"So you and Nod are dating?" Lif tilted his head as he watched the sunset.

Bryanna smiled and watched the sunset but addressed him back. "Yeah. He's a really sweet and funny guy."

Lif drank some water as they both swung their legs at the edge of doorway. He took a deep breath and smiled to himself.

Bryanna looked at Lif. "What?"

Lif  continued staring at the sunset, still smiling. "I'm really glad you guys are dating. I just feel really stupid because I was clueless. Mother used to tell me that I was a smart boy with talent."

Bryanna grinned. "You're still pretty young. You're not really supposed to know about this stuff."

"I know, but I should've expected that you guys liked each other."

Bryanna shrugged. "Well you know now."

Lif nodded. "I'm glad I know. You're my best friend and a really awesome person that takes care of me."

"I try." Bryanna patted Lif's petals, grinning. "Besides, you've really been taking care of yourself actually."

Lif's eyes widened slightly. "That makes me sound grown up."

Bryanna paused. "Do you want to grow up?"

Lif shook his head with his mouth agape. "Not yet! There's still fun stuff I want to do."

Bryanna laughed. "Well you're still a kid. Don't worry."

Lif shrugged. "Well, I'm going to play in the water."

Bryanna smiled. "All right. Have fun."

Lif nodded and jumped down landing on a large root of the tree. He jumped down to reached the ground, disappearing under a root.

"What are you staring at?"

Bryanna's head turned around, facing Nod. They smiled at each other, locking eyes. They felt a stronger warmth within each other than before. Nod sat next to Bryanna. They stayed quiet for a while and heard all kinds of noises throughout the forest while watching the sunset. Bryanna turned to Nod, but looked back at the forest to enjoy the moment.

Nod laid his head on Bryanna's shoulder. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Bryanna raised a brow. "Sure, but isn't the festival today?"

Nod stayed quiet. He grinned and nodded. "But let's go on a walk."

"Okay."

Nod then lead Bryanna down to the ground and began walking into large grass.

Nod smiled at Bryanna. "Are you excited for the festival today?"

Bryanna shrugged, trying not to bump into Nod. "Are we even going?"

Nod grinned. "We're taking a walk. Slow down."

"Why won't you answer my question?" Bryanna raised a brow.

Nod sighed. "Maybe I don't want to go."

"What?" Bryanna blinked with wide eyes. "Why not?"

Nod wrapped his arm around Bryanna's shoulder. "I think this is fun." 

Bryanna watched the last light of the sunset disappearing. Her brows slightly furrowed as she watched go away little by little. She turned to Nod. "Is there even a festival today? It's almost past sunset and I haven't seen or heard anything out of the usual."

Nod smiled. "Of course there is. No one kids around about that stuff. Or at least, they shouldn't."

There was a loud boom and then another. Bryanna whirled around and saw black dots hitting each other and cause a colorful explosion of light. Bryanna grinned at the fireworks.

Nod smiled at Bryanna and took her hands. "Let's go. You seem more interested in that than me."

Bryanna smugged. "Really, Nod?"

Nod laughed and ringed Bryanna's arm into his. "Let's go cutie."

As they walked toward the fireworks, Bryanna's eyes looked all around. Bugs and flowers of all kinds were walking in the same direction they were. Fireflies hovered above the center of the water, shifting positions to make different shapes of light on the water beneath them. Beetles played festive music for the flowers and bugs to dance to. The flowers and bugs danced on the lily pads on the water or the rocks near the water.

Bryanna heard laughter when they reached the edge of the water. She turned and saw it was Lif that was laughing. Lif faced a fly on a leaf that was above a large glass of water. Bryanna smiled when she realized this was a dunking booth.

Lif laughed. "Alright Mr. Fly. I'll make it this time."

The fly shivered and nodded to Lif. Lif threw a wooden ball at the target, but missed.

The fly laughed. "You're on your last one. Ha! This is it."

