Mama Rosa had packed Jack and Treya a picnic lunch filled with all sorts of goodies. Meat tamales and pineapple-raisin tamales wrapped in warming cloth to keep them at the perfect temperature, sweet breads, fresh fruit and a few other things. There was even meat for Charger. Jack had taken Treya away from the city and into the nearby mountains. The temperature was a bit cool, so they had dressed warmly. Suddenly, they stopped their vehicle and he led her up a path through a stand of trees, Charger at their heels. She could hear the sound of crashing water. When they emerged, Treya saw a pond being fed by a waterfall and it was the most amazing shade of blue she'd ever seen. It was bright and vivid in color - the color of Turquoise. For a moment, she held in her breath as she looked around. The pool was also surrounded by lush green trees, grass and boulders. A few flowers were even in bloom.
"This place is beautiful!" she said when she'd finally found her voice.
"Thought you might like it," Jack replied with a grin. He guided her further until he was sure he'd found the right spot. Putting down a blanket, he helped her sit and then took a seat beside her with the picnic basket. "So did Mama Rosa," he added.
Charger lay down beside them with a hopeful look toward the basket. Jack noticed, but instead grabbed a nearby stick and threw it for the dog to run after.
Treya couldn't hide her smile as she turned to look at him. "She's a really sweet woman. I'm really glad you brought me here . . . For the first time in a long time I feel as if I've got family . . . Well, that's not exactly true. I never had this much family!" she laughed softly. "But I guess the point I'm trying to make it that I feel as if I'm part of the family here."
"According to Mama Rosa you are," he replied, handing her a bit of sweetbread.
She smiled and took it. "Thank you . . . for everything . . ." The look in her brown eyes spoke of how much she felt. From the moment Jack had come into her life, she didn't feel as alone anymore. It was true that her passion had been her work. But she now knew it made for a pale existence. Without love there wasn't much life in life.
Tenderly he ran his thumb over her cheek as his fingers playing into her hair. "Thank you, too . . ." he replied. Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. "You know, I'm glad it's taken so long to make the modifications on the ship. Originally I was going to wait until we got back to Serenity, but I think this vacation has done you some good."
It was true. Color had returned to her cheeks, and she had more control of her telekinetic ability. Her sleep wasn't constantly disturbed by strange dreams and nightmares. It had also drawn them even closer, which Mama Rosa had noticed and Jack had to admit it to himself. Though he'd only known her a short time, he was desperately in love with her.
"I think you're right," Treya said. "This has been good for me . . I think it's been good for you too."
He smiled. "Yeah, and crystallized some things for me as well . . "
"Like what?" she asked.
He hesitated and then kissed her again. "Just how much you mean to me."
Her smile brightened. She could sense his emotions and the warmth of it spread through her . . . mingling with the same emotions within herself. There was also another feeling; a certainty that they belonged together. This wasn't from her emotions. It was as if this were just something that had to be. He was part of her as she was now part of him.
She took his hand and kissed him. Without saying anything, her own emotions had unwittingly passed to him. Breaking from her for a moment, his warm brown eyes gazed at her.
"I felt you . . . your . . . emotions," he said with surprise.
"What?" she replied with stunned surprise.
He nodded. "Yeah . . . It was hard to tell the distinction, but I felt you. I know it was you . . ."
For a moment, Treya didn't know how to respond. But seeing the uncertainty in her eyes caused him to caress her face and smile.
"This just convinces me even more that I shouldn't bother putting this off any longer," he said as he reached into the basket. Out he pulled a little, dark blue, velvet box. "I know we haven't exactly known each other a long time or anything. But . . . Well, I don't think I want to spend any more of my time without you." He opened the ring. "Will you marry me?"
The surprise was evident in her eyes as she saw the diamond ring before her. It was a simple solitaire set into a gold filigree band with hearts on the band.
"You know, we can stay engaged for as long as you'd like. We don't have to rush to the altar or anything. I mean-"
"Yes," she replied as she finally smiled, the shock wearing off. "Yes!" With that, she flung her arms around him and kissed him with excitement and love. "I love you, Jack. I've known it from the moment I first saw you . "
Gazing into her eyes, he ran his fingers through her long, brown hair. "I knew it too," he replied. "It just took me a little longer to admit it."
Suddenly, Charger was trying to get between them as he licked their faced.
"Oh, Charger!" Jack said.
Treya just laughed as scratched the Shepard behind the ears. But tenderly, Jack took her left hand in his and carefully slipped the solitaire onto her ring finger. It was official. They were engaged.
She looked at it sparkle in the sunlight and then turned her eyes to Jack. "I never thought I'd find anyone I would love so much . . ." she said.
"It just goes to show you, we were just meant for each other," he replied, "All things in time."
She nodded in agreement. "Mama Rosa's going to be happy."
"Ugh!" he said looking up toward the heavens for a moment. "Mama Rosa's going to be in heaven! We'll be lucky if she lets us leave the planet!"
Treya laughed. Again he pulled her into his embrace.
"It wouldn't be a bad place to get married . . ." she replied.
"I think she'd going to insist on it," he smirked and kissed her again.
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