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Oh, the witch wasn't quite so sure of that point. Having been on the receiving end of a shouting match with the doll, Belladonna was a bit more inclined to believe that any mistake she were to make (even as something as childish as hiding wine) would incur quite a heavy wrath from Ramona. But then again, she was also inclined to believe anything overly dramatic so perhaps that was where most of it stemmed from.
But she said nothing in return, for the smile that dims before her is more pressing, is far more important. Unsure of how exactly or where precisely she faltered, the witch takes a moment to consider her words. All she had said was that Halloween was a cliched day to propose, which it was since it was already a special day it meant there was no reason to supersede the celebration with a less meaningful declaration.
Only, that had been the day Mort had confessed his own declaration of love...
Oh, you horrid witch.
Most inconspicuously, and with a small, sheepish smile, Belladonna leaned forward and looked up at Mort.
"I can guess what you are thinking and I apologize for having misspoke... But surely you understand that your coming back on Halloween was something extraordinarily special..." Her voice is hardly above a whisper, but she's certain he can hear her. "And the fact that you spoke of your love for me is not something cliched... I had waited an awfully long time to hear you say those words..."

Though she wanted to say more, to tell him he didn't have to be in the wedding if he truly didn't, she doesn't bother. First she must mend this tiny fracture, must hope to avoid another pitfall. Not having realized he was so sensitive, the witch feels poorly over having been so careless. Honestly she should have known better, for he'd been touchy for weeks now. More prone to melancholy than usual, she'd done her best to be bright and chipper and upbeat, but it had taken its toll on her too. Maybe that was why when he'd asked for space she immediately dove into melancholy, for though she had fought it to the best of her ability, it was still something that clung to her skin and riddled her heart.
But there was precious little else she could do but smile at him, attempt to bridge the gap between them with a hand stretched out across the table. It does not make it all the way to him, for she leaves her palm up and fingers opened toward him. If things are alright, if he wants to fix this blip on an otherwise perfect evening, he will touch her.
He will take her hand and forgive her.

It is a good sign when he leans forward to hear her, and though the moment of hesitation he enacts before taking her hand does something to further her own worry, it is erased when his chill envelopes her fingers. That particular drop in temperature is such a comfort that she finds it within herself to smile a bit brighter for him as she looks up into his face. What could be a very serious moment is something she will do her best to turn light and sweet, for that tends to heal him better than anything else.
"Well, you had somewhat spoken of your love for me during my own confession..." She means during their parting in the Haunted House, but is reluctant to speak of that precisely. "So I waited until you came back... But, I had been hoping that you had felt that way about me for a little bit longer than before either of us had spoken on it."
Now she is able to say that, whereas before he had reciprocated her love she was certain it was not the case. He had been affectionate toward her, yes, and perhaps even adored her, but the witch had been quite sure in the idea that he did not love her. For love is wonderful and beautiful and pure, and she is so selfish and did not deserve that glorious feeling from him.

The arrival of the waiter startled her a bit, but only insomuch that she clung to Mort's hand a little tighter. The moment had stretched out and wrapped her up, made her forget that they were in a busy restaurant and not all alone as they so often were. It was an odd feeling, but she smiles at the waiter and then at her zombie, also ignoring the bread for just a few minutes more, even if she is quite hungry.
"But I hope that my own timing was not poor... I... I had felt that I loved you for a very long while and had nearly told you a number of times earlier..." Still smiling, she's surprised to find herself a little melancholy too. Things had been going so well, but a small slip up was all it had taken to make him so serious and down. Belladonna was not sure she could keep from making another mistake that evening, but was also beginning to doubt her own ability to cheer him from his woes.

Though certainly an odd promise to herself, the witch made quite certain not to let anything the zombie might say ruin her good mood. She was working very hard to make this better, to make him feel better and she would be damned if she let a mention of the past undo all of that. Even if she knew it would hurt. A rational part of her whispered that it was normal to feel hurt, especially over that time. It had been emotional, tumultuous, generally confusing but over all mostly painful. The hours that had dwindled past her had been lonesome and raw, so now that she had managed to make it through, she promised herself not to be sad over it. It simply would not do, not right now when Mort needed her light to keep him going and she needed to know she could help him in some manner.
"You are quite the remarkable person, but I was not wholly aware of when exactly I knew that I loved you. Only that one day I knew. And it might not have been very long after I realized it, but it felt like forever until I told you." Ever one for melodramatics, she could not help the words that spilled from her mouth now. It felt like a confession of its own, to tell him of how very much she'd longed to let him know she loved him, of how long she'd wanted to speak the words.

