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“A…Az…Azriel- why are there flower arrangements in the…”
Elain ground to a halt as she found him under the ancient oak tree- where a little over a dozen chairs were placed- facing a beautiful archway of glittering fae lights and flowers. She heard the telltale sprinting footsteps of her sisters and turned to them- confused and astonished by the obvious work Azriel was putting into…whatever this was.
“Lainey, love. You’re back early.”
“I snuck away. I was going to surprise you…and…I…Az?”
“I am- so sorry, Azriel. When did she get so sneaky?” Nesta panted as she caught up with her and Elain’s lips curled into a smile. While Nesta had been focused on her continued Valkyrie training, her marriage to Cassian, and becoming a mother- she had sunk into her own powers. One of which leaned towards being able to disappear at will. And she really wanted an afternoon alone with Azriel instead of spending more time with her newly pregnant sister. Between babysitting Nyx and watching Nesta’s stomach swell- her soul ached and she knew Azriel understood that.
“I was trying to surprise you, too. Can you go down to Mom’s cottage and just trust me?”
“I…what…” She stared around at what she could see and her mouth fell open. Warmth flooded through her body as she took in what she could see and remembered the bouquets and flower arrangements in their kitchen. When her gaze settled back on him again, she took in his deep blush and sheepish smile.
“Trust me, Lainey?” He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and she stepped in closer to him, an arm snaking around his waist- his hand tangling in her hair. He kept very few secrets from her- as she was the one person in the Night Court that he could not stand to lie to. If this was what she thought it was- he had spent months planning something to celebrate them and she would not ruin it. She pressed a kiss to his cheek as he gently tugged at her hair and then pulled her in for a proper kiss.
“I’ll go see, Haliana. So that you don’t have to kill Nesta for me slipping her guard.”
“That would ruin things to kill your sister- I didn’t plan for a giant pool of blood.”
“Ha ha- very funny. Cassian will wipe the ground with you.”
“Oh Nes, I’d love to see him try. Nuala and Cerridwen will…will come to start getting you ready in a bit.”
“Love you, Az.”
“Love you more.”
4 Months Prior
Azriel sat at the cafe, his knee bouncing as he waited for Feyre and Nesta. Elain loved this cafe and she thought he was away on a mission. Instead, he was here, waiting for her sisters to tell them his plan. He hated that he needed help with this, but there was no way he could do this alone. And he did not trust Rhys or Cass to keep this quiet- he hoped that her sisters would.
“Does she know you’re home?”
“Not yet. I left my report with Rhys and came here to meet you. How are you doing, Nes?”
“The first trimester is hell and all Cassian can do is stroke my stomach and whisper to his babe that is constantly making me ill.”
He forced a smile and a nod of understanding. He knew how much Elain craved to complain about pregnancy symptoms, how she was jealous of her sister even in her pain. He could not bring himself to point out to Nesta how willingly Elain would take her place if only her body would let her.
“But you didn’t ask us to meet you for Nesta to complain about morning sickness or for me to lament that Nyx is starting to bite. Why are we here, Az?”
“I…I need some help. I want to surprise Lainey.”
“You’re a spymaster, Az. I’m sure you can pull one over on doe-eyed Lainey.”
“I want to surprise her with a wedding on our mating day anniversary. It’s a bit much- even for me.”
Feyre and Nesta laughed, then giggled, then sobered as he kept his gaze level. There were many things he could not give Elain, many things that tore at her heart- but this…this was something he could do for her. He hated the idea of this much attention on himself, but she deserved this. She deserved to be celebrated in the same ways her sisters had been- for a love that she fought for in ways that they would never understand. He realized on his last mission that the only way this would happen would be if he planned it. Elain would never take the time to focus on herself and while her sisters meant well- it would be a disaster if they planned it.
“Az- that…are you sure?”
“It’s not about me, Feyre. It’s not for me. You even said that her return should have been celebrated more and I’ve celebrated it- that’s not the same. I want her to have this memory. To be able to look back on a day that was just about and for her.”
“And you think you know her well enough to do this?”
“That’s why I’m here. These are my plans. What did I miss?”
He placed the papers in front of the sisters as three cups of tea and pastries arrived. In the quiet moments of this mission, he crafted his plan. The cliff overlooking the ocean at sunset, a small group of close friends, all of Elain’s favorite flowers, a wonderful cake from her favorite patisserie. He knew he could count on Nuala and Cerridwen to find her a beautiful dress; his mother to make flower arrangements. He hoped her sisters could just distract her- keep her occupied for the day so that he could pull this off. That would be the single hardest part of his plan.
