"Excuse me! Coming through!" The young woman pushed through the jostling crowds, her fingers gripping the strap of her backpack and the other pulling the trolley bag.

Her long honey blonde tied in the loose braid fluttered behind her, as she made her way to the airport's exit.

"Hi, Dee!" Serena greeted her best friend as she picked up the phone. 

"For Heaven's sake, where are you, Sere?" Dawn groaned. 

It had been five years since Serena left for Australia and now, she was back in France. Over the years, she had developed a strong connection with Dawn who often visited her when she lived in the other country. 

Dawn, who had married Paul in an exclusive ceremony in L.A. shortly after Serena left for Australia, had taken a break from the fashion industry and instead opened up a private fashion designing institute in Vienna.

From what Serena had heard, she was doing pretty well.  

"Found you!" Dawn's screech came from the other line. Serena spotted the blue-haired woman waving at her from a distance.

She grinned, hurrying her way to Dawn who enveloped her in a bear hug, almost crushing her bones. 

"Welcome back, Sere!" If anything had remained unchanged, it was Dawn's never-ending enthusiasm. The blunette eyed the honey-blonde up and down, grinning. "You are crushing the tan, baby." 

Serena laughed. They started walking towards Dawn's parked car. "How are your twins?"

"Great" Dawn smiled, rolling her eyes. "Both have gotten my beauty; and their father's horrible attitude."

"Sheesh, that must be tough." 

"Oh, you can't imagine."

"But!" Dawn giggled. "Aren't you excited?"

"About what?" Serena smiled, playing dumb.

"About how your lovesick Romeo is doing, hm?" The shorter woman smiled coyly. "And don't play pretend with me, Sere. I have known you long enough to understand your little games."

"I should be scared that you know me so well, I suppose" the honey blonde chuckled, deliberately dodging the jab. They got into the car as Dawn started the engine. 

Serena leaned her head on the half-opened window as she shut her eyes, letting the wind of her hometown - her beloved city - caress her face. She was so happy to be back.

But most importantly, she was happy to come back to him. And this time, for good.

"Omg, you look so pretty!" Misty, Shauna Leaf engulfed Serena in a hug as soon as she stepped in the garden. 

The farmhouse was situated nearly 30 km away from the main city. The garden stretching over 1200 square m. area with a big swimming pool.

The house wasn't anything luxurious or elaborate; a homey two-story building with slanting roofs and 90s vintage vibe. Serena loved it.

And not only because it was beautiful, but because Ash had bought it for her for her birthday a year ago.

"And you girls are looking awesome as well" Serena compliment back sincerely, barely holding her excitement.

Leaf grinned and Shauna grinned, looping their arms around the sapphire-eyed woman.

Leaf looked more mature and graceful than Serena remembered her to be. It wasn't surprising though; five years is quite a long time. On the other hand, Shauna looked just the same with her same gorgeous olive skin and bright emerald eyes. 

"I doubt that" Misty joked playfully, smiling as flaunting her baby bump through her pale yellow sundress.

The redhead had ended up marrying Gary (unsurprisingly, though she wouldn't admit) and they were expecting their first baby somewhere in the first week of April. 

They chatted, catching up with each other, as they made their way to where Calem, Gary, May and Drew were. May's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Serena, the former jumping up from her chair to run to the honey blonde.

"Serena!" May embraced her tightly. Serena almost teared up at the brunette's warm hug. She had missed the brunette. 

"Oh, my god" May fanned herself after she pulled back. Her eyes watered. "I am so happy to see you, Sere, that I might cry right now. But I don't wanna ruin the three-hour work of art on my face."

"So good to see you doing great, Serena" Calem and Serena shared a brief hug. They rarely met each other during the past five years but the honey blonde could confidently say that he was the closest thing to a brother in her life. 

"Been a while, Serena" Gary and Drew also came up to her, grinning. Gary smirked. "Finally you are here. I was getting sick of that bastard moping around."

Drew nodded, smiling, as he wrapped an arm around May - who smiled back at him sweetly.

They had been dating for five years, after getting an approval from Drew's parents. They didn't agree easily but May somehow managed to win their hearts. 

It wasn't a surprise; May had always been a sweetheart. Although her new job as a full-time, overworked screenwriter may have made her a little bit moodier, and a bit murderous too.

It made Serena upset, when May told her that she and Drew will be relocating to Manhattan, New York, for her new job.

It meant less of seeing each other but the honey blonde had managed to be happy for her friend's sake. 

"Yo, help me out, guys" Dawn joined them, balancing a large tray of grilled cheese hamburgers and cold drinks with ice-cubes swimming in them. 

As some of them went to help her, Serena took the moment to glance. Where was he? He had already let her know that an important client would be visiting but shouldn't he be here already? 

A wave of disappointment coursed through her.

She suddenly felt someone grabbing her arm as she turned to look at Dawn standing beside her with a convincing smile and two drinks in her hand. "Don't worry. Ash must be on his way."

"Yeah, sorry" Serena nodded, pursing her lips.

