i wanna make you _move_ {melanie;;}

[Conner Hale]

{ooc| I was bored. x3 and this is short, but... meh }

The sound of the clock ticking incessantly on the wall was enough to drive most sane people absolutely nuts. It just kept ticking in its steady, monotonous way without any other noise in the library to disrupt it. Most library patrons were glancing up at it and giving it filthy looks, as if they were hoping the clock would burst into flames at their whim. Or just break. One of the two. However, there was one patron who seemed unnaturally good at ignoring the thing. Either that or Conner just had too much on his mind to bother thinking about it, seeing as he was pouring over a very large and very dull looking book titled "Architecture History of Western Europe." It looked about as thick as a telephone directory and about as interesting. And yet he just kept plowing through it, either ignoring the dullness of the text or somehow being able to cope with it.

Conner occasionally scribbled random notes on a pad of paper next to him, along with a few quick sketches of what was being depicted there. The sketches weren't works of art, but they weren't half bad either. For someone who'd never even tried to draw before, Conner was catching on pretty quickly. Then again he had to if he wanted to become an architect, which was what he was aiming for. And to get into the school of his choice he would have to prove he could handle this level of self study. Even if it was excruciatingly boring, and even if he would much rather be somewhere else. Or be with someone else, rather. With a slight sigh Conner set his pen down and rubbed at his temples, closing his eyes temporarily as he took a break from reading about French architecture of the fifteenth century. Why he had to read up on all of this was beyond him. But he needed to do it, so he'd do it whether he wanted to or not.

With another sigh Conner's gaze strayed to the clock, mentally groaning when he saw that it was only three o'clock. He'd promised to meet Melanie at five, which meant he couldn't just leave and go early. Two hours early, to be exact. He didn't think she'd mind, but still, it would be rude. And this way he at least had a foreseeable end to this studying in sight. Conner reluctantly tore his gaze away from the clock and back to the page, forcing himself to once again dive into the incredibly dull text. Well, at least he could tune out the clocks ticking noise, otherwise he might just go crazy like some of the other library patrons.

Only two hours to go...

[Melanie Aldridge]

this is not what i intended

[/size][/b][/color]
i always swore to you that i’d never fall apart[/font][/i]

you always thought i was stronger.[/size][/b][/color]
i may have failed but i have loved you from the start.[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/b][/color] she said, feeling the truth behind her statement. She smiled, but it only remained on her face for a second, all the time not looking up from her book. She knew if she looked straight at him, then that would be the end of it. She wouldn't be able to just sit here and read. No, she would have to just look at him, hold his hand, or do something. Conner had this spell on her that she doubted even he could explain. He was the first person she had ever truly loved, and the only person she would ever love, so most of this was understandable, but it was more than that, much more. They were meant for each other, and they fit so perfectly together that there was almost magic of some kind keeping their bond strong, along with, of course, their ability to keep that bond strong on their own. She stopped for a second, took a deep breath, and looked at him, and his eyes. She wanted to melt. Even now, after the time they had been together, just looking at him still made her want to melt into a puddle. "I missed you." she said, as she looked at him. But she didn't just miss him, she missed his eyes, his smile, and the way she felt when she was around him.

word count: 1351
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: fini.
jams: fall for you, secondhand serenade
notes: this isn’t some of my better work, but I am tired. xD
[/size][/font][/ul]

[Conner Hale]

The book before him had to be the most boring book Conner had ever picked up to read in his entire life. It absolutely had to be. It was dry as a desert, and about as interesting to look at. Still, he read it and absorbed the information with a dogged sort of determination, hammering the knowledge into his brain quite forcefully. He had to know this if he wanted to even have a chance of getting into college. After all, he was starting rather late, not to mention the fact that his grades when he'd gone back to school in La Push had been sub par. But that had been a different time for him. That was from a time where he had still been so absolutely attached to his little sister that even a hint that she would one day leave would have caused Conner to shoot a nasty glare at you. But those were old times. Conner's life was changing, and with the change he was learning to, albeit reluctantly, let go of his baby sister and let her spread her wings. Still... the emphasis in that sentence was still placed heavily on the reluctant bit. But he was getting better, bit by bit, thanks to a new presence in his life. One that had changed his world so abruptly and so completely that he knew it would never ever go back to the way it had been before. So completely that Conner knew that she was the one thing he could not live without.

Melanie...

[/color]

Just the thought of his imprint made him seem to soften a bit around the edges. His furrowed brow smoothed as his frown of concentration dissolved, the thought of her alone was enough to distract him from his reading. All thoughts of Renaissance architecture fled his mind as he promptly spiraled off into his little world of daydreams. The ache in his chest, which he'd been ignoring, gave a very harsh throb to remind him of its presence in an almost resentful way. His desire to see Melanie was suddenly roaring back full force and with a vengeance, that section of his heart (or rather, the whole heart) devoted to her scolding him with abandon about how he'd been neglecting her. He winced inwardly, looking sheepishly down at the book before him. He had been neglecting her, and that was something he was not proud of. Not in the least. Not only was he anxious about how it was all making her feel, but being apart from her was about as pleasant as getting a tooth removed. He didn't like being away from her, not one bit. Short absences from her presence he could endure easily, never seeming to notice the difference until he got her back into his arms and realized what it felt like to really breathe. Those short absences, those he could bear.

But the periods they were apart just kept getting longer now that Conner had both work and studying on his plate. The word of his prowess as a handyman had gotten around, even to Forks, and plenty of people were quick to call him up for everything from a hole in their roof to a leaky faucet. While the influx of work was nice, it allowed him to buy more things for Mel and Clary and make the house a bit nicer, it meant he had to spend more time out of the house than he would like. Add that to his study routine and stack his Pack duties on top of that and you got one overloaded werewolf. What free time he had was generally reserved for minor things such as sleeping and eating, although lately he was so tired when he got home that he'd stopped caring where he went to sleep so long as it wasn't the floor. And yet on the few occasions that he did fall asleep in his bed, he'd wake up to find Melanie there. Which, suffice to say, was enough to make his day. Still, even though she was living in their house Conner continued to play the part of the gentleman. He'd fixed up their spare room for her (although once he figured out that she liked the couch he'd discreetly laid some warmer blankets there) and did everything he could to make sure she'd feel welcome. He'd stood aside to let her mess with the house on a whim, not really caring about it much himself but letting her do it because it obviously made her happy. And when Mel was happy, he was exuberant.

Which was why he allowed her to dress him in the things she made. She may have thought she had him fooled, but he knew. The shirts smelled too much like her to be from any old store, and he'd noticed that she'd been buying fabric. He played along anyway though, because that made her happy. Besides, Conner wasn't one to pry. He would wait until she was ready to tell him what she was up to, and when she was ready he would give her his full attention. Until then he tried his own silent means of encouragement for whatever it was she was doing. He wore the shirts more than his old plain ones, and complimented them when she presented them to him. Conner had never been one for showy signs of affection. He was too quiet for that, even though Melanie's presence had made him much chattier than he'd ever been before. But with Mel Conner simply didn't feel the need to be showy about their relationship, and with her words seemed to be an afterthought. Most of the time they could communicate what they were feeling without saying a word.

With the tinkling of the library door bell a warm and familiar scent wafted over to Conner. He was jerked out of his temporary revere and glanced up surreptitiously, spotting her easily before his gaze flicked to the paper. He began to take notes again, although a bit slower than before as he listened intently for the sounds of her approach. Finally the sounds of a chair scraping on the floor next to him broke through the monotonous ticking of the clock, and Conner smiled faintly at her greeting. He didn't say a word for a moment, simply letting the reassuring smell of her scent wash over him. He relaxed immediately, an anxiousness he didn't know he'd been feeling melting away instantly. "Hey."[/color] he responded after the pause, his voice a soft, deep rumble like always. There was no use studying now that she was here, her scent alone was a distraction. Looking up would only seal the deal, so he did just that. Slowly and deliberately he set his pen down and looked up from the page to meet her eyes. The moment he did his gaze softened and he slid a hand forward to take hers. "Missed you more."[/color] he said, smiling his own crooked little smile at her as he ran his thumb over his skin. Immediately the pressure that he didn't realize had been on his chest lifted and he relaxed contentedly. As always, her presence reminded him how it felt to really breathe.
[/size][/blockquote]

[Melanie Aldridge]

this is not what i intended

[/size][/b][/color]
i always swore to you that i’d never fall apart[/font][/i]

you always thought i was stronger.[/size][/b][/color]
i may have failed but i have loved you from the start.[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/color][/b] she paused, taking a deep breath. "I can't stand it. You've been so busy. And I mean... I understand. I just miss you." she said, feeling horrible, because she didn't want to make him feel bad. She just missed him and she wanted him to know how much. She hated that it sounded like she was trying to make him feel bad, because in fact, she was trying to make him feel better. To know that even though he was busy, her world was still wrapped in all that was him, and her thoughts never wandered to anything different. He was always there, always in her mind, in her heart. "Don't feel bad either. I understand. You have a lot to worry about. And I know that a big part of your busyness is because you want me to be happy and to be safe. But I don't need fancy things, or anything at all. The only thing I need is ... you. Just being with you is the greatest gift in the entire world. I needs nothing more." she said, feeling kind of silly for putting all of this on him, but when you only get so much time to talk to the person you love, every moment counts. She stopped, smiling at him, and kissed him softly on the lips. "You should know one thing, since I haven't gotten to tell you on account of you being busy." she said, taking a second to make him wonder what she had to say. "I love you, Conner Hale, and nothing in the world will ever change that." she whispered in his ear. She moved back, closing the books that were in front of her, now having no interest in reading.

