For the hundredth time that day, Jack Maple told himself not to be embarrassed.
It’s not a stupid idea. You know it isn’t! It’s sweet and romantic and clever and she’ll love it! Stop being such a coward!
The thoughts didn’t make the nervousness in his guy go away, but they did calm it enough for him to get back to work.
In the days since Katelynn had finally come home (and since they’d finally broken that horrible anon’s spell!), Jack had been trying to think of something special to do for her. They’d missed celebrating her birthday together, and he’d finally decided that, even if it was a few weeks late, he could throw a little surprise party for just the two of them. If she wanted to invite more people, they could have another party later, but – call him selfish – he wanted her to himself just this once. A day of thinking it over had given him some ideas, a few more days of preparation, and now everything was ready.
That morning, after Katelynn had gone out for the day, Jack had made his way down to a small bakery in their neighborhood, and picked up a tiny cake with white icing. Instead of asking for it to be decorated, he’d bought some tubes of colored frosting, and drawn a picture himself. Now that it was finally finished, he set it aside in the fridge, finished the last touches on the kitchen decorations, and went to change into the, ahem, costume he’d picked up as well.
Once he was dressed, he went into the living room to wait for Katelynn.
Here’s to hoping she likes it.
It had all started out with just a simple trip to the grocery store to restock on a few items they were missing which had quickly turned into many detours: stopping at every little corner to get back into her hobby and hiding behind her camera, debating on contacting some friends in case they didn’t wish to speak to her and just enjoying the falling leaves. She didn’t want to leave Jack’s side so soon after returning to his side but she didn’t want to overcrowd him either.
Sitting on a bench near the park and watching the golden leaved trees as each one fell to the ground like snowflakes, Katelynn couldn’t help but smile. It had been a year since she had moved to Metro City – already her one year anniversary – and soon it would be many more one year anniversary’s. Autumn had reminded her that winter was coming and with that Jack’s birthday, the one year since their first meeting, date, first time they had made love; all of it in one month.
How quickly they had fallen in love and yet she had not regretted it. In Jack she had found the happiness she had missed out on for so many years. He made her happier than anyone else could.
Thinking of her beau made her want to return to his side already, standing up from the bench, she sighed happily and enjoyed the trek back home, just deciding that even though her relationships with her friends needed to be improved upon, she had Jack to rely on, to love her no matter what and who would never leave her.
“Love?” she called softly as she stepped into the apartment some time later, looking around for him.
The lights inside the apartment were dimmed, only a couple of lamps left on. Instead, it was lit by the soft, warm glow of candles: some on a plate near the door, others in rows on the coffee table and on top of the television. There was even a (fake) candelabra in sight on the kitchen table.
“I hear and answer, m-my lady.” Jack’s voice came from the kitchen. As soon as he’d heard Katelynn outside the door, he’d gotten up and hidden himself, so as to make the proper entrance.
Now, he walked out to greet her, dressed in the elegant navy-blue uniform of a royal prince. A red silk sash was tied across his front, and golden epaulets rested on his skinny shoulders. High, polished black boots, and a heavy blue-velvet cloak trimmed with gold, completed the look.
He made a courtly bow in front of Katelynn, sweeping his cape in what he hoped was a graceful, gentlemanly gesture. “Welcome."
Jack Maple 