Three years since that Faithful Day

Nino woke up to the noise of Mari in the kitchen. Hey Dotty, do I have time to shower before breakfast?

If you make it quick Shelly. He heard her giggle from the kitchen, god he loved her. Not that she knew that... yet. As he walked into his bathroom, he smiled at the memory of the day they found their soulnames. 

He sat with his back against Mari, it had been two months since their talk at the pond, Mari was cutting up their Parian clothes to use as rags. They didn't need them in their closest constantly reminding them of the life they lost. Mari had given her purse to one of the little girls on the homestead and Nino had done the same with his hat. It didn't really match his new style anyway. 

"Hey Ninny, did you ever figure out a nickname to replace Spots?" Her voice was soft.

"I did, do you want to hear it?" She nodded. "I was thinking I'd call you Dotty? Cuz you know spots dots they similar." 

"I like it." She giggled, man, he would do anything to hear that sound on repeat. "I came up with one for you too and it kinda works with Dotty." 

"Oh, and what is it?" He hadn't realized she was thinking about it too. 

"Yep, I was gonna call you Shelly." 

"It's cute I like it." He smiled to himself. Maybe someday I'll shorten it to little Dot. He chuckled at the thought. 

"I'll never answer to that."

"Huh?  Mare, I didn't say anything?" He turned to look at her.

"Nino look at my face." Shelly, I think we found our soulnames. 

"Your mouth didn't move... but I heard you... Dotty! We are bonded." 

***

Marinette smiled at the shared memory. Edward and Maryweahter couldn't explain why they could share memories, or why they could communicate so far apart. Mari had gone with Alice on a business trip to the mountain range and she and Nino could talk in their minds. Not even Alice and Henry could do that and they had been dating since they were 15. Edward's best guess was that it was because they had been heroes who worked together in Paris. 

She looked over at the calendar, tonight was the night they celebrated their birthdays. In their first year here Nino had made a point of counting to their birthdays. Their birthdays were a month apart so they had their own little party where they swapped gifts in the middle of the month. Sure they could be way off but it was the best they had. Tonight they celebrated turning 21. 

Nino wondered out dressed in a deep blue button-up with a tan vest with pants that coordinated. She smiled knowing she had designed that outfit. "Morning Dotty." He kissed her cheek. Mari smiled and blushed and busied herself with breakfast. Nino sat at the island working on a track for a demo. She wondered if he thought about her as a girlfriend. She thought of him as her boyfriend. But they never introduced each other as such. No one asked if they were dating, rather when would they wed or at least make a show of their promise to one of each other. It seemed people just assumed they were dating. And Nino always said when the time is right. 

"Shelly, foods ready." She placed a plate in front of him. 

"Hey, you made my favourite!" He smiled and dove into his waffles. 

"Well, you are taking me to my favourite place for lunch." She winked. 

"Oh. I am, am I?"  Nino smirked. 

"It is the day we celebrate our birthdays. You've treated me to lunch the last three years." 

"Oh! Right Right. Then we trade gifts tonight, after a market date, where we pick supper for a picnic at the pond. You sure our lucky our birthdays land in The Growing Season. This would be a sad night if we did this in The Rest Season." 

"Oh Hush you, I'm gonna go get dressed." She kissed his cheek as she walked by. 

***

Nino sat across from Henrey waiting for Mari and Ally while they dealt with a "work emergency", Nino knew better, Mari was getting his birthday gift. Which was fine, Nino had hidden his gift for her here with Henery. 

"Okay so level with me dude, what is the deal with you and Mari?" Henery handed him the box he'd left with him. 

"What do you mean my man?" Nino placed the small box on the table. 

"You call her Mari, Nettie, Mare, Dotty and many other names. But, I've never heard you call her beautiful or sweetheart or any other traditional dating names... Come to think of it I've never even heard you call her your girlfriend." 

"I never asked her to be. We agreed to take it one day at a time, you know we both were in love before we came here... so using those names just felt wrong. Those names belonged to Alya. And I won't give them to Mare, she and Alya were best friends... I never want her to feel like she's replaced her. " 

"Ah, that's really loving of you, man." Henery smiled at him from across the table. "So what's in the box?" 

Nino opened the box and showed him a ring that fit his finger on a delicate gold chain. And then he showed that around his neck sat a smaller ring on a leather cord. "Remember that story you told me about one of the earther couples?"

"Dude... you're really gonna get Alice on my case about a ring..." Henery shook his head, "You're too romantic for this world." 

"Mare will love it. Viki helped me make them." He closed the box and slipped it into his pocket. " Why haven't you asked Alice yet anyway? You to have been together longer than Mare and I?" 

