Daulton stepped out into the nice warm day. He was finally home and was looking forward to meeting Astrid. It had been a few months since her last seen her. A smile crossed his face. It had been almost two years since they met. He always looked forward to seeing her. Every so often he would leave to kill some monsters around the island, but would always come back with gifts for her. They were still friends, he hadn’t made any moves on her. Maybe it was because he was still scared he would hurt her like before. When Daulton made his move, he wanted to know one hundred percent that they were right for each other.
 
Astrid had become his best friend. He loved being around her and going out to the events in Arri. Sometimes it would just be them hanging out and not doing much of anything but talking. It was the best time for him. He still loved going out and killing the demons and monsters of the world, but he loved being home. His heart was torn every time he left and every time he returned, but when he was with Astrid; he felt at ease.
 
His little sister was almost two years old and was such a spit fire already. He enjoyed the time he had at home, especially teaching her how to talk.

With a smile, he walked down the path to the white manor. His gift to her in his hand, wrapped in white paper and tied up with twin. Adeluna was a great place to see many things and buy much. “I hope she likes it…” Daulton thought with a smile as he ran up the steps of the white marble castle. Reaching the door he knocked three times.

Time had a weird way of being able to fix things but also it lacked the skill at the same time. It was Astrid’s belief that it solely depended on the person and how they handled their problems. Her gentle heart allowed her to breathe through most situations no matter how much they had hurt. It was the same way with her situation with Daulton. Even though he had hurt her repeatedly she was willing to try and forgive him. Her heart was so soft that often it made Toya shake her head and want for the girl to just be a little more hardy like Remedy. It was the angel blood they were sure of it but it didn’t change how Astrid was.

Two years had come and gone since she had decided that Daulton could be worth forgiving. He had done much to win her trust, though he could never buy it even with all the nice things he brought her. He knew that much about her. Still, she was very appreciative of all the things he would bring home from his job. It wasn’t hard to see that she could be a tad lonely when Daulton left to do jobs and she often scolded him for not being careful enough. It wasn’t that she didn’t think he could take care of himself but just that the world was so very dangerous in her eyes.

Today Astrid was relaxing in her room and she was curled up reading a book that Daulton had bought her on one of his latest trips away from Sularia. She was flipping the pages looking at the drawings and reading the story. When he had shown up and created a racket she had been so enthralled by the book that she hadn’t heard him at the door. At least not from her room.

At the door, Toya opened it up and she had the twins practically hanging from her. “Yo,” she waved at him the best she could as she dragged her foot. “Has the hunting been good?” She did a long draw of her leg as she picked her leg up with Kite attached to it. The blonde haired boy was laughing and his sister giggling as she gave a light shake.

“She’s up in her room. Did you want me to get her or would you rather you go up and see her? She’s been in there like a book worm for the last day or so.” Toya gave him a smile as she shook her other leg now. “Should try this sometime… It is one hell of a workout.” The twins were giggling again. “Say hello Monsters.” She motioned to them.

“Hello Daulton,” they giggled more as they clung to Toya’s legs.

“Thought they would get off and torment someone else there for a moment.” She shrugged and smiled. She had been a lot more down to earth since he started to come around regularly. Like Keira said she had vetted him and was done being an ass.

Daulton stood outside before the door of the white manor. He wasn’t sure who he was expecting to answer. He didn’t really care really, just wanted to see Astrid. A sigh left his lips as he waited. No one came for a moment, then the door opened. The one person he didn’t want to answer, answered. Her grandmother Toya. “Hello.” He said politely. He had seen Toya on and off for the past two years, and had small conversations with her. Although, they were civil, he still didn’t really like her. She made a horrible first impression and was still a bit of an ass every so often, but slowly was becoming nice. The children at her feet didn’t change his mind.

Toya continued to speak after answering the door. Daulton nodded, he decided just to go up to her room. Before he was able to move, Toya told the children to say hi to him. He smiled down at them and waved with his free hand. “Hello there, kids!” He said. He knew how to talk to children, always with a smile and be generally happy. If you weren’t they could sense it. He was learning this because of his little sister.

Astrid’s grandmother joked about the children and Daulton laughed a bit as he entered the house. “See ya kids. Don’t torture your grandma too much!” He said to them then headed towards Astrid’s room.

Knowing she was reading her book, he opened the door quietly. He saw her curled up on her bed with her boom. A smile came to his lips when he saw her. Stepping into the room, he closed the door behind him then set down his box on an empty chair. He moved behind her on the bed and watched her for a moment. She was so peaceful when she read, and very unaware of her surroundings.

A smirk came to Daulton’s face, “Astrid!” He yelled at her before he slowly fell onto her. He faked fell and smiled as his body was acrossed her, holding himself slightly up to not suffocate her. “Hey there lovely!” He said with a laugh. Rolling off of her, he laid beside her and grabbed her book from where it fell. “Glad you are into this book.” He said with a smile then turned to look at her. His face inches from her. “Miss me?” He asked with a smile on his face. Turning he looked at the book and started to flip through the pages. “Is it good?” He wondered about if she liked the books he gotten her.

“Oh! I got you something.” He kissed her cheek quickly and got off from the bed. Retrieving the package from the chair, he sat at the edge of the bed. “Here.” He said handing it too her. Inside the package was a sheer dress that was a pale pink almost cream colored. The top was lined with pearls and lace flowers. “You're wearing this tonight.” He stated, but wouldn’t say for what. “And before you ask, it's a surprise. Now open it!” He was excited for the day. He always wanted to take it slow, now they would have their first date.

Astrid was lounging in her bed. Her bi-colored eyes were aglow with how excited she was to read the next page. She knew the outcome but that did not matter for right now she was reading it like it was the first time and not the twentieth. She screeched just briefly as he yelled her name. She hadn’t been expecting it so her poor little heart was beating right out of her chest. She took a few moments as she put her forehead to him as she laughed a bit. “Where have you been?” She was giggling now as she calmed down. Pulling her face away from him her eyes studied his face just a bit making sure he couldn’t lie to her.

“I’ve read it at least twenty times now… Has to be about twenty.” Astrid let him take the book from her and gave him a smile. She tilted her head at him and smiled as he was close enough to her that she could smell him rather well now. “You know I did… Did you miss me?” She was a little shy about it. “It is one of my favorites now.” She was sure that it wouldn’t be a surprise to him. He was good at guessing what sort of books she would like.

Her face lit up red as he kissed her cheek and soon she was sitting up so she could watch him. “You didn’t have too! I still haven’t worn the last thing you brought home to me.” She blushed a bit more now, it was more like a soft pink primrose color against her skin tone. She took the package from him and gently unwrapped it. Pulling the dress out she let her mouth drop a little. “It’s beautiful Daulton…” She peeked around the dress at him and made a face at him. “A surprise? I’m excited.” She laid the dress in her lap and smiled up at him.

“I can’t wait to be surprised.” She chuckled a bit. He was going real slow with her. They had been good friends for a few years now and he was hellbent on making sure he made it up to her. “Did you have fun on your last job? Tell me about it.” She patted the spot next to her on the bed so she could hear all about his adventure.