It was a fine day for it. Jolyon paused between the next swing of the ax up at the sky, wiping away the sweat from his brow with the shirt long ago discarded. The breeze was fine and pushing fluffy, sun-scattering clouds along the sky.

A spark of wild abandon lightened his smile, and he sat in one of the other chairs, skirting it around the table to get closer to her. "I was thinking of getting a place that is our own. Not a huge place, but if I changed this fully into a bed and breakfast, tours three times a week instead of two, I could make it my place of business. Maybe we could move into town. You would be closer to your business and friends." The thrill of the idea just as abruptly turned its tables on him and speaking it out loud, he heard the whimsy of it. Sunrises over the vineyard, the patio dinners at a thought. Still, the idea had been spoken, and he looked to her.

The idea clearly startled her and she did nothing to hide the flicker of emotion. As usual with her emotions, though, even though it wasn't consciously wiped from her face, it still did not linger long. "You want to move?"

"No, and yes. I don't know. I just, thought I could make more money if I opened up the house more, but I don't want to invade our privacy either. I---" He wanted her to feel there was a place she was safe, no lies to tell, nothing to hide. He sat back in the chair, running his fingers through his hair. "What do you want?"

"Well, I certainly can see this place making money as a bed and breakfast if that's what you wanted to do. Maybe even small intimate weddings." She tripped over her sentences as her gaze lingered on him. He remained the sole person that she had difficulty reading well. Everyone else was an open book to her and he remained a challenge. "What do I want? I don't know. I mean... I've lived so many places. I suppose I want you to be happy."

"And that's what I want for you. I...," but he looked up to the trees hanging over them where the sky was inking through twilight. "I want you feeling like you don't have to hide anything, that you belong. I want you to feel like you have a home, not just some other place you live for the moment. That you can have Sam here without question or preparation or any of your friends. That...if you wanted to do so, you could tend people here, be the healer in you as well as your business." It had been a year of marriage, and he just needed to know not guess or try to piece together bits of commentary, like her comment that she lived so many places.

Adjusting the grip on the ax, he swung again against the saplings in the way. It was work unusual to him and yet just as exhilarating as the first scoops of earth away from an ancient burial mound entrance. The thrill filled him, pressing him on to get just that bit further. He knew he would not finish in the day -- or even the week. There would still be leveling of the land and he would need to borrow a plow from someone to do so.

A heavy exhale was released and her gaze fell to her lap. She could sense the wound he was probing. "I don't know. I do feel like I belong with you. I do. And I like living away from the city. I like the distance." She lifted her eyes at the same moment to him she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I came to this house as your guest and it's hard to see myself as anything but. I mean, how many times did I run away from my life because I messed something up and came here to make you take care of me? It's hard to see myself as a responsible adult with an equal footing here after all of that. But that doesn't mean I want to move necessarily. If you feel we need to do this financially, though, I would understand."

"No," his hand reached out to her arm as if she had many any move at all, but he realized it was his own worry that had driven him to forward. "No, if you like living here, then we will keep things as they are. I...can get a job." He laughed at himself, and no doubt Serena would hear some of the nervousness in that laughter. "I don't discredit your feelings. I wish they were not so, but, yes, I can see how you seeing this place as a refuge during those times now puts up a barrier to feeling it is yours." He paraphrased so he might be certain he understood. "I might add, you took care of me as well, and I was never made to do so. Serena, even before I fell in love with you, I thought of you as a friend. I cared for you because you are my friend, not from any force other than affection. But, yes," he looked over the walls of the house, and then back to her, "yes, I think I understand what you mean. What do we do?"

He had gotten up at dawn, looked over the vineyards, shared a breakfast with Serena, and checked in with Alistair about the financial record. It meant the sun was up and shining by the time he had gotten ax and water canteen in hand. There was going to be a full day of it, he had promised himself. It was not going to be an idea he just sat on, not with the way Serena had looked that night.

The idea visibly crept up on her. There was something about the intimacy of his touch that did it, that made her start considering the things that she was missing. Like planning their meals herself, or being able to clean fanatically when stressed without probing questions, or walking in after a long day without the possibility of having to be polite to someone touring the vineyard, or being able to snap snidely at him or reach out and touch him without having to worry who may see. It wasn't that she didn't love the property. It wasn't that she didn't adore Arcelia and Alistair but the notion of privacy...? She was left suddenly wondering why the thought had not occurred to her before. "This place is way more house than we need." It was all she allowed for the moment as she tried to find words to express the rest.

