complex relationship. Some days, I feel as though you forget I exist. Others, you make me feel like a queen. But today, I want to feel like your equal."

There were whispers in the crowd. Inej ignored them. "I want to continue this journey with you, Kaz."

She reached for the ring, plucking it from the pillow Specht had carried. She slid it onto Kaz's finger. He did the same for her.

Slowly, she leaned forward, unwilling to break Kaz's stare. She closed her eyes as her lips brushed his. After a few seconds, he pulled back.

"Congratulations to Kaz and Inej Brekker!"

****

Inej quickly braided the young girl's black hair. "I used to wear my hair like this every day."

Jordan turned her head and smiled widely at Inej. "Did Father braid your hair?"

She nodded. "After we got married, he would braid it every morning before breakfast."

Kaz walked into the room. "Your mother looked stunning even without her braided hair."

Inej rolled her eyes, her face heating. "Your father likes to say those things, even though he refused to acknowledge his love for me for a few years."

Kaz smiled, walking over to his wife and daughter. "I'll say them now."

Jordan smiled up at her father. "Will you take me back to see Wylan again?"

Kaz nodded, picking the girl up. "I'll see you later, Inej."

She smiled at him. "Goodbye."

****

Kaz looped Jordan onto his shoulders and ran down one of the shortcuts to Wylan's mansion. Though he limped, Jordan laughed and squealed in excitement.

Kaz loved his daughter more than anything. She was only eight years old, but her heart was much older.

Every morning, when Kaz awoke, he slipped down the hall to Jordan's room and sang her Wylan's favorite song.

Jordan loved Wylan. He was like the older brother that she didn't have. And Wylan adored Jordan.

When he knocked on Wylan's door, Jesper answered, a grin on his face. "Jordie! Kaz!"

Behind Jesper, Layla appeared. Layla was Jesper and Wylan's eldest child. She sometimes looked after Jordan while Kaz and Inej were busy.

Jordan slid from Kaz's shoulders and raced into the house. Kaz watched her, not letting himself calm down until she was upstairs, yelling Wylan's name.

Jesper welcomed Kaz into the house. Together, they walked up the steps.

"Wylan!" Jesper called. "Kaz is here!"

"I'm aware!" The boy retorted.

He appeared from around a corner, Jordan clinging to his leg.

Jesper smiled. "It's been a while, Kaz."

Kaz nodded. "It has been."

"Kaz?"

Wylan and Jesper's other child raced from the hallway. She was named Ella.

Ella jumped on top of Kaz, wrapping her arms around Kaz's neck.

"You've gotten so big!" He said with a smile.

The young girl hopped away from him. "Why haven't you been here for a while?"

Kaz knelt down to eye-level with her. "You're going to have a nice friend to play within a few months."

"What?" Ella asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you going to kidnap somebody?"

Kaz laughed. "I'm not kidnapping anyone. But my wife is going to have a baby."

Everybody in the room started squealing. Wylan hugged Kaz. "I can't wait, Kaz."

"Is that why you haven't been around as much?"

Kaz nodded. "Mrs. Inej doesn't want you guys to see her until after the baby is born."

Wylan rolled his eyes. "I will never understand why women refuse to go out in public if they are with child."

Jesper shrugged. "Perhaps they worry about abduction?"

The thought scared Kaz more than anything. The truth was that Kaz forced Inej to stay in the house. She wouldn't have minded Jesper and Wylan seeing her while she was pregnant. But Kaz refused to let any harm come to her.

As if Jesper had spoken a prophecy, a brick was thrown in a window. Attached to it was a note.

Wylan picked it up and handed it to Jesper to read aloud. "I have Inej Brekker. Turn yourself into me and I will not harm your future child. Sincerely, Pekka Rollins."

Wylan's face paled. Jesper's eyes widened. Layla stood rigidly beside Ella. Jordan sniffled.

Kaz felt a black void devouring him whole. Pekka Rollins had killed his brother. Pekka Rollins wasn't going to succeed in killing his wife.

Kaz wanted to cry. He wanted to run home and search for Inej. He wanted to know that she was safe.

Jordan let out a wail that shattered Kaz's heart. He reached for his daughter and the young girl buried her face in Kaz's neck and cried.

Jesper reached for one of his pistols, running his hand along the handle. "Looks like we're going to get Inej back."

Kaz nodded, glancing at his friends. "We're going to save my girl."