She moved forward towards him and smiled as he took her hand. Immediately she felt calm from the warmth of his hand. She forgot how bad it felt not to feel that warmth that made her feel alive. She had forgot how it felt to feel alive, which she only felt with him. She also felt bad, because when he was busy, she would sneak off, and she knew he wouldn't like that at all, because he was often really worried about her, but she had been doing it for a lot of reasons - to get some air, to think, and to get his attention most of all. Melanie had never been the best at expressing emotions, especially since her family was killed. She felt like it was useless, because when you expressed your emotions, you were more likely to get hurt. This wasn't as hard when she was with Conner, except when her feelings involved something she didn't want to say out loud, like how she felt neglected in a way, not that she didn't understand, but of course she felt that way, deep down, just wanting attention from him most of all. She even knew he had been busy with goals that would effect her too, and that he didn't mean to be so busy, but she still felt that way, because she missed him and loved him, and it was unbearable being away from a person you feel so strongly for, especially when the periods that you are apart are a lot longer than you could ever handle. "Sorry for interrupting you while you were studying. I just couldn't wait until five. I don't like scheduling time to see you. Even if I just watch you work, that is enough for me. Being so far is hard.... I thought I could handle it, but I have to admit, I am not as strong as I though. I'm not strong at all. I don't have super-strength. " she said, lowering to a lighter whisper and leaning in towards him. "Like you." she joked, trying to be funny. The truth was she wasn't sure about how super his strength was, or sure about much that involved werewolves, but she assumed it was something pretty super, because Conner was amazing, and he seemed to be able to handle a lot on his jobs in both the towns that most people couldn't handle.

She loved that he always thought about her and her happiness, because she wasn't use to someone caring that much, and because it made her think how funny it was, since she was always worrying about his happiness and thinking about him. They really were meant for each other, in all ways. She didn't know about imprinting at this point, but that was another thing that proved they were meant to be. She loved how he made her feel at home in his home, and she did, but not for the reasons he thought, and not because he made it her home. "I love it at the house, but it isn't my home." she said, pausing. "You are my home, and if you aren't at the house, then I am not home." she said, realizing how corny that sounded, but that is was still true. She took a deep breath. Nothing felt right when he wasn't around. The world felt like a dark and scary place without him around. It was like a dream she didn't want to have, and she hated that. But being around him made everything better, and made the world bright and happy again. She could stand anything if he was there. All the things she hates, things that hurt her, all of it, as long as he was there. He was her home, her love, and her safety. No one had ever been more to her, and never would be. Being without him, it was like being without life. Or being a ghost. You saw yourself doing things and 'living', but you weren't really living, and you are outside of yourself, like you are a million years away. But being with him was like breathing for the first time, as though you had never actually been breathing to begin with.

She laughed when he said he missed her more. She wasn't sure which one of them had really missed who more, but it was funny to think that anyone could miss someone as much or more than she missed him. It was impossible, to be simple. Her mind was always on him, and her heart always with him. When he left, she lost herself, and she was somewhere far off, with him. The definition of living only meant anything when he was around, and it may have been extreme to other people, but not to her. She felt at ease and safe whenever he was around. Most of all, she felt alive when he was around, like her life had been a dream, and when he was around she woke up, to really start living. "You make me feel alive Conner. It seems silly, but I don't feel alive when you aren't there. I feel like I am drifting and I can't find myself. But when you are here, everything comes rushing back. Like drowning, and when I'm with you, I reach the surface and I can breath. Does that make sense?" she felt weird saying that out loud, but she knew he wouldn't scold her or think that she was weird for saying it. Conner always understood her when she said things, and most of the time she didn't have to say a word for him to know what she was thinking. In fact, sometimes she wondered if being a werewolf meant you could read minds, but she doubted it. She knew it was because their bond was strong, and their understanding of each other stronger. Being away from him for so long was making her dazed and woozy. Being close to him now made her feel so awake, like living had been nothing but a dream. She kissed him again, and moved close to him and wrapped her arm around him, so that now their chairs made a couch-like sitting placement so she could have him hold her and still let her look at him with her head near his shoulder. He was warm, and it reminded her that living without him was the only true cold she had ever known.

word count: 1476
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: fini, finally,
jams: fall for you, secondhand serenade
notes: i like it, and i hope you do tooo.
[/size][/font][/ul]

[Conner Hale]

Being around Melanie never got old. Every time he saw her he felt his lung fill with the air he'd failed to breathe, and every time they met his heart swelled to the point where he was sure it would burst, and yet it never did. But even if it never burst, it always, always felt like it would, and he knew it would continue to feel that way until the day he died. Oddly enough, he found that he didn't mind. In fact, he wouldn't have it any other way. His gaze remained on her face as she proceeded to speak in a rush. He was used to having her get it all off her chest at once, it was how she worked and he understood that. Still.. a tiny flicker of pain appeared in his eyes, though he masked it quickly, when he learned just what it was that was on her mind. The guilt, which he had temporarily forgotten, hit him in the gut with the force of a freight train. He could hide the pain, but not the anxiety that the words brought on. His grip on her hand tightened soothingly as he gave her a mournful, apologetic, almost sheepish look. "...I know."

[/color] he said softly, and that was all he needed to say. In those words he conveyed an apology, and the fact that he too had been missing her. Using words to express that would have been unnecessary in his eyes. What she said next though, now that made him melt. The look in his eyes was one of absolute tenderness as she spoke, the crooked smile returning when she kissed him. "You're all I need too Mel."[/color] he said gently. "And I am sorry about being so busy. I'll be better."[/color] His smile simply broadened when she finished her next statement, and it seemed that he had forgotten the book at his side. "I love you, Melanie Aldridge, and nothing and no one will ever change that. Not ever."[/color]

Conner ran his thumb lightly over her hand, marveling how it was dwarfed in his. Every time he saw how small Melanie was in comparison to him he immediately started to treat her as if she was some sort of precious porcelain doll that would shatter if he touched it wrong. Which, given their difference in strengths, wasn't exactly impossible. He continued to trace gentle patterns on her skin, all the while being acutely conscious of where she was and being extremely careful not to press to hard. But even though he was trying so hard to be careful it was taking quite a bit of his resolve to stop him from gathering her up in his arms that very moment. The coolness of her skin against his was soothing and he'd missed her presence so badly it had become an ache that just wouldn't leave. He was starting to feel more and more guilty about leaving her all alone in the house. Not to mention selfish. Even if she tried to hide it, and even if he tried to hide it, it was clear that neither of them liked being apart from the other for long. And yet the irresistible pull of his dreams kept tugging him away from her, which frightened him. But he knew that, if given the choice, he would give up every dream he'd ever had for her and never regret the choice. And if that was what it took to make her happy, then so be it. He shook his head when she apologized, raising one hand and pressing a finger gently to her lips. "Don't apologize Mel. I'm glad you came. I was thinking of leaving and coming to see you early too."[/color] he said softly. "And you are strong Mel. Very strong. You've put up with me for this long, and you have to be stronger than an ox to be able to put up with me being such a workaholic."[/color] he said encouragingly, lowering his finger reluctantly from her lips, although he simply captured her other hand with it instead. "Believe me, I don't like it either. From now on, I'll study at home where you can see me. Promise."[/color] And he did mean it. Probably meant he wouldn't be able to concentrate as well, but he would gladly pay that price. Perhaps it was time to start taking time off work too. The people of Forks and La Push could survive a few days without a handyman, surely.

Although the words about his house not being her home quickly brought Conner down from his high. The look on his face was so positively pitiful you'd think you'd just kicked a crippled puppy. It wasn't too often that Conner's mask slipped off as completely as it just did. Melanie was one of the few people who could make the behemoth lose control over his emotions. In some ways it was good, but in other cases (such as now) it could be.. problematic, seeing as his emotional stability was completely dependent on hers. A flick of her finger or a word from her lips could either bring him to a soaring high or crashing down to an all time low. Most people would say that emotional dependency on that level couldn't be healthy. But they just didn't understand imprinting. The fear, worry, and devastation on his face quickly left though when Mel continued her sentence. Relief washed over his features and he visibly relaxed, the smile returning to his face. The silly boy seemed to doubt his hold on Melanie's heart for some unfathomable reason. "I know the feeling, Mel. When you're gone its like... its like theirs an empty void in the place. It feels too big... too.. cold..." he paused for a moment, struggling to find the right words. "It all feels... wrong. Empty, without you. Like I can't breathe right."

