Mouse looked down at his gift for Jamie. It was finally finished, and as perfect as it could be. He had lied…no, tricked, her this afternoon when they were talking about everything that had been going on while they were apart. He told her that the children had been playing a silly game and he wanted to show it to her. The game involved wrapping a strip of paper in and out between your fingers and then cutting them so you could make small paper chains with them. Carefully he wound the paper around her fingers making sure the one he needed was just right, then he cute them apart and showed her how to put them together. He secretly slipped the one that had been around her ring finger into one of his many pockets. Vincent had told him that secrets about gifts were perfectly okay at this time of the year, so Mouse didn’t feel guilty about lying to Jamie about the game.

The crystal was held firm in the wire basket he had created for it and the band of the ring was gold and silver wire intricately twined together. It was beautiful, and he could only hope that Jamie would love it and him too. Once again Mouse had turned to Vincent for advice on what to say to Jamie. How to ask her to marry so she would say yes? Vincent had given his young friend an understanding smile and told him to just say what was in his heart. So now that the ring was done, he needed to find the words to say because Winterfest was the day after tomorrow. It was very late and the tunnels were exceptionally quiet; he wandered through the passageways meeting no one. He was almost surprised when he found he had made it all the way to the Great Hall.

The heavy doors stood open because Cullen and Vincent would return early in the morning to finish the work on the table. Mouse stood there looking at the vast room and thought that this was how he felt when Jamie was not around. Empty. Cold. Lonely. Then he thought of how full of laughter, love, and warmth it would be in two days time, which was how he felt when he was with Jamie. But how could a simple person say that to her? He didn’t know poetry like Vincent and Father; he only knew what was in his heart.

That was it! He would tell her just that! Here in the Great Hall in two days he would tell her what love was for him! It was like the Great Hall itself! The simple young man went to sleep with a smile on his face that night.

***

When Father entered her chamber, Mary looked up with a tentative smile. She was going to do what Catherine had suggested, and she knew it would take all the courage she could muster. Offering him a seat and pouring them both a cup of tea was just a delaying tactic, but one she needed to gather her courage. As she finally sat down across the tiny table from him, she took a deep breath and a calming sip of tea and began, "Jacob," although she usually called him ‘Father’ like everyone else did, it just didn’t seem appropriate now. She could see he was a bit startled at her use of his given name, but he didn’t say anything as she hurried on. "I wanted to know if you’d made your final decision on what we talked about the other day? Are you going to step down from the Council?"

"Yes, Mary, I think it’s time. I used to be able to keep all that needed doing clearly in my mind; but I’ve found that as our community has continued to grow, there is just too much to handle. A younger head is needed, and Vincent will fill my shoes well."

"I agree. He will do a wonderful job, you’ve prepared him well, and you will still be here if he needs your advice. But now you will have more free time."

"True, true! However, I will continue to teach my classes. I’m not too old to give that up yet!"

"You’re not old at all!" she insisted, then before she could lose her nerve, she added, "I was just hoping that with this new freedom, you might have time for other pursuits."

"Oh yes! I have been meaning to create a card catalog for the library it has become quite unruly."

"No Jacob, I meant pursuits of a more personal nature."

"Personal nature? I don’t know what you mean Mary," he said as he put his tea cup down and leaned towards her. She seemed very intense, as if the matter of his personal pursuits was of major importance to her.

"I know the story of you and Margaret, and I was very happy that the two of you had that last week together. I know how much it meant to you. But Jacob I have been waiting in the wings for you to have time to notice me for three decades now, and after a talk with Catherine, I realized that you might never notice unless I said something to you! It took me some time to get over the things that happened to me in the world Above; but when I did, I realized I had come to rely on your strength and kindness. As I watched you raising Vincent, I knew that I had fallen in love with you!" this was the longest speech Mary had ever made in her life and it had all come out in a rush.

"Mary!" he gasped softly. How had he never seen this? How had he gone all these years living along side of her and not known she had feelings for him? How had he not known that she loved him? Those were his first few shocked thoughts as he took in her words; then, as was his custom, he began to analyze things. No matter what he did or said now, their relationship would be forever changed from this moment on. Even if he did nothing and left without a word, her words could not be unsaid. Forever on they would be uncomfortable in each other’s presence, the community would know there was something odd going on, and soon everyone would want to know what was wrong. However, if he did what his heart wanted him to do and confessed the feelings that he had also been hiding for many years, what would be the outcome?

