I'd Give Up The World For You

The trek back to the capital seemed even longer after that. People kept harassing Rukelion about his love life and he was getting seriously annoyed.

He didn't HAVE a love life. Or at least…not a solid one. He still didn't know where they stood since they had barely started trying anything before he left. It had tortured him the entire time he had been gone.

Worst of all, they had to report back to headquarters immediately. He couldn't run straight to Daisy when they approached the outskirts of town like he wanted to. She was so close! And yet she had never felt further away from him.

Rukelion tried his best to hide his impatience as he met with General Pace and the captains of the squads who had been sent to Zel. They delivered a message from General Howl about how the war had ended that he read quickly before requesting additional reports to see whether or not they corroborated what he had read.

Everyone sounded off in the affirmative one by one before the captains were dismissed and Rukelion was alone with the general, who eyed him approvingly. "General Howl recommended you be promoted, Major May. And he isn't one who gives out praise lightly."

"It's an honor, sir," he replied neutrally.

"I wish I could but unfortunately I do need to wait until you've reached your year mark as a major at minimum. Even that would be unprecedented but you've done so much for this country that I agree with him that you've earned it."

"I understand, sir. Thank you for the compliment."

"I see you're as humble as ever. Good! Don't get a big head and you'll do well around here. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if you became a general before the age of thirty," General Pace told him. "You will have to pass this report on to the king but that can be taken care of later. For the time being take the rest of the day and go see your wife. She's here nearly every day asking about letters."

Rukelion's heart leapt in his chest. Daisy. "Thank you very much, sir!"

He bowed out of the room and practically sprinted to the flower shop once he made it out of headquarters, narrowly avoiding running several people over as they ambled by with their shopping. After so much waiting to see her again and hold her in his arms he didn't have a moment to waste!

Panting slightly, he banged the door to the flower shop open and accidentally startled Nia. "Major May! What are you doing here? I had no idea you were back in town."

"I just got back. Where is Veronica?" Rukelion asked desperately.

She smiled, seeming to understand. "She's in the greenhouse out back. I'll show you there."

Nia led him through some sort of storage room and out behind the flower shop where an enormous greenhouse sat. Through the glass he could see Daisy crouching down tending to some flowers and his heart flipped in his chest.

"Thank you!" he called over his shoulder as he bolted toward the greenhouse door.

His wife heard the door opening and asked without looking up, "What is it, Miette? Do you want me to come have tea with you and Tom again?"

"Daisy," Rukelion breathed.

Her head snapped up and she stared at him for a moment in shock before tears filled her eyes and she shot him her most glorious smile, laughing and crying at the same time. The gardening tools she was holding clattered against the ground as she launched herself at him.

"Leo! Oh, Leo, you're actually here! Why didn't you say anything?!"

He wasn't able to answer because she was kissing him. All thoughts of what he was going to say fled from his mind as he hungrily kissed her back, lifting her tiny frame into the air.

Rukelion had needed this more than he could put into words. The feeling of her hand in his hair and her legs wrapped around his waist may as well have lit him on fire. He loved her so, so much!

He wasn't sure how long they stood there kissing but eventually Daisy pulled back and buried her face in his neck as he continued holding her up. "I missed you so much. Are you okay? Did you get hurt at all?"

"No, I'm fine."

More than fine, really. He had never been so blissfully happy in his life!

She seemed to realize what position they were in while she was still supposed to be working and cleared her throat with her face flaming. "Uh…you can go ahead and set me down now. Sorry."

"Don't you dare apologize," Rukelion said fervently as he did what she said but refused to let go of her. "That was the best welcome home I could have gotten."

He could tangibly feel the heat emanating from her face at this point even without using his magic. What was there to be so embarrassed about? She knew he was hopelessly in love with her. It was why she had agreed to try and make things real in the first place.

"When did you get back?" Daisy mumbled into his chest.

"Less than two hours ago. I was stuck in a debriefing meeting but came straight here when it ended."

"Of course you did. Did they give you the rest of the day off?"

"Yes. If you have to stay here that's fine but I'm staying with you," Rukelion said firmly. He had barely gotten her back; he couldn't stand to let her out of his sight so soon.

Daisy laughed. "I'm sure Miette will allow it considering the circumstances. You have been gone for nearly three months, after all."

As if summoned by the sound of her name Miette appeared in the doorway with a knowing smile on her face. "Veronica, I'm glad your husband is home but you do have work to do. He can stay if he doesn't hinder you."

He saluted her to show how serious he was. "I won't, ma'am! I can even help. I know a fair amount about flowers myself because of her and I promise I won't be a distraction. Please let me stay."

"There's no need to salute me! I'm no one of importance and you're a hero. Veronica, if he does help you can both head home as soon as the work is done. There's no need to stick around unnecessarily."

"Thank you!" Daisy called after her as she turned and left the greenhouse.

Her face was pink but not the brilliant shade of red it had been before. It seemed she was calming down. She cleared her throat. "I was working on the begonias. Can you hand me that fertilizer?"

"This one?" Rukelion asked after looking to where she was gesturing with her head.

"Yeah."

He did as she said instantly and watched her spread it over the soil with his heart fit to burst. She was in her element here and it showed even though tear tracks still stained her cheeks from when she was so happy to see him she cried.

He gazed at her the entire time she worked. She was focused on the flowers and didn't speak to him unless it was necessary but he didn't mind at all. He was back with the woman he loved and that was all that mattered.

Besides, the sooner they got this done, the sooner they could leave. That was likely why she wasn't trying to talk about anything else.

Rukelion's prediction turned out to be correct because she was full of chatter as soon as they left the flower shop. "I'm going to have to send a message up to the castle and let Juliet know not to come to dinner. I'm not quite sure how to do that though since I've never had to do it before…"

"I can send someone if we cut through headquarters on the way home," he reassured her.

Daisy gave him a brilliant smile as she thanked him and he was so very tempted to kiss her again but he had to at least wait until they were back home. It was a miracle they hadn't been caught back in the greenhouse. If Miette had come one minute earlier his poor wife's head may have actually exploded.

She held his hand as they walked but it wasn't nearly enough. If he thought he could get away with it he would carry her all the way back to the house.

Rukelion briefly stopped by his office to fetch the rucksack he had left there before the meeting and had Daisy write the note to her friend before sealing it up with his Mirean Royal Army seal. On their way out he barked at the first sixth-rank soldier he saw. This sort of errand was right up their alley.

"Preston! Take this up to the castle. It urgently needs to be brought to someone who works in the laundry room."

"Yes, sir!" Preston said with a salute before taking the note from him and scurrying off.

"…you have an awful lot of authority around here, don't you?" Daisy asked as she squinted at him.. He merely shrugged in response before taking her hand again and leading her across the training grounds before anyone stopped to talk to him.