He nodded to that, but he could tell there was something more. It was a time for reflection, and as he watched her, his own thoughts to how to remedy just barely simmering, well, he could not help himself, but there was no way he could not smile. She was lovely and it struck him in the center of his chest just how lucky a man he was that she was there, sitting in that chair, and cared for him. It was almost painful, and he left his hand on her arm to ease that ache.

As soon as words were put to her feelings, she gave a soft laugh at herself for the surge of nervousness that sprang forth at even bringing the topic up. The book was left abandoned in her lap and she tilted her head at him with the slight, flirty smile that always seemed to be her first line of offense when trying to get her way. "You would leave here? All of this? And live with just me?"

He knew that smile, but he also knew it did not change his answer. "Yes." There was no need to elaborate, the answer was as simple as it was true.

The late morning proved more amiable weather-wise than the night before. It was if the day had embraced the best of summer. The sun shone but without the harsh heat of later months, and voluminous clouds, sky castles of white, shimmered in the sunlight. Jolyon had no interest in waking up too early. And he even permitted himself to roll over and go back to sleep twice. But eventually, he woke and worked to pack the promised el fresco brunch as well as a blanket and one notebook.

These things he carried with him as he called out to Serena, "I'm heading to the property to look it over -- great building plans to commence upon your arrival!" He did not want to rush her either. She had a right to sleep in as she wished, too.

Yet, this was one morning which she had not. Her business hours tended to be irregular at best and often upon getting back late, she would sleep in late the next morning. However, this one in particular she had been up and waiting for just that announcement.

One of the many leather bound notebooks that she used to keep track of clients, products, and vendors was uncharacteristically dropped carelessly as she moved out of the bedroom. She had a tendency of hiding there. Even after all the time she'd lived in this house, she never seemed to have much of a presence. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"

He paused on the patio hearing that call. A smile at the tone of anticipation he heard in her voice. When she came into view, he freed an arm to offer it to her. "All the better, we can talk on the way over."

A bright smile appeared as she caught sight of him, clearly happy to have caught up with him in time. Her hand reached out to take the offered arm. "I can be good company. I will try my best."

"Can be? You are delightful company. I am quite picky in such things, have you not heard?" He teased and started their way down the first slope that would lead up the next to the cleared hilltop.

"You? Hardly. I think you would find a street sweeper fascinating." She teased in return, giving his arm a squeeze.

It was, in its fullness, a good twenty minutes between villa and hilltop destination. With that in mind, he started. "Since we have an excellent view of it here, would you prefer your garden towards the valley or towards the lane?" The lane, which was the primary road from the city, was a good three hundred feet away from the slope, much like it was from the Rumors Mill villa, and had several tall trees and growth between it. He had not cleared that land.

Her eyes swept out over the land, pursing her lips into a thoughtful frown. "Valley, I think. More private. In fact, you should try to save those trees."

A nod, his agreement clear on the matter. They entered a brief expanse of wood that clustered around that dimple of valley between the two rises. "Privacy would be excellent, too true. So, garden towards the valley. Trees remain near the road. Shall we do without any approach or pathway to the house from the road at all? The one to Rumors Mill and across here may do us well, but what do you think?"

Her dark eyes swept up to him in a swift, passing attempt to read him. As talented as she may be, witnessing the same tricks daily for years could allow for several of her tells to be picked up on. "I don't know. How long do you plan on living here?"

He had to laugh, and then cut himself short. She was likely in part quite serious. "As long as you allow me." He smiled, and then added. "And there is nothing to say we cannot add a path or remove it later."

His laughter and response caused her to hesitate over a response. There was no sign of hurt as she mulled it over. The idea of so permanent a residence struck her as odd after so many years moving from place to place. It would take some getting used to. Eventually, she gave a nod. "Then let's not include one for now."

Another agreeing nod. "It will make it seem even moreso the retreat." He was becoming more and more keen upon the idea. Moving from place to place was nothing new to him, but there was always a home to return to. The home now was wherever Serena wished to be and wished to have him. He was determined to make the house as much to her desires as possible. "Two stories, then? Brick or wood?" He looked up to the hillside, imagining different combinations.

"Do you think we will need two? I suppose we will." The more questions he asked, the more her brows furrowed in thought. Clearly, she hadn't given this much thought... beyond the privacy and fireplaces, of course. "Wood... or cobblestoned. Just not brick. There's something too... large about it."