She felt bad that she was thinking of Ash when everyone had worked so hard to welcome her back. The least she could do was enjoy the get-together. 

"Where is your husband, by the way?" Serena smiled slightly, changing the subject as she took the drink from the blunette.

"Oh, he is there!"

Serena almost spat in her drink in a mixture of surprise and sudden burst of laughter when she saw Paul standing near the grill and flipping the burgers with the most annoyed look she had ever seen on anyone. 

"Pfft" She covered her mouth to stop her laughter as Dawn shrugged, giggling. 

"He is mad because I forced him into doing this."

"I kind of expected that, ahaha" Serena laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I never imagined . . . seeing Paul make burgers for us."

"Pray its not poisoned"

"We are playing treasure hunt!" Dawn cheered as she pulled out a wooden box - one that reminded Serena of a pirate's, albeit a bit smaller.

"Oh yes, I am definately gonna win" Gary pumped up his fists in the air.

"Oh man" Misty sulked. "I can't believe you guys are playing treasure hunt without me."

"Sorry, Mist" The blunette chirped. "But you are gonna have to sit this one out." 

"Are you sure?" Serena asked, glancing at the setting sun with a worried look in her eyes. "It will be dark soon."

"All the more fun" Dawn grinned. "Alright! Here, pick your clues and flashlights people!"

She clapped her hands as soon as they were done. "So the treasure is somewhere in the woods behind the farmhouse; you have twenty minutes time. And the time starts - now!"

As soon as the bell on Dawn's phone went off, everyone dispersed.

The honey blonde opened the crumpled golden-brown paper with a neat hand-drawn map, mentally applauding Dawn for her efforts.

She scrutinized the map carefully. The cross mark did not seem too far away from where she was. And the clue, anchor of it in rain and storm, I am its backbone.

"I think it here refers to trees" Serena nodded thoughtfully. "And the anchor or backbone definitely means - I got it!  The treasure is hidden beneath the roots!"

She grinned, stuffing the paper back into her pocket. Maybe if she hurried, she might win the hunt. Her competitive spirit was sparked up, as she made her way to the tree, guided by the map.

It took her almost ten minutes of walking before she was standing in front of a gigantic and old maple tree.

She cross-checked with the red cross marked on the map and yep, it was definitely the right place.

"I am the first one right?" She grinned with child-like enthusiasm, making her way towards the tree.

She found a pit under the tree and a folded piece of white paper.

"Another clue?" She shook her head in confusion as she picked it up. She opened it, her face melting into bewilderment.

Turn around, Sere.

They were just words but she instinctively knew who wrote them. It could be called a sixth sense, a hunch but she knew it.

She turned around. There he was. Kneeling down on one knee. A gorgeous blue diamond, identical to the color of her eyes, in the velvet box.

"Ash?" Her voice wavered. "This . . ."

"To the woman I love the most in this world" He started shyly. 

"You were the kind of person that I knew I would end up falling in love with from the moment I met you. You were the first person I was wildly unsure and unwaveringly certain of. You made me do things that I had no idea why I was doing, but at the same time, I knew I had to do them.

Although it wasn't necessarily love at first sight, from the beginning I knew you were the only one I would want to be with - now and forever, in this lifetime and all the other ones.

And not just because you are my love, you are my home, my heart, my rest and my safe place."

He took a deep breath, a sweet, nervous smile on his face. "So will you please marry me, Sere?"

She had imagined it happening all the time and now when it was right in front of her, it felt almost surreal. But he was there. On one knee. A ring. For her. 

Oh my poor heart, Serena thought, there is no way you are getting out of it now.

"Sere, I know this is -"

"Yes"

"What?"

She suddenly burst into a ripple of heartfelt laughter, as her face shone with unparalleled happiness. "I said, yes! A million times yes!" 

"Wait, really?" He blinked like a deer caught in headlights. Then the word sank in and he was no longer kneeling.

Serena erupted into a fit of squeals as he picked her, twirling her around; laughing all the same. 

Just then the neon green, yellow and blue fairy lights lit up entire place and their friends stepped out of the bushes, phone in their hands as they clapped and cheered for the two. 

"Gottcha" Gray grinned, lowering the camera. "All of it on camera"

"It is so romantic" May swoons. "Congratulations!"

Congratulations poured in as they swarmed around the two.

Ash pushed the ring on Serena's finger as the latter smiled happily, on the brink of tears.

"This calls for a celebration!" May hollered excitedly. "Lets go back and celebrate guys!"

Contagious excitement pulsed over the group of friends as they made their way back, laughing and talking happily. 

A wave of overwhelming sense of happiness washed over the honey blonde. Her heart fluttered at the people who looked over the moon for her happiness. 

She felt warmth of another hand holding hers as she looked at Ash. He was smiling at her, his eyes full of nothing but love, trust and certainty. He raised their intertwined hands, smiling shyly. "Shall we?"

Serena smiled back, hoping that he sees in her eyes that she loves him just as much as he loves her. 

Maybe their love story wasn't perfect. Maybe it wasn't anything special. 

"Yes, lets go."

But she wouldn't change it for the world.