The wagon carrying Jax and Aurabelle rolled slowly away from Burrowlane.
Behind them, the village was still recovering from the previous night's celebration.
Smoke rose lazily from chimneys.
Farmers stepped into fields with noticeably less enthusiasm than usual.
A few villagers still slept beneath trees where the Pixie Mead had apparently defeated them.
And somewhere near Jonathan and Arial's home...
Someone was singing.
Badly.
Aurabelle leaned out the side of the wagon and listened.
She smiled.
"I think that's Auron."
Jax listened for several seconds.
"Should we go back and help him?"
"No."
"Should we tell someone?"
"No."
Another painfully off-key note drifted across the fields.
Jax nodded.
"Good. Let's try to get this wagon to move faster."
Aurabelle laughed and settled back against him.
The wagon continued down the narrow country road.
For the first time in days...
There was nothing they needed to do.
No wedding preparations.
No brothers testing him.
No businesses to manage.
No armies to fight.
No dungeon to clear.
Not yet, anyway.
For the next two days...
They belonged entirely to each other.
Aurabelle rested her head against Jax's shoulder.
Her fingers intertwined with his.
She had been unusually confident all morning.
Excited.
Playful.
Completely ready for this.
At least...
She had been while surrounded by fifty members of her family.
Now Burrowlane was disappearing behind them.
And suddenly...
They were alone.
Really alone.
Aurabelle's ears slowly lowered.
Jax noticed.
"Nervous?"
"No."
The answer came much too quickly.
Jax smiled.
"Okay."
Aurabelle narrowed her eyes.
"Don't 'okay' me."
"I didn't say anything."
"You thought something."
"I think lots of things."
She poked him.
"I'm not nervous."
"Never said you were."
"I'm excited."
"I know."
"Very excited."
"I believe you."
She stared at him suspiciously.
Jax stared straight ahead.
"...Stop being understanding."
That finally broke her.
Aurabelle laughed and buried her face against his shoulder.
"I'm a little nervous."
Jax kissed the top of her head.
"I know."
She looked up at him.
"It's different."
"How?"
Aurabelle considered the question.
She had shared Jax with the others for so long that being alone with him almost felt strange.
Llandra was usually somewhere nearby.
Zee.
Nyxian.
Someone was always around.
Even when Aurabelle had time alone with Jax...
Someone eventually interrupted.
Or needed something.
Or knocked.
Or simply walked into the room because apparently doors had become decorative objects at the Darquebane estate.
But now...
Two days.
No interruptions.
No sharing.
No one else.
Just her.
Aurabelle squeezed his hand.
"I've never had you completely to myself this long."
Jax smiled.
"Having second thoughts?"
Her ears immediately stood upright.
"Absolutely not."
She shifted closer.
"If anything, I'm wondering if two days is enough."
"There she is."
Aurabelle grinned.
Fifteen minutes after leaving Burrowlane, the wagon turned onto a smaller trail.
The fields disappeared behind a line of trees.
The path narrowed.
Then opened into a secluded clearing.
Aurabelle sat upright.
"Oh..."
A small cabin rested near the edge of a pond.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing resembling the enormous Darquebane estate.
Just a simple wooden cabin surrounded by trees.
A narrow porch faced the water.
Wildflowers grew throughout the clearing.
The pond itself reflected the morning sky almost perfectly.
No neighboring houses.
No roads beyond the narrow trail.
No crowds.
No family.
No Vixens.
Aurabelle looked toward Jax.
"You found this?"
"Your mother suggested it."
Aurabelle's eyes widened.
"My mother?"
"Apparently she's been planning your honeymoon longer than we have."
Aurabelle covered her face.
"Oh gods."
Jax climbed down.
"I specifically chose not to ask for details."
"Good."
"She did tell me the cabin was private."
"Good."
"Very private."
"Jax."
He smiled.
"She emphasized that part."
"JAX!"
He laughed as Aurabelle jumped from the wagon.
She slapped his arm.
"I'm never going home."
"You've been married less than a day."
"My mother ruined home."
Jax wrapped an arm around her.
"She gave us a cabin."
Aurabelle considered that.
"...Mother is wonderful."
"That's what I thought."
They unloaded very little.
They wouldn't be staying long.
Most of their equipment remained stored away for the Raid Cave after the honeymoon.
World Breaker could wait.
For two days...
Aurabelle didn't want to be a Vixen.
