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Jora leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Sage move about the space with that familiar ease. It had become second nature for them both, falling into their rhythm—almost like nothing had changed. Except for the fact that he was still recovering, that weight in his movements, that little catch in his breath now and then. She noticed, of course, but didn't comment on it. He wasn’t ready for that yet. Still, seeing him power through the work, helping to set the table, was a small relief. He was strong, even when he didn't feel like it. The food was ready before long, and the satisfaction of seeing him dive in so eagerly, devouring plate after plate, made the effort worthwhile. It was comforting, in a way, watching him enjoy the food she made. And despite the exhaustion that had clearly hit him, Jora let him have his space, knowing he'd likely be out the moment his head hit the pillow. She took her time cleaning up, cleaning the kitchen, giving him his quiet. By the time she finished, he’d already retreated to the bedroom, too tired to wait. She couldn’t help the small smile that pulled at her lips as she stripped down to something more comfortable and made her way to bed, slipping in next to him. The warmth of his body was enough to pull her into a peaceful sleep, too. It wasn’t the ideal plan, but maybe sometimes, this was enough. They were home. They were safe. And that was all that mattered. |
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Sage didn't move when Jora finally slipped into the bed. He didn't have to, she curled up against him and there was no need to try and get any closer. He slept better than he had in a long while... He probably hasn't slept this good since they were home, before they'd left for her father's ship and all that craziness had happened. But that was in the past. There was no need to dwell on it now. He stirred softly the next morning, the sun warm where it slipped through the cracks in the curtains. He sort of grabbed and moved to shift slightly, turning to bury his face in Joras chest and then settle down again, as he normally did. The familiarity of it all was just so relaxing, he supposed. It was nice to be home. Things needed to get done, yes, and he was excited to do those things... But this was nice too. He'd take his time walking up. Spending time with Jora. That sort of thing. |
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Jora’s eyes fluttered open, the soft light of morning slipping through the cracks in the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. She shifted slightly, feeling the familiar warmth of Sage next to her. His quiet movement as he nestled against her chest made her smile faintly. He was peaceful here, at least for now. She could feel the calm rhythm of his breath, the weight of his body resting against hers. It was comforting, even after everything they’d been through. But then, through the silence of the morning, the sound of Lyra’s crying reached her ears. It wasn’t the wail of a child in pain, but more the soft, upset cry that came from waking too early or feeling a bit too alone in the quiet of the house. It tugged at Jora’s heart, that sound, and she instinctively shifted to sit up, her hand lightly brushing over Sage's shoulder as she moved away. Her mind lingered on the feel of him next to her, the warmth they shared, but the pull of responsibility, of being needed elsewhere, snapped her fully awake. She glanced down at him briefly, knowing he’d probably slip back into his dreams soon enough, but it wasn’t her time to sleep anymore. It was Lyra’s turn for comfort, for care. With a soft sigh, Jora slid from the bed, her feet making barely a sound against the floor as she walked toward the source of the crying. "Lyra, sweetheart," she murmured gently, moving to pick up the child. Her arms were warm and steady as she soothed, the quiet morning chaos now slowly taking shape around them. As she cradled the little one against her, her thoughts wandered back to Sage. He deserved the peace of these moments too. He needed them as much as she did. But for now, the moment was hers, and she held it close, even as the world outside stirred awake. |