Her laugh was all it took to bring him back up again, a broad, crooked grin spreading across his face, and he seemed to be practically radiating happiness. It was times like this that made big, brooding Conner look more like the lovable teddy bear he really was. Or rather, it was mostly her presence that peeled the layers away to show the true Conner who was hiding out of sight. It was so obvious that he only became complete when in her presence. At any other time he would seem whole.. more or less, but there would be a definite piece missing. A sort of anxiety about him too, as if he was looking for someone or waiting for something. Probably due to the fact that he was always thinking about Melanie. About where she was, what she was doing, or how soon he could get back home to see her. There was only one spot in his heart that hadn't been taken up by Melanie, and that had been reserved for Clary. But even that portion, which was quite big, was dwarfed by Melanie's claim. She'd patched the holes that needed patching, and filled in the empty places, performing repairs even that he didn't know had needed to be done. Without he he was empty, incomplete, one part of a whole. But when he was with her... well, then he was the happiest man alive. "I understand you completely." he said in response to her words, his eyes suddenly gleaming with mischief after she kissed him. He tugged her gently out her chair, removing his hands from hers and wrapping them around her instead. He leaned down to kiss her enthusiastically, remaining there for a long moment before he pulled away (but only far enough away so that he could speak) and rested his forehead against hers. "Though you ought to be ashamed of yourself you know, Miss Melanie." he said in a mock scolding way. "Kissing a man in a library. The librarian will have your head for this young lady."
[/size][/blockquote]

[Melanie Aldridge]

this is not what i intended

[/size][/b][/color]
i always swore to you that i’d never fall apart[/font][/i]

you always thought i was stronger.[/size][/b][/color]
i may have failed but i have loved you from the start.[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/color][/b] she said, being completely serious about this. She didn't want him to settle. She wanted him to get everything his heart desired. "Don't be sorry. I really do understand. I just miss you is all. Just make sure you leave a little time for the girl you love, okay?" she said, smiling and nudging him. She almost died the moment he said he loved her. Every time he said it, she couldn't believe how good it felt to hear it. It astonished her that someone could say it, and in their voice and the air about them, that she could tell they meant it. And it was even more amazing to her to find someone who meant that. He had taken her from her lonely world, and made her feel safe. She hadn't felt alone since she met him. She loved how he could do that to her, and with such ease.

She laughed again, shaking her head this time. "Put up with you? Do you really believe that, Conner? That I put up with you? .. I don't! I'm glad to be with you, and even happier to 'put up with you' as you put it. You don't do anything wrong, as you seem to think. You do everything right. You're perfect." she said, stiffling her laughter into silence. She took a breath, her smile not fading. She thought it was funny how he used that expression. She loved that he worked and he tried so hard at everything he did. He was such an amazing person, always worrying about her, trying to make her happy. It was astonishing and overwhelming, and she loved it. "I'm very much in love with you Conner Hale, and I love you working and doing what you love. I just want a little time too. Nothing that we can't easily fix." she said, and then kissed his cheek. They hadn't ever had a fight, and they had never had a situation they couldn't fix. It was easy loving Conner, easy being with him. It was refreshing not to try so hard. She was just her, and he loved her for that. And she loved him and appreciated that he loved her for who she was instead of who she would never be. "I'd like it for you to study at home. And you don't even have to be in the same room with me. Just knowing you are in the other room would be enough for me. And then I could be sneaky and bring you a snack when I need to see you or give you a kiss. And then we could be close, and both still work on things." she paused, smiling still as she peered into his eyes. "You could work on your studying, and I could work on my sewing. All those shirts... I made them for you. I know you don't like flashy things, and you like simple things, but I had to experiment with different fabrics and colors, and the only ones they had in certain fabrics tended to be pretty bright or patterned. Sorry. Didn't mean to make you be someone you aren't." she explained.

She melted into him as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on his lap. She was happy that he was holding her - she had missed this most, the feeling she got when he held her. She felt safe, loved, home, but mostly, she felt complete. The warmth of his body submerged her in happiness. It was so horrible being cold, in the sense of what it meant. Being cold meant not being in Conner's arms - meant not being whole. Because whenever she was with Conner she was warm. And whenever she was cold, she was scared, and lonely. She hated that feeling, hated the cold in all that it was. She only wanted warmth - the very warmth she got from Conner. "I hate the cold. It reminds me you aren't there - it reminds me I'm not whole, because I'm not with you. I hate that - because with you, I'm always warm. she said, cuddling into him, as though being against him still was not close enough. "How are your studies going anyway? she asked, hoping he was getting a lot done if he was away for so long. Then it wasn't for nothing, and she could be content. "You know something? If you have your own architecture business, I could do the interior designing. I like interior design, and decorating. We'd be an unstoppable team." she said, laughing lightly. It would be something to behold to see them working away so diligently. No other business could keep up, or dare be nearly as good as they are together. She loved how he smelt, and how warm he was. It felt good just to be in his arms right now, but she could hear the librarian getting huffy at the front desk, and she honestly didn't care. It was a public library, and the only rules were to be respectful and to be quiet. They were whispering, and if their being affectionate bothered her, then she could look away, because there wasn't anyone else in the room who seemed to care at all, which meant they certainly weren't being disrespected.

"I guess I should be put in jail then, because I am certainly not stopping any time soon." she said, kissing him, and letting her lips linger on his own for a minute. "And what of your behavior, dear Conner? You of course, are not innocent. You are kissing back a girl in a library!" she said, her mouth gaping in mock surprise before she started to giggle. "Since I don't like to be rude... maybe we should go home where I can kiss you as much as I want. Because I very well can't stop now. And I also can't be rude. So home seems like the only reasonable solution. And... it gives us some alone time, which we need." she explained, glad to have an excuse to go home where they could be alone. She missed being alone with him most of all. Where their private thoughts and conversations were their own and no one else's. And she could kiss him as much as she please without feeling awkward, or like she was being judged. "There is one thing you should know. I never sleep in the room you made up for me. And I don't sleep on the couch either.... I sneak into your room every single night, even if I fall asleep, because I wake up, and I can't sleep without you by my side. And then before you wake up, at least most times, I sneak back out, or go and make breakfast. I thought you should know, because I no longer intend to spend another night pretending that I don't sleep with you. And so you should know for further understanding, I will no longer pretend, and I will most certainly be sleeping in your bed with you. Just so you know." she said. She really couldn't sleep without him, without his warmth - it was impossible. And she wanted to let him know the entire truth about the few times he had found her in his bed, because she did that every night, not always to his knowledge, and she wanted to sleep with him from now on, this time with his full knowledge of the matter.

word count: 1567
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: fini, my dear.
jams: fall for you, secondhand serenade
notes: I worked hard on this, and found the end extremely amusing how she took control of the situation and didn't even ask. xD
[/size][/font][/ul]

[Conner Hale]

Understanding emotions seemed to be a strongpoint of Conner's, at least when it came to his Mel. While he was more or less hopeless when it came to expressing his own thoughts and feelings, he was surprisingly good at being comforting and empathizing with others. Perhaps it was his years of caring for his sister that had made him a good caretaker. Or perhaps it was just his nature, because Conner always seemed to have the uncontrollable urge to care for others and put their needs above his own. His pursuit of his dream to be an architect was one of the few instances where he allowed himself to be selfish. Still, even though it was his dream to go to college and get his degree, he felt an almost unbreakable tie to this place. For some reason the thought of trying to leave made his blood run cold, and it made him feel uneasy. Part of him (although he didn't know which part) knew that trying to leave Forks in these times would be about as successful as trying to kill a tyrannosaurus with a gum wrapper. The pack would never allow it, seeing as they needed every fighter they had to be here where the vampire threat was greatest. Even if he wanted to go, the compulsion to keep him from leaving would stop him. And yet he continued to press forward, studying away and cramming knowledge into his head that he would never be able to use. Still.. even though the odds were stacked against him, he couldn't help but allow that tiny flame of hope continue to burn. It wasn't his fault. Mel's presence made him feel like nothing was impossible anymore. "I promise." he said gently, soothingly, even if he knew the promise was one he couldn't completely hope to keep. "Of course I will. I missed you so much I could hardly concentrate on this junk. No more long absences, okay? I promise." he said, grinning back at her, a slightly smug feeling resonating through him when she called herself the girl he loved. He didn't know if "smug" was the right way to describe it, but he wasn't sure how else to put it. Every time she said something like that his heart just swelled and he felt almost proud, as if he wanted to smirk at every other man and say "See? She said it herself. This angel's mine.". But he never would. That didn't stop him from feeling smug though.

Conner smiled sheepishly at her when she laughed, although he looked rather pleased with what she said. An observer might even think that Conner was saying that sort of thing on purpose, just to get her to say the kind of things that she was saying. Which would be utter rubbish, or would it..? "I don't think many people would agree on the perfect bit Mel." he said gently. "Though I'm happy you're happy to put up with me, Mel. I don't think anyone else ever could." In that regard, Conner was being dead serious. He'd never even tried to date in his youth (not like he'd had many chances, he'd inadvertently scared most of them off) and no other girl seemed to be willing to put up with his overly protective nature but Mel. And no other girl had ever been able to claim a place of importance above Clary. Which, in his eyes, just confirmed that Mel had to be the love of his life, if protecting her now trumped protecting Clary. "I'm very much in love with you too, Melanie Aldridge. And your wish is my command" he said, grinning broadly when she kissed his cheek. What he said was true. Whatever she wanted, no matter how trivial or silly, he would make sure she got it. For most people that would spoil them rotten, but not his Mel. Even though she knew she had him wrapped around her little finger, she never once tried to take advantage of that. "From now on, I'll study at home. And I wouldn't mind it if you were in the same room as me." he said, flashing a grin. "And that sounds perfect hun. Much better than this place." He paused when she confessed to making the shirts and he chuckled softly, shaking his head as he grinned at her. "Already knew that hun. And don't worry, I love what you make. You're very, very talented, and don't you dare let anyone tell you otherwise." he said, quite seriously. "And don't worry. You didn't. I love those clothes. They have life to them. Besides, I need to make myself presentable sometime." he joked with a little crooked smile.

