The food came, and they took their time eating it, enjoying each other's company and every bite. Greg realized that this was the first time they had been alone together since the dungeon, without the stress of trauma, grief, or other people's expectations. It felt wonderful, like they could really make something happen together.

Marina insisted that they walk through the meadow on the edge of the village after lunch. The grass was tall and golden, and it moved gently in the breeze. Wildflowers added bright splashes of color to the scene.

Marina said, "This reminds me of the Crystal Coast." She lay down in the grass and pulled Greg down next to her. "Not including the ocean, of course."

Greg lay back and looked up at the sky, where clouds were slowly moving across it. Marina was right about this place having a calmness about it that made the noise in his head go down to a manageable level.

"May I ask you something?" After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Marina said,

"What is it now?"

"Do you still feel that way about that...? The kill thing..."

Greg was quiet for a while as he thought about his answer. "I wish it hadn't come to that," he said in the end. "I'm sorry I couldn't find another way."

"But do I feel bad about protecting you? No. I'd do it again if I had to."

"Good," Marina said. "I don't want you to feel guilty about that forever."

"You did what you had to do, and I'm still here because of it. That is the most important thing."

She turned to face him by rolling onto her side and resting her head on one hand. "Also, I have plans for our future, and they don't include you hating yourself."

"Oh? What kind of plans?"

Marina's smile turned evil. "To start, I plan to live in your workshop full-time. No more sleeping at the Guild, and I want to wake up next to you every day."

Greg's eyebrows went up. "That's a brave move."

Marina said, "I'm a brave woman."

"And before you complain about what's right or wrong or whatever else you're about to say, let me remind you that we're both adults who have almost died many times. I think we have the right to sleep in the same bed."

Greg said, "The workshop is already full," even though his heart was racing at the thought.

Marina said, "Then we'll make room. Alternatively, we could expand the workshop."

"You are a legendary blacksmith who does the impossible every day. I'm sure you can figure out how to get things done in the bedroom."

"You've really put a lot of thought into this."

Marina said, "I've had nothing but time to think. And I've decided that life is too short to spend time apart from the one you love."

She kissed him again, slowly and deeply, and Greg felt himself melting into it. When they finally let go of each other, they were both breathing hard, and Marina's eyes made Greg's mouth go dry.

"Marina," he said in a warning tone.

"What?" she asked in a naive way. "I'm just giving my boyfriend a kiss. We're in a field where no one can see us."

"You are trouble."

"You love it."

She was right. For the next hour, they were in the meadow, talking, kissing, and lying in comfortable silence.

Greg found out that Marina had always wanted to learn how to cook but never had the time. Greg told Marina that he secretly liked bad romance novels, but he made her promise not to tell anyone. They talked about their childhoods, their hopes and fears, and all the little things that couples talk about when they're working on something together.

Finally, the sun began to set, and they slowly made their way back to the village.

They walked slowly, not wanting the day to end. Their hands were linked, and their shoulders bumped into each other in a friendly way.

As they got closer to the workshop, Marina said, "Thank you for today."

"I needed this. Just a regular, boring, wonderful day with you."

Greg said, "It wasn't boring."

Marina said, "You know what I mean. There are no dungeons, monsters, or threats to the world. It's just us."

"Just us," Greg said.

They stopped in front of the workshop door, and Marina turned to look at him. "I meant what I said before."

"About moving in. Greg, I want to be with you. I want to spend every day and every night with you. No more separation, no more distance. Just us, together, making a life."

Greg's chest felt warm and tight, as if his heart was too big for his rib cage. "Okay," he said. "Get in. We'll work out the details."

Marina's smile lit up the room. "So, is that a yes?"

"Yeah."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him so passionately that Greg fell back against the workshop door. He heard it creak open behind them and realized too late that everyone inside could probably see them.

He just didn't care. Marina was here, she was his, and they were going to make a life together.

When they finally broke up and walked into the workshop, they saw that everyone was trying diligently to look like they hadn't been watching through the window. Lylia suddenly became genuinely interested in her cooking.

Elwen was staring at her sketchbook with outstanding focus. Bork and Felix were talking loudly about nothing whatsoever. Seraphine was reading a book with her nose buried in it. Mira and Donetta were the only ones who were honest enough to smile at them.

"So, guys!" Marina told everyone in the room, "I'm moving in this workshop as one of the family! Starting right now."

"Does anyone have a problem with that?"

Lylia sighed after a long silence. "I'll begin to make room. Once more."

"You're the best, Lylia," Marina said with a smile. "That's why I like you the best."

Felix said, "I thought I was your favorite."

Marina stressed that "You're my favorite chaos gremlin. Lylia is my favorite grown-up who takes care of things."

"How about me?" Bork asked.

"Favorite little person called as a dwarf."

"I'm the only little person here!"

"That's right! You win by default!"

Greg watched the back-and-forth and felt something settle in his chest. This was his family now, and it's loud, crazy, and completely silly. And Marina was right there in the middle of it, laughing, teasing, and making herself at home.

Greg helped Marina move her few things out of the Guild dormitory later that night, after dinner and the workshop had settled into its usual evening routine. It didn't take long because she had always traveled light. She had mostly weapons, armor, and a few changes of clothes.

"Is this it?" Greg asked, looking at the small pile of things.

Marina said, "I never really had a home before."

"Just places to sleep when you're not working."

"Not any building or room was my home because the Crimson Falcons were my home."

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