Would the community accept the change in their relationship? Could they accept them as a couple? How would this change their lives? Their living quarters? Their sleeping arrangements!?

Any other woman in this situation would have been worried at his prolonged silence. She would have gotten upset and cried, or maybe tried to take back her words and deny the truth of them. But Mary knew Jacob well, and she knew his ways as well. She knew that he was processing what she had told him and analyzing all the different possible changes this could bring to their lives. She was content to sit and wait for him to process her words, and she was aware that there were already several points in her favor. He hadn’t laughed outright. He hadn’t protested that she couldn’t have meant it. He was giving serious and due consideration to her proclamation.

When he finally focused on her again, Mary couldn’t tell from the look on his face what he was going to say; but she was sure that whether he accepted or rejected her vow of love, he would do it with kindness and grace.

"Mary," he said softly, and reached out to take her hand. "Dear sweet Mary, thank you for finding the courage to speak your heart to me. I do not know what Catherine said to you to prompt you speaking to me about this, but I have come to realize that she has been a blessing to all of our lives. Who knows how long the two of us would have gone on loving the other without ever speaking of it aloud. But nonetheless we must remember to thank Catherine later. Now however, we should concentrate on us. Something I believe neither of us is accustomed to doing."

"That is certainly true Jacob. What do you think we should do?"

"Well since we are both respected and looked to as role models by the community we must be proper examples of circumspect behavior. Therefore I don’t think we could proceed without the bounds of matrimony."

Mary nodded when he waited for her response, and said, "I couldn’t agree with you more, the only option for us is to marry."

"Good, good, I’m glad we’re in agreement on this. Now I don’t think either of us wish to make a big fuss, do we?"

"Oh of course not," she replied mildly.

"Well then since all of our friends and family will be there at Winterfest, what do you say to then?"

"To announce our engagement?" she asked tentatively.

"No my dear, I meant for us to marry at Winterfest. Or have I presumed too much and you would like more time for us to get to know each other?"

With a gentle smile and a squeeze of his hand she said, "I think we know each other as well as we can after thirty years of living together. Winterfest will be fine. The sooner I am your wife, the happier I will be Jacob."

"As will I, my dear!" he told her with a tender smile. "I think I will ask Vincent to stand up with me. What do you think of that?"

"I think it is a perfect idea, and I shall ask Catherine, after all she is the reason that I had the courage to speak to you. But Jacob, don’t you think you should ask Devin as well if he is going to be there?"

"That would be wonderful to have both my sons at my side, but that would mean you would need another attendant…since Devin isn’t married or even dating anyone as far as I know…"

"I would ask Sarah. She and I have been close ever since she came to the tunnels, she’s like a sister to me."

"Well it seems that we have everything set as far as the wedding itself is concerned, but I think there are other things we need to deal with."

"Yes there are, but it is getting late, and we can talk about those things tomorrow."

"Just so," he replied, getting up and heading for the passageway. "Good night then, my dear."

"Jacob?" she stopped him.

"Yes?"

"Would you think it too bold of me to ask for a good night kiss?"

"Not at all! All you ever need do is to ask my dear. After all we are engaged now," he told her as she approached him. Placing his free hand on her cheek as the other leaned on his cane, he gave her a sweet tender kiss that lasted only a few seconds.

"Thank you Jacob," she said as he stepped back and took his leave. She would surely be asking for more kisses and it seemed she would have to remind him how it was done! After all they were engaged now!

Nonetheless both of them fell asleep with smiles on their faces that night.

***

Catherine checked on Jacob one last time before crawling into bed to wait for Vincent. He was finishing up in the bathing chamber and would join her soon. She pulled out the note from Peter that she had tucked under her pillow. This would be a wonderful Winterfest surprise for Vincent. The note read: You’re positive, and I’m positive that it will thrill everyone at Winterfest!

She fell asleep before Vincent finished, her note in one hand, the other hand on her tummy and a smile on her lips.