Despite the fact that they were in a library (and therefore what they were doing was taboo) Conner held her anyway. At the moment he could care less what anyone said about what they were doing, seeing as currently his world was centered about the woman before him. They could say all they wanted, gossip all they pleased, and Conner would just refuse to care. He rested his chin delicately in her head as he tugged her closer, although he was still being extremely careful in his movements. He didn't want to hurt her by accident. Oh no, he couldn't live with himself if he did that. "I kind of like it when its sort of cool." he mused, reaching up to toy with a strand of her hair. "It reminds me of you. You always feel so cool to me." he smiled slightly when she cuddled into him and he adjusted his hold on her according. "Its going well. I've gotten through three volumes of this series already." he said proudly, nodding to the dry, forgotten tome that still lay open on the table. He was getting quite sick of the series actually. It made something that was supposed to be beautiful and an art form into something dry and boring. It was no wonder that few people opted to take the career path he was chasing. "I noticed you liked that. And yes, I think we would. No one would be able to stop the Con man and his Mel." he said, his grin broadening. He felt his chest swell with happiness that she was agreeing to join him on this venture. They really would be an unstoppable team. After all, other design teams would probably bicker over minor details and somehow he doubted he and Melanie would ever fight over a design. In fact, he was pretty sure their designs would blow other people's designs out of the water. But then again, he was pretty biased.

A sly, wicked grin spread across his face when she spoke again, his eyes dancing with mischief. He couldn't help but chuckle as she kissed him, although he decided to not let her escape for too long. "You and your love of trouble." he teased. "And me? I'm as innocent as a lamb. Its not my fault a wolf stumbled across my path." he protested, fighting to stifle the laughter that threatened to burst forth, and to keep his smile hidden. On the smile front, he failed miserably. "Perhaps we should. I would hate to deprive you of what you want." he said, his grin broadening as he reached over to the book and snapped it shut. Thankfully the library was mostly empty today except for the stern hawk at the front desk, so few had been privy to their show of affection for one another. Not that Conner really cared about what they thought at the moment anyway. Their opinions were of no importance to him now. With that he gently eased her off his lap and stood up, keeping her hand in his all the while as he picked up his book. He gave her an oddly bemused look when she explained what she did. His lips twitched in a slight smile at the wording she'd chosen, although he did try to appear serious. "Thanks for letting me know Mel. I do appreciate it. I was getting confused by the fact that when I woke up in the middle of the night I found a stranger in my bed." he teased. Messing with her was too easy, not to mention too fun. The way they joked and teased each other was easy as breathing, neither ever taking the other one too seriously.

[Melanie Aldridge]

this is not what i intended

[/size][/b][/color]
i always swore to you that i’d never fall apart[/font][/i]

you always thought i was stronger.[/size][/b][/color]
i may have failed but i have loved you from the start.[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/color][/b] she agreed, smiling. "Then those people don't know anything, because Conner Hale, you are perfect." she said, laughing lightly. She didn't care what anyone else though because she knew he was perfect, and he was more than perfect for her. She hoped nobody else ever tried to "put up with him" because that meant they weren't together, or someone was trying to get him, and Melanie assumed she wouldn't be good with any type of competition for his affection. She smiled, kind of laughing to herself. "Are you a genie? Because I think I want my three wishes now." she said, smiling still. Most of all she wanted only one wish: certainty that she would get to be with Conner forever, and that they would end up married and together for until the days they died. "I just didn't want to disturb your studies, but if you insist, then we can absolutely study in the same room. I'd love that." She was glad he didn't mind wearing her clothes, and that he seemed to actually like them. That surprised her, and she appreciated his support and his kindness. "As long as you like them. I don't want you to ever do something you don't want to do." she said, kissing his cheek once more. The warmth of his skin on her lips shot sensations down her spine, and she smiled. She laughed when he made a joke about being presentable. He was more than presentable, even he was wearing garbage, at least in Melanie's opinion. A trash bag would look attractive on Conner, but she kept this to herself instead of saying it out loud.

Melanie almost forgot about the rest of the people in the library, or that Conner and she were in a library, because in his arms, she was completely memorized and content. The warmth consuming her made her feel safe and complete, so it was hard thinking of anything else. And being close to Conner felt amazing, since they hadn't been getting a lot of time for that as of late. She felt fragile in his arms, because she was so much smaller than him, yet she felt safe and unbreakable as well because when she was with him, they were unbreakable. She loved that feeling, since whenever they were apart, she felt insecure, like she was losing him, as weird as it may seem. Being apart from him felt wrong, like she was committing some type of skin, and it felt like losing him every time. She laughed lightly at his next comment, the laughter in direction towards herself. "Sometimes I forget you don't feel the same as I do. If only you could feel how wonderful it is in your arms." she said. "I'll remember that whenever we are apart, I should pack you something cold or something of mine for you to keep with you." she said, hugging him tighter. She nodded at his answer to her question and just took a minute to breath in his scent, and the moment. The warmth, his smell, his voice, all of it made her feel complete, as though she was only a small part of herself to begin with. It was true - no one could stop them. They couldn't be broken, and she hoped that was true in all aspects, because losing Conner meant she would lose a part of herself, or losing herself completely. She loved how easily they understood each other, and agreed. Melanie couldn't think of one fight they had ever had, in fact they hadn't. They always openly communicated, solved whatever issues might be there, but none of it was a fight - they were always mature conversations with compromise. She loved how easy it was to be with him. Other relationships she had had, that weren't as long or as serious took more work than this relationship which was full of true love and, not to mention, was her longest lasting relationship so far.

"Actually, Conner Hale, this time, it isn't danger I am after.. it's your heart, and all that comes with it." she said, pulling him in to kiss her again, lingering for what was now their longest kiss in the last few minutes. Even as their lips separated, she kept within an inch of his face, their eyes meeting. She laughed lightly. "Oh, I am the wolf? Dear, I didn't know. Then how silly it is for me to fall in love with what should have been my dinner. I guess I can't help myself. Loving you is easy and natural. Like day and night." she explained, kissing him quickly once more, feeling as though she hadn't gotten enough the many times before. "Then don't deprive me any longer. Lets get out of here." she said as he eased her off his lap. She stood up, putting her messenger bag over her shoulder and leaving the books on the table, as the librarian didn't mind, since most people never put them up correctly anyway. And Melanie had only one thing on her mind, Conner. And she was trying very hard not to kiss him again so they could go home and be alone. She grabbed his hand, holding it firmly as she guided him toward the exit with her, only stopping to grab her damp coat from the place she had left it. She kept her eyes on Conner as she opened the doors and walked through them with her. She wanted to get home right now - and wasting time going to her car was going to annoy her. "Yes, well I figured you might want to know my intentions of sleeping in our bed from now. Just so you didn't wake up to some 'stranger' in your bed and accidentally push them off the bed, or me off the bed, in the confusion." she joked, looking around to see if Conner had brought his car or not. She turned around midway in the parking lot however, as it was raining lightly now, and kissed Conner for a very long time. She wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing him still. When she finally tore herself from kissing him, only to move so they could look at each other, she spoke. "I always wanted to have a romantic kiss in the rain. I think my wish came true. Thank you for one of my three wishes, my genie." she joked, referring to the comment from earlier in their conversation. She smiled, kissing him once more, but instead of parting from him, she would let him do that when he felt like their kiss should end, because right now, she didn't want their kiss to end ever.

word count: 1703.
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: FINISHED, dear!
jams: fall for you, secondhand serenade
notes: My muse was good to me. And Melanie was kind of all over him. Something not usually her, but hey. They bring out things in each other.
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[Conner Hale]

Change had seemed to come into Conner's life like somewhat of a miracle. The once silent, brooding behemoth had become an amiable, but still rather quiet, teddy bear. Around Melanie, anyway. It could not be said whether he would ever truly open up around everyone else, and given Conner's nature such a change was doubtful, but doubtful did not automatically mean impossible. Their entire relationship seemed to defy the word, after all. Even given the fact that they were imprints, which by its nature defied all of societies definitions of love, there was something deeper that ran between them, or at least Conner liked to think so anyway. They had never once experienced a period of the trying drama that his poor sister had gone through, or that oh so many couples seemed to go through. Fights were inconsequential, seeing as both of them were just aching to please and would bend over backwards if that would make their lover grace them with a smile. Conner knew he would run to the south pole and back if that was what Melanie desired, because in the end, being with her and keeping her happy was all he was concerned about. Yes, his dream of becoming an architect would always be there, and just because he wanted to be with her didn't mean he didn't want to be an architect, but it was lower on the totem pole of desires. In the end, he didn't care if he was a rich man or poor man, whether he lived in a respectable home in some big city or in no home at all. As long as he was with his Melanie, he would be content. But even their seemingly perfect relationship had its tiny little snag. This being that while Conner could read Melanie almost perfectly, there were certain things he neglected to notice. One of them being that he didn't realize that he was all she needed too, and so he piled work on himself in order to secure a lifestyle that she would deem acceptable. But it was starting to get through his unnaturally thick skull just how much he meant to her, and slowly but surely he was starting to realize that being together was all that mattered to her too. But that innate need to please, that stubborn little piece of him that was always trying to give her the comforts society said she needed, that would probably never leave. But given the issues other couples had to go through, such a little blemish would be scoffed at, or even laughed at. Or, in some cases, cause a bit of disgruntled jealousy.

Still, given all of his displays of devotion Melanie managed to surprise him when she acted as though him wanting to be with her was some sort of a shock. He found it bemusing that his level of devotion was still unknown to her, or so he thought anyway. A little smile played on his lips as he idly toyed with a few strands of her hair, when she spoke, marveling mutely over the softness of it. He and Mel had to be something special, most definitely. How else could he love her this much, be as fascinated and absorbed by her as he was, unless they were something unique? With a crooked smile and a nod he agreed to the "no more long absences" pact, although it wasn't much of a stretch for him. He didn't exactly enjoy being away from the love of his life, so it wasn't any kind of sacrifice for him. Studying with her wasn't probably the best idea studying wise (he would probably get distracted) but it was the best idea people wise, and Conner was quite happy to make the sacrifice. "If you say so hun."

