Morning light remained soft against the office walls.
Nothing had changed.
And yet… something had.
Leah was still sitting on Izana's lap.
Her head resting lightly against his chest.
His arm around her waist.
Secure.
Steady.
His pen moved slowly across the paper in front of him.
But not with the same focus as before.
Because she hadn't moved.
And he hadn't told her to.
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
"Izana."
His voice was calm.
"Yes."
Leah shifted slightly.
Not leaving his lap.
Just enough to look up at him.
Her fingers played lightly with the fabric of his shirt.
"I was thinking about something."
He didn't look away from the document.
"Then say it."
Leah hesitated.
Then—
"The wedding."
His pen paused.
Just slightly.
"Continue."
Leah took a small breath.
"Who are we inviting?"
Silence.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… thoughtful.
Izana placed the pen down.
Then finally looked at her.
"Necessary people."
Leah blinked.
"That sounds very… business-like."
"It is efficient."
She tilted her head.
"It's a wedding, not a meeting."
"It will still be controlled."
Leah frowned slightly.
"I don't want it to feel controlled."
Izana studied her expression.
"You want something else."
"Yes."
"What."
Leah thought for a moment.
Then said softly,
"I want people who matter."
Izana's gaze didn't waver.
"Define 'matter.'"
Leah smiled faintly.
"People who actually care."
A pause.
Izana leaned back slightly in his chair.
Adjusting her position without even thinking about it.
"So not many."
Leah let out a small laugh.
"Wow."
"Am I wrong?"
"…No."
That made her laugh again.
But softer this time.
"I still want it to feel real."
"It will be."
"No," she said gently.
"I mean… warm."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"Elias."
Leah smiled.
"Yes."
"Dante."
"Obviously."
A brief pause.
Then Leah looked at him carefully.
"And… anyone else?"
Izana's expression didn't change.
"No."
Leah didn't push.
She simply nodded.
"That's okay."
A small silence settled again.
Then Leah shifted slightly in his lap.
Her fingers brushed lightly against the ring.
Her gaze dropped to it.
"It's still strange."
Izana followed her gaze.
"What is."
"This."
She lifted her hand slightly.
"The ring."
His voice was calm.
"You don't like it."
Leah immediately looked up.
"No—no, I love it."
"Then what is strange."
Leah smiled softly.
"You chose it."
"Yes."
She shook her head slightly.
"That's not what I mean."
Izana waited.
Leah's voice softened.
"It wasn't chosen for an arrangement."
"No."
"It wasn't for a deal."
"No."
"It was just… for me."
"Yes."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"That's what feels strange."
Izana's gaze softened—just slightly.
"It is the first thing I chose only for you."
Leah froze for a second.
Then her cheeks warmed.
"That's… unfair."
"How."
"You can't just say things like that."
"I am stating a fact."
Leah laughed quietly.
"You're dangerous."
"I am aware."
She leaned forward suddenly and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you."
His hand moved instinctively to the back of her head.
Holding her there for just a second longer.
Then he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"You don't need to thank me."
"I know."
She didn't move away.
Instead, she stayed close.
Comfortable.
Safe.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Izana?"
"Yes."
Leah hesitated again.
"You're not allowed to say no immediately to this one."
"That depends."
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Try."
He waited.
Leah took a breath.
"…Are we writing vows?"
Silence.
This time it lasted longer.
His arm around her didn't move.
But his gaze shifted slightly.
Thinking.
Leah watched him carefully.
"You don't like that idea."
"I did not say that."
"You didn't say yes either."
Izana looked at her again.
"What do you want."
Leah answered honestly.
"I don't want something formal."
"Or rehearsed."
"Or… empty."
She swallowed slightly.
"I want it to mean something."
Another pause.
Izana's voice was quieter now.
"Then it will."
Leah blinked.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No, it's not."
She sat up slightly in his lap now.
Looking at him properly.
"Will you write vows?"
Izana held her gaze.
Then—
"Yes."
Leah froze.
"…Just like that?"
"Yes."
She searched his face.
"You're not even going to argue?"
"No."
"Why not?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Because you asked."
That hit harder than expected.
Leah's expression softened.
"You're making this too easy again."
"I am making it correct."
She smiled.
Then leaned back against him again.
Satisfied.
But only for a moment.
Because—
"There's one more thing."
Izana raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You said that before."
"I know."
"Continue."
Leah looked toward the window.
Her voice quieter now.
"…When I walk down the aisle…"
Izana's arm tightened slightly around her.
"Continue."
Leah hesitated.
"Who… walks me?"
Silence.
A deeper one this time.
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Leah quickly added,
"It's okay if—."
"No."
She stopped.
Izana's voice was calm.
"You will not say 'it's okay' like that."
Leah looked up at him.
"…Then what?"
Another pause.
Then he said quietly,
"You don't need someone to give you away."
Leah's breath caught slightly.
Izana continued.
"You are not something to be handed over."
Her chest tightened.
"Then… how?"
Izana looked at her.
"You walk to me."
Leah blinked.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
A small silence.
Then—
"…Or."
Leah tilted her head.
"Or?"
Izana's voice softened.
"I meet you halfway."
That broke her.
In the best way.
Her eyes softened immediately.
"Izana…"
"That way," he continued calmly,
"neither of us stands alone."
Leah didn't even try to hide her smile this time.
"That's… perfect."
"Yes."
She leaned into him again.
Closer.
Then suddenly—
She pulled away completely.
Izana blinked once.
"What are you doing."
Leah stood up.
A playful glint in her eyes.
"Wait."
She walked a few steps away from the desk.
Then turned around dramatically.
"What are you doing," Izana repeated.
"Practice."
"…Practice what."
Leah lifted her chin slightly.
"The wedding."
Izana stared at her.
Silently.
Leah took a deep breath.
Then began walking toward him slowly.
Overly graceful.
Overly dramatic.
"You're supposed to look emotional," she said.
Izana didn't move.
"I am."
"You don't look emotional."
"I am not expressive."
Leah stopped in front of him.
Hands on her hips.
"That's not helpful."
Izana reached forward suddenly—
And pulled her back onto his lap.
Leah let out a small surprised laugh.
"Izana!"
"That was unnecessary."
"It was very necessary."
"No."
"Yes."
She was smiling now.
Fully.
Comfortable again.
Then she said softly,
"You know…"
"What."
"A lot of people are going to be looking at me."
Izana's expression didn't change.
"They will."
Leah tilted her head.
"That doesn't bother you?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
Izana's voice dropped slightly.
"They will be looking at my wife."
Leah's breath caught.
"And?" she asked softly.
"They will look once."
A pause.
"Then they will look away."
Something in his tone made her heart race.
Not threatening.
Not angry.
Just certain.
Leah's cheeks turned pink again.
"You're very intense sometimes."
"Yes."
She smiled.
Then rested her head back against his chest.
Right where she started.
Safe.
Warm.
His hand moved slowly through her hair again.
Gentle.
Unhurried.
The office fell quiet once more.
No urgency.
No pressure.
Just them.
And this time…
The future didn't feel distant.
It felt close.
Real.
And entirely theirs.