She didn't want to be an S-Rank adventurer.
She didn't want to be one of the increasingly famous women whose exploits appeared in newspapers.
She wanted to be Aurabelle.
And she wanted Jax.
Nothing more.
The cabin was comfortable.
A large bedroom.
Small kitchen.
Fireplace.
Bath.
Everything they needed.
Aurabelle explored every room.
Jax followed behind.
Eventually she opened the bedroom door.
Stopped.
Then slowly looked over her shoulder.
Jax raised an eyebrow.
Aurabelle's ears twitched.
"Later."
"Didn't say anything."
"You were thinking again."
"I've really got to stop doing that."
She closed the door.
Then immediately reopened it.
"Definitely later."
Jax laughed.
They spent the rest of the morning doing almost nothing.
It was wonderful.
Jax unpacked food.
Aurabelle found blankets.
They carried everything outside.
Lunch became a picnic beside the pond.
Jax had prepared sandwiches.
Although calling anything Jax prepared a sandwich had become increasingly dishonest.
Fresh bread.
Thinly sliced meat.
Cheese.
Herbs.
Sauces Aurabelle couldn't identify.
Fruit arranged around everything with the unnecessary precision of someone incapable of simply putting food on a plate.
Aurabelle picked up one of the sandwiches.
She stared at it.
Then at him.
"It's a sandwich."
"Yes."
"Why does your sandwich look expensive?"
Jax shrugged.
"Presentation matters."
"It's bread."
"Beautiful bread."
She took a bite.
Her eyes closed.
"...Fine."
Jax smiled.
"Good?"
She immediately grabbed another.
"No."
"Obviously."
"Terrible."
She pulled the plate closer.
"I'll dispose of these."
"Very generous."
"I love you."
"I know."
They ate beneath the shade of a large tree.
Eventually Aurabelle stretched out beside him.
Jax leaned back on one elbow.
She curled against his side.
The pond shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.
A breeze moved gently across the grass.
For several minutes...
Neither spoke.
Aurabelle finally looked toward the water.
"This reminds me of the lake."
Jax followed her gaze.
"What lake?"
She lifted her head.
"The lake where we found you."
Jax smiled.
"Ah."
Aurabelle settled against him again.
"I remember seeing you for the first time."
"The strange human who appeared out of nowhere."
"Confused."
"Completely lost."
"And asking a thousand questions."
"I was curious."
"You were exhausting."
Jax laughed.
Aurabelle smiled at the memory.
"Even then..."
She paused.
"...I knew there was something special about you."
Jax looked down at her.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Before or after I walked out of the water naked?"
Aurabelle froze.
Then burst out laughing.
"After!"
"I knew it."
"No!"
"You just said it."
"That's not what I meant!"
Jax nodded knowingly.
"Mysterious stranger emerges naked from lake. Rabbitkin immediately senses destiny."
Aurabelle shoved him.
"I was being romantic!"
"So was I."
"You ruined it."
"I improved it."
She climbed partially over him and poked his chest.
"I thought you were interesting before that."
"But special afterward."
"Stop!"
Jax laughed.
Aurabelle tried to maintain her glare.
Failed.
Then started laughing with him.
She rolled onto her back beside him.
For a while, they simply stared upward through the branches.
Leaves shifted gently overhead.
Birds called somewhere in the distance.
Aurabelle sighed contentedly.
"I really did know."
Jax turned his head.
She was still looking toward the sky.
"I didn't know what you were going to become."
"I didn't know what we were going to become."
Her fingers found his.
"But I knew I wanted to stay near you."
Jax squeezed her hand.
"I'm glad you did."
Aurabelle turned toward him.
"So am I."
They kissed.
Slowly.
Without an audience.
Without cheering.
Without Auron yelling something from twenty feet away.
When they separated, Aurabelle looked toward the pond again.
A mischievous smile slowly appeared.
Jax recognized it immediately.
"What?"
She stood.
"Let's recreate it."
"Recreate what?"
"The lake."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
Aurabelle stepped backward toward the water.
"The first time we met."
"You want me to be confused and suffering from memory loss?"
"No."
She slipped off her shoes.
"I want you to walk out of the water naked."
Jax laughed.
"I thought that wasn't the part you remembered."
"It wasn't."
Another piece of clothing landed beside her shoes.
Jax watched her.
Aurabelle grinned.