[/color] he said, kissing her gently on her forehead. "Though you're likely to swell my ego if you keep flattering me. It can't be good for me."[/color] he teased lightly, grinning down at her. The fact that they hadn't left the library yet seemed to slip his mind completely. Or perhaps not slip his mind, it just got placed on the list of what was unimportant to him at the time. "I am whatever you want me to be. What theses wishes of yours hun?"[/color] It was true. Whatever she wanted, no matter how silly (in other eyes anyway), he would get it for her or give it to her. Her wish was his command, literally. "I wouldn't want to study any other way hun. It doesn't feel right with you not being around."[/color] he said, quite truthfully, because something really did feel wrong when she wasn't beside him. "I love your clothes Mel. I'd never wear anything else if I wasn't worried I'd trash them at work."[/color] he replied, smiling broadly when she laughed. As always, her happiness seemed to transfer into him by some unknown means.

The slight coolness provided by Melanie's skin fascinated him and absorbed him as always. For some reason the sensation of it always made him want to gather her up in his arms and hold her tight to make that cold just disappear. Still, the slight contrast she provided was comforting in a way. Completing, as if she was the missing puzzle piece he'd always needed but had never known he'd needed in the first place. Just seeing her walking around made him want to scoop her up. She always seemed so small, so breakable, when she was on her own. Perhaps he wasn't the best judge of that, given his own size, but still. Having her in his arms was soothing, because while she was there he felt as if no could come close to laying so much as a finger on her. When they were close, he could protect her and put himself in the way of anything that could try and hurt her. But when they were apart.. well, that was a different case entirely. Perhaps it was just him being paranoid, but it made him anxious and uncomfortable seeing as his mind just loved to go through all of the possibly bad situations which would end in her getting hurt in some fashion. "I don't need to hun. I'm find with the feeling I get from having you in my arms."[/color] He adjusted his grip to compensate for hers, shifting his arms so he was holding just the tiniest bit tighter. "That would be nice, though I don't think it could ever compare with the real deal." Which was true. Nothing and no one could ever compare with her scent, the feel of her or anything else about her. A cold little something would never compare with the angel before him. Not now, not ever. She was.. perfect. Perfect in more ways than he could count. They understood each other so well, not to mention how they just.. well, clicked. Fights didn't happen, didn't need to happen, seeing as they never seemed to be able to lose their temper with the other. They did the one thing oh so many people strived to do: talk out their problems. But unlike other people, they actually succeeded. Which was a miracle in of itself, seeing as most people just snapped after a bit of the discussion and would try to yell at each other. That or they started shouting before the talk.

"Is that so, Miss Melanie? Well, guess I'd better keep an eye of that heart of mine then."[/color] he said quietly before she pulled in him for another kiss. A slight smile played on his mouth when their lips met, his hold on her adjusting ever so slightly so that she could kiss him without being uncomfortable. When they finally drew apart he grinned at her, his eyes dancing with mirth. "Too bad you already stole it hun." he said gently, his eyes dancing with amusement. Melanie was certainly being rather forward today. "Of course you're the wolf. I mean, you're the one attacking me in a library of all places. My virtue is being absolutely dismantled."[/color] he teased before she silenced him with another kiss. Perhaps she was being more forward than he'd thought. She'd never kissed him this many times out of the blue. "I wouldn't dream of depriving you hun."[/color] he said, sounding even more amused when she got off his lap and grabbed her bag. He plucked up his book before she grabbed him and towed him along, giving the librarian an apologetic smile and a shrug as he held the book up. The old crone wouldn't mind, he knew that. She knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't steal a book. She knew what he'd been reading anyway, seeing as she'd suggested it, and she'd write it down that he'd taken it. But at the moment he could care less what that crone would do. He was currently absorbed entirely by the woman who was dragging him along by the wrist. Not an easy feat to accomplish, given his size. Then again, he wasn't exactly going to stop her. "Thanks for letting me know hun. I would hate to push people out of my bed. Or our bed, I suppose."[/color] Conner had in fact failed to bring his car, seeing as running was much quicker. He watched Mel in a rather bemused fashion as she towed him around before she spun about face and kissed him quite passionately. He moved his arms to wrap around her, plucking her up as if she weighed as much as a feather and spinning her in a quick circle before he set her back down again with a grin. "Well, I am your genie hun. Your wish is my command."[/color] he said, his voice oddly husky for some reason as he leaned his forehead against hers. This woman had the oddest ability to drive him absolutely mad. She was far too adorable, far too perfect, to be real, and yet he knew she was all the same.

It had to be some kind of miracle.[/blockquote][/size]

[Melanie Aldridge]

now if she does it like this

[/size][/b][/color]
will you do it like that?[/font][/i]

now, if she touches like this,[/size][/b][/color]
then will you touch her right back?[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/b][/color] she said, convinced that everyone thought that just as she did - it seemed odd for anyone to question that, when it was so clear to her. "I'm sure your ego would swell without my doing it on purpose, at least this way I know that what I said was meant to swell it." She looked at him, pausing before she said anything. She wasn't exactly prepared to explain her wishes, even though they were there so readily made in her mind. It seemed she had been thinking about her future and her wants more than she had consciously been aware of. She took a deep breath. "Mostly, the wish I want granted most is to know that this is forever. To know that I am not going to lose you in any way. I know you wouldn't willingly leave me. And then I find myself thinking about our life together, our future together." she said, not hiding what she wanted. There were other things, but in some way, they always found their way back to him because Conner was her most important dream - the only one she couldn't live without fulfilling. "You're right. It doesn't feel right when I am not around you. Don't worry about ruining them - they are actually more easily cleaned that most fabrics, and I can sew any rips you might make in them. I have more things for you, and they are still color, but more plain." she said. She had made the other shirts so that she could test fabrics, but now she could make what she wanted with her favorite fabrics.

She loved the feeling of being in his arms - his warmth was comforting, and she realized that being without it in her life had made her feel numb, and that now she could feel all that was good in the world, including him. She acknowledged that he loved her feeling so cold compared to him, but she wondered how that could be even slightly as blissful as this feeling she had. It seemed horrible to never know this feeling, and she felt sorry for all those who would never feel as she felt now. "I understand, but I still can't believe it could feel this wonderful. Its hard to explain. Being in your arms is like erasing everything bad in the world and leaving nothing but pure happiness. If you feel that way holding me, how is that possible? How could two things feel the same way? Because nothing could feel better than this." she said breathlessly. She felt like she could take on the world with this feeling behind her. Sometimes she would tend to forget that she was human, and he was in his own fashion, not. He could do more than she could, and she was more or less absolutely fragile and breakable. She still didn't know the full capacity of what not being human met, and lately, she hadn't honestly bothered to ask, nor did she care. She knew only one thing, that made any sense, and that was Conner and her. When things were right, and it was the appropriate time, Conner would tell her everything, and she knew that. It couldn't be easy to live with or explain all that was involved in his world. Right now, the only thing that really matter was the world they now shared together. Even werewolves, and all other super beings could never keep them apart. It would take something strong to break them, and nothing in the world seemed strong enough - at least not to her, but her world was measured in a way that only a human could understand, nothing more powerful.

"Yes, it is very much so, Conner. It is all I am after." she said, sure this was more than true. Her entire life she had been after his heart without knowing it. She must have been born with Conner as her destiny, because any other life made no sense at all, and wouldn't mean she was living. Without Conner, she wasn't alive. She smiled as they stopped kissing. Maybe she was being more forward today, but the feelings she had were always there, and today she didn't care about anything, or what might happen - she wanted to be with Conner in whatever way that she could, and would be. Being apart for the many times they had been really had made her heart grow fonder, although for Conner, that would have happened regardless - her heart and her love towards him was ever growing. "And that is all I will ever truly need." she said, her arms around him now as she looked into his eyes. She laughed lightly."I wouldn't say I was attacking you. That would imply that my actions weren't wanted by you, and you seem to be extremely pleased. Maybe I mistook your true feelings for what I wanted to see? If that is the case, I guess I could stop."[/color] she said looking away and putting a pout on her face. She was of course doing this for effect of her joke, because Melanie obviously didn't intend on stopping, unless Conner really refused her "attack". "I'll be whatever you want Conner." she said before her lips once again met his own, lingering there for much longer than before. This time, she wasn't intending on breaking quickly. When the kiss did end, she stayed close, barely having moved at all, and smiled. Melanie wasn't ready to put space of any kind between them, because right now, being close to him was important to her. Conner was all she ever would want in her life, and no one else would be able to ever make her feel this way, and she knew it. She had been waiting for him all her life, most of which she never knew it. She was all his, and that wasn't to change ever. Nothing would stop her from being his, because even in death, she would still be his. She knew that this was how her life would be - with Conner, and even attempting to think of her life in any other way was ridiculous. Anything she had ever needed was given to her by the sensational feelings she got to have with him. Those feelings made up for all that had ever hurt her in her life, and nothing would take that from her. "You suppose, huh? What do I have to do to that will give me rights to ownership of it as much as you? I already sleep in it. What else must I do? I'll do anything." she said softly, smiling as she teased. Although she would do anything Conner asked or wanted without question. Defying what he wanted would be useless because he often wanting something that would be best for not only him but also her. He always took her into consideration, so whatever he could possibly want was easily agreed to by her. As he picked her up and spun her around, the rest of the world disappeared and all that was left was them, all that meant anything was right here, right now with them. She stayed silent. He knew her deepest wish, and that was to be his forever. And she would be.

