It was a lazy day in their quaint new little home right outside of RhyDin. Lunchtime no doubt. Jade was leaning on the counter, looming over the lunchmeat and all the fixin's. Busy busy bee.

Claira piped up, glancing up from her drawing pad at the kitchen island, "Mommy, is my sammich finishhhhed?"

Jade nodded and put the plateful of turkey sandwich infront of her, "Mmmmhm." She glanced over to Dakota with a smile, "Waitin' fer yer's too?" Snicker as she went back to her task at hand.

Dakota had been sitting at the island, right next to Claira, watching her draw just whatever it was that she was drawing. He and Claira had been spending an awfully lot of time together lately. Whenever Jade had an errand to run and he was home, he always asked if Claira could stay home with him. Claira, for her part, had truly begun to think of Dakota as her daddy.

Upon Jade speaking in his direction, he glanced up at her and nodded. "Yes ma'am, most definitely." Tomorrow morning would be another early start, but if things went according to plan today, would he ever have something to talk about tomorrow.

She shook her head lightly as she smiled. She'd never get over the politeness he gave her at times. Mayo! She slathered it lightly over the bread and put the turkey on said pieces of bread. Jade reached over to the fruit bowl for an apple for herself as she turned and handed the plate to Dakota, "Theeeeere ya are, dear." Flop into a barstool, crunch into the apple.

Claira was in her own little world for a moment as she took up the sandwich and started munching on it, "Num num num."

Jade snorted at her daughter at that!

He was quiet today...unusually quiet. He usually had something to rant about, whether it was some idiot caller to the show, or something he saw at the inn...there was always something to bitch about when it came to Dakota! Not today, though. He just sat there quietly, munching on his sandwich. There was something obviously on his mind, but he wasn't talking.

As usual around mealtime, Luke was seated right there at his feet, keeping his head up for any crumbs that may fall his way. Him and Claira had become best friends, because she'd always sneak bites of whatever she was eating to him. And just like usual, she was accidentally/on purpose dropping a few potato chips his way.

But what was going on in Dakota's head right about now?

"Clairaaa..." She sighed at the ever feeding of Bid Bad Luke, BBL to Claira and Jade now. She shook her head and bit into the apple again.

Mouthful of chips and sandwich came out a "Whoot?" Another chip was given to Luke.

A soft laugh came out as her jade hues shifted to Dakota... and his lack of words. Strange indeed. It had been noted. A brow quirked up at him, "Somethin' on the mind, luv? Sure ain't sayin' much." Head tilt and another munch.


He instantly shook his head, as if being snapped out of a trance. Thinking quickly on his feet, he played it off all cool-like. "Aw, nothin', babe. Jus' got my mind on the show tomorrow. I got a couple things swirlin' 'bout in my head. I gotta say, this is the best job I've ever had. I've done a lotta things to make a livin', an' I ain't never been happier than I am right now."

A few more seconds passed by before he acted like he suddenly remembered something. "OHYEAH, Claira had somethin' she wanted to ask you 'bout. She asked me 'bout it first, but I kinda deferred it off to you."

Her brows continued to raise, "I'm glad ya are likin' it." Nod, "If it ain't fun ta do, it sure is fun ta hear." There was the tiniest of laughs until she looked to Claira, lowering the apple to set it on the count, "Yes, sweetie?" Her glance went between the two a moment before settling on Claira again.


Claira could barely contain her giddiness, and honestly, she was trying not to laugh as she blurted out. "Can Dakota be my real daddy???" Now the way she said it, it totally sounded like something she came up with in her little head, asked Dakota, and he didn't know how to respond, so he passed that awfully tricky question off to Jade.

For his part, he sat there looking a bit embarrassed, totally playing the part.

Well, it was something she wasn't expecting. Or at least not at the moment. Her jaw slacked just slightly, pink creeping onto her cheeks slowly. She took a gulp and a breath. Jade nodded, vocal cords not ready to work. Her hues looked to Dakota and he honestly looked as taken back as she did.

So as she looked back to Claira she found her voice, "Yes, sweetie, he can. I'd think we'd want nothin' more. If you want it, I do too... tenfold." There was a sweet motherly smile finding its way onto her crimson lips as she looked between the two. Were there tears? Oh yea, they were forming.

"Really??? Well, that's really good...'cause he told me to give you this!!" And she quickly hopped off of her stool so she could dig in her pants pocket. Within seconds, she pulled out a small white box and handed it to her. "NOW can he be my daddy???"

Meanwhile, by this point, Dakota's expression had turned as serious as it could be. He was waiting for Jade to look him in the eyes so he could let her know that...yes....this is what he wanted more than anything in the world.

Brimming crimson tears filled her jade hues. She always hated when that happened, but today... she was happy. Jade bit her lower lip sharply as she took the box, cradling it in her hands. She leaned forward, nodding to Claira. A hand came out and tucked a lock of hair behind her tiny ear and smooched her on the forehead, voice nothing but a whisper, "Yes..." Her finger flicked opened the box and looked over the ring.

A half laugh and a sob came out as she looked to Dakota now, "Yes... yes... Yes!!" She was nodding wildly and it took everything in her not to throw herself over the island.


Be a man, Dakota. Don't you let her see you cry!!! He was struggling desperately to keep it in as he slowly got up to his feet, approached her, and got down on one knee, right there in front of her. "Jade...baby..I know you ain't never had someone to truly love you. There have been others who weren't man enough to love you and to love that lil girl of yours. These last sev'ral months have been some of the best of my life, an' all I want now is to be down there at the altar waitin' for you to walk down that aisle for the first time. I want to love you for the rest of my life. I want to be the husband that you've deserved for so long. Will you marry me, Jade?"


She was trying to wipe away the tears as quick as they fell with her hand, but it wasn't happening. Her mouth wouldn't work. She just continued to nod, not answering, just nodding.

Claira tugged at the hem of her tank top. Her little voice piping up, "Mommy... this is where yer supposed to give him an answer." A sage nod bobbed up at her mother.

Another half sob laugh spilled from her lips as she nodded back to her daughter, "I know, sweetie." A soft sigh as she looked back to Dakota, big breath to gain resolve. So much for that because more tears formed. All she could do was lean down and wrap her arms around his neck, "Yes... yes... I will! I'll marry you! Forever an' ever an' longer than that. All I want is you an' nothin' else." With a sniffle, she buried her face into his neck, "Nothin'."

His hand ever slowly ran through those midnight black locks of hers. His eyes were closed, trying to hold in his own tears. Him and Claira had been planning this out for a while now. How did she not let anything slip before now?? Turns out she could be a rock when she REALLY wanted to be. They remained right there in silence, save for Jade's sniffles, along with the sound of her kissing him along his neck as she buried his face against him.

Finally, he gently took the box from her, dislodged the ring from its cushioned slot, and slid that ring on the third finger of her left hand. It fit absolutely perfect. He looked up at her once more, still on one knee, and managed to crack a grin. "It was meant to be yours, darlin'.."

She wiped away the last set of tears, leaving little red smudges in their wake. Jade smiled, looking down to study the ring itself. It was beautiful, but the meaning was so much more. She nodded, "Aye, it does seem so. It's.... gorgeous." She'd yell at him later about it. She was sure it cost a good pretty penny.

Jade looked back up at him, beaming as she reached over to stroke his cheek with her thumb, "But you... were meant to be mine, as were you to me."

Somewhere in the background of the two, Claira - ever taking after Dakota and Jade - was giving a thumbs up to Dakota.