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Sage had felt Jora shift when the baby started crying, and groaned slightly but released Jora so she could grab the baby. He would have gotten up, but he had barely registered the fact that she was crying by the time Jora was already getting up, so he let her go get the little girl. He certainly wouldn't be much help, so he just shifted to curl up within the warmth Jora had left behind in an attempt to keep it there. He woke up more eventually, sort of getting up and dragging himself to the bathroom to get ready, before emerging and moving to greet Jora and Lyra happily. Even now, the peace seemed to envelop them in a quiet, soothing manner he couldnt help but be so incredibly thankful for. "Sleep ok," he asked, though he knew the answer would be a positive one. He moved to grab an apple eventually, though, moving back out to the shed to finish the crib. It really didn't take him longer than half an hour or so...but then he'd started on the ring, which took a while. He was proud of the result though....it was a nice dark wood he'd found, sanded and polished until the grain of the wood shone. The rock he'd shaped into a small pearl shaped piece, nestled into the top center of the ring where it seemed to glitter in the morning sun. He couldn't help but grin and slip it into his pocket, finger running over the smooth surface of it. It was her birthday, of course, and he was glad to have finished on time. He quickly moved to sneak out of the shed and to the clearing he'd found a while back, surrounded with ivy and trees and flowers. The ledge overlooked a just beautiful section of the ocean and horizon. It was the perfect place. He couldn't have her suspecting anything though, so he set up a nice picnic area, with drinks and food and all the rest. A special wine he'd been saving. That sort of thing. Then he wandered back quickly, bringing the crib into the house so Jora wouldn't suspect anything abnormal about that either. "For lunch we should go have a picnic," he noted to Jora after setting the crib up. "For your birthday. Selene offered to watch Lyra," he added lightly, pecking her lips as he passed her. |
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Jora had barely settled into a soft, sleepy haze when she felt the familiar shift beside her. She knew what it was before she even opened her eyes—the baby’s cry. Sage didn’t even get a chance to react before she was already moving, instincts kicking in. Her body groaned in protest at the movement, but she was up and gone, her arms reaching for the baby without a second thought. She tried not to dwell on the slight disappointment she felt when Sage stayed behind, but the fact that he didn’t make a move to join her, letting her handle things, wasn’t lost on her. She didn’t mind, though. She wasn’t mad, just a little... more resigned than usual. It’s how it always went. She quickly soothed Lyra, the baby's soft cries soon turning into cooing sounds as she was cradled against her chest. When morning came, Jora was already awake before he had fully roused, even though she had been up most of the night. Still, she let Sage sleep as long as he could, letting him wake when he was ready. His warmth had been a comfort, and she’d almost wished it lasted longer. She caught him when he came out of the bathroom, a tired smile tugging at the corners of her lips as he greeted her and Lyra. His presence was always steadying. "Sleep ok?" he asked, a soft, knowing tone in his voice. Jora nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Better now." She was always content when he was around, and Lyra was still in her happiest mood this early, so she could actually enjoy the quiet moments they had. She watched him move to grab an apple, his usual habit of starting his day with something light. Her eyes followed him as he headed toward the shed. She didn’t think much of it. Sage liked to stay busy with projects, and she’d gotten used to that over the years. It wasn’t long before he reappeared, his hands full of wood and tools, his eyes focused. She knew he was working on something, but again, she didn’t pry—she trusted him, and it didn’t seem like the time for questions. After all, it was her birthday today, and she had a feeling he had something special planned, though he always tried to keep his surprises hidden well. Sage's return was almost casual, like he had done nothing out of the ordinary. He spoke of a picnic for lunch, something she couldn’t help but smile at. "A picnic?" She raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a playful glint. "Selene offered to watch Lyra, huh?" The soft peck on her lips made her heart flutter, and she kissed him back, her fingers gently grazing his arm as he passed. "That sounds nice," she said, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was a bit different today. But Sage was always good at hiding things, so she let it be and just took in the warmth of his presence, the love that lingered in the air between them. It was a peaceful morning. Still, her curiosity gnawed at her in the background. What was he planning? |
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Sage had just grinned in response to Joras comments, nodding along. "A picnic," he agreed. "Out in the woods. I found a nice spot a while back," he chirped, clearly excited about the whole thing. Of course, he was excited about proposing...but he was also just excited to spend an afternoon with her. He chuckled softly when she mentioned Selene, and he nodded. "I asked her yesterday. She was more than happy to hear what my plans were," he added happily. He moved to take Lyra from her, the baby cooing happily as he scooped her up and sort of pretended to toss her around, the way you'd play with a baby. Small movements, and obviously gently ..nothing that was going to get her hurt. But still fun. "Meet me by the front door, yeah," he noted lightly with a wink, wandering off to find Selene and hand Lyra off, thanking her quickly before meeting Jora at the door and taking her hand, practically bouncing with excitement as he led her to the spot yes set everything up at earlier that morning. |