And while she had promised herself not to be hurt, a tiny little sliver of pain wormed its way into her heart regardless. Most likely it wasn't that it was a different Mort, it was just that he hadn't really loved her until he witnessed her devotion to him. After all, wasn't that exactly what she thought? Wasn't that exactly why she piled on affection, attempted to pull him under her current, did whatever it took to let him know she cared? That in hopes he might feel the same?
Despite her smile that she refuses to let slip, Belladonna bit down on her lip a little, afraid of the doubt that rises within her. This wasn't fair to him, but it certainly wasn't fair to herself to think like that. Things had been difficult leading up to the events in the Haunted House, his mind had been clouded by other worries and concerns. They'd fought numerous times, he had been weighed down by his Initiate tasks and she... She had pushed when she should have waited. Suddenly it felt like him loving her at all was a miracle.
"Still, I am glad you do love me."
There, right there. That was the salve she needed to keep going.
Of all things, he did love her now and that was more than enough.

The offer of bread does honestly perk her up and she gratefully takes the half he gives, carefully nibbling on it to keep crumbs from falling down her dress or onto her lap. It tastes absolutely amazing, doing wonders for her worries.
"Ah, yes... That would be... That." Whoops! How embarrassing it was to know that it had been so very obvious! Yet her cheeks flushed even more so to know she had caused him any sort of discomfort.
"I honestly do apologize... I-I..." Have always loved you much more than you realize.
And she always would, wouldn't she? Always give everything, always take what was offered, however little and if she dared to ask for more and was refused she would not ask again. Hecate, she was in deep.
"Next time you should push. It shall be a fun change of pace." Belladonna chirps quickly, for she is suddenly afraid of her own heart. Such a small organ seemed so powerful, outlandish in its devotion to the zombie across from her. But it was not something she was prepared to sacrifice, not at all.
All that she could do was hope he would one day feel the same for her.

The quick reply to her apology has her blinking at him, surprised by his words. It is only a second or two that she stares at him with wide eyes before her smile grows bright and wide. Well, if he puts it like that...
"Then I take back that apology. Might I apologize for apologizing incorrectly?" That supposed to be a joke, indicated by how she giggles behind one hand, doing her best to shine brightly for him. After all, she is aware of the fact that she should be doing her best to keep him afloat. For if she cannot continue to bring him out of his despair, then they would both be lost. Its a heavy burden to bear, perhaps one that is vastly unfair, but she doesn't honestly care. She would rather give it her best try and fail rather than give up now only to watch him spiral ever downward. Far too stubborn to give up, especially when Mort was involved, she would do her best to be the starlight in the dark of night.
As for his second comment along with the obvious darkening of his face, the witch paused with her mouth open, half a piece of bread stick hanging in the space between.
"Oh?" She managed as her own face colored a bright pink and she quickly lowered the bread because whoops. Oh Hecate, he wasn't being serious was he? Not that she didn't want him to be (she really, really, really did want that to be true), but she mostly didn't want to get her hopes up only to have them fall when nothing came to pass. Which was already impossible as the witch had colored and warmed and quietly wiggled in the most discreet manner possible.

Thankfully the most glorious distraction came at his question. That was far more easily answered and the witch clapped her hands together happily, the bread abandoned back onto the small plate that sat before her.
"I am having the most wonderful time! This is such fun!" It would be easy for her to spout the number of lovely things that had happened thus far, but Belladonna pulled herself back and lowered her voice to a softer, kinder note. "You have been so kind to plan such an amazing night for us, I do not know how to express my gratitude, nor how happy you have made me." Carefully she brushed her fingertips free of crumbs and stretched out her hand to touch his once more.
"Mr. D'Ossa is absolutely charming, the limousine was quite a surprise, but I rather liked it! This restaurant is fantastic and if this bread is any indicator, I am vastly excited to actually eat for it should certainly be delicious." Whoops, she had gotten kind of zealous when she hadn't meant to.

