Arson stayed with us for two days so that he could get his hangover over with but he didn't talk very much. I think he was embarrassed about telling me he loved me like that. I didn't mention anything to him but he wasn't up for talking. Kristen set the peas on the dinner table and Arson nodded a thank you but didn't say a word.
"Arson, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting down.
Arson shook his head and just grabbed the peas to put in his plate. I sighed and got up, grabbing him by the hair to lead him to the living room. He didn't protest as I pulled him in front of me.
"Arson, you've been quiet for two days now. What's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing, really..."
"I know you and you're not okay. Did something happen?"
"Yeah it did... But you wouldn't have noticed."
I turned my head at him, wondering exactly what he meant by that.
"What are you doing? You come here drunk off your ass and then afterward you close up like a damn clam. What is wrong with you?! Why do you keep playing me like I'm some sort of piano, crescendo after crescendo driving your fingers down the keys and just ripping out my heart? I just want to understand what you want. You keep switching your mind!"
"I WANT YOU, DAMMIT!" I took a step back. "Don't you get it! I love you! I love you til the ends of time, to the bottoms of the ocean, across the galaxies and universes that there ever could be that has been discovered or not! I love you, Jane!"
I gawked at him as he breathed hard, pulled out his inhaler and sucking his medicine.
"You... love me?"
"More than anything and anyone..."
"But-"
"I was upset because I told you that last night and you haven't mentioned it again. That's something serious to me, Jane."
"Well hell, Arson, you were drunk! How am I supposed to know what you were really thinking?"
He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to him, kissing me passionately and leaning me back. I blinked but eventually, his overwhelming passion seemed into his kiss and I ran my fingers through his thick hair. His lip ring felt weird against my lip but I didn't care. Finally, finally, I had been given something that I had always wanted.

A month later, after I won my first major trial, Arson invited me to a victory dinner. We went to the same place we ate on our first 'date' and got the same table and everything.
"Aw, this is sweet." I said as he pushed the chair under me.
We had made an agreement I would date him again if he got rid of the lip ring and cut his hair. We had a whole gathering of me cutting his hair and now he looked like normal. Well, there was still a little hole in his lip from the piercing but we could get past that.
"I thought it was apropos. It's also a congratulations on winning your first case."
I nodded, impressed, and set my napkin in my lap. Arson ordered champagne and the waiter brought that and the bread.
"I have a question though, about you being a lawyer."
"What is it?"
"Will you always have to work that hard? Into the night and being tired all the time?"
"I might, depending on the case. I hope for more civil cases in the future. Why?"
"Just asking..."
I moved my mouth to the side because he was hiding something.
"What are you hiding?"
"Nothing."
"You're lying and you suck at it."
He smiled a little and popped open the champagne bottle. He poured the liquid and handed me the flute. I drank a little and he looked like he was fidgeting around. I turned my head at him and smiled.
"Arson, what's going on?"
Arson sighed and just got up and knelt in front of me.
"Jane Keppler, would you do the honor of becoming my wife?"
I gasped and then I screamed, hugging him.
"Yes! Yes, a thousand times yes!"

A few months later, we were beginning to plan our marriage. Arson had actually moved in with me and Kristen (since the house was three bedroom) when he had come to the house before and so we were in the the kitchen, looking at some wedding dresses when the doorbell rang. I got up and opened the door and screamed, slamming the door shut.
"Jane?" Arson asked.
The door still opened and I buried my face in my hands.
"You can't just close the door on me like that and think I can't open it again, Cappadocia."
"Um, Jane, who is this?"
"Oh! You must be the lucky guy! Nice to meet ya! I'm Henry Keppler, Janey's older brother." He said, shaking Arson's hand.
Arson looked at me, those black pools of onyx sparking with curiosity.
"Jane, you never told me you had a brother."
"There's a reason." I growled.
"Now, now, Jane..." Henry said, giving me a look with his equally bright blue eyes. "I don't think you should keep things from your husband-to-be."
I ground my teeth and grabbed a hold of Henry's arm.
"Will you excuse us for just one moment?"
Arson nodded and I pushed Henry back outside.

"What the hell are you doing here? How did you find out about me getting married?"
"Lonavya called, duh." He said with a grin.
I growled, remembering that I would kill her later.
"Why the long face? You knew that I would have to come. Are you planning on having kids?"
"We haven't discussed it yet but what does that have to do with you?"
"You know what it has to do with me."
"Don't worry I have a plan."
"Um... wedding nights can't wait, Janey."
"I know that, Hendryk."
"Hey, hey, have you told him your real name yet? You're going to have to put that on the wedding invitation and also have to have the dude say it in the vows."
"I've tried to keep that in the dark for a while." I said, glaring at him. "So don't you go screwing things up like you always do for me."
"I don't!" he protested.
"Um, Jane?" I heard Arson say. I looked at the door and he had his head out. "Are you coming back in any time soon?"
"Just one second, love." He nodded and I looked back at my brother. "Look, don't ruin it for me, okay? I love him and he loves me and we want to join our love in marriage."
Henry smiled and gave me a compassionate look.
"I want you to be happy too, Jane; I just don't want anything bad to happen."
"I have all that taken care of and when I figure out how to do the other, then things will be fine... Are you in a hotel?"
"Yeah, me and Nieba."
"Oh, Nieba's here?"
"You know she'd never miss a wedding (or party of any kind) but she does get sick when she travels so she's resting. I'll tell her you said hello."
"Yeah..."
He left and I walked back in the house, sighing as I leaned on the door.
"What was all that about?" Arson asked, handing me a cup of coffee.
"My idiot brother..."
"Why did you never tell me you had one? It would have been nice to know."
"He has an uncanny way of making things worse than they should be."
"Who is Cappa-blach-blah and Lonny?"
"Cappadocia and Lonavya... Cappadocia's my real name." I said with a sad sigh.
"Um... that's a... unique name."
"Save it, it sucks up the butt."
"Where did you get the name Jane then?"
"My full name is Cappadocia Esmeralda January Keppler."
"Then why not use Esmeralda? I think that's a pretty name."
"But I don't look like someone named Esmeralda. I would die before I would be called Jan so I went with the next best thing, which was Jane. You can't exactly shorten Cappadocia, you know."
"Dodo..."
I burst into laughter as he smiled at me. He grabbed my hand and led me to the dinner table.
"If it's any consolation, my middle name is Everest."
"I like that name better than mine."
"Who's Lonavya then?"
"Kristen's real name."
Arson thought for a moment. "Yeah, 'Lolo' doesn't have a good ring to it for a nickname. Kristen comes from?"
"Chrysanthemum."
Arson gawked at me and I nodded vigorously."
"Her name is Lonavya Chrysanthemum Shout?"
"Yeah."
Arson kissed me on the lips and then on the forehead.
"Darling, your name is amazing compared to a name like that."
I laughed a little and we continued looking at the magazine full of dresses.