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Jora watched Sage, her smile softening as she saw the joy in his eyes. His excitement was infectious, and the idea of a picnic in the woods sounded perfect. She couldn't help but laugh as he playfully tossed Lyra in the air, careful and gentle as ever. "You spoil her, Sage," she teased, though there was an obvious warmth in her voice. She had always known Sage had a heart as big as the sun, and seeing it now, so clearly, made her heart flutter a little. "By the front door, got it," she called after him, still grinning as she followed him inside. She couldn't help but wonder what he had planned—he was a man of surprises, after all. When he met her by the door and took her hand, her heart gave an involuntary skip. His excitement was almost palpable, and she found herself drawn to him even more. "You seem extra bouncy today," she teased, squeezing his hand as they made their way out. Whatever this picnic turned out to be, she was sure it would be a moment she wouldn't forget. |
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Sage couldn't help but chuckle softly when Jora said he spoiled Lyra. "Well who else is going to," he mused lightly, though soon enough had joking Jora and led her down to the ledge he'd found. "I guess I'm just happy to be home, and with everyone safe and sound," he noted lightly. That was true, though of course he was excited for the rest of the day. Though, once they got to the ledge, the paused in front of the ivy sheet that was blocking the view. He pointed at it with a grin. "Through there," he noted with a grin, waiting for her to duck through and watching her expression closely. He hoped she'd like it. He'd done his best to make it a nice, romantic spot for the two of them. |
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Jora followed his lead to the ledge, her boots clicking softly against the earth as they made their way through the familiar surroundings. "Safe and sound... yeah, that does feel good," she agreed, glancing up at him. His words, light as they were, carried more weight than he let on, and she found herself feeling a quiet sense of peace in knowing they'd made it this far together. As they approached the ivy sheet, Jora couldn't help but pause, eyes narrowing with curiosity. She caught the glint in Sage’s eyes, the one that told her he had something planned. When he pointed and gave her that grin, her heart gave a small flutter of anticipation. Without hesitation, she ducked under the ivy, slipping through with practiced ease. Her breath caught in her throat when she emerged on the other side. The view was breathtaking—a quiet, secret space nestled away from everything else, the air filled with the scent of earth and flowers. She blinked a few times, absorbing the moment. She turned back to Sage, her smile softening. "You really outdid yourself, didn't you?" The spot felt like it was made just for them. The thought of Sage, putting in so much effort to create something special, made her heart swell in a way she didn’t expect. She reached out to lightly touch his arm, a small gesture of gratitude. "Thank you." |
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Sage had hummed in agreement to her comment, though his mind was focused on other things for the most part. By the time they got to the ivy though, he really was just so excited to spend the afternoon with her. Proposing to, of course, but that had to be the right moment. Everything had to be perfect. He felt his grin widen when she seemed pleased by it all, and nodding slightly to her. "I thought you'd like it out here," he hummed softly. "Happy birthday Jora," he added, sort of tugging her over to the blanket he'd set up on the soft grass and sat down, tugging the basket over. It wasn't much...he still was just terrible at cooking, but he could make some sandwiches and stuff like that. So he'd done his best. Hopefully, even though she was much better at cooking and the meal wasn't super fancy or anything, she'd still like it. He thought they tasted good, anyway. They got to eating soon enough, and the food didn't last super long. Well...there was some left but they were both full after a certain point. It was still nice to sit there though. He could feel his heart pounding, just waiting for the right moment to propose. |
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Epic Blizzard ! Stock up on Supplies
