I'd Give Up The World For You

Rukelion's plan was moving along at an agonizingly slow pace but it was moving and that was what mattered. He had found a fully furnished apartment that was little more than a motel room with a tiny strip of kitchen not far from Daisy's building to increase his chances of running into her. 

That being said, he hadn't expected her to show up and jump in to help him while he was trying to get himself some flowers to brighten up the place. He missed her so desperately that if nothing else he wanted to have her namesake in his room. 

Seeing her like that had been both exhilarating and heartbreaking. Though her facial expressions were different now she had the same enthusiasm talking about flowers that she always did. 

It was reassuring to know that some things never changed. She was still the woman he had fallen in love with even if she didn't remember him right now. 

But after they parted ways Rukelion felt emptier than ever. Five minutes of conversation wasn't nearly enough. He wanted more. He wanted things to be the way they used to when she would talk to him about anything and everything.

He needed to create more chances to see her. The next part of his plan was the iffiest since there were no guarantees he would be able to get into her company. He got very lucky on that front. 

Someone had moved out of state leaving a data entry position needing to be filled. The hiring managers were getting pretty desperate because no one was willing to take it for the low pay they were offering. He didn't care how much he made right now if it would bring him closer to his wife so he jumped at the chance. 

Rukelion hadn't expected his luck to hold out as well as it had. He was able to see her easily from his desk so he gazed at her whenever he got the chance, wanting to memorize every tiny detail of her new appearance. Or he supposed it was her original appearance. 

Daisy had always tied her hair back because of how long it was to the point that he rarely saw it down back in his world. But now that it was shorter that was less of an issue so she often kept it down. 

She frequently tucked it behind her ears so he was able to see the silver daisy stud earrings she wore nearly every day. She often wore a thin silver chain with a small white and yellow daisy charm on it around her left wrist as well. She fiddled with it occasionally as she stared at her computer screen. 

Though her facial features were different she still scrunched her nose when she was concentrating fiercely. It was adorable. 

Rukelion often thought his heart might burst simply by watching her go. These small glimpses of her weren't nearly enough. He talked to her every chance he got but that wasn't enough either. The more time he got with her, the more he wanted. 

This Daisy wasn't so different from the one he knew aside from smiling and laughing less. But that was probably because she didn't know him yet. Things were different in her world and she was on guard. 

That didn't stop her from being kind though. Helping him with his flower questions, bringing cookies for her coworkers, even offering him a ride home so he didn't have to wait in the snow. 

He was certain he would be able to see her smile properly again with time. As of now all he had seen her do was smile without her teeth. The sort of polite smiles you gave to strangers. 

Rukelion hated being a stranger in her eyes. He needed to get back to where he had been before! No matter how long it took, he would make it happen. He had to. Because if he didn't he would lose what little sanity he had left. 

"Do you have any Valentine's plans?" Daisy asked suddenly, startling him out of his thoughts.

He only knew what Valentine's Day was because everyone in the office had been talking about it. Curious, he had looked up what it was on his phone. It seemed to be a holiday celebrating romance. 

Was this a casual question? People had been asking each other this ever since he started at the company. She wasn't aware that they meant anything to each other so it was likely she didn't mean anything by it, as much as that hurt. 

"None whatsoever." A horrible thought occurred to him. What if she DID have Valentine's plans? What was he supposed to do about that? He might regret hearing the answer but he had to ask. It was done so hesitantly. "You?"

Daisy shook her head. "No, not yet. I uh…I was wondering if maybe you wanted to do something with me? You totally don't have to if you don't want to but since neither of us have plans I thought it might be nice to get dinner at least."

She seemed terribly embarrassed to be asking and his heart soared before crashing back to the ground in confusion. She was asking him out! WHY was she asking him out?

Rukelion had expected this to be a long, slow process. That constant reminder was the only thing that kept him from going insane. He hadn't even managed to become her friend yet so why was she asking him to spend time with her on the most romantic day of the year? 

A thought occurred to him. This must be because he was older when they met this time. 

Before she had viewed him as a little brother for most of their relationship and he had to wear her down into seeing him in a romantic light. That wouldn't be an issue this time since he was an adult. They were only four years apart now. 

He had to stay calm! If he appeared too overeager now it might scare her off. Forcing his heart rate to slow, he replied in as even a tone as possible. 

"I would love to. Do you want to plan things or should I?"

"I've got it," Daisy reassured him. "I'm the one doing the asking. I can come pick you up so leave everything to me!" 

Rukelion was in a daze for the rest of the drive back after agreeing. The love of his life had asked him on a date. He had done research for his plan on how courting worked here and knew that things tended to be much more casual. Most courtships didn't lead to marriage. 

He knew that but it was impossible not to get his hopes up. Going on a date with her was far better than talking to her in the hall at work! He was getting closer to accomplishing his ultimate goal of living happily with her in this world. 

They arrived back at his temporary dwelling in no time and he was sure to thank her for helping him out before saying he would see her in the morning. When he made it back inside his mind was still racing. 

Screwing this up was not an option. He had to show her that dating him would be worth her while. But how? 

Rukelion needed to know more about Valentine's Day. He changed out of his work clothes into his pajamas—they were the most comfortable clothes that existed in this world and he was quite fond of them—before sitting in the apartment's only chair and pulling out his phone. 

Everything had to be perfect. This was the only way he would be able to get his wife back. He couldn't leave anything to chance but it was difficult considering she was in charge of the planning. He had to act within the parameters of what she had set up. 

If nothing else, he was going to get her flowers. That seemed to be the accepted norm for this holiday but he would have done it anyway knowing how much she loved them. 

The days leading up to Valentine's Day dragged on miserably. Seeing Daisy at work was barely enough to keep him going. His nightmares hadn't decreased in the slightest so he wasn't sleeping well and it took every speck of his willpower not to pull her into his arms and never let go. 

It was becoming progressively more difficult not to tell her exactly how much he loved her the more he saw her. He could stare at her all day but he had to get his work done if he didn't want to get fired. 

Rukelion forced himself to focus and enjoyed every torturous moment talking with his wife. They were all he lived for right now. 

When he went home at the end of the day he often broke down, unable to handle pretending things were okay anymore. It was hard enough holding his emotions back in front of Daisy.. Doing it when he was alone and there was nothing stopping him was more than he could bear.