"But apparently it was important."
She finished undressing without the slightest concern.
They were alone.
Completely.
She turned toward the pond.
Then ran.
"Belle—"
She jumped.
The splash sent water several feet into the air.
A moment later her blue hair emerged from the surface.
Aurabelle wiped water from her eyes.
"Come on!"
Jax remained on the blanket.
"I'm comfortable."
She splashed toward him.
The water landed several feet short.
"Jax!"
"I just ate."
"You're supposed to wait thirty minutes."
"That's not actually true!"
"Seems irresponsible to risk it."
Aurabelle stared at him.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Jax knew that expression.
"No."
Aurabelle cupped both hands around her mouth.
"HELP!"
Jax sat upright.
"Absolutely not."
"I'M DROWNING!"
"You're standing."
Aurabelle immediately crouched until only her head remained above water.
"NOW I'M DROWNING!"
Jax shook his head.
"I married a disaster."
"YOUR BEAUTIFUL DISASTER!"
That got him.
Jax stood.
Aurabelle's grin widened.
He undressed.
She watched with absolutely no attempt at subtlety.
Jax stopped.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"It's my honeymoon."
"Fair."
Jax walked toward the pond.
Aurabelle waited.
He stepped into the water.
She immediately splashed him directly in the face.
Jax froze.
Aurabelle's eyes widened.
"...Mistake."
She turned.
Jax lunged.
Aurabelle squealed and dove away.
The peaceful pond became considerably less peaceful.
Water flew everywhere.
Aurabelle was faster.
Jax was stronger.
Neither advantage mattered because both were cheating shamelessly.
Aurabelle splashed him.
Jax grabbed her ankle.
She kicked free.
He chased her.
She disappeared beneath the surface.
Then surfaced behind him and wrapped herself around his back.
"Got you!"
Jax reached behind him.
Aurabelle escaped again.
Her laughter echoed across the clearing.
Eventually...
They stopped fighting.
Aurabelle floated in front of him.
Her arms slid around his neck.
Jax's hands settled around her waist beneath the water.
Her smile softened.
No jokes.
No teasing.
For a few seconds...
They simply looked at each other.
Aurabelle kissed him.
Jax returned it.
The pond moved gently around them.
Sunlight reflected across the water.
There were no armies here.
No Empire.
No Slave Guild.
No politics.
No businesses.
No shadows.
No expectations.
Only Jax.
Only Aurabelle.
When they finally separated, she rested her forehead against his.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
She smiled.
"Good."
Then splashed him directly in the face.
Jax blinked.
Aurabelle immediately swam away.
"Still a mistake."
Her laughter answered him.
They remained outside until the afternoon sun began sinking lower.
They swam.
Talked.
Ate the remaining fruit from the picnic.
Aurabelle told stories about growing up in Burrowlane that she'd never thought important enough to tell before.
Jax listened to every one.
The time she and Auron got trapped beneath a collapsed haystack.
The summer she tried raising six baby rabbits before someone finally explained they weren't Rabbitkin.
The time she ran away from home for almost three hours because Jonathan wouldn't let her become an adventurer at twelve.
Jax told her the fragments of his own world he could remember.
Not enough.
Never enough.
But Aurabelle didn't push.
Eventually they returned to the blanket.
Aurabelle curled against him while the setting sun painted the pond in gold.
She had expected her honeymoon to be exciting.
She had certainly planned for parts of it to be very exciting.
But this...
She hadn't expected this.
The quiet.
The feeling that there was nowhere else she needed to be.
No one else she needed to impress.
Nothing she needed to prove.
Just him.
And somehow...
That was better.
Aurabelle looked toward the cabin.
Then toward Jax.
Her ears slowly lifted.
Jax noticed.
"Something on your mind?"
"No."
"Okay."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Knowing."
Jax smiled.
Aurabelle stood and offered him her hand.
"Come on."
"Where?"
She looked toward the cabin.
Then back at her husband.
Her smile became considerably less innocent.
"We've recreated how we met."
Jax took her hand.
"And?"
Aurabelle pulled him to his feet.
"Now I'd like to work on making some new memories."
Jax pulled her back down onto the blanket under the shade of the tree.
"Let's start here."
The pond slowly became still.
The clearing returned to silence, if only for a moment.
And for once...
Neither of them cared what adventure waited tomorrow.
Today...
They had only each other.
And that was more than enough.