AN: Some sexual themes. Young readers/sensitive readers warning. No private parts shown. If reading in a public place you may get strange looks once you get to the bottom few pictures.

Christmas and the New Year had passed without incident. We were always watchful, but never fearful. Cal and Aron were growing like weeds. With every passing day they could walk and talk better than the one before. Ezra was recovering quickly and the Resistance was slow, waiting for the right opportunity to act.

The Government was cracking down more so than ever with the start of the New Year. There were even rumors spreading of a camp in existence hidden somewhere in the heavily forest areas outside Bridgeport. A place where witches went to die. The rumors gained enough momentum to ruffle the feathers of the humans that had previously sat back and let the Government do what it wanted to us.

Change was on the wind. It hung heavy and thick. Each party, the Government and the Resistance, was waiting for the other to make the first mistake that would push this war into its final stages.

However, here in Hidden Springs, at 2 Ponderosa Dr., it was easy to relax. Changes would be coming here too, sooner than the war, and considerably better.

******

I stood in the nursery with Aron in my arms, Cal playing in the toy chest.

“Here it’s safe, here it’s warm. Here the daises guard you from harm. Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you.” I sang softly to the grumpy toddler.

He yawned and laid his head against my shoulder.

“You’ll make a good mother someday.” Ezra said. I glanced over to him.

“I’m not so sure.” I whispered, laying a not sleepy Aron in his crib.

“Why? You do amazing with them.” He replied quietly.

“Yea, but they’re my nephews. Anytime they get crazy I can hand them to Juniper or Silven and I’m done.” I walked towards him and pulled him outside the door so we didn’t wake Aron. He smiled and me and shook his head.

“Come on, get your coat on. I want to take you somewhere.” He said.

“Okay…” I mutter, walking past him to our room. I changed into some warmer clothes and walked back to a waiting Ezra.

***********

Ezra stepped out of the car and came to my side, opening the door. We had pulled up into a driveway.

“Where are we?” I asked him.

“ Silven and Juniper’s lake house.” He said, turning around, “Here, hop on my back! My Logan shall not get her feet covered in the snow.”

I laughed but climbed onto his back as he had asked. He carried me through the snow and stopped at the pond, setting me down next to a bench.

“Put these on and let me amaze you with my ice skating abilities.” He winked.

I laughed and sat down, slipping them on.

“Oh gnome Ez, you do realize I grew up with a pond in my backyard, right?” I asked “I’m going to blow you out of the water.”

“You mean off the ice? Cause the water is frozen so I can’t be blow out of it.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes and tossed some snow at him, standing. I moved to the edge of the pond and tested the strength of the ice. Ezra appeared behind me and took my hand.

“Come on.” He said, pulling me gently onto the ice. Our hands entangled together and we moved easily across the frozen pond, our breath coming out in white clouds.

“When did you learn how to ice skate?” I asked him.

“I had 18 years to learn before you became the center of my life.” He said, drawing a laugh from me, “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

“Oh really?” I asked.

He laughed again and changed directions, sliding in front of me and taking both my hands in his. He turned his feet and began a slow spin, pulling me closer to him. Then, he planted a soft kiss on my lips.

“I love you, Logan Belle.” He whispered, sending chills through my body.

“I love you too, Ezra Levi.” I whispered back. He let out a deep breath and pulled me to the side of the pond.

“Logan…” He said, looking suddenly nervous.

“What? Is something wrong? ” I asked, his change in demeanor making me nervous. He let out a shaky laugh.

“Nothing’s wrong, just let me do this okay?” He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. I was about to protest but stopped as I saw the look in his eyes.

“Logan Belle, I love you. I guess I have since the first time I saw you, I just didn’t realize it until you were older. You’ve had a tough life, and seeing you break broke my heart. You’ve come back a stronger person though. You’re one of the strongest women I know.” He looked down at his hands, I noticed they were shaking. “These past couple months have been some of the worst of my life, not because of what I went through, but because we were apart.” He looked back up to me.

“What I’m trying to say Logan is…” He knelt to the ground and produced a little black box. “Will you marry me?”

I froze. All of time froze. The question reverberated through my mind. I looked from the ring to Ezra’s golden eyes and felt time move again. I knew my answer.

“Yes.” I whispered. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Ezra’s face lit with happiness and relief as he stood and wrapped me in a hug. He pulled away just enough to kiss me.

“The girls can’t wait to plan the wedding with you.” He whispered after the kiss had finished. I shook my head.

“No. No, I don’t want to wait. Let’s get married now, here. It’s not like a ceremony will make it legal. We’re witches; the government won’t give that to us.” I rushed out. Ezra smiled.

“Are you sure?” He asked. I nodded. “Then come with me, wife. I have something else for you.” He pulled me to the bench. “Get your shoes back on.”

I rushed back into my shoes, excited for the next surprise. The ring on my finger kept catching my eye sending excited chills through my body. Ezra laughed as I jumped up, ready to go.

“Climb back on my back and close your eyes.” He said, turned around and kneeling down for me.

“Keep them closed.” He told me.

I heard his footsteps move from snow to something more solid. A door creaked open, and after a few moments another door creaked. He set me down and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“Okay, open them.” He whispered, his breath brushing against my ear.

I pulled my head from his chest and opened my eyes. The sight made me speechless.

Crème colored candles covered nearly every surface, their flames lighting the room. What wasn’t covered in candles was covered in soft pink flower petals. The candlelight caught the emerald on my ring, sending a shower of lights across the bed. Ezra moved me over to the bed at sat down, holding me in his lap.

“I love it.” I said, amazed, looking to the beautiful man in front of me. Looking to my husband.

I smiled at him and pulled him into a kiss. It became deeper and more passionate and suddenly we were grabbing and pulling at each other’s clothes. Ezra pulled away as I began pulling at his belt.

“Logan,” He whispered hoarsely, “Are you…are you sure?”

I knew what he was asking. We had yet to have sex. I was still shamed about what I had done before and Ezra had been respectful of that. Sure I was nervous, possibly more than he was, but I was sure in my decision.

“Yes.” I whispered.

Ezra smiled down at me, a blush rising on his cheeks as I began to pull on his belt again. My heart was pounding so loud I wondered if he could hear it. I was no stranger to sex. I was however, a complete stranger to making love.

“I love you, Ezra Belle. I love you more than anything in this entire world.” I told him, smiling as I moved on top of him.

Ezra smiled and crushed his lips against mine. Both our hearts raced, but we knew this was right. Nothing had ever felt more right in our entire lives.