Lif frowned then smirked. He threw the last ball at the target and hit it directly. The fly's eyes widened and he fell into the water.

The fly immediately flew out. "EW! I'm getting cleansed!"

Lif laughed and a dandelion handed him a wooden sword. Lif smiled widely and placed it on a small wagon with other stuff that he won. "This is so cool," he walked with his head slightly higher than usual.

Bryanna grinned. "Seems like he had fun."

Lif froze and his head whirled around to see Bryanna. "Bryanna!" Her ran over to her. "Look at the the stuff I won!" he pulled the wagon in front of him. "Look at it." He smiled.

Bryanna smiled. "You must be pretty good at these games and stuff."

Lif nodded. "They're not too hard." He looked at Nod. "Make sure she wins a lot of stuff if she wants it." Then he shook his head. "Actually, just make sure she has fun."

Nod patted Lif. "I will. In fact she'll want to hang out with me all the time after this."

Lif laughed.

Bryanna looked at Nod. "Oh?"

Nod smirked. "I'll show you." He looked back down at Lif. "See you in a bit."

Lif nodded and watched them leave. They walked through the crowd toward moon haven. The queen stepped out of the rock and everyone paused, watching their queen. Nod sat Bryanna next to him on a rock below the queen.

The queen raised her arms. "Everyone," she said kindly, "It has been years since the passing of our former queen Tara. She was brave and true, fierce and kind. It is because of her that we are here now." She lowered her hands and gestured to everyone below her. "She is still with us in our hearts and memory. That is why we are showing her that we all know that she is still here with us." The queen smiled. "My idol queen Tara."

The queen raised her leafy hand and fireworks lit up the sky. A few bird circled around in the air and flew off.

Nod and Bryanna were at the top of moonhaven, on the back part where no one could see. The laid and watched the fireworks light the sky in only colors Queen Tara would wear. They saw a glow that appeared every time Tara wielded her magic.

Nod turned to Bryanna, feeling the explosions of the fireworks in his chest as he knew she might have to. He also felt that she was feeling something else too. He looked at her for some time, trying to gather courage.

He bit his lip, then looked away. Bryanna tore her eyes away from the fireworks to Nod.

Her brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Nod took a deep breath, sitting up straighter and held Bryanna's hands in his. "There's something I need to tell you." He grinned.

Bryanna's eyes widened. Her heart beat quicker then slower. She then had to think about breathing.

Nod lock eyes with Bryanna. He stared for while, waiting. Waiting for something to tell him it was time. He smiled to himself and moved closer to Bryanna. "When I first met you I thought you were beautiful. I loved how you thought you could fight off Boggans on your own, which I'm still not completely convinced."

Bryanna grinned. "Ugh."

Nod laughed lightly then went on. "Bryanna." He locked his eyes with hers. "I think about you constantly. I sometimes even imagine you by my side fighting off a boggan. And every time I look into your eyes, my breath gets taken away." His head slower came closer to hers.

Bryanna smiled, looking down. She looked back at Nod without changing the angle of her head.

Nod smiled. "In other words, I love you Bryanna."

A warmth filled Bryanna, seeming to lift her slightly. "I love you too, Nod."

Nod kissed Bryanna, cupping her head. Bryanna wrapped her arms around Nod's neck for the second kiss. They locked eyes, smiling.

Lif sat on the branch on a tree at a distance from them. He looked up at the stars and fireworks. "Mama, one day I'll find a love like that, huh?" He smiled to himself. "The month before you died you told me that I would find a pretty orchid. I now believe I will, but I wanna have adventures with her first." He looked back at Nod and Bryanna, smiling. "I also want Bryanna to have a happy, love-filled life with Nod. I wish for Bryanna to be happy."

Nod and Bryanna kissed again, locking eyes as Nod said something, but Lif couldn't hear. They continued locking gazes, smiling, knowing they would never want to let each other go. And they didn't.

I know, Mama, because I was the one that carried the rings at their wedding.