word count: 1897.
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: FINI finally!
jams: shake it, by metro station
notes: I'm pretty proud of myself! <33 I especially liked this post with her, I don't know why. I just did. (:
[/size][/font][/ul]

[Conner Hale]

The world was changing around Conner. His world specifically. Before Melanie he had decided that his purpose would be to care and watch over Clary for the rest of his life. He had considered the option that someone else may take his place, but he had simply decided that he would live on his own in a small town, living out his days as a handyman. All alone. That had been his plan, and he'd been content with it. After all, it left him free to care for whenever she needed him, for whatever reason she needed him. The lack of a parental presence had thrust him into the role of the adult far too quickly for some, but it had worked for him. It was in his nature to protect after all, so protect he would, even if it meant the sacrifice of his own dreams. And then Melanie had happened. Suddenly his quaint dream no longer seemed like it would be enough. It had seemed too small, too constricting, and he suddenly felt a longing for a life of his own rather than a life that resolved around his sister. That was a thought that had never occurred to him, and instead of it gradually rearing its head it had simply sprung up from the earth the moment he beheld his Melanie. Being with her, being around her, made him feel like no hill was too steep to climb, as if so long as she was there, he could do whatever he put his mind to. Conner doubted his sister would be too sad that her brother wouldn't be as utterly devoted as he used to be. He knew he'd annoyed her occasionally with his overbearing nature, but he hoped she knew at least that he only did it because he loved her. He could only hope, after all. Still, she had Dakota (Ugh) to look after her now, and even if he was a traitorous little blood sucker Conner knew he loved Clary with a passion to rival his love for Mel. But he doubted he could love Clary as much as he loved Mel. After all, Conner wouldn't have left Mel for anything or anyone, and Dakota had dropped his sister by the wayside like some piece of unwanted garbage. Which was what infuriated Conner the most. Still, it was in the past, and in the past was where he should leave it. At least until he could get revenge on the worm. At least until then. Besides, perhaps the connection between Clary and Dakota was just on a different level than his and Mel's. A different kind of connection. It certainly seemed to be cursed with far more issues than Conner and Mel had ever faced. But even through all of that, they had survived. That, at least, gave Conner some comfort in respect to Clary's future happiness. If anything, the boy was loyal and devoted.

Just not as devoted as he would have liked.

Definitely not as devoted as he was to Mel, at least in his eyes. If Mel told him to jump he'd ask how high, and he just couldn't see Dakota doing that for Clary. Then again, he couldn't see Clary bossing Dakota around for no reason. But he could see her bossing him around for a reason. But they had one thing he and Mel didn't. A complete lack of doubt (or so he thought) about the others devotion. Conner worried day and night over it, their brief absences grating on his nerves almost painfully as the tension built up. There was a fear festering deep within him of her leaving, never to return, and that scared him silly. The thought of being without Melanie was just.. well, it was just something he didn't want to even consider. In a way, her refusal to be away from him bolstered his confidence because it meant that she wanted to be as close to him as he wanted to be close to her. It almost made him feel a little bit smug. Almost. "If you say so hun then it must be true."

[/color] he teased, feeling his insides warm up to a glow at the praises. He did not consider himself perfect, not in the slightest, and so he was determined to be constantly improving himself. Still, if she said she liked him the way he was... it was certainly an ego boost. And Conner wasn't used to being complimented, let alone being called perfect. It was something foreign to him. "You are swelling it hun. Swelling it immensely."[/color] he said softly, his voice getting a little husky before he leaned down to give her another kiss. A content sort of humming sound was rumbling out of his chest as he rested his forehead against hers again. She was far too beautiful, far too wonderful, to be all his. He just couldn't get his head around the concept. It seemed impossible, improbable, and yet here he was. As always, Mel made the impossible possible. And when she spoke of her wishes the previous doubts were chucked into the fire. Without even thinking Conner leaned down to capture Mel's lips in another kiss as his grip shifted to get her just a little bit closer, one hand resting on the small of her back. Finally he pulled away, not even short of breath as he smiled crookedly at her. "I will never leave you Melanie, never. I love you more than breathing, more than anything. You will never, ever lose me."[/color] he said gently, running his thumb across her cheek. He meant it too, every last word of it. "No, it doesn't. And thanks hun, you're amazing. And I don't mind the patterns, not one bit. I like them quite a bit actually. I mean it."[/color] Which he did. The patterns were a refreshing change from what he used to wear. Besides, he'd been meaning to wear clothes that were a bit more interesting.

Carefully shifting his grip again he rested his cheek on the top of her head, the warm glow burning throughout him now that he was with Mel again. Before he wouldn't have thought he could have loved anyone more than his flesh and blood. But now he didn't question the fact that he loved Mel more than his family, cared for her more than he every could for Clary. And yet at the same time Conner seemed to be much more willing to let Melanie have free reign and do as she pleased than he'd ever been for Clary. With Clary every movement had been monitored, every possible bad thing quickly dealt with. That wasn't to say that he didn't care for Melanie or that he was insanely protective of her (and he was, incredibly so) but he was able to understand that she needed her space, that he couldn't and didn't want to hover over her life like a hawk. He never wanted to be parted from her but he didn't want her to be unable to live her own life either. "I can hardly believe it either Mel. Just having you here makes all the problems of the world seem insignificant. Or at least easy to deal with."[/color] he whispered in response. "We don't really obey the laws of what can be and what can't if you think about it Mel. The laws that bind the rest of the universe don't seem to really apply to you and me, and I'm perfectly happy with that."[/color] He carefully and gently ran a finger along her cheek as he spoke, brushing her hair gently and lovingly out of her face. Even though he felt happy with her in his arms, it was when he held her that he realized just so fragile she was, just how much she needed protecting. Mel felt more like a glass doll rather than a person, given his extraordinary strength and all. Every time he held her he worried that he was holding her too tight, that he would somehow manage to hurt her in some way. And that was what absolutely terrified him. Hurting her. That was something Conner did not want to do. No, refused to do. He would never, ever hurt Mel. Not ever.

A mischievous little smile spread across Conner's lips when Mel spoke again, although it also seemed the tiniest bit bashful. She did have a habit of making him feel embarrassed, seeing as she was always complimenting him and saying things that just made his heart melt. There couldn't be anyone or anything as good or as perfect as she was. It just was not possible, not in the slightest. Perhaps she was the reason why no other girl had managed to catch his eye before. Maybe he had always been waiting for his Melanie, even though he hadn't known he was even waiting yet. Funny how things worked out, seeing as Conner had never really believed in fate. Neither had Clary, come to think of it. In fact his sister had to be the person who was most adamantly against the concept of fate that he knew. Or at least she had been, until Dakota happened. Then her opinions had taken a little turn, or so it seemed anyway. How could you not believe in fate after you met your imprint? That just made no sense to Conner. But since when had Clary actually made sense. "That so?"[/color] he said quietly as he gazed back into her eyes while she looked into his. "Ooh. Got me there."[/color] he said, chuckling a little when she spoke before he reached up, gently lifting her chin up with a finger to make him look back at him before he ducked down to give her a quick kiss on the lips. "You needn't stop hun. Like you said, I'm extremely pleased with my situation at the moment."[/color] A little smile played on his lips as he rested his head against hers, smiling happily when she didn't back away after their kiss. He didn't know why it made him happy, it just did. "You already are what I want Mel. And if you change, then that's the you I'll want then."[/color] he said shyly, becoming bashful again. He was never sure if he was complimenting her correctly, if he was saying the right things. Conner sure hoped he was, seeing as he did not want to displease her. The thought of making her unhappy was something he quailed from. Keeping her happy and being with her was all that he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Melanie was all he would ever want and ever need. Sure, some comforts would be nice and a job in architecture would be nice, but he didn't need that the same way that he needed Melanie. She was his oxygen, his sun, his reason for living, and a couch for a five bedroom house could never match up to that. Not ever. "Hmm.. I dunno Mel."[/color] he said slowly, lazily almost as he tilted his head to one side and studied her with a faint smile on his lips. "And anything? Really? Anything?"[/color] he tilted his head to one side as he regarded her, suddenly remembering the little box in his pocket. He had been intending to ferret it away in a box somewhere where she wouldn't find it, but he doubted that would work. Melanie had a habit of finding things in the house. That or she'd wonder why he wouldn't let her go into such and such a place, which was not a good thing. He didn't want to deprive her of anything, especially the knowledge that he was hers, now and forever. He leaned his head against hers again once he'd set her down, gazing down at her as he considered what he was about to do, but the choice wasn't that hard to make. He already loved her more than anything on this earth, so why not give her some tangible item that would prove it? Not that she needed proof, but still. The nerves which had been preventing him from asking for weeks seemed to melt away as he looked down at her, his resolve quickly steeling. Carefully and gently he detached himself from her, although he kept her hand enveloped in his as he took a slight step back, one hand dipping into his pocket. There was another moment of hesitation before all hesitation fled from his gaze. No, this was right. This was what he wanted.

Slowly, ever so slowly Conner sank to one knee, pulling the little velvet box from his pocket as he looked hopefully up at Melanie. Even though his resolve was like iron and even though he was the great Conner Hale, the man who feared nothing and no one, a little human girl somehow had the power to make him feel completely embarrassed and self-conscious. Not to mention terrified out of his mind.