"Ah, yes, cobblestone, or that lovely imperfect riverstone look. Perhaps a combination of wood and riverstone, to blend in with the woods surroundings."

The final ascent was in silence as he thought out the combination of facade. Her dark eyes swept up to his face with a flash of a joyful smile at his description but she enjoyed that silence... or as much silence as there was this time of year when every speck of countryside seemed teeming with life. At the top of the rise, along the leveled ground, he withdrew his arm reluctantly so he could set out the blanket and the basket, kneeling down to remove scones, jams and creams, a few slices of this and that and the other. And grapes, of course, along with apples and oranges. "Come, let us dream up our house." He reached to her to encourage her to at least sit for the moment.

Her lips pursed into a thoughtful frown as she continued to study the land. "I'm a liar and manipulative and... difficult to get to know. I'm entirely ill-suited to be a wife and a mother. I wanted you... not in any sort of life-altering way. Just enough to say that I won... whatever that meant. But the only way to win you was to tell the truth because you knew when I was lying. And the more truth I told, the more real it became.... and then I was left wanting to be your wife. I sometimes wonder if this was entirely selfish of me."

He lay back on the blanket, and encouraged her with soft caresses to her arms to join him at his side as he thought on her words. There was much there to hear and to think over. As he did, he asked, "What is it you fear in having won? As to the selfishness, is there a fear there as well?"

A palm landed on the blanket to prop herself up now that he was no longer present to lean against but she didn't heed his encouraging touch yet. Instead, she turned her gaze down at him, shaking her head slightly. "Although this is not what I initially wanted, it is what I want now with everything I am, and I don't want to fail. What if I'm just playing at being your wife? I believe that I am entirely capable of acting the role but I don't believe it's in me to fulfill it properly."

"Serena, I do not know my exact role as a husband either. I am learning as I go. If this is what you want, then you will be my wife in your way. I do not know how you could 'fail' exactly if it is what you want. You have never failed at what you want before. What fulfilling are you in doubt of? You have not failed to fulfill any thing that I am aware."

His words seemed to mollify her somewhat for she sank to his side, her head dropping to rest in the crook of his shoulder. "I've never wanted anything real before and... you know.. this honesty thing doesn't come naturally to me. I suppose I fear that you'll wake up one day and realize that what I have to offer isn't enough, that you'll get tired of me trying to get what I want in unconventional ways."

"Unconventional." He said the word with a smile and kissed the top of her head. "It is one of the best things about this, Serena. On the other side, I am always afraid I am going to do something that will make you realize I am just not worth it, or you will be bored with my prosaic self, seeing someone who shares the same thrills and excitement as your work does. I suppose we both have our fears. But, as I read somewhere once, I am not going to be so afraid of losing something that I am not going to try and have it. And I want a life with you."

"I'm never bored with you. In fact, I'm looking forward to this house and having you completely to myself." She tilted her chin up to press a kiss against his jaw bone. Her playfulness faltered for a moment. "I think.. the idea of having a family with you is starting to grow on me."

Such a kiss as that always sent a tingle spreading out like a droplet in a pool of water. Her words struck a deeper chord. The idea, she had said. The idea of a family. "Then we will take each day as it comes, but you are right, there should be a room -- just in case." And, he thought, if it did not happen for whatever reason, an extra space would not go amiss. "And not above the kitchen." And he set a kiss to the corner of her mouth, devotion to her above all else that might come or go.

Speaking her mind seemingly had emboldened her. While normally, she'd take his statement with a bright smile and a nod of acceptance and continue to press her case through hints and gentle nudging, today she squared her jaw almost defiantly. "No. I don't really like that idea. The taking each day as it comes, I mean. I want some time with you. Just us. We haven't had that and I think we should but a couple months after we've been living here, we're going to have a very real discussion about this."

She was quite in earnest, and he realized perhaps he had taken too soft an approach to it. "I just, don't want you to feel pressured or an expectation. But, yes, a real discussion about it." He vowed.

It was almost difficult to take her somber defiance seriously when it ended with a delighted laugh and another kiss -- this one to his cheek. "I'm not easily pressured. When do I ever not do exactly what it is I want to do?"

"That is what I am thinking, which makes me wonder if I should not leave this house to your hands and come back amazed and delighted with its completion." He grinned. "But no, I have a need to do some physical work. So, direct me, my lady, in your grand desires. Kitchen towards the valley, I should think to be close to the garden, which means study above to also have a view of the valley...and the garden and the lovely lady in the garden for inspiration." A sky blue eye winked.