#earthrunes

He can clearly imagine it "Maybe even an ivy covered gazebo where a sulking teen might one day 'hide' so they can be alone 'at last, ugh'"

A soft rattle of laughter.

"I'm playing the odds here" He admits

"Oh, but those are good odds."

"I wouldn 't bet against it" He admits, then gets ccurious "Where was your 'ugh' place?"

"I climbed a tree."

"Trees are great for brooding" He agrees, "Oak?"

"Aye."

"Oak is good. Strong enough to hold a wilder troll up" HE remembers fondly "Remember that one near the stream? Looks kind of ccranky but has a good vibe?"

"Aye?"

"Yeah" he pauses "mmm maybe I'll see if that old tree has an acorn drop sometime , plant it in our yard?"

She smiles. "The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. And the second best time is today."

"Got a favorite tree in Scarsdale you want to see if it will donate?" He says

"That... yes."

"One from Iowa, one from New York.. could be fun to see how they grow. And if our kids claim them"

"Well, we can enjoy them. Sit in their shade as we grow old."

"No giving tree nonsense though" he asserts

"Shade is fine, but we don't stump it just because we're too lazy to go buy already ready lumber"

Hissssssssssssssssssssss.

"That book is wrong."

"Agreed. Though I DID like where the side walk ends"

"That one is fine."

"But that book has no home here."

"Wow, it's banished from your library? That's severe."

"Just don't tell Bronte" He whispers "She'll see it as forbidden fruit"

She harrumphs.

"Also banned from our future house" He nods

"Aye. Tis so."

He nods then smiles and takes her hand "Have I told you lately how utterly grateful I am that you fell in love with me?"

She pinks. "Have I ever said how glad I am that you did not give up on me?"

"Never" he squeezes her hand firmly but gently "I'd be giving up on love itself if I did that"

Then he chuckles "I mean, I'd never do that. Not that you never said it"

"I loved thee ere I even knew I loved thee, and I ran from it. But you did not give me up as a lost cause. And... you let me in, when I sought thee."

"You had every right to cast me away, then. For my unkindness."

"You were scared, I understand" He says "I thought I had done something wrong"

She sighs. "I regret that."

Earl kisses her hand "I don't, we're together. "

Then he adds "And you needed to be sure"

"And I am sure."

"I would oath, every day. Sing to the moon and stars of my love."

The oath bird gves a triumphant corvid chortle

"You are the moon and stars" Earl says lost in her eyes

"And thou art the sun." She leans in to kiss him.

The two kiss , a long lingering one, savoring each other and letting the rest of the universe withdraw so it can be just them.

When they part, he smiles "Want to... get Shakespearean in our room?"

A smirk. "Ah, the filthiest iambic pent'mete. To our room must goeth us now, my sweet."

A wicked smile, and "Let's quest for the beast the bard spoke of"

And they vanish

(Flash to black)