The continued look of bashfulness accompanied with the zombie's neck scratching had the witch blushing all the more. Oh! He was serious! How absolutely delightful! But unwilling to push simply because she had done it so very often, she only laughed a little and dropped her gaze to her hands in attempt to hide, at least in part, the bright blush she was sporting. Perhaps that particular endeavor wasn't going so well, but she looked back up at him in a shy and coy manner before she dropped her gaze again.
It would not do to pester him about it though she certainly wanted to, but she was given the happy distraction of looking up to see him sit up a little bit straighter. It might not have been much, but it was something and the witch happily perked up too.
"You are truly too good to me." The witch told him with a bright smile. Since she'd already finished her wine she couldn't mimic his sip, but that was alright. It just meant she got to beam happily at him all the longer.

All the fidgeting and fiddling of his hands, however, was distracting on its own but she only reaches out with the other of her own hands so that she can hold the two of his and keep him still, if only for a moment.
"Hey, if I can't apologize then neither can you. Its understandable and I am not mad or put off. I am just... Mad at myself that I have not been able to help you more." Honestly she wanted to say she was sorry, but she had just forsworn apologies! There was no way she could back out on the deal now and let him spiral into his own guilt tripping path that she knew he stuck close to.
But what to do! If she let them continue on this sad route then the whole night would be ruined. So instead, new topics of conversation must be found. Hmmmmmm...
"The wind is really picking up out there. I knew it might rain but a storm? I hadn't expected that. Did you plan that too?" Not at all meant as something rude or insulting, there is a twinkle in her eye that tells him he should take credit for the storm, regardless of its creation. "Will you hide with me under the blankets when we get back and tell me a story?"

The long moment that stretched out between them made her worry, for Belladonna knew he was worrying too. And it was such an unfortunate thing as their date had been going absolutely flawlessly until only a few moments ago. It had certainly been a bit of her own fault that the date had taken a turn for the melancholy, but the whole thing was most definitely amplified by his... Condition. One the witch found herself growing angrier towards day after day. That was the cause of all their strife, all her torment and woes. He'd come back, but he'd come back incomplete deep in his Core. And she was not enough to fill in the gaps.
"Well perhaps no bu--" She'd begun to protest, her gaze darted back down to the table as she prepared to launch into a tirade of all the things she did wrong. She pushed when she should be patient, pulled when she should have asked gently, worried more and added worries to him, did not believe what he did say and ruined perfectly good dates by being careless in her speech. But none of that made it past the confines of her mind. Instead it dimmed to nothingness when he kept talking and squeezed her hand.
Oh. Oh... He did notice her and all the help she tried to offer. Oh.
Feeling foolish, the witch flushed and cast her eyes about for a moment before she looked up at him and smiled. This whole situation wasn't at all one bit fair, but... But if he appreciated her, truly, well then she could keep trying. Really she could.

The smile that faded at the mention of a storm had her flapping a hand at him, her own smile growing brighter in hopes to allay at least a little of his worry.
"The storm can't last forever! And the moment it clears up we'll go out flying. Even if its late! We haven't been flying in ages and it is so wonderful to go out after a storm. Everything is still and glazed with rain water and the air smells absolutely delicious way up high!" She chirped at him, bright eyed and wiggly. And when he smiled again at the mention of a story, it was such a relief that she visibly sighed and brightened all at once.
"Do you have any other stories about Mellow and Aura? Did they go on any other adventures? And what about when they got married! Surely they had a big wedding that some very bad people wanted to crash? Or scarelings! Did they have--"

No more was said as the witch cut her excited tangent off as she realized their waiter was not entirely patiently waiting next to their table, food in hand. With an apology the witch pulled herself back to her side of the table, having sprawled out a bit in the interim and only just now noticing how unladylike she had been behaving. And in a horribly fancy restaurant at that!
The witch flushed a bright pink that thankfully dimmed at the arrival of her food. Their waiter was also quick to deposit their dishes with little else to do but offer them more bread before they floated back off.
"Hecate this smells amazing~" She cooed, her stomach rumbling as she hastily unfurled her silverware and smiled at the zombie in silent thanks for the meal.

