My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Peter and Celeste had gone to Willowcombe. The little family was lying under a blanket, shaded from the sun by a huge tree-one that Celeste had always loved, and that Spike, back when he was younger, had loved climbing.

Peter had one hand tucked under his head. Celeste rested her head on his chest, while his other arm wrapped protectively around her small body.

His eyes were closed, and he breathed in her familiar scent of roses-a scent that, for him, now meant "home."

Every time he caught the fragrance of roses, he knew: that was what home smelled like now.

"I love you, Celeste," Peter said suddenly, without even opening his eyes.

Hearing him, Celeste lifted her face and gave him a bright, joyful look. She turned her gaze toward their twin girls, sleeping peacefully in their bassinet.

"Peter... I love you even more. I love you for everything you've given me," Celeste said with emotion.

Peter opened his eyes at her words, intrigued.

"What have I given you?" he asked curiously.

Celeste smiled warmly, meeting his gaze, and then she began to speak:

"You've given me a family. Before, I was alone... well, not completely, I had Spike, my old cat, who now spends more time sleeping than awake.

"But you you came out of nowhere and gave me this beautiful family. You gave me a home, a real home, like the one I used to dream of when I was a little girl watching from the outside.

"Since I've been with you, I have to confess I'm not afraid anymore. I used to live my life in fear, always worried that something might happen to me, and there'd be no one to care for me or for Spike. But ever since you arrived, that fear disappeared.

"I love you because you gave me the chance to be a mother again—and not just once, but to two beautiful little girls.

"Having you, having our daughters, having Spike, and this home-I don't need anything else. This is the life I want. I want a simple, peaceful life. I want a family life. I want a life with you and our girls," Celeste finished, her voice heavy with emotion.

He watched her hair, wild and curly, long and tangled from the wind. He watched how simply she

said, "Looking at you now...

was giving her. "There's no woman in the world I'd rather be with than you. Did

told me that a few times," Celeste

tell you that now, for me, there's no one more beautiful than you. You have a beauty that's captivating-here," he said, pointing to his heart, "and

after. But that's the magic. You, just being you, have captured me completely. I

seeing those beautiful eyes of yours, without kissing those luscious lips, or burying my face in your neck to lose myself in your scent of

softly, "that your scent makes

replied, shaking her head

look at you. I'm almost twice your age and now you're my partner-and soon,

led him to a very

important: where do you want us to get married?" Peter

thought you didn't even want to get married," Celeste said, a little

I want to marry you? I gave you an engagement ring, didn't I?" Peter said, looking at her as if it were the most obvious thing in the

thought it was

truly getting married. The only thing I need to know is when and

pointing around them

a few tables over there, a few more there, string lights hanging up as night falls, a small dance floor here, and the altar right beneath this

still caught in the surprise of it all. Peter had already imagined everything—and it wasn't that she didn't want to contradict him, but... everything he described was exactly

some point, she had convinced herself that Peter wasn't the type to get married -much less to dream up a

was obvious he truly wanted the wedding to take place

idea made her heart swell with

light with excitement.

us to get married at sunset. What do you think?" she asked, a wide, happy

said, taking her hand and kissing it sweetly, then using his other hand to gently draw her closer by