Ulrike looked up from the canvas she’d been working on. Han had just come down the stairs. “How are you doing, baby?”
Han sighed. “Just- can’t believe he’s gone, ya know?”
“Oh I know. I know.”
He took her hands in his. “Ulrike… you’ve been- I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”
Han looked deep into her eyes. “Y-you’ve helped keep me sane. Thank you.”
“Han, you don’t need to thank me, truly.”
“Yes I do.” He bit his lip and looked away for a moment. It was uncharacteristic of him to seem so tongue-tied.
“Han? What is it?”
“I uh… We’ve both been cooped up and you’ve been amazing. I-I- Would you like to go to the park? Just- get away for a little while?”
She smiled. “I think I’d love that.”
Han sat down on the bench and Ulrike followed. He let out a sigh. “It really is nice here,” he murmured, unable to take his eyes off of her.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Though not as nice as the view right here,” he murmured.
That brought out a small blush. “You’re too charming for your own good, ya know,” she murmured back.
“I don’t know, I like to think I’m just charming enough,” he retorted with a small grin. Thought brought out a chuckle and she leaned against him. He slipped his arms around her and let out a small sigh.
Ulrike began to fidget just a little bit. Han looked at her. “You ok?”
“Just a little stiff, I think.”
“Here, let me take care of that, then.” Han waited for her to turn a bit and then he began do massage her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh. She let out a small groan in bliss.
“Wow, that was great. Thanks, baby.”
“You are more than welcome.” Han stood up and he offered her his hand. She took it, arching a brow at him as he helped her to her feet. He pulled her close, his gaze intense on hers before he dipped her right over, kissing her fiercely.
When he righted her, Ulrike had to catch her breath. “O-oh wow,” she managed. “Th-that sure was something.”
Han grinned at her. “Wanna go back home?”
She nodded. But before they could go inside, Han took her hand and led her toward the edge of the property, to the river. “I don’t wanna go inside quite yet,” he said. They sat down on the bench together. They sat in silence for a long moment, just letting the serenity of the gently flowing water and each other’s company soothe their hearts.
After a little while, Han took her hand in his. She placed her hand over his. “Ulrike… I-I love you. I-I think I have since I first saw you.”
“I-I love you too,” she murmured, then gave a light laugh. “I-it’s funny… I-I never thought this would happen to me. I-I’m a rebel! A- a Renegade. And yet-“ She looked deeply into his eyes. “I’ve never felt like this about anyone.”
Taking this as a sign, Han stood up. He looked at the water for a moment, and then turned to her. She had stood up, her brow furrowed, concerned. “Han?”
Pulling in a deep breath, Han got down on one knee. He had read up on Sim mating customs. They weren’t that different from his own, but this whole ‘engagement’ business was a bit different than he was used to. He hoped he didn’t screw it up. He had to clear his throat as he took the little box from his pocket. “Ulrike Faust, I-I know we haven’t known each other long, but I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Th-that’s never happened before. I know things are uncertain and this- task I have to do sounds insane. Despite all that… will you take a chance and become my wife?”
She stared at him for a long moment, long enough that he began to feel his heart sink. Then she let out a little squeal and a string of “Yesyesyesyesyes!” She took the ring and he helped slip it onto her finger before she launched herself at him. He caught her just in time, laughing.
Ulrike wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his. “Me, a wife,” she murmured, a sense of irony making her grin.
“You’ll make a beautiful bride and a wonderful wife, ya know,” he told her. He gently let her down and drew her close, kissing her tenderly.
“We’ll have the wedding during the weekend. I start the new job tomorrow. But I have Saturday off. Does that sound good to you?”
“That sounds wonderful.” She laughed again. “Me in a wedding dress…”
He grinned. “You’ll look- breathtaking. I know you will.”
The two walked back to the house, hand in hand.
“Hey Kade,” Han murmured, looking at the gravestone. “I uh, wanted you to know, Ulrike and I will be getting married in another day or so.”
He smiled. “She’s- a heck of a woman. I know you only got to meet her just- well, just before. But she’s already a part of the household, a part of the- family. We miss ya, Kade. We really do.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But things are going well enough. Aside from the wedding coming up, I have a job. The garden is… well it’s beautiful. Jaimie’s taken over that duty now too. Marcus helps out… when he doesn’t disappear for days at a time. The Watcher says he’s doin’ his job. And he seems fairly happy, so I haven’t said much. Oh! The house is coming along. The Watcher’s finally been able to finish things up. There’s still a couple rooms that aren’t outfitted, but the majority are done.**”
“That’s all for now. I’ll keep you updated, as we go. We wouldn’t even have gotten this far, if not for you. Thank you, my friend. I’m sorry I didn’t say this to you when you were still with us. That’s my biggest regret right now. I know, I know. I have a feeling you’d smack me upside the head right now, if you could, so I won’t say any more about that. But I thought you should know what’s going on. I’ll keep you updated, I promise.” Han smiled a little and then turned to go back to the house, feeling a bit lighter than he had before.
**To check out more details about the house, go here: Additions/Decorated Rooms
Wolfie's Writings 