"So next on our agenda is to go to Uncle Monty's," Varian said as they walked through the city which was bustling with excitement for the Day of Hearts.

"Oo! I like that idea!" Aqua said with a bright smile.

"Then we can do some of the festivities around the city. Then I'm gonna take you for a boat ride. We can spend some time together doing some science and then we have to go somewhere special for our last stop. It's a surprise," Varian informed as he kept an arm around Aquaria's waist.

"I'm excited! Today is gonna be wonderful!" She laughed and ran with Varian to Monty's Sweet Shoppe.

"What can I do for you two today?" Monty asked, giving Varian a side eye but he smiled at the younger princess.

"A batch of Monty cookies, please!" Aqua requested.

"Coming right up!"

Aqua put a few gold coins on the counter and took the plate of cookies from Monty.

"Thank you, Uncle Monty!" Aqua waved.

"Have a wonderful day, princess!" Monty waved back and Varian walked out with Aqua.

"He doesn't like me..." Varian looked at the ground with a soft sigh.

"What?" Aqua looked at him.

"Monty doesn't like me. No one in this city does... I'm sorry Aqua..." Varian looked at the ground as they walked.

"I don't care what everyone else thinks. They don't have a say over who I love," Aqua said before she kissed his cheek.

"You're the best," Varian beamed as he kept her close.

"You know I am," Aqua said with a light laugh. "Now let's get on with some festivities!"

🧪

Varian rowed out to sea with Aqua and smiled at her brightly.

"The last time we did this was in the middle of the night. I remember that," Aqua said with a smile and Varian chuckled.

"Yeah, and you know I brought the ham sandwiches. It wouldn't be a proper picnic date without the ham sandwiches," he said jokingly.

"Got that right," Aqua agreed as she got into the picnic basket.

"Are you having fun so far today?" Varian asked, hoping that he had made it a good first half of the day.

"I'm having more than fun! This has been one of the best days ever so far and it is only halfway through the day!" Aqua hugged him and he chuckled lightly.

"That's great!" Varian smiled proudly and he held her close to him. "I love you, Aqua."

"I love you more, Varian," Aqua remarked.

"I love you most," Varian challenged with a grin.

"I love you mostest," Aqua said cheekily. "I win!"

"Hey, that's not even a word!" Varian complained.

"It most certainly is a word," Aqua persisted.

"Fine, you win," Varian surrendered with a smile. "You always win."

"You bet I do," Aquaria said as she grinned at Varian. "So, what is the surprise for later?"

"Well, we're gonna- hey! Wait! It's a surprise! I can't tell you! It'll spoil the surprise!" Varian grimaced and she pouted.

"Dang it... I almost got it out of you," she looked down and he held her close.

"Trust me, blue, it'll be worth the surprise," Varian assured her as he rubbed her arms gently.

"You better be right, freckles," Aqua said before she took a bite of her sandwich.

💧

Aquaria ran with Varian to the lab and she laughed.

"I beat you!" She exclaimed as she leaned against the door.

"I let you win!" Varian announced and she shook her head.

"You just wanna look good," Aquaria said and Varian hummed before pecking her lips. He then quickly slipped inside.

"I beat you inside!" He announced.

"That's not fair! You can't do that!" Aqua laughed a little as she followed him inside.

"I most certainly can and I just did," Varian said with a grin.

"You're lucky you're adorable and I love you." Aquaria nudged him.

"You're right! I am very lucky!" He smiled cheekily as he picked her up and spun her around.

Aqua laughed a little and when he set her down, she pecked his cheek.

"Now, what project would you like to work on today, m'lady?" Varian asked and Aqua hummed as she walked over to his desk.

"Well, why don't we work on the produce cleaner?" Aqua suggested.

"Alright, but we are not calling it that. It sounds too boring," Varian said.

"Then start thinking of a name while we work," Aqua said as she put on her goggles and apron. She smiled at him and he smiled right back at her as he moved his goggles down over his eyes.

🧪

Varia was just waiting for Aqua to meet him outside his place and he smiled.

When he saw her coming, he smiled bright and gripped his bag tight.

"Are we going where I think we're going?" Aqua asked with excitement as she stood in front of him.

"It depends on where you think we're going? I'm not telling you though," Varian said with a wink.

"Alright then, let's go!" Aqua grabbed his hand and they walked off out of Old Corona.

Aquaria recognized the path they were taking and it made her smile.

When they got to the cliff, Aquaria held onto Varian's arm. There was already a tent set up for them and a fire ring in place so that they could start a fire when it got dark.

"It's just as beautiful as I remember," she murmured as she looked at the sun setting over the horizon.

"It's n-nothing compared to you," Varian said softly with a blush.

"You're so sweet," Aqua said as her cheeks were dusted with a pink tinge. "Come on, let's get making some dinner!"

"Yeah!" Varian nodded as he walked over to the tent with her.

They sat down and Varian pulled out the food he had brought for them to eat.

Aquaria grabbed a piece of flint from Varian's bag and then rummaged around for a piece of metal. She then went over to the fire ring and worked on starting a little fire.

Varian watched her with a smile and sighed softly. He knew that he was extremely lucky to still have her. He pulled out the drawing of him and Aqua, smiling at it as he thought about what it would be like to have future with Aquaria.

He wanted to move into a cottage with Aqua one day, get married, and her really hoped to have a family with her. Two kids, a girl and then a boy. They could name them-

"What's on your mind?" Aqua said suddenly.

Varian jumped as he was snapped out of his daydream. He looked up and his eyes met Aquaria's.

"Nothing, just zoned out I guess. Are you ready to eat? I brought some fruit, stuff to make grilled cheese over the fire, and some biscuits," Varian said to her and she smiled brightly.

"Then let's get making dinner, shall we?" Aquaria watched him pull out all of the food he had brought them.

"Yes!" Varian nodded quickly as he grabbed the tools to make grilled cheese over the fire.

💧

Aquaria rested her head on Varian's shoulder as they watched the sky.

"So, did you have fun today?" Varian asked as he held her close to him.

"Yes. Today was absolutely perfect, Varian. Thank you so much," Aqua said softly as she looked into his eyes.

"You're welcome, sugarplum," Varian said with a grin.

"I thought you wanted to keep me as your girlfriend, but I guess not," she joked and he laughed a little.

"Sorry, sweet cheeks," Varian tried and Aqua shook her head.

"I thought we agreed upon blue and bluebell?"

"Yeah, but I wanna be able to call you other things too!" Varian kissed her cheek.

"Fine, but sugarplum is an absolute no. Don't call me that," Aqua said sternly but she then started to smile brightly. "Sorry, I couldn't keep a straight face!"

"I love you, princess," Varian said with a grin and she nudged him.

"Don't call me princess!" She whined playfully.

"Too bad! You're my princess!" He pulled her into his lap, holding her close to him.

"And you're my alchemist. The princess's alchemist," she said with a bright smile as she turned in his arms so she was facing him. "I love you too, freckles."

"When did we decide it was okay to call me freckles?" He asked with a grin.

"You never said I couldn't! Plus, your freckles are adorable!" She kissed the tip of his nose, giggling as his nose scrunched up a bit.

"My whole body is adorable!" He complained.

"No, you're whole body is adorkable! There's a difference, Var!" She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I guess you're right. I am pretty adorkable," he admitted as he looked into her eyes. "And you're whole being is absolutely gorgeous."

"What did I ever do to deserve you, Varian?" She asked as she rested her head on his chest.

"I ask myself the same thing every day," Varian said softly as he held her close to him happily.