He sipped on his cup of tea and watched the other patrons. Nesta and Feyre thumbed through his plans- their eyes communicating in that way that sisters do. He did not waste time trying to interpret it and instead waited for their questions. He knew they would be concerned that he was doing something that Elain would hate- but he knew her. He knew her better than anyone else in this kingdom and he knew that this was something she would love. This was something she deserved.
“How did you decide on the flowers? Tulips. Yellow Calla Lilies. Gardenias. Hydrangeas. Asters. Azaleas. They don’t exactly go together.” Feyre started as she held up his drawings of various flower arrangements.
“They’re her favorites.”
“C’mon, Az. When did Elain tell you that?” Nesta asked as he let his mind float back to that moment, all those years ago.
“We were in the kitchen of your old manor- I was drying myself in front of the fireplace as she made me my favorite tea. Graysen had sent her another bouquet of flowers that she hated and I asked her what her favorites were. I don’t think anyone had ever asked her that before. It’s one of the first things I learned about her.”
“You were why….those flowers came from you?”
“I already felt the pull- Nes. I can’t deny that female a single thing she loves. It was something I could do that would make her happy and…”
“You’d do anything to make her happy. I’m sold- what do you need us to do?”
Haliana passed her a cup of tea as she settled into one of the comfy chairs in front of the fireplace. She noticed the dress that hung in the far corner and she let out a contented sigh. He’d thought of everything. He had thought of absolutely everything that she would want this day to be.
She saw the guilt on Nesta and Feyre’s faces that they had failed to keep this a secret, but she didn’t care. This was them. This was classic them that a secret he meant to keep would come out at the last moment- just because she wanted to see him. She wanted to spend those precious hours with him because his time at home was so limited.
“Elain- I am so sorry that we ruined the surprise, we thought…”
“Nes- it’s okay. It doesn’t change what he’s done and how hard he’s worked to pull this together. I’m surprised I didn’t pick up on it before now.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. It’s probably better this way. I think the wedding dress without any context might have sent me over the edge today.”
She caught Haliana’s eyes and the subtle lift of a brow. She nodded. She was fine, she could be here with her sisters for this time even if part of it tore at her heart. The tiny graves that she visited each day and the sisters that had both had no problems staying pregnant. For the beautiful day Azriel had planned, she would sit with them and listen to moments she feared she’d never have.
“You look quite handsome today, Azriel.”
His lips lifted in a half smile. He would have renewed his vows in armor- if not for the fact that Elain loved him in a fitted suit even more. The first time he’d worn one after she returned, she’d gone feral for him in a way that he wanted to see over and over again. Perhaps not in front of his mother, but this was a risk he was willing to take to make her happy. To celebrate the love the saved him.
“Thanks, Mom. How…how is she?”
“Happy. Nervous. Beautiful. She’s not exactly used to being in the spotlight like this. And before you say it- I know that is not because of you. She’s chosen that she wants a private life.”
“Is it too much for her–”
“No, my shadow. She’s…you’ll see when you see her.”
A nod. He settled for a moment before he made his way to the garden. To their friends. To celebrate their love in the way that she deserved. He shook out his hands and sent his shadows away. He wanted to be seen, he wanted her to not doubt a single thing that she saw. The discomfort of not being shielded from the world was worth it- she had always been worth this to him.
The world melted away as he settled under the archway- his eyes only scanning for her. The rest of the world didn’t matter. He caught a flutter from the house and he let out a shaky breath. He’d spotted Elain staring at the dress she now wore more than once when they walked through Velaris- but anytime he suggested she purchase it- she simply said that she had no reason to wear it. He hoped that this was enough of a reason.
She stepped out from behind one of the trees in the garden and his heart jumped into his throat. He loved this female- cared for her more than anything and anyone else in this world and he wished he could give her all her desires. He wished that there was more to celebrate today than renewing their commitment to each other, but one day. One day that would happen for them.
She breezed towards him, his eyes went blurry with tears even as he tried to clear them. He caught her radiant smile and tears of her own, tears that he wanted to wipe away even though he knew it was from happiness. It was for getting this moment that they both believed were never going to happen. She stood in front of him and he pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I love you, Lainey.”
“Love you more, Az. Love you more.