Regardless of whether she was just speaking of the weather or if she had somehow managed to slip a metaphor in there, the witch stood by both statements. Especially given the way he looked at her, a bit of momentary peace clear on his face. That of all things could keep her going. A smile seemed too much to ask for, often so hard to strive for and often disappointing when she could not coax one out. But for him to look peaceful, nearly hopeful, that would do just nicely.
"Extra lightning is hardly anything to worry about. That is easily discharged and what we'd really have to worry about is if we went out too early and have it begin to rain on us again!" This made her laugh and she covered her mouth to keep it from getting too loud in her gleefulness. Things were looking up, she had maneuvered past her slip up and they could continue this night in love and joy. This was going to be alright. Everything was going to be alright.

The plate placed before the witch was delicious looking, let alone absolutely steaming with wonderful smells. With a sigh of joy she looked at it adoringly before she thanked their waiter and began to carefully curl noodles around her fork. It was a bit of a slow go as she wanted to be as ladylike and proper as possible, but she was absolutely starving so a compromise had to be made. This meant she took typically larger bites than probably was necessary, but hey. At least she managed not to spill any on herself...
"Mmmmmmmmmmm this is sooooo goooooddd...." She mumbled as she took another big bite, then perked up at the return of conversation about Mellow and Aura. Belladonna laughed and nodded, bothering the zombie with more questions and suggestions for the next story he should tell her.
Her dinner was delicious, a fact she informed him of often as they ate. Perhaps she should be embarrassed by how quickly she ate, but the witch had been worried and excited and all sorts of emotional and her pasta was just so yummy! So when she finished, there wasn't any to take home with them. Still, the witch smiled and profusely thanked Mort for their meal, all fluttering hands and bright smiles as he paid for them. Then it was back toward the car and the waiting Mr. D'Ossa, where the rest of their night would surely unfurl from in a much happier and brighter manner. The witch was vastly excited for what would come next.

One could say that she had merely put aside her fear of lightning in favor of much more tangible and very real fears, but that was something not to be spoken of at the moment. Or perhaps if she were very lucky, not for the remainder of the night. Food suited them both quite well so that by the time the witch finished she was rosy cheeked from the wine and all bright, bubbling laughter and smiles thanks to her zombie.
With glee she stood with him under the veranda, watching with wide, wondrous eyes as the rain fell. Maybe they had gone to an Italian restaurant, but this was just like those scenes in all the gorgeous French movies. A nice dinner with wine, then a down pour outside, some stolen kisses... Speaking of which, Belladonna turned her head back up to him for more but was satisfied with what she had gotten. So perhaps she was a bit wanting since they had been so standoffish to begin with, but the witch only dropped her cheek to rest against his shoulder as they waited. At least until she was pulled all the closer and his jacket was offered. Normally she might have declined just because his jacket would be just as chill, if not more so, than himself and the weather outside... But, it was such a romantic image in her mind that she turned a shy smile up to him.
"Would you mind terribly?"

The arrival of D'Ossa and the limo had her all sorts of bouncy as she waved quite vehemently when he waved to them. Careful to hold the tails of her dress up as well as step lightly around the puddles already formed, she dodged under his umbrella.
"Heated seats? Goodness, that sounds most excellent! And dinner was absolutely fantastic, amazing, so delicious! I am positively stuffed but it was delightful and I loved it!" A great many more complimentary adjectives could have been used at the moment, but the witch only turned to look up at Mort... Just in time to see his smile. Maybe it was because of how she'd missed being with him for three days, or how she'd been so hands off thus far, but the slyness of his smile made her all sorts of tingly suddenly.
"I always want dessert." The witch told him a little softly, not entirely sure (but certainly hoping) that he meant more than just some ice scream. Mostly because she was pretty full from dinner, but also because well... He looked beyond handsome in that suit. A ghoul really just couldn't help herself against something like that!