".. Mel, will you marry me?"[/color][/blockquote][/size]

[Melanie Aldridge]

now if she does it like this

[/size][/b][/color]
will you do it like that?[/font][/i]

now, if she touches like this,[/size][/b][/color]
then will you touch her right back?[/font][/i]

-----♥-----[/size]
[/center]

[/i] survive his leaving her on his own accord, only survive in the sense of being alive, but not being whole - more so as walking around lifeless. But in this case, she was most scared she would truly lose him, the type where she could never lay her eyes on him even if from far away, the kind that burned every part of her mind, body, soul, and most of all her heart, and the very kind that she knew would be the death of her. Maybe it was silly of her to worry this frantically, but it wasn't as easy to forget as most other trivial worries, no, this worry was significant - the danger real. He could actually .. be lost. ( You'll lose him. You won't be able to stop it from happening. ) A tear almost formed to fall out of her eyes, but she stopped herself, holding it in with amazing strength. The problem was, she didn't know how strong she could be for him. She knew one thing however, that even if this most horrible of all things were to occur, then she would at least be able to say one thing - the one thing she would be proud of all her life, the one thing that she would hold onto. She shook her head to keep her mind from racing. This idea burning in her brain scared her beyond belief, and she didn't know what she could or would do about it, she just knew whatever she did, it would be worth it in some way. Melanie had never experienced the love or feeling of needing to protect someone before. All of this with Conner was brand new and beautiful, and she actually loved the idea of never having this in any way before - with family or relationships. It made it more pure, more beautiful than anything she had ever known, and that feeling, while scary and so utterly new, was the most miraculous and extremely beautiful thing to ever happen.

It simply amazed her that he couldn't understand how much he meant to her, or how, whether she was in his life or not, he was the most amazing thing she had ever known - the most amazing person, with the most beautiful soul. Being around Conner was like feeling like you were never good enough, because he ran over the scale with brilliance and perfection. That feeling however, could never be considered bad, because you knew you were in the presence of greatness, and thus it made you feel the beauty and power of being great as well. Conner had broken her walls so carefully constructed through her life. They had been impassible, unable to break, until he found a way to get through, no to demolish them. The walls were not there anymore. They were so unbreakable before, so immovable, yet Conner had managed, granted when one has such amazing superhuman strength, one is bound to go against all odds, but still. The walls Melanie had only let a few people through had always been there, never budged or broken. Even those she let in couldn't get through the walls that were within those - no one had reached the space she had so heavily guarded for so long - her heart. Conner had, amongst all odds, done the one thing deemed impossible in every sense. "It would be smart if you just believed me unconditionally. I do know what I am talking about. I spend most my time with you, and I sleep with you, so I think I would know." she said, her smile wide and her eyes fixed on his. She loved how easy their conversation was with one another- how easy it was to love him, to be with him. All of it, without serious complication, and she was more than grateful for it. Often times she wondered how she deserved him, about what she did that made her worthy of him, but there was no explanation - the universe had given her something she by no means had earned and it went against all of her principles. She believed everything in life you earn - if you give out rotten things, you get rotten things back, but since when did you give out mediocre things in life to get miraculous wonders? It made absolutely no sense, at least to her mind, because to her heart, it made perfect sense. "You have no idea." she said, speaking frankly - because he honestly didn't. If he thought those small compliments were all miraculously able to boost and swell his ego, then he didn't know the half of it. All of the things she felt and thought were so much more immense and complex, that would just as surely swell it far more, maybe to the brink of exploding. She didn't mean any of them to swell his ego, although that was wonderfully fine, as she wanted him to feel smug about himself (because in her mind, he should) but she said and thought all of them because they were the truth - the only truth her heart or mind knew, as far as any reality was concerned. His next words blew out the flame that had been burning so intensely under her skin. ( See, nothing to worry about. He'll never leave me, he said it himself, and he is Conner - it just has to be true. ) She reassured herself in her mind, believing it was enough, feeling that his words were enough for it to be true. "I just get scared. Being with you is so unreal - I don't deserve you, yet I have you. I'm scared that this miracle will go away - that it is all an illusion." she said, explaining it in the only way she knew how.

Of course none of this seemed real - before she had ever met him, Melanie never would have believed she would fall in love, much less with a werewolf. She had barely believed in love just as she had barely believed in werewolves. But right here, and right now, Melanie knew this was real, because in any dream, no matter how perfect, she would never be able to create these feelings or these moments. The perfection in them was far beyond her understanding, and never could she imagine something like this. No one would believe her if she could possibly explain how all of this felt, and in that fact, she couldn't possibly explain, at least, not so that anyone would be able to understand the full capacity of it all. Melanie felt obligated in every sense to Conner, because he had allowed her to feel this way just by being with her, and in that sense, she owed everything, every single part of her life solely to him. "You know something? You are right. I don't think we were ever meant to obey the laws the universe set out for the population of those fortunate enough to have normal lives. Having those lives would never feel this amazing - would never mean this much. I think the universe let us break its laws so we could feel this way. We were always meant to be together, and I know that in ever part of my being." she said, pausing for only a second. "My life would mean nothing without you, because I, and my entire life was meant to lead to you. If there was no you, then there would be no me. It is as simple as that. Fate wanted us together, and the universe had to abide by that." she said, smiling as she put her hand on his face and kissed his cheek. "Besides, you don't mess with fate. That would be a losing battle. The universe never stood a chance." she spoke this softly before kissing him on the lips. She lingered there for quite some time, completely enveloped in the moment.

She couldn't believe it. She was everything he wanted? How could that have ever been so? It obviously didn't make sense, because as she had said, fate had a plan, and you don't mess with fate. You don't even need to understand for all of it to truly be pure - to make sense. It is that dull spark in the bottom of her heart where she would make sense out of it all - not in the confines of her own mind. Her mind was simply a tool in the process of learning a language, except instead of English or Spanish, this language was the very language of her heart. The unconditional love Conner showered her with, even promised to her if she change, would forever amaze her, whether she understood it or not. How could you simply not be amazed by it? His promises, compliments, and statements made her heart soar, and she was happy to know she had the chance of feeling this for the rest of her life, because as Conner had promised her many times - he would never leave her. In her heart she knew that, even when her mind still debated, trying to find the logic in every single thing, every single feeling or statement. She knew it to be true, just looking into his eyes was assurance enough and her mind was only clouding the subject with logic, which obviously was of no matter in this case. They had already established that the normal rules didn't apply to them - that the normal logic didn't apply to them. Why was her mind so set on fighting it? She was just scared. Her human fears would forever get the best of her, but she wouldn't let her fears keep[/i] the best of her that there was - of course not. She didn't care if she had to fight an inner battle all of her life, because Conner was worth it. "Yes, I would be anything, or do anything for you. And I always will Conner. You are my heart and life. Forever." she spoke, meaning every word as it formed into sound. All she wanted was in fact Conner's heart, even if she went about it in the most obscure ways. He assured her many times she already had it, but something else was there that she was craving, something that felt like it meant she'd have every aspect of his heart, it wasn't until he got on one knee that she realized exactly was aspect she had been after. As he said the words she had waited so long to hear, her mind raced, her heart sped, and she felt like she couldn't breath. She didn't know what to say, what to think that would make any sense. She was overwhelmed with tons of emotions, all swirling together, even some contradicting the others. She couldn't make sense out of the noise that was now her mind. It sounded much like a crowded concert hall full of thousands of people screaming and a band beginning to play, but barely being able to be heard over the voices. In this case, her feelings and thoughts, both good and bad, were the screaming people - fans or critics, and then the band was her heart and mind trying to tell her the answer. She couldn't hear it. She couldn't follow her heart or listen to her mind, because she couldn't make out what they were trying to tell her. It took her moments before any type of clarity came and the sever roar and thoughts and settled for her to finally hear the answer she had always known in her heart, her mind, and even without them.

And what was that one thing she would hold onto for the rest of her life, that would make or break her, that she had been debating on not too long ago? To know she had been Conner Hale's wife.

"Yes. Dear god, yes." she practically cried, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. Then she looked at the ring and nearly wept. This was the happiest moment of her entire life, but it wasn't because of the ring presented to her - no, it was the man who was holding it, asking her to be his, something she never believed could happen to her. In all her life, every movie, book, relationship, or thought involving marriage never seemed as though it would ever apply to her, but here she was, being proposed to by the most amazing guy to ever breath, and it was real, and she felt like she didn't deserve this. That the fairytale would crash and burn in front of her, but that didn't matter now. She let her heart do all that was needed, and in this case, all that was needed was to take this fairytale and live it through, even if she couldn't live in it forever. At least, she could say she lived it. "Conner, I though you'd never ask. she whispered because she was unable to speak loudly due to two things - the amount of tears falling from her eyes, and the joy caught in her throat. Melanie was now going to leave her old life behind.

