Shades of a Promise

"Saiai. Wake up."

"Hmmm?" Windsong blinked her eyes open. She was snuggled against Kenji on a plane.

"We've landed, Song. Time to get up."

"Bugger." Kenji chuckled. Song sat up, stretched and stood. Planes were not comfortable to sleep in. Kenji collected their backpacks and cheerfully nudged her through the tunnel and into the terminal. Song yawned as a young man put a lei around her neck. "Huh?" She blinked a few times. "Where are we?"

"Hawaii." Kenji took her arm. Song peered at him. He was also sporting a lei. "It's five am, local time."

"And they're passing out leis at this hour?"

"It's tradition." Kenji grinned, apparently enjoying her jet lag-induced confusion.

"Why are we here?"

"To meet your parents. They're flying in tomorrow morning. Today is just for us."

"Good. Take me to bed." Kenji blushed slightly at the knowing chuckles. Song blinked. She was doing that a lot.

"You can sleep as much as you like when we get to the hotel. Come on, saiai. I need your help getting the luggage."

"All right." Song grumbled a little as they found the pickup station, claimed their bags and headed out of the terminal. The sun was just peeking over the ocean. The couple found a taxi and rode to their hotel. Song fell asleep in the cab and had to be prodded awake again. Kenji endured her fatigue with a smile and a shrug. Once they got into their hotel room, Song literally dived into the bed.

"Aaahhh. Horizontal is good." Kenji laughed as she promptly fell asleep.

"My poor saiai. What will you say when I ask you?"

Shades of a Promise

Song slowly opened her eyes. She was in a strange room. Coffee. Kenji sitting next to her on the bed, stroking her hair.

"Kenji!" She lunged at him, toppling them both back onto the bed. He laughed as she cuddled him. "It wasn't a dream!"

"No, Song. It wasn't. Are you hungry?"

"Hungry?" Song lifted her head and grinned at him. "Depends on what kind."

"Food, saiai."

"Oh. Well, if you insist." Song sat up and noticed a crushed lei around her neck. "We really are in Hawaii. What a pity." She took off the ruined lei and tossed it in the trashcan.

"I'm sure we can get you another." Kenji stood and helped her to her feet.


After shower, clothes change and a big lunch, Kenji and Song went for a walk on the beach. Song breathed deeply of the salty air and sighed.

"Are you going to be okay with this, Kenji? I know how much your family means to you."

"My life is my own. I choose to be with you. I will miss my parents and my brothers, but I will stay in contact with them. Hopefully, with time, they'll learn to love you too." Kenji stopped and turned Song to face him. She looked into his eyes and her heart started to pound. Anticipation swirled between them. "I love you, Windsong. You saved me from myself and gave me hope. I had given up on love until you walked into the lab." Kenji knelt and reached into his pocket. Song's mouth went dry. "Saiai, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?" He opened the small box to reveal a brilliant ring. Song was unable to speak. She simply nodded as tears trickled from her eyes. Kenji put the ring on her finger, rose and kissed her soundly.

It's done! It's done!

*happy finished story dance*

Ok, AD fans and fellow peeps. Read, enjoy and PLEASE critique!

If you want a single copy in the proper order, ask and ye shall receive. I'll email it.

There will be revisions as I try to get this down to 10 pages or less. Suggestions for cutting would also be appreciated.

Thanks everyone!