"We had dreams we wanted to chase, and we weren't in a rush. We liked the adventures we were on. We only 23, but we have stable businesses we even have a house built now, So it's a good thing I bought this." Henery slid a red velvet box toward him. Nino opened it. 

"Dude, she's gonna love it." Nino slid the box back. Henery smiled. 

Shelly, you ready?

Yep! I'll come to pick you up!

"Go to go man, the lady is ready. Wish me luck!" Nino waved and headed out the door. He hopped on his scooter and picked up the girl he loved. He pretends not to see the box she placed on the back of the scooter. 

They went to the market and ran around holding hands and giggling at the different things they found. Mari paused to look at a sun hat she been eyeing for weeks. It had a soft pink ribbon tied around it. Nino watched her and took in her outfit, her blouse was a lose fit and flowing, it was a shade or two lighter than his vest and a beautiful flowy floral skirt that reaches the ground, the soft pink flowers looked lovely on the white backdrop. The hat would be a perfect match. 

"Sir, I would like to buy my birthday girl the hat she can't stop eyeing." He laughed. 

"Ninny! You don't have to!" 

"Mare you've looked at every time we've come to the market in the past three weeks. Let me treat you for your 21st birthday." He handed the man the money. "There can't take it back now." She walked over and kissed him, she barely kissed him in public so this must have made her happy. The smile the hat gave her was worth it. Hand in hand they fished their walk-in market. With food for supper, they headed to their spot. 

Once they got to the park, they placed everything down, they danced. They moved in perfect sync. They did lifts, dips and Nino twirled her and watch her dress flair up. They laughed and moved to the rythem not caring who watched. Eventually just moving to a slow swaying motion just enjoying being held by one another.

They ate and teased each other. "Okay Shelly, since you bought me something and your birthday already happened, you get to open your gift first." She handed him the box. "Happy Birthday." 

"Okay Dotty. I won't argue this year." he winked as he teased her. He slowly unwrapped the box. Watching Mari wait with anticipation. He knew she loved giving gifts, but hated waiting for people to open them. 

"Nino! Move faster!" she giggled knowing full well what he was doing. 

Nino moved even slower, he watched her roll her eyes. He chuckled and moved at his normal pace. He removed the tissue paper from the box. "Oh, Mare..." He pulled out the red wool newsboy style hat. He hadn't found a new hat to replace his red ball cap since he got rid of it. "Where did you find this?" 

"I made it." She spoke softly. Nino slipped it on his head, it fits perfectly. 

"Mare you are amazing. I didn't know  you could make hats like this." He hugged her close.

"It took some practice." She squeezed him. 

"Alright so before I give your gift, I have a story for you." Mari turned, sat crisis cross and put her head in her hands. waiting to hear his story. "So long ago there were two earthers who came from the same tribe, and in this tribe when you got engaged you exchanged rings. So the girl wore the guy's ring around her neck until they could wed. And he wore her ring around his neck, then on their wedding day, they swapped rings. Anyway, these to earthers were promised to other people and had never even meant until they come here. When they saw they both had rings, he handed her his fiancee ring, telling her he didn't want anyone to think she belonged to him. Not knowing this wasn't a thing here. She gave him her fiance ring too. Eventually, they become friends and slowly lovers and swapped rings again, only this time as husband and wife."

"Oh Nino, I love that story!" She turned and leaned back into him. "That is so lovely. Do their children still keep that tradition alive?" 

"Some do." He pulled her closer to him and open took the small golden box out of his pocket. "Happy Birthday Mari." He dropped the box in her hands. 

She slowly opened the gold box. "Nino!" She gasped, a hand went to her mouth. "Is this?" 

"Mari, I know that we've never talked about what we are, but I know that someday I want to marry you." He pressed the ring he made for her to the back of her neck. "I made these rings for us, Viki is a metal worker on top of a bar owner." 

"I... I love it!" She took it out of the box, "Put it on me?" He did, then without thinking he kissed her next. The gasp she made, made him want to do it again, so he did. She recently worked her way around and faced him, and kissed him. He eventually guided her to be laying on her back. She ran her figures through his hair knocking his glasses off. Once they both need air, they laid their foreheads pressed against each other. 

"So does this mean you'll marry me?" Nino was grateful for the closeness so he could see her. 

She blinked "Of course I'll marry you!" She rolled them over so she was on top. And kissed him once more. 

Nino looked at the girl who now sat on top of him. He loved her. For a brief moment he felt guilty, he loved Alya, he really had, but the way he loved Mari was different. I'm so glad I have you. 

With her forehead pressed to his once again her eyes closed I love you, Shelly. Her cheeks burned red. 

"I love you too Dotty." There they'd said it, no going back now. Not that they ever wanted too.