Melanie would be Melanie Julianne Hale. And that was all she would ever need.


word count: 2410.
outfit: n/a
creidt: haley loser face ` at caution 2.0 for the template.
status: FINISHED, OMG.
jams: shake it, by metro station
notes: Completed in amazing record time. OMFG. I love it too. DO NOT READ THE ANSWER FIRST. That will hurt my feelings.
[/size][/font][/ul]

[Conner Hale]

Perfection is said to be an unachievable thing, that to aim for it is folly because you will never, ever reach that star that you reach so desperately for. All of the novels, all of the written works always nod to this claim, backing up that statement with countless tails of beautiful things that turn out to be twisted and wicked, of purity laced with corruption, of crumbling facades. And yet here were two people whose love alone seemed to disagree with that mantra. They were by no means perfect people, each with their own flaws and tarnishes that made being a perfect person nigh impossible, not to mention inconceivable, but that wasn't the point. Apart they were just people, and yet together they fit together like two pieces of an intricate puzzle. If glanced at originally no one would think the pieces would fit so well together, and yet when they are finally attached it becomes quite clear that one was made to fit with the other. The same went for Conner and Melanie. If one didn't see them together the thought that they were meant to be would be the farthest thing from your mind, given their differences. And yet when they were together, there could be no one who contested the fact that they loved each other. The obvious affection ran under everything they did, every word they said. And while their love seemed to be utterly flawless, utterly perfect, even it seemed to abide by the age old rule that there was nothing perfect. Both were completely dependent on the other, always afraid that something would happen to the the other. Even the calm, almost implacable Conner worried constantly about losing Melanie. His position as a werewolf put her in danger every day, seeing as some of the leeches would probably be too happy to strike at the one of the Pack's biggest wolves where it would hurt him the most. And with that fear came an almost fanatical desire to protect the beautiful but breakable woman who was always in his mind. He was determined to protect her from all forces, no matter how strong, to be her shield and her guide for as long as she wanted him, for as long as she needed him. The bitter bite of failure still haunted him in regards to his sister, seeing as he blamed himself for the bouts of depression his sibling always seemed to be suffering from these days. The blind werewolf seemed to think she was capable of hiding it from her elder brother, but she was dead wrong. Conner could see it all too well and it tore him up inside. But what made him feel even worse was that such a fate could happen to his Melanie. Conner wasn't stupid enough to not notice his loves little insecurities, the times when she seemed a little bit sad or a little bit scared. And he was desperate to try and stop her from sinking into despair, although he didn't quite know what she was despairing over which simply made him worry even more.

It never failed to baffle him how insecure she seemed to be about him, about them in general. It was if she couldn't seem to comprehend just how much he was willing to do for her, just how far he would go to make her happy. Perhaps she didn't know that if she said she wanted a certain food made only by some certain chef in a country far, far away, he would go and get it for her, no matter how long it took him to get there. But in a way that trait of hers was rather endearing and sweet rather than perplexing. But then again, Conner was seeing through a rose tinted lens, and everything about her seemed to be perfect or just plain right. Never once did he ever consider that she should change herself, that he would want her any other way. He loved her flaws and all, and would never dream of suggesting anything that would try to prove otherwise. To him Melanie was perfection in human form, a gift from the heavens themselves bestowed upon oh so unworthy him. Which was what he thought of himself: unworthy. Unworthy of the sweet, flawless angel who loved him as much as he loved her. To the detached observer it might even be funny how enamored Conner was with his lady for to them she might not seem like anything special. But to Conner, she was his whole world. No, more than that, she was his entire universe, and all of the good things in the world seemed to manifest themselves in her smile and her laugh. It had never been easy to make Conner become devoted to someone, seeing as he didn't trust the world at large. And yet this one human girl had melted his heart with a word and a smile and gained his everlasting devotion for nothing more than that. For her, he needed no convincing, no trials to prove that he was investing his trust properly. In her case there was no question of whether or not she was the right and proper choice. She just was. "I already do hun. And you know, if someone walked by just now, I think they would hear something very different than what you just said."

[/color] he teased, referring of course to her last line. It would be too easy to misinterpret out of context, not that he or his Melanie would give a damn of course. They were currently wrapped up in their own little world and everything else around them had either stopped moving or ceased to exist entirely. At least, that was how it seemed for Conner anyway, who knew what it was like for Mel. He laughed lightly and smiled fondly back at her, his eyes dancing with mirth. "That so Mely? Well then I must be a big egotistical jerk and not even know it."[/color] Which he wasn't by any means, although he certainly could be a big jerk. The letters incident was proof enough of that little side of him. But really, what was a brother, any brother, to do? Clarissa had been his responsibility for as long as he could remember, given their less than responsible parents. And when another man had popped up to take her away that naturally made him.. well, disgruntled. And when said man ditched his sister to run off and do some weird kind of soul searching, Conner had been, to put it bluntly, pissed as hell. No one messed with the Hales and got away with it. At least when it came to Clary, anyway. So he'd let that selfish, arrogant, and stubborn side of him manifest itself when he hid the letters away, trying to strike back at Dakota in his own immature, childish way. However, thoughts of Clary and the letters quickly became the last things in his mind when Melanie spoke again. A little frown played on his lips as his hands came to rest on her face as he rested his forehead on hers. "Melanie Aldridge, sometimes you can be the silliest girl I know. You do deserve me, love. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you, who doesn't deserve this."[/color] And with that he leaned in to kiss her fiercely, one hand moving to the small of her back to press her closer. He pulled away after a moment, kissing both of her cheeks before he planted another gentler kiss on her lips and rested his forehead on hers again. "Still think this is an illusion?"[/color] he said, smiling crookedly at her.

It just didn't make sense to him that she could think that he was an illusion, but in a way he was pleasantly surprised by the fact that they shared the same doubts, the same worries. It truly seemed as if they were tailored for each other and each other alone. They were both protective, both needy in a sense, and because they were both this way each understood the others sentiments. While this constant need to be around one another might be annoying or stifling for other couples it wasn't for them. For them, this was how they were meant to be, how it was supposed to work. No other couple was like them, nor would there ever be a couple like them. They were one of a kind and their perfection was one of a kind as well. Conner could not see himself loving anyone else, no matter how long he lived, and he was determined to make sure he aged along side her. It was possible for him to age, so long as he stopped shifting. Aging didn't matter too much at the moment but it definitely would later, and Conner was determined to grow old alongside his lady, even if it meant abandoning the pack and his sister, seeing as Clary would never let herself grow a day older since Dakota was now one of the undying. But that would be a worthy sacrifice if it meant he could spend his days with Mel. For that, he'd trade anything and everything. "No we aren't Mel. We are extraordinary, and I wouldn't have it any other way. And we were Mel. You and I were made for each other. Or rather, I was made for you. I don't think I would deserve to get someone like you made for me."[/color] he said with another characteristic crooked smile. "You are my life Mel. You are my everything. And the universe wouldn't dare mess with our fate. Fate would mess it up. Either that or I would."[/color] he joked before she leaned up to kiss him. He was perfectly happy when she lingered there and refused to move. As if he would ever protest.

If Conner's mother could see him now she'd probably either laugh or scoff. A rather world weary woman, his mother had never exactly believed in the words fate or destiny. If she saw her son fawning over a woman like he was she would have probably reprimanded him and told him to study or do something useful or something else. His father probably would have laughed. But Conner did not care what opinions they would have had, because he saw clearly now that neither of them had ever loved the other, at least not to the extent that he loved Melanie. Their love had been petty, if it had been love at all, seeing as it dissolved like salt in water the moment enough stress was put on their marriage. Conner was determined not to make their mistakes and was more or less certain that he had so far dodged one bullet. He had not rushed into his choice to be with Melanie, nor had he based his decision on anything else than the shouting in his heart which had pointed him in her direction. Unlike them, he had chosen to listen to the whims of his heart rather than to the cold logic of his mind. For there was nothing logical that could explain the bond between him and Melanie, and he needed no such explanation. Their relationship was one that simply worked and that needed nothing to back it up and needed no one to try and fight to prove its case. Perhaps other people needed to prove to themselves and others that their love was true, but Conner felt like he had to prove no such thing. There was no logic, no rhyme or reason that explained why he and Melanie loved each other like they did. Nor was there anyone in the world who could try and convince Conner that he felt otherwise. The worries and the doubts he had about failing, about repeating his parents mistakes, Conner doubted those would ever disappear. But at the very least he had the comfort of knowing that, unlike them, he could not survive if he was away from Melanie for too long. Surely that would keep him from pulling a move like his father and abandoning the one woman who'd managed to make him feel whole. "As are you, Mel. I am yours forever, however you want me. If you wanted me to change, I'd hop to it."[/color] he murmured in response to her declaration, his voice soft but sincere. As always, he meant every single world that managed to make it out of his mouth. A thousand times over he had told himself, and Mel, that she was his Juliet, his Elizabeth Bennett, and that he would never want anything or anyone different. And he would repeat that a thousand times more, if only to reassure Melanie of his devotion. And a ring on a finger would be tangible proof of those thousand promises, an item that bound him, although it was not as strong of a tie as the bonds that she'd already tied from his heart to hers. Married to her or not, he was was hers now and forever, and no ring or lack thereof would change that. Still, he agonized over her answer nonetheless, seeking the word from her lips that would show that she too shared his affection, that she was willing to bind herself to him now and forever in a more conventional way than how they'd already bound themselves. A way other people were more used to, anyway.

The pause between the question he asked her and her response seemed to last a lifetime to the Conner Hale in question. He could have sworn that time stopped during that period and that it had done it on purpose just to spite him. And then the answer came, and things sped up again.

With the word Conner rushed up with a exclamation of joy and triumph, his arms wrapping around him the moment her arms went around him before he stood and lifted her into the air, kissing her fiercely and spinning her around and around. It was if his heart was too big to fit in his chest, it was far too swollen with joy to possibly fit inside his meager chest cavity. He was so happy he felt that he could soar (which he couldn't, but who cares about the details) and he was grinning like an idiot to prove that. He finally set her down and broke the kiss, although he simply proceeded to kiss both her cheeks, her forehead, and even her nose before he kissed her again, jubilance radiating out of every pore of his skin. Finally he pulled away, grinning like the big idiot he was and suddenly seeming shy as he carefully slipped the wring onto her finger. "Sorry to keep you waiting."[/color] he mumbled, reaching up to wipe the tear away with his thumb. "Don't cry now hun. You're gonna make me cry, and I don't think I'm supposed to be bawling."[/color] [/size][/blockquote]