Michael was looking at me over the table, his soft blond hair wet from the shower he'd just had, his shirt unbuttoned, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal the dragon tattoo on his left forearm. It was a perfect recreation of Tian Lung, or the Celestial Dragon in Oriental mythology. I had a similar tattoo on my back, starting from the shoulder-blades and going down my spine, but it was of Shen Lung - Spiritual Dragon. We'd gotten the tattoos together, on the day of our first anniversary, which had been one of the best moments of my life. Especially knowing that Michael is phobic of needles and thus having someone tattoo him with one was a much harder experience for him, then it was for me. I held his hand through the whole ordeal, and then he did the same for me. I didn't so much as flinch, while I was getting the tattoo. Why? Because at that time and moment, while lying on my stomach in the tattoo-artist's studio, I wasn't thinking about the pain or the man inking my skin. I was looking into Michael's deed, deep eyes, the color of emeralds, of a forest after the rain has graced the leaves of the trees, and was lost inside them. It was like magic... only different. It was love, and care, and affection, and need and desire... It was like being alone on an island, where nothing else existed, but the feel of Michael's warm hand in mine, his breathing, the curve of a smile on his lips, the comfort that that smile gave me.
It was like we were taking our wedding vows again, only this time they were being carved into our skin, where we could never betray or forget them.
Now I could see that vow again, remember the words Michael had said, after we left the tattooist, and couldn't believe that we were arguing over something so... silly. Mundane. Pointless. What did it matter if I worked, or if I had to travel, or if I was to be away for a few days at a time, when I was always going to come back to him? Didn't he know that? He was my shelter. My safe haven. My harbour. The lighthouse in the dark, that will always guide me right back home.
I opened my mouth to say all those things, to tell him that he's being childish and unreasonable, but couldn't find the words. I didn't know what to say and that rarely happens to me. I licked my lips. Took in a deep breath. Ran my fingers through my hair. Michael just stared at me. He didn't move, seemed almost like he'd stopped breathing. He seemed so solemn, so... serious. There was something dark and possessive in his eyes. Something primal, that hadn't been there before. In any other case, I would have found that look... inviting, for a lack of a better word, appealing even, but not now.
Now it made me angry. And, as a favorite writer of mine wrote, anger makes stone.
"You have no right to tell me what I could or couldn't do", I said and my voice showed I wasn't backing out of this fight. Not this time. "You don't own me, Michael. I love you and I know that you love me as well, but love doesn't equal possession." Disappoint sipped into my voice. Bitterness. "I thought you knew that. Thought you knew better."
For a long while, Michael didn't say anything, he just stood there, motionless, trickles of water running down the side of his face, down his bare chest. Then, finally, he let out a sigh and said. "You don't need to work. You know that, right?"
"I know."
"But you want to do it? Take Miss Munro's proposal?"
"Yes."
"You'll be travelling, Sam", he pointed out o so reasonably. "Won't be here for days."
"You're a big boy. You'll survive without me." My lips curled into a smile, the moment he, against his better judgement, smiled as well. "Besides, you're far better in everything domestic and cooking related then I am!"
"Like the mother, the daughter, huh?"
"Something like that", I shrugged and moved to where he was standing. I was fairly certain that the "fight", or whatever else it had been, was over. My eyes didn't leave his even for a moment. "I promise that even when I'm out of town, we'll talk every day and night, and you won't have time to miss me..."
"Oh, I'll miss you", he said and, when I was near enough to grab, pulled me into his lap. "I'll miss you alright!"
"And I..." I lowered my face for a kiss "...will miss you."
"That's a promise" He whispered, before pressing his lips into mine. We kissed and it seemed like the day had suddenly become brighter and warmer.
I pulled back first and looked into Michael's face from so close, that I could almost feel his breath on my lips. He had a serious expression on his face, almost... sad.
"Smile" I said and ran my fingers down his cheek. "This is something good!"
"Not from where I'm standing!" Michael murmured and a teasing glare filled his green eyes. I grinned. Two could play this game.
"Smile", I repeated. He pressed his lips together and lightly shook his head. There was laughter in his eyes now, a challenge. I was betting on me this time. "Last warning... Smile!"
He didn't. I tickled him under the arms. He laughed.
Then he smiled.
***
Today I woke up late and, after 15 minutes of just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, got up and went to the kitchen to make a phone call and coffee. On the kitchen counter, I found a folded piece of paper that Michael had left for me. Smiling to myself, I picked it up and opened it.
I narrowed my eyes. It had an Internet site written on it and a short note that said simply:
Carter says that's the best way to make cheap international calls. Guess I'd be using it a lot! Thought you might want to check it out! l.u.
I shook my head and laughed at both men's silliness, but put the paper in my pocket anyway. I turned on the coffee machine, switched the radio on, only to hear a familiar song playing (Vienna Teng's "Homecoming"... which was quite a big joke on fate's side if you ask me!), then let out the breath I was holding and reached for the phone...
She picked up on the second ring. "Mrs. Halliwell?"
"Miss Munro", I replied and, after another sigh, said. "I'm calling to tell you that I've thought about your proposal." A second of hesitation. Then. "And I've decided to accept it."
"Heart's hope lies within Belladonna"
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