12 Epilogue - One Year Later

"Ready to go?" Leo asked.

"I think so!"

Marie was excited for this trip. She hadn't been to France in several years and her aunt had invited her to spend some time in Perpignan. She and Leo had both managed to get the week off, too, which made it even better.

The flight was long and they had two layovers, so seeing her tante Blanche with coffee was, frankly, a blessed sight.

"Marie! Mon étoilette!"she called from across the terminal.

The pet name made Marie smile. As a child, she had spent many summers by the lake near Blanche's house, gazing at the reflection of the stars in the night sky. She had called Marie her "little star" ever since.

"Ma tante!" They embraced and kissed one another's cheeks.

"Et il est ton petit ami?" She turned to Leo. "It's good to meet you."

"You too," he replied, slightly thrown by the rapid-fire French.

"Here, I'm sure you're hungry. Airplane food is rarely very good."

Blanche handed them a small box of pastries along with the coffee. They ate gratefully as Blanche chattered about Perpignan and various pleasantries. Leo was surprised she was so talkative. Marie had always spoken about her as though they were very close, so he never expected that they would be so different.

They got into Blanche's car and drove to a southern part of Perpignan where Blanche owned two properties. The first was her own home and the second she often rented out as a gite, a weekly rental house. The two were across the street from one another, nearly mirror images in a cheerful peach. Blanche pulled up to their destination and helped them with their bags.

"Tu te souviens où est tout, Marie?"

"Oui, merci. Nous vous rencontrerons pour le dîner."

"Bien sûr. À bientôt."

Blanche gave them both a peck on the cheek before leaving them to settle in.

"I'm sorry for all the French," Marie said, leading Leo to the bedroom down the hall. "I think she forgets which language she's speaking sometimes."

"It's alright. You know I like it when you speak French."

Marie flushed, smiling. "I'll make sure she's better over dinner." She sat on the bed before flopping backwards. "I'm so tired."

"Why don't we take a nap before we meet your aunt? I'm pretty wiped, too."

***

The pair slept until the middle of the afternoon. Despite the hour, the sun was still high in the sky, so Leo suggested they go for a walk. He wanted to see the city, after all, and the park was so close.

Marie was happy to show him around. She told him about the salon where she had gotten the shortest haircut of her life (by accident) and the little café where she had had her first kiss when she was twelve. Parc Sant-Vicens had been a favorite place to meet friends and lovers on hot summer nights. Leo and Marie leaned against the railing that surrounded the pond.

"I don't know how I forgot how beautiful it is here," Marie commented, sighing happily.

"And it's so quiet."

Marie laughed. "That's why it's so nice to vacation here. It's a smaller city. Fewer tourists."

Leo turned to face her. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Of course! I always want you with me."

"I could say the same to you." Leo kneeled down.

Marie gave him a confused look. "What are you doing?"

"I love you and I never want to not be with you. You're my favorite person and I want to make so many memories with you. Will you marry me?"

He pulled a small box from his pocket and revealed a delicate, teardrop-shaped aquamarine set in white gold. But Marie barely saw it.

"…yes. Yes!"

She fell to her knees to join him and pulled him into a kiss. He fumbled to put the ring on her finger, both of their hands shaking. It was slightly too big, but they didn't care.

Blanche was overjoyed, as were Marie and Leo's parents. Marie thought Piper's soul might leave her body in happiness during their video call, though she could hardly focus for staring at her new ring.

And, if Leo tied her hands to the bedpost that night just to watch it sparkle as he spanked her… well, that was his business.

~fin~