Welcome to Gaia! ::

He could barely contain his excitement as he opened the door, and led her in with gentle steps. He hoped she could notice the thick carpeting under her paws- it was a rich blue, like his mother thought she'd like, as it looked so much like Sarabi's blue accents. He wondered what she'd think of the as-yet bare apartment- but knew that no matter what, they were together- so it didn't matter where they were.

"Alright. Open your eyes!"

Her excitement and laughter made him... overjoyed. He laughed with her, and they danced about on the new carpet, and he felt 'grown up' for the first time- like he could handle anything. ....That was it, he thought. Why he'd been feeling like something was missing. The fear was gone- the anxiety about becoming a fifth stager, the not knowing, the wondering- it was all gone, replaced only by a sense of longing to be with Sarabi, and love for her- unending, complete love. ...He'd never felt it before. Not like this.

He put his paw atop hers, and looked into her eyes, saying so softly it felt like a whisper, "No two people could ever be this happy." And he leaned forward, and kissed her.

"I want to be a fifth stager with you, Sarabi. I want to be with you forever."

He could feel the cool white surface of her skull against his chest, and the two blended, white upon white.

"Oh Sarabi," he said, "I didn't, before- and I was afraid. I was afraid of what might happen, of what it might mean- of everything. But it's gone- and I just can't wait any longer. ...I'd never rush you. If you're not ready, I don't want to use it." He'd brought his camera, but he meant it when he said there wasn't any way that he'd let her sacrifice for him. He just felt it was fair to let her know that he wasn't afraid anymore.

Tawn nodded. He swallowed back a lump in his throat- but knew he wasn't afraid.

"Just a moment..." he swung the brown bag off his shoulder, undid the flap, and pulled out his fifth stage item. It'd been sitting in the cupboard in the dining room for as long as he could remember... and after that, it was on his dresser. Now, it was finally time. All he could think about was how excited he was.

"Alright... let me get a picture of you eating the gumball." He pulled the lens cap off, and brought the camera up to his eye. Then he paused, and brought it back down again.

"I love you. I just thought I should say that. No matter what happens to either of us, or how we look... I'll always, always love you."

As soon as she popped the pink gumball in her mouth, Tawn pushed down on the button, and the flash went off, snapping what he hoped was the perfect portrait. It clicked and whirred, and then fell silent. He let the weight of it bring his paw back down, and he rushed forward and hugged Sarabi.

"Well, I guess it's a week, then, huh?" He said, at a loss for words. He could hardly believe they'd done it.

"How do you feel? ....What's the gum taste like?"

((Toodles! ^_^ And yes, pm'ing Quiet'd probably be a good idea. Although she does seem to see everything that goes on around here. Lol.))

((Lol. See? Quiet